That could no longer be described as pain. What I felt was a decisive loss. It was a devastating, fatal blow. As for how intense the pain it caused was, the fact that I let out a scream so horrific I could scarcely believe it came from me made that obvious enough.
Through my increasingly blurred vision... Fafnir moved to inflict even more fatal damage upon me. Enduring agony so severe I nearly lost consciousness, I feebly raised my sword.
Naturally, I was knocked away. My airborne body kept tumbling as flames scorched me. I could no longer make a sound—not even a whisper.
Right now, my body was moving almost solely through the instinct to survive, or perhaps something else forcing it onward. Something was desperately telling me that I had to do this.
I raised my face... and stared head-on at that monstrous giant. You can't win, a cowardly voice whispered. There were thousands of reasons for defeat, yet the only reason for victory was this: "Right now, I am Siegfried."
No... or rather...
Even Siegfried had struggled and despaired against this evil dragon, only finding a glimmer of hope at the very end and finally managing to slay it.
And I, who had merely copied his appearance... was I simply incapable of defeating the dragon, just as I had been unable to defeat Red Saber back then?
Trembling, I wiped away the blood and forced myself to stand despite growing ever more certain that I could not win. The dragon's gaze was utterly cold. Whether I had the will to fight or not, it would surely attack again in a few seconds.
I gripped the greatsword with both hands, completely ignoring the blood pouring from my chest and the intense pain. I held my sword with my