The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

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Time passed, and the long-awaited audience between the Devil King Lucifer and Kaoru finally began.

“…They’re moving!”

In front of the southern gate of Eddo, the capital of T’oued, a fierce clash of arcane energies erupted.

Lylia, who had been watching the battle from behind the outer wall, tensed up. The oppressive presence she felt behind her only added to the pressure.

[The battle at the Temple hasn’t started yet. Still, while he may look different, there’s no doubt – that’s Lucifer, the Devil King!]

Lylia’s knowledge of the truth allowed her to recognize Stoffel’s true identity as Lucifer. The fear and tension prickling her skin were undeniable proof of that realization.

Warren and Irene had imposed strict information control regarding Stoffel’s identity; even Tūs, the Philosopher of the Far East, didn’t know. The details of the current operation were shared with only a select few in the Resistance, forcing Lina, Hornel, and the others to act separately.

Lylia clenched her fists, her eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions.

She could see Cleath, and as a former Holy Warrior, she felt the frustration of being unable to stand before him. The knowledge that her comrade Asley, who had once fought alongside her to defeat the Devil King, was now about to face Lucifer in a duel weighed heavily on her heart.

“…I just have to do my job. Don’t you die on me, Asley!”

With her sword and Giorno’s at her sides, Lylia steeled herself, waiting for the decisive moment.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

“All Up: Count 10 & Remote Control!”

Just as Tūs began invoking the second round of enhancement spells on Team Silver’s members, a massive surge of arcane energy – Lucifer and Asley’s power – swept over him.

[Hmm!? What kind of power is that!? That four-eyes’s magic has grown THIS strong? Could it be… has he surpassed Lucifer’s power? …No, from the looks of it, Lucifer hasn’t transformed into a Devil yet. That means he’s holding back, which puts the advantage squarely in Lucifer’s hands. Asley’s not turning the tide… this is bad for us. And…!]

Tūs glanced at his comrades, who were locked in battle with the lower-ranking Devils summoned by Cleath.

[Lucifer’s power is overwhelming them more than I expected. It might even affect the Heavenly Beasts… Shit!]

Tūs turned to the air behind him, beginning to draw a Circle.

“Mel!”

“Yes, Master Tūs!”

“Cover me for a bit!”

“You got it!”

“Damn it, what a pain in the ass! …All right, here goes! Magic Shield: Count 10 & Remote Control!”

Tūs added a layer to the magical barrier Asley had already set up using his zenith-level magic.

This helped relieve some of the pressure on the adventurers.

At that moment, Cleath, the leader of the Devils on this battlefield, made his move.

As he raised his arm high, the Devils under his command followed his will, shifting their targets and driving the battle lines forward.

Then, Cleath’s sights locked onto Natsu, a mage of Team Silver.

“Huh!? Wha—!?”

In a single bound, Cleath closed in on Natsu, the killing intent in his attack unmistakably that of a Devil.

Lylia sprang to her feet, but before she could act, Blazer, the Silver Lion and Natsu’s companion, reacted first.

Blazer, the leader of Team Silver, naturally considered Natsu a potential weak point. Team Silver had become a battle-hardened unit, well-trained to cover any vulnerabilities swiftly.

Cleath’s assault on Natsu began with a strike from the left.

Blazer, leaping to shield Natsu, intercepted the blow with all his might, striking at the base of Cleath’s arm. But Cleath’s attack carried immense power, sending a dull ache through Blazer’s body, turning his expression grim.

Meanwhile, Bruce, the Silver Wolf, started his approach toward Cleath’s unguarded back.

Cleath’s second strike came quickly, his right hand slamming hard into Blazer’s right shoulder.

“Ugh…”

Even with all his strength, Blazer couldn’t last twenty seconds alone against the Devil-transformed Cleath. That was why Bruce had been moving in for support.

However…

“Do not interfere!”

Cleath’s third attack lashed out, his arm bending like a vine, weaving around Blazer’s sword to pierce his abdomen.

“Gah!?”

“Tch…! Almost had him!”

Just as Cleath’s arm was about to land, Blazer had leaped backward, minimizing the damage. The wound was only from the tip of Cleath’s arm.

“ORAAAAAA!!”

Bruce, closing in from behind, brought his sword down in a powerful arc.

His well-honed strike, timed perfectly, was strong enough to halt Cleath’s momentum.

“Tch! Damn you little insects!”

Cleath’s eyes gleamed as he shifted his focus back to Natsu, the target behind the fallen Blazer.

But just as he prepared to strike, it was Natsu – tears welling in her eyes – who moved first.

“…Rise!”

“What!?”

“Thunder Lance Convergence!”

Natsu had chosen a powerful lightning-elemental spell as her attack.

A single lance was an Intermediate-class spell, while the Advanced version, Thunder Lance Rain, summoned a barrage within a fixed area. However, Thunder Lance Convergence, a focused and layered attack, was said to surpass even Skilled-class magic in its damage to a single target.

Driven by the surge of emotions from seeing Blazer save her life, Natsu channeled everything into repelling Cleath.

With the Thunder Lances converging, Cleath had little room to escape.

Natsu was already invoking another spell from the front, while her Familiar, Shiny the Sun Sheep, prepared a powerful kick from the right flank. Behind, Bruce closed in, and from the left, a throwing knife aimed to hit its mark from afar.

“Damn you…!”

Seeing no other option, Cleath sprang upward, his tentacles gripping the earth to propel him, shifting direction with brute force.

“Natsu! Take Blazer and get over here!”

“…! Got it! …Rise! Remote Control!”

Following Asley’s teachings, Natsu used a Magic Table to transport Blazer to where Tūs was.

Blazer, with a gaping wound in his abdomen, looked up at the giant elf.

“Hey. Did you know? You can’t grow plants with blood,” Tūs quipped, ever the dry humorist of the wilds.

“…I’ll make sure to apologize to the earth on my back later,” Blazer responded with a sincere, if slightly humorous, retort.

“Ngh…! Rise, High Cure Adjust!” Natsu chanted, her voice steady as she invoked her healing spell.

Bruce, standing nearby, took it upon himself to guard her while she worked. With Blazer injured and Natsu focused on her magic, Bruce couldn’t be sure he could protect them both. So, he chose the safest spot on the battlefield – beneath Tūs’s imposing presence.

“All right! Stop crying and get stronger! Survive this battlefield, and you’ll be a bigger girl than you were before! Right, Natsu!?”

“…! Yeah!”

Natsu wiped her tears and turned back to the fight. There was no time to mourn in the heat of battle — a lesson both Silver and Blazer had taught her well.

Cleath, having changed his course, set his sights on the young warrior Adolf. A member of the Fal Braves, formed in his homeland of Faltown, Adolf had been toughened up by Reid and Mana. Though inexperienced, the youth brimmed with talent.

Adolf wasn’t just any warrior. He was the one in Team Silver who admired Asley the most. And Asley was nothing less than the strongest man in the human world.

Joining Team Silver wasn’t just a matter of admiration; it was a commitment to strive toward that very pinnacle.

Cleath had made two miscalculations: underestimating Adolf’s talent, and failing to notice his relentless drive to reach new heights.

“Hehehe… You’ve got some nerve coming at me!” Cleath sneered as Adolf began his charge.

“Haaaah!” Adolf’s battle cry rang out.

To Cleath, it seemed the reckless action of an overzealous youth – foolhardy and ignorant of his own limits. But he didn’t realize that was precisely what Adolf intended.

“DIE!”

Cleath unleashed an attack, confident it would strike true. But Adolf suddenly slowed, just out of reach, leaving Cleath’s blow to slice through empty air.

“…And that makes your balance weaker in the rear.”

“Wha–!?”

The gruff voice had come from behind.

It wasn’t the strained cry of a soldier in battle, but the seasoned, deep tone of a warrior hardened by years of relentless training.

“Hmph!”

The powerful strike came from Ryan, the former leader of Faltown.

With Cleath’s center of gravity thrown off, Ryan’s upward slash was perfectly timed – a downward strike here would have been a fool’s choice.

Even a Devil would stumble if its footing faltered. Ryan demonstrated this simple truth to Adolf, a lesson in the basic laws that applied to all.

As Cleath tumbled, he found himself before the talented survivors of the Fal Braves, who had halted in their path just in time to intercept him.

“You will pay… for destroying everyone’s home! Haaah!”

Indeed, it was Cleath who had laid waste to Faltown. Even before the battle began, Reid, Mana, Adolf, Reyna, and Ryan – all warriors from Faltown – had marked Cleath as their target. They couldn’t possibly have done otherwise.

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