“Are you ready, Tendou-san?”

 

Atop a clear-viewed rooftop of a building about ten stories high stood S-Rank awakened, Yumiichi.

 

Tendou: “Yeah, I’m always ready. Let ’em have it, Yumiichi! Alright everyone, it’s war! Get fired up! Not that there’s much to do for a while though!”

 

With Tendou’s rallying cry, the battle begins. However, the dragons are still several kilometers away and haven’t reached the coastline.

 

Random Soldier A: “Hey, what’s gonna happen?”

Random Soldier B: “You don’t know? Kuniyumi is here.”

Random Soldier A: “Kuniyumi? Will they shoot arrows? At the dragons?”

Random Soldier B: “Yes, arrows. I’ve seen it once… it’s like a cheat code.”

 

The veterans knew. They were familiar with Yumiichi’s ability, which was called “Kuniyumi.”

 

Yumiichi: “Now, if you’ll please give me your hand.”

 

On the building’s rooftop, Yumiichi touched the hand of a B-Rank awakened.

 

Yumiichi: “Generate…”

 

Moments after uttering the word, the B-Rank awakened sat down, gasping for breath. Immediately after, an arrow made of pure white light appeared.

 

Yumiichi: “Please take a short rest. I’ll borrow your magic power.”

 

Yumiichi then took a stance as if readying to release an arrow from a bow. At the same time, a massive bow of light appeared, and he took careful aim. This was Yumiichi’s power: to transform his or another person’s magic into arrows for long-range attacks.

The straining bow, the releasing hand, the launched arrow. The arrow of light shot straight ahead, aiming directly at the neck of a small dragon several kilometers away.

 

And then…

 

Dragon: “Gyaaa!!!”

 

The dragon’s head was severed. One after another, Yumiichi’s arrows reaped the lives of the smaller, weaker dragons. But the calamity-class dragons, presumably with power ranging from A-Rank to lower S-Rank, were subdued by the unstoppable arrows.

 

Yumiichi: “Looking good! Now for that big one!”

 

Yumiichi’s bow shone with magic power as he targeted a massive dragon surrounded by smaller ones.

 

A direct hit, but…

 

Yumiichi: “…Just a scratch… Guess an upper S-Rank is too much… Huh? What’s that?”

 

That dragon was an upper-Rank dragon with S-Rank magic power. Yumiichi’s magic could only scratch it. If such a creature were to land, even A-Rank awakened, excluding Tendou, wouldn’t stand a chance.

 

Therefore…

 

Reina: “Haah!!”

 

A transcended young woman, with her silver blade, brought down the dragon.

 

Soldier: “Reina-san!? What is that form…?”

 

With a silver sword and shield, her body was wrapped in luminous armor. From her back sprouted wings of light that allowed her to soar freely through the sky. She looked as beautiful as an angel.

While Reina took down the strong dragons, Yumiichi handled the smaller ones.

But there were countless dragons. Some even managed to land. But Tendou and the A-Rank awakened were there to face them.

 

Tendou: “Don’t you die on me, everyone!!! Haja Issen!!”

 

With a jet-black blade delivering the mightiest of blows, Tendou and the others slaughtered the dragons that landed. Thus, the battle truly began, determining the fate of Japan.

 

◇At the Same Time, Dragon Island

 

All the dragons from the island headed to Japan. The dragons that continuously poured from the Cube had stopped, leaving only a single pitch-black Cube on the island.

This Cube had been neglected, causing dungeon collapses for years without being thinned out. The collapsing duration was likely the longest ever, an S-Rank box that no one could stop.

Dungeon collapses referred to monsters emerging from the Cubes. The cause was unknown, but due to Kai it was understood that overflowing magic power was one of the factors.

The Cube, also known as a Sealed Box. Dungeon collapses were the phenomena of the ancient seal on the box weakening and breaking. The overflowing magic loosened the seal, letting the trapped monsters escape.

Yet, this box could no longer fulfill its role.

Cracks began to form on the shattered black Cube. It looked as if something sealed inside was about to hatch.

As the Cube shattered, standing upright with two legs, was a being that looked human but belonged to the dragon species.

And it seemed…

 

Unknown Being: “…Kill, the White Clan.”

 

…Divine.

 

◇Meanwhile, Kai

 

Kai: “…Such a pleasant scent, and so silky smooth…”

 

What an elating feeling. This pillow is so smooth, making me want to sleep forever. It seems my wounds have healed at some point, and a warm light envelops me.

Ah… What was I doing? Is this heaven? Wait… did I die?

 

Unknown Woman: “Hehe, no, Kai-san.”

 

Kai: “Huh?”

 

I slowly opened my eyes. Before me, I saw a smooth, pure white thigh. It appears I’m resting on someone’s lap. My sluggish thoughts raced, trying to grasp the situation.

 

Kai: “Wait, who are you?!”

 

One thing became clear: now wasn’t the time to luxuriate in this lap.

I quickly sat up, staring in astonishment at the person’s face.

A complexion as white as snow, a symmetrical face framed by white hair. She’s so… white. A snow woman? No, that’s not right—she has wings.

This beautiful, ethereal woman had wings like an angel. I couldn’t help but touch them; they seemed as soft as feathers.

 

Unknown Woman: “Ah♥”

 

Kai: “What?!”

 

The moment I touched her, the beauty blushed, letting out a suggestive moan. I immediately withdrew my hand. What just happened?

 

Unknown Woman: “That was too forward for our first meeting, Kai Amachi-san! That spot is… sensitive for me.”

 

Kai: “Wait, really? I’m sorry, I had no idea! It’s just a wing, right?”

 

Unknown Woman: “Hehe, I was joking. I got a bit carried away since it’s been so long since I last conversed.”

 

Kai: “You were joking?! I’m confused… but, pardon my rudeness, who are you?”

 

As I rose in surprise, the woman gracefully stood up as well. While she was shorter than me, when she spread her wings, they spanned about two meters—a pair of large, pure white wings.

 

Unknown Woman: “Nice to meet you, Kai Amachi-san.”

 

The woman looked at me. With her white skin, white hair, symmetrical face, and…

 

Athena: “I am Athena, the former owner of those eyes and—”

 

Her eyes gleamed in a golden hue.

 

Athena: “—the head of the White Clan, once called a deity.”

 

 

 

Afterword

 

I’m doing my best, but I’m switching to a ‘post-when-I-can’ schedule. Overdid it for the Kakuyomu contest and reflecting on it.