Adolf repeated his additional attacks on Zephyr and Tinker on the ground.
　Envy water.
　It scattered like a time rain, staining the battlefield white.
　It penetrated the bodies of many soldiers who were hit, killing them instantly.

　The warrior king of Latosphilia - Gram found out why the war has not yet come to an end with that scene.
　That's why Ixos had been fighting against this country for six years, he said.
　In other words, he had been played by Adolf.

'So that was the mastermind.

　Gram held up a magnificent cleaver that was reminiscent of a blue dragon sword.
　The soldiers of Latosfilian, who are even said to be unrivaled within the Yagis in terms of military strength, begin to think about the meaning of resisting in front of the corpses of their comrades lying around.
　Their expression is despair.
　The underworld beastmen, who have regained their morale thanks to Adolph's support, are amused by their appearance and begin to imitate the excitement.

''There is no longer any need to be cowed, we will kill them all!

　The lion beastmen who had been uniting the beastmen - the Gazelle Crown - raised their huge great swords and led their soldiers to march back to the enemy soldiers.

''Don't wince!''

　Gram tells the soldiers and sends slashes at Adolf in the sky.
　But the multiple slashes that came close were drowned out by the direct hits to Adolf.

''Ridiculous...''

　Gram exclaimed.

　Adolph quietly descends to the ground.
　The wings on his back disappeared and he let his staff fall away from his hand and float in the air.

'Dragons are no longer a match for me. Zephyr, we've grown up. The only person who was once able to fight that black dragon was Kagetra. You will lose your life if you don't give it your all.　You just got it, and now you're going to die?

....

'You don't wish Kagetra were here, do you? 'He's gone, you used to run rampant, and Kagetora covered for you in your exhaustion. So you could rampage as you pleased. But, you see, he's not there anymore, because I killed him--

　A luminescent arrow grazed Adolf's cheek.
　His face was unharmed as he dodged it with a paperweight.

''I saw that you have more guts than Zephyr.

　Guinevere held her bow of light and stared at Adolf.

'You erased all traces of us I've been alone for a long time. There is no one who remembers me anymore. The people who worked with me to rebuild the town have forgotten me, the Khalifa has been forgotten, and there is no place for me to return to. I waited and waited and waited. I thought that you, whom I should have resented so badly, would come back to me one day. I didn't doubt that you would be able to do something about it. But then again, one hundred and fifty years was a long time...and so was she, when I say that. Guinevere, everyone who knew you is dead. Naaschenka is dead, and the Godland is no more. You didn't even want to live, you only lived long enough to kill me, didn't you?

"...you have no right to speak my sister's name.

'You're only a nun and you're not very good at insults, you've had one hundred and fifty years, you should have asked that dragon to teach you.

How far do you want me to joke around?

I'm serious...

　Adolf's cold gaze stared.
　Guinevere felt a chill and stiffened.

'I'm saying it's admirable, I have some respect for you, you know. You could have done better with a dragon by your side than I could, but you are very persistent. What are you, Zephyr, on the other hand?　You can't do anything without your brother?

....

I get it, you're afraid of being in conflict with me.　That's why I can't get serious. If I die, I'll have to leave the Khalifa alone again. And there will be no next time. ...I'll tell you what he's thinking right now.

　Adolf turned to Masamune.

'I'm going to lose easily and have you kill the rest. If you're serious about me... right?

　Masamune visually looked into Zephyr's mind.
　Without needing to read his mind, Zephyr's expression was tinged with guilt.

''I could say the same for you,''

　Adolph turned to Zephyr as he told Masamune that.

'It's unfortunate that you have something to protect, isn't it?

....

'This is what happens to cowards...'

...and it's not fair?

　Zephyr wondered.

'You, who tricked Kagethras--'

Shut up....

　Adolph's ruthless expression peeks through.

'I can see everything, can't I?　Zephyr, no one knows the human heart better than you. I think I do now.

What are you talking about?

You noticed. ... as much as I adored and liked the Khalifa.

....

'You could see it all, you could see that I was a feeble-minded guy and that I was attracted to her.

　Khalifa rolled her eyes at Adolf's words.

　To that Khalifa, Adolf said.

I don't blame you for this, it is my problem. ─ I don't blame you because this is my problem, of course not. I have known since I was a child that you are a narrow-minded woman and it was my fault for not telling you in the first place. But, Zephyr, you know that I even had this crazy fantasy that this day would come, don't you?

....

'But you ignored me, your best friend, and took her for yourself. You took away my pale embrace. Afterwards, you were annoying, really annoying, as you talked for a while while while paying attention to me. But the more annoying you were, the less ridiculous I felt about myself. Still, you were my best friend, so I gave up I decided not to resent you. Until Shaoan showed up.

"...you are being swallowed by the abyss.

'With an old snake like that I felt our adventure was over. The rest of the trip was a b*tc*.

"Adolph, I'm....

It's all in the past, Khalifa.

"....Adolf.

'I don't care about you anymore. It's not that I don't care about you anymore. I don't care about everything. So let's get this over with.

　Adolph walked slowly up to Zephyr.

'Let's end this unimportant journey. There is no Kagetora or Xiong. It's just us.

　Zephyr raised to one knee and faced Adolf.
　At Zephyr's expression, which seemed to have regained a bit of fighting spirit, Adolf gave a half smile.

'What, you can stand up, can't you? Come on, let's see who's stronger, the food red or the earth madness. If you die, the Khalifa will die, and if I die, the two of you will be united. Then you can enjoy your life of cowardice, until you feel better.

Adolf I want to save you too.

'Hwahahahahahahahahaha! --What?

What you are really you are a son of a b*tc*!

　A black shadow drifts out of Zephyr's body - an existence.
　It enveloped his body and filled his entire body.
　And when his voice showed a change, his figure also changed.

　It was the figure of a knight in jet black armor.
　The crimson light emitted from both eyes draws a crimson line - an afterimage - in the air whenever he moves slightly.
　This is the figure he once showed to Masamune, as a god of vengeance.
　Furthermore, the huge blades extending from the backs of his hands.
　Zephyr faced Adolf, holding the sharp black blade with an arc-like sharpness.

　Similarly, both of Adolf's eyes also glowed red.
　Adolf spread his hands.

''Let's sanction the traitorous adventurer--''

　--The earth shook.

　A great number of thick vines rose up from the ground around Adolf and wavered.
　He pulled out a huge cone-shaped lance from the dungeon's vortex and held it at the ready.
　The vines on the surface of the earth were strengthened by his presence.

　The movement of each other created a gust of wind in the area.
　This is the instantaneous speed of Zephyr and Adolf.
　The moment their blade tips collided, more wind pressure spread across the entire battlefield.

''Retreat!''

Prepare for defense!

　The commanders of the various captains who had united their troops called out a command.
　But they didn't get there in time and the army was swallowed up.

　The dust clears, but another gust of wind comes in, and the men around them have no time to fight.
　They are just trying to hold their feet to the fire and live through the hour, which could end at any moment.

'I can see you!'

　Adolph seems to enjoy fighting back.
　Zephyr has a look of distress on his face.
　He is not used to the sight of Adolf, who never stops joking around throughout.
　To Zephyr, Adolf is essentially a quiet, gentle person who doesn't try to provoke others.

　Zephyr avoids Adolf's vines and continues to fight back skillfully.
　The blade of existence and the lance clash.

　The sandstorm continued for a while.







　An exhausted battlefield.
　As the dust cloud was clearing, Zephyr and Adolf looked at each other, their shoulders shaking with their breaths.

'The end is in sight, isn't it?'

....

　Adolph smiles with a spare smile, as if he's bitterly mischievous.
　But Zephyr doesn't engage in that banter anymore.
　Around him, chopped and battered vines had fallen from the ground.
　Zephyr's jet-black armor has been stripped away, leaving only its blade on the back of his hand.

　Both sides began to run without warning.
　The black blade and the lance clashed with each other.
　Each time the sound of impact could be heard, the weapon itself was also worn out.

　The two men threw away their weapons from each other.
　What was left was flesh and blood.
　Now the primitive fist and foot blows began.
　It was awkward, and when they were hit on the cheek, blood spattered, when they were hit in the stomach, gastric juices spattered, and the two continued the same attack on each other, equally exhausted.

　Could it be that Adolph didn't use half his body because there was something left in him that must have been missing?
　The person who was swallowed is unaware of the meaning of his own actions.

'I'm glad it was you and not me who was swallowed.

　Adolph smiles at the words.

'You're still in you I can see it. But I wouldn't have been so sure of that. You're a sweetheart to all intents and purposes.

'You should try saying that at the grave of the cageta.

　Adolf's words were no longer a haribo to him.
　No amount of taunts could reach Zephyr.
　But Zephyr was beginning to understand that there was a wall he couldn't reach, no matter how much he tried to compromise.
　With the gradual realization that he would not be able to help Adolf, Zephyr decided to stop the futile battle and put his life on the line for the final blow.

'The next one will be the end, Adolph.'

Phew....now let's go back to the bayoument.

　A white light enveloped the underworld.



*



　Underworld, inside the royal castle.
　Uranos' eyes were filled with mixed hopes as he looked up at the paintings on the walls of the great corridor.

　It was a painting of a battlefield.
　A single dragon flies around the battlefield, burning up the lives of the people.
　Then a pillar of light would appear from the heavens and a great being - an observer - would appear.

'Father!'

　Then my second son, Raju, showed up.

'It's noisy,'

Master Adolph is on the warpath!

...so what does it matter?

They even showed up in the Greybergs. I heard there are Radshausen's soldiers nearby and they're going to end the war.

　The castle shook.
　They both turned to look into the distance at the same time.
　The place fell silent.

'Is this Master Adolf? .....

And I also heard that Nito is there.

　Lage spat.

'Are you still frightened?'

Nothing....

It doesn't matter which one you are.

Father?

We are observers. We have dragons for that.

Oh, I hear there's a white dragon in there too.

'What? ...What do you mean by that?

　As long as he was connected to Adolf, there was no way that Uranos would not know about the dragon's heart.
　But he hadn't been taught about the existence of the White Dragon Tinker.

''Father, the White Dragon is appearing!

　Then Reinhardt shows up.

"Reinhardt, what the hell's going on?!

　Ulanos asked excitedly for an answer.

'I do not understand. Master Adolf seems to be on the battlefield.

I've heard that...

　Ulanos grew irritated but calm.

'Has an observer appeared?'

Nowhere.

What does that mean?

Shouldn't we be in the field, Father?

Yeah that's right.

　Ulanos looked up at the painting.

'But I'm so close ... so close ...

　Uranos turned a pessimistic look at the painting.



*



Muster, muster!

　There were several barracks lined up in the vicinity of them, and the orders were echoing.
　The noisy footsteps of the former Imperial Beastmen could be heard.

''Little bird, we're going out to the battlefield, you're going to join my squad.

　Saori Kawachi, who is in charge of some of the soldiers as the captain, told Kotori Saijo.

''We're going to the battlefield...''

　Even in the middle of the conversation, the sound of explosions can be heard from the battlefield.
　The little bird suddenly stared in that direction.

''Yagi has brought in a large army, and Greberg is there too. There's also talk of Radshausen waiting in the wings.

....

Our work here ends today maybe there will be some kind of outcome.

Are you going to the front lines, Kawachi-san?

Well I don't intend to. It's just that I'm a captain, and I'm in charge of my troops.

　Neither of them wanted to join the fight.
　But as long as he wanted to and got involved in the Empire, he had no choice now.

''You should be quick too.''

　Kawachi said and ran out of the barracks.
　Kotori turned her cloudy complexion to the blue ring on the ring finger of her left hand.

''........Do you hear it?''

　I can hear the breathing of a little bird, alone in a quiet room.

　The battle seems to be coming through here.
　The glasses and some equipment in the cupboard continue to rattle and shake.
　With an unexpected expression on her face, she removed the cloth from the table beside her.
　What was there was a tube decorated with white and gold.
　There is a sharp black blade on the tip.

　I picked it up and pressed the switch on the side of the tube.
　The thing that was stored inside extends from both tips of the tube.
　It became a single spear.

　The little bird looked at it thoughtfully, pressed the switch again and put it back into the short tube it was in, and then put it in the bosom of his robe.

'Miss Sufilia? .....

　As if asking for help, the little bird looked at the ring on her left hand again.