TL/Editor: raei
Status: ongoing
Illustrations: none
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-How dare these lowly humans!
RUMBLE!
In the final chamber of a nameless temple deep within the demon realm.
A chamber more like a hall, where a demon dragon unleashed unimaginable demonic energy in tremendous rage.
The temple, built from black stone said to withstand even divine power, was crumbling.
However-
"It's going to use its breath. Everyone to me."
No fear could be found in the eyes of the hero party facing this dragon.
FLASH!
They had grown incomparably stronger than before, having overcome countless greater trials.
The dragon's breath shot straight toward the party but was deflected in an unexpected direction by Tirian's "Gravity Distortion."
Then-
CRACK!
Rain transformed into a lightning bolt and shot forward, CRUNCH!
Severing most of the muscles supporting one of the dragon's legs.
This was possible because the dragon had used most of its power and grown tired from their battle.
-...!
As the dragon stumbled off balance, Turzan appeared before it as if on cue, drawing back his shield arm to maximum.
SCREECH!
Massive holy power from Elysis was inscribed on Turzan's shield.
Without hesitation, he drove the shield now glowing with brilliant golden light into the dragon's body.
BOOM!
The dragon finally collapsed to the ground.
-RAAAH! You damned insects...!
As it quickly rose again with a roar of pain and rage, its movement suddenly stopped.
The dragon's eyes caught sight of a massive silver sword falling toward it from above.
CRASH!
The silver sword pierced through dozens of defensive formations in an instant, reaching the dragon's body and causing a massive explosion.
Rising dust clouded visibility.
When it cleared, the scene revealed was a decapitated dragon and a silver-haired woman staring at its corpse.
"Nice one, Claire! That guardian was the last one, right? Can we see that divine artifact now?"
Rain approached Claire with an excited voice.
"If we obtain the divine artifact, would you allow me to examine it? I'd like to understand how divine power functions."
The divine artifact's reputation must have been quite high, as even Tirian, who rarely showed emotion besides annoyance, couldn't hide his excitement.
"Though I don't typically rely on weapon power... a divine artifact certainly piques my curiosity."
"The materials must be completely different from ordinary weapons?"
"Perhaps it's not even a physical object but composed entirely of formations or divine words."
Seeing her companions excitedly discussing the divine artifact reminded Claire of times before her regression, bringing an unconscious smile to her lips.
"Wait! A message from the Order!"
Elysis, who had been silent with an odd expression, suddenly raised her hand.
"A message? So suddenly?"
Her companions' eyes filled with questions.
Though it was natural for Elysis as a Saintess to communicate with the Order regardless of location.
But until now, the Order of Light had never sent messages.
This was quite unexpected.
"Yes, specifically a message from Prince Zion through the Order."
"What's the content?"
Claire's expression slightly hardened at mention of Prince Zion as she urged Elysis to continue.
Every word from the Zion Agnes she had seen carried deep meaning.
A message from him must surely contain important information.
"He says to depart immediately for his designated location..."
Then-
'Could it be already...!'
Claire's eyes began trembling as she heard the location from the Saintess's lips.
---
"Y-you are...!"
A trembling voice left Richt's lips as he watched the red-eyed woman slowly emerge from the magical car.
Though this was his first time seeing her in person, he knew who this woman greeting him was.
One of those who had devastated Ouroboros's central branch alongside Zion Agnes.
Some surviving members from then still feared her more than Prince Zion.
And-
'This woman being here now means... No way!'
As Richt's face drained of color upon reaching a sudden conclusion-
A top-tier spearman considered capable of matching even 'Heaven' class in pure combat ability.
'He probably has hidden power as Ouroboros's leader too, so treating him as a full "Heaven" class is appropriate.'
With this thought, darkness spread from Zion and began thoroughly searching every corner of the mansion.
From what Zion knew, Ouroboros's leader was extremely cautious and never took direct action.
He would likely try fleeing headquarters rather than preparing for battle once he realized they were discovered.
Zion had no intention of leaving future troubles and planned to deal with Ilias before he could escape.
Then-
"Found you."
Zion's eyes curved strangely as he sensed what he wanted.
At that moment-
CRASH!
Zion's form, transformed into a streak of darkness, shot straight up through the mansion's ceiling.
His favorite method for pursuing enemies indoors.
Zion always sought maximum efficiency in everything, and this method perfectly suited his nature.
After instantly reaching the mansion's top floor through the floors, CRACKLE!
He shattered the study's door and stepped inside.
He had sensed Ilias's energy from the Agnes Conference here.
However-
"This is..."
Zion's expression turned strange as he entered the room.
Ilias wasn't there.
All Zion could see was a large sphere ticking away on the desk.
"Got me."
Zion smirked as he recognized it as a magical bomb.
As the bomb's countdown reached zero-
---
---
---
---
---
---
---!
His entire vision turned white-hot.
---
BOOM!
"Did we get him?"
A middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard murmured quietly while watching the massive explosion that spread its sound throughout the capital.
His name was Ilias Palantier.
The leader of Ouroboros.
Ilias was extremely cautious.
Therefore, he always prepared contingency plans for every situation, and this explosion was one such plan.
But despite the plan's success, his expression wasn't particularly bright.
"Sigh, the losses are no small matter."
The explosion had destroyed his headquarters.
Headquarters that had been secretly hidden for decades without anyone discovering their identity.
Naturally he felt bitter about losing such a base in an instant.
"I'll need to halt all plans and hide for a while."
The headquarters' discovery meant their enemies were moving in earnest to eliminate them.
Being cautious was appropriate at such times.
"The one fortunate thing is that Prince Zion won't be able to move for a while after this..."
It was a top-grade magical bomb.
Taking such a bomb's explosion head-on with no protection - even if he survived, he must have suffered at least severe injuries.
"Though it's a shame I couldn't see it in person... Hm?"
Ilias's face, which had shown a slight smile while imagining a critically injured Zion Agnes, suddenly filled with confusion.
His eyes caught something in his shadow below.
Unlike usual, something felt wrong about that shadow.
As Ilias's eyes began trembling upon realizing the reason for that wrongness-
'Is it smiling?'
"That was more intense than expected."
A languid voice flowed from the shadow.
"...!"
As Ilias, face filled with shock at this incomprehensible phenomenon, unconsciously stepped backward-
Just slightly faster than that-
"Almost lost you."
CRACK!
A snow-white hand shot out from the shadow and grabbed his throat.