Editing City Series:Volume5b Chapter21 (section)

===Beretta’s Write Bring: Entry in Heavy Barrel Grazie’s Memory Bank===

I step out onto the road and I steal the spear dropped by the Middle Barrel I defeated with a kick.

But I can’t believe this. I managed to get down safely with the Wort Bombe, but its timed fuse was activated. It’s set to go off in about 20 minutes from now. Just like the documents I was given before “transferring” here said, the Wort Bombe is going to explode at 5:32:18 AM, so I have to make a decision in the next 20 minutes.

Will France carry a spirit of liberation?

I really think it will.

Let’s see, where’s the communication device to contact the others?

“Communication Device was damaged upon impact with the lake surface. Device is not repairable.”

Damn, not again. I hope the exciting scene of me bringing down the plane was broadcasted. If it was, it should have rekindled France’s spirit of resistance.

I look forward.

<The Balleroy mansion is down the road and a familiar Barrel stands in front of the main gate along with a few armored trucks. It is Rot Löwe, Heinz Berge’s Barrel.>

Oh, I’m super close to the Balleroy home. But what are you doing here? You’re not raiding the place, are you? This is getting interesting.

<Rot Löwe readies his sword and shield.>

Damn, what am I supposed to do? I don’t want Rosetta and the old man to be raided, but the impact of landing took out both my extra fuel tanks. I only have my reserve fuel. I also twisted my left arm while forcefully landing with the Wort Bombe and its stand in that arm.

Plus, I need to contact the others to get the Wort Bombe defused. …Actually, wait. Can’t I just head to the old man’s mansion and use that telegram-style communicator?

If so, I just need to defeat Rot Löwe.

<A thin layer of black light covers the blade of Rot Löwe’s sword. It is a divine spell weapon.>

Whelp, it’s all or nothing. If I can just defeat Rot Löwe, I’ll have a communicator I can use to check on the situation and I’ll have protected Rosetta and the old man.

Let’s do this. I dash forward, breaking the asphalt below my feet.

I go full speed from the very first step.

<Grazie runs forward. I’ve lost track of how many charges just like this I’ve made today.>

I can see the enemy. That pitch black Heavy Barrel is standing there alongside the armored trucks. Kicking his ass is my only option.

Wait, that’s being too harsh. I need to calm down some. Hm, the four-o’clock flowers in the garden are at full bloom – wait, no, that’s too calm and carefree. Getting careless here at the very end would not end well.

So I pour all my strength into running straight ahead.

I charge in without any hesitation.

<The enemy takes a deep fighting stance and the armored trucks move out in front of the Rot Löwe.>

Won’t work. I use my metal legs to jump over the armored trucks and thrust out my spear as if tackling the enemy.

<Rot Löwe is as absurdly quick as ever. He turns around while swinging his shield to catch the spear head on. The tip of the spear breaks.>

Oh, no!!

<The black Heavy Barrel already has his sword at the ready. His reaction speed is crazy.>

I shudder because I’m still in the air. I’m defenseless.

I kick off the roof of the armored truck I’m still passing over and leap even higher but also to the side.

<The slash arrives. It slices into my left thigh. The hydraulic system spurts hot oil.>

I was lucky. The leg wasn’t severed and there was no shockwave.

<That was because I drew the Third Flame Emperor from my hip and pressed it against Rot Löwe’s sword at the moment of the slash.

The Third Flame Emperor is knocked from my grasp and I see it stab down into the mansion’s garden out of the corner of my eye.>

Does that mean Phillip just saved me? I’m going to say it does. Anyway, the next attack is mine. This time, I’m definitely going to hit him.

I grab the butt end of the spear and forcibly spin myself around. I don’t even think about landing as I build up centrifugal force in the spear and swing it horizontally towards my opponent.

<The same attack I once used in that festival Heavy Barrel battle just scored a direct hit in actual combat. Rot Löwe had just made a slash and could not adjust his balance before the spear shaft sliced through the air and crashed into him.>

Did it hit!?

<It was not a direct hit. Rot Löwe let go of his sword and held his shield with both hands.

But his giant black body topples over, crashes into one of the armored trucks, and tumbles along the asphalt road.>

How in the world is his reaction speed so high? Plus, I didn’t even defeat him and have no more weapons.

<nowiki><I</nowiki> land.>

My left leg is close to breaking. Once I realize that, I Sign the pain. Ow, ow, ow, ow. But I’m a good girl, so I won’t cry. I won’t. Anyway, I jump forward.

<nowiki><I</nowiki> clear the main gate and reach the mansion at the top of the small sloped path.

I collapse down onto my stomach and my peripheral vision sees the black Heavy Barrel getting up from the road.>

Crap, is he coming for me? What should I do? The Resistance and the Allies won’t have noticed any of this is even happen-

<My vision suddenly grows dark.

Then a great mass lands on the ground next to me. Something enormous is standing right next to me. I can see its metal legs.

This is not Rot Löwe. He is still back on the road, up on his knees but unmoving.

Then who is this standing next to me?>

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