CASE 362: THE DEMON KING’S DEMISE.

Through the camera lens attached to the Saint party members, the people, many of whom, for the first time, witness the star's true power.

Though somewhat hastily, receivers have been delivered to most areas across the allied countries, taking the form of large, magical screens, their number still counting. They float lazily atop squares and plazas, from big cities to small villages, broadcasting live footage from the demon king fight.

People, regardless of their races or affiliations, naturally gather near those spots, their eyes glued to the action.

Some places are drowned in a tense silence, while others are deafened with cheers. Yet, one thing is true across every location—the fight definitely catches attention. 

This operation to save the world has already been widely announced, almost relentlessly, before the event, meaning even those who usually do not spare their attention for the world's matters have gathered.

Those who root for the Saint party, those who hold curiosity about the fabled demon king, those who like to watch high-stake battles... all sorts of people—their collective will—is then absorbed and sent to the actual battlefield.

Wind blows ominously in the corrupted land.

Atop a once-towering castle's remains, the demon king's domain slowly seeps into the surroundings, its momentum seemingly unstoppable. His being is contained within the party members' domain, yet his domination—like wriggling tentacles—never falters.

His figure grows hazy, soaked in the star's thick essence as it corrodes everything around it.

Not to mention ordinary people, even the semi-goddesses have their hair standing up as they see this appearance—no, they can feel the scent of chaos crawling on their skin.

''It's coming!''

A ripple is felt within the divine domain. 

The demon king, with a flutter of his scrawny arm, calls forth a ravenous tide of darkness, whose height nearly covers the sun. As if a beast plunging toward its prey, it surges with endless momentum, devouring the fragments of divinity in its path.

The five party members have no choice but to split and navigate the tide on their own.

The nimble Raeliana and Emilia circle around, baring their blades at the growing demon king.

''Ugh... at least try to dodge, you bastard!''

Upon contact with the mess, they can't help but frown. Their weapons can almost certainly rip through most material without much resistance, yet with this opponent, the feel of sinking into his flesh is akin to sticking a dull bar into slime.

Too tough.

The demon king spares the two a half glance, yet just that is enough to convey the killing intent. 

''Back away!''

A golden flash tears through the putrid air.

Anastasia ducks under the demon king, drilling her divine-clad fist at his chest. Fueled with immense strength, the knuckles painfully cave in, throwing a massive column of impact through his heart.

The demon king remains expressionless. With another wave of his hand, the three are helplessly blown away.

Witnessing the scene some distance away, Christina, who has stayed behind to cover the defenseless Sariel, turns to her dragoness partner,

''Tch... are you sure we can get through that...?!''  

''...Yeah.''

Chewing her words for a while, Sariel decisively nods.

Even as they are speaking, the people's will is reaching them, amping their power bit by bit. If she dwells her everything into offense, with pure destruction in mind, and if she can seep her divinity whole into Sylvia's bullets and become one with them...

''...Heh.''

A smirk appears on her face.

Hearing that confidence, Christina immediately locks in. Her gaze sharpens as she aims her stance beside Sariel, her whole concentration brewing.

Without wasting time, the dragoness points the rifle's barrel at her target. Through her fingers that are clutching the gun, divinity trickles into the material, imbuing the weapon's spines and, most importantly, merging with the dense divinity within the rounds.

The reaction is harmonious, so much so that an immense flow soon showers the world with a crisp golden color. Silent wind flutters Sariel's two-tone hair, light bright as the sun reflects a blinding gleam in her silver eyes.

''Oh, damn!?''

''Eek!''

''?!''

The three close-quarter combatants, who are still in a struggle with the demon king, suddenly feel their bodies violently pushed away. In half a moment, as the waves of Sylvia-Sariel divinity hit them, they belatedly realize the meaning of this move.

The demon king is feeling threatened.

His figure shoots toward the crouching Sariel, bearing a tint of hurry. Behind him chases Raeliana, Emilia, and Anastasia... and a horde of dark missiles ready to annihilate any opponent.

At this rate, Christina is not going to hold it.

''Anna!''

Raeliana urgently shouts.

The moment their eyes meet, a silent agreement seems to form between them. Reaching forward, Anastasia tightly grabs Raeliana's hand and lets go of her strength.

With a soft grunt, the elf girl swings her arm wholeheartedly, springing her teammate toward Emilia, who is already preparing to accelerate the throw.

''Go!''

Emilia's fingers graze Anastasia's feet, upon which she unravels her palm, hurling the girl forward with a gust of impact.

Anastasia rips through the air at an astonishing speed, blasting her way past the demon king and landing just beside the tense Christina, ''Let's do it!'' She cheers, grabbing the princess's hand.

Together, the two set their gaze straight ahead, a firm barrier shielding them and Sariel.

The air vibrates violently as the demon king's fury rains on the barrier. Relentless, lethal, and perhaps too fierce, yet Christina and Anastasia hold firm. Even as the essence of chaos burns through their guard, even as the severe pain lunges at their nerves, even as their minds feel as though they might collapse...

''Ugh...!''

Because their teammates have not given up yet!

In those flurry of moments, amidst the storm of cosmic power, a soft click rings. Sariel pulls the trigger, sending her all into this one shot. Golden plasma dances across the rifle's exterior, colossal surges pulsing along its length.

The bullet propels itself out of the barrel, dragging along a rippling silver trail.

It pierces through the air, tears apart the demon king's mudding waves, and, with overwhelming force, pulverizes its existence. In a split second, the shot lands precisely on its target.

''Now!''

After slamming head-first into the supercharged shell, the demon king's speed noticeably drops as his body falters, some obvious openings becoming more and more apparent as the thick aura around him burns to nothingness.

Seizing the chance, Raeliana and Emilia plunge at the demon king from behind.

One moment, a gold-clad blade tears his torso apart.

Another moment, an emerald green scythe reaps his head off.

Divine energy coats the massively open wounds, sizzling in the open air. And just when that scene of victory seems so real—

'''' ?! ''''

A screech pierces into reality as the figure rapidly deteriorates.

What's left of the humanoid demon king is but a pile of dark purple mesh, one more potent and hostile than ever. At that point, all five women can instinctively feel it—their enemy is entering his final form.

Yet, at the same time, a rising excitement pumps their hearts.

Just this one minute; one moment, as long as everyone gives it their all... they will make it.