The moment the monstrous roar echoed from Shinjin Lake, Rozen and the others sensed the anomaly.
The sound carried like rolling thunder across the horizon, reverberating through the air until it reached everyone's ears.
"That sound..."
Vatler and Iblisveil exchanged glances, intrigue flashing in their eyes.
"Lord Vatler!"
Tobias and Kira stepped closer to their master, awaiting orders.
"S-Senpai...?"
Yukina turned to Rozen, her expression uneasy.
Rozen didn't respond immediately. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on the direction of Shinjin Lake, his eyes flickering with streams of light.
From the lake, swarms of Horned Serpents continued to emerge, their overwhelming spiritual energy masking all other disturbances.
Yet, even through this haze, Rozen could see it—a colossal, dominating presence erupting with such force that it eclipsed the serpents entirely.
No, it was more accurate to say the serpents yielded to it, parting like subjects before their sovereign, allowing its energy to surge unrestrained.
Understanding dawned on Rozen.
"I see."
He murmured softly.
"That must be the true legacy of the Holy Annihilation."
Correct.
This entity was the real relic—the sealed being slumbering at the bottom of Shinjin Lake.
The Horned Serpents were merely its harbingers.
And now, as this presence emerged, even more serpents poured from the lake, their energy so dense in Rozen's Wise Eye that it resembled a churning storm cloud, spreading across the heavens.
Then—the presence shot skyward... and vanished without a trace.
Rozen knew.
"We can't afford to waste any more time here."
The thought flashed through his mind as he abruptly scooped Yukina into his arms, carrying her princess-style.
"S-Senpai...!?"
Yukina clutched Sekkaro with one hand and instinctively wrapped her other arm around his neck, her face flushing crimson in shock.
"Haha!"
Rozen laughed, leaping into the sky.
"Sorry, gentlemen! I'll be taking my leave first!"
With those words—and Yukina's startled yelp—he transformed into a streak of light, shooting toward Shinjin Lake.
Vatler and the others could only watch.
"As expected of our beloved Divine Child, leaving us behind so effortlessly."
Vatler spread his hands in mock resignation.
"Bold of him to leave before me, but I don't dislike that." Iblisveil smirked before glancing at Vatler. "What's your move, Vatler?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Vatler grinned. "Allow me to accompany you, Your Highness."
"Tch. Ever the opportunist, Snake Charmer." Iblisveil snorted. "Then don't fall behind. Keep up."
With that, his magical wings unfurled, and he soared into the sky, chasing after Rozen.
"Such impatient lords."
Vatler chuckled before dissolving into mist.
Tobias and Kira followed suit.
All that remained was the devastated wasteland, silent and broken, left to recover—someday.
Meanwhile, the situation at Shinjin Lake had taken another drastic turn.
The brief advantage Shirona had secured was overturned the moment that monstrous shadow appeared.
The creature—emerging from the lake—had shot into the sky, vanishing as if freed from its prison.
But in its wake, the Horned Serpents surged forth in even greater numbers, their movements frenzied, their attacks relentless.
The Self-Defense Forces, who had barely managed to regain footing under Shirona's control, were overwhelmed once more.
Gunfire, screams, hisses, and the tearing of flesh filled the air—turning the battlefield back into hell.
"Damn it!"
Shirona gritted her teeth, straining to maintain her control over the soldiers.
She abandoned offensive tactics, focusing solely on defense—forming a tight formation around their position.
"Hold on, Shirona!"
Hisano had set Nagisa down beside Avrora, both still unconscious, before gripping her naginata and cutting down any serpents that breached the perimeter.
Despite her age, Hisano moved with the agility of an elite Attack Mage. Her naginata—though an ordinary weapon—gleamed with reinforcement jujutsu, slicing through the serpents' scales with ease.
Nearby, Yuiri fought desperately.
"Ugh!"
Though fear flickered in her eyes, her silver greatsword never hesitated, cleaving through the monsters effortlessly. Unlike Hisano, she didn't reinforce her weapon—its sharpness was innate, a testament to its craftsmanship.
Shio, meanwhile, had abandoned her bow for jujutsu.
"Resound!"
She scattered talismans from her uniform, infusing them with jutsuryoku. The papers transformed into spectral birds, swarming the serpents in a flurry of attacks—a signature technique of the Lion King Agency's Shamanic War Dancers.
Together, they held the line—
Until—
"We can't hold them off!"
Shirona's voice was strained with urgency.
A breach opened in their formation.
A group of soldiers was torn apart, and the serpents flooded in, surging toward the defenseless group.
"No!"
Hisano's composure finally cracked.
"This is bad!"
"Yuiri!"
Yuiri and Shio cried out in despair.
And then—
"Boom!"
Flames erupted.