Chroliosa wasn't one to be defeated so easily. Grimhild may have been strong, but the Spirit of Time was persistent in fulfilling her master's orders.
She lifted her palm toward the sky, activating Cronos Aculus Grodum once more.
The Roman numerals in the magic circle shone with a golden light, gathering a colossal amount of magical power.
"Haaaaahhhh!"
Chroliosa focused all of her power on Grimhild, raining down hundreds of arrows from the magical formula.
"Vanish into the currents of time!"
Each arrow was compressed variants of "time" formed in the shape of projectiles, however, knowing of Grimhild's extraordinary evolution in battle, she infused her spell with a mysterious golden flame that coated the arrows.
"Could it be?" Merlin was astonished, catching Lancelot's attention.
"What is it?" Asked the King.
"She's using my magic."
"Oh?"
Merlin smirked, saying, "The Yorgana System made Grimhild immune to Chroliosa's entire arsenal of spells, but there's a way around that."
"Ah... now I see." Lancelot focused keenly on their battle. "The Yorgana System may have bestowed Grimhild complete immunity to her magic, but that doesn't count the spells outside of her arsenal. Is that it?"
Merlin tittered.
"Mm." She nodded, "Since I and Chroliosa made a contract with one another, she can freely use my spells whenever she pleases. All that's left is taking down Grimhild before she overcomes my magic, but I doubt Chroliosa can fulfill that task."
Lancelot was stern, and focused, gazing at the Crystal with slight worry.
"Your Spirit has proven worthy of being a challenge to this witch. If I was you, I wouldn't underestimate them so much, Merlin."
The mage crossed her arms, leaning back in her seat.
"Chroliosa is powerful, don't get me wrong, but comparing her to my arch nemesis is like comparing an anthill to a mountain."
"Are you bluffing?" Questioned Lancelot.
"Kukuku, far from it." Merlin grinned. "Grimhild has yet to use her Destruction Magic."
"Her Destruction-! Wait, could she be... it's founder?"
Lancelot would come to the realization—
Grimhild, the Witch who created Destruction Magic, has yet to use it once in their battle.
Chroliosa was completely unaware of her true power, but it was nowto be revealed—
"It's here!"
+
"Egudrolta."
Dark and purple flames burst from Grimhild's body, consuming the arrows of compressed time.
Grimhild was shrouded in a thin layer of destructive fire, destroying the projectiles as if they never existed. Spacetime was melting away, annihilating virtually everything in her vicinity.
"Everything's being destroyed!?"
Chroliosa couldn't believe her eyes.
Grimhild glared at the Spirit before lifting her palm, fabricating a magical blueprint.
"You've pushed me to use magic I haven't used in ages, Chroliosa, you are truly deserving of your title as Spirit of Time."
The Spirit could only stare in awe, witnessing the true might of Grimhild the Destroyer.
"So, it was you..." Muttered the Spirit. "You're the creator of Destruction Magic?"
"Guilty as charged."
Chroliosa balled her hands into a fist, realizing the true terror before her.
"Magic that can destroy the world." She chuckled nervously. "I never stood a chance, but I won't go out without a fight!"
Chroliosa gathered an immense amount of mana in the air, creating a makeshift lance above her head. The past and future became unstable once again; merging into one before splitting apart, creating the illusion of time being fast-forwarded.
"Olgaiya Aculus!"
Chroliosa's strongest spell.
By compressing the "currents of time" from the countless other timelines (cogwheels) around her, she created a lance that could destroy the foundation of history.
"Hyeeeeaaahhh!!"
Throwing the magical lance after shrouding it in a golden flame, it consumed space, phenomenon, and magic, banishing it within the currents of time for all eternity—
But Grimhild launched her own counterattack.
There was nothing in this world that she couldn't destroy.
No matter how hard her enemy tries, they are demolished.
Even time, magic, and willpower itself are annihilated before the flames of Destruction Magic.
It was futile to resist.
"Eguhalvor!"
Blasting a torrent of dark and purple flames, it consumed Olgaiya Aculus whole, and destroyed the magical lance at its core.
"Damnit!!"
Chroliosa gritted her teeth, constructing dozens of anti-magical barriers in front of her, but they all shattered like glass in front of Destruction Magic
"Haaaaghhhhhhh!!"
Her willpower shot through the roof, giving her a temporary boost of magical power.
"I won't dieee! No, I must live on!!!"
Her mana shrouded her body, raising her potency and output.
Chroliosa fabricated one final barrier, halting the flames of destruction with all her might—
But Grimhild smirked.
"You never cease to surprise me. Your willpower is commendable."
Eguhalvor sent cracks throughout the anti-magical barrier in the pattern of spiderwebs as it slowly pierced through.
Chroliosa's willpower may have been high enough to give her a temporary boost in magical poorer and output, but that phenomenon was being eradicated.
"You ever wanted to know what the concept of destruction looks like?" Said the witch with a stern gaze.
"Ghhhnnn!" Chroliosa continued her struggle, but it seemed futile.
"It's in the form of flames. These flames." Lowering her brows, Grimhild's stoic expression came back. "Destruction never had a coherent form at first, but the collective consciousness imagined it as fire. Why, you may ask?"
"Gaaaaahh!" She continued pushing back against the dark flames.
"Because fire destroys and leaves nothing behind; it burns everything it touches into ash. It perfectly represents the concept of destruction, wouldn't you say?" The witch released more of her magic power, enhancing the destructive fire. "That's what these flames are. That's what these flames represent! Raw, unfiltered, destruction."
"Damnit...!"
Chroliosa's anti-magical barrier reached its limit and finally shattered.
"!!!"
She had no time to react.
The Flames of Destruction consumed her whole, annihilating the Spirit of Time without a trace.
"The Concept of Destruction is fair in nature. It shows mercy to no one and exists only to destroy. It's a rampaging beast that cannot be stopped, even by the Notion of Creation."
There was nothing left.
Chroliosa was removed from creation.
Her body, mind, soul, and nucleus could never return.
There was only an empty silence as time returned to normal, indicating Chroliosa's defeat.
+
Lancelot was jaw-dropped.
He couldn't comprehend the Witch of Destruction's magical prowess, even if he wanted to.
She was in another league of her own, completely beyond his capabilities.
"...How was it possible for Arthur Pendragon to defeat her?"
Merlin chuckled.
"With Excalibur of course. How else?"
The mighty king frowned, reaching into his satchel before pulling out a golden shard.
It was a piece of Excalibur that Merlin bestowed him.
It was his only chance of victory.
"I have no choice but to use it." Lancelot balled his fist over the divine shard. "Once I do, we'll be on an even playing field whenever she uses her Destruction Magic. This way, our battle can prolong until one of us ends up as the victor."
"Aww, well aren't you excited?" Proclaimed Merlin with a hint of sarcasm.
"Sometimes I have the urge of slamming your head into a brick wall." Lancelot stood up from the table, stuffing the shard back into his satchel. "You may leave now, Merlin."
"What?"
"Hm?"
Merlin caught Lancelot's attention, forcing him to turn back around and face the crystal ball.
"What the hell is she doing?" Yelled the Great Mage.
+
"Resulta."
A large magic circle manifested into reality with thousands of complex runes and symbols. It swirled clockwise, emanating a brilliant light of mana.
Slowly, but surely, the outline of a figure stood in the bright light.
Merlin and Lancelot, bewildered at the sight, came to the realization; Grimhild resurrected Chroliosa.
"Welcome back."
The bright light vanished, revealing the Spirit of Time in all her glory.
"It is you, Grimhild?"
The Witch of Destruction ambled towards the Spirit of Time, extending her hand to summon forth a magic formula.
"Do you submit?"
Chroliosa slowly kneeled before the witch, accepting her defeat.
She knew it was futile to resist.
"Yes, I submit."
"Will you serve under me, and aid me in my troubles?"
Chroliosa hesitated at first, but nodded nonetheless.
"Yes, I will serve under you, and destroy any obstacles in your way, my Master."
"Do you swear your undying loyalty to me?"
"I do."
Chroliosa lifted her head, and stretched out her palm, summoning the same magic circle.
"Contrielha." Both Grimhild and Chroliosa yelled in sync, forming a contract with one another.
Chroliosa was now under Grimhild's will.
"Thank you for resurrecting me, Master Grimhild. I am in your debt."
"I need you to tell me all you know about Merlin."
The Spirit of Time stood up, nodding her head.
"As you wish."
+
"Damnit!!!" Merlin stood up, slamming her hand against the table. "I must leave immediately!"
Lancelot gazed upon the angered mage, smirking wide as ever.
"Kuhahaha! Never in all my life would I expect to see the Great Merlin so irritated! It looks like your little scheme has failed."
Merlin stood up, ambling towards the door before snapping her fingers.
The barrier around Lancelot's castle vanished.
"Keep your head low. If Chroliosa tells Grimhild everything, she will know about the shard of Excalibur."
Lancelot grinned.
"Ahahaha, good! If that means Grimhild will arrive at Mesnil early, then that's even better!"
"Foolish Man."
Merlin left the room, leaving the thrilled King to himself.
He was beyond salvation.