Chapter 260 The End of Durandal

Shirone says that, but honestly… if it were Issei, I think he’d still have a real shot even against Cristaldi, assuming that sword he’s holding is just a replica.

As everyone voiced their impressions, Arthur began weaving in techniques he had shown during the battle against Loki.

Arthur thrust the tip of the Holy King Sword Caliburn into space itself, piercing through reality. The vanished blade reappeared in Strada’s blind spots, linking space together to unleash thrusts from every direction. It was a multidirectional assault, yet Strada avoided each strike through sheer instinct born of long years of battle.

Even without clean hits, shallow cuts began to spread across both of their bodies.

Then, suddenly, Arthur lowered his sword.

“This has been magnificent… but let’s end it here. Any further… would only feel hollow.”

Sensing his intent to end the fight, Strada lowered his replica Durandal as well.

“My apologies, young swordsman.”

Though he smiled wryly, there was a hint of loneliness in his expression.

Arthur sheathed his sword and turned his back on the battlefield, beginning to walk away.

“Had we met twenty… no, thirty years earlier, we might have had the finest battle imaginable. Truly, it’s enough to make one melancholic—”

“GRAB!!”

“Ggh!?”

I grabbed Arthur by the collar from behind and stopped him mid-exit.

“What do you think you’re doing, Arima Ikki? I am currently in a rather delicate emotional state…”

He shot me a reproachful look, still maintaining his usual gentlemanly composure.

Yeah, yeah. I don’t care about your emotional damage.

“Relax. Yuuto’s grown stronger compared to before this fight started. There might still be another twist or two. If you want to soothe your wounded pride as a swordsman, watching a new talent bloom might not be a bad idea.”

If I had to guess… Qliphoth will show up next.

I’ll keep him here and let him vent all that frustration on them.

With the absence of Walburga, it was unclear how the enemy’s forces had shifted. I wasn’t about to let Arthur leave. The Vali Team barely worked as it was—if there’s a chance to deploy them properly, I’ll take it.

…Well, Vali is busy trying to locate the Qliphoth base, so it’s not like they’re completely useless.

Still, as an organization? A nightmare to manage.

After stopping Arthur, I turned my gaze back to the battlefield.

There stood Xenovia, her holy sword split apart. In her right hand was Durandal, and in her left, Excalibur. A dual-wielding stance.

Originally, Ex-Durandal had been created because Xenovia couldn’t suppress Durandal’s overwhelming offensive aura. But now… that restraint was gone.

It seemed she had finally found her answer.

The aura radiating from Durandal was stronger than before—yet now, it was stable.

“Yes! That is correct! That is how it should be!”

Strada suddenly became animated, his voice rising with excitement.

“As the original wielder of Durandal, Ex-Durandal always left me with questions. Durandal and Excalibur are each complete holy swords in their own right. Why combine them? The answer is simple, you were overwhelmed by Durandal and forced Excalibur into a mere supporting role! Such folly prevents either blade from reaching its true potential! Warrior Xenovia, never deny power. Only by believing in that power can the path of Durandal’s wielder open before you!”

His words flowed passionately.

Seeing his old partner again must have truly moved him.

Watching the two blades in Xenovia’s hands shine brighter and brighter, overflowing with light, Strada let out a breath of admiration.

“At last… we meet again, Durandal. Now come, my successor—Xenovia. Cast aside all thought and simply come at me. I shall grant you my final teaching.”

“…Yes!!”

At that moment, Xenovia stepped onto the stage as his true successor.

What followed was not a duel of technique, but a collision of raw power.

It wasn’t about defeating the opponent.

It was about smashing one’s blade against the other.

A fight like children brawling, pure stubbornness, pride clashing head-on.

“…I can’t help but feel a little envious.”

Arthur, watching from the side, narrowed his eyes.

“When I fight, I always seek the optimal move. Even in my earlier battle with Strada. And yes, it was immensely enjoyable. But… fighting recklessly like that, with such innocence—it’s difficult for me.”

A pure technician through and through.

Yet he added:

“Still… perhaps swinging a sword like a child, just once… might not be so bad for a swordsman seeking greater heights.”

He sounded… almost excited.

Meanwhile, the battle between the two Durandal wielders reached its climax.

Their clashes carved craters into the ground and even tore holes in space itself, revealing glimpses of the dimensional void beyond.

At the center of that destruction—

Xenovia’s full-powered cross slash collided with Strada’s overhead strike.

Cracks spread across the blade of the replica Durandal.

Strada dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.

“Out of stamina,” Arthur observed calmly. “No matter how well-trained, he is still an old man.”

“A normal eighty-seven-year-old wouldn’t even have a thousandth of that stamina,” I muttered.

Just as it seemed the battle was over—

A boy stepped between them.

The young cardinal, Teodoro Legrenzi, spread his arms wide, tears streaming down his face.

“That’s enough! This is all my fault! Please, spare Lord Strada and the others!!”

“Your Eminence, please step back. This old body shall decide everything.”

As Strada tried to stand, Teodoro stopped him.

“This all began with my selfishness… My parents were killed by devils. I told myself I could never forgive them… But that isn’t a path that leads to the future. Even so, warriors took up arms for my childish feelings… I should have stopped when we reached this town and conveyed my thoughts… and yet, even now, I still…”

His voice trembled, torn between duty and grief.

Strada gently embraced the boy from behind.

“It is all right, Your Eminence. Children voicing their discontent has always been part of every era. Your feelings were pure precisely because they were immature. That is why we took up our swords. And more than anything—we wanted you to see this. The form of those who overcame our convictions.”

He raised his head.

“They could have crushed us by force at any time. Yet they chose to fight here today, seeking a way to accept our feelings without trampling them. At that moment… we had already lost.”

The boy lowered his head, tears falling.

Strada gently patted him.

“The battle ends here, under Your Eminence’s declaration. Let our heads—mine and Cristaldi’s—serve as atonement before the heavens. The warriors gathered here are still young. They will carry today forward and walk new paths.”

The surrounding warriors erupted.

“Your Eminence! Please, don’t say such things!”

“If there is punishment, let us bear it instead!”

“We are prepared to burn in purgatory!”

It mirrored the scene from earlier.

A testament to how deeply loved these two pillars of the Church were.

And then—

A voice cut through everything.

[Then allow us… to reap those lives.]

Magic circles appeared in the air.

From them, nearly a hundred Grim Reapers and hundreds of Evil Dragons descended onto the battlefield.

…Seriously. These guys have zero sense of timing.

Not exactly the finale this battle deserved—but whatever.

Guess we’ll just wipe them all out.

I’ve already arranged things with Azazel-sensei in case this happened.

Time to finish this.