Chapter 254
Chapter 254
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 254
Chapter Title: Descent (2)
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『All things proceed according to His will.』
The giant who called himself Duaru spread his wings. The atmosphere churned once more under the onslaught of the gale. The dragons, gripped by shock, began to regain their senses one by one.
【W-What the hell is that thing?】
【It destroyed the Sky Tower in one blow...!】
It was an unbelievable display of power. The Sky Tower was tilting. The structure that had stood tall since the founding of the dragon city, seemingly eternal in its upright form, was crumbling.
The Sky Tower was no mere tall building. It was the dwelling of the Dragon King and countless dragons and their servants—a symbol and source of pride for Adren.
【T-This can't be happening...!】
They were torn between staring at Duaru and the collapsing Sky Tower. Soon, a decision was made. The dragon flock split into two groups.
【We'll take care of that bastard. Stop the collapse!】
【G-Got it.】
They divided their numbers: one group headed for the giant, the other to prevent the Sky Tower's fall. Their movements were disciplined, as if rehearsed.
In the dragon world, swarming like lesser beasts had always been scorned, but now was no time for such petty pride.
The shadows of dragons filled the skies above the shattering city. Duaru's form was soon surrounded and obscured by dozens of dragons. Each burst of destructive magic echoed with thunderous roars.
Before long, the other group arrived at the Sky Tower. The spot where the giant's spear had exploded resembled the flank of a whale torn by a shark. It wasn't minor damage, but the tilting had slowed enough that they might prevent total collapse.
The dragons encircled the tower. Their horns, gathering mana, glowed in colors matching their scales. Those who arrived first sprang into action. Earth dragons, their bodies covered in rock and ore, stomped the ground.
【The Sky Tower is our pride. Don't let it fall!】
【Damn it, my eggs are still inside!】
Rumble rumble rumble! Rocks the size of mountains tore through the lake's surface and rose. As forest dragons spread their wings, thick, sturdy vines sprouted everywhere, wrapping around the tower's exterior.
Each spell was worthy of being called a miracle. With silent incantations, magic manifested to support and reinforce the Sky Tower. Stronger dragons physically pushed the tower or pulled it back with vines clutched in their jaws.
The tower was so massive that the efforts yielded little result. Still, the tilting slowed bit by bit. How much time passed? Rumble rumble... The Sky Tower, which had been slowly leaning, suddenly halted.
【I-It stopped!】
The dragons' faces lit up. Cheers erupted from all around. Honestly, they'd thought it was hopeless, but somehow they'd pulled it off.
【What about over there?】
【It's gone quiet. Maybe they've already taken it down.】
The thunderous roars from the distant sky had ceased. As they turned toward Duaru's position, whoosh! A streak of light sliced through the air and slammed into the tower's base.
【T-That's...!】
The dragons' eyes bulged. It was the same light spear as before. As they rushed to respond, boom! The spear's radiance intensified, exploding. Water sprayed from the lake, and a pillar of light shot up through the clouds alongside the roar.
【N-No way!】
The dragons who avoided the blast cried out in horror. The light pillar soon dissipated like scattering mist.
【My god...】
More than half the lake's water had vanished, and no living creatures remained inside. Floating scales and broken horns were the only proof dragons had been there.
As the smoke cleared, the tower's completely shattered wall was revealed. Rumble! The collapse resumed. The Sky Tower now tilted far faster than before.
It was too late to stop it. Despair etched the faces of the dragons who turned toward Duaru. The pure white giant stood unscathed in the sky.
Beneath him lay piles of corpses from once-renowned kin. The mutilation was so severe it was hard to tell if they were dragons or butchered meat from a slaughterhouse.
Strange white smoke oozed from the bodies, absorbed into Duaru.
『Cease your resistance, you fleeting ones.』
Duaru spoke. Dozens of light spears rotated around him at regular intervals. Silence fell. The dragons' reactions to the carnage split into two.
【T-This can't be real. I'm out...!】
【I'll kill you right now!!】
Seven in ten charged in rage; three in ten fled. As Duaru raised his arm, the rotating spears launched in unison.
In truth, their choices mattered little. Duaru's spears spared no one—only whether they took it in the back or chest or gut.
Thud thud thud! The spears pierced dragon bodies mid-flight. Chain explosions signaled the massacre's resumption.
Dragon King Azidahaka watched from afar. His two untainted heads roared in fury.
【The Sky Tower falls, and my loyal subjects die—】
【Why are you just standing there like an idiot?!】
It was a scene from hell. Loyal subordinates died without a scream. Even those dodging spears couldn't breach the bizarre barrier or gale from his wings.
This was wrong. Even to the war-dreaming Dragon King, they were dying pointless deaths. He had to stop the tower's fall and save his minions.
But the third head, which had seized bodily control, forbade it. It had retreated to a corner, recovering strength spent battling Orse.
Only after the last charging dragon exploded did the third head speak.
【Now it's time for me to step in. He's worn himself out rampaging like that.】
【What...?!】
They thought they'd misheard. The two despairing heads twisted in shock.
【You don't mean... you did this for—】
【You watched everything unfold?!】
【Exactly. Only I could harm him anyway. Better to exhaust the enemy by sacrificing the rest than risk a dangerous fight.】
Its voice was dry, emotionless. Azidahaka's two heads bellowed.
【You bastard—】
【You're abandoning even the bare minimum of duty?!】
【Calling me 'you' is a bit grating. I am you, Azidahaka.】
But only cold mockery returned. Hearing the third head, Azidahaka tilted his heads.
【...You claim to be me?】
【What nonsense is this?】
【You're talking like I'm some parasitic mushroom on your body. I was born from your desire to surpass Navardoje—a true part of you.】
【What...?!】
【That distant power awakened me. To me, nothing matters but defeating Navardoje—because that's what you wanted. Understand?】
The third head continued calmly. It claimed not to be a new personality but one derived from the Dragon King himself.
The shocked heads fell silent. To think such a truth existed. The old adage against letting emotions rule felt more vital than ever.
Duaru, having nearly slain all dragons, now scanned the surviving city dwellers like a predator. Grasping his gleaming spear. The third head muttered.
【Here I go.】
Whoosh! Suddenly, the Dragon King's wings exploded outward. A gale rivaling the giant's swept the ruined city. His discolored scales scattered pale white light like moonlight, not golden brilliance. With one flap, the massive body hurtled toward Duaru.
【Your insolence ends here!】
The third head roared. A sun formed in its maw. With no choice but to cooperate, the other two heads prepared their breaths.
『You.』
Duaru, about to hurl his spear downward, looked up. The Dragon King's overwhelming bulk ignored the gale and closed in.
Boom! Soon, the Dragon King clashed midair with the Star's Blessing barrier. Unharmed but outmatched in size, Duaru was pushed back.
Whoosh... As the Dragon King raised its right arm high, its claw glowed brightly. Vast mana concentrated in its palm warped space like heat haze.
A technique honed fighting Orse. As Duaru regained his stance, the Dragon King's claw descended on his head. The moment the white tiger barrier met it—boom! Duaru slammed into the ground.
【Vanish!】
Three breaths poured from the Dragon King's maws simultaneously. Roar! Converged and amplified, they engulfed Duaru. Compressed air from the heat exploded in a shockwave. The third head, spewing beams, was certain of victory.
Thud! A light spear pierced the Dragon King's flank, slicing through the beams.
【Guh...!】
All three eyes widened. The breath torrent cut off. The spear pierced scales and guts. A familiar voice echoed.
『Fleeting one.』
Rumble... Duaru's body slowly rose from the crater. His ivory skin bore no wounds.
【H-How...】
Impossible. The third head stammered. But Duaru offered no answer, simply turning and flying away.
【You, wait...】
As the third head called out, the spear in its side blazed. No time to react—boom!!! An erupting light pillar swallowed Azidahaka.
"Ahh... finally..."
Bishop Parjene of the Northwest Diocese knelt. His lay followers knelt beside him in reverence. Looking up, he saw Duaru hurling spears in Adren's skies.
"First Star, rampage to your heart's content."
Parjene said with a voice thick with emotion. The herald of the stars' advent had fired. When the Pontiff suddenly revised the plan, he'd questioned it, but success brought relief.
Using Azidahaka's inferiority complex and obsession—pure genius. Rising, Parjene spoke.
"Let's go. Back to headquarters."
He'd completed his Adren mission and was escaping with subordinates. Nearly at the island's edge, their prepared airship would arrive soon. Sensing something off, Parjene tilted his head.
"Hm?"
No response. Turning, he froze. Two battered young men stood glaring.
"Hey."
"What..."
The fierce-looking youth waved. Parjene gasped. No presence detected until now.
They looked like they'd crawled from hell's cauldron. Ragged tears revealed bodies covered in wounds. Unknown blood caked them head to toe.
The deep crimson told of endless layers. What were these guys? Examining them, Parjene's face twisted.
"Why are you here...!"
Up close, they were the ones who'd wreaked havoc at the Sky Tower. Only now did he notice the surroundings. He alone lived; praying followers lay headless.
Ronan spoke.
"We got chased by eleven dragons. Came to when we ended up here."
"Twelve."
Schlieffen corrected quietly. They'd just shaken the Dragon King's pursuit squad. Parjene, breathing raggedly, opened his mouth.
"You mad bastards! Gale of—"
As he invoked his power, Schlieffen's sword hilt twitched. A wind blade grazed his tongue.
Splat! The severed tongue spun and fell. Seeing the plump flesh, Parjene's eyes bulged.
"Agh...!"
Blood sprayed. Agony like a red-hot iron on the stump hit. He wanted to faint, but bishopric wasn't bought with coin.
Enduring, as he drew his mace, Ronan—already inside his guard—swung. Slash! Parjene's head flew. His body toppled onto the corpses.
"...In the end, shit hit the fan."
Ronan sighed, wiping blood. Much had happened while fleeing. Where were the Dragon King and Orse? Why was the Sky Tower collapsing?
Ronan pissed on Parjene's headless corpse, like the others. Looking up at Duaru—bald head gleaming, same guy from before.
"Long time no see."
Long if long, short if short. Pants up, Ronan headed toward the city. The eastern sky brightened slowly.