Demon Sword Master of the Holy Sword Academy - Volume 10 - Chapter 3.3

“I-It’s…fine…,” Leonis replied, lying limply with pallid skin.

Riselia covered her face shamefully in a gesture of regret. However, her silvery locks shone in the dark, brimming with mana.

Now that she’s replenished this much, she ought to be fine for a while.

Leonis sluggishly straightened up and fixed his disheveled shirt. He heated up his cooled cocoa and looked at the sky. The heavens of the Void world were dotted with countless sparkling stars.

“My father liked looking at the stars,” Riselia whispered. She’d followed Leonis’s gaze to the sky. “He often used astronomical devices on the Third Assault Garden to examine the celestial bodies.”

“…”

Riselia’s father, Duke Edward Crystalia. Leonis recalled the man’s hawklike eyes. He held the power of one of the Dark Lords who served the Goddess of Rebellion, the Devil of the Underworld, Azra-Ael. However, Leonis didn’t know which personality was in control.

What was that man hoping to achieve by seizing control of the Azure Hold? Either way, it was clear he couldn’t tell Riselia about this.

“It’s strange. This world has stars, just like ours…,” Riselia whispered. Her tone sounded almost nostalgic. The winds of the desolate wasteland toyed with her shining silver hair.

“Miss Selia,” Leonis said with a serious expression, “there’s something important I have to tell you.”

“Huh?” Riselia turned to look at him. “Something important?”

“Yes.” Leonis nodded. “I think this might be the same world we came from.”

“Just as I thought, it exists here, too. It seems my assumption was correct.”

Standing atop walls of stone, the elven hero, Arle Kirlesio, looked down upon the scenery before her. She knew this place quite well, for it was where she’d met her teacher, the Swordmaster of the Six Heroes.

Time has completely spared this place, and no Voids have touched it, either. Why?

Countless doubts crossed Arle’s mind. She’d cut down a few Voids on the way here; none was a match for a skilled fighter like her. There were surely more of the monsters around. How could this structure have survived for so long?

What’s going on here?

Suddenly, Arle’s keen elf ears picked up on a strange sound, that of rustling metal.

Voids?!

Arle spun, readying the Demon Smiting Sword, Crozax. Curiously, she saw no Voids anywhere.

But I know I heard—

She never finished that thought.

“…?!”

Countless flashes of light showered the walls she stood on with all the intensity of a storm.

“The same world we…came from?” Riselia echoed Leonis’s words, her eyes wide in astonishment.

“Yes. Assuming my theory is correct.” Leonis nodded and held up his terminal, which displayed a map of the capital’s surroundings. “This is Camelot’s current position.”

“Okay…” Riselia sat next to him and examined the terminal display.

“To the west, there’s a large forest.” Leonis tapped on the terminal’s screen with his finger. “The Void tear appeared in the center of those woods. We didn’t enter through there, but Sakuya did.”

Riselia bobbed her head in agreement, but she still didn’t quite understand.

“I think the western forest and the one surrounding that pyramid are the same place,” Leonis explained.

Riselia furrowed her brow. “…Wh-what do you mean? This forest looks nothing like our world.”

“I suspect that’s because it’s been warped by Void miasma. Areas with large Void Hives are severely altered, right?”

“…Yes, that does happen.”

Natural environments were known to undergo radical transformations after prolonged exposure to concentrated Void miasma. This well-documented phenomenon was covered in Void research lessons at Excalibur Academy.

“Still, you can’t make that assumption just because the scenery happens to match a little…,” Riselia said.

“Of course. I’m not basing it on the forest’s position alone,” Leonis replied. “There’s also the pyramid ruin Regina and the others were taken to. There are traces of the same structure at the same spot in our world.”

Leonis tapped on a point on the map, calling up detailed text on the location. The map on his terminal had a feature that displayed information on previously explored ancient sites.

“Ah…” Riselia’s mouth went slightly agape.

The chart on the screen of their original world showed the Spirit Forest, where the massive tear in space had appeared. On top of that, Leonis’s terminal automatically calculated the position of the Void world’s pyramid, which perfectly overlapped with the ruins in the Spirit Forest.

“This can’t be a coincidence,” Leonis asserted.

“…” Riselia settled into a contemplative silence. This proved difficult to accept. Meanwhile, Leonis added the location of the ruins to the map of the regular world. Now he knew it was where the pyramid temple built to worship the Spirit King, Elmysteriga, was located.

Gazoth’s Ironblood Castle also exists here…

This couldn’t simply be some other realm.

It was more like this place was a mirrored image of their original world. But why was this what lay beyond the Void tears? That left Leonis doubting himself, so he’d examined various locations on the map to confirm his theory.

“There should be some large ruins in the direction we’re headed.” Leonis switched the chart on his terminal to one of the entire continent. There was a point highlighted on it. “Right here.”

“Oh, I know that place. I believe it’s where the largest Void hive was discovered,” Riselia commented. “The imperial knights went there to investigate the site.”

“Long ago, in the distant past…a mighty kingdom stood there.”

“Long ago… During your time, Leo?”

“Yes.” Leonis nodded. “It was called the Rognas Kingdom.”

“Rognas!” Riselia repeated the word with evident surprise.

“Oh, you know of it? Has the name survived through the ages?”

“Um, isn’t Rognas the place those skeleton teachers came from?”

“Skeleton teachers?” It took Leonis a moment to realize what Riselia meant. “Oh…”

She was referring to the Three Champions of Rognas.

“Yes, those three were accomplished knights who served the Rognas Kingdom.”

Now they served the Undead King… But rather than mention that, Leonis cleared his throat and stayed on topic.

“The capital city of the Rognas Kingdom, Ur-Shukar, should be ahead. If the ruins of that place exist here—”

“That would prove this is our world,” Riselia finished.

Leonis nodded. “Yes.”

It would mean far more, too. If, like the Spirit King’s temple, Ur-Shukar existed here and was mostly intact…

I’ll have to investigate very carefully.

“…”

Riselia stood slowly, her eyes on the stars all the while. “Our world and the Void world are the same…”

Evidently, she was struggling to accept the idea. Leonis didn’t know what this revelation meant, either. Had Roselia Ishtaris foreseen this future?

Riselia turned to face Leonis. “Do you think you’ll find clues about that special someone of yours?”

“Well…” Leonis shook his head. “I don’t know. But uncovering the truth of this place might bring me closer to learning where she is.”

At present, that was all he could hope for.

Crack, crack, crack!

The cerulean sky above the Bloodfang Prairie on the second continent warped and shattered as countless dimensional tears formed in thin air.

Crack, crack, craaaack!

The fractures gradually expanded, like a seam widening, until they broke apart with the sharp sound of shattering glass. One part of a massive structure appeared in the broken sky, a chalk-white fortress shaped like a dragon with its wings spread.

This was the Azure Hold.

During the war with the Dark Lords a thousand years ago, it served as Veira Dragon Lord’s stronghold, a flying fortress that flew between many battlefields.

“The Bloodfang Prairie…where the Lord of Beasts met his end.”

A man stood at the bow of the Azure Hold, which was shaped like the head of a dragon. His sharp ice-blue eyes were fixed on the ground far below.

He was the governor of the Third Assault Garden, Duke Edward Ray Crystalia, a man thought to have died defending his city six years ago.

“The Dark Lords are beginning to awaken all across the land. We must claim them for our own before the apostles do.” A voice spoke into his mind.

“Yes. I know.”

It was the Dark Lord Azra-Ael, the Devil of the Underworld, he who governed dimensional travel, who spoke to the duke. Edward’s soul had forged a contract with him.

Together, they’d claimed the Azure Hold, one of the ancient sites that predated the advent of the gods. Regrettably, they had failed to seize the Dark Lord necessary for their plan to succeed.

They had dominated the leviathan, the greatest life-form and one half of the Lord of the Seas. However, they’d lost Rivaiz, the other half. While they’d baited out the Dragon Lord with the Azure Hold, someone had prevented them from controlling her.

“The Lord of Rage has fully fused with the Swordmaster, who became an avatar of the Voids. The Undead King’s soul, which was supposed to be slumbering in Necrozoa, has been destroyed. The whereabouts of the wandering Dark Lord are still unknown to me, and the Deus Machina lacks a soul, making it impossible for my Holy Sword to dominate it…”

The voice of Azra-Ael reverberated in Edward’s head again. They absolutely had to claim the Lord of Beasts before the Goddess of Void was fully revived and attempted to take over all dimensions…

Otherwise, humanity, who has awakened to the power of the Holy Swords, will be cast into ruin.

Looking down at the wasteland, Edward held out his right hand. It had been previously severed by the Lord of the Seas but had already regenerated thanks to time acceleration magic.

Brrrrrrr…!

The Azure Hold trembled, and a turret hidden within the base of the flying ruin opened up.

“Awaken Gazoth Hell Beast, Lord of Beasts,” he whispered.

In response…

Booooooom!

…a beam from the Ragva Cannon tore up the earth. A massive pillar of flame erupted, burning the sky. Edward’s ice-blue eyes widened slightly.

“…This won’t destroy the Lord of Beasts, will it?”

“Don’t underestimate a Dark Lord. This isn’t nearly enough to destroy one.”

Boom, boom, boom!

The bombardment continued. Burning shafts of light dug massive craters into the soil, but there was no sign of anything awakening beneath.

“This is supposed to be where the Lord of Beasts fought and fell against the Swordmaster…,” Edward muttered. “But does the Lord of Beasts actually rest somewhere else?”

“Wait. I sense a great power approaching!”

“The Lord of Beasts?”

“No. This is—”

Before Azra-Ael could answer…

Booooooooooooooooooom!

…a powerful explosion shook the Azure Hold.

“…?!”

Something massive tore through the thick clouds—

“Roooooooooooooooooooooar!”

A gigantic red dragon appeared, accompanied by a terrifying howl.

“A dragon?! Veira Dragon Lord!” Edward scrambled to keep standing against the violent shaking.

With her wings spread, the red dragon opened her jaws to reveal rows of terrible fangs. Radiant, burning heat gathered in her maw.

Boooooooooooom!

A ray of deadly fire swept across the Azure Hold’s plaza, forming burning towers that shot up like geysers. The flames consumed Edward Crystalia. The gigantic red dragon beat her wings, and with a rush of mana, she was surrounded by fire and changed form.

“That was just a greeting, Dark Lord of the Underworld. Hurry up and reveal yourself…!”

A beautiful girl, her hair a brilliant shade of crimson, appeared from within the conflagration. Her golden eyes glowed menacingly as she glared at the Azure Hold.

“Did you come in pursuit of me, Dragon Lord?”

Bwooosh!

Edward Crystalia scattered embers from himself. His white overcoat billowed in the hot wind.

“Hmph. I never did understand your way of thinking. You’re gathering Dark Lords, right? I knew I’d find where Gazoth died.”

Veira Dragon Lord’s crimson hair raged in the wind. Within her hands, she formed a burning sphere, full of infernal, incandescent hellfire, which she hurled at the Azure Hold. Then came another, and a third afterward.

“I’ll burn you to ashes—Drag Raiga!”

Boom, boom, boooooooooom!

Veira’s Dragon Tongue Sorcery called forth a storm of destruction.

“The Azure Hold is the rightful bastion of dragons! I will take it back!”

“Fool. These ruins are no stronghold.”

“…?!”

Edward vanished, and a moment later…

Crack, crack, crack.

…fissures ran through the air behind Veira.

“Holy Sword, Activate—Wheel of Fortune.”

Edward appeared from within the crack in space, a shining ring on his finger aimed for Veira.

“A Dark Lord won’t fall for the same trick twice!”

Veira instantly summoned countless fireballs, which sped for Edward in a complicated, twisting trajectory.

“Hrahhhhhhhhh!” Veira howled as she kicked against the air and charged for Edward.

The sonic boom her charge produced shook the surroundings, blowing away clouds.

“Drag Fist!”

The Dragon Lord’s fist, enveloped with a destructive aura, slammed into Edward’s face. The duke was sent flying, blasting through the Azure Hold’s walls and tumbling into the courtyard.

“Yes, I see now. It seems I underestimated the most terrifying of Dark Lords.” Edward slowly rose from the rubble. His dominating Holy Sword, the Wheel of Fortune, left him defenseless until it was fully activated. And it would only work against a Dark Lord if they were unfamiliar with its power or otherwise vulnerable, such as right after they had awakened.

“Hmm. You’re pretty sturdy for someone using a human body for a vessel,” Veira snarled, hands resting on her waist.

Edward’s hawklike eyes narrowed contemptuously at the Dragon Lord.

“Holy Sword, Activate—Dimensional Sword.”

A blade awash in rainbow colors appeared from thin air.

“…?!”

Edward took his Holy Sword and, a split second later, appeared only paces from Veira.

“…What?!”

Edward hadn’t moved. Veira and the space around her had been drawn in. The sword slashed at Veira’s neck, sending a few strands of crimson air flying.

“Damn you!” Veira leaped away, hoping to put some distance between herself and her enemy.

“It’s pointless.”

Whoosh!

The sword flashed again, and Veira found herself pulled back into Edward’s striking range again.

The Dimensional Sword was Edward Crystalia’s original Holy Sword. Its edge cut through space, eradicating Voids and the tears they emerged from. His fusion with the Devil of the Underworld had pushed the weapon to its absolute limit.

The Holy Sword capable of ripping through dimensions thrust forward with the intent of plunging into the Dragon Lord’s heart, but it never found purchase.

“Sharia Shiez!”

Blades of ice charged with mana plunged down upon Edward, forcing him back.

“…?!”

Edward looked up to find a girl with amethyst hair and clad in raiment made of water.

“It seems you’re having a hard time, Dragon Lord.”

“Hmph. Took you long enough…” Veira combed through her hair with one hand.

“There wasn’t much I could do. I am a sea sprite, and I cannot fly as quickly as dragons.”

“Dark Lords fighting on the same side…?” Edward looked incredulous.

“We simply have a common goal…,” the Lord of the Seas explained, focusing mana into one fingertip. “Devil of the Underworld, you will return my leviathan!”

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

She cast a ninth-order spell—the Demon Frost Blizzard, Hield Berzed.

A storm of absolute zero blew through the Azure Hold’s ruined plaza.

“Hey, are you trying to kill me with your spell, too?!” Veira hurriedly leaped into the air.

“…!”

Edward’s trump card, the ultimate life-form that was the leviathan, was sealed away in the dimensional interstice…but he couldn’t summon it here.

“Fall back, Edward. The odds are not in your favor against two Dark Lords.”

“But the Lord of Beasts is right here.”

“The Lord of Beasts’ soul is gone.”

“…What?”

“Gazoth Hell Beast was the purest warrior of all the Dark Lords. Had Gazoth’s soul been here, a battle between Dark Lords would have been sufficient to awaken it.”

“Then all of this was a wasted effort…” Edward gritted his teeth within the raging blizzard. “Very well.”

He nodded and held the Dimensional Sword aloft.

“Dimensional gate, open your seven locks…”

Crack, crackcrackcrack, craaaack…!

Numerous fissures ran through the space surrounding the massive Azure Hold.

“Grr, you’re not getting away from me, Azra-Ael!”

Veira condensed mana in both her hands and started chanting.

“Do you intend to shoot down the Azure Hold?” Edward asked.

“This castle is the rightful stronghold of the dragons. I’d sooner see it in ruins than leave it in someone else’s hands!” Veira unleashed her vast gathered power. “Hear my roar, you fool—Dei Argh Dragray!”

Boooooooooooom!

Veira loosed a beam of utter devastation. The Azure Hold was made in the image of a dragon, and the ray shattered its tail section, sending stone tumbling to the wasteland below. However, the majority of the structure remained intact. As it lurched to one side, it vanished into a dimensional tear.

“The Devil of the Underworld escaped. You failed,” said Rivaiz.

Veira sneered. “That’s not true. I got exactly what I wanted.”

“What?”

Veira looked down at the remains of the section of the Azure Hold blown off by her attack.

“I’ve reclaimed the Almagest, the dragon astronomical device.”