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A white Chimera, «Bai Ze» Mutsu, ranked No. 6 among the Seven Beasts of Calamity, floated in the battlefield’s airspace, bathed in the morning glow. Alongside him, Susa’s clone, a top executive among the Seven Beasts of Calamity, equipped with a single eye and bat-like wings, shared the current situation in a weary tone.

“Nidhogg has developed a beam attack with a paralysis effect. It seems to work on the same principle as the Holy Light I observed earlier, which it produced by altering its cells. It’s unclear whether this is due to an overflow of energy or a reaction to the physical attacks from Byakuya and Gamon. Regardless, it’s evident that it has developed another troublesome ability by being provoked. Ideally, depleting its energy with these attacks would be to our advantage, but unfortunately, it’s learning. The accuracy of its attacks on Gamon and Byakuya is improving rapidly.”

“Seriously, those belligerent, muscle-headed guys are such a headache. They’re facing the consequences of their recklessness. Still, we can’t just stand by and watch them struggle. Hazumichi, can you lend a hand?” Mutsu asked his companion in a laid-back manner.

“Hn.”

A small, black-haired girl about ten years old, dressed in a red kimono that seemed too delicate for her, nodded expressionlessly from Mutsu’s back. She manipulated a 4×4 grid cube made up of small mirrors in her hands.

“1 turns to 2, 2 to 4, 4 to 16, 16 to 256, 256 to 65,536, 65,536 turns to…”

Mumbling incomprehensible words, Hazumi manipulated the cube. With each action, a square mirror appeared, gradually covering the sky.

“Mirror projects demon, reveal the truth, repel the evil… ‘Mirror Labyrinth’.”

Concluding her incantation, Hazumi, known as «Mirror Beyond Cloud» and ranked No. 8 among the Seven Beasts of Calamity, finished her spell.

“Remarkable, as expected,” Mutsu noted.

“Indeed, quite impressive,” Susa agreed.

Despite the praise from Mutsu and Susa, Hazumi remained impassive as she continued to work the cube.

“Expand.”

The mirrors moved through the air, some shielding Gamon, others accompanying Byakuya, and the rest spreading across Nidhogg’s body, perfectly reflecting the paralysis beams.

Hazumi operated the cube with remarkable speed, yet her expression suggested she was holding back, maintaining her composure effortlessly.

“It seems Gamon has also retreated. Everyone here…would following orders for once really be that difficult? Our team is just too passionate for their own good,” Susa sighed.

Noticing its target had vanished and feeling the pain from its own attacks being reflected, Nidhogg reduced its beam firing rate.

The primary goal—to halt Nidhogg’s advance using Tanabata’s ‘Maya Zone’ to confuse it, Gamon’s ‘Storm Barrier’ to envelop it, and now Hazumi’s ‘Mirror Labyrinth’ to neutralize its attacks—appeared to have been met, Susa concluded.

Hazumi, working the cube at high speed, seemed somewhat dissatisfied.

“Purifying Light, fire.”

As she spoke, all the mirrors unleashed a purifying light, scorching Nidhogg’s body.

“What are you doing, Hazumi!? I didn’t give the command to attack!”

Facing Susa’s outrage, Hazumi turned away, her expression unreadable.

“It’s not fair.”

“This doesn’t explain your actions.”

“It’s not fair that only Gamon and Byakuya get to have fun.”

That doesn’t justify joining in their recklessness, Susa thought, astounded by her logic. Mutsu, ever the mediator even in his drowsy state, chimed in.

“Let’s face it, we’re all just competitive at heart, hating to be outdone by anyone…”

◆◇◆◇

“Geez, it seems everyone’s brain is nothing but mush. They can’t even grasp the concept of ‘stopping.'”

High above where Mutsu and his team were positioned, a multi-faceted crystal — perhaps more fittingly known as «Yog-Sothoth» Ikaruga, the leader of the Thirteen Demon Generals and towering over 70m in size — expressed his dismay.

“Well, it was Gamon and Byakuya who got carried away, so they can hardly blame me for not supervising them closely. But once this is all over, I’ll definitely have a word with them,” Ikaruga thought as he turned his enormous eye toward Nidhogg, now obscured by the «Storm Barrier».

To him, capable of sensing space itself, any barrier, be it thick clouds or walls of dirt, posed no obstacle.

He scanned Nidhogg’s body for a vital spot, focusing on the castle «Arumamis».

“Hmm, this high energy reaction, it must be a player. I thought flaunting his castle like that was a decoy, but to think he’s actually there. Should I be indignant at his cheap trick, or commend him for his audacity?”

Ikaruga vaguely remembered fighting him but, unlike the memorable encounters with Lubbock, who soloed him, and Hiyuki, who skillfully evaded and counterattacked, this opponent didn’t leave much of an impression.

“So the opponent is just a minor figure, not worth remembering, huh.”

Traditionally, he would announce his name before a fight, disliking sneak attacks. Well, if the opponent is that weak, there’s hardly a point in complaining.

Ikaruga reassured himself as he prepared to unleash his full mana for the Dimensional Slash.

“The order is to destroy «Arumamis» without holding back, but focusing my Dimensional Slash on one point might breach the mantle layer. A moment’s carelessness could damage the core and axis, potentially annihilating all surface dwellers…well, whatever. These trivial matters aren’t my concern.”

Ikaruga coldly assessed the potential aftermath, seemingly ready to proceed.

“Wait, Ikaruga. The Princess has given an order — hold for a moment.”

Before he could act, Susa’s alter ego, flying alongside him, intervened.

“But why? The energy is peaking; we don’t have much time.”

Hiyuki, mounted on Tengai’s back, descended rapidly.

“Wait, I said hold your attack!!!”

“What a pleasant surprise, Princess. Ikaruga is honored by your radiant presence.”

“Stop, pleasantries can wait. First, halt your attack on the mantle layer! I aim to minimize damage, preferably acting discreetly to avoid drawing attention. Ideally, let’s wrap this up quietly.”

“Hmm,” Ikaruga pondered, considering Hiyuki’s challenging request as his tentacles writhed. Then, effortlessly, he proposed an even more audacious plan.

“In that case, let’s opt for a wide-area annihilation — Multiple Dimensional Slash — instead of a single-point breakthrough. Let’s obliterate Nidhogg, or whatever its name, into oblivion.”

“Obliterate…can you really do that?”

Hiyuki was skeptical of Ikaruga’s plan, which he made sound as easy as a leisurely stroll. Her doubt was understandable, as not even the combined might of Tengai, with his unparalleled firepower, and Izumo — though not as powerful as Tengai but still among the top three in Imperial Crimson — had managed to annihilate their foe.

“Indeed. While no one matches Tengai’s firepower, I am confident in my ability to obliterate the enemy’s occupied space without unnecessary energy loss — my calculations estimate a mere 0.3% chance of failure. This should suffice for obliteration.”

Ikaruga’s words, dripping with sarcasm yet veiled in politeness, pushed Tengai to the brink of his patience.

“The success rate is 97%. After analysis, I can confirm Ikaruga’s attack has a high probability of eradicating Nidhogg.”

With Susa’s support, Hiyuki sighed, seemingly resigned to the plan.

“Alright. Use your full power to defeat Nidhogg!”

“As you wish, Princess. However, it will be dangerous, so please keep your distance.”

“Hmph! As if I’d let anything tarnish the noble presence of the Princess.”

Tengai protested against Ikaruga’s caution and departed.

“Shall we begin, then?”

Ikaruga passed through the «Storm Barrier» to assess Nidhogg’s situation and observed it motionless, seemingly resigned to its fate.

The indifferent demeanor of Nidhogg momentarily puzzled Ikaruga. However, recognizing his energy had peaked, he decided it was prudent to neutralize the threat before it could retaliate. Concentrating all his mana, he targeted Nidhogg’s entirety.

“Multiple Dimensional Slash!”

The attack, accompanied by rainbow-colored beams, obliterated Nidhogg along with the surrounding space.

Author Note –

№0 – Amari – The Greatest Spirit of Water (Exception)
№1 – Iki – The Sword Dog（Honorary）
№2 – Soujyu – Green man双樹：緑葉人（Honorary）
№3 – Susa – Gazerー
№4 – Kurashi – The Winged Tiger
№5 – Five Fate (Male) & Divine Cloud (Female) – Kirin
№6 – Mutsu – Bai Ze
№7 – Tanabata – Apsara
№8 – Hazumi – Mirror Beyond Cloud
№9 – Kokonoe – Demon Eye High Priest

*So apparently they’re retired/honorary members of sorts now but author still referred to them as such and these numbers belong to them.