Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 7 Episode 4 (section)

===Part 8===

A few minutes after danger was approaching both the old sanctuary site and the holy capital simultaneously.

By controlling the viewing room by Ney’s hand, Lux and Krulcifer who were wearing their respective Drag-Ride were teleported to the old sanctuary site that was right above the Hall.

They left the control of Ruin to Ney and headed out using the shortest route to rescue Pope Nias and others, but──.

「……What is, happening?」

Krulcifer who was usually composed muttered that with trembling lips.

At the snow field of old sanctuary ground that they had entrusted to Mel and others, the area was filled with broken armor and traces of blood.

With the time difference, the force of Sanctuary Knight Order had collapsed due to the surprise attack of the ten-odd Abysses that were thrown into this place once more.

「Kuh, uu……」

Perhaps because of the strenuous effort of the knight captain and Alterize, Pope Nias himself was still safe, but the battle situation was obviously unfavorable.

「It’s, terrible……! Even at the capital, a violent avalanche occurred from the mountain region at the northeast area──in addition there is even Abyss’s attack, at this rate we won’t even be able to rescue them!」

One member of Sanctuary Knight Order wearing Drake yelled that with an exhausted face.

Even the situation at the holy capital was exceedingly grim.

If they didn’t clean up the remaining Abyss and hurriedly rushed to the captal, Lisha and others would be in danger.

Lux who was wearing Wyvern made that judgment and put his hand n his other Sword Device.

The exhaustion from using Bahamut was intense, but there was no more leeway to hold back.

「Krulcifer-san! Let’s exterminate the remaining Abyss! We have to hurry back to the capital!」

「Yes, I understand──……-!?」

Krulcifer responded to Lux’s voice. At that timing, it appeared right before her eyes.

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「──Unforgivable.」

–

「Eh……」

The one hovering before the two was a single Drag-Knight.

It was Mel Gizalut wearing Ddraig Gwiber, but her condition was very strange.

Her eye glint that was usually filled with innocence or fearless smile was now sinking darkly, emitting a disquieting aura.

「Unforgivable unforgivable unforgivable unforgivable unforgivable unforgivable unforgivable unforgivable unforgivable unforgivable unforgivable unforgivable……., ──unforgivable-!」

Mel Gizalut’s eye snapped open. She drove her Drag-Ride and swooped down.

The Halberd attack that was unleashed with explosive momentum assaulted the Fafnir of the dumbfounded Krulcifer.

「Krulcifer-san-……!?」

Against the very unexpected attack of Mel, even Lux tried to stop it but he didn’t make it in time.

But, when the attack was blocked by Fafnir’s special armament, Auto Shield, Krulcifer called out to Mel in front of her with a bewildered look.

「What are you intending? Why so suddenly──!?」

「……You are, still planning to play dumb? ……It’s fine, if you are going to feign innocence until the very end」

Mel floated a venomous smile and whispered.

She backed away and took distance for a moment, then she swung down her Halberd on Fafnir once more.

「-……! It can’t be helped then.」

Krulcifer too, she dodged this time and sniped at Mel using the freezing bullet from Freezing Cannon.

Although Mel immediately defended using Halberd, her weapon along with her armored arm were frozen.

Fafnir’s special armament that froze the spot that was hit couldn’t be blocked using normal barrier or weapon.

The moment the two were relieved that Mel’s attack was stopped for the moment, the armor of Ddraig Gwiber that was frozen dripped down water and the ice was instantly melted.

「Wha──!?」

Krulcifer who saw that was shaken. It was then Mel swung down her Halberd once more.

Lux immediately blocked it using his Blade as shield, but the blade was frozen instantly.

「Ku……!」

Having no time to aim for a counter using Critical Hit became a failure for him.

Lux’s movement was sealed by the same attack and phenomenon like Krulcifer’s special armament.

(This freezing, is it because of special armament? But──how!?)

If it was an armament with the same freezing ability like Freezing Cannon, the reason how the Halberd’s freezing could be melted would still be unclear.

Or else, was this the ability of Ddraig Gwiber’s Divine Raiment?

「──Wise Blood!」

Krulcifer who considered Mel as formidable enemy activated the future prediction ability of Fafnir’s Divine Raiment.

But, right after the light of Divine Raiment enveloped the Drag-Ride, Mel took a nosedive and escaped toward the snow field’s forest.

「Ddraig Gwibel, Wyrm Mode.」

The moment she landed on the ground, Ddraig Wyvern quickly transformed into land battle form.

The wings were folded and wheels for sliding popped out from the armored legs.

At the same time with her landing, she vanished among the trees in high speed without even the slightest time difference.

「Not bad……!」

Fafnir’s Wise Blood could predict enemy’s movement, but if the opponent exclusively escaped, the attack option for this side would be remarkably narrowed.

Even if she tried to snipe, the forest that was covered with snow became wall that rapidly decreased the chance to hit Mel who was moving in high speed.

Surely Mel’s plan was to aim at the moment the effect of future prediction ran out before attacking once more.

Thus, Krulcifer called off her Divine Raiment and took a stance to prepare against Mel’s assault but──.

「……!?」

Something strange, Mel’s killing intent until just now was overflowing fiercely, but would she come attacking her simply with the same move?

The moment Lux probed at Mel’s movement with a dubious gaze, he suddenly noticed that the air throughout the area was flickering like haze.

The shoulder part of Ddraig Gwiber that was running through between trees in high speed had pipe like small chimney lengthening from them.

「Defense! Krulcifer-san! An attack is coming!」

「──!?」

The moment Krulcifer heard Lux’s voice, a shudder ran through her body.

『……Aerial BusterDragon Breath Scorching Heat』

Right after Mel’s muttering sounded out from Dragon Voice, the atmosphere shook and the air itself exploded.

「Kuh, aAAAAH──!」

「UA, AAAaaAAH!」

Flame and shockwave, those forces that originally would come from one direction now felt like they were coming from all direction.

Impact and thunderous roar, flash was burning the retina, flame blast rolled up, making it impossible to even breath, and the Drag-Ride was creaking.

「That child, doing such thing──!」

Krulcifer desperately rallied her Drag-Ride and somehow managed to hold out in midair.

As expected, even Auto Shield couldn’t completely defend against wide range bombardment from all direction.

Mel was pretending to escape by skating on the ground while scattering out flammable fuel that was turned into vapor.

If it was ignited, the enemy in the midair area would be burned off and made it possible to shot them down.

What she muttered, Aerial Buster, it must be a special armament for use of intercepting flying enemy.

Mel had predicted that Krulcifer would stop using Wise Blood if she took distance.

(Strong! To be able to use Divine Drag-Ride this far at this age, on top of that she is able to form strategy and execute it.)

Even Lux who was using Bahamut when he was twelve was astonished at Mel Gizalut’s true strength.

The two were tasting the terror when she was turned into enemy at the bottom of their heart.

「To be able to have time to feel surprise, you are really composed aren’t you?」

「-……!?」

Ddraig Gwiber and Mel’s figure appeared from the smoke of the flame blast that enshrouded the area.

Krulcifer reflexively fired Freezing Cannon, but that flash cut through empty air.

「──This is, illusion!?」

Even though the bullet wasn’t evaded, it slipped through Mel’s armor and body and didn’t hit.

Mel leaped out before Krulcifer using that opening and her Halberm struck from overhead.

*GAKII-!*, Auto Shield reacted and seven shields blocked the attack.

Krulcifer readied her Rifle at that opening, but a vilent squall mowed down.

「It’s wind this time!? What in the world──!?」

「Troublesome special armament……, I’ll make it so you cannot use it anymore.」

The Drag-Ride of Mel who muttered ruthlessly was emitting mysterious orange light.

The activation of Ddraig Gwiber’s Divine Raiment that they had been witnessing several times since some time ago.

Lux put up his guard, readied the Scale Blade that was distorted from the flame blast just now, and prepared Critical Hit.

Krulcifer activated her Divine Raiment the Wise Blood and predicted Mel’s movement.

「──How astonishing. To still think that such move will still work even at this point of time.」

Mel spoke with callous and chilly tone.

Right after that, an abnormality occurred to the Drag-Rides of Lux and Krulcifer who were near Mel while Mel herself wasn’t doing anything.

「-……, this is, what is going on!?」

「The Drag-Ride’s output is decreasing!? Why, so suddenly──」

The two desperately controlled their Drag-Ride to rally their posture right away, but the Drag-Ride’s reaction itself was bad.

The Drag-Ride’s performance itself and its control function were being weakened.

No matter how excellent of a Drag-Knight they were, there would be nothing they could do if their command wasn’t transmitted properly.

「Could it be, this is──」

「Yes, with this, that annoying shield of yours become unusable too. ──Bye.」

With one attack Mel sent flying the Auto Shield that had become slow in reacting, and then she reversed her hand and swung the Halberd horizontally.

It attacked at Krulcifer and Fafnir who exposed a defenseless opening.

──But, Lux moved his Wyvern that was dropping in output and became unable to move properly, and he barely stopped the attack.

「Stop this Mel! I don’t know what happened but, this isn’t the time to fight between ourselves! Everyone else is──, even in the capital the people are being attacked by enemy!」

Lux understood that Mel was attacking without holding anything back, even so Lux tried to persuade her.

Certainly Mel was placed in a special environment, but she wasn’t a bad girl by any means.

And yet, why was she directing hostility to Krulcifer?

When Lux questioned that once again, Mel turned a gaze that was filled with hatred toward Lux.

「You are planning to cover for her even knowing the truth? That woman who come from the bloodline of the Ruin and is the source of calamity──」

「Eh……!?」

When Lux was shaken hearing Mel’s words, his Blade was frozen once more.

The moment he let go of the weapon to prevent the freezing encroaching into his Drag-Ride, Mel’s Halberd was swung down.

「U, aah……!」

Receiving a severe attack through the barrier, Lux was knocked down to the snow field below.

But, right after that, the frame of Mel’s Ddraig Gwiber was starting to rattle to left and right.

The control disorder because of the user’s limit──the omen of rampage was appearing.

「Kuuh……!」

Mel’s Ddraig Gwiber descended and its armor was dispelled.

This was the inescapable weak point that was shared between Drag-Knight who was still a child.

No matter how high their Drag-Ride aptitude and battle sense were, it was impossible to operate Drag-Ride in full power for a long time with a body that was still young and immature.

Thus, Krulcifer threw a question to Mel who was standing still while breathing roughly.

「What do you mean? How, do you know that──!?」

「……It’s the last words of Orphel. I heard it just now. Because of your fault, a rampage occurred in the Ruin of this country at the past. She said that she wanted me to defeat you the main culprit and take revenge, even at the cost of my life──」

「──Eh?」

*Jiri-*, a burning heat shrouded inside Krulcifer’s head.

Her own memories that she almost forgotten.

The first one, she was led by a lot of people toward the Ruin, and she could see a lot of Abyss from nearby.

And then the second time she was led by church’s people, and when she was guided to the underground of the old sanctuary site, an earthquake and collapse occurred.

She was buried inside rubbles, and when she opened her eyes at the church, her father wasn’t there.

There should be someone who saved her, but she remembered that until the very end her family didn’t come for her.

Since then she became estranged from her father, and the gulf with her family deepened──.

「Then, the incident seven years ago, and one and a half year ago──all of them happened because I was involved with Ruin?」

「The church that wanted to control the Ruin by using you concealed your true identity and the truth about the cause of the rampage. You also knew right? ……No, even if you actually didn’t know──I don’t care.」

While Mel was staggering because she was at the limit of her stamina.

Mel pulled out the knife that was tied on her waist, and stabbed the tip of that blade that was shining in seven colors into her own chest.

「Mel! That’s──!?」

The treasure of devil transformation that Lux saw in the Ruin of Wanheim Principality.

Black pattern muddily spread from the stabbed tip, and Mel’s body was tinged with light.

「──tsu, AAAAaaAaAAAAAAAAaaAH……!」

An anguished soundless yell echoed on the snow field.

「Mel! Stop it!」

When Lux rushed forward while still wearing Wyvern, Mel’s limbs jerked like a doll and she swung her Sword Device horizontally once more.

There was no more shaking from exhaustion on her body.

But that eye glint was enveloped with jet black color, and black pattern was oozing from under the pilot suit.

「I don’t need something like a tomorrow without Orphel in it anymore. The honor of Seven Dragon Paladins, and the achievement of meritorious deeds as a knight too, I don’t need them. The thing that I really wanted, what I had to protect no matter what──everything was taken away. They were all gone.」

Mel’s despairing voice was stringed on while the curse of Elixir was encroaching inside.

「──That’s why, I’ll bring ruin. Swearing on the name of Subjugator that eradicate the enemy of human, I’ll destroy everything of yours who stole everything from me without leaving behind a single thing-!」

Mel bared two eyes that were dyed with rage and lifted her Sword Device to the sky.

「A pair of stains opposing each other, be clad in my body and resurrect. O dragon of dispute ruining heaven and eart, Ddraig Gwiber!」

Along with the passcode, the Divine Drag-Ride of red and white was summoned once more in front of Mel.

The frame quickly unfolded and transformed into the girl’s armor. Mel directed that eye glint that was like evil spirit toward Lux and Krulcifer.

「Devil transformation just like Dilwy……!? No, it’s only still a part of her that is changed.」

Perhaps the amount of Elixir that was filled into the blade was only very slightly, because the transformation didn’t reach her whole body. The eerie black pattern only emerged on a part of her skin.

Then, there was still a chance to save her.

「Mel! That power is dangerous! If you continue using it, your body will──」

「So what? Do you two have the strength where you can worry about my body?」

Mel made a gruesome smile and she silently readied her Halberd.

The trace of the innocent girl didn’t remain anymore there.

Utter rage and overflowing boiling hatred.

Mel whose negative emotion was amplified by Elixir’s side effect glared at the surrounding where Abyss was rampaging.

「Unforgivable. Whether it’s you who is the cause of calamity, and also the church that was hiding the reason of my family’s death. I will end everything──right here-!」

The moment Mel yelled, she strongly gripped the control stick of her Drag-Ride.

Right after that, the wheels on the leg armor rotated with initial response that was incomparable from before and it charged forward in a straight line.

「Krulcifer-san! Be careful-!」

「……Why? That Ruin’s rampage, was actually, my fault──」

Krulcifer immediately controlled Fafnir and tried to escape to behind Mel, but there was no sharpness in her movement.

Mel didn’t let go of that moment of hesitation.

From DrivePropulsion Device that was creeping on the ground with super acceleration, it switched to Wyvern Mode that skated in the sky.

Against the attack of full power that was backed by the Drag-Ride’s weight and terrific momentum, Auto Shield that was currently had its output lowered didn’t move.

「──Disappear」

Mel Gizalut who was transformed into a demon brandished her weapon and leaped.

In that slight instant with death right before her, something cut in before Krulcifer’s gaze.

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