Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume11 Chapter4 (section)

===Part 2===

(...!?)

His consciousness suddenly went dark in the dream.

In the next instant, Kamito found himself standing before a huge set of ornate gates.

This was the door at the deepest point&mdash;The door to the True Sanctuary where even Queens were forbidden from entering.

"...Seriously, can that actually be done?"

Kamito kept repeating the same question to Restia who had turned back into the demon sword's form.

Assassinating the elemental lords.

The reason was not clear why she would want that to happen, being a spirit herself.

(However...)

She said it. It was for saving the world.

This was the only way to return the world to normal.

(...Well then, I'll just have to realize her wish.)

Because to Kamito, she was the meaning of life itself.

&mdash;Don't worry. You are the strongest warrior, Kamito.

As though pushed by that voice, Kamito went up to the gate.

"I will do it. So long as it's Restia's wish."

&mdash;Thank you, Kamito.

The conversation ended there.

Kamito silently gripped the hilt of the Vorpal Sword.

After he touched the gate's surface with one hand, the heavy gates slowly opened.

Appearing before his eyes was a massive stone staircase.

At the top were five dazzling lights.

"...!"

Kamito breathed in and took a step forward.

In this manner, he gradually climbed up&mdash;

Assassinating all the elemental lords straight away on the spot was impossible.

But killing at least one of them would be enough&mdash;That was what Restia had said.

(...The assassination target is the Holy Lord Alexandros who wields the greatest influence over the human realm.)

While walking, he looked up at the top of the steps.

(The Holy Lord's throne is over there, huh...)

Kamito stepped onto an intermediate landing. Suddenly...

&mdash;Your blade dance this time was outstanding.

As though shaking the space, the voice echoed in the giant hall.

"...!?"

Kamito stopped walking.

(This won't be easy, huh...)

He was too far from the target's position. This distance was not ideal for assassination.

However, if he continued to walk forward, surely he would be punished.

Placing the Vorpal Sword on the floor, Kamito knelt down on the spot.

&mdash;We can grant one Wish through a miracle to reward you for your blade dance.

&mdash;You, what would you request of us?

"I&mdash;"

Feeling as though his heart was being gripped tightly, Kamito whispered.

There was only one chance. If he failed, there was nothing but death waiting for him.

(...Is it really possible to kill them?)

Once again, he asked in his heart.

She did not reply. The sword's dark blade seemed to reflect Kamito's own heart.

"My wish... is&mdash;"

Keeping his head bowed&mdash;

"&mdash;''The death of the elemental lords''."

Kamito spoke the Wish she had entrusted to him.

While speaking, Kamito began to sprint.

Without thinking over unnecessary things, he closed the distance in one breath.

(&mdash;I am the weapon born for destruction.)

This was his mental switch, instilled in his body's memory through the teachings of the Instructional School.

In that instant, the Strongest Blade Dancer turned into a cold-blooded assassin.

(&mdash;O lost darkness, residing in my hand, turn into my strength!)

Infusing divine power into the Vorpal Sword&mdash;the elemental waffe that had defeated numerous enemies&mdash;he drew his sword.

Hit and run. He would use the demon sword of darkness to pierce the elemental lord and then pull it out and withdraw as quickly as he could.

While calmly deciding on the sequence, Kamito rushed up the steps.

The Elemental Lords did not show any visible reaction. Originally, Kamito's body was supposed to be destroyed the instant he stepped beyond the landing.

It was as Restia described.

The miracle employed by the Elemental Lords was a power that did not come from the elemental lords' own abilities. Hence, the miracle would fulfill the Wish as much as possible.

It was akin to some kind of system. That was what she had told Kamito.

A miraculous power that even the rulers of this world, the Elemental Lords, could not control.

At the same time, this power would bind the Elemental Lords, the executors of the miracle.

Historically, this was an unprecedented Wish.

Seeking to bring about the death of the elemental lords.

(&mdash;But that will last but for an instant.)

The elemental lords' death was an irregular Wish.

The miracle's power was not going to destroy the elemental lords who served as its executors.

Very likely, the miracle would be interrupted once it judged Kamito's Wish to be invalid.

He was still a few more steps away from the Elemental Lords' thrones.

However, those few steps could easily be mistaken for an infinite distance.

Death followed closely like a shadow. If he did not make it in time, both Kamito and Restia were going to be annihilated.

(Two more steps&mdash;)

Kamito ran as he judged the distance visually.

The target for elimination was the Holy Lord. Kamito charged towards the central throne all at once&mdash;

&mdash;But just at that moment.

"...!?"

A sense of dissonance grew.

Approaching this close, only now did Kamito noticed for the first time.

Brimming with dazzling light, the central throne.

What should exist on top of it&mdash;

''Did not exist''.

(&mdash;How could this be possible?)

Kamito yelled in his heart.

Why was the central throne empty where the Holy Lord should be?

&mdash;Kamito, the situation is abnormal!

Restia's voice sounded in his mind. The situation was apparently beyond her expectation.

However, the assassination could not be stopped&mdash;

Withdrawing now meant only death.

"Ohhhhhhhhh!"

Kamito infused divine power into the Vorpal Sword.

Darkness erupted from the demon sword's blade and sliced light apart.

Kamito instantly switched targets and swung the demon sword towards the throne next to that of the Holy Lord's.

Towards the throne of the Water Elemental Lord&mdash;Iseria Seaward.

A sword strike with godlike speed pierced the shining light on the throne.

(...Killed!?)

His arm felt a definite hit. However&mdash;

"...!"

Kamito widened his eyes in surprise.

Amidst the dazzling light was&mdash;

A young girl, completely nude, with hair the color of shimmering water.

(...This is&mdash;an Elemental Lord?)

Stabbed into the girl's chest, the demon sword of darkness was exuding astounding miasma.

Then&mdash;

&mdash;Thank you. With this, I am finally liberated.

Opening her eyes slightly, the girl murmured.

(...Liberated? What's going on&mdash;)

Just as this question rose up in Kamito's mind...

&mdash;No good, Kamito! Hurry and leave!

Restia's screams echoed in his mind.

(...Uh?)

In the next instant, amidst the light where his sword was embedded, a great amount of darkness spewed out.

"...What...!?"

The overflowing darkness instantly swallowed Restia and Kamito.

His view became black. The sticky darkness entangled his entire body, gradually pulling Kamito's body into the abyss.

(...This... This ominous darkness, is it the true form of the elemental lords&mdash;?)

At this moment, Kamito noticed.

The sword that should be held in his left hand had suddenly vanished.

Most likely, he had loosened his grip when swallowed by the darkness.

(Restia... Where are you, Restia...!)

In the bottomless darkness, Kamito yelled.

However, despite his will to resist, Kamito's consciousness was gradually being devoured by darkness.

&mdash;Kamito, sorry... I&mdash;

"...Restia!"

Inside the mud-like darkness&mdash;

Kamito finally found signs of the sinking demon sword.

"Wait up, I'll save you right now..."

Just as he reached out towards the darkness...

Kamito suddenly noticed.

(...!)

The center of the vortex in the abyss that was swallowing Restia, over there was&mdash;

&mdash;''Something''.

Instinctive fear dominated his entire body.

Easily surpassing a human's mental strength, this fear was carved in the body of flesh.

At the bottom of the abyss.

&mdash;''An existence beyond this world was writhing restlessly''.

(...What...? What, that's...!)

Restia kept sinking towards the center of the abyss.

Desperately reaching out, his fingers still could not reach.

&mdash;Kamito, can you hear me? Kamito...!

"I'm here, Restia!"

Her voice gradually grew distant.

Kamito kept sweeping the sticky mud of darkness aside as he advanced.

&mdash;The promise back then, do you still remember?

"...Promise?"

The demon sword of darkness turned and drew a complicated pattern in the space.

Kamito frowned&mdash;He quickly realized her intentions.

A magic circle. She was preparing to invoke spirit magic while in the demon sword's form.

"Restia, you're going to..."

As soon as he touched the magic circle, Kamito's arm immediately turned into particles of light and disappeared.

(...This is transfer magic!?)

Restia was planning to transfer Kamito to somewhere else.

"No, Restia! I-I must stay with you together forever, Restia&mdash;"

&mdash;Listen, Kamito.

However, Restia began to speak in a calm voice.

Had she given up already&mdash;?

(...No! Restia intends to make a request to me!)

Kamito's entire body was enveloped in the glow of the transfer magic and was gradually disappearing.

Under these conditions, her voice continued to be heard.

&mdash;Kamito, if one day I should become no longer myself...

&mdash;Kill me.

"Restiaaaaaaaa&mdash;!"