novelGrendan That Night (2)
| ← Ch.153 | Ch.155 → |
Haia who had originally planned to turn the blade downwards and overlap the flame for the next strike suddenly changed his battle plan, retreating in the blink of an eye.
He hadn't felt contact at all.
The sensation that Flame Cut brought seemed as if he were cutting through air.
Fearing that it was an afterimage or a body copy technique, Haia quickly scanned the surroundings with his eyes open, but it didn't seem that way.
"So it's like that, no wonder three people have already been defeated."
Large drops of sweat appeared on Haia's forehead.
With only one strike, he understood L?vateinn's huge strength.
"Please retreat, I only want to visit a certain place."
"I can't respond to your expectations~"
L?vateinn who had received the strike just now seemed as if nothing had happened. Accepting that fact, Haia wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"Don't say that, play with me for a bit longer~"
"......Then I have no choice."
Though Haia didn't understand, at that time, L?vateinn took action for the first time.
A sword appeared instantly in the girl's hands that had originally hung down forcelessly, and it seemed as if it had grown out of the girl's hand.
"If you will all stop me anyway......"
"Uwah!"
Her intent had already been conveyed.
Haia yelped, holding his blade out in front of him to block.
A blow pushed back his entire body.
When he realized that L?vateinn who wore a cold expression had appeared in a place very close to him, it was already after this.
"Then I will rely on force to eliminate you."
"......Just try it!"
Haia yelled, shoving away the blow that had pushed him back.
He released a Kei technique.
Psyharden Technique - Gravel Ring
The Kei technique originally randomly shot out external Kei bullets to suppress the surroundings, and after his modifications, now only shot out in front of him, bathing L?vateinn in a rain of Kei bullets.
But by that time L?vateinn's figure had already disappeared.
Appearing behind him.
"Tch!"
Going with his instincts and experience, Haia flattened his body, and something in the shape of a sword flew over his head with killing intent and wind.
Combined Internal and External Kei variant - Ryuusenkei.
His body became a tornado, blowing back L?vateinn behind him.
Haia stopped spinning, pursued the girl flying in the air.
Ryuusenkei variant - Wind Scythe.
The Ryuusenkei that had appeared earlier was collected into Haia's blade, and then once again released. The spiraling blades of wind that had been compressed to their limits would definitely gouge L?vateinn's flesh severely.
But, that destiny was easily eliminated.
The spiraling wind touched L?vateinn.
However, the blades of wind weren't able to tear the girl's body.
The girl flew around.
"Impossible!"
Seeing that scene, Haia couldn't help but make an incredulous sound.
The girl was as if she were being pulled by something, whirling around the spiral, and then being cast away.
It wasn't like a human, but rather like something light and floaty being blown around. Haia could only feel stunned speechless towards this kind of physical phenomenon.
But, he couldn't just stay speechless like this.
L?vateinn who had been sent flying out hit the ceiling, and instantly prepared to jump back down from an upside-down posture.
In other words, she was trying to jump back towards Haia.
Haia who had recovered from his amazement had sufficient time to adjust his striking posture.
He was ready to face the next strike.
However, the observers weren't ready to continue as they were.
The figure of L?vateinn who had taken a jumping posture had already disappeared.
Of course, this didn't mean that she had moved, but rather was because a giant figure had swept away the entire place where she had been.
The sound appeared after that.
The destruction also came after that.
A giant piece of metal obliterated the girl's body, destroying the ceiling and flying outwards.
It was Ruimei's Heaven's Blade, an iron ball.
"You're rambling me to death."
Ruimei ignored the rubble that fell down along with the sound of the explosion, pulling back the chain of the iron ball. The other side of the chain was connected to the giant iron ball. It had a speed completely inconsistent with its mass, and also possessed a frightening destructive power. The iron ball had quietly returned to his feet.
"It should be enough to destroy her completely, right?"
Just as Ruimei had finished speaking......
A big red pillar appeared next to him, piercing through hole that the iron ball had created and continuing to extend.
It was a crimson blaze.
"Though you're right, it's probably better not to care too much about order right now."
The one who had released the flame was Troyatte.
"You mean you won't get a turn."
"I'm taking precautions because I'm afraid that you'll be too ashamed when you're defeated. It's only insurance."
"Ha."
Hearing Troyatte's silver tongue, Ruimei made an irritated face.
"Ah~ ......Really~"
Haia's sigh made the two of them shut their mouths.
"......Speaking of which, the two of you, isn't Her Majesty's private quarters above here?"
Savaris said this.
"Ha, you're still thinking about what kind of places will be destroyed in this kind of battle!"
"Her Majesty said that it doesn't matter regardless of what gets destroyed."
To restrain Ruimei, Kanaris began explaining solemnly.
"Though she did say so, even in this kind of occasion, Her Majesty's room should also be excluded, this kind of situation is very common."
"......If some of Her Majesty's personal items fall down, that won't be funny."
Hearing Savaris' explanation, Kanaris' face became ashen.
"If some diaries she wrote fell down, I fear that our doomsday would definitely come."
"That kind of thing is really scary in various ways."
Savaris couldn't help but laugh at Troyatte's thoughts.
"Then...... it's probably better if we don't concern ourselves too much."
Seeing the attitude of her elders, Claribel warily raised her hand and spoke.
"Of course, we're not going to care, former apprentice."
"Eh? Former apprentice?"
Claribel opened her eyes wide at Troyatte's reply.
"There's no longer a master-apprentice relationship between us who are both Heaven's Blades now~"
"Ah, yes."
"That's how it is. Of course, we can't relax our guard."
"Really?"
"Do you doubt me?"
"You're right."
"Ah, nothing can be done about that."
Seeing Troyatte who was laughing this leisurely, Claribel expressed her incomprehension.
Haia who hadn't participated in the conversation could not understand either.
"We haven't relaxed our guard. The reason it seems like we've relaxed is because......"
There were new movements behind the back of Troyatte who said this.
Neither Claribel nor Haia had missed those movements.
Savaris stood there, putting his thumb and middle fingers together, appearing as if he were going to snap his fingers.
Right after he suddenly put strength into them, a moment later a sound came from his fingers.
"Because everyone has decided what comes next."
The snap overlapped with the voice of Troyatte.
Afterwards.
The remainder of the ceiling exploded.
A heavy and intense shock shook the entire palace.
In the midst of their shaking vision, L?vateinn's figure had suddenly appeared from some unknown area.
"I already pretty much understand."
Savaris said this.
"Your tricks."
This time it was Savaris standing in front of L?vateinn who had dropped down.
Perhaps because she had been covered with the dust of the rubble, but L?vateinn's entire body had been smeared with some white sand-like thing.
"Very interesting. A filth monster with the outer appearance of a human."
"............"
"Ah, up through now I've seen quite a few parasites or other things, so by now seeing a humanoid filth monster shouldn't really be much of a surprise."
"......Your beliefs are incorrect."
"Really?"
"But, there is no meaning in explaining."
"Nn?"
Savaris who was a bit puzzled at L?vateinn's attitude quickly restored his past smile.
"Anyway there's not much difference. Though there was a bit of back and forth, last time I wasn't really able to have much fun."
Savaris said this while stroking the wound on his neck. If Lintence hadn't been there in time, he would have died from the wound that Layfon had cut open.
From that day onwards, due to recuperation, he almost hadn't been able to experience any fighting worthy of being called a battle.
"Let me have some fun."
Savaris who said this showed a smile on his face that would make one uncomfortable.
Afterwards, that smile disappeared.
No, his entire body had disappeared.
"............"
L?vateinn who remained silent waved an arm, and several projections instantly erupted from the ground around her.
In the next moment, Savaris' figure appeared.
Because of his speed, Savaris' body was as if he were planning to slam into one of those projections and hurt himself.
It seemed that way...... but before that tragedy happened, Savaris' figure disappeared again.
It was an afterimage.
Whether or not she had noticed this, L?vateinn's actions didn't have the slightest hesitation.
She looked upwards.
There was the figure of Savaris dropping down in a straight line.
L?vateinn threw out the sword in her hands.
When the sword reached the middle of the space between L?vateinn and Savaris, its exterior suddenly changed. It lengthened endlessly, continuously branching out, and in a while the form of the sword had disappeared, becoming a pincushion to spear the falling Savaris.
But this time, the pincushion still hit nothing.
It was another afterimage.
No, perhaps it was more accurate to call it a phantom.
L?vateinn's gaze didn't stop scanning the surroundings.
In one place after another......
Savaris' figures suddenly appeared one after another, and this time they didn't disappear, instead filling the ruined palace.
Combined Internal and External Kei variant - Thousand Man Rush.
"Come, let me try you."
The voices of countless Savaris' overlapped.
All of the Savarises who filled the entire area took the same actions. They crossed their hands, lowering them in front of their body.
The shape of the combined hands and fingers was like the gaping mouth of a wile beast.
External-type Kei variant - Roar Kei, Focused Demolition.
Savaris added on the Luckens secret skill to his ability.
A thousand Savarises surrounded L?vateinn, releasing vibrating waves at the same time.
Vibrations filled with destructive power made a frenzied attack with L?vateinn in the center.
The assault of the vibrations produced the sound of bursting metal.
"How is it?"
In this kind of situation, Savaris happily watched L?vateinn's posture.
L?vateinn had just created great walls of thorns in her surroundings, blocking the vibrations. Whether her special substance could endure the vibrations or not, nothing had changed in L?vateinn who was behind the thorns.
However, just this wasn't enough. Every short period of time, the exterior of the thorns would collapse a bit.
Using a thousand copies to surround the enemy and then release a Kei technique to attack was the Kei combination killing technique that Savaris was the most proud of. In the storm of vibrations, there was nowhere to run, and even the thorns that possessed an annoying regenerative ability were crumbling bit by bit.
"Come on!"
The rapid movement of Kei made Savaris' consciousness reach an excited state.
Savaris opened his flashing eyes to watch L?vateinn who was inside the slowly crumbling thorns, and because of this he wouldn't miss any changes that occurred.
"How unfortunate."
The moment he stopped his Kei technique, the situation was reversed.
L?vateinn attacked from a completely opposite direction.
The thorns that had appeared there in a moment covered L?vateinn who had been surrounded by the Savarises, and then exploded. The countless spikes that flew out of the explosions pierced the Savarises produced by Thousand Man Rush one by one.
"But, I still felt something."
Savaris who had released Thousand Man Rush fell in front of Ruimei. The burst of spikes had torn his clothes in various places, and bloodstains were everywhere.
"Vibrations?"
"Yeah."
Ruimei who had been waiting while watching the battle asked, and Savaris confirmed his question.
"On the surface it seems as if she can regenerate limitlessly, but even so, vibrations seem to be able to hinder her regeneration speed."
"It seems like it won't be enough if it's only that."
"Yes. To completely eliminate her, anything that uses heat should be alright, but she still hides quite a few secrets."
L?vateinn, who had escaped from Savaris' Kei technique, had more white color on her body than before.
And because she hadn't quickly pursued, it meant that it still could be affected by the actions of the Heaven's Blade successors if they cooperated.
"Speaking of which, it would be nice if you got rid of her directly."
At that time, Barmelin said this.
"No no no, it isn't that simple and easy to defeat. That defense is very hard."
"Useless thing, go die."
"Ahahaha......"
Savaris laughed at Barmelin's abuse.
"Then, is it enough to completely eliminate her defense?"
"From the situation before, it should be that way."
"Hm, in that case, Kanaris."
"What?"
"That teamwork the youngster spoke about just now, and speaking of vibrations, you should understand, right?"
"Ah, that's right."
Though the topic had suddenly been shifted to Kanaris, she already understood just from this much being said.
"That's true, then......"
"Ah?"
"The battle captain will be Haia Laia. No, Haia Wolfstein Laia."
"Haah~?"
"We'll leave all the planning to you. Weren't you the first one to make that proposal?"
"Hey, Kanaris!"
Ruimei roared at Kanaris' words.
"I don't know how to fight cooperatively either. If you think about that, then won't his knowledge definitely be useful?"
"......Tch."
"Is that alright? Haia Wolfstein Laia."
'Wolfstein' had been stressed twice.
This was because Kanaris already thought of Haia as a Heaven's Blade successor?
Or perhaps, did she want to judge whether his might was fitting of what being a Heaven's Blade successor expressed?
Regardless of which......
"Then, please allow me to command you~"
Haia responded.
There were several people with unhappy expressions.
However, Haia felt that this was very meaningful.
The fact that he felt it was meaningful showed that he still had power left.
The Heaven's Blade successors would listen to his commands, to fight with this difficult enemy.
"Things are really becoming more and more interesting."
Haia said this.
◇
Know yourself and know the enemy, and you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.
The origins of that saying were already unknown, and no one had been able to unravel the mystery.
Even so, that saying had always been passing through the autonomous moving cities, through this world, and through the battlefields, and it was used in many places other than this.
And now, Haia was also saying it.
"Our information on the enemy and friendly information are both insufficient, it's really the worst situation."
Haia had not been a Heaven's Blade successor for long, and after that he hadn't had the opportunity to observe the fights of other Heaven's Blade successors.
A few moments ago had been the first time he had seen them fight, so it could be said that they were people he was cooperating with for the first time.
Also, many mysteries revolving around the enemy's body hadn't yet been unraveled.
"In this kind of situation it's very difficult to customize battle plans~"
(But, you've already issued an order. )
Elsmau said this. Her Psychokinesis flake was by Haia's ear, quietly glowing with light.
The feeling of this position was very familiar. Though it was hard to put into words, it was a feeling that Haia felt was very familiar.
"Ah, it's not the first time I've been dragged into battle without any information."
Haia who was being toyed with by that kind of familiar sensation replied.
He didn't have any time now to care about other things.
So his orders were very vague.
However, he could only do this much.
"Anyway, those peoples' strengths are too great~"
The 'people' that he spoke about naturally meant the Heaven's Blade successors.
Even if they seemed like extremely refined Kei techniques, they would become large-scale Kei techniques when used by Heaven's Blade successors due to their massive strength, making the techniques look a bit rough.
Many of these 'people' had gathered together, and if it was very difficult for them to exchange opinions with each other, he could only give out a set of general orders.
"Ah, even so, in the end......"
As he said this, the first action began.
The enemy wouldn't wait, and their side wouldn't wait either.
"Really~"
Just as Haia shrugged his shoulders, the sound of a clash rang out.
A new round of attacks began by Ruimei's iron ball.
The iron ball that was interlaced with external Kei rushed towards L?vateinn in a simple straight line.
The situation didn't unfold the same way as the first time.
The iron ball made an intense sound, but it wasn't the sound of destroying the target.
The moment before it struck its target, a wall composed of thorns blocked the iron ball's path, receiving it.
"It's not over!"
Ruimei let out a majestic roar.
The thorns that had received the iron ball tried grabbing it.
In order to stop the thorns, the chain swung intensely.
The iron chain intertwined with Kei shook off the thorns like a fierce snake, moreover preparing to attack L?vateinn inside, but it was quickly obstructed by other thorns.
"Tch."
It was simply a defensive formation formed by thorns.
Ruimei who retrieved his iron ball retreated back just like that.
And a figure quickly stood on the flying iron ball.
It was Barmelin.
"......Let me break open your sheethole."
Swearing like she had in the past, Barmelin stood up the cannon that her Heaven's Blade had restored into.
The Heaven's Blade cannon whose Kei strength had been set as high as possible absorbed Barmelin's Kei, which became a cannonball of light and was shot out.
The bullet that was shot out drew out a beautiful arc with its tail, becoming a line of light.
Though it was a sudden, single shot, L?vateinn responded to it.
More accurately, the thorns responded to it.
The thorns focused at the position of the incoming shot, becoming a shield.
A collision. The bullet split because of the explosion, destroying the surroundings.
"How annoying."
Barmelin wrinkled her face looking at the results, and then returned from on top of the iron ball to Ruimei's side.
The sudden attack wouldn't end like this.
"He, llo, there~"
There was someone who still spoke to L?vateinn with a cutesy voice even in this kind of situation.
It was Troyatte.
Troyatte who had sneaked behind L?vateinn's back held a staff in his hands that was his Heaven's Blade.
"I'm here to defeat you, miss."
He said this while he released a technique.
External-type Kei, Karen Kei variant - Seven Fangs.
In an instant, a snake with seven heads appeared in front of Troyatte.
Countless fangs were arranged in the mouths of the seven snake heads, and these fangs wanted to tear the body of the girl L?vateinn in front of them.
However, the thorns defended against the fangs.
In the opposite position they became a shield to block Barmelin's shell, and it was only right that a gap should have appeared where Troyatte was, but that gap was filled faster than the speed of the Heavens' Blades combination techniques.
"Eh? What an unexpectedly shy girl."
Other thorns attacked Troyatte. After fighting the thorns off with Seven Fangs, Troyatte also retreated.
Next was Claribel.
As if coming out from the shadow of Troyatte who was retreating, Claribel closed the distance between her and L?vateinn.
"Vati-san!"
Claribel shouted the name that the girl had used in Zuellni.
She had originally thought that this would make the girl waver, but it was evident that the girl had no response at all.
"Really!"
Though it was an outcome that had already been guessed, Claribel still couldn't help but exclaim that word. After that, she flowed Kei into the Heaven's Blade that she had received not too long ago. The Heaven's Blade became a shape exactly the same as Kochouenshiken, and it didn't even seem to have any different feelings when she used it, but right now there was no time for her to ponder about those doubts.
She released her Kei technique.
External-type Kei, Karen Kei variant - Gohachou.
Butterflies with wings of flame danced.
The flaming butterflies proliferated in instants, filling L?vateinn's gaze very quickly.
The speed at which this attack had proliferated would make normal people slip up in the timing of their counter, and what would L?vateinn do in this situation?
"............"
The thorns took what seemed to be an offensive defense, clearing away all of the flaming butterflies in the surroundings in a sweep.
"Umm."
Because of the racing Kei, Claribel who had finally escaped from tension made an unhappy expression and mumbled.
"In that case!"
Claribel got angry, manipulating the butterflies.
The butterflies flying towards the thorns exploded one by one.
The explosions and red flame filled the surroundings.
"Haha!"
The imposing manner of the swelling red flame made even Claribel herself stare.
At that time, someone pulled her clothes from behind.
"Guah?"
Her collar was grabbed.
"Idiot, get back."
It was Troyatte.
"The Kei flow of Heaven's Blades are different from ordinary Dites, remember that."
"It...... It was my first time."
Troyatte, who was pulling Claribel while looking at the explosions, smiled.
"Really......"
"Ahahaha."
Claribel sat down in front of the sighing Troyatte.
At that time, a figure passed over their heads.
It was Haia.
He was running quickly on the wall that had been broken open because of the explosions.
Thorns chased Haia.
"Hah!"
Haia held a smile on his face as he exclaimed, an excited smile. Though he hadn't become crazy about fighting, if he didn't rely on smiling then he wouldn't be able to move due to the fear of the mighty pressure that came from behind his back.
The thorns that still hadn't lost their momentum even after receiving Claribel's attack up to now chased Haia, and Haia could only run circles through the room while taking aim at L?vateinn.
The thorns that chased him from behind reached out a huge spine towards Haia's back.
Haia evaded the spines that shot out like rain, arriving in front of L?vateinn.
Psyharden Technique - Flame Cut.
One swift Iai strike.
However, before this Iai strike was released, the thorns had already gathered in front of L?vateinn.
Though it hadn't been completely blocked, the cut path of the strike was unable to catch L?vateinn.
"Hey! You lost!"
Ruimei roared at Haia who was retreating breathlessly.
"Come on now, if we could succeed in one try we wouldn't have to work this hard~"
"What did you say!?"
"If you have an opinion, you should have beaten it with your first blow."
"Ugh......"
"Alright, then let's continue."
"How long do we have to keep going?"
Barmelin asked this.
"Until we succeed, regardless of how many times we try."
"How annoying."
Barmelin's sentence became the signal for the next attack.
"Uraah!!!!"
Ruimei once again roared, the iron ball flying towards L?vateinn's body.
Ruimei, Barmelin and Troyatte along with Claribel and Haia. The continuous attack composed of five Heaven's Blade successors endlessly repeated.
The order of Ruimei, Barmelin, and Troyatte didn't change for the most part, and in comparison, Claribel and Haia attacked from time to time in between the three of them, keeping their assault from becoming monotonous.
In the second round of attacks Troyatte still helped Claribel a little, but from the third round onwards Claribel could already rely on herself to complete her mission perfectly.
Seeing her figure, closer to himself than the other Heaven's Blade successors, Haia was extremely satisfied with his judgment.
It could even be said that the teamwork of the other three was carried out easily.
But actually, they primarily relied on their reflexes to act.
What could they do to let the actions of the next in line become easier, they definitely wouldn't be thinking of such a thing.
It was easier for a provocative action like 'well, what can you do next?' to appear. Taking the bait, the next person would unleash an even more intense attack than the last.
Troyatte who didn't seem to share that way of thinking from the look of it actually had this tendency in the end. Heaven's Blade successors were truly a group formed of loners who hated to lose.
And Haia and Claribel mixed in with the three of them, mitigating that kind of competition.
"Annoying."
"Don't speak too much, watch your surroundings a bit~"
According to Haia's first plan, if they wanted to destroy L?vateinn's defense, it couldn't be resolved by just continuously increasing their destructive power.
"I'll give you the commands for when to use your moves~"
"Then give them earlier."
"Don't say it like it's that easy~"
Haia already felt bored of responding to Barmelin, and he didn't even know what round of attack this was anymore.
But L?vateinn's thorns almost hadn't been reduced at all.
In any case, a doubt had sprung up in his mind, perhaps these thorns were completely unbreakable?
Then in that case they could only make the thorns disappear entirely.
No, he had pretty much planned for that since the beginning.
"But......"
Haia and Claribel continuously inserted themselves between the actions of the three of them, and though it seemed like a very random sequence, it still had a well-defined sequence of actions.
The thorns calculated the irregularities in their order as it tried to root out the rules behind their actions.
Initially, his priority had been to make the appropriate adjustments.
However, what would happen when the opponent had already read the patterns of this side and decided on her own to destroy them?
Clang!
Haia's blade cut the ground.
That strike was the signal.
According to the order, the next one should be Troyatte's attack.
No, Troyatte had already moved. His Kei technique took shape, coming to the state before release.
In the process, others also began their own moves one by one, refining and condensing their Kei.
That was the process up to now.
But, it wasn't the same.
"Raaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!"
Ruimei roared.
Great flames of Kei covered the entirety of his iron ball, flying towards L?vateinn.
At the same time, a giant shell also shot out of Barmelin's cannon.
"Crimson!"
Claribel also released her greatest Kei technique. Igniting the Kei hidden in the palace with lines of fire, in a moment it became waves of flame rolling towards L?vateinn.
Haia also ran Kei through his blade, and released.
Psyharden Technique - Sakaneji Chousaku.
A Kei technique that thrust out with stabbing and swirling Kei that was gathered together.
Afterwards, Troyatte also used his technique.
External-type Kei, Karen Kei variant - Nightshade Demon.
This was the Kei technique that Troyatte had been quietly preparing and concealing throughout this battle.
A black sphere passed through the thorns, and suddenly appeared in front of L?vateinn.
This move wasn't originally a technique for attacking.
Absorbing the techniques of the opponent, and reflecting them back. It was a Kei technique with this special feature.
Troyatte used the greatest Kei strength that he could, letting this Kei skill appear in front of L?vateinn.
This Kei technique that had the feature of drawing in other Kei skills had an effect on the Kei techniques that the other four Heaven's Blades had released.
It played its part, drawing in the other Kei techniques.
Strength was gathered there.
The amalgamation of four Kei techniques flew at L?vateinn like a deadly rain of arrows.
The movements of the thorns were slightly slow compared to this. Because it had gotten used to the speed of the attacks before, it had responded a bit slowly.
Though it was barely a matter of seconds, in a fight with Heaven's Blade successors, even a short moment could decide everything.
Though it wasn't like the wall of thorns completely hadn't made a defense.
It couldn't be said that it was in a completed state.
The gathered Kei techniques collided with the incomplete thorns, exploding.
Explosions shattered the shield, ravaging that which had continually protected L?vateinn.
Before the explosions disappeared, two other figures moved.
They were Savaris and Kanaris.
"This is pretty good."
Savaris said this as he jumped into the blaze.
It was praise for the battle plan.
The Heaven's Blades would obviously be able to cooperate if it were only for a moment. But, just as Haia had expected, if the Heaven's Blade successors had taken various actions because of provocations between themselves, and all of their actions were for their common goal, then it would be different.
Claribel was the same.
"Regardless of what happens, I'll use everything I can for this chance."
Kanaris behind him was ready to unleash her Kei technique at any time. Savaris had jumped into the scorching blaze a step ahead, releasing his own technique.
External Kei variant - Roar Kei, Hermit's Palm.
That moment, Savaris had already entered the state of Thousand Man Rush.
But, Savaris was a single person.
No, his momentary actions had made an incomprehensible afterimage phenomenon appear.
Yes.
A thousand Savarises were all in the same place.
All of the Savarises released a Kei technique from the same place. It was a compact gathering rather than a surrounding.
The vibrations released from that place formed a thick pillar.
Next was Kanaris.
In the gaps between Haia and the others' attacks, she and Savaris had been continuously refining their Kei.
Savaris' Hermit's Palm was a technique that required long preparation.
Though it possessed strong destructive force, because of the long preparation that it required, it had been judged as a Kei technique unsuitable for actual combat.
The Kei technique that Kanaris unleashed was the same.
"......Then."
The moment Savaris released Hermit's Palm, Kanaris also released her Kei technique.
External-type Kei variant - Kagura Priestess' Ritual Dance.
Kanaris' rapier cut sound and rearranged it. Her method of fighting that had been named sound strikes was even stronger than Savaris' with regard to vibrations.
The sound strike technique that had Kanaris' extraordinarily high Kei power seemed as if it added to Savaris' Hermit's Palm.
From the sound of it, it was quite tranquil.
However, the results were intense indeed.
The vibration waves formed and gathered by Hermit's Palm that had been released from Savaris' hands seemed as if they had suddenly been torn apart and spread out, becoming even more intense, engulfing L?vateinn.
Kagura Priestess' Ritual Dance.
This was a rarity for Heaven's Blade successors to use, a trick that strengthened Kei techniques.
Normal Military Artists would use Kei techniques to strengthen their companion's techniques when they were fighting cooperatively, but this was different.
The move that Kanaris released particularly strengthened the might of sound attacks.
This was the reason behind the increase in Savaris' vibrations.
The sound of the explosions produced by the vibrations were different from normal destruction. The sounds that the particles composing substance made when they collided with each other at high speed was fine like the sound of tiny bells, as well as creaky like the sound a piece of iron would make.
"Uwah."
Because of the overly intense sound, Claribel quickly blocked her ears and retreated.
She wasn't the only one who withdrew, Haia did as well, and other than Savaris, the other Heaven's Blades all pulled back their distance.
It wasn't only because of the noise.
The vibrations that pierced through L?vateinn continued destroying everything behind her.
Because of this, the already-dilapidated palace began crumbling.
It was already commendable for the palace that could withstand the might of a few Heaven's Blades to have held out till now in this situation that couldn't be described as just 'a few' Heaven's Blades.
But now, the palace began to crumble.
The ceiling cracked, and fragmented rubble fell down bit by bit.
In order to avoid the falling rubble, the Heaven's Blades retreated.
And L?vateinn......?
Savaris' Kei technique still continued. The falling rubble was crushed by the shockwaves, and the dust produced filled the surroundings.
And this quickly brought about a new situation.
Flame suddenly danced through the surroundings.
A dust explosion.
The flames that had been spread all over by the shockwaves of the battle ignited the concentrated dust, producing an explosion.
"Wow......"
The explosion continued, and the flame swelled without limits, not seeming at all as if it were about to stop.
The explosion and flame didn't have that much strength.
However, the chaotic flame would affect vision, and there was no way to confirm what was happening in the center of things.
"Hey, how is it~?"
After moving to a place that the flame couldn't reach, Haia asked this into the Psychokinesis flake.
(I'm not too clear on it. )
"What do you mean?"
(Because of that explosion, Psychokinesis has become disturbed to a degree, and before this, the Psychokinesis around the palace was already unstable. )
"Nn? When did this start?"
(The instability started after the enemy invaded, and continued as the battle went on. Now it's becoming worse. If this goes on it may only be a matter of time before we're unable to communicate. )
"......Do you think it has to do with this thing?"
(Definitely. )
"Ahh."
Haia mumbled a reply to Elsmau's words.
The explosion still continued, and he was very clear that the reason of the explosion was the dust explosion.
Because the flame still hadn't disappeared, that meant the source of the explosion, the dust, still hadn't disappeared.
The fact that the pressure of the Kei technique still hadn't disappeared said that Savaris still continued to release his Kei technique even now.
Though Savaris was surprised at this extraordinary Kei strength, this wasn't the only problem.
If the dust explosion still continued, and the Kei technique still continued, that meant that Savaris who was in the center of the explosion was still in battle.
"It seems like we haven't completely dealt with her~"
Thinking this, Haia felt a chill near his temple even though he was in a incomparably hot environment.
"Hey, let go of me!"
"What are you trying to do!?"
After hearing Ruimei and Kanaris' voices, Haia looked over.
"Does it even need to be said, obvious I'm going to give her a finishing blow."
"That's what Savaris is doing now."
"It's because I can't trust him that I'm saying this!"
It seemed that Ruimei still wanted to continue attacking, and Kanaris was trying to stop him.
Attacking...... If he could, Haia also wanted to do that.
However......
"Where's Savaris?"
"Hah! Who cares about that guy who couldn't finish the enemy off."
Even for the strongly individualistic Heaven's Blades, other than Ruimei who said this, the others didn't seem like they were going to take any actions.
Kei pressure could still be felt from the center of the explosion.
"Out of my way!"
"No!"
While Ruimei and Kanaris bickered, the other Heaven's Blades didn't move at all. Claribel had a confused appearance, and what about the other two?
"............"
"............"
Troyatte and Barmelin completely ignored the other two, continually watching the center of the raging flame.
Though they hadn't made a decision like Ruimei, they still understood that they definitely couldn't relax their guard in the current state.
However, Ruimei's iron ball wasn't thrown to the center of the explosion in the end.
It wasn't because Kanaris had persuaded him.
Rather, suddenly, the Kei pressure disappeared.
If it were only this, then they should have taken action that moment. Not only Ruimei, but Haia also thought so. The other four probably also planned the same.
After the Kei pressure disappeared, if L?vateinn still lived, then Haia and the others would have no reason to be troubled.
However, they weren't given sufficient time.
At the same time the Kei pressure disappeared, it happened.
The dust explosion also stopped.
The unstoppably blazing flame also suddenly disappeared.
At the same time, a sense of danger assaulted the spectators.
"Wah!"
Thorns penetrated through the disappearing dust.
But, the size wasn't the same.
The thorns near Haia now were as large as tree trunks.
"What!?"
While making a surprised sound, Haia observed calmly. The other Heaven's Blade successors were receiving the thorns' attacks at the same time.
An inauspicious sound came from the base of the thorns.
At that time, the thorns swung out without any specific target, and something appeared.
No, it had fallen there.
"Savaris!"
Kanaris was the one who had shouted.
As if he had been tossed away by the thorns, Savaris fell down near Haia.
"What's going on~?"
'Are you alright?' There wasn't any time for Haia to ask this.
"Couldn't do anything about it."
Savaris who responded to him like this wasn't completely unharmed. However, seeing as he didn't have any burn marks, the wounds he had received weren't from the dust explosion.
"It seems that we've underestimated our opponent's abilities a little."
"Abilities?"
Savaris didn't know what he was saying.
But Haia had quickly understood.
The inauspicious sound grew louder.
Speaking of which, the crumbling of the palace had already stopped, and though they couldn't see the surroundings clearly because of the smoke that the dust explosion had produced, the palace couldn't have been completely destroyed already.
That strange silence heightened the troublesome premonition inside him.
"It's coming."
Savaris said.
Something slowly emerged from the smoke.
L?vateinn.
Her posture had changed a bit, and her clothing had become the same as what one wore to fight outside the city.
However, just that much of a change wasn't enough to make them feel surprised.
The smoke slowly disappeared.
No, something that shouldn't be disappearing was disappearing.
Then, the smoke was being absorbed, that was a fact that Haia quickly understood after this.
"Impossible!"
Thinking carefully, that was a size that he had already gotten used to.
However, not a single person had noticed that thing being there.
That thing was under L?vateinn's feet.
A thing put together by countless thorns.
The problem was, that size.
The diameter of the thorns that had just attacked Haia was already about as large as Haia's height.
Every vine of thorns had that thickness, and their length definitely wasn't short.
The thing that they had put together seemed about as big as a male phase filth monster.
That kind of thing, when had it been made?
Had it started when Savaris had released his vibrations?
While she was being destroyed, and showing far more regenerative speed than the destructive speed that they displayed, had she deliberately prepared that kind of thing?
"This thing is really an incredible monster."
As Haia said this, the surrounding smoke became even thinner.
It disappeared cleanly.
With that, the appearance of L?vateinn and the monster became even clearer.
Moreover, the surrounding situation as well......
"This is......"
Troyatte said this.
Before them was the scene of the destroyed palace, but the method of destruction definitely wasn't normal.
It wasn't the scale of the destruction.
Rather, it was the nature of the destruction.
It was evident that the palace hadn't been destroyed by the shocks of the battle.
No, there was portion that had been destroyed by the battle.
However, the degree of crumbling was already far more than a normal situation, and the palace had become like sand.
Though he had thought this could have been brought about because of the vibrations, it shouldn't be only that. It was very clear that it had been produced by something with a wider range.
Because the Kei technique that Savaris had released was a concentrated vibration wave. Even if L?vateinn's surroundings had become like this, it should be impossible for the area behind Haia and the others to have been affected.
Not only Haia, but the other Heaven's Blade successors also noticed this.
"......Could it be that we're going to be eaten here?"
Claribel said this.
"Probably."
Troyatte also agreed.
"The traces in that thing's surroundings seem artificial. However I look it doesn't seem to be produced by Sava-Kana's combination."
"Though your abbreviation makes me extremely displeased, what you said is right."
Savaris felt the wound on his neck as he nodded.
"That thing regenerated while it was being destroyed, and even made that kind of thing. What a chilling scene."
Savaris' expression was clearly not as frightened as he had said, and he had a happy expression, his mouth curved into a deep smile.
"Well, next...... What's the battle plan after this?"
"Wait a bit~"
Savaris' tone was extremely lively.
Compared to this, Haia's tone was a bit heavy.
Not just a regenerative ability that was mightier than normal, it was able to and had the ingenuity to use its regenerative ability to use the surrounding substance to create new material.
No, from the start, L?vateinn's regenerative ability was actually creation.
Regardless, the important question was whether her ability was greater than the destructive ability of this side. How great was that creation ability? Did it have a weak point?
Did she have a vital point like a normal organism?
Though he had also been troubled by these kinds of things when he faced filth monsters, however, the difficulty of the problem this time was far greater.
He worried endlessly, and before Haia thought of a way to resolve this......
"No, this is over."
L?vateinn opened her mouth.
"You cannot stop me, this has already been proven. If you continue to fight, it's unfavorable to both you and I."
What was she saying in this situation?
The first half of what she said could be taken as her declaration of victory.
Then, what about the latter half?
"Quickly halt your aggression, and leave. This is a warning."
Unfavorable to both sides?
A warning?
"That's really annoying~"
Haia scratched his head.
He hadn't been a Heaven's Blade successor for long.
Even though Haia was like that, he could think of how the other Heaven's Blade successors would react after hearing this.
"Compared to that......"
Haia had become a Heaven's Blade successor, and a lot of that had been actually for his dead teacher. The strong desire that had been produced from jealousy.
After becoming a Heaven's Blade successor, he didn't have any other targets anymore.
So saying that he had no reason to fight should be a definite conclusion.
"Speaking of which, the original Mercenary Gang didn't deal with these unprofitable battles~"
However......
"......But those words just now made me a bit mad~"
What the fate of the world would be, he honestly still didn't understand after hearing that much. In the travels he had experienced with Karian, he had never gotten a feel for it even experiencing this kind of battle.
So, this was a problem of price.
A problem of whether he should be classified as a Military Artist.
"So, I can't run~"
He said calmly. It wasn't his style to let himself be controlled by anger.
"What are you joking about, this bastard!"
Ruimei roared.
Right, in this kind of situation it would be fine just to allow someone with that kind of style to act.
Haia walked forward.
He didn't have to confirm whether there were people who wanted to flee. If they truly wanted to run, then let them go.
No one ran.
"......This is only a waste of time."
It was unknown how L?vateinn had recognized the attitude of Haia and the others, but her expression stayed motionless like iron.
"Then I can only rely on force."
"Wait!"
The one who shouted was Kanaris.
But L?vateinn ignored her shout.
The sound it made was quiet.
Quietly, it began digging.
"Hey, what's going on!?"
Haia asked this of Elsmau on the other side.
When had such a giant thing appeared and started digging down?
(No good, Psychokinesis can't reach underground. )
The voice of Elsmau that reached his ears was a bit fuzzy.
"What!?"
(The Psychokinesis surrounding the target is extremely chaotic, and gathering information is impossible. )
"Understood."
Haia ended the conversation with Elsmau.
Other than Haia, the other Heaven's Blades already began impeding that thing from getting down.
Not one was clear on the reasons, but the material that formed that monster of thorns was the rubble of the palace, and at the same time as this material was gathered, the entire monster continuously eroded.
However, it was truly surprising that it could break through so easily.
The monster of thorns ignored the harassment of the Heaven's Blades, continuing to move down.
Perhaps the fact that its speed was this slow was due to the fact that the path to its goal wasn't wide enough.
"For now, it won't be good if we don't think about how to stop her~"
He spoke to himself.
The others also thought about that.
Haia who tried to pursue L?vateinn with a rising Kei pressure suddenly stopped his body.
"What's going on?"
Haia regained his posture that he had almost lost, widening his eyes and looking at the surrounding situation.
Vibrations made the ground beneath his feet shake endlessly, and L?vateinn's descent stopped.
"Nn?"
There seemed to be some hidden light under the monster of thorns.
"A thread?"
There was something like that.
Threads were lined up at equal intervals, forming a net that completely stopped the monster of thorns.
"This is......"
A person appeared in Haia's mind.
"There's only one person who can do this kind of thing."
Savaris who had retreated to Haia's side said this.
Haia began searching for that person.
Found him.
There was a figure somewhat far away from Haia.
He gulped.
The person standing there was as he expected, but was a bit different.
"What were you doing!?"
Kanaris was the one who roared.
"The things outside have already been tidied up."
The one who was roared at was the person who had stopped L?vateinn's descent, Lintence, who replied with an unmoving face.
"Wasn't that given to other people!"
"If you think about what we have to do after this, those things would only become unnecessary annoyances."
Haia became speechless from Lintence saying this directly.
"Thinking that they will bring trouble, what a good person."
Savaris who was by Haia's side said this.
"Because the people who would die in the battle are too weak anyway, you went to resolve the things outside, is that what happened?"
Haia said this, surprised.
"So that's how it is~"
He understood that way of thinking.
However, there was still something he didn't understand.
"......Then."
Ruimei said this.
"Why is that guy here?"
Yes, it was that. Haia's gaze turned back.
Haia who stood by Savaris cast his gaze to someone outside of the group.
"I don't know, it was only a coincidence that I ran into him."
Lintence spoke coldly.
Why would he be here? Haia wanted to ask.
The person who had been called 'that guy' showed a vicious gaze, looking downwards.
Confirming the appearance of L?vateinn.
"Hey!"
The displeased Ruimei roared.
"I'm here because I'm here. Please don't ask that kind of obvious question."
From his appearance he looked simple, but when he used such a sharp gaze and said this kind of thing, he really made one feel that he was a normal youngster.
"You little kid!"
As expected, Ruimei's voice became even more impatient.
"Isn't a Military Artist who can't use his full strength just a handicap?"
Savaris said this.
Haia looked at his hands, where he held a weapon of the same kind that he used in the Academy City.
That was obvious.
The weapon that had once belonged to him was now grasped in Haia's hands.
Right.
That guy was no longer a Heaven's Blade successor.
A normal Military Artist who couldn't use his strength freely.
But, that guy didn't waver a bit.
"If you think that I'm in your way, isn't it enough to just ignore me? ......When did you become such tender people?"
"Ha......Hahahahaha! It's truly as you said."
The response of that guy made Savaris laugh loudly.
"That's how it is, doesn't everyone think that rejecting someone who wants to join the battle is quite unnecessary?"
Savaris' attitude made one feel as if he were acting, and it wasn't only Haia who believed this, right?
......However, the Heaven's Blade successors here had already accepted his existence, that was a fact.
"Really......"
It was really a bad joke.
Layfon Alseif had appeared here, making Haia feel like it was a terrible joke.
| ← Ch. 153 | Ch. 155 → |