The phenomenon of magical overload originally cannot happen in living beings.
Even if the conditions for magical overload are met, the body cannot withstand it and will die before it happens.
So, for magical overload to be used, the target must be a non-living entity.
Of course, even if magic accumulates, it could dissipate midway, or upon reaching the limit, it might no longer be absorbed.
‘I'm more used to this now... I should be able to control it a bit.’
The magic absorption of Exceed Rain is quite stable and reduces the burden on the user as much as possible.
It simply absorbs too much magic, threatening the user's life.
However, these two characteristics combined could create a different outcome.
‘Exceed Rain is possible.’
Exceed Rain has brought the same end to every user it has encountered.
Though the duration varied slightly, no one had ever succeeded.
The stability and transcendence of its magic absorption inevitably led to magical overload.
"...I'll go alone."
"Do you have a plan?"
"Yes, please only assist when it seems truly dangerous."
"What are you going to do...?"
Zion did not answer and quickly rushed forward.
Magical overload is extremely dangerous and could result in death in a brief moment.
However, with the Abyssal King growing stronger, an extreme measure had to be taken.
‘Is this the right choice?’
Zion swung Exceed Rain without convincing himself.
It was cowardly, but running away was an option.
He could use soldiers as shields to survive alone.
Or he could leave the Abyssal King to the Setinos Quasar and others and sneak away.
‘It must be right. I must win.’
There was someone watching him.
He promised to protect them as long as they were together and even planned a wedding once everything was ready.
For that person, he could not turn his back now.
‘If I run away, who will protect my fiancée?’
His fiancée followed him here out of trust.
Although she had her own thoughts, the fact that they were together did not change.
Moreover, he could not go back on the words he uttered before the Violet Apostle.
‘We came here risking our lives.’
It wasn't entirely sincere.
He wasn't weak enough to die here.
But facing a strong enemy, he had to brace himself.
"You can't do anything alone..."
The Abyssal King tried to strike Zion, but the sword would not move.
Zion stood still, sword against sword with the Abyssal King, in silence.
It felt like facing an unbreakable wall.
Moreover, the overwhelming magic was entangling and quickly dissipating.
"I will definitely kill you, Abyssal King."
Zion continually absorbed the Abyssal King's magic, emitting a purple glow.
Exceed Rain seemed to reject this act but could not go against his will.
Massive amounts of magic flowed into him, and as the limit was exceeded, the magic began to leak out.
Despite the intense pain pressing down on his entire body, Zion endured and reaffirmed his resolve.
‘It must end quickly.’
Holding onto his sanity, Zion lightly swung Exceed Rain.
A fierce and grotesque magic burst from the purple blade, enveloping the Abyssal King.
The Abyssal King was pushed back and struggled to stop.
"Did you throw away your life!"
The Abyssal King charged furiously, striking down with the Earth Magic Sword.
Zion walked slowly, then swung Exceed Rain again.
Exceed Rain once again absorbed the Abyssal King's magic and released a distorted power.
'Using my magic...'
The Abyssal King's body tilted but quickly regained posture.
He understood how his opponent had grown stronger.
However, a human body could not endure for long.
‘Just a bit more...’
Zion could not feel the pain from the magical overload.
All sensations in his body were gone, and he could not even tell if he was alive.
Only the Abyssal King was in his sight, and he moved solely with the thought of defeating him.
‘I might die. Maybe I should stop...’
Zion hesitated again but decided to stop thinking.
The reason he came this far, seeking a peaceful life, had been determined long ago.
To defeat the three great kings and the four great calamities, saving the world from destruction.
And now, that reason was deeply tied to his fiancée.
‘Hanette must live.’
Zion once more let go of his life.
If he died here, but Hanette survived, he would be satisfied.
Of course, if he truly cared for Hanette, he would not have dragged her into the fight, but that would have been the wrong choice.
Without Hanette, he could not defeat the three great kings and the four great calamities.
‘I won't be able to marry her... but she'll find someone better.’
Zion felt a pang of sadness but quickly erased it.
Having regrets about life meant he could not move forward.
Especially since Hanette was his biggest regret, he had to let go of his life even more.
‘But I must not die.’
Zion smiled as he approached the Abyssal King.
He did not want anyone else to take Hanette away.
Even the arranged marriage with Hanette had become his everything.
‘Finish this attack...’
His vision turned gray, and his consciousness faded.
His body tilted on its own, not following his will.
Zion instinctively realized he was facing death.
‘How did it come to this?’
He couldn't perceive his state once he lost sensation.
One must know they are in pain and suffering to stop, but he couldn't, so he maintained that state blindly.
Zion regretted it late, recalling someone watching him.
‘Ah, it can't end like this...’
He had to either survive or kill the Abyssal King.
But neither was accomplished, and he was dying in vain.
If he died, his allies would be at a disadvantage, and the Abyssal King would invade Alain Kingdom more deeply.
‘If I die like this, Hanette...’
Zion, with a strong desire, tried to overcome death.
But being born human meant he could not escape death.
Each human had a different path to death.
‘It's not time to die yet...’
"I warned you. You should have listened."
Zion suddenly came to his senses, looking around.
Beyond the darkened background, a purple light shone.
At the center stood a familiar-looking woman.
"Serenine Cardinal... No."
She looked exactly like Enrite and had the same voice.
But fundamentally, she felt different, and there were clear differences in hair and eye color.
"Can't you recognize me? That's a bit sad."
"Why do you look just like the White Apostle?"
"Do I look the same as that girl? Hmm... We were born together, so that might be the case."
Hearing this, Zion realized something.
She referred to Enrite as 'that girl'.
There was only one entity born with Enrite.
"...Exceed Rain?"
"Do I have to spell it out? Oh right, even if I did, you wouldn't understand."
The dark Magic Sword, Exceed Rain, chuckled slyly and approached Zion.
Hair like woven shadows, deep purple eyes, a cold and leisurely expression.
The long-dormant consciousness of Exceed Rain had finally awakened.
"I have nothing to give you."
"Sigh... I might want something from you, but I won't take it."
"Do you know how many people have died by your hand?"
"Why are you blaming me? I did nothing. They weren't qualified, so they met that fate."
Exceed Rain erased the smile but did not get angry.
Misunderstood for a long time, the consciousness was trapped within the Magic Sword.
Unlike El Tesoykve, the consciousness could not be manifested, so the Magic Sword acted on its own.
Had it been able to manifest, it would not have absorbed or controlled its users.
"I don't want to hear such nonsense, just drop it... So, are you getting along with my sister?"
"...You're saying you're older?"
"All things come from darkness. So that makes me the elder sister."
"Getting along... Ah, that's not the point. Am I dead now?"
"Not even letting me ask a question? You did something stupid, and now I'm stuck with this..."
Exceed Rain looked displeased but couldn't bring herself to ignore Zion.
He was the only human capable of wielding her, connected to her long-held desires.
But now, he was in a very dangerous state, and she had to intervene to restore him.
"I told you not to overload magic. But you ignored it. How could you be so foolish?"
Exceed Rain sighed and turned her back.
Zion Laird had potential.
If he had waited a bit longer, it would have been fine, but he couldn't endure those moments and risked his life.
"We can talk later. You need to get back quickly. If I don't go..."
"If I go now, I'll die. You don't want that, do you?"
"You can save me."
Zion responded with certainty.
Surely, Exceed Rain had caught him, allowing him to hold on this long.
This meant Exceed Rain could restore his body, damaged by magical overload.
"I can save you... but not now."
"...Because I'll overload magic again?"
"If I save you now, my power weakens. If you overload magic again, you will truly die."
Exceed Rain looked seriously at Zion.
She had just found someone qualified to wield her; she couldn't let him die.
If she saved him, it had to be done properly.
"I have someone to protect..."
"That person is stronger than you think. They won't die easily. Right now, you should worry about yourself."
"You said you can save me."
"It's better if you save yourself with your power. Isn't trying better than not?"
"Okay... What should I do?"
"Awaken me. Then you will come back to life and gain new strength."