Volume 5 Chapter 31
Volume 5 Chapter 31: Coming Together
Riding on the back of Ouroboros, I suddenly noticed a translucent light appearing, surrounding us.
Then, that light took the shape of an arena, for which I was very thankful.
「Ah, so this is the battlefield Lorie mentioned. This stable footing is really helpful.」
I landed on the circular battlefield, which had a radius of several dozen meters.
It had been a while since I stood on solid ground.
The surface beneath my feet was somewhat firm. Plenty for comfortable movement.
No restrictions on movement necessary.
In front of me, the head of Ouroboros, descending from the sky, loomed close.
The body lying upon the arena’s grounds.
「Gr… Grrrrr…」
It raised its venomous gaze towards me, its head still poised like a snake.
Moreover, saliva was dripping from its large jaws.
After all, a dragon would still consider me a prey, huh. Thinking that, I readied my sword.
At that moment,
「Rrrrrroooarrrr!」
From Ouroboros’s first head came beams of light, chaotic and intense.
Four light whips and four massive light projectiles descended upon me in a single wave.
「This wide-area assault and bombardment… What if it hits the city, you jerk?」
I held my sword firm and took a step forward to face the attack.
I slashed through the incoming light whips—all four of them at once.
「—!?」
Surprised, Ouroboros narrowed its eyes.
But that wasn’t the end.
「Let’s give you back your projectiles…!!」
I deflected the incoming light projectiles with the blade’s flat.
The projectiles went straight into Ouroboros’s face.
「Guah…!?」
Taking the direct hit, the first head started wriggling in pain, covered in smoke.
Surprisingly, it seemed to have taken significant damage from its own attack.
I thought, then—
「Rrrrrroooarrrr…!!!」
Again, Ouroboros launched light projectiles, this time eight of them, small and fast.
I raised my sword to counter, but then—
「Let me handle this!」
Suddenly, Daisy emerged from her hiding spot. Jumping in front of me she raised her hands, then—
「[Alchemy – Great Shield from Air]」
A massive, thick shield of air formed, completely blocking the light projectiles.
「Friend, leave this to me. I’ll intercept every attack for you!」
「Understood. In that case, I’ll gladly move on to offensive.」
With Daisy’s support, I passed around the air shield and dashed straight at Ouroboros.
Ouroboros, seeing my movement, tried to conjure light whips from its eyes.
「That won’t work anymore!」
Before it could complete its spell, I slashed at its eyes with my sword.
「Gr…Rrrr!!」
In pain, Ouroboros let out its loudest roar yet.
「Man, for a dragon that can’t even die unless both cores get destroyed, you surely cry a lot.」
But this noise was not without its benefits.
Which were very critical for our plan this time.
「Now, through you, I’m sending the signal to the other side… it should be reaching them soon…」
●
At that moment, Gale, who had been delivering punches to the second head of Ouroboros, felt something.
He caught a faint emanation of magic with his fists.
It was the same magic as of that man that he had sparred with countless times.
「This energy… this faint wave of magic is—he’s reached their head… Axel…」
Several kilometers away, whether they are in the same world or aren’t, whether the attack came through the enemy or not, Gale could tell.
The moment he voiced those words, those attacking the second head alongside him smiled.
「Yes, this sensation that makes that shook the dragon is proof that our master is attacking!」
「Indeed, I can sense it. As his wife, I can feel the magic that Axel threw at the ancient dragon, it’s unmistakable.」
All three came to the same realization.
「Then it’s settled. —Time to wrap things up on our side.」
Yes, with the next strike, Axel will shatter the first head.
That will bring the battle to an end.
…For you, this next strike will be your last…!
Therefore, Gale slightly distanced himself from Ouroboros and readied his fists once more.
Following his lead, Berzelia and Saki positioned themselves on either side of Ouroboros, each taking up their own stance.
「Our master’s techniques, you remember them, right? Lysnoir! Absolwent!」
「Of course, as his wife, I know them well! I’m familiar with Axel’s timing.」
「It’s been a while, so I’m not that sure myself… Hence, I’ll continue delivering decisive strikes to make sure it can be killed at any moment.」
As they finished speaking, the magic of the heroes surged.
And with Gale in front, Berzelia to the right, and Saki to the left, Ouroboros’s second head—
「Gi…!」
Perhaps the body reflectively reacted to the magic in the surrounding, but it became defensive.
From its own eyes, it conjured light whips, attempting to put up a guard.
But Gale and the others didn’t stop.
From their respective stances, each unleashed their devastating attack.
「Dragon Fire’s Overlord Strike!」
「—Freeze Ice Break!」
「Secret Technique – Right Fist Lightning Strike…!!」
From the right came a fiery dragon-shaped projectile.
From the left, an ice strike, resembling a towering glacier.
And from the front, a powerful punch driven by a torrent of light.
Without hesitation, they all converged on Ouroboros.
「—!?」
All three techniques could shatter its core and demolish the beast with a single hit.
There was no room to evade, no time to dodge—they struck Ouroboros directly.
And on that day, in this moment—
For the third time, Ouroboros’s second head was obliterated into fragments.
●
「Now, we know your trick. Let’s finish this quickly, Ouroboros.」
To defeat Ouroboros, all I need to do is one simple thing—
…Attack, believing that my allies will destroy the second head.
Yes, just focus on that.
「Here I come, Ouroboros!」
I raised my sword, preparing to strike.
The technique I’m about to use is one I once used when I fought alongside my comrades.
「Now is the time to unleash the Dragon God’s Onslaught—!」
As I spoke, I channeled my magic into the sword.
Then, giant sharp teeth emerged around my sword.
This technique is effective against magical beasts requiring simultaneous attacks, relentless and powerful, leaving no time to rest.
「Dragon God’s Feast Slash, Dragoneel Force Bite…!」
This techniques uses mana to create numerous fangs to continuously mince the opponent from above and below.
「ー!」
Pouring my strength into it, I unleash this technique at Ouroboros’s first head.
「…Guah…!」
Faced with fangs far larger than itself, the Ouroboros hesitated for a brief moment—whether out of fear or sheer shock, it was unclear. But then, with a shake of its head, it conjured whips of light from its eight eyes.
But, even as it tried to intercept my strike—
「—?!」
Tearing through the whips of light, the fanged swords plunged into the Ouroboros’s head.
With a savage strike, the magically-formed fangs tore through its neck and skull—ripping them apart.
Then, cleaving straight through the core hidden deep beneath its reverse scale, they split and shattered it completely.
And then—
「—Ooh…」
It seemed the core of the second head was also shattered.
Ouroboros’s entire body began to crumble, falling into dust.
●
In the human world, Cattleya, Botan, and the others had witnessed the vanishing of Ouroboros.
「Ouroboros is disappearing!」
「So that means—Axel’s got it on the other side as well!?」
「Yes, it seems he succeeded… Indeed, every time I see it, it never ceases to amaze. A hero truly is something else.」
「Oh, yes. That’s what I imagine a hero’s battle to be like.」
「Exactly. They’re the ones who’ve defeated the Demon Lord, Demon Generals, and magical beasts time and time again—strengthened by their trust in their party members…」
●
As Ouroboros’s massive form is cut apart and dispersed, Parum, alongside Lorie, watched in awe from the windows of the palace in the Spirit City of Inbolg.
「Such an overwhelming power…」
「Carrier Axel… The rumors didn’t do him justice, he is far stronger than they would suggest…」
The two women share exclamations of wonder. From outside the palace, cheers rise from the people of the Spirit City.
There, Axel, having concluded his battle, began to descend.
Seeing him, and then taking a look at Lorie beside, Parum quietly muttered—so softly that only Lorie, standing next to her, can barely hear.
「Ah… Maybe this man… could help us…」
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