Chapter 771 – The Flame Dinosaur Burning With Fury

000

After sending Lila and Cleon up to the top of the magic tower, Bentuna stayed there and blocked her magic flowing from the magic tower, just as she had told them.

However, although it may seem easier said than done, as the amount of magical power slowly began to increase, an amount of magical energy that would be difficult to stop alone was about to pour out like a torrent.

To use an analogy, should we say that what used to be plugged with a finger at first has to be plugged into a hole in the wall of a dam, but now one has to insert one’s entire wrist?

“Ha… If I had known it would be this difficult, I would have said I would go up.”

─ Although he said that, he also knew very well that his body felt like it was going to burn up due to the intense heat above.

When Ventuna thinks that it is difficult for both sides.

[Lie. Actually, I didn’t want to go up even if I died.]

A familiar voice was heard.

As for who the owner of that voice was, Ventuna did not react in any way in surprise, but rather narrowed her eyes and looked at the colorful spirit stones floating in front of her-

Find the blue spirit stone that emits the brightest light – that is, the spirit stone that contains the magic of water.

At first glance, there were large cracks in it, and it was showing the strongest magical response, as if burning out the last flame before it went out, but she could feel that she was slowly dying.

[You are always like that. They say they want freedom, but they always run away from the greatest danger.]

In response to the sarcastic tone, Ventuna frowned and answered the voice of the dead that spoke to her and called her name.

She said, “She just learned that being a coward lives longer. Like anyone else, I didn’t want to fight head-on in a fight I couldn’t win and then die horribly. Aqua.”

[Our spirits do not die. Just go back to being a part of nature. This spirit and ego will be absorbed into the spirit vein once the spirit stone is completely destroyed. And one day, another me will be created.]

“Don’t you think that bondage is a bondage?”

This time, when Ventuna asked her sarcastic question, Aqua answered her with her pooh-pooh smile.

[I’m the kind of person who doesn’t have any problems even if I’m tied down.]

“I guess it’s because you’re the one binding it.”

When she recalled that Petrus had tried to force her into his plans, Ventuna responded to her as if he was tired of her and tried to get her off his nerves.

However, Aqua persisted and continued to talk to him.

[Do you really think Lila can defeat that Spirit King? Of course, the compatibility of attributes is not good, but no matter how genius you are, there are limits to the human realm. How can he be so ferocious that even ancient magicians sacrificed countless sacrifices to control him?]

“Lila has already surpassed many of our expectations. If she’s like that, you can’t say she doesn’t have potential.”

[Hey. You really take Lila’s side. It seems she has completely surrendered herself to him.]

Perhaps because he had a feeling that this would lead to a pointless argument, Ventuna sighed softly once again.

However, Ventuna also knew why Aqua was like this.

She is like a sister to me, and I have seen her for a long time.

“Are you so upset about losing to Lila?”

[…

To Ventuna’s words, Aqua suddenly made no reply.

Yes, Ventuna knew well why she acted like this.

Aqua said she always had to be the best.

If you had to choose between upstream and downstream, it was a fish that wanted to swim upstream, and if you were comparing the bottom of a mountain to the top, it was a fish that wanted to be at the top.

As always, when she said she would become the best water magician in this town, she wasn’t just bragging, it was probably her true goal.

But was that really the end of the goal?

No, if she were walking down the street in this town, and she happened to meet a villager, she would stop him and ask:

Who is the most skilled genius wizard in this Helix?

Then they will point to one person with their mouths together.

Helix’s greatest genius wizard is Lyla Flamewatch.

Of course, there may have been an impression left by her grandfather, but even if that image was erased, Lila’s magical skills were already famous from a young age.

Prodigy, Genius, Gifted, all kinds of praise that Lila received when she was still young.

However, because Lila’s shadow was so large, Aqua, hidden beneath it, could not always be the best in this Helix.

So, if only she had defeated her Lyla in some way – she could have robbed her of her top spot.

She could have stood on her head, Lila.

That goal has already been defeated.

She was defeated and faced her death, but Lila defeated her and not only maintained her supremacy, but also maintained her comrades, her mansion, and her grandfather.

She succeeded in protecting everything she was carrying.

Even her perfect victory, which no one could complain about, and her joys and sorrows over her perfect defeat, were nothing but humiliations for her.

It seemed like the sound of water bubbling and boiling could be heard from somewhere.

Did the temperature above rise and reach here? She looks around, but what she sees is still a large group of spirit stones spread out in front of her.

“Ah. Sorry. “I guess that doesn’t matter anymore.”

And when Ventuna spoke in conclusion, Aqua, who seemed to have exploded, raised her voice as if she was talking about something and was about to come to protest to Ventuna.

＂Heo-eok… Heo-eok…＂

When Ventuna, who thought she heard the old man’s voice gasping for breath, looked behind her, there she was, barely standing with her cane on her back, looking at her.

＂… Mr. Fromme. Why here?”

By now, it was the appearance of a person who would not be strange to be protected at the Flame Watch family mansion along with Petrus, who called herself her grandson.

But then, no, she must have decided that she couldn’t sit still in this situation and moved her body first.

Even though he was well past his active duty days, it was quite an accomplishment just to pass through the village square where familiars ran rampant and come all the way here.

“What about Laila and that young man?”

“Above. You’ll be facing off against Rex Ignis. “If it hasn’t turned into ashes yet.”

When Ventuna says something a little mean on purpose, Fromme gets excited and snorts at her.

“If that were the case, the snake’s laughter would have echoed throughout the village. Lila will still be fine.”

“What. I guess so.”

When Ventuna also nods her head in agreement with Fromme’s words, Fromme confirms that what Ventuna is doing is controlling her magical power to prevent it from flowing into her village.
Her eyes were frowning.

“The eruption of magic power is getting worse.”

＂That’s right. If it’s okay with you, I think you could help me.”

In response to Ventuna’s words, Fromme also gave an ambiguous answer, making it unclear whether she was taking a deep breath or sighing, and withdrew her arms and held the staff she was holding with both hands. Got it

The next moment, he slammed the bottom of her staff into the ground, and the wooden surface of the staff came loose, revealing the iron staff hidden inside.

The staff, which was similar to a combat baton that was often made to block enemy weapons in close combat, was very worn, clearly showing that Fromme had been using it since her youth.

However, since it is a staff made entirely of iron, it must of course be quite heavy, and Ventuna seemed a little surprised by the fact that she was carrying it around on a regular basis.

＂… Are you still correcting it?＂

“If you can’t carry this much, you should retire as a wizard, not as the acting chief.”

And the next moment, the ground around the magic tower began to shake, and slowly, the land rose and became a natural barrier blocking the entrance to the magic tower.

＂Guardianship is the realm of the magical power of the earth. Holding back the flow is not suitable for a wind elemental gale gazer.”

＂It’s just as you said.＂

And between that barrier, Fromme’s magical power was flowing so tightly that it became like a net, acting as a filter that prevented her inner magical energy from flowing outward.

It would be appropriate to say that Ventuna used her body to block the hole in the dam, and that Fromme built a new wall in front of it and blocked the water.

Then, there will be no reason for Ventuna to remain attached to the dam.

“Okay, then I have to maintain this place. What are you going to do?”

“Even if I go up, I don’t think it will be of much help due to my attribute relationship with Rex Ignis.”

When she answered like that, Fromme answered her with her displeased expression.

“Is it scary to go upstairs?”

“Honestly, isn’t it? The opponent is the Spirit King. Mr. Fromme also heard that Laila’s grandfather saw her working under a contract with that guy.”

In response to Ventuna’s honest response about her fear, Frome moaned again and stroked her own beard while making noises.

“Of course, Rex Ignis’ power is strong. With a heat that melts not only rocks but also any metal, its huge, violent and agile movements are a threat to any enemy.”

“I’m rather curious. Why did such a spirit king have to make a contract with modern humans?”

Due to Rex Ignis’ personality, he could not have signed a contract that bound him to a human.

But still, if it is true that a contract was made with Laila’s grandfather, there must have been a reason why even Rex Ignis could not help it.

“What, you don’t know? When we first discovered the ruins of this magic tower, it had a guardian. However… Perhaps because I had not moved in this place for a long time, I had some mental problems.”

Ventuna nods her head as if she understands when Fromme says that she has been living alone to protect the Magic Tower for a long time since the end of the era of the Magic Tower.

“It was a huge, living tree. But after growing for a thousand years, he needed enormous magical power to maintain his body. Well, it has become a monster that is absorbing all the magic power needed to sustain all living things around the Magic Tower, so we came to these ruins to deal with it.”

It said that it was part of the World Tree, and if it continued to grow like this, it was clear that it would become a monster that absorbs everything, more threatening than the World Tree.

That’s why Laila’s grandfather, Fromme, and their companions decided to remove the tree and instead protect the seal of the magic tower themselves.

“But he was powerful. Brother—It is said that Lila’s grandfather used flame magic, but it was something that could not be reached by a guy with strong magical power. But if there was someone there with the same interests, the story would be different.”

As Fromme said that, she raised her head and looked at Ignis, who was on top of the magic tower.

“I once released Ignis from the seal, and my brother made a contract with him. And with Ignis’ cooperation, we were able to create just enough firepower to reach that tree. The battle continued between a wizard who didn’t sleep for a week and spewed fire, and a monster who repeatedly regenerated while burning. And in the end, there is no need to tell which side won.”

However, after defeating the monster, there was one more thing that had to be sorted out.

It was a magic tower that started spewing out magic power as if it were its own world now that the guardians of the tower, including Rex Ignis, were about to escape control and run wild.

“Brother, he bound and sealed Rex Ignis with the power of a contract. To my older brother, who had dealt with monsters even worse than that, Ignis at that point might not have been a big deal.”

As Fromme smiled as she recalled those days as if she missed them, Ventuna thought for a moment whether she should feel sympathy for Ignis as a spirit from the same magic tower, or feel sorry for Ignis who immediately tried to go on a rampage there.

I chose the latter, remembering that I am now an ally of humanity.

“… All right. I don’t think I’ll be of much help, but I guess I can at least distract him.”

As Ventuna said that, she was about to use flight magic on her own body to go up, but suddenly.

I was looking back at the Aqua Spirit Stone, which had become quiet from earlier.

Ventuna, who saw the blue object that seemed to have a slightly weaker light than before, thought about something for a moment, then reached out and took the spirit stone in her hand.

＂Hmm?＂

Fromme looked back at her, asking what she had just done, but Bentuna answered the old man.

“It’s nothing. It’s just that it would be a shame to leave it here. It might be helpful in the battle above.”

Ventuna answered like that and flew up into the sky like the wind.

Fromme looked at Ventuna from below and complained like an old man, something young people do these days.

001

Is the adjective ‘a giant lizard with its whole body on fire’ trying to make you laugh if you just look at it? But it creates the thought.

It’s so huge that it’s several times the size of a human being, and if you tell me that the heat radiating from its entire body can melt even steel, you can’t help but laugh.

And if you were in the position of a human who had to deal with it head-on, it was a pain that went beyond laughter and made you want to cry.

However, Cleon and Lila never gave up their fighting spirit even in such a situation, and instead burned themselves even more, as if countering Ignis’ heat.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed several times, enough to vibrate the magic disk standing on it, and it jumped up into the sky.

The leg force generated by the thick, muscular hind legs launched the large body into the sky without difficulty, and then the animal opened its mouth and slammed the large body into Cleon, who was in front of him.

The quickness of its movements was not appropriate for its size, and because its body was large, it had to have already moved its feet when it jumped in order to avoid it.

Cleon, who almost tumbled away from the scene, saw that the clothes on his body were on fire and had to shake them off to put out the fire.

However, Ignis’ movements did not stop there. Even though his body’s balance was completely lost, and he was practically lying on the ground, his tail, the organ that maintains his sense of balance, boomed! And, swinging it like a huge scythe or a great sword, it attacked as if it was chasing Cleon, who was rolling around.

＂Pfft!＂

This time, the range was so wide that Cleon thought there was no place to avoid on the ground, so he raised Galatea’s guard and somehow prevented the tail from hitting his body directly.

[For a moment…! It’s hot…!]

However, it was only a matter of time before the brutal heat that radiated out even without contact with the body roasted Cleon’s body to a golden brown color.

Above all, Galatea’s inability to withstand the heat could be said to be the biggest threat.

＂Cleon!＂

At that time, when she thought she heard Lila’s voice calling her from above, she was flying through the air and threw something of hers at the spot where Cleon was.

Cleon, who realized that it was a bead emitting blue light, took a deep breath for a moment as if he knew what he had to do no matter what its identity was –

[Cleon is under the marble.]

Sparks flew from the bodies of Galatea and Cleon at the same time.

[Cleon is on top of the marble.]

And the next moment, Cleon’s position had moved to the top of the marble.

＂Ugh, transfer magic to the magic swordsman…!＂

“It’s not transference… No, it’s meaningless to explain it to you.”

As Cleon said that, he spun in the air and kicked his ball at the ball below him, accelerating the speed of his ball’s fall and causing it to fall towards Ignis’ tail on top of the disc.

Then – the moment the blue bead collided with the tail, it broke apart, releasing the intense freezing magic hidden within it.

＂What…! This! You, the wizard who controls the proud flame, are playing an icy prank!”

＂It’s only natural to have insurance to deal with enemies of the same attribute! The downside is that you can’t use it in a narrow space, but you can use it in a wide space like this without any problem!”

The instantaneous freezing magic briefly tied Ignis’ tail in the ice, but it was clear that the ice would immediately melt and disappear due to the heat Ignis gave off.

But the next moment, Cleon, who had jumped into the air, was once again holding Galatea in both hands and falling towards the frozen tail.

When a lightning-like flash falls from the sky, it uses all its power to cut off the frozen tail.

＂Kaaaaa!!＂

Ignis’ body is obviously made of flame, so it would be normal for him not to feel pain, but the lizard howls as if it has sense.

The severed tail rolled on the ground, but did not disappear and remained in place.

Cleon also immediately widens his distance after cutting off his tail, thinking that if he continues to stay near it, he might get frostbite, burns, or both.

“I can never forgive you! Damn humans!”

Then, Ignis’ eyes glowed bright red in anger, then he straightened up and opened his mouth toward the sky.

Cleon and Lila didn’t understand for a moment what they were trying to do.

Then, the next moment, dozens of fireballs shot out of Ignis’ mouth toward the sky.

Each one appears to be several times the size of an advanced wizard’s fireball.

The next moment, Lila understood his purpose and her complexion immediately changed.

＂Cleon!＂

＂… Ah!＂

And as Cleon also looked up at the sky – he went up to the sky and watched dozens of meteorite-like fireballs fall indiscriminately toward the ground, he realized that if even one of them hit him, he would immediately turn to ashes.

Lila had to rely on the acceleration magic she had cast on herself, her own eyesight, and her reflexes to avoid them all.

Cleon, who was running on top of the disk without even losing his speed, thought that it was really fortunate that Ignis did not shoot all the fireballs at the same time, but he did not forget that he had to keep looking up at the sky to avoid being caught in the explosion even a little.

However, even in that situation, Ignis can move freely, even though he is on the ground.

When the vibration that shakes the ground once again booms, Cleon opens his mouth and looks at Rex Ignis, who is approaching him.

Avoidance─

However, no matter which way you roll, a fireball falls there.

Even if Rex Ignis is hit by a fireball he shoots, all he has to do is absorb it.

＂Kuh… Stop, you bastard!＂

As Lila says so, she fires the highest firepower she can use at Rex Ignis, but Ignis, who can withstand the heat, ignores it and tries to reach Cleon.

“First of all, you are the magic swordsman!”

And right before that ugly mouth touches Cleon.

When you think that something, the wind has blown.

The strong wind that pushed Lyla’s flames from behind her strengthened Lyla’s magic and pushed Rex’s body.

Meanwhile, a fireball that could not be avoided fell around him.

Cleon quickly rolled over and got out of the guy’s path.

Only then did Lyla’s magic cease, and Ignis, by the law of inertia, maintained her forward momentum and passed by Cleon.

“This one was dangerous…”

Cleon also says that while breaking out in a cold sweat and looks up at Lila.

At the same time, there was also a mint-colored haired woman standing next to Lila.

“Thank you! Lila! Ventuna!”

＂Nothing to say.＂

When Ventuna answered by brushing her bangs, Laila looked back at Bentuna and asked a question.

＂You say it prevents the magic power underneath her from leaking out?＂

“I left that to someone else. To a more qualified person. If this side doesn’t win, there’s no point in blocking the bottom, right?”

When Ben Tuna says that, Laila responds by laughing and snorting her laughter.

＂… You speak well.＂

Meanwhile, Ignis lifted her fallen body and looked up at the sky.

In her anger, he scolds her.

＂Ventuna…! Have you forgotten the grace with which I gave you a body?”

“Grace… I guess they were just trying to manipulate me. You said it at the beginning, right? I do whatever I want. If you have a bad boss like you, you’ll have a hard time.”

It was a cheap provocation, but it was too critical for the current Ignis.

＂Damn you bitch…! Chew it well and eat it!”

“With that heavy body, try it if you can.”

The next moment, Bentuna snaps her fingers.

Something was flying quickly towards us.

It was a statue of an unusual shape that I saw at Gail Geyser’s mansion at that time.

It was one of the armies of statues she commanded with her bladed arms.

＂What about the rest?＂

＂By destroying the magic core for you. There is only one thing I can do at the same time.”

She answered Lila’s question as if she was troubled, but there was still no lack of confidence in her eyes.

“It was made using a special stone that Petrus made to deal with you. Of course, it is resistant to fire.”

The thread of wind extending from her fingertips begins to control the statue’s body.

＂With this, 3:1… No, 4:1?＂

“It doesn’t matter how many people come! I will turn you all into ashes!”

＂Is that all you can do?＂

When Lila’s words, which seemed to mock Ignis, echoed. The fight that had stopped for a moment was resumed again.