Lyle understands her but he knows he didn't have any choice right now. The situation have suddenly turned grave he could never expected.

Converting his life force into mana ... it was a very dangerous thing to do.

It will weaken the user every second and might cause him to die. If not for his enormous vitality granted by his dragon bloodline, he would have died already.

He don't have any time to meditate, and thus risking his life like this was the only way for him to be able to fight!

In exchange for this power up, the amount of time I can continue fighting will drop considerably... But I guess it can't be helped if it's to protect them ...

But right now, this was all he had. All he could do was pray that it lasted long enough for this battle to end.

If he didn't do this bet now, the things behind him will forever be lost.

"M-master ..." This time an innocent voice rang out from the other black sword. This was Yuki.

"... we only agreed to this because you said that you will activate it only for the time it take for them to escape. After that, we will forcefully end the skill ...."

Her originally cute and shy voice were now very serious. "... even if you don't want it."

She understand her master's intentions and will but even still ...

For her master, she was prepared to sacrifice those people so that Lyle can escape and live. She knows that she was not the only one who thinks like this, even her twin sister; Sakura was prepared to do so.

She might be even thinking far worse than her.

That was how much they love Lyle, their beloved master.

That's why even if Lyle hate them, even if he curse them! But even then, they will stay by his side! They will forever protect him so he will never be alone!

The two foxes was already prepared to endure Lyle's abhorrence and will stay by his side. They would rather be in the flames of hatred than let him die for others.

Even if they dragged him away at the cost of their souls, when the time that moment came, they will certainly carry him away from this place!

Hearing their pleas, Lyle smiled and called their names.

“Sakura, Yuki.”

"“What is it?”"

“Do you trust me?”

"Master ?!"

“...Mas...”

The two was at a loss for words.

“M-M-Master!! That's changing the topic!! That's unfair!!”

Yuki raised her voice and criticized him. To Yuki, that question only had one answer.

And if they answer that one simple question, they know that they wouldn't be able to stop him. Because if they did, it would mean that they didn't trust him at all.

“Believe!!”

These had been words he had spoken for their sake. But as he was saying this to them, he suddenly realized the path he needed to travel.

That's right... I'm not the type of man who would say those kind of depressing words!

It was unfit for my personality! Why would I think that I will perish in this battle ?!

Such negative thinking ...

When did I become a depressing character ?

I have to believe... I have to believe that after this storm... a new sunny day will appear.

He believed in, just like all youngsters, that the future is bright…

Lyle had to believe, in order to save the people he love and cared for, to save himself, and to save the kind people that he wanted to protect. That was―

“Our future is not as dark as we believe!!”

―that their future would surely be bright.

After this stormy day, a new sun will rise and give them hope.

They would survive this trial!

And he would do all he can do to make sure of this.

Lyle grinned and pointed Sakura towards the black dragon's face.

“Master, please ...”

“My beloved Sakura as well as you too Yuki, I still haven't heard your answer.”

“"Uh.”"

The two were hesitant to answer.

They looked as if they wanted to object , but they must’ve felt the defiance in his heart.

They’re connected, after all. They know how stubborn Lyle can be when he set his

mind to something.

And after staying quiet for several seconds, they quietly muttered.

“...we will do all we can to support you, master.”

"... I will also hope for that future you spoke of ... master"

“Then so be it.”

However, in the end, the two didn't answer the actual question.

"That is why, I will stop you here ... you overgrown lizard!"

Steeling his resolve, Lyle gathered all his courage to fight this hopeless battle.

He himself was well aware that he had almost no chance of winning.

But regardless of his chances, Lyle had no choice but to fight. Behind him was a powerless Feme and Misuzu.

He was the only one who could protect them, and since he knew that, he never had the option of abandoning them.

And like that, in order to not betray something within himself, Lyle stepped up to fight a battle he knew he had almost no chance of winning.

... ...

The pitch black dragon did not even bother to look at the escaping people as it quietly measured up Lyle with its fiery red eyes.

“……hoho, are you betting your life for your comrades? No matter how long it has been for me, you humans were always too kind for your own good.”

The black dragon said as if praising them but under his gaze was an unmasked mockery.

At this moment, a silver flashed from Lyle's chest and he felt the surge of anger from Weiss. The little silver snake seemed angry to the point of wanting to fight the black dragon.

Clearly, it is highly possible that Weiss come from an uncommon race that is not fearful of dragons.

However, Lyle pressed it down in a hurry, he must not let this reckless little devil act arbitrarily. Even if it is a miraculous beast, it is still but a child, how can it confront a horrifying black dragon like this?

“Oh my, is that a compliment?

... Betting my life for others ? Huh, I'm not a hero ... however, I have someone I want to protect among them. Just that alone is enough for me to stake my life.

Besides, I've taught some people in that group, and it would be a waste to let them die just like that after giving my efforts in teaching them~"

Lyle wiped the blood that was leaking at the corner of his mouth and took a fighting stance as gave a condescending laugh.

"... I won't let you touch even a single strand of their hair. Remember that, ugly lizard~"

This blood was one of the result of using his life force as a mana. The sign of the weakening of his body.

"... who cares, you're going to die anyway. You have enraged this king, and thus will suffer the consequences."

Lyle had a smile plastered across his face that seemed to say that was something that he wouldn’t want to explain further.

However, those eyes of his were cold and lacked the slightest hint of humor in them.

“... I'll wipe that smug off your face soon enough!!”

Lyle continued to look at him as they conversed. He never expect for this over powerful dragon to launch a sneak attack on him.

---and hence, he wasn’t able to notice it earlier.

The jet black threat that suddenly appeared behind him.

“……?” The first to notice the change was Yuki who was looking at their surroundings

vigilantly.

A black shadow had appeared behind them and it had a kind of non-existent sensation about it that seemed to make up a point that seemed to suck in all light around it.

To describe it simply--- it was like a black and round vortex. No matter how flat it looked and how intangible it seemed, it didn’t change the fact that it looked strangely circular from all angles.

“Ah…….”

The strange focal point had suddenly squirmed as it started to distort and morph.

---Accompanying the woeful cries and murderous intent that flowed out from its depths---

At this moment, Lyle's sense of danger had finally noticed something. He wanted to evade but his body seemed like it had pale in terror, seeming to have been touched on the neck by the cold hand of a Death God.

"“Mas….Masterrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”"

That shout seemed like a shriek of pain, for it was too late.

From the skies where the black clouds slowly formed, the abnormal black vortex had shown its true form.

A figure that was similar to the black dragon with its size was the only difference was standing proudly. Then it spoke ...

"However, do you think that I will actually fight you myself... ?"

--- Know your place ...

Its size was only half of that of the black dragon in front of Lyle. But his overall appearance, presence and even its voice was that of the black Dragon.

"... my clone is enough for a bug, like you!"

---A clone of the black dragon.

It looked upon him expressionlessly while Lyle's chest had already been dyed red with blood.