[WN] Dragon Chain Ori : Volume 5 Chapter 27 [Re-Translation]

This is a re-translation.

Volume 5 Chapter 27

 

The moment Nozomu, blowing away the burned-down cabin, rose from the rubble, Shina's vision was instantly plunged into darkness, overwhelmed by the suddenly intensified, colossal power of Tiamat.

 

"Ah...!"

 

As her vision turned black, a storm-like wave of power passed through her body. She was assailed by a torrent of power, feeling as if her entire body was being torn apart. What was most terrifying was the hatred, as if cursing everything in this world to death. Her entire body trembled violently and grew cold. Faced with such a colossal embodiment of death, she found herself collapsed, as if a sinner begging for forgiveness.

 

After a beat, the pitch-black vision was suddenly engulfed by spreading flames. The crimson flames before her illuminated familiar burned-out buildings and scattered objects that were once human. It was unmistakably the scene of Arcazam that Nozomu was seeing.

 

"Ugh!" The pungent smell of burning flesh made her choke.

 

"Th-this is..."

 

Shina had been trying to use spirit magic to save Nozomu from the burning cabin. Her innate high sensitivity to spirits, combined with her power, resonating with Tiamat's emitted power, resulted in her glimpsing the same scene Tiamat was showing Nozomu. Shina was bewildered by the sudden event, but then she heard a familiar male voice.

 

"Everyone! Where are you?!"

 

"No, Nozomu-kun?"

 

Shina looked around, searching for the source of the voice. Then, she noticed his figure standing a little distance away.

 

"Nozomu-kun!!"

 

Shina cried out, heading towards Nozomu. She ran breathlessly, feeling the scorching heat of the flames on her skin and a choking sensation, but she continued to run. His figure gradually grew larger. Nozomu, too, seemed to sense Shina's approaching presence, as he turned and looked at her. She sighed in relief as Nozomu's eyes caught her.

 

"Nozomu-ku..."

 

"...Are you trying to get in the way?"

 

However, the next moment, Shina's expression froze from the killing intent unleashed. She didn't understand why he showed her such hostility. "Why..." she wondered, and as she reached out her hand towards him, she was speechless at the sight of her own hand.

 

"...Eh?"

 

Her hand was completely covered in a shimmering shadow, like that of the black beast. Surprised, she checked her body and found that her entire body was covered in the same shadow as her hand.

 

"There's no time. I have to go look for everyone! If you get in the way...!"

 

Nozomu aimed his katana towards Shina. At that moment, Shina's eyes caught a colossal, mountain-like shadow with six wing-like appendages, reflected in the flickering flames behind Nozomu.

 

"It can't be..."

 

...Fairy, you shall be the nourishment for my resurrection.

 

As a voice, not his, echoed in her head, Nozomu stepped towards her. He emitted a chilling killing intent, his eyes dyed crimson.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, in reality, Nozomu, similarly radiating killing intent, glared at Irisdina and the others with crimson eyes.

 

"! Nozomu!!"

 

Irisdina's pained voice echoed through the air filled with sparks. The worst possible scenario crossed her mind. A premonition that Nozomu might have been swallowed by Tiamat's will gripped her heart. A tightening pain in her chest. That can't be! She desperately cried out, continuing to call his name. However, her voice didn't reach Nozomu. The nightmare he had been seeing since becoming a Dragon Slayer was replaying in his vision. Burning Arcazam and someone's cries for help. And the humanoid shadows blocking his way, and the suffocating smell of death. He had to find everyone quickly! Driven by such impatience, Nozomu was desperately trying to find his missing comrades from within this hell.

 

"Ooooooooh!"

 

Nozomu charged forward with Flash Step, glaring at them with crimson eyes. Blood flowed endlessly from his entire body, dyeing him crimson. The consecutive battles with the Corpse Dragon yesterday and today, and the backlash from releasing his ability suppression. Even if he had minimized the damage, he was close to his limit. Nevertheless, Nozomu showed no signs of stopping. He clearly didn't see Irisdina and the others before him. It was no wonder. For him now, Irisdina and the others were not irreplaceable comrades, but mere humanoid figures obstructing his search for his comrades.

 

Nozomu charged towards Irisdina. However, she couldn't move instantly as she was supporting Shina's body.

 

"Kuh!!"

 

Seeing Irisdina unable to move, Mars readied his greatsword and cut in between Nozomu and her. However, Nozomu had already imbued his katana blade with "Phantom Void - Clad," and if they clashed directly, Mars's sword would be severed along with him. Since he couldn't take it head-on, he had no choice but to try and hit the side of the katana to deflect the slash. Mars desperately tried to discern Nozomu's sword trajectory.

 

"Get out of the way!!"

 

However, Nozomu's movements were far too fast for Mars to predict. With a roar, another explosive sound echoed from Nozomu's feet, and his speed accelerated further.

 

"What...!"

 

Nozomu closed the distance in an instant with a burst of acceleration. Mars's reaction was delayed by the sudden change in distance. And that was a fatal opening against Nozomu as he was now. Nozomu's slash approached Mars's neck as if being sucked in. Just as his blade seemed about to slice Mars's neck.

 

"!"

 

Nozomu's katana was, for some reason, instantly redirected in the opposite direction. The next moment, a bang! sounded, and purple lightning exploded in mid-air. Then, a shadow leaped at Nozomu.

 

"Teiyaaaaah!"

 

A knife was thrust with a spirited shout. It was Mimuru, one of the people who had been holding back the Corpse Dragon earlier, who had leaped in. She saw Nozomu charging at Irisdina and, following the lightning bolt from Feo's instinctively unleashed talisman art, charged forward. She tried to distract Nozomu to save her immobilized best friend (Shina) and Irisdina. For that purpose, Mimuru intentionally shouted to make herself conspicuous. As expected, her knife was firmly blocked by Nozomu. Nozomu's killing-intent-filled red eyes turned towards Mimuru.

 

"I-Irisdina-san! Shina, while you can... whoa!"

 

Mimuru, stared at by the killing-intent-filled eyes, involuntarily froze. Nozomu, seeing her hesitation, tried to overwhelm her at once. Nozomu pushed back with his katana. The blade, wreathed in "Phantom Void - Clad," bit into Mimuru's knife, then tried to cut through the knife along with her arm. Mimuru instinctively let go of the knife handle and distanced herself. The next moment, her knife was bisected by Nozomu's pressing katana and fell to the ground. Fortunately, Mimuru managed to escape Nozomu's blade range before her knife was cut in half. However, Nozomu showed signs of pursuing. Nozomu slammed ki into both his legs, attempting to activate Flash Step.

 

However, in the meantime, Mars, who had regained his posture, swung his greatsword down from behind him.

 

"Deiyaaaah!"

 

Mars aimed the flat of his sword to avoid injuring Nozomu and swung down, slamming as much ki as possible into the blade. However, Mars's sword was deflected by Nozomu's casually swept sheath. An impact, unlike a casual strike, ran through his arm, making Mars involuntarily grimace. Nozomu then, turning around, swung his sheath down onto Mars's head.

 

"Kuh!"

 

Mars forcibly suppressed the numbness running through his arm. He quickly pulled his greatsword back and raised it above his head, filling his entire body with ki and strengthening himself to the limit to block Nozomu's sheath, but...

 

"Gah! Aaaah!"

 

Even Mars's full power couldn't completely block Nozomu's slash head-on. With a thud! sound, a weight like a giant boulder fell onto Mars's arms, making him involuntarily fall to his knees.

 

"T-too heavy...!"

 

If Nozomu had swung the katana imbued with "Phantom Void - Clad," Mars's body would have been bisected along with his greatsword. However, Nozomu immediately raised his katana again, attempting to slash Mars, who was kneeling and looking up.

 

"Kuh... gah!"

 

Mars desperately tried to escape Nozomu's blade range. However, he was held down from above by Nozomu's sheath, unable to move. His arms alone couldn't resist Nozomu's brute strength, and his own sword gradually dug into Mars's shoulder. Nozomu's and Mars's gazes intersected, and cold sweat ran down Mars's face from the crimson eyes. The raised katana seemed poised to be swung down onto Mars at any moment. At that moment, Nozomu's eyes seemed to waver, and for some reason, the force pinning Mars down weakened for an instant.

 

"! ...Ooooooooh!"

 

Seizing that momentary opening, Mars put all his strength into both legs and pushed Nozomu back.

 

"Mars-kun!"

 

Next, to help Mars, Tima unleashed a "Rushing Wind Mass" from the side. A mass of wind, rushing like a beast running across the earth. Nozomu, seeing that sight, quickly leaped backward. He immediately discerned the trajectory of the wind mass approaching him and dodged the hammer-like wind with minimal movement. Nozomu, having dodged the wind mass, immediately activated Flash Step upon landing, rushing towards Tima, who had just attacked him.

 

"!"

 

Tima involuntarily gasped at Nozomu's piercing gaze and killing intent. Amidst the tension akin to rising impatience, she tried to activate "Piercing Rock Dance." A gigantic rock spear gradually formed in the air. However, Nozomu traversed the distance to Tima in an instant. He trapped her body within his katana's range before she could complete her chant.

 

"Ugh...!"

 

Tima, agitated by Nozomu, who had approached her with unusual speed. The control of the magic she was trying to chant became unstable, and the formation of the rock spear floating in the air stopped. However, even if she had continued chanting, it was already too late. Nozomu had already raised the katana in his hand. Tima, who could hardly engage in close combat, had no way to escape Nozomu's katana. In the inferno reflecting in his vision, he immediately judged the humanoid figure pointing a blade at him as an enemy to be defeated, and tried to swing his katana down on the humanoid figure... Tima.

 

"!"

 

"Eh?"

 

However, Nozomu's demeanor changed again. Nozomu momentarily grimaced, wondering what was happening. Accordingly, the trajectory of the katana he was about to swing down also deviated, and for some reason, his katana only grazed Tima's cheek. Nozomu missed a definite opportunity to finish her off. At that moment, a momentary silence spread through the area.

 

***

 

Nozomu himself didn't know why he had so carelessly missed the opportunity to defeat the humanoid figure, and he was bewildered.

 

"...This thing!"

 

He snapped his swung katana up and again tried to cut down the humanoid figure in front of him. Beside this humanoid figure, he could see a half-formed rock spear. Although unfinished, it was already a gigantic spear, enough for several adults. Considering its size, this humanoid figure's magical aptitude was undoubtedly equivalent to S-rank. Even Nozomu, who had released his ability suppression, couldn't ignore this shadow's magic. Furthermore, his own blood continued to flow. His closed wounds had already completely reopened, and the amount of bleeding was increasing with time. He no longer felt the intense pain that had assaulted his entire body; instead, a numbing sensation covered him. There was no time left. He had to find everyone quickly... He raised his katana with that thought. However, the katana he swung, thinking "this time for sure," was again deflected by an inexplicable feeling that crossed his mind. The blade, roaring as it cut upwards against the wind, now only passed by the humanoid figure's nose.

 

In the meantime, the humanoid figure's mouth in front of him mumbled. The next moment, the half-formed rock spear in front of him exploded, turning into countless stone projectiles that attacked him.

 

"Kuh!"

 

Nozomu instinctively leaped sideways, dodging the large number of stone projectiles that attacked him from close range. However, in that opening, he allowed the humanoid figure to retreat. Furthermore, as if replacing that figure, a shadow now wielding a staff attacked. Nozomu, pressed for time, decided if he was going to be attacked, he'd be the one to initiate it, and so he charged towards the shadow himself. However, the moment he focused ki on his feet and activated Flash Step, the humanoid figure holding the staff threw something. Coupled with his own sudden increase in speed, a shadow rapidly approached before his eyes. It was a throwing dagger.

 

"Tch!"

 

Nozomu immediately dodged the thrown knife with Flash Step - Curving Dance. The moment he tried to slash at the staff-wielding humanoid figure with the same momentum, a wall of sand suddenly appeared from the ground in front of him. It was the magic "Sandcastle Wall," which created a defensive wall of sand. It was probably magic from the humanoid figures lurking in the rear.

 

"Haa!"

 

Nozomu swung his katana, imbued with Phantom Void - Clad, at the sand wall that appeared before him. The "Sandcastle Wall," a wall made of sand, was bisected by Nozomu's sword flash, but it immediately repaired itself. In that case, Nozomu retreated to create distance, then lowered his stance and held his katana like a bow. He slammed more ki into his katana, which glowed with an extremely compressed ki blade, and aimed. His target was the center of the Sandcastle Wall. He intended to pulverize the humanoid figure behind the wall with the ki technique "Core Pierce." The extremely compressed ki would easily penetrate the sand wall, and the countless exploding ki blades would slice the humanoid figure behind the sand wall into tiny pieces, reducing it to dust. Nozomu filled both his legs with ki, ignoring the spurting blood as if it were exploding, and prepared to step forward. However, the moment Nozomu was about to rush forward.

 

"! Gaah!"

 

This time, he was hit by a sensation like lightning striking his head. Nozomu's body swayed. He tried to put force into his legs and brace himself, but then he felt something approaching him from behind at a tremendous speed.

 

"Kuh!"

 

Nozomu instinctively swung his katana as he turned. The katana, swept almost instinctively, made a high-pitched sound, and a greatsword passed by Nozomu's side, grazing him. The charging attacker was a humanoid figure holding a greatsword. Perhaps its charge was too strong, as its back was left wide open.

 

"Enough already!... Kuh!"

 

Nozomu used the momentum of his sweep to rotate his body and tried to slash at the greatsword-wielding humanoid figure's exposed back, but a sensation like lightning striking his head assaulted Nozomu again.

 

"! Bastards!!"

 

He tried to slash, ignoring the persistent headache, but his momentary hesitation allowed the humanoid figure to escape Nozomu's blade range. Nozomu's katana cut through the air without catching the greatsword-wielding humanoid figure... Mars's body. Furthermore, a gigantic rock spear was launched upwards from beyond the Sandcastle Wall in front of him. The "Piercing Rock Dance," soaring into the sky, fell towards Nozomu in a parabolic arc, following gravity. Nozomu tried to quickly retreat with Flash Step, but this time, just as his feet glowed blue, lightning ran across the ground.

 

"!"

 

A numbness running through his entire body momentarily robbed Nozomu of his body's freedom. Nozomu, wondering what was happening, looked around and saw the humanoid figure holding the staff slamming a talisman onto the ground with its hand. The previous numbness was probably due to some kind of talisman art. In the meantime, the falling "Piercing Rock Dance" exploded. It turned into a huge number of stone spears and attacked Nozomu.

 

"Kuh!"

 

Nozomu, judging that it was impossible to escape the stone spears falling like heavy rain, slammed ki into his katana and sheath, which he held like twin swords, and met the falling barrage of spears.

 

"Ooooooooh!"

 

His katana and sheath were swung at blinding speed. The shining trails of ki traversed the air erratically, deflecting the countless spears falling like a besieging castle wall. However, his body was already nearing its limit. His movements gradually dulled, and he couldn't block all the falling stone spears. Spears that slipped through grazed Nozomu's body.

 

"! Aaaaaah!"

 

With a tearing roar, Nozomu activated Dust Severance from the katana and sheath he held in both hands. The countless exploding ki blades shattered the approaching stone spears en masse. Furthermore, Nozomu continued to slam his excessively hypertrophied ki into his weapons, continuously striking the spear barrage with Dust Severance. Countless ki blades combined with high-speed swinging katana and sheath deployed a fearsomely powerful offensive-defensive barrier. All touched stone spears were reduced to dust.

 

However, the rapid continuous use of ki further pushed Nozomu's body to its limits. He heard the sound of muscles tearing inside his ears, snap, snap.

 

His heart pounded at a dizzying speed, sending an excessive amount of blood throughout his body. Blood gathered in the capillaries of his eyeballs filled his vision with red, and combined with the red of the burning flames, stained the scene before him a dark, ominous black. Eventually, the barrage of spears, falling like an avalanche, ceased. Perhaps because he had shattered so many stone spears, dust swirled around Nozomu.

 

"Haa, haa, haa..."

 

Nozomu continued to breathe heavily. His breathing was rougher than ever before. The limit of his ability suppression release and the relentless headache significantly exhausted his mind and body. He tried to compose himself, but humanoid figures burst through the dust cloud and attacked him. Nozomu received their weapons and clashed with their sword strikes. Nozomu had just managed to handle countless spear barrages. Even though he was close to his limit, he should still be able to defeat the humanoid figures in front of him. However, Nozomu's sword fight with the humanoid figures was... a stalemate.

 

"Haa, haa... !"

 

Enduring the persistent headache by gritting his teeth, Nozomu felt an intense incongruity rising within him. Why was he hesitating so much to cut down these humanoid figures...? The unceasing headache, the irremovable sense of resistance and incongruity. If he applied "Phantom Void - Clad" to his clashing weapons, he should be able to bisect his opponent along with their weapon, but for some reason, he couldn't channel ki into his katana now. Something didn't make sense. The rising questions grew exponentially within Nozomu.

 

His sword flashes wavered, and he couldn't put power into his slashes. Why, why, why...

 

Nozomu continued to swing his katana without finding an answer. The three weapons intertwined, leading to a blade lock. But then, he saw the figure of a humanoid figure swaying and standing up at the edge of his vision. He had ignored that humanoid figure until now because it hadn't attacked him, but it seemed this humanoid figure was also joining the battle now. The humanoid figure slowly readied its weapon. In its hand was a rapier. Its blade reflected the burning flames, glowing dully.

 

"Ah, ahh!!"

 

At that moment, he was hit by a headache more severe than ever before. The humanoid figure before him. A slender, somewhat feminine outline, and a shadow flowing down its back like long hair swaying in the wind.

 

"Ugh, ugh...!"

 

Nozomu clutched his head, and his vision blurred like a sandstorm from the persistent headache. At that moment, the intertwined humanoid figures suddenly retreated. In their place, a humanoid figure with a rapier charged forward. Nozomu, capturing its form in his eyes, still somehow managed to ready his katana. In the raging sandstorm of his vision, Nozomu felt the incongruity he had felt earlier explode and spread throughout his mind.

 

***

 

"Nozomu! Stop!! Don't you recognize us?!"

 

Irisdina cried out, her voice almost a sob, while supporting Shina's trembling body beside her. Just a little more... They had confessed their true feelings, and he had revealed the feelings he had kept suppressed, they had reconciled, and she thought they could walk side by side again... Tears welled up from sadness and regret. The interference from the existence of another will, which he had spoken of. Had his will already been swallowed by Tiamat, an extraordinary being on this Arkmel continent...? She couldn't stop her tears at the sight of him turning his blade on the people she wanted to be friends with again. Why did this happen...? Anger welled up at the unreasonable reality, but Nozomu unilaterally cornered Mars and the others. She could only bite her lip, shedding tears. Nozomu's blade barely reached Mars and the others, but that too was a matter of time...

 

"...It's not reaching them?"

 

At that moment, a question popped into Irisdina's head.

 

"...Why? Why isn't Nozomu's blade catching Mars-kun and the others?" Nozomu in his ability suppression released state had previously overwhelmed Rugato. At the very least, what Nozomu was swinging now was undoubtedly his own sword technique. If Nozomu's will had disappeared and Tiamat's will was at the forefront, it would be difficult to imagine Tiamat, who was originally a dragon, using human swordsmanship. Not only that. If Nozomu was swallowed by Tiamat's will and completely controlled, at least one of Mars and the others, who were fighting him now, should have already been cut down. Irisdina carefully watched Nozomu, who was continuing to fight. Nozomu's two consecutive strikes against Tima cut through the air, and even when he tried to slash Mars's back as he charged, his katana didn't reach. Despite being a fatal opening, his blade wasn't catching Tima and the others.

 

"...Could it be?"

 

A hypothesis crossed Irisdina's mind. Just as she decided to stand up to confirm it, she felt her arm being pulled strongly.

 

"Haa, haa... I-Irisdina-san..."

 

It was Shina, who was beside her, who pulled her arm. She was pouring sweat, and breathing heavily, looking up at Irisdina.

 

"! Shina-kun! Are you alright!?"

 

"Y-yeah. I'm fine... Just a little affected by Tiamat's presence... More importantly, he's currently being shown a hallucination by Tiamat..."

 

Irisdina supported and helped Shina, who was trying to stand up. However, she frowned at Shina's strained words.

 

"Hallucination..."

 

"Yes, the collapse of Arcazam and our disappearance. He's currently desperately trying to find us in burning Arcazam..."

 

Shina looked at the battle before her. There, Nozomu was deflecting countless falling stone spears with his katana and sheath, held in both hands. His uniform was stained crimson with the blood flowing from his body, and a pool of blood was forming at his feet.

 

"We now only appear as obstacles standing in his way. Our figures look like some kind of shadowy magical beasts, and our calls aren't reaching him, perhaps being blocked."

 

It was already becoming difficult to find a place on Nozomu's body that wasn't injured. At this rate, he would undoubtedly die.

 

"Tiamat's objective is probably its own resurrection... To that end, it's trying to break Nozomu-kun, who is the very chain binding it now, both mentally and physically..."

 

If Nozomu's body were to disappear, the chains binding Tiamat would be gone. Tiamat was probably trying to break Nozomu's mind by having him kill them. If that happened, it wouldn't be difficult to lead Nozomu, who had fallen into despair, to his death. It could either continue to make him wield power in anger and hatred, or drive him to suicide. Irisdina looked at Nozomu again, who was trying to turn his blade on them. Indeed, as Shina said, that was probably Tiamat's aim. However, after hearing Shina's story, Irisdina also felt that there might still be a way.

 

"...Shina-kun. He can't see us, but he hasn't been completely swallowed either. If he were, Mars-kun and the others, who are fighting him, wouldn't be unharmed."

 

"............"

 

Irisdina spoke the question she had felt earlier to Shina, who was still anxious.

 

"Besides, there's been some hesitation in his sword from earlier. Maybe, there's still time..."

 

Nozomu's movements, unlike when he fought the Corpse Dragon, showed some hesitation. If he was still confused even while being shown illusions by Tiamat, perhaps that hesitation could be the factor that could break through the current situation. The problem was how to dispel Tiamat's illusion.

 

"...What do we do?"

 

"...Let's call out to him."

 

Irisdina gave an extremely simple answer.

 

"Just that…?"

 

However, Nozomu wasn't hearing their calls in the first place. That alone wouldn't be enough. Irisdina herself understood that and nodded honestly to Shina's words.

 

"I know. Still, we have to find a way to get our words to him..."

 

However, she then conveyed to Shina her renewed determination to get her words to Nozomu, no matter what!

 

Hearing Irisdina's words, Shina put a hand on her chin with a troubled expression. She thought for a while, but eventually, she turned to Irisdina with determination and opened her mouth.

 

"...Understood. I'll do something about it."

 

Shina declared clearly and proudly that she would "do something about it." Irisdina looked at her, facing her, and asked her a question.

 

"What exactly are you going to do?"

 

What Irisdina saw, as she put her question into words, was Shina's face, filling her vision.

 

"...Eh?"

 

"Mmm..."

 

A soft sensation on her lips. Magical power flowed into Irisdina's body along with a rusty iron taste on her tongue. The slimy sensation entering her mouth made both of them involuntarily let out alluring sounds.

 

"Wh-wh-what are you doing so suddenly...!"

 

When she snapped back to awareness, Irisdina involuntarily cried out and pushed Shina away, creating distance. Both Irisdina, who was kissed, and Shina, who kissed, had bright red faces and trembling bodies.

 

"D-don't get the wrong idea! There's a reason!"

 

"R-reason, you say...?"

 

"C-can you hear me?

 

Shina's voice rose, as if making an excuse. Irisdina, who had involuntarily asked back, then heard Shina's voice in her head.

 

"Wh-what is this?"

 

"I-I made a temporary contract between us. I'll mediate his will and your will, so call out to him when you see the chance."

 

"I-I see..."

 

Shina and the others, the elves, used spirit contracts. Originally, they could use spirit magic by sharing their magical essence with spirits through contract magic and forming a contract. However, this time, the other party was a human, so she formed a contract through a magical exchange via a kiss and blood. Moreover, since it wasn't a formal contract, it wouldn't last long for a party with clear self-awareness like humans and low sensitivity to spirits. The most she could do was send telepathic messages, conveying her intentions to the other person.

 

"A-also, I don't know how strong Tiamat's illusion is. I'll try to boost the main part of the telepathy with magic, but the possibility of breaking through with just our calls... I think it's low, unfortunately."

 

"I see..."

 

It was an obvious truth. According to Nozomu's story, dreams were the main means of interference, but this time, it was probably an illusion imposed on Nozomu by taking advantage of the release of his ability suppression. They didn't know how much Tiamat could interfere with Nozomu, but their opponent was something from a legend. There was almost no possibility. But even so...

 

"But, I think he can do it. Let's believe in him."

 

Irisdina stated clearly, staring straight at Nozomu. Perhaps Tiamat hadn't interfered with Nozomu that much yet. That's why it was still interfering with Nozomu through ambiguous methods like illusions. Judging from Nozomu's hesitation to swing his katana in earnest, if they called out and interfered with the illusion from both the inside and outside...

 

After exchanging a few words and confirming, they began to act to fulfill their respective roles.

 

"...Then, as planned."

 

"Understood."

 

Before their eyes, Nozomu, Mars, and Feo clashed their respective weapons, intertwined. Irisdina took a step towards that battlefield.

 

"Mars-kun, Feo-kun, leave the rest to us."

 

"What?! Are you serious!?"

 

"Yes, I'm serious."

 

Mars, who had been clashing with Nozomu, cried out in surprise. Irisdina drew the rapier from her waist and circulated magical power throughout her body. She aligned the tip of her blade with her gaze and stared into Nozomu's eyes from the front.

 

"Ah, ahh!!"

 

When Nozomu and Irisdina's gazes intersected, Nozomu clutched his head as if enduring pain.

 

"! We're stepping back! It seems better to leave this to the two of them!"

 

"...Understood! Irisdina, I leave Nozomu to you!"

 

Nozomu showed more agitation than ever before. Seeing this, Mars and Feo immediately decided to entrust Nozomu to the two of them, temporarily retreating. They regrouped with Tima and the others, preparing for anything.

 

The moment she saw Nozomu clutching his head and groaning, Irisdina immediately used Instant Deployment to layer enhancement magic and charged straight towards Nozomu. Shina waited a few steps behind Irisdina, waiting for her chance.

 

"As I thought, Nozomu hasn't been completely swallowed!"

 

With that conviction in her heart, Irisdina swung her rapier at Nozomu.

 

"Hah!"

 

Nozomu, clutching his aching head, parried her thrust rapier with an upward slash. Nozomu's katana then swept back with a return slash. Despite being one-handed, his slash approached Irisdina with enough force to bisect her torso. However, just before it caught her body, Nozomu's face seemed to twitch, and his sword trajectory clearly wavered. In that opening, Irisdina lowered her stance, avoiding his horizontal slash.

 

"Hah!"

 

Nozomu's katana passed just above her head, scattering a few strands of Irisdina's hair. She bounced off her knees like a spring, leaping towards Nozomu and thrusting again. Nozomu, taking a step back, twisted his body and pulled back his swept katana. The high-pitched metallic sound echoed again. The two clashing weapons sparked and recoiled in opposite directions. It was Nozomu who regained his posture first, as expected.

 

"!"

 

Nozomu thrust at Irisdina as if in a counerattack. However, just before it caught her body, his sword speed again faltered.

 

"Hah!"

 

In that opening, Irisdina slipped her rapier between Nozomu's approaching katana and her own body, deflecting his thrust. Nozomu's katana clearly lacked power, and Irisdina keenly felt his hesitation. The two clashed their blades. Although Nozomu surpassed Irisdina in physical ability and swordsmanship skill, and Irisdina continued to be in a dire situation, his katana would always falter just before catching her body, constantly cutting through empty air.

 

"Haa, haa, haa..."

 

However, Irisdina was also heavily exhausted. Nozomu's slashes and sword ki approaching her forced her into extreme tension, even though she knew they would falter just before hitting. Despite only a few exchanges, the large beads of sweat on Irisdina's forehead told of the intensity of the struggle.

 

"But...!"

 

Still, she wouldn't give up! Irisdina resolved that and stepped towards Nozomu. What crossed her mind was the bright smile Nozomu showed when he tried to confess his feelings, as if he had been freed from a curse. The moment she thought they could finally communicate their feelings, after he had been wavering between the desire to be accepted and the anxiety of possibly being rejected.

 

"I, too, want to... with everyone, once more..."

 

Nozomu tried to confess his feelings again. Perhaps even now, Tiamat was using those feelings against him. She couldn't allow that.

 

"Nozomu! Can you hear me?!"

 

She would get him back no matter what! With renewed resolve, Irisdina raised her voice and called Nozomu's name.

 

"Is this what you were carrying? Indeed, it's powerful! Our power might be inferior even to a puppy before this power!"

 

Irisdina, stepping forward, slammed her rapier as if throwing her feelings at Nozomu.

 

"But, you... kuh!"

 

However, that single strike was easily parried by Nozomu's katana, and an immediate counter-slash, a diagonal cut, approached her. But again, Nozomu's movements lacked sharpness just before catching Irisdina, and she and Nozomu clashed, entering a blade lock. The two exchanged glances at such close range that they could feel each other's breath. Nozomu's crimson eyes were reflected in Irisdina's jet-black eyes. His eyes, reflected in her gaze, were visibly trembling.

 

"Nozomu!!"

 

"!"

 

The voice of his comrade, calling his name, echoed close by. Even if the voice couldn't reach him now, perhaps that feeling greatly stirred his heart, for at that moment, Nozomu recoiled backward.

 

"Now!"

 

Shina's voice, who had been waiting behind them, echoed. She ran at full speed, directly towards Nozomu. Shina leaped, throwing herself at Nozomu. Nozomu tried to meet Shina, who was leaping at him, but Irisdina, still locked in combat, moved her body to block him.

 

"Ugh..."

 

Nozomu, his mind continuously disturbed, couldn't push Irisdina back. Shina, who had leaped onto Nozomu's neck, then pressed her lips against Nozomu's.

 

"Mm!"

 

"!"

 

"Uh..."

 

Nozomu's eyes widened in surprise. The two had planned to use a temporary contract to directly send Irisdina's voice to Nozomu's mind. They didn't know the extent of Tiamat's interference, but since he hesitated to draw his katana on his comrades, they judged that Nozomu's heart hadn't been completely swallowed by Tiamat yet. The problem was whether Shina, as the intermediary, could make a temporary contract with Nozomu in his current state, but...

 

"Ha!?"

 

"Eh!?"

 

"Oh, my..."

 

"Sh-Shina-kun! What in the...!"

 

The comrades, who hadn't been told anything, were dumbfounded by the sudden scene unfolding before them. It couldn't be helped since they were suddenly shown a kiss scene at a time like this, and of course, there was a reason for it, but...

 

"Temporary contract successful! You can send telepathy to him through me now! Tiamat's influence is strong, so it won't last long! Hurry...! Kyaa!"

 

"Kuh!"

 

The moment Shina released her lips and called out to Irisdina, ki was unleashed from Nozomu's body with explosive force. Shina and Irisdina were sent flying by the impact of the ki, but they took the fall and killed the impact of being blown away, quickly getting up while rolling on the ground. Meanwhile, Nozomu, who had blasted the two away, was clearly changed. He held his head, his body swaying unsteadily, his eyes unfocused, and his crimson gaze flickered on and off like blinking. There was no time. From Shina's words, the time they could send telepathy to Nozomu was limited.

 

"I...!"

 

Irisdina frantically searched her mind for words. What should she say? How could she make him come back? In front of her, Nozomu was swaying but trying to ready his katana again, but when it came down to it, her mind went blank, and words wouldn't come out. Nozomu's eyes, having readied his katana, turned towards Irisdina. Killing intent began to course again in his crimson gaze, which had been flickering on and off.

 

"I!!"

 

Her mind was still blank, and she couldn't think of anything. There was no time left!

 

"I want you by my side!"

 

She had to convey it no matter what! With that thought, the words she uttered were her wish to have him "by her side."

 

"I want to protect your back! I want you to protect my back!!"

 

It was a scene she had once imagined. He protected her back, and she protected his back, a back-to-back embrace. But once she put it into words, that feeling swelled rapidly. Her heart pounded, thump-thump, suddenly ringing in her ears, and her lips uttered words as she felt them.

 

"So..."

 

Nozomu's headache reached its peak, and with a crack! sound, cracks appeared in the scene of burning Arcazam.

 

"!! Ugh... Ah, ahh!!"

 

"Come back! Be by our side!!"

 

"Ugh, ugh... Ooooooh!"

 

Nozomu, as if unable to bear the pain, charged at Irisdina. Nozomu charged at Irisdina, holding his katana in his right hand as if thrusting, with an impetus that seemed to slam his entire body into her.

 

"Nozomu!!"

 

Nozomu, having charged, tried to thrust at Irisdina. The moment she screamed Nozomu's name, cracks appeared in the humanoid shadow reflected in his eyes, and from the peeled-off gap, jet-black eyes like black beads peeked out.

 

"!!"

 

When he met that gaze, Irisdina's figure flashed through Nozomu's mind. Her jet-black hair flowing down her back, her skin white as new snow, her eyes holding a dignified stone, called out to Nozomu to "come back."

 

Then, these humanoid figures are...

 

Nozomu realized who he was pointing his katana at. The next moment, a sound like a drop of water falling on the surface of water echoed in his head, and countless cracks ran through the burning Arcazam, spreading. The rapidly spreading cracks filled Nozomu's vision like ripples, and with a bursting sound, the burning Arcazam collapsed. The next moment, what leaped into Nozomu's eyes was the sight of his own katana about to be sucked into Irisdina's neck.

 

"Crap...!"

 

Nozomu hastily reapplied ability suppression to his body. Invisible chains wrapped around Nozomu's body, sealing Tiamat's power and trying to halt his body. However, while ability suppression could seal Nozomu's power, it couldn't stop his body, which had already begun to move. Following the momentum of inertia, Nozomu's body was propelled forward, and the blade attempted to pierce Irisdina's neck, her very life.

 

"Aaaaaaaah!"

 

Nozomu instinctively thrust out his left hand, as if trying to stop his own body with his own hand. However, his hand mercilessly cut through the air.

 

"Nozomu-kun! Irisdina-san!!"

 

Shina's scream echoed. In the end, Nozomu couldn't stop the momentum of his body, and the two colliding bodies were thrown to the ground.

 

***

 

In his dazed consciousness, Irisdina woke up to the weight on her entire body and the sensation of something warm, dripping, hitting her cheek. Her vision was blurry and indistinct, perhaps having hit her head when Nozomu knocked her down.

 

"U-ugh..."

 

When she opened her eyelids while groaning, what appeared in her eyes was the blood dripping from his blood-stained face. And the sight of Nozomu's katana, plunged into the ground right next to Irisdina's neck, piercing his left arm. Nozomu's thrust had penetrated the arm he had instinctively put between them, but thanks to that, the sword's trajectory was deflected, and it didn't pierce Irisdina's body.

 

"U-ugh..."

 

"No, zomu..."

 

His face was right before her. His eyes were no longer dyed crimson. It was his usual face. However, his eyes trembled irregularly, and the katana that had pierced his left arm also rattled.

 

"Ah, I... I..."

 

"Nozomu..."

 

Realizing what he had almost done, Nozomu's face rapidly turned pale. Irisdina, who was facing Nozomu so closely, slowly regained her clear consciousness, and her voice calling him became clearer.

 

"I, I... I almost... killed... everyone..."

 

Nozomu was terrified and scared of his power running wild and hurting his comrades. His agitation was immeasurable, thinking that his anxiety had come true. Indeed, his body was trembling more than ever, and his complexion was beyond pale, having lost all color like a corpse. To such a Nozomu, Irisdina...

 

"Nozomu!!"

 

"I-I-Iris..."

 

She screamed his name and responded by clinging to him.

 

"Are you alright!? Do you recognize us!?"

 

Irisdina sprang up and placed her hands on Nozomu's blood-stained shoulders, peering into his eyes. She pressed her body against him, completely unconcerned that her entire body was drenched in Nozomu's flowing blood, and simply worried about Nozomu.

 

"Iris... I..."

 

Nozomu, suddenly embraced, momentarily forgot the regret and agitation that had welled up in his heart and was stunned.

 

"I, I thought you were going to disappear. I, I was worried that you might have lost consciousness..."

 

Irisdina's anxiety and relief leaked out and echoed in Nozomu's ears. Perhaps relieved that Nozomu had regained consciousness, her body slumped against Nozomu as if her strength had left her. Tears flowed endlessly from Irisdina's eyes, falling onto Nozomu's crimson-stained clothes, wetting his shoulder with a warmth different from his flowing blood.

 

"But, but you came back. I'm glad. I'm really glad..."

 

"Iris..."

 

His voice was soft, barely a whisper. Nozomu said nothing, feeling her weight on his shoulder. Irisdina, always dignified, always a role model for someone. A noble girl who, without being crushed by the responsibility of her birth, walked with her back straight and her eyes fixed forward. But now, the girl collapsed in tears before Nozomu had no such nobility. Yet, Nozomu's heart was fiercely moved by the sight she was showing him now.

 

"Nozomu-kun!!"

 

"Shina..."

 

Nozomu had simply accepted Irisdina, who was collapsing in tears in his arms, but he looked up at the sound of a voice, and this time, Shina came rushing towards them. She came to Nozomu's and Irisdina's side, knelt, and placed both hands on Nozomu's cheeks, peering into his face just like Irisdina.

 

"Are you alright!? Are you fully conscious!?"

 

Shina worriedly waved her hands in front of Nozomu's eyes, and touched various parts of his body to check his injuries. Her slender, white fingers busily stroked Nozomu's body. When Nozomu looked at her face, he saw blood splattered everywhere. Irisdina's body, hugging him, was also stained crimson.

 

"Everyone... injured..."

 

"No, we're not. This is your blood."

 

Nozomu muttered, stunned, as if saying he had hurt them. Regret and repentance welled up in his chest. However, Shina cupped Nozomu's face in both her hands, turning it towards her, and spoke as if reasoning with him.

 

"You didn't hurt anyone. Even when Tiamat showed you illusions, you didn't cut us with your katana."

 

"Didn't... cut you?"

 

Nozomu asked Shina back, still looking dazed, and she nodded slowly but clearly.

 

"Yes. You protected us from Tiamat. As proof, everyone here is standing on their own two feet, aren't they?"

 

Nozomu's gaze shifted to Mars and the others, who were visible behind Shina. Mars and the others, walking towards them, all looked tired, but everyone walked with steady steps.

 

"Is everyone... safe?"

 

"Yes, everyone is alive. Alive and right by your side."

 

"Thank goodness. Everyone's alive..."

 

Nozomu smiled in relief, knowing everyone was alive. However, that smile quickly clouded over.

 

"...But I..."

 

What Nozomu was concerned about was that, for whatever reason, he had pointed his blade at Irisdina and the others. For Nozomu, who feared hurting his comrades with his own hands more than anything, that was enough to remind him that his anxiety could become reality at any moment if he let his guard down. Shina put force into the hand she had placed on Nozomu's trembling cheek, turning his face towards her.

 

"Even though Tiamat showed you illusions, you didn't hurt us. You might have pointed your sword at us, but you unconsciously resisted being controlled. So please. Don't blame yourself so much..."

 

Irisdina seemed to feel the same way, nodding repeatedly with her face buried in Nozomu's chest. Nozomu timidly looked at Shina, and she was looking straight at Nozomu. Her eyes, staring intently at Nozomu, conveyed to Nozomu that her current words were sincere. However, Nozomu's expression was still not good.

 

"But, I, I..."

 

Even after hearing Shina's words, Nozomu couldn't keep looking into her eyes. Although the worst-case scenario he had anticipated hadn't occurred, the fact that he had pointed his katana at Irisdina and the others was undeniable, and it remained a large lump in the depths of Nozomu's chest.

 

"Nozomu! Are you alright!?"

 

"Nozomu-saaan! Sister~! Are you alright!!"

 

"Norn~! Hurry and treat Nozomu-kun~!!"

 

"I know! I know, so don't pull so hard!"

 

Mars and the others, who had been waiting behind them, also came around Nozomu and the others, but Nozomu still couldn't lift his head, looking down.

 

"Nozomu-kun, let me treat you..."

 

"..."

 

"Ah..."

 

Anri reached out to treat Nozomu's wound, but Nozomu involuntarily pulled away. An indescribable silence filled the space. Nozomu placed his right hand on Irisdina's shoulder, gently trying to pull her away from him. As if handling a treasure he shouldn't touch himself. However, Irisdina didn't let go of Nozomu's clothes or his hand, but instead glared at Nozomu with eyes filled with tears. Nozomu tried to pull away several times, but each time her eyes narrowed. Still, he tried to pull Irisdina away. He couldn't even face Irisdina, who was glaring at him, and just remained silent.

 

"Hey, Nozomu. We..."

 

Mars, unable to bear Nozomu's pained state, tried to speak to him.

 

But at that moment, a pure white light enveloped the entire area.

 

***

 

"...I see, the worst-case scenario didn't happen, then. However, even with the help of an elf's power, it should have been almost impossible to break Tiamat's interference in such a short time."

 

A hooded figure's voice echoed in the darkness. Complex and mysterious magic circles still glowed at his feet, and the figures of Irisdina and Shina hugging Nozomu were reflected in the orb of light floating in the air.

 

"However, this is meaningless as it is. In its current state, its resurrection is probably only a matter of time."

 

In the displayed orb of light, Nozomu's face was pale, and he trembled violently. Clearly, his mind was unstable, being consumed by self-reproach.

 

"Then, perhaps one more move is necessary. This was originally meant to counter it, but I shall use it to gauge your capabilities."

 

The hooded figure touched the magic circle at his feet. Numerous intricate magic circles unraveled and disappeared one by one, and each time, the aforementioned magic circles began to be drawn at the location of the Corpse Dragon's corpse, reflected in the orb of light. Eventually, when all the magic circles disappeared from the hooded figure's feet, the magic circles surrounding the Corpse Dragon simultaneously shone brightly.

 

"Well now, in your current state, you cannot defeat this without using its power. Will you abandon them to die without using your power, will you use it and be swallowed by it, or will you rise once more?..."

 

As the shining magic circles surrounded the Corpse Dragon, the dragon's body crumbled like a sand sculpture blown by the wind. Its severed legs and tail, its bisected head, its gouged torso with internal organs protruding. Everything turned to particles and vanished, leaving only a single sphere of white light. A sphere holding light that flickered like a candle flame; only the Corpse Dragon's soul remained. The magic circles moved again. The surrounding magic circles gathered together, bundling themselves in multiple layers and began to emit particles of light. Eventually, the particles of light gathered, and contrary to before, they formed a single colossal statue with the Corpse Dragon's soul as its core. A hard, white-shining surface. A physique possessing metallic grandeur rather than biological vitality. On its back, it had bird-like wings, as if countless swords of a master craftsman were bundled together, rather than the membrane wings of a dragon. Its neck, like its torso, was covered in white metal, and its eyeballs glowed blue like the azure sky.

 

"Kyaaaah!"

 

The dragon statue, modeled after the Corpse Dragon, let out a roar like grinding metal, as if uttering its first cry.

 

"...Perhaps, there is a sign. The rest depends on your choice. Choose as you please."

 

The dragon statue spread the wings on its back and glared at its target. In the dragon statue's line of sight was Nozomu, who was kneeling and unable to move. Once more, the dragon statue roared to the heavens and soared into the sky, flying away.

-----

Thank you for my Patrons !!

[Platinum]

-

[Gold]

B random

DavidA

Nepheos

RobertJay

ShitaiNoKootoRyuu

[Silver]

1EYED_SLOTH

Creris

Fred A.

Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon

Geral Aponso

Matthew Fraser

[Bronze]

Anton Lim

Ctdela

Curious Panda

Joe Smith

Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon

-----

<<Prev << ToC >> Next>>