Chapter 440: - The Worst Trial

Chapter 440: 440

440 - The Worst Trial

I run through the collapsing underground. Using what little MP I have recovered, I activate [Autoregeneration] to regenerate the parts of my body that were burnt away by the [Great Blowfly Ring], and regrow the parts of wings and my partner's neck that were gouged-out by the [Dark Spheres]... If I were to prioritise HP, [High Rest] would be preferable, but my lack of mobility is the greater problem.

As I continue through the underground, I look back. The slime still isn't dead. I haven't gained any experience points.

It really is going to die, right? The slime has lost all its accumulated war potential, the status of the Ardesian princess, not to mention its divine skill. There's no doubt that it won't be able to resurface for a while, but...

No... More importantly, I need to deal with the problem in front of me. I'll forget about the slime for now. Shielding myself from the falling rubble with my wings, I cautiously search around with [Presence Perception] as I climb the stairs.

The trial that God's Voice mentioned is weighing on my mind... In this situation, there aren't many possibilities I can think of.

From the floor above, I sense many presences. They're running around, seemingly in a hurry.

"Search for dead bodies. It's unlikely that any who were in the castle from the start are still alive."

"Watch out for any remaining slimes. It's possible that some remain."

These voices... It seems outside help is coming. It's not one or two people. It seems over ten are arriving. Are they adventurers operating out of Alban...?

As I stop to understand the situation, I hear a sudden loud sound. It sounded like someone used attack magic.

"Balear-dono! Catch that kid! She's that undead! If you're unsure, then use Rest!"

The voice belongs to Lilixira's attendant, Alphiss. Are Alphiss and Aro hostile now? Also, Alphiss just called out to someone she called Balear-dono. Could that be one of her friends?

"It hit, but... The skin's tough. A lich-class monster?"

"Her magic is already reaching the limits. Just don't give her a chance to rest!"

There's no time to probe out the situation. I noisily scramble up the stairs, emerging on the floor above.

In a crumbling hall of the castle, Alphiss and a tall man - probably Balear - are surrounding Aro. Aro has a sword wound on her body. Her left arm is enlarged, and she's in a combat stance. Her MP is almost empty though - she's in no condition to fight properly.

Balear is hiding his body with a cloak, but his sword is the same as Alphiss's.

...I didn't want to distrust them. But that sword is proof.

Lilixira said that she would only come with Alphiss, since she wasn't able to bring any more. But that man is undoubtedly Alphiss's colleague in the Holy Knights Order. Without saying anything to me, Lilixira must have prepared her forces around the castle.

As I arrive, the fight stops.

I glare at Alphiss. If she has an explanation, then I want to hear it. She thins her eyes, glaring back at me.

"Not only a lich-class undead, but even a high-ranking dragon - Ardesia has truly fallen into the clutches of monsters!"

Those words are decisive. Shock runs through me, and I feel as though my head is being shaken.

『...Is that how it is? Is this the Saint's decision?』

I ask with [Telepathy]. Alphiss silently points her sword at me.

"Let's go, Balear. The dragon is exhausted. We should be able to at least stall for time."

"Sure thing, Alphiss-dono."

They got me. From the start, Lilixira's aim was to pit the slime and me against each other, then hunt down whoever survived. It didn't matter which of us won, provided the victor was weakened enough. Her aim is probably to collect all the divine skills.

"GuoooOOOOOOh!"

Pouring magic power into my voice, I howl. Faltering from my [Roar], Alphiss and Balear stop for a moment.

...I can't believe this stupidity. Didn't they come for my help because the world was in danger? Are the divine skills really that precious?

I aim behind Alphiss and squeeze out what remains of my MP to fire a [Wind Slash]. The blade of wind slices open a huge crack in the ground just behind her.

『Do you two understand...? If I felt like it, even in this state, I could easily tear apart two human soldiers. If you still want to fight, then I'll take you on.』

It was clear that neither Alphis nor Balear were capable of reacting to my attack.

"Alphiss-dono... This might be a bit much for us."

"Right, then how about this?"

Alphiss points her sword at Aro.

"Don't move, evil dragon... The moment you move, our skills will send this undead back to the underworld."

She glares at me through wide-open eyes, but her lips are trembling. Alphiss must also be desperate. But I feel no sympathy for her. The way she's treated us, and their scummy way of doing things, make me sick to my stomach.

"Dragon-god-sama! I'm fine! Please, run away now!"

Aro shouts, holding her enlarged arm up to keep the two of them in check. The Holy Dragon Seraphim and Lilixira are nearby. Both of them have A-rank statuses. If we fought now, they're not opponents I could hope to win against. Once they show up, my loss is inevitable.

But, I still can't leave Aro and the others behind. In the first place, they only came here to accompany me. It all boils down to me being overly trusting of Lilixira. There's no way I could abandon them to flee by myself. As monsters, if Aro, the nightmare, or magiatite-jii are discovered, they'll be hunted down for sure.

"GuuoooOOOOOh!"

Howling, I slam my forelegs into the ground. The floor easily shatters.

"H-hey, don't move...! Don't you care about what happens to her!"

『I'd like to see you try... I doubt the two of you are capable of killing her..』

We have [Soul AppendmentFake Life]. Even if they're able to touch Aro and cause her to die, it won't necessarily be the end for her.

With a sudden jolt, Alphiss and Balear stab their swords into the ground.

"Uuh..."

Next to me, my partner is glaring at Alphiss and Balear. She activated [Ruler's Evil Eye] while their attention was turned to us by the [Telepathy].

『Finish them, partner!』

The moment I leap forwards, my [Presence Perception] reacts to something from the window. All of a sudden, the window and the surrounding wall blasts away as a mass of black light shoots towards me. This is the [Gravidon] skill... And the power and speed of it are greater than any other magic skill I've witnessed.

The hostage-taking was a distraction! As I lean backwards to try and avoid it, I hear a voice from outside the window.

"[Holy Sphere]."

A staff peeks out from behind the demolished wall. A magic circle spreads out in front of the staff, and a sphere of light shoots out. Its trajectory is clearly aimed at Aro. Panicking, I throw myself forward.

The huge [Gravidon] hits my side. My skin is torn apart, and my flesh is carved out.

The tip of my forefoot pushes Aro and knocks her flying. The [Holy Sphere] misses her, and explodes in front of my extended forefoot.

The flesh of my digits tears away, revealing bone. As she is hit by the aftereffects of the light, Aro's body becomes bleached and cracked. She tumbles across the ground and hits the wall.

"...Dragon-god-sa...ma...run..."

Aro murmurs as she leans against the wall. It doesn't look like she can move her body.

I bend my digits that received the direct hit... It's okay. It hurts, but I can still move them.

But, more importantly, my body feels heavy. I can't stand up. My body was already at its limits from the battle with the slime.

"That's no good, Alphiss, you can't alert the opponent like that. Didn't you understand the plan? You must have had it hard, ever since the Dragon Hunter sensed something was off and started rampaging. Did something unexpected happen?"

From behind the wall, Lilixira steps out.

"...My apologies, Lilixira-sama."

Alphiss bows her head. It seems the plan was for them to kill me with a surprise attack while my guard was still down.

I glare at her, but Lilixira's expression doesn't waver in the slightest.

"But, with this, it's all over. Isn't this a good ending?"

Balear points his sword at Aro.

It's over. In the end, it played out as God's Voice said. I was too absorbed in settling the score with the slime that I never considered the possibility of Lilixira betraying me. She is also a divine skill holder. It should have been obvious that she would have similar objectives to the slime.

...Sorry, partner. It's my fault that it came to this.

『...Did you forget that I accepted it too? Don't say something so stupid.』

...But, still...

『Besides, you don't seriously plan on staying down and accepting defeat, do you?』

...Of course not. I won't die so easily. I'll at least make sure that Aro can get away.

I put strength into my legs and stand up.