Final Battle⑯

Dark Dragon Rayce's Perspective

Searching for a place to unleash this power.

Searching for a deathbed where this power could be fully expended.

We, known as the Old Dragon Lords, are flawed creatures of true dragons.

Chimeras born from Potimas's experiments.

Unlike the humanoid chimeras protected by Ariel, the orphanage of the goddess Salier, we Old Dragon Lords bore appearances close to true dragons.

Thus, we were not protected. We were treated as beasts.

Some of our kin may have died as experimental subjects, unknown to me.

Most likely they did.

It was the Master, Lord Guriiedistdies, who protected us.

Therefore, we hold reverence for our Master.

The same kind of feeling Ariel holds toward the goddess Salier.

What sets us apart from Ariel is that we were classified as monsters by the system.

From the perspective of the divine, we were beasts.

Thus, we chose the path of being the Master’s retainers.

We abandoned the idea of blending among humans, yet refused to become mere monsters—instead, we attained the status of administrators’ retainers.

Within this structure, each of us fulfilled our designated role, expanded our own retinues, and established the foundation for existence in this world.

Hyban managed the purification of the corrupted wastelands.

Iena controlled the oceans, preventing people from venturing into the open sea.

Nia, Rend, and Goka each held territories and administered their domains.

Among these, I was assigned the duty of sealing the Demon Sword.

The primary reason was that I had no territory to manage—my role was that of an excess.

The second reason was that my power was unique compared to the others.

Should the Demon Sword ever be drawn, my power might be required in tandem.

Thus, the Demon Sword was sealed alongside me.

My ability was deliberately focused in one domain.

That domain was divine resistance.

A capability effective against deities.

Specifically, the ability to attack souls.

An aberrant attack targeting souls directly.

A corrosive attack governing death.

Abyss Magic capable of annihilating souls.

I allocated numerous skill points to these, prioritizing their development.

All for the eventuality of a divine invasion in this world.

But such an event was highly improbable.

According to my master, the higher-level administrator D—who outranked even my master—was a being feared among gods.

No deity would invade a world under D’s supervision.

Should one attempt it, it would be exceptionally ignorant.

Thus, my existence served only as a contingency.

Almost impossible, but if it occurred, essential preparation against divine invasion.

Yet my existence serves as a safeguard—though its efficacy is exceedingly low.

If a god invades, the master will be the first to respond.

My turn would come only after my master had lost.

I cannot defeat the one whom my master could not defeat.

Thus, the insurance proves far too weak.

Countermeasures must be taken. Yet even with countermeasures, this is the limit.

That is my existence.

A presence that only ever activates if the master suffers defeat—yet when activation occurs, defeat is already nearly certain. An existence that makes no difference, whether present or absent.

It’s laughable.

An insurance policy—just in case the master should lose. A one-in-a-billion chance the opponent might be defeated.

Nothing more than a faint hope, barely worth entertaining.

Thus, I did not understand the meaning of my own existence.

A place to act was desired.

The place where this power is wielded.

A place where my existence can properly fulfill its purpose.

There is no other place for this!

A piercing strike aimed at Ariel.

Evade is no longer possible.

The guard will not arrive in time.

Ariel appears, for some reason, considerably weakened.

Despite the battle having begun, there was no sign of movement from the chair. The detachment was palpable—entirely reliant on Talatekt and his subordinates.

Yet, even with the queen’s protection, the dissonance reached a point of certainty.

Ariel is currently so weakened that she cannot fight properly.

With Ariel's power, there is no need to rely on the Queen or Puppet Talatekt, nor on any of the others beneath them.

Ariel possesses the power to eliminate the ancient dragons alone.

It will not be done. It cannot be done.

The attack, which should have been absorbed without injury due to resistance mechanics, was instead shielded by the Queen.

It was already decided.

Got it!

The moment I thought that, my arm was seized from the side.

My piercing strike had been halted just before reaching Ariel’s body.

The hand that grabbed my arm extended from empty air.

Then something collided with my body abruptly, and I was thrown back, rolling across the ground.

I hastily regained my footing and stood upright.

That thing came into view, and I froze.

"Master...!?"

It was my revered Master, Guriiedistadies.

His body was riddled with wounds, light had vanished from his eyes, and his gaze was vacant, fixed on nothing.

Could it be... he was dead...?

A presence formed beside me, just as I was frozen in shock.

I had not been attacked while standing there in stunned silence—because the attacker was likewise utterly broken.

Blood stained the white robe in patches, the lower body of the spider likewise drenched in red.

One eye was crushed, weeping blood continuously, as if weeping tears.

Despite the agonizing form, the remaining eye burned with a sharp, unyielding will.

The White One appeared before me, as if guarding Ariel.