“Argh—!!”
Gishta burst forth with spirit, charging at the Yeti Commander.
The enormous iron axe, which would be a struggle to lift even for two adult men, was swung down swiftly like a wooden club.
Kaboom!!
Thunder roared.
The shockwave cracked the ice beneath them, causing it to splinter and shatter.
‘Did it block again?!’
Gritting her teeth, Gishta seethed with anger.
The Yeti Commander was a higher entity, an evolved version of the Glacier Tribe, and it was a disaster-class monster known to wipe out a city overnight.
Intellectually, it was nearly on par with humans, yet it was classified as a barbarian.
‘So tough.’
Despite several clashes, she hadn’t landed a solid hit. The massive stone pillar the Yeti wielded in both hands was extraordinarily sturdy.
Moreover, the enemy’s muscle strength, bolstered by Demon’s Blood, surpassed Gishta’s.
Hoooo!!
The Yeti swung the pillar. Gishta managed to defend against the weighty blow twice, but—
“Ugh!”
She staggered from the third hit, which landed squarely on her abdomen. She spun in the air and landed by slamming the axe into the ground.
“Haah.”
A throbbing pain surged through her body. It felt like a few bones had broken.
Hoo! Hoo!
The Yeti advanced with a boosted momentum from the hit it landed.
“Ariiiiii!!”
Gishta roared even louder, trying to crush the enemy’s morale.
But the situation was grim.
There were far too many Yetis. Although they had organized a defensive formation around the sanctuary, it wouldn’t hold for long.
‘I need more time.’
Lars had gone to heal his mother.
He said she had opened her eyes. Complete recovery was just around the corner.
If she couldn’t even hold out until then, the name of the Thunder Tribe would be a joke.
“Argh!!”
Gishta continued to clash with the Yeti without pause.
When fighting, there was no need for other thoughts.
If she won, she would eat meat; if she lost, she would be eaten.
It was the simple law of the wild.
All she had to do was not lose.
That had been the simple principle Gishta and her tribe had upheld until now.
‘…But.’
Had she been tainted by outsiders from the Empire?
A few stray thoughts had slipped in, making it hard for Gishta to focus solely on the battle.
‘If Lars heals my mother, she will leave this land.’
With that last fight, there would be no reason for her to protect the ice plains anymore.
An attack from the enemies would come to a halt.
Who would have business to come to such a barren land of ice anyway?
Then what next?
Would she have to leave this land? If so, should she go with her tribesmen? Where would they go?
Or should she continue living here? Was there even a reason for that?
It had been a while since she had pondered so deeply.
It felt as if she had become an ordinary human living down below.
‘…Honestly,’
Gishta wanted to follow Lars.
He had told her the world down below was heartless, but being with him seemed like it would be enjoyable.
Most of all, Lars was.
‘A good man.’
If he had no already determined fate, she would have devoured him long ago.
She never touched someone else’s food. Lars was already smeared with the scent of the golden girl.
Dragons only pair with one individual throughout their long lives. This was also the reason why even a strong race had such fewer numbers.
She had felt joy while he had been around.
It wasn’t the first time an outsider had visited the plains. But he was the first to leave her with good memories.
He was her first friend from outside.
So it was only natural to let him leave with good memories.
She had to defeat the enemy in front of her for his sake.
“Argh!!”
Boom, boom!
Gishta’s axe traced an even faster trajectory, launching a fierce assault.
The Yeti, caught off guard by her continuous attacks, froze during the defense. Gishta’s relentless pressure had trapped its feet beneath the ice.
Boom!
The intense blows exchanged sent both axe and pillar flying into the air.
Crack. The axe landed behind them.
Would she run to retrieve the axe or seize the moment while the enemy’s movements were halted?
Without hesitation, Gishta lunged at the Yeti, wrapping her arms tightly around its waist.
Hooook!!
Breaking through its thick fur and flesh, cracks appeared along the Yeti’s spine.
Fearing for its life, the Yeti wildly pounded Gishta.
It was a brawl with no weapons.
Yet Gishta still had one weapon left.
“Guardian!!”
At Gishta’s call, Tanya took a big step forward.
“Haah.”
A flash glimmered. A blade honed as sharp as quartz passed by.
Swish, a crack appeared in the Yeti’s thick skin.
Thud, the colossal body fell.
Catching her breath, Gishta straightened her bent back.
“…Hah.”
“Thanks for creating that opening.”
Tanya and Gishta bumped their fists together.
They had overcome a significant hurdle.
But there was no time to relax.
They had taken down the commander, but countless Yetis still remained.
In the sanctuary, the Thunder Tribe and Yetis were entangled in a brawl.
It was clear to anyone that the numbers were heavily against them.
They moved instinctively, drawn by the mana of the Heavenly Dragon. Infected by Demon’s Blood, they were berserked, not stopping until they were on the brink of death. They likely didn’t even know they had lost their commander.
There was no shortcut. They would just have to grab and crush every head.
Just as Gishta forced her injured body to move,
Thud, thud, thud!
The sound of hoofbeats echoed from afar.
To the south of the plains, hundreds of armored knights on horseback were advancing.
“They’re within sight! Assume combat position!”
“The enemy is a tribe covered in fur! The women are allies! Do not mistake them!”
Under the commander’s orders, swords and spears were drawn.
“This is…”
“They’ve arrived. It’s the teacher’s troops.”
“Are all of them Lars’ subordinates?”
A smile spread across Gishta’s face.
“I’ll return to guard the teacher. Please finish the Yetis.”
She caught Tanya’s arm, who was about to move.
“I’ll go with you.”
*
“What’s the situation outside?”
“Thanks to the unit’s arrival, it’s a stalemate. We are holding up.”
“Let’s pick up the pace.”
I was casting healing spells together with the doctors.
―――――――――――
· Name: Heavenly Dragon Calamute
· Health: 1291 / ????
· Status: Recovering
―――――――――――
I had mostly finished treating the critical injuries. If we filled up with health using the healing spell and fixed the unseen minor injuries, the Heavenly Dragon would be able to move on its own.
I had stuffed a candy into its mouth, causing it to calm down. Given its size, it seemed more like a massive intake.
The ceiling was rumbling, and dust kept falling due to the outside battle.
Just as I was concentrating on the healing spell, a voice suddenly rang out.
That should be enough.
Without warning, the Heavenly Dragon spread its wings wide. The gust shattered several pillars of the sanctuary.
The doctors were all startled, wide-eyed.
Could it really be planning to take off from here?
“Emergency! Everyone evacuate outside!”
“Y-yes!”
I let the doctors go first before speaking to the Heavenly Dragon.
“The cause of the injuries has been removed, so rest should lead to natural healing. Please stabilize for a while.”
Hmph.
The Heavenly Dragon snorted lightly.
The Genesis Dragon does not interfere in the matters of the continent. This principle is absolute. Even if either humans or demons face annihilation.
“Hm, I see.”
However, when you request it, I promise I shall assist you only once. Mortal, reveal your name.
“Lars Gothberg, doctor.”
Remembered. Prepare the candy too.
“Oh, about that wish, can I use it now…”
Before I could finish my sentence, the Heavenly Dragon swept its massive wings down from above.
Kaboom!
It blasted through the ceiling and soared into the sky in an instant.
Colorless mana beautifully swirled around it.
“I was hoping you’d take care of the Demon King on your way.”
It seems that kind of wish wouldn’t be entertained. But then again, there was only one stone, not seven.
“Stone.”
Storm Stone. It was stuck in the lock of the main gate.
The Heavenly Dragon had obliterated everything in its path, meaning the lock had lost any meaning whatsoever now.
Boom!
Thanks to that, this place was on the verge of collapsing too.
“Lars!”
A welcome voice rang. It was Gishta.
She leaped down through the hole in the ceiling created by the Heavenly Dragon and landed right in front of me.
Wrapping my waist, she swiftly ascended the stairs.
“Gishta, what about the Heavenly Dragon?”
“Hahaha! Mother has left! Perhaps she was unhappy with the pests dirtying the sanctuary; she shone and cleaned up the Glacier Tribe in one go before soaring toward the west!”
Had she wiped out the Yetis?
―――――――――――
No. 035: Barbarian Invasion 8% → 0%
No. 039: Eye of the Storm 4% → 0%
No. 064: Troop Shortage 12% → 0%
No. 070: Great Demon Forces 11% → 0%
…
13 endings have been deleted.
―――――――――――
“Phew.”
Great, it’s done.
With this, there would be no appearance of the Great Demon in the continent, and the event of having to fight against the barbarians had also vanished.
One less Heavenly King to take down and the unpredictable barbarian event vanishing was more than welcoming.
The hardship put in had been worthwhile.
“Lars, this place is about to collapse. Hold on tight. We’re escaping!”
“Wait, we have to grab the Storm Stone.”
“I had almost forgotten about it!”
Just as we were about to exit, Gishta suddenly hit the brakes and turned her body.
Boom!
At that moment, the floor collapsed, and Gishta plummeted down with the door.
“Hey!”
I clung onto the railing, standing firm.
As dust swirled and heavy debris obscured my vision, suddenly—
Kaboom!
Amidst the rubble, Gishta sprang up, shaking her head.
Even while sustaining numerous injuries, she was diving into the collapsing stone gate. That had to hurt, yet she smiled eagerly.
She came striding toward me and held my hand tightly.
“Here, Lars. This was an important item for you.”
In my hand was the Storm Stone she had brought.
“You’re quite tough.”
There’s a limit to recklessness.
With the Storm Stone between us, I grasped her hand for a handshake.
“Thank you, my friend. I’ll make good use of it.”
“Hahaha! Of course, you should!”
Gishta and I climbed the stairs together.
We moved towards the surface.
“Teacher, I’m glad you’re safe.”
Tanya and Bruno welcomed me.
The doctors from Moonlight Palace too.
And there were the Knights, intoxicated by the victory after defeating the Yetis.
“It’s over.”
After all the trouble of trying to heal not just a human but a dragon in this unbearably cold wilderness…
I wanted to lay down and rest by the fireplace.
“It’s over, Lars.”
Gishta quietly said to me.
She smiled, yet oddly gazed toward the ice plains with a sense of nostalgia.
And then.
A message popped up on my status window.
―――――――――――
Warning
· You are at a crossroads.
· This choice cannot be reversed.
· Good Ending List
· ■■■ ■, once again ■■ at 21%
· Melt away, ■■ and continue 85%
· ■■■ ■■ 0%
· There is only one ending.
―――――――――――
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