Editing BlazBlue:Phase 0 Chapter 6 (section)

===Part 4===

Rushing out to the Cauldron hall again, Ragna looked up at the lid-like opening that should be far away above his head.

The fact that it was far and that the area of the Cauldron's vicinity was brighter somehow made it hard to see the opening. Only a widespread of deep darkness could be seen.

Still, when he properly adjusted his eye, the enveloping darkness above him gradually dissolved at a fast rate. What should have been able to be seen that was covered by light became clear.

There was no room for doubt.

It was during the moment they thought so. On a part of the hall far away from where Ragna's group at, illuminated by the lights that came from the Cauldron, a noise that was like a gushing steam began to reverberate.

What had been spewing was black mist.

"It's coming...!"

Nine put herself on guard. Magic was swirling around her.

While stretching out his sensitivity at his surroundings, Ragna shook his head as lightly as he could.

"No, it's impossible. Run."

When he muttered, sweat ran down on his back. His throat went dry at the unusual tension.

Nine snapped at the withdrawing figure.

"Huh? What do you mean by running away!?"

"No time for complaining. Nine, can you do teleportation?"

"Wh... Kuh, teleportation? It's not that I can't. Something that easy..."

Ragna's low but strong tone of voice seemed authoritative. It made Nine slightly flinch when she replied. Why did she have to be ordered by Ragna? It made her disgruntled. But now wasn't the situation to fuss over such a trivial thing.

"If you can, then get ready to start it up. And get away as far as you can from here."

"Ragna, do you intend to remain alone!?"

The one who raised her voice was Celica, telling him not to say such a ridiculous thing. She ran and snatched Ragna's sleeve.

"Your opponent is the Black Beast, you know. I can't leave you here alone while you're facing it!"

"She's right. Besides, I want to fight, too. I can assist you from behind."

Nine displayed her objection within her aggressive stare. Following her, even Trinity leaned her body forward.

"Me, too. I'm ready to help you with protective magic. It is reckless to face it alone."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but I'll be troubled if you stay here. I don't know what will happen once I collide with the Black Beast. Worst case scenario, you all might get dragged up."

In a different place, mist began to gushing out again. Two, three of other places followed suit.

Stepping back a bit, Ragna turned his face toward Nine as if telling her to hurry.

"Get on your feet! You all got mountain loads of things to do after this! If you get hurt, time will just get wasted! It'll get you in trouble!"

Nine's body stiffened. Ragna truly believed that he would create a gap of one year. No, he most likely would create it.

Nine had to use every bit of that time for the sake of suppressing the Black Beast.

Although her face looked frustrated, Nine bit her lips while she withdrew.

"Everyone, don't leave my side."

Annoyed and frustrated, Nine started focusing her consciousness. Not to strike Black Beast or its remnants, but to connect her consciousness to a place that wasn't here, crossing over airspace.

Nine's long hair fluttered. She started to be covered with a fascinating light.

Mitsuyoshi took a several large steps as if he was getting away from there.

"I'll stay."

"Hey! Bastard, did you listen to me!?"

Upset, Ragna yelled rudely at Mitsuyoshi who nimbly unsheathed his sword.

"My ears still work fine. But unlike the young lady, I can do nothin' but wield my sword. Although ye said the Black Beast's action would stop, I feel that it needs to happen as soon as possible."

Mitsuyoshi grinned. A smile was formed on the cat's mouth. His triangular ears were twitching.

"Though I might seem stubborn, I got confidence in myself. After all, ye won't reach its real body if yer careless. Just think of me as a firearm that's clearin' away the remnants in yer way."

Ragna clicked his tongue. But he was actually grateful for Mitsuyoshi's offer.

After he barely arrived in front of the real body, it was meaningless to crush the remnants that were around there.

There was nothing more reliable than having the competent Mitsuyoshi shaking off the remnants since he would just get overwhelmed.

"...Then, I'll be relying on you."

Behind Ragna and Mitsuyoshi, Nine's magic circle had its brilliance increasing.

"Then, we'll go on ahead. I'll leave this place to you two."

Nine spoke while she was on the center of the circle.

A faint sparkle was fired from Trinity's fingertip. It vanished after it wrapped Ragna and Mitsuyoshi.

"It's a protective magic that doesn't need to be controlled~. It should guard you against any physical impact."

"Thanks for the help."

Ragna raised the corner of his lips as he smiled. Trinity deeply bowed her head.

From beside her, Celica suddenly ran.

"Ragna!"

She rushed over and dived into his arms. Both of her hands were holding on Ragna's jacket tightly. Rather than clinging to him, it was more like she hugged him close.

"Wh... Idiot! Get back to the magic circle quickly!"

"You said you'll return. You'll really come back, right?"

Celica looked up at Ragna, demanding an explanation.

Looking down on her large eyes, Ragna felt an excessive strain come out from his body.

It felt nostalgic. Come to think of it, back when he met Celica for the first time, he felt familiar with the girl's gaze and her gentle expression.

Perhaps, it was possible that he had met her somewhere in the future period. If so, it was a wonder.

"Yeah. I promise."

Ragna smiled bitterly. He answered with a voice that had no hesitation in it.

It was a lie. He shouldn't be able to keep such promises. The opponent was the Black Beast. He mocked himself over the fact that he would definitely die. His cowardly self couldn't help but made its complaints be heard.

However, he didn't want to say the truth here.

It was fine, even if it was a lie. If he didn't promise to come back safely, he had a bad feeling that his feet would get dragged to something and he really would die.

Ragna took off the red jacket he had been wearing and gave it to Celica.

"Hold it for me. I'll return and pick it up."

Celica stared at Ragna for a while. Hugging the given jacket close to her, she then smiled as bright as the sun.

"...Okay, I understand. I'll trust you."

It was a lie. She shouldn't be able to believe him. She had a feeling that they wouldn't be able to meet again. That sad thought accumulated in her chest and made her suffocate.

But at the same time, she also felt that Ragna would return. Without any ground whatsoever, she truly believed it without a doubt. Celica supported herself with only that thought.

While holding Ragna's jacket in her arms, Celica slightly stood on her tiptoes.

Maybe it was the aftereffect of the fight between Nine and Mitsuyoshi as there was a small scratch on Ragna's cheek.

There, as if touching it gently, she gave it a kiss. The small wound recovered and vanished without a trace.

"You promised! I'll be waiting for Ragna to come back together with Mitsuyoshi-san!"

With her long hair and skirt lightly fluttered, Celica ran back to her sister's magic circle.

She furiously waved her hand to the dumbfounded Ragna.

Right after Celica's smile bloomed like a flower, the girls disappeared from that place.