Chapter 73

"Flame..."

Fireballs aimed at the evil dragon all at once. Looking down, I saw sails spread out, catching the wind.

It seems that a large fleet of ships advancing from the south had launched the flame balls from their trebuchets.

The fleet continued its attack while moving toward the evil dragon.

Alicia tilted her head.

"Whose ships are these?"

"I can't tell which country, but they're definitely noble ships."

On every ship's mast, a bright, large flag with a family crest was waving.

If they were just fighting, there would be no need to raise flags. These are ships of nobles who can't stand not to claim the credit.

As they got closer, it became clear that some of the noble ships that had participated in the exploration yesterday afternoon were also there.

"There are some flags I didn't see yesterday... Why are they here? – No, rather..."

They must have seen at least a little of the battle with Yuris from a distance. Yet, the nobles seem to be deliberately challenging the evil dragon.

Ran, who was carrying us, muttered these words.

"They must be confident... but with that..."

The fleet continued to launch fierce attacks on the evil dragon with trebuchets and crossbows. The atmosphere was like a small battle, with whistles and drums sounding.

However, the evil dragon, which had covered its body with black mist again, was completely unaffected.

The fleet continued its attacks, and the evil dragon turned its mouth toward them.

"– Not good!"

We immediately used the Shadow Wheel to hide and teleport near the evil dragon.

Alicia said to the evil dragon, raising her hand.

"I'll use holy magic to draw its attention!"

"Thanks."

As soon as she said that, Alicia released a dazzling light ball from her hand toward the evil dragon.

The light cut through the evil dragon's black mist, but the dragon's attention was still on the fleet.

The evil dragon immediately released a black breath toward the fleet.

"– I'll intercept it!"

I teleported to where the breath was heading and raised my hand toward the evil dragon.

I absorbed the dark magic from the breath, but...

"Ugh... the wind!"

I could absorb the magic, but not the force of the wind.

However, Ran flapped her large wings and endured the storm-like gale.

"I'll handle it!"

"Thanks, Ran... and Alicia too."

Alicia held me tightly from behind to make sure I wouldn't fall, while creating a shield with holy magic in front of us.

After enduring the attack for ten seconds, the evil dragon's breath stopped.

But the evil dragon immediately opened its large mouth and charged at us.

I avoided it with a teleport and flew above the evil dragon, where I could see the state of the sea.

The power of the breath's wind was more intense than we thought. The sea was churning like a storm.

The noble ships were immediately swallowed by the waves and capsized one after another.

Of the nearly thirty ships in the fleet, only two or three were still afloat.

The remaining ships not only stopped attacking the evil dragon but also did not attempt to rescue the others, fleeing southward.

Alicia muttered.

"To retreat just because of the wind..."

"There must be people who can't swim on the sunken ships. We need to hurry."

The people on the capsized ships should have survived the initial impact, but we needed to end the battle quickly and go to their aid.

However, their departure might be for the best.

Yuris' ship, the Mareas, and the armored people riding dragon people had already arrived nearby.

"Everyone's here. Good, let's go this time!"

"Yes!"

The evil dragon writhed like a snake, then found us and turned its mouth toward us again.

At that moment, I teleported under the head of the charging evil dragon.

"Alicia!"

"Leave it to me!"

Alicia immediately released holy magic under the fast-moving evil dragon's jaw.

The light cut through the evil dragon's black mist.

Then, I saw a scale with a different shine from the others.

Ran called out.

"That's it!"

"Good, let's make it easier to aim for the throat! Ran, fly as high as you can after teleporting!"

This time, I teleported in the direction the evil dragon was moving. Then, Ran flew almost straight up.

Looking back, the evil dragon had also started to aim for the sky, chasing us.

It was starting to gather black mist in its mouth, preparing to release a breath.

"Nate... huh?"

I thought Nate was going to shoot a long crossbow from riding a dragon person.

However, it was the Mareas that launched something.

A glint of light reflected from the ship's bow. In an instant, something cut through the air and flew.

I couldn't see its shape, but I could perceive its magical form. It seemed to be a harpoon as large as a person, but it flew at the speed of an ordinary arrow.

When I was making various magical devices before, I gave a mithril harpoon the ability to become invisible, like the Shadow Wheel.

The evil dragon didn't notice the approaching harpoon.

This must be the good weapon Yuris mentioned. Indeed, it has more power than a regular crossbow.

As proof, the harpoon hit the evil dragon's reverse scale and pierced it deeply.

"It hit! – Ugh!"

However, the evil dragon let out a roar that seemed to split its head.

Seeing the dragon's large body shake, I immediately teleported to a slightly distant place.

"Fire!"

At the same time, a voice rang out from a distance. The armored people riding dragon people started attacking the evil dragon's throat in unison.

However, the evil dragon, which was flying around the sky at high speed, was not hit. Even if it was hit, the attacks were absorbed by the ineffective black mist.

Alicia also released holy magic to cut through the black mist, but the evil dragon seemed to judge that we were the most dangerous and tried to attack us. It not only shook its body but also released a weaker breath than before, continuously.

I avoided it with a teleport... I couldn't launch an effective attack at all.

"Is this the dragon after touching the reverse scale... huh?"

Suddenly, I felt magic power being sent from the Mareas.

"– This is..."

I noticed a line-like thing extending from the harpoon.

It was a long chain connecting to the Mareas. Magic power was being sent to the evil dragon through the chain.

Soon, a crackling sound was heard, and the evil dragon let out a louder cry and arched its body.

Yuris must have sent lightning magic through the iron chain. The harpoon wasn't just invisible.

"Utilizing the fishing techniques from Ars! Now's the time!"

Alicia hit the wobbling evil dragon with holy magic.

The armored people attacked the parts where the black mist had cleared with crossbows.

I used the Dark Wall and teleportation to protect everyone from the evil dragon's weakened breath.

It seemed that Yuris was continuously sending lightning magic through the harpoon, and the evil dragon's movements gradually slowed down. The black mist was also clearing up.

Then, a spirited voice rang out.

"Next is the turn of fire! Lord Alec! Leave the rest to me!"

Turning around, I saw Selena riding a dragon person, raising her sword high.

Alicia said,

"Planning to take the glory? This is Lord Alec's turn!"

"No, Alicia, let's leave this to Selena."

Dark magic not only doesn't work on the evil dragon but might even revive its black mist – I took a distance from the evil dragon with a teleport.

Immediately, Selena's cry of "Flame Dragon!!" echoed, and the surroundings turned red.

A flame as large as the evil dragon itself was released from Selena's sword.

The flame stretched like a dragon, engulfing the evil dragon, and immediately caused a massive explosion.

"We won!"

It was Selena herself who shouted this.

... I can understand why she would want to say it. It was an explosion large enough to swallow the entire fleet of thirty ships.

The evil dragon disappeared without a trace – I wanted to think so, but the dragon's magical reaction was still present in the smoke.

"Even this doesn't kill it..."

As the smoke cleared, a dragon was floating there. Most of the black mist had cleared, and the scales were unexpectedly beautiful.

The explosion was strong enough to blow away the harpoon launched by the Mareas, but it seems it wasn't enough to defeat the evil dragon.

How many more attacks will it take?

"Let's attack again! ... Ah!"

Just as I gave the order to attack again,

The evil dragon lost its strength and fell into the sea.

It seems it couldn't fly anymore...

However, my relief was short-lived as I noticed a definite magical presence above me.

Looking up, I saw a human-like figure floating in the air with its arms crossed...

"That's... a demon!?"

There was someone with the same appearance as the demon we fought in the capital. They had a dark purple body, two curled horns on their head, and bat-like wings on their back. The dark magic they exuded confirmed they were a demon.

"How dare I lose to humans not once but twice – I won't stand for it!"

The demons we fought before only spoke of their hatred for humans, but this one spoke clearly, like the demon in my head.

However, it is a demon.

They immediately gathered purple light in their hands and released it around them. They still wanted to kill us.

Stronger than the previous demon – but not as strong as the evil dragon.

"Is this the one controlling it – then!"

Alicia immediately shot holy magic at the demon.

The light instantly dispelled the demon's purple light and approached the demon.

Selena also used fire magic, and the armored people shot crossbows.

"Ah!? What is this!?"

The demon let out a pitiful cry and moved to a higher place in the sky. However, there was a hint of amusement in their expression.

"– I didn't expect this"

I immediately returned my gaze to the sea.

The evil dragon that had fallen into the sea was heading toward the capsized noble ships. It wasn't just falling; it was clearly charging to attack the people on the ships.

The black mist covering the evil dragon had completely disappeared, and it seemed to have lost most of its magical power.

Even so, if that huge body charged, the people waiting for rescue in the sea would all be swallowed by the waves. If it couldn't release a dark breath, it might still be able to release a fire breath...

A laugh from behind echoed.

"Hahaha!! Fool!! You fell for it!! Now, we have to save them – Whoa!?"

Alicia's holy magic grazed the demon's body.

"Let's quickly defeat this and head to the evil dragon!"

"Yes... but it might be too late."

The evil dragon was already close to the fleet and seemed to be gathering magic in its mouth, preparing to release a breath.

On the other hand, someone was deploying a thick magical barrier toward the evil dragon. It seemed someone from the sunken ships was using magic, but it wasn't enough to stop the evil dragon's breath.

The demon was powerful, but... we have Alicia and Selena here. Tika, the former demon hunter, had also come from the ship riding a dragon person.

"I'll leave this to you."

Alicia immediately nodded in agreement.

Confirming this, I teleported in front of the evil dragon.

There was no time to fear the sensation of falling. In front of me, the huge dragon had opened its large mouth, gathering fire.

Because it wasn't covered in black mist, the evil dragon's face was clearer than before. Its eyes were white and cloudy, seemingly unable to see anything.

Still, the evil dragon released fire from its mouth toward me.

A fire breath as powerful as the Flame Dragon Selena released earlier. To counter this scale of fire, I had to use dark magic.

The demon had already left the evil dragon. The black mist shouldn't revive even if it receives dark magic.

"Please..."

As I fell, I raised both hands toward the evil dragon and released dark magic.

A black mist tinged with red headed toward the evil dragon's fire. When they collided, a small explosion spread around.

However, the dark magic I released began to consume the evil dragon's fire and gained more momentum. As it approached the evil dragon's face –

"– !"

The dark magic that touched the dragon caused a large explosion.

I immediately teleported to a piece of floating wood on the sea surface and deployed a Dark Wall to protect the people on the sunken ships from the blast.

But it seemed unnecessary.

The blast was weaker than before and was sufficiently blocked by a water magic barrier someone had deployed.

– Was it that girl who protected them?

I noticed a girl on a boat, reaching out to the sky.

She had her light blue hair, like a clear sky, tied in two pigtails at the back. She was about seven years old, and her blue dress indicated she was of high status.

– She's a brave child despite her young age.

Looking up, the evil dragon had been blown far away by the explosion. It had almost no magical power left.

From higher up in the sky, a black shadow was falling like dust. It must be the remains of the demon.

It seems we managed to defeat the demon. We might have tried to capture it, but demons are unpredictable.

"Did it... work?"

I returned to the Mareas and told Yuris and the others to rescue the crew from the sunken ships.

Meanwhile, I went with Alicia on Ran toward where the evil dragon had been blown.