Chapter 658: At the End of Victory
"No matter how much you resist, it's aningless before ! Fall and be subdued!"
In response to our full-force attack, Asmodeus also released a ball that had been charging up.
【――Infernal Sky】
Slowly, the massive ball began to descend. It was now over a hundred ters in size and the power it contained was beyond comparison to its size. Against it, Elna's holy sword Aurora emitted a white-gold slash, Leo's imperial sword unleashed a golden slash tinged with red, and my own silver magic.
Silvery Glint Ray.
Our attacks combined to beco a single beam of light that collided with Asmodeus's attack. At that mont small rifts appeared in space, running here and there. Furthermore, a massive rift had ford in the sky.
The collision of two massive forces was beginning to destabilize the world.
"What's happening here!?"
"Don't worry! It should sohow work out!"
"I'm still worried!!"
We were barely managing while holding the world in a precarious balance. However,
"With such a rift, it should beco possible to connect a gate to the demon world as it was in the past. I thank you! Heroes!"
"If you can...!"
"I’d like to see you try it!!"
Elna and Leo push further with the holy and imperial swords, sohow managing to counter Asmodeus's ball. Their slashes grew stronger as they finally pushed back Asmodeus's ball. He probably hadn't expected to be stopped, let alone pushed back and widened his eyes in surprise.
"You humans dare...!!"
"You have lost to us humans...!! The ones that you despise, scorn, and will vanquish you now in disdain!!"
While shouting at Asmodeus, Leo further intensifies the power of the imperial sword. The power of his slash is now no less than Elna's aurora.
Shwarz Adler.
It's indeed the strongest technique a royal can use. However,
"Silver! Increase your power!"
"Don't ask for the impossible...!"
"It's not impossible!!"
Elna demands the impossible from but I understand what she ans though. Currently, Glint Ray is not matching up to their attacks. Silvery Glint Ray is a special kind of magic. It's not just a single-target version of Silvery Ray. Silvery Glint Ray is a force conversion type of Silvery End Saber. It consus a vast amount of magical power to activate, but its ability is exceptional. РÁ₦ȏＢÊS̈
It converts the surrounding magical power into silver attributes, absorbing it to increase its power. That's what Silvery Glint Ray does. However, its effect is limited now due to the massive forces present on either side. Collecting more magical power from a broader area could increase its power, but that raises the question: would the world be okay with that?
If a new demon army arrived from the demon world now, we'd surely lose. If the rift widens, that possibility increases and soon it might be possible for a gate to be opened from the demon world side. If we consider the use of a world-scale teleportation magic, the possibilities are endless. Normally it's prevented by thick, special barriers but if those weaken, teleportation through the rift becos possible.
Such a gate could be created. Considering that, increasing the size of that rift here is risky. Now, Asmodeus's ball is being pushed back by Elna and Leo's attacks and if the current situation is maintained, we might still be able to win but that was a naive thought that crossed my mind, probably due to fear.
The fear of wanting to protect the world but not wanting to beco a factor in its destruction.
The fear of defeat.
Because this world is important.
The attachnt of not wanting to lose it at all costs leads my thoughts to taking it safely and my gaze drops slightly, but.
"Rest assured. The world has the power to heal itself."
"If you're a mber of the royal family, think about the various problems after you've won."
Voices co from behind and while I don't have the luxury to look back, I was sure they're there.
The people supporting , and I felt a gentle push on my back.
"Raise your head, Al. The enemy you need to defeat isn't below, is it?"
It's a familiar voice. A voice I could always hear as if it were natural, making want to turn around.
But I don't because I don't want to be treated as a child forever.
I didn’t want to disappoint that person.
Who would look back when told to face forward? I then raised my head.
"Good. Resist it. No matter how gigantic the enemy, always keep saying 'not yet.' If a man has chosen to confront them... don't be swept away by your fear."
"You say whatever you want..."
"It's the privilege of the older brother to say whatever he wants to his younger brother. I know I've been unreasonable, but... I'm counting on you, Al, for the empire."
It's a strange feeling.
The voice felt happy yet sad.
That was the last I heard of the voice.
But there was warmth and it was watching over . It might have been an illusion, yet it was enough to make believe everything was going to be okay.
"Female Hero! Next Emperor! Is that all you've got!?"
As I said this, I released more silvery force and poured as much magical power as possible into Silvery Glint Ray. This allows Glint Ray to convert a wider range of magical power into silver attributes. Silver particles gather from the surroundings while spiraling into Glint Ray, increasing its montum all at once.
The rift in the sky only widens.
I felt anxious. Yet, now is the ti to focus on defeating the enemy in front of us. We can think about what happens after it's over, after it's over. Sotis, it's important not to think about consequences.
I decided to trust the familiar voice that I heard.
"Don't get cocky...!"
"That irreverence... will cost you, Silver!!"
The two raise their swords again. And then...
"We'll push through!!"
"I know without you saying!"
"That's the plan!!"
At my signal, they both swung down their swords. The second wave. Swallowing the first wave, each of their slashes grows even larger. The power of us three is equal. Eventually they intertwined with each other, while initially repelling and struggling against each other, but then lting into one torrent.
A white torrent that swallows everything. It engulfs the massive ball of Asmodeus and gradually approaches him.
His full-strength attack.
While watching it be completely swallowed, Asmodeus――smiled.
"So... he was right after all..."
Asmodeus mutters as he faces his own obliteration.
There's no resistance since Asmodeus too had given his all.
If the attack is returned, he has no ans to counter us.
"I've lost to you, but I hope... you can also defeat him."
With those final words, Asmodeus is swallowed by the white torrent. The torrent shoots up high into the starry sky, causing the large rift in the sky to slowly begin to close.
Watching it, I muttered quietly.
"Did we win...?"
Simultaneously, Elna and Leo begin to descend at a trendous speed. Ignoring them, I quickly opened a teleportation gate. My magical power was replenished by the imperial sword, but my heart aches. I've used several tis more magical power than my body can handle and now it's reaching its limit.
Yet, there's still more to do.
Passing through the teleportation gate, I set up a healing barrier at the coalition forces' camp which were busy with their rescue activities on the ground. This should take care of external injuries. However, that only applies to those whose lives can still be saved. Whether or not those on the brink of death can be saved depends on their own vitality. Even so, I continued to maintain the healing barrier while my heart was aching as if I might collapse at any mont.
We have finally won the battle. But the coalition forces are nearly destroyed. Out of an army of over two hundred thousand, only tens of thousands remain. Tens of thousands of other lives have been lost.
"It’s a pyrrhic victory..."
While muttering while looking at the piled-up corpses, Elna and Leo finally co down.
"Father!"
"Father!!"
They started to search for their respective fathers, running towards the makeshift encampnt that was made by the survivors. It's crowded with many injured people, making the search difficult. I wanted to go too, but I can hardly move another step. My heart hurts. Yet, I hear a voice in my ears.
"Sorry, Al—watch over them all for ."
I didn't have the luxury to ponder the aning of those words and started to collapse on the spot, enduring the pain in my heart while maintaining the healing barrier. Then, I hear Alida's voice.
"He's still breathing! But... unconscious..."
Relieved by her voice, I released the healing barrier. As I collapse, soone catches .
"You've done well, but It's not good to stay here."
The one who caught was Jack.
To him, I muttered.
"It's not over yet... there are still enemies... elsewhere..."
Hearing my words, Jack opens his eyes wide in surprise, then quickly nods and carries away from the scene.
TL's Notes:
And that is almost a wrap on this arc.... I will post the last chapter of this arc soon today so stay tuned!
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