Chapter 713

A dazzling and brilliant explosion unfolded like a bouquet of blooming flowers.

Flames and streaks of light embroidered the surroundings, but there was no scream from the dragon as the Empire’s people had hoped.

The combined assault of the Mage Tower and the Holy Legion failed to leave a single wound on Nidhogg.

The invisible sound pressure contained within the Insect-Dragon’s roar swept through like a shield wielded by a paladin, shattering the rain of magic and miracles.

The power of ordinary people could not penetrate the sound barrier created by Nidhogg.

At the very least, it required the level of a high-level magician. Without reaching that level, it was not only impossible to wound Nidhogg but even touching its scales was no easy feat.

The same was true for the arrows fired by the archers that followed.

The arrows aimed at the Insect-Dragon were pushed back by the sound pressure, losing their strength and scattering like fluttering leaves. Some even turned around and flew toward the Empire’s knights.

“The arrows aren’t working!”

A panicked archer turned around and shouted.

“Don’t panic! That thing can’t keep roaring forever!”

Leopold raised his sword and pointed forward, shouting.

“Divide the troops and fire in sequence. Aim for the moment it takes a breath!”

If it blocked arrows with its roar, all they had to do was keep firing arrows until the roar stopped.

After all, as a living creature, it would eventually have to stop roaring and take a breath.

The archers divided into three groups and fired in sequence. The endless rain of arrows filled the sky like the bars of a cage.

“Is the Dragon-Slaying Crossbow ready yet?”

“Loading complete!”

“Good, fire all at once the moment the roar ends! The first shot is just to test its power. Save the second shot for when it takes off!”

“Yes!”

The soldiers holding the Dragon-Slaying Crossbow responded in unison.

Leopold’s calm and composed demeanor as he personally commanded the battlefield had somewhat restored the morale of the soldiers on the city walls.

—

【 Kraaaaaaaah! 】

Not all magic was blocked by the roar’s barrier.

The statement that only high-level magic could penetrate it implied that high-level magicians and masters could pierce through the Insect-Dragon’s roar.

– Kwaaaaang!

A thin line of fire, as fine as a needle, struck the Insect-Dragon’s carapace.

The flame arrow, which seemed too small to be high-level magic, exploded upon contact with the Insect-Dragon’s body, expanding into a massive flame storm that raged violently.

It was Floheta’s signature spell, compressing flames to their limit before firing.

“Her firepower is impressive.”

Ophelia let out a competitive sigh and simultaneously activated three spells.

A spinning Wind Drill pierced through the atmospheric barrier created by the dragon, compressed the surrounding air like an invisible hand to widen the hole, and then fired a black flash containing the Curse of Weakening through it.

An exquisitely precise chain of magic. Her talent for mana control was shining brightly.

‘Disgusting power…’

Lacey frowned at Ophelia’s skillful use of curse-based magic but refrained from voicing any criticism.

While using dark magic or heretical techniques like Soul Extraction would warrant immediate capture and execution, curse-based magic was legally permitted for acquisition and use under Empire law.

– Kwaaaaang!

Following that, others also unleashed long-range attacks on the Insect-Dragon.

A massive arrow fired by Milia tore through the sky, streaking toward the Insect-Dragon’s eye like a beam of light, while the spells of high-level magicians, who had been pardoned for colluding with the Grimnir Church Order, rained down from all directions.

The Lightning Spear summoned by High Paladin Bels split the sky with a thunderous roar, and master-level knights led by Damien hurled Black Iron Throwing Spears with all their might.

Every single one of those attacks carried the power to shatter rocks and break steel.

A feast of killing intent poured from all directions. Nidhogg roared fiercely, folding its wings and raising its tail high.

【 Kraaaahk! 】

The next moment, a literal storm of destruction unfolded.

Nidhogg swung its tail like a whip while spreading its folded wings, sweeping away all attacks coming from three directions.

Its movements were as fast as lightning and as intense as a volcano.

Then, it inhaled deeply, swallowing the flame storm that sought to engulf its body, and swung its forelegs like scythes, deflecting all the incoming throwing spears.

Though the master-level spears and arrows managed to pierce its carapace, they only barely embedded themselves at the tips. Against the Insect-Dragon’s massive body, they were little more than scratches from needles.

【 Kaaak! 】

Having effortlessly blocked all attacks and turned a radius of a hundred meters into an open field, the dragon charged at the speechless humans like a beast. As if it was now its turn.

“Damn it, everyone, dodge to the sides!”

Though Damien didn’t need to say it, the others were already leaping in all directions. Taking that mass of a charge head-on would be nothing but recklessness.

Milia and Ferne leapt across rooftops to create distance, while Floheta and Ophelia levitated into the air.

The other four high-level magicians had already been positioned far away.

Bels leapt into the air while carrying Lacey, and Persval and the leader of the Royal Guard hurled throwing spears before rolling to the side.

【 Grrrrrrr…! 】

The Insect-Dragon’s footsteps halted as it watched its enemies scatter like ants caught in a waterfall.

The aura it emitted was now filled with a burning killing intent, unlike before.

While the soldiers’ arrows posed no threat, the attacks from the thirteen humans surrounding it carried enough power to pierce its carapace and wound its flesh.

Even if it were only superficial wounds unless hit directly, that alone was enough stimulation for the Insect-Dragon to recognize them as enemies.

【 Khaaaaaaaaak!】

Its eight eyes rolled around, tracking the traces of its enemies, while the dark energy pooling beneath its feet bubbled and seethed.

The insect monsters that had infested Nidhogg’s remains were now fully rampaging.

—

The enraged Insect-Dragon became a calamity itself, sweeping through the city.

The encirclement was shattered in an instant, and knights and magicians were either trampled and crushed to death like bugs or forced to flee in all directions like insects.

It was as if the roles and positions of bugs and humans had been reversed.

In just thirty seconds, a tenth of the city had been reduced to rubble and sunk underground.

The Insect-Dragon drew up the bubbling dark energy like lava, covering its entire body, and then ran across rooftops, swinging its tail, claws, wings, and head to crush and destroy everything in sight.

There was no one who could stop this frenzy.

The Dragon-Slaying Crossbow had the power to pierce Nidhogg’s carapace, but its difficult aiming and slow reload speed made it ineffective. Meanwhile, the core forces, including Damien, couldn’t even gather to coordinate an attack and were forced to scatter and fight haphazardly.

A plan? Who had the luxury to think about that? If they stopped even for a moment, they might be turned into mincemeat the next second.

“Sigh… Nothing ever goes right in this world, seriously.”

Ferne, who had leapt onto the cathedral’s bell tower to avoid the dragon’s tail, let out an irritated sigh and gritted her teeth.

Even with the strongest bow she could draw, ordinary arrows could only shatter parts of its carapace at best.

‘If I use Spirit Energy, the elders will find out…!’

Since defying the elders’ orders and hiding under Ha-shal-leur’s skirt, Ferne had not summoned a single spirit.

The moment a spirit was summoned in the Imperial Capital, the elders would immediately detect it.

At first, they might wonder what was happening, but they would soon realize that Ferne had betrayed Alvheim and sided with the Empire.

If that happened, it was clear that she would lose most of her power.

While they might think she had been captured by the Empire and leave her alone for now, the moment her betrayal was confirmed, the elders would sever her connection to the Blessing of the World Tree.

Ferne had no complaints about losing her connection to the World Tree—in fact, she desired it—but that could only happen after everything was over.

Once the blessing was severed, the power she would have left would be no more than that of a physically fit human. In that state, she would undoubtedly be subdued by Hersh with a single finger.

That would be troublesome. In such a weakened state, she wouldn’t be able to do anything.

If she had decided to betray her kin, she at least needed to cause a major disaster in Alvheim.

For that reason, Ferne had refrained from using Spirit Energy even as she watched the Insect-Dragon rampage.

Until now.

‘I have no choice…!’

Ferne gritted her teeth and traced the flow of the blessing within her body, awakening the consciousness of a high-level spirit she hadn’t summoned in a long time.

This wasn’t the time to worry about the future.

If the Imperial Capital was destroyed here and the Empire’s forces were wiped out, even if her power remained intact, her revenge would be a distant dream.