Ian yanked his arms back instinctively. However, the pommel just hit his breastplate.
Crunch!
Even if it hadn't been blocked, he never could have been faster. By the time Ian stumbled back a step, the black blade, blazing with purple, was already buried deep in Archeas's body.
Ian's eyes flew wide as he froze. Archeas, now pressed against him, wrapped its arms around him in a tight embrace. Ian's eyelashes trembled.
Thump... thump...
A low vibration traveled up the hilt. Just then, an eerie purple light erupted from Archeas's back.
Fwoosh!
Chaos poured from the blade tip, bursting through the cloak on its back. It lasted only a moment. The eruption of chaos power quickly faded as if suppressed. In its place, faint golden magic spread.
Sshaaa...
Golden light traced the arms embracing Ian like veins. Archeas tilted its head back slightly to look at him. Its arms remained locked in the hug."I am sorry, Ian," it whispered. Its voice was gentle, betraying no pain.
Ian couldn't answer.
Archeas raised its shimmering golden hand and cupped Ian’s face. "And thank you... for crying for me."
Ian's eyes twitched. He had only just realized his eyes were filled with tears.
Its thumb gently wiped away a tear from his cheek. "I wanted to spend much more time with you. I had hoped we could accomplish many things together, perhaps for a lifetime. But let us not be too sad about this farewell."
A fond smile spread across Archeas's face. "My legacy will be with you instead. You will continue to be my one and only official Agent. Everyone will come to acknowledge it."
"Archeas..." Ian finally whispered. He was still clutching the sword hilt, afraid that letting go would cause it even more pain.
Archeas caressed his cheek. "Don't forget what I said. And don't let this secret weigh on you. Do not blame yourself for deceiving the world. You are simply honoring my last wish. Promise me you will."
"... I will," Ian replied, his voice low. He kept his gaze locked on Archeas's shimmering golden eyes.
Archeas's eyes curved into a smile. "Good. Now, let me hold you one last time."
It pulled Ian into another embrace, unconcerned that the blade was sinking deeper. It only buried its face against Ian’s neck as the golden light around it grew brighter.
Sshwaaaaa...
Magic flowed from the hand stroking Ian's back. It was a dense, clear magic, like when he drank the Source of the Dragon. He could feel a Mantra circuit being carved onto his back. The pulsation from the hilt grew stronger, and his vision filled with golden light.
"Please forgive my selfishness. I do not want you to see me die."
Archeas's voice cut through the light. Ian tried to speak. He hadn't even said a proper goodbye. However, his senses were already fading.
"I am so glad I met you, Ian. My most cherished, my final Agent."
With that soft whisper, the light consumed Ian’s consciousness.
***
Golden light shimmered and rolled. Ian, who had been staring as if the light held countless stars, suddenly noticed a blot of purple spreading like ink at its center.
The moment he noticed, the purple grew faster. It swirled into a vortex and began to absorb the light. Ian could only watch the ominous vortex. Then, the golden light filling his vision moved.
Only when it spread its wings wide did Ian realize the gold was taking the shape of a gigantic dragon, the very thing that had been cradling him until a moment ago.
Sshwaaaaa...
The dragon shape began to beat its wings. It looked slow due to its immense size, but the flaps were fast and powerful. The dragon shape continued its wingbeats. Ripples of light scattered with every motion. It seemed to struggle to escape the purple vortex spreading from its core—and that had to be what it was trying to do.
Rooooaaar...
The vortex kept sucking in the dragon's light, growing ever larger.
Ian noticed the purple spreading like paint between the streams of light being swallowed. The dragon's form seemed to hold a void, but it didn't give up. Even as darkness poured out and it shrank, it continued to beat its wings.
At last, the effort paid off. The purple vortex was pushed back, further and further. Finally, it separated completely, detaching from the dragon's tail. Ian watched the golden dragon fly away, free of the darkness. He only then realized an endless galaxy surrounded him.
The dragon suddenly stopped and looked back at Ian. It was only a shape of light, but he felt a familiar gaze. The next moment, the dragon turned and resumed its flight. It soared away, gliding beyond the galaxy. Its departing form looked impossibly light and free.
Soon, the galaxy filled Ian's vision. The swirling purple darkness was gone without a trace. The next moment, a quest completion window snapped into view.
Ian's eyes snapped open. A held breath escaped him as he lay on the floor. He stared blankly at the completion window.
The vision from his dream flashed through his mind: the departing figure, flying beyond the galaxy to become a star.
—You're finally awake, Friend.
Yog's whisper echoed in his mind. Its head rose into view.
—Was worried about you. Dreaming of something nice?
The moment it flicked its purple tongue, Ian's expression went blank.
"How long was I asleep?" He closed his eyes and dismissed the quest window.
—Hmm... I think you slept for several more hours after I woke up. I was bored.
It seemed much more time had passed than he realized. Of course, that wasn't unusual. Ian shrugged and sat up in one motion, ignoring Yog as it slid off. He was in the middle of a strangely bright natural cave. This was the entrance to the tomb.
—By the way, why are there only the two of us left here?
Ian glanced down at the Black Sword and the broken Truesilver Steel Sword, placed neatly beside him.
—Did that fallen lizard just leave us?
Ian picked up the Truesilver Steel Sword and the Black Sword in turn, checking their information windows.
"Well, something like that." Ian's gaze paused on the Truesilver Steel Sword.
—That's unexpected. I really thought it would ask for our help, even if there wasn't much we could do. Ah, I guess you two have already settled things.
"Yeah, we did." Leaning on the Black Sword like a cane, Ian stood up. "It managed just fine without our help."
It shook off the chaos in its soul and left, beyond the galaxy.
A faint smile touched Ian's lips. He inwardly added that Archeas's judgment had been correct. If it had taken any longer, it would have lost its soul.
—It has already accepted the chaos. No way that should’ve been possible. Then again, if you’re saying that knowing what it means, you must’ve found some way, something I can’t understand.
Unaware of everything, Yog whispered as it crawled up his armor. It clearly hadn’t seen the dream. Ian stretched, both hands still wrapped around his swords. Despite the brutal battle, his body felt light, too light for it to be just from rest.
—And as always, you're not going to tell me how you solved it, are you?
Turning slightly, Ian murmured, "You know me too well."
A soft light was glowing behind him. Deeper inside, a golden Mantra shone in the air. It was a familiar shape.
—Looks like an exit spell to me.
Yog wrapped around his wrist.
Ian nodded and turned back around. He moved the Black Sword to his waist. The blade slid slowly into the scabbard that had survived the Heaven Defier's heat. It was a little tight, and the tip stuck out, but it was usable.
—You’re going back in there? Got unfinished business?
Yog whispered, realizing Ian was heading for the tomb.
Ian walked without answering, stopping at the edge of the winding slope. The Dragon’s Tomb spread out below. The scattered bones had once again piled into great and small mounds. He didn't need to guess who had tidied it up.
However, the Heaven Defier's corpse, sprawled on its bone pile, remained. The red light on the walls was also unchanged.
So Rakhmah wasn't the power source?
In any case, Archeas was nowhere to be seen. It had likely found its final rest in human form. Or perhaps it didn't want Ian to see its body. Either way, it didn't matter. Ian hadn't come here to find a corpse.
Ian looked down at the broken Truesilver Steel Sword in his left hand. Less than half the blade remained, and it was covered in cracks. Its durability was almost zero.
Sshaa—
Yet, to his surprise, the Platinum Claw still answered. Its duration was short, but it worked. The Mantra circuits ran up the broken steel, flaring into a shimmering blade of magic. The cracks deepened instantly, and the magic edge wavered like a candle flame.
However, Ian gripped the hilt and pointed the sword down.
Crunch—
The yellow blade plunged deep into the edge of the slope. It was a spot overlooking the entire boneyard.
The magic blade faded, leaving only the broken sword buried in the earth. Ian let go of the hilt. He placed his hand on the crossguard as if touching a tombstone. A small smile touched his lips.
"I was glad to have met you, too."