Queen of the Sky! Strong and Cool, But This Ain't Right...! Master Won, But Fought Wrong – Time to Visit the Surrendered Enemies' Lair
"Keranos? What the hell is that! What do we do, chief!"
"That witch bitch looks crazy strong, chief! Can we even win?"
Balona seemed to have lost all will to fight. She didn't respond to her subordinate's words, merely resigning herself as she watched her kin fall like autumn leaves.
As the surrounding demona tribe members kept asking what they should do, she finally spat out a weary reply.
"That... we can't beat..."
"Then we gotta run, chief! Why are we just standing here!"
"Run... can't... she's definitely faster than us..."
"How do you know that, chief! We gotta get at least one out! The demona tribe's in a crisis right now! We got shit to do!"
Three demona tribe members shot off toward the rear at high speed. But a beam of light fired from Sylvia's position reached them faster than sound, incinerating them.
Krurrung...!Pzzztzzzt!!
"Gyaa..."
"Guee..."
"...."
The three plummeted to the ground as charred husks.
"Aah... no way! We're the last ones... this is bad! Real bad!!"
"That lone bitch... so strong... learned it at the face of death..."
"We all gonna get wiped!? What the hell do we do for the demona tribe!"
"As chief... my failure... sorry to everyone..."
"Chief's an idiot! Uwaa!! I'm fighting to the end!!"
"H-Hey, don't go alone!!"
Even as panic gripped them, the demona tribe charged in. Sylvia launched a full assault. Realizing the overwhelming gap in power, they still swarmed like moths to a flame, crumbling like leaves in the wind.
The demona tribe's annihilation seemed inevitable.
Zzzap!!
Sylvia zipped toward the demona tribe surrounding me like lightning, her wand already tucked into her waistband. With bare hands, she pointed at them and unleashed bolts.
Pzzztzzzt!!Jijijik!!
She wielded raw lightning without incantation. I had no idea how, but I was thrilled by Sylvia's performance.
Incoming foes were swept away with a flick of her hand, bolts incinerating them. Those turning tail got chased and zapped.
The demona tribe fell into chaos.
"Uwaa! What the hell is this! Too fast!"
"Can't keep up! Ah...!"
Krurrung!!
"Gyaaa...!"
"Guuek...!"
Sylvia appeared abruptly above the heads of the yammering demona tribe, as if teleporting. Her hand touched an enemy's head. The gray skin turned earthen at the contact. In an instant, a straight bolt stretched from ground to sky.
Kwang...!!
The foe charred black and dropped.
"Whoa...! My owner's the total Queen of the Sky! Winged freaks don't stand a chance?"
I marveled at Sylvia's overwhelming power, ready to cheer victory. But Dark Bringer's grave voice stopped me.
[Raging out of control...!]
"Eyeball, what bullshit you spouting. Rampage my ass."
[Emergency, boy! No matter how I slice it, your master's master is using power beyond her limits...!! Gotta negotiate quick and stop this fight...!!]
Why the sudden freakout? I was puzzled, but Dark Bringer had given solid advice before, so I listened.
"But we're basically winning. What's the point of saying that now?"
[Right now, your master's master is causing destruction beyond her capacity!]
"Beyond her capacity...? You saying Sylvia's pushing too hard?"
[Yes! It's bizarre she can wield power exceeding her level, but keeping it up won't end well...!!]
Ominous stuff. I asked, hoping against hope it wasn't what I thought.
"......No way it's shortening her lifespan or some crap like that, right?"
[Sharp ears on you!! Stop her now!!]
"You damn thing, just say it shortens her life straight up!!"
I hurriedly checked Sylvia again. What I'd seen as just badass now screamed danger thanks to Dark Bringer.
Looking closer, horns of light sprouted from her smooth forehead. Her silver hair I loved fanned out like a lion's mane, crackling with intermittent sparks. Silver liquid—not quite tears—streamed from her eyes, and her ruby-red pupils glowed gold.
Uneasy, that silver flow looked like life draining away. Sylvia was way too strong right now. Why had I been so optimistic?
No time to think. Had to move. The demona tribe breaking my barrier were all barbecued by Sylvia. Nothing in the way, I bolted to Balona.
She stared blankly from afar, resigned, watching her kin become charcoal piles. I yelled loud enough for her to hear.
"Hey!! Gray buddy!! We won, right!!! Hurry up and surrender already!!!"
Balona replied slowly—not what I wanted.
"...Man...? We lost. But even so, us women don't surrender to men. We lost to that Keranos bitch."
Damn it... no time for that crap! I slammed Dark Bringer's flat against Balona's crown.
Kang!!
"Ack! What the hell, man! Not a warrior, don't pull meaningless attacks!"
"Me and her are on the same side, so surrender quick! Tell 'em all to kneel!!"
"That's for the Keranos bitch to decide, not you."
So damn frustrating! No time! When we win, just surrender!! Thinking Sylvia's precious life was ticking away made me seethe at Balona.
I raised Dark Bringer high again. She flinched at my threat—pitiful against her.
Defeat was sealed. As Sylvia's slave, I couldn't really hurt her, but my blade-waving scared her into submission.
Not the time. How to make Balona do what I want. The way...
I offered terms the losing demona tribe couldn't refuse, to halt Sylvia's battle mode.
"Alright, fine! Might consider granting whatever you want as the victor's mercy, so surrender already!"
"R-Really? But we lost..."
"Fuck, no time, surrender now!"
Yeah, you bastards, hurry!
"A-Alright! Warriors, listen!! Defeat!! We surrender!! Kneel!!"
The scrambling survivors, dodging Sylvia, slowly landed and knelt at Chief Balona's declaration.
Rumble!
But Sylvia didn't drop her golden mode. Had to end it ASAP. Her precious lifespan was wasting!
I demanded again from the demona tribe.
"Not good enough. Make it clear—full prostrate! Bow heads, hands forward!"
"You said just kneel earlier..."
"Yeah! But she ain't stopping!"
Balona hastily declared again. The remaining seven demona tribe bowed fully toward Sylvia.
Yet Sylvia kept her terrifying battle form, staying vigilant. Sylvia, that's enough~!! Stop!! Even fully defenseless, would she blast to neutralize? I didn't want her exerting more, so I ran to stop her.
Too slow...! My run...! Shit...!!
Gasping sprint, lungs burning.
"Hek... hek..."
As I approached, Sylvia finally shed that life-burning form. Silver tears along her jaw stopped, wild mane settled. Light horns faded.
She wobbled, no strength left, collapsing. I caught her before she hit ground, hugging tight.
Plop!
"Sylvia!"
Carrying her piggyback, I called to Dark Bringer at my waist.
"Eyeball, what now! What about Sylvia!"
[Demona tribe! Take her to where they live!]
"Them? They're enemies! What if they revenge after Sylvia smoked over ten!?"
[Demona aren't honorless. And quick treatment might save them all.]
"Huh!? Even as charcoals?"
[Demona born and raised in vital lands have high magic resistance. Those hit by your master's master... even the worst are comatose, not dead. Sanctuary heals injuries fast.]
"Sanctuary?"
[Yes, sanctuary. No time to explain, boy! Just know it heals there. Hurry, take your master's master!]
That was enough. I called to Balona.
"Hey! Gray! Where's your home! Let's go quick!"
These powerhouses attacked, so yeah, dangerous area. Can't fully trust demona, but they'd surrendered and negotiated. With Sylvia down, needed escorts.
But really trustworthy? Trust Dark Bringer. Eyeball... helped a ton. Probably right this time too. Deep down, I trust my luck most. It said prioritize Sylvia's life.
Other demona gathered their comatose comrades. Balona approached me.
"That bitch. Passed out? Yeah, overdid it?"
"Kinda get it. But don't flip on us..."
"Demona value honor. We lost. Spared lives. No betrayal."
"Yeah, okay. To your home! Place that can heal! Sanctuary or whatever!"
"Demona sanctuary? But no outsiders allowed."
"Why!?"
"...But she spared us all. Life savior. Probably okay."
"Right! Hey, carry me and Sylvia."
"M-Me carry you two?"
"You see wings on my back? Gotta help to get there."
"Mm, got it."
Gathered demona scooped charred comrades. The group flew one way. Balona, holding me and Sylvia, flapped her massive wings—clear whip scars from Sylvia's lightning—following.
"Hey, those wings... okay?"
Won't drop us, right?
"This wound. Daily for warrior."
"I see. Good."
"You really man? No cutesy. Not ask if hurt more? I hurt."
"Yeah. You need sanctuary too. Get treated."
"Hmph, stiff."
My owner's out cold—cutesy my ass. I shut up. Balona focused on flying.
I checked Sylvia's color constantly. Dead asleep, wouldn't wake despite shakes, just cold sweat. Flu patient vibe.
"...Lifespan can't be draining like that. No way..."
Absolutely not. If that sanctuary can't heal proper... But the uncanny gut since this world said no big worry. I trusted it.