Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 13 Episode 4 (section)

===Part 10===
「……As expected, this is really reckless. But perhaps the enemies are also lacking sleep, because they seem weaker than before but──even so, I who had only recovered from my injury cannot match them.」

Below where Listelka was directing her smile from the airborne ship──the Heaven Palace.

In the battlefield site where the seven Ragnarok were displaying their tyranny, Yoruka alone was continuing to make a good showing.

She weaved through the waves of powerful and wide-ranged attack, dealt a single slash when there was an opening and then took distance.

By repeating that she somehow lured the Ragnarok and let the friendly troops to escape, even so her stamina had been stolen to a terrifying degree just from fighting for three minutes.

「──SHAaAAAAH!」

The Ragnarok that was firing feathers of flame arrows like a heavy rain──Phoenix’s attack wasn’t a mere flame.

The fat that was contained within those feathers would stick to the thing the feathers hit and became fuel, planting a flame that wouldn’t vanish even after more than ten minutes.

A part of Yoruka’s armor that was hit with the flame was flung off with Break Purge.

At the same time her surrounding was blanketed with hellfire, leaving her no place to secure a foothold.

Drag-Knights who lost consciousness breathed in the white smoke that was rolling up in great amount and died.

The bodies of the soldiers whose Drag-Rides were dispelled were cremated by Phoenix’s flame.

The ice wolf Fenrir that was approaching as reinforcement forced Yoruka to dodge in a large way because of its absolute zero breath.

Even for Yoruka, continuously evading the claw and fang that were additionally attacking in high speed was a herculean task.

Furthermore Poseidon that possessed unlimited regeneration, Yggdrasil who reacted to the situation and continuously strengthened itself, Metatron that reflected attacks back, Deus ex Machina that grasped the space in control, and Iblis that polluted the mind.

Although she was fighting while retreating, Yato no Kami’s barrier was already pierced and even a part of her armor was smashed.

She was able to create an opening to lure the enemies toward hers and allowed the allied troops to retreat, the opponent wasn’t so soft that her side would be able to manage somehow with just that.

The elite force who showed their back to the enemies were killed one after another by the approaching Ragnarok.

Even if she wanted to use Over Limit through her Spell Code, Yoruka’s current physical state didn’t allow it.

The battle situation was still hopeless without any change.

Even so she gave her best and barely slowed the enemy’s invasion.

She was risking her life just for that.

「Haa……haa. Even so, it’s surprising. Although this is for the sake of saving Aruji-sama, but to think I’m able to do this kind of act.」

Even though she was cornered into an overwhelming disadvantage, the glint of Yoruka’s eyes didn’t turn dim.

A few kl behind her, Airi was there watching the fight while holding her breath.

The fortress base. She was standing slightly in front of it while exposing her body to the cold biting wind and prayed.

「This place is dangerous Airi-san! Can’t you evacuate inside the fortress?」

A boy dressed as butler, Magialca’s aide Lolotte called out to her, but Airi didn’t move.

In exchange she kept turning her back to him while giving back her answer with a calm tone.

「Thank you very much for your worry. But, there is meaning in me doing something like this. No, I’m doing this in the belief that it will raise the possibility of saving Nii-san even if only slightly. That’s why──」

Lolotte guessed her meaning with those words.

Airi’s act of deliberately exposing her figure in front of the fortress had a definite objective.

「I understand your feeling. But the seven Ragnarok are already closing in. With how we are sheltering the sovereigns of seven countries, we are also unable to retreat from here.」

In other words if they didn’t escape right away──no, even if they escaped they would be overtaken and then met a massacre.

But, even after being told about that hopeless situation, Airi kept gazing straight to the front.

Even Yoruka couldn’t buy time satisfactorily against seven Ragnarok as her opponent.

Furthermore, the Drag-Knights of the alliance army who were saved by her and barely escaped alive could be seen flying here with desperate look.

「Sa, save meeee! I’ll get killed!」

「It’s the end! It’s already overrrrr!」

「Re, retreat! Run away from here! Quickly──」

People who tossed away all their weapons and wore broken armor.

People who were bleeding from all over their body and wandered around while screaming.

And then people whose heart was broken by terror and sobbed tearfully.

Everyone similarly spoke about the despair.

–

「──Kuh! It’s already, at this rate……!」

Among those people, a woman of blooming age wearing EX Wyvern, the butler of Einfolk house Alterize groaned with rough breathing.

「At the very least, we have to protect his grace the pope, so he can escape from here──!」

When Airi who was standing in front of the fortress heard that, voices suddenly came from above.

「Oi oi. The elite force for the decisive battle is saying that? Even if you guys escape until the end of this world, those guys will keep coming anyway yeah?」

First a male voice with a tone that sounded careless said that briefly.

「Even the butler of Einfolk house has become disappointing. To lament like that just from this much.」

Next, it was a jesting voice of a girl that sounded very young.

「So those are Ragnarok eeeh. Looks like it will be really worth it to defeat them.」

A tone of a woman that gave the impression of belligerent fearlessness.

「That is, the same scene like when I made my threat before. But, the truth is I didn’t wish for something like this at all.」

A girl’s voice that had no modulation, however a strong will resided in it.

「Finally my words can be proved as correct. It’s only powerful Drag-Knight who is worthy to rule over the world.」

Words that were filled with confidence along with haughty scorn could be heard.

「You all understand right, each of you need to kill one you know? I will protect the center. The rest spread out just like the instruction from before!」

A voice that sounded young, but with a way of talking that sounded mature.

The moment Lolotte heard that voice, he looked forward.

Above the watch tower at the front of the fortress──seven male and females could be seen.

When Airi noticed and looked up to the tower too, there was the back figure of her dear big brother there.

「Sorry to make you wait, Airi. And Yoruka too.」

「……Nii-san-!?」

Airi who was slightly at the back part of the fortress’s front noticed their existences.

The Seven Dragon Paladins who should have fallen into the enemy’s hand and imprisoned were all present above the watch tower in front of her.

The representative of Vanheim Principality, Greifer Nest.

The representative of Ymir Theocracy, Mel Gizalut.

The representative of Heiburg Republic, Rosa Granhide.

The representative of Turkimes Confederation, Soffice Xfer.

The representative of Blackedn Kingdom, Singlen Shelbrit.

The representative of Marcafal Kingdom, Magialca Zen Vanfrick.

And then, the representative of New Kingdom Atismata, Lux Arcadia.

They faced the approaching seven Ragnarok and drew out their Sword Device.

「──Roar thunderously and become a legend. O protector of fairy, the banner of great enemy, Cuelebre.」

First Greifer pushed the trigger on the handle and went as the vanguard.

「──Two opposite of depravity competing with each other, be worn on the body and resurrect. O dragon of strife bringing ruination to heaven and earth, Ddraig Gwiber.」

Furthermore Mel pulled out her two swords Sword Device and continued after Greifer.

「──Soot of intrigue that is the wickedness, sink, lurk, deceive, and strike. O dragon of previous life without repentance, Gorynych.」

Rosa summoned a huge dragon of dark grey color with a bold smile,

「──Born from the flame, is the taboo god. Devour hatred and reason then transcend, Vritra.」

The yellow dragon that appeared in front of Sofice unfolded into countless parts.

「──The origin of all thing, the ocean, whirl powerfully to the critical pressure. Hand down the judgment of divine will that illuminate the heaven, Leviathan.」

Singlen connected with a blue huge dragon and it turned into an armor that covered his body.

「──O world snake that is liberated from fate. Challenge the holy war and take revenge to the gods, Jormungandr.」

Magialca deployed her gigantic Drag-Ride and took position on the watch tower.

「──Manifest, the violent dragon that devour the flesh and blood of gods. Sever the sky of dark clouds, Bahamut.」

For the last, Lux readied his great sword along with the jet black huge dragon.

Right here right now, it was the second coming of the last stronghold that protected the world.

–

「U, OOOooOOO……-!」

Every single one of them equipped their Divine Drag-Ride with absolute confidence and readied their weapon.

The alliance troops who witnessed that spontaneously erupted with voice of wonder.

「However, what is happening? Why are they there──no, how did they escape!?」

The butler Lolotte was shocked in front of the fortress while asking Airi beside him.

Until now, Lolotte couldn’t make contact with his master Magialca.

He wondered what happened to Lux and others who should be fallen into the Lord’s hand and got locked in the old castle.

「Our comrades managed their task successfully. Just as they promised at first when we arrived here.」

「Yes. It was extremely difficult but, we somehow accomplished it.」

There, starting from Noct who was wearing EX Drake, the Triad who were similarly wearing strengthened type Drag-Ride showed their face.

「Maaan──, it was scary. But it must be that. It’s the victory for Sharis’s strategy. Her instinct was unusually right on the money.」

「First let’s relax that we accomplished the mission. Airi-chan too, you really did your best.」

Sharis was nodding at Tillfur’s words while gently caressing Airi’s silver hair.

Half a day after Yoruka and co arrived at this base, they formed a strategy when they were going to head out to rescue Lux right away.

When Yoruka’s Yato no Kami that was a special equipment type Divine Drag-Ride investigated using its radar through a vast range, it detected within the old castle’s ground──the reaction of six living things inside the chapel, as well as more than ten Drag-Knights and several Abysses around the chapel.

And then, the radar also confirmed the reaction of Divine Drag-Rides of Lisha and Krulcifer who followed after Celis and Philuffy.

Seeing how the reaction of Lux couldn’t be found inside the old castle, and how Lisha and Krulcifer entered underground, the possibility was high that Lux and Aeril were there.

With how Lisha and others were already chasing after Lux and stormed into Avalon, the possibility was low that they would be able to make it in time even if they followed.

‘In that case’──Airi’s proposal was to save the remaining Seven Dragon Paladins and they decided it as their strategy.

Even if Lux managed to become free alone, with Seven Dragon Paladins still imprisoned and stayed as hostage, their side wouldn’t be able to fight with full power after that.

Yoruka also complied with that persuasion of Airi and she tried to enter into the old castle that was inadequately defended.

But, midway a single problem surfaced.

The seven Ragnarok that appeared and surrounded the alliance army, and the Heaven Palace floating in the sky.

And then, the existence of Hayes who was monitoring the situation.

If they were standing by without chasing after Lux, there was a high possibility that they would come to finish off Yoruka and others.

But, in reverse if Yoruka who the enemy was the wariest against showed her figure, they estimated that the enemy would be unable to notice other thing.

–

「My bad but missy Yoruka, can I ask you to attract the attention of Hayes and the others for us? While you are at it I also want you to help the alliance army to retreat. We will take a detour around the enemy’s monitoring and infiltrate into the p;d castle’s chapel in full speed.」

Thus Sharis proposed that they and Yoruka took separate action.

「Can you three accomplish that? There are more than ten Dragon Marauder remnant and several Abyss in the old castle, and if an ambush appeared──」

Yoruka asked with a smile. In respond Sharis looked down with a slight hesitation.

But, she immediately lifted her face resolutely.

「If we can manage somehow──no, we will manage it no matter what! Even if we have to pay with our life, we will recover the Seven Dragon Paladins no matter what. If we cannot say at least that much, there won’t be any meaning of us coming here!」

She clenched her shaking fist and the blue haired girl said that. Tillfur and Noct also nodded with serious face.

Airi also took a deep breath and gave a push on their back.

「I also have the same opinion. The seven Ragnarok are revived and surrounded the alliance army. If we don’t at least buy time, the alliance army will also be annihilated. Even if we manage to save the Seven Dragon Paladins and fight back, it will be the end if we don’t hold out until then.」

「Understood. But, seeing me not going to save Aruji-sama, the enemy will hold doubt that a different force is moving won’t they?」

「……-」

What Yoruka pointed out caused the Triad to hold their tongue.

Certainly, the enemy also knew about Yoruka’s character.

If she didn’t go straight to save Lux, next they would strengthen their security on the defenseless Seven Dragon Paladins, or perhaps they would even discard and kill them.

「──Then, I will become bait.」

Then, Airi raised her hand quietly.

Noct beside her opened her eyes wide in surprise, but Airi ignored it and expressed her thinking.

「The blood of Arcadia is indispensable for the capture and monopolizing of Avalon. Then, if I expose my figure in the fortress, it will be taken as the reason Yoruka-san is stopping the advance of the Ragnarok. With that the Lords’ attention will be fixed on us.」

Excluding Lisha and others the four Divine Drag-Ride users, they would deliberately expose all the existences that were threat for the enemy.

With that, the Triad for the first time would be able to move with no mark from the enemy putting up their guard against them.

This was also a plan that was possible exactly because it was right now where they had lost almost all of their personnel and had no leeway to assign any of their members for other task.

「But Airi, that’s──」

Noct raised an uneasy voice. In respond Airi made a smile to tell her not to worry.

「You cannot stop me here Noct. Everyone will be braving absurdly great danger in the old castle. If I don’t do this, then I won’t understand for what I come here.」

「I understand. We will take back the Seven Dragon Paladins without fail. Please buy us time until then.」

Sharis clenched her fist with a serious gaze. Everyone there nodded in agreement.

And then, they immediately executed the plan right after that.

Yoruka attracted the attention of the seven Ragnarok, securing the path of retreat for the alliance army while slowing the enemy’s invasion at the same time. Using that opening Sharis and others infiltrated the chapel and rescued the Seven Dragon Paladins.

Furthermore using radar, they also succeeded in taking back Seven Dragon Paladins’ Sword Devices that were hidden inside the old castle.

Perhaps the fortune had also become their ally, because their operation splendidly worked out.

Right after rescuing the Seven Dragon Paladins, the chapel was destroyed, but when they went around the back, they met up with Lux and Aeril.

Using Bahamut’s Divine Raiment, everyone’s Wedge was removed and they returned full speed to the fortress.

–

──And then, now.

「Good grief, as expected I’m also at my limit. The best I can do is to observe the surrounding using radar coverage just in case so the worst case won’t happen.」

Yoruka who returned until in front of the fortress muttered that with gasping breath.

Although she had no conspicuous wound, some parts of her armor were cracked. It indicated the intensity of the fierce battle she went through.

She was doing it calmly but, although it was only buying time, facing against seven Ragnarok should be putting a terrifying burden on her.

After all their might was to the degree that the elite alliance army was reduced by half in just ten minutes, so conversely there was no doubt that it was a feat that could only be done by her.

When Airi reconfirmed this greatly unfavorable situation once more, Sharis beside her also nodded.

「This is as far as we go. ──We leave the rest to you, Lux-kun.」

「Haaa, I’m knackered now, we also used the new equipment a looot……」

「Yes. But, it was worth it for us to fray our nerves like that.」]

The Triad who had switched into normal general purpose Drag-Ride watched the battle situation together with Airi in front of the fortress.

The watch tower that was only 300 ml ahead from there was truly the last line of defense.

The fight that would decide the fate of the world was started.

–