Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume20 Chapter7 (section)

===Part 4===

"...! Kyahhhh!"

A violent gale blew Claire's petite body, smashing her against the ground.

A strong impact. Without Einherjar's protection, her body probably would have been crushed.

"&mdash;Claire!"

Rinslet shot a Freezing Arrow to pin down the approaching Belphal.

However, the Lord of Wind swung her magic spear in the air, easily blowing away and scattering the ice projectiles. She landed softly on the ground and made a thrust at the panting Claire with her magic spear.

In the nick of time, Einherjar's wings deployed in response to Claire's voice.

A spurt of flame pushed Claire's body backwards.

&mdash;BOOM!

Missing its target, the magic spear left a huge hole in the ground.

"...! Scarlet, thanks..."

Claire stood up and licked her parched lips.

Inside the roaring barrier of wind&mdash;

Team Scarlet had surrounded Belphal, facing off against her.

With a magic weapon of wind in her hand, the emerald-haired girl looked calmly at her four opponents.

Her sky-blue eyes showed terrifying blood lust.

With a low rumble, wind left faint scratches on the skin of Claire and her teammates.

"...What a monster, as expected."

Gripping Flametongue tightly, Claire said.

"Yes, to be honest, I really want to retreat."

Ellis groaned with a pained face.

Naturally, she understood that was out of the question.

The deployed wind barrier surrounded the entire plaza.

One would probably get ripped to pieces simply from touching it.

"...Our only choice is to go all out and take a gamble. Let's go."

"Yes."

Raising Ray Hawk, Ellis nodded.

At the back, Rinslet also readied her magic bow of ice. Deployed by Fianna, Save the Queen was providing the whole team with reinforced protection. This was Team Scarlet's standard formation for fighting powerful spirits. However&mdash;

(...I don't know if this will work against a high-level humanoid spirit.)

The Lord of Wind raised her magic spear.

"Spirit Weapon&mdash;magic spear Brionac, exhibit thy power!"

Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble!

Violent wind was generated from the magic spear's tip, forming a gigantic tornado.

Counless streaks of blue-white lightning could be seen inside the tornado.

"Disappear, Ren Ashdoll's minions&mdash;"

"...! It's coming!"

Claire warned shrilly.

With electrified tornado swept up surrounding debris and went straight for them.

The wind barrier could be heard behind them. There was no way to retreat.

"&mdash;Stand down, everyone! I will block it."

Fianna swiftly swung down her elemental waffe rapier.

A holy light barrier immediately appeared, blocking in front of the tornado.

Luminous Wall. This was high-level holy magic strengthened by Save the Queen.

When the tornado made contact with the barrier of light, blue-white lightning instantly exploded.

"...! It's not going to be able to stop it!?"

"O wind, turn into a sturdy barrier&mdash;Wind Wall!"

On top of the barrier of light, Ellis added an extra layer, a wind barrier, to deflect the tornado.

However&mdash;

"Foolish. I cannot believe you are trying to use wind of that level to block the wind of I&mdash;"

Belphal swung the magic spear Brionac.

RUMBLE!

Centered on the tornadao, another tornado appeared, erasing the magic barrier in an instant.

"...! Kyahhhhhhhh!"

A storm of violent wind and lightning rampaged.

The four girls were swept into the sky, torn by wind blades, then thrown hard to the ground.

"Cough... Huff...!"

The violent impact caused Ellis to cough blood.

Rumbling wind was incessant. Fianna's barrier was probably erased too.

"...! Your Highness!"

Picking up Ray Hawk, Ellis tried to reach Fianna's side.

"...!?"

But right in front of her, the emerald-haired girl appeared.

Belphal coldly stared at Ellis and swung the magic spear.

"...!"

The Sylphid Knight pauldron was shattered. Ellis felt a sharp pain in her right shoulder.

Had she reacted any slower, the spear tip probably would have pierced her chest.

Blood flowed like a spring. Ellis fell on the ground and rolled.

"&mdash;Ellis!"

Standing up, Claire swung Flametongue.

Confronted with a crimson slash that flew everywhere, the Lord of Wind nonchalantly dodged.

"Oh? A spirit weapon, a survivor of the Scarlet Valkyries, huh...?"

"Scarlet is my good partner, not a weapon!"

Flametongue blazed intensely.

Belphal frowned slightly and exited the whip's attack range.

"...! Do not think you can escape, Freezing Arrow!"

Ellis fired ice projectiles, raining down.

One of the countless arrows struck the leg of the Lord of Wind, freezing her to the spot.

"Success!"

Seeing that, Rinslet could not help but cheer, but...

"...!?"

Belphal's figure disappeared.

In the next instant, the girl appeared behind Fianna's back.

"&mdash;Fianna, behind you!"

"Huh?"

Hearing Claire's voice, Fianna turned her head back quickly.

The appearing Lord of Wind made a thrust of her magic spear against the unguarded Fianna&mdash;

CLAAAAAAANG!

The sound of steel clashing resounded across the plaza that was under a whirlwind.

"&mdash;What!?"

The out-thrust spear was blocked by a great shield shining with silver-white light.

O-Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh&mdash;

A low roar was coming from inside empty armor.

"...Georgios!"

Fianna widened her dusk-colored eyes.

Her knight spirit had responded to his liege's crisis, turning back into spirit form on his own accord.

"&mdash;Please escape, my lord."

"...!? Y-You can talk!?"

Fianna cried out in surprise.

Georgios kicked the ground hard, forcing Belphal back with his massive shield.

"Imperial Ancient Blade Arts&mdash;Shield Smash!"

A sideways strike from the great shield knocked the Lord of Wind's magic spear aside.

Seizing the moment with the opponent off-balance&mdash;

Georgios performed sword skills.

"Imperial Ancient Blade Arts&mdash;Meteor Slicer!"

His massive body stepped forward powerfully, executing five consecutive thrusts with his great sword that were like meteors.

"&mdash;A mere knight spirit, how dare you act with such insolence!"

Showing emotion for the first time, the Lord of Wind yelled.

She dodged the sword's consecutive strikes and gathered wind at the tip of the magic spear Brionac.

"Don't forget me!"

Manipulating Flametongue skillfully, Claire covered Georgios.

The Lord of Wind disappeared again.

"...! Another wind afterimage!?"

Surprised, Claire immediately began to search for surrounding presences.

She sensed a faint flutter in the space behind Rinslet.

"&mdash;Rinslet!"

Claire kicked the ground hard.

Einherjar spewed out intense flames and flew over there like a red flash of light.

She could see Belphal behind Rinslet now, about to thrust the magic spear.

In that instant, Claire hugged Rinslet and went for the ground.

"...Ah... Cough&mdash;!"

Intense pain.

Brionac's spear tip had smashed Einherjar, piercing Claire's flank.

"C-Claire, are you alright!?"

"...Q...Quick, escape..."

Held in Rinslet's arms, Claire groaned in pain.

"&mdash;Be gone, Ren Ashdoll's princess maidens."

The Lord of Wind looked down coldly at the two girls and raised her magic spear.

&mdash;At that very moment...

A mass of brilliant flame appeared in front of the collapsed Claire and Rinslet.

"...Huh?"

Claire could not help but exclaim in surprise.

The flames burned intensely.

In the center of the flames was a beautiful woman with crimson hair.

Held in her hand was a blazing great sword.

After glancing at the blood-covered Claire, she showed wrath in her eyes.

This terrifying intent to kill instantly turned into a violent conflagration that kept growing stronger.

"&mdash;You have waited long enough, Claire."

"Nee-sama!?"

The Calamity Queen&mdash;Rubia Elstein&mdash;had arrived.