Rafgal City, Southern Border of the Scathlan Kingdom, Northern Continent.
Along with the sound of explosions and the rumbling of my 'Varja' magic, the entire battlefield fell into silence for a moment—in fear... and awe.
For me, this marked the end of the man who had slaughtered and destroyed my kingdom. I had finally avenged them all. Though this was only the beginning.
A faint sense of relief filled my heart, which had long been consumed by pain and anguish.
Without realizing it, a small smile slowly formed on my lips. Even as my body collapsed to the ground, kneeling in exhaustion.
At this moment, everything felt so heavy. As if all my strength had dissipated along with the explosion of 'Varja' magic I had cast upon Dragnel.
Yes, this was only natural.
Because right now, I had lost almost all the mana within me. 'Varja' was my strongest magic, with an equally great risk.
The amount of mana required to cast 'Varja' was extraordinarily vast. If an ordinary mage ranked A or below were to use it, their mana core would shatter due to the immense burden of mana required for this devastating spell—what is commonly known as Over-Mana.
But I am an Elf, a race blessed by mana. So a magic as powerful as 'Varja' was still within my grasp. Yet, the consequences were as they are now—my body kneeling, powerless from the near-total depletion of my mana.
But all my exhaustion… all my pain… had been completely repaid. Because I had annihilated the vile Demon who had taken my father's life.
That was enough!
Even in my current state, not a single Demon soldier around me dared to attack. They all trembled as they gazed at me, petrified!
Of course, they had just witnessed an overwhelming magic descend from the sky, shaking the battlefield with tremendous force. Slowly, the black clouds in the sky began to dissipate, and rays of sunlight pierced through the gaps.
And gradually, the sky above me brightened once more. The sunlight shone beautifully. Wait… was the sunlight always this beautiful?
Perhaps because the wounds and anguish in my heart had been slightly soothed, making me feel more sentimental than usual.
Yes… perhaps that was why!
But then…
"Wahahahahaha!"
A sudden burst of laughter shattered my peace.
And there, at the very spot where 'Varja' had struck, a man stood with his ruined body. His flesh charred black, scorched by the raging flames. Nearly the entire left side of his body—from his shoulder, arm, down to his waist—had been completely obliterated. Yet the man rose… laughing… standing tall.
Why… why is he still alive?!
Dragnel… Dragnel…
"Dragnel!"
I screamed at the top of my lungs, calling the name of that terrifying man. Pouring out all my anger… all my despair.
Why… why?
What went wrong? Where did I make a mistake? What was lacking? Why… why did this happen? Why is that man still alive?
"Dragnel… Dragnel… Dragnel…"
My lips kept murmuring his name over and over again. My gaze dropped to the ground, drowning in despair. My hands clenched the dirt beneath me in frustration. And slowly, tears began to well up in my eyes.
Then, my body was once again consumed by pain…
By suffocation…
And despair.
"This is incredible! Astounding! You almost killed me, Miss Elf!"
Dragnel shouted loudly.
Then, the man started walking slowly toward me, his destroyed body gradually regenerating. The missing parts of his body began to form again, down to his hand. The blackened burns on his skin completely vanished.
He kept moving toward me.
"Why? Why do you have that look on your face, Miss Elf?"
No… this isn't over yet!
My fingers could still move, my mouth could still shout.
Slowly, I forced my exhausted body to stand. Yes… I could still stand. I could still grip my magic staff, 'Indurtha,' with both hands.
This isn't over yet!
"To be honest, if you weren't an Elemental Mage… If my body weren't that of a Demon Lord… And if I were still human like before, I would have undoubtedly died from your incredible magic, Miss Elf! Be proud, for you almost killed me. You almost killed Dragnel Ravenger, the Dragon of Destruction!"
He spoke with a smug grin aimed directly at me.
Trembling, I raised my right hand—clutching my staff, 'Indurtha'—forward. I glared at the man in front of me with my sore, stinging eyes. Eyes stung by the weight of anguish and despair.
My body felt so weak. If my legs failed to properly support me, I would surely collapse and kneel upon the ground. Even just gripping my staff, 'Indurtha,' my fingers were already shaking from exhaustion.
But this isn't over yet. That man is still standing before me, walking toward me with that disgusting grin on his face.
Dragnel's expression seemed slightly disturbed and curious as he looked at me. Then, as he continued stepping closer, he spoke again.
"To be honest, I'm confused! Why are you so stubborn and relentless? Look at yourself…"
Dragnel pointed his left index finger at me.
"Even your legs are trembling and wobbling just to keep you standing. And… you're still staring at me like that? Wait…"
He looked at me while stroking his chin, as if trying to recall something.
"You… could it be that you are the daughter of that old king of Nefetari? The beautiful girl he cast away with his teleportation magic?"
All the blood in my body felt like it was boiling when he said that to me.
"Stop your nonsense, you vile Demon! And never utter my father's name with your filthy mouth!"
"Ah… so it's true! So you are the beautiful girl saved by that old man!"
"Watch your words, you filthy Demon!"
Without realizing it, I staggered forward, swinging my staff, 'Indurtha,' toward Dragnel. But he easily swatted my body away with his left hand.
My body was sent flying through the air and crashed hard onto the ground, rolling violently. My staff slipped from my grip, thrown somewhere out of reach. I gasped, clutching my chest in pain from Dragnel's strike.
"This is ridiculous! Can you stop your foolish behavior, Miss Elf? And..."
For a moment, there was a pause in Dragnel's voice. I had no idea what he was doing, as I was currently lying face down on the ground, choking and clutching my chest.
"...you all, stop standing around! Go to the front and help my Dragon-Rider troops wipe out the Scathlan forces over there!"
"Yes, Dragnel-sama!"
It seemed he was ordering the Demon troops to advance—the same troops I had previously managed to halt.
"Alright, Miss Elf! I think it's time for you to surrender. I'm also not interested in killing a woman as beautiful as you. How about becoming my woman instead? I'll protect you, taking the place of that weak old man. Isn't that an appealing offer?"
Disgusting... This man is disgusting! This demon is utterly repulsive!
How... how could he say such things to a woman whose father he had murdered?!
He is vile... filthy... and revolting!
"O mediocris ventus, da mihi praesidium venti, et arma hostium destrue coram me."
(O gentle wind spirits, grant me the protection of the wind. And destroy the weapons of the enemy before me.)
Hearing such vile words, I began chanting my spell.
I no longer cared what would happen to my body. Even if it were to be destroyed, I would kill this wretched being! This despicable man!
"Ventus Gladius!"
(Wind Blade!)
I shouted, casting my final magic in a fit of rage. Every nerve in my body tensed.
As I unleashed my 'Wind Blades,' the skin on both my hands turned red, as if my flesh were burning from within.
I forcefully expelled all the mana in my body.
Dragnel, startled by my attack, leaped backward while deflecting dozens of wind blades that aimed to pierce him.
I no longer cared about the burning sensation consuming my entire body. Immediately after, I rose to my feet, gripping one of my 'Wind Blades' and lunged at Dragnel.
I will kill him...
I will definitely kill him!
I continued slashing at him with the blade in my hand and launching magic attacks. I ran, leaped, and lunged again and again. Blood continued to flow from my mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.
My entire body was on the verge of exploding—consumed by fury and despair.
But fate is the cruelest book ever written.
Even though I burned my entire body.
Even though I had shattered myself.
Not a single one of my blades touched Dragnel.
Not a single spell left a mark on his skin.
At last, my body collapsed, powerless, onto the ground—beneath the feet of that vile man. Covered in blood, wounds, and the unbearable heat of Over-Mana.
And before me, Dragnel stood menacingly, raising his sword high above his head.
"This is truly unfortunate!"
At the final words that escaped his lips, his sword, Excidum, began to descend toward me.
Father... Mother... Lucia... forgive me for failing to avenge all of you.
It seems... I will be joining you soon.
***
"The Demon General has risen again. What about Aella-sama's condition?! I hope Aella-sama is alright. I want to help her, but this black dragon is too strong! I hope Princess Estelle will come to save Aella-sama!"
The next episode is titled 'Light from the Heavens'. Don't forget to follow the story! Thank you!"
- Raskal