The super-massive magic "Spirit Hexagon" jointly cast by the six Primordial Great Spirits was so overwhelmingly powerful that it obliterated everything within dozens of kilometers.
Not only was the evil dragon Nidhogg annihilated, but even the humans observing the battle were caught in its devastation.
No living being survived that battle, and thus, no records of it exist.
Moreover, since it was the unilateral decision of a few benevolent gods, hardly any deities in the heavens knew what had transpired, nor did they understand how the ancient evil dragon Nidhogg, which once ravaged the land, met its end.
"The evil dragon Nidhogg and the six Primordial Great Spirits, huh..."
Eiji pressed a hand against his rapidly pounding heart.
"Honestly, I don't really like the ending of this story," Bell said, shaking his head regretfully. "It's one of the very few tales Grandfather told where no hero appeared at all. The world was saved purely by the mercy of the gods."
He much preferred heroic epics—stories of heroes emerging in desperate times, defeating monsters, living up to everyone's hopes. That was the ideal he had always admired most in life!
"Is that so? I actually quite like it."
Suppressing the surge of emotions within him, Eiji chuckled.
"Primordial Great Spirits—doesn't that sound incredibly powerful?"
A single strike capable of slaying an evil dragon and obliterating vast swathes of land.
The technique known as Spirit Hexagon was, without a doubt, a level of strength that existed only in fantasy—something Eiji, who had spent his life pursuing power, could only dream of.
"By the way, how did your grandfather know such obscure secrets?"
"Uh... I don't know."
Bell froze at the question. "Grandfather always knew a lot of things, even from way back. It's a shame he's already passed away."
Now that he thought about it, it did seem strange. His late grandfather seemed privy to many unknown truths.
"Alright, thanks for clearing that up for me. I've got urgent business, so I'll take my leave!"
Eiji stood and headed for the door.
"Oh?"
Bell visibly relaxed.
"You seem awfully happy about that?"
Eiji eyed him suspiciously.
"Ah? N-no, not at all!"
Bell hastily forced an awkward smile.
"Bell! Where's Bell?"
Just then, a girl's slightly stiff voice called out from the second floor of the building, thick with affection and dependence.
"Oh ho, hiding a beauty in a golden house, are we? I won't intrude, then!"
Eiji shot him a look that said, You sly dog, before swiftly departing the Hestia Familia.
He needed to relay this information back as soon as possible.
Only after Eiji had left did Bell finally exhale in relief.
Moments later, a monstrous girl with sharp claws leaped down from the second floor, throwing the entire Hestia Familia into chaos.
...
"The Primordial Great Spirits and Spirit Hexagon, huh?"
In the office of the northern spire of Twilight Manor, Finn murmured the unfamiliar terms.
"I've never heard of such a thing!"
Riveria, standing beside him, wore a deeply dissatisfied expression.
"Exactly. This is the truth behind the murals!"
Eiji walked over to the panoramic map of Orario hanging nearby.
His expression was unprecedentedly grim.
"The six surface entrances to the artificial labyrinth we've discovered are located in the southeast, northeast, due north, northwest, southwest, and due south... If we connect all six points—"
Eiji picked up a pen and drew lines between the six points.
What emerged was unmistakably—
"A circle?"
Finn's face abruptly changed color.
"The Spirit Hexagram! Could Enyo be trying to recreate the Spirit Hexagram by using all of Orario as a magic circle? Is she insane?!"
Exactly.
From an aerial view, the six entrances perfectly formed six points on a circle, evenly distributed across all regions!
This was no coincidence—it was deliberately arranged!
And the one behind it all was Enyo!
A deity whose sacred script signified "City Destroyer"!
"Wait, doesn't the Spirit Hexagram require six spirits to activate?"
Riveria couldn't help interjecting into their conversation.
Finn's expression froze.
That was indeed a loophole.
"That's what I thought at first too."
But Eiji shook his head, his expression not relaxing in the slightest.
"But don't forget—why is the corrupted spirit targeting Ais?"
Why target Ais?
According to the corrupted spirit's own words, she wanted to devour Ais—
"Could it be... that corrupted spirit has consumed spirits before?!"
Riveria's face paled dramatically.
Right.
Why hadn't they considered this before?
That corrupted spirit wanted to devour Ais precisely because she had consumed other spirits before and knew the benefits!
That's why she sent Revis to the surface, going to extreme lengths to capture Ais!
"If she's consumed multiple spirits before, could she activate the Spirit Hexagram?"
Eiji's burning gaze turned to Riveria.
In matters of magic, Riveria was the expert.
"...Yes."
After a long silence, Riveria forced out the word with difficulty.
"She still has six fragments remaining. A Spirit Hexagram cast jointly by all six might not match the power of the six original Great Spirits, but it would be more than enough to obliterate Orario!"
Cold sweat trickled down all three of their foreheads.
"Then the singing within the green flesh... is the corrupted spirit chanting the Spirit Hexagram's incantation?"
Finn's expression twisted gradually.
"Riveria, get to the site immediately! You must determine exactly when the corrupted spirit's chant reaches its climax! Eiji, contact the leaders of all upper-tier familias in the city right now!"
"We're out of time—we can't wait any longer!"
"Yes!"
About ten minutes later.
"Finn... we've determined the deadline..."
Riveria's voice trembled violently.
"Go ahead. I can take it."
"...Tonight."
Finn momentarily stopped breathing as a shiver ran through his entire body.
When tonight came.
The corrupted spirit would use ancient grand magic to blast Orario into oblivion, reducing it to historical dust.
Meanwhile.
Eiji found Loki.
Since returning from the artificial labyrinth, he hadn't updated his status. With his swordsmanship making a breakthrough and defeating a powerful enemy like Revis, his abilities should have progressed significantly again.
Without hesitation, Loki proceeded to update his status for him.
"Hmm? Ohhh! A new skill has appeared!"
Eiji's spirits lifted.
==========
[Eiji Nangou]
[LV·6]
[Strength: I·0 → H·198]
[Endurance: I·0 → H·176]
[Dexterity: I·0 → G·283]
[Agility: I·0 → H·354]
[Magic: I·0 → I·54]
[Development Abilities: Hunter (H), Spirit Healing (H), Swordsman (S), Escape (H)]
[Magic: -]
[Skills: Ten Years of Sharpening a Sword, Sword Heart's Valor, Charm, Sword God]
==========
[Sword God]
· All things are my sword
· Nothing cannot be cut