Lesia was already aware of the presence of the Magic Sword Dran Calgonis.
Although it carried traces of a dragon, it was incomplete and could never fully become one. Its fierce aura was unmistakable, even from afar.
‘I can't handle this alone.’
The approaching enemy wielded immense power. While a weakened demon god could be easily cut down, anything stronger could pose a significant threat. Therefore, she needed to fight alongside skilled allies to ensure both survival and victory.
‘The humans here are strong.’
Most were Magic Sword users, except for one. This individual, like Enrite, was a Setinos Quasar and possessed a peculiar type of magic. Moreover, the amount of magic he wielded was significant enough to inspire trust upon their first meeting.
‘Among them, this one seems the strongest.’
Lesia looked at Brandish with certainty. No one could match her in terms of physical prowess and the density of her magic. Additionally, Brandish wielded the Earth Magic Sword Gerganver, which made her a formidable force against any opponent.
‘But considering the characteristics of the Magic Sword, Zion might be a better choice.’
Zion’s Magic Sword, Exceed Rain, was newly created and embodied pure darkness akin to the night sky. Beyond the night sky lay vast, pure darkness, capable of cutting down even demon gods.
‘In terms of potential, Hanette might be the best.’
Hanette had yet to complete her communion with, or summon, the Flame Magic Sword Brecht. Despite this, she could precisely manifest flames and freely adjust their destructive power and range. This meant she could wield the Magic Sword without fully tapping into its power.
‘If only she could summon the Magic Sword…’
Even Lesia couldn’t fully understand this phenomenon but predicted one thing: if the Flame Magic Sword Brecht materialized, its flames would become denser, possibly returning everything in its path to its origin.
‘She needs to awaken…’
“Are you the younger sister of the White Sage?” Brandish asked, her gaze soft and gentle as she carefully examined Lesia.
Lesia bore a striking resemblance to Enrite. If their hair and eye colors were identical, it would be difficult to tell them apart.
“Uh… how should I address you? Yes, Your Majesty? Is that correct?”
“Lesia, you…”
“It’s alright, White Sage. We are on the brink of battle; there’s no need for formalities.”
Brandish deeply resonated with Lesia’s words. It was simple yet foolish: charge in, kill, and return. Though naive, it was clear and direct, almost tempting enough to follow. But with the future of the Alain Kingdom and the lives of its people at stake, such a drastic strategy had to be avoided.
“Your thinking isn’t wrong. However, you might fail, or even if you succeed, your life could be at risk. You must not think only of yourself.”
“Well… if the knights here help me, I might return alive, right?”
Lesia continued, choosing her words with difficulty. Enrite held back a sigh, and Gloné kept reminding himself of her relation to the Setinos Quasar. Brandish, however, listened with satisfaction.
“Assisting you is not difficult. But why do you regard your life so lightly?”
“Um… because it’s my life, shouldn’t I use it as I see fit?”
“Haha! You are indeed bold! But your life is not just your own.”
“Huh? Why is that?”
Lesia genuinely didn’t understand, prompting the question. Enrite realized the extent of the rudeness, while Gloné, aware of Brandish’s presence, remained silent.
“If you are injured or die, your brother will grieve. While he is my direct knight, I do not wish to burden him.”
“…”
Lesia finally considered Enrite’s existence and swallowed her words. It was something she hadn’t thought of. But would Enrite truly grieve for her?
“Your courage is commendable, but I cannot accept such a reckless strategy. You must value your own life more.”
“Yes, thank you… I mean, your command… uh…”
“Hahaha! The White Sage has such a sibling?”
Brandish didn’t mind and mentally noted the name Lesia Serenine. She was already aware from reports that Lesia possessed a Magic Sword. It wasn’t one of the seven Magic Swords but one created by the demon god. Lesia’s innocent demeanor, however, was reassuring.
“I will keep an eye on you. If you achieve merits, I will reward you, but you must not act on your own. Follow the White Sage’s instructions.”
“Wow… a royal command… uh, I’ll do my best.”
“That’s what matters, doing your best.”
Brandish remembered that Lesia had once struck the demon god. If Brandish had attacked, the demon god might have dodged or taken no damage. If Lesia could defeat the Four Calamities, she would be a valuable asset.
“White Sage, lead the Lychness Knights with the Black Knight. I will need the Blue Sage’s assistance.”
“I will follow your command.”
“The Blue Sage can cover me. Commander of the Royal Knights!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“All members of the Royal Knights except the Commander will remain at the supply base.”
“I will obey your grand command.”
Gloné understood immediately. They would engage the monsters with an elite group. Large numbers wouldn’t be effective and might even waste resources.
‘We should do the same.’
Zion had already ordered most knights to stay at the supply base. Taking them would risk total annihilation by the Slime Dragon. Instead, they would monitor the battle and deploy forces as needed.
‘Are mages different?’
Zion glanced at Walter. As a Setinos Quasar and head of the Rivdad Magic Society, Walter had mobilized many mages for the battle. Each society leader was present, supported by numerous skilled mages. Walter or the society leaders might be the ones to stand out.
‘Will my sword aura reach?’
Brandish and Walter could likely match the Slime Dragon’s range due to their extensive training and proven strength. Zion, though possessing unique power through Exceed Rain, wasn’t overall as skilled.
‘Will the darkness be enough?’
If the darkness was sufficient, Exceed Rain would be powerful. The demon god and the three demon kings were entirely made of darkness, but it was uncertain if the Four Calamities were the same.
‘If I can’t defeat it, I’ll need help.’
There were only two options: entrust Lesia or resonate with Hanette. However, neither had been tested, so he couldn’t be sure.
‘If the Slime Dragon holds out…’
Suppressing his fear, Zion focused on Exceed Rain’s darkness. There was a surefire way to destroy the Slime Dragon, but it could only be used once, with a significant cost.
‘If I use it, I can never…’
Zion sensed an unusual power and quickly turned. Everyone present started looking outside the supply base. The ground began to tremble as vibrations spread inward.
“Is it here?”
Brandish summoned Gerganver and moved swiftly. Gloné followed, with Enrite and Lesia heading to the gates without hesitation. Zion exchanged glances with Hanette and advanced together.
‘I hope this will be the last battle…’
‘I sense it. It was here.’
The Slime Dragon, unable to contain its killing intent, strode quickly. Once those humans were dead, nothing could stand against it. Though challenging, no human body could withstand its power.
‘Even with the same Magic Sword, humans can’t overcome the difference in species.’
No matter how strong, humans were still just humans. As a dragon’s descendant, it had immense magic and a sturdy body. Even if humans tried to close the gap with a Magic Sword, it also had one, making their efforts futile.
‘At your level, you can’t even leave a scratch.’
The Slime Dragon twisted its body, following the humans’ magic. They were approaching, likely trying to attack first.
‘I will strike first!’
The Slime Dragon opened its mouth, gathering crimson magic. It didn’t matter if they dodged or blocked it. If they survived, it would pour magic on them until they died.
‘I will hit you…’
“Ugh!”
A dark blue streak zipped past, scattering the magic in its mouth. At the same time, a faint pain spread from its left shoulder. Though shallow, a wound had formed, but new flesh quickly grew, erasing the scar.
“Gahaha… You reached me from that distance.”
The Slime Dragon opened its mouth again, aiming. This time, it would leave no chance for counterattacks. If it kept spewing breath attacks, dodging would become impossible.
“Let’s see you endure this!”
Already, a brilliant white magic was surging from the other side. It felt familiar, but that didn’t matter. Erasing those humans was crucial for complete destruction.
The crimson orb hurtled towards the humans. At the same time, a radiant white beam shot forward. Compared to its power, the beam seemed weak and fragile.
“That’s not enough… Guh!”
The crimson orb and the white beam narrowly missed each other. A reddish explosion erupted in the forest, but the magic dissipated, neutralizing the force. On the other hand, a graceful curve had embedded itself in its right shoulder.
“What is this attack!”
The Slime Dragon writhed in agony, looking down at its severed arm. Normally, the arm would reattach itself. But it didn’t move; instead, it emitted smoke, decaying rapidly.
“I was stronger! I shouldn’t be scarred! Why am I… Kaaargh!”