Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 8 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 5===
 
Listy Sherfied's body was enduring enormous vibrations.
 
The low heavy bass that shook the atmosphere.
 
It was the aftereffects caused by huge impacts -- from the battle that had unfolded before her eyes.
 
"......!"
 
Both of Listy's feet were firmly planted the ground as she stared at the space 100 meters away.
 
The two people fighting were Akatsuki and Kaidou.
 
The battle had already been going on for several minutes. The offense and defense of theirs had continued without any breaks.
 
"Evenly matched......"
 
Listy had muttered unable to conceal her surprise to that fact.
 
-- Akatsuki was currently fighting bare handed without materializing his black magic sword.
 
However, he was employing Renkan Keikikou therefore the presence or absence of a weapon was not a big problem.
 
Akatsuki's own body in itself was the greatest weapon, the sword attack was but one aspect -- so to speak, it was an extension of his physical attacks.
 
...... And in terms of movement empty handed was much faster......
 
Still, Kaidou was able to completely match his movements.
 
And from what Listy could tell she didn't think Akatsuki was holding back.
 
Every one of Akatsuki's punches or kicks had enough force to constitute a fatal blow. If Listy wasn't protected by a barrier her consciousness would of certainly went flying after a single attack.
 
...... But......
 
Against such attacks Kaidou continued to take them head on. He was using arms and legs to protect himself, while evading certain blows to allow himself a chance to strike back.
 
...... Who could have thought Kaidou was that strong......
 
What Listy understood about Kaidou Motoharu was only about as much as the young man's name.
 
She did know that the person in question would half jokingly call himself Akatsuki's best friend, but Listy personally never had a conversation with him.
 
-- And of course that Kaidou was considerably powerful.
 
When he visited Alayzard together with Akatsuki, from the initial peace negotiations to until the end of the war, Kaidou had taken on many important roles from the shadows.
 
At the time when Akatsuki was away from Forestnium partaking in the peace negotiations Kaidou repulsed the almost invulnerable dead soldiers Leon had created, minimizing the damage to the village. Moreover, at the decisive battle in Gorudono Grand Canyon Kaidou had defeated the general of Kingdom of Sherfied Zechs.
 
...... Then there was that pressure she had felt at that time......
 
Listy Sherfied was reminded of the scene.
 
Upon Akatsuki receiving a fatal wound during the battle Kaidou had released a frightening amount murderous intent over herself and the others at the scene.
 
"--------"
 
There was no way she could be mistaken. That was clearly more overwhelming than the aura Phil Barnett released with the evil dragon Zahhak harboring inside his body at the time he left to apprehend Miu -- it might of even been more powerful than the one Akatsuki had shown on the battlefield.
 
"Kaidou Motoharu......"
 
While watching Akatsuki and Kaidou attack each other on numerous occasions Listy had come to a deeper understanding.
 
The Kaidou standing in Akatsuki and her own way right now was a formidable enemy, and equally matched with Akatsuki. Then,
 
"-- Listy!"
 
Soon after her name was call out, two girls had arrived to the scene. Across the back of the sprinting lion golem was Doumoto Kuzuha and Izumi Chikage.
 
"Ho, you guys......!"
 
The arrival of two reliable friends seemed to have lift Listy's spirit, her face revealed an overjoyed look.
 
"Why are you just quietly watching? We need to hurry --"
 
Chikage's voice held some reproach as she jumped off the lion's back to look up to see Akatsuki and Kaidou. For Chikage it was a natural question to ask.
 
-- It was already decided that everyone will live with and walk down the same path together with Akatsuki.
 
Therefore even if she didn't know the reason why Akatsuki was fighting Kaidou, exactly what to do next was clear.
 
Kaidou had fought side by side with everyone, but if he intended to stand in their way while they're trying to save Miu -- Kaidou was an enemy to be taken down.
 
And so......
 
"I'm sorry, Akatsuki. I know you don't like others to infer with your fight, but --"
 
As soon as she say so, Chikage materialized a long bow from her AD.
 
She had completely drawn back the bowstring, and after had created a magic arrow.
 
However,
 
"-- Wait Chikage!"
 
Listy had called out to stop her.
 
"Did Ousawa-kun ask you not to infer?"
 
"No, it's not like that."
 
Faced with Kuzuha's question Listy shook her head. She felt the same way as Chikage and Kuzuha. She didn't care if Akatsuki would have been displeased if she intervened in his one on one fight, and in her heart she was anxious to lend a helping hand. And rescuing Miu as soon as possible was the top priority.
 
So, it was not a good idea to waste anymore time dealing with Kaidou here.
 
But......
 
"...... Watch carefully."
 
Listy stretched out her right hand, and at the same time unfolded a magic formation releasing a fireball. It flew towards Akatsuki and Kaidou -- but about 10 meters away it suddenly disappeared.
 
"How...... how is that possible?"
 
Chikage clearly saw the mass of fire seemly vanish before it crashed into anything.
 
"A protective wall -- No, a barrier......?"
 
Stunned she had spoke out, while she lowered her bow that had been poised. It seemed that the power of the fireball Listy released was equivalent the magic arrow Chikage was about to shoot. After what she witnessed, Kuzuha abruptly narrowed her eyes,
 
"More than that, the way the fireball was repelled...... was close to an absolute barriers of a higher life form."
 
"That was his doing."
 
Listy turned her eyes towards Kaidou.
 
"He and Akatsuki are fighting on the other side of this barrier. I tried to activate magic directly behind the barrier, also to no avail... ... Perhaps he set up that barrier to block any magic from the outside."
 
"Have you tried physical attacks?"
 
"Of course, but the result was still the same... ... This barrier is stronger than we can imagine."
 
Listy had reported with a bitter tone. She already tried to support him many times. But still, with all her efforts she was unable to get past the barrier that Kaidou created.
 
In addition,
 
"That's not all. That barrier besides being around those two stretches out ahead."
 
Listy looked in the direction of the tower of Babel.
 
Following her eyes Chikage sighed,
 
"In other words, we are completely stuck here."
 
"Yeah. Unless he is defeated, we simply can't advance......"
 
So, Listy turned her eyes straight ahead, and with confidence in her gaze she said,
 
"It is now up to Akatsuki...... and only he can do it."
 
Then the fight unfolding before Listy and the others eyes had suddenly changed.
 
"That......"
 
Chikage briefly leaked her surprise which was clearly heard by Listy.
 
Akatsuki and Kaidou's speed was elevated to another dimension.