Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Saint's Inner Thoughts
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'Those two... are stronger than the Hero we faced earlier.'
The Phantom Dragon, the Chameleon Dragon, who had lived for many years feeding on human memories, couldn't hide its surprise as it looked at the opponents before it.
'Their offense and defense are perfect. Even veterans who have fought together for decades couldn't coordinate like this...'
A Saint swinging a massive hammer, and a Mage casting Dispel and targeting weaknesses. The coordination between the party members earlier was also impressive, but the current situation felt on a completely different level.
"I've broken its right arm. Lord Astal."
"You don't have to report every little thing like that. Even if you do, it's still an enemy that looks exactly like me."
The Phantom Dragon was barely blocking the attacks of just two people, but its right arm was already broken, limiting its magic use to one side.
"...I'm starting to doubt if you two really dislike each other."
It couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh out of sheer disbelief. Despite facing a dragon, they acted without a trace of fear, as if certain they could defeat it.
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This level of compatibility was a match made in heaven. Both moved without hesitation and showed no fear of death.
Even if they were heroes who had crossed death's threshold, they shouldn't be able to ignore the Fear a dragon exudes.
'These insane humans who have already experienced the terror of death have crawled into the Demon Realm...'
If anything, it was fortunate. Recalling the memories from a week ago, the owner of this body, Astal, did not see the woman named Victoria as anything more than a comrade.
The Phantom Dragon was convinced that if a man and woman like this fell in love and had a child, a being truly threatening to the Demon King would be born.
'Since the hero of this generation is stronger than the previous one, the next generation will be far stronger than this hero's party...'
It was a conclusion born not from intellect, but instinct. In the Phantom Dragon's view, humans were beings that grew stronger with each generation.
'...Before that happens, I must kill them without fail.'
The Phantom Dragon, having copied all of Astal's abilities, pondered what could shake its opponent.
Dispel? Magic combination ability? Those seemed more dependent on individual skill and were insufficient for itself.
Even for a Phantom Dragon capable of copying memories and emotions identically.
"...A monster that survived by devouring its own parents, a creature not even worthy of life, dares to try and kill me. How amusing."
The Phantom Dragon referenced what it thought was the most horrific event in Astal's memory. The trauma that led him to attempt suicide, unable to breathe properly, every year on his birthday.
Because Astal's parents and the people of his hometown had lost their lives on his birthday, in an attack by the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings.
"You son of a bitch..."
Astal's body trembled violently the moment he heard those words. Above all, it was disgusting that a dragon acting as a pawn for the demon race would bring up such a thing.
"Wasn't your creed to never let anyone die before your eyes again? I didn't think you'd fall for such a petty provocation."
A momentary gap appeared in the relentless exchange of attacks, and the Phantom Dragon didn't miss it, spewing mist to obscure its opponent's vision.
But,
"Victoria...! Straight ahead! Smash it!"
"Understood!"
Astal, possessing eyes that could see the flow of mana and magical power, immediately gave Victoria an attack order.
The Phantom Dragon already knew this fact. Obscuring even a little vision was enough.
Because now, it had to use the most powerful magic that the human named Astal Caisaros could wield.
'For a dragon to rely not on draconic magic or breath, but on human magic, is a blow to pride...'
Dozens of magic circles began overlapping in the Phantom Dragon's hand, transforming from a circular plane into a spherical solid.
'...But if it's this guy's magic, it far surpasses that of us dragons.'
The Phantom Dragon, having lived for many years, could confidently swear. This guy was stronger than any mage it had ever faced.
Combining lower-tier magics to transform them into higher-tier magic—that was something impossible to even attempt without special eyes that could see mana and innate talent.
"A magic that compresses mana endlessly, creating a burning star with mass to drop..."
To the point of causing the illusion of two suns in the sky, the magic circles floating in the Phantom Dragon's grasp grew in size and brilliance, swallowing everything around them.
Even with its dragon heart, it had to pour in almost all its mana. A magic so powerful it would be swept away by the shockwave.
"...Supernova."
An attack as powerful as an exploding supernova was falling towards Astal and the Hero's party.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ha, it's absurd... How are you using a magic I thought was only theoretically possible?"
Watching the Supernova fall, I let out a hollow laugh, unable to accept reality. That was originally a magic I had only tested on a very small scale.
Because to create something the size of an actual star, my magical power was insufficient. To overlap dozens of magic circles, I would have had to pour out my life and all the mana I had accumulated so far.
"...Astal, wouldn't it be good to use a Miracle?"
Victoria, her hand trembling slightly, looked at me and asked for permission to use a Miracle.
If it was a Miracle that summoned the impossible into reality, it could erase even that supernova without a trace.
But,
"I've told you repeatedly. You won't need to use a Miracle on this journey."
The opponent wasn't the current me, but precisely 'one week ago' me. And moreover, if there was something it lacked, it was the presence of comrades.
Because a person can become as strong as needed when they have something to protect, even a mere week's difference was significant in the world of mages.
"...Enchanted Raindrops."
I used the rain-soaked situation created by my opponent to my advantage, embedding a small magic circle into each falling raindrop.
Having to manage all the incantation-less spells and things visible to the eye was cumbersome.
'Because the strongest magic I can conceive is one that can protect everyone at any time.'
Using this magic, I could bring the entire rainy area under my control and protect it. If mana was sufficient, I could create a space where magic fell infinitely.
"...Huuuuuu."
I took a deep breath and concentrated my mind. If I lost focus even a little, a gap would appear like before.
First, I dropped body enhancement and defense magics onto my comrades and Victoria, wrapping them around their bodies. No matter how much it had transformed into a human form, the opponent was a dragon.
With a single gesture, it could tear us apart like swatting a fly, and with a single exhalation, it could burn this entire area to the ground.
"You really are insane, to think a human body could turn each falling raindrop into a magic circle."
The Phantom Dragon was laughing even as its forehead was torn and bleeding. Hearing such lines from my own face made me cringe so hard I could die.
"You're just lacking. You lizard-brained fool who thinks draconic magic is the best."
Saying that, I cast various negative magics on the opponent. I tried to create continuous openings by casting binding, vulnerability, poison, and disease spells.
"But how will you block the Supernova? You should know that a few raindrops can't stop a continuously falling supernova."
There was nothing wrong with the Phantom Dragon's words. I couldn't Dispel a magic that had already been cast, and creating an identical Supernova to collide with it was impossible due to my lack of mana.
Using defensive magic would result in casualties, and using Teleportation magic in the heart of enemy territory, the Demon Realm, could expose our location.
'...Just as tiny water droplets gather to pierce stone, I need a decisive move that can block even such a massive star.'
While thinking of a way to remove the flowers that bloomed on Victoria's body last night, something had come to mind.
The conditions were sufficient. I wasn't alone now; I had comrades, and with rain falling, I could change magic unpredictably.
"It's still an experimental magic, but..."
*Crack—*
I grabbed the center of my chest hard and twisted it. Forcing my mana core into overload caused my heart to pound thunderously and blood to flow backward.
Blood flowed from my eyes, nose, and mouth as pain wracked my body, but the thought that I could protect my comrades instead brought a smile to my lips.
"...If I don't do this, I won't be able to protect my comrades."
Mana Core.
The core that every magic user possesses. I must be the only one crazy enough to pull it out and forge it into a sword.
"...Are you trying to kill yourself? It's the same as fighting after exposing your own heart. You know if that gets destroyed, you'll either become a cripple unable to use magic or die, right?"
The Phantom Dragon frowned as it looked at the magic I had created, the sword I named CoreSword.
"No, more than that, I'm determined to kill you quickly and restore this to its original state."
I gave a slight smirk towards my opponent. The Supernova was now almost upon us. I could see Kyle, Anima, and Taryon straining desperately to block it.
"Damn it, is there no way to block it even with the Holy Sword...?"
"As expected of the strongest in our party. I didn't realize facing you as an enemy would be this terrifying."
"Don't talk nonsense! Taryon! We need to think of a way to destroy that thing!"
Alternating my gaze between them and the falling supernova, I gripped the hilt tightly. Holding my breath, minimizing the tremor, I spoke.
"...Victoria, I leave the Phantom Dragon to you."
"Understood. Please don't die."
Victoria replied to me as flatly and impassively as possible, but,
Seeing her reddened, slightly glistening eye rims, it seemed she had even wiped away tears seeing me bleed.
"Yeah, of course."
I nodded to her.
*Plink, plop.* Each time a magic-circle-infused raindrop fell and struck, the CoreSword glowed with colors matching the attribute of that magic.
The artificial Holy Sword I created, inspired by the Flame Holy Sword Kyle possessed, resonated faintly with the magic circles.
"...I have to make you pay the price for ignoring the adage that you should never face a Blue Magic Tower mage when it's raining."
With a small curve at the corner of my mouth, I recalled what I learned at the Magic Tower.
Since the mages from the same origin as me primarily used water and ice magic, they would inevitably have the advantage in rainy conditions.
Because it embodied the very essence of magic itself, the Core Sword could unleash an unpredictable sword beam depending on which magic circle it came into contact with. With a single swing,
*Shing—!*
*Kwaaaaaaa—!*
A spectacular scene unfolded as the giant star before me was cleaved in two.