Chapter 44: The Red Plate of Extreme Flame [front]

The neck is twisted widely and the breath of flame exhaled. In this space reminiscent of the inside of a volcano, flames that surpass imaginable heat and transcend human knowledge crawl through the air.

The flames spread in a fan shape, and in the blink of an eye, they were right in front of Ren.

“N—“

It was as if the world had stopped.

The flame breath is approaching. But Ren is surprisingly calm.

In front of the spreading flames, he took a deep breath.

“How long are you going to be sleepwalking, Red Dragon?”

He swung his wooden magic sword high above his head and used the ivy grown on the wall to break free of the ground.

Glimmering sparks flew from Asval’s physique, and a gust of superheated wind accelerated toward Ren.

Even though magic could be called a paranormal phenomenon, but even at that, with Asval’s enourmous body, was a legend to the point of cruelty.

“It’s ridiculous to imitate a Bug, you weakling.”

“Who is more foolish, you or me—- who wanted to fight even with a girl in your grasp after you turned into a magic stone?”

The front of Ren’s eyes shook as he flew.

The overwhelming heat is closing in and seems that it’ll burn Ren down at any moment.

But Ren is convinced of certainty, and he puts out his fist.

The wind was blowing on his cheeks, which were showing signs of exhaustion.

“I don’t care what means I have to use when I’m dealing with you! If you want to call me a coward, say what you want!”

A shield of magic covered Ren’s front at the tip of his fist, which remained outstretched.

It had just reached a higher level for the first time, even stronger than before and was widely deployed according to Ren’s will.

(Ah!)

Ren, who had forced himself in mid-air, looked ahead relieved that the magic shield didn’t break in an instant and immediately reconfirmed Asval’s strength when the entire shield cracked.

After breaking through the shimmering wind, he threw the vial he had taken from his pocket at Asval.

—- It was an unremarkable vial.

The heat around Asval’s body made the bottle dissolve just before it reached him.

The liquid evaporated in an instant, but a small amount of vapor caressed Asval.

“G—Oh…!?』

A moment later, Asval shook.

The heat that he was wearing had died down slightly, and he turned his eyes to Ren, who was getting closer to him.

Ren almost felt like his body was going to collapse just by being able to look at him.

But he pulls out another vial and gulps down the contents.

“Hurts, doesn’t it? Undead!”

『You bug! Are you insulting me!? 』

“It’s true! You’re undead and potions are poisonous to the undead!”

The principle is simple.

A potion used to heal injuries or to restore strength has the opposite effect on the undead. What is a cure for a person has a reversed effect on the undead, causing them to suffer.

But there is not much stockpiling of potions.

Having spent most of it on Fiona along the way, there are only a few bottles left.

To put it bluntly, there is clearly not enough.

As he leaps and approaches Asval, who shows a momentary fright, Ren continues to think about what lies ahead, literally risking his life.

—This is just a stopgap measure.

But there was no need to despair just yet.

Ren set his trap for Asval with a certain conviction. Which is the fact that Asval would be far more vulnerable than he was when he was alive.

As I recalled before, the undead are weaker in the first place than they were in life.

The fact that Asval is now manifested by Fiona’s power is also a factor.

Having just awoken, Asval’s movements were a bit sluggish.

Fiona alone doesn’t have enough power to build up the existence of Asval.

Nevertheless.

If I had to deal with them, I think it would definitely have been easier with Maidas and Kai.

“Pale. How indescribably faint. —- Bug. 』

Inside the slightly exposed magic stone on Asval’s chest, a crimson light blinks again and again.

With each blink, Fiona held her upper body tightly as if in pain.

Her magic and other powers must have been absorbed by Asval.

(There’s no time. ……)

Immediately after the pronouncement of the moment, Asval spread both wings out to their fullest.

The porous wing membranes were deplorable, but the shimmering crimson was awe-inspiring. The wings flapped vigorously, shaking his muscular physique, which was arched and turned away from him.

It’s stupid and terrible.

Asval easily blew Ren away with wind pressure. 

『Burn to ashes!』

Asval was about to release a flame of fire that was faster than the wind, when he swung his head back down.

“Unfortunately, I have no intention of dying yet!”

Ren was blown away, but he pushed against the momentum of the blast. He aimed the iron sword at Asval’s eyes and swung his arm as hard as he could.

The iron sword, reflecting the flames, flashed past the flames that were about to be released. The sword, which would have caused only a slight itch had it pierced through, turned into a holy spear that defied common sense.

『—-, —- —-』

An inaudible roar is heard as the exploding flames are scattered.

Asval, who should have been there as an overwhelmingly strong creature, was like a baby panting in pain.

(Only three more…)

The iron sword disappeared after piercing Asval’s eyes slightly, and Ren thought as he used the wooden sword to create a foothold on the wall where the lava couldn’t reach him.

Just before throwing the sword, the iron sword was sprinkled with potion.

Thanks to this, I was able to inflict a fair amount of damage, but I cannot rely on the remaining number of bottles that I’ve now confirmed.

In addition, Ren drank up a bottle of it here. He wanted to use all of it for the attack.

But then again, his body would have reached its limit.

In the short time he had here, Ren thought of many patterns of how he would move.

He thought about taking Fiona away with the thief’s magic sword, but it was too much of a gamble. That was a power that could steal with probability, so there was no guarantee.

He shied away from the thought of wasting the magic power he would use on it.

“Kuku, haha ….!』

Suddenly, he heard Asval’s good-humored laugh.

“I don’t hate it. The sight of the weak crushing their hands reminds me of them』

Ren was annoyed. He felt an unremitting displeasure.

Perhaps, it would seem I would be able to struggle, and some would wonder if Asval was really a legend.

But they would all be mistaken.

Asval has only been awake for a short time. As time goes by, he will regain his intuition.

Besides, Fiona alone, who has been incorporated into the magic stone, doesn’t have enough magic power to make Asval regain his normal self.

That’s probably why Fiona, who was inside the magic stone, was writhing in pain. Perhaps he was forcibly sucking more power from her.

—- But still, there was hope.

“……? 』

Asval’s feet, which had been forcibly gaining strength from Fiona, suddenly jerked.

The scales covering its huge body were peeling off in some places without any strength.

The flesh that could be seen beneath the scales has further decayed and liquefied slightly, staining the dragon’s scales.

(—- Is his body unable to withstand his own power?)

Ren felt so.

The Asval, which is said to have been defeated by the seven heroes, is a legendary existence that Ren would normally not even be able to match.

The reason why he’s able to fight like this is because Asval is incomplete.

As always, it is unclear what Fiona’s power is and how it worked against Asval to create this situation.

(His body can’t take any more strain.)

I was convinced that Asval had been resurrected in an incomplete form.

He was convinced that this could explain why he had no memory and was repeatedly saying and doing things that were close to going out of control. 

Ren takes a deep breath in the face of faint hope.

He still cannot allow himself to stall for time.

Fiona is in danger, and Ren will die first.

But how could he wear Asval down?

“Why….why doesn’t my  body listen to me…”

Then, unexpectedly.

Asval spewed out a mouthful of jet-black blood instead of flames.

But Asval wouldn’t stop.

The red dragon, who has lost much of his memory and is even losing his mind because he has forgotten the pride he had before he was born, is going to fight until his body is already destroyed.

“Asval, I will stop you.”

“…… You foolish peasant who pretends to be Ashton. Do you dare to expose your undignified appearance?』

“Say what you will. I’ll take her back from there, no matter what I have to expose myself to. I’ll fight you for it.”

Besides…

Ren, who has finished breathing slightly, pierces Asval with eyes that exude power.

“I can no longer watch you dishonor your past pride anymore.”

Ren was surprised that Asval knew Ashton, but he had no intention of asking him about it.

Asval had said he couldn’t recall, and now was not the time to ask.

There was only one problem.

How could he defeat such a monster? Just thinking about it exhausted him.

It wasn’t easy to cut it down with the iron sword, because if he got too close to it, the heat would kill him. But there was no way to attack it from a distance.

Against Asval, who wasn’t fully awakened, he felt that a surprise attack using potions wouldn’t be very effective.

“I can’t remember anything, and there’s something wrong with my body, too. But I don’t hate a daredevil like you, —- weakling』

The sound disappeared.

The dense magical power that distorts everything visible fills the underground space, but only the figure of Asval, seated in the center of it, is clear.

The lava that had been dripping from far overhead stopped in mid-air, and instead soared upward.

It was at this moment…　

Ren’s breathless eyes catch a glimpse of a single, unbroken horn that stands out on Asval’s head.

(Again, the horn is shining.)

Asval’s horn shone brightly.

The red light is even more dazzling, and there’s no comparison to the previous one.

It was as if it was in proportion to the power it had accumulated.

It made Ren think about something.

——Is it the horns that are making Asval’s flames and heat so much stronger?

I read in some book a long time ago that horns are important to dragons.

If I can extinguish the heat that surrounds his huge body even temporarily by crushing the horns, I may be able to reach the magic stone in which Fiona is sealed.

However, it would still be extremely difficult to even reach the horn.

Asval laughed when he saw Ren thinking about this.

“Breathe as if you were asleep.”

The sound that had been muffled returned and the dense magic that had been distorting the area exploded into a deep red.

The storm and blast attracted lava and flames, and soon the wall of crimson that had been created around Asval spilled over into the entire underground space.

There was no escape. There was no way to defend against it with the magic sword of the shield.

Needless to say, the power released by Asval, who had regained his intuition and gained strength from Fiona, was legendary.

While it became undead and weakened beyond comparison to before it died, its flames are so strong that the flame of the maneater looks like that of a matchstick.

…… but just when I prepared myself, the situation changed.

The area around Ren’s location froze, and a brilliant lapis lazuli-colored mass of ice enveloped him.

The drifting cold air also freezes the surrounding lava, protecting Ren from the approaching crimson wall.

“This is —-“

The ice cubes eventually melted away.

The steam that would normally have burned his skin was drowned out by the cold air that followed. Startled, Ren turns his attention to Asval’s magic stone, and then to Fiona, who is encased in it.

“Run away …… please.”

For a moment, I felt her eyes open.

Ren’s heart raged even more as he felt her eyes appealing to him.

But that was all, and she held her body painfully.

Knowing that he was protected, Ren’s grip on the iron magic sword tightened.

“I can’t leave you alone and run away.”

And —- the state of Asval.

“Goo …… oh …… this is …… what happened… Tsu…. 』

His face is distorted, and his huge body shakes.

Asvar ranted bitterly, scattering half-destroyed or rotting dragon scales.

Seeing that, Ren used every available means to approach Asval

He closed the distance through the wall, returned to the ground, this time avoiding the lava, and ran as hard as he had ever run.

Fiona is still conscious, even though she has been captured by the lava.

Knowing that she, too, was waging a desperate resistance, he became desperate to save her.

(Don’t be afraid.)

Asval currently is weak.

How many times weaker than when he was alive? I don’t know exactly, but because of his incomplete resurrection, he hasn’t regained his original strength, or even been able to maintain his body for a long time.

Perhaps Fiona, who has not fully lost consciousness, is resisting.

If not, Ren isn’t an opponent who can stand against him.

“Tha —- that cannot be left unattended…”

The voice of Asvar, who was excited, raised his strong arm, and the horns shone brightly.

He swung down with such vigor on the path of Ren, who had closed the distance between them.

The stage surrounded by lava shook, and the lava flow, which had turned into a splashing wave, surged forward.

Asval was on top of the scythe, facing the direction that Ren had avoided with his acrobatics.

“I am Asval.”

A merciless breath was unleashed on Ren.

How hot were the flames? The breath was so powerful that it gouged out even the lava flow and Ren caught it in his vision and created a natural magic vine, which he held on to for a moment to turn around.

Dexterously changing direction in midair, he tried to avoid the scorching breath.

However, the scorching heat slightly grazed his arm.

“Gu……”

The pain was indescribable.

Even though it was a graze, it was only for a moment. And even though it was the last part of the breath, it was powerful.

“The flames are blessing me.”

This time, instead of swinging down, the red dragon scattered a lava flow as if it were gouging the ground.

The droplets are crystals of heat that melt your body just by touching your skin. Ren dodged the lava, but continued to move forward in the intense heat.

“Do you not fear? Weak one.”

“Ah! I’m not afraid!”

“How Valiant—- but that’s nothing more than a lost cause. If your heart breaks even for a moment, your body will cower and overflow with fear and confusion. 』

From Asval’s outstretched wings, a flash of crimson was released.

They struck the underground space in all directions at random.

One of them passed right next to Ren.

“Gu……!”

A heat wave that burned his skin was generated close to him.

The heat wave and lava brought about by the red flash blocked Ren’s front, and the overflowing lava flow approached him from behind.

Ren’s foothold in the Red Dragon’s encirclement, which had momentarily spooked him, quickly narrowed.

“Are you afraid? Weak one.”

“……I’ll say it again. I’m not the least bit afraid.”

Ren took a deep breath, strengthened by the voice that reached him from outside the siege.

His lungs almost ached from the heat, but he swallowed hard, preferring to fill his body with oxygen.

“Then what shall you do? What can you do when all you can do is wait for death? 』

“Do this!”

He raised his iron magic sword to all that stood in front of him. A power move, following the example of Asval, who raised and then lowered his stiff arm.

The pressure generated by the sword flash dispelled the heat wave slightly, and the impact of the iron magic sword slamming into the ground caused the lava to slice open from side to side.

Ren threw himself into the road, where there was still a slight heat wave, without any hesitation at all.

……It’s so hot, I think I’m going crazy.

…..I don’t like it. I want to run away.

The warm soft skin appeals to me, but I pretend not to notice and move forward.

I took out the remaining precious potion with one hand, drank it down, and tossed the empty bottle, which melted into lava.

“All the flames are at my command.”

Suddenly, from among the scattered lava flows.

The surface of the lava rises and swirls of flame appear everywhere, rippling in waves. Like conscious arms, they attacked Ren in all directions as he advanced.

Ren knew that he would be consumed almost instantly, but he used his natural magic and dodged in a momentary confrontation. Supported by the ivy and tree roots that were barely left on the ground, he swung and turned in midair many times, sometimes flying to close in on Asvar.

“You’re able to endure and run under my pressure.”

Asval was far more relaxed than he had been at first.

He has regained enough composure and intuition to be able to back this up, and it’s immediately apparent.

“Just as humans cannot defeat God, so the weak cannot defeat me—it goes without saying.”

Asval, who had been poised with ease, was close at hand.

In front of Ren who was approaching, Asval flaps his wings once and lifts his head.

“Crawl on the ground and burn. I’ll not leave even a shadow of you behind.』

The breath of hellfire that pours from Asval’s head, far above Ren’s head, spreads out in a fan shape. Just before the breath of hellfire reaches him, Ren intricately twists the ivy that grows around his feet to create a path for him to run up.

He doesn’t retreat from the fan-shaped breath, nor does he avoid it.

Ren accelerated straight ahead toward Asval.

As he watched Asval, who remained poised and didn’t move from his spot, Ren said that now was the time to work hard, and he tortured his body further.

“You’re foolishly inept. All you know how to do is to move forward.”

“Inept? I’m sorry, but I’m still serious!”

It burns up when I dodge.

It doesn’t even leave a shadow behind.

If I was going to disappear from this world without even being reduced to ashes no matter how I tried, I had no choice but to move forward and take a chance.

『Accept the End—- Weakling. 』

The bundles of ivy used as footholds had already burned out, and Ren, who had run up into the air, had no support at all.

His legs, overworked with all their strength, led him up to the level of Asval’s head, about to meet the breath directly in front of him.

Ren smiled fearlessly at him.

“I knew you couldn’t move much.”

Asval’s eyebrows twitched.

Ren could already tell that Asval was taking care of his imperfect body.

He had been sitting in the same place for a long time and hadn’t tried to move.

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