As if unable to bear the sight of Lily leaving, Ludovic released his aura even more intensely. The Obsidian couldn't withstand the momentum and shattered and scattered.
As if waiting for that timing, Frondier's mouth opened.
Void Weaving, simultaneous replication
Imperial Palace Armory
Weapons of various colors were engraved in the air, adorning not only Lily's room but also the scenery beyond.
Among them, a spear was drawn to Frondier's hand, and
Frondier's spear and Ludovic's sword clashed.
The moment they collided, all the Zodiacs rushed in, and in response, Frondier's weapons rained down on them.
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
The sound of metal filled the room. The few remaining walls and ceilings crumbled with each clash of metal.
In the midst of it all, Ludovic and Frondier were locked in a fierce battle.
Ludovic's sword grazed Frondier's temple, and Frondier's spear tip dug in between. Ludovic's foot pulled back, and his body rotated. He dodged and simultaneously dug into Frondier's inner shoulder.
He grabbed Frondier's collar and pushed him away, the floor creaking as Frondier retreated. The moment Ludovic tried to pull him in and throw him, Frondier's aerial weaving targeted Ludovic's wrist.
Ludovic let go of the collar without hesitation, the distance between the two widened by a fist's length, and
Frondier immediately pulled out a short sword from his bosom. Blades rained down on each other in that small gap. Ludovic's blade grazed Frondier's cheek, drawing blood, and Frondier's thrusting sword made Ludovic's shoulder burn.
Ludovic had the upper hand in close combat, but Frondier compensated for his lack of skill with weaving.
Meanwhile, another Zodiac broke through the barrage of weapons. A blow aimed at Frondier's head.
At that moment, Ludovic felt it in a split second.
While fighting Frondier head-on, Ludovic felt it.
He didn't know the exact principle, but Frondier could see almost 360 degrees around him. That's why he could throw weapons at the Zodiacs while fighting him.
The man who was striking now aimed for Frondier's back, so his movements were large.
Just like when he aimed for Ludovic's wrist, if a blade suddenly popped out of nowhere and pierced his heart, he would never be able to avoid it.
The body of a Zodiac clad in aura couldn't be pierced by ordinary weapons, but if it was Frondier, perhaps—
Instead of a blade, Frondier created something like a shield and blocked the Zodiac's strike.
Arbitrary designation, 'Prototype'
Afterward, Frondier created multiple golems around him.
Binkis had finally completed the golems. The golems, which had been imitating Azier, now shed that mold and operated with Binkis' own philosophy of combat techniques.
Therefore, they discarded the name Azier but hadn't been given a new name yet.
"Ugh! What are these things!"
The Zodiac shouted in surprise. The golems created by Frondier were not to be underestimated.
Of course, the Zodiacs could defeat them if they took the time, but it would be difficult to approach Frondier for the time being.
However, in the meantime, Ludovic had a different thought.
Just now, Frondier had a clear chance to kill the Zodiac.
Humans were generally most vulnerable when they thought they had seized an opportunity.
The man who aimed for Frondier's back was open, and Frondier had time to shoot a weapon and kill him.
If Frondier couldn't see behind him, it wouldn't explain how he cleanly blocked the attack with a shield.
'A simple mistake? By Frondier?'
Come to think of it, did Frondier even need to fight this dangerously in the first place? The walls and ceiling of this room were already open. With Lily gone, it would be more advantageous for Frondier to fight from a distance.
"Frondier! What are you thinking!"
As if to cut off his words, Frondier's short sword slashed towards Ludovic's face.
Frondier spoke to Ludovic, who ducked to avoid it.
"Don't think useless thoughts."
"Being loyal to the Empire. Wasn't that your creed?"
Ludovic released his aura again and confronted Frondier.
If he died here, Frondier's thoughts and everything else would be meaningless.
He had to defeat Frondier and find out his intentions. For the sake of the Empire.
That was the role of the Zodiacs, and Ludovic's firm belief.
As was often the case with the king's residence.
The Imperial Palace had secret passages known only to the Imperial Family.
Among them, there were some that Robert, Philly's direct knight, knew and some that he didn't.
"...Wouldn't it be better to leave the Imperial Palace?"
Inside that secret passage, in a small space undetectable from anywhere in the Imperial Palace.
Philly and Pascal were hiding there.
"If you leave the Imperial Palace, you won't be able to justify your situation."
If they were inside the Imperial Palace, even if someone found them, Philly could intervene. Right now, it was only a part of the Imperial Palace that was targeting Frondier.
If the entire palace were distorted, Philly would surely notice it first.
However, if they left the Imperial Palace, what they would encounter next would be clear enemies.
They wouldn't listen to Philly's words and would try to eliminate Pascal at will. Philly's life wouldn't be in danger, but Pascal's would be the complete opposite.
"I could take you hostage, couldn't I?"
"Everyone in the world knows you don't have the guts to kill me, so what good would taking me hostage do?"
"...That hurts a little."
The real problem wasn't guts, but that their enemies already knew their situation.
Philly checked her phone screen.
She had just received a text message from Frondier.
─Zodiac Ria Lis is suspected of being a devil. I'm going to save her.
Her face hardened just from that message, but then another message arrived.
─I'm prepared for checkmate.