Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 6 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 4===

"I'll drive fast so please secure your seat belts, okay?"

Starting up the van was the same middle-aged woman who had looked after us as the driver taking us to the amusement park.

Ren and I had met up with Iris, Mitsuki, Lisa, Firill, Ariella, Tia and Shinomiya-sensei at the entrance. The nine of us put on our seat belts as instructed and looked at one another with tense expressions.

Perhaps because it was just before bedtime, Lisa and Firill had wet hair. They probably happened to be in the bath and had to get ready in a rush.

"Shinomiya-sensei, developments have gone beyond prediction. What do we do next?"

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Mitsuki asked Shinomiya-sensei.

"Until we gather detailed information, we will escape east to distance ourselves from Yggdrasil. Once we ascertain the range of interference and rate of expansion with an accurate warning perimeter, we will switch to offense."

Shinomiya-sensei answered while operating the laptop on her lap. Perhaps she was in the middle of collecting information sent by Asgard and NIFL.

"True... We would be out of options if the tree branches extended without limit. Consequently, we must destroy Yggdrasil's extended branches from out of range, to push back the interference zone."

Lisa nodded and looked out the window.

It was currently 10pm and all dark outside. Amidst the dark scenery, outdoor lighting and the lights from windows flashed past instantly.

The electrical interference had evidently not reached this area but as soon as we entered the highway that ran along the shore, a massive congestion could be seen in the westbound lanes. Most likely, cars became stalled as soon as they entered the interference zone."

Although the eastbound lanes were busy too, the flow of traffic was moving at least.

"Pushing back the interference range... Then what? Maintain the status quo? Or... execute the attack plan?"

Firill asked about our future direction. Ariella responded:

"By this point, we have to go through with the plan, right? I think we need to destroy the enlarged Yggdrasil even if we cannot defeat it completely."

Mitsuki nodded in agreement with Ariella. Sweeping her gaze across everyone, she said:

"I agree. We will approach as much as possible to attack Yggdrasil's main body. Then after that, Nii-san will scatter Ether Wind if possible then attempt to destroy Yggdrasil's mind using the anti-dragon armament."

"—Understood."

Undeniably, we lacked preparation but our only choice was to do everything in our power.

Just as I made this decision, I felt a slight feeling of numbness across my left arm.

'—Neun.'

Yggdrasil's emotionless voice sounded in my mind. Surprised, I looked out the window immediately. The van had reached a gentle curving part of the highway which offered a clear view of Tokyo's night scenery.

Those countless electrical lights were gradually disappearing.

As though sliced off, the lights started to disappear gradually from the west side.

"Yggdrasil's territory seems to be approaching the heart of Tokyo. It feels as if... the city is gradually dying."

Lisa stared at the city that was slowly losing its lights and commented.

But I did not have the luxury of wallowing in sadness. To prevent my left arm from moving on its own as before, I held down my left arm firmly with my right hand.

I had a feeling that the principal's power of dominance was starting to be balanced out by Yggdrasil's interference.

"Onii-chan, are you okay?"

Ren asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm currently fine."

I replied quietly not to let others hear.

Perhaps "currently" made her realize my situation. Ren made a serious face and touched my left arm.

"If possible... No, we absolutely must defeat Yggdrasil."

"Yeah, but I don't know if the transfer of dark matter will go smoothly..."

Since I still could not control all of Ren's dark matter, it was unconfirmed whether I was able to scatter enough Ether Wind.

"Don't worry about that."

However, Ren asserted in a voice filled with conviction.

"I already hate Father. Given now, I'll be able to think of you more strongly. My dark matter will definitely not reject you, Onii-chan."

"...Got it. I trust you."

"Mm."

Ren nodded at me.

I suddenly felt an intense gaze. Tracing it, I met eyes with Tia.

"...!"

Tia moved her lips and seemed to have something to say, but ended up saying nothing, bowing her head.

"Tia-chan, do you have something to tell Mononobe?"

Iris noticed Tia's situation and asked her gently.

"—Nothing much."

Tia shook her head and denied, but her voice was filled with heavy worry.

"Tia, I hope you'll tell me if you're worried about anything. It's very dangerous to enter a battlefield with doubts."

Worried about Tia, I said that to her but she silently shook her head.

Just as I was thinking I was finally friends with Ren, it became Tia's turn to become like Ren's former state. What should I do? I could not help but scratch my head.

In the end, without finding out what was troubling Tia, we made preparations to begin the operation.

Shinomiya-sensei made a call somewhere while operating her laptop. She ended the call and announced to us:

"I have asked NIFL to transmit their spy satellite's data to us, allowing us to monitor the electromagnetic wave anomaly zone surrounding Yggdrasil in real time—in other words, the range of its electrical interference. According to surveillance, the interference zone's expansion has greatly decelerated, currently moving at 30 km/h. Having pulled away sufficiently, this is the end of our escape."

After saying that, Shinomiya-sensei asked the driver to park the van somewhere nearby.

The driver replied affirmatively and steered into a parking area that happened to be within sight.

"Asgard and the Japanese government have reached an emergency agreement to obtain a permit for special measures against a dragon disaster. Thus, the paperwork is done for Ds to engage in combat. However, attacks causing casualties in residents or damage to cities are strictly forbidden."

While Shinomiya-sensei continued to speak, the van stopped in the parking area.

We got off the van and looked up at the night sky where Yggdrasil's branches were probably approaching.

"Since the sky is very dark, the branches can't be seen..."

Iris spoke uneasily. Lisa also looked out at the scenery visible from the highway and nodded.

"Perhaps that's part of its calculations. We've completely lost our bearing on where Yggdrasil's main body is, which was visible faintly during the daytime."

"...It's quite far from here to Yggdrasil. Or rather, I should say that simply approaching it will take a lot of time."

Firill spoke gloomily.

"Sniping distances will decrease during nighttime. Should we wait until dawn before attacking the main body?"

Mitsuki nodded in agreement with Ariella's suggestion.

"Yes. We will attack the branches from a safe distance while advancing towards Yggdrasil at the same time. Then we attack the main body in full force when dawn breaks. How about this for a plan?"

Mitsuki sought Shinomiya-sensei's opinion.

"It would be a wise course of action, but that would result in quite a protracted battle. We will rotate in teams to rest while advancing. Mononobe Mitsuki and Firill Crest will be Team 1. Ariella Lu and Ren Miyazawa<!--katakana in western order--> will be Team 2. Lisa Highwalker and Tia Lightning will be Team 3. Without flying skills, Mononobe Yuu and Iris Freyja will stay on standby. Since your roles will be key during the assault on the main body, get fully rested while you have the chance now."

Iris and I nodded in response to Shinomiya-sensei.

"Yes, I got it."

"Understood!"

Then Shinomiya-sensei continued to issue orders.

"Each team should follow this division of roles. One person will generate lighting while the other attacks the branches by targeting visually. To prevent debris from falling on urban areas, I hope you will avoid using crushing and slashing attacks. Incineration or annihilation techniques will be the safest bet. If any debris falls, the one in charge of lighting should immediately provide cover."

"—Yes ma'am!"

Mitsuki and the girls answered in unison.

"Then the operation will immediately begin with Team 1. Put on your communicators and fly directly above the van. Eliminate all branches within visible range.  From here, I will stay current on Yggdrasil's interference range in relation to your positions. Do not act on your own under any circumstances."

"Understood."

Mitsuki and Firill nodded affirmatively and put on their communicators.

"Brionac!"

"Necronomicon!"

Showing slight nervousness, they generated their fictional armaments. Even though this was a safe zone, it was impossible not to feel worried.

Having confirmed there were no anomalies with the generated fictional armaments, they exhaled in relief.

Then the two girls enveloped themselves in wind and flew to the sky.

Before long, bright light appeared in the air. It was the illuminating flare produced by either Mitsuki or Firill.

The light temporarily swept away the darkness of the night, causing Yggdrasil's branches approaching from the western sky to appear. Branching shadows resembling capillaries covered the entire sky.

However, a large part of the branches was blown away in an explosion exceeding the brightness of the flare. This was most likely an attack from Mitsuki's antimatter.

"Excellent, there is a minor change in the electromagnetic wave anomaly zone. The attack is effective. Stay where you are and continue attacking. I will contact you if there is a need to move. You two, stay directly above the vehicle at all times and don't lose us."

Staring at her computer screen, Shinomiya-sensei issued commands to Mitsuki and Firill through the communicator.

Then she turned her gaze to us.

"We will move the van while they push back Yggdrasil's interference range. Teams will rotate once every hour. This is an overnight operation, so please nap as much as possible in the van during breaks."

After receiving these orders, we boarded the large van again. Shinomiya-sensei sat down on the front passenger seat and gave detailed instructions to the driver.

"Let's sleep first as instructed."

"Yeah."

Ariella nodded in agreement with Lisa and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight."

"Mm."

Leaning against the seats, Iris and Ren started to nap.

I closed my eyes like everyone else but I did not think I could sleep.

'—Neun... Neun...'

Ever since the unusual feeling in my left arm just now, I kept hearing Yggdrasil's voice faintly.

Why was Yggdrasil so obsessed with me?

Also, what did Neun, this word meaning nine or ninth, refer to? Come to think of it, I did not know either why it chose me to make a deal.

If it was providing weapons data to exterminate the other dragons, then rather than choosing me, it would be better to pick one of the many girls with far higher dark matter generating capacities.

If possible, I wanted to ask Yggdrasil directly but calling to it on my own would be very risky. Perhaps it might seize the opening to invade my consciousness all at once.

I must not lower my guard tonight. Just wait for my chance to enter the stage.

I had experience with overnight operations back in NIFL and could maintain efficiency if it was just two whole days without sleeping. Hence, I set my approach and decided to rest only my body.

Opening my eyes, I met Tia's gaze again.

"G-Goodnight."

Tia frantically looked away and closed her eyes.

What on earth had Kili told Tia at the amusement park yesterday? That was still a mystery.

With many worries remaining, our long battle against Yggdrasil began.