The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody - Volume 6 - Chapter 81

CHAPTER 81

The Ex–Demon Lord’s Friends, Plunging to Their Demise

Live on any planet for a decade or two and just about anyone will have a worst nightmare.

Ireena’s was right in front of her.

“Just so we’re clear, I’m not here to capture you this time. I’m planning to kill you all. I wonder what Ard’s face will look like when he finds your mutilated bodies. Can’t wait,” chirped the beautiful woman with a smile.

Unlike her sweet exterior, her insides were rotten to the core.

The Frenzied King of Dragons, Elzard. A mythical monster, and the legendary dragon who had once brought the world to the brink of destruction. Ireena knew of her power with all her body and soul. Ginny, too.

“…I remember our encounter several months ago. The circumstances were similar.”

Ginny had confronted Elzard, just before Ireena was kidnapped. She had cast her magic on the dragon, but it had all been for naught… She’d never felt so powerless before.

For Ireena and Ginny, Elzard was a formidable foe who had changed their lives for the worse.

…Sylphy alone managed to remain calm. She slung her golden Holy Sword over her shoulder.

“If you’re called the Frenzied King of Dragons, I guess you must be a part of the dragons. You must’ve beat a lot of enemies in your day. This oughtta be fun.”

Sylphy disappeared. That was how it appeared to Ireena and Ginny anyway.

Her red hair whipping, she closed in on the enemy—

“Raaah!” And she cut diagonally across the shoulder, aiming for Elzard’s vital organs with quiet ferocity. Her attack had been so fast, a normal person would have died on the spot.

It was apparently harmless against Elzard, however. She raised her right hand to halt Sylphy’s attack. There was a blast. A shock wave rippled through air, sending bits of the throne room’s ornamentation flying into the walls.

“…Hmm. This isn’t your average sword,” Elzard remarked. A red droplet trickled down her right arm that had taken the blow. “I think I remember hearing that Ard has soldiers from ancient times. I couldn’t care less, so I almost forgot about that detail… I guess, you’re one of ’em, huh?”

“You betcha! I’m the Raging Champion, Sylphy Marheaven! Remember that name when you go to hell!” Sylphy unleashed a whirlwind of attacks. Elzard’s eyes widened slightly in surprise as she took in this violent fury.

“I see. It seems you’re more than just a kid calling yourself a Champion. A distinct blade and skills to match—I guess you’re the real Sylphy Marheaven. I heard all sorts of anecdotes from the last two generations. You charged into our den of dragons all by yourself and slew over a thousand of my kindred. To think I’d get to meet you in person.”

Sylphy continued her attacks…which were growing more powerful by the second.

“…Dealing with a Champion and her Holy Sword is going to be annoying. No wonder your name went down in the myths.”

Elzard’s arms took the hit from Demise-Argis, which tore through her skin. Her recovery spells couldn’t keep up. Each time she healed her wounds, deeper lacerations took their place. Blood sprayed. From an outsider’s perspective, there was no question that Elzard was on the defense.

Ireena and Ginny were sweating.

“She’s always so stupid that I forget, but…!”

“Miss Sylphy is extraordinary…!”

Her sweet features and affable personality made it easy to overlook, but Sylphy Marheaven was the legendary figure known as the “Raging Champion.” Like the Demon Lord and Heavenly Kings, she was deified and worshipped across the land. Even though she was an idiot who caused trouble wherever she went…it was easy to see why she was a legend now.

Incredible strength, a larger-than-life personality, battle-experienced from a young age. She was the wielder of the Holy Sword Demise-Argis that once belonged to an Evil God. You couldn’t describe her as anything but a hero straight out of myth.

The problem was…her foe was a legend among legends. It was clear even Sylphy didn’t have what it took to finish Elzard on her own. Ireena and Ginny looked at one another.

“The least we can do is—!” Ireena started.

“—support Miss Sylphy…!” Ginny finished.

Suppressing their fear, the two nodded to each other and called for the magic equipment Ard had made and gifted to them. Two sets of different items appeared from the other world.

Each had a spear in hand; the tip of Ginny’s was crimson, while Ireena’s was an azure blue. Matching leg armor snapped on their thighs. Their weapons allowed them to unleash specialized attacks, and their armor kept their physical abilities at a heightened level. With these, they’d be able to hold their own against ancient warriors.

“We’re coming, Sylphy!”

“We’ll give you an opening! Use that moment to strike!”

The Raging Champion had inspired the two girls. As long as they had Sylphy, everything would work out somehow, even though they felt powerless on their own.

Hope dispelled their fears and equipped them with the courage to fight. And so, Ireena and Ginny wielded their spears and charged forward like heroes.

As Sylphy continued with her stormy barrage, they got in Elzard’s way, jabbing at her.

“Uh-oh, here comes trouble,” said the dragon, stepping back to put distance between them. Her lips twisted into a smile as she looked at Ireena and Ginny. “Can’t say they’re as good as this Holy Sword, but those are nice. Did he make them?”

It was three-on-one, yet Elzard was as calm as ever. It was making Ireena worry, but she tried to shake it off.

“You’re no match for us!” She took a step forward and delivered a series of blows.

Elzard dodged Ireena like it was nothing, looking at her with an unfazed expression. Ireena’s blow could never compare to one of Sylphy’s attacks, but she knew that. While Elzard was concentrating on Ireena, Ginny made her move. “Rise Burst!”

Ireena jumped back to get out of the way. A giant magic circle appeared beneath Elzard’s feet. Seconds later, white lightning shot through the sky.

“Urgh…?”

Ginny’s crimson spear could shoot lightning attacks at will. It numbed an opponent’s entire body and brought their movements to a standstill.

“Now, Sylphy!”

“You got it!” Sylphy fiercely closed the distance at just the right moment. Snarling like beast, she charged forward and—

“Hiiiii-yaaah!” She swung from the shoulder with a warrior’s howl, making contact with Elzard and tearing through her from the left collarbone to the right side of her torso.

“W-we did it!” exclaimed Ireena.

“We defeated the Frenzied King of Dragons all on our own…!” Ginny cried.

They were certain of their victory. Relief washed over them. Their expressions couldn’t have looked happier, but…

“…! It’s too early to celebrate! We’re not out of the woods yet!” Sylphy shouted, placing distance between herself and the enemy as if repelled. Her eyes stared at Elzard, who was losing blood from the gash in her torso.

She did look worse for wear. One more hit, and it’d be as good as done.

But Elzard was smiling—a composed grin of victory. The dragon looked back and forth between Ireena and Ginny.

“Heh-heh. As I thought, people are fast learners. It’s only been a few months, but you’re totally in sync.”

Praised like the backhanded compliment of someone better than you. Ireena thought it was a bluff. She tried to convince herself it was. Ginny did, too.

Elzard is trying to act tough, which is what most people do when they’re on the verge of defeat.

“You’re definitely improved at magic. Better mental stamina, too. As your former teacher, it warms my heart. So to reward you—”

Ireena and Ginny knew…that their assumption had been but false hope.

“I’ll show you what real despair looks like.”

Elzard began to morph. The ghastly cut had healed while platinum scales crawled over a section of her skin. Pointed horns sprouted from her temples, and the corners of her mouth split up to her ears. Her teeth and nails sharpened to form fangs and claws.

This half-human, half-dragon form was all too familiar to Ireena and Ginny.

But…this Elzard couldn’t even compare to the creature they’d encountered before.

“After Ard humiliated me, I decided to put in some effort for once. If that hadn’t happened, I, the world’s greatest dragon, would never have gotten the chance to train and hone my skills. Thanks to him, I—”

Elzard’s entire body lit up.

All Ireena and Ginny could tell was that she was brilliant, golden. They couldn’t understand the threat it posed.

True to her title of “Raging Champion,” Sylphy perceived the danger in an instant and cast defensive magic on instinct. A solid wall covered the three girls.

Then…they were in a storm of destruction. Lights pulsed. Something kept pounding into the barrier. The wind howled, rattling their brains and threatening to rupture their eardrums.

“Ngh…! She’s nuts…!” Sylphy cried.

The storm raged on for some time…and when all grew still, their surroundings were nothing like before. The audience hall was gone. The entire castle, garden and all, were nowhere to be seen.

The castle, its moat, its walls, its gate…and its people. It was like they had all disappeared into thin air. In its place was a huge crater.

“What is this…?!” Ireena murmured in bewilderment as she stood in center.

Elzard glared at her with visible scorn, opening her large maw. “My old self could only tap into my full power in my true form. Not anymore. This body is even better than the other one. And my power is stronger. You know what that means, right, Ireena?”

Ireena’s body froze as those golden eyes bore into her. Ginny was still, too. This was making her cower in fear. Even Sylphy wasn’t immune. She gripped her sword and quietly muttered.

“Big Sis. Ginny. I’ll buy you time. Escape while you can.”

She seemed to imply it was the only way. Sylphy sounded pained but determined.

“Escape. Get out of here and run as far away as you can. Meet up with Ard. You’ll be safe with him. He’ll protect you two…!” She took a deep breath. “I’ll show you I’m not the ‘Raging Champion’ for nothing!”

Sylphy bravely charged at Elzard with neither hesitation nor fear. She was going to sacrifice herself for her friends. She’d made up her mind.

“Good luck with that.” Elzard didn’t budge.

Even as Sylphy closed in and swung her sword overhead, the dragon didn’t move a muscle. The sharp blade was about to make direct contact with the top of Elzard’s head, but…

It sounded like metal clanging.

“Gwagh…!” Sylphy’s sword bounced right off. She stared at her tingling hand and grit her teeth. “I have more where that came from!”

Her next hits were all to the same effect—repelled without making so much as a scratch on Elzard. But Sylphy persisted, brandishing her Holy Sword. After all, it was all meant to buy time…for the other two to escape.

Even though they knew that, Ireena and Ginny couldn’t move. Terror had turned their bodies to stone. Their minds had gone blank. They couldn’t even process a single thought.

Elzard smiled at Ireena. “I promise to kill you last, Ireena. But first—”

She moved her right hand, palm facing Sylphy, who continued her barrage.

“Do you want to watch a dragon kill a Champion?” Elzard asked with a repulsive smile.

A beam of light shot from her hand, engulfing Sylphy’s petite body. Ginny and Ireena found her collapsed on the ground in the distance. Smoke rose from her burnt form.

Ireena was wrestling with two emotions: overwhelming fear and…rage upon seeing her friend injured. Even though she was petrified of Elzard’s powers, Ireena was only thinking of one thing: Revenge.

Volcanic fury fired up her will to fight.

Ginny placed a hand on her shoulder. “I feel terrible for Miss Sylphy, but I’m afraid we must ignore her orders.”

Ginny seemed to feel the same way.

They knew running away would be their best option, but the monster before them wouldn’t allow it. And so, they had no choice but to stand and fight.

“Girls have iron wills, too. Don’t we, Miss Ireena?”

“Yeah, that’s right…!”

Point to one girl who wouldn’t land a good punch on someone who hurt her friend. It would go against girl code.

“Heh-heh. You haven’t changed,” Elzard said. “You’d rather get revenge for your fallen friend than run from danger. …That really pisses me off.”

Elzard found the concept of friendship detestable and couldn’t stand them. Her voice was spiked with irritation.

“Let’s go, Ginny…!”

“Ready when you are, Miss Ireena…!”

Their eyes glinted in determination. Spears at the ready, they stepped forth—daring, brave. Closing the distance between them and Elzard, they went on the offensive, hacking and trying to rip through her with the help of attack magic.

“You two make a great team. Call it the power of friendship. I gotta say, I’m touched. But…it won’t work on me.”

Their dual onslaught was a valiant effort, but it had no effect on Elzard. The tips of their spears bounced off her steel-like skin, and even their fire and ice spells had no influence.

But they didn’t give up. As long as they had the will to carry on, they knew there would be a chance. Ever since they’d met Ard, their lives had been anything but ordinary. They’d faced beings greater than themselves and found themselves in more than a few scary situations. But they had survived every time. And here they were now.

They seemed to believe they would make it if they didn’t give up.

—Elzard smiled at their line of thinking. It was scornful, utterly so.

“You might have scraped by with the power of friendship. You think you can do it again.” She was grinning on the receiving end of their attacks. Her eyes flashed with bloodlust. “I’ll teach you that only fools believe friendship can work miracles.”

An instant later, Elzard launched her counterattack. She hadn’t retaliated up until that point, but the dragon took Ireena’s weapon…and crushed it into dust.

“Wha…?!” Ireena’s eyes snapped open.

Elzard coolly called out, “Let the tragedy begin.” Her mouth twisted into a menacing smile.

Elzard pulverized the spear Ginny threw at her. “You should see this one’s death up close.” She unleashed a spear-hand strike—four fingers extended and compressed together; sharp talons connected with Ginny’s solar plexus, piercing her stomach and organs.

“Gah…?!” Ginny’s eyes widened with excruciating pain. The light in them was fading.

She was moments away from death.

“Giiiiiiiiinny!” Ireena cried out as if to stop her from losing consciousness.

Elzard seemed satisfied by the scream of despair. “You should be more worried about yourself.” She thrust her one hand at Ireena as the corners of her mouth turned upward.

I’m going to die. That spurred Ireena into action, and she cast defense magic on complete reflex. A glittering wall enveloped her…as a golden flash exploded from Elzard’s palm.

A crash. Agonizing pain. Weightlessness.

Bright light flooded her vision, and her consciousness went dark.

How much time had passed? She could feel a cold, hard sensation on her cheek.

Ireena opened her eyes and realized she was lying in the town. The defensive spell had saved her life…but her body had taken major damage.

“Argh…!” The pain brought tears to her eyes as she slowly stood up. The citizens stared at her in confusion.

“Did this girl come flying from the castle?”

“I wonder if she’s got something to do with it disappearing?”

Their battle with Elzard had apparently worried the public. Ireena felt bad for them as she managed to get back on her own two feet.

“Ha-ha. You’re a stubborn one, Ireena,” Elzard said, mirthfully swooping down from the heavens.

The sight of the half-dragon made the public panic even more.

“Wh-what is that monster…?!”

“D-disgusting…!”

They looked at her with fear and animosity. She scowled.

“…Quit staring, you worms,” Elzard snarled, raising her right hand upward.

Ireena immediately realized what she had in mind and cried out, “Sto—”

Elzard acted before she could finish, and magic circles flashed in the sky. Golden geometric patterns spread in the empty space, radiant and terrifying.

That would be the last sight they ever saw.

“Drop dead,” Elzard spat, letting fire shoot from the magic circles.

Destruction descended upon the town and…delivered hellfire. The heat reduced people and buildings to ashes. Since structures were made of wood, the flames were starting to spread. Elzard’s spell was turning even distant locations into scenes of tragedy.

“How could you…?!” Ireena asked. She was safe since she wasn’t the target of this attack.

Her eyes saw hell. Up in flames, the picturesque town was gone. Its populace had died violent deaths: charred corpses unrecognizable, a young girl with ashes for legs, men blown to pieces by the impact. Hours before, they had been living life—laughing and crying with one another.

Ireena thought her heart might break.

And she felt hatred—all-consuming hatred—for the monster responsible for this.

“Why…?! Why are you doing this?! They had nothing to do with you!”

Elzard smirked. “Yeah, they had nothing to do with me. That’s why I could kill them. It’s easy to take a life when they don’t matter to you. I’ve always hated humans, so I’m pretty sure I’d kill them, regardless.” Arms wide, Elzard gestured to the blazing town, grin deepening. “After I kill you and send Ard into the depths of despair, I’m thinking about killing everyone in the country. I’ve only been king since becoming Dread Ben Hurr, but wow, controlling humans is pretty stressful. As payback, I’m going to give all the good citizens the cruelest deaths imaginable.”

Elzard wasn’t kidding. Ireena grit her teeth. “Never…! You think I’ll let you get away with that…?!”

To Ireena, the people of Asylas were the enemy. But that didn’t matter. Lives—all of them—were precious. This had been hammered into her during the events of Megatholium.

Maybe humans were all ugly and pathetic. But within that contamination lay a small glimmer. To protect it…she would risk her life and defeat the evil that stood before her.

Ireena glared at her foe.

Elzard shrugged. “You seem convinced you can take me down, but you might as well forget it. Take another good look at the situation.” Elzard scanned Ireena from head to toe. “Your weapon’s become dust; your leg armor has seen better days. You’ve got bone fractures, and even your organs have suffered major damage. Don’t you just wanna cry? No need to act tough. Go ahead and let it out: ‘Arrrd, help meee!’ He’ll coming running like he always does,” she mocked.

Ireena would never. “I’m not the person I was when you kidnapped me…!”

She’d been weak then—a damsel in distress waiting to be saved by the hero.

“I’m not just some princess in need of protecting anymore…!”

Ireena was competitive by birth. And above all else, she dreamed of becoming a champion.

She was thinking of two people. The first was her friend and the world’s strongest hero, Ard Meteor. Only a short while earlier, Ireena had told him she wanted to become strong to become special to him, but that wasn’t the entire story.

Before, she had wanted to be Ard. She wanted to be someone with absolute power who could protect everyone. She’d been influenced by Ard and the one who had been his equal…the legendary Champion she’d met in the past, Lydia. She was Ireena’s ideal self. She lived wild and free, chuckled heartily, and saved those in need with a gallant flair.

Ard and Lydia. Ireena wanted to be on their level. Not some feeble girl who wailed at the slightest sense of danger. In fact…she wanted to protect those in tears.

“You know as well as I do…! Ard won’t come to my rescue…! I’m sure of it…! He isn’t some hero that’ll rush in as soon as I start screaming…!” Ireena had regained her purpose. She hammered it into her enemy. “If a hero isn’t going to rescue me…I’ll be my own hero!”

She would turn her bravery into power.

“I’m gonna take you down! I won’t let you hurt anyone else!”

At that very moment, she mustered up her strength to defeat evil for the sake of others…

If he was right, that sword was going to accept her. Ireena shot her left hand skyward.

“Come! Vald-Galgulus!”

The air rumbled, and something flashed in the empty space around them.

Something powerful was incoming, Ireena thought, when a blade appeared in her hand.

Devoid of extra ornamentation and shining pure white, this silver blade was the beloved weapon of the former Champion Lydia and one of the three great Holy Swords. It could slay evil with the power of heart.

Vald-Galgulus.

“Oh? Is that your secret weapon?”

Ireena gripped its hilt, assuming a battle stance. Elzard looked at her with a sneer. What do you think you can do with that crappy thing? she seemed to taunt.

Staring down her enemy, Ireena thought back to when Ard had entrusted her with the sword. It was back during the school festival, right after they’d stopped Sylphy from going wild and wrested her from the enemy’s control. Once Vald-Galgulus was resealed into the large tree at the Academy, and Ard and Ireena were alone together, he had told her something.

“Someday, Ireena, there will be difficult situations that require you to risk your life. To ensure you’re ready when that time comes…I’ll entrust you with a Holy Sword. When I resealed it within the tree, I added a condition that will allow you to summon it at any time.”

Ireena was shocked. “Do you think I’ll be able to wield it?”

He nodded without hesitation. “Yes. In fact, this sword is a good fit for you. Vald-Galgulus eats at the heart of its wielder. It’s a dangerous weapon. Even the most holy of saints have ended up following the path of evil. It’s a wicked sword that is holy only in name. But…I know you can master it. I’m certain its power will not take hold of your heart.”

With a confident smile, Ard placed a hand on Ireena’s shoulder.

“The Champion Lydia was the same way. You have all the makings of a hero. As someone who goes above and beyond when fighting for the sake of others, it’s only right that you brandish it.”

Ard had believed in her, believed she could master the sword’s power, believed she would use that power for good. And she had respected that trust by calling upon the blade’s name. To protect those in need. To transform despair into hope.

“Arstella. Glisten, O Soul! Fotoblis. Become my Light… Tenneblicke. And Dispel from Darkness!”

The chant, almost as old as time itself, left Ireena’s lips. A brilliant light wrapped around her body, and a few moments later—she was wearing armor made of white silver.

“Nnngh…!” All her pain seemed to evaporate…but a powerful force washed over her, and wicked passions flooded into her: Hatred for her enemy. An impulse to destroy things. Bloodlust. A compulsion to violate someone.

The Holy Sword was infiltrating the heart of its master and attempting to make her venal.

However—

“I’ll use this power for good!” She dispelled the evil in her heart and rushed toward the enemy.

As the girl barreled toward her, Elzard smiled contemptuously. “Ha-ha, aren’t you a brave one? Nothing more than a pointless strug—”

Ireena got within range and swung her Holy Sword—a diagonal cut that began from the shoulder and carried her full force. It hit Elzard’s unshakeable body.

It won’t do anything. A weak little girl can’t take me down, Elzard thought, smiling.

Seconds later, the Frenzied King of Dragons was stunned by a revelation.

As Ireena’s attack made contact with Elzard’s body, the silver blade ripped through skin and sliced through her very bones.

“Gah?!” The dragon’s eyes grew wide at the blinding pain.

“Take this!” Another swing, this time in the opposite direction. It sliced through Elzard as cleanly as the first, marking an X on her abdomen.

“Gah…?! Y-you gotta be joking…! There’s no way you could hit me now that I’m at full power…!” Coughing up blood, Elzard stumbled forward. Her regenerative properties were immediately activated to heal her wounds.

Even so, the dragon was rattled. As she withdrew in a cold sweat, Ireena boldly stepped forward. “Raaaaaaaah!”

Crouching low to the ground, the girl sprang at her like a wild beast going after its prey. It made Elzard fly into a rage.

“Don’t push your luck, little girl!” Magic circles appeared over Elzard’s head. “Disappear!”

On her command, they unleashed beams of azure light, forming an enormous mass of blazing heat, but this failed to stop Ireena, who continued to race forward.

“Cell Vidias. Become a Source of Fear!” She cast one of Vald-Galgulus’s spells. The silvery blade began to shine brightly, and then it absorbed Elzard’s heat beams.

“What?!” Shock settled back on the face of the Frenzied King of Dragons.

Before her, Ireena was quickly closing in. She was accelerating, perhaps from absorbing Elzard’s powers. Vald-Galgulus had taken the attack and converted it into power to feed its master. Elzard’s attempt to murder Ireena had strengthened her.

“Haaah!” A blow came from overhead.

Clicking her tongue, Elzard jumped back to avoid it. “This power…! It didn’t just come from the sword…!”

Elzard had instinctively sensed a hidden energy emanating from within Ireena. She was converting courage into strength and dispersing it into every cell of her body. It enveloped her like an aura, pure and white…

Elzard finally figured out her true form. “You…demons! So I was just a stepping-stone, huh…?!”

The power of the Evil Gods was awakening within Ireena. Her body and soul were connected to her ancestral roots. The being named Ireena was drawing near those dark forces—ever closer to a colossal presence that could produce power and change the world. Elzard had just witnessed an innocent girl turn into a monster.

That had been the demons’ plan all along. Their goal was to awaken Ireena. And they had used Elzard as a pawn to accomplish this objective.

This realization made her furious. “How dare you manipulate me, you worthless insects!”

As Ireena charged in, Elzard summoned her own blade. Like one that had belonged to her half-dragon underling, it was a large sword made primarily of dragon bone. Pointing its tip at Ireena, she launched herself off the ground.

As the town burned around them…a girl and a dragon had begun to swordfight.

“Ragh!”

“Hah!”

The Holy Sword and dragon blade slammed into each other, shooting sparks on impact. Each impact was followed by a thunderous echo and shock wave, obliterating the paved roads in seconds. It was, by all accounts, a fight far beyond the realm of humankind.

For some time, they were matched one-to-one…but the stalemate began to break.

And the more dominant of the two was… Elzard, the Frenzied King of Dragons.

“Ha-ha! What’s wrong, Ireena?! Not moving around so fast now, are ya?!”

The dragon sword grazed Ireena’s cheek. Since it was forged mostly with dragon bone, even the slightest scratch could eat away at an opponent’s soul. It had no power over her, however, as Ireena was now on par with the Evil Gods.

But if the sword managed to cut deeper…it would mean instant death for anyone. That moment was coming closer…

Elzard wasn’t the only one who could sense this. Ireena did, too.

My body is so heavy…! My heart hurts…!

Ireena was struggling. Handling the awakening of her powers and the Holy Sword was no easy task. Any average person would have fallen to their knees and collapsed from fatigue. She had long since reached her limit. Ireena was beginning to resign herself to her fate.

Is this where it ends…? Am I just a weak little princess…? Ow… I wish I could give up and go to sleep…

Even the greatest can only go so far. Who could blame a mortal for complaining upon being pushed far beyond her breaking point? She had fought admirably to protect others, went past her limits, and drove a terrifying monster into a corner.

…Haven’t I done enough? I’ll leave the rest to Ard. Even if I don’t stand a chance against her, I’m sure he’ll think of something, she thought.

“Stand strong, Miss Ireena!”

A familiar voice cut through the clanging swords.

“Ginny…!”

Off in the distance, in the shadows of a crumbled building…was her friend, face pale, glaring at Ireena.

“I bet you were thinking you’d leave this to Ard! I bet you thought you couldn’t beat her! Well, you’re wrong, Miss Ireena! You would never lose to some silly dragon!”

Ginny’s voice seemed to grip Ireena’s heart.

“You’re just as heroic as Ard! Don’t you remember?! The first person to call out to me, to reach out and save me, wasn’t Ard! It was you, Miss Ireena!” Ghostly white, Ginny cried out with tears in her eyes to her beloved hero. “I’ve always watched you from behind! I tried hard to stand by your side! Miss Ireena, you’re my dear friend and my inspiration! That’s why there is no way you’ll ever lose to some dragon!”

Something was burning in Ireena’s heart. Flames of friendship.

“Win, Miss Ireena! Take down that lizard woman and show me you’re a hero worthy of fighting by Ard Meteor’s side!” Tears streaked down Ginny’s face, and Elzard’s bloodshot eyes bore into her.

“Quit yapping, you stupid girl!” the dragon snapped with a look of fury.

Magic circles appeared before her, and blue beams of light rushed down on Ginny. Already severely injured, the girl didn’t have the strength to dodge.

I’ll protect my friend.

“Cell Vidias. Become a Source of Fear!” Ireena raced toward her friend and called upon the power of her Holy Sword again. The blue beams were absorbed into its silvery white blade. She stood in front of Ginny and offered a smile. “Just watch, Ginny! I’ll beat this thing in no time!”

Ireena carried out her attack.

“Tch! No point in struggling, girl!” Elzard’s breath was ragged. Maybe Ireena’s awakened power had sparked fear in her. Or…their show of friendship had set her off.

“There’s no way I’m gonna lose now!” Ireena cried, swinging her holy blade, fueled by passion. She wasn’t just recovered; she was stronger than before.

“Hah…! You think you’re showing me the power of friendship…?! Don’t be an idiot!” Elzard seemed angrier, exploding in fury as she wielded the sword made of dragon bone.

“Inspiration?! Heroes?! Friends?! Who cares?! You’ll always be betrayed in the end! All that shit does is get in the way!” Elzard spat and swung her blade, getting more intense.

Ireena could feel the sadness in the dragon’s heart.

“Humans and monsters don’t mix! They can never be friends! Aaaaah! You make me so sick!”

It seemed Elzard was pushing her limits, fueled by rage, hatred, jealousy. …Ireena was continuing to exceed her own physical boundaries.

“Monster or not, we can understand one another if we join hands! You can be like me and Ginny! People aren’t as horrible as you think!”

Ow. My body. My heart. They’re burning up.

“Aaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Hiiiii-yaaaah!”

I might be inferior, but I’m not giving up. My friend is watching. My friend who said I was dear to her. My friend who called me a hero. I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of her. I want to be a hero until the very end.

“I’m going to win, Elzaaaaard!” Ireena broke through another one of her mental blocks.

Her bursting emotions, purpose, courage…it all took her to the next level. It was like these emotions were flooding out of the depths of her being. Her aura had darkened from stark white to the deepest black…

“Ngh…!” Pain racked her entire body. Joints and bones creaked, veins burst, blood sprayed.

“Hah! You’re losing control! The power of the Evil Gods is too much for one person to handle! At this rate, you’ll be killed by your own stren—”

“So what?!” Ireena shrieked. Even as the dark aura draped around her and blood burst, she kept the pain at bay, still trying to rip through Elzard. “I don’t care if my body falls to pieces! I’m going to beat you! I’m going to win! I will win!”

Even as every inch of her body screamed, straining to keep up, and she wept from pain, Ireena didn’t stop. It forced Elzard to go on the defensive; there wasn’t even room for a counterattack. The dragon-bone blade caught the blows of Ireena’s Holy Sword…and Elzard grimaced under the impact.

“Ngh…! I won’t accept it…! Never…! No way in heeeeell!” Elzard meant every word, but it didn’t change the situation.

Finally, a crack ran through the bone sword and traveled through the rest of the blade.

“It’s impossible for me to lose to a little shit! There’s no way that would ever happen!” She cried for victory, but her hopes were dashed. Ireena’s next blow brought the bone sword to its limit, and—the sword fractured into a million pieces.

“You’re done, Elzard!”

…Then came judgment. Ireena formed her right hand into a tight fist and put every ounce of energy she had into it.

“Daaaamn it!” Elzard shrieked.

As Ireena moved in on her, Elzard aimed a spear-hand strike straight for her throat—fast and sharp. But it moved at a snail’s pace to Ireena. She dodged it and drew ever closer.

“Clench your jaw, dummy!”

The iron fist struck Elzard in the face and felt like an explosion had gone off. The dense concentration of power had created an unbelievable impact. Then, Elzard went soaring across town. She crashed through buildings that fell like dominos, and even kept going until she pierced the wall protecting the town. Elzard landed outside its borders and onto the smooth plain as if expelled from the dwelling of humans. Her body rolled across the ground and finally came to a stop.

Stretched out like a snow angel, Elzard glared up at the sun. “D-damn it…! How did this…?!”

She couldn’t continue the battle. Neither her mind nor body had any fight left in them. Cursing her defeat was her last option.

Ireena walked over to her, Holy Sword in hand.

“…Kill me,” the Frenzied King of Dragons barked at the girl who stood looking down on her. She wanted a swift end: to die so she could leave this disgusting world behind.

…But Ireena refused to grant her wish.

“I’m not going to kill you. You’re going to keep on living.” Ireena fixed an inscrutable look on her.

Elzard smiled dryly. “What are you gonna do, keep me as a pet? Slowly torture me for years to come? Ha-ha, spoken like a descendent of the Evil Gods.” There was a smile on her lips, but she had eyes full of malice. “If you’re not going to kill me, I’ll do the job myself. I don’t want to spend another second in this blasted world.” Elzard began to cast a special spell that would destroy her own body.

“You think I’d let you?” Ireena bent down and touched Elzard’s chest. An instant later, her magic circles winked out of sight.

“What did you do…?!” Elzard’s eyes snapped open, failing to hide her surprise.

Ireena answered honestly. “I don’t know. I just figured maybe I could do something and gave it a try.”

Ireena couldn’t possibly understand the extent of her powers. She only had a vague outline of her abilities. She’d awakened the blood of the Evil Gods that she had inherited, which meant she had gained the ability to change reality on a small scale. And she had just used it to block Elzard’s actions.

The girl seemed astonished by her own power.

“…I’m really not a normal person anymore, am I?”

She was now on par with the Outer Ones…known as the “Evil Gods” in modern times.

Her eyes were empty when she realized this. On the other hand, Elzard was glaring at her with killer intent, gritting her teeth.

“Enough messing around…! Kill me! Do it now!” she screamed.

Ireena shook her head. “I’m not going to kill you, and I won’t let you die. But it’s not what you think… I’m not trying to make you suffer. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.”

Still crouched low, Ireena peered into Elzard’s eyes. “When you kidnapped me a few months ago, I could do nothing except scream and cry. I didn’t understand you at all. But…now that we’ve fought, I’ve realized something. Ard and I could have reached the same path in life as you.”

She continued to stare into the dragon’s golden eyes. “Ard and I were able to make wonderful friends. But…you’re different, Elzard. You weren’t lucky enough to meet people who could accept you’re a monster. …If everyone hadn’t been there for me in Megatholium, I would have ended up the same way.”

At the climax of the latest incident, Ireena had lost faith in humanity and thought she would never be happy. Lizer had leaked the truth about Ireena and the existence of the Evil Gods’ descendants to the entire continent.

During her time in Megatholium, Ireena had stared into the darkness of humanity… As a result, she had come to the conclusion that people and monsters could never understand one another. She’d thought her identity would cause all her relationships to come crashing down.

But what happened? …Far from rejecting her, everyone had come running to Megatholium. It wasn’t just Ginny and Sylphy, either. All her acquaintances had rushed to her aid. Ireena was ashamed of how little faith she’d had in humanity, and she grew to love people more than ever before. However…

“You’ve been betrayed. That’s all you’ve ever known. That’s why you’re acting this way.”

Elzard was a reflection of her and Ard. And so, she held out her hand.

“I don’t think you’re pure evil. That’s why I’m not going to kill you. I don’t hate you either. In fact…I think we can join hands.”

Ireena looked straight into Elzard’s eyes and made her proclamation.

“I won’t betray you. Ever. So…I want you to try believing in people once more. Live among them with us, Elzard.”

This Frenzied King of Dragons had hurt many people. Ireena knew that was unforgivable, but…she and Ard could do their best to make amends with those Elzard had injured. She could become someone who no longer had a bad relationship with humanity. Ireena wanted to believe there was some good in her. And so…

“Starting today, you’re going to be my friend, Elzard,” she announced with a gentle smile.

Elzard’s eyes grew round, but they soon shifted to daggers. “…You’re out of your damn mind. You thought you’d become like me? Hah, that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You’re wrong. About everything. I’ve hated humans and every other race since I was born. No reason, really. That means I hate you, too. Be friends with you? I’d rather fight again and kill all your friends right before you,” the dragon replied, letting out a long stream of cruel words.

To Ireena, Elzard looked like a child throwing a tantrum.

“Now that we’re at the same level, I can understand you better. I used to think you were some monster, but it seems you were just an attention hog.”

“…Huh?” Elzard frowned.

Their hearts weren’t one yet, but Ireena had hope that she’d smile with this scary dragon. She thought of the many developments that awaited them in this life, and her mood brightened.

A magic circle suddenly appeared beneath Ireena’s feet.

It wasn’t Elzard’s doing. She was just as shocked at the sudden development.

Moments later, Ireena’s consciousness went dark—

When she came to, she was standing in an unfamiliar place. The sky was heavy with stormy clouds, and thunder continued to rumble. The earth was desolate.

This must be what the end of the world looks like, she thought.

In these ruins… Ireena spotted two men.

Ard Meteor. He looked different, though, maybe because he’d activated his Original technique. Ireena felt like she might faint from his beauty alone.

And—the other man was familiar, too. But why? Why was he here?

Just as she was considering this, he flashed a charming yet brutal smile. “Wonderful! Ah, that was magnificent, Fräulein! You’ve evolved so much!”

As his insane delight manifested itself, a small box appeared in his hand.

As soon as she laid eyes on the pure white object with gold lines, Ireena felt nostalgic and…overcome with indescribable fear.

It should not be allowed to exist. It had to be destroyed.

Otherwise… Everything would come crashing down, including her hopes and future.

She instinctively took on a fighting stance. However…

“It’s useless, Fräulein! Now that you’re an Evil God—you have no choice but to become the Holy Grail that will fulfill my desires!”

As if to prove this, strength was sapped from Ireena’s body.

Her soul and its infinite energy dissolved into a sparkling stream that flowed into the white box.

“Ireena!”

Ireena saw Ard’s flustered face…and her vision went black.