Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 8

Status: Incomplete

90% completed (estimated)

   

Chapter 8 - Avalon's Imperial Princess

Part 1

In the mothership Beowolf- In the armory, under Dr Hoffman’s command the battle is in full swing.

Eco who was naked was floating in magic guided device. ‘Yggdrasill’s’ capsule. There were groups of technician working around her.

This was out of Anya’s area of understanding. She could only stand by and wall and watch silently.

But, she understood well the pain that Eco was feeling.

The cold voice was followed by its echo when it was reflected on the metal body.

“The cartridge had been filled. Prepare for launching.”

“The countdown starts now. Ten, nine, eight… Three, two, one-.”

“Launch the compressed magic!”

A red bean was shot out followed by a loud gun shooting sound. Anya felt that even the ship was vibrating.

“…!”

Then, there were air bubbles coming from Eco’s mouth. If not because of she was in the liquid, her scream could definitely be heard.

Anya couldn’t bear to see Eco suffering and looked away.

Eco’s body had already taken at least ten shots of the compressed magic.

Eco regained her consciousness after the start of the experiment. At the beginning, she was struggling in the water, but ‘Yggdrasill’s’ capsule was not at all affected.

But after receiving a continuous dozens of compressed magic, she lost her strength.

Right now, she was just like a living dead. Her blank eyes were now lifeless and it was terrible. It was pure torture.

Even so, the group of researchers led by Dr Hoffman were not at all shaken and continued silently.

“There is no significant change on the appearance of α. There are no abnormalities on her respiratory system. No magic fluctuation can be seen.”

Without realizing, the group of researchers started to refer Eco as α.

Eco is a human, a young dragon and also a living being- But this group of human had taken everything from her. To them, Eco was just experimental material α.

Who knows if they want to remove their feeling of guilt by calling her with symbols… Anya secretly thought so.

At this moment, Dr Hoffman’s voice is heard by Anya.

“Still no changes… It seems like we don’t have any more choices. Activate all the Milinnium.”

Anya turned pale when she heard that.

This means that they had decided to use full power on ‘Yggdrasill’’.

Part 2

“*Sob*… It was all… My fault. *Sob*…”

In the maid’s bedroom in the ground floor of the palace.

Prim was lying on the bed with her pillow wet with tears.

There was only Ash and Silvia beside her bed. Cosette was standing outside the room by the door.

Prim cried while she told the whole incident.

Prim arrived at the ancient palace when she was chasing Eco who was running amok.

She had met a few suspicious people there.

Seeing the enemy suddenly attacked, Eco appeared and became the bait to let Prim escape.

When Prim regained conscious, Eco was no longer there.

After hearing, Ash felt something suspicious.

“Why do you go to the ancient palace?”

“That’s because… It was my entire fault! It was my bad to say such things!”

“Prim, please stay calm. Compared to you, Ash was the person who suffered the most.”

After being advised by Silvia, Prim rubbed of her tears.

“You are right. Sorry…”

“Prim-san, please tell me everything before eco was kidnapped!”

Prim nodded.

“I have no ill intention, it was just that… Ash-sama is a human and Eco is a dragon… So I thought that Eco will feel lonely after Ash-sama married with a human girl. The moment I told her that, Eco rushed out of the room.”

“What…!”

Who would have thought of this, Ash was speechless.

“Idoit! You… Why do you have to tell her this!”

Silvia was mad.

“If I am Eco… I will definitely feel hurt if someone told that to me! Even when Eco is a dragon, her thought is still of a girl’s. She should know very well that her situation is special. Why was she born as a human? Why was she not born as a dragon… If I am Eco, I can never feel secure.”

“Princess-sama…”

Ash looked at Silvia who was telling Eco thought in surprise.

“Recently, she had gotten use to the school life. She was also being loved by everyone as the student council’s mascot. Even so, to Eco, the only person she could thrust in… Is no other but Ash.”

“And I… Had said something terrible…”

“Strictly speaking, Eco is still a young dragon who was not even a year old. Can’t you be a little more indirect in your-”

“Forget it, Princess-sama. Right now, we could never solve the problem even after lecturing Prim-san. What’s more, if they had this planned, no matter what Prim-san said, Eco will still be kidnapped.”

“…You are right. But how are we going to rescue Eco?”

Silvia nodded in agreement with Ash.

“Prim-san… Could you describe those people who attacked?”

Ash was praying while asking. He only clue is Prim being the witness.

“Err…They had pretended to be the palace servant. But, they didn’t look like a citizen of the Knight Country. For their skin colour, it looked like they are the Tantalos…. Also, the person who attacked me is a short girl.”

“A Tantalos girl…!”

Ash was feeling Déjà vu. It was like he had found the last piece of puzzle in his memory.

“It was the girl who followed Milgauss!”

Ash’s fists were shacking. The world he was seeing was dyed in red. Even though he had a feeling that Milgauss was the culprit, still, after making sure, he was still in rage.

“Since we knew who was the criminal-”

Silvia immediately stopped Ash who intends to rush out from the room.

“Hold on, Ash! Where do you think you are going to?”

“The ballroom, of course! I want to settle thing with Milgauss!”

“Kept your calm! Do you think that Milgauss will admit it even after you found him?”

“…Maybe not.”

Ash turned speechless.

Silvia was right, no matter how emotional he became, Eco still wouldn’t be able to return safely.”

Just as if she was trying to have Ash cooled down, Silvia made a suggestion in a calm voice:

“Don’t you think that this is a good time to save Eco when Milgauss is busy with the masquerade?”

“What do you meant?”

“Milgauss couldn’t even be bothered by an activity with long history such as this continental congress and will do anything just to capture Eco. Even when I don’t know what was his intentions, but capturing Eco alive is their priority. I am sure that their lackeys won’t do anything to harm Eco when the mastermind was absent.”

After listening to Silvia’s analyse, Ash gave a breath of relieve.

“The problem remains is, where is Eco’s location. Since Ash’s ‘Seikoku’ is not reacting, it means that Eco was being hidden in an enclosed place. For example something that could be a barrier to cut of magic… Anyway, is must be done with the proper equipment. It just can’t be a rally point that they had just constructed.”

“An enclosed place with proper equipments? That’s it, Milgauss had Klaus backing him up…”

Last evening, an airship flew past the evening sky…

The black ship that was waving the Empire’s flag proudly…

Ash remembered.

Ash and Silvia exchanged glances and shouted at the same time:

“Beowolf!”

Part 3

-W-Will…I die just like this…

Eco thought so.

The liquid in the capsule kept on rotating and Eco’s body was being swept by it.

Every time her shoulders or waist touches the glass, her body will move slowly in the opposite direction.

It seems like the liquid was made of special materials. Luckily, it doesn’t affect her breathing. But after suffering a few shots from the magic device, her body turned numb.

This feeling is like an empty mind floating in mid air.

-If I could just… Continue sleeping… Then I won’t feel any pain…

Just when Eco thought so, a power that surpassed those previous ones was released at her.

“Noooooooooo…!”

Even though she thought that she shouted in pain, in truth they were just air bubbles coming out from her mouth.

A bright light flashes and the water turned rapid. Just like being swallowed off by a tsunami, her body kept on rotating and kept on hitting the glass around her.

-W….Why do I have to suffer this kind of pain.

It had passed the limit of her brain to just think of what they are going to do to her. She could only feel that her body had been injected with a vast amount of magic.

The pain she felt is just like her body being ripped open.

It felt like her organs were being messed up by someone.

-Urgh… It hurts…. It hurts…. I beg you all, please stop.

It is pointless no matter how she shout in her mind, the magic was still flowing into the body. E co’s body was jerking nonstop and she was struggling.

You might as well do me a favour by killing me- Eco gave up.

“…!”

At the next moment- The Necromancia’s slimy tentacles attacking her from all directions.

Eco couldn’t understand. Where did those tentacles appear from in this enclosed environment?

The tentacles which were wriggling ling a snake slowly snatched her freedom.

Her arms, waist, legs… was entangled by those tentacles. - Stop! This must be an illusion! It is this device that was making me hallucinate…!

Eco tried to stay conscious and opened her eyes widely.

At that moment, the tentacles disappeared.

The feelings of being entangled by those tentacles also disappeared.

However, not long after that, she loses focus and the tentacles appeared again and had her waist surrounded.

In a blink of an eye, she was lifted by those tentacles.

-Stop!

An abnormally thick tentacle was approaching at Eco’s face.

Eco kept her teeth closed with her might. If she was to be careless, the tentacle will surely wriggle into her mouth. Eco had Goosebumps just by think about it.

Eco initially wanted to ask for Ash’s help. She hoped that he could save him from this hell.

However, from the point she woke up in this device, she couldn’t even summon Ash.

Her Astral Flow with Ash had also been cut off.

The lost of her communication had put her in fear.

Eco was shocked that the lost of her connection with Ash would put her in such great fear.

-I am really an idiot. I only knew what is precious to me after I had lost it.

This experience had made her wanted to treasure Ash much more.

That’s right, without Ash, I can’t do anything… I am really a good for nothing.

-Don…

At that instant, there was something moving in her body.

Part 4

“Something is wrong! The magic indicator is showing an abnormal value!”

“We found an unknown magic source! Its power is increasing!”

“We had lost control of ‘Yggdrasill’! It ignored the emergency stop signal!”

The continuous bad news had made Dr Hoffman turn pale.

The laboratory was as if in a fire and tense atmosphere was spreading.

Everyone was with a panic look and were busy dealing with the buttons on their hands.

“What happened…?”

Anya who was looking from aside wondered.

Basically, there was nothing abnormal with Eco who was in the capsule.

Even though she was shot by the high power compressed magic and had struggle like she was having a nightmare, yet nothing dramatic had happened.

But the indicator was still indicating an abnormal value. Also, they were losing control of ‘Yggdrasill’.

The situation had suddenly become tense.

Even the emergency trigger had been triggered and the bell was ringing loudly.

-Dong!

At that instant, Anya heard something from the ground.

“What is that… Sound?”

As if to prove that it was not an illusion, ‘Yggdrasill’ magic indication exploded.

“Uwaa!”

Some groaned and all the surrounding deviced started to explode with red flames. All the technician were running away in fear.

“Don’t panic! Keep calm!”

Dr Hoffman shouted by not even a single soul was listening.

Because everyone’s sights were Eco who was caged in the capsule.

Eco’s body was glowing with a dim light.

Even Anya was captive by the sight in front.

“Dr Hoffman! Let’s escape!”

A young researcher advised Dr Hoffman. The rest of the researchers were agreeing with him at looked at Dr Hoffman.

Anya left the wall and walk towards Dr Hoffman’s back.

“Dr Hoffman, I also think that it would be wise if we escape now.”

“No!”

Anya was stunned by Dr Hoffman’s aura. She had thought of him as a kind old man and was forced to act cruel as a researcher. Who would know that he would have such a stubborn side.

“What are you thinking! Even an outsider like me knew that this is dangerous! Isn’t there are Millennium attached to that device too?”

What Anya was worried about is the existence of the Millenniums. Just in case the Millenniums explode… Anya was thinking. Let alone Beowolf, it is not even surprising if the capital disappear from the maps forever.

However, Dr Hoffman shook his head slowly.

“…I won’t. That will not happen. The energy in the Millenniums had run dry.”

“What?”

“All the magic energy… Was fully absorbed by experimental material α.”

“-!”

Anya looked at Eco dumbstruck.

The intensity of Eco’s light was getting stronger until the extend where one couldn’t look at her directly. Those ‘Dong’ sounds had become clearer.

Even though there were no dangers of the Millennium exploding, it doesn’t mean that they were free from danger. Eco right now was seen as the bomb.

Later, there was the loud sound of something breaking.

Different from the normal explosions, that explosion sounds like it was originated from something being applied pressure on.

“α….α is escaping!”

A researcher shouted.

The capsule containing eco was now in ruins and the liquid was flowing out like waterfall.

Eco can be seen floating with her eyes closed- in a short moment, she disappeared. What’s left is only stardust like magic particles floating in the air.

“She… Dissapeared…?”

Anya dumbstruck, murmured alone.

Part 5

“Hey… Something’s wrong with Beowolf!?”

When Maestro Lancelot reached the landing space at a height of twenty meters, Silvia shouted:

“That is…!”

Ash who was riding on Lancelot behind Silvia widened his eyes.

The scared airship Esperanza, airship Crown Solas and air ship Silvanus was lined up together.

On the other hand, the huge airship Beowolf was parked quite some distance away from the trio.

The suspicious thing was the black smokes emerging from Beowolf.

Could it be a fire?

If Eco is inside… Ash was too scared to think about it.

“Urgh…!”

At this moment, Ash felt a burning sensation from his left hand.

Although he nearly screamed in pain, he managed to tolerate with it.

It felt like suddenly putting his hand into a furnace.

“Is everything alright, Ash!?”

Silvia was worried about him and turned around and asked, but Ash couldn’t even reply because of the pain.

The ‘Seikoku’ engraved on his left arm was slowly moaning.

A while later, there was a glaring light coming out from his left arm and his sleeve up to his shoulders was burned off. Even the bandage was burned into pieces.

In a blink of an eye, Ash’s ‘Seikoku’ on his left arm was exposed.

“Wha…!”

The ‘Seikoku’ on his hand was glowing with different light intensity from time to time.

Ash was panicking.

It will be alright if it was just glowing but the heat and the pain sensation had no intention of stopping.

It felt that his left arm is going to explode anytime.

“Hey… What is actually happening?”

Silvia was in shock while holding the reins which was probably caused by the fright she experience from seeing Ash’s ‘Seikoku’s’ reaction.

“I don’t know… But I am now sure that I am again connected to Eco!”

Just like responding to Ash’s left arm, there was an object glowing in the sky.

“Ash! Look upwards!”

Silvia who noticed the abnormality was pointing at the sky. Ash too had noticed.

There was something glowing on the sky above the landing area.

“That is…”

The mysterious light was floating in the sky as if it was decorating it.

On the other hand, the full moon didn’t look as charming as before.

By taking a closer look, it was an egg with beautiful flow lines.

There was a big emblem that was carved on the pearl like egg. At a first glance, it looked like a royal emblem.

To be more specific, that emblem looked like Ash’s ‘Seikoku’.

-Don…Don…Don…

There was a frightening beating sound form the egg.

The confusing part is, it moved with the same rhythm as the glow on Ash’s ‘Seikoku’.

Ash immediately understood.

“I couldn’t be more wrong… Eco is in that egg!”

“How is that possible? What are you talking about…?”

“Princess-sama, I beg you. Please take me there!”

“…Alright. I believe in you. Fly Lancelot! Fly higher!”

But Lancelot ignored her orders. It stayed at the twenty meters height at looked at the egg with its head up.

“Hei… Lancelot? Anything wrong? Fly immediately!”

Even though Silvia shouted strictly, Lancelot still ignored her orders. On the other hand, it did an emergency landing at a corner of the landing space.

“What are you doing? Are you disobeying my orders, Lancelot!”

“…It is useless, Princess-sama. It seems that Lancelot has its own reason.”

“What did you say?!”

Silvia looked at Ash with an imposing manner.

“Do you know what Lancelot was thinking?”

“…I am not sure. It was probably affected by the ‘Seikoku’. I don’t know why, but I could somehow understand what Lancelot was thinking.”

After Ash and Silvia was force to alight Lancelot unwillingly, Lancolot again spread it wings and shoot up into the sky.

Looking at Lancelot’s direction, Ash found out something important.

“Princess-sama! There are more and more… Maestros gathering together!”

Groups of Maestro were gathering from all direction. It had become an amazing night view created by the light from the Maestro’s magic.

One by one the Maestro appeared and gathered at the corner of the sky.

For Maestro’s whose numbers were already little to begin with to gather together, it was unheard of even in the old times-

Part 6

“What is actually happening…?”

Lancelot left its master and flew off on its own.

Although this had given Silvia a great blow, still the view of the night sky had gave her a deep impression.

Silvia could clearly hear the ‘Pssshh’ sounds of the beating of the wings.

When she had personally seen the dream like view, all her attention had been captured by it.

That egg even had wings growing out of it and feathers with silver lights were falling off. It was like snows that beautify the night sky.

Then- there was a crack from the egg shell.

The winged egg split into two-

“Uoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”

A roar as if it was a horn announcing the end to the world could be heard all over.

Silvia who couldn’t look straight into the glaring light closed her eyes. When she reopened her eyes, the winged egg was no longer there. It was replaced by something that was of of this world.

To describe this thing with a word will be either – GOD or DEVIL.

However what Silvia said was insulting.

“What a scary monster…!”

“Stop! You are not allowed to say that!”

Ash shouted and brought Silvia back o her sense.

“That must be...Eco. I can feel it... I can feel it!”

“Sorry, Ash...”

Although Silvia was annoyed by her gaffe, she still couldn’t believe that it was Eco.

Later, Eco landed slowly while being surrounded by numerous Maestros.

Although the pink fur and the red eyes is similar to Eco, but her horns looked sharp and fierce and doesn’t at all looked like Eco’s round stubs.

Also, there was a third horn in between the two horns. It was like a unicorn’s horn and was up straight.

Her wings which were spread widely were different from a normal Maestro’s. It made one think of an angle’s wings.

Followed by a loud bang, Eco landed.

Eco lifted up her gigantic hind leg up high- And The large airship that had been the pride of the Empire was squashed in a few seconds.

With the conning tower being right at the middle, Beowolf had been squashed into a V shape and immediately exploded.

Yet, Eco was not at all affected.

Eco probably lost interest in Beowolf and tried to wriggle her long neck. She slowly lowered her center of gravity.

The target of her scarlet eyes was the window of the tall Fontaine Palace.

Part 7

-An unidentified flying object appeared above the capital and all the Maestros in the country disobey their masters’ order and gathered together.

Veronica who received the emergency report brought Glenn the captain of the escorts alone with her to the ballroom at the highest floor of the palace.

Anyway, there were important guests in the ballroom that gathered from all over the continent. No matter what happened, she must protect their safety in the name of the pride of the Knight’s country.

At the same time, she must bring back her father Oswald with her. He had most probably change his appearance and was drinking while mingling in the crowd.

While running on the long corridor, Veronica questioned Glenn:

“Did you too have lost contact with your pal?”

“It totally ignored my summons and ignored my request to present me my Ark. From the looks of the current situation where all the Maestros gathered at the capital’s sky, it probably has something to do with the unidentified flying object.”

“Then, the Holy Dragners of Lautreamont of our pride can be considered no more. If the Empire attacked us at this moment, without the protection of the Maestros, this country will fall in just a single night.”

“...I don’t have an excuse to offer.”

Glenn lowered his head in somber.

Part 8

When Veronica and Glenn arrived at the ballroom, the palace music and the party atmosphere of the nobles had disappeared.

Most of the guests were by the glass window and were looking downwards in shock. From there they can see the landing area for the airships.

“That’s…!”

Veronica was also looking downwards through the glass window.

“It is dangerous to stand beside the window, Princess-sama!”

Glenn warned her but Veronica ignored him.

There was a change in the landing area.

A living object that was glowing with silver light suddenly landed there.

-Uoooooooooooooooooo…!

It was immediately followed by a loud roar that will made one feel like covering his ears.

It was stated in the previous report that ‘an unidentified flying object that looked like a huge egg’, but it seemed that the huge egg had hatched when Veronica was on her way.

The unbelievable thing is, that huge monster easily split the Empire’s huge airship Beowolf into two with just a stomp.

Right at this moment, there was a man from the crowd was making a fuss.

“Ooh, what is happening! How can a dragon of the Knight’s… Destroy the most advance airship which is our country’s pride! I don’t think that this is some simple matter!”

The man words had caused an uproar in the ballroom.

Until a moment ago, everyone had just found out that this monster is a dragon.

Talking about a dragon, everyone will think about Lautreamont Knight Country.

“Is that person…Klaus Viderhausen! He is obviously trying to cause a stir!”

Veronica angrily scolded and glared at the Empire’s young noble.

However, there was a man who stupidly tried to argue with Klaus.

“Nonsense! That monster had nothing to do with our country!”

Although the man was wearing a lion shaped mask, judging from his plum body, Veronica immediately knew who he is.

He is he father, Oswald.

“Kluas-dono! This is the truth! That monster had nothing to do with us! Please believe in me!”

“Hu… What you said was not at all convincing. Anyway, everyone here is a witness.”

Klaus was not even bothered by Oswald.

It was because what Klaus said is true. A huge dragon that appeared with any warning had destroyed the Empire’s airship right in front of everyone.

Nothing could be worst that this.

For Chevron Kingdom and Zepharos Empire who had never see each other eye to eye was originally going to discuss about the peace in between them in tomorrow’s continental congress ‘Elysium’.

To Chevron Kingdom and its ally Lautreamont Knight Country this should be a historical event.

“Stop… Let alone the Emperor, not even a royal from the Empire attends. It is a total joke. The Empire had never wanted peace-”

Just as Veronica finished her sentence, there were people screaming from everywhere.

Everyone was in a panic.

All the guests who were wearing their mask, including the musicians and the waiters, everyone were trying to escape.

Apart from Oswald who was crying, Klaus who had previously put the blame on the Knight Country was also fleeing.

“What…!”

Veronica who immediately turned around was also sweating tremendously.

There was a pair of scarlet eyes looking into one of the many palace windows.

She spent a few seconds to figure out that the dragon had stretched its neck and was looking into Fontaine Palace.

“Glenn, if I try to slash the pair of eyes with my huge sword… Do you think I have any chance of winning?”

“Please forgive my rudeness… Even if Princess-sama, you are no match for it.”

Glenn told the truth directly.

"Why must you be this honest?"

Veronica was sulking while she confronted the dragon eyes.

The round eyes.

It looked like a baby’s pairs of eyes. Although it looked naïve, if this monster just rubbed its nose with the palace walls, Fontaine Palace will turned into dust in seconds. Furthermore, it will be a hill full of bricks and corpse…

Even though she was thinking of such scenario, Veronica could still manage a smile.

“Kuku… So this is of feeling of my life being controlled by others. I praise you, my child!”

Seeing that Veronica had no intention of escaping, Captain Glenn advised her in panic:

“Princess-sama, please retreat!”

“I mustn’t. Some of the guests are still here.”

Veronica looked around the empty ballroom.

There was a man with a mask standing at the middle of the dance floor.

The man was wearing a elegant suit. However his hair colour was like a cloth stain with blood.

He is obviously the gut in the reports- Milgauss.

Veronica looked at him in admiration.

“Hmm… You indeed look a little like Julius. Remove your mask!”

To her surprise, he actually did it. He could be seen silently removing his mask and threw it to a side as if he don’t need it anymore.

“-!”

Veronica’s eyes widen.

The handsome face beneath the mask was undoubtable Julius of ten years later who had became a seinen.

He had no longer the rebellious feel with him in his teenage years and was replaced by a feeling of a weapon that had been well polished.

“So you are Julius…!”

As if to sweep away her worries, Julius walked to the side of the window. At the same time, the dragon’s face disappeared as if it had lost interest with the empty ballroom.

Julius was standing by the window looking at the huge dragon.

“Kukuku… I had been waiting for this moment for a long time!”

That sinful voice and the devil like smile made Veronica felt uneasy.

Glenn took a stepped forward as if trying to ask in behalf of Veronica.

He unsheathed his sword that was on his waist.

“You can’t be Julius, no? My friend will never show such malicious smile.

“Oh, Glenn McGuire! I remembered you are one of the guys that appeared in Julius’s memories. It should be suitable to use ‘it had been a long time’ in this situation, don’t you think so?”

“What do you meant!”

“You still don’t get it? This body is indeed Julius’s. However, I am not Julius. But I can peek into Julius’s memories anytime.

“What is happening…?”

Veronica was curious but it was not bothered by the man.

“Kneel! Quick! Look carefully! You are witnessing a historical moment!”

The man was acting like a holy man in the religious painting. He spread his arms widely and declared his name.

“I am Mordred! The descendant of the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family.”

Vreonica couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

The Maestro that Julius sacrificed his life to kill is named Mordred. It is also Julius’s Pal.

Is it possible that Mordred had taken over Julius’s body?

In regards of Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family- Veronica had only recently heard about this name.

The ‘Old Testament of the Stella Biblia’ that Dr Angela Cornwell found in Willingham Mausoleum.

Basically, Veronica had read through the copy of the book.

She recalled a part of the book.

“…After the wise dragon Inbroke, two major bloodlines were formed. They are the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family and the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family. An endless war started from these two families. After the members of the two families reincarnated, they will encounter each other, hate each other and kill each other.”

The person in front had introduced himself as the descendant of the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family.

Them, who is the person who should be representing the descendant of the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family-?

At this moment, Veronica stopped thinking because of Glenn’s shout.

“So I see… You are the roots of evil! I knew that Julius didn’t turn crazy! He will always be loyal to his believes and tried to have you removed even when he had to commit a crime in the Knight Country!... Return Julius to us!”

Followed by a shout, Glenn reduced their distance and there was a silver flash.

However, Mordred easily parried Glenn’s slash.

“Urgh!”

Glenn growled.

Morderd had stopped the high speed slash with only his index and middle finger.

Glenn could be seen standing still while holding his sword. No, that’s not the case, Veronica understands well.

It was not that Glenn was not moving, it was because that he was unable to move.

Morderd had over powered Glenn with just two fingers.

“Hmph… I will let you experience the punishment for being disobediant to god.

After Mordred gave a cold smile, there was a flash.

“Gwaaa!”

Glenn was knocked up into the air while unable to even resist. He knocked into the wall hard and became unconscious.

Veronica didn’t even have the time to care about Glenn and stared at Mordred.

“…I don’t understand. As far as I know, you should have a good relationship with Glenn. Didn’t you even present his the ark?”

“Hmph, the one who has a good relationship with Julius is another me. That me who acknowledged Julius as its master and had associate with him quite well.

“Another me? What are you talking about?”

“Let me generously explain it to you as your last gift before you die. There was two personalities in Mordred. If it was to be a human, it will be call as a split personality.”

“What happened to the other personality?”

“It had disappeared together with the body. Ironically, it was it and Julius who had planned to kill me. For me, to prevent myself from dying, I had sacrificed my body and change into this spiritual form and had inhabit in Julius’s body.”

Upon saying until there, Mordred looked out of the window.

Right beside the palace, the dragon was standing on its hind legs and was looking around curiously. It seemed to be troubled because it couldn’t understand what was happening.

Mordred declared to that dragon:

“Descendant of the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family, it will take that body of yours!”

“Now I understand, so this is what you planned…!”

At this stage. Veronica finally found out what is Mordred aiming for.

Morderd had once lost his body in to past when it was killed by Julius.

However, if it could take over the body of the descendant of the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family, it can once again be born as the strongest dragon…!

“That will never happen, Mordred!”

Veronica unsheathed the huge sword on her waist.

Even though she knew that he was not an opponent that she could win in a direct confrontation, she still couldn’t bear to watch idly from the side.

I will kill Mordred together with Julius’s body before he can manage to take over Avalon’s body- Veronica rushed forward while thinking so.

Even when it is her brother’s body that we are talking about, she had no intention of showing any mercy.

But, before Veronica could land a hit on Mordred, suddenly, there was darkness emerging from his body and spread all over the ballroom.

“Urgh… What is this dark mist… My conscious…!”

The moment she was surrounded by the darkness, Veronica felt a strong feeling of vomiting and fainting.

Part 9

After struggling in the darkness without knowing what was happening for some time- The darkness had finally disappeared.

“Are you alright, Veronica?”

There was a guy who held out his had to Veronica who was struggling to stand up.

“You…!”

There were killing intends in Veronica’s eyes.

To her surprise, Mordred who should be busy with taking over Avalon’s decedent’s body had tried to help her.

However, there was no longer the evilness on his face.

“You… Could you be Julius?”

“Ahh, that is me. You are still the same old you for not calling me ‘Anii-ue’.”

It seemed that because Mordred was gone, Julius who able to take back his body.

“Of course… You F.O.O.L”

Upon hearing, Julius smile but he immediately returned back to his serious expression.

“Sorry, but now is not the time for us siblings to be arguing. Mordred’s spirit had already inhibited on Eco’s body. We have the obligation to defeat Mordred and protect this city.”

At that instant, Veronica felt a pain from her head as if she had just been strike.

“Hold on! Did you just say Eco? That huge dragon… is actually Eco?”

“I will explain the detail to you later. Can you stand up?”

“Hmph… Whom do you think you are talking to!”

Using the huge sword as a walking stick, Veronica put all her effort into standing up. But, it was probably the side effect of inhaling in the darkness, in the end, she fell down again.

“Princess-sama!”

The person who reached Veronica first was Glenn. Although he was badly injured, he had regained conscious.

Glenn held on to Veronica and glared at Julius.

“Julius… I had numerous thing that I want to tell you, but please allow me to tell you this first.”

“I can guess what you want to say but be my guest.”

While facing the calm Julius, Glenn with mix feelings shouted to Julius:

“You… Damn you!”

Part 10

Seeing that the Empire’s airship was easily crushed, the scaredship Esperanza and magicship Crown Solas flew off immediately.

Only magicship Silvanus remained at its location overlooking the whole incident.

Although Silvanus had yet to attack Eco, Ash was still worried stance the captain is Veronica.

Even so, seeing that Silvanus still haven’t make its decision, Veronica probably had not board the ship. They were most probably waiting for Veronica’s orders.

On the other hand, if Veronica had board the ship, there is a high chance that she will issue an attack on Eco. To protect the capital, Veronica will make this decision without any hesitation. Anyway, Silvanus fire power is not something that can be ignored.

“I…I will protect Eco!”

Ash made up his mind and rushed forward.

“Hold on, Ash. Do you want to be crushed!”

Silvia blocked Ash with her arms spread.

“Please move aside, Princess-sama! Who will protect Eco if I don’t!”

“Please keep your calm! Even so, what can you do!? How are you going to ride Eco who had turned into that? What’s more, what are you going to do to ride on Eco?”

“I…”

Silvia was right. During the time when the Necromancia attacked Ansarivan, he received help from Silvia and Lancelot.

But luck was not on his side. Lancelot who he could place his hope on had not yet returned after it gathered with the rest of the Maestro. The group of Maestros were still circling above the sky while waiting for something to happen.

To his relieved, after Eco crushed Beowolf, she had not made any frightening actions. Although Ash was sweating tremendously during the time she looked into Fontaine Palace through the window, he was lucky that she leave immediately.

Right now, Eco was only looking around and sniffing the building around her as if to figure out what was happening. In regards to what had happened to her body, she probably hasn’t figured it out yet.

“In conclusion, we must keep her as far from the town as possible. In case that she entered the town…"

Upon listening to Silvia’s assumption, Ash was shaking in fear.

Fontaine City has a population of around a million.

In another words, a million lives were now in Eco’s hands.

The severity of the current situation was no longer only involved Ash and Eco.

“Guooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…!”

At that moment, Eco was roaring in pain and started to struggle. There was a change in her appearance that was originally surrounded by a silver light.

Just like a white cloth that came in contact with ink, there black colour was slowly taking over the white.

“…Eco? What’s happening!”

Ash could only look at Eco transform without doing anything.

The change in her skin was only the start.

Her angle like feathers had transformed into a crow like wings.

The previous middle horn of the three horns had disappeared and her pair of horns had turned into spiral shape.

Also, her four limbs were growing at a fast speed. It will be better to describe her as a giant like body rather than a huge beast. That huge body gave a evil feeling.

Last of all, there were nine eyes on its face and were glowing with red lights.

“Nine eyes…!”

Ash remembered something.

Eco once had a nightmare.

In her dream, was Eco attacked by the nine eyed dragon…?

-Don!

At that moment, Eco who had turned into that black dragon gave a dragon breath.

The flame emitted pierced the sky and scattered the dark clouds.

If this flame was aimed at Fontaine Palace or the town… Ash had Goosebumps just by thinking.

“Silvia, so you are here!”

At this moment, there was a fierce voice coming from behind.

It was Silvia and Glenn when the turned around.

Glenn was badly injured and looked like a rag.

Apart from that- There was another man that was following Veronica.

Is was already surprising if a person was allowed to walk side by side with Veronica, yet it was far more surprising when they noticed the man’s hair colour.

“Milgauss! Why are you here!”

Ash felt that he was having Goosebumps all over his body. At the same time, he felt that Milgauss looked familiar. He remembered that he had seen that face in a portrait.

“Are you… Anii-ue?!”

Silvia shouted before Ash.

“Yeah. Although it is a little hard to believe, I am Julius. But I don’t have the time to give you any explanations right now. Firstly, we need to get rid of Mordred’s spirit from Eco’s body- Ash.”

When his name was suddenly called by Julius, Ash became nervous.

The person in front of him really felt like Prince Julius Lautreamont.

Julius stepped forward and placed his hand on Ash’s shoulder.

“Only you as the master can save Eco. Understood?”

“Yes. I had thought of that too myself.”

Julius smiled.

“Good answer. I will take the responsibility to bring you to Eco.”

“But… How are you going to do it?”

“Don’t worry. What have that.”

After he finished his sentence, Julius was pointing at- Magicship Silvanus that was actually resting at the far end of the landing area.

Part 11

“Ara. I don’t remembered inviting you here…Dark Dragon King Mordred.”

In the dragon workshop, Navi and Mordred were having a confrontation. She was sitting on her favourite chair with her legs crossed.

“Kuku. This is your last time to be able to be this relax.”

Mordred’s spirit still maintained Julius’s voice. It was probably because it had inhibited in Julius’s body for more than ten years…Navi thought so.

“I had taken over sixty percent of Eco’s body. It is only a matter of time that I can fully take control of her body. Avalon is losing.”

“…”

“Next, if I can fuse together with you, I can be fully awakened as the Dark Dragon King. Follow me. Even though you are called Navi, but I clearly know that you are not a normal navigator. You are the incarnation of the Dragweiss.”

“Ara. Just what I thought of the Dark Dragon King. You had made quite some investigation on your own.”

“Fuse with me quickly. Give me the supreme knowledge. Strictly speaking, Avalon and Nehalennia have the same roots… I should also be qualified to fuse with you.”

“I don’t disagree with this.”

Upon hearing Navi’s answer, Mordred smiled.

“So you agreed?”

“No I don’t. It is because I don’t like Nehalennia.”

“…What do you say?”

“I am rooting for Avalon's Imperial Princess and her knight. Especially her knight… Ash Blake, he is far manlier than you.”

“Hmph…what a fox you are. Since it had came to this, I will use force-”

Suddenly, there were numerous tentacles coming from under Mordred’s legs. They were like snakes that had found their prey and attacked Navi.

Part 12

“I am sorry. Could everyone apart from Ash and I leave this ship?”

Upon stepping into Silvanus’s wheelhouse, Julius spoke coldly.

The crew responsible for the control of the wheel and control communications turned around and looked Julius in confusion. Then they are all frightened as is they had seen a ghost.

They shouldn’t be blamed since the prince that should have been executed years ago was standing in front of them and had asked them to do something unreasonable.

“Hold on… Prince Julius! What do you planned to do?”

Seeing that Ash was requesting for an explanation, at the same time Julius answered, he turned around and looked at Veronica who was preparing to sit on the captain’s seat.

“I just don’t want the rest of the people to die with us. Veronica, I hoped that you could also help me by giving out the orders.”

“Do you think that I would even listen to that joke?”

“If the sister is stubborn, the elder brother will have to face some trouble.”

The next instant, Julius seize Veronica from behind with lightning speed. He was holding a hidden gun. It was a mechanic gun that the military of the Empire used.

Julius even chose to place the tip at Veronica’s temple.

“There is not much time. You should try to listen to your brother sometimes, Veronica.”

“Are you kidding! Silvanus is my magicship. Don’t even think off always doing what you wanted to, Julius.”

“As I had said before, I am your brother. Maybe you are a perfect princess in front of our people, but I knew your archilees heel. If you still disobey me, I will expose it in front of everyone.”

“What archilees heel?”

“I knew that you love Silvia. There are Silva portraits in your room. The clothes that Silva wore, Silva’s growth record, the poem that you wrote from missing Silvia and also Silvia’s human size doll-”

“I-I promise! Keep quite immediately!”

Ash was in a shock. He had never expected Veronica to surrender easily.

“Everyone, leave the ship immediately! This is an order from Veronica Lautreamont! No one is allowed to disobey!”

All the crew members rushed out from the wheelhouse.

Part 13

When everyone had left the magicship, Julius flied Silvanus while sitting on the pilot’s seat.

With the sudden shake of the magicship, Ash held on tightly to the seat of the communication officer to avoid falling. Looking through the round window, the magicship was getting further and further away from the ground.

It was a total different experience from sitting on a dragon. When this lump of metal was flying with passengers- At the same time Ash was amazed, he also started to worry about crashing.

As for Julius, he was piloting Silvanus while telling Ash the whole story.

Part 14

Although what Julius said was hard to believe, basically, the dragons were seperated into the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family and the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family. The two families had incarnated since the ancient times and were still fighting each other right until today.

Also, Eco is Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family’s descendant.

In another words, Eco is the Imperial Princess of the dragon.

“…Even after I had heard of such things, it is still hard for me to believe this. Eco who had been living with me was obviously a girl who sleeps late, a glutton and a hot headed girl...”

“I know how you feel. When I found out that my pal is the descendant for the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family, I was also astounded. In the beginning, I was also troubled by why was I chosen.”

Julius said.

“Back to the topic, Avalon’s Imperial Princess’s body is really huge. Even though she is still a young dragon, she had this unbelievable huge size… It is totally unbelievable.”

After Julius pressed a few buttons on the dashboard, Eco’s body was shown on the huge screen in front.

Silvanus was three hundred meters above the land and was looking at Fontaine city from the sky above.

From the screen, they can see Eco back that had turned black because of being taken over by Mordred.

With its frightening spiral horns and nine eyes… It is exactly the image of the dark dragon king.

Eco who was originally standing on two legs was now standing on all four because of the pain caused by Mordred’s take over.

The worrying part is, Eco was not moving at all and yet she doesn’t look as if she was sleeping…

“Could it be that Eco was fighting Mordred?”

Julius shook his head in disagreement.

“It is impossible. Judging from the huge change of her body, I am afraid that… Eco don’t even have the strength to fight back.”

“Is it…”

“But not all hope is lost. In my opinion, Navi was fighting against Mordred.”

“Navi?”

Why would he mention Navi’s name at such a time?

Before that, how would Julius know about Navi?

“Navi is the incarnation of the Dragweiss. If Navi could keep on fighting back, even after Mordred could fully take over Eco’s body, he still couldn’t be fully awaken.”

“What do you meant?”

“Regardless of the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor or the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king, both of them must fuse with the Dragweiss to obtain the supreme knowledge only then they could receive their true power. I believe that Mordred right now is trying his best to make Navi his.”

“How come… you knew so many about him?”

“That was because it shared the same body with Mordred. Just like what he did to blend into the human society… I could also look into his memories.”

After hearing what Julius had said, Ash was still confused. However, there exists thing that could be easily understood without the need of good brains.

“In another words, this is a great time for a counter attack when Mordred was busy dealing with Navi, right?”

“That’s right. This is our only chance for victory. If you can ride on Eco and chase of Mordred’s spirit, then you can save Eco and the capital together.”

Ash nodded in agreement to what Julius had said.

“I am willing to give it a try. No matter it is Avalon or Nehalennia… I don’t think I even know what they mean. I only know that Eco is my pal.”

When Ash turned around and prepared to walk back to the deck, Julius spoke from behind:

“Although I don’t know why you are chosen… But I am glad that you are Eco’s knight.”

Part 15

“Urgh…”

Ash arrived at the deck and the winds were cold. Such temperatures were unheard of during the summer.

Ash was carrying a parachute- This is a decision made by Julius and him beforehand.

When Silvanus had come close to Eco, Ash will jump off from the deck with the help of the parachute.

After landing, it is all up to Ash.

Basically, Ash had gone through the landing practices in the academy.

Ash had never intended to become a soldier and had always thought that the academy was wrong to force them to go through the practices.

Anyway, the academy is not a military school- But who would expect that those practices must be applied right now.

“…Right there.”

Ash was looking down towards the ground from the bow and had located Eco’s back.

Although her fur had turned black but since the enormous amount of magic surrounding her was giving off strong rays of light, he won’t have to worry about missing his target.

He must make us of the time that Navi was fighting against Mordred to land on Eco’s head.

Julius voice emerged from the magic communication device:

“Ash, you may jump anytime.”

“Roger that.”

Ash looked downwards for one more time.

For such a huge beast, her only blind spot will be her head.

Ash tried to imagine himself riding on Eco’s head.

To his surprise, it was not at all scary.

“The ‘Seikoku’ on his left arm was getting warm and was flickering with dim light.

It felt as if his ‘Seikoku’ was urging him to move quickly.

Suddenly- Eco lifted her neck and shot a dragon breath towards Silvanus.

“…Urgh!”

A bright light pierced through the night sky. Ash surrendered against the shaking deck and fell down. Although Julius had barely avoided a direct hit by giving the ship an emergency turn, the strong breath had burned the side of the ship into ashes.

There were smokes and fire emerging from the ship itself and it had lost balance.

“Tsk…! If you kill me, Eco will die too! If that happens, you also couldn’t get your hands on Eco’s body that you desired that much...! How could someone be this stupid?”

When Ash was groaning, Julius voice could be heard once again through the communication machine:

“Ash, are you alright!”

“Yes, I am!”

“Silvanus is going to so an emergency landing! Jump quickly!”

“I also intend to do so!”

Ash clenched his teeth and jumped off from the deck.

The moment his feet left the deck, Mordred gave a second dragon breath.

Looking backwards, he saw Silvanus’s deck suffered a direct hit from the dragon breath.

Ash shuddered. He was lucky that he had jumped of earlier or else he would be turned into dust.

Although Julius had said there are going to do an emergency ‘landing’, judging from the speed Silvanus was moving downwards, it looked like it was crashing.

Finally, the unbalance ship disappeared at the other end of the palace walls- Then a fire pillar could be seen followed by a loud explosion.

“Prince Julius…!”

Ash was sad but there was nothing he can do.

Julius had risked his life to fly him into the night sky.

The only thing he can do right now is to complete his mission in return.

Ash body was moving downwards because of the gravity pull.

His face and ears felt like being crushed by the air pressure.

“Now is the time!”

Ash had got the timing right and spread open the parachute.

The amazing braking force had cause the parachute to slow down.

If another dragon breath was shot, Ash would certainly be hit but Ash prayed that he will not have such bad luck.

“Wait for me, Eco. I will protect you… I swear!”

Part 16

“Damn! Where am I?”

Eco found out that she was in a cage when she woke up. When she was looking at her body, she found out that she was wearing a dress with low standards.

This style is obviously not of Eco’s preferred.

Any dress in Fontaine Palace’s changing room looked better that this. It is even as heavy as lead and it felt more like a binding item rather than an evening dress.

On the other side of the cage was a wide white space. The walls, the floor and the ceiling was white. Not even a dust that could be found.

“How dare anyone to cage a dragon like me in this cage… What were they even thinking!?”

Eco was definitely confused. Yet she still vaguely remembered that she was awakened as a dragon. She even remembered that she had become huge and was looking at the whole Fontaine palace.

But her memories stopped there.

“Tsk…It seems that you are alright since you are this energetic even under such situation.”

It was a familiar voice.

“Navi? You…!”

Navi was standing outside of the cage. Even though Eco disliked Navi, but under such situation, Eco was grateful that Navi was here and felt that Navi was like an angle.

The Eco’s Angle was now looking like a ragdoll.

Navi who was always acting calm and give out a noble like feeling was now with a messed up hair and even her evening dress was in rags. All over her body were marks of being bounded.

“What happened? This doesn’t look like you at all…”

Eco was taking a closer look at Navi.

“Hmm…I am only accompanying Mordred in his game. It was just that, his tentacles fetish had given me some trouble!”

“Mordred? Who is that?”

“Please lend me your hand.”

Eco stretched her hand through the gaps in between the bars of the cage. After Navi held her hand, a mass amount of knowledge flowed into her brain.

In a blink of an eye, Eco knew everything that had happened. Only until now that she had realized that she was in her spiritual from.

“To make it simple… That person called Mordred is trying to take over my body, right?”

“That’s right. Anyway, during the time I was running around, he had done nothing bad. But if it is to destroy this capital, it will be an easy task for him.”

“Hmm… So I am such a great dragon.”

According to Navi’s information, Eco is Avalon’s Imperial Princess.

“Huhu. Now Ash is going to look at me differently.”

Seeing that Eco was feeling proud, Navi sighed.

“As long as he can survive. He seems to be doing something foolhardy again.”

Navi held Eco’s hand again and Eco closed her eyes.

That current situation was sent into Eco’s brain as projections.

“What…!”

Eco was speechless.

Under the night sky- Ash leaned out from Silvanus’s deck.

The next instant, Mordred gave a dragon breath from the ground.

Silvanus was hit and was gliding in the sky as if it was a paper plane.

On the other hand, Ash jumped into the air and was falling with his head pointing downwards.

“Hold on… Is he crazy!?”

At that moment, Eco clearly heard Ash’s mumble.

Wait for me, Eco. I will protect you… I swear!”

In a short moment, tears started to flow from her eyes. Even though she was a spirit, her tears still kept on flowing. Even the Dragweiss couldn’t give an explanation. A warm feeling was haunting her heart… What was that feeling?

“Why…Why? Why would he… try to do so many things for me? Even when I… Had caused many, many troubles for him?”

Navi stretched her hand into the cage and patted her head.

“Do you even have to ask? It is because you are his pal?”

Eco rubbed off her tears and lifted her head.

“Navi, please tell me what can I do for him.”

“Teehee. That’s more like it.”

Navi smiled and waved her hand lightly. With a flash, the cage had disappeared. At the same time, the black dress that limits Eco’s movement had been broken into particles and a pure white evening dress was raveled from beneath.

In a short time, Navi removed Mordred’s seal.

“I must say that… You are very good.”

Eco was looking at her dress. It designs compromised of the elements of elegant and pure. It is as if it was made to be worn by the Avalon’s Imperial Princess.

“No matter how great am I, I can help you with the upcoming step. Understood?”

Eco nodded in reply.

“Then, what should I do?”

After Navi smiled, she cheekily said:

“Of course you are to present him your originally made Ark and the Avalon’s Imperial Princess.”

The next instant, Eco became confused.

“What? Are you serious?”

As if it was natural to do so, Navi nodded without any hesitation.

“All the mimics that you had created for emergency in the past… is useless against Mordred.”

“But, how am I to do this impossible task!?”

An original Ark could not be completed easily.

It was because of Eco had seen her ancestor’s blueprint; she understands how hard it can be. An Ark is not only a strong magic weapon, at the same time, it is also a perfect art masterpiece.

Not to mention that Eco was still a young dragon that was not even a year old without any experience. Navi’s suggestion was like asking a baby to build a palace.

“Anyway, I will not be called difficult it the blueprint could be easily created.”

Eco gave up before she even started but Navi ignored it.

“Rest assure, you must believe in your own ability. You are an Imperial Princess who is the blood descendant of Avalon.”

“But… what we must think about is not only the armour itself, there is also the Ark-weapon…”

“Listen carefully, the shape itself doesn’t matters. It was the mental power of the creator that decide the strength of the Ark. Even if you don’t know the shape, as long as you focus, the shape of the Ark will be formed.”

“Really…?”

“Yeah. Also, you don’t have to worry about the Ark-weapon. Avalon has a treasured sword that had been passed down through the generations. Just use it.”

After a moment of silent, Eco mumbled:

“…I had always disliked you since the first time I met you. Regardless of your relax attitude or your looks that was similar to mine or your overly large breast…I hate them and hate them very much! However… It is funny that I felt that you are trustable.”

Eco lifted her head and smile.

Navi also returned a smile.

At the same moment, Eco felt that a light had pierced through that darkness that had been blocking her eyes.

She did want to look for trouble anymore.

And she definitely doesn’t want to give up before taking up the challenge.

While the evening dress was swaying, Eco spoke with confidence:

“Just wait and see. I will definitely complete my original Ark!”

Part 17

“Damn… What kind of joke is this!”

Although Ash had finally landed on Eco, still the land spot was her back and not her head. It was exactly beside the joints between the body and the wings.

That pair of wings was like the wings of a new born bird. It was still wet and was unable to fly right away.

Maybe this is my only life saver… Ash secretly thought.

Black furs were grown from her uneven skin. It felt like a Necromancia. He must get rid of Mordred’s spirit and return Eco to her original appearance as soon as possible.

To achieve this, he must try to ride her gigantic body. However… Ash was looking at Eco’s head from afar.

Connected to her back that was as huge as prairie was a long neck that looked as if it was a stairway to heaven. And her head with spiral horns was at the other end of the neck.

His current aim was to ride on her head and try to control her using his will as a dragner. However… The distance between them was huge. It was like trying to climb the dangerous Xenoglavia Mountains without any climbing tools.

“Stop… This is not the time to give up.”

Ash threw aside the parachute and move forward while pushing aside those furs that were taller than his height.

“Now I really looked like a louse…”

In reality, Mordred treat Ash as nothing but a louse. That is why he was not bothered by Ash at all.

“Just wait and see. Your overconfidence will be the cause of your death, Mordred…”

Although Ash kept on talking to himself to boost his confidence, but every time he looked towards her head, he felt like falling apart.

Suddenly, there was a change in the night sky.

Those Maestros who were originally circling in the sky started to make their movements.

Those Maestros could be seen gliding towards Mordred and had him surrounded.

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrr…”

Mordred lifted his neck and gave a threatening growl. However, before he even managed to attack, the Maestros activated their magic at the same time.

With a flash, chains that were made from magic appeared. Numerous chains had tied down the huge dragon’s neck, front legs, hind legs, tail…

“Guuuoooooooooooooooooooo…!”

Mordred was struggling with all his might but the chains wouldn’t even budge.

“They…!”

It can’t be wrong. These Maestros were trying to seal Mordred’s movement. Who know if they were thinking that the dragon worthy to take to top is not Mordred but Eco.

At that moment, a Maestro landed right in front of Ash. Its pair of horns that looked like a dear’s looked familiar to Ash. Then a clear voice could be heard coming from behind the dragon.

“Ash… Hurry up!”

“Lukka!? Why are you here?”

That is. The Maestro that suddenly appeared from above was Gawain and Lukka was riding on its back. Ash felt nostalgic.

Lukka while feeling worried gave Ash a short explanation.

“Err… The Maestros in the seven dragon house was escaping together. I risked my life to cling on Gawain… In the end, I found out that I was already here.”

“Did Rebecca and Max come together?”

Lukka shook her head. It was probably Ash mistake that he felt that Lukka’s ears were slightly drooping.

“Only I noticed that something was going on with the Maestros…”

“Is that so…”

As if to interrupt Ash’s and Lukka’s conversation, Gawain roared with its jaws opened.

It was as if trying to tell Ash to ride on it quickly. Ash naturally didn’t reject this offer.

“Thank you!”

Just was Ash sat on Gawain’s back, Gawain flapped its wings.

After piercing through the night sky, Gawin’s altitude was increasing following the direction of Mordred’s neck. Lukka’s riding skills was as good as ever and could only be described by perfect.

Ash was clinging tightly to Lukka’s thin waist to avoid from dropping off.

However, Mordred will not stay silent. Although, he was being tied down, it was still struggling and roaring loudly.

Suddenly, magic cannons continued to appear in the sky and was firing at Gawain.

Ash was trembling when he saw those cannons.

It was because those cannons looked like the weapon that Ash used during his fight with Milgauss in Willingham Mausoleum. The only difference is, each cannon was around Gawin’s size.

“Magic shield Aegis…!”

“Need not worry… It will be alright as long as we are not hit.”

Lukka was not at all shaken.

As if she had fused with Gawain, she was controlling Gawain by moving left and right and dangerously avoided the crossing light rays.

It even used its dragon breath and those magic canons were destroyed one by one.

When Gawain had successfully passed Mordred’s head, all the magic cannons had disappeared.

“Ash, now’s the time…!”

Just when Lukka shouted, Gawain did a summersault.

At the point where the sky was upside down, Ash jumped down.

He drew a big locus in the night sky and successfully land in between the two horns. Looking from a close distance, the horns looked more like an altar than a horn.

When his feet landed on that spot, he felt satisfied. It was probably his dragner’s intuition that told him this is the best riding spot.

“Listen carefully Eco!”

Ash was shouting with all his might at his ‘Seikoku’ that was connected to Eco:

“Right now, I am going to ride you! I swear I will be successful in riding you! Whether you are a Imperial Princess or not it has nothing to do with me! So what if you are a imperial princess? You are always bad tempered, try to solve anything with force, a sleepy head, only have crepes in your eyes and felt like wanting to bite greedily whenever you saw meat. Are these what an Imperial Princess should do! Even if you really are an Imperial Princess, I will never approve it!... I only knew that- I am your knight, and you are my pal. Things are just as simple as this!”

The next instant, there was a change in his left arm that was dense with ‘Seikoku’.

The ‘Seikoku’ can be seen emitting rays of light that were able to light up the entire night sky. Then patters started to crawl just like some living things. No, the patterns were growing.

“W-What had happened…?”

Just when Ash was feeling confused, his ‘Seikoku’ started to spread outwards towards Ash entire body with his left arm as the starting point.

Ash found out that his connection with Eco had become stronger.

Although he couldn’t communicate with Eco verbally, yet, he was sure that he was connected to Eco…!

But, what Ash was thinking only lasted for a short moment.

“Guuuuuuuoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…!”

Mordred was back on the move. He had broken one of the chains and was standing on two legs.

“Auuu…!”

Lukka groaned. The wind created when Mordred stood up had affected Gawain. Although it was not blown away by the wind, it was obvious that it could not remain its balance. However, Lukka shouted:

“Don’t worry about me… I am alright! Ash, just focus on saving Eco…!”

Then, Lukka and Gawain finally fall and disappear from Ash’s line of sight.

“Lukka…!”

Ash stretched his arm but he could only grab the air.

The Maestros that scattered in the sky tried to make another chain to tie down Mordred’s upper body.

But before Mordred could be sealed, it forcefully shook its neck.

“Uwaaaaaaaaa!”

Ash lost his balance and was thrown up into Fontaine Palace like a cannonball.

-This is a lie… It must be…?

He was approaching the tower in the middle of Fontaine Palace.

If he was to hit into such stone wall…he will definitely die.

-Is this the end…? Is Eco and I… Going to end right here?

Right at this moment.

Almete, Gorjal, Peto…

The voice of the spell was coming from his ‘Seikoku’ that had spread all over his body.

Espaldar, Brafoneras, Faldaje…

It was definitely Eco’s voice.

Escarcelas,Bufetas, Hombreras, Brazales…

Compare to the previous times, every single word that Eco said was followed by a deep tone.

Codales, Antebrazos, Manoplas…

Without any reason, Ash felt courage from within.

Quijotes, Guardas, Grebas… Escarpes…

Lastly, Eco was left with the last word.

-Espolón!

Ash who was going to knock into Fontaine Palace was surrounded by holy lights.

It felt as if he was surrounded by angle’s wings.

Even though Ash had an illusion of he was ascending to heaven, Eco’s voice had disrupted this peaceful feeling.

“You absolutely must accept my feelings!”

References and Translation Notes

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