The dragon failed.

At the moment when Ladia completely repudiated Alice. The behemoth in the mist suddenly exerted a power far greater than before. The unprepared dragon was defeated in this way.

But he didn't die.

Or rather, didn't die so quickly.

Countless spikes reached out of the thick fog and pierced into every part of the dragon's flesh. They wrapped around it and wrapped around it until its struggles became weak and its roars weakened. Eventually, it was completely sealed off in a barrage of dragon curses. became a giant egg.

Silver-gray, incomparably large [eggs].

In the center of the [egg], a huge pulse of blood was gradually heard. And with this pulsing sound, the silver-gray color on the [egg] gradually faded.

With each beat, the silver-gray color fades by a minute. When the silver ash is completely turned pale, then it must be time for the [eggs] to hatch.

That's it. His purpose is clear. The dragon-like Alice wants to take the body of the dragon named Nahargriff alive. In this way, she completely got rid of the human body that bound her.

Half an hour at most. This egg will hatch. Since then, there is no one named Alice in the world, only a dragon named Alice.

However, all of this happened had nothing to do with Lydia under the pit. Her tears were gone. I could only curl up quietly and hold myself tight.

Until the faint cry for help reached the ears.

"Help Me ......"

Lydia looked up and saw Martha with a pleading look on her face.

"Please......" Martha said mournfully, wisps of blood oozing from the corners of her mouth.

Lydia stood up, her joints making a crisp sound from the movement. She took a deep breath.

[I should have wanted to kill her. 】

[But now, I can't raise a little killing intent. 】

[Ah~ like me, an inferior product that betrays its master. Even if you die, it's not a big deal. 】

[Well, let me see what else I can do.] 】

She looked at Martha. said: "Say, how can I save you?"

Martha didn't speak, just stared at the potion bag on Lydia's back with wide eyes—something that was supposed to be Martha's.

So Ladia opened the packet and asked, "Which bottle?"

"Red ...... The bottle with the white cross label ......"

When Martha drank the red potion without a drop left. The wounds on her body healed quickly. A rib fracture is painful, but it can barely be supported. Lydia went to find a few sticks and made her an improvised splint. So that she can struggle to get up.

"How's it going?"

"Hmm. Martha nodded lightly and took a small step forward.

Although the stratum has been torn off a large piece. But there was no collapse underground. In other words, the underground palace under this town can still leave.

Although Martha didn't understand why Lydia insisted on walking from under and not from the ground. But Martha, who heard the huge sound of blood pulsation, wisely did not ask———— there must be a very powerful monster on it.

However, things are not as complicated as Martha thinks. Lydia just didn't want to see the molten iron again.

………………

The battle on the ground is over. And the crises under the ground have disappeared one by one. When Martha and Lydia arrived in the stone chamber where the Assassin archer, whom Martha had intended to snipe. There were only a few improvised traps and a puddle of blood that had not yet clotted.

"She ran. Someone probably answered her. Lydia examined the footprints on the ground a little and quickly came to a conclusion.

"Whew~" Martha gasped softly. "She's a very strong shooter. If I hadn't been injured, I wouldn't have been able to catch her in my heyday. It's our luck that she's gone. ”

"Oh, yes. Ladia nodded noncommittally and picked up a longsword on the ground. I chose the path without blood and footprints.

Although the Assassins were very fond of playing with the real and the false. But presumably in such a short period of time, in such a critical situation. They shouldn't be able to make any big arrangements.

Her guess was correct, and she kept moving a long way. Neither of them encountered anything threatening. The whole journey is as easy as traveling.

"Na~Lydia?" In the middle of an empty corridor, Martha hesitated several times, but finally decided to speak.

"Huh?"

"Why didn't you kill me, but saved my life? Aren't you afraid that I'll trouble you again after I recover?"

"Because I've lost my purpose in life. No, it should be said that I have betrayed my purpose in life. Whether I'm going to die or live next doesn't mean much to me. Lydia whispered as she walked.

"You...... Not afraid of death?" Martha's eyes widened in surprise.

"The Nords value glory more than life. I have turned my back on my glory, and death is a relief. Ladia turned to look at Martha, who had a complicated expression. "If you want to kill me, do it. ”

"But ......," Lydia hesitated. "It doesn't matter if you have any ** hobby that wants to prolong my death process for pleasure. Anyway, turn your back on your master like this. No matter how you are treated, you should deserve it. ”

"Uh......" Martha didn't know how to answer her. can only slander to himself.

[This guy's head must be broken.] 】

[But ......]

"You left your noble lady? did you find her?"

The corners of Lydia's mouth twitched. "You still think she's a noble lady...... Anyway, I did betray Mistress Alice. Leaving her when she needed me. ”

"How about you being my assistant? I just need a solid meat ...... Backing! It will give you the highest treatment! It will also provide you with a lot of secret swordsmanship!"

"Uh...... I'll think about it. ”

"Isn't that enough?" Martha was stunned for a moment, but her cheeks quickly turned crimson, and then she said a little shyly, "If, well, if you like the feeling of being bullied." I'll try to satisfy you too. ”

“………………”

Lydia suddenly felt that it was better to kill the witch.

"Wait a minute, there's a remnant of mana ahead!" At that moment, Martha suddenly stopped her steps.

"Huh?"

"It's a teleportation array. Martha took a few big strides forward with difficulty. After carefully observing the arrangement of the runes on the ground, he said with great certainty: "This is Drafi's method. That's what they should have done to get out. ”

"Can you start it again?"

Martha shook her head. said: "To activate the teleportation array, you must have accurate coordinate positioning, and you must use the soul stone of the soul to maintain the mana supply in the late stage of casting. But these soul stones have long been completely consumed. She pointed to some fine grains on the ground. "And I can't cast a spell right now. ”

"yes, forget it. Lydia shrugged, "I have a feeling we should be at the end of the road anyway." ”

Her hunch was very accurate. It's been less than a hundred feet ahead. An upward partition appeared in front of the two of them.

"Ugh. How am I going to get up?" Martha looked at her broken arms. showed a tangled look.

Then Ladia slashed the large plank with a sword. Holding Martha, he jumped up.

It's a neat and effective solution.

"This is ......" Lydia looked around, the ruins of the building giving her an inexplicable sense of immediacy. It looks like I came here not long ago.

"This is the Frost Fruit Lodge. ”

"Oh...... Who are you!?" Lydia spun around, and then she saw a scene of great disobedience.

It was a tall Redguard, with a lunch and a bottle of ale in front of him. I am eating happily.

Well, it's indeed noon, and it's time for lunch. But......

Ladia glanced at her surroundings. Make sure you're still in the town that used to be called Loristade. And the town is indeed in tatters, leaving only the remains of burning buildings.

"Are you looking for the innkeepers? The Red Guard said lightly.

"Ugh. Aren't you leaving?" Martha carefully used the word "you". It was probably the first time in ten years that she had used an honorific to address someone.

But the Redguards ignored her. I just took out a cup from the side and placed it across the table. Then he said to Lydia, "Would you like a drink?"

Lydia nodded. By the way, he gave Martha, who was making an awkward scene on the side, a kick. Then he asked, "Who are you?"

"You can call me Ba. ”

"Lydia. ”

She found a fairly intact chair and sat down. Then poured himself a glass of ale.

"Why me?"

"Because you have the potential to be a sword singer. Ba said lightly. "If you exchange your shield for magic, your future will be even greater. ”

"I think...... I still prefer the shield. Lydia said as she pondered the words.

"You're going to change your mind. He raised his hand and drank the wine from his glass. "Look, that [egg] is about to hatch. ”

“！”

At this moment, it was pulsating. The sound of a huge heart beating suddenly stopped. The three-story pale egg in the middle of the town lost all its luster in an instant.

'Shhh And the voices gradually became overlapping and louder. It's like the countless cracks that have covered the body of the egg.

Finally, in an extraordinarily loud popping sound. The huge egg shattered completely. And in this incomparable fetal chamber, a beautiful and powerful life was born.

It was, a pale dragon.

She stretched her wings so that the sky could roll up into the wind. She chirped happily, and the clouds above the sky dispelled.

"It's beautiful...... Martha was stunned.

"There is only one pure black dragon, and that is Alduin the World Eater. And this pure white dragon should be Ismir, the lord of the Snow Tower. ”

Ba stood up. With an indifferent expression, he looked at the dragon that was flying freely in the sky and said, "At this time the day before yesterday, there was a particularly talented girl who also sat in this position. And had a great chat with me. ”

He set his eyes on Lydia, who was at a loss. "Look, this is the ultimate in the power of the Sword Singer. ”

Then, Lydia and Martha saw a sword. A sword made of incandescent light, an incomparably dazzling sword.

A pillar of light rose from the wreckage of the inn. Thoroughly, through the sky.

"How is that possible!" Sonya, who was in the eternal labyrinth, suddenly stood up from the throne far away on the snowy border!

"How could there be a Sword Master in such a small place!?"

She wanted to leave, but at this moment, the wizards of the Order of Saidi seemed to have planned it in advance. A sudden burst of unparalleled power held her back in her own annihilation!

She couldn't make it!

"Damn!" Sonia bit her lip tightly, and blood of different colors oozed from her mouth.

"Abominable !!!!"

The blazing pillar of light slashed down. An endless torrent of light completely drowned out the pale dragon shadow.

…………

Tamriel calendar, the last day of the twilight moon in the year 201 of the Fourth Age, at 12 o'clock at noon. The brightest star above the heavenly dome fell apart.