Dragon and Ogre, Sacrifice and Sin (29)

Although the Flame Dragon had said something that bothered me, I set it aside for now, plunged into the control room of the Labyrinth of Awe, and cut off the energy supply to the Red Gate.

The research team had taken up positions just outside the control room, so they must have been trying to shut down the labyrinth just as I was. However, the actual process was quite complicated, and I had to use the power of 【All Creation】.

When I emerged, black smoke was rising from another labyrinth. The other dragons must have been attacking it from outside. When I returned the Talent Jewel 【World-Severing Pact】, I could see the energy gradually subsiding and the supply to the Red Gate coming to a complete stop.

"Phew..."

That was a relief. I had left the battle against the Referee to the others, but in the worst case, the dragons would be able to hold it back.

"It's over."

Now—

"...?"

I tilted my head. Even though the energy supply to the Red Gate had stopped, the Red Gate was not closing.

The dragons that had finished destroying the labyrinths gathered around the Red Gate. They, too, looked up at it in puzzlement, but Lost Jewel spewed out another beam of light from the world beyond, forcing them to scatter for a while...