“Side Mana”
I am currently fighting numerous monsters alongside Eos, and my summoned beasts Luna, Spica, and Sirius. Thanks to my evolution into an Ancient Elf, Luna has also evolved from a Carbunculus into a rare species called Star Ruby. Although her size remains the same, her tail has become trifurcated and the gem on her forehead has intensified in color, making her evolution immediately apparent. Having been together for over ten years, I was incredibly happy when Luna evolved. Spica evolved into a War Horse during the Slume Lord subjugation battle, so the only one of my summoned beasts yet to evolve is Sirius, the Ice Rock. However, it is said that Summoning Mages who evolve into the Ancient Class bestow their magic power upon their summoned beasts, thereby accelerating their evolution. Furthermore, Summoning Mages can utilize their summoned beasts’ magic power as their own, meaning the evolution of their summoned beasts directly translates into their own 강화. Moreover, as I have formed a Dragon Resonance Contract with Eos, an Emerald Dragonian, it is no exaggeration to say that my offensive power is unparalleled among Summoning Mages. While Mako is also a Summoning Mage, she prefers a battle style as a mage and is also an Engraver, so she is a bit different.
“Mana-sama, I have confirmed a Shadow Hide and a Lava Crocodile within that horde.”
The monsters we are currently fighting are predominantly of the Viper and Lizard species. Eos is currently felling a Magma Crocodile with her dual hand axes, Lapis Light Bardiche. Eos has spotted an anomalous species within the horde.
“A Shadow Hide and a Lava Crocodile, you say? While the Lava Crocodile is manageable, the Shadow Hide is troublesome.”
The Lava Crocodile is the guardian of the Accordal Labyrinth, northeast of Float, and has been defeated many times. With our current Ancient Class strength, we should be able to defeat it alone. It is a P-I rank Crocodile species that manipulates lava, but due to the high number of subjugations, countermeasures are well-known. Conversely, the Shadow Hide is an M-I rank Viper species with potent poison. It moves without making a sound, making it incredibly difficult to locate once you lose sight of it. Moreover, its poison is instantly fatal to Normal Classes and incapacitates High Classes almost immediately. Even for Ancient Classes, it can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
“Eos, I’m planning to go all out. Are you alright with that?”
“No problem. In that case, forgive me, but could you buy me some time?”
“I understand.”
For a Dragonian to transform, they need to concentrate their magic power. In the chaos of battle, immediate transformation is not possible. However, in a chaotic battle, transforming can completely turn the tide of the war, hence the need to buy time. While the transformation of a Normal Dragonian is life-threatening, Hydragonians and Ancient Dragonians do not face such risks. Therefore, I often ask Eos and Athena to transform. To have Eos transform, I repositioned myself on Spica’s back and readied my Lapis Whip Sword.
“Haaaaaah!”
I created my Unique Magic, Sterling Divider, and swept away the G-rank Magma Crocodile, P-rank Crimson Viper, and G-U rank Shadow Viper that were closing in on me. Although we missed many due to their sheer numbers, we managed to defeat the monsters directly in front of us. This should provide enough time for Eos to transform. Nevertheless, complacency is not an option, and even the poison of normal Viper species is troublesome, so I created Sterling Piaastar and thrust it forward.
“I have prepared myself.”
Immediately after I thrust Sterling Piaastar forward, Eos completed her full transformation, becoming an Emerald Dragonian. After evolving into an Ancient Dragonian, she is nearly thirty meters long, and her increased magic power is reassuring simply to behold.
“Yes. Eos, let’s go all out!”
“Understood.”
While still mounted on Spica, I moved to Eos’s back and dismounted. At that moment, Eos unleashed her Unique Magic, Burst Storm Breath, which is a fusion magic of Ether Breath (Dragon Resonance Magic), wind attribute magic, lightning attribute magic, and fire attribute magic. By evolving into an Ancient Dragonian, Eos gained an aptitude for fire attribute magic and the ability to fuse heavenly bestowed magic. Burst Storm Breath was already a Unique Magic she used, but with the incorporation of these two elements, she mentioned that its power and precision have significantly increased. As proof of this, G-rank Magma Crocodiles and Shadow Vipers were easily reduced to ashes.
“Eos, keep going!”
I then thrust the tip of my Sterling Piaastar into the Burst Storm Breath. At that instant, the Burst Storm Breath shrunk in size but expanded in range, unleashing countless light projectiles the size of lances.
The Dragon Resonance Contract with a Dragonian is very similar to a Summon Contract. When I formed the Dragon Resonance Contract with Eos, a Dragon Resonance Contract with a Summoning Mage was considered a dream for Dragonians. The reason for this is that not only are their magic powers enhanced, but by combining their magic powers, they can unleash spells of high power and wide range. Transformation is undoubtedly the trump card for any Dragonian, even those who evolve into Ancient Classes. Any damage sustained during transformation carries over to their human form, and in the worst-case scenario, such wounds can be fatal. Therefore, a Dragon Resonance Contract with a Summoning Mage, who can facilitate powerful attacks, holds significant meaning for Dragonians in increasing their chances of survival. For this reason, I was able to finally complete it with the cooperation of Yamato, Prim, and others, ensuring that Eos, who was in her transformed state, would not be overburdened. This is Dragon Resonance Magic, a spell that can only be used by those who have formed a Dragon Resonance Contract, and it was developed by Eos and me; we named it Starburst Breath. It not only boosts power but also causes Starburst Breath to rain down over a wide area, piercing and ending the lives of countless monsters. This time, we made them the size of lances, but if necessary, we can make them larger and thicker, capable of inflicting significant damage even against giant monsters. As we are both Ancient Classes, the power and scale are immense, but even with Normal Classes, it would result in power and scale exceeding that of High Classes. Lava Crocodiles, Shadow Hides, and Crimson Vipers began to sprout light thorns all over their bodies. Even the soundlessly moving Shadow Hides could not escape an attack that encompassed their surroundings.
“Eos, that’s enough.”
“Understood.”
At my signal, Eos ceased her breath. Simultaneously, the light spears embedded in them disappeared, and I confirmed that the light of their lives had been extinguished.
“This is the first time we’ve used it in actual combat, and it seems rather difficult to find the right application.”
I agree with Eos’s opinion.
“Yes. As materials, they are almost unusable. Not completely unusable, but we’ll likely be paid very little for them.”
The Lava Crocodiles, Shadow Hides, and Crimson Vipers were riddled with holes, and the Magma Crocodiles and Shadow Vipers were completely scorched, rendering their hides unusable as materials.
“There are still some usable parts, so let’s make do with what we have this time.”
“That’s true. Besides, our objective this time was to suppress the Labyrinth Flood, so there wouldn’t have been time to worry about the quality of materials.”
That’s also true. The town was on the verge of destruction, so we couldn’t have defended it if we were worried about the quality of the materials.
“Eos, let’s continue!”
“Understood.”
However, before I could dwell on such thoughts, another swarm of monsters attacked. This time it was Lightning Moths and G-U rank Crack Panthers. Panthers typically do not form groups, so it would be unusual for them to attack simultaneously with other monsters. However, during a Labyrinth Flood, the impossible can happen. Even demi-humans, natural enemies of each other, would band together and attack.
“Here we go.”
“What?!”
We unleashed Starburst Breath upon the horde of Lightning Moths and Crack Panthers. Although the Lightning Moths are flying, the range of Starburst Breath covers our entire field of vision, so no matter how fast they move, they have no escape from the countless spears of light. Or so I thought, but one Crack Panther leaped and evaded. It has wings.
“It seems there was one W-rank among them.”
“Yes. And that one is a Cliff Panther. Another troublesome anomaly, a W-rank…”
W-ranks are akin to the Winged Tribe among monsters; their wings are materialized with surplus magic. These wings enhance their physical abilities and magic power, effectively making them one rank higher than their peers of the same rank. Furthermore, their ability to fly freely might make them feel like another rank higher. Anomalies are one rank higher, and W-ranks are equivalent to another rank higher. In the case of an M-I rank Cliff Panther, this would make it equivalent to an O-rank.
“It’s troublesome, but we have no choice.”
“I will continue to provide a distraction with Burst Storm Breath.”
“Yes, please do. Sirius!”
“Gyaa!”
The Lightning Moths and Crack Panthers had already perished from Starburst Breath. However, I could see the follow-up wave of monsters, so the Cliff Panther needed to be dealt with quickly. I summoned Sirius, mounted its back, and readied my Lapis Whip Sword once more.
“Eos, please take care of Luna and Spica!”
“Leave it to me.”
I entrusted Luna and Spica, who were still on my back, to Eos and ordered Sirius to ascend. Wait… what? Sirius’s magic power has increased… it’s evolving!
“Sirius, when did you evolve?”
“Gyaa!”
Just now? Right after we used Starburst Breath? I didn’t even notice. However, I am grateful and encouraged by its evolution. When Ice Rock evolves, it becomes a G-rank Frost Bird. That alone is a considerable fighting force, but summoned beasts are also influenced by the magic power of their Summoning Mage. Thus, my summoned beasts as an Ancient Elf are now equivalent to one rank higher. This means Sirius, having evolved into a Frost Bird, has magic power equivalent to P-rank. The only P-rank familiars and summoned beasts are Yamato’s Jade, Prim’s Fluorite, Mako’s Shirayuki, and Certina’s Kraal; there have been no others, past or present. Although Sirius’s actual rank is G-rank, it is effectively one rank higher, meaning the magic I can use has increased, as has Sirius’s usable magic power. In other words, even with the same spells as before, their power and intensity have increased severalfold. As if to support me, Eos’s Burst Storm Breath attacked the Cliff Panther.
“Let’s do this, Sirius!”
“Gyaaaaaa!”
After lightly stroking its back, I gathered my wind attribute magic and Sirius’s ice attribute magic into my Lapis Whip Sword and unleashed our Unique Magic, Freeze Edge Storm. The blade was encased in giant ice, and countless ice particles emitted from its edge rode the wind to capture the Crack Panther’s body, converging in a vortex to become a massive tornado. Towards that wind and ice tornado, I swung down my Lapis Whip Sword. The immobilized Crack Panther had no way to dodge the blow and was cleaved in two, falling to the ground.
“Thank you, Sirius. But we don’t have time to linger. I’ll ride Spica again, but please provide aerial support.”
I spoke to Sirius and had it return to Eos. It whined with a slightly sad tone, but Sirius understood that fighting from Spica’s back was the most efficient, so it obeyed willingly. However, now that it has evolved safely, I must lavish it with affection once all this is over.
