To become a king and a magician

"You really are...the same old you!"

Forcefully pushing aside the fist that was stopped in front of him, Natsukawa Tiger kicked his other self squarely in the chest! Like being hit by a speeding truck, [Natsukawa Tiger] was immediately sent flying!

Xia Chuanhu shook his hands and feet and walked out from inside the wall.

"Aoko, you go ahead, Sato and I will be there soon—um!"

Approaching Natsukawa Torato, and to Ayaka Sajou's astonishment, Aozaki Aoko stood on tiptoe and bit him hard on the lip, wiping the blood from her lips: "Remember this pain, I'll wait for you to get it back from me."

"Ah."

Watching Aozaki Aoko jump off the platform and disappear into the distance, Natsukawa Torama took a deep breath and approached Sajou Ayaka: "Are you ready, Sajou?"

"Um... Natsukawa, you and Miss Aoko..."

"Well, it's probably what you think. I'll talk to you properly after all this is over. For now—"

Boom!!

The flames surged in like a tsunami, and the destructive wave of fire, along with the return of [Natsukawa Tora], instantly shattered the station's ceiling! A devastating kick also pierced through the very fabric of space!

"Thump—!"

The fist and the kick collided in mid-air, and everything around them instantly collapsed and shattered in the explosive impact!

【Natsukawa Torata】stared at Natsukawa Torata and Sajo Ayaka with bloodshot eyes.

"To actually have the courage to stand here—regardless of strength, the courage is commendable, woman! Are you prepared to go to the underworld with him, becoming a pair of star-crossed lovers!"

"You still talk so much."

Using the impact to create some distance, Natsukawa Torama put down Ayaka Sajou from his arms: "Are you so sure you'll win?"

"Are you so sure you won't die?" The flames on [Natsukawa Torato] burned even more fiercely with his will. "I've waited too long for this day. Even if it's just a few days, it feels like an eternity! And that woman has been holding me back... The anger in my heart needs you, and the whole world, to extinguish it!"

Like the Tower of Babel reaching to the heavens, an endless stream of flames shot straight into the sky, the raging pillars of fire almost completely dyeing the dark sky red.

"Run away as much as you want! I allow you to run, to the ends of the earth! Even to the ends of time and space!"

"No matter where you run, you can't escape!"

The Demon God of Flames—in Ayaka Sajo's eyes now, [Natsukawa Tora] is such an existence. It seems that as long as you touch the flames, you will be burned to ashes. Is there really any possibility of survival in this fiery purgatory?

However, it still has a cold touch.

A cool sensation can be felt in the palm of your hand.

Turning to look at Natsukawa Tora beside her, and seeing the smile on his face, Sajo Ayaka couldn't help but tighten her grip on his hand, trying to make her connection with him even stronger.

Then—

"Go ahead, it's up to you, [Ayaka]."

"Okay, leave it to me."

Clang!

A beam of icy blue light quietly bloomed in the sea of ​​fire, and the extremely high temperature that filled the entire space suddenly dropped at a rapid speed, and the towering sea of ​​fire was gradually frozen by the ice!

And in the heart of that frost-covered land—

"Come on, run away as you please, another me."

"I gave my permission."

The icy blue figure whispered this.

131. The Holy Grail is the root of all evil.

【Natsukawa Tiger】looked at the current situation with great surprise.

Summoning magic, without a doubt, this is summoning magic.

Did another version of myself use summoning magic?

--impossible!

This was his immediate thought. In this Tokyo, apart from him, that woman, and that woman's sister, there couldn't possibly be anyone else who could use magic. This new world was set up this way. His other self couldn't possibly still use summoning magic; all he could use was his own power.

However, this could freeze his anger like frost...

"How does it feel to have your body frozen?"

Clad in a robe of frost, Natsukawa Tiger approached him step by step.

"Has your mind, which was filled with anger and murderous intent, calmed down?"

"Calm down?!" [Natsukawa Tora] chuckled at his own words. "Calm down! How could I!"

Click!

The ice shattered, and flames burst forth. [Natsukawa Tiger] once again unleashed a sea of ​​fire with a single step!

"My rage is beyond quelling by these scraps of paper! Don't joke around! It's the real deal!"

Although I don't understand why he can still use summoning magic, it's actually better this way!

He is more worthy of being killed! More worthy of being surpassed! More worthy of proving that he is the real deal!

The raging flames ravaged the ice, and the giant dragon of fire spread its massive wings behind [Natsukawa Tiger], its burning jaws slamming down as if to crush everything in its path!

So what if it's ice? Those shards of glass can be burned away in an instant—

"Crack!"

The sudden sound froze [Natsukawa Tora]'s eyes and expression.

In an instant?

It really only happened in an instant.

His flames were frozen in an instant once again.

There wasn't even the slightest suspense, not even the slightest chance to struggle, and he didn't even have time to react! Just a touch from that slender palm, and the flames he unleashed with all his might were completely frozen!

Through the thick layer of ice, Xia Chuanhu looked at his other self. He pressed his hand against the surface with a little force, and several cracks immediately spread from his fingertips before the whole thing suddenly shattered!

"Snap—!"

The giant ice sculpture of the dragon shattered instantly! Xia Chuanhu, who was inside, was sent flying backward, his body covered in frostbite! But just before he was completely sent flying, a crack quietly appeared in the ice directly below him, and a blizzard of ice and snow, like a fountain, swept him up into the sky!

Immediately afterwards, dozens of giant icy swords crashed down from the sky, slamming the [Natsukawa Tiger], which had only just taken off, back to the ground!

Only at this moment, Natsukawa Tora's thoughts, which had been frozen in time, were awakened by the violent impact. The pain all over his body and the humiliation of being crushed made his expression twisted like a demon!

"Damn bastard!"

With his feet shattering the ground, [Natsukawa Tiger] gathered up the gushing magma with both hands and hurled two lava meteorites at Natsukawa Tiger!

"Crack!"

The meteorite was frozen into two ice sculptures the moment it approached Xia Chuanhu, and was kicked back to Xia Chuanhu's side by his flying feet!

why!

"boom!"

Shattering the incoming frozen meteorite, [Natsukawa Tiger] was filled with disbelief. Now he could clearly feel the obvious gap between his strength and the real thing. The real thing was much stronger than him—well, he was still being stubborn. Being able to freeze him instantly was more than just "much stronger".

But why!

Why is he stronger than me?! We're on equal footing! I might even be stronger!

Why am I the one who ends up at a disadvantage?

"Thump—!"

Fist clashed with fist, a storm of flames and ice swept across the night sky, and a deafening roar echoed through the night.

Looking at his entire arm frozen in place, [Natsukawa Torato]'s expression twisted even more—

"Are you wondering why I've suppressed you?" Holding the arm that was frozen in his hand, Natsukawa Tiger laughed. "You're just like me, your thoughts are written all over your face, and you're even more obvious—the reason is simple."

Click!

Xia Chuanhu ripped off the entire arm, and at the same time, he kicked Xia Chuanhu in the chest. The impact that pierced through his chest sent him flying, coughing up blood!

"The difference between you and me is decisive, that's all."

——————————————————————————————————————

Aozaki Aoko felt like she was riding an elevator that was sinking endlessly.

The passage was discovered quickly, but its length was excessive. She couldn't even remember how long she had been descending underground. The deep, dark environment made it impossible for her to grasp her location or the passage of time. If it weren't for the occasional vibrations coming from above, she wouldn't even be sure she was still underground.

"Buzz~~~~~"

The tremor came from above again—the battle over there was really intense; you could feel it even from here.

Speaking of which...

"This road must have been dug... no, blasted out by brute force, right?"

This was just a feeling, but Aozaki Aoko really felt like she was walking through such a passage, and she could even smell some burning... Could it be that another junior of hers had forcibly punched this passage open?

Considering that person's personality, the possibility is very high.

Why doesn't she try imitating it too?

"Bang------!"

Indigo light shone brightly in the narrow path, and magic spells swirled and coiled around Aozaki Aoko's arms.

But at that moment, a feeling of weightlessness suddenly enveloped Aozaki Aoko's entire body, and the solid ground beneath her feet instantly became empty, causing Aozaki Aoko to fall uncontrollably!

The moment she fell, the surrounding space suddenly opened up, and the narrow passage expanded into a spacious area comparable in size to the Tokyo Dome!

Just like what Hier said.

What surprised Aozaki Aoko even more was that the space was not empty. The entire space was shrouded in a somewhat illusory golden aurora, and a thin mist permeated the surroundings. Countless feathers of light were also scattered in the air.

These probably all originated from that light source located at the very center of the space.

That gleaming golden cup.

"That is......"