The battlefield stretched endlessly before Julian Kaiser Mercury, the sky split between holy radiance and infernal fire, an ocean of war where gods and devils clashed. He stood amidst it all, his silver eyes unblinking, his peerage holding the line as he advanced.
The combined forces of the Satans, the Angels, and the Fallen Angels had converged on him. They believed sheer numbers could overwhelm him. They were wrong.
Julian exhaled, steady, controlled, as the first attacks hurtled toward him.
A column of divine fire descended from the heavens, meant to erase him in holy light. Michael himself had thrown the attack.
Simultaneously, Sirzechs Lucifer, Crimson Satan, unleashed his Power of Destruction, its deadly crimson haze spreading like an unstoppable force.
Below, the fallen angels and devil warriors surged forward, a flood of blades and magic meant to overwhelm Julian at close range.
But Julian did not retreat.
Instead, he raised his hand.
And his Reflection ability activated.
The holy fire curved around him, as if the flames themselves refused to touch him. The Crimson Satan's destruction magic halted, reversing its trajectory. And the enemy warriors who dared attack were thrown back, their own strength turned against them.
Every force that sought to break him was instead shattered by itself.
Sirzechs snarled, his crimson energy surging. "You cannot erase the devils, Mercury!"
Julian's silver eyes gleamed as he stepped forward, not stopping. "I already have."
With a single motion, he redirected Sirzechs' attack back at the assembled devil forces. Their strongest warriors—those who had served the fallen pureblood clans—were obliterated by their own Satan's power.
Julian pressed forward, closing the distance between himself and Sirzechs in an instant. The Crimson Satan barely raised his hand before Julian gripped his wrist, his reflection magic twisting through his enemy like an unstoppable force.
The moment their energies collided, Sirzechs' own magic turned against him, tearing into his body.
His greatest strength had become his greatest weakness.
Sirzechs gritted his teeth, his knees bending as he fought against the force threatening to consume him. "Impossible!"
Julian shoved him backward, his voice like steel. "Your destruction means nothing to me."
Michael descended next, the archangel's blade burning with celestial wrath. "Julian Mercury, your war has gone too far!"
Julian did not respond with words.
He stepped into Michael's charge, his speed surpassing the divine warrior's expectations. The sword meant to strike Julian instead froze in midair, reversing its trajectory, nearly severing Michael himself.
The archangel twisted away at the last second, but Julian was already beside him, his palm pressing against Michael's chest.
Michael's divine radiance flared, but his own power betrayed him.
The holy light recoiled, twisting, converging into a force that detonated outward, sending waves of celestial destruction crashing into the angelic armies.
Michael gasped, his form flickering as he struggled to contain the aftermath.
Julian's voice was calm. "You were never meant to win this."
Azazel watched as devils fell, angels retreated, and the battlefield cracked under Julian's presence.
The Fallen Angel Governor-General frowned, his wings shifting as he raised a hand, summoning ancient magic of his own.
Julian did not hesitate.
With one flicker of movement, he stepped past Azazel's strike, weaving through the attack as if it had no substance at all.
And then, before Azazel could react, Julian gripped his throat, the reflection magic amplifying in intensity.
Azazel's own fallen power surged within him uncontrollably, making his body shake violently, burning him from the inside.
His own essence was turning against him.
Julian leaned in, his voice sharp as a blade. "You expected chaos. But I am control."
With a single motion, Julian released him, hurling Azazel downward, sending the Fallen Angel crashing into his own warriors.
And then, in the midst of chaos, the Old Satan Faction struck.
As the remnants of the devil aristocracy watched Julian dismantle the Three Factions, they saw their opportunity.
Their armies, hidden in the depths of the Underworld, emerged, their warriors slicing through the weakened ranks of both angelic and devil forces.
They were not here to stop Julian.
They were here to claim what remained after he was done.
Julian stood atop the battlefield, his silver eyes observing the betrayal with quiet amusement.
His enemies were destroying each other.
And he had already won.
Julian turned as his peerage gathered, the war raging behind him.
Kalawarner approached, her voice firm. "The Underworld is breaking apart. Heaven is collapsing. The Fallen Angels are retreating. What's next?"
Julian smiled faintly, his silver eyes gleaming.
"Now, they beg for mercy."
Because there was only one truth left in this war.
No one could challenge Mercury.