[Kwooooh-!!]
With a terrifying roar, the main dragon’s massive body, having lost its left arm in a spectacular fashion, began to slowly topple over.
With a thud! sound, the main dragon fell, sending weak vibrations across the ground.
“What, w-what was that…?”
Rudell and Leje stared at the scene with blank faces, completely outside their realm of understanding.
“Oh my…”
Rudell, being a brilliant magician, quickly assessed what had just occurred. The moment the magic was activated, the divine power resonated with Rudell’s magic, amplifying its power immensely.
“This is the ability of the holy sword…”
Of course, the ability of the holy sword didn’t end there. After casting magic, it typically required a brief moment for the caster to regain their ability to use magic again. This was because the human brain that invoked the magic could become overloaded, resulting in a bit of dizziness.
However, right now, Rudell felt nothing at all. In fact, his mind felt refreshingly clear as if he had just woken up from a deep sleep.
“This isn’t the time to be impressed. That guy’s going to start moving again!”
[Goooh!!]
Just then, with Leje’s shout, the fallen main dragon began to rise once more.
At the same time, a soldier, looking like a messenger, rushed into the arena and knelt before the Pope, exclaiming.
“I-It’s urgent news! A massive army of undead has appeared outside the city walls! Dragon soldiers! They are currently in combat with the wall guards!!”
“Dragon soldiers!? Could it be…!!”
The Pope took a brief breath at the messenger’s report. The broken dragon’s teeth and bones were infused with mysterious magic, and upon touch to the ground, they transformed into undead monsters known as dragon soldiers.
Dragon soldiers, being made from dragon teeth and bones, were far more dangerous than regular skeletons or zombies.
“We will handle the main dragon. The Holy Kingdom must deal with the dragon soldiers in the meantime…”
“Very well.”
In a situation like this, that was the only viable option, something even a fool could understand. Nodding at Rudell’s words, the Pope began giving orders to the surrounding priests and holy knights.
“Deploy all forces to block the dragon soldiers! We must minimize the damage to the citizens! Everything will be carried out in the name of the great gods!!”
“Everything for the great gods!!”
With the Pope’s command igniting their fighting spirit, the priests and holy knights began moving towards the chaotic city.
“Before you leave, just a moment…”
So said the Pope as he approached Rudell and his party, lightly tracing the sign of the cross above their heads.
Simultaneously, a radiant light of divine power spread out gently wrapping around Rudell and his companions.
“This is all I can do for you. Please, may you safely defeat the massive darkness that engulfs the Holy Kingdom…”
“Thank you.”
Feeling a renewed vigor throughout their bodies, Rudell and his party nodded in response. Without needing any more words, they turned their gazes toward the slowly rising main dragon and moved forward.
—
“So? What’s the plan?”
“We need to draw him away from the Holy Kingdom.”
As long as that thing attacked the Holy Kingdom, the damage would continue to escalate. What Rudell and his party needed to do was somehow lure it away.
“I got clocked pretty hard, so luring him shouldn’t be too hard.”
“Hmm… is that so?”
“You’re not thinking of something weird, are you?”
At Rudell’s words, Leje narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Rudell felt an inexplicable anxiety from her tone and asked…
“Kurt. I have a brilliant idea.”
“Hmm. Coincidentally, I’ve just thought of a good idea, too.”
As Leje spoke, Kurt responded, turning to Silphier and Eleor.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“N-No? What do you mean, aah!?”
“Kyaaah!?”
Before the two could respond, Kurt had grabbed them both under his arms and started leaping over buildings.
“Kyaaaah!!”
“Put me down! I can go by myself!!”
“Don’t tell me…”
Seeing this, Rudell squinted his eyes at Leje. She then flashed him a knowing smile, lifting him off his feet as well.
“Uwaah!?”
“Hold on tight! I won’t know if you fall!”
“No, you need to hold on tight!”
Like a sack of potatoes, Rudell shouted from Leje’s shoulder. Leje burst into laughter as she began leaping between buildings.
Soaring across nearly a block in a single leap, Rudell instinctively closed his eyes, overwhelmed by sheer terror.
[Kyaaaa-!!]
In an instant, they crossed the distance and leaped over the city walls.
“Hey, you bony idiot! If you’re able, come and catch me!!”
With that taunt, Leje whisked past the still-rising main dragon’s head. At that moment, the vacant eyes of the main dragon lit up, drawn to Leje…
[Kraaaah!!]
Was the provocation effective?
With a thunderous roar, the main dragon lunged at Leje.
“Ugh!?”
“What were you thinking, provoking it!!”
“Still, you followed, so it worked out, right!!”
[Kyaaaah-!! Kyaahh-!!]
Just barely dodging the main dragon’s jaws, Leje replied loudly, sprinting across the ground.
Seemingly enraged, despite losing an arm, the main dragon roared as it chased after Rudell and Leje. Despite dragging its massive body along, its speed was almost equal to Leje’s full sprint.
[Kyaaaahh!!!]
“Getting caught in that would mean we’d get turned to dust…”
Watching the main dragon barreling down, Rudell said that as they engaged in a lengthy chase.
Soon, they made their way to an open area far away from the Holy Kingdom.
“Alright! What now?!”
“Simple. You two stall for time, and I’ll give it a good whack.”
In a situation where there was no time to devise a strategy, that was the only option.
“Simple and effective. I like it.”
“We’ll buy you the time you need.”
“O Goddess, grant them the power to vanquish evil…”
Leje and Kurt nodded in agreement, drawing their weapons and moving forward, while Eleor bestowed her blessing upon them.
The dual blessings from the Pope and the Saint triggered an aura of divine power that shimmered around the two.
“Oh! At this rate, I feel like I wouldn’t lose to anyone.”
“Agreed.”
Lightly stretching, the two took their stances…
[Kraaaah!!!]
They both steadied themselves, digging in as the hulking silhouette of the dragon glared at them from a distance, its glowing eyes flashing ominously.
Despite the overwhelming size, there wasn’t a shred of fear in their stances.
“Ready?”
“Absolutely.”
[Kwooooh-!!]
The two exchanged glances silently, just as the main dragon opened its massive maw, charging toward them.
In the next moment, without hesitation, both swung their weapons at the same time.
The magic-infused weapons whipped through the air at terrifying speed…
-BOOM!!
With the explosive sound of air bursting, a shockwave erupted.
“Ugh!?”
“Kuuh…!!”
[Kwooooh-!?]
Unable to withstand the enormous shockwave, Leje and Kurt were knocked backwards as the main dragon let out a beastly howl and collapsed.
With a thud! and an earth-shattering noise, a massive cloud of dust billowed up as Rudell began to gather his magic.
“Did, did we take it down!?”
“There’s no way, this is just the beginning.”
Looking at Silphier, who was raising a victory flag, Rudell replied confidently.
As if to confirm his words, amidst the rising dust, violet eyes glinted menacingly.
-Clang. Clang.
-Creak. Creak.
Emerging from the dust were undying monsters known for their robust bones and sharp spines, far more fearsome than any regular skeleton—dragon soldiers.
[Grrrrrrrr…!!]
With numerous dragon soldiers appearing, the fallen main dragon slowly began to rise again. Its fierce violet eyes glared with hostility at Rudell and his companions…
“Now, shall we begin in earnest?”
“This will be a glorious battle.”
Looking at the scene, Leje and Kurt shared a subtle smile.
And then…
[Gooohhh-!!]
[Clang! Clang!!]
[Creak, Creak!!]
The main dragon’s roar signaled the start, and countless dragon soldiers charged towards Rudell and his party.
