#368
Brave New World
In the endlessly unfolding universe.
The shimmering starlight became waves that enveloped the heroines.
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa!
With a vibration, their power surged to a new level.
“As your loyal maid, I will faithfully follow your orders! White Flame Sword Art! First Style! White Flame Stab──!”
Leading the charge with increased power was Olivia.
With platinum flames ablaze, she soared across the sky, engulfed in it.
“I will follow my master’s master. Shadow Slash!!”
Bella flanked Olivia, swinging her casual sword like a shadow.
“Enemies of my master! Enemies of the world! Disappear! Yap!”
Whoosh.
Right next to Olivia, Eri appeared as she released her invisibility.
Swish!
In her hand, glowing orange magical chainsaw hurtled towards Messiah.
“Today, I will prove that I am the true virtuous wife, Deok-Sung! Shinozaki Sword Style──! Second Style! Flora and Fauna of Winds and Moon!”
Rin dashed by her side.
Around her, a chilling navy blue wind swirled, freezing the surrounding universe in an instant.
Shinozaki Sword Style.
True to its name, the dazzling and ever-changing illusionary sword displayed flowers, birds, wind, and moon centered around Rin’s katana.
Flowers, birds, wind, and moon made of magic and ice soared and flew toward Messiah.
“Disappear right now! Hyper Thunder── Storm!!”
Silver lightning struck next to Rin.
A flash of brilliance and a silver spark emerged as Aris raised her spear to the sky and shouted.
Rumble rumble rumble!
With a thunderous roar, the storm of silver lightning crashed down upon Messiah.
“I will protect my lord. Kamiya Sword Style── Sound Barrier!”
Amidst the swirling green whirlwinds, Makoto made her appearance.
The wakizashi in her hand sparkled green silently as it poured toward Messiah.
“My junior may be a bad guy, but I can’t forgive those who bully the junior that saved my life! The enemy of Rena, my enemy, the enemy of my junior! Die! Star Fall── Buster!!”
Kasumi swung her staff, appearing amidst a purple flash across the universe.
Kasumi bit her lip.
She now knew the one responsible for making her a chimera and ruining her life.
Messiah.
The resentment toward him poured out as magical energy.
“Destroying my teacher’s workplace, the students’ sanctuary, and toying with Kim Deok-Sung, I, magical girl Magical☆Miracle☆Mayu, will judge you with the magic of justice! Magical Miracle Lovely♡Mayu── Moon☆Light☆Arrow☆Buster!!”
Mayuzumi Mayu, the beauty in a magical girl outfit with pink twin tails fluttering, appeared next to Kasumi, shaking her magical wand.
A beautiful girl with pink twin tails, Mayuzumi Mayu, waved her magic wand.
Six pink spheres appeared alongside her, exploding as six beams of destructive magical energy rained down on Messiah.
“Hehehe. You look completely disgusting and over-the-top, not a type for Haru at all. Ugh! I almost threw up just now! So just die. Kurosawa Shin Ken-ryu! First Form! Single Point Slash!”
Suddenly, Haru appeared, swinging her katana.
The magical slash flying from her sword targeted Messiah.
Haru’s eyes trembled.
She knew.
The one responsible for exterminating her clan, kidnapping her, conducting human experiments, and turning her into Muramasa was right there.
Haru had no intention of letting him go.
“Hawawawawa! Mr. Kim Deok-Sung will be protected by girls! Dragon— Slash!!”
“Ugh, O Spirit of the Red Lotus! Unleash the seal of the Black Dragon and bind the enemies of the world! Chains of Gold!”
Evangeline’s greatsword glowed, and a purple light sparkled from Beatrice’s removed eye patch as golden chains rose, binding Messiah.
“Finally, finally we meet. The true dark horse from ten years ago, the real enemy. In the name of the Five Crowns, I will execute you right here. In the name of this body, the White Empress!”
Boom.
A glamorous white beauty with a sultry expression suddenly floated in space, tears streaming from her red eyes as she glared at Messiah.
Seira Yoshizaki, restored to her prime after bathing in the blessings of the stars.
The faces of her comrades who had died ten years ago appeared in her mind.
The mastermind behind everything, the true backer, the target of her vengeance was right there.
“For the little one! Super──Nova! Genesis!!”
Flash!
As she pointed her parasol at Messiah, a white sun descended upon the universe.
“Teddy-chan… kill him.”
Finally appearing, Wilhelmina coldly spoke with a shadowy face.
The true enemy of her younger brother was here.
No further words were needed.
From Wilhelmina’s shadow, a massive teddy bear emerged, its enormous paw wrapped in ivory magic, slamming down on Messiah.
“Ultimate Starfall.”
Finally, Kim Deok-Sung declared.
Woooooooom!
The world responded to his declaration.
The starlight of the universe sparkled as it rained down from the sky like a shower.
An immense energy capable of obliterating an entire city focused solely on Messiah, surpassing a nuclear explosion, for the purpose of destruction.
“Aaah…”
As he watched, Messiah trembled.
It wasn’t fear.
It was joy.
Messiah was glad.
The fact that his opponents, Mara Papiyas and Satan, were genuine in their intent.
The mere fact that they were attacking him with such sincere hatred made him happy.
This was the climactic showdown he had envisioned.
The final trial to conclude the legend of the Messiah.
“Perfect…”
Messiah laughed.
Kim Deok-Sung.
He had the qualifications to be his adversary.
The move he prepared surpassed anything he could imagine in power.
If it were the old him before healing, he would have suffered serious injuries and finally lost after taking this strike.
Surely, his rival was pouring all his power into this one hit aimed at him.
That’s why Messiah was happy.
The last strike of the powers of the old world concentrated at a single point.
The thought that he could now disrupt that strike and finally open the New World.
The fact that he could complete the ending of the legend of the Messiah himself filled Messiah with joy.
He was so happy.
As he looked at the cursed powers, the false strength that polluted this world, flying towards him in slow motion, Messiah closed his eyes.
Thump.
His heart raced.
The philosopher’s stone embedded in his withering body trembled as it accepted the magic power.
An overwhelming magic power, unimaginable for an individual to possess, reminiscent of the stars of the universe, surged from every part of Messiah’s body.
Pachutsutsutsutsutsu!
The black magic rising from his body split the space of the universe.
Messiah opened his eyes.
A black light shimmered from them.
Messiah picked up his sword.
Black flames erupted from a blade-less sword, forming a blade.
The sword of destruction that incinerates the world manifested.
As the Death Blade Levantein activated, a giant of black flames descended behind him.
Surut.
The spirit of the transcendent weapon Levantein descended into this world and roared.
[Kyahhhhhhhhhhhhh!]
As the magic-infused scream caused the attacks flying towards Messiah to falter.
Messiah declared.
[The paradise that will surely arrive]
【Brave New World】
Flash.
As overwhelming and alien intangible power spread from Messiah’s body, the moment he unleashed the visualization.
Wuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Messiah’s incantation shook Kim Deok-Sung’s visualization, the ruins, Tokyo, the world, and even the entire universe.
Pashussssss.
The colorful skills pouring towards Messiah vanished as if erased by an eraser.
But that wasn’t all.
The infinite cosmic space that covered the ruins, the universe of salvation symbolizing Kim Deok-Sung’s belief, began to disappear as if erased.
In its place, another sky emerged.
To the right of Messiah, the bright blue sky of day rose with the sun.
To the left, the sky of night adorned with a full moon and stars.
On the ground was a place carpeted with pure white clouds like heaven and fragrant, colorful beautiful flowers.
This scenery, akin to paradise, was Messiah’s visualization.
A landscape symbolizing his belief.
An absolute space that nullified all hostile abilities, magic, and transcendent energy.
The ultimate visualization that embodied the landscape of the New World, the lifelong goal and belief of Messiah.
All attacks directed at Messiah lost their power and faded like smoke.
“Gah?!”
“What, what is this!”
“H-How…”
The heroines soaring through the sky suddenly fell to the ground.
Watching them plummet like birds without wings, Messiah laughed at Kim Deok-Sung’s contorted face.
“This place is where the vision of the New World I will create is materialized. It is a space that embodies the resolve of salvation I have built over my lifetime…”
Messiah laughed.
A beautiful sight came into his view.
“A New World (신세계) where filthy magic and abilities that pollute this world cannot exist, a space clean and clear without a speck of dirt.”
An ideal space where neither abilities nor magic could exist.
This space that forced the nullification of abilities upon enemies was the very image of the paradise he so longed for and the strongest visualization in this world.
The power of visualization changed according to the size and strength of the belief held.
And Messiah, bearing the burden of salvation, longing for the salvation of all humanity, held a belief larger, stronger, and heavier than any human in this world.
Ten years ago, even the belief of the sword master who saved humanity from catastrophe could not surpass the belief of salvation that Messiah held and was defeated.
“──My adversary, my Satan, my Mara Papias, the Black Beast.”
“Satan, my Mara Papias, Black Beast.”
Messiah said as he stared directly at Kim Deok-Sung, wielding the Extermination Sword.
A smile hung on his lips.
Whoosh.
Black magic surged from Messiah’s body.
In this pristine New World, the use of abilities was permitted only to Messiah and those loyal to him.
Unauthorized individuals could not use magic.
The artificial paradise created by Messiah had devoured and controlled the exquisite New World that Kim Deok-Sung had crafted as a salvation universe.
“The belief I carry, the determination I hold! It is the salvation of all humanity and this world.”
As if in agreement with Messiah’s words, the Sun and Moon rose above his head, releasing strange waves and swaying.
Flash.
A black halo appeared behind Messiah’s head, shimmering darkly.
Like the Messiah of the savior legend, Messiah opened his arms wide.
A most benevolent and gentle smile graced his face.
“I will undoubtedly save humanity, save the world. I will liberate all normal people from gods and demons, from abilities and magic, from gates and beings of other worlds. I will surely lead all of humanity to an ideal New World.”
Black light sparkled in Messiah’s eyes.
The black halo behind his head hummed and pulsated, shedding light.
A spirit, Surtr, manifested behind him, spitting out the flames of destruction with a roar.
“O my adversary, Black Beast, what belief do you carry? This confrontation is a battle of beliefs. Do you possess a determination similar to mine? A belief in the path? No! You do not! But if you dare to confront me, clash directly with the determination of salvation I bear! Confront the belief in the path and the salvation of all humanity!”
Messiah raised the flaming sword.
He declared with a serious voice.
“I too shall face you head-on, fairly, as a savior, and crush your determination and the ruins of your world….”
“Shut the hell up!”
Messiah’s words were cut off.
His gaze turned toward Kim Deok-Sung.
The fallen Kim Deok-Sung stood up from where he had collapsed.
Vroom vroom vroom.
His Durandal trembled as black magic enveloped Kim Deok-Sung.
Messiah’s eyes trembled at the sight.
“W-what is this…?”
This was the inside of his mental projection, the inevitable utopia (Brave New World).
Unauthorized individuals couldn’t use abilities, magic, or even illusions.
But the filthy power that surged from Kim Deok-Sung’s body was undoubtedly magic.
Seeing Messiah’s first expression of panic, a smirk spread across Kim Deok-Sung’s face.
“I don’t give a damn about beliefs or whatever.”
Vroom vroom vroom vroom vroom vroom!
Just as Kim Deok-Sung’s words fell, the sky trembled.
The sky was divided exactly in half between night and day.
Something strange appeared at that boundary.
It was a planet.
Not from this world, but from Earth, the real world Kim Deok-Sung came from, hovering in the sky of the New World created by Messiah.
The intangible power pouring from that Earth bestowed magic upon Kim Deok-Sung, countering Messiah’s mental projection.
“Today, you’re going to die. Say it, you damned blabbering fake cult leader!”
Wham.
Kim Deok-Sung leapt into the air, kicking off from the flower garden and clouds.
Black magic scattered like lightning from Durandal in his hand, staining Messiah’s mental projection.
Boom-BA-BOOM!
The roar that followed shook the world.
The real battle was about to begin.
