“Suuep―puhaaaa―…”
It wasn’t just her pupils that changed. Steam curled around her lips and nose as she exhaled slowly. It was very much like she was standing in the snowfields of the north. But this steam came from the extreme difference between Veronica’s body temperature and the temperature of the atmosphere. If Theo were to compare an ordinary human body to a normal hot water tank, Veronica’s body was now a boiling furnace.
The steam was just the aftermath. The blood of a red dragon could reach hundreds of degrees, and it was starting to evaporate the moisture around her. Every time her heart pulsed, Veronica’s body drew closer to that of a dragon than a human. The quarter blood of a dragon used her eight Circles as a substitute dragon heart.
Scales grew on Veronica’s white skin, and a pair of small, pointed horns popped up on her head. She almost seemed like a humanoid dragon.
“You want to reproduce the power of a dragon with the lineage of a quarter dragon? It’s an interesting idea, but it won’t last long with your human body.” Invidia instantly saw through her transformation.
Veronica bared her sharp fangs as she retorted, “I know that more than you!”
This transformation would only last three minutes and was very double-edged. Her heart felt like it was about to burst, and her blood was boiling hot. In exchange for magic power and physical abilities that far exceeded that of a human, Veronica’s body was breaking down. Her bones were stronger than steel, and her muscles were tougher than an ogre’s, yet they couldn’t handle the power of a dragon. Only a pure-blooded dragon or high ranking demon could withstand it.
Invidia was so intrigued that he simply observed her transformation, instead of attacking.
Fifteen seconds later, Veronica’s transformation was complete.
Hwaruruk!
Every exhale sent flames shooting out. She could hear the blood of the sovereign of fire that bathed in lava rejoicing in the violence she was about to unleash. She held up a hand and slowly formed a fist.
… Three minutes.
Her body was already creaking. Veronica smiled bitterly as she faced the monster in front of her. She didn’t know whether it was because she was closer to a dragon than a human in this state, but her eyes could see through the guise of an old man Invidia wore like a cloak. What a ridiculous monster. She would have to put her life on the line with every exchange.
Invidia raised his sword and smiled, “Now, now. Don’t give up. Come.”
Unshaken, Veronica let out a terrifying roar and punched. “Get… lost!!”
Kwaaaaang!
It was like she had torn the earth in half. The sonic boom that accompanied her fist forced Invidia’s body to fly back. It had completely blocked the attack, but the impact had still sent his body flying. Invidia laughed as it flew hundreds of meters.
“Hmm, I can’t play around with this level.”
The power of Adamantine Might, which could usually block great magic, had been destroyed by Veronica’s strength, indicating that Veronica might currently be stronger than an adult red dragon. Her pure physical abilities were still a step below, but her eight Circles more than made up for it in combat ability.
That fist had to have broken the speed of sound to destroy his defenses. Invidia chuckled as it recalled the enemies it had faced in the past.
Peeng!Peeng!Peeeong!
There were a few sonic booms, and Veronica appeared.
“I think I will finish this in one blow!”
She had surpassed the wall of sound with almost breathtaking ease as four burning wings flapped behind her. This was no elegant trick like flying magic. The flames shot wildly out of her wings, and she could only barely control their direction. If she relaxed for a moment, they would erupt in all directions. Moreover, she was moving at a speed that was several times the speed of sound, so even a body made of mithril wouldn’t be able to withstand the impact.
Still, Veronica took aim, focusing on her wings as she flew toward Invidia, who was still in midair. She was no longer controlling magic power, but calling on a higher power that dominated the flames itself.
“Dieeee!” Veronica reached hypersonic speed and dove like a meteor. The air screamed around her as a long leg smashed into Invidia’s abdomen like an executioner’s ax.
―――――――――――――!!!
The entire mountain range shook as Invidia crashed into the ground.
Kukukukukung!
It didn’t end there. Veronica gritted her teeth, forcing Invidia deeper and deeper into the ground. She demolished the solid granite and the limestone as she forced them both several kilometers deep. This strata contained enormous heat and pressure. It wasn’t an environment where living organisms could live.
In this hell-like environment, the first exchange between the two monsters came to an end.
This isn’t enough! I need a little more explosive power!
Her scales became clearer and her horns grew larger as she sucked in the mana of the environment. The deep heat and pressure of this underground world was an ideal environment for a red dragon. The flames near Veronica’s body grew incandescent, and the olivine in the area melted away .
“… Interesting. I wonder, would this be enough to match the firepower of the 9th Circle?” Envy of the Seven Sins pointed its sword at Veronica, who had become the incarnation of white fire, and declared spitefully, “Why don’t you try it and see, hybrid?!”
The Nadun Mountains were doomed to suffer that day as the two combatants threw themselves at each other.
***
Kururung!Kukukung…!Kukukukung…!
The earth kept shaking as Veronica battled Invidia under the mountains.
She is enduring desperately. I also have to surpass my limits.
Theo ignored the trembling as much as possible as he kept moving. He had to reduce a task from five to three minutes, relying on Gluttony’s advice and Satomer’s memories. The two Tower Masters silently watched for a moment as he frantically calculated variables.
Orta stepped toward the magic circle. “I’ll help. What should I draw on the edge?”
“Thank you. The crown and sword marks…”
Blundell also wanted to help, but he was at his limit.
“Cough.”
He spat out black blood. It was proof that his body’s organs had given up. His heart was slowly losing strength and his lungs were slowing. He looked anxiously at the two people and sighed. He looked down at the jeweled ring on his left hand. The jewel which had looked like a ruby when he first got it had turned as dingy as coal.
… I spent it all? I wanted to live until Sylvia was all grown up, but the world didn’t let me.
Kurt had given Blundell the ring ten years ago. Blundell had always known that his life would end in just a few more years. The ring had been a national treasure, another ‘heart’ that contained life force. However, the continuous use of Time Stop had drained his remaining lifespan.
Rather than lamenting his fate, Blundell muttered, “Damn… A young magician who plays around.”
It was Blundell’s view of Theo. He had watched Theo ever since he won against Sylvia in the tournament, and grown vexed. The boy had left Sylvia and gone into the world to associate with other women? If it hadn’t been her request, he might’ve made a big decision as a grandfather.
Well, I know why you did it.
As a man who could take steps toward the uncertain future without hesitation… Theo was charming as a man and as a magician. In that case, an old man shouldn’t grab his ankle.
Blundell faced his impending death and asked Theo, “So, what are you going to try against that monster emperor?” 𝐞𝗼𝐯𝐞𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
“Summoning magic.”
“… Summoning magic?” Blundell was dumbfounded. There was no magician who didn’t know that the golden age of summoning magic had passed. When he was younger, he had also tried his hand at summoning magic and only gotten a few turtles. Yet, in this situation, Theo wanted to use summoning magic?
Blundell was this close to throwing out all the compliments he had ever given the young man when he saw the magic circle drawn on the ground.
“Hah…” He was deeply impressed with the absurd perfection.
Four-dimensional calculations superimposed over three-dimensional craft! The idea is new, but his skill at completing this magic circle in a few minutes is more amazing. Is he better than me and Veronica when it comes to magic circles?
This was the result of combining Theo’s brains and Satomer’s vast knowledge; the fusion of a genius level talent and sheer passion for summoning magic. As Blundell admired the magic circle, Theo placed his left hand on the ground without hesitation.
“I will use this sword as the medium for the summoning.”
A sword emerged from the palm of Theo’s left hand.
“Ohh…! T-That sword…?”
“This dense power!”
Ellaim and Edwin were the first to react to the mana the sword gave off. The sword shone brightly, light reflecting off the sacred blade. Even a child would be able to tell how magnificent this sword was.
It was the god sword, Claimhb Solais, the loot Theo had acquired when he took down the 6th Sword, Hyde, on Sipoto Plains.
“… Indeed, this sword can call a strong presence,” Orta acknowledged, but asked Theo, “Captain, what are you planning to summon?”
If this sword was used as a sacrifice, he could even summon the evil demons who had been expelled from this material world. Orta was going to stop him if he intended to call a tiger to fight a wolf.
Theo assuaged Orta’s doubts, “At first, I was thinking about the dragon, Fafnir. Randolph would attest that it would be difficult to find a summons with more destructive power.”
However, he had quickly discarded that idea. Fafnir was certainly powerful, but this wasn’t the middle of the sea. The entire continent would be devastated if Fafnir was allowed free rein. He was not about to let Meltor become a second Red Plateau, a wasteland where life can’t grow.
It would be a catastrophe bigger than this perpetual war in the Northern Continent. Furthermore, unlike Superbia, Invidia wasn’t an opponent who could be defeated with pure firepower. It could easily escape through space, and as a grimoire that had already reached the 6th stage, it might have a way to combat a Fafnir that was limited by the summoning.
“So, I thought about the biggest and strongest.”
Orta frowned. “That is?”
Theo placed the god sword in the middle of the circle and pointed at it. “The master of the sword.”
No one knew exactly whom the god sword belonged to, so Theo said solemnly, “The forgotten king, Nuada Airgetlám.”
He, who had been praised as the left arm of God, the king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. A warrior who won with an invincible sword; he was the god of victory who had triumphed over the two greatest battlefields the gods had fought in.
“I will call a divine summon.”
There was nothing more suitable than a god descending to destroy evil! Theo’s hands moved as he made up his mind, and a spell started to flow from his lips.