LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 184
From a distance, the Wolf gazed up into the sky. As the Disease leaped towards the Floating Island, a crimson magic circle began to glow.
“……”
I knew whose it was. It seemed to have come to a conclusion. Or maybe it was forced into this situation. Ever since I was told to inform the Square, using Magic Power was inevitable.
Thus, the responsibility rested solely on me.
Of course, I didn’t feel completely satisfied. I knew the potential that the imitation Elixir possessed. Yet still, I had to use it. —I promised. No matter how things changed, I would definitely help.
Without another thought, the Wolf began to race into the sky.
A golden bird made of magic flew, but was devoured in the blink of an eye.
How predictable. Killing the Disease with Great Magic was a tricky task. Only after pushing the limits to their maximum would the way be opened. As the Disease chewed down on the golden bird, feathers scattering in disarray, it was already perilously close to the same height as the Square.
In that moment, as the Floating Island shook and desperately tried to change altitude, a black spot exploded from the trigger pulled by someone.
***
“―――Ah.”
As I chanted the spell, it shattered.
Transforming into something unrecognizable as a human, I pressed on a new path.
This was different from before. Gone were the whispers that had come as omens. I had long since surpassed that level. It felt like the moisture in my retina was evaporating, it was so hot. As my vision turned red, I covered my eyes with trembling hands.
Yet still, it burned hot. The steam flowed between my fingers, and I realized I was truly changing.
“……”
Yeah. The Alpha said there’s no second chance. My human self had reached its limit. Beyond this step was my becoming a dragon.
“Ho, Hong Yu-ri…?”
Looking up at that startled call, I saw Dorothy backing away. I couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction. I was probably a sight to behold. Split pupils, emerging scales, horns… regardless of the specifics.
When I lifted my overly clear eyes, the disaster remained steadfast.
The Great Magic struck directly, but it meant nothing. I hadn’t even bought time. Only smoke billowed from the explosion. The monster, bundled in an insanely tough hide, wouldn’t die. Coldly speaking, it meant my magic was nothing more than a Smoke Grenade.
A hollow laugh escaped me, unlike before.
This was obvious. My magic without Great Magic couldn’t deal effective damage compared to Dorothy’s. Even if I had transformed into a dragon, there wouldn’t be a dramatic change.
Just because I transformed didn’t mean I could reach the Disease. …Yeah. That was just about it.
“Hong Yu-ri! Hong Yu-ri! Wake up!”
As someone shook her shoulders vigorously, Hong Yu-ri frowned. She was already feeling nauseous and on the verge of throwing up… Damn it, why are you shaking me like that?
When I lifted my head again, Dorothy looked shocked. But there was no fear in her response. As I irritatedly swatted away the hands that shook me, I realized that things that should have been were absent.
And most importantly, I understood that what I had seen had not occurred. It was a delusion. It was not reality.
Because, right now in my eyes…
“――――――!”
Was the agonizing form of the disaster.
What I had seen until now hadn’t been real. The Disease was screaming. It writhed in pain and began to plunge downwards.
…How could this be?
My mind couldn’t keep up. Staring blankly at my hands, Hong Yu-ri felt something different from before. It was her hands where scales and claws had begun to grow… No, it wasn’t that. My vision still tinted in red, but no scales or claws had sprouted.
However, what was inside was entirely different. Primarily because the surging Magic Power spoke that clearly. Its meaning was straightforward.
“Ah……”
Letting out a sound different from before.
…I reached it. I finally touched it…! Finally, at last…!
The lifelong wish I had yearned for. There were only a handful of mages with Great Magic. The sense of accomplishment that included me in that count. The days spent in the fantasy world with the Wolf were not meaningless—this was proof more significant than anything.
But joy wasn’t the only thing that came. What was supposed to arrive also did.
It was only natural. The Dragon Blood I had taken in from the outside mixed chaotically with the Great Magic brewing within me. If one came, it made sense that the other followed. It became an inevitability that couldn’t be avoided, wouldn’t be avoided.
The transformation was instantaneous. As blood flowed down my forehead, Hong Yu-ri absently licked it.
Magic-encompassed blood… no doubt about it, it was Dragon Blood.
There were no scales or claws. But what had sprouted on my forehead? As I touched that horn, I realized I had become a dragon.
Thus, I had achieved what was previously impossible. Accepting the Magic of the fantasy world, touching Great Magic and even acquiring Dragon Blood.
Finally, I could deal damage to the Disease. Up to this point, I could finally bring it pain.
…The surging Magic Power and the thumping heart didn’t feel like mine, so I swallowed hard. An inappropriate ecstasy and thoughts washed over me as the Floating Island shattered with a violent shake.
“――――――!”
The falling disaster was being pulled up by countless tentacles. As the plummeting Disease allowed the black branches to support it, the Floating Island began to tilt under its weight.
With the tentacles firmly embedded, Hong Yu-ri bit her lip. When she turned her head sharply, her mentor, who arrived a moment late, looked just as dejected.
The magic was complete. I could use it right away, but if I did, the Floating Island would plummet alongside the Disease. The end of the Square would soon be the end of humanity… I had to eliminate the Black Forest. A wide-scale magic like Great Magic would ensnare the Floating Island as well. I needed a more certain alternative…
But there was no need to ponder that method. Hong Yu-ri laughed hollowly. As if the anxiety that had filled her moments ago had washed away.
“…It’s late.”
The black flames began to rise into the skies.
***
As the Square shook, the mages began rushing out of the buildings. The shaking of the Floating Island, which shouldn’t even quake, meant that some anomaly had occurred.
“……!”
As the entire island tilted, items began crashing down, with tables and chairs moving unpredictably.
“Plutitoare.”
The magic of levitation. With simple spell words, a faint purple magic flowed outward, supporting the falling objects.
“Looks like the base is already laid.”
At that statement, Baek So-yul nodded.
“……Will things be alright outside?”
“Not a chance.”
“Is there any way we can help…”
“Everyone’s running out. Want me to bet? Those people going out can’t do anything. That’s the same for you, So-yul.”
“…….”
“Just sit tight and wait.”
Her tone was strict, as if she wouldn’t take any objections, and though Baek So-yul nodded, her expression remained unconvinced and displeased. Could they really do nothing? Was there nothing they could do like last time? The response she received was.
“However, we can do what we can do.”
Finally, Baek So-yul nodded, but her gaze still flickered anxiously toward the window.
***
As the black Marang glided freely through the sky, black flames rose up behind like an afterimage. The Fear Flame—its endless fire burned the tentacles according to the Wolf’s intent.
New branches stretched from deep within the Floating Island, but there were limits. A considerable amount was already firmly embedded in the Floating Island. It was a distant endeavor to catch the Wolf. Both the Wolf and the Disease knew that.
The Disease gave up pursuing the Wolf, offering only minimal resistance. The Wolf surged forth with the maximum fear flame to drop the Disease.
As the tentacles began to ignite, the Disease, which had been pulled up, groaned in pain. Despite its thrashing becoming more violent, the black branches and its monstrous strength held its weight firmly.
However, the fear flame was fire. It spreads over time. As the black flames flowed upstream along the burning branches, the Disease twisted its body even more, causing the Floating Island to shake and buildings to shatter.
“Magic! Release the magic!”
At someone’s shout, the Floating Island soared higher, but the Wolf knew this was far from over. It had to be severed quickly.
After all, the Floating Island was merely levitating over the ground. Although it was said to be under the control of magic, it also meant it was under the influence of the deity, so escaping the Disease was impossible.
Thus, it had to be pressed without allowing time or leeway.
As it severed the tentacles and kept running, the Wolf climbed atop the massive form of the Disease. The black flame connected to the engulfing ignited like a reverse fuse, finally touching it.
“――――――!”
The Floating Island shook like a Viking reaching its limits, as mages lost their balance and fell.
The tilted Floating Island. Competent mages could float or support themselves with magic, but those who couldn’t were left struggling to hold onto the buildings.
And those buildings began to collapse. They were designed to support their weight downwards. No one builds a structure thinking this could ever happen.
The problem didn’t end there. From the burning tentacles spikes began to emerge. To top it off, the Floating Island thrashed violently.
The deity and the spikes—an unthinkable threat, yet the Wolf knew. That this was its final struggle. Like a flower blooming before wilting, this was its one last chance.
The connected tentacles looked like they could snap at any moment, most of them burned away. Nevertheless, it clung on with a dreadful determination. If not this time, it would never drop it. It too understood that such an opportunity wouldn’t come again.
Just a little more pressure is all it needs.
Thus, the two beasts, full of determination, stared each other down, as flames converged towards the black Marang. When the erupted spikes were finally shot out, countless tentacles and shadows emerged from the Wolf, pushing back and consuming the spikes.
They didn’t eliminate everything. But that wasn’t necessary.
“Iată moartea ta…!”
The remaining spikes vanished in a white explosion.
—Somewhat transformed into a dragon, she reached out. The spikes could not intrude, and despite the Floating Island tilting and shaking, the magic that had gathered like clouds lifted her.
Her red eyes pressed insistently upon her. To end this. To make it fall.
“―――!”
So, the two beasts howled at each other.
The moment their howls resounded loudly, an endless black curtain cloaked the view. The tentacles had all been severed long ago.
The massive jaw of the Disease, which bounced as if it were a last-ditch effort, swallowed the shadow before leaping up to devour the bottom of the Floating Island, yet the magic I had prepared earlier poured forth toward the disaster, sending the one who sickened the earth plummeting back to the ground.
***
It was still too early to breathe a sigh of relief. The condition of the Floating Island was dire. Buildings were collapsing, still tilted, and there were holes pierced by the tentacles everywhere. This meant that the various spells inscribed throughout the Floating Island were in shambles. Moreover, colors were distorting wildly. It turned red, then yellow, then took on a blue hue, before being stained purple. Not only was the magic of levitation unraveling, but the spatial overlays of each Square were beginning to disintegrate as well.
The Disease, battered by the Fear Flame and magic bombardment, burrowed deep underground. But that didn’t mean it was retreating. Down there, it was probably nursing its wounds, waiting to attack. —It knew all too well.
The Floating Island would soon fall.