Editing City Series:Volume3a Chapter 10 (section)

===Part 1===

A certain noise could be heard in the distance: gunfire.

The sharp yet low-pitched tone rumbled through the power station.

Akira and Gunmal heard it as they made their way to the center of the power station.

They heard more gunfire that seemed to match their pace.

“That’s Rin,” muttered Akira as she jogged along and kept an eye on her surroundings.

Gunmal made long strides next to her and nodded.

“I guess they’ve already started. …Worried?”

“Well, yes. Especially after what you said earlier.”

…''That she’s prepared to die.

She looked to Gunmal.

His sword Device was resting on his shoulder and he faced forward with a look that made her think he had dropped his tension somewhere. In other words, he was the same as always.

“Hey, Gunmal.”

“?”

“Sorry about forcing you to come with me.”

…''But why are you here?

“Well…”

“And if you say because you ran here, I’ll smash your head open.”

He trailed off there, so she had apparently guessed right.

“…This stupid guy.”

She clicked her tongue and looked to his Device.

It was shaped like a bladeless mixture of a musical instrument and a sword. It was named Nein König and was a lot like him.

“I’ve been wondering. Did you create that Device?”

“How would I give birth to something like this? I’m not equipped for that.”

“I-I didn’t mean it like that!”

…''If you can make something like that, then why did you quit Busting?

He did not answer her.

He only faced forward and said something else.

“We have some opponents.”

She saw them too.

About fifty meters straight ahead, two figures stood before the reactor.

It was a similar group to Akira and Gunmal: a female Nein Engel and a human Buster.

Akira and Gunmal gradually slowed to a walk and then stopped altogether.

Both sides could see each other’s faces at that range.

For those who used Lives, they were already within range.

“Long time no see, brother. You’re not looking too hot.”

J-Gun did not reply.

Instead, Genius spoke next to him.

“Leave, both of you. This is not worth dying over.”

“No one said we’re going to die.”

…''Gunmal, is that woman Genius?

Gunmal silently nodded.

“Your beauty’s wasted on my mute brother.”

“You don’t go easy on your own family, do you?”

“Don’t worry. I make sure to praise myself.”

As soon as he spoke, the mercury lamp next to them burst.

“!?”

The area grew a little darker and the lamp’s glass fragilely clattered to the asphalt.

…''What just happened?

Akira realized that Genius held a sword and that light was wrapped around the blade.

That light was not a Live; it was actual light.

It slithered up the weapon like a snake and the fine grooves along the blade formed an emblem.

Gunmal whistled lightly.

“Wow. Now that’s SF.”

“What are you talking about, you idiot? She has four wings, so she’s a cherub. That’s the kind of Nein Engel that controls light.”

“Miss Akira? If you’re Double Lee’s sister, you must know how strong I am. No matter how powerful you are in Busting or Tuning, you can’t react to flying light.”

She lightly swung the sword and the light flew like a whip.

She targeted the mercury lamp positioned opposite the previous one.

With a solid sound, this white light also burst.

Gunmal heard the glass falling again and gave Akira a serious look.

“Akira, listen carefully to what I’m going to say.”

“What?”

“I’m a normal civilian, so can I leave now?”

“No.”

“That’s just mean. You said earlier I could leave, didn’t you?”

“Shut up. From now on, I’m going to automatically reject any ideas like that.”

“Fine then. Busting without producing a Live is hard, though.”

With that, he raised his Device in his prosthetic right hand.

“Hey, lady! Where’s Akira’s brother!?”

“About one hundred meters beyond this reactor. …But you’ll have to defeat us first.”

“I see,” he muttered before changing his tone. “Hey, Akira. Is Tuning fun?”

“What?”

Akira tilted her head at the unexpected question, so he asked again.

“Well, there’s a lot to it, but let’s keep it simple. Is Tuning fun?”

“W-well, I suppose.”

Her answer was vague, but it seemed to convey her thoughts because he nodded.

“I see. Then maybe you can make Busting fun for me.”

“Eh?”

“…”

He said nothing.

Like always.

“So you’re going to fight?” asked Genius.

Gunmal nodded and so did Akira.

J-Gun did not, but he did take a single step forward.

They all raised their weapons at once and a distant gunshot was their cue to attack.