“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.

(Alicization Uniting, 310)