Volume 2 Chapter 29 Rangella VS Pastor… The Hoardspirit Dragon Zeth Halcon I
A massive explosion rocked the outskirts of Jewel City Lapis.
It was the kind of blast that could wipe out everything within a hundred-meter radius without leaving a trace.
Even out here on the edge of nowhere, it wasn't empty.
Anyone caught in the blast──dead, or so mangled they're barely clinging to life.
A glance at the bodies said enough.
Some died instantly, others... barely recognizable, torn apart in an instant.
"Hahaha! Incredible! Absolutely incredible! With this power, I could rule everything!"
Standing at the heart of all that destruction──Pastor.
Still dressed sharp as ever, same suit as before.
But the man himself──nothing like the Pastor from days past.
Or maybe not.
His obsession with being 'the administrator' was always there.
Now he just calls it 'domination'──the ultimate control.
Deep down, he hasn't changed at all.
Only now, that power twisted him into something monstrous.
A glowing sphere of blue metal hovered in his right hand, pouring out raw blue magic that lit up the destruction around him.
"Overwhelming force. Absolute might. That's what a ruler truly needs. I was wrong before. 'Managing' people is just making them obey. Hiding behind 'authority'──all that nonsense humans invent to control each other──useless. True power? It's violence. Enough to silence anyone──no arguments, no resistance. That's real strength. That's what it means to rule!"
"...Pathetic, really."
"What was that?"
Pastor turned to follow the voice.
He found Rangella, Tiaris, Ellie, and Ramella standing there──all 4 of them together.
"Well, well. All the top brass in this town, gathered just for me. So, where's your master?"
"Master's on his usual dungeon run. Honestly, the only reason you're tearing things up now is that whoever gave you that power was waiting for this exact moment──when he wasn't around."
"Don't kid yourself! I've got absolute power now! I'm the one in control──you lot, you're just the ones getting ruled. The way I am now, I could wipe that man out like it's nothing!"
"...Give me a break."
Rangella just heaved a tired sigh.
"You? Against Master? Maybe save that kind of dreaming for when you're asleep."
"Don't underestimate me! I'll show you my absolute power!"
Pastor raises his right hand, holding a metallic sphere.
In the next instant, Ellie takes aim with her sniper rifle.
The bullet hits the metallic sphere dead-on... but it doesn't even leave a scratch.
"Quite durable, huh? Though, I'd think that even if it held up, the impact should've blown your arm off."
"Such a dangerous weapon... but fine, watch me unleash my power!"
As Pastor raises his hand, the metallic sphere breaks down into particles, which flow into his arm.
"Heh... Hahahahahaha!"
As the particles settle inside him, a surge of blue magical energy bursts forth, enveloping Pastor's body.
It grows larger and larger... until the magic dissipates, revealing a massive dragon, standing ten meters tall.
Thanks to the influence of the earlier blue orb, the dragon's scales shine a radiant blue, and its form is imposing and sturdy.
"Amazing... this is it! This is my power! The power of 'Hoardspirit Dragon Zeth Halcon,' the one that destroyed the superpowerful nation a thousand years ago!"
Pastor gathers magic into his mouth and releases it all at once.
The blast heads straight for Rangella... but as soon as Rangella swings the 'Dragon Silver Sword Tel Agatha,' the breath attack disperses.
"I see now. No wonder he told us to take good care of this sword."
"It's that strong, isn't it?"
"Still, what now?"
"I'll handle it alone. You 3, go evacuate the others so the damage doesn't spread."
"Got it. Don't mess up, okay?"
"I won't do anything so careless."
In the next instant, the 3 of them turn and run, leaving Rangella behind.
"Oh? You plan on taking me on by yourself?"
"Hoardspirit Dragon Zeth Halcon... It's probably on the same level as 'Astral Dragon Gai Gigant,' isn't it? But, since you've just gained its power and don't know how to use it yet... I'll be more than enough to handle you alone."
Rangella tightens her grip on her sword.
"Heh, interesting. But I want to make this even more fun. How about I take a hostage from the ones still alive around here...?"
Pastor glances around.
There are no bodies or severely wounded people left in the area.
No, wait──he spotted them at the edge of his vision.
Girls in suits and maid uniforms, quietly hauling away the bodies.
"...So, it's already taken care of, huh."
"We were on the front lines. We get used to handling corpses──and the wounded──real quick."
"Hmph! You call yourself a hero, but it's nothing but a grubby way to live!"
Pastor gathered power in his jaws again, seething with energy.
And unleashed it in a heartbeat.
"Pointless."
*The blast fizzled out,* and, in the same instant, his tail came whipping in──but Rangella knocked it aside with a sword swipe.
Without hesitation, Rangella charged.
"You pathetic little human──such arrogance!"
He raised a foot, slamming it down to crush Rangella.
But Rangella leapt clear before the blow could land──springing up, vaulting as high as the monster's chest, sword flashing overhead.
Normally her blade would never reach...but magic shimmered along the edge, extending it──slicing deep across his chest.
"Gah──urrrragh!"
"You really don't know how to use that body, do you?"
Her blade stretched, and with a burst off empty air, she unleashed a flurry of strikes from on high.
Pastor couldn't dodge──fresh wounds opened on his chest, one after another.
"Tch──don't get cocky, hero!"
He swung up an arm, punching with all his might, but...
"'Frostlit Ritual Blade──Songvyr!'"
Azure magic erupted from Rangella's body──she brought her sword around, swatting aside that fist.
No──she blasted it away.
"GUAAGH! Wh-what the hell?!"
"I'm a hero. Of course I've got a few tricks."
"Tch──Don't you dare mock me!"
If one fist failed, then both hands would do.
Pastor lunged at her again, fists flying──
"'Frostlit Ritual Blade──Lunar Tempest!'"
She drew back, poised.
Water-blue magic spiraled around her as she lunged──a single, piercing thrust.
Before fist could meet blade, her magic exploded──blasting his arms right off.
"GRAAAAHH!"
Pastor howled in pain──but even as he screamed, his arms were already regenerating.
"Awfully fast at healing, aren't you?"
"Wh-what even is that?! A technique with that kind of power──I've never even heard──!"
"The technique I use is called the 'Frostlit Ritual Blade'... It's a style my master drilled into me──'Frostlit Blade'. With my affinity for ice, I hone it nonstop, practicing every slash over and over with the Dragon Silver Sword, Tel Agatha, keeping it perfectly stable. Then, when I strike, I give each move its own name. That's how I unleash its full power."
"Guh..."
"The sword itself was forged from an ingot won by slaying an ice dragon. But after I defeated the Yamata-no-Orochi, I combined its ingot too, performed a ritual──and the blade's power soared. The details of the ritual... well, that's a lecture for another time."
"You're saying every slash gets its own name? And that's how you channel such insane power? That's── That's not something you'd ever hear about!"
"Of course you haven't. Why would you?"
Horace's said it a hundred times──'magic craves stability'. That's the foundation.
And now, Horace's battle art──naming each move as you strike──it all comes down to stabilizing your magic through the act of naming.
Getting there takes a deep understanding of how magic works.
Someone like Pastor, who was just a run-of-the-mill headquarters officer, would never catch on.
"Well then... let's not drag this out any longer."
Rangella stood in the sky, glaring down at Pastor.
"Damn it! I am the one who rules! You Adventurers──you're supposed to kneel before me! Don't you dare defy meeeee!"
Pastor roared, voice cracking.
"What's wrong? Now that you're part dragon──with those brand-new wings──does it hurt, being looked down on? Can't even fly yet, can you? What were you expecting, with wings you barely even know how to use?"
Rangella raised her blade, ready to strike.
"Welcome to your crucible. If you think you can survive──prove it."
"I am the master! OBEY MEEEEEE!"
Man and dragon collided.
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