Lady Mikhail had Liebe as her target, set on Liebe as she aimed at him just 0 feet away.
Mikhail said, "Liebe, I will ask this question only once. Answer me honestly: why are you betraying humanity?"
Liebe said, "I'm not. I'm only protecting my team." As she fired, yet Liebe dodged it. But from the opposite direction, another shot was fired from an unknown position, injuring Liebe's left shoulder.
Mikhail said, "I asked 'why,' not 'what.' Answer me."
Liebe said, "Because humanity is standing between me and my friends. I will face whoever the hell threatens my friends, my team. I will stand."
Mikhail said, "Are you aware this person was a devil?"
Liebe said, "From the start. She is my friend, and what race she belongs to doesn't bother me in the slightest."
Mikhail said, "I see. It appears you are too far gone. Liebe, I was the one who trained the abandoned child of Lilith, so it's my responsibility to end you."
In an instant, Liebe was fired at from all directions.
Liebe said, "Crap." As he kept trying his best to dodge.
Liebe thought, It was the same as back then. Same as yesterday. The same goddamn thing. Why the hell has nothing changed? Except it's from one person. These attacks—they were more precise and unpredictable than Aila's attacks. Being attacked from all directions, and not to mention each shot being more powerful.
As Liebe was bleeding, Mikhail said, "Had enough, Liebe? Stop now. You can't survive. Stop. The nation will forgive you."
Liebe said, "And then what, huh? Things will go back to normal? What the hell am I supposed to do then, huh? Spend time climbing the ranks until the day I forget I had a friend—a friend who was a devil—who I had to kill with my own hands? I would rather die now."
As Liebe's communicator said, "Faust, all the XENIZ and Gaia we are under attack from a seperate force. it's a blood bath they arent planning to capture we are surrounded."
Liebe said, "break up to north west. And Master, I see now. I can't beat you. You are far too strong for me. But I can be faster and stronger. I won't lose to you, Master. Not now. Not ever. Summon Abyssal Gates—times 8!"
As Liebe thought, Maintaining 8 gates takes far too much mana. Then the gates surrounded Mikhail in 4 directions—up and down.
Mikhail said, "Do you think this magic of Lilith's can frighten me?"
Liebe said, "No. Dark Magic: Vesta Grand Flames—burn!" As his blades were covered in flames, extending his arms.
Liebe said, "Now, Dark Magic: Endless Execution!"
As Liebe was suddenly stabbed in the back, Liebe said, "What the—" It was a poisoned blade.
Mikhail said, "I'm an assassin. I don't give chances."
Liebe said, "Fine by me." As he charged towards Mikhail, he was almost shot at again, yet the chains of the Abyssal Gates pulled him, making him dodge it. He would pull away and be pulled back, making him gain greater speed in each attack. Now it was a battle of equality—a former prince vs a former hero.
In the midst of each attack, he took down the transparent blade and gun bits. The blade bits were for close range and the gun bits for long range. There were a total of 35—25 gun bits and 10 blade bits—as they were all destroyed one after another.
Liebe realized that the assassin Aila was using the same thing but a pseudo variant, with barely 10 gun bits. As he faced the real thing, he realized he needs to try harder. With each one destroyed:
Mikhail said, "You are good."
As Liebe prepared for the final attack, he was knocked back with a punch.
Mikhail said, "You figured out my ability. Less than a hundred could do that before their death."
As Mikhail said, "From this point onwards, it won't be a battle—just a fistfight." And now Liebe was at his wits' end, taking punch after punch.
Mikhail said, "My sand magic allows me to create bits, and I grow stronger the more of them are destroyed. The ideal magic ability for an assassin. It's called Champion's Downfall."
As Liebe was on the ground bleeding from his forehead, covered in blood, Liebe got up and said, "Alright then, Master. I won't fall again till I have beaten you. Now, Dark Magic: Vesta's Blackest Star!" As the flames covered his fists and legs.
In a punch, Mikhail was knocked back. Even with her strength, she tried to block, being knocked back with friction. Even so, she was knocked back 50m and was bleeding from the mouth. As she wiped the blood, for the first time in 10 years after vanishing and leaving the 25th chair of the 25 princes, she actually felt pain—actual physical pain. As it was a fistfight between men (even though Mikhail is a woman).
Meanwhile, in command:
Thalorin said, "Command, I have taken care of the enemy. Identity: Isurugi and Elizabeth Briar."
Gelda said, "Move towards location Z7, Thalorin."
As Isurugi, Fate, and Elizabeth were on the ground, Thalorin moved. Gelda picked up Elizabeth.
Gelda said, "Elizabeth—"
Elizabeth said, "Sorry, Mother. I failed. And now I'm fighting you."
Gelda said, "No, you aren't. You really are an idiot. If you three were to fight me, you would be dead. Not to mention you are already at death's door."
Fate said, "Correction—I already crossed the door once."
Gelda said, "Oh sorry, don't mind me."
Gelda said, "Well then, good luck on your war or something. And Elizabeth, I'm proud of you, my little girl. You will always be Mommy's little girl." As she threw a healing potion and walked away.
Isurugi said, "That was intense."
Fate said, "I understand. I almost died twice tonight, and apparently I died once before literally."
Elizabeth said, "Yeah, let me call Liebe. Let him know we are OK." As she checked, she noticed Gelda stole her communicator.
As Gelda used Elizabeth's communicator and said, "Hey, Liebe, looks like you have to face Lilith."
Liebe said, "Yeah. Since Lady Mikhail is down, Mother is the only one left."
Gelda said, "Alright then. See you on the battlefield. But whatever happened in the past, I'm sure Lilith regrets it."
Liebe said, "I can't care less. And right now, we are on opposite sides." Liebe cut the call.
Meanwhile, as Lilith had defeated everyone—Licht, Jewel, and their allies:
Lilith said, "Still so good. It appears you still haven't lost any of your edge, Jewel. But I have grown stronger." As she walked away.
As her communicator rang:
Lilith said, "What is it, Gelda?"
Gelda said, "Oh, nothing much. But listen, I wanted to let you know: no matter what, Liebe never stopped caring. Even for you, he still cares."
Lilith said, "Liebe has crossed a line. He is a threat that can't be ignored. If he was able to make it to the heart of our base just to threaten me, I know he can end Markus easily."
Gelda said, "Yes, I'm sure he can. And I still find it hilarious that despite how good he is at the game, he was discovered by an idiot like you on his first attempt. What an idiot, am I right? He really must have been trying to make you see. If you were the one who discovered it—"
Lilith said, "Your point?"
Gelda said, "Nothing. Just that you are far too stupid. But it appears you haven't stopped knowing Liebe. But I know Liebe still cares about you. He never stopped caring, and he won't stop now."