Kaan… kaan… kaan… kaan…
The bells signaling an emergency rang throughout the Dungeon City.
There were two people heading toward the Zenith Tower.
Just Claude and me.
Sara stayed behind in the student council room, directing the evacuation of the students.
Airi should be ordering an Imperial Army division we summoned yesterday to guide the civilians of the dungeon district to safety.
Sumire went to meet Eri in the 7th Sealed Prison.
We agreed to regroup once each of us finished our respective tasks.
The Dungeon City was in an uproar.
—— "All explorers currently in the Dungeon City, proceed immediately to the Zenith Tower…"
The amplification spell announcement from the Dungeon Guild continued.
… "What's this so early in the morning?"
… "Did the Dungeon Master do something again?"
… "Should we keep the shop closed for now?"
… "Eh, it'll be fine, right?"
… "The Dungeon Guild and the Twelve Knights will handle it, won't they?"
I could hear the residents' carefree chatter.
We headed for the Zenith Tower while listening to those voices.
(They really don't feel any sense of danger…) (Eugene)
Just like we once were.
They think it's nothing more than a small break from the ordinary.
No one could imagine that the Red Dragon of the End, spoken of in the myths of the Goddess Church, would manifest on the surface.
…Zuzuzuzu…
The ground shook.
Screams rose from the residents.
Earthquakes are rare in the Dungeon City.
Claude and I ran through the confused crowds.
Soon, the entrance to the Zenith Tower came into view.
We could also see over a hundred explorers who must have followed the guild's instructions.
And then…the front plaza of the Zenith Tower.
Dozens of golden magic circles floated there, emitting strange seven-colored lights.
"We're here, Eugene." (Claude)
"Yeah, but there are a lot of people." (Eugene)
Last time, having so many explorers around probably felt reassuring.
But considering the unprecedented disaster about to arrive, having too many people would only cause chaos.
Any explorer who would lose the will to fight at the mere sight of the Red Dragon should be evacuated.
"Hey there, Eugene-kun, Claude-kun. You came too, huh?"
Someone spoke to us.
An elf with orange-tinged red hair.
"Rebecca-senpai. So you're here." (Eugene)
I am pretty sure we talked like this before, too.
"I got called in. Still, this is awfully strange, Eugene-kun… Those magic circles…"
"They're Teleport magic circles disguised as summoning circles. Someone is trying to come here." (Eugene)
When I answered, Rebecca-senpai's eyes widened.
"Oh! You saw through it at a glance…impressive!" (Rebecca)
"…Just a coincidence." (Eugene)
(It's because you taught me last time.) (Eugene)
I muttered to myself.
…Zuzuzu… zuzuzu…
The intervals between the tremors grew shorter.
"Eugene." (Claude)
Claude met my eyes.
(It's about time…) (Eugene)
I gave a small nod.
"Kyaaa!"
A scream rang out.
Some explorers had even fainted.
Among the dozens of golden magic circles floating in the air, one especially large circle had a gigantic red arm thrusting out from it.
A shiver ran through my entire body.
…That is not an opponent humanity should challenge.
My instincts screamed it at me.
Even for me, seeing it for the second time.
The shock of seeing it for the first time would be immeasurable.
"W-What… is that…?" (Rebecca)
Rebecca-senpai's voice trembled.
"…Looks like a dangerous Divine Beast has arrived." (Eugene)
That was all I could say.
Pish!
That sound reverberated as cracks ran through the sky itself.
"W-What!?" (Rebecca)
Rebecca-senpai cried out in shock.
Crack… crack… crack…
Slowly, the entire sky fractured like an eggshell.
No matter how many times I saw it, it looked like the world itself was breaking…an unbearably unsettling sight.
"…This is bad." (Claude)
Claude's expression stiffened.
He probably didn't see this last time.
This utterly unreal scene.
Gara, gara, gara, gara, gara, gara, gara, gara, gara…!
The sky crumbled away as if the world were collapsing.
And from beyond it, a gigantic shadow slowly fell.
…Zushin
The ground shook with a massive impact.
A gigantic dragon, red as fire, with ten horns, seven heads, and seven crowns upon those heads.
It was so enormous I could only look up at it.
Its majestic body radiated a divine, overwhelming presence.
"......"
The Red Dragon that had just descended to the surface was, for now, calm.
But Claude and I knew the evil scheme brewing within its belly.
"All Dungeon Guild personnel! Deploy barriers! Do not engage that dragon!! All explorers below S rank, guide the civilians to safety! Evacuate all academy students as well!!"
Principal Uther's tense voice echoed through the area via amplification magic.
"Yes, King Uther!"
"Understood!"
"All staff, move!"
The guild staff scattered at once.
A massive magical barrier formed around the Red Dragon.
The explorers dispersed according to Uther's orders.
(Huh?) (Eugene)
I noticed something off.
There seemed to be…fewer explorers remaining than last time.
The Principal said everyone below S rank…
Here, Claude, Rebecca-senpai, and I had cleared the 200th floor, so we were S rank explorers.
Was it the same last time…?
As that question crossed my mind…
"Eugene Santafield! Sorry I'm late!"
The Dungeon Master appeared with a shoon! through Teleport.
"No, your timing's perfect." (Eugene)
She probably appeared at about the same time last time too.
And she seemed calmer than then.
Because she had formed a [Life Contract] with me.
"I'm sorry… This is all because of me…" (Anemoi)
The Dungeon Master bowed her head, her expression pained.
By forming a contract with me, she had synchronized even my memories of the future.
The Red Dragon descended to the surface through the back entrance of the Zenith Tower's floor zero Trial of the Gods, and the Lykeion Magic Academy and the Dungeon City were destroyed.
For Anemoi, it must have been the worst possible memory.
"Anemoi. Mana Link." (Eugene)
I silently extended my hand.
"…Alright, Eugene." (Anemoi)
Anemoi took my hand.
…Thump! Hot mana surged into me all at once.
"Gah!"
I clutched my chest reflexively.
It was different from both the Ifrit Sumire and Demon Lord Eri.
"S-Sorry! Controlling the output is hard…!" (Anemoi)
Anemoi panicked, but…
"No, this is fine. Keep going." (Eugene)
I continue receiving Anemoi's miasma-tinged mana.
Holding back wouldn't let me keep up with the battle to come.
Thud.
Someone landed very close by.
"Eugene, Claude. Thank you for coming. Rebecca-kun, if this is too much for you, step away from here." (Uther)
Principal Uther spoke to us with a serious expression.
"…I'm sorry, Principal Uther. I don't think I'm combat-capable. I'll help evacuate the students." (Rebecca)
Pale-faced from the Red Dragon's pressure, Rebecca-senpai left via Teleport.
"And Anemoi-dono. It's been a while." (Uther)
Principal Uther greeted her warmly.
"I…I'm sorry. This is because of me…" (Anemoi)
"Let's put the past aside for now. We need to combine everyone's strength to overcome this crisis." (Uther)
(…Huh?) (Eugene)
Something still felt wrong.
Principal Uther's demeanor felt different from last time.
"Principal Uther. Could it be that—" (Eugene)
I was about to ask when…
"This is bad! It's the Red Dragon-ssu yo, Mariel-senpai! The one that's supposed to be in Tartarus!"
A voice came from above.
"Eeh… What do we do about this? We probably shouldn't declare the start of the Trial of the Gods, right, Rita-chan?"
They were the angels managing the 100th and 200th floors: Rita-san and Mariel-san.
They had no memories of last time.
They looked utterly confused at the sight of the Red Dragon.
After a flurry of panicked discussion, Rita-san said she would consult the Goddesses of the Divine Realm and left.
That, too, matched my memories from last time.
"King Uther! Evacuation of civilians near the Zenith Tower is complete!"
"The Lykeion Magic Academy students have almost all withdrawn!"
"The gates to the Dungeon City have been temporarily sealed!"
The guild members reported one after another.
"Hm. Good work. You should evacuate as well." (Uther)
Principal Uther gave calm instructions.
…Zuzuzuzu…
The ground shook again.
I felt the air change.
The Red Dragon, which had been quiet until now, began to move.
"We are…to the people of this land…"
All seven of the Red Dragon's mouths slowly spoke.
A blasphemous voice that seemed to echo from the depths of the earth.
"Commencing…the Trial of the Gods."
Mariel-san's face turned deathly pale.
So did Anemoi's beside her.
Sweat poured down Claude's face.
I was the same.
And yet…Principal Uther alone looked perfectly calm.
As if he had known this would happen.
I wanted to ask him about it, but…
— "First…[Divine Punishment Flame]."
All seven of the Red Dragon's mouths slowly opened.
An ominous red light grew brighter from within them.
(First, stop that!) (Eugene)
The roar that had blown away the Lykeion Magic Academy.
"Anemoi! Teleport me right in front of the Red Dragon! I'll interrupt its attack!" (Eugene)
"I-It's dangerous! You'll die!" (Anemoi)
Anemoi screamed.
"I've got the mana you lent me! I'll block it with my barrier magic…it'll be fine!" (Eugene)
That was why I trained all that time in the future.
To stop the Red Dragon's first strike.
"B-But…! …A-Alright." (Anemoi)
She hesitated, but realized there was no time to spare and steeled herself.
"Please, Anemoi." (Eugene)
"My Teleport precision isn't perfect. There'll be some error—" (Anemoi)
"I know." (Eugene)
"…Hmph." (Anemoi)
Anemoi looked away with a pout.
I wrapped the mana I received from Anemoi around my Black Katana, forged from the fangs of Cerberus.
In ten seconds, the Red Dragon will unleash its fiery roar and blow away the academy.
As I readied my magic sword for the teleport…
"Well then, I'm quite good at Teleport myself. I'll help, Eugene." (Uther)
Principal Uther cut in.
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Eh?"
Both Anemoi and I blinked…
…and suddenly, one of the Red Dragon's heads was right in front of us.
(S-So fast!) (Eugene)
This wasn't just chantless casting.
I couldn't even see the moment of activation.
It was a divine feat better described as instant transmission.
I immediately shifted my focus.
…Twin Heavenly Resonance Style – Secret Art: [Kirin]!!!
I kicked off the air with angelic power.
I unleashed a godspeed thrust, pouring in every last drop of the mana Anemoi had given me.
It pierced the Red Dragon's hard scales and reached one of its seven hearts…or so it should have.
"GOAAAAAAAA GYAAAAAAA!!!"
A hideous scream echoed.
Only afterward did I realize it was the Red Dragon's.
(The Red Dragon's attack…stopped.) (Eugene)
The so-called First Divine Punishment Flame never activated.
The Lykeion Magic Academy was safe.
We prevented that collapse.
"Impressive, Eugene. The academy wasn't blown away." (Uther)
When I noticed, King Uther was standing behind me, and we had already moved away from the Red Dragon.
Looks like he even handled the return trip.
And then I understood.
(Principal…has the same future knowledge as we do.) (Eugene)
That was the only conclusion that made sense.