We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Spirit Tree Spirit Sword.
“What in the world are you planning to do!?”
Slustal’s expression stiffened at the sight of the Spirit Tree’s young branches and Ares-chan. I smiled at him and said,
“Of course, I’m going to eliminate the obstacles!”
“Obstacles…”
Slustal turned his gaze toward the monsters.
No monsters were pressing in around us. This was thanks to Yufilia, Nina, and Sefina-san’s dragon arts in full swing, as the divine race struggled to forge ahead. However, the monsters overflowing from the surroundings were endless. The divine race had been fully occupied with the monsters on the main street and were unable to make any progress at all. Worse still, it seemed their fatigue was starting to accumulate, and they were beginning to be pushed back by the surging tide of monsters. Nevertheless, thanks to the valiant efforts of Yufilia and the others, the monsters appearing from the surrounding buildings and the depths of the side alleys were being systematically annihilated. The reason Slustal and I could converse safely like this was because Yufilia, Nina, and Sefina-san were fighting to keep the monsters away from us.
Slustal then shifted his gaze to the Primogenitor Race’s giants. With irrational war cries, the Primogenitor Race’s giants launched spheres of miasma.
“Nyan!”
Nimia cried out. The spheres of miasma turned into white ash and fluttered down like snow upon the Underground City Ruins. Mistral seized the opening after the giants unleashed their powerful attacks. With a shout of fighting spirit, he swung his jet-black one-handed club repeatedly, shattering the upper bodies of the Primogenitor Race’s giants into pieces. Still, from their remaining lower halves, the giants of the Primogenitor Race began to regenerate rapidly. Before their heads could fully regenerate, they flailed their arms indiscriminately, destroying the underground buildings themselves. These rampaging giants of the Primogenitor Race showed no trace of the compassion or sliver of wisdom they might have possessed as guardians of the Underground City in the past.
“…N-No. Those giants are…”
“They are enemies!”
I interrupted Slustal’s words and declared.
“They might have been guardians of the Underground City and the Yūmei race long ago. But now, they are obstacles to us escaping the underground safely, and enemies who are destroying the Underground City Ruins themselves!”
I can understand Slustal’s feelings. He has protected the legends passed down for ages and watched over the Gate of the Underworld Prison. Without doubting the history and legends of the Underground City that have been told from generation to generation, he believed that guardians still existed. In fact, seeing the Primogenitor Race’s giants appear before him, seemingly to eliminate intruders, after stepping into the Underground City himself, Slustal must have felt a profound sense of awe, realizing that the legends he inherited were true. But even if it touches upon the truth, it is not right!
“Those giants have continued to absorb the curse that annihilated the Yūmei race and began to rampage by taking in the grudges of the demon race. They are enemies! If you value the Underground City Ruins left by the Yūmei race more than the survival of the giants of the Primogenitor Race, then those giants rampaging indiscriminately in the underground space are our enemies!” However, Slustal faltered. I believe Slustal understands this intellectually. Still, his heart cannot accept the sight of what has been passed down from his ancestors crumbling before him. But for us, there isn’t time to wait for Slustal to be convinced.
I unleash the third Chicken Dragon Art. My dragon arts will restore Yufilia and Sefina-san’s dragon energy, but this cannot continue indefinitely. They are in a state of repeatedly depleting and recovering their dragon energy. Even if they pretend to be fine, I think it is taking a considerable toll on their minds. Nina must also be exhausted from maintaining her focus to refine Yufilia’s dragon energy. We simply do not have the luxury of leisurely waiting for Slustal to come to terms with this.
“Ares-chan, let’s do this!”
“Going, going!”
As I called out, Ares-chan merged with me without hesitation. Inside my body, I felt a warm life force. A profound healing and compassion spread, as if I had absorbed nature itself. Then, I released the Dragon Jewel. In contrast to Ares-chan’s gentle presence, a fierce, storm-like breath began to rage within my body. The Dragon Jewel’s power overflowed like a beating heart, filling me.
“Y-You…!”
Slustal gasped again at my appearance, merged with the Spirit Tree spirit, my eyes glowing golden as my power amplified.
“Slustal-san, I will not compromise or hold back when it comes to my family. No matter what obstacles arise, I will return everyone in my family safely to the surface. So, please, do not interfere.”
If Slustal were to stand in my way to protect the Primogenitor Race’s giants, then Slustal too would become an enemy. Perhaps understanding my intentions, Slustal fell silent and continued to stare at me without moving. Once I confirmed Slustal’s will, I held the Spirit Tree’s young branches with both hands and turned to face the rampaging giants of the Primogenitor Race.
I closed my eyes once and took several deep breaths. Despite being underground, the surprisingly clear air and the heat waves of the battle unfolding around me filled my chest. Now, this is my work. To eliminate the rampaging giants of the Primogenitor Race who have lost their reason, and to annihilate all the surrounding monsters. And then, without further destroying the Underground City Ruins, we will all pass through the Gate of the Underworld Prison and safely emerge outside!
The fierce dragon energy released from the Dragon Jewel circulated within my body and suddenly erupted outwards. First, stage one. Releasing the internal power outwards, I let everything go. The released dragon energy was so dense that it was visible. As a green mist poured out from me, Slustal stared with an expression of disbelief.
The mist of dragon energy immediately began to move. Spreading like it was crawling on the ground, the dragon energy gradually began to swirl. Even though I wasn’t using Storm Dragon Arts with the Dragon Sword Dance, it naturally fell into its usual flow, and I released more power. Centered on me, the vortex of dragon energy spread endlessly. It enveloped Yufilia, Nina, and Sefina-san, who were repeating the Dragon Lance Frenzy, surpassed the divine race, and swallowed the monsters. Some of the divine race noticed the anomaly and, tracing the source of the swirling mist, looked at me. Their eyes widened in astonishment.
Spread. Spread until you fill the entire Underground City Ruins. As the vortex of dragon energy expanded its range, I could also sense the surrounding presences in detail. As expected, monsters were appearing not just around us but in every part of the Underground City Ruins. And they were all moving towards us. I couldn’t sense the presence of Guen and the others. Perhaps they had already passed through the Underground City Ruins and reached the underground passage. If I could sense their presence, I would have tried to draw them in with the vortex of dragon energy, but alas.
The vortex of dragon energy spread not only on the surface but throughout the entire underground space. A rustling sound arose, like wind. The flow of wind created in the underground space drew the gaze of several more divine race members toward me. They weren’t the only ones looking. The giants of the Primogenitor Race, who had been continuously toyed with by Mistral, turned their gaze, their entire heads, towards me. Their scorching, fiery red eyes locked onto me.
“I won’t let anyone interfere with Elnea!”
Mistral swung his jet-black one-handed club, launching an attack at the giants of the Primogenitor Race. Nevertheless, the giants of the Primogenitor Race only gazed at me, creating a sphere of miasma in their mouths. And then, with a roar, they unleashed it!
“I’ll protect Elnea-oniichan, nyan!”
Nimia’s roar echoed, not to be outdone! The sphere of miasma and the Howl of Ash collided, causing an explosion overhead. The miasma turned into white ash, dancing like snow, then was swept away by the swirling dragon energy, scattering like a blizzard throughout the underground city space.
Targeted by the giants of the Primogenitor Race, Slustal’s face was etched with terror. Although he didn’t cry out, he was clearly terrified. But I was fine. I believed everyone would stop them! The giants of the Primogenitor Race seemed to have identified me, who had unleashed my power, as their nemesis. Even after unleashing their miasma roar, they continued to look down at me, paying no attention to Mistral or Nimia. Mistral and Nimia attacked, as if to say they wouldn’t let anyone interfere with me, and obstructed the giants’ movements.
Everyone knew what I was trying to do. That’s why they were buying me time while protecting me. In that case, all I had to do was give my all to what I needed to do! I focused my consciousness on the Spirit Tree’s young branches, which I held in both hands.
“Ares-chan, here we go!”
『Go, go!』
Ares-chan, who had merged with me, cheered me on from within. Receiving Ares-chan’s encouragement, I then unleashed the power of the Spirit Tree. Furthermore, I channeled a portion of the released dragon energy into the Spirit Tree’s young leaves. The young branches that received the dragon energy became as lively as if they were Spirit Tree wooden swords. The dragon energy, flowing through the young branches, became the power of the Spirit Tree and spread outwards on the swirling flow of dragon energy.
『What a mysterious power.』
『It’s nostalgic.』
『Ah, this is it!』
Then, the spirits existing within the Underground City space began to activate. Riding the flow of dragon energy that filled the underground space, the spirits began to dance. Perhaps sensing the power of the Spirit Tree, even Light Spirits and Wind Spirits, whose numbers were said to be few underground, began to gather from somewhere, and the area became suddenly lively. Slustal and the divine race, who couldn’t sense the spirits’ presences, also began to notice the change in the surrounding air.
“Ares-chan!”
It wasn’t over just because the spirits gathered. Next was stage two. From the first stage, where I simply released all my power outwards, I moved to the next phase. This time, I absorbed the power being released into myself and condensed it internally. I even drew in the dragon veins, switching the outward-flowing power to an inward direction. The violently swirling dragon energy and the power of the Spirit Tree suddenly began to converge on me. I absorbed the forcefully swirling and gathering power within my body. I concentrated on containing the violently flowing dragon energy and Spirit Tree power within my body. I would compress all the power and suppress any wasteful release! As my power increased, the giants of the Primogenitor Race turned their attention even more towards me. However, Mistral and Nimia maneuvered to protect me as I concentrated, hindering the giants’ movements. Then, the monsters changed their tactics. Without even glancing at the divine race before them or the three sisters unleashing dragon arts, they surged towards me. By spreading the dragon energy throughout the entire underground space, I could also discern the monsters’ movements with great detail. Those were kin created by the giants of the Primogenitor Race. They weren’t monsters. Therefore, even if defeated, they wouldn’t drop Magic Crystal Stones and would appear infinitely. From the main street and roads between houses that should have been empty, monsters were born as if plants were growing. And they advanced to attack me.
“We won’t let anyone interfere with Elnea-kun.”
“We won’t allow any disruption to Elnea-kun.”
“Sisters, let’s go!”
The three sisters moved in unison.
“This is Yufi, Nina, and Sefina’s!”
“««Dragon Scale Sword and Shield!!»»”
Numerous dragon scales appeared around the three sisters as they joined hands. Some scales rotated violently, turning into sharp blades that tore through the monsters. Furthermore, other scales flew towards me and Slustal, forming shields that blocked the monsters’ advance.
“Thank you!”
I thanked them, and the three smiled joyfully. Then, they unleashed more Dragon Scale Sword and Shield attacks, supporting me. Everyone was working together and trying their best for me. In that case, I had to respond to everyone’s feelings! While absorbing the dragon energy and Spirit Tree power, which had begun to resemble a storm, into my body, I proceeded to the next stage.
Although the powerful energy residing within normally flows into the eyes, becoming magic eyes, this was not the time for that. The absorbed and compressed power was sent to the Spirit Tree’s young branches that I held in both hands. The Spirit Tree’s young branches, receiving power from me, joyfully swayed their small twigs and leaves. Then, they began to shine brilliantly with a verdant green. Just as a great tree strongly draws water from the earth, the Spirit Tree’s young branches absorbed power from me. Then, the slender, small branches, which had been shining verdant green, began to change.
『I shall grant you the thoughts of the Spirit Tree. Guide the Spirit Tree as you wish.』
The voice of the adult “Ares-san,” not the usual young girl “Ares-chan,” flowed within my body. I sharpened my mind to its maximum and called out.
“Spirit Tree Spirit Sword, to my hand!!”
As if reacting to my voice and will, the shining Spirit Tree’s young branches transformed. Ah, how nostalgic. The feel of the young branches in my hands had changed. The hardness that had long since become familiar in my left hand. And the weight. Above all, the familiar sensation in my hand made me smile naturally. The Spirit Tree’s young branches had changed their form, becoming a familiar shape. I was gripping the Spirit Tree wooden sword with both hands. However, this Spirit Tree wooden sword was different from the ones before. In fact, although the Spirit Tree wooden sword I was gripping looked just like the old one, it did not have the texture of a wooden sword. I believed it was not a material object at all. The Spirit Tree wooden sword had a familiar appearance, but it still shone verdant green. This was the Spirit Tree Spirit Sword, materialized by the Spirit Tree’s young branches as a medium, combining the power and will of my dragon energy and the Spirit Tree spirit! Slowly, I raised the Spirit Tree Spirit Sword, shining brilliantly verdant green. I aimed at the giants of the Primogenitor Race.
“Spirit Tree Spirit Sword, with all our power, all our prayers, banish all evil and bring peace to all living things.”
And then, with words imbued with power and will, I swung down the Spirit Tree Spirit Sword.
