I quickly jump branch after branch, heading my way towards Alo and the others.
Many branches have been caught on fire that’s been spreading ever since Eldia’s〖Drago Flare〗burned a large portion of the Great Tree’s trunk.
If I don’t hurry, it’ll reach where Alo and the rest are hiding.

Looking below us, the fire continues to spread upwards.
Branches are being caught on fire one by one and slowly reaching up to us.
I keep heading up the Great Tree.

【“I’ll watch our backs! You just keep headin’ up!”】

Partner sends me a thought message.
Alright then. I’m counting on you, Partner.

Eldia really is just too strong.
His Dragon King title wasn’t just for show, and he really proved to us that he’s the world’s strongest dragon.
I won’t be surprised if he’s actually the world’s strongest creature alive.

We could’ve defeated him if we relied more on surprise attacks before he could warm up.
Lilyxila had the opportunity to do just that since I was keeping Eldia busy.

Eldia was bleeding through the wounds under his scales.
His wings are still broken.
At first glance, it may seem like his body is damaged beyond repair, until you realize he’s got〖Self-Regeneration〗. Even with that, he still won’t be able to use〖Flight〗until he fixes his wings first.

But knowing Eldia, he won’t use〖Self-Regeneration〗yet.
His body may be severely damaged from the inside out because of the third gravity magic〖Gravihedron〗, but he knows that he could get attacked again if he focuses on recovery.

In his eyes, he must think that we’ve cornered him right now.
He’s paying close attention to me and Lilyxila, who’s riding on Seraphim and flying in the air.

Whatever the case, at least he’s stopped firing〖Drago Flare〗at the moment.
Maybe he ran out of MP? Or, maybe he’s gonna use〖Self-Regeneration〗now that we’ve gained distance……

【“It’s slow, but he’s still chargin’ the next shot! Hurry it up!”】

O-Oh……
Eldia sure is insistent on killing us.
I really need to pick up Alo and co. soon.

I speed up the pace and arrive at our little nest where Alo and the others are staying put inside.
Alo quickly climbs on my head and Nightmare on my back.
I gently grab the panicking Treant with my claws and take off from the Great Tree.

I join together with Lilyxila, and her attendant Alphys, along with Seraphim.

“Let’s go. This is our chance now that it’s incapacitated and unable to move. It shouldn’t be able to come after us. That absurd attack of his is probably just meant to keep us away. His MP isn’t infinite either. Let’s not waste anymore time”

Lilyxila speaks for all of us when she said that.
I nod in agreement.

We could probably take out Eldia right here and now.
Eldia could’ve used〖Drago Flare〗right from the start but he didn’t.
I don’t know if it was because I was there, or if he was just considerate of the Great Tree, but one thing’s for sure is that Eldia was prideful and alert during the whole battle.

Since he didn’t let his guard down, he stuck to a close-range fight since he was wary of our actions, but thanks to Lilyxila’s support, I was able to land a powerful blow at Eldia and Lilyxila succeeded in her〖Gravihedron〗setup.
And, since〖Drago Flare〗can leave you open in other parts of your body where you aren’t aiming, he didn’t want to risk it when we were too up close to him, not to mention the MP it consumes.

But, he still should’ve used〖Drago Flare〗anyway since it could’ve been successful in catching us off guard.
And besides, no matter how wary he was, Lilyxila’s〖Gravihedron〗would still surprise him.

There’s also Alo and the others to take into account.
Eldia is definitely not something they can handle.
Alo’s earth attacks, Nightmare’s webs, and Treant’s low-level gravity magic are all unlikely to have any effect on Eldia.
Their attacks won’t be able to reach Eldia if he’s flying, and even if they do, his body was already incredibly tough even without magical armor.
Now that I think about it, Eldia could’ve targeted Alo and the others since they were helpless on their own, but he didn’t.

And…… I’m not sure if I even have the right to say this, but emotionally, I didn’t want to fight Eldia at all.
If Eldia finds out about the revival of the Demon King, he would go there and serve under him immediately and without question.
The thought of an overpowered monster like him under the service of someone and killing humans is something I don’t want to ever happen.

But, if I defeat the Demon King before Eldia finds out about its return, then he could go back to living a life in quiet on this isolated island.
There’s a chance〖God’s Voice〗may intervene again, but at least he didn’t inform Eldia about the current Demon King returning.
I still have time before Eldia discovers the truth.

That naive idea is now my current driving force.
Eldia may find it unforgivable though.

As I fly over the ocean, I look back at the scenery behind us.
The island, unofficial name: Adam Island, that ends with a cliff, marking at the edge of the world, where a giant tree extends up to the sky now covered in black clouds, is steadily moving farther away.
Under the roots of that giant tree lies the home of a lonely Dragon King, who once again experiences loneliness.

“What are you looking back for, you vile Ouroboros?! You look as if you want to go back and help that monster! Lady Saint, how could you trust this… this thing?!”

The supposed-to-be escort of Lilyxila, Alphys, the same person whose contribution amounted to nothing in the battle against Eldia, points her finger at me as she stands on Seraphim’s back.
Seraphim makes an expression that shows annoyance.

“I have told you many times, Alphys, to watch your mouth”

Lilyxila’s gentle expression disappears as she turns to look at Alphys.
Alphys lowers her hand, despite still showing hostility at me, and Lilyxila’s gentle expression returns.

“M-My sincerest apologies, Lady Saint”

“Ara ara, I don’t see the reason why you should be apologizing to me. Alphys is such a dummy”

Alphys, understanding what Lilyxila meant, then turns to me and hesitantly, waveringly, and reluctantly bows to me.
I-It’s fine…… I’m used to it to be treated like a villain now anyway.

“However, I am quite curious as well, so if you don’t mind, will you share to us what your relation is with the Dragon King?”

H-He’s just a neighborhood dragon who lives next door.
If possible, I didn’t want to fight him.
He’s just an old human-hating dragon who hid himself from humans for hundreds of years, and now that he sees me as an enemy, I don’t think we’ll ever get along now.

Lilyxila just stares at me with a finger on her lips, deep in her thoughts.
I didn’t particularly lie though…… and, I don’t remember saying anything that seemed off.

I think up of something else so she doesn’t find anything unnecessary in my mind with her〖Telepathy: Lv9〗.
I concentrate on just thinking up images of many Ball Rabbits lined up together and stacking them up.
From medium to large, many Ball Rabbits as far as the eye can see occupy the vast white world of my imagination into a tall, endless tower of Ball Rabbits.
All of them echoing “Pefu~”.

“A-Aah, right. Actually, I already knew about the existence of this island since they were written in the sacred scriptures…… but, I certainly was not expecting such a powerful monster to be residing there. This experience has reminded me that I still have a narrow view of the world”

Lilyxila’s puzzled expression disappears and turns into smiles.
I-It worked?
Alright, I should just fill my head with bundles of Ball Rabbits the next time someone reads my mind with telepathy.