Chapter Fifteen: A Forbidden Flicker
“What the—” We hadn’t reached the point of striking a finishing blow yet, and the low-altitude Phoenix had just been healing itself. So who was doing something so stupid?!
I looked into the direction the light had flown from. It was far behind us, a totally different direction from where the coalition army was set up.
So what the hell was it?! Was it some kind of hidden Phoenix attack? Or maybe . . . But no, it wasn’t the time to worry about that now.
The high-altitude Phoenix gave a fading shriek and then turned into a flickering fire-mist in the sky, as though burning away, leaving only feathers behind.
I confirmed the falling scattering of feathers. Okay, this was bad. Real bad.
Our forces casting magic from the rear had just completed large-scale ritual magic. Even though we now knew the low-altitude Phoenix was weak to magic, we couldn’t unleash any on it right now.
Finally snapping back from our surprise, we turned our attention to the low-altitude Phoenix.
With a feeble, dull shriek, the low-altitude Phoenix completely stopped moving.
And then . . . a horrible, unsettling sound rang out.
A little at a time, the Phoenix was starting to swell up. At the same time —as though making a clear declaration that this was the self-destruct—the halo on its back turned into an enclosing sphere that started to protect the Phoenix.
Its wounds also looked to be healing incredibly quickly now, like the vitality of the pair of them was now infused into just one.
Magic and heat started to compress into the Phoenix.
“Attack Support! Everyone, throw everything you’ve got at it! Quickly! We need to take this down as quickly as we can!” I shouted. There was no time to try and evacuate the area. Every second I could see the Phoenix swelling larger and larger.
If we couldn’t kill it before this death balloon popped, a massive-scale self-destruct attack was going to be triggered.
“I’ll cast the debuff magic again! Liberation Down!” Itsuki carefully assessed the situation and cast the status-reducing magic again. That was a big help!
“I’m on it! Shooting Star Sword! Gravity Sword! Hundred Sword!” Ren slashed and sliced.
“Hear me roar, I say! Shooting Star Spear! Brionac! Air Strike Javelin! Second Javelin!” Motoyasu got in on the action.
“As quickly as possible! Shooting Star Bow! Bird Hunting! Spread Arrow!” Itsuki launched his own barrage, all of the other heroes firing off everything they had one after the other.
“Air Strike Throw! Second Throw! Dritte Throw! Tornado Throw!” said Rishia.
“Eight Trigrams Blade of Destiny Successive Strikes! First Formation! Section Formation! Third Formation!” Raphtalia piled on too.
“Tiger Break!” In went Fohl.
“Spiral Strike! Haikuikku!” Filo raged.
“Master Naofumi!” Atla hastened me on even as she struck at the Phoenix herself.
“Quickly—Scissor Blaze!” S’yne split up her scissors into two separate blades and sliced into the Phoenix as though she was dancing in the air.
Gaelion, now full-sized, also understood the situation. Incanting magic, he unleashed his breath toward the Phoenix!
“High Wing Slash!” With the cooperation of Wyndia, he immediately unleashed blades of wind that caused a tornado that swallowed the Phoenix. We actually lost sight of it! While that was happening, I directed life force at our foe, using Wall and Air Strike Shield to prevent it from escaping from the attacks.
“Everyone, you finished?” I asked.
“A-as best I can,” Raphtalia managed. The entire team had unleashed an exhaustive barrage of attacks. Finally, the dust settled from all of that firepower . . . and the Phoenix appeared, still swelling larger, almost reaching its limit.
This damn bird! Was there no way to finish this thing off?!
I checked whether the energy blast inside the Spirit Tortoise Heart Shield could be unleashed, but it wasn’t even operating. No chance of firing it now.
I stood in front of them all, ready to take the self-destruct on myself to protect them. I then activated the Gather technique created from life force.
If we took this self-destruct attack full-on, there was no chance of anyone surviving it apart from me. The heroes might be able to withstand it, but there was the coalition army and all of the slaves here too.
I couldn’t give up.
In the place where the Phoenix had been, there was a concentrated ball of fire, blazing like a miniature sun. It looked ready to rip apart at any moment, unleashing fires of annihilation to burn away the entire surrounding area. In that moment, far away . . . even in Melromarc, the fire that rose into the sky was visible.
In an instant, the light from the halo passed through all of our bodies. I checked my status to see a resistance down icon . . . Damn this thing! Just how badly did it want to kill us?!
At ground zero of the Phoenix explosion, I defended Raphtalia, of course, and then the heroes, the slaves, and the entire coalition army, from flames trying to decimate the entire vicinity.
I gave a defiant scream, taking one step and then another forward, pushing back the flames. In every direction other than the one I was defending, the flames rose higher, scorching the very ground black.
Gah . . . I could feel the blazing flames creeping through the defenses of my shield. The enhancements on this shield were pretty heavy, and it was still coming through. Just how strong was this attack?!
The only thing I could think of was to use the preparatory time for the self-destruct attack to escape. Should we have done that?
But no. The range was so wide there’d be no escape from this.
The feeling in my fingertips had surpassed simple burns and I was feeling almost nothing at all now.
My instincts whispered to me. If the fire did break through, everyone behind me was going to be turned to ash. The fire unleashed by the Phoenix was trying to burn through me and kill everyone. I was holding it back, barely, but it also felt like I didn’t have five seconds of this left.
Just how long did I have to hold this for?
I’d already deployed Shooting Star Shield, and it had been destroyed instantly.
Reflect-type shields would be meaningless, and I already had Air Strike Shield and Second Shield deployed. I had a multilayer Float Shield deployed, but it was barely holding.
What the hell could I do?
“Drifa Resist Fire!” Someone was backing me up from behind . . . Ren? He sent me some magic to increase fire resistance. Motoyasu was more skilled at fire magic, but as it was the Way of the Dragon Vein, it meant Ren could also use it. He wasn’t using Liberation in order to cut down on enchanting time.
It was a wise move too. It did feel like I was taking slightly less damage . . . but it was also just water on a hot stone.
I roared again, in anger and frustration. Raphtalia stood to support me, putting her hands forward and joining with my Wall and Gather.
We’d been training together, so Raphtalia could somewhat make use of them, but even then, this was going to be difficult.
However, there was still an approach we could make.
If Atla, S’yne, Raphtalia, and I all combined our strength, we might be able to direct the attack away in a safe direction.
However, almost as though reading my mind, the Phoenix increased the output of its flames, as though to say everything so far had just been a prelude. An intensely increased burst of fire attempted to burn me to ash.
Fire leaked in through a gap in my shield and burned my shoulder.
No matter how many of us teamed up, we were not going to redirect that anywhere. The fire was so intense, so pure, I couldn’t be sure if throwing all the energy and life force I possessed at it right now would even be enough to stop it, even if I didn’t care what might happen afterward.
“Mr. Naofumi!” Raphtalia called to me.
“Naofumi!” Ren and the others joined in. I could only grunt in return. Some of them were using healing or support magic on me, for which I was grateful for their efforts in such a short time.
However, even then, it wasn’t going to be enough to withstand this ultimate final attack from the Phoenix.
I grunted in effort, desperately trying to keep my shield-holding arm from being pushed upward. I was being buffeted by winds strong enough to blow me away at any moment. My limbs had been burnt and were about to turn to ash. The status magic HP hovering in my field of vision was slipping into the danger zone. This slow roast was about to turn into blazing BBQ.
I was pretty amazed that the Seven Star Hero from the past managed to survive against this monstrous attack. The range of the attack looked far larger than shown on the wall. I guess we had the enhanced Phoenix to thank for that.
Damn . . . a few more seconds and I really was going to be blown away.
No. There was one method. If I used it, I could save everyone’s lives— but it was definitely going to kill me.
If I didn’t use it though, then I would die anyway and take everyone else with me.
“Like I have a choice!” In the same moment that I shouted, a girl appeared at my side.
“It’s okay. For everyone . . . I want to realize your wish, Master Naofumi,” the girl said.
“Wh—?!” Both the girl’s brother and I were at a loss for words. The girl gave a curt nod and then placed her hands in front of her and jumped forward.
It only took a split-second. But from the point of view of an observer, time seemed to slow down. My heart ached so intensely. I thrust my hand futilely forward.
This was my job. My role. If I didn’t do this, someone other than me was going to pay the price.
If I did this, maybe I could survive it. If anyone else did it, they seriously weren’t going to.
That was the absolute power that we faced in these flames.
My hand didn’t reach Atla, however. She released all of her life energy, using Gather to direct the fire entirely at herself. Then she used Wall to determine its direction, pointing it away from the people nearby.
The sparkle of her energy was multiple times greater than the amount I had been preparing to release myself.
“Atla!” At my cry, the girl gave a gentle smile. Sweat was pouring from her forehead . . . The flesh on her hands was burning away, and yet she remained determined, using her life force to change the fire’s direction . . . and the fire obeyed that incredible force of will.
There followed an explosion loud enough to burst eardrums and a flash too bright to avoid closing your eyes.
I couldn’t see anything through the smoke. Spluttering, I shouted Atla’s name, waving my hands around to try and clear the air. Then I turned back and asked, “Everyone! Are you okay?”
The smoke cleared, and I saw them all, looking exhausted. While the direction of the fire had been changed, some of it had still gone through and caused serious damage to the coalition army.
Rather than that though, I was now focused on Atla.
I searched for the girl who had stepped in front of me—my own focus so caught up in the flames—and literally bent that fire to her will.
Then I happened to look up into the sky. I saw something. It looked like a piece of burnt trash coming down toward me.
I put out my arms and caught it.
“Ah . . .” It felt both heavy and yet incredibly light . . . this strange burnt thing . . . It took me a few moments to realize . . . My God.
It was Atla.
“Atla!” Fohl dashed over. In the same moment, with another piercing shriek, the shapes of two massive birds appeared again in the sky.
“Naofumi! Fall back, quickly!” Ren shouted at me. I was still stunned.
“Ah . . . but . . . but if I retreat . . .” I could barely talk. Ren pointed at the enhanced Phoenix.
“They don’t have those halos on their backs anymore. It looks like, immediately after reviving, the Phoenixes aren’t at full strength. We’ve got some prep time,” Ren explained. The Phoenixes’ movements did look stiff. We had some recovery time then.
“You can’t fight at the moment! At least get yourself healed! And . . . you need to get her treated, right away! We’ve got others who have been hurt too. We need you, the best among us at healing and curing, to help everyone get back on their feet!” Ren shouted. I couldn’t form the words to reply. What should I do? What should I be doing? “Hurry up! We can handle things here!”
“O-okay,” I finally managed.
“Raphtalia! Take Naofumi and Atla and get back from here! Fohl, you go too!” Ren said.
“O-okay! Filo!” Raphtalia replied, quite stunned.
“I’m here!” Filo responded. My own head was pure white inside, and following Ren’s angry orders, I allowed myself to be taken away.
I tried to speak, but nothing came out.
Atla was close to death, mortally wounded. It wasn’t just her legs that had been turned to ash. Almost her entire lower body had been burnt. It was a miracle that she was even still alive.
But she was. She was breathing, barely, as I laid her down in a tent set up at the rear of the army. Then the healers there and I all started to try and heal all the terrible injuries our forces had suffered.
The most terrible of all was Atla.
The others . . . It looked like the focus had been on bringing in those who were still alive.
My head was still white inside. I reflected on the things I had heard.
“Atla! Hang in there!” Fohl shouted to her desperately, clinging to the hand that Atla had left as she lay on the cot.
Atla was whispering something to Fohl, barely able to talk.
I needed to pull myself together. Right now, I had to focus on curing her injuries—curing everyone’s injuries. As many as possible, from among those who could be saved. That was what a hero did. That was what the Shield Hero should do.
I was better than anyone else in this entire world at defense, support, and healing, after all. Those were my things, for what it was worth.
And yet I couldn’t concentrate.
And yet . . . I couldn’t let everyone die—let Atla die.
Desperately forcing myself to focus, I concentrated my awareness and cast some high-level healing magic.
“Liberation Heal!” The healing magic flew toward Atla. But . . . that healing light failed to restore her missing pieces.
“What? What’s gone wrong?!” Healing magic could cure anything, right?
Now that I thought about it, the healing magic cast on me while we fell back had healed my wounds, but Atla had not been affected at all.
What did this mean? Did it mean that she was healing but her wounds were just far too bad?
She had unleashed all of her life energy, not worrying about any limitations.
Should we just be grateful that she was even still alive after such a feat?!
I took out an Elixir of Yggdrasil from my shield and had Atla take some. It worked even when just applied to the skin. If drunk, it could bring someone near death fully back to life. Using this in combination with everything else should definitely cure her. Some life force water should also replenish the energy she had expended when unleashing all of her life force!
And yet . . .
“Why isn’t it working?” I shouted. There was no sign of Atla’s injuries being cured. My tone was almost accusatory, brimming with frustration, as I questioned the healer. “Why isn’t she getting better?!”
“She is simply beyond the range of injuries that can be cure—that can be healed.” Rat appeared, muttering this quietly.
“What . . . what do you mean?” I was unable to process her words.
“It’s an absolute miracle that Atla is even alive right now. The work of the healers, and your magic and medicines, Count, are just barely managing to keep her alive. There’s nothing more—” But Rat trailed off, not wanting to have to complete that sentence.
“Rat, can’t you save Atla?” Raphtalia asked.
“Yes, you must be able to do something!” I jumped in. “Anything! If you use all those devices in your lab, surely you can at least prolong her life a little? Right?!”
“Monsters and demi-humans are different. If I use homunculus technology I may be able to restore her arm and both legs perhaps, but her internal organs have been burnt too. There are some things that alchemy just can’t do,” Rat sadly explained.
“I can’t believe this . . .” Raphtalia lamented.
“I don’t have the materials. Even if I did, I couldn’t save her. There’s not enough time. I’ve heard talk of forbidden ancient magic that allows for the transfer of souls, but that’s not something I can just do right now,” Rat continued.
“This can’t be the end!” I couldn’t believe it! There had to be a way somewhere. There had to be a way to save Atla! Somewhere, somewhere right now, there had to be a shield that could save her, even in this state. “Shield Hero?” Hah! What the hell was I shielding if I couldn’t even save a single girl?
“Master . . . Naofumi.” Atla spoke to me. “Did I . . . defend everyone?”
“Yes. We need to worry about—”
“Brother . . . bring Master Naofumi closer to me . . .” she asked.
“Okay.” Fohl pushed me roughly up to his sister.
“I understand the situation. There is . . . little time remaining,” Atla said.
“What are you talking about? You’ve got all the time in the world,” I replied. That only made her shake her head, however.
“Master Naofumi. It’s fine. No need to concern yourself,” Atla managed.
“Of course I’m going to concern myself!” I replied. Of course, of course! The problem was that I’d only used one Elixir of Yggdrasil. If I used more of it, we’d surely be able to keep her alive.
I’d only had two in reserve, but a few more should do it. Surely. I called over the healer and told him to bring more Elixir of Yggdrasil.
“Enough, Count! Like I already said, she’s beyond the limits of what we can do!” Rat entreated.
“We won’t know unless we try!” I countered.
“I’m saying this because I do know!” Rat came back. I ignored her and administered the second elixir to Atla.
First, I applied some to her wounds . . . but as I touched her, I realized something. The ash wasn’t coming off the places that were burnt.
“I’m sorry, Atla!” I apologized. Then I took a healing knife, cut the burnt part, and applied the medicine.
There was still no sign of it regenerating. Atla’s breathing remained ragged, as though she could barely draw breath. She still managed to touch my hand with her own remaining one.
“Please . . . stop this,” she begged.
“No. Never!” I retorted. She shouldn’t speak like that in front of me!
I’d never given up, no matter what happened to me. Even when someone I believed in betrayed me, when I was framed for a terrible crime, or when I’d almost been killed, I’d never given up.
So I wasn’t about to give up now! Not in the face of this!
“Master . . . Naofumi. Please, you have to understand. I can’t be saved now. I understand this . . . better than anyone. I can feel the life force draining from me . . . with every passing second,” Atla breathed.
“But . . . but—” I’d thought my eyes dry long ago, but tears fell from them now.
“Your miraculous power, Master Naofumi, is the only reason we can still talk like this . . . That’s all. Please . . . just try to calm down and listen to me,” Atla said. She took another moment to gasp for air, stroking my cheek with strength so frail it might fail at any moment.
I was simply unable to reply.
At my silence, Atla smiled and wiped my tears away—almost like a mother consoling a crying child.
“Master Naofumi. I love you more than anyone in this world. And as I’ve told you before, I want to become your shield,” Atla said.
“I know,” I replied. So that was her explanation for doing this?! If she died protecting someone, died as their shield, did she have any idea how the people she protected would feel?!
Even as I thought this, I realized what it was that Atla was trying to tell me.
Atla had done exactly what I had been trying to do: collect the attack to her with Gather and then direct it away in a different direction. I knew better than anyone what putting such a plan into action would mean.
If Atla hadn’t stepped forward . . . then I’d be where Atla was right now.
“Even so . . . this is too much,” I lamented. A pathetic, scratchy voice rasped from my throat.
“I’m . . . satisfied. You saved my life, and now I’ve used that life to protect you, Master Naofumi,” Atla explained.
“I can’t allow this. You can’t die. You can’t die protecting me!” I said. That was my job. That was what I was meant to do.
I wasn’t going to let her die. If it had been me, I might have been okay. I might have survived.
“Master Naofumi . . . I’m sorry, but . . . I don’t think I can obey that order,” she replied.
“Why not?!” I knew. I knew she was telling the truth. Yet all I could do was pray for a miracle.
Someone. Anyone. Any god who’ll listen. I vowed to pray to them.
I don’t believe in anyone, but I’ll believe in you!
I knew I was being selfish. Even if the four heroes were the gods of this world, I’d throw that all away . . . if only I could save the girl in front of me . . .
“Master Naofumi . . . please accept an act of selfishness on my part,” Atla continued.
“What? Whatever you want, I’ll make sure of it. Just don’t die on us!” I replied.
“I wished to become your shield, Master Naofumi. That wish is unchanged . . . and what’s more, I don’t want my blood or flesh, or my very soul, to return to this land,” she stated.
“What?” I said, surprised. After gripping my hand, Atla moved it to touch my shield.
“I knew I could never become your number one, Master Naofumi,” she said.
“What now—” I started.
“Yet I still wanted to be that for you. I wanted to be as close to you as possible, even if just physically,” she cut me off. I remembered Atla trying to come to see me every single night.
Atla had claimed she just wanted to be at my side.
“Even if I lose my body . . . please let me stay with you, Master Naofumi,” she asked. That question, though, incensed me.
“Stop joking around!” I knew what Atla was trying to say. But I still persistently shook my head. “Do you know what you’re saying to me?!”
“Yes . . . I’m fully aware of everything I’m saying,” Atla replied. Her expression plainly said she wasn’t joking.
I turn to look at Fohl. He was standing steady, still glaring at me.
This was where I wanted him to step in, to help. So why was he silently watching? He was clenching his fists so hard his palms were bleeding. So why wasn’t he speaking up?
“Please give me my further selfishness too,” Atla continued.
“What—” As I turned back from Fohl to Atla, she gathered all her strength and kissed me.
Kissed me on the lips.
My first kiss from a girl . . . tasted of blood.
Then Atla’s strength failed her and she collapsed.
“I’ve been wanting that for so long. Finally . . . finally I got it,” she breathed.
“What the hell are you playing at? This is hardly the time . . .” I reacted.
“Raphtalia,” Atla said.
“W-what is it?” Raphtalia replied, a little shocked herself. She had been quietly watching the exchange between Atla and me up until now.
“It seems the ongoing battle between us . . . neither side ever giving ground . . . is finally coming to an end,” Atla told her.
“Not yet! It’s going to continue . . . for a long time yet!” Raphtalia told her pleadingly.
“Hehe . . . to hear even you say that, Raphtalia, does make me a little bit happy. As I’m sure you already know, I’ve always been jealous of you, Raphtalia. I knew no matter how hard I tried, I’d never be able to become Master Naofumi’s number one,” she explained.
“Nothing is decided yet! Our fights are going to continue, Atla . . . into the future . . . on and on . . .” Raphtalia trailed off, tears streaming down her face. Atla smiled at her in response.
Then as though she finally understood everything, Atla continued.
“You are so kind, Raphtalia. I understand why Master Naofumi likes you so much. But there’s one more thing I need to say to you.”
“No need to limit it to just one! Tell me lots more things. You can even have Mr. Naofumi once, if you have to,” she pleaded.
“Raphtalia,” Atla went on, “Master Naofumi . . . likes women more than you think. He’s a regular guy. So please, look at Master Naofumi . . . a little more closely than you do now.”
“I understand. But you’ll be here with me. Don’t give up!” Raphtalia said desperately, pleadingly. But Atla’s life energy was already so weak she couldn’t even tell where anyone was anymore.
That fact spoke the cold truth about how little time she had left.
After another moment, as though finally realizing something, she muttered a few more words, seemingly to no one at all.
“Ah . . . I know what we should have done. I should have colluded with Raphtalia and we could have shared Master Naofumi between us. Why didn’t I realize such a simple thing? Thinking like this makes me . . . I want to live. I have a dream I want to achieve,” she said.
“You can live! I’m sure Mr. Naofumi can heal you!” Raphtalia said.
“I can!” I said. But Atla slowly, even more weakly, shook her head.
“Please, Master Naofumi,” she said. “I need you to realize something.”
“What? Anything!” I replied.
“I did everything I could to become your number one, Master Naofumi. But . . . I couldn’t achieve it,” she said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Master Naofumi, from the wounds you’ve suffered in the past, I’m sure you’ve just been trying not to think about this. But you need to be more self-aware. Raphtalia likes you, Master Naofumi . . . as a member of the opposite sex, just like I do,” Atla revealed.
“This isn’t the time for this!” I pleaded.
“I know . . . This is the only time you will listen, Master Naofumi. Please, believe me . . .” Then she descended into spluttering.
It was clear that Atla was weaker than before.
No! If I just used more Elixir of Yggdrasil, more Liberation Heal—
“Please . . . promise me. This is my final request, my final selfish request. Please, Master Naofumi, become aware that there are people who like you, and please . . . respond to their feelings. That’s all I ask of you,” Atla said.
“Okay! I get it! I understand, so please just stop pushing yourself so hard!” I exclaimed. Oh God! Please! Save the ones who believe in me!
I’d never prayed for a divine miracle as hard as I did in that moment.
When Witch framed me, when I was tricked and driven out, I’d never wished this hard.
“Promise . . . me. I know I’m asking a lot . . .” Atla breathed.
“Okay . . . I’ll do everything you asked . . .” I responded.
“Hehe . . . having you treasure me like this, Master Naofumi . . . I’m so . . . happy . . .” For a moment I thought she had more to say, but her words cut off.
“At . . . la?” I desperately tried to keep my awareness together, but with a gentle smile on her face, Atla had finally stopped moving.
“Atla!” Raphtalia wept.
“Atla!” I shouted . . . but what remained of the girl, lying there on her cot, could never answer me again.
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