Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 4 Episode 5 (section)

===Part 6===

Lux was inside the darkness.

His surrounding was covered with countless dark red branches. His Drag-Ride was slowly constricted to smash it.

Yggdrasil was already surpassing the full power of Bahamut.

A sudden fatigue assaulted his whole body, it felt like his blood had become like mud.

Cold despair was invading Lux’s thought and heart.

In order to oppose the fate that was the Old Empire’s rule and accomplish his duty as a prince, he fought desperately.

(Even so, was it impossible no matter how much I did my best……. From the start I──)

『Someone who wasn’t loved by anyone, will try to be loved by anyone.』

It was true.

He had no power or position to move the country.

He knew that he couldn’t do anything, even so he wished to protect what was important to him and he began to fight that day.

The girl who he wanted to protect even at the cost of his life was snatched from him, the country that he tried to change followed the path of ruin.

Even though it would be fine as long as his important people were safe even if he had to use up his life.

(……I, couldn’t save anything)

Lux thought that something like the Black Hero was just a terrible irony.

He was merely scared.

He was scared that he would lose his important people, he was also scared that the people would turn into his enemies.

He feared, and feared.

He tried to fight that mighty empire.

He tried to accomplish his duty as a prince.

He was putting in so much effort that his body might break apart.

All of those, he was fighting only for the sake of continuing to run away from the malice haunting his heart.

It was just as she, Hayes said, surely──

「──That’s, not it.」

「-……!?」

Inside his fading consciousness, he could hear a girl’s voice.

「Don’t decide, about Lu-chan, when you don’t know anything.」

It was a familiar voice. From a glance that voice sounded indifferent, however it was a straightforward voice, with strong will in it.

Inside the sleepiness where he didn’t understand if he was even awake or living.

From the gaps of the branches enveloping him, he could see the girl’s figure.

She had only just woken up, her breathing was also feeble, even so Philuffy gazed at Hayes at the opposite side and stood up.

「Because, I know. Even though Lu-chan is hurt, he tried to change this country. I know that. Even now he wants to know the feelings of everyone in the country, so he did many odd jobs. I also know that.」

And then, she continued to speak as though to talk to Lux inside the darkness.

「I know everything, that’s why fight. Not for anyone else. But for the sake, of the wish Lu-chan desires──」

 

「────」

 

Instantly Lux was liberated from the sleepiness and he tightly gripped Bahamut’s controller.

At the same time a dragon voice from Lisha’s Chimeratech Wyrm was sent to him.

『Lux! Can you hear me!? I sent you the procedure to release the Drag-Ride’s limit! Use it! The Over Limit!』

Instantly Lux’s consciousness was detached from the real world and blacked out.

It was a world that enumerated strange numbers and letters where there were only him and his Drag-Ride in existence.

A scenery that Lux should have never seen before was occupying his field of vision.

──No, that’s not it.

The release code that Lisha sent to him.

He certainly remembered, that release method.

His thought ran off by its own and overtook his self from the past up to the present.

If he remembered right, this was──

『Lux! What’s wrong!? That’s, what in the world──』

When he woke up in response to Lisha’s yell, lights were floating at Bahamut’s surroundings.

All the codes for the safety measures and output restrictions emerged and warning signals were displayed one after another.

Originally, the utmost concentration in addition to training for the sake of remembering the complicated procedure was needed to run the release code.

It was now unfolding with abnormal speed which surpassed the time when Lisha was doing it before.

He had already seen several times the release procedure where this should be his first time doing it.

Before La Cruche used the procedure of full release that ignored the burden limit because the user Drag-Knight was a puppet. Now Lux carried out the steps of that same procedure at high speed.

The mechanism of ability restriction that was used to protect the Drag-Knight, he released them all until the last one without leaving a single one.

「This is, what I showed just now. The procedure of maximum release of Over Limit──. Don’t tell me, you remembered that!? From in the middle of the battle just now!?」

While La Cruche raised a shocked voice, even more letters and graphics made of light were unfolding.

They increased in number with accelerating speed, and the moment all the enumeration vanished, the suspended Bahamut activated.

「Impossible──!? How can, this guy……!」

Hayes’s expression twitched and her eyes snapped wide open.

That instant, light flashed and along with it, the branches covering Lux burst out and a transformation started.

「──Over Limit – On」

Right after Lux whispered, light particles gathered in the surrounding at high speed, and additional summons was executed on the armor that was emitting an ominous luster.

In the blink of an eye, new pair of wings and various parts connected and the shape of the huge dragon changed.

Both arms were attached with cartridge that was for high output flying mechanism and increasing the offense of the blade.

The dragon figure that expressed majesty uncovered its tyrannical true nature and accomplished a transformation into a fiendish form that was specialized for offense.

「This is, Bahamut’s……Over Limit.」

The moment everyone there including Lisha held their breath, red light burst up from under Bahamut’s legs.

 

「OOOOOoOOOOOOOOOoooooOOOOO」

 

Yggdrasil roared as though responding to the appearance of a formidable enemy and attacked.

「Lux-kun! Be careful──」

Krulcifer yelled when she saw the dark red tentacle branches stretching out in countless number.

The great number of branches that had regenerated many times──were strengthened and endowed with steel-like endurance.

However,

[[File:Saijaku 018.jpg|thumb|right]]

*ZAGUU-……!*

A jet black slash line that split the space vertically instantly severed all those.

It was a single strike that didn’t even use the Divine Raiment Reload on Fire or the hidden technique of Drag-Ride control.

Despite that, it could be confirmed from what just happened that the attack was endowed with both heaviness and speed that was incomparable from before.

「……What the?」

Hayes reflexively frowned seeing that hard to believe sight, it was then──

「──Prepare yourself, Hayes.」

Lux who was wearing the awakened state of Bahamut proclaimed quietly.

「I won’t, forgive you.」

It wasn’t a threat or even recommendation to surrender.

Those eyes that were clad in bottomless coldness were directed to her.

「……Fu」

Hayes almost flinched from that chilly pressure that was completely different from the usual Lux, but,

「──Just try it! You lowly false prince!」

Her expression immediately turned furious and she tightly grasped the gem inside her hand.

Due to its special characteristic of protecting the master that blew the horn, Yggdrasil’s branches that were covering Hayes to protect her increased further, forming a solid protective wall.

At the same time Bahamut was clad in flickering light that looked like flames and flew.

「ooOOooOOOOooOOOoOOOOOO……!」

Yggdrasil roared with the appearance of a formidable enemy and met the huge dragon.

It created sharp spear tips with its branches to skewer the enemy.

It created branches with hammer-like tips to crush the enemy.

It opened its branches up and down like a beast’s jaw and sent it forward to bite the enemy dead.

Devilish branches were sent forth, covering the whole field of vision.

The jet black streak ran every which way, dodging and cutting everything.

Finally Yggdrasil’s main body, the trunk that had skull pattern on its surface had countless wounds carved on it.

The full strength of Yggdrasil that had grown until it surpassed even a Divine Drag-Ride was being completely excelled by Lux and Bahamut.

「What power……. Perhaps, if it’s with this──」

Celis was looking for an opening while whispering towards that terrifying offense and defense that was beyond human understanding.

The great number of Yggdrasil’s branches were rapidly diminishing and at this rate it seemed possible to overcome the Ragnarok.

But──

「……!?」

*BASHIIN!*

The giant flesh tree that had its branches severed and its trunk pierced many times was starting to react gradually.

Although it still couldn’t land a direct hit at Bahamut, but it was starting to follow Bahamut’s movement, what’s more it was even scraping off Bahamut’s reinforced barrier.

「Fuh, fufufu……what’s the matter false prince? You are finished getting cocky already!?」

「Is it impossible even with that Bahamut……」

Every aspect of Yggdrasil was starting to surpass Bahamut as though to make Lisha’s words a reality.

「I told you already that you cannot win against this guy! Even if you use the awakened state of a Drag-Ride, its power would be several times the normal Drag-Ride at best. It doesn’t have the power to finish with one blow my Yggdrasil──the monster that has eaten several hundred Abyss. Thanks a lot false prince. For making my Yggdrasil──into the strongest.」

Hayes’s loud laughter resounded in the area.

「This is, already……!」

Everyone, including Tillfur was starting to let out an air of pessimism.

Even the power of Bahamut that used Over Limit was being overwhelmed in attack speed.

They were already unable to even make a dent on the enemy no matter how hard they struggled with the battle strength they currently had in hand.

Something like a method to defeat the Ragnarok before them, it existed ──nowhere.

While everyone present lost their voice in despair, only Lux kept focusing on the enemy before his eyes without even a single twitch in his eyebrow.

「Now! Get smashed into pieces and fall! You weakest ruined prince!」

Yggdrasil’s trunk creaked at the same time with Hayes’s bellow and the skull at the center opened its mouth gaping wide.

Silver horn grew from inside its mouth.

The greatest attack lengthening out with high speed was about to pierce Lux’s Bahamut, it was at that moment that fierce red light rose up like flame pillars from that jet black armor.

「Reload on Fire.」

「Dumbass! Don’t you get it that it’s pointless!? It’s useless no matter how strong you try to become! With your strength, defeating this Ragnarok is absolutely──impossible!」

The moment the two sides crossed, Lux whispered with a cool-headed glint reflected in his eyes.

「Hayes, you said, just try it right?」

Yggdrasil’s horn──the tip that was generating shockwave hit Lux’s large sword.

Impact that was incomparable with everything from before burst out and Lux’s body should be blown away──but.

 

*BIKIiiiII-!*

 

The thrusting horn instantly snapped, then immediately after, cracks ran through Yggdrasil’s whole body.

「……Wha-!?」

Hayes raised a bewildered voice, at the same time Lux swung his large sword through.

「I absolutely──won’t hand Philuffy to you. No matter how weak I am, never again.」

The created cracks increased in size and number with accelerating speed and the trunk was smashed up into pieces.

The giant flesh tree Ragnarok──Yggdrasil crumbled.

「──Ho, how!? How, is my Yggdrasil……!?」

Hayes who lost the barrier of branch protecting herself whispered dumbfoundedly.

「That guy’s life force should still be all right! It doesn’t matter even if the opponent is a Divine Drag-Ride that is using Over Limit, it shouldn’t pose any problem at all! My plan should be perfect! And yet──!?」

Lux was standing in front of the yelling Hayes who couldn’t hide her shaken mind and he pointed his sword at her.

「Don’t move, Hayes.」

「……!?」

Hayes stiffened from receiving Lux’s cold gaze that was lacking in emotion.

Hayes gritted her teeth hard, even so she showed a fearless smile and her hand was about to grasp the gem in her hand even tighter, it was then.

*zashu-!*

「Gu, aGAAAaH……!」

Lux’s sword quickly moved and destroyed the horn flute’s gem inside that hand.

「You, bastard-……!」

Hayes whose right hand was slashed glared at Lux with hatred-filled eyes. It was at that timing──

「We are retreating, your highness.」(TN: In the raw, it’s your highness the imperial princess. It’s too long so I shortened it)

That moment, a calm voice came down inside the dome.

The ceiling of the dome where the destroyed Yggdrasil was at.

From there two people, a male and a female came down and stood in the way of Lux and the others.

「Fugil……!」

「Uh oh, I don’t have any intention to quarrel with you. Your body is already at its limit anyway. If you force yourself more than that, you’re going to die for real you know?」

Fugil also took out his Sword Device and took a stance as though to hold back Lux who was readying his Blade.

The strange scene from when Lux met Fugil before was brought back in Lux’s mind.

「Wait Fugil! It’s still not over yet! My subordinates are standing by nearby! This time for sure──」

「It’s pointless, Hayes.」

Fugil returned a fearless smile towards Hayes whose face contorted in rage.

「You cannot defeat him. It looks like you didn’t even notice why that guy intentionally strengthened Yggdrasil huh──」

「Wh, at……!?」

Hayes’s expression twitched hearing Fugil’s words and she raised a stifled voice.

「A Ragnarok that devoured more than a hundred Abyss’ life cannot be defeated by a Drag-Knight’s strength no matter who. ──That’s why that guy made use of the ability and attack of none other than the Ragnarok itself, using that sword technique to receive the enemy’s attack and reflect it back.」

「…………」

The special move that seized the starting point of an enemy’s attack, and then countered by returning back that attack strength as it was──Critical Hit.

Lux held back from using that technique in this battle so that Yggdrasil wouldn’t adapt against it, his last technique.

「Bu, but, even if he reflected Yggdrasil’s attack back to itself, there was no way it could get done in just by──!」

「You’re right. But, it’s a different story if that Yggdrasil’s attack power was magnified until nearly a hundred fold. He used Bahamut’s Divine Raiment that was extremely reinforced by using Over Limit see.」

Yes──

That was Lux’s aim.

Even the performance of Reload on Fire that was a Divine Raiment of compression reinforcement, because of Over Limit, it was strengthened to the degree that it was able to amplify an attack’s original might until nearly a hundred times.

The attack power of the Ragnarok that Lux raised up until now, and even the Over Limit at the end, everything was the groundwork for this.

For the sake of destroying the strongest Abyss that no one could win against using its own strength──

「So you see Hayes, it’s impossible. No matter what, something like a person who doesn’t fear an enemy that is getting stronger endlessly──something like a person who doesn’t hold any fear whatsoever in planning to actually make use of that strength to strike back at such enemy, there is no way such person exist. Except this terrifying weakest enemy in front of you.」

「…………」

Fugil averted his gaze from the speechless Hayes and gazed at Lux.

「You win the gamble. You saw through Hayes’s trap, and yet you dared pretending getting caught in the trap, and chose the path to defeat the Ragnarok.」

For Hayes to not bring any minion while Philuffy was near meant that there was high likelihood that the main body of the parasite, Yggdrasil was also on this island.

If Hayes’s objective was to enter the deepest room of the Ruin, then if a battle occurred── the probability was high that Yggdarsil would come to clash against Lux and the others.

In other words──the flow until this point where it looked like they got caught in Hayes’s trap was Lux’s plan to defeat Yggdrasil and save Philuffy.

Fugil saw through that.

「Now then, it’s regretful, but we have to retreat soon. My bad, but we, too, have things to do.」

「Well then, please excuse us, everyone.」

The maid beside Fugil bowed, took Hayes in her arms, and then floated using an EX Wyvern along with Fugil.

Her emotionless eyes slightly reflected Krulcifer who was inside the room.

「…………」

Krulcifer also sent her gaze toward the female who was dressed as a maid.

But, a few seconds later, the maid flew away as though nothing had happened and vanished from the hole overhead.

「…………」

 

No one could chase because of their wounds.

Lux too lost consciousness after seeing them vanish.