Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 12 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 4===

At the break of dawn, Midgard's entire student body was gathered at the harbor. Unsure of the situation, the girls were showing apprehensive expressions towards the tense atmosphere around them.

Currently, there were no ships moored at the harbor, so the view was expansive. The orange sun was emerging from the eastern horizon, its golden glow reflecting off the clouds in the sky.

Prepared to sortie, we members of the Brynhildr Class were together with Charlotte and Shinomiya-sensei, listening to Tia while standing on the pier some distance from the other students.

"So—Marduk is actually a giant ship!"

Tia spread her slender arms forcefully to express the ship's great size.

"A ship... Speaking of which, back when we first saw NIFL's battleship, Tia-san did mention before that it felt similar to Marduk somehow."

Hearing Lisa whispering with a hand to the corner of her mouth, I remembered too.

It was during the final moments of NIFL's invasion—when we had clearly defeated Major Loki—the NIFL battleship moored at sea had switched to attack mode.

'That ship... Somehow, it feels similar.'

Tia had said so at the time. When we asked for an explanation, she had continued.

'A weapon from Atlantis... Marduk...'

Furthermore, Tia had warned that the main cannon, prepared to fire, might be Babel, a weapon from a lost civilization.

In fact, the main cannon's firepower was exceptional—While Ariella deployed a barrier, Tia hacked the ship, thus enabling us to survive the crisis.

However, it was still unknown why NIFL possessed such a battleship. During my time at NIFL, I had passed along Atlantean weapons data to my friend in the technological development department, thus allowing practical deployment of Nergal and Gáe Bolg... However, back then, I did not have data on Babel.

The anti-dragon weapons created through the transmutation of dark matter would self-destruct after use, so it would be impossible to obtain data from them.

After the battle, I wanted to inquire about this if there had been a chance to talk to Major Loki... But since no such chance came up, it remained an unanswered question in the end.

"Tia—I know that the anti-dragon armament named Marduk is part of a gigantic weapon. During my second transaction with Yggdrasil, I sensed it."

Seeking to defeat the Leviathan that was trying to turn Iris into its mate, I desired new power. Responding to my wish, Yggdrasil transmitted the data of Marduk's main cannon to me. Back then, I found out that Marduk was a weapon armed with various modes of attack.

Afterwards, Marduk's data was supplemented by two additional downloads, but still incomplete.

"—In other words, Marduk's complete form is similar to NIFL's battleship?"

I recalled the various Atlantean weapons I had made so far and asked Tia.

Main cannon—"Babel."

Special artillery—"Meggido."

Psionic multi-barreled cannon—"Noah."

Hyperspace reversion rocket-assisted artillery—"Abyss."

I still could not imagine Marduk's complete form, equipped with all these weapons.

"More amazing that that, it's a ship that can fly into space."

"S-Space?"

The sudden word shocked me, but Tia's face was serious.

"Indeed. The counterweapon mobilized to eliminate external threats to the Atlanteans regardless of any environment, that is the 'Deus Dragon,' Marduk."

"Deus Dragon... the second calamity's trump card."

Kili whispered with interest.

The Atlanteans were the ancestors of mankind and possessed superb levels of science and technology. Arriving at Earth from space, their civilization was regarded by Gaia as a threat to the planet—as the second dragon, "Ultimate Wisdom" Atlantis. "Deus Dragon" was probably a term to express the true nature of this threat.

"Yes, which is why it should be able to fly over to Bahamut immediately. But since it's so huge, it requires a great amount of dark matter. Tia doesn't know if borrowing everyone's help is enough..."

Seeing all the students gathered at the harbor, Tia said with worry.

"—Release these bonds of mine and no such problem would exist."

Vritra interrupted next. Indeed, in her case, she should be able to generate dark matter on a level far beyond us. But currently, she was unable to perform transmutation due to the vine choker Tia had made.

"Right! Let's have Vritra-chan help out too!"

Iris' face brightened up but Ariella shook her head with a reluctant expression.

"Let's not... We don't know what Vritra'd do with full ability to generate dark matter. Even if she cooperates with us now, we might end up as enemies like before if the situation changed."

Ren and Firill agreed with her.

"Mm, too big of a risk."

"I agree. We don't know if our dark matter is really insufficient either..."

Vritra shrugged in response.

"...Presently, I must fight alongside my comrade Neun—Fine, 'tis futile to demand ye to trust me."

Despite speaking as though she had not placed any hopes in the first place, Vritra acted a little like she was sulking. I patted her on the head.

"Thanks for offering to help. When we're really out of options, we'll borrow your power."

"Hmph, then ye ought not miss your chance. 'Twould be too late if ye dally."

Vritra turned her face away, speaking with slight displeasure.

"Yeah, I got it. Then we'll start constructing Marduk."

I nodded and looked at everyone.

"I can only watch this time. Zwei—please help Papa... in my place."

Not a D, Jeanne gritted her teeth and patted Shion on the arm.

"i Got iT. Papa, i'LL hElp yOu."

Shion nodded firmly and walked over to hold my hand.

"—Thanks."

I gripped Shion's hand in return then looked at my silent little sister—Mitsuki.

"Mitsuki, umm..."

Unable to make eye contact with her, I could only speak while looking at her chest.

"Rest assured, I shall assist in constructing Marduk too. Also, I have not mentioned it yet, but I shall be coming along as well. Given how I must not leave your side currently, Nii-san, I have no other choice."

Just as I was struggling to find words, Mitsuki gave her reply first.

"Mitsuki..."

Indeed, after waking up, Mitsuki had neither said she was unwell nor did she cause any commotion.

However, she was definitely not herself.

She was forcing herself. She was putting on a brave face. Even without looking at her face, without listening to her voice, I could tell instantly.

However, I did not point this out to deprive her of the "fortitude" she had been desperately trying to maintain.

"Got it. Then I'm counting on you too, Mitsuki."

I nodded decisively and Mitsuki answered "yes" in relief. Next, she instantly tensed her expression and turned to the noisy students.

"Please listen to me, everyone."

All the noise instantly vanished as soon as Mituski spoke as the student council president and captain of the Dragon Subjugation Squad.

Although there were girls watching her with worried gazes, there was definite trust in Mitsuki conveyed through their eyes.

"Currently, catastrophic changes have occurred all over the world. Our homelands in various countries are under threat. The giant creature known as Bahamut is the one expanding the affected areas. Brynhildr Class will be heading out to defeat this creature."

Mitsuki was facing the students and her back view was filled with intense vigor as always. However, this vigor was probably squeezed out through her desperate efforts.

"The remainder of the Dragon Subjugation Squad, please guard Midgard as best as you can. Furthermore, I have a request to make of all of you. In order to construct the ship necessary for hastening to the battlefield, we need a huge quantity of dark matter. Those willing to lend us your aid, could you kindly hold hands with people beside you to form a circle?"

Despite the sudden request, the students began to hold hands with one another without questioning.

All the hesitation on everyone's face disappeared. This was proof that each student believed that Mitsuki was pointing out the correct path.

Seeing this, Shinomiya-sensei asked Charlotte.

"Principal, how is the condition of Midgardsormr?"

"Mica is on standby in the command center. As soon as I give the order, the naval route will be secured. You will be able to set off immediately once the ship is built. If possible, I would like to accompany all of you... But I cannot break my agreement with the United Nations to remain on this island. Furthermore—since my authority is only effective against humans, I am no help to my friend."

Holding a portable terminal, Charlotte answered then looked at me.

"You must return safe and sound. This is my only request for you all."

"Yeah, it's a promise."

While we were talking, the students had already formed a circle.

"Then everyone, let us join in too."

Mitsuki urged us and I entered the circle, holding Shion by the hand.

"Tia will transmit the missing data to Yuu, so this position is essential."

Saying that, Tia took my other hand, opposite to Shion.

"Do your best, Mononobe."

Next to Tia, Iris encouraged me.

"Nii-san, please give the signal once you are ready. After that, we will start transmitting dark matter to you."

Mitsuki spoke to me from next to Shion.

I nodded at them then took a deep breath.

Jeanne, Vritra, Charlotte, and Shinomiya-sensei were watching us slightly further away.

"So, Tia—Send me Marduk's data."

"Yes, got it."

Tia's little hand began to tighten her grip while electricity sparked in the vicinity of the small red horns on her head.

In that instant, a numbing sensation moved to my brain from my hand that Tia was holding. A flash of light filled my mind, turning my view pure white. Due to the blinding feeling, I closed my eyes.

Like torrent, the surging information gradually melded together into several lines. The lines slowly came together as data of the anti-dragon armament, supplementing it to completion, illustrating a gigantic outline.

—This was Marduk.

I could not help but shudder all over.

Possessing the power to defeat hostile species for the Atlanteans on multiple occasions, its existence filled me with fear.

In order to project the form in my mind to reality, I opened my tightly shut eyes.

What appeared before me was the blue ocean under the morning sun. Watching the splashing waves on the water surface, I gave the order.

"Lend me your strength, everyone!"

"Please concentrate dark matter in Nii-san, everyone!"

Mitsuki instantly shouted to all the students.

Instantly, a flood of dark matter flowed into me, then manifested into a gigantic black sphere before my eyes.

Dark matter consisted of fragments of emotions. Everyone's feelings were flooding my mind, causing me to start losing myself.

Normally, performing transmutation in such a state would be impossible, but there was no need for me to impose control over these emotions—this dark matter.

All I needed to do was pour the blueprints in my mind into the flow, thereby giving form to the dark matter.

"Deus Dragon—Marduk!"

I conferred a name upon the burgeoning dark matter, bestowing a rightful path for the matter that held endless possibility.

"Anti-dragon armament, Full Revive!!"

The pitch-black mist of dark matter, expanding over the sea, gradually increased in density and started turning from a gas into a solid.

"...Still not enough. Everyone, please muster more!"

I performed transmutation while calling out.

If the dark matter was insufficient, then an incomplete Marduk with missing parts would be materialized. Since this was a weapon harboring massive power, incompleteness could result in a gigantic explosion.

"Mmmmmm!"

The one with the greatest generating capacity, Ren, desperately squeezed out her final strength.

Gritting their teeth, everyone else transmitted dark matter to me.

The mist of dark matter grew dense all at once.

It was here—

Feeling a concrete sensation, I accelerated the rate of transmutation, displaying the majestic appearance of the Atlantean weapon on the sea.

Solidified from mist, the entity shone with hard silver luster. Accompanied by the loud noise of waves, a gigantic battleship appeared.

The surging waves hit the breakwater, producing a splash of white spray. However, no one dodged.

Everyone was fixated on the object that had appeared before them.

Only told that they were going to build a ship, the students could not hide their surprise at all. Even having seen the construction of anti-dragon weapons up close before, Iris and the girls could only gasp, rooted to the spot.

"—What an amazing ship."

Charlotte's exclamation reached my ear.

Ship, battleship—Sure enough, such descriptions were probably the closest.

Roughly two hundred meters in length, the ship's body was covered with silver-white armor with grooves, tracing out a network of geometric patterns reminiscent of pulsating blood vessels, brightening and dimming in periodic cycles.

Protruding sharply in the front, the prow was merged with the main cannon of Babel. Split into two, its barrel featured a lens in the middle that was reflecting the morning sunlight with dazzling radiance.

Weapons were concentrated on the front of the ship's surface. Megiddo's giant barrel was installed at two locations, a total of eight of Noah's multi-barreled turrets—Aimed at the glowing morning sky, they looked especially impressive.

Behind the bridge were the missile pods of Abyss. On the two sides of the ship were variable-sweep wings, gravitational control devices used for flight.

In addition to the data stored in my mind, my senses were naturally extended, providing me with a full grasp of the entire ship's capabilities.

Just as the anti-dragon weapons created through transmutation previously were always linked to my consciousness, this ship was synchronized with me.

"So this is... Marduk."

While confounded by my suddenly expanded senses, I looked up at the Atlantean weapon that had materialized.

This was a power that did not belong to this era. Once used, it would surely become a disaster equal to the dragons.

But right now, to oppose an even greater calamity, I must control this power—

"—"

After warning myself, I felt a bone-piercing pain through my head, causing me to frown.

Sure enough, being connected to such a massive and complicated weapon was burdening my mind with even greater strain.

"Yuu?"

Noticing my symptoms, Tia looked up at me, tilting her head in worry.

"—I'm fine. Come, let's go."

I released Tia's hand and walked over to Marduk, moored against the harbor.

Although the headache persisted, I optimistically believed that I would get used to it with time. Even if the headache did not go away, what I needed to do remained the same. This was no time to show weakness.

Although the enemy before us was Bahamut, the black domes appearing all over the world were reminiscent of the ninth calamity's "darkness."

If the ninth calamity was the true culprit, losing this battle was not an option. In order to protect Mitsuki, this too was essential.

Whether instinct or otherwise, what drove my actions were these feelings.

I stopped in front of the ship and raised my hand.

"Marduk, activate."

The newborn Deus Dragon growled and awakened.

After the geometric patterns carved on the ship's body glowed brightly, one part of its external walls opened up from inside, producing a gangway leading into the ship.

I placed one foot onto the first step and turned around.

"Are we all ready?"

"Y-Yes, all okay!"

Iris replied with a nervous expression and the others nodded with resolve on their faces.

"Very well—Let's depart."

Turning forward again, I started up the gangway.

As though welcoming its passengers, Marduk's body rumbled thunderously while it started up.

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