Editing Ultimate Antihero:Volume 3 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 6===

On the other side at Tokyo life sphere, with Sumika and others pushing back the enemy that was invading through the opened hole in the protective wall, Japan’s side was in the process of building back their battle front.

Be that as it may, there was no doubt that the defense of the coastline was a close battle.

And then, the main force of Japan and the Five Great Leaders’ allied forces were divided into three groups where they began fierce battles.

One battle was between Sir James and He, who was possessed by <Abaddon>.

This person’s power as a destroyer couldn’t be blocked unless it was by Sir James’ <Artifact – Excalibur>.

It could be said that this personnel selection was valid.

However, the strength of the two was in close rivalry, the battle began to show the sign of a protracted battle.

――In the meantime, there was also a battle that seemed like it would be decisively settled immediately.

That was the battle between the pair of Dorothy and Chikori against the sister with a bad complexion holding a katana in one hand, Gimel.

…The main forces of both camps were confronting each other.

Among them the one whose strength was a cut lower than the rest, was none other than Chikori.

So to speak, the girl was the hole in Japan’s side.

Therefore the moment the battle began, Dorothy immediately covered up for her.

As a result, the battle was in the form of two against one where Chikori and Dorothy confronted Gimel alone.

This superiority in number brought a large difference.

At present, Gimel couldn’t handle the two’s fierce attack and her body got hit by the two’s fist several times already.

Right now even in this moment――

“SMASH!!!!”

Dorothy’s fist struck Gimel’s nose, making her step back for some distance.

However――

“Fufu, fufuu, pointless, pointless……”

There was not a single drop of blood flowing out from Gimel’s nose.

(There are several telling blow that got in since a while ago, but they didn’t become any significant damage.)

Chikori knew this sensation.

(――It’s the same like that time.)

It was like the time when she fought the <Paladins> in order to protect the <Fairy Queen> Elfiena before.

This was the same when Sumika’s bullet and sorcery were ineffective against Alfaro.

And then, of course the one who noticed that was not only Chikori.

While shaking off the numbness remaining in her fist that was as if she was just striking steel, Dorothy whispered in annoyance.

“I see. So this is the rumored <Holy Ground>.”

Hearing her words, Gimel’s pale face warped happily in a wide smile.

“Fu, fufu, fu, e, exact, ly. Ju, just a S-rank ma, gician, is only, a, human……! Doing something like, hurting an angel’s body, is impossible……!”

That was why no matter how many time they hit her, no matter what they did to her, Gimel said that it was all pointless.

However――

“Fufun. Something like that is nothing you know? Sister.”

“……!”

“The difference in spirit rank is the difference in power of existence. The difference in power of existence is the difference in soul, that is heart, that’s equal with the difference in magic power. Then――everything will be fine as long as that gap is just filled.”

And then the one who could do that―― was S-rank magician. The trump card of the human race.

When Dorothy said that, she opened her right fist wide――

“I call on the corrupting power of Gold! Bring your Ruin!! (The power of gleaming golden sun    lavish your might and destroy the impurity with the light of world-destorying conflagration)”

She invoked the grand sorcery that was the reason she was called as <Crimson Leo>.




“<{{furigana|Ancient Zero|Flame of Origin}}……-!”




Along with the announcement of that binding curse, a shining bright fire ball was manifested on Dorothy’s right palm.

That fire ball was gushing with light and heat wave to the degree that could be said as a miniature sun, burning the surroundings.

Even just by releasing it as it was, it could surely decimate half the number of the allied forces.

But, Dorothy did something that was even more unbelievable.

That fire ball of such enormous energy was grasped by her fingers like a baseball, it was compressed and compressed―― it was squeezed tight inside her fist.

Instantly, Dorothy’s right fist was shining in a beautiful crimson, like a ruby.

(That, that’s an amazing energy……!)

“――-“

Chikori was fascinated by this radiance while Gimel exposed uneasiness.

It was the strongest power of fire element sorcery that was compressed on top of compression into such a condensed form.

Certainly that fist was possessing magic power in it that could tread into Gimel’s <Holy Ground>.

Dorothy cocked her fist to the limit, believing in her chance of winning from that fretfulness of Gimel.

And then――she gave an order to Chikori through mind transmission.

{Chikori. I’ll present this to that Sister’s flank……! It’s fine even if it’s just for an instant, please freeze that Sister’s movement!}

{……! Got it-!}

Following Dorothy’s instruction, Chikori unhesitatingly filled the distance with Gimel.

She attacked firmly against a <Special Missionary> as her opponent.

That was the result from her everyday training with Homura.

She could see Gimel’s movement to a certain degree.

She could follow the enemy.

She had confirmed that when she fought in a tag with Dorothy against this enemy.

Therefore she didn’t fear. She advanced resolutely, weaving through Gimel’s slash.

Unleashing her fist compactly, she tried to stop Gimel’s movement.

But――

(I can’t stop her……!)

Gimel absolutely didn’t show any opening.

That was how it should be. This sister was protected by <Holy Ground>.

Something like the fist of Chikori that she unleashed while evading the slash, it didn’t hurt no matter how much Gimel got hit with it.

Far from stopping her movement, there wasn’t even any need to protect herself.

Gimel swung around her katana while being hit.

Like this Dorothy also couldn’t get closer.

It would end up a pointless effort like this. They would make no progress.

But――

(That’s right……! There is that! The way that can stop her movement for sure!)

Right after that, a revelation from heaven graced Chikori’s brain.

She noticed while attacking Gimel in a hit-and-run.

There was only one, the way that could stop Gimel’s movement with certainty even for her.

――That was, by getting slashed.

Saying it more accurately, she would dull the slash by purposefully letting her flesh get cut, and in that moment she would grasp the katana.

If she did that, Gimel’s movement would stop whether she wanted it or not!

(Nothing else but this……!)

Chikori entrusted her body to that divine revelation and resolved herself.

And then she was probing while dodging the slashes, and chose a moment.

Perhaps it was from impatience, but it was a thrust that was a little rough.

She would let her left arm get pierced by this, and after that――

(I’ll catch it with my right hand and stop her movement-!)

That decision was――……




Really like a student magician with little experience of real battle, a fatal miss.




“Chikori! NoOoo――――――–!!!!”

“Eh-“

Chikori was thrust away by the interfering Dorothy while she was yelling, then Chikori fell over to the ground.

And then Dorothy who thrust away Chikori was pierced in the right shoulder by Gimel’s katana.

“――Wh, why……!”

Dorothy’s interference happened out of nowhere.

Chikori was unable to comprehend this development.

But… it was only temporary.

Chikori soon realized the meaning of Dorothy’s action, together with an intense regret.

“Fu, fu, fuhuhuhuhu! Fi, fi-fi-finally, I caught youuu……!”

Gimel who stabbed Dorothy’s shoulder with the tip of her blade smiled widely,




{Witness the day of the great god’s fury.

That day, the absinthe wormwood that is blazing up red is, raining down incessantly to every sea, and to every river.

The water of every sea, every river all became bitter, killing many living things.}




While spreading the manifested wing from angel’s possession on her back, Gimel whispered those words.

Thereupon――

“Gofu-!”

Dorothy vomited reddish black blood from her mouth.

“Dorothy-san!?”

Just what in the world happened? It was only her shoulder that was stabbed at best. Yet despite so, why did Dorothy vomit out blood?

“……Wormwood, the power of the <Third Trumpeter>, is it……”

“Ju-ju-just as, yoouu said hihi……! The power that go-go-go-god granted me is, poison! The power to control god’s {{furigana|poison|absinthium}}! Thaat’s whyyy! Yo-yo-yo-you a-a-, are already, ca, canot be saveddd hihihi!”

“Po, poison……! Su, such thing……!”

In this moment, Chikori’s comprehension finally caught up.

And then she noticed her own error.

――She was going to lightly take an enemy’s attack who still hadn’t exposed her hand yet.

That could be said to be the extremity of a stupid move.

After all, depending on the opponent, there was some kind that possessed the move that could inflict lethal wounds even through just a scratch.

And unfortunately, Gimel was an enemy of that type.

“……-, guh, gaho-! Geho-!”

“Dorothy-sannn!”

While vomiting out a large amount of blood, Dorothy collapsed on the ground.

Her body was already violated by the <absinthium>, she was in the grip of death.

(It’s my…… fault……-! Because I’m, an idiot like this……!)

Chikori stood stock still in a daze from the worst situation that her carelessness had invited.

Towards Chikori who was being like that,

“Fu, fufufu, i, i-it’s fine even if you don’t feel sad, like that. Yo, you too will immediately, follow after her. The, the same like her, to the place of the lorddd-!”

Gimel mercilessly attacked.

“-……!”

On the other hand, Chikori was already not in a mental state where she could counter attack.

She was only devoting herself to evading using her inherent reflexes.

However――

(Fufuhi, her motor, reflexes, are something……! But……!)

Surely it was because Chikori had seen the threat of <absinthium> that made Dorothy unable to move just with one thrust.

The focus of Chikori’s eyes were completely fixed onto Gimel’s katana.

――She couldn’t see anything other than that.

And then, it also became known to Gimel who was confronting her,

(Her experience is, just, too lackinggg!!!!)

“Gahha!?!?”

Gimel’s kick that was like a stab bore into Chikori’s defenseless solar plexus.

“Fufufu, yo, you didn’t thi-think that a kick will come right? Your eyes only see, the sword…… hihi, your stomach, is completely open.”

“Geho! A, aa…… oe!”

Both of Chikori’s knees gave in from the unbelievable intense pain of her entrails bored by the kick.

It was a heavy and deep pain as if she was struck by a gigantic steel hammer.

That was only natural.

The ability granted to Gimel by the angel possession was [poison].

Because the woman used that power and produced a large amount of anabolic steroid inside her body, she could launch a kick with muscle power that had been reinforced until the territory that had far surpassed the range of common sense.

“u…………――”

That single kick was more than enough to break Chikori’s consciousness, Chikori whose knees had fell on the ground was going to collapse down just like that.

On the verge of that… a certain scene flashed in Chikori’s mind.

{Chikori’s movement is just too direct you know? That’s why it’s easy to read.}

That was, the memory of her training with Homura――

It was the words of Homura when she was grumbling from being completely unable to touch Homura at all in a mock battle.

(――Aah, that’s right, at that time, Master was……)

{But, that step-in without any hesitation, and that straightforward feeling you directed to the enemy… are also Chikori’s strength.}

{My, strength?}

{Right. Training so much that you can even offset the symptoms of {{furigana|AS|Apple Seed}} syndrome is normally something that cannot be done. That straightforward feeling and the willpower to realize your original intention is really something uncommon.

…And then a strong will can be sublimated into a strong power.

You’re still lacking in experience, you are not clever like Sumika so from now on you will surely meet some hardships. But remember this each time you meet those hardships. Just whose pupil you are.}

(――――)




{I guarantee your strength. That’s why, don’t you dare doubt your own strength.}




“<nowiki>~~~~~~~~~~~–</nowiki>!!!!”

When her consciousness was on the verge of sinking into darkness, Chikori who remembered Homura’s words gritted her teeth, then she supported her body by striking the ground.

And then, with eyes that were filled with a strong sense of purpose, Chikori fixed her eyes on the enemy in front of her.

It was an outside enemy that was breaking into their home, trying to kill their family right about now.

(I’m, the pupil of Master……!)

Then, she couldn’t lose uncoolly like this against the bunch that was trying to break the thing her master was protecting.

Her body could still move. Her fist could still strike. Then――!




“DORORTHIIII-SaAAaAAN!!!!”




Chikori turned to Dorothy, who was collapsing in a puddle of her own blood, and yelled with all that she had.

“For my sake, please buy a minute, no, thirty seconds for me! I beg you-!”

And then,

“Because, I’ll defeat that woman……-!”

She spread her stance and strained her fist, aiming at Gimel.

With a misty vision, Dorothy stared at that action, and that expression of resolve of Chikori……

She squinted happily from her heart and laughed.

“Okay……! Just leave it to big sis……!”

Instantly, Dorothy lifted up her body that was on the verge of death from being violated by poison, and even while spouting out blood, she assaulted Gimel.

“Fuu-!”

Dorothy’s fist was blocked by the <Holy Ground> and didn’t even do any damage, but the breaking through shockwave hindered Gimel’s movement with certainty.

“……!? Hoow are you moving? Even though, the <absinthium> should be, circulating inside you-!”

Gimel opened her eyes wide in astonishment from Dorothy’s fierce attack.

<Absinthium> was a poison that didn’t exist in this world.

If it entered the body even just for a little, then the person could not be saved anymore, their bone and flesh would rot off and they could only wait for their death, being tormented by intense pain. That was how it should be.

Towards such a Gimel,

“That’s an easy question, you miss stupid.”

Dorothy even showed a daring smile and spoke out.

“The reason is… obviously because I’m the <Crimson Leo>!”

“Kuh-, this… di, die, don’t comeeeee!”

Gimel slashed at the attacking Dorothy and tried to drive her off.

But, even while being afflicted with poison, Dorothy’s fierce attacks couldn’t be compared with before.

That was also only natural.

Until just now, she was hiding her cards and moved carefully to fight Gimel.

She was attacking by always saving a space where it was possible for her to dodge in emergency.

But right now… there was no need for that anymore.

Her body already didn’t have any future. She unleashed her fist without minding to receive some cuts.

Even while her whole body was wet with blood, that heroic appearance challenging the enemy was exactly like―the <Crimson Leo>.

The protector of the human race. As a S-rank magician, her proud figure wouldn’t bring shame to anyone.

(Dorothy-san…, thank you…-)

Burning that sight of Dorothy’s heroics into her teary eyes, Chikori filled her drawn back right fist with magic power.

Chikori couldn’t do anything like Dorothy’s miraculous feat of enchanting her fist with fifth grade sorcery.

For that reason, her feeling of gratitude, frustration, rage, she changed all of those into a determination to defeat the enemy before her eyes――

(Crammed it into the fist…!)

――And then, the time had come.

“Gah, buaAa”

The time when Dorothy’s life ran out.

Vomiting conspicuously large amounts of blood, Dorothy’s body lurched violently.

That was her limit.

Even without getting cut down, she would surely collapse just like that into her puddle of blood and not move anymore for eternity.

But even so… this valorous female burned the light of her life until the very last.

――She had certainly, bought thirty seconds.

{I leave, the rest, to you……}

“-――――…….!”

Hearing those apologetic words, Chikori didn’t answer.

There was no need to answer or anything.

Right now, there was only one thing that she needed to do.

The feeling filled into that fist, she had to send it straight into the enemy before her eyes!




“<{{furigana|Meteor Strike|Star Smash}}>–!!!!”




Chikori’s right fist that was drawn back to the limit struck aiming at Gimel’s life.

The fist emitted light as if several hundred white thunders were bundled inside it.

The trace that fist drew――was exactly like the comet that smashed the star!

During the thirty seconds, Chikori’s thought continued to draw the image of going towards Gimel’s life and waited until the time was ripe before striking.

To evade that fluent, unhesitating attack that rushed at the fastest and shortest route was impossible.

But――

(Do, do-do, don’t, minddd!)

Gimel ridiculed that as nothing, she didn’t even try to defend, she held aloft her katana in order to prance at the neck of the approaching Chikori.

That was obvious. Gimel possessed the <Holy Ground> of the angel possessing her.

Certainly the <Ancient Zero> that was compressed inside Dorothy’s fist was a threat, but……

In the first place, Chikori was nothing more than a mere magician.

No matter how much feeling that kind of human put into their attack, the status of a mere human was something of no importance.

There was no way in the world that it would be able to hurt an angel or anything.

Whether it was Chikori’s will, or even Dorothy’s sacrifice, everything was a fruitless effort. It would end for nothing.

Such thing.




To allow such an absurdity was not Chikori at all!




The instant Chikori’s fist touched Gimel,

A strange noise like flesh and bone and entrails being crushed all at once reverberated in the battlefield. Chikori’s fist was caving deep into Gimel’s stomach.

“u, o, ――Ge, ''geeeeeeeeee—-''!?!?”

Most likely, her stomach was rupturing like that.

Gimel fainted in agony while scattering abundant amounts of blood colored vomit and excreta.

(Wh, wh, wh-wh-wh-why''yy''!?!? E, even though I should have <Holy Ground>, in meeee!?!?)

[[Image:Ultimate Antihero V3 p205.jpg|thumb]]

Despite that, Chikori’s fist slipped through that and bored into her.

That was something incomprehensible from Gimel’s point of view.

Because something like the strength of will, wasn’t supposed to be something on the level that could allow someone to surpass that difference in rank.

Just what in the world……!

While Gimel was fainting in agony, she glared at Chikori.

And then――she noticed.

(Don’t tell me, don’ttellmedon’ttellmedon’ttellme)

The right fist of Chikori that was soaked in blood.

What could be peeked from its gap was… pure white. That was――

“This is your feather you know?”

“<nowiki>~~~~~~~~~—</nowiki>!”

――Correct, Chikori had already seen angels twice including this one.

The first one was Alfaro. The second one was today’s moment.

That was why she understood that her attack wouldn’t go through just with her power.

But what should she do so that her fist could reach Gimel?

Pondering of that, the answer that the girl found out in her own way, was this.

By clutching Gimel’s feather that fell in the middle of battle in her fist, she misrepresented her spirit rank.

And then, that scheme succeeded in a perfect form.

The girl’s feeling that was put inside her fist, it certainly pierced through Gimel’s life.

“I’m stupid, weak, I’m lacking in ability, experience, in everything but… I certainly won’t forget, the bitterness that I have been made to swallow once……-!”

“Hi-, hiaaAAAA''AEeEe''OoOEEeEEEEEE–!!!!”

Gimel held her stomach while writhing in pain as if her whole body was lit on fire.

The amount of blood vomited from her mouth as if the full content of a bucket was overturned, was obviously a lethal amount, showing that her life would soon be extinguished.

(Dorothy-san. Your revenge――)

Is paid, ――just in the moment when Chikori was convinced of that.




“Gefu, ''kefu, fufufufu, fuhihihifufuhihihiiI''――–!”




(Eh?)

Suddenly, Gimel began to laugh insanely while vomiting blood,

“''HyaaAAAAA''!!!!”

A kick that was like a stabbing spear approached at Chikori.

It was really sudden. Chikori was unable to react from that counterattack which she thought as impossible,

“Agu-!”

Her face was struck, and like that the back of her head hit the concrete wall nearby.

(Gu, a…… wh, y……!)

Even though she should have inflicted a lethal wound already to the enemy.

To the ear of Chikori who was in such confusion,

“''HURTHURT HURTHURT HURTHURTTTttTTAAAAA''! ''HAPPINESsss-''!”

Such joyful voice that made Chikori doubt her ears could be heard.

“!?!?”

“Gebu, e, e-e, even thoughhh it’s really hurttt! Even though, it’s painfull!

The faith inside me! Is not wa-wavering at all!

My heart to-to-toward the lord, is! Not wavering!

My, my fa, fa, faith is, welling up this strongly!

How can there be any bliss that could surpass this!? ''HihIhihihihihihihi''!”

――Of all things, Gimel was truly in joy from the bottom of her heart.

By reconfirming her own faith, it brought her supreme joy that Chikori couldn’t understand at all.

“''III, I'' feel, grateful to you, you know, you gave me a magnificent time……!”

Gimel’s eyes were laughing in joy.

The fighting spirit residing there didn’t wither at the slightest.

She would defeat the enemy of god. Such determination didn’t weaken even for a little.

On the other hand――

“…………-“

Chikori couldn’t move.

Because she had put her everything into the <Meteor Strike> just now.

Her consciousness was cloudy from the back of her head hitting the wall.

She didn’t have any strength remaining to resist.

(I’m sorry, Dorothy-san…… Leader……. Shiori-chan……)

While her vision was darkening, Chikori looked at the figure of Gimel approaching her while dragging the katana that would be aimed at her.

She guessed that Gimel was intending to finish her off.

But, Chikori was already unable to do anything about it,

(……I’m sorry…… Master…………)

Tears leaked out from frustration…… Chikori fell into a darkness where there was not a single streak of light shining.