My phantom and the dragonoid confront each other.

In the meantime, I transfer the clearers one by one.

Apparently, my phantom can only buy time; it seems like it might be killed any moment.

 

Then, it happened.

 

Dragonoid: “Where… are you going…”

 

Suddenly, the dragonoid fighting my phantom, as if called by something, ignores us and flies away. It breaks through the air barrier and vanishes from the Nagasaki coast in an instant.

 

I think about pursuing it for a moment, but right now, saving lives is the priority.

First, I transfer all the clearers here to the hospital.

 

Kai: “Tendou-san, please rest now and leave the rest to me.”

Tendou: “Kid… I’m sorry. That thing was really strong. Though it’s gone now.”

Kai: “Yes…”

 

Tendou-san was seriously injured, unable to show his usual bravado.

 

And then, the last one.

 

Kai: “Reina, sorry for being late.”

Reina: “No, it’s okay. Thank you, Kai… I’m totally fine. I’m sturdy…”

 

I transfer Reina to the hospital.

Leaving her in the care of Ijuin-sensei, I activate Lightning again.

 

This time, it’s against a dragon.

 

Lightning, which can mark any creature, works even against magical beasts.

 

Kai: “How dare you kill so many people…”

 

I still see the flock of dragons flying in the sky.

 

Kai: “I won’t let you destroy this country anymore!! True Lightning!”

 

I activate True Lightning and start shooting down S-Rank dragons one after another.

Thanks to Reina, who valiantly defeated the strong ones, the remaining ones aren’t that powerful. Yet, with magic power ranging from several hundred thousand to 600-700 thousand, they truly are S-Rank beasts.

 

But.

 

Kai: “Lancelot-san’s swordsmanship is incredible.”

 

I keep defeating the dragons without trouble.

My magic power is now one million.

But what truly enhances my combat ability are the skills True Lightning, True Mirage, and especially Lancelot-san’s swordsmanship.

 

Having journeyed through Lancelot-san’s memories, I inherited his swordsmanship.

His memories reside in my heart, his magic power in my body, and his feelings in my sword.

The sword moves as if it were my own limb, and my body moves before I even think about the best course of action.

I inherited the pinnacle of his skills, dedicated his entire life to the sword, through his light.

 

So.

 

Kai: (Lancelot-san… Athena-san… Leave it to me.)

Kai: “I will protect everything!!”

 

◇ Announcer’s Perspective

 

Announcer: “Can you see it… Suddenly appearing, the S-Rank clearer Kai Amachi, who was expelled from Japan. That Kai-san is shooting down dragons one after another. It seems he used some skill, and all the clearers have probably been evacuated to safety.”

 

The battle between dragons and Japanese clearers was broadcasted all over Japan.

After the appearance of the dragonoid, people’s anxiety had reached its peak in the desperate situation.

 

But his arrival changed everything.

 

He saves people one after another with the speed of lightning.

 

And now, he’s shooting down those dragons with an invisible speed.

 

The dragonoid must have been scared off.

 

The people, holding onto that hope, just supported Kai.

 

Everyone knew that Kai had been expelled from Japan and went to China.

But they had no choice but to support him.

Because he was the only one who could fight in this country right now.

 

And after nearly 30 minutes of battle.

 

◇

 

Kai: “Hah hah… Did I manage to take them all down…”

 

I had exterminated all the dragons along the Nagasaki coast.

 

Now, to deal with that dragonoid.

 

At that moment, it happened.

 

My smartphone in my pocket started ringing.

Looking at the screen, I saw it was a call from Aya.

 

Kai: “…I did stand her up on our date. I should say something.”

 

Aya shouldn’t have been in the battle, so she must be in a safe place.

Thinking this, I prioritized helping Reina in battle and came here.

The call indicates she’s probably watching TV?

 

Kai: “Ah, Aya. Sorry for making you worry──”

Man: “Nice to meet you. Knight of God.”

Kai: “──!?”

 

However, the voice on the other end of the phone was not Aya’s.

A low male voice calling me the Knight of God.

Probably no one in this world would know the term Knight of God except me.

I immediately realize something must have happened to Aya.

 

And though I don’t know the voice’s owner, his memory knows it.

 

Kai: “What did you do to Aya? Are you… Merlin?”

Merlin: “Haha! So, you inherited not just the Eye of God but also the memories! Yes, I am Merlin. The greatest magician of the Black Empire. Merlin!!”

Kai: “…You’re the one. You orchestrated everything!! What did you do to Aya!!”

 

In Lancelot-san’s memories, I know this man.

A being known as Merlin, adept at magic.

It was this man who manipulated Lancelot-san and ordered him to kill a God.

 

Merlin: “Haha, yes. Don’t worry, I haven’t done anything to your woman. I’ll let her speak. Go on, talk.”

Aya: “Hello? Kai-san?”

Kai: “Ah, Aya!!”

 

The voice was unmistakably Aya’s.

But something was off about the intonation of her voice.

 

Aya: “I’m glad. Kai-san, I was worried. Really glad… And, Kai-san… I have to die.”

Kai: “Huh? What are you talking about? Aya…”

Aya: “For the world, to destroy the existing world of God. It seems I have to die.”

Kai: “What are you saying?!! …I see. Fanaticism.”

 

I understood what was happening to Aya.

Probably the power of the Eye of Darkness, the same power that even controlled Lancelot-san, who could manipulate those with weaker magic power than himself. Now Aya is caught in it.

 

Merlin: “So, Knight of God. You understand what’s happening, right? If you want to stop it, come here.”

Kai: “Ah, I’m coming right now… Lightning.”

 

And then I transformed into lightning and transferred to Aya’s shadow.

 

It was immediately after that.

 

Kai: “──!?”

 

The moment I transferred, there was a sound of the air being crushed.

I immediately jumped back to avoid it.

 

It was a fist.

 

Dragonoid: “I wondered where you went… So, you came here.”

 

There stood the dragonoid dragon I thought had vanished from Nagasaki.

Behind it was a man in a black robe, probably Merlin.

And Merlin’s hand was on Aya’s shoulder.

 

Kai: “Don’t touch Aya, Merlin.”

Merlin: “Hahaha, do you want to save this woman? Then die. If you do, I’ll save her. Don’t resist, okay? If you do, I’ll snap this woman’s neck.”

 

Saying so, Merlin gripped Aya’s slender neck with his hand.

So, he’s taken Aya hostage, as I thought he wouldn’t come at me directly.

 

Kai: “Can’t you fight without taking hostages?”

Merlin: “Hahaha, you guys are always in trouble. Talking about the strength to protect, but never willing to see the weakness in protecting. Strong because you have someone to protect? You’re wrong, it only becomes a weakness. Just like you are now!!”

 

Merlin laughs joyously while gripping Aya’s neck.

I desperately think during this time.

A way to surpass this dragonoid dragon and save Aya.

In an instant with Lightning, or maybe from behind with True Mirage.

I consider all possible strategies.

 

But I had to abandon them all.

 

Merlin: “Well, I thought the Dragon God alone would be enough, but I’m a cautious type. Apparently, you once lost to this guy, didn’t you?”

 

With those words, something fell from the sky.

Falling in front of me at meteor-like speed.

 

Dust waits, and the concrete ground vanishes.

 

It was a person.

The same entrance as that time, the embodiment of violence that brings destruction.

 

Kai: “…It can’t be. You too?”

 

The figure that landed before me walks slowly towards me.

Removing his sunglasses, he brings his face close and says the same words as that time.

 

『Come on boy.』

 

A tyrant.

 

Kai: “You’re being controlled too… Arnold?”

 

The strongest man in the world, the only one I ever lost to.