Story Reader / Affection / Nanami: Startrail / Story
Chapter V Hero vs Dragon
Noisy shouts find their way to your ears as you slowly regain your senses.
You have the distinct feeling that someone is about to shout, "It's the apocalypse!" at you again.
Commandant, wake up! It's the apocalypse!!
The person who just shouted that slowly helps you sit up. As your senses return to your body, pain shoots through every inch of you. Looking down, you see bandages wrapped tightly around your body, layer upon layer.
You're surprised to see the bad shape you're in...
You let out a quiet sigh, and instantly the gray-haired girl moves to sit before you, her golden eyes flickering with worry and uncertainty.
While your senses haven't fully returned, the girl's name comes to your lips naturally, bringing a bright smile to her face.
When her name parts your lips, you get a response from her almost immediately.
Here!
The girl blinks with a smile, her golden eyes reflecting you. Just calling her name is enough to fill her with such joy.
Um... Nanami was going to go treasure hunting with you, Commandant!
Nanami lowers her gaze, staring absent-mindedly at the bandages wrapped around your body.
But this world is facing its end! You and everyone else, Commandant... you're all suffering so much...
As she speaks, she lifts her head to look at the bustling crowd nearby.
The two of you are inside a royal palace. All around, people in tattered clothes huddle together in anxious discussion.
Most of them crouch on the ground, their faces twisted with fear and uncertainty. Among the crowd are many like you, their agonized screams piercing the air from time to time.
These puzzling words escape your lips in a murmur. Despite the dire circumstances, an unstoppable joy wells up in you at the sight of fellow humans.
Even in this so-called apocalypse, humanity has managed to survive, having endured such long struggles and suffering...
While you were asleep, Commandant, I did a thorough investigation and... Ouch!
A second later, the palace starts shaking violently, and terrified screams instantly erupt from the crowd.
It's here! They're here!!!
M-mom!!
Raging flames engulf the entire palace. Nanami raises her sword and shield and steps forward to face the threat.
Everyone, stay calm! Nanami and my commandant are going to defeat the bad guys together!
Y-you... What have you done?!
Nanami is... Cardman Rider!
Nanami proudly brandishes the sword and shield in her hands.
Nanami holds your hand and stands tall with pride.
...Commandant [player name]... the legendary hero!
But why are you standing with a knight?! We don't welcome the knights here!!
...Why... why are the knights not welcome here? What exactly happened?
As everyone stands in confusion, a squad of people in knight attire suddenly bursts onto the scene, forming a circle around the refugees.
They're not getting away! Get them all!
With heavy yet swift footsteps, the Riders launch their attack against the crowd.
All of you, stop!
Take one more step at my commandant or anyone else here and you're gonna feel it from me!
Ma'am, with the dragon running wild, now is the perfect time for us Riders to seize this kingdom!
Without backing down, Nanami thrusts her sword into her shield in burning anger and raises her shield-axe against the encircling Riders.
But you're all alone...
Hmph!
Commandant, get everyone out through the back door! I'll hold them off here!
The crowd erupts into chaos as they push and shove against one another in panic with danger drawing near.
Stay back!
Nanami dashes in front to shield you from the knights' attacks, keeping you safely behind her. With the defense quickly draining her physically, however, her movements are becoming increasingly labored.
The dragon's roar pierces the air as hellish flames rage ever stronger, threatening to engulf Nanami.
Commandant, Nanami doesn't like this kind of ending...
Which is all the more reason we can't stop just yet!
You know that you'd only add to Nanami's burden by staying and that these panicked people need a hero to lead the way.
With a heavy heart, you guide the survivors out of the palace in search of a safe escape route.
Upon escaping the palace, you finally witness the true mastermind behind it all: the dragon itself.
The dragon rampages through the city walls that once protected its people. All around you, thick black smoke fills the air as torrents of flames pour from the beast's mouth.
Mom! Mom!
Shut up, you little brat.
Through the flames emerges an imposing Mecha Rider who carries a little girl in his arms as he strides toward you, his back to the thick smoke.
Take her. She's making too much noise.
He bends down to hand over the little girl. Noticing his presence, the crowd cowers back.
Don't make such a fuss. This is Lady Nanami's wish.
The little girl hides fearfully behind you, yet can't help but take a peek at the knight.
Lady Nanami is out of danger now.
She sent me to let you all know that you need to head as far north as you can since the lava is coming.
From the high ground, you can see a crimson tide roaring in the distance as it surges forward and devours everything in its path.
Facing this sea of lava, you feel an inexplicable anger well up in you—as if it had taken something precious from you at some point.
You're in bad shape now with countless open wounds, having run around wounded for so long. You grit your teeth hard, barely managing to keep your pain-wracked body going.
Hey, the dragon is catching up!!
(Angry Roar)
Tsk—
The Mecha Rider fights with everything he has against the dragon but is forced back dozens of meters by its flames.
Before you can ask why he's helped you, the dragon has already turned and charged toward the crowd.
Through searing pain that tears at your body, you draw the sword from your waist and strike at the dragon's head with every ounce of strength.
(Painful Roar)
The strike successfully halts the dragon's assault, giving people precious moments to evacuate while it catches its breath.
You quickly gauge your wounds and decisively guide the crowd to turn back and flee.
(Angry Roar)
With nothing left to stop it, the dragon ruthlessly slaughters the fleeing crowds, leaving nothing but devastation in its wake.
You manage to cover everyone's escape to the only exit ramp, but your body now refuses to move another inch, your injuries having finally taken their toll.
The dragon's fury intensifies as it takes a deep breath, gathering its power. Forming in its mouth, a fireball is growing larger and hotter by the second—
You know that you'll all be dead meat if the fireball hits.
You know this strike means certain death, but you make your body move with the sword and deliver your most brilliant strike yet—all for those who suffer.
You sprint straight into the fireball as the searing flames threaten to melt your body. Death is imminent—
Commandant!! No!!!
Chapter ?+70 Loading... Global Optimal Solution!
A radiant figure appears beside you without warning, her hand joining yours on the sword's hilt—
Now's our chance, Commandant! Let's go all out!!!
(Agonized Roar)
The flash of the sword strikes true—the dragon's body writhes in agony as it lets out a pained screech to the heavens. But a fireball tears between you and Nanami and erupts into a towering wall of flames.
With your battered body, you crawl forward—which is the best you can do to escape the brink of despair at the moment.
The searing flames threaten to melt your body as death draws close...
Commandant!! No!!!
Chapter ?+70 Loading... Global Optimal Solution!
A radiant figure materializes before you, her sword rising to meet the fireball head-on.
The next instant, the flames erupt into a towering inferno that completely engulfs her.
No matter where you are, Commandant, Nanami will come rushing to find you!
Even through the raging wall of flames, you can feel her smiling at you.
I wish I could stay with you longer, Commandant, but I can't contain these flames anymore—Commandant, run!!
Nanami draws a deep breath and screams with all her might. Within the flames, her body glows ever brighter as she grows more and more transparent.
Commandant... Nanami is so happy. If you hadn't fought so hard to survive, Nanami would never have seen you again...
So please, Commandant, promise Nanami you'll live on—
You call out Nanami's name with a hoarse voice, but your near-fatal wounds prevent any further movement. Your eyelids grow heavier and heavier...
Despite your severe injuries, you maintain enough clarity to make a rational decision. You turn and retreat with the other people, all while you grow increasingly light-headed from your injuries...
Hey...?
When you wake up again, Nanami is nowhere to be seen. Instead, an elegant yet melancholic gentleman with wild, seaweed-like hair stands before you.
People flee from the palace and abandon their city. They traverse wastelands and mountains, leaving everything far behind.
Along the path of exile, he tells you the story of how this world met its end.
Long, long ago, in a kingdom of boundless prosperity, there lived loyal knights who protected their people.
However, the arrival of an evil dragon shattered their peaceful lives.
The people and knights fought valiantly, but the evil dragon proved too powerful.
Its flames melted into lava and slowly devoured the land where people had made their homes.
In this time of crisis, some knights turned their swords against the very people they once swore to protect.
perhaps overwhelmed by the weight of the flowing lava, or perhaps they sought to forge a new era... no one knows for certain.
The people knew only one thing: they now faced not only the evil dragon but also the knights who once stood as their guardians.
Legend speaks of a sea beyond the mainland, and at its farthest shores lies the answer—one that would grant people the power to resist the evil dragon and bring peace to both the knights and civilians alike.
But those who seek this answer are destined to be forever parted from their loved ones, adrift on an endless journey.
Lady Nanami asked me to relay a message to you—
Your blood runs cold, and your heart nearly skips a beat.
There.
He points beyond the civilian settlement, where waves crash rhythmically against the shore. Nanami leads her knights aboard the ship as they set sail for distant waters.
Far out at sea, Nanami bears the scars of countless battles, mumbling softly to herself.
By taking the knights with her, Nanami ensures they will no longer turn their swords against one another.
Nanami loves this kingdom—both its people and its knights alike.
At the end of this river lies a future that shimmers with hope.
Right then, she sees a figure frantically rushing toward the shore.
It's okay, Commandant. Nanami isn't hurt, Nanami really isn't hurt...
The figure appears to be shouting something, prompting Nanami to stand and call out in return.
—
But the roaring waves drown out the girl's heartfelt words.
...Ah... We're too far apart. My voice won't reach...
Seeing you wave your arms desperately at her, she thinks you're trying to bid her farewell.
...Farewell, Commandant... farewell.
A pristine night in the wilderness, far from any artificial light.
Countless stars blanket the sky, their reflections dancing across the waters where Nanami sails, turning the surface into a spectacular display of light.
A child tugs at their mother's clothes and points at the shimmering waters.
Mom, look at this—!
...
It's the Milky Way.
