Blood splashed through the air, dyeing Hao’s arm crimson. Mudoph, who had witnessed this scene up close, found his thoughts frozen, his mind completely blank, even though the battle was still ongoing.
“Guh, hmph…”
The pained voice, and the person who coughed up a large amount of blood was Glostina. Hao’s thrust had pierced her left chest. Judging by the location, her heart had likely been crushed. Yet, she was still alive and conscious. She continued to stare intently at Hao’s sharp eyes, as if pleading for something.
“You offered up your own heart? What in the world are you trying to do?”
“Ugh, as expected, Hao-chan can tell, can’t you… But I thought you’d come for me… You look tough on the outside, but you’re surprisingly easygoing… The type to go along with an invitation, aren’t you?”
“…Perhaps when it comes to battles alone.”
“Ufufu, just as I thought… Now, Mudo-chan?”
“Eh, ah! Sorry, that’s right…!”
Glosstiina’s voice brought Mudoph back to his senses, and he began to retreat from the spot. Hao, sensing some sort of strategy in his actions, also tried to disengage for a moment.
“Hmm?”
—Glosstiina’s left arm wouldn’t budge from her chest. It felt as if something sticky was clinging to it from within her body.
Glostina’s Gordia, ‘The Noble Fairy Dancing on Stage,’ possessed strong adhesive properties, making it difficult to remove once it attached to an object. Furthermore, she was currently deploying ‘The Noble Fairy Dancing on Stage, One-Winged Form,’ which amplified this adhesive property to its extreme. Even Hao, who had mastered martial arts, couldn’t discern this at first glance.
“I offered my heart… because it was necessary… To defeat you, it seemed impossible otherwise… you know.”
“I don’t know what you intend to do, but I have no intention of engaging in a long conversation. Fulfill your purpose quickly while you’re still alive. I could turn your body into dust, just like those plants.”
“Oh my, how scary… But you don’t need to worry… My final technique has already been activated.”
The clinging purple aura rapidly expanded, threatening to engulf Hao entirely. Not only in quantity but also in adhesive strength, it was becoming increasingly powerful, making it impossible for even Hao to escape on his own.
“…I see, you had such resolve. This is a parting gift for the afterlife. I shall witness the essence of that technique up close.”
“My, aren’t you kind… Well then, here I go… Yes, *bachikon*…”
Even while spitting blood, Glostina maintained her brightest smile and gave a grand wink. And then—
“A gift from the heart!”
—The moment Glostina spoke those words, the surroundings were illuminated by a blinding light. The brilliant purple light quickly swallowed the two originating it, simultaneously corroding their bodies with supreme miasma.
‘Gift from the Heart’ was Glostina’s ultimate technique, which traded her life to create an overwhelming miasma and explode it within a limited range, originating from her own heart. This technique was a sacrifice of life and limb, and her older female disciple, Gordiana, had strictly forbidden her from even creating it. However, ever since Gordiana was captured by the enemy, Glostina had broken that taboo and begun training the technique. All for the sake of rescuing her beloved older female disciple from the overwhelmingly powerful Hao.
(Dahak-chan, I’m sorry for lying to you…)
Dahak, Boga, Mudoph, the three Dragon Kings, and Glostina had trained for this day, simultaneously devising numerous plans and strategies. They had immersed themselves in preparation to cope with any development in the battle, to win no matter what actions Hao took. Naturally, these matters were shared among the four of them.
…Except for one thing that Glostina had kept secret from everyone. It was about the ultimate technique, ‘Gift from the Heart.’ She had boasted to everyone that she would use this technique to turn the tables when faced with a dire pinch. She had also told them to evacuate immediately when she gave the signal, as they would be put in danger otherwise. She had emphasized that there was no room for error with a one-time ultimate technique. …She had lied, even saying it was the best technique that could also heal herself, without mentioning its cost.
“Whoa! That Grosso guy actually did it!?”
“That’s… a strong light.”
This was why Dahak and Boga, who had returned to the battlefield at full speed, were unaware of these circumstances. Because they were unaware, they watched their comrade’s triumphant feat with excitement.
“You two are late. Tremendous latecomers. In the meantime, Glostina and I already won.”
“What are you talking about, you sweet tooth! You just came here to evacuate as planned!”
“B-but, Mudo’s support was amazing too, I think.”
“Yeah, Boga understands a little. Dahak, try to learn from him.”
“You really never shut up. But is Glostina okay? She was talking about reconfiguring her body with poison and using the resulting miasma for attack or something incredible…”
“Glostina is not someone who lies. Dahak, you should know that best.”
“Yeah, that’s true… But the opponent is Hao. I hate to admit it, but he’s not an opponent to be underestimated in the slightest. As a friend, I’m just worried.”
“Ah! The light… it looks like it’s fading!”
“!”
Seeing the receding purple light, the three began to shift their strategy to the next phase. Glostina’s ultimate technique was spoken of as a way to finish Hao. However, none of those present here were so optimistic as to believe the battle would end safely even with it. Something unexpected always accompanies any situation. To support Glostina, to pursue the mortally wounded Hao, and to prepare countermeasures against various situations, Dahak and the others continued to make the best possible moves. …However, the scene that emerged from the fading light was too cruel for them.
“…Self-destruction, huh. Not a tactic I particularly favor, but I must acknowledge that resolve. It was a fitting attack for its end.”
The light vanished. But Glostina’s figure was nowhere to be seen; only Hao, his skin turned a poisonous hue, remained. Dahak and the others momentarily stopped thinking, unable to comprehend the meaning of the scene. Nevertheless, seeing Hao covered in a large amount of blood, the three arrived at a worst-case scenario conclusion. That blood, of course, wouldn’t be Hao’s. Then, who was the owner of that blood…?
“…Hah? Self-destruction? What the hell are you talking about? Where did you get rid of Grosso?”
“It means what it says. You’re not so ignorant as to not understand that. Hurry up and grasp the situation. Force yourselves to understand. The battlefield won’t wait for you.”
The calm words of Hao confirmed that the worst-case scenario they had imagined had become a reality.
“Bastard…!”
“No…”
“Ah, ahhhhhh…!”
Anger that clouded judgment, despair, sorrow—would they throw away the chance their comrade risked their life for? Is that all they amounted to? Hao felt a slight sense of disappointment.
…However, it was at that very moment.
—*Doppaaan!*
With an enormous roar, as if the entire continent were screaming, the White Wing Land shook violently.
(This is…)
Hao, utilizing his perceptive abilities, realized it first. Isabel’s presence, who had been guarding the heart of the continent, had vanished from the White Wing Land. He didn’t know if she had been defeated or if some unforeseen event had occurred. However, it was easy to imagine that her disappearance, as she bore the role of sealing, would have a significant impact on the state of the battle.
“Glostina, to die before your older sister disciple… what kind of thinking is that? I’d like to scold you for a bit. But for now, I’ll refrain. Thanks to you, I was able to buy time until my revival. Truly, I am fortunate to have such a capable younger disciple… Now, sleep peacefully, my dear Glostina.”
Yes, for example, a development like this could occur.
