Chapter 167
Above the imperial capital―――
『EAT THIS!』
I’m soaring through the sky at a rapid pace, slashing through the aberrations with Celestial Dragon’s claws one after the other.
The mangled remains of these creatures obey gravity and plummet downwards.
Man, even as they fall, they’re regenerating…
It’s like watching a video in reverse. A super creepy sight…
Ouronus yells upon witnessing this.
「DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! What the hell?! Why can you, an earth dragon, use the power of the Celestial Dragon?! That’s wrong! That’s cheating! CHEATING!」
…Are you really one to talk?
The aberrations’ “resistance acquisition” is pretty much cheating in its own right.
「Kikikikikikikikikiki!」
『―――Whoa, ‘Heaven Slash’』
Facing the rapidly approaching dragonfly-like creature, I unleash the Celestial Dragon’s power.
Suddenly, a whirlwind forms around, tearing apart the butterfly-like creature into pieces.
But man, impressive capabilities indeed.
So this is the Celestial Dragon’s unique technique, “Heavens.”
Just like the “Gluttony” of the Earth Dragon and the “Purifying Flames” of the Holy Dragon, it’s a unique technique possessed by the Celestial Dragon.
I remember a while back, Yamu and Jibru had a wild time in my dungeon. Jibru had taught me about the Celestial Dragon’s unique techniques then.
The “Heavens” of the Celestial Dragon.
Its effect seems to be “infusing one’s magic into every natural phenomenon, creating magic.”
At first glance, it might seem like regular magic, but its versatility is beyond any standard spell.
For instance, blending magic into the wind to make it act like a whirlwind, called “Heaven Claw.”
Or infusing magic into water vapor to create wings, termed “Heavenly Wings.”
Or even mixing magic with floods or rain to assimilate, known as “Water Shift.”
And there are so many more, and more, and more―――
In this world, countless natural phenomena exist.
If one can utilize all of them to construct techniques, it’s indeed a technique worthy of being called “omnipotent.”
That’s what Jibru meant when she said, “a hand that never runs out.”
Well, even with all those cards in hand, he was shattered by Jibru’s sheer power.
But looking at its capability, it’s probably on par, if not superior, to “Gluttony.”
And right now, the Celestial Dragon’s “Heavens” is performing exceptionally well.
Because, after all, the quality of its magic changes with every technique.
According to Elibel’s analysis, these aberrations seem to acquire resistance to a specific “magic.”
So, there probably isn’t a better match for them than “Heavens.”
Even if they gain resistance to one attack, I can quickly change the magic and use a different method of attack.
The grotesque beings flap their wings and charge at me.
『Fuu…』
―――Concentrate.
I picture a flood, a muddy torrent that engulfs everything, just like when that damn Celestial Dragon flooded my dungeon.
Embedding my breath into that image―――
『RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!』
I release my breath.
And it works.
Instead of shooting out in a straight line, my breath spreads out like a tsunami, swallowing everything in its path.
The aberrations are engulfed by the wave of magic and fall.
―――Crack…
『―――』
A dull sound echoes from my chest.
It’s the sound of a crack forming in Yamu’s crystallized power.
I remember Yamu mentioning there was a usage limit.
…Honestly, I don’t know how many more times I can use it.
But I won’t hold back.
I won’t hesitate.
Because I don’t have any other effective strategy against these creatures.
If, hypothetically, the crystal shatters completely, I’m done for.
I’ll be toyed with and killed by these aberrations.
So, hurry up, Elibel.
She’s still sitting atop me, her eyes of wisdom closed in deep concentration.
She’s been focusing for quite a few minutes now, preparing our other trump card.
『―――’Heaven Claw’! ‘Heaven Slash’! ‘Heavenly Demon Moonlight’!』
A massive army of over a hundred aberrations.
The power of the Celestial Dragon overwhelms this army, wreaking havoc.
―――Crack! Crack!
Their numbers aren’t decreasing.
But in contrast, every time I use the power of the Celestial Dragon, more cracks form in the crystal.
「ROOOOAAAR!!」「Hiss!」
『Gah!』
A winged snake-like creature wraps around my leg, and a bony creature hits me in the side.
Damn it!
Even if my attacks are now effective, the creatures’ strength hasn’t decreased.
While they may not be able to resist the power of the Celestial Dragon, I’m still the one wielding it.
These monsters… they’re anticipating my moves!
「UHOHOHOHO」「JAJAJAJAJA!」「SHOOSHOOSHOOSHOOSHOO!」「OOOOOOOOOOOOH!」「GIGAAAAAAAAAAH!」
The creatures relentlessly launch their fierce attacks.
This is so damn tricky!
『Guh… RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!』
Still, I keep fighting.
It’s not over.
Not yet――…
――――――
――――
―――
Several more minutes pass.
『Pant… Pant…』
Is it time yet… Elibel?
The number of aberrations isn’t decreasing.
No, on the contrary, they continue to multiply.
「Hahaha! The dragon mount is nearly falling apart! Aberrations! Continue the onslaught! Even the Celestial Dragon’s power should have its limits!」
Bulging sounds come from Ouronus as he expands, forming new aberrations.
How many can Ouronus spawn?
I can’t figure out how he’s creating these things.
「SHAAAAAAAAA!!」
―――Tch!
Both my body and the crystal are in bad shape.
But I have to keep moving.
『COME AT ME!!!』
I unleash a full-scale attack infused with the Celestial Dragon’s magic: the “Heaven Slash.”
In that instant,
―――Crack!!!
『―――Already?!』
The crystal holding the Celestial Dragon’s power shatters.
And then…
「―――I kept you waiting, Earth…」
Elibel slowly opens her eyes.
「I’m ready.」
『You took your time…』
But… she’s just in time.
We’re set for our counterattack.
◇◆◇◆◇
Elibel raises her staff.
Perhaps sensing the shift in our momentum, the aberrations grow wary and maintain their distance.
「You’re ready… for what? What exactly are you planning?」
Ouronus, seemingly oblivious to the change in the air, voices his confusion.
「What am I planning? Isn’t it obvious?」
「….What do you mean?」
Intricate magical circles begin to form around Elibel.
「―――I’ve prepared to take you and your minions down.」
「ABERRATIONS, ATTACK THEM!」
Ouronus screams, and they charge at us.
However,
「It’s too late! I’ve already prepared the spell to defeat you all. Activate ‘Sanctuary Breach’!」
In the next moment, Elibel’s forbidden magic activates.
The magic circle around her expands rapidly, engulfing the surrounding creatures.
「…Gi?」「Oohooh?」「Gyaa…?」
The aberrations sound puzzled as nothing seems to happen initially.
But the moment the magic circle completely surrounds them, something starts to go terribly wrong for them.
「GiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiAHHH!!!」「Oooooooh…」「Ga… Gaaah…」
Some clutch their heads in agony.
Others shiver as if tearing at their own flesh.
Their reactions vary, but all are clearly in immense pain.
And then… the aberrations begin to change even more.
「Ga… Gaaa…」
Bodies that had evolved and gained resistance are now reverting to their “previous forms,” as if being rewound on video.
「What… What is this?!」
Ouronus cries out in shock.
But the transformation doesn’t stop.
The aberrations, having reverted to their pre-evolved forms, continue to regress even further.
Back to their state before they were born, turning into mere flesh pieces of Ouronus.
「Whew… all done.」
Within ten seconds, not a single one of the aberrations remains. Only blood and bits of flesh float in the air.
This is Elibel’s forbidden magic: “Sanctuary Breach.”
A fearsome spell that allows her to freely alter any body on the same plane of existence.
Yes, just as Elibel restored her own body to its prime, she reverted the creatures back to their state before they were created.
It’s like turning wine, made from processed grapes, back into grapes.
The sheer audacity of such an act, defying all logic.
Yet, she pulls it off with ease.
「Just to be sure… ‘Thousand Ice Pillars’.」
Rain of billions of icicles is released, freezing the ground and the floating bits of flesh.
With a crisp sound, they shatter beautifully.
「What… What did you do just now?」
I can’t believe what’s happening right in front of me.
Ouronus’s voice trembles.
「What do you mean ‘what’? You saw it. I ‘rewound’ them. Back to when they were just pieces of you. If a creature continues to evolve, you just have to rewind them back before that evolution. This way, even they can’t come back.」
「You’re lying! Rewind time?! There’s no way such a taboo can be done so easily!」
「Well, there’s an appropriate ‘risk’ I’m taking on. Plus, it’s a spell that can’t be done unless the target is thoroughly analyzed. Analyzing these creatures was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.」
Elibel casually remarks.
「What are you saying…? Don’t mess around too much, human! It hasn’t even been an hour since I birthed these aberrations! There’s no way my millennia of power, aberrations that not even my sister could conquer, can be broken so easily!」
Ouronus screams in outrage.
But Elibel confidently retorts,
「What are you on about?」
With a defiant smirk on her face, she adds,
「That’s why they called me the ‘Sage’.」
「HOW DARE YOU!!!」
Flesh and blood burst forth, creating new aberrations.
They all charge at us at once.
『How predictable… Earth, I need your magical power. I’ve figured out the pattern of these aberrations. This time, I can deploy the spell immediately.』
『Yeah, got it. But analyzing them sure took a while, huh? Honestly, it was pretty close, right』
I nearly died back there.
Well, just my vessel, though.
「Well, sorry about that. While analyzing, I was also working on ‘another plan’. It took longer than I expected.」
『Eh?』
Another plan? What’s she talking about? I haven’t heard of this.
Sensing my confusion, Elibel deepens her grin.
「The mist has cleared, hasn’t it? So, there’s no reason for ‘them’ to stay quiet anymore.」
Hearing her words, I activate my magic sensing ability.
―――I can feel it.
This magical energy is――――
◇◆◇◆◇
At the site of the Fáfnir’s lid―――
Ann and Beldi stand back to back, confronting the aberrations.
『Haah… Haah… Are you at your limit…?』
「…Ugh, don’t be stupid… These wounds are nothing…」
Though she’s trying to put on a brave front, her body is severely battered.
Her breathing is ragged, and her entire body is covered in wounds.
「GYAAAAAAAAA!!」
A bear-like creature lunges at Ann.
She readies her sword to fend it off, but―――
『What, no…』
Her knees buckle beneath her.
「Black Ant!」
Beldi shouts.
But Ann doesn’t move. No, she can’t move.
It’s not a matter of will; her body has reached its limit.
『Kuh…』
She braces herself for death.
The next moment, a pale blue light illuminates her feet.
Then, suddenly, a burst of flames engulfs the grotesque creatures.
「―――Are you alright, Lady Ann?」
A voice asks.
Standing there is a beautiful girl in a white dress, holding a parasol.
『Could it be… Elja?』
Why is she here?
Before the question can be fully formed, Elja acts.
「I apologize for being late, Lady Ann. But from now on, please leave it to me.」
Gracefully and elegantly, the girl releases her magical power.
「I am Elja Lude, the daughter of the Holy Dragon Harsha Lude. I am here to assist.」
◇◆◇◆◇
Inside the imperial castle’s corridor―――
Just as a caterpillar-like creature is about to devour the pig, known as Sir Schwein, something happens.
A dull, squishing sound echoes.
―――from the caterpillar-like creature.
「…Eh?」
Caught off guard, Sir Schwein lets out a bewildered exclamation.
The creature that was supposed to be feasting on him has its mouth pierced through.
There are also burn marks around its mouth, accompanied by the smell of charred flesh.
What just happened?
「Take this!」
With a carefree battle cry, several beams of heat shoot through the caterpillar creature.
「GGGYYYYAAAAAA!!」
The creature writhes in agony.
Seizing the opportunity, Sir Schwein puts some distance between him and the creature.
「Nu… NUHIII!?」
Who could it be?
Looking in the direction the magic came from, he spots a young girl wearing a mask.
Beside her stands a slime, as if guarding her side.
「Who- Who are you…?」
The girl turns her gaze to Sir Schwein and the Black Hyena.
「Oh, it’s the piggy from the snowy mountain and those adventurers from that one time. Nice to see you again!」
She speaks in a carefree, cheerful tone that feels out of place given the situation.
「That mask… Wait, are you the one… from that time?」
Mohawk remembers.
On their way back from a guild-assigned dungeon exploration, a mysterious girl appeared, attempting to kill them.
Sensing their wary expressions, Tres shrugs her shoulders.
「It’s okay, I won’t kill you this time… as long as you don’t get in my way.」
With an innocent tone, Tres readies her sword.
「Ready, Pururu?」
「Puruu!」
With that, the girl and her slime companion charge towards the caterpillar-like creature.
◇◆◇◆◇
Inside the same imperial castle―――
Fatigued and worn out, Kagrias and Linwu find themselves facing a lone knight.
Well, calling him a knight might be a bit of a stretch given his unique attire.
His armor, covering him head to toe, is reminiscent not of the Empire’s standard armor, but of the armor from the Wano Country.
In his hand, he holds a large sword forged from the scales of an earth dragon.
「Oioi…」
Kagrias recognizes him.
How could he forget?
Just recently, while delving into a dungeon, he had encountered this particularly powerful individual in the chamber of the floor boss.
Kagrias had dreamed of crossing swords with him again.
「Why are you here?」
「…」
The mysterious figure remains silent.
Without a word, he swings his massive blade, pointing it at the monstrous creatures before him.
「…I carry out my father’s orders… um, indeed.」
With his sword at the ready, the man, Rasetsu, charges at the creatures without hesitation.
◇◆◇◆◇
Meanwhile, in the imperial castle courtyard―――
Monstrous beings launch their attack on Dos, who is holding Orion.
「…hold on, Orion!」
Channeling magical energy into his legs, Dos desperately tries to dodge their advances.
But the creatures quickly adapt and counter his moves.
「guh…」
「Huff… Huff… Is this the end?」
And it’s not just Dos feeling the pressure.
Both Una and Berg find themselves cornered, herded together, and surrounded by the monsters.
They can hear the mocking laughter of the creatures.
「―――」
Is this the end?
The three of them brace themselves for the inevitable.
But the end doesn’t come.
The reason is simple.
Out of nowhere, a pale blue light illuminates their feet, and from it emerges a towering giant of flames. In a flash, the monstrous creatures are consumed by the fire.
「…」
Dos looks up at the towering figure made of flames.
Standing there is an undead entity, its robe billowing effortlessly around it.
Holding a large scythe and draped in the robe, it resembles the Grim Reaper.
「…Looks like I made it just in time.」
Overlooking the trio, Robun, the head follower of Fafnir, murmurs to himself.
「Ahh…」
Orion, her consciousness fading, recognizes the voice.
It’s the same voice of the person who saved her from a griffon attack before they came to this capital.
A warm magic, so gentle it’s hard to believe it doesn’t belong to a human.
「―――It’s good to see you again, gentle Death Lord….」
Reaching out slowly to the source of that voice, Orion passes out.
◇◆◇◆◇
The atmosphere grows more intense.
A pale blue light, the glow of a teleportation gate, envelops the entire capital.
From it, monsters begin to emerge one after another.
An old gentleman who manipulates shadows, the leader of wolves, a massive spider, countless ants, and golems.
They appear everywhere, one after another.
―――A Night Parade of a Hundred Demons.
The powerful beings, who had been lying low in the dungeons, now flood onto the surface all at once.
To protect their master.
To annihilate their enemies.
They surge forward, launching a full-blown assault on the aberrations.
◇◆◇◆◇
High above the imperial capital―――
「What the hell is happening!? The presence of monsters is rapidly increasing…?」
「It was quite a task. Setting up the ‘Teleportation Gates’ on the surface while proceeding with the ‘Sanctuary Breach’. Well, for the gate, Tsumugin’s help was significant, and you covered all the magical power consumed… Seriously, the amount of your power is monstrous.」
Elibel, puffing out her chest.
I get it, it took time to summon everyone to the surface.
『Even if we send reinforcements against these creatures———』
『Will only buy us time?』
Elibel cuts me off, anticipating my concern.
『And you’re right. These creatures were created by Ouronus. And creatures like these typically vanish once the one who created them is defeated』
Elibel speaks with certainty, probably due to her analysis of these abberations.
『In other words… it’s up to us.』
『Exactly.』
Either we defeat Ouronus first, or everyone gets overwhelmed by the relentless assault.
In other words———this is the pivotal moment.
The outcome of our battle will directly influence the course of the war.
We can’t afford to lose.
While deploying the “Sanctuary Breach”, we soar at high speeds.
The newborn aberrations can’t keep up, making it easy for us to fend them off.
「Grrrrr! Argh! So annoying! Damn aberrations! Leave that for later! First, kill Gwyve!」
Ouronus, growing impatient with our resilience, shouts instructions to the monstrous horde.
Seriously? That’s his play? He’s something else, in more ways than one.
But it’s an effective command
If Gwyve is attacked now, we’ll have no choice but to defend him.
「Don’t worry.」
『Eh?』
「―――We’ve got reinforcements here as well.」
I hear the familiar voice, hinting at unexpected aid.
『―――――’Flame Armor’』
BOOM!
Suddenly, a blazing inferno sweeps through, incinerating the monstrous swarm.
This flame… I recognize it!
「Took you long enough―――Heleb.」
Emerging from the teleportation gate is a majestic black bird, soaring with grace.
One of the ruling races of the Eld Desert, a King-class monster.
It’s Heleb, the leader of the Accurate Crow.
「I was surprised when Elja told me. You came to the dungeon, begging to use the teleportation gate?」
『Hmph…』
Heleb gives us a fleeting glance, clearly unimpressed, and then heads towards Gwyve.
『…Huff… Heleb… is that you?』
『Who else do you think it could be?』
『Why… are you here? ——Ugh!』
Heleb skillfully kicks Gwyve’s severed head with his talon.
Looks painfully petty.
『…I told you, Gwyve. This isn’t where you’re supposed to die. There’s a place you need to return to. You tried to break our pact. I won’t overlook that blunder』
And then, the presence of magical power and souls intensifies.
Emerging from the glowing blue-white transfer gate are dozens of Accurate Crows and a swarm of White Wyverns.
They’ve come to our aid.
The White Wyverns couldn’t abandon their leader, and the Accurate Crows couldn’t leave their rivals behind.
「In the nick of time, everyone’s here.———How’s that for a twist? Exciting, isn’t it?」
Elibel grins, her smile mischievous like a girl who’s just pulled off a prank.
Oh, Elibel, you’re such a troublemaker.
Springing a surprise like this on us.
But ——— it’s incredible!
I don’t feel like losing at all!
「Enough! Enough! What’s with you all? Just stop! Just die already, ARRRRGGGGHHH!!!!」
In response to Ouronus’ hysterical scream, Elibel teasingly wags her finger.
「Come on, don’t just stand there and watch from above. Come down here, you siscon dragon. Earth and I will make sure you get over your sister」
I swear I hear Ouronus’ veins popping in anger.
Echoing his fury, the massive chunk of flesh floating in the sky pulsates intensely.
「Fine! I’ll kill you! I’ll destroy you all!」
「Bring it on, siscon dragon!」
Ouronus’ form starts to change.
His body bulges and morphs, slowly taking on the shape of a dragon.
『Fuu…』
Alright, this is the moment to brace ourselves.
Let’s give it our best shot.
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