146 Archnemesis!

"Magnificent, simply magnificent combat."

"Both fighters are masters of flame. But alas, that Vlov Arkhangel... his true strength is far beyond just his mastery of flame curses."

In a remote corner of Misaki Town, Roa observed the climactic battle. He couldn't help but voice his admiration.

The clash of flames and magecraft, of sheer power and will, utterly astonished him.

At first, he had been surprised to hear of Nrvnqsr Chaos's untimely demise. Even with his Reality Marble, such a swift defeat seemed improbable. But now, witnessing Roy's explosive might, Roa no longer found it surprising.

A Magician of the Fifth Magic, a Grand Puppeteer, and this prodigy... together constituted a force that could obliterate Nrvnqsr Chaos, even without the intervention of the Princess.

Nrvnqsr Chaos, drunk on the immortality granted by his Lair of the Beast King, had grown arrogant, forgetting the taste of fear. His reckless actions had led him to his demise.

But he had overlooked a critical truth: his immortality was not absolute... it merely made him exceptionally difficult to kill. And his raw strength, though formidable, was not insurmountable. Against opponents of equal or superior caliber, he was prey to be toyed with until death claimed him.

Roa had long seen through this. When he learned of Aoko Aozaki's involvement in Misaki Town alongside another faction, he predicted Nrvnqsr Chaos's grim fate.

Still, he hadn't expected the fool to be outright killed. At most, he assumed Nrvnqsr would be crippled and handed over to the Church for containment.

Yet, Roa felt no pity for the man's death... only a small sense of relief.

He was even grateful. Nrvnqsr Chaos's folly had illuminated the hidden threats within Misaki Town.

Moreover, Roa thanked his own foresight in not rushing to join the battlefield alongside Vlov Arkhangel as planned.

His plans were progressing smoothly: the Tohno household was besieged by his Dead Apostles. Touko Aozaki had been ambushed and blown sky-high. Aoko Aozaki was entangled with a carefully prepared "gift" and wouldn't be free anytime soon.

Now, the only threats remaining in the city were this enigmatic man and the Princess herself.

But this man's strength was truly beyond expectations. To battle Vlov Arkhangel to this extent and even force him to reverse his attribute and unleash his terrifying ice spells... such power and composure were nothing short of remarkable.

Roa was thoroughly impressed.

Compared to the host body he currently inhabited, this man was leagues superior. Simply observing him filled Roa with covetous desire.

"Hmm? So, she's coming after all."

Roa's brow furrowed slightly as he sensed a familiar presence rapidly closing in.

Elsewhere, beneath the night sky, golden streaks of light darted toward the high-rise where Roa stood.

The growing magical aura left no doubt in Roa's mind... the Princess had found him.

It was only natural. The chaos at the Tohno estate, followed by Vlov Arkhangel's fiery inferno, had left no room for subtlety. It was inevitable that the Princess would notice his presence.

And at this stage, was there even a point in hiding?

It was time for him to step onto the stage and greet his old acquaintance.

The golden light swiftly descended onto the nearby street, its radiance illuminating the darkness.

Arcueid sniffed the air, her crimson eyes blazing with fury.

Earlier, she had only a vague sense of it, but now she was certain... the filthy serpent she had been hunting was here.

Originally, she had planned to assist Roy in defeating Vlov Arkhangel before pursuing Roa. But Roy had refused her help.

"Focus on eliminating Roa, leave this man to me... I can handle him alone."

"If you truly wish to help me, dispose of Roa as quickly as possible, then find Shiki and Aoko."

Through his butterfly familiar, he sensed that Shiki's presence had grown faint... likely in grave danger... which left him deeply worried.

As for his own situation, he assured Arcueid, "Don't worry. I won't lose."

Confident in Roy's strength, Arcueid trusted his judgment and followed his directive to prioritize eliminating Roa.

Tracking Roa's presence, Arcueid wasted no words. The moment she locked onto his location, she charged decisively in his direction.

Spotting the figure on the rooftop, her pale hands transformed into razor-sharp claws, her formidable aura gathering with intensity. In a flash, she lunged at Roa with incredible speed.

Swish!

This was her full-force attack.

During their previous encounters, this move had ended more than half of Roa's lives.

If she could land even a single blow, he would undoubtedly die.

There was no need for hesitation or elaborate planning. All she had to do was repeat what she had done before: tear him apart.

"Hah? So impatient, aren't we? Not even a proper greeting before trying to kill me?"

Sensing the imminent threat, Roa had no intention of standing still and waiting to die. The memories of his past defeats had taught him to be wary of this particular move. Without hesitation, he leapt to a safer position.

Boom!

The sound of stone shattering echoed as the building beneath him collapsed under the sheer force of Arcueid's strike.

The attack, devastating as it was, missed its mark.

"Hahahaha! It's been a while, Arcueid. What an enthusiastic welcome you've prepared for me."

"When was the last time we met?"

"Silence! You are unworthy to utter my name."

Hearing Roa's loathsome voice, Arcueid's anger flared, and her relentless assault showed no sign of abating.

But Roa wasn't overly pressured. Drawing on his past experiences, he was far from foolish enough to face her head-on.

Instead, he relied on the agility of his host body and the advantage of his weapons to evade and counter her attacks, engaging in a game of cat and mouse.

A swipe, a slash, a feint...

Arcueid's attacks were primal, relying on sheer instinct rather than refined technique... befitting a creature of innate strength. Like a wild beast, her combat style was raw and unpolished.

Dealing with such an opponent required understanding her attack patterns and exploiting them. Roa knew this and acted accordingly.

"Damn it..."

Frustration flashed across Arcueid's face as her attacks failed to land.

In the past, she might have found amusement in such a chase, testing whether her speed could outmatch Roa's evasiveness.

After all, she was in no real danger; she could afford countless errors. Roa, on the other hand, only needed to make one mistake, and it would spell his end.

But this time was different.

She didn't have the luxury of wasting time with Roa. Whether Roy needed her assistance or not, it was clear that Shiki and Aoko were in trouble.

For the sake of her few treasured friends over the past century, Arcueid had to finish this fight as quickly as possible and move on to help the others.

But how?

Her crimson eyes burned with fury as she glared at Roa, who was as slippery as an eel. Her transformed claws and the fiery determination in her gaze made her frustration evident.

No matter how she attacked, Roa managed to counter with bizarre techniques, evading her strikes.

After a few more exchanges, she realized brute strength alone wouldn't suffice to take him down quickly. She needed another approach.

But what could she do?

Wait... there was one way!

Arcueid's eyes lit up as a sudden idea crossed her mind.

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