Miasma had an adverse effect on Mana.


    It corroded the purity of Mana, corrupting it and disrupting any Spell that was made using it as a source of power. Following this logic, it was very reasonable now that I really thought about it.


    "In a world that knows only Mana, Miasma is a valid source of dread."


    Dark Energy and Dark Magic… they pretty much stemmed from Miasma, and not Nether as I had initially thought.


    ''It''s embarrassing to be wrong. Though, it''s a relief that''s the case.'' Fortunately, I was able to look into the future thanks to [The Hermit], so I pretty much knew the events that unfolded before they did.


    Still… to think all of this conflict was because of some Miasma. It was very valuable here—addressed as ultimate power—but in my world, it was just another source of energy.


    ''I guess power is rtive. This world has a low standard for power, so the stakes are a bit low…''


    I observed as my evil version stood tal, spreading his arm wide as he grinned. It seemed he was waiting for something.


    ''Ah, yes… so it''s about time for that. Well, this should be good.''


    I intended to keep observing for some time. I could pretty much stop this conflict if I wanted to, but it wasn''t time yet.


    ''The Outers need to grow with their newfound powers. Once I''m gone, they''ll be the protectors of this ce. I can''t have them be weak.''


    All of a sudden, I felt like a doting father. It was a bit weird, but I understood the feeling quite well.


    ''We''ve be very close this past couple of months…'' I smiled, looking at the ensuing catastrophe a good distance from me.


    Things were about to get a lot worse.


    *


    *


    *


    Jared, cloaked in darkness, watched his enemies connive against him, but all of that was of no use. They had no possible card to use against him.


    Perhaps thest thing they could resort to was to attack Jane, but he had already transpoerted her away.


    ''It was the first thing I did with this power…''


    ~And it''ll be thest.~ A voice suddenly echoed in Jared''s head, causing him to sharply respond to the owner.


    "What are you sayi—"


    However, before he could utter another word, the most shocking thing ured.


    >VWUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<


    The darkness that circled him suddenly began to spiral out of control, and even more ckness fell upon him from the rift in the sky. It consumed his body, suffocating him till no end.


    ~Hehehehe! I''ll do a bit of remodelling to make this a suitable body.~ Merlin''s hollow voice echoed


    The question was… suitable for who?! At this point, the answer couldn''t be any more obvious.


    "Y-you… bastar—" Drowning in his own power, Jared cursed and cursed.


    Even if he could no longer speak, he cursed within himself as more darkness buried him. His onlookers only watched, seeing the invincible Jared Leonardpletely fade into the darknes.


    … And someone else emerged.


    "N-no…" Ciel whispered as she witnessed the entity that emerged from the void this time.


    He had long white hair, and a robbe that seemed to be the night itself. Dark orbs danced around him, and a dark purple halo stood above his head.


    He opened his eyes, showing how the whites of his eyeballs had turned dark purple, and his irises now giving off a bright golden hue.


    "That is… he''s back…" Her voice wouldn''t stop quivering. Her eyes depicted a re that no one had ever seen on Ciel''s face.


    It was one that represented both hatred and anxiety.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "... Merlin!"


    >FSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU…<


    The excess energy vanished, leaving the man named Merlin floating above. His warbling orbs kept himpany.


    "It''s good to be back in the flesh…" His handsome face spoke, and a deep voice emerged.


    Compared to the presence that Jared had exuded, this person gave a pressure that felt too unreal to be true..


    "Putting up with that whiny brat was worth it." With a grin as wide as the devil''s, he smiled.


    He looked around him for a moment, and a glow appeared in his narrowed gaze.


    "Let''s take care of the trash first." Raising his hand above his head, an inconceievable aount of dense Dark Energy gathered there. "[Dark Corruption]."


    >WHUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM!!!<


    Instantly, a wave of energy shot through the entire area. Like a pulse, it covered the surroundings within moments.


    And then…


    >CLANG!<


    >THUD!<


    >CREAK!<


    Every single living entity on the battlefield fell, with the exception of the Outers—all of whom were within Ciel''s white dome.


    The Automatons and Golems also fell, as if bing dysfunctional. Even Gawain—the one on the side of the Outers—met the same fate.


    In a sh, all the potential enemies and small fries that would only serve to distract him were dealt with.


    "Much better." Merlin smiled, his gaze now centering on the Outers.


    Out of all the members, there was only one person who had his gaze. She was the only Outer worthy of interest in his eyes.


    "Ciel… its been a while, has it not?"


    "Merlin, you bastard. Don''t think you''ll get away with this."Ciel growled, her re intensifying.


    "Oh? What are you going to do about it? You''re stuck in that form, and your Magic Power is abysmal,pared to all those years ago."


    As much as Ciel wanted to disprove his statements, she could only bite her lips and keep up her expression of disgust.


    "And would you look at you ragtag group? You really think these people can stop me now that I''ve acquired this much Dark Energy? Not a chance."


    The Outers were never a threat to him. And now, even if Ciel did regain her lost power, they still wouldn''t be able to stop him.


    "Admit it, Outgroup. You''ve lost this battle." Merlin''s confident voice echoed in the darkness.


    "I win."


    *


    *


    *


    [A/N]


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