That being who had appeared in the skies was simply impossible to defeat. How many times, while reading the story, had Magnus been mentioned as an aberration of Fate that hunted irregularities? Many.
'He was mentioned several times... but he only appeared at the end of the story, when he showed up alongside the villainess to destroy the world.'
It was never explained what those irregularities were, aside from Valeria, who had altered the story's original course even though the ending remained exactly the same. Some of Magnus's final words before destroying the world alongside the villainess, who had absorbed part of the power of that world's God, were still in his memory.
"The world meets a miserable end... isn't that beautiful?"
'Then again... maybe she doesn't even exist anymore.'
The True Dungeon had already been conquered by Enrico, who had taken over Leon's body. Because of that, the God of that world would no longer have any reason to create a second True Dungeon, which meant the entire story could have taken a completely different path.
Beside Leon, Trevon appeared, gripping his sword tightly as he stared at the sky. The situation was desperate. In his entire life, he had never felt such overwhelming pressure coming from someone. Not even when he had stood beside Leon and the other four Elementals had he experienced anything like it.
"Leon, I'll join you."
Trevon's eyes widened, and he turned his head when he saw Elara approaching without showing the slightest sign of fear. The calm expression on her face was astonishing. Before he could say anything, Leon spoke first.
"Elara, after this, I'm going to want you to explain everything."
"I can't tell you everything. There's something preventing me from speaking, but I'll do my best to answer the questions I can."
The knight remained confused by that conversation, but his attention was immediately drawn elsewhere when he saw two swords appear in Elara's hands, one made of light and the other of darkness. The magical pressure emitted by both of them was so great that it even surpassed his own.
"Miss Elara... can use magic at this level?"
"It was Leon who taught me when we were little, wasn't it, my dear?"
"...He did. I thought it would be better if she knew how to protect herself."
Leon answered without hesitation. To Trevon, that explanation seemed sufficient. He simply nodded, convinced that it made sense, although his surprise was still obvious.
For Leon, however, the situation was completely different. In the original story, Elara would only begin using magic halfway through the plot after she had already been captured. That was precisely why he had started becoming suspicious when he realized that she might have used the Veil of Light to record the enemies' suspicious movements.
'Using a technique that would only exist in the future... Magnus appeared, there's no doubt... she made a contract with him.'
'As always... he trusts me without hesitation. That feeling is so wonderful.'
A small smile appeared on Elara's face as she looked at Leon. That was why she always liked staying by his side. The trust she received without ever having to ask made her feelings grow stronger and stronger.
"Can you tell me why he came today?"
"My parents."
"I understand, so it's today."
In the original story, Richard and Isolde would die when the original Leon tried to kidnap Elara. During the confrontation, both of them would lose their lives. It was on that day that she became an empty girl, spending weeks without showing any emotion until she began developing her own magic.
'Even so... this Elara is much stronger. There's no comparison.'
[I feel so sorry for her. My dear protagonist had to go through all of that because of that bastard Leon.]
'It's a little strange hearing that while I'm in his body... but you're not wrong.'
Of the two swords Elara wielded, Leon recognized only one. The sword of light had appeared during the final moments of the original story, when she tried to save as many civilians as possible. It had been a desperate attempt that, in the end, changed absolutely nothing. Everyone died anyway... including her.
"I suppose you've finished talking."
Magnus descended from the sky with the same calmness as someone taking a simple walk. His gaze swept over the mansion beside them. Richard and Isolde watched everything from the window, unable to hide their concern for their children. Rebecca stood in front of them alongside the maids, forming a barrier to protect them. That had been one of Elara's requests.
'She didn't need to ask. I already intended to stand in front of them.'
Magnus turned his attention to Rebecca, admiring the determination on her face. Then he looked at Elara. Finally, he looked at Leon, whose expression remained completely unchanged. Even so, he knew that everyone there was uneasy because of his presence, even those who had no idea who he was, and that... was beautiful.
Watching people face the inevitable with such determination awakened indescribable pleasure within him. The stronger their will to resist... the greater the satisfaction of watching them shatter before Fate.
"So... shall we begin?"
"Trevon, attack together with us."
"Yes, Lord Leon!"
The moment the order was given, a smile spread across Magnus's face. Leon, Elara, and Trevon had already surrounded him from different directions. The first to act was the knight, who released all of his power the very instant he activated his title.
'Knight of Pure Mana.'
His sword shot directly toward that grotesque creature's neck, but to his complete shock, the strike was blocked by nothing more than a single finger. Even after witnessing that absurd sight, Leon and Elara did not hesitate.
"Battlefield Lion."
The spear appeared in Leon's palm the instant his title was activated, while Elara unleashed her darkness magic in all its splendor. Leon thrust forward with tremendous force, while at the same time a slash of pure darkness appeared around Magnus's neck.
"Interruption of Fate."
Both attacks stopped just a few centimeters from his skin, as though an invisible force prevented them from moving any farther. The very next instant, Magnus raised his hands and grabbed both of them by the head with such unbelievable speed that neither of them could react. Trevon watched the scene with despair written all over his face.
'Leon is Rank Ten... and from what I can see, Miss Elara is too, but he...'
Before he could finish the thought, Magnus drove a kick into his abdomen, violently launching him toward the ground dozens of meters away. Then he spun his body while still holding Leon and Elara, hurling them in opposite directions. The impact was so violent that enormous shockwaves spread across the places where they landed.
"Let's see... how much hope remains in you before you're crushed, humans."
Leon and Elara got to their feet with some difficulty. Their bodies were already covered in wounds, while, in the distance, Trevon struggled much harder to stand, leaning on his sword to remain upright. The three of them raised their heads at the same time, staring at that absolute being who remained in the sky, merely watching them with a smile on his face. At that moment, despite their strength, they were only three humans... trying to fight against Fate itself.