Unleashing the Storm
“Peep─”
Pelte, who had been watching as I thoroughly devoured the enemy, finally swooped in with an expression that said the deed was done.
[Congratulations on your victory.]
[As if there was any doubt.]
It was truly an obvious win.
Those Triple Ross brothers had grown to SS-rank through some unimaginable fusion trick, but at their core, they were still SA-rank.
They never stood a chance against our overwhelming power.
[Anyway, hurry up. The fight over there isn't over yet.]
I immediately activated Inhwa's Art and climbed onto Pelte's back.
With a light flap of his wings, Pelte kicked off the ground powerfully.
As Pelte soared upward with all his might, the floating island barely holding together beneath his talons crumbled away in a shower of debris.
If we'd dragged it out any longer, it might have been dangerous.
We had to figure out a solution for these floating islands that shattered like glass.
At this rate, we couldn't fight without constantly worrying in every battle.
Maybe earth magic could stabilize them?
Or find a way to fly through the sky ourselves.
It might be worth pondering.
Riding on Pelte's back, I scanned the aerial battlefield where the fighting raged.
With the Triple Ross brothers gone, the overall situation had completely swung in our favor.
We probably didn't even need to intervene.
One unexpected thing, though: Giryu's battle hadn't ended yet.
The flow still favored him heavily, but those five holding out were no pushovers.
At least on par with the Triple Ross brothers before their fusion or even Freya.
When such foes dug in their heels, even Giryu couldn't wrap it up quickly.
Especially since he had more than just them to worry about.
[Should I help?]
Giryu glanced our way as we approached through the raging storm.
[What happened to the Triple brothers? You take them out?]
[Yeah. Chewed 'em up good and swallowed.]
[...Pity. I had a score to settle with them too.]
[Well, they pulled off something weird. Fused together, all three into one.]
Giryu, who had been flapping his wings leisurely, paused mid-motion.
Forgetting the battle entirely, he stared at me with a dumbfounded look.
[Fused...?]
[Yep. Fused.]
Giryu made a baffled face and fell silent for a moment.
[...Impressive. I'd have liked to see it myself.]
[Too bad they're already in my gut. Probably not as cool as you imagine. More grotesque, if anything.]
[Like you?]
[...Looks like you're fighting pretty leisurely yourself. Want me to toss in another enemy?]
[Nah, you're not exactly looking your best either.]
I furrowed my brow at Giryu's playful jab.
Part of me wanted to smack him upside the head right then, but given the situation, I held back.
Letting out a quiet sigh, I asked him again.
[So, need any help?]
[Nah. They're not worth calling for backup.]
[Taking an awful long time for 'not worth it.']
[Had a lot to keep track of. But now that you're free, I can relax.]
Giryu said it calmly, flicking his eyes toward me.
[Keep an eye on my subordinates.]
[They seemed fine without us.]
[Not like that. Make sure they don't get caught in my storm.]
[Planning to go all out, huh? Fine by me.]
I nodded lightly and patted Pelte's nape.
Pelte, flapping furiously to avoid Giryu's storm, kicked the air desperately at my signal.
Once clear of the storm's reach, Pelte let out a sigh of relief.
I stroked his nape again lightly and watched Giryu's fight.
As if everything so far had been child's play, the storm raged fiercer than ever.
The winds whipped so violently it seemed impossible to intensify further, sweeping up everything around them.
[My fight's over, and these guys are still giving you trouble.]
Facing that indiscriminate storm that spared no friend or foe, we hurried our preparations.
I quickly drew up mana, adjusting it to shield our allies from getting swept away.
Honestly, this was tougher than fighting the Triple brothers.
Them, I could just smash. Here, I couldn't.
Unleashing his power without restraint, Giryu's storm reduced everything to rubble.
The five SA-rank monsters battling him were gone without a trace.
I'd thought my fusion magic research had caught up to his storms, but seeing this, I still had a ways to go.
Needed more work.
Whoosh─
The storm that had raged once finally quieted after pulverizing everything in its path.
As if the fury had been an illusion, bright sunlight poured down on the now-calm sky.
I shot a sidelong glare at Giryu as he flew toward us quietly.
[You don't know the meaning of 'restraint.' Cost me a ton of mana.]
[Sorry about that. Wanted to hold back, but they kept needling me the whole fight.]
I didn't press further at Giryu's nonchalant tone.
I understood his feelings well enough.
Hadn't I gotten pissed at the Triple brothers' taunts too?
If they provoked first, they deserved it.
Guys who ran their mouths needed a harsh lesson to shut them up for good.
With Giryu's storm, the first battle wrapped up.
Assessing the aftermath, our side's losses were surprisingly light.
Even with me and Giryu, we were outmatched in overall quality and numbers.
Turns out one unexpected MVP: Lehatna.
[I can't fight, but I'm great at protecting!]
As the daughter of the Dragon King and an SS-rank monster, maybe?
Lehatna hadn't joined the front lines but had supported our allies from the rear.
New discovery: she had real talent for barriers and shields.
I'd figured she'd be useless, so kept her back with the low-ranks for safety.
But this changed things.
She'd insisted on staying for a reason.
Sorry for doubting you.
You were a huge help.
[Yay! I worked hard for everyone!]
Leaving Lehatna beaming like Suli at the praise, I discussed next steps with Giryu.
[Let's press the momentum and charge straight in.]
[Everyone's exhausted. We need rest.]
[Don't need many. Just Pelte, me, you, and that's it.]
[I'm coming too!]
[...Fine. Four of us, including Lehatna, should suffice.]
[Just four?]
[Leysi a's handling Le Ganus's main force anyway. We just harass from behind to keep him off-balance.]
[Stir up some chaos?]
[Yeah. Do everything to give Leysia even a slight edge.]
Giryu nodded slowly at my words, then murmured quietly.
[Unexpected.]
[What is?]
[Thought you'd want to rush in and fight the young master yourself. Didn't expect you to suggest rear harassment.]
I shrugged lightly at Giryu's steady gaze.
[Deep down, yeah, I'd love to go straight for Le Ganus. He'd probably say the same. We've got unfinished business.]
[Then why?]
[I'm an outsider. Can't butt into the Dragon King showdown recklessly. Le Ganus is Leysia's to handle.]
[Deeper thinker than I thought.]
[Keep picking fights... Want to settle our score for real? Yeah, we've got unfinished business too.]
—Let's untie that knot right now.
Giryu shrugged lightly back at my glare.
[Anyway, I get your point. I'll go along with it.]
With Giryu's agreement, the plan was set.
Truth be told, the Dragon King contest was decided the moment Leysia and I teamed up.
Individually, neither matched Le Ganus, but together, we surpassed him vastly.
Once Leysia and Le Ganus clashed head-on, we'd harass his rear, then join her at the right moment.
No matter how many monsters followed Le Ganus, we had far more SS-rank heavies.
The path to victory was clear, no brainpower needed.
Only regret: slim chance I'd face Le Ganus personally in this future.
The one way? If Leysia lost.
But I couldn't picture it.
Le Ganus was strong, but Leysia was on another level.
Same SS-rank, yet she felt a dimension above.
Probably inches from SSS-rank.
Fighting her? I'd lose for sure.
With solid backup, maybe 50-50.
Nah, honestly 80-20 her favor.
An opponent even I couldn't confidently beat.
If she lost...
'That'd be the worst. Means Le Ganus hit SSS-rank.'
Personally disappointing, but for Lehatna's sake, I wanted Leysia to win cleanly.
'Can't fight Le Ganus? Fine. Still got Pluto left.'
I recalled the octopus monster who'd claimed the Dragon King's second wing without wings.
Dozens, hundreds of writhing tentacles came to mind first.
No matter how decent, I had zero desire to fight that creep.
Its grotesque looks would wear me down before the battle even started.
Though that balloon-like head... I really wanted to pop it once.
Giryu and Melusio had beef with it, so I'd watch one of them take it on.
Wonder what's inside?
Actually full of hot air like a balloon?
Anyway, taking stock, there wasn't much left for me to do.
A few SA-rank stragglers, but would they even be fun?
Should've spared the Triple brothers?
They could've entertained me for a good while without boring me.
'Yeah, but that foul mouth—they'd be chewed up again in no time.'
The image was all too vivid; I sighed softly.
Felt like the real end.
Time to think beyond this fight.
Beyond the Sky Zone.
The unknown layers past floor 99.
What awaited there?
If this wrapped smoothly, straight there next.
No more foes left a twinge of disappointment, but curiosity and excitement about the unknown swelled anew.
Couldn't wait.
As I pondered the future, Giryu finished cleanup and prep; we set off together.
Just as planned: harass Le Ganus hard from the rear.
The end of this affair was truly near.