The size of the jet-black snake's head that burst through the narrow cell floor was about the same as mine. Which meant the hidden body must be even larger.
I lost my balance from the impact of the crumbling floor, rolling on the ground and slamming against the wall. The pain from the impact on my back made it hard to breathe. Cyril, who had been thrown aside, reached out a hand towards the snake that lunged towards me.
"Fiery waltz, breath of the flame dragon!"
It was an invocation of the highest-level fire magic, which I couldn't use.
Simultaneously with Cyril's resounding voice, a fiery dragon with a much larger mass than the jet-black snake wrapped around its black body like a constrictor, constraining the snake's body.
Cyril kicked off the crumbling footing and leaped up, brandishing his sword towards the writhing snake.
With a sharp sound, the sword pierced the snake's head.
Thick, blood-like substance flowed from the snake's mouth, dripping onto the collapsing floor.
I managed to get up despite the pain and extended both hands forward.
I didn't have a staff for amplifying magical power, but I could still use magic. Dispelling magic was effective against gate monsters. So, maybe it would work against Aliza's angel too.
The utility of dispelling magic was very limited.
It was not effective against humans or beasts, and it was mediocre against monsters.
The only thing dispelling magic strong against were vengeful spirit-type monsters, but holy magic, which was more versatile was sufficient for this.
So, there weren't many people who bothered to learn dispelling magic. But dispelling magic was---more useful for defeating evil monsters. I was inferior in magical power compared to Cyril. But even someone like me had a talent for dispelling magic according to Roge-san.
It was worth a try.
"Searing Angel Seraphim, pass judgment upon all wicked beings! Divine thunder of godly punishment!"
With my words, the black snake's body burst as if overflowing with light from within. White feathers scattered from the burst body, fading away.
With dispelling magic, the miasma felt somewhat thinner.
But the next moment, my body was overwhelmed by a sensation akin to being surrounded by even stronger and overwhelmingly evil something from all sides, and an unpleasant sound echoed in the back of my throat.
"You thought there was only one serpent from the Underworld?" Aliza said with a gleeful laugh.
Unnoticed, several hand-like clumps of earth sprouted from Aliza's feet, protecting her body from the crumbling floor.
Dark shadow-like entities intertwined with her body, clinging closely.
"Even with the power of the angel, you can't kill your sister directly, but an accident would do, right? I've come up with a good idea!"
With a loud rumble as the walls collapsed, four snakes burst through the walls from all sides, forcibly pushing their massive bodies into the cell.
The wall behind me and the crumbling floor.
"Ugh, oh...!"
Thrown from the high tower, my body plummeted upside down.
A sense of weightlessness engulfed me.
Falling.
If I were to be slammed into the ground---I'd die.
I have to do something.
I have to do something.
But nothing came to mind.
"Chloe!"
Cyril grabs my hand.
He half-threw himself out of the tower and grabbed my hand. My body swayed in the air. With every gust of wind, Cyril held onto my hand so tightly it felt like his bones might break.
One hand grabs the hilt of the sword embedded in the floor, seeming to support my unstable body.
"Chloe, don't let go of my hand, no matter what...!"
"Cyril..."
Behind Cyril, I saw the figures of four snakes. In the middle of the four snakes was Aliza.
A black shadow overlapped Aliza's body, and I witnessed the illusion of sharp horns and black wings.
"I'm so moved, I could cry. Trying to protect my sister now, of all times. How ridiculous!" Aliza laughs, peering at me from beyond the collapsed outer wall.
"You're both going to die anyway, it's absurd. Desperately clinging on. It's really pathetic!" With disdain, Aliza says, then thrusted a short dagger-like object resembling a black needle into Cyril's hand gripping the sword hilt.
Like piercing fruit, the weapon slid through Cyril's hand, severing it from his wrist. With a groan, his unsupported body slid downwards. Sweat beads on the hand supporting my body.
"Aliza, stop...!"
How could she do something so cruel?
Aliza should love Cyril.
"Cyrill is your husband, isn't he? I know I'm in the way, so please, stop, Aliza...!"
I pleaded in a voice tinged with despair. I don't want to see anyone else get hurt.
"You're so sickeningly sweet, sister! I don't need anyone, less alone Cyril to love me. Cyril betrayed me to save you!"
"Aliza, wake up. There are no angels. What's by your side is something evil!"
"You're foolish, sister, not to understand the greatness of the angel! Soon, the angel's army will emerge from the gate of the other world and turn the world into a wonderful paradise! They'll turn this rotten, despicable world into a paradise!"
The snakes surrounding Aliza reared their heads. Simultaneously, they lunged at Cyril.
Cyril, he was going to die. No. That couldn't happen.
I felt magic overflowing within me. A chant I've never uttered before flows from my lips as naturally as if I've known the spell for ages.
"Light! Pierce the darkness and bring forth dawn!"
Light flooded out, overwhelming the black snakes. An intense surge of light, dazzlingly bright, covered the narrow cell and obliterated the forms of both the snakes and Aliza.
At the same time, Cyril's body slid down. Oh, we were going to reach the ground.
Yet, Cyril still gripped my hand, trying to pull me up. His hand, now missing, releases a spray of crimson blood into the air, crashing into the ground. I tightly shut my eyes, unable to witness the horror.
"Julius..." I murmured in a small voice.
I'm sorry. If I had listened to Julius, if I had chosen to escape, it wouldn't have ended like this. If things were going to turn out like this, I should have freed Julius from his neck enchantment and let him go.
Even the slave seal---I should have researched how to remove it and freed him.
"Chloe!"
A familiar, low voice called out my name.
There was no pain or impact from hitting the ground. Something grabbed hold of me. It was a rough but comforting feeling, so familiar. With trepidation, I opened my eyes to find Julius covered in blood, glaring at me as if he were about to kill me---and I let out a small scream in my throat.
"Julius... You're covered in blood!"
I was being held by Julius riding Helios, flying through the air. He must have grabbed me and ascended quickly because I could see the castle and the town of the capital below. Even though I was about to fall and hit the ground, it seemed so far away like a distant dream.
"It's your fault. Release the curse you put on the magic collar right away."
Julius said with an incredibly angry expression.
There were small cuts all over his body, blood dripping from them. Despite being unharmed, Julius looked like he had been through a lot.
"I-I'm sorry! By the name of Chloe Seigrit, I command you! Permit yourself to come to my aid!" I hastily held my hand to the collar.
I had sworn an oath to the magic collar not to come to my aid.
In the event of a violation of the oath, Julius's body was subjected to excruciating pain, rendering him unable to move. In other words, Julius was covered in wounds and blood because of me. It was my fault.
"I'm sorry... truly, I'm so sorry...! I'll apply healing magic this time!" I pressed my palm on Julius's body.
With the incantation chanted, warm light enveloped Julius, and his cuts began to heal, sewing back the open wounds. I breathed a sigh of relief as the bleeding stopped. Feeling incredibly sorry, I couldn't bring myself to look directly at Julius's face. But now wasn't the time to dwell on how foolish I had been.
"Julius, Cyril...!"
"Ah, the man who fell with you. I had Helios carry him and drop him in the midst of the soldiers who were gathering due to the commotion. He won't die."
"Why didn't you bring him along with us?"
"I could have left him behind, but I thought you'd cry and make a scene, so I helped him. Be grateful."
Feeling Julius's utmost kindness, I couldn't say anything more.
Even though I should have been in agony because of my actions, Julius had even helped Cyril. I should be grateful for that.
Surely everything would be alright. Cyril was strong, and there were knights and mages in the castle. They'd figure something out.
As I was being held by Julius, I pondered where to start and what to say.
"...I always thought the oath of the magic collar was absolute. But you came to help me, didn't you..."
"As long as one can endure the pain... anything is possible. I endured it, but it was so painful that I thought death would be better. Because of you. I've lost blood for nothing. Because of you."
"I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry."
"Don't do anything foolish like that again, you fool."
"Yes. I was foolish, idiotic, and naive. I thought I could handle it on my own, that everything would be fine... but it wasn't. I thought I was going to die... I thought I wouldn't see you again."
Julius let out a small sigh.
Then, he held my head and embraced me. Despite the situation, my heart raced.
"Julius-san, I'm sorry... Thank you for coming to help me."
"Yeah. I'm just glad you're safe."
Julius muttered quietly.
He must have been worried about me. I could feel my tears welling up, but I managed to hold them back somehow.
It wasn't the time to cry yet.