Final Battle ㉑
He did not intend to be complacent or careless.
I am not infallible either.
Not all things can be anticipated. Unexpected events occur regularly.
Under optimal conditions, one could gather information using various spells and implement countermeasures accordingly.
Yet, at this moment, I was far from optimal condition.
I had expended considerable energy in the conflict with the dark.
The battle began with a black ambush, placing them at a complete disadvantage from the outset.
The plan had been to lure Black into my field for the final confrontation. Instead, upon opening the veil, I found myself thrust into Black's domain.
As a result, I had to begin by repainting the black field to my own field.
But of course, Black did not allow that easily. He struck with a blade that inhibited the regeneration of physical damage.
As a result, I’m covered in blood.
Even so, I gradually repainted the field. Just when I thought I had gained the upper hand, Black charged with suicidal resolve and gouged out one eye.
I was lucky not to have my mind completely shattered—but this damage is severe.
Most of my fragmented forms were destroyed during the field reconfiguration process...
To be blunt, my current state is precarious.
Extremely precarious.
Probably just barely holding on.
If I take any more damage, I might actually die.
Thus, I cannot use most of my energy. And since I cannot use energy, I cannot use most magic either.
I am not careless. I am not complacent. But the restrictions are undeniable.
That is precisely why I assessed the enemy's priority level and addressed them in descending order.
The wind dragon was, by far, the most troublesome presence here.
At the current moment, the younger sister and the ice dragon.
Sophia has grown significantly stronger thanks to the small dragon wrapped around her arm—this small dragon also uses healing magic and provides additional support.
The ice dragon is firm.
The debuff subtly weakening me from this side is annoying.
The final fire dragon was, well, ordinary.
No, I'm not weak, though.
Something like that. I mean, no distinguishing features. Yeah.
Concentrating on these four, in order from above, and excluding the others—this was a correct judgment.
Yamada-kun's divine protection was a threat in terms of shifting the balance of the game, but I thought it was of little use in a confined battlefield like this.
Yamada-kun himself isn't that strong, after all.
Even if one claims the power of heavenly grace can manipulate circumstances to one’s advantage, I will not fall behind Yamada-kun, even if the situation becomes favorable.
The same applies to Oshima-kun.
Oshima-kun’s barrier possesses adequate strength, but it is not unbreakable.
Oshima-kun himself is no stronger than Yamada-kun, and since he can only defend, leaving him unattended poses no obstacle.
The Pope is near death. Left unattended.
The old man is strong for a human, but that is only relative to human standards.
He presents no issue if left unattended.
If I had surplus energy, I could have redirected awareness toward them as well.
But I lack that surplus at present.
The decision to prioritize and eliminate targets in order of importance, within limited resources, was correct.
It should have been correct.
Then why is the situation like this!?
She was firing shadow magic projectiles into the wind dragon and fire dragon.
Given the incident with the dragon man earlier, she had decided to proceed with caution, avoiding close proximity, and intended to slaughter them from a distance.
This approach should not have been incorrect.
Yet, she was suddenly attacked from behind.
Something bit into her neck.
A grinding sensation—her soul was being scraped away.
Outsider attack.
Same as with the dragon man earlier!
She looked at the assailant, and it was—again—the dragon man.
The dragon man, who should have been dead, was attacking once more, torso only.
What the hell is going on with this thing!?
He should have died earlier!?
And why is he moving with just a torso!?
No right hand—so he’s jumping with only the left?
Even dead, he still shows his fangs? Too much obsession!
Just stay dead, damn it!
Horror both in context and in visual composition—what the hell!
Yanking the rushing dragon-human away, slamming it to the ground.
The corpse, torso only, ceased movement entirely after that.
No—its prior movement was abnormal to begin with.
Why could it move?
At that moment, a sudden, unpleasant premonition arose. Turning around.
There stood Yamada-kun, raising a single sword.
Recognition strikes.
Yamada-kun revived the dragon-human?
But how?
Ah! That strange old man’s transfer?
Damn it!—I didn’t even consider Yamada-kun’s involvement!
And worse.
The sword in Yamada-kun’s hand is the Hero’s Sword.
A sacred blade, D-grade, capable of a single, immensely powerful strike—usable only by the Hero.
The Third Prince, Reston, claimed the sword had been passed down through the royal family since the previous Hero, Julius, had discovered it, and then handed it to Yamada-kun.
When the sword came into Yamada-kun’s possession without knowledge of its origin, I recognized the danger of Heavenly Blessing.
Misjudging that Heavenly Blessing was my mistake.
I hastily fired a dark magic projectile toward Yamada-kun.
It was blocked by the barrier erected by Oshima-kun.
Damn it! I couldn’t generate enough force to pierce Oshima-kun’s barrier—too sudden.
Then, direct impact is the only option.
Yamada-kun’s speed is sluggish from my perspective.
My fist will reach him far sooner.
Of course, I’ll break through the barrier!
"Harmony!"
At the exact moment my fist was about to pierce Yamada-kun’s chest, the Pope’s voice echoed.
And my fist did not wound Yamada-kun. It merely touched his chest with a soft *plop*.
A strange sensation, as if all power had been nullified.
Attack... nullified!?
Too late!
Yamada-kun’s Hero Sword swung.
Too late!
I attempted to activate the Evil Eye with my remaining eye.
...I tried to activate it.
Blood dripped from the eyelid severed earlier by the dragon man, blinding me for a moment.
The Evil Eye failed to activate.
Then my body was engulfed by a torrent of light erupting from the Hero Sword and was blown apart without a trace.