novelTotal War (2)
| ← Ch.110 | Ch.112 → |
Responding to Lapis' request he further accelerated. Following him were Ouka, Kanaria and three helicopters. However, that's when the wall of rust built by Sage has collapsed.
They either left the effective range, or...
"!!"
——Don't think! Look forward!
"Ouka, take care of above!"
"Roger...!"
Ouka spread her wings and ascended. Branches of the giant demon tree approached cutting the air to crush Takeru. Ouka arrived in mid-way and making 《Earl's Fang》 emerge he shot them down. One branch was pulverized, after which Ouka pulverized another one using a fang on the left arm.
Branches continued to come down continuously. There were countless of them, enough to cover the sky. All of it aimed for Takeru.
Making fangs disappear, Ouka held gun-form Vlad in both hands.
Crossing them in front of her chest, Ouka closed her eyes.
"Vlad...! Let's go!"
"——《Tepes Rain》!"
At the same time she opened her eyes, magic was activated. Huge stakes poured down from the sky, crimson stakes pierced the ground like a mountain of needles. Stakes which fell over a wide area smashed up branches of the giant tree and demon incarnations.
Maintaining 《Tepes Rain》 Ouka continued to attack the incoming huge branches. Leaving the attacks from above to Ouka, Takeru clenched the sword he had been poising low.
Kanaria too, has pulled out L?vateinn from her back, allowing it to clad itself in flames.
In front there was an incoming wave of Hyakki Yakou and incarnations.
The two of Double-Edged style activated Soumatou at the same time.
"Match me!"
"You match Kana, Takeru!"
Kanaria moved ahead and swung the two-handed L?vateinn.
"Double-Edged style——Single Wheel."
Using the sword's weight the let out a slash from a big rotation. Continuing to rotate like a tornado, she stopped the tsunami. The red flame blowing from the blade massacred the demons. Despite losing majority of its performance, the half-destroyed Sacred Treasure flames' power was more than enough to wipe out demon cells.
Blue hair and red flames danced on the battlefield.
The sword's rotation stopped. Kanaria restrained L?vateinn's momentum with her muscles and stopped sliding on the ground.
Hyakki Yakou started flowing back into the opened space.
Kanaria took a posture using the sword like a shield. That kind of defense hadn't much point against the muddy Hyakki Yakou. The moment the incoming Hyakki Yakou was about to swallow her, an azure shadow leaped to where Kanaria was.
Transforming Lapis into wide-bladed greatsword, using the multiplied super heavy weight, Takeru smashed the muddy stream that tried to swallow Kanaria.
"Double-Edged style——Mantis Slope!"
As if causing an explosion, Takeru's strike crushed Hyakki Yakou along with the earth itself. Kanaria was taking a defensive posture in order to block the aftermath from Takeru's attack.
After Kanaria blocked Mantis Slope's impact, she clenched L?vateinn's handle and started running inside smoke. Takeru also started running the moment he landed.
The two's collaboration had began. Moving forward in alternation they used Double-Edged style's technique without stopping.
Double-Edged style's Heavenly Demon, Mantis Slope, Single Wheel, Yamata no Orochi.
True-Light style's Wolf's Blade, Shark's Blade, Bee's Blade.
Enemies were both shapeless and humanoid, True-Light style was used against humanoid and Double-Edge style was used to strike down the shapeless. The two embodied the original two styles.
As the two alternated, their sword techniques burst out. Having the same master and losing the same master, the two used everything they learned from him.
Abnormal, heretical, power-brutal savage swordsmanship. Despised by martial art schools and made fun of those using guns. It was all the truth. It was indeed barbarous, suicidal and desperate.
However, now——as the two's swords danced in the air, their sparkling appearance which looked like two meteors——could be called beautiful.
Kusanagi's will taught to them by the instructor has been succeeded by the two.
"Takeru, I'll send you."
Kanaria poised her sword low and once again made a big swing with the great sword by using centrifugal force. However, the blade wasn't set up horizontally but with the flat of the sword.
Takeru instantly understood what was Kanaria trying to do and adjusted his timing.
Once rotation, two rotation. Then matching the acceleration rotation, Takeru jumped in the rotation course.
Then with the third rotation Takeru landed on Kanaria's L?vateinn's flat side.
Just like that, Takeru was swung along with Kanaria's sword for entire rotation. Meanwhile, Takeru gathered his strength in his body's springs and twisting his entire body.
"GOOOOOOoOoooo————!!"
Kanaria roared. Releasing the strength in her pivot leg, she swung the sword with everything she had.
At the same time she let out the fourth rotation, Takeru on top of L?vateinn had released all the springs in his body and leaped.
Using Single Wheel's acceleration and power——
"Unicorn's Destructive Lance!"
——Clad in L?vateinn flames Takeru poised Mistilteinn towards the obstacles. His flaming body swept away the muddy flow of demons as he moved forward.
"Soumatou!"
While charging at speed of a bullet, Takeru released a technique.
Just the shockwave was enough to blow away the shapeless waves. He slashed a huge demon diagonally, cut down five more demons with a cleave, then maintaining cleave's momentum he returned the sword to the form of a nodachi and put it inside the sheath to use Heavenly Demon to eliminate a wave of demons.
Once the momentum of Kanaria's throw has decreased, Takeru bent his body forward to the limit and started running again.
It was used by both True-Light and Double-Edge styles unique fighting method, 《Battle Driving》.
More like crushing enemies with the momentum than slashing them, Takeru continued running.
Turning the handle around he changed reverse hold for the sword. After changing Lapis into a straight sword he repeated using Wolf's Blade, Rhino's Blade, Shark's Blade and Bee's Blade. Taking down enemy one by one he moved without decreasing his running speed.
There was no chance of him toppling over as he used Battle Driving. As long as he used Soumatou even falling over was an action that felt way too slow. If his leg breaks and he loses his balance, he would just continue running along while maintaining cold judgment, then after reacting to the impact of falling he would restart running. He was leaning forward so that he didn't by any chance end up falling forward. As long as he collapses forward, he can handle that in multiple ways by using Soumatou.
Enemy came from the sky. Ten of them. Feathered lumps of meat Ouka was unable to shot down opened their mouths inside which they gathered red light. While maintaining flight speed equal to Takeru's speed, they started attacking him.
It was difficult avoid while using Battle Driving. The red flashes hit by his feet several times and whenever they landed, ground turned into Hyakki Yakou.
"Sword in my right, Kusarigama in left!"
《"Understood."》
Lapis responded to his request and changed the sword into one with a small sickle on a chain.
While still running, Takeru rotated the chain with his left hand.
The sickle danced in the air soundly as it cut through the air.
There was no need to aim. People of Kusanagi never managed to hit with distance attacks. Using the chain as an extension of the sword he just swung it around.
A meat block was caught in the swing path of the chain and sickle, exploding like a fruit as a result. Takeru slashed the demon army approaching from the front with the sword in his left hand as he cut down the enemy in the sky with the Kusarigama.
Eventually demon army's momentum had decreased and his red-filled field of vision had cleared up.
Did he arrive? ——No, not yet.
An enormous jaw approached from the front while tearing earth apart with its teeth.
Hyakki Yakou simulated even a dragon, the irregular dragon approached Takeru while crawling on the ground.
But Takeru did not stop.
He continued to move forward.
There was a technique for dealing with dragons in Double-Edged style.
——GOAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
The huge mouth howled and attempted to swallow Takeru.
Leaning the sword against his shoulder Takeru charged towards the demon dragon.
The moment the dragon's jaw tried to bite Takeru, he kicked off the ground and jumped. Avoiding just before the jaws closed he jumped over the dragon's head and landed on the back.
Rotating forward, fixing his position while rolling he pierced the sword's tip into the dragon's back.
It was soft. A dragon without scales wasn't worth calling the strongest fantastical organism. Takeru ran while having the blade pierced in and had the sword change shape into that of an enormous zweihander.
"Kusanagi Double-Edged style——Rain Dragon's Charge!"
The sword pierced into the dragon's back had pierced its throat and matching Takeru's charge, it was sliced into two like a cooked fish.
After running down the dragon, Takeru rolled on the ground before getting on this legs.
He had no time think about this or take a proper breath. Rather than spend time on feeling the aftertaste after striking down a big foe, he concentrated on running.
And, when he was about to start running again,
《"Host... from here we can...!"》
"All right!"
Hearing Lapis' voice, Takeru finally stopped his legs.
The giant demon tree was already in front of him. It was so big that it couldn't fit in his field of vision. Red organic trunks had eyes, noses and various other objects growing on them, reminiscent of human body parts.
Arriving at the trunk of the tree by its root and glared at the branch above the clouds.
He could see a white shadow behind the red cloud.
Takeru came here to kill him.
After running all this time without breathing properly, Takeru finally took a deep breath. Although it wasn't so cold, his breath was white. He could see steam coming out of his body. There was no part of his human body which didn't reach the limit of its operation.
However, he could still move. Unable to feel pain, he arrived here without having his mental energy weakening.
Using Soumatou, he focused all his strength into his legs. The muscles in his legs swelled to the point of near-rupture. Bending his knees he took a leaping posture.
"...Lapis!"
《"FM Booster——full throttle!"》
Magic power has gathered on the leg and back parts of Takeru's armor and started blowing out like a jet engine from ejection mechanisms on his heel.
As he leaped, Takeru rapidly rose to the sky. Crushing the air with his mass, Takeru ascended towards where Sougetsu was.
《"The giant tree has responded, return attack!"》
At the same time Lapis warned him, Takeru held the sword in mid-air ascension.
Branches and leaves blocked the path of his travel like tentacles and attacked him. Lapis adjusted the booster avoiding the tentacle attacks.
Not good. There was too many of them. Leaves and branches overlapped against one another like a net, seeming to completely block his path.
There was no choice but to cut them down. Takeru changed the sword's shape and held a two-handed sword.
In order to not let his brain exceed the operation limit he released concentration and tried to activate Soumatou.
That's when——Takeru's brain went out of control against his will.
"————Ngh...?!"
Everything but one goal have been erased from his consciousness.
Not at a time...like...this——!
Regardless of his will 《Demon's Heart》 activated. Because of Soumatou's abuse, the lid he used to close it has opened completely.
No...I can't lose myself...now...
Just like a TV turned off, snap, Takeru's self-consciousness disappeared.
＊＊＊
"——GGAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaAAAAAAAAAaAA!"
——*slash*!
Despite being just wind pressure, the attack has pulverized the giant tree's branches and leaves into dust.
The slash was completely unrefined and yet because of Demon's Heart, the subsonic speed the strike had smashed everything.
《"Host!"》
Lapis' voice didn't reach him either. Takeru single-mindedly swung the sword slashing all obstacles as he aimed for the top.
"UUURRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"
Beast-turned Takeru rotated his sword in mid-air as magic power was ejected from his armor and like a lawnmower he cut down the tentacles trying to entangle him. The demon tree continued to attack Takeru without stopping.
In the way. It's in the way. In the way in the way in the way in the way in the way.
Takeru's thoughts narrowed down to a single point, have flowed into Lapis.
Not good. At this rate Takeru's body and brain would break before he confronts Sougetsu.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoOoOOoOoOOoo!!"
《"Please calm down! Listen to my voice!"》
No matter how much she called, her voice didn't reach him. In state with Demon's Heart activated Takeru couldn't release it just like that. She could guess several reasons for that. The overuse of brain during repeated battles. Side effects of God-Hunter form.
At this rate he would become unable to come back. Lapis had no choice but to interrupt magic power ejection. She focused all her consciousness on retrieving Takeru's consciousness. Bringing her soul closer to his, she awakened his consciousness.
Although they weren't fused, their souls were connected. She was the only one who could bring him back. Even if there was a chance now, it would be all for naught if Takeru lost himself.
Lapis literally put her soul into her words.
《"Get a hold of yourself! You aren't allowed to lose yourself yet!"》
"GUAAaaa...AaAaaa...!"
《"Aren't you going to save everyone, ...?! Together with me...!"》
"Uu... uuUuUuu...!"
《"You're supposed to fulfill your selfishness, you can't lose yourself in here!"》
".................."
《"If you are to swing me, swing me out of your own will!"》
These words made light return to Takeru's eyes.
＊＊＊
——Light has returned to only one of his eyes. Suddenly the scenery appeared in front of him.
What Takeru saw after coming back, was the huge tree filling the sky.
He understood that he was in the middle of free fall.
Roots of the giant tree waited for Takeru to crash down.
His memory disappeared. He couldn't recall where was he or what was he doing. Takeru felt he lost quite a bit of his past memories. Felt like he lost a lot of important things.
Moreover, he couldn't see anything with his left eye from a moment earlier. It was pitch black.
Abuse of Demon's Heart was the cause. Soumatou and Demon's Heart... while it was true that he wouldn't survive unless he used it, he was told to avoid abusing it, but...
"......?"
Inside the slow-motion world Takeru saw tears falling from his eys and ascending to the sky. He immediately realized why was he crying.
——Because he forgot.
——He forgot who has taught him this technique.
He knew the name and effect of the technique, but he didn't know where has he learned it or who told him its name. He no longer knew. Takeru lost memory of a person important to him. Despite understanding that, he didn't remember who was it. Like a puzzle piece removed from the whole, there was a hole, an important memory was missing.
Did lose a bodily function and forget important memories upon using it?
He wasn't underestimating it, he was prepared for it. However, once it has become a reality he felt something squeeze his heart. I hate this, his soul cried. I have so many memories I don't want to lose. Tears flowed without stopping, strength left his body. At this rate he would leave everything and let the urge to escape take over.
Suddenly, warmth had wrapped his back.
《"...I'm here. I will become your eyes, become your legs, and become your memory."》
"————"
《"Even if you forget everything, even if you become God, even if you become an existence no one can reach."》
"————————"
《"I will... be by your side."》
Takeru's tears mixed together with tears Lapis' illusion embracing him had shed and ascended to the sky.
Lapis touched Takeru's cheek.
《"That's why please, hold me in your hand once again...!"》
Strength returned to his hand. The trembling of his body which continued, had ceased. Power has returned to his soul.
Ahead of where his tears ascended, he saw a tiny white shadow.
That's right. Remember. You haven't lost everything yet. You remember your comrades and did not forget about your little sister.
Takeru felt furious at himself. He raged knowing that there was no time to rest.
Remember!
Who was it that made us, made the world this way!
Why are you here!
Your reason to fight!
——You're here to smash that bastard's head in, dammit!
"Lapiss!!"
Magic power started ejecting again. The moment the falling momentum had stopped, he kicked off the giant tree's root and leaped.
Ahead of where he ascended awaited hand-shaped branches and leaves. Takeru prepared his sword to break through the net blocking his path.
"Takeru——!!"
The branches and leaves that were about to attack Takeru were pierced by stakes.
Ouka caught up to Takeru with her ragged-out wings. She must have received quite the damage before she could reach him. It was thanks to Ouka that he could run without being attacked from the sky.
Both of them were full of wounds. Ouka used up a considerable amount of magic power during repeated battles, Lapis too had few magic power remaining. It was because half of Lapis' magic power capacity she had was filled with Gungnir's magic power. But they couldn't afford to use Gungnir's "God's Authority".
Ouka flapped her wings and moved next to Takeru, raising the same way as him. They nodded to each other and attacked the tree's branches. Raising up while making a spiral, they thrust forward the fang and sword.
The red and azure meteors rose towards the sky without stopping.
Nothing could stop them. The fang and sword crossed as they aimed for the top.
《"Takeru... What are you trying to do...?"》
While they fought, he heard Ouka's voice in his head as she flew beside him.
Takeru didn't respond and only looked upwards.
《"Suginami told me... I also felt it... are you trying to carry something we cannot bear...?"》
Takeru didn't respond. Gritting his teeth, he only looked upwards.
He could easily imagine what kind of expression Ouka was making now.
Without a doubt, filled with anxiety and somewhat reminiscent of one a lost child makes.
《"Takeru...? Why won't you say anything...? Is it something you can't tell me?"》
Takeru accelerated as if to leave Ouka behind, moving ahead.
His gums started bleeding and the taste of iron filled his mouth. Look above. Don't hesitate. Don't mind. If you look in Ouka's face now, you will stop running forward like you have been.
Although it was a cruel thing, it had to be done.
《"Tell me you aren't going anywhere... please... make me feel at ease."》
"——!!"
《"Be by my side... foreve——"》
Ouka stopped flapping her wings. Takeru felt that happening behind him. Vlad's magic power had ran out and it was impossible for her to maintain flight.
Don't turn around. Ouka will be all right. Enemy is aiming for him. Prioritize your objective now——
——He couldn't.
Takeru paused magic power ejection and caught Ouka's hand as she was about to fall.
"...Takeru..."
Ouka looked just as he imagined her, she looked at Takeru with tears in her eyes.
There was no mistake that he was making a similar expression. Holding Ouka's hand Takeru started ejecting magic power again. Because he was pulling Ouka with him, the speed of his ascension decreased while magic power consumption increased.
However, he didn't let go of her hand.
Takeru didn't say anything. Being unable to say anything was his weakness. Feeling pain from this situation where he wanted to accept Ouka's feelings but being unable to, feeling sorrow caused by his own will he aimed for the top.
He also wanted to be together with her. If possible, he didn't want to go. He wanted to properly fulfill their promise. His clenching of her hand strongly was the only response to Ouka's feelings. Putting in the desire of wanting to continue walking by her side and the thought of having to go, he held her hand.
His feelings were relayed to Ouka. She knew just how much feelings he put in his hand. That's why she held Takeru's hand in return.
Strongly, very strongly.
They approached the goal. Just a few dozens of meters more. If only he reaches his hand out, he'll arrive.
But that's when the magic power jet pushing them upwards had ceased to work.
《"No way, just a little further...!"》
Lapis' puzzled voice echoed. She was out of magic power. Their rising speed decreased, Takeru and Ouka stopped in mid-air.
Feeling afloat in despair, Takeru extended his hand towards the top.
Like always, he sought slight hope.
He stretched his fingertips as much as possible, wishing.
——Reach...!!
Contrary to his feelings, he started falling. Gravity stuck to him, dragging him down.
But, not yet!
I'll reach it even if I have to burn my body down!
He tried to instruct Lapis to turn Witch-Hunter form's armor parts into magic power for ejection, but then——
《"Take it——my magic power!!"》
A strong voice sounded in his head.
Takeru looked downwards in surprise.
A helicopter was rising from below where the two were.
He could see a striped cloth swaying in the boarding hatch.
Her muffler fluttering, Mari accumulated aurora-colored magic power in her fingertips, returning hope to Takeru once again.
"Lapis! 《Twilight Enchantment》!"
Takeru yelled and Lapis used the armor's magic power for using intrinsic magic. Even by releasing the Witch-Hunter form, he could use 《Twilight Enchantment》 only for an instant.
An instant was enough. He has experienced this exchange twice already.
Their cooperation's timing matched no matter the situation.
《" "Aurora Canon"!"》
A rainbow shell approached Takeru. At the same time, Lapis activated 《Twilight Enchantment》. Holding Lapis' blade in his right hand, Takeru slashed the shell.
For just an instant the blade was covered in azure flames and the rainbow-colored shell was sucked into the blade.
After recharging magic power, Lapis quickly re-activated Witch-Hunter form.
While ascending again, Takeru looked just once towards Mari in the helicopter.
Mari closed her eyes, held down her hat and shouted towards Takeru.
"Takeru!"
Not through magical communication, but with her own voice. Even despite the rotor sound's exposure and the wind, her voice firmly reached Takeru.
Takeru opened his eyes wide, he saw her appearance, heard her voice clearly.
"No matter what are you trying to do, I will push your back! No matter what result awaits, I'm with you!"
"————"
"That's why, go on! Finish this...!"
She put her hands on her chest and distorting her face painfully, heartrendingly, she exposed all her feelings to Takeru.
They were simplest and most straightforward feelings possible. There was no way Mari hasn't noticed how Takeru looked like. She must have realized first and foremost that he was thinking of doing something outrageous. She was more delicate and strong than anyone in the platoon, seen through others best, and thought of Takeru more straightforwardly than others.
Mari shed tears, staggering she fell on her knees on the boarding gate. Running out of magic power again, her body was at its limits.
Her face reddened, she spun words while desperately trying to maintain consciousness.
The propeller drowned out sounds with the wind and he could not hear her voice.
——I like you... I love you.
However, Takeru didn't miss her lips' movement.
It was an endlessly straightforward, Mari's confession.
As she lost her consciousness and had her body supported by Heretic Alliance's comrades, Takeru clenched his teeth.
In order to reach her, he filled his lungs with air completely, and shouted.
"——ME TOO!!!! OF COURSE I DO TOO!!!!!"
Then he looked upwards. His hair was ruffled with will to fight and his body was agitated. Having received the magic power and will power to fight, Takeru rose rapidly along with a roar.
Stretching his hand towards the branch Sougetsu was waiting for him on, he ascended to the sky together with Ouka.
And finally——finally——he reached.
Takeru jumped onto the branch energetically and found Sougetsu in his sights.
Sougetsu grinned in silence as he raised one hand to greet Takeru.
"——Hello, you're finally here, Kusanagi-kun."
He was standing there, making the usual smile that made it seem like he has seen through everything. Calm and composed, as if convinced Takeru would have reached this place.
As if they were about to hold a tea party now.
"Well, how about calming down and having a chat?"
Naturally, shamelessly, he tried to start a conversation.
However, Takeru's intention of talking with Sougetsu——
——was none!!
Takeru let go of Ouka's hand and ejecting magic power he landed on the branch. Then maintaining his momentum he jumped straight at Sougetsu.
He didn't miss this one-in-thousand chance, intending to kill him even if a second earlier.
To reap God's life.
Stepping in, timing, an opening, everything was perfect.
Takeru didn't have to instruct Lapis, she activated "God-Hunting form" by herself.
Armor covered his face, flames dwelled in his blade.
There was no need for unnecessary moves. Just quickly cut down.
He didn't mind if his body and brain break. It was all for this moment.
His self disappeared as he sought speed for just one goal.
He only thought of killing the God.
Kusanagi Double-Edged style's Secret Art, Kusanagi Sword. He didn't use the other secret art because it would also reach his comrades.
Killing Sougetsu with this technique has become his existence's goal.
The world has slowed down. Ceased moving.
When leaving everything behind he tried to pierce Sougetsu's heart, in that moment.
Suddenly——Kiseki appeared in front of him. She didn't move, she appeared as if she had been there right from the start.
In thrusting stance, Takeru was astonished and immediately stopped moving.
On the verge of piercing Kiseki's heart he put on brakes with his entire existence.
When the blade touched her chest, his movement stopped completely.
Kiseki's black hair danced in the air... and behind her,
Sougetsu's violet-colored hair drew an arc.
"You don't want to? Then——die."
He pulled out a rust-covered sword and using Kiseki as a shield he slashed with the sword.
As if completely seeing through Takeru, Sougetsu used the worst methods.
Currently, Kiseki had her control over Hyakki Yakou taken away. If Sougetsu was in control of her soul, Kiseki would end up actually being killed. Hyakki Yakou won't revive her unless her soul rejects death.
It was the worst situation.
Confident of his victory, Sougetsu swung the sword with a smile.
——Takeru continued to glare straight at him.
There was no resignation or thoughts of defeat in Takeru. He was able to make a shadow appear on Sougetsu's face. Takeru's lack of hesitation or lack of agitation might have been the reason for that.
Of course he didn't understand. This man had no one he could call a comrade, thus he didn't know what it meant to believe.
But Takeru believed.
——He believed that she would stop it.
He already felt her approaching.
Just as Sougetsu thrust his blade, that moment——
——*vwooon*...!
The propeller's rotation blew wind onto the branch as a huge bird of iron appeared beside Takeru and Sougetsu.
Sougetsu opened his eyes, looking at the sudden visitors.
On one knee in the helicopter's hatch, with both eyes open as she looked through the scope——Usagi's figure.
It was an irregularity for a God who ought to see everything. Not seeing Usagi as a threat has backfired on him. It wasn't a king-slaying Einherjar or a seasoned warrior who has snuck in, but an existence he considered a worm that wouldn't dare baring its fangs at the God.
A miraculous bullet was released along with a cloud of smoke.
First one, angrily towards the irregular sword Sougetsu was holding.
The blade was repelled and because of impact, left Sougetsu's hand.
"——What...?!!"
This was the first time Sougetsu's face had distorted. Putting her will into the next bullet which was the last one, Usagi reloaded. Putting everything into every move, she reloaded faster than ever and pulled the bolt.
Then the second shot——was accompanied by tears.
"Kusanagi, I believe in you."
Usagi needed no needless words. She was unable to express her feelings well with them.
She always put everything into this one bullet.
That's why in the end——she entrusted everything to it. Her wish for him not to lose. The wish for him to be by her side. And the wish not to lose him.
And her feeling of love. Everything.
The released bullet went straight for the forehead. The sound of neck breaking, a high pitched sound echoing in the skull. Sougetsu's body bent backwards and he took a step back.
Takeru accepted Usagi's feelings.
The unmoving world started moving again. The world slowed down again. His leg was still in the middle of stepping-in and he did not stop progressing.
Avoiding Kiseki's body he thrust beneath her armpits.
At staggering Sougetsu's heart.
To pierce with the god-slaying power!
——*slash*...
"....................................Ga...ha...!"
He spat blood with his eyes wide open. Red liquid flowing from his chest mixed in together with the red of the tree branch beneath.
Clenching his teeth, he looked up to the sky.
The blade that was supposed to pierce the God's heart, had cut the empty air without spilling a single drop of blood.
What was pierced instead, was Takeru's chest on the right side. Catching the rusty blade protruding from his chest, Takeru glared at the culprit who stood behind him.
At Ootori Sougetsu, who pierced him from behind.
"What you call a God, was originally not supposed to be perceivable by humans... I have that quality remaining in me. As long as I'm in this world, I am everywhere yet nowhere."
"...Agh...ghh...hh...!"
"Still, as expected of you, Kusanagi-kun. I didn't think you would unconsciously avert your body the moment I moved my existence behind you and avoided having a vital point struck. I am disappointed in my own lack of talent in swordsmanship."
"...gaha...!"
"What a shame. It was quite impressive. The struggle of you all was so impressive my tears wouldn't stop."
"...Bastard...!"
"But it's about to finish this. I'm a bit tired of playing with you."
Sougetsu pushed his blade further in. The moment the blade touched Takeru's body God-Hunter form was forcibly cancelled.
Erasing all magic. The moment magic, gods' factor touched this bayonet, it completely disappeared. Even the power to kill God was not an exception.
This was the characteristic of the Sacred Treasure "Naglfar" that Sougetsu held.
Sougetsu moved his lips to Takeru's ear and whispered.
"Ohh, right, I forgot to mention this. I decided not to be killed by you. If you are you become the God, I no longer have any need for you."
Why does he know? Takeru felt Lapis agitation inside him.
Sougetsu smiled more evily, joyfully, like a cat, then ever.
"Why do I know? ——I know because I'm this world's God."
It was a sarcastic, even masochistic smile filled with insanity.
No one in that location had moved. It could be said that they lost the will to fight. Their confidence in victory was betrayed, suddenly replaced by defeat.
It was a type of destruction. Sougetsu was delighted, he was delighted seeing destruction of those standing on his way.
"Rejoice, Kusanagi-kun. This world will continue y'know? You might die, but it's fine since your wish is fulfilled, right? Weell, rather than becoming a God and living forever, this might be a better end for you as a person."
"............ghh...!"
"One day I will destroy it, but that will surely take several hundreds, thousands of years. Your comrades will be long dead. It will happen in an era that has nothing to do with you so you have nothing to worry about."
".................."
"That's why I wanted to talk. You refused to make peace with me out of your own will. If you only listened to what I have to say, you would have saved people precious to you without becoming a God... what a waste, really."
Takeru's hand holding the blade fell powerlessly. Lapis was desperately trying to heal him, but the healing effect on Takeru's body was being cancelled by Naglfar.
Unable to hold Lapis any longer, he let her out of his fingertips.
Lapis' voice had grown distant.
He couldn't win. He couldn't draw.
That fact has pierced his chest.
"Sorr...y...every...one..."
He could only apologize to his comrades. Unable to fulfill his selfishness, he bit the dust here.
All he had left was regret. Please forgive me. Forgive me not saving the world despite all this selfishness.
He begged for them to forgive everything.
"Noope, no forgiveness for you. I shall judge you myself. You have rebelled against God, y'know."
"..............."
"Yes. Along with those words I made I shall send you off. Now——farewell, Kusanagi-kun."
Sougetsu grasped the handle and tried to twist the blade.
Dazed Ouka returned to herself and tried to rush in while screaming. Usagi hyperventilated and while screaming Takeru's name, she tried to squeeze the trigger.
But they didn't make in time. Even if they did, there was no stopping God.
Confident of his victory, Sougetsu chanted the words of judgment towards Takeru.
Desiring with supreme ardor——that is.
"Licking your lips in front of your prey?? I guess that makes you a textbook villain?."
——What interrupted Sougetsu's words was a relaxed voice, completely unsuitable for this place.
Someone pulled the clothes of Sougetsu, who tried to twist the blade.
In that moment——for the first time ever since being born, Sougetsu felt what they called fear. It was an existence that wasn't supposed to be there. He opened his eyes wide seeing the small hand pulling his clothes.
Blazing red hair. Small body. A smile free of all care.
Impossible. She was supposed to have lost her life to slow him down, why——
"Yahoo??"
——Why was Hoshijiro Nagaru here...?!
Furious, regretful, Sougetsu spoke the answer.
"So there was one more fragment of mythological world...!"
"What a fast answer. Indeedly??, what a shame? Sougetsu-kun. Completely fooled ya?."
Sougetsu's judgment was quick. Taking escape as top priority he pulled out the sword out of Takeru and tried to move his existence elsewhere.
——But he couldn't. Nagaru held his hand.
"Even Gods can't erase his existence and impossible to perceive when they are touched like this."
"——!"
"Isn't that "why does she know" written on your face? Well, I'm somewhat similar so of course I knooow?."
Nagaru laughed happily and a magic circle appeared beneath her feet.
Having the blade pulled out, Takeru fell on his knees and looked at the magic circle as he spit blood.
It was transfer magic. Nagaru was trying to move them somewhere else, along with Sougetsu.
Where to?
Obviously.
——To the fragment of mythological world.
If it's in that world, Sougetsu won't be able to move freely. Sougetsu also noticed that, and made an expression saying "she got me". He tried to erase the transfer magic in hurry by using Naglfar, but the hand holding the sword was grasped by Nagaru and wouldn't move one bit.
Contrary to her appearance, her strength overwhelmingly exceeded Sougetsu's.
Unable to shake her off, Sougetsu grit his teeth in frustration.
Nagaru stared at his face without any expression.
"Don't run, God."
I will put my entire existence on the line not to allow you to escape, was the will dwelling in Nagaru's pupils. As he faced that will, a drop of sweat flowed down Sougetsu's forehead. He laughed as he wiped his forehead with a hand.
"Haha-hahahahaha, you really are something...! You got me completely."
"It's my win, Sougetsu-kun. In that world you can go on and settle this man to man with Kusanagi-kun."
Nagaru erased her smile and stared at Sougetsu seriously.
No, she glared at him. Although she was supposed not to hold negative emotions, she glared at Sougetsu.
"But prepare yourself. I assure you, he's strong...! You deeeefinitely won't win!"
Hearing Nagaru's declaration of victory Sougetsu made a wry smile, then shrugged.
And made the usual, familiar smile.
"I wonder... we won't know unless we try. It's not my thing, but I will struggle until the very end. For the sake of destruction."
Ignoring Sougetsu's smile, Nagaru looked at Takeru's back.
The hole in his back was closed by Lapis' healing. It wasn't healed completely. She just blocked the wound and stopped his bleeding.
But it was enough. Even if he hadn't much longer to live, this was enough.
Takeru slowly stretched his bent knees and stood up.
Nagaru spoke to his back.
"Are you ready? ——Let's go, Kusanagi-kun."
Takeru clenched his sword,
"...Yeah, ready any time."
Turning around with his ragged body, he nodded with a manly expression.
The magic circle started shining more strongly, Takeru's, Nagaru's and Sougetsu's bodies started shining.
"Takeru...!"
Ouka ran towards them. When Takeru looked towards Nagaru, she made a bitter smile and pulled out an instant charm to activate magic.
As Ouka stretched her hand towards Takeru, a thin light blue barrier stood in her way.
She hit the barrier with her fist multiple times, realizing it was pointless, she stared at Takeru.
He slowly turned around to look at her, as she stared at him ready to collapse any time.
Approaching the barrier, he just quietly stared back at her.
"Takeru... Takeru...?"
With tears flowing, at a complete loss, she stared at him with heartrending expression.
"What... should I do...? I still haven't repaid you anything... I haven't shouldered anything..."
"............"
"Tell me... how should I live from now on...? Without you by my side..."
She lost her family, lost Vlad, and again she was about to lose.
Ouka appealed to Takeru, to say that she can no longer bear this sadness. Despite knowing he won't accept it, she clung to Takeru. She revealed what was inside her chest to the one she loved.
Her tears were overflowing without stop. She threw away her shame and appearances, single-mindedly putting her right hand on the barrier to touch Takeru. With her left hand grasping her chest as if to grasp her heart, Ouka——
"Where do I direct those feelings inside my chest...?"
"............"
"Tell me... Takeru."
Seeing Ouka's crying appearance, Takeru closed his narrowed eyes.
Then slowly, he overlapped his hand over Ouka's.
Over the temperature-less barrier the two adjusted their hands as if to tangle their fingers together.
"...Live on, Ouka. I'm no longer the only one to walk by your side."
"............"
"You are not alone. Everyone's with you. Even if I'm not there, you will live on."
It was Takeru's earnest wish. However, to Ouka it was nearly equal to a refusal.
It was a refusal. A refusal towards Ouka's wish of wanting to be together.
Takeru knew that, it was because he knew that he said it.
Ouka slowly collapsed, her hand overlapping his slid on the barrier and fell down.
"But."
Hearing Takeru's trembling voice, Ouka raised her head.
Just like Ouka did, Takeru put his fist on his chest and declared while shedding tears.
"I will take those feelings of yours together with me...!"
He didn't mind if she told him he was selfish. Even if he was told it was a convenient answer, he would just agree. If he was told he's a horrible man, he would just confirm that with all he had.
Takeru loved Ouka.
No matter what he was to be told by anyone, he would not give up these feelings. He will save everything and anything. Acquire everything and all he wants. That's who Kusanagi Takeru was.
No matter what was his destination, he would bring these feelings with him. Ouka narrowed her eyes, as if a little relieved.
"Kusanagi——!!"
A voice from outside barrier reached him.
Takeru turned his face in voice's direction.
He could see Ikaruga bending out of the helicopter's hatch and reaching out.
As if to shake off Ikaruga's feelings trying to stop him, Takeru faced downwards.
Her body, ready to jump out any time had been firmly pressed down by Usagi. Ikaruga's expression as she desperately tried to get down to Takeru, was more heartbroken than he had ever seen.
Usagi too, was shedding tears as she stopped Ikaruga.
Usagi has already resolved herself. That's why she stopped Ikaruga, who hadn't.
Takeru stretched his left hand to Ikaruga.
And clenched his fist, as if to grasp her feelings.
Holding down her hair swaying on the wind, making a tearful expression, Ikaruga made bitter smile.
"...No... I won't acknowledge this..."
Even though her voice didn't reach him, Takeru knew what she said.
He thought that answer was very much like her.
Takeru raised his head and smiled towards the two on the helicopter.
And——
"Everyone... be well."
——He thought himself to be pathetic for only being able to leave them such ordinary words. Even though it was the end, he looked miserable, his face was crumpled with tears and uncool. Thinking it was just like him, he entrusted his body to transfer magic.
His shining body started turning into particles and apart.
At the same time, the barrier maintained by instant charm has lost its effect and shattered.
Fragments of barrier sparkled like stardust, and when Takeru's body was about to disappear.
Ouka leaned her body forward.
Hugging Takeru who was on the verge of disappearing, she turned her arms behind his neck.
Taken by surprise, Takeru tried to support Ouka's body.
As they hugged each other, their faces approached each other and——
——Ouka's lips faintly touched Takeru's lips.
"...Takeru..."
His body turned into particles and disappeared from this world.
Ouka passed through the air where Takeru's body was, then took one, two steps on the branch.
"..............."
Immediately after Sougetsu disappeared, his grasp on the soul was released and Kiseki in the back had soundly collapsed.
The giant demon tree screamed and started turning into stone from its roots. Not stopping at becoming stone, cracks appeared on the tree and it turned into ash.
On top of the crumbling tree's branch, Ouka clenched her fist.
Then towards the sky she shouted his name, who has disappeared from this world.
When he opened his eyes, Takeru was standing in an unknown world.
He felt the atmosphere was similar to a world he had been in before.
Heretic Alliance's headquarters on the fragment of Norse mythology's world... the world that seemed to stop the moment it has been destroyed, fantastical and beautiful.
This world was also the same. A cracked sky. An azure field of flax spreading beyond the horizon. Petals blown away by the impact of worlds' collision stopped in mid-air, improving his fantastical scenery.
And the cracked sky——was in twilight.
The light of sun covered the darkness, mixing with the blue sky.
Covered by the color of the end, Takeru stood at the end of the world.
While looking at the horizon, he slowly overlooked his surroundings and found a man with long white hair swaying in the wind.
Ootori Sougetsu. A god of destruction's remnant who had the role of a God forced upon him.
The God looked at this world while squinting and snorted.
"...What a nostalgic scenery. I'm honestly surprised a place like this still remained."
Rather than nostalgic, he was more like a veteran soldier returning to old battlefield.
A half-god, living god created artificially by the Old Humanity. The only one remaining who knew the details about his birth was him alone. Current humanity couldn't even imagine just how much power old worlds' humanity and gods had. After the countless massacres and endless solitude, he was the only one remaining.
What was it that his nostalgic eyes held? Was it sadness? Or maybe joy?
——Personally, Kusanagi Takeru couldn't care less.
Origins of the world. God's origins. Good and evil. Whatever.
He didn't care. Kusanagi Takeru was here to save. Kusanagi Takeru was here to kill. He was here to accomplish killing the God.
"Hmm. Well, it's a good place to die... right? You two."
Looking for consent, Sougetsu looked at the two.
Takeru stared at him without expression, the red-haired girl Hoshijiro Nagaru turned in opposite direction from Takeru turned her back to Sougetsu. Even though they lined up together, they faced in opposite directions.
"Kusanagi-kun. He still doesn't know this world's coordinates. That's why he can't escape from here so easily. It's not as wide as it looks to be, so it's perfect for fighting with a sword. It's a good place to kill him."
Takeru and Nagaru stood in the flower flower field without looking at each other.
"President... did you know it would turn out like this from the start?"
When Takeru asked, Nagaru smiled a little and looked towards the sky.
"Not from the start. I didn't have any confirmation that Sougetsu-kun is the God and the two from Valhalla didn't tell me."
"...You've done too well for that to be true."
"I could only bet. Bet that Orochi-kun and Mother Goose will lose and entrust something to you."
"............"
Orochi and Mother Goose. Even though they disappeared from their memory, his chest throbbed hearing their names. They were probably the people who taught him the method to kill the God and become a God.
"But it wasn't a poor bet. I knew how those two think, I knew they were that kind of people, too. I guess what I was most uneasy about was whether you will win against them or not."
"...Haha, even if you ask me, I don't know."
"I guess. I kept lots of things secret from you, deceived you a lot, too. Sorry."
Nagaru apologized, but Takeru just shook his head.
"In that case... thank you for deceiving me."
"............"
"I know that this situation was created thanks to you, President. I understand that there was a lot I shouldn't have known. That's why, thank you very much."
Hearing Takeru's words of gratitude, Nagaru shook her hair and relaxed her shoulders a little.
"...I'm sorry, Kusanagi-kun. I can't take your place. The truth is, that I should have taken your role. I was born in order to do what you are about to do. It's not like I was told that by someone, but that's what I feel."
Nagaru, who was not supposed to hold negative emotions, spoke words of chagrin despite her bright tone of voice.
Previously, she said that she didn't hold emotions such as regret or sadness but knew how disappointment feels. Nagaru surely must have felt disappointed that Takeru must accomplish this role.
Takeru leaned the sword on his shoulder and responded seriously.
"That's wrong. Right from the start, it was something only I could do. I won't give this role to anyone. It's mine alone."
"............"
"President, there's a lot of cleaning up left in our world. You are necessary in that world. Rebuilding everything is your job, right?"
He could tell Nagaru turned around behind his back.
Takeru didn't turn around. Looking at his enemy, he only exchanged words with her.
"You're really strong?. If possible, I wanted you to be happy, too."
"...I'm not unhappy, at the very least."
"And yet, I wanted to see a complete happy end. But——"
Even though his sensation was dead, he could tell Nagaru's hand touched his back.
Her forehead bumped onto his back.
"——I won't let the hope you gave us, go to waste."
She moved her hand away then took one step, then another, moving away.
Takeru moved the sword away from his shoulder and held it in both hands.
"I leave my comrades to you."
"Yup. I leave the world in your hands."
Saying so, Nagaru activated transfer magic again. The magic circle let out like waves and Nagaru's body started disappearing.
"...Bye bye, Kusanagi-kun. Thank you."
"Farewell, Student Council President Hoshijiro."
After saying their goodbyes, the two turned their backs to each other in order to progress on their paths.
The presence behind him faded and the remnants of the particles danced in the sky, disappearing far in the twilight.
Silence has spread. In the center of unmoving world, Takeru thought of his own world. About the days where he laughed together with his comrades. Memories he remembered, memories he lost, held tightly in his chest——Takeru poised his sword.
"Finished talking? Fighting like this isn't my style, but... let's begin."
Sougetsu too, had a sword appear in his hand. It was a brass-like rusty blade holding a dull shine. The shape looked like it was between sword and a gun. It was a single-edged blade with a handle and a large trigger. It was probably a Sacred Treasure, or its imitation. What Takeru understood, was that this sword could forcibly release God-Hunter form.
Any other details were unknown.
"...Any words to leave behind?"
When Takeru asked, Sougetsu burst into laughter.
"What's that, mercy towards a prisoner on a death row? Now? How silly."
Certainly, it was silly. It wasn't something to ask the person he was about to kill.
Takeru just wanted to confirm. When he was stabbed in the heart, Sougetsu said the world "peace". Takeru wanted to know whether he was serious or not.
So if he dares to say the word "peace" again, he would cut his head off in that instant.
What are you talking about after all this, don't screw around.
Sougetsu stroked the sword, its blunt shine reflected itself in his eyes.
"I have nothing to leave behind. That's how I lived my life."
It wasn't acting gallant nor bluffing because he gave up, it was Ootori Sougetsu's truth.
He was saying he had no regrets. He did his best as the god of destruction, doing as he pleases with all he had, he enjoyed himself to the fullest. Even if he is defeated, he would lose his life proudly. That was his pride as god of destruction——no, as Ootori Sougetsu.
He was nasty right from the start. Despite everything, Takeru has been at this man's mercy for a long time, used as a pawn he was forced to suffer. That's why he could understand him to a certain extent.
That's the kind of man he was. He knew Takeru's hatred, anger, but still acted like it had nothing to do with him. As if to show off how important he was, he looked at everything from above.
——As if I'd acknowledge it. A god or the top or whatever, I'm at limits of my patience.
——I've got to teach you bastard a lesson, and not just one but lots of them.
——Furious, full of resentment and looking uncool, I'll rattle on however I like.
Takeru formed a fist with his trembling hand, putting in his entire body and soul worth of anger.
For now, just smash everything at him.
Kusanagi Takeru's threw all his feelings at Sougetsu.
"I'll have you shoulder everything."
"............"
"My comrades' chagrin, sorrow... Kiseki's suffering, sins, countless deaths...! Lament of all those you have been playing with! Regrets of those who died! My endless anger and hatred...!"
"...Ha."
"——I'll drop you down to hell with all that on your back, Ootori Sougetsu!"
Twilight flame flowed from the blade and started burning the flax field in a flash.
Clad in armor of god-hunter, clad in god-slaying flame.
He put his sword in the sheath and slid the sheath low.
"AntiMagic Academy 35th Test Platoon's captain, Kusanagi Takeru——I will... kill you!"
"I have no name to tell you. Let's quickly finish this, worm."
Sougetsu spoke while shrugging like usual, as if making fun of him.
Ruffling his hair, Takeru released his brain to the limit.
He had no intention of prolonging the battle. If in addition to God-Hunter form he activated Demon's Heart, Takeru would no longer remain himself. There was no need to worry since ultimately, that would happen anyway. There was no need to think about what happens once he kills God and becomes God.
But when he kills this man——kills this sheetty bastard, he has to be himself otherwise he won't be satisfied.
That's why he will end this as fast as possible.
He will finish him with one blow. Using Double-Edge style's fastest, so fast a blow that even a God would not be able to see it to finish it all. Just as Sougetsu himself said, he wasn't good at fighting. Takeru understood that from how he held the sword. There was no doubt it had exercised a Sacred Treasure's performance and he had a God's own power... Nagaru said that this instant movement could be sealed by touching him.
The Sacred Treasure's shape was something between a sword and a gun.
If Sougetsu comes at him, it was easy to predict what the first attack will be.
First step was firing from range.
Just as Takeru predicted, Sougetsu slowly raised the gun and pointed the tip towards him.
"《Fimbul Bullet》"
The Godless Assassin Bullet.
A sound of the trigger being squeezed had echoed. Takeru squeezed the sword's sheath and opened his eyes wide, without pulling the sword out.
He looked for an opening before he activates Demon's Heart. Look closely. Sharpen your every nerve. Concentrate your brain power on your sight alone.
An instant is enough, he has to find the best moment.
Takeru's dynamic vision exceeded the range of human understanding. Sound disappeared, all objects have ceased to move.
Sougetsu's fingertips squeezed the trigger. It was the first time Takeru seeing it. He had no choice but to think of a way to cope with magic after it was cast. During the time that moved slow and felt like eternity, Takeru forestalled the opponent's movements to see through them.
However, Sougetsu didn't move at all. That's how it was supposed to be, Takeru's superhuman eyesight was supposed to catch his movements, yet Sougetsu just completely disappeared out of his sight.
The remaining power of God. Disappearance and re-emergence. It has exceeded the concepts of speed and time. He wasn't moving instantaneously at high speed, that man has essentially disappeared.
His disappearance and re-appearance was instantaneous.
He stood beside Takeru who was standing facing forward. The muzzle was sticking to Takeru's temple as if it had been there right from the start.
So it went this far. Instant transfer was at a very simple power, yet it surpassed common sense this much, huh.
Swordsmanship could do nothing about it. Speed could do nothing about it. Coping with this power was,
——————No.
It could be. What foolish things you're thinking about.
Takeru noticed a contradiction and smiled.
——If he couldn't cope with it, then what was the time he was in now?
He had time to think about this. In other words, even though he couldn't cope with the movement itself, it was possible to deal with it after moving. He captured Sougetsu's in his sights as he "attacked".
——Takeru instantly lowered his upper body.
Magic was released from Naglfar's muzzle. It was just a magic bullet. It passed over his head. If it hit it might have done something to Takeru, but since it was avoided there was no point in thinking about it. He understood how to deal with it. If there was time to think, there was time to act.
It was time to respond with attack.
Sougetsu——was gone. He moved to another position, already preparing an attack from outside his field of vision, even in this moment.
Takeru's sense of touch died. He was unable to perceive the air's movement. What he needed was hearing. Switch brain control, enhance your hearing instead of sight.
——*thrumpp*!!
Sound of shooting——avoid! He twisted his body and with desperate movements focused on escaping from the place he was in. A magic bullet passed between his head and shoulder before landing in the flower flower field.
He looked at the place it was fired from and saw Sougetsu.
——Disappeared.
*click*
Hammer's sound came from behind.
"——!!"
Takeru turned around and swung his sword.
But there was nothing. Petals danced in the air. There were traces of him behind there, but he wasn't.
Sound. Attack. Avoidance. Disappearance.
Sound. Attack. Avoidance. Disappearance.
Sound. Avoidance then attack. Gone.
Sound. Predicting ahead and taking imitative. Cutting the air.
Attack. Avoidance——
——Before he noticed, he was alone on the flower field.
"Haa... haa..."
His breathing was the only sound in this delayed world.
Sougetsu was everywhere, yet nowhere. Not recognized by anyone his existence itself being uncertain, he was a void itself.
He said that was what it meant to be a God.
Did he mean this?
No attack came. There was no sound. His figure was nowhere. His existence disappeared.
Sougetsu was already gone from here.
It was a possibility. He might have identified the mythological world fragments' coordinates and moved back to the original world.
It was reasonable to think so. He was a man who did those kinds of things with ease.
《"——No, Host. He is here."》
"————"
《"Cut. Use your power to cut everything."》
Lapis' calm voice echoed inside his head.
Cut everything.
To slash the God who transcended both speed and time, he had to cut everything.
"——Yeah, you're right."
If he was still here, that would solve all problems. Takeru returned the sword to the sheath.
There was no need to aim. Takeru only had to cut everything.
This world.
Lapis...————extend!!"
Takeru instructed Lapis and she extended the blade in form of a nodachi. He didn't know how big was this world, but if it was like Heretic Alliance's headquarters, there was an end to it.
Nagaru said it wasn't as wide as it looked to be. That it was perfect for fighting with a sword.
Thanks.
Then let's make this entire world within the range of my sword.
Takeru activated 《Demon's Heart》.
His thinking concentrated on one thing. He turned into a demon who thinks of only one goal.
The thought he limit himself to——was cutting everything.
Believing that the extended blade reached the end of this world, Takeru slashed literally everything.
Flowers, sky, earth, air. His sword cut everything without exceptions.
He filled the space itself with his slashes.
If he was unable to identify where enemy would appear, if enemy attacked from outside recognition, he just had to make it so that there was no place for his enemy to exist.
Cut, cut, cut. Faster than sound, fast enough to catch up to light.
He filled this world with the sword, clad in twilight flames.
In an instant, all of it.
This world——cut it all!
"————?!!"
There was resistance. Even though he didn't see, he could tell he cut. A blast caused by sub-light speed slash has attacked enemy's body, but this impact could not kill the God. He had to use the god-slaying blade to pierce his heart or head and deal a fatal wound.
When the impact had come, Takeru's thinking returned. The extreme condition awakened Takeru's consciousness.
The earth shattered and decomposed, even in the middle of the broken world breaking again, Takeru found Sougetsu's location.
Before his consciousness reacted, he swung the sword towards that place.
However, the blow had cut the empty air.
Missed——fine, then one more time!
Takeru slashed everything again. His right eardrum burst and he lost his hearing. Several blood vessels in his right eye ruptured and blood stained his vision red. Blood spouted of his pores.
But this was the last one. He gave his life to this last blow.
"GhhhHhh!!"
A sound. He could still hear. Enemy's location.
Thinking necessary. His tenacity pulled back his consciousness. Back from Demon's Heart into Soumatou. Takeru held the sword in backhand grip and passing the blade by his flank he thrust behind himself.
His left ear caught a dull sound of piercing through meat.
Takeru returned the grip on the handle and pushing his right shoulder backwards he turned his body around.
Deeply, very deeply piercing in the blade. Even as blood spouted on his face, Takeru didn't close his eyes. Twisting the blade he pushed it without mercy.
He looked at the face of the one he pierced with the blade. He looked at the face of the man he killed.
Vomiting blood, miserably distorted, God's face.
Decaying as it was burned down by the god-slaying flame, God's true face.
"Ghh————I've been waiting... for this moment...!"
The God laughed. Miserably vomiting blood, his organs scattering around, he rejoiced passionately at an opportunity.
Takeru understood that Sougetsu was waiting for this moment. Being killed by Takeru and leading the world to destruction was this man's final goal. Now that Takeru has gained the power to become the God, that wish has clearly disappeared.
However, there was a method to accomplish it.
It was a draw.
"《Fimbulvetr Enchant》——!"
Godless Enchant.
The brass-like blade Sougetsu held let out a dull, golden flame.
With a blade piercing his belly, he swung down Naglfar's blade.
Sougetsu had lived for this moment. Driven into a corner, fallen into disadvantage, he found hope for destruction at the very last moment.
It was an unrealistic method. However, it wasn't impossible.
Mutual killing. God dies and loses his life along with God-Hunter.
If he did that, destruction would be fulfilled. The world would meet its end.
Sougetsu was correct. This was the only method to achieve destruction.
But he was also wrong. He committed the worst mistake.
In the very, very end——he challenged Takeru with a sword.
Sougetsu's resolve to draw was certain. His desperate strike was incredibly keen. It would be impossible for most people to evade, they would be cut down just like that.
However, his opponent was Kusanagi Takeru.
A manifestation of Kusanagi Double-Edge style's and the God-Hunter's contractor.
This man——could not lose against a sword.
Especially against a slash of a mere amateur who knew nothing of swordsmanship, there was no way it could reach.
Takeru calmly let go of the sword with his right hand he materialized warabite-to in it, he——in an instant, finely cut Sougetsu's arm holding Naglfar.
Thrown away, Naglfar fell behind Sougetsu.
Astonished, he spread his eyes wide open. Seeing the arm that was supposed to deliver deadly blow had turned into blood mist, he clicked his tongue and smiled.
"Hah——so it was no good after all... seems I'm not fit for this, really."
Squinting, Sougetsu declared himself to give up.
Using his left hand, Takeru pushed in the nodachi and toppled Sougetsu's body.
On the crumbling rock floating in space, Sougetsu collapsed with his limbs spread out.
Takeru looked down on him from above and raised the warabite-to he held in reverse grip.
Sougetsu did not move. Not looking away, he smiled like usual as he stared at Takeru.
The swung-down blade pierced into Sougetsu's forehead.
As Sougetsu opened his eyes nearly wide enough for his eyeballs to pop out, twilight flames burned down the God's body.
Glaring at Takeru until the very end, he who always acted aloof and composed, let out ear-deafening screams.
Listening to his screams, Takeru watched as the God's body decayed.
Armor in his head crumbled, his hair was eroded by azure color and Takeru's face covered by cracks was exposed from beneath.
In order to see with his own eyes, Takeru took off the mask.
In order to show his sworn enemy, who has killed him...
To take revenge on this man for all the grief...
"...Ku-hahaha...! I acknowledge it...it's my loss... Kusanagi Takeru."
While still screaming, enveloped by flames, he extended head towards Takeru.
The wreckage of a God has laughed.
"Satisfied? Because I am... it was fun...! It was a good life...! I'm glad I could play such a great game...!"
"............"
"Next is your turn to lead a game...become a God and get bored in loneliness...just like I have...hah...!"
While staring at the appearance of disappearing Sougetsu, Takeru erased his demonic appearance and narrowed his eyes.
With a human face, he overlooked Sougetsu's death.
Rather than painting his expression with anger, he confronted Sougetsu with his true feelings.
"I'm different from you... even if I become God... I have someone who will be together with me."
Clenching the handle pierced into Sougetsu's forehead, he felt Lapis nod.
"I guess you can't understand it. Wishing only for destruction, you accepted solitude."
"...fufu...fu..."
"Like that, you are going to die as you laugh in loneliness. This is what you wanted, right?"
"............fhh..."
"I'll give you destruction, just as you wanted. But I won't give you my world. I won't give you my comrades or my little sister."
Burned by the flames and turning into ashes, in the very end, Sougetsu's expression was slightly distorted with pain.
Tasting defeat for the first time since he was born, he grit his teeth in frustration.
As Sougetsu was unable to hide the humiliation with a smile, Takeru declared.
"Play destruction by yourself."
He just quietly watched over it. The destruction of Ootori Sougetsu, the culprit behind everything.
Sougetsu's ashes along with his death throes turned into flames and were sucked in by Lapis' blade.
What was his physical body, what was his power... and what was his soul, was all sucked into the blade and inside Takeru. On top of the unmoving rock, Takeru felt something alien dwell inside his body.
《"Host... I have recovered the "God's Vessel"."》
"...Yeah..."
Looking at the palm of his hand faintly shining palm, Takeru touched his face.
Flowing out of his cracking face was not blood, but memories.
"............"
He could tell the vessel dwelling inside him was trembling.
It was about to destroy the world.
Just by collecting the God's vessel, he didn't become God.
Pouring a soul inside that vessel was what qualified him to become a God.
For that sake existed 《Deification》.
"............"
He knew his life was about to run out. Takeru's body and soul was turning into something else from original, fusing with Lapis to become something different.
It wasn't just his face, cracks spread all over his body. The fingertips he touched his face with had broke and turned into sand.
Takeru couldn't see on his left eye. He didn't feel pain in his body. Sound and smell disappeared.
His heart too... has stopped crying.
"Ahh... There's no pain, nor fear left."
He was forgetting. Everything. Things unnecessary for him to become a God had poured outside through the cracks.
Memories appeared in his head and disappeared. Comrades' faces, little sister's face... faces of people he had been indebted to, they all crumbled and disappeared like pieces of candy.
And last.
The midsummer days when they were separated by a box... the days he exchanged hearts with Kiseki.
The fun and bitter times, the longest time he spent... his memories with Ikaruga.
The scent of black tea spreading inside his mouth, bringing him a smile... casual everyday life with Usagi.
Making his heart pound... Mari's smile.
Looking forward and walking with a confident expression... Ouka's face seen from the side.
They floated in his mind like fireflies before fading away.
It were very gentle memories. Even as they disappeared faintly, Takeru was glad to see his happy memories again. He was pleased to meet everyone again, in the end.
Forgetting everything, only happiness remained.
There was no despair. Only happiness.
His empty head had the warmth of the important memories remaining in it.
If it's like this... it's not so bad.
Not too bad.
"..................Let's go, Lapis."
His wrist broke and crumbled to dust.
Unable to stand he knelt down as pieces of him danced in the air.
He could hear Lapis' voice chant far away, a magic circle spread.
It wasn't azure-colored, but pure white like sunlight as it enveloped Takeru.
Looking up at the sky, he fell on his back.
He could see a single piece of azure petal ascend to the sky and escape from this unmoving world.
While chasing the petal's travel path with one eye and looking up at the twilight sky... before long, Kusanagi Takeru closed his eyelids in silence.
| ← Ch. 110 | Ch. 112 → |