CHAPTER 86 – THE FOURTH DRAGON LORD
MARIKO SEPTEM
"No, no… Kate…” My desperate cry echoed through the desolate scene as I cradled the lifeless body of the dragonoid, once vibrant and full of life, now cold and motionless in my lap. My fingers trembled, futilely attempting to shake her awake, but the reality of her death weighed heavily upon me, leaving only the silence of a lost companion.
“This is your punishment, Mariko,” Dennis declared, his gaze unwavering as he loomed over me. His words hung in the air, a cold reminder of the consequences that awaited those who dared defy him. The more I resisted, the more pain he promised to inflict.
Tears streamed down my face, landing softly on Kate's pallid visage. The burden of another person's death rested on my shoulders once again, a haunting pattern repeating itself. The memory of my parents, slain due to my rebellion against becoming a shrine maiden for the Republic of Dragons, resurfaced, casting a shadow over the present.
Having defied the Republic once more, I found myself condemned to yet another death, a consequence etched into my very existence. Dennis approached, his deliberate steps echoing my impending doom. He knelt before me, his crimson dragonoid eyes piercing into my soul, emanating an aura of fear that paralyzed me.
“You knew very well that opposing me would have dire consequences. You really need some tough love, Mariko,” Dennis taunted, his voice a venomous whisper.
The choice to rebel had come with its own price, and now, in the face of adversity, I could only clench my fists in defiance and mutter, “Fuck you, Dennis.”
My disdain for the sage intensified with every torment he inflicted upon us. His oppressive presence loomed over, rendering defiance a perilous choice, given the dread of his potent instant death magic. The desire to overthrow him, however, lingered like an unattainable dream.
Dennis, the source of our anguish, casually raised his hand, patting my horns with an air of condescension. "Now, I know you hate me. Hating me is okay, I get it. But sometimes, you really need to be reminded of who is the boss here," he remarked, his tone mocking and infuriating.
Frustration gnawed at me, wishing for a power that could erase him from existence.
"Now, you must listen to me," Dennis commanded, his orders cutting through the air. "Gather all the shrine maidens and defend the bell tower of our cathedral. Rats have infested this very island, and they know well of our weakness. Have all onis defend the bell tower, even at the cost of their lives."
"You really are a scumbag, don’t you?" I muttered under my breath, unable to suppress the disdain in my voice. The oppressive weight of obedience clashed with the burning desire to rebel, creating a volatile mixture of frustration and resentment.
"Heh." Dennis's smirk sent shivers down my spine as he stood and disappeared into the darkness of the forest, leaving behind an unsettling aura that lingered in the air. His malevolent grin left an indelible mark of terror etched deep within my mind.
Surrounded by the silent onlookers, fellow shrine maiden onis observed my defeat with a mixture of sympathy and fear. Gently laying Kate's head on the ground, I carefully adjusted her position, wiping away the traces of tears from my eyes.
“M-Mariko?” a timid voice broke the heavy silence, one of the younger shrine maiden onis calling my name.
“Let’s go. We have to defend the bell tower,” I declared, my voice firm despite the internal turmoil. The weight of the impending battle against the Alterran Imperial Army hung over us, a mission akin to walking into the jaws of death. Yet, defiance was a luxury I couldn't afford. The threat of Dennis's wrath, capable of snuffing out the lives of my fellow onis with just a glance, loomed over any rebellious thought. The choice was stark - comply and face probable death in defense of the bell tower, or defy and risk the lives of those I held dear.
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With my fellow shrine maiden onis, I approached the cathedral grounds where the imposing bell tower stood, illuminated by a vibrant crimson pillar of light. High above, the battlefield unfolded as fifty dragons engaged in a fierce dogfight with a colossal white dragon boasting piercing blue eyes.
The scene was a spectacle of elemental chaos. A Mystic Flame Dragon unleashed torrents of searing flames, a Spike Dragon launched thousands of missile thorns from its wings, and a Magnet Dragon harnessed electricity from its horseshoe magnet-like horns, directing it towards the enigmatic white dragon. Yet, despite the relentless assault, the blue-eyed dragon hovered unfazed in the night sky, impervious to the onslaught of attacks from the Republic's formidable dragon force.
As the battle raged on, my attention shifted. A realization struck me - there was a rider on the back of the blue-eyed white dragon. An ethereal elf with flowing golden hair wielded a magic gun, unleashing precise magic missiles that systematically dismantled the opposing dragons.
In a sudden turn of events, the blue-eyed dragon ascended, its majestic wings expanding like a peacock displaying its plumage. The night sky erupted in a solar flare, blue flames radiating in a five-hundred-meter radius. The intense blaze engulfed the enemy dragons, rendering them powerless and defeated in the face of the blue-eyed dragon's overwhelming power.
The Dragons of the Republic plummeted from the skies one by one, each impact sending shockwaves through the ground, shattering tree canopies and carving craters into the earth. The air resonated with the ominous symphony of destruction as the colossal beasts met their downfall.
“A-Are we going to fight that!?” one of my fellow shrine maiden onis stammered, her voice trembling with fear.
“This is nuts. This is suicide,” another muttered, echoing the collective anxiety that gripped our group.
I tightened my fists, grappling with the harsh reality. There was no conceivable way for us to confront a Dragon Knight of such overwhelming strength. We, powerful as shrine maidens, were but feeble contenders against the might of a Dragon Knight who effortlessly brought down the dragons we deemed formidable.
Suddenly, the azure eyes of the white dragon locked onto us at the foot of the bell tower. With breathtaking speed, it descended right in front of me, unleashing shockwaves that sent debris and trees flying in all directions.
“Eeeeek!” echoed the oni shrine maidens' cries as we instinctively covered our heads against the powerful gust of wind.
“Graaaaaaaaah!” The deafening roar of the gigantic blue-eyed white dragon reverberated, a display of power that left us paralyzed in awe and fear. The imposing creature stood before us, a symbol of insurmountable might, as if challenging our very existence.
Completely succumbing to fear, I hastily raised my hand in a gesture of surrender. "We concede! Please don’t hurt my fellow shrine maidens!" I pleaded, the desperation evident in my voice.
The white dragon's gaze lingered upon us, and while I couldn't decipher the emotions in its blue eyes, the once intense flames on its back dwindled to mere embers. Gradually, the colossal creature lowered its head, revealing the figure atop it – the golden-haired elf adorned in a white-and-green corset dress.
The elf gracefully descended from the dragon's head, moving with an air of confidence and a sly smile on her face. The oni shrine maidens cowered behind me, their fear palpable. Bracing myself, I gulped as the realization hit me – this elf was no stranger. Images of her were etched in ancient oni scriptures.
“Are…Are you the Goddess Exceria?” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Hiraya," the elf replied with a smile, confirming her identity. "And you… You are Mariko Septem, isn’t that right?"
Nervously, I nodded, unsure of how to navigate the situation unfolding before me. The elf named Hiraya, her expression marred with concern, acknowledged my silent acknowledgment.
“Since Kate is not with you, I assume that she has suffered a grim fate,” Hiraya remarked, her frown deepening. “But I know of a way to save her.”
"You do!?" I blurted out, hope and curiosity mingling in my voice. "W-Wait, are you the people Kate told me about? The Alterran Imperial Forces?"
"That’s right," Hiraya affirmed, extending her hand adorned with elbow gloves. "If you accept my hand, you will be granted ultimate power to save everyone you love. Including Kate."
Drawn by her mesmerizing golden eyes radiating maternal warmth, I took a hesitant step forward. The divine presence she exuded made trusting her instinctively feel right. As our fingertips connected, a searing pain erupted in my chest. I gingerly opened my robe to discover a V-mark just below my collarbone.
“With the authority given to me as the reincarnation of Exceria, I hereby baptize you the name Liberator, the Fourth Dragon Lord,” Hiraya declared, her kind smile contrasting with the sharp pain coursing through me. The weight of a newfound power settled upon my shoulders, and with it, the responsibility of being a force to reckon with in the tumultuous world that awaited.