Academy’s Genius Swordmaster

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 253: Advent (1)

The dawn air was heavy. An unfamiliar current was seeping through the broken walls. Even the stars in the sky were painted in strange, unsettling hues.

Ronan twisted his lips. The joints in his body ached, giving him a bad feeling. It seemed like something terrible could happen at any moment.

But there was no time to dwell on vague forebodings. The Dragon King and his minions fluttering before him demanded his full attention.

‘Why are they just standing there?’

The strange thing was that the Dragon King and his minions were doing nothing. Just moments ago, they had been acting as if they would devour everyone alive, but now they were eerily still.

The Dragon King was flapping his wings in the middle of the sky, while his minions circled around him like hungry crows. Instinctively, Ronan sensed that if they tried anything foolish, they would attack immediately.

Orsay lay down, trying to regain his strength with his eyes closed. This was the first time such a situation had occurred, and he had no idea what to do.

First, it seemed they needed to figure out how they ended up in this situation. Ronan turned to Aselle and asked.

“Hey, why is that woman with you? And what happened to her wounds?”

“Sh-she joined us suddenly. She got hit by a beam and lost one of her wings.”

“A beam? Are you talking about that three-headed’s breath?”

“Y-yes.”

Aselle nodded quickly. He briefly explained the situation after Ronan and Shullifen had jumped down. Hearing the news of Naransonia’s insubordination, Ronan furrowed his brows.

“Attacked the Dragon King? Wasn’t she the right-hand of that three-headed freak?”

“I-I don’t know the details. But it seems something is definitely wrong with the Dragon King.”

Aselle explained that Naransonia had come to stop her lord, who was turning into someone else. About twenty dragons who followed her had also tried to stop the Dragon King, but they were all killed by the beams emitted by their lord.

“He’s completely lost his mind.”

Ronan clicked his tongue. He had suspected as much, but he didn’t know it had gotten to this extent.

There was no need to ask if Naransonia’s attempt had ultimately succeeded. The sight of the Dragon King losing color like a dead coral indicated a desperate situation.

Even the mighty Dark Dragon Orsay couldn’t defeat him. Recalling the battle with the Dragon King, Aselle spoke in a trembling voice.

“And, and the Dragon King is too strong… He’s getting stronger and stronger. W-we’re all going to die…”

【If you spout that kind of nonsense one more time, I’ll eat you alive, mage.】

“Eeeek…!”

Aselle flinched at Orsay’s threat. Despite everything, it seemed they had grown somewhat closer during the battle. Suddenly, the Dragon King, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

【I was contemplating for a moment…】

“Contemplating?”

【About your worth. I thought I could gain a strategic advantage by taking Navardose and kin’s minions hostage.】

The third head spoke in a dry tone. Ronan, clutching his sword, lifted his chin and asked.

“So, have you reached a conclusion?”

【Yes.】

The third head nodded. Judging by the past tense, Ronan had a rough idea of what was coming next. Ronan, Aselle, and Shullifen quickly exchanged glances and took battle stances.

【It seems you are indeed worthless.】

“I knew it would come to this, damn it.”

Ronan cursed. At the same time, the Dragon King’s three mouths opened. Shooo…! A glowing mass began to form deep in his fiery red throats.

“I’ll cut through with sword energy, so stay close and follow me.”

Ronan said. Just as he was about to charge forward—Bang! Orsay, who had been hunched over like a sick man, shot towards the Dragon King.

【Do you think you can do as you please?】

“Orsay?!”

Their eyes widened. Orsay, with all four wings folded, resembled a black spear as he surged forward. Aselle, still on his back, screamed.

“Aaaah!”

The speed was astonishing. But the enemy seemed to have anticipated this move. The dragons circling the Dragon King blocked his path and fired their breaths.

【Give up!】

Flames, lightning, blizzards, poison, and crushed rocks poured towards Orsay. The range was too wide to escape with a blink.

“B-Blizzard Armor!”

At that moment, Aselle closed his eyes tightly and chanted a spell. Shhhh! A thick ice armor grew over Orsay’s body. The armor, covering him from head to tail, bristled with sharp spikes like a cactus.

【That’s it, mage.】

“S-save me!”

Orsay laughed. He charged towards the dragons without slowing down. Sensing an imminent threat, the dragons tried to retreat, but Orsay was already upon them.

It was the moment when the Dark Dragon collided with the wall of dragons. Thud! With a sudden burst, red flowers bloomed in the air. Wings, legs, and entrails were torn and fell like rain.

【Arrgh!】

【My wing…!】

【Stop him!】

Desperate screams echoed. Everywhere Orsay passed, mutilated dragons fell like autumn leaves. But there were too many enemies to reach the Dragon King.

“That brute…!”

Ronan bit his lower lip. Even Orsay couldn’t handle this many at once. Someone needed to distract them.

Ronan, thinking quickly, signaled to Shullifen. There hadn’t been a real plan since they failed to stop the Dragon King’s ritual. They’d have to rely on his wind.

Shullifen accepted Ronan’s crazy proposal without much objection. Exchanging glances, they jumped out of the Sky Tower.

Whoosh! They were plummeting helplessly. Flipping his body upwards, Ronan shouted with his hands cupped around his mouth.

“Over here! You senile lizards!”

【Hmm?】

Some dragons looked down. Ronan, drawing his sword, activated his aura. Paah…! As the sunset-colored light filled the air, a green dragon flapping its wings was dragged before his eyes.

【What the… What is this…?】

The green dragon’s eyes widened. As they fell, Ronan and Shullifen swung their swords simultaneously. The sword slashes crossed the dragon’s neck.

Swick! Its long, thin neck severed instantly. Blood spurted out, splashing onto their faces. One of the dragons, seeing this, shouted urgently.

【There are others there too! Capture them!】

Some dragons attacking Orsay began descending towards Ronan and Shullifen. Finally, Orsay broke through the encirclement and clashed with the Dragon King. The roars of the two great dragons shook Adren.

It didn’t take long for the situation to reach its conclusion.

****

[Translator – Peptobismol]

The battle with Orsay ended in less than an hour. The sky, heading towards morning, was tinged with a faint light.

The Dragon King stood over the ruined city. Screams and wails of people could be heard beneath the burning and crushed buildings. Suddenly, a human servant staggered towards him.

“Your Majesty…! Please help us. Suddenly, suddenly beams fell from the sky, and the city…”

He clutched the Dragon King’s hind leg, lamenting his tragedy. In the middle of the night, there was a loud roar, and then everything disappeared. Blood dripped from his severed leg.

“The city… Ah…”

Thud. The man fell onto the rubble, his body twitching a few times before going limp. Sizzling… Blood trickled down the slope, extinguishing the embers.

【Grrr…】

The two heads fell silent, observing the man’s death. They were the only parts of the Dragon King not yet stained white.

This marked the hundredth time the Dragon King had witnessed his subjects plead for help and die.

【You have gained the power you desired, so why do you hesitate?】

The third head asked, not mocking but genuinely curious.

【Adren is my kingdom. No king-】

【Would destroy his own realm like this!】

The two heads, grinding their teeth for some time, erupted in fury. Attachment, greed, and the pride of a crowned ruler fueled their anger.

【I aimed to defeat Navardose, not to bring this ruin-】

【Truly, this was not my intention…!】

The indiscriminate breath attacks and wide-area spells had turned Adren into a hellscape. The third head had committed these atrocities after seizing control of the body at some point.

The third head had used any means necessary to subdue Orsay, finding the other heads’ complaints tiresome.

【Silence. This is just part of achieving our goal. Once we’ve dealt with the remaining pests, we will start the war against the Mother of Fire.】

Ronan and Shullifen had not been captured yet. It was only a matter of time since the minions were diligently pursuing them.

The third head glanced upward and sneered.

【This is your limit, Dark Dragon.】

【Damn it…】

Orsay growled weakly. He was confined within a massive sphere, with only his head and part of his body exposed. The sphere was made of various plants’ vines, metal, and stone-like materials.

Orsay had fought valiantly. He had killed over a hundred dragons in an hour, living up to the title of the Dark Dragon. His fury as he tore through his kin was awe-inspiring.

But it wasn’t enough to turn the tide. The Dragon King had used mind-control magic on his subordinates, and there were far more dragons in Adren than Orsay had anticipated.

Moreover, the Dragon King, having completed the Nebula Clazier ritual, had become several times stronger. Exhausted, Orsay had ultimately fallen and was now sealed in the heart of Adren. Rolling his eyes back, Orsay spoke to Aselle.

【Flee, mage.】

“H-how could I do that…? You must get up!”

Aselle was seated where Orsay’s neck met his body. Fortunately, there was enough space for him to escape if he wished. Orsay shook his head.

【It’s too late.】

【You understand well.】

Suddenly, the third head’s mouth opened wide. Mana from the area converged, forming a small sun deep in his throat. It was the familiar beam attack that turned everything it touched to ash.

【This is the end for you. I’ll be sure to send your regards to Navardose.】

The third head spoke mockingly. Orsay chuckled. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move his body.

It was like watching an arrow fly toward his heart. As the sun in the Dragon King’s mouth began to coalesce into a beam, Aselle’s eyes widened in shock.

“What…?”

Suddenly, the sky brightened.

【Hmm?】

The three heads of the Dragon King looked up simultaneously. A colossal magic circle covered the sky, large enough to engulf all of Adren. Within the multiple concentric circles, strange symbols wriggled as if alive.

“Wh-what is that?”

“Is it a spell cast by His Majesty?”

The surviving, groaning humans looked up. The sky beyond the magic circle rumbled as if about to unleash a storm. The third head raised its gaze. The center of the magic circle slowly opened, revealing something white descending.

【…A human?】

The legs emerging from beneath the clouds were undoubtedly human, though several times larger.

What is that? The third head narrowed its eyes. The clouds dispersed, forming a giant hole as a fierce wind swept across the area, centered on the magic circle.

【What’s happening!】

【The wind…!】

Cries of confusion erupted. Dragons flying nearby lost their balance and staggered. Some were flung into the Sky Tower by the sheer force of the wind.

The wind roared, breaking the city’s spires one by one. People outside clung to trees and mailboxes to keep from being blown away.

【Grr…!】

Even the mighty Dragon King struggled against the gale. He finally managed to lift his head. The owner of the legs had revealed its full form.

【What is that?】

The third head’s face hardened. A giant white human, with two pairs of wings on its back, descended below the magic circle.

‘I have a bad feeling.’

He couldn’t tell what the being was, but one thing was certain. Letting it be would lead to something troublesome. The third head immediately fired the beam at the giant.

【Begone!】

Boom! The beam of light tore through the air, hitting its target. The explosion covered the eastern sky with light.

The explosion was so powerful that it completely engulfed the sky with a bright light. A few seconds passed. As the smoke cleared, the giant remained unscathed.

【What…!】

A spherical barrier around its body shimmered with strange colors. The beam must have been blocked by that.

The Dragon King, baffled, began preparing a second beam.

The giant, slowly surveying the surroundings, extended an arm. Light particles gathered in its palm.

【What?】

Orsay frowned, forgetting his own captivity. A spear five times his height soon materialized in the giant’s hand.

“W-wait a moment… Th-that…?”

Sensing an instinctive dread, Aselle began to speak. Whoosh! The giant’s right arm disappeared for an instant, a streak of lightning cutting through Adren.

Thud! The spear of light impaled the center of the Sky Tower, not the Dragon King or Orsay. Despite its dramatic arrival, nothing happened immediately.

Everyone, including the Dragon King and Orsay, stared in confusion. Booom!! Then, a massive explosion erupted from where the spear had struck. It sounded like a thousand lightning bolts striking simultaneously.

【What…!】

The Dragon King’s eyes widened. The unreal surge of energy had obliterated the outer wall and severely damaged the structure. Drrrr… The Sky Tower, which seemed capable of withstanding the end of the world, began to tilt.

“Th-the Sky Tower is collapsing!”

Cries of panic rang out. Thick smoke billowed, swallowing the moon and stars.

『Duaru executes judgment.』

A voice deep and resonant as a lava-filled cave echoed above Adren. Light particles gathered in the giant’s hand, forming a new spear.

『All is as He wills it.』

[Translator – Peptobismol]