https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=78.144.99.180Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]2026-04-05T18:48:45ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.43.1https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Seirei_Tsukai_no_Blade_Dance:Volume9_Epilogue&diff=234459Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume9 Epilogue2013-03-15T17:30:54Z<p>78.144.99.180: "I'll not hand over Claire" - Doesn't really make sense so I changed it to "I will not hand over Claire"</p>
<hr />
<div>==Epilogue==<br />
<!--248--><br />
“Haa, haa…”<br />
<br />
—Kamito and the others had fought with «Valaraukar», and at that moment.<br />
<br />
Fianna felt a strange sense of uneasiness, and went towards the heart of the abandoned city «Megidoa».<br />
<br />
Her perception at times like this was often right. She, who held unparalleled talent as a princess maiden, would never neglect her intuition.<br />
<br />
(It’ll be good if this was just needless anxiety…)<br />
<br />
She was running on a path covered by countless trees and shrubs in the darkness of the night, and at that moment.<br />
<br />
“Kyaa!”<br />
<br />
Suddenly, something small came flying in front of her.<br />
<br />
The instant she stopped her footsteps, she ended up tripping and falling over. Unfortunately, she did not happen to have the reflexes like her female teammates.<br />
<br />
“Ouch… W-What…?”<br />
<br />
While she rubbed her twisted foot, she looked up and—<br />
<br />
“Meow…”<br />
<br />
<!--249--><br />
“…Scarlet!?”<br />
<br />
What was there was Claire’s hellcat spirit.<br />
<br />
She noticed that it somewhat seemed smaller than usual.<br />
<br />
…It might have been exhausting its power.<br />
<br />
“…Why are you here? Could it be that Claire is near here?”<br />
<br />
Fianna asked in rapid succession.<br />
<br />
However, Scarlet turned around, and instantly disappeared into the rows of ruins.<br />
<br />
“W-Wait…!”<br />
<br />
Fianna stood up in a fluster.<br />
<br />
Her twisted foot hurt, but now wasn’t the time for that.<br />
<br />
Finally, she might have discovered the whereabouts of her teammates.<br />
<br />
Chasing after Scarlet’s swinging tail, she ran on the pathway, and finally exited at an opened-up area, where large amount of rubble had accumulated.<br />
<br />
“This is…!?”<br />
<br />
Fianna widely opened her dim-colored eyes.<br />
<br />
The sight expanded before her eyes, that was—<br />
<br />
<!--250--><br />
The ground had been gouged out in a big way into the shape of a bowl<!--鉢: bowl or basin is probably more recognizable than the mortar from "mortar and pestle"-->. There were flames blazing everywhere.<br />
<br />
The historic ruins in the surroundings melted into something like lava, and no longer contain their original shape.<br />
<br />
…Just how extra-high of heat did it basked in to end up like this?<br />
<br />
“What happened here?”<br />
<br />
She muttered in a daze, at that time.<br />
<br />
“…Hn…”<br />
<br />
She heard a gasping-like groan coming from somewhere.<br />
<br />
“…!?”<br />
<br />
Fianna looked around in a fluster.<br />
<br />
Then, she saw Scarlet’s tail swaying at the other side of a crumpled wall.<br />
<br />
She hurriedly went around to the other side of the wall.<br />
<br />
“…Claire!?”<br />
<br />
She discovered Claire lying dead tired at the wall.<br />
<br />
“Claire, hey, get yourself together!”<br />
<br />
“...Hn…Uu…”<br />
<br />
It seemed like her consciousness was hazy and it also seemed like she didn’t noticed Fianna.<br />
<br />
<!--251--><br />
Seemingly worried, the hellcat spirit was going in circles around her.<br />
<br />
Upon taking a spirit ore from her uniform pocket, Fianna pressed it onto Claire's chest.<br />
<br />
The sacred light, possessing healing powers, faintly shone.<br />
<br />
"Claire, it's me. ...Can you speak?"<br />
<br />
"...Hn... Fia...nna...?"<br />
<br />
Within the empty ruby pupils of hers, a small flame of consciousness lit. <br />
<br />
"What on earth happened?"<br />
<br />
"...Quickly, the demon sword... to... Kamito..."<br />
<br />
"...Demon sword?"<br />
<br />
Fianna frowned dubiously. <br />
<br />
Then, Claire placed her shaky hand behind her back, and took out one sword.<br />
<br />
"...! Don't tell me, this is..."<br />
<br />
It was a familiar demon sword of darkness. ...Even its appearance was subtly different, but there wasn't a doubt, it was Ren Ashbell's elemental waffe, the «Vorpal Sword».<br />
<br />
"Claire, why do you have...?"<br />
<br />
Fianna asked back, and at that moment.<br />
<br />
"I should have had already warn you not to appear in front of me again, Fianna Ray Ordesia."<br />
<br />
<!--252--><br />
"...!"<br />
<br />
In an instant, her heart was grabbed by that voice.<br />
<br />
"..."<br />
<br />
She calmly gulped.<br />
<br />
While feeling cold sweat spouting out from her whole body, Fianna turned behind.<br />
<br />
There was a crimson flame violently blazing.<br />
<br />
She appeared from within that flame.<br />
<br />
She had glamorous long black hair and a deep-crimson-red mask that was like scraped out of a burning flame.<br />
<br />
She wore a military uniform of the Empire, and her body was clad in sparks fluttering down.<br />
<br />
Leader of «Team Inferno». Strongest Blade Dancer—Ren Ashbell.<br />
<br />
...No. Fianna already knew her true identity.<br />
<br />
(Rubia-sama...)<br />
<br />
She had been secretly maneuvering in the shadows so far, so why did she show herself at this timing?<br />
<br />
—Her motive was obvious.<br />
<br />
(...«The Darkness Queen».)<br />
<br />
Fianna stood up to protect Claire who had fallen.<br />
<br />
"...I will not hand over Claire."<br />
[[Image:STnBD V09 253.jpg|thumb]]<br />
<!--254--><br />
She knew it was a futile resistance.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, she couldn't leave Claire, who was vaguely conscious, behind and escape.<br />
<br />
"—Don't interfere. You'll understand it one day."<br />
<br />
"Rubia-sama, I don't understand what beliefs you have. However, if you're going to hurt my friends—I'll... stop you!"<br />
<br />
Agilely drawing a magic formation in the air, she summoned «Georgios».<br />
<br />
Instantly unsheathing its sword, the knight spirit rushed at her.<br />
<br />
"It's futile. Your resolution will never reach me."<br />
<br />
—The flames throbbed. There was a flame that was clearly different from the surrounding flames, a freezing blue flame.<br />
<br />
The moment that flame touched its armor, the whole body of the knight spirit collapsed instantly.<br />
<br />
"...!"<br />
<br />
The overwhelming difference in power was displayed.<br />
<br />
Ren Ashbell was clad in the freezing flame, and her black hair was violently fluttering.<br />
<br />
"—Your time is up. I shall welcome the «Darkness Queen» into my hands."<br />
<br />
Then, she—<br />
<br />
Removed the deep-crimson mask that concealed her face.<br />
<br />
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Crack* The mask landed on the ground and broke.<br />
<br />
<!--255--><br />
<br />
"...!"<br />
<br />
Fianna was petrified at that spot and couldn't move.<br />
<br />
She had extremely beautiful ruby pupils that harbored blazing flames.<br />
<br />
The glamorous black hair that was a trait of Ren Ashbell gently flared up.<br />
<br />
As if the flames were painting over the darkness—<br />
<br />
That was the color of her hair during the time she was once called the «Fire Queen».<br />
<br />
Elstein red.<br />
<br />
At that time—<br />
<br />
"...U...g..."<br />
<br />
"...!"<br />
<br />
There was a groaning voice from behind.<br />
<br />
"Claire, no—!"<br />
<br />
"...Nee...sama?"<br />
<br />
Within her hazy consciousness, Claire muttered, seemingly puzzled.<br />
<br />
Both pairs of flame-harboring ruby pupils met, and then—<br />
<br />
"Now, let's end everything."<br />
<br />
Rubia Elstein opened her mouth.<br />
<br />
"—It's time for the awakening of the demon king."<br />
<br />
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