A violent explosion erupted before everyone's eyes, the blazing flames reflecting in their pupils.
As the magic circle faded away, Ais and the others widened their eyes, while Raul and the rest behind them burst into cheers.
"Now!" Tione roared, taking command in place of the berserk Finn, and Ais and the others, seeing no better opportunity, rushed forward.
With her magic at full power, Ais swung her blade relentlessly, slaughtering every monster in her path.
Wrapped in raging wind, she carved through the battlefield like a storm.
She was determined to kill anything that stood before her — she would not allow anything to interfere with Shirou's magic.
With fierce resolve burning in her eyes, Ais pressed forward, carving a bloody path through the horde.
Thanks to everyone's efforts, they finally broke through the monster army.
"[Elf Ring]!"
The moment the group cut their way through the horde, Lefiya completed her spell.
She had cast the summoning spell, Elf Ring.
With its activation, a small golden magic circle appeared beneath her feet, ready to be used at any moment — absorbing the power of her allies.
Just as the group approached the corrupted spirit — her body scorched black by the explosion and flames, her upper torso shrouded in gray smoke — she suddenly moved.
She reached out, grabbed the spear lodged in her mouth, yanked it free, and snapped it in half with a sharp crack.
The instant the golden spear tip was removed, her injuries rapidly regenerated under the blessing of her fiery magic.
In moments, the corrupted spirit had fully healed. Watching her enemies rush toward her, she suddenly laughed.
"[Pierce, lightning spear. Thy vessel implores thee, Tonitrus.
Incarnation of thunder.
Lightning Queen.]"
A golden magic circle unfolded before the corrupted spirit, aimed directly at the Loki Familia.
"A short chant!?"
The chant concluded in an instant, leaving Lefiya stunned.
The greatest advantage of a short chant was its casting speed — and when used by an overwhelmingly powerful monster, its magical output far exceeded that of an ordinary mage.
Brilliant lightning burst forth before them, bringing only the promise of death.
"[Thunder Ray]!"
Facing the oncoming spell, Lefiya's eyes shone with unyielding resolve.
She absolutely would not let that monster succeed.
"[Become a shield, O Holy Grail that smites evil.]"
This was a spell Lefiya had learned from her new friend, Filvis — a super-short chant capable of surpassing even the enemy's magic.
"[Dio Graal]"
Before the rapidly approaching lightning, a brilliant white circular barrier manifested before everyone's eyes.
In an instant, the pure white shield clashed with the roaring thunder.
Under the pressure of the lightning, Lefiya's entire body was pushed back, her staff trembling in her hands.
The immaculate white shield, holding back the thunderbolt, began cracking inch by inch, just like Riveria's barrier had earlier.
Even though it was only a short spell, its caster was a spirit.
Though weaker than a long chant, its destructive power was still extraordinary.
Cracks spread rapidly across Lefiya's shield.
To Ais and the others, the thunder ray — capable of killing any of them outright — was steadily eating through the barrier.
Against a spirit's magic, the barrier of a small elf was about to collapse.
Under its crushing pressure, Lefiya was nearly forced to her knees.
But in that moment, two figures rushed past her.
"Lefiya!"
"Hang on!"
Tiona and Tione threw their bodies forward, slamming themselves into the circular shield.
They became pillars holding the barrier together, using their bodies to resist the lightning.
"Tiona! Tione!"
Seeing the two of them standing firm, using themselves as shields despite their burning wounds, Lefiya's heart cried out:
"We can't lose here! I have to protect everyone!"
"Ahhhh!!!"
Behind her stood Finn, Ais, Bete, and Gareth.
In front of her, Tiona and Tione.
And far behind her, her brother continued chanting!
"How could I possibly lose here?! I will NEVER lose!!!"
With Lefiya's roar, she pushed her shield forward with everything she had.
Then, in a burst of blinding white light, the two spells canceled each other out, triggering a violent explosion.
Lefiya, Tiona, and Tione — who had been at the front line — were instantly blown back.
But the adventurers behind them did not hesitate and continued their advance.
"Aaaaahhh!!!"
Finn roared unstoppably as he crushed the oncoming tentacles.
Gareth beside him swung his enormous axe, smashing apart the fleshy walls.
Ais charged the horde from one side, mercilessly reaping the monsters' lives.
Bete followed close behind, fighting relentlessly as Ais' winds propelled him forward.
Their presence grew ever more threatening to the corrupted spirit, forcing her to dedicate her full attention to the four.
But that was exactly Finn's plan — only by cornering the corrupted spirit could Riveria and Shirou finish their chants behind them.
While Finn and the others pulled the corrupted spirit's focus, Riveria, protected by the supporters, continued her incantation.
As scattered monsters and Violas slipped past Ais' attacks and crept near the rear line, the supporters led by Tsubaki fought without pause.
The glow and shadows of enchanted blades flickered throughout the battlefield.
Not a single supporter felt fear; every one of them fought with everything they had to defend Riveria and Shirou.
Riveria's chant quickened, the magic gathering around her swelling rapidly.
Her emerald magic circle shifted, its light intensifying — this was Riveria's terrifying flame magic.
"Come to me, crimson flames — merciless inferno."
"You are the embodiment of underworld fire."
"With a single strike, bring an end to this great war."
"Burn them to ash, Sword of Surtr — my name is Alf."
The chant was complete.
As Lefiya's shield neutralized the corrupted spirit's lightning, Riveria's magic circle expanded across the entire battlefield.
Adventurers, monsters, and the corrupted spirit — all were within range of her spell.
Watching her comrades fight desperately to hold back the enemy, Riveria raised her staff and shouted:
"[Rhea Laevateinn]!"
Dozens of pillars of fire erupted from the ground, incinerating every enemy within their reach.
Directly beneath the corrupted spirit, ten towering pillars of flame surged upward.
Facing this final inferno, the corrupted spirit summoned ten petal-shaped armor plates around her body.
But under the raging flames, her proud defenses were completely consumed.
She was now entirely unarmored.
Admiring her own accomplishment, Riveria turned to Shirou — who had been preparing all this time.
Seeing him bathed in swirling magical energy, Riveria smiled softly.
"The rest is up to you, Shirou."
"…Yeah. Leave it to me."
---
(End of Chapter)