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**—Alfe’s POV—**

The giant tree stretched its roots like crawling serpents, reaching not only across the ground but also twisting upward into the air like tentacles.

Its target was only one thing—my Lemures.

“Not happening!”

I slashed away at the roots chasing Lemures with a Wind Cutter, breaking free from their restraints.

“Classic move—I’d say—but you’ve got other enemies to worry about, y’know?”

Senior Melua’s voice rang out. Alarmed, I searched for the Magnetic Knights and spotted them already closing in from behind.

“Stay away!”

I shifted my Wind Cutter’s target from the tree roots to the Magnetic Knights and fired.

But why would Senior Melua, who was my enemy, bother to warn me at all? That was something I should have realized much sooner.

“Geez, Alfe, you really are straightforward, huh?”
“!?”

The moment the words hit my ears, a shock ran through my legs. Roots that had been sneaking up underground suddenly shot out, seizing both of Lemures’ legs.

“O scorching flames, become an explosion, and rage in fury—Explosion!”

Without a second thought, I chanted a near-suicidal spell with desperate resolve. There was no time to hesitate. If the roots bound me, I would lose either way.

“Aaaaaaand—here it is! Lemures goes for a reckless attack! Blowing away the Magnetic Knights along with herself!”

The blast hurled both me and Lemures backward, but I managed to destroy several of the Magnetic Knights. However, the explosion also set fire to my precious aether-blocking robe.

There was no time left. I couldn’t afford to waste a moment putting it out. All I could do was push forward as I was.

“Woooow! I thought you were the quiet type, but turns out you can go aggressive too, huh?”

Senior Melua’s surprised voice reached me. She clearly hadn’t expected me to make that decision. But I still hadn’t shown her my true strength.

“…It was a spur-of-the-moment choice, but thanks to it… my preparations are complete.”
“Hey, Alfe. Your robe’s on fire—you’re just gonna let it burn?”

Of course, I couldn’t just let the robe burn. But if it was the price for this spell, then Leafa would surely approve.

From the moment this battle began, I had been preparing for a single spell. To meet its activation requirements, I needed to use at least intermediate-level lightning, ice, and fire magic.

“This time, I’m going all out, Senior.”

The aether-blocking robe burned away. With her Pure Eyes, Senior Melua had to know exactly what I was about to attempt. But it was too late for her to evade now.

“Hold on, wait! The aether surging through Lemures is insane! Light blue, red, and yellow—don’t tell me that’s…!”
“You said this spell wasn’t practical because the construction was too complex. But I saw it differently. Building three different spell formulas at once is difficult—but if I only construct one at a time, then with multi vision, I can keep building even while casting other spells.”
“You mean you’ve been parallel-processing the spell this whole time!? That kind of overload—no human brain could withstand it!”

She was right. My head was already at its limit, ready to burst from the chanting and formula weaving. Pain split through my skull, and blood dripped steadily from my nose.

But still… still, this was the one thing I gambled on.

“I can’t show my pathetic side in front of the one I love! I won’t lose!” I wiped the blood from my face with the back of my hand and raised my staff high.

“O spearhead of the old gods—by the tri-colored magic, strike down my enemy! Jaadu Trishula!”

With the incantation, my trump card was unleashed.

“Behind Lemures!!! Three enormous magic circles have appeareddddd!!! Fire, ice, and lightning, all swirling together into a maaaaaassive vorteeeeex!!!”

*—Just a little more.*

I ignited Lemures’ thrusters, charging straight toward Senior Melua.

“Wha—no way!?”
She tried to use the giant tree’s roots to construct a defensive barrier.

“Scorch them!”
At my chant, flames burst forth from the fire magic circle, engulfing the entire tree in a blazing inferno.

“Magnetic Knights!!”
Pulling Alchemia back, Senior sent the Magnetic Knights charging at me—but I swept them aside with the fiery blade I had wreathed around my staff.

“Lemures! Lemures!”
“Should we call it a magic sword of Lemures!? The flaming blade explodes outward, shredding the Magnetic Knights to pieces!!!”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!?”

With a cry of disbelief, Senior Melua ignited Alchemia’s thrusters.

“You won’t escape. Frozen Prison!”

At my incantation, shimmering ice crystals gathered from the ice magic circle, forming into sharp pillars that skewered half of Alchemia’s frame.

“Agh geez!”

She struggled to force Alchemia’s legs free, unleashing a blaze of fire magic in an attempt to shatter the ice. The pillars cracked apart—but this was far from over.

“Come forth, lightning of judgment!”

At my final chant, the lightning circle flared. Above the great arena, dark clouds boiled into existence, unleashing countless bolts of lightning that rained down upon Alchemia.

Right before my eyes, Alchemia took the brunt of the strikes, its body wreathed in black smoke as it smoldered. Its full condition was still unclear.

“Haaah… Even I’ve got to admit, this is checkmate. The power of love really is something else…”

Senior Melua’s voice drifted from beyond the smoke.

“Wind—”

To show she no longer had any intent to attack, she purposely chanted and caused wind. As the smoke was swept away, Alchemia’s upper body barely managed to rise. Slowly, she rotated her staff and held its hilt out toward my Lemures.

“Senior…”

I knew what this meant. To hand one’s staff to another was a mage’s salute. At this moment, Senior Melua was showing me the greatest respect a mage could offer.

“Well… at least I should act like a proper senior at the end. Gotta save face somehow, right?”
“Thank you.”

When I accepted the staff from her, she mustered the last of her magic and traced glowing runes into the air—runes of blessing.

“To surpass me in such a short time… you’re amazing, Alfe.”

With those words, Alchemia collapsed into the colosseum floor.

“And there it iiiiis! Alchemia—utterly destroyed by Lemures’ overwhelming multi-elemental magic!! …The match is officially ooooverrrrrr!!!”

Johnny’s voice rang out, declaring my victory. Pride and joy welled up in me, so strong I nearly burst into tears. But I swallowed them down.

It was too soon to cry. I would save my tears for later—when I could share them with Leafa and Hom, and celebrate our victory together.