Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 9 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 7===
 
The jet-black dragon again appeared in front of Akatsuki and Listy.
 
Akatsuki carefully looked over the dragon,
 
"...... As I thought."
 
Its appearance confirmed his previous speculation.
 
Then beside him, Listy also seemed to notice.
 
"This dragon, surely......"
 
Without finishing, Listy furrowed her eyebrows.
 
Although the color and size of its body differed greatly, somehow the entity of the dragon felt familiar.
 
It was the evil dragon Zahhak of Alayzard.
 
Therefore, Akatsuki nodded "Un,"
 
"When that fake hero Phil came over to this world at that time he changed into Zahhak. They most likely retrieved its body, and used that information to recreate it."
 
...... Also in training program old man Kubota created it had been registered.
 
Nevertheless, Akatsuki believed the possibility of Kubota being an enemy was low.
 
After all Kubota was Babel's top expert.
 
Although his friendliness was lacking, he was the embodiment of a craftsman who took pride in their work.
 
It would be hard to believe that a person like that would betray COCOON to follow Kyouya.
 
Kyouya probably ordered him to retrieve the materials that night, and or ordered him to incorporate into the program. But then again, the possibility of Kubota personally cooperating with Kyouya for his own sake couldn't be denied.
 
...... If that is so, at that time we'll see how it goes.
 
Akatsuki didn't hate Kubota, but it couldn't be helped if he stood in his way.
 
"-- Whoever the enemy is, they will be crushed."
 
Akatsuki materialized Lævateinn, and disdainfully stared at the dragon in front his eyes. It was a about 10 meters in height, about half of its original size. Perhaps, they specially made it smaller so it to move easier indoors. Moreover, Listy's protective barrier wasn't destroyed before when it smashed into it, it seems they weren't able reproduce the absolute barrier of a higher-order life from. Otherwise, as soon as it touched her barrier, the barrier would have vanished like thin air. The reason Akatsuki decided to open a hole instead of attacking was in consideration of that possibility.
 
So far, everything was going well.
 
"The only problem is......"
 
The color and size had been changed from its original.
 
Even if it was made based on Zahhak that Phil turned into, it was still part of a program which could be changed in any number of ways.
 
"Well...... in all likelihood, it will be much stronger than it was before."
 
Having said that, Ousawa Akatsuki laughed. He didn't care at all. Because,
 
"You might be stronger than that time -- but the same goes for me."
 
As he said so, Akatsuki invoked renkan keikikou.
 
In response, Lævateinn changed into its second form.
 
This was the same power that he was unable to freely control back when he first fought against Phil / Zahhak. In addition -- there was also another power Akatsuki didn't have at that time. That was,
 
"-- That reminds me, it's already been a long time since we fought side by side."
 
A myriad of deep emotions resided in his voice as it carried to the girl standing next to him.
 
Listy El Da Sherfied.
 
While traveling in Alayzard she had fought alongside him, and even now stood beside him. Her face unafraid.
 
....... Ah well, I really wanted to fight alone with the dragon.
 
However, this was still the opening act, and before he faced Kyouya he wanted to avoid consuming any further physical strength as much as he could. Moreover, there was a girl who was waiting for him, so there was no time to waste.
 
This had to be decided at once.
 
"It doesn't seem to have an absolute barrier, however probably like the other guardian beast its unafraid of magic attacks. We'll do like before, I'll go on ahead, and you'll offer cover and support from behind."
 
"Got it...... leave it to me."
 
Even though it was a short conversation, everything was clear.
 
"Well then -- LET"S GO!"
 
Ousawa Akatsuki charged at the jet-black dragon.
 
At the same time, countless fireballs flew up from behind and past him.
 
The fireballs struck the dragon's face. But, they had no effect just like Akatsuki expected.
 
-- However, Akatsuki did not mind.
 
Although there was no damage to the dragon, as the fireballs exploded smoke filled the air obscuring its vision. Just as it dispersed the thick smoke with its foreleg, Akatsuki had already got in range of its stomach.
 
The backlash caused Akatsuki to sink greatly into the ground while swinging his sword upward. The dragon's body also apparently seemed to of been hardened.
 
The blow hadn't cut it in half. However, a deep cut ran the length of its jet-black body.
 
"--------"
 
The dragon bellowed painfully, while raising its opposite foreleg to attack Akatsuki.
 
The sharp claws approached him in a downward orbit.
 
"Whoa!"
 
Akatsuki jumped while twisting his body to side, kicking off the dragon's arm he launched himself higher in the air. And,
 
"Listy!"
 
He called out to her, and practically at the same time Listy started invoking wind magic to create a mass of air. They two had seamlessly acted in concert with each other.
 
Haruka's strong point was in compressing air, however this magic was a little different in that she fixed a point in the air causing it to build up and then compress. However -- this also wasn't meant to attack dragon, but at the same time wasn't meant as another diversionary tactic.
 
The air mass Listy generated was located right above Akatsuki.
 
Thus, Akatsuki turned over in the the air, and used that mass of air to kick off of with all his strength.
 
The atmosphere burst open like an explosion, as Akatsuki rapidly descend as if out of a cannon.
 
"Eat thiiissssss!"
 
Traveling at gale speed, Akatsuki swung down Lævateinn.
 
The edge of the blade cut into the top of the dragon's head, and split open its enormous body without a sound.
 
-- That should have been the end.
 
But, during the time when he was tearing through the chest area of the dragon.
 
From the outside of Akatsuki's view a black shadow appeared.
 
"What!?"
 
Akatsuki cried out suddenly caught off guard
 
Immediately a powerful force blown him away from the side.