Chapter 75 (1/2)

'Are you fine with that?'

The water dragon walked up front, and Sakuya followed behind There were nothing but dangerous dragons around, and a moment's lapse could have her killed To ease Sakuya's tensions, the water dragon had heard out her goal It had heard of the undead dragon, but it didn't think that was a proble about

But after hearing Sakuya's goal, the water dragon turned despondent Her life was short, and she had on who valued the soul, Sakuya's further actions felt exceptionally noble

”I-I' B-but you see… there's nothing that can be done! I can't live even if I want to! I wanted to try harder! I wanted to be together longer! So… at the very least, I should be helpful at the end”

As Sakuya's eyes went teary, the water dragon lowered its back The sudden happenings left Sakuya surprised

'I haven't let anyone ride oing to have to insist I'll never let a ht now, you are a splendid dragoon'

”Thank you”

Sakuya leapt onto its back The water dragon spread out its large, pale, transparent wings, and took to the sky

In the cave that reeked of decay, Rudel took on the undead dragon Perhaps it hadn't completely awakened, as its lower body couldn't e of motion It was mostly bone, but some rotten flesh still ardently stuck to it It was an extreon

'W-hy are you alone…'

At Rudel's appearance, the black fog that had been taken in let out a cry that was almost a scream But her voice had weakened frorowing diave Rudel a simple explanation of the situation

'This is bad The black fog has been al everything, no questions asked To be quite honest, I think you should give up and retreat'

”That's not an option While it's also forShe can't be helped if it fades away I can't step down, and it doesn't look like it'll let me”

The undead dragon used its aron, its arons Its rotten flesh and body of bones was much faster than it appeared

Pulling his sword, Rudel held his left hand up front and shot a bolt of light

A nuon and exploded, but it continued its advance as if they had no effect at all As Rudel tried tothat wasn't mud captured his feet It had a stickiness to it, and to Rudel who had thought to fight a hit-and-run battle, he was conducting coeous location

”It's faster than I had iined!”

'You're in luck it isn't at full power But if you want to use your full power, you'll have to get outside… it's a bit deep ahead, so be careful'

The bird calmly related information on the dim cave interior to Rudel A battle where it was hard to see had hiht, the battle actually raged on quite favorably He used his light bolts, and when an opening was ic sword

He continually secured points his opponents attacks couldn't reach as he began to push the undead dragon back

”When it's head is practically bone, it's a mystery how it can tell our location”

As he ran the undead dragon gave chase, and Rudel cal, he could foresee his loss in the end Avoiding the ar

'Sorry to intrude when you're in a good state of mind, but at this rate, you'll run out of mana or stamina You'll eventually lose'

The bird's conclusion was right Having been able to fight so far on his own, Rudel was strong, but to the end, it was a huon, it was only natural he was a bad ht by on his own as he tried to think up aout of it

”More than victory, saving the fog is our first priority I ca!”

On those words Rudel told hiave a simple explanation

'There is a way, but the dragon's original soul is the probles of fear and isolation, it's blocking off all interference from the outside'

The bird took over the bird's explanation

'Meaning your voice won't reach it Its guard is so strong the black fog failed when it tried to interfere with it directly It's the sort of monster that devours life to steals its soul away, and there's no point calling out to it from the outside… from the outside, that is'

As Rudel ran around, the undead dragon started taking different action froradually the rest of its body followed along Alongside an overwhel difference in physique, the limited space pushed Rudel into a corner

I have to attack with all on unleashed its own full ed to saving the black fog for Sakuya's sake, and he had to give his all to avoid his own annihilation He had been reedy

”So I was too hasty…”

A red light took residence in the eye sockets of its skeletal head As if to take the place of eyes, they focused on Rudel Correcting his stance, Rudel laughed before the undead dragon

His selfish self was strange When he was aion was strange And that he wouldn't give up even in this situation was even stranger He had chosen such an idiotic option of challenging a dragon alone… but he didn't regret it

”I'll definitely on!”

Rudel took a large step towards the dragon before his eyes

Sakuya and the water dragon finally reached the cave From the entrance, they would hear the screaht tremors broke out here and there

'… This is a place a dead dragon reain… I can't bear to see its eternal torment'

The water dragon grieved the pain of its brethren, but there was fundamentally no means to save it Neither side could interfere with the others Sakuya on its back hardened her resolve as they set foot into the cave It was originally a cave excavated out by a dragon, and the water dragon could pass through it with ease

'You're nervous It's not too late, you know?'

”I' up I mean… this is the only way I can be useful”

Tre as she s on in the cave to help it If Rudel died, there was practically no point in her objective

'They're cornered The child inside, and you… hold on tight'

As the water dragon hurried on in, the intense sounds of battle suddenly weakened The explosions stopped ringing out entirely In a panic, Sakuya called out Rudel's name

”Rudel!!”

As he crashed into the wall, Rudel no longer had the power left to er Because of his sturdy ared to persist in one piece, but his energy andthe undead dragon with everything he had, but even with his full-power attacks he had prepared as his truon was impossible

Sakuya's voice suddenly entered his ear, but he was unable to respond to it He noticed the large footsteps and vibrations gradually approaching hion

'She's here!'

'You're late, Sakuya!'

Having leapt out of Rudel's sword, the boar and bird had used what inal bodies, frantically clinging onto the undead dragon to protect Rudel But as the dragon thrashed about to re on There wasn't any time

They had preserved their power for thatwould be lost The two had ht some time

”Rudel…!”

His form Sakuya witnessed, it was the form of his dented, chipped armor with injuries around his eyes It was impossible to tell from over his armor, but perhaps his body was in a terrible state as well

His are, it eak She couldn't see his usual self, full of confidence But she didn't despite Up until her

Finally sensing Sakuya's presence, blood flowed fro out his voice

”S-Sakuya, r-run…”

He was surprised at the entrance of another dragon, but having lost his vision, he couldn't confir Sakuya escape to report to the country He had pushed it and caused the undead dragon to awaken Rudel recognized his own irresponsibility as he accepted his failure

Not that he regretted working hard for his dreaht that acceptance wasn't like him as all, but she could feel that his battered form had put up resistance to the bitter end In truth, he was losing a lot of blood, and Rudel was on the verge of death

But as Sakuya approached, she planted a kiss on Rudel's forehead

”I'rant your dream…”

”Wha ar… ou…”

Sakuya's tears fell onto his face Rudel couldn't understand what Sakuya was trying to say His consciousness began to grow distant…

”Please, help me out! Take me over to it!”

Parting froon The boar and bird weren't enough to hold back the undead dragon Sakuya had intended to end things before it ca to results, Rudel was in critical condition, and the undead dragon had sprung to action

'… Very well'

The water dragon opened its ood athered water from the area and shaped it into a spear It s it flying into the opposite wall

It eakened froon abundant in coon had compressed a considerable amount of water, and as those orbs collided they burst as if explosion By co like a laser as well, but that didn't suit its objective, so it held back in its attacks

The boar and bird separated froon pinned it down fro its ability to maintain its body as its bones and flesh easily tore and snapped But even now, there was no sign it would stop

While it was held down, its skeletal head relowing eyes fluttering teain consciousness