Chapter 260
Chapter 260
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 260
Chapter Title: Conclusion
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It was the moment Duaru was about to hurl his spear. A roar like a thousand lightning bolts striking down echoed from somewhere.
【Kwaaaaaah-!!!】
The echo transmitted as a shockwave. Several of the severely wounded giants couldn't withstand the pressure and disintegrated. Duaru lowered his gaze. There was no way the owner of that voice could still be alive.
The instant his eyes reached the ground below. Kwaaaang! Suddenly, the barrier of giants shattered, and a massive twin-headed dragon burst forth. The Dragon King's wings carried hundreds of light giants yet moved without hindrance.
『You.』
【Stop right now-】
【You devil!】
The Dragon King roared once more. All the giants clinging to him fell away. Duaru's eyelids twitched ever so slightly.
At that moment, the fiercely thrusting right head opened its maw. Kwaaaa! A beam evoking the sun of a summer day poured out.
“Groooar!”
Despite the immense distance, the beam crossed the night sky without wavering. Dozens of light giants formed ranks to defend, but they evaporated without achieving even the effect of a mantis blocking a cart.
The instant the beam reached Duaru. Kwaaaang! A massive explosion erupted, and daybreak arrived in Adren. Long shadows draped across the battlefield. The dragons and giants locked in combat flinched.
“Gook?!”
【Your Majesty...!】
The dragons cried out in awe. It was the might befitting Adren's sovereign. Within seconds, the flash subsided. The Dragon King's brow furrowed deeply.
【...Impossible.】
Duaru stood unharmed, without a single scratch. A spherical barrier shimmering in bizarre hues enveloped him completely. He spoke in a voice devoid of emotion.
『King in a cage. Why do you repeat futile deeds?』
Duaru simply couldn't comprehend the Dragon King. He'd somehow survived being impaled by the spear, but his condition was even worse than during their initial clash.
His once-golden scales, gleaming brilliantly, were now losing their luster like withered leaves. Blood still seeped from the crudely patched wound on his flank. It was obvious he was forcing himself to endure the pain, requiring no special effort to discern.
The Dragon King offered no reply to Duaru's question. Instead, he shouted with the pride of a king.
【What is futile or valuable-】
【I decide!】
The right head opened its maw again. Seeing the mana gathering in its throat, Duaru silently raised his spear shaft. He'd held some expectation for the leader of this world's finest race, but it was indeed an inferior creature after all.
The Dragon King was poised to unleash another beam. Duaru's drawn-back arm vanished from sight. In his poor state, the Dragon King failed to read the spear's trajectory.
【Kuh...!】
Shiiik! The spear of light hurtled like a comet toward the right head's brow. Then, a shadow raced up its neck.
In an instant, the shadow reached the crown of the right head, coinciding with the spear. Sgak! The spear split like bamboo and grazed past the Dragon King's sides.
『Hm?』
Duaru hesitated. The shadow that had severed the spear of light steadied its stance. Kwaaaang! The split spear exploded near the Dragon King's wings. Having escaped death, the Dragon King cheered.
【That's it!】
“Hoo...”
Schlieffen regulated his breathing and gripped his sword hilt. It wasn't just the Dragon King who had gambled with his life. For that split second overlapping with the spear of light, his sword had grown scorching hot, as if melting.
“...Who knew it would actually work.”
Schlieffen murmured softly. A red stain clung to the bluish blade—Ronan's blood, applied by his own hand.
Instead of lingering in sentiment, he immediately focused. Storm aura began swirling along the blade. Duaru, who had frozen momentarily, was about to speak.
【In the city I rule-】
【Vanish!】
The Dragon King bellowed again. Kwaaaa! The prepared right head exhaled its breath. A single beam, stronger than before, crossed the night sky once more.
『...Futile efforts.』
Duaru muttered. He didn't know how the spear had been cut, but the Star's Blessing remained intact without a blemish. As he extended his hand, photons gathered around him, forming a new spear.
At that moment, Schlieffen, silently concentrating, swung his sword. Shiiik! The storm aura, scattering a chilling light, transformed into a massive arrow and shot toward Duaru.
Perhaps due to absorbing Ronan's blood, the swirling winds bore a crimson hue. The arrow overtook the Dragon King's beam and struck the Star's Blessing directly. Kaaaang! The compressed wind exploded, producing a bizarre rupture echoing across.
『What....』
Duaru stiffened momentarily. The blessing hadn't shattered. But cracks like a spiderweb on glass struck by a stone had formed.
It was impossible. External mana seeped through the fissures. Only upon feeling the beam's heat approaching did he realize something had gone wrong.
Bewilderment crossed Duaru's face for the first time. The instant he hastily spread his wings. Kwaaaang! The finally arriving beam engulfed him and his barrier entirely.
【It hit!】
The watching dragons gasped in shock. The beam of light stretched onward with momentum to reach the stars.
Having unleashed his full storm, Schlieffen steadied his breath. He had clearly seen his strike crack the Star's Blessing.
It was the moment Ronan's hypothesis from the archbishop battle was proven. The claim that coating with his blood could oppose the power of Nebula Klazier and the giants rang true spectacularly.
“...Impressive.”
He murmured softly. Soon, the light faded.
【What...!】
Nothing remained where Duaru had stood. The Dragon King's eyes bulged. Only a few feathers from his wings fluttered down.
【Look, human-】
【We did it!】
The Dragon King shouted, unable to contain his excitement. It seemed Duaru had met the same end as other foes struck by his beam—complete disintegration without a trace.
But Schlieffen didn't react. Something was off. If Duaru were dead, the behavior of his summoned light giants showed no change.
The instant he tried to warn. Shiiik! Suddenly, a spear of light flew rapidly from his blind spot. Schlieffen shouted.
“Danger!”
【What...!】
The Dragon King sensed the crisis and whipped his head around desperately, but too late. The spear sliced through the air and embedded in his left hind leg. No time to speak. Kwaaaang! An explosion with flash detonated with a roar.
【Kaaaaak!!】
A agonized scream burst forth. The sturdy leg vanished without a trace. The mangled stump, like torn by hand, spewed blood.
The belly caught in the blast was ravaged, on the verge of spilling entrails. Flesh where scales had fallen gleamed deep crimson. The Dragon King's massive body swayed violently. A familiar voice echoed from the spear's direction.
『Impressive.』
Schlieffen turned. Duaru looked down on them. Having descended to a lower altitude, the Star's Blessing still enveloped his body.
He appeared intact, but not entirely unscathed. The crack from Schlieffen marred the shimmering barrier. Faint burn-like scars lingered on Duaru's chest within.
『This is the first time I've been wounded. Feel proud.』
Duaru said. It felt like genuine praise, but Schlieffen and the Dragon King remained silent. An oppressive pressure made even breathing difficult.
『However, this ends it.』
Duaru continued. From his slightly parted lips flowed a language no creature of this world could utter.
The starlight in the dawn sky intensified. Swaaa... Light particles gathered from all directions, forming dozens of spears around him.
【...My god.】
『Despair, great warriors. You shall protect nothing.』
There was no way to counter this. As the Dragon King tried to speak. Spears aimed at various targets launched simultaneously.
The scene of white spears of light radiating like a beautiful meteor shower pierced the bodies of dragons amid the melee one by one.
【Guhk!】
【Kak!】
No chance even to scream death cries. Kwagwagwagwang! Chain explosions with flashes erupted. The Dragon King's face hardened at the night sky bright as day in an instant.
【Stop it now!】
The Dragon King roared. His swaying bulk charged at Duaru. Five or six spears veered toward him immediately. Schlieffen gripped his hilt, and his blade dispersed into wind form. Chwaak! As he scattered sword strikes, three spears halved and severed.
But three remained. The Dragon King dodged the rest with evasive maneuvers unfit for his size. Catching his breath, he looked up. A dozen new spears poured down on him.
“...Damn.”
Exchanging glances with the Dragon King, Schlieffen twisted his lips. The distance to Duaru was still far, but they'd reached their limit. The Dragon King's left head bellowed deeply.
【Regrettably, this is our limit!】
『Hm?』
【Execute that brilliant plan of yours! Everything hinges on your success! Arrogant wyrmling, and...】
Duaru tilted his head. Odd for last words. Even amid the raining spears, the Dragon King didn't slow. After a pause, a thunderous roar erupted from his maw.
【Ronan!!】
At that instant, the Dragon King's right head, silent till now, opened wide. Two pitch-black shadows sprang from his tongue.
One was a young man with sharp eyes, the other a pale handsome man with hair to his waist. Casting off his black coat, he roared.
【Just in time—I was sick of holding back the stench!】
Simultaneously, Orse's body expanded rapidly. A black dragon materialized in the empty sky. Paaang! Four wings unfurled explosively, whipping up gales. Ronan, leaping onto his head, swung his sword horizontally.
“Huuup!”
Crimson-tinged Ramancha traced a wide arc. Clustered sword ki fanned out like buckshot. Thirteen strands matched the spears. Just before spears struck Dragon King and Schlieffen. Kwagwagwang! Sword ki intercepted precisely.
『What.』
All thirteen spears exploded harmlessly in midair. Duaru's eyes widened. A turmoil beyond Schlieffen's strike.
“Having fun, you bald fuck?”
Ronan growled low. Too many sacrifices to reach here. Regaining composure, Duaru raised his arm again.
『Vanish.』
Swiiik! The spears scattering omnidirectionally twisted toward Ronan and Orse. Easily over a hundred. Too many to intercept all.
But Ronan didn't panic. It was anticipated, and Dragon King and Schlieffen's efforts had closed the gap sufficiently. Orse, wings folded, roared fiercely.
【Going!】
Ronan gripped his horn and crouched instead of replying. The lead spear aimed to skewer their heads. Orse and Ronan's forms dissolved into shadow and scattered. Pung! They reappeared beyond the spear barrage via spatial leap.
Bewilderment settled on Duaru's face again. Pung! Pung! Pung! Orse blinked repeatedly, closing in rapidly. Ronan cleaved every spear lunging at precise instants.
This distance should suffice. Reaching Duaru's feet, Ronan unleashed a crescent slash. A red moon hurtled toward him.
“Die!”
『Foolish.』
Duaru gripped his spear shaft. The incoming sword ki, slicing dawn air, paled compared to Dragon King's beam or Schlieffen's storm—insulting to compare.
He judged it incapable of harming him or the Star's Blessing. Whatever trick severed the spear was luck ending here. Instead of defending or evading, Duaru raised his spear. Ronan's lip curled.
“Idiot.”
『What?』
Duaru faltered. In that moment, sword ki tore through the Star's Blessing and burrowed in. Chwaaak! The crescent struck his left shoulder, blue blood spraying.
『......!』
Duaru's impassive face contorted. Gushing blood drenched Ronan and Orse. The severed forearm plummeted under the night sky.
『Such a thing...』
Leisure vanished from Duaru's face. Something had gone gravely wrong. As he tried to retreat to assess. Paaaa! Sunset-like crimson light suddenly enveloped him.
“Sorry, but at this range, it connects.”
Ronan said. Abruptly, Duaru's eyes widened. The youth once distant now stood before him.
『What...』
Duaru swung his spear hastily. Ronan's arm vanished from view. Speeds equal, but Ronan evaded feather-light. He never forgot fighting a foe once. Ronan murmured.
“Star children share senses, right?”
『Guhk...!』
A blue line traced Duaru's neck. Ronan's circling sword returned to position. Dragon King and dragons watched breathlessly.
“Wanna die? Come on.”
Ronan spat casually, spinning his sword. Chwaak! Duaru's head soared skyward. Dawn erupting beyond the horizon bathed Adren in light.