"…We hereby begin the Trial of the Gods – Deus Discipline of the Zenith Tower of Babel's Floor 0."
The moment Mariel-san finished her declaration…
——OOOOOOOOO!!!
——OOOOOOOOO!!!
——OOOOOOOOO!!!
The Red Dragon with seven heads roared up toward the heavens.
A violent gale raged, and the ground shook.
Claude, Sara, Claire-san, and the Twelve Knights all stepped back half a pace.
"Eugy-kun! My mana—…huh?" (Sumire)
Sumire approached me, grabbed my arm, and frowned suspiciously.
"Thanks, Sumire. It's dangerous, so step back a little…" (Eugene)
"…Hey, Eugy-kun. This mana…who did you get it from? It's mana I don't recognize." (Sumire)
Sumire stared at me with narrowed, probing eyes.
"...Sumire?" (Eugene)
"Um… I-I was the one who gave him mana." (Anemoi)
Anemoi timidly spoke up from the side.
"Hoo~h… then why does it feel like it's more compatible than my mana? Huh~? Eugy-kun and I are bound by a Body Contract, so our mana should connect more easily than with anyone else. But if her mana is fitting him even better than mine, then that means…" (Sumire)
"Wha…!? Eugy, did you make a move on the Dungeon Master too!?" (Airi)
"This really isn't the time for that… Eugene, is that true?" (Sara)
Now even Airi and Sara had joined in.
"No. Anemoi and I made a Life Contract, and that let us exchange mana." (Eugene)
"That's right! We didn't do anything especially weird!" (Anemoi)
Anemoi and I explained it to the three of them.
At that moment…
"Divine Artifact Replica – Summon: [Chains of Heaven]." (Uther)
Principal Uther spoke the incantation, thrusting both hands forward.
Several golden chains appeared from the sky and wrapped themselves around the Red Dragon's body.
...Grrrrr.
The Red Dragon twisted its body in irritation.
"Charge!" (Claire)
""""""Yes!""""""
The Twelve Knights closed the distance to the Red Dragon at First Knight Claire-san's command.
"Sumire, I'm joining the attack too. Stay back!" (Eugene)
Saying that, I ran toward the Red Dragon using Sky Walk.
As I closed in, a thought crossed my mind.
(This time…the Red Dragon feels strangely restrained.) (Eugene)
It didn't feel like the same Red Dragon that had unleashed destruction upon the Lykeion Magic Academy and the Dungeon City last time.
"[Mystic Fairy Dance]!" (Claire)
That was the opening signal. Claire-san's mana sword strike, followed by the combined attacks of the Twelve Knights, all came bearing down on the Red Dragon.
The guardians of the Dungeon City unleashed a simultaneous assault powerful enough to blow an airship to pieces, kicking up a cloud of sand and dust.
"Twin Heavenly Resonance Style…" (Eugene)
As I prepared my sword to add a second wave of attacks…
——A shiver.
A sudden sense of unease ran through me, and I reflexively leapt backward.
BOOM!!!!
The air itself burst with a deafening explosion.
I was nearly blown away, but managed to land safely.
I quickly looked around while still holding my sword.
"…No way." (Sara)
I heard Sara's stunned voice behind me.
Half of the Twelve Knights were already incapacitated.
The Divine Artifact, Chains of Heaven, summoned by Principal Uther had been torn apart.
(This is just like last time… No, it's different.) (Eugene)
No one was dead yet.
I scanned the area with mana detection. Everyone who had fallen was still alive.
Even so, our fighting force had already been reduced to two-thirds.
"Dungeon Magic: [Iron Execution]!" (Anemoi)
Hundreds of swords and knives rained down on the Red Dragon at Anemoi's call.
Clang clang clang…
They were all repelled by the dragon's thick scales.
Even the Dungeon Master's magic couldn't reach it.
(Then once more, with my sword technique…) (Eugene)
As I took my stance to unleash the secret art of the Twin Heavenly Resonance Style…
"Wait, Eugene. Charging in without a plan isn't wise."
A hand rested lightly on my shoulder.
When I turned around, Principal Uther was standing there.
"But…" (Eugene)
Wouldn't hesitation be the worse move?
At least, that's how it was last time.
"There are very few weapons here that can deal effective damage to the Red Dragon. Most likely, only the God Sword you carry, crafted from the fangs of Cerberus, and the Dragon God's spear, blessed by the Dragon God." (Uther)
His words cooled my head.
I see… I can't just rush in recklessly.
…Thud …Thud
The Red Dragon drew closer.
Its overwhelming presence carried a despair befitting a being said to end the world.
I glanced sideways… Principal Uther's expression was still grim.
He stopped my rash move, but it seemed he hadn't thought of the next step either.
Even his trump card, the Divine Artifact summon, had proven completely ineffective.
(…Something! There has to be something!) (Eugene)
Just as I was unable to decide on my next action…
BOOM!!!!!
Something fell from the heavens.
At meteor speed, it pierced straight through one of the Red Dragon's heads, a flash of light slamming into the ground.
——Kua… ah… ah…
One of the Red Dragon's seven heads fell with a strangely hollow death cry.
"…Eh?"
The voice was probably Airi's.
That flash of light took on a humanoid shape, with star-like silver hair and jet-black wings.
"Honestly, Eugene, you look pretty pathetic~ I came to save you, you know☆"
She winked at me with a snap.
"D-Demon Lord Erinyes!?" (Claire)
Claire-san let out a small scream.
Well, that was only natural.
Anyone from the South Continent would tremble in fear.
After all, the Demon Lord who ruled the South Continent a thousand years ago…had returned.