So I'm a Dragon, So What? - Game System [91]

The immense power of Spirit Soother swept through the clearing, the flames incinerating everything in their path. The dozen or so elven servants were turned to ash. 

Even the regenerative power of the [Crimson Rite] couldn't bring them back. This was because Spirit Soother didn't just destroy the body; it calmed the soul. 

No matter how agitated or fanatical, any soul touched by its flames would instantly find peace and ascend on the spot. 

Without a soul, even a resurrected body would be nothing more than an empty, walking corpse.

"We can't stay here," Elliot said, his voice low and urgent. "They're here for you."

Even after defeating the elves, that unsettling feeling of being watched remained. 

He could clearly sense that somewhere in the darkness, someone was observing him and Emilia with predatory intent. 

But strangely, even with his divine senses, he couldn't pinpoint their exact location.

"Let's go."

Elliot scooped Emilia into his arms and launched himself backwards into the air. In his human form he couldn't fly, but his physical stats were so high that his speed was still incredible.

Held in Elliot's arms in a princess carry, Emilia’s breath hitched. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a frightened deer. She wasn't sure if it was from the danger, or from something else entirely.

She had, in the secret moments of her lonely childhood, dreamed of this. Of being held in the arms of a tall, handsome prince. But for someone as lowly, as insignificant as her, it was an impossible fantasy.

And yet, here she was. Even with danger lurking in the shadows, even with her heart pounding with fear, she couldn’t help but feel a sliver of happiness.

Just then, Elliot’s voice, cool and detached, cut through her reverie. 

"The elves' domain has a [Regeneration]effect. It’s troublesome. Against their footsoldiers, it’s manageable, but if a Bishop-level opponent shows up, we’ll be in real trouble. What’s more, they seem to have a way of tracking your exact location. We need to leave this area and regroup with Shiraori." He paused, his grip tightening slightly. "A fight is coming. Prepare yourself."

Emilia nodded, pressing herself a little closer into his embrace. She knew it was a foolish hope, but she wanted to savor this feeling for as long as she could. Just one more second. That was all she asked.

As Elliot carried her away, his gaze flickered back to the spot where the elves had been vaporized. The Spirit Soother skill, enhanced with a Divine Spark Point, wasn’t just several times more powerful; it seemed to operate outside the rules of this world. 

Otherwise, even with its soul-damaging properties, it wouldn't have been able to instantly obliterate them, bypassing their regeneration. 

This meant that anyone killed by the enhanced Spirit Soother could not be resurrected by any means, not even by the Hero’s [Ruler of Mercy].

He still had ten Divine Spark Points left. They would be his trump card for the crisis to come. 

The mastermind hiding in the shadows now knew he possessed a skill like Spirit Soother and would be on guard. But they couldn't possibly know he had ten more points in reserve. 

When the time comes, Elliot thought, I’ll unload all ten points on their face. They won’t know what hit them.

Still, the danger was real. To be able to create such a massive, multi-layered domain without him even noticing… his opponent was no amateur. 

Elliot was already treating them as a major power, on the same level as Potimas. The coming battle would be a difficult one.

His eyes focused on the path ahead, and he gradually slowed his pace.

Because standing there, waiting for them, was an old man. He was flanked by several other mages, and just a glance at their auras told Elliot that any one of them could wipe the floor with Ronandt. 

Ronandt might have been called humanity's foremost mage, but that was just a title given to him by a single nation. It was mostly hype. 

The truly powerful human mages were all cloistered within the Word of God religion, their existence a secret from the outside world.

And this old man… there was no mistaking him. He was one of humanity’s giants.

Dustin, the Pontiff of the Word of God. A being even the Demon Lord was wary of.

The old man offered a serene smile as they approached, as if he had been expecting him.

….

In this world, humanity was ruled by religion. A king was merely the monarch of a nation. Before the church, a king’s power was insignificant. 

It was the Pontiff who held the true authority, the power to depose kings. 

The Pontiff was the one who stood at the absolute pinnacle of human society.

As a contemporary of Demon Lord Ariel, Dustin had lived for an incredibly long time, even longer than Ariel or Potimas. 

Although his personal combat strength wasn't overwhelming, he had lived for so long that his cunning and political maneuvering were legendary. 

Even the Demon Lord was cautious around this old man.

Elliot also felt a certain distance from this benevolent-looking old man. He knew that for the sake of humanity's survival, Dustin would stop at nothing.

If sacrificing a few humans could guarantee the survival of the many, the Pontiff would do so without a moment's hesitation to ensure humanity's flame would not be extinguished. 

A certain magus killer from another world would have had a lot to say about that particular brand of justice.

That was Pontiff Dustin in a nutshell.

Partnering with a man like this was like walking on a razor's edge. The moment he perceived Elliot as a threat to humanity, the Pontiff would try to eliminate him without mercy. 

The fact that Elliot was a dragon, not a human, only made it worse. If he truly decided Elliot was an enemy, he wouldn't be held back by any moral considerations.

Because of this, Elliot had no fondness for the old man. But in their current situation, they shared a common enemy. For now, they could set aside their differences and work together.