Chapter 636 – The Invisible Darkness and the Visible Way

000

“Cleon!?”

“Sorry, Lila! …No matter what happens, don’t touch me!”

“What are you talking about!? Hey!”

As Cleon stepped into the breath, Layla, who was watching him from the side, called out to him with a screaming voice.

The magic barrier that was protecting the party changed its position so that when Cleon waved his hand using magic manipulation, the place where the other party was standing was more solidly and firmly defended.

It was to stop blocking Cleon’s path.

Of course, at the same time as the barrier disappeared, the strength of the breath attacking Cleon had to become stronger.

“Kuh…!”

The reason why moaning came out of his mouth was because the shock as if he had thrown his body into a torrent that seemed to wash away not a person but a building was transmitted to Cleon as it was.

Indescribably powerful, as if flowing sideways, it was the elements of water that the undead dragon ruled over.

In addition, perhaps because of the erosion in the gap in the other dimension, each particle of magical power aims and attacks Cleon’s body like a piranha, as if equipped with will.

Hostility and intent to kill, smaller than the air a person needs to breathe, engulfed Cleon’s body.

‘This is an absurd output… Did Lecia throw herself into something like this…!’

What protects her is the barrier of divine magic that Caliburn continues to create.

If even that disappears, Cleon will be caught up in this muddy, black water stream, and his whole body will be smashed.

But—in front of her own eyes, Lesia had done this for real.

With that brilliantly shining sword in hand, I walked into an intense storm that could crush a person’s body.

To put it bluntly, even Lutios, who knows Grecia’s skills best, told Lesia, ‘No matter how much they try, is it really necessary to go this far?’

But she replied with a smile.

‘Because Lutios’ magic is kind.’

Called.

It didn’t feel like that at all when watching the rocks being crushed and ground like dust from the side, but Rutios himself said that he didn’t control his strength.

[Ah, no matter how hot I am~]

When Caliburn, who was holding her hand, said that, the protective shield of divine magical power that shimmered on her surface would turn off and on every time her magic particles touched it.

Fortunately, the sword body wasn’t directly hit yet, but I couldn’t hold out in this breath forever.

So, Cleon, somehow, was walking forward, one step at a time, trying to leap towards the invisible dragon’s mouth.

‘Remember, Cleon. What did Lesia do then?’

Courage, she says, is her first preparation for defeating her dragon.

I’m sure you meant to say that you can’t start without it, but you can’t win against a dragon with that alone.

Even if a human, like Cleon of today, who couldn’t even use magical powers jumped into the breath, it would only leave the original form behind from the point of contact.

When he tried to recall her childhood memories, what came to his mind was Lesia moving as if she was walking down a narrow path.

As if looking for a gap between the torrent of magical power flowing towards him.

It was like going through a labyrinth with the shining holy sword as a torch.

Her steps were full of confidence, her eyes staring straight ahead only.

She never doubted her own victory at the end.

Clearly, there was something in her eyes.

Something invisible to the present self.

However, staying in the breath for a long time with such thoughts was not a good idea.

The one who has to pass through this breath is not Lesia of the past, but Cleon himself of the present.

Even if he kept chasing the shadows of the past, it did not change the reality that faced Cleon.

In the torrent of catastrophe he stepped into, Cleon felt something hit him hard in the stomach.

“Keugh…!”

What I felt along with the intense pain was a shock that shook my intestines.

She almost lowers her head to see if something has flown in and lodged in her abdomen, but that only makes it easier to see what is pouring in front of her.

It is impossible to stop walking, there is no option other than to endure this pain and move forward.

[It’s a rock that came flying~ Apparently, it seems that the surrounding terrain has been blown away as it has been cut away by your breath~]

“Thank you for letting me know…”

Even though I know, I don’t think I can do anything about it.

Inside and outside. In this moment when even the concept of space or distance has become ambiguous, how much further will we have to go to escape this pain?

The length of time the dragon’s breath continued was one minute.

If the breath continued for a minute, what could be left in its place?

Breath is, after all, exhaling a long breath mixed with magical power, so there would be no problem using it more than that if desired.

The breath used by this undead dragon had not escaped that amount of time since earlier.

‘… Huh…?’

For a moment, something about a new possibility flashed through Cleon’s mind, but that was after defeating that undead dragon.

[Cleon.]

At that time, he heard a voice calling him from Caliburn, who was holding him in his hand.

Normally, it was Caliburn that I would call leisurely, saying ‘Cleon~’, but this time it wasn’t like that.

From that, you can see that she’s trying to get her word out pretty sincerely.

[Aren’t you thinking too much? It’s not like Cleon usually. Calmly organize your mind once.]

─That’s what I mean.

That Caliburn was giving sincere advice.

Considering that the minds of the two are connected, it must be that all of Cleon’s miscellaneous thoughts flowed into Caliburn as well.

“——Thank you. I’m more alert than being hit in the stomach.”

When Cleon said that, Caliburn let out an extended laugh as usual.

Then, Cleon felt as if her eyes became clear at once.

I think there was the ‘courage’ that Lecia talked about.

It wasn’t that I was desperate, and it wasn’t that I was trying to be stylish.

Really, when I thought about it at the time, I just thought that the way to defeat this undead dragon and protect everyone was to break through this breath head-on.

However, Cleon was not lighthearted enough to shake off everything and move forward.

As for the reason, it would of course be related to Hertie.

Even in the middle of her battle, the thought of if she were Gaius—didn’t leave her mind.

Talcheq said, for someone or for a great mission.

It is said that most of the guys who go into battle while thinking about such things are full of idle thoughts in their heads, and die first.

The Cleon up until now must have been one of the first to die.

‘I look straight ahead… I only see the way to go. An escape route in the torrent…’

The senses to be used are not only sight, but all senses of the whole body.

There was really little divine magic power to protect the remaining body, and when the breath ended, it just stopped at the level of being steamed with magic power.

Cleon widened his eyes, braced his legs, and stepped out.

OK-

It was only a small part, but I felt that the flow of magic was a little slower than other parts.

Part of the magical power that should flow in one direction was flowing in the direction the breath should flow, but it seemed like it could go against the torrent if it was in that flow.

‘Is it…! It was this! What Lecia saw!’

And Cleon sees.

The path of the elements, shining in the breath.

It was the only other color besides Caliburn, which glowed brightly in the indigo darkness that enveloped the surroundings.

Cleon knew that what appeared to be a light red color was the ‘fire element’ that was at odds with the ‘water element’ that now covered Cleon.

Of course, there is something called the flow of magical power.

It was something that occurred in order for the natural world to balance its magical powers and maintain its function.

And the breath—just as it looks, it creates an enormous amount of elemental elements.

Then, the more the surrounding natural environment saturated with that attribute gets out of hand, the more it gets ruined.

Ironically, the dragon, which can be said to be the guardian of the natural world, is using technology to destroy the natural world.

However, even in such destruction, regeneration takes place.

In order to protect nature from elements that have been generated in excess, mana that is incompatible with the overflowing breath is generated.

And- the magic that conflicts with the breath causes a reaction, but it also plays a role in slowing down the flow of the breath.

The moment he understood everything, Cleon’s body bounced forward like a spring.

With no reason to hesitate any longer, and no need for that, Cleon’s speed really felt like an arrow—no more than an arrow.

Just a little bit, just a little bit of water flow weakened?

You might think that, but that’s not all.

It was not only the movement of the body that became lighter.

And every time Cleon took a step, he felt that he was getting closer to the source of his magical power – his mouth.

A little closer, a little closer!

And at that time- what shimmered before my eyes was not the magic color of the breath that covered me or the path of the element that led me to it-

It was her cloak that fluttered and fluttered in the wind.

Next moment.

Chew! And something jumped out of the torrent and rose toward the sky.

It looked down at the dragon that was breathing its destruction at them, clutching a sword that glowed with divine magic in her hands.

The ones who could see it were Lila, Tokoyo, and Quon, who were holding their breath while being protected by the magic barrier outside.

“…!”

As a bonus- even Mumur.

“Cleon!”

Once again, Layla’s screaming voice echoes, calling Cleon’s name.

However, it could be said that the voice has a slightly different atmosphere than before.

Now, the voice calling his name was full of hope, the opposite of before.

“It’s okay to use all the remaining magic power!”

[Yes~!]

When he answered that voice in the air, Caliburn really took most of the magic power left in Cleon’s body and wrapped it around his sword.

When the blade made of golden magical power became bigger and brighter, a huge beam of light that could easily sever a dragon’s head rose from Caliburn.

As the mass increased, Caliburn became larger, while Cleon was floating in the air- looking at the undead dragon looking up at him-

──True—!

The sword of light drew the trajectory of the crescent moon.

It was the only light shining like the moon in a dark sky without a guiding star.

Even the sound behind it passed through the undead dragon’s throat as if nothing was blocking it.

To the extent that even the expression “Cutting it off” Doesn’t suit him, he said it gently and naturally.

──.

In a situation where even the slashing sound did not sound, Cleon confirmed that the sword had passed through the dragon’s neck- And then, Caliburn.

As a result of using all the magic power available, there was not even the magic power left to float in the air, so it lost its power and fell to the ground.

But- rather than Cleon falling to the ground, there was something that fell to the ground first.

Cooong! As the ground trembled, what fell to the ground was the neck of the undead dragon that was breathing its breath at the party.

And, Cleon would naturally fall on top of that dragon’s head.

The height wasn’t that high, so you shouldn’t have to worry about getting hurt.

However, what worries me is the erosion of the magical power of another dimension that will attack Cleon now that the protection by magical power is gone.

After the breath stopped, Lila was the first to move.

“That idiot…! Why are you doing such a thing…!”

Of course, if she was intelligent, she would understand.

Rather than destroying all the magic that the undead dragon can regenerate, it would come sooner that the entire party’s magic power would run out and they couldn’t survive in this space.

That’s why a trump card that could overturn the game was needed.

When Cleon solved it by breaking through the breath head-on, the party was surely saved.

When Lyla flew so fast that the sound piercing the air resounded, she wrapped Cleon’s body in her magic power and tried to save it.

Suddenly, the fallen undead dragon’s body began to glow softly.

“What!? Could it be that he will not be revived again!?”

And, assuming the worst, he dives her body downward to retrieve even Cleon.

However, fortunately, Lila’s assumption seemed to end in her ignorance.

This is because the dragon’s body, which had begun to emit light, gradually began to fade and become transparent.

Like a welcome

“—This is…”

Layla then saw that the light spread not only to the undead, but also to the colors of the rift in the other dimension that covered the surroundings.

To see this space itself as a phenomenon of eviction, it was too tidy.

A gap in another dimension should be a bit more muddy and sticky.

The feeling that the space itself is being washed away, just as oil is wiped off with water mixed with detergent.

And, while I took my eyes off for a moment, I saw someone standing next to the fallen Cleon.

“There! Get away from Cleon!”

If it was the Exiled Church that created this space, then the suddenly appearing person would also be the Exiled Church.

As she appears in her fading landscape, Layla strikes at her with her staff, which has turned into her spear.

However, Lila, who identified the person up close to her, had no choice but to keep her mouth shut.

That is Gaius, the one he and Cleon had confirmed in the past.

That’s because it was her.

However, there is no doubt that the translucent body of hers is not herself, but an illusion created by some kind of magical power.

“Gaios…? Wait, what happened?”

“Do not worry. What happened can be explained in order.”

“Can we talk? To leave such a welcome…”

At Lyla’s words, Gaius quietly bent her knees and placed her hand on Cleon’s body lying on the ground.

Then, as part of the magical power that made up her body flows into Cleon, Cleon, who has recovered the depleted magical power, slowly opens his eyes.

“…Ugh…”

“Are you out of your mind? Responder.”

“…Gaios…”

Cleon looks at her as he raises her body at the sound of her voice calling her own and meets her eyes with her lila.

At the same time, Quon and Tokoyo, who barely caught up with Layla, come close to where the two— no, the three are.

It was natural to see and react to Gaios.

“This person is…?”

“…I can feel the miraculous magic. No way.”

Quon and Tokoyo, too, had never seen her true identity, but they seemed to be able to recognize her name from the feeling of her presence.

Then, Gaios stepped away from Cleon and stood right there, running her brown hair through her hand and opening her mouth.

“I am one of the Five Elemental Dragons that maintain the balance of the world. The one who rules the people of the earth. It’s ‘Gaios’.”

And, in the clear voice that flowed from her mouth, there was a certain dignity that was incomparable to the fake-Mumur imitated.

“—Even so, I am an illusion of the past that I created. Although it is an alter ego left to convey the truth to the responders who will arrive here someday.”

And, after saying that, Cleon stood up completely from her seat and looked at Gaios.

“…Are you saying there is a truth to be left behind while creating the ‘exam’ that you put so much care into?”

“Wait, a test?”

When Lyla asked Cleon’s words what he meant, Gaios nodded and raised his hand.

Then, from a little distance away, Meumur flew in and sat on her hand.

“Okay. The undead dragon you guys fought a while ago- I, hundreds of years ago. It is an existence that was defeated by fighting to the death here. Not left now Of course, even the Church of Exile who shot you guys.”

“…What the hell is that-“

When Tokoyodo spoke as if he didn’t understand what Gaios was saying, Gaios nodded as if he would explain and continued.

“In Meumur, a magic that automatically activates when it recognizes a responder is planted. A magic that reproduces what happened in the past, creating a tangible illusion. It’s a huge magic, enough to consume most of my mana.”

“…Then, that dragon from before was also an illusion created by your magic power?”

When Lyla speaks in disbelief, Gaius nods her head.

“Okay. However, its power and strength were definitely the same as when it was alive. And, the sensor succeeded in cutting off the dragon’s head. …That feat should never be questioned.”

When Gaios looked at Cleon while saying that, his eyes drifted from his eyes to one arm.

The arm where Rakshasa’s influence is most profound.

“If you’ve made it this far… I should listen to everything. Gaios. What the hell did you run away from? Why did you have to hide yourself so tightly? And- where you are now.”

“Ah… I will answer everything I can. Responder. And- that’s it now. It will make the irreversible wheel of fate roll.”

Then, she turned to Cleon and asked a question.

“And what is in the greatest whirlpool in the wheel of fortune. The responder, it is you.”

To her words that seemed to be prepared, Cleon quietly nodded her head.

“Is it a whirlpool worse than a dragon’s breath?”

“… Huh.”

As if he couldn’t help Cleon’s words, Gaius shook her head.

What happened to him- And then, Cleon asked.

About everything, she started talking slowly.