Volume 7
Chapter 22
While looking at Zonne and Tom, who were continuing to treat Lisa, Somia muttered with a worried voice.
"...Mars-san and
the others, I wonder if they're okay?"
"Worried?"
"Y-Yes...
According to the old man, Azel-san is also a dragon, and it seems she's trying
to seal Nozomu-san no matter what..."
Her gaze, as she
muttered in a downcast tone, had been furtively directed at the depths of the
forest for a while.
At the sight of her
worrying about the safety of her sister and the others, who were likely facing
a powerful enemy, Tom couldn't help but give a wry smile.
"They'll manage,
somehow."
"Tom-san?"
It was neither
desperation nor self-deprecation. At Tom's somewhat philosophical tone, Somia
tilted her head.
He usually didn't
speak in such a strong tone. But he had said the previous words in a tone that
could even be taken as optimistic.
Perhaps Zonne also
felt something in those words, as while continuing to treat Lisa, he was
directing a questioning gaze at Tom.
"Because we were
the same in that we had various thoughts after meeting him and spending time
with him."
"Does that mean
you have some kind of plan, Tom-san and the others?"
"Just a little
something while Nozomu-kun was bedridden. It's not much compared to what the
old man gave Irisdina-san, though..."
"Hmm..."
While looking at the
surprised Somia, Tom gave a wry smile.
Zonne, with a
melancholic air, looked up at the gray-dyed trees. At that moment, the fainted
Lisa stirred slightly.
"U-Uuh..."
Her lips, which had
moved for a moment as if in pain, slowly opened.
***
Magic bullet and ki
blast had hit Azel's back. However, Azel, who was clad in strong scales, showed
no sign of pain and turned around to face Irisdina and the others with an
exasperated look.
"...Humans again?
Step back. 'This' is not an existence that you should be involved with."
"For an old man's
granddaughter, you're quite dragon-like, but your way of speaking is
irritating."
A coldness could be
felt in her quiet way of speaking. At Azel, who was treating Nozomu as
"this," Feo couldn't help but mutter with a dissatisfied look.
Ignoring Feo's
soliloquy, Azel glanced at the rushed-over Irisdina and the others.
A gaze where the color
of emotion could not be felt, just like her cold tone. But when that gaze
caught a certain person, a slight color of astonishment was mixed in with the
cold gaze that was looking down on Irisdina and the others.
"A fairy? Why
with humans..."
At the end of Azel's
gaze was the figure of Shina, with an arrow nocked to her beloved bow.
She was probably
surprised at the fact that a people who lived alongside the same spirits as
herself was siding with a human and facing her.
"It is by the
connection that the spirits have made for me. O royalty of the spirits."
On the other hand, Shina
bowed to Azel with a polite tone. However, a strong sense of caution was
dwelling in the depths of her blue eyes.
Even at the edge of
her words, which seemed to respect Azel, a tension like a drawn bowstring was
dwelling.
"Daughter of the
fairies. If you are also one who walks with the spirits, then you should
understand the danger of this human..."
To Shina, who was
showing her caution even while respecting her, Azel sent a word of
admonishment.
Although her tone was
nonchalant, the coldness that was directed at Nozomu and Irisdina and the
others could not be felt.
Perhaps as fellow
beings who felt the presence of the spirits that filled the world and wielded
that power, she had her own thoughts.
"Indeed, those
spirits are irreplaceable friends to us, and neighbors from whom we cannot be
separated. And along with those neighbors, I have witnessed firsthand just how
dangerous a karma the black dragon he has taken in carries."
The chaotic power of
Tiamat that she had witnessed before. A hatred so great that the surrounding
spirits would shrink in fear at just a slight leakage.
As one who walked with
the spirits, she had felt that danger more than anyone among her comrades.
By facing the pinnacle
of the spirits like this, that conviction deepened even further.
But still, Shina had
no intention of changing her own thoughts.
"However, I owe
him a debt that I can never repay. If you are to seal such a person
one-sidedly, then I will absolutely not back down."
Those words naturally
came from her mouth.
The young man who had
given her the opportunity to break out of her own shell and face the spirits
again. To support that person, she would do anything.
Shina was calmly and
naturally accepting herself, who was now about to draw her bow on the royalty
of the spirits.
Even after knowing the
danger of the Tiamat that Nozomu was holding, Azel frowned at the sight of Shina,
who was still trying to help him.
"Foolish.
Although he has miraculously maintained it, it is impossible for a mere human
to continue to suppress that detestable dragon. Eventually, it will rampage in
some form and become an existence that only scatters calamity. Before that
happens..."
"Hah! No matter
what grand purpose you speak of, according to Zonne, your real objective is
revenge for your father, isn't it? For such a fine white dragon, that's a
rather small-minded story."
"S-Small-minded..."
Mars's words, which
were like he was making a fool of her, interrupted Azel's questioning.
At the sight of Mars,
who had stepped forward impertinently, Azel's eyes narrowed in displeasure.
"A mere human,
are you intending to insult me..."
"For someone who
fought with a mere human, you're also quite covered in wounds, aren't you? To
challenge someone with such high spirits and then be beaten back is the very
definition of pathetic."
In fact, the current
Azel was wounded.
The membrane of one of
her wings was torn to shreds, and her body, which had been shining like a
pearl, was mercilessly carved with various large and small wounds.
Although there were no
fatal wounds, they were by no means wounds that could be ignored.
But more than
anything, the fact that it was by the hands of a mere human. And the fact that
that opponent was her sworn enemy was getting on Azel's nerves.
"..."
The heavy atmosphere
that had been drifting in the surroundings began to be tinged with a sharpness
like a spear.
A hostile elemental
essence overflowed from Azel's body, and in line with her will, she began to
subjugate the surrounding spirits.
The tension heightened
in an instant.
Mars silently reached
for the hilt of the greatsword on his back with his right hand and held out his
left hand as if to thrust it forward.
Azel and Mars, glaring
at each other. Between the two, an invisible blade of hostility was already
clashing.
Irisdina cut in
between the two.
While restraining
Mars, who had suddenly directed his fighting spirit at the opponent, with her
right hand, she faced Azel with a dignified tone.
"Azel-dono, we do
not particularly wish to fight with you. The fact that we were able to come to
this other world, I believe you can fully understand who cooperated with us,
can't you?"
This sealed world was
not a space that a mere human could invade. And the only person in this city
who could do that, as far as Azel knew, was him.
"..."
"That person does
not wish for you to do such a thing."
Azel remained silent,
biting her lip hard. She was probably reminiscing about her grandfather at this
point.
Irisdina could not
understand Zonne's true intentions.
She just fully
understood that he did not want Azel to take such forceful measures.
Azel, who was trying
to take revenge on Tiamat as the enemy of her father, Michael.
On the other hand,
Zonne, who was Michael's father, had words and actions that made one feel a
sense of crisis about Tiamat, but he did not show any feelings of hatred or
resentment.
The expression on the
old man's face when he spoke of Tiamat, Azel, and his son, whom he called
Michael, was only a deep color of regret, like a withered old tree.
Although there were
still many things she didn't know about what had happened in that old man's
past, there was no way that Azel, who knew Zonne better than they did, would
not know of his regret.
With a glimmer of hope
in her heart, Irisdina tried to persuade Azel by bringing up Zonne's words.
However...
"...What a
foolish question."
Although her
expression was pained, as if her chest had been pierced by a spear, Azel cut
off Irisdina's persuasion.
"Either way, I
cannot just leave this detestable dragon be. To not waste the mission that my
father accomplished with his life, and to purge this sin-stained dragon, I will
not question the means!"
"...Then it can't
be helped. We will defeat you, and then bring Nozomu back to his senses once
more!"
"Foolish! This
human has already been swallowed by Tiamat's hatred. If the dragon-sealing
barrier is broken now, he will rampage without limit until his body collapses,
and in the end, Tiamat will be revived."
"Guuuuuuh!
Gaaaaaaah!"
The resentment of
Nozomu and Tiamat echoed through the gray forest. They were struggling to break
their restraints while letting out a cry of hatred.
In Nozomu's
rage-filled eyes, there was no sign of Irisdina and the others.
At that sight, which
seemed to affirm Azel's words, Irisdina and the others had pained expressions.
"What are you
talking about! It's because you meddled with him that this happened!"
"No dragon clan
can just leave Tiamat be. Even if it weren't me, another dragon clan would have
eventually made contact for the sake of sealing. It is only a coincidence that
my grandfather found this detestable dragon this time."
Mars couldn't help but
raise his voice, but Azel cut his words off head-on.
Although Zonne, who
was an observer, had not taken any forceful measures after finding Nozomu, it
was not known what would have happened if he had been found by another
observer.
In the worst-case
scenario, that observer might have forcibly tried to seal Tiamat.
It was not difficult
to imagine what would have happened in that case.
"And the vessel
is, after all, a human. No matter how long he lives, it will be a few hundred
years. When his lifespan runs out with the passage of time, Tiamat will be
released, and that hatred will once again burn countless lives.
I will not let that
happen!"
In the end, this
result was only a matter of being sooner or later. That was this human's fate,
and they could absolutely not tolerate the release of Tiamat, Azel declared.
Her awareness as a
member of a clan that was connected to the king of the spirits, and her hatred
for Tiamat. That was what was driving her.
What Azel was saying
was by no means wrong.
The motive for her to
try and exclude Nozomu was certainly her hatred for Tiamat, but in that motive,
a firm justice also existed.
A calamity sealed in
the weak and fleeting existence of a human. To seal that danger in order to
save countless lives. It was by no means an incomprehensible logic.
"Still..."
Irisdina could also
fully understand that logic. No, precisely because she was in a position to govern
the people, she could not easily deny Azel's words.
But...
"Still, I will
absolutely not tolerate losing him here and now."
Irisdina denied
head-on a logic that had no room for rebuttal even within herself.
Of course, she could
understand Azel's words. But she couldn't accept them.
Logic? Fate? She
didn't give a damn about such things.
If it was his fate to
be sealed and to rot away in obscurity, then she would just blow away such a
stupid fate!
Just as he had once
cut through the fate of us sisters...
Irisdina drew the
rapier at her waist and glared at Azel with fighting spirit.
As if in sympathy with
her fighting spirit, her comrades who had been behind her also readied their
respective weapons.
"You will fight
me?"
"Yeah. Sorry, but
we'll have to knock you down right here."
Perhaps taking the
insolent words directed at her as a final declaration of war, Azel, who had
been turning her back, turned to face Irisdina and the others.
At the sight of Azel,
who had clearly recognized them as enemies, Irisdina and the others each
kneaded their magic power and ki.
"If you stand in
my way, I will show no mercy. If you are to resent someone, resent the
foolhardiness and foolishness of siding with this detestable dragon."
A white shining elemental
essence gushed out from Azel's body and danced in the air. At the vortex of
that power, Irisdina and the others' eyes widened.
"Hey, that's a
ridiculous amount of elemental essence!"
"I-I guess that's
what a legendary species is like..."
Like a sea of clouds
that covered the heavens. If one were to compare the magic power of Irisdina
and the others to wind or water, then her power would be best described as a
storm or a tsunami.
The scale was so
different that it was impossible to grasp the whole picture.
"Gather, spirits
of light. Show your majesty to the fools who crawl below."
As if following Azel's
command, the spirits of light formed countless light bullets in the air.
A number of balls of
light that was ridiculous to even count. Its scale was enough to cover 70% of
the entire sky.
"...No good, the
spirits won't listen to me. They're completely under her control."
"Well now,
there's no doubt she's a monster."
Shina, who could also
use spirit magic in the same way, tried to make a contract with the spirits,
but the crucial spirits showed no sign of answering her call at all.
Despite having one
wing crushed by Nozomu and being wounded, she had a power of a different order.
Nozomu, who had
cornered such an opponent, was also amazing.
"Here it
comes!"
The rain of light
bullets rained down on Irisdina and the others all at once.
"Tima, Feo!"
"G-Got it!"
Irisdina, Tima, and
Feo quickly deployed a barrier.
However, the number of
light bullets that Azel had released was, in a word, abnormal. The swarm of light
bullets that was attacking with a clear killing intent swallowed Irisdina and
the others in an instant.
Explosions echoed one
after another. At the same time, a cloud of dust rose high and covered the
flash of the burst white light bullets.
Irisdina and the
others were swallowed by the storm of flashes in an instant.
Azel looked at the
scene with a nonchalant gaze and turned on her heel as if her business was
done.
No matter how much
they put on airs, in the end, they were just humans.
Faced with the wrath
of nature, there was no way they could put up much of a resistance.
It pained her heart to
have involved the daughter of the fairies, but it was unavoidable to seal this
detestable dragon.
Having pushed the
existence of Irisdina and the others to the corner of her mind like that, Azel
immediately resumed Nozomu's sealing.
Azel's elemental
essence was once again poured into the Michael who was sealing Nozomu, and a
magic circle was formed around the crystal and began to emit a strong light.
Then, as if to
surround the formation that was restraining Nozomu, a new magic circle began to
be formed.
"Now then. I was
interrupted, but this time, I will seal you..."
"Don't you dare
think you've won!"
"Wha!?"
A strong wind was
slammed into Azel, who was about to resume the sealing.
A swarm of wind
blades, reminiscent of a tornado, blew away the kicked-up dust cloud and
slammed into Azel while drawing a spiral.
Although it could not
blow away Azel's giant frame, which was reminiscent of a huge wall, Azel couldn't
help but take half a step back from the unexpected impact.
At the end of the
cleared dust cloud was the figure of Mars, carrying a greatsword.
Behind him, Tima and
the others, who had deployed a barrier, were standing with dignified
expressions.
What was deployed was
a multiple barrier that was emitting the colors of the four elements: earth,
water, fire, and wind.
Furthermore, the
deployed barrier of Tima had several talismans stuck to it, which were emitting
light. The formula drawn on the attached talismans of Feo was for magic power
control. A formula to supplement Tima's magic, which was enormous but lacked
precision.
Having received
external support, the completely controlled legendary-level magic power had
become even more robust than when it had received the breath of the Armored
Dragon before.
In fact, her barrier
was still shining brightly even after receiving Azel's light bullets head-on.
"Uuuuh, and here
I was thinking I could finally escape my life of abject poverty..."
"S-Sorry. I still
can't control my magic power well..."
The talismans of Feo,
which had offset Azel's spirit magic, had reached their limit and were
crumbling and falling apart. This was because they had been exposed to the
clash of enormous magic power and powerful spirit magic.
At the same time,
Tima's barrier, which had been shining with a firm image, began to waver.
Feo took out more
talismans from his pocket and threw them at Tima's barrier.
The talismans that had
stuck to the barrier began to shine, and as they began to control Tima's magic
power again, the wavering barrier regained its brilliance.
"Ai, I can't hold
out for long!"
"I know!
Mars-kun, let's go!"
Along with Irisdina's
call, they all began to run at once. Their destination was the silver dragon.
To be honest, they
wanted to release Nozomu right away, but it was a fact that the dragon-sealing
barrier was suppressing the rampaging Nozomu. If they were to carelessly break
the dragon-sealing barrier from the outside, Nozomu would continue to rampage
in his berserk state.
Even if they were to
bring him back to his senses, they couldn't have Azel interfering.
To bring him back to
his senses, they had to first defeat Azel and then bring him, who was swallowed
by his hatred, back to his senses.
"I won't let you
interfere!"
Azel created a light
bullet in the air again and shot it at the stepping-in Irisdina and the others.
A dense barrage that
gave no room to evade was slammed down.
Irisdina and the
others were swallowed in an instant.
However, the next
moment, while pushing through the scattering elemental essence, the two of them
jumped out, unharmed.
"Wha!?"
Azel couldn't help but
let out a cry of astonishment.
What was enveloping
the bodies of Irisdina and the others was a four-colored magic barrier.
Somehow, Tima's barrier had been deployed on each of them individually and was
being maintained.
Basically, a magic
barrier is deployed within a certain range with the caster at the center. The
further away from the caster, the higher the difficulty, and also, to deploy
and maintain another person's magic barrier on each individual requires
considerable skill.
Furthermore, the
higher the level of the magic used, the higher the difficulty becomes.
The simultaneous use
of a technique that was already highly difficult. How many people on the Arkmel
Continent could deploy a four-attribute multiple barrier on each individual...
It was a technique
that Tima, who already had difficulty with magic power control, could by no
means accomplish alone.
In fact, the barrier
of Irisdina and the others, who had pushed through the barrage of light
bullets, already had cracks here and there and was on the verge of collapsing.
But when Irisdina and
Mars took out talismans from their pockets and stuck them to the barrier, the
barrier that had been on the verge of collapsing regained its firm brilliance
again.
The simultaneous use
of an ultra-high-difficulty technique. Irisdina and the others had made it
temporarily possible by throwing in a large number of talismans for control.
If there was a
problem, it was that the talismans of talisman magic were consumables, and
their consumption was so great that it was impossible to maintain the barrier
for a long time. And the point that it would directly hit a certain
individual's wallet.
"Please, both of
you! Don't use them so much! My fortune, the crystallization of my blood,
sweat, tears, and snot that I've worked so hard to save up again!"
"Impossible!"
"I'll treat you
to dinner at my shop later, so just bear with it! It's just a little snot,
isn't it!"
"There's no way a
single dinner can make up for that amount of money!"
In front of his own
fortune, which was literally turning into scrap paper, Feo let out a pained
cry. But of course, in such a pressing situation, Irisdina and the others had
no room to worry about Feo's fortune...
Pitiably, at the sight
of his earnings from the past few weeks dissipating in an instant, Feo couldn't
help but shed a single tear.
(If I survive this
battle, I'll have Nozomu treat me and eat black bread until I'm full...)
His thoughts were
already on the verge of escaping reality.
The sight of him,
muttering that he didn't want to eat stones anymore, and yet desperately
continuing to use talismans to maintain the barrier, was beyond pitiful and was
painful to watch.
Leaving the
melancholic Feo as he was, Irisdina and Mars, while weaving through the rain of
light bullets that was slamming down, separated to the left and right and tried
to close in on Azel at once.
"Kuh... but don't
think you can touch me with just this!"
Azel began to
concentrate her deployed barrage on Irisdina and Mars.
At the increased
density of the barrage, the speed of Irisdina and the others began to gradually
decrease. Furthermore, as if to block the path of the two, countless stakes of
light thrust out from the ground.
A wall of light stakes
that had appeared in a semicircle, as if to separate the two from Azel.
Irisdina and Mars, who
had been completely stopped. At this rate, they would just be trampled
one-sidedly.
"Kuh, my feet
have been stopped..."
But there was no color
of agitation in the expressions of the two at all.
The two, who had
glanced at each other, changed their direction by 90 degrees and ran towards
the center, along the wall of light stakes.
"Mars-kun."
"Yeah, I know!
We're changing the plan. Don't mess up the timing!"
A wind wrapped around
the greatsword that Mars held in his right hand. At the same time, magic power
gathered in the gauntlet on his left hand and began to glow, and a corner of
the gauntlet was blown off.
What was peeking from
the gap in the iron armor was a wind formula.
"A souvenir from
Tom! Be blown away!"
Magic-Ki Combination
Technique "Ravenous Beast of Rending
Dust"
A technique that
combined the ki technique "Rending
Dust Hammer" and the magic "Ravenous
Beast of the Wind Tunnel."
The intertwining Ravenous
Beasts of wind, while devouring the stakes of light and light bullets that had
been blocking their path, bared their fangs at Azel at once.
"Wha!?
Guah!"
Azel couldn't help but
let out a pained voice.
The swarm of Ravenous
Beasts drove their claws into Azel's scales and bared their fangs at the wound
that Nozomu had inflicted. The elegant scales cracked and peeled off, and fresh
blood scattered from the wound.
The power was incomparable
to the incomplete technique that had gone berserk before.
"Tom,
thanks..."
Mars himself still
could not fully control the magic-ki combination technique. But by limiting the
formula he used and adding further support, he could see a possibility.
Formation magic. Mars
had asked Tom to carve a formula that would allow him to activate magic just by
pouring magic power into it, and a formula to adjust the amount of magic power,
on the back of the armor of his gauntlet.
If he were to carve it
into his weapon, it would reduce its durability. The same was true if he were
to carve it directly onto the armor of his gauntlet.
Furthermore, if he
were to carve it directly onto the armor, the formula could be scraped away in
the midst of battle, and there were cases where the formula would not function
properly.
For that reason, Tom
had carved the formula on the back of the armor of his gauntlet, on the part of
the cloth that served as the base.
With this, Mars could
use magic just by pouring magic power into his gauntlet and could concentrate
more on the control of his ki technique.
However, there were
also drawbacks.
A part of the gauntlet
would be broken, and it would become an inferior item as a piece of armor.
Furthermore, the
carved formula would deteriorate with continued use. It was still uncertain how
far the formula could withstand the load of the magic-ki combination technique.
However, Mars was able
to obtain a power that more than made up for it.
In fact, the
completely controlled ki technique and magic had brought about a synergistic
effect, and had not only blown away Azel's stakes of light and light bullets
but had also wounded Azel.
"Here I go!"
Irisdina leaped into
the space that had been swept away by the "Ravenous Beast of Rending Dust" and closed in on Azel at once.
"Haaaaaaah!"
What she held in her
hand was a rapier.
A jet-black blade
reminiscent of the abyss of night, with enhancement magic layered on it many
times.
"Lunar Eclipse Night"
A magic sword
comparable to Nozomu's Phantom was swung at the place where the scales had
peeled off.
"Aaaaaaah!"
The rapier that deeply
cut into Azel's body. Furthermore, Irisdina swung her rapier, cutting into
Azel's body a second and a third time.
"You, mere
human!"
Azel swung her
log-like powerful arm and tried to shake off Irisdina.
But with the pain of
having one wing and her whole body cut by the rampaging Nozomu, her body did
not move well.
Furthermore, her
opponent was a much smaller existence. The attack of Azel, whose body did not
move as she wished, inevitably became rough.
On the other hand,
Irisdina's movements were elegant and had no waste at all.
While dodging Azel's
attack lightly, as if dancing, she continued to swing her rapier.
"Guh! Gah!? How
annoying!"
"!"
"Be blown away!
Human!"
The irritated Azel
randomly released elemental essence from her entire body, and the gust of wind
sent Irisdina's body flying.
Azel, who had blown
away the bothersome gnat, at once concentrated the power in her mouth.
In the line of sight
of the rage-filled Azel was the figure of Irisdina, who was trying to get her
body up.
"Disappear!"
"Mimuru-kun!"
"I've been
waiting!"
Along with Irisdina's
voice, Mimuru jumped out from behind a tree behind Azel.
In her hand was the
amulet that had been handed to her from Zonne.
Irisdina and the
others were all decoys. A plan to surely hit the one and only amulet that had
the possibility of sealing Azel.
"Did you think I
didn't notice!"
But Azel could not be
outsmarted by that.
Since she had the
surrounding spirits completely under her control, she had of course also sensed
Mimuru's movements.
Azel raised her supple
tail and tried to strike Mimuru down.
"Yes, I
knew."
"Wha!?
Gaaah!"
But the next moment,
an arrow from behind Irisdina pierced the breath that Azel was about to
release.
Immediately after, the
pierced arrow exploded while spitting out the magic power of the four colors.
At the intense pain
that ravaged her mouth, Azel couldn't help but writhe.
"As expected of a
special arrow from Tom with Tima-san's magic on it. It seems they could only
prepare one, but its power is extraordinary."
The one who had shot
the arrow was Shina, who had been on standby in the rear. From the arrowhead to
the fletching, a formula was densely carved.
The carved formula was
a combination of Shina's specialty, "Star
Ocean's Divine Punishment," and Tima's specialty, adapted to the four
elements and layered. A decisive arrow that Tom had specially prepared.
Star Ocean's
Divine Punishment was originally released by concentrating the power of
the spirits, but this time it was released with Tima's magic power on it.
The arrow, which
possessed the power of the four elements, had splendidly induced the explosion
of Azel's breath, which had been at its critical point.
"To think they
were making something like this while we were nursing Nozomu..."
While being amazed at
the arrow she had just shot, Shina was remembering when she had been handed
this arrow.
According to the
creator, Tom, after learning of Nozomu's true identity, he had created it
diligently while exchanging opinions with Tima, and had managed to complete it
while Irisdina and the others were nursing Nozomu.
However, there were
also many flaws, and the finished products were all disposable, which could
only be used once. Or it seemed that it was accompanied by some kind of
irreversible harm after use, and the cost performance was the worst.
In fact, the string of
Shina's bow had snapped from the recoil when she had shot it.
However, the power was
as you could see.
The released arrow had
hit its target without missing and had wounded the royalty of the spirits.
"You son of
a...!"
"Be quiet!"
Azel was still trying
to resist while spitting blood, but it was too late.
The moment Mimuru
stuck the amulet on her, the formula that had been carved on the talisman was
activated with the soul of Zonne that was contained in it as its core.
Countless lights bound
Azel's body and sealed its power.
What was carved was
the same as the one used on Nozomu, a dragon-sealing barrier.
"Kuh, s-such a
thing..."
"We did it!"
Mimuru expressed her
joy at things having gone better than expected. While looking at that scene,
Irisdina let out a sigh of relief.
If Azel had shot a
powerful breath from the first blow, or if she had not let up her pursuit from
the first blow, it would not have gone like this.
The exhaustion and
injuries from the battle with Nozomu. But more than anything, her tactical
sense of reading the opponent's movements was far too immature.
Perhaps Azel had
little experience in battle.
Perhaps because of her
original high ability, she had not experienced many situations that would
develop into a "battle."
The techniques she had
used were certainly impressively powerful, but he could not feel the delicacy
or precision of Zonne.
Her power was immense,
but her spirit was immature. Now that she thought about it, she was a very
distorted dragon.
"Let's put that
aside for now, as for the rest..."
Irisdina, while
glancing at the bound-to-the-ground Azel, temporarily pushed the question that
had floated in her mind to the side and shifted her gaze.
At that moment, the
amulet that had sealed Azel next burst, scattering countless lights into the
air.
The scattered light
was scattered around and rained down on the dragon-sealing barrier that was
restraining Nozomu.
"Ooooooooooooooooooooooh!"
"Kuh!? My
power..."
While letting out a
cry of rage, Nozomu once again struggled to break his restraints.
The light restraints
were gradually cracking. Upon closer inspection, the formation at Nozomu's feet
was beginning to waver, and the crystal of Michael, which had been emitting
light, was also gradually losing its light.
It seemed that
although it was Michael who had activated the dragon-sealing barrier, he had
been borrowing Azel's power to maintain it.
With the power of
Azel, who had been maintaining the barrier, sealed, and furthermore, with
Zonne's amulet interfering with the formula of the dragon-sealing barrier, the
barrier that had been restraining Nozomu had loosened.
Nozomu, who had
regained his strength, tore through the barrier with brute force.
Furthermore, the once
again released violent ki was scattered in all directions, and the powerless
Michael was blown away and rolled on the ground.
""Michaeeeeel!""
"Wait a minute,
Nozomu."
Nozomu raised his katana
to crush the crystal that had fallen to the ground.
But before that katana
could be brought down, Irisdina stopped him.
Numerous magic bullets
were driven in, aimed at the space between Nozomu and Michael.
Nozomu, who had sensed
the danger to his person, jumped back with the agility of a beast.
In that opening,
Irisdina cut in between Michael and Nozomu. At that moment, Nozomu's eyes
finally caught sight of Irisdina and the others.
Crimson eyes dyed with
rage. The same as at that time, eyes filled with hostility, that saw them only
as an enemy.
"Shina,
hurry!"
"Yes, I
know!"
Shina let her magic
power boil and widened the path she had been maintaining with Nozomu.
She tried to connect
the spirits of Irisdina and Nozomu through her and bring Nozomu back to his
senses.
"Nozomu, can you
hear me!? Come back to your senses right away!"
"Guuuuuuh..."
"...No good, his
feeling of anger is too strong, our voices aren't reaching him. He's completely
synchronized with Tiamat."
Irisdina raised her
voice as she had when she had brought Nozomu back to his senses before, but
contrary to her thoughts, Nozomu's rage-filled eyes would not return to normal.
His anger had
completely painted over his reason, and there was no sign of him stopping at
all.
With the sealed power
returned, Tiamat's power was beginning to wound Nozomu's body again.
"Then it can't be
helped. We have to stop him by force again."
"Y-Yeah. We have
to stop him somehow..."
Mars lined up next to
Irisdina and re-adjusted his greatsword.
Tima also stood behind
Mars and, while readying her staff, was looking straight at Nozomu.
"Uuuuh, please
forgive me. My wallet is empty..."
"It's okay, if it
comes to it, I'll lend you some. 50% interest for 10 days, though."
"A usury that
would make even a vicious merchant turn pale..."
Even in such a
situation, Feo and Mimuru were having a conversation that seemed like a comedy
routine. Shina was also standing next to her comrades with an exasperated look.
It would probably not
be as easy as before to bring the current Nozomu back to his senses.
Last time, Nozomu had
a slight bit of reason left, but now he was completely swallowed by his anger
at Lisa being hurt.
But there was no
excessive anxiety in the eyes of Irisdina and the others. What dwelled in their
eyes was only a clear resolve.
They would definitely
stop Nozomu and bring him back.
If fate stood in their
way and tried to take him, they would just smash that chain again.
With that will in
their hearts again, they faced the mad dragonslayer.
"Well now, it's
turned out in an unexpected way, but let's have a rematch of that time, shall
we!"
Along with Mars's bold
declaration, the battle between Nozomu and Irisdina and the others began once
again.
-----
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