To Become a King and a Magician

Just as [Manaka] below revealed her truth, the battle between the two Naokis on the surface grew ever clearer.

In short, one side was dominating.

(Damn it!)

Thrown back hard once again, [Naoki] lay sprawled like a ball, struggling to rise and glaring furiously at his counterpart, his eyes blazing with burning rage.

If looks could kill, Naoki would've died countless times.

(To think I'd end up like this—his power is just borrowed, not even his own, so how can he be this strong?!)

[Naoki] wasn't a fool. Piecing together the situation, he quickly grasped the source of Naoki's strength.

Ayaka wouldn't stay without reason, and his other self wouldn't let her without purpose; there had to be a deeper meaning. After transforming once, the interaction between his other self and Ayaka made [Naoki] fully understand.

That woman had learned Summoning Magecraft in just a few days!

Though unrefined, though its effect paled compared to the original's, it genuinely restored part of the original's power!

But only a fraction!

"Why… I should be stronger! How could the fight turn out like this?!"

*SWOOSH!*

A chilling gust hit his face. In [Naoki]'s vision, a foot rapidly closed in. A heavy, forceful kick sent him flying again, nearly shattering his face!

The bone-piercing pain fueled the swelling fury in [Naoki]'s heart!

He was the first new human created, granted power surpassing the original by those two women, enough to fully replace the original's existence!

How could someone like him…

"How could I be taken down so easily by you?!"

*BAM!*

A downward strike crushed his chest!

Naoki looked down at his other self. "This needs to end, my other self. I've played with you long enough. I don't have time to waste on you."

"End?! No way! Until I kill you, I won't accept any so-called ending!"

It was an obsession consuming his entire soul, rooted deep in his consciousness since his creation. Only by killing his other self in this world could his anger be quenched! Only then could his heart be satisfied!

Even in death, his body wouldn't stop!

*CRACK!*

Ignoring the fatal wound in his chest, [Naoki] seized Naoki's leg. Like a climber desperate to reach a mountain's summit, with furious eyes, he slowly rose bit by bit!

*CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!*

The sound of snapping bones echoed. Naoki's leg nearly pierced his body, but [Naoki] seemed to feel no pain, letting his muscles tear and face shatter to stand tall again.

Then—

*SNAP!*

With one yank, he broke Naoki's calf. His five fingers dug deep into the flesh, searing heat flared in his palm, and in a flash, flames engulfed Naoki's entire body. Dozens of lava spears stabbed upward from the ground around them simultaneously!

Even if gravely wounded, he'd drag him to hell!

This man before him was the only one he had to kill!

*CRACK!*

But the blue icy light in his vision briefly halted [Naoki]'s raging fury. Just like before, in an instant, the fire and lava spears froze completely.

Shattering the ice on his body, Naoki brushed off the frost shards. "This resolve is just like mine… My other self, you really are me. But just as there aren't two moons in the sky, there's only room for one of me in this world."

"Die in the ice, hero."

The ice spread rapidly, freezing most of [Naoki]'s body in moments.

In one more second, he'd be frozen to death.

Realizing this, an intense sense of unwillingness surged in [Naoki]'s heart.

(Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why won't you die, you bastard! Why do I have to die?! Why are you the only one who gets to exist in this world?! Why not me?!)

(Why—must I lose?!)

He couldn't lose.

He could lose to anyone, but not to himself.

Though a separate entity, [Naoki], created based on Naoki, shared the same mindset.

That night, under a full moon, with the ceiling collapsed, the radiant moonlight reflected in [Naoki]'s frozen, bloodied eyes.

Moonlight…

Moonlight…

(Ah, the moon… Speaking of, he has that, the power of the moon.)

(If I could have it too…)

[Want it? The power you've never had, the one he can't use right now?]

A woman's voice echoed in his consciousness.

[Even I can't fully recreate that power. Besides, your body wouldn't withstand it. Accepting it would only lead to your body's destruction.]

[Even so, do you still want it?]

(Of course!)

As long as he could kill him, end his other self in this world, even at the cost of his own destruction, [Naoki] would gladly accept it!

[Fine, then I'll give it to you. Farewell.]

(A woman like you… I hope I never meet you in my next life.)

The moonlight in his vision took on a deep crimson hue. Cold, clear light flowed like a waterfall, enveloping the frozen [Naoki]. As if forced into him, he felt something new within his body.

Power surged forth endlessly.

His rationality was gradually swallowed by the rampaging force.

(No matter. Since my destruction is inevitable, before I fall into the abyss, I'll kill my other self…)

*BOOOOM!*

Under Naoki's shocked gaze, [Naoki], encased in ice, suddenly raised both hands, shattering the entire icy layer with one blow! The scattering blizzard and shockwave forced Naoki back far!

As he stood, a heart-wrenching sensation arose from the depths of his soul.

On the vast frozen ground, a figure slowly rose under the moonlight. Behind him, long golden hair flowed. His blood-red eyes glowed with a terrifying light, and from his mouth came howls and roars like a wild beast.

Holy and savage—opposing traits enveloped him.

"Come—!"

He turned, glaring furiously at Naoki.

"Let's fall together into the lunar abyss!!"

The Crimson Moon Beast roared to the sky!