Final Clash: The Hero's Sword Pierces the Heavens (4)
It was a sight like the dawn's sunlight gathered and focused into a single point. The hero's light. The hero's mana.
The greatsword, which normally gleamed with pitch-black luster from hilt to blade, was completely obscured by that majestic, solemn radiance.
Emilia's entire body emitted a faint glow as well, storms swirling around her as she took another step forward. The greatsword gripped in both hands trembled fiercely, as if ready to burst forth at any moment, scattering brilliant light in all directions.
Her lake-blue eyes, reminiscent of clear waters, gazed upward at the fleeting golden barrier on the verge of vanishing and the red light source it was barely holding back with its last strength. Those eyes flickered with faint fear at the killing intent-laden, all-or-nothing bombardment.
But that emotion melted away like frost in the sun, and her gaze sharpened into one befitting her—straight and unwavering, piercing beyond the barrier.
—My hand burns.
Ever since a moment ago, the back of my hand etched with the Hero's Blessing has been scorching, as if it's about to burst into flames.
Emilia still couldn't tell if this choice of hers was right. Even if everything went perfectly from here, all that awaited her afterward was a mire of lust and humiliation.
Am I staking my life right now for that kind of future? The thought crept in, laced with self-mockery.
But no. That notion was quickly refuted by another feeling surging within.
—As a child, Emilia admired heroes.
She yearned for tales of heroes and rejoiced in stories of those saved by them.
'...Enough. No more complications.'
'Who cares about Melrn Count or my future life? Not now.'
'People need a hero right here, right now. This moment demands one.'
'It's the most heroic instant imaginable.'
Even if it was just this once. Even if Emilia's hero saga ended here. Just once—just one time—she felt exhilarated, as if she were stepping into the legends and tales herself.
Her hand burned. The marking on her hand burned. The Hero's Blessing kept intensifying the heat, responding to the admiration for heroes she harbored in her heart. The torrent of light gathered in the sword grew ever brighter, as if demanding more.
"Huuuuuh... "
Her delicate eyebrows furrowed. With resolute determination and will, she assumed her stance, aiming the greatsword straight ahead.
I can do it. I can do it. I can do it. I can do it...
Clang—!!
A shattering roar echoed through the air, like something breaking apart.
The barrier that had bought Emilia a mere moment's respite when she stepped onto the balcony now cracked decisively, crumbling visibly before her eyes.
Once it fell, that torrent of light would come crashing down. Facing it, Emilia recalled the tale of the first hero.
A monstrous beast conjured by the Demon King: six arms, a dragon's maw, petrifying evil eyes, a mouth spewing fire. Even as comrades fell and his body was torn to shreds, the hero's swing cleaved the monster and reached the heavens themselves... or so the legend went.
She envisioned that scene. The first hero did it. As his descendant, there's no way I can't. She steeled herself once more.
"—I beseech thee."
"I beseech thee, let this sword of mine reach the heavens."
Emilia murmured her prayer to the god she believed in, pouring everything into the blade's tip: her heart, her wishes, her hopes, her courage, her admiration, her frustrations... everything.
No time for doubts about failure—just her heartfelt prayer. She raised the sword high overhead with all her soul invested.
"Ah..."
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!"
With a roar like a beast's battle cry, Emilia swung the sword down with every ounce of her being, straight at the oncoming assault.
Gwooooooo... Kuoooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo!!!!
Concentrated silver particles. With a deafening tear through the air, a pure white aurora shot skyward.
The red light fired from the dragon plummeted toward the earth. But a white light no less fierce repelled it, clashing head-on.
Whooooom... Kuwhooooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo... Kuwhaaaaaaaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa!!!
The night blazed like midday. The pure white slash repelled the descending red light source, illuminating the darkness like the dawn's first light and driving back the murderous assault.
『―――――――――!!』
The dragon, flustered by this turn, desperately tried to muster more power. But its breath had already surpassed limit after limit.
This was its final strike, paid for with its own annihilation. Yet even that couldn't overcome the torrent of light.
...No, that wasn't all. The golden barrier from moments ago had already sapped much of the dragon's strength.
If the barrier's spell had been even slightly more perfect, if the caster had been flawless, the breath would have fizzled harmlessly against it.
So this was inevitable. A desperate flail that might have succeeded against a lone hero was drained and neutralized by some unknown ally.
『――――――….』
The dragon's inaudible cry—mere vibrations of mana—faded gradually. Its skeletal body had already crumbled to dust for more than half.
Kuooooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo!!!!
The clashing mana eruption between white aurora and red light source ended in an instant. Emilia's white mana devoured the red glow voraciously.
And in the end, that white aurora didn't just consume the red source—it swept away the half-destroyed death dragon at its origin as well.
"Hah... huff... haaah... huff... huff... huff...!"
Thud...!
Clang!
Confirming her mana had engulfed the death dragon, Emilia spat ragged breaths and collapsed on the spot. The greatsword slipped from her loosened grip, clattering loudly to the floor.
A mysterious dark-silver greatsword rivaling a holy sword in durability. But now cracks spiderwebbed across it, splitting further even now.
It wasn't mere fragility—the issue was incompatibility between Emilia's mana and the sword's nature. Moreover, it was something meant to vanish, forcibly manifested by Melrn Count's mana.
A mere stopgap. Having fulfilled its role, it now dissolved into black mist like its wielder, fading away.
"Ah... haa... haa... haa..."
Sweat poured like rain. She felt dehydration setting in from the deluge. Her insides felt hollow, limbs devoid of strength. Her head spun, her body alien and numb.
Yet even so, Emilia laboriously lifted her gaze to the sky. From the crumbling balcony, she beheld the clear heavens.
Mere moments ago, a ferocious storm had raged. But now, no rain fell on the balcony or its surroundings—not the forest beyond, nor the imperial palace grounds.
In her view, a starry night sky sparkled. A beautiful expanse without a single cloud.
Yet on either side, thick storm clouds still churned with rain and lightning.
The clouds had parted. Emilia's torrent of light—her slash—had cleaved the overcast sky, unveiling the pristine night beyond.
"Haa... ah... haa... finally..."
It reached... it reached...
......
Her sword, her prayer—they had reached it. The fact was unbelievable, and thus profoundly moving.
With that thought, she slumped fully onto the balcony.
......I'm exhausted...
Her body wouldn't move anymore. Pushed beyond limits, it was done.
......Father... Mother...
I... Emilia... as a hero... am not... ashamed... before you...
On the verge of unconsciousness, Emilia's final thoughts turned to her beloved parents. Murmuring a prayer to them, she slowly, slowly slipped away.
"......As expected of her, my love."
"The hero's power seems more impressive, though. Of course, Lia pulling it off is amazing too. Yes, yes."
Melrn Count murmured while gazing at the sky Emilia had rent asunder. Mona responded, slithering to his feet like mist.
Though veiled by illusion magic, she hid her form just in case. Melrn Count, kneeling with one knee on the ground, struggled to rise and staggered toward the fallen Emilia.
His body, ragged moments ago, was regenerating in real-time thanks to the Maou's Egg fragment. By the time they returned to the mansion, his exterior would be pristine.
"Well then..."
Supporting the unconscious Emilia, Melrn Count muttered. What now?
Pondering briefly as he walked with her toward the banquet hall, the nobles and knights—who had witnessed this unbelievable spectacle—rushed forward to assist.
The deranged emperor was still nowhere in sight.