Multiverse's Holy Right

Though the situation seemed complex, the entire sequence—from the Black Prince's appearance to Roy's pursuit and execution—had taken remarkably little time. This era-dominating Demon King of Campiones had fallen with startling swiftness.

Alexander Gascoigne's authorities primarily involved traps and schemes. His combat style resembled that of traditional magician, requiring thorough preparation. Faced with such sudden circumstances, Gascoigne's authorities proved utterly ineffective.

The Black Prince's strength couldn't compare to Marquis Voban's either. Moreover, Roy had made tremendous progress since defeating Voban—whether in his multiplied divine power or evolved authorities. With the powerful Heretic Goddess Athena assisting him, Roy dispatched Gascoigne with almost surgical precision.

"With this, there's one fewer Campione in this world. I think I'd actually make a better Last King."

Roy withdrew his sword from Gascoigne's chest. Though the Black Prince's organs were completely destroyed, his Campione vitality kept him barely alive. Ordinary magic couldn't possibly save him now—only an exceptionally powerful healing authority or resurrection-type authority could.

But Roy's clairvoyance confirmed no current Campione possessed authorities capable of healing such injuries. Even Lady Aisha's healing authority had limited effect on Campiones, and Gascoigne certainly lacked any resurrection abilities.

"Let's go, Athena!"

Roy called out before turning to leave.

After the Black Prince's death, Athena had reverted to her loli form, with her Gorgon Stone returning to Roy's body. The wise goddess opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it and silently trotted after him. Only when she caught up did she glance sideways at him and murmur, "...Just leaving them alone together like this?"

"Well, no matter what, they've been friends for over a decade. For a dying man, let him have this chance to say goodbye to his friend."

Roy naturally understood what Athena meant. He gently ruffled the goddess's silver hair with his hand, provoking her displeasure, then burst into laughter as he swept her up in his arms under her furious glare, soaring across the sky with her.

After Roy and Athena had gone far away, a beautiful and elegant lady materialized beside the Black Prince—it was the astral body of the White Princess, Alice.

"Cough... cough... What are you doing here? Have you come to mock me even in my final moments...?"

The resilience of a Campione was indeed remarkable. Even with all his internal organs shattered, Gascoigne forcibly clung to life with his magical energy, speaking weakly.

"Ah..."

Alice sighed softly. With graceful steps, she approached Gascoigne, who lay on the ground, and looked down at him, observing the man in his final, pitiful state. Her expression was complex as she asked, "...Do you... regret it?"

"Since when have you become so ladylike? Shouldn't you be mocking my overconfidence with your usual venomous words? Seeing you like this is making me uncomfortable."

As if experiencing a final surge of vitality, Gascoigne's face flushed with colour, his entire demeanor brightening. Even his speech became smoother, as though he had regained strength.

After a pause, the somewhat tsundere Campione set aside his pride, his tone softening considerably. "...Never mind. At a time like this, asking you to scold me would just make me seem pathetic... Regret? I've never regretted anything, Alice! This is the fate of a Campione—death is the end for all of us. I'm just meeting that end a little earlier than most."

"...From the day I became a Campione, I knew I would die. The manner of my death, though, was unexpected. I didn't fall to a Heretic God, nor to the Last King—instead, it was my own kin who struck me down."

The Black Prince laughed self-deprecatingly. "...I'm not like those other thick-skulled Campiones. The moment I learned of their existence, I began wondering why none of the ancient Campiones survived. Why had they all disappeared? From that day on, I knew I, too, would one day follow in their footsteps, becoming nothing more than an insignificant ripple in this world."

"...In life, I commanded the reverence of thousands, but in death, I'll fade into obscurity. Of all the Campiones who have died before, who remembers their names now? Not a single one. That's the tragedy of a Campione—even as kings in life, they leave no trace in history after death."

Alice listened quietly to the Black Prince's ramblings without interruption. Though the Prince of England could hardly be called a hero, he had always seen things clearly, living life on his own terms.

"Time's running out, Alice... I may have caused you a lot of trouble in the past, even nearly gotten you killed a few times. But even in my final moments, I won't apologize. I absolutely... won't apologize..."

Gascogne's eyelids grew heavier, his vision gradually blurred, his speech intermittent until his strength could no longer sustain him, and his eyelids slowly closed.

The Black Prince's breathing faded from steady to nothing, his body temperature turning cold as life departed.

"Even in death, he remained a prideful man. Truly, his stubborn dignity was his own torment."

Alice felt sorrow. While she hadn't harbored much fondness for Gascogne, neither had she disliked him. Moreover, in times past, he had been one of the few who could banter with her as a friend. Yet now, this companion of over a decade had finally departed.

...

On a Manhattan skyscraper, Roy and Athena stood atop, observing the fierce battle between Annie Charlton and the Heretic Leviathan not far away. While this Campione clashed violently with the temporarily divine-powered Divine Ancestor, Roy and Athena had already slain the Black Prince and returned from Canada to Manhattan at godlike speed.

As Roy and Athena calmly watched the distant battle, Alice's astral form also returned from Canada.

The famously renowned European princess showed no trace of sorrow on her face now, smiling brightly as she complained coyly upon seeing Roy, "...Roy, letting me be alone with Gascogne at the end was certainly generous of you as a man, but for a girl like me, it was rather heartbreaking."

Alice's plaintive tone didn't move Roy in the slightest. He merely chuckled, "...Why should you be heartbroken? I gave you a chance to bid farewell to an old friend."

"Shouldn't a man who cares about a woman feel jealous? Yet you let me be alone with an 'old flame' without an ounce of envy. You didn't even ask what we talked about. It makes me doubt whether you care for me at all."

The beautiful princess with her platinum blonde hair and delicate features appeared on the verge of tears, pitiful and aggrieved, her eyes filled with sorrowful reproach.

Ignoring her melancholy act, Roy simply winked at her, "...Alice, you should consider it from another perspective—this is my trust in you! Besides, now that you belong to me, no one can take you away, least of all a mere corpse."

Roy's tone was arrogant, carrying an undeniable command.

Alice couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking her head, "...You really are an overbearing man. But I suppose that's fitting for a Demon King."

With that, the White Princess set aside her playful demeanor. She stepped forward, clasping Roy's hands in hers, her expression growing solemn, "...Don't die, Roy. I don't want you to follow the same path as all the other Campiones."

Her voice was sincere, her star-like eyes brimming with deep concern and worry.

Gascogne's final words had stirred dark thoughts within her—for Roy was also a Campione. Would he, too, inevitably meet the same fate as all the others?

The very idea filled Alice with fear and dread.

Roy's expression gradually softened. Although Alice was currently in her astral form, he could almost feel the warmth of her trembling hands and the fear in her heart. "...I won't die, Alice! That's my promise to you!"

BOOM————

Just as Roy finished speaking, a brilliant light shot into the sky over the distant sea, accompanied by an earth-shaking explosion that resembled a nuclear detonation.

Annie Charlton and the Heretic God Leviathan had also reached their conclusion.

***

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