Episode 251: Fourth Stratum Magic
Dozens of Dragons simultaneously unleashed their Flame Breath.
The wave of fire raced across the land, spreading rapidly. The Insectoid Monsters on the ground were engulfed in flames before they could escape, returning to sand.
The winged insects in the sky formed a massive swarm and charged towards the Dragons.
Most of the insects were incinerated by the “Flame Barrier,” but the higher-ranking Monsters broke through, clinging to the Dragons’ backs and wings.
Even the Ancient Dragons lost their balance, spiraling downwards.
Crashing violently into the ground, the Dragons irritably raised their heads. The insects on the ground gathered greedily, attacking the Dragons.
Furthermore, the Itsuki Monster [Kalpavriksha] released its roots into the air, wrapping them around the legs and tails of the flying Dragons.
A single root would be burned away, but many Kalpavrikshas cooperated to create a “bundle” of roots, trying to drag the Dragons down.
The Dragons couldn’t resist this, and were pulled down to the ground by numerous roots.
The other Dragons were no exception. Dozens were similarly dropped to the ground and assaulted by swarms of insects.
However, the Ancient Dragons weren’t silent.
Letting out deafening roars, they spewed intense flames from their entire bodies, incinerating the surrounding insects.
They also unleashed scorching breaths from their mouths, engulfing the Kalpavrikshas and other Monsters in hellfire.
Red flashes were unleashed one after another, instantly traversing hundreds of meters and annihilating the insects.
The insects, in turn, pressed forward with sheer numbers. Even as they were killed, they relentlessly continued their assault, finally succeeding in burying one Ancient Dragon.
However, the number of insects sacrificed for this exceeded sixty thousand.
Even so, the insects increased their momentum, attacking the Dragons on the ground. They leaped onto the Dragons, inflicting damage even as their bodies were burned.
The Ancient Dragons screamed and writhed in agony.
Just as they seemed about to collapse from exhaustion, flames rained down from the sky.
The surrounding insects were incinerated, and the Dragons were freed, raising their heads. It was covering fire from the Dragons flying in the sky. The area was ablaze, but the Dragons, resistant to fire, remained unfazed.
The Dragons gathered flames in their mouths and unleashed them all at once towards the front.
The Kalpavrikshas and other Monsters in the direct line were instantly incinerated.
After that, the fierce battle between the Dragons and insects continued, and after several tens of minutes, over ten million insects had turned to sand and vanished.
And the Dragons, too, were exhausted, most of them dead.
◇◇◇
Yuma flapped his wings, flying at high speed.
Yuma thought he could fly faster, but the [Green Lord] kept up with terrifying speed.
He stirred up a Tornado, rode on top of it, and shot down with lightning speed.
So this is what it means to control “Wind.”
Yuma tried to hit him with Flame Breath, but it was easily dodged.
He launched a compressed Fireball, but it was deflected by a “Vacuum Barrier,” flying off into the sky in a different direction and exploding.
The winged insects nearby were caught in the blast and annihilated, but the [Green Lord] was completely unharmed.
The Green Lord also flapped his wings, unleashing countless “Wind Blades.”
Each strike possessed extraordinary power, breaking through the “Flame Barrier” and reaching his body.
However, the “Wind” was deflected by the Dragon’s outer shell and dissipated. His current body was that of the [Red King], but also a body of metal.
Perhaps the [Wind Magic Resistance] ability was also activated.
If so, he had an overwhelming advantage in terms of defense. If he could land a single blow, even if he took a hit from the opponent—
At that moment, the Fireball Yuma fired caught the [Green Lord] head-on.
–Yes!!
He was certain it was a direct hit, but as the overflowing flames and smoke cleared, his joy turned to disappointment.
The Green Lord was floating there, unharmed.
–Damn it…
As expected, he had deployed multiple layers of “Vacuum Barrier,” sealing off the flames and explosion. To be completely suppressed by Wind Magic, which should have been compatible.
Yuma gritted his teeth.
If this turned into a prolonged battle, the Chimera’s transformation time would run out. He hadn’t tried it many times, but he should return to normal in about thirty minutes. There was no time left.
As he was thinking about this, the [Green Lord] moved first.
He created several “Vacuum Spheres” around him. The spheres were compressed, taking the shape of thin icicles. Seeing them, a chill ran down his spine.
The icicles were launched all at once, flying towards him.
And not in a straight line. They drew erratic trajectories, attacking at high speed.
Probably a composite technique combining Third Stratum Magic that freely manipulates Wind, and the Second Stratum Wind [Vacuum].
Yuma deployed a “Blazing Barrier” to counter, but the icicles broke through the Blazing Barrier and struck the Dragon’s scales, shattering.
–Ouch!!
He widened his eyes in surprise. They had pierced through the Blazing Barrier and inflicted damage.
He hurriedly flapped his wings, trying to evade the icicles, but they changed course like homing missiles, hitting him directly in the back.
–Gah!? Damn!
This time, intense pain ran through his back.
Strong. Incredibly strong. He thought he could easily win if he used the power of the [Red King], but the opponent wasn’t that easy.
Yuma created countless Fireballs around him, detonating the icicles that touched them.
However, he couldn’t defend against all of them, and some struck his body. Yuma grimaced in pain.
For some reason, Recovery Magic couldn’t be used while Metallization was active.
If he continued to take damage, he wouldn’t be able to move. The [Green Lord] deployed icicles around him again. It seemed he intended to finish him off with that.
–Don’t underestimate me!
If he could do it, so could he, Yuma thought, concentrating his mind and spewing flames from his body.
The raging fire gradually changed shape, taking the form of a long-necked “Fire Dragon.”
Dozens of “Fire Dragons” appeared and attacked the [Green Lord] and the icicles all at once. The moment the Dragon’s fangs caught the icicles, intense explosions erupted one after another.
The sky was enveloped in flames, and Embers rained down on the ground. The sky above was covered in black smoke, and nothing could be seen. Yuma waited patiently for the smoke to clear.
Gradually, the black smoke dissipated, and the [Green Lord] revealed himself.
He thought it didn’t work after all, but there was one difference.
The Green Lord’s wings were slightly burned. One of the Dragons had slipped through the “Vacuum Barrier” and inflicted damage.
Although the Vacuum Barrier couldn’t be broken, this method might work.
Thinking so, he tried to create “Fire Dragons” again, but the surrounding air suddenly changed. His skin tingled, and it became difficult to breathe.
What? Yuma was bewildered and looked around.
It seemed like nothing was there, but he gasped and looked up. Yuma was at a loss for words.
There was a cumulonimbus cloud so huge that he had never seen anything like it before.
–When did that happen!?
It rumbled and swirled, and he was struck by the sensation that the thick clouds were falling.
This is… bad! Just as Yuma was about to leave the area, an immense wind blew down from above.
Pressure as if the sky had fallen. A mass of atmosphere crushed his entire body.
–Gah! Aah…
He could no longer stay afloat. Losing buoyancy, he spiraled downwards. He was slammed into the ground, his body sinking into it.
The overwhelmingly intense “Wind” made it impossible to breathe properly. He desperately tried to raise his body and head, but the pressure of the wind wouldn’t allow it.
He could barely see the winged insects in the distance falling to the ground one after another, being crushed.
A super-large Downdraft affecting a wide area.
Could it be… this is… [Fourth Stratum Wind Magic]!?