"Multiple magic stones hidden inside its body?"
Eiji's thoughts raced.
This was likely the most plausible explanation. By concealing multiple magic stones within its body, even if a fatal weak point was struck, it wouldn't have to worry about being instantly annihilated by his Heavenly Spiral Acceleration.
This was probably the preparation Dionysus had mentioned.
"But just how many are there...?"
Eiji couldn't even begin to guess.
"Only one way to find out!"
He steeled his resolve.
The "Uchide no Kozuchi" spell granted by Haruhime had a time limit. While an unconditional one-level power boost was undoubtedly broken, it lasted only fifteen minutes at most.
He had to defeat the corrupted spirit within those fifteen minutes!
"No more conserving mana!"
Having made up his mind, Eiji immediately altered his tactics.
With a wave of his hand—
Like a peacock spreading its feathers, several golden light swords unfurled from his back, shooting out in all directions like flashes of light.
However, these golden swords didn't target the evil dragon. Instead, they hovered in the distance.
Three light swords in total floated around him—the number his intuition deemed most optimal.
At the same time, he channeled more mana. Guided by his will, he turned and dove straight toward the dragon, riding his sword.
The evil dragon, frustrated by his constant evasion, roared with excitement upon seeing him finally engage head-on. A terrifying dragon's breath and violent lightning surged forth.
Its massive maw opened, spewing a crimson pillar of flame.
Its claws swung, unleashing white bolts of dazzling lightning.
Having learned the hard way how formidable its opponent was, the dragon relentlessly expended its mana, launching a continuous barrage of attacks that lit up half the night sky.
"Just how vast is this thing's mana pool?"
Faced with a sky full of flames and lightning, Eiji remained composed.
Was mana really that disposable?
This prince-like fighting style, throwing around attacks like a nouveau riche, was an experience Eiji—who was always mana-starved—had never had, leaving him inwardly bitter.
The golden flash paused oddly mid-air for an instant before abruptly changing direction.
Moving not in an arc but a zigzag, it evaded the storm of fire and lightning effortlessly.
"ROAR!"
The dragon bellowed in frustration.
It practically screamed, "You're cheating!"
Conventional logic couldn't predict the movements of the Twin Wings Style, capable of instantaneous acceleration and complete stops.
The deeper one's ingrained combat instincts, the more impossible it became to see through this flawless swordsmanship.
The golden light swords were like extensions of Eiji's body. He could manipulate them with the same ease as his own limbs, executing intricate maneuvers and even performing sword techniques remotely through them.
This was the Sword Magic he awakened out of a desire for ranged attacks.
With trajectories that defied all common sense, Eiji easily outmaneuvered the dragon's thought process, rendering its ingrained logic useless. He dodged its barrage effortlessly, not even needing to use his unique abilities.
Clang!
Silently—
A light sword appeared behind the dragon without warning, striking the lower back of its female upper body from a blind spot.
That should be the next fatal weak point.
Eiji's intuition told him so.
But the thunder surrounding her had already condensed into a dazzling white armor, shielding her entire body like a fortress. The light sword couldn't breach it at all!
She was well aware of her vulnerability and had prepared accordingly!
"So tough...! But is her defense—?"
Eiji's gaze sharpened.
The feedback from the light sword felt different from before.
In that case!
Eiji abruptly gained altitude before diving straight down.
His aim was crystal clear—the tip of his sword pointed directly at the evil dragon.
The dragon let out a puzzled growl and eagerly flapped its wings to meet him.
Though it didn't understand why he'd abandoned the advantage of his godlike speed to kite, in close combat, with their full defenses, they couldn't possibly lose!
Eiji took a deep breath and held it.
Pressure surged as the dragon closed in. Suppressing his rapidly pounding heart, he closed the distance in an instant.
For a moment, chaotic flashes of light flickered wildly.
Every onlooker broke out in a cold sweat.
"What is he doing?"
"Engaging the evil dragon in close combat at such proximity?"
"What is he thinking?!"
Upon closer inspection...
In the watery mirror, Eiji was weaving around the dragon's body.
He clung so close to the surface of the lightning armor that a mere misstep would send him crashing into the roaring thunder, reduced to ashes.
It seemed he was searching for a chink in the armor, but the risk was staggering. Even Finn momentarily wondered, "Has he given up?"
Even as a Level 7, a direct hit from lightning infused with such immense magical power would char him to a crisp!
If that happened, the evil dragon would triumph, and Orario would be doomed!
The dragon realized this too. Its massive, hovering form lunged deliberately, trying to engulf him in its electrified aura.
"They're going to collide!"
With the dragon thrashing unpredictably, the chance of avoiding impact was nearly zero!
Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.
Yet, defying all expectations, Eiji dodged by a hair's breadth.
What luck!
The spectators wiped their brows, sighing in collective relief.
"Pull back already! Why not keep attacking from range like before?"
"This proximity is too dangerous—one hit and it's over!"
The high elves, barely able to follow the battle's flow, shouted anxiously.
Yet the combatants in the sky couldn't hear their cries.
Eiji persisted, circling the dragon, seeking an opening.
The dragon lunged again, and the crowd's terror resurged.
But once more, Eiji "narrowly" evaded.
"Watching this guy fight is pure torture for the heart!"
Allen groaned in agony.
"...Feels familiar."
Shakti's expression was peculiar, recalling how she'd watched him battle an upper-tier Level 2 adventurer in the arena the same way.
To replicate such an improbable evasion method against a foe surpassing Level 8—was he insane?
"What is he trying to do?"
Riveria was utterly baffled.
She trusted Eiji deeply, knowing he was a clever fellow, unlike others who thought he was acting foolishly. Even so, she couldn't fathom his intentions at all.
"It's the light."
Ais suddenly spoke up at that moment.
Her posture—gazing at the sky rather than the water mirror—drew everyone's attention.
"The light is appearing too densely... It may seem like the Evil Dragon has trapped him, but in truth, the opposite is happening. The Evil Dragon is the one already ensnared!"