“Ugh, cough…”
As my chest was pierced, the Blood Aura that burst from within soaked into my wounds. The Blood Aura began to spread throughout my body, forcefully pulling my fading consciousness back into the light, ensuring that I wouldn’t die.
“Hehe.”
The same laugh as Rubia.
The same voice as Rubia.
The same tone as Rubia.
But the being before me, laughing, had an entirely different atmosphere.
The wounds created by Alstein’s hand did not heal.
I felt no warmth from his hand.
But the being before me smiled leisurely, as if it didn’t matter. It pulled its hand out roughly from where it had pierced my chest, thunk.
But that wasn’t the end. The Divine Power that had warmed and healed my body was now biting into me, and the hand that had stroked my head was now gripping my hair harshly.
“Nice to meet you, Noah.”
The blood-stained collar attached to my torn clothing made my whole body ache.
My neck was uncomfortably tilted, making my wounds throb.
My broken ribs ached, and my chewed lip stung from holding back screams.
But more than that.
“Oh my, Noah.”
Right in front of me.
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
The being that looked just like Rubia.
“Shall I heal you?”
I couldn’t feel the Rubia I knew.
“As usual.”
It was driving me insane with pain.
“…Ru, bia…”
I knew I wouldn’t reach her.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to.
Clutching at the tiniest glimmer of hope, I called her name.
But.
“Yes. It’s Rubia.”
The being before me thoroughly cut away even that slender hope, licking the droplets of my blood off its other hand seductively. Then, with lips stained in delight, it slowly approached my neck.
At the same time.
Swish– The Great Sword of Cartia was swung.
The heat of battle from moments ago hadn’t faded, but the Great Sword, lacking the Killing Intent, surged toward the hand gripping my hair.
Next, Frey’s sword plunged between Rubia and me, as the roots of Yggdrasil wrapped around my body, pulling me back.
In that urgent moment.
With a look of disappointment, Rubia reluctantly released my hair. Then, she reached her hand toward the Great Sword that was swung at her.
It was slow. Compared to the swung Great Sword, her movements seemed endlessly sluggish, more delicate than a fluttering flower.
But thud– the Great Sword of Cartia was weakly blocked by that delicate movement. Following that, Rubia nonchalantly stopped even Frey’s sword.
“Everyone. If I get hurt or die, Noah will be very sad. Is that okay?”
She stood up, using the blade of the Great Sword as a lever.
[A nameless brat is making a fuss.]
With a scowl, Cartia took the Great Sword held by Rubia in reverse grip and twisted his waist to thrust it upward. At the same time, brilliant Divine Power erupted from Rubia’s back. The shapeless Divine Power rapidly morphed into the shape of wings, tightly gripping Cartia’s Great Sword.
Once again, the Great Sword was stopped.
Seeing that, Cartia clicked his tongue and distanced himself from Rubia.
Meanwhile, Laila, who approached beside me, unleashed the light of the spirits, pulling the Divine Power that stirred within my body and began to slowly heal my wounds.
But that was all.
Together with Ser’s spirits, Laila’s ability, and even the busy Blood Aura working to heal me, nothing happened in the end; my internal injuries remained, only the open hole was being closed.
As my consciousness began to fade gradually.
Rubia’s arm rose up facing us. The feebly raised arm waved through the air. In response, the Divine Power swirling in the air began to seep into Alstein, who had transformed into a vacant piece of meat.
Squish– squish– Alstein’s body swelled gradually. The scattered pieces of his flesh began to wriggle and gather into one place.
Watching this, Frey muttered something under her breath and remained frozen. Unlike when she swung her sword at Rubia, her Great Sword was now surrounded by Sword Qi filled with Killing Intent, glowing with a fierce light. Each flash shattered the gathering pieces of Alstein’s body.
In the end, the body parts that had been sliced to the point of being unrecognizable created a pool of blood, engulfing each other as they grew larger. Yet, Frey’s sword did not stop. Now, it constantly sliced and scattered what one could barely call a human corpse, diligently preventing it from being completed.
Laila, who was healing my wounds, also sprang into action. Supporting my head and healing my wounds, she reached her hand toward Yggdrasil. The ground trembled as all the roots of Yggdrasil soared up from the earth. The scenery distorted. The Magical Power surged. An overwhelming pressure rolled out, making my bones ache.
With the light petals scattering gently, the gathered roots of Yggdrasil intertwined and stretched toward Laila’s hand.
As soon as the stretched roots touched Laila’s hand, the tremors of the earth ceased. The fangs of the roots, raised like a beast’s, disappeared. The distorted scenery returned, and the surging Magical Power also calmed.
What was completed was a gigantic scythe made of wood.
And a crown made of thorns that gently settled atop her head.
The image of Laila, which I had seen countless times on screen, was composed vividly.
Thud– The sound of Laila’s footsteps echoed in my dulled ears. Those footsteps were aimed at the Rubia standing opposite.
Rubia smiled as she faced her.
Laila, as if she didn’t care, was watching Alstein, who was absurdly puffing himself up.
Thud– The sound of footsteps that had grown a bit distant. Just as that lingering sound faded away, thud– a heavy Great Sword was buried at Laila’s feet.
Where the sword had flown from stood its owner.
Frey was hanging her head limply. Her arms spread wide, she was suspended by the sword’s black light, and her legs had become impaled on the black spear.
Frey’s head, pouring out blood, lifted weakly. She gazed upon the hazy figure that had been completed before her.
A thin, fine line.
Her whole body cloaked in darkness, she held crude trumpets in both hands.
The smile on Rubia’s face deepened.
Her wings fluttered gracefully. She scattered feathers made of Divine Power. The feathers floating in the air gathered behind Rubia. Thus, one by one, the wings began to take shape, wrapping around her in a total of eight pairs.
Moments later, a hand of the black figure rose.
She placed the trumpet to her mouth and grinned mischievously.
Laila’s face twisted in horror.
Despair set upon Frey’s face.
At last.
―――!
A trumpet sound that cut through the dullness of my ears resonated. It resembled the horn that brought ruin to Habron and summoned Carpen to Loholan.
But it contained a deeper despair.
It opened the sky.
Cracking and tearing, the sky finally opened.
From there emerged an unimaginably massive figure.
It was carrying lightning.
Surrounded by dark clouds.
Fur that could hardly be called such bristled sharply, and the claws on its four feet were probably double the size of the Great Sword in hand.
Alongside it were its gigantic wings, large enough to cover the ends of the world, towering high enough that even standing on the ground, its head could touch the sky.
But that wasn’t the end.
Behind the enormous monstrosity.
From the opened sky.
Dragons, known from countless games just by their existence.
Thousands of dragons were opening their mouths toward us.
In delight, Rubia spread her wings.
With her surge of Divine Power.
The grotesque light covered the sky, driving away the dark light and illuminating the entire world magnificently.
And then, she reached out her hand toward me.
Opening her mouth, she spoke.
“Let’s go together, Noah. To our Paradise.”
Simultaneously.
Standing before all this, Cartia.
Looking up at the faraway sky, Cartia said.
[Noah.]
The Great Sword fell from Cartia’s hand.
And.
An old, broken broadsword was now held in his hand.
[I don’t know what you’re hoping for or what you want yet.]
Thud– Cartia’s body, lighter than ever, moved forward.
[I have always wished for victory, and I only desired victory.]
Thud– The tips of his gently flying hair gradually lengthened, reaching down to his waist.
[That’s why I could endure. That’s why I could survive.]
Thud– The neatly arranged casual wear transformed into a worn and tattered uniform.
[But in the end, I couldn’t achieve true victory.]
Thud– Countless scars covered his body, deep and wide enough to trace with one’s finger.
[But you are different.]
Thud– The corners of his softly rising mouth, the hand that had dropped the Great Sword.
[You can definitely do it.]
Thud– Beyond the gigantic monstrosity standing on the ground, at the end of the thousands of dragon legions, the eyes that gazed upon the black sun floating there.
[So watch closely, and never forget.]
Thud– While longing for victory.
[This is the way to true victory.]
Thud– Praying for victory in the days to come.
[The Great Sword of Victory known as Cartia.]
Thud– Shone brilliantly.
[Shin Noah, your mentor.]
