289,

Cyclone has set off towards the black sphere.

Meanwhile, Himiko and Asmodde stood motionless, watching Cyclone's back.

Caught off guard, Himiko felt overwhelming guilt in the face of Yuna's suicidal action.

Instinctively, Asmodde told himself that once the Source of Darkness was used, Yuna was beyond salvation.

Everything seemed to point in that direction, until Cyclone's words brought Asmodde a glimmer of hope, a tiny hope.

Following Cyclone's plan, Asmodde needed to trade his life for the power to overthrow everything.

In an instant, a wave of energy swept over Asmodde.

His daughter also sensed it, her highly-trained intuition detecting the sudden appearance of magic sources within a one-kilometer radius.

Ten, twenty, fifty-two, a total of fifty-two different magic sources closed in like a net.

Unlike before when they appeared one by one, this time they synchronized their attack, indicating their readiness to engage in the final battle.

Realizing that the orchestrator of this witch hunt perfectly grasped their perception as assassins, Asmodde and Himiko felt a chilling sense of imminent danger.

Looking ahead, there were only three magic sources that hadn't moved in the direction of the Source of Darkness, while the rest advanced toward them.

The situation was becoming increasingly clear—Yuna had made a grave mistake, falling into the enemy's trap.

Forced into a corner, Yuna believed that by unleashing the full power of the Source of Darkness, she could draw the enemy closer.

But the opponent was not a second-rate strategist; they anticipated Yuna's move and turned it against her.

Taking advantage of the period when Yuna was assimilated with the Source of Darkness, the enemy redirected their attack towards Asmodde and Himiko.

Everything, as Cyclone had said, was still salvageable.

In the plan of that young man, these things could be ignored.

However, if Yuna were to die...

Asmodde closed his eyes, contemplating repeatedly.

Everything the young man had done was for Yuna. If Yuna died, he would have no reason to continue his so-called plan, and his method of rewriting knowledge would cease to exist.

If that were the case, then Asmodde, who died in battle here and now, would gain nothing.

This kind of death would be utterly meaningless.

If that were the case, Asmodde would not have made a deal with Cyclone.

"Daughter, hurry! Catch up with them."

After careful consideration, Asmodde thought about himself, his two daughters, and the entire demon race, constantly striving for the right course of action.

Regardless of whether the mad young man succeeds or not, if he gives up halfway, there would be no beginning at all.

"Catch up?! How can you ask me to leave you? If I go now, I... I will never see you again..."

Unlike Asmodde, Himiko understood the situation very well.

Asmodde would stay behind and fight against all the enemies, never fleeing but fighting until enough time had passed, and then he would commit suicide.

In other words, now, at this moment, is the last time.

Once Himiko leaves, she will never be able to see her father, the person she loves the most, Asmod.

But as her father, how could Asmod not understand what his daughter is thinking.

This is a difficult decision, but even so, Asmod must do it.

Asmod pats Himiko's head and says,

"Don't be silly, you are Asmod's daughter. I will always protect both of you, no matter when or where."

Himiko shakes her head, knowing that such words cannot deceive her.

"Go after him and take that man to Yuna. This is the final task your father entrusted to you."

A powerful magic shoots out, not towards Asmod and Himiko, but happening all in the forest, from the shooter to the target.

Cyclone crazily rides his horse, when suddenly something flies by his side, scaring the horse to a stop.

Looking closely on the ground, it's an arrow, stuck in a stone.

However, a figure jumps down from a big tree ahead.

"Allen's hero, huh?"

Cyclone recognizes this person, or rather, this person has always treated Cyclone as an enemy.

"Stop lying! Even though Daniel explained for you, I saw with my own eyes yesterday that you saved the witch!"

It seems that today, this person finally has the opportunity to settle the score between them and Cyclone personally.

Bettina pulls back her large bow, aiming for Cyclone's head.

"To keep you, this scoundrel, from ever approaching my sister again!!"

Bettina pulls back with force, the arrow on the bow ready to be released.

"Now, you'll die here!"

***