Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume18 Chapter10 (section)

===Part 2===

The team of Ellis and Rinslet was running northwest, heading for the old cathedral.

It was the building formerly used by the Sylphid Knights as their headquarters.

"Rinslet, please cover me!"

"Hmph, enjoy my spectacular marksmanship!"

Rinslet drew her bow elemental waffe and shot an arrow into the sky.

Like a rainstorm, countless arrows proceeded to descend.

The arrows of ice caused chain explosions as soon as they landed, immobilizing the legs of militarized spirits.

Seizing the opening when their movements were stopped, Ellis flew, enveloped in a gale.

"Ohhhhhhhh!"

Elemental waffe second form&mdash;Ray Hawk Ragna.

The cyclone generated from the sacred spear tip swept away all the Empire's knights standing in their way in one go.

It was truly a sublime blade dance.

"A splendid job, Captain."

"You too, Rinslet&mdash;"

Without turning her head back, Ellis replied to Rinslet who had swiftly caught up.

"The demon spirits turn out to be more troublesome than the Imperial Knights."

"Yes, they are endless."

The ruins firing the beam of light had apparently started summoning huge numbers of demon spirits.

"Let us wipe them out in one go, Rinslet."

"Understood."

Rinslet answered with excellent tacit understanding.

Ellis swung her spear, enveloped in a cyclone, while Rinslet fired an arrow that was like a storm.

" "Ice Storm!" "

This was a combination technique of elemental waffen.

The blizzard's sharp blades howled as they shredded the demon spirits.

Rinslet allowed her bow to return to Fenrir's form, then mounted his back.

"Captain, the ruins!"

"Yes&mdash;!"

Towards the circle of stone pillars, Ellis unleashed a full-powered strike.

However, it was easily deflected.

"...! There is a barrier, and quite a sturdy one too."

"The knights' reinforcements will come if we do not hurry."

"...!

Ellis poured divine power into Ray Hawk Ragna and kept attacking.

"Rinslet&mdash;"

Just then. There was a voice from behind.

"...?"

Rinslet turned her back to see Fenrir tugging at her sleeve with his mouth.

"It is I, Rinslet&mdash;"

"Iseria-sama!?"

Rinslet widened her eyes in surprise.

"Listen to me. A serious incident has occurred in Astral Zero."

"Uh, excuse me, Iseria-sama, we are currently quite occupied&mdash;"

"It concerns you too."

The Iseria-possessed Fenrir spoke solemnly.

"W-What do you mean?"

"At your current coordinates in the human realm, a gigantic gate has been opened. At this rate, Astral Shift will be invoked."

"...Astral Shift?"

Hearing an unfamiliar term, Rinslet could not help but frown.

"Simply stated, it is a state when the human realm and Astral Zero overlap."

"That would be calamitous... What are you talking about!?"

Rinslet could not help but raise her voice.

Just then, cracks appeared in the air. A great number of demon spirits appeared next.

"...! We are surrounded!"

Ellis raised her spear and looked around.

There were roughly thirty demon spirits and they were clearly much bigger than the earlier ones.

"This is not good&mdash;"

Cold sweat flowed down their necks.

In the next instant, a flash of the sword swept through the darkness, slicing through space in all directions.

The demon spirits gathered near the ruins were annihilated in one go.

"...Eh?"

"W-What happened!?"

On the ruins, they saw&mdash;

A petite young girl with a gray hood, holding a long sword with the color of blood.

"&mdash;Who is that?"

Ellis questioned. Next...

"All of you must leave now&mdash;"

The girl took off her hood and revealed her true identity to them.

" "&mdash;Y-You are!?" "

Ellis and Rinslet widened their eyes, rendered speechless.