The young dragon's body radiated a blinding white light.
At first, no one thought anything of the light, nor did they realize it was a "calamity" in another sense.
But moments later, when the light's range expanded... swelling from the size of a basketball to a white sun dominating the entire village... Artoria's expression changed instantly.
"This is bad!"
"Everyone, retreat! Evacuate the village now!"
She tried to organize a withdrawal.
To ensure her command was heard clearly, she infused her voice with mana. The king's order snapped the onlookers out of their trance, captivated by the white light.
Yet, no one left.
Gazing at the white sun swelling to its limit in the sky, everyone realized they were witnessing a grand miracle. No one would leave at such a moment... not even the humblest farmer would miss this once-in-a-lifetime event.
"Tch... "
Artoria gritted her teeth.
She stepped forward, positioning herself between the light and the crowd, using her power to shield the entranced onlookers.
But her strength had limits.
She might protect the people, but she couldn't save the village's buildings. As the white light began to fade, revealing the dragon's evolved form, a destructive gale surged from its wings, mercilessly obliterating everything in its path.
"What's happening to it?!"
Artoria's eyes widened, unable to comprehend why the dragon, perfectly fine moments ago, had suddenly unleashed this "calamity."
But it was fine... someone could explain, someone could answer the king's doubts.
"No need to worry. It's not intentional." came a voice.
It was Merlin.
The magus, seemingly the mastermind behind it all, appeared behind Artoria.
"When a true god descends, it's destined to cause upheavals in the world. Those who can't withstand such phenomena call it a 'calamity,' but those who can face it sense the majestic power hidden within."
"Divine might is like a prison, divine grace like a sea… Before a being of such supreme power, even someone like me can only kneel in awe."
Merlin said this, but he didn't kneel. Instead, he raised his staff, casting his signature "Flower Magic" Toward the apocalyptic gale.
Under his mana's influence, the devastating winds halted instantly, transforming moments later into harmless pink petals. The petals danced through the air, forming a dreamy sea of pink in the sky before gently falling onto people's heads, shoulders, and the ground. The village, moments ago on the brink of destruction, was suddenly awash in a girlish pink hue.
This, too, was a miracle.
Normally, those protected by these petals would cheer the magus's name or remark, "As expected of that magus."
But now, no one cared about the petals.
All eyes were fixed on the white dragon in the sky. Its massive body, with wings alone vast enough to shroud the entire village, left those in its shadow unable to grasp its full form.
But Artoria could.
She didn't use her eyes but her heart to observe the white dragon, even communicating with it.
"This… is what you look like grown up? How did you get so big all of a sudden?!"
After the initial shock, Artoria's heart calmed. To others, this colossal beast was terrifying, but to her, it was just her "grown-up young dragon." There was nothing to fear.
She'd fed it pie after pie, raised it with her own hands... how could it be a bad child?
"This isn't fully grown, just an adolescent state… My fully evolved form is thousands of times stronger." The dragon, Alaric, said, flapping its wings with a hint of pride. It was now a true Blue-Eyes White Dragon... eight stars, 3000 attack points, but a blank slate without effects.
To unlock its true powers, it would need to absorb more mysteries and evolve into a more mature form.
But that was for the future, a matter to plan carefully.
For now, the important thing was...
"I know it's pointless to ask, but let's confirm one last time. Maybe that stubborn head of yours will change its mind." Alaric said.
"Artoria Pendragon... I ask you, do you truly wish to become a king? A king destined to meet the most tragic end in this doomed era?"
The white dragon posed the question, transmitting visions into Artoria's mind.
Its voice was no longer draconic but human, audible not only to Artoria but to everyone in the village.
"Of course." Artoria replied, her voice unwavering.
Just moments ago, Alaric had shown her visions of the "end times"... a blood-red dusk where a lone girl stood atop a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, bearing the world's hatred and curses.
Yet, she harbored no hesitation.
She knew the throne in such an era was a curse, not a blessing. No matter how she struggled, loneliness and a tragic death awaited her. But even so, she would raise the banner of kingship without faltering. She didn't fight for herself but to protect the people of this island and the smiles on their faces.
"Even in the end times, there's a difference between struggling in pain, letting this island fall into a hell of hatred, and facing it with a smile, standing together to overcome the hardship." She said.
That was the girl's answer.
It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to satisfy.
In this doomed age of gods, where every choice seemed wrong, simply having an answer was cause for joy.
"I don't know if this is right or wrong." Alaric said.
"But since you've made your choice, let us form a pact!"
"A pact? What kind?"
"A bond between you and me, eternal."
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