Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 11 Capítulo 5

Capítulo 5 – Eclipse Sagrado ─Gigas─

Parte 1

O uivo do Abyss e o estrondo do solo pareciam um alarme sinistro.

A gigantesca fortaleza tremeu verticalmente como se fosse desmoronar. A vibração reverberou no subsolo do segundo hangar Drag-Ride.

Mas, a atenção dos dois que se enfrentavam ali não foi desviada de forma alguma.

Eles estavam simplesmente concentrando toda a sua atenção na existência do oponente que deveriam derrotar e que estava em seu caminho.

“<Over Limit>? Isso é estranho, como você pode usá-lo quando deveria ser um código oculto?”

Mais de dez ml à frente de Singlen que sorria duvidosamente, <Yato no Kami> estava parado com sua transformação de forma já concluída.

Acima da armadura com forma peculiar que lembrava a armadura da nação de Koto, várias outras lâminas estavam projetadas.

Além disso, suas quatro patas distintas estendiam-se para trás e para a frente, tomando a forma como se a parte inferior do corpo fosse um cavalo.

A partir do tipo de equipamento especial que se destacava em várias funções, ele se transformou em uma forma mais especializada para a batalha.

“Sim— é verdade. Este <Over Limit> é a verdadeira forma que é liberada por minha Veste Divina, <Spell Code>. Isso não é conseguido através do procedimento normal.”

Normalmente, essa transformação era executada expondo e desfazendo o código oculto para liberar o limitador.

No entanto, Yoruka usou a habilidade de controle forçado de seu próprio <Spell Code> para alcançar as profundezas do sistema e implementou o <Over Limit>.

Claro, Yoruka havia testado esse método muitas vezes desde algum tempo atrás, e ela também executou sua execução em batalha real.

Contra um oponente que lidava com técnicas especiais de batalha chamado “Vetor de Batalha” e usava o <Leviathan> com sua Veste Divina que combinava ataque e defesa em um, até mesmo Yoruka e <Yato no Kami> estavam em desvantagem.

Este era um trunfo para superar e matar o Tirano Azul.

“Entendo, sejam essas três técnicas ocultas inúteis ou este <Over Limit>, até o fim você vai imitar aquele Príncipe das Tarefas. É lamentável que vocês dois, cuja incompetência apenas permite que sejam usados por um homem desse grau, e também o seu futuro.”

Singlen olhou para Yoruka com uma atitude arrogante que desprezava as outras pessoas até o fim.

Em resposta, Yoruka não parecia estar nem um pouco com raiva. Apenas seus olhos roxos brilhavam misteriosamente.

“O medicamento secreto que a Dragon Marauder usou, Elixir. Parece trazer uma força sobrenatural temporariamente para o usuário, mas— para que o efeito se fortaleça, parece que uma operação chamada Batismo é necessária.”

“Hoo, o que tem? Você está zombando de si mesma porque, mesmo depois de obter tal poder, ainda não foi capaz de fazer nada contra mim até agora?”

As palavras exasperadas de Singlen foram respondidas por Yoruka com um sorriso destemido.

“O máximo que pude fazer foi fazer com que o efeito ficasse enraizado em meros três por cento de todo o meu corpo, mas graças a isso este olho tornou-se capaz de ver algo realmente bom. Não só pode perceber o comprimento de onda da consciência do oponente, eu também posso entender a sutileza de seu coração de alguma forma. Isso inclui como você é realmente cauteloso sobre a questão do Aruji-sama—”

Mesmo quando Yoruka apontou isso, a expressão de Singlen não mudou em nada.

Ele apenas manteve seu sorriso ousado e voltou seus olhos que estavam cheios de escuridão sem fundo para Yoruka.

“Ha-ha-ha. Essa é uma ótima piada. Isso é bom para o seu fracasso? O tempo que você pode lutar está diminuindo até agora nesse estado, certo?”

“E mais uma coisa, você não é um humano, é? Você exala o mesmo cheiro que eu. Você abriga algum tipo de defeito fatal, o cheiro de uma coisa quebrada é—”

......*GOON-!*

No momento em que Yoruka disse essas palavras, uma torrente de água foi disparada do <Leviathan> em velocidade violenta.

Vários filetes de água que foram lançados como lanças gigantescas foram evitados pelas quatro pernas do <Yato no Kami>.

“............!”

Diferente das quatro pernas anteriores para se mover em várias direções, as atuais pernas blindadas, que estavam na forma adequada para atacar, passaram pelos rios ondulantes de água enquanto conseguiam se aproximar de Singlen.

Yoruka entrou na área, ao mesmo tempo em que ergueu sua espada em forma de katana e a balançou no ombro do Singlen.

“Hmph.”

Mas, Singlen zombou. Bem naquele momento, um vórtice de fluxo de água cercou <Leviathan>.

Não era mera água, mas uma pilha de massa que foi despachada por um poderoso campo de força.

Se a água caísse de um lugar alto, ficaria dura como uma rocha. Ou se superpressão fosse aplicada a ele, ele se tornaria um escudo de água que poderia dividir até mesmo o aço. Singlen defendeu usando isso, mas—

“—Isso é ingenuidade.”

“......!?”

O escudo sólido de fluxo de água foi cortado e até mesmo uma parte de sua barreira foi perfurada.

Singlen, que teve sua defesa de dupla camada perfurada, afastou Yoruka usando o <Howling Roar> e se distanciou.

“Então, você alcançou o movimento semelhante à unidade de um cavaleiro e cavalo. Essa é a sua força de combate desse <Over Limit>.”

Um cavaleiro a cavalo mostrava sua força ao conseguir colocar a força e a massa do cavalo atrás de sua própria arma.

Drag-Rides normais só eram movidos pelo controle do usuário, mas Yoruka estava lutando com um método de uso diferente.

A parte de trás das quatro pernas desencadeava uma força propulsiva explosiva e impulsionava, essa força era conectada da parte inferior do corpo à armadura superior que era transmitida para o golpe desencadeado.

Assim, ela manifestava um poder destrutivo que superava o simples fortalecimento do <Over Limit>.

“Como você sabe, será o fim se você for tocado diretamente, por isso tome cuidado.”

Yoruka que mostrou um sorriso diabólico atacou ainda mais com seu olho roxo brilhando.

Ela evitou os ataques que a Veste Divina do <Leviathan> desencadeou um após o outro e sua espada finalmente alcançou.

“......!?”

*BIKII–!* Uma linha de arranhão foi esculpida na armadura grossa do <Leviathan>.

Yoruka desferiu um ataque surpresa após tornar Singlen consciente do <Spell Code>. Sem parar, ela girou e sua próxima técnica oculta irrompeu.

“—End Action.”

Os ataques consecutivos que eram desencadeados sem sequer um único suspiro de intervalo devido ao uso alternado da operação de controle da mente e operação de controle do corpo, realizando ataques consecutivos infinitos.

Singlen colocou uma defesa de duas camadas de fluxo de água e barreira, mas Yoruka não prestou atenção a isso e quebrou com força a defesa de cima.

“......!?”

Depois de dezenas de cortes consecutivos, aquele estado defensivo foi finalmente quebrado e vários cortes foram atingidos. Singlen foi empurrado para uma cavidade na parede que parecia um caixão que estava lá para colocar um Drag-Ride no lugar.

“Haa, haa...... —<Howling Roar>.”

Mesmo com ela ficando sem fôlego após cem ataques consecutivos do “End Action”, Yoruka desferiu outro ataque sem pausa.

Incontáveis escombros caíram de cima do “Leviathan” que foi encurralado na parede destruída, enterrando-o.

Mas, mesmo depois de lidar com tantos ataques, não se poderia dizer que Singlen estava encurralado.

Isso porque <Leviathan> sempre era coberto por uma membrana de água de sua Veste Divina <Leaning>, evitando danos letais.

(Então— eu tenho que liberar um poder que não pode ser bloqueado por aquele escudo de água.)

Assim, Yoruka se distanciou a fim de reunir forças para um ataque certeiro. Naquele momento, seu olho diabólico que recebeu o Batismo leu um comprimento de onda inquietante.

“.........!?”

Uma linha de morte que perfurou a parte esquerda do corpo de Yoruka.

Ela começou a pular para a direita reflexivamente, mas não conseguiu.

*KINN!* Quando o som agudo do vento cortante que parecia perfurar os tímpanos pôde ser ouvido, o ataque já havia acabado.

“O quê? Isso é—”

*Pakiri* Com esse som, a armadura de Mythrildite foi cortada como se tivesse sido cortada por uma lâmina afiada.

O corte de água que Singlen desencadeou fez isso a uma distância de no mínimo 50 ml.

“Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha – Aeon Fire: Mizuchi.”

“......!?”

O braço blindado esquerdo do <Yato no Kami> e uma perna dianteira foram cortados, mas o resto estava seguro.

Mas, esse poder facilmente cortou a barreira que, embora não tenha sido implantada com força máxima, estava em um estado fortalecido pelo <Over Limit>.

A técnica de batalha de Singlen que fazia uso prático do ajuste— focar a energia em um ponto, “Vetor de Batalha – Aeon Fire” era completamente uma técnica de ataque direto usando uma arma.

Mas, o ataque agora foi um corte de lâmina de um fluxo de água pura.

“Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha? Essa é uma técnica que coloca até a própria Veste Divina de alguém sob o controle do ajuste?”

Usado em conjunto com a Veste Divina do <Leviathan> que manipulava a água, a energia de um Drag-Ride e a energia da Veste Divina eram combinadas para formar um ataque que era concentrado em um ponto.

A lâmina de água que era gerada a partir disso cortou um alcance de tiro de dezenas de ml com poder esmagador.

Como Yoruka estava se distanciando bastante, ela escapou de um golpe direto em seu corpo de carne, mas vendo como sua barreira e armadura eram inúteis, isso mostrou que o poder do ataque era algo impossível de se defender, não importa o quanto ela lutasse.

“Já chega...”

Os escombros empilhados foram esmagados com cascalho e Singlen levantou-se.

Ele dirigiu aquele olho vazio sem fundo preto como azeviche em direção a Yoruka, junto a um sorriso de pena.

“Já faz muito tempo que não enfrento um adversário com alguma luta. Eu vim junto com você pensando que poderia ser um bom aquecimento antes da batalha contra aquele homem, mas— isso não é bom hein. É muito perigoso brincar com você.”

“...Parece que estou sendo menosprezada. Mesmo que eu também ainda não tenha mostrado toda a minha força.”

“Nesse caso, não seja mesquinha e me mostre imediatamente. Do contrário— você vai morrer aqui.”

Singlen sorriu, ao mesmo tempo que a chuva caía do teto devido ao <Leaning>.

Não era uma chuva forte dotada de força como uma bala, mas uma chuva normal.

(Não é um ataque de cima? Então por que— está chovendo?)

Quando Yoruka estava prestes a refletir sobre esse fato, <Leviathan> avançou.

“Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha – Reflexo Lunar: Corte de Teia.”

Uma lâmina de água foi disparada ao mesmo tempo com o golpe da enorme espada de Singlen. Yoruka se esquivou enquanto se afastava.

Para não ser atingida diretamente novamente pelo “Vetor de Batalha – Aeon Fire” de agora há pouco, Yoruka armou uma armadilha e observou por uma chance de contra-ataque para não negligenciar a ativação da técnica.

—Mas, antes que o objetivo da Yoruka pudesse produzir um resultado, o interior do hangar subterrâneo ficou ainda mais escuro.

O número de tochas restantes diminuiu por causa da água que os atingia.

Ao mesmo tempo, por causa da espessa névoa que cobria os arredores, o campo de visão tornou-se extremamente pior.

“Você está usando muita água. Em uma situação onde a visão não funciona— o <Yato no Kami> que pode usar camuflagem tem a vantagem.”

“É mesmo? Então experimente. Isso se você puder.”

Yoruka entendeu a posição de Singlen com seu radar e cortou ao lado do <Leviathan>.

Um ataque surpresa usando a escuridão e a névoa.

Mas, seu golpe cortou completamente o ar vazio. Ela golpeou mais uma vez o ponto cego de seu oponente.

No entanto, o resultado foi o mesmo. Ela foi esquivada ou defendida com uma espada. O resultado era apenas a armadura do <Yato no Kami> ficando ainda mais quebrada.

(Como isso pode ser? Mesmo que eu devesse ter escondido minha presença o melhor que pude—)

Por que Singlen, que não deveria ter radar, era capaz de prever completamente seus movimentos? Quando Yoruka parou por não entender o motivo disso, um jato de água disparou em direção a ela.

“............”

Ela foi enviada voando para uma parede que estava a uma dúzia de ml de distância, mas Yoruka não parou de se mover e escapou.

Por outro lado, Singlen não se moveu nem um pouco de sua posição enquanto fechava os olhos silenciosamente.

“Não acho que seja possível, mas a sua chamada seriedade não é sobre usar a mesma armadilha na segunda vez, certo?”

“......!?”

Singlen sacou seu Sword Device e ativou sua Veste Divina.

Ao mesmo tempo, incontáveis lâminas de pilar de água que se ergueram de todo o hangar destruíram o trunfo de Yoruka.

“Como você sabia?”

Yoruka enrijeceu com uma expressão perplexa.

A névoa espessa se dissipou naquele momento e Singlen mostrou seu rosto sorridente.

<Kumo no Ito>— era um armamento especial que projetava cordas de aço invisíveis nos arredores, uma armadilha que era armada para ser um condutor do <Spell Code>. Todos eles foram instantaneamente cortados.

Mesmo que Singlen estivesse dentro de uma profunda escuridão com uma névoa espessa enchendo a sala, ele encurralou Yoruka com precisão.

A chuva vinha caindo o tempo todo desde antes, mas a chuva em si não tinha nenhum poder ofensivo.

(Então— por que razão a chuva está caindo? Essa chuva...)

Este lugar é um hangar Drag-Ride subterrâneo, então era impossível chover aqui.

Em outras palavras, o <Leviathan> sem dúvida estava causando essa chuva.

Quando Yoruka quebrou a cabeça com relação a esse fato, ela percebeu a verdadeira forma do “Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha – Reflexo Lunar”.

“Ele está prevendo e— entendendo a situação pelos sons mecânicos dos Drag-Rides?”

O “Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha – Reflexo Lunar” de Singlen que previa a próxima ação do oponente com os sons mecânicos do Drag-Ride.

Normalmente era realizado usando um chicote de arame que tocava diretamente o Drag-Ride do oponente, mas quando foi combinado com a Veste Divina do <Leviathan> no “Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha – Reflexo Lunar”, tornou-se um radar que detectava o movimento e a presença nas redondezas a partir do som que era refletido pela chuva torrencial.

Assim, essa chuva espiava a localização e a ação da Yoruka, ao mesmo tempo que também viu através do <Kumo no Ito> que foi secretamente colocado.

“Boa previsão. Mas isso acabou. No final— você é incapaz até mesmo de realizar seu desejo sincero como uma ferramenta sem coração. Você escolheu a mão errada para manejá-la.”

Singlen riu. Logo depois disso, *barulho* o corpo do <Yato no Kami> estava começando a ranger.

Ela estava perto de perder o fôlego devido ao consumo de energia do <Over Limit>.

Ela também não conseguia pensar em uma ideia para superar o “Vetor de Batalha”.

Sua previsão antes da batalha, de que ela teria trinta por cento de chance de derrotar Singlen se arriscasse sua vida, estava perdida.

A própria Yoruka era chamada de demônio desumano, mas este homem também era um monstro.

Mesmo enquanto sentia a premonição da derrota, ela estava pensando em um método para pelo menos levá-lo junto com ela.

Porque, ela que não era humana só poderia fazer algo assim.

Porque a própria Yoruka, que foi incapaz de atender ao desejo do Lux como humana, só poderia cumprir sua missão como uma ferramenta assim.

Porque ela não tinha coração, não importa o quanto Lux a tratasse como humana, ela não seria capaz de atender às expectativas dele, era por isso—

No entanto, se era a maneira de se conectar com os outros como uma ferramenta, então até mesmo ela que não era humana foi capaz de entender.

As coisas úteis têm um valor a ser colocado ao lado de alguém.

Esse foi o único relacionamento com outras pessoas que Yoruka poderia compreender.

‘Esse Sword Device é algo muito importante para você, não é?’

“Sim— isso mesmo.”

Yoruka de repente deixou escapar um sorriso com a sensação do Sword Device que ela agarrou quando percebeu.

Uma ferramenta para cumprir seu objetivo.

Se fosse esse o caso— não havia como ser abandonada até o fim.

“Se você tem tanto poder, então por que está tentando fazer uso do Aruji-sama?”

Yoruka perguntou com uma atitude calma e composta, mesmo enquanto ouvia o grito de seu próprio corpo.

Em resposta, Singlen voltou os olhos escuros para Yoruka com um olhar desinteressado.

“Estou apenas movendo as peças necessárias para o meu objetivo. É algo que você, que se tornou uma ferramenta através do seu próprio desejo, nunca vai entender, não importa o que aconteça.”

“Então, é desnecessário sentir hesitação para me livrar de você. Com isso, agora não tenho o dever de mantê-lo vivo pelo bem do Aruji-sama.”

“O quê?”

No momento em que Singlen mostrou um rosto duvidoso, as três pernas restantes do <Yato no Kami> se moveram e se aproximaram da frente sem nenhum som.

“—Instant Strike.”

O ataque da Yoruka que lia a lacuna quando a consciência era cortada e era lançada instantaneamente.

Por se aproveitar da inconsciência, originalmente deveria ser um movimento especial impossível de defender, embora ela preservasse a técnica até agora para não deixar Singlen preparar contramedidas.

O movimento do <Leviathan> deve parar por um instante com um golpe que atingiu o ombro onde o Core Force estava armazenado.

Ela cortaria a armadura com um golpe de retorno, ativaria o <Spell Code> e colocaria o Drag-Ride sob seu controle.

Essa foi a estratégia que Yoruka imaginou, mas— quando ela cortou a armadura de ombro molhada, uma sensação estranha de deslocamento percorreu o corpo da Yoruka.

“......!?”

“Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha – Domínio Real: Aranha Terrestre.”

Uma membrana de água estava cobrindo sua armadura.

A armadura do <Leviathan> não estava apenas molhada, uma barreira de água para dispersar o impacto era constantemente colocada sobre ela.

Não importava mesmo se ela atacasse durante a inconsciência do Singlen, porque a membrana defensiva tinha sido colocada desde o início.

Isso diminuiu ligeiramente a força da espada da Yoruka, tornando-a incapaz de parar o movimento do <Leviathan>.

Depois de lidar com um ataque certeiro e focado, desta vez foi o <Yato no Kami> da Yoruka que expôs uma abertura fatal.

“Deixe seu mestre comigo. Obrigado por todo o trabalho árduo.”

Singlen brandiu sua grande espada com um sorriso que estava convencido de sua vitória.

Naquele momento, a ponta de uma espada perfurou o peito esquerdo de Singlen.

“O... quê......?”

“Você é muito descuidado. Você está ao meu alcance, sabe?”

Yoruka, com sua íris roxa brilhante, sorriu de forma encantadora e colocou mais força.

Logo depois disso, mesmo o <Yato no Kami> que ela usava também levantou sua lâmina acima da cabeça, e então desencadeou um ataque que fez a armadura ranger.

“—Recoil Burst!”

Logo após suas palavras, o ataque superpoderoso atingiu a distância zero.

A espada perfurou o ar, soprou para longe a parede de água restante e fez com que o Core Force no ombro fosse exposto junto com a armadura do <Leviathan>.

“Gu, ah......!”

Um gemido rouco saiu da garganta do Singlen e ele foi surpreendido pelo impacto.

Os destroços e escombros do hangar foram arrastados por seu voo e então ele colidiu na parede que estava a algumas dezenas de ml de distância.

O branco dos olhos de Singlen estava aparecendo com um Sword Device esfaqueado em seu peito, e ele expirou.

“......Haah! Haah!”

Yoruka estava ficando sem fôlego, ao mesmo tempo que o <Over Limit> foi dissipado.

A névoa espessa que enchia o hangar subterrâneo e também a chuva torrencial estavam desaparecendo quando ela percebeu.

Ao mesmo tempo, uma gota de sangue escorria do canto dos lábios da Yoruka.

Por causa do <Over Limit>, a carga no corpo de Yoruka estava além da medida. E assim ela desencadeou o “Recoil Burst” de uma distância supercurta.

Ela recebeu o choque do poderoso impacto que despedaçou o Drag-Ride Divino do inimigo nas proximidades. A própria Yoruka também estava cambaleando em seus pés, mas—

“Esta luta... está resolvida agora.”

Ela matou Singlen, que estava preparando muitas armadilhas para usar Lux como peça descartável.

Depois de retirar este obstáculo que pode ser o maior de todos, não seria exagero ainda que se dissesse que ela cumpriu o contrato que trocou com o Imperador do Antigo Império.

Mas, era uma sorte que ela ainda estava viva.

A fim de vencer esta batalha que girava em torno de Avalon, ela ainda tinha que lutar pelo bem de Lux.

Aquele homem chamado Fugil era o Primeiro Príncipe Imperial do Antigo Império, mas ela ouviu que ele na verdade era um homem de identidade desconhecida.

Também pode ser necessário algum dia questionar até mesmo aquele homem que estava servindo como o general dos Lords.

Porque mesmo que o direito de herança do passado pertencesse a Fugil, Yoruka já havia decidido que serviria apenas a Lux.

“Que estranho. Para alguém que não é humano como eu, pensar em tal coisa—”

Como esperado, ela não conseguiu esconder sua exaustão de mostrar em seu rosto. Assim, ela sem querer soltou uma risada autodepreciativa.

Antes que ela percebesse, ela decidiu servir sob alguém, independentemente de seu próprio código.

Mesmo que ela se permitisse ser empregada como guarda real sob um contrato com seu irmão mais novo, que se pegou e que era incapaz de ter qualquer tipo de desejo e apego, neste momento—

*PAKIi–!*

Um som que foi como um estalo de madeira seca fez com que Yoruka voltasse aos seus sentidos imediatamente.

Quando ela voltou o olhar, Singlen que foi jogado até que a parede do hangar, estava levantando seu corpo de dentro dos escombros.

Ele puxou o Sword Device de <Yato no Kami> que apunhalou seu coração, então ele descuidadamente o jogou fora.

“É uma pena, Lâmina Assassina. Vou retirar minha declaração anterior. Você é realmente algo. Se eu fosse um humano— eu definitivamente morreria disso.”

Singlen ergueu o canto dos lábios em um sorriso malicioso e agarrou o Sword Device do <Leviathan>.

Ao mesmo tempo, ele invocou um novo armamento adicional. As peças da armadura quebradas foram reconstruídas junto com um campo de força, formando uma armadura que cobria seu corpo mais uma vez.

“Como!? O Drag-Ride destruído está—!?”

“<Slyt>...... o outro armamento especial do <Leviathan>. Enquanto o Sword Device pelo menos permanecer, a armadura pode ser regenerada apenas uma vez. Embora depois de usá-lo, ele ficará inutilizável por um tempo.”

“............”

Yoruka estava respirando com dificuldade com os ombros pesados. Ela estava suando enquanto apenas observava isso.

Ela que não tinha emoção, não sentia medo.

Mas, uma situação desesperadora estava bloqueando seu caminho.

Algo ainda mais assustador do que a ressurreição do Drag-Ride Divino <Leviathan>.

Isso era a órbita preta do olho atrás do tapa-olho retirado que cobria o olho esquerdo de Singlen. Um padrão preto estava cobrindo seu lado esquerdo do corpo a partir dali.

Essa aparência era a mesma do Demônio que usava o Elixir— mas, ele não estava usando Elixir em si.

Em outras palavras, este era o poder do Elixir do Singlen tomando conta de seu corpo por meio do Batismo.

Uma certa qualidade era necessária apenas para fazer o Elixir se enraizar no corpo, e o Batismo atormentaria o alvo com imensa dor e efeitos colaterais.

Depois que tal procedimento, que era como uma maldição, fosse aplicado a alguém, sua força seria aumentada em troca de sua longevidade.

“Que chocante. Esqueça de ser igual a mim, você é um monstro que ultrapassou de longe isso. —Sua aparência jovem e altura são por causa dos efeitos do Batismo que foi aplicado em metade do seu corpo impedindo o seu crescimento, não é?”

“Ku-ku-ku, que mulher realmente rude. Mas você fez bem. Em relação a essa determinação, vou deixar você partir deste mundo sem dor.”

“......!”

Instantaneamente, Yoruka pegou o Sword Device do <Yato no Kami> jogado fora usando o <Kumo no Ito> e tentou pular para trás.

Logo depois disso, mais rápido do que Yoruka, que estava pulando para trás a toda velocidade, Singlen saltou para frente com sua lâmina erguida acima da cabeça.

“Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha – Poder de Deus: Estrada do Mal.”

Usando a Veste Divina do <Leviathan>, aumentou a própria força propulsiva usando o fluxo de água e dobrou a força do ataque.

Sua base foi o lançamento de mecanismos básicos de frenagem usando o ajuste.

A fim de evitar sobrecarga para o usuário, o alcance da mobilidade e ação da armadura era reduzida pela restrição de mobilidade.

Liberar todas essas restrições e colocar armadura adicional no Drag-Ride era o <Over Limit>, mas Singlen aqui executou um ato falsamente semelhante, embora o resultado estivesse em um nível abaixo do <Over Limit>.

Se isso fosse tudo, então o <Over Limit> era obviamente mais forte, mas—

(Isto é, ele está controlando sua própria armadura como uma marionete usando um jato de água para se empurrar, aumentando ainda mais a força...!)

Ao combinar o “Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha” e a Veste Divina <Leaning>, produziu um fluxo de água que foi usado para dar um impulso ao movimento do <Leviathan> e dobrar sua força.

O impacto e o efeito colateral de fazer isso devem causar danos e fardo anormais ao usuário, mas como Singlen foi fortalecido com o Batismo, ele foi capaz de suportá-lo.

Yoruka mal suportou o ataque do “Vetor de Batalha – Poder de Deus” que possuía poder destrutivo de matar em cada ataque.

—Mas, sua armadura foi destruída impiedosamente e sem emoção, e ela foi espancada como um inseto cujas asas foram arrancadas.

“Ka, hah......!”

Sua espada foi destruída, e com ela as articulações de seu lado direito braço quebrado.

As balas de água que atravessaram sua barreira quebraram suas costelas. Ela vomitou sangue.

O sangue escorria do olho esquerdo e ela continuou a se sobrecarregar, tornando-a incapaz de ver.

Os dedos que seguravam a alavanca de controle foram esmagados pelo impacto.

A articulação do tornozelo direito foi levada pela corrente de água e torcida na direção errada.

A peça de armadura quebrada apunhalou seu lado, fazendo com que o sangue jorrasse.

Mas, ela não teve nenhuma liberdade até mesmo para se contorcer de dor intensa que queimava seus nervos.

A força estava deixando seu corpo inteiro junto com seus sentidos. A água fria lavou seu sangue e sua temperatura corporal.

Uma parte de seus membros se quebrou, o sangue escorria de seu olho esquerdo fechado e todo o seu corpo estava encharcado de sangue devido a todos os cortes. Dessa forma, metade do corpo da Yoruka afundado na água junto com os destroços do <Yato no Kami>, um sorriso em seus lábios.

(... Eu errei, completamente—)

Ela não tinha mais armas restantes.

Mesmo assim, um sorriso apareceu em seus lábios.

Ela mal segurou seu Sword Device com três dedos que não estavam quebrados, e ela olhou para Singlen com o olho restante.

“—Adeus, forte guerreira. Ore para que você renasça como uma humana no próximo mundo e morra.”

Singlen ergueu sua espada à distância para realizar o último rito para Yoruka.

Yoruka pensou enquanto sentia os momentos finais de sua vida.

Ela tinha feito o que podia.

Desta vez, ela podia morrer como uma ferramenta com certeza, cumprindo seu desejo sincero.

Mesmo que ela devesse estar satisfeita apenas com isso, ela sentiu um sentimento de culpa em algum lugar dentro de si mesma.

Se ela morresse protegendo a nação de Koto, o que seu irmão mais novo, que foi abandonado, teria pensado.

E então, Lux— o que ele pensaria.

“Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha – Aeon Fire: Mizuchi.”

Uma lâmina de água foi disparada junto com a voz de Singlen que falava de sua morte.

*KIN–! *Um som agudo que cortou o ar.

Apenas um instante antes que ela pudesse ouvir aquele som, uma rajada de vento pousou na frente dela.

—

............

“Guh......!”

Mas ela mal entendeu que o som de gemido opaco saindo de uma boca não era dela.

Lux entrou no hangar subterrâneo alguns segundos antes. Ele encontrou Yoruka que estava à beira da morte e seu corpo se moveu imediatamente.

Ele imediatamente entendeu que ela estava morrendo, e também que ela estava em um estado que era impossível se esquivar ou bloquear o ataque de Singlen.

Se ele a protegesse usando a si mesmo como escudo, ele poderia ser derrubado.

Sem nem mesmo tempo para calcular profundamente tal coisa, quando percebeu, estava parado na frente dela.

—Mas, ele era muito otimista.

O movimento especial de Singlen que liberava o poder do Batismo, “Verdadeiro Vetor de Batalha – Aeon Fire: Mizuchi”.

A lâmina de água que foi disparada da espada cortou sua barreira que foi implantada com força total, a onda de choque do <Howling Roar> que ele disparou e a armadura que ele usava, rasgando o peito de Lux verticalmente.

Seu coração parou com o sangramento e o impacto.

Em outras palavras, foi morte instantânea.

“Aruji...sama...?”

Yoruka gritou pelas costas de Lux, mas não houve resposta.

Não havia nem mesmo o som de respiração vindo dele.

“—Homem insolente. Atrapalhando o meu plano desse jeito, então o calibre dele só é meia-boca assim, afinal.”

Junto com um suspiro irritado, Singlen com seu corpo que estava totalmente preto, exibiu um olho com íris carmesim brilhante.

“Seu caminho está fechado sem poder se tornar um herói ou governante. Isso significa que este é o seu limite.”

O murmúrio de Singlen não chegava mais ao ouvido de Lux.

Esse fato atingiu Yoruka, que foi abandonada sozinha.

“Por que... isso aconteceu?”

A armadura do <Bahamut> foi dissipada e Lux caiu para trás. Seu corpo estava deitado sobre Yoruka, que também estava deitada de bruços.

Seus olhos estavam fechados silenciosamente, seu pulso havia parado completamente.

“Por que você arriscou sua vida por gente como eu? Mesmo que eu não possa recompensá-lo com nada, mesmo que alguém desumano como eu, só pode ser útil obtendo resultados em batalha—”

Ela entendeu que não haveria uma resposta para sua pergunta.

Mesmo assim, Yoruka continuou a formar as palavras pedaço por pedaço.

“......Aruji-sama, estava completamente enganado.”

Yoruka de repente deu um sorriso de resignação. Ela levantou a parte superior do corpo e apoiou as costas em um entulho, então ela olhou para o rosto de seu mestre morto.

“Mesmo assim, você deveria ter abandonado alguém inútil como eu imediatamente. Mesmo que eu não possa retribuir seu favor com qualquer coisa—”

Da mesma forma como naquela vez com seu irmão mais novo, ela não foi capaz de derramar nem mesmo uma gota de lágrima.

Em troca, a lágrima de sangue que escorreu de seu olho esquerdo ferido escorreu por sua bochecha e caiu no peito de Lux.

Ela apenas abraçou o cadáver de seu mestre junto com um doce desespero envolvendo seu corpo inteiro, e levantou um gemido silencioso.

“............”

Parte 2

Quase ao mesmo tempo— do lado de fora, nas proximidades da primeira fortaleza.

Em torno do Garden.

Entre a terra devastada e o céu azul onde muitos Abysses estavam espalhados, uma luta feroz que ninguém sabia quando terminaria estava se desenrolando.

“Merda! São muitos! Eu vou cuidar desse lugar! Primeiro, vamos proteger uma rota de fuga!”

A comandante Lisha ergueu a voz e deu instruções à Tríade.

A Ordem dos Cavaleiros de White Ridge que estava atraindo o enxame de Abyss, estava se reunindo com a ajuda de Zweigbergk, mas, em primeiro lugar, eles não seriam capazes de recuar se não pudessem romper o cerco.

Parece que Greifer e Coral estavam enfrentando um Drag-Knight da Dragon Marauder. Eles não tinham liberdade para ajudá-los.

“SHAAAAAAAAAH......!”

“SAIA DO MEU CAMINHOOOOOO—!”

Lisha deu um grito que soou como um uivo e bombardeou um Gargoyle.

Mesmo se elas garantissem uma rota de fuga, não haveria como eles começarem a recuar até que Lux voltasse com Yoruka.

Se elas deixassem os dois sozinhos bem no meio de um enxame de Abyss, era óbvio qual seria o resultado disso no final.

“Meu Deus, na batalha, nem tudo sai como o esperado, hein!”

Como o novo estilo de batalha que Lisha dominava a esgotava completamente em pouco tempo, ela não foi capaz de usá-lo aqui.

Uma batalha sem Lux, Krulcifer, Celis, Philuffy e Yoruka era muito difícil.

Lisha percebeu mais uma vez o quanto suas existências ajudavam.

“Mas— eu não posso perder.”

Mesmo sentindo o desespero do Abyss que continuava aparecendo do nada, uma após a outra, ela não conseguia suportar quando pensava nas outras garotas.

Ela não era uma Princesa que só podia ser protegida.

Ela também liderava todos na batalha, com força e habilidade como uma Drag-Knight.

Porque essa era sua dignidade de Princesa a quem Lux servia, seu objetivo.

“Quando esta batalha terminar com segurança, direi a ele corretamente! É por isso que, não importa quantos inimigos poderosos haja ao meu redor, não há como eu ser derrotado aquiiii—!”

Ela suprimiu o movimento do inimigo com o campo gravitacional do <Suppressor> e, em seguida, atingiu-os com o <Seven Heads>.

Enquanto Lisha estava continuamente segurando o inimigo desesperadamente, repetindo aquele ataque muitas vezes, a Tríade também estava lutando atrás dela.

“Airi, por favor, tenha cuidado. Estou procurando o inimigo com radar, mas será problemático se o Abyss invisível estiver nos mirando.”

Airi assentiu brevemente com as palavras da Noct e se escondeu atrás da cobertura de uma pedra.

A intensidade da batalha ultrapassou em muito a imaginação, mesmo assim Noct estava dividindo seu foco para proteger Airi em vez de garantir um caminho de fuga.

“Meu Deus —alguém persistente é odiado, sabe!?”

“Sim, exatamente. Falta de consideração e restrição também é a mesma coisa!”

Tillfur e Shalice tentaram romper com o martelo e a Breath Gun em suas respectivas mãos, mas as coisas não foram muito bem.

Em uma situação onde um grande enxame estava cercando as quatro direções, o consumo de energia era muito intenso, mesmo que eles lutassem contra o Abyss igualmente.

Airi estava assistindo aquela batalha mortal por trás de uma rocha enquanto sentia o suspense dentro de seu coração.

(A Tríade, elas já estão perto de seu limite no uso dos Drag-Rides genéricos fortalecidos.)

Quando Noct e as outras estavam treinando para usar os Drag-Rides genéricos do tipo fortalecido, era ninguém menos que Airi que estava medindo seu limite de tempo de uso.

Airi sabia como, para se tornar a força de Lux— e também da Academia, elas agiam como de costume na superfície, enquanto nos bastidores elas também continuavam a trabalhar duro desesperadamente.

Airi também sabia como, atualmente, essas meninas estavam gradualmente ultrapassando o limite de sua resistência.

Mesmo que continuassem com força de vontade, não duraria muito. Suas armaduras seriam dissipadas em breve.

O cerco do Abyss poderia ser quebrado com um pouco mais.

Mas, mesmo que fosse apenas mais um empurrão, faltava um pouco de poder de fogo.

“Noct! Você não precisa se preocupar comigo! Por favor, ajude elas duas!”

“No. Eu não posso aprovar isso. Eu quebrarei minha promessa com Lux-san se Airi for exposta ao perigo.”

Noct respondeu com uma voz calma enquanto lutava contra um Abyss ligeiramente à frente. Mas—

“Seremos aniquiladas de qualquer maneira se não conseguirmos escapar assim! Se estou apenas me tornando um fardo, tenho a resolução de morrer!”

“......!?”

Noct, que ouviu aquele grito, mostrou um olhar ligeiramente aflito.

Depois de se preocupar por alguns momentos, Noct respirou fundo e virou as costas do seu <EX Drake> para Airi.

“Por favor, me perdoe Airi. Eu fiz você falar muito. Isso se deve à nossa impotência.”

“É o mesmo para mim. Isso aconteceu porque eu não fui razoável e pedi para vir junto.”

Quando Airi sorriu suavemente, Noct também soltou uma risada.

“Yes. Você tem razão. Vamos ser repreendidas mais tarde.”

Noct murmurou isso enquanto usava o Step do <EX Drake>. Ela começou a dar fogo de cobertura usando seu canhão.

[Vocês duas, por favor, atraiam o inimigo! Vou disparar meu poder de fogo restante.]

[Okkaayy!]

[Cuide disso, Noct!]

Tillfur e Shalice, que estavam lutando contra o Abyss com armas de curto alcance na mão, adivinharam a intenção de Noct apenas com aquela frase.

Não importa quanto treinamento elas tenham acumulado, o valor de aptidão, resistência e técnica de Drag-Ride das três não seria compatível com os membros que conseguiam lidar com os Drag-Rides Divinos.

Então, para vencer uma batalha usando um ponto forte que era exclusivo das três, elas fortaleceram sua coordenação junto com seu treinamento pessoal.

“GISHAAAAH!”

Um enxame de tipo voador gritou enquanto atacava. As duas se moveram na trajetória com forma de ‘8’ e os reuniram em um só lugar.

No momento em que cerca de dez Abysses estavam reunidos em seu ponto de passagem, Shalice e Tillfur gritaram simultaneamente.

“—<Howling Roar>!”

O vórtice da onda de choque que era preenchido com o poder de um Drag-Ride genérico reforçado pressionou o enxame da esquerda e da direita e parou seu movimento.

Logo depois disso, Noct lançou um ataque seguinte de seu canhão sem nem mesmo um minuto mais.

“GU, GYAAAAH......!”

A atmosfera foi envolvida por uma explosão de chamas e os Abysses foram despedaçados junto com o impacto.

Mesmo assim, como esperado, alguns Abyss sobreviveram ao ataque.

Os Abysses restantes foram acertados com balanços do martelo e espada.

“Magnífico, pessoal—”

Com isso, um caminho de fuga foi aberto, e foi possível recuar temporariamente com Lisha e as outras e se reorganizar.

Depois disso, seriam apenas Lux e Yoruka que estavam dentro da primeira fortaleza com a qual elas deveriam se preocupar.

A Tríade relaxou sem querer sua tensão depois de usar todas as suas forças. Naquele momento, Airi sentiu um mal-estar em seu corpo.

“......!?”

Seu peso desapareceu e ela se sentiu puxada para o ar.

Naquele momento, quando ela flutuou alto no ar, Airi foi sequestrada por um Drag-Ride que voou com velocidade feroz por trás.

“—Airi–!?”

Com uma expressão chocada, Noct usou o Step e o perseguiu, mas ela não o alcançou.

“Espera!”

Shalice voou para perseguir o Drag-Ride desconhecido cor açafrão, mas naquele momento seu <EX Wyvern> foi atingido por um poder invisível que a jogou no chão.

“Uwah!?”

Shalice deu uma cambalhota com um grito curto. Olhando para as três que ficaram para trás, a garota mascarada saiu sem dizer nada.

“Tenha cuidado Shalice! Parece que ela está usando algum tipo de Veste Divina estranha!”

Tillfur também patinou para frente na tentativa de perseguir, mas a figura do sequestrador Drag-Knight desapareceu completamente com Airi.

Do lado oposto de Lisha, que lutava com força, cem ml atrás, as três foram deixadas para trás, paradas perplexas.

Part 3

Inside the underground Drag-Ride hangar of the first fortress── The walls, floor, and even the ceiling were completely destroyed.

Just like the remaining torch that was faintly illuminating the darkness, Lux’s life was also going out.

His consciousness that sunk into darkness could faintly hear the screams of the girl who was unable to find any words.

The sensation of blood dripping from the girl’s left eye.

His body felt the warmth of the skin embracing him.

This was an inevitability that would visit him someday when he continued to risk his life recklessly and dangerously. He was finally brought down.

Rather, his luck was too good that he was safe until now.

(Airi……sorry. Even though I told you that I won’t let you be alone──)

He felt pained for lying to his only little sister, for being unable to stay at the side of Lisha and the others till the end.

However separated from that, he didn’t feel the slightest regret for trying to save Yoruka until the very end.

There were many things on his mind, being on the verge of death.

But, right after that something hot permeated into Lux’s chest.

And then suddenly the scene that he saw wasn’t his memory with the girls, but a bizarre scene.

–

–

X X X X X X

–

• Zazazaza-*, an image of memory that was covered with static like a sandstorm was flowing into Lux.

It wasn’t the phenomenon of recalling the past when dying, it felt like he was shown the memory of someone else.

He could see from overhead view, a strange space that was surrounded by silver walls and surface.

It was inside a facility that vaguely resembled the interior of a Ruin.

At the center of that room that was surrounded by several unknown objects, an unfamiliar girl was standing.

The girl in dress was folding her arms with her back turned on him. She was talking as though speaking to someone.

「Your whole family including you, have a certain instinct imprinted into their genetics. A competitive factor was planted by the predecessor scientist in order for your family to grow into an even more excellent existence. That factor is considered to bring out the aspect of overtaking and betraying other people from your family, and because of that all of you were persecuted. Even everyone of Xfer said that they will only have anything to do with us, the imperial family of the Lords.」

………….

Lux had no memory of this.

There was no girl with a similar face to this girl among the imperial family of the Old Empire.

She was different from the first imperial princess Listelka and the third imperial princess Hayes, but she certainly had distinctive silver hair like the Arcadia family.

Even when Lux tried to throw a question, he was unable to make any words inside the image.

The girl wearing a dress and flower crown quietly continued to talk as though doing it in Lux’s place.

「Even so Fugil, you proved to me that it’s a mistake. I will wait for you to wake up from having Baptism applied to your whole body. In order to change this world that is covered with dispute, this time for sure. I will complete the transforming Drag-Ride in this Avalon before you wake up.」

Looking closer, he could see that the girl was talking to a small black box.

Perhaps, that was a machine that was recording the girl’s words.

And then.

For some reason the girl turned towards a wall and peered into a cylindrical water tank beside it.

Lux’s eyes couldn’t see clearly, but inside a slender body of a girl was floating.

「Sacred Eclipse is also near completion. I swear I will build something wonderful without fail before you are awake. In order to grant both our wish, to save someone else──」

The girl next went down a stair towards the underground and opened the door of a room that was locked securely.

Inside, there was the figure of a young man that was entered inside a transparent huge metal box. He was undergoing a surgery by machine with his eyes closed all along.

(That’s──Fugil, niisan!?)

When he saw until that point, a question emerged inside Lux.

The question was, from which age did this scene come from?

(Did he come and enter the Ruin secretly since the era of Old Empire?)

No, Lux rethought, there was no way that was true.

Listelka Rei Arshalia who was a survivor from a few hundred years ago said that Sacred Eclipse existed since the past as a calamity that destroyed the world.

–

『I’ll tell you one thing for the end, my foolish little brother. Since the beginning, I am not an imperial prince or anything of this empire.』

–

On the last day of the coup d’etat, his elder brother who betrayed him and murdered the emperor said that.

If his words were correct, then Fugil’s true identity──just what…….

The girl lovingly caressed the metal coffin where Fugil was sleeping, then she slowly turned around.

The moment the face of the girl became clear to Lux after turning around, a terrifying chill ran through him.

(What, the. This girl……!)

The face of that girl, he had recollection of it even though only faintly.

No, just now, a memory that should be forgotten was resurrected in his mind.

In the past, seven years ago, when Lux went to Ries Island for a rescue there──

This girl, appeared there.

「Uh, gu……!」

His voice slipped out, even though he couldn’t feel his body at all until now, a headache assaulted him.

His memory was muddy.

At that time, Philuffy should have died because she was unable to adapt to the seed of a Ragnarok. The reason she was resurrected──was because of Sacred Eclipse.

That thing appeared before him along with light, and then to Philuffy who had stopped breathing──

Lux recalled a part of his memory and his breathing stopped from feeling taken aback.

Before Lux’s eyes, he could see once more the chalk white room that was surrounded by an inorganic wall.

The girl was standing there. She was peering into the cylindrical water tank while talking somewhat caringly.

「The Sacred Eclipse that you and I created, will be drawn towards the heart of a strong person, and grant salvation for only once. If their feeling is a pure wish, in order to grant it──Sacred Eclipse will grant strength, this Elixir」

When the silver haired girl that he had never even seen before smiled, Lux’s consciousness was cut off with a snap from the scene he was watching.

Right after that, intense pain ran through the blackout, and his dim vision suddenly opened.

Part 4

「Aruji, sama……?」

When he opened his eyes, he could see the worn out Yoruka peering onto Lux’s face.

At the side, the silver haired girl that he had just seen inside the dream──no, something humanoid which really resembled that girl was standing there.

It was looking down on Lux while sporting a gentle smile that looked angelic.

The drop that was shining in seven colors spilling from its fingertip was trickling down to the wound on Lux’s chest.

「This is, Sacred Eclipse? Is it……? No, rather than that my──?」

Here Lux finally noticed how he should have died already.

The deep fissure that was carved on his chest had vanished when he became aware of it.

「What happened? This is──」

Yoruka also noticed Sacred Eclipse and murmured with an astonished expression, but Lux didn’t understand anything.

At that time, Singlen who was standing arrogantly at some distance away suddenly let out his voice.

「Ha—ha—ha. This is interesting! I see, so it’s a jackpot at this first and last time! This miniscule chance of the surface side of Sacred Eclipse performing revival, just like with me at that time!」

Singlen’s crimson eye socket shined while his body under the armor suit was dyed black and he yelled.

「……!?」

Lux and Yoruka became alert against that laughing voice that sounded like he was possessed, but Singlen only pressed on his face and continued to laugh.

「I was misjudging this guy. It was my eyes that were cloudy. What is necessary so one can be called a hero isn’t physical strength or even ingenuity. It’s the heaven’s decree at the critical moment when it counts! You accomplished the last miracle without intending it──or perhaps it’s because of that foolish choice of trying to save everyone. In that case even without me using you, you will surely deliver your fang at the throat of that guy!」

Singlen spread his arms towards the sky and laughed loudly without suppressing down his mad excitement.

Right after that, the black pattern of devil transformation receded from his body. He returned to his usual form that was no different from a human.

Lux and Yoruka were taken aback, even so their hands moved towards their Sword Devices, it was then.

──*DOooOOON!*

A howl that sounded like rumbling ground thundered from above, the whole hangar shook fiercely.

「I see──now I have no more need to tame you to kill that guy. It’s pointless even if I stay here. I’ll lose my remaining pieces if I don’t quickly assist them. I’ve broken that nasty lethal weapon too. I don’t have anything to do here anymore.」

「Wait, you’re going to run away after going this far?」

Singlen said that and turned around, but Lux called out to his back.

But, Singlen only turned around his head and returned back his usual dark eye glint.

「What did you plan to make me do!? Who do you want to kill!?」

Hearing the question that the agitated Lux spat out, Singlen’s mouth warped into an arc.

「There is no time to have that talk here. Until you recover your memory──look forward to it in anticipation. In exchange I’ll teach you something good. That Sacred Eclipse which revived you, it will inverse to 『reverse side』 soon. Defeat it now that you are resurrected.」

「──!?」

Lux was shocked and looked at the Sacred Eclipse, then the shape of the beautiful silver haired girl transformed.

It looked injured as though its whole body was carved, its skin was carbonized as though flame had burned it, and its eyeballs rotted and fell.

And then, its mouth formed a wide grin that was like a crescent moon.

At the same time it unleashed a bottomless malicious killing intent towards mankind.

The last and greatest Ragnarok──the one that would guide the world to destruction was slowly starting to change.

「I’ll be waiting, Chore Prince──no, Black Hero. You will understand the meaning of my words someday. Including how this world won’t change at all unless I accomplish what I have to do.」

Singlen only said that and rode the wave that Leviathan’s Divine Raiment created. He withdrew from the underground Drag-Ride hangar.

Yoruka who was crouching in a dying state and Lux whose wound was healed were left behind.

And then, there was also the Sacred Eclipse that was carrying out an ominous transformation slowly.

Yoruka was watching that with only her blue right eye while her body wasn’t stirring at the slightest.

With that, even Lux understood that she already didn’t have even a scrap of strength to resist.

「──Why, Aruji-sama came for the likes of me?」

She didn’t try to look at Lux.

Yoruka merely muttered with a low voice as though she was talking to herself.

「Why did you secretly try to defeat Singlen? Surely someone at your level should have understood what would happen to you.」

「…………」

Lux picked up his Sword Device that fell on the ground and silently sent his thought.

Perhaps thanks to the Elixir that was poured on him, not just his wound, even his stamina was recovered.

He summoned Bahamut once more. He might be able to fight against this Sacred Eclipse.

「Perhaps, I’m the same like that. Knowing that Yoruka is braving through danger in order to protect me, I was unable to leave you alone.」

When Lux showed such powerless smile, Yoruka quietly shook her head.

「Aruji-sama──really doesn’t have eyes for evaluating people.」

Yoruka formed a resigned smile and objected like that to Lux.

「Putting your hand into fire in order to pick up a tool like me…… there is a limit even in making a stupid plan. Just for the sake of this kind of broken doll, that doesn’t have any emotion or anything」

Yoruka sighed with a serious face seemingly exasperated.

Lux couldn’t read her emotion.

Even so──what he should say as her master was decided.

「That’s not true. I remembered about the time when Philuffy came back to life. At that time, Sacred Eclipse granted my wish.」

That scene that flowed into him along with Elixir──the actions of that girl who looked the same as Sacred Eclipse, he still didn’t understand what was the meaning of that.

However, there was just one thing that he was convinced about.

Just like how his wish once saved Philuffy, Sacred Eclipse also responded to Yoruka’s hidden wish and saved Lux.

「Thanks to Yoruka’s wish, I was saved. That’s why, something like you being a tool without emotion, isn’t true.」

「…………」

Lux’s smile looked persuasive.

Even so Yoruka’s eyes wouldn’t meet Lux.

She kept crouching beside Lux with a fleeting expression while listening to that.

Her broken fingers kept tightly grasping her Sword Device.

「That’s right isn’t it.」

She replied like that with a voice that was filled with emptiness.

「I am not a faithful tool or anything. I cannot even control a single emotion of mine. I’m just a poor excuse of a human. Just like what my father told me once, I am a failure that is not human.」

Yoruka muttered indifferently without even a self-torturing feeling mixed within her voice.

Even so Lux called to her.

「After the fight against Gigas, I was happy that Yoruka came for me. The Old Empire was destroyed completely without me being able to save anyone, but with that it felt like I was able to save it just for a bit.」

「…………」

Yoruka’s face didn’t change even after hearing those words.

But, her shoulder shook just slightly.

「Yoruka. I’m not asking you who are a tool to become human. However, I don’t want to use and throw away the human you like a disposable tool. Just like how you didn’t let go of your katana, I need you, in order for me to keep being myself──」

「I am, Aruji-sama’s……katana?」

Yoruka was half dumbfounded hearing those words. She stared at the Sword Device of Yato no Kami.

In order for her to become her little brother’s servant, in order for her to persist in her contract, she didn’t let go of this katana until the very end.

Even though she was unable to understand a human’s emotions, if it was a feeling about needing something then she could understand it.

In order for Lux to carry out his own belief, he saved Yoruka when she was his opponent, like that──

「Besides, calling yourself a failure isn’t right. Humans, all of them are imperfect creatures. Anyone, no matter who, will all make mistakes and hesitate. Even me, Lisha-sama, and also everyone else. That’s why──it’s fine for you to stay beside me.」

Saying that, Lux held out his hand towards Yoruka.

Yoruka hesitated for a moment, then she put her hand on that hand.

「──As you wish, Aruji-sama.」

The time between the two stopped for a few moments.

He could feel the warmth of Yoruka’s blood as though it was showing her feeling for the first time.

• DOoOON!*

But, right after that the underground Drag-Ride hangar shook intensely.

Because of the fierce battle that happened here, the first fortress itself was starting to crumble.

The Sacred Eclipse that was already losing its human shape was also a concern, but first they should escape from here.

「Yoruka! We are getting out!」

Lux summoned Bahamut once more and quickly put it on as armor.

(──I can do this.)

Although the scar on his chest was remaining slightly, he could move perfectly.

It was slightly baffling why Lux didn’t go through devil transformation like other people after getting Elixir poured on him, but there was no time to ponder it.

He carried Yoruka in his arms and escaped while avoiding the avalanche of rubble.

Lisha and the others said that they temporarily retreated to link up with the New Kingdom army at the second fortress but──

「──Lux-kun! Be careful!」

The moment Lux escaped to the sky near the Garden, Coral’s voice came to him.

The Gargoyle and Chimera that attacked from left and right were killed instantly by Lisha and Greifer respectively.

「Lisha-sama and Coral!? And even Greifer!? Why──」

「It’s troublesome, but this is also a duty of an allied country yeah. More importantly……」

Greifer suddenly gazed at the front of Garden with sharp eyes.

Over there was the figure of a girl in dress whose eyes were covered with shadow──the main body of Sacred Eclipse. A swarm of more than a hundred Abyss was swirling around it.

「It’s that thing! As expected that thing is calling the Abyss here! No matter how many we defeat, the Abyss keep appearing one after another. If we don’t destroy that Sacred Eclipse at least, even if we return to Cross Field like this──」

Lisha was glaring at the sky with her crimson eyes while breathing hard.

It seemed that Singlen’s right hand man, Zweigberk was already leading the White Ridge knight order of the Blackend Kingdom to retreat.

In exchange it seemed the Drag-Knights of the New Kingdom military were coming as reinforcements, but they might get annihilated right away if they came to this battle situation.

「But it’s strange yeah? Where did those damned Dragon Marauder lot vanish to? Drakkhen also ran away, the mysterious masked girl who Coral saw is also gone.」

Greifer grumbled with an annoyed tone.

Right behind him, there were the figures of the Triad whose armors were dispelled because they had already surpassed their limit.

「Yes. My deepest apologies. I detected their presence broadly until the middle, but their signal cut off somehow in the sky. Also Lux-san, even Airi got kidnapped──」

「……-!?」

That report caused Lux’s complexion to change and he stopped breathing.

Seeing Noct’s figure that was gasping for air, it must be something that was outside her power.

Coral who was similarly anxious called to Lux who couldn’t say anything.

「I’m sorry Lux-kun. If only I didn’t let that masked Drag-Knight get away──」

「Right now that doesn’t matter!」

Lisha lifted up her sword resolutely in response to the dejected Coral.

「There isn’t any time to feel frustrated about the enemy’s trap that we didn’t notice! No matter what Dragon Marauder’s objective is, if they kidnapped the little sister, then they should contact us later for negotiating hostage!」

Lisha raised her voice to rouse up everyone there.

If Lux and the others were swallowed by fear and despair here, the battle line would break.

If that happened, they wouldn’t be able to save Airi either way.

「Thank you very much, Lisha-sama.」

Lux recovered his calm hearing her voice and said his thanks briefly. He then stared forward.

Certainly, if the enemy planned to kill Airi, they could easily do so.

For them to kidnap her meant that they had intentions to make use of her for something.

「Even so, how are we going to fight this time? This situation is completely jumbled up. I don’t get what the hell is going on.」

Greifer spoke casually while glaring at the Garden and the first fortress.

Certainly this time the motives of various forces were all mixed up.

Lux took a deep breath and quickly sorted out the situation in his mind.

Queen Raffi of the New Kingdom requested Lux and Lisha to bury the Grand Force inside Garden so that they wouldn’t be suspected of secretly keeping it.

But, Singlen who saw through that made his White Ridge knight order to hide inside Garden beforehand, laying a trap to catch Lux red handed.

Singlen’s aim of grasping Lux’s weakness to add him under his command ended in vain, but Dragon Marauder that was similarly hiding inside the Ruin snatched away the Grand Force and then they called a lot of Abyss.

The three division commanders of Dragon Marauder were all present, and then the Drag-Knight who was employing and cooperating with them──the masked girl also appeared and battled Coral.

Outside the Garden, Yoruka who was convinced of Singlen’s scheme resolved herself to assassinate him and infiltrated the first fortress, but she failed.

When Lux came to save Yoruka, Sacred Eclipse appeared and then they escaped. But then a swarm of Abyss in a number that was incomparable to before appeared around the Sacred Eclipse.

After that, Zweigbergk led away the White Ridge knight order and retreated. In this situation, Lux and the others similarly had to escape from here.

But, if they didn’t defeat Sacred Eclipse that showed up once more, they also couldn’t go back to Cross Field like this.

Lisha turned around while breathing roughly from exhaustion and raised her voice.

「Either way, we have to defeat that monster at any cost. Can you fight, Lux!?」

「──Yes.」

In a situation where once again more than a hundred strong Abyss swarmed between the wasteland and the blue sky, Lux nodded.

Right after that, the girl in dress standing far ahead──the Sacred Eclipse formed a wide grin on its mouth and came attacking with its flesh body.

The Triad who had become unable to operate their Drag-Rides anymore went into standby at the rear.

The enemy presence was near, but they were applying first aid treatment to the wounded Yoruka during this time.

The remaining combat force, Lux, Lisha, Greifer, and Coral engaged the Sacred Eclipse.

「Hah! You look like a spoiled young lady, but you’re quite the tomboy huh.」

Sacred Eclipse flew towards them as though running on the air. In response Greifer wearing Cuelebre intercepted it and unleashed a slash in spiraling trajectory with his Tail Blade.

Using the blade of many joints, it was a powerful attack with a trajectory that was difficult to read.

Sacred Eclipse held its hand for defense, but the blade slipped through and suddenly split its head from the top into two.

「──!?」

Lux and Lisha opened their eyes widely seeing that brilliant performance.

But, beside them, Coral gasped in surprise.

「Greifer! Don’t let your guard down!」

「……!?」

「Ahaha, Greifer is really terrible.」

The Sacred Eclipse healed its wound while simultaneously changing its shape instantly. It created the shape of a different girl.

A girl wearing a dress with ornamenta that looked like piled up flower petals, with a golden tiara put on her brownish blonde hair.

It was a girl that Lux once saw when he took the Class promotion exam in the Vanheim Principality, Greifer’s master, princess Milmiette. Sacred Eclipse transformed into her appearance.

Even if someone understood it in their mind that it was a fake, but if their important someone was right in front of their eyes, they would instinctively refuse to attack.

It might be a lag of an instant that was less than a second, but the moment Greifer’s hand stopped, countless fleshy colored branches stabbed out from the whole body of Sacred Eclipse.

「──Photon Dive!」

The ability of invincibility of Cuelebre’s Divine Raiment barely activated in time, repelling those countless branches.

「Wait Greifer! The enemy is right in the middle of those Abyss!」

Behind the Sacred Eclipse that was sent flying, the gathered Abyss that numbered nearly a hundred were standing by.

If Greifer threw himself into there, he would be safe for a few seconds, but after that there was a high possibility that he would be showered with concentrated fire.

But, Greifer didn’t back down even knowing the danger.

「Certainly that’s true. But, if this monster is aiming for that then it’s a really poor move yeah. Doesn’t it know that reckless challenges are my hobby?」

In order to destroy the core of Sacred Eclipse here, Greifer closed in further and swung his Blade.

He cut apart the branches that were hard like steel and let out consecutive attacks in order to stab his blade into that heart.

「You are really cruel aren’t you Greifer? Have you forgotten your gratitude to me?」

Sacred Eclipse tried to shake up Greifer once more with Milmiette’s appearance, but this time Greifer didn’t falter.

He replied shortly while dealing an attack of his Blade at the same time.

「Sorry, but the princess already knows that I’m a rude guy. Too bad.」

「…………」

He cut off its two arms and then he was going to deal the finishing strike, but at that moment several hundred branches stretched out in high speed from the Sacred Eclipse’s back.

They instantly stabbed into the Abysses that were hovering in the sky, and immediately after the stabbed Abysses dried up and crumbled.

「Get away Greifer! Sacred Eclipse is absorbing the Abysses’ life force!」

Almost at the same time with Coral’s scream, a portion of the branches attacked Greifer.

Because the invincibility of Photon Dive had just ended at that timing, Greifer shielded himself with his Blade, but the branches twisted and struck his side.

「Gu, a……!」

Fortunately because Coral was nearby, he deftly caught him.

But, Greifer’s barrier was pierced through and his armor smashed. He vomited out blood.

「That bastard……! Copying the movement of my Tail Blade──」

Glancing at Greifer who was gritting his teeth, Lisha started at Sacred Eclipse with a dubious expression.

「This is weird Lux, isn’t that Sacred Eclipse similar? With the Ragnarok that we fought previously──with Yggdrasil?」

「Yes. I also think so.」

Lux shuddered inside his heart.

Sacred Eclipse that they fought previously in the Campus Festival had the ability of tentacles and unlimited regeneration.

That was to say, it resembled the ability of the first Ragnarok that Lux and the others fought──Poseidon.

From here it became a rough guess but, perhaps Sacred Eclipse was tracing the abilities of the Ragnarok that they had defeated until now.

「Then, those Abyss that are only flying around Sacred Eclipse, could they be the meal for it?」

「If it’s a Ragnarok in the same type like Yggdrasil, the possibility is high. If I remember right, its trait should be strengthening and evolution. Each time it is defeated, it will acquire resistance and restore itself. In order to secure the energy for that, there is a possibility that it will not give any order to the Abyss around purposefully.」

Tillfur and Sharis were making such conjecture in the back while catching their breaths.

The same like the Yggdrasil that Hayes once manipulated, it was made to eat several hundred Abysse beforehand and secured energy source for its evolution.

「Yes. How it dealt with Greifer-san’s sword too, if it is inheriting Yggdrasil’s trait, it will be strengthened if we deal half-baked attacks to it here.」

Furthermore this time they had fewer battle force than that time.

And then, the three division commanders of Dragon Marauder were also hiding somewhere, and their employer was also lurking around.

「Then, there is no other choice but to shower it with simultaneous attacks. Even if we retreat from here while fighting, there is no way we can lead that thing back with us.」

It seemed everyone felt the same, everyone there consented at the same time.

Lux too, although he had his stamina and injury recovered, but he couldn’t use Over Limit.

Previously, he used counterattack of Critical Hit to reflect back the attack power of Yggdrasil after it was strengthened to the limit, defeating it. But it was unclear whether the same method would work this time.

The method of making the opponent’s strength evolve until the very limit also carried the risk of total annihilation for their side if they made the slightest mistake──it even might become the trigger of world destruction by creating an enemy that no one could defeat.

「──Yosh, then this time let’s go with the safe plan. What’s important is to defeat the surrounding Abysses first to make that Sacred Eclipse diet, it will be fine like that.」

If they destroyed the energy source of Sacred Eclipse, it wouldn’t be able to evolve.

In other words, the strategy was to crush the swarm of several hundred Abyss in the surroundings, and then they would deal the finishing blow to Sacred Eclipse for the last.

「Even so, that damned vice-captain-sama. Even though he acted self-importantly, he is gone at the crucial time.」

「It’s useless to even mind about that Greifer. More importantly, it looks like you don’t have a broken bone but, can you still move?」

Coral stepped forward to take the role of attracting the enemy. Greifer scratched his head with a disagreeable expression at Coral’s question.

「Honor student-sama is rough at working someone else as usual. Even though there are nothing but some defenseless bunches gasping for breath behind, there is no way I can slack off ain’t it」

He spoke coarsely, but as expected he was good at taking care of someone else.

「Nicely said! Then, we are starting the strategy! Both of you, follow my command!」

Lisha spoke encouragingly and gave simple instructions through Dragon Voice.

While the decisive battle was going to start under an overwhelmingly disadvantagous situation, at the side──Yoruka who was receiving first-aid treatment from Noct and the others lifted up her upper body.

「Wai-!? What are you doing Yoruka-chi!? It’s dangerous for you to move, your wounds will open again.」

「Yes. As expected I also cannot overlook this as a friend. Please think about the feelings of your master Lux-san.」

Tillfur and Noct who were dressed in pilot suit tried to stop Yoruka in panic, but Yoruka didn’t listen to them.

But, the reason why she was moving was different from before.

「It’s alright. I won’t do something so reckless that will bring me death. More importantly Noct-san, can I ask you to repair my Yato no Kami? It’s greatly damaged but, its Force Core is safe so──」

Although she had her usual bewitching smile on her face, however her eyes informed them of the strong will inside her.

「I have no intention to rush into that swarm. I only want──one more chance to activate my Divine Raiment and special armament. In order to become Aruji-sama’s strength, in a different way from before.」

「…………」

Yoruka’s atmosphere was somewhat different from before, causing the three to hold their breaths.

The Triad also had no more spare strength to even protect themselves, but seeing Yoruka’s eyes, Sharis resolved herself.

「Tillfur, we’re going to put on the strengthened type Drag-Rides once more. We will transfer all our remaining strength to Noct’s EX Drake. Let’s repair Yato no Kami as much as possible with that.」

「Wait a second!? If we do that, we won’t even have any strength left to walk away from here──」

「Either way we won’t be able to assist Lux-kun and the others anyway, so it’s pointless to keep any spare strength like that! Thinking about the matter of Airi getting kidnapped, it should be something trivial for us to at least be reckless here.」

「────」

Although there were many extenuating circumstances, it was a fact that Airi was taken away right under their noses.

Thinking how Lux was standing on the front line and fought in their place even then, then certainly there was no way they could just stay still here.

「It’s alright, even if you three don’t force yourselves.」

Yoruka who was wrapped in bandages gasped with feeble breathing.

「This is only my selfishness. I am only unable to bear it, to keep laying down like this without being able to be of any use as Aruji-sama’s servant.」

That was Yoruka’s true feeling.

Lux was considering herself not as tool, but as a person who was irreplaceable for the sake of accomplishing his ideal.

Then, there was no way she could just stay still like this like a meaningless tool.

In order to realize Lux’s ideal, as the sword of the Black Hero who brought salvation, she had to fight until the very end.

「──What, if it’s like that, then it’s the same for us.」

Tillfur suddenly showed a smile and put on her EX Wyrm once more.

She approached beside Noct who was similarly putting on her EX Drake and linked a cord to it and started transferring her remaining energy.

「Yeah. Even we hate it to be in a battle where we are only getting protected by him even though we introduced ourselves as Syvalles, that’s why we trained really hard.」

Sharis also stood up wobblingly while connecting the cord of her EX Wyvern with her best effort.

Noct who received the slight remaining energy from the two began to repair Yato no Kami while gasping for breath.

She performed temporary repairs that was focused on the Force Core, fixing only a bit of armor and the firing muzzle for the special armament.

Yoruka’s aim for making her choice to wish which part to repair.

She wouldn’t simply dedicate her strength to Lux, for the first time she was trying to cooperate with him.

She was relying on everyone’s strength, and on top of that she noticed that she would be doing something reckless.

「If that’s the case, then we are the same.」

Noct’s face was completely haggard, even so she made a faint smile.

Yoruka stayed still on that spot, looking fixedly on Lux’s back in order to squeeze out her last remaining strength.

Part 5

On the other hand, around that time Airi wasn’t between the wasteland and the blue sky, she was inside a room that also wasn’t within Garden.

It was a strange space with smooth metallic walls that were tinged with faint light, and unfamiliar structures assembled together on top of each other.

That place which closely resembled the internal structure of a Ruin was clearly the enemy’s base.

The air of the place was thick with tension that made her hesitate to even breath. There Airi was standing still without even trembling.

There were several times when she thought she was going to die.

When she was a sickly child, she was living side by side with death everyday. Even when her grandfather roused the anger of the Old Empire, also the time her mother died in an accident, and also after the coup d’etat, she was made to stand at the crossroad of life and death every time.

And then, even after Lux came to the Academy she experienced it several more times.

In this short time that didn’t even reach a year, they fought against powerful enemies many times.

She was kidnapped by the enemy in the Vanheim Principality and became a hostage.

Since then, she was covertly carrying a short sword and poison without telling anyone──not even her best friend Noct, so that she could perform suicide anytime.

Although only at the lowest position, she was still a former imperial princess, that was why she was resolved for at least that much.

What Airi feared the most wasn’t her death, it was that her life would be used as a negotiation chip against Lux.

Of course, Airi didn’t want to intentionally commit suicide and lose her chance for escape, but it would be a failure if she was late in making her decision.

Thus, in order to ascertain the path her destiny was heading, she was observing the tendency of her surroundings tensely.

It was a room where a wall surface was reflecting the scenery of the Garden’s surrounding, including the battle of Lux and the others.

The masked girl who kidnapped Airi, and a petite girl wearing robe who was obeying that girl were also there.

And then, the three division commanders of Dragon Marauder, the enemy of the world, were also standing there.

「──We finished our work. With this we will have you pay us our reward at the dawn of your rule over Avalon.」

First a muscular man with darkish skin handed over the large treasure box he was carrying.

The masked girl glanced inside it to confirm the content, then she turned her gaze towards Airi who was standing a bit far away.

「I will keep my promise, but don’t speak needlessly that others will hear. Haven’t you worked in the mercenary business for a long time, Gatouhan?」

The masked girl chided the dark skinned man with a voice that was as emotionless as her appearance.

The large man sighed ‘fuh’ with a wry smile while bowing courteously.

「Excuse my rudeness. Even like this I was previously the head of a 『savage tribe』. My loose lip is a bad habit from birth.」

「You immediately spoke needlessly right after getting told that. How astonishing.」

「Gatouhan put on air like a big shot, but he is unexpectedly stupid. Contractor-sama too, please let him off.」

Drakkhen with her female bandit appearance standing beside Gatouhan folded her arms sarcastically, while the youth Vine spoke bluntly.

But, the masked girl was curt.

「It looks like you are lacking in tension. Even though we still have to remove that Sacred Eclipse too.」

She only muttered that before giving a signal with her gesture, making the three division commanders to leave to another room.

When the metallic door opened and closed automatically, the little girl in robe who was at the corner of the room until now approached Airi slowly.

「-……!? Don’t come near me!」

Airi alertly backed away and grasped the handle of the short blade in her pocket.

She also took out a bag that was filled with poison.

「Stop resisting pointlessly. Do you want to die without seeing your brother’s face again?」

「It’s better to die rather than getting used by you all! If I’m going to become Nii-san’s burden here then──」

Airi raised her voice and steadied her short blade, then she pointed it to her throat.

She had resolved to be killed by other people several times before, but she had hesitation to do it herself.

The voice of reason which told her that she should stab herself right away was fighting the voice of instinct that told her she mustn’t die.

She recalled the face of Lux who waited upon the sickly her and tear almost oozed out. She reflexively endured it.

「You don’t want to die but, you won’t become a hostage……is it? It can’t be helped, let’s stop that.」

「……Eh?」

Airi was taken aback and her eyes blinked hearing the words of the masked girl that were said emotionlessly without any inflection.

When Airi was staring at the enemy before her while doubting her ears, the girl silently took off her mask.

「Then──make a contract with us. There is one thing that I want you to do. If you do that for us, I will let you go safely. I also won’t take you hostage.」

「──!?」

The moment Airi saw the exposed face, she became speechless.

That was the face of a girl she remembered seeing just once before at the campus festival.

Part 6

「──Damn, it all-!」

On the other hand, at the fierce fight against Sacred Eclipse that was unfolding far below the kidnapped Airi, a terrifying situation presented itself.

「What, in the world……! This thing, it’s entering a different world of troublesome compared to Yggdrasil!」

Lisha shouted loudly while throwing her Legions to attack the Abyss.

But, the attack that before this should deal some damage even if it couldn’t defeat the enemy was easily dodged by Gargoyles and Chimeras.

It wasn’t that her precision in controlling Tiamat was worsening, but the enemy reaction speed that was exceeding her accuracy.

「These guys, don’t tell me──. No, as I thought……they are growing!」

Coral was also muttering in frustration while the middle sized Blade he swung was dodged.

Even when his attack landed, his Blade would be deflected by the enemy’s skin and cracks were starting to enter the blade.

「Ahahahahahahahahahaha」

Sacred Eclipse was cackling eerily while stretching its branches to the surrounding Abysses.

At first they thought that Sacred Eclipse was only absorbing energy from the Abyss, but when Lux and the others aimed at the surrounding Abyss, it immediately began to stab its branches towards the remaining dozens of Abyss.

With that, the body of the Abyss swelled or their shape would change. They were starting to evolve.

They might get defeated before they could defeat the surrounding Abyss that were its energy source.

「Lux! Don’t use your Divine Raiment! We will do something about this right now!」

The swarm of Abyss was transformed into powerful enemies that even Bahamut would struggle against. When Lisha yelled so in front of such enemy, Lux obeyed her words and suppressed his strength.

Lux was also starting to suspect the omen of the enemy’s terrifying tactic.

(This is bad. It’s the same like the previous Sacred Eclipse, this thing is Yggdrasil’s evolved variant.)

It wasn’t merely using Abyss as food for its own evolution, it could even grant the resistance and evolution it obtained to the surrounding Abyss to strengthen them.

Like that, even the surrounding Abyss were transformed into powerful enemies that couldn’t be defeated without getting reckless, then the technique and ability used to defeat those Abyss would be absorbed back to Sacred Eclipse.

While they were defeating the hangers-on, an Evolved Sacred Eclipse that was beyond their means would be born.

(What to do──? Everyone who is fighting in my place won’t hold out for long.)

With how he was unable to use Over Limit, it was impossible to defeat the enemy with Critical Hit after strengthening it.

Then──the technique that applied Reload on Fire which Lux had newly invented──Violent Strike, there was no other way than that.

Violent Strike, the technique to make the enemy’s movement and ability rampage by activating Reload on Fire on the enemy and stopping their movement.

It was another matter if it was against a Drag-Knight, but he thought it would be ineffective against powerful creatures like the Ragnarok, but──

(A chance of victory, exists……!)

Lux felt a conviction after observing the surrounding Abyss that were strengthened by Sacred Eclipse.

It was hard to see because they were strengthened a lot, but the Abysses that had their evolution spurred by Sacred Eclipse were starting to crumble from the tips of their limbs.

A lot of energy was necessary to evolve them in short time, putting a burden on their flesh.

Putting aside Sacred Eclipse itself that was a Ragnarok, normal Abyss wouldn’t hold out for long. Their body was ruined from being unable to endure the strengthening.

If the speed of that abnormal evolution and regeneration jumped up by several times, even Sacred Eclipse would inevitably use up its energy, or it would start to break down due to the excessive evolution.

At that moment, the core of its breaking body could be destroyed using Quick Shot.

Lux’s plan was created on the fly, however he was made to realize that the plan was really far away from being accomplished.

「U, aah……!?」

Coral who got the back wings of his EX Wyvern smashed by a Diablos was sent flying to the ground.

Greifer took on the Abyss in Coral’s place, but he had no choice other than betting his full strength facing a top tier Abyss that was strengthened.

On the other hand Lisha was also approached by a strengthened Orthros and she was forced to eliminate it using Suppressor’s gravity force and Seven Heads in conjuction.

「Now-! I’ll deal a blow on you in front of Lux!」

Right after that, Lisha flew to the front of Sacred Eclipse that was trying to crawl its branch on the defeated Abyss and she activated Tiamat’s Divine Raiment once more.

Energy was focused at the center of Seven Heads’ firing muzzle.

She intended to fire the sure kill gravity force bullet that she showed at the decisive battle with Hayes.

But──at that instant, Sacred Eclipse suddenly changed appearances.

「Is it alright Lisha? Clinging like that to the likes of the Empire’s prince? Refusing to commit suicide and change sides to the Empire, your dead little sister won’t be able to rest in peace.」

「Tsu……!?」

Sacred Eclipse would read the hearts of the opponent it fought and traced the appearance of the human that could be said as the opponent’s weakness.

The one who showed up in front of Lisha was a man in his prime with similar blonde hair and crimson eyes.

Her father who died in battle at the revolution, the great man Count Atismata.

「──Shu, uT UPPPPPPPP-!?」

Instantly, Lisha yelled as though to force down all the emotions boiling up inside her body.

Lisha had also heard about the transformation trait of Sacred Eclipse from Celis and Lux who had fought it. But even with that knowledge she was unable to endure it, which was a troublesome point of this enemy.

The enemy would change its appearance into an existence that was important to them──no, it was even further than that, it changed into an existence that became their weakness.

Even though they understood that it was just a fake appearance, their humanity, senses, and instinct would reject that logic.

It was a weakness that existed due to them being proper humans.

To perfectly conquer that weakness, they had to stop being human.

Lisha forcefully break through it, even so that instant of delay brought about a lethal opening.

「Lisha-sama!」

The moment purple light bullet──gravity force bullet was fired from the muzzle and impacted, Sacred Eclipse stretched its branches and counterattacked.

Several branches flew toward Lisha and smashed Tiamat’s armor, at the same time several branches that were stretched backward absorbed life force from the surrounding Abysses.

「OGU-, GUOEEEEEEEUEEEUE-……!」

Right after that, the crackling gravity bullet swallowed Sacred Eclipse, breaking its limbs and it started to crumble.

(It’s not perfectly settled! But, the chance is only now──!)

Lux resolved himself like that and grasped Bahamut’s control stick in order to execute Violent Strike.

He headed towards the Sacred Eclipse and flew with full speed. The moment he was going to slash the blade of his great sword with the fastest speed, a girl’s voice reached his ear.

『Don’t……Aruji-sama』

「──!?」

Lux faltered for a moment towards the voice of Yoruka that came to him through Dragon Voice.

The moment his dash was delayed, Lisha readied her large cannon to fire additional attack from Seven Heads.

And then Greifer used Photon Dive and slashed from behind, but both were sent flying simultaneously.

「What……-!?」

Both of them yelled uneasily together.

In front of them, Sacred Eclipse with its half broken body regenerated its body with a repulsive smile and transformed into the appearance of the girl in dress once more.

「This bastard already adapted to the Divine Raiment of us two in this short time!?」

The weakness of Greifer’s Photon Dive was the moment he touched the enemy from his initiative, the light of his invincibility would cut off only at the part that came into contact with the enemy.

In other words, if an unmoving enemy directly released attack like shockwave from their body in the instant of that contact, it was possible to counterattack even with the invincibility active.

Regarding Lisha’s Suppressor, it was simply obtaining pure resistance to gravity.

The speed of evolution and adaptability that exceeded the imagination caused everyone there to shudder.

(This is bad……! If the sure kill by Reload on Fire misses even once, there won’t be any more chance for me to stop Sacred Eclipse!)

But, if he wasn’t stopped by Yoruka’s voice just now, he would have been intercepted without doubt.

Sacred Eclipse was completely alert against Lux too while facing Lisha, Coral, and Greifer.

Just like how Lux tried to read the enemy’s attack’s preliminary movement using his discernment and experience, Sacred Eclipse was also learning even Lux’s observing eye.

(What to do!? Lisha-sama and Coral, even Greifer cannot fight properly anymore. There is also no time, at this rate──)

When Lux made a distressed expression like that, a voice came to him once more from Yoruka who was lurking at the rear.

『Aruji-sama, will you listen to my plan? There is a chance to defeat that Sacred Eclipse.』

When Lux twisted his body slightly to look behind, he saw Yoruka there on her knee, wearing Yato no Kami that only had a part of its shoulder repaired.

『You must not Yoruka! Stop acting reckless already! If you fight more than this, you will──』

『Please let her do this, Lux-san.』

Beside Yoruka, Noct sent him her voice immediately to calm him down.

Even though her tone was calm just like how she usually was, there was a strong will filling her voice.

While Lux was bewildered by that, Sharis and Tillfur also sent him their voices.

『I’m also asking you this Lux-kun. She isn’t planning to disregard your feelings. Surely she is trying to do the opposite.』

『Yoruka-chi is considering your will……or something? Perhaps, it’s something like that I think. That’s why, listen to her. Because we who are the most useless here also entrusted our feelings to her!』

「…………」

Yoruka’s feeling that was different from before.

She wasn’t just thinking about Lux’s sake and fought, she was also trying to consider his will.

Not in order to become a sacrifice.

It was a method that Yoruka herself could do using her all, and then──

『Please allow me to use Aruji-sama’s body just for a moment. I swear that I will send Aruji-sama until that instant before Aruji-sama’s attack using Reload on Fire.』

「Yoruka──」

Lux guessed her intention from her words and her appearance that was intentionally wearing Yato no Kami.

He also guessed at the same time why Yoruka also took off the bandage covering her left eye.

Right after that, in front of him the eyes of Sacred Eclipse shined and it devoured several more Abyss. At that moment it flew towards Lux.

「Run away Lux! That thing is learning to predict the enemy just like you!」

Lisha wearing Tiamat yelled while being soaked with blood. Lux moved at the same time.

At this rate they wouldn’t be able to win.

He readied his great sword to intercept the enemy even while he understood that. At that timing, letters that looked like a spell faintly shined on the armor of Bahamut.

–

「──Instant Strike」

–

He felt like he could hear the voice of Yoruka who was far in the rear even without Dragon Voice.

Sacred Eclipse mimicked Lux’s foresight and took a stance to intercept him based on his preliminary motion, but it was completely taken by surprise and received an attack from his Blade.

It was a special move that was only allowed for Yoruka who read the wavelengths of consciousness using her devilish eye and made use of that opening.

It wasn’t just the Sacred Eclipse that was taken by surprise, Lisha who was watching from the side was also the same.

「Lux’s Instant Strike!? No, don’t tell me──」

「A string is, stretching from behind……?」

Just as what Coral muttered, a steel string was connected to Bahamut’s back wing.

In other words, due to Yato no Kami’s Spell Code, Yoruka controlled Bahamut like a puppet and unleashed that single strike.

She overlapped her technique on Lux’s body and Drag-Ride.

It was a combination technique that was impossible to perform withou her trusting other people and entrusting her heart to him.

If it was the Yoruka from before, she wouldn’t be able to even think up this attack that surpassed the ability of a Ragnarok.

「Now──Reload on Fire!」

Right after that, Lux who was released from the binding of Spell Code activated Reload on Fire.

He didn’t compress and strengthen his own time, but decelerated the speed of his opponent. After doing that, in the time that was stretched by several times over he would unleash the special move──Violent Strike.

He would deal countless slashes from above the core of the enemy that was in the state of nearly a complete pause.

「──Gu, OOO, OOOoUU……!?」

Due to the deceleration of time, even the shriek that Sacred Eclipse let out echoed dully.

And then──five seconds later, the countless slash lines that were carved on its chest were tinged with light, which shifted into destructive power that assaulted to one spot.

Sacred Eclipse was blown away with super speed to the ground below while sparks scattered intensely from near the core in its heart where the impact collided.

「──!?」

But, an unexpected miscalculation for Lux occurred here.

Based on the feedback from the core destruction of Metatron that was also a Ragnarok he fought just the other day, the Sacred Eclipse’s core should be destroyed from the attack just now.

And yet this time the destruction stopped at only the core surface.

(Is it growing, that even its resistance is rising higher than the Sacred Eclipse I defeated with Celis-senpai previously!?)

A Ragnarok that would revive after a period of time even after its core was broken and became an even stronger specimen──Sacred Eclipse.

Lux felt its terror once more while he pursued the Sacred Eclipse that was sent flying to deal the finishing blow.

It shouldn’t be able to move yet due to the damage right after it got showered with consecutive attacks.

It was barely surviving, but if it was now he could defeat it.

Thinking that, he was going to deal even more attacks to it, but then Sacred Eclipse transformed into a different appearance.

Smooth blonde hair that was tied into a sidetail and crimson eyes.

It was the appearance of the Princess of the New Kingdom who Lux served, Lizsharte.

–

「──Please Lux! Stop it! Don’t kill me again!」

–

「──!?」

When he saw that, some kind of shuddering chill ran through Lux’s body.

At the same time his body stiffened still from terror.

(……What does, it mean? Again?)

He completely understood that Sacred Eclipse transformed into an existence that was the opponent’s weak point, and Lux intended to swing his sword with the resolve of that.

Whether it would be his mother who died in an accident, or his father the emperor, or his little sister Airi, or his comrades from the Academy──, he intended to force down any agitation that might well up inside him, and yet now his hand stopped completely.

Why was that?

It wasn’t a coincidence.

Right now he simply wasn’t aware of it, but seeing this figure of Lisha, he felt like he knew something.

Lux knew about this something that Sacred Eclipse was saying to him.

(Is it because of my lost memory, no……that’s not it! The me right now is imagining it? What is this, this sensation──)

It was no good, he couldn’t swing his sword.

The moment he thought that, the real Lisha raised her voice.

「……Do it! Lux! Don’t get led astray by that kind of fake! I am the real thing!」

Bahamut’s armor automatically moved almost at the same time with Lisha’s yell.

Spell Code.

The special armament steel string, Kumo no Ito connected to Bahamut, and Yoruka gave the command in Lux’s place.

──But, Sacred Eclipse reacted to that and instantly transformed its appearance.

A black haired boy who resembled Lux with a little trace of innocence remaining in him.

(Could it be, this boy is──Yoruka’s)

Lux guessed that he might be Yoruka’s little brother from his face that resembled Lux and also had a trace of Yoruka’s features.

But, Lux and Yoruka didn’t hesitate.

Right after that, he slipped through the branches that stabbed in counterattack and landed a blow with all his might.

「──U, oOOOOOOOOOOOOH!」

The cracks on the core flickered with a flash and broke apart into pieces.

The greatest Ragnarok, Sacred Eclipse that showed its figure for the second time finally fell.

「Ku, kukukukuku……」

Sacred Eclipse was bisected in that young boy appearance. It vanished along with a faint smile.

Lux was breathing hard while looking down quietly on it.

「Thank you Yoruka, for giving me a push on the back──」

He slowly turned around before long. Until now his movement were manipulated by the Kumo no Ito.

The figure of the unfamiliar young boy in the end was a figure that Sacred Eclipse showed because it suspected even that.

「Also sorry. For making you attack the appearance of your little brother──」

「There is no problem.」

Yoruka dispelled the armor fragment of Yato no Kami and she powerlessly fell down.

Noct and Tillfur supported her from the left and right while she made a powerless smile.

「I don’t have a human heart, so I’m all right.」

「──No. You’re wrong.」

Lux who heard that quietly shook his head and smiled.

「I think that surely, Yoruka killed your heart for my sake. At the very least, I believe that you aren’t a human without a heart. That’s why──I’m sorry. Thank you.」

Yoruka’s eyes opened wide in astonishment for a moment hearing Lux’s words.

And then, she averted her eyes slightly as though in embarrassment and smiled.

「Perhaps that is so. If those are the words of none other than Aruji-sama, I will believe it.」

「Right. Surely that is so──」

This time Yoruka seemed to exhaust all her strength for real. Her eyes closed slowly and tension left her body.

Noct who was holding her checked her pulse, but it seemed she only fainted.

The girl who was treated by her surrounding as not human and who continued to affirm it herself until now.

Lux was happy from his heart that she was entrusting her feelings to him for the first time.

It felt like her feelings that were sealed by the word contract had softened slightly.

「Oi! What are you two doing flirting like that! There are still enemies remaining here!」

「That’s right. Even though it should still be my turn to guard Lux-kun.」

While Lux was thinking of such thing, Lisha got angry and Coral spoke jealously.

「Eh, wait!? That’s not my intention──」

Lux stared intensely to the front just as he was told even while getting flustered.

The countless Abyss had been liberated from Sacred Eclipse’s control. First they had to escape from here but──

That moment when he was about to take his stance, a familiar voice reached him from behind.

「Lux! Are you safe!?」

A golden Drag-Knight appeared from the blue sky.

The captain of Syvalles who Lux felt respect and affection for, Celistia was there.

「Celis-senpai!? Why are you here──?」

「It’s not just her Lux-kun. It looks like it’s not a mistake for me to rush here because of this bad feeling in my chest.」

The one who said that and appeared from the opposite direction was Krulcifer wearing Fafnir.

「I am, also here you know?」

In addition the one who appeared skating on the wasteland was Philuffy who should be resting because of her body condition.

Most likely she was notified of this predicament and she came here ignoring Relie’s order to rest.

「Protect Lizsharte-sama!」

「Form formation and charge! Don’t let those things touch our country’s princess!」

「You guys, you all also came?」

It wasn’t just the familiar girls, the Drag-Knights of the New Kingdom military also rushed here from Cross Field for them.

Their number was more than fifty.

Although the number of the surviving Abyss were about double than that, if Celis and others were here, Lux estimated that they would be able to fight for the time being.

What was left was to search for Dragon Marauder who seemed to make all these Abyss appear and take Airi back somehow──

(Please stay safe……Airi)

Lux was already wounded all over, even so he glared strongly to the sky. Right after that──a strange sound thundered at the surroundings.

–

────III-iiIIIIII-!

–

「……Kuh, this sound, again」

First Greifer who sensed the sound of a horn flute complained. The whole troops readied themselves.

But, instead of attacking, the Abyss swarm turned around and flew high into the sky. They were wrapped by faint light before long and their figures vanished.

「──They are retreating!? No, the movement just now……」

「That was, transfer……!」

Coral wearing his half broken EX Wyvern muttered with a dubious expression.

Next Celis landed beside Lux and whispered with an urgent look.

「Please be careful Lux. Lady Magialca and I found something in the abandoned capital of the Marcafal Kingdom. The existence of Avalon that is protected by the Abyss── And also, the traces of where the seventh Ruin, Moon was heading to.」

「Avalon, is in the Marcafal Kingdom!? No more importantly, the Moon was moving you say──?」

Celis who went to the Marcafal Kingdom due to the aide exchange could return back here should only be if there was a really important matter.

「As for me, the circumstance is different but it’s something similar.」

Before Lux could ponder about it, Krulcifer also muttered beside him.

「While Mel is unable to move due to her recuperation, someone secretly infiltrated into the Hall. I heard that from Ney Louches. Who was able to enter and what did they bring out? I followed their trace and arrived to this direction.」

「They, brought out something?」

Lux felt a bad premonition hearing her words.

He couldn’t imagine that the Dragon Marauder would expressly steal treasure from inside the Hall.

If there was a situation that even the Gear Leader, Ney Louches couldn’t prevent from happening──

At that moment when Lux was trying to reach the heart of the matter, a blue pillar of light suddenly descended from the spot near where the Abyss suddenly vanished.

The girl floating inside that light pillar was abruptly thrown out to the sky powerlessly from there.

「──Airi!?」

Lux yelled and flew his Bahamut at full speed.

He caught her body that almost free falled and she powerlessly smiled.

「Good grief. You are too slow, Nii-san.」

「Are you all right Airi!? Are you injured!? Just what happened──!?」

Lux forgot himself and rattled on in panic. Airi gently put her finger on his lips and quietly put her arms around his shoulders.

「There is no need to worry about me. I changed the subject a bit when talking, found an opening and escaped, that’s all. After all I am far more skilled with getting by in the world compared to Nii-san who keeps doing reckless things.」

「……I guess, you’re right.」

He let go his hand from the control stick and embraced his little sister tightly with his own hands.

He was about to make a request to the Drag-Knights of the New Kingdom military to bring her away from here to a safe place along with Yoruka and the others who were injured, it was then the scenery above the sky warped.

──WIIIIIIIIIII!

「-……!?」

Right after a presence that felt prickling to the skin like a burn, a giant sphere appeared in the blue sky.

Even though it should be far away, high in the sky, but it was so gigantic that the full figure of its outline couldn’t be grasped.

A huge moon that was several sizes larger even compared to the royal castle of the New Kingdom.

The spherical castle that was clad in a dazzling phosphorescence was floating there majestically.

「Silver, moon……?」

Lisha was gazing in wonderment at that presence which was overwhelming anyone who saw it while slipping out a mutter.

Celis and Krulcifer, Philuffy and Yoruka.

Greifer and Coral, and not just them, everyone of the New Kingdom military who was witnessing that sight were similarly overwhelmed by that sight which was beyond imagination.

The Seventh Ruin──Moon.

The last Ruin that was completely untraceable until now even with all the countries using all their might.

Right now it suddenly appeared in front of them.

「I see, so that’s the reason a lot of the Abyss showed up here before Sacred Eclipse even appeared.」

Lux consented with what Greifer pointed out.

Since the start that Ruin was already there. They were only unable to see it.

The Seventh Ruin──Moon.

That Ruin which possessed a great amount of Abysses was letting them out while hiding right in front of them.

With that fact, the other puzzle inevitably also fell into place.

It was highly possible that Dragon Marauder members who appeared from somewhere and vanished suddenly also came and went from there.

When everyone there realized that and looked up to the sky once more,

–

『──Informing all of you dear ladies and gentlemen』

–

A girl’s voice suddenly resounded loudly in the area, at the same time a huge three dimensional image was projected above the wasteland.

The masked girl wearing robe that they happened to see before this.

Lux and the others saw that in contrast to her words, there weren’t any friendly signs from her.

『My name is, Soffice Xfer. A descendant of the clan that you all call as the XferKey’s Supervisor.』

「……-!?」

Lux sensed Krulcifer who was listening to that beside him stiffen.

There was another comrade of hers other than Mishis who was joining hands with the Lords.

And then, it was actually the Seven Dragon Paladin of Turkimes Confederation──Soffice.

The girl in the three dimensional image took off her mask.

Brown skin and black hair, a face with a scarlet tattoo on it. Without a doubt it was her.

At the same time, her little sister who introduced herself as Uruk was also standing beside her. She took off her hood and showed her face.

Ears that looked like fox’s ears were growing out from her forehead.

「Automaton── as expected she is……!」

Yes, the strange occurrence that they talked about before Krulcifer departed to the Ymir Theocracy.

Uruk reacted to Krulcifer’s voice was because she was an Automaton. She possessed a trait where she had to obey a Xfer.

「This is a warning. All troops, as well as the Seven Dragon Paladins are to gather in the New Kingdom and stand by. Conquering the Ruin more than this is forbidden. Don’t come near the Ruin. I will bestow punishment if this warning is violated.」

Soffice informed with an assertive tone that broke no argument.

That was to say, she was saying that she was the traitor within the world alliance.

「Punishment? What, are you planning to reveal yourself suddenly like this!? It’s you who are surrounded here!」

「…………」

When Lisha reflexively declared that, the Moon’s surface shined faintly.

Right after that, a terrific rumbling reverberated, and the Garden vibrated in response.

「──I thought you will say that. I will show proof.」

After saying that with a bland voice, a gigantic Abyss appeared.

One right under the moon, and one more from beside the Garden.

Their appearance couldn’t be seen clearly because they were covered by shadow, but the intense killing intent and the mass of their body made the whole army surrounding them to tremble in fear.

「O, oi wait……. What the hell is that……」

「I have never seen that kind of huge Abyss until──no!」

The Drag-Knights of the New Kingdom military who were still young shivered when they saw that.

Even they who had no experience of battling Abyss immediately understood.

Those things that were gathered together by several for the first time, were the Abyss of the greatest and strongest class that were called as Ragnarok.

「Surrender──is not what I intend to say. However I won’t allow any opposition, including from the Lords. I will have all of you to stay still obediently until we reach Avalon.」

• Silence*…… the threat that Soffice made caused everyone to be unable to move.

──But, more than ten seconds later, one of the soldiers raised his voice.

「Do, don’t screw around!」

「That’s right, you think we will let a dictator like you to rule this world!」

「Stop it! Everyone!」

Lisha immediately lifted her hand to stop her subordinates, but right after that a thick beam of light was fired to right below the Moon, blowing away the spirit of everyone.

Thunderous sound and shockwave that impacted the ground at a far distance blew away even sound and voice, gouging the ground.

「…………」

Fortunately the location was an empty place without anyone there.

In exchange, a part of the wasteland that was extending flatly had a bottomless crevice spreading there.

「I liberated the Moon’s ability and put it under my control. Its ability isn’t just bombardment. It can also control the remaining three Abyss and give them simple instructions.」

The two gigantic Ragnarok that gathered right under the Moon proved Soffice’s words.

「If you all don’t do anything unnecessary, all the countries starting from the New Kingdom won’t be swallowed by the flames of war. If you understand, don’t lay your hand on the Ruins and Avalon anymore from here on.」

Soffice only told that and the hologram vanished. The two Ragnarok were absorbed inside the Moon.

And then the Moon which possessed overwhelming destructive and controlling power vanished like smoke.

「What is going on? No, what will happen to us──」

Lisha spoke while looking up to the sky in a daze. There was no one who could answer her.

Lux could only gently hold the hand of his master to give her encouragement.

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