Chapter 52: Divine Suffering

Estoff Wraith

I hope Richard's group will come here immediately… At this alarming rate, all our dreams and hopes for the future are on the verge of being irrevocably shattered.

Assigned to lead the second brigade of Arcadia's force, I found myself facing an opponent of incomprehensible power—a deranged general of unimaginable strength. Initially, I commanded approximately two hundred soldiers to unleash a barrage of bullets upon the six-winged adversary, but it proved futile. Kyle, endowed with an inhuman, nay, impossible speed, singlehandedly decimated eighty percent of my forces.

Kyle has achieved a level of swiftness comparable to that of light itself. None possess a bullet or blade capable of even grazing him. I count myself fortunate to have parried his blinding assaults whenever he charged in my direction. Yet, my heart sinks as I witness what he has done to Elumina! She lies unconscious, suspended thirty meters above us, a radiant cross of light supporting her ethereal form. The weariness etched upon her face is palpable.

"DRACARYX! Activate the Spear of Judgment!" Kyle's voice reverberates through the air.

Once again, that dreaded spear materializes, emerging from a portal that appears on Elumina's chest! The colossal lance of light surges forth, obliterating the remnants of my dragonoid forces. Resistance proves futile, for everything it touches instantaneously vaporizes. Escape becomes an illusion, as the spear strikes with a swiftness that surpasses the signals of your brain synapses.

The impact of the spear was devastating, claiming the bodies of twenty-seven dragonoids in its destructive path. Limbs were severed, while unfortunate souls had their heads and torsos vanish entirely, leaving behind a gruesome spectacle. The air was saturated with the piercing screams of my comrades, echoing through the night and etching the horror into our souls.

As the army of dragonoids lay in ruins, Kyle's response was anything but remorseful. A sadistic laughter escaped his lips, reveling in the absolute destruction he had wrought upon us. It became clear that he had lost touch with his sanity, deriving perverse pleasure from the slaughter of dragonoids throughout his career as a dragon knight. Indeed, a General-level Dragon Knight possessed unparalleled power. Their exhaustive training and comprehensive knowledge of magic and thaumatology enabled them to harness Dracaryx multiple times, in stark contrast to ordinary Dragon Knights who could only employ it once per day.

However, the cost borne by the dragonoids who utilized Dracaryx should not be trivialized. The very nature of Dracaryx involved a momentary cessation of the heart, rendering its repeated usage highly ill-advised, if not outright dangerous.

With each activation of Dracaryx, Elumina emitted anguished screams, trapped in a state of unconscious torment. Kyle continued to unleash a barrage of the Spear of Judgment upon my remaining armed forces, displaying no concern for Elumina's suffering. If my calculations were correct, he had already invoked it seven times.

"Kyle, enough!" I bellowed in desperation. "Elumina... She is in agony! Put an end to this madness!"

His response was a chilling grin, laced with malice. "Oh, do you think I care about that wretched woman?" he sneered. "Rest assured, our Spear of Judgment will be the instrument of your demise!"

With a sudden burst of speed, Kyle lunged at me, clashing blades once more. Curiously, each time he attacked, he momentarily slowed his own movements, affording me a window to react. It became apparent that he was deliberately handicapping himself, merely toying with me and allowing me to maintain a semblance of a fight. Deep down, I knew that defeating a dragon knight of his caliber was an insurmountable task, especially considering I was no longer one of them. Gilliard's death had sealed my fate in this war.

In a twist of fate, a radiant ring of light materialized before Kyle's face, transforming into a portal that swallowed him whole. His body, burdened by force and weight, tumbled into the portal, vanishing like a fragile bubble. This spell...

"Apologies for our tardiness, totally!" Airelina called out, waving her hand in my direction. She stood atop a majestic, snake-like Chinese dragon, her presence commanding. Beside her stood Reina Fleuret, their prior conflict seemingly resolved.

Descending gracefully towards me, a beautiful blonde woman, Reina Fleuret, landed with poise. "Our primary concern is Dragunov," she said, her voice carrying an air of elegance. "We cannot waste our time battling our own general. I must strive to maintain an unsullied reputation, if at all possible."

"I am well aware," I replied with a scoff. "Dragunov has once again eluded capture, along with the Ice Dragon and the enigmatic Black Phantom."

"You mentioned the Black Phantom earlier. That individual was Alder's--"

"It was Alder's lifeless body," I interrupted her abruptly, my voice filled with confusion. "I can't wrap my head around what's going on, but based on his posture, fighting style, and his familiar Vesryn Pulse with Emy, there's no doubt that the body belongs to Alder Windstrafe. However, there's something incredibly eerie about his resurrection. A conspicuous cavity mars his chest, and he perpetually clutches a heart-like object, treating it as if it were a precious artifact. His decaying flesh covers his skin, casting an unsettling aura. Moreover, Alder was always a talkative fighter, but this Black Phantom, in contrast, remains silent, emitting only eerie chewing noises reminiscent of a zombie."

Reina chimed in, speculating, "That corpse must be under some spell or witchcraft."

"Richard and I will pursue the Ice dragon," she continued, her voice resolute. "Airelina, you'll stay here and provide backup against our general. Are you comfortable with that arrangement?"

"Totally!" Airelina responded with unwavering enthusiasm, her sudden energy perplexing me further. There was definitely something peculiar about this idiotic girl.

The Portal Dragon ruptured the fabric of dimensions, making its exit, leaving me alone with this boisterous fool. I glared at Airelina, searching for any signs of drug-induced behavior. Merely an hour ago, she had been gloomy and now, she was back to her usual self.

"What happened?" I interrogated her, my voice tinged with concern, desperate to uncover the truth behind her abrupt transformation.

Airelina responded with a beaming smile, her voice filled with excitement. "Amphere's condition is improving, I can feel it. His heartbeats resonate within my own heart." She hugged herself dramatically, emphasizing the profound connection. "I'll give it my all, I promise!"

Relieved by her words, I acknowledged her improved state, knowing she was now primed to fight at her full potential.

"We must rescue Elumina from that eerie floating cross," I declared, pointing towards the radiant 'x' hovering above us.

"Leave it to me, totally!" Airelina exclaimed, her platinum wings unfurling as she propelled herself into the air with an explosive burst of energy.

However, a sudden obstruction halted her progress—a figure streaking through the sky like a shooting star. It was Kyle! He swiftly maneuvered to block Airelina's path, brandishing his slender sword with astonishing speed.

Unlike our previous encounters, this battle held a glimmer of hope. Airelina, renowned as the swiftest dragonoid in the esteemed Dragon Knight's Academy, possessed the aerial prowess necessary to match Kyle's speed. She narrowly evaded the sword's lethal strike, her cloth torn at the left waist. Witnessing the damage, Airelina fixed her gaze upon her adversary, her expression turning resolute, and she retrieved her gleaming photon sword, readying herself for a formidable counterattack.

With a fierce cry, Airelina propelled herself forward at a speed that defied sound, launching an upward slash towards Kyle. Swiftly, he managed to parry the attack with his silver slim sword. However, Airelina wasn't finished yet. She revealed her second photon sword, thrusting it forward, grazing Kyle's right cheek, causing a trickle of blood to descend.

"You've improved, you adorable brat," Kyle remarked, a forced smile gracing his face. "But surpassing me is an impossible feat! DRACARYX!!! Activate Spear of Judgment!"

Elumina's anguished screams pierced the air once more as a surge of radiant energy erupted from the spear. Caught off guard, Airelina couldn't evade the devastating strike and bore the full brunt of the attack. A thunderous crash echoed on the nearby highway, only a few meters away from where I stood. Astonishingly, Airelina's body remained intact, but my astonishment turned to understanding as I noticed a protective plate affixed to her chest—the Shield Plate Amphere had given her earlier.

The direct impact of the Spear of Judgment had depleted the Shield Plate's power from 100% to 0%. It was evident that this spell was a one-hit kill unless one was shielded by these invaluable plates.

Unfortunately, Airelina's body could no longer endure the pain. The excruciating impact of the fall had left her muscles in agony, hindering her ability to fight. She fought against her own limitations, gritting her teeth in determination, but her arms and legs refused to heed her commands.

Taking a firm, centered stance in front of Airelina, I realized my own powerlessness in that moment. Regret washed over me for not having defended her sooner, and witnessing Elumina's continual suffering at the hands of that lunatic, Kyle, fueled my determination.

"Kyle! Stop!" I shouted, a resolute thought crystallizing in my mind—a decision that would alleviate Elumina's unbearable pain. Yes, it was the only way. In desperate times like these, stopping the agony of my beloved took precedence over everything else. I had to do it, even if it meant sacrificing everything—my honor, my freedom, and my ideals. I was prepared to relinquish it all for the sake of Elumina's well-being.

"Put an end to this, Kyle," I declared firmly, lowering my sword and raising my hand in surrender. "Just promise me that you won't use the Spear of Judgment again."

A wicked chuckle escaped Kyle's lips as he replied, "You're my best friend, after all." He paused for a moment, closing his eyes as if savoring the tainted air that surrounded us. Then, with an unsettling calmness, he spoke again.

"And that's precisely why I must kill you with this spell! DRACARYX!!! Activate Spear of Judgment!!!"