novelVolume 3, (3B)
| ← Ch.19 | Ch.21 → |
Volume 3, Chapter 3 (2)
While vomiting out a large amount of blood, Dorothy collapsed on the ground.
Her body was already violated by the ~absinthium~, she was in the grip of death.
(It's my...... fault...... -! Because I'm, an idiot like this...... !)
Chikori stood stock still in a daze from the worst situation that her carelessness had invited.
Towards Chikori who was being like that,
"Fu, fufufu, i, i-it's fine even if you don't feel sad, like that. Yo, you too will immediately, follow after her. The, the same like her, to the place of the lorddd-!"
Gimel mercilessly attacked.
"-...... !"
On the other hand, Chikori was already not in a mental state where she could counter attack.
She was only devoting herself to evading using her inherent reflexes.
However――
(Fufuhi, her motor, reflexes, are something...... ! But...... !)
Surely it was because Chikori had seen the threat of ~absinthium~ that made Dorothy unable to move just with one thrust.
The focus of Chikori's eyes were completely fixed onto Gimel's katana.
――She couldn't see anything other than that.
And then, it also became known to Gimel who was confronting her,
(Her experience is, just, too lackinggg!!!!)
"Gahha!?!?"
Gimel's kick that was like a stab bore into Chikori's defenseless solar plexus.
"Fufufu, yo, you didn't thi-think that a kick will come right? Your eyes only see, the sword...... hihi, your stomach, is completely open."
"Geho! A, aa...... oe!"
Both of Chikori's knees gave in from the unbelievable intense pain of her entrails bored by the kick.
It was a heavy and deep pain as if she was struck by a gigantic steel hammer.
That was only natural.
The ability granted to Gimel by the angel possession was [poison].
Because the woman used that power and produced a large amount of anabolic steroid inside her body, she could launch a kick with muscle power that had been reinforced until the territory that had far surpassed the range of common sense.
"u............ ――"
That single kick was more than enough to break Chikori's consciousness, Chikori whose knees had fell on the ground was going to collapse down just like that.
On the verge of that... a certain scene flashed in Chikori's mind.
{Chikori's movement is just too direct you know? That's why it's easy to read. }
That was, the memory of her training with Homura――
It was the words of Homura when she was grumbling from being completely unable to touch Homura at all in a mock battle.
(――Aah, that's right, at that time, Master was...... )
{But, that step-in without any hesitation, and that straightforward feeling you directed to the enemy... are also Chikori's strength. }
{My, strength?}
{Right. Training so much that you can even offset the symptoms of Apple SeedAS syndrome is normally something that cannot be done. That straightforward feeling and the willpower to realize your original intention is really something uncommon.
... And then a strong will can be sublimated into a strong power.
You're still lacking in experience, you are not clever like Sumika so from now on you will surely meet some hardships. But remember this each time you meet those hardships. Just whose pupil you are. }
(――――)
{I guarantee your strength. That's why, don't you dare doubt your own strength. }
"–!!!!"
When her consciousness was on the verge of sinking into darkness, Chikori who remembered Homura's words gritted her teeth, then she supported her body by striking the ground.
And then, with eyes that were filled with a strong sense of purpose, Chikori fixed her eyes on the enemy in front of her.
It was an outside enemy that was breaking into their home, trying to kill their family right about now.
(I'm, the pupil of Master...... !)
Then, she couldn't lose uncoolly like this against the bunch that was trying to break the thing her master was protecting.
Her body could still move. Her fist could still strike. Then――!
"DORORTHIIII-SaAAaAAN!!!!"
Chikori turned to Dorothy, who was collapsing in a puddle of her own blood, and yelled with all that she had.
"For my sake, please buy a minute, no, thirty seconds for me! I beg you-!"
And then,
"Because, I'll defeat that woman...... -!"
She spread her stance and strained her fist, aiming at Gimel.
With a misty vision, Dorothy stared at that action, and that expression of resolve of Chikori......
She squinted happily from her heart and laughed.
"Okay...... ! Just leave it to big sis...... !"
Instantly, Dorothy lifted up her body that was on the verge of death from being violated by poison, and even while spouting out blood, she assaulted Gimel.
"Fuu-!"
Dorothy's fist was blocked by the ~Holy Ground~ and didn't even do any damage, but the breaking through shockwave hindered Gimel's movement with certainty.
"...... !? Hoow are you moving? Even though, the ~absinthium~ should be, circulating inside you-!"
Gimel opened her eyes wide in astonishment from Dorothy's fierce attack.
~Absinthium~ was a poison that didn't exist in this world.
If it entered the body even just for a little, then the person could not be saved anymore, their bone and flesh would rot off and they could only wait for their death, being tormented by intense pain. That was how it should be.
Towards such a Gimel,
"That's an easy question, you miss stupid."
Dorothy even showed a daring smile and spoke out.
"The reason is... obviously because I'm the ~Crimson Leo~!"
"Kuh-, this... di, die, don't comeeeee!"
Gimel slashed at the attacking Dorothy and tried to drive her off.
But, even while being afflicted with poison, Dorothy's fierce attacks couldn't be compared with before.
That was also only natural.
Until just now, she was hiding her cards and moved carefully to fight Gimel.
She was attacking by always saving a space where it was possible for her to dodge in emergency.
But right now... there was no need for that anymore.
Her body already didn't have any future. She unleashed her fist without minding to receive some cuts.
Even while her whole body was wet with blood, that heroic appearance challenging the enemy was exactly like―the ~Crimson Leo~.
The protector of the human race. As a S-rank magician, her proud figure wouldn't bring shame to anyone.
(Dorothy-san... , thank you... -)
Burning that sight of Dorothy's heroics into her teary eyes, Chikori filled her drawn back right fist with magic power.
Chikori couldn't do anything like Dorothy's miraculous feat of enchanting her fist with fifth grade sorcery.
For that reason, her feeling of gratitude, frustration, rage, she changed all of those into a determination to defeat the enemy before her eyes――
(Crammed it into the fist... !)
――And then, the time had come.
"Gah, buaAa"
The time when Dorothy's life ran out.
Vomiting conspicuously large amounts of blood, Dorothy's body lurched violently.
That was her limit.
Even without getting cut down, she would surely collapse just like that into her puddle of blood and not move anymore for eternity.
But even so... this valorous female burned the light of her life until the very last.
――She had certainly, bought thirty seconds.
{I leave, the rest, to you...... }
"-――――....... !"
Hearing those apologetic words, Chikori didn't answer.
There was no need to answer or anything.
Right now, there was only one thing that she needed to do.
The feeling filled into that fist, she had to send it straight into the enemy before her eyes!
"~Star SmashMeteor Strike~–!!!!"
Chikori's right fist that was drawn back to the limit struck aiming at Gimel's life.
The fist emitted light as if several hundred white thunders were bundled inside it.
The trace that fist drew――was exactly like the comet that smashed the star!
During the thirty seconds, Chikori's thought continued to draw the image of going towards Gimel's life and waited until the time was ripe before striking.
To evade that fluent, unhesitating attack that rushed at the fastest and shortest route was impossible.
But――
(Do, do-do, don't, minddd!)
Gimel ridiculed that as nothing, she didn't even try to defend, she held aloft her katana in order to prance at the neck of the approaching Chikori.
That was obvious. Gimel possessed the ~Holy Ground~ of the angel possessing her.
Certainly the ~Ancient Zero~ that was compressed inside Dorothy's fist was a threat, but......
In the first place, Chikori was nothing more than a mere magician.
No matter how much feeling that kind of human put into their attack, the status of a mere human was something of no importance.
There was no way in the world that it would be able to hurt an angel or anything.
Whether it was Chikori's will, or even Dorothy's sacrifice, everything was a fruitless effort. It would end for nothing.
Such thing.
To allow such an absurdity was not Chikori at all!
The instant Chikori's fist touched Gimel,
A strange noise like flesh and bone and entrails being crushed all at once reverberated in the battlefield. Chikori's fist was caving deep into Gimel's stomach.
"u, o, ――Ge, geeeeeeeeee—-!?!?"
Most likely, her stomach was rupturing like that.
Gimel fainted in agony while scattering abundant amounts of blood colored vomit and excreta.
(Wh, wh, wh-wh-wh-whyyy!?!? E, even though I should have ~Holy Ground~, in meeee!?!?)
Despite that, Chikori's fist slipped through that and bored into her.
That was something incomprehensible from Gimel's point of view.
Because something like the strength of will, wasn't supposed to be something on the level that could allow someone to surpass that difference in rank.
Just what in the world...... !
While Gimel was fainting in agony, she glared at Chikori.
And then――she noticed.
(Don't tell me, don'ttellmedon'ttellmedon'ttellme)
The right fist of Chikori that was soaked in blood.
What could be peeked from its gap was... pure white. That was――
"This is your feather you know?"
"~—!"
――Correct, Chikori had already seen angels twice including this one.
The first one was Alfaro. The second one was today's moment.
That was why she understood that her attack wouldn't go through just with her power.
But what should she do so that her fist could reach Gimel?
Pondering of that, the answer that the girl found out in her own way, was this.
By clutching Gimel's feather that fell in the middle of battle in her fist, she misrepresented her spirit rank.
And then, that scheme succeeded in a perfect form.
The girl's feeling that was put inside her fist, it certainly pierced through Gimel's life.
"I'm stupid, weak, I'm lacking in ability, experience, in everything but... I certainly won't forget, the bitterness that I have been made to swallow once...... -!"
"Hi-, hiaaAAAAAEeEeOoOEEeEEEEEE–!!!!"
Gimel held her stomach while writhing in pain as if her whole body was lit on fire.
The amount of blood vomited from her mouth as if the full content of a bucket was overturned, was obviously a lethal amount, showing that her life would soon be extinguished.
(Dorothy-san. Your revenge――)
Is paid, ――just in the moment when Chikori was convinced of that.
"Gefu, kefu, fufufufu, fuhihihifufuhihihiiI――–!"
(Eh?)
Suddenly, Gimel began to laugh insanely while vomiting blood,
"HyaaAAAAA!!!!"
A kick that was like a stabbing spear approached at Chikori.
It was really sudden. Chikori was unable to react from that counterattack which she thought as impossible,
"Agu-!"
Her face was struck, and like that the back of her head hit the concrete wall nearby.
(Gu, a...... wh, y...... !)
Even though she should have inflicted a lethal wound already to the enemy.
To the ear of Chikori who was in such confusion,
"HURTHURT HURTHURT HURTHURTTTttTTAAAAA! HAPPINESsss-!"
Such joyful voice that made Chikori doubt her ears could be heard.
"!?!?"
"Gebu, e, e-e, even thoughhh it's really hurttt! Even though, it's painfull!
The faith inside me! Is not wa-wavering at all!
My heart to-to-toward the lord, is! Not wavering!
My, my fa, fa, faith is, welling up this strongly!
How can there be any bliss that could surpass this!? HihIhihihihihihihi!"
――Of all things, Gimel was truly in joy from the bottom of her heart.
By reconfirming her own faith, it brought her supreme joy that Chikori couldn't understand at all.
"III, I feel, grateful to you, you know, you gave me a magnificent time...... !"
Gimel's eyes were laughing in joy.
The fighting spirit residing there didn't wither at the slightest.
She would defeat the enemy of god. Such determination didn't weaken even for a little.
On the other hand――
"............ -"
Chikori couldn't move.
Because she had put her everything into the ~Meteor Strike~ just now.
Her consciousness was cloudy from the back of her head hitting the wall.
She didn't have any strength remaining to resist.
(I'm sorry, Dorothy-san...... Leader....... Shiori-chan...... )
While her vision was darkening, Chikori looked at the figure of Gimel approaching her while dragging the katana that would be aimed at her.
She guessed that Gimel was intending to finish her off.
But, Chikori was already unable to do anything about it,
(...... I'm sorry...... Master............ )
Tears leaked out from frustration...... Chikori fell into a darkness where there was not a single streak of light shining.
Part 7
At that time, Sumika was also in the middle of a severely hard fight in the sky of Tokyo life sphere.
The reason was because she was taking on Aleph, who was possessed by the ~First Trumpeter~ wielding the power of flame, and Bet, who wielded the power of the ~Second Trumpeter~ that controlled water, at the same time by herself alone.
Rather than saying that this was the adverse effect from filling in the hole in their battle strength that was Chikori, this was the situation that came due to these two regarding Sumika as dangerous the most among the ~Special Missionaries~ and so they concentrated their battle strength like this.
A ~Special Missionary~ was a formidable enemy, even in the best of times.
Taking on two at the same time naturally made the outlook for Sumika bad.
――Furthermore,
"ORA ORA ORA ORAAA-! Come on, show me how you are going to protect them-!"
Of all things to do, Aleph and Bet fought Sumika while scattering flame bullets and water cannons aiming at the city below that hadn't finished their evacuation yet.
"Kuh...... -! You fiend...... !"
As for Sumika, naturally she couldn't let herself to not deal with that, each time they attacked the city, she offset the attack with her shooting or sorcery.
But――naturally such way of fighting would create a big opening that would be taken advantage by the enemy.
"Your side is completely defenseless!"
"-...... !"
A water ballista flew right from the side.
That attack aimed for the instant where Sumika's ammo became empty after she shot to protect the city, it was already impossible to intercept.
The attack traveled the shortest distance aiming at Sumika's heart.
However――
"Haaa-!"
Even while it was very risky for Sumika, she guarded by deploying a chantless Protection.
What was surprising from this situation, was that even being attacked by two people like this, and further with hostages being taken, Sumika didn't let the enemy inflict a decisive blow and held out just barely.
This could be said to be solely because of her quick wits.
Her sense as someone that had been listed as a S-rank magician while still being a student was, as expected, not something ordinary.
Even Aleph and Bet had to recognize that.
(But... that girl is also already at her limit. )
"Haa-! Haa-! Haa...... -!"
The compensation for playing a really active effort in many roles like that was certainly eating at Sumika.
Her face was pale from overtaxing her brain, her fingers were trembling from pressing her gun trigger too many times, her breathing was like a drowning person.
Sumika's body was in the process of nearing her limit.
However, even so Sumika didn't retreat even for a single step. Above the sky of Tokyo life sphere, she stood imposingly in front of the two ~Special Missionaries~.
On the other hand, Aleph and Bet gave a light applause toward such Sumika,
"Kakaka... ma―n, that's amazing, amazing, you really protect them well."
"That's really unbelievable. That's why――we will give a present to such a hard worker here."
Behind their respective backs, fire bullets and water ballistas that were several of dozens more than what they had shot until now, at the same time appeared.
They were playing around with half of their power with Sumika while waiting.
They were waiting for the moment when her stamina reached rock bottom and she became unable to protect anymore.
"~~–!!!!"
"You are happy right-? This is the special service of EX stage for the hard worker S-rank magician-san."
"Counting in total two hundred shots for bullet hell. Do your very best, show us that you can protect them all!"
Together with those words, the murderous barrage floating behind the backs of the two shot all at once.
"U, aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"
Against this Sumika activated her ~Air Raid~ at full force.
In order to cover for the city behind her, she flew out in front of the barrage and intercepted with all her power.
While shooting she refined her sorcery and invoked defensive wall and ~Photon Bullet~ while simultaneously emptying her bullets.
While intercepting with sorcery she reloaded her bullets using ~Material Transference~.
She connected it to her ~Quick Draw~ in a hairbreadth and at the same time she chanted the sorcery for the next reloading――
It was an act that surpassed the limit of her physique and mind altogether.
Sumika's body screamed from such act, blood flowed out sordidly from her eyes.
However that was only a matter of course.
It was an abuse of the brain to the level that if it was the average person, their brain would have melted out muddily.
It wouldn't be strange even if she instantly became an invalid.
But, even so, Sumika gritted her teeth and continued to maintain her sense of self,
"Ha-, a――――, A!"
Even while her body was becoming riddled with wounds, finally she showed how she blocked all the barrage of two hundred shots.
Looking at that wondrous tenacity of Sumika, Aleph was――
"Here is a freebie."
While ridiculing all of the girl's act, he directed the 201st flame bullet to the city and threw it.
"Wha-!?"
She had intercepted two hundred shots.
The relief from her success brought an instant where Sumika's guard was down.
That was fatal.
Because her guard was down, the girl couldn't immediately react to this 201st shot and missed her chance to intercept.
What she could do to protect the city was only――
To use her body as a shield.
"—!"
She operated the ~Air Raid~ with the whole output.
She plunged into the flame bullet and her body was enveloped in flame explosion.
It was a direct hit where she couldn't even build a satisfying protective wall.
Naturally the damage from that was great, Sumika's body fell to the ground just like that.
"Haa...... haa...... -"
"Aa―hhaha! That girl really is stupid! To throw her own body into the flame bullet, how funny!"
"Kakaka. Well, don't laugh Bet. Isn't that a honorable spirit that is a shame to be left as a renegade?"
Both Sumika's heart and body had turned worn-out and collapsed on the ground.
Looking down at her, both the ~Special Missionary~ were laughing joyfully.
"But there's no mistake that she is an idiot. No matter how noble a spirit she has, if the idiot kicks the bucket then she won't be able to protect what she actually can."
It couldn't be helped for the two of them to think that all of Sumika's action was foolish from their point of view.
If she abandoned the people of the city to a certain degree right from the start, she might be able to fight a little more respectably.
Sumika didn't do that.
No, she couldn't do that.
It could be said as kindness that wouldn't abandon other people, but for Aleph and Bet, it was nothing but a foolish weak point.
"Die while being drunk in that cheap heroism."
That was why Aleph announced that with a tone of contempt and created a flame bullet in his palm.
It was in order to burn Sumika's life to nothing using that.
――But, in that absolutely desperate situation,
"...... fufu"
Sumika who collapsed on the ground and looking up at the sky leaked out a small laugh.
"Ah? What is funny?"
"That's obvious... What's funny is the two idiots in front of me getting elated in triumph by themselves from wrong thinking."
"Whaatt?"
"I'm not being drunk from heroism or anything. Something like a hero... I don't think of becoming one. After all, I don't have the disposition of protecting everyone by myself alone at all. If I can just buy time, then that's already great."
It was right after Sumika said so.
{Notifying everyone of the interception unit!
Just now, the evacuation of all citizens into the geofront has been completed!
It doesn't matter anymore how much the upper part of the protective wall is destroyed!
Everyone, please proceed to intercept the enemy...... !}
That notification of Kinugasa was broadcasted clearly through the whole battlefield.
Naturally, the notification also entered the ears of Aleph and the other, making them being taken aback.
"The evacuation of seven million people of Tokyo life sphere has been finished in this short time he said...... !?"
"Even while you were idiotically getting elated, everyone was still fighting.
People with strength took up weapons, the people without escaped to the safe place for even a second faster.
So that they don't lose anything. So that no one will make them lose anything. ――Everyone is fighting in their own way.
...... Despite that, there is no way I can just forsake them as I pleased...... !"
And then in this moment, Sumika was finally liberated from the baggage of hostages.
"――With this, I can finally fight properly."
"Kuh-!"
She could finally fight.
Aleph felt a pressure that made his body tremble from the hostility that was put inside those words, he immediately shot the flame bullet that he created in his palm.
――But that action was already too late due to his carelessness.
Faster than even his flame bullet,
"~FlashFlashbang~."
Sumika invoked a non-element first grade sorcery ~Flashbang~ without chanting.
"UO-!"
"Kyaa-!"
The vision of Aleph and Bet were dazzled for a moment.
And then in that one moment, Sumika's figure disappeared from those two's field of vision.
"Using a sly technique like that...... !"
"This coward, just where is she――"
Trying to search for Sumika who was concealing herself, both of them looked around at their surroundings.
However... there was no need to search. The reason was――
{Listen from beyond o the most shining bright person in the abyss of heaven and earth}
Sumika was standing high in the sky as if she was looking down at the two people, she prepared her gun without even hiding the fierce crimson magic power light.
(~Grim Bullet~...... -!)
Aleph guessed that Sumika was trying to use her sure-kill technique from that surging tremendous magic power.
Because until now she had to protect the city, there wasn't even time to chant, but just now that shackle had been gone. There was no more need to hesitate for Sumika.
If it was ~Grim Bullet~, then it would penetrate without minding anything like ~Holy Ground~.
This was the worst development for Aleph and Bet――was how it should be. But,
(This idiottt...... -!)
"Let's go Bet!"
"I know already-!"
Against this sure-kill of Sumika, Aleph and Bet showed unhesitating action as if to declare that they had been waiting for this.
They separated into two groups and manifested flame and water sword in their respective dominant hand, they then assaulted Sumika from different directions at the same time.
――That was exactly the countermeasure that the two of them had prepared.
It was the formation that struck at the weak point of ~Grim Bullet~.
(Certainly ~Grim Bullet~ can't be evaded or blocked or anything once it had been invoked, it's a powerful sorcery that could even penetrate ~Holy Ground~, but... in exchange you got to chant it!)
In other words, it couldn't be rapid-fired.
If that was the case, then by constantly facing her by two people, if they divided into two groups the moment Sumika entered the motion of ~Grim Bullet~... by trading the life of one of them, the blade of the other would be able to reap the life of Sumika with certainty.
Correct. This was why Aleph and Bet were fighting Sumika with the two of them like this.
(It's better to face her down with hostages as a shield, but this is fine! We also don't think that we can kill a bastard prodigy like you bastard without sacrifice anyway! We'll give you the life of one of us! But, the time we take the payment for that, that's going to be the last of you bastard!)
In response towards this countermeasure of Aleph and Bet's towards the weakness of ~Grim Bullet~ that couldn't be shot rapidly, Sumika right now aimed the other gun to Bet while the gun that was loaded with ~Grim Bullet~ was aiming at Aleph.
But even if Bet was aimed by gun, she didn't stop.
――That was natural. There was no need to stop.
Based on how the ~Grim Bullet~ couldn't be fired rapidly, the power of Evil God wouldn't come to Bet's side.
What would come was just a mere normal bullet.
Against something of that level, it would be repelled away by ~Holy Ground~ even without her defending.
That was why Bet's expression didn't change, she spread her wings and charged to behead Sumika.
Aleph also came at Sumika similarly with his full speed.
――That became the cause of defeat for the two.
{The seething stars shine radiantly in blasphemy announcing the time of destiny to thy
{The seething stars shine radiantly in blasphemy announcing the time of destiny to thy
The person walking riding the wind o the great god of white silence
Living flame o the king of red Formalhaut
Break the eternal precept and stand up tear apart the sky and come here
Invite reign trample
Every stick and stone altogether for the sake of mowing down with thy power}
Right now once more for the sake of displaying thy supremacy in this star}
""...... —!?!?""
Both of them noticed when they got closer until they could hear the voice clearly.
How Sumika was chanting one more curse as if it was overlapping with the tone of the first chanting.
――~Overlapping AriaDual Spell~
A super advanced skill that among all the magicians there were not even five people that could use it.
Aleph and Bet overlooked this from having their eyes stolen by the threat of ~Grim Bullet~.
They overlooked Sumika's talent... the height of her foundation skill as a magician.
Certainly ~Grim Bullet~ couldn't be fired rapidly due to the length of its chanting.
But if it was used by the skill of Sumika, it was possible to fire both at the same time.
And then, it was already too late when they noticed their mistake.
They were already accelerating to the degree that they couldn't brake themselves――
{Rage madly. ――~God of Raging Storm~ Ithaqua. }
{Burn to ash. ――~Flaring God~ Cthugha. }
""――――""
Aleph was swallowed by the flaming lion flying out from the right gun's nuzzle together with his death agony, Bet was frozen by the freezing chill that flew out from the left gun's muzzle without even time to scream, then that body was smashed into pieces by the bashing storm that was caused by the silver eagle that flew right after the chill.
However, the power of the two evil gods that were liberated didn't stop at just eating the two.
The two were heading to the ground just like that gliding in the air――――
"'AA'aaa'A'aaaaaaa!?!?!?!?"
"HiiIIAAaAAAA!?!?!?!?"
Gimel who right about now was going to finish off the fainting Chikori with her raised katana and He who was involved in a death match with James, both of them were similarly swallowed like the previous two and their existences disappeared from this earth.
――Of course that was not a coincidence.
Sumika had seen through the tactic of Aleph and Bet of parting into two groups, so she was aiming for this from the start and adjusted her position. She was intentionally making the line of fire of the four people overlap.
James who was understanding that from looking at afar, felt a shudder even more than the reliability he felt.
"...... I understood that she is a prodigy, but......"
He never imagined that it would be to this degree.
Even among the S-rank magicians, she was certainly a cut above the rest.
――But, that was how it should be.
The target that Sumika aimed for was in the height that was far higher than even S-rank.
That was why she couldn't stop at just the level of S-rank.
...... From this quick-wittedness of Sumika, almost all the main force of the allied forces had been annihilated.
Sumika and James that became free due to this immediately turned to assist the interception unit, rallying the Japan's side in one go due to the addition of the two S-rank.
The allied forces that lost their main force was pushed back right away, the majority of them were crushed.
Because there was still reserve forces remaining at the allied forces' rear, they were by no means annihilated, but the damage inflicted to them was enormous, most of all having the defensive line of Japan's side rallied back really hurt for them.
It was mostly impossible to make this battle into a short one.
At this point of time, Sumika and others were mostly succeeding in their victory condition to hold out until Homura returned to the life sphere.
And then――almost at the same time.
The showdown between Homura and Michael that was carried out in an abandoned world's Tokyo life sphere was also reaching its climax.
Part 8
By thinly compressing his own ~Holy Ground~, Michael created a giant ~Holy Sword~ that pierced even through the clouds.
Against this, Homura raised his sword of ~Liber Legis~ and engraved the spell that called out to a repulsive evil god.
Listen from the interstice of life and death o the person watching dream on the throne at the bottom of water
The seething stars shine radiantly in blasphemy declaring the time of destiny to thy
The person that should come o the great Cthulhu
If thy hear this voice then open thy eyes if this voice reach then exert thine arm
Judgment day the sea is colored by blood R'lyeh is surfacing
Verse theory, as that cursed song kept advancing, the planet began to shake as if it was going mad.
The sea surged, the ground broke, underground water and magma spurted out from everywhere, that situation was, yes, exactly like the primeval earth.
And then, at the earth's surface which was desolate like that――
"――Open thy eyes. ~The King of Killing Sea~ Cthulhu!"
That god showed its figure as if turning over the bottom of the sea.
What appeared out to the earth's surface scattering water spray that was like waterfall, was the majestic appearance of that god.
That thing possessed two arms that even while looking like anthropoid ape, possessed the enormous size that pierced through the clouds even while from the bottom of the sea, its back also had giant wings of a bat that spread covering the sky fully.
Its whole body was wet with sea water, its tentacles covered with scales were like rubber, possibly even like gelatin that was tinged with unique green luster, parts of those tentacles writhed, undulated, like dirty water that was flowing without pause.
And then its body part that seemed to be its head was bloating grotesquely, under its eyeballs that stuck out as if they were scooped out, countless tentacles were wriggling while raising sounds *nucha nucha* that awoken the watcher's primal disgust.
That repulsive divinity which was hard to describe was exactly the master of the stone-built sanctuary city, R'lyeh, that was sealed in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, the Great Old One that was said would manifest to rule the surface once more when the celestial bodies were assembled――~The King of Killing Sea~ Cthulhu.
{―――??―――?――――?――}
Cthulhu which appeared before Michael and Homura greatly wriggled its tentacles that were like a beard while emitting sound like electronic sound, it thrust its giant arms to the sky.
Thereupon at the sky where the arms were raised, a giant magic circle that was inscribed with shining green hieroglyphz was enfolding.
At the same time, all the water in all the seas above the earth were shining in the same color――and floated up.
The floating water rode fast to the sky as if they were possessing a will.
The water was turning into a few hundred million water currents and gathered at the blade of ~Liber Legis~ that Homura held up.
And then the large amount of water that was gathered into one, before long was turned into a giant blade that pierced the sky.
(He controlled all the water on this planet into a sword...... !)
Just as Michael said, it was a ~demon sword~ that compressed all the water that existed on this planet with extraordinary pressure.
The seven seas that existed on this earth.
The slash that was established from all that weight, could smash apart even this planet for real.
It was a great feat that couldn't possibly be used at the previous world where there were living beings.
Homura was also being serious in front of the ~Archangel~ Michael, a formidable enemy that he had never faced before.
And then, his full power certainly made even Michael feel the pressure.
But――
(It's just the power of evil god in the first place. Against I, the ~Archangel~ that received the blessings of god, there is no way such thing can eliminate me!)
Michael was not an existence with a weak heart that would waver against such thing.
The work of god. In order to accomplish that salvation, Michael swung down his ~Holy Sword~ which possessed all his spirit.
Against this Homura too, in order to save his comrades, he swung the ~Demon Sword~ staking his magic power and his whole might.
""OOOoOOoOooOOOO――――――–!!!!""
The blades of the ~Holy Sword~ and the ~Demon Sword~ that were swung with all the power that both sides possessed clashed.
Instantly, the clash between the out of norm powers, a shockwave of light was created, the clouds, the trees, the rubbles, the mountains――every single thing that existed on the surface of this death world was smashed into pieces and swept away.
However, even while spreading such destructive power, the two who were exercising this power didn't even twitch, the blades that the two sides were swinging were also fighting each other without the advantage going which way.
If it kept like this perhaps it would be this star that would meet its end first.
It was such a dangerous rivalry that made one think like that.
But―― such situation didn't continue for long.
Little by little, but with certainty, the crossing blades were beginning to lean to one side.
The pushing one was――the ~Holy Sword~ that was shining gold.
The side of the ~Archangel~ Michael.
"OOoOOoOaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
Producing a voice that was like a roar, Michael put even more strength into the blade that he swung down... pushing back Homura.
~Archangel~ was an existence that was sitting in a position that was exceedingly close to the summit of the world called ~Heaven~.
On the other hand, no matter how abnormal of a prodigy Homura was, he was to the very end a human.
In that fact existed a difference in potential that was carried since their birth which couldn't be filled in any way.
And then that difference manifested itself as reality in this match that clashed one's full might against the other's full might, finally――
- ZAN-*
Michael's ~Holy Sword~ severed Homura's ~Demon Sword~ of water from the middle and got the better of the battle.
(This is my... victory-!)
The ~Holy Sword~ which wasn't obstructed by anything anymore fell down just like that in order to bisect Homura.
Michael showed his joy from his conviction in victory,
"――!?!?"
In an instant, that expression froze into dumbfoundness.
In his field of vision where not even a single inch ahead could be seen from the shock wave of the annihilation of everything of the earth surface passing through.
The figure of his hateful enemy reflected there was――changing.
Of all things, the one who was holding the broken ~Demon Sword~ of water was... not Homura.
A little girl enveloped in a red dress.
It was the avatar of his grimoire, Vel.
(–!)
And then when Michael noticed that substitution, the battle had been already decided.
Deep at the bosom of the dumbfounded Michael,
"That's a great idiotic expression yeah, ~Archangel~-san."
Homura made use of ~Teleport~ and stepped in, and unleashed a fist filled with magic power.
Michael who swung down his sword at a mistaken place was completely defenseless.
Toward this surprise attack of Homura, he couldn't make any response.
Correct, this was what Homura aimed for right from the start.
In order to obtain an even more definite victory.
"Shih-!"
What he unleashed for this chance of a lifetime, was an uppercut that he forced up with all his body.
And it was exactly as Homura aimed for, it grazed the tip of Michael's jaw accurately.
"Gu, u!?"
Thereupon Michael's body which was trying to right its stance lurched violently.
It was cerebral concussion.
No matter that he was the ~Archangel~ himself, the construction of body that he currently used was similar to that of a human.
Consequently if the tip of his jaw was grazed by a strike, a cerebral concussion would be caused by the shaking in the brain floating inside the skull.
Michael couldn't release himself from such truth.
Like that Homura took away the freedom of Michael's body, while he was at it he invoked the sorcery to the fist that he thrust up.
He summoned the sword of ~Liber Legis~, grasped its handle――
"HAAaa-!!!!"
In a flash he aimed at the neck of Michael who was in cerebral concussion and swung down the blade.
His opening taken, his movement stolen, and a final blow was delivered.
Homura didn't even give the opponent the slightest chance to counterattack, this was a flowing finishing move that could only be accomplished by real battle experience of a veteran of hundreds of battles.
The instantaneous slash without any hesitation and mercy didn't allow Michael to evade or defend,
It was just like a black thunder falling down to Michael's neck――
Crimson flower bloomed in the desolate land.
{Eh...... ?}
Instantly, a slightly idiotic voice of a girl resounded in the battlefield of the two.
That voice was unmistakably, the voice of Vel which was grasped in Homura's hand.
But that was only natural. The girl was unable to understand.
Why――
Even though her blade still hadn't reached Michael's neck, just how could this much blood come out?
"Gofu-"
But, that baffling question of Vel was only temporary.
The girl also noticed the voice that was like a cloudy groan.
The blood that dirtied the ground was――
Something that came out from the largely opened cavity at Homura's chest.
{Ma, MASTERRR――――–!?!?}
Part 9
(Nn...... ?)
A warm something was touching her cheek unpleasantly in drops.
It awakened the consciousness of Shiori who was sinking in darkness.
(Eh, I, was...... )
Within her muddy consciousness, Shiori recalled just what happened to her before she lost consciousness.
She encountered Michael inside a pocket dimension, she was restrained... just like that she was swallowed into his body entirely, that was her memory.
Like that, when she recovered the working of her brain until she could remember that, at that time
"――――-! -!"
A voice she remembered hearing before struck her ear.
Shiori knew really well the owner of that voice.
There was no mistake.
The avatar of ~Liber Legis~. The voice of that monster.
The annoying avatar of evil god who was trying to pull away Homura from the human world into the world of monsters, so that she could monopolize him alone.
For Shiori who wished for Homura to obtain happiness as a human, Vel was an opponent where hatred was insufficient to describe her feelings.
But, why did she hear her voice like that?
And then, why did the voice of that girl sounded this desperate?
To obtain the answer to that question, Shiori reflexively opened her eyelids,
"Eh――"
She saw the figure of Homura, his chest gouged standing in front of her.
"Ho, mu... ra?"
Unable to swallow the sudden situation, Shiori was dumbfounded.
On the other hand, Homura looked at Shiori who opened her eyes,
"...... Aah, that's great....... So you're still alive......"
It was a relieved smile from the bottom of his heart.
"-really. This is because, you are sleeping in a place this dangerous...... that I almost cut you down, y'know."
"That wound of yours...... ! -!? ――What's, this...... !?"
Most likely Shiori was trying to rush at Homura's side.
But, Shiori's body didn't move forward even for a little.
That was natural.
That was because the girl's face was half hidden, buried inside the chest of Michael that was exposed bare.
"As expected you stopped your sword....... So you cannot kill your beloved person for the second time."
That amazed tone of voice, was Michael's.
In other words, this was the trick of this situation's reversal.
In that decisive moment, Homura's sword should definitely have severed Michael's life.
But in that last moment timing, Michael let out the trump card that he had prepared beforehand.
Giving a glimpse of the hostage that was Shiori, he thrust before Homura the fact that killing him meant killing Shiori.
As a result, Homura stopped his sword just barely.
And then, in that fatal opening, Homura's chest was gouged open by a holy art.
"If you care for human life until that much, it would be better if you only advance in the path of faith praying to god. If you just did that... surely you wouldn't need to shoulder such great sorrow with that body of man."
There was not even a little bit of tension anymore within Michael's voice.
He was convinced.
That Homura was already... a dead person walking.
In actuality, Homura's internal organs together with his breastbones had already been blown away, no matter how excellent a magician Homura was, it was difficult to preserve his life like that.
After vomiting out even more large amounts of blood from his mouth, Homura fell down on the spot.
But―― before his body fell down to the ground, he grasped the arm that Michael thrust forward to release the holy art, that grip strongly held on to the degree that his nails caused blood to come out. Homura held his ground like that.
And then,
"Kukuku...... hahahahaha-...... !"
Even while blood was leaking out from his mouth, Homura laughed without minding that.
Looking at that reaction of Homura, Michael asked with a dubious expression."What is funny?" He asked.
In response Homura answered as if spitting out.
"It's obvious just what the hell is funny, you stupid idiot―. You said out something idiotic. The god of you assholes... has he saved us even once huh? That time, when my family was killed... That time, when Shiori was at that hell... That time when Typhon burned cities, when mankind itself was ruined... You assholes, just what the hell were you doing then?"
They didn't do anything.
When humanity was lamenting, praying, begging for salvation, there was nothing that rewarded them.
Homura knew that to a painful degree.
"Then there ain't nothing to do, but to protect them myself...... !"
But the angel didn't try to understand that grievance of Homura.
"Those trials were also all the will of god. It's going to far even beyond your station to try to surmise that with that body of man....... Humans only need to believe and pray to god no matter what kind of time they are in. If they do that, then no matter how much their bodies are ruined, they will receive the blessing of having their soul guided to the paradise of god."
It was a one-sided salvation that was too condescending in all respects.
It was a stance that didn't try to understand even for a little bit, the sense of values of humans who only possessed a single body and a single heart.
And yet, these people were exclaiming salvation with loud voices.
It was already a story where he could do nothing but laugh.
It was also only natural for Homura to laugh out.
"This talk just ain't going anywhere. I'm not calling for you. Shitty bastard."
A scorn spitted out together with blood. In response to that,
"That's my line. In your trial you didn't pray, didn't believe in god, you made use of the power of evil and imitated god. You violated god's privilege of [salvation]. That's a great sin. God will not save you anymore. In the salvation that will be carried out after this, ――is not of any concern to you anymore."
Michael put magic power into the arm that Homura clutched.
Golden magic power light was manifested in his palm.
That was the same thing with the holy art that gouged Homura's chest just now.
"Leave this world without leaving a single dust behind. You foolish ~traitor~."
Michael once more directed that power of destruction to Homura, he was going to shoot him.
Homura whose body was already dead didn't have any way to resist, that attack would surely thoroughly burn his life with certainty.
"Homuraa! Run! Just run... please-!"
Imagining that future, the pale Shiori yelled as if she was going to vomit blood.
There is no need to care of whatever happened to her anymore, so just run, she pleaded.
But, toward such Shiori, Homura was... of all things, he directed to her a powerful smile persistently,
"I'll save you for sure. Just wait."
"-............ !?"
Instantly――, the light shot out mercilessly from Michael's palm.
The fired flame of light swallowed Homura in the blink of an eye――
"――――――"
Altogether with the words that he let out in his dying moment, everything was burned to nothing, leaving not even a single dust behind.
Part 10
At that time, even in Tokyo life sphere... something unbelievable was happening.
"――――eh"
In drops, something red spilled out from the corner of Sumika's mouth together with a frothing sound.
When she dropped her sight, a golden blade wet with blood was piercing out from her chest.
And then that blade was unmistakably,
――the ~Artifact?Excalibur~.
"Finally, you showed an opening that is really an opening."
That voice tone which seemed to be apologetic somehow, belonged to the ~White Knight~ Sir James, who stabbed her in that instant that was not even a second where her ~Back Sniper~ was slightly dulling from the continuous battle.
"Wh, y...... -"
Toward the sudden attack of this man that was supposedly their ally, Sumika directed a gaze that was mixed with doubt and surprise to him that asked "Why?"
"There is nothing else to it. From the beginning I came to Japan in order to do this....... After all I understand that without the ~Evil God User~, it's the ~Grim Bullet~ that will be the biggest obstacle. In order to bring you down with certainty, I prepared this trick."
"From, the start...... so you tricked us...... -"
James nodded a little towards that blaming.
"Before I came to Japan...... I met Michael-sama. And then I was taught. The life of all of you the people of Tokyo life sphere will become the cornerstone for mankind's heaven. I had resolved my heart since that time....... If the world can be saved from the threat of demons for eternity just with seven million sacrifices, then all of you should become sacrifices."
"James, san...... -"
"I feel regretful. I am also aware that this is an act that is out of bound. However―― if by my falling into heresy I can save my motherland, then I will happily turn into a snake...... !"
Saying that, James pulled out ~Excalibur~ from Sumika's body.
And then, even faster than Sumika turning to him and aiming her gun muzzle――
The girl's neck, was lopped off with a single stroke.
The parted head and body scattered fresh blood while falling into the Tokyo life sphere beneath.
That sight―― was witnessed by the leader of the allied forces, Innocentius, through the mind transmission from James.
"So the sowed seed finally sprouted."
"Mr. James is our spy!?"
"Indeed....... After all there is no such thing of being too careful against the ~Grim Bullet~."
Innocentius returned such words towards Joseph who was shocked of this hidden ace, then Innocentius notified the whole army.
{The whole army is to turn back and attack! The enemy's main force has died! Crush them in one breath-!}
"""U O O o O o O O O o O O O O O O o O――――――!!!!"""
Raising up war cry, the allied forces' soldiers turned from their retreating battle and moved out in offense.
Originally the interception unit barely rivaled the allied force's [number superiority] with their [individual superiority] starting with the S-rank magicians like Sumika.
With this betrayal of James, the flow of the battlefield tilted to the allied forces' side in one go.
"The allied forces are turning to offense without stopping! We cannot push them back at all!"
"Kuh...... ! Of all things, for this to happen-!"
SOS signals were entering the command room of Tokyo life sphere from everywhere without pause.
If the situation kept like this, it was only a matter of time before their battle front crumbled.
Especially the side of Tokyo bay that was assisted by the traitor James was in a bad situation.
That place was already the place where the enemy was concentrated, in addition there was even a hole that was opened there.
In two, three more minutes the enemy would break through there for sure.
And then, once they allowed the enemy's breakthrough, it would become a total rout next.
Surely the enemy would then gain total control until the geofront in one stretch.
However, even if they tried to defend, the only one who could deal with James, Onjouji Kai, was now busy with suppressing Wan Tairon.
They had no piece that could hold back a S-rank.
There was no more cards available to Kinugasa.
Already,
(Homura-san...... you still haven't finished yet...... !?)
There was nothing he could do except praying for the hero's return.
Thereupon――
Uneventful empire meeting sunset in the innermost bottom of Severn valley o the evil divinity crawling the ground
The seething stars shine radiantly in blasphemy announcing the time of destiny to thy
Suddenly, a voice that Kinugasa knew well was spreading, enveloping the whole of Tokyo life sphere.
"This voice is...... !"
That was the voice of the young man that they were exactly waiting for right now.
{Homura-san! You have come back!}
Kinugasa immediately attempted a mind transmission.
But―― there was no reply coming back.
No, far from that, the transmission didn't even get connected.
(...... ?)
Just what was the meaning of this?
Putting aside Kinugasa who didn't comprehend the situation, the ritual prayer was spinned――
The lord of corridor o the person forced to choice
The key of amalgam right here Thy castle gate is opened for the sake of my friend
Arraying a hundred rakshasa on the street of the lost continuing to the abyss blow the trumpet of welcome
The stars were resonating in concert with the spun words.
The rain clouds that hung low over the battlefield began to form a giant vortex, sending myriads of thunderbolts to the ground.
"UWAaAA!?"
"What in the world is happening...... !?"
The soldiers in the battlefield screamed from this cataclysm that was like the end of the world.
But James was,
(――――- this, spell is...... )
He knew that these cursed words were an exchange of spell with an evil god.
And then, it was exactly like his premonition――
The deceiving ~God of Labyrinth~ Eihort
At the same time with the last binding words, the world distorted, an enormous evil manifested.
"Wh, what the hell is thissss!?!?"
"Flea...... ? No, that's, spider?"
Just like that soldier somewhere said, [that] which came down from the center of the vortex of sea of cloud was a mysterious appearance that was a combination of flea and spider.
It was a sheathing flesh that made one thought of a soft and flabby bloated evil tumor.
From that tumor, innumerable gnarled legs that looked similar with the nerve ganglion of insects were sticking out.
And then, scarlet eyeballs in the number that might be as many as those legs.
Those eyeballs surveyed the surrounding without any oversight, their blinking was hard to describe and inspired discomfort.
This decaying flesh that was modeled after insect, giving form to an ominous shape of evil, was exactly the lord of the underground labyrinth that existed deep under the ground of Severn valley in Britain, the ~Great Old One~ Eihort.
And then... the one who could summon these ~evil gods~ in their complete shape to this world, there was only one person in this whole world――
"Don't tell me, was Michael-sama defeated...... !?"
Looking at the figure of the evil god descending before his eyes, James went pale from imagining the worst development.
The defeat of Michael meant that all their expectations would come to nothing.
However, when he looked for it, as expected the figure of Homura couldn't be found anywhere,
"――–!"
Putting aside that uneasiness of James, Eihort showed a movement.
The scarlet eyeballs that were restlessly surveying the surroundings suddenly stopped moving, just when it looked like the eyes were going to close all at once, all the eyes opened the widest it could,
Simultaneously, light of chalk white color surged out from the opened eyeballs, painting over the world to white.
"UWAaA-!"
"What is it this time-!"
Inside the white darkness, the soldiers of the allied forces put themselves on guard.
But, even after waiting there was nothing that was like an attack coming at them.
Wondering what the heck was going on, as the light settled down, they sent their gaze to Eihort――but,
"Wha, t............ ?"
When color returned to the world, the appearance of that ominous god was already gone.
――No, not only Eihort.
Of all things, the soldiers of Tokyo life sphere that they were fighting until just now.
Their figures were also vanishing.
Even until the corpses that were lying down on the ground, all of it.
In exchange what appeared in front of the allied forces' soldiers was...... black mist.
Inside the protective wall that protected Tokyo life sphere, all was covered by a hemisphere that looked completely like a dome by muddy jet black mist.
Translator's Notes and References
1. ↑ Odaiba is an artificial island in Tokyo Bay, and Gate Bridge is a bridge that connects the two sides of the Tokyo Bay
2. ↑ Bouten Gageki in Japanese, translated as Sky Piercer. Lu Bu's weapon
3. ↑ The name Bet, He and Dalet come from semitic abjads. Bet is the second abjad, Dalet is the fourth abjad and He is the fifth abjad
| ← Ch. 19 | Ch. 21 → |