Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: The Conflagration that Scorches the World (3)
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As he watched those fireballs, Kadim thought of the "sun."
Not the sun of this game world, but the real one from reality. Not Elga's watchful eye gazing down on the world, but the sun at the center of the solar system.
From a distance, it was just a bright blob of light. Up close, though, it was more like a roaring mass of flames.
These fireballs were the same. They were grandly called fireballs, but even the smallest ones easily exceeded five meters in diameter, more than enough to evoke the image of a star when viewed from afar. The one major difference, however...
―――― Roooar, roooar, rooooar - !!
...was that these damned suns had risen in far too great a number, and they were homing in on them relentlessly.
Just before the blazing spheres touched him, Rapustran banked its wings.
Wooooosh -
Four or five massive fireballs barely veered past. It wasn't exactly good news. There were even more spheres ahead on their path, and even those that had missed were turning around to come back.
―――― Roooar, roooar - !
'...Damn it, guided missiles, huh.'
Dodging alone wouldn't cut it. To avoid being surrounded by those raging fireballs, he'd have no choice but to detonate them one by one.
"...Excuse me for a moment."
Krunch!
He jammed both feet firmly into gaps between the scales to secure himself. With his hands free, Kadim ignited lightning on his bolt and hurled it.
Flash - !
―――――― KABOOOOM - !!!
A brilliant streak of light struck a blazing sphere dead-on, unleashing an even greater flash. Amid the tangle of blue lightning and red embers creating a spectacular fireworks display, the spent bolt hurriedly flew back to its master.
Kadim ignited another bolt of lightning and threw it.
Flash - !
―――――― BOOM, KABOOOOM - !!!
This time, the axe pierced straight through a sphere, taking out two at once. But with the 'Lightning' effect fully depleted, it would be hard to keep using it. Without delay, he recalled it and switched to the Judgment of Atala.
The dragon wasn't idle either. It deliberately flew toward a cluster of fireballs and let out a thunderous roar.
―――――― CRRRACKCRACKCRACK - !
A colossal shockwave used the entire atmosphere as its resonator, spreading outward. No fewer than twenty fireballs were caught in its wake all at once, triggering a chain of explosions.
―――― BOOM, KABOOM, BOOM, KABOOOOM - !!
Dragon Speech was the cry that manifested a dragon's will.
Even a wordless roar held immense power, but chanting ancient characters to invoke specific effects amplified that power several times over. The Dragon Speech of a dragon at full strength was incomparable to the clumsy imitations of mere humans.
Rapustran snorted with a satisfied puff, rumbling deep in its chest.
- Behold, minion of the War God. This is the true might of my Dragon Speech. Compared to your pathetic little lightning tricks, which do you think is superior?
"...Hear that twice, and my eardrums would burst. Quite the thunderous purr it was."
- What are you talking about? I've never used a Dragon Speech like that.
"No, never mind... Let's focus on clearing the rest of those fireballs."
Kadim recited a prayer and summoned Atala's divine power.
He gathered the drifting haze onto the axe blade and unleashed a yellowish slash into the air.
―――――― Shwick, shwick!
The range was shorter than lightning, but the power was greater. The fireballs caught in its path were bisected without fail.
The dragon aided in the elimination while performing evasive maneuvers. A few spheres struck its body due to their sheer numbers, but the damage was negligible—just a bit of soot on its scales. It seemed no exaggeration that not even a hair was harmed.
―――― KABOOOOM - !!
―――― BOOM, KABOOOOM - !!
Thanks to the dragon and the warrior's efforts, the massive fireballs that had dotted the sky like stars soon vanished almost entirely. On top of that, their destination, the World Tree, was now within sight.
But one unexpected obstacle remained.
- Grrrumble, grrrumble - !
The spirit of hellfire, Inferno.
The giant, having spotted the intruder, burned with savage fury. Hellfire surged from its eye sockets, and acrid smoke billowed from its mouth.
Already mountain-sized, this one was exceptionally massive. Its outstretched arms nearly reached the mid-layers of the World Tree. The firepower enveloping its body seemed three or four times that of others, and its lower body was like thunderclouds, allowing it to float effortlessly in the air.
- Grrr! Groooaaar - !!
The crimson incarnation of calamity blocked the path to the World Tree. Seeing the red warning filling his vision, Kadim clicked his tongue.
"Melissa must've poured mana into creating this gatekeeper. Looks tough to ignore... Dragon, any ideas on handling that thing?"
- ...You dare ask me how to deal with it?
"..."
- Do you truly think that puny thing could even scratch me?
The dragon's slit pupils gleamed coldly.
Instead of explaining, it proved its point with action.
――――― Splaaat!!
A foreclaw swung like a streak of light. The giant's flaming head vaporized in an instant.
It happened so fast that grasping the full scale of the event was difficult despite its magnitude. The only evidence was the round fireball flying off into the distance.
The headless Inferno desperately tried to grab the dragon, but it was a step too late. Talon strikes like falling lightning severed its blazing arms first.
Grumble! Fwoosh, roooar...
Embers coalesced at the severed stumps, flowing down like lava waterfalls. Without time to staunch the bleeding, the dragon seized its chest with its hind claws and plunged downward with crushing force.
―――――― Craaaash!! KABOOOOOOM - !!
The earth quaked violently, flames erupting massively.
A gigantic crater formed in the ashen forest. At its center, the embedded Inferno exploded into fragments, leaving no trace of its form. The only remnant of the once-fierce gatekeeper was the pallid smoke rising in thick clouds.
The outcome had been decided long ago, yet the dragon left not even a spark behind.
―――――――― KABOOOOOOM - !!!
Its explosive golden breath cleanly eradicated the remaining smoke. Having utterly crushed the Inferno, Rapustran eyed the spotless ground and boasted.
- Did you see that clearly, minion of the War God? Now do you understand why I'm called the "Living Apocalypse"? Do you finally grasp the vast gulf between us, like heaven and earth?
Unfortunately, Kadim didn't give the reaction the dragon hoped for. He merely stroked his chin at an angle and murmured.
"...Even without the 'lizard' part, that golden gecko's earned a pass."
- ....
The golden gecko wore a shit-eating grimace, wrinkling the bridge of its nose.
In the end, fighting hellfire with fire had been an exceedingly brilliant choice.
No matter how mighty a being, it can't exert power without fuel. The vicious hellfire that wouldn't extinguish even under torrents of water died out like a lie once the area was fully incinerated by counterfire. Moreover, the Infernos had been spreading the flames as widely as possible, ignoring already-burned sections.
Thus, the reclamation force secured a safe penetration route straight into Hesilia.
The top contributor to this success went without saying: the merchant who'd played with fire alone. Remillion burst into hearty laughter, repeatedly slapping his back.
"Hahaha! You did a huge thing there! When you passed out in the nest, I thought you were just a cowardly scholar, but you've got some ingenious tricks up your sleeve!"
"Eek, urk! Ahem, cough... N-no, sir. For the 'greatest guide' who always finds the best path, this is just routine, ahem..."
"Haha, brimming with confidence too—very manly and impressive! What was your name again?"
"Duncan, Duncan Wheeled, sir Remillion!"
Duncan's shoulders puffed up proudly for the first time in a while. He'd expected a scolding for slacking off, but to be acknowledged by the legendary strategist, the Golden Lord! It brought a different kind of fulfillment than Kadim's approval, flooding his heart like a torrent.
But that mood didn't last long.
"Right, right, Duncan! If there's anything you want, just say it. I'll help however I can later!"
"W-well then... Could you perhaps persuade the dragon later to let me take a bit of treasure from that nest?"
"Hmm... Anything else? Those are pretty important to that friend."
"N-not much, sir. Just enough to fill this bag..."
"...Isn't that the bag infused with the Forgotten God's power? A few of our dark elves have similar ones."
"..."
The reclamation force set off for Hesilia in an awkward atmosphere.
The hundred-strong group entered the forest filled not with greenery, but ash and char. Even after averting major danger, a shadow of dismay quickly settled over the dark elves' faces. The sight of their ruined homeland cast gloom over their hearts.
Even having turned their backs on the World Tree, their old instincts to cherish trees lingered. It was Remillion's urging to advance swiftly to save the remaining forest and Lilia's promise that the World Tree's power would restore it that steadied their resolve. The operation had only just begun; they couldn't afford laxity.
The route had changed, but the plan's flow remained the same. To detect potential threats and disrupt Melissa's surveillance, the force split into squads and scattered at intervals as they advanced.
Remillion accompanied Lilia's core squad. Bearing heavy responsibility, he smeared ash on his and his group's armor to reduce visibility, showing shrewd caution. Parneo went with some dark elves, and the rest followed yesterday's squad assignments.
Thus, Duncan naturally ended up...
"Let's go, Duncan."
"Uh, uh, yes..."
...with Ilenia, who now clearly knew he wasn't an archaeologist.
Duncan's stomach churned. His 'Inventory'—the item made by that priestess of the Forgotten God—had been exposed when he'd meddled with it, so her gaze felt a bit colder. And there was one more guilty matter...
"...When I was drunk before, did you rummage through my bag looking for valuables?"
"Eep! N-no, no, ma'am! Th-that was all on your master's orders..."
"Ah, even selling out Sir Kadim when he's not here... Yeah, I get it now. I see what kind of guy you are, Duncan."
"..."
At that moment, Duncan sincerely missed the barbarian who'd ridden off ahead on the dragon.
Of course, it was just a light ribbing; Ilenia harbored no real ill will toward Duncan. She knew it was on Kadim's orders, the issue had already been settled amicably, and the counterfire idea was a solid suggestion. She smoothed things over appropriately.
Duncan sighed deeply, looking a decade older. At least she was better than the dark elves who called him bizarre on sight; traveling with a familiar face was a relief.
But that thought didn't last long either.
- Grrrumble, grrrumble...
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...M-miss? We're in big trouble, aren't we?"
Ilenia answered not with words, but a grim expression, a curt nod, and a hasty retreat.
- Groooaaar - !!
"Eek, gyaaaaah!!!"
Duncan scrambled after her, fleeing headlong from the contextless Inferno that had appeared out of nowhere.
Exterior of the half-destroyed World Tree's root trunk.
The golden giant that had cleaved the heavens landed, clutching the cliff's edge.
Kra-boom!!
Immediately after, as if waiting, a red-haired woman appeared squarely before it.
The reunion after 150 long years: the "Last Dragon" and the "Archmage Returned from Hell."
- ....
"..."
Rapustran's eyes blazed with hellfire. Its overwhelming presence choked the life from all things and crushed tendons, pressing down on the air. Yet Melissa showed no disturbance. She merely calmly brushed her hair behind her ear.
"Long time no see, dragon. Did my prepared gifts suit your taste at all?"
- Gifts not even worth a matchstick, you insignificant worm. To scratch my colossal form, you should've dragged up hell's deepest flames.
"Heh, your tongue hasn't rotted away holed up in your nest, I see. More importantly, you pulled off quite the cute trick, didn't you? What's that black thing? Did you lay something over the sky?"
- ...Merely preparations to unleash my full might. Don't expect Elga's meddling luck like last time, you thing worse than vermin.
"What? What's that supposed to mean? You finally come out of your nest, and you're gonna lurk in the shadows again? It's been ages since you went out—shouldn't you at least bask in some sunlight?"
――――― RoOOAR - !!
A pure white flame bloomed atop the woman's hand. To the dragon, it appeared pale pink. Unlike the previous flames, this one carried a degree of "danger."
"You get what I'm saying, right?"
- ....
"Shut up, hand over Kadim, and scram, reptile. Before I burn away that dark veil and turn you into kindling for the sun."
Melissa growled, her face serious.
For a fleeting moment, a hint of fear flickered in Rapustran's eyes.
But it vanished in an instant.
- ...Reptile, huh. Better than gecko, at least.
―――― RoOOAR - !!
Whoooosh - !!
The white flame shot forth immediately, but the dragon's powerful wingbeats scattered it mid-flight. Melissa glared sharply at the wyrm, spreading her mana detection net.
"No use hiding it so carefully. I already know you came with Kadim."
- ...I have no idea what nonsense you're spouting. Has your habit of solitary delusions flared up while rotting in hell?
"Ah, right. It's been so long since you got hit, you forgot the feeling? Fine, just wait a bit, and I'll remind you what 'divine punishment' feels like..."
Melissa muttered venomously, then abruptly froze.
Something foreign brushed the edge of her widely cast detection net. She jerked her head up stiffly. Amid the thick haze enveloping the World Tree's roots, she belatedly spotted a precarious figure climbing them toward the "rift."
"What...? Why is Kadim there...?"
There was no time to carefully consider the reason.
―――――――― KABOOOOOOM - !!!
Rapustran used its explosive breath as a signal flare, declaring the start of full-scale revenge.