Forest of the Elves, Ausurin.
The place was filled with Nidhogg's ferocious attacks.
Ahhh!
Nidhogg was angry now.
Even now, an arrowhead fiercely pierced into his eye, causing Nidhogg anger and pain.
"Varadis… You take command from now on."
The middle-aged elf shouted with difficulty, clutching his blood-stained shoulder.
Nidhogg's spine was already deeply embedded in his shoulder.
"If you get killed… it won't work."
The great warrior of the elves and the one responsible for this operation.
Even as he handed over command to Varadis, his lips were gradually turning black.
The malice of the sharp dragon still flowed through his veins and pierced his heart.
"…I leave it to you."
Varadis nodded as he looked at the increasingly pale Great Warrior.
The great warrior, who was said to have been born under his mother's World Tree, had been staring at Varadis with wide eyes until the moment of his death.
"Everyone, gather around! I'll concentrate our firepower!"
So now the remaining leader is Varadis, the leader of the rangers.
At this moment, a generational relay that no one wanted has occurred.
"Leader! That monster is so tough! Even if I use the aura, the weapon can't penetrate its skin properly!"
"Contrary to our expectations, it seems the dragon has already completed its growth. It has a strong immunity to magic."
Varadis bit his lip upon hearing desperate reports from all directions.
The elves did their best to stop Nidhogg, but the potential of the dragon, which had already fully awakened, was too much for anyone to handle.
'Do we have to retreat?'
In that case, the only way left is to retreat to the World Tree and join the main camp.
If we bring out the power of the elders along with the World Tree, there may be a way.
"No. This must end here."
However, it's absurd to fight while using the object you're supposed to protect as a shield.
Even now, hanging from the branches of the young World Tree were young spirits who were not yet ready to flap their wings.
He couldn't put those children first.
"We must do it."
The eyes of Nidhogg and Varadis, growling in front of him, met.
His own arrow still hangs in one of Nidhogg's eyes.
It wasn't over because it was shallow, but the existence of the arrows still bothering Nidhogg clearly showed that there was a possibility.
"Make a hole just one more time."
If the arrow is shallow, you can shoot closer.
And Varadis was a person willing to intervene with any malicious intent.
"This time, I'll definitely pierce your brain."
After completing his preparation, a small understanding began to appear in Varadis's eyes.
The magical eye that only a small number of elves could possess burned within his eyes.
Varadis of Ausurin.
His world, heated by anger, was building up as clearly as Nidhogg's.
***
"Please, help me… please, help me."
The girl, trembling as if having a fit, murmured helplessly while clutching onto Vlad's sleeve.
"The dragon is coming…"
Although the girl's voice was weak, her grip on Vlad was so strong it turned white.
The priestess of the World Tree, or rather the young World Tree itself, desperately wanted the knight in front of her.
Because the World Tree, which could see the outcomes beyond the process, knew that only Vlad could protect it.
"This means that now…"
"It's a revelation."
A trembling voice was heard from the elf escort who had never spoken before.
The priestess is the passage that connects the World Tree and the elves.
The revelation of a divine tree that could see beyond mortal limitations was something that should never be ignored.
"…The dragon is coming."
The World Tree and the priestess observed from the beginning.
A threat in the future, eyes of a dragon filled with malice.
"…The dragon came."
That's why the elves could prepare in advance.
They were vigilant around them, discarded suspicious elements, and established strategies.
Therefore, Varadis and the elves could now confront Nidhogg with their own preparations.
"But the dragon is still watching."
The dragon comes.
The dragon sees.
The World Tree and the priestess read everything they could about the future, but they were still young and inexperienced.
That's why they didn't realize.
That there wasn't just a pair of eyes looking at the World Tree.
"Ahhh!"
At that moment, a terrible roar echoed throughout the realm.
The roar of a dragon was heard
Resonating from the other side of the barrier erected by the elves.
"…Shit."
Vlad's face began to harden after hearing the fierce roar.
Now, anyone could notice it even if it wasn't a revelation.
"Grrrraaaarrr!"
The elf village that had barely taken root began to collapse from the border with a loud noise.
It was another Nidhogg.
"Help… please."
A single tear ran down the girl's cheek.
The girl's fingers desperately clinging to his sleeves were pitiful.
"…"
Vlad, seeing the girl's tears from the corner of his eye, unconsciously turned to August.
What should I do at times like this?
"What will you do now?"
However, the person in front of him was neither Joseph nor Jager.
There's no lord or elder knight now. There's only one person who can give instructions to Vlad at this moment.
"It's up to you."
Only you.
The owner of the knight called Vlad was just Vlad.
"…That's right."
The white moonlight shining through the window illuminated Vlad.
There was a small message written on one of Vlad's breasts where the moonlight remained.
Vlad raised his finger and gently wiped away the girl's tears.
On his chest, where the moonlight pointed, there was an honorable phrase written by Saint Rogino.
"I am Vlad of Soara. I will accept the priestess's request."
Vlad of Soara.
A knight who protected and saved the lives of children.
Vlad's now empty pommel gleamed in the moonlight.
***
"Ahhh!"
"It's a dragon! Run away!"
"Everyone flee!"
The huge and agile dragon ran through the elf houses as if they were rubble.
There were rangers shooting arrows from all sides, but to Nidhogg, their attacks didn't even bother him.
To reach the sharpest dragon, a sword with a deeper understanding was needed.
"Why are you following me?"
"Of course it's for my heart."
Two knights chasing after Nidhogg.
Vlad and August pursued Nidhogg, leaping over buildings.
"The elves are enemies of the empire."
"Where is the enemy and where are the allies? In this world, there are only problems and solutions."
Preventing the distribution of absilon.
This prevents drugs from being released into the empire.
August decided to join Vlad solely to achieve that goal.
"After doing them the favor, I plan to ask them to only distribute tea to the elves. You can pay for your shameful mistakes later."
Rather than blaming someone, the priority would be to plug the hole in the dam that is bursting.
The empire was in such a weakened state that it couldn't let out its justifiable anger.
'Where are you?'
The eyes of the former commander of the Imperial Guard as he looked at Nidhogg began to glow blue.
It was a technique that only August, who had been able to distinguish between truth and lies throughout his life, could use.
"What are you doing?"
"…Searching for weaknesses."
Everyone has a part of themselves they want to hide.
A weak part of yourself, a secret you don't want to reveal, a fatal weakness that once stabbed you can never stand up again.
That's why people hide their weaknesses with lies and coercion.
Like Nidhogg now.
'Toe… The inside of the membrane.'
The scales are tough and the erect spines are fierce.
The horn on its forehead was sharp enough to pierce through anything, but Nidhogg wasn't satisfied with just that.
"The armpit area within the skin seems to be the weak point. Attack there."
The eastern dragon, which had not given up its desire to soar into the sky, still retained traces on its wings.
The layer of dirty, sticky blood, glued by stubbornness and pride, was precisely Nidhogg's weakness.
The aura in August's eyes said so.
Ahhh!
Ahhh!
At that moment, Nidhogg's advance was blocked with a loud noise.
Buildings collapsed and rocks from the ground were pushed.
Suddenly, a huge magic circle appeared that blocked Nidhogg's advance.
"It's magic!"
After hearing August's words, Vlad quickly turned his head towards the World Tree.
Although I couldn't see it in detail, I could see several elves gathered in front of the World Tree.
They were the elder elves.
"Excellent. Let's take advantage of this opportunity…"
Ahhh!
The magic circle created by the elders was clearly designed using noble techniques.
However, Nidhogg has already become an adult.
Dragons that fell short of perfection were beings that were not deceived by magic that deceived the world.
"What kind of bastard…"
Nidhogg begins to bite the magic circle as if it were a piece of meat.
The magic circle was being torn apart by the dragon's fierce teeth.
"Damn it!"
Magic circles breaking in the sky.
Vlad gritted his teeth as he watched the remnants of the magic circle fall like shards of glass.
'…Is this a dragon?'
The young worm of death that had not yet reached adulthood.
Lindworm, which he discovered was a dragon late.
Vlad had faced two dragons before, but the Nidhogg in front of him was completely different from those guys.
Have the Dragon Slayer Knights really faced dragons like this?
Ahhh!
1st, 2nd, 3rd.
The magic circles that appeared each time they broke must have been created by squeezing the energy of the elders.
However, the newly created magic circles became weaker and weaker, and the amount of spells flying around continued to decrease.
An opponent against whom magic cannot do anything.
The elves' decision to intercept the dragon from the outside before it entered, hoping to find some way out if there were warriors, was now proving to be a fatal mistake.
"Vlad! Run!"
"Damn it!"
The huge body finally reached the World Tree.
Old Geronimo tried to stop Nidhogg with his arms outstretched to the end, but his old body could no longer express his will clearly.
Dark red blood that couldn't swallow flowed from the corner of his mouth.
Ahhh!
A fierce predator breaking through all obstacles.
Finally, Nidhogg's claws crushed the young World Tree.
—–!
The branches swayed wildly under the moonlight.
The girl's body bounced painfully away.
Both the young tree and the priestess trembled in fear at the greed emanating from the dragon's claws.
The sound of destruction was breathing right next to me.
"I'll lure it!"
"It's okay!"
Young spirits at the end of the World Tree.
As Nidhogg's gaze focused there for a moment, Vlad and August quickly ran to both sides.
"Hmph!"
August manifested his own world with his left eye closed.
The bright dawn began to form from his sword.
August, former commander of the Imperial Guard.
His light was the dawn that revealed lies.
"It's here!"
No matter how much you identify a weakness, it's meaningless unless you expose it.
The sudden appearance of August made Nidhogg's mouth, which was about to climb the tree, quickly cover with his arm.
"This guy is really ugly."
August's eyes grew more intense as he faced the fierce breath.
Still, if you're catching this guy's attention, Vlad on the other side will definitely see a gap.
"What?"
However, Nidhogg did not attempt to deal with August.
He simply threw sharp thorns and tried to climb hastily.
A rain full of poison began to fall on the old knight's head.
"Damn it!"
Vlad, running from the other side, quickly closed his left eye when he saw August fall in the distance.
If possible, he wanted to seize the perfect opportunity, but circumstances didn't allow it.
"Before that guy climbs…"
Since there was no time, he couldn't drag himself into the deep world.
However, Vlad clearly captured the remnants of his voice.
A white beam began to form in Vlad's closed left eye.
"You bastard!"
Nidhogg is about to climb the World Tree and climb.
On the tips of the black-tone claws were trembling young spirits.
The dragon eats possibilities.
To become more perfect.
And the newly born young spirits were clearly full of potential that dragons could covet.
"I'm here! Bastard!"
Vlad, realizing Nidhogg's intention, began to climb the World Tree quickly and without hesitation.
A lightning bolt struck from the ground and pierced Nidhogg's side.
Quick, cunning, and more fierce than anyone.
"Done!"
Perfect synchronization that made even August, who was rolling on the ground, clench his fists.
Vlad's outstretched sword towards the weak point did not waver in the slightest.
"…!"
However, Nidhogg's movements were agile enough to exceed everyone's expectations.
Vlad's world moved me more sensitively than any other world.
I like that. Recognized.
"Aaaaah!"
A dark shadow crossed Vlad's gaze.
It was Nidhogg's tail, full of poison.
"Puff!"
The sound of something breaking.
There were many pieces flying from under the World Tree, accompanied by someone's screams.
They were pieces like broken starlight.
***
The deepest part of the World Tree.
Within the warm roots where the source lies.
There was a silver knight kneeling alone with his head bowed.
······.
There's no ego, but there's will.
The silver blade sharpened its edge in response to the unpleasant sensation felt outside.
One is the greedy dragon from the east.
The other is a young dragon that brought the cold wind from the north.
However, it wasn't easy to judge the silver sword.
The young dragon that brought the cold wind with him definitely felt an energy that was not unfamiliar to him.
That energy was clearly a remnant of someone who had been with him.
······.
I am a talisman that protects the World Tree, but originally, I am a sword.
Only when the sword is dried can its true form be revealed.
Then you will come to me.
Because you might choose me.
The silver sword that was under the moonlight lifted its head.
A young dragon embracing the starlight was silently being called across the worlds that intersect.
The moonlight tonight was blue.
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