[Protection of Flame]

“Haa!”

Woom! Tirna’s fist swung at the empty air.

“You little!”

Without a moment’s delay, Tirna twisted her body and released a roundhouse kick following the momentum.

“Nfufu.”

“Kh!?”

However, the kick she released was avoided by Ryugu by a paper-thin margin, who then grabbed her ankle and flung her away.

Naturally, Tirna regained her balance in mid-air like a cat, and fired a ranged attack, “Grand Tornado Blade!”, but—

“My, so scary.”

Splash! It hit the black umbrella Ryugu opened.

“This person… is strong…” Tirna, sliding on the snowy ground, bit her lips.

Even though she didn’t have a stable foothold, that was the highest-level wind attribute Combat Art delivered with Hallowed Sacred Treasure.

A direct hit from it should be able to punch a hole through even a thick metal shield, yet Ryugu could easily block it with such a thin umbrella.

Was it made from a special material like Hihiirokane?

With a smile on her face, Ryugu said to the doubtful Tirna, “This is just an ordinary umbrella. It has no special effect.”

“Liar. That Combat Art just now isn’t something that can be so easily blocked.”

“Yes, I know. However, your ‘breathing’ is very straightforward, making it easy to perceive. Therefore, your movements are easy to read and your Combat Art is simple to break. It was only natural, wouldn’t you agree? I can see your fatal weak points, after all.”

“Nonsense!”

BANG! Kicking off the ground while cladding herself in lightning, Tirna took a big swing at Ryugu with her fastest speed.

But.

“If you take one step forward, you will throw your breathing out of order—”

“—!?”

“If you take two steps forward, you will stop your breathing—”

BOOM! Ryugu stopped Tirna by grabbing her face, and then she proceeded to slam her head onto the ground.

“—Gah!?”

“Tirna!?”

“If you take three steps forward, you will leave only your skeleton.”

As Shiva’s grief-filled cry echoed to the surroundings, snowflakes fell on Ryugu, who had opened her umbrella again.

Looking down at Tirna who had become motionless, she said, “My apologies. I didn’t mean to kill you, but my fighting style is to use the opponent’s power against themselves. This just means that your move was simply too strong.”

You can be proud of that, Ryugu was about to turn her back on Tirna’s corpse, but—

“—!?”

Crush! Receiving a hit, her umbrella shattered.

And.

“…Where are you going?”

“Wha!? Your neck’s broken, how are you still alive!?”

For the first time, composure vanished from the face of Ryugu, who stepped back.

◇ ◇

Shortly before then.

“Now!”

““Okay!!””

Whoosh! Spear thrusts flew from three different directions. The ones who released them were Arcadia, Fluga, and Agartha.

The three were working together to confront the threat of the demon ‘Eden’ who had shown up at the dragonfolk village out of nowhere.

But.

――Clang!

“““—Wha!?”””

The three widened their eyes.

It was only natural.

Because Eden was blocking the three’s attacks at the same time.

“It’s futile.”

The sight was strange, to say the least.

Eden was still seated in the cross-legged position, but there were innumerable hands that manifested from his back, three pairs of which each caught the spear thrusts released by the three between their palms.

Then.

“Pierce! Phantom blade of water—Grand Mirage Eruption!”

SWOOSH! Magmell shot a torrential stake of water toward Eden.

Given the substantial nature that it had, it should be impossible to catch—or at least, that was what Magmell thought, but—

――Splatter!

“!?”

Lo and behold, Eden stopped Magmell’s Magic Art by aligning the hands before him and letting it skewer them.

Seeing that blood dripped down from the hands, it was clear that all of those hands had substance.

Seeing this sight, Arcadia nodded, “I see.”

She revealed a meathead-ish smile and said, “So we just have to hit him with a blow so strong that he can’t stop it!

“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” She took a stance with her Hallowed Sacred Treasure, preparing to release a big move.

“I like the sound of that!” Fluga, another meathead, agreed, “Okay, I’ll lend you my power! –Blazing Force!”

Shine! Power surged through Arcadia’s body.

“Thanks! –Here I go, Eden! This is my ultimate move that can crush even the star! Grand Lunar Force—Meteoriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite!!”

――BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

What was released from Arcadia’s hand was a perfected and vastly stronger form of the Combat Art《Lunar Force Meteorite》that she had used when she first fought Exa.

However.

“I told you, it’s futile. Why did you not suspect that my previous defense was a feint?”

““““!?””””

The moment Eden raised his hands, innumerable giant hands came into existence, which then gently touched Arcadia’s blow, gradually changing its trajectory.

“Arcadia-san, disperse your attack!?”

“Not good!? I can’t—”

――BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The blow circled around Eden as if to avoid him before being sent back toward Arcadia and swallowing her.

“Arcadia!?”

Everyone was convinced that Arcadia had died and was overwhelmed by despair, but—

“…How come, are you still alive…?”

Before Eden, whose face was covered in astonishment, stood Arcadia, who was being enveloped by gentle flames, seemingly stunned and unable to comprehend the situation.