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After being resurrected through Necroslave, Ophelia used a spell that sent Aria straight through the outer wall and left her half buried into the ground.

Itski ordered Ophelia to finish Aria off, and she went there without even looking at him. Necroslave could also restore the dead’s mana, but it needed to take it from the caster first.

This time, Itski had limited it to the bare minimum necessary to bring Ophelia back, so he could only imagine how much mana he would need to restore her full mana pool.

“Phew, you got something even better than I expected there.”

Itski was on one knee, still exhausted from using so much mana, and Dominic approached him, looking relieved.

“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m just a bit out of mana.”

Saying that, Itski drank his last mana recovery potion.

“Is it safe to assume that Ophelia is our ally then?”

That was the first time Itski heard the name of the person he had brought back.

“Yes, I’ve made sure that she can’t go against any of my orders.”

Anyone brought back by Necroslave would be bound to the caster’s will, which in this case was Itski. Or at the very least, she would not be able to do anything to harm him.

“I see. Can you still teleport?”
“As long as you can buy enough time and safety for me, we should be able to get away.”

Itski had recovered just enough mana to open a short distance portal, so he would be able to escape if he was given enough time to activate the spell safely.

“That spider should be done for now. Let’s go pick up its parts and get away from here.” Then Dominic took out various small bottles from his pocket.

“Use these potions to recover your mana. We sell them in my company, so I can guarantee they work. You should be able to cast a protective barrier yourself that way.”

“…Thank you.” Itski was a bit hesitant, but eventually agreed to take the potions. Then Dominic turned around and ran to find Aria.

The bullet I shoot from Black Hawk grazes that and vanishes in the forest behind. I quickly readjust my aim and shoot again. This time, the bullet bounces off the barrier it makes.

Black Hawk doesn’t have enough power for this. I switch it out for White Viper and shoot a stream of bullets. But that’s just as useless against that barrier.

“Is that all? I don’t remember you just using it as a cannon, and I don’t remember teaching you that way either.”
“Shut up!”

That face, that voice, all of it pisses me off. I can’t allow this to exist.

“Zahhak!” I take it out from my magic storage and attach it.

“Oh, I don’t remember seeing that before. Did you make it yourself?”
“…!”

I don’t even want to reply anymore.

Zahhak’s arms also have guns attached at the end, but those aren’t enough to go through the barrier either.

“Adding arms to an automaton is an interesting concept, but those are mere imitations of my work. I’m a bit disappointed that this is all you’ve accomplished.” It lets out a sigh within the barrier.

I throw away White Viper, even though it still has some mana left, and switch it out for Red Cassowary. It’s already filled up with mana, it’ll output its full power. I pull the trigger, which produces a blinding flash and a thunderous sound as it fires.

This gun, having previously pulverized armed Shiki, has such formidable recoil that my elbows grind audibly as I struggle to maintain its steadiness. As the light begins to wane, I advance forward before it completely disappears.

Simultaneously, I press down on my left hand, which wields a magic blade.

“The power of that magic gun is impressive; I’ll give you that.”

Red Cassowary had no effect on the barrier, and even my magic blade is effortlessly deflected. Inside the barrier, that raises its hand.

“You shouldn’t have come this close.” With a simple twirl of its finger, my left arm detaches. All the joints break apart in an instant.

It can move objects telepathically across the barrier?!

The thought strikes me, but it’s already too late.

Next, my knees—and everything below them—shatter. With nothing to support me, I collapse to the ground. Though my joints remain connected by nerve threads, I can no longer channel mana through them, nor can I feel anything from them.

“Did you already forget who created you? No one knows your construction better than I do.”

No… I still have Zahhak!

Before I can act, my nerve threads are severed, and Zahhak drops lifelessly to the ground.

“These cheap imitations won’t help you in the slightest.”
“Damn it!”

I release Red Cassowary and attempt to push myself up using only my right arm, but my balance is completely off, and I collapse again.

“I was curious to see how much progress you’d made, but I’m honestly disappointed. What have you even been doing all this time?”

Cold, disdainful eyes bore into me as I grit my teeth and try to move again. With only one functional arm, all I can do is crawl.

That thing raises a finger, forming a glowing sphere of light. It’s dense with mana—just like the bullets from my magic guns.

I can’t dodge it. Even if I roll or push myself to the side, it won’t be enough.

“Well then, time for you to go.”

Just as the magic bullet is about to fire, a fiery dragon suddenly erupts between us. It’s Ignis Drake, a mid-tier fire spell.

In response, that thing uses telekinesis to hurl itself backward.

I turn toward the source of the Ignis Drake, looking into the trees. Relief washes over me as I see the person who cast it—the one I love.

“Young Lady…”

But that relief is short-lived. I didn’t want her here. I didn’t want Olivia to this.

“Natalia, are you okay?”
“Yes… thanks to you, Young Lady.”
“That’s a relief. I ran into Claire and the others earlier. Fan Yen is treating Aria’s injuries right now.”

After answering me, Olivia faces that thing inside the barrier.

“So, why is Mother—”
“It’s not her!” I shout instinctively.
“This… this thing… there’s no way in hell it’s Lady Ophelia!”
“How rude,” that thing remarks mockingly. “Can you believe she’s been this insolent the whole time? What do you think, Olivia?”
“…My mother passed away. She would never harm Natalia. This is just a fake.”

That thing shrugs at Olivia’s calm reply, which surprises even me. Olivia’s usual composure feels unnervingly steady in this moment.

“Unbelievable. Both my daughters show no respect for their parent.” As before, it raises its hand, gathering mana. “I suppose I’ll have to teach you a lesson in obedience.”

A fireball hurtles toward Olivia, who smashes it with her fist before lunging to strike that thing. Her punch is stopped by the barrier, but inside, it telekinetically moves its body further back.

Moments later, Olivia breaks through the barrier and charges after it. But before her fists can land, it casts another spell, summoning a storm of ice spears that rain down upon her.

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