Chapter 72: Wrath of the Flame Dragon
A Forbidden Curse is a magic that can annihilate even a great city with a single activation. It's a forbidden sorcery that can reshape the very terrain. Its range extends beyond the horizon, and it's said that using it against an enemy army could kill ten thousand people without fail.
The Forbidden Curse, also known as the 13th-tier Wind Spell, "Earth-Destroying Wind Pressure Downburst," turned the Glen Rockfield into a barren wasteland. It could now be called the Barren Wasteland of Glen.
"More or less taken care of."
"You can use Forbidden Curses too, Shu-san?"
"After reading the Forbidden Curse scroll I got from Reinvald and analyzing it, I was able to construct a magic array. With that, I can activate Forbidden Curses without incantations."
Numerous large boulders were blown away, and at the epicenter of the Earth-Destroying Wind Pressure Downburst, there was something akin to a crater. Fragments resembling magical tools and weapons and armor were scattered about.
There were likely only a few survivors.
One of them was the Awakened Magic Armament User, Luto.
"You've done well."
She erected a barrier against gravity and deflected the swirling wind that descended from the sky. With her power, she could easily handle something like this, even twisting light.
Shu stepped forward in front of Iris, positioning himself to shield Luto.
"As planned, we managed to take down the Empire's forces targeting me. Now, it's just you. There seem to be a few others who survived, but they probably can't move properly."
"...It seems that way."
Luto also sensed the presence of her comrades with her magical perception. However, they were weak.
There was no doubt they couldn't move.
"I thought that if I revealed my title as the 'Grim Reaper,' you'd definitely take the bait. After all, the name 'Black Cat' is highly esteemed in the Empire. It was a great move to form a subjugation squad. It's just right for selling my name to the Revolutionary Army, Rebellion."
"Underestimating me, aren't you? Me and the Empire."
"Yeah, I'm underestimating you. Because you're just that level."
"Hehe..."
"Haha..."
Shu's taunt seemed like a bluff. The two began their battle suddenly.
Luto, accelerated by gravity, raised her right index and middle fingers as if they were swords. She would cut everything with the pressure of gravity. Luto didn't need a weapon.
On the other hand, Shu deployed magic and accelerated himself. Luto's gravity sword was evaded, and it left cuts on the ground. Shu circled around and used Death Magic to drain energy. It was a spell that should instantly kill an ordinary person, but it had no effect on the Awakened Magic Armament User like Luto.
"...My strength...!?"
For a moment, she felt a sense of exhaustion, but Luto possessed infinite magic power. Even if it was consumed, it would recover immediately. It wasn't truly infinite, but it was unlimited in the sense that it would recover endlessly. Awakened Magic Armament Users could naturally regenerate magic power if they supplemented their stamina with it, allowing them to continue fighting indefinitely.
Even if Shu stole her life force and magic power with Death Magic, she would instantly recover.
(Here it is.)
Awakened Magic Armament Users possessed Death Magic, not just Death Magic.
He had recognized its effectiveness when he fought against the Holy Knight Celester Altraine. Dark magic power gathered in Shu's right hand and was released.
When life force and magic power were taken from an Awakened Magic Armament User, there was a slight time lag until they recovered. It was a very small window of opportunity. But Shu could aim for it.
Luto tried to deflect it with gravity.
However, Death Magic was the very concept of death.
Gravity died.
It pierced through the barrier and hit Luto directly.
"Ugh!?"
She realized it at last and blocked with her left arm.
When Death Magic touched Luto's left arm, everything below her elbow turned to ashes in an instant. Furthermore, Death Magic was eroding from her elbow to her upper arm, and at this rate, not only her arm but her entire body would turn to ashes. Realizing this, Luto decisively severed her left arm. Her unwavering resolve was commendable.
While staunching the bleeding immediately, she retaliated against Shu.
A pinpoint black hole attack compressed by gravity within Luto's designated area. It came at Shu. However, Shu absorbed it with Death Magic.
"Attacks with magic power don't work on me."
"That's cheating."
Cheating.
That word suited a King's Beast.
Dark King Shu Arklight brought death to all things.
"You underestimated me as a mere assassin."
For Luto, it was a mentally taxing battle.
◆◆◆
"Ugh..."
Ike slowly opened his eyes.
Before him stretched an unblemished sky.
And then it all came back to him—the 'Grim Reaper' casting a magic circle that covered the heavens and invoking the forbidden spell, "Earth-Shattering Downburst."
Pain shot through his body as Ike attempted to sit up, accompanied by a groan.
Using haphazard magic enhancements, he managed to roll over onto his stomach.
His vision was still filled with sparks, and he couldn't make out his surroundings clearly.
"Ike...san, you're...awake..."
"That voice, Sadina!"
Amidst his swaying view, Ike crawled toward the sound of the voice, reaching out with his hand, moving closer, the sound of his armor scraping against the ground echoing.
Squelch.
Ike's fingers touched something warm and wet.
That's when he realized.
The distinct metallic and pungent odor.
"This... is blood."
And Ike surmised whose blood it was.
He squinted.
"Sad...ina?"
"It's me... Ike-san."
"Hey... your leg..."
Ike saw it clearly. Sadina's lower body crushed beneath a massive rock. Most of the boulders scattered across the Glen Rockfield due to the "Earth-Shattering Downburst," and unluckily, Sadina ended up underneath.
His wavering vision was starting to stabilize.
Ike, despite the pain, managed to inch closer to Sadina.
"I'll get the rocks off you..."
"It's futile."
"But...!"
"I understand that I'll die... soon."
"Quit talking."
Ike surveyed his surroundings.
Using his magic gear, he could easily clear the rocks away. However, that would cause Sadina to bleed to death. They needed to find someone capable of using restorative magic. Among the court mages, only a few could use restorative magic, and it was unlikely they would be found quickly. If left unattended, blood would continue to flow, leading to Sadina's death from massive bleeding.
But Ike couldn't give up.
"I'll heal you right away, so don't speak."
He sensed magical energy but found nothing. Perhaps there was no one here, or they were not detecting magical energy because they had turned into a corpse.
Impatience crept in.
Upon closer inspection, rocks were scattered in an arc around Sadina, as if she were at the epicenter of an explosion.
And the area where Ike had fallen was strangely clear, as if it had been protected.
"Could it be... she shielded me?"
She had used wind magic to deflect the incoming rocks.
It seemed that way.
To protect Ike, she had used magic until the end, ultimately crushed by a large boulder that came flying at her. Ike realized this.
"Sadi...na, defeat the 'Grim Reaper' for me."
"Sadina! Sadina! Sadiiinaaa!"
Sadina spat out blood and closed her eyes, motionless. Ike hurriedly pressed his ear to her chest. He could tell that her heartbeat was weakening.
"Darn it. Someone with healing magic! Even healing magic gear! Anyone! Hurry!"
Ike couldn't do anything except wait for Sadina to breathe her last. He had brought some magical ointments that could heal wounds, but they were scattered during the "Earth-Shattering Downburst." Besides, magical ointments could only mend injuries to a limited extent. Some high-performance ointments existed, but Ike didn't have them. The high-performance ones were kept by the supply units.
"Please, open your eyes..."
All Ike could do was plead.
He had thought that all he needed was to defeat the 'Grim Reaper.' That wasn't wrong, and it was a natural wish for Ike, who had lost something precious to the 'Grim Reaper.' He had grown stronger with nothing but a heart full of resentment. In front of the 'Grim Reaper,' he hadn't even paid attention to his comrades. This was the result.
Even if they had cooperated, the outcome might not have changed. But perhaps it could have. All that remained for Ike now was regret.
"Her heartbeat is getting weaker... and it won't stop!"
Sadina's heartbeat gradually grew fainter and finally disappeared.
There was nothing Ike could do.
"Hey, Sadina. Open your eyes."
Crushed beneath the large boulder, Sadina died while her own blood engulfed her. The cause of death was massive bleeding. There was no need for an examination.
But it didn't matter to Ike.
"Darn it... Why don't I have power at a time like this?"
Even in the depths of despair, even when his heart was bursting with hatred, Ike's magic gear didn't awaken. Because his heart wasn't focused on moving forward.
A will to surpass the world's laws and defy the rules, to create miracles.
That's what nurtured awakening.
Ike, still trapped in his past, didn't have the qualifications.
Ike stood up.
"...Over there."
He sensed several powerful sources of magic.
At the same time, the ground trembled, reaching them. Judging by the magic, it was likely Captain Lut and the 'Grim Reaper.'
Ike's flames of hatred flared up.
"I didn't know. If I felt any more anger than this, I might not even have the will to scream."
A fiery dragon enveloped Ike.