"Ugh."
Karina grabbed her chest with one hand.
She felt a terrible sensation as if someone was twisting her insides and churning her head. She felt nauseous and had difficulty breathing. The pain of her heartbreaking Into pieces surged through her. The pain of death spread throughout her body. Even the dragon's power that had been holding her soul together was being absorbed into the darkness. The impact was hitting Karina directly. However...
'I have to hold on.'
She couldn't fall until she found Jeremiah. She wouldn't leave him alone. She knew how lonely and desolate it was to be alone at the last moment. She knew how sad and painful it was. She would never leave Jeremiah alone in that situation. She wouldn't let him feel that misery. Karina gritted her teeth and struggled to keep herself from losing consciousness as she swam through the vortex. Her steps were unsteady, but she never stopped.
'I have to go to him.'
Karina continued to move forward with only that one thought. At one point, as she wandered aimlessly through the darkness, a small light with warm heat suddenly flickered in the distance. Karina instinctively went toward it. Then as if responding to her will, she felt a strong pulling force. Karina did not resist but gave herself over to the flow.
***
Meanwhile.
"Thereupon!"
Mikhail followed the warlock who was running away through the mirror. He could not miss him. While he was chasing the warlock, the warlock was frowning at the unexpected situation.
'Why isn't the erosion complete yet?'
Something was wrong with the plan. The jaw of the evil black magician was firmly clenched. It was not a situation where he could deal with the disciple of the magic tower master. By now, the dragon's resurrection should have already ended and the entire empire should have been devastated.
'The erosion rate is much slower than expected.'
The black magician had stopped fighting Mikhail and had crossed over to the imperial palace in the capital through the mirror to find out the cause of the situation. He had also been pushed back by Mikhail due to his lack of strength. He looked around with his eyes wide open. Something was twisting his plans at a time when the dragon's resurrection was imminent.
'For what reason?'
And the warlock found the cause in an instant.
'Damn it. Even the Saintess was alive?'
He found a Saintess sweating and emitting divine power in one corner of the palace where black magic was gathered. After Marina threw herself into the abyss, Lucia said that she could not give up either, and was doing her best to stop the expansion of magic. Anger and rage flashed in the warlock's eyes.
"How dare you! Don't let a servant of God interfere with my plans!!"
A huge attack was launched on Lucia along with the old man.
“Ah...!”
Lucia didn't let go of her strength even as she watched the attack coming. If she let go here, the contaminated magic would spread like a tidal wave throughout the empire. In a split second.
Lucia bit her lower lip, thinking that she had to endure the attack. At that moment, David blocked Lucia's path.
Wheezing!
Kwang!!
David wrapped his sword in magic and swung it, canceling out the magic attack fired by the warlock.
"I will block any incoming attacks, so don't stop and keep going."
David spoke without looking back at the Saintess. His eyes were fixed straight on the warlock.
"You impudent bastard. I'll make you regret ever standing up to me."
The warlock raised his hand to strike again with a ridiculous expression. At that moment.
Whoosh!
Mikhail popped out from the mirror the warlock had come through.
"...!?"
The warlock's eyes opened wide in surprise.
"How did you get out of there?"
It was a passageway created entirely with his magic. He had set traps all over the passageway using complex and difficult techniques, so originally, no one other than him would have been able to pass through this passageway safely.
"There's no way I can be affected by that crude magic trick you made."
Mikhail snorted as if it was nothing. And then.
Shatter!
He snapped his fingers and shattered the mirror so that he couldn't run away again.
"I told you, I'll end you with my own hands."
Then the warlock's face twisted into a demonic grimace. He spoke in a chewing tone.
"I will not tolerate anyone who interferes with my plans."
The warlock gathered all the evil magic that was densely permeating the air. The warlock's appearance turned black after absorbing the huge magic, and his eyes overflowed with blood-red malice.
"I will kill them all!"
From him, in anger, a sharp murderous intent and an enormous amount of magic energy exploded.
***
At that time, Jeremiah, who was swallowed up in darkness with a glowing red light, was also wandering in the abyss. The surroundings were dark and quiet. No. It felt as if even his mind would be eaten away by the pitch-black darkness. The polluted magic energy was eating away at his entire body. Along with a black, sticky, unpleasant sensation, deep-seated anger, disgust, contempt, despair, and all kinds of negative emotions poured in at once. It felt like he was going crazy from the unbearable waves of emotions. His head hurt as if it would burst, and his heart felt as if it was being pierced by a sharp sword. Even in that pain, Jeremiah held on, thinking only of Karina.
'It can't end like this.'
He couldn't easily give up because he was worried about Karina, who would be left behind if he died like this.
'Please...'
Jeremiah wasn't afraid of dying and disappearing. Even if he were to meet a desperate end, as long as Karina could be happy, he didn't care at all. But...
'She will be left alone again.'
When he thought of her once again falling into loneliness and sadness and feeling heartbroken, he felt a despair that made him feel like vomiting blood.
'That just won't do.'
His hands were shaking. He couldn't leave her alone. She had already been through enough pain and suffering. He couldn't let her go through something like this again. If there was any pain and suffering left for her to endure, he wanted to take it all for himself.
'Please.'
He hopes she won't be sick anymore. He hopes she won't be sad. But...
"Ugh...!!"
The contaminated magic consumed him. His body gradually turned pitch black. Jeremiah's dragon power and life force were all taken away in an instant. Jeremiah was in agony, unable to even scream due to the pain of all the blood vessels in his body being tightened at once.
"Ugh, ugh."
He was barely able to catch my breath and his body was trembling.
'I have to get out.'
His vision narrowed and his mind became increasingly clouded. His whole body felt numb and even his breathing felt shaky.
'So this is how I die in the end.'
He wanted to make Karina happy.
'I love you too.'
The image of Karina telling him her love with a tearful face came to mind. Such a lovely sight. It was the happiest, most unforgettable moment of her life.
'Karina...!'
Even in his fading mind, only her image remained clear. Then, at some point, he felt a faint warmth from somewhere. He felt a power pulling him in as if something was resonating.
'What?'
He didn't know what it was, but it felt strange yet familiar. Soon, a black space surrounded him. It was similar to when he was swallowed by magic, but something was different.
'Is it in consciousness...?'
However, it felt a bit strange to call it consciousness. It felt uncomfortable. He was blankly staring at the image when a warm light appeared in front of him. The light gathered into a haze and drew a scene in front of him.
'Uh?'
He and Karina were seen smiling affectionately and lovingly at each other. They looked so happy.
'Is this a dream?'
Jeremiah stared at the sight, lost in thought. In the arms of the two people was a small baby wrapped in a soft swaddle. They were soothing and comforting the crying baby, holding it warmly. At first glance, they had warm and happy smiles.
'Ah.'
It was a beautiful sight that brought tears to his eyes. Jeremiah reached out his hand toward the sight. Then someone grabbed his hand.
"...?!"
He felt a warm sensation before his surprised eyes.
"I finally found you."
"Karina?"
She appeared with a blinding smile.
***
"Ah..."
Jeremiah's eyes trembled slightly when he saw Karina. She shouldn't be here. If she were here, she would die with him. Whether he knew his feelings or not.
"Jeremiah."
Karina called him with an affectionate voice. His heart trembled when he heard her voice. Jeremiah was so happy that Karina had come to him. But at the same time, he felt a great sense of frustration. He felt an unbearable sense of guilt at the fact that Karina had died because of him.
His expression was distorted with complex and subtle emotions. He felt a surge of joy and sadness that were difficult to explain at the same time. Should he welcome her, thank her for coming, or get angry and ask why she had come to such a dangerous place?
He had no idea.
"Karina."
His shoulders shook with wet sobs.
"Why are you here?"
His voice was shaking.
"When I come here...what do I do?"
His heart ached and tears welled up in his eyes. His bitter insides ached. Jeremiah hugged Karina tightly, even though he didn't have to say anything. Even though he didn't have to explain anything. He hoped that his feelings would be fully conveyed to her.
"Karina."
Jeremiah held her and wept.
"Jeremiah."
Karina, who was embracing him, could sense many things from the trembling he was conveying. What was he feeling? Why was he crying?
Even in the reprimand of why he came, there was a clear sense of gratitude and regret toward her. It was the most gentle and affectionate reprimand in the world. The sight of him shedding tears as he looked at her was pitiful and sorrowful.
'I didn't know crying could be this cute.'
Karina smiled silently. She was okay. She wanted to let him know that she was okay. She wanted to tell him that everything was okay with him.
"Jeremiah, I'm okay. This time, I came here of my own choice. I wanted to spend my last moments with you. I didn't want to leave you alone."
"..."
Jeremiah, who had been listening to her whispered words, raised his head and met her eyes. His reddened eyes were wet with tears. His moist eyes seemed to be asking if that was true.
"If this moment were the last moment of my life, then I wanted to be with you even more. Because I couldn't live without you. That's why I came."
"Karina..."
Karina gently wiped the tears flowing down his cheeks. Jeremiah held onto her hand on his cheek as if he couldn't let it go.
"Jeremiah. Thank you for loving me."
Tears were already welling up in Karina's eyes.
"I am so happy right now to be with you."
Karina's face, smiling brightly with tears in her eyes, seemed to shine like a bright sun. Karina's appearance, even in the face of death, drove away the fear and anxiety deep in Jeremiah's heart. He was also happy when he was with her. Karina was his savior. She was the only love that allowed him to live and breathe.
"Karina. Thank you for coming to me. Thank you for being with me. Even in death, I will never let you go. I will always be by your side. I swear it. You are the only one I love, just as you have always been and will always be."
The sincerity of the two people completely reached each other. His heart was touched and a warm warmth spread out. A warm and comfortable happiness overflowed.
"I love you, Karina."
Karina smiled happily at Jeremiah's earnest confession.
"I love you too."
The two people who confirmed their feelings looked at each other with longing eyes. They kissed lovingly and hugged each other deeply as if they had become one body. At that moment, the dragon power that remained in Karina's heart trembled as if responding to her happiness. And something that had been crouching at their feet rose up between them.
"...?"
It was a boulder that had all of the dragon's power drained out of it and was thought to be an empty shell. The two looked at the boulder with bewildered faces. Soon, the boulder split with a crunching sound. Something was wriggling inside.
"Kyuuuu?"
Karina looked down into her arms at the unfamiliar and strange crying sound.
"Uh?"
Between the split shells, two golden eyes blinked and looked at Karina.
"Kyuu, kyuuu!"
The small creature broke out of its shell, stretched out, and then dove into Karina's arms like a spoiled brat.
'Could this be... a baby dragon?"l'
The two were astonished at the unbelievable sight. It was the birth of a new hatchling. The hatchling, which had just hatched from the egg, resonated with Karina's emotions and mind and followed her will. It seemed to be blindly obedient and friendly as if it recognized her as its mother.
'Oh, no way. Was it this guy who protected me back then?'
Karina recalled the time when she was wandering in the abyss and was surrounded by warmth.
'And also for helping me find Jeremiah?'
Then as if to say that she was right, Karina looked at it and cried. When she realized that, her heart melted.
"Thank you."
Karina, who had expressed her gratitude, gently hugged the hatchling. Then she looked at Jeremiah. Jeremiah also seemed to feel close to the hatchling. He stroked the hatchling with his hand. Then the hatchling gladly accepted his touch without any resistance. Karina and Jeremiah both felt the new dragon power pulsating in their hearts. Their eyes met. Jeremiah nodded with an affectionate gaze as if he knew what she was going to do.
Karina asked the hatchling.
"Help us."
The hatchling, who had been rubbing his head against her chest at her request, sparkled with his eyes. Then, the solid darkness cracked open. A bright light leaked in through the gap, gradually expanding its area and spreading out. The brilliant light filled the surroundings, illuminating the dark abyss. Karina and Jeremiah were also swallowed up in that brilliant light.
***
When they opened their eyes, they were back where the palace had been. The palace they had returned to had completely collapsed.
"Karina!!"
With Lucia's welcoming voice.
Kwakwang!
The warlock and Mikhail were seen fighting fiercely in the sky.
"We need to get out of here quickly. We can't hold out much longer."
David looked up at Mikhail, who was fighting the warlock and said. The warlock had become stronger and more ferocious, using the power of the sacrifice offered for the dragon's resurrection. Mikhail was barely holding it off, but the longer the standoff went on, the more obvious it was that the odds were tilted in the opposite direction. However.
"There is still hope."
As Karina spoke, the hatchling in her arms opened its mouth wide and cried.
Kwaang!
It seemed as if it was going to breathe, but unlike the adult, the flames gathered in small groups and disappeared in a flash.
"You're still too young."
Jeremiah said as if he was embarrassed. But soon the hatchling spread its wings and flew up. Its body grew bigger and bigger until it became as huge as a mountain.
"Uh?"
"...?!"
David and Lucia were shocked at the sight. While they were hesitating, the hatchling, which had grown in size, mercilessly bit the fake dragon's neck.
"Kuaaaa..."
No matter how difficult it was, a dragon was a dragon. The fake couldn't beat the real. Even the resurrection hadn't yet been fully achieved.
"We have to get rid of it before the erosion is all over!"
As if reading Karina's mind, the hatchling began to roughly tear apart the fake dragon's body. The fake dragon's body was torn apart like a piece of paper.
"No!!"
The black magician who saw that sight let out a loud scream. But...
"I'll send you to hell along with that fake you made."
Jeremiah lifted his sword and breathed life into it. With the new dragon power, he could wield greater power than before. Pure and noble power was infused into his sword.
"Stop it! I told you not to bother me!!"
The warlock opened his eyes wide and rushed forward. However, it was not enough to stop Jeremiah. Mikhail did not sit by and watch the warlock do what he did.
"You're my opponent!"
Mikhail scraped together his remaining magical power and shot it at the warlock. Meanwhile, Jeremiah concentrated his mind and swung his sword with all his might. And then.
Crunch!
With a sharp sound like cutting through the wind, a huge sword energy split the air like light.
WHACK!!!!
With a huge explosion, the surrounding area was cut apart.
KEEEEEEEE!!
The fake dragon's entire body was cut apart. The pitch-black magic stone at its center also shattered into pieces. The fake dragon's body shattered like shards of glass. The wind that had been gusting like a storm cleared. Lucia was the first to notice the change.
"Ah...! The magic is slowly dissipating!"
It was just as she said. The magic that had been so thick it was hard to breathe was disappearing into the air like dust.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment