Enrite realized that the Wind Magic Sword, Timer, was hidden within the Shadow Realm. It had not bonded with a worthy individual because it had been trapped in the Shadow Realm all this time. Now, they needed to retrieve the Magic Sword and find its rightful owner.
- My magic cannot fail… This is impossible!
Groshiran released more magic, darkening the shadows that rushed towards the four individuals. Enrite raised El Tesoykve, infusing it with magic.
‘It's a faint darkness.’
A golden light burst from El Tesoykve, pushing back the shadows and striking Groshiran. Every pass of the golden light left large and small holes in Groshiran's body.
- Gah! How can this be happening… to me!
Groshiran used his magic to restore his body. No one had ever managed to wound his body before. But the light from that Magic Sword was repelling his shadow magic and erasing his shadows.
‘I can't destroy him entirely.’
Enrite stepped forward, approaching Groshiran. Defeating one of the Three Demon Lords or the Four Calamities using conventional methods was impossible. Even if they managed to disintegrate the body now, it could resurrect later.
‘All seven Magic Swords and their rightful owners must gather. If not...’
Enrite, aware of Zion and Seran following him, contemplated another plan. He needed to find someone who could wield both the Light Magic Sword El Tesoykve and the Dark Magic Sword Exceed Rain. With such a person, they could annihilate the Three Demon Lords and the Four Calamities, bringing temporary peace to the continent of Karonvellaz.
‘There will be traces of demons and dragons left, but… there's nothing I can do about that.’
Enrite had once teamed up with the Dark Magic Sword to defeat demons and dragons. But the remnants of those battles led to the emergence of the Three Demon Lords and the Four Calamities. The Light and Dark Magic Swords alone couldn’t destroy their immortality.
‘Why am I trying to annihilate demons and dragons?’
Enrite had pondered this for a long time. He had no reason to intervene and should have been content being used as a Magic Sword. Yet, he chose to become human and sought to gather the Magic Swords.
‘My purpose is…’
- Humans… how dare you! I will not forgive this!
Groshiran continued casting spells, despite being exposed to El Tesoykve's light. Though he was being attacked, he hadn’t suffered fatal injuries. If he could withstand the light by healing himself with magic, the humans would tire first.
- I cannot be defeated by mere humans...
Groshiran's head slowly tilted, his words cut off as a violet sword aura sliced through him and the objects in this world. Simultaneously, the shadow magic was dispelled, and the dark energy weakened.
- Agh… no!
Bubbles of dark energy frothed from the severed areas, preventing his body from healing.
‘Why is the healing slow?’
Enrite noticed the change and intensified the light. While Groshiran quickly healed from Enrite’s attacks, Zion’s strikes with Exceed Rain left only bubbling residue.
Could it be that the dark attribute of Exceed Rain was suppressing the Shadow Dragon’s power?
- I will kill you all!
Groshiran roared, creating numerous shadows that aimed to latch onto the three of them. Zion shielded Hanette, wielding Exceed Rain against the shadows.
‘My attack worked.’
Zion abandoned the idea of absorbing magic and focused on slashing through the shadows. In the original story, Exceed Rain had never been used against the Shadow Dragon. This unmentioned information seemed to be one of Exceed Rain's abilities.
‘Is this going well?’
Hanette scattered flames to fend off the shadows. Though she wanted to help Zion and Enrite, she held back to conserve her strength, as instructed. If the situation worsened, she would step in.
“If this keeps up, it will be a long battle.”
“That might be for the best. The dragon will get tired and might flee, leaving us alone.”
“We need to retrieve the Magic Sword.”
Enrite responded decisively, spreading El Tesoykve's light. Though they couldn't destroy the Shadow Dragon immediately, gathering the Magic Swords would enable them to foresee the next steps. It was crucial to recover the Wind Magic Sword, even at great risk.
“Injuries could occur because of the Magic Sword.”
“We need the Magic Sword. I will risk my life for it…”
“Don't throw your life away! We fight to live, not to die!”
Enrite hesitated, surprised. Zion was the only one who knew he was a Magic Sword. Even if his consciousness faded, El Tesoykve would remain. Yet, Zion was treating him as a human, admonishing him.
‘I am not human, I am a Magic Sword. But why…’
- Huff… huff… you humans…
Groshiran’s head regained its shape, glaring at the four.
He had underestimated them as mere humans with Magic Swords, unaware they possessed such powerful combat skills. The white-armored and black-armored ones, in particular, were negating his shadows, making them exceedingly troublesome.
- I cannot lose to mere humans...
Groshiran spoke, his voice faltering with unease. He had already expended much magic, and they continued to pressure him. Although he could expel them from the Shadow Realm, he couldn’t bear to give up the Magic Swords they held.
Groshiran eyed the Magic Swords greedily, contemplating his next move. Killing them now would yield four Magic Swords at once. But missing this chance might mean the Magic Swords would scatter or give them time to prepare countermeasures.
They were already formidable; if properly prepared, they might even defeat him.
- I will not retreat!
Groshiran decided, infusing his magic into the realm. The black entities began to sink, as he aimed to sacrifice the Shadow Realm to kill them.
‘He intends to end this here.’
Zion cut through the shadows invading from all sides, absorbing their magic. If the Shadow Realm collapsed, the beings from the original world would return to their places. If they could endure this attack, they would survive, even if they couldn't kill the Shadow Dragon.
“It’s dangerous! Gather around me…”
Enrite tried to rush back, but pillars of shadow rose from the ground, blocking his path. Shadow pillars formed in succession, separating them.
Enrite sliced through the pillars with El Tesoykve.
“Is anyone there?”
The pillars quickly crumbled, but he couldn’t find his companions. As the realm collapsed, their positions had likely shifted.
Enrite moved swiftly, growing anxious.
‘I can lose my life, but they must survive.’
Enrite questioned his own thoughts. He was merely El Tesoykve’s consciousness, yet he referred to his life. Was he considering himself more human than a Magic Sword?
‘This isn’t why I became human. I am…’
Bright red flames began to flow between the shadow pillars, melting them entirely. Beyond the melting shadows, three figures were surrounded by flames, holding off the shadows.
‘Hanette Adelaira…’
Hanette spread flames, continuously breaking down the shadow pillars. Zion and Seran, next to her, were cutting through the invading shadows.
‘She hasn’t even drawn her Magic Sword. And yet… she is strong.’
Enrite, dispersing shadows with El Tesoykve’s light, moved towards his companions. Hanette enclosed him in flames, pulling him into the fiery perimeter.
“What do we do now?”
“Just hold out. If we can kill him, we should, but that might be tough.”
Zion kept a vigilant watch, swinging Exceed Rain. Shadows and black pillars filled the surroundings, and the Shadow Dragon was nowhere to be seen. It was likely hiding, waiting for them to weaken.
Even if they survived this attack, the Shadow Dragon might escape, abandoning the Shadow Realm.
“I don’t know about killing, but I think I know where it is.”
“…You know where it is?”
Zion asked, surprised. He couldn’t sense the Shadow Dragon’s magic, and Enrite had focused solely on defense, unable to locate the dragon. Hanette, though busy fending off shadows, seemed to sense its presence.
“If we attack recklessly, it might scatter again. Shouldn’t we just hold our ground?”
“We can attack and defend at the same time.”
“Are you saying we should attack while holding the line?”
“I was planning to expand our perimeter gradually to find Cardinal Serenine. Now that you’re here, we can eliminate everything.”
Hanette responded calmly, looking at Zion. Zion hesitated briefly before nodding slowly.
“I trust you, sister.”
“You better. If you didn’t, I’d be really mad.”
“……”
Hanette smiled faintly, drawing in her magic. She then released it all, transforming it into flames.
Her golden eyes flashed as she pinpointed the Shadow Dragon’s location.
‘There you are.’
Hanette aimed, expanding the fiery domain. The flames contracted momentarily, then rapidly spread, engulfing the black pillars and shadows.
The Shadow Dragon’s form emerged, engulfed in flames.
- How… Aghhhh!
Groshiran screamed, unable to shake off the flames. Human fire magic should have been ineffective against his body. But these flames were not only pressuring him but also burning his shadows.
“This is…”
Zion felt a heavy vibration, looking at his right hand. Exceed Rain’s blade was enveloped in flames. Through the flames, he sensed Hanette’s magic clearly, responding to his own.
It was as if their two magics were merging to create something new.
‘The two Magic Swords are resonating.’