I had succeeded in blinding the dragon. However, I feared the battle dragging on more than necessary and in order to finish the quest before time ran out, I needed to use a destructive move, even if it meant I'd be destroyed alongside the dragon.
The leaves and ash danced before my eyes, the dragon's sense of smell alerting it of my location. The seen was almost, cinematic... ...
To me, it felt like a final showdown!!
[ Spins the scythe and points it's blade at the dragon ]
" You were quite the worthy foe! However, I'm afraid only one of us can take center stage!!! "
[ Infinite Causality Break]!!!!!
[ Dash ]!!!
In a single blur, I was once again scaling the dragon's torso. An unyielding torrent of slashes tore through scale and dragon flesh as I scaled it's body. This was my final strike, my ultimate attack. It was either here or death.
I channeled every last bit of my magic into the final attack. Breaking through my limits, I decided to use the final move...
" Aaaargh!!!! Let it all end!! No choices, no reality, no dream; The End of Causality,[ RAGNAROK ULTRA!!!!! ] "
[ SLASH ]!!!
Torrents of copious blood gushed out of several holes in the dragon's body. With a finally gut wrenching shriek, the dragon's body tore into pieces. The disintegration effect had begun, each chunk of flesh slowly turning to dust as my feet touched scorched earth.
I looked up at the somewhat, calming site as I realized something, the dragon's heart had not yet vanished and there was a glowing black object attached to it as it fell.
" The Black Gem!!! "
I leapt back into the air, using the scythe to Swifty carve out the gem from the mass of gore and flesh that made up the dragon's heart.
[ Thud ]!!
" Hmmm, so you've been causing all this trouble?! "
" Item Box, Store item!!! "
[ Vanish ]!
Status Window: level up!! [× 152 ]
User: August Grimmseley-Black
Age: 14
Level: 7, 152
Main Class: Alchemist- Ultra Sage - SS rank
Sub Class: Swordsman- Grand Sword King- S rank
Race: High Human
Title: Goddess's Sword
Rank: SS
Physical Status:
Strength: 20,005,000
Agility: 30,000,000
MP: 350,000,000
Health: 270,000,000
Intelligence: 790
Speed: 2,000,000
Luck: 5400
Unique Skill:
- New Skill acquired: Mana Synthesis; the conversion of Mana into any form of Magical Energy - Lv. 10 - A ranked skill
Halo Arts - Lv. 30 ; Rank S
Divine Sword - Lv. 50; Rank S
... ...
" I've claimed victory! But I expected more rewards from this battle, I guess gaining skills has been slow in recent times. I need stronger foes to level up!! "
My father's troops arrived while I was still standing in the crater left behind by the dragon. The damage that beast caused was irreparable. At this rate, only saint class healers and forest mages could restore such a destroyed landscape.
[ Troop soldier ]: " My Lord! Look down, there's someone in the crater below. Shall I mobilize the troops for their capture?"
[ Lord Black raises his right hand, gesturing the men to hold ]
" No! I feel we need not make enemies of this man..."
[ To himself ] : " judging from his aura alone, we'd be dead in seconds, should we try to go against him... Not to mention that weapon of his... He's unlike any warrior I've seen. If he wanted to attack, he would've ".
[ Out loud ]: " hello there!! I am Lord Grimmseley-Black of the Vansneath Domain and ruler of Hart Village, might I ask of your name good sir!? "
[ In her Crater ]:
[ Thought ]:" I guess it's time I revealled myself from the shadows and to the world... I mustn't let my father catch on, he has a keen I for falsehood, a common trait amongst the noble. What I do next is crucial, I have to... ..."
At that moment, a strong pulse of Mana tore through August's body. A pain so excruciating that it brought him to his knees in pain and bleeding...
[ Cough ] !!
[ Gush ]!!
[ Thought ]:" N~no way!! I'm bleeding?!!!! "
Dark Status Window: Due to Magic-Overload from the strenuous use of Ragnarok, the user's body is near eminent destruction... ...
Soul disintegration rate: 10% per minute
Current percentage: 30%
[ Thought ]:" No!! I can't die now!! This isn't happening!!! With all the Mana I've absorbed from the black dragon, the resulting reaction form a sudden release from my body will destroy more the half the domain!!!!! I have to get away from here... Void open!!! "
Status Window: USER'S ENERGY IS UNSTABLE, ACCESS DENIED!!!
[ Thought ]:" WHAT?!!! If the portal won't work, then I have to run!!! "
[ Leap ]!
[ Dash ]!!
My footsteps were no longer graceful. At that moment, they were frantic. Like a gazelle running from a lion. Evident with worry, filled with fear.
My father perceptive as ever, decided to follow by himself. He did not understand why a warrior of such strength would flee so suddenly when confronted with questions.
Current percentage: 50%
[ Cheshire ]: " why are you following me!!? "
[ Lord Black ]: " then stop and let's have a talk!!! Who are you!? And who is responsible for this disaster!? "
Cheshire's footsteps came to a stop as he turned around and faced Lord Black. He knew leaving without an explanation meant making an enemy out of his own family. He couldn't bae that cost...
[ Cheshire ]: " listen, we don't have much time. The culprits behind this is someone you know of quite well I'm sure... The holy knights. They sent their fourth apostle to cause this Measma crisis. I believe they know of your status as the leader of the rebellion...
[ Lord Black ]: " but, how did they...?! "
[ Cheshire ]: " My guess is that you have a mole in your ranks. The fourth apostle, Blanc, The White Ghost, used a self sacrifice spell to act as the catalyst that summoned the black dragon.
The dragon has been slain and I've coveted the black gem with the help of Ragnarok, my weapon. However...
[ Shows Lord Black his bleeding mouth ]
[ Drip ][ Drip ]!!
I must pay a hefty price as a result. If I do end up surviving, I will find you. And if not, consider this a farewell. Remember this, as Blanc sacrificed himself he spoke of an impending reckoning. I believe his exact words were, " Heed me All, THE RECKONING is coming! "
[ Lord Black ]: " the RECKONING!? Wait! You're dying!? Sir, if you would come along with me, the nurses and healer in the village could... ..."
[ Cheshire ]: " it wouldn't work!! No healer can cure my current condition. My soul is being torn apart. That is the curse of they who attempt to Break Causality and it's laws... It is the curse if they who wield Ragnarok!!
Farewell... Lord Grimmseley-Black ".
As I dashed into the distance, I felt disheartened. Those words being the final goodbye to my father simply felt wrong. Lumina could never interfere with something as catastrophic as Causality. Not even a deity of higher station than her could intervene in my death.
Status Window: Mana has Stabilized to some degree, would the user like to open The White Void?
" [ Cough ]!! Y~yes! "
[ Steps into the white void]
Current percentage: 90%
" AAAARGH!!!! "
[ COUGH ]!
[ Vomits up a torrent of blood ]
I took off my mask as copious amounts of blood spewed forth and stained the white void. I knew death was certain and unavoidable. I had resigned myself to that fate. But, for once, I didn't want to die yet. I had to do something. But, what? I could only scream and fight my way through the pain. I put my mask back on and activated it's fortification boost.
" I won't die here!!! This is not my end!! No!! No!! 'you hear me Ragnarok!! I made you!! AAAARGH!!! [ COUGH ]!!! "
Current percentage: 98.5% - [ SOUL DISINTEGRATION CLOSE ]
My agony was intense, unyielding and down right merciless. The true definition of death. I guess I never really understood the cost of death. And now that I understood, I was scared. I knew at that point I didn't want to die. But it was too late.
As my body slowly turned cold and the white void began to collapse, my mind started slipping. I never noticed the blonde haired girl in my void stirring in her sleep...
[ A minute ago ]:
[ Thought ]: " huh? Where am I? Why does this place look so, white? Where's the sky? Who is that? Is that, the Cheshire? No! He's dying!? So even someone of his strength is dying?! I guess there is no hope for someone like me... ..."
[ Cheshire ]: " I won't die here!!! This is not my end!! No!! No!! 'you hear me Ragnarok!! I made you!! AAAARGH!!! [ COUGH ]!!! "
[ Thought ]: " Huh!? He's fighting it, he's fighting death!? I have to help him!!! "