Volume 6 Chapter 14 (2/2)
I could say that with confidence since the experience points my S rank monsters have gained from all the campaigns we've been in—from the war with the three Demon Lords to the campaign to rescue Marcho—have made them reach the levels they would have if they were born with a static level. To put it in another way, they have gained their original strength.
As they were, even an A rank monster with a progressive level would be a match for them.
”Understood. Attaching the intent into the wind and sending it.”
The jade wind that can go anywhere—even across dimensions—blew.
”Aura, it's great that we can send a message, but how will the receiver reply?”
”I have made the wind circle back here. Stolas-sama should be able to put her own message into the wind… Oh, here it is! Give me a sec, I'll decipher it.”
Aura said so and then closed her eyes.
In the meantime, I looked at the crystal. When I did so, I saw that although Stolas lost a few, her fighting force was able to come to the second dungeon room of her second floor.
That place was a ravine. It had narrow footholds where a tiny misstep could send one headfirst to death. It also had a seemingly endless blue sky. In other words, it was a very advantageous battleground for her monsters.
It was more than likely that she intended to engage the enemy forces there and reverse the tide of battle.
”Master, here is Stolas-sama's message. I'm happy for your offer, but even though the enemy is being conniving, this is my [War]. I'm just going to have to try a little harder. I'm not as weak as you think I am.”
Her answer was utterly unexpected.
Amidst such grim circumstances, she still wanted to fight with her own strength.
”Pfft. Ahahaha. I see, how amusing. I guess I have been underestimating her. If that's what she wants, I'll stick to being moral support for a little while longer.”
Instead of bluffing, perhaps the reason she was saying such things was because she was still seeing a way to win.
”Aura, tell her this: Understood, I'll keep on watching. However, I'll do so from nearby.”
”Understood. Sending the message.”
Using the jade wind that was still flowing, Aura sent a new message.
I had no intention of wounding Stolas's pride, but since there was a possibility of her enemy preparing something other than the large number of A rank monsters, it was more convenient to move to a nearer location where I could act quickly to help her.
”Aura, Duke, we'll now be heading to where Stolas is. Make sure to not lose track of her location.”
Aura nodded when I said so.
Once we exit Stolas's crystal room, we would no longer be able to rely on the crystal to know where Stolas was. In that regard, Aura and her wind would be our guide.
I then called out from my [Storage] the one I could rely on the most, and ordered her to protect the crystal.
With that, I don't have to worry about the crystal being crushed.
Without waiting for Stolas's reply, Aura and I set out to leave the crystal room to go and watch Stolas's marvelous performance from an excellent position.
As for Duke, however, he remained where he stood.
”What's wrong, Duke?”
”A young dragon is weeping. While cursing at its powerlessness, it desperately wishes to protect a person important to it. There is so much pain in its voice… along with earnestness and sincerity. Is it because I have leveled up and awoken as a [Dragon Emperor] that I could feel this connection even though we're separated by dungeon rooms? My chest, it feels so tight. It's the same feeling I had when I was held by my lord. I can't leave it alone. I'll send it a little of my dragon-form's cheeringroar.”
For a mere moment of time, Duke activated his [Berserk], and increased his magic power and draconic Qi until he was in his true form.
It was such a frightening amount of power. Even Aura had cold sweat flowing.
I didn't know what he did, but after returning to his dragonewt-form, he gave a satisfied-looking smile.
If he's choosing to not tell me anything, he must have a pretty good reason.
After that, we resumed our travel toward where Stolas was.