The Dark Magic Sword, Exceed Rain, and the Flame Magic Sword, Brecht, were drawing each other in.
As a result, Zion and Hanette's magic were connected, causing Brecht's flames to envelop Exceed Rain's blade.
‘Is this even possible?’
Exceed Rain and Brecht were both Magic Swords, but they didn’t have any particular connection. They were created at different times, and no one had wielded both simultaneously. Moreover, without the primordial Magic Sword, El Tesoykve, Exceed Rain couldn’t resonate with other swords.
‘Hanette hasn’t even drawn her Magic Sword.’
Since meeting Hanette, she had never shown her Magic Sword. Although Seran sensed the presence of a Magic Sword, Hanette didn’t seem aware of it. Thus, she was using its power without realizing it.
‘Anything involving Hanette is bound to be different.’
The interactions with Magic Swords, having one from a young age, and now resonating with Exceed Rain—all these aspects were changing. Perhaps Hanette’s existence was fundamentally altering this world.
‘If I can uncover the secrets hidden within Hanette…’
“Zion, what’s happening?”
“I’m not sure. This just happened suddenly.”
“……”
Enrite also realized that Exceed Rain and Brecht were resonating. However, he couldn't understand it and felt only doubt. He himself had never resonated with any Magic Sword other than Exceed Rain. If he couldn’t do it, Exceed Rain shouldn’t be able to either.
‘They do not have opposing origins. There’s no way they could resonate.’
For Magic Swords to resonate, they needed opposing origins. Light and darkness could resonate because they were contrasting yet balanced. But the other Magic Swords had unique attributes that couldn’t be considered opposites.
‘Could the Magic Swords be resonating due to the emotions of their wielders?’
Enrite came to an odd conclusion, looking between Zion and Hanette. Magic Swords had to be wielded to manifest their power. Zion and Hanette had proven their worth and were now fighting together against a common enemy. Perhaps the Magic Swords were responding to their shared determination.
‘I only thought about gathering the Magic Swords, not how they should be used.’
Enrite reflected on himself and had a moment of realization. He had believed that gathering all seven Magic Swords and their rightful owners could defeat the Three Demon Lords and the Four Calamities. Two Magic Swords alone couldn’t destroy the immortality of demons and dragons; a greater power and destiny were needed. However, if their hearts weren’t aligned, even that power and destiny would falter.
‘I followed that human, but Exceed Rain might not have.’
Though he and Exceed Rain were brothers, their pursuits were different. They were wielded together by that human, but Exceed Rain didn’t follow him. Thus, they failed to destroy the immortality of demons and dragons.
‘Is it following now? Resonating with Brecht…’
Enrite felt a new destiny as he watched Zion’s swordsmanship. Exceed Rain was emitting a dark violet aura intertwined with red flames. The fusion of violet and red slashed through the Shadow Dragon, tearing it apart.
‘They erased its trace.’
The Shadow Dragon’s body twitched, trying to reassemble itself. However, bubbles frothed from the severed parts, and the flames burned endlessly. Its wounds couldn’t heal, and it was slowly edging toward death.
- How… how could this happen to me!
Groshiran’s anguished voice echoed as his body disintegrated. The once immortal Shadow Realm shattered into countless fragments. The Magic Swords and treasures that had been so close drifted away.
- I, who was to rule this world… How could this happen to me! Argh!
Groshiran tried to reassemble his body, but the shadows wouldn’t obey, and he shrank bit by bit. Even a single remaining shadow would suffice for recovery, but an alien force invaded relentlessly, denying him that chance.
What had been done to his body?
- I can’t die! I am immortal! Ahhh!
Groshiran finally felt the fear of death, consumed by a desperate will to survive. He had sought the Magic Swords, underestimated humans, and dragged them into the Shadow Realm. He thought he could win by abandoning this realm. But now he was dying, regretting his choices as he faded away.
- I cannot die… Not like this… Khh… Kugh…
Groshiran’s voice dwindled to silence. His body ceased to move, and the flames continued to burn away the last remnants. The dark hues of the Shadow Realm gave way to the colors of the original world.
‘Was I wrong?’
Enrite reverted from his white-armored form to his human appearance. The fusion of Exceed Rain’s darkness and Brecht’s flames had destroyed the Shadow Dragon’s immortality. What he and that human had failed to achieve, Zion and Hanette accomplished together.
“Thanks to you, we won.”
Zion, confident in their victory, approached Hanette. She watched the Shadow Dragon burn before finally turning her head.
“You finished it. I just helped.”
“If it weren’t for you, we’d still be struggling. I need you by my side.”
Zion reached out sincerely to Hanette. They had vanquished the Shadow Dragon here, a feat possible only with Hanette’s presence. As long as she stayed by his side, they could defeat any monster.
“I understand now. I can't leave you alone. You always get into dangerous situations.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“That’s why you need me. I can’t leave you alone, or you’ll get hurt.”
“I wouldn’t get hurt…”
“Look at this mess and say that again. You reckless kid…”
Hanette gripped Zion’s hand tightly. He had faced danger without hesitation, protecting her from the Shadow Dragon’s attacks without retreating once. Without her help and greater effort, Zion would be the one to get hurt.
‘I need to stay by his side.’
She couldn’t always rely on Zion as a shield. Though she had used magic to destroy the shadow pillars and fend off the shadows, it had been a close call. If Zion got injured protecting her, she would fall into deep despair.
‘I have to become stronger than this.’
Hanette realized she had grown stronger than before. She had blocked a wyvern's fireballs, obliterated zombies, defeated silver skeletons, and repelled the Shadow Dragon’s shadows. Yet, she was not satisfied and yearned for more power.
‘I need to reach greater heights.’
She had followed Zion for two main reasons: to prove her worth and to help Zion lead the knights. If she became stronger, she could achieve her goals. Perhaps, as Zion suggested, she could even aspire to the title of Setinos Quasar and beyond.
‘Zion, I will…’
As the Shadow Realm vanished, various colors enveloped them. Their knights and the Silaze Knights gathered around. They had returned to the campsite.
“Wow! Look at all these treasures!”
“There’s so much here!”
“One of these could make us rich for life.”
The mention of treasures drew everyone’s attention. In the center of the campsite, radiant treasures were piled high. With the Shadow Dragon’s death, the items from the Shadow Realm had returned to the original world.
‘There it is…’
Enrite spotted a sword and hurried towards it. He could sense the Magic Sword’s aura. A white blade with a hint of light green, a hilt tinged with dark green, and a faint breeze emanated from it.
The Wind Magic Sword, Timer, lay neatly among the treasures.
‘Five are now gathered.’
Enrite grasped Timer's hilt and lifted it. Ideally, it should be wielded by a worthy individual, but the Shadow Dragon had disrupted that natural order. For now, he would keep it until the right time.
“We need to return to the capital.”
“Because of that?”
“We can’t just leave it here.”
Hanette, her eyes downcast, looked at the treasures. To transport them, they needed an escort and someone in charge. As the spoils of war obtained by her and Zion, they would likely have to oversee their safe transport personally.
“Don’t worry. With such achievements, they won’t force us into a wedding.”
“They might still talk about it.”
“Even if they do, they won’t force us. A wedding requires preparation and time, which would interfere with our current plans.”
“There will be much to handle after the wedding too, right?”
“Yes. Both heads of our families know that well. They’ll probably suggest waiting and watching.”
Zion, tired, dismissed Exceed Rain. Contrary to the original storyline, they had destroyed the Shadow Dragon and secured the Wind Magic Sword and treasures. The other Four Calamities would be aware of this and would be cautious about approaching Alain Kingdom.
‘Is it enough for me and Hanette to fight together?’
The Light Magic Sword had wounded the Shadow Dragon but couldn’t stop its regeneration. The Dark Magic Sword suppressed the regeneration but couldn’t completely defeat it. However, the combination of the Dark and Flame Magic Swords inflicted mortal wounds.
‘I’ve been thinking wrong.’
Hanette had surpassed his expectations. Once considered a heroine and a noble’s daughter, she now aimed for the title of Setinos Quasar. Possessing a Magic Sword and becoming this powerful, she would have survived regardless.
‘Could Hanette be the protagonist?’