Volume 1 Chapter 31 Ruin
"Leoness! Get away quickly!"
Leoness, who regained consciousness at Ryuin's voice, desperately swung his shield and moved away from the root.
"Damn it! That was close!"
The magic cast by Veronica on Leoness quickly lost its effect.
"Why did the magic disappear?"
"...There are three patterns for (Protection) to disappear. One is the passage of time. Another is receiving damage that exceeds the capacity. The last is when the magic is forcibly destroyed."
In other words, either the damage caused by that dragon's attack was on a completely different level, or the magic of (Protection) itself lost its effectiveness. It's probably the latter.
If that's the case, it may be difficult for Leoness to withstand another attack from that dragon.
Veronica's magic power is running out too.
"Flames, dwell in my sword and become a blade that burns everything to ashes── (Blaze Enchant)"
With Ryuin's incantation, the blade of her sword was engulfed in flames.
It was like a magic spell that imbued the weapon with elemental effects.
"Hah!"
As Ryuin swung the sword ablaze towards Leoness, the roots attacking her turned into ashes in an instant. She continued to sprint towards the dragon.
"Grrummble..."
The dragon, aware of her approach, let out a low growl and swiftly climbed up the walls of the sanctuary, as if running on the ground.
At the same time, countless vines emerged from the walls and headed towards Ryuin.
"Haaah!"
Ryuin swept away the vines with her sword, but no matter how many she cut down, they kept multiplying
As a result, she was unable to get close to the dragon.
"I'll fight too!"
Fatina unsheathed her jet-black sword and swiftly slashed at the growing vines.
However, this time, roots started to sprout from the ground and form a barrier.
"Enough! We won't be able to get closer like this!"
"Hey, what's happening now!?"
Leoness looked around and shouted.
As he shifted his gaze in the same direction, he noticed cracks appearing on the walls of the cathedral.
Suddenly, monsters emerged from there.
The creatures that appeared varied from goblins on the upper layer to Minotaurs on the lower layer.
"...M-monsters are coming out of the walls!"
"What is this... Is this also something that dragon is doing...?"
Ryuin and the others were left speechless as they witnessed the scene.
Since I had heard the same story when the Shadow Chimera appeared, I wasn't as surprised. However, in response to the unexpected turn of events, Ryuin stopped pursuing the dragon and retreated.
Fatina also rushed to my side, readying her sword towards the increasing number of monsters filling the cathedral.
"Ark-sama! It seems like this dragon was indeed creating these monsters!"
"It seems so."
In the depths of the dungeon, this dragon was the original source of creating special monsters like the Shadow Chimera.
In other words, if we defeat it, there should be no more attacks on Fatina's village or Voltana's town.
"(Death)"
I cast multiple Instant Death Magic spells towards the dragon and the overgrown vines, causing them to wither rapidly upon contact with the jet-black waves. Then, the remaining (Death) surged towards the dragon.
However, just as it was about to reach the dragon, a green barrier appeared in front of its eyes, causing the magic to dissipate.
(...I should have seen that coming)
The dragon naturally used magic defense, just like the Shadow Chimera and the golems in the middle layer.
It was only to be expected.
"Is the [Instant Death Magic] ineffective too? "
"That dragon has magic defense! So, we have to defeat it with normal attacks..."
As Fatina watched the scene together, she answered in place of Ryuin.
"Flames, explode and shatter my enemies—─ (Explosion)!!"
As Ryuin chanted, a massive explosion occurred near the dragon and the numerous monsters around it.
"Grrrrroan!"
The monsters directly hit by the magic explosion fell simultaneously, scattering into light, just like the large group that appeared with the Shadow Chimera.
However, the dragon, protected by countless vines, remained unscathed as always, and even more monsters emerged from the wall.
"No way out, huh. Is this the end...?"
Leoness murmured, watching the increasing number of monsters gradually approaching, his face pale, already having lost his will to fight.
Ryuin and Veronica have similarly pained expressions.
The dragon has magic defense, so (Death) won't work.
Furthermore, even physical attacks are blocked by vines and tree roots.
There is no escape.
At this rate, we will eventually exhaust ourselves and lose.
(There must be something else, still.)
Despite being in a situation with no options, there was no fear, strangely.
Right now, we need a power that can break through even the magic defense.
A stronger power── a power to defeat all enemies.
On that day, I decided to become the strongest with this power.
Therefore, even if I have to sacrifice myself, I will defeat every single enemy.
"(Quadruple Death)"
I unleash Instant Death Magic at all the monsters overflowing in the cathedral, all at once.
'Grroooann!'
'Kii!'
'Roarrr!'
All the monsters created by the dragon fall and disappear, turning into light.
I unsheathed my broadsword and faced the dragon head-on.
In that moment, a message suddenly appeared in my field of vision.
'The attribute has been determined, and you have acquired a new ability. Displaying Abilities List.'
Simultaneously, the Abilities List automatically appeared before my eyes.
The Abilities List was spread out like a spider's web, with new paths and symbols added in various places that had never been there before, branching out in different directions.
Further ahead of "Soul Retrieval," new branches and symbols appeared, radiating light.
It was a symbol with one big eye drawn on it.
To verify the ability, I touched the symbol with my finger.
"Ruin: Instant Death Magic with the attribute of destruction. Unleashes Instant Death Magic that penetrates the magic defense of the target. However, depending on the strength of the target's barrier, it takes time to destroy and consumes life force and magic power during the destruction of the barrier."
Somehow, I understand the meaning of this ability.
(...I see, so this is the answer I arrived at.)
I point the tip of the broadsword in my right hand towards the dragon──and unleash Instant Death Magic.
The incantation naturally comes to mind.
"Oblivion, devour everything and return to nothingness──(Ruin)."
A dark wave is emitted from the tip of the sword.
Then, the wave collides with and disappears against the dragon's magic defense barrier.
But in the next moment, my vision suddenly blurred, and a large shadow appeared.
It was a skeleton wearing tattered, pitch-black hooded robes and wielding a giant scythe.
"W-What is that monster!?"
"No way, is Ark-san doing this...?"
It truly had the appearance of a grim reaper that appears in numerous stories.
I instinctively understood that this is the (Ruin) of the [Instant Death Magic].
The skeletons summoned by "Ruin" swung the scythe in their hands, and a green barrier appeared in front of the dragon, sparking as they clashed.
'Rrroooaarrr!!'
At that moment, the dragon began to struggle and wriggle its body, as if resisting something.
(...Is it breaking through the barrier?)
Even I, the one who unleashed it, can't quite understand the magic, but it seems that the scythe held by the skeleton is gradually breaking through the dragon's magic defense.
"...Ugh"
My vision darkens, and strength leaves my knees.
It seems that the consumption of magic power is even higher than "Quadruple."
"Ugh... Ghh..."
Suddenly, I feel something welling up and I vomit.
The blood spilled on the floor was mine.
It seems that my life force is decreasing due to the compensation of "Ruin."
"Ark-sama!? Are you okay!? What on earth..."
Fatina supported my body with a face on the verge of tears.
"...It's because of that magic, right? Please, stop... It's enough."
"Don't worry, it'll be over soon."
The values of my vitality and my magic power displayed in the status are decreasing at a significant speed.
The decrease in vitality is rapid, already falling below one-third.
But I'm sure I can defeat it.
"Ark-sama, did you forget what I said? Did my words not reach you?"
In the hazy state of consciousness, I could hear Fatina's words.
I remember what she once told me.
Wasn't it about not trying to solve everything alone?
"...This magic consumes both magic power and vitality. That's why I'm asking for Healing Magic (Holy Magic). With that, the chances of winning should increase."
As I said that, I felt like she smiled in the unseen field of vision.
"Yes! Light, heal that person── (Cure)!!"
"...Light, gather in my hand and heal everything now── (Healing)"
Not only Fatina, but Veronica also seems to have used Healing Magic towards me.
Gradually, the strength in my limbs returns, and brightness and colors come back into my field of vision.
The two of them chant Healing Magic repeatedly and use it on me. Their magic power is likely running low.
Just as I thought, cracks appeared in the barrier that was emitting a emerald light.
In an instant, a sound like glass breaking echoed throughout the cathedral, and the barrier completely shattered.
Then, the skeleton raised the scythe it held in both hands high and cut through the defenseless dragon's neck.
'GGGRRROOOOOWL!'
The dragon screamed, lost its strength, and its enormous body fell from the wall to the ground.
Then, it collapsed powerlessly onto the floor of the cathedral, crawling and motionless.
At the same time, the figure of the skeleton disappeared as my vision wavered.
"The dragon... is defeated..."
Leoness, looking at the motionless dragon, still wore an expression of disbelief.
'Your skill level has increased. Please allocate your points.'
As the message appeared, I collapsed to the ground, devoid of strength.
"Ark-sama!?"
"Ark-san!? Pull yourself together!"
"Hey, Ark! Get it together! You defeated it!"
"...My vitality is recovering."
My stamina should have recovered as my skill level increased, but for some reason, the sense of fatigue hasn't vanished.
"Oh, I'm fine now. Thanks to the Healing Magic, I'm saved."
"No, it's okay. If I could be of help to Ark-sama..."
"I was really worried for a moment there, but I'm so glad..."
As everyone was talking, suddenly the body of the dragon began to glow and slowly turned into particles, disappearing into the sky.
In the place where the dragon was, a beautiful golden key with emerald jewels embedded in it was left behind, floating in the air.
With Fatina's help, I moved closer to the key.
"What could this be? It looks like some kind of beautiful key..."
"After all the trouble we went through, it doesn't seem like a very valuable treasure, but could it be something important?"
As I approached, the key suddenly disappeared.
It felt as if it had been sucked into my own body.
"Oh?! It disappeared suddenly!"
"I'm sorry. I don't know how it works, but it seems to have become my possession."
"A-are you okay? Hmm...we should go to the guild later and have it investigated. Everyone worked so hard today! Now, let's go back to town!"
'The power of the [Emerald Green Key] has unlocked the maximum limit of your stats.'
Suddenly, a message appeared.
(Emerald Green Key...? Is that the name of this key?)
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