—The Fire Dragon King’s Lair
(Defeated by my flame?)
The sensation of pain in my right arm arrived late. It was a fleeting moment after finishing my transformation. The right arm of the Fire Dragon King, which had been torn off by the multi-headed extremely blue flaming dragon, was swallowed and incinerated by blue flames. However, the Fire Dragon King had no time to be lost in thought. The remaining six blue dragons, excluding the neck carrying Efil, were closing in, intending to devour its limbs.
—Gouu!
The Fire Dragon King, having incorporated the magma supplied by the volcano into its wings to gain high energy, began to expel them from behind, flying at an extraordinary speed that even the multi-headed extremely blue flaming dragon couldn’t catch up to.
“This is…”
If Kelvin and Rion, with their modern knowledge, were present, they would likely envision something akin to that of a jet fighter’s afterburner, even if they weren’t experts in the field. Bundles of flames, strikingly similar to it, were erupting from the Fire Dragon King’s wings. Not only from the rear, but by subtly adjusting parts of its wings, it could respond in all directions. This made the Fire Dragon King’s trajectory unpredictable.
“Kahaha! To be engulfed by the flames I command, this is the first time! But—”
“Still, the target’s large size remains unchanged.”
Efil’s arrow, as if to cut off his words again, was released. The scorching arrow of extreme blue flames was drawn into the irregularly and rapidly moving Fire Dragon King as if it were guided.
“Nuuu!”
The Fire Dragon King instinctively swatted away the searing talons, deflecting the blue arrow. However, a burning pain followed immediately. Despite the contact lasting only an instant, Efil’s arrow had shattered the Fire Dragon King’s talons, which were shaped by thermal energy, inflicting damage and leaving it wounded. It was as if resistance and nullification abilities were rendered useless.
“What incredible firepower! Thank you, accept this!”
Contact would inevitably lead to injury. However, the same was true for the blue flames as well. They would vanish like morning dew under the Fire Dragon King’s fierce attacks. This was a clash of specialized destructive power against destructive power. In other words, it was a battle to see who could strike the opponent with their high-power attack and incinerate them.
A radiating breath spread over a wide area. What the Fire Dragon King released was different from the crimson flames it had shot earlier. A sea of flames, released without any gaps, in turn engulfed each of the heads of the multi-headed extremely blue flaming dragon that was trying to corner it, burning flame with flame. Efil was also included in the targets, and the Fire Dragon King’s circling breath attacked her as the next target.
Even as the blue dragon desperately flew, the breath continued without faltering, turning the sky into a vortex of intense flames. Eventually, the flames that eroded everything ignited even on the necks of the multi-headed extremely blue flaming dragon Efil was riding.
“Ts…!”
Efil leaped from the blue dragon and escaped into the sky. However, no matter how agile Efil was, this situation, surrounded by the Fire Dragon King’s flames in mid-air, was the worst. Furthermore, the Fire Dragon King freely maneuvered through the sky, spewing flames from its wings. The difference in mobility was evident.
“This is the end. Burn to ashes.”
The attacking flames intensified even further. Death loomed before her eyes.
—Dogoon!
“What!?”
“I see, there is such a way to use flames. I’ve learned something.”
What Efil did was to fly by exploding an arrow at close range. It was, in essence, mimicking the high-speed movement the Fire Dragon King was currently performing. This method of flight, which could cause a catastrophe beyond mere burns for anyone other than Efil, who possessed a divine protection, was possible for Efil, who shared the same characteristics if the Fire Dragon King could do it. Furthermore, she was blowing away the flames in her path with rapid-fire bombing.
“You entertain me to no end!”
The aerial battle began anew. In the sky illuminated by the dazzling bombardment, blue dragons occasionally flew, and the Fire Dragon King’s roars occasionally echoed. Meanwhile, Kelvin and the others, who were watching this fierce battle, were…
“It’s… so bright…”
“Shutra, if you’re not used to it, don’t stare!”
Their eyes were quite tired from the brilliant battle.
“But this is just like a battle between a bomber and a fighter plane. Though one is too big.”
“Older Sister Efil, she sometimes fights with bold moves. I don’t think I could come up with something like that, even if I tried…”
“Yeah, you might get more than just burned, so definitely don’t try it. By the way, Mel, what are you eating?”
“Fuhh? Fenhfahfha (This? It fell here).”
“That’s the Fire Dragon King’s arm…”
“Mel, stop picking up and eating things! You’re a person before you’re a Goddess!”
“Fahfohonfha… (It’s delicious…)”
Just then, a suffocating pressure swept through the sky.
“Older Kel, that’s a little…”
“This is bad. Mel, eat up quickly—”
“Your Highness, now is not the time for joking.”
“Huh? Ah, yes…”
Kelvin, who was slightly unconvinced, and Melfina, who had already finished her meal, turned their attention to the place in front of them. In the palm of the floating Fire Dragon King’s left hand was a small, reddish-black sphere. It burned quietly, emitting an extraordinary aura.
“I never thought I’d have to use this.”
Efil also realized its abnormality. Several multi-headed extremely blue flaming dragons circled warily around them, and Efil began to chant a spell.
“Extreme Blue Flame Four-Directional Citadel.”
A citadel of blue flames instantly unfolded with a surge. Shaped like a die, it surrounded the Fire Dragon King like a prison, forming castle walls to confine it.
The S-Rank Red Magic [Extreme Blue Flame Four-Directional Citadel] was a terrifying spell that caused anyone within its confines to immediately lose moisture, dry out, eventually burn up, and die. Even if one survived for a few seconds and tried to escape, they would be surrounded by the highest-powered flame walls. Either way, escape was impossible, and one could only wait to be cooked. However, the Fire Dragon King smiled defiantly.
“Futile. This contains most of my power. Whether you build walls or move quickly, you can never escape.”
The energy circulating around the sphere began to rotate gradually.
“Come, despair. Come, destruction. Your arrogance in forcing me to go all out, you shall perish with it as honor. —Residual Flame Annihilation.”
The Fire Dragon King clenched its fist with the sphere, and a crimson light shot out. The moment it was engulfed by that light, the Extreme Blue Flame Four-Directional Citadel exploded, the multi-headed extremely blue flaming dragons vanished, and the surrounding volcanic群 turned pitch black and charred. It was as if everything in sight had become a target. Kelvin and the others in the distance layered green and blue magic multiple times, but they also suffered immense damage, with even their constructions being destroyed.
“Kuhaha. Didn’t I tell you? There’s no way to escape Residual Flame Annihilation—”
“That’s right. It required a little patience.”
“Wha, guh!?”
From above the Fire Dragon King, a blue arrow rained down along with Efil’s words, burning off its left arm. Though her maid outfit and headband were torn and tattered, Efil was unharmed.
“You, why!?”
The magma’s power must have been running low. As the Fire Dragon King reignited its various parts, which were turning reddish-black and had lost most of their heat, it asked.
“If you are unharmed, then I am unharmed. Isn’t that obvious?”
“You’re saying something nonsensical again…!”
“Then, I shall put it plainly. A cook does not fear flames.”
Efil nocked an arrow to her bow.
“Nuuu! Don’t think my power has reached its limit!”
Lighting up the afterburners on its wings, the Fire Dragon King’s sturdy tail approached Efil in a somersault-like maneuver. It seemed to have concentrated all the power within its body into its spiky tail, which was now wreathed in flames.
“Flame Emperor Tail Sword!”
Judging by the previous clashes of firepower, their attack power was almost equal. With their magic power and strength both dwindling, what would decide the outcome—willpower or luck?
“Mother. I’ll borrow a little of your strength.”
The hair clip securing Efil’s hair, a memento from her mother Rumill, emitted a gentle, emerald-green light. The brilliant arrow that resulted from the fusion of blue and green, released from the bow, pierced the Fire Dragon King and its tail, bringing it crashing to the ground.
