To Become a King and a Magician

[Naoki] stared at the current situation in utter shock.

Summoning Magecraft—without a doubt, it was Summoning Magecraft.

His other self was using Summoning Magecraft?

—Impossible!

That was his first thought. In this Tokyo, aside from himself, that woman, and her sister, no one else could use magic. The new world was built with those rules. His other self shouldn't be able to use Summoning Magecraft; he could only rely on his own power.

But this frost could freeze his rage…

"How's it feel? Body frozen?"

Clad in a feathered ice cloak, Naoki stepped toward his counterpart.

"Has that brain of yours, filled with anger and murderous intent, calmed down?"

"Calm?!" [Naoki] burst into laughter at his own words. "Calm? No way!"

*CRACK!*

The ice shattered, flames erupted, and [Naoki] stomped the ground, reigniting a sea of fire!

"This burning rage of mine! How could you, with this scrap of paper, extinguish it! Don't joke around, original!"

Though he didn't understand why his counterpart could still use Summoning Magecraft, this was even better!

A perfect version of himself—more worthy of being killed! More worthy of being surpassed! And more proof that he was the true original!

The raging flames overpowered the ice, and a colossal fire dragon behind [Naoki] spread its massive, sky-covering wings. Its blazing jaws seemed ready to crush everything with a devastating strike!

What was that ice? Mere glass trash like that would burn to nothing in an instant—

*CLICK!*

A sudden sound froze [Naoki]'s eyes and expression.

An instant?

Indeed, just an instant.

It was his flames that froze again in a flash.

No tension, no chance to resist—he didn't even have time to react! With a mere touch of that slender hand, the flames he unleashed with all his might were completely frozen!

Through the thick ice, Naoki locked eyes with his other self. His hand pressed against the surface exerted slight force, cracks spreading from his fingertips, and then the entire layer shattered!

*SHATTER!*

The ice dragon statue crumbled instantly, and [Naoki], trapped within, was flung backward, his body covered in frostbitten wounds. But just before he was thrown far, the ice beneath split silently into a crevice. A blizzard of snow and ice, like a geyser, sucked him in and launched him skyward!

Then, dozens of massive ice swords rained down from the air, slamming [Naoki], who had barely floated for a moment, back to the ground with a brutal crash!

Only now did [Naoki]'s mind, stalled by the instant freeze, snap awake amid the violent impact. The pain coursing through his body and the humiliation twisted him into something akin to a demon!

"You damn bastard!"

Stomping the ground until it cracked, [Naoki] raised both hands, spewing overflowing magma, and hurled two lava meteors at Naoki!

*CRUNCH!*

The meteors froze into ice statues as they neared Naoki. With two flying kicks, Naoki sent them hurtling back at [Naoki]!

Why!

*SMASH!*

Shattering the incoming frozen meteors, [Naoki]'s heart brimmed with disbelief. By now, he could clearly feel a significant gap in strength between himself and the original. The original was far stronger—fine, he was stubborn, but to freeze him in an instant? This wasn't just "far stronger" anymore.

But why!

(Why is he stronger than me! Our conditions are the same! I might even be stronger!)

(Why am I the one beneath him!)

*BAM!*

Their fists collided, a storm of fire and ice raged, and a deafening roar filled the night sky.

Seeing his entire arm freeze, [Naoki]'s face twisted further.

"Wondering why I can dominate you?" Gripping the frozen arm, Naoki smiled. "You're just like me—what you're thinking shows on your face, and you're even more obvious. The reason's simple."

*CRACK!*

Naoki forcibly ripped off the entire arm. At the same time, he delivered a flying kick to [Naoki]'s chest. The piercing blow sent him flying, spewing blood!

"You and I have a decisive difference in output. That's all."

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Aoko felt like she was in an elevator descending endlessly.

The passage was easy to find, but its length was staggering. She couldn't even recall how long she'd been sliding underground. The dark, deep environment left her unable to gauge her position or the passage of time. If not for the occasional tremors from above, she wouldn't even be sure she was still underground.

*BUZZ!*

Another tremor came from above—the battle up there was intense, felt even here.

"This path was dug—no, forcibly carved, right?"

It was just a hunch, but Aoko genuinely felt she was walking through such a passage. Her nose could still detect a scorched smell… Could that other junior have blasted this passage open with punch after punch?

Given his personality, it was highly likely.

Should she try imitating him?

*THUD!*

Indigo blue light glowed in the narrow corridor, magical patterns swirling around Aoko's arm.

But at that moment, a weightless sensation enveloped her entire body. The solid ground beneath her feet vanished, and she plummeted uncontrollably!

As she fell, the space around her suddenly expanded. The narrow passage widened into a vast void the size of the Tokyo Dome!

Just as Ciel had said.

What shocked Aoko even more was that the space wasn't empty. The entire area was bathed in a golden, illusory aurora. A thin, veil-like mist enveloped the surroundings, and countless glowing feathers floated in the air.

All of this likely stemmed from the light source at the room's center.

A golden chalice radiating a golden glow.

"That's…"

"The wish-granting machine, the Holy Grail—that's what Magi call it."

A voice echoed through the room. Directly beneath the Holy Grail, gazing up at Aoko, who had been teleported there, [Manaka], poised like a goddess, gently spread her arms.

"Welcome to the [Center of the World]."

"Magician."