Following up from the previous day’s post.
4/5 revision.
Master theorized that the particles of light emitted from my entire body when using 【Iron Rose】 were the magical heat that accumulated in my body when using 【Combat Arts】.
Normally, it should take time to release this heat, but by constantly releasing it, I was able to maintain the 【Iron Rose】 in a continuous state. However, this release led to a massive consumption of Mana.
Master could also use 【Iron Rose】, but he consumed 10 Mana per second. The reason I only consumed 1 Mana was that, just like how skill levels were required to use normal Combat Arts, the necessary condition to wield 【Iron Rose】 was having “pinkish-blonde hair,” a sign of being blessed by a Spirit, which was why my hair color changed.
【Iron Rose】 was not a weapon skill but a 【Combat Art】 for Body Enhancement.
‘Body Enhancement’ strengthens physical abilities by circulating Mana throughout the body, consuming about 1 Mana per hundred seconds. In contrast, 【Iron Rose】 consumed a hundred times that amount.
This meant that 【Iron Rose】 was not a Skill but a 【Non-Attribute Magic】 similar to a Combat Art.
Magic and Sorcery are techniques that interfere with the laws of the world through Mana. Therefore, I believed that the magical heat released by 【Iron Rose】 also possessed the “power” to interfere with the world.
“――【Iron Rose】――”
My pinkish-blonde hair turned into a burning ash-iron color, and magical heat overflowed from my entire body as particles of light.
I felt that this state of being clad in particles of light was similar to Master’s 【Blaze】.
When using 【Iron Rose】, I could not use other 【Combat Arts】.
When using 【Iron Rose】, I could not use other 【Magic】.
I could force myself to use them, but if I tried to use a Combat Art, the magical heat would go berserk, and my body would become paralyzed. If I tried to use Magic, the Mana consumption would double. This was because releasing the magical heat caused the Mana Particles necessary for normal Magic to dissipate.
Therefore, I constructed a Magic that could only be used in this state.
“――【Real Breaker】――”
I will destroy your reality. The power I gained upon reaching Rank 5 granted me a speed nearly five times that of an ordinary person. Within the doubled subjective time, I left the Black Dragon’s claws behind.
The Black Dragon’s claws, swung again, tore through the “me” that had already passed. The particles of light extending from the Black Knife I held rejected the Black Dragon’s reality with 【Illusion Magic】.
Everything I wield is an illusion. The particles of light, wielded as a Blade, inflicted no damage but were recognized as real by the Black Dragon.
“Illusion” and “Reality” ―― “Darkness” and “Light.”
Dual-attribute Magic, like Lightning-type Magic, is more difficult. Combining opposing attributes like Light and Darkness is normally a level of Magic that ordinary people cannot handle, and even activating it consumes a vast amount of Mana. However, I made it possible by constantly releasing and turning the particles of light I wore into Magic.
An illusion created by Dark Magic. I gave it a lifelike sense of reality and presence with Light Magic. By tracing my real appearance and wearing it, I left it behind by moving rapidly, manifesting multiple “me”s in the world.
『Gooooaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!』
The Black Dragon roared. Even if everything is an illusion, it is “reality” to you.
The Blade of Illusion cuts through the Black Dragon. The pain of “death” engraved into Carla’s soul cuts into your mind, drawing “death,” which should be distant to a Dragon, closer.
The illusions with substance, following behind when I ran past and overtaking my body when I stopped, painted the Black Dragon’s hate-filled mind with “fear,” causing confusion.
The Black Dragon tries to unleash a Lightning Breath. That is the right choice. If you want to do something about the current me, you have no choice but to use an area attack. But that is a bad move. My attack to create an opening has exposed a fatal gap in you.
I jumped onto the Black Dragon’s head, which had shown an opening, gripped the Black Dagger with doubled strength, and deeply plunged the Blade into its crimson eyes, which were shaking with unknown terror.
Only Carla can kill me. Only I can kill Carla.
Black Dragon… you are not the “strongest” I aim to be.
“Now!!”
As I jumped away from the Black Dragon, whose blood was spurting from one eye, Dolton raised his voice. Believing in my words, everyone who had been waiting jumped out at once.
“――【Holy Flame】――!”
Master’s Fire Magic exploded, extinguishing the Darkness Mana surrounding the Black Dragon and burning its body, reducing its defense.
“――Blade of Wind――!”
Mira’s Spirit Magic, released in conjunction, stirred up the Holy Flame, and the Blade of Wind peeled off the weakened scales. Taking aim at the moment the Black Dragon lowered its head, regaining its senses from the pain of reality, Viro unleashed a blow with all his might.
“――【Sniper Shot】――!”
Viro’s carefully aimed blow pierced the remaining eye of the Black Dragon. The Black Dragon’s scream echoed through the ancient ruins. Overlapping with that, Nero’s roar shook the atmosphere.
『Gaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!』
Nero’s body shot through like an arrow. An ancient Claw Art Combat Art, whose name I did not know, tore apart the Black Dragon’s neck, using Nero’s roar as a medium.
“――【Hell Slash】――!”
Feld, who had rushed to the staggering Black Dragon, unleashed a Combat Art with all his strength, wearing a ferocious smile as if baring his fangs.
Crack!!
The Rank 5 Combat Art, said to have been created by Spirits for the Hero, shattered the Black Dragon’s horn while breaking the Magic Steel Greatsword that had clashed against it many times. The broken tip then slashed through its brow.
“Uoooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”
Dolton, who had let out a war cry, swung his Halberd high and brought it down with all his Body Enhancement.
“――【Fury】――!!”
The Rank 5 Two-Handed Axe Combat Art, which increases in power the more attacks one receives and turns anger into attack power, was slammed into the neck that Nero had torn apart, causing a large amount of blood to spurt from the half-severed neck.
『Gooooaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!』
Even so, the Black Dragon was not dead. The Darkness Mana surrounding the Black Dragon, which had received a barrage of attacks, intensified. The Black Dragon, once again consumed by hatred, let out a roar of anger.
With both eyes crushed, its entire body burned and slashed, the Black Dragon still tried to unleash a Lightning Breath as if spewing a curse.
But there, a Shadow running behind Dolton slammed a Magic Steel Two-Handed Axe into the neck on the opposite side of Dolton.
“――【Iron Break】――!!”
Jesha’s Combat Art slashed like scissors with Dolton’s Halberd. It was the same spot where Jesha had unleashed her Combat Art earlier, and she drove the Blade in to deepen the wound even further.
However, the Black Dragon’s attempt to unleash its Breath did not stop. It should have already been a fatal wound, but the Black Dragon’s hatred for humans was trying to unleash its final Breath, even if it meant its own destruction.
“Uryaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”
“Uoooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”
Noticing this, Jesha and Dolton put all their strength into their weapons and screamed, trying to sever the Black Dragon’s neck.
Feld’s sword was broken, and Master and Mira, who had unleashed Great Magic many times, were at their Mana limit. Small Blades like arrows and Daggers would not stop the Black Dragon. But… I will not give up until the end!
“Jesha!!”
Using 【Iron Rose】, I called out while running towards Dolton with all my might. Jesha, who met my eyes, released the Two-Handed Axe embedded in the wound and drew a Hand Axe from her waist.
“――【Raging】――!!”
Blood spurted from Jesha’s right arm, which had unleashed Combat Arts in succession.
“Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
Jesha’s blood-stained arm slammed the Combat Art into the Two-Handed Axe that was stuck in place, driving it in deeply.
《――Damn you, damn you humansssssssssssssssssssssss――!!》
The Black Dragon, with its neck half-severed, spewed curses while crackling with lightning.
《――Damn you, humans!! I will never forgive youuuuuuuuuuuu――!!》
Black Dragon. I don’t expect you to forgive me. You were manipulated by the Evil Race, robbed of your freedom, and have every reason to seek revenge. But—
“You should have died already.”
If you lay your hands on what’s precious to me… you’re my enemy.
“Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
I activated the [Iron Rose]’s Body Enhancement to its fullest and dove in from the opposite side of Jesha, slamming a full-force kick into Dolton’s Halberd.
Gakiiiiiiiiin!!
Finally, the colliding Blades severed the Black Dragon’s neck like scissors, and the Black Dragon’s head roared a thunderous lightning breath towards the heavens as its last act.
—Thump.
With a heavy thud, the severed head of the Black Dragon fell to the ground.
Slightly, clouds gathered in the sky where the lightning had struck, and as rainwater began to fall, we finally realized our victory from its coldness. We collapsed as if falling, finally able to call out to everyone with smiles on our faces.
“Everyone… I’m back.”
The battle is finally over! We finally achieved Dragon Slayer.
It was a pretty close fight, but Aria’s weapons aren’t enough to defeat a huge Monster like a dragon, so it ended like this.
The next update is scheduled for April 10th (Saturday). At the same time, the first volume will be available in bookstores!
If you see it in your neighborhood, please pick it up!