“What’s going on here?”
Despite the soft voice that spilled from her lips, madness danced across Clara’s face. Her eyes became wild, resembling those of a beast, and her mouth split into a manic grin.
She looked like a ghost, yet Ruby was unfazed. In fact, she only showed a look of annoyance. Why did that dumb girl come all the way here to cause a ruckus?
“You said you were going to carry out your plans, didn’t you? Why the hell did you come all the way to Sky Island?”
Unlike Yuren, Ruby still had some semblance of reason. Of course, that “reason” was akin to that of a mad person when judged by normal standards. Still, at least they could converse.
In short, if Clara announced Hans’s survival here, it meant Ruby could possibly be persuaded since, as a fellow Royal Knight, she trusted Clara wouldn’t lie about something like that.
But instead of speaking, Clara answered by drawing her bow and aiming at Ruby. Ruby was dumbfounded. What kind of nonsense was this? Just then, Clara laughed and shouted.
“I suddenly became curious!”
“Curious? Everything’s about to end anyway.”
“I wonder who would win if you and I fought?”
“…Now that’s a tempting proposition.”
Thinking about it, that was true. An elf and a dwarf who didn’t get along, united by the irony of joining the same team. If they really fought, who would win based on their similar skill levels?
“Since it’s all going to end anyway, we should make the last fight a clear one. No regrets even if I die, right?”
“Well, that does make sense.”
“Then…”
“There’s something I’ve wanted to say for a long time.”
However, before Clara could signal the start of the duel, a massive hammer wrapped in flames came crashing down above her head. A tremendous explosion and fiery blaze shot up into the sky.
“I didn’t like you from the first time I saw you.”
“What an odd coincidence.”
A sharp arrow burst through the wall of flames and shot toward Ruby. Although she could have been surprised by the sudden ambush, Clara just smiled and calmly replied.
“I’m the same way.”
The archery expert. An arrow that had taken countless monsters and demons’ lives was now inches away. The deadly momentum made even Ruby tense up. Clara’s arrow was blocked by the flaming hammer.
Dwarf mythology.
The god of fire and iron who created the dwarves in ancient times. That’s why dwarves worship this god, and sometimes the chosen ones can wield the god’s flames. The fire that Ruby used was the fire of the god.
Forging iron and blazing with flame, the fire of dwarves. In an instant, the flames engulfed the land, turning it to ash. Clara clicked her tongue, feeling the heat surrounding her. This fire was a nuisance.
“Must be nice to have that innate power.”
“If you’re jealous, why didn’t you get chosen too?”
“Sorry, but I was chosen too.”
Having been born as the daughter of the Guardian of the Forest, she reasoned that was how she had become this strong. So, she couldn’t complain. The moment she did, she would look like a fool unaware of her own excess.
Ruby, blocking her retreat with flames, charged at Clara wielding a heavy hammer. She resembled a raging beast. Even Clara, who faced demons, felt her hands tingle.
However, she calmly pulled back her bowstring. With the resolve that missing meant death, she loosed a deadly arrow that struck Ruby right in the shoulder. But the arrow couldn’t pierce through.
“You really think that thing could pierce iron that’s been forged?”
Ruby’s skin, hardened by countless battles, was tougher than steel. In terms of defense alone, it matched or surpassed dragon scales. Clara clicked her tongue.
“Being so proud of being an impenetrable wall, huh?”
“Of course, it is a point of pride. Unlike someone who forgets!”
“Don’t speak carelessly from that gaping mouth.”
“At least take a good look at yourself before you make excuses.”
To Ruby, Clara seemed oddly relieved at that moment. This was reflected in her tone and actions as well. Naturally, Ruby was nothing but furious.
She had thought they were all comrades in the Royal Knights, but Clara seemed to have tossed all that aside. Yeah, it was clear from the start that dealing with an elf was a mistake. Damn trash.
Clara barely managed to hide her shock at Ruby’s harsh words. Did it show that much? No, that couldn’t be important. The most important thing was to knock that girl down.
Gaining the upper hand in battle means erasing the opponent’s advantages while maximizing your own. Clara nocked five arrows at once. Then she released them toward Ruby.
The five arrows merged into one, forming a massive spear. However, instead of attacking Ruby’s shoulder, it targeted Ruby’s hand. The sudden change made Ruby groan.
“Ugh?!”
“Did you think I’d be focused only on one side? How unfortunate.”
Clara mocked Ruby as she dropped her hammer from the shock. Ruby had thought Clara’s aim was a direct attack, but in truth, Clara had merely redirected Ruby’s focus.
The actual goal was Ruby’s hand gripping the hammer. Without that hammer, meaningful attacks would be impossible, and if it went to a war of attrition, Ruby would end up losing.
Ruby, thinking that an elf was needlessly clever, clicked her tongue and charged at Clara. Was she seriously just going to charge in? Clara laughed and drew her bow.
“…?!”
But Clara couldn’t pull the bowstring. A column of flame erupted from the ground and instantly snatched the bow away from her. With empty hands, Clara was now under attack from Ruby.
“Did you think you were the only one with tricks?”
“Ugh…!!!”
“Well, now that it’s come to this, there’s only one answer.”
Both were without weapons now. But turning to retrieve their weapons would only leave them vulnerable. Aware of this, Ruby slowly assumed a stance and spoke.
“Let’s settle this with some good old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat.”
“…I’m not really a fan of bare-knuckle fighting.”
However, before either could finish their sentences, their fists collided with each other’s faces.
Blood flowed from their noses and mouths, splattering onto the ground.
*
While Clara and Ruby were engaged in their bloody battle, Hans and his group had finished clearing the dragon spawn and were now deep within Sky Island. Hans looked up. In the center of Sky Island stood a temple.
A marble temple that was gigantic enough to accommodate hundreds of people without a hitch. Thick vines coiled around the sturdy marble columns like roots.
The depths of Sky Island were said to be a place reserved only for the Dragon Lord. It wasn’t about holiness; the powers to dictate Sky Island resided deep within.
“So, to put it another way… it means we have no choice but to be here to manipulate Sky Island.”
[Indeed. That is also the reason why dragon spawns poured out in such numbers.]
“Commander, there are no more dragon spawns left.”
Cluna reported to Hans after completing the reconnaissance. The countless dragon spawns that had surged out were no longer appearing. However, the Dragon Lord didn’t seem concerned. They were products of the past.
[What matters is the existence or destruction of Sky Island.]
“I’m going in.”
As soon as Hans finished speaking, everyone entered the depths of Sky Island. An ominous presence flowed from inside. It seemed Yuren was doing something with her magical power.
And the assumption turned out to be true. Inside the depths of Sky Island, within the temple, there was a massive crystal orb swirling with red magical power like a storm.
The sight was disturbing, resembling a flood of blood, making it uncomfortable to keep looking at. Even experienced knights like Bayard and Cluna frowned at the ghastly sight.
But the Dragon Lord’s expression hardened for a different reason. Noticing this, Hans turned to the Dragon Lord. The Dragon Lord, aware of Hans’s gaze, spoke as if he couldn’t bear it.
[That is what’s known as Aegis. The heart of Sky Island and its protective shield.]
“Aegis…”
[Yes. However, Aegis is like a lake that reflects its user, so one must be careful not to be captivated by its appearance.]
“So, that means this is Yuren’s state of mind?”
The Dragon Lord nodded heavily. At that moment, a foul screech like metal scraping caught everyone’s attention. All eyes turned toward the source, where she stood. Dressed in black armor.
With sharp claws resembling gauntlets on both hands. But in her eyes, which were grinning like a madman, there was no hint of reason. Yuren had completely lost her mind.
Now she was nothing but an unfeeling puppet, bent on eliminating the intruders who had invaded this place. The Dragon Lord’s voice grew grim. It was already too late for everything.
[She has been completely consumed by Aegis. There’s no turning back now, unless you can turn back time…]
“Time, huh.”
Hans grinned grimly and stepped forward.
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