Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume10 Chapter6 (section)

===Part 3===

Reaching the ground surface, Kamito and his group hacked and slashed their way through the forest.

It was supposed to be before dusk, but the surroundings were as dark as night. Heavy clouds were swirling in the sky directly above the majestic sight of the Lost Cathedral standing there.

"...This is the castle of the Darkness Elemental Lord."

Kamito looked up and held his breath.

Looking up at the building from the ground, he could feel the intimidating presence of the historic site that stood out from the ruins of the abandoned city.

In terms of appearance, the castle had numerous levels piled up into a spiral tower. Although the outer walls had steps along them, they were sealed off by numerous roots of trees.

"The leylines are activating... No doubt about it."

Fianna's sharp gaze turned towards the top of the tower.

"Very likely, Claire is imprisoned on the topmost floor. This is because this historic site's structure focuses the power of the leylines to the top of the spiral."

"It doesn't seem feasible to climb it from outside."

"There's a door over there."

Rinslet pointed out to a huge entrance that was still visible behind the gaps in a thicket.

"Okay, let's go!"

Just as Kamito's group reached the entrance&mdash;

"S-So big..."

Once again, they were intimidated by the gigantic size.

This door was far too big for human access. When the place was still used as a castle, giants undoubtedly lived inside there.

Using the front end of Ray Hawk, Ellis knocked on the door. Blue-white sparks immediately scattered from the spear tip.

"The material is mithril. Furthermore, troublesome magic seems to have been cast."

"The carvings on the door seems to carry ancient magic."

Fianna murmured as she examined the great door intently.

"It deflects the power of spirits."

"Using Est's strength, I should be able to destroy it?"

Kamito placed his hand on the sword's hilt and stepped forward. Terminus Est's anti-magic properties were topnotch amongst elemental waffen. It was possible that it could even break ancient magic.

"...It's probably better not to do that."

Fianna shook her head from side to side.

"Indeed, Est's power may be able to break the door. However, now is not a suitable time to use your divine power, Kamito-kun."

"Hmm, always trying to solve everything with force is not good."

"...I don't really want to hear that from you, Ellis."

Kamito retorted with half-narrowed eyes.

That said, Fianna had a point. Kamito obediently released his grip on his sword.

"I will analyze the magic. Kamito-kun, you should keep watch over the surroundings with everyone else."

Fianna raised both hands before the door and slowly recited an incantation.

"&mdash;O ancient song. Play music in response to my voice."

Fluent spirit language flowed from her lips. Instantly, the carvings on the door gave off dazzling light.

&mdash;Just in that very moment.

"...! Something is coming!"

Rinslet instantly released her elemental waffe. As Kamito and the rest looked up, a Freezing Arrow was shot into the air.

Crash!

With a sound like glass being crushed, something shattered in the air.

"Is that a spirit!?"

Kamito narrowed his eyes and stared into the air.

Ghosts from the Spirit War&mdash;Forsaken Spirits, that was what Kamito expected, but he was wrong.

Appearing like a burst bubble in the air was&mdash;

Eyeballs with tentacles, monsters with only lower jaws, etc... A group of spirits with shocking appearances.

"Demon spirits..."

Demon spirits&mdash;an umbrella term for spirits who were impossible to command due to their anomalous psychological structure.

The only people capable of commanding them were elementalists with special abilities, known as Witches.

At this time, the space where the demon spirits appeared from, its center distorted&mdash;

"Fufu... We meet for the first time, Kazehaya Kamito."

Accompanied by a seductive voice, the witch appeared, dressed in a foreign exotic outfit.

"&mdash;We meet for the first time, that is simply a meaningless greeting. Snake woman."

Holding his hand against this sword, Kamito glared coldly at the witch above.

Even if they were enemies, if an elementalist challenged him with pride, Kamito would offer respect in return. But to this witch who had used a despicable trap to capture Fianna and harmed his companions, Kamito had no need to offer any respect.

"Disappear from my sight. Or would you like to be cut down again?"

Kamito declared with an icy-cold voice, giving off merciless killing intent.

"K-Kamito..." "Kamito-san...?"

The undisguised killing intent of one who was raised by the Instructional School caused Ellis and Rinslet to shudder.

However, the witch endured the killing intent with composure.

"Ah yes. Right. ''This is not the first time for you to meet this appearance''."

"What do you mean?"

"Pay it no heed. Fufu, before the princess' investigation is complete, please play with me for a while&mdash;"

Sjora snapped her fingers, summoning new swarms of demon spirits from the magic circle in the air.

As the numbers increased dramatically, the swarms of demon spirits even blotted the sky.

Most likely similar to the time when Fianna was imprisoned, a summoning device belonging to the Lost Cathedral ruins was being used.

"...These numbers are bad news!"

Rinslet drew her bow and released arrows, piercing multiple demon spirits, but this amounted to nothing but a drop in the ocean.

"..."

Kamito glanced over at Fianna on the side. Fianna seemed like she was still concentrating on releasing the door. Who knew how much more time she would need&mdash;

"I'll clear them out in one go."

Kamito drew out the Demon Slayer and held it in a reverse grip.

Absolute Blade Arts, Third Form&mdash;Shadowmoon Waltz. This was a wild form of sword skill that could kill large numbers of enemies at once.

However, a hand reached out from the side and held down Kamito's arm.

"Kamito, leave this to us."

"Ellis... But&mdash;"

"We are a team. Members in a team have their individual missions. Your mission is to rescue Claire."

Ellis' ponytail swayed as she stepped forward.

With a swing of Ray Hawk&mdash;the incoming demon spirit swarm was completely sliced into halves.

"&mdash;Kamito-san, you must succeed in saving Claire."

Rinslet also stood by Ellis' side, pulling the magical bow of ice taut.

The two girls' eyes showed strong resolve.

Kamito&mdash;

"...I understand. I'll leave you two to handle Sjora."

Nodding lightly, Kamito released his hand from the sword.

"However, don't force yourself too much, both of you."

"Yes." "No need to worry."

Ellis and Rinslet nodded together.

"&mdash;The door's seal has been released!"

Fianna cried out at the door.

Rumble... Rumble rumble rumble... Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble...!

As the carvings on the door gave off intense light, it opened slowly with a great rumbling.

"Ellis, Rinslet, we're depending on you to handle this location!"

Kamito took Fianna's hand and rushed into the doorway at once.

"&mdash;Oh my, don't go escaping."

Sjora Kahn jeered as she prepared to direct the demon spirit swarms.

In that instant&mdash;

"Sjora Kahn, your opponent is&mdash;"

"Us!"

Ellis produced a tempest from her spear while Rinslet's ice arrows descended like a storm.

A technique of combination magic using elemental waffen&mdash;Ice Storm.

The howling tornado of icy wind devoured both the witch and her minions the demon spirits&mdash;

Hearing the great door slam shut behind him, Kamito rushed up the stairs of the historic site.