I really didn't want to burn it.

“The rest of you should find a way to stop this guy’s little tricks.” Li Ang constructed a uniquely shaped longsword with runes. “Leave the cleanup to me.”

"hold head high……"

Ryougi Shiki gripped the hilt of her long sword tightly with both hands, her face filled with worry.

Reality isn't a game; finishing off an opponent with the final blow doesn't bring any benefit, but is actually very dangerous.

"Hey, Li Ang. The guy's in a very dangerous state right now. You're not thinking of taking him down with you, are you?"

Ritsuka, who was initially terrified by Goetia's strange behavior, looked at Leon with concern.

"Don't worry, this isn't the first time anyway." Li Ang smiled slightly. "I'll handle it."

"..."

Li Ang's smile did not reassure Ritsuka; instead, it made her even more worried.

"Stop, Li Ang. Leave this to me."

Just then, an unexpected voice rang in everyone's ears.

"Stop, Goetia. Humanity is not yet at its end."

Chapter 360 Solomon: The time for farewell has come; with this, I forsake the world.

"doctor??"

Ritsuka then realized that, without her noticing, Romani was standing in front of them.

"Hey, Romani! You're not planning to play 'Allahu Akbar', are you?"

Li Ang's lips twitched as he guessed why the other party was there. He didn't understand why the other party would do this.

In the game's storyline, Romani's sacrifice was not without reason; he himself struggled more than once with whether or not to cross that line.

Using one's first Noble Phantasm also means one's own disappearance.

If it were Romani during Solomon's time, he wouldn't hesitate at all; he would simply laugh it off.

Because this is the king's responsibility and duty.

But the person standing here today is not Solomon, but Romani Archman.

They embarked on a second life, came to know the beauty of life, and experienced the joy of being alive.

Because the world is so beautiful, and because living is such a blessing, Romani developed a fear of death.

If he disappears, he will never be able to enjoy these beautiful things again; but if he does not choose to die, all the beautiful things he loves will be destroyed.

Despite his inner turmoil, Romani eventually overcame his obstacles and became a hero of humanity thanks to Mashu's sacrifice and Ritsuka's determination.

But does the current Romani have such awareness?

Li Ang was highly suspicious.

People are afraid of death, especially those who have attachments.

Faith and perseverance were the basis for those heroes who sacrificed their lives to overcome that hurdle, and it was also their persistence.

So, before Mashu sacrifices herself, what is Romani's current conviction?

"Romani, are you really ready?"

Li Ang confirmed with the doctor.

"As expected, you knew all along." Romani smiled and turned back to say, "Leon, I've made my decision. This is all thanks to you."

"My credit?"

Leon tilted his head, completely baffled by Romani's statement.

Did I do anything to change his mind?

Could it be that his not-so-large harem has made Romani yearn for love, and he's preparing to confess his feelings to Leonardo da Vinci while shouting, "Sheba can no longer satisfy me!"

“Li Ang, I really envy you,” Romani explained. “Your existence is so special; you possess talents that I have never had.”

"what did you say?"

Li Ang's lips twitched twice.

He swore that if Romani uttered words like "picking up girls," he would definitely kick him away.

Fortunately, when Romani got serious, he wasn't so unreliable, and he gave his answer in a very serious manner.

"Making history."

"what?"

"History is predetermined," Romani said sadly. "People may be able to make changes in small ways, but no matter how big the changes are, they cannot stop the tide of the times."

"The future is already predetermined. No matter how much people struggle or try to rewrite their destiny, they are just moving forward on the path they think they have chosen."

“I used to feel sorry for humanity because I looked so far ahead that I found everything they did was in vain.”

“But, Li Ang, you are different. You can transcend established facts and lead the world in a new direction that has never been seen before. It is a future that even my eyes cannot predict.”

At this point, Romani smiled happily.

"Thank you, Leon. You've shown me the true, limitless potential of humanity, and you've made me realize that even the future we foresee can be changed! Goetia!"

Romani turned around again, facing the Demon King.

"Doctor, what are you saying?"

Ritsuka asked, her voice trembling.

She didn't know what had happened, but Ritsuka's intuition told her that she absolutely did not want to see what was about to happen.

Romani simply smiled faintly: "Sorry, Ritsuka. I guess I won't be able to treat you to the cake."

That was a promise that Romani had casually made with Ritsuka—"Fujimaru-kun, come visit the infirmary when things calm down. I'll treat you to some delicious cake."

"Huh? Doctor—"

Ritsuka tried to grab the doctor's white coat, but was pushed backward by a magical force.

"senior!"

Mashu quickly grabbed Ritsuka to prevent her from falling.

"Romani Archiman!"

Da Vinci called out the name of her colleague, wanting to hold onto the man who only showed her his back.

However, Leonardo da Vinci received no response.

“Hahaha, Dr. Archiman, what do you think you can do?” Goetia found Romani’s behavior laughable. “Do you think you can be more powerful than Li Ang and Ying Zheng?”

"Goetia".

Romani's smile vanished, and he said with an unprecedentedly serious expression, "Please allow me to introduce myself like this."

The doctor's entire body shone with a golden light that was blinding.

When the light faded, a figure that everyone was very familiar with appeared there.

"Solomon...?"

Even Kirshtalia showed a hint of surprise.

"My name is Solomon the Magic King."

Romani, no, it was the real Solomon who said: "Goetia. The one who proclaims your end."

"what?"

Romani, unconcerned by Geitia's surprise, continued, "Life is not something that can be decided by others; everyone has their own potential!"

“Goetia, my shame of many years, beast born from my remains. Now is the time for me to punish you with my own hands.”

King Solomon began to gather his magical power and prepare his Noble Phantasm.

"Hahahaha! Hahahahahahahaha!!"

After the initial shock, Goetia let out a barbell-like laugh.

"This sudden turn of events has stunned me, but it's certainly very much in your style! But it's too late to say anything now; human history is about to end here!"

"Solomon, your biggest mistake is showing yourself now!"

If it were the old you, perhaps you could have stopped me, but now you are a Heroic Spirit, not a human. To me, the Beast, you are no more troublesome than other Heroic Spirits!

"As a Heroic Spirit, you are no match for us!"

"Solomon, who lost all his powers because of death, go talk about your so-called dreams in your dreams! You incompetent king!"

Goetia gathered his magical power, and now he was just one moment away from using his Noble Phantasm.

"You fool who only knows how to spout empty words, die! I will use your own Noble Phantasm to send you back to the Throne of Heroes!"

Solomon smiled, his initial nervousness completely dissipating.

"Rest assured, I've had this plan from the very beginning—I will be destroyed by my own Noble Phantasm. Because this is the fate that King Solomon was destined to have long ago."

"What??"

Amidst Goetia's astonished questioning, Solomon floated into the air.

"Goetia, let me teach you the final magic trick."

"Tell you that although you know that 'King Solomon has another treasure,' you do not know its true name—no, it is impossible for you to know its true name."

"You have the nine rings, and I have the final ring. Now, all the rings are gathered here, so I can relive that time."

"King Solomon's true first Noble Phantasm, and also the only legend that I have a sense of 'human' heroism."

King Solomon's entire body began to glow; at this moment, he was about to complete his final task.

He revealed a ring, a ring that had always belonged only to him.

"Could it be—"

Goetia was shocked. He wasn't unaware of the ring's existence, but he simply couldn't have predicted seeing it under these circumstances.

"Stop! Stop!! Stop!!! Stop—!!!"

Goetia stretched out his claws to try and interrupt King Solomon, but his body was tightly bound by chains made of mercury by Ying Zheng.

"The time of birth has come, to rectify all things.

"The time has come to crown all things, so that all things may be enlightened."

"as well as--

“God, I want to return the divine gifts you have given me. Omnipotence is too far removed from humankind. My work will be limited to the human realm.”

In the light, King Solomon opened his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Ritsuka. I have to go back on my promise about the cake."

"I'm sorry, Mashu. I'm not a qualified doctor."

"I'm sorry, Leonardo da Vinci. This was my own choice."

"And also—thank you, Leon. Because of you, humanity has the opportunity to change its future."

With a lingering attachment to the world, King Solomon activated his Noble Phantasm.

"The First Noble Phantasm, Reenacted—Ars Nova."

King Solomon felt much more relaxed after uttering the name of the treasure.

"That's fine. Now it's up to you, Li Ang, Ritsuka."

"The time for farewell has come; with this, I forsake the world." This is not Goetia, but a treasure possessed only by the true King Solomon.

It is Solomon's farewell poem as he gave up everything.

Once this treasure is activated, Solomon will return the favors he received from God to the heavens, lose his eyes to gaze upon the world, and also lose his record of existence in this world.

Although King Solomon's achievements will not be erased, all records about Solomon will cease at that moment.

Because he had finished everything he needed to do.

This is King Solomon's self-destruction for the sake of humanity's future.