The situation shifted rapidly following the report of the Demon King Army’s advance.
"They're earlier than planned," Great Sage Agrippus grumbled, sweeping out of the drawing room.
Nyau and I left the Imperial Palace immediately after to begin our own preparations to intercept the enemy. Outside, the city was already in an uproar, with crowds of people running in every direction. However, because the invasion had been anticipated, the evacuation of civilians and the deployment of soldiers seemed to be proceeding with some level of order.
"We shall guard Sage Nyau with our very lives!"
The soldiers awaiting Nyau at her post greeted her with those resolute words. Her position was atop the westernmost wall. Since the Demon King Army was approaching from the west, this area was destined to become the fiercest point of contact.
Nyau had been appointed as the commander for this sector. Tasked with addressing her troops, she stepped forward and opened her mouth to speak.
"Nyau knows she has many shortcomings, but she intends to fight with all her might, so she looks forward to working with you-nya—!"
She tripped over her words at the most critical moment. Nyau turned to me, her eyes pleading for help as if to say, “Fuehh, Kiska-san, what should I do?”
I had no choice. I had to provide some follow-up.
"Listen up, you lot! Standing before you is one who holds the title of Master—Sage Nyau herself! With her magic, she can sweep hundreds of dragons from the sky with ease! She is the Goddess of Victory who will lead us to triumph! So, men, protect her with everything you've got!!"
"Uoooohhhhhhhhhh!!"
The soldiers raised their fists, letting out a deafening roar. Good. That ought to be enough to keep their morale high.
"Kiska-san, that was a bit much. Nyau isn't really that strong," she whispered to me, careful not to let the soldiers overhear.
"For things like this, a little exaggeration goes a long way, Sage Nyau."
"Muu."
Nyau puffed out her cheeks in a pout and glared at me. Then, her expression softened. "Will you protect Nyau too, Kiska-san?"
"Yeah. I’ll protect you with my life, Princess," I said, reaching out to pat her head.
"Then Nyau will protect Kiska-san with all her might, too."
"I’m counting on it."
The Demon King Army was advancing in two main groups. The first was a ground force composed of the Demon Race marching along the highway. The second was an aerial force of dragons. These dragons carried demons on their backs; once they breached the city from above, the riders would dismount and join the dragons in a coordinated assault.
Our primary objective was to shoot those dragons out of the sky. If we timed it right, we could wipe out both the dragons and their riders before they even reached the walls. To bring down a dragon, however, required immense magical power. Only a Master like Sage Nyau possessed the necessary firepower. This was why she was stationed at the most dangerous point on the front lines.
"Demon King Army confirmed ahead!!" someone screamed.
Looking toward the horizon, I saw countless specks growing larger. A swarm of dragons was closing in.
"Nyau, are you ready?"
"Yes! I'm ready."
Rod in hand, Nyau began her incantation.
"In Nyau's name, I command. The inexhaustible plunderer. Powerless fury. An arrowhead forged of hearts. Dust gathered is still but dust. Twelve spirit-words. Brittle ruby. Primordial light. Death is unequal before God. The sender of silence. Spirits who govern all. All is but a jest. The four elements have become my servants. The earth is immutable. Truth is absent. Footprints are eternal. The pulsating blood never ends. The cycle of revenge is severed. My wish is but one. With knowledge as my fuel, glory like the phoenix. I am the Executioner of the Bonfire. Now, stain the world red. Fire Magic, Ninth Tier—Inferno Infinite Annihilation Cannon: Destreet!"
In an instant, a massive magic circle manifested, and countless streaks of crimson light erupted from it. The flashes of magic pierced through the approaching dragons without mercy.
"Gau!"
The dragons shrieked as they plummeted toward the earth. It was incredible; she was taking them down as if they were nothing more than common pests.
"Hey, there are still more coming!!" a soldier yelled.
Indeed, the onslaught didn't end with a few kills. The enemy had over a thousand dragons at their disposal. They continued to swarm us, wave after wave.
"Inferno Infinite Annihilation Cannon: Destreet!!"
Nyau unleashed her magic again and again, burying the dragons in a sea of fire. But no matter how many she struck down, more took their place.
"Dragon inside the walls!"
Even the strongest mage couldn't shoot them all down alone. A few dragons managed to slip through Nyau's barrage, landing within the city's defenses. But we couldn't afford to stop. Nyau squeezed out every drop of her mana, desperately trying to thin the swarm.
"Nyau, are you okay?"
"Y-Yes... I-I'm... fine..."
She answered, but she was clearly lying. Her breathing was shallow and ragged, and her face contorted with pain every time she inhaled. She was swaying on her feet, barely able to keep her balance. I knew magic was taxing, but this was far worse than I had imagined.
"Nyau, we're moving."
"…!"
Without waiting for her to respond, I scooped her up and leaped away. An instant later, a pillar of fire erupted where we had been standing—a direct dragon strike.
"T-Thank you..."
"Save your strength. Don't talk."
Nyau gave a weak nod and immediately began constructing her next spell. It was frustrating. Seeing her suffer like this while I could do so little was a bitter pill to swallow. I wished I could take her place, but my skills were useless against enemies in the sky.
"Destreet!!"
Another dragon fell to her flame.
"Hey, Nyau, that's enough. You need to rest!"
Hours had passed since the start of the battle. Nyau’s condition was deteriorating rapidly. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hands were shaking uncontrollably, and her breath came in sharp, pained gasps.
"I-I'm... okay..." she wheezed, trying to force another spell into existence.
"Gah!"
Suddenly, a spray of blood erupted from her mouth. Her body had clearly reached its absolute limit.
"Stop! You have to rest—"
She cut me off with a desperate look.
"I'm fine... Nyau has to do this. This is all... all Nyau's fault... That’s why Nyau can’t stop... not yet..."
When she had seen the ruins of the Royal Capital, she had blamed herself incessantly. She was still carrying the weight of that failure, letting it drive her to the brink of death.
"I understand."
If I were thinking rationally, I should have forced her to stop. But seeing her determination to fight through the agony, I knew I had to respect her resolve.
"I'll support you. I'll handle everything else—you just focus on your magic."
"Thank you... Kiska-san..."
She glanced at me, whispering her gratitude. I knew she didn't even have the breath to spare for those words, which only made her appear more noble in my eyes. I felt incredibly lucky just to stand by her side.
We continued to fight. Nyau unleashed her magic without pause, and I moved across the battlefield with her in my arms, weaving through the chaos to evade the dragons' counterattacks.
We were both reaching the point of total exhaustion. All around us, soldiers and civilians were being slaughtered. We didn't have the luxury of grief. Kill one more dragon. Kill one more demon. That single-minded drive was the only thing keeping us moving.
Yet, despite the mountain of dragon corpses, the tide of battle remained against us. The enemy was endless.
"Gugyooooooooh!!"
A dragon roared directly ahead, its eyes locked onto us. I used <Provocation> to draw its focus and kept moving, dodging every strike. I knew that if I could just keep us alive long enough, Nyau would finish her chant and end the threat.
I dodged, and dodged, and dodged—
"Wait—"
I realized something was wrong. I hadn't heard Nyau's voice for some time. I looked down and saw that she had finally lost consciousness. She couldn't cast anymore.
"Gugooooooooooooooh!!!"
The dragon in front of us opened its maw, gathering a massive amount of fire for its breath attack. There was no way to dodge it from this position. We were out of options. It looked like this was the end for us.
"Barrier Magic, First Tier—Barrier: Este."
Suddenly, a massive shimmering wall materialized in front of us, absorbing the dragon's fiery breath. Nyau was unconscious, so who could have cast it?
"Well done. You two held the line long enough."
It was Great Sage Agrippus. He looked just as battered as we were; he must have been fighting a desperate battle in another sector.
"I can't let Sage Nyau die here. Take her to safety. I'll handle the rest."
"Understood!"
I nodded and ran toward the rear with everything I had, clutching the unconscious Nyau tightly to my chest.