Editing City Series:Volume8b Chapter18 (section)

===Aoe’s Continued Sight Mode: In DT’s Amusement Park===

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Aoe looked around in the dark night that only existed inside the shield.

He was in the plaza in front of Babel. It contained a beach built alongside the amusement park’s artificial lake.

The beach was 20 yards long. The artificial lake’s waves were washing up three yards to his right.

To his left was a 20yd grassy plaza. Beyond that was a forest and Babel.

The only lights were the plaza’s three outdoor lights.

He couldn’t see the park where Fooblicky and the others were because the blimp was in the way.

Everything was dark and still, so the waves were the only sound.

In that near silence, a man and woman in white stood about 10 yards away from him.

They were Algo and Alternative, who had grown to her full height.

Their white clothing palely reflected the lights.

Algo’s face was visible. It bore a slight smile.

He kept the smile as he opened his mouth and spoke alongside the sound of the waves.

“I am past worrying if anyone is watching, but this is an important battle. We should settle this in private.”

Aoe nodded and looked to the dark artificial lake.

He had fought Mekton there earlier, but its surface was placid now that they had left the amusement park. The lights of the park were visible in the distance, but Aoe knew it was empty.

Then he looked to his left.

He saw a massive wall there. It was blurry since it was in a different Page, but it had several lights shining from its surface. He knew it was in fact the silhouette of Babel in the darkness.

Babel shined its lights into the sky, but its great size kept him from seeing the whole thing at once.

“Curious about Babel, Aoe? But you cannot defeat me if you do not focus on the battle.”

He turned toward that voice and found Algo looking his way on the beach.

'''“Let’s get started.”

With the voice of Algo’s will, an emblem symbol appeared on Algo’s right hand and on the back of Alternative’s head.

The emblem was a white nail in a box.

Algo clenched the hand bearing the emblem and release his Text.

'''“I will grasp the answer here and now.

'''“Because ‘someday’ must have meant today.”

His lips formed the Text and Alternative’s lips followed along.

Immediately, rows of windows opened around them.

Those announced the activation of their Word Race traits and the beginning of their Grandload, but a single window appeared at the very end.

'''<Activating Joint Load Emblem>

Text strings emerged from their emblems.

'''●Type-Origin – God-class – Sudden Strike●

'''<Activating Grandload of Algo’s arm strength and Alternative’s perception: Loading all Lives and releasing upper limit on high-speed attacks>

And…

“That isn’t all we can do!”

Algo raised his emblem-bearing arms.

'''<Algo’s Over Zoom>

Suddenly, a flashing white light appeared over Aoe’s head.

“Lightning!?”

His question was drowned out by a sky-splitting roar.

The vibration of the air crashing down from above sent spray up from the surface of the dark lake.

“––––!!”

Aoe saw something in that sound.

The light emitted from the top of Babel had grown even brighter.

The thunderous roar was the scream of scorched air.

Yuo’s voice reached him through the din descending from the sky.

“Babel has started releasing all of the heat energy it gains while extracting from the ley lines!”

As if to confirm this, the four beams of light in the sky roared, stretched out, and scorched the air as their motion suddenly changed.

They curved downwards, toward the man standing in front of Aoe.

The light was descending toward Algo’s raised arms.

It dropped down with a sound reminiscent of a waterfall and was devoured by Algo’s emblems.

Both his arms received two high-level boosts taken from the word tower. The four beams of light made a powerful tearing sound while they shook and never left the ● portion of his emblems.

That was the same as the boost Aoe and Yuo were receiving from the Yard.

But when Alternative opened a window behind Algo, the light and sound disappeared.

She had deactivated their visibility setting.

Darkness and silence returned to their surroundings and Algo spread his arms.

He looked like he was trying to embrace the sky while he spoke in a carrying voice.

“I have one question, Aoe. The bible says the Son of God ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of god. We were brought here by divine symbolism and now we are trying to bring it all to an end.”

So…

“How do you intend to stop us? Defeating my strongest power requires achieving a strongest power of your own. But how do you intend to surpass our concerns?”

Aoe thought for a moment and then clenched his right fist.

He had a simple answer.

“Let me teach you a certain rule of martial arts.”

He raised his right fist.

“Any question can be answered with your fists.”

“I see.” Algo shut his eyes and nodded. “If your fists can indeed provide an answer, then we will leave everything in your hands. But if they cannot, then we will summon the great god in accordance with the divine symbolism. Is that clear?”

He took a breath.

“If you intend to defeat our divine symbolism, then we will defeat you with that same symbolism. This world is too great a burden for humankind, so there is no need for you to struggle so. Leave everything in our care.”

Aoe did not respond. He simply readied his fist bearing his Grandload emblem and watched Algo.

Algo raised his head to watch him in turn.

Aoe started by focusing on his vision.

'''<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

This was an artificial beach. During the day, families would come here to play.

It was a meaningless location for a battle.

No one else was around to witness the battle.

There wasn’t enough light.

No one else’s voices could reach them.

But Aoe deepened his fighting stance.

A wave reached his feet.

The artificial lake’s waves were greater than normal thanks to the earlier shaking of the air.

He could see the waves reaching Algo’s feet as well.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice, the waves wet the sand and audibly receded.

After the fourth time, they both deepened their fighting stances.

Their feet audibly dug into the sand.

Their hands audibly clenched their leather gloves.

They both opened only a crack, but their wills spoke clearly.

'''“Come.”

The sound of shattering minerals came from their fists and they began their attacks.

'''<Aoe’s Sight Mode has updated>

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