Spitting that out as her lips warped, the ruler showed that savage smile once again before raising her rapier of white silver up high.

“Then… how about this!?”

Bobobohh!! The air trembled and countless red points of light appeared about the blade. They obviously numbered beyond thirty. Supposing those were all thermal elements, it would then be a number easily exceeding the human limit of controlling twenty elements.

The fact that the Fragrant Olive Sword’s full control art was weak against intangible fire attacks was evident from the earlier battle against Chudelkin. But the golden knight showed no sign of backing off and even took a firm step forward with her right foot, a noise ringing out from the heel of her boots. As though understanding its master’s determination, the small blades that made up the chain, too, split apart with a distinct metallic ring, arranging themselves into a grid pattern.

(Alicization Uniting, 214)


At the same time, Administrator swung down her rapier with a scream at the other end.

“Burn, all of you!!”

The thirty thermal elements drifting about the rapier coalesced and shot off as an enormous fire ball.

“I said… I will not let you!!”

Replying with a dignified shout, Alice turned her right hand towards the swirling flames.

The small cross-shaped blades aligned in the air immediately clumped together and formed a gigantic shield. Leaning her body into that shield, the knight kicked off the floor, and thrust into the conflagrant fire ball.

A clash.

Brief silence.

The following explosion shook the entirety of the isolated space. Rampaging heat and light filled the wide room alongside shock waves, with most of the carpet spread across the floor burnt to nothing. Even the giant form of the sword golem which had ceased movement a distance away violently shook while Administrator who was farther behind shielded her face with her left arm.

But I only had my breath taken away by the heat wave, thanks to the protection Alice’s shield granted. Both Cardinal, who I held in my arms, and the floating Eugeo appeared unaffected by the explosion.

The swirl of flames vanished from the hall in seconds like it had been all a lie—

Alice fell from the heart of the explosion with a thud. Shortly after, the Fragrant Olive Sword, back in its original form, stood straight by its master’s side as though it had lost its strength.

Smoke rose from the various places charred on Alice’s white and blue knight uniform.

There were burns all over the skin on her limbs too, making it evident her Life had fallen greatly. It seemed the knight had lost consciousness as she stayed collapsed; the precious seconds she had earned were not in waste, however, Cardinal’s final art was mere moments from completion.

(Alicization Uniting, 216)