Chapter 193

CHAPTER 113 The Ex–Demon Lord and the Scholar God’s Lamentations (Part I) “I think it’s possible to convince Verda to join us,” I said, throwing a stone into the lake of silence. “The scale weighing her father against her friends is starting to shake.” “I don’t suppose you have any proof?” Alvarto asked after a moment. Olivia answered before I could. “The Original, right?” I nodded. “Yeah. In the last skirmish, Verda didn’t use her Original or activate any of her supernatural abilities.” Verda’s supernatural gifts were creation and destruction. If she used her Original, those abilities in their ultimate form, she could have destroyed us all. Yet she had refrained. She’d chosen not to follow the obvious route to victory. Alvarto crossed his arms and bobbed his head in approval. “I think I understand. You believe it’s a worthwhile gamble.” Now that Alvarto agreed, Olivia moved the topic to its next point. “So, how do we get to her?” It was an obvious dilemma. Verda clearly had no intention of talking with us. Since she’d infiltrated Kingsglaive and made it her fortress, we needed to speak face-to-face for our words to have any hope of reaching her. That meant securing a path to breach the capital. “We’re already working on that issue,” Alvarto said. No sooner did he finish saying as much than someone appeared behind him, a beautiful girl in gothic attire. It was Kalmia. Outwardly, she resembled a human, but she was actually one of the three Great Holy Swords, and her blade name was Dilga Zervatis. Alvarto had deployed her as a scout. Always thorough, that guy. “Kalmia—your report.” “There are no means of entry from the sky or from on land. In one aspect, the land route appeared to be comparatively easier, but I believe it’s a bluff. She’s likely set undetectable traps.” Alvarto’s gaze went to me. “Ard Meteor, couldn’t you use your supernatural ability to neutralize the traps?” “I think it’s safe to assume she’s considered that and prepared some countermeasure,” I replied. “In other words…there is no clear path forward, from the air or the ground,” Alvarto concluded. Everyone groaned dejectedly. All except for Elzard, that is. “Okay, then, we’ll bust in by air.” She spoke as though issuing an order. Alvarto cocked an eyebrow. “What’s your rationale?” “It’s always evidence this, rationale that with you, isn’t it? Who gives a crap?” “What the hell are you suggesting, alligator brain?” Alvarto massaged his temples as though beset by a headache. Ignoring it, Elzard said, “Dragons rule the skies. I’m not gonna let it end this way. I won’t let my last move be a retreat.” “Defending your pride is no justification for endangering the rest of us. A primitive lizard should know when to shut up.” “No, you shut up, you piece of trash.” “Piece…of trash?!” “Or should I call you useless—does that make more sense? And it seems the three Great Holy Swords aren’t worth much, either.” “……Al, it’s okay if I kill this woman, right?” “Now’s not the time. Let’s focus on what’s important.” After a heavy sigh, Alvarto looked at me. Presumably, he was saying that I would have to decide. Everyone else seemed to agree with him. “Hmm… Elzard, do you have the confidence and commitment to make it work?” I asked. “I will open the way. Any complaints?” No one said anything, meaning we had our answer. “Very well. Show me you’re worthy of your reputation as the Frenzied King of Dragons.” Elzard nodded confidently, then transformed into a giant white dragon. Everyone climbed on her back. “Okay, Elzard, time for a little payback.” “Don’t make it sound like I lost, Ard Meteor.” Elzard took off. Spreading her three wings wide, the Frenzied King of Dragons soared through the great blue sky. “We’re almost within attack range. Is everybody ready?” I asked. We weren’t relying solely on Elzard to get in. We all had to attack together. And I saw that everyone was ready. Their hearts were as one. “I guess…they really were good allies, after all,” Rogue whispered. The attacks came shortly after—shining orbs and scorching-hot fragments. They flew straight at us. “Pathetic! You can’t down a dragon that easily!” Elzard charged with a valiant roar. She pushed through the assault, ripping the atmosphere and dodging every projectile. She flew faster by the second. “Does the word caution not exist in your vocabulary, you stupid gecko!” “Hah! I don’t need caution when you guys are with me!” Her speed was proof of her trust in us. She knew that if she faltered, we’d pick up the slack. Ginny gasped. “The Frenzied King of Dragons…trusts us…” I nodded from beside her. “She’s put all her faith in us, Ginny. Answering with anything less than our best would be an insult.” “I believe you’re right.” Ginny gripped the red magic spear she’d borrowed. “Weapons ready. A new attack is incoming.” Olivia’s therianthropic vision saw what we couldn’t. A few seconds later, a wave of strange creatures was closing in. They weren’t monsters but test animals Verda had modified. “There’s a ridiculous amount of them, but it won’t be an issue,” Alvarto remarked. “It certainly won’t, Al.” Reading her partner’s thoughts, Kalmia changed form. The beautiful girl was now a Holy Sword that shone in seven colors. “We’re going in, Kalmia.” “Yes, sir.” Standing on the dragon’s back, Alvarto held his sword high and invoked the ancient chant, “Vasq helgeqia vol nagan.” Then he unleashed his giant attack. “Galva quesar!” From his sword came a multicolored surge of destructive energy. It was an ultra-wide-range attack, large enough to cover the entire sky. The enemy force was nearly eradicated, but hard scales protected their bodies, so a fair number remained. “Hey, don’t hold back on me, Adelaide.” “It will be hopeless if we exhaust our powers now. Get that through your dense reptilian skull.” As Elzard and Alvarto bantered, Olivia quietly said, “I’ve got it.” Despite her cool tone, her heart was on fire. After drawing the Holy Sword hanging at her hip, she kicked off the dragon and flew into the air. Olivia sped through the sky like a shot. And then— “Slash.” The giant enemy nearest to her split in two with one stroke of her sword. She used its falling corpse as a platform to jump up and do the same to the next one. She repeated this over and over. No matter how tough the enemies were, they might as well have been paper to Olivia’s sword. She slashed, slashed, slashed, and slashed some more. “It’s over.” Once she’d cleaved the final creature in two, she jumped off its corpse and returned to us. “Olivia vel Vine, your skills remain as keen as they ever were,” Alvarto praised her. “Oh…this was nothing.” Alvarto had made the first attack, and Olivia finished it expertly. Ginny gripped her spear as she beheld the heroism of the Four Heavenly Kings and whispered, “If nothing else, I hope I’m not a burden…” “Don’t beat yourself up… You have your own strengths.” Ginny’s eyes went wide at the unexpected words of encouragement from Rogue. I was a little surprised, too, but this was no time to be distracted. “I doubt this is the end of it,” I said. We’d vanquished the vanguard, but it was undoubtedly just the first wave. Sure enough, the next force arrived before long, twice as big as the last. That said, the enemies were too weak to be much threat to us. We repeated our tactics from the first skirmish and cleared this second one without any trouble. The same went for the third and fourth. “That’s odd,” I said. “These enemies are awfully weak, considering Verda’s controlling them.” Rogue considered this for a moment. “I believe she has her hands off the reins.” Judging by the way the enemies moved, he was probably right. “But why? It doesn’t make sense,” I replied. “I don’t see the logic, either. Regardless…” “Yeah, we should take the win.” Such weak defenses made it easy to punch through and reach Kingsglaive without an issue. However, just as it seemed things were turning in our favor… “Nngah?!” …Elzard’s giant body froze. It was as if she’d slammed against an invisible wall. No, not as if. That’s what happened. Glaring at the invisible wall before us, Rogue and I immediately realized the culprit. “It’s a barrier.” “It’s not surprising that she has one in place.” “Mmmrrrggg! Well, thanks for telling me! You double dummies!” “Had you given it any thought, it would’ve been obvious.” “Do you have Sylphy-level intelligence, Frenzied King of Dragons?” “Oh, now you agree on something, you jackasses?!” During the exchange, I used my supernatural abilities—analysis and control—to examine the barrier. “Hmm… This is an impeccable last line of defense.” “Guess half-baked tactics won’t breach it,” Rogue said. While we thought about how to proceed, a hole the color of darkness ripped open in the sky around us…and a flock of monsters flew from it. Idling here would make the situation worse by the minute, compounded further by the fact that we were in the air. “Everyone, get rid of the pests for us,” I commanded. “Hah… So it’s our job to buy you time,” Alvarto groused “That’s right. Rogue, Elzard, and I will destroy the barrier.” After I’d confirmed everyone’s duties, we got to work. “Olivia, you’ve got this one,” Alvarto said. “I don’t want to use up any more magic. Ginny Salvan, you and I will cover her. Got it?” “Y-yes, sir! I promise I won’t let you down!” “That’s the spirit… Impress me!” While Alvarto attacked with his Holy Sword and Ginny with her spear, Olivia jumped off Elzard and into the flock of monsters. Meanwhile, as combat raged, I called to Elzard. “Let’s re-create the past and how our relationship has evolved through our cooperation. In other words—let’s show her a spectacle of incredible feats, Elzard.” “Of course, Ard Meteor! I welcome any challenge.” I shot a glance at Rogue. Since he was another version of me, he understood my intent without words. He nodded in the affirmative, and I said, “Initiating Code Sigma. Match me, Disaster Rogue.” “Initiating complementary technique formulation in ten…” I was about to perform my greatest feat, Ultimatum Zero. It only worked if it came after my Original spell. It expended quite a lot of magic. But now that I had gained the help of a unique existence, another version of myself, we could synchronize and spend only half the strength. As we got everything ready on our end, Elzard made her preparations. “Fourme. Evisa. Gwyneth…” A golden magic circle appeared before her. Immediately after, my black magic circle appeared on top of it. “Evsim. Lufasa. Urvis. Azura…” “Magic at sixty percent…seventy…eighty…ninety…” A memory surfaced in my mind, one of when Elzard kidnapped Ireena, and we hurled our greatest attacks at each other in a fierce battle. This demonstrated how we’d changed. “Let’s go, Ard Meteor…!” “I’m ready when you are, Elzard.” Our breathing harmonized. “Begone! Elder Breath!” “Ultimatum Zero—fire!” A blue current burst from the golden magic circle, and a red one surged from the black array. In one breath, the two beams of light erupted, binding themselves as they flew. The process fused both forces, red and blue, into one destructive vortex of unprecedented proportion. The incredible attack struck the invisible barrier. “With our powers combined, there’s no barrier we can’t break,” Elzard declared. “Indeed. This is mere tissue paper to us,” I answered. The invisible barrier shattered after a struggle that lasted only a few seconds. It sparkled like broken glass in the sun and rained down to the ground below. “Perfect timing…” Olivia had just finished off the final giant pest and jumped off its body back to us. “Okay, I think it’s safe to say we’ve proved ourselves worthy for the fight ahead,” Alvarto said quietly. “Hey, Ava, got something to say to me?” Elzard needled. “Do you want me to praise you, you stupid newt?” “No, idiot, I want you to apologize…idiot.” “Hmm? For what?” “You mocked my powers, yet the barrier has been completely destro—” “Ah, yes, thanks to our backup, you were able to break through. Had you been working alone, you would’ve been blasted out of the sky. Swatted like a mosquito. So you should thank us, you pathetic gecko.” “Get your will in order, okay? When this is over, I’m killing you.” I shrugged at their malicious banter. “Brace yourselves, everyone. Alvarto’s right. We proved we can stay in this fight with that last maneuver.” After I broke up the squabble, I turned to Elzard and said, “It’s time to land.” We made our descent into the ancient capital of Kingsglaive, Verda’s fortress. Our destination was directly below, a laboratory thought to be Verda’s base of operations. The dragon’s giant body came to rest on the ground with a heavy rumble. Not a moment after we dismounted, someone arrived to welcome us. “I thought it was you guys.” Verda emerged from the lab entrance. “Oh, what a pleasant surprise,” I said. “I assumed you’d stay holed up in your base until the very last minute.” “Why bother…? You were gonna eventually make it to me anyway. It would only waste time. Besides…” Verda trailed off. A hole the color of darkness formed behind her. The words that followed signified her complete rejection of us. “I’ve been looking for new test subjects. I’d be glad if you guys would volunteer.” Her voice was icy cold, and her eyes seemed to lack color and emotion, giving them an inorganic appearance. I couldn’t help but remember when I’d first met her. She’d looked at me with those same eyes. “You are the sincerest person I’ve ever met,” I said. “You don’t know how to lie.” One of Verda’s eyebrows twitched, but she otherwise didn’t falter. “I hate you… I hate all obstinate people like you.” Then she charged. Verda Al-Hazard. A former Heavenly King. My friend was lost and confused, wandering her path. Facing her, I declared, “Sometimes, feelings can only be understood through a clash. “So let’s fight, Verda.”