Ego Weapon Awakening
What happens to a human when faced with an overwhelmingly sudden shock or terror? ".....Huh?" The answer is—they freeze in place, unable to comprehend what is happening. What... just happened?
Venice's left side, the part he had pushed her away with, was literally torn apart. Blood gushed from his abdomen, and his left arm had already been ripped off and flung far into the distance. "...........!"
At the same time, Cerise locked eyes with a pair of gleaming pupils within the rippling air. Vertical slits for pupils, eyes burning with orange and crimson flames as if from the depths of hell itself.
".......Get lost—!"
Shwaaaak—! Having assessed the situation, Cerise swung her sword with all the fury boiling inside her—enough to cleave through any monster in a single strike.
......! Flap—! The ripple flung Venice's pierced body aside and soared high into the sky, dodging her attack. At the same moment, the distortion began to take on a clear form.
Burning crimson eyes that seemed to embody hatred for the world. A massive body, far larger than the previous dragon, glowing with a blood-red hue. Wings that beat with force stronger than a windmill's gale.
Grind—! Cerise gritted her teeth as she realized the calamity before her was the true monster from the request—not the previous creature.
-What... what is that...!
....Commander!!
I-insane, that wasn't the end?!
From behind came the panicked voices of the mercenaries who had just witnessed both Venice's sudden injury and the revealed calamity.
Huff—! "...Villon, Ken!! Carry the Commander to safety! Everyone else—stay back!!"
Her voice, infused with mana, rang out across the canyon louder than a dragon's roar. Suppressing her surging emotions, she glared coldly at the dragon above.
Shwaaaak—! The dragon, having spotted Villon and Ken rushing forward at her command, dove at terrifying speed—barely visible even to Cerise's eyes. It intended to strike those trying to move Venice.
"....Move—!"
Clang—! A clear, ringing sound echoed throughout the canyon as her sharp blade met the dragon's claws—an unbelievable clash.
..........! "Khk!" The force of their clash sent both Cerise and the dragon flying apart. 'What power..!' Even though she had struck with everything she had, merely clashing with the dragon's casual attack left her arm numb.
So this... was a 5-star monster? It was on an entirely different level from the fake dragon earlier—in strength, presence, and mana.
...Even so. Like I'd give up?
"....No. I will never give up." Crack...! Cerise gripped her sword hilt with all her might. She would cleave that monster in half for hurting Venice, and carve out their golden future once more.
................. "What are you looking at so curiously, you bastard—!"
Tatatatap—! Rage boiled over at the dragon's seemingly intrigued gaze, and Cerise charged forward. Her emotions rose higher and higher, power flooding her body. Yet she could not stop.
Clang—! Clang—! She knocked aside the dragon's claws and thrust her blade. When it tried to bite down with its massive jaws, she struck the hilt away and slashed again.
"Uwaaaah—!" Even if it meant burning her own body away, she would kill this monster. Under that conviction, her attacks grew sharper and sharper.
Slash—! "....Khk!" But even her relentless strikes failed to land a decisive blow. Instead, the dragon found an opening and struck back, sending Cerise staggering.
...My left abdomen's injured. Agonizing pain surged through her, her body burning. Even as she tried to staunch the bleeding with force, blood kept pouring out. Dizziness followed, along with a slight vertigo.
No. She could not stop here. A wound like this would not halt her. Compared to the countless sacrifices Venice had made for her, this was nothing.
"....I'll cut you down. And save the Commander." She would slay this calamity and rescue her savior... her light.
With her resolve firm, her body stopped trembling and the pain faded. The tip of her sword aimed at the dragon was sharp, and power surged through her entire frame.
Hum—! Just as her heart filled with nothing but the will to cut down the enemy and save Venice, the sword began to vibrate as if alive. It resonated with her mana, as though she could wield it as freely as her own limbs.
[Conditions Met!]
[The Ego Weapon has chosen a worthy master!]
Master: Cerise
[Unique Ability (Ego Weapon): This beautiful treasured sword contains a living will. It resonates with the user's intent and can change its form. Once awakened, the Ego Weapon becomes unbreakable and sharp enough to cleave mithril in a single stroke!]
Description: The treasured sword once wielded by the hero who conquered the continent. A weapon that transforms freely by resonating with the hero's will, striking overwhelming terror into its foes. Centuries after the hero's disappearance, it has responded to a new legend's pure and unwavering resolve—ready to shine brilliantly once more.
It felt as though the sword and her body had become one. Crack...! Gripping the hilt tightly, she felt her strength surge far beyond before. Right now, it seemed she could accomplish anything.
"....Here I come, you monster. It won't be like before." Press...! Her overflowing mana gathered at her feet instead of diminishing, bending the ground beneath her until it cracked.
BOOM—! Shwaaaak—! She launched herself forward in one explosive burst, surpassing human limits like a loosed arrow, hurtling straight toward the dragon.
............! Slice—! The dragon reacted quickly, but Cerise's slash was faster. Her blade severed the dragon's left leg and carved a deep gash across its abdomen.
GRAAAAAAAH—! The dragon screamed as if the world itself were collapsing, its voice shaking the canyon. Everyone except Cerise had no choice but to cover their ears.
"....Hah." It felt as though she had finally broken through a wall she could never surpass before. A slash that had been difficult to even graze the dragon with earlier had now severed its leg in a single strike. She felt a leap in growth incomparable to anything before, and readied herself once more.
GRAAAAH...! The dragon thrashed in agony, raging in the sky. Its glowing eyes, filled with hatred, locked onto Cerise—like a predator eyeing its prey. But this time, the target was no prey, but an equal or greater predator.
Hoooo—! The dragon drew in a massive breath, its belly swelling. ROOOOOOAR—! An enormous torrent of flame breath erupted toward her. The heat was so intense that any living being touched by it would melt instantly, leaving no trace.
Yet Cerise, facing the breath head-on, did not flee. She simply gazed calmly at the enemy she must annihilate.
".....Greatsword." Hum—! At her quiet murmur, the treasured sword transformed into a massive greatsword too large for even an adult man to wield with two hands. Lifting it lightly, she stood before the oncoming flames.
To any onlooker, it would seem like suicide against such overwhelming firepower... but—
"....Hup—!" Whooooosh—! Cerise swung the flat of the greatsword with all her might. The tremendous wind pressure reversed the breath, sending it hurtling back toward the dragon.
Fwoooosh—! GRAAAAH—! The dragon writhed as it was engulfed in its own flames, its entire body burning in agony.
...Even while spewing such overwhelming fire, it had never been touched by its own flames before.
Grrrrr...! Having barely extinguished the flames, the dragon glared at Cerise with eyes filled with all the hatred and rage in the world. Cerise met that gaze impassively.
Hum—! "..........." As the dragon opened its maw to act, magic circles began appearing one after another around it. Soon, the sky was completely covered by enormous, densely packed magic circles—power enough to erase the entire canyon.
"....Magic, is it." Legends spoke of dragons wielding magic far beyond what humans could use. ...Well. Looks like the legends were right about that part, at least. Though unlike the legends, there's nothing wise or benevolent about it. Just a beast that can wield mana.
Grrrrr.... The dragon smirked as if victory were already assured. Though it was far away—little more than a dot to ordinary eyes—Cerise's body had already transcended human limits.
Shrrrrk—! The magic circles linked together, and the once colorless sky began sparkling with countless colors. If those spells activated... she would die. So would the mercenaries. And so would Venice.
"....Longsword." Hum—! She shifted the sword back into its longsword form, optimized for slashing. "Hoooo....." Assuming an iaido stance, she took a deep breath. Focusing every ounce of power for a single strike. Pouring all her overflowing mana into the blade.
There was nothing her will—her will for Venice—could not cut.
Her heart, which had been boiling like lava, calmed. Her mind grew cold. Click.
"...Dragon. Sever." Slice—!! CRASH... CRASH!! The slash, drawing on every last bit of her strength, cut through everything. The mana blade that erupted from it rose up and severed all in its path. The massive boulders launched from the magic circles. The magic circles themselves. The dragon's body. ...And even the sky beyond.
With a single swing of Cerise's sword, everything in range was cut apart.
Thud— Thud— Thud. The half-formed boulders and the dragon's lifeless body crashed to the ground.
-....Hah.
It's like... divine power.
She even cut the sky...?
The mercenaries, who could only watch helplessly, stared blankly at the bisected sky.
Stagger— "Khk..." A sudden wave of dizziness hit her—likely from expending all her strength and mana—and her body swayed.
"...Commander—!" But she forced her faltering body forward, running toward Venice. Now that the dragon was slain, nothing else mattered.
Her cooled heart reignited, a single thought filling her mind.
"Commander..! Please, open your eyes...! Please...!"
"Cough... cough..."
"Ah... no...!"
When she reached him, Venice lay against a rock, gasping for breath as blood pooled around him in a crimson lake. Hans and the mercenaries desperately tried everything to wake him.
"......Cer...ise... Vice-Commander. Cough.."
".......Commander...sir..." At the faint voice of her beloved calling her name, Cerise collapsed to her knees beside Venice.