“Nn…?”

When I came to, I was in a pure white space.

There was nothing around me.

Just an endless void spreading in every direction—

“Where… is this…?”

I murmured the words without realizing it.

I should’ve just been fighting Vanitas Roa. Everyone and I fought together, landed the finishing blow, and then…

“Arios.”

A woman’s voice called out from behind me.

That voice—was just as I had imagined.

“You’re… the Goddess?”

“Yes. With Vanitas Roa’s fall, it seems I’ve regained a bit of my power.”

I turned around—and there she was: the goddess Diees.

Just like I’d seen in the 《vision》 before, a woman of otherworldly beauty that didn’t seem to belong to this world.

And then—

“—You did well. True Silver Sword Saint, Arios Macba.”

The next to appear was a man I instantly recognized. With a strong build and overwhelming presence, he was the founder of the Macba style—

The First Silver Sword Saint, Farlus Macba.

“Heh, it’s the first time we’ve met in person like this. I’ve wanted to see you, my descendant.”

“Ancestor…”

How strange.

His voice sounded far gentler than Leon’s ever did.

“A-Ancestor, huh?”

Farlus scratched the back of his head, a bit sheepishly.

“No need to be so stiff. Time may have passed, but we’re family by blood. Just speak freely with me.”

“Freely, huh…”

Hmm, but that in itself feels way too daunting.

I mean, this is the First Silver Sword Saint we’re talking about.

Someone who surpasses even Leon—a living legend.

“Fufu, that part of you is just like Organt.”

“Hey! Don’t lump me in with that womanizer!”

The goddess spoke softly, and Farlus quickly retorted.

Organt… that would be the first king.

This conversation was becoming overwhelmingly grand in scale.

I could really feel how out of place I was in this scene.

“Well, anyway, we don’t have time to chat about pointless things,”
Farlus suddenly changed his expression and extended his right arm to me.

“You did great. You are truly my proud descendant—the true Silver Sword Saint.”

“Heh… thank you.”

I smiled wryly and took his hand for a handshake.

“But I didn’t defeat him on my own. It was thanks to Ray, Kaya, Yuya, and even Lassen being there.”

“Yeah. That humility will take you far. You’ll become much stronger—far beyond what you are now.”

Far beyond what I am now…

Yeah. Honestly, the skill Cheat Code Manipulation still feels like it has a lot of untapped potential.

In fact, I get the feeling what I can do now is only the beginning.

Even though it was once considered a useless skill, it’s way too broken.

“But… will you both be alright? It felt like you were trying to entrust me with something…”

“Yes. That’s exactly what I was getting to,”
Farlus said, now solemn.

“Arios, I want you to grow even stronger. To prepare for the coming calamity.”

“Calamity…”

That wasn’t exactly a reassuring word.

“The reason our thought-forms remain like this is to prepare for that disaster. Well, think of it as a knockoff version of 《Reincarnation Art》.”

“Heh… That’s insane. This is on such a massive scale, I can’t grasp it all at once.”

“That’s understandable,”
The goddess Diees gave a soft smile.

“When the time comes… we will reach out to you again. Please, we’re counting on you. You’re the only one we can rely on…”

“Yeah… I understand.”

As I nodded quietly, the forms of the goddess and Farlus began to fade.

“Is it… time already?”

“Yeah, sorry. We can’t stay long,”
Farlus smiled apologetically and firmly placed his hand on my shoulder.

“—I’m glad. That someone as promising as you carries on my blood.”

“Farlus…”

“Please… I’m sure you will—”

Before he could finish, both the goddess and Farlus vanished.

★
“…………”

My vision returned to normal.

The pure white space turned back into the familiar Battle Arena.

Just like they had said, it seems Vanitas Roa had truly been defeated. His huge body lay slumped, covering most of the arena.

Ray, Kaya, Yuya, and Lassen—

Everyone seemed safe.

They looked exhausted, sure, but no one was seriously hurt.

—We won.

We actually won.

Clap, clap, clap.

I heard clapping from somewhere.

Then it spread like wildfire, the entire arena echoing with applause.

The fight with Vanitas Roa hadn’t lasted that long. Most of the spectators were still here.

“Whoaa!! That was amazing!”

“Kyaa—Sir Arios! Thank you!”

“You saved us!!”

“You were so cool!!”

Now, it seemed almost everyone in the audience acknowledged my strength. The cheers thrown my way were totally different from earlier.

—I’m glad I could protect everyone.

It makes all that effort worth it.

But then, someone completely blew away my sense of accomplishment in an instant.

“Splendid! As expected of my son! You are truly worthy of the Macba name—I always knew it!!”

It was none other than the Silver Sword Saint, Leon Macba.