Chapter 257
Chapter 257
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 257
Chapter Title: Clash (8)
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"What are you two doing here? Making such a pathetic spectacle."
"R-Ronan...!"
Asel sniffled. Chicken-shit tears streamed down his grubby cheeks. Ronan's appearance, having sliced through the giants of light, was as dramatic as the dawn bursting over the ridge.
"You're safe."
At that moment, a familiar silhouette stepped forward. Schlieffen, who had fallen with Ronan, maintained his characteristic nobility. Asel buried his face in Orse's neck and burst into sobs.
"Schlieffen...! Th-thank goodness..."
But neither of them looked to be in great shape. The blood covering their bodies and the wounds everywhere suggested they'd been through hell. Orse, who had been stunned silent, finally spoke.
【...You're not dead.】
"Yeah. They gave us a shit-ton of trouble, though."
Ronan spat on the ground. He and Schlieffen had spent a thoroughly boring time being chased by the Dragon King's minions.
Shaking off eleven dragons driven by blind loyalty was no easy feat. Ronan glanced around and said,
"Anyway, you guys look beat too. They're just numerous, not that strong."
The giants of light that Ronan had torn apart had vanished, leaving only a faint afterglow. He kicked at the feathers scattered on the ground. They were Duaru's feathers, the framework for the giants' bodies.
Using feathers as catalysts to summon minions was a technique the baldies used when fighting in numbers or when they wanted to wipe out all life in a target area. Asel bowed his head in shame.
"S-sorry... I used up all my mana. Even Orse..."
"You did well. Still, next time, prepare more thoroughly. The small fry that bastard Ahayute scatters are on a whole different level from these."
Ronan twisted his lips, recalling the final battle of his past life. Judging by Duaru, not all giants had the same abilities.
The Ahayute he'd killed had unleashed far more bullshit summons, turning the battlefield into hell. He'd have to clash directly to judge his spear skills. Orse tilted his head.
"Ahayute?"
"Yeah. That guy's buddy."
Ronan jerked his chin toward Duaru. Already high in the night sky, he looked like a white dot indistinguishable from the stars.
'When the hell am I gonna drag that down.'
Ronan clicked his tongue. At that height, even his aura couldn't pull the bastard in. As he was about to continue,
"Grooooar!"
"Shit."
Suddenly, roars echoed from all directions. Asel, startled like a rabbit, whipped his head around and gasped.
"H-heek!"
【This is getting tiresome.】
Orse frowned. Twice as many giants as before were thundering toward them. Ronan scratched his head irritably and turned to Schlieffen.
"Schlieffen."
"Mm."
Schlieffen wordlessly reversed his grip on his sword. Storm aura began coiling along the blade. The moment he planted it into the ground with both hands on the hilt—Boom! Dozens of massive whirlwinds erupted, shattering the earth.
"In-incredible..."
Asel's eyes widened. It was far stronger than before. The whirlwinds rose around them, forming a massive barrier. Razor-sharp blade winds shredded the charging giants.
"Grooooh...!"
Unable to breach the whirlwinds, the giants dissolved into particles. They seemed to have blocked this wave easily. Ronan patted Schlieffen's shoulder and turned back to Asel and Orse.
"Now, tell me what happened while I was gone. What's with these tremors?"
"Y-yeah. So..."
Asel nodded. He explained the events during Ronan's absence as plainly as possible: the Sky Tower's collapse, the Dragon King's fall, and Duaru's nefarious plan. Ronan's eyes widened.
"Bringing down Adren? What the fuck is this now?"
"Th-that's..."
Asel stammered and turned his head. Only Orse knew the full story. Slowly rising, Orse spoke.
【Exactly that. At the center of the ground where Adren stands is a massive floating stone. These tremors are from damage to it.】
"Floating stone? You mean the magic stone used in airships?"
【Yes. The treasure Navardoje was said to have saved, one impossible to find anywhere else. That monster plans to destroy it and crash the entire Dragon City.】
"Fuck me."
Ronan let out a hollow laugh. No wonder the tremors felt off. Throwing spears at empty air made sense now.
【That monster can sense the floating stone. It's Adren's heart, protected by countless defensive spells, but with that destructive power, it's only a matter of time before it breaks through.】
Schlieffen's face hardened beside him. The situation was far graver than thought. A crashing Adren would shatter, and the ancient Dragon City would become a playground for dumb fish.
It'd be hilarious, but not if it actually happened. Ronan asked,
"Any way to stop it?"
【No. Injecting mana directly might slow the fall, but that's just a stopgap. We have to prevent the destruction itself.】
The group looked up at Duaru. Each spear he threw from the distant sky intensified the tremors. Boom! Another pillar of light pierced the night sky far off.
And Duaru kept scattering feathers endlessly. The growing giants of light spread like glowing mold across Adren.
"Not easy."
Ronan narrowed his eyes. Breaking through the encirclement to approach wouldn't be smooth.
But with no other choice, they huddled and planned. Ronan spoke first.
"Orse. Can you turn human first?"
****
Stars were barely visible now. The sky, closer to blue than black, signaled dawn was near.
Whether Adren would see the sun was uncertain. Ronan glanced back and clicked his tongue.
"Kill 'em and kill 'em, they never end."
Chopped giants dissolved into light. They'd sliced through at least three hundred getting here.
"How much farther?"
"Almost there."
Orse replied. Polymorphed human again, he was back to his long-haired man form. Asel dangled limply from his side like a shopping basket. He mumbled,
"S-sorry... Always being such a burden..."
"Doesn't matter."
"Good. Let's keep moving."
They exchanged glances and pressed on, crossing a park-like deciduous forest. Fallen leaves crunched softly underfoot.
Their plan was a surprise attack. Get as close to Duaru as possible; Asel and Schlieffen cause a ruckus, then Orse and Ronan fly up to take him out. Simple enough—no other options.
...Boom!
...KABOOM!!
As they neared Duaru, explosions and flashes intensified. The floating stone's damage caused constant tremors, like chronic headaches shaking Adren.
Duaru hadn't noticed them yet. Or didn't care. After ten more minutes, the forest ended, revealing an open space.
"This is..."
Ronan's eyes widened. A massive pit, big enough to bury a million people, yawned before them. Boom—! Light spears plunged deep at regular intervals.
The light faded. At the pit's deepest point, something glossy like a bead peeked out. The coral-pink glow scattering faintly was quite beautiful.
Just that part was enormous; the whole thing must be dorm-sized. Orse pointed.
"We're here. That's the floating stone."
"That's the floating stone?"
Ronan laughed hollowly. He'd heard it was big, but this was beyond imagination. Makes sense to lift all of Adren. Staring at it, Ronan frowned.
"Doesn't look good."
"It won't hold much longer."
Defensive spells were long broken. Scratches marred the glossy surface. Spiderweb cracks grew with each spear strike.
Looking up, Duaru floated almost directly above. The distance was vast, but it minimized unnecessary paths. Then Asel spotted something odd and raised his brows.
"Wh-what's that?"
"Huh?"
Ronan looked where Asel pointed. Firefly-like objects flitted around Duaru.
Similar to what he'd seen fighting Ahayute? Soon identifying them, Ronan cursed.
"Ah. Fuck."
The fireflies were winged giants of light. Some feather-born summons could fly like their master.
Instead of aiding destruction, they circled Duaru, forming an air defense net. Ahayute had used them to kill too—thoroughly nasty bastard.
【Kraaaargh!!】
Suddenly, a dragon roared from the city outskirts and took flight. A hefty blue dragon. Rage and grief in its voice suggested lost loved ones.
"Reckless."
Ronan bit his lip. Buffed with spells, the dragon charged straight at Duaru. Circling giants intercepted. Boom! Breaking through somehow,
【Grrr, let go!】
But five or six giants clung to it like barnacles. Shaking and breathing fire did nothing; they held firm. Flight slowed noticeably. Duaru turned and hurled a spear.
【Ah...!】
"N-no!"
Asel squeezed his eyes shut. Boom! The spear hit the chest, exploding in light. Mangled flesh plummeted unrecognizable. Giants vanished too, but Duaru scattered more feathers—pointless.
"Troubling."
Schlieffen murmured. Faces hardened. Asel said in panic,
"Wh-what do we do? Like this...!"
Ronan clenched his teeth instead of answering. He'd never expected aerial guards. Riding Orse through would be exponentially harder.
"...We break through. What else?"
Silent Ronan spoke. More numbers would help, but no choice. As he signaled to start,
"What. Everyone's alive?"
"Huh?"
The group turned simultaneously. A burly figure stood twenty paces away. Ronan raised a brow.
"Who're you...?"
Odd impression. Chiseled marble face on broad shoulders. Luxurious golden hair to shoulders evoked a lion pride leader.
Masculine and feminine blended—gender ambiguous. What the hell? Scanning him, Ronan gasped.
"Holy shit."
"What...!"
Schlieffen reacted sharply too. Too busy to notice before. Mana gushed from the stranger's shoulders—like endless Sky Tower experience.
Shing! Ronan and Schlieffen drew swords backing up. Orse gripped his extracted spear. Last to realize, Asel's face paled.
"Hiiik! Y-you don't mean...!"
"Your Majesty! Too far ahead is dangerous!"
As he nearly shrieked, bushes rustled; a familiar face emerged. Pretty girl with steel-gray hair. Asel gaped again.
"N-Naransonia?"
"You guys...?!"
Naransonia froze. Oddly dressed people followed. Not hard to guess they were polymorphed dragons. Sword aimed at the brute, Ronan growled low.
"What brings you here, Dragon King."
"Sheathe your swords. We hold no hostility toward you now."