3rd Pov
On top of the City of the Forgotten Dragon being Milim's domain, the world dragon Ivarage or now known as Varja sat there calmly.
Her dreadful aura has already extinguished every source of life in the mountain...vegetation seemed to be burning, souls were destroyed into nothingness and the sky itself was falling apart there.
Varja : A strong aura is approaching, is it Dawn Arceid ? No, it's someone else.
Looking up, she could see a pinkish deadly aura that wreaked destruction approaching...it was so fast that it gazed through the sky for an instant before landing right in front of Varja.
The land shook heavily as a part of the mountain was blown away upon Demon Lord Milim Nava's arrival, she had realized the danger that Varja posed and came here as fast as she noticed.
The rage plastered on her face was because Milim saw all her followers being erased...literally, this being that just appeared took the life of those who cared for her for hundreds of years...
Milim : You...
Varja : You are powerful, but not enough.
Her gaze was uninterested, Varja was a mindless beast up until now...all she had was instinct and she knew from sight that Milim wouldn't be enough to make it worth it.
Her expectations were high too...and Varja had only two real targets, one being Dawn and the other being Mirai...all the others are just side dishes.
Milim : How dare you...
Varja : Oh ?
Milim's magicule were growing up quickly, it was getting to an unmeasurable level...her face was totally overshadowed leaving nothing but a beast of destruction second only to Ivarge herself.
But something had to trigger an even greater anger...a pure wrath that shall awaken the individual known as Milim Nava...
And that was...
Frey : Milim !
Frey and Carrion, both former demon lord had followed Milim when she suddenly departed from Tempest...
The reason they were still alive was because of Milim herself, her destructive aura managed to push off Varja world ending power.
Both of them clashed and nullified each other...the big problem was that Milim was in an enraged state while Varja was just standing there...
Things were looking deem, and upon seeing Frey and Carrion who were nothing but pasture...Varja annihilated them.
Milim : Huh ?
In the split of an instant...where even Milim Nava, the destroyer couldn't react...a large explosion occurred in the sky.
She slowly turned around as the horrific scene of Frey's body being blown away...her face was showing concern for Milim as the harpy herself didn't realize her own state.
Carrion was in a similar position, their bodies being disintegrated...starting from their core and all the way to their edge...
Varja, who had moved through space, was just staring at the decomposing bodies with empty eyes...her two arms were barely touching Carrion and Frey...
Varja : How weak...
Milim was too stunned to move, her pupils were shaking...voice and memories flashed in her mind in a rapid series.
A single feather of Fey's wings fell down, as if it was the last keepsake the harpy queen wanted to give to Milim.
The dragonoid instinctively reached out her hand to grab whatever was left of her friend but even that was too much...the feather slowly rotted purple before being erased...
Right in front of Milim, when it was in her reach...she lost everything again, the silent rage that she had kept in her for 2 thousand years.
The power of her skill : Satanel...the sins of wrath were once again unleashed, Milim screamed...
She screamed so loudly as tears flowed uncontrollably on her cheeks...her consciousness and rationality broke into pieces as her appearance adapted to her state.
A large horn grew on her forehead...she first entered her battle form before reaching a whole new appearance.
Her skin grew an armor reeking destruction, her hair flew off along the wind, her eyes blanked before earning a more crazy mindless look.
Varja : This is...
Stampede mode...the ultimate form of Milim that incarnate destruction and wrath itself, in this form Milim has no notion of rationality.
She radiated pure destruction that won't stop until everything is gone...in a way she wasn't much different from Ivarage now.
Milim : HAA-HAHAHA !
A lone and insane laugh...that was all Milim gave before releasing her powerful aura, for the second time since the war started.
The world was shaken totally, from the further west of the continent to the east...three of the strongest beings were going out with their unbalanced power.
Affection for the flow of reality itself...and this was also the first time Varja felt something.
Varja : Is this excitement ? I can't understand yet but are those emotions ?
Being new to emotion and all that made her a proper living being...Varja starred in fascination at Milim, she might truly enjoy a first fight ever since she had gained a mind of her own.
East border of the Jura Forest, the imperial army could be seen approaching the border.
But at the same time, they had to halt down their march as a large magical formation appeared in the sky.
It fell down onto the ground before presenting Tempest's force...over 500 thousand in total appeared under this teleportation spell.
Kijin, ogres, goblins, lizardmen or orcs...there were all kinds of different species standing in a military line ready to receive the empire.
But unexpectedly, Tempest wasn't the only one present here...the Tengu battle race were flying over the sky as if waiting for them.
Many other races part of the Jura forest were all here to support the monster nation.
Rimuru flew up there, he was the only one standing in the middle of the formation...standing while analyzing the situation.
Rimuru : (We are severely outnumbered...)
Raphael : (Notice : The Eastern empire's force is estimated to be at a total of 2 millions's soldier, present on the current battlefield are eight hundred of a thousands.)
Rimuru : (What is the difference in quality?)
Raphael : (Analysis done, more than half of the present soldiers are enlightened beings, compared with Tempest current's form...winning chances are at 20 to 80 % for the empire.)
The war happened so suddenly...while Tempest is a lot stronger than they originally were, they still haven't received the proper souls and evolution to increase their winning chance.
The situation was looking dire...
The Eastern empire had the number advantage, the quality advantage...they were geared with tanks and airships and on top of that...
The menacing red eastern like dragon floating around...it was probably the most important detail as its sheer power was enough to shake the confidence that Tempest previously had.
Rimuru : (Can we even win this?)
He looked behind carefully studying his people's expression...none of them were confident beside the primordials and the demon under them.
Still none dared to betray their master's expectation and stood proud...their head lifted waiting for the fight to happen.
Rimuru : Let's do this everyone...I have a single order, don't die...fight and live, we'll meet again at the after war banquet !
All : Hai !
Thunderous clouds cladded the dark sky as the barren land was reduced to nothing but a death land without life.
The giant race who has been ruling those lands for millennia were all gone beside those part of the holy titan Ashura.
Dawn and Dagruel were still fighting...the intensity of their blows were blowing holes into the sky and shattering the lands.
Destroying whatever ecosystem is left in those rotten lands...
Dawn : (It's about time...)
Shin Exalia in hand, he made sure to not slice up Dagruel, the weapon blade known as Shin Exalia was capable of that much after all.
The reason he kept fighting when it lost most of its purpose after the war started is...that the war need to go as he expected it.
Dawn : (Huh ? That aura...is that Milim Nava ? Why is she suddenly entering berserk mode?)
But things couldn't just be right, feeling the intense rage from the Destroyer...Dawn froze up and turned around to stare at the direction where Milim was.
This was when he finally noticed...the most destructive and chaotic aura present in the world, a presence Dawn knew way too well...
Dawn : I-Ivarage ?
His body shook in anger and fear...such big fish couldn't appear yet, something must have gone wrong with his plan.
The problem is that even the Lord of Fate couldn't give him a proper answer.
Dagruel : Looking away now ?!
As Dawn got lost in his thoughts, Dagruel came up from behind and asserted a heavy punch right on the side of the hero's face.
His head snapped heavily left as he didn't move an inch from the blow...Dagruel's fist stuck in his cheek, the demon lord felt something was wrong the moment Dawn turned toward him.
Dawn : Why should I look at a stupid overgrown insect?
Dagruel : Wh-
Dawn : I'm not your opponent anymore, so scram !
In an instant, Dagruel felt his body being ripped apart...Shin Exlia glowed brightly as several hundred fast stabs were directly engraved onto the titan's body.
Dawn remained unfazed as the demon lord was sent all the way back into the ground...forming eyt another crater.
Dawn : Now...[Fate Paradox].
Changing the course of reality once again, Dawn didn't spare a single glance at Dagruel before he disappeared.
This time, the change he made was that he never left for the Barren land...no instead Milim Nava went there for whatever reason.
The war suddenly started because Milim's rage reached a certain state where it started to become uncontrollable.
Taking this opportunity, Rudra and Guy decided to take action right away...some minor details were also changed like Rimuru never mentioning Milim during the pre-war meeting.
Or Dawn and Milim's relationship...as the main reason she would have accompanied Yuu and Eleonor is because here Dawn revealed to Milim, his connection with her father and both bonded.
That aside...if Milim was here in the Barren land in her stampede mode, on the other side Dawn was...
Varja : How unexpected...is this the strange feeling I have been going through over and over ?
Right in front of Ivarage...the Hero chosen by Fate and the World destroyer dragon were facing each other.
One used the power of Fate, the other was the killer of Fate...a fight that was bound to happen toward the end of the war was brought into light at the very beginning.
Dawn : [Dawn Break].
And without warning, the first thing he did upon seeing the threat in front of him was to attack...
Varja : Haha ! Now that's interesting !
Bringing her hand forward...Dawn's sword and Ivarage's scale crashed...the world itself reacted this time, the mountain they were standing on was totally wiped out by this singular attack.
Reality itself broke down leaving both of them into a sort of subspace between the line of space and time...and for the first time since he reached that state.
Dawn felt threatened...the girl in front of him barely even flinched from a direct [Dawn Break] drawn at his full strength.
Varja : You are beautiful ! It's incredible! This power is incredible !
Dawn : Shut your crap, you're going down here ! (I see now, Carrion and Frey were killed here, this triggered Mili-wait...where is Carrion and Frey now? I can't feel their presence at all!)
Increasing the intensity of his slash...Dawn focused all his will power and rage into Shin Exalia, even as a sword forged from the White ice dragon's scale.
A weapon comparable to a genesis class despite being a stage lower...Shin Exalia could feel the intense burning rage from her master.
It took a toll on her durability and also for the first time, Shin Exalia felt like her body was snapping...
Varja : If you are this strong ! Then I can't imagine how Mirai Averion would be !
Dawn : !!!
Dawn Pov
What did she say ? Mirai ? Did she just pronounce her name ? I didn't hear wrong right...but how ? There should be no notion of her name yet.
Because I altered fate-no, Ivarage..;this being is an anomaly which isn't part of the world made by Veldanava...
Up until it was mindless so I was never able to tell...but could she, the world destroyer dragon not be affected by Fate itself ?
This would explain why Frey and Carrion aren't present anymore...because they were killed by something that Fate couldn't control...
No no no...this can't be, but this would explain why I failed so many times...why Fate Paradox was casted over and over.
And now that Ivarage has a mind of its own...even if i reverse time and fate, she would still be conscious ?!
Dawn : YOU !
I couldn't know what kind of expression I was making right now...all I know is that every ounce of power within my soul and body was released.
Was that how Milim felt when she entered Stampede mode ? Because right now, all I want is the destruction of Ivarage...
Varja : That's perfect : You are really perfect ! I can feel my instinct screaming at me to run away !
Why is she laughing ? Her expression showed pure amusement and joy...her earlier words kept resonating with my soul...
Mirai Averion...yeah, i can't hold back anymore...i need to get rid of them all before something happens to her.
Shin Exalia : (Master!)
Dawn : Shut up...I'll kill Ivarage now.
My body stood straight while my head tilted left slightly...I looked at Ivarage with such an expression that would kill an archdemon on sight.
3rd Pov
But much to Dawn's expectation...Ivarage and himself weren't the only one unaffected by [Fate Paradox].
Two other beings were in the same state...while one was still unconscious being Mirai, the other looked around confused.
Rimuru : Huh ? What just happened ? I feel like my memories have become hazy...
Raphael : (Notice : Analysis of the individual Dawn Arceid completed, resistance to the ultimate skill, Lord of Fate acquired.)
Rimuru : What does that mean ?
Raphael : (The world was most likely changed, by the intervention of Dawn Arceid's ultimate skill...the past was altered to create a new present, master's memories from two different realities are overlapping, would you like me to condense it all?)
Rimuru : Yes please do...but still altering the past ? What in the world is happening...
Holding his head, he couldn't keep himself in his thoughts for so long as the battle against the empire had already started.
Veldora was clashing with Velgrynd...the true dragons were further away from the rest giving a phenomenal fight.
While Rimuru was observing the fight ongoing...he couldn't act right away as the leader's movement would undeniably change the course of the battle.
A single misstep could be fatal...Rudra either wasn't moving and just sat on his throne in one of the airships.
Benimaru was the one leading Tempest's army, the primordials were rampaging at will...explosions occurred all around in what will be called the « Dead land of the east ».
Rimuru : This battle has been ongoing for 3 hours now...and there is no end to it...
Raphael : (The northern side is being weakened, current state of the battlefield : 62 321 casualty, performing resurrection via soul corridor, successful.)
And this was the main problem of this war, Rimuru's army was constantly being revived via the soul corridor they shared.
Sure it was taxing in terms of magicule but it was manageable because of Rimuru's tactic...since he couldn't just borrow Veldora's power.
They switched, despite fighting Velgrynd...the storm dragon still possesses a mass of magicule greater than almost anyone in the world.
By switching between Rimuru and Veldora under Raphael's management...they could keep up with the resurrection process by small and large intervals.
Rimuru : Testarossa, Carrera ! Both of you go support the north side !
Testarossa : At your command, milord.
Carrera : Yes sir !
The primordials were definitely a force to be reckoned with, they terrified the battlefield but the problem is that they couldn't be everywhere.
And fighting head one would be a mistake because no matter how powerful 4 primordials are...they wouldn't be able to take on Rudra and Velgrynd at the same time.
Such a strategy would be possible only once Velgrynd is defeated and that all fall on Veldora's shoulder.
Rimuru : We can only push them back for now...and wait for the true dragon to finish...
His eyes shifted forward, where he locked eye contact with Rudra...both of them were waiting patiently for the right moment to enter the battlefield.
Speaking of the true dragons, the storm and scorch dragon were delivered in a massive outbreak further away from the main battlefield.
Velgrynd : I asked you kindly and you dared reject me ? Join my side, Veldora !
Veldora : I can't do that !
They were currently in their human form...Veldora despite being disturbed by the prospect of fighting the sister he so feared used his martial art skill developed from manga.
His movements were large and fast, totally opposite to Velgrynd accurate and elegant step...the shockwave caused by each of their blow shaped the surrounding nature.
Velgrynd : You damn brat ! Why are you siding with a vulgar slime !
Veldora : Rimuru is my friend !
Velgrynd : A bad one that gave you a rebellious idea !
Summoning a eventail of flames, Velgrynd took Veldora by speed and burned him with a fire hotter than any other else in the cardinal world.
But as the storm dragon, such flames wouldn't be enough to hurt him...his scales were naturally resistant to all kinds of elements.
Though instead of his body being hurt, it was his clothes...they were burned to crisp leaving nothing of the original white shirt and green cloak Rimuru gifted Veldora.
Veldora : You...
Veldora was always seen as a primitive and immature brat by his sister, that's actually true...he never had a proper house or clothes.
He lived for chaos and rampage...hearing him the worst reputation among the true dragon.
That's why when Rimuru gave him all those things he never had, Veldora was genuinely happy...those clothes that Rimuru picked were precious to him...
Even if it was his sister...he wouldn't allow anyone to treat his friend's gift that way...
Veldora : You went too far !
His face morphed into anger as his skin turned darker...draconic scales replaced his whole being, wings grew from his back and the shape of his head turned bestial.
Taking his dragon form in an overwhelming rage...Veldora flew up toward Velgrynd who kept a straight face.
But her own anger was sipping through her lips...she couldn't believe how powerful Veldora had become since the last time she saw him.
Velgrynd : (He is definitely a threat for the empire now...i guess we have to resort to that, i'll get you on my side Veldora, don't worry.)
Reverting back to her own dragon form, Velgrynd and Veldora clashed once again as this time, the destruction they will cause would be incomparable to the one they already made.
Storm was formed each time Veldora used his wings, the land burned in crimson flames as Velgrynd increased the heat of her large body.
Velgrynd : (This brat grew so much in that short span of time ? How is he keeping up with me?)
The enraged Veldora was fearless, his claws clang into Velgrynd's skin...his fang treated for heavy crunch, his magicule count kept rising like a raging storm.
The scorch dragon showed small struggles to even approach Veldora, he was turning more and more into a mindless beast that knew how to fight.
Velgrynd : You really grew rebellious...
And this just fueled Velgrynd's own anger...her red scale burned crimson as she accelerated herself.
In an instant, she wrapped her serpentine body around Veldora and restricted him from any movement.
Her head reached for the back of her little brother's neck, her golden eyes shone brightly as in an instant, she ripped her fang through the side of his collar.
Velgrynd : You are still just a child !
Veldora : Rahhh !
An agonizing scream followed Veldora's fall, still out of rage he moved and fought for freedom...leading Velgrynd to tighten her restraint.
She strangled Veldora over and over until his roar caught on itself...
Velgrynd : It should be enough.
At this time, neither Veldora or Velgrynd could move...they were stuck in place with minor flinching from the storm dragon's struggle.
Once she made sure everything was under control, Velgrynd turned toward Rudra and gave him an affirmative nod.
Rudra : Good, let's take over this war then...Kondo !
At his command, the gun hero Kondo appeared out of nowhere...he stood on a hill near where Veldora and Velgrynd fought.
His gun in hand, he mercilessly brushed the trigger before pulling it...a bullet infused with the control power of Sandalphon, the Lord of Condemnation.
In a slow motion, it went and pierced right through Veldora's chest...in an instant all of the storm dragon's energy was drained and his mana circuit along as the soul corridor that Veldora shared wer shutted down.
Kondo : Judgement bullet, successful.
Veldora was successfully subdued and now...with the control features that the Lord of Justice, Michael had, Rudra could directly take over Veldora's mind and make him his pawn.
Rudra : This war is over, we won.
Even with that, his face remained calm...just his lips curved into a light smirk.
Meanwhile, on Tempest's side...Rimuru felt an unbearable pain surging through his soul...he held his chest gritting his teeth trying to make sense out of this situation.
Rimuru : (Huh ? Why does I feel like a part of me was taken away...what is this feeling?)
Diablo : Rimuru-sama ! I came here to report the situation on Lord Veldora's side.
Rimuru : Veldora ? What happen to him ?!
Diablo had a complicated expression, furthermore he was a bit worried for his master who was showing the ugliest pain.
Rimuru : Tell me now, Diablo !
Diablo : Yes...Lord Veldora was restrained and was shot by a sort of projectile, his killing intent is now directed toward Tempest, I suppose his mind is currently under foreign control.
Upon hearing that, Rimuru felt something snap in front of him...his eyes shot up with an unseen gleam from the demon slime.
Rimuru now understood, a part of himself was just ripped...the precious soul corridor he shared with his first friend in this world was just destroyed.
Rimuru : How dare they...
While this war should have been unbalanced now, a rageful hope appeared through the line of Tempest.
As Rimuru released a dreadful aura...so powerful that it expanded through the entire battlefield and beyond...
It was so potent that the few who managed to stay awake from this madness, they all stayed silent and turned toward the demon slime.
All alerted from what they just witnessed...a power that was comparable to that of a true dragon.
Velgrynd : (What in the world was that...did it really come from that slime?)
Rudra : (This is unexpected...Rimuru Tempest, huh, how unfortunate I lost noth opportunity to gain a powerful pawn with you and Dawn Arceid back then...)
Having his hair covering his eyes, Rimuru stood menacingly in the air facing Velgrynd and the now controlled Veldora.
Rimuru : Change of plan, everyone...exterminate them, don't let a single one escape.
A order that will fundamentally change the course of this battle, the primordials who have been more into an assist squad could finally reach out to their full potential.
A chain reaction where Rimuru's nature would affect everyone...Rimuru Tempest, perhaps the being who incarne the best the concept of evolution.
Raphael : (Synthesis done, would you like to activate [Chain evolution] ? Yes or No?)
Rimuru : (Do it.)
The difference in number is big, very big but that's also an advantage...because with [Chain evolution], each kill will instantly and automatically absorb the soul and evolve the killer.
This is the supreme art that Raphael developed after interacting with Dawn's idea...the skills he had given the lord of Wisdom allowed this new miracle.
Evolving while fighting...the essence of Rimuru's power was now available for all of his subordinates.
Back on the northern ocean where Ruberios and the Empire engaged in a infernal war.
The sky illuminated as unexpectedly...a new factor appeared, that being Horizon White...
He fought against the imperial mage Gadra with such might that it was astonishing...his sword danced along the wind.They burst through the sky and ravaged the ocean...it was a difficult fight because both of them were aware of their win condition.
If Horizon manages to assess a single direct strike, he wins...if Gadra manages to keep Horizon at a modest distance, he will win time for the rest of the imperial army and that would be his win.
Gadra : (This guy is dangerous...we had minor information on this knight, the hidden sword of Ruberios, Horizon White, he exceeded my expectations...)
Hewas being pushed back...sure, the previous injuries that Mirai inflicted him were crippling him but still, even at his best.
Gadra had no doubt that even then, Horizon would still be a heavy threat.
Gadra : (My magic doesn't seem to be enough...i guess i can just win some time.)
Their fight was superfluous, the true turning point of this battlefield was behind him...in the south side where Eleonor went.
Because this was where Velgrynd's parallel existence was...earlier when Yuu and Eleonor splitted, things quickly went down in the south.
Eleonor Pov
I was surprised when Horizon suddenly woke up in my arms and jumped saying that he had something to do...is that really the first thing you say after waking up in a beautiful girl's arms ?
Not like I actually care, it just took me by surprise...anyway, I have more important things to think about.
Horizon went directly toward the north...Yuu is there too, did something happen ? Then that would be one more reason for me to quickly get to the south.
We can't have both sides fall or it will be the end...luckily, it seems most of the empire's force seem focused on the north.
So I should be able to push them back with the help of the holy knight in place..before using the teleportation spell to get here.
I sent a communication to Ruberios, it's a matter of time before the remaining great saints and Hinata Sakaguchi get here.
I guess even at Ruberios, they were taken aback by the sudden start of the war...
Eleonor : Tchn i'm not suited for this kind of thing...making me do this kind of job when I am more of an intels collector, how funny.
Fighting isn't my speciality, I have a strong basis in swordsmanship but it's nowhere near enough to be called great in our leader's standard.
If an average knight is a 50/100, then i'm around 70/100...everyone has their own specialization, this a fundamental rule you have to understand except when you work in a group.
Eleonor : Calm down, Eleonor...this is the final battle, you can't screw things up now.
I increased my pace and quickly rushed toward my post without knowing that the inevitable already happen ;
Calgurio : Oto, pretty lady you can't cross this line.
My eyes narrowed as I forced my legs to stop my momentum, in the split of an instant...the ground that I was about to step on exploded into tiny pieces.
I glared up at the author of this sudden ambuh...Calgurio Heath, a heavy name from the empire.
He is the commander of the Armored division...a baron who had achieved a form incomplete that of a saint.
A swordsman we couldn't brush off...along with Gadra, Tatsuya Kondo, Damrada and lastly Gradim, those are the major officers we had to be careful of.
Calgurio : It seems the white meteor isn't here, how lucky of us we can proceed to the operation.
Eleonor : By white meteor, you mean Dawn Arceid, right...sound like you guys are terrified of him.
Calgurio : I wouldn't mind having to fight him but I guess his reputation back him quite well.
I wonder what he meant by that...it sounded like if leader was here, they wouldn't continue whatever plan they had here...
Eleonor : You being here means that the imperial force already infiltrated the south side, right.
Calgurio : You are half right and half wrong.
Eleonor : Huh ?
Calgurio : We didn't just infiltrate, no...we already took over the entire south coast !
My mind stopped working for an instant, his words resonated like glass shattering...did he say that we lost the battle on the south side ? Already ?
Eleonor : Wh-
My pupils shook brutally when I realized that what he said was true...Calgurio was grinning madly while a gigantic explosion bursted from behind him.
He didn't even turn around knowing what was coming, a large red eastern like dragon came out of the ground...destroying whatever left of the base we had set in the south.
I could only look up powerless as more of its serpentine body flew through the sky...a scorching wave of heat brushed through the ocean.
Eleonor : T-the scorch dragon...
My knee started to shake at the deadly presence of a true dragon...my unique skill instinctively made me see the event that occurred here a few seconds ago.
Ruberios's force tried to stop the imperial army from approaching but suddenly...a scorching red dragon appeared and tanked all the attack.
Before directly bursting through the large hill that composed Ruberios's defensive line...burning every living soul that was in place.
Velgrynd alone handled half our force...without even breaking a sweat..
Calgurio : You see now, the only one that could stop us was Dawn Arceid, you guys are nothing without your hero-
His words were harshly interrupted when several murderous aura made their presence known across the world.
I felt my head spinning as those new power sources shook the entirety of the planet...maybe even more...
Eleonor : W-what is happening ?
Calgurio : That's...the main force led by the emperor...who is releasing such aura there...
This is not all, even if it was just an instant...I felt leader's aura, it was filled with intense anger and hatred. I never felt such clear emotion from him.
He should be fighting Demon lord Dag-huh ? No he is in Tempest...huh ? Why do I feel uncomfortable as if something important has changed...
Calgurio : I have a bad feeling, let's end this quickly.
Eleonor : Ugh-
I pulled all my might in and tried to get up...only to go down again, at least the Scorch dragon's attention has shifted.
It isn't on this battlefield anymore but one of the deadly aura coming from the other side of the world.
The problem now it's Calgurio Health...he took out his blade and slowly approached me. Is he not affected by those heavy aura ?
No, he is protected...I heard during my time in the empire about some kind of blessing given to the most loyal subject of the emperor.
Even so, I'm barely an average enlightened human while he is an incomplete saint...the gap between us is too large for me to win over some tricks.
Eleonor : I need to retreat and reunite with Yuu...
Biting my lips, a lingering bitter feeling sprouted into my stomach...I ignored it and activated [Clairvoyance] to see in the brief future.
This isn't a spell I like to use because I have to live through whatever I see...and this time, Calgurio directly beheaded me in the next 10 seconds.
Eleonor : Kargh-
Coming back to the present, I quickly held my throat while glaring at Calgurio with rage...he was looking down on me so much that he was certain that he could end me at any moment.
I need to move ! Those damn legs...if i don't..i'll die...
Death...this word followed me my entire previous life, before I was suddenly transported into this world...
Eleonor : (I don't want to die...)
The power to see the past and the future is scary...because I don't have the capabilities to change it.
And right now, I could only watch my own death slowly approaching...Calgurio's eyes at this very moment were the same as all those stares I got back in England.
But this time, the context was different...I'm going to die protecting what I believe in...
Flashback
My name is Eleonor von Trinity, this name was both an honor and a curse during my whole life.
Living in an era where social standing is what matters the most for a woman, I always did my best...first daughter of a prestigious noble family.
Having an appearance that would make any other woman jealous, I tried my best during the first few years of my life...
But after sometime...perhaps my 8th birthday...I realized how superior I was compared to the other, I bathed everyday in envious stares.
I got used to this kind of lifestyle and got spoiled...I became an immature brat who would pick up on those lower than me.
At the royal school I attended, I would bully a few girls...seduce the men and assert my dominance.
This continued for years until I was 17...when I targeted the wrong girl...
I was very ignorant thinking I could do anything and get away with it, that's why I naturally started to like the most prestigious man in the country...the prince.
I still remember his face and personality, he wasn't a good man to speak per say but I was just attracted by his status.
That's why, when I saw him with that pretty girl...I got jealous and angry, sure the prince never ignored me but he was giving an expression that brimmed with kindness and warmth to another woman.
It triggered me and I did an unforgivable act...I didn't know who she was and reaped what I sowed.
On a calm night, I had that girl lured into an empty room and aggressed her...I mercilessly ripped her hair and scratched an unremovable scar on her face.
Her cries and painful growth are still vivid in my ears...i was overjoyed at that time, i had shown again how superior i was...
But reality soon catched me...that girl was Lucie von Britania, the sole princess of the royal family...she was the jewel of the whole country.
Someone i could have never touched and compared myself to...Lucie was just so kind that no one would even dare touching her.
She helped the commoners and was respected among the nobility...but her modest lifestyle made her go down my tracker as I only followed excellency...
That day, where I traumatized and crippled her...was also the day of my doom, the prince who had bursted through the door right after I scared the princess was enraged.
I was quickly dragged by the hair and crossed an entire hall filled with nobles...my reputation was instantly crushed, those who resented me gave me those stares full of malice...
That night, I was thrown into the mud and dragged into a dark and cold cell...I foolishly believed that my family would support me.
And get me out of here but the next day, the announcement that the Trinity household detached themself from this affair.
They left me to my own fate...
As the sun rose, I was pulled out of the cell by two knights and thrown into the main hall...my clothes were dusty, my stomach empty and my throat dry.
I complained over and over...immaturity at its peak, I still spoke down not knowing that everyone I thought was on my side had abandoned me.
The knights forced me on my knee and grabbed my arm in a motion where they could snap at any movements.
In front of me were the royal heirs...and around me were dozens of noble students with bright futures, most of them were people I picked a fight with.
And some were on my side but quickly abandoned me, adopting those condescending looks.
The princess was looking at me with sympathy and fear, her face had a large scar still fresh from the previous night's torture.
Even so, her eyes were the least angry among all the people present...at that moment, I truly realized...for the first time, I questioned my own actions.
Prince : Eleonor von Trinity, for the crimes of harming a member of the royal family and the support of the Trinity family, you are to be executed right away !
His words were cold and rageful, the moment he announced my punishment...i felt fear, no terror.
I wanted to cry and run away...but couldn't, this was the karma I kept accumulating my whole life.
Lucie : Wait brother ! This is too much, i'm sure there is still anot-
Prince : Shut up, Lucie ! She harmed you and left a mark for the rest of your life !
To me of that time, his words were silent...I couldn't hear anything but my own heartbeat crying for help.
Everyone around became a large shadowing form with nothing but malice in their eyes...all directed at me, I felt so tiny, so hopeless.
I realized how weak I actually was...how worthless Eleonor is without the Trinity name.
I opened my eyes when it was already over...finally, at the very end, I looked up at the prince with the most sincere expression I ever had...
My eyes shifted to the princess who was still trying to change her brother's mind...her expression, her kindness I registered it all before closing my eyes.
Ready to accept whatever fate awaited me...but no matter how much I waited, nothing came...the voice and stares I felt were all gone.
I slowly opened my eyes thinking I was out to reach heaven, only to find myself in a complete other world...alone in a large plain with dozens of monsters roaming around.
I somehow survived...and tried my best to change the way I was. I thought this was a second chance given to me by god.
I found a group of adventurers and got them to help me...I wanted to embrace change, I wanted to become like the woman that I tried to harm and the same girl who vouched for me until the very end.
I did my best in this new world but then, the people around me started to act like who I was before...in the small village I was staying in.
They made me do all the dirty work, they threw rocks at me because I was an outsider...they made me a laughing stock for all the family dinners in their warm home.
While I had to sleep outside...this was the life I deserved, I complained and cried at first but I realized that I was truly alone in this world.
So I forged my mind...or so I thought, instead it was slowly breaking...the little resolve I had made for myself was crackling under the mockery and physical labor that the village made me do.
I stayed there for weeks and months, enduring everything...I thought I would be accepted one day but this never came.
As a large-scale famine started...there was not enough food in this small village so they had to go buy provisions in the big city.
But the village was poor...they usually lived through hunting but this wasn't an option anymore as all the big cities started monopolizing the hunting area.
So they did the one thing they could...they gathered some women and children...and sold them. I was first on the line.
I felt the same terror as when I was about to get executed back in England, their eyes and expression terrified me.
When they grabbed my arm and forced me toward an ominous cage...
I shut down my eyes and prayed with all my heart...the only thought that crossed my mind was-
Eleonor : (If only I could see the future ! I would have run away ! I would have avoided all this!)
I would have never harmed Lucie, I would have left this village...knowing that besides being an outsider fodder, I would never be anything to them...
I could correct my mistakes before I made them...
VOTW : (Notice : creation of unique skill : Clairvoyance, successful.)
A single announcement made through my mind as I let my eyes glow, still being dragged by those villagers.
I saw the near future and it was warm...so warm that calmed down every urge within me to cry.
Eleonor : H-help me...
My vision was blurry, overshadowed by my fatigue...all I could hear was the arrival of someone, the loud incoherent shout between the villagers and the newcomers.
And then everything became quiet...I quietly fell asleep afterward only to wake up in a large kingdom...
I was welcomed by the royal family and foolishly revealed my origin to them...also how my skill worked once I learned more about it.
I blindly trusted them as for the first time I felt like I had met people who cared for me in this world...I trusted them...
Their influence on me started to grow and slowly I returned to my old way. I was tired of living like trash...the royalty and state of that kingdom were bad, their corruption and greed knew no bounds.
But I failed to realize that...and became what I hated once again...
But that didn't last long as my skill allowed me to see the near future...but it also allowed me to see a further future if I met the condition of touching the one I want to look into.
I saw myself dying over and over, because the king wanted to use me for war purposes...I started fearing the future and shut myself into my room.
Everything went down from that...people I had abused would mock me behind my back, the maids and knights wouldn't even bother with me...
This was the worst...and I stopped using my skill...
But that all changed when I met the leader...he was truly like a charming prince coming to save me from all this...
He changed my life and I will be forever grateful for that...
Flashback end
I don't know why all these memories flashed, no perhaps it's because i'm about to die that i saw everything.
Is it Clairvoyance who wanted me to witness what I achieved in this painful life of mine ? What is my past karma that caught back to me after I finally earned a family ?
Eleonor : (I don't want to die...)
???: Then you won't.
A voice broke through that wall of darkness...I recognized it instantly, a friend of mine...also the subject of a request.
Eleonor : You are here ?
Standing there, in front of me...was Yuu, my best friend and also the last hope for his battlefield.
Yuu : Mirai is currently fighting her internal demon so i have to step up, I can't let my genuine best friend die here.
I couldn't really make sense of her words but that didn't matter because I believed in her.
Calgurio : Who are you brat now ?
Yuu : Someone you should run away from.
Calgurio : Ah ? Well it doesn't matter, I'll kill you too.
Yuu : How can you kill someone that doesn't exist ?
Calgurio : Have you become crazy ?
He grabbed the hilt of his sword and brought it forward...a fast slash quickly drew its way toward Yuu's neck.
But Yuu isn't like me, she was truly strong...i watched her while being on the ground, she truly shone the brightest now...it was like when I saw leader for the first time...
Yuu : Is that all you got ?
Having unsheathed her own weapon, Yuu parried the incoming attack with ease...a literal inch away from her neck.
She smirked before pushing Calgurio backward.
Calgurio : What ?!
Yuu : Let me show you what your empire's dog feared the most.
Her words echoed through the space as she took a familiar fighting stance...her body moved along her blade as if they were one.
Eleonor : This...
Calgurio : You think you can beat me with a sword ? Fine, bring it on !
He didn't recognize that stance...no he just couldn't know because no soldier from the east had made it back after this sword was drawn.
Yuu : You said Dawn-san was the only threat to you guys ? Let me show you what you truly fear.
Calgurio : You dare speak when you know nothing !
Both stood on opposite sides before bursting toward the other, their sword crossed in the middle...spark flew everywhere as another crater formed onto the land.
Yuu : Wake up and destroy [Dawn Break].
Calgurio : Wha-
Taken aback by the sudden pressure, Calgurio Health...baron of the empire received a fatal injury that expanded through his entire body.
He couldn't react nor give any last word as [Dawn Break] erased his physical body...
Yuu : I don't have much time left before Mirai wakes up...so i'll just give it my all (This will be the last fight for the existence known as Yuu...)