Vanitas vs. Moritz + Eclipse Dragon
"Hey, Vanitas, what happened to the initial bravado? Now that you realize your attacks aren't working on the Eclipse Dragon, are you just running away? What a pitiful sight."
"…………"
"Not even a word in reply? Or are you too busy fleeing to even respond? Huh?"
It’s a cheap taunt.
But it hits the mark.
Moritz, clinging to the centipede sitting on the neck of the Evil Dragon, threw these words at me with the confidence he had regained from the early days.
Though, it’s clear he’s no longer letting his guard down in the slightest.
Despite his nonchalant demeanor, his eyes glinted as he kept a close watch on even my slightest movements.
"...I guess I’ll have to make the first move. Go, Eclipse Dragon."
"Graaaah!!"
"Grip――――Converged Magic Power Enhancement"
In response, I was indeed using magical power to enhance my body and running around the ground.
Even with my magic, which boasts quite high firepower, the Extreme Grip Full Impact attack barely chips away at the Evil Dragon’s rock-like scales.
That being the case, straightforward physical attacks are quite limited in effectiveness.
To break through, I would need the Heavy Grip Layered Grasp, which, however, is not something I can use easily given the current situation.
"...Subterranean Centipede"
Moritz cast a spell from atop the Evil Dragon's neck.
It’s probably a spell related to the innate attributes of the “Centipede,” which is another reason I can’t afford to be careless in my attack.
The centipede’s limbs, extended sideways by Moritz, slithered and fell to the ground, writhing as they burrowed into the earth, approaching me from below.
"...Grip――――Impact Strike"
"Giiee!"
Though I rarely let the centipede’s limbs reach my feet while moving at high speed,
they succeeded in restricting my actions and diverting my attention by preemptively positioning themselves in my path.
Crushing the ground itself becomes an obstacle to my actions as well.
"Double Grip"
"Useless! Great Centipede Body!"
"――――Extreme Grip Cannon Wave"
The direct cannon attacks aimed at Moritz, who controls the Evil Dragon Eclipse Dragon, are easily blocked.
The distance is part of the issue, but the centipedes, especially the giant ones, are covered with armor-like shells that my magic can't inflict fatal damage upon.
"Useless! Go, Eclipse Dragon, sweep them away!"
The person giving instructions to the overwhelmingly massive Evil Dragon Eclipse Dragon is quite powerful himself.
With their strengths being utilized, there is no opening for a counterattack.
So, what to do from here...
First, the specially designed collar on the subordinate demon.
Destroying it is an option, but it would likely be counterproductive.
Although the Evil Dragon Eclipse Dragon is currently controlled and not rampaging, if it were to act independently after the collar's destruction, its actions are unpredictable.
There's a high risk of the people fighting around the Evil Dragon Eclipse Dragon, such as Hildegard and the knights of Graniph Fortress, being put in danger. It could be said that the Evil Dragon Eclipse Dragon, controlled as it is now, might not be displaying its true power.
Destroying the collar is not an option.
One of my trump cards, the Magic-nullifying Void Space Anti-Mana Vanity Space, also has limited effectiveness.
Given the opponent's enormous size, the magic-nullifying space cannot encompass its entire body, and considering its biological strength, the effect is minimal.
So, if that's the case...
"Vanitas, what do you think will happen if you keep running away like this? Give up already."
Moritz, maintaining a calm tone, speaks to me while I ponder.
A surrender offer at this stage feels nauseating.
Despite this, the Evil Dragon Eclipse Dragon continues its attacks.
Is it aiming to provoke me?
"Don't you think you can't win if you keep fighting? The Eclipse Dragon is an ancient monster, one of the oldest in the Empire's history. I've heard that many of the powerful figures of the past challenged it, only to be defeated each time. A dragon disaster that devours the land and even alters the terrain. Do you think you can defeat such a monster on your own?"
"…………"
"From here, I can also see the battle situation between the princess and your subordinate. The scarecrow man, despite appearances, is stronger than me. The princess seems to be struggling quite a bit. It's clear to see how that wild woman is being handled effortlessly. The scarecrow man has innate attributes beyond just 'scarecrow.' Considering that… the princess has a bad match-up. Vanitas, it's unfortunate, but you have no chance of winning."
"Ugh…”
The shockwaves from the Evil Dragon’s attacks and the flying rock fragments injure my body.
"About your subordinate and Erimes... Why did you bring such a subordinate? It's pitiful; Elimes is being completely toyed with by the ‘Rainbow Band’ magic. Clearly, that subordinate is unfit for this situation. It's only a matter of time before a conclusion is reached."
"…………"
Blood from my forehead drips into my eyes.
As my vision turns red, I desperately move my legs.
The crushing sounds caused by the Evil Dragon Eclipse Dragon reverberate nearby.
"Vanitas... if you would just quietly die, I might consider sparing the princess and your subordinate. Although it’s not ideal to make such unilateral decisions, I am an executive member. I’ll make sure to cover it up with the organization. ...What do you say? I’m offering to spare two people for just your life. It’s not such a bad deal, is it?"
...It's a lie.
Even if I were to be disposed of, the two would still be killed.
Moreover, Moritz would not hesitate to kill the surviving knights of Graniph Fortress who witnessed this event. He’s a man who only speaks empty words.
He has no intention of keeping his promises.
"Hey, Vanitas... you’re covered in wounds, and your healing potions are running out, aren’t they――――"
"Shut up."
It’s risky, but it’s time to attack a little.
I use my enhanced physical abilities to climb up the Evil Dragon’s descending front leg.
"Tch, you intend to climb up here? It won’t be that easy. Eclipse Dragon, shake him off!"
Moritz reacts quickly.
He immediately gives instructions to the Evil Dragon Eclipse Dragon to shake me off.
But...
"Double Grip――――Void Grip Vanity Impact"
"Wh-what!?"
It’s pointless if the body being moved doesn’t have the strength to do so.
I use void magic’s impact to slow down the movement of the Evil Dragon’s front leg and buy some time.
"What’s this? What’s wrong, Eclipse Dragon! Shake him off quickly!"
"Double Grip"
"Dammit, Great Centipede Body!"
"――――Extreme Grip Strike"
I felt the impact.
I obliterated most of the centipedes that had wrapped around Moritz’s spherical defense.
However...
"Hah, just one shot. This is nothing! ――――Great Centipede Advance!!"
It did have an effect.
Blood flowed from the gap in Moritz’s torn clothes, from his left shoulder.
But he immediately counterattacked.
A massive centipede, propelled by his right hand held aloft, surged toward me, aiming to bite and kill.
"Grip――――Void Bullet"
"Damn, again!? What’s happening? Why is the momentum decreasing!?"
The Void Bullet magic.
This spell also nullifies the movement power of the target it hits.
I managed to distance myself from the Evil Dragon Eclipse Dragon and land safely.
But it’s true that I lost a chance at victory.
Though Moritz is not satisfied with the series of events, he mocks me for losing my chance.
"Haha, hahaha... What a pity, Vanitas. Your desperate attack didn’t work. That was your only chance to win. It seems you were only capable of reaching that point. Haha, hahaha, hahaha, it’s over! It’s over, Vanitas!"
Moritz laughs loudly, as if trying to shake off any remaining anxiety.
But...
"It’s not over."
"W-what?"
"It’s about time for the time-buying to come to an end."
"Time... buying? What are you talking about? You’re saying time-buying? You were the one who was cornered! You were overwhelmed and on the brink of death! What are you saying now... Stop with the bravado!"
"I was waiting."
"Waiting? Waiting for whom... Who are you waiting for!? No help is coming for you here! Not for that subordinate or the princess! The knights are on their last breaths! No one can come to your aid!"
"They’re here."
"On what grounds can you say that so confidently!? Look closely! The Eclipse Dragon even changes the terrain! The Forest of Seals? There’s no trace of the forest left here! All that remains is an endlessly trampled wasteland! This monster is a disaster! No tiny human can defeat a disaster alone! Especially in this dire situation, only someone as mad as you would dare challenge it! Who else is there!?"
She’s here.
She’s here for me.
She is someone very important to me.
I believe from the bottom of my heart that she will definitely come to my side.
"――――Master!!"
"Christina..."
"A subordinate... you say? What use can just one subordinate be in this situation?"
Moritz, you wouldn’t understand.
To someone like you, who has used people as mere pawns, it might seem strange that I trust my subordinate.
"Christina... thank you for coming."
"Yes... because where you are is where I must be..."
"Ah, I knew it. I believed you would come to this dangerous place of the dragon disaster."
I give Christina a specific instruction.
It’s not an order to directly confront the Evil Dragon Eclipse Dragon, but it’s crucial for our situation.
From here, we will go on the offensive.
——.
2 chapters today!