The battle quietly began.
As soon as she confirmed their retreat, she would move.
「It’s been too long, Veldora. I’ll ask just in case, will you not come to our side?
Naturally, the location will be left up to us though. 」
I have already perfected my strength control.
I’m an adult now, my sister! 」
Very well then. If that’s the case, then I’ll be testing how much you have grown! 」
The words they exchanged were few.
Originally, the plan was for Rudra to Dominate and control Veldora, so persuasion was pointless.
Thinking so, Velgrynd made a preemptive strike by releasing her Burning Breath.
Normally, due to the effects of Veldora’s heat nullification, he would not take heat damage. However, without hesitating, Veldora avoided Velgrynd’s Breath.
「Oh? I didn’t think you’d dodge that.
「Kuahahahaha! Your breath attack probably has Accelerated Destruction effects.
Of course I’d avoid that. 」
At that moment, Veldora’s intuition felt that the Breath Attack had an Ultimate Skill’s effect added onto it.
The analysis from Veldora’s Ultimate Skill『Investigation King Faust』had also confirmed this.
While Veldora was surprised at being able to understand his own attack so well, Velgrynd fired her next attack.
While evading the multiple simultaneous Breath attacks, at some point, Veldora noticed that he was now confronting Velgrynd from below.
On the other hand, Velgrynd had already skillfully gained enough distance to deliver her knockout blow.
At this distance, she could perfectly deal with Veldora, and was confident she could maintain her advantage.
「Let’s end this, Veldora.
In the end, you weren’t able to escape from my clutches! 」
Declaring this, multiple Burning Breaths were released simultaneously from above.
But, Veldora was able to see through the attacks, and splendidly evade them.
Despite being ensnared in a Flame Cage, let alone a direct hit, he didn’t suffer a single scratch.
「Kuhahaha! If it doesn’t hit, nothing happens, and that’s how it is! 」
Veldora gleefully shouted the words he had memorized by heart.
Certainly, to not be able to land a single strike at this stage was unpredicted. It was not as if she was underestimating Veldora.
(I was just warming up!)
Velgrynd decided to stop holding anything back, and end this in one go.
「Is that so? But you know……you’ve already fallen into my trap.
I shall seal your movements with this, Burning Embrace!! 」
There was a reason Velgrynd positioned herself above Veldora.
Even with the force of the explosion, Veldora would never take damage.
Those would, infused with Velgrynd’s ability, become tiny red droplets of rain… and pour upwards.
The blessing of the Ultimate Skill 『Charity King Raguel』
To a certain extent, it could boost physical capabilities, but going too far, would push bodily energy consumption over the limits.
In other words, it was an ability that could freely manipulate the energy composition of the target’s body.
For those held within the Burning Embrace, their right to survival lied in the hands of Velgrynd.
Velgrynd, who was certain of her victory, was about to order Major General Xam’d to fire the Magic Canceller――but stopped.
(What just happened?!)
Towards that Velgrynd,
「Kuhahahaha! I told you earlier didn’t I?
If it doesn’t hit, nothing happens, and that’s how it is!」
From behind, she heard the sound of Veldora’s victorious laughter
In reality, Veldora didn’t actually have much breathing room for him to be boasting that much.
It wasn’t something he could deal with in the spur of the moment by blowing it off with “Storm of Ruination”, that much was obvious.
The instant he thought so, Investigation King Faust’s “Investigation of Truth” had derived the optimal solution.
However, by focusing the emission of “Storm of Ruination”, the result was “Storm Blast (Roar of Ruination)”. As a result, it was derived that the odds of escape would greatly increase.
This was where “Probability Manipulation” was activated.
This escape act which was supposed to have a 50-50 chance of success, now rolled in favor to Veldora thanks to Investigation King Faust.
In this fashion, Veldora escaped from danger.
Velgrynd was awe-struck in the truest sense of the word.
She had no choice but to admit it.
Velgrynd acknowledged Veldora as an enemy of equal standing whom she would be confronting.
This was the instant she decided to get serious.
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
On the large screen, a decisive Kaijuu battle was being projected.
If it were only the Empire’s Airship fleet, then Veldora’s victory was nothing to be worried about, but it was quite the surprise when the Crimson Dragon suddenly appeared.
However, despite the large clash of energy, the level of control was excellent, and it had become a very complicated battle.
Although, as it was possible to revive him even if he died, I was not that worried……
I was about to go save him with teleport, but then I remembered Veldora could be retrieved using my Skill.
Due to this recollection, I was able to spectate the battle in a relaxed manner.
The battle had reached a stalemate.
Veldora had a high level of control, allowing him to move at high speed.
The results of secretly training himself had surfaced.
That said, limited to what I saw, all in all Veldora had been starting to get the advantage.
Although he was greatly weakened at one point due to being sealed, at present, he appeared to have completely recovered.
However, his Skill, Investigation King Faust, seemed to have higher performance compared to that of Velgrynd’s.
Frankly speaking, “Probability Manipulation”, “Investigation of the Truth” and sorts, aren’t those hard-to-understand Skills pretty broken?
Veldora’s newly created move, the converged storm attack (Storm Blast), appeared to have inflicted damage on Velgrynd.
In a word, they were “Invisible waves” such as electromagnetic waves, and travelling at hypersonic speeds ―― estimating to be over Mach 100 (EN: more like Mach 100,000 )―― if the evasion timing was even slightly off, it was practically impossible to prevent the effects from the Storm.
For goodness’ sake, he developed quite an unreasonable Skill.
As expected of Veldora, I thought with a bit of reverence.
If this kept up, it’d be Veldora’s victory, just as I was confident about this――
――Towards the worst direction.
Suddenly, the retreating Imperial Airship fleet of 100 had began to move.
Overlooking them was a big blunder.
Several individuals donning shining armor appeared on the bridge.
(Hm? What’s with those guys?)
The only man without armor, a man wearing a former Japanese Empire military uniform, fired his small handgun.
A bullet shouldn’t have affected the strongest known as “True Dragons”……
It reached speeds on pair with Veldora’s Roar―― In other words, above Mach 100――and penetrated Veldora’s body.
Veldora stopped moving, and began to lash out in pain.
Immediately after, the Cardinal Cage engulfed Veldora once more, and the 100 Airships of the Aerial Fighter Legion activated Magic Canceller at maximum strength.
All it took was a moment, for them to successfully seal Veldora’s movements.
The man donning a shining armor held up both hands towards Veldora.
As if they were ripping my soul out ――
《Alert. Master (Rimuru) and Individual: Veldora’s “Soul Corridor” has been destroyed. Ultimate Skill 『Storm King Veldora』’s Storm Dragon Summoning ・ Storm Dragon Release is now unusable. 》
――Suddenly, I was notified the reason for my pain.
What did you say?
Veldora……from me?
(TN: Veldora x Rimuru anyone? He sounded like an NTRed girlfriend here. )
DON’T FUCK WITH ME DAMN IT!!
A feeling of vehement loss, and one of intense rage simultaneously welled up inside me.
Shion and Diablo who were by my side tried to hold me back in a rush.
「Please wait, Rimuru sama! It’s dangerous to go now!! 」
Shion’s words didn’t enter my ears.
Now you(The empire)’ve made me mad.With enraged thoughts, I shook off from their grasp, and stood up.
There did not exist a single existence within Tempest who could restrain my strength unbounded by anger.
As you wished, I shall grant it.
The blessing named annihilation.
They had triggered my wrath.
I, in my rage, teleported to Veldora.