Hanette struggled to suppress her turmoil as she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Zion. Despite his armor, she could sense his weakened state. The technique he used had drained his mana significantly, and his physical strength was depleted. He had used all his power to follow her into death.
“Haa… haa…”
Zion collapsed, barely supporting himself. The armor created by Exceed Rain was slowly fading away. He was drenched in sweat, only managing to catch his breath.
“Are you okay? Oh, seriously…”
Hanette hurriedly grabbed Zion, biting her lip. If she had arrived any later, Zion might have been dead. She had only been able to neutralize his technique forcefully, preventing a worse outcome.
“You’re really here, aren’t you?”
“Huu… yes, it’s me.”
“Sis…”
Zion raised his hand slowly, touching Hanette’s cheek. The warmth that had once faded was now palpable. He could feel a faint heartbeat, finally dispelling his doubts.
“Because of me, you…”
“It’s not your fault. I was foolish.”
“I should have protected you.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I didn’t follow you to be protected. This was my mistake… you don’t need to feel guilty.”
Hanette continued speaking, unable to meet Zion’s gaze. She couldn’t bear to see him crying. It only made her heart ache more, so she focused on his voice instead.
“You’re going to say it’s my fault, right?”
“Not this time. I didn’t do anything right either.”
This situation had occurred because she failed to dodge the attack. She should have avoided or blocked it with her flames like Lesia had. She was caught off guard and ambushed, so it was her own fault.
“The enemy isn’t dead yet…”
“Kakha… how foolish…”
Slime Dragon slowly rose, gathering its mana. It had sustained significant damage from that technique, making it difficult to move. However, it had survived by luck and was now confident it could crush the humans.
“You spared me? You could have killed me with just one human!”
Slime Dragon formed a crimson orb, glaring at the two. It had been saved by another human’s foolish act, trying to save a comrade.
“This is why humans are…”
“Shut up.”
Hanette’s eyes flashed with anger as she unleashed her flames. She didn’t need to convert her mana into flames anymore. She was the fire itself, and the flames were her essence.
“Kaaaah!”
Slime Dragon screamed as the golden flames engulfed it. The fire spread rapidly, enveloping its entire body. Despite pouring out mana and rolling on the ground, the flames wouldn’t die down. The surrounding trees and grass, even when touched by the flames, didn’t burn.
“Your chatter is annoying enough without your actions.”
Hanette wore a dissatisfied expression as she embraced Zion. That creature had killed her, and Zion had risked his life fighting it. The other knights had also faced danger, fueling her anger further.
“Sis, I can’t fight anymore. If I buy some time…”
“Do you still want to fight in this state? I’ll handle it.”
“But…”
“I’ll take care of it. Just stay by my side.”
Hanette answered calmly, looking toward Slime Dragon. She deliberately reduced the intensity of her flames, slowing the rate at which they consumed the creature. She wanted to inflict greater pain in revenge.
“I won’t leave you behind and die.”
Hanette stroked Zion’s head, reaffirming her resolve. They had promised to face the end together. If they were to die, they would do so together, not separately. She would ensure it.
“You’ve become stronger, stronger than me…”
Zion, recognizing Hanette’s flames, leaned toward her. He couldn’t sense her mana anymore; only the vivid flames enveloped him. It seemed that her awakening had placed her in a similar state to his own.
“…Really?”
“Yes, I’d lose if we fought.”
“Hah! Why would I fight you?”
“Couples do fight sometimes, you know.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t use magic.”
“Are you planning to pick up a club?”
“I’ll think about it. You never listen.”
“Kraaaah!”
Slime Dragon continued to roar and writhe, but Zion and Hanette ignored it, speaking intimately. Enrite and Lesia arrived late, observing the two.
“…They’re quite relaxed.”
“They’re probably aiming to cause more pain.”
Enrite answered calmly, approaching the pair. Hanette had awakened and gained overwhelming power, likely toying with the enemy. However, they had to end it quickly to avoid giving the enemy a chance to counterattack.
“Hanette, I understand your feelings, but it’s best to finish it quickly. We don’t know how the enemy will respond.”
“Are you finally listening to me?”
“…If you wish, you may call me whatever you want.”
Enrite couldn’t bring himself to say the word and showed a sheepish smile. Hanette smiled gently and helped Zion stand.
“Alright. I’ll do as you say, sister. Please heal Zion.”
“…Understood.”
“Sister?”
Lesia asked, puzzled. Enrite averted his eyes, reaching out to Zion.
“Lesia, help me.”
“Sure.”
Lesia stood beside Hanette while Enrite began channeling mana into Zion. Zion, avoiding Enrite’s gaze, quietly watched.
“Why do you always act alone?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Hanette didn’t wish for this. What would have happened if you had died?”
“I would have regretted it a lot.”
“I don’t blame you. I couldn’t keep my promise either.”
Enrite hadn’t been able to heal Hanette with his power. Hanette had revived on her own, slightly easing his mind.
“You survived. That’s enough.”
Zion felt his body recovering, gazing at Hanette’s back. She was surrounded by golden flames, confronting Slime Dragon. A little effort from her had overwhelmed the creature; if she fought seriously, it would end swiftly.
“Aren’t you too relaxed? What if it attacks suddenly?”
“It’s infuriating. Killing it quickly won’t satisfy my anger.”
Hanette watched Slime Dragon intently, searching for something. Lesia nodded slightly, raising Duran Calgonis.
“I get it. I feel guilty too.”
“You shouldn’t. I was foolish for not dodging.”
Hanette slowly realized what was happening and widened her eyes. Inside Slime Dragon’s body, there was something other than slime. It must be the core and the artificial Magic Sword Zion had mentioned.
“And… I left it alone to investigate. We have to end it in one go, right?”
“Ah… I understand.”
Lesia had also been searching for Slime Dragon’s core and artificial Magic Sword. They were well hidden and hard to detect from a distance. It was only up close that they could read the movements.
“I’ll attack first. You can finish what I miss.”
“That sounds right. You’re stronger than me.”
“I have a wider attack range. Your power is greater.”
“I can’t do that.”
Lesia answered honestly, infusing mana into Duran Calgonis. Hanette’s attack range was undoubtedly larger, and her power was just as formidable. Slime Dragon, which had regenerated each time it was cut, was slowly dying in front of the golden flames.
“I can’t destroy everything alone.”
“So you want me to handle the rest?”
“Can you?”
“If you’re doing it, I can’t lag behind.”
Each time Slime Dragon rolled, the ground trembled. Its tendrils occasionally lashed out, but the flames enveloped them, forcing them back. To completely destroy Slime Dragon and prevent Demon God’s interference, they had to destroy both the core and the artificial Magic Sword.
“Then let’s begin.”
Hanette carefully observed before rapidly spreading her flames. The golden flames extended, forming a pair of wings, burning fiercely as they condensed. The wings folded momentarily, then spread wide, splitting into thousands of fragments.
Hanette controlled the fragments, targeting the vulnerable parts of Slime Dragon’s body. The areas most exposed to flames and currently regenerating. She intended to carve a path with these fragments, leading to the core and artificial Magic Sword.
“Kiaaah!”
Slime Dragon roared, twisting its body violently. Its rationality shattered, and its body became a tangled mess. Hanette seized the opportunity, pushing the fragments deeper.
‘Where is it?’
The flames evaporated the slime, leaving Slime Dragon’s body noticeably smaller. The reduced space made it harder for the core and artificial Magic Sword to move, and it was too preoccupied with regeneration.
‘Only half left.’
The flame fragments were rapidly decreasing. They were tearing through Slime Dragon’s body, but the slime quickly filled the gaps. Giving up now and trying again was an option, but prolonged fighting risked Demon God’s interference through the artificial Magic Sword.
‘I have to end it here, or Zion will worry again.’
Zion always lived in contemplation. He tried to solve everything alone, only revealing the truth to her after much time. Knowing why he bore the burden alone made her more determined.
‘I’ve found it, but…’
Fewer than 100 flame fragments remained. She had located both the core and the artificial Magic Sword, but destroying one meant abandoning the other.
Hanette, trusting Lesia, poured all her flame fragments toward the core.
“It’s close!”
“Now I see it.”
Lesia, with a keen eye, thrust Duran Calgonis. A flash of light shot forward, the white beam streaking toward its target. The flame fragments were already incinerating the core, while the white beam slashed through the artificial Magic Sword.
Slime Dragon’s body stiffened, unable to draw breath.
“I… I’m dying? Dying? This can’t be…”