Akatsuki Translations

Let’s rewind time a bit.

Ur was protectively watching over Diz while shielding Shizuku. It was more accurate to say that he couldn’t do anything other than watch. In fact, saying he was watching wasn’t entirely correct either, as he couldn’t visually follow anything at all. All he could perceive were continuous explosions, flashes of light, and noise. He couldn’t even visually track the large dragon, let alone Diz. It was a battle of a different dimension.

Even protecting himself seemed meaningless in this battle. He truly couldn’t do anything.

Ur was in a state of near resignation, just standing there dumbfounded.

《Hello, Ur. Can you hear me? Respond in your mind without speaking out loud.》-Diz

Suddenly, he heard a voice, forcibly awakening his consciousness. Ur restrained himself from screaming. It was Diz’s voice. He responded in his mind as instructed, though he wasn’t sure if it was working.

《…D-Diz, is that you?》-Ur

《Oh, it worked. I’m currently speaking directly into your brain through Akane.》-Diz

Ur had questions about how that worked, but he knew this wasn’t the time to ask. Even as they were conversing like this, she was engaged in a deadly battle.

Ur desperately listened to Diz’s conversation, trying to find a way to survive.

《So, to get to the point, Ur.》-Diz

《Yes?》-Ur

《Save me.》-Diz

《I’m the one who needs saving here, don’t you think??》-Ur

Ur screamed in his mind.

Among all the beings here, Ur was the weakest and the most likely to die. His only weapon was a shabby knife covered in his own blood, and he was out of magic power. He was physically and mentally exhausted, and honestly felt like he might lose consciousness and bleed to death if he let his guard down.

Truly, he was the one who needed to be saved.

《Because, you see… If things continue like this, I’ll definitely lose to the dragon.》-Diz

《That’s some despair-inducing news.》-Ur

If Diz died, Ur, Shizuku, and Akane would undoubtedly not survive either. It was the worst news for Ur, almost bringing him to tears.

《Against a sin dragon, even perfect equipment is hard-pressed. Grandma’s cloak and Akane are doing their best, but…》-Diz

《Nyahhhhh!!! Noooo!!! It’s im—possi—ble~~!!!》-Akane

《…Yeah, I’m definitely going to lose. I need to take some risks to turn the tables.》-Diz

At least Ur understood the situation was extremely dire from Akane’s scream. He wanted to comfort Akane, but he was the one who needed comforting.

《So, you’re asking for help. But just so you know, I really can’t do anything right now. I’ve exhausted everything in the fight against the poison omen bird, and I’m out of strength, magic, and tools.》-Ur

Hearing Ur’s words, Diz seemed to grin wickedly, at least that’s how Ur felt.

《That’s exactly why it’ll be fine. You’re currently the weakest here. And you’re on the brink of death. The dragon thinks so too. It’s completely excluding you from the battle.》-Diz

That’s why it’s an opportunity, Diz says. But Ur still didn’t fully understand her point. He was weak and close to death, an undeniable fact, which meant he couldn’t do anything in this situation. But Diz continued.

《Ur, you used 【Epiphany of the White King】, right?》-Diz

Startled, Ur turned his attention to his back. The White King Formation’s magic enhancement, drawn with all of Lynne’s effort. Although the overwhelming power at the time of activation was lost, the traces of the magic circle still remained on Ur’s back.

《I did use it. But the activation has already finished. My magic power is depleted, and the formation is――》-Ur

《No, the formation hasn’t completely dissipated yet. It’s fortunate that we’re in the deep layers of the dungeon. The amount of magical energy in the atmosphere here is extraordinary. The dense magic is preventing the White King Formation from completely fading away.》-Diz

Essentially, Diz was saying that if Ur replenished his magic power and followed the proper steps, he could reactivate the formation.

《I don’t have the skill to create the White King Formation from scratch, but I can reboot something that already exists. I’ll supply the missing magic power.》-Diz

《Do you even have that much spare magic power? Rebooting will require a substantial amount.》-Ur

《I don’t. But I can make it seem like I do.》-Diz

It was a reckless idea, but that was the level of risk involved in this strategy for her.

《So, you’re saying you want me to use that power to help you?》-Ur

《Exactly. But charging in blindly will only get you killed. The Epiphany of the White King will make you “somewhat” stronger, but if you confront the dragon head-on, it will crush you easily.》-Diz

A mere physical enhancement wouldn’t be enough against such an opponent. A dragon, especially a magical being of utmost malevolence, the 【Sin Dragon】, would normally be impossible to confront.

A surprise attack was necessary, and it had to be a one-time opportunity.

A dragon, having lived far longer than humans, would not fall for the same trick twice. The first time itself would only be possible because Ur, ‘universally acknowledged as non-combatant,’ would be the one to act.

The battle between Diz and the dragon continued even during their conversation. Several white tendrils began piercing Diz’s body, but her thoughts remained unshaken. Ur anxiously concentrated on the conversation, wondering when Diz’s thoughts would abruptly end with her death.

《There’s another chance, Ur. You obtained a 【Magic Eye】, right?》-Diz

《…Wha?》-Ur

《Haven’t you noticed? Then you must have acquired it at the last moment. Your left eye has become an 【Unerring Magic Eye】.》-Diz

Ur was frightened by this revelation, but Diz explained further. It’s a relatively common enhancement of the five senses, especially among rear-guard positions like archers.

It likely manifested due to the activation of the White King Formation, his throwing skills, and the psychological pressure of ‘having to hit the target no matter what’ in a critical situation.

《So if I throw something at the dragon, it will definitely hit?》-Ur

《Unfortunately, if you throw something at a target with zero chance of hitting, the Magic Eye won’t correct it. Besides, Ur, can you currently track the dragon’s movements?》-Diz

《Not at all.》-Ur

Despite the impressive name of the Magic Eye, Ur couldn’t track the dragon’s movements. It just looked like a huge white blur whizzing around. If the supposed infallibility of the Magic Eye could activate under these circumstances, it would be extremely useful. But it seemed unlikely. What use was infallibility in this situation?

《So, I’m going to perform surgery to modify your Magic Eye.》-Diz

《Wait a minute.》-Ur

Ur was alarmed by the ominous pairing of words.

《Modification? Surgery? Are you sure I’ll be okay?》-Ur

《Let me be clear. You won’t be okay at all.》-Diz

Despite Diz unleashing a fire magic spell above and the dragon easily swallowing it, the conversation continued. The discussion about tinkering with Ur’s eyeball proceeded.

《I’m going to forcibly ascend your Magic Eye by directly manipulating it. Naturally, it’s going to be extremely painful. It will feel like countless thorns piercing your eyeball. Even if it works, it will greatly affect the future development of your Magic Eye. It’s impossible to predict the outcome.》-Diz

《The more I hear, the more I want to refuse.》-Ur

《Yeah. So, just to be sure, Ur, let me ask.》-Diz

Diz continued to fight, cutting through the white tendrils attacking from all directions, yet getting pierced by several. Amidst the dragon’s roaring and her own struggles, she asked Ur with an almost casual tone, as if inquiring about the weather.

《Which is better? This or death?》-Diz

《………………………I don’t want to die.》-Ur

The plan was decided.

　　　　　　　　  ◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Her operation was carried out with extreme precision and speed. Akane’s malleable body was finely sharpened, and a part of her was extended secretly towards Ur. Various magical formulas were then inscribed into Ur’s eyeball, ascending the Magic Eye.

Waste was eliminated, immaturity polished, and optimization advanced.

Years’ worth of work was condensed into a few seconds.

Potential paths that could have been pursued were narrowed down to overcome this moment, this situation.

“………！！…………………..gh！！！！” -Ur

The accompanying intense pain was extraordinary.

Ur was supposed to be protecting Shizuku, but in reality, he was holding her tightly to suppress his screams, enduring the agony of writhing in pain. There was no room to worry about her safety or enjoy her touch. The pain from the self-inflicted stab wound on his right arm, still hurting, seemed like comfort compared to this unknown torment. Tears mixed with blood streamed down, forming bloody tears.

《Just a bit more…!! Hang in there, Nii-tan…!!!》-Akane

Akane encouraged from the shadows, while Diz, with a resolve to face death, continued battling the dragon. The fact that they were fighting was the strength that kept Ur enduring the hellish pain.

Then the moment arrived.

《Ur, I’m going to talk to the dragon now, creating an opening. I’ll send Akane your way, use it on my signal.》-Diz

《How long… for activation…?》-Ur

《5 seconds.》-Diz

That was good enough. Ur listened to the conversation between Diz and the dragon while wiping the blood dripping from his left eye. He calmed his ragged breath and gently released Shizuku from his grasp. Then, Shizuku slightly opened her eyes, apparently awakened by his rough embrace.

“…Ur… sama.” -Shizuku

“…It’s okay… I can.. do this.”  -Ur

Shizuku gently touched Ur’s bloodied arm. She quietly cast a spell, and the pain in his right arm slightly subsided.

“Good luck.” -Shizuku

Ur nodded, then grabbed Akane, who was forming a single spear while hiding from the. Ur held in his hands a degraded sacred relic that once, along with the spirit of thunder, had slain a fully mature dragon.

《Nii-tan》-Akane

《Let’s do this, Akane.》-Ur

Who would have imagined that a reunion with his long-lost sister would turn into a fight to the death with a dragon? Yet, being with her in this dire situation provided mental support on the edge of the precipice. For his sister, he could even kill a dragon. He convinced himself of this.

No hesitation. No fear. No backing down. Just do it.

Take a step forward into the abyss.

“Here’s what I’ll do.” -Diz

As Diz attracted the dragon’s attention to the limit, she suddenly crouched down.

A line of sight was established between Ur and the dragon. At that moment, Ur’s back burned with heat, the sensation of the 【White King Formation】 enveloping him. It was the second time that day. It wasn’t something he could get used to, but he wasn’t confused either.

“【White King Formation Reboot】【Magic Eye Ascension・Future Grasp, Laplace Eye】【Degradating Creation・Dragon Piercing Thunder Emperor, Brionac】” -Ur

With the Epiphany of the White King upon him, wielding the spear of thunder, and viewing the dragon through the Magic Eye.

The eye, which had opened in the battle against the poison omen bird and modified by Diz, had evolved from an eye that ensured hits to a sinister eye that grasped the “future” of its target. Even if the dragon moved unpredictably within the dungeon, knowing its movements made correction possible.

While seeing the dragon’s future as told by the Magic Eye, Ur stepped forward and threw the spear.

“PIERCE IT!!!!” -Ur

Akane transformed into a flash of red and light, piercing the dragon’s throat with a thunderous roar like a lightning strike.

『【Swin――――gAAH AHHHHHH!!?　　!?!?!?　 』-Dragon of Lust

“I… missed…!!” -Ur

Hearing the dragon’s scream, Ur gritted his teeth at the outcome before him. The spear that should have pierced through the dragon’s head deviated. The miss wasn’t due to a failure of the Magic Eye but a pure mistake on his part. He felt a slight imbalance in his posture when he threw the spear. No matter how much his body was strengthened, it was already in tatters, so this was inevitable.

But it wasn’t over yet.

“Akane!!” -Ur

《Alright!!! 》-Akane

In an instant, Akane, impaled in the dragon, caused the spear of thunder to explode. The thunder, having pierced through, scorched the insides of the lustful dragon’s throat.

『…………..！！！　　………….　　　……………….！！！！』-Dragon of Lust

The smell of blood, flesh, and something indescribable filled the air as it burned. The dragon’s scream was no longer heard, its throat completely burnt away, leaving its head shaking unsteadily.

Seizing the opportunity, Diz leaped forward. Akane, having completed her role as the spear of thunder and returned to Diz’s hand, transformed into a sword, aimed to slash the dragon’s throat.

『　　D o n’t　　　under   esti  mate　　　m  e　　　』-Dragon of Lust

The white tendrils fluttered in a flash. The magic circle, which had been drawing a massive, three-dimensional ultimate magic spell, was about to activate. The light of the magic spell’s activation was faster than Diz’s ability to decapitate the remaining head of the dragon.

It was too late.

Ur held his breath, covering Shizuku protectively.

“【■　■　■】” -Shizuku

At that moment, an indistinct and strange incantation spilled from Shizuku’s lips, heard by Ur. It was a faint but unmistakable sound coming from her mouth. And the result was dramatic.

『　　　GA　　　AH　　!?　　』-Dragon of Lust

The dragon’s body blinked, precisely, a gigantic “silver magic circle” suddenly appeared on the dragon’s body. The magic circle, shining brightly even in the deep darkness of the dungeon, momentarily halted the dragon’s movements.

It lasted less than a second before the magic circle vanished, and the dragon’s movements restarted. But that brief moment was enough for “her.”

“【Demon Sever】” -Diz

In that instant of opportunity, Diz bisected the remaining head of the dragon.