Chapter 42: The Exiled Marquise and the Demon Realm 5
A Magicka Mass so dense it felt like I could touch it appeared before my eyes.
Is it planning to unleash its Breath directly below, ready to self-destruct? Quite the decisive move.
If it unleashes its Dragon Breath directly below, not only me but also Erika-san and the others, positioned about twenty feet away, would be caught in the blast. I couldn’t let that happen.
My thoughts finally caught up just as I kicked the Forest Dragon’s belly instead of the ground, sliding my body directly beneath its jaw. I pushed my Physical Enhancement close to its limit. I could feel Magicka mixing with my own breath.
The Forest Dragon no longer seemed concerned about me. It likely intended to blow everything away with its Breath, regardless of what or who stood in its way.
I caught the exact moment the almost tangible Magicka began to transform. It was only after I swung my Sword that I realized my body had moved faster than thought. The Forest Dragon’s lower jaw slammed shut against its upper jaw.
Seeing the Forest Dragon’s head pointing straight up, I thought I had succeeded. Now, its Breath would either misfire or be unleashed harmlessly into the empty sky—or so I believed.
So, what happened right before my eyes the next instant greatly unnerved me. After a momentary pause, the Forest Dragon’s cheeks swelled, then burst open, spraying Breath everywhere.
Like a Fountain, countless thin streams of Breath rained down all around, triggering explosions everywhere. The sheer area of destruction made me wonder if it might have been better just to let it unleash its Breath normally.
Ah, this is bad. That thought struck me just as my body finally touched down on the ground.
Erika-san and the others—were they safe? As I turned to look, I witnessed a sight even more extraordinary than the Forest Dragon spraying its Breath everywhere. Amidst the storm of destruction raging all around, Erika Solntsalri calmly intercepted only the fragments of Breath flying towards them, using her magic with pinpoint accuracy.
Even calling them fragments, the power of the Breath was incomparable to ordinary magic, yet Erika-san nonchalantly intercepted and neutralized several simultaneously. Adorned by her shimmering Golden Magicka and the white light of destruction, Erika-san smiled like a legendary hero.
Ah, just as expected of Erika-san, I thought, while simultaneously being impressed by Shara-san as well. Despite the Breath causing explosions all around her, she continued chanting her Syllable Magic incantation without pause.
Truly worthy of the woman who tried to face a Golden Ogre while severely injured. Her Guts are on another level. The fact that her eyes seemed to be rolling back slightly must have been my imagination.
My relief made me careless. I regretted that thought just as I tumbled about three times across the ground, scattering blades of grass.
On the fifth rotation, I stabbed my Sword into the ground, forcibly pinning my body down. I knew this would put me in a disadvantageous position, so I had some margin to react to the Forest Dragon’s foreleg descending upon me.
Well, that’s not to say I had enough room to actually dodge it. Barely managing to wedge my Sword between its claws and my body, I was sent flying once more.