Manowa 208

Chapter 208 - Let's Advance Ahead


◎ Great Dragon Palace, Skies


「A golden light appeared for an instant!?」

Byaku's eyes narrowed after Kazane spoke.

『That is the light of Naga-sama’s『Golden Dusk』. As expected, there seems to be no doubt that something is happening inside.』

Byaku had already dispelled her Humanization and returned to her dragon form, and Kazane was riding on her. They had taken off from Dragonewt City and were currently investigating the situation from the skies above the Great Dragon Palace. They couldn't see it from a distance earlier, but a dark hemisphere was covering the Great Dragon Palace.

「Mm, upper left. Incoming!」

Though they didn't have the leeway to slowly observe. Byaku slightly twisted after Kazane's words. Then black ice flew through the space where Byaku was a moment earlier.


『Clever!!』


Lightning was emitted along with Byaku's shout and hit empty space, and it looked like the space cracked as a black bird that was there, probably the monster called Yatagarasu, fell to the ground.

『That's splendid sensing ability.』

「It's the scent.」

Kazane sniffed. As a matter of fact,『Dog's Sense of Smell』became Level 2 a little while ago during an air battle. What was added was the ability to sense Astral Bodies like she could smell them, even though they didn't actually have a scent.

That level-up was a result of Kazane strengthening her awareness to try and search for the Astral Body existences in the dark night sky. Though she didn't have the time to be happy about it.

「There are a lot of enemies.」

『It seems that black sphere is not only a barrier to seal the palace, but a Transfer gate as well.』

Kazane and Byaku glared at the place where the Great Dragon Palace should be. But there was no way to get inside. Dragons were continually repelling the monsters that were transferring in one by one and gathering, but even their Breath and claws couldn't destroy the essential black wall.

「I'm going to try something out for a bit!」

Then Kazane jumped off Byaku's back.

『Kazane-sama?』

While hearing Byaku's voice from behind, Kazane unleashed her Dragon Ogre Greaves' dragon claws, immediately used her Skill Charge and her spell daggers' Fire Boosts, then activated Killing Leg while spinning at high speed. Then Kazane Neo-bazooka ran into the black sphere.

(Whether against something substantial or Astral, it doesn't lose in simple power to my Heroic Spirit Sieg. That)

「It could repel it?!?」


She was repelled with a boing.


(No good)

While thinking that, the spinning Kazane landed on the ground with the help of her『Nimble』Skill.

『Kazane-sama, you're surrounded!?』

「I'm fine!!」

Kazane heard Byaku's voice from the sky and so replied.


The black monsters attacked.


Kazane returned the spell daggers to their sheathes and pulled out her two-handed sword『Black Fang』. She applied her『Soul Breaking Blade』Skill to it, as well as her dragon claw unleashed Dragon Ogre Greaves.

(As expected, they're faster than ordinary monsters)

So observing, Kazane jumped over the initial attacks from the black Ogre and Troll and fired a roundhouse kick. Kazane aimed at the necks of both monsters without hesitation with her 『Intuition』Skill and sent the heads of both monsters flying using the dragon claws. Without waiting for the two monsters that were spouting blood to collapse, the black Earth Dragon leapt toward Kazane, who used Air Jump horizontally as she stabbed with her two-handed sword『Black Fang』. The blade cut through the Earth Dragon's body in a straight line as it passed by her, and a black something that wasn't blood spouted from the wound as the Earth Dragon violently struggled while collapsing.


『Na!?』


Byaku stared at that situation with wide eyes. She had certainly heard that Kazane's fighting ability was high. But there was something strange about just now. It was like they were hit with critical damage from an attribute weakness. Although that was within expectations to Kazane.

(As expected,『Soul Breaking Blade』seems to be a specialized Skill for anti-devil use. It seems I don't get experience or Skills, though.)

The Skill『Soul Breaking Blade』was obtained from Genzo's katana. It was a Skill that literally destroyed souls. For humans and ordinary monsters that had both substance and a spiritual nature, there wasn't a very strong effect (it would make healing extremely slow), but she was told when she consulted with Louise that the Skill was like a natural enemy for Astral Bodies like devils, which were soul-centered existences composed solely of magical power.

Particularly, the combined effect of applying『Soul Breaking Blade』to the magical power absorbing two-handed sword『Black Fang』caused that situation. With the organization of the soul destroyed by the Skill, the magical power burst like a balloon from the wound caused by Black Fang.

Although there weren't opportunities to use it,『Black Fang』was a weapon that had a strong effect on Astral Bodies from the beginning. And it seemed that had blossomed in a big way with the Skill『Soul Breaking Blade』.


『Good grief, please don't be so rash.』

Byaku said when she descended to the ground. The surrounding area was being secured by Byaku's subordinate dragons. At present, the dragons were concentrated on battling the monsters in the north and around the Great Dragon Palace. There should be a non-negligible amount of monsters advancing on Dragonewt City, but there was no choice but to hope Yumika's group and the Dragonoids could endure.

However, even with all those dragons gathering and attacking, they couldn't destroy the sphere.

「Well, if this barrier can't be destroyed, isn't the only option making a small hole to enter?」

Kazane muttered, and Byaku made a surprised expression.

『Is that possible?』

「Yeah. Probably.」

Kazane had the Magic Killing Sword she had obtained from the Dullahan Lord. Even if she couldn't destroy the entire barrier with its rare magic invalidating ability, Kazane thought she could probably cut up a part and enter inside.

If possible, entering together with the dragons would be best, but if even her Kazane Neo-bazooka just now couldn't destroy it then it couldn't be helped. The Artifact『Infinite Key』would be able to release it if there were a reference point, but she had tried and confirmed earlier that it was impossible to release something that was considered an ordinary wall.

「I think the best I can manage is probably one or two people only.」

Byaku nodded after Kazane’s words.

『Then I'll Humanize, and together』


『That would be troubling.』


A dragon's scream resounded.

『Greyfur!?』

It seemed that was the name of the dragon who screamed. Before Byaku shouted, a dragon was stabbed in the head by a jet black fully armored figure and was being dyed black.

(What is that, Living Armor?)

It looked like there were no gaps in that armor. Moreover, the dragon was being eroded from the part where he had been stabbed by the fully armored figure, and that part had been almost completely dyed black.

『My orders are to not let anyone disturb my master.』

『Don't mess with me!』

Lightning flashed as Byaku spoke, but the jet black Living Armor's greatshield completely blocked it. Byaku looked displeased after seeing that situation and asked.

『Bastard, who are you...』

Then the jet black living armor calmly announced.

『I am called Gilbert of Wrath. Defender of the jet black barrier.』

Kazane groaned as she looked at the Living Armor called Gilbert. She recognized Gilbert's greatshield.


「Heaven Mirror Greatshield Zegai....!?」


That was the shield Heroic Spirit Sieg also possessed that had complete magic defense. It was referred to as the supreme shield in Zexiaharts and had the dreadful ability to invalidate even dragon Breath. When that was taken out, the opponent would be forced to fight physically or with Physical attribute magic.

「Dangerous. Byaku-san, magic attacks won't work on that guy. Even Breath would be ineffective.」

『How troublesome.』

The Living Armor was impressed after watching their conversation.

『You know about this shield. You're well informed.』

『Ku, Kazane-sama. Please go ahead.』

「Is that ok?」

Byaku smiled after Kazane's question.

『Please help Naga-sama.』

Kazane hesitated for a moment after those words, but she nodded and started running towards the black sphere.


『I won't let you go.』

『Don't look down on dragons!!』


While hearing a crashing sound from behind, Kazane took out the Magic Killing Sword.


「Uryaaa!!」


When Kazane cut through the black wall, the Great Dragon Palace was certainly visible ahead.


「Skill・Rush!」


Then Kazane used that Skill after a long time and leapt inside.

「Whoa!」

Kazane looked back while sliding on the paved stone.

(As expected, it was only for a moment?)

The cut in the black wall had already completely disappeared. They should still be fighting outside, but it seemed the sound was blocked.

「Anyway, let's hurry. Naoki and Jinrai-san... and my husband are there.」

Byaku's words heavily weighed on her. Her younger brother being her priority was unchanged, but there were other things she also had to do. She didn't know how helpful she would be against an opponent that was a match for God Dragon Emperor Naga, but Byaku challenged that Living Armor called Gilbert for that purpose.

Kazane summoned Yuuko-nee from her Childstone, then jumped on her and immediately advanced into the Great Dragon Palace.



Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Magic Swordswoman

Title: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner, Rea King

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Adhesion Sword『Gum』, Spell Dagger Feather x2, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Sylphyn Skirt, Plasma Pants, Dragon Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, Magic Accumulator, White Magic Accumulator

Level : 32

Health: 124

Magic Power: 235+420

Strength: 55+10

Agility: 50+4

Endurance: 32

Wisdom : 62

Dexterity : 39

Spell : 『Fly』『Torch』『Fire』『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』

Skill : 『Kick Devil』『Warrior's Memory』『Night Vision』『Crushing Blow』『Dog's Sense of Smell: Lv2』『Golem Maker: Lv3』『Rush』『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』『Air Jump: Lv2』『Killing Leg: Lv3』『Fear Voice』『Invisible』『Tiger Eye』『Wall Walking』『Intuition』『Cheat Death』『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield: Lv2』『Information Link』『Optical Camouflage』『Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Regenerate』『Soul Breaking Blade』『Stealthy Placement』『Thunder Chariot: Lv2』『Sturdier Teeth: Lv2「Dragon」』『Crystallization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Fabricated Coercion』『Stone Minotaur』『Mega Beam: Lv2』『Space Expansion』『Pseudo-silver Creation』『Poison Claw』『Fireball「Dragon」』『Cuticle「Dragon」』



Yumika:「Hey! Hurry up!」

Kazane:「I know!」