With the battle against Rudika just ahead, I’d become quite busy.
In truth, all I’d done was leave the treasure modification to Phitia and put in an order to Triasta.
“Your Highness. I’ve brought the items you ordered.”
“Good work. Would you like something cold?”
“I gratefully accept.”
Saying that, I handed a glass of fruit ade—made by mixing mixed beans and honey water—to the messenger from the Triasta family.
Of course, this was no ordinary messenger. This woman in her early twenties was, from what I’d heard, someone destined for a key position in the Triasta family’s future. She’d probably become the next head Ayla’s secretary.
She didn’t appear in the original D/Z, though.
Anyway, since she had some authority, I served her top-grade drinks and stared intently at the invoice.
Honestly, the price was terrifying.
I thought about how much I could do with this money, but it couldn’t be helped.
Since I was salty, I had to go through with it.
For my own pride. For my own dignity.
Because I’m here to *not* bow down!
*Lee Young-jin’s own Act 3. Lee Young-jin’s own boss fight.*
And that opponent was **Rudika Hassan Shadow.**
I checked my skills—every single card I held.
And I already knew what cards Rudika Hassan Shadow had.
Now I needed to keep running simulations…
“By the way, Your Highness, are you not going?”
“Where?”
“I heard that our precious young lady and that detestable Sierra daughter are having their sparring match today.”
“I’m going.”
“I’m relieved. I thought you might not attend, given how busy your own affairs seem.”
Of course I’m going.
As someone who knows the original story, I have a duty to see that ending.
“As expected of our young lady. Even though the odds are against her, she challenges the Sierra family for her own pride.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Pardon? Ah, d-did I miss something? I keep up with the power dynamics within Zefflin quite…”
“No, that’s not what I meant by nonsense. It’s right that she’s fighting the Sierra daughter for her own pride.”
“Then…”
“The ‘odds are against her’ part is nonsense.”
“…Truly, a match made in heaven. I am moved by that trust.”
No, it’s not flattery—I mean it.
With Magic Power 20, Ayla **”has a fighting chance.”**
I’d even personally told her how to beat Regina Sierra.
—
The battle between Ayla Triasta and Regina Sierra was held not in the auditorium like other students’ matches, but at the Magic Department’s No. 1 Training Ground.
Not only because of the numbers—Magic Power 19 and 21—but also because, for students attending Zefflin—especially those in the Magic Department—even the professors knew just how bad the relationship between the Triasta and Sierra families was.
The Sierra family, leveraging history and tradition, had bound all nobles below the imperial family, thoroughly controlling infrastructure to prevent Triasta from encroaching on the central region.
In contrast, the Triasta family had risen from nothing 200 years ago in the west through mineral magic, became a mining conglomerate responsible for the Empire’s entire mineral distribution, and was now aiming for central advancement.
That the eldest daughters of these two families would spar—
And if only one family had produced a genius, that would be one thing, but unusually, in this era, geniuses had emerged from the **Lohengrin**, **Triasta**, and **Sierra** families simultaneously.
Continental historians were grateful that the Lohengrin genius was the greatest. If that weren’t the case, who knew what unpleasant incidents might occur.
“After I step back, I will confirm that the barrier around the entire training ground is activated. Then I will give the countdown broadcast.”
Even the professor who was to act as referee stepped outside the barrier, and the barrier activated.
The barrier level was Tier 3 【Complete Magic Seal】—but since the First Emperor himself had installed it, it was effectively equivalent to Tier 2.
In other words, the battle between Ayla Triasta and Regina Sierra would never spill outside.
The spectator stands were packed with students who had finished their first-day matches or had come to watch even though their own fights were yet to come. Naturally—simply watching this great magical battle was a huge learning experience. Both had agreed to postpone their schedules, and even the professors acknowledged the value of spectating.
**【Now, please prepare yourselves and begin!】**
**【Black Crystal】**
**【Swamp】**
Immediately after, the two clashed without hesitation.
—
**【Swamp: Domination: Formless: Single Strike】**
**【Black Crystal: Barrier: Double: Enhanced】**
The battle began with Regina Sierra’s opening attack.
*Feeling* the formless fist flying straight toward her chest, Ayla erected a Black Crystal barrier.
*Crunch!* Despite applying four layers, the Black Crystal barrier momentarily held the formless fist before shattering.
In that interval, Ayla threw her body backward, retreating outside **Regina Sierra’s domain**.
‘…As expected. She’s strong.’
**【Swamp】**
The Sierra family’s signature magic.
This spell, which uses the user’s magic power to dominate the surroundings and drag mages into a quagmire, may at first glance appear to be merely spatial control or area dominance—but that’s a huge misconception.
**【Swamp】** becomes truly vicious when it goes on the *offense*.
By shaping formless magic power into fists to strike, or blades to slash—it prides itself as the strongest in **area annihilation**.
It dominates space, then attacks by condensing that formless magic power. It can be called the worst area magic, dragging those with less magic power than Regina Sierra into the abyss.
Just now, Ayla had nearly taken a Magic Power 21 strike to the chest—she let out a small sigh of relief at having avoided it.
The sense of omnipotence she’d felt upon reaching Magic Power 20 vanished, and she was grateful that one of the bonus effects from **Dragon’s Blessing**—**Sensitization**—had allowed her to dodge.
“Oh my, won’t you come in?”
“……”
Regina Sierra stood with her arms folded, speaking confidently.
The usual Ayla would have charged into battle, demanding who dared act so arrogantly before her—but not now.
She analyzed the battlefield as coolly as her fiancé would.
And recalling what her fiancé had told her before the battle—**【Anti-Regina Strategy】**—she smiled lightly.
“Just as Wolfram said.”
“…Why do you suddenly speak that person’s name?”
“Fufu… I wonder why? Perhaps because Wolfram and I studied together how to bring you down.”
“…How dare you!”
As expected.
Wolfram’s words were right.
Without a word, Ayla walked to the edge of Regina’s range and raised her right hand. Immediately, fifteen magic circles floated behind her.
“**【Black Crystal: Scatter Shot: Forced Barrage: Homing: Maximum Enhancement】** ”
“…Are you insane?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re saying you’ll have a magic battle with me right now? Your arrogance reaches the heavens, Ayla Triasta!”
“Yes. A magic battle is fine. Or are you scared?”
“……How dare you!! **【Swamp: Maximum Enhancement: Spatial Domination: Void Control: Forced Command】** ”
“Fufu. Yes. That’s how you should come at me, Regina Sierra.”
“The runner-up of the runner-up family, daring…”
“Oh my, isn’t that what makes rebellion fun?”
**【If you drag the magic battle out for thirty minutes, you win, Ayla.】**
**【Against Magic Power 21? A magic battle for thirty minutes?】**
**【Yes.】**
Her fiancé had said that if she did that, she would surely win.
Then she had to make it work somehow.
“If I lose, I can whine and act spoiled a little… in a situation like this, he’d understand, right?”
Thirty minutes ahead.
Ayla Triasta was betting on her own ending.
—
When I arrived at the battlefield, honestly, the training ground was in chaos.
*So many people, seriously.*
**[Popcorn for sale! Nese-brand popcorn is cheap! Drinks too! Delicious. This thing!]**
Someone was selling popcorn in the distance, and the stands were packed.
For the frail Wolfram von Lohengrin, it was a problem—I couldn’t push through here.
“Make way.”
“……”
But my worry soon disappeared.
The Triasta family secretary pushed through with her body, clearing a path for me to walk.
With this woman, I felt she could even create an empty space on the 8:30 AM Seoul subway line 2 inner loop at Sindorim Station—solid.
Anyway, cutting through the path thus made, we stood right in front of the battlefield.
And immediately after—
**BOOOOOOM!**
With an earth-shattering explosion, a massive Black Crystal flew toward us.
A crystal chunk big enough to easily topple my body—if it hit, I’d become a Wolfram pancake.
“Eep.”
“……”
I heard the secretary’s startled shriek beside me, but I just stared at the crystal.
*Crack crack crack—*
The deflected crystal lost its power against the barrier right in front of us and crashed to the ground.
“What are you so afraid of? This training ground has a barrier personally installed by our great ancestor.”
“A barrier? Ah, ahh… I’ve shown you an unsightly display.”
It’s fine. I was scared shitless too—I thought I was done for.
Thankfully, thanks to the Imperial Bloodline, I couldn’t show an ugly appearance even in the moment of death.
“Don’t worry—just take your seat.”
“Y-yes… As expected of someone who will be the next head of Triasta… your composure… fufu. Worthy of the one our young lady chose.”
The secretary muttered something, but the roaring cheers from the crowd drowned it out.
More importantly, what I needed to burn into my eyes and ears right now was that magic battle.
Ayla standing tall on the battlefield looked a little different from what I remembered.
Her face was covered in dust, her uniform torn and damaged. Even one of her boot heels was broken off.
But her eyes—those eyes had not lost their fighting spirit, still fixed on her opponent.
“**【Black Crystal: Scatter Shot: Maximum Enhancement: Single Point Focus: Artillery Barrage: Homing】** ”
She raised her right hand and immediately completed the incantation—over a dozen Black Crystals formed behind her. Not the single massive crystal from before, but a scatter-shot type.
The Black Crystals flew toward Regina like flashes of light.
Ah, this reminds me of the main story.
We main-story players called that a *shotgun*.
And the counter to that spell is—
“**【Swamp: Spatial Domination: Area Expansion: Maximum Enhancement: Physical Resistance: Double Layer】** ”
Just as I thought—
Regina’s magic stopped the Black Crystals mid-air with a *thunk*.
They wouldn’t move at all—as if stones pushed into water.
**【Black Crystal: Single Shot: Maximum Enhancement: Rapid Fire: Homing】**
**【Swamp: Spatial Domination: Area Expansion: Maximum Enhancement: Physical Resistance】**
The next one, and the next, and the next—
Every single Black Crystal from Ayla—not one exception—was blocked by Regina’s magic.
Every time, sighs of lament erupted from the stands.
Ayla’s Black Crystals were black, sharp, massive, and strong. The sight of her unleashing them as a grand mage was enough to inspire fervor—but they were repeatedly stopped by the formless swamp.
Already, hundreds—no, nearly thousands—of Black Crystals lay scattered across the training ground.
“Ah, my lady… no matter how detestable the opponent is, the magic power gap…”
The secretary beside me murmured with worry. I couldn’t quite hear the details, but I understood.
Everyone in these stands—all the hundreds watching this battle—were judging Ayla Triasta’s Black Crystals as reckless.
And the same went for Regina Sierra on the battlefield.
“That’s enough. Ayla Triasta.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Your magic is strong. Impressive. Honestly, I’d like to grill you right now on how you achieved Magic Power 20.”
“Do you think I’d tell you?”
“Hmph. But it’s still only 20. It can’t reach me. I am Magic Power 21—the second in this academy, save for the great Eve.”
“…Aren’t you quite exhausted yourself?”
“…Yes, I admit it. You performed admirably. I don’t know the last time I was this worn out. But… I still have enough magic power to bring you down.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes… Accept your defeat, Ayla Triasta.”
“……”
It had been reckless from the start.
“Against Magic Power 21, you—Magic Power 20—chose to engage in a magic battle. That was your blunder. Pride alone cannot seize victory.”
“…I’m losing? I can’t win?”
She was right. Regina Sierra’s opinion was sound.
“My lady…”
Even the secretary beside me—everyone foresaw Ayla’s defeat.
If this continued, Ayla Triasta’s defeat was certain.
Well.
That’s how it usually goes.
“The time is about right.”
“Now, let’s really begin.”
I’d wager that the only people in this venue predicting Ayla’s victory were—
Exactly two.
Just two contrarians betting against the odds.
“You’ve done well so far. About thirty minutes, was it?”
One is Wolfram von Lohengrin.
“Thirty minutes. The exact time I predicted from the beginning.”
The other is—
Ayla Triasta herself.
—
I opened the party window and tracked Ayla’s stats with my eyes.
Her magic power consumption was truly severe—already in the red.
But all her other stats were yellow—or green.
Meaning, aside from magic power, she was almost at full condition.
“Perfect. The adjustments are clean. You did it.”
Now the question:
Is Magic Power 21 truly invincible?
Could she beat everyone except Eve von Lohengrin?
The answer is **no**.
If that were the case, why would bad endings exist? She could just steamroll everyone.
Now.
**【Swamp dominates space.】**
**【Swamp controls the surroundings.】**
**【Swamp does not permit resistance from those with lower magic power.】**
**【Casting magic within Swamp’s domain is arduous.】**
**【The worst area magic.** **】**
**【But can there be any magic without a price?】**
“So what’s the problem with Swamp?”
Swamp has **all effects as area-type**.
That means its magic efficiency is absolutely atrocious.
So here’s the question:
A traditional mage, with no magic power left, is bluffing and standing on the field.
What happens to that mage after five seconds?
“Eh?”
Well, obviously—
They get ganked and beaten to a pulp.
“Go, Ayla.”
Even before I spoke—
And before Regina Sierra even realized it—Ayla charged.
The shattered Black Crystals that had accumulated on the floor flew in tandem with Ayla’s running speed.
Soon, those crystals coalesced and wrapped around Ayla’s right fist and arm.
Dexterity 17.
A speed that could be called the limit of human capability—sheer despair for pure mages.
Regina Sierra, drained of magic, reacted just a little too late.
Health 16.
A health stat that could rank in the mid-tier even if she transferred to the Knight Department right now—something ordinary mages didn’t possess.
Naturally, even after thirty minutes of fighting, Ayla Triasta’s physical condition surpassed Regina Sierra’s.
Strength 14.
Considering that Millefeuille using Half-Berserk had Strength 13.5—Ayla’s Strength meant she could use **Impact Buster** with no penalty.
“**【Swamp: Spatial Control: Area Control: Action Halt】** ”
Regina, realizing Ayla was charging at her, hastily chanted the spell.
That was a magic barrier of magic power that couldn’t be broken through unless resisted with a charging technique.
Ayla had only **self-defense** for close-combat skills.
Strictly speaking, she had no charging technique.
No—
Originally, she didn’t.
“**【Unnamed Fist: Fist Strike: Breakthrough】** ”
A beginner-level technique.
And one with a deep connection to Ayla.
A variation of the basic sword technique.
A tutorial skill.
In the original, its first user was none other than **Kelter**.
“Haha. Haha—ahahahaha!!”
How long has it been?
A truly pleasant laugh escaped my lips.
Though frivolous, even the Imperial Bloodline allowed this laughter.
If you knew the trembling of my heart, you’d have to allow it.
I had defeated Ayla thousands of times.
Ayla Triasta, the Act 3 boss, always ended in ruin and expulsion.
But look at her now.
Against **Regina Sierra**, who had driven her to ruin, she was using the technique of her fated nemesis—**Kelter**—to seize victory.
True to her motto, she had declared rebellion against her own fate.
“Eep…”
“Hrraaah!”
The power that started from the soles of her feet twisted once at her ankle, traveled up her calves and thighs, twisted again at her pelvis, connected through her waist, and reached her shoulder, elbow, and fist—all firmly reinforced with Black Crystal.
The impact point was one.
Regina Sierra’s solar plexus.
**BAAAAAAAAAM!!!**
Immediately after—
The former Act 3 boss cheerfully punched her own fate into the ground.
