02x24 - Sorcerer vs. Draconid

[bunniefuu]

Let's resume our battle,
Kuzunoha the Sorcerer!

Huh? The sorcerer?

That was me?!

I didn't want to embarrass myself
by having to show my scales.

This is your fault, too. Prepare yourself.

Kuzunoha!

Leave the hero and Fort Stella alone, was it?

Very well. I accept your demands.

He's terrifying. I see why
they call him the sorcerer.

It's time to actually end this.

Larva-dono!

You will pay for injuring my master.

You don't know when to shut up.

Season Two

Night Twenty-Four Sorcerer vs. Draconid

Night Twenty-Four Sorcerer vs. Draconid

You're first.

I'll begin by k*lling the
sorcerer's follower.

Larva-dono, dispel the mist in the area.

Then we can join the fight.

Hero of Limia, I am not struggling.

Hah! You're ragged.

Larva-dono, I'll be frank.

Let me help you k*ll the dragon
who destroyed the royal capital.

I can't let you do that.

But if you'll focus on defending,
I'll save that mage after the battle.

You, a lich?

Why would an undead save the living?

Really? You're sure you can save Woody?

Of course.

A hole in a hyuman stomach
is easily mended.

Onee-chan...

I trust you.

But Hibiki...

No, it's the right call.

O-On what basis?

That lich is a lot like that
person we met in Tsige.

They keep their word.
They seem like that kind of person.

Larva-dono, you'd better
keep your promise.

Could you dismiss the mist, just in case?

We have a deal.

Niffelheim, dispel.

Have you finished your conversation?

Regardless of what you discuss,
your efforts will be in vain.

Now, allow me to destroy
you with my true swords.

Lancer the blade dragon.
Dragon of swords and people.

An unusual creature who possesses two lives.

You know about that?

Despite being a dragon, you take on a
humanoid form and enhance your strength.

I see. Luto-dono's words
were quite accurate.

Luto?

How do you know that name?

Surrounded by numerous fine swords, you are
the greater dragon known as Mitsurugi.

Those swords speak to the fate of
the warriors who challenged you.

You know too much.

I can't allow you to live.

I will add you to my power!

I dress myself in grievances.

Gross Shear.

The swaying silver cage deflects arrows.

Marugiri!

You held out against my true swords?

I have done my research on you, Lancer,

with help from Luto-dono,
leader of the dragons.

I wasn't expecting a lich with ties to Luto.

I believe the greatest weapon
people possess is their intellect.

Of course, I am only a former person.

Worthy of the sixth self,
release the whip and become a blade.

Ascaron!

Aren't you a mage?

This is Ascaron, a blade steeped
in poison and curses.

Hoping I'd get to k*ll you someday,

I named it after another sword
known as a dragon slayer.

All it does is give off an ominous air.

It lacks the gleam of a truly fine blade.

No matter. I am the one wielding it.

Fine blades do not suit me.

Release the sixth step, Flay.

Sword Spiritem!

So you're determined to use that?

You're a foolish mage to
challenge me with a sword.

This is the b*ttlefield.

The capital's best soldiers and the
strongest demons are all over the place.

I'm sure many of them will add to my power.

How long can you keep fighting back?

You'd challenge Ascaron with that
rabble's swords? Laughable.

It's time you experienced fear.

Well? Did that hurt?

Y-You'll pay for that!

I heard you severed my master's fingers.

This is what you get for that!

Are these the swords once
wielded by past heroes?

That's not all!

What's the matter? I am a mage.

This shouldn't shock you.

Pierce the brilliance of vitality.

Stare Celot!

You're chanting incantations
between strikes?

My sword returns to me on its own.

Rot Counter!

Don't underestimate me!

You won't be able to count how many
I break before your destruction.

This is thanks to the three
of them training me.

I wouldn't have been strong enough before.

For the young master's sake, as well
as my own, I cannot disgrace myself.

Damn it. How could I be defeated not by
the sorcerer himself, but by his follower?

Ascaron's poison is slowly consuming him.

All his reactions are slowing.

I pray you don't notice.
May you die in despair.

Heroes, become my strength!

Chiya!

Sealy-san...

Damn. I missed.

Thank you, adventurer.

If that priestess had become a sword,
I probably would've lost.

I wasn't expecting to go out like this...

It can't be helped.

Though you don't compare
to the hero or priestess,

I shall use you as part of my power.

Sealy-san!

Damn it!

I haven't felt this cornered
since I fought Sofia.

You will surely make a good
sword and serve me well.

Who would serve you?

I've already found a master to serve!

See that, sorcerer's follower?

This is the might of one who rules over
dragons and the natural law of—

Wh-Who is that?

I'm ashamed to admit it, but this
is the most I can manage right now.

I used my lich appearance as a decoy

for a desperate attack with
Ascaron from his blind spot.

That was a close call.

I need more training.

Wh-Who are you?

Is that you, Larva-dono?

What?!

Huh? No way.

So the otherworlder figured it out.

People don't normally notice so easily.

Including my failures up to this point,
I'm dealing with quite the headache.

What does this mean? Were you
actually a hyuman all along?

A very long time ago.

Now, a promise is a promise.

Release the fifth step, Keto.

Agatoram, heal him.

His color is returning!

That should be enough.
All he needs now is rest.

Thank you.

Larva-dono, I swear on my name that
I will repay this debt someday.

I'll think about it.

I overused my rings this time.
I must rest for a while.

Wait.

Is it true that you're the sorcerer's follower?

Forget about that. A hero has
other things to attend to first.

The citizens who have already evacuated
must be trembling with anxiety.

There's plenty you should deal with
before concerning yourself with me.

You're right.

Like Verda said, someday I'll repay you.

I'll keep that in mind.

Hibiki, we should let Woody rest first.

Once we get outside the city,
we may be able to find a few camps.

Right.

The sorcerer's cosplay suit must be
connected to my former world somehow.

And...

By the way, did you purchase that sword from
the Kuzunoha Trading Company in Tsige?

It's possible they're connected to
the Kuzunoha Trading Company.

What? Did your mind break?

No. I've got two things to laugh about.

Uh-huh.

The first is...

No matter how long you've
been with a partner,

they always die so
disappointingly and easily.

So Lancer is dead.

The other is...

how astonished I am with my own good luck.

I seem to have won our bet.

You mean a bet with Lancer?

Yes. If I died first, I'd join his collection.

If he died first, he'd give me
his remaining life and power.

That's the bet we made.

Remaining life? So Lancer
had more than one life.

But what can you hope to
accomplish now that it's yours?

Looking down on your opponent
during a fight sure is disgusting.

I've done it often myself.
I should reflect on my actions.

Should you?

Isn't it the law of the b*ttlefield
that the strong do as they please?

I'll show you my trump card that
overpowered and slew two greater dragons.

Are we in a separate space?

Welcome to the prison of swords.

It's a special space connected to
where Lancer stores his swords.

It's also an execution site.

Wow. You've got all these swords and
dragged me into a separate space.

With rare exceptions,
it's hardly ever happened to me.

The service here is excellent,
so don't worry.

I promise you won't be bored.

I'm looking forward to that.

I see.

This space enhances the power
of the one who deploys it.

Pretty standard.

Wait, and... it shares existence
and ownership with the swords?

How do you know all that?

That clearly wasn't a flash of brilliance.

Oh, I get it. All these swords are your lives.

By acquiring their swords, you also inherit
the skills the heroes had in life.

You've gone for not only
quantity, but quality, as well.

Knowing that won't help you
against the prison of swords.

I'm disappointed you used such
boring abilities until the very end.

Kuzunoha, what is...

I'm not a warrior or a mage.

I'm something else entirely, Sofia.
I'm actually...

a kyudoka.

b*stard!

She's hitting way harder now.

To be safe, I'll strengthen
it with my kai.

Wha—

This weapon's name is Azusa.

I named it after the ancient azusa yumi.

Since I've got some mildly
dangerous whistling arrows,

I think I'll go with an exorcism.

Don't!

Th-This wasn't supposed
to happen! You monster!

What... What are you?!

Like I said, I'm a kyudoka.

But I haven't even met Luto yet.

I can't die.

Don't make me laugh.

I can't believe you don't even realize
you're being used as a camera.

I'd feel sorry if you died with my fake
name in your heart, so I'll tell you.

My real name is Misumi Makoto.

Goodbye, Sofia Bulga.

N-No! There's still more!

Damn you for keeping secrets
until the end, Lancer!

I'm not over yet! I can't end yet!

A Japanese sword?

I actually don't mind risking it all.

Lancer's secret weapon?

If they were a hero who turned
into a Japanese sword...

Does that mean they were Japanese? A sage?

This sword is amazing.

Despite lacking a signature and being
incomplete, it fills me with power.

It feels different from absorbing a dragon.

It's like evolving into a next-level human.

A next-level human?

Isn't that what Shiki was
previously trying to become?

A grant, was it?

I can hardly believe how much
I struggled to get here.

The tables have turned.

It's what I'd expect from a Japanese sword.

Now it's all about speed.

I'll go with archery, not kyudo.

Fantasy style.

Luto, you owe me one.

That just leaves Fort Stella.

That said, I'd better watch my line of fire.

Apparently I'm responsible
for creating Star Lake.

Around here should do.

Oh, mana matter!

When it comes to convenience,

nothing can beat it.

I'll expand my kai to maximum size

and focus on determining the
topography and situation.

Good. Rona had her soldiers evacuate.

I don't know the exact distance,
but I doubt I'll miss.

All right! I've completed
the goddess's request.

That settles that matter.

I've completely gotten used to falling.

Now, then...

Young Master!

Huh? Shiki, your face is visible.

I'm sorry. Surprisingly, I had some trouble.

The hero escaped safely, though.

I see. That's good, then.

I was able to determine my current
strength, but I'm pretty tired.

Let's get out of here quickly.

Are you sure?

You seemed to recognize the hero.

I know her, but we'll discuss
that once we're back.

Tomoe and Mio are probably
back at the demiplane, too.

By the way, the hero's party said they
wanted to thank me when I rescued them.

What shall we ask for?

I'll think about it.

I'm sure they're busy with the city right now.

Understood.

Limia will struggle in the future,
but they have Senpai.

I'm sure she can manage most things.

Shall we head home?

Yes.

Night Twenty-Five,

Next Time

Party Beneath the Moonlight

"Party Beneath the Moonlight."