The Serpent's Shadow
Flash!
A pure white light shot toward the man and the shadow. It was as blinding and immense as the grand magic Ren had unleashed. I could only gape at the astonishing sight.
Soon, a groan burst from the lips of the man who had taken the light head-on.
“Ngh!”
Gritting his teeth, the man thrust out his hand. Something serpentine slithered out from it.
“……!”
“To think it still had this much power left. How utterly tiresome.”
Tsking, the man drew his sword. An ominous, savage energy rippled around him, enveloping his body like aura armor. Could it be aura armor? If so, he was either approaching Swordmaster level or had already reached it.
This wasn't good—Niv was in danger.
“Damn it.”
I gripped my sword and tried to summon the Dragon's Mana. But it felt blocked somewhere; the aura wouldn't manifest properly. I stared in panic at the mist-like aura dissipating around me.
Then, a frail voice wormed into my ear.
[No…….]
“……Niv?”
Startled, I whipped my head around. There was Niv's tree, surrounded by a glow of light. Her voice emanated from it.
[The relic's power is too strong. You can't with the power you have now.]
“The ancient relic?”
[Yes. He has it.]
“Just as I thought.”
I ground my teeth and glared at the man. The mastermind who had used Marquis Ater to curse the duke and unleashed the monster outbreak. He was the true black curtain of this world.
[Don't worry. No matter what, I'll protect you. Just like Ariel did.]
“Ariel?”
A name I'd heard somewhere before. Ariel. Xavier had mentioned her in history lessons, I think.
“……The founding saintess Ariel?”
A thousand years ago, one of the key figures in the founding myth who repelled the monster legions and helped establish the empire. It felt strange hearing this distant historical figure spoken of so intimately by Niv.
Moments later, a beautiful song flowed from Niv's tree.
[Aaaah---]
The entire field vibrated in response. The ground shook like an earthquake, and root-like things burst from the soil. The whole meadow seemed to attack the man, transforming the fairy-tale beauty into a terrifying battlefield in an instant.
Yet Niv's song remained achingly beautiful.
[Ah---]
The clear voice rang in my ears. At the same time, the man struck by Niv's assault staggered back with labored breaths.
Boom! Crash!
“Ngh, thrashing to the bitter end.”
We might actually subdue him. Unconsciously, I clenched my fists tight.
Just as I thought I could trust Niv to handle this—
“Come forth. Yormungand.”
Something surged into the sky at the man's calm command. I watched the scene in shock.
Soon, a massive serpent uncoiled from the man, looming over us.
“……!”
For a split second, I felt its mustard-yellow eyes meet mine. But I dismissed it as my imagination. We were too far apart.
“Devour them all.”
[Yes.]
At his order, the black-scaled behemoth opened its maw wide. It began sucking in the tree roots attacking by Niv's will and the beams of white light.
“Wh-what the…!”
“Urk.”
Like a black hole suddenly appearing in the air. It devoured every last petal of Niv's attack with voracious intent.
I barely managed to lift my eyes to witness it.
[Aaaah!]
Not content with that, the serpent savagely bit into Niv's tree.
“Niv!”
The lovely song cut off, replaced by a horrific scream. The ground trembled faintly, as if sharing her agony. This beautiful space was being ravaged by the invader.
“Ugh, damn it. Listen to me!”
The Dragon's Mana, which had responded so well before, wouldn't budge. Was it because of that relic he had?
The longer this dragged on, the harder it was to muster strength. For the first time since possessing this world, I felt utter helplessness.
“Pel! Can you hear me? Pel!”
[…….]
“Pel, answer me! Pel!”
[…….]
I screamed, clutching the unresponsive pendant. But Pel remained silent, as if my words weren't reaching.
“Goddamn it!”
Yelling curses changed nothing.
“Hahaha!”
“…….”
I glared at the man roaring with laughter. A searing rage boiled up inside me.
It was him. He had tried to kill the duke. He had unleashed monsters here, plunging countless people into suffering. And now Niv.
I clenched my fists until my nails drew blood.
“Lady Abigail, you must retreat.”
“……What?”
I scowled at Ren's words.
“We can use magic once we leave this area. For now, let's get out and……”
“No. I can't leave Ian behind.”
I couldn't bear imagining what horrors my subordinate Ian would face in that man's clutches. And Niv was sacrificing herself to protect me. I couldn't abandon her like this.
[Run…….]
A hazy image of Niv appeared before me, fragile as if she'd vanish any second.
“Niv……”
[Hurry, run…….]
She repeated herself, pushing me away as if my safety was all that mattered. I bit my lip. I felt so pathetically weak.
And I realized it. Without the Dragon's power, I was just a frail human who could do nothing. I'd been arrogant, mistaking it for my own all this time.
“……Sorry, Niv.”
So now, I had to face him with only my own strength. Resolved, I raised my sword.
“I'm not running away.”
[…….]
Niv gazed at me sadly, then gave a bittersweet smile.
[You're still the same.]
“…….”
I didn't know who she was mistaking me for this time, but there was no time to ask about Abigail's ancestors. I took a deep breath and regripped my sword.
Honestly, I had no confidence. Could I subdue that man without the Dragon's explosive power? Probably not. I'd surely die.
Yet somehow, it felt far better than tucking tail and fleeing.
Abigail was the villainess. She seized whatever she wanted without hesitation, no matter how extreme. Better than her mocking a coward who ran.
So I wouldn't regret this.
“Wait.”
“……?”
About to charge, I turned at the curt voice. Sian stared at me with a rigidly set face. Time was short. I asked impatiently,
“What?”
“…….”
Sian silently unbound his turban. His pastel sky-blue hair whipped in the wind.
“What……”
“I'm sick of watching these damn scenes.”
Frowning, Sian met my eyes squarely.
“I'll help.”
“But you can't use magic here.”
“No, I can.”
“…….”
This guy planned to use spirit power? I glanced at Niv battling the serpent the man had summoned. Dryads were probably a type of spirit. Since they could fight in this mana-blocked space, spirits must draw on a different power.
Then Sian could wield his full strength here too. He'd pretended to be unable to use magic like Ren to hide his spirit powers earlier.
Nodding in understanding, I said,
“I'll take down that serpent, so attack the moment I do.”
In the urgency, Sian ignored formalities—just like the disgraced third prince treated like trash in his kingdom. I replied cheerfully,
“Got it.”
Sian raised both hands and shouted,
“Sylestin!”
A fierce whirlwind erupted before him. A beautiful woman with sky-blue hair like his floated in the air.
The high wind spirit Sylestin. These days, only those of Urgen royal blood could handle spirits on the continent, and Sian was the most exceptional among them. He could contract and command a high-level spirit, a rare and outstanding gift when even talented spirit summoners struggled with low-level ones.
[It's been a while, Sian.]
“No time. Help me first.”
[Got it.]
Sylestin nodded readily and turned to the battlefield. The serpent was nearly uprooting Niv's tree roots.
“Stop that serpent!”
[As my friend's will decrees.]
Powerful winds howled around Sylestin. Her noble dress transformed into warrior's armor in an instant. Eyes open, she hefted a spear taller than herself and rocketed toward the serpent.
Whoosh!
The piercing whistle battered my ears. Sylestin's spear impaled the serpent's massive body.
[Kraaaah!]
The serpent shrieked, pierced defenselessly. Suddenly, the oppressive discomfort weighing on my body vanished.
“Now!”
“……!”
Snapping out of my daze at Sian's shout, I saw Sylestin relentlessly pressing the serpent. I gripped my sword tighter.
Thump, thump.
A familiar power raced through my veins. Had the Dragon's power returned? Before I could fully register it, I kicked off the ground.
“Haaah!”
The distance closed in a flash. My hair streamed back, strength surging through me.
Boom!
As Sylestin retreated, I unleashed my aura. The massive serpent shattered without a sound.
I immediately turned and glared at the man standing with hands behind his back.
“Hm, seems this unstable clone has reached its limit.”
His mutter was too soft to catch fully. My vision burned red. I swung at the masked man.
“That'll do for today.”
But I cleaved only his afterimage. He'd retreated, still leisurely despite my fury.
“Ngh, where do you think you're going!”
I slashed wildly at the fleeing man, but somehow couldn't land a hit. As his form grew fainter, he snapped his fingers as if remembering something.
“Ah, here—take these back. They were too weak even for the main body to swallow.”
Two figures tumbled from the black space where he stood, hitting the ground.
Thud.
Horrified, I cried out,
“……Ian! Mir!”