"――――"

With flaming red hair like blazing flames and blue eyes capturing the clear azure sky, from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, he seemed to be a being formed out of pure heroism. An existence celebrated by the world at his birth, one that stood on the opposite end from him since the beginning, a chosen one. In the midst of the vast and chilly night sand sea, standing majestically, Reinhard's gaze made every hair on Aldebaran's body stand on end.

―― "Sword Saint" Reinhard van Astrea.

Needless to say, there was no existence within the Kingdom of Lugunica - nay, across the entire world - to compare, and he stood as the greatest obstacle in Aldebaran's plans, his perfect match. While the other perfect match had been none other than Natsuki Subaru, both he and the already concerning Beatrice had been successfully suppressed with Al Shamak. Therefore, among those expected to clash, this man was the largest remaining obstacle.

Now, Reinhard van Astrea was the strongest. Cecilus Segmunt, the "Blue Lightning," was faster; Halibel, the "Admirer," was more skilled; Vague Adgard, the "Mad Prince," was further from death; the great spirits of the four major elements surpassed in mana quantity; the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishops wielded irrational Authorities; the Witches of Sin could claim many lives; ordinary good people were better liars, and ordinary villains were constantly tenacious.

In nearly every field, there are those who surpass Reinhard individually. Nevertheless, Reinhard van Astrea's position as the strongest remains unshaken. Breaking down that stronghold was the absolute condition for Aldebaran's victory.

"The situation I'm in is just too bad."

"The meager hand you've been dealt isn't new now. Just make good use of me, the Joker."

"...From a dragon's perspective, what do you think of the 'Sword Saint'?"

"I'm of the same opinion as when I was human... or maybe not. Perhaps because this body can properly sense the opponent's strength, I think he's even more dangerous than my human self did."

Behind him, looking past Aldebaran at Reinhard, the one narrowing its golden eyes was the "Divine Dragon" Volcanica, known for its lack of dignity as a super life form in its speech—it was the 'Divine Dragon Aldebaran,' with Aldebaran's 'memories' installed into the empty dragon shell.

The 'Aldebaran,' sharing thoughts, ideas, and even objectives to the point of being the same existence as the prerequisite knowledge, was a lifeline for the isolated and nearly unassisted Aldebaran. There was also a self-declaration from 'Aldebaran' to use him effectively as a joker. Originally having no intention of holding back, he resolved to make full use of it. Just as Aldebaran had reconfirmed his hand—

"The 'Sword Saint' lineage, Reinhard van Astrea."

"——"

Feeling a prickling sensation on his skin, Aldebaran narrowed his eyes inside his helmet. Announcing one's name and title to the opposing party is a sort of etiquette for fighters in this world. Surprisingly, even the Sin Archbishops try to adhere to this custom, each doing so for varied reasons: some for their own pride, some out of respect for their opponent, some to indulge in a sense of superiority, and others to encourage their cowardly selves.

The reason 'Sword Saint' Reinhard follows this custom becomes clear when you look into his eyes. In this situation, Reinhard is showing respect to Aldebaran—even though he must have heard what Aldebaran did at the tower from Flam.

This is both Reinhard's virtue and the cause of an insurmountable gap with others. Whether Aldebaran perceived it as one or the other, he had no intention of revealing that in detail—

"The Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of ‘Pride,' Stride Vollachia."

"——"

"Wouldn't it be funny if I said that?"

— But he resolved only to maliciously trample on that respect.

"—Bohaaah!!"

Just after Reinhard was taken aback by the answer akin to sticking out a tongue at the extended hand, along with a crude roar, a white light surged towards the 'Sword Saint' standing still. An extremely awkward strike from someone who was unaccustomed to handling the recently taken-over dragon shell—yet the power of the 'Dragon's' breath released from that massive body was genuine.

Immediately after overwriting "Memory," if what was released in the top floor of the Pleiades Watchtower at Garfiel and Ezzo was a sneeze, this time it was a shot with a clear intention of destruction. To prove the difference in concentrated destructive power, Reinhard was engulfed by a shapeless white surge that seemed to eternally transform the unmanned sand sea other than Aldebaran and the others.

He didn't think he could kill. However, if he didn't do it with the intention to kill, it wouldn't even be a fight. As evidence of that—

"―Get back, Me!!"

"Uoooah!?"

‘Aldebaran’, who had exhaled completely and created white smoke and a giant hole in the sand sea, instinctively hooked Aldebaran with his extended claw and flung him sideways without restraint. Literally his counterpart, Aldebaran was spun around entirely by the sudden betrayal, rolling almost horizontally on the sand, and finally came to a stop. Then, raising his face while spitting out the sand that entered through the gap in his helmet, he saw the fact that ‘Aldebaran's’ actions weren't a betrayal but a follow-up.

Reinhard, who should have taken a direct hit from the breath of the 'Dragon,' was unscathed and leaping at Aldebaran, initiating a monster showdown of mismatched sizes.

"Not even burned! It's not about being cute, what principle is that!?"

"I borrowed the power of the 'Dragon Sword.' This sword won't perish even if the day the world ends comes. It's made that way. With it, I deflected it."

"That answer, in the end, isn't the sword amazing, it's you! And it doesn't explain why you're not burned!"

"That's due to the effect of the 'Blessing of Sunburn.'"

Giving such a nonchalant answer, Reinhard flipped in mid-air and unleashed a kick. It collided head-on with the dragon's claw, which had momentum like it was ripping the sky apart, producing a loud bang and explosion as if fireworks or a cannon had gone off nearby. It was destructive power that any warrior who had undergone constant rigorous training would likely not withstand even a single strike, yet terrifyingly it was a normal attack for both the 'Sword Saint' and the 'Dragon.' In other words, that offensive and defensive exchange continued relentlessly, without pause.

"Damn, gaaah…"

A series of unbelievable explosive sounds from the attacks echoed one after another, and the shockwaves each time blew away the sands of the desert, trying to dislodge Aldebaran who was lying on the ground. The clash between the world's strongest beings was never going to be in a safe zone, even if you were watching from several dozen meters away. However, Aldebaran could not choose to leave the battlefield for his own safety. --There is a limit to the updating of the matrix. Currently, if he strayed too far from the position defined by the matrix, the domain would collapse, and one of the few advantages Aldebaran had against Reinhard would be lost. That was something he absolutely had to avoid.

"--. Strong. But too different from before."

Meanwhile, as Aldebaran clung to the battlefield, Reinhard, who continued exchanging blows with the "Dragon," stepped back to create some distance and muttered as such. With a hand on the hilt of the "Dragon Sword," he showed no signs of exhaustion on his serious face, and ‘Aldebaran’, showing no signs of weariness either, grunted, "Huh?" In response, Reinhard shook his head and said,

"When I went to the watchtower the other day with Flam and Ezzo, due to a misunderstanding, I clashed with you... the 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica, but your movement and intentions are too different from then."

‘Aldebaran’ remained silent at Reinhard's remark. However, his assessment was correct. Indeed, when Reinhard engaged that time, it was with the real "Divine Dragon" Volcanica—it was likely an empty dragon hull, having created a dragon person. Comparing it to now, it would undeniably seem as if the person has changed. Having pointed this out and proven his insight, Reinhard continued.

"You are weaker now than you were the last time. Why is that?"

"...Cringe."

"--?"

"No, no, no, no, no, undoubtedly you'd say that. Sure, as you say, I can't fully handle this body. So, if you think, isn't there a reason why I seem kind of weak? There's nothing strange about it at all. But--"

With no malice intended, Reinhard’s doubt was cut off by Aldebaran. Even so, he flashed a grin recognizable even on the inhuman profile of the "Dragon."

"I'll make you see what I'm capable of."

Immediately after that declaration, "Aldebaran" spread its wings and flew, stirring up the wind. The distance between it and Reinhard disappeared in an instant, and it swung its tree-like arms down, aiming to crush him. Facing this blatant attack, Reinhard ignored the poor footing—as a matter of fact, he negated it with the "Blessing of Sandplay," dodged by closing the distance, and launched a counterattack.

"Guh—"

Reinhard's kick, performed with his long legs stretched between heaven and earth, struck the solar plexus of what would be the "dragon" in a human, sending its massive body hurtling straight upward. Instead of flying with its wings, "Aldebaran" was forcibly propelled into the air, and Reinhard jumped to pursue the "dragon" in the sky—no, he overtook it. He placed his toes on the back of the oncoming "dragon" and forcibly stopped its upward momentum.

"I'm sorry, but this is the end."

Reinhard appeared to be standing on the back of "Aldebaran" in midair, and the hand chop he was about to deliver with his empty hand was sharper than any excellent blade. It seemed that perhaps, that single slash could even cut through the scales of a "Divine Dragon."

"You said you'd make me see, didn't you...? Bear with me a little longer."

Just before the hand chop could land, "Aldebaran," who had been at Reinhard's mercy, murmured so. Hearing the "dragon's" voice, which mixed suffering with a scheme, Reinhard furrowed his brow slightly.

From a distance, looking up at the transcendent beings in the sky from the ground, Aldebaran said,

"—Plan A."

"—"

Given the distance, it's unlikely Reinhard heard Aldebaran's voice. While it's not strange to think he might have heard it, there's no point in questioning it.

Because—

The light of stars twinkling in the nocturnal sky was beginning to rain down upon the "Sword Saint."

△▼△▼△▼△

—Al Shario.

It was one of the forbidden arts that the ancient "witches" excelled at. It is the realization of an unbelievable miracle that draws stars, which are massive chunks of mana shining and burning in the sky, down to earth by utilizing the property of mana attracting mana of the same nature. Naturally, to aim a star to fall in a specific place requires precise magical control and an unimaginably large amount of mana to make it possible. In exchange for the difficulty of its realization, the mana contained in the starlight equals that of a grand spirit, and it's said that it once brought down even flocks of "dragons."

Its destructive power far surpasses even the devastating breath of the "dragon," which has the right to destroy the world with just a roar, and can be considered the pinnacle of destruction.

"Magic is a miraculous study imbued with the potential to make every imagination a reality, isn't it? If there were those who wished to surpass it, then it is inevitable that powerful magic, which laughs at the breath of dragons, was born... Eventually, magic stronger than that to bring down stars will emerge. Don't you think humans are truly 'greedy' and wonderful?"

The one who spoke boastfully to Aldebaran with such a cocky look was a beautiful white-haired "witch." Even recalling that cocky look now is infuriating, but it can be believed that it wasn't false or mere bluff. That's because the smug "witch" showed him the real thing firsthand. Thus, this is the destruction—a present pinnacle of destruction—that surpasses even the breath of the "dragon."

"Damn it."

Every peak can potentially be surpassed by new ideas and the magic that realizes them. Aldebaran clenched his teeth at the fact that even Al Shario was no exception to the teachings of the "witch" and wished for the outcome of the falling starlight.

—Though he hated to admit it, Aldebaran was taught by the "witch" and received all kinds of knowledge. Among the wisdom he received, a significant portion was about magic. However, even if he could grasp the theories and techniques to realize magic, Aldebaran lacked the critical talent. Knowing how to boil water doesn't fill a bathtub with a cup's worth of water.

Then why did the "Witch" impart magical knowledge to Aldebaran, which he couldn’t use? Was it just to flaunt her knowledge and show off smugly? Or was it to make his path a bit smoother by granting him magical knowledge that might help him overcome certain difficulties, even if it was unusable? Both are merely secondary effects of the "Witch's" true intention.

The real reason the "Witch" filled Aldebaran with magical knowledge is—

“—Al-Shario.”

The chant of the "Dragon" that was shot into the sky drops stars onto the night sea of sand. Despite possessing immense power, the "Divine Dragon" Volcanica became hollow when its soul was separated; Aldebaran, who housed 'memories' within that dragon shell, finally met the requirements to let the treasure bestowed by the "Witch" shine—a treasure previously left unused.

In other words, this is precisely why the "Witch" filled Aldebaran with knowledge. It is Aldebaran, who acquired knowledge and the dragon shell of the "Dragon," who is the means to overcome the greatest barrier, as endless as stone stacking suggests.

“——”

Even Reinhard, on the back of the "Dragon" looking up at the sky, cannot help but be amazed. The light of the falling stars in this final battle, which foretells the end of the world in the Vollachian Empire, is as powerful as what was unleashed by Sphinx during that battle. While Sphinx employed every unfair technique to finally realize this forbidden art, Aldebaran keeps a keen eye on Reinhard’s movements in the sky, trembling at the extraordinary nature of the "Dragon," which accomplishes it unaided.

He doesn’t naively believe the Al-Shario cannot be stopped. In fact, the "Blue Lightning," considered equal to the "Sword Saint," accomplished the extraordinary feat of cutting through the star that fell during the imperial capital battle with just a swing of a sword. That star-cutting was the result of the fusion of Cecilus’s swordsmanship and the power of the "Dream Sword," and Aldebaran doesn’t think Reinhard, who cannot draw the "Dragon Sword," can do the same. However, that is no reason for complacency or underestimation.

Therefore—

“O-oooohhhh—!!”

Before Reinhard could show any response to the light of the stars, the roaring "Aldebaran" executed a half-turn in midair, facing the back of Reinhard and delivering a blow with its wings. Reinhard, instinctually blocking it with his elbow and knee, understood that the dragon's aim was not to slice with its wings, but to send him flying from the impact—bringing him closer to the star.

"――ッッ!!"

As was the case in their initial contact, Reinhard had the means to navigate the sky—or rather, possessing the "Blessing of Clouds" to use clouds as footholds. Before he could regain his posture, the roar of "Aldebaran" swept away the surrounding clouds, further propelling Reinhard skyward.

Without footing, without escape, Reinhard collided with the star's light in the defenseless expanse of the sky. Even under far worse conditions than the star-cutting battle during the Imperial Capital Battle, not even Reinhard had any means against the star's strike—

"――Granted"

In the blink of an eye, Reinhard desperately stretched out his leg, and the tip of his toe touched the star. The explosive energy that erupted there was supposed to engulf the "Sword Saint" and cause the star to end in an explosion. However, the expected explosion did not occur, and instead, Reinhard walked along the side of the star.

"What?!"
"What the?!"

Dodging the impending choice of destruction or evasion, the astonished voices of Aldebaran and "Aldebaran" echoed across the sand sea. To the two expressions of astonishment, Reinhard, walking along the side of the star and eventually reaching its zenith, declared,

"It's the 'Blessing of Orb Walking'"

"Orb walking..."
"Handling a fireball, is it?"

Their disbelief was met with the understanding that the destructive beam was imagined as a "fireball." However, that disbelief was quickly painted over by the rising sense of crisis. Believing in the sound of the "Blessing of Orb Walking," the performers in a circus ride not only on top of orbs but also manipulate them freely—

"Damn it"

Reinhard's foot seemed to lightly tap on the star's surface. In the next moment, the trajectory of the star dropped by Al-Shario changed, and the starlight fiercely surged toward its magician, "Aldebaran." Seeing this, the dragon cursed and, with all its might, countered with a breath attack.

"――――"

In that moment, a blinding white and red light enveloped the sky, creating the illusion that night had ended. The scene, which originally was supposed to be witnessed by crashing Reinhard into a star, had its process forcibly distorted, converging only into the result of a scorched night sky. – No, it wasn't the end yet. The shattered star transformed into countless sparkles, and the sand sea was buried under a carpet bombing of light.

"Ugh…"

Naturally, Aldebaran, who intended to witness this from the ground, was blown away, suffering numerous burns across his entire body, and he collapsed into the sand. Suddenly, he heard a different rumbling from the falling star a little distance away. As he managed to turn his barely movable head in that direction, he saw an 'Aldebaran,' with one wing folded and the other severed, powerlessly crashing down to the ground. And then–

"It's unfortunate that it has come to this."

Reinhard walked over next to the fallen Aldebaran. Beside the half-dead 'Dragon' and the half-alive Aldebaran, he showed no sign of being affected by the apocalyptic event of the star's explosion. They say the Sin Archbishop of 'Greed' once killed Reinhard, but how did they manage it?

However, Reinhard, with a look of poignant regret in his eyes, was already certain of the outcome of this battle, and sadly, Aldebaran had no means to overturn it. Indeed, just as Reinhard had predicted. – Even the 8,466th time, the victory was his. But–

"–Next time."

In that moment, behind Reinhard, the 'Aldebaran' pathetically fallen on the ground lifted its head and unleashed a reckless 'Dragon's' breath in his direction. The 'Dragon's' breath, unleashed in an incomplete state, was a pathetic sight compared to when fully powered, but Reinhard had no choice but to address it. – For Aldebaran was also in the trajectory of that white light, and if Reinhard dodged it, Aldebaran would not escape unscathed, reduced to ashes.

"Such methods are hardly commendable…!"

Reinhard turned around, removed the “Dragon Sword” along with the sheath, and swept away the breath from the front. Reinhard, with his voice raised in righteous indignation, was angry because "Aldebaran" launched an attack that involved Aldebaran, who was supposed to be an ally. Truly kind-hearted. Next time, he decided to include that kindness in his strategy.

Deciding so, Aldebaran broke the capsule in his mouth and gulped down the poison.

"What…"

Noticing something amiss, Reinhard's expression tensed as he turned around. Seeing this, Aldebaran, convulsing and twitching on the ground, drowned in a bloody froth as his consciousness faded beyond—,

--- --- ---

"—That's enough."

A voice, dignified and cutting through the cold, frozen sky, pierced the “Dragon” obliquely. Struck by the shock penetrating his entire body, Aldebaran clung onto the spike on the Dragon’s back with reflexes conditioned through hundreds of falls to his death, avoiding an opportunity for skydiving without a parachute, and headed straight toward the ground, quite literally with his other half. And then—,

"I recommend surrendering. I do not wish to cut you down."

"Don't act so superior, hero. I'll win anyway. —The stars were just misaligned."

—Thus began the 8,467th battle of Aldebaran.

--- --- ---

—Departing from the Pleiades Watchtower, a skirmish with the “Sword Saint” Reinhard van Astrea began over the Augria Sand Dunes at night.

Though this battle started with light piercing through and him falling, Aldebaran only perceived it as the inevitable moment finally arriving, and he wasn't surprised by his involvement. He somewhat thought the inevitable came too soon, but it was a battle he knew would come. Rather, being able to fight at a time when he was at his least depleted was preferable. —That kind of positive bravado only lasted before he heard “—That's enough” a hundred times, and when he had been told it more than 8,000 times, that facade slipped away.

From the moment they first faced the "―That's it," they were softly caught by the wings of the 'Dragon' and managed to descend safely to the sand sea. Even then, they encountered the "―That's it" over a hundred times.

Until then, after suffering crashes that broke their neck or spine, they were sent back to the "―That's it," repeatedly forced to attempt again without understanding the reason.

"When I realized that this '―That's it' was actually Reinhard's '―That's it,' I was strangely moved..."

The situation of not knowing what exactly was defeating them is mentally unhealthy. For Aldebaran, being physically harmed is undesirable, but it's not the worst. He is more concerned about mental harm than physical harm. In that respect, figuring out the true nature of the repeated "―That's it" felt like escaping from a labyrinth. However, that refreshing feeling soon dissipated.

"Considering it didn't become a 'dead-end save,' I suppose I was lucky..."

Depending on the situation, setting the matrix just before an unavoidable end is almost the only weakness of Aldebaran's power. Although so far he miraculously hasn't made a mistake even once, there's no guarantee it will remain that way. Especially now, preparing for unforeseen circumstances, he continued to define and redefine the matrix at fifteen-second intervals. Because of that, he could return to just before Reinhard's "―That's it," but if he had set the matrix's start point at "―That's," he might have started from "it," unable to do anything as his spirit was worn down.

Once a matrix is updated, it is impossible to revert to tasks before it. Therefore, Aldebaran must confront 'Sword Saint' Reinhard van Astrea starting from the "―That's it" matrix.

For that reason, he has already repeated the "―That's it" over eight thousand times. It's an overwhelmingly tedious battle, like attempting to climb an impossibly high mountain at a turtle's pace, but with the existence of 'Aldebaran,' facing Reinhard is not entirely out of the question. Thanks to that, preparations to tackle Reinhard are steadily progressing.

Not limited to Reinhard, the key to defeating any enemy lies in the deconstruction of its elements. By dismantling the factors that define it, one can naturally approach the enemy's core. Reinhard is not simply the strongest—there is a reason for his strength. Aldebaran analyzes and unravels this by breaking it down into the individual elements of ‘mind, technique, and body.’

Body: Despite Reinhard's absurd physical abilities without relying on blessings, the underlying cause is his extraordinarily abnormal od, which operates in a way that harnesses the mana inside and outside his body with no loss, instead creating an efficient, explosive synergy. There is a technique known as ‘Flow Technique’ where, with immense talent and years of training, one can enhance their body using mana circulating within. However, Reinhard, with his innate ‘Excessive Mana Circulation Constitution,’ naturally controls this from birth, making the enhanced state his norm. This is akin to Reinhard's mere breathing having effects several hundred times more effective than normal breathing, while still leaving room for Reinhard himself to take a deep breath.

Technique: As determined by Aldebaran’s prior knowledge and eight thousand clashes, Reinhard possesses 251 blessings. These range from combat-useful ones like the ‘Blessing of the Sword Saint,’ ‘Blessing of Initiative,’ and ‘Blessing of Arrow Avoidance,’ to environment-responsive blessings like 'Blessing of Mist' and ‘Blessing of Sandplay,’ to the more whimsical ‘Blessing of Shoelaces’ and ‘Blessing of Layered Clothing.’ Reinhard's ability to adapt, possessing more powerful and rare blessings than can be counted on both hands—each capable of representing a nation—means that even if a trap capable of ensnaring the smartest ‘Witch’ in the world were set, he would easily break through it effortlessly, demonstrating his exceptional prowess.

Heart. —Lastly, the mindset of Reinhard, tasked with the role of "Sword Saint." His claim to be from the lineage of the "Sword Saint" likely indicates that he believes he has not yet reached his ideal of what it means to be a "Sword Saint." However, for those who oppose or stand against him, Reinhard's self-awareness is irrelevant. Regardless of how Reinhard himself feels, his actions and sense of duty are worthy of being called "Sword Saint," and he will not overlook the enemies of the kingdom—no, the world. The "Sword Saint," Reinhard van Astrea, is a cog in the machine to eliminate the enemies of the world.

This is the result of Aldebaran's analysis of Reinhard's "mind, technique, and body." In other words, to defeat Reinhard, it is crucial to dismantle and crush each of these elements that have been revealed through this breakdown. Thus—

"—That's enough."

From the moment when the "Dragon" was pierced by light, Aldebaran's next battle began.

△▼△▼△▼△

—Eight thousand eight hundred eighty-eight.

"—That's enough."

During the consecutive battles, he became convinced that for Reinhard, who possesses the trait of "excessive mana circulation," where he excessively absorbs and channels the surrounding mana throughout his body, the Augria Sand Dunes, filled with the corrupted mana of miasma, is the worst possible location imaginable. In other words, even if one were to survey virtually the entire world, there is no other field where Reinhard weakens as much as he does in the Augria Sand Dunes.

Even if he managed to break through the gravitational field created by Al-Cram, which generates such intense gravity that even "Aldebaran" would be crushed by his own weight, Reinhard's physical abilities are at their weakest in these Augria Sand Dunes.

"Next."

× × ×

—Ten thousand two hundred twelve.

"—That's enough."

Utilizing the refraction of light, he concealed the fact that he surrounded the area with walls of ice. He filled this enclosed ice space with mist, then simultaneously vaporized all the water inside, causing an explosion. The pressure collapse within the enclosed space due to the steam explosion is an attack resulting from a fusion of magic and science, a phenomenon that cannot be precisely identified by this world's level of civilization.

It was a strategy to deceive the 'Protection from Fire' and 'Protection from Water' simultaneously with a steam explosion that was neither simple fire nor mere water, but it was countered by the 'Protection from Fire Play' that neutralizes explosions and the 'Protection from Water Play' that avoids water damage.

"—Next."

× × ×

—16,008.

"—That's enough."

By creating thunderclouds with the temperature difference between fire and water magic and applying wind and earth magic, electricity was enveloped around the ‘Dragon Sword’. Using the principle of a lightning rod, although unavoidable lightning rained down on Reinhard.

Even Reinhard couldn't escape from the true speed of lightning. The irregular lightning pierced through Reinhard, reminiscent of Cecilus's sword-speed that transcended human limits, as often seen in the empire.

Reinhard completely neutralized this with the 'Protection from Thunderclouds', so the lightning couldn't capture him. However, it did catch the ‘Dragon Sword’, imbuing it with a strong magnetic force.

Using this to their advantage, they proceeded to the next prepared plan. —Using the magnetism, they immobilized the movement with the abundant iron sand hidden in the sand sea, and launched an attack on a critical opening.

Yet this, too, was avoided with the 'Protection from Sand Play' and 'Protection from Mud Evasion', ending in failure.

"—Next."

× × ×

—64,799.

"—That's enough."

The failure just before was affecting them, causing them to momentarily forget the conditioning that should have been engraved into their soul. In that instant, they forgot the routine of clinging to the protrusion on the 'Dragon's' back, and before they knew it, they were enveloped in a floating sensation, tossed around by the engulfing wind, losing sight of up, down, left, and right.

Unable to rescue the falling Aldebaran in the distance, only the roaring howl of the 'Dragon' was heard.

Searching the inside of his mouth with his tongue, he released the deadly poison once again for what seemed like the umpteenth time. If he fell from that height, he would surely die from the crash. But, if by any chance, something happened this time, it would be troubling. So, as a precaution, Aldebaran swallows the poison.

Before hitting the ground, the searing pain, as if his entire blood was boiling, washed his mind white—

"—Next."

△▼△▼△▼△

—132,044.

"—That's enough."

Sadly, the repeated battles lasting less than two minutes on average, again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again had gradually improved Aldebaran's skills.

"Don't be coy, hero. In the end, I'll win. ――The stars were just unlucky."

Facing Reinhard directly, Aldebaran put his hand into his pocket, took out a book, and lifted it high above his head. It was the 'Book of the Dead' taken from the Pleiades Watchtower – Aldebaran's book.

The plan to show its contents and unnerve Reinhard – an earlier strategy – had already ended in failure. Reinhard possesses the 'Blessing of Nightmares' which counters mental corruption, making him exceptionally resistant to direct mind-manipulating brainwashing attacks. While it might not nullify authority, being able to ignore most effects was sufficient.

In short, the person Aldebaran intended to show the 'Book of the Dead' was not Reinhard. It was another 'Aldebaran' standing by in the back.

'――Synchronization complete.'

The 'Aldebaran,' who understood the intent and hadn't yet dried out, glanced down at the 'Book of the Dead,' had its contents hammered directly into his brain, updating his 'memory.' The 'Book of the Dead' taken out contained records of all the fiercely one-sided battles Aldebaran had experienced with Reinhard.――By showing it to the 'Aldebaran,' Aldebaran could allow his partner left in the domain to catch up at any time.

Both failure and success—currently, there are no successful plans, but just by sharing how the failed plans were crushed and how "Aldebaran" had maneuvered, the proficiency of "Aldebaran" steadily increases. That's because Aldebaran has witnessed all the battles.

"As long as I don't give up, no one can defeat me."

This is the absolute belief of Aldebaran, who continues to resist against more than one hundred thousand defeats. It is something that will never waver. —Having decided that, he started this.

"—The lineage of the Sword Saint, Reinhard van Astrea."

Already, alongside "—Stop right there," he has heard this title over a hundred thousand times. Receiving it, Aldebaran inhaled, held his breath, and continued.

"I am the trailing star."

With a phrase that seemed spoken on a whim, Reinhard approaches. In an instant, the distance between them vanishes, and despite the worst conditions in the sand sea filled with miasma, the "Blessing of Sand Play" negates all footing difficulties, and with the "Blessing of Nocturne" strengthening night, the Sword Saint carries the unyielding "Dragon Sword" at his waist, coming straight ahead.

"—!!"

With the 'memories' of over a hundred thousand battles flowing through him, the unsightly roar transformed into a white light of destruction, meeting Reinhard head-on. The Dragon's breath, it is not magic or anything of the sort, just a pure, primitive stream of mana aimed at destruction—a force too intense. An unescapable, radial spread that seems to erode the vast sand sea indefinitely, something even Reinhard has no means to avoid. —Thus, he did not evade it.

"Shi—"

In that instant, a single slash, equaling the Dragon's breath, cleaves the white light in two head-on. Performing this, with a swing from below to above, was the still-sheathed "Dragon Sword" Reid. Without the legendary blade ever touching air, Reinhard severed the Dragon's breath with the unmatched strength of the scabbard and his own sword skill. However, then—

"Plan D23!!"

"—Al Goa"

Immediately after Aldebaran shouted, without any words of confirmation, the "dragon" incinerated the world with a fiery explosion.

He had predicted that a battle with Reinhard would inevitably occur. Thus, Aldebaran had prepared a plan for fighting the "Sword Saint," and it was shared with "Aldebaran" along with "memories."
Between Aldebaran and "Aldebaran," there was no need for a strategy meeting.

The swelling flames, without forming into a fireball, immediately enveloped the entire area of the sandy sea in fire.
The nighttime sandy sea was illuminated by the bright red glow, and the air, which was somewhat chilly, was instantly transformed into a scorching hell with a burnt odor.
The flames, crafted with the "dragon's" extraordinary mana, were immense, and the unreasonable firepower of the flames, licking up the sandy sea, caused the sand to simultaneously melt and become glass.

The scene thus created evoked the memory of when the starlight of Al Shario destroyed the sandy sea. The difference, if any, was that this time, the destruction of the sandy sea had an emotive quality. The similarity, however, was the emergence of the "Sword Saint" from the epicenter—

"The Blessing of Fire Avoidance."

In a blazing world that would turn ordinary creatures to ash, and even those that weren’t to charcoal, a man with flame-like red hair boldly stepped forward.
Swinging his arm and dispersing the flames, Reinhard emerged, having reduced most of the flames' damage through the "Blessing of Fire Avoidance." Moreover, if flames were forcefully unleashed on him, he would receive the "Blessing of Fire Play," fully demonstrating his enhanced capabilities at a fire-stricken site.

Therefore, the flaming attacks nullified by the "Blessing of Fire Avoidance" and the terrain changes nullified by the "Blessing of Sand Play" were not Aldebaran's main objective.
The true aim was—

In that instant, standing in the cleared flames, Reinhard frowned and put a hand to his throat.
He must have realized it—the critical situation of being unable to breathe.

In response to Reinhard's reaction, "Aldebaran," perceiving it as an opportunity to strike, released a gust of energy. The power and explosiveness of that white light restrained him, and a genuine expression of strain emerged on Reinhard’s face.
It was not an expression of regret or distress, but the face of hardship within the battle.

"Finally..."

Upon seeing that face, Aldebaran clenched his fist, feeling a response for the first time in tens of thousands of attempts. The phenomenon tormenting Reinhard was combustion through fire, creating an oxygen-deprived space by burning all the oxygen around him. Due to blessings, none of the effects of earth, water, fire, or wind could deal a decisive blow to Reinhard, but he should not be able to exist as a being contrary to the laws of life to the extent of surviving in an oxygen-deprived state. Targeting that, an oxygen-deprived state was created, pinning the "Sword Saint" in place.

“Try figuring out what's happening without a science lesson!"

Normal magic or theoretical science alone can't defeat Reinhard. 

By forcefully bending magic and science to his will, he finally cornered Reinhard with a phenomenon unknown even to Reinhard the Sword Saint, or to Od Lagna, who favors him. He extinguished the "skill" with a phenomenon that defied the blessings, and nullified the "body" on a field filled with miasma, sealing off two of the necessary elements for conquering Reinhard. Just like that—, 

“Plan L29—!!”

Seizing the opportunity to pounce, Aldebaran and "Aldebaran" were in agreement. While "Aldebaran" held Reinhard in place with a breath, Aldebaran instead drew the necessary technique, into which the vast mana of the "Dragon" was poured.

The construction of Od and the size of the gate are as different as a parched river and the sea. Nevertheless, a cheat was established that could only be achieved with Aldebaran and "Aldebaran," who shared uniquely identical magical crests like fingerprints—two vertically long arrays drawn in the air, these adorned with purple electricity crackling and radiating with bluish-white light directed at Reinhard. Two magical rails drawn in the sky. In other words, it is— 

“—Magia Railgun.”

A railgun contrived through magical reasoning, its bullet is neither fire, ice, nor lead. A Qinglong Saber created by Aldebaran with earth magic, its blade peeled with the scales of the "Dragon"—that became a bullet released at super speed, rushing towards Reinhard constrained in an oxygen-deprived state. Even Reinhard cannot surpass the speed of lightning. This is a fact Aldebaran has already learned through past battles. 

“—!”

The 'First Encounter Blessing' and 'Arrow Evasion Blessing' activated simultaneously, and Reinhard's intuition reacted to the attack he saw for the first time. He noticed the railgun's trajectory waver slightly. As a result, Reinhard tilted his body slightly, and the railgun, with its slightly off trajectory, failed to hit him squarely. Instead, it grazed past him, carving a semicircle in the sand sea behind him. However—

"—Guh"

Blood spurted forth and scattered across the sand sea, and a groan of pain escaped Reinhard's throat. The railgun hadn't hit directly, merely grazed him. But even a graze from such an attack could be deadly, and not even Reinhard remained unscathed. Reinhard, bleeding profusely from his right shoulder, showed a definite injury for the first time in over 130,000 battles, and then—

"Do it!!"

A second Magia Railgun was fired, and scales pierced into Reinhard's core. The inevitable shockwave ravaged the sand sea, and Reinhard's figure disappeared—not vanished, but rather, it had been carried along with the scales along the railgun's trajectory. Its power and speed, if taken head-on, would be unsurvivable even for Reinhard. If taken head-on.

"—'Blessing of Second Sight'"

With his bleeding right arm hanging limply, Reinhard gripped the 'Dragonsword' tightly with his left hand and once again caught the railgun's attack aimed at his core with the scabbard. Unable to withstand the impact, the ground was ripped away, but he avoided a fatal injury—no, not simply that. He matched the railgun, leapt backwards, scattering death away.

"—Al Cluram!"

In the instant the same as Aldebaran's came into view, the incantation of 'Aldebaran' was performed, and a magical black sphere generating extreme gravity was created behind Reinhard. It was a revival of a magic that hadn't worked in the eight-thousandth battle—no, in this extreme condition, 'Aldebaran' too had surpassed its limits, evolving the magic by one step.

What emerged there was not merely a force field applying immense weight. What manifested was a singularity with destructive mass, akin to a black hole, concentrating an amount of mana that could bring down stars to distort space. This came into contact with flying Reinhard and shattered the life of the 'Sword Saint' into pieces—

"—'Blessing of Hemorrhage'"

In an instant, the tip of the "Dragon Sword" was thrust into the singularity, forcibly destroying the black sphere. The "Dragon Sword" was reputed as unbreakable by anything. Its durability was indisputably proven, but the left arm of Reinhard, who held the "Dragon Sword" that disrupted the singularity, was destroyed.

Reinhard damaged his right arm with the railgun, and his left arm at the singularity. Despite the terrifying realization that even the combination of the two most powerful forces in the plan could not bring it down, Reinhard suffered the greatest damage ever.

As it was—

"—Protection of Arrow Guard"

In the next moment, Reinhard, with his bloodied arms hanging down, placed his toes on the ground that had been destroyed by the railgun and singularity, flicked up the fallen "Dragon Sword" with his foot—and kicked it away.

"—Go"

The light pierced into the center of Aldebaran's throat, causing the "Dragon" to topple violently. Aldebaran, swallowed by the wind and tremor caused by the dragon's fall, flipped over helplessly. He inhaled the swirling sand, coughed, and choked. And then—

"—That's enough."

Looking down at Aldebaran, who had fallen to the ground, the bloodied Reinhard declared. The "Sword Saint," with both arms dangling, stood beside the "Dragon Sword" embedded in the ground, confirming the unconscious, white-eyed Aldebaran before looking at him again.

Driven this far, having done all this, and still losing. Just like that time when countless expectations were betrayed, aiming for a nyuta far away and never arriving.

He seized both arms and tried to conquer the "body," but it was no use. He launched an attack that the protection couldn't withstand, and tried to conquer the "technique," but it was no use.

"Sword Saint" Reinhard van Astrea is too strong. Therefore, Aldebaran exhaled a long, deep breath—

"—My collaborator has your father's whereabouts secured."

He played the trump card to conquer the "heart" of Reinhard van Astrea.