Quit The Hero Party

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EP.500 Heavenly (天惠) Extermination War (4)

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The flame that seemed unquenchable dimmed.

As the dragon flapped its wings within the fire, the black flames were swept away by the wind. Revealed amid the dispersing fire was an Ancient Dragon. Even Skebal, who had grown into a massive figure from countless corpses, had to lift his head to gaze up at this colossal being.

That existence is on a different plane altogether compared to the dragons of today.

To compare it to the dragons of this era, which have lost their pride and are bred with broken wings and horns, is an utter disgrace. In the presence of that being, other dragonkin wouldn’t even dare utter the name of a dragon.

Golden dragon eyes.

A giant towering as if to touch the ceiling of a vast underground space.

Rough black scales repelling magic.

Upon witnessing the Ancient Black Dragon emerge from the flames, Skebal and Acrita recalled entirely different beings.

Skebal thought of the black storm, the Black Dragon Belial.

Acrita thought of the first wing of the goddess that once ruled the skies in the primordial age, igniting the continent with her wrath.

“···Huh.”

Acrita chuckled.

Why was Yormun called the ‘Mage of Ancient Dragons’? It was precisely because of that Ancient Dragon. The first wing of the goddess. Recalling the past, Acrita stepped back a pace.

And then, at that moment.

The black dragon slammed its massive claws down onto the ground.

With the shaking earth, the black dragon slowly lowered its head. It anchored itself firmly with its claws and spread its wings to shield the extermination team… The black dragon opened its mouth with a gaping sound.

Whoosh.

Flames flickered within its open maw.

The flickering fire converged into a point, and the ground, soaked in black water, dried up instantly. The earth cracked. Intense heat. A noise like a piercing ring in their ears.

···It comes, the goddess’s wrath.

Skebal moved his arms to cast a spell.

Acrita stomped the ground and retreated for the first time. There was no one here who knew what kind of spectacle awaited. This was a scene depicted in countless tales and legends.

No magic, no miracle, no holy rite.

Just the pure torrent of power visible from a being that had reached its apex. The goddess’s wrath, which scorched the sky and land in the primordial age, was being reenacted here.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzhhhh!

The sound of the compressed heat and storm tearing apart was deafening. Immediately afterward, a massive flash of light struck the underground space. What surged along with the flash… was the breath of the black dragon, surpassing even the highest-ranking fire spells.

【Sing, child.】

Along with the goddess’s whisper, the black dragon spewed forth flames.

The compressed fire was unleashed. The storm that had been compressed swirled, enveloped by flames. The flames radiated outward, sweeping across the underground space.

The black flames created by Skebal, the black water flowing across the ground, and the traps created by the Braver became meaningless before pure heat.

Heat, light, storm engulfed the underground.

In that rushing heat, Skebal watched as the shield he had conjured began to melt away. Hadn’t the black dragon, Belial, who had once incited the black tide wrought by the Demon Lord, spewed forth flames like that?

Pure heat, a flame so pure it symbolizes purification. The breath that reminded Skebal of Belial’s heyday narrowed his gaze.

“This isn’t good.”

The Braver, standing within the shield Skebal had erected, chuckled. Lowering his posture, he spoke briefly.

“I’ll take care of this, Skebal.”

···Take care of what? That Ancient Dragon?

Before he could think of anything, the ground shook. Boom, rumble. The earth and sky trembled. A vision filled only with crimson flames obscured everything.

RUMBLEEEEEE!

Right after, something slammed against Skebal’s shield.

The shield cracked like glass. The vision filled with crimson flames. What Skebal saw through the gaps was the massive claw of a dragon. The dragon’s claw pierced inside the shield, and flames surged through the torn aperture.

Confrontation between Skebal and the flame-wrapped black dragon.

The golden shimmering eyes of the dragon. The anger of a god. Immediately, with a crunch, the shield shattered into pieces. Amid the debris flying through the air, the dragon’s claw covered Skebal’s vision.

CRUNCH.

The black dragon grasped Skebal’s skull and flapped its wings. With the raging storm, the black dragon ascended into the air. As Skebal was uprooted like a tree pulled from the ground before the storm, a thud thud thud echoed as he emerged from the darkness.

Of course, Skebal wasn’t just sitting idle.

Dozens of spells finished in an instant struck the black dragon’s body. Most of the spells were deflected by the black scales that reject magic, but even spells created by beings equivalent to gods cannot be easily nullified.

Whoosh, thud.

Long black spears, sharp lightning, and numerous spells pierced the black dragon’s body. Even as blood dripped from the wounds, the black dragon’s movements didn’t slow in the slightest. As if it felt no pain at all.

The black dragon flapped its wings and ascended with the storm. Gripping Skebal who was uprooted in its clutches, the black dragon opened its mouth wide.

At that moment, Skebal locked eyes with the black dragon and noticed an unusual spell enveloping its entire body. What emanated from the dragon’s body was starlight. Skebal’s gaze fluttered for a moment as he read the flow of the spell glistening with starlight.

This was a spell that even Skebal did not recognize.

No pain, a body augmented beyond limits, a madness-laden spell that rapidly consumes life while providing corresponding enhancements and acceleration. Skebal had no way to grasp this, but the name affixed to this spell was simple.

Overcome.

A unique spell possessed by Resti.

That spell was devouring the black dragon’s vitality, nearly eternal, enhancing everything about the black dragon.

···Belnoa had devoted everything he had.

From the moment he transformed into the black dragon, there was no turning back for him. Thus, Belnoa had requested Resti long ago. If he ever transformed, to never hesitate, to cast that spell on him without question.

He sacrificed everything for a single moment.

The power Belnoa had gained by sacrificing all he could came close to that of a god. Flames flickered from the black dragon’s wide-open maw. Before Skebal could respond, a thin beam pierced him.

The flame, not in a spreading pattern, but compressed, shot forth.

With a slashing sound, the compressed flames slammed into Skebal’s body, burying him in the ground. Right after, there was a tremendous noise, and the earth trembled. The compressed flames exploded, creating a massive pit. From within that pit, Skebal watched.

The black dragon flapping its wings in the sky.

The goddess’s wrath, dripping blood, glaring at him.

It was a maddening sight. Terrifying beyond measure.

As Skebal extinguished the dragon’s breath clinging to him, he spread his arms wide. With burning tentacles falling away, dozens of spells hovered around him. As spells were launched, the black dragon folded its wings and began to dive toward Skebal.

The spells clashed with the storm.

The earth and sky trembled, and thunderous sounds echoed in succession.

Belnoa dragged Skebal away from the battlefield.

Far away, the earth and sky trembled, fire and storm connecting heaven and earth. Belnoa was alone handling the most obstructive being in the Braver’s extermination.

“I suspected it would come to this…”

The voice that came from afar caught Ayla’s attention.

There, Acrita walked with a sigh, brushing off the soot clinging to her clothes.

“I never imagined it would be to this extent. I’ve once again witnessed just how beautiful a favored one of the goddess can become.”

The Braver clapped his hands while holding a spear at his side.

“Beautiful is beautiful.”

The Braver took a step forward with a thud.

“I have my work to do.”

In that moment, as the spear flashed with an afterimage, a clang rang out, blocked by a barrier of starlight. It was the starlight that blossomed around Ayla and Resti. The Braver smiled behind that barrier.

“Is this your weapon against me? Indeed, the scribe has finally managed to hit me. I must admit, this was unexpected.”

Creeeek.

The Braver’s spear scraped against the starlight.

“But.”

Acrita leaned forward, eyeing through the barrier. At almost nose-to-nose distance, she gazed into Ayla’s eyes.

“No matter how sharp the weapon is… it’s useless if the one wielding it is in this sorry state.”

With a grin, the Braver’s spear suddenly dazzled. Just as it aimed to strike at Ayla, summoned demons surged up to block Acrita’s spear.

Soon, looking around, there were many summoned demons that Resti had called forth. They had been unable to be summoned earlier due to being swept away by Skebal’s one spell, but now that Skebal had withdrawn, there was no need to hold back.

Total summon.

The wave of summoned demons surged, shaking the ground as Carapace Dragons emerged.

Ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ching!

The roaring Carapace Dragons surged up from the earth, sweeping Acrita away as they burrowed below. Boom, rumble. As the Carapace Dragons made several trembles, they suddenly shot up from the ground. With a thud, the jaws of the Carapace Dragon tore apart.

Thud.

The Braver, having burst from within the Carapace Dragon, spun around with his spear in hand. Briefly glancing at the waves of summoned demons, he exhaled softly. Before the exhaled breath could be swallowed back, he leaped into the tide.

Rustle, whoosh, thud thud thud.

Acrita faced the wave of summoned demons single-handedly. The spear flashed, and spells swept through the area. It was like watching Raniel van Trias fight… but unlike her, Acrita was a superhuman wielding melee weapons.

Prediction, future vision, calculation support, accelerated thought.

With foresight of a few seconds into the future, she utilized the spells effectively in real-time. In some respects, she was even a more challenging opponent than Raniel. The summoned creatures imbued with starlight were swept away en masse every time Acrita’s spear glimmered.

···But, it was okay.

Resti was weaving spells, glancing back. After all, the summoned creatures were just delaying tactics to shake off the Braver. What truly mattered was…

“······.”

The existence of Chloe.

Resti cast a sidelong glance at Chloe, who had barely survived with Natida’s healing. Chloe was watching the battle between the black dragon and Skebal from a distance. Her tightly clenched lips trembled slightly.

Current flow, Chloe.

She needed her help. To realize the original plan, Chloe’s flow was essential.

‘But, in her current state…’

She had only just managed to get through the crisis; Chloe’s wounds had not healed in the slightest. Moreover, she was also in a fragile state mentally right now. Resti gritted his teeth. Ayla, also biting her lips, turned to look back.

“Chloe…”

What should he say?

What words would rise to lift her up to fight again? What would Raniel say? In the moment he sought to gather his thoughts…

Suddenly.

Light burst forth, and Ayla and Resti quickly turned their heads. As Acrita tore through the wave of summoned demons, she launched a spell toward them from atop the carcass of a Carapace Dragon.

Highest-ranked spell, Divine Punishment (Judgment).

Highest-ranked spell, Ignis.

Blue lightning entwined with an amber beam of light as Acrita swung her arm, grasping it in her hand. With narrowed eyes, Ayla scattered blossoms of stars all around. The flowers of stars kindled from the spells, but she overlooked one detail.

Spatial Gate.

The fact that Acrita was proficient in spatial magic. The spear of lightning thrust forth chomp, and the spatial gate swallowed it whole. What that gate connected to… was none other than behind Chloe.

“···!”

Sensing the strong mana, Ayla turned her head swiftly and reached out. As the flowers of stars fluttered to take flight toward Chloe, it was already too late.

Chomp.

The javelin sprang forth from the opened space.

The compressed spear of lightning reached Chloe and Natida before the flowers of stars did. Just as the thunderous sound echoed, the spear of lightning aimed to engulf the two.

With a swoosh,

The spear of lightning shook.

The highest-ranked spell wavered for a moment and paused in the air. The billsowing spells converged like ripples into a point. It was an unusual phenomenon. While it was strange, Ayla and Resti knew what it was.

Convergence.

The starlight possessed by Galahal, which Chloe had in her possession.

Chloe tightly gripped the gathered mana into her bare hands. Slowly rising with the clench of her fist, despite losing too much blood, her complexion pale, her eyes remained sharp and unwavering.

With the mana she held tightly gripped as her own, she stepped forward.

Sensing a look from her, Ayla realized.

From the beginning, encouragement hadn’t been necessary. The hero before her was not weak enough to waste the sacrifice and determination of Belnoa. A hero must answer sacrifice with victory.

The hero, craving victory, extended her staff forward.

A fleeting exchange of glances. Ayla and Resti nodded their heads. The plan had gone awry, but the task remained unchanged. Standing side by side, they recalled the past. Memories of when Apuria Academy was shrouded in darkness.

There lay the blade meant to slay the Braver.

Swinging through the summoned demons, the Braver stepped forward. As he advanced, he thought. Indeed, the scribe of the queen was competent.

Rugran Clen Cartedia.

Despite his interference, he had managed to forge a blade at the edge of life. A blade that would pierce himself. It was indeed a threat even to Acrita.

‘Complete annihilation.’

The starlight manipulated by the fully bloomed Stella and Watcher was undeniably formidable. If allowed a proper strike, one’s soul and body would shatter. It was a blade created solely to pierce him.

However, the Braver let out a breath.

No matter how sharp the legendary sword was, if the one wielding it is an amateur, it is merely a slightly sharper knife. And amateurs have no thoughts of cutting. Acrita lowered the lightning-imbued spear.

“···Phew.”

Acrita chuckled softly as she exhaled lightly.

Not borrowed nor stolen, but her own flesh. The embodiment of her true self, which survived the wars of the ancient era. A body that has traversed the continent, honing its skills.

Having slain the grand general who wielded the powers of a god.

Having amassed achievements in countless battlefields.

She had tried everything that a human body could do. She trained her body, wielded a spear, and instilled techniques within her flesh. The moment she held the spear and swung it, countless futures unfolded before her eyes.

And so, in this instant that moves her body, she was not merely a Braver stealthily acting from behind the curtain.

She is Heavenly (天惠).

That was indeed the unexpected variable they had not foreseen, a weapon she must reveal in this battlefield. Heavenly, Acrita gazed ahead. There, the three blessed by the stars were igniting starlight.

The blade meant to slay her is amidst them.

Acrita drew her spear low, harmonizing her breath. Gathering her stance. A knee bent low, her spear tip almost touching the ground. Immediately, Acrita dashed forth, straightening the knee she had bent.

Displaying the technique honed through Heavenly.

The technique that had slain their grand general and hindered Gletus of Regulation.