[Vol. 8] Chapter 209: Holy Hymn, Storm, and the Dragon’s Funeral
“What… is this?”
With his experience, the Sword Saint didn’t need anyone to explain. He could tell that the girl in the white robe was a priest-type fighter, and he knew she was casting buffs and support spells on them. But wasn’t this magic way too strong?
As someone who had reached the near peak of martial arts, the Sword Saint had complete control over every ounce of his power. And right now, he could clearly feel it. Not only had all the injuries he sustained during the months-long underground battle with Tartanos completely healed in an instant, but an overwhelming power was now surging through his body. It had reduced the burden of wielding his heavy sword by at least 80%!
What that meant was obvious.
A sixth-tier spell? No… Could this be a seventh-tier holy spell? Was there really someone in this world who could cast near-god-level spells all by themselves?
That would mean this girl’s understanding of holy magic was already on par with, or perhaps even beyond, his own mastery of the sword.
The Sword Saint was stunned. He was just about to speak in praise when—
The girl raised her hand and waved it again.
“Second Movement: Judgment Concerto.”
The gentle, harmonious melody suddenly shifted. Like a musical piece entering a new movement, the holy song didn’t lose its sacred feel, but it gained a sharp, commanding tone. Countless crimson-gold notes shot down like a storm of swords and arrows, raining into the body of the restless stone serpent, coating its surface in a layer of red-gold light.
This was… a spell that increased the damage a target takes and possibly even linked damage across its whole body!?
With his sharp eyes, the Sword Saint immediately realized what the Judgment Concerto was doing.
Over 300 years, Tartanos had spread its roots deep underground, possibly far beyond the entire Chaos Magic Valley. To destroy it completely, they’d have to dig up and flatten an area hundreds of kilometers wide, something utterly impossible.
But this spell, Judgment Concerto, seemed to link all of Tartanos’ underground body to its visible surface. Not only did it boost the damage it took, it also made it so that attacking any part of it could affect the whole. A spell like that... he’d never even heard of it before!
But even before the Sword Saint could recover from that shock, the black-haired girl lifted her holy staff for a third time.
“Third Movement: Heart of the Saint.”
The holy music suddenly swelled in volume, reaching what felt like its grand finale. Countless angelic figures with instruments and wings appeared in the air, and a curtain of golden light formed from musical notes wrapped around the battlefield. The dome, several kilometers wide, surrounded the rock serpent at the center, creating a grand barrier that cut off all connection between the inside and outside.
It was clearly a protective spell, something meant to contain destruction and stop power from spilling out.
Three movements played in a row. Though it looked like a careful build-up, the actual speed was so fast that even Tartanos hadn’t been able to react. Only when the entire holy symphony was complete did the Sword Saint’s pupils narrow slightly. He now looked at the girl wrapped in divine light with completely new eyes.
“...A god-tier spell.”
But before he could be overwhelmed by the meaning behind such power, another change forced him back to action. His expression sharpened instantly, and he gripped his sword tighter. His aura turned as sharp as a raging storm.
“Not good, it’s trying to escape!”
Clearly, Tartanos may have been a mindless beast, acting on instinct and desire. But even so, it knew how to avoid danger. Feeling the way these holy songs had shifted the flow of the battle, and having lost its external support, the monster finally gave up fighting. It made its move without hesitation.
The enormous serpent twisted its mountain-sized body. Not to strike again, but to retreat, diving quickly underground. In the blink of an eye, half of it had already vanished from sight!
But of course, Bevis wasn't about to let it get away that easily.
“So... this must be fate. Tartanos, my brother and I have held a grudge against you for 300 years. Looks like today… it finally ends!”
The wind swirling around the Sword Saint’s massive blade suddenly burned hotter and fiercer. With the divine hymn still playing, he was now far stronger than even at his peak. Within moments, a hurricane-like vortex exploded around him, but it wasn’t just air. It was pure, refined sword energy, shining with brilliant light.
“Flowing Wind Style—Fallen Saint Slash!!!”
With a single strike, a storm rose from the ground. The sword energy surged like a raging windstorm, pinning the massive stone serpent in place. Countless sharp blades of sword intent sliced through its scales at incredible speed. Black blood sprayed in every direction. Even the mighty Tartanos couldn’t move under such force, it was completely frozen on the spot!
“HSSSSSSSSSS!!!”
The serpent, which had ignored all wounds before, now let out a deep, panicked screech, filled with the fury and fear of a beast pushed to the brink. To Bevis, it was the sweetest sound he had ever heard.
This monster had destroyed what he once held most dear. For three centuries, Bevis had dreamed of its destruction. But Tartanos was too hard to kill. He had long thought this day would never come. Yet thanks to unexpected allies, the Sword Saint now stood on the edge of that long-awaited victory, with shock and joy beyond words.
He knew it. The final, decisive strike was coming.
And as if answering his thoughts, a deep, powerful chant, one hard to understand but filled with ancient meaning, began to echo in the air. It was the language of dragons.
[This body is the ruler of the sky.]
[This body is the conqueror of the earth.]
[This body commands all the light in the world, breaking the endless cycle of darkness.]
[With this body as the guide—]
[O stars beyond the sky—]
[O universe deeper than the earth—]
[Break your chains! Roar, rise, crush all, and spread your wings! Shatter the sky, erase the land!]
[In the name of the Dragon God Xiao Guang—descend!]
“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!”
The sky turned instantly to black. From the thunderous storm clouds above, a thousand-meter-long dragon of pure white light descended from the heavens. It had nine heads, each bearing a different emotion. Kindness, fury, wisdom, courage, rage…
With wings large enough to cover the sky, the dragon unleashed an overwhelming force from ancient times. That pressure fell across the battlefield, and it stirred something inside Tartanos. Somewhere deep within that monstrous serpent's soul… something stirred. Something that remembered it had once been a dragon too.
It froze.
There was no more escape, no more struggle. The giant serpent, marked by strange draconic horns, simply stared blankly at the approaching nine-headed dragon. Then, at last… it quietly closed its blood-red, vicious eyes.
And in that final moment, a faint will rose. So weak it was barely noticeable, but enough to make the dragon-girl in the sky raise an eyebrow in surprise. It felt like… remorse. Or maybe, a prayer.
[Thank you for granting this body liberation. Fern Knox, the Sin Dragon, offers you my deepest respect. May your wings reign over the world and break through every obstacle. Ah... praise be to you, great... Dragon God!]
“BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!”
A roar louder than anything shook the heavens and earth. And with it, three hundred years of pain, hatred, and twisted fate—finally came to an end.