Chapter 100
Alter was already on the move, but it was difficult for him to escape the range of the breath attack.
He would have to either somehow nullify the breath or hope it just missed.
But now, the Benelrode the Incandescent focused solely on him, and its mouth and throat no longer froze.
'I can't dodge this...'
The Benelrode the Incandescent gathered all its magic power and spewed forth its final breath.
Then a crimson torrent poured out, engulfing the land below. Alter, gritting his teeth unconsciously, instantly sensed his end.
'Brillie...'
"You whelp. Is that all you can do, even with my power?"
Alter heard a mysterious voice and only then snapped back to his senses.
Everything was frozen in time; even the breath attack no longer advanced.
It was as if he was unconsciously lingering in a world of his own.
"I bestowed my power for the priest... Yet now, his descendant is fighting Benelrode. I have no idea how things ended up like this."
The mysterious voice sighed, resigning itself to reluctant acceptance.
The priest who served the Tiksa the Frostbane was nothing but a mere human, but due to the deity's favor, he was always allowed to remain by his side.
But being human, he could not escape death, and the Tiksa the Frostbane did everything to save him.
That is why the Tiksa the Frostbane, the dragon who nursed an unrequited love, ultimately sealed himself away for the priest's sake.
"There was a slight problem. Who would have thought I'd have my power stolen by another human... Still, now that it's returned, I am somewhat relieved."
The mysterious voice— Tiksa the Frostbane—closely observed Alter.
After so many generations, the priest's form was bound to have faded.
But this descendant and his mother resembled the priest so strongly that an odd compassion began to stir within.
"It can't be helped. Just this once, I'll lend you my aid. I certainly can't abide having my own descendant slain by a dragon..."
The Tiksa the Frostbane muttered serenely, then turned to look at the Benelrode the Incandescent.
Could that dragon, after being defeated by a human, have known it would cause trouble again?
Now, Benelrode was, with one last desperate struggle, even threatening his descendant.
"Watch closely. This is my true power."
The Tiksa the Frostbane drew a dazzling white magic circle and blocked the breath attack.
Although Alter could not move at all, he focused intently on the action.
"Next time, just do this. Don't go getting beaten up out there. As my descendant, this should be the least you can do."
With those words, the Tiksa the Frostbane suddenly vanished.
At that moment, everything started moving again, and from the magic circle, an intense cold radiated.
The chill, tinted by beautiful light, collided with Benelrode's breath, but it was not pushed back in the slightest, achieving a perfect balance.
"Are you all right, Alter?"
"For now... haah... I think I am."
Brillie arrived belatedly, looking up at the magic circle.
Such powerful magic power flowed from it, colder than any ice she'd ever seen.
Above all, the dragon's breath had been completely nullified, leaving only an uncanny sense of disconnect.
'It's certainly powerful—but it's using way too much magic power.'
Alter felt his heart racing as he caught his breath in ragged gasps.
Excessive use of magic power in a short span would throw the body off balance.
Moreover, this was not magic cast by his own will, nor did he understand its principle.
'Could this be... an exact magical reproduction of a dragon's breath...?'
"Are you really all right?"
"Haaah... Well... huuh..."
"..."
Brillie watched Alter intently, then swiftly lifted him up.
She hugged him tightly and started to carry him away from the scene.
Now, after invoking such a magic circle and his breathing growing labored, his condition was effectively deteriorating.
She thought perhaps it would be best to leave Alter with the rear troops and return to the battle herself.
"Can you hear me?"
"Haah... Yes, I can."
"You're not hurt, right? I'll get you somewhere safe soon, just hang in there."
"Hah... I think I overdid it. I didn't think things would end up like this..."
"You've done enough, Alter. You should rest now."
Brillie dashed swiftly, exchanging glances with those around her.
Although Alter had expended significant magic power and retreated from battle, he had nullified the dragon's breath.
That alone had contributed immensely to victory, so both the head of the chivalric order and the great mage accepted it without complaint.
"Haha! To counter a breath attack directly! The great mage has a terrifying disciple indeed."
Berhan exclaimed in admiration as he swung his hammer without hesitation.
The Benelrode the Incandescent, having overused its magic power in the breath attack, now had openings in its defenses.
Not one to waste an opportunity, Berhan aimed to finish it off quickly.
'If I'm not mistaken... that must be...'
Even while focusing on the battle, Alraune made an instinctive deduction.
It was virtually impossible for a human to construct such a massive magic circle or efficiently use such a vast amount of magic power.
Despite that, Alter Radiant had conjured a spell that countered the breath attack.
'To resist a dragon's breath... wouldn't you have to mimic the breath yourself?'
Unconsciously, Alraune suspected the hypothesis he had arrived at himself.
Ever since the founding of the Agnes Empire, no one had ever stopped a dragon's breath attack.
But now, Alter Radiant had become the first to shatter that history, and a phenomenon similar to a breath attack had been witnessed.
It was just a possibility, but one with some credibility.
'If so, then the Frost Witch's chill is connected to a dragon—and that dragon is Tiksa the Frostbane...'
"Kaaargh!"
The Benelrode the Incandescent let out a monstrous howl, writhing in agony.
Its magic power was nearly depleted, and even its breath attack had been completely stopped.
To make matters worse, the humans pressed their attacks relentlessly, while it itself could no longer evade them.
How could it be that a transcendent being such as itself had been defeated twice by mere humans?
"I've erred. I must have released the breath in the wrong direction."
Alraune expanded the area of his earth magic, binding the dragon's arms and neck.
The Benelrode the Incandescent struggled to crush the earth around it, but only slipped and quickly collapsed.
At the same time, Elite troops swarmed in and began smashing its crimson scales.
"I should have learned from my defeat to the death squad. I underestimated humans far too much."
Alraune fixed his gaze on the dragon's head and heart, ready to end things in one swift motion.
He had to eliminate the target before his own side suffered further casualties.
Now that it was so weakened, he could pierce its vital points with earth magic.
"The accolades for this battle should go to my disciple. Perhaps it's time for me to retire as well..."
"Kuoooh... huff... you..."
The Benelrode the Incandescent, suddenly ambushed, detected its assailant.
The Knight of True Flame charged, wreathed in fire, to attack the dragon.
Instantly, the Knight gouged out scales and flesh, shattering even the dragon's spine.
"I expected this outcome. Therefore... become my strength."
"You... betrayed... kuhaagh!"
The Benelrode the Incandescent let out a final death cry and collapsed lifelessly.
Crimson blood spurted everywhere, but the Knight of True Flame dug in unfazed.
Planting his sword in the massive heart, he began absorbing the dragon's magic power.
"It all begins now. I'll take it all."
"Ugh... So from the beginning... you aimed for this..."
"...?"
Berhan and the elite troops stared at the Knight in confusion.
The monster, once known as a formidable foe, was now having its heart crushed before their eyes.
Surely, the Knight had been waiting all along for just this moment.
"Berhan, sir! He's stealing the dragon's magic power!"
"What? Squad leader, follow me!"
Berhan hastily climbed onto the dragon's body and charged at the Knight of True Flame.
At the same time, the commander of the Holy Knights moved to cut off the Knight's escape.
Since the Knight was an extremely difficult opponent, only the holy knight commander, who rivaled the Sword Saint, was put forward to face him.
"Are you trying to fight me? There's no need for us to be enemies anymore."
"That doesn't erase your crimes!"
"It may sound like an excuse... but I had to deceive the dragon. Because of a small sacrifice, none of you were wiped out. Isn't that enough for you?"
"You scoundrel! Are you mocking me?!"
Berhan, filled with rage, swung his hammer.
But the Knight of True Flame moved slowly and caught the hammer in one hand.
The paladin commander instantly struck with his sword, but it too was repelled.
Berhan, unconsciously realizing the difference in strength, glared at the Knight.
"Do you really want to fight me? You cannot win."
"The Radiance of Semerune guides me. I will not bow to monsters like you!"
"That's why this one lost. With a strong one like you standing firm, how could it win...?"
The Knight tapped his foot lightly and pointed at the Benelrode the Incandescent.
Not just Berhan but many heroes guarded the Agnes Empire.
Even if the dragon's majesty loomed above them, they endured stoically, single-mindedly seeking the extermination of their foes.
"I have no intention of fighting you. My goal is already achieved."
The Knight of True Flame let go of the hammer and spewed flames.
Berhan and the paladin commander quickly retreated, raising hammer and sword again.
The Knight was now surrounded by wings of ever more brilliant flame.
"I declare here and now: I will no longer attack humans. Next time we meet, I may even be your ally."
The Knight of True Flame endured the pain welling up inside as he soared into the air.
To adapt to this power would undoubtedly require much time and effort.
No matter how much he honed his human body, it would still be difficult to withstand the magic power of a dragon.
"..."
Berhan watched the Knight depart, then turned away. The last time they fought, he had at least been able to hold his own.
But now, since the Knight could block his attacks so easily, he had to admit that a clear hierarchy had been established.
"Is this one already dead?"
The elite troops, confirming the dragon's death, ceased their attacks.
Alraune released his magic, and Berhan quietly gazed down at the corpse.
Though the finish was rather rough, they had nonetheless achieved their long-awaited result.
"Berhan, sir, are you just going to let him go?"
"He's already stronger than I am. If he truly wanted to, he could have swept us all aside."
"... Does that mean he truly will not fight us?"
"That's what he said, but can we trust it? I suspect he intended to betray us from the start."
"Huh... You're saying the Knight of True Flame had a plan all along?"
"He seemed suspicious right from the moment he crossed the wall. He could have just charged in with the monsters, so why go to all that trouble?"
"Well, that's true..."
Alraune nodded belatedly, a look of puzzlement on his face.
Why had the Benelrode the Incandescent invaded again, what scheme had the Knight of True Flame hidden, and what was Alter Radiant's secret?
Just how many tangled threads wove through this war?
'There's no use worrying about it now. I must decide on the next great mage.'