A Competitor for Astra Militarum Marshal! (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader Nero the Night Watcher)

"Yormungand?"

"Isn't that the giant serpent recorded in The Edda, the one that encircled and devoured the world?"

"Why is the one you summoned an empty metal shell?"

Alucard, whose twisted, bizarre, and evil form was almost no longer human, voiced his doubts in an extraordinarily charming tone.

"Legends differ from world to world. In our world, Yormungand refers to a Giant God that stands upon the earth and holds up the sky."

Joseph patiently explained the reason to him.

"I see. A world beyond worlds? How interesting."

Alucard let out a delighted laugh, but his tone abruptly changed.

"But what's the point of watching from up there? Come down and face this monster, human!"

As Alucard spoke.

The surrounding sea of fire came under the control of some mysterious force, forming a flame tornado with tremendous visual impact.

As it swept mightily toward Yormungand, it also surged upward at Joseph.

"Oh?"

"You can control flames as well?"

Joseph raised a brow. That had not been in the intelligence reports.

He had thought Alucard's primary abilities were blood and shadows.

Yet Joseph remained completely unmoved by the oncoming heatwave and firelight, too lazy even to dodge.

Then, an orange-red gemstone ring on his right hand lit up with a brilliant red glow.

A fiery spherical barrier immediately formed around him, absorbing all approaching heat and flames.

This further strengthened the barrier.

Thus creating a beneficial cycle.

Joseph inside remained entirely unaffected.

This was, of course, the Fire's scarlet-orange Ruby Ring, which housed the fire spirit Ifrit.

Then there was Yormungand below.

It was the primary target of the flame tornado.

Yet a translucent barrier with a faint multicolored sheen likewise appeared around it, blocking all flames and impacts.

This was the defensive magic unique to the Elf Race of Nephthys