The knight of black and ash raises his gClay longsword.

────

That alone is enough to understand.

──── No wonder he was able to take down Jade Calamity without a scratch...

A foreign knight whose allegiance is unknown.

His stance, his sword, his aura—all of it, even at a glance, exudes an extraordinary level of mastery. Before even crossing blades, I can already tell that he is leagues above me. Just standing before him, my instincts scream of impending defeat. If I were being honest, I would have turned and fled this very moment. And I do not consider that to be a disgraceful thought.

“Hah────”

Underestimating an enemy’s strength is fatal in battle. When faced with an opponent who is absolutely insurmountable, one must swallow their pride and retreat in order to survive. That is the only way to ensure there is a future to fight for. The knight standing before me is, without a doubt, someone I should be running from. Even if all of us were to attack at once, we would still lose. If we do not flee now, annihilation is inevitable. And yet, not everyone here will be able to escape.

──── Someone has to hold him back.

Especially if we want the injured members of the factions to make it out alive.

“Suu... Haa────”

I take a deep breath, as if to mask the tension tightening my face.

The knight of black and ash remains in his stance, waiting for me to be ready. Even in this situation, it seems he abides by some form of chivalry.

“Much appreciated...”

“Clay...?”

Hearing me murmur, Freesia, who had been standing beside me on high alert, tilts her head in confusion.

The only relief is that she has not recklessly lunged at the knight. As long as she is here, she can safely escort the wounded back to the surface.

──── Seems like I’m the one he’s after.

The Academy staff, already alerted to the emergency by the dungeon fairy’s alarm, must be making their way here from outside. But it will still take them time to arrive. That means I have no choice.

Even at top speed, it would take at least two hours to reach this place from the dungeon entrance. If we wait that long, treating Jade Calamity’s wounds will be impossible. The best course of action is clear.

“Freesia, Weiss, Your Highness, Lady Gravitell...”

Adjusting my grip on my blood sword, I call out their names.

“Take the Swordstrike Faction and Jade Calamity and escape ahead of me.”

“What...!? What about you, Clay!?”

“I’ll hold the knight back.”

“But Clay, that’s too────”

“We don’t have time for debate. You understand, don’t you? The enemy’s target is clearly me. It only makes sense for me to stay behind.”

“...!!”

Weiss grits his teeth in frustration, unable to argue. The prince and Lady Gravitell, too, attempt to speak but fall silent.

They seem to understand my resolve. Truly, they are kindhearted people. And so, I turn to the battle-crazed girl beside me, who is staring straight at me.

“Freesia, I’m counting on you. Get everyone back to the surface.”

“...Fine. But I’ll be back as soon as I get them there. Don’t you dare die before that.”

Surprisingly, she does not protest. I let out a small breath of relief. Just the fact that she did not insist on staying is enough.

I smirk, half-jokingly.

“Relax. I’ll finish this before you even have the chance to catch up.”

“...Then I suppose that’s fine.”

Looking dissatisfied, she turns away and lifts the unconscious girl onto her back. Now, everything is in place.

“Go.”

“Yeah.”

In the next instant, the girl who had been beside me is already at the entrance to the room.

“Sorry, Clay!”

“...Good luck.”

“Don’t you dare die!!”

Following her lead, Weiss and the others carry the remaining faction members and exit the room. Watching them leave, I finally turn to face the knight of black and ash once more.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“It’s no trouble. I was the one who intruded, after all. A final farewell is something that should be granted to all equally.”

“Much obliged──── So? Who the hell are you? And why do you want me dead? I don’t recall ever giving a knight any reason to hunt me.”

Since conversation seems possible, I decide to probe for information. Perhaps this, too, is part of his so-called chivalry, as the knight solemnly introduces himself.

“My apologies... I am Tylus Arnell. One of the Five Heavenly Swords of the Shade End Empire, and a knight of the Black Shadow Order, sworn to the Shadow Dragon, Scarshade. By my lord’s command, I have come to claim your life.”

“────What?”

His name catches me off guard.

What did he just say? Tylus Arnell? The Five Heavenly Swords Tylus Arnell? The same one who supposedly defeated a Shadow Dragon’s kin not long ago?

What the hell is going on?

Why would he be trying to kill me...? No, wait. What did he just say?

“Shadow Dragon... Scarshade?”

I’ve never heard that name before. But I recognize something in it that I cannot ignore.

Why is an imperial knight trying to kill me? I don’t care. That doesn’t matter right now.

What does matter is that name—Shadow Dragon.

A dragon.

“Are you saying you serve the Shadow Dragon?”

“That is what I said. Did you not hear me?”

“Tch────!!”

The mention of that creature makes my blood boil.

“You sure are quick to answer questions.”

“There is no need to hide it. No matter what you learn, it is meaningless. After all──── you will die here.”

His indifferent tone grates on my nerves.

“I see... Then, tell me this: If I ask you where that damned lizard is, will you answer me? I have some unfinished business with it. I’d love to pay it a visit────”

At long last, a clue about that dragon has fallen right into my lap.

“I will slay that dragon, and I will break my sister’s curse!!”

That means I have to crush this man and force him to talk. I need to know where the dragon is. I need to kill it.

In an instant, my purpose shifts. This is no longer a mere delaying action.

He serves the Shadow Dragon. That makes him my enemy. In other words, this is────

“Extermination!!”

I forcefully kick off the ground, closing the distance between us.

“Haaah!!”

My blood sword swings for his neck, but he effortlessly deflects it with his longsword.

“How savage. Like a beast... And that last remark—unacceptable.”

In retaliation, Tylus Arnell counters with a swift strike.

“Retract your words about my lord being a ‘damned lizard.’”

“Hah!! After what that lizard did to my sister and that old man? Over my dead body!!”

I don’t dodge. Instead, I press forward, locking blades.

Our eyes meet. Through the gaps in his helmet, his cold gaze pierces through.

“Even we, his loyal servants, have not been granted his blessing. Yet, ignorant fools like you are favored? Ridiculous!!”

“The only ridiculous thing here is you!!”

No more words. There is no common ground.

Even so, I finally have a lead on my sworn enemy. All my pent-up rage comes pouring out.

I am exhausted. Wounded. My blood is not at full capacity. My magic reserves are low.

──── But so what? If not now, then when?

Fortunately, my Blood Flow Manipulation has been running at full power. My external blood is already prepared, primed for combat.

“No holding back────”

My mind is clear. The anger that threatened to consume me earlier is now sharp focus. I can see every movement he makes. I feel better than I ever have.

In other words────

“Dragon Slayer Blood War!!”

──── My blood is boiling at its peak.