kscans

Chapter 944 - At the Apex of the Foundation Tree, Part Five

Keyword acknowledged. The pulsating star-sword flickered, seeking a ‘name’.

Anima release—the pre-motion for a finishing move, a signal of the coming finale. Hearing my voice, seeing my actions, there was no one here who would not fall in step.

As always, the Trinity of the Three Laws of ‘Tomoe,’ the most broken buffers in this virtual world, had been fulfilling their roles without a hint of boredom, their concentration unwavering. It was their creed to watch and wait when not directly engaged. From among them…

“Sword Law, manifest.”

“Mirror Law, manifest.”

First, two voices spoke.

The sword on the left, the mirror on the right; their respective hand signs marked the beginning. The phenomenon that followed was visible to all—a dazzling, chaotic multitude of reflections.

To reflect and return—the power of the ‘mirror.’ The lines of reflection laid down by Shoh, the Mirror Law, instantly formed a path, which then became a cage surrounding the [Apocryphate Vermicane].

Following that path was Ren, the Sword Law. The power of the ‘sword’ raced forth, an invisible force.

Faster than the giant could sense the new threat and begin its rampage, the concept of a slash shot through the reflective path in an instant, reaching inside the ‘cage’—

` `

—and began an endless, sublime, chaotic reflection, making one imagine a silent scream.

And yet, even that was merely the opening act.

“‘Red—Within lies the infinite, an endless wish for a resonating circle.’”

“—‘It is not a sword that saves people.’”

The voice of the Orb Law, Sayaka-sama, who had stepped forward from between the two who had volunteered for the opening gambit, joined in. A linked chant echoed loudly, as if to color the finale of this long battle.

“‘White—Within lies the boundary, a slumbering wish for true freedom.’”

“‘It is not a sword that brings justice, nor a sword that rights wrongs.’”

In response, the air itself seemed to sing.

Whether reacting to the song or to the swirling vortex of magic, the mock god-statue within the cage of mirrors and swords began to twist and thrash—or tried to.

“Erde Kreis!”

Countless snow blossoms seeped into the cage. Though most were annihilated by the conceptual slashes filling the space, an absurd number—enough to be called a ‘concentration’—surged forward.

“‘The four pillars are not yet assembled, the gathered eyes are but fragments.’”

“‘Behold the light, see the light, body of light, walk forth.’”

Its power was usurped and sealed, then its movements were impeded by extreme cold. As the monster, its rampage suppressed, sank once more into a sea of slashes within its cage,

“‘From here to there, the wishing eye is here.’”

“‘The gate of the holy key desires the future, illuminates the past, and weaves humanity together.’”

Footsteps fell in line next to me.

I turned, my star-sword glowing with a brilliant white light, and saw the Saintess smiling, accompanied by a light no less radiant than my own. If so, all that was left was to take a step forward and—

“Open—!”

“‘A melody of blessing that fills all, the name recorded is the hand of the Starry Heaven.’—”

—join our voices, and color this passage of the story.

…And so, at the very, very end.

The matter of the one hand that broke through the cage, reaching for the undeniable surge of power,

“Do it.”

—was left to a reliable ‘fist’ that effortlessly blew it away from the side.

“El Solas.”

“Clau Solas.”

A flash of white brilliance, a downpour of radiant light.

Once thrown, it could not be stopped. A conceptual attack with a guaranteed hit, piercing through matter, space, and even time—all obstacles and impossibilities—materialized on the mock god-statue’s face.

It was a silent, visually subtle scene. Ignoring that opening strike… a waterfall of light, the might of the highest-tier light magic, poured down from the ceiling to the floor.

In that instant, the featureless goddess, who had remained unflinching through almost everything, bowed its head. This was proof that the torrent of light pouring over its massive frame was as powerful, if not more so, than a full-power blow from the ‘Twin Fists’.

In other words, the fact that its head remained bowed after one, then two seconds,

was proof that this immense power was being applied continuously.

Clau Solas—a high-end spell that sits at the pinnacle of light-attribute magic, and the one feared as the most merciless, a certain-kill move.

Rare for the wide-area-of-effect-focused light attribute, it was a coordinate-based spell with a diameter of only one meter. It required a long incantation befitting a grand spell and demanded the coordinates be set at the start of the chant, with no changes possible afterward, making it extremely difficult to land.

But once the waterfall of light caught its enemy, it would not cease until judgment was rendered. Or until the caster’s magic ran out, binding its target with the shackles of inaction.

Truly terrifying—but,

having unleashed something similar myself, I’m in no position to judge.

…And with that, I put my words into practice. Let's make it spectacular.

“Show them, partner (Stella)—”

The starting point was the massive body of the [Apocryphate Vermicane], its body pierced by the tip of the white sword.

“—that you’ve cleared the name of the ‘Plain Anima.’”

Nestled against the pure, shining ‘White,’ a great ‘Red’ flower bloomed.

Countless giant blades erupted from within, breaking through the silver, intertwining with the cascading waterfall of light—

◇ You have defeated [Apocryphate Vermicane] ◇

◇ 100th Layer clear confirmed ◇

◇ Complete conquest of the Foundation Tree Road confirmed ◇

And in the final chamber, where its master had vanished, a rain of sparkling green light began to fall.

---

El Solas: Ver. Red + White
・Power boost from the dual-name invocation.
・Additional Effect 'White Throne': Absolute guaranteed hit via spatial transfer upon throwing.
・Additional Effect 'Red Circle': Siphons target's HP to generate infinitely multiplying sword blades from within.

Alright, the name of the 'Plain Anima' has been completely cleared.