Chapter 88 - Allies

Kagali and her fellow elves, now dark elves, had managed to escape the nightmare that had overtaken their city. The majority of the inhabitants had been transformed into dark elves due to the Chaos Dragon's dark aura. Fortunately, this transformation seemed to have no severe consequences other than altering their racial evolution.

As they traveled, Kagali overheard passing groups of elves discussing how other cities and settlements in their kingdom had begun forming their own factions and establishing new kingdoms to the south of their original home. This was particularly evident near the World Tree, where a nation had already been established for decades by the High Elf Silvia and her husband Sarion.

"Master, why are we so far away? Shouldn't we have joined the other elves?" Tear's voice broke the silence, her brow furrowing with concern as she looked up at Kagali, her small hands clutching the straps of her backpack.

Kagali, her eyes scanning the horizon as she walked, turned to face the young girl. "Well, Tear, it's best to distance ourselves from the Chaos Dragon and that man. Besides," she continued, her tone carrying a hint of weariness, "the Dragon Princess and the Demon Lord Guy Crimson are still fighting in the west. It is said that the area has been so ravaged that it has become barren."

The lean man accompanying them nodded in agreement. "That is true," he added, his voice steady as he gestured with his hand. "People have started calling it the Barren Lands." Tear, listening intently, nodded as she absorbed their words.

"Then, then we'll be going suuuper far away?" Tear's eyes widened as she jumped in front of Kagali, her excitement barely contained.

Footman, the large man traveling with them, chuckled deeply. "Ho ho ho, Tear, don't bother Master like that."

Tear puffed up her cheeks and huffed, turning her gaze to Footman. "I'm not bothering Master, Footman!" She folded her small arms across her chest, her expression a mix of defiance and embarrassment.

Kagali watched the playful exchange with a warm smile, her eyes softening with affection. She cherished these moments, appreciating how her children were developing their own unique personalities. "We are close. It's a place in the east," she explained, her voice gentle. "It's not well-known for its land and areas, but it should serve us well."

As they arrived at their new home, the work of establishing a foundation began. With Footman and Tear's physical strength, acquiring the necessary materials for their temporary homes proved to be straightforward.

"Master," the lean man, now identified as Clayman, said with a respectful bow. Kagali observed her people working diligently to build their new home, the rhythmic sounds of construction filling the air.

Turning to him, Kagali studied his appearance. He was managing the more administrative aspects of their tasks, delegating responsibilities and materials efficiently. "What is it, Clayman?" she asked.

Clayman cleared his throat, presenting her with a rough sketch of their future city. The drawing depicted a city with a central castle and additional levels beneath it. "I've managed to create a rough sketch of what our new country might look like," he began, his voice hesitant as he glanced at the sketch. "While I've taken your orders and suggestions into account," he said, trailing off as if weighing his words carefully, "the scale of construction you envision is nearly impossible with our current manpower and lack of machinery."

Understanding the constraints, Kagali placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I plan on heading back to see what I can salvage that might aid in our construction."

Clayman's face brightened slightly. "Then I'll have Tear and Footman ready to leave with you." He started to turn, ready to summon the others.

Kagali stopped him with a gentle touch on his arm. "I plan on going there on my own, just to scout and see what we can find. I can't put you all at risk. I'll bring you along once I have something worthwhile to bring back, okay?" She glanced over at Footman, who was carrying a large log with one hand, Tear perched on his shoulders, directing him with animated gestures. The dark elves around them watched with smiles on their faces.

Clayman hesitated, a look of concern crossing his face as he thought about the dangers of traveling alone, especially with the Chaos Dragon still a threat. "...I understand," he said slowly, bowing with a heavy heart. "Please be safe in your travels."

...

Sarion returned to the former kingdom of the elves, his weapon in hand. The news and rumors of the Chaos Dragon's rampage is still fresh and constant from the last few days. The population of elves have taken a large toll and the surviving ones are fleeing to the south to where his country is. 

He had a bitter smile in his face as he took arms to subjugate the vicious calamity, "Silvia is pregnant, can't have her do all the work." He ran as he was getting nearer and nearer to the place.

Sarion stood in front of the ruined city, which had once been the capital of a fellow elven king. "That idiot wouldn't do something that idiotic, would he?" Sarion muttered to himself. He struggled to believe the escaping elves' claim that the Elven King had kidnapped the Dragon Princess, leading to this devastation.

"I mean, sure, he was too optimistic and not the best at managing the kingdom, but—" Sarion sighed as he neared the center of the once-beautiful and technologically advanced city. "He loved his kingdom, especially his daughter."

He picked up a piece of rubble and scanned the area. "Oh, here it comes." Sarion grinned, brandishing his sword, Rhea, as it rested on his shoulder. As the chosen hero of this era, it was his duty to confront any threat to the world.

As he prepared for battle, a loud draconic roar echoed through the ruins, and the already crumbled structures began to shake and collapse further. A breath of fire shot toward the spot where Sarion had been standing.

With swift reflexes, Sarion had already moved from the location before the breath of fire reached him. His unique skill, Seer, which allowed him to glimpse seconds into the future, had guided him through many fights and adventures in the past and was still proving invaluable.

"Hah, guess that big body makes you slow!" he shouted as he ran toward the Chaos Dragon's direction and took flight. Activating his spiritual armor, he soared directly toward his enemy, who was preparing another breath attack.

With fluid movements, Sarion dodged the breath and landed on the Dragon's back. He aimed at the Chaos Dragon's wings and, with a swift slash of his sword, inflicted a large wound where the wings connected to the Dragon's body.

Sarion clicked his tongue. He knew the Chaos Dragon was formidable and tough, but he hadn't anticipated that its body would be so resilient that only his sword could wound it. Adding more power to his strike, he prepared to slash at one of the wings again.

The Chaos Dragon, sensing Sarion's presence on its back, gave a thunderous roar and dove toward the ground with a sharp horizontal posture. Sarion, unanchored, was forced to abandon his attack and grab hold of the Dragon's scales.

As the Chaos Dragon neared the ground, it twisted its body to ensure that the first impact would be its back. "Shit!" Sarion exclaimed, quickly letting go and leaping out of the way before the collision.

With a loud explosion and a cloud of dust, the Chaos Dragon slammed into the ground. Although Sarion managed to avoid being crushed, the shockwave caused him to momentarily lose his guard.

The Chaos Dragon, still lying on the ground, took advantage of the moment. It fired its breath directly at Sarion's last known position, then stood up to heal the wound on its wings. It charged at Sarion while continuing to unleash its fiery breath.

The area disintegrated as the breath made contact, leaving no trace of dust in its wake. Sarion either had to try to escape or block the breath, which relentlessly followed him.

He decided to rush the Chaos Dragon head-on after managing to escape to its side. But as he planned his move, he saw the future. "Shit..." With neither the speed nor time to evade, he braced himself as the Chaos Dragon's body turned, and its large tail, like a whip, sent him flying several meters. He skidded along the ground, finally coming to a stop after crashing into several trees.

Sarion could only thank Silvia, who had advised him to use his armor even though he felt confident he wouldn't take any injury. "Have I been slacking off?" he muttered, spitting out the blood in his mouth and wiping his lips.

The Chaos Dragon roared and rushed at him. Instead of using its breath, it raised both clawed limbs and its massive maw toward Sarion. "Spirit Summoning: Elemental Lord of the Wind," Sarion chanted. As he assimilated the spirit into his body, he grew much faster and swifter than before.

The Chaos Dragon couldn't even detect his sudden burst of speed as he vanished from its sight. It turned, using its magic sense to locate him, but Sarion disappeared again before it could react.

Each time the Chaos Dragon found him, Sarion would reappear in its blind spots, causing new pain to the dragon's body. Frustrated, the Chaos Dragon released a pulse of miasma-like magicules, leveling everything within several kilometers.

The pulse forced Sarion to halt and brace himself for the impact of the attack. Even with the Elemental Lord of the Wind inside him, he was pushed several meters backward by the immense magicule pulse.

Panicking, Sarion struggled as the pulse continued to fire repeatedly, barely a second apart. It interfered with his magic sense, leaving him blind in the dust-filled air.

He had to rely on his Seer skill to avoid death. As the pulse subsided, he leaped backward just as a large dragon tail swept where he had been. A claw from the side and a massive maw from above followed closely.

The Chaos Dragon kept the magicule pulse active while adapting its movements to Sarion's speed, creating countermeasures for his attacks. It was a change of tone for the battlefield, the ones offensive Elven Hero has began being defensive. Each new attack was getting harder to dodge and avoid, with some making contact with his body.

Sarion's strength was nearly gone. The Chaos Dragon's relentless attacks had left him battered and broken. Each blast of miasma knocked him around, his body feeling like it was on fire. He was struggling to stay conscious, the pain making it hard to think clearly. His sword has long flew out of his grasp and no where to be seen.

The dragon roared and prepared to finish him off. Its massive claws were coming down, and Sarion could barely move. Seeing his sword a few meters away he attempts to reach it, but it was too far for him, and his strength was almost spent.

Just as the dragon's claws were about to crush him, it suddenly stopped. The dragon looked up, sensing something approaching. With a final roar of frustration, it spread its wings and took off, disappearing into the smoke-filled sky.

Sarion lay on the ground, barely able to move. His injuries were severe, and he was close to passing out. 

His chest, gravely injured from a clash with the Chaos Dragon, heaved with labored breaths. Every movement sent waves of agony through him, and the darkness at the edge of his vision threatened to consume him.

Nearby, Kagali stood amidst the wreckage, her presence a stark contrast to the devastation. She surveyed Sarion with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

As Kagali approached, she muttered under her breath, "What a mess. And this is the renowned Chosen Hero?"

Sarion's eyes flickered open as he heard her voice. With a pained groan, he managed to lift his head slightly. "If you were watching me all this time, couldn't you have stepped in to help?"

Kagali's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Don't be foolish. Someone like me would be no match for that dragon."

Sarion gave a weak laugh, wincing as he tried to move. "You're too modest. From where I'm lying, you seem like enough trouble yourself... Ouch—"

Sarion Grimwald, his face, though smeared with blood and dirt, retained a faint, defiant smile. The ground around him was scorched and cratered, a testament to the ferocity of the battle.

Kagali knelt beside him, her eyes narrowing. "Don't push yourself too hard. The restoration magic—"

"It won't work," Sarion interrupted, his voice strained. "The Chaos Dragon's attacks were cursed. My wounds are beyond healing. I had prepared for many things, but this is beyond them." He chuckled weakly, a sound that mingled with his labored breaths.

Sarion looked at Kagali with a resigned yet mischievous glint his eye. "I need you to pass on a message. I'm here to tell you that I drive the Chaos Dragon out and died like a true hero—"

Kagali tilted her head, her expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "What hero? Before you die, I have an offer. With my abilities, you might still survive. You might lose your memories or end up in a different state, but are you willing to take the chance?"

Kagali removed her mask. Her face, though marked by a fierce, unyielding strength, was not what Sarion had expected. Despite his grievous condition, he managed a wry smile.

"What's with you? You make a good point. If I just die here, Silvia would be very upset. Given that, your offer might be the best I've got!"

Kagali's eyes narrowed with a mix of amusement and wariness. "Are you sure? I'd rather embrace darkness than face persecution. If you accept this, you'll become my subordinate, won't you?"

Sarion laughed, though it was a pained, ragged sound. "I don't mind, I don't mind; it's intriguing. I'm a free spirit, not easily controlled. Besides, there's always a balance between a hero and someone like you. That's how we ended up here, right?"

Kagali raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by his defiant spirit. "You're quite the character, rambling in your last moments. Then, it's settled—you'll be my subordinate!"

Negotiations were concluded with a strange mix of mirth and resignation. Kagali's eyes held a flicker of something almost like respect, though it was quickly masked by her usual cold demeanor. She extended a hand, her fingers trailing over the dark symbols on her palm.

As she began the incantation, the air around them thickened with a strange energy. Sarion's body, battered and broken, was enveloped in a swirl of shadowy magic. His once-vibrant eyes dulled, and the light of life seemed to flicker away. Yet, in this transformation, a new spark of vitality was ignited.

"Let me help with that." A new person with silver hair appeared near Kagali who was surpised by the sudden intrusion on her magic. "Don't worry, his a friend."

She watched with caution as Rimuru gave a few modifications to the magic Kagali has imbued on Sarion's body.

Kagali watched as Sarion's form changed, his wounds knitting together almost like time has reversed for his body. A chill wind blew across the battlefield, carrying with it the eerie promise of what was to come.

In the dim light of the moon, Sarion's eyes opened once more, now glowing with a faint, eerie luminescence. He looked at Kagali, his expression a curious mix of triumph and resignation. "Well, it seems I've got a new role to play. Let's see where this leads."

"Not much different from before Sarion." Sarion turned to the origin of the voice, the person beside Kagali.

"Rimuru! Long time no see." He gestures with a bright smile of seeing an old friend before frowning. "Wait, if you're here that means you could have helpmed be earlier."

Rimuru ignored his words and continued talking. "You," He turns to Kagali before she was envelop by magicules. Fear came to Kagali's mind by the sudden event's and she looks at Sarion for help.

"Don't worry, I am helping here remember." Rimuru's voice for some reason seemed convincing for some reason. The warmth of being able to rely on someone again was a welcome one for her.

As she opens her eyes, she noticed the changes in her body. Turning to Rimuru, who held a mirror for her to take. She grabbed it with both hands as she cried tears of joy seeing her old face again.

Sarion who is now standing beside Rimuru with a dubious expression as he grabbed his sword and sheathe it, before crossing his arms with raised brows. "Explain?"

A/N: So the last part of this chapter is almost identical to the real tensura. I don't mean the scene but I literally just copied it and modified it here and there and also adding Rimuru.

Kagali is not a love interest, I plan on giving her a sort of slight father complex(Something like finding a parental figure in Rimuru in some weird way) just for the LOLs. Maybe even a sister figure to Milim if I felt like it.