Akatsuki Translations

The moment the pitch-black dragon appeared, Ur and his companions were caught completely off guard.

Even Ur and Shizuku, who reacted first, were a moment late in readying their weapons. It was that much of a surprise attack. They were on their guard, but they had not imagined the mysterious crystal that captivated their attention, and as a result, they were caught off guard.

『ＧＹＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ！！！』

With a roar, its giant jaws opened. The smell of the air being burned flowed even from this distance. The roaring breath was coming. Its nature was unknown, but that flying dragon filled with murderous intent was not likely to send anything trivial.

“—Rock!!” -Ur

All Ur could shout in haste was just that. Creating a barrier of bones and then telling everyone to hide behind it, he had no time to give detailed instructions. Nevertheless, due to the high level of communication born from experience in desperate situations, his companions moved towards Rock, and at the same time, Rock managed to form a barrier through the 【Bone Core Transformation】.

“――――Eh?” -Echelle

Therefore, Echelle, who had only recently joined Ur and his companions, was slow to react.

“Ahh fuck” -Ur

『ＧＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ――――！！！』

With a roar that was more an explosion than a flame, the narrow space with few escape routes exploded.

『KAAAH！！！』-Rock

Rock shouted. The barrier he had set up at an angle split the blast. Still, the flames of destruction that could not be completely mitigated scorched and shattered his body. Yet, Rock managed to protect Shizuku and Lynne.

But Ur was not behind him.

“HYAa?!!” -Echelle

“―――GHA?!” -Ur

Ur had jumped out from behind Rock’s barrier, embracing the stunned Echelle as if to protect him. At the same time, the blast mercilessly swept over their small bodies.

“AAAAAAH?!” -Ur

There was no time for Ur to check what had happened. There was only the intense pain of the heat and the agony of being slammed into the ground with ridiculous force. The fact that he hadn’t let go of Echelle was nothing short of a miracle.

Finally, crashing into the wall, Ur couldn’t even writhe in agony and lost consciousness.

　　　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Lynne could only crouch and hold her head from the shock of the explosion. She had faced life-threatening situations several times as an adventurer, but this was the first time it had been this dangerous. It was terrifying. She didn’t want to die. She couldn’t die. She hadn’t accomplished anything yet.

That she managed to hide behind Rock and protect herself in a split second was due to her dense experience and, more than anything, a survival instinct born from a keen sense of crisis.

Soon, the roar and the blast subsided, and she raised her face to assess the situation.

“What… happened…” -Lynne

She checked the situation. Rock, who had been protecting her and Shizuku at the front line, was almost entirely charred black, almost crumbling. Was he dead!? But then she saw that regeneration was slowly starting. His resilience was terrifying.

Lynne felt a slight relief, and then she realized Ur and Echelle were missing.

“Ur!? Ech―Eek!” -Lynne

Far behind their position, Lynne screamed at the sight of Ur, motionless, embracing Echelle as if to protect her.

A nasty, burnt smell of blood emanated from Ur. The worst scenarios flashed through her mind.

“Shizuku, Ur is!” -Lynne

She called out to Shizuku in a panic. Shizuku’s healing magic was needed now more than ever. Of course, Lynne’s White King Formation also possessed healing properties, but it would take time. In this critical moment, Shizuku’s power was indispensable.

But there was no response from Shizuku. Turning around,

“――Please take care of Ur-sama, Lynne-sama.” -Shizuku

Shizuku, while radiating her magical power outward, quietly kept her gaze forward.

In her line of sight was the dragon that had unleashed the explosive flames. Lynne belatedly realized its presence once again.

Her mind had gone blank at the sight of the injured Ur. But they were still in a deadly situation, and the threat was still very much present.

Therefore, Shizuku faced the dragon. Concentrating more intensely than ever,

“I will hold it off. Please, somehow save Ur-sama.” -Shizuku

“Shizuku, alone?” -Lynne

“Hurry.” -Shizuku

The dragon roared.

To fight alone against an opponent that had nearly annihilated their group in an instant? Impossible, she thought to cry out, but she quickly understood there was no time for such sentiments. There was no time to debate possibilities.

“Go.” -Shizuku

Lynne ran towards Ur. No solutions came to mind for this predicament. But she knew she had to move.

And Shizuku, left behind, turned quietly forward.

“【Sing, O Wind, and Become a Bundle of String and Spin. Wiperate】.” -Shizuku

Using object manipulation magic, she picked up Ur’s dragonfang spear along with her staff, floating them in the air, and began to pull them towards her with invisible threads of wind. As she pulled, she began to sing.

“I will not let you die. Ur-sama.” -Shizuku

With a resolve heavier than the murderous intent directed at the dragon,

In order to protect her friend with whom she would face hell together, Shizuku recited a song.

　　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

“Ur!!” -Lynne

Lynne frantically waved her short limbs, rushing towards Ur and Echelle. As she got closer, the smell of burnt flesh became stronger. Imagining the worst, Lynne felt the blood drain from her face.

Upon closer inspection, Ur’s body was intact, but most of his armor was shattered, and his body was burnt. He did not move at all.

“Ah, ah, ah, I, I! U, Ur, Ur is!” -Echelle

“Echelle-sama, step back!” -Lynne

In contrast, Echelle’s injuries were minor, but she was clearly confused. Clinging to Ur, she was crying profusely. It was fortunate that she was safe, but she was in the way now.

“Ur! Can you hear me!?” -Lynne

“……uh.” -Ur

When Lynne called out to him, Ur slightly stirred. He was breathing. At least he was not dead, which gave her a bit of relief, but the situation was still precarious.

“Can you drink a high potion!?” -Lynne

“Gu, ga, cough, ueh!” -Ur

“……!” -Lynne

Trying to make him drink the potion, he violently gagged and vomited blood. It seemed his organs were damaged. It was uncertain if he could be made to drink the potion in this state.

It was a dire situation. A high recovery potion could heal him if forced down, but if it didn’t work and he vomited it out, there would be no second chance. There was only one high recovery potion left.

Could they possibly get Shizuku to use some healing magic on him?

『ＧＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ！！！』

The roar of the dragon resounded, followed by the sounds of several spells exploding. Shizuku was fighting behind them. Alone, she faced the terrifying flying dragon that had decimated their group in an instant. She couldn’t afford to divert any of her power to help them.

But then, what to do? Ur had been vomiting blood continuously. Probably, there was no more time to wait. Should they just force the high recovery potion down, praying for the best―

“…No.” -Lynne

Lynne struck her own head. She beat herself up for feeling pitiful, hesitant, and ultimately trying to pass the responsibility to someone else.

No, no, no!!!

Was this why she had left home, to come to such a dungeon? No! Absolutely not. She had come to the depths of the earth to stand proud of her White King Formation, her pride.

Yet, to pray? Pray, for what? To rely on gods or spirits? She was a magician!!!

“【Soul Resurrection’s Emerald Light・White King Formation】” -Lynne

The revelation was already received. The spirit-bound, Akane’s assistance. If there were not enough hands for the creation of the White King Formation, then the solution was simply to increase the number of hands—a straightforward approach of brute force, achieved by herself.

Holding the 【Meteor Brush】, inherited from the first Leyline. Instead of focusing on the entire staff, she concentrated her consciousness and magical power on each bristle of the broom-like tip. She gripped the staff as if squeezing out her blood with all her might.

“Gr…gyii!” -Lynne

Gradually, the tip began to swell. Each bristle started to wriggle as if it were a living creature. She tried to control them all, but soon realized that it was impossible to do so immediately. She narrowed down the number, spreading her consciousness to the limit of what she could manage.

She must not exceed her limits.

It was critical not to push too hard and collapse. Failure was not an option.

She was on the edge. Standing on the boundary line of her limit, at the water’s edge.

“【Speedwriting Activate】” -Lynne

The tip danced around. Surrounding Ur, it began its battle to save his life. Lynne’s battle had commenced.