Sword Demon Battle Ballad: Act 8

Sword Demon Battle Ballad: Act 8 (剣鬼戦歌――八幕) is a side story featured in Monthly Comic Alive. It is the eighth of nine total acts in Sword Demon Battle Ballad and a sequel to Re:Zero Ex Light Novel Volume 3.

Summary
Back at the rooftop, Shasuke had managed to grab a hold of Stride, and had jumped up to safety away from the rooftop, straight onto Valgren's back. Carol had also survived by jumping onto the dragon's back, whereas Grimm braved the flames by using his great shield to protect both himself and Roswaal's corpse.

Carol fought the Shinobi on top of the dragon's back, and managed to kill him, leaving only herself to face Stride. Stride was in a bad shape, having lost an arm, and before Carol can cut him down, he lost his footing and fell from the dragon's back.

Going back to where Theresia was, the dragon fire had also hit the room they were in. Melinda had saved Theresia's life by pushing her out from the room and locking the door behind her due to her conscience refusing to allow any harm to come to an unborn baby. After the dragon fire relented, Melinda was badly burned and on the verge of death.

Theresia couldn't enter the room due to the door having fused to the frame, thus she walked up to the rooftop to see if there was any way to help the dying Melinda. When she reached the rooftop, she saw Stride falling from the dragon's back. As Stride fell, Melinda jumped out of the window and managed to embrace him, falling together as husband and wife. Before they could hit the ground, the dragon swooped down and devoured them, tearing them to pieces in the process.

Going back a bit, Wilhelm was still fighting Kurgan. As they fought, Wilhelm realised that Kurgan regarded Stride as his own son. Wilhelm managed to destroy one of Kurgan's Demon Cleavers, but was then met by a counterattack with his remaining three Demon Cleavers.

Wilhelm managed to dodge all three of the cleavers, and counterattacked, defeating Kurgan. However, shortly after, the city was bathed in flames from Valgren's attack. Wilhelm resolved to defeat the dragon before it could cause more harm, rushing up one of the buildings to attack him.

Wilhelm attacked the dragon, wounding one of its wings. Grimm joined up with him, and they both fought the dragon together, with Grimm sustaining an injured knee in the process. Beneath them, the subjugation force and the townspeople had gathered to watch this legendary fight. Valgren pointed his three heads at them and was about to breathe its fire towards them, but Wilhelm managed to prevent it, and caused extensive damage to one of the heads in doing so. However, it was at the cost of plummeting down to the ground. He was fortunately caught by a rejuvenated Bordeaux before he hit the ground.

As things looked dire, Bordeaux delivered him some good news. Gionis Lugunica had stirred, and in accordance with the covenant, summoned Volcanica. Up in the skies, Volcanica appeared and put Valgren to rest, obliterating him in a manner which Wilhelm described as being something close to purification. Volcanica also healed everyone in the vicinity, even those described to be on the brink of death, and extinguished all of Valgren's dragon fire.

The act ends with Theresia and Wilhelm hugging and kissing, delighted that they had won with both of them safe and sound.

Characters

 * Grimm Fauzen
 * Wilhelm van Astrea
 * Valgren
 * Miklotov McMahon
 * Bordeaux Zellgef
 * Stride Vollachia
 * Kurgan
 * Theresia van Astrea
 * Carol Remendis
 * Conwood Melahau
 * Roswaal J Mathers
 * Clind
 * Orphe
 * Cragrell Dawson
 * Galic Fabless
 * Veltol Astrea
 * Tishua Astrea
 * Pivot Arnancy
 * Gionis Lugunica
 * Shasuke
 * Raizo
 * Melinda
 * Carlan Astrea
 * Thames Astrea
 * Cassiles Astrea
 * Fribal van Astrea
 * Volcanica
 * Roswaal K Mathers
 * Valga Cromwell
 * Razak Gildark