Arcane Sniper

Chapter 955

Though unsure if they could achieve it, there was no other options left.

“If we provoke Tiamat, what happens if it releases a full breath attack?”

『If it clashes like last time… it will result in many sacrifices.』

Bahamut wore a faint smile.

The collision of breaths between Bahamut and Tiamat previously had resulted in a cataclysm that killed an immense number of users and chimeras.

『To enforce justice and protect the good… aren’t those the words you cherish the most, Alexander?』

“Are you saying…”

『I also cherish them. The best we can do now is set an example.』

To an outsider, this conversation might have seemed ambiguous, but Alexander understood. He moved even closer to Bailephus and cautiously activated a skill.

Sacrifices should not be made.

What is the greatest task in protecting the good?

“We must stop it ourselves. Let’s go, Bailephus.”

『To block the breath attack of a being comparable to the lord with our bodies… if we survive, we shall become legends.』

“Hmph.”

With a scoff, Alexander activated his skill.

As light flashed around Tiamat’s head, all eyes were drawn to it.

“A breath attack! It’s about to release a breath attack—”

“No, no! It’s not a breath attack! That’s not a breath attack! That light is—”

“What is that…?”

What they witnessed was an entirely new life form.

Dragonkin!

Finally, it revealed itself to the world.

『Come, my partner. It’s time to enforce justice!』

“Alex…”

“Alexander! That’s Alexander and Bailephus!”

“Is that even possible? Is there really a skill like that!?”

“They’re flying towards Tiamat! Together with Bahamut—they’re trying to block the breath attack!”

A life form, bearing a closer resemblance to a human but possessing clear dragon characteristics, and the radiant platinum dragon beside it, flying toward Tiamat, was more than enough to rekindle hope in the users.

Leading by example.

Holding the top rank wasn’t just about maintaining a level.

Baaaaaaaaaillepheeeeeeeuuuuuuuusssss───!!!

‘Finally responding, Kuzgunak’sh.’

『But this time, the direction is different.』

One of the twisted heads and bodies writhed. However, this time, the movement didn’t affect the other heads. Enormous mana particles continued to gather around Tiamat’s head.

‘We must mix up the heads as much as possible, Alexander.’

『Hm.』

Even if they couldn’t cancel Ku’thsis’s breath attack, they could try to make the breaths cross or clash against each other.

Alexander, now unified, attempted to ascend but sharply turned to the left. It was due to the dense mana aura sensed from the right.

『Onyx.』

『What a grotesque sight, Bailephus! So, you’ve finally become one with a human!』

Onyx’s breath attack was sensed by Bailephus and conveyed to Alexander!

The Black Dragon, shivering and raising its scales, looked even more hideous and loathsome.

『You do not belong here, Onyx. Foolish dragon.』

『Bahamut! Are you really in a position to say that? We, the chromatic dragons, always oppressed…』

『Didn’t you oppress others yourself rather than being the oppressed? The other chromatic dragons would bite their tongues hearing this nonsense.』

『Arrgh—.』

It was Onyx who had established a terror regime based solely on power under the guise of being a patriarch. Bahamut’s sharp retort made Onyx grit its teeth.

That brief moment was plenty.

Alexander flew back near Tiamat’s ‘Kuzgunak’sh’s’ head.

Seeing the swiftly flying golden dragon, Tiamat’s head trembled.

**Kyahhhhh―!**

The terrifying noises, which seemed to come from another world, had effects beyond mere sound—they induced status ailments. Users below level 170 couldn’t even walk and were paralyzed in a state of ‘fear.’

“How are we supposed to stop something like that?”

“This quest wasn’t meant to be stopped here in the first place! We should have gathered our forces in the Old Continent to stop it!”

“Damn it, I knew something was off since the quest didn’t pop up, but this―.”

**Kiiieeeee―!**

“―No! Alexander didn’t give up!”

Despite the other users succumbing to fear and despair creeping into their minds, Alexander hadn’t given up. His persistence had a tangible effect. At least one of Tiamat’s six heads had its gathering mana particles quickly dissipate.

“One breath attack is down!”

Kuzgunak’sh’s head reacted distinctly to Bailephus. Even in death, the being, which harbored a relentless grudge solely against Bailephus, was exerting its full power. However, this wasn’t good news for Alexander and Bailephus. Using Tiamat’s breath attack derived from Kuzgunak’sh’s head to hold off other Tiamat heads was their best option. If just one breath attack was gone, what good was that?

“So what? There are still five―.”

“Now’s the time to fire!”

Five breath attacks still remained. Alexander gritted his teeth hard enough to split his lips and took flight rapidly. Bahamut was already prepared. Holding his shining spear with both hands, Alexander took on a stance like a baseball player, flapping his wings in the air.

『I’m sorry, Bailephus, Alexander. If I were in my full condition, I could have tried to block it…』

『You don’t need to say that. If our Lord hadn’t stopped Le, Pyrot-Cocri would have awakened, and things would be worse than they are now.』

Bahamut, who had one arm missing, barely managed a faint smile as he looked at Alexander, who was encouraging him.

『Well then, let’s survive and meet again.』

And at that moment, Tiamat fired her breath attacks.

────────────!!!!

The breath attacks didn’t scatter aimlessly. Tiamat, who had maintained her sanity enough to overpower Kuzgunak’sh’s thoughts just moments before, naturally aimed at her “biggest obstacle!”

The five breath attacks clearly targeted the pairing of Bahamut, Alexander, and Bailephus.

The multi-colored breath attacks had an energy output that was fundamentally different from what dragons of those colors would normally discharge. In the face of such overwhelming light and power, Bahamut, Alexander, and Bailephus neither counterattacked nor evaded. Their sole aim was to minimize and contain all damage.

Users fighting the chimera even paused to watch at this moment. The relentless streams of light resembled a flooding river. The only things blocking that river were two mere rocks. The rocks were slowly being pushed back, yet they didn’t allow the water to bypass them or seep through any cracks.

It was an impossible-seeming yet perfect defense.

“Lord Bahamut… Alexander….”

Leeha watched the scene with a burning heart. He knew it was time to abandon his sense of helplessness.

When the seemingly eternal light finally faded, three stars were falling from the sky. The one stroke of luck amidst misfortune was that Alexander, Bailephus, and even Bahamut, transformed from their “dragon” forms, were not reduced to ash.

They had survived, but could do nothing more.

『Lo───────rd!』

Blaugrunn was rapidly diving toward them.

“Damn it! Blaugrunn-ssi! I can’t take it anymore…”

Leeha couldn’t hold back any longer. He thought perhaps he should step forward, face Blaugrunn, and move alongside him.

The battlefield was filled with fierce combat between the Metal Dragons and the Chromatic Dragons, but if he could just manage to wedge in even by a little…

Or if he could kill all the Chromatic Dragons, the Metal Dragons might find a way to break Tiamat’s shield!

Leeha was about to use a skill.

If it weren’t for the sudden voice that echoed in his mind, he might have already used 《Partner: Step Forward》.

―Don’t do it! Leeha-ssi!

The voice was firm.

Leeha was momentarily bewildered. He quickly recognized whose voice it was.

―… Nara-ssi? How― no, why―

It was a whisper from Shin Nara.

* * *

―Hold on! Don’t go out now! According to Lark-ssi… there will surely be an opportunity! There will definitely be a moment when Bahamut is repelled!

Shin Nara shouted even before listening to Leeha. As soon as he heard her voice, all his questions tangled up.

It took him less than a second to gather his thoughts.

What she had done until now, where she was currently, whether she was watching him or not, none of that was important.

―The plan?

Surely, she was giving him the timing so he wouldn’t step out. Regardless of where she was watching from or what she was thinking, the important thing was why she was interrupting at this exact moment.

Shin Nara quickly responded without lengthy explanations.

―I don’t know exactly! Lark-ssi asked me to stop you from acting impulsively, to prevent you from emotionally exploding, especially towards the end of this battle! He said that surely, such a time would come―and once I held you back, you would handle it on your own…

Shin Nara’s voice trailed off with anxiety. It was only natural for her to feel unsure about how much of this Leeha understood.

But as he listened to her whisper, he couldn’t help but laugh helplessly.

‘Handle it on my own… huh.’

No matter how sharp Lark was, he couldn’t foresee everything.

The battlefield was as unpredictable as a living creature, and expecting things to unfold exactly as planned was nearly impossible.

Lark knew that as well.

That’s likely why he made such a request to Shin Nara. It was also a testament to Lark’s immense trust in him.

―Damn it, Lark. You’re too perceptive, and it makes me uneasy.

―What?

Leeha realized he could do it. So all he needed was for his rash actions to be curbed.

In the end, this was the meaning of what Lark asked Shin Nara to do, wasn’t it?

Going to Blaugrunn now to strike at Tiamat was merely acting with his head alone.

This was one of the ‘reckless factors’ that Lark was worried about.

Acting in a state where the head was hot but the heart was cold did no good for the battlefield.

With Shin Nara’s voice, Leeha found his composure once more.

Head cold, heart hot.

―Blaugrunn-ssi! Take Raphaela and retreat with Lord Bahamut, Bailephus-nim, and Alexander! It’s earlier than planned, but it doesn’t matter!

―What? Yes! Understood!

Leeha immediately whispered to Blaugrunn. If even the Saintess went with them, they wouldn’t die. That was all that mattered.

‘The original plan did not involve us getting pushed this far!’

.