"How could this be?"
Kamito stared blankly at the scene before him. No matter how he tried to rationalize it, he simply could not accept it. His strongest ultimate technique—blocked by a single finger?
Night ended at that very moment. Dawn arrived, and sunlight fell upon the woman standing before him, allowing him to see her face clearly.
"How is this possible?!"
It was not just Kamito. The students behind him were equally stunned.
Not because she was beautiful or ugly—but because they recognized that face.
Her achievements had been sung across the world. Her appearance had been etched into the memories of the people.
She was the saintess who had defeated the Demon King Solomon a thousand years ago—Areishia!
And their academy bore her name—Areishia Spirit Academy. How could they possibly fail to recognize that face?
"But why… would the saintess from a thousand years ago appear here?"
That was the question on everyone's mind.
At that moment, Millennia came to her senses and immediately knelt in salute.
"I humbly welcome Your Majesty's arrival, Sacred Queen!"
What?
She was the Sacred Queen?
The shock of that revelation was no less than the resurrection of the saintess herself.
"Why would you do such a thing?" Kamito demanded.
At such close range, he did not attempt another attack. If she truly was the Sacred Queen, then no matter what he did, he would never break through her defenses.
"Hmm? What are you referring to?" the Sacred Queen asked in mild confusion.
"Starting a war! Wiping out the royal families! And—"
With each accusation, Kamito's anger intensified. Blood had earlier streamed from his eyes, ears, and nose, giving him a ferocious appearance.
"Isn't it obvious?" The Sacred Queen smiled gently. "Of course it's to correct this world."
"This world is filled with too much filth. No matter how I cleanse it, I cannot wash it away completely."
"So I have no choice but to choose a permanent solution."
"I will erase this world entirely—and then recreate a new one, free of impurity."
"..."
No one looked pleased by her words. Only fear and horror filled their faces.
Clap clap clap clap—
The only applause came from Millennia.
"What kind of joke is that? You—ugh—"
Before Kamito could finish, the Sacred Queen lightly flicked her finger. A tremendous force struck him and sent him flying. Even Restia was forced back into her girl's form by the impact.
"What you think is not my concern. I need only reshape the world."
"But before that… I must ascend to a higher existence." The Sacred Queen gazed at the rising sun on the horizon and smiled.
"Though you are no longer a significant threat to me, you are still the reincarnation of Ren's power."
"To prevent even the one-in-ten-thousand chance of an accident… I will personally eliminate you."
"Est."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Millennia removed her eyepatch. Bathed in white light, her form transformed into a longsword.
Yet the blade that appeared was not holy white—but ominous black.
This was—
The Demon Sword Millennia Sanctus.
"I shall use this blade to sever your head."
"That way, all reincarnation will come to an end."
Holding the pitch-black sword, the Sacred Queen slowly walked toward Kamito.
Her steps were unhurried, yet each one felt like a death knell pounding against his heart.
Everyone present believed that once she reached him, the blade in her hand would fall without hesitation.
But just as she advanced, a streak of blazing fire lashed across her path, blasting a crater into the ground.
"What is the meaning of this, Claire Elstein? Do you intend to aid the reincarnation of the Demon King?"
"As if I'd help him!" Claire snapped.
"And besides… I heard every word you said just now!"
She cracked her flaming whip. "Destroying the world? I will never accept that!"
Though she had known Kamito only briefly—and despite the many unpleasant incidents between them—she could tell he was not a bad person.
So she was the first to step forward.
"And me as well! I don't know whether that man is good or evil. But I will never forget the way he fought to protect us!" Captain Ellis stepped forward, spear in hand.
"The Ordesia Empire has fallen. I'm its last survivor. With the enemy before me, I cannot retreat!"
The final princess of Ordesia, Fianna, emerged from the crowd. Though her clothes were worn, the light in her eyes shone brighter than ever—and the way she looked at Kamito was somewhat unusual.
"Claire was the first to stand up. If I don't follow, wouldn't that mean admitting I'm inferior to her?"
Despite her earlier severe injuries, Rinslet's willpower was not something ordinary people could match—especially not in front of Claire.
In the end, the world line converged. The Team Scarlet from his memories had reunited in this unexpected way.
And once someone had taken the lead, more and more students chose to stand against the Sacred Queen.
They formed a wall before Kamito, willing to protect the man who had fought for them.
"I see."
Facing this scene, the Sacred Queen merely tilted her head slightly. "In that case, no matter how small your threat, you are still a threat, Kamito Kazehaya."
With a casual swing of the Demon Sword, a violent shockwave blasted all the students away.
Strangely… no one was killed.
"So you haven't lost consciousness yet, Dark Spirit."
It had been Restia's defense that protected them.
"But that was your limit, Dark Spirit."
Restia was no match even for Millennia—how could she possibly contend with the Sacred Queen? Blocking that single strike was already her utmost limit.
"Regrettably, you will not live to see the birth of the new world. I shall leave an unnamed gravestone for you in it."
Holy power gathered upon the Demon Sword in the Sacred Queen's hand. Its Divine Power was so terrifying that both body and soul trembled in response.
"So this is the power of an Elemental Lord… How could anyone possibly oppose it?"
Anyone who had witnessed that power could not stand before her.
Was that truly so?
In the blink of an eye…
Dawn vanished.
Sunlight disappeared.
Day turned back into night, and stars once again filled the sky.
A meteor fell from the heavens—
And upon seeing this, the Sacred Queen's smile widened.
"You've finally come."