Volume 5
Finale
"Kishaaaaa!"
The dragon statue let
out a screeching roar and soared into the sky. It flapped its wings towards the
shining moon, ascending to a height unreachable by human hands. Then, it
swiftly turned its body, facing Nozomu and the others, and plummeted towards them
with the moonlight at its back.
"Koaaa..."
White light leaked
from the mouth of the descending dragon statue. The moment the light from its
maw intensified, a gigantic light projectile was fired from the dragon statue's
mouth towards Nozomu and the others on the ground. The enormous light
projectile approached in an instant, giving Nozomu and the others the illusion
that a star was falling.
"Danger!"
"Tch!"
"Ehh!"
Tima, Feo, and
Anri-sensei instinctively stepped forward, deploying a triple magic barrier.
After a beat, the light projectile struck the barrier.
"Guuuu..."
"Aaaaaah!"
"Kya!"
The light projectile
exploded, scattering roars and flashes. The three who had erected the barrier,
along with Mars and Mimuru in the vanguard, were blown away by the blast, and
the deployed magic barrier dispersed with a sound like shattering glass. In the
sky, the dragon statue, having regained altitude, plummeted again. The same
light as before, when it fired the light projectile, leaked from its mouth.
"It's coming
again!"
Mars cried out, and
another light projectile was fired. Its destructive light was once again aimed
at Nozomu.
"Crap...
guh!"
Nozomu tried to stand
up immediately, but he groaned from the sharp pain running through his body. By
the time he realized it, he had already missed the opportunity to dodge. The
light projectile approached at high speed. There was no time to dodge, and Tima
and the others' magic barrier wouldn't make it in time. Nozomu, who originally
couldn't use magic and now couldn't even properly use ki techniques, was
utterly incapable of defending against the dragon statue's breath. He tried to
put force into his arms to at least save Irisdina and Shina, pushing them away
to get them out of the light projectile's path, but his arms didn't even have
the strength to do that.
"Kuh...!!"
Nozomu tried to whip
his unmoving body, forcibly trying to throw himself into the path of the light
projectile to shield them. The Corpse Dragon had revived without warning. Its
body had remarkably transformed, becoming metallic, and the breath it exhaled
was no longer a fiery exhalation but a mass of light. He didn't know what was
happening, but he thought they, too, could... Driven by such thoughts, Nozomu
desperately tried to move his body. But faster than Nozomu could shield
Irisdina and the others, they, in turn, leaped out in front of him, as if to
shield him.
"Shina-kun!"
"I know!"
Shina moved even
faster than Irisdina could call her name. She swiftly drew an arrow from her
quiver and nocked it to her bow, simultaneously slamming magic into it.
Irisdina also surged with magic, instantly constructing a spell with Instant
Deployment. She created a spear shrouded in darkness, about an armful in size.
Abyssal Javelin.
It was a magic that
converted the caster's magical power into darkness, condensed it into a spear
shape to its limit, and then hurled it. Its point of condensation was similar
to "Piercing Rock Dance," and as its spear shape indicated, it was suitable
for single-point penetration. The arrow in Shina's hand also glowed with
magical light, and she focused her aim, glaring at the approaching light
projectile.
"Haaaaah!"
"Hmph!"
Irisdina threw the
Abyssal Javelin she held, and Shina released the nocked arrow. Irisdina's spear
and Shina's arrow collided head-on with the dragon statue's light projectile in
mid-air. The Abyssal Javelin and Star Sea's Divine Punishment burrowed into the
dragon statue's light projectile, then exploded the next moment, scattering
magical power. They blew away the front half of the dragon statue's breath
projectile, scattering darkness and light, and the light projectile, unable to
maintain its shape, dispersed into particles of light. But...
"Giryaaaa!"
"Wha!"
"Oh no...!"
The dragon statue,
tearing through the scattered particles of light in mid-air, charged straight
towards Nozomu. It then tried to snap at Nozomu with its metallic jaw. The two,
who had exposed an opening by using a big technique, couldn't react in time.
Nozomu was immobile, and Norn, who was concentrating on treatment, also
couldn't move.
"I won't let
you!"
"Teiyaaah!"
But at that moment,
Mars and Mimuru charged in from the side with loud cries. Having regained their
posture while the dragon statue was gaining altitude, they had been waiting,
circulating ki throughout their bodies, to cover Irisdina and the others. They
instantly closed the distance with Flash Step. Mars slammed his greatsword,
wreathed in wind blades, into the dragon statue's flank, and Mimuru timed it
with Mars to deliver a dropkick. Simultaneously, Mars unleashed Dust Wind
Blade. Mimuru activated the wind magic she had imbued in both her legs. The
raging wind blew away the dragon's colossal body, the size of a house,
horizontally. The charging dragon statue's jaw didn't catch Nozomu; its
colossal body veered sideways, slammed into the ground, and plunged into the
forest, scraping the earth. Mars roared, glancing at the dragon statue, which
was buried under the trees it had knocked over, struggling amidst the swirling
dust.
"Tima! Feo!"
Feo and Tima pursued
the fallen dragon statue in response to Mars's call. Feo pulled out five
talismans from his pocket, and Tima began pouring magical power into her raised
staff. Purple lightning streaked through the air, and flames danced, gathering
together. Feo created five lightning balls, and Tima created a gigantic mass of
flame.
"Gyarururu..."
The dragon statue
slowly rose, pushing away the trees that were pressing down on its body,
emitting an ear-splitting groan. The dragon statue's blue eyes caught the two's
lightning cluster and mass of flame. The dragon statue immediately spread its
wings and tried to soar into the sky. The sky was its domain. It could ascend
to heights utterly unreachable by humans who couldn't fly. In the air, where it
could freely use space, Feo's lightning cluster and Tima's mass of flame could
be easily dodged. It spread its wings, which had sharp feathers like lined-up
swords, and flapped them powerfully.
"You won't!"
"Just hold still
for a bit longer~."
The colossal body
floated in the air for a moment, and just as it was about to soar, two magic
circles suddenly appeared from the ground, and glowing earthen chains emerged,
binding the dragon statue. The binding magic was activated by Anri and Tom. The
binding probably wouldn't last long against this dragon, but it bought some
time for Feo and Tima to finish their chants.
"Here we
go!"
First, Feo launched
five lightning balls at the dragon statue. The lightning balls, emitting blue
light with crackling sounds, flew and struck the colossal body, bound by magic
chains. With a bursting sound, lightning coursed through the dragon statue's
body.
"Kishaaaa!"
The dragon roared
loudly in surprise as its body suddenly became uncontrollable and was attacked.
But Feo's lightning bolts were repelled by the dragon statue's metallic skin
and had little effect. Moreover, the binding magic reached its limit, and the
binding chains were destroyed with a crack! sound. As the magic essence, having
lost its spell formula, scattered into the air, the now-free dragon spread its
wings again, attempting to soar into the sky.
"Not yetl!"
As if not wanting to
let that happen, Tima unleashed "Calamity of the Condemned," filled
with magic power to its limit. The scorching mass of flame, far larger than the
caster's body, flew straight towards the dragon statue, which had spread its
wings, and struck it. A roaring blast swept through the area, filling it with
dust. Should it be called the work of a caster with S-rank magical aptitude?
The hot wind generated by the explosion made even Somia, who should have been
the furthest away, feel a scorching heat. The amount of heat at the explosion's
epicenter must have been unimaginable. If it had been a direct hit, the dragon
wouldn't have gotten away unscathed... Tima's Calamity of the Condemned
scattered so much heat around. Dust still swirled at the impact point, making
it impossible to discern the state of the dragon statue. Maybe they defeated
it... Just as that thought crossed their minds, a gigantic shadow tore through
the rising smoke and soared into the sky. The dragon had escaped into the air
faster than Calamity of the Condemned could strike, avoiding a direct hit.
However, it probably wasn't unscathed from the close-range blast and the heat
that could easily melt even iron. Traces of soot and heat-induced distortion
could be seen in various places on its body.
"Kuh!"
"Take this!"
Irisdina and Shina
fired magic bullets and arrows at the dragon statue soaring through the air,
but the dragon gracefully dodged all the magic and arrows coming its way with
bird-like agility. The dragon, having regained altitude, plummeted again, this
time continuously firing light projectiles at Nozomu from the air.
"This is
bad!"
"Nozomu-kun!"
Irisdina and Shina,
who had been firing arrows and magic at the flying dragon, immediately stopped
their attacks and deployed magic barriers to block the dragon statue's breath.
The blast from the exploding light projectile blew away Irisdina's and Shina's
magic barriers like scraps of paper, and the unblocked blast directly hit their
bodies.
"Guahh!"
"Iris!
Shina!"
Irisdina and Shina
were blown away, groaning, and slammed into the ground. A voice that seemed to
pierce Nozomu's chest echoed, but the dragon statue paid no mind to it,
relentlessly firing light projectiles at Nozomu again, as if interested in
nothing else.
"Respond
to my wish, guardians of the four quarters. With my heart as nourishment, and
with the logic of the circle, repel all who harm my friends!"
Tima's chant echoed in
the sky. Centered on her, four-colored magic circles formed, and a barrier
appeared, encompassing all her comrades present. The breath projectile fired at
Nozomu was blocked by the barrier and dispersed into dust of light.
Barrier Magic:
"Four Revolving Miniature Garden".
A barrier magic with
the highest defensive power among Tima's spells. Just like the "Four
Revolving Sealing Formation" that Tima used against Rugato's familiar, it
was a spell that only Tima could use on this continent, enabling the formation
of an even stronger barrier by circulating the powers of the four attributes
without repulsion. Its defensive power, as mentioned earlier, could even block
a dragon's breath head-on. However...
"Kuh,
ugh...!"
Tima desperately
gritted her teeth, enduring the pressure of the breath. The magic circles
deployed at her feet flickered erratically, dimming and threatening to
disappear at any moment. Barrier magic becomes more difficult to control as its
effective range expands. Moreover, the barrier magic she was using now, like
the "Four Revolving Sealing Formation," was one of the spells that
was difficult for her, who originally had difficulty controlling magic, to use
perfectly. While it might still work to restrain a single familiar like before,
when deployed to protect everyone present, the difficulty of maintaining the
spell formula drastically increased. Furthermore, as if to corner her, another
breath projectile was fired from the dragon statue flying in the sky, and the
barrier was struck.
"Ah!"
A groan escaped Tima's
lips. The power was lower than before, but the breath projectiles attacked
almost without interval. Furthermore, the dragon maintained a constant
altitude, firing light projectiles while circling Nozomu. The rain of falling
light projectiles. Tima, who was already struggling just to control the spell
formula, was quickly cornered. And then, Tima reached her limit in the face of
the relentless onslaught of breath projectiles.
"Ugh...!"
With an exceptionally
loud explosion, her magic barrier shattered. Simultaneously, Tima's body
crumbled to the ground. The dragon statue paid no attention to Tima, who had
been holding the barrier, relentlessly firing breath projectiles at Nozomu, as
if nothing else mattered.
"Kuh... Everyone!
Form a circle around Nozomu! And everyone, deploy your magic barriers with full
power! We have to block it no matter what!"
As soon as Tima became
immobile, Irisdina and the others immediately moved. Mars picked up the
collapsed Tima and carried her to Norn, who was treating Nozomu. Then,
everyone, positioned in a circle, deployed their magic barriers with full
power. They braced themselves, determined not to let the rain of light
projectiles pass through.
"Guh!"
"Tsuh!"
"Mmm~!"
Flashes exploded one
after another, and pressure weighed down on their deployed magic barriers.
Groans escaped Irisdina and the others' lips, and their trembling arms with
each echoing explosion spoke of the power of the dragon statue's breath.
Irisdina and the others desperately gritted their teeth, enduring the
continuously striking breath projectiles. However, they never said, "Let's
escape," but continued to maintain their barriers, sweat dripping from
their foreheads.
"Everyone, never
mind me, take Tima-san and the others and run away from here! You should be
able to escape if you go into the forest!"
Nozomu called out to
everyone to escape from here. The dragon statue was clearly targeting Nozomu,
and he judged that Irisdina and the others could escape if he were alone. More
than anything, he couldn't bear to see them get hurt any further because of
him. Of course, even if Nozomu fought the dragon statue now, there would be no
chance of winning. Lacerations all over his body and a large amount of lost
blood. His body was already unable to even stand. Moreover, the dragon statue
was constantly flying in the sky. Nozomu's katana, which could no longer use
ki, wouldn't reach the dragon statue in the sky, and if he fought, he would be
killed in an instant without even being able to escape.
"Kuh! Can't we
land a blow somehow!?"
"Tima might be
able to, but it's impossible. If we release the magic barrier now, we will be
defeated! We just have to keep enduring!"
"Then we have no
choice but to endure! Damn it, that lizard is too persistent!"
However, Irisdina and
the others ignored Nozomu's desperate cries and continued to protect him. While
blocking the falling light projectiles, various thoughts crossed their minds.
I admired his
sword style.
He saved my
soul.
He saved my
precious sister.
He saved my
precious friend's sister.
He saved me
without abandoning me, even though I had said so many terrible things to him.
He gave me the
opportunity to reconcile with my best friend.
He was simply
interesting, and when I fought him, he became even more interesting.
I didn't want
to part ways with my first friend like this.
I wish he
would stay by my side.
I wanted to be
of some help to him.
The feelings welling
up from deep within their hearts were complex, intertwined like frayed threads,
and impossible to express in a single breath.
However, there was one
thought in their hearts. They wanted to protect him, who was behind them now,
and walk together again. With that thought in their hearts, they simply glared
at the dragon statue in the sky.
"What, are you
exhausted? You can run away if you can't endure it."
"Don't be silly!
How can I leave Nozomu behind...? Oh, here it comes again!"
Mars immediately
retorted Shina's lighthearted remark. Irisdina and the others' expressions were
strained as they desperately endured, showing no leeway, but they desperately
maintained their morale, shouting at each other.
"Kuh..."
Nozomu's face twisted
in pain at the sight of his comrades who wouldn't run away. He suddenly looked
to his side and saw Somia rushing towards him.
"Somia-chan. At
least, you..."
"Norn-sensei!
What should I do!?"
At least her... Nozomu
thought, trying to tell Somia to run away. But his words were drowned out by
Somia's loud voice.
"Hold Nozomu-kun
down so he doesn't move. If he moves carelessly, I won't be able to concentrate
on the treatment."
"Yes!"
Somia, giving a crisp
reply to Norn's calm instructions, used her small hands to hold down Nozomu's
body, which was being treated. As Somia's young hands were stained with
Nozomu's blood, Norn quickly administered treatment. She stopped the bleeding
from the wound with healing magic and bandaged it.
"Nozomu-san. Please
stay still for now!"
"Somia-chan.
Why..."
"Even if I've
learned some magic, I can't fight like my sister. It's frustrating and sad, but
I'd only be a hindrance if I stood beside everyone. So, I have to do what I can
now..."
Both her hands began
to emit a faint light. At the same time, Nozomu's pain receded, even if only
slightly. It was the light of healing magic. The deafening explosions continued
to echo around them, but she, undaunted, continued to cast healing magic on
Nozomu's body, however clumsily. Somia desperately tried to do what she could
even in this situation. Perhaps it was because they were sisters, but her
appearance was strikingly similar to Irisdina, who was fighting hard in front
of her. Nozomu felt his heart pierced by her sincere devotion, not looking down
even in difficult times, but continuing to look forward.
At that moment, an
exceptionally loud explosion thundered.
"Kyaa!"
"Damn it!"
Mimuru's small body
was sent flying by the blast that couldn't be blocked. Mars immediately ran to
cover her, filling the gap Mimuru left.
"Are you
alright!?"
"U-um, yes, I'm
fine! What about you, Mars-kun!?"
"I can hold out
for a while! If it gets bad, take my place!"
Even Mars and Mimuru,
who were originally bad at magic, somehow managed to block the dragon's breath
projectiles by continuously switching places. Irisdina deployed multiple
barriers with Instant Deployment, and Feo poured talismans like water to
maintain his barrier. Tom continued to endure with a magic barrier reinforced
by catalysts he always carried, and Anri, though not as powerful as Tima,
created a barrier that covered everyone, trying to reduce everyone's burden as
much as possible.
"Kuhhh!"
"Ugh!"
"O-oh!"
Roaring sounds and
flashing lights echoed. Each time the dragon statue's breath projectile struck,
dust was kicked up by the shockwave, covering Irisdina and the others. Some
were blown away by the residual blast, unable to completely block the falling
light projectiles, but others quickly took their place, desperately maintaining
their magic barriers. Nozomu felt as if his heart was being gouged out at the
sight. He didn't know why the dragon statue, formerly the Corpse Dragon, was
targeting him, but for Nozomu, who had just tried to slash Irisdina and the
others, being forced to watch Irisdina and the others fight and get hurt
against the dragon statue, which only targeted him, felt like his entire body
was being burned alive.
"Why?! Why
doesn't everyone run away?!"
Nozomu's pained cry
echoed.
"Nozomu-san..."
Somia, who had her
hand on Nozomu's shoulder and was casting healing magic, looked at him with a
heavy heart, and hot tears streamed down Nozomu's eyes. Even though he had been
shown an illusion by Tiamat, they were getting hurt protecting him, whom he had
almost killed. Of course, it wasn't Nozomu's fault, but Nozomu, who feared the
rampage of Tiamat's power, which he had absorbed, more than anything, felt an
abnormal sense of responsibility for this desperate situation.
"Kuh,
ugh..."
"Nozomu-kun..."
Endless tears
continued to flow, falling to the ground and creating countless patterns like
stars twinkling in the night sky. The sight of Irisdina and the others,
continuously getting hurt before him, continued to wring Nozomu's heart. But at
the same time, a feeling different from regret and repentance also slowly
welled up from the depths of his chest.
"Kuh!"
"Irisdina-san!
Are you alright!?"
"Yeah! I won't
back down from this much!"
Irisdina and the
others, their backs to him, were almost blown away by the residual blast that
had passed through the multiple barriers, but they gritted their teeth and
endured. Their fighting voices, reaching his ears. Those voices and figures
gradually permeated Nozomu's heart, transforming the feelings that had begun to
well up, which had been solidified by fear, regret, and anxiety.
"Zaaah!!"
"Okay, my turn!
Mars-kun, take a break for a bit!"
"Sorry, Mimuru.
I'm counting on you for a moment!"
Mimuru, replacing Mars
who had reached his barrier-maintenance limit, again deployed a magic barrier
in the vanguard.
"Feo-kun~. Are
you alright~?"
"I'm fine, but my
wallet's in trouble now! Anri-sensei, please! Take my place!"
"Sorry~. I can't
leave my hands free right now~. And Sensei's salary is low~, so you'll have to
manage yourself~."
Feo's eyes were teary
from the massive consumption of expensive talismans. The special paper used for
talisman arts was quite expensive. Of course, he made efforts to engrave the
spell formulas himself to reduce expenses, but with such a large consumption,
even if he earned money from guild requests, Feo's expenses would undoubtedly
be considerable.
"What are you
saying?! Sensei's salary is higher than that of a mediocre knight! Shina, Mars!
Please! If I spend any more, I'll have to live on water and flour this
month!"
"Shina! Are you
alright over there!?"
"I'm fine for
now. Anyway, there's still one person who has plenty of leeway!"
"Hey! Ignoring
me!? Are you ignoring me!? Is it okay for me to starve to death!? Besides, I'm
already using magic power for the spell activation anyway, so I'm close to my
limit!"
Shina and Mars
casually brushed off Feo's plea. They ignored Feo's complaints about his poor
treatment, focusing on protecting Nozomu behind their backs.
The warmth that had
begun to permeate him gradually grew hotter.
"I, I..."
A warmth in the depths
of his chest. When he felt that warmth, Nozomu understood that the surging
emotion was joy. Regardless of the reason, Irisdina and the others were risking
their lives to protect him, who had pointed a sword at them. Their presence
made Nozomu realize that their words, "We want to be friends again,"
were still alive within them. If they no longer considered Nozomu a friend,
they wouldn't try to face a monster-class opponent like this. Their faces were
dirty with dirt and sweat, and their clothes were tattered from being
continuously blown away by the residual blasts. They had injuries all over their
bodies, but their continuous effort to stand conveyed their clear will to
protect Nozomu. It wasn't out of obligation or duty. It was a desperate and
single-minded look born from genuine affection. Even though he felt his heart
being squeezed by silk floss, Irisdina and the others' earnestness continued to
generate a burning heat deep within Nozomu's chest. The accumulating heat
ignited a flame in Nozomu's heart, and began to burn away the silk floss that
bound his heart. The sight of his comrades, who were so serious, had spoken
more eloquently to Nozomu than a thousand words. No matter what you say, you're
already our friend... To Nozomu, who had been utterly alone at the academy,
that feeling alone was enough.
"! Norn-sensei.
Just for a moment, can you make my body able to move at full strength!?"
Norn's expression
froze in surprise at Nozomu's sudden words. It was understandable. Nozomu's
body was currently suffering from injuries that would normally require
immediate bed rest. Especially the katana that had pierced his left arm was
still embedded, and carelessly pulling it out could damage an artery and cause
massive bleeding. If a large amount of blood were lost at once, it could lead
to shock symptoms, endangering Nozomu's life. It was utterly impossible for him
to fight any further, and as someone responsible for lives, it was absolutely
unacceptable.
"Do you...
understand your condition!? Lacerations and muscle tears all over your body.
The katana piercing your left arm and the amount of blood lost cannot be
ignored! More than anything, if you unleash that power now, Tiamat will try to
consume you again!"
Yes, more than
anything, if Nozomu released his suppression, Tiamat would likely interfere
again, trying to consume Nozomu. If the dragon's purpose was its own
resurrection, and it was trying to break Nozomu for that, this situation was
perfectly suited for it.
"Are you trying
to waste Irisdina-kun and the others' feelings!?"
As Norn's reprimand
echoed, Nozomu slowly shook his head, as if denying her words. He had no
intention of doing such a thing. He never wanted to. He simply wanted to
respond to their feelings, who had believed in him this much.
"...No, I don't
mean to. No, precisely because I don't want to waste it, I have to do it
here!"
Irisdina and the
others, who protected him even though he almost killed them. He wanted to
answer the feelings conveyed to him by them. He wanted to tell them, who said
they wanted to be friends again, that "I want to be friends again
too." Nozomu placed his hand on the katana piercing his left arm and
pulled it out.
"Kuh...
Ugh!"
The katana was pulled
out with a swish sound, and new blood, gushing out, spread crimson on the
ground. Fortunately, it seemed he hadn't damaged an artery, but Norn and Somia
hastily pressed down on the wound and applied healing magic.
"I am a person
who has always run away. Even now. Even though everyone came to me, I was
scared, I couldn't believe it, and I turned away..."
While watching the
wound gradually close with healing magic, Nozomu once again reflected on
himself. His own self, who had run away. His own heart, which was afraid of
being alone, cowering in fear. But even though he was such a mess, everyone
still called out to him. When Tiamat was interfering with him, he didn't know
how everyone broke its illusion or what they said, but he could still hear
their voices calling his name. Because they called out to him, he was able to
return here. He had always turned away from his surroundings, and even when he
realized he was running away, he remained stuck, unable to move forward...
"But I want to
put an end to that now. I want to stand beside everyone, once more..."
"Nozomu-san..."
Somia, her eyes
captivated by Nozomu. Norn simply accepted Nozomu's gaze in silence.
"Ugh...!"
At that moment, Tima,
who had been unconscious, woke up. She had a dazed expression, her
consciousness unclear. But as her consciousness gradually became clearer and
she understood the surrounding situation, she sprang up.
"! I have to help
everyone quickly!"
Tima frantically tried
to rejoin the front line, but Nozomu's blood-stained hand stopped her shoulder.
"Nozomu-kun...?"
"I have a favor
to ask... I need your help."
Staring straight at
Tima, Norn, and Somia, Nozomu was about to act once more under the will of
"I want to be by everyone's side," just as Irisdina and the others
had shown him.
***
Irisdina and the
others were somehow blocking the dragon statue's attacks, but they were
gradually being cornered due to their inability to counterattack. The opponent
freely flew through the air, relentlessly firing light projectiles, while they
were completely occupied with defense and couldn't counterattack at all. As
long as the opponent was in the sky, their only means of attack were magic or
Shina's bow, and against a metallic Corpse Dragon soaring high in the heavens,
no effective blows could be expected. If Tima hadn't been unconscious, they
might have been able to do something. Her magic, possessing the highest magical
aptitude on this continent, could have landed effective blows against that
dragon statue. In fact, the dragon statue's skin, which was struck by her
"Calamity of the Condemned," had melted slightly. However, since they
couldn't land an effective blow, they had no choice but to focus on defense,
but Irisdina and the others were still fighting valiantly.
"Guh!"
"Are you alright,
you fox bastard!"
"Of course! How
much do you think I've invested in this fight?! Just bring on any dragon,
spirit, or demon!"
A light projectile
directly hit Feo's barrier, and his light defense vanished with a high-pitched
sound. He took out five more talismans from his pocket and, with a desperate
tone, poured magical power into them to re-deploy the magic barrier. It seemed
his huge financial loss was already confirmed, as a sense of melancholy hung
over his back, contrary to his tone.
"If we make it
back alive, I'll treat you once as an apology for yesterday!"
"Really?! Then I
want roasted pig with southern spices, canned whale from the west, and
eastern...!"
"Don't be so
shameless, hey! Be a little more reserved! Please, at least make it something
from our store!"
The situation hadn't
changed, but Mars and Feo still exchanged lighthearted remarks. Perhaps because
he had experienced fighting a dragon before, Mars showed almost none of the
impatience he had when his technique went wild during the previous special
comprehensive exercise. He was becoming able to fight with mental composure
even when cornered on the battlefield. By the way, what Feo ordered was quite
expensive in Arcazam, let alone in those regions, and if Mars had agreed to all
his orders, his wallet would undoubtedly have been empty, if not in the
negative. It was probably the result of his heavy spending, but his demands
were merciless.
"Kuh... Mimuru,
don't overdo it! If it becomes difficult to maintain the spell, switch with
Mars-kun!"
"Understood! You
don't have to worry, Tom!"
"Haa, haa... What
do we do? At this rate, we'll be in a death spiral anyway!"
"Once Norn-sensei
finishes treating Nozomu, we'll retreat into the forest! Shina-kun,
Anri-sensei, and I will be the rearguard. Anri-sensei, is that alright!?"
"Of course~! It's
alright, leave it to Sensei~."
Tom and Mimuru called
out to each other. Irisdina and the others calmly assessed the situation and
planned their next move. The repeated battles against powerful enemies might
have spurred their mental growth. The situation was pressing, but not a single
person gave up; they acted calmly.
However, their limit
was approaching. Perhaps having grown bored, a stronger light than before
leaked from the dragon statue's maw. At the same time, an unprecedented
hexagram magic circle unfolded before the dragon's eyes. A shining orb of light
appeared in its center. The continuously exhaled particles of light gathered
around the shining orb before the dragon statue's eyes, contracting to form an
even larger light projectile. Its size was several times larger than the
dragon's head.
"This is bad!
Everyone, brace yourselves!"
At Irisdina's cry,
everyone who had erected a magic barrier poured all their magic into the
barrier. The barrier emitted an exceptionally strong light. The next moment, a
gigantic light projectile was fired towards Irisdina and the others. The
colossal mass of light, falling from the sky like a meteor, struck the barrier
after a beat. Scattering roars and flashes, it instantly destroyed the magic
barrier that Irisdina and the others had put up with all their might.
"Kyaa!"
"Gah!"
Irisdina and the
others were blown away by the blast. Their weapons fell to the ground, making a
hollow sound. As if to say that the battle was already decided.
"Kuh!"
Yet, they somehow
managed to stand up. The dragon statue looked down on them from the heavens.
Its figure, shining in the moonlight, was not an ugly magical beast, but seemed
like a messenger of a god. The dragon statue's maw began to emit light again. Irisdina
tried to erect a barrier again, but she and the others were already at their
limit from the consecutive battles with the Corpse Dragon and the controlled
Nozomu. She somehow tried to stand up and activate the spell, but her
outstretched hand hung limp, and her mind was hazy as if covered in mist, and
her footing was unsteady.
"Kishaaa..."
The dragon statue
puffed out its chest as if taking a deep breath and pulled its neck back.
Irisdina and the others desperately supported their collapsing bodies, but that
was all they could do now. Just as the light projectile was about to be fired,
something shot past Irisdina and the others at high speed.
"Gyaaaah!"
"Eh?"
"Wh-what!?"
A mass of wind,
swirling around itself, shot straight towards the flying dragon statue. The
"Rushing Wind Mass," compressed to its limit, directly struck the
dragon statue, which was about to unleash its breath projectile. The next
moment, the explosively expanding mass of air attacked the dragon. The dragon
statue, its balance greatly disrupted by the exploding wind mass, groaned and
fell towards the ground. Irisdina and Shina were stunned by the sudden turn of
events. With their strength gone, they could no longer support their own bodies
and were about to collapse to the ground. But someone gently supported their
collapsing bodies from behind.
"Thank you, both
of you..."
"Eh...?"
His calm voice, a
stark contrast to this battlefield, echoed in their ears. As they involuntarily
let out a sound, Irisdina and Shina's eyes caught sight of Nozomu running
forward.
"Gijaaaaaa!"
The dragon statue,
having lost altitude due to the direct hit from Tima's "Rushing Wind
Mass," regained its posture before hitting the ground and then charged
forward in low-altitude flight. In the dragon's eyes, Nozomu's figure was
reflected, running towards it, away from his comrades. The dragon statue,
having confirmed its top priority target, immediately decided to launch a
full-power attack. It formed a formation before its eyes, condensed the
elemental source that formed its body to its limit, and created the largest
light sphere it could produce.
"Haa, haa,
haa..."
Nozomu whipped his
aching body and continued to run at full speed. In the magic circle created by
the dragon statue, an even larger light sphere than before was forming. The
opponent's attack would most likely be a breath projectile bombardment, but no
matter what kind of attack the dragon statue unleashed, Nozomu would be
helpless in the current situation. The opponent was in the air, and Nozomu had
no way to fly. But it wasn't that he had no means. That's why he had asked Tima
to bring it down from high altitude to low altitude. The remaining condition
was what Nozomu would do about his own problem, but he alone had to handle
this. He reached for the invisible chains binding him and Tiamat. If he removed
them, that scene would surely reappear before his eyes. The burned-out,
collapsed Arcazam and the suffocating smell of death. To resurrect itself,
"that guy" would undoubtedly interfere with Nozomu. But... Nozomu
looked back at Irisdina and the others over his shoulder. They had never
abandoned him, even though he had pointed his sword at them and almost killed
them. Instead, they had risked their lives to help him. That alone was enough.
It was the same as when he fought his master for the last time. Once again, to
begin their relationship, he would step forward. He reaffirmed their figures in
his mind, then released his ability suppression.
***
"Guuuu!"
Intense pain, as if
his entire body was being torn apart, ran through him, and blood flowed again
from the wound he had just had treated. The forest that had spread before him
vanished, and a scorching world of flames unfolded before his eyes.
"Haa, haa... As
expected. Enough already."
The nightmare scene
spread again. However, Nozomu muttered as if to say he would no longer be
deceived. He paid no attention to the tragic scene before him, and spoke while
looking up at the dark sky where sparks danced. He didn't know if his words
would reach "that guy." Still...
What a
detestable creature...
The voice of
"that guy" echoed from the void. Nozomu was convinced that "that
guy" was indeed watching him. Clenching his sweaty palms, he hurled his
words at Tiamat, who was presumably watching him.
"I won't be
deceived by your illusions anymore. At least for this moment, I'll make you
behave!"
The pressure from
Tiamat, felt from around him, increased as if in response to Nozomu's
declaration of war. At the same time, the entire world groaned, and Nozomu's
survival instinct screamed its highest warning. A chill ran down his spine as
if pierced by an ice spear, and cold sweat burst forth. The next moment, a
sharp pain shot through Nozomu's head. Tiamat's interference had begun. Nozomu
clutched his head and crouched, gritting his teeth, trying to endure the
interference.
"Guh!"
This time, I
will break your mind...
"Guh,
Aaaaaaaah!!"
Nozomu's scream echoed
through the ruined city. Various forms of death swirled in his mind, all of
them scenes perpetrated by Nozomu's own hand.
Nozomu cutting Irisdina
to death.
Nozomu piercing Shina
with his own hand.
Nozomu crushing Mars's
skull.
Nozomu turning Anri's
body into bloody ashes with Dust Severance.
And Nozomu strangling
Lisa.
Those images
repeatedly pierced Nozomu's brain, churning his mind into a jumble.
"! Ugh!
Guuuuu!!"
Nozomu groaned in
agony, unable to even make a proper sound. Still, he resisted desperately,
determined not to surrender his mind, but Nozomu's mind was gradually being
scraped as if filed away, becoming smaller and dispersing into the void.
E-everyone...
For a moment, the
images of them, burned into Nozomu's eyes, appeared. For an instant, the place
where he could return, the place he was allowed to return to, revived before
him. At that moment, Nozomu heard a sound like drops of water falling onto a
surface in the darkness. The sound spread as if echoing repeatedly in a cave,
and at the same time, Nozomu's consciousness, which had been on the verge of
dispersing, rapidly returned.
"! Enough
already! You bastard!!"
Wha!
Nozomu yelled,
slamming his head onto the ground as if to clear out the images of death
remaining in his head. A flash of light shot before his eyes, and a dull pain
ran through him. At the same time, the images that had been invading Nozomu's
mind ceased. It seemed he had escaped Tiamat's interference.
Y-you fool!
How can you shake off my interference with just that much!?
He heard Tiamat's
voice for the first time, agitated. Blood flowing from his forehead, Nozomu
glared at the ruins spread before him. This was a false Arcazam. A deceptive
world created by "that guy" to trap Nozomu. Then, he would destroy
this false world and truly repel its interference. He already had what he
needed for that. Nozomu raised his right hand, took a deep breath, and then,
with determination, plunged his hand into his own chest.
"Gah-ffu!"
Spewing blood, Nozomu
closed his eyes and continued to search within himself. In the darkness-filled
vision, he felt as if he was falling into a bottomless valley. Deeper and
deeper, Nozomu fell into the limitless abyss. When he had fallen so deep that
he no longer knew how deep he was, a small, glowing sphere of light appeared
before his eyes. A sphere glowing with five intertwined colors of light, as if
representing chaos. There was no mistake. It was the power of Tiamat that
Nozomu had absorbed. Nozomu slowly pulled his hand-blade out of his chest. In
his hand, he held a vibrantly glowing sphere of light.
That's... you
bastard!
He crushed the orb of
light in his raised right hand. Five-colored light overflowed from his fist,
coiling around his arm and tightening Nozomu's arm with creaking sounds.
"Ooooooh!"
He slammed his raised
right hand onto the ground. The next moment, a chaotic light, like five colors
of paint mixed together, erupted from the ground where his fist had struck. The
torrent of light that erupted reduced everything it touched to dust. The burning
flames, the collapsed buildings, the fallen people. Cracks appeared in the sky
where sparks danced, and the false Arcazam collapsed and disappeared like an
eggshell peeling away. As the false world created by Tiamat was swallowed by
the five-colored light and vanished, Nozomu simply looked straight ahead and
rushed forward with all his might, leaping into the rift of the cracked world.
The scene that
unfolded before Nozomu, who had charged forward, was the real world, the
forest. The dragon statue could be seen charging towards him at low altitude.
Before the dragon statue's eyes, a gigantic light projectile it had created
glowed dazzlingly, eagerly awaiting the moment of its release.
"Gishaaaa!"
And with the dragon
statue's roar, an ultimate breath projectile was unleashed at Nozomu. The light
cannonball, larger than Nozomu's height, approached like a meteor, tearing
through the air.
"!"
His ability
suppression was already released. Perhaps thanks to destroying that false
world, there was no sign of Tiamat interfering. Nozomu slammed his overflowing
ki into his katana, drew back half his body, and raised his blade as if to
thrust it, then swiftly swept it in a wide arc.
Ki Technique:
"Fan Sail Lotus".
The next moment, a
gigantic circular membrane made of ki appeared, tracing the trajectory of his
swept katana. Was it a barrier made of ki? As Irisdina and the others watched,
the breath projectile collided with the ki membrane. At that moment, the ki
membrane flexed like a sail catching wind, enclosing and blocking the breath
projectile.
"Ooooooh!"
Nozomu raised his
right hand and slammed his clenched fist into the breath projectile through the
circular ki membrane. Then, the flexible membrane launched the blocked breath
projectile like a bow and arrow. The ultimate breath projectile was sent back
to the dragon statue. Perhaps it hadn't expected it to be repelled; the dragon
statue couldn't dodge the sudden event and took a direct hit from its own
breath projectile.
"Ga-gyaaaah!"
A deafening roar
echoed, accompanied by an ear-piercing scream. The dragon statue appeared,
tearing through the swirling smoke. Its appearance, even from the side, was
clearly severely injured. The silver-like armor covering its surface was peeled
off, and blue light pulsed like a heart from tubes spreading like blood vessels
inside. One eye was crushed and no longer lit up, and its wings, like bundled
renowned swords, were cracked in places and stained black and dirty.
"Giryuriuaaa!"
Still, the dragon
statue didn't give up. It charged at Nozomu, using its colossal body as a
weapon. It intended to crush Nozomu with its own massive body. Nozomu's and the
dragon statue's gazes intersected. Its blue glowing eyes, not cloudy white,
clearly conveyed to Nozomu that the dragon still possessed its own will.
"Phew..."
Nozomu sheathed his
drawn katana and took a deep breath. Then, Nozomu's sword ki, which had been
raging until now, suddenly dispersed. Irisdina and the others showed signs of
agitation at Nozomu, who had dropped his stance. Immense ki still flowed from
his body, but strangely, they felt no oppressive aura from him. As the gigantic
metallic mass approached Nozomu with a will that could now only be called
tenacity, he continued to meditate.
"Nozomu!"
"!"
At the moment
Irisdina's cry echoed, "At this rate, he'll be crushed by the gigantic
metallic mass!" Nozomu's eyes snapped open. The next moment, a torrent of
unleashed ultimate sword ki attacked the dragon statue. Nozomu emitted a dense
wave of ki, like a black wall approaching. Emitting sword ki that could even be
felt as physical pressure, Nozomu truly unleashed the power of Tiamat he had
absorbed. The overflowing immense power dyed itself in five colors and slammed
into the dragon statue like a flash flood.
Nozomu extremely
compressed the unleashed power and, slamming it into his right foot, took a
step forward. His greatly strengthened right foot crushed the ground, sending
up earth and sand. Then, he seamlessly linked the muscles of his knees and
hips, synchronizing even his extreme enhancements with his muscle movements.
The human body moves through muscle linkage. If one can seamlessly link the
muscles covering the entire body, a human can exhibit explosive power.
Furthermore, if those linked muscles are extremely enhanced using the extreme
compression of ki used in Phantom Void, the final power would be immeasurable.
However, the muscles covering the human body are numerous, and their movements
are extremely complex. Even if one could link muscle movements perfectly, it
would normally be impossible to synchronize extreme ki enhancement with them.
However, a concentration so intense it felt as if his own time had accelerated
made it possible. Under extreme concentration, in a world appearing in slow
motion, Nozomu linked movements that eliminated all waste. The sound of muscles
tearing echoed in Nozomu's ears. Nozomu's body was too fragile to contain
Tiamat's fully unleashed power. His patchwork body easily reached its limit,
and blood flowed rapidly, darkening Nozomu's vision.
"Gahh!"
In his blurred
consciousness, Nozomu bit his lip and still tried to unleash the ki technique.
The ultimate technique inherited from his master. He maximized optimal
movements and unleashed the most powerful strike he could deliver. With that
will, Nozomu extremely compressed the unleashed power into his sheathed katana.
Five-colored light swirled and gathered in Nozomu's katana. Nozomu's katana,
harboring chaotic light and glowing red-hot. He stared at the approaching
dragon statue and then instantly drew it in one go.
"Aaaaaah!"
Ki Technique:
"Phantom Void - Flash -"
The technique that
delivered his ultimate strike was unleashed. Nozomu's katana exploded the
moment he drew it, unable to withstand Tiamat's power. However, the blade of
extremely compressed power followed the trajectory of his arm, baring its fangs
at the dragon statue. The blade of power silently bit into the dragon statue's
body, and the chaotic blade, without feeling any resistance in Nozomu's arm,
was swung through like a flash. Furthermore, the residual power that overflowed
when the blade shattered blew away the dragon statue's body, leaving only its
neck, legs, and part of its wings. The dragon statue's torso, receiving the
power of chaos, vanished without a trace.
A moment of silence.
As only the sound of the dragon statue's remains falling to the ground echoed,
Nozomu stood in a state of zanshin. He sheathed his katana, now only a hilt,
and turned and bowed. As if showing respect to the Corpse Dragon, who had
fought until the very end as the apex of magical beasts. The dragon statue's
eyes, which no longer glowed, praised the formidable opponent who had defeated
it.
***
The hooded figure
stared blankly at the images reflected in the orb of light before him.
"To think he
would directly use its power..."
The words that finally
escaped his agape mouth were words of astonishment at Nozomu, who had directly
drawn out Tiamat's power. The time he used its power was only for an instant.
Moreover, that power was only a minuscule fraction of the total power it
possessed. Nevertheless, for a mere human to have controlled that chaotic power,
even for a fleeting moment, was an astonishing fact.
"And the fact
that he repelled its interference. Has the transformation begun, after
all...?"
In front of the hooded
figure, Nozomu, who had been standing still, suddenly collapsed. As expected,
directly wielding Tiamat's power must have been too much of a burden. He was
bleeding profusely from his entire body, and his right arm, which had used the
drawing technique, was particularly burned and charred.
"However, the
situation remains unpredictable. Is that truly necessary after all...?"
The unidentified
figure pondered, hand on his chin. He had achieved certain objectives, but he
couldn't say he had accomplished all of them yet. At that moment, a small orb
of light appeared before his eyes. An orb of light flickering like a candle
flame. It was the orb of light that appeared when the Corpse Dragon transformed
into the dragon statue.
"Well done. I
apologize for forcing you..."
The hooded figure
carefully held the orb of light with both hands and spoke to it.
Grrr...
The orb of light...
no, the Corpse Dragon's soul, groaned faintly as if to say, "Don't worry
about it." A dragon that had tried to survive even by preying on all its
comrades, for the sake of living. However, it was impossible to discern what
this dragon, who had not realized its own death and was simply driven by
thirst, was thinking now. However, its gaze fixed on the one who had defeated
it, reflected in the orb, was somehow content. The hooded figure's lips curved
into a self-deprecating smile at the Corpse Dragon's demeanor, and he raised
its soul to the sky.
"Now, go forth.
To the place where your comrades await..."
The next moment, the
Corpse Dragon's raised soul burst apart and scattered, turning into particles
of light that danced in the air. For a while, the particles of light circled
the hooded figure, then flew away as if guided by a sudden wind, eventually disappearing.
The hood was pulled back by the wind, revealing a white beard and white hair
under the moonlight. Wrinkles were etched on his cheeks, telling of accumulated
years, and his wisdom-filled eyes were once again turned toward Nozomu.
"I cannot let my
guard down. There are countless concerns. It's too early to rest
assured..."
The old man continued
to fix a stern gaze on Nozomu. However, he suddenly let out a sigh of relief
and his face softened.
"However, he
controlled that power, even if only for a short time, and defeated that
guardian... the Machine Dragon. At any rate, I have to say he did splendidly.
You did well against it, boy..."
What was visible
before him were Nozomu's comrades rushing to the fallen Nozomu. Judging that
further peeking would be tasteless, the old man, or rather, Zonne, erased the
displayed image and turned on his heel, leaving the spot. His face, illuminated
by the moonlight, was somehow content.
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