A flash dominates the world.

Stun Grenade. A military weapon also known as a Flash Bomb or Flash Grenade. I don’t understand the principle behind it, but a blinding flash fills the space.

The intense light erased the shadow Nightmare tried to teleport to. Checking the status, there’s information about a cooldown after a failed attempt. This probably works the same way as my Lightning. If the shadow disappears, the teleportation fails.

In other words, Nightmare’s attempt failed, triggering a cooldown. This means he’s now sealed off and won’t interfere.

I’ve successfully sealed one of them.

My target is…

 

Kai: “I’ll start with you!!”

 

Cataphract, the heavyweight guardian.

Thanks to the perfectly thrown Stun Grenade, a shadow stretches from Cataphract to me. I can teleport anywhere along this extended shadow.

I instantly teleport right in front of Cataphract, touch him, and activate my skill again.

 

Kai: “──Lightning.”

 

Of course, I aim straight for the trajectory of the Thunderball. Caught off guard by the sudden teleportation, Cataphract gets electrocuted by the Thunderball meant for me.

Yet, his defense remains unbreeched.

But my strategy isn’t over.

As the flash subsides, the temple returns to its original state. Shadows return, and an enraged Nightmare glares at me.

I sense his magic fluctuating, preparing to teleport.

 

Kai: “Too bad, you’re taking another break.”

 

But I won’t allow it.

Another flash envelops the temple.

I had placed another Stun Grenade at Cataphract’s feet. As he’s hit by the Thunderball, another flash illuminates the temple. Nightmare trembles in frustration, once again failing to teleport and immobilized.

However, that was just a secondary goal.

My real aim isn’t there.

Looking up, there’s the temple’s ceiling. Due to the flash, a shadow of Cataphract itself is cast.

 

Kai: “──Lightning.”

 

I teleport to that shadow, landing on the temple’s ceiling. Directly below me is Cataphract, still immobilized by the Thunderball’s electrocution.

Nightmare, too, can’t move.

On top of that, my body is subjected to the intense gravitational magic cast by Wiseman, pulling me straight downward.

All conditions are met.

I kick off the temple’s ceiling with explosive force, propelling myself toward Cataphract. In my hands, I hold the pristine White Sword of the Dragon King, an artifact crafted by Aya using a gemstone from a dragon king.

Targeting his weakest point, I put all my feelings into this strike, my eyes unwavering.

If this blow lands…

 

Cataphract: “Gah!?”

 

It can even pierce through this perfect guardian.

The blade pierces through his white armor and impales him from behind. Cataphract lets out a scream, collapses, and vanishes into particles of light.

 

Kai: “──Lightning.”

 

Without missing a beat, I focus on the shadow behind Nightmare.

I teleport behind the immobilized Nightmare with lightning speed.

 

Kai: “Haaa!!”

 

Stabbing him from behind.

 

Nightmare: “Gyaaa!??”

 

Without Cataphract’s protection, the paper-armored Nightmare screams and disappears without resistance.

 

Kai: “Well… Each time with you, it’s like this. Lightning.”

 

I teleport to the shadow behind Wiseman. Magic users are a pain, but alone against a vanguard, they’re powerless.

My body feels heavy, but I can still engage him in close combat.

Wiseman turns, but it’s too late.

Without hesitation, I behead him from behind, and Wiseman disappears.

With a seamless series of attacks, I defeated all three awakened beings in an instant.

 

Kai: “…Whew. I have to thank Tanaka-san. It was a bit much to ask for, but the Stun Grenade really came in handy. I might use it again.”

 

I sit down right there. While I don’t have any major injuries, the close combat has left me fatigued and with some minor cuts. Fighting three awakened beings was more challenging than expected, but I emerged victorious with only minor wounds.

 

Kai: “I need a short break… whew… I’m glad I won…”

 

I sit down on the floor.

I take out water and rice balls from the bag I brought.

There’s usually an hour-long break between stages, so I should get a break this time as well.

 

Kai: “Whew… That’s refreshing. It was a lousy team-up as usual, but I managed somehow. Now…”

 

Munching on the rice ball, I feel a choking sensation. I gulp down water from the bottle to wash down the stuck rice.

I take out my smartphone.

It’s already past midnight. I thought it would end earlier, but as expected, this temple is full of irregularities.

It was bound to come sooner or later, so it’s not a problem.

 

Kai: “What should I do for tomorrow’s date… No, let’s focus on the present.”

 

Despite having just faced a life-threatening battle, I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s date. Aya seemed excited, and from Aya’s words, “the day,” the date will probably last until the evening.

I’ll be prepared.

Could it possibly be an overnight date?

Speaking of which, I need to get a new artifact made from the magic stone.

 

Kai: “…Will we kiss again?”

 

What comes to mind is that night in Okinawa. It might seem odd to think of it now, but apparently, people’s libido increases when they face life-threatening situations. I’ve heard it’s due to an instinct to pass on one’s genes. I was feeling a bit like that.

 

Kai: “…Tomorrow, I want to be comforted.”

 

I lean back and lie down on the floor. During the one-hour break, I close my eyes to recover my stamina. I worked so hard; tomorrow, I’ll let Aya pamper and comfort me.

 

Kai: “The next one’s the last, huh…”

 

I recall the voice when I was teleported mentioning there were five stages in total. So, the next one should be the last. And if my guess is right, the opponent will surely be…

 

Kai: “…………”

 

◇ Fast forward from Kai’s current time, Japan, East China Sea, around 8 in the morning.

 

Guard: “Ugh, I’m so tired… nothing’s ever going to happen anyway.”

About 3 kilometers away from Dragon Island*, there is a stationary ship. It’s a Coast Guard patrol ship, monitoring the abnormality on Dragon Island.

*~1.86 miles

Guard 2: “Just do your job, I’m going to sleep.”

Guard: “Alright, good night.”

 

As it’s time for the shift change, two unmotivated crew members start filling in their reports, noting that nothing unusual happened today, as always.

The only thing that shows up on the radar is usually just a fishing boat.

 

Guard: “Huh? A fishing boat?”

 

It was the moment he received the shift diary. The radar monitoring the surroundings catches something. Assuming it’s just another fishing boat, the guard glances at it with a vacant look.

 

Guard: “…What?”

 

A red dot appears on the edge of the radar. One, two, three… Several boat-sized objects begin to appear. They are still a few kilometers away, but they’re moving much faster than a fishing boat.

The two guards, turning pale with a bad premonition, act swiftly, following the manual. Their reactions show their training.

 

Guard: “Emergency contact to HQ! Repeat, emergency contact! Multiple flying objects are approaching the Kyushu region of Japan, from Dragon Island! I repeat! They’re probably dragons!!”

HQ: “Acknowledged. Contact the Dungeon Association now! How fast and how many are they?”

Guard: “Their speed is… maintaining around 200 km/h!* The number is… what?”

*~124mp/h

Occasionally, stray dragons did fly from the island. Each time, S-Rank’s like Tendou would respond and knock them down. Though rare, this occurrence wasn’t entirely unheard of.

But usually, there were only a few dragons.

However, this time was different.

 

HQ: “We couldn’t catch that, how many are there?”

Guard: “The number is… unknown. The radar’s turned completely red… over 100… this can’t be real.”

 

Staring at the radar in shock, the guard drops his communicator. Then, he looks outside the window. The rising sun is obscured by massive figures.

What they initially thought was a strong entity was, in fact, a swarm.

With a deafening roar, as if a storm, the colossal creatures form a flock and fly.

 

Guard: “…It’s over… There’s no stopping this.”

 

One dragon is enough to devastate a town. These countless S-Rank dragons blacken the morning sun.

They create a sky of darkness and head straight for Japan.

 

—

 

Afterword:

 

It’s the end of the year. Have a great New Year!

P.S.

I wrote a new dungeon-themed work, so please read it if you’re interested. With this, my three submissions for the Kakuyomu competition are complete. I’m making slight revisions to the previous one based on feedback from Narou.

 

The third work combines my love for the Arthurian legend (Knights of the Round Table) with a dungeon theme. It’s being published today at 12 o’clock.

 

Title:

Only my Holy Grail Levels up~ In a Present Overrun by Magic and Dungeons, I Changed my Fate When I Pulled out the Holy Sword~

 

URL:

https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330651311661495