Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 10 Episode 3 (section)

===Part 3===
And then, Lux spent a few days in the inn for recuperating, and then finally he infiltrated into Heiburg’s Underground Market.

The place where the market took place was beside the military facility practice ground, underground the guild of the great company Elminant.

Lux who was wearing a dress suit and Philuffy who was wearing a dress entered inside while holding hands.

Bringing in a Sword Device was allowed, but in exchange the sheath was locked with a metal cover.

The thing would take time and effort to be taken off without using the key, but with the information from Relie and Magialca, they had thought of a countermeasure for this.

Just as the name Underground Market implied, a market place made from stone was spreading in the surrounding in a circular shape.

Rare animals, rare food ingredients, artwork, precious metals, Drag-Ride parts──furthermore even suspicious drugs were lined up along with their prices.

「This drug, what is it?」

When Philuffy muttered while tilting her head, a middle aged merchant in charge of the stand grinned.

「Oo, you have good eyes there young miss. This is a stimulant. How about it, young master? It will make you energetic yeah.」

「It will make Lu-chan energetic? Then this one──」

「Wait, stop it Phi-chan! That thing might be different from what you are thinking!」

After Lux stopped her in panic, next Philuffy looked with deep interest at the dried food made from rare fish, tried to sample an old wine, then he stopped her because it would obstruct their mission after this. They were spending a peaceful time.

This event was given a suspicious name like the Underground Market, when in actual fact, while it was indeed fishy, but it still felt just barely legal.

The atmosphere was also more upright than Lux thought, but his tension wouldn’t relax.

Lux was putting up his guard observing if there were any gazes that were doubting the two of them while grasping the terrain by pretending to look around the market.

According to the story of Calensia who passed by them before this, Dragon Marauder wouldn’t appear here for the transaction.

They would show up at the facility beside this building, in Heiburg’s underground Drag-Ride hangar.

Of course, there was a path here that connected to the hangar, so there wouldn’t be any problem.

「…………」

While Lux was in a daze, Calensia showed up in the Underground Market and beckoned them with her hand.

「Over here Lux-san. The transaction with Dragon Marauder is going on. The path to the hangar is──」

Urged by Calensia, Lux and Philuffy followed behind her and they passed through several tough steel doors.

Led onto a path where the signs of other humans were rapidly vanishing, they arrived at a place that was tinged with strange enthusiasm in the air.

There was a huge metal cage in the shape of a hemisphere, while an Abyss and a Drag-Knight were fighting inside it.

「That’s it, beat it up!」

「What are you doing, don’t just run away!」

Angry yells were flying around. Influential looking nobles were yelling with fervor.

「This is, what in the world──」

「It’s an extermination of captured Abyss as well as the training for Drag-Knights. Of course, in reality it is just a mortal combat for betting. It’s a show for a part of the nobles with a bad hobby.」

「Why, is such thing──?」

When Lux asked with a dubious face, Calensia smiled powerlessly.

「I don’t know. Perhaps it’s a tool to threaten other people, or perhaps it is to heighten the people’s competitiveness by displaying strength, but either way, right now it seems that a medicine experiment is being carried out. It’s for the sake of learning how to use the mysterious secret medicine called Elixir that was refined from the Ruins──」

「…………」

The reality that was too inhuman caused Lux to frown while following her from behind.

Before long they were let into a scraggy room made from stone. There Calensia stopped walking.

「This way. If you two hide behind here, soon the division commander Vine from Dragon Marauder should show up. If you take him by surprise while wearing your Drag-Rides, you should be able to subdue him simply.」

Saying that, Calensia took out a key from her breast pocket.

It was the key for taking off the cover that was locking their Sword Devices in order to enter this underground market.

Calensia had told Lux beforehand that she would unlock the cover for them──but,

「Eh…… why?」

For some reason the key couldn’t enter the keyhole.

Calensia tilted her head and began to get impatient.

「Fo, forgive me. It looks like I mistook the key. I will quickly go take the right key, so please hide around here for now.」

「No, Calensia-san, I want you to wait. There is another strange thing.」

「──Eh?」

Calensia was backing away from Lux who was showing a perplexed expression.

「There is no exit in this place where we are hiding. Besides this is too strange. Before we came here, we were watching out the situation around us in the Underground Market, but──」

So to speak, Lux was on guard against assassins that were mixed in among the crowd.

「Even though we had caused that much commotion in the pleasure quarters, we didn’t hear any rumor about it. The security of the soldiers was also lax. Everything is going too well. The situation is unnatural for a military that is normally being managed by Lady Rosa with her way that is like that.」

「-……!?」

Calensia lowered her eyebrows at what Lux pointed out and she averted her gaze.

「Since then, we didn’t meet Stefa just as you said. Could it be, at that point you had been threatened? That she would be killed if you didn’t lead us into a trap──」

Silence.

After the quietness, Calensia’s expression clouded.

Her shoulders were shaking fiercely and she directed an anxious gaze at Lux.

「So you, saw through it……you aren’t, going to kill me?」

Lux shook his head seeing the self-depreciating smile Calensia made.

「I’m not planning to blame you. However, we also cannot get trapped and die here no matter what. Can you understand that?」

Calensia’s shoulders dropped.

She hung her head down powerlessly, as though she was resigned of something.

And then, she confessed the truth piece by piece.

「Soon, one of the Servants will come here, in order to collect a large amount of Elixir that was used until now for the experiment in that arena. You two, please get away from here right away. If not──」

「No, I will remain here. If not Calensia-san will also meet a tragic experience. On top of that, I swear I’ll defeat the King of Vices in this Heiburg.」

–

「Unfortunately, I cannot agree with that talk you seee. The transaction is over alreadyy.」

–

「──……!?」

Right after Lux muttered that, a cloudy voice of a girl came from behind.

Almost at the same time, the sword belt of Bahamut that Lux wore on his waist was plucked off by something.

When he turned around in panic, an unexpected sight flew into his eyes.

「How-!? Why are you here──!?」

A red haired girl wearing a wicked smile on her face.

Rosa Granhide wearing Heiburg’s military uniform and iron blue Drag-Ride was standing in front of them.

The Drag-Ride’s hand was toying with a black Sword Device that had just been stolen from Lux.

「Myy? That’s my line. Why are you in this kind of place I wonder, Lux Arcadia. But well, let me answer your question. I was here right from the beginning. Since that time I departed to Triport leading my subordinates to conquer Babel.」

「There is no way that’s……true. There shouldn’t be any sign of you leaving from the New Kingdom since a few days ago! And yet──」

When he was about to say that, Lux realized in surprise and he held his breath.

Come to think of it, the report from the Triad itself was strange.

Rosa was showing her face since the first day, but she was only walking around in the front line base without even participating in conquering Babel. There was also no sign of her commanding.

「You put a body double there since the beginning in order to attend this transaction──so it was like that.」

Rosa chuckled hearing Lux’s mutter.

「You noticed too late theree. I held a bit of expectation at the wiles of the Black Hero who destroyed the Old Arcadia Empire by himself, but it looks like you aren’t even at my level at all.」

Rosa licked her lower lips and grinned fearlessly.

But, there was something that surprised Lux more than her appearance here.

「Why? Gorynych should be a land battle type Divine Drag-Ride. The camouflage function when you appeared just now should be a Drake’s ability. Just how in the world──」

「Myy? You forgot already? The Divine Raiment of my Gorynych, Tartaros Frame can rearrange and modify its own armor. It will need some time but, it can switch to any of the three types you know? Now, the service from me is only until here. I’ll have you surrender to mee.」

Rosa pointed the muzzle of her Breath Gun to Lux while looking triumphant.

Lux, Philuffy, and Calensia weren’t wearing Drag-Rides.

Furthermore their remaining Sword Devices had the sheaths locked.

There was no chance of victory left for them.

「You won’t, kill us?」

「Only a third rate would kill you heree. This is a rare chance where I can obtain the highest quality hostage into my hands. If I captured you and that ojou-sama, you two will be really useful in extorting the New Kingdom. Aa, now that you mention it, there are also the three small fries loitering around you two. I’ll have them killed as examples. After they are thoroughly raped and used as guinea pigs, I’ll send their corpses back to the New Kingdom as a warning.」

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v10 06.png|thumb|right]]

「──Tsu!?」

Seeing Rosa’s wicked smile that hinted about the Triad, blood rushed to Lux’s head.

But, in reality he could do nothing at this stage.

「Calen, the punishment for you will be after that. Even though I’ve been so kind to let that cousin of yours live──. Your disciplining is still lacking it seems.」

「Kuh……!?」

Calensia’s face turned pale and her shoulders were shaking. In that timing, Rosa’s gaze was taken off from Lux and Philuffy for a moment.

It was a very little opening of her heart due to her conviction of her victory.

Lux didn’t let that timing get away and unsheathed his remaining Sword Device.

「──!?」

Rosa reacted and quickly pulled the trigger of her Breath Gun.

While the countless light bullets were fired through the air, Lux was already equipping his Wyvern.

「──Howling Roar!」

Lux defended against the barrage with his barrier, at the same time he unleashed a shockwave from his head armor.

He held back Rosa, at the same time he carried Philuffy and Calensia with both arms and took distance backwards.

「How, the Sword Device’s sheath should be locked──!?」

Calensia who saw that raised her voice with an amazed look.

How did Lux unsheathe his Sword Device even though Calensia hadn’t opened the lock just now?

Using the physical strength of an Abyss that Philuffy possessed and metal fitting that she used as hairclip, she quickly undid the lock for Lux when Rosa showed an opening.

That was the plan that Lux and Philuffy prepared beforehand.

The moment Rosa was slightly pushed back by Howling Roar, Lux skated in the air in order to attack her.

「Hah! You’re better than I thought. But it’s unfortunatee. You cannot make use of Wyvern’s mobility inside this cramped underground passage!」

「Kuh……!?」

Light instantly surged from Rosa’s armor and bullets were fired like an explosion.

It was the application of a basic technique, Break Purge that released off the armor while shooting a part of them like a buckshot.

In order to defend against the barrage attack from the fired armor parts, Lux opened his Wyvern’s barrier in full and endured.

「──……This is-!?」

The moment the storm stopped, before his eyes the figure of Gorynych had completely changed compared to before.

From the form of a Drake with Radar attached on its shoulder and four legs, into the form of a land battle type that was covered with thick armor.

「Tartaros Frame – Normal Mode.」

The Divine Raiment of Gorynych that modified its own armor by combining its special armament, the unmanned armors Twelve Vice.

What Rosa selected was most likely the basic model of a land battle type.

Blades were growing from various parts of the armor with a sickle shaped weapon, Scythe in one hand. That form resembled an ominous god of death.

It was standing in the way of the returning path that connected to the Underground Market, completely blocking the escape route.

「Can I ask you to keep it moderate even if you struggle in vaiin? No matter what, it’s just too insulting if you are trying to take me on with that kind of torn up piece of junk.」

Rosa who was convinced of her own superiority was boasting triumphantly seeing her opponent’s appearance.

Because Lux’s Wyvern got its shoulder destroyed at the battle five days ago against Brandish of the Servants, one of its arms couldn’t function properly.

And then, Bahamut’s Sword Device was still stolen by Rosa.

At this rate the result of the fight was clear.

Calensia showed a sorrowful expression. At that moment, Lux’s voice roared.

「Calensia-san! Escape to the corner of the passage! I’ll lure the Drag-Ride to the front!」

「──!?」

Calensia reacted to his voice and moved towards the corner of the passage. In that moment, Rosa’s Gorynych was entangled by countless wires.

Those wires came from Pile Anchor, the special armament that was fired from every part of the Divine Drag-Ride Typhon that Philuffy was wearing.

Philuffy who had went around behind Rosa unnoticed summoned her Drag-Ride and launched her attack.

「──Hmph. You just kept staying quiet so I thought you aren’t going to do anything, but sneaking around in the shadows like that.」

「Get away, from Lu-chan.」

The instant Philuffy muttered that, the wires coiling around Gorynych was pulled towards Typhon at high speed.

Typhon that Philuffy was wearing immediately ran through the passage and dragged Rosa to outside the hangar──into the military practice ground.

The outside had been covered with dusk, cold rain was starting to pour down.

At present, the majority of the Drag-Knights of Heiburg were absent because they went to conquer Babel. The practice ground was empty.

Lux also followed Philuffy and Rosa and went outside. There he didn’t see any signs of other ambushers.

Like this, this time it was them who were in an advantageous position. Lux was convinced of that.

He exchanged glances with Calensia, where she nodded to him briefly in resolve.

「Lux-san, Philuffy-san! Please take care of Lady Rosa! I’ll block the path towards the practice grounds and stop the military’s reinforcement.」

「Please. I’ll defeat Rosa here with her!」

Rosa herself had confessed about her backroom dealing with Dragon Marauder.

The evil design of  the King of Vices that weakened the New Kingdom while conquering Babel at the same time.

(If we can defeat her──Rosa with this, then everything will end.)

The unreasonable reign of the military that was running rampant in this Heiburg too, and also the unhappiness of the people which was caused from it──everything would end.

Perhaps in order to learn tactics in a situation that was like a real battle, this practice ground had obstacles like trees and bushes growing.

The situation seemed to be even for both sides.

Next it would be a match to take back the Sword Device of Bahamut that Rosa took away.

If he had to say, their side was in advantage.

And yet for some reason there was an unknown anxiety residing inside Lux’s chest.

Even he himself didn’t understand what made him hesitate.

(──Right now isn’t the time to think about unnecessary things! If we don’t win this battle, it will be over for us!)

Lux took a deep breath and switched his feelings.

And then he skated after Philuffy inside the forest of the practice ground that was covered with jet black darkness.

『Phi-chan! Are you okay!? What happened with Rosa?』

He sent his voice through Dragon Voice to Philuffy so Rosa wouldn’t be able to guess their intentions.

『She is, still bound by wires. If it’s in this place it’s fine even if we fight, I’ll release the wire and attack.』

『-……!? Watch out!』

「You two look really leisurely while being inside the garden of someone’s housee. But it’s really unfortunate thouugh──it’s you two who got caught in a trap.」

The moment they heard the sarcastic laugh of Rosa, Philuffy moved.

Every part of Rosa’s armor that was bound by Pile Anchor was pulled closer when the wires were rolled back. At the same time Philuffy pulled back her right hand and took a punching stance.

On the other hand Rosa who was making a faint grin readied her big sickle shaped weapon──the Scythe and lifted it up.

(Rosa’s balance is broken because she is getting pulled. If they strike at the same time, it will be Philuffy’s win!)

Lux drove his Wyvern toward the fight while making that judgment. Right at that instant.

「I was wondering how skilled you are after especially coming here to spy──but it looks like I was underestimated huh.」

「──!?」

Every joint part of Gorynych that Rosa wore were instantly disassembled midair. The restraints of Pile Anchor that wrapped everywhere was disconnected.

At the same time Gorynych was enveloped with an ominous purple light that immediately connected to the disassembled armor parts──and reconstructed them back.

「Such, method……!?」

Due to the transformation ability of her Divine Raiment 《Tartaros Frame》, she temporarily disassembled her Normal Mode, and then after removing the restraints, she immediately reconstructed her armor back to Normal Mode.

She erased her disadvantage in less than a few moments and prepared the stance of counterattack.

But, the inertia from the motion of Philuffy pulling Rosa toward herself was in effect.

The result, Typhon’s fist that thrust out as counter hit empty air, on the other hand the blade of Rosa’s Scythe moved towards the torso while Typhon’s fist crossed beside her.

「Split into two.」

The gathered energy was focused on the edge of the Scythe.

It pierced the barrier of Typhon that boasted solid defensive power, but Philuffy’s left arm barely came in between and blocked the attack.

But── even so a terrific impact hit her whole body.

When the edge of the Scythe was slashed to the end without pause, it left a crack on her armor.

「……-!?」

Philuffy who was falling backward let out a faint anguish into her expressionless face.

「Phi-chan-!?」

Lux skated with his half-broken Wyvern to try to help her, but before his eyes six unmanned Drag-Rides stood in his way.

Twelve Vice──the Drag-Rides that were the special armaments of Gorynych consisted of two flying type Drag-Rides, two land battle type Drag-Rides, and two special equipment type Drag-Rides.

They attacked Lux with movement of different system as though they were coordinating with each other.

It seemed because of their unmanned trait, their movement was simple and easy to predict.

But, in his current situation where he couldn’t use Bahamut, he was unable to simply break through them.

(I can only reduce their number with Critical Hit using Scale Blade!)

Even though he thought that, in this situation where his Wyvern’s one arm was broken, it was difficult to match the timing for counter when the unmanned Drag-Rides attacked simultaneously.

「Noow then, first──it’s one down. I wonder how you will feel when you see your comrade being killed right in front of you?」

In that opening Rosa drove her Gorynych and swung down the tip of her Scythe towards Philuffy’s torso.

But, the moment it was going to hit, her usual absentminded voice could be heard.

「It’s okay, Lu-chan.」

Right after that, an unmanned dark grey Drag-Ride that Rosa controlled was pulled in front of Typhon and became a shield.

「──What!?」

Rosa’s eyes opened wide in bewilderment seeing her Scythe’s attack was blocked by her own Twelve Vice that she controlled.

Right after Philuffy fell, she fired her Pile Anchor and instantly pulled one of the Twelve Vice towards herself.

The moment the Scythe’s tip pierced the armor, Philuffy shifted the unmanned armor shielding her aside and sealed the movement of the Scythe.

At the same time, while still in the falling posture, she moved Typhon’s armored leg and kicked up at Rosa’s Gorynych.

「Kuuh……!?」

If it was an average Drag-Knight who used a technique like that, they would lose their balance and tumble down. Because of that it was an unusable kicking technique.

But for Philuffy who possessed a tough flesh body and had mastered the martial arts that was taught by Magialca, and exactly because she was using Typhon, this special battle style that was unique to her became possible.

Rosa’s Gorynych that was kicked up to the air for more than ten meters was entangled by several Pile Anchors that were fired from both shoulders and the back armor.

Wires were rolling around the whole Drag-Ride, preventing Rosa to escape by disassembling her armor using Twelve Vice.

At the same time the Pile Anchor that was fired from the right hand armor stretched to right beside her, capturing the second unmanned Drag-Ride and reeled it in towards her hand.

Typhon’s right hand caught it, and then that hand was wrapped with light as though it was burning. Energy was converging into that hand.

Right after that, Gorynych that was floating midair was reeled in one go, at the same time the special armament that was installed into Typhon’s right hand was activated.

「──Biting Flare.」

When the energy from the right hand was transferred, the caught unmanned Drag-Ride exploded.

Rosa got hit by the fragments and shockwave of the exploded armor and she was sent flying to far away backwards.

Philuffy didn’t directly explode Rosa’s Gorynych was because Rosa was still keeping Bahamut’s Sword Device and also in consideration of Rosa’s life itself.

Even so, enough damage should have been inflicted after Rosa’s barrier was pierced and her armor smashed like that. Here a strange situation occurred.

「SHE DID ITTTT!」

「NOW, BRING ROSA DOWWWWN-!」

「REVENGE! KILL HER AND STOP THE TYRANNY!」

Ten-odd Drag-Rides entered inside the military’s practice ground.

Most likely, they were the members of the Resistance that Calensia mentioned, the movement that was opposing Heiburg’s military regime.

At the timing when Philuffy stopped moving from the recoil of her attack, the general purpose Drag-Rides of the Resistance pursued Rosa who was blown away into the forest.

「Please wait! Killing her now is still too──」

Lux was facing the unmanned Drag-Rides of Twelve Vice while trying to stop them, but they didn’t show any signs of stopping.

「What are you saying! This woman, the current military of Heiburg, how much do you think they have done to us!? It can only be now! We’ll kill this King of Vices and win back our peace!」

「Yeah, kill her! Bring her down!」

「Clear away Heiburg’s darkness!」

More than ten Drag-Rides charged into the forest as one.

At the same time, the unmanned Drag-Rides of Twelve Vice that were attacking Lux headed towards Rosa’s position all at once.

「What’s the meaning of this? Are they going to protect Lady Rosa?」

No, that wasn’t what he should be afraid of.

Even after getting hit by Biting Flare, she was still moving her special armaments without problem.

In other words──the invitation towards that forest was a trap.

「Be careful, Lu-chan. That person, is strong. I somehow got back only your Sword Device but──」

Philuffy who stood beside Lux told him while sighing slightly.

Even while Rosa was receiving the attack of Biting Flare, she simultaneously disassembled and modified her armor, dispersing the impact to the limit.

As expected from a powerful person who was appointed as one of the Seven Dragon Paladins, her skill wasn’t normal.

Even while feeling astonishment, Lux quickly severed the lock on his other Sword Device using his Wyvern’s Blade.

And then, he dispelled the Wyvern armor in order to switch into Bahamut.

「……-!? Wait──if Lady Rosa is safe, then hiding inside that forest」

A trap that showed a pretension of rallying herself over.

That time when Lux noticed Rosa’s aim, a dark murmur resounded inside the night’s darkness.

「Tartaros Frame – Rapid Fire Mode」

Right after that, a part of the forest was blown away by explosion.

Gorynych transformed into a huge fortress of armaments. The Resistance members who entered her firing range were completely hauled up.

「Gu, GYAAAAAH……!?」

The men of the Resistance were covered in fire with their armor smashed. They rolled around on the ground while writhing in agony.

While Lux who was taken by surprise was bewildered, Gorynych modified its form even further.

「Tartaros Frame – {{furigana|Sky Force Mode|Sky Fortress Form}}」

Four Wyverns were combined on both shoulders into huge gun batteries there. Rosa moved outside the practice ground with that form.

「You are running away, Rosa Granhide!?」

When Lux yelled in surprise at the unexpected movement of the enemy, Rosa replied back with Dragon Voice.

『I’ll leave the battle against you for later. If the citizens are going against the military, I’ll burn the city as a lesson. It looks like there is also still Resistance members remaining outside. I have to do my job noow.』

『Don’t mess around! You want to harm even more unrelated people than this!?』

『Ahaa. I wonder what are you sayiiing. ──Everything is because of your fault right? Even though you aren’t even someone from this country, you are poking your nose as you please here.』

『────』

Cold sweat trickled along Lux’s back after hearing that shuddering whisper of the devil.

『It’s because a hypocrite like you are provoking me, that the situation became like this right? This is because you are trying to defeat me with a half-baked resolve.』

Rosa was chuckling while going outside the rampart.

Right after that, screams could be heard. It seemed that there was a Resistance force outside that was trying to get in.

At this rate, his few allies in Heiburg would be exterminated thoroughly.

「Shit-!? Why! Why is something like this──」

Lux drew out the Sword Device of Bahamut with shaking hands and summoned the huge dragon before him.

He quickly equipped the armor and glared at the other side of the rampart where Rosa vanished into.

「Lu-chan, be careful, Rosa might be luring you into a trap……」

Philuffy calmly pointed out despite the slight hitch in her voice from the tension.

Lux had also noticed that in his heart.

Rosa had an intention for going out of the practice ground that was surrounded by a rampart.

She wasn’t just planning to exterminate the Resistance, she was also planning to make the situation advantageous for her.

(No, her aim isn’t just that. No matter what happens, we cannot let Rosa get away here!)

Lux saw through Rosa’s intention and he shuddered.

Their current position at the surface was wrongdoers who trespassed illegally into the country as well as breaking into a military facility without permission.

Although the majority of Heiburg’s military was in the New Kingdom in order to conquer Babel, as expected there would still be Drag-Knights remaining to guard the capital. If they reported this to the world alliance, it would be Lux who would be considered as a traitor.

He had no proof of Heiburg’s transaction with Dragon Marauder, on top of that now he was forced to chase after Rosa even understanding that it was her trap.

If he let her get away here, it would be his loss.

「Phi-chan, we are going!」

They had no leeway to look after the injured Resistance members.

Lux crossed over the rampart and flew in pursuit of Rosa.

Then, the smell of burning and smoke pierced his nose from the direction of the city’s center.

「──!?」

Different from the Resistance members who were injured at the practice ground, the Resistance members here were killed.

Not a single one survived. There was even a girl who got half of her body blown away and died.

「Shit-!」

『You aren’t a big deal aren’t youu, hero-sama. Can’t you protect even a single innocent citizen I wondeer?』

A provocation was sent through Dragon Voice from Rosa who was far away, heading to the south of the city.

It appeared that she had advanced until very far. Her figure couldn’t be seen from far away.

Lux’s body was getting heated, but he couldn’t let himself to get driven by rage here.

He didn’t know what kind of trap Rosa was setting up, that was why he had to pursue her carefully.

But──even so, Lux’s heart was greatly stirred up.

He wondered if he had made some kind of mistake, whether there was anything he could do before it became like this.

「Lu-chan, found her.」

The voice of Philuffy who was skating on the street caused Lux to come back to his senses and he directed his gaze there.

The central national plaza of the capital, Hidehelm.

There was a residential district around it. Rosa was standing on a spacious round stage that was surrounded by eight huge metal statues.

Gorynych that had returned to Normal Mode was already readying a complete battle preparation.

Inside its armored arm, there was a girl who seemed to be a citizen within its grip.

「Why are you doing something like this!? Are you planning to lay your hand on the people of your own country even more than this!?」

Lux yelled in anger──but, in response Rosa sneered.

「I’m only punishing the traitors that are disturbing the country. Do you have any problems with iiit?」

「Just release the girl!」

「Thiis is why a kid who won’t listen is troubling. Even after accompanying me carelessly until this far, you still haven’t understand your own position──」

Rosa made a shuddering smile where malice and joy mixed into one.

「I’m the one giving orders here, and isn’t it you who should throw away your weapon? If you get it then come on. Quickly obey me. Or else──give up on this girl. That’s what you’ll do riiight? After all you will treasure yourself more.」

「Kuh……!」

「Lu-chan. Presences are gathering from the surroundings. Drag-Ride noises. A lot of them.」

「Oops, I forgot to say though. Naturally I’m gathering soldiers from the surroundings using Dragon Voice. There are still Drag-Knights that will also come if gathered from this city. Won’t you wait until you get completely surrounded?」

Rosa taking position in the central national plaza was in order to make Lux and Philuffy to consider the surrounding houses so they would hesitate to attack at full power.

In addition this location also possessed the space where Rosa would be able to use her own strength as she pleased with a lot of covers available for her.

And the clincher was her scheme of massing the reinforcement that she called to her.

「So even the Black Hero is only this much? I wonder why people are all so eager to act hypocritical. Nothing is more important than yourself, other people don’t matter at aall. Even though a human’s true nature is evil, everyone is living while hiding that. Even though in the end you are nothing more than birds of a feather with me, like how you are abandoning this girl──」

「Shut up! I, I’m just……」

Even while shaking from anger, Lux was gradually approaching Rosa bit by bit.

「──You ran out of time. Then I’ll execute this girl, sayonara.」

Rosa swung her scythe and slashed it down towards the girl.

Instantly, Lux’s Bahamut that was awaiting for the opportunity until now flashed red and attacked with explosive speed.

「Reload on Fire!」

「──!?」

He predicted Rosa’s movement and unleashed the Divine Raiment of compression and strengthening.

Usually he used it when the enemy was within the range in order to cut the opponent down instantly using Quick Shot. Now Lux purposefully activated it early in order to save the hostage.

At the same time he brandished his great sword and aimed at the armored arm of Rosa that was swinging up the Scythe.

The great sword where Lux focused all his energy into splendidly slashed Gorynych’s arm.

「Philuffy!」

He took the hostage while entrusting her to Philuffy at the same time.

In a flash, Lux cut Gorynych’s torso with a returning slash.

「Ku, Aah!?」

The barrier was torn and the armor smashed.

The fragments were scattered into the wind and rain, floating in the air in pieces.

Lux’s Blade splendidly dug into the armor and it was bisected together with Rosa’s scream.

「──Wha-!?」

But, Lux felt a strange feedback from the slash and a shudder ran through him.

Even though he slashed without the intent to kill, why──was the enemy destroyed so badly like this?

Right after his focus was absorbed into that puzzle for a moment, Rosa was already moving.

*Zakuri* The strange sound of flesh getting cut could be heard.

From the back of Philuffy who was watching for a chance far behind Lux in order to back him up, there was Rosa slashing with her Scythe.

────

The time was flowing slowly. Fresh blood was spurting high to the air from the back of his childhood friend.

The world stopped as though all color was erased from his sight.

「……Lu, chan」

Typhon’s armor was dispelled from Philuffy who had her back deeply slashed. She crumbled down.

「Philu, ffy……?」

Lux turned around and muttered in a daze.

For Philuffy who originally should be able to take a lot of punishment to collapse like that, it appeared that she was pierced from a spot at her back that wasn’t covered with armor. It was a lethal wound without a doubt.

Heiburg’s remaining battle force was already gathering at the surrounding.

The figure of the girl who was taken hostage by Rosa vanished. She was gone completely.

「Seee? The evil side is stronger right? Sin Phantom──the special armament that I have can produce illusions including my own body double. Have you forgotten it after so long I wonder?」

By putting the illusion of Rosa riding on the unmanned Twelve Vice, she could produce a body double.

No, the tactic of creating a clone of Rosa that couldn’t be seen through until it was destroyed.

Certainly he once got tricked by that at the skill exhibition battle previously.

And yet, there was a reason why Lux and Philuffy got so easily deceived.

Seeing the illusive hostage that was also made by Sin Phantom having blade pointed at it, it showed Lux a situation where he had to save the hostage in a hurry, lowering his guard.

And then, the Drag-Knights that were hiding within this rain and darkness while surrounding this plaza.

Philuffy was standing on guard against them in order to protect Lux from long range sniping. Rosa took her by surprise with her attention diverted like that.

It wasn’t that they were careless.

It was Rosa’s cunning trick that laid out multiple traps on top of each other ingeniously.

The result of the tactics that allowed every kind of evil surpassed Lux.

「──Surrender noow. I will let you all to stay alive for now. With this, the New Kingdom will be driven to the wall as a traitor within the alliance. I’ll release the Ragnarok from Babel and direct it towards the bunch that had gathered there.」

「Why, you……」

Expression vanished from the dumbfounded Lux.

His emotion was rapidly cooling down as though assimilating into the cold rain.

「Why are you──doing something like this? Why are you hurting innocent people? How can something like this be necessary──?」

Rosa loudly laughed in ridicule seeing his standing figure that was filled with hollowness.

「What a troubling child. After coming to spy on someone else’s country, now you are complaining when you failed? It became like this because you are tried to save another country’s people with a half-baked feeling. In the end, this is the most that the power of good can achieve.」

There was a throbbing pain inside his head.

The figure of Philuffy lying down on the stone paving of the plaza overlapped with the scene of that time.

With the scene in the underground laboratory of Ries Island──what was done to that girl there.

(……Was I, mistaken?)

His consciousness was in chaos.

When Philuffy was killed and he lost his self.

There the same scene was definitely replayed once more.

(It’s the same as that time? What am I thinking……? What am I saying? No, right now isn’t the time──)

Rosa spoke even more words as though to take advantage of Lux’s dazed state.

「Seee, you aren’t thinking of saving this country or anything. ‘I won’t abandon anyone even if they are an enemy’. That’s only you wanting to protect yourself so you can think you are a good person. Like that, you won’t be able to win against me who carried evil to the extreme. Now, let’s bring down the curtain. I’ll take care of the other three girls too after this. Aah, riiight──it’s also fine even if I turn that Abyss monster over there into a guinea pig riight? In order to effectively use the Elixir that I obtained……」

「────」

Guinea pig.

The instant Lux heard those words, the restraints inside himself came off.

A part of the memory that he didn’t remember was flowing in. He grasped Bahamut’s Sword Device tightly once more.

「Stop it already! Rosa!」

The silence was suddenly torn apart. A voice resounded through the central national plaza.

Looking there, a single girl slipped through the gap of the gathered Drag-Knights and approached.

Stefa Hersmice.

The blind girl who was a former military cadet who asked for Lux’s help.

Her existence who knew about Rosa and Calensia in the past was…….

「Ste, fa……? Wh, y」

The complexion of Rosa who held faith in absolute evil and committed tyranny changed slightly.

At that moment, the Drag-Knights of Heiburg’s military hurriedly caught Stefa’s hand.

「Remove the citizen! It’s fine even if you are a little rough!」

「Rosa! Please! You can hear me right!? Please, no more, something like this……」

Rosa stiffened at the desperate pleading of the girl.

But, she immediately wore back her former wicked expression and quickly lifted her hand and gave instruction.

「Remove her from here. Don’t let the citizen get in the way. Also, collect that New Kingdom girl too──」

「……I won’t let you.」

「……?」

Rosa reacted to the dark voice that slipped out from Lux’s mouth.

Almost at the same time, countless windows of light floated around Bahamut.

「Singlen’s tuning application──the Battle Array is it? Hoow foolish. You are still going to struggle in vain this late in the game? ……-!?」

She was about to sneer, but in the middle Rosa frowned in confusion.

The windows of light were gathering speed in repeatedly appearing and then immediately closing and vanishing.

Bahamut’s Sword Device was emitting intense light as though resonating with it, and finally it happened.

「This is── don’t tell me!」

「I won’t, hand over Philuffy to you all.」

Particles of light were gathering in high speed around Lux, forming a new supplemental armor.

「Over Limit – On」

Each frame split, back wings, both arms, both legs, head part, and then even the great sword were covered with solid plate and transfigured.

The variable frame turned pointed sharply, enlarged, and shifted into a fiendish shape.

「Wha──!?」

Lux skated in the air towards the Drag-Knights──the soldiers of Heiburg surrounding the area that numbered around fifty.

Transforming into an arrow that pierced through the air, he attacked in order to exterminate the enemies before him.