Aerial battle on dragons.
I — magicless — at overwhelming disadvantage.
I want to minimize [Magecraft Funeral] use too.
If observed many times, the principle could be analyzed.
[Magecraft Funeral] is the trump card against Floné.
Can’t reveal it casually.
”…… Using it now, Yueli.”
So I have a fallback.
It compensates my ranged-attack weakness.
I’d consulted her earlier, but mana consumption complicated tuning.
In that last moment, she finished it.
The new gimmick consumes all four mana-stone lines of [Dragon-Slay Fist · Shin].
”…… Here, Gauss!”
“Hold on tight!”
We engaged.
On Gauss’s back, my advantage over Floné: dragon-rider communication.
Floné fully strips her dragon’s will, must control it manually; I can leave maneuvering to Gauss.
Not a small lead in aerial combat.
“[Dragon-Slay Fist · Empty]!”
“You can’t take the main goal first!”
I launched the fist passing — aiming at Mashiro on her dragon’s back — she spun to dodge.
“My turn. Forgetting I’m Reina’s master? ——[Thousand Thunder Arrows].”
“That many!?”
“Ouga, focus on attack!”
Lightning arrows rained densely.
Blinding bright, spread wide for sure hits — Gauss dove sharp, U-turned at the last moment, dodged.
Right. Trust Gauss, focus on my role.
“Gauss. Need a moment to charge. Stall?”
“Who do you think I am! Easy!”
He breathed flames keeping Floné at bay.
She countered with widespread spells.
“You really want me to use that……! Gh……!”
While balancing on Gauss’s wild moves, I charged mana into [Dragon-Slay Fist · Shin].
The four lines lit — fully charged.
…… Heh heh heh, counter-attack!
“Gauss!”
“Anytime, your timing!”
A reliable partner. I patted his back; he charged at Floné.
Speed grew; my body almost flew off.
Don’t close eyes. Organs compressed, painful. Swallowed nausea.
This much for any chance against Floné……!
“Go!”
Just before colliding, Gauss veered.
I kicked off his back, leapt to Floné’s dragon.
Unfamiliar float, but eyes never left her……!
“Festive brain. Coming to die……”
“Watching your evil and doing nothing equals death.”
Inertia put me ahead of her spell.
A one-time chance to recover Mashiro. If spell hits, now I play the [Magecraft Funeral] card!
“Ready to be punched, Floné!?”
“Don’t take me for a magic-only person. I’ve lived many times longer than you.”
She caught my fist easily.
Attack failure…… not at all. This was the situation I wanted.
I knew she’d catch the right fist. I’d shown [Empty] gimmick earlier, so she’d guard against losing sleeping Mashiro.
“Knew it. Knew you’d catch.”
Against overwhelming experience, surprise is my only weapon.
I crafted the setup.
Four mana-stone lines spent — all charge concentrated, heating my arm.
Compressed mana mass — a weapon by itself.
“[Dragon-Slay Fist · Light]!”
Released.
“Gaa!?”
No reflex saves her grip.
A sizzle as flesh burned; [Light] drove into the dragon’s back.
“DYAAAAAA!?”
Brainwashed still feels pain.
The previous [Blade] used one line; this — four times the mana.
I’d expected it to work; the direct hit hurt severely.
Despite Floné’s weight, the dragon bounced.
So did unconscious Mashiro.
The moment I waited for.
“Mashiro……!”
I shook off Floné’s arm, ran across the dragon.
Mashiro slid off without resistance.
She’s out of my reach. Doesn’t matter.
If I can catch her with this arm……!
“[Gear Change]!”
Not a reason to give up!
I stretched my stride, pushed hard, leapt and reached.
Mashiro’s weight.
I clutched her, turning my back downward to take damage.
Impact slammed.
Lungs emptied; pain didn’t matter.
I checked my sleeping princess.
Her skin unmarked; truly only unconscious — I exhaled relief.
”…… Nice timing, Gauss.”
“Told you — at your timing.”
”…… Perfect.”
I steadied my breath, repositioned, stared up at Floné.
The dragon recovered; she was furious.
”…… You truly obstruct, Ouga Veret.”
The old hag blabbed.
But [Light] is exposed.
Floné’s attacks will worsen; I must tighten further.
Saving Mashiro was the minimum clearance to defeat her.
Now I must keep Mashiro and defeat Floné.
Wake up, Mashiro……!?
”…… What mana volume is this……?”
Floné’s mana climbed.
It was monstrous already; further power-up — a true monster……!
“Don’t drop her!”
Sensing danger, Gauss accelerated, distancing.
But another dragon — same or faster — followed.
The controlled dragon looked agonized, tongue out, foaming.
Floné forcing beyond limit……!?
Still it moves — because controlled.
“Inhuman……!”
“What? I’m a hero!”
“No hero like you!”
“The world named me so! [Thunder-Lance Break]!”
Lightning lances rained from behind.
Gauss already at limit, dodging.
Still volume exceeds.
A spear about to hit me.
I thought fast. Use [Magecraft Funeral]? Not on a small spell?
A direct hit kills me.
Think — I released Mashiro and put distance so my body wouldn’t injure her.
“[Magecraft Funeral]……!”
I thrust my right arm; the spear vanished.
“UraaaaA!”
Even erased, the impact stayed in my palm. Without the prosthetic, my bone would creak.
What destructive power. Not magic — a mana-mass called violence.
“Hahaha! That’s your magic-canceling power!”
Pleased that [Magecraft Funeral] appeared, Floné brought both hands together; mana grew.
A strong-being’s aura crushing the weak to submission.
“Such a thing can be……”
The sky bright, but not from sun.
From Floné’s magic.
“Kuhaha! Your secret’s mechanism…… got it! Affecting the spirits that wield magic!?”
”…… Heh! Is that so!?”
“Composure leaking. Make better expressions or you won’t succeed, novice!”
She read through my shaken expression after just one use.
Her hardship-experience reads my effort easily……!
“Show more, Ouga Veret! Or your precious ones die!”
Belief that Veret will be destroyed — a mana mass too large to call an axe.
Below, her subordinates still fight Reina; she doesn’t care.
A divine war-axe — befitting the name.
When swung — divine punishment.
Executed by one aiming to be the new world’s god.
“LIGHTNING VORTEXXXX!!”