The Purifying White Dragon that Mel manifested was a mere illusion created by other Blue Magic. While the Purifying White Dragon itself is a fusion magic that can be used when in the “Monster Parent” state, at this moment, she chose a different magic that was a variant of it—its name, “Purifying White Dragon Aquaculture Fishery.”
(…Why? I sense a wave of terribly mismatched naming sense.)
Mel had not yet spoken the true name of this magic. However, Rukil seemed to have sensed it. As a result, he became flustered and created an opening for himself.
“You might be skilled, but you’ll get hurt if you only watch Mel!”
“Tch!”
Immediately after parrying a blow from her former one-armed greatsword, her scythe grazed her torso. Normally, it would have been nothing more than a minor cut, but any damage, no matter how small, is still damage. Shortly after, petrification began from that spot, and the domain of that effect expanded throughout her entire body. Rukil immediately tried to sever the affected part. However, Kelvin, taking advantage of the opening that created, was faster to react.
“Surface Burst VII!”
As if landmines were buried within Rukil’s petrified body, a massive explosion erupted. Surface Burst is a magic that causes an explosion originating from the ground, but the damage to Rukil, who had become the bomb itself, was far more severe than imagined.
However, the misfortune was not over yet. No matter how trivial the reason for its origin, a small opening once created leads to bigger mistakes. Immediately after the explosion occurred within Rukil’s body, the purified white dragon fry entered the point of origin through the blastwave opening that was intentionally created. And then—
—Booon!
“Nnngh…!”
Again, and again, and yet again, new explosions occurred in rapid succession. Furthermore, these were water bombs created by bursting water, differing in nature from Kelvin’s initial attack.
(Those small dragons were also bombs…!? No, more importantly than that…!)
Rukil began to contract the pieces of flesh that had been blown away, choosing those that were not petrified. She attempted to perform emergency repairs on her body by reattaching them. She also roughly used the Black Annihilating Princess remaining in mid-air, spinning it at high speed like helicopter blades, while simultaneously attacking Kelvin and the others.
“Even after taking that attack, she’s already reattaching her limbs! That’s insane!”
“But that’s also within our calculations.”
Kelvin and the others, who dodged the black flame wings as a matter of course, closed in on Rukil. She was still in the process of recovery; though her limbs were barely connected, Rukil’s body was not yet complete, merely connected. But still, Rukil smiled.
“An admirable teamwork! Then I shall surpass both of your expectations!”
Ignoring the screaming muscle fibers, Rukil whipped one arm and swung the black flame sword erratically. Even after enduring that explosion, she had not let go of her weapon. The roaring black flames, like Kelvin’s scythe, were a forbidden weapon that should not be touched. With a decisive blow possible, Kelvin and the others could not afford to be careless. Not that Kelvin intended to be careless at all, as he aimed to enjoy the fight, nor Mel, who intended to finalize her rite.
“Black Annihilating Princess: Rampage!”
In addition to her attack, Rukil shifted her black flame wings into a state of further rampage. Specifically, each feather of her wings was imbued with an offensive intent. This change resembled Efil’s multiple firebirds, but because the size was only that of a single feather, they were extremely small, yet incomparably numerous. Moreover, with the overwhelming firepower intact, they attacked autonomously, making for a highly offensive configuration. Even Kelvin and Mel, in their “Monster Parent” state, could not emerge unscathed from this assault.
“Hahaha, a bit of an early rice shower, wouldn’t you say!? What a heated performance!”
“It’s a shame I can’t speak it, but let’s save that for the main event!”
“Wait, you can’t eat it even at the main event!”
Accepting the damage, Kelvin and the others did not stop. And they, too, never let go of their smiles. Dodging Rukil’s attacks amidst a rain of fire, they, in turn, severed her arm, continuously created explosions with the fry, and bravely pressed the close-quarters combat. All this, with two people, a husband and wife, coordinating their movements.
(Wonderful! But, at the same time, it’s strange. Enough time should have passed. Yet, why is the degradation from the Black Annihilating Princess not starting? Even though I’m bathing in the flames of the wings directly, and not just heating the space…!?)
Rukil seemed to be expecting a degradation of her abilities due to her magic, but in reality, it was a futile wish. Kuromel’s “Monster Parent” ability enhances the target’s status and fixes it at that number. In other words, if the number doesn’t move, no matter how much power Rukil unleashed, it would be meaningless.
“Ugh, *heh*, *heheheheh*! Then, that’s fine too! That is also a trial—!”
As Rukil was about to exclaim this, a part of her body crumbled into ash. As if she had burned to death in her own flames and her remnant had fallen apart.
“It finally worked. Rukil, you shouldn’t rely on the regeneration ability you were granted anymore.”
“…Tch! I see, so it was the work of Melfina-sama…!”
Rukil, having been hit multiple times by Mel’s Purifying White Dragon Aquaculture Fishery’s bombing, could no longer effectively wield the power granted by Maria. The fry created by this magic damage the enemy with water explosions. However, the true essence of this magic was not the damage, but its ability to utilize the explosion to penetrate the enemy’s body and bodily fluids, nullifying the target’s abilities from within. Unlike “Purified Hot Water,” which only required preventing external contact, this magic, once it entered the body, could not be defended against and acted directly, its efficacy being tremendous—to the point of diluting Maria’s blood.
“Hehehe, *heh*, heheheheh…! Next, next time! I will meet your expectations, Baaaaang…!”
With the blood she had left, Rukil performed a physical transformation solely for attack. If her body turned to ash, she would supplement the missing parts with black flames. If the firepower was insufficient, she would even burn her own blood. Believing there was always a chance for reversal, she persisted. Like Kelvin and the others before, she had not yet given up on victory.
…However, the dilution of Maria’s blood meant the loss of the vast magic power that blood supplied. Even with a strong spirit maintained by the divine authority of “The Great Saint,” Rukil, having lost all her previous strengths, had virtually no chance of winning.
“You fought well to get this far. Today has been the best beginning for us.”
“When the rite begins, let’s eat delicious food. Rukil, you too, of course.”
The battle ended, and what remained on the battlefield were Kelvin and Mel, and Rukil, supported by the two. Her entire body was petrified, her form sparse, with the wound from being impaled by a spear on her chest, she was in a state of suspended animation with a look of relief on her face.
