RHXS Vol. 2 Chapter 4 Part 3
Chapter 4 Part 3
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After defeating the first two teams, Elria and the others were smoothly racking up victories.
“Woo-hoo! We are the strongest!!”
“Ha-ha-ha! This time, even I must agree with this country bumpkin!!”
And so, Faregh and Millis were getting carried away, arm in arm in high spirits. Contrary to them, Wiesel sighed with a weary expression.
“Haa… You two seem to have energy to spare.”
“It’s understandable for Wiesel to be tired. Timing the use of magic takes a lot of nerves, and managing multiple magic tools for scouting and understanding the battle situation must have exhausted your mind,” Elria said while patting Wiesel’s shoulder in comfort.
Their high level of teamwork was the fruit of their efforts, but among them, Wiesel bore the biggest physical and mental burden.
Even though it was his choice, the tension of continuously avoiding close-quarters combat attacks, the concentration needed to neutralize enemy magic reliably, and the scouting done with magic tools before engaging in battles were all roles he fulfilled, naturally leading to exhaustion.
The same could be said for Faregh and Millis.
Faregh, always leading the charge by deciding when to attack and then continuously drawing enemy attention, could not afford a moment of carelessness until the battle was completely over.
While physically less burdened, Millis had to time her support just like Wiesel and always bore the mental load of not losing the precious gold bracelet.
They seemed energetic, but likely they were masking their fatigue with the euphoria of victory.
“But we’ve done well so far. We’ve taken down a total of six teams, and in the latter half, we encountered many teams weakened by missing members who were supposed to protect their gold bracelets.”
“Speaking of which, wasn’t the team we let go earlier also a four-person team?”
“Yes. The remaining teams now probably understand the meaning of the exam and won’t recklessly seek scores but rather ensure their safety until the time limit. We should avoid unnecessary battles given our fatigue.”
“That’s right. Some teams have seen us in action and fled, reducing our encounters. Only those who’ve lost their gold bracelets and are trying to make up for their loss would roam around now,” Faregh agreed with a deep sigh, finally allowing his tension to ease.
But the battle was not over yet.
“The three of you should retreat to a safe place and hide until the time limit.”
“…Wait, Lady Caldwen, what are you planning to do?”
“I have a promise to keep, so I’ll stay behind alone,” Elria replied, sitting down on the spot.
“I’m waiting for Rufus.”
“W-Wait! Rufus Rylus, as in the <<Dragon Princess>> of Serios!?”
“Yes. I promised to battle her during the exam.”
“That’s not something to agree to so lightly!! Even if you are hailed as a reincarnation of the Sage, you can’t possibly win against someone who commands the ‘Guardian Dragons’ with restricted magic!!”
The Welminan family has a long history of slaying magical beasts, accumulating honors not just within the kingdom of Vegalta but also known to magical beasts in other lands. They also participated in the battle to subdue the ‘Guardian Dragons’ two hundred years ago, recording the dreadful encounter to warn future generations of their threat.
“Those dragons absorb the magic power born from the land and environment! The force of their magic, fueled by such immense magic power, is comparable to the tenth tier, you know!?”
“That’s impressive, Faregh knows a lot.”
“Don’t applaud me nonchalantly while I’m desperately explaining!!”
As she clapped her hands, Faregh scolded her with a fierce glare. It seemed unreasonable to be scolded when she was simply offering praise.
“Moreover, the bracelets for the exam weren’t designed to withstand magic from the ‘Guardian Dragons’! At worst, you could be obliterated before you even have a chance to teleport away――”
“But still, I promised to give it my all.”
Interrupting Faregh, Elria spoke softly.
“I’m not… good at talking like Reid, so I don’t know what words to offer to a troubled Rufus.”
Choosing sides is easy for others. And many people would answer, “You should choose your friend.”
Even if it means betraying the expectations of her mother or her country, it is not like they will disappear. Therefore, people might advise her to stay with her friend and eventually, as time passes, she could reconcile with her mother and reach an ideal conclusion. But in the end, those were merely just words from others.
The people offering advice have not spent time with Rafika, nor do they know all the feelings and love Rufus’s mother has harbored for her daughter.
The troubles that Rufus has carried were not something others can understand.
If it were something that could be chosen based on what others say, Rufus would not have been troubled from the start.
“That’s why I chose to fight.”
In the midst of battle, no extra words were needed. Just clashing with pure feelings and pride was enough. In that extreme situation, she might be able to find what was truly important.
“I fought a lot and was able to find many important things.”
Creating the technology of magic, meeting Reid on the battlefield, inventing new magic and technology, making them accessible to others, thinking of ways to use magic so the people of the country can lead prosperous lives, spending fifty years accumulating time until falling in love――
Elria was able to find countless things that were important to her while fighting.
“So, Rufus decided to fight with all her might to find what’s important, too.”
Saying so once again, Faregh sighed in exasperation.
“…Then do as you like. We’ll evacuate to a safe place so as not to get in the way.”
“Okay. Please go back first and prepare for the victory celebration.”
“Haa… Your confidence in your victory and your laughter, you and Reid are similar as a married couple without a doubt.”
“We’re not a married couple yet.”
“Who cares? Just get married already, you battle maniacs, and fight to your heart’s content.”
Making a face as if annoyed, Faregh turned his back and left.
“Then, Elria-sama! I cherish my life, so I will excuse myself first!!”
“I should also escape before getting dragged into this.”
“You two are honest, that’s good.”
Waving goodbye to them, Elria sat in the middle of the open wilderness and continued to look up at the sky.
At that moment, it was a time so calm and quiet. Most would find it hard to believe that a team battle exam was underway.
How much time had passed, she did not know.
However――
Just like the first time they exchanged words, a black shadow loomed overhead.
The figure of a black dragon descending with the sun at its back. And then, the bright red hair flutters in the wind.
“――Elria-chan!!”
Calling Elria’s name and waving her hand, Rufus landed on the ground.
“Sorry, I’m late! I was escorting the kids from my team to a safe place!”
“It’s kind of you to escort them.”
Responding with a bright smile, Elria replied in her usual manner.
A moment passed――
“I’ve come to fulfill our promise.”
The moment Rufus’s expression turned serious, the atmosphere around her changed.
“You know… I couldn’t choose after all. Rafika is a very important friend, and I don’t want to betray the expectations of my mother or the people of my country, nor do I want to disappoint the ‘Guardian Dragons’ who chose me.”
Yet, despite her words, the previous anxiety was not visible on Rufus’s face.
Without looking down, she faced Elria squarely with her pale crimson eyes directly.
“That’s why――I decided to choose everything.”
Rufus clasped her hands together, activating the orb-adorned glove-type magic equipment――
A brilliant pillar then rose in the distant horizon. Circling the earth, turning everything in its path to scorched earth with streams of scorching lava. As if to tear through the infernal flames――a giant jaw emerged.
Walking leisurely through the lava flow, a giant dragon illuminated its surroundings with its red-hot outer shell.
The <<Fire Dragon>>.
One of the ‘Guardian Dragons’ that Serios boasts, sitting at the apex of the volcanic region’s magical beasts.
However――it did not end there.
Within the thunderclouds that formed as if to paint over the clear sky, a silver <<Sky Dragon>> shone, enveloped in lightning.
The ground collapsed as if being sucked in, and what emerged from the flood of water pouring in, the azure <<Sea Dragon>> showed itself.
Lifting the surrounding earth, the mud-colored <<Mountain Dragon>> boasted its majestic, mountainous body.
They all exuded an intimidating amount of magic power and presence, piercing through Elria, who stood afar.
Yet, despite all of that――
“――――Amazing.”
While gazing at those ‘Guardian Dragons’, Elria let out a word of admiration.
The sight of Serios’s four symbolic ‘Guardian Dragons’ gathered together.
It was a phantom sight that could not be seen anywhere else in the world, only here.
“This is… my full power, Elria-chan…!!”
The expression on Rufus’s face was greatly distorted, with sweat beading on her forehead like pearls. It was a power that far exceeded her own limits. Indeed――a genuine full effort that could even shave off her own life.
Therefore, Elria had to respond.
“Yes――Rufus’s full power, I’ve witnessed it.”
She maneuvered her magic equipment, thrusting it into the ground as if piercing it.
“So, I won’t lose either.”
The moment she pulled out the staff, ‘chains’ were lifted from the stone tip.
However, they were smaller and thinner than before.
One, two, three――chains were successively pulled up from the abyss, accompanied by the heavy sound of metal.
Giant wolves wearing golden masks appeared, each holding golden weapons in their jaws.
“Mosha, Mibiri, Tattun, Nonne, Tanon, Ciita, Sabia, Nanne, Tisan, Kumil――They might be a bit scary, but let’s all do our best for your mother, Shehri’s sake too.”
Calling out the names of the ten giant wolves standing in a row, Elria faced the ‘Guardian Dragons’.
And then――as if to declare the start of the battle, the giant wolves let out a loud howl.
Rufus, though exhausted, smiled as she watched the giant wolves charge.
“No matter the <<Mana-Eater Wolves>>… they can’t eat those kids’ magic…!!”
Responding to Rufus’s words, as if on cue――the <<Fire Dragon’s>> jaw opened wide.
A gleam of light lit within its ferocious jaw.
The immense magic power generated by the dragon species’ massive bodies, the unique organs possessed by magical beasts, and the magic learned through intelligence equivalent to humans. The moment those were fused and unleashed――a brilliant heat ray melted the earth.
Instinctively covering her face, Elria cast a protective magic spell to shield herself from the heatwave.
Yet, even in the aftermath, although not a direct hit, the heat ray broke through the protective magic, and the scorched, heated air assaulted Elria’s skin.
“Ugh――Mosha!!”
Elria called out, and a giant wolf howled in response.
It was a signal that none of their companions had been hit by that attack.
However… the heat ray had gouged and melted the earth, turning the ground into a scorched wasteland, scattering flames. This meant that the giant wolves’ sole advantage, their mobility, had been diminished.
And that was not all.
“It’s not just the <<Fire Dragon>> that can use magic.”
Surrounding the <<Sky Dragon>> that controlled the thunderclouds were countless lightning spears.
Inside the erupting water source, the <<Sea Dragon>> roared, generating giant ice bullets.
While enveloping the surrounding ground and rocks, the <<Mountain Dragon’s>> tail constructed a sturdy rock sword.
They all possessed power equal to or greater than the blow unleashed by the <<Fire Dragon>> earlier.
The giant wolves, inferior in size, would suffer fatal wounds from merely being grazed, not to mention the substantial toll on their stamina from merely enduring the aftermath of such attacks.
Even attempting to consume magic power as they had done when they defeated Rafika before was futile; the immense magic power of the ‘Guardian Dragons’ was too vast to be depleted, and the terrain and environment surrounding the ‘Guardian Dragons’ prevented the giant wolves from even getting close.
The same was true for Elria’s magic.
Even without limitations, simple protective magic would not suffice to block the attacks, and any attempt to create walls or footholds for approach would be effortlessly swept aside by the individual spells of the ‘Guardian Dragons’.
The only chance of victory was to hope for Rufus to run out of magic power as time ran out, but if the giant wolves failed to evade in the meantime, their very ‘souls’ would suffer fatal injuries.
There was no opportunity for attack or counterattack. Continuing to defend or evade was not an option, either.
The attacks of the ‘Guardian Dragons’ were relentless, powered by a seemingly infinite source of magic power.
In such a desperate situation where no clear chance of victory could be seen――
“――All of you are brave, just like Shehri.”
The giant wolves faced the ‘Guardian Dragons’ without showing any fear or hesitation. They bared their sharp fangs, believing in their own victory. They also believed in the victory of their master, with whom their mother Shehri had formed a pact with and who commanded them.
That is precisely why――
“――Bet your pride on it, and fulfill the role given to you.”
Hearing these solemn words, the giant wolves charged at the ‘Guardian Dragons’ once again.
Biting down on the golden weapons bestowed upon them, they ran to fulfill their given roles.
Directed at them――lightning spears were launched by the <<Sky Dragon>>.
The giant wolves dispersed in unison, but one among them confronted the lightning spear head-on.
As they passed each other, the giant wolf threw the weapon it had been biting down on. It was a wide golden sword that shone brilliantly.
However, the great sword could not withstand the lightning spear unleashed by the <<Sky Dragon>> and fell to the ground, emitting black smoke.
Just before the lightning spear could pierce the giant wolf, Elria voluntarily released the medium, which it possessed.
The giant wolf, transformed into particles of light, was pierced by the lightning spear and vanished in an instant.
“――The offering should be the golden weapons, symbols of valor and victory in battle.”
Another giant wolf dodged through the ice bullets that were flying towards it.
Even as the shards of ice threatened to pierce its body, the giant wolf did not stop.
It thrust the great spear it was carrying into the ground, tearing through the earth as it continued to run.
“Their paths are stairs ascending to the heavens.”
The other giant wolves circled around their surroundings with their own weapons.
They avoided the solid rock sword swung by the <<Mountain Dragon>> through leaps. But the force from the impact caused stones to go flying and mercilessly struck the body of the giant wolves.
Yet, the giant wolves did not stop.
They did not mind their bodies being injured.
They did not mind their blood flowing.
And when a comrade fell, another giant wolf took over its role.
One by one, the mediums of the injured giant wolves were released and disappeared.
“Our offering to the heavens is our noble pride and indomitable soul.”
Elria spoke these words while witnessing the bravery of the giant wolves.
Hearing Elria’s words, Rufus understood the meaning behind them.
“――――Chanting?”
The method of chanting, replaced by magic circuits and lost to the modern age, had existed since ancient times and had produced countless miracles.
However, that art was lost to the newly created ‘magic’.
The technique known as ‘magic’, created by the Sage, replaced and phased out the previous methods. This was because inheritance was difficult, influenced by individual skills, and required countless conditions and tools as numerous as the stars.
“《O myriad stars across the celestial sphere. Hearken to our wish, in exchange for the price we have offered.》”
Elria chants, wielding her magic equipment akin to performing a ritual as it was once used.
“《Welcome the brave comrades to the heavens above, and grant their wishes.》”
With grand gestures, she sings towards the twinkling stars above, as if offering a dance to the beings beyond human wisdom that once governed miracles.
“《Show thy splendor with thy fangs against the great foe who stands against us――》”
Seeking salvation, Elria raises her hands high towards the sky.
It was the first technique learned by those called sages.
The ancient people prayed for miracles, dedicating their prayers through various methods, the original magic.
This technique not only utilized one’s own magic power but also gathered the overflowing magic energy from nature, borrowing the power of the distant shining stars to perform miracles.
This was what once was called ‘Sorcery’.
“――――《Judgment of the Celestial Wolf》”
With whispered words and a clenched fist, the moment it swung down forcefully――‘Stars’ descended from the heavens towards the ‘Guardian Dragons’ that stood before.
Soon, the ‘stars’ shattered in mid-air, transforming into fragments of various shapes and sizes. These fragments of stars pierced through, gouged out, drilled, and crushed the bodies of the ‘Guardian Dragons’.
With a thunderous roar, the fragments swept the surroundings, taking everything with them. Just as wolves tear their prey apart with fangs and claws.
And as the dust settled, showing the fruits of the battle――
“――――ah”
Seeing the scene before her, Rufus weakly fell to her knees.
There was no sign of the ‘Guardian Dragons’.
The scorched earth, the water that sprung from the ground, the thunderclouds that once loomed over, the ground that had swelled like mountains――all of it had returned to ‘nothingness’.
“I’ve won――”
Facing Rufus, Elria said softly with a smile, then collapsed to the ground.
“Still… it’s much less efficient than magic…”
Magic consumes less mana through the use of magic power circuits and magic tools, but of course, such technologies are not used in sorcery, which consumes a vast amount of mana.
Moreover, such large-scale sorcery would deplete Elria’s mana entirely.
A once-in-a-lifetime, all-out attack. Truly, it was an effort of ‘all her strength’.
“How was my all-out effort, Rufus?”
As she asked Rufus――
“Yeah――I lost, even with all my might.”
Descending from Rafika’s back, Rufus muttered while staring at everything that had vanished before her.
“I gave it my all, but still lost…”
She began to sob, tears streaming down as she crumpled her face.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…!!”
Apologizing through her tears, it was unclear to whom she was apologizing.
To her mother, who had believed and raised her? To the country that had hopes for her? To the ‘Guardian Dragons’ she had failed? To the friend with whom she could not fight? Or to herself who, despite giving it her all, still fell short――
Only Rufus could know.
Only the girl named Rufus Rylus could understand.
But perhaps that was alright.
Her emotions now belong solely to Rufus Rylus, and others should not lightly intervene.
Thus, the only words Elria could offer were――
“――Rufus, you were very strong.”
Smiling, she offered these words to her opponent, who went all out.
Hearing that, Rufus, through her tears, wiped her eyes.
“…Yeah! Because I made Elria-chan give her all!!”
“Yes. Rufus can be proud as the person who made me give my all.”
“That’s such an arrogant attitude!”
“Of course. That’s the privilege of the victor.”
“But winning and still being all wobbly doesn’t look cool, you know?”
Rufus laughed amusingly at Elria, who was trying to look cool despite being battered.
And so, the two shared a gentle smile together――But in that moment, Rufus’s body tilted sideways. Weakly, her small body fell towards the ground.
“Eh… huh…?”
As if realizing for the first time that she was falling, Rufus let out a dazed voice.
“……Rufus?”
“Ahaha… sorry, I feel hot, and I can’t move――”
At that moment, a roar that shook the air came from a distant place.
“――――What?”
The moment Elria caught sight of that, she involuntarily exclaimed.
In her vision… the figures of the ‘Guardian Dragons’ she had supposedly defeated were there.
Their avatars, their bodies, were enveloped in the light of mana, reforming once again.
“―――Kugh!!”
Immediately after, Rufus coughed up a clot of blood.
“Why… I haven’t done anything, though…!?”
“Rufus! Stop the summoning magic now!! Otherwise, your magic power will be depleted――”
At that point, Elria felt something was off.
Rufus was summoning not only the ‘Guardian Dragons’ from earlier but also Rafika at the moment.
Given that Rafika is also a dragon-type magical beast, though not to the extent of the ‘Guardian Dragons’, creating its vessel should still consume a vast amount of magic power.
But that was not all.
Elria had been under the impression that Rufus had used up her magic power to the limit to create ‘imperfect vessels’ for summoning the four ‘Guardian Dragons’. Otherwise, it would not be possible to create such powerful vessels for four ‘Guardian Dragons’.
However, during the battle just now, Rufus could command the ‘Guardian Dragons’.
If the vessels were imperfect, it would not be strange for the ‘Guardian Dragons’ to go berserk, fighting among themselves or even attacking their master, Rufus. Yet, the ‘Guardian Dragons’ did not fight each other. They recognized the wolves summoned by Elria as enemies and attacked them.
“Rufus… what did you do?”
As Elria asked the collapsed Rufus, she weakly responded amidst coughs.
“Teacher said… if I’m running out of magic power, I should borrow it from my future self…”
“That means――”
Upon hearing those words, Elria focused her consciousness to observe Rufus’s magic power. There――a toxic color of magic power was flowing.
Enveloping Rufus’s entire body, a purplish-black magic power circulated throughout.
“What is this…”
It was a magic power color that even Elria had never seen before.
The magic power was deeply rooted in the heart, continuously supplying Rufus’s body with magic power. And when the flow of magic power increased significantly――
“――Kugh!”
With an expression of agony, she coughed up a clot of blood.
There was no doubt that the magic power was corrupting Rufus’s body. Moreover, it was producing magic power that was as if it was squeezing out her life, regardless of Rufus’s will.
“Could it be… generating magic power by sacrificing lifespan?”
From Rufus’s earlier words, that was what Elria inferred.
Just to be sure, she probed inside the body with magic power, but found no abnormalities in the organs or elsewhere.
The bleeding seemed to be from within the oral cavity, and the blood spat out so far was probably because the body refused to swallow it.
Magic power is generated through the circulation of blood. Hence――by producing volumes of blood beyond the body’s limits and disposing of the now-unnecessary blood through bleeding, new blood is generated. By doing so… lifespan was sacrificed to produce magic power, creating vessels for the ‘Guardian Dragons’. And the anomaly was not just with Rufus.
Once again, taking the form of their vessels, the four ‘Guardian Dragons’ roared. Their angry eyes――were directed at Elria.
“Why……? Why are you so angry…?”
Asked Rufus with vacant eyes directed towards the ‘Guardian Dragons’.
“――Why do you have to kill Elria-chan…?”
Such words were spoken. But there was no time to ponder those words.
Soon, the creation of the vessels would be completed, and the ‘Guardian Dragons’ would start to move.
If attacked by the ‘Guardian Dragons’ in this state, Elria would have no means to defend. Her magic power was already running low, and standing was her limit. Even when ignoring magic restrictions, it was impossible to defeat four ‘Guardian Dragons’ in her current state. And even if she could defeat them, the vessels would be regenerated by further sacrificing Rufus’s lifespan.
Elria alone could no longer do anything. She could neither confront the ‘Guardian Dragons’ nor save Rufus, who was suffering before her eyes.
However――Elria was not alone now.
In this world, there exists a single being whom she trusted as much as herself――or perhaps even more.
“I will leave the rest to you――Reid.”
The moment his name was spoken, a gigantic iron pillar was thrust into the ground before Elria.
Amidst the raging winds, a jet-black flag fluttered. And standing beside it, a figure with a back larger than anyone else’s.
“Yeah, leave everything to me.”
Those were the reliable words of a person who would never let her down. No matter the situation, he would always face it with an unending smile.
After striking down with the iron pillar held tight in his grip――
“――As long as I’m here, I won’t let anyone cross this ‘Black Flag’.”
With those familiar words, Reid showed a fearless smile.
Seeing Reid suddenly appear, the ‘Guardian Dragons’ began to shift their attention towards him.
Taking advantage of this, Reid tossed a communication magic device and a magic power recovery potion to Elria.
“Sorry, I can’t use these, so connect with Alma on your end.”
“Mm, understood.”
With a small nod, she activated the communication device――
‘――Right!! A special rank mage’s aim should be precise!!’
Alma’s cheerful voice could be heard.
“…Reid, how did you get here?”
“Ah, you know that huge guy in <<Undead Brigade>> that Alma commands? It threw the iron pillar with all its might, and I grabbed onto it to come here.”
Reid casually pointed at the black flag as he explained. Truly an absurd person.
“I’ve been watching your battle, but I don’t know the details, so just give me the brief instructions.”
“Don’t kill the ‘Guardian Dragons’. Rufus is somehow generating magic power by shortening her lifespan. If we kill them, Rufus’s lifespan will be reduced even more.”
“I see. So, I just need to keep the ‘Guardian Dragons’ entertained, huh?”
“Yes. I’ll handle Rufus.”
“Then I’ll leave that to you!!”
With that reply, Reid leaped forward in a single bound.
The moment the ‘Guardian Dragons’ saw Reid making his move, they all roared in unison.
The roars probably contained ‘mockery’ in them. To them, the addition of a far inferior human meant nothing. In the eyes of the magical beasts that reigned supreme, humans were powerless.
Such was the confidence in their roar.
And then――the <<Sky Dragon>> deployed lightning spears around.
The compressed lightning, shining with a white light, launched towards Reid as he approached.
Normally, it would be an attack impossible for a human to dodge.
The lightning spears, carrying enough heat to distort their surroundings and moving at the speed of light, would pierce through a human before they could even perceive it, burning everything inside and out in an instant.
However――the ‘Guardian Dragons’ did not know that there once existed a human who was called a Hero, and how the Hero had contended with the Sage.
And Reid, indeed, saw the lightning spears aimed at him――He dodged them by turning his body and forcefully ‘grabbed’ one of them with his extended right hand.
“Not bad――this is some nice magic there!!”
He then maneuvered the captured lightning spear, knocking down subsequent ones that came flying at him.
The sound of lightning spears colliding and exploding echoed loudly.
Once the first caught lightning spear disappeared, he would grab another, and after that one became unusable, he grabbed yet another, deflecting every spear that rained down without missing a single one.
Seeing this, the ‘Guardian Dragons’ realized the human approaching them was an extraordinary being.
As Reid, who had stopped moving to deal with the lightning spears, faced them, the <<Fire Dragon’s>> throat began to glow.
It was a heat ray that would not allow anything to survive, turning everything to ash.
The moment the heat ray was released, Reid glanced sideways at it and then――
“That’s not something to play with just yet!!”
He clenched his left hand――and ‘punched’ the heat ray with a powerful blow.
The trajectory of the heat ray forcibly changed, scorching the air as it split the thunderclouds in the sky in two.
This was the way of fighting of the Hero who had once contended with the Sage.
Reid could ‘touch’ the essence released by magic.
Whether it was due to a robust physical body or the neutralization by magic, it was unclear… but being able to come into contact with magic in such a way made it difficult to strike effectively using inferior methods.
Moreover, the stronger the magic, the longer it took to dissipate, and he used this to his advantage, treating it as his weapon.
By utilizing the opponent’s magic in this manner, he limited the opponent’s magic options, a strategy so effective that even Elria could not overcome it a thousand years ago.
For those who wielded magic, Reid could very well be called their ‘natural enemy’.
After dealing with the lightning spears, he turned to face the roaring <<Mountain Dragon>>.
The surrounding rocks and ground form into a massive cannon of rock.
Even witnessing this, Reid did not falter in the slightest.
“Playing in the mud, are we? That’s not really something to do at my age――”
Before Reid’s words were finished, the <<Mountain Dragon>> fired the rock cannon at him.
Yet, Reid did not flinch, instead, he smiled――
“――I’ll leave that to your companion.”
He easily caught the massive rock cannon and kicked it towards the <<Sea Dragon>>.
Unable to dodge the cannon, now moving even faster than when it was shot, the <<Sea Dragon>> was partially crushed by it, emitting a scream similar to a high-pitched cry.
It was a scene of utter absurdity.
However, it could also be said to be a fight befitting of the ‘Hero’ in its boldness.
Confirming that the ‘Guardian Dragons’ attention was fully on Reid, Elria used the communication device to reach out to Alma.
“Alma-sensei, can you hear me?”
‘Ah, Elria-chan? I’m currently watching His Excellency wreak havoc――’
“If you’re watching through a magic device, I need you to also check on Rufus.”
Upon hearing this, Alma responded after a brief silence.
‘What is this…? Is that really magic power?’
“I’ve touched Rufus’s body to check, so there’s no mistake. My theory is that it’s a magic formula that generates magic power using one’s lifespan, but it’s a type of magic I’m also unfamiliar with, so we can’t act recklessly.”
Even if they were to dissipate the magic power consuming Rufus’s body, the magic formula would still deplete Rufus’s lifespan to supply magic power. And dispelling the magic formula seemed hopeless. Because the magic formula incorporated unknown magic techniques, there was not enough time to decipher it, and Rufus might lose her life before her lifespan ran out.
Therefore, Elria’s chosen course of action was――
“――I need to flush out that magic technique by infusing Rufus’s body with a different type of magic power.”
‘A different type of magic power… You mean using your magic power, Elria-chan?’
“That won’t work. With Rufus in her current state, she won’t be able to withstand the rejection reaction from a different type of magic power.”
Using a different type of magic power would cause a rejection reaction the moment it entered Rufus’s body, and it was uncertain whether Rufus’s weakened body could withstand it.
There was no time to find someone with a magic power type that matched Rufus’s.
However――there was someone here and now who possessed the same type of magic power as Rufus.
“――――Rafika.”
Turning towards the black dragon who was anxiously staying close to its master, Elria called out.
《Your vessel flows with the magic power that originally belonged to Rufus. Using it, we might be able to save her from this situation.》
Speaking in the language of magical beasts, Rafika slowly lifted its head.
《But――this might destroy your ‘soul’.》
What they were about to do was nearly a gamble for Elria.
Extracting the magic power forming Rafika’s vessel and directly infusing it into Rufus’s body to cleanse the formula forcefully.
Having considered the theory after Reid’s incident, the idea might work between humans, but they had not planned for the unique conditions of a contract with a magical beast.
Given the contract with Rufus, the connection between that magic power and the ‘soul’ is deeper than usual… drawing it out could affect Rafika’s ‘soul’.
In the worst case, the ‘soul’ could be destroyed, leaving Rafika’s true body an empty shell.
Just then, Rafika slowly raised its head――
《――――It doesn’t matter.》
With those brief words, it responded.
《…You can speak the language of magical beasts?》
The language of magical beasts, simply put, is conversation using magic.
Although they could not vocalize like humans due to their different physical structures, magical beasts could communicate through magic power if they possessed it. However, while most magical beasts can listen and understand the meaning, there were only a few reports of them being able to speak. Such an occurrence can only be achieved if there was a deep relationship where the magical beast itself truly desired to exchange words with the contractor.
《Please, save her,》 Rafika pleaded, looking down at the fallen Rufus.
《Rufus has always been by my side,》 its words, imbued with magic power, resonated within Elria’s mind.
《Always caring for me,》 it said, speaking as one who has watched over Rufus.
《She has continuously called me her ‘dearest friend’.》
It was a phrase from ancient times, passed down among the people of Serios to signify a bond with magical beasts. Rufus never once faltered in using that term.
Even as she fulfilled her contract with the mighty ‘Guardian Dragons’ and faced scorn from her own mother, she remained steadfast by the side of her ‘dearest friend’.
《Please――save my ‘dearest friend’,》 Rafika implored, bowing its head as if kneeling to Elria.
“…Yes. I promise I will save her,” Elria said, gently stroking its head before deploying her magic equipment.
She weaved magic power to connect them, considering it a testament to life itself. Elria believed magic was akin to the ‘soul’, coursing through the body along with the blood, embodying life’s journey and transforming into a unique existence symbolizing the ‘soul’.
What Elria was about to do was akin to forcibly extracting the ‘soul’, not knowing the outcome. This could lead to the ‘soul’ losing its place, leaving the body to decay.
Therefore, Elria named the magic with a hopeful wish: even if the body decays, may the ‘soul’ transition to a new life——
“――――<<Soul Transference>>.”
Following her soft murmur, Rafika let out a pained roar as her ‘soul’ was torn away, an unbearable sensation. The extracted ‘soul’ flowed into Rufus along the connecting thread, purging and purifying the malady with its immense volume of life experiences.
As the purplish-black magic power was cleansed from Rufus, the distant ‘Guardian Dragons’ roared in unison. Their forms, maintained by that magic power, began to disintegrate, their roars filled with anguish and resentment as they faded into particles of light.
“――――Rafika?” Rufus murmured, barely opening her eyes, calling out to her friend.
Beside Rufus, the black dragon lies, its body beginning to transform into particles of light, just like the ‘Guardian Dragons’.
“Rafika… please respond…”
Despite her friend’s words, the black dragon’s voice was faint.
Hearing it, Rufus smiled slightly.
“I’m glad… We promised always to be together.”
As she desperately tried to reach out to the fading black dragon,
“If you dare leave my side… I’ll never forgive you.”
However, her hand could not reach the black dragon, whose physical form was already fading from this world.
Yet, Rufus continued to stroke the disappearing outline of the black dragon’s head, even though its voice no longer reached her.
“Because――you’re my ‘dearest friend’,” she said, offering the same smile she always did to her friend.
After seeing Rufus’s smile, the black dragon turned into particles of light, disappearing into the starry sky.
