Chapter 9: The Fateful Battle
Sirius
Dome, Team Kaguya’s waiting room.
“That
concludes the strategy.”
As
the final meeting came to an end, the members of Team Kaguya each let out a
long, deep breath.
“This
is... quite a reckless plan, isn’t it?”
“Rather
than reckless, I would hardly call this a plan at all.”
Yuzuhi
gave a wry smile, while Sophia openly voiced her complaints.
“B-But
we have to do it...!”
Nina
clenched both fists tight, bracing herself with determination.
“Yeah.
If Chloe says this is our only option, then it must be. In that case, all that’s
left is to give it everything we’ve got!”
After
glancing around at her teammates’ faces, Minato struck her fist into her palm.
“I’m
sorry that this is the only strategy I could come up with. But try to
understand. Team Helion is just that formidable an opponent. The abilities of
Nevilleworth and Medurone, Sui’s stealth techniques, Teordio’s marksmanship,
and Roverica’s Bercier-Veurne... They are stronger than any team we’ve faced
until now. Individually and in overall strength, we don’t measure up to them.
If there’s any opening to exploit, it’s this one point alone.”
As
she said that, Chloe curled her lips into a fearless smile.
“But
in regard to that one point, I give you my guarantee. They will move exactly as
I said they would.”
“That
is both reassuring and rather terrifying, isn’t it?”
Sophia
gave an exaggerated shrug, already entirely back to her usual self.
“In
this match, no single person will be the lynchpin. If we’re going to win, we
need everyone’s strength, no one can be missing. Rather than focusing on
chances to defeat the enemy, don’t miss opportunities to help your teammates.
That’s all from me.”
“Oh,
then, can I say something?”
Minato
raised her hand smoothly.
“My,
how unusual.”
“Yeah,
because this match... Of course it’s incredibly important to all of us, but
more than anyone, I think it’s important to Chloe too.”
At
those words, Chloe lifted her eyebrows slightly in surprise.
“I
never expected you to be so considerate. But there’s no need to worry. As I’ve
said many times, I was merely on the same team as them in the past...”
“I
know. But when we first saw them at the opening ceremony, and when I watched
their match, I realized something. I thought... ah, these people are trying to
deny all of us... everyone here who’s poured their feelings into this place.”
If
they disliked Minato, that was fine. That couldn’t be helped. It was sad to be
hated, but such things happened.
But
now that she thought about it, Roverica’s disgust had not been directed at Minato
herself. Through Minato, it had felt as though she were venting her irritation
at this Asterisk itself.
“...That’s
perceptive of you, Minato. You’re probably right. They despise us. They look
down on us, and they hate us.”
“Why,
though? I felt something similar myself, but if anything, it seemed less like
they looked down on us and more like they were scorning the Festa itself.
Normally, you don’t pay that much attention to something you look down on, do
you?”
Yuzuhi
tilted her head, clearly unable to make sense of it.
“Yes...
that’s probably because we’re chasing our dreams.”
“Hah?
Why would that be something to hate us for? That’s taking out your frustrations
way too far!”
“M-Maybe
they’re just jealous of us?”
“...”
Chloe’s
eyes, as she looked at Sophia and Nina, seemed distant. Not mocking, rather,
there was a gentle, warm resignation in them, as though she knew they could
never quite understand.
I
knew it, Minato thought.
Chloe
probably understood their feelings. Even if she no longer stood on that side,
the shadow of that world still lingered beside her past.
And
that was precisely why...
“...We’ll
win, and tear that away from them.”
“Hm?”
Chloe
looked back at Minato, who had muttered the words under her breath.
“Oh,
it’s nothing. Anyway, we’re absolutely winning this match!”
When
Minato thrust out her right hand, the others layered theirs on top of it, each
wearing a firm, resolute smile.
“Of
course.”
“Only
naturally!”
“Y-Yeah!
We won’t lose!”
And
finally, Chloe placed her right hand on top and said, “Yes. You’re right. Let’s
win, no matter what.”
At
the same time, Sirius Dome, Team Helion’s waiting room.
“Well
then, it’s about time.”
Nevilleworth
rose to his feet expressionlessly, and the others likewise stood from the
sofas.
“Tch!
Finally, huh? Damn, I was getting sick of waiting.”
Roverica
clicked her tongue and spat the words out, biting down on a tablet she had
taken from a pill case and crushing it between her teeth.
“My,
my. Were you really that excited for your match with those girls?”
“Hah?
Don’t screw with me, Medurone. I don’t care who the opponent is, this little
make-believe game here is nothing but boring. Just. .. grinding that brat
Wakamiya Minato into dust has meaning. That’s all.”
That
look she had given him when they faced each other in front of Sirius Dome.
Just
recalling those straight, unflinching eyes made her hunger swell and her
irritation spike.
She
would crush her thoroughly, utterly, beyond all recovery.
If
only to soothe this endless starvation, even a little.
“Meaning,
huh...? That’s an interesting thing for you to say, Roverica. Personally, just
getting to play with such adorable girls would be enough for me.”
Teordio
said it teasingly, wearing a grin so frivolous it could not have been more so,
but Roverica ignored him.
Then,
suddenly, Sui’s gaze shifted to the door and he tensed.
“...Someone’s
there.”
In
an instant, all of them moved into guarded stances, and Roverica immediately
manifested Bercier-Veurne, cleaving the door clean in two.
“Who’s
there!”
“Whoa
there. That’s a rather dangerous welcome.”
“...!”
At
the sight of the man, Nevilleworth and Medurone dropped to one knee
respectfully and bowed their heads.
“...Our
apologies.”
“We
did not expect you to come here.”
A
beat later, Teordio and Sui followed suit.
Only
Roverica remained standing, with Bercier-Veurne dangling from his right hand,
as he faced the man, Liberio Pareto.
“Yo.
What brings you all the way out here?”
“Roverica.”
Nevilleworth
shot him a reprimanding glare, but Liberio raised a hand to stop him and smiled
innocently.
“Yes,
well, I hadn’t really intended to show my face either. But you see, Minervieu
is on the opposing team today, isn’t she?”
At
those words, Medurone’s shoulder twitched.
“So
what? You think we’d fall behind to a bunch of trash like that?”
“That’s
not what I’m saying. It’s just... she knows you all very well. And she’s quite
sharp. Yes, that’s right. She was exceptionally capable.”
Finding
Liberio’s nostalgic tone deeply irritating, Roverica spat back,
“There’s
nothing to worry about. She’s gone completely soft.”
“Oh?
So you’ve already met? Hmm... In that case, perhaps this little gift was
unnecessary.”
Saying
so, Liberio tossed the case he was holding to Teordio.
“Oho,
for me? I never refuse what comes my way, that’s my motto. If it’s being
offered, I’ll take it... wait, this is...!”
Teordio’s
eyes widened as he activated the weapon device inside the case.
“Teordio,
I thought you would be able to make better use of that than that...
whatever-they’re-called team.”
“As
expected of you, President! You understand perfectly! Of course I will!”
Grinning
as he capered about like a child given a brand-new toy, Teordio curled the
corner of his mouth upward.
“With
this, I’ll be able to escort that young lady far more stylishly.”
“Yes,
I have high expectations.”
“What’s
this? Special treatment just for that sleazy flirt?”
Roverica’s
tone was purely sardonic, he wasn’t asking for anything, but Liberio,
unusually, turned serious.
“Now,
now. Haven’t I already entrusted you with the greatest power I can bestow? It
would trouble me if you asked for more.”
“Hah...
Right. This damned Orga Lux is a truly infuriating, nauseatingly wretched power...
but irritatingly enough, it suits me perfectly.”
As
he said that, Roverica thrust the tip of Bercier-Veurne to the very edge of
Liberio’s nose.
“...Roverica.”
Nevilleworth
glared again, this time with unmistakable killing intent.
“You
once said it yourself. That I’d be able to handle this thing even better than
you.”
“And
that was correct, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah.
Thanks to it, I’m on the verge of going insane every damn day. The hunger it
gnaws into me, pills like these don’t even take the edge off...!”
Roverica
hurled the pill case in his left hand to the floor and crushed it under his
heel.
“I
know. I lived with it for nearly ten years myself.”
“Then...!”
“Roverica,
it’s the same. With or without it, you would have to live your life tormented
by hunger. That’s precisely why I chose you.”
As
he spoke, Liberio gently ran his hand along the blade of Bercier-Veurne.
As
though reminiscing over an old friend.
“Tch!
You’ve always been good with words.”
“That’s
my only redeeming quality.”
When
Roverica withdrew the blade, Liberio replied airily, as if deflecting the
matter.
“Ah,
I may have interrupted you before your match. It should be about time,
shouldn’t it?”
“Well
then...”
Seen
off by Liberio as he stepped aside, they left the waiting room with
Nevilleworth at the head.
“...Oh,
right. Since we’re at it, mind if I ask you one more thing, Liberio?”
At
the very rear, Roverica halted and spoke over his shoulder without fully
turning around.
“Yes?
What is it?”
“...What
do you think of this city?”
To
that question, Liberio replied with the same refreshing smile.
“Of
course, I detest it.”
His
tone was casual yet utterly unwavering.
“I
owe this Asterisk both duty and gratitude. It would not be an exaggeration to
say that who I am today is thanks to this city. But... that and this are
separate matters. Even back then, I despised this vile, unsightly, shameless
city from the bottom of my heart, and that has not changed.”
“Glad
to hear it.”
For
the first time in a while, Roverica felt a small measure of his hunger ease.
“...Now
then, off you go. Rampage to your heart’s content, and crush everything in your
path.”
Escorted
by Liberio’s voice, Team Helion advanced down the dim corridor toward the
stage.
*
* *
“...Now
then, we’ve finally reached the climax of this sixth round quarterfinal...
Commentator Hiiragi-san, once again, how do you see this match between Team
Kaguya and Team Helion?”
“Indeed.
If we look at pure ability alone, there is no question that Team Helion holds
the advantage. Their attacker, Roverica, possesses close-quarters combat skills
that rank among the very best in this tournament, and the power of her
Bercier-Veurne goes without saying. Moreover, it has exceptional synergy with
Medurone’s petrification ability. Sui’s presence-suppression and Teordio’s
marksmanship are not to be underestimated either, and as for their leader,
Nevilleworth, he has scarcely engaged in what one would call a true fight up to
this sixth round.”
“In
other words, Team Helion is still holding a great deal in reserve.”
“Precisely.
On the other hand, Team Kaguya is a squad of specialists who have strengthened
one another’s advantages while covering each other’s weaknesses... However,
that display in their previous match, where each member was able to replicate
their teammates’ skills, was likely their trump card. The exact mechanism is
unknown, but experts speculate it is the Strega ability of Flockhart.”
“There
are also interpretations that Chloe Flockhart’s power resembles telepathy.”
“Indeed.
Whatever the precise nature of her ability, its characteristics grant Team
Kaguya exceptionally high coordination. Though they may fall short in
individual strength, in that regard one could say they surpass Team Helion.”
“Which
is to say, Team Helion has overwhelmed their opponents largely through
individual prowess so far. The only time we truly saw something resembling
teamwork was in their opening match.”
“If
Team Kaguya can exploit that effectively, it may well decide the outcome. Even
so... to be frank, their chances of victory are slim. And there is also the
question of how fully Sophia Fairclough has recovered...”
On
the stage, Minato listened to the commentator and play-by-play announcer, voices
nearly swallowed by the roaring cheers, while checking the operation of her
activated knuckle-type Lux.
The
analyst, Hiiragi Shizunagi, seemed to share almost the same assessment as
Chloe. Not that it was particularly comforting.
She
had also heard that the official odds showed a stark disparity.
“And
here they come, Team Helion entering from the west gate!”
The
crowd’s cheers swelled even louder.
Looking
up, Minato saw Team Helion striding calmly across the bridge. Only Teordio
responded amiably to the crowd, waving and even blowing kisses; the rest ignored
the reception entirely as they advanced.
It
was often said that mercenary students, being outsiders, had difficulty gaining
popularity, but overwhelming strength was another matter. In this Asterisk,
above all else, strength drew people in. That was an undeniable fact.
“Yo,
Wakamiya Minato.”
At
last descending onto the stage, Roverica came straight toward Minato and
grinned darkly.
“This
is the quarterfinals, right? If the likes of you can make it this far, then
this so-called Festa isn’t much of a competition at all. A pretend game is
still just a pretend game. Kuhahaha!”
“...I
don’t intend to argue with you. We’ll prove our strength in the match.”
At
Minato’s reply, Roverica snorted in disgust.
“Oh
yeah? A bunch of soft brats who’ve never walked through a true battlefield of
life and death, prattling on while playing around in this lukewarm little
garden...!”
Roverica
glared at her with a savage gleam in his eyes, but Minato met her gaze without
retreating a single step.
“You’re
wrong, Roverica. Compared to the world you’ve lived in, this place might seem
gentle... but even here, there are hardships you know nothing about.”
Chloe
stepped between them then, her right hand raised protectively before Minato.
“Hah!
Spare me, Minervieu. Whether it’s violence or power, battle means using
strength to take unjustly and to be taken from in turn. You know that as well
as I do, don’t you?”
“Yes,
I do. All too well. That’s precisely why I can say this: the fights here are
different. They are battles to win dreams... to seize a future.”
“Dreams!
Damn it, that again! You’ve truly fallen, Minervieu! Seize a future? It’s
nothing more than feed handed out by the Integrated Enterprise Foundation as a
reward for putting on a show! Don’t make me laugh!”
A
black flame of hatred flared in Roverica’s eyes as she grabbed Chloe by the
collar.
This
time, Minato stepped in without a word and knocked his hand away.
There
were countless things she wanted to say, but she knew they would never reach
him. Roverica was someone she could never truly understand.
“Tch!
That look! It’s that look! Ah, damn it! It pisses me off!”
Roverica
raked her fingers violently through her unkempt hair and spat as she turned
away.
“Fine.
Then I’ll teach you with strength. I’ll show you just how powerless and fragile
you really are.”
The
hollow rage in her low voice was palpable.
It
was so cold it made Minato shiver.
“C-Chloe,
Minato... are you okay?”
“Honestly...
what a violent person.”
Nina
and Sophia hurried over, taking Minato’s and Chloe’s arms with worried
expressions.
“Still,
if she’s that agitated, we might be able to catch her off guard,” Yuzuhi
murmured calmly. Chloe answered her with a small shake of her head.
“No.
Unfortunately, that’s not possible. Roverica may be emotional and crude, but
that’s only on the surface. Her heart is frozen through, and she’s already
judged everything to be equally meaningless. Nevilleworth may be the strongest
in Team Helion, but the most troublesome without a doubt is Roverica. Don’t
forget that.”
At
Chloe’s words, the four including Minato nodded firmly.
That’s
right. They had known from the start that she wasn’t someone they could exploit
so easily.
Minato
steeled herself once more.
“Hmm,
it seems things were getting rather heated on stage even before the match
began. Fortunately, it appears to have ended without incident, but of course
any altercations prior to the match are strictly prohibited. Might there be
some history between these two teams? ...And while we’re saying that, it’s
almost time! Which team will advance to the semifinals!?”
Each
team moved to their designated positions, and Minato took one final deep
breath.
And
then...
“Gryps
Festival Quarterfinals, Match Three, Battle Start!”
The
fateful match began.
“Crush
and die, you trash!”
As
expected, it was Roverica who launched the first assault.
Her
target was Minato, the leader.
Minato
crossed both arms to receive Bercier-Veurne, as it came crashing down from
overhead, a crushing weight slamming into her. Roverica followed through with a
relentless barrage, hammering down strike after strike. Though her swordplay
appeared rough and unrefined, there was not a single opening. The blade’s tip
shifted freely up, down, left, and right as if guided by instinct rather than
force, and Minato could barely keep up with defending.
Worse
still, merely standing within Roverica’s range, she could feel her prana
steadily leaking from her body.
So this is the power of
Bercier-Veurne...!
“What’s
wrong!? Weren’t you going to prove your strength!?”
Enduring
the sudden onslaught as best she could, Minato waited for her moment, then
knocked the blade’s tip upward and unleashed a full-force palm strike.
“Hah!”
She
stepped in powerfully, driving deep into Roverica’s guard to collapse the
sword’s effective range, a textbook maneuver, but Roverica twisted away as if
she had anticipated it.
“Kuhahahahaha!
You’re so slow I could yawn!”
With
a mocking peal of laughter, Roverica swung Bercier-Veurne in a wide arc.
“...!”
A
flash of brilliance like a shooting star intercepted the distorted blade and
swept it aside in one elegant motion.
“You
really do have a poor memory, don’t you?”
“You...!”
Roverica
shot a glare at Sophia, who reset her stance with a single flourish of her
saber-type Lux.
“When
Minato said it before, she said, ‘We will prove our strength.’”
“Hmph!
And who might you be... oh, the woman who made a fool of herself in the last
match. I hear you can’t even hurt anyone. Don’t make me laugh! Someone like you
thinks she can...”
“My,
how you do prattle on.”
Sophia’s
blade flashed, cutting off Roverica’s jeers.
“Wha...!?”
The
speed of that strike was overwhelming; even Minato, accustomed to it, could
barely follow.
Roverica
managed to block the first blow by the narrowest margin, but Sophia reversed
her wrist and followed with a second and third strike in rapid succession.
“Ghh...!
Ngh...!”
“And
allow me to correct one more thing.”
Swift
yet graceful, fierce yet refined, her sword was the embodiment of Sophia’s conviction.
“It
is not that I cannot wound others. I have chosen, by my own will, a blade that
does not wound.”
Her
strokes, like a swift swallow in flight, drove Roverica back together with
Bercier-Veurne itself.
“Guh...!”
At
least in pure swordsmanship, Sophia was overwhelming Roverica.
“A-Amazing!
Fairclough seemed out of sorts in yesterday’s match, but this can only be
called a complete comeback!”
“No,
her blade is sharper than it has ever been!”
The
crowd roared to life.
In
truth, Sophia’s sword possessed that much brilliance.
Matching
Sophia’s assault, Minato launched her fists as well, pressing Roverica further
into a corner.
And
yet.
“Don’t
underestimate us, you trash!”
The
moment Roverica roared those words, the Ulm-Manadite of Bercier-Veurne emitted
an eerie dark green glow.
“Ugh...!”
Minato
felt her prana draining rapidly.
Bercier-Veurne
possessed the ability to absorb prana indiscriminately from all within its
effective range, but by narrowing that range, it could increase the rate of
absorption. That must have been what Roverica had just done.
The
only saving grace for Minato was that the blade absorbed prana not by a fixed
amount, but by proportion. In other words, the more prana one possessed, the
more would be taken. With her comparatively modest reserves, Minato lost less.
Even
so, there was no denying that this was an extremely unfavorable environment for
her. Close-quarters combat was her only strength; she had no choice but to
fight within Bercier-Veurne range.
And
then...
“I’ll
take this.”
From
behind Roverica, who had suddenly dropped into a crouch, a massive glaive-type
Lux came sweeping toward Minato and Sophia.
“Wha...!?”
They
somehow managed to block it, but the sheer physical force behind the blow sent
both of them flying.
Rolling
to absorb the impact, Minato sprang back to her feet at once, and there stood a
powerfully built man, his great spear poised.
Nevilleworth,
the leader of Team Helion.
Nevilleworth
allowed no pause, immediately pressing his follow-up attack on Sophia.
“Sophia-senpai!”
“Kuhahahaha!
I’m your opponent! Don’t forget that!”
Roverica
closed the distance at once as well, and Bercier-Veurne grazed Minato’s throat
as she reflexively arched backward to avoid it.
Even
so, Minato desperately endured Roverica’s assault while keeping her feet
moving.
Whatever happens, don’t stay in one
place, keep moving...!
That
was the very strategy Chloe had devised.
And
then, at that moment, a great commotion rippled through the spectator stands.
*
* *
“No...!”
Yuzuhi
could not help but doubt her own eyes.
At
the very rear of Team Helion’s formation, their opposing backliner Teordio
slowly drew forth the object in question.
“Whaaaaaaaaaaat!?
T-T-That’s Team Androcles’ mass-produced Orga Lux, Agana Velea, isn’t it!?”
“Oh
my... if that is genuine, then this is truly astonishing!”
“Well
now, it really does feel good to be the center of attention.”
Handling
Agana Velea with the easy familiarity of long practice, Teordio spun it lightly
around and then leveled the muzzle straight at Yuzuhi.
“The
other day you turned me down, but today you’ll keep me company! You beautiful
black-haired lady!”
Raising
his voice deliberately so it would carry to her, Teordio squeezed the trigger.
Yet no light bullet could be seen flying toward her, then, a heartbeat later,
it emerged from directly in front of Yuzuhi’s eyes and skimmed past her hair.
The
only reason Yuzuhi did not move an inch was because she knew he had no
intention of striking her along that firing line. This was merely a feint.
Just
as Chloe had said, Teordio was not covering his allies, he was targeting
Yuzuhi.
“A
dimensional submersion bullet! This is the real thing! For reasons unknown,
Team Helion’s Teordio appears to have prepared Arlequint’s latest and most
closely guarded weapon, Agana Velea!”
The
murmur of the crowd swelled into cheers. Among them, the shrill cries were
especially numerous, no doubt owing to Teordio’s popularity with women.
Indeed,
judged by appearance alone, Teordio was strikingly handsome. It was easy to see
why he was so admired.
But
from their very first meeting, Yuzuhi had seen through the veneer and glimpsed
the beast that lurked beneath. No matter how carefully it was concealed, the
vulgarity that seeped from one’s character carried its own stench.
In
truth, the way Teordio looked at Yuzuhi overflowed with sadistic delight.
A cunning beast that toys with its
prey, would that be the right description?
“Alright
then... perhaps like this!”
Stepping
lightly as though in a dance, Teordio swung Agana Velea about carelessly like a
cane and fired a succession of light bullets.
“...!”
They
were nearly trick shots, yet each one targeted Yuzuhi with unerring precision.
His marksmanship was monstrous, but worse still, from the position of the
muzzle she could not read the line of fire at all.
She
managed to evade by throwing herself into a roll, but every light bullet
Teordio had fired passed by without slipping into dimensional submersion.
“Huh...?”
“Now
then, the dance is just beginning!”
Teordio
fired again, yet there was still no sign of the bullets vanishing.
“In
that case...!”
Yuzuhi
loosed the arrow she had readied and shot down every incoming round.
However,
at the sight of it, a cruel smile curved Teordio’s lips.
“Guh...!”
An
instant later, a violent impact struck Yuzuhi’s right shoulder.
She
had thickened her prana defenses in anticipation, so the damage was not severe,
but it was unmistakably a light bullet from Agana Velea. Most likely, he had
slipped a dimensional submersion bullets among the ordinary ones.
“I
see... how underhanded.”
Wincing
at the pain, Yuzuhi fired a counterarrow, yet Teordio shot it down with a light
bullet as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“...!”
“Whoa
there, that was close.”
To
think he could so casually knock aside an arrow that should have struck true.
The
ultimate technique of Shingyou Issen was, for Yuzuhi as well, no more than a
threshold she had barely stepped across. Yet Teordio appeared to have
approached something akin to it through sheer technical skill alone.
“The
ones who used this before... ah, Team Androcles, was it? From my perspective,
they were far too focused on showing off the weapon’s performance. If you’re
going to go to the trouble of using it, you should do so more effectively. If
they can read your line of fire, then you simply shoot in a way that prevents
them from doing so. And if necessary, you even grant them options other than
evasion. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Indeed,
during the match against Team Androcles, Yuzuhi had no choice but to dodge.
Dimensional submersion rounds could not be intercepted by any means. Yet
conversely, that meant she could devote herself entirely to evasion.
But
when the firing line was obscured as Teordio had done, it became difficult for
the athletically inept Yuzuhi to evade everything on her own. And when ordinary
light bullets were added to the assault, the option of interception naturally
presented itself.
Then,
into that mixture, he slipped in dimensional submersion rounds. Even if Yuzuhi
understood what he was doing, if she judged that she could not dodge them all,
she would have no choice but to prepare to intercept, and merely having that
option surface in her mind dulled her reflexes for evasion.
“You
have to drive your prey into a corner step by step, after all!”
Teordio,
looking thoroughly delighted, released another light bullet.
Just
before it fired, a luminous arrow streaked in from a different angle and struck
at him.
“Wah!?”
Though
startled, Teordio managed to evade at the very last instant. It had been a
perfect surprise attack, yet his reaction speed was unbelievable. He could not
even be compared to Yuzuhi. As expected, every member of Team Helion possessed
extraordinary ability.
“And
who might this be, Minervieu!? I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t interfere!”
“I’m
sorry, but I have no intention of letting you drag Yuzuhi into your little
hunt, Teordio.”
Teordio
puckered his lips in complaint at the one who had launched the surprise attack,
but Chloe, holding a bow-type Lux just like Yuzuhi’s, paid him no heed and
continued loosing arrow after arrow. Her skill was nearly on par with Yuzuhi’s.
Unlike
Sophia’s swordsmanship or Minato’s martial arts, Yuzuhi’s archery did not place
much strain on the body even when used by someone else. However, it carried a
significant risk of its own. When employing another person’s senses, one’s own
physical awareness grew faint, and Yuzuhi’s lack of coordination would transfer
over in a quasi-contagious fashion. For someone like Chloe, who was accustomed
to the ability, or Nina, whose adaptability was extraordinary and could switch
mental gears in an instant, this posed no issue. But the other members needed
to exercise caution.
“Thank
you, Chloe-san.”
Yuzuhi
offered her gratitude even as she drew her bow once more.
“H-Hey,
hold on, hold on a second! Even for me, handling those arrows that slip through
like that when there are two of you is a bit much, don’t you think?”
Though
Teordio protested in a joking tone while desperately intercepting the incoming
arrows, he still seemed to have room to spare. If ever there were a bottomless
well, this was it.
Even
so, the advantage was theirs for the moment.
If
they could take Teordio down here.
“I
have no desire to hear such pitiful whining, Teordio. Try managing on your own
for once.”
So
she had thought, but it seemed things would not be so simple after all.
What
coiled around Chloe’s right hand as she drew her bow was an exceedingly rare
whip-type Lux.
“Honestly,
you’re persistent, Medurone.”
“This
is a rare opportunity. I have no intention of letting you escape, Minervieu.”
The
bespectacled woman, Medurone, narrowed her serpentine eyes and smiled
fearlessly as she gave the whip a forceful yank.
Chloe,
rather than resist, rode the pull and lashed out with a sharp kick.
“Tch!
Now you’re using martial arts? That technique of stealing others’ skills, why didn’t
you use it when you were allied with us?”
“If
you had trusted me, perhaps I could have!”
Catching
the kick with her left hand, Medurone swung the whip still entangled around
Chloe’s right hand in a wide arc, throwing off her balance, and retaliated with
a blade-like kick of her own.
“Trust?
What is that supposed to be?”
“Guh!”
The
blow that pierced her abdomen nearly forced Chloe to her knees, but she endured
and fired off a spinning kick in response. Yet before it could land, Medurone
had released the whip and slipped out of Chloe’s range.
Even at that timing, it’s too
slow... This ability really is quietly troublesome.
“Heh
heh... What’s the matter, Minervieu? Surely you haven’t forgotten what my
ability does?”
Medurone’s
eyes gleamed with an eerie light as she laughed in mockery.
Her
petrification ability could not function fully so long as prana was present.
That
said, it was not entirely nullified either; it retained enough effect to
somewhat hinder her opponent’s movements.
Chloe
understood that well enough, but this degree of interference had been beyond
her expectations.
In
other words, Medurone’s ability had grown considerably since the time Chloe had
known her, and it had evolved far more than Chloe had anticipated.
“Do
not underestimate us, Minervieu.”
“On
the contrary. I am treating every one of you with the utmost caution.”
Even
as she replied, Chloe switched from her bow-type Lux to a saber-type Lux and
closed the distance in a single burst.
“Yes,
yes, of course you are. You’ve always been exceptional. Exceptional enough that
he gave you special treatment...!”
With
a flick of her wrist, Medurone’s whip-type Lux stiffened into a straight line
and transformed into a blade.
Blade
of light clashed against blade of light, scattering sparks.
They
pressed in close, locked in a contest of guards. Of course, Chloe was currently
using Sophia’s swordsmanship. Against Medurone, she should have been able to
overwhelm her, but with Chloe’s own physical specs, perfectly replicating it
was difficult, and worse, her movements were dulled by Medurone’s ability. A
swift, decisive finish would be hard to achieve.
Alone,
that was.
“Now,
Nina!”
“Leave
it to me! Queen Jail!”
As
Chloe forced Medurone’s body back with a surge of strength, a magic circle
flared beneath her feet, and walls of light rose up on all sides, enclosing
her.
It
was one of Nina’s set-type abilities.
“Huh!?”
Though
Medurone’s eyes widened in shock as she tried to break through the light walls,
doing so from within the cramped cage proved difficult.
“Got
you!”
Chloe
swung her blade of light at Medurone’s school crest. Nina’s prison could allow
designated targets to pass through it.
But
the strike was suddenly intercepted by a small boy who appeared out of nowhere.
“Sui!”
“...”
Without
a word, Sui dissolved back into the air as though melting into space itself.
Immediately
afterward, a barrage of light bullets slammed into the luminous prison,
shattering it.
“...Reluctantly,
I must thank you, Teordio.”
Having
slipped free, Medurone offered her thanks with visible displeasure.
“Haha,
don’t mention it. Now then, what was that about pitiful whining?”
“Tch!
You truly are a loathsome man...! Very well, I retract it. That settles our
debt.”
After
shooting Teordio a sharp glare, Medurone cautiously put distance between
herself and Chloe.
“I-I’m
sorry, Chloe! I couldn’t hold that kid Sui back...!”
“It’s
fine. More importantly, Minato needs you right now.”
“Okay!
Got it!”
After
issuing that instruction to Nina, Chloe deployed a handgun-type Lux in her left
hand. Keeping a wary eye on Medurone, she provided covering fire for Sophia,
who was engaged in battle with Nevilleworth.
“...Ah,
I see. So that’s it.”
Medurone
had been observing Chloe for a short while, though in truth it was only a
matter of seconds. Then she suddenly looked around with a start and, as though
finally realizing something, adjusted her glasses with a finger.
“You’re
fighting while constantly creating two-on-one situations... That’s your strategy,
isn’t it, Minervieu?”
“...Impressive,
Medurone. I didn’t expect you to see through it so quickly.”
“Haah...
No wonder this has been so difficult.”
Medurone
let out a sigh, her expression one of having been thoroughly outmaneuvered.
In
truth, creating situations of numerical superiority is the most fundamental
tactic in team battles. Especially when one is outmatched in individual ability
as they were this time, the decisive factor becomes how effectively such
scenarios can be engineered.
Even
so, accomplishing that against a superior opponent is exceedingly difficult.
Ordinarily.
“I
see... You anticipated that we would each choose individual targets, didn’t
you?”
A
clear flame of anger blazed in Medurone’s eyes as she spat the words bitterly.
“Yes,
I did. I knew Roverica was fixated on Minato. If it came to a direct
confrontation, she would undoubtedly target Minato and prevent anyone else from
interfering. And once that happened, the others would each select prey of their
own. If she’s free to act as she pleases, then so are they, that’s the kind of
people you are.”
“To
speak as though you see straight through us...!”
“Teordio
would take Yuzuhi. Sui would go after Nina. You would come for me... As for
Nevilleworth, he’s probably indifferent to such emotions, but by necessity he
would end up facing Sophia-senpai. That suits us perfectly. The only ones who
can handle him on our side are Sophia-senpai.”
In
other words, Medurone and the others had intended from the outset to turn this
team battle into a series of individual duels. Team Helion did not engage in
proactive coordination or support to begin with. Teordio and Sui might step in
when required by circumstance, but only in moments like this, when it was
absolutely necessary.
If
so, then there was an opening to exploit.
They
would avoid planting their feet whenever possible and keep moving fluidly
across the stage. Rather than fixing matchups, they would respond flexibly,
continuously creating two-on-one situations as opportunities arose. It was only
possible thanks to Chloe’s real-time commands, but with Team Kaguya’s current
level of cohesion, it was just barely within reach.
And
that was precisely why Chloe had repeatedly warned them to ensure not a single
member fell. The moment they lost their numerical parity, this strategy would
collapse like a house of cards.
“However,
even if you understand that, there’s nothing you can do about it, is there? I
doubt Roverica would stop just because you or Nevilleworth told her to. And if
she doesn’t stop, then neither will Teordio or Sui. So long as you continue to
underestimate us.”
On
that point, Chloe understood all too well. Back when they had been on the same
team, Roverica and the others had caused her no end of trouble. And from what
she could see, nothing had changed.
“Heh...
heh heh heh! You truly do see through things to an infuriating degree. However,
Minervieu, regrettably for you, there seems to be one thing you’ve overlooked.”
As
if declaring that the chatter was over, Medurone raised her whip-type Lux once
more.
“Overlooked...?”
“Yes.
It’s true, you misjudged the growth of my ability. Well, I also failed to
anticipate that your transmission ability would reach such a level, so we’re
even there. That’s precisely what makes the abilities of Strega or Dante so
difficult to predict in their development. And there is one more ability user
here whose growth you are unaware of, isn’t there?”
“...!
Don’t tell me...! No, but if you do that, then you yourselves would...!”
Medurone’s
lips curled into a grin as she shouted.
“No,
not at all. We’re already quite used to it. ...Nevilleworth, do it!”
Sophia
found herself marveling at Nevilleworth’ tenacity.
“Kuuhhh!”
Sophia’s
blade carved an arc through the air as it bore down upon him. She was no longer
simply aiming stubbornly for his school crest. Without ever intending to injure
him, she targeted his weapon to throw off his balance, layered in a variety of
feints, and drove them home with the fastest strikes she could muster.
And
yet, Nevilleworth defended against every one of them flawlessly, seeing through
each attempt.
That
was due in part to his extraordinary skill, but above all, the greatest
obstacle was his ability as Dante.
“This
is astonishing! To think that Team Helion’s Nevilleworth is a Dante!”
“So
that’s why he has hardly fought until now, he must have been concealing this.
Still... the level of this particular match clearly feels a step above the
others...”
At
that moment, the ground beneath Sophia’s feet, though not soil but processed
flooring, swelled upward and struck at her.
Sophia
used the upheaval as a foothold to leap, circling around as she unleashed a
slash, but before her blade could reach him, a wall of earth rising from the
ground intercepted it.
“Oh,
not again!”
Nevilleworth’
ability allowed him to generate masses of earth and stone and manipulate them
freely. As just now, he could use them for offense or defense, or even conjure
stone projectiles in midair and fire them. It was largely as Chloe had briefed
them beforehand, but what she had not anticipated was the speed of activation.
There’s practically no lag at all!
Just what is going on here?
Grumbling
inwardly, Sophia nevertheless continued to swing her blade.
In
terms of speed, Sophia held the advantage; in strength, Nevilleworth surpassed
her. In close-quarters technique they were roughly equal, perhaps with Sophia
slightly ahead, but once his ability as Dante was factored in, the overall edge
lay with Nevilleworth. Even so, the only reason Sophia was managing to fight on
equal footing, or better, was because of the covering fire from Chloe and
Yuzuhi.
And
yet, facing Nevilleworth, who attacked in silence and with mechanical
steadiness, Sophia felt an indescribable pressure.
When
blades crossed, emotions usually seeped through, no matter the opponent. But
from him, there was nothing. It was not that he resembled a machine or a
puppet, either.
What
Sophia sensed within Nevilleworth was overwhelming void. Not mere emptiness,
but a hideous void that swelled without end, as though it would swallow
everything.
Even
so, she could not afford to falter.
The
instant Sophia slipped past his glaive-type Lux and tried to leap into his
guard...
“Nevilleworth,
do it!”
The
sudden shout rang out, and Nevilleworth’ attention shifted for the briefest
moment.
A chance...!
Sophia
seized on it, moving to finish him in one stroke, only to freeze as a wave of
dread crawled over her skin.
An
immense surge of mana writhed in the air. It had to be Nevilleworth’ ability,
yet the scale was incomparable to anything before.
No, but... there’s no visible
change around him...
And
then Sophia fell speechless.
Above.
Over
Nevilleworth’ head, a colossal mass of rock was forming at terrifying speed. It
grew as though in time-lapse, swelling past ten meters in diameter in moments.
The sight of that monstrous boulder looming in midair was like something torn
from a nightmare.
Sophia-senpai! Stop him,
Nevilleworth... no, it’s too late! Everyone, get away!
Chloe’s
urgent voice rang in her mind, snapping Sophia back to herself, but by then the
boulder was already plummeting toward the center of the stage with ferocious
force.
Minato
and the others were there, members of both teams intermingled in combat.
Sophia
reached out instinctively, then a catastrophic impact and thunderous roar
swallowed the stage, and her body was hurled away by a raging blast of wind.
At
first, Nina did not understand what had happened.
The
sudden shock had slammed her into the ground. Shaking her head, she staggered
to her feet, and she saw that the stage was nearly half-destroyed, massive
rocks jutting up everywhere. Only then did she realize they were shattered
fragments, the remains of the colossal boulder that Team Helion’s Nevilleworth had
driven into the stage.
When
she touched her head, her fingers came away slick with blood. Even a small
fragment must have struck her.
Even
so, she was fortunate. If it had been a piece several meters wide, or worse, if
she had been crushed beneath the main mass, she shuddered to imagine it.
No
matter how advanced their weapons might be, those used in the Festa were, aside
from certain equipment and abilities, still ultimately within the scope of
personal armaments. They could not compare to the overwhelming destructive
force of pure mass.
“T-This
is insane...”
Though
the velocity differed, it was akin to a meteorite crashing down. And if someone
did such a thing, they would inevitably drag their own allies into it as well.
And
then...
“!?”
Nina
sensed killing intent and sprang backward.
A
dagger-type Lux slashed through empty air where she had stood.
Emerging
like a wavering shadow from the billowing dust was Sui.
“...As
I thought, your instincts are sharp. That only makes it more irritating.”
Muttering
under his breath, Sui followed up with another strike, the dagger reversed in
his grip.
Nina
instantly activated Nine Falchion to block, but Sai’s attacks were compact and
blindingly fast. She was forced entirely on the defensive. If she were using
Sophia’s swordsmanship, she might have turned the tide, but she had already
pushed her body hard.
I-I’m the skirmisher. I can’t let
my movement be compromised...!
In
this match, Chloe had assigned Nina two roles. First and foremost: support her
teammates. In a strategy built around constantly creating two-on-one
situations, Nina, who could handle both ranged attacks and close combat without
relying on Chloe’s transmission, was the ideal choice.
The
second was to keep Sui occupied. If Sui, with his ability to erase himself from
his opponent’s awareness through concealment, were allowed to move freely, the
match would be decided in moments. Nina was the only one on Team Kaguya capable
of perceiving through his concealment, and fortunately, or perhaps
unfortunately, Sui seemed obsessively fixated on targeting her personally. So
she had been running evasively, looking for openings to assist her allies while
keeping him tied down.
“W-Why...
why are you so fixated on me...?”
Fending
off his relentless assault, Nina tried to carve out even a sliver of space as
she asked.
“...”
Sui
continued his gale-like barrage without the slightest slackening. Then, without
easing his hand in the least, he muttered flatly.
“You...
found me. I won’t forgive that.”
“Ehhhhh...”
That
was absurd.
According
to Chloe, the reason Nina could perceive Sui was because the way she had lived,
always keeping her guard up, constantly aware of those around her, happened to
mesh well with Sui’s concealment. Even so, that only meant she had grown up
forever reading the moods of others, and there was nothing about that Nina
found the least bit praiseworthy. To be resented for it on top of that was
something she simply could not accept.
“I...
want to disappear. From everyone’s sight, from their hearts. I want to vanish.
Anyone who finds me so carelessly... I eliminate.”
Sui’s
glare pinned her in place, filled with a chilling despair.
Ah,
no. This was not something that could ever be understood between them. This boy
had likely survived a hell Nina could not even begin to imagine.
It
could not compare, but there had been times when Nina herself had grown twisted
and sullen, when her heart felt as though it might be swallowed by darkness.
It
was Minato and the others who had pulled her back. Mina, Chloe, the members of
Team Kaguya, they had saved her.
Sui
had comrades too. But perhaps they only stood shoulder to shoulder with him at
the edge of the abyss, never reaching down to pull him up. Perhaps they could
not.
How
unbearably.
“...Just
now, you pitied me...!?”
In
an instant, Sui’s expression twisted with fury.
“...!”
The
moment Nina faltered beneath that surge of hatred, Sui’s foot stamped sharply against
the ground, and his arm with dagger in hand folded inward and drove into her
abdomen.
“...!”
The
air was blasted from her lungs as she was sent flying, her back crashing
against a rock.
Martial arts...!? And he’s
converting prana into raw striking power... the Jie Long style...!
“Disappear.”
Looking
down at her with cold eyes, Sui raised his dagger.
“I
won’t let you!”
It
was a hopeless crisis, but Chloe came sprinting in, firing her handgun wildly
as she ran.
“...”
Sui
frowned in irritation, then leapt back to widen the distance.
“Are
you all right, Nina?”
“Y-Yeah...
Thanks, Chloe.”
But
Nina immediately realized something.
Chloe,
who had rushed to save her, was already battered all over, her breathing
ragged.
“My,
my. And at this stage you’re still worrying about others. I’m not Roverica, but
you truly have grown soft, Minervieu.”
Following
after Chloe with a leisurely smile was Medurone.
Her
flushed expression was unmistakably one of indulgent delight, and in her hand
the whip-type Lux hummed through the air.
“...Maybe
you’re right. But that’s fine. This suits me better.”
“Oh?
I see. Well, that’s perfectly fine by me. If he sees you like this, perhaps
he’ll finally give up on you...!”
Medurone’s
whip sliced through the air. Chloe tried to block, but it slipped past her
guard and struck her.
“...gh!”
“Chloe!”
Nina
leapt forward to shield her, but Medurone’s whip danced with fluid
unpredictability, and both of them were struck down together.
“Aaaah!”
“...Medurone.”
Sui
cast her a displeased glance. Medurone only shrugged with a wry smile.
“I
know, I know, don’t look at me like that. I won’t interfere with your prey.
That was merely incidental. ...And besides, look. This is already as good as
over.”
“!
Chloe!? T-This...!”
Following
Medurone’s gaze, Nina trembled in shock.
Chloe’s
fallen legs were slowly being encased in stone.
“Hehehe.
Only natural, don’t you think? Conveying will alone is one thing, but
transmitting other people’s techniques as well? Just how much prana do you
suppose that consumes? And to maintain it throughout the entire match... well?”
“No...”
If
her prana was running dry, there was no way to block Medurone’s ability.
“It’s
fine, Nina... More importantly, you need to help the others...”
Chloe
forced the words out, her face contorted in pain, entrusting the rest to Nina.
“Hehehehe!
There’s no need for such concern, Minervieu. Now that you’re all divided like
this, how long do you think you can last? Your other friends are likely already...
Ah, don’t worry. I won’t grant you an easy end. I intend to enjoy this much,
much more...!”
Medurone’s
cheeks flushed with glee as she sneered.
Nina
opened her mouth to protest, but instead she bit down hard on her back teeth,
fighting tears of frustration, and quietly placed her right hand against the
ground, waiting for her next chance.
“Hahahaha!
This is delightful! Why does one-sided trampling make the heart race so much!”
“...kh!”
Light
bullets pierced Yuzuhi’s thigh and flank, but she endured the pain and loosed a
counterarrow.
Five
arrows veered mid-flight, curving toward Teordio, who hid behind a mass of rock...
but there was no sign of a hit.
As
if in retaliation, light bullets suddenly materialized and struck Yuzuhi’s
shoulder, arm, and leg in rapid succession.
“Gah,
aaah...!”
Unable
to endure, Yuzuhi collapsed, but even then she forced herself upright at once,
using her bow as a staff. No matter how skilled she was, she could not fire
from a prone position.
“Oh
my, you’re still standing? How wonderful! To think you’d entertain me this
much!”
Teordio’s
figure remained hidden behind obstacles, yet even his voice alone made it clear
how thoroughly he was savoring this situation. The reason he did not aim
directly at her school crest was likely because she guarded it with everything
she had, but more than that, because his true goal was simply to torment her.
Fine.
Chloe’s
transmission had cut off, and she had no idea how the others were faring, but
so long as no defeat had been declared, the best Yuzuhi could do now was keep Teordio
pinned here.
It
pained her that she could no longer fulfill her original role of support. But
for now, she could only trust in her teammates and do what she alone could do.
“Yes,
I won’t give up...!”
From
one knee, Yuzuhi drew her bow and released another arrow.
In
this situation, with shattered rocks of all sizes jutting up in chaotic
profusion, it was no exaggeration to call it a stage where Agana Velea could
display its full performance to the utmost. Even if Yuzuhi could alter the
trajectory of her arrows, the fact that she herself could barely move meant
those trajectories were inevitably limited. No matter how many arrows she
loosed, the possibility of them reaching Teordio was virtually nonexistent.
Even
so, if they served as suppression, that was enough.
“Ah,
it’s irresistible! To toy at will with a strong and beautiful woman like you is
truly delightful!”
“Aaaah!”
A
light round from Agana Velea struck her left hand, the one holding the bow, this
time. Had several fingers broken? Even so, her face contorted with searing pain
as she clenched her teeth and gripped the bow tight.
I’m
still fine.
I
can still endure.
Fortunately,
Yuzuhi hardly used her prana for offense during battle, which meant she could
devote all of it to defense. Until that prana ran dry, she would endure.
With
unyielding resolve blazing in her eyes, Yuzuhi glared toward the rocks, where Teordio
was surely wearing that frivolous smile of his.
It
had been a blow she had certainly caught, yet she had not been able to fully
nullify its impact. Sophia’s body was flung away like a rubber ball, rolling
over the ground.
More
fist-sized stone bullets materialized around Nevilleworth and shot toward the
fallen Sophia at tremendous speed.
“Guh...!”
Clamping
her Lux in her mouth, she forced herself upright using only the strength of her
arms. Shielding her right leg, where sharp pain flared, she somehow evaded the
stone shots, but as if anticipating that, Nevilleworth had already circled
around.
Rather
than block the descending glaive-type Lux, she barely managed to switch her
grip and deflect it with her sword, then delivered a retaliatory slash, only
for it to be easily knocked aside.
As I thought... without being at full
strength, this is severe...!
When
that mass of rock had fallen earlier, Sophia had injured her right leg.
Now
that she had lost the speed that had been her advantage, it was honestly
difficult for the current Sophia to handle this Nevilleworth one-on-one.
She
searched desperately for some kind of opening, but without changing expression,
without uttering a single word, this mass of emptiness pressed forward
single-mindedly to defeat her, devoid of carelessness, arrogance, delight, or
excitement. He was horrifyingly composed. There was no sign he would offer even
the slightest gap.
In
the end, all Sophia could do was fend off Nevilleworth’s attacks while being
gradually, yet steadily, worn down, her stamina and prana shaved away bit by
bit.
She
was concerned about her comrades’ situation as well, but since the rockfall the
stage was crowded with obstacles, making it impossible to survey the field, and
the truth was she had no room to spare her attention. If Sophia allowed her
focus to waver even slightly, Nevilleworth would shatter her school crest or
knock her unconscious in a single strike. For now, she had no choice but to
trust her friends.
Oh honestly... this is so vexing!
Even
as she grumbled inwardly, barely evading Nevilleworth’s attacks that came at
her freely from all directions by the narrowest of margins...
“...Your
tenacity is impressive.”
“Eh...?”
Nevilleworth
spoke for the first time.
“However,
it is nothing more than futile effort. Give up.”
“And
just when I thought you had finally deigned to speak, what a thing to say! Do
you really think I would meekly answer, ‘Yes, of course’?”
After
all, she bore upon her shoulders her comrades’ dreams, and the future of her
dear friend and her brother.
There
was no possible way she could give up before the very last instant.
“I
see. Very well. By the rules here, killing you would likely be troublesome, but
if it comes to that, so be it.”
Nevilleworth,
who until now had unleashed a relentless and ferocious assault, abruptly
halted. He gave a light hop backward, drawing his right hand holding the spear far
behind him as he took a stance and inhaled deeply.
At
a glance, he was full of openings.
“W-What
are you intending to do...?”
It
was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Of course, it had to be some sort of trap, but
his school crest was fully exposed. If she severed that, it would all be over.
Very well, I’ll take the bait!
Either
way, she would only be ground down if things continued like this. It might as
well be here that she staked everything.
Sophia
swung her sword once, then leveled its tip straight at Nevilleworth’s emblem.
Her
leg throbbed, but she should be able to endure at least this one attempt.
“Teyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Resolving
herself, Sophia leapt into his range in a single breath and thrust with all her
might.
Nevilleworth
reacted and moved as well, but Sophia was faster.
He
was likely aiming for a counter of some kind, but at this speed, she could win.
And
yet.
Nevilleworth’s
spear gouged into the ground with its tip, then swept out in an arc. The earth
and stone it tore free multiplied before her eyes, swelling as though alive,
and crashed toward Sophia like a tidal wave.
A composite technique with his
ability...!?
The
tidal wave of rock brushed aside Sophia’s attack as though it were nothing and,
with unimaginable force, blasted her away.
“Khah...!”
Unable
to break her fall, Sophia hit the ground hard. Blood welled up and spilled from
her lips as she lay on her back, her thoughts muddled as she struggled to grasp
the extent of the damage.
...Ah. This is... rather bad.
It
felt as though all strength had drained from her body.
In
her blurring vision, the lights high above the stage overlapped in multiple
layers.
All
she could hear was the sound of Nevilleworth’s footsteps slowly approaching.
*
* *
“Kuahahahaha!
What’s this? So this is all you amount to, Wakamiya Minato!”
“Guh...
ugh...!”
Minato
deflected Roverica’s sweeping slash with her left hand, but the blade’s tip
shifted its trajectory and came down from above in the very next instant. No
sooner had she caught it with her right hand than a kick drove into her
now-unprotected abdomen and sent her flying.
She
staggered back to her feet, wiping the gastric fluid from her mouth with her
knuckles, yet Roverica’s ferocity showed no sign of abating as she immediately
pressed the attack. More than anything, Minato had been completely swallowed by
Roverica’s fighting style.
If
she took even a single direct hit from Bercier-Veurne, a massive amount of her
prana would be drained away. Even now, simply facing her like this, her prana
was steadily being shaved down. That was bad enough. Inevitably, her focus was
drawn to the sword strikes, and the fists and kicks that came flying in to
exploit those openings were dealt with a beat too late. For Minato, who could
scarcely afford to allocate prana to defense, even Roverica’s barehanded blows
landed with punishing force.
“There
you go! What’s wrong? Come at me!”
The
difference in sheer experience was likely the issue. Minato prided herself on
having accumulated more than a fair share of combat experience since coming to
Asterisk, but it was surely nothing compared to Roverica’s.
Even
so, the moment she glimpsed even the faintest chance, Minato launched bold
counterattacks.
Senpa.
Renrin. Ratetsu. ...Yet no matter how many techniques of the Genkuuryuu she
unleashed, Roverica brushed aside every single one.
She’s strong...!
She
was an opponent she never wanted to acknowledge, but her strength was real.
To
begin with, if all she wanted was victory, Roverica could have simply devoted
himself to defense within Bercier-Veurne’s effective range. In fact, Minato’s
remaining prana was likely hovering around twenty percent at best. There was no
need for her to force the offense.
And
yet, as time passed, Roverica’s attacks only grew more violent.
She
brought Bercier-Veurne down as though to smash her apart, striking, punching,
kicking Minato away. And still, she left no true openings. Even in this state
of rising fervor, she never once allowed herself to be consumed at the final
line.
“How
is it? Have you learned how petty and fragile you are? Dreams? Comrades? That’s
nothing but the prattle of the weak!”
As
Minato caught the descending Bercier-Veurne, Roverica suddenly slammed her forehead
into hers with all his might. At that breathless distance, she whispered in a
dark voice.
“Listen
well. You lot are nothing but trash meant to be plundered. Shut your mouths and
offer it up. Your money. Your food. Your bodies. Your lives. Your dignity. Hand
over whatever it is we desire. Satisfy me! That is the way of the weak!”
With
eyes brimming with murderous intent, Roverica spat those words and shoved Minato
away to create distance.
Blood
trickled down from the spot on her forehead where she had taken the headbutt,
but Minato paid it no mind as she silently reset her stance, fists raised.
“What’s
this? Not going to argue back? Or do you not even have the spirit left for
that?”
“...I
told you. I have no intention of debating you. I’ll simply prove it in this
match.”
That
was right. No matter how many words they exchanged, Minato and Roverica’s
convictions would never intersect. In that case, her fists would speak her will
far more eloquently.
“Hah!
Prove it, you say. But your precious comrades are looking pretty bad by now.”
With
that, Roverica slowly swept her gaze around the stage. Massive fragments of
rock jutted up everywhere, yet for better or worse, from here they could see
every other member’s fight.
And
just as Roverica said, every one of Team Kaguya’s members was being pushed back
one-sidedly.
“With
things like that, no one’s coming to save you. Kuahahahaha! In the end, you’re
all alone!”
Meeting
Roverica’s sneer head-on, Minato replied evenly.
“That’s
fine. Then I’ll just go save them.”
“...What?”
At
those words, Roverica’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“You,
who’s about to be hunted down by me, what did you just say? Keep your delusions
within reason.”
A
fury of a different quality than before poured from Roverica’s entire body.
“I
thought I’d let you suffer a little longer, but never mind. The others will be
finished soon enough anyway.”
At
that moment, a tremendous surge of prana poured into Bercier-Veurne, and its
distorted blade of light swelled to more than twice its original size.
Meteor Arts...!
It
seemed Roverica intended to end it with the next blow.
In
that case, Minato had no choice but to steel herself as well. She might get
scolded by everyone later, but when that time came, she would apologize
honestly.
“Guh...
ngh...!”
Just
then, strength drained from Minato’s body all at once.
Her
knees buckled, and as she dropped to them, Minato realized her limit was close
at hand.
“Kuahahahaha!
With it like this, the absorption rate of Bercier-Veurne has increased as well.
How is it? It’s about time you hit empty, isn’t it?”
As
she spoke, Rovelica hoisted Bercier-Veurne onto her shoulder.
“But
don’t worry. I won’t let it end in such a dull fashion. I’ll carve you cleanly
in two and finish this!”
Her
step forward was the fastest yet.
Minato
caught the downward diagonal slash with both hands, but the enhanced blade of
light from Bercier-Veurne shattered the knuckle guard on her left hand and bit
deeply into her left shoulder.
“...!”
Along
with the searing pain, she felt the prana inside her being torn away in a
single rush.
She
was completely empty now.
But
that was fine.
Yes.
Minato had been waiting for this moment.
Just
before losing consciousness from prana exhaustion, the instant before blacking
out, her prana swelled explosively from within, fueled at the cost of her own
life force. It was a reckless gamble on her unique constitution, one that,
instead of falling dormant when her prana was rapidly depleted, caused it to
surge back temporarily.
Minato
poured the majority of that restored prana into the knuckle of her right hand.
Meteor
Arts for Meteor Arts.
“Wha...!?”
Roverica’s
eyes flew open in shock as she tried to leap back, but Minato’s left hand
clamped tightly onto Bercier-Veurne still embedded in her shoulder. That split
second of delay cost her.
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
With
every ounce of strength she had, Minato drove a straight punch into Roverica’s
centerline.
“Gah...!”
Roverica’s
body flew backward in a loose arc, tumbling across the ground before finally
slamming into a rock and coming to a stop.
“Guh...!
You... bastard...!”
It
had been a perfect hit, yet even so, Roverica trembled as she forced her upper
body upright and glared at Minato. Her toughness was monstrous.
“...”
Minato
spared her a single glance, then pulled Bercier-Veurne from her shoulder and
hurled it far away. Without another word, she turned her back on Roverica and
began to run.
“Wait...!
Wakamiya... Minato...!”
Roverica’s
curse-like voice echoed behind her, but she did not look back.
“Don’t miss the chance to save your
comrades for the sake of a chance to defeat your opponent.”
Chloe’s
words from that time resurfaced in Minato’s heart.
That’s
right.
What
she needed to do now was...
“My,
my, you truly were splendid, Renjouji Yuzuhi. I’ve enjoyed myself quite
thoroughly, but I suppose it’s about time to finish... wha!?”
As
Teordio tried to raise Agana Velea from behind the cover of the rocks, Minato
charged in at full speed and hurled a punch at him.
He
barely dodged in time, and the rock mass struck by her missed blow shattered
into pieces.
“H-How
is she here, Roverica!? Don’t tell me... you defeated her!?”
Even
in his surprise, he instantly slipped out of Minato’s range. It seemed this
frivolous pretty face, too, possessed no small amount of battle experience.
“Hah!
Well, no matter. If I recall, you’re not good at long-range combat, are you? In
that case, as long as I keep my distance...”
“...Yes,
that’s right. If you can.”
At
that voice, Teordio’s gaze snapped toward its source.
Beyond
the collapsed rocks, Yuzuhi stood with her bow drawn. More than ten arrows of
light floated around her.
“Unfortunately
for you, you’re in plain sight.”
“Wai...!”
He
never finished the word. Yuzuhi’s arrows struck him in a merciless barrage.
“Aghagagagagagagagagagah!”
The
storm of impact-specialized arrows tore away Teordio’s consciousness without
the slightest mercy.
“Teordio,
Unconscious.”
As
the mechanical voice rendered its judgment, Minato glanced toward Yuzuhi.
Yuzuhi gave a firm nod and shouted, “Go! Minato-san!”
Yuzuhi’s
injuries were severe, terribly so. Minato longed to rush to her side at once,
but every second mattered now.
Breaking
into a sprint once more, Minato leapt over a massive boulder and headed toward
Chloe and Nina.
“Minato!”
“Minatooo!”
Chloe
and Nina cried out in delight at the sight of her.
“Tch!
Just when things were getting interesting, must you interfere?”
Perhaps
having been on guard after hearing of Teordio’s defeat, Medurone was already
waiting for Minato.
Minato
quickened her pace, attempting to close the distance in a single breath.
But
as Medurone’s eyes glinted ominously behind her glasses, Minato’s body suddenly
grew heavy. Her running speed dropped abruptly, and when she glanced down, she
saw the tips of her hands and feet gradually being encased in hard stone.
“This
is...!”
“Hehehe!
It seems your prana reserves are quite low. Please, don’t rush yourself.”
Medurone
smiled, utterly certain of victory.
It
was true, most of the prana Minato had just recovered had been poured into her
Meteor Arts. Very little remained. Even if she were to reach prana exhaustion
again, she could not expect a second miracle. After all, as Xinglu had said,
that recovery came at the cost of her life. In truth, even now her heart was
pounding so violently it felt ready to burst; if she relaxed even slightly, she
would collapse.
To
make matters worse, Medurone’s whip lashed out and coiled around Minato’s right
hand.
“There
now, you can’t escape. Let’s keep each other company a little longer until you
become a complete stone statue.”
“Kh...!”
Her
legs and arms were heavy, but not yet completely immobile.
However,
Medurone stood outside Minato’s striking range. Even if she tried to dash in,
she lacked the speed in her current condition. Minato’s attacks were
short-ranged to begin with; they would surely be evaded with ease.
Minato, use Tettsui!
At
that moment, Chloe’s voice rang inside Mina’s head.
Huh? But that’s out of range...
Just do it. Release it with everything
you’ve got!
Right...!
Following
Chloe’s advice, Minato spun her body with all her might.
“What...!?”
Tettsui
was originally a technique used at point-blank range: spinning into the
opponent’s guard and driving an elbow strike deep into their core. It was never
meant to be used from a distance like this, but Minato snapped her whip back as
if reeling in a lash, dragging Medurone toward her.
“T-That’s
absur...!”
Of
course, Minato’s own body became bound as well, but to unleash the turning, she
needed only the slightest movement of her elbow.
She
drove her left elbow deep into Medurone’s solar plexus.
“Kh...ha...!”
Medurone’s
eyes rolled back, and she collapsed.
“Medurone,
Unconscious.”
“Chloe!
Nina-chan!”
Too
impatient even to properly uncoil her whip, Minato rushed toward Chloe and
Nina.
That
was when it happened.
“Minato,
look out!”
A
killing intent flared diagonally behind her.
Sui...!
“...Got
you.”
Using
concealment to perfection, it was a flawless ambush. The timing was impeccable,
it was impossible to evade.
The
dagger-type Lux in Sui’s hand flashed, its blade of light streaking toward Minato’s
throat.
And
yet.
“Jail
Royal Straight[1]!”
“What!?”
At
the very brink, Nina’s set ability activated, trapping Sui within a wall of
light.
Minato
had no idea when or at what moment Nina had laid the trap, but she understood
that Nina’s stubborn refusal to give up, her patient wait for the perfect
opening, had borne fruit.
“...”
As
Sui struggled desperately to break free, Nina, swaying on her feet, raised her
hand with a faintly sorrowful expression and murmured, “Ace Bullet Four Card[2].”
The
light bullets Nina released slipped through the luminous barrier. They knocked
aside Sui’s arm as she tried to shield her school crest, then shattered the
crest beyond into splinters.
“Sui,
Badge Broken.”
“...No...
that...”
Sui’s
knees buckled as she muttered in disbelief.
At
the same time, Nina collapsed as though her strength had run out.
“Nina-chan!”
“I-I’m
fine...”
Held
in Minato’s arms, Nina managed a brave smile.
“Minato,
I’m sorry, but I can barely use my ability anymore. So from here on... you’ll
have to rely on your own strength. Even so...”
Chloe,
seated with her back against a heap of rubble, turned her gaze toward the back
of the stage as she spoke. At that instant, a tremendous rumble shook the air,
and something surged upward, a colossal wall of rock... no, a wave of stone.
Minato
met Chloe’s and Nina’s eyes and gave a small nod. Summoning the last of her
strength, she dashed forward for the third time.
Leaping
over the largest boulder at the center of the stage, she saw Sophia lying flat
on her back, and Nevilleworth advancing calmly to deliver the finishing blow.
“I
won’t let you!”
Though
still some distance away, Minato shouted, drawing Nevilleworth’s attention.
“...”
He
halted, then silently swung the glaive-type Lux in his hand. Fist-sized stone
bullets materialized around him.
“Ah...”
She
had succeeded in drawing his focus, but she hadn’t expected a long-range
attack.
At
this point, of all times, her greatest weakness rose up to block her path.
Without
mercy, the stone projectiles launched toward her.
They
were all shot down by arrows of light that flew from behind Minato.
“Yuzuhi!”
She
glanced back for only a moment. Standing atop a boulder with her bow drawn,
Yuzuhi smiled brightly.
“...Good
grief.”
As
though inconvenienced but resigned, Nevilleworth lowered his spear into stance.
“Uoooooooooooooooo!”
With
a battle cry, Minato leapt into range and unleashed a kick, but Nevilleworth deflected
it effortlessly with a single strike of his spear.
Spinning
in midair before landing, Minato attacked again without hesitation.
She
knew full well the difference in their strength. Even if her fist nearly
drained of prana somehow connected, there was no telling how much damage it
would inflict upon Nevilleworth.
But
at this point, something like that was no longer a reason for Minato to stop.
“I
won’t let you lay a hand on Sophia-senpai!”
“...Reckless
bravado.”
Nevilleworth
pronounced it without emotion and moved to thrust his spear at Minato.
“Honestly...
you’ve been so unbearably loud, I can scarcely get a proper rest.”
Unsteadily,
Sophia rose to her feet behind him.
“What
did you say...?”
As
though brushing away a fly, Nevilleworth knocked Minato’s attack aside and
turned to face Sophia.
In
that instant, a sword flash, brilliant as lightning, beautiful and powerful, flared
through the air.
“Guh...!”
As
he received Sophia’s blade, a faint trace of astonishment flickered across
Nevilleworth’s face.
“Our
leader has fought herself into such a state, and if I fail to act now, then the
name Sophia Fairclough would be forfeit, would it not?”
Though
she swayed as if she might collapse at any moment, Sophia carried herself with
a curious ease, an unshaken composure befitting a true master.
In
her loosely hanging right hand, the saber-type Lux shone with an almost divine
brilliance.
“Sophia-senpai...
that’s...”
Meteor
Arts, that much was fine. Of course Sophia could use Meteor Arts.
But
Meteor Arts was a technique that poured prana into the Manadite of a Lux,
forcibly driving up its output for a brief period. The output would never be
stable. For Sophia, who adjusted her blade’s trajectory down to the millimeter
to avoid harming her opponent, it should have been disastrously incompatible.
“There
is no need to worry.”
Sophia
smiled gently and raised her sword in a languid motion. Though her injuries
were likely worse than Minato’s, there was not a single opening in her stance.
Nevilleworth,
too, lifted his spear, wariness creeping into his posture.
A
single breath of silence.
Then
the tip of Nevilleworth’s spear struck the ground, and in the next instant, a
ferocious wave of rock surged upward and crashed toward Sophia.
“Sophia-senpai!”
Yet
she cleaved it cleanly in two with a single stroke. Effortlessly, as though it
required no strength at all.
This
time, Nevilleworth’s expression changed unmistakably.
It
was astonishment. Admiration. And fear.
“Oooo...oooooooooohhhhhhh!”
As
though to drive away even the slightest flicker of hesitation within himself,
Nevilleworth roared and let prana flood from his entire body, resetting his
stance with the spear. The pressure he exuded now was beyond anything from
before.
Minato
moved to raise her fists beside Sophia, but Sophia stopped her with nothing
more than a glance.
“This
is under control. More importantly, you, look.”
Where
Sophia turned her gaze.
“Wakamiya
Minatoooooooooooooo!”
Roverica
burst forth, splitting a massive boulder in two, her bloodshot eyes fixed on
Minato as she brandished Bercier-Veurne.
“I
leave that to you.”
“...Yes!”
Minato
answered firmly and broke into a run.
At
the same moment, Roverica lowered Bercier-Veurne and charged as well.
Neither
slowed in the slightest; the distance between them vanished in an instant.
“Drop
deeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaad!”
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
As
Roverica brought Bercier-Veurne crashing down, Minato twisted her body and
evaded it by a hair’s breadth. In the same motion, as she slipped past, she
drove a backfist into Roverica’s neck.
They
raced past one another, and a moment later, it was Roverica who collapsed.
“...Damn...it...”
“Roverica,
Unconscious.”
Almost
at the same time, another mechanical voice resounded.
“Nevilleworth,
Badge Broken.”
“Match
decided! Winner, Team Kaguya!”
As
Minato finished her strike and looked ahead, she saw Sophia standing serenely
with a gentle smile, and Nevilleworth on one knee, his head bowed.
“...Did we win?”
Minato
herself could scarcely believe the sight before her; she simply stood there,
frozen.
“We
did it! What a battle! What an ending! Though every member of the team was
battered and broken, the ones who seized victory are, astonishingly enough,
Team Kaguya!”
At
that instant, the commentator’s scream and the thunderous roar of the crowd
shook the stage.
“A
stunning comeback, indeed! Absolutely magnificent, truly moving!”
“Wah...”
It
was as though, in this very moment, sound had returned to the world. Come to
think of it, sometime during the match, the noise of the outside had completely
faded away.
Ordinarily,
she must have shut it out unconsciously in the depths of her concentration.
And
yet, upon this stage, there had certainly been a span of time that belonged to
no one but Team Helion and Team Kaguya. She could not accept them, and if she
were honest, she even hated them. She felt as though she never wished to see
them again.
Even
so, so long as this place was Asterisk, Minato felt that she must not deny that
time.
“Minato!”
“Sophia-senpai!”
Yuzuhi
and Chloe came running toward her, Yuzuhi supporting Nina by the shoulder.
Minato
tried to greet her companions with a smile... and then her consciousness
slipped away, and she collapsed to the ground.
*
* *
“Oh?
And where do you think you’re going?”
“...”
In
a dim corridor set a step back from the spectator stands still roaring with
cheers, Liberio halted at the sight of the figure standing before him and knit
his brows.
“Ah.
It’s you.”
“They
may have lost, but your girls fought well, didn’t they? Aren’t you going to
offer them at least a few words of praise?”
“That
has nothing to do with an outsider.”
Liberio
replied curtly and moved to pass by the figure, Sora, without another glance.
“Well,
fair enough. Still... that girl Roverica looked just like you used to. Call it
karma, perhaps?”
“...!”
In
the next instant, Liberio spun around and threw a punch, eyes blazing with
fury.
Sora
caught the blow in one hand, and their gazes collided at close range.
“Shut
up, you old hag...! I’ll kill you.”
“Go
on and try, brat.”
For
a time they remained locked in a glare.
The
corridor filled with such dense, pitch-black killing intent that any ordinary
person would have fainted merely from standing nearby.
“...Hah.”
It
was Liberio who withdrew his fist first.
Straightening
his posture, he let out a heavy breath and returned to his usual smile.
“They’re
in shock, I’m sure. If I were to show my face now, it would only make things
worse. I am being considerate, in my own way.”
“...I
see. Then I owe you an apology. That was thoughtless of me.”
When
Sora admitted it plainly, Liberio turned on his heel.
“People
like us have ways of living that befit what we are. ...Now then, excuse me.”
“...”
Sora
watched his retreating back in silence, and only after he had disappeared from
view did a wry smile cross her face.
“Good
grief. I’d better rein in my meddling, or I’ll end up dead sooner rather than
later. No number of lives would be enough. Honestly, this is what comes of
getting old...”
Walking
in the opposite direction from where Liberio had gone, Sora pulled out a mobile
terminal she rarely used.
“Well,
I suppose I can do at least this much.”
With
unpracticed fingers, she typed out a message and sent it.
Just
a single line: Well done.
Addressed
to her prized disciple.
[1] The
Great Prison of Absolute Seal
[2] Absolute
Roar of Quadruple Heart Bullet