Chapter 397: [397] Goetia, Let Me Teach You the Final Magecraft! [2]
In the living room.
Roya stared blankly at the screen: "He clearly wanted to become human, so why is he still bearing all this?"
Solomon possessed omniscience and omnipotence, able to obtain anything he desired, yet he abandoned it all without hesitation.
Just to become human.
To become an ordinary person.
Yet after his wish through the Holy Grail turned him into a normal human, he ended up shouldering terrifying responsibilities.
Responsibilities so immense they could crush even a heroic spirit!
Strictly speaking.
The Demon King Goetia was merely a usurper, a collective of demons using his corpse to destroy the world.
It wasn’t truly his responsibility.
After all, he was already dead.
Having cast aside all his past, wanting only to be an ordinary person.
No matter how great the responsibility or grudges, they should have vanished upon death.
But now, this shut-in doctor still shouldered everything without hesitation.
Incomprehensible!
"That’s why he’s King Solomon," Souma sighed softly.
The two were strikingly similar.
One abandoned godlike power just to be an ordinary human.
The other similarly discarded all past glories and honors, wanting only to be an ordinary high school student.
Yet after becoming human, when he could have enjoyed strawberry cake and idled his days away...
Upon witnessing humanity’s impending end, he voluntarily took up the burden and worked himself to death.
Similarly, upon learning the world faced destruction,
Despite claiming he didn’t want to work and would just laze around, he still dutifully embarked on the path to save the world.
That moment then, this moment now.
How alike they were!
Looking at him, Souma saw his own reflection, which was why he treated him as a close friend.
Originally fighting desperately to protect everything.
But the Demon King Goetia proved far stronger than anticipated.
Under the [Anti-Summoning] authority, not only could heroic spirits not assist him...
Even Souma himself couldn’t summon versions of himself from parallel timelines.
Because, in every parallel timeline, he was essentially a Heroic Spirit—completely countered by the enemy.
Being forced to fight alone with only his original self drastically weakened his combat effectiveness.
The Demon God King Goetia was indeed invincibly strong, but he had one fatal weakness.
That was the Doctor.
In this situation, only the Doctor could shatter that invincible shell and truly kill him.
Counters reign supreme; special attacks defy gods.
Absolute counterplay was the only hope for victory.
Roya watched the furious Demon God King with curiosity and asked, "By the way, what if Professor Lev hadn’t been so blind and actually discovered the Doctor’s identity?"
Professor Lev had worked alongside the Doctor for ten years, yet he never once realized who the Doctor truly was.
What would have happened if he had found out?
"Then the Doctor wouldn’t be here now, right?" Illya replied.
The sole purpose of the Crown-Order Bomber was to destroy Chaldea.
Had he discovered the truth earlier, the Doctor wouldn’t have been able to use his so-called trump card.
Miyu shook her head. "No, I think Professor Lev would have completely abandoned his plan to destroy humanity!"
One of the Demon Gods who had previously tried to take Mash away was none other than Professor Lev.
He still harbored a sliver of trust in humanity.
If he had realized the Doctor’s true identity, he might have defected and become a double agent, persuading all the other Demon Gods to surrender!
"Perhaps."
Souma didn’t say much.
In one timeline, Professor Lev had indeed abandoned his mission to destroy humanity.
But in the history of Pan-Humanity, he still chose to stand against mankind.
Against an enemy, there was naturally no room for mercy!
Roya stared intently at the screen. "So, what exactly is this shut-in Doctor’s trump card?"
Looking at him gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
A warmth similar to what she felt toward Souma beside her.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it felt like the bond of a close family member.
It was really strange.
Roya couldn’t figure out why she felt this way.
But as the video progressed, she sensed the dormant power within her slowly awakening.
A power so immense it even frightened her.
It seemed to surpass all Heroic Spirits!
No longer just an illusion, it was truly beginning to surge back to life!
Roya could feel it.
Perhaps, once the video ended, she might genuinely attain power on par with a Heroic Spirit.
When that time came, she could give Souma the shock of his life.
That otaku who always criticized her for being lazy and slacking off would surely be speechless with amazement, begging to cling to her thigh!
How exciting!
In the video.
Nameless reached out to stop him. "Doctor, please let me handle this. You should—"
"No, I must be the one to do this. Please don’t stop me. Only I can face him."
Romani Archaman refused firmly.
Hum—
His body underwent a dramatic transformation.
He grew slightly taller, his orange hair turning snow-white in an instant.
His fair skin darkened to a deep tan.
The familiar white coat he wore was now replaced by a red-and-white robe.
Romani Archaman—
No, at this moment, he should be called—
King of Mages, Solomon!
"Goetia, since you claim to reject the name of the King of Mages, allow me to introduce myself."
Solomon strode toward the Demon God King: "I am Solomon, the King of Mages! The one who declares your end!"
"Life is indeed destined to meet its conclusion, destined to endure suffering, but it is never a tale of death and severance!"
"Goetia, beast born from my corpse, let me personally judge your wickedness!"
At this moment.
Dr. Roman completely cast aside the identity of [Dr. Roman].
He abandoned the miracle granted by the Holy Grail.
He relinquished his one and only wish from beginning to end.
He, in the form of King Solomon, sought to end the Demon God King before him.
"Hahaha, I must say I’m somewhat astonished, but this is indeed like you—yet it’s already too late!"
The Demon God King Goetia suddenly burst into laughter, his mocking tone piercing, "The most foolish human, the most incompetent king, only now do you stand before me!"
"Hahaha, as a Servant, you cannot possibly stop us! Only the living you could have halted our plans!"
After transforming into the Beast of [Pity], one of the Evils of Humanity.
He possessed the Authority of [Anti-Summoning], countering all Servants.
Even King Solomon would be rendered powerless under this Authority!
"Only the great deeds of King Solomon could have stopped me! The dead you can accomplish nothing!"
The Demon God King Goetia’s laughter grew increasingly wild and unrestrained, "Let me utterly obliterate that naive head of yours!"
Once,
the Seventy-Two Demon Gods had indeed been his servants.
But now, having become an Evil of Humanity, he was truly invincible!
In his overwhelming rage, the Demon God King didn’t even bother using his Noble Phantasm.
His monstrous, colossal form charged forward, intent on smashing his opponent’s head with his fist!
Nameless drew his sword without hesitation, stepping in front of the doctor: "With me here, you’ll harm no one!"
He couldn’t possibly stand by and watch the other sacrifice himself.
Even facing the invincible Demon God King, he dared to draw his sword and fight.
However.
A gentle yet immense surge of magical energy moved him instantly far to the rear.
This energy blossomed into restraints resembling the Chains of Heaven, preventing Nameless from acting further.
"Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. This evil born from my corpse is nothing—it’ll be resolved quickly."
Solomon smiled gently, "When the time comes, I’ll pass the baton to you. You must fight with all your might~"
He knew full well Nameless wished to intervene.
Alas, as the King of Mages, he had to step forward and resolve the calamity he’d left behind.
He couldn’t let Nameless exhaust himself in battle while he idly remained in the rear.
The Demon God King Goetia charged furiously, throwing a devastating punch: "Die! You can do nothing but watch humanity perish!"
"No, there’s still one thing I can do."
The single ring on Solomon’s hand began to glow with golden radiance.
It formed a defensive barrier, firmly blocking the Demon God King’s attack.
"Though King Solomon was granted the all-powerful rings by the Lord, he never once used them."
Solomon spoke softly to his opponent, "Instead, by his own will, he returned the rings to Heaven."
"As if declaring that from then on, humanity would no longer rely on an omnipotent god, but enter an era where people survive through their own efforts."
Humanity’s childhood had passed; the parting with gods was inevitable.
Thus, he returned everything to Heaven.
Truly ending the Age of Gods!
Solomon calmly said, "I will be destroyed by my own Noble Phantasm. This is the end of King Solomon."
"What? Then go die!"
The Demon God King Goetia roared with ferocity, "In that case, I shall use your own Noble Phantasm to utterly annihilate you!"
The Third Noble Phantasm contained the grand power to pierce through planets.
Even King Solomon could not withstand it head-on—he would be blasted to smithereens!
Yet.
Faced with such a world-ending, lethal threat.
Solomon smiled and spoke in the gentle voice of a doctor: "Goetia, let me teach you the final magecraft!"