We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Evil beings.
The miasma spewing from the cracks that appeared in the moonlight rapidly contaminated my vision, turning it black.
Even so, I used Spatial Jump towards the roaring evil sun burning deep within the Demon King’s chest.
With the first Spatial Jump, I dodged the swarm of demons that lunged at me.
While sensing Airi-san’s Dragon Sword Dance kicking away demons behind me, I activated my second Spatial Jump.
Along with the spewing miasma, the Demon King’s miasma robes began to revive.
The hems of the robes, fanned by the miasma from the cracks, fluttered chaotically.
Immediately after the Spatial Jump, I swung my White Sword towards the miasma robes bearing down on me.
The White Sword, filled with Dragon Energy to its tip, easily tore through the miasma robes.
However, it was different from before.
When Airi-san had dispelled the miasma robes, the torn fragments had dissipated into mist and vanished instantly. But the miasma robes I cut with my White Sword were merely split like torn cloth, and the remaining robes continued to attack me chaotically.
Was my power not reaching Airi-san?
No, that’s not it. The efficacy of the Great Magic Arts was gradually fading!
Only my impatience took over.
But that was the Demon King’s objective. To steal our composure and incite despair. And to buy time to break through the Great Magic Arts!
I calmed my mind to the predictable trick.
I slashed through the approaching miasma robes and repelled the demons that attacked from blind spots. While doing so, I gathered strength to prepare for the next full-power Spatial Jump.
The darkness of the revived miasma filled my vision.
If I didn’t keep dancing the Dragon Sword Dance and dispelling the miasma with Storm Dragon Arts, I’d be swallowed by the deep miasma in an instant.
The black miasma began to swirl around me.
But the Demon King’s miasma robes easily bypassed the Storm Dragon Arts and attacked me. And, much faster than before.
As expected, the effect of the Great Magic Art “New Moon Array” was starting to wear off, and my movements were losing their sluggishness, regaining an unsettling speed.
Dodging the miasma robes that attacked without regard for the Storm Dragon Arts, I activated my third Spatial Jump.
Just a little more.
Visibility was poor, and I could no longer see the Demon King’s bright red core that I could see moments ago. However, I could strongly feel its presence.
No matter how fierce the Demon King’s attacks became, if my sword could reach its core, we would win!
But the Demon King knew that just as well.
As a final resistance, the Demon King let out a roar that resonated through the air.
“The bull’s head has already revived!?”
The Demon King’s skull was obliterated without a trace by Old Man Sleigsta’s Great Dragon Arts the first time.
The second time, it was annihilated by Yufilia and Nina’s ultimate techniques only a moment ago.
Yet, if it has already revived its bull skull, its recovery speed is terrifying.
And then, the Demon King showed even more terrifying hidden strength.
*Grind. Crackle.* Every time the Demon King roared, shaking the air, the moonlight cracked.
Miasma overflowed from the cracks, and demons crawled out.
Now, it was a race to see whether Ruiseine’s Great Magic Arts would be broken first, or if I would reach the Demon King’s core first.
However, as if to block my path as I tried to activate my fourth Spatial Jump, a new swarm of demons surged forth!
“Grrr, just a little more!”
Before I could activate Spatial Jump, the demon tentacles lunged at me.
I had no choice but to evade. With that slight movement alone, I felt as if the core I sensed nearby had retreated far into the distance.
“Ah…!”
The moonlight shattered.
The cracks became finer, and the moonlight thinned.
Still, I continued to dance the Dragon Sword Dance without giving up.
I mowed down the surging swarm of demons and activated my fourth Spatial Jump.
The final Spatial Jump.
The scenery that next filled my vision was the evil sun, swaying in a sea of black miasma.
“This is it, we win!”
Pouring power into the White Sword I held in my right hand, I swung it down towards the Demon King’s core.
The White Sword, imbued with Dragon Energy and shining white, bisected the core!
“…Wha…What!?”
The future I was supposed to see became a phantom.
The White Sword I swung down.
However, it did not reach the Demon King’s burning core.
“Kukuku… Ahhhaaha! Ahahahha!”
My White Sword’s slash was blocked by a scythe.
A bull’s skull. Dragon Race fangs. Its skeletal upper body was clad in miasma robes.
Before my eyes. A miniature Demon King emerged from the Demon King’s burning giant core and blocked my attack!?
That wasn’t all.
From the evil sun, more and more miniature Demon Kings appeared.
Transmitting the high-concentration miasma filling the surroundings, a small group of Demon Kings surrounded me.
I can’t believe it, to leave such an evil trump card for the very end!
“Damn it, take this!”
With the Demon King’s core right before my eyes, I danced the Dragon Sword Dance.
I repelled the small groups of Demon Kings attacking from all directions, trying to strike the Demon King’s core with my sword.
But I couldn’t reach it. Moreover, the Demon King that blocked my White Sword pushed back my attack.
I was sent flying by the powerful recoil.
“Ahhhh!”
The Demon King, with only its upper body protruding from its brilliantly burning red core, glared at me with red eyes. Then, it rattled its bull skull, mocking me for failing to achieve my objective by the narrowest of margins.
“Ah… Mu… Da, Da.”
The Demon King made an unpleasant sound.
No, it was speaking!?
My eyes widened in shock.
“You… guys… Lose…”
The Demon King spoke with a twisted pronunciation, like an Evil Race member.
A cold dread, more intense than ever before, ran through my entire body. From the Demon King’s core, which was right before my eyes, another, miniature Demon King emerged.
Though I call it miniature, that’s only in comparison to the colossal Demon King that fell from the sky; the newly appeared individual was sufficiently large.
Even now, while repelling the small groups that attacked without pause, I danced the Dragon Sword Dance. While doing so, I looked at the master that emitted the eerie voice, that is, the newly appeared individual Demon King.
As before, it had a bull’s skull, dragon horns, a skeletal upper body clad in miasma robes.
However, there was one difference from the others.
Its entire body was burning crimson.
It looked as if the evil sun, the Demon King’s core, had taken a physical form.
And its size was comparable to that of an Earth Dragon.
“Guararara… Kukuku.”
It rattled the teeth of its skull and let out an eerie growl from the back of its throat.
“W-What is this!?”
The unexpected development disrupted my Dragon Sword Dance. Seizing the opportunity, the small groups of Demon Kings that had appeared earlier surged forth!
“Kuh.”
Unable to help it, I retreated another step.
The Demon King’s core, which my White Sword should have reached, gradually receded. At the same time, the impatience I had suppressed began to grow.
Just a few more steps. Just one opening. If only I had that, I could bisect the burning evil sun and defeat the Demon King!
*Crack.* The moonlight beneath my feet shattered.
Every time the moonlight shattered, the miasma intensified, and the Demon King regained its strength.
I felt each of the small groups gradually growing stronger through my sword tip. While at first I could easily bisect them, now there were individuals who could parry my Dragon Sword Dance with their weapons.
Moreover, from the Demon King’s core, a crimson individual unlike any I had seen before appeared, exuding a malevolent miasma and killing intent that made one’s body shrink in fear.
Would I make it in time?
Could I deliver the final blow to the Demon King’s core before Ruiseine ran out of strength?
*Crack.* The moonlight scattered and broke.
Like pottery, the shattered fragments danced in the air, empty, and then vanished.
There was no time.
And yet, no matter how much I danced the Dragon Sword Dance, I couldn’t reach the core; in fact, I was being pushed back.
The crimson burning Demon King individual cackled at me, mocking me.
Could it be that my attacks would never reach…?
Despair crossed my mind.
If the Demon King’s complete resurrection and ascent into the sky were to happen again, it would be irreversible.
However, my despair was doubling with each passing moment.
Everyone tried so hard.
Ruiseine desperately used her Great Magic Arts.
Was I unable to live up to everyone’s expectations…?
Whether it was despair or the miasma, my vision turned black.
“Hmph. Ruiseine, keep going!”
At that moment. Not the scenery reflected in my eyes, but the scene my mind directly perceived, Madame Madrine shouted.
Was this Wender’s Divine Art?
“Just a little longer! Elnea-kun will definitely defeat the Demon King. And I will help, however little my strength may be. So, Ruiseine, just a little longer!”
Madame Madrine raised her large staff high.
“Now, everyone, please lend me your strength.”
I saw Shrine Maidens placing their hands on Madame Madrine’s shoulders. A large number of Shrine Maidens joined hands, forming a circle and enhancing their magical power.
Madame Madrine recited a prayer and drew a pattern above her head with the tip of her staff.
I felt as though I saw a few Shrine Maidens open their eyes in surprise.
After finishing her prayer, Madame Madrine shouted loudly.
“A secret art passed down in my family line!”
With the power of the Shrine Maidens, Madame Madrine activated another Great Magic Art.
“重ねの大法術、月蝕の陣！！” (Layered Great Magic Art, Lunar Eclipse Array!!)
Full moon light shot out from the raised staff.
The shining full moon light repainted the cracked moonlight. The shadows disappeared, and the cracks were swallowed.
Following the light from the staff, shadows spread from Madame Madrine’s feet. The moonlight once again covered the Wyvern Hunting Ground, repainted by the full moon’s light.
The Demon King’s movements, which had begun to regain strength, became sluggish again. The outpouring of miasma and the appearance of demons from the cracks stopped. And as the newly repainted moonlight enveloped the Wyvern Hunting Ground, the outer ring of light shone even brighter.
“May the Goddess’s blessings aid Elnea-kun.”
Madame Madrine prayed, beads of sweat on her forehead.
The situation that had begun to be overwhelmed by despair. Madame Madrine had turned it around. I could not waste the respite given to me!
Shaking off extraneous thoughts, I once again focused on the Dragon Sword Dance.
I believe! Everyone is lending me their strength. No matter how dire the situation, no one is giving up. So, why should I despair! I want to hit myself for even having such a pathetic thought for a moment.
I gathered strength as if to blow away my weakness. The Dragon Jewel unleashed power like a storm. Ares-chan, who had assimilated with me, mustered her strength. I drew power from the Dragon Vein, combining Dragon Energy and the Spirit Tree’s power to create a tempest.
The small groups of Demon Kings born from the evil sun attacked in unison. I parried a scythe with my Spirit Tree Wooden Sword, and with the next slash, bisected one of the small groups. Another approached from behind, swinging a rusty greatsword. I flowed my White Sword in a horizontal slash behind me, utilizing the rotation of my upper body. Along with the rusty greatsword, I obliterated the group that had swarmed behind me!
“Gugigi…IIIiiiIIiIIi!”
The small groups of Demon Kings, rattling the teeth of their bull skulls, bared their fangs in anger. Their crimson eyes turned towards me with murderous intent. While fending off the murderously charged small groups, I approached the Demon King’s core, step by step!
The crimson burning individual Demon King glared at me, approaching with hatred.
Just a little more. One more step.
Maneuvering my feet in an arc, I closed the distance.
This time, it was within reach of my White Sword!
Infusing it with Dragon Energy, I swung my White Sword down towards the crimson burning individual Demon King. The crimson burning individual Demon King raised its scythe to block, trying to prevent me from slashing the core.
“There is nothing the White Sword cannot cut!”
Long ago. I had unintentionally dulled the sharpness of my White Sword. Out of misconception, I had assumed that even a White Sword made from Sleigsta the Old Man’s fangs could not cut iron, could not harm hard objects. But that was a mistake. The White Sword, born from the fangs of Sleigsta the Old Man, who even the Ancient Dragon Species respected, was sharper than any weapon. And there was nothing it could not cut!
With unwavering will, I swung my White Sword down.
“GugugaaaaaaAAAHHH!”
The crimson burning individual Demon King let out a growl.
“Haaah!”
I too, squeezed a cry from the back of my throat, letting out a yell of determination.
And this time, I saw the future that should have been.
I bisected the scythe and cut the crimson burning individual Demon King in half. The White Sword’s blade did not stop, and with its momentum, it reached the Demon King’s core.
Without feeling any resistance in my arm, I cut the evilly burning Demon King’s core.
The evil sun split in two.
“AhhhAh…Ah…Ka…Ga-ga…Ga…Ga-ga…Ga-ka-ka.”
The bisected individual Demon King convulsed and let out inarticulate growls. It burned, emitting growls. The core also burned like an evil sun, violently scattering miasma.
“Ga…Kaka.”
I pulled the White Sword, which had bisected the core, back to my hand and gazed at the Demon King’s individual burning in the miasma sea and its core.
Was this the end?
If I destroyed the Demon King’s core, we would win. However, something felt strange!
“Ga…Kaka.”
“Is it… laughing!?”
Finally, I realized.
It wasn’t a growl. The Demon King was laughing with a distorted sound!
“Ga-ka… Ki… Nu. Kisa… ma no… Ya… Iba… Na… do… Mu-i-mi.”
“What!?”
Before my eyes, speechless, the Demon King, which should have been bisected, rejoined its body and revived. The two cores that should have split fused and burned like an evil sun.
“Ko… Shi… Wo… Yo… Ko… Se!”
The individual Demon King shouted, its eye sockets glowing bright red!
