Things were only getting worse with every moment that passed. Itâs already been three hours since the battle started.
The girlsâ attack power far exceeded that of the angels. The dragons are also unable to feel fatigue, so they are able to swing their bodies around or continue using their breath attacks to mow down the angels as much as they want.
Reeve cuts, Frau crushes, Claire pierces, and Katie gouges. But they were about to reach the limits of their physical strength.
The number of angels capable of breaking through the defense Ellis and the others had built up was increasing, and while Warrenâs Powder Keg and the other soldiers were holding on, the last line of defense protecting the city was about to be broken. Once that happens, the massacre of civilians by the angels would begin.
That was the number one thing to be avoided. But, there was no way to break this stalemate.
Before anyone realized it, Â the five dragons had descended together, using their bodies to protect their Dragon Maidens who continued bravely brandishing their weapons despite their obvious fatigue.
Reeveâs mouth distorted, her breath coming out in shallow gasps as she continued cutting through the oncoming angels.
âIâm really tired of bullying these things.â
Frau took in a deep breath as if to inspire herself and once again lifted up her halberd.
âThereâs no end to them.â
Claire squatted down on Pi-tanâs head, but as a {Valkyrie Lance} appeared at her back and shot through another angel, she gave Ellis a smile.
âIâm really glad I have Ellisâs ability. Itâs the only reason Iâve been any help.â
Katie had taken a position in front of the other girls, continuing her dance as usual and defending the others while gouging out any angels that got close.
âWe have just a little more until the finish line nya.â
But they were all aware. It was just a little longer until they reached their limits.
Ellis more so than all the rest. She knew her capabilities, and this tiny body of hers was failing.
All she had done in this battle was continuously activate {Summon Volcano} and refill the mp for all the Spirit rings Claire had been using. But despite her special abilities meaning she didnât expend any mana when using these abilities, the tension of a battle that was going on for over three hours had caused a level of extreme fatigue that the body of an eight-year-old girl just couldnât handle.
They would break through like this.
If they manage to get by, then everything will be lost.
Ellis-Eiji started to think. Trying to find some way to break through, a solution to this problem. Their mind desperately ran through every plan they could devise. But there was nothing. No more tricks up their sleeve.
Meanwhile the angels had gradually started grabbing onto the dragonsâ bodies. The dragons were desperately trying to protect their maidens, so they couldnât act violently enough to throw off the angels.
And just like that, the dragonsâ bodies started to erode beneath the angelsâ touch.
âThis isnât good.â
âWhatâs wrong Ra-chin?â
âThe angels, theyâve started taking advantage of the fact that our bodies are made from mana. These guys are going to keep working at the mana and break down our bodies bit by bit.â
âSeriously!?â
âYeah, weâre in trouble.â
âHey Ra-chin, donât you have any last hands to play?â
Hearing Ellisâs telepathic message, Ra-chin answered with obvious displeasure.
âThereâs one left, but I donât want to do it.â
âTell me!â
After a moment of silence, the Land Dragon finally gave his reply.
ââŚâŚâŚ.Ellis, you recognize me as a magic tool right?â
âYes.â
âThen as a test, try to reach out and use Su-chan, Fe-rin, Pi-tan, and Ah-nyan as magic tools as well.â
Ellis did as she was told, joining her mind to the other four dragons whose breakdowns were already producing visible changes.
âSeriously?â Su-chan turned towards Ellis despite being in the middle of a battle.
âEh?â Fe-rin also gazed over at Ellis while firing off another one of his breath attacks.
âWhatâs this!?â Pi-tan raised a hysteric roar from right next to Ellis.
âPresident Ellis, thatâs no good!â Ah-nyanâs screams were different from his normal haughty attitude, for the first time carrying within it the unmistakable sound of grief.
âYouâve connected with them Ellis?â
âYeah Ra-chinâ
Ellis-Eiji fully understood the spell that suddenly engraved itself into their mind. Itâs effects, and side-effects.â
âDo you understand why I donât want to use it?â
Ellis suddenly became really calm which for some reason made Claire feel extremely anxious.
âHey Ellis, whatâs wrong?â
âItâs nothing Claire. Could you get down from Pi-tanâs head for a bit?â
Just as Ellis asked her to, Claire jumped down to the ground.
Hmm
Ellis-Eiji took a moment to double check the spell they were about to use.
The strain from using this technique was guaranteed to result in death for the user. Thatâs why Ra-chin didnât want to tell them about it, and why all the other dragons had been so surprised.
Eiji remembered every activity, every moment that he had done as he pleased ever since coming into Ellisâs body.
It was all so much fun.
Thatâs why here, in the end, he would keep doing just as he pleased. He didnât know if his enemy was truly a god, but either way, he was about to burst their bubble.
Ellis looked towards the heavens and shouted out,
âReeve, Frau, Claire, Katie, Iâm going to go pick a fight with God for a bit. Ra-chin, Su-chan, Fe-rin, Pi-tan, Ah-nyan, lend me your strength!â
Reeve and the other girls all turned towards Ellis at her sudden cry. Meanwhile Ellis raised her arms up towards the sky.
With Ellisâs ability to use any magic tool acting as the center, the Land Dragon, Storm Dragon, Phoenix Dragon, Chaos Dragon, and Frost Dragon instantly moved into a pentagonal shape around Ellis.
And then Ellis started her chant.
âA grand one who steps firmly on the soil!â
Ra-chinâs body began to shine a rich gold.
âA grand one who holds dominion over the skies!â
Su-chanâs body began to shine a cool blue.
âA grand one who nurtures all life!â
Fe-rinâs body began to shine a hot red.
âA grand one who governs over nature!â
Ah-nyanâs body began to shine a bright white.
âA grand one who embraces the absurd!â
Pi-tanâs body began to shine a powerful black.
âI shall be your vessel, now come!â
Lines of light connected the dragons together forming a pentagram on the ground. Ellisâs body standing in the center began to glow as well.
As Ellis finished her chant, each of the five dragons roared into the air.
The bodies of each dragon continued to shine even brighter until eventually their bodies started to break apart, dissolving into millions of tiny little particles.
The particles of each dragon joined together, forming into a five-colored stream that poured itself into Ellisâs body. Ellisâs body gradually began to grow, giving off a rainbow of light as her appearance started to morph.
Once all of the dragon particles had been sucked into Ellis, the five colored lights began to fade, and a giant goddess with a long white dress, golden half plate armor, and a countless number of wings growing from her back stood there alone.
The goddess placed her hand to her chest and confirmed the will of her summoner. Upon realizing what she had been summoned for and what exactly was going on here, her cold voice issued an order to the angels who were just about to swoop back down for another attack.
âHey, you lot, do you know who I am? Unless your orders are coming from Tenjin himself, you should know my will takes precedence.â
The angels immediately froze at the Goddessâs words.
âSo, who is the god that gave you your orders?â
As the goddess asked, the angels gave her the names of the God of Warriors and God of Mages without any trouble.
âHmph, those idiots.â
The goddess looked stunned for but a moment before offering a new order to the angels.
âYou will all return to Heaven immediately.â
The angels did as they were told and disappeared from the world.
âThe ten-winged angel there, did you not hear my orders? No, you areâŚâŚ.â
The goddess turned around, but when she saw Beruielâs face, she stopped.
âYes, Dragon Goddess Gaia. I am here per Tenjinâs command.â
âI see, well itâs fine. But, donât you dare get in my way.â
âI wouldnât dream of it.â
Despite hanging on every word said in their conversation, Reeve and the others couldnât find it in them to say anything themselves.
Meanwhile the goddess turned her gaze back towards the sky, and for the first time her beautiful angelic voice rose to a ear-shattering bellow.
âShow yourselves God of Warriors, God of Mages!â
Reaching her right hand out, the goddess grabbed at the sky as if she were grabbing some curtain. She wrenched her hand back, tearing a whole into the sky and revealing a world of white for all to see.
In that space stood a white-haired god with a beard and a slender, black-haired god standing right next to him. Both of them looked too flustered to speak.
âYou two, what taboos have you committed here?â
But neither of these all-mighty beings could muster up a response.
âI see, so that is your conviction.â
The goddess gave one final glance at the two of them before tearing another space in the sky with her hand. And then she gave a frustrated shout.
âAnd is Tenjin too afraid to appear himself!? Come and show your face for a bit if you can!â
âItâs so noisy. Oh, Dragon Goddess Gaia, long time no see.â
What appeared from this second hole in space was a god with a splendidly shiny, bald head and a strong expression that exuded vigor.
âDonât you âlong time no seeâ me! You and these idiots have committed taboos on this world, so arenât you going to give me some form of retribution?â
âTaboo?â
âThey used their powers to directly interfere with this world. They werenât just satisfied with using the Horn of the End, they even used beams of light!â
Tenjinâs expression which had been carefree and laughing until now suddenly turned harsh.
Tenjin glared at the God of Warriors and the God of Mages before once again turning to the goddess.
âMm, I understand. These two shall be imprisoned for the next several centuries as punishment.â
âThatâs all I ask. Iâll be troubled if my territory keeps getting trampled upon like this.â
âI got it, I got it. Iâll fix the damage these two have done on your world. And, weâll reclaim the power of the Hero and Demon Lord these two sent down.â
âNaturally.â
âAlso, Iâll take the power that dwells in your vessel as well.â
âAh, you found out.â
It was now that Tenjin noticed Beruiel standing to the side.
âHoh, Beruiel, itâs been a long time since Iâve seen you as well. So, have you learned your lesson?â
âI havenât learned a thing. I enjoy my life here.â
âBWAHAHA! You really havenât changed a bit. But youâre one of the ringleaders involved in this incident. So youâll have to come back to me as punishment.â
âThereâs nothing I can do if you order me like this.â
As Tenjin and the ten-winged angel continued speaking with each other, the goddess turned back to the girls.
âThis will put an end to gods interfering with this world.â
Tenjin also called down from his space in the sky towards the humans below.
âThose of you who reside in this world, live however you so please. However, in order to rectify the chaos these two idiots have caused, we shall purify the power and magic tools they have brought to this world.â
Alongside Tenjinâs declaration, the bodies of the Hero and the Demon Lord began to glow for a moment. So too did Katieâs Brave Ripper. At the same time, a light formed at the Dragon Goddess Gaiaâs feet.
âAll right then, Dragon Goddess Gaia, that should be it. Beruiel will return to me just as soon as heâs decided the former Demon Lordâs future. â
With those words, both crevices in the sky closed up, and Tenjin disappeared from view.
The Dragon Goddess finally turned once more to Reeve, Frau, Claire, and Katie.
âI leave the rest to you, young maidens of the world.â
âGoddess, but Ellis, what about Ellis!?â
Reeve was finally able to choke out what she was most worried about, but the goddess did not answer, only disappearing with a smile.
Afterwards, all that was left of the goddess was Ellis, who was left lying there, collapsed in the dirt.