At Hiaka Academy, there is a simple formula for calculating combat power.
A [Master] is considered the equivalent of 300 soldiers... and from there, it increases by roughly a factor of 3.3.
A [Grandmaster] equals 1,000 soldiers.
A [Challenger] equals 3,000.
A [Constellation] equals 10,000.
And yet, now—
Watching that monster in the sky fire beams of light like missiles, one might begin to question that formula.
Screeeeeeee—
Radiant beams descended. “Evasive maneuver!!” One airship veered to the side.
Even after dumping cargo to lighten weight, it was absurdly slow—too slow to evade a beam faster than any bullet.
Though this was a game world and not actual physics, that wasn’t light-speed. But still—this was the fastest type of superpower.
When the enormous 10-meter-thick beam struck the airship’s front, its core vaporized instantly. The end of the beam scorched and burned. Though the engine room survived and the ship didn’t crash, it was now unusable.
The night sky briefly lit up... then darkened again. This continued with each of his strikes.
The difference was monumental. Think back—how many people threw their lives into fighting Bomiteka back at Count Kahla’s territory? And yet Agion alone could fight on equal footing.
Such disparity.
Could a monster like that truly be hunted by the equivalent of just 10,000 soldiers?
Surprisingly—yes.
“Because even a Constellation’s mana pool has limits.”
[MP] drains with use. And aside from natural rest, there’s no way to restore it.
Even a [Constellation]—a being of that level—has a human maximum MP of roughly 10,000. Agion’s pool was likely just three times greater than Dante’s, whose was around 3,100.
This was the key to fighting a Constellation.
Agion.
“I know you, as a gamer.”
Until now, Agion had been rambling nonsense.
Pretending to care about the greater good, as if striving toward something only he could achieve.
But beneath that thick facade, his nature was astoundingly simple.
“Agion is arrogant.”
That was his defining trait. All [Constellations] are arrogant—but Agion especially so.
Because he’s a coward.
A mid-tier ranker, clinging to his spot in the top 20 solely thanks to the [Taboo] skill 『World Forgery』. Remove that, and he barely clings to the top 30.
He has no real confidence. Like a noble who bought his title. Like a nouveau riche flashing wealth. He knows he barely qualifies.
He holds a sense of entitlement and tries hard to appear worthy of it—spouting riddles and lofty speeches.
Because deep down, he knows he’s lacking.
A small dog barks louder.
Agion is that dog.
“...The only thing off-script is how quickly he reacts to Demon King raid intel.”
Still—
“If I can exploit that arrogance, I’ll have one shot—”
Dante caught himself.
“...Should’ve brought Adele.”
Bugged or not, she had the “Curse of Instant Death.”
With that, one shot could’ve meant guaranteed kill.
But then, he’d have encountered Adele Mouin. That would've sparked another catastrophe.
The current setup isn’t lacking.
Victory or defeat depends entirely on me.
< Dante: Balmung. Move to small airship #3. >
< Balmung: Yes, sir! >
He had already disseminated the plan. From this point on, Balmung’s role was critical.
Balmung was the only one here who could reach that monster with a sniper round.
***
Clang!!
A 「Spectrometer」 shattered. Kendreik smashed it with his battle axe Santa Barbara, imbued with the 『Explosion』 spell, and dropped onto a small airship.
Agion, without missing a beat, deployed a new 「Spectrometer」 elsewhere. Then he waited again—for the red-haired one to come destroy it.
⋮
『Diffraction Ray Shot』
⋮
He loaded the beam into both eyes—0.2 seconds to travel 4,000 meters.
But when he opened his eyes and the light surged—
“...Not coming this time?”
No.
It was coming. Then it veered away.
Had it approached just 30 meters closer, the kill would’ve been certain.
Why?
“That bastard again.”
Far off in the distance, Agion’s gaze met the pink-eyed man’s.
Agion’s eyes narrowed.
That man had read him. Knew that the freshly installed 「Spectrometer」 was within sniping range.
To prove it, the entire 14th airship veered in and crashed headfirst into the Spectrometer. A ship that large couldn't be destroyed by one or two sniper shots.
And yet, firing something big at it would be wasteful. It was an empty ship. Wasting mana meant for killing humans on destroying vacant targets was foolish.
“...Troublesome.”
Even for a Constellation, these were all inconvenient decisions. And the most inconvenient of all... was Dante Hiakapo himself.
The very man Agion should’ve killed first was now casually seated in a deck chair on airship #1.
His subordinates were zipping around in smaller airships like sparks of flame—but he himself sat there, relaxed.
Why?
To seal off his own main class: [Illusion].
Agion didn’t know where this man had learned such a formidable [Taboo] or how he’d reached such mastery. Dozens of questions passed through his mind—but none mattered.
Because this was expected.
“He’s clever.”
Far off, Fleetmaster Falcon was dueling a dozen of the Radiant Constellation’s knights and pushing them back.
That man alone was holding off nearly 20% of Agion’s forces. An incredible feat.
Dante, too, was a key figure like Falcon. One who should’ve stepped into battle at once—but instead, he sat there. And that was the problem.
“If I try to kill him now—I could.”
But then he couldn’t plant more Spectrometers. The knights were failing to buy enough time. The sailors were fleeing with Peacemaker†.
“If I want to lay Spectrometers—I can.”
But then he’d have to keep letting them be destroyed and rebuilt, over and over, until he found proper positioning. He’d bleed power through attrition.
“Goddamn Hiaka maggot.”
Agion’s face twisted into a demon’s snarl.
“When I heard you gutted the Black Star⚉—that snake—I thought it was bullshit.”
But it wasn’t.
This Dante was brazenly playing strategy against a Constellation.
Arrogantly.
“And that one...”
His white eyes caught a cloaked assassin flickering in and out of sight.
A girl who vanished and reappeared, even fooling Agion’s own perception. Aside from Falcon, she had racked up the highest kill count.
And she was, of all things, a “Hiaka-born”... with pink hair.
That child...
“Ah.”
...So she grew up like that?
“Disgusting. Survived even after her father stabbed her...”
Back then, hearing the story had been strange. But the moment he saw her in action—he understood.
For one so young to have reached such heights...
She really was a “wrongly born” child.
...Perhaps he should fulfill the wish of Shadowless Constellation○ while he’s at it. As a fellow “benevolent” Constellation.
“Let’s end this.”
Srrrng—
Agion drew his beloved sword, 「Radiant Blade⁺₊⋆」. An Imperial-designated National Treasure No.48. A [Legendary II] grade weapon. It amplified light exponentially.
Vooom—
What had looked like a long-hilted dagger now exploded into a blade of deadly condensed light once filled with mana.
Then—Agion closed his eyes.
Boom.
The thrum of his heart released his mana.
He dispelled his radiant bow. Then raised a hand to the heavens.
It was a Lv.9 unconditional, unavoidable, god-tier sniping ability.
『Heavenly Judgment』.
***
From high in the sky, a hundred beams of light branched into six radiant paths.
The moment I saw it, I bolted to my feet, ran outside, and shouted into the comms:
< Dante: EVERYONE!! CLOSE YOUR EYES!!! >
Immediately after, one hundred pillars of light descended vertically—
Drawing perfect cylindrical columns.
One over each individual’s head.
FLASH—!!!
An ability with no range limitation. No means of defense.
Screams followed—<“Aaaaagh! Kghh...!”>
Those with weaker bodies died instantly.
Those who failed to close their eyes in time had their eyeballs seared, blinded permanently.
The battlefield was overwhelmed in a single moment.
At the same time, I leapt off the deck of Airship #1. A small scout airship, having built up momentum through circling maneuvers, swooped in and grabbed me.
“Professor! Found it!”
It was Gray who grabbed my hand. Her ash-colored hair was scorched at the ends from the 『Heavenly Judgment』, and blood streamed from her eyes.
“Where?”
“#175! Where the fourth Spectrometer was destroyed earlier—”
I shoved Gray.
Out of the airship.
“...Nearby...?”
Her widened eyes reflected shock. As her shoulder tilted in freefall, an [Illusion Wing Glider] unfolded.
She could do no more.
Just identifying this one opportunity had been her final role.
Balmung, Elize, and Kendreik had survived the previous 『Heavenly Judgment』—but Gray, small and frail, wouldn’t survive another.
Then I seized the controls of the scout airship.
And, still in the air, I turned to look at the god-like being gathering mana.
Look at me.
As if hearing my thoughts, his gaze turned toward me. His hand rose.
Another 『Heavenly Judgment』 fell. Unblockable. Unavoidable.
FLASH!!
The stench of burning flesh filled my nostrils. My body cooked from the inside out.
Far off, Fleetmaster Falcon—struck by fifty bolts—had a sword impaled through his back and protruding from his chest. Kendreik, aboard a burning airship, went down in flames.
And yet—I endured.
It was a battle of attrition.
He knew the moment he killed me, this entire battle would collapse like a farce. And I was closing in.
That’s why—even with his mana draining from constant casting of 『Heavenly Judgment』—he recklessly summoned more strength.
In his left hand, a massive bow took shape. That grotesquely radiant light condensed at the string, pulled back with mounting force.
A 12-meter bow didn’t visibly flex from drawing. But when the light at the center spread into a 270-degree fan across the bow—it signaled full draw.
“Raise your blade, Giant Soldier.”
At that moment, I prepared for impact. I summoned the Giant Soldier. Its massive, transparent body descended behind me and wrapped around me like a colossal statue.
Within that stony embrace, Agion unleashed his Lv.9 ability—『Flashpiercer Radiant Bow 』
FLASH—
At that instant, I knew. The scout airship shattered. The Giant Soldier○, who had shielded me, was torn apart and flung aside.
But I wasn’t dead. And I’d reached my destination. Far off, Agion’s eyes widened.
Because the place I landed—gliding down—was atop a freshly planted Spectrometer seed Agion had sown.
⋮
『Stigma Infusion I: 「Black Star⚉」 ⊂ 「Illusion Pillar: Darkroom」』
< Star Fragments Held: 257 (▼100) >
⋮
There, I imbued the enemy’s totem seed with a totem of Black Star⚉, its polar opposite.
A long pillar of darkness erupted. Amplified shadow consumed the world Agion had so relentlessly lit up.
Light always overwhelms darkness. But humans—so dependent on light—are tragically vulnerable to darkness.
This was the only method of countering Agion.
A Constellation who relied on light would feel overwhelming helplessness the moment that light vanished.
And so did Agion.
【 Radiant Constellation⁺₊⋆ Agion has entered the state of [Blindness]. 】
Now # Nоvеlight # was the time.
*
From a distant, concealed corner, Balmung had been steadily gathering and aligning his mana. He steadied his breath—waiting for the call.
Dante had never entrusted him with such a burden before. But on this battlefield—amid the twelve-type ability matrix—he knew: only he could do this.
And the weight pressed on him. He’d always fired the “right bullet from the right place.” Now, people’s lives—and Dante’s fate—rested on his trigger finger.
But if his shot hit today—then he’d finally believe he could aim his rifle even at the Matriarch herself.
“Above all, I must not disappoint the Professor.”
With that resolve at its peak—Balmung held his breath and waited.
Then finally—
< Dante: Balmung!! >
The signal.
Balmung fired.
A sniper round empowered by the [Darkroom]. His entire mana condensed into a single, ultimate Level 8 sniper ability—
『 Crushing Shadow Thunder – True 』
Click.
No flash. No sound.
A bullet of darkness flew silently through the void—piercing 4,000 meters through the air—and struck Agion directly in the head.
He knew it hit.
*
The [Darkroom] shattered. In the distance, Agion began to fall—
Blood streaming from his head.
But no death notification appeared.
[Constellations], after all, were still human. Cut off their head—and they die. That’s what makes them different from monsters like Bomiteka.
But... was it not strong enough?
That’s when I pushed my [Vision] further. As Agion fell, an [Illusion] near his forehead broke—and I saw it.
A single horn was emerging.
“Demonization!”
So that’s why he reacted so fast to Demon King raids...
He’d made a pact with a demon?
Shock rippled through me.
Demonization was not a mechanic allowed for Constellations. At least—not on [Hard Difficulty].
But on [Hell Difficulty]?
Even Constellations could embrace demonization.
And then I realized another reason he had sought out Peacemaker†.
【 Radiant Constellation⁺₊⋆ Agion is now looking at you. 】
Falling—bleeding—Agion’s gaze locked onto me.
My heart thudded wildly. He had to die now. If not, demons had monstrous regeneration. He’d recover instantly.
But now—now there was a real chance.
Because I had the tools. A weapon that worked only on demons. And someone strong enough to wield it.
< Dante: Glory! Get over here now! >
Borrowing another sailor’s scout airship, I grabbed Glory and leapt. Assassins followed as we descended toward the forest.
“Search the area! Find Agion!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Though we’d lost the Fleetmaster, the engineers and helmsmen maintained control. The soldiers scattered into the trees.
High-ranking officers, wounded sailors, Elize, Balmung, Adele Mouin—everyone gathered around me.
There, I opened my [Inventory] and retrieved the holy weapon—Peacemaker†—the massive, 150kg stone-blade clanked as I set it down on the forest floor.
“Draw it, Glory.”
Glory nodded and stepped before the sword.
Everyone’s eyes turned to him.
And then—he reached for Peacemaker†.
At that moment, I felt no doubt.
He was a [Hero]—recognized by the System⧉.
This was a [Legendary Sword]—recognized by the System⧉.
The first thread of the Demon King Raid was about to be perfectly woven.
PWAANG—!
Which is why—
When the hero was rejected and flung across the ground—
My mind went completely blank.
“Wait—!?”
“W-what’s happening?! Why can’t he pull it?!”
Adele Mouin ran to his side in panic—while I just stood there, frozen.
What the hell...
System windows began flashing before my eyes.
< Only one who is pure, benevolent, and blessed by Transcendence✯ can wield the Holy Sword. >
⧉ Tip: [Hero Glory] does not meet the conditions to wield Peacemaker†.
...Why?
< ⧉ Reason: Has killed someone. >