Standing beneath the blue sky, Vanica, with half of her body demon-assimilated, coldly gazed at the three people bound by the curse.
She calmly spoke her victory declaration: "You've really worked hard. You put a lot of thought into trying to defeat me."
"It was really just a tiny bit away; my power was almost sealed."
"Fortunately, when my Devil Power climbed to 70%, my Curse Symbol Magic had already activated. Curse Symbol Magic: [World of Decay] can reduce the effects of magic and spells used against me."
"...Is it over just like that?"
Suddenly, as if having a split personality, Vanica began talking to herself. "Sealing Magic? How interesting. To think it could even successfully reduce magic from the Arcane Stage. This is quite a good experiment."
"I say, Megicula~~~ don't get in my way, I'm really enjoying this."
A low sound of weeping seemed exceptionally small amidst Vanica's solitary conversation.
"Lo...lopechka..."
Lolopechka, already covered in wounds from the Curse Symbol Magic, looked back. Undine, the Water Spirit who had always accompanied her, lay powerlessly on the ground, her once pure hair and azure dress stained an incredibly ugly black.
Faintly, the Water Spirit seemed on the verge of dissipating.
Megicula's voice rose again, "This is the first time applying a curse to the Water Spirit. This is also a good experiment."
In contrast to the demon's playfulness and curiosity, Lolopechka, called upon by the Water Spirit, was filled with despair and sadness, tears streaming down her face. "No... no!"
"Un...dine!"
"Aaaaaah!"
Lolopechka struggled and crawled toward the Water Spirit, but her speed was incredibly slow, miserable and powerless.
Watching the scene below, Vanica didn't show the slightest bit of sympathy. She unenthusiastically consoled Lolopechka, "Wait a moment, little Lolopechka. We were having such a good fight. You can still try a bit harder, right? Right?"
"Ah, this one is already finished," Megicula spoke up suddenly. "Unable to move due to the intense pain, and the Water Spirit can no longer be used by her. Everything ends here."
"Is that so, is that so? Ah~~~ how boring."
"You... you... that's enough!" A voice rang out from behind Vanica. The familiar magic caused the bored Vanica to smile. She turned her head back to see a figure clad in armor of blended blood and water—it was Noelle.
She had actually broken free from the shackles of the Curse Symbol Magic and stood up once again!
"Oh ho ho~~" A glint appeared in Vanica's dark eyes. That blatant gaze was like she had locked onto an extremely interesting prey.
Noelle rushed forward at high speed, her spear condensed from water magic still sharp.
Vanica turned and thrust out her left hand. Countless blood thorns stabbed toward the figure in front of her. The charging figure was instantly pierced by the blood thorns, and the curiosity in Vanica's eyes diminished quite a bit.
"It seems that without Lolopechka's magic, you can't do anything at all!"
"Your speed is so slow."
"The difference in power is too vast. How disappointing!" Vanica complained.
"It's not over yet!" Noelle suddenly burst through the blood thorns. Although one or two thorns pierced her body, most were dissipated by her water armor.
She charged forward with an uplifted and furious posture.
Carrying absolute conviction!
"I must protect Lolopechka! I must avenge my mother!"
The surging water spear in her hand lengthened, plunging into Vanica's abdomen to the astonishment of her and Megicula. The water armor surged with white spray, washing away the murky blood dripping upon it.
"This girl!"
"The lethal blood thorns were deflected by the armor on her body, and those that got through only caused superficial wounds?!"
Noelle, having thrust the spear into Vanica's abdomen, felt a jolt of spirit. Her remaining magic gathered entirely in the water spear. "What you have done can never be forgiven!"
"I will kill you."
"Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!"
"Point-blank range."
The surging water magic condensed into a massive water dragon. The dragon's head opened its maw and bit down, swallowing Vanica whole.
"The momentum is actually quite good."
"However," the corners of Vanica's mouth curled up as she sneered, "it's useless against me."
"Red Beast!"
Amidst a sharp cry, a giant bright Red Beast burst through the water dragon, its sharp claws sweeping through the air, savage and overbearing!
The blood beast transformed into sprawling branches growing wildly in the air, as the spray from the defeated water dragon scattered like rain.
With her magic exhausted, Noelle's armor and spear began to dissipate. The white foam-like hem of her dress silently faded away, and she fell powerlessly to her knees.
Her grimoire also fell open before her.
"I lost."
"Damn it." Noelle forced herself up, looking up at Vanica who was staring down at her. Her silver eyes were filled with anger and unwillingness.
Those familiar eyes and that bright long hair.
Vanica seemed to remember something and asked, "What is your name?"
Having been raised in royal etiquette since childhood, she possessed the dignity and backbone to never show weakness or yield, even if it meant death.
"Noelle Silva. I am a noble of the Clover Kingdom and a Magic Knight of the Black Bulls!"
"Megicula," Vanica suddenly spoke after hearing Noelle's words, "let's not kill her, okay?"
"Oh? Why? Destroying the Heart Kingdom's brain trust is our..."
"That doesn't matter anymore! Let's take Lolopechka back to the Spade Kingdom."
Hearing this, Noelle, who was prepared to die a heroic death, was stunned. She looked up in disbelief, not because she was surprised at being spared, but because she had gained a new understanding of Vanica's malice.
"Take Lolopechka to the Spade Kingdom? Such a thing?!"
Vanica conversed with Megicula, "We once fought a woman who wore armor just like little Noelle."
"I remember... little Acier. That fight really hurt~~~"
"Back then, after I took the child hostage, little Acier became incredibly strong. If we take little Lolopechka hostage, little Noelle will also become stronger, right?"
"Ahaha~"
The shrill laughter echoed continuously above the royal palace.
"I really have to hand it to you, you're quite interesting, Vanica!" Megicula did not refuse Vanica's proposal.
Vanica walked step by step toward Lolopechka, preparing to reach out and pick her up.
"Damn it." Noelle struggled, but she was already powerless.
Just then, something unexpected happened.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and a bolt of blue lightning struck down like a terrifying dragon.
"Huh?" Vanica reached upward, and blood erupted to form a giant hand, crushing the blue lightning with a single motion. "Who is it?"
"Take your hands off my Queen!"
A figure covered in blue electrical arcs appeared.
"Mr. Gacha?!" Noelle looked ahead in disbelief. "And... everyone else?"
"Is everyone here?"
...
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