――It was truly a passage from a legendary battle.

「――――」

The dual swords of the 『Sword Demon』 danced, while the dragon claws of the opposing 『Divine Dragon』 stirred up a tempest.

Born as the supreme being of all life, the dragon, and among them, the 『Divine Dragon』 with its exceptional abilities, its claws, its fangs, its scales, are all akin to natural divine artifacts.

Every time this immense power was wielded, the wind screamed in agony, the sky bent and distorted, and the world seemed to heat up. Even a single direct hit would make it difficult to continue the battle.

The 『Sword Demon』 had a method to prevent this fearsome divine artifact from being wielded to its full potential.

The reason the 『Divine Dragon』 appeared before the 『Sword Demon』 was due to the danger faced by a girl with the same traits as the lineage of the 『Lion King』. The girl was in a room at the back where the battle began, watching intently without even holding down her hair that was being blown by the swirling wind.

Shielding the girl with his back, he positioned himself so that the destruction caused by the 『Divine Dragon』 would not involve her.

By doing so, for whatever reason, the 『Divine Dragon』 feared the girl getting hurt and could not exert its full power, thus slightly easing the footsteps of death approaching the 『Sword Demon』.

Therefore――,

「――――」

The 『Sword Demon』 moved away from the position where he shielded the girl, closing the distance to the death zone himself.

Exposing himself to the raging storm of destruction and annihilation, he clutched the two steel swords in his hands as lifelines, throwing himself towards the precipice of an end without life if he misstepped.

By using the battlefield to his advantage and entangling the opponent's emotions, he could inch closer to victory.

However, it was inelegant. More than inelegant, it was utterly disrespectful, unprofitable, and pointless. ――What value would there be in stealing a victory here and now by filling the gap in sword skill with mere tactics?

――The 『Sword Demon』 was a man who lived on the battlefield.

He knew only too well the weight of the blood spattered on his soul, that there are battles for survival, histories told only by the victors and the living, and defeats and deaths that offer no excuses.

But now, this moment is different. ――No, from here on, in every battle where the 『Sword Demon』 grips his sword and faces someone with that steel, there is no meaning in a victory that is taken.

He must subdue the opponent he most needs to defeat with sword skill.

In that journey, the 『Sword Demon』 has no time to spend on detours. If he is to make this aging, deteriorating body the same steel as before, he must keep his soul immersed in searing heat.

「――――」

The sword wind raged, and the dragon claws were stripped and sliced away, flying through the air. It was narrow. Too narrow for swinging a sword or for the 『Divine Dragon』 to fully wield its tail or fangs in this battle zone. The 『Sword Demon』's heels exploded, and his sword light accelerated, leaving the wind and sound behind, piercing the chest of the 『Divine Dragon』, causing the space to burst.

The hardness of dragon scales is greatly influenced by the total amount of mana each individual possesses.

The more powerful and long-lived the dragon, the more robust and resilient it becomes, and for the highest-ranking 『Divine Dragon』, its dragon scales surpass even the hardness of diamonds.

Against those diamond-like dragon scales, the 『Sword Demon』 mercilessly wielded his steel, striking, slashing, and piercing repeatedly. Even so, the steel he wielded remained intact――the newly prepared dual swords 『Trias』, crafted by the same swordsmith lineage that forged the renowned swords of the 『Astrea Family』, were for the 『Sword Demon』 to fulfill his purpose.

The hilt fit comfortably in his hand, the weight became one with his body, and the sword light clashed with the diamond, yet remained unchipped――,

「――――」

In response to the fierce assault of the 『Sword Demon』, the 『Divine Dragon』 was not merely on the receiving end.

Even if the heart within was not its original, by unleashing the performance of its dragon shell, said to be the strongest on earth, without hesitation, the 『Divine Dragon』 could easily manifest cataclysmic might.

It is undoubtedly the right granted by the 『Divine Dragon』 from Od Lagna, to reshape the world as desired, to affix convenient outcomes to reality, and to project them.

A roar splits the sky, and dragon claws rend the earth. Dragon scales deflect the full force of the 『Sword Demon』 a hundred times over, and the dragon aura emitted from its entire body dyes the air of the Royal Capital in the color of the 『Divine Dragon』.

The tail is swung, striking the aged 『Sword Demon』 head-on. — No, the 『Sword Demon』 thrusts the sword tip into the tail to dodge, swiftly climbing up it and closing in on the throat. A roar to meet the attack. Light is slashed from the front, a flash of light races. Defended by the dragon scales on the shoulder, a momentary reset — the clash resumes.

"――――"

The wings spread wide become blades, and the sword storm of gusts stirred up by the 『Divine Dragon』 slices through the Royal Capital. Weaving through that wind, the tail traces the trajectory of the 『Sword Demon』, leaving a trail of blood, striking into the death zone. With a resounding crash, the body of the 『Sword Demon』 is violently blown backward. A direct hit — no, seeing that it couldn't be dodged, the 『Sword Demon』 aligns with the tail's rotation, relaxing the fingers, ankles, knees, hip joints, waist, ribs, shoulders, neck, and crown, extracting the fatal impact from the entire body, flying, flying, flying.

Piercing through one, two, three buildings, the 『Sword Demon』 thrusts the sword into the ground and raises its face. The fighting spirit remains unwavering. There, the breath of the 『Divine Dragon』 approaches as a white light.

"――――"

With a flash of sword light, the 『Sword Demon』 splits the tip of the breath with a sword flash, twisting its body into the slight gap created, escaping being burned by the light, and waits in the air. There, flapping its wings, the jaws of the 『Divine Dragon』 mercilessly bite into the 『Sword Demon』.

Dragon fangs, boasting strength and sharpness surpassing dragon claws, attempt to tear apart the body of the 『Sword Demon』. The 『Sword Demon』 aligns the sword tips of both hands precisely, using them as a support bar to prevent the jaws from closing. Had the sword tips been directed at the upper and lower jaws, the closed jaws would have crushed life.

The sense of smell that refuses 'death' — no, the greed to seize victory connects life.

With the jaws unable to close, the 『Divine Dragon』 abandons the life-taking by dragon fangs while holding the 『Sword Demon』, and the explosive space from the dragon's intense tongue click strikes the entire body of the 『Sword Demon』 head-on.

"――――"

Blood spurts from both ears, the ruptured eardrums, and the inner semicircular canals shake. Gritting teeth, standing firm, the 『Sword Demon』 is struck by the extending dragon tongue, thrown unguarded outside the jaws — into the high sky of the Royal Capital.

While captured by the jaws, the 『Sword Demon』, taken into the sky by the flapping 『Divine Dragon』, is tossed by the wind of free fall with no means to act, descending rapidly, rapidly, directly downward from a height that would make the faint-hearted lose consciousness just by looking down.

If it falls like this, even the 『Sword Demon』 won't escape unscathed. That is the decisive difference between a human living on the ground and a dragon permitted to dominate the sky with its massive body —,

"――――"

However, even in a situation that seems like a decisive blow, the 『Divine Dragon』 does not leave the 『Sword Demon』 unattended.

Preparing a breath by inflating the dragon's large lungs, if released onto the Royal Capital spreading below, it would cause immense damage, breaking the attempt to avoid killing — no, people have been evacuated from the noble district directly below.

Someone who set this place as the battlefield in advance evacuated all those who might be involved, constructing the battlefield. Admiration and gratitude for that skill.

"――――"

The breath released is larger and hotter than before, turning into scorching heat as it approaches the 『Sword Demon』.

Without wings and possessing no means to defy gravity, the 『Sword Demon』 can only take the direct hit without even being able to see the white light head-on — in an instant, the 『Sword Demon』, twisting its body in the air, is joined from below by a foothold rushing to meet it.

"――――"

Before ascending into the sky, the 『Sword Demon』 used a tall clock tower, one of the buildings he had pierced through, as a foothold by twisting his body mid-fall. The 『Sword Demon』 landed on the tower, bent his knees, drew his twin swords, and gazed skyward. ――In a breath, the gazes of the 『Sword Demon』 and the 『Divine Dragon』 intersected, and in an instant, a beautiful sword flash collided head-on with a white light.

「――――」

The surface of the water burst, and a sound like thin glass shattering echoed in succession as the white light was cleaved from within.

It was the breath of the 『Divine Dragon』. It possessed the power and right to swallow many things upon impact, peel off their surface, and lay bare the profound. Nevertheless, ignoring these as it pleased, the sword strike unleashed by the 『Sword Demon』 split the light.

――A truly pure sword flash, leaving no room for anything evil, beautifully severed everything.

「――――」

The severed breath spread radially across the ground, and the noble district of the Royal Capital was flattened and dismantled.

The tower carrying the 『Sword Demon』 and the crimson mansion protected by the 『Divine Dragon』 were the only structures spared from direct damage, but everything else bore witness to the immense power of the dragon.

The 『Sword Demon』 covered in white soot from the aftermath of the white light leaped from the collapsing tower, while the 『Divine Dragon』, flapping its wings, continued to emit hostility from the sky, their gazes meeting between the sky and the ground.

And then――,

「――――」

The inexhaustible sword energy and the overwhelming dragon pressure clashed once more, causing everything living and non-living in the Royal Capital Lugnica to tremble.

△▼△▼△▼△

『Do you like flowers?』

In a world shrouded in white, the voice of a beloved woman, backed by a field of yellow flowers, could be heard.

As the world distorted under the dragon's aura, twisting his body against the oncoming lethal wind, Wilhelm swung the sword light held in both hands, and countless thoughts raced through his mind.

『Have you come to like flowers?』

She was a beloved woman. At first sight, he was drawn to her, and the foolish man tried to cover that inexplicable emotion.

Even so, their relationship was not severed, and he indulged in that environment, fearing to cut through, immersing his heart and body in a terribly cowardly and sluggish time, neglecting time itself.

『Swinging a sword to protect someone, I think that's good.』

The beautiful sword flash that saved Wilhelm, who was about to lose his life, in his hometown engulfed in burning flames.

Without harboring the desire to wield a sword, yet loved by the sword, the fact that she gave him a reason to wield it burned his soul with denial, filling Wilhelm with countless angers.

Anger at his weakness, at his secrets, at his own inadequacy――anger, anger, anger.

By cutting down and overpowering all that anger, dedicating himself to imbuing every passion into his sword, he finally stood before her, earning the right to cross swords.

Thus, he reclaimed the beloved woman from the detested Sword God's side, making her his own.

『Do you love me?』

――No, was she made his own, or did she make him hers? The correct answer is unknown.

He was simply happy. Fortunate. The greatest blessing he could receive began the moment he met Theresia and continued to fill Wilhelm until the moment it was lost.

――Theresia's 『death』 is an undeniable tragedy.

Unable to properly exchange farewell words, failing to convey the words he should have, Wilhelm was consumed by lamentation and wailing, overlooking many things in his despair, and made mistakes.

Yet, the days spent with Theresia were happiness for Wilhelm.

Could it be concluded that the entire happy time faded and was ruined as if it never existed the moment their last day ended in tragedy?

Even if it temporarily lost its color, could one not wish for it to become vibrant again?

Absolutely not.

To prevent Theresia's 'death' and her 'life' from ending in tragedy, he pursued revenge.

And if wielding the sword for Theresia could restore color to those days, he couldn't stop wishing for the same color to return to the faded scenery and struggling for it.

The raging wind, the unleashed roar of the 'Divine Dragon.'

Piercing the sword tip into the wrath of the 'Dragon' that scorches the world white, cutting through, beyond the cleared view, he sees the regret he must cut into while still coughing up blood.

――A cloudy sky, an empty gravestone, unending sobs and voices of lament, words of prayer wishing for peace.

In the center of those who gathered and shed tears for the beloved her, he can't remember what he spoke, what he conveyed, or what words he chose so that Theresia's presence would be deeply engraved in them.

What he remembers is regret. Strong, overwhelming, indelible regret of Wilhelm.

The child, too young to understand reason, who couldn't be with the father and mother they should have been with, the words chosen for compassion and comfort, and the foolish self who rejected and couldn't accept them.

The faded sky of that moment, the earth, the faces of the people, himself and the child――,

『――It's okay, Grandfather. When she passed away, Grandmother was not the 'Sword Saint.' So, the 'Sword Saint' hasn't lost.』

"……Please stop."

『Because, the 'Sword Saint' must not lose. That's what Father said.』

"I beg you, please stop."

『So, even if you lament, the Astrea Family is safe, Grandfather.』

"Not here, not now……please don't talk about that."

Repeated, powerless words of rejection.

Layered words of comfort from the child who had decided what to believe.

And then――,

『I am the next 'Sword Saint.' ――I was bestowed before Grandmother passed away.』

"――Stop it already! What do you want me to say! Don't make me say that because of you, Theresia……your grandmother died!!"

『――――』

"Don't make me say it……"

In the faded scenery, everything else vanishes, leaving just himself and the child. In that moment, Wilhelm steps forward, thrusting a sword into his immature and foolish self of that day.

Words left unspoken do not reach the other person. Even if feelings are mutually understood, the thousands, the tens of thousands of words that should have been said do not reach the other person.

Similarly, words once spoken, no matter the form, inevitably reach the other person.

What they take from it depends on the capacity of the one who receives it.

But how foolish it is to blame the vessel for overflowing when more water is poured into an incomplete vessel than it can hold.

The faded world, the face of the child from that day――Reinhard's face, he cannot remember.

It's not that he can't remember it; he didn't see it because he couldn't bear to look after saying something he shouldn't have.

And the words spoken may not be received by just one person.

『……I heard you scolded him at Mom's funeral. Yet, you want to see Reinhard? What right does a father who can't distinguish between what's okay to say and what's not have to apologize to him?』

"That child is mine and Luanna's...! Saying that she caused her mother's death or that she took away blessings! It's all a mistake! I will... I will prove it!"

"It's not father. It's me. —It's something I have to do."

Once spoken, words cannot be taken back.

Wilhelm's harsh words towards Reinhard quickly spread, reaching even Heinkel, who had not attended the funeral, thus losing any chance for apology or explanation.

At the same time, the foolish reprimand from grandfather to grandson spread beyond the family, and more than the scandal, the fact of the inheritance of the 'Blessing of the Sword Saint' became widely known.

Heinkel never allowed Wilhelm to meet Reinhard.

Reinhard, as Heinkel instructed, avoided Wilhelm, and their interactions ceased.

Wilhelm, distanced by Heinkel and Reinhard, immersed himself in revenge alone.

The tangled relationship of these three was once again tied in the watergate city involving Theresia's corpse soldiers, and it led to a decisive rift once more. —If that were the end, it would be a tragedy.

However, Wilhelm, who chose not to let Theresia's 'death', 'life', and 'existence' end in tragedy, also objected to concluding this relationship with tragedy.

And he knew no other way to voice his objection to the irresistible fate than through the sword.

—Reinhard is the 'Sword Saint'.

As long as he continues to carry that mission unwaveringly, the opportunity to exchange thoughts with Reinhard, who stands beyond the 'Sword Saint', and to color the faded scenery will not come.

Therefore, Wilhelm van Astrea—no, Wilhelm Trias, the one who takes the sword from the 'Sword Saint', must let his life run wild with the light of the sword.

△▼△▼△▼△

—Once again. It was indeed a passage spoken of in legends.

The battle between the 'Sword Demon' and the 'Divine Dragon', despite various factors, became a seesaw struggle, balancing the honed steel swordsmanship against the innate power of the apex creature.

In the Royal Capital, the area of the noble district that became the battlefield was leveled, with collapsed buildings and destroyed roads telling the tale of the tremendous clash between beings in a realm unreachable by ordinary people.

In terms of body size, the presence or absence of footing, and even in the struggle for the decisive blow, the sword light and dragon aura were evenly matched.

The battle between human and dragon, so rare that it might not be seen even after a hundred years in this era, was, astonishingly, the second dragon battle for the 'Sword Demon'.

Roughly speaking, it could only be described as the fate prepared by the great entity governing destiny, continuously providing the 'Sword Demon' with worthy adversaries, as he willingly stepped into the most dangerous battlefields in this world.

From the premise, this battle was overwhelmingly disadvantageous for the 'Sword Demon'.

The slashes of the dual swords wielded by the 'Sword Demon' could not pierce the tough dragon scales of the 'Divine Dragon', while the dragon claws and dragon fangs of the 'Divine Dragon' could easily tear the life from the 'Sword Demon' if they even grazed him.

The 'Sword Demon' continued to evade with techniques exerting his utmost strength, but eventually, limits would come. —Logically speaking, that is.

However, who could imagine the 'Sword Demon', covered in blood, soot-stained white, and with his back scorched, succumbing to the claws of the 'Divine Dragon' after exhausting his spirit?

The fierce expression of the 'Sword Demon', the dense sword aura that made one feel as if their life was being threatened just by being exposed to it, the sword power that once brought down the 'Sword Saint' in its prime, denies the ordinary reality, and instills those who witness it with the realization of extraordinary hope and expectations.

――The title of 'Sword Saint' represents the sword of the Kingdom of Lugnica and the bearer of hope.

When that hope was thwarted by the 'Sword Demon', people were expected to despair and look to the sky. It was only natural, given the defeat of the 'Sword Saint'. However, reality was different.

Instead of lamenting the defeat of the 'Sword Saint' and the laying down of his sword, everyone celebrated. It was the birth of new hope—because new expectations were placed on the 'Sword Demon' who had defeated the 'Sword Saint'.

The 'Sword Demon', who could do nothing but relentlessly pursue strength and hone himself like the steel he wielded.

The straightforward and uncompromising way of the 'Sword Demon' inspired many to lift their heads, embrace hope, and look forward to the future.

Now, at this moment, imagining a future where the 'Sword Demon' facing the 'Divine Dragon' is defeated is impossible for the same reason. People see hope in the way of the 'Sword Demon'.

As long as there is a desired scenery beyond where that sword cuts through, it seems inevitable that it will be reached.

Therefore, the battle between the 'Sword Demon' and the 'Divine Dragon' was at a stalemate, with both unable to find a decisive blow, focusing entirely on how to surpass the other in this life-or-death struggle.

Thus, the outcome of the battle between these transcendents could not be determined between the 'Sword Demon' and the 'Divine Dragon'.

"――――"

"――――"

In the center of the city turned battlefield, the gaze of the 'Sword Demon' and the 'Divine Dragon' intersected, and silence was exchanged. However, although the result was silence for both, the quality of that silence differed.

On one hand, patience; on the other, astonishment. Both are emotions worthy of silence, but what follows is different.

"Gu"

A faint groan, accompanied by a large amount of blood, spilled from the mouth of the 'Sword Demon'.

Yet, without attempting to stop the flowing blood, the 'Sword Demon' looked down at his own body—seeing the blood-stained tip of a sword protruding from his abdomen.

A blade that had entered from his back pierced through the 'Sword Demon's' torso, causing blood to flow. The 'Sword Demon' knew that sword well. It was none other than his once-beloved sword.

The name of that sword is 'Astrea', and its current owner is――,

"Heinkel"

Covered in rising blood bubbles, he wasn't sure if his murmur became a distinct sound.

However, the trembling of the sword that pierced his body and the intent behind the act were conveyed. Turning around could tear his torso apart, so the 'Sword Demon' gritted his teeth and held his ground.

Behind him, gripping the hilt of the sword that stabbed the 'Sword Demon' with both hands――,

"…With your way, Luanna can't be reclaimed."

"――――"

"You're not… Father. It's me. ――It's something I have to do."

The voice was squeezed out, mixed with a sob that seemed to claw at his chest.

Listening to that, the pierced 'Sword Demon' exhaled a long, deep breath and remembered.

During practice, he would make his child cry, only to be scolded by his wife, and his child would hold back tears and beg to continue.

Thinking back, he realized he never stood a chance when tears were involved.

――That was the decisive move in the legendary passage, the intervention in the climactic battle between man and dragon.