And
Bella goes flying.
Far, far away. She cleaves through the sky and then abruptly plummets.
Nice shot.
It was a hit worthy of such praise, a kind of satisfaction I hadn’t even felt when I was beating Nerati.
I sent the dagger flying to catch her off guard, then immediately closed in for a heavy blow. For an impromptu plan, it seemed likely to succeed, so I went for it without a second thought. But who would have thought, even in that state, her reaction speed was still sharp, ready to enter a battle stance… If I had been careless, I could have been countered, but I managed to strike back properly in a situation where I could have been hit instead.
Even without wings, she’s that capable. Is this what they mean by ‘old habits die hard’?
…But in the end, she’ll still fall to me.
“Ha, serves you right.”
I readjust my stance.
Bella is still sprawled out.
I don’t know how much stamina she has left, but it’s probably more than mine. There’s no way someone who’s been on the front lines swinging a sword has the same stamina as someone who’s been comfortably planning strategies. Besides, I’m not exactly in peak condition myself right now.
So, it has to be a quick battle.
I need to finish this swiftly.
With that thought, I confidently prepared to charge, but the pain flooded in a moment too late.
“Tch…”
It’s a sensation similar to when I struck the wall forcefully, now coursing through my fist.
Is this what they call a ‘crying fist’?
It’s really whining painfully.
The pain didn’t subside over time; it even reached down to my elbow. I’ve been through worse, but it seems like this is something I’ll never get used to.
But even if I were to strike a steel bar, it wouldn’t hurt this much. Damn, she’s really tough.
“How’s that, does it hurt? Feeling dizzy? Didn’t see that coming, did you? I can hardly believe it myself… but I guess you’re beyond help. Still, in this situation, it’s only right to ask, isn’t it? It’s my first time in this kind of mess, so I don’t really know what’s what. Hahaha.”
I clutch my aching arm and mask my agitation with mockery.
The most important thing right now is victory. I can’t afford to show any weakness.
A single hit is nothing; it’s not decisive enough to secure a win.
…Indeed, it was too much to use magic, Mind’s Eye, and all the physical enhancements I could muster. Maybe I should have held back a little.
As these thoughts crossed my mind,
Bella began to regain her posture.
I had to respond.
I needed to take the initiative before she could get up and charge at me.
But the pain was intensifying, gnawing at my bones. My body, gasping as if spitting blood, seemed to be telling me I had overdone it. Yet, after rolling around several times and looking at Bella covered in dust, the agony seemed almost bearable.
Of course, my body was far from okay.
“Already recovering, are you?”
“….”
One step, two steps.
Bella began to approach with an expression sharper than before.
“…Say something.”
No affirmation, no denial, not even a response.
So, she’s refusing to even converse, is that it?
Well, it’s not a bad reaction for me, anyway.
First, I barely managed to steady my trembling fist.
And then I aimed the holy sword at Bella.
The holy sword,
If I can just land the power of the holy sword properly, I can win. It would be a complete victory, not giving her a chance for a comeback, an overwhelming triumph that wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call a crushing defeat. Of course, since this is an open area, the hit rate is extremely low, and using it even once would likely cause one of my body parts to lose its function, but still, this is the method with the highest chance of success.
Well, if we’re being technical, there are maybe two more options… but they have cooldown times, and above all, the risks are just too great.
It’s not yet time to gamble. There’s no need to resort to that.
Using the cursed sword would mean instant death.
I kept my aim on the holy sword and slowly approached her. If she tries to counter as I get close, I’ll respond immediately. Even if the attack misses, I can handle it at close range. Probably.
“Huff…, inhale!”
Bella was catching her breath. And then, as if timing the perfect moment after looking around for a long time, she leaped at me.
But perhaps her foot slipped, Bella lost her balance and fell—
—and at the same time, she threw a dagger.
Pop!
However, with Mind’s Eye open, the flying dagger wasn’t much of a threat to me.
I caught the incoming dagger between my index finger and thumb and tucked it into my pocket.
“Already recovered, have you? It would have been better for you if you hadn’t.”
“Only now, revealing your, true nature…”
Bella, who had fallen to the ground, struggled to push herself up.
I wonder if my attack was effective, or if she was already fatally wounded. Red blood was trickling from Bella’s mouth.
But why?
Why doesn’t she show any signs of retreating even in that state?
If she’s seriously injured, the right move would be to retreat.
Could it be that she, like me, is hiding a trump card?
“But it’s not a problem.”
It’s okay.
That’s what I thought, but seeing Bella move so effortlessly made me a bit anxious.
I can respond to any trick she plays. With Mind’s Eye open and keeping a distance where I can counter with the holy sword, it’s impossible for her to corner me.
Plan successful.
There would be no problem calling it that.
It should have been so.
“The hero always gives it their all.”
Bella’s trump card was of a different kind, one I couldn’t counter.
The familiar energy flowing through her sword was,
“Sword energy…”
The power of the goddess.
It was the power of the holy sword.
“To strike down the wicked.”
And then, Bella charges.
—
Whoosh─── Bang!
The sound of the air being torn apart echoes through the heavens and earth.
“Don’t run away, Flan!!!”
Bella spat out those words as she fiercely pursued me from behind. This one-sided chase had been going on for several minutes now. How the hell is she, who was just groaning in pain a moment ago, chasing me down with such vigor…
And that sword energy, it’s emitting an aura similar to the holy sword. Even if it’s not as potent as the original, it doesn’t mean it’s okay to be hit by it. If by any chance it holds the same power as the real holy sword, even a graze could pose a significant danger. And while using my own would wreck my health, it seems like she can swing hers around without any side effects.
In this situation, there’s only one chance.
During this relentless pursuit, there’s just one opportunity for a turnaround.
I could unleash the holy sword right now, but… if I were to get hit by her sword energy, it would be a dog’s death.
I’ve resolved to win at all costs, but even so, I want to witness her death with my own eyes before I go. It’s okay to scorn her for struggling not to die. It’s the truth, after all.
I run across the mountain. Running. Continuing forward.
Sword energy flies at me from behind. Occasionally, I duck my head and roll on the ground to dodge the incoming sword energy. Perhaps because I’m mixing in large movements, the distance between us is closing bit by bit.
I’m also starting to see the bottom of my stamina. In a few minutes, I’ll probably be sprawled on the ground.
Every now and then, I kick up gravel and rotten branches, moving my legs.
Such distractions won’t stop Bella, but that’s okay.
I need to close the distance with Bella for that one important strike.
“…Ugh!”
I’m at my limit.
If things continue like this, I’ll be caught by her sword.
If I turn around now and even get grazed by her sword strike, I’ll be incapacitated.
There are two options left.
Now, at this awkward distance, I turn around and launch an attack. Naturally, the hit rate will be the worst, but if I attack multiple times, one of them is bound to hit. I stake everything on that one hit.
And then……
“Uoooooo!!!”
I stomp on the ground. After lifting both legs into the air, I slam my left foot down hard.
I’ve anchored my leg.
Using the firmly planted left leg as a pivot, I twist my upper body.
The joints, receiving the full force of my upper body’s turn, emit a grotesque sound.
Pain rushes in, and at the same time, the holy sword is swung.
A perfect horizontal slash.
However, Bella acrobatically dodged the strike. I never thought that this one blow would be enough to kill her. So, once more, I launch the holy sword.
Again, Bella evades the attack.
Despite lacking wings, she seemed to have no difficulty avoiding my holy sword.
She ducked under the next attack as well.
And she wasn’t hit by the one after that.
At this rate, I’ll be the one to suffer.
My legs are now so damaged that I can’t even run away.
But there’s still enough distance. If I can win with two more strikes, two more sword swings, it’ll be okay. As long as I can preserve just enough of myself to be healed by Cecilia…!
I reset my stance for the next attack.
And Bella didn’t miss that moment.
She targeted the time when my arms were raised above my head and leaped again.
By the time Bella’s blood spurted from her mouth and hit the ground, all I could see was her afterimage.
Mind’s Eye showed me Bella’s blade about to pierce my neck.
I had to respond.
But my stance wasn’t fully set yet.
If I don’t strike now, I’ll be hit.
My thoughts were slow, but my reaction was quick.
With an awkward stance, I swung down the holy sword. The strike, aimed at the top of Bella’s head, twisted off course and sliced through empty air.
Boom!!!
The last swing of my holy sword was futilely buried in the ground.
And at that same moment, Bella reached my side.
And then, in an instant, as I blinked, Bella disappeared from my sight.
Thud!
The first thing I felt was the pain in my arm.
After the loud noise, pressure was applied to my whole body.
At the same time, my vision was dyed a bright red. I had received a blow so severe that maintaining Mind’s Eye was impossible.
And when my vision returned, everything was already over.
The ringing in my ears and my shaky vision.
When I turned my head, it seemed I was smashed against some stone wall.
I felt a pain as if all the bones in my body were crushed.
My legs were intact, but my right arm, which had been holding the holy sword, was grotesquely twisted.
Continuing the fight was, of course… impossible.
I had been defeated.
Damn it.
This is as far as it goes…
Even breathing was difficult.
But there was no time to gather myself.
Bella was approaching slowly, and with certainty.
“Flan, any last words?”
Bella also seemed quite spent, but not nearly to the extent I was. She looked troubled, but not significantly different.
“Last words, huh… Ah, do you know this? Wyverns and earth dragons are naturally incompatible, you must know that… but I asked just in case.”
Suppressing the groan leaking from inside my throat and the spreading smile, I said that.
Wyverns and earth dragons are in competition. Both species possess exclusive tendencies and strong territorial instincts. However, earth dragons cannot attack wyverns flying high in the sky, and wyverns are unable to penetrate the tough back skin of earth dragons.
Thus, the two species divided their territories without encroaching upon each other. Instead of fighting to the death against a species they cannot kill due to their territorial instincts, they eliminated disputes by simply not encountering one another.
In other words, in the Dragon Kingdom, areas with fewer wyverns indicate the territory of earth dragons.
It’s common knowledge in the Dragon Kingdom. Though in this situation, it’s hardly useful information.
Unlike wyverns, which are encountered frequently, earth dragons do not appear unless they make a loud noise or put a strain on the ground.
But why would my last words be about this?
“…are those your final words? Well, for a villain, that’s a pretty unremarkable dying declaration.”
Bella let out several breaths of exhaustion and then headed towards me.
I wanted to extend my arm to stop Bella’s approach, but unfortunately, my arm, bent into a T-shape, wouldn’t move as I wanted. Perhaps it was a side effect of the holy sword, but it felt as if my insides were being torn apart, roaring in pain.
I couldn’t move.
This is the end.
My head was spinning, and the ground seemed to shake, making it hard to keep my balance.
…Why did I say such a thing at the end?
It was all over already. Such useless words.
“So I’ll decide for you. Flan, your last words are ‘please spare me.’ If you want to pay for your sins even a little, die as a disgraceful villain in the end.”
“…That’s funny.”
Everything was over.
My victory.
Yes. I won this fight.
The battle on the mountain where wyverns are unseen.
The holy sword struck the ground with a loud noise.
And now. The place where Bella stands is right where my holy sword exploded.
“Ah, right. One more thing. Those who fought me… what was it, they never leave in one piece, was it…?”
The holy sword I swung did not miss. It simply went forth to call the master of the ground.
The tremors grew larger.
“And you keep spouting nonsense until the very end…?”
And then,
KUWAAAANG!
The ground collapsed as if it were caving in.
“This is…!”
What burst forth from the collapsed ground was an earth dragon clad in massive armor. The giant earth dragon, capable of cruelly biting through even trees, emerged with its mouth gaping wide open.
“Ugh, ah?!”
Bella tried to run away from the earth dragon, but with her wounded and weary body, a delayed reaction was the best she could manage.
Then, thump.
As the earth dragon closed its mouth, Bella’s legs disappeared.
Below the knee, most of her lower body was severed.
Bella’s face was a mask of horror. She desperately fired sword energy at the earth dragon’s brow in an attempt to turn the tide, but the legs that had been severed were not coming back. There was no member of the clergy present capable of restoring the lost limbs on the spot. In other words, Bella’s combat abilities were effectively gone.
And with her attention fixed solely on the earth dragon, responding to my attack would be nearly impossible.
“…Take a little nap for now.”
I crossed the holy sword to my left hand, aiming at Bella.
“Don’t look back now.”
And then, I swung.
Holy sword unleashed.
With the greatest force of my life.
