Chapter 66: Idealistic Struggle

Lars' grimoire flipped open, pages glowing faintly with the shimmer of his Mind Magic. The air thickened with tension, every sound—every breath—sharpened in the mental battlefield he was constructing. With Gedankenreich fully activated, reality itself felt malleable, the lines between perception and truth blurring. Lars' eyes locked onto Yrul, whose wild grin faltered for a heartbeat as the space around them warped.

Yrul rolled his neck, cracking it audibly as Bashir, his Instinct Celestial, growled low beside him. The beast's form, a sleek shadow-wolf with glowing eyes, radiated primal energy that clashed against the precision of Lars' crafted magic. Lars could see it in Yrul's posture—the way his movements were becoming jagged, less deliberate. The chaotic nature of his magic wasn't just a weapon—it was a weakness.

"You really think you can outmaneuver me?" Yrul sneered, though there was a flicker of unease in his golden eyes. "I've seen worlds crumble, minds break under the weight of their own fear. You're nothing but a fledgling, dabbling in forces you don't understand."

Lars smirked, his grimoire flipping to a new page as he countered, "And you're a beast tamer who's losing control of his pet. Tell me, Yrul—how long can you keep Bashir leashed before he tears you apart?"

At that, Bashir let out a guttural snarl, its shimmering form glitching for a moment as if it were trying to break free. Yrul's jaw tightened. "Stay out of this," he hissed, his voice low and strained. "Bashir listens to me. He knows his place."

But Lars could hear the cracks forming. "No, he doesn't. He's holding back because you're forcing him to, and you know it. That's why you'll lose this fight."

Yrul's composure faltered for a split second, and Lars struck. With a flick of his wrist, the battlefield shifted, and Yrul was momentarily surrounded by a swarm of phantom soldiers—figments of Lars' Mind Magic. Each one moved with surgical precision, slashing at Yrul's defenses, testing the gaps in his armor. Bashir leapt to Yrul's side, ripping through the illusions with feral efficiency, but for every soldier it destroyed, another two appeared.

Yrul snarled, raising his golden grimoire. "Beast Magic: Dire Stampede!"

The chamber shook violently as shadowy beasts poured forth from Yrul's magic. A stampede of monstrous forms charged through Lars' illusions, their sheer ferocity threatening to overwhelm him. But Lars was ready. With a calm breath, he extended his hand.

"Mind Magic: Infinite Thought Shield."

A translucent barrier shimmered into existence, absorbing the brunt of the attack. The beasts slammed into it, their forms dissipating like smoke against the unyielding wall of Lars' mental fortitude. Yrul's eyes widened as his assault faltered.

"Surprised?" Lars asked, stepping forward. "The problem with raw instinct is that it's predictable. I already knew how you'd react."

Bashir growled again, its form flickering, its restraint visibly eroding. Lars could feel the pain radiating from the celestial—a deep, unrelenting ache born from being tethered too tightly. "Let him loose, Yrul," Lars said, his voice softer now, almost pitying. "You're strangling him, and it's killing you both."

"Shut up!" Yrul snapped, his voice cracking. "You don't know anything about us! Bashir and I are stronger than you'll ever—"

A sudden flash of light cut him off. Lars had been waiting for this moment. With a quick chant, he unleashed Resonant Concussion, a mental shockwave that struck directly at Yrul's psyche. The beast mage staggered, clutching his head as the force of Lars' attack disrupted his concentration.

Bashir howled, the sound reverberating through the chamber with a mix of anguish and fury. The celestial's form flickered wildly now, its instincts screaming for release. Yrul's grip on his magic was slipping, and Lars pressed the advantage.

"I don't need to beat you, Yrul," Lars said, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I just need to show you that you've already lost."

Meanwhile, Ximena faced off against the two summoned beasts with her trademark arrogance. The hulking tiger, Rama, lunged again, its glowing claws leaving scorch marks on the stone floor. Vangelis, the winged serpent, hissed and spat a stream of corrosive acid, its serpentine movements swift and deadly.

"Pathetic," Ximena muttered, her lips curling into a smirk. She raised her arms, and the ground beneath her trembled as spires of stone erupted around her. "Earth Magic: Bastion's Wrath!"

Massive stone fists formed from the earth, smashing into Rama and sending the tiger skidding backward. Vangelis swooped down, its acidic breath aimed directly at Ximena, but she barely flinched. With a flick of her wrist, a wall of stone shot up, absorbing the attack.

"You think you can overpower me?" she taunted, stepping forward with a confidence that bordered on recklessness. "I'm Ximena Laird. I don't lose to overgrown pets."

Rama roared, recovering quickly and charging again. This time, Ximena didn't wait for it to reach her. She slammed her hands into the ground, sending shockwaves through the floor that destabilized the tiger's footing. "Earth Magic: Splintered Cradle!" The ground cracked and split, trapping Rama's massive paws in a web of jagged stone.

Vangelis dove toward her, its wings cutting through the air like blades. Ximena smirked, raising a massive earthen pillar to intercept it. The serpent crashed into the pillar with a hiss, but it quickly coiled around it, using the momentum to launch itself at her.

"Persistent, aren't you?" Ximena muttered, sidestepping the attack and slamming her fist into the ground. Another stone fist shot up, grabbing Vangelis mid-air and slamming it into the wall with a deafening crash.

For a moment, the battlefield was still. Ximena stood tall, her breathing steady, her smirk unshaken. "Told you," she said, brushing a speck of dust from her sleeve. "You're not even worth breaking a sweat."

But even as she spoke, she glanced toward Lars and Yrul. The beast mage was faltering, his attacks becoming more erratic as Lars' Mind Magic continued to unravel him. Ximena's eyes narrowed, her usual arrogance giving way to a flicker of concern.

"Mertens," she muttered under her breath, "you'd better win this. I'm not carrying your runt out of here."

With a final smirk, she turned her attention back to the two beasts, now stirring again. "Round two? Bring it on."

…

The blazing sun bore down on a desolate plain outside a burning forest, the air thick with heat and the acrid tang of smoke. Mereoleona Vermillion stood at the forefront of the battlefield, her fiery mane flowing in tandem with the flickering inferno that surrounded her. Behind her, Cara Castro crouched low, her Beast Magic flaring with a wild, untamed energy.

Cara's lips curled into a grin as her aura surged, faint outlines of feral creatures shimmering around her. "Captain, I thought you said this was going to be a challenge," she quipped, cracking her knuckles.

Mereoleona shot her a sharp, toothy grin in return. "You're running your mouth already, Cara? Save it for when you've earned the right to stand beside me!"

The ground trembled as a trio of magical beasts burst from the burning forest. The first, a hulking bear-like creature with jagged stone plating, roared as it barreled toward them. Behind it, a lithe, serpentine creature slithered with uncanny speed, its scales glinting in the firelight. The third was a massive bird, its talons crackling with electricity as it circled ominously overhead.

Cara's blood sang with excitement, the primal energy of her magic pulling at her muscles. "Let me have the big one, Captain! I've been itching to really let loose."

Mereoleona barked a laugh. "Do what you want, but if you slow me down, I'll take it out on you later."

With a wild whoop, Cara surged forward, her magic flaring brightly. "Beast Magic: Lioness's Prowess!" Her arms transformed, her hands morphing into powerful claws. She leapt with feral grace, meeting the stone-plated bear mid-charge. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, but Cara didn't falter, digging her claws into its armored hide.

"Not so tough now, are you, big guy?" she growled, flipping over the beast's shoulder to avoid a swipe of its massive paw. With a roar of her own, Cara drove her clawed fist into its side, the force shattering one of its stone plates.

Mereoleona, meanwhile, moved with predatory precision, her mana radiating heat that warped the air around her. The serpent lunged, fangs dripping with venom, but she caught it mid-strike with her bare hands. "You're too slow," she snarled, her flames exploding outward and engulfing the creature.

Above them, the bird screeched, lightning arcing from its talons toward Cara. She barely managed to leap clear, her grin faltering for only a moment. "Oh, you want a piece of me too?" she yelled, turning her attention skyward.

"Focus!" Mereoleona's voice cut through the chaos. "You don't have time to show off, brat!"

Cara rolled her eyes but complied, her claws glowing as she activated another spell. "Beast Magic: Lupine Leap!" She launched herself skyward with the force of a predator in mid-pounce, claws outstretched. The bird screeched in alarm, veering away, but not before Cara caught its wing, ripping feathers free and sending it spiraling.

As the bird crashed to the ground, Cara landed in a crouch, her magic surging anew. "That's one down. Who's next?"

The stone-plated bear, now enraged, roared and charged again, but this time Cara was ready. "Beast Magic: Rhino's Might!" Her body pulsed with power, and she met the beast head-on, her enhanced strength sending it skidding backward. "You don't learn, do you?"

Nearby, Mereoleona dispatched the serpent with ease, her flames reducing it to ash. She turned her attention to Cara, who was still wrestling with the bear. "Don't get cocky, Cara. There's no room for hesitation in real combat."

"I'm not hesitating!" Cara retorted, her voice a mix of frustration and exhilaration. With a final, thunderous blow, she shattered the beast's armor entirely, sending it crashing to the ground in defeat.

The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackling of flames. Cara stood amidst the wreckage, her chest heaving with exertion but her grin as wide as ever. "Well, Captain? How'd I do?"

Mereoleona crossed her arms, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Not bad. But you're still too reckless. Control that wild energy of yours, or it'll be the end of you one day."

Cara shrugged, her grin never fading. "Where's the fun in control?"

As they turned to leave the battlefield, a faint presence stirred in the back of Cara's mind—an unfamiliar but strangely enticing feeling, as though something deep within her magic was awakening. She shook it off for now, following Mereoleona back toward the Clover Kingdom. For the first time, though, the thought crossed her mind: what if her magic wasn't just wild energy, but something far more... instinctual?

…

The chamber trembled as Yrul summoned another beast, his grimoire glowing with an intense golden light. "Beast Magic: Summon The Four Great Beasts - Lupus!" he bellowed, and a massive, spectral wolf materialized from the ether. Its fur shimmered with a silvery glow, and its eyes burned like molten gold, exuding an aura of primal menace.

The wolf charged at Lars with terrifying speed, its jaws snapping inches from his face. Lars leapt backward, positioning himself in front of Alexis to shield him. "Stay close," Lars said, his voice steady despite the chaos. "I won't let this thing touch you."

Alexis, groggy but regaining some composure, nodded weakly. "I can fight—"

"No," Lars interrupted sharply. "You're still recovering. Focus on staying safe."

The spectral wolf lunged again, and Lars spun his scythe in a defensive arc, enhanced by Mana Coating. The blade clashed against the wolf's ethereal fangs, sparks of mana flying with every collision. Lars' grimoire flipped open, its pages glowing as he activated another spell.

"Mind Magic: Grand Catharsis!" A shockwave of mental energy blasted the wolf backward, momentarily stunning it.

From his elevated position, Lars could see Yrul slipping away toward a sealed chamber at the end of the corridor. "Damn it," Lars muttered. "He's up to something."

"Lars!" Ximena shouted from across the battlefield, still holding her ground against Yrul's two other beasts. Her tone was sharp, commanding. "Go after him! I'll handle these!"

"Don't die," Lars called back, a fleeting grin on his face.

Ximena smirked arrogantly. "Please. I don't do dying."

Yrul stood before the towering machine Ravenna had left behind, Bashir's shadowy form looming behind him. The beast mage's grin faltered for a moment as Bashir growled low in his throat, the celestial wolf's instincts railing against what was about to happen.

"You're afraid, aren't you?" Yrul murmured, his tone oddly tender. "I get it. This isn't natural—what I'm about to do. But we're not about nature, are we? We're about survival. And I'll do whatever it takes to win."

Bashir snarled, its form rippling with tension, but it didn't resist as Yrul stepped into the machine, slamming his grimoire against the interface. Golden light enveloped him, and Bashir's shadowy body was dragged into the vortex of magic. The chamber sealed shut, the sound of grinding machinery and roaring mana echoing ominously.

Outside, Lars arrived just in time to see the final moments of the process. He slammed his fist against the sealed door. "Yrul! Whatever you're doing, stop it!"

Inside, Yrul's voice was strained but defiant. "You're smart, Lars. But I've never needed to be. Instinct's gotten me this far, and now it'll take me even further. You think logic can win every fight? I'll show you the truth—the truth of what it means to be human!"

With a deafening roar, the chamber exploded outward, golden light flooding the corridor. From the wreckage stepped Yrul—or what he had become. His body was cloaked in shimmering gold and black fur, his hands now clawed, and his feet digitigrade, resembling those of a wolf. A pair of lupine ears twitched atop his head, and a long, spectral tail swayed behind him. A crown of savage, spiked gold floated above his head, its edges sharp and jagged like fangs.

Yrul opened his glowing eyes, and a primal howl escaped his lips.

"Celestial Beast Magic: Convergence of Celestials!"

Lars stood his ground, gripping his scythe tightly. The sheer pressure of Yrul's transformed magic pressed against him like a physical force.

Yrul tilted his head, his movements eerily fluid. "You always looked down on me, didn't you, Lars? You and everyone else. Too stupid, too reckless, too animal." He took a step forward, the ground cracking beneath his feet. "But you don't get it. I don't need to be clever. The beasts I summon, the power I wield—it's all about instinct. Primal, human instinct."

Bashir's spectral form shimmered behind him, now fully integrated into his aura. "Logic is a cage, Lars. You overthink everything, while I act. I don't need plans. I feel my way forward. That's what Beast Magic truly is—the raw essence of what we are. The untamed, unfiltered truth of humanity!"

Yrul's claws flexed, and a golden aura flared around him. "And now, with Bashir as part of me, I'm done holding back. You think you can beat me with your calculated spells and clever tricks? Bring it on! I'll tear through every one of your illusions until there's nothing left!"

Yrul lunged at Lars, faster than ever before, his claws glowing with celestial energy. Lars barely had time to raise his Infinite Thought Shield before the impact sent him skidding backward, his boots digging into the stone floor.

"This is bad," Lars muttered, his mind racing. His mental soldiers swarmed toward Yrul, but the beast mage slashed through them effortlessly, his movements a blur.

"Come on, Lars!" Yrul roared, his voice a mix of human and beast. "Show me what your logic can do against instinct!"

Lars gritted his teeth. "Then let's test that theory." His grimoire flipped open, and he unleashed a barrage of mental constructs, each one designed to counter Yrul's frenzied attacks.

But in the back of his mind, Lars knew this was no ordinary fight. Yrul wasn't just wielding power—he had become power itself.

Yrul's claws slashed through the air with a golden blaze, cutting through Lars' mental constructs like a blade through paper. Each strike sent ripples of force through the chamber, pushing Lars further back. The crackling of his Infinite Thought Shield was the only warning before the barrier shattered under the relentless onslaught. Sweat poured down Lars' face, but it wasn't just the physical exertion weighing him down—it was the gnawing realization that his carefully laid tactics weren't enough.

"You can't keep up, Lars!" Yrul snarled, darting forward in a blur of golden light. His claws grazed Lars' side, drawing blood and forcing him to stagger. "You think you can beat me with plans and schemes? Instinct isn't bound by your rules!"

Lars gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his scythe. His muscles burned as he struggled to regain his footing, but Yrul was faster, his claws tearing through Lars' constructs, each one falling before the ferocity of the beast mage's instincts.

"Logic might make you clever," Yrul sneered, "but it makes you slow. You overthink every move while I act! That's the difference between us. That's why you'll lose."

A roar escaped Yrul as he unleashed a shockwave of energy that slammed into Lars with enough force to send him flying. His body crashed into the stone wall, the sickening thud of impact reverberating through his skull. Blood trickled from his forehead as his scythe clattered to the ground. Gasping for air, Lars struggled to push himself up, but his arms trembled, his injuries taking their toll.

"Enough playing," Yrul growled, his golden aura flaring. He raised his clawed hand, preparing to strike the final blow, when a shout pierced the air.

"Stay away from him!" Alexis' voice rang out, small but resolute. His grimoire glowed faintly as he fired a barrage of water blasts at Yrul, the projectiles streaking through the air toward the beast mage.

His form improved, Lars thought, struggling on the ground. Nice job, runt.

Yrul glanced at the young mage with amusement. "The runt? Really? You're going to defend him?" He swatted away the blasts with ease, his claws slicing through the air like a blade through paper. "Admirable, but stupid."

"Shut up!" Alexis yelled, positioning himself in front of Lars with trembling hands. "He's my mentor! I won't let you hurt him!"

Yrul chuckled darkly. "Oh, I'm not just going to hurt him. I'm going to make sure he feels every moment of this." His voice turned cold as he lunged toward Alexis.

"No!" Lars shouted, mustering every ounce of strength to get to his feet, but his body betrayed him, collapsing under its own weight.

Yrul's claws slashed across Alexis' chest, sending the young mage sprawling. Blood splattered the floor as Alexis cried out in pain, his grimoire falling to the ground. Yrul loomed over him, eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "You've got spirit, kid. Let's see how long it lasts."

With deliberate cruelty, Yrul lifted Alexis by the collar, his claws digging into the boy's skin. Alexis struggled weakly, his breath shallow and ragged. "L-Lars…" he choked out, his eyes wide with desperation.

Lars dragged himself across the ground, his arms shaking, pushing forward inch by inch. "Stop it! Yrul, stop!"

Yrul ignored him, his golden claws plunging into Alexis' chest.

The boy's body went limp, his eyes wide with shock as blood poured from the fatal wound. Yrul tossed him aside like a ragdoll, his laughter echoing through the chamber. "Pathetic. Both of you."

"Alexis!" Lars screamed, his voice breaking as he cradled Alexis' lifeless body in his arms. Tears streamed down his face as he pressed his hands to the wound, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. "Stay with me. Please, stay with me…I can't bring a dead boy back to his father…I can't!"

But Alexis' eyes had already dimmed. His body lay cold and broken in Lars' arms.

In that moment, the air shimmered, and Dorothy, Kirsch, Theresa, and Amaryllis appeared from the Glamour World. They froze at the sight before them: Lars kneeling in a pool of blood, Alexis' lifeless body in his arms, and Yrul standing above them, his golden aura blazing with triumph.

Dorothy's eyes narrowed, her dreamlike demeanor replaced by a sharp focus. "Kirsch, protect Theresa and Amaryllis. I'll deal with him."

But Lars didn't hear her. His entire world had narrowed to the lifeless boy in his arms. The grief and anger swelling inside him became a force he couldn't contain, a wild, untamable torrent. His voice broke as he whispered, "I promised to protect you. I failed."

Yrul's laughter echoed through the chamber, cruel and triumphant. "You see, Lars? That's instinct. Survival of the fittest. And you—"

"SHUT UP!" Lars roared, his voice filled with raw fury, shaking the very air around him. A surge of mana erupted from deep within, wild and uncontrolled, crackling with an intensity he had never known before. His grimoire opened on its own, the pages glowing with a light that burned like fire.

From within, a voice resonated—a familiar, celestial voice. "You're ready, Lars. Let's end this."

The golden flames that surged from Lars' body twisted and morphed into a vibrant, radiant pink. His mana became a living force, an overwhelming tide of power that swirled around him. Iskra materialized beside him in a blaze of pure energy. Her form was sleek and lupine, her body a blend of radiant light and flowing grace. Her piercing eyes locked with Lars', and for the first time, their mana flowed together in perfect harmony.

"Lars," Iskra's voice was calm but filled with strength. "Let's show him the true power of your mind—tempered by your spirit, and driven by your resolve."

Lars nodded, his tear-streaked face set with grim determination. The pink flames enveloped him, merging with his body as his transformation began. His hair turned a fiery white, streaked with pink light that pulsed like the beating of a heart. His eyes glowed with raw, unfiltered power, burning with intensity as though the very air around him could shatter from the force of his will.

A radiant scythe materialized in Lars' hand, its blade shimmering with celestial power, wrapped in spiraling pink and golden energy. The ground beneath him cracked, and the very atmosphere hummed with the resonance of his power.

Yrul's confident grin faltered as he took a step back, eyes widening. "What… What are you?"

Lars' voice was low and dangerous, filled with the weight of his pain and newfound strength. "I am what you'll never understand. Logic sharpened by instinct. Calculation driven by purpose. And I will end you."

With a roar, Lars unleashed his full power, the pink and gold flames rippling around him like a force of nature. The air crackled with the intensity of his spirit as he stepped forward, his scythe raised high. Yrul's golden aura flared in response, but it was nothing compared to the storm of mana that Lars had become.

This was the awakening of Lars Mertens—his heart and mind united in purpose, fueled by grief and determination. The Convergence of Celestials had given him the strength to avenge Alexis and to crush the beast before him. This time, instinct would not be enough to defeat him.

His grimoire pulsed with energy, and from deep within, Iskra melded with him in perfect synchrony. His hair turned a brilliant white, streaked with glowing golden strands, while his eyes burned with the intensity of a supernova. The scythe he wielded now shimmered with celestial power, its blade a brilliant extension of his will. A radiant crown of intertwined light formed around his head, and ethereal wings of light sprouted from his back, flaring with each heartbeat. His Tiefe Analyse visor appeared in front of his eyes, taking in more information than ever before.

This was the fusion of logic and instinct, calculation and purpose—a transformation of not just his body, but his very soul. Lars had transcended his limits, driven by the grief of loss and the unyielding desire for justice. His very presence was a force of nature, unstoppable and unforgiving, as he stood ready to annihilate the threat before him with a power unlike anything he had ever known.

Fueled by righteous anger, and a thirst for vengeance, Lazarus Andreus Mertens had awakened.

A/N: And now we see Lars's Spirit Dive like trasnformation!