Chapter 259
Chapter 259
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 259
Chapter Title: Clash (10)
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【Don't retreat!】
High above Adren, on the brink of its doom, two forces clashed. The battle between the dragons and the light giants had devolved into a chaotic melee too brutal to witness with open eyes.
Every time the dragons' fangs snapped shut or their claws slashed out, chunks of the giants' flesh tore away.
【We have to take out as many as possible! Unleash your breaths!】
"Groooaaargh!"
All manner of spells and the dragons' signature breaths rained down without restraint. The elemental storms pouring from their gaping maws boasted destructive power befitting the strongest race.
Yet the horde of light giants pressed on relentlessly. While individual dragons overwhelmingly outmatched any single giant, the sheer number of giants could not be ignored.
Kwaaaa! A wave of flames erupted from Mahakadia's jaws, sweeping over the giants. Those engulfed in the inferno melted away like snow.
"Grroooaaargh! Groargh!"
【Vermin, I'll burn you to not even a handful of ash!】
Mahakadia roared. Born with scales as white as the moon, she was one of the vanguard who had initiated this battle. She tore through the swarming giants like clouds, fulfilling her duty.
Thanks to her terrifying speed, Mahakadia navigated the heart of the enemy lines as if it were her own home. Puuk! Piercing five giants at once with the horn on her forehead, she murmured softly.
【Naransonia. Looks like I win this time.】
She sneered, thinking of her rival relegated to cleanup duty. As the second-fastest dragon in Adren, Mahakadia had always envied Naransonia, the swiftest of them all.
But this dawn, her wish to become the fastest dragon had suddenly come true. Grinding her teeth as she recalled Naransonia's severed left wing.
'Stupid bitch. Why'd it have to be her wing?'
Naransonia could no longer fly. And at the hands of the Dragon King she served, no less.
For a while, the title of fastest dragon would be Mahakadia's. Strangely, though, it didn't bring her much joy. An inexplicable rage suddenly surged within her. Just as she was about to vent it with a burst of flame.
【Guhk...!】
A dizzying pain struck Mahakadia out of nowhere. She felt something sharp burrowing between her scales. Whipping her head around, she saw a giant clinging to her back.
"Gro."
No emotions emanated from its featureless face. The giant mechanically twisted a dagger of pure light embedded in her lower back.
Blood sprayed with every twist of the blade. Gnashing her teeth as if they might shatter, she bellowed.
【Grrrraaah... How dare you!】
Kwajik! Mahakadia immediately stretched her long neck and bit off the giant's head entirely. Its body of light scattered like smoke, but the wound remained.
【Hah... hahk...!】
Mahakadia staggered. The blood surging up her throat was no small amount. Surrounding giants swarmed like sharks. Her slowed speed and position deep in enemy territory left her unable to resist properly as she was surrounded.
【......!】
Dozens of giants latched onto her body. Covered in them like moldy bread, Mahakadia finally succumbed to the weight and plummeted to the ground. In her fading consciousness, she wondered who the third-fastest might be.
The giants never ceased their stabbing even during the fall, so blood fountained from her body until the moment she hit the surface. Thud. A soft impact echoed. The giants clinging to the corpse took flight once more.
【You bastards!】
Acidic liquid from a green dragon above poured down on them. Chwaaaa-! The giants struck directly by the corrosive rain screamed and dissolved.
Mahakadia's corpse was irreparably damaged, but no one paid it any mind now. Similar scenes were unfolding everywhere. The death of one dragon marked the end of a history, but there was no time to mourn such open tragedies.
Then, giants flying in formation stabbed spears into the green dragon's belly and throat. The dragon spat its last acidic breath with its final strength, vomiting blood as it cried out.
【Don't stop...! Guhek, focus only on killing them...】
Chwaak! More giants swooped in and severed its head. Another history faded, but there was no eulogy this time either. A lightning spell from someone simply blasted all the giants there to bits.
Screams and roars filled the sky. Dragons exhausted from the fight plummeted. The light giants' forces dwindled. Watching the carnage, Duaru murmured softly.
『...How foolish.』
He couldn't fathom why they thrashed so desperately. The city was all but utterly destroyed, and even their pride and spiritual pillar, the Sky Tower, had collapsed in ruins.
The number of dragons and servants dead without purpose was beyond counting. By now, they should have etched into their bones that resistance was futile.
『Salvation.』
His needless sentiment lingered too long. Turning his gaze to the floatstone, Duaru gripped his spear again. Even amid the chaos, he kept hurling it at his target.
It was almost time. Adren was already descending at considerable speed. The receding ground proved it.
The defensive magic around the floatstone had long been shattered. A murky aura rising from across Adren seeped into his body—the souls of those he had slain.
Raising his arm, he thought of the destination that would doom the dragon city after its fall. This would likely be the final strike. Just as the spear was about to leave his hand.
【Kraaaaaaaaah-!!!】
A roar like a thousand lightning bolts crashed down from somewhere.
****
The starry sky receded. Scraggly clouds surged beyond the city's borders. Adren, which had been sinking slowly, now fell at a speed one could truly call plummeting.
"Kuhk! Khek!"
Naransonia coughed. With every heave of her shoulders, blood seeped from the wound carved into her back. The stump where her wing had been torn off. Asel, moving beside her, asked worriedly.
"A-Are you okay?"
"Hoo... Yeah. No problem."
Naransonia wiped the blood from her mouth and nodded. Her pale face screamed otherwise, but Asel couldn't bring himself to point it out. The situation was too urgent.
"If we can't stop the fall, we have to save as many people as possible. Let's hurry."
"Th-That's true, but..."
Asel stammered. Behind Naransonia, dragons from the cleanup squad bustled after her. Their pallid faces were no different from hers. All had overexerted their mana.
"If only... if only I had more power."
Asel murmured, squeezing his eyes shut. The cleanup squad had failed to halt Adren's descent.
They had approached as close as possible, poured mana into the floatstone, and even cast defensive spells, but one spear from Duaru rendered it all futile.
It was the expected outcome, but facing reality was utterly bleak. Still, there was no time for despair. They urgently shifted strategy, heading toward what had been the residential districts.
Since they couldn't save the city, they'd at least try to rescue as many lives as possible. They'd already slain over a thousand light giants. Naransonia glanced at her subordinate dragons and said.
"How many can we save?"
"At best, three digits. The descent is faster than expected."
"...Damn it."
Naransonia bit her lip. She knew it too. No matter how hard they tried, most citizens would perish with the dragon city.
The cleanup squad was far too few to evacuate everyone in Adren. After a brief silence, Naransonia spoke.
"Do what we can. Pull out every docked airship, bring the survivors aboard. Split into groups of three and move."
"Yes!"
The dragons released their polymorph, bodies swelling. Kicking off the ground, they scattered in perfect formation per Naransonia's orders.
She resumed moving immediately. Hastening her steps, Naransonia spoke.
"Isn't it ridiculous?"
"Y-Yes?"
"Our race of dragons, that is. They strut around like they're so superior, yet they can't even save the servants they've sworn loyalty to."
Naransonia gave a wry smile. Asel hesitated, then glanced toward where Duaru had been.
"I think... any race would be the same. Against something like that..."
The fierce battle raged on overhead. Indescribable shrieks echoed across the island. Light giants and dragons tangled, creating a hellscape.
Duaru was an unstoppable force of nature. Hearing Asel, Naransonia nodded slowly.
"You're right. Before an unprecedented calamity beyond our control, we're no different from mortals. If we'd scraped away the arrogance ingrained in our bones, would things have turned out better? Now... I'm not even sure."
"Naransonia..."
"I've talked too much. Don't worry—I'll get you and your friends out safely, on my honor."
Naransonia forced the corners of her mouth up. That ended the conversation.
As they moved through the awkward silence, clang. A metallic sound rang underfoot. Noticing the change in texture, Asel looked down.
"This is...?"
Asel raised an eyebrow. Grass and soil were gone, replaced by a metal floor. It didn't take long to realize it was a massive disc.
An utterly alien disc. Spanning half the size of Phileon's grand plaza, it bore not a single scratch. Naransonia said.
"The stone from the Sky Tower's summit. It flew all the way here."
"The stone? Oh...!"
Asel let out a small exclamation. So that's what it was—the platform where the Dragon King had performed the ritual. Who'd have thought something this huge had broken off.
Etched on its pitch-black surface was an incredibly complex geometric magic circle. Likely the ritual formula for the Dragon King. Asel's eyes widened as he scanned it slowly.
"Wait..."
A bold idea flashed through his mind. Dangerously reckless, but worth attempting. He suddenly dashed forward, hands tracing the magic circle as he examined it.
"...What are you doing?"
"Just a moment. This... definitely..."
Naransonia asked again, but Asel didn't respond. His heaven-sent focus blocked out all surrounding noise. In his narrowed field of vision, only the massive magic circle—its intricate patterns and formulas—shone vividly.
"It's possible... gather the flow... use as catalyst..."
"Mage, what the hell are you—"
Naransonia was about to urge him on when Asel stood abruptly and grabbed her sleeve.
"Help me."
"What?"
He didn't stammer this time. Naransonia's brow furrowed. Asel, mumbling rapidly to himself, finally spoke.
"...We might be able to stop it. The fall."