Mystery.
A power that can cause strange phenomena. With meticulous rituals, incredible phenomena can be achieved, such as humans without wings flying high into the sky, flames igniting cigarettes from fingertips, and walking on water. All these things can be accomplished.
However, this power is constantly waning.
As the power of science continuously expands, the power of Mystery diminishes.
Magicians, who wield Mystery, cannot reverse this process, no matter how much they intervene. They can only use something called a 'Magic Crest' to resist the fading of Mystery over time.
But now, in this era where Mystery is almost depleted.
A young woman, who has not yet inherited a Magic Crest, is about to face one of the oldest Dead Apostle Ancestors, fighting with the results of her own research into the magical arts.
This is undeniably an unequal battle.
Currently, in a forest far from the city.
The two challengers stood opposite each other.
"To choose to face me alone, should I praise your courage or mock your naivety, to be so careless?"
Van Fem leaned on his staff, his eyes reflecting the young woman.
She wore casual pants and a shirt, her eyes gleaming with pure will, shining like the sun, yet not dazzling, appearing very pure and clean.
"That requires waiting for the outcome to be determined!"
Aozaki Touko smiled faintly, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding scenery.
This was a forest far from the city, with trees towering over ten meters high. Thick snow covered almost everything, and as far as the eye could see, it was a world of silver.
The distant setting sun cast a glow upon the earth, bringing a sense of mono no aware.
"What a pity... if you had inherited the Fifth Magic, I probably wouldn't have been able to defeat you. However, now is indeed the opportune moment."
Van Fem's tone was gentlemanly and polite: "You need to experience a defeat, and only then can you continue to move forward. A life that is too smooth will erode your will."
His tone was like that of a mentor, patiently guiding his junior.
This was a condescending attitude, very likely to irritate an opponent.
Especially for young people, this was even more true.
"Experience defeat? Do you know how many failures I've experienced to get to where I am now?"
Aozaki Touko's tone was very calm: "Every one of my advancements has been built upon failures. There have even been times when I was on the verge of death due to experimental failures."
"I don't know how many times I've thought about giving up and taking the easy way out."
These were not empty words; they were her sincere feelings.
Research in the magical arts is not filled with novelty; on the contrary, it is full of tedious boredom. Without a clear progress bar to observe, to be honest, it truly wears down one's will.
However, she had already grown accustomed to all of this.
From a novice who once nearly died from experimental failures, she had grown step by step into a qualified researcher of the magical arts. This journey cannot be fully encompassed by the word 'genius'.
"The nature of it is quite different!"
Van Fem shook his head with a light chuckle, tapping the snow with his staff.
Instantly, a chaotic black hue stained the earth, as if ink had been spilled across the ground. A strange, alien sensation invaded the real space.
Then, bubbles rose from the chaotic black earth.
Subsequently, two mountain-sized hands emerged from the dark earth, and then a gigantic humanoid puppet, like a castle, crawled out from within.
Its incomparably massive body brought an awe-inspiring aura.
There was no doubt that its terrifying mass alone could practically destroy everything; a single blow could collapse a tall building, and flatten mountains.
This was the terrifying power brought by sheer volume.
"...That's ridiculously huge!"
Aozaki Touko looked up, letting out a sigh of wonder.
Then, she lightly snapped her fingers.
Suddenly, the void behind her opened, and a beautiful silver-haired young woman flew out. She gently fanned her black wings, and a tangible wave of magical energy surged from her body.
"It seems our choices are largely similar!"
Van Fem gazed at Suigintou, a joyful smile curving his lips: "Both have etherealized your dolls, making them autonomous Reality Marbles to keep by your side."
"...If a doll master can't carry their dolls with them, facing unexpected situations can be very dangerous."
Aozaki Touko chuckled softly, then took a step back.
Subsequently, Suigintou's black wings suddenly spread wide, extending and transforming into two fierce dragons, biting down towards the gigantic humanoid demon doll.
On the other side, the humanoid demon doll, carrying immense mass, swung its fist for a head-on collision.
"Boom!"
The atmosphere was instantly churned, turning into a raging gale that swept forth.
The snow clinging to the tree branches fell, and a layer of the thick snow on the ground was scraped away, revealing the long-buried earth beneath.
The first exchange of blows was evenly matched.
"The power brought by such immense mass is truly not to be underestimated, is it?"
Aozaki Touko's eyes narrowed slightly as she continued to command her doll to attack. The black wings, transformed into fierce dragons, relentlessly entangled and attacked the giant demon doll.
"I'm not very good with intricate things, which is why I pursue power derived from immense volume. This could be considered a helpless choice due to limitations in talent."
Beside him, Van Fem revealed a gentlemanly smile.
Then, his staff struck the ground forcefully, and the giant humanoid puppet's body lit up with patterns, its aura suddenly and continuously rising, before the puppet swung a powerful, heavy punch.
Rumble.
A dull roar echoed from this ancient forest, far from human habitation.
A straight line of impact cut through the forest, breaking and pushing back countless trees.
A brand new path suddenly appeared in the forest.