Volume 5
Chapter 26
From high above, a gigantic black mass roared, hurtling towards Nozomu and the others on the ground. Nozomu, keenly sensing the hostility directed at them, launched a Vibration Strike at Irisdina and Mars, narrowly deflecting them from the mass's path. However, he had no time to dodge himself and was directly hit by the mass's charge. Nozomu's body was sent flying like a pebble. He was slammed against the ground repeatedly before violently crashing into Shino's cabin. He smashed a large hole in the wall and disappeared inside the cabin.
The next moment,
perhaps a supporting pillar of the roof collapsed, and the cabin began to
crumble with a loud noise. Nozomu was buried under the collapsing cabin.
Irisdina and the others were dazed, unable to comprehend what had just
happened.
Ignoring them, the
massive object that had charged at Nozomu slammed its log-like limbs into the
ground, carving deep grooves as it came to a halt. It spread its wings to display
its majesty. The beast, covered in cracked scales, exposed wounds, and emitting
a putrid stench, raised its regenerated head.
"Why... is this
thing here..."
Mars muttered, his
voice sounding as if it had been squeezed out of him. Before them was the being
that Jihad should have defeated yesterday. Its missing wing had regenerated,
but it was unmistakably the Corpse Dragon.
"Grrr..."
The Corpse Dragon
opened its maw and took a deep breath, and a red light leaked from the back of
its throat. After a brief pause, scorching breath was exhaled, assailing
Shino's cabin. The simple cabin made of forest wood was instantly engulfed in
flames, and Nozomu, trapped inside, was plunged into an inferno.
"Nozomu!!"
Irisdina, who had been
stunned by the sight of the cabin engulfed in flames, let out a pained cry.
However, the Corpse Dragon paid no heed to Irisdina and the others beside it,
instead glaring fixedly at the cabin it had struck with its breath.
"Kuh!!"
"This is bad! We
have to help him fast!"
Irisdina, Shina, and
Mars ignored the nearby Corpse Dragon and rushed towards the burning cabin,
trying to help Nozomu. But as if to thwart their efforts, a red light ignited
again in the Corpse Dragon's maw.
"Grrrr!"
Scorching breath was
unleashed again, striking Irisdina and Mars without fail. However, a sudden
wall of light appeared in its path, diverting the breath's trajectory.
"...I don't know
how you're alive, but I won't let you interfere!"
It was Feo's talisman
arts that blocked the Corpse Dragon's breath directed at the two. Perhaps
judging that a single talisman wouldn't be enough to block the dragon's breath,
he used five talismans to deploy a barrier. However, just blocking the dragon's
breath must have exceeded the barrier's durability limit. With a shattering
sound, the wall of light vanished, and the talismans maintaining the barrier
burned out and disappeared. The time gained was minuscule. But that time was
more precious than anything.
"Everyone, just
distract that dragon! Tima-san! Use magic to extinguish the cabin!"
"Norn~! Go to
Nozomu-kun~! I'll cover for Shina-san and the others here~!!"
"Understood!
Don't overdo it, Anri!"
In the brief moment
Feo bought, Anri and Norn snapped back to their senses and issued instructions
to everyone present. As their rapid commands flew, the friends, brought back to
reality by the instructions, began to act in unison. Spells were continuously
fired at the Corpse Dragon, and Anri's whip exploded.
In the meantime, Feo
and Mimuru approached the Corpse Dragon with Flash Step. They put all their
strength into their weapons and brought them down on the areas where scales had
peeled off, exposing the skin below. However, it had little effect on the
Corpse Dragon, which had lost its pain receptors, and the Corpse Dragon simply
brushed Feo and Mimuru away as if swatting annoying flies. Feo's strengthened
staff and Mimuru's dagger pierced its skin, and Tom's magic burned it, but it
wasn't enough to stop its movements. Anri's whip, in particular, was completely
ineffective against the Corpse Dragon, which felt no pain, due to the nature of
her weapon.
"Nozomu! Can you
hear me?!"
"Damn it! The
fire's too strong!"
Meanwhile, Irisdina
and Mars, who had reached the burning cabin, were struggling to extinguish the
fire, but their progress was not good. Irisdina continuously struck it with
water-attribute magic through Instant Deployment, but it wasn't powerful enough
to put out the raging fire, and Mars's wind-attribute magic had the potential
to fan the flames further. Shina, too, was trying to use spirit magic, but it
was taking more time than expected to contract with the spirits.
"Everyone!
Please, calm down!!"
Shina's pained voice
echoed. She tried to calm the spirits somehow, but they only clung to Shina in
fear, refusing to obey. The presence of Tiamat, which they could now sense due
to Nozomu's ability suppression being released. Perhaps feeling instinctive
fear from the sudden appearance of overwhelming spirit power, the surrounding
spirits were completely intimidated.
Meanwhile, Mars
plunged his sword into a fallen roof beam and tried to lift the rubble using it
as a lever.
"Kuhhh!!"
However, contrary to
Mars's desperate efforts to move the roof, which had buried Nozomu, the roof
didn't budge. Nozomu, buried under it, seemed either unconscious or unable to
move; only the crackling of burning building materials could be heard, and
there was no sign of Nozomu emerging from under the collapsed rubble. There was
no time to lose. At this rate, Nozomu would be burned alive, buried under the
rubble. Even if he avoided that, he might inhale smoke and die from
asphyxiation. Nearly half of fire-related deaths were due to suffocation from
respiratory failure. No matter how high Nozomu's abilities rose, once he suffered
from respiratory failure, his body would become immobile, and he would only be
burned or suffocated to death.
"Mars-kun! Don't
move!"
Norn's voice echoed in
Mars's ear, and at the same time, a compressed wind bullet shot past Mars's
side. The flying wind bullet tore through the collapsed roof without fanning
the flames, cutting it in half.
"O-okay! This
might work!"
Although surprised by
the sudden wind bullet, with half of the cabin roof gone, it seemed they could
finally move it. Furthermore, Tima, chanting, formed a massive water mass in
the air. The water mass, formed by gathering invisible water droplets dissolved
in the air, was so enormous it rivaled the size of Shino's cabin.
"Mars-kun! I'm
going to put out the fire, so step back for a moment!"
"O-okay!"
Mars stepped away from
the spot at Tima's words. Considering the size of the water mass that appeared
in the air, it would probably be enough to extinguish the fire burning the
cabin now. The water mass in the air swelled significantly, and just as it was
about to fall onto the burning cabin...
"Guaaaaaa!!"
The Corpse Dragon
charged towards the water mass. Completely ignoring Anri and the others'
desperate attacks, which were trying to halt it, the colossal body charged
forward, flapping its wings.
"Eh!?"
The water mass, the
size of a cabin, burst apart and dispersed before the charge of the Corpse
Dragon, which had an overwhelmingly larger body than itself.
"N-no
way..."
"Kuh!!"
Tima let out a dazed
cry. Mars, too, bit his lip at the unbelievable sight before him, and returning
to the cabin, he once again plunged his greatsword into the ground, desperately
trying to dislodge the collapsed roof. Irisdina continued to strike it with water
masses, using Instant Deployment and her abundant magic to the fullest, but the
fire wouldn't subside as she wished. Shina's surrounding spirits were still
cowering in fear and wouldn't listen. Irisdina and Shina, perhaps judging that
things wouldn't progress at this rate, applied enhancement magic to their
entire bodies, placed their hands on the burning rubble, and tried to remove
the roof, which was burying Nozomu, just like Mars.
"O-oi!"
"Kuhhh!"
"Ugh!"
Burning heat and
piercing pain assaulted both their hands. Mars cried out at Irisdina and
Shina's reckless actions, but they seemed to have no thought for that. At this
rate, Nozomu might die. For Irisdina, who had been constantly plagued by the
anxiety that he might disappear, what was happening before her eyes could lead
to the realization of that nightmare. For Shina, Nozomu's figure, seemingly
burned by flames, overlapped with the scene from 10 years ago when she lost her
family. The forest engulfed in flames and the burning houses. Her family becoming
voiceless corpses before her eyes. Perhaps he too would end up like them...
Thinking that way, the
pain running through their hands didn't matter to them at all.
"Nozomu,
Nozomu...!"
"Please... make
it in time..."
Irisdina and Shina
desperately tried to remove the rubble, praying as if simply begging. However,
as if trampling on their wishes, the Corpse Dragon attacked the three of them.
"Damn it! What
the hell is going on?!"
Mars clicked his
tongue at the Corpse Dragon, who was targeting Irisdina and the others instead
of Anri and the others, who were attacking it, for some reason. He hastily
pulled out his sword, which had been thrust into a gap in the rubble, grabbed
Irisdina and Shina by their collars, and retreated from the spot with all his
might. The next moment, the Corpse Dragon's claws, descending rapidly from
above, deeply gouged the ground where Irisdina and Shina had just been.
Furthermore, the Corpse Dragon's tail swept towards Irisdina and the others,
who had retreated.
"!"
"Tch!"
The moment Mars
instinctively raised his greatsword and Irisdina deployed a magic barrier, a
massive object with great momentum collided. Irisdina and Mars braced their
feet, enduring the pressure that pressed down on them with all their might. The
two of them somehow managed to block the gigantic tail's charge.
"This
thing!"
Shina slammed magic
into an arrow she drew from her quiver and thrust it into the tail that
Irisdina and Mars were holding back, but it had no effect.
"Grrrr!"
However, the Corpse
Dragon put even more force into its tail. The pressure on their arms increased,
and Irisdina and Mars could no longer withstand it. All three, including Shina,
were sent flying. The three somehow took the impact and regained their posture,
preparing for a follow-up attack. However, the Corpse Dragon did not pursue
them; it stood majestically with the burning cabin at its back. It was as if it
was trying to prevent them from going to help Nozomu.
"Damn it. Is that
thing trying to stop us from saving Nozomu?!"
For unknown reasons,
the Corpse Dragon was clearly obstructing Irisdina and the others from going to
help Nozomu. In the previous battle, the Corpse Dragon showed no signs of
reason. Its eyes were still cloudy white, indicating that it was already dead,
but its movements could by no means be attributed to impulse or instinct.
"! There's no
time to waste! I'll make you retreat no matter what!"
Irisdina slammed all
her magic into her rapier, activating "Lunar Eclipse Night," and
Shina powerfully drew her bow, casting "Star Sea's Divine Punishment"
on the nocked arrow. The shining blade and light arrow, like a meteor,
responded to their passion. Irisdina and Mars, along with Feo and Mimuru,
rushed towards the Corpse Dragon. Shina poured even more magic into Star Sea's
Divine Punishment, and Tima, Anri, and Tom began chanting spells. The Corpse
Dragon, too, braced its limbs to meet them, majestically spreading the wings on
its back, fully displaying its fighting spirit. The next moment, Irisdina and
her team all charged at the Corpse Dragon, and the dragon, in turn, unleashed
scorching breath at them.
***
As the battle between
Irisdina's group and the Corpse Dragon was about to begin, inside the collapsed
cabin where Nozomu was trapped, only the flickering red flames in his dark
vision and the shadows of the rubble reflected in their light were visible.
"Ah!!...
Ugh!"
Nozomu groaned amidst
the rubble pressing down on him. His body was pinned by a collapsed roof beam,
unable to move a muscle. But more than being unable to move, the suffocating
smoke and the attacking heat of the flames relentlessly assaulted Nozomu.
Nozomu desperately tried to breathe, but no matter how much he inhaled, it
brought no relief. Instead, he inhaled more smoke, and the difficulty of
breathing accelerated. The heat he felt on his skin gradually intensified,
mercilessly trying to burn his body.
"! ...D-ugh..."
In his gradually
darkening vision, Nozomu tried to reach out as if begging for help, but his
arm, trapped in the rubble, wouldn't budge. In his dazed consciousness, what
crossed Nozomu's mind were the faces of his friends, who had just accepted him.
The bond he had finally obtained. The precious people he had made when he was
alone, whom he absolutely didn't want to lose. The Corpse Dragon was still
outside. He didn't know what the situation was like outside, but he certainly
didn't think the dragon was being docile. The faces of Irisdina and her team,
and the memories he had cultivated with them, flowed through his mind like a
torrent. That scene, like a rapidly fading dream, made Nozomu sense that he
would never be able to create memories with them again, accelerating his
impatience even further.
He had finally managed
to obtain it. He was scared, but he had managed to muster the courage to convey
his feelings...
I didn't want
to die! I couldn't die yet!!
With that resolve,
power surged through Nozomu's body. It was the manifestation of a strong
survival instinct. The will to live that Shino had once glimpsed, and that had
manifested even during his battle with Tiamat. Nozomu poured all his strength
into his left hand, which was trapped in the rubble. His muscles bulged with a
sickening crunching sound, causing the rubble trapping his arm to move
slightly.
"Guh! Gah! Cough,
cough!"
However, that was all
Nozomu could do. Difficulty breathing and impatience hindered Nozomu's
concentration, preventing him from gathering his Ki as he wished. Contrary to
Nozomu's desperate will, his body wouldn't move as he wished. It was as if he
had lead tied to his entire body and was submerged in water. At that moment, an
enticing voice echoed from the depths of his ear.
Do you want to
live? Or do you want to help those people?
The voice of
"that guy" echoed in Nozomu's mind. Perhaps because his ability
suppression was released, Nozomu could hear Tiamat's voice more clearly than
usual. Nozomu couldn't see Tiamat's form, but its voice clearly scorned Nozomu,
who was unable to move.
However, it's
probably too late now. Even though it's already a corpse, those humans won't
survive against a dragon. By now, they're probably minced meat, reduced to
pathetic remains.
Tiamat's merciless
announcement pierced Nozomu's heart.
And you, in
the end, can do nothing. You are merely human. This is your limit...
Tiamat declared that
this was the end. Those words added further reason to fight, fuelling the
raging survival instinct. in his heart.
Don't mess
with me! There's no way I'll let that happen!
His friends' lives
might be lost, the bond he had finally understood might be lost. That fact
further fueled Nozomu's impatience, igniting his passion. To the point where
Nozomu himself couldn't control it.
"Ooooohhhhhh!!"
Tiamat's merciless
declaration. To deny it with all his might, Nozomu screamed and exploded all
the ki in his body without caring about his appearance. The exploding ki
created a small gap between the rubble that had been restraining Nozomu and his
body. Before the opened gap closed again, Nozomu pulled out his left hand, poured
all his ki into it, and slammed his left arm onto the ground, completely
ignoring his tearing skin and spurting blood.
The ki technique,
"Annihilation Light Impact." His vision was filled with light, and
the rubble that had been pressing down on his body was blown away. Amidst this,
for some reason, "that guy" inside Nozomu grinned.
Feeling the release
from the rubble that had been pressing down on him, Nozomu got up, as if
checking his limbs. Pain still coursed through his entire body from the overflowing
power, and blood flowed endlessly from his left hand, which had unleashed the
Annihilation Light Impact.
...But, they
moves!
His legs, his arms,
which had been trapped in the rubble, moved in response to Nozomu's will. There
was no problem. Nozomu would surely look forward and try to focus on the battle
with the opponent that would appear before him.
"...Eh?"
However, when the
torrent of light from the Annihilation Light Impact he had unleashed subsided
and his vision returned, Nozomu was stunned by the sight before him. Why was he
here, he wondered? In his red-stained vision, Nozomu muttered to himself. What
appeared in his eyes were burning crimson flames and countless scattered house
rubble. Most of the collapsed buildings were the houses of Arcazam, which
Nozomu had often seen over the past two years. Yes, for some reason, the
collapsed Arcazam lay before his eyes, though he should have been in the forest
just moments ago.
"Wh-why.... I was
in the forest just now..."
However, it's
probably too late now. Even though they're already corpses, those humans won't
survive against a dragon. By now, they're probably minced meat, reduced to
pathetic remains.
Tiamat's words came
back to Nozomu's mind. The collapsed Arcazam and burning houses before him. The
heat of the flames scorching his skin and the cries for help from somewhere
echoed from all directions, truly a manifestation of that nightmare.
That's right,
there was no time. I had to find everyone quickly!
"!! Everyone!
Where are you!?"
Nozomu shouted,
looking around for Irisdina and the others. However, all he could hear were
groans from somewhere, the crackling of flames, and the sound of burned-out
buildings collapsing, and he couldn't see any sign of them.
"Iris! Mars!
Shina!!"
Each breath scorched
his throat with hot air, and his body grew hot. In inverse proportion to his
heating body, his chest grew colder and colder, filling with a hollow sense of
loss. Could it be, already...? Nozomu tried to shake off that worst possible
prediction and ran aimlessly with all his might to find his friends.
But a black shadow
appeared before him. And it wasn't just one shadow that appeared. Multiple
shadows stood before Nozomu like a mirage. An exceptionally large shadow.
Easily several times Nozomu's height. Powerful limbs that trampled the burning
ground. And it magnificently spread wing-like shadows on its back, which seemed
to be wings. Its majesty, which inspired awe in all who saw it, spoke of the
immense presence of that shadow. Behind that colossal shadow, nearly ten
humanoid shadows could be seen, seemingly waiting. The humanoid figures varied
in size, but all held what appeared to be weapons in their hands.
"...Are you
trying to get it the way...?"
Concerned for his
friends' safety, Nozomu unleashed his full killing intent on the shadows before
him. The shadows, assailed by a pressure so intense it seemed to carry physical
force, recoiled slightly, perhaps intimidated by Nozomu's killing intent.
However, the colossal shadow showed no signs of retreating. It magnificently
spread the wings on its back, threatening Nozomu.
"...There's no
time. If you interfere, I'll remove you by force!!"
He slammed his full
sword qi and killing intent into the colossal shadow before him, strengthening
his body with all his might. The power, hypertrophied to the point of
overflowing from his body due to the release of his ability suppression,
increased Nozomu's physical abilities beyond their limits. But driven by
impatience, he didn't notice. That the weapon held by the humanoid shadow
behind the colossal shadow was something he knew very well. That the humanoid
shadow's mouth was moving as if calling someone's name. And that just before
coming to this place, the mouth of "that guy" that had crossed his
mind was twisted into a grin.
***
As Irisdina and the
others tried to save Nozomu, and the Corpse Dragon for some reason tried to
stop them, a deafening roar suddenly thundered through the surroundings. A
torrent of light erupted. Dust rose, and the burning rubble was pulverized and
sent flying upwards with sparks. The rubble that fell to the ground burned the
grass, creating a charred expanse. In the center of the circularly scattered
rubble, where the cabin had just been, a single shadow slowly rose amidst the
flickering flames.
"...No,
zomu?"
Irisdina's questioning
voice echoed. The figure slowly rising was unmistakably Nozomu. However, his
appearance had greatly changed. His clothes were charred in places, and perhaps
injured by the rubble when the cabin collapsed, red droplets flowed from his
head, dripping onto the ground. A drawn katana was clenched in his right hand,
reflecting the light of the surrounding flames and swaying faintly. But more
than anything, what made Irisdina doubt her eyes was the drastic change in the
aura surrounding Nozomu. Killing intent was indiscriminately cast around him. A
dangerous aura that could instantly cut down anyone who approached. And his
crimson eyes, shining brightly, piercing the hearts of all who saw them.
"Ugh..."
Nozomu's intensely
glowing crimson eyes turned towards Irisdina and the others. The atmosphere of
the man who had just confessed his feelings moments ago was completely gone.
Overwhelmed by his burning gaze, Irisdina and the others instinctively recoiled.
"Grrrr..."
The Corpse Dragon
turned to face Nozomu. The Corpse Dragon no longer seemed interested in
Irisdina and the others; it exposed its defenseless back, its cloudy white eyes
fixed only on the boy standing in the flames. Nozomu and the Corpse Dragon
faced each other. Amidst the dancing sparks and flickering flames, Irisdina and
the others were fixated on the sight before them. What appeared in their eyes
was Nozomu, standing as if in a sea of flames. The storm-like vortex of ki and
killing intent emanating from his body, his crimson gaze, and an aura that
intimidated every being present.
"Wh-what? What's
wrong with Nozomu...?"
Mars's strained voice
melted into the scorching air that enveloped the surroundings. What in the
world was happening? It was what everyone present was feeling.
"Ugh,
ugh..."
Shina's body, which
was beside Irisdina, suddenly collapsed. Irisdina, who was beside her, hastily
supported her, but Shina's condition was clearly abnormal. Her face was beyond
pale, white as a corpse, and her eyes were vacant and unfocused.
"Shina-kun!
What's..."
Irisdina called out to
Shina, who had collapsed, but then she looked up with a startled expression.
What was in her line of sight was, needless to say, his figure, emitting an
overwhelming amount of ki.
"Nozomu..."
Shina, who was most
surprised by Nozomu's extraordinary power, and now showed even greater
agitation. Nozomu, who had begun to exude an unusual aura before her. And the
existence of "another will" that Nozomu had confessed.
"Don't tell
me..."
When a line connected
in Irisdina's mind, the situation changed. The Corpse Dragon's jaw opened, and
a red light ignited in its maw.
"Guaaaaaa!"
The Corpse Dragon
roared. The light ignited in its maw intensified, and then a storm-like
scorching breath was unleashed at Nozomu.
"Aaaaaaaaah!!"
Nozomu's scream echoed
through the forest. Facing the scorching breath approaching him, Nozomu
exploded the ki in his feet. The next moment, his stomping foot shattered the
ground, and Nozomu dashed forward, kicking up the rubble with sparks, glaring
at the dragon before him with crimson eyes. Nozomu, accelerated by Flash Step,
immediately activated Flash Step - Curving Dance. He instantly changed the
direction of his Flash Step, running past the side of the approaching breath,
skimming the ground, and charging towards the Corpse Dragon.
"Ooooooooh!"
Nozomu, who had closed
the distance to the Corpse Dragon in an instant, compressing ki into his blade.
Nozomu, having approached within his range, then circled to the side of the
Corpse Dragon as if to cross paths with it, and slashed his drawn katana. The
ki blade, sharpened to its absolute limit, deeply sliced through the Corpse
Dragon's right foreleg, and at the same time, the ki technique "Dust
Severance" activated. The countless exploding ki blades completely gouged
out the Corpse Dragon's right foreleg muscles, pulverizing them along with the
cracked dragon scales.
"Gaaaah!"
The Corpse Dragon lost
its balance greatly, having had nearly half of its foreleg muscles gouged out.
Nozomu slipped under the Corpse Dragon's belly, which was trying to support its
collapsing body, and while rushing to the opposite side, sliced its soft
underbelly. The re-activated "Dust Severance" deeply gouged out the
Corpse Dragon's belly, scattering its internal organs onto the ground.
"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
The Corpse Dragon's
scream, like a tear through the air, echoed. Internal organs spilled from the
gouged wound, and a putrid stench hung in the air. But despite its internal
organs protruding from its abdomen, the Corpse Dragon raised its tail high and
swept it towards Nozomu, who had rushed to the opposite side. The Corpse Dragon's
tail, attacking as it sliced through the wind like a whip. Nozomu, glancing at
the colossal tail, about an embrace in size, approaching him from his side,
spun his body and parried with his katana. Nozomu once again slammed ki into
his blade, extremely compressing it, and then slashed his ki-blade-infused
katana upwards towards the Corpse Dragon's tail.
A dragon, an
outstanding existence among magical beasts. Its existence, a powerful magical
beast said to be able to raze even a fortress, could easily destroy a house
with a single strike of its tail. The enormous tail, covered in iron-hard
dragon scales and tough muscles that supported its colossal body, was attacking
with momentum. A strike impossible for an ordinary human to take head-on alone.
However, the instant
Nozomu's slash intersected with the Corpse Dragon's tail strike, the dragon's
tail was severed. The enormous tail, severed, danced high in the air. Nozomu's
katana, imbued with "Phantom Void - Clad -," sliced through the
Corpse Dragon's armor-like scales like paper, and the swung slash severed its
bones, harder than diamonds, and its muscles, as flexible as a whip, in a
single blow. Nozomu, having swung his katana, did not halt his movements and
immediately proceeded to his next action. He activated Flash Step again. He
danced towards the colossal body before him. He deeply sliced the Corpse
Dragon's left hind leg, and then once again sliced his katana while rushing
under the Corpse Dragon's belly, completely severing its right foreleg, which
he had gouged out earlier. The Corpse Dragon lost its balance due to the loss
of one foreleg. However, it somehow managed to stabilize its collapsing body
with its remaining right foreleg and hind legs. But Nozomu's pursuit was not
over yet. He then leaped onto the Corpse Dragon's unbalanced left foreleg and,
bouncing off it, ascended the dragon's body while swinging his katana. Two,
three more "Dust Severance" explosions gouged away at the Corpse
Dragon's colossal body, scattering blood and flesh around like rain.
"...No,
Nozomu."
Irisdina and the
others could only watch Nozomu with wide eyes. Before them, Nozomu was
dismembering a dragon, one of the highest-ranking magical beasts. For them, it
was a sight almost beyond description. Nozomu scattered blood and flesh while
emitting killing intent.
"...This... this
is..."
At this point, they
finally realized the anxiety Nozomu had carried. The Corpse Dragon was being
dismembered by Nozomu. Considering Nozomu's story from moments ago, the one
being cut down there might have been themselves.
The power of
Tiamat within me. If I'm swallowed by this power, I might kill everyone with my
own hands...
"!"
Nozomu's words from
moments ago resurfaced, and Irisdina inadvertently bit her tongue. The hand
supporting the collapsed Shina tightened, and her snow-white fingers turned
even whiter, losing more color.
...I was just so
anxious, I couldn't bear it...
Nozomu confessed, his
face twisted in pain, tormented by his chaotic heart. At that moment, she had
thought she could start over with Nozomu, she had rejoiced that she could face
him. However, even as she thought that, Nozomu continued to swing his katana,
dyeing the surroundings in a sea of blood. Irisdina and the others felt nothing
but pain in their hearts at the sight.
Even as Irisdina and
the others felt pain in their hearts, Nozomu did not stop swinging his katana.
Nozomu, who had been carving up the Corpse Dragon's body, then ran up the
dragon's neck and, upon reaching its head, sheathed his katana and slammed the
pommel into the Corpse Dragon's crown. The destructive shockwave and ki
transmitted by the ki technique "Vibration Strike" fatally destroyed the
Corpse Dragon's brain, blowing off half its head. As its colossal body swayed,
Nozomu quickly leaped and landed on the ground. But at that moment, the Corpse
Dragon's eyes glared at Nozomu's retreating back.
"Gigaaa,
Gegwaaaahh!!"
Despite being unable
to even scream properly, the dragon's maw glowed red. Scorching crimson breath
was unleashed. A full-power strike, pouring all its remaining life into it.
Hellish flames, powerful enough to melt even steel in an instant, assailed Nozomu,
aiming to reduce him to ash.
"Ooooooooh!!"
However, Nozomu did
not try to avoid the approaching inferno. Pouring all his ki into his sheathed
katana, he charged at full speed into the breath that was right before him. He
snipped the koiguchi and drew the katana. The ki technique "Phantom
Void," flying at supersonic speed, bisected the Corpse Dragon's breath,
cutting a path through it, and Nozomu charged towards the Corpse Dragon through
that path. The continuously exhaled scorching breath tried to block the opened
path, but Nozomu closed the distance to the dragon's face in an instant, giving
it no time to react.
"Aaaaaaah!"
The white blade
slashed back. Its shining slash, brilliantly glowing with extremely compressed
ki, was sucked into the dragon's mouth. The ki technique, "Phantom Void -
Return." The flashing single light blade severed the dragon's jaw upwards
in an instant. The Corpse Dragon's body collapsed. It convulsed violently, but
eventually, its movements stopped, and its body became completely silent.
"............"
Nozomu glanced at the
fallen Corpse Dragon, then glared at Irisdina and the others. His piercing,
cutting gaze stabbed them. It was not the gaze he usually directed at his
friends, but a sharp, dangerous one, like that directed at a mortal enemy.
"! Nozomu!!"
Irisdina's
prayer-like, pained voice echoed through the forest. The worst-case scenario
crossed her mind, and her desperate cry refused to acknowledge it. But perhaps
her wish was severed, for Nozomu stepped forward, enveloped in killing intent
strong enough to send chills down the spines of all who saw him.
***
Like an isolated
island in the ocean, a faint light illuminated the forest dyed in darkness.
Amidst the dense trees covering the surroundings, a figure with a hood pulled
deep over his face stood there.
"It has begun,
then..."
The figure muttered in
a voice so small that even insects couldn't hear it, in the silent forest.
Before the hooded figure, a spherical orb of light floated gently. Within that
orb of light, the image of a single human and a colossal magical beast fighting
was displayed. A boy, carrying a single katana, with glowing red eyes, slashed
at the gigantic beast before him. The gigantic beast, in turn, met the boy with
its colossal body and the crimson breath it unleashed from its mouth. The boy
was facing a dragon, an outstanding existence among magical beasts. Although it
had become undead, its blessed physique and scorching breath were still intact.
And its missing wing had been restored. Normally, the boy should have had no
chance of winning.
However, it was
clearly the Corpse Dragon that was at a disadvantage, not the boy. In the
images displayed in the orb of light floating in the air, the boy ran around
erratically, and each time his sword flashed, the colossal body, which should
have been as sturdy as a castle, was sliced apart. The gigantic beast had its
tail severed, its legs cut off, and its head split. The Corpse Dragon was
riddled with wounds. But the dragon's cloudy white eyes, even as it collapsed,
glared at the boy again. Was it pride as the apex of magical beasts, fear of
the monster in the boy's form, or gratitude to the one who resurrected it? The
person who resurrected the Corpse Dragon himself didn't know the reason. In any
case, that dragon probably couldn't have ended like this. Its last breath,
unleashed with its remaining strength. But the Corpse Dragon's final attack was
bisected by a single slash from the boy. The Corpse Dragon's head was severed
in two by the return strike, without even time to dodge. The hooded figure
watched the scene without showing any particular surprise.
Nozomu's gaze,
reflected in the orb of light, turned towards Irisdina and the others. His eyes
were still dyed red, emitting killing intent so chilling that it could be felt
even through the images.
"It starts
now..."
The hooded figure
muttered, then quickly waved his arm. Then, countless glowing arrays appeared
at his feet. The magic circles, gradually spreading across the ground,
intertwined endlessly, forming larger and larger magic arrays. In the center of
the complex and mysterious magic arrays, the hooded figure stood alone. His
eyes were wide open, fixed on their figures reflected in the orb of light
before him.
"Let's confirm
it..."
His whispering voice
melted into the darkness spreading through the forest.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
-
[Gold]
B random
DavidA
Nepheos
RobertJay
ShitaiNoKootoRyuu
[Silver]
Creris
Fred A.
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Geral Aponso
Matthew Fraser
Anton Lim
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Joe Smith
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
