Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 4 Chapter 4 (section)

===Part 5===
 
——The symbolic duel began the moment the gong sounded
 
Akatsuki pushed off with both feet, and the very first step he advanced out was already increased to his maximum speed.
 
The side with more people absolutely had a big advantage in battle. However, where there is an excess amount, it will also become fatal.
 
The duel had just started, and the opponent had already taken the first action. The disconnected trio did not know what to do, this poor communication was undoubtedly the cause of confusion<!-- Changed from "communication" which was obviously wrong to "confusion" - could be something else -->. Seeing Akatsuki approaching at a lightning speed, but——
 
“——You hope for too much!”
 
Zechs immediately stepped forward. The distance between the two quickly shortened. In the center of the stage, a melee combat broke out. Akatsuki and Zechs’s showdown was the first time the two of them dueled each other.
 
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!”
 
“Oooooooooooooooooo!”
 
The moment when the screams from both of them surged through the air.
 
Clangggggggggg <ref name="clash"> ガキィィィィィィィソ clashing sound between the swords </ref>
 
The black demon sword and the crimson long sword clashed against each other, producing a sharp high pitched metallic sound.
 
Akatsuki and Zechs were facing each other, their respective breathing sounds could be heard.
 
“Heh……Perverted swordman, after obtaining the title of a general, looks like you did not lose your skills.”
 
“You’re not bad either, perverted hero.”
 
Using a flowing movement, Zechs’s crimson long sword swept through, but it was barely dodged by Akatsuki pushing off with both feet.
 
“Sorry, the opponent I’m looking for is not you.”
 
Seeing Akatsuki twist his body and dodge to this side, he suddenly threw Zechs to the back of his head<!-- This sounds wrong, but I don't know what it should be -->. Akatsuki’s target was only one, that is Queen Listy. This duel was one against three, but as long as he defeated Listy, it was equal to deciding the outcome.
 
The Queen’s defeat symbolizes the defeat of the country. Listy had already entered the magic chant stage, and had unfolded multiple heavily constructed magic circles in front of her. However, Akatsuki’s speed was beyond that, and as long as he continued to sprint forward, he could subdue Listy before the magic was activated.
 
“Akatsuki, I won’t let you go that easily.”
 
A beautiful elf stood in front of Akatsuki. This elf was none other than Loutier. She raised her long gun and aimed at Akatsuki, and pulled the trigger without hesitation. However, what came out from the muzzle was not bullets, but a blue and white light laser. Akatsuki immediately took a big step to the side, but Loutier had already anticipated Akatsuki’s action, and another wave of laser was headed towards Akatsuki.
 
“Chitsu<ref name="laser"> ちつ Laser shooting sound </ref>——”
 
Facing a barrage of lasers, Akatsuki could only try and avoid or use the black demon sword to block the beam, and approach Loutier from another direction.
 
Only to see Akatsuki swing his sword continuously at the ground in front of Loutier.
 
“——Ah?”
 
The rising dust obscured their sight. Loutier was slightly surprised. At this moment, Akatsuki had already jumped into the air, passed through Loutier and even passed through Listy.
 
At the moment he landed, Akatsuki immediately took action.
 
Listy had her back to Akatsuki, while Loutier was currently struggling with the dust. And to activate magic, Listy had to put her full attention into the chant. Everything was within Akatsuki’s expectation. Akatsuki approached Listy from the back without hesitation.
 
“Since there is a barrier, don’t blame me for being rude.”
 
After saying this, the black demon sword immediately and mercilessly slashed towards Listy. The blade barely entered Listy’s shoulder blade. However, Listy did not fall to the ground.
 
The moment Akatsuki found his chance to slash, the black demon sword’s offensive was blocked off.
 
By another crimson long sword.
 
“……Don’t underestimate us.”
 
Using a speed beyond Akatsuki and following him from behind, Zechs coldly spoke.
 
“Do you think that this type of children’s play will be able to defeat us?”
 
At this moment Listy also slowly turned around.
 
A cold expression that did not have the slightest warmth.
 
“……”
 
Listy silently stretched out her hands towards Akatsuki.
 
A red light relentlessly headed towards Akatsuki. This was the directional explosive flame magic Listy specialized in.
 
“Guaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh——!”
 
After the explosive bang, Akatsuki was thrown into the air. After twisting his body while he was in danger, he did land safely.
 
However, Akatsuki’s body was filled with an unbearable burning sensation. For safety reasons, this duel used a barrier that would turn all physical damage into mental damage, and the mode of how the mental damage showed up was a sense of pain. The difference was that the sense of pain was not on the body, but on the mind. In short, the damage did not communicate with the body, but directly affected the brain.
 
Actually, before the attack, Akatsuki had already used the power of Renkan Keikikou and activated a defense aura against magic.
 
The past Akatsuki had also used a similar method, against Onizuka Kenya and Uesaki Ryouhei’s fire magic.
 
“Fuuuu……It really is as amazing as before.”
 
Ousawa Akatsuki sighed then looked at the three past companions who he had fought together with.
 
“True peace, this kind of thing really isn’t obtained so easily.”
 
 
The battle restarted. Before Akatsuki was able to launch his second offensive, Loutier took action first.
 
Seeing her activating several magic circles, it should be that she took advantage of the break in order to chant.
 
At this moment, Listy, Zechs and Loutier’s bodies were enveloped in three colors of light.
 
……So it’s that move.
 
Akatsuki knew what the three colors of light represented. This was the magic Loutier specialized in—— A priest’s supportive magic that increases combat capabilities. The red light represents attack, the blue light represents defense and the green light represents mobility. This supportive magic had the same effect as Akatsuki using Renkan Keikikou and activating his body’s true ki to improve his physical abilities.
 
“……”
 
“……”
 
Zechs and Loutier advanced towards Akatsuki without speaking.
 
Zechs was holding a long sword, and Loutier had released a wind blade magic to turn her gun into a gunblade.
The duel entered a melee combat phase, both side were shortening the distance between them. Seeing that they only require half a step and they would have entered Akatsuki’s attack range, Zechs and Loutier suddenly vanished.
High speed movement. However, Akatsuki’s reaction was also very fast. Only to see his stature fall slightly and reversing the demon sword in order to protect his back, a large metal clashing sound suddenly came from the scene. After neutralizing Zechs and Loutier’s attack from behind, Akatsuki followed through and swung the sword, and successfully pushed both of them back.
 
“——Eat this!”
 
Akatsuki raised his sword and hacked at them twice. A shockwave was released towards the two of them. Zechs and Louter respectively used their weapons to negate the shockwave, but Akatsuki took advantage of this gap in order to rush forward.
 
His target was Zechs. The black demon sword that targeted the red hair swordman swept into a flurry. Akatsuki’s body movements were using a concept of a “circle”, plus each sword strike’s speed and strength did not follow any rules, making it difficult for others to perceive. When he was facing Phil Barnett, Akatsuki also used the same sword technique, making the other side suffer terribly.
 
Akatsuki wished for a quick battle and resolving Zechs as soon as possible. However, the sound of the demon sword infused with true ki sweeping through the air and a metallic sound produced after the weapons collided, was colliding against each other in midair at an alarming speed. That’s right, Zechs successfully blocked Akatsuki’s rain of sword strikes.
 
“The power was still as amazing as before. But……If this is your fastest speed, then it is more than enough to block your fierce strikes.”
 
Speaking at the same time, Zechs blocked Akatsuki’s slash once again.
 
“Continuous slashes that corner the opponent should be something like this!”
 
Zechs changed from defense to attack, and launched a series of counterattacks.
 
Under Zechs’s suppression, Akatsuki was forced to become defensive.
 
“Oooo……Damn…….!”
 
Zechs’s attacks were extremely swift. Akatsuki’s naked eye could not follow it, he could only rely on his intuition.
 
Seeing Zechs’s attacks become more and more swift, the flurry of sword images gradually produced afterimages.
 
“That fellow……W…Wait a minute, Woooooooooh!”
 
In a critical situation, Akatsuki hurriedly stepped backwards. Just at that moment, a laser light pierced the sky right in front of his eyes. Luckily Akatsuki’s reaction was quick, or else his brain would have burned two tiny holes. Looking carefully, it turned out that Loutier had decided to join the fray.
 
“That was close……”
 
Akatsuki could not help but feel relieved.
 
“——Is this the time to rest?”
 
Zechs’s slash flowed<!-- Changed from "flowered" which seems wrong, not sure about "flowed" --> through.
 
……If I block this sword, it is equal to giving a chance for Lulu to aim at me……Damn!
 
After observing the entire arena’s situation, Akatsuki immediately made a decision. He activated Renkan Keikikou and jumped into the air in one breath.
 
This jump was no trivial matter, it was at least ten meters high. However, in midair, Akatsuki could see carefully. Not so far away, Listy had already activated a magic circle. After confirming Listy had finished the chant, Akatsuki muttered to himself.
 
“This is bad……”
 
“——Come forth, Lightning of Punishment!”
 
From the air above the arena came a thunderous roar. Akatsuki did not even think and raised the demon sword and swung it towards the sky. A slash that infused all his strength suddenly split the fallen lightning into half, but things did not end here.
 
The split lightning was heading towards Zechs and Loutier on the ground.
 
“Ah ha, Take this!”
 
An offensive that gives them back a taste of their own medicine. However, Zechs and Loutier’s reaction was quite calm.
 
He saw Zechs catching the lightning with his sword, and allowing the sword blade to add the properties of lightning element.
 
Loutier raised her magic gun in her hand and absorbed the fallen lightning into the gun’s muzzle.
 
“Ahhhh……”
 
Seeing the two of them easily resolve the offensive of the falling lightning, Akatsuki, who was stranded in midair, scratched his cheeks. At this moment, Zechs and Loutier both pushed off. Their body soared into the sky and reached the same height as Akatsuki in one breath, then they simultaneously attacked. Akatsuki used the demon sword and kicks to counter the two offensives, and displayed an impressive midair battle.
 
“——“
 
At this moment, Loutier used Akatsuki’s pressure from his kick and subtly opened up a distance.
 
At the same time, the magic gun’s muzzle was aimed at Akatsuki, and released the previously absorbed lightning.
 
……I can’t avoid it!
 
Akatsuki could only release the demon sword in his hand, and use the demon sword as a lightning rod and escape from the immediate crisis.
 
However, Zechs’s crimson long sword also swept through the air at this instant.
 
“You actually threw away your weapon, what kind of idea are you thinking of!”
 
“That goes without saying right? This kind of idea!”
 
Just when he finished talking, Akatsuki slipped his palms together and abruptly clamped onto Zechs’s long sword.
 
“What——!”
 
Zechs was completely surprised. Without missing his chance, Akatsuki immediately raised his leg and kicked at the frozen Zechs, then he opened up his palms and aimed at the falling Zechs and Loutier, who attempted to rescue him.
 
“——Eat this!”
 
Both his palms produced ki bombs, and threw them at the two of them.
 
The air bomb successfully hit the targets, producing a large explosive sound and a dazzling flash. Amongst the smoke, Zechs and Loutier were both falling towards the ground, Akatsuki stretched out his right hand and firmly caught the falling demon sword.
 
“Renkan Keikikou isn’t only about manipulating the body’s true ki, you were too careless.”
 
Akatsuki looked at the falling Zechs and Loutier. His face revealed a proud smile.
 
At this moment, he noticed Listy had disappeared and subconsciously looked above.
 
Found her. Staying still in midair, Listy raised her magic staff and aimed at Akatsuki.
 
In front of the staff appeared several layers of magic circles.
 
“Did you think I can only use long-range attacks……?”
After a short pause ——
 
“——Akatsuki, you were too careless.”
 
After saying this, an enormous compressed air bomb was shot forth at an alarming speed.
 
“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh——“
 
The compressed air bomb released by Listy had surpassed the speed of sound barrier and pressed onto Akatsuki all the way to the ground.
 
The arena was suddenly enveloped by an earth-shattering explosion.