― The Central Sea Region
While Kelvin and the others were boarding the Battleship Elpis, battles raged fiercely at various locations outside the ship. No matter how many they defeated, the Armored Angels continued to emerge from the Ark, and though lacking coordination, they pressed close to the warriors on Suiren with sheer numbers and individual strength. The representatives from each country, not to be outdone, were raising their morale and strengthening their cooperation.
“Seriously, where did Goma go!?”
“I’m falling, I’m falling!”
Because the Beast King Leonhart had disguised himself as Goma and boarded the ship, the real Goma had been deployed to defend Gaun’s homeland with his older brothers. Sabato and the other Gaun Adventurer Party members, unaware of this fact, somehow managed to hold on with spirit and guts to fill the gap left by Goma. This was a trial for the Beast King in its own way, but Sabato and his companions likely had no such awareness.
“What can’t be helped cannot be helped! Let’s just hold out by ourselves somehow!”
“It’s impossible! I can’t take it anymore!”
“Well, I guess we just have to think it’s better than that place. Guin, if you run dramatically, you’ll be targeted!”
“Gyaa!”
The battles in this battlefield, where the situation changed rapidly, were all great contests worthy of being recorded in history. However, if asked to name the most intense battle among them, anyone present on this battlefield would likely point to one location in unison. The place where those who had reached an otherworldly domain fought against a fusion of dragon and god, one possessing great power.
Clad in the armor of the Divine Machine Deus Ex Machina was the Light Dragon King Sankres. Within its core was the original Zildra, serving as an immense energy source. This avatar of light, named Zildra-Sun by Tristan, was truly the ultimate life form, the culmination of Zildra. One might call it a Machine Dragon. And resisting it was a mixed unit of Efil and Mudoph, Gerard and Boga, and finally Sera and Gustav, soaring through the sky with their own wings.
“Extreme Blue Flame Burning Arrow!”
“Heavenly Destruction!”
Efil and Gerard attacked with maximum firepower from the outset. A pincer attack of blue flame arrows and pitch-black slashes, a terrifying assault that would leave nothing but dust of ordinary S-Rank Monsters, collided with the Machine Dragon.
“Fufufu, did we get it!”
“Father, that line is NG. Kelvin and Rion said it’s absolutely forbidden while fighting!”
“Hmm, why?”
“It seems to be a spoken word that makes enemies you’ve given a fatal blow to come back alive unharmed, regardless of the reason!”
“Is that so!? Papa’s shocked!”
“Excuse me, but could you two please have more sense of urgency!?”
Perhaps it was due to Gustav setting a flag, but even when engulfed by the swirling flames and slashes, the Machine Dragon’s response did not cease. What’s more, even more magic was surging from within it. The reason the attack cleared was the sight of the Machine Dragon generating something like a shield of light from the tips of its hands. Was it possible to form that shield in an instant? The moment the attack stopped, the shield disappeared.
“The same result as before, isn’t it. It’s stronger than I expected…”
“A shield large enough to envelop that entire giant body, huh. It seems like it will be quite a struggle to destroy that.”
From the feel of the attack, Efil and Gerard tentatively assumed that the Machine Dragon’s barrier was as solid as the wind barrier that Battleship Elpis had projected around itself, just scaled down. If it took the full breath of all Dragon Kings to barely destroy it, it would be difficult to break through even with Efil’s sniping bombing, which possessed super high-power specialization.
“Brother Gerard, shall we attack together too?”
“I’m still tired, but if we have to, I’ll do my best…!”
“No, even if you push yourselves now, it would be like adding fuel to the fire. For now, do not participate in the attack and continue to be on alert to see if it takes any suspicious actions.”
Mudoph and Boga, on which the two were riding, were still depleted from the previous breath. It was wiser to have them recover now rather than letting them attack rashly and become exhausted.
“I have a slight question, but even if the Light Dragon King and the Divine Pillar fused, would they become that strong?”
“Indeed, I was thinking the same thing. Even if Zildra was the core, it would be nothing more than Tristan’s puppet now. Has the reduction in the number of Divine Pillars manifested as this strength… Hmm, it’s a difficult matter!”
Efil and the others’ doubts were understandable. Efil possessed enough skill to defeat the previous Fire Dragon King alone, and the same could be said for Gerard. Even if the Machine Dragon was a fusion of a species belonging to the highest rank, it was strange that neither of their attacks had any effect.
“There’s something else that seemed strange to me.”
“Sera-san?”
“It hasn’t shown any signs of attacking at all since just now. The only time it acted spontaneously was when Efil and the others launched their attack. After dispelling that shield, it’s just hovering in the air, doing nothing. I can’t feel any motivation from it.”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true…”
Since the three were communicating via telepathy at high speed, time had not progressed significantly during this exchange. It was likely a matter of mere comma-seconds. However, the Machine Dragon was a powerful entity that had managed to create such a formidable barrier. Sera seemed to be watching intently, expecting it to move on to its next action even within this fleeting moment after blocking the attack.
“Even as we speak, there’s no particular movement from it. Is it setting a trap… I don’t feel like it, though. Hmm…”
“Could it be that its master, the Summoner Tristan, was blown far away by Azgrad-sama’s surprise attack… and it’s only ordered to defend itself for now?”
“Could such a thing happen? I and Sera are also subordinates of kings in terms of position, but we’re incredibly free, you know?”
“That’s right! I’m not usually given orders, and I’m very free!”
Gerard and Sera declared with pride. Such persuasive power.
“Th-that is because it is Master’s policy… With Tristan, I had the impression that he thoroughly controlled his subordinates as he pleased. Although Shutra-sama’s ability is used to bind them restrictively, I don’t think their behavioral principles have changed.”
“So, does that mean… Tristan is too busy with his own fight to have time to give instructions to that Zildra Dragon. And Zildra Dragon, without Tristan’s orders, can’t do anything other than defend itself?”
“…Doesn’t that mean it’s a great opportunity?”
“It’s a perfect opportunity.”
“A huge chance!”
The opinions were consolidated through telepathy. The three turned towards the Machine Dragon again, each preparing their respective weapons.
“Sera, I’d like to participate in this conversation too…”
“Oh, Father, do you want to become Kelvin’s subordinate too? I believe there’s still an open slot.”
“As a strict father, I absolutely refuse! However, if Sera insists, I wouldn’t entirely dismiss the idea—”
“—Anyway, about the plan!”
“Indeed, forgive me for interrupting!”
Gustav, who readily surrendered his turn to speak to his daughter, was as much of a Demon King as ever today.
“We’ll somehow get past that shield and finish off Zildra Dragon quickly! That’s the plan!”
“Sera, you… are you a genius!”
He was truly a Demon King.
The comic version has been updated!
