"Cough cough!!!"
She heaved as they tumbled out. Shuro's face was grim, clutching his broken sword hilt.
"A fully-grown (adult) Fire Dragonthat level's way beyond us."
His voice shook with frustration.
"And we've used so many resources in the labyrinth, we're out of strength."
Namari stared hollowly at her axe's melted remains.
"We need to go back."
Laios's words made them all turn. His brows, half-scorched and face blistered, shone with a fierce desperation.
"Right now, immediately! Falin might still be alive. Dragons take time to digest"
"Are you insane?!"
Shuro seized Laios by the collar, yanking him up.
"My blade got destroyed by its scales; Mari's axe is molten slag. Chilchack's exhausted. Marcille's mana is gone. What do we have left to fight it?!"
He glared at Laios.
"I"
Laios's eyes went vacant. Shuro's points were all too true. They had no way to face that Fire Dragon without rest and new equipment.
"I'm leaving the party."
"Me too."
Before he could talk about regrouping, Namari and Shuro both chose to leave. They had their own plansone unwilling to gamble further, one seeking another path to find Falin. No one had any right to stop them. Once their footsteps faded among the forest, Marcille broke into sobs.
"Falin"
She was consumed by regret. If only she hadn't hesitated, she might've cast a spell to save Falin. She couldn't help loathing herself, even though she likely couldn't have changed a thing in that moment, given her depleted mana.
~~~
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Chapter 618: Couronne Dola Disbelief... (Bonus Chapter)
The World of "No Game No Life"
In this world, sixteen different races coexisted. For the sake of survival, they fought endless battles against each other.
Humans, or the Imanity, ranked the weakest among all sixteen races, so frail that they stood no chance against even the remnants of other races' conflicts.
As a result, Imanity barely managed to eke out a small foothold.
Despite their precarious state, they clung to life in a hidden settlement, led by a man named Riku Dola.
Couronne Dolaa red-haired girl, and village chief Riku's younger sister (per the adjusted setting)spent each day praying for her brother's safe return with supplies.
All of a sudden, she froze.
[Ding! You have joined the Trade Chat Group!]
Couronne jerked backward, bumping into the cold stone wall behind her. Her heart pounded like a drum, right hand instinctively clutching the bone knife at her waist.
"Is this some illusion from the Elf race? Or a trap by the Ex-Machina?"
She murmured, voice trembling. Her wary gaze swept the area. Any bizarre phenomenon from another race could easily doom the fragile Imanity.
Yet after a moment, Couronne gave a wry smile. Imanity is so patheticwould anyone bother setting traps for us? If they discovered our hideout, they'd simply wipe us out. No need for elaborate schemes.
Hesitating, Couronne bit her lip and determined to figure out just what this "chat group" was.
Couronne: "Who are you? Are you from another race? Elves? Ex-Machina?"
Frieren: "ElvesI guess that's similar to what I am, yes. But what's the 'Ex-Machina?'"
"Elves?!"
Couronne's eyes widened in shock. The newcomer had admitted being an Elf!
It's over She imagined the total destruction of her village. In despair, she foresaw her people's ruin:
Couronne: "Why?! We humans have suffered enoughwhy annihilate us?! Why drive us to extinction?!"
In that moment, Couronne poured forth her last remnant of courage, questioning the injustice of the world.
Frieren: "Umwhy does this new person react so strongly to me being an Elf?"
Sui: "Maybe Elves in her world are dangerous?"
Busujima Saeko: "It's plausible that Elves vary from one world to another."
Bibi Dong: "But judging from how distressed she is, something terrible must have happened."
Stella: "Could she be hunted by Elves?"
Sui: "Please differentiateshe says 'Elf Race.' Let's respect her terminology."
Rei Ao: "Alright, no need to guess. The newcomer's world is pretty chaotic. Think of a planet with sixteen different races locked in endless struggle for a 'Star Cup' that can grant wishes. Among them, Imanity is the weakest, almost like cannon fodder. And among the sixteen, the Elf Race is extremely powerfuleach Elf could easily slaughter humans."
Erica: "No wonder she panicked upon hearing 'Elf.'"
Tohru: "Mmm, that world's conflict level is about on par with the dragon realm."
Yomogawa Ayame: "@Couronne, Couronne-san, please don't worry, we mean you no harm."
Yomogawa Ayame: "Frieren and Sui are not Elves from your world. We're all from different worlds, so there's no persecution here."
""
Reading these friendly messages, Couronne was at a loss. Then she spotted a post from the group's "owner," Rei Ao:
Rei Ao : "Couronne, I'll send you info about the chat group. Whether you trust it is up to you."
A splitting headache struck her as some kind of knowledge forced its way into her mind. In an instant, she understood the basics of the chat group. Yet Couronne found it hard to believe.
Couronne: "A chat group linking different worlds? Could that exist?"
Yatogami Tohka: "Don't worry, I was also confused at first. But Rei Ao showed me what's real."
Couronne's breathing quickened. Different worlds? That went beyond her comprehension. Her world had the legend of sixteen races vying for the Star Cup, never any mention of other worlds.
Couronne: "If you truly are from other worlds, tell me what yours are like."
Miko Yotsuya: "Uh, my place was originally just normalthough we had evil spirits. But they're all exorcised now thanks to Rei Ao, so it's peaceful!"
Aihara Enju: "My world got destroyed by Rei Ao. I live in Akame's world now."
Akame: "Yep, Enju and her friends are strong and adorable."
Bibi Dong: "I'm in the Divine Realm, specifically in Rei Ao's divine palace."
Shiba Miyuki: "My world uses psionic magic."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "Mine's currently a war between humans and vampires."
Couronne's fingers trembled as she clutched her fur cloak. All these descriptions seemed utterly foreignmaybe it wasn't a trap?
Couronne felt her beliefs waver
~~~
200 Powerstone Bonus Chapter!
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Chapter 619: Imanity's Plight, Training...
Yotsuya Miko: "This newcomer named Couronne is extremely wary. Maybe she's got a serious problem? She can share it with usmaybe we can help somehow."
Ai Hayasaka: "Isn't the simplest way just to make a deal with the group host?"
Yotsuya Miko: "Er, well yes, but there's always a cost in a deal. A newcomer may not accept it so readily."
Kasuga Hijiri: "Actually, it's not so bad."
Couronne: "Do you all really not understand the plight of the human race in my world?"
Kasuga Hijiri: "Only Rei Ao knows the details, I guess. Of course, if you'd rather not say, no one can force you."
Couronne's lips trembled. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
Couronne: "Our Imanitystands on the brink of extinction. What's left of our people lives in a hidden outpost, led by my brother Riku."
Frieren: "Ugh, that's even more tragic than I imagined."
Mikoto Misaka: "The chat group can do photos and recordings, you know. Maybe you could show us something?"
Couronne: "O-okay, let me see"
A moment later:
Couronne: "[Video]is this how it's done?"
She attached a video. Everyone opened it to see a worn-down settlement, as if they lived in a cave or underground, battered by hardship.
Aihara Enju: "Wow, that looks pretty roughbarely better than the sewer I used to live in."
Yotsuya Miko: "Ah Enju just casually mentioned something quite bleak."
Aihara Enju: "But it's all in the past. Now I'm living with everyone, working to build a nice home."
Yotsuya Miko: "That's wonderful."
Frieren: "Getting back to the pointgiven what Couronne and Rei Ao said, her people are indeed in dire straits."
Frieren: "In such circumstances, only Rei Ao's deal might truly help her."
Couronne: "You can really help us? How? With money or treasure?"
Rei Ao: "I'm sorry to say, you have only one thing suitable for a trade."
Shinoa Hiiragi: "Got itbody usage rights."
Couronne: "Body usage rights?"
Akame: "In simpler terms, it means you, as a woman, giving your body."
Couronne: ""
Couronne froze, not because this condition was so shocking, but because it seemedtoo simpleso simple that she suspected it was just some superior race toying with her.
In her world, the body of a mere human was worth next to nothing. A single upper race could obliterate them instantly, so why would they need such a trivial thing in exchange for saving her people?
There were no free lunches in her world: Elves demanded an equal exchange in the Elf Corridor, Ex-Machina required data, and so on.
As Couronne doubted the authenticity of the deal, footsteps pounded outside, accompanied by ragged panting.
"Riku!"
Hearing that voice, Couronne hastily closed the chat interface and rushed outside. She spotted Riku staggering into the settlement.
"Erit and Famirthey"
Riku's voice was cracking.
"Weran into three demons They told me to go on ahead"
Couronne's blood ran cold. Erit and Famir were two young men from the settlement, who had left with Riku that morning to scavenge supplies.
"They"
She didn't dare finish the question. Riku's face was grim.
"Theycouldn't make it out."
Couronne clenched her teeth, fighting the burning in her eyes. Tragedies like this happened all too frequently. The onlookers fell silent with heavy hearts, seeming numb to this cycle of loss.
Meanwhile, Mana, Inori, and the others were waking due to new pop-ups in the chat.
Opening their eyes, they immediately saw Mana down below, working diligently. Everyone blushed. Just then, Mana finished her final "cleanup." She lifted her head, wiping the corner of her mouth, then smiled bewitchingly:
"All done with my breakfast. Would anyone else like a taste?"
""
That made the girls stir, but because Rei Ao was about to leave, they had no time for more "breakfast."
"We'll do it next time," he said. "Next time, I'll host a proper party."
After giving each woman a farewell kiss, he prepared to depart, but first asked:
"What do you plan on doing now?"
They were all gods now. The Apocalypse Virus was gone, GHQ and the Funeral Parlor had been destroyed. Nobody could limit their freedom. Mana looked uncertain:
"I'd love to stay at Rei Ao's side, but it's tricky"
Ayase Shinomiya, by contrast, spoke with bright eyes:
"Thanks to Master healing my legs, I want to truly live with them."
Tsugumi tore her gaze from the "weapon," cheeks flushed:
"I'll go wherever sis goes."
Yet, they weren't sure what to do next. With the crises gone, they felt directionless. Finally, Menjou Hare timidly raised her hand:
"Maybe we should go back to school and experience everyday life?"
They all gaped. Hare still had unfinished schooling, and Arisa was a student council president.
"Seemsokay."
Ayase sparkled with interest. Because of her handicap, she'd never truly gone to school before. Suddenly that prospect excited her. So they decided to return to student life.
"Then enjoy your campus days," Rei Ao said with a smile. With that, he left. In his absence, the girls felt a hollow pang.
Kuhouin Arisa scanned the room, eyes alight:
"All your lovemaking skills are awful!"
"Eh?"
The others froze, baffled. Arisa insisted seriously:
"If you keep doing such a poor job, you'll never satisfy Master. So from here on, I'll train you in serving him properly!"
""
"!!!!"
They all blushed, realizing Arisa meant very thorough training indeed.
~~~
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Chapter 620: Morning Breakfast and Fujimiya Sumika's another Date Plan...
Early Morning Sawamura Sayuri's House
Rei Ao returned to Sawamura Sayuri's home at dawn. She was still asleepclutching a certain blonde twintail in her arms. That twintail turned out to be Eriri, who was snuggled against Sayuri, sleeping soundly.
Sensing a presence, Eriri blinked awake. She turned around and immediately came face to face with something shockingRei Ao!
"You!"
She was about to cry out, but Rei Ao clamped a hand over her head.
"Shh! Keep it downSayuri's still asleep!"
"???"
Eriri's eyes widened. Did he think she was just going to scream for no reason? Sure, he could have simply covered her mouth with his hand, but insteadhe used an emergency 'cover'?! Eriri's face showed faint indignation, yet her body responded in a tellingly honest way. Rei Ao only grinned.
"I rushed back before school starts to make you a nutritious breakfast. Sounds good?"
""
Eriri shot him a glare. If he was so concerned about me, why didn't he just stay in my room last night, instead of coming here? Still, she didn't bother complaining. The only thing on her mind right now was devouring that "nutritious breakfast" as compensation.
Totally absorbed in her meal, Eriri didn't notice that Sayuri had woken and was quietly watching, a warm light in her eyes. Catching Rei Ao's gaze, Sayuri held a finger to her lips in a playful "shh" gesture. Rei Ao nodded lightly, continuing not to disturb Eriri's focus.
Morning College Girls' Dormitory
Fujimiya Sumika was daydreaming as usual, thinking about Rei Ao. Though he was a few years younger than her, this boy had left an incredibly vivid impression. When she considered the fact that she was getting to the age of finding a boyfriend, she couldn't help but compare every candidate to Rei Aoand every comparison ended in crushing defeat.
"Spacing out again?"
Sawae's voice came from behind her.
"You're not still thinking of that younger boy, are you?"
Sumika snapped out of her daze, trying to hide her embarrassment:
"N-no, I'm not!"
"Yeah, right."
Sawae gave her a skeptical look.
"If you weren't, then how come you're staring at his photo all day long?"
She half suspected that Sumika did something weird at night with that photo of Rei Ao.
"Sigh"
Sawae shook her head in exasperation.
