Final Battle⑦

We’ve kept you waiting!

Shun’s perspective

“Haa! Haa!”

Breathing grows ragged.

Head throbs, as if starved of oxygen.

Still, cannot pause.

“GAAARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”

Kyoya roars.

The air itself shudders, screaming.

Not just atmosphere—Kyoya’s roar physically vibrates the air.

At least eighty percent chance the intimidation effect is active.

If struck directly, likely paralyzed by fear.

Not happening—due to the barrier erected by Katia’s purity skill.

[Purity: n% of power aimed at reaching divinity. Expands one’s divine domain. Unassailable domain established. Overrides W-system, grants interference rights over MA domain.]

The effect of the Purity skill appears to be a powerful barrier.

It blocks not only physical and magical attacks, but also invisible effects classified as intimidation—truly a formidable barrier, akin to absolute defense.

Yet even this Purity barrier can only shield against collateral damage in this battle.

“Kuu!”

Cathia grits her teeth, pressing both hands forward against the barrier.

Immediately afterward, an explosion shakes the ground, enveloping the area.

It was the clash between Gen’s fire dragon breath and Kyoya’s full-force strike.

And the result was….

“Ghuff!”

Gen’s massive frame was cleaved in two, vertically.

Blood spews from the wound and from his mouth as he collapses to the earth.

“Hero…”

“I know! Just a little longer! ……Yes!”

Completing the resurrection that had been underway since just moments ago, spurred by the Dark Dragon Rayse.

“Noo!? I saw the afterlife!”

“Save your jokes. Go die already.”

“Yeah, well, I’m going! Just give me a sec!”

With that, the Wind Dragon Hyuban vanishes into the air.

“Right. Then I’ll proceed with Guen’s resurrection.”

“Yes!”

Before Rayse even finishes speaking, he grabs me and Katia, then dashes forward.

Rayse’s status appears to be exceptionally high—within moments, we arrive at the spot where Guen was just cleaved in two.

I immediately apply the Mercy skill to Guen and initiate the resurrection.

The battle remains stalled.

Guen, Hyuban, and the Thunder Dragon Goka stand opposed to Kyoya, while the Ice Dragon Niaa casts weakening curses from concealment. When one of us falls, I revive them as before.

As a Guard in the role of resurrection, Reise and Katia’s barrier.

Katia told me before departure to “protect her,” yet I am the one being protected by her.

But there is no room to dwell on such thoughts.

Without Katia’s barrier, I would have died from the battle’s aftereffects alone.

“Gh!”

Even now, Kyoya’s summoned magical blades detonate, their fragments striking the barrier like scattered shot.

I cannot divert them—must focus solely on resurrection.

Even in peak condition, whether evasion would be possible remains uncertain.

This is the result of mere aftereffects.

This fierce clash is the battle determining the fate of this world.

Fortuitously, Kyoya, having activated his rage, prioritizes the enemy before him and ignores me and Katia entirely.

If targeted as the resurrection role, I would have been eliminated first.

"Shiro's entry makes it even, or perhaps slightly disadvantaged."

Reisé murmurs, observing the battle's progression.

I continue reviving Gen while lifting my head slightly.

"Ah!"

There, Suu is lunging at Kyōya.

In Suu's hand is the royal heirloom sword I once held.

And wrapped around Suu's body is a small white dragon.

That small white dragon is Light Dragon Shiro.

The ancient dragon that once resided upon the royal heirloom sword I once held.

"How long will you sulk? It's time to perform your duty."

Reisé suddenly speaks directly at me. I am startled when Shiro emerges from the sword in response to those words.

"I am not sulking."

"Tsk. Abandoning your purpose simply because your favorite hero has fallen isn't advisable."

"I have not abandoned it."

"Then work."

Unfazed by our stunned silence, the exchange between Rayse and Byak continued.

"Girl. You. Contribute strength. Do it."

Byak pointed to Suu, placed the ancestral sword of the royal family in her hand, and sent her to the front lines.

This occurred after Guen had been revived for the first time.

I had not known, but that ancestral sword—officially named the Hero's Sword—was a special equipment reserved for heroes.

Byak was said to have been in charge of its management.

The original bearer of the Hero's Sword was Julius Elder Brother. Julius had instructed Hailins to pass the sword to Reston Elder Brother in case of emergency.

And Reston Elder Brother had entrusted it to me.

I never imagined it was such a significant blade.

But thanks to Julius Elder Brother leaving that sword behind, we are able to fight now.

Julius Elder Brother...

The so-called true power of the Hero's Sword cannot be used unless one is a Hero.

Thus, Sū cannot access that power—but the Hero's Sword is extraordinarily durable.

It does not even chip, even when clashing directly with Kyōya.

“Hmph!”

Sū slashes with the Hero's Sword, but Kyōya pushes it aside with brute force.

A normal sword would have severed Sū’s body in two.

The mere thought of it makes the spine shiver.

Yet it does not happen. Kyōya’s strike is blocked by the Hero's Sword, and Sū retreats only a few steps—no damage evident.

Bakku’s ability appears to be heavily focused on support and healing.

With Bakku’s support—what is commonly called a buff—Sū’s current stats have been raised to a level where he can match Kyōya in combat.

Additionally, while not as directly affected as Sū, the other ancient dragons have also received Bakku’s buff and are enhanced accordingly.

Moreover, Bakku immediately heals any ally who sustains damage—no delay, no hesitation.

A being optimized purely for support and recovery.

But...

"GAAAAAARRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

Goka lunges forward—split in two by Kyōya’s single strike.

"Guh... damn it... useless...!"

Goka’s body is cleaved in half.

Even Bakku, master of healing, cannot restore this.

Ancient dragons.

Among mythical beasts classified as god-tier, they are the most powerful—legendary entities.

Five of them, excluding Reis, attacking simultaneously.

Yet still, they cannot land a blow.

"Hero."

"I understand."

Gwen’s revival is prioritized.

Casting the miracle requires substantial MP consumption.

Dizzy from excessive MP usage since earlier.

Still, cannot stop.

If I stop—no, not just me—if even one flaw appears, it collapses instantly.

That certainty was absolute.

"Completed!"

Gwen's revival finishes.

"Guh... again."

Gwen shakes their head lightly and rises.

Immediately returns to the front lines.

"Then, let's go."

"Yes!"

Once more carried by Rayce, moving toward Go-ka.

In the meantime, pulls out an MP recovery potion from a pocket and swallows it in one gulp.

MP begins to recover.

But the amount is still far from full restoration.

Expensive MP recovery potion, yet the replenishment is fixed and minimal.

Better than nothing, but only slightly.

Would be preferable if it were percentage-based recovery instead of fixed, but unfortunately, no such potion exists.

Reaching Goaka’s position, revival is initiated.

MP is unreliable.

A single fracture would shatter the balance we barely maintain.

The first fracture, likely, will be my MP depletion.

Please.

Before that, settle this.

I am furious at myself for being unable to do anything but silently cheer on everyone fighting.

But anger changes nothing—my inadequacy remains.

No sign of improving battlefield conditions.

“GAAAAAARRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Kyoya was too strong.

Ancient Dragon Strength Hierarchy

Water Dragon Iena > Wind Dragon Hyuban > Earth Dragon Gakia > Ice Dragon Nia > Fire Dragon Guen > Lightning Dragon Goaka

Support Specialization: Light Dragon Byaku Special Slot: Dark Dragon Reise

Water Dragon Iena: Capable of drowning opponents through breath, or flooding through openings to destroy from within—methods that are brutal in their effectiveness. Status values are uniformly high; total score ranks second only to Goaka.

Wind Dragon Hyban: Controls not just weather, but atmospheric pressure as well, manipulating enemies through environmental distortion. Speed is unmatched among ancient dragons. Despite a habitually sullen demeanor, strength remains exceptionally high.

Earth Dragon Gakia: Not a deceased human, but a deceased dragon. Defense is extraordinary—so great that even other ancient dragons found it difficult to inflict serious damage.

Ice Dragon Nia: Freezes the surrounding area into a cursed land, enduring the cold herself while gradually weakening enemies through sustained pressure—her tactics are insidious in execution.

Fire Dragon Guen: Among the top five, most straightforward all-rounder type. Consequently, she appears somewhat overshadowed in combat applications.

Thunder Dragon Goka: Full stat allocation. Total stat value ranks first among ancient dragons. Skills, however... That's why he's the idiot at the bottom...

Light Dragon Byaku: Support-type ancient dragon, abruptly introduced in the web version this time. Specialized in healing. His combat capability is not negligible, but he is stronger when used for support.

Shadow Dragon Reise:????