Volume 7 Chapter 42 'Fragrance Of The God', Alkei Fragrance
Moruru was desperately trying to figure out a way to survive this situation.
Of course, winning was already out of the question. Papa didn't say to win. He tested Moruru to see if she could escape properly. Moruru wasn't sure what his intention was.
But in this case, escaping was difficult for Moruru.
If she could just escape, that would be fine. She just had to run away desperately. If she could surprise the enemy with an occasional attack, she would be able to escape even more effectively.
But Ridge was terribly weak. Moruru thought that she might die if she swung her around. Even now, she was breathing heavily on Moruru's back, looking like she was in pain.
What should she do? Moruru was getting impatient. Even fighting alone was difficult, but here she was fighting to protect someone.
Alkei said.
"Oh, I thought you were going to jump at me, but you're surprisingly cautious. Well, then, I'll come to you."
Alkei drew a circle with her finger. Then, mist swirled inside it and took shape.
Snakes.
A large number of snakes were spewed out of the swirling mist like water gushing from a spring. They slithered along the ground, surrounding Moruru and Ridge with nearly a hundred of them.
"I heard you wanted to escape, so I've blocked off your escape routes. I don't recommend trying to break through by force. Each of those snakes is poisonous. You might be fine, Moruru-chan, but Ridge-chan, right?"
"...!"
Moruru bit her lower lip and thought.
The ground path was gone. But Moruru was an ancient dragon. The fact that the escape route on the ground was blocked actually opened up a new path for Moruru.
―――Don't hesitate. Do what you have to do in an instant and survive.
Moruru spat out the mark of the ancient dragon and transformed instantly. She sprouted horns and connected herself to infinite magic, switching from carrying Ridge on her back to hugging her, and sprouting wings to take off.
"Well, well."
Leaving behind Alkei's surprised voice, Moruru soared higher and higher. She climbed hundreds of meters with each flap of her wings.
But for some reason, the fog doesn't clear. Something is wrong. Thinking that, Moruru flies high and bumps into the ceiling.
"!? Wh-What? A ceiling in the sky?"
The ceiling opens. Moruru is speechless.
"Oh, you're so cute. A tiny, tiny dragon."
A giant Alkei, too big to see, looks down at Moruru from far above.
The ceiling they just bumped into. It was Alkei's palm. Alkei, for some reason, stands in their way in a gigantic form, making them look like tiny beans.
Moruru was about to scream at the senseless situation. But she swallows it just in time. Ridge groans in pain in her arms.
"Ugh!"
"Oh, you're going to run again? But it's no use. You can't escape from me."
This place is already inside the incense box.
Ignoring the voice echoing from the sky, Moruru flies around. Sideways, down. The time interval is weird. Moruru lands on the foggy ground, filled with confusion that makes her head spin.
Then, the fog around her clears. She hears a hiss, a snake's warning sound. Countless poisonous snakes surround Moruru and Ridge.
And in front of her, Alkei stares at Moruru intently.
Moruru's face turns pale and her eyes widen.
"Did you enjoy your sky trip, Moruru-chan?"
"Uh, uh, even so...! Moruru won't lose!"
She plugs both of Ridge's ears. She manifests the ancient dragon's mark in her throat and shouts with all her might.
[Dragon Voice]
A loud sound shakes the surroundings. The walls of the stone ruins crumble slightly. The Dragon Voice has that much power.
Even Alkei, no matter how strong she is, couldn't be unharmed by that scream. She is hunched over, bleeding from both ears. The snakes are all flipped over and motionless.
Moruru runs away while she still can. But a voice comes from behind her.
"As expected of an ancient dragon. You did well... I can't let you escape anymore."
"Shut up! Moruru and Ridge are running away now...! What!?"
Running at full speed, Moruru came to an abrupt halt as a shadow loomed before him. The haze cleared, revealing Alkei standing in the distance. Upon seeing her, Moruru realized that she had to defeat Alkei to escape.
"Ugh..."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ridge. I'm sorry you're in pain."
Ridge, held in a princess carry, groaned in agony. Moruru gritted her teeth, unsure of what to do.
Far out of her league. Helpless companions she had to protect. Moruru was torn between her own inadequacy and the insurmountable obstacle before him.
There was nothing she could do. The enemy was impossibly strong. The situation was dire.
Still less than a year old and prematurely mature, the young ancient dragon was on the verge of panic under the immense pressure. Flying away was useless. Running away was useless. No matter how she tried to escape, it was futile.
So, was fighting the only option? But if she fought with all her might, it would put a strain on Ridge. Ridge was already so weak, she couldn't do that to her.
Moruru's whole body trembled. Gritting her teeth, harboring a strong fighting spirit, she couldn't help but shed tears due to her young age.
Alkei said,
"Oh, I see. I apologize. I guess I was mistaken. You may be young, but you're an ancient dragon. I thought you were an enemy I could fight. But I was wrong. You're just a child who needs protection."
"No! Moruru can fight! Moruru can fight!"
"Then come at me. Your remarkable talent is crying."
"U-u-uwwaaaaaaaa!"
[Dragon Breath]
While carefully cradling Ridge, Moruru unleashed a dragon breath from her mouth. The primal destruction. The very concept of destruction. Such a beam should have been unstoppable.
"Time, stop."
But the 'God of the Fragrant Box' simply flicked her finger and stopped it in its tracks.
The pure white beam froze in mid-air. Moruru was confused and realized she couldn't move either.
"Wow... that's incredible. It's okay because I've stopped time, but surely my eyes would be damaged if I stare at it for too long. Even at this very moment, it's constantly destroying this time-stopping magic."
With the eyes of a researcher, Alkei approached the Dragon's Breath and stared intently at it.
"I knew about the existence of ancient dragons, but they're truly formidable. If this is just a young one, then what would the adult be like? Oh well, but I guess an adult's Dragon's Breath wouldn't be affected by this kind of magic."
"Oh well," Alkei said, standing right next to the Dragon's Breath and waving her finger.
Time resumes. The Dragon's Breath shatters the ruins and disappears. The sound of rubble crumbling echoes cruelly.
Moruru was speechless. She couldn't help but cry and look away from the overwhelming enemy.
In the silence of despair, Alkei said.
"It was just a weak Dragon's Breath from a young ancient dragon, but it was very helpful. With this much progress in analysis, I can even perfectly imitate it."
"Wh-what..."
"Moruru-chan, I'm going to take you and Ridge-chan together. You seem to have a body manipulation ability, so the neutralization might be a bit painful, but please bear with it."
Alkei snapped her fingers. Countless ancient dragon marks appeared, surrounding Moruru.
Moruru instinctively hugged Ridge to protect her. The Dragon's Breath could easily pierce Moruru and kill Ridge. But still, there was nothing else Moruru could do.
In the center of the ancient dragon marks, a pure white light lit up. Moruru closed her eyes tightly, as if making up her mind.
[Dragon's Breath]
However, the ancient dragon's beam never pierced Moruru and Ridge.
"...! .......?"
After a moment of silence, Moruru opened her eyes cautiously. The first thing that filled her vision was still fog. So, she couldn't tell immediately.
Amidst the clearing mist, a figure emerged. A familiar greatsword. A ferocious grin. The back that always saved Moruru.
"...papa...?"
"Yeah, it's papa. You did well, Moruru. You found Ridge."
The mist cleared further. Moruru watched as all the ancient dragon sigils that had surrounded them were severed and disappeared. Beyond that, she saw Alkei staring at papa in wide-eyed disbelief.
"...! Oh my, what a coincidence, 'Slow' Wade. What did you just do? How did you cut down those formless ancient dragon sigils?"
"Well, they were just cheap imitations. I'd have to try harder if I was cutting down the real thing, but yours were even more fragile."
Provoked by papa's taunting words, Alkei waved her hands, her face flushed red.
"Don't you dare...! Then, let's start by defeating you first, 'Slow' Wade. I am Alkei Fragrance, the 'Fragrance Goddess'."
Papa ignored her and patted Moruru's head, then touched Ridge's cheek with concern.
"Moruru, step back a bit. This is a fight for adults from here on. Protect Ridge."
"U-uh, okay."
Moruru felt Ridge's breathing getting weaker and carefully pulled her away. Papa watched them for a while before addressing Alkei.
"My bad. Uh, Alkei, right? Changed your introduction? Sounds a bit cooler now."
"You're mocking me to the end...! Very well. I will make you understand that the situation is completely different from before."
"Make me understand? Haha, that's a funny joke."
A dry laugh echoed from the depths of the mist.
"From now on, it's you who will be made to understand. How dare you make my precious, precious daughter cry. How dare you make my cute little sister so Weak."
A chilling voice rang out, and Alkei gasped. Moruru once again realized how terrifying papa could be.
"You dare speak of gods? You, a fraud who claims to be a god! Prepare yourself. I'll rip out your tongue and send you to hell!"
Papa stomped his foot heavily on the ground. He swung his greatsword over his shoulder, and the fog on the battlefield cleared in an instant.
"You are the right arm of 'Oath'. So, I'll cut you down just like my own right arm."
And then Moruru would come to understand just how terrifying his father was as a warrior.
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