26 – Awakening
What happens to a human when they suddenly face a strong shock or terror?
“…..Huh?”
The answer is, they freeze on the spot, unable to comprehend the situation they’re in.
What… just happened?
The left side of the body of the Squad Leader, who had pushed me away, was literally ripped apart.
Blood poured out from the abdomen, and the left arm was already torn off, flying far away.
“………..!”
At the same time, Seris met a flickering gaze in the empty air.
Vertically slit pupils, eyes radiating shades of orange and red as if representing flames of hell.
“…….Get out of here-!”
Swoosh-!
Gradually comprehending the current situation, Seris channeled her boiling rage into her blade and swung it as if she could effortlessly cut down any tough demon.
……!
Flutter-!
Simultaneously, amidst the flicker, the figure of the revealed leader was thrust aside, soaring high into the sky to evade Seris’s attack.
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At the same time, the flicker began to unveil a singular form.
Eyes burning with hatred for the world.
Unlike the dragon from before, this one was colossal, its crimson body seeming to be soaked in blood.
Wings flapping mightier than windmill sails.
Clang-!
Realizing this wasn’t like any previous demon but a calamity summoned by the contract right before her eyes, Seris gritted her teeth.
-What… what is that…!
-….Leader!!
-Insane, isn’t it over yet?!
Simultaneously, from behind, cries of dismay from mercenaries bewildered by the sudden attack on their leader and the revealed calamity echoed.
Gasp-!
“…Birong, Ken!! Get the leader to safety!! And the rest of the members… prepare for battle!!”
With mana in his voice, he shouted loudly, comparable to the roar of a dragon. Suppressing his boiling emotions, he looked up at the dragon with cold eyes.
Crack-!
The dragon, who had been looking at Virong and Ken rushing towards him, was so fast that he could barely be seen by Ceris.
He must be trying to attack those who are trying to move the leader.
“…Get out of the way-!”
Ching-!
A crisp sound, almost unbelievable, echoed throughout the gorge as the sharp sword clashed with the dragon’s claws.
……….!
“Ugh!”
Due to the wind caused by their strength and attacks, Ceris and the dragon were blown apart.
What power…!
Even though it was an attack with all her strength, just the fact that she was hit by the dragon’s light attack made her arm numb.
Is this… a 5-star monster? It was incomparable to the fake dragon from earlier in terms of strength, momentum, and magic power.
…But still. Are you thinking of giving up?
“…No. I can never give up.”
Crack…!
Ceris clenched the handle of her sword with all her might. She would split that monster that injured the leader in half and create a golden future once again.
………………
“Why are you looking at me as if you find it interesting, you son of a b*tch-!”
Tatadak-!
As if possessed by emotions, Seris bolted in rage at the dragon, which seemed to observe her with keen interest.
Emotions escalated, and her body tensed with increasing strength. Yet, she couldn’t stop.
Chang-! Chae-chang-!
She parried the dragon’s claws and slashed with her sword. Against its gaping maw trying to devour her, she struck with the hilt and then sliced again.
“Uaaah-!”
Even if it meant burning herself to ashes, she was determined to kill this monster. Under that conviction, Seris’s attacks grew sharper.
Chwak-!
“….Kuk!”
However, her attacks seemed ineffective against the dragon. Instead, seizing an opening in Seris’s offense, the dragon’s counterstrike made her stagger.
‘…I’ve injured my left abdomen.’
A terrible pain surged, heating her body. Even as she tried to staunch the bleeding, blood gushed out.
Dizziness accompanied by a slight vertigo ensued.
No. She couldn’t stop now. Such a wound couldn’t halt her.
Compared to the suffering endured by the commander, who had sacrificed countless lives for her, this was trivial.
“….I’ll cut you down. And save the commander.”
She would slay this calamity and rescue her savior… her light.
With her resolve solidified, her body no longer trembled, nor did she feel pain.
The sword, raised against the dragon, was sharp, and power surged through her body.
Woo-woo-woong-!
As the sole intention to defeat her foe and save the commander filled her heart, the sword vibrated as if it were alive.
It felt as if her mana and sword resonated together, as if she could freely wield the sword like her own limbs.
[Condition fulfilled!]
[Ego Weapon has chosen a qualified owner!]
[Owner: Seris]
[Unique Ability (Ego Weapon): This beautiful longsword contains a strong will as if it were alive, and it can transform its shape in resonance with the user’s will. The ego weapon, developed from this ability, is unbreakable and sharp enough to cut through mithril in an instant!]
[Description: A longsword possessed by a hero who conquered the continent in the past. The weapon, which can freely transform in resonance with the hero’s will, instilled overwhelming fear in their enemies. Now, several hundred years have passed since the hero disappeared. Reacting to the clear and resolute will of a new legend, it will once again illuminate the world.]
… It felt as if the sword and her body had become one.
Kwaaah…!
As she tightly gripped the handle, she felt a much stronger strength than before. At this moment… she felt like she could accomplish anything.
“…Let’s go. You monster. It’ll be different from before.”
Grrr..!
Instead of shrinking, the mana began to overflow even more. She concentrated it at the tip of her foot, causing the floor beneath her to bend like a file.
Kwaaang-!
Smashhh-!
Concentrating her strength in an instant, she kicked off the ground. Like an arrow released from a bow, she flew towards the dragon at a speed that surpassed human limits.
…………!
Swish-!
The dragon reacted quickly, but Seris’ strike was even faster. Seris’ sword severed the dragon’s left leg and left a deep wound in its abdomen.
Krraaah-!
The dragon screamed in agony, its body lost and suffering from the severe injuries, as if the world around it was collapsing.
The overwhelming sound reverberated through the gorge, and the mercenaries, excluding Ceris, had no choice but to cover their ears.
“….Ha.”
…It felt like breaking through a wall that had never been overcome before and moving forward. The fatal blow that was difficult to inflict just a moment ago easily severed the dragon’s leg with a single attack.
Feeling an unprecedented and exponential growth, Ceris regained her stance.
Kraaah…!
The dragon writhed in pain, glowing in the sky. At the same time, it looked at Ceris with eyes filled with hatred.
The eyes of a predator looking at its prey, filled with a sense of vitality. However, the target was not a prey but an equal or even superior predator.
Hoooooo-!
The dragon took a deep breath, and its belly began to swell.
Kwaaa-!
Then, an enormous amount of flame breath erupted towards Ceris. If it touched any living being, it would instantly melt them to the point where their form could not be recognized.
However, Ceris, facing the breath head-on, did not flee. She calmly looked at the enemy she had to annihilate.
“…..Greatsword.”
Oooooong-!
With Ceris’s soft murmur, the large greatsword transformed into a gigantic weapon that even an adult man would find difficult to wield with both hands.
Ceris effortlessly wielded the massive greatsword and faced the breath head-on.
To a third party, it would seem like a suicidal act due to the overwhelming firepower…
“….Huuup-!”
Hooooooong-!
As Ceris swung the greatsword with all her might, the breath was instead pushed back towards the dragon by the tremendous force of the wind.
Roarrr!
Craaa!
The dragon, exposed to the flames it had unleashed, writhed in agony as its entire body burned.
…Even as it spewed overwhelming fire, it seemed to have never been touched by its own flames.
Crurrr!
The dragon, barely shaking off the clinging fire, glared at Ceris. Its eyes filled with all the hatred and anger in the world.
Meeting the dragon’s gaze, Ceris stared blankly.
Oooooooh!
“………..”
As the dragon opened its mouth and prepared to take action, things resembling magic circles began to appear around it.
Soon, massive and dense magic circles emerged, covering the entire sky. It was an awe-inspiring sight, as if it could destroy the entire gorge with all its might.
“….Is that magic?”
In legends, it was said that dragons, unlike ordinary monsters, could use magic beyond what humans could use.
Well, seeing that, it seems like it really does use magic. Different from what’s in the legends… Not wise or benevolent. Just a beast that knows how to manipulate mana.
Crurrr….
The sight of the dragon raising its head and tail as if it had won came into view.
Although it was incredibly far away, appearing as a mere dot to ordinary people, Ceris’ body was no longer at the level of a human.
Shalalak!
The magic circles connected one by one, and the colorless sky began to shimmer in various colors.
If all those magics were activated… I would die.
Me too. The members too. And the leader too.
“….Great Sword.”
Ooooh-!
The form of the sword transforms back into its most specialized state for slashing, the great sword.
“Hoooon…..”
After assuming a stance, I take a deep breath.
For just one attack, I concentrate all my strength.
I concentrate all the overflowing magic power into this sword and slash.
With my determination towards the leader, there is nothing that cannot be cut.
The heart that started bubbling like lava beyond heat becomes calm, and the mind becomes cold.
Clang.
“…Dragon. Slash.”
Swoosh-!!
Clang…clang!!
The strike that unleashes all my strength will cut through anything.
The mana blade generated from the strike rises up and cuts through everything.
Even the gigantic boulder that popped out of the magic circle. The magic circle. The dragon’s body.
…And beyond that, even the sky.
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With Seris’s strike, everything in the vicinity was cut.
Thud-thud-thud.
Stones, too large to fully emerge from the magic circle, and the body of a dragon, dead without a chance to react, fall to the ground.
-….Ah.
-It’s like… the power of a god.
-Did it even slice through the sky?
The mercenaries, who could only watch, unable to help, all stared blankly at the split sky.
Twist-
“Ugh…”
Perhaps due to using all my strength and mana, a sudden dizziness overwhelmed me, and my body staggered.
“…Captain-!”
Yet, I forced my wavering body to rush to the captain. Now that the dragon was annihilated, that was all that mattered.
My heart, once cold, reignited with fervor, and only one thought surfaced in my mind.
“Captain..! Please, come to your senses…! Please…!”
“Cough…cough…”
“No…this can’t be…!”
I ran with my weary body to the spot, where the captain was lying against a rock, breathing heavily, surrounded by a pool of blood, already too much spilled.
Hans and the mercenaries tried every means to revive the captain.
“……Seris… Vice-captain. Cough..”
“…….Captain…”
Hearing the faint voice of her beloved calling her, Seris collapsed next to Captain Venice.