Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 5 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 15===
 
The sounds of weapons clashing and cry's of Disdiya's soldiers continuously began to grow in the background.
 
"...... And now."
 
Kaidou Motoharu focused all his attention to the front again, staring into Zechs's eyes.
 
"You prefer to have a showdown with Akki, huh? Unfortunately, I can't allow that."
 
"Ha", then he smiled,
 
"Too bad, now its my turn -- Whoa!"
 
Kaidou didn't have time to finish speaking. He had to quickly twist his head to the side. The crimson blade went past the tip of his nose, severing several of the hairs covering his forehead.
 
"Eeeh, scary...... You should at least wait until I'm done talking, okay?"
 
"You're just a puppet, anyway. I don't have time to waste on you."
 
Zechs coldly snorted, "punpun" Kaidou waved his head angrily.
 
"Gimme a break, I am the real thing! You almost cut off my head. I would of died!"
 
Kuzuha's power was limited, she could only have three active puppets at one time. Therefore Akatsuki assigned them to Haruka, Chikage and to Kuzuha herself. Naturally, Kaidou was left out and had to go into battle with his real flesh and blood body.
 
"If your afraid to die...... you had better withdraw quickly."
 
Zechs indifferently said so,
 
"Otherwise, I'm not going go to easy on you -- Gah!"
 
However, it wasn't possible for him to say his whole piece, because Kaidou beat him to the punch. Even if his body had on a layer of armor, it failed to stop the heavy blow sending him skidding backwards for some distance.
 
"Arrgghhhh, are you kidding me? Your the one who complained about my sneak attack when you where talking. Ahhh, why am I'm talking so carefree --"
 
Kaidou laughed.[[File:HYnA vol 05 004.jpg|thumbnail]]
 
"--Oh, you didn't take me seriously, did you?"
 
"I don't know who's more contemptuous ... ... Unarmed and you still want to go toe to toe with me?"
 
As saying so, Zechs lifted the crimson sword once again. Kaidou upon seeing this, couldn't help but sigh:
 
"There's nothing that can be done...... because I was entrusted by the people."
 
His expression became serious.
 
"And was responsible for protecting the children. I was careless and let one of the children get hurt. Once is enough for this type of lesson, there wont be a second time."
 
"I see...... since neither one of us is going to back down. It can not be helped then."
 
Zechs seemed to have resolved himself,
 
"I do not have time to fight with anybody other than Akatsuki -- prepare yourself."
 
As soon as he finished saying so he stabbed towards Kaidou.
 
"Ah...... Tch!"
 
Kaidou was dodging left and right, barely escaping the continuous slashes.
 
Zechs's assault was rather sharp, forcing him to use his AD summon knuckles to defend. He was able to stop the first attack on Akatsuki because it was an attack at his back so Zechs wasn't giving it his all. He was also reminded that Zechs announced his presence aloud to Akatsuki was all the more proof.
 
But that wasn't the case now, every sword strike had in it his best effort. And this was far from a favorable situation, since they were only separated by no more than an arms length.
 
"Your good at running away...... it's top notch."
 
"Well, it's not like I want to die."
 
Zechs sarcastically praise him, while Kaidou's answer was also very frivolous.
 
Although Zechs's sword was sharp his intent was not to kill Kaidou.
 
...... Amazing.
 
Kaidou couldn't help but fell admiration. Even if his slash were to hit, it probably wouldn't draw blood. At best he would suffer a fracture or lose consciousness.
 
Western-style swords have an edge on both sides, so there was no so-called back of the knife. Making it impossible not to cut the enemy, but Zechs had the skill of a master -- thus avoiding a killing blow. If Kaidou stopped dodging, Zechs was sure to sever only his consciousness with a blow. Under these circumstances, it might be more dangerous if he were to avoided the attack unskillfully.
 
Naturally with his knuckle armor he should attack with his fists, and avoid kicking as much as possible.
 
...... But I can't lie down here......
 
After all, Akatsuki left the mission of handling Zechs to me.
 
And I took on this myself, and I should at least contribute a little.
 
Therefore Kaido Motoharu went on a counterattack. Simultaneously,
 
"Gah--!"
 
Suddenly, Zechs's body was blown back from a powerful impact felt on his side from the empty space.
 
After landing awkwardly, Zechs stared at him.
 
"An invisible attack...... Physical magic?"
 
"What do you think?"
 
Kaidou smiled nonchalantly.
 
"Don't worry too much. When you figure it out, you would've already been defeated by me."
 
Just as he finished speaking, Kaidou carried out a long range attack.
 
A series of invisible attacks came upper and lower, front and back, and left and right, in all directions. However,
 
"Tch......!"
 
Zechs swung his sword, used nimble footwork, and twisted his body to avoid Kaidou's offensive.
 
"Oh, amazing!...... you really did that, eh."
 
He most likely did that by observing Kaidou's breathing and line of sight to predict the direction to some degree and the timing of the attacks. Kaidou had heartfelt praise for him. It must been his way of compensating for his handicap of not being able to use magic.
 
"With that move you would be able to deal with most opponents. It is definitely more than enough and to spare."
 
Kaidou laughed, but unfortunately he was not most opponents.
 
"It's regrettable -- but I have already encountered a fellow that could read breathing and sight to predict attacks."
 
Kaidou changed the way he attacked to a tactic specifically designed to combat people like him. To put it bluntly, it was to alter your own breathing and used your line of sight as a feint to deceive the enemy.
 
His new approach was effective. Zechs's body was left open to a barrage of attacks, gradually slowing him down.
 
"......Ga... ... ahhh!?"
 
"Wow...... you were able to avoid some of those shots, huh. Is that like some sort of sixth sense gained from all your experience?"
 
However the situation developed to this point, Kaidou had gained the upper hand. Although Zechs's swordsmanship was unrivaled, his weak point was his inability to use magic. Where Kaidou was concerned, there was already nothing for him to fear from Zechs.
 
......He seems to be a friend of Akatsuki's so it would be best to knock him out quickly.
 
Right when Kaidou was ready to give the final blow –-
 
"-- Don't underestimate me."
 
A low voice accompanied by high-pitched sonic boom was heard by Kaidou.
 
Not good!
 
Kaidou subconsciously dodged to the right, the rock behind him was suddenly split in two. The cross section was cut to a shine. Kaidou distorted his face as he squeamishly and unintentionally let out a "Ga".
 
"It's unfortunate...... but as a swordsmen, I also have a long range invisible attack."
 
After fixing his sword stance, Zechs coldly reported.
 
Kaidou understood that just a moment ago, he used a lightning fast sword slash indiscernible to the naked eye. The high-pitched sonic boom was a by product of the sword taking the shape of wind and exceeding the speed of sound.    
 
"Lets try it, your attack and my sword -- Which will be faster?"
 
Zechs raised his sword again.
 
"Eh...... The situation has reversed?"
 
Confused, Kaidou scratched his cheek, and felt a wet sensation on the tip his index finger.
 
On closer look, it was a bright red liquid -- blood.
 
"Oh......"
 
Kaidou abruptly narrowed his eyes, harboring a dangerous color in his pupils.
 
He laughed.
 
"Quite interesting -- Well then, I'll play seriously with you."