In Kael's memory, a creature far more terrifying than the current spirit tentacles would crawl up from the Dungeon's depths in the near future.
Hellish flames would cross countless floors, igniting all rooms below the 18th floor.
"According to my information, the Corrupted Spirit in the Dungeon depths was influenced by Aiz's Ariel, which gave it the idea to send tentacles to the upper floors.
Aiz first activated her magic last year. No matter how you look at it, a monster dominating below the 59th Floor should take two years to crawl up to the 27th Floor. Something unexpected must have happened. And... the Seven Days of Death perhaps indirectly delayed this calamity's outbreak."
Though Kael had found a reason to explain the current abnormal situation, a chill grew in his heart, making him increasingly anxious about the future.
"While I'm using plot advantages to pave my way, I've already fallen deep into it..."
Or rather, from the moment Kael awakened his past life's memories, this world had silently begun to change.
"Heh, I thought I was the chess player, but I've been on the board all along without realizing it."
Looking back at Orario's entire history, every urban crisis seemed to end in victory thanks to a large luck factor. Each tiny gear's rotation could lead the story down a different path.
The future, for Kael, might not be "predetermined" but "unknown".
"To survive, I must become stronger!"
His steps, which had hesitated due to the "unknown" and "unexpected", now stopped as Kael abandoned any thought of escape.
"If I'm afraid even with a 'life-lock' cheat, how will I compete with those heroes for glory two months from now?" Looking at the golden figure roaring and soaring among countless vines, he took a deep breath and shouted, "Aiz! Are you afraid?"
"No!"
A firm voice reached Kael's ears through the rushing thorns.
"You'll die!"
"I'm still not afraid!"
"Good!" Kael pulled out the last two finely-crafted weapons from his backpack and ran toward Aiz.
The super-domain's reduced durability made his progress extremely slow. Countless vines beneath his feet sprang to life, shooting colorful fruits at him. The projectiles passed through his body, making it twist and convulse, but couldn't halt his advance.
"I'll go wherever I want! Kill me if you can!"
Blood seeped through black fabric, staining his armor red. In just thirty seconds, Kael leaped across three hundred meters of thorny, trap-filled path, throwing his weapons to Aiz who was enveloped in black wind.
The moment the sword hilt entered her hand, her fighting spirit ignited again.
She stared at the youth showing eight blood-stained white teeth, giving her a thumbs up, and felt moved. Though he was weak...
If Riveria were here, she would only tell me to run away.
Aiz had no friends in the Familia. With her extraordinary talent, she appeared more like a monster in the eyes of her peers. Even Riveria, her closest relationship, didn't understand her. Despite knowing her ambitions and background, she wasn't like this clueless boy.
That was trust in her. For the first time, the girl grasped the concept of friendship.
And to preserve this trust, she must defeat the monster before her!
"I won't let dragons take away important things from me again! Tempest-Avenger, Nizel!"
❈ Black Wind! ❈
Black storms erupted from her small frame, forming a terrifying tornado. Countless thorn vines shooting like spears were shredded as if they'd entered a meat grinder.
Aiz lowered her stance, holding a long sword in each hand, her eyes turning deadly. Her lips parted to call out a name familiar to Kael:
"Tasmanian Devil Spin Attack!"
Poof————
As Aiz confidently shouted the line that Kael found extremely embarrassing, his magical incantation froze, and the disruption caused him to explode and crash to the ground.
"Why did it have to be that one!"
As Kael rolled around, lamenting that people might endlessly mock his dark history in the future...
'Your magic is cool, now it's mine!' Aiz thought silently.
She held two swords, transforming into Garen (LOL), spinning like a furious top as the black storm shredded all plants in sight.
Behind them, the Jewel Dragon let out a miserable wail. Roots detached from the ground, snapping as the entire jewel tree uprooted itself, transforming into a massive floating monster.
Kael raised his head, realizing, "I see it now! The Jewel Fetus parasitized this jewel tree, turning an ordinary plant into a Jewel Dragon. This entire jewel forest is part of its body! Aiz, this is our chance!"
Aiz swung her dual blades, her spinning speed suddenly increasing. As the distracted Jewel Dragon recalled its body, the black storm and the fleeing Green Dragon crossed paths.
"Die—!!"
A flash of black light streaked by, leaving a clean black line across the Green Dragon's chest. Before it could even howl, the dragon's massive body split in two, exploding into ashes within the storm.
"Next... you!" Aiz transformed into a black wind spear, thrusting toward the rainbow dragon floating in the sky.
The black wind — painful to Kael's skin even from a hundred meters away — crashed against walls of giant tree roots blocking her path.
Rainbow jewel fruits shot from the Jewel Dragon's wings like gorgeous missiles. Their enormous force broke through the wind arms, only to be deflected by Aiz's swords.
Still, numerous stray projectiles cut the girl's cheeks, leaving bloody marks.
Seeing Aiz's attack blocked, Kael downed all his mental potions, raised both hands and shouted, "Don't worry! I'll cover you!"
His brilliant magic, like anti-aircraft artillery, collided with the dazzling jewel rain, exploding into beautiful fireworks in the sky.
Aiz gritted her teeth, the black storm shooting like a meteor through the brilliant fireworks, her blade quickly approaching the Jewel Dragon's main body.
Perhaps due to its plant nature, despite being suspended by massive roots, the monster couldn't evade nimbly. Facing the black wind capable of tearing everything apart, the emerald jewel on the Jewel Dragon's forehead began to glow.
A miserable scream came from the baby inside as a rainbow prismatic barrier formed, blocking Aiz's assault.
"*Aaaaargh——*Tempest! Tempest! Tempest!"
Her attack failed again. Aiz screamed as the Jewel Dragon's body bent under her terrifying destructive power, slumping to the ground.
But the sturdy barrier protected its body firmly, remaining unbroken.
As Aiz exhausted her strength, countless tree vines transformed into whips, attacking from all directions. The green tendrils tore through her blue battle skirt, leaving crimson marks across her fair skin.
Aiz spat blood as she flew backward, bouncing across the ground like a ball.
Brilliant jewel bullets rained down, raising clouds of dust. The Jewel Fetus, witnessing everything, displayed visible excitement on its face.
"Ariel..."
But as the smoke cleared...
A dazzling golden light radiated from within, an emerald barrier firmly protecting Aiz. Nearby stood a figure in a black robe, arms folded, gazing mockingly at the creature.
"Time to show my real skills!"
❈❈❈
T/N: Favorite, comment and save to your library of best reads in the world, thank you for reading this far!
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