24: When plans go sideways, you panic, right?

For some reason, that breath attack was immeasurably weaker than the first one.

Only I, who’d thrown up the earthen wall, could understand that.

It looked exactly the same as before.

The flashy breath was reflected off my earthen wall—looked like it burned its own body.

Raidock didn’t hesitate. He gave the command to attack.

At the instant various spells and explosive arrows flew, the breath stopped dead. The dragon roared.

It wasn’t the same rage as before. This was a call with will behind it.

The dragon’s cracked, tree-like horns blazed with light.

I flinched, thinking it was an attack—but nothing happened.

…Huh?

Sorall and Jitarou blinked rapidly.

They weren’t the only ones wondering.

It was too quiet.

"...Explosion?"

I couldn't see the dragon behind the massive earthen wall, but the explosions—so loud and constant, echoing at the same moment every time—hadn’t happened once.

That wasn’t all. This time, magic attacks had been allowed. It shouldn’t end this calmly.

"Wait! Magic’s been canceled!?"

"The bomb arrows just burned up—no blast!"

The screams from the flanking assault units finally made sense.

"What!?"

Raidock’s shout and the dragon’s front paw smashing the wall happened at the same time.

"Was it that roar earlier!? Some kind of defensive magic!?"

"Likely! What now, Raidock!?"

"Too many unknowns! Withdraw—"

Then, suddenly, the dragon turned.

The dragon that had been slowly advancing toward us, intent on crushing us flat, suddenly changed direction.

Not a simple turn of angle.

It pivoted on the spot, rotating ninety degrees in an instant.

Nothing like the sluggish movements it had shown before—this was impossible speed.

“Wha—!?”

“Shit!?”

The dragon swung its right wing forward, rotating like a wheel, then planted all four limbs firmly into the ground.

From between its fangs, a sickly pale blue flame leaked out. It inhaled deeply—its breath, a devouring wave of fire, surged toward our companions.

“Damn it!!! No—NOOOO!!! “Ten Thousand Li Earth Wall”!!!”

I sprinted full force toward the right wing, thrusting my staff forward as I ran.

I barely managed to block the breath with the earth wall, but a sliver of it still reached the right wing. Just that much was enough—most of the front line were already burned to cinders.

The survivors doused themselves with Healing Potions. The wounded stood up in an instant, but their faces were twisted in terror.

The dragon rumbled, its eyes locking onto me.

“Craft!”

From the first unit and the right wing, warriors skilled in defense leapt out to protect me.

But the dragon was faster.

Like before, it spun sharply on the spot.

This time, toward the left wing.

“Gah—! Raidock! Speed boost! Now!”

“Eh? Y-yes! ‘Speed Boost’!”

I boosted my speed with magic and charged straight toward the left wing.

I passed Raidock, who’d been running toward me.

“Give me orders!”

“Damn it! Too many wounded! If we retreat now…”

“Then we fight!”

Raidock skidded to a stop and ran alongside me.

The dragon was starting to plant its limbs.

Distance!

“Damn it!”

Too late?

You’ve got to be kidding! I’ve got to… I’ve got to save them!

Back during training, they told me. You’re the one they’re counting on.

I’ll answer even if I die!

“Raidock! Use a charge attack—push me!”

“What?!”

“No time!”

“Damn it! ‘Body Bullet Impact’!”

“Ghk—?!”

Raidock rammed into me, his body like a bullet, shoulder-first.

The force hit harder than I’d imagined—I nearly passed out.

But—

“…! ‘Ten-Thousand-Li Earth Wall’!”

I was thrown back, spinning once, but I was up before I hit the ground, hurling the earth wall spell into the air.

I couldn’t do anything fancy like wrapping the dragon’s head. I just managed to slap up an earth wall straight from the ground.

But just in time—the dragon’s breath missed the left wing entirely.

Still, like the right, a faint heatwave brushed against it, spreading the damage.

“Right wing! Don’t flinch! Attack now!”

“You damn lizard bastard!”

“We’re gonna kill you!”

The right wing’s assault line, regrouping with gritted teeth, fired their explosive arrows.

The left wing didn’t join—but if we can stop its movement now, we’ve got a chance!

Then the dragon roared again, a deliberate, conscious bellow.

In response, its cursed-tree horns flared to life.

This time I saw it.

The explosive arrows vanished, tiny flames flickering before they even touched the dragon’s body.

Attack magic—just erased.

“D-damn it!!”

I couldn’t help shouting.

It was too damn unfair!

“Craft! What the hell was that!?”

“Likely… magic nullification. The explosive arrows were a type of magic attack that forced a gemstone into overload.”

“Magic nullification!?”

Damn it—cheating, that’s what that is.

The dragon’s name wasn’t just for show.

But if we retreat now, someone’s gonna have to die. Even if we stick to the original plan, one of us might fall before the others can pull back.

“Craft! Is there no weakness!?”

“Persia!? Probably… if we can knock off that horn, the magic nullification might stop…”

That’s just instinct. From years of adventuring.

It was common—when a monster activated a special ability, the organ that powered it would glow.

But….

"Can't even be sure it'll work, and magic won't touch it! What the hell are we supposed to do!?"

"Hah! If magic won't work, just smash it flat!"

"Easy for you to say!"

"I— I, Persia Formalhaut, will show you how it's done!"

"Show us...?"

"Craft! Crush his head into the ground!"

"What?!"

Yeah, I could do a few spells that'd drive his head into the dirt.

But those spells? They'd just fail.

Then I saw Jitarou's mithril arrow pierce the dragon's body.

Physical force... could that reach?

"Then it might work... but that would...?"

"Craft! If you've got a way, spit it out! We're running dry here!"

This time it was Raidock shouting.

There is a way. But it's... dangerous.

"Sacrifice was always part of the plan! If we can kill him, that's exactly what we want!"

"Damn...! One breath! Just one breath! Hold on! You can do it!"

"Understood!"

"Everyone listen! We're gambling now! One hit! Take it—use your own strength to endure the breath!"

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

I guzzle down a mana potion and a healing potion, gathering my magic.

The dragon, responding to me, shifts its body toward me.

"Damn it! You lizard bastard! Face me!"

"Anything works! Just provoke it!"

The moment I do something, the left and right squads understand. They throw every trick they’ve got—spells, arrows, insults—anything to bait the dragon.

Some even throw stones.

But the dragon opens its jaws wide, aimed straight at the center. At me. At the first unit.

I...

Decide to just focus on gathering magic—trusting my comrades, nothing else.

Thought I’d end you with one magic blast ‘cause I’m cheating? (´ι _｀ )

Not that kind of world we’re in, kid. (＾ν＾)