The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Wants to Break Off the Engagement-Chapter 99

Benelrode the Incandescent once again faced the humans and looked around.
The fortress that had protected their feeble bodies was gone, yet they refused to give up and were forming a new formation.
On top of that, their numbers seemed to have increased, which was bound to be troublesome.
'How futile. Are they conscious of my breath?'
Benelrode the Incandescent discerned that the humans' defensive line was stretched vastly.
In this situation, even if he unleashed his breath, he could not wipe them out all at once.
Moreover, since they could push in from any direction, letting his guard down even for a moment would put him on the defensive.
'If I spread my flame, I could kill them all. But... I'd have to waste my magic power.'
Unlike the previous battle, the targets he needed to attack were widely scattered.
Therefore, he would have to further extend the range of his flames, which would amplify the consumption of his magic power.
On top of that, having already used his breath once, he inevitably showed a somewhat passive side.
'Is this a strategy you devised? Are you aiming for the moment my magic power is depleted?'
Benelrode the Incandescent scoffed at this, but had to somewhat acknowledge it.
There were those who boasted pride even before death, yet in the end, only emptiness would remain.
Once dead, there was no going back; only by surviving could one glimpse the future.
'No... it might also be a scheme led by the humans. Perhaps to force me to retreat.'
Benelrode the Incandescent had slaughtered the arrogant death squads, yet he himself had suffered a fatal wound.
His left wing had been torn off, and a considerable impact was inflicted near his heart.
As a result, flight had become impossible, and with the circulation of magic power hampered, the implementation of magic became restricted.
'The longer this drags on, the greater my loss becomes. If I don't make a decision now, I will reach destruction first.'
Though he felt various forms of displeasure towards humans, he could not afford to be swayed by petty emotions.
He now needed to absorb the source sleeping beyond.
If he could recreate his life through the source, he might be able to forge a new utopia.
'This is a secret only I know. The others dismissed it as an illusion.'
Somewhere in the land where humans dwelled, the source of the world was hidden.
Most likely, the humans had never even perceived its existence, and it had remained neglected until now.
If he were to take it for himself as things were, he believed he would become superior to any other dragon.
'Had you realized it, you would not have stood idly by. You would have tried to seize it, even if it meant betraying the humans.'
As Benelrode the Incandescent drew closer to death, he could not help but obsess over the world's source.
It was likely a mistake born of his own greed, but that did not mean he wished to lose his life.
No matter what sacrifices were necessary, he would protect this life above all else.
'It's better than vanishing in vain, isn't it? You're not so different from me.'
They merely clashed because their goals diverged from the start.
Right or wrong could not convince the other.
Therefore, the logic of strength would have to determine the winner and the loser.
'I don't care what happens to the humans. I only need to preserve my own life....'
* * *
Alter moved stealthily alongside the elite troops.
Although the dragon's flames had already engulfed several sections of the defensive line, the soldiers managed to endure by drenching themselves in water.
They were still whittling away at the dragon's magic power, so if they struck by surprise, they could inflict at least some damage.
"Hm... Its momentum certainly seems diminished. Do you suppose there's a problem with its magic power circulation?"
"Perhaps it's simply difficult to respond because our defenses are spread out?"
"That's a reasonable point, but the density of its magic power has sharply dropped. At this rate, it won't be able to kill our soldiers so easily."
"... Or it could be intentionally conserving its magic power. Perhaps it's saving it for another breath attack?"
"That's why we're purposefully drawing out its magic power consumption. Even if this becomes a war of attrition, that would be in our favor, wouldn't it?"
"As long as the soldiers don't fall, we have nothing to regret. Once reinforcements arrive, things should become much easier."
"Can't guarantee the lives of our men, though. The concentration of magic power may spike suddenly... If it unleashes breath anywhere, it'll be difficult to respond."
"It would be best to end this as soon as possible, but if even one of us is injured, we may lose our chance at victory. Even if all four of us combine our strength, it's hard to be certain..."
Berhan, lost in thought, conferred with Alraune.
If they struck the dragon first, there would be considerable risk involved, but the overall casualties could be reduced.
However, the longer the dragon's death was delayed, the more their forces would be massacred, so they had to time their move appropriately.
"Lord Berhan. We are considered strong within the Empire, but we cannot withstand its breath. Even if I risk all the mages who followed me, the majority would be swept away. That's why I suggested waiting and watching a bit longer."
"I'm aware of that, but our order has already suffered significant losses. The Imperial Army too is experiencing mass casualties—how can we just stand by?"
"We're not standing by; we're waiting for the opportune moment. You know what consequences come from failure, don't you?"
"Haaa... This is truly frustrating."
"......"
Alter could do nothing but quietly eavesdrop on the two's conversation.
They had slipped out of the first defensive line in secret, but the timing of the assault was still not easily decided.
They had to close the gap with the dragon, since in the crucial moment, they would need to unleash a full-scale attack.
"Would seeing it fire its breath again finally satisfy you?"
"I doubt it'll come to that, but if it does unleash a second breath, we might have a fighting chance. Wouldn't Lord Berhan's concern stems from the resulting losses?"
"Listen, great mage. Even before I became the Sword Saint, I commanded the order's forces. There was a time when I thought it right to sacrifice the few for the many."
"......"
"Now, I know that's not the right way. Even a few lives are precious—how can we weigh them against each other?"
"I never wanted it to come to this either. Had I reached a higher level, I would've tried to block its breath. Seeing that with your own eyes, could you still speak so lightly of sacrifice?"
Berhan seemed to hesitate for a moment before shaking his head.
The breath that Benelrode the Incandescent had unleashed had shattered the earthworks and the cold, utterly destroying the front of the fortress.
If they were struck directly by the breath, he and his allies would vanish without a trace.
"... It's certain the dragon has been pushed to the brink. Isn't its offensive weaker than before?"
"Could it be a ruse?"
"It's not in any position for tricks. The longer this draws out, the more disadvantaged the dragon becomes."
"It'll have kept one breath in reserve at least. Looking broadly, perhaps it can use it twice more."
"It won't want to use it recklessly against us. If it expends all its magic power, it won't be able to attack anymore, right?"
"So it'll only use it in moments of true desperation?"
"That's why, when we ambush the dragon, we have to end it. If it survives, won't it immediately use its breath?"
"Hm...."
"Meaning—we must be prepared."
After mediating the debate, Alter finally locked eyes with Brillie.
There was only one chance; if they failed, ​​even escaping would be difficult.
But if they missed this moment, when would they ever get another opportunity to slay Benelrode the Incandescent?
'We have to strike while the monsters are out fighting. I can't handle it alone....'
* * *
Benelrode the Incandescent, while conserving his magic power as much as possible, began to feel a strange sense of incongruity.
Within the fortress, he had unleashed immense force, yet now the humans were only barely withstanding his flames.
Could their divisions alone have weakened them so drastically?
'They wouldn't have abandoned the fight. Where is Tiksa?'
He had already deployed most of the monsters into the field, and the Knight of True Flame would join later.
He himself was controlling the fire from outside the battlefield, so he did not have to assume any risk.
From the humans' perspective, there was no way they would leave such a one-sided war unchallenged.
'If they're hiding their strength... hm?'
Benelrode the Incandescent immediately sensed a fluctuation in magic power, but by then, mounds of earth were rising from the ground.
Before he knew it, his legs were trapped by earth, and even a dragon's strength couldn't shake it off.
At the same time, a familiar chill swept in, creeping across his mouth.
"T-Tiksa! How dare you... mmph...."
With his mouth frozen, Benelrode the Incandescent opened his eyes wide.
A human was spreading cold imbued with the magic power of his kin.
Mistaking this as the intervention of Tiksa the Frostbane, he was startled.
'How can a mere human wield Tiksa's magic power? This is impossible...'
Suddenly, Benelrode the Incandescent was hit by a fierce shock.
A human clad in white armor swung a hammer toward his right leg.
With that blow, the scales covering his skin were torn off, and his flesh was crushed.
'Such strength—augh...'
Only then did Benelrode the Incandescent unleash his magic power, but somewhere, a sharp airflow surged toward him.
The sword aura, honed with murderous intent, flashed for a moment and then flew towards his chest.
That was the area previously dealt a serious wound by the death squad—also where his vitals were located.
"Kraaaagh!"
Roaring in agony, Benelrode the Incandescent's massive body reeled.
Both legs were still restrained, and the armored human continued to strike relentlessly with the hammer.
Meanwhile, his mouth and throat froze even deeper, and his heart pounded violently.
At this rate, he thought, he might be annihilated in an instant.
"I will not fall here!"
Losing his reason, Benelrode the Incandescent erupted with powerful flames.
Berhan retreated swiftly, and the other troops couldn't approach recklessly.
However, the earthen mass gripping his legs remained, charred but holding its form.
"Tiksa! You, at least, I will never forgive!"
Driving out the cold, Benelrode the Incandescent instantly opened his jaws.
He then took aim at Alter and began to concentrate his breath.
Even if he were to die in this place, he had to punish the kin who had abandoned his pride.
"Alter!"
Brillie hurriedly ran towards where Alter was.
Separating from Alter to redirect her sword aura for even a moment had proven disastrous.
If things continued as they were, her fiancé would be caught in the breath.
"You will not escape! Die, Tiksa!"