Chapter 159
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Holy Knight Yamada turns his gaze around to face all of us.
「Alright! We’re now entering the final phase of taking down that monster! All preparations are complete!!」
Puru has finished giving instructions to those in the rear.
The difference in instructions from before is that those who can use high-level fire magic effective against the dragon before us should release it all at once following Puru’s signal, while those who can’t should prioritize eliminating the Fog.
「This time we’re definitely going to take down that monster! Team Paladin’s Dust! Let’s pray for the success of Operation Blitz! Hip hip hooray!!」
Far ahead of us, the Tri-Head Dragon is letting out angry roars as it’s being thoroughly tormented by Puru’s Grave Mines, yet Holy Knight Yamada shows absolutely no sense of danger as he calls out this rather unfitting battle cry.
In response, Puru gives a small, embarrassed 「hooray!」
Orphelia, meanwhile, crosses her arms and mutters, 「Do we really have to do this?」
Seeing Yamada’s devastated expression at their reactions, I can’t help but let out a small laugh.
It’s just a simple thing, but the fire lit within my chest blazes up like kindling being added to flames, and I get the feeling that everything about our upcoming operation is going to succeed.
Having finished preparing my spell, I give a nod.
「Then!!! I’ll start things off!!!」
Puru throws the already invoked Magic Sword Nidhogg with all her might.
The magic sword flies over the Tri-Head Dragon without touching it. Eventually it reaches its apex, and the sword begins to fall according to gravity. Its tip points downward, where the Tri-Head Dragon’s body happens to be.
「Dreadnought.」
Following her command, the Magic Sword Nidhogg changes—in size only. The magic sword, before anyone notices, becomes several meters long, and still doesn’t stop there as it continues to grow exponentially. By the time it makes contact with the Tri-Head Dragon, it’s nearly half the length of the dragon’s body, and naturally, it pierces straight through the Liquid Dragon’s body.
The Tri-Head Dragon, in its fury, detonates the Grave Mines while writhing desperately to escape from the area surrounded by blue fireballs. Then, with fierce roars, it thrashes about wildly. Still, the Tri-Head Dragon shows no signs of calming its rage, and crouches down like a dog. Suddenly, mana swirls around the Tri-Head Dragon, the ground around it caves in, and an enormous volume of earth floats into the air—then in an instant, it all transforms into multiple hardened, compressed earth cones.
But it’s a futile effort.
Because already—
「Thunder Claw!!!」
Once again, lightning strikes from the instantly formed massive thundercloud.
The target is the enlarged Magic Sword Nidhogg.
Our plan (Blitz) was to use the magic sword—which had pierced the Tri-Head Dragon’s body and embedded itself inside—as a conductor for the lightning, bypassing its magic-resistant outer body to deal damage directly to its interior.
It succeeds perfectly, dealing massive damage to the Tri-Head Dragon.
Its cry sounds less like anger and more like agony, and as if losing concentration, the floating earth cones fall to the ground one after another with heavy thuds, reverting back to mere chunks of earth.
From here on out, it’s literally life or death.
If we run out of mana, we lose; if we wear it down completely, we win. You could call it a once-in-a-lifetime all-or-nothing gamble.
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The thundercloud grows even larger, and lightning continues to rain down endlessly upon the Liquid Dragon.
Sweat runs down Angelica’s forehead.
How long has it been now—five minutes, or maybe ten? Though I can’t tell the exact time, I find myself praying for this to end quickly.
I squint at the blinding light. Right at that moment, numerous high-level fire spells launched from behind us hit the Tri-Head Dragon.
Then I notice something. The Fog that had been everywhere is now gone. It’s just like the scenario from my dream. The Liquid Dragon first absorbs the surrounding Fog to regenerate itself.
And if that’s not enough—
At this point, I can clearly sense the change in mana flow.
Ominous mana is gathering here from all directions.
It’s proof that the Tri-Head Dragon has begun absorbing Fog from across the entire Virtuous frontline, or perhaps even beyond, to regenerate and strengthen itself.
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Angelica’s ability to develop new spells one after another and advance technologies that had never even been imagined before comes not only from her exceptional knowledge, but largely from her overwhelming skill.
The technique of using mana outside one’s own body is certainly one such example, and the technique of establishing mana circuits with others is truly a feat that only she could accomplish.
Because of this, even for Angelica, the mana circuit remained full of uncertainties as an unknown element.
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How much time has passed? I’ve lost all sense of time—
Lightning continues to rain down endlessly, and as the Liquid Dragon repeatedly regenerates and breaks down its body, I begin to see the bottom of my mana reserves.
「Use our mana!」
Yamada shouts.
There’s no need to ask how he noticed my mana was running low. I can tell from their concerned expressions.
「I won’t hold back. Yamada, Puru. Give me your mana—」
Through the mana circuit I’ve connected with them, something warm begins to flow in.
It’s their mana—and with it, their thoughts and memories.
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