After what had happened, they continued exploring the forest.
Marry suddenly stopped them.
"Be careful where you step."
She raised her hand.
"Illusion Magic 『Revelation』."
Suddenly, the surroundings changed.
Dozens of hidden traps appeared throughout the forest. Blades were concealed beneath the ground, magical runes were engraved between the trees, and several traps were connected by thin magical threads.
Loki whistled.
"That's a lot of traps."
"Disarm them before you get yourself killed," Marry said.
The three carefully disabled the traps one by one.
After a while, Crimson suddenly spoke.
"I miss the Gold Era."
Loki and Marry stopped walking.
They slowly turned toward him.
"What did you say?" Loki asked.
Marry narrowed her eyes.
"How do you know about the Gold Era?"
Crimson didn't answer.
He simply continued walking.
Loki stared at him for a moment before following.
"Hey, I'm asking you a question."
Crimson remained silent.
Suddenly—
Step.
They heard footsteps coming from deeper within the forest.
The three immediately stopped.
Their expressions changed.
Loki and Marry manifested their weapons.
Crimson raised his hand.
A massive greatsword materialized in his grasp.
He looked at the blade.
"Heaven-Splitter Blade."
Loki stared at it.
"That name sounds familiar. I think I've heard it in a legend somewhere."
Crimson glanced at him.
"Maybe you're just hallucinating."
"Nuh-uh."
Loki crossed his arms.
"I know what I heard."
Marry looked at the greatsword.
"Actually... me too. I feel like I've heard that name before."
Crimson sighed.
"You guys are just confused, like average teenagers."
Loki frowned.
"I'm pretty sure that's not how being confused works."
Crimson ignored him.
The footsteps continued.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Whatever was approaching them was getting closer.
__
"Maybe we should use our Mystic Eyes."
"Really? But they're useless because we can only see things from far away or in the dark."
Marry looked at him in disbelief.
"They also allow us to cast spells that don't require our extremities, directly through our eyes. Supposedly, genius of magic."
Loki scratched his head.
"Right... I knew that."
Marry rolled her eyes.
The three of them activated their Mystic Eyes and continued walking through the forest.
Their vision changed.
The darkness of the forest became clearer, allowing them to see much farther than before.
Then they noticed something.
Someone was lying on the ground.
The man was covered in blood.
Loki immediately rushed toward him.
"Hey! Are you okay?"
The injured man slowly lifted his head.
His eyes met Crimson's.
His expression instantly changed.
His face turned pale.
"W—Why...?"
He scrambled backward.
"Why is he here?!"
The man suddenly turned around and tried to run.
Loki stared at him in confusion.
"W—Why is he reacting like that?"
He turned toward Crimson.
"Crimson, what did you do?"
Crimson looked at the fleeing man.
"I'm sure I don't know him."
Suddenly—
Slash.
The man's body stopped.
A thin line of blood appeared across him.
Then another.
And another.
His body was suddenly torn apart by a series of invisible slashes.
Splat.
Loki froze.
"W—What?!"
Marry immediately raised her weapon.
"Everyone, stay alert!"
Loki stared at the remains in disbelief.
"I'm sure those slashes weren't any modern known spell."
Crimson, however, remained completely calm.
He simply looked toward the path ahead.
"Let's keep walking."
Loki stared at him.
"Are you seriously just going to ignore that?"
"We have to return to the academy before time runs out."
Crimson began walking.
Loki and Marry exchanged a confused glance.
They followed Crimson.
As they continued walking, Crimson suddenly spoke.
"A goat can live as the strongest of its kind, but one day, it will be defeated by its own horns."
Loki and Marry exchanged thoughtful glances.
Neither of them understood what Crimson meant.
They continued walking.
And walking.
And walking.
Somehow, after traveling deeper into the forest, they eventually came across a village.
A wooden sign stood at the entrance.
MADNESS TOWN
The village looked like a typical old-fashioned Indian town, untouched by modern technology. Small houses lined the narrow streets, while lanterns hung from wooden poles. The residents went about their daily lives, carrying baskets, preparing food, and talking among themselves.
Yet something about the place felt strange.
The villagers stared at the three newcomers as they entered.
Loki noticed their gazes.
"Why is everyone looking at us?"
Marry glanced around.
"I don't know."
Crimson said nothing.
An elderly woman eventually approached them.
"You three look exhausted."
She smiled warmly.
"Come with me. You can stay at my house for the night."
Loki looked at Marry.
"Are we really just going to trust a random old lady?"
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"I can still hear you, young man."
Loki froze.
"...Thank you for your hospitality."
Marry covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
The elderly woman turned and began walking.
"Come along. It is getting late."
The three followed her into the village.
That evening, the old woman prepared a simple meal for them.
Loki sat at the table, happily eating while Marry quietly drank her tea.
Crimson sat near the window, staring at the night sky.
For the first time that day, there were no monsters, no traps, and no strange magic.
Just silence.
"It's peaceful here," Marry said softly.
Loki nodded.
"Yeah. I could get used to this."
Crimson remained silent for a moment.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Enjoy it while it lasts."
Loki stopped eating.
"Why would you say that?"
Crimson looked toward the moon.
"Nothing."
The old woman chuckled from across the room.
"Young people always worry too much."
Loki shrugged and returned to his food.
For a brief moment, the three simply enjoyed the quiet night.
Outside, the village remained completely still.
And somewhere beyond the houses, something quietly watched them from the darkness.
Suddenly, six mysterious figures appeared around them.
Before Loki or Marry could react, one of the figures grabbed Marry.
Whoosh!
They disappeared.
Another figure grabbed Loki and teleported away.
A third figure seized Crimson and vanished with him.
The remaining three immediately moved to help the others.
But something was wrong.
One of the figures suddenly noticed that Loki was still nearby.
He had somehow remained behind, camouflaged among the villagers.
The mysterious figure turned toward him.
Loki slowly revealed himself.
"Well... looks like you found me."
The figure stepped forward.
Loki immediately manifested his weapon.
The two began fighting.
Loki quickly realized something.
"I can't overwhelm him."
Every spell he cast was countered.
Every attack was blocked.
The mysterious figure didn't even seem to be struggling.
Loki gritted his teeth.
"Who are you?"
The figure finally answered.
"Geass Cordz."
Loki narrowed his eyes.
"That means...?"
"A name in the Hatï language."
Loki's expression became serious.
"Interesting."
But there was no time to think about it.
Geass attacked again.
Loki barely managed to dodge.
Meanwhile, somewhere else in the village...
One of the mysterious figures stood motionless.
His name was Goass Sirdz.
He suddenly heard a voice behind him.
"Hoi hoi hoi."
Goass slowly turned around.
His eyes widened.
Crimson was standing there.
The figure who had taken him was hanging from Crimson's hand, his body being held up by the neck.
Crimson looked directly at Goass.
"Your next."
He threw the figure toward him.
Goass raised his hands.
But Crimson's eyes suddenly changed.
"Mystic Eyes 『Mystic Eyes of Dominus Velutum』."
The world seemed to distort.
Invisible slashes tore through the air.
SHING!
The figure Crimson had thrown was sliced apart before he could even react.
Goass remained standing.
Crimson's expression barely changed.
The attack should have killed him.
Yet somehow...
Goass survived.
For the first time, Crimson's expression changed slightly.
"Interesting."
Goass remained standing.
Blood dripped from his body, but his expression had not changed.
Crimson stared at him.
"You survived."
Goass slowly wiped the blood from his face.
"Those eyes..."
Crimson's expression became colder.
Goass looked directly into his eyes.
"I know those eyes."
Crimson said nothing.
"Mystic Eyes of Dominus Velutum."
For the first time, Crimson's expression changed.
"...Impossible."
Goass smiled.
"Why?"
He took a step forward.
"That power disappeared during the Gold Era."
The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.
Crimson's eyes narrowed.
"You know too much."
Goass laughed quietly.
"And you know too little."
Crimson suddenly disappeared.
BOOM!
He appeared directly in front of Goass and swung the Heaven-Splitter Blade.
Goass barely managed to block.
The impact sent him flying through several trees.
Crimson followed.
Another slash.
Another.
Another.
Goass continued blocking, but every strike pushed him farther backward.
"You're strong," Goass said.
Crimson swung again.
"But strength isn't enough."
Goass suddenly raised his hand.
The space around his body distorted.
Crimson's blade stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
"What...?"
Goass smiled.
"I don't need to overpower your attacks."
The distorted space swallowed the slash.
"I only need to redirect them."
Crimson stepped backward.
For the first time, he looked genuinely interested.
Meanwhile...
Loki vs. Geass Cordz
Loki was breathing heavily.
He had already tried several spells.
Fire.
Lightning.
『Ruin Magic』
None of them worked.
Geass continued walking toward him.
Loki fired another spell.
BOOM!
The explosion cleared.
Geass was still standing.
Loki gritted his teeth.
"Seriously?"
Geass attacked.
Loki dodged and countered with another spell.
Blocked.
Another.
Dodged.
Another.
Blocked.
Loki suddenly stopped.
He stared at Geass.
"Wait."
Geass paused.
Loki smiled.
"I get it now."
Geass tilted his head.
"You aren't stronger than me."
Loki raised his hand.
"You're just adapting to everything I throw at you."
Geass's expression changed slightly.
Loki grinned.
"And if that's the case..."
A magic circle began forming around him.
"I just have to stop fighting the way you expect me to."
Geass suddenly rushed toward him.
Loki smiled.
"Now this is getting interesting."
Elsewhere...
Marry opened her eyes.
She was lying on the floor of a dark underground chamber.
She slowly stood.
"Where am I?"
There were strange symbols carved into the walls.
They looked ancient.
Older than anything she had ever seen.
Marry walked toward one of them.
Her expression changed.
"This writing..."
She touched the symbol.
"It's from the Gold Era."
A sound came from behind her.
Click.
Marry froze.
She slowly turned around.
Someone was standing in the darkness.
"You shouldn't have come here."
Marry raised her weapon.
"Who are you?"
The figure stepped forward.
"You're looking for the truth about the Gold Era."
Marry's eyes narrowed.
"How do you know that?"
The figure smiled.
"Because your friend already told us."
Marry froze.
"...Crimson?"
The figure said nothing.
Meanwhile, above the underground chamber, the battle continued.
Crimson stood among the ruined trees.
Goass stood opposite him.
Neither had been defeated.
Crimson looked toward the village.
For a brief moment, his expression became distant.
"I really did miss the Gold Era."
Goass stared at him.
"Then you should know what happened here."
Crimson's eyes returned to him.
"What happened?"
Goass smiled.
"Madness Town wasn't always called Madness Town."
The wind stopped.
"The village was built by the survivors."
Crimson tightened his grip around the Heaven-Splitter Blade.
"Survivors of what?"
Goass's smile disappeared.
"The end of the Gold Era."
"We serve the one they call The Ruler of Mysteries, The One and Only Heavenly Worthy, The All-Awaring and All-Knowing One."
The battle continued.
Their attacks were so powerful that entire sections of the mountain were destroyed.
Trees were reduced to ashes. Rocks were shattered, and the ground beneath them cracked from the force of their spells.
Loki was giving everything he had.
Marry fought alongside him, using her『Rune Magic』to temporarily infuse spells into objects, turning ordinary weapons and objects into magical weapons.
Meanwhile, Crimson stood against Goass.
Crimson raised his hand.
『Flame Ball』
A ball of fire appeared in his palm.
Goass smiled.
Then Crimson spoke another word.
『Giro Guaz』
The flame suddenly changed.
Its color became a mixture of dark red and black.
The sphere rapidly expanded.
And expanded.
Until it became enormous.
The sheer size of the explosion resembled an atomic bomb.
Crimson threw it far away.
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion erupted across the distant landscape.
The light could be seen from almost anywhere in the surrounding area.
Goass stared at the destruction in disbelief.
"This... this wasn't the plan."
He began trembling.
"It wasn't supposed to happen this way."
"My... my..."
He struggled to speak.
Crimson slowly walked toward him.
Goass's expression became desperate.
"No..."
Crimson continued approaching.
"No... there is only me."
His eyes became cold.
"There is only my way."
He reached out and grabbed Goass by the head.
"There are no gods but I."
His grip tightened.
"There is no king but me."
Goass froze.
Crimson stared directly into his eyes.
And for the first time...
Goass looked genuinely afraid.