The Absolute Godspeed of Infinite Worlds

Even among magical beams, the underlying concepts could differ vastly.

Aoko employed the principles of modern magecraft, while her opponent utilized the mystic arts of the Age of Gods.

According to the rule that "the older the mystery, the more potent it is," the enemy's magical beam should have held an overwhelming advantage over Aoko's. But the current Aoko was no longer the Aoko of before.

She was Aoko, the Magician.

The Aoko of ten years later had reached astonishing heights in her mastery of magical beams, effortlessly layering four processes in front of her to maximize the beam's destructive power.

In modern magecraft, if a spell reaches four processes, it qualifies as genuine High-Thaumaturgy.

The highly stylized Reality Marble, for instance, is a four-process spell—though it stands as High-Thaumaturgy among High-Thaumaturgies, practically a Forbidden Ritual in its own right.

Aoko couldn't perform such complex magecraft, yet through sheer repetition, she elevated her magical beam to the level of High-Thaumaturgy. One could only say her talent in this regard was truly exceptional.

BOOM!!!

It was like the roar of a dragon beside their ears.

A massive azure beam erupted from Aoko, using the four-layered magic circle as its barrel. Like an intercontinental missile, it soared from the ground, slamming upward toward the black-robed witch.

As if a mere human sought to strike down a god.

Aoko's eyes burned with that very resolve.

BOOM!!

The witch in the sky refused to back down, pouring all her surrounding mana into the enormous magic circle.

A beam of equal magnitude descended from the heavens like the sword of Damocles, crashing headlong into Aoko's attack.

KABOOOOOM————!

The point of collision in midair became the epicenter of an earthquake-like shockwave that rippled outward in all directions.

The violent impact shook the atmosphere, transforming into a fierce gale that uprooted countless trees around them.

The blinding flash, accompanied by a torrent of magical energy, forced everyone back step by step.

"Impressive. You're actually matching me?"

Aoko strained to maintain her beam's output, her heart once again struck with disbelief.

Having experienced it firsthand, she now understood just how powerful her future self was—capable of shattering her previous magical beams with mere punches and kicks. Yet even after pushing her beam to its absolute limit, she still couldn't immediately overpower her foe?

Just what kind of monster was this?

"But—!"

Aoko shouted.

Every Magic Circuit in her body activated, her pseudo-nerves spinning like a drill at terrifying speeds, voraciously devouring the land's mana like a whale swallowing the ocean.

Aoko's mana reserves were pitifully small—even inferior, one might say—on par with Eiji's.

But her mana conversion efficiency was monstrous, leaving even Alice wide-eyed in disbelief. She could absorb atmospheric mana at an absurd rate, converting it into her own energy in the blink of an eye.

BOOM!

In an instant, the beam surging from the ground intensified by severalfold.

The azure light expanded violently, reversing the momentum and overwhelming the descending beam, forcibly driving it back.

The witch let out a soundless scream.

Having lost control of the leyline, she could no longer amplify her attack. All she could do was watch helplessly as the colossal beam closed in.

HUM——!

In that critical moment, the woman spread her cloak, her body shattering into countless butterfly-like motes of light.

The beam tore through the empty space, streaking across the sky in a blinding flash.

Did she escape?

Aoko didn't miss that split-second anomaly, her face twisting with fury.

BAM!

But the boy beside her suddenly lunged forward, leaping into the air.

High above, his silver longsword gleamed like a crescent moon before descending in a single, ruthless slash.

SHIIINK!

From the empty space came the sound of something being cleaved apart.

The black-robed witch materialized, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Her robes had been torn open, revealing shattered organs beneath.

Staggering, the witch plummeted to the ground.

Her energy withered—the battle was decided.

"Well?"

Aoko hurried over, finding Eiji as he landed.

For some reason, his expression was unusually grim.

Beside him lay the witch, now on the verge of death. Her hood had fallen away, revealing the face of a mature beauty, her ears pointed like an elf's.

Yet her eyes held none of the vitality of a living being.

Given her silent, unresponsive state earlier, one couldn't help but wonder if she had been nothing more than a puppet from the start.

"Huh? She looks kinda familiar...?"

Aoko studied the woman's features closely, struck by a strange sense of recognition—though she couldn't quite place where she'd seen her before. It felt like something from the distant past.

Having become her 27-year-old self, even her memories and mindset had been affected.

"Class 3-3's homeroom teacher... Medea-sensei."

Eiji solemnly revealed the witch's true name.

"Medea-sensei...?"

Aoko frowned—then her eyes widened.

"Wait, isn't that the name of the witch from Greek mythology?"

"Exactly."

Eiji gave her an odd look.

"What, you finally noticed?"

Noticed what?

Aoko paused, deep in thought—then suddenly gasped.

"What the—? What's going on? My home is in Misaki City! Since when was this Kinoko City? What's this 'Type-Moon Academy'? I'm the student council president, not the vice president! And since when were there Heroic Spirits in our school?!"

She rubbed her arms furiously, a chill running down her spine.

The world had somehow transformed into something unrecognizable, yet she hadn't realized it until now. The sheer horror of it made her shudder.

"Eiji... do you know what's happening?"

Aoko turned to him with pleading eyes.

"You think I'd be asking if I did?"

Eiji rolled his eyes.

"You're the first person besides me to notice something's off about this world."

Ugh!

Aoko let out a long sigh.

"Why not ask me instead?"

Just then—

A third voice intruded upon the forest.

It was a voice brimming with the imperious dignity of a queen, carrying an unshakable will that brooked no argument.

"That voice...?"

Eiji froze, then turned in disbelief toward the source.

The Queen of the Land of Shadows strode gracefully into the forest.

Her long purple hair swayed beneath the night sky, her black high heels lending her steps a seductive allure. Her legs, sheathed in black stockings, were a sight to behold.

"Scáthach-sensei?!"

Aoko recognized the school's infamous queen-like teacher. As the realization hit her, she groaned.

"What the hell is up with this world?!"

***

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