Chapter 21: Chapter 210

"Allie, that's...!"

Realizing what was going on, Tesilid looked toward me with panic in his eyes. I shouted, "You have to run away, Tez!"

Although we were both supreme expert-level aura users, there were only two of us, and, at the moment, neither was capable of defense nor healing skills. The best option we had was to somehow run ten kilometers away from the monster and use a teleportation stone to escape.

However, not only had my powers been bound, but so had my legs.

⟬«System» Warning. Your body is frozen due to the [Frost Stack].⟭

"You've got to be kidding me!"

My momentum was instantly cut short as if there were heavy shackles around my ankles.

⟬«System» Warning. [Glaciers of Eternity] activated.⟭

Rumble!

"Our escape route!" I cried out as I watched walls of ice emerge from the ground in all directions, blocking our path so that the only way we could move was toward Leviathion, who was preparing to unleash its breath.

⟬«System» Warning. You have become vulnerable to ice-related attacks due to the [Hypothermia Stack].⟭

"Ugh!"

I was already so cold, I felt as if I had somehow been stripped bare and covered in snow. Realizing this, I could feel in my bones that the world was out to kill Tesilid and me.

"Ha..."

Another chill ran through my body, although this one actually helped to calm my mind and allowed me to look at the situation logically. A demonic dragon ranked 183... How powerful would the attack be, given the size of the creature and its rank? Having lost my divine power, I was no more than a Tier 7 aura user. I didn't have my true strength or powerful ability to heal, so how could I block the SS-class boss's attack?

I can't. It was a devastating conclusion, but I had to face the reality of our situation.

«Ailette!»

"Allie!"

My body had already reacted. Clenching my teeth, I dragged my heavy feet toward the water dragon and stood in front of Tesilid so that I could take the damage from the creature's attack first.

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls screams that it's too dangerous!⟭

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World screams that it's too dangerous!⟭

⟬The Advocate of Confidentiality sighs deeply.⟭

Leviathion, having inhaled enough air to inflate its entire body, cracked open its jaw as wide as it could.

⟬«System» Warning. [Leviathion] releases [Breath of Absolute Zero].⟭

I grabbed Serpens and infused all of my aura into it as I faced my death head-on. I was going to endure it. I was going to endure it no matter what.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World stops breathing with intense anxiety.⟭

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls grabs [The Voice that Shapes the World]'s shirt and demands that they do something.⟭

The dragon roared as it unleashed its attack.

Raaaah!

A force that not only could freeze every artery and vein in my body but could also shatter my soul washed over me.

"Ah..."

A groan escaped from between my teeth as a brutal chill dug itself into me despite the aura that was protecting my entire body. My skin stung, and I felt like all of my senses had been damaged, when a silhouette interrupted my flickering vision. It took me a moment to realize whose broad back I was now facing.

"Tez!"

He'd dashed in front of me to block the breath. I wanted to grab him and pull him behind me, but he was out of my reach and my feet wouldn't let me step any closer.

Boom! Boom!

As the dragon continued blowing its icy breath at us, I felt the chill in my body take over and pull me toward a freezing death while the thunderous noise of the attack tore at my eardrums. Without the ability to heal, our end was certain.

«Ailette! At this rate...!»

At this rate, we were going to reach our limit—both of us were going to become ice statues and shatter.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World looks for a way to save you.⟭

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World looks for a way to save you.⟭

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World looks for a way to save you.⟭

My mind also compulsively searched for a solution. What should I do? What can I do to survive? There has to be a way!

"Allie..."

The voice that broke through the noise focused my mind again, guiding my eyes to look up. Tesilid had only been showing me his back until now, yet I found he had turned to look at me from over his shoulder. He had a faint smile on his face despite how desperate the situation was, as if this was truly the end.

"You're about to see some things..."

"..."

"Don't be too shocked."

"What...?"

Wrapping up his statement with a look of determination, he turned to the front again. As apologetic as I am to admit this, I was filled with a sense of suspicion and wariness.

Is he going to sacrifice himself? Is that what he's going to do after telling me that he wants to live with me in this timeline? Despite how cold I was, my mind burned in anger at the thought. Do you really think I'm going to let you do that?

Jerking my head toward the sky, I shouted, "A dungeon!" To the one that could save us, I pleaded, "Trigger a dungeon sink! Please!"

My prayer was instantly carried to the heavens.

⟬«System» [The Voice that Shapes the World] trades in large amounts of divinity for plausibility.⟭

⟬«System» Warning. Dungeon sink triggered by [Unknown Event Dungeon].⟭

A dark abyss opened up below my feet, immediately sucking me inside. However, there was a problem.

"Allie!"

"Tez!"

I was the only one that was being removed. I trusted my hand in attempts to grab Tesilid but could not reach him.

⟬ «System» [Unknown Event Dungeon (Maximum Capacity: 1 person)] is closing.⟭

A maximum capacity had been suddenly applied to the dungeon, for plausibility only allowed my rescue despite the large sum of divinity Lord Voice had traded.

Looking up, my face pale and expression panicked, I watched as the dragon's breath fully consumed Tesilid through the tiny gap in the shrinking entrance.

No!

"Tez!!!"

That was the moment the entrance completely sealed, engulfing me in darkness.

⟬«System» Your body cannot endure [The Voice that Shapes the World's] aggressive intervention.⟭

I lost consciousness.

✠

Leviathion's unbelievably large lungs finally reached their limit. The environment had completely changed by the time its breath of blue death was over, for all living things were dead, and the terrain had become a frozen wasteland. A massive crater had been created, but seawater didn't pour in because it too was frozen. Cold flakes of snow began to fall upon the devastated terrain, covering everything in a thin coat of white crystals.

The destruction he'd been dying for had finally come to pass, but Tesilid Argente wasn't pleased at all. The only thing he could do was stand numbly as he went over what had just happened. It had been a while since he experienced such a great sense of loss, his heart hardening like ice. He stood in the same place without moving a muscle, when a large shadow cast over his head.

"Rahhhh!"

Leviathion's jaw came crashing down around its unmoving target, seconds away from consuming Tesilid whole.

Clatter!

Brilliant blades that looked like replicas of the holy sword spread out in all directions. Ten or so aura blades followed the command of their master and flew upward at a perpendicular angle, instantly surrounding Leviathion for an attack.

"Skreeek!"

The scales that had never once before been penetrated shattered like glass under the swift blades of the aura swords, while Leviathion thrashed around on the ground with blue blood spurting from its body.

Tesilid didn't even flick his wrist during this counter-attack, controlling the aura blades with his mind alone. This was only possible because he had reached the level of aura master. He slowly raised his left hand, revealing his wrist through the white sleeve, his shirt having been partially damaged by the dragon's attack.

A significant portion of the limiter that was wrapped around the stigma like thorny wires had vanished. It seemed that putting his body between the dragon and Ailette Rodeline to block the deadly attack was considered an ultimate sacrifice.

"Ha."

To think that this was his reward after he'd made up his mind to take the easier path... Especially after she had disappeared. He let go of the overwhelming sense of disillusionment and decided to be patient once more. He decided he'd hang in there, just a little longer.