Volume 3 Chapter 23 Horace and Sid. Before the Disaster Dragon...
Facing the disaster dragon...
Tornados. Eruptions. Fierce rains. Quakes.
So many disasters, and any one could kill.
Still, a disaster has no reason behind it.
Dragons, the top of all flying beasts.
But... only a handful could trigger disaster──just by being there.
Calamityshade Dragon, Terra Disas.
In a swirling death of wind, its crimson scales shine.
If this was another age, it would have plunged the whole world into despair.
But, what if──
What if... a creature like this, and not just some fragment, but the real thing──what if there were two of them?
"So that's the true body, huh. Heh, couldn't take you down under the Great Mine of the Gold World... but you couldn't finish me either."
"Yeah... Didn't think we'd get our answer this soon, Sid."
Sid, coat whipping in the wind, showed up beside Horace in the wide, open plain──the dragon looming over them both.
Both men looked up at Terra Disas.
They understood now.
Something about its presence clicked──settled in their minds.
"When I saw the Terra Disas that came to Jewel City... I honestly didn't get it."
"Yeah, I'd expect that."
"If I had to say it out loud... that one wasn't even close to the kind of monster that would freak out you, Sid──who knows way more than me."
Terra Disas showed up in Jewel City Lapis.
Sure, that thing alone would change the world.
But neither Horace, nor Sid──who stands on his level──considered it a true threat yet.
Horace had seen Terra Disas in Lapis for himself.
But it didn't seem all that scary.
"This one's the real deal. It's 3 times bigger, easy. And its body... some parts are way tougher. This has to be the main body."
"True. Still, fighting something like this──says a lot about the times. Feels like the world's lost its balance."
"No kidding."
Horace turned to Sid.
He was certain──about 'something.'
A look on his face, unshakable.
"I get it. You guys think it's right to 'kill something to kill something else.' But... we try to avoid 'deaths unrelated to will,' like disasters."
"Good, yes, exactly. The Calamityshade Dragon Terra Disas is indeed quite strong... but the problem is that it 'causes disasters just by existing.' The dragon's will has nothing to do with the disasters, and people die without any intent to kill. That's inconvenient for us."
"That's why, if we just focus on dealing with that thing, I thought we could work together."
Words from someone who understands.
These 2 are spinning the tale, though they haven't met many times.
They only met once before, during the 'commotion' caused by Pastor, in the underground of the Great Mine of Gold World (Kinsekai).
Yet, they speak as if they understand most of each other's 'circumstances.'
"Let me tell you, paralyzing you back then wasn't a mistake. I predicted the revival of that disaster was close, so I minimized your interference."
"Hahaha! Excuse my rudeness. But this line is also mine. The fact is, you weren't going all out then, and your movements didn't match my expectations."
Sid speaks, his smile unbroken.
"However, holding back... it was also within the 'controlled state' I had. I also thought your strength wasn't as much as I expected."
"...I won't deny it. I didn't think your defense would be so high, but it makes sense considering 'our characteristics.'"
Both had held back their strength when they fought in the past.
However, when they say 'holding back,' they're talking about 'firepower.'
If they had held back their firepower, they could have allocated those resources to 'defense,' and it wouldn't have turned into a thousand-move stalemate with no productivity.
That interpretation might also be possible.
But with them, it's different.
Just attacking is fine, and they casually 'add tricks to it,' making it seem so easy.
That's their way of fighting.
Even a simple bullet, once it hits, who knows what could happen.
Even if it was just a simple spray of bullets, there was something more cunning at play.
Since they both did this to each other, if one poured resources into 'defense', the other could undermine it with a well-placed trick.
In essence, these two had nothing to do with 'simple fighting tactics'.
That's the level they're at.
"I'm not too fond of fighting with all my might beside you,"
"But one day, we might have to fight. And I don't think you'd want to show me all your cards. Yet, saying 'such things'... I don't believe you'll really use all your cards either, Horace."
"...Now that I think about it, you've been 'watching Eudynes closely', haven't you? How much do you understand?"
"Yes, she liked surprises too. Your methods, they're quite similar."
Sid spoke fondly of Eudynes.
"*...I see*."
In response, Horace thought deeply and nodded once.
Horace pulled out a Cube from his pocket, while Sid took out ten coins.
The Cube and the ten medals each glowed.
"'Deus Ex Machina'"
"'Christy Flask'"
Red armor covered Horace's entire body.
Sid's coat turned into a white lab coat, and the ten medals transformed into flasks.
"It doesn't matter how strong he is. My victory is already set in the scenario."
"Heh heh, shall we begin? An experiment with a 'total annihilation' outcome."
Horace summoned a large machine gun, while Sid created water marbles in front of both hands.
At this point, their consciousness, their thoughts, were optimized for 'battle'.
They exuded an overwhelming presence.
There was no thought of hiding or striking by surprise.
If one specialized in hiding, their firepower would be reduced due to resource issues.
That wouldn't work against this dragon.
That's why they prepared the firepower needed to take it down head-on.
Even the Terra Disas──the strongest race soaring across the sky──when they unleashed their full, dominating spirit, their eyes...
'...Maybe this is just how things are now.'
That's what was whispered.
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