Chapter 58

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

Cumulative ranking achieved! Thanks to everyone's support. Thank you so much!

"I'll be the attacker. Anne will provide support."

Kuuna said this and then took off her dress.

Indeed, when she fights seriously, ordinary clothes burn up.

She focused her eyes to savor her alluring undergarment.

However...

"Are you wearing an undergarment!?"

Kuuna, to her great disappointment, was still wearing the undergarment I made from a boar monster. It has a very high fire resistance, so with some ingenuity, it can be used without burning up.

Kuuna's undergarment was modified at her request to expose her arms and back. According to her, when she fights seriously, even the highly fire-resistant boar undergarment burns up instantly in those areas.

"Sōji-kun, I'll show you my seriousness. This time... I'll use a sword. I won't weigh my pride against my friends. Father, lend me your power."

In Kuuna's hands were two short swords.

Beautiful blades of vermilion and gold... looking at those blades, I felt as if my soul was being sucked in.

They were swords that could rival Anne's Quvar Besta.

The moment Kuuna readied her two swords, something that was missing in her seemed to be filled. The sense of unity was so strong that it made the absence of the short swords seem unnatural.

"Blaze!"

Kuuna called forth flames with all her might.

Her fire fox affinity.

The circuit that had been intentionally suppressed by someone, which I treated.

The increase in magic power due to [Magic Power Limit Release].

Due to these three effects, the amount of fire produced surpassed even the full power of a Rank 3 mage.

The short swords absorbed all the flames.

It was impossible. Such power should be uncontrollable even by Kuuna.

What made it possible was the pure performance of the short swords themselves.

"Explosive Flame Dance"

Kuuna flew. A small explosion occurred on her back, propelling her body.

Kuuna accelerated with small-scale explosions, adjusting her center of gravity and air resistance with her tail, achieving a speed that surpassed even Tiranosaurus.

The meaning of exposing her back and arms became clear; they would burn up instantly. This was a deliberate exposure.

"Roar!?"

Tiranosaurus lost sight of Kuuna due to her speed. Even from my distance, I could lose sight of her if I let my guard down.

"Shake, Red Sky!"

Kuuna circled around to Tiranosaurus's blind spot and delivered a cross slash with her two swords.

Tiranosaurus's skin, reinforced by miasma, should have been impervious to Rank 1 attacks.

However, the short swords cut through easily.

The ultra-high heat from the flames Kuuna infused and the molecular bond breakdown caused by the super-vibration from the flames made this possible.

The terrifying part was that Kuuna only infused the flames; the rest was all due to the short swords' mechanisms. The maker of this sword was a myth-level blacksmith.

"Guhaaaaa!"

Tiranosaurus was suffering. The short swords were completely carbonizing the cuts.

These were not cuts but missing flesh. The amount of miasma required for recovery was significantly higher.

However, Kuuna seemed to have consumed a considerable amount of flames to cut Tiranosaurus. The heat was dropping. The next cut wouldn't work.

Kuuna stepped forward and delivered a thrust with both hands.

By concentrating force at a single point, she could still deliver an effective blow.

"Flame Blade Release!!"

Then, she poured all the heat stored in the swords.

The highest-class fire resistance of Tiranosaurus's flesh was carbonized, creating a wound about twenty centimeters in diameter that was also carbonized.

Tiranosaurus, in a fit of anger, swung its tail, but Kuuna, riding the explosion, jumped back faster.

She quickly moved out of the attack range and gathered flames on her swords again.

Probably, the swords couldn't replenish the flames. To absorb flames again, they needed to be emptied. That's why Kuuna used [Flame Blade Release] to release the remaining flames while dealing damage.

Kuuna's breathing was heavy.

She was pushing herself. To deal effective blows to Tiranosaurus, she was releasing flames beyond her control, relying on the performance of the short swords. The strain was significant.

Probably, she could only infuse enough heat into the swords for one more effective blow.

"Gyaaaaaaa!"

Tiranosaurus charged straight at Kuuna, seeing her as the only enemy.

Kuuna activated earth magic to create a mud pit, but Tiranosaurus, despite its massive body, stepped to the side and avoided the mud pit.

It seemed to have some learning ability.

However, Anne was waiting at the landing spot.

Anne delivered a stored [Moon Slash].

However, it stopped at Tiranosaurus's skin with a hard, metallic sound.

Even with [Magic Power Limit Release] to enhance her magic power, it wasn't enough to penetrate the high defense of a Rank 2 upper.

Anne didn't have a hidden ace like Kuuna's short swords. Sometimes, determination alone isn't enough.

Still, Anne didn't lose focus. She dodged the fireballs Tiranosaurus released in annoyance and delivered a simple diagonal slash. As expected, it was ineffective.

The moment Tiranosaurus tried to sweep with its tail, Kuuna, taking advantage of Anne's distraction, closed in and delivered an effective blow.

Indeed, Anne had been supporting Kuuna from the start. She never overextended herself and only struck when she was sure to hit. This reduced Kuuna's burden.

Kuuna alone couldn't stop Tiranosaurus.

Anne's seemingly futile struggles were supporting this tight battle.

Moreover, Anne was starting to change slightly. This life-or-death battle was providing her with the practical experience she lacked.

The red lines on the blade of Quvar Besta began to glow. So, Quvar Besta was finally starting to recognize Anne.

Anne, focused on the battle, didn't notice that she had injured Tiranosaurus, even slightly.

Time passed second by second. My magic was nearing completion.

It had been exactly one minute.

"Just a little more. Both of you, hold on."

I whispered, as if in prayer.

Both of them were doing well, far better than I expected.

Another dangerous situation arose. Tiranosaurus launched an attack at a moment when Anne couldn't dodge. At that instant, Kuuna stabbed with her short sword and used [Flame Blade Release] to blow Tiranosaurus away and save Anne.

Kuuna tried to concentrate flames on her short swords again, but no flames appeared. Her magic power was exhausted.

It had been seventy seconds. My magic was not yet complete.

Tiranosaurus got up.

All the wounds Kuuna had inflicted were completely healed.

"Gyaa!!"

Tiranosaurus suddenly looked at us.

It showed clear hostility towards me.

Could it have realized the danger of my magic!?

Its miasma explosively increased.

It firmly planted its feet on the ground, extended its neck, and straightened its tail.

It opened its mouth wide. The heat was intensifying.

Probably, this was its strongest and most powerful attack. An unprecedented flame would strike me.

I couldn't dodge it for sure.

Anne noticed Tiranosaurus's change and swung her blade, but it only cut the thin skin.

Determined to kill me, Tiranosaurus completely ignored Anne, who couldn't deal damage to it.

I continued to calculate the magic with all my might.

I wasn't giving up. Dodging was impossible from the start.

Kuuna and Anne had sworn to protect me for one minute and thirty seconds. I had to believe they would.

Kuuna appeared in front of me and stood firm.

"I'll stop it. Sōji-kun, complete the magic. I'll probably use all my power. There won't be a next time."

"I understand."

Kuuna and I met each other's eyes, nodded, and focused on our respective tasks.

Finally, Tiranosaurus unleashed its strongest and most powerful attack.

It was a hellfire ball that easily surpassed the flames Kuuna had shown.

A small sun that would destroy everything was heading towards me.

Even a Rank 3 adventurer would turn to ashes instantly.

A Rank 1 couldn't possibly withstand such an attack.

But Kuuna said she could.

Then, she would definitely succeed.

Kuuna dropped her short swords and extended her hands forward.

"Flames... Fire Fox..."

The hellfire ball touched Kuuna's hands. Her arms burned. But she stared straight at the hellfire ball and, in an instant, drew out all her magic power, pushing beyond her limits to create flames.

It was a tiny flame compared to the heat of the hellfire ball.

However, she identified the weak point in the magic structure and collapsed it by releasing all her power in a pinpoint and instantaneous attack.

She spread her extended hands to the sides, and the hellfire ball split, its flames clinging to Kuuna's hands.

It didn't end there. She spun like a dancer and brought her hands together above her head.

Then...

"Don't underestimate me!!"

She threw the flames like an overhand pitch.

Kuuna controlled the dispersed power, bundled it, and sent it back.

Tiranosaurus was enveloped in the hellfire.

"Gyaa, Gyaaaaa!"

Even Tiranosaurus couldn't withstand the flames it had unleashed with all its might. Its body burned, and it let out a cry of agony.

"Sōji-kun, the rest... is up to you."

Kuuna, having used all her magic power, collapsed and lost consciousness.

She had pushed herself to the limit. There was no other way.

"Yes, it's up to me. It's my turn now."

The seemingly endless calculation finally ended, and my magic was complete.

I clasped my hands in front of my chest and pointed them directly at Tiranosaurus.

Then...

"Roar of the Silver Dragon"

I unleashed the decisive magic.

Unlike usual, I didn't deploy defensive magic to protect myself in case of failure. There was no time for that.

If I failed here, everything would be over.

The surrounding mana rapidly gathered.

So far, so good. Then, I crushed the mana.

All the power contained in the mana was released and began to rage.

By bundling and directing this, the [Roar of the Silver Dragon] was completed.

But...

"Ugh"

The control was unstable. The magic structure to suppress the mana was about to explode.

I desperately tried to control the magic structure.

If I failed here, Kuuna and Anne's efforts would be in vain.

The theory should be correct, the magic structure should be perfect, but I was just a little short.

Endure, endure, endure, it's no good, the magic is collapsing...

"...Release, my soul"

At the moment I thought the magic would collapse, strange words came out of my mouth. The phrase felt strangely familiar.

My head suddenly cleared, as if a fog had lifted.

Then, the key points, the perfect force and timing, all the things that could only be backed by experience, came to mind one after another.

Yes, the collapse of mana should be used like this.

The struggle to control the [Roar of the Silver Dragon] suddenly became a lie.

Then, I directed all the power generated by the collapse of the mana towards Tiranosaurus.

A black light shot straight.

"Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go,