Chapter 54

How much time had passed since I activated Survival Instinct?

Every single second felt agonizingly long.

Since then, we had been trading blows—punching, slashing, kicking, as magic and raw mana collided. I also had to deal with the minions pouring out of Dahaka, so I was starting to feel the fatigue. Regardless, I had no time to hold anything back; I just kept rampaging simply to stay alive.

Even when blood ran into my eyes, I didn’t have the spare second to wipe it away; instead, I ignored it for the sake of landing another attack. Thanks to that, I had no mental room to worry about what was happening to the Dragon Empire. My mind was consumed by a single thought: defeating Dahaka. I couldn’t think of anything else.

Yet, I was surprised to find a part of me actually enjoying it. This fight, where I could die at any moment, was fun. Tearing away at each other’s lives in a struggle for pure survival brought a strange sense of exhilaration. There was no malice here. There was no goodwill either. The only meaning in this battle was to be the one left standing.

“Gah!!”

I slashed Dahaka again, making his blood spray.

『Hmph!!』

Dahaka struck back with a heavy blow that left me bruised. Honestly, my Limit Break was reaching its end; after this, it would be a contest of pure willpower. It was almost time. My trump card was almost ready. I just had to stay alive until then.

『I never imagined you would push me this far.』

Dahaka began to mend his wounds with healing magic. I thought it was a bit of a cheap move, but since what I was about to do could also be considered cheating, I kept my mouth shut.

“Well… thanks. Even a… tiny human… can hold his own… a bit, right…?”

『Indeed. You have exceeded my expectations. Ryu, you have my gratitude for providing such an enjoyable time.』

“It’s not over yet. …Just a little longer… and I’m going to surprise you, Azi Dahaka.”

It was coming—my trump card!

『Then show it to me!』

At that moment, the minions surrounding us from a distance were suddenly engulfed in flames. Crimson fire streaked with gold incinerated the monsters where they stood.

『These flames… a Garuda?! Do you intend to interfere in our battle?!』

No, this wasn’t interference. This was the result of a request I’d made.

“She’s my Familiar. The minions around here were getting in my way, so I asked her to burn them for me. If your minions are allowed, then my Soul Familiar should be permitted too, right, Azi Dahaka?”

Dahaka couldn’t hide his shock. However, as if understanding dawned on him instantly, he began to laugh.

『I see. A “Soul Familiar,” is it? Ryu, you have performed Naming upon that Garuda, haven’t you? In that case, I shall allow it.』

“Don’t worry, Dahaka. I only asked her to handle your minions. I’m the one who’s taking your life!”

『No—I shall be the one to take yours!』

No longer bothering with stances, we charged at each other. We resumed the process of whittling away at each other’s lives. Through Telepathy, Ril and Karin cried out in worried voices, but I just kept telling them it was okay. This would surely be over soon. It was just a hunch, though.

Dahaka came to kill me while healing his wounds. I went to kill Dahaka while covered in scars. Finally, the end came into view. Dahaka stopped healing—no, he became unable to. In other words, he had hit his limit of magic power.

『Tch.』

Dahaka continued to fight me using nothing but his physical strength. I had diverted a tiny, final scrap of mana into Rou. I had saved just enough for the finishing blow.

『It seems this is as far as I go. Ryu.』

“You never know what’s going to happen until the very end, Dahaka.”

『No. It will likely be decided by your next technique. Therefore, let me say this now. Thank you for the enjoyable time, Ryu. Thank you for this fight—pure and simple, devoid of good or evil.』

He was making it so hard to kill him. It’s truly difficult to finish off a guy who fights with everything he has and welcomes death in the midst of battle.

“…Here I come, Azi Dahaka.”

『Come!!』

I discharged the mana within Rou in a straight line. Then, using the focused, efficient strike Tiamat had taught me, I aimed for his heart. This was my way of showing respect. I would end this in a single blow!!

“Uoooooooh!!”

Using Survival Instinct and Magic Perception, I pinpointed the location of his heart. I gave my all in response with Dagger Arts, Physical Ability Enhancement, and Battle Spirit. I released the mana I had been pooling inside Rou. The jet-black mana pierced through Dahaka, and a massive amount of blood erupted from his mouth.

Dahaka collapsed onto his back.

『That was a fine strike. A full-powered blow that truly surpassed its limits. For an Evil Dragon, there is no death more valuable than this.』

He accepted his death with a look of pure joy. I wondered if I could accept my own death with that much grace when the time came.

“By the way, you kept talking about a ‘trial.’ Did I pass?”

『Yes, you did. I had forgotten something important. My Hero, what would you like as a reward? Power? Or perhaps my knowledge of ancient magic?』

“Anything is fine?”

『As long as it is something I can give.』

I’ve got your word now, Dahaka. In that case… what should I pick? I didn’t come here fighting because I wanted anything from him in the first place. Hmm, let’s see…

『Hurry up. I’m going to die first.』

“Then become my close friend Azi Dahaka.”

『…Close friend? You wish for us to be friends?』

“Yeah. I want to have another scrap with you someday. And when that happens, I want to fight as equals again.”

Honestly, as long as we could be friends, that was enough for me.

『Kukuku. To ask a dying man to be your friend… what a bizarre wish. Very well, I shall give you this Gift. Keep it as proof of our friendship.』

A sphere of light left Dahaka and entered my body. The true identity of the Gift was the skill “Azi Dahaka, the Evil Sage Dragon.” I have a feeling this is a skill that’s going to be way more than I can handle!

『I have placed a fragment of my soul within you. It will take quite some time, but I shall eventually be resurrected from within you.』

…Wait. Does that mean as long as I’m alive, Dahaka can keep resurrecting? Hold on, did I just do something incredibly dangerous on a global scale?!

『And so, farewell. My Hero, Ryu.』

“Wait a second! Did I just become the world’s biggest problem?!”

Before he could answer my question, Azi Dahaka crumbled away like sand.

…I feel like I’ve taken on yet another heavy karma. Perhaps because my tension finally snapped, I lost consciousness.