Chapter 516: Devouring Jaws

The obsidian-looking dragon Vrilligant. He was the symbol of robbery, and the symbol of plunder. There were visible wounds on its massive body, but none of them were fatal.

It still posed a great threat, capable of killing a human with just a glance.

Lugis decided to approach it in order to stab his blade into it. His throat was dry. His wrists involuntarily trembled.

But at the same time, a huge throbbing excitement continued to lurk in his chest.

After all, what lay before him was the heroic tale that every child dreamed of. With swords in both hands, Lugis faced the frightening dragon. There was nothing better.

As Lugis widened his eyes, Agathos’ high-pitched voice rang in his ears.

「…Why bother getting close to it when you can kill it from afar? You’re an idiot, that much I know. But that gives you a fighting chance. Listen, with your sword, you’ll have a hard time slicing through its neck. So, you’re not planning on stabbing through its mouth, are you? 」

Her banter seemed unrelenting. But even as they were talking, the Jewels were dancing in the air, relentlessly stabbing the dragon with heat rays. It was quite skillful.

It gave Lugis enough time to breathe properly.

「Of course not. But people say it’s easier to kill when a sword is closer. It might be worth a try. Besides, as you said, I have a fighting chance. 」

「Oh, you’re truly one of a kind. Yes, a fighting chance. Preferably one that instantly brightens the world before your eyes. Yes! 」

Lugis glanced at the beautiful voice that echoed from Agathos’ mouth. He could see himself inside that jewel. Then, he raised his cheeks and bared his teeth.

「First, we’re both alive. Second…that person named Filaret is the one residing in the dragon’s heart. Do you really think that woman, a first-class sorceress, would do as she’s told and become its heart? 」

Yes, there was no way she wouldn’t do something. Her magical power within Lugis was pulsating continuously. It was hot. She was still alive.

Agathos was silent for a moment after hearing Lugis’ words. A look of exasperation loomed deeply within that jewel. She was that kind of being, after all.

「You know…that girl’s heart has been remodeled by the gears into a demonic power. It’s no exaggeration to say that the functions of her entire body have been adapted to Vrilligant’s demonic powers. So how can she resist? 」

Now it was Lugis’ turn to sigh. He thought Agathos had spent quite a bit of time with Filaret.

But even so, she still didn’t understand anything about that woman. She had no idea what Filaret La Volgograd was as a person and as a sorceress.

「Trust your allies, Jewel Woman. She’s a fighter. So I don’t want you to call this a predicament. Listen to me now, I’ll kill you if you do nothing. 」

Those words came out naturally. Lugis’ memory wasn’t entirely clear, though. But his body remembered very well that the woman named Filaret wasn’t a soft person.

Lugis lowered the demonic sword from his shoulder and took a step forward. Before he knew it, his eyes had narrowed, and he was staring solely at the dragon. He thought he had heard Agathos shout something, but he couldn’t hear her.

It couldn’t be helped. After all, right before his eyes was the heroic tale everyone was waiting for.

—

「You…You freak…! 」

A voice spilled from the lips of the Jewel Agathos. She couldn’t even sigh, overwhelmed by immense shock and rage.

After all, Lugis had inherited part of the powers of the Controller Drigman. That meant he should be able to “slash” from afar.

And yet, there was no doubt that slashing directly was the shortcut to victory.

For a moment, Agathos’ eyelids contorted. She couldn’t understand a single thing Lugis was thinking. She clenched her teeth unconsciously.

That dragon was definitely not an enemy that could be reached by will alone.

『Agathos. Agathos! 』

Agathos lifted her head. The dragon’s jaws were open, facing her, as if it were about to devour the sky itself.

Agathos instantly fell back, then spun in mid-air, leaning her body against her jewels.

In an instant, a roar and breath devoured and tore everything through the air. Agathos knew how terrifying it was.

This wasn’t destruction, blessing, or curse. It simply took away everything in its path. Be it magical power, life, or even souls.

The symbol of robbery and plunder. That was the very essence of Vrilligant’s existence

That’s why Vrilligant remained at the pinnacle of dragon power. Before Agathos stood one of the former gods, related to the Giant Flimslat and the Spirited God Zebrililith, also known as the Bastion Beast.

Agathos’ lips pulsated, and she waved her hands to command her jewels. Then, she spoke while gritting her teeth almost to the point of breaking.

「Leu…don’t even try it. Do you think I need your help? 」

Agathos felt her heart pound while professing those words. Leu, who was sharing her body, was clearly shaken.

『But Agathos…your magical power…』

「Stop talking. Who do you think I am? There’s no supreme jewel in this world that can surpass me. And do you think I can’t stand a chance without the help of a little girl like you? 」

Agathos cut off Leu’s contradiction as if torn apart. She had no intention of letting her say more words.

Besides, Agathos knew what she was trying to say. Leu was probably trying to say that Agathos was using too much magical power.

Agathos was currently wasting a lot of magical power. It was still a very dangerous move even when taking into account that Agathos was a magical devilish being.

Of course. Her magical power would run out in the not-too-distant future. Agathos was well aware of that.

But someone was desperately trying to win at all costs.

That person was Leu. She was trying to pour magical power from her soul into Agathos’ core, little by little. Agathos chattered her teeth and said the following.

「Look, your soul is far too fleeting to me. If you were to use all of your magical power on your own, then you’d disappear. Just behave yourself. 」

Disappear. It didn’t mean death, but a complete annihilation from this world. Losing one’s soul without completing the cycle was even more terrifying than death.

Agathos knew that fear all too well as a magical devilish being who lived a long life.

But Leu said, as if it were the most obvious thing.

『However…if we can defeat Vrilligant, then more people will be saved. It’s my wish. 』

Ah, there’s a freak here, too. Agathos couldn’t help but curse. Hot breath passed through her throat. Agathos raced through the air, commanding her jewels.

「…Leu. Stay asleep. If you do something, I’ll kill those people myself if Vrilligant gets to be killed in the end. 」

Agathos replied, unable to hide her irritation. Leu fell silent involuntarily. Agathos didn’t understand why she couldn’t hide her irritation.

But she knew the true nature of her emotions. Leu’s excessive devotion to others, her incredibly strong spirit of self-sacrifice, and her absolute determination to save others.

How could she devote herself to such lengths?

…Even though she had suffered, despaired, and nearly died for the sake of others.

Agathos pictured the day she first met Leu in her mind. She lowered her gaze for a moment, then swung her long limbs.

「I am an unchanging, immortal jewel. Even the Great Demon Vrilligant cannot make me change my ways. Go, Lugis. You’re going to kill that dragon, aren’t you? 」

Agathos spoke while the jewels spun around on her fingertips.

In an instant, a swarm of jewels unfolded, enveloping Vrilligant’s body, showering heat rays like rain. As if this were the very essence of her being, Agathos transformed her surroundings into a bright light.

Twilight. A time that was neither dark nor bright. In it, only Agathos’ bright light filled the whole space. A dazzling, magnificent display, reminiscent of a glittering fantasy.

…Through the gap, the obsidian-looking dragon was visible, opening its jaws as if crawling out of an underground hell.

Its large mouth opened, as if to envelop Agathos’ entire body.

Agathos smiled while her cheeks twitched. A drop of sweat dripped down one of her cheeks.

「…Well, it can’t be helped, can it? 」

The dragon’s jaws closed tightly and mercilessly.

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