144 Unfair!

"Hand over the princess… Ahhh!!!"

Despite wreaking havoc in Misaki Town according to the plan, Vlov Arhangel still hadn't seen the figure he so desperately longed for. His descent into madness was complete.

As his emotions spiraled out of control, the already blazing inferno around him erupted into a surging tide of flames. The searing waves, carrying temperatures capable of melting steel with ease, surged toward Roy.

ROOAR!

In an instant, the concrete road beneath their feet liquefied into a crimson river of fire. Steel structures along the streets melted into molten streams, while the charred remains of corpses crushed by the earlier magical storm dissolved into pools of blood, merging with the fiery river.

More scorched corpses began to crawl out from the shadows of the streets, rejoining the relentless ranks of Dead Apostles.

"Hand her over?! I think I should knock some sense into you first!"

Faced with Vlov Arhangel's impotent rage, Roy showed no sign of backing down.

Even in the face of flames surging at temperatures exceeding three thousand degrees Celsius, his gaze remained unwavering, devoid of fear.

After all, the flames unleashed by Vlov were nothing more than a manifestation of a curse... a detail Merem had shared during their briefing on this lunatic.

While the flames' heat was impressive, they were far from insurmountable for him. Roy possessed his own flames, flames of incomparable significance... his most prized treasure.

With a deliberate motion, Roy raised his left hand, channeling his magic. Slowly, he activated all of his magic circuits.

Over nine thousand circuits came alive simultaneously, and the overwhelming magic force from the depths of his soul flooded his entire being.

A towering pillar of magical light shot skyward, piercing through the night with blinding brilliance. The sudden surge of magic generated an immense pressure that crushed the advancing waves of flame.

Black flames infused with magical energy ignited around Roy, surging and swelling with increasing ferocity. The oppressive aura spread across the entire area, pushing the limits of what even seasoned magus could withstand.

Even those far from Roy could clearly feel the staggering growth of his magical power.

For ordinary people, the overwhelming magic in the air caused brief episodes of hypoxia.

"Whoa, what the hell is this?! That's totally unfair!"

"Where on earth did Arcueid find this monster?"

Roa, who was also present, couldn't help but recoil in shock at the sudden surge of power.

This unexpected display of strength from Roy's body only heightened Roa's desire for it.

"That magic power… it's him!!"

Far away in the forest, where she was entangled in combat with countless Dead Apostles, Aoko Aozaki also sensed the overwhelming magical force.

Though still locked in battle, her astonishment at the magnitude of Roy's power was palpable.

Her confidence wavered.

Despite being a magician herself, how could there be such a vast gap between them?

Just how much of his power had he used when he fought her before?

"So this is his true power? How can such strength even be possible?"

Alice could not help but marvel at the overwhelming magical force.

Yet, this was merely the beginning. What lay beyond the sheer display of magical power was far more horrifying for Vlov Arhangel.

Black flames surged from the depths of Roy's soul, wrapping around his body. Fueled by his immense magic, the flames seemed almost jubilant, writhing and twisting with fervent energy.

The slender trails of fire coiled around his arm like a black dragon, awaiting his command with unwavering loyalty.

In mere moments, Roy's magical energy reached an almost unimaginable peak... vast and boundless like the ocean, unyielding like a mountain. The resulting gale extinguished the surrounding flames and cleared the clouds above, unveiling a night sky of pristine clarity.

Under the moon's cold glow, Roy emerged from the black flames, his transformation revealed.

His once-black hair had turned an ashen white, now slightly curled. Ice-blue eyes burned with an intensity akin to fire.

His casual attire had undergone a dramatic metamorphosis. Flames enveloped his left and right sleeves, condensing into thick, fiery armor. The rest of his body was draped in a long, black cloak woven entirely from fire, its edges rippling with every flicker.

The style, save for the color, bore an uncanny resemblance to the ensemble of the Count.

This sight sent chills down Vlov Arhangel's spine. But what truly unsettled him wasn't Roy's physical transformation... it was the profound change in his magical energy.

It was no longer an overwhelming force but something far more terrifying... a precision so refined that his magical presence now flickered in and out of perception, as though it had become faint and ethereal.

Impossible.

While the magic appeared subdued, the palpable sense of danger it emanated had reached an unbearable crescendo.

Vlov's instincts as a Dead Apostle screamed at him with unrelenting urgency: Run! Do not fight him!

"Don't even think about escaping."

Before the thought could fully form in Vlov's mind, Roy's gaze fell upon him with unnerving precision. A simple wave of his hand sufficed.

Magic surged forth, severing all avenues of retreat.

Vlov moved swiftly, but Roy's destructive potential was far beyond expectations.

Fire and water were merciless by nature, and Roy had no intention of holding back. Determined to end this battle quickly, he shifted into full power, aiming to eliminate his opponent before the city's casualties could mount further.

Swift and decisive... that was the plan. He needed to end this quickly and find Shiki and Touko.

Black flames erupted before Vlov's eyes, a sudden flash that froze him in place.

"Black Flash!"

Encased in black fire, Roy surged forward like a streak of lightning, closing the distance in an instant.

Before Vlov could react, he felt the searing heat of Roy's presence and the crushing force of a fist heading straight for him.

Bang!

Impossible!

Before Vlov could even process the attack, his body was sent hurtling backward with incredible force.

Yet, Roy refrained from pursuing him. Vlov, resilient and cunning, had managed to ignite flames and summon towering pillars of fire upon impact, cutting off Roy's advance with a continuous barrage of burning obstacles.

___

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