Those Who Don't Want to Destroy - Those Who Wish to Protect

"Oh no, things are gonna get reaal ugly if we don't beat this stupid lizard asap."

"Why's that?"

"...Neora-kun might've gotten himself abducted by Demon King."

"Eeh..."

"Eh, wait, whaaaat!? What's going on!?"


That's my line. Isn't it too early for Demon King's Menu to get rebooted?
Don't tell me it made use of its experience from its first forced shut down to reboot itself quicker or something.
...Heck it might eventually overcome the forced shutdown altogether the more often that Menu got through them.

If that ever happens, anybody anywhere in the world is at risk of getting jumped by Demon King.
That's beyond impossible to deal with. It's checkmate.

Our schedule had always been a tight one but it's now lost all margin rooms.
I wish I could get more things done first but we don't have the luxury of time anymore.

I knew it would happen right after he defeated the Demon Chief, but I had no idea it would be really that instantaneous.
I thought we'd still have like 2, 3 days grace period considering the timing of Menu reboot.


I'm gonna defeat Black Dragon and raise my level to 90. That's the very last preparation I can do.


"Alma, Reina, Hiyoko. Just like I said, we gotta fast track the plan now that Neora-kun has been brought to Demon King's castle."

"So that means... What does that mean?"

"Whether it's the Demon King or us that lie defeated, everything ends today."

"F-for realsies..."

"...I see."

『Pii...』


Each of them voiced out their anxiety.
Same with me.

...I'd like to soak in this just-before-final-battle mood but there's something I must do now.


"Oh man, guess we hafta save dragon hamburger for later. I'd get the minced meat ready at least!"

『GUROOOOOO!!』


I held my great hammer aloft and faced down Black Dragon upfront.
He can't fly anymore under the pressure of Alma's Gravity Magic.
Now that he's lost his mobility and both our breaths and magic-based attacks don't work, This is now a contest of pure strength.


My great hammer is releasing black smoke and explosive flames from its holes.
Black Dragon's fangs and claws are glimmering with sinister lights.


"Daaaaaaaa!!"

『Gaaaaaaaa!!』


Black Dragon's claws and my hammer head clashed with the internal combustion engine's explosion as the signal.


"Gugigigigiiii!!"

『Guagagagagaaaaaaa!!!』


In just a second, dozens of sparks flew and filled the surrounding area with constant flashes.
Black Dragon's claws bent with each and every hit. His fangs broke apart while scattering fresh blood.

I don't know the exact value of my great hammer's attack power with its internal combustion engine in the play, but judging from the way Black Dragon's body gradually getting torn apart, it's probably reaching tens of thousands high.
Me adding weight just before it hit must contributes a lot as well. This should work plenty against Demon King I'm sure.


"Break!! Break! To pieces! Drop deaaaaaaad!!!"

『Gagwu...!! Gya, ga, aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!』


After hundreds of clashes, his steel crushing fangs and all matter rending claws are all gone.
This would have necessitated a full denture for human, but dragons can apparently grow their fangs back.


『Gigigigyagagaaa...! Kaaaaaa....!!』


Then how about breath, or so it seemed Black Dragon decided as he converged mana in his mouth.


I've been waiting for that, you darned lizard!!


"Almaaaaaaaaa!!!"

"Haaaaaaaa!!"

『Gagyuba!!?』


I had made the arrangement to have Gravity Magic at maximum output the moment Black Dragon motioned a breath attack.
He looks like he's gonna get crushed under the full brunt of the sheer weight, it's now or never!


"Reina! Hiyoko!"

"Hiyoko-chan! Take everything, all of it!"

『GLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!』


Hiyoko grew to her biggest size yet helped with Reina's mana transfer and energy buff.
Her spur trampled on the entirety of Black Dragon, stopping it fully.
This gigantic size will only last for a few seconds, but that's more than enough time.


『Ga, gagakakakakaaa...!!』

"...This is the last one."


I kept spinning my great hammer linked with a chain made of mana and accelerated its momentum with the internal combustion engine's explosions.
This should look nothing more than a small, insignificant mallet to a dragon, but it has accumulated more than enough firepower to kill Black Dragon.

Think I opted this attack to kill Minimum Jormungandr back then.

Aiming it away from Hiyoko's spur, I put all my weight and swung it down Black Dragon!!



"DWOORYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"


『GA, A, AAAAAAAAAAAAA!! GABAHAAAA...!!!!』


My greatest strike yet with this new great hammer.
The sound of it cutting air was a reminiscence of a jet airplane.

Black Dragon's body got gouged out and popped.
A huge hole opened, scattering pieces of meat everywhere.


...That's a fatal wound. He can't even possibly move----


『Ga, ga, gagagabbabababababaaaaaaa!!!』

"W, what...!?"


Black Dragon's body started convulsing like crazy.
Its whole body started blinking light.

Eh, what's up with this 'I'm a bomb waiting to explode'-like effect.
Actually, Black Dragon's mana is swelling up like it's gonna burst open...!?

<<Tame Skill Ability 'Exploding Beast Ball', a Skill that causes a massive explosion by paying the tamed beast's life. The target's Attributes double while this Ability is active. It is estimated half of this continent will turn into a barren wasteland if a beast on the class of Dark Divine Dragon is the subject of this Ability.>>

It literally is a bomb! This is way cliched!
That blasted Demon Kiiiiing!! He went and prepared a stink bomb at the very eeeend!!


"W, what's happening now...!?"

"He's kinda, blinking, it looks kinda bad..."

"He's gonna blow himself up...! In a few seconds!"

"E, eeh!?"


What do!? What should I, what can I do!?

Finish it with my great hammer, ah crap, that strike sunk it deep in the ground, I can't pull it out!

Bare handed then, no his Attributes are way too high to make a dent!

Move him away with Fast Travel... That's only gonna cause destruction to wherever that place is! Would love to send it to K*ng Ka*, but I dunno anybody that handy.

.....
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

Yup, no dice. It's over.
I'll get us and people I marked to safety with Fast Travel.

What about the rest you ask?

No other choice than abandoning them. I really have none.


...This is the result of me giving my all. The worst, just the worst. I'm the worst incompetent.


『Gogogooooo.... Ooo, o, ooo, o, o...!!』

"...?"


Black Dragon stopped blinking just before I could use Fast Travel.
He's fuming smokes all over his body, the swelling mana is slipping out like a balloon.

Can I take it as a sign of an interrupted self-destruct...?
How come?


『...How ironic. To think I am only liberated at the verge of my life.』

"! You...!"


Black Dragon started talking like a normal dragon unlike his crazed growls earlier.
Did he come back to his sense now after all this time?

<<Black Dragon has successfully resisted the Tame Status due to his doubled Attribute values by way of 'Exploding Beast Ball'. However, there is a high chance of the forced control returning in due time.>>

So Demon King ended up digging his own grave with that stink bomb Skill?
Guess he never foresaw that. Dumbarse.

But we're saved thanks to it.
Black Dragon spoke with his fangless mouth while I was sighing in relief.


『Cast aside any notion of me surviving. There is no guarantee I regain my sense if I come under his control once again.』


...!
...Honestly, I didn't expect that.

My image of this stupid lizard is that of a selfish and spoiled bastard that pays zero attention to other people.
It's kinda surreal watching him offering his life for other sake.
...Reminds me again how naive I am.


"...Err, I'd love to do just that, but you might be able to break free once Demon King is defeated. Maybe do a dogeza and I might consider sparing your life---"

『Balderdash. Did you not hear a word I said. I might very well turn back into Demon King's puppet in the blink of an eye.』


Looks like there's really no room for error.
Even moment where he can talk normally like this is probably not for long.


『Further, I bear no reason to apologize to you. I told you before, you must snatch a victory over me if you wish to get an apology out of me.』

"Says the dragon who's barely able to lift his head off the ground."

『Fahaha. What you defeated was a foolish puppet under Demon King's control. I did not lose. As such, I bow my head to none.』


Alright, this guy is dead meat.
I was a fool for having a shred of mercy.


『Besides, your reason for your anger is because of me putting that lass over there in danger. This is between me and that lass, you bear no relation whatsoever.』

"I do... You prolly won't die in peace if I told you we're gonna beat Demon King's butt."

『Why would I? Do you mean to tell me I have a problem with Demon King's death?』

"...Didn't you know? Demon King is your owner, Souma Ryuta's--"

『Demon King, <<That>> is no Ryota. I hereby proclaim as the last individual who saw him off. He might have been reborn or possess his memory, but that thing is no Ryota. You bear no right to say otherwise!』


Black Dragon angrily denied me while coughing up blood and enduring the pain.
It's as if I'm looking at myself, being angry at Black Dragon for putting Alma in danger....


『Ah, I see. I get it now. This is why you are mad. Fahaha, it is all so simple once you understand.』


Black Dragon realized it too and laughed like he finally got it.
I feel like throwing up at the thought of him getting me.
...Not like I don't get him though.


『Now then, that's everything out of the way. Leave the final blow to that lass, and you watch.』

"Eh... Me?"

『Indeed. It was me who made you go through that life threatening experience at the prairie. All will be finally well if you settle the score with your own hands... Gwu.』


He grew a claw and made a cut on his own neck as he said that.
Cutting apart his scales and skin like he was drawing a mark.


"But, I'm no longer, angry about that."

『Do you now. Nevertheless, yo ought to cleave my neck. Or do you mean to let your spouse do the deed?』

"Spo...!?"


Alma turned beet red at Black Dragon's teasing word.
...Maybe I should just end him here and now.


『Lastly, o black haired male... Hikaru. You can not beat that Demon King with sheer strength. There is no winning against 'Infinite' no matter how great one's power is.』

"Wha? ...What are you going on about?"

『And yet, 'Infinite' is by no means 'Invincible'. The most trivial matter might very well be that Demon King's undoing. Squeeze out your entire head's worth of brain juice and think...!』


Black Dragon's body started blinking once again after he finished speaking.

Oh crap, has the countdown started once again!?


『Lass!! Quit blanking out! Go and cleave my neck!』

"!"

『Everybody you know will perish if you don't! All the people you love, those you cherish, every single one shall meet their demise by my hand! Cleave! Cleave me this instaaaaant!!!』

"Almaa!!"


I converted all my remaining mana into energy and buffed Alma with it.
Alma should be as strong as a buffed me now.


"...Good bye."


She muttered that before readying her sword.


Alma turned toward the cut Black Dragon made on himself and swung her sword-----


『Protect this world Ryota loved so dearly.』


I could've sworn that word came out of Black Dragon's head.



<<Level has reached a certain threshold. Upgrading Menu features.>>

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