Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 8 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 9===
 
There was a place that supported the tower of Babel that extended into the sky.
 
It was deep underground, precisely the lowest level of JPN-Babel.
 
In there was always a low mechanical hum, but now there was other sounds mixed in with the usual. It was the sound of two people kicking off the ground in a sprint as hard as they could.
 
"Stop joking around, damn......!"
 
While running in the dark passage dimly lit by a red light Onizuka Kenya couldn't help but complain.
 
The girl who Onizuka infiltrated the underground area with was also currently freeloading at his home, Tiana Randohauze. They had encountered an enemy attack that had been lying in wait.
 
The other party were terrorists who previously caused damage to JPN-Babel.
 
Phil Barnett -- and Onizuka's former classmate Tanaka.
 
-- And now, after Onizuka and Tiana encountered them they immediately retreated back the way they came.
 
They were currently already many floors above were they met Phil and Tanaka.
 
However, Onizuka hadn't stopped his feet.
 
And several steps in front of him -- was the small back of Tiana running,
 
"Ken-chan can you run a little faster? I might have to leave you behind."
 
"Urhhh, I'm going as fast as I can!"
 
Tiana looked back urging Onizuka on, however he yelled back in return.
 
At that moment......
 
"-- Did you think you could escape?"
 
A voice came from behind him, at the same time Onizuka's body was blown away from the side.
 
The attack from Tanaka, who was chasing after them, had caused him to slam into the passage's wall.
 
"Gahhh...... gah, damn......!"
 
None the less, Onizuka withstood the pain to get up and start running again.
 
...... Shit...... what was that attack from Tanaka......!
 
Even from earlier, Onizuka was unable to see what had struck him over and over again, and it even broke through the protective barrier he set up. However, the barriers still played a bit of a role. Tanaka's shock waves at most were only able to slam him into the wall, and not fatally injury him.
 
If Onizuka was hit directly by the wave he would of lost consciousness immediately, the first time around.
 
Then Tiana suddenly spoke,
 
"That wave must be some sort of wind-based magic. On top of being invisible, he is deliberately canceling the magic formation making it even harder to avoid. It really is a bit tricky -- Amazing!"
 
In the middle of her analysis to herself Tiana took two quick steps sideways. Then the space where she was standing until then was gouged from a shock wave.
 
She dodge it perfectly.
 
"You've just been jumping around -- How are you able to avoid that guy's attacks!?"
 
"Since the surrounding atmosphere fluctuates right before he attacks you just have to feel it out. The direction as well as the timing can also be read from it."
 
Confronted with Onizuka's question containing his irritation, Tiana answered without hesitation and,
 
"...... But then again, why hasn't Ken-chan been doing so?"
 
"If I had such a skill I would have been doing it a long time ago."
 
Feel the fluctuations in the atmosphere? Stop messing around.
 
That's just as difficult as dodging an attack that couldn't be seen by the naked eye.
 
...... It was my foolish mistake for asking her for tips.
 
Onizuka clicked his tongue loudly. However, even if he couldn't imitate what she could do -- Onizuka still had his own way to respond.  
 
So......
 
"Basically...... I just have to go all out!"
 
While shouting Onizuka ignited the area around him into flames.
 
That undoubtedly gave away their position.
 
...... But in any case, their location was already grasped by them. It was only that they didn't have a light to guide them.
 
Onizuka and Tiana were currently running trying to get away, and not hiding in some shadow to get past their enemy. So then, priority should be given to self defense rather than concealing their whereabouts.
 
And then,
 
"-!"
 
A soundless horizontal shock wave came towards Onizuka who somehow successfully avoided it by lowering his body. The fire around his whole body had fluttered which allowed him to detect Tanaka's oncoming attack.
 
"See, I knew Ken-chan could do if he tried."
 
Tiana turned back in admiration.
 
"Urhhh...... leaving that aside, what direction did that come from?"
 
Onizuka asked with a rude tone.
 
Even though Onizuka and Tiana were in a rush to escape it didn't mean they didn't need to put any thought into countermeasures.
 
"Let's see, he must be somewhere nearby -- Ah look, right ahead!"
 
Just as Tiana was searching a wide open space suddenly appeared at the end of the channel.
 
It was huge area that look to be still undergoing some sort of construction.
 
Compared to the floors of the tower of Babel above ground the underground areas seemed especially vast. Judging from the size of the large-scale machinery they appeared to be building a rather huge underground facility. As Onizuka looked around,
 
"Here will be good......!"
 
In addition to the area, there was also sufficient height.
 
The moment after he muttered, and was able to get a second to catch his breath,
 
 
 
"-- Oh, your not going to run away anymore?"
 
 
 
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind. Turning back, the two enemies from earlier stood in his line of sight.
 
Phil Barnett and Tanaka were their names.
 
"What is here? Have you found a good place to die?"
 
Phil Barnett asked while floating a thin sneer, he couldn't help but ridicule them. However, Onizuka and Tiana had no intentions of continuing to escape. Strictly speaking, it was no longer necessary to escape.
 
"Unpleasant... ... Well, the thought fighting of you in that narrow passage was out of the question ~. A little misstep and the ceiling would come crashing down burying everyone alive."
 
And "Ahaha" Tiana laughed as she revealed her plan,
 
"On that point...... if its here everything will be fine even if things get a little bit violent for a moment."
 
"...... So instead of trying to to escape you deliberately lured us here?"
 
With a rather bland tone Tanaka had asked, to which Tiana sincerely nodded her head.
 
"You might say it was something like that... ... You two have the <Phoenix cells>, and even if you were buried under the rubble it might end up with just Ken-chan and myself suffocating to death."
 
After saying up to there,
 
(Ken-chan, please listen to me......)
 
Tiana suddenly started whispering to Onizuka and,
 
(They probably have already had the genes from a higher order life form implanted in their bodies called "Phoenix cells." It's because of them they can instantly restore themselves just like after he received my earlier attack. Speaking of which Ken-chan, you said that they were both terrorists caught by Babel...... most likely their bodies were more suited to have the cells transplanted into. To tell you the truth, the reason I snuck into Babel is to recover these cells......）
 
(Conveniently, the circumstances are good now. The <Phoenix cells> you called them. Meaning their resilience is close to immortal. How the hell do you plan on defeating such guys?)
 
Onizuka asked keeping his voice low.
 
(Their tremendous recovery power is only coming the <Phoenix cells>. And even if they were immortal there is still a way to win.-- But facing two enemies at the same time with such strong resilience myself alone might be......)
 
(What!... ... Even you couldn't beat them?）
 
(If I really want to act recklessly I could do it, but......)
 
And Tiana started to look around.
 
(...... I want to avoid it here as much as possible.)
 
Apparently, there seems to be some kind of reason why Tiana cannot fully use her power here. Therefore,
 
(Got it...... I will take one of them.)
 
Onizuka readily agreed and,
 
(Even if I can't beat one of them, at the very least I can temporarily stall until you defeat one. You should be able to manage that alone.)
 
Just as they reached an agreement on what to do -–
 
"-- Is your battle plan nailed down yet? Then, I would like to begin."
 
Phil had a thin sneer on his face as he lightly waved his right hand.
 
Then his AD reacted, a long sword took shape in his hand.
 
And......
 
"I'll hand him over to you...... from the earlier reaction it seems you two are acquainted."
 
After moving next to Tanaka he said that, and with a whiff of laugh,
 
"Strictly speaking, I also met him one time before... ... However, I still want to deal with her. I haven't been able to show my gratitude for cracking my ribs and rupturing my internal organs."
 
"...... I understand."
 
Responding to Phil, Tanaka nodded as he remained expressionless.
 
Then the two slowly stepped towards their opponent.
 
"Since we have already been nominated, it can't be helped ...... Well then Ken-chan, I'll deal with bright smile-san<ref>Basically calling him gay -- ニヤけ男さん, but sounds like にやけ男さん</ref>, and you'll have sourpuss-san as your opponent."
 
And like that Tiana stepped forward.
 
And the next moment......
 
Gakiiiitsu-!
 
Together with a loud crashing sound the battle of Tiana and Phil began.
 
While catching a glimpse of the fight out of the corner of his eye  Onizuka Kenya slowly moved to stand opposite of Tanaka. It was something that Onizuka couldn't escape, confronting himself from his past.
 
"Tanaka ......"
 
Onizuka called his name with a bitter expression and,
 
"There's no need to make such a face...... you don't have to feel guilty or sorry."
 
Tanaka was both machine-like in voice and facial expression and,
 
"The past and now, you are not something I hold any emotions towards."<ref>Indifferent</ref>
 
"...... But, I......!"
 
Onizuka's voice was strained. Even if Tanaka didn't give it a thought, he felt there was a deficit.
 
But,
 
"If you want to feel regretful then by all means, its fine to do as you like."
 
Tanaka talked quietly, without any emotion and,
 
"-- You'll die here soon anyway."
 
As he said so several magic formations expanded all at once.
 
"-!"
 
Even though Onizuka took a defensive stance in a instant he still faced countless shock waves coming at him at the same time.