-1447- [ Nirvana ]

"Wh... What is that...!?"

"So... so terrifying..."

"Ugh..."

Inside the command center, Misora, Lecty, and Rico were all shocked as they watched Chloe, whose entire body was engulfed in terrifying magic.

At that moment, everyone could feel that Chloe was enveloped in a red aura, as if she had become a condensed mass of pure magic, shaking the atmosphere and causing it to tremble and distort.

The magic energy from Chloe was escalating to an astonishing level before suddenly retracting back into her body.

During this process, the aura she emanated seemed to rise in a straight line, growing increasingly terrifying.

The power coming from Chloe could no longer be simply called magic.

It was...

"Compressed mana...!"

Rico seemed to recognize the nature of this power. Her pupils contracted, and her expression changed dramatically for the first time ever.

This was an expression that the usually self-assured Rico had never shown before.

But now, Rico not only had a changed expression, but a drop of sweat was also trickling down her forehead.

Even Freon had never seen Rico like this.

"Wha... What is compressed mana?"

Misora asked in confusion.

It wasn't Rico who answered, but Freon.

"For someone who claims to be a magic cannon swordsman, you don't know about compressed mana?"

Freon kept her gaze fixed on the screen showing Chloe, speaking coldly without turning her head.

"Magic is the tiny miracle that humans can possess, a force that interferes with phenomena. By engraving formulas, it can be directed to create phenomena and interfere with events, which is what we call magic."

It is the foundation of magic, the power that allows humans to interfere with phenomena, create events, and gain strength.

"And compressed mana is the force that is created by compressing magic to enhance its ability to interfere with reality."

Freon spoke in a cold tone.

"Its function is the same as magic, but because it is compressed, its power is far stronger than regular magic. If compressed mana is used to perform magic, the potency of that magic will increase to a staggering level—at least several times."

This is a higher level of power created by refining magic.

"Some of the magic-powered alchemical weapons used for projectile attacks are equipped with mana reactors that refine compressed mana. By injecting magic into them, one can refine it using the reactor and unleash astonishing power."

Freon glanced at Misora.

"Like your magic sword. It is equipped with a mana reactor—didn't you notice?"

Upon hearing this, Misora finally realized.

"Could it be the cylinder on my magic sword?"

The cylinder-like part on the connection between the hilt and blade of the magic sword is indeed the mana reactor.

"Ordinary people can't refine compressed mana on their own, as it requires extremely precise control of magic, which can only be achieved with intense concentration. That's why they rely on the mana reactor to compress and refine their magic."

Freon spoke each word clearly.

"But Chloe Sevegny, who possesses the second-highest level of magic control in Mistgun, has achieved this feat."

In other words...

"She can use her body as a refining furnace, using her extraordinary magic control to constantly refine the vast amount of magic she possesses into compressed mana with the highest conversion efficiency."

Freon's gaze seemed to pierce through the distance, landing on Chloe.

"The reason why someone as calm and gentle as her is known as the 'Nirvana' is because her attacks possess the power to destroy everything."

Using her own body to refine compressed mana and channeling it all into her attacks.

Covered in a red aura, Chloe raised her magic staff, towards the massive army of armored beetles that dared not advance.

"Buzz—!"

With the buzzing of the atmosphere, as a large amount of compressed mana was injected into the staff, it seemed to call forth all the light in the world. Countless particles of light began to gather from the surrounding airspace.

The light condensed and took shape at the muzzle of Chloe's magic staff.

This was Chloe's ultimate firepower, a true all-out attack.

"Battle Skill—Aurora Cannon!"

As soon as Chloe's voice fell...

"—!"

A beam of red light, bright enough to illuminate the entire sky, condensed into a single beam and was unleashed from the muzzle of Chloe's magic staff.

It was a beam that could pierce through the heavens and the earth.

The massive beam tore through the atmosphere, shooting forward like a light sword cutting across the sky.

All the armored beetles it touched were vaporized in an instant.

Along the path of the beam, the army of armored beetles that had been halted by the shockwaves and heatwaves in front was instantly and completely annihilated.

If the Sky Wizards of Mistgun had been gradually burning away the black cloth that was the army of armored beetles by igniting small sparks, then Chloe's cannon blast was like completely obliterating the black cloth, dispersing the darkness with light, making all the armored beetles disappear without a sound.

This colossal beam of destruction, after completely obliterating the armored beetles, dispersed the shockwaves and heatwaves, skimming past Mistgun's defensive barrier and continuing to shoot towards the far horizon.

By the time the beam finally vanished, who knows how much time had passed.

"Sss..."

Chloe, standing in place, watched as her magic staff emitted large amounts of steam.

In the space ahead, where the beam had just passed, there was also smoke rising.

The astonishing heat was radiating in all directions.

Everyone stared at Chloe in shock.

This was the ace artillery of Mistgun.

This was the maximum firepower of Mistgun.

In front of this angelic girl's bombardment, nothing held any significance.

With pure destructive power, everything in the path was reduced to dust. This gentle, kind, peace-loving girl possessed a power that was completely at odds with her appearance.

A beautiful princess who could turn everything she touched to ash, bringing about a peaceful and serene silence through annihilation.

This was—Nirvana.

"—"

On the battlefield and in the command center, everyone was speechless.

Only Rozen, looking at Chloe, suddenly smiled.

After that devastating cannon blast, the army of armored beetles had finally been reduced by a large portion.

Now, with over 80% of the army destroyed, only less than 20% of the armored beetles remained.

The tide of battle had turned.