Chapter 46: The Dragon comes (1)
fuY“Ahhhhhh…”u4kHnAz
TrCCVXDVlad shot up, sounding like a sore old man.E5N
exG“I almost died…”6FN
ZiMRF[If it weren’t for the serpent, you would have died.]KQ9
DrdfbtVlad lowered his gaze to his armor as the voice spoke.4wbkE
286xtHe hadn’t expected the serpent that had embraced him that day to manifest itself in this way.NH5vG
w3xC“Yes.”pDgs
D9O99[So, we’re going once more later.]jc9ape
71agYkVlad ignored the voice, reminding himself why he had come here.uHB0X3
ZHw3C0IThe crack in the ground was slowly approaching.Xo3E
JiZtwYRutiger and the knights following him.fFW
FDVvAnd below, the priests and knights, too bewildered to realize they had fallen.oPqrPy
450cXd“Eh?”7HAJZ
939[…]m7n5h4
t7MbAnd among them was the figure of a very familiar man.m3Nyza2
pmyeZ9Ddddddddd-!20jhpK
FncYvyFEven as the boy panicked, the crack separating the meadow continued to widen inexorably.U3nq
KGdRutiger and the knights tried to keep up, but, as the voice said, the speed of the Death Worm underground was such that not even a herd of wild horses could keep pace.UjA7PXe
n8y“Ahhh!”Hdx5q
yNBA3qLAnd the crack in the meadow, spreading at a dizzying speed, aimed straight ahead.NYd1LU8
elo1Exactly, straight, unwavering, towards the horde of pilgrims.eSOxSA
9d9YGL2“Bring the priests!”DKwj
94dWY“Let those who are ready go first!”WAnck
hcicqHeeeeehee-.U655zm
QoKx39The knights’ cry and the horses’ braying.pBtOo
EzItKAnd the ominous creaking of evil approaching, swallowing up all those sounds.GOA3iWD
KLxXPNA great and irresistible violence was rushing towards them.BoQw6OU
Opxuo“It can’t be…”KVmE36
5x5dUdIn the urgency of the situation, Vlad recognized a priest getting up.Xrp65De
WZcZsVThe only priest the boy had known, and one he should never forget.53z
LFbQoqHis piercing entrance stabbed painfully into the boy’s eyes and reached his heart.KEH
NV7cGVC“Damn it!”ypH1
vsrQVvCoincidences sometimes come in the form of destiny, forcing a choice.DKkj0L
otu9Faced with such cruelty, most people would bow their heads and take the easy way out, but the boy was not one of them.AzHiXgv
8tQAtHe was a man who had always fought with all his might.3WJ
QaefYvS“….!”iqZu
smzVVD2Gritting his teeth, Vlad hardened his determination and jumped towards Rutiger with all his might.PSN
CKFHe was still breathless from the incessant beats of his heart, but the boy didn’t stop.4CbQpOS
nxsjThere were two things he still held in his arms.pOgYj
f0s1vDOne was Alicia’s handkerchief.Vnw1Q6
MBL28veAnd the boy’s identification plate, endorsed by Andreas.jc7dcN
KPu“Father Andreas!”uez4
pkOLThe first person to vouch for him when he was nobody.1PcK
O97KIThe one who had given the boy the roots to put down in the world was down there.Y8cfy7I
3EIRlPKForgetting the surprise and pain of rolling down the hill, the boy ran towards the approaching crack.Maatl7e
BkjAHe was hurling himself into the face of great violence from which anyone would want to flee.9exkTgG
rBHtp***3pj2mj5
bvm5“Over here! Over here!” Vlad waved his hands, trying to make himself visible in some way.9Y88
vC8f“…!”oUp0kb4
2zaSriDAnd a dark-skinned man, atop a moving horse, spotted the figure.mGqLC
eCS59But there was a huge, insurmountable gap between them, and along that gap, a young Deathworm was attempting to overwhelm the group of pilgrims.58i
SriSomehow, the timing was right, but the space was not.7gfaxGu
gS5“No….”ftgK
s36CFbkVlad said as he watched the crack slide past him without any pause.GiGj4s6
SYEtil“No!”VMrl7
O0EVlad shouted furiously at the Deathworm that had ignored him.JrIJ
CSaTI can’t be helpless again, facing a world so vast that I can do nothing.syR
QXK8[¡Vlad!]c7XnL3
pk3hVhRealizing what Vlad was about to do, the voice urgently tried to stop him, but the boy had already made a decision.J7HVq
ADVcNow is the time to do it.pV1Qj
4Q7J4DIf I have to do it, I won’t hesitate.WVRZZMX
w0xANP7Ignoring the voice, Vlad tossed the imprint into the air, grasping it tightly.Ddmo
kJ2uIQ2A sheet of white paper fell from the sky.lSMYIu
WPo“Take that, you bastard!”mA4b
YdCKZ8gThe determined swing of the sword drew the boy’s resolve.Ond7
q9ejmhThe paper tore, and simultaneously, intricate patterns filled the sword.FgA843
29KnqkThe sword began to vibrate as it followed the black and shiny tracks.5QJz2
B2JtWith the boy’s anger against the Deathworm.6naX
W05[…It’s insufficient, awaken your world.]xpO4Fs
J2LOThe voice, wanting to be as scornful as possible but understanding Vlad better than anyone, offered advice to the boy.T9nS4M
tehJIf he was going to try it anyway, he shouldn’t regret it.jrlW
gtxcXvl[You must amplify the vibrations!]hipVTL
1u0Dorothea’s imprint was delicate, but it wasn’t enough to catch the attention of the Deathworm, which already had its prey in sight.gEyEC3
nXjlntnHer imprint needed enhancement.6sksfRa
NFMm7mi“Hmph!”H0MCV
8suA9bGFollowing the advice of the voice, Vlad struck his sword against the ground.hLc
SERP5Then he closed his left eye.RxTf
jyquJhOTo shut out the still weak world of his soul.Wtn
2j5PqAt this moment, even if Jager were here, he wouldn’t say anything about the boy’s behavior.6IsHq
s5V5ddNIt was for the best.Lyaz4o
pNDtxi“…Rise.”o2Ofs
XH145EThe day he first said his name to God.SMt
Aft3QHe remembered the sunlight shining through the stained glass and falling onto his shoulders.nTTR5kc
3VFIt was warm and welcoming, and above all, he could see the priest smiling at him.mCA
Kvl7o“Rise!”51we
IOxWith the boy’s cry, a faint glow began to emanate from the sword that had been weeping.62P
0SgMWhite, green, and blue.XGHE
bNp4The boy’s world, which had not yet found its own color, was filled with the colors of the surrounding knights.5Q0u
KqYyThey were subtle but beautiful colors.uJ6E4
5d9lNdKWoof-woof-woof.cDPUj
giqyIDorothea’s imprint merged with the boy’s world and began to create a massive vibration.z1g
KJiXszThere was no tremor, but the air rippled, and there was no sound, but everyone present could hear it.F3Acf4
MigoIt was like a child’s cry: “I’m here!”U5W
9TKl“…!”OgVAap
lu1nqPThe young Deathworm was rushing toward the pilgrims with blood in its mouth.zlRr2
hDTjqfThe mute boy’s screams could also be heard.PehEp
AG3LIt was a voice more resonant than any other, a voice urging him forward from his own forehead.uG8O
4wNnMtSo, he turned his head.SnfHb
sX6Krrrrrr-.kXPYcS
GRxThe crunching sound stopped.j6LoVh
iHUAThe Deathworm recognized the boy’s world.wgbk
goNThe heart of the Deathworm beat strongly as it sensed the boy.k02EwI
wNam“…”eUrqP
G8G“…”Veawnmq
vqhiAnd everyone in the place looked at the radiant boy.CISp
u2WzWhWoof-woof-woof.AErIY
O4gqQhoFor a moment, the boy’s presence dominated everything.MNHr0Za
Gut9I am here.YarQ
Az7s“…Go!”DoZga
2qB“Vlad, throw me the sword!”06PIfq
VlvOsAfter what felt like an eternity, Deathworm’s head moved slightly, and Rutiger’s shout was heard.xEY
AmaMZThe boy’s presence momentarily stopped time in the meadow but did not dominate it.Cjmnyc
KMi9xThe boy’s world remained too faint a possibility for that.d899QKg
CDMW8But it was a struggle that served a purpose.jGK7
nUzGKaaaaaah-!8KP8
WBSibAdjusting its target, Deathworm emerged from the ground and lunged at the boy.hgI
S8Q0EC5With a movement much faster than the voice had predicted.ViXWkJ
69kh7ZAs if it had been waiting for this moment.kGEnA
kY7gW[Dodge!]hS1A
GG51“Stop…”SMDr4u
yKAThe urgency in the voice didn’t make it easy for Vlad to open his closed eyes.a8U
2nWcggcA faint world, still unsettled.rtdmVTQ
EiPqThe boy’s achievements were insufficient to quickly open that world.xGjl
S4IDnA jet-black shadow fell over Vlad’s cowering head.0qi
ZR58pIt came from a giant gesture of despair.7Vo
95nE“No!”XP7wX
Pt6Everyone squeezed their eyes shut in anticipation of what would happen next.zSU
3lzHmRutiger rushed to save the boy, but the space between them was as impassable as the passage of time.VlZp
oDB73[Aura with armor…!]6o2l6TE
GW55ZA massive presence that drowned even the cries of the voices.ae2
NCKThe moment the boy unconsciously held his sword against a huge Deathworm crashing into him.cWFcla
jmP“….!”ehd
exJ0vAoSomething blacker than the shadows of despair created by Deathworm.Wc7oQm
6veSomething as black as the color of a moonless night enveloped the boy’s eyes.COUCX2u
zPrBiKwagagagang-!WTR17
YZtlBefore the enormous world could crush the boy.87qMVt
jlMG***bHfHxc
ujMterBThe wind whistling past your ears.7ybVT
iCBThe sound of a massive heart within the hands of the boy.UfFjC
TJ5kzThe warm, pulsating blood coursing through his muscles.97I
qP5A dust cloud covered Vlad’s back.F1hj
XKNBut before it could envelop the boy, Vlad was already out of its reach.g4cG
AVlThey couldn’t keep up with the boy’s speed.TU6otS4
xxSYbt2Somewhere between excitement and surprise.eyM
MaKPOdzIn the blink of an eye, Vlad opened his closed eyes and found himself on the back of the horse.RpPifgf
JYvddC[Hahaha…]EqqdZb
yXbPDVlad rolled onto his back, not hearing the relieved groan in his voice.MD711A8
bolFThe wind howled, and everything around him buzzed past.dRPTsf8
ctvwhFxThe boy swore he had never felt such speed in his life.6ixpq
pjA7“…”Bg9bp
WlyVlad opened the palms of his hands to face the wind.YDAa
yJTThe heavy stream of air slipped between his fingers.hVY
ultw“Ha! Ha, ha, ha!”NiDV3n
uHLtVlad now laughed heartily, though he had been on the brink of death moments ago.w4PVIME
d7ZVyThe scene of his dreams unfolded before his eyes.pY22L
5hqKaaaaaaaah!1aP2
58PH“…”d1c3tBP
h8zC0The Deathworm’s howl came from behind the boy, who had momentarily forgotten his reality.kLFt
E7uk2He had succeeded in his intentions, but it was not over.v239
873O“Vlad! Vlad! Are you okay?”zuxR
0yv79dA dark-haired knight rode towards the boy running with the Deathworm’s roar.WjZk
QuE2r“I think I’m okay!”GU7h3
1g3n16c“Good!”RqgN2XE
aPScwWhen Rutiger and the knights rushed to stop the Deathworm, they realized the boy had imprinted his own sword.TDdsjf
iukXnGA sacrifice for the sake of others.lzCxCs
7IgiIt related to the Master of Swords’ second discipline.RjwTELp
FFIThe boy, though just a squire, had fulfilled his duties as well as any knight here.TijaR
1apcH“A good and brave decision. Although, of course, it is an act that will not go without praise.”21UFzV
oe4p7I“…”lT2hQ
OxqnnOnce Vlad’s behavior was pointed out, having committed once without thinking of the aftermath, Rutiger rode alongside the boy and looked at the approaching rift.Rmi
ojrX“Do you think you can move?”K7Yl9
aea“What?”5dC
pQBBJcHIt was a tough request for a boy who had barely managed to get on a horse, but Rutiger knew he could do it.pSFpEA6
JGdssSomething in the dark eyes of the horse convinced him.Yufy
6PsY“The pilgrims will only be safe if we deal with that suspicious creature. We have a fight on our hands.”GmRhjD
XZBPejm“But that’s a Deathworm…”evBoZ4h
9aHN“I can do it.”F7K
YSDCdPvAt that moment, Vlad could see.oRw4QYw
kMiThe remnants of flames burning intensely in Rutiger’s eyes.1YWqGsO
97Q0xA“You have Dorothea’s imprint, and you ride a good horse, so you should be able to lead it.”XMzF79l
p4OEJsXVlad could see what Rutiger was trying to do.A19WdLE
10G0He was going to use Vlad as bait to deal with the Deathworm in one blow.c7X
fylhTFB“Can you do it?”RotSf
pRW“Sure…”i3m8
ZVW7Instead of answering, Vlad stroked the neck of the black horse.rHUmL
xOZHe slightly turned his head to look at him, his eyes strangely trusting.TZl
8rO0yaI see.0Yg06wg
wHUk293You’re here to save someone too.DkJE
Oun8Fkt“I can do it.”7Zf9PMX
6Bp“Good.”DQ6Q
pajrpQTAs soon as he heard Vlad’s confident response, Rutiger quickly raised a finger to indicate how to proceed.jxhtc
MOJ9I0T“Turn around like this… and come towards me.”YL6q
H2IE92Vlad nodded impatiently, but Rutiger’s eyes were actually on the horse he was riding, not the boy.yZp
1iKXHe could almost see the black horse nodding to his fingers.o86Jtio
snCeF“Be careful.”OUt
54P6The boy and the horse nodded, and Rutiger and the knights moved away.UtN
7XiHbKaaaaaah!dcfld
i9MgyThe Deathworm burrowed into the ground again, chasing after the boy.WiI60R
gcM“Let’s go!”O5aEV
U0oTwnCOn his saddleless horse, the boy gripped the black horse’s mane with his thighs.S1w
AptjHeeeeeeeeeee.yaEEoL
92SiA cry like no other.CPDs
EVLuNot a pitiful cry for a dying herd, but rather a determination to end them.GcUftsU
hCRIQUpWith determination, the black azabache horse began to accelerate.PYkaK8l
Z2fy“Ugh!”P8DCY
rWPT3SA different sensation of speed than now.Uqa
UZfwfaNow with a speed that was almost frightening, Vlad clung to the neck of the horse and closed his eyes.7os
GInoShThe boy was a novice in riding.oyPt3e
KukElp[Lower the sword; you must make your presence known through your vibrations to attract it.]Xbfi
PvKW0oBut the boy was a man on a mission.fDc2L2
Vl0And on his own will.oI9zoZ
D2p62J“…”CN2ej
55ISIt was hard for him to keep his eyes open, but Vlad saw Rutiger in the distance, dismounting and drawing his sword, waiting for him.vWgc
c4AHe had to do it.icgAr
tKoMrHe had promised to do it.inzQ
svGc2“Ha!”etcp
BFToGQThe sensation of speed for the first time in his life.nLh4EO2
2LKPHThe dizzying hoof of the horse hitting the ground.evS
ZxfAlthough everything was new to him, Vlad stretched the sword towards the ground to give his best.YvXBoP4
BjkCO“One more… more!”7rk
Jld0STConsidering the boy’s position, almost lying sideways, the horse balanced him in place.TFnzOYr
zQlrbjLooking at the rift behind him, Vlad lowered his sword to the ground.HOTRUC
zR4SXKagang- Kagang- Kagangkgw1Z
fBnSparks flew from the sword, generated by the heat of friction between the steel and the earth.usaqj
V1FqzmU“Behold, I am here!”igK1YVn
qKL5D3JThe boy’s world faintly filtered through those sparks.hDHWEM
oZqBZDorothea’s imprint, carrier of Aura, began to spread vibrations through the subsurface via the sword.9lHSPTp
MuGbDeep.gpZ
t1XriBPSo deep that it was impossible not to bite into it.3jaW
trpKaaaaaaaah-!bWD
3p8NVThe ground cracked open with the rift.kuxk
RIcnA giant Deathworm emerged from below, chasing after the boy once again.geOR3Q
3cK“This way!”BhLuWx
D4ovBut the boy was not alone now.IRVJBc
Y1WKmA single star shone in the moonless night.hRzP4H6
3tykiThe shadow of a fallen dragon ran after him.CJBvM
gzh36bvThe boy shouted with all his might at the irrational and enormous worm.uAL
f3lMzzthat he was here.r4wD1
ms2QFYKaaaaaaaah!fE5x
HirO5“Kaaaaaaaaah!”gJCTVk
wc5gLyThe remnants of the dragon roared loudly, as if tearing through the prairie.771rQ0I
Ox06In response to his presence, the boy also shouted loudly.1ev
huPrTwo worlds with no hint of concession.Kvj
wfr0yI7All worlds are worthy of existence, but if they are destined to collide, only the brightest will survive.kFqYN
ybYzLLook, boy, the dragon is chasing you.V4BbX8
pypce7nTowards you, who are shining.LRcjSsp
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