Editing Sorcery Hacker:Volume3 Phase03 (section)

===Part 6===

“Yikes.”

Someone trembled silently within all the intense fighting.

It was Sibell Wildcat, the short-sleeved gym clothes girl with a bestial air to her. Whether she used long-range sniping or close-range knife fighting, she needed to hide behind cover or in a blind spot to use her assassin skills.

''So she was hiding behind the large boy.

Just as Gark tried to tackle their opponent with his twin shields, Sibell threw a poison dart from a blind spot.

(Are you serious? Stopping that with the bottom of your grip isn’t human. Ayato Criminaltrophy supposedly can’t fight ordinary sorcery battles with a sorcery gun, but ''is that really true''? If he isn’t magically boosting his muscles and nerves, then how the hell did he react like that!? That isn’t how a Sorcery Hacker fights. Don’t tell me…has that bastard gone back to his devil days!?)

“Ohhhh!!”

With a roar that would put a steam engine to shame, Gark Bryan charged straight in with his shields out in front. A tackle like that could break through a castle’s gate and the brutal edge was a heavy weapon that could tear down a castle’s wall if thrown.

It was simple but effective.

Ayato tried to stab his Linkage Plug sword in, but he was instead lifted from the ground with a dull thud. Then Gark pulled the pin from a grenade with his mouth and threw the grenade out past his shields.

A grenade was a single-use sorcery gun that had its limiters removed so the magic sealed inside would explosively expand, destroying the gun in the process.

By angling the shields in a V-shape, he could direct the blast. If concave, the blast would focus down on a single point, piercing through the enemy’s armor. If convex, the shockwave would fan out to hit an entire group of enemies at once.

The strongest defender endured his own Primary Blaze blast with his shields and then broke through the wall of flames for another ultra-heavyweight tackle.

Normally, this simple series of actions would wallop, tear apart, and crush any opponent.

''However.

“What!?”

The shocked exclamation came from Gark during his charge.

It was Ayato Criminaltrophy who tore through the flames, appearing right in front of Gark. The courage to approach head on was impressive, but how had he done it? Ayato hadn’t had any way of escaping the grenade blast. It was too powerful to survive without any kind of protection and there were no wooden boxes, hunks of metal, or other cover on the roof. Anything short of Gark’s own shields could not deflect the engulfing flames.

Yet Ayato was very much alive.

The experienced Bouncer saw through the puzzling phenomenon.

“''Did you hack the grenade''!?”

Even if it was single-use, it was still a sorcery gun. And if it was a sorcery gun, it was a sorcery device. That meant it could be hacked if Ayato got his Linkage Plug in it. Then he could rearrange the magic inside before it detonated. He could even control the blast to leave a safe zone, like a missing slice of pizza.

(But.)

“That doesn’t mean you’ve conquered my shields!!”

Gark gathered strength in his legs again and moved to slam his thick shields into his target. At full speed, Grapple Shields could open a giant hole in the side of a warship protected by mana-conducting silver chloride armor.

But he did not feel it land.

Gark Bryan’s weight found only empty air, like he had charged into a cloud of mist.

(!? He didn’t just reduce the power.)

“An illusion. Did you adjust the grenade’s magic to create a mirage from the flames!? ''The flames and yourself charging through them were both an illusion.'' You hacked in and rewrote all that in such a short time!?”

It was too late.

Even the great Grapple Shields was defenseless if he directed his shields the wrong way.

Ayato silently approached the large boy’s back while he was leaned forward for his tackle. He moved as casually as if he were patting Gark on the shoulder, but the large boy’s entire body shook from that slight contact.

Then he crumpled to the rooftop.

Gark Bryan’s back had been pierced by ''a poison dart so small you would have to wrinkle your brow and stare intently to find it.''

“My dart!?” shouted the gym clothes girl, eyes wide.

She was right next to Gark because she had been using his large body and shields to hide her much smaller form.

Ayato glared at her with his Linkage Plug sword dangling from one hand.

His eyes carried a look even more fearsome than a beast’s.

Without Gark’s shields and body to hide behind and while squarely in her target’s field of vision, Sibell Wildcat could not make use of her assassin skills.

“Eek!”

Two people moved in from either side to block the predator’s gaze.

The two were President Umihiko Darkavenue and Vice President Surace Bran Zorca Totalinus.

“Sibell, you can use us as your next cover.”

“O-okay.”

“Now, Ayato.”

The President was smiling.

Smiling cruelly behind his intellectual glasses.

“That was some impressive movement, ''but you’re pushing yourself too hard, aren’t you''?”

“…”

Ayato gained nothing by letting it show on his face.

Sorcery hacking did nothing to boost his physical body. He was only forcing his unboosted body to use the techniques of his Forward days, but that was the same as a retired athlete forcing their body to go through their old moves.

“Heavyweight athletes and figure skaters both train their bodies, but they develop muscles in fundamentally different ways. There is no one-size-fits-all way to train your body or mind, which is why the Academy Towers divides its personnel into clubs and committees so we can grow in a way specialized for their greatest strengths. Everyone has their area of expertise and we ensure they can always provide the greatest results while remaining generally flexible.”

Umihiko aimed the tip of his scythe.

That scythe was the ultimate Sorcery Hacker’s Linkage Plug.

“In that sense, Ayato, these superhuman actions of yours might as well be suicide. You cannot be a sorcery-gun-wielding Forward and a Linkage-Plug-wielding Sorcery Hacker ''at the same time''. Knowing the techniques isn’t enough. Just like Gark here can’t be a Bouncer and a Forward at the same time, ''people need a body that matches their skills or they will simply self-destruct.'' Every last one of your muscles is stiff, isn’t it? Your bones are crying out in protest, your tendons are stretched too far, and your entire body has become a ball of agony.”

“Do you think that makes you more charismatic, or something?” growled Ayato, spitting onto the roof. The spit had some red in it. “No one likes a leader who loves to get up on stage and prattle on. I can smell the old-man stink from here.”

Ayato had in fact previously demonstrated these brief, extraordinary actions separate from his Sorcery Hacker skills.

For example, back in Sky City Celedileka when he had clung to Demon Lord Nirvelphany when she jumped from the castle tower to escape and knocked her out with a headbutt to the forehead.

For example, back on the Annihilator-class Predator Island when he had singlehandedly climbed into the ship’s main cannon and blown it up to protect the giant Fleurelisia of the Four Lords.

But those had only been ''brief''.

What happened if he continued doing it?

The answer was swirling within his body now, but he did not let it show.

He wanted to kill this boy before he coughed up blood and passed out.

If it would save the girls so close to him, he would do so without hesitation.

The President smirked.

All the insults and mockery directed his way only sounded like his fleeing prey giving away their position. The bespectacled hunter smugly took aim.

“''Reach for your devil. That is what belongs in your hand.''”

“''Did you think you got to choose how I kill you? I’m doing that my way.''”

Someone slipped between the two of them.

The lithe, bewitching silhouette belonged to a real princess.

It was Vice President Surace.

“Don’t expect us to hold anything back, thief.”

A buzz of vibration ran through the air.

The next thing Ayato knew, the ringlets girl held a bizarre sword in her hand. It was a thick sword with comb-like teeth carved into the front and a dagger as sharp as an awl jutting out from the bottom of the grip.

The former was a sword breaker meant to catch and snap a sword. The latter was a mail breaker meant to stab through chainmail and reach the wearer’s vitals.

Together they formed…

“As fourth in line, I command you to activate, Mass Conversion Ultra Gravity Crusher – Gaugebosonia.”

There was no major change.

Only a mirage-like shimmer. The background grew distorted, like it was contracting toward the sword.

That magic sword could bend even light and it thoroughly crushed anything it touched – including people and objects. Ayato immediately recognized its ability to reject the attack and defense of any who opposed her. He responded by raising his Linkage Plug sword.

He ignored the royal sword as he spoke.

His voice carried less emotion than a cold sorcery device.

“''What does it feel like''?”

“What?”

“''I defeated one of them while you watched on. What does it feel like to have one of your people hurt''?”

The glasses boy snorted.

“I know I don’t feel as bad as you.”

“…”

“''Because you let us manipulate you into killing someone who didn’t need to die.''”

Ayato Criminaltrophy felt his blood boil.

And he let that red-hot current take him.

“''And you have no idea what’s going on with his sister’s body.''”

The black-haired boy with the Linkage Plug sword did not hesitate to charge straight ahead.

His soft flesh, blood, organs, and even bones ached, but he swallowed all of that pain.

These pieces of shit were responsible for the dark shadow cast on Teleria’s life.

Ayato had unwittingly carried out the fateful command and torn a family apart.

That was enough of a reason for him.

He aimed for Surace’s Gaugebosonia sword, but someone slipped between him and it.

Was this a 1-on-1 duel?

Assuming his opponents would play fair would be the height of folly.

“Hee hee!!”

A small girl in gym clothes swung a knife to the side, aiming for Ayato’s flank in something resembling a hook in boxing.

No, a closer look showed the grip had a small trigger on it.

That blade had magic in it. Even if he caught this with his Linkage Plug sword, which wasn’t even meant for direct combat, the knife would slice through it as easily as custard or yogurt and tear into his vitals.

Ayato did not bat an eye even while experiencing pain like his organs were being wrung out like a wet rag.

He pulled the trigger on his Linkage Plug.

His blade came away.

“Ah.”

Sibell’s knife did indeed slice through the Linkage Plug, but at an unexpected point. The slight resistance subtly altered the knife’s path like a blade swinging through water.

It constricted his blood vessels and he thought his sense of pain was going to numb over completely, but he still ducked below the knife and swung up his right hand. He made a hammer-like horizontal strike with the remaining grip and guard. With enough force to possibly cave in the girl’s temple.

“Gwah!?”

Ayato didn’t even glance Sibell’s way as she collapsed. Instead, he pulled a new blade from the grip. He ignored the unnatural red tinge creeping into the right side of his vision. The enraged beast glared at the President.

He tasted iron on his shallow breaths.

“''That’s two I’ve taken from you, Umihiko.''”

“''Do you think you can soothe your wounds by taking as many from me? Teleria would strip off her clothes right now if I ordered it. While biting her lip and weeping like she’s the most unfortunate person in the world. Blouse first? Skirt first? Or maybe go right to the underwear first? It’s all up to me.''”

Was he asking to lose a third one? Ayato swung the new blade and directed the sword’s tip at the Vice President this time.

A dark red liquid dripped from between Ayato’s tightly clenched teeth.

He had the fearsome stare of a wounded animal. Any ordinary person pierced by it might have been too terrified to stay on their feet.

But the princess stepped forward, happy to accept the challenge.

That attitude may have proved she had what it took to rule not just a kingdom but the entire continent.

“You are interesting. If you think you can steal this sword from me, just try it!!”

Their swords crossed.

The clash was deafening

It shouldn’t have been possible.

That sword was of the same type as the ones managed by Micha Angelos and Angela Messenger. Not even a Sorcery Hacker of Ayato’s level should have been able to hack it so easily.

But someone had done so in the past.

And that showed who it really was who had stabbed their blade in from the side and sorcery hacked the 4th’s sword.

“Huh? Eh?”

Surace looked dumbfounded and tried to look back despite the situation.

But the hacker wouldn’t let her.

“Thanks as always, Surace.”

It was the President.

Umihiko Darkavenue’s scythe had pierced the 4th’s sword.

He used his other hand to poke at the crystal coin still spinning in midair. That was his Linkage Monitor, which displayed sorcery data and let him manipulate that data.

“But I’ll be taking that. I don’t trust the combat skills of some sheltered girl who’s barely stepped foot outside her palace.”

Ayato’s body grew distorted.

Cracking and straining sounds came from his right half. The ultra gravity capable of bending light was compressing and destroying his bones and muscles.

And even worse happened to the sexy princess who was actually holding the sword.

“G-g-g-gyaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!??”

The Vice President left behind an unnaturally distorted scream as she collapsed with blood spurting from every orifice, but the glasses boy didn’t even look down at her.

He easily caught the Gaugebosonia sword in his other hand.

Umihiko surveyed the results of his attack with eyes shining bright. He stared directly at injured Ayato who remained standing but at an angle.

Ayato’s right hand was useless now, so he wordlessly switched his Linkage Plug sword to his non-dominant left hand. It was obvious his ability to fight was drastically reduced.

After confirming that, the President grinned.

“And that makes three. Happy now, Ayato? Ah hah hah. Now I’ve lost more people than you.”

His dry laughter continued.

Laugh was all the President did. Despite everything he had lost. Or did he not see any value in the people around him?

Ayato did nothing.

He had to fight gravity.

Umihiko had hacked the 4th’s great power so he could destroy, and thus neutralize, the enemy’s weapons. Or, if so desired, to crush the enemy’s vitals and kill them.

But despite the extreme damage he had taken, Ayato was thinking of something other than the sword of succession.

Quaternary Press.

That earth magic had been used by High Priest Belbath at Sky City Celedileka and by Teleria’s brother. They had both held noncombat jobs, so where had they learned attack magic meant for explosives or bazookas, which bent even light to gather mana and then detonate it?

“You steal your opponent’s specialty and lay on the pressure.”

Ayato felt like he had the answer now.

[[Image:SorceryHacker_v03_BW03.jpg|thumb]]

He didn’t know how planned-out it was or if this boy had thought it through to the very end, but he must have given them the magic while smiling just like this.

“If you sense any danger to yourself, you find a way to reset things even if it means destroying your own allies. Your own safety always comes first.”

“…?”

Umihiko Darkavenue was growing confused.

And the instant the President’s eyebrows moved, Ayato spoke the critical words despite the red blood dripping from the corner of his lips.

He said it clearly.

“''Just like I predicted.''”

Something exploded.

Needless to say, this was intentional destruction caused by sorcery hacking.

The metal door Ayato had used to reach the roof was blasted outwards and something rolled toward them.

Several somethings, in fact.

They were small enough to grab between the fingers, but they sounded as heavy pickling stones. Their relative density had to be greater than pure gold. They were a heat-resistant alloy made from mana-conducting silver nitride, which had extremely limited uses in extreme heat environments or in vacuums.

There were dozens of them here.

The President seemed mildly surprised Ayato had set this up before emerging onto the roof, but he was till a Sorcery Hacker. This wasn’t enough for him to forget his nature.

The rational thinking he had built up to the point it was fused with his instincts was shouting that he needed to identify these new objects.

“Impactors,” muttered the glasses boy. “Tools used to investigate asteroids?”

With a loud explosion, Ayato sent the remaining stock rolling out.

All to greatly change the nature of the battlefield.

These prototypes were only experimental and sounded more delusional than anything. They were meant to be launched 25 thousand esoule<ref> Approximately 30 thousand meters.</ref> in a count to three<ref>In other words, approximately 10km/s.</ref>, collide with asteroids soaring out in space, and forcibly extract samples.

Without the satellite’s speed to start with and while under the effects of the ordinary atmosphere, they could not move anywhere near as fast, but they were still special sorcery devices designed to tear off and gather large pieces of an astronomical body. They were more than enough to punch through and rupture soft human flesh.

These were of course borrowed from the Rocket Club.

Reaching space was no more than a wild dream for anything but Nirvelphany’s orbital sorcery cannon, and she had been known as a Demon Lord for that. Only those eccentrics would bother drawing up plans and building prototypes for experimental tools to operate in that dream.

They were only slightly larger than golf balls, but they were still explosives.

And they were sorcery devices that used gemboards smaller than stamps. A Sorcery Hacker could use them for attack or defense.

The 4th’s sword was powerful. It used a vortex of light-bending gravity to crush and destroy any matter.

But that didn’t mean it could defend its wielder against deadly projectiles flying in from multiple directions at once. Besides, Gaugebosonia was designed for offense, not defense

In other words, this did not reduce the risk to Ayato, but it definitely increased the risk to Umihiko.

“You thought there were no sorcery devices for me to hack? You thought you could easily kill me by luring me onto the empty roof and ganging up on me? Don’t make me laugh.”

Ayato spread his arms wide to show off his handiwork.

The grenade in front of the twin shields. The knife and poison dart which carried magic. And the royal sword that identified its wielder as 4th in the line of succession. The gruesome battlefield was littered with deadly weapons.

“''If I need something, I just have to bring it with me.'' It’s the obvious solution. And, Umihiko, since you can only understand your opponent in your own condescending way and can’t bring yourself to trust your own allies, I knew you would do the same thing if you felt threatened. I knew you wouldn’t trust your foolish friend with something so powerful.”

“…”

“But. You can’t be a sorcery-gun-wielding Forward and a Linkage-Plug-wielding Sorcery Hacker at the same time. You said that yourself. Umihiko, isn’t that sword of royal succession too much for us gloomy indoorsy types?”

Ayato never did reach for the devil revolver.

He stuck to his Linkage Plug sword even when the damage reached the skeletal level.

Not so for the President.

The moment he had given into temptation and stole that powerful sword from the Vice President, he had fallen into the gap between two specialties. In a pure confrontation between Sorcery Hackers, Ayato might have lost. There was no way for Ayato’s mind to go through a dramatic evolution and he couldn’t change how quickly his fingers operated his crystal tarot cards. So he had ''diluted his enemy’s purity to drag him down.

One side was using his specialty, the other was not.

One side was a Sorcery Hacker, the other had become a jack of all trades and master of none.

Their positions had reversed. Ayato made his announcement while stabbing in his Linkage Plug sword.

“Umihiko.”

“Ah ha…ha ha ha. Ayato…”

“Go to hell where you belong.”

A moment later, they took the shortest route to a clash.