521 – Fiend (side: treant)

As a result of Alexio’s injuries, the battle has turned into a war of attrition.

Aro-dono and I use our magic skills to drive away the dragon riders’ attempts to rescue him.
One of the dragon riders tries to forcefully push through heedless pulled towards us by Aro-dono’s [Gale], and killed by her strengthened arm.

Atlach-nacha-dono maintains the offensive with swift [Severing Threads], gradually wearing away at Alexio’s strength.
Her poison isn’t as strong as lecherta-dono’s, but it is still having a significant effect.
With each injury, Alexio’s movements become slower and cruder.
In the meantime, we eliminate one dragon rider after the other.

At the start, there were about twenty dragon, but we’ve cut them down to around ten.
Alexio seems to have reached his limit, as he’s fallen to his knees.

“I-is this as far as I go…? I am… I am Saint-sama’s foremost Holy Knight, Alexio Ozroad!”

Alexio looks up and shouts.

“S-someone, come! Hurry!”

It’s seems we’re finally at the ending.
As expected of atlach-nacha-dono.
Since evolving from a nightmare, not only have her physical abilities grown, but her fighting style has also gotten more tricky.

Alexio’s simple speed and power make him a significant threat.
But, with his straightforward way of fighting, he might have been good match-up for atlach-nacha-dono.

Just as I become certain of our victory… I spot a dragon diving down, having slipped past Aro-dono’s [Gale].
Hm… She’s been keeping them at bay so skilfully all this time, but did Aro-dono make a mistake? She might be reaching the limit of her mana.
As I look up at the dragon, I notice that its colour seems a little strange.

The dragon’s surface is speckled with red flecks, and its eyes are unfocused.
It’s also strangely thin and wrinkled, appearing to be all skin and bones.
At the base of its throat is a pain-fully looking bite mark.

And yet nonetheless, it’s far faster than any of the other dragons.
At that speed, it’s not surprising that it managed to slip past Aro-dono’s [Gale].

“…That dragon is already dead.”

Aro-dono says as she stares at the flying dragon.

『Wh-why is a dead dragon still moving?』

I ask, but she doesn’t reply.
Glancing at her face, I see an expression of bewilderment.
I wonder if it must be the result of some peculiar skill…?

Just before she’s able to finish Alexio, atlach-nacha-dono leaps backwards.
A girl has jumped down from the flying dragon corpse.
She falls in a straight line and lands next to Alexio.

Having lost its rider, the dragon plummets and slams head-first into the ground, breaking its neck.
It’s returned to a lifeless corpse.

The green-haired girl who has suddenly appeared is wearing a dark dress.
It doesn’t look like and outfit suited for the battlefield.
But, it’s clear from her landing that her physical abilities are far from normal.

She fell from a great height, but there’s not a single sign of injury on her.
The presence emanating from her… It feels like a corpse, a deeply unsettling impression.

“The [Fiend of the Great Prison]… Why is she here?”

“Saint-sama said she would be used against the evil dragon directly…”

The mood of the dragon riders is also strange.
Reinforcements have arrived during their crisis, yet they seem to be only more discouraged.

“Y-you are… Aruane-dono, was it? Thank you.”

Alexio fearfully addresses the girl.
The green-haired girl called Aruane appears to notice him for the first time and opens her eyes wide, before breaking into a strange wide smile.

“It’s only the third, so it’s fine, isn’t it? Saint-sama said she’d let Aruane have up to five.
Aruane is no good when she’s hungry, you see? So, it’s okay, right? Commander-sama looks like he’s about to die anyway.
Right? This way he can probably be more useful to Saint-sama.
Right?”

“Wh-what are you…”

Clearly disturbed, Alexio drags his body away.
Aruane swiftly circles around behind him and sinks her teeth into his neck.
It’s over in an instant.

Alexio tries to shake her off, but the girl doesn’t budge.
He might be weakened, but it still feels uncanny to see a man capable of fighting Volk-dono on equal terms completely unable to escape from the thin arms of a little girl.
Over the course of a few short seconds, his body rapidly shrivels, and specks of red rise to the surface of his skin.
Then, he collapses to the ground, dead.

“Aaah, commander-san’s blood was so good.
After all, if it’s not a human’s blood, it’s too unsatisfying.”

Aruane wipes blood from her mouth with the back of her hand.

I’m unable to comprehend what I’m seeing.
All three of us are unable to do anything but watch in shock.
Was she not brought here by the Saint?

“Alexio-sama was killed!”

“That’s why I said we shouldn’t have brought her!”

The dragon riders scream and fly away.
Aruane sleepily points a finger at the retreating dragons, counting them.

“…Nine, ten.
Hmm… Aruane promised not to be seen by too many, but it was an emergency, so maybe it’s fine.
It’s fine, right? Right?”

She mutters, then looks at us and smiles.
As I see that smile, I realise.
This human, no, this devil, is clearly not the kind of opponent we can fight.