"Boom! Boom!"
One massive fireball after another crashed toward Akimi, but he managed to dodge them all.
The shockwaves from the fireballs made the floating island tremble constantly.
Explosions swept searing hot air across Akimi's face, giving him an even worse headache.
If not for the fire-resistance potion Argo had sold him earlier, just the splash damage alone would've been enough to finish him off.
By now, Akimi had been locked in combat with Cescale for six or seven minutes and had mostly figured out its attack pattern—basically four to five fireball barrages followed by a dive.
The attack range was wide, but the wind-up was long enough that dodging wasn't too difficult.
He also noticed that during this time, the floating island itself had been steadily expanding.
Its original diameter was about fifty meters, but now it had already reached sixty.
At this pace, it wouldn't be long before Cescale stopped hovering in the air and instead stood directly on the island.
After dodging another dive and leaving a faint, almost negligible wound on Cescale's foreclaw, Akimi tightened his grip on the Nichirin Blade.
His only real damage window was the brief moment during Cescale's dives.
The opportunities were scarce, and since he still had to evade, he could barely manage two strikes per dive.
There was no way he could wear Cescale down like this.
—Time to go all in, no more holding back…
…Wait, where's that BGM coming from?
Akimi shook his head, forcefully clearing away the random battle music echoing in his mind—but now, it did seem like he really needed to risk everything on a bold gamble.
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While Akimi was entangled in battle with Cescale, Asuna and the others were still desperately searching for a way to reach the floating island—but instead of finding a method, more and more people started arriving.
Nearly all of the major guilds showed up, along with a dozen or so solo players, and even a few ordinary players whose levels were clearly a tier lower.
This, however, wasn't unexpected—Cescale's earlier commotion had been loud enough to shake the floor, so of course it would draw in other players.
Inside the Redjade Palace, fifty to sixty people stared at Asuna's group of three.
Neither side spoke, and as the seconds ticked by, the atmosphere in the palace grew heavier and heavier.
Xilocart's face was especially dark, no longer showing the composed, calculating demeanor he had just a few days ago—he looked more like an irritable child whose emotions were written plainly on his face.
Two more minutes passed before someone finally lost their patience.
"Hey! Where the hell is Akimi? What the hell is going on here?"
The speaker was DDA's vice leader, a burly man with a long scar across his face and muscles bulging all over his frame.
He slammed his twin axes against the palace floor, glaring at Asuna's group with a rough, booming voice.
Naturally, Asuna and the others didn't respond—though staying silent didn't really help much at this point.
That silence only infuriated the DDA vice leader even more.
He raised his twin axes and pointed them toward Asuna, as if he might charge at any second.
Asuna's group quickly drew their weapons and took their stances in response.
What had been just heavy tension a moment ago now teetered on the edge of open combat.
But just before the clash could break out, a steady male voice suddenly rang out—
"Has DDA grown so arrogant that they dare attack other players in front of everyone?"
A tall figure slowly stepped forward, the white shield with a red cross in his hand radiating a faint glow—judging by the aura, its enhancement level might even surpass Akimi's Nichirin Blade.
Heathcliff looked straight at the DDA vice leader without saying anything further.
"My people are none of your concern." Xilocart's face gradually smoothed into calmness.
After rebuking Heathcliff, he turned slightly toward his vice leader and barked coldly, "Stirring up trouble over a question so stupid even a fool could answer… looks like your brain really has been completely replaced with muscle."
The vice leader gave a couple of embarrassed chuckles, then lowered his head and silently returned to DDA's ranks.
"Akimi-kun is on the floating island above us, isn't he?"
Heathcliff's eyes fixed on the island as he asked.
"ROOOOAR——!"
Just as Asuna's group was about to answer, the piercing sound of a sonic boom and a dragon's roar echoed from above.
Cescale folded its wings tight and dove headfirst toward the ground, the source of the deafening roar blasting from its gaping maw.
On its left hind claw… there seemed to be someone.
Yes, there really was a person there—none other than Akimi.
He had driven his Nichirin Blade deep into Cescale's claw, and now he was plummeting along with the dragon in a free-fall.
Unfortunately, at this height, Cescale might survive—but Akimi would definitely not.
There was absolutely no way out.
So his expression was a shade of green—mild acrophobia mixed with high-altitude free-fall.
Having his face only "a bit green" was already the last of his stubborn pride.
What the hell kind of suicidal Leap of Faith is this?!—that was all Akimi could think.
In the temple, Heathcliff's expression turned strangely amused as he watched, then he murmured:
"Well, I suppose I don't need an answer from any of you anymore… By the way, is Akimi-kun always this… brave?"
Asuna and the others had no idea how to respond.
All they could do was watch as Cescale and Akimi continued their plummet.
With every meter lost, Akimi's heart climbed higher into his throat—he had no idea whether Cescale intended to take him down in a mutual death spiral.
Thankfully, when the ground was only about ten meters away, Cescale suddenly snapped open its wings.
At the same time, dozens of massive fireballs erupted from its throat.
Using that burst of force, its descent slowed sharply.
Then, twisting its body, it flipped, angled its wings downward, and launched itself skyward once more.
Akimi, completely unprepared, nearly got thrown off.
Fortunately, his Strength stat was high enough—he gripped the Nichirin Blade lodged in Cescale's claw with everything he had, then used the momentum to flip himself up and plant his feet firmly against one of Cescale's scales.
Other players weren't so lucky.
The barrage of fireballs rained down on them, and the palace grounds offered far too little space for everyone to dodge.
High-level players like Asuna and her companions easily avoided the blasts thanks to their agility stats, but those at lower levels suffered.
Worst off were the ordinary players—those not even part of the frontliners.
Their stats were low, and their gear was even worse.
Had Cescale's aim been just a little truer, two of those casual players would have been killed instantly.
As those barely clinging to a sliver of HP gulped down healing potions and looked up, their faces went pale with terror—Cescale was diving again… and it was dragging Akimi down with it.
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