From the moment Meriyetrra, the Liar Witch, summoned the Divine Spear Ridenal to the moment Brando activated the Fanaticism Talent, it sounded like a long time when put into words, but in reality, it lasted no more than the blink of an eye—like the time it took the second hand to move lightly from one to two. During that interval, Rove cast her spell, sending a pillar of golden fire down from the heavens. It pierced the entire castle and struck the witch. During that same interval, the binding spell of the fourth witch had only just taken shape. Following the route dictated by the laws, it passed through the chaotic magical currents filling the short corridor and arrived before Roman.
Then—and then there was no "then." The spell passed straight through Roman's body like an illusion, producing no effect at all. The witch who had cast the spell froze in place. She had clearly seen a massive phantom form behind Roman. Within it stood a tall woman with long white hair flying in the wind. The woman watched her with a gentle gaze, raised one finger to her lips, and moved them slightly. In a voice that reached straight into her soul, she said:
"Your spell can never hurt me, my child."
"W-Witch Queen?"
The successor to the Witch Queen, the natural ruler of Witch Country Brunson and the wielder of its authority, possessed power born from strength and majesty. That power came from absolute dominion over witchcraft. The first Witch Queen, Meblair, had woven the True Words of All Things. In this realm bordering on divinity, mortal witchcraft was ineffective against her. Time froze at that moment. The witch who had cast the spell was so shocked by the sight that she stood utterly motionless and could not