Elgazar, the Third General of Alhatross, stared at the man in disbelief.
As Rose approached, Elgazar quickly picked her up and took off running. He understood the danger if Akbar Morgan caught her. But Akbar Morgan noticed them. The King lifted his hand and cast a spell, blasting Rose and the others away with a strong gust of wind.
"Gaha!"
Rose fell from the General's hands, feeling as if she had been slammed hard into the ground. Pain ran through her back and head. Still, Rose opened her eyes and stood up. The General lay motionless on the ground.
"Elgazar!"
She called out to him, but he didn’t answer. Still, he was alive. The blast had only knocked him out, though he was hurt.
Rose glared at Akbar Morgan. She had expected an old man, but he looked to be in his thirties—strong and even handsome. His hair was black, his skin a light wheat color, and his eyes reddish-brown. His skin was lighter than most Morgs. Usually, when Morg children have parents from other races, they take after the non-Morg side. Tevitianos and Deddy Mashar II didn’t look like Morgs either, which is why the guards let them into the Palace without question.
Anyone looking at them would think they belonged to the horned owl race.
Rose thought that Akbar Morgan was probably half-breed, born to a spirit mother and a Morg father. However, Morgs have a defining genetic trait: a distinctive pattern on their backs. Textbooks say that for some reason, this pattern persists even after two or three generations. However, with clothing, it's invisible from the outside. Both Tevitianos and Deddy Mashar II were wearing their jackets.
"From the looks of it, Tevitianos is dead."
Akbar Morgan muttered to himself as he surveyed his surroundings. His voice was low and commanding, Rose thought.
"Princess Rose...run..."
General Elgazar noticed and mustered his strength to stand. Efergan and the others noticed as well, slowly getting to their feet. Emel remained lying on the ground behind them, motionless.
"Are you okay, Rose?"
Efergan looked over to confirm.
"Yes."
Efergan nodded and looked up as Rose answered. As Rose approached, Haintz grabbed her.
"That's Akbar Morgan."
Rose told Efergan and the others who their enemy really was. Their faces grew serious. They knew they couldn't beat Akbar Morgan as they were now. Even with the holy weapon, as Fariz had warned, he was too strong. In that moment, they felt just how powerless they were.
Rinka was still unconscious. Olefa's dead body was on top of Rinka, as if he had shielded her from the blast. It seemed as if Olefa still loved Rinka, even in death. Olefa's back and wings were in tatters from the blast. But Rinka was mostly unharmed. Thinking about Olefa brought tears to Rose's eyes. This reality was too sad.
"Lady Rose, let's step back a bit."
Haintz lifted Rose and carefully moved back. His clothes were torn, and blood ran from a wound on his head, but he held her close. Jorg gently moved Olefa's body, then picked up Rinka and carried her away. Jorg was just as hurt as Haintz, with stitches on his stomach and chest. Rose guessed Toda had helped him, but Toda now lay still nearby.
"Is that Princess Rose?"
Akbar Morgan suddenly called out Rose's name. Haintz put Rose down and moved in front of her.
"Get lost! I'm speaking to the Princess!"
Bam! He suddenly blew Haintz away. Haintz crashed into the wall, coughed up blood, and fell to the ground, motionless.
"Haintz!"
Rose tried to reach Haintz, but suddenly the ground was hit by a spell and crumbled.
"Answer my question!"
Akbar Morgan asked Rose's name with a condescending tone.
"Yes. What do you want?!"
Rose, enraged, turned to Akbar Morgan.
"You're just as cheeky a Princess as the rumors say. I ordered Tevitianos to welcome you with due respect, but it seems he failed."
"He died easily. He was a weakling."
"Oh, really?"
Akbar Morgan showed interest in Rose's cheeky words.
"More importantly, why are you here?"
Rose asked Akbar Morgan why he was here. He smiled at her, and his gestures reminded her of Tevitianos—or maybe it was the other way around. After all, Tevitianos was his son.
"You say that's why I'm here? Of course! I'm here to pick you up."
"Blurgh!"
"Blurgh?! That's rude. I've been looking for you forever. I've even put a bounty on you, but not a single one has returned. I heard that all the assassins we sent after you are dead. Why don't you just stop bothering us and stop with these petty tricks?"
Rose thought that the reason was probably Rocco, the one Dalgodas had sent.
"I don't know anything about that. And I don't want to see you."
"You have no reason to reject me."
"Of course! I'm already married! I'm not interested in any man other than my husband."
"Your husband? The man who collapsed earlier? Or is one of them your husband?"
"What would you do if you knew?"
"I'll kill him. If I kill him, you'll be free."
"That's in poor taste."
"I'm glad you complimented me."
"I'm not complimenting you!"
"Oh, I like you even more when you're angry. I'm sure a woman with such high magical powers would produce the most powerful offspring."
"No. You're not my type!"
"Hahaha. It doesn't matter if I'm not your type. It's a woman's nature to cherish a child once it's born, even if it has some Morg blood mixed in it."
Akbar Morgan extended his hand.
"Come to me."
"No!"
"My orders are absolute."
"No!"
Bang!
Akbar Morgan put his hand on her, and General Elgazar, who was standing behind Rose, was blown far away.
"I've heard you're a merciful princess. Therefore, I will kill those important to you, one by one."
"No!"
"If you don't obey my orders, I'll kill everyone except you."
"No!"
Bang!
Kerzek was next to be blown away. He crashed into rubble and fell to the ground.
"You young bastard over there will be the last one."
"Stop..."
Rose ran to Efergan's side. Anger was visible on his face.
"Let me tell you, you've been acting selfishly for a while now."
Efergan looked very angry.
"Oh, isn't it Your Highness Efergan? It's been a long time."
Suddenly, a man descended from the airship.
"Your Majesty, we've just finished preparing for the assault."
He politely stood before Akbar Morgan and bowed.
"Go ahead. As long as I can get that Princess, that's all that matters. I'll leave this country to you."
"As you wish."
He bowed again. Then he stood before Akbar Morgan and looked at Efergan.
"It's me. Deddy Mashar."
He said with a smile. But this was not the Deddy Mashar Rose knew. He looked very youthful, like a man in his twenties.
"Your attire..."
Efergan couldn't hide his shock.
"This is the power of my king, the Great King Akbar Morgan! He has brought me back to life, this young, from an old, worn-out man!"
"So, who was that man that Galey killed?"
"Galey? Ah, it was probably my double, Danu. He was a loyal man. We've lost a great man. Well, I don't need him anymore... hahaha."
He laughed heartily.
"You...!"
Efergan's anger was clear.
"You'd better watch your mouth. From today, this country belongs to my beloved Great King Akbar Morgan. Change the name... let's call it the Country of Mashar Morg."
"Don't just decide things on your own!"
"You don't understand, do you? No one can defeat Akbar Morgan. Just obey him. You have great magical power, so turn into a magic stone and serve him for the rest of your life."
"Watch your mouth!"
Bang!
Deddy Mashar unleashed a spell at Efergan. However, Rose's barrier spell activated first, protecting them.
"Oh. It seems you still have some strength left."
Deddy Mashar looked at Rose in surprise.
"You're just weak. But it's good, because it would be terrible if the Princess were to get any more injured. Hahaha."
Akbar Morgan laughed loudly. Deddy Mashar smiled and stepped forward. He raised his hand and gave a signal. Suddenly, several sorcerers came down from the airship and began a ritual over the bodies in the square. They were summoning that monster. If they didn’t stop it, not just the capital, but the whole country would be in danger.
"Come, Princess. Come before the Great King."
"I'm not giving Rose to you!"
Efergan brandished his sword and attacked Deddy Mashar. However, Deddy Mashar stopped Efergan's sword with his finger.
"I want Your Highness to remain calm. That's so you can enter the magic stone unharmed!"
Deddy Mashar spun around and kicked Efergan's body, sending him flying several meters. Rose rushed to Efergan's side, standing in front of him and drawing her dagger. This was her only weapon. But if he got close, Rose thought, she would definitely kill him.
"Rose..."
Efergan tried to stand, but the damage he had taken was great.
"Don't worry, Efergan."
Rose kept her eyes on Deddy Mashar as he approached. Akbar Morgan watched them with interest.
"Come on, Princess. With that energy, we can look forward to the birth of the princes of Morg."
Akbar Morgan burst out laughing at Deddy Mashar's words. What are these people? How disgusting! Rose thought angrily.
BOOM!
The monster summoning spell performed on the corpse was complete. After the spell was activated, monsters the same size as the one that had been rampaging in the square earlier appeared. And there were... five of them. It had been a struggle to defeat even one, but five... The fleeing soldiers and civilians screamed. Everyone was trying to get out of the capital city first. But the monsters mercilessly burned the fleeing people to death with high-temperature rays from their mouths.
"Stop it..."
Rose said, and Deddy Mashar shook his head.
"It's your fault, Princess. You were warned, weren't you? If you didn't obey, he'd kill them."
"Why kill them?! Aren't they the ones you've been protecting until now?!"
"I obey my master. Whatever he commands, I'll do my best to carry it out."
"Liar! You're a traitor!"
"How disappointing. I'm a loyal vassal. Well, that's enough chatter. I can't keep the Great King waiting here."
The younger Deddy Mashar reached out, but just then, a man appeared in front of Rose and attacked Deddy Mashar with great speed. However, Deddy Mashar swiftly fought back, kicking the man away.
"Galey?!"
Galey attacked Deddy Mashar with his battered body. His legs and arms, which should have suffered compound fractures, were still attached to the branches Rose had used to hold them in place. But there was no way his battered body could hold up against Deddy Mashar.
"Oh, it's Galey. You're still alive?"
Deddy Mashar approached Galey, who had left Rose behind and collapsed to the ground. Deddy Mashar had drawn his sword. Galey tried to stand, but his body was at its limit and he couldn't.
"I thought so... it was Danu..."
"You realized too late, Galey."
Deddy Mashar stood next to Galey.
"I did. But... your subordinates were there, so I didn't say anything. I thought it would be quicker to resolve the situation by taking his head and coaxing them to commit suicide."
"You made the right decision."
"I searched for you... Just when I thought I'd finally found you, I got another mission."
"You've worked hard. You were an excellent apprentice. I'm sorry to lose you, but you'll die, Galey. No, Lord Galahad Gargamante."
Deddy Mashar raised his sword and prepared to decapitate Galey.
"Galey!"
"Huh?!"
Rose immediately shouted. And then...
"Deadly Rose!"
A sharp thorny branch instantly sprouted from the ground and pierced Deddy Mashar's body. While it consumed slightly more magical power than Bind Rose, it was a technique that could reliably kill an opponent with just one branch.
"Ugh!"
Rose coughed up blood again. Though exhausted, Rose used her life-sustaining magical power to save Galey. Impaled, Deddy Mashar was near death. He was not immortal.
"Great...King..."
Deddy Mashar tried to ask Great King Akbar Morgan for help, but Akbar Morgan did nothing.
"As expected of the woman who will become my queen. I like you."
Akbar Morgan smiled and praised Rose.
"What's with those eyes? You don't like it?"
Akbar Morgan asked, seeing Rose in a sullen mood.
"Of course! You're a man who abandons even his own subordinates! You don't care about your people."
Rose sat down next to the collapsed Efergan. It was too hard; her body couldn't take it anymore.
"I gave that man his youth. I also gave him this country on the condition that he would present you to me, but, well, his abilities were as expected."
"He's not immortal, huh?"
"He’s not worth being given immortality. He's an eyesore. I wish he'd die."
Akbar Morgan aimed his hand and unleashed a spell. The impaled Deddy Mashar was struck and destroyed. Galey was caught in the blast and sent flying.
"Galey!"
But Rose couldn't see Galey from here. She hopes he's safe.
"Now, Princess. Let's go."
"No!"
Bam!
The ground in front of Rose exploded. He missed on purpose, but the blast knocked Rose backward. Efergan, however, grabbed her and protected her.
"Efergan..."
"Rose... Run..."
"Efergan..."
"I love you, Rose."
"I love you too."
Rose gazed at Eferghan. She thought she had to protect this person. For herself, for the country, for the people... she had to help. No matter the price...
"Efergan, thank you for everything... I've been so happy with you."
"Rose... Don't go to him."
Efergan grabbed Rose's hand.
"It'll be okay."
Rose kissed Efergan. Tears wouldn't stop. She couldn't believe she had to part with her beloved as this...
But Rose no longer wavered.
"Rose... stop..."
"Efergan... my dear Efergan..."
"Rose... stop... please stop."
Rose stood up and let go of Efergan's hand. She stared at Akbar Morgan.
"Come here!"
Akbar Morgan reached out his hand.
"Rose... stop..."
Efergan tried to get up, but it was no use. Rose closed her eyes and composed herself.
"Release... Divine Body"
With that one spell, Rose returned to her original goddess form. She said goodbye to the body that had been the Dalgodas family's garden doll.
"Rose... please... stop... stop."
Efergan desperately tried to stop Rose, but he could no longer touch her.
"My dear Efergan..."
Rose kissed Efergan. Tears flowed from Efergan’s eyes. Rose took the Dark Dragon's Sword from Efergan’s waist, cut the seal, and drew it from its sheath.
Rose sang a Song of Sorrow and thought of the Dark Dragon. Holding the sword in her hand, she flew to the same height as Akbar Morgan.
"Beautiful."
Akbar Morgan smiled at Rose. However, Rose ignored his words and continued singing her sad song. It was a sweet and bittersweet love song. A song appropriate for parting with a loved one. Suddenly, Akbar Morgan began to tremble. Rose didn't quite understand why, but his vibrations were very disturbed.
"Stop that song!"
Akbar Morgan's body was swirling, as if he were enduring some kind of pain. Conversely, a dark aura gradually appeared around Rose's body. It was so sad, so loving, and warm; it felt as if Rose was being enveloped and embraced.
"Althea~ My dear Althea~"
Rose felt like dancing in the air. But she was in combat.
"Lend me your strength, Althea~"
Rose gripped the Dark Dragon's sword tightly. The sword gradually emitted a brilliant black light. Meanwhile, the moment she stopped singing, Akbar Morgan seemed to be released from the pain. However, profuse sweat was breaking out from his forehead. He had indeed responded to the song. If that was the case, she couldn't stop singing. Rose closed her eyes, focused her mind on Dark Dragon Altair, and sang again.
Since this would be the last time, Rose thought, she would follow Dark Dragon and leave this world together.
I'm sorry, baby in my womb. You were unfortunate to have such a foolish mother. I'm so sorry, Rose apologized in her heart.
Akbar Morgan moved backward, right in the middle of the five summoned monsters. But now that Rose was no longer a physical body, she wasn't afraid of the monsters. Filled with rage, Rose decided to defeat Akbar Morgan together with Dark Dragon.
Slash!
Akbar Morgan's hand was severed. Holy weapon really is very effective. When used properly, it is a powerful weapon. Who would have thought it could cut through the immortal Akbar Morgan so easily!
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Akbar Morgan tried to protect his missing arm with magic. But Rose and Dark Dragon had no intention of forgiving him. Morgs had caused so much suffering to the people of this country, and she must punish them!
Slash!
Akbar Morgan's sword broke. And his other arm was severed at the shoulder!
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Akbar Morgan struggled. Something very dark was coming out of his body. His youthful face was gradually changing. His body had aged, and wrinkles appeared on his face. His hair had turned white, and his firm skin had become wrinkled.
"Damn it! Come out! Return spell!"
He chanted something and disappeared in a puff of smoke. He'd gotten away.
"Ah, too bad. He'd escaped."
The Dark Dragon had embraced Rose... Rose thought she'd somehow felt that way.
"Now, I have to defeat those monsters."
Rose looks at the five monsters rampaging around her.
“Multilock! Giga Deadly Rose!”
Zap! Zap! Zap! Zap! Zap!
One after another, giant thorny branches rose from the ground, piercing the monsters' bodies and skewering them. But their tails continued to move.
"Multilock! Giga Bind Rose!"
Thorny branches rose from the ground, binding the monsters. The sharp branches tightly gripped their bodies, preventing them from moving.
"Multilock! Giga Bloody Rose!"
Sharp thorns from the thorny branches pierced each monster's body, causing a rain of blood like red rose petals to stain the ground.
"Multilock! Giga Fire!"
Finishing blow, she set them on fire.
Knowing their monsters had been defeated, the Morg soldiers hurried back to the airship. But Rose had no intention of letting them get away with it.
Rose grabbed her sword, approached the airship, and swung it.
Boom!
In an instant, the airship exploded in mid-air. The debris was broken into pieces to avoid hitting the Suzukinoyama soldiers below.
"Fleas, go back to the dust."
For some reason, those words came out of Rose's mouth. Rose flew high, able to see all enemies from the air. This might be the power of the Dragon. Rose held the Dark Dragon's Sword aloft in one hand and willed it to target all enemies. And then...
"Come! Sword of Darkness!"
Zzzzzzzzzing!
Something resembling countless swords appeared in the sky. Rose lightly swung her weapon down, and the swords fell like rain, piercing every Morg soldier in an instant. Screams could be heard throughout the capital.
Those who witnessed that blow will never forget the divine sword that unfolded before their eyes.
"Holy Dragon, if you are the guardian deity of this country, please lend me your strength."
Rose looked up at the sky and began to sing. As she sang a Sad Song, she thought of her loved ones and her people. Galey, Efain, Efergan, Rinka, and Haintz... she wanted them all to live, Rose thought. There was nothing that could be done for those who had already died, but she wanted the living to live happily ever after. Rose could no longer fight Akbar Morgan. Because he was still alive, the rest of the battle fell to the living. She thought she had to kill Akbar Morgan once and for all.
"My dear daughter."
A large dragon appeared in the sky. A shining Holy Dragon.
"Holy Dragon - I want to heal everyone."
"Is that the meaning of the song?"
"Yes."
"If you want to heal everyone here, then that's fine."
"Yes."
"But there's a chance you may never be able to go back to normal."
"I'm prepared for that."
Rose nodded.
"Are you leaving with the Dark Dragon?"
"Yes."
"Do as you please. But I believe the Dragon God will bring you back..."
"When the time comes, that's it."
"My dear daughter. Then, follow the path you believe in."
The Holy Dragon embraced Rose lovingly. The large Dragon spun around and began to glow.
"Everyone, healthy and happy, my dear, my beloved people, please get well soon."
Rose prayed as she spoke.
Everyone's faces, their smiles, their words, their songs—she shared all of her life with them. The Song of Love echoed throughout the chaotic city.
"My dear Efergan, goodbye."
Everything seemed dazzling. Rose closed her eyes and, embracing the Dark Dragon's sword, said her farewell to this world.