“To shape ice into the desired form, it’s important to solidify your ‘image.'”

At first, when Subaru suggested ‘Ice Brand Arts,’ I thought it was very handy, but Emilia felt uncertain whether she could do it.

“Don’t worry! There’s no need for concern! I’m sure Emilia-chan can do it!”

I remember how Subaru gave me a thumbs up with a smile, reassuring my apprehensive self.

Looking back, that was groundless—no, in Subaru’s case, it was simply because he “likes” me that he encouraged me.

In the process of creating the weapon I ‘imagined,’ Emilia studied a lot about drawing.

Unlike singing, she wasn’t very proficient in drawing, but still, as she drew countless pictures with Subaru, she made significant progress.

Watching Emilia drawing alongside Subaru and Beatrice while studying, Ram looked exasperated, Otto chuckled, and Frederica and Petra occasionally joined in, while Garfiel offered advice like it would be better this way. Roswaal also occasionally observed Emilia and Beatrice drawing together from afar.

Emilia cherished these incredibly important memories that were hard to part with.

They might have faded from everyone else’s mind, but Subaru remembered them. Thinking about that sends a warm feeling bubbling up from deep within my chest.

“I’ll change that feeling into courage—!”

With that overflowing resolve, Emilia marched forward, armed with the ice weapon she had crafted and accompanied by seven ice soldiers to challenge the ‘Divine Dragon’ Volcanica head-on.

As previously mentioned, ‘imagination’ is essential for shaping ice.

This applies not only to weapons but also to the ice soldiers created. Essentially, the ice soldiers were solidified in a form that made it easy for Emilia to ‘imagine.’

To put it plainly, fighting alongside Emilia were seven Natsuki Subarus.

“But they’re stronger and nimbler than the real Subaru!”

While Subaru was not lacking in stamina and vitality, the ice soldiers were fundamentally different in construction.

The soldiers’ strength depended on the density of the mana Emilia provided, and they were nothing like mere ice sculptures. Just like the ice weapons, they were likely comparable to steel.

“Go!”

Following Emilia’s command, the leading ice soldier dashed into Volcanica’s range.

Volcanica remained motionless, leaning against the central pillar of the watchtower, having just unleashed a tail swipe that demonstrated its range of six or seven meters—

In an instant, it appeared to sense the intent to approach the pillar, and the dragon’s blue tail moved at high speed.

A singular strange sound that could only be described as wind being pierced echoed, and immediately afterward, the upper half of the leading ice soldier shattered into pieces. The direct hit struck around its chest, crushing the soldier’s body in two, sending a head resembling a grim-eyed Subaru flying away.

“I’m sorry! But it would target anyone, not just me!”

My apologies to the ice soldiers who became test dummies, but now Volcanica’s target was crystal clear.

Despite being befuddled, the ‘Divine Dragon’ still possessed the will to intercept evident threats approaching the pillar.

Regardless of its form of existence, life or not. In that case, there was something to be done.

“Soldiers, please!”

In response to Emilia’s voice, the ice soldiers surged forward, overtaking the silver-haired girl.

The first soldier was crushed, leaving six remaining ice soldiers to scatter in different directions, creating slight time delays as they moved toward the central pillar.

‘—”You, who reach the top of the tower. Stepping onto the first layer, an all-powerful petitioner.”‘

Sensing the presence of the approaching ice soldiers, the ‘Divine Dragon’ recited its formal declaration once again.

The utterance had turned into a meaningless string of words, and Emilia felt a profound loneliness and heartbreak watching the spectacle unfold before a puppet with no ears to listen.

Even in such a form, Volcanica was trying to protect ‘something.’

Who or what that promise was made to, Emilia had no way of knowing—but—

‘—”I am Volcanica. By the ancient covenant, I shall question your ambitions who reach the top.”‘

With a swing of its tail, two of the ice soldiers armed with weapons were smashed in an instant.

Reacting with improvised defense, one soldier lost its lower half, while another’s right side was blown away, leaving them unable to act properly and collapsing.

Taking this opportunity, the remaining four advanced to contain the tail, which was previously preparing to return to its original position.

For the moment, Volcanica’s only means of counteraction was its tail strike. Perhaps it was not just dazed, but also physically weary.

If it struggled to stand up, all that mattered was stopping its tail.

“Brace yourselves!”

To halt the tail’s movement, three ice soldiers lined up shoulder to shoulder.

The tail once again tried to strike them down, leaving the roar of wind in its wake. The motion was akin to the whip controlled by Subaru, albeit with a scale of speed and power that was worlds apart.

Subaru’s whip could be caught by Emilia’s hand, but that tail strike was not so easily handled.

The ‘Divine Dragon’ unleashed overwhelming might, akin to the strength of most creatures, with the ease of swatting a fly.

The sweeping lash from the tail hit the three ice soldiers stationed together. However, an expected loud crashing sound didn’t follow.

The three braced themselves, their backs supported by a burgeoning ice wall.

Anticipating such a moment allowed for a strategy.

Despite their bodies cracking, the grim-eyed soldier’s smirk revealed. Through the backs of the stopped soldiers, the one given individual orders leaped into action.

The last ice soldier wielded a weapon called a ‘tanto.’

At the end of its long staff, instead of piercing, a curved fitting designed to restrain the opponent was attached, referred to as capture gear.

Using the tanto, it brought down the tail of the ‘Divine Dragon,’ pressing it onto the floor.

Even the tail’s narrowest tip was as thick as a log, making it impossible to restrain with just one tanto. The cracked three soldiers quickly joined the fray while attempting to utilize their own tantos.

With four total restrained, the ‘Divine Dragon’ found its tail entangled—

‘—”You, who reach the top of the tower. Stepping onto the first layer, an all-powerful petitioner.”‘

Immediately afterward, the sound of the world being sculpted resonated, as the four soldiers high-fived and disappeared in an instant.

Their upper bodies vanished cleanly, leaving only their lower halves as remnants. It was neither the tail’s retaliation, now enraged after being restrained nor the claws—rather, it was the scales.

Lying on the floor, Volcanica swung its left front leg in place of its tail.

Just that alone forced Emilia’s ice soldiers to dissipate in an instant.

How misleading it would have been to assume it was just feeble and confused!

“Its tail and limbs are all right, but… why is only its important head vacant?!”

‘—”I am Volcanica. By the ancient covenant, I shall question your ambitions who reach the top.”‘

“Did you get that, now—!”

Had I not been Emilia, I would have been more furious at such repetitive words.

Yet, even as that sounded in her ears, Emilia’s brave resolve did not waver. The ice soldiers’ breaking was merely incidental; naturally, it stung a little in her heart.

“It’s okay! It doesn’t mean they didn’t serve a purpose!”

Pleading their value, Emilia steeled herself and advanced toward the tail.

However, the ice tanto that pressed down the tail remained intact, and the four soldiers sacrificed their lives for a meaningful cause. Thus, naturally, the foreleg would now target Emilia—

“And your reach is shorter than your tail, right? So—”

Before the claws could catch Emilia, an ice spear flew toward the ‘Divine Dragon’ instead.

It sprang from behind her, where new ice soldiers had been created—she could summon a maximum of seven ice soldiers, and they could be remade as their numbers dwindled.

This meant they could rise repeatedly until Emilia’s strength faded away.

Just like the real Natsuki Subaru.

‘—”You, who reach the top of the tower. Stepping onto the first layer, an all-powerful petitioner.”‘

“Ah!?”

As ice spears cascaded from out of reach, Volcanica pressed down its front limb forcefully.

That impact seemed capable of tearing space apart, creating shockwaves that would leave a mark forever, threatening to engulf Emilia and the soldiers alike in fierce winds.

“—”

While the shockwave stifled her advance, Emilia focused her violet-blue eyes.

The central pillar guarded by Volcanica was firm and unyielding, yet she hadn’t even had a moment to thoroughly investigate it. At a distance, it bore no notable differences from the other six pillars.

However, Emilia’s true intention didn’t lie solely with the central pillar—

“—it’s the very top of the tower!!”

Undaunted by the wind, Emilia planted her feet on the ground and kicked off with all her strength.

She was still far from being able to execute any particular action against either Volcanica or the pillar. Nevertheless, deciding to take the leap was indeed the right call.

Because from the initial shattered state, the ice soldiers began to revive, readying themselves to offer aid.

As Emilia took the plunge forward, a soldier positioned beneath caught her foot, launching her upward in a grand leap.

With the tail contained, diverting the attention toward the pillar, she now had a chance to cling to the highest level.

While unusual, this strategy was galvanized by Emilia’s instincts that screamed for her to reach the top of the tower.

With the ice soldiers’ assistance, she launched over Volcanica’s head and perched atop the pillar. There, if she could make it to the peak of the tower—

“—huh?”

Just as she reached out for the pillar, a quiet heat wave brushed under her feet.

—No, it wasn’t just quiet. Amidst overwhelming power and heat, sound had effectively ceased. When the concept of sound is obliterated, phenomena can certainly manifest as soundless.

Emilia sensed the disappearance of ice soldiers deployed across the first layer.

One soldier that helped her leap, four who had thrown spears, and two who set off to add more tantos all got wiped out in an instant.

And it was neither Volcanica’s tail nor its front paw that had done it.

‘—”I am Volcanica. By the ancient covenant, I shall question your ambitions who reach the top.”‘

The solemn words echoed as the death throes of the scorching atmosphere were heard from its mouth.

Realizing the sound concept was revived upon receiving the reciting words, Emilia finally made contact at the top of the pillar.

Desperately clinging to her body, Emilia glanced downward.

The first layer that stretched out before her was being scorched white.

Smoke billowed from various points, and there remained nothing of the ice soldiers that should have existed. That immense heat, that overwhelming power, that utter devastation—

—The breath of the ‘Divine Dragon’ Volcanica obliterated everything.

“With a tail, claws, and can breathe fire, too!”

‘—”You, who reach the top of the tower. Stepping onto the first layer, an all-powerful petitioner.”‘

“Got it! Got it! I understand… ah”

Responding with a mix of awe in relation to what had transpired, Emilia suddenly gasped.

Slowly, the ‘Divine Dragon’s’ golden eyes turned upward, reflecting Emilia.

And—

‘—”I am Volcanica. By the ancient covenant, I shall question your ambitions who reach the top.”‘

As those words were spoken, Volcanica spread its blue wings, rising to its feet.

“This is bad—!”

Realizing the peril of the situation unfolding below, Emilia hurriedly reached for the upper part of the tower.

Meanwhile, Volcanica was about to yank its tail free from the tantos restraining it and began to flap its wings.

It intended to take flight.

Being the ‘Divine Dragon’ Volcanica, soaring was a given—yet, Emilia had never seen a flying dragon, so it felt surreal.

Could a creature that enormous truly soar through the skies?

“I’ve only seen Pack and Roswaal flying…”

For a spirit such as Pack and an eccentric magician like Roswaal, flying was natural.

I heard that in the southern Volakia Empire, dragons like Earth Dragons or Water Dragons are called winged dragons, and perhaps Volcanica fell under that same classification.

Or maybe, thinking of dragons and ‘dragons’ as the same thing was the mistake—

“Heave-ho! Heave-ho! There we go!”

While shouting motivating phrases, Emilia scrambled up the tower at her utmost speed.

From a distance, it would set jaws dropping with its speed, but even utilizing her extraordinary athleticism, it wasn’t quite enough to outpace the retreating target.

‘—”You, who reach the top of the tower. Stepping onto the first layer, an all-powerful petitioner.”‘

That voice heard more closely than before was not an illusion.

It was a declaration held in place after matching the same height, not a rhetorical flourish from below.

—The magnificent body of the ‘Divine Dragon’ stretched its blue wings motioned for its majestic flight.

The ‘Divine Dragon’ Volcanica hung there, without any hint of becoming weak.

The oppressive vibes, the piercing gaze, its tail and claws, and even its breath did nothing to betray that it was indeed a legendary dragon.

However, the one thing that did betray it was—

“I’m planning to go above the first layer, so I might not be your enemy!”

Overlapped amidst its dismissive claim, Volcanica unleashed its fury upon Emilia, clinging to the pillar.

Gasping for air, Emilia bit down on her teeth and made use of the nonexistent foothold to leap over the descending tail.

“Whoa!!”

The application of ‘Ice Brand Arts’ made it easier to set foot on the pillar’s side than to scramble up it.

Building a foothold on the side allowed her to elevate her speed.

“Being able to utilize my hands and legs… whoa!”

In a split second, Emilia swiped her ice twin swords, powerfully parrying the descending tail.

The first swing, guided by intuition, sent tingles of sensation from her wrists to her elbows, leaving her unable to hold the new weapons for a few seconds.

However, unlike the injuries Emilia sustained, Volcanica simply swiped its tail.

Unrelenting, the ‘Divine Dragon,’ maintaining the same altitude as the challenger, now took aim at the reckless foe attempting to conquer the pillar—instead, intending to crush her.

“—”

With the advancing tail closing in, Emilia felt her breath hitched.

If she were to be struck again, she wasn’t sure she’d gather the strength to attach to the pillar. A direct hit from the spiny tail would surely spell disaster.

She couldn’t allow herself to be hit by that tail.

“Still… I can still go on! I can do this!!”

Emilia couldn’t use both hands. But her legs still moved. She could still target above.

Creating a foothold allowed her to scale upward, but that wasn’t enough. There were limits to how quickly she could create intricate ice sculpture work. That process had to be fully utilized.

It couldn’t just stop at being a foothold—

“—I see!”

‘—”You, who reach the top of the tower. Stepping onto the first layer, an all-powerful petitioner.”‘

The tail strike once again approached Emilia, who barely found her moment’s inspiration.

She evaded it using normal foothold strength, and newly constructed ice scaffolding clung to the pillar as she seized its ‘hand’ tightly.

“Please, soldiers!”

In response, the ice arm of a spitting image of Subaru creaked to life from the unmade patches burned away and remade—all the while, it only bore its upper body.

There, it wasn’t merely a scaffold but also served as a reliable ally for Emilia—this was the ‘Path of Ice Soldiers’ stretching from the pillar.

By merely extending their upper bodies out from the pillar, she could produce more soldiers than the maximum seven.

Pushing ten of them to sprout from the pillar, Emilia climbed higher and higher with their assistance.

“Hup! Hya! Ha! Hiyah!”

Leveraging the ice soldiers sprouting from the pillar, Emilia deftly climbed to the top.

During that time, Volcanica attempted to interfere with her ascent, but the soldiers lined up to aid the effort obstructed its path as well.

Bound by the habit of guarding the pillar, Volcanica couldn’t leave those ice soldiers untouched.

The newly-born ice soldiers hurled ice blades and axes toward Volcanica, the ‘Divine Dragon,’ as it swatted them away, striking down the soldiers on the pillar one by one.

However, amidst all that, Emilia continued upward, upward, upward—

“This part’s a bit tricky!”

Crossing over the delicate ice, Emilia came closer, and with the soldiers’ strength and sacrifice supporting her, she finally reached the top of the pillar.

Just ten more meters to reach the very peak of the tower, but the top of the pillar spiraled like a mouse’s return, making the ascent extremely challenging.

Even those adept at climbing would find themselves in a predicament, but fortunately, Emilia had some knack for climbing trees. There were times when she got scolded by Fortuna and Arch for practicing too much.

“Numb fingers should be okay, with this—!”

Regaining the sense of her numb fingers, Emilia faced the daunting edge of the curled pillar.

Grabbing the claw-like ice soldiers’ hands that grew in reverse and defying gravity, she hung in the air. However, the soldiers’ aid kept her ascent steady.

Now, all that remained was ensuring Volcanica couldn’t disrupt her.

“—!”

At that moment, fate seemed to slip through her fingers in a lapse of concentration.

‘—”I am Volcanica. By the ancient covenant, I shall question your ambitions who reach the top.”‘

The sudden tremor arose as Volcanica’s tail slammed against the pillar. The shockwave rippled throughout, causing the ice soldiers growing from the pillar to crack and shatter in unison.

Emilia’s last grasp for any supports faltered, losing hold as she fell downwards. The grim-eyed soldier rushed to try and catch her lest she fall.

Air swept around, instantly encasing Emilia as she plummeted and intended to erase the height achieved on the pillar altogether—but that was not to be.

“Wahhh!”

Making the descent from a height of dozens of meters, Emilia was expected to succumb to certain doom—but something unexpectedly cushioned beneath her.

Not an ice soldier; judging by her senses, the ice soldiers she’d grown had all been shattered.

As her body hit something solid and rigid, Emilia felt it just as she landed.

“Could it be…?”

‘—”You, who reach the top of the tower. Stepping onto the first layer, an all-powerful petitioner.”‘

The voice was resonating close to her ears, the proximity illuminating the moment Emilia realized—it was the back of the ‘Divine Dragon’ Volcanica she had landed upon.

“—! Don’t get distracted! From here I can—”

Leaping from Volcanica’s back, Emilia could once again latch onto the pillar.

That was her intention, but it was not so easy; complications erected themselves.

As Volcanica flapped its wings, rising into the sky, it twisted and attempted to shake her off.

“Ugh, ugh!”

Battling against the fierce winds that bore down, Emilia clung tightly to the dragon’s back.

She felt winds unlike any she had experienced before—large, strong currents, clinging desperately to scales that felt as solid as rock. However, she wasn’t sure how long she could sustain this hold.

What’s more, Volcanica was simply flying freely through the sky.

No tail strikes nor direct foot attacks.

It merely challenged the clinging Emilia’s grip with the force of its flight.

Succumbing to that was unacceptable—

“—I can’t let Subaru and the others down!”

If she uttered a sound, the wind would bolt inside her mouth and blow the wind from her lungs.

Peering downward filled her heart with thoughts of her loved ones.

It was as if she was preparing for death, but that was not the plan.

When Emilia envisioned her cherished people, it was actually a means to gaze forward.

They were the strength calling her to rise again, drawing her toward the light.

“—!”

Even flowing through the tempest, Emilia forced her eyelids open with lingering determination.

It became almost impossible to keep her eyes open without exerting all her strength. Yet, Emilia persisted, determined to seek out the path.

In moments when people could feel crushed by fear or anxiety, they usually shut their eyes.

But the cherished faces Emilia saw behind her eyelids were the ones who looked ahead in times like those. They were the ones who never closed their eyes.

Thus, her eyes must remain open.

To reach something, to grasp someone’s hand, and then—

“—to that peculiar one!”

A world dominated by hues of blue enveloped her from every angle.

This was due to her positioning high above the clouds, but moreover, it was because the dragon she clung to wore brilliant blue scales.

Yet, everything else rushed past her at such high speeds that even her extraordinary perception couldn’t capture the world fast enough—be it the stitching on a thrown ball.

For that reason, Emilia’s attention remained focused on the blue expanses that lay outside.

‘—”I am Volcanica. By the ancient covenant, I shall question your ambitions who reach the top.”‘

Twisting and curling, Volcanica flew majestically.

Surprisingly, Emilia was hanging on right at the thickest area of Volcanica’s neck. Strangely enough, the dragon wasn’t flapping its wings frantically. Birds or insects typically follow a different rhythm for flight, seemingly.

Surely, the mechanism of flight for Volcanica was analogous to how Pack and Roswaal took flight.

If that were true—

“Roswaal has magic… and Pack had a mysterious power.”

Unfortunately, Emilia hadn’t previously tested these theories with Roswaal nor did she have plans to proceed further.

However, Emilia had spent an extended period of time with the one family she thought she could live without.

Throughout the year, while being away, loneliness persisted in abundance. There were nights she nearly succumbed to tears, yet cherished memories had supported her through the weight of those times.

And that call for memory offered hope, even now.

It was—

“Could it be, you too, are sensitive about being tickled?”

With her widened violet-blue eyes, Emilia caught the sight of Volcanica’s lengthy neck twisting about. Beneath that great dragon’s jaw, amongst the densely packed blue scales, one white scale stood out sharply.

—Images of joyful days spent frolicking with Pack surfaced in Emilia’s mind.

‘Don’t do that, Emilia. If you make it too ticklish, I’ll get distracted!’

“—That’s right, Pack.”

In response to the tone, Emilia focused her thoughts.

Despite the mighty winds howling ferociously, she couldn’t reach the white scale directly. Yet, what she learned from her experiences with the pillar empowered her to even engage beings that were once lifeless and unchanging.

“—Soldiers!”

Following Emilia’s intent, ice soldiers sprang up around the white scale.

Upper bodies supported each other, while one emerging centered began calmly reaching for that white scale—

‘—”——!?”‘

—For the first time, Emilia heard a voice different from the ‘Divine Dragon’s’ repetitive utterance.