Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 5 Capítulo 4

Capítulo 4 – O Quinto Artefato <Gigas>

Parte 1

Lux continuou a voar em linha reta através do céu noturno da madrugada que ainda escura.

Os soldados da guarda militar na Capital sabiam sobre a missão de defesa desta vez, mas Lux estava voando em grande altitude para que ele não fosse encontrado pelos Drag-Knights de outros países participantes da Batalha Geral dos Dragões.

Depois de voar para o norte assim por alguns minutos, Lux viu as tropas de Drag-Knights fora da muralha da Capital Real.

“Então você finalmente veio, Príncipe das Tarefas. Opa, agora você já é o cavaleiro de sua Alteza, a Princesa, hein. Ainda é uma conversa no futuro se você puder receber um título oficial, mas—”

Quando Lux pousou na frente das tropas, um grande homem ruivo na frente, um dos Quatro Grandes Nobres, Bugriser, riu com vontade.

“Príncipe das Tarefas está bem. Em vez disso, há alguma mudança na operação?”

Quando Lux perguntou seriamente, Bugriser espalhou um grande mapa para usar a operação e acenou com a cabeça.

Na aldeia abandonada a noroeste daqui, havia cerca de cem Abyss que se pensava estarem escondidos pelo Exército Rebelde lá.

Lux iria atraí-los como isca, conduzi-los para a fortaleza oculta ao norte, onde a força principal do Novo Reino estava por perto, e exterminaria os Abyss com um ataque total. Esse era o sentido amplo da operação desta vez.

A força Drag-Ride de Bugriser estava tomando posição no portão norte para interceptar os Abyss que conseguirem escapar dali.

“Não há mudanças no plano. Atualmente, não há nenhuma mudança na aldeia abandonada que se tornou o ponto de encontro dos Abyss, também não há nenhum relato sobre qualquer coisa estranha dos batedores Drag-Knight patrulhando ao redor da Capital. Mas—”

“Mas o que?”

“.......Parece que os oficiais na fortaleza leste estão dizendo que às vezes ouvem sons estranhos. Bem, acho que é um medo absurdo deles, mas apenas no caso de estarmos em guarda.”

“Entendido. Então—”

“Sim, comece a operação. Assim como planejamos inicialmente, o grupo de Drag-Knights das forças combinadas organizadas pelos Quatro Grandes Nobres e os militares do Novo Reino estão aguardando na fortaleza. Estamos ansiosos pelo seu esforço aqui.”

“......Sim.”

Lux assentiu levemente, então ele colocou sua força na parte sensível ao toque dentro da armadura e fez seu <Wyvern> voar.

Depois de aumentar sua altitude mais uma vez e confirmar a aldeia deserta que era o alvo, ele concentrou energia no dispositivo de propulsão nas asas em suas costas e acelerou ainda mais o Drag-Ride.

Ele ouviu dizer que não havia habitantes na aldeia deserta que era seu alvo.

No Plano de Recaptura da Capital Imperial que o espião adquiriu, provavelmente não havia nenhum Drag-Knight inimigo lá, exceto várias tropas de emboscada que estavam manuseando a flauta de chifre.

Mas, se a previsão de Lux estava certa sobre o dinheiro—

(...Não, é inútil, mesmo se eu pensar em algo que não sei. Hoje, concentre-se apenas na operação atual.)

Lux colocou mais ânimo e chegou à aldeia deserta.

Aquela aldeia que ele estava olhando de cima estava desolada como uma coisa natural. Não havia sinais de pessoas, em troca, havia uma pequena luz em apenas um ponto.

“............”

Lux reforçou sua vigilância enquanto descia para a aldeia.

A luz saía de uma caverna dentro da floresta.

Lux caminhou entre inúmeras casas abandonadas e quando se aproximou da luz, algo estranho aconteceu.

IiIIiiIIIIIIIIiIiI!

“Kuh......!?”

Seu cérebro parecia que estava diretamente fora de serviço. Um som estranho e intenso reverberou.

Foi o som da flauta de chifre que manipulava o Abyss.

No momento em que Lux percebeu, inúmeras balas leves foram disparadas contra os pés de Lux.

Ele reflexivamente balançou a <Scale Blade> e desviou as balas leves da Breath Gun obliquamente. —Então, ele simultaneamente reagiu a outra presença em movimento e voou para o ar.

Um ataque adicional de canhão foi disparado contra ele junto com um rugido estrondoso.

Ele o desviou com a <Scale Blade> mais uma vez. Então, depois que seu olhou ao redor, ele avistou três Drag-Knights em seu campo de visão.

“Como esperado do Herói. Um Drag-Knight que sofre uma emboscada geralmente tentará contra-atacar imediatamente ou recuar em pânico, mas... assim, mesmo a capitã não é párea para você.”

Um jovem vestindo um Drag-Ride genérico que recebeu a semente de Yggdrasil e foi remodelado – <B-Blood Wyvern>, ele estava acariciando seu cabelo curto e espetado enquanto deixava escapar um suspiro misturado com um sorriso irônico.

“Não perca seu tempo falando besteiras, Ignid. Assuma sua posição conforme planejado.”

Aquele que repreendeu aquela conversa frívola foi uma garota familiar usando o mesmo <B-Blood Wyvern>.

Uma garota com cabelos longos rebeldes e pele castanha escura, Saniya Lemiste.

Ela era uma espiã da República Heiburg que uma vez se infiltrou na Academia Militar Real, traiu Celis e atacou a academia junto com Hayes.

Outra garota usando um <B-Blood Drake> estava ao lado dela. Ela estava usando uma máscara redonda rabiscada. Sua verdadeira identidade não poderia ser descoberta.

“Kirl, verifique se há algum sinal de inimigos ao redor. Há outros Drag-Knights vindo?”

“Uuu...... Aa.”

A garota mascarada chamada Kirl balançou a cabeça levemente em negação.

Saniya viu isso e pareceu entender. Ela se virou para Lux mais uma vez.

“Foram vocês que reuniram os Abyss aqui?”

“Pare de espiar tão transparentemente seu Príncipe arruinado. Você mesmo, o que está fazendo vindo para este tipo de vila deserta sozinho enquanto a Batalha Geral dos Dragões está acontecendo? —Haa?”

Saniya sorriu destemidamente assim antes de levantar uma flauta de chifre pendurada em seu pescoço.

Instantaneamente, um calafrio arrepiante percorreu as costas de Lux e ele voou reflexivamente para o céu atrás dele.

Ao mesmo tempo, a silhueta de uma coisa alada atacou da escuridão da floresta atrás dos três.

“Essa coisa—!”

Um Abyss de forma alada que possuía um corpo duro, Gargoyle.

Era um inimigo formidável que possuía mobilidade de alta velocidade no ar, além da capacidade de disparar balas leves em forma de pena.

Derrotá-lo com o contra-ataque “Critical Hit” usando a <Scale Blade> levaria algum tempo porque ele precisava prever seu padrão de ataque inerente.

Lux rapidamente preparou sua Breath Gun e lançou um bombardeio na frente do Gargoyle.

As pontas das garras do Gargoyle que deslizou pelo bombardeio atacaram. No momento em que Lux tentou combinar o tempo com sua <Scale Blade> – mais um Abyss, uma Chimera, atacou por trás de seu <Wyvern>.

“Peguei você.”

Saniya que preparou a armadilha viu isso e seus lábios se abriram em um sorriso – mas, logo depois disso. O pescoço da Chimera que deveria ter pegado Lux de surpresa foi quebrado de forma rápida e o Abyss caiu.

“......O que—!?”

Lux fingiu interceptar o ataque pela frente e evitou a garra enquanto distribuía o “Critical Hit” na Chimera atrás dele. E então, na viagem de volta, sua espada desferiu o segundo “Critical Hit” no Gargoyle e esmagou uma de suas mãos.

Ele fingiu ter sido pego na coordenação dos Abyss e, ao inversamente, criou a chance de um “Critical Hit”.

Saniya e Ignid que viram aquilo olharam para o céu com um olhar fortemente alerta.

“Isso é uma piada, certo...? Esse cara é mesmo humano?”

“—Entendo, só porque ele não está usando <Bahamut>, não significa que será tão fácil.”

Logo após Ignid sussurrar em espanto, Saniya soprou sua flauta de chifre com força mais uma vez.

Abyss estavam saindo um após o outro da caverna. Lux, que viu isso, afastou-se ainda mais.

Ele derrotar a Chimera brincado um pouco de sua parte foi para provocar Saniya e os outros.

Para atrair o enxame de Abyss para a fortaleza oculta ao norte da Capital, ele teve que fazer todos os Abyss saírem.

Portanto, Lux precisava fazê-los pensar que apenas alguns Abyss não seriam suficientes para derrotá-lo.

“Quero pagar minha dívida com você diretamente, mas não posso evitar. Torne-se a comida dos Abyss assim!”

Logo depois que Saniya gritou, incontáveis Abyss que surgiram da caverna começaram a se mover simultaneamente.

Depois de ver isso, Lux também se virou e voou para escapar.

「—Fu, vou te dizer de antemão, sua tática não tem sentido, sabe? 」

Uma comunicação usando Dragon Voice veio de Saniya. Lux prendeu a respiração por apenas um momento.

「Você deve estar planejando tomar o controle no momento em que o efeito da minha flauta acabar usando sua própria flauta, mas – é inútil. Dentro desse enxame, existe um Abyss especial chamado Grimoire. Esse cara vai transmitir o comando mandado pela flauta para os outros e os fazerem continuarem cumprindo o mesmo comando. Enquanto esse monstro estiver vivo, o efeito da flauta não será dissipado e eles também não aceitarão os comandos de outros usuários de flauta. 」

A razão pela qual uma grande quantidade de Abyss puderam ser controlados no por vários dias, quando o efeito da flauta acabaria em um tempo fixo.

Se eles tivessem aquele Abyss chamado Grimoire, certamente seria possível, mas— também havia a possibilidade de que a declaração de Saniya em si fosse uma armadilha.

Ela pode estar fazendo Lux pensar que é impossível roubar o controle usando a flauta para atraí-lo a desafiar os Abyss com uma batalha decisiva de curta duração.

(Em qualquer caso, preciso pelo menos confirmá-lo.)

Lux evitou os ataques dos incontáveis Abyss enquanto ganhava tempo fazendo intencionalmente desvios em sua rota de fuga.

Foi aproximadamente dez minutos com seu relógio biológico.

No momento em que parecia que o efeito da primeira flauta de chifre deveria estar acabando, Lux soprou com força a flauta que carregava.

Um barulho estranho percorreu a área, mas o movimento dos Abyss na frente dele não mudou.

「Agora você entendeu que é inútil? Então, desta vez, resolva-se com certeza e lute. 」

(—Bom!)

Depois de confirmar a existência do Abyss chamado Grimoire, Lux começou a escapar novamente.

Lux mostrou o fato de que “estava carregando uma flauta de chifre e tentou tocá-la” e fez com que Saniya e os outros o perseguissem.

Se Lux identificou o Grimoire e o derrotando, era possível que o enxame de Abyss pudesse ser roubado por ele.

Portanto, o grupo de Saniya deve se mover para acabar com Lux.

Assim foi possível levar a cabo o plano – atrair todos os Abyss para o forte escondido.

“USHAAAAAaaA!”

Logo após Lux decidir o objetivo de sua ação, o enxame de Abyss atacou com ainda mais força.

Lux escapou dos ataques ferozes de uma grande variedade de Abyss usando o manuseio de espadas e habilidades de controle e continuou a escapar.

Porque ele continuou a se defender, ele só podia misturar ações para segurar o inimigo de seu fim, cada vez que ele fazia isso ele arriscava o perigo e várias vezes houve ataques que roçaram o corpo de seu Drag-Ride.

“Kuh......!”

Sua armadura foi gradualmente raspada, ele também se tornou incapaz de usar armas, suas opções de defesa e esquiva foram ficando limitadas.

Ele não tinha permissão nem para piscar dentro do ataque e da defesa até o limite máximo. Naquele momento, quando Lux quase ficou sem fôlego, ele finalmente viu a floresta alvo – o forte escondido onde a força de interceptação estava parada.

(......Lá vem eles!)

Logo após Lux confirmar, os Drag-Knights estacionados dentro da fortaleza já estavam preparando suas respectivas armas simultaneamente e puxaram o gatilho um após o outro. Os incontáveis flashes disparados rugiram e correram pelo céu, sacudindo a atmosfera e explodindo.

Tornou-se o sinal de partida da batalha e começou a operação de extermínio.

Parte 2

Depois de um total de duas horas desde o início da batalha entre um exército de cerca de cem Abyss e uma força mista no forte escondido.

Na arena da Capital, a última metade da Batalha Geral dos Dragões – sua primeira batalha já estava começando.

Muitos espectadores se reuniram nas arquibancadas e o local se encheu de um entusiasmo ainda maior do que anteontem.

As três batalhas hoje seriam contra a República Heiburg, o Reino Marcafal e o Principado de Vanheim, nessa ordem.

Dentro da sala de espera antes do início da batalha, os membros selecionados do Novo Reino, com exceção de Lux, estavam reunidos.

“—Por causa disso, Nii-san não pode aparecer na partida de hoje.”

Quando Airi falou sobre os detalhes de porque Lux saiu para a missão de isca, os membros da seleção ficaram abalados.

O Plano de Recaptura da Capital Imperial também era uma ameaça terrível, mas a missão de se tornar uma isca para atrair uma centena de Abyss também era imprudente. Algumas vozes se levantaram dizendo que eles deveriam ir ajudar, mas—

“O desejo de Nii-san é que vocês não sejam expostas ao perigo e que ganhemos a Batalha Geral dos Dragões.”

Quando Airi disse isso a todas, logo elas acenaram com a cabeça em aceitação, uma por uma.

“No entanto, isso é uma decepção. Eu pensei que aqueles caras que nos atacaram na Academia antes disso certamente viriam aqui também, mas—”

Os nomes de Saniya e dos outros não foram registrados na lista de sua primeira batalha contra Heiburg.

“Como esperado, Saniya e os outros não farão uma aparição na Batalha Geral dos Dragões. Atualmente, não os vejo preparando uma forte formação de elite que é ainda mais forte do que eles, mas...”

Celis também estava sussurrando com uma cara complicada, talvez porque ela era a ex-amiga de Saniya e esperava por um encontro casual.

“De qualquer forma, não podemos baixar a guarda. Seja dentro da partida, ou fora dela também—”

Philuffy também acenou com a cabeça em direção às palavras de Krulcifer.

Então, por último, Lisha respirou fundo e sorriu.

“Então, vamos obter o melhor resultado antes que Lux volte aqui! Vamos!”

Junto com essas palavras, o sinal que informava o horário de início da partida tocou fora do local.

As vozes do público que esquentaram devido ao início da partida puderam ser ouvidas até onde estavam.

Parte 3

Ao mesmo tempo. Perto da fortaleza escondida ao norte da capital, a batalha em grande escala entre o Abismo e as tropas mistas continuava.

Depois que Lux liderou o enxame de Abyss e correu para a floresta, os Drag-Knights militares que estavam cansados de esperar começaram o bombardeio de canhão de uma vez e conseguiram exterminar um pouco menos de 20 por cento do número de inimigos.

Depois disso, houve uma guerra total entre os dois lados.

Pensando baseado puramente na força de batalha, a vantagem estava nos 80 Abyss restantes.

As forças dos Abyss variavam dependendo do tamanho e tipo, e sua força de batalha variaria muito dependendo da combinação também.

E então, mesmo entre os Drag-Knights do exército do Novo Reino, havia apenas 20-30 por cento de oficiais que estavam acostumados a lutar contra o Abyss.

Mas, eles tinham a vantagem do terreno em que podiam se proteger atrás de uma sólida fortaleza enquanto atacavam.

E então, porque Lux havia atraído o enxame por uma longa distância, os Abyss que estava vindo para ele de uma vez no começo agora estavam espalhados um do outro, no momento os militares do Novo Reino estavam progredindo na luta com vantagem.

Lux entrou na fortaleza e terminou seu papel de isca por enquanto. Ele se reportou ao comandante do exército misto, depois disso ele seguiu alguém que o guiava e deitou-se um uma cama em um quarto subterrâneo.

“Como eu pensei, talvez enfrentar uma centena tenha sido um pouco imprudente...”

Lux se esqueceu porque estava concentrado no meio da luta, mas na verdade ele mal conseguiu.

Um grande número de Abyss que recebeu o comando de uma flauta de chifre, uma vez, tinha a tendência de atacar em um padrão simples.

Além disso, Lux lutou constantemente em grandes altitudes. Se ele não limitasse seus oponentes a apenas tipos voadores como aquele, não havia dúvida de que ele já estaria morto.

“Mesmo assim—”

Lux deitou-se olhando para o teto enquanto enxugava o suor da testa com uma toalha.

Os três Drag-Knights que incluíam Saniya desapareceram no meio do caminho por algum motivo.

Havia também a chance improvável de serem arrastados para os ataques dos Abyss, mas ele não entendia o motivo.

Mesmo que por acaso estivessem indo para a capital sozinhos, não deveriam ser capazes de fazer nada com apenas os três.

(Mas, não sei o porquê. Parece que estamos esquecendo de algo importante—)

O cansaço de finalmente se libertar da tensão extrema fez com que a fadiga roubasse a capacidade de pensar de Lux.

Sua consciência estava desaparecendo como se estivesse sendo sugada pela escuridão.

Parte 4

「Em seguida, a segunda batalha de hoje. A batalha entre o Novo Reino Atismata contra o Reino Marcafal começará. Os participantes da primeira partida, por favor, subam ao ringue! 」

Quando o árbitro do Novo Reino que estava usando um <Drake> alertou os participantes, o representante de Marcafal, um Drag-Knight masculino caminhou em direção à arena primeiro.

O Reino Marcafal tinha um amplo território, mas talvez porque não havia Ruína em seu território, a criação de seus Drag-Knights não era tão avançada.

Portanto, decidindo que eles seriam capazes de tirar vantagem na batalha de duplas usando coisas como cooperação e assim por diante, foi decidido que na primeira batalha um-a-um Lisha sairia como a primeira.

Eles obtiveram a vitória da batalha anterior contra Heiburg com duas vitórias consecutivas, então eles tinham alguma margem de manobra para esta batalha.

“Agora, vou ganhar e criar a sequência.”

Lisha saiu da sala de espera e sussurrou isso antes de usar seu Drag-Ride Divino, <Tiamat>.

Quando ela entrou na passagem que ligava a entrada do ringue, uma figura usando com roupas pretas correu em linha reta em sua direção.

“Lisha-sama!”

Airi, que também estava saindo da sala de espera para olhar a situação, viu isso e gritou por reflexo.

“Hm......? Qual é o problema, Airi? Aconteceu alguma coisa?”

“Eh......?”

Não havia nada atrás de Lisha e <Tiamat> que se viraram. Não, Airi viu que quando a sombra vestida de preto tocou <Tiamat>, parecia que ela desapareceu como se derretendo no ar.

“N-Não, não é nada... Foi só, minha imaginação.”

“......Garota estranha. Se for sobre Lux, então ele está bem.”

Lisha deu um sorriso antes de atravessar a passagem em direção ao local.

Mas, Airi correu pelas escadas em direção à arquibancada ainda com um olhar inquieto.

「Ambos os lados estão em posição, então a primeira partida da segunda rodada, o Novo Reino Atismata contra o Reino Marcafal, começará. Batalha, comece! 」

Finalmente, a partida começou.

A vanguarda do Reino Marcafal era um usuário de um Drag-Ride <Wyvern> de propósito geral.

Enquanto não houve nenhum grande incidente, a vitória de Lisha, que era usuária de um Drag-Ride Divino, foi inabalável.

A própria Lisha também exibia um sorriso composto, e quando ela estava prestes a pressionar o oponente que foi forçado a uma batalha defensiva unilateral—

“......O qu—!?”

Sua expressão endureceu instantaneamente e a agitação apareceu em seu rosto.

「Oh, há algum tipo de problema? O Drag-Ride de sua alteza Lisesharte está— ......!? 」

O locutor Drag-Knight viu isso e inclinou a cabeça. O <Tiamat> de Lisha mudou-se logo depois disso.

O canhão que foi carregado até o máximo foi apontado para a arquibancada que estava em uma direção completamente diferente do oponente, e o gatilho foi puxado repentinamente.

*DOUNN!*

O canhão rugiu e um único feixe de luz percorreu o ar.

O Drag-Knight de defesa em frente a arquibancada ficou chocado ao bloqueá-lo com sua barreira mais forte.

Embora ele mal tenha bloqueado o ataque completamente, vozes assustadas surgiram da arquibancada atrás dele.

“E-Espere—!? Eu não estou fazendo nada—!?”

Em contraste com as palavras perplexas de Lisha, <Tiamat> começou a carregar a energia do canhão mais uma vez.

E então, ele ignorou o Drag-Knight do Reino Marcafal que era o oponente e mais uma vez mirou sem o menor desvio – em direção à arquibancada ao qual foi bombardeada agora há pouco.

“—Por quê!? Por que o controle do <Tiamat>—? PARAAAA!”

Lisha gritou. Ao mesmo tempo, um barulho surgiu em todo o local.

O Drag-Knight de defesa ainda estava desequilibrado e não foi capaz de implantar a próxima barreira.

No momento em que o canhão carregado com a potência máxima foi disparado mais uma vez contra os espectadores atrás, um tênue território de luz espalhou-se à frente de Lisha.

“<Divine Gate>”

O <Lindworm> de Celis apareceu diante de seus olhos e implantou a barreira na potência máxima.

Celis foi jogada para trás impedindo-a de bloqueá-lo, mas o ataque foi de alguma forma contido para que nenhum dano ocorresse aos arredores.

Além disso, o armamento do <Fafnir> de Krulcifer, o <Freezing Cannon> disparou sua bala congelante e congelou instantaneamente o canhão do <Tiamat>, ambas as pernas e suas asas traseiras.

Com isso – <Tiamat> foi completamente suprimido.

「C-Como isso aconteceu!? O Drag-Ride de sua alteza Lisesharte de repente enlouqueceu. No entanto, isso—」

Logo depois que o comentarista falou—

“Fiquem em silencio! Esta partida foi suspensa devido à ocorrência do problema!”

O árbitro oficial pousou no ringue junto com vários Drag-Knights.

Depois disso, o <Tiamat> de Lisha foi dissipado e, usando a função de megafone do <Drake>, um julgamento formal foi proferido.

“É considerado um ataque dirigido intencionalmente ao público! A segunda batalha é contada como derrota para o Novo Reino devido à violação das regras!”

“......!?”

Uma grande comoção espalhou-se como ondas na arquibancada e as pessoas levantaram suas vozes.

“Sua Alteza ainda é incapaz de lidar com o Drag-Ride Divino que enlouqueceu nesse momento?”

“A área que foi o alvo, era onde os VIPs do Principado de Vanheim estavam sentados, certo? Talvez isso se torne um problema internacional—”

“Ela estava tentando matá-los enquanto fingia que foi um acidente? Não me diga, tal coisa...”

“Isso está errado!? Eu não fiz isso! Tal coisa, absolutamente—!”

Krulcifer colocou delicadamente a mão no ombro de Lisha, que perdeu o autocontrole e gritou com a voz trêmula.

“Deixe passar por enquanto. Não importa o que aconteceu nesse momento, ainda está—”

Ouvindo essas palavras calmas e sérias, Lisha abaixou a mão que estava alcançando o ar vazio.

E com isso, a cortina caiu sobre a segunda batalha do Novo Reino.

Parte 5

“O-O que aconteceu!? Por que o fogo está vindo de dentro— uwah!?”

“R-Retirada! Eles já se infiltraram até dentro da fortaleza!”

“Idiota! Retirada você diz!? Ainda há trinta Abyss restantes aqui! De jeito nenhum podemos fugir para a Capital desse jeito!”

“Você é o idiota! Não podemos manter a linha de frente agora que a formação desmoronou até aqui! Nesse ritmo, será a aniquilação total!”

Houve um som alto de bombardeio e o som dos dispositivos de propulsão dos Drag-Rides vindo de cima.

Além disso, os gritos dos soldados foram misturados com os rugidos dos Abyss. Lux, que acabara de acordar, reconheceu a gravidade da situação.

“......!?”

Ele rapidamente pegou o relógio de bolso que colocou no suporte ao lado do travesseiro e verificou a hora.

Passaram-se menos de duas horas desde que Lux perdeu a consciência.

Ele colocou força em seus pés e levantou-se, então respirou fundo.

A força voltou ao seu corpo, mas nesta emergência, nem mesmo um único erro seria permitido.

Ele abriu a porta por dentro com forte vigilância. Quando ele tentou subir para o primeiro andar da sala de pedra no subsolo, ele avistou uma pessoa ferida que parecia rolar descendo as escadas.

“Controle-se! O que aconteceu!?”

Quando Lux correu para a pessoa em pânico e ergueu seu corpo, o soldado fez uma expressão de sofrimento e falou com uma voz rouca.

“R-Recue rapidamente! Fomos enganados. Nossa estratégia vazou para esses caras desde o início! Essa é a única explicação. Nós lutamos bem contra os Abyss no começo, mas aqueles caras...... o Exército Rebelde que apareceu de repente de dentro da fortaleza, nos atacou—”

“......O Exército Rebelde? Como?”

No Plano de Recaptura da Capital Imperial que o espião do Novo Reino obteve, o Exército Rebelde que era a força principal não deveria atacar ainda de acordo com o plano. “Eu não sei. Mas há apenas uma coisa que está clara. Já é impossível defender esta fortaleza...”

“............”

Lux instintivamente entendeu a verdadeira situação.

O fato de Lux ter ouvido dos cônsules – que a força principal do Exército Rebelde ainda deveria estar parada em uma base distante. Foi uma armadilha do inimigo em que foram apanhados.

(No entanto— é apenas natural.)

Se um grande número de Abyss fosse encontrado perto da Capital, qualquer um teria sua atenção desviada para lá.

A fim de interceptar cem Abyss nesta fortaleza escondida, sessenta por cento da força total do exército do Novo Reino foi investido aqui.

A situação era mais urgente do que o esperado.

“Por favor, esconda-se no subsolo e recue quando houver uma chance. Eu estou indo—”

“E-Espere! O que você está planejando fazer!?”

“Vou atrair os Abyss restantes e o Exército Rebelde de alguma forma, com certeza.”

“N-Não aja precipitadamente...!? Tal coisa é imposs—!”

Ignorando o soldado que tentou detê-lo, Lux invocou seu <Wyvern>.

Ele rapidamente o equipou e voou, saiu da fortaleza que estava pegando fogo e se dirigiu ao céu para entender a situação.

O que ele encontrou lá foi o enxame de Abyss que estava escalando a fortaleza enquanto a destruía e – cerca de duzentos membros do Exército Rebelde atrás deles.

Até aquele ponto, estava dentro das expectativas de Lux, mas um rosto inesperado estava entre aquele exército.

“Hoo, há quanto tempo – Lux. Ó irmão mais novo do meu melhor amigo Abel Arcadia.”

Lux inconscientemente prendeu a respiração depois de ver o Drag-Knight dentro do <EX Wyvern> voando na frente como se liderasse aquele exército.

“Você é... se bem me lembro—”

Ragreed Forus.

Cinco anos atrás, ele escapou do Novo Reino para Heiburg e foi conivente com a divisão militar local. O comandante supremo do Exército Rebelde.

Antes, no Império Arcadia, ele era o melhor amigo do irmão mais velho de Lux, o sexto Príncipe Imperial, Abel. Um homem de uma grande família nobre que foi preparado para se tornar um membro da guarda imperial de Abel.

Sua personalidade e ideologia foram tingidas da mesma cor do Velho Império. Ele planejou fazer uma acusação falsa sobre Philuffy, que ainda era uma criança naquela época. Para Lux, ele era um adversário com o qual tinha um empate.

Os subordinados atrás dele não se moveram, talvez porque ele deu instruções usando o Dragon Voice para que eles não interferissem.

“Um estranho destino realmente existe. Nós, que temos parentesco como alguém que passamos o tempo da infância na Corte Imperial, estamos agora reunidos como inimigos. Eu ouvi sobre sua história da estrategista, sabe? Herói Negro.”

Ragreed lançou um olhar indulgente para Lux e sorriu.

Parecia que ele já tinha ouvido falar do Herói Negro e <Bahamut> da Hayes.

“Desde aquela época, quando você se tornou um obstáculo ao meu esquema, eu tinha um palpite, mesmo quando criança, que você absolutamente— ia ser um inimigo contra mim.”

Ele disse isso com um tom irritado antes de apontar sua espada de tamanho médio para Lux.

“Mas, no final, sou eu quem vai ganhar. A capital certamente já vai cair. Eu vou suceder a vontade do Antigo Império— ascendendo ao trono deste país como o novo Imperador.”

“—Personalidade lamentável.”

“O qu......?”

Ragreed franziu as sobrancelhas ligeiramente em resposta ao olhar frio de Lux para ele.

“Você não entende que está sendo usado apenas como um peão pela divisão militar de Heiburg e aquela estrategista? Quando você se tornar o Imperador apenas no nome, você não será nada mais do que uma marionete que governa este país obedecendo ao que aquelas pessoas mandarem. Você está planejando se tornar um palhaço que só está agindo como um governante porque seus olhos estão cegos pela ganância?”

“Fuh, fufufu. Kukukukukukuku. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Quando Lux apontou isso, Ragreed cobriu o rosto com a mão direita enquanto ria alto.

“Você não mudou nada, hein. Você... você é estúpido ou um idiota— ou você está bêbado?”

Ragreed fez um sorriso vulgar na boca enquanto batia na própria cabeça *tap tap* com o dedo.

“Uma marionete? Um palhaço que está apenas atuando? E daí? Não está bom? Serei capaz de exercer a autoridade deste país publicamente como o Imperador sob a bandeira de Heiburg. Serei capaz de brincar com a fortuna deste país e as massas tolas, e agir tão tirânico quanto eu quiser. Afinal, sou uma pessoa modesta e inteligente. As qualificações como Imperador ou o reconhecimento de outros – eu não tenho nenhum interesse em nada parecido desde o início. Está tudo bem se eu puder viver facilmente e fazer com que todos se submetam.”

“............”

Lux ouviu e soltou um pequeno suspiro.

Este homem diante de seus olhos, originalmente, ele era um homem de uma grande família nobre no nível que lhe permitia ir e vir até mesmo dentro da Corte Imperial, mas agora ele parecia pior do que qualquer tipo de Abyss.

“—Você... eu absolutamente não vou permitir que você faça isso.”

Lux respirou fundo silenciosamente, depois olhou para frente com um olhar frio.

E então ele assumiu uma posição com sua <Scale Blade> posicionada horizontalmente na mesma altura de seus olhos. Em resposta a isso, Ragreed também moveu seu <EX Wyvern>.

“Kukuku! Você certamente pode falar, hein, Príncipe Arruinado! —Então, vou fazer você implorar!”

Ele voou desenhando uma curva acentuada ao dizer isso e desferiu um golpe em seu avanço em direção a Lux.

Foi um ataque que fez uso da mobilidade do <EX Wyvern>, mas foi só isso.

Lux viu e reagiu. Ele interceptou usando “Critical Hit” por meio da <Scale Blade>.

Com isso, o poder de ataque do oponente deve ser refletido de volta em um único ponto e destruir a arma e a armadura, mas—

*BACHIIN!*

“......!?”

Instantaneamente, uma luz brilhante explodiu no ponto de contato e ambos os lados foram lançados para trás.

O “Critical Hit” deveria ter sido executado perfeitamente, mas o <EX Wyvern> saiu ileso.

Não, ao invés disso—

(O movimento do Drag-Ride, mudou no meio do caminho...?)

Não houve apenas uma força de repulsão poderosa agora, logo antes de Lux bloquear o ataque, o movimento do inimigo mudou sutilmente.

Aconteceu no momento que absolutamente não poderia ser alterado se o Drag-Ride fosse controlado apenas normalmente.

“—E aí, isso é tudo que você tem? Você realmente acha que pode proteger este país quando não consegue nem me vencer sozinho?”

O “Critical Hit” de Lux terminou em fracasso, não foi porque o movimento de Ragreed foi excepcionalmente excelente.

Certamente ele tinha a habilidade próxima ao nível de um Drag-Knight de alta classe, mas isso era tudo.

O Drag-Ride que ele estava usando tinha a aparência de um simples <EX Wyvern>, mas— continha algum tipo de segredo.

“Você não vai usar o <Bahamut> contra alguém como eu? Então eu vou te ensinar algo bom. Agora mesmo, uma calamidade maior está se aproximando do Novo Reino. Uma força tremenda que é ainda mais perigosa do que o Ragnarok.”

“O que......!?”

O sorriso destemido de Ragreed não mostrou nenhum sinal de falsidade.

Não, deixando isso de lado, Lux tinha uma pista sobre isso.

Se sua pior imaginação, que normalmente deveria ser absolutamente impossível, acertou precisamente—

“Howling Roar!”

Instantaneamente, Lux emitiu ondas de choque da cabeça de sua armadura apontando para Ragreed na frente dele.

Logo após o <EX Wyvern> ser mandado para longe diante de seus olhos, Lux se moveu para trás e percorreu uma grande distância.

Lux se posicionou na sombra de uma grande rocha atrás dele, então ele rapidamente dissipou seu <Wyvern>.

“Fu! Finalmente você se motivou né? Então— eu irei com força total também!”

Ragreed que vi isso, também recuou temporariamente antes de direcionar a flauta de chifre do pescoço em direção à boca.

Junto com o som dissonante da flauta, o comando para o Grimoire foi reescrito e os trinta Abyss restantes pararam de atacar a fortaleza. Todos eles mudaram simultaneamente de direção em direção a Lux. Além disso, com isso como sinal, os Drag-Knights do Exército Rebelde, que eram tingidos de cinza, também direcionaram a mira de suas armas para Lux.

O atual Lux só poderia usar <Bahamut> por no máximo doze minutos.

Usá-lo para mais do que isso faria com que o Drag-Ride fosse dissipado à força e se tornasse inutilizável.

Os trinta e poucos Abyss restantes e aproximadamente duzentos Drag-Knights do Exército Rebelde.

A maior ameaça atualmente se aproximando da Capital Real.

Já não havia outro jeito a não ser apostar aqui para impedir todas aquelas ameaças.

Lux rapidamente murmurou o código de acesso e equipou uma armadura preta.

“Kuku, finalmente aparecendo hein, Herói Negro! Usuário do dragão violento, <Bahamut>! Agora me mostre! O que você pode fazer com esse pouco de tempo e força restantes!”

Ragreed gritou e ergueu sua espada bem alto em direção ao céu.

Instantaneamente, os Abyss e os Drag-Knights que ele liderava começaram a atacar simultaneamente.

Parte 6

A sala de espera da Batalha Geral dos Dragões para o Novo Reino estava mortalmente silenciosa, como se água fria tivesse sido derramada ali.

A segunda batalha antes desta terminou com a derrota do Novo Reino porque eles foram considerados como violadores da regra intencionalmente. Além disso, Celis e Krulcifer que invadiram a arena também perderam suas qualificações para participar hoje e sua equipe foi forçada a uma desvantagem.

Lisha, a autora do incidente, foi levada para audiência pelo investigador que veio do palácio.

Claro que era o fato de que ela estava sob suspeita, mas porque ela também estava na posição de Princesa do Novo Reino, também havia a intenção de abrigá-la o mais rápido possível.

Com isso, na última batalha contra o Principado de Vanheim, a única usuária de Drag-Ride Divino que poderia participar era Philuffy, mas havia um problema ainda mais sério para o Novo Reino.

O tiro de canhão de Lisha foi direcionado à arquibancada onde os VIPs do Principado de Vanheim estavam.

Atualmente a Batalha Geral dos Dragões ainda estava em andamento, então o assunto foi colocado em espera, mas o outro lado tinha dúvidas de que o incidente foi intencional.

No caso de que depois que a Batalha Geral dos Dragões acabar, o Principado de Vanheim denunciar o Novo Reino com a suspeita de assassinato, era inevitável que a posição do Novo Reino piorasse, no pior dos casos— poderia até se tornar a faísca da guerra contra o Principado de Vanheim.

E isso aconteceria pelas mãos de ninguém menos que Lisha, que disse que ela lutaria pelo bem do Novo Reino—

“Mesmo com a investigação da causa, por enquanto temos que nos preparar para o próximo jogo. A terceira partida contra o Principado de Vanheim certamente terá um clima diferente do que antes. —Você está pronta para ir, Philuffy Aingram?”

“Estou bem. Mesmo no caso de alguém tocar uma flauta de chifre, eu aguento um pouco.”

Colocar Philuffy nessa emergência foi uma espécie de aposta.

O oponente não era a República Heiburg, mas se eles quisessem fazer algo, havia a possibilidade de usarem uma flauta de chifre para controlar Philuffy, que possuía as características e habilidades de um Abyss para causar danos.

Uma inspeção especialmente rigorosa dos pertences pessoais do povo de Heiburg foi realizada, mas elas ainda não conseguiram baixar a guarda.

E então—

“Controlar um Drag-Ride... se há alguém que armou para Lisha-sama, então como esperado, é aquela garota?”

Airi falou o que estava pensando há algum tempo em voz baixa.

A garota que possuía o apelido de Lâmina Assassina do Império, Yoruka Kirihime.

A Veste Divina de seu< Yato no Kami> – <Spell Code>, era a habilidade de controlar Drag-Rides de outras pessoas, que era ativado ao tocar em seu Drag-Ride.

Lisha e os outros testemunharam, e os outros membros da seleção também ouviram falar dele.

“Mesmo que seja esse o caso, teremos que procurá-la e apreendê-la. Quase não há chance de conseguirmos até a próxima partida começar, mas— só podemos fazer isso.”

Dizendo isso, Celis e Krulcifer se levantaram.

“Não há tempo. Celis-senpai e eu vamos nos separar e procurar por ela. Então— Airi-chan. Podemos deixar o comando da equipe com você?”

“......Compreendo.”

Airi aceitou com voz nervosa.

“Yes. Vou equipar meu <Drake> constantemente, então, se houver algo, entrarei em contato com vocês duas.”

“Vou deixar isso para você, então.”

As duas disseram exatamente isso e saíram da sala de espera para procurar o culpado.

Se Yoruka Kirihime estava mirando em Lux, havia a possibilidade de que ela estivesse espreitando por perto.

Pensando assim, Krulcifer saiu. Então ela viu a figura dos soldados da guarda ao redor do campo de treino correndo em pânico.

“Qual é o problema? Talvez tenha acontecido algo preocupante?”

Krulcifer, que sentiu a anormalidade, chamou um jovem oficial.

“Ah...... não, não há nada! P-Por favor, você pode continuar a assistir ao jogo...”

Por um momento Krulcifer pensou se era o governo que estava colocando em ordem o incidente que Lisha causou agora, mas a situação era estranha, não importava como ela parecia.

“Eu sou uma Drag-Knight que pertence ao Syvalles, a força de ataque da Academia de Crossfield. Desta vez, estou aqui como um participante da Batalha Geral dos Dragões, mas terminei minha vez. Se houver algum problema, posso pelo menos ser informada sobre os detalhes?”

Krulcifer apresentou sua carteira de estudante e disse isso ao soldado.

Originalmente, Krulcifer, que era uma estudante estrangeira de Ymir, não poderia participar de uma missão com um alto nível de perigo, então ela mentiu apenas nesse ponto.

“É-É mesmo!? N-Não...... há apenas um boato circulando entre as forças de defesa da área ao redor da Capital ......! Estamos coletando informações para confirmá-las enquanto estamos em guarda para o caso—”

“Você pode me dizer especificamente o que está acontecendo?”

Krulcifer que ouviu falar desse detalhe, questionou o soldado ainda mais.

O soldado estava suando nervosamente enquanto formava suas palavras.

“Atualmente, há uma força inimiga gigante vindo do nordeste da Capital Real— existe uma grande chance de que esta seja uma informação errada, mas mencionou que a quinta Ruína que existe em Heiburg está se movendo—”

“......!?”

A pele de Krulcifer que ouviu essa frase mudou.

Ela já sabia que nos bastidores da Batalha Geral dos Dragões, o Plano de Recaptura da Capital Imperial de Heiburg estava em movimento.

E então, havia a existência de Hayes, que era chamada de Lord na terceira Ruína, a “Ark”. (NT: Eu reverti a tradução que tinha feito para “Lorde” e deixei como “Lord” propositalmente aqui, além de também estar como “Criador” no texto em inglês, mas não o coloquei para não bagunçar. Não posso dar detalhes quanto a isso para não dar Spoilers, porém, logo a frente, saberão mais sobre isso.)

Se eles estavam similarmente relacionados com o ataque desta vez—

“Nordeste da capital é? Eu também irei dar uma olhada na situação.”

“P-Por favor! Estou com pressa para evacuar os residentes na área nordeste, então—”

“Ei! O que você está fazendo aí! Vá rápido!”

O jovem oficial foi repreendido por um homem que parecia ser seu superior e saiu correndo.

Depois de se separar do homem, Krulcifer invocou <Fafnir> e o equipou.

Ela subiu a uma grande altitude de onde poderia ter uma visão panorâmica da Capital e voou para o nordeste.

Com <Fafnir> que possuía o maior nível de mobilidade, ela poderia fazer uma viagem de ida e volta até fora da Capital em apenas alguns minutos.

Depois de continuar a voar com a potência máxima do propulsor em suas asas traseiras, em pouco tempo a visão dos arredores ficou obstruída.

“Névoa...? Apesar de a Capital estar com tempo claro agora há pouco...?”

Krulcifer desacelerou <Fafnir> e pairou no ar.

Ela deveria estar fora dos muros da Capital, mas era como se a paisagem abaixo fosse completamente invisível.

Mas, um som pesado em movimento que a névoa espessa não podia apagar pôde ser ouvido bem próximo.

“Isso é—!?”

No momento em que Krulcifer sussurrou, um rugido estrondoso explodiu.

Incontáveis flashes voaram perfurando a névoa branca obstruindo sua visão.

Um deles explodiu e estourou na frente de <Fafnir>, fazendo-o voar para trás por algumas dezenas de mel.

“Kuh......!?”

Ela escapou do perigo por causa da proteção do armamento especial de defesa automática – o <Auto Shield> que foi ativado pouco antes de atingi-la. O poder do ataque foi tão grande a ponto de não ser estranho se ela recebesse sérios danos sem a proteção.

O próprio inimigo dissipou a névoa devido à explosão do ataque de canhão que disparou. Por causa disso, a verdadeira forma do inimigo ficou clara.

“O qu......!?”

No momento em que ela foi capaz de ver a imagem completa do inimigo, a espinha de Krulcifer congelou.

Era gigantesco.

Um corpo gigante que ultrapassava de longe um Abyss de tipo grande – Golem, que Krulcifer uma vez lutou pessoalmente.

Ele tinha duas pernas que poderiam ser confundidas com uma montanha de aço. No topo dessas pernas havia uma cintura larga duas vezes maior que o castelo real e um tórax em triângulo invertido, à esquerda e à direita havia ombros protuberantes, onde cada um parecia um grande tipo de navio de guerra. Na superfície daqueles ombros, incontáveis bocas de canhão podiam ser vistas.

A parte da cabeça que lembrava um besouro rinoceronte tinha um pescoço ligeiramente estendido para a frente, olhando para a Capital Real com olhos robóticos.

Seus braços longos e finos tinham incontáveis linhas correndo nele. No final de cada um desses braços havia uma mão com cinco dedos. Várias casas já estavam fixadas sob eles.

Ele modelava a forma de um soldado blindado, a gigantesca fortaleza de aço que deveria ser colocada em Heiburg.

A quinta Ruína “Gigas” que Krulcifer uma vez viu em um livro estava se movendo.

“Eles nos pegaram. Quem poderia imaginar que eles estavam escondendo esse tipo de trunfo—”

A “Ark” onde Poseidon existia deixou sua rota de movimento até agora pela ação de Hayes e seu grupo e seu paradeiro se tornou desconhecido.

Nesse caso, não seria estranho se eles também tivessem feito algo nas Ruínas de Heiburg de onde Yggdrasil – o Ragnarok que Lux e as outras derrotaram provavelmente veio.

Mas, embora a quinta Ruína tenha sido libertada por isso, para a própria Ruína vir invadindo assim era demais.

「Aviso – exigimos que você desfaça sua armadura e também se entregue, Xfer-sama. 」

“Eh—?”

De repente, uma voz fria e apática, sem qualquer inflexão, pôde ser ouvida através do Dragon Voice.

Krulcifer não viu nenhum outro Drag-Ride ao redor dela.

Krulcifer percebeu um momento depois que a voz veio do “Gigas” diante dela.

「Nome do identificador – Gear Leader da quinta Ruína, El Fajura, não quebrarei a proibição de causar danos desnecessários a você—」

Aquela garota que provavelmente era similarmente uma autômata como La Krusche da “Ark” de repente parou completamente suas palavras que foram ditas sem lacunas no meio.

「Infelizmente, agora há uma notificação da Lord para imediatamente— exterminá-la, ela disse. 」

“......!?”

A mudança de atitude da Autômata que também aconteceu na “Ark”.

Krulcifer lembrou-se da sombra de Hayes daquela situação.

「Mudando para preparação de ataque – Disparando. 」

Ao mesmo tempo, com aquela voz, inúmeros canhões se estendiam dos ombros protuberantes do “Gigas”.

Em seguida, rugidos estrondosos e explosões que encheram completamente os arredores varreram o céu acima da Capital Real.

Parte 7

“O que diabos......”

Noct, que estava usando um <Drake> dentro da sala de espera da arena, ouviu o Dragon Voice de Krulcifer e ela gemeu inconscientemente.

A terceira batalha da última metade da Batalha Geral dos Dragões, a batalha contra o Principado de Vanheim estava entrando na terceira e última batalha.

Philuffy venceu a primeira partida individual, e a segunda partida, a partida de pares, acabou em derrota agora.

Com os dois lados tendo uma vitória cada, a terceira partida começaria. Mas antes que pudesse começar, o estado de alerta máximo foi instaurado na Capital Real e discutiu-se a suspensão temporária da Batalha Geral dos Dragões.

Mas, apenas Greifer, que era o participante do Principado de Vanheim para a terceira partida, manteve firmemente sua atitude de que queria que a partida continuasse. Ele ficou parado no ringue da arena.

“Vou esperar apenas mais cinco minutos, yeah? Venham já lutar, Novo Reino.”

Greifer mostrou um sorriso destemido. Ele já estava usando seu Drag-Ride Divino <Cuelebre> esperando o sinal de início da batalha no ringue.

“Eu direi isso de antemão. Por enquanto também há a necessidade de manter as aparências, então eu vim para essa luta, mas se vocês não se responsabilizam por disparar um canhão contra nossa Princesa, então não importa o resultado desse jogo, vou localizar o criminoso sozinho. Eu pegarei qualquer um que suspeite, um por um – e então os interrogarei com estas mãos.”

O brilho do olho de Greifer, que estava tingido com a intenção de matar, causou arrepios nos espectadores.

—Agora, não havia nenhum Drag-Knight do Novo Reino que pudesse parar Greifer que estava exaltado.

Quase todos os Drag-Knights já estavam partindo para se defender contra a força que atacava de ambos os lados da Capital Real.

“......Ele vai chegar a tempo?”

Airi olhou para aquele ringue. E então, quando ela ergueu o rosto, o <Drake> de Noct de repente mostrou uma reação ao receber uma transmissão do Dragon Voice.

「Vocês podem me ouvir – Airi, Noct? 」

Quando ela ouviu a voz familiar de seu irmão mais velho, os lábios de Airi abriram um sorriso aliviado.

Mas, sua expressão imediatamente voltou ao seu olhar calmo de costume e ela trouxe seu rosto para mais perto do <Drake> antes de falar.

「Você está atrasado! O que você tem feito Nii-san!? Estamos com sérios problemas! Uma Ruína gigante está atacando do nordeste! O <Tiamat> de Lisha-sama enlouqueceu e mirou nas pessoas do Principado de Vanheim – o que devemos fazer sobre isso!? 」

「Sim, também fui pego aqui. A fortaleza escondida já caiu, e eu estou sendo perseguido pelo Exército Rebelde e um enxame de Abyss. 」

「......!? E o que Nii-san planeja fazer? 」

「Quero que diga a todos o que vou dizer depois disso. 」

Lux disse a Airi a estratégia na sombra da arena que estava envolvida em comoção inquietante.

Parte 8

“O primeiro-ministro do Principado de Vanheim está dizendo que abordará o incidente deste assunto com determinação. Eles não aceitam a explicação de que há um defeito no Drag-Ride. Ele nos disse para entregar a Princesa para ser julgada por sua lei.”

“Não há como fazermos algo assim! Mesmo a Batalha Geral dos Dragões ainda não acabou, sabe!? Diga a ele que ouviremos o que ele tem a dizer novamente mais tarde!”

Por outro lado, dentro do castelo. Dentro da ampla sala de conferências, os gritos raivosos dos cônsules voaram ao redor.

A missão de extermínio do enxame Abyss falhou devido ao ataque surpresa do Exército Rebelde liderado por Ragreed, e o exército inimigo estava vindo do Noroeste.

Seu objetivo era exatamente como o nome “Plano de Recaptura da Capital Imperial” sugeria, esta mesma Capital Real.

Não levaria muito tempo até que todas as forças chegassem a este lugar.

“Mas, há também o fato de que outro dia um guarda da Capital Real atacou um membro da seleção do Principado de Vanheim. Além do sangue ruim que continua desde a época do Antigo Império. Nesse ritmo, eles certamente não nos ouvirão persuadindo-os a voltar para seu país sem nem mesmo fornecer qualquer prova ou o autor do crime.”

“......A Princesa também fez algo ultrajante. Mesmo que aquele grupo tenha sido problemático desde o passado—”

“Por favor acalmem-se. O esclarecimento do incidente ainda não foi concluído. Só depois disso tudo pode—”

Vozes lamentando continuaram a se elevar dos cônsules, ouvindo os relatórios chegando um após o outro.

Lisha estava de cabeça baixa enquanto ouvia aquelas vozes de desânimo e indignação vindas do chão imediatamente abaixo.

Depois daquela partida, sem ao menos tirar seu Dress Gear, ela tinha estado distraída como se sua alma a tivesse abandonado.

Por que acabou assim?

Mesmo que ela tenha feito o melhor que podia.

Mesmo que pelo bem deste país, sabendo que ainda era imatura— ela pensou em tentar se tornar uma coisa real, e ainda assim.

Ela não tinha esse poder, ela traiu as expectativas de todos e causou a pior situação.

“É como... se eu fosse uma criminosa.”

Dentro da sala escondida para uso pessoal da realeza, que foi preparada no subsolo.

Ela estava isolada para não ser alvo do povo do Principado de Vanheim que ela enfureceu. Lisha deu um sorriso amargo e impotente diante de sua situação.

Seus sentimentos eram os mesmos de cinco anos atrás, quando foi sequestrada pelo Antigo Império e feita refém, antes de ser abandonada por seu pai, o grande herói.

Ela não podia fazer nada. Ela foi manipulada pelos acontecimentos sem nada que pudesse fazer com suas próprias forças, e perdeu tudo.

“Por que...... Por que ficou assim de novo? Eu estava enganada? Desde o início, alguém como eu—”

Quando ela não aguentou mais e lamentou, passos vieram da frente dela.

Quando Lisha voltou a si e rapidamente ergueu o rosto, a porta do quarto foi aberta.

Lá, os Drag-Knights do Exército Rebelde, cujos uniformes eram pintados de cinza, estavam de pé com as armas prontas.

“Vamos pedir que nos acompanhe, certo? Sua Alteza.”

“............”

Lisha só conseguiu olhar para baixo com uma expressão pálida.

Exatamente como naquele dia no passado.

Part 9

「How long are you planning to continue running huh, Black Hero? Aren’t you going to stop me?」

Lux who was wearing a jet black Drag-Ride was being chased by Ragreed who was wearing an EX Wyvern.

After exchanging blows several times above the hidden fortress, Lux who got a part of his shoulder armor broken, escaped in a straight line towards the direction of the capital.

But, he was chased by the strengthened general purpose Drag-Ride EX Wyvern, taking along the majority of the Rebel Army being led by Ragreed and also the Abyss that already numbered more than thirty.

「Kukuku, I heard from the strategist you know? The time you can fight in that Bahamut is limited. That’s why you are trying to lure us into a place where you can get the military’s reinforcement and bring this into an advantageous situation, aren’t you?」

「…………」

「But, that’s already impossible! Try looking in front of you!」

That sight entered the eyes of Lux whose field of vision was continuously filled by the scenery flowing backwards at high speed.

Bugriser’s unit that should be preparing for interception in front of the wall had already disappeared from there.

「……-!? I see, just as I thought……」

Lux held his breath. At the same time he looked far ahead and guessed the reason why the military had abandoned their position.

The information that the fifth Ruin, Gigas, that had existed in Heiburg couldn’t be seen anymore.

His worst prediction came true.

The fifth Ruin, Gigas.

The strange looking weapon that was filled with evil omen, to accomplish destruction and atrocities, was standing as though looking down on the capital’s townscape.

(But why? Why has no report come in that it had arrived until this near!? If the Ruin was moving, the Drag-Knights at the east of the capital should have seen it and yet──)

The Gigas which should be visible even from the distance of a few kl had approached until this near. Why didn’t anyone notice? (TN: kl is kilometer and mel is meter)

『……The Drag-Knights stationed at northeast of the capital──at the fortress along the rocky mountain and sea, it seems that they are being afflicted with a headache of unknown cause. There are no abnormalities with their bodies, so it doesn’t look like it’s poison or disease though.』

Suddenly that sentence that Airi told him was replayed inside his mind.

Instantly, a prickling pain as though behind his eyes was burning ran through Lux’s head. A scene that felt like it wasn’t his own memory entered inside his mind.

「──I thought that you would understand if it’s you though, my younger brother.」(TN: Fugil use the word ‘kentei’ to call Lux, it’s usually a polite reference to another person’s younger brother, but here he used it to call his own younger brother. Translated literally it means wise younger brother)

A vaguely nostalgic refined noise──the voice of his eldest brother Fugil entered his ears.

A red night sky that was illuminated by blazing flames.

In front of the castle of the Arcadia Empire where whirling up fire sparks were falling down, that thing was existing.

(This place──what in the world? Is this the memory of that day, five years ago?)

Lux could affirm that this scene had happened almost without a doubt, but a violent uncomfortable feeling bewildered Lux.

Lux didn’t have any memory at all that he had exchanged this kind of conversation with Fugil.

「……We cannot do such thing. There is no way something like this can be repeated because of the convenience of the likes of me, the likes of us!」

The Lux inside the memory raised his voice, in response Fugil smiled fearlessly.

A figure wearing a strange-looking Drag-Ride he had never even seen before with a gigantic size even bigger than the castle was there at the back.

「Is that so? You should have noticed already from a long time ago. You, who were born inside that corrupted palace, living while stuck in a dilemma between the royal family and the people, if it’s you then you should have noticed the structural defect of this country──no, this world and its people.」

Fugil spoke admonishingly, also as though in conclusion.

「See, you who are purer than anyone, because you want to avert your eyes from that fact really much, you could only take on the ideal of a king that is more righteous than anyone and took refuge inside that dream. ──But Lux, you should wake up already from the dream. We should accomplish it, we ought to carry out our true mission as hero.」

「You’re wrong! There is absolutely no such thing! I……what I really wished for is──」

「──Fine. Then you can come at me.」

The Drag-Ride that was so gigantic its full figure couldn’t even be grasped from nearby was starting up with a roaring sound that shook the earth.

「You won’t lose or anything. You cannot even stand on the same stage where I fight for eternity. Therefore, there was no victory or defeat right from the start. I will take the burden of your karma. Because I am──after all.」

「-……!?」

Lux who was wearing Bahamut in Over Limit state flew towards that giant dragon.

Instantly, the scenery distorted fiercely like jelly, enveloped by light, and vanished indistinctly.

Seven Ruins. The simultaneous activation of the ArtifactsTransforming Weapons.

The transforming Drag-Ride of the end and the beginning──Uro……boros.

「-……!?」

Lux returned to his senses and returned his consciousness to the sight before his eyes.

Perhaps it was a happening of only one or two seconds, because the Gigas far away and Ragreed before him were in Lux’s sight the same as before.

「Now you get it? It’s over for you all. You fell into our strategist-sama’s schemes. Your body shouldn’t be in the condition to use that Bahamut for much longer right?」

「──So your aim for luring me was that?」

Lux gazed at Ragreed with chilly eyes and voice.

Lux was lured to the north hidden fortress, the New Kingdom’s army was made to fall apart──and the clincher was how he kept talking provokingly to Lux. All of those were the groundwork to make this situation.

Hayes was on guard the most against Bahamut. She guided the event into a situation where Lux had to use it and drastically stole its operation time limit.

No matter what their side tried to do, they already got cornered into a helpless situation with nothing that could be done. Hayes’s scheme tried to obtain a certain victory like that.

All of Lux’s bad premonitions were right on the mark──no, the event was transitioning into a situation that was even worse than he imagined.

Just like when Lux tried to destroy the empire in the past.

But──the present was different from the past, he now had a lot of comrades he could trust.

That was why he resolved himself. That right here, right now, once again──they would save the New Kingdom with their power.

「Ragreed Forus. You’ve resolved yourself right?」

「……What?」

Ragreed frowned towards Lux’s calm declaration.

Completely different from in the past when they were in the imperial court, Lux’s face there was hiding determination inside.

「You put your bet on Heiburg and that strategist Hayes. As for me──I’ll bet on everyone who put their trust on me, and drive away all of you.」

Right after that, the jet black Drag-Ride Lux was wearing released a vortex of shockwave using Howling Howl.

「Kuh, ─a futile act!」

But, Ragreed held his ground and pulled his Cannon’s trigger aiming at Lux’s silhouette.

The jet black armor was smashed and countless fragments danced in the air. ──But,

「This is……?」

Ragreed was bewildered because the opponent purposefully didn’t deploy their barrier and there was strangely no resistance from the hit.

When he searched for Lux’s silhouette that he lost sight of, a calm voice entered his ears from beside a nearby bell tower.

「──Manifest, violent dragon who devours the flesh and blood of the gods. Sever the sky of black clouds, Bahamut!」

「What-!?」

Ragreed raised a shocked voice hearing the muttered passcode.

Right after that, light particles converged at high speed and formed a shape. A jet black Drag-Ride was summoned once more.

The aerodynamically shaped MithrildytePhantasmal Gem Steel clad in dragon’s might manifested and emitted an ominous luster as though to display that absolute power hidden inside the frame.

「How-!? How can there be two Bahamut!?」

「──Connect – On」

The moment Lux muttered coldly, the Drag-Ride unfolded from inside and transformed into an armor that covered Lux’s body.

「What I was wearing while you were chasing after me was a mere Wyvern. It only had its armor parts adjusted and painted black.」

「Kuh……! Such thing! Impossible!?」

Yes, the true identity of the thing Lux requested of Lisha in the capital was that.

It was another Drag-Ride that was different from his original Wyvern that was tuned for defense. It was a Wyvern with its armor and barrier scraped down as low as possible to make it a light weight type that stressed in speed.

By skillfully using it properly, Ragreed’s eyes were tricked.

「Bu, bu, how can you do something like that!? In the first place you should only be preparing for the Abyss extermination! You shouldn’t know anything about our attack! And yet why──guah!」

Lux glided and took the position overhead Ragreed. He ignored the question and slashed at the EX Wyvern.

Ragreed almost crashed into the bell tower from the impact he got, yet right before he crashed, the surface of his armor shined and his trajectory was altered, preventing him from crashing.

「It wasn’t like I understood what will happen. But──I’m just planning beforehand, to at least prepare a plan that can react against anything that could happen.」

The answer for Ragreed’s question was exceedingly simple.

From the start Lux was already harboring doubt towards the existence of the deserted village where a great number of Abyss was staying, and also the very fact that the New Kingdom was able to obtain the information about it beforehand.

The enemy’s strategist Hayes also knew well about the information regarding the specifications of Over Limit.

In that case──naturally, Lux put into consideration the possibility that Hayes would put into motion a plan to exhaust him, and then Lux requested Lisha for the countermeasure against that.

「I don’t have time right now. ──But, I too still have something I want to confirm.」

Lux put energy into his great sword Chaos Brand and let out a slash with the shortest movement he could toward the unbalanced Ragreed.

He aimed at the part that was shining on the armor’s surface just now and hit it hard.

『U, aa……!』

• crackle crackle-!* After a small burst of electricity, light that looked like shining powder spilled out from the surface and a faint voice could be heard.

「So that’s the true shape of it? The thing that strengthened your Drag-Ride and assisted the control was──」

「Chih!?」

Ragreed clicked his tongue hearing Lux pointing it out.

Lux was uncertain of the full details of it, but most likely it was because of someone’s cooperation──or perhaps an old technology sleeping inside the Ruin that was applied to the EX Wyvern.

Thinking about how Hayes used the fifth Ruin to invade the royal capital, it wasn’t hard to imagine.

「Guah!?」

Lux struck down Ragreed to the ground with the returning movement of his sword.

After looking at the EX Wyvern crashing at the vicinity outside the arena, Lux landed down on the arena ring where the spectators were already starting to evacuate.

He landed facing Greifer who was standing there clad in the Divine Drag-Ride Cuelebre.

Cheers and commotion rose up seeing the intrusion of the unidentified Drag-Ride.

『Wha, what could this be!? Suddenly, a mysterious Drag-Knight landed down at the position of the New Kingdom’s side!』

The military officer clad in Drake who had the commentator’s role also raised such a surprised voice.

Because the distance from the audience seat until the center of the ring was quite far, surely almost everyone didn’t notice that it was Lux.

「Oh. To think that there would be a superb performance where you come here for me, huh.」

At the opposite side, Greifer seemed to notice that it was Lux. His mouth loosened and made a grin.

「Can you accept fighting me, right here right now?」

「Got no objection here, I don’t intend to retract my previous statement yeah? Regardless of this match’s result, we’re gonna capture the princess of you guys, then make her spit out the location of the culprit no matter what. I’m not gonna allow what happened ten years ago repeat again, when the Old Empire charged a crime on my father and killed him.」

Lux was also concerned about Lisha, but right now he had to stop this person first.

Lux stayed still on the designated position and ran his gaze around. Right outside the ring, the military officer who had the referee role was looking at Lux’s Bahamut with a bewildered face.

It was natural that he got bewildered when an unfamiliar Drag-Ride suddenly entered the ring.

Reluctantly, Lux took a small breath in order to reveal his identity, but then,

「I met him before so I remember. That guy is certainly one of the New Kingdom’s representatives. If you get it then give the starting signal quickly. It’s none other than me, the opponent──who recognizes it like that yeah?」

「──Ye, yes-!?」

Threatened by Greifer, the referee hurriedly moved to the direction of the audience seat and peeked at the complexion of the management committee members. And then, perhaps they gave him an agreeing signal because the referee immediately raised his voice.

『Then, the last battle that is today’s third battle──New Kingdom Atismata versus Vanheim Principality, the third match will begin!』

The duel between a mysterious Drag-Knight who flew down from the sky against the leader of the Vanheim Principality’s representatives, Greifer.

Inside the royal capital that was already imposing the state of high alert, at the arena that was enveloped in a bizarre atmosphere, where the spectators were starting to evacuate, the last battle of the All-Dragon Battle started.

『Battle, Start!』

The instant the referee’s voice resounded, Greifer’s Cuelebre shot off.

Its back wings spewed out air explosively, closing the distance instantly while unleashing a slash at the same time.

The moment Lux blocked it with his great sword, a Howling Howl struck at him from above his defense.

「Kuh……!」

Bahamut’s barrier blocked the impact and it was forced to back off. From above the barrier, the peculiar slash of Tail Blade paid it no mind and struck down with the momentum of a surging wave.

It was like a raging wind. It was a style of offensive tactic that forcefully robbed the opponent from any choice by constantly taking the initiative, cornering the enemy, and continued to attack without pause.

That rain of attacks that seemed sloppy from a glance increased in precision and power each time it was unleashed, cornering the enemy with certainty.

The enemy was without exaggeration a strong person. If Lux wanted to defeat this man in this current situation──there was only one way.

「Reload on Fire」

「──Photon Dive」

The moment their sword crossed, Lux’s Bahamut gushed out red light to display its Divine Raiment’s activation.

As though responding to that, Greifer also quickly invoked his Divine Raiment.

The Divine Raiment that compressed the energy and phenomenon of the first five seconds, then activating and doubling it in the later five seconds, Reload on Fire.

In contrast, Cuelebre’s Photon Dive made it so that for a few seconds when the ability was activated, all the enemy’s attack wouldn’t affect it and got deflected, so to speak it was a Divine Raiment that transformed the Drag-Ride into an invincible state.

Lux was evading Cuelebre’s slashes while carving many slashes using the blade of the great sword he wielded onto the surface of the enemy’s armor.

But, his attacks that were unleashed with the usual speed naturally didn’t get through.

In the end, even the tip of his blade was deflected and it exposed a small opening instead.

「I got you-!」

Greifer’s blade struck along with a sharp step-in.

Although Lux withdrew from the range just for an instant faster, the surface of his armor got a faint scratch.

Even so Lux didn’t show any agitation and he gazed at Greifer with an expression that showed no opening.

「That’s quite something. So this is your true strength? But in the end it’s pointless yeah? Cuelebre’s Photon Dive won’t get affected by any kind of attack. You absolutely──……-!?」

At that time when Greifer grinned proudly, something strange occurred.

• PASHI–!*

A sharp impact sound burst, and together with it countless red slash lines instantly ran through Cuelebre’s armor.

The impact energy from the Force Core that Bahamut’s Chaos Brand was filled with. The energy came into effect with delayed time difference and attacked Cuelebre right after the effect of Photon Dive cut off.

「Whattt……!?」

「The Photon Dive gave you roughly seven seconds of invincibility. Aiming at the moment it was turned off, I delayed the moment the impact of the sword I wielded reached you by using Reload on Fire’s ability.」

Lux accelerated at the same time he coldly told that, and struck Cuelebre’s torso with a full power attack where Lux put all his weight in it.

「Gu, ah……!」

The sword was swung to the end as though it was also shooting through the generated barrier altogether, sending Greifer flying to a distance far away.

Greifer crashed onto the arena’s wall and the impact made his deployed barrier to get dispelled.

With that, based on the rules, the match was decided.

『The, the representative of the Vanheim Principality had his barrier dispelled because of the damage and has become unable to fight further! The winner of the third match as well as the third battle is, the New Kingdom Atismata!』

「OOOOOOH……!」

The sudden intrusion of the black Drag-Knight and that dramatic conclusion caused the spectators of the New Kingdom who were still remaining in the middle of the evacuation to raise a stir.

Lux listened to that vaguely as though from far away while gazing at Greifer who was knocked onto the wall.

(──That was dangerous.)

Lux won his dangerous gamble and he stroke down his chest in relieve inside his heart.

The fight would undoubtedly become prolonged if he didn’t settle the match in this opening phase. If the match dragged on, it would be unclear how the outcome would turn out to be.

And then ──Lux was able to win this battle merely because of the decisive difference of information both sides possessed.

Lux knew about the trait and the Divine Raiment that Greifer’s Divine Drag-Ride Cuelebre possessed from directly crossing swords against him, while Greifer didn’t know anything about Lux’s Bahamut.

This was a victory that he wouldn’t be able to obtain without Greifer’s reckless personality and that accidental battle, but it was fine like that for now.

First was to stop the movement of Greifer and the Vanheim Principality who were in an explosive state that could rupture anytime.

The moment the first objective was cleared, Lux sent a Dragon Voice through Noct’s Drake that was limited towards several members.

『I’m sorry for saying various unreasonable things. Everyone, can I ask you to fight following the strategy I talked about just now?』

When Lux asked that question with a faint apologetic feeling in his tone, everyone’s voices immediately responded back.

『Yes, I’ll start.』(Krulcifer)

『Uh huh. Understood.』(Philuffy)

『Acknowledged, Lux.』(Celis)

『──Yes. Lux-san, please take care.』 (Noct)

「Thank you──everyone.」

Right after that, Bahamut that Lux was driving flew with explosive momentum.

And then from above the sky, he swooped down at high speed aiming towards a spot of the castle’s rear entrance that he was told about.

Part 10

「Just what should we do……!?」

「I, is there anyone who knows about the mechanism of the fifth Ruin!? At this rate, the capital will──」

The officer Drag-Knights who protected the New Kingdom were surrounding Gigas using Wyverns in order to attack it, yet they were at a loss helplessly.

They had tried roughly every kind of attack, but the steel fortress existing before their eyes wasn’t affected at all. They were unable to even hold it back.

In this situation where it wasn’t even a fight, the officers almost fell into despair. It was then they could hear it.

「Looking tedious huh──you ignorant uncivilized bunch of riffraff.」

「Wha-……!?」

Suddenly, a voice came from the head part of Gigas. Stir ran through the flying officers of the New Kingdom.

The strategist Hayes who colluded with the Heiburg Republic was wearing a huge silver grey armor, standing above Gigas’s head.

「You, you bastard──are you the mastermind who is controlling this Ruin!?」

「──Nope, you got it wrong, I’m the savior. I’ll stand at the top to rule this world in the place of you incompetent bunches. Rejoice you livestock, your honored owner finally came after a long time you know?」

「Bunch of nonsense……! Fire-!」

Several officers aimed at Hayes and pulled their Cannons’ triggers simultaneously.

The concentrated cannon fire from dozens of Wyverns continued and caused a violent explosion blast.

──But,

「You can cut it already. I got the gist.」

Hayes raised a calm voice while being in the middle of a maelstrom of bombing that even a Divine Drag-ride with its barrier deployed couldn’t possibly stay unharmed.

「I, it’s not……working!? No, there is no way──」

In front of Hayes was a layer of round shaped light wall──.

Not the slightest attack reached beyond that partition.

Rather than calling it a barrier, it was as though space itself was cut off.

「──I’m late with the introduction huh. The name of my Divine Drag-Ride is <Nidhogg>. Its Divine Raiment’s name is──<Astral LineSeverer>」

Hayes displayed a wicked smile and the armor’s arm readied a sword with peculiar shape.

The sword had a long blade that was several times the length of a normal Blade. At its handle’s opposite side there was also the same blade lengthening, a uniquely shaped blade──two-bladed sword.

When Hayes who was wearing Nidhogg carelessly swung down the atypically shaped sword that was tinged with the light of its Divine Raiment,

「Be, be careful! Deploy your barrier at maximum output──!」

The world was split into two, along with the officers’ armor and the maximum output barrier they deployed.

Part 11

「Where are you all taking me……?」

Lisha who was suppressed by the Rebel Army that was already infiltrating inside the castle without even any time to pull out her Sword Device was taken outside the castle without anyone even noticing.

When Lisha asked that behind the castle surrounded by trees, a man of the Rebel Army grinned widely.

「We want to have you take on the role of arbitrator in order to not increase the number of unnecessary sacrifices in this war, that was what the strategist said. I’m told that there is a secret on her highness’s body that can achieve that──」

「……-!?」

Lisha suddenly groaned with an expression as though her chest had been stabbed.

She noticed Hayes’s scheme from that one sentence.

The Rebel Army that was planning to suppress the New Kingdom shouldn’t be thinking about peace or anything.

In other words, what Hayes was desiring from Lisha was to persuade the people──no, her aim was to make known that the princess Lisha was a human on the Rebel Army’s side.

They would expose the brand of the Old Empire that was engraved on her body in the past, reveal that her true identity was that of a traitor, lowering the unifying force of the New Kingdom and Lisha, dropping the situation into chaos, thus making it easier to take over the country. That was their intention.

「Don’t screw around……. You think you all can keep using me like that however many times you like……!?」

「Oh? I heard that your highness is a person who dislikes needless conflict and is kind to the people though?」

The moment the man of the Rebel Army jerked his chin to a far away direction, Lisha saw 『that』.

「──That’s!?」

At a far away distance, through the townscape of the royal capital, she could see the figure of Gigas.

And then, the sight of the flash emitted by the Drag-Ride at the top of its head cutting apart the atmosphere, dividing the New Kingdom military and the town into parts──

「Wha……」

• plop*, Lisha fell down on the spot in astonishment.

「Do you understand now? This is the last job that the powerless you can do for the sake of this country. If your highness follows the intention of our strategist, there won’t be anymore attacks than this you know?」

「The, there is no way I can do anything like that! Something like me handing over this country to the likes of you is──」

Although it was so that the people wouldn’t be harmed, but doing things like betraying their trust and delivering them to another ruler was just……

「Is there any meaning for you to act brave like that? Someone like you who disappointed them in the match before this?」

「──!?」

Lisha’s feelings were shaken when she recalled it.

Perhaps a human who was feeling hesitation even in their own power had no qualifications to lead the people.

Even so.

「Even so, that guy told me! That he will fight together with me──!」

Right after Lisha closed her eyes and yelled, an impact struck the ground like a thunderbolt.

「──Eh?」

The moment she opened her eyes in surprise, the armors of the Rebel Army’s Drag-Knights were smashed apart altogether.

「Gu, AaA……!」

The Rebel Army members groaned and collapsed. And then the true identity of the one who did it became clear.

The one who came down was a Drag-Knight clad in jet black armor.

It was the silhouette of the Black Hero that she saw five years ago on that day.

「……You──」

「I’m sorry that I’m late, Lisha-sama.」

When Lisha muttered, Lux smiled calmly and handed over the Sword Device of Tiamat that he recovered from the hands of the Rebel Army.

The hands of Lisha who accepted it shook, she stumbled and squatted down on the spot.

「I, I don’t──I don’t have the face to look at you……」

Lisha hung her head down while speaking with a disappearing voice.

「Even though I promised to protect this country together with you……I made Tiamat rampage in the All-Dragon Battle, and degraded that oath myself.」

「That was Hayes’s doing. I had grasped how she did it too. I will do something about it no matter what, that’s why──」

「I know! But, even if we make that clear, everyone might not believe it anymore. The people’s trust in me might not return! And most of all……It’s vexing!」

Lisha lifted her face. Her eyes were wet.

「It’s vexing that because of my fault, even you were made fun of and got treated like a villain! You who fought and risked your life for this New Kingdom’s sake more than anyone, I wanted to make everyone recognize it, that was what I wanted, and yet……」

At that time Lux noticed for the first time.

Lisha talked about making Lux her knight was because she wanted to save Lux who couldn’t be recognized by the people because he was once a part of the Old Empire, who was collared as a criminal even now, and who was still ridiculed by a part of the country because of that.

She wanted to make him into an existence that was recognized by all this country’s people together as her knight in this New Kingdom.

The inside of his chest became warm, that she was thinking that much for him.

Lux softly caressed the head of such Lisha with his hand.

「Lu……x?」

「Thank you very much. For thinking about me all this time. But, I’m fine. Even without this country and all its people recognizing me, I can fight with only your recognition.」

He offered his hand in front of Lisha once more with a gentle voice.

「That’s why, please fight together with me. Not for the sake of anyone else, but for the sake of your own oath. I need Lisha-sama’s strength. In order to save this country one more time, this time for sure──」

「…………」

Lisha who heard those words slowly took a breath, and lifted up her face.

And then she grasped the handle of her Sword Device with a trembling hand, and pulled it out from its sheath as though resolving herself.

「──Awaken, the progenitor of beginnings. O monarch dragon of the gods that forms an army on your own. Tiamat!」

Light particles converged at high speed. Immediately after that, the crimson great dragon that was summoned behind split into countless parts and transformed into an armor that covered Lisha’s whole body.

After blinking lightly and gazing to the front, over there was the figure of Gigas approaching the castle while treading on the buildings in its way.

「……It’s a mysterious feeling. Even though just now it felt really terrifying to wear a Drag-Ride, but now it feels really reassuring.」

「That is the true Lisha-sama, surely.」

「──Let’s go, Lux. We got to beat up the bunch doing as they please in my country after all.」

Lux nodded at Lisha’s self-confident smile.

『──Nii-san. Everyone is in position. We are starting.』

At the same time Airi’s voice came through the medium of the Dragon Voice of Noct’s Drake.

Lux sent his voice through the Dragon Voice that was already connected to Krulcifer, Philuffy, and Celis.

「I’m counting on you──everyone!」

Lux said that while at the same time he flew his Bahamut together with Lisha.

The operation against Gigas that continued to march in a straight line towards the castle, finally began.

Part 12

『──Warning』

It was a voice that sounded robotic and tinged with a hollow presence.

An amplified voice that was different from Dragon Voice which was a communication ability between fellow Drag-Rides was emitted from the head part of the Gigas.

Approximately a hundred Drag-Knights of the New Kingdom military were heading to intercept as well as defending against Gigas. Half of them were shot down by Gigas’s bombardments and Hayes’s Nidhogg, and the remaining half was withdrawing with the injured among them.

The capital’s northeast district that was starting to be evacuated was already crushed underfoot and fell into a half-destroyed state. The cause of that, the Gigas was moving towards the castle at high speed.

『The battle is decided already. New Kingdom military as well as the queen and her subordinates in this place are to swiftly display their will to surrender by prostrating. By doing that any further attacks will stop and we will grant repose, that is our rule to everyone.』

Hayes proclaimed that above the people who were running about trying to escape.

The New Kingdom that had its forces scattered and also its defense line broken through had no more methods to oppose it.

And then, this advice was a trap.

Heiburg would place the Rebel Army that was supporting the Old Empire as the head and indirectly ruled over the New Kingdom.

Furthermore, it would be shown to the VIPs from many countries who came for the All-Dragon Battle, with the aim of putting a check on them too.

The consuls inside the chaotic castle couldn’t find any breakthrough solution against this advice.

While the screams and confused voices of the people could be heard from the streets of the capital,

『Unfortunately, your lords didn’t give their answer──. Therefore, We’ll resume attacking!』

Right after that cold proclamation, the Gigas moved.

The countless cannon muzzles growing from those giant shoulders aimed downward, it was then an abnormality occurred.

• GAKIiiI-!*

The thin long arms growing from Gigas’s shoulders with countless joint in it. One of those arms that looked like a spire suddenly slanted, the Gigas’s posture crumbled and pitched forward.

Right after that, the countless light bullets fired from those shoulders and the chest part rained down on a greenery area right under it where people had already finished evacuating.

『What……!?』

Hayes who was near the head part of Gigas noticed the cause of that and she frowned.

Looking closer, Philuffy who was wearing Typhon entangled several wires of Pile Anchor on one of Gigas’s arms, pulled downward and broke its balance.

『Foolish act……! El Fajura! Crush her!』

After Hayes gave that instruction to the Automaton, the Gigas pulled its other gigantic arm and aimed at Philuffy──but, that instant when its attention was diverted to below, the left arm Gigas was lifting up was struck by a light bullet.

『This is──don’t tell me!?』

「Starlight Zero」

That was the compressed light bullet fired from Celis’s Lindwurm. When Hayes noticed it was already too late.

The attack fired from the special armament of wide range destruction sent the left arm of Gigas flying. The countless cannon muzzles sticking out from both its shoulders were smashed. That overwhelming offensive power was pruned temporarily.

Hayes cursed receiving that fierce wave of explosive blast.

「Pointless struggle……. Enough, ignore them and crush the castle underfoot.」

Hearing Hayes’s instruction, Gigas’s feet that were like a mountain moved. It marched while causing fierce rumbles in the ground.

The many citizens at the area around the castle until the arena saw that and screamed. Running about trying to escape.

But, when those feet arrived until nearby the castle wall surrounding the palace, a single Drag-Ride stood in its way.

「Kneel under my name! Suppressor──!」

Lisha wearing Tiamat unsheathed her Sword Device and pointed at Gigas.

Instantly, a gravity field was formed on a spot of that gigantic right leg and its movement became dull.

Seeing that, Hayes looked down on Lisha from above the Gigas’s head.

「So you came to incorrigibly expose your shame again huh, princess-sama!」

「Shut up this wannabe strategist! I’ll make you pay back your debt to this country and me!」

「Hah! Don’t get carried away, you substitute lowly princess! What can you son of a bitch do!? You think that this Gigas can be stopped by something like that?」

Just as Hayes ridiculing words said, the burden from the gravity field didn’t do anything and the Gigas resumed its march.

It was as though it was proclaiming that something like the resistance of Lisha alone was pointless.

But the next moment, when the Gigas was about to take one more step,

「──Reload on Fire.」

• DOOooOONN!*

One of Gigas’s legs smashed the stone pavement and the ground and it stepped through until below the ground.

「……What-!?」

Because of the gravity pressure that was reinforced until several times from before, that leg was buried deeply into the ground. Lux wearing Bahamut was looking down calmly on it from midair.

Tiamat’s Divine Raiment, the gravity field that at a glance looked like it wasn’t working at all went through the compression strengthening of Bahamut’s Reload on Fire. The moment Gigas tried to ignore it and took a step forward, the power of the gravity field became several times the original and attacked.

「Bu, but why, why is there a hollow below this kind of place!? What in the world──!?」

「Should I teach you, wannabe strategist? You see, the underground around there has a large scale tunnel that was dug up in the era of the Old Empire. It was something created more than a hundred years ago, that’s why only very few know about it.」

「……-!?」

Hayes also guessed the fact from listening to Lisha explaining proudly.

The people in the past were building a city above while knowing that there was a tunnel below was because it was constructed to be able to endure great burden and weight.

But, because of Lux’s Reload on Fore, Suppressor’s gravity pressure was reinforced several times over, and aiming at the moment the super heavy Gigas step there, a pitfall was prepared to make the foot step through the ground.

But even with that the best it could do was sealing one leg of Gigas, but at this moment a completely advantageous situation was created.

「Chih!」

Hayes clicked her tongue. In order for the Gigas to pull out its buried leg, it was going to put both its hand on the ground, it was then two more people moved.

「──Ei」

Philuffy fired Pile Anchor from every part of Typhon and restrained a part of the thin long arm.

At the same time she drove her Drag-Ride with her Booster at maximum output and ran through the street. By towing the arm once more, Gigas’s balance almost crumbled.

「You think I’m going to let you do the same thing over and over!」

When Hayes’s voice resounded, Gigas raised its remaining left arm and aimed to crush Typhon.

「Obstructing with that──is not permitted.」

But, the lance attack of Celis’s flying Lindwurm aimed at it instead.

She aimed at the seam of the countless joints and made a thrust attack with maximum electricity discharge.

Terrific sparks spread through the whole left arm that looked like a spire, and its movement stopped for just a moment.

「Pointless! Gigas’s arm won’t be stopped with only a single Drag-Ride!」

When Gigas’s left arm was swung down a moment later, Philuffy already released the binding of Pile Anchor, setting free the right arm and escaped.

「You keep making trifling nuisances──……!?」

Right after Hayes cursed, she noticed it and held her breath.

The right arm of Gigas that Philuffy was towing was frozen.

Ten-odd spots of countless existing joints were frozen and its movement was almost completely sealed.

At the sky above a slight distance away from there, Krulcifer wearing Fafnir and readying her Freezing Cannon was hovering.

During the ten seconds when Hayes’s attention was diverted due to Celis stopping the attack of Gigas’s left arm, Krulcifer fired several freezing shots at each joint with terrifying precision and sealed that right arm.

『They got us Lord with this we cannot make movement.』

An Automaton’s voice came from inside Gigas towards Hayes who was wearing Nidhogg.

Hayes too finally understood everything with that.

「────」

Her greatest fighting strength the Gigas had its invasion completely stopped with the chain of cooperation from five Divine Drag-Rides.

The smashed cannon muzzles jutting out from its whole body were being replaced, but there was some distance until the castle.

Right after that, three people other than Lisha and Lux headed towards the castle and began to move respectively.

『Rescinding the frozen state to make both arms usable and the buried leg taken out──more than ten minutes are necessary until Gigas recovers to a flawless state.』

The main body of El Fajura who was controlling Gigas from the control room area sent a voice to Hayes telling her that.

Many people and nobles outside the arena who were evacuating saw that sight and made a stir.

「Fuu……」

Lux let out a relieved sigh seeing that his plan went well for the time being.

He had Sharis and Tillfur to investigate the structure of the fifth Ruin, Gigas.

Because Gigas’s shape was greatly different from other Ruins, he had them looked for the shortest route towards its deepest part.

Of course, there was only a faint chance for them to discover the route nicely, even so they had no choice but to do it.

『Operation success Nii-san. What’s left is as planned──please be very careful.』

Airi who was watching over the situation from the spectator seat of the arena sent her voice through Noct’s Drake.

They had only finished stopping Gigas from moving, the situation still continued to be one where they couldn’t let their guard down.

As for reacting against various other dangers that were occurring at the same time──he could only leave it to other people.

『Right.』

Lux returned a small voice and looked down below him.

And then, Gigas was starting to make a strange vibration sound that might be for melting the arm’s frozen spots. Lux and Lisha landed together on the shoulder of that Gigas.

The two giant shoulders at both sides of the head were each like a battleship’s deck, fulfilling the role as spacious foothold that was several times larger.

There, Hayes wearing Nidhogg and one other girl’s silhouette were standing.

「Lisha-sama.」

「……I know. I’ll take on that fiendish strategist. You fulfill your duty as the former imperial prince, against that so called loyal subject who set us up.」

Lisha said only that and made her Tiamat glide, advancing towards Hayes.

And then, Lisha turned her crimson pupils that were sharp like sword points straight to Hayes and she pointed her Sword Device forward.

「I won’t be able to ask you after beating you up so I’ll ask ahead. What is your true identity and your objective? Is it authority, money──or else some kind of honor or something?」

「……What’s the point of asking me that? A substitute princess like you who was placed only as the replacement of someone, after knowing the answer what are you going to do?」

Hayes jested in response to that question and answered so with a ridiculing grin.

「I’m asking exactly because I’m a substitute.」

But, it was as though Lisha wasn’t shaken up or hesitating at all, she told Hayes calmly.

「I somehow understand about you. Surely you and me are completely opposite──or perhaps mutually similar people.」

「──What?」

Lisha continued pushing her words towards the frowning Hayes.

「I was toyed with by fate, each time the chair I sat on changed, and I became unable to understand what is the true me. I was once abandoned by my father, the great man, and decided to betray the New Kingdom, so I wondered whether someone like me has the qualifications to sit on the seat of princess. But you are the opposite. Because you cannot prove your true position and identity to anyone, you’re purposefully trying to display your privilege, all that ability and treasure of yours.」

「…………」

「Controlling the Ragnarok and dragging out this Ruin here are also like that. By doing this, you want to prove that you are an existence with something, a human race with great power that far surpasses the people of this world. You are someone in the position that is driven with the obsession that you must continuously prove that.」

Lisha asserted that and gazed at Hayes with a sharp glint of eye.

「──That’s why I’m asking you just as you wished! Like this, who the hell are you!? You got any complaint huh, this stupid idiot!」

Instantly, Hayes’s countenance that until now was sporting a smile that looked like it was pasted on there changed.

She strongly gritted her teeth, and then Nidhogg that she wore readied its weapon.

「Fine then. I’ll tell you my true identity, when I crush this country and it’s time to carry out your execution!」

Hayes’s Nidhogg soared and she brandished the two-bladed sword that had blades extending from both ends of its handle.

Crimson and grey light crossed and the battle began.

Part 13

A battle between fellow Divine Drag-Rides had began on the right shoulder of Gigas.

At the opposite side, a girl was standing on the deck.

「──I’ve been waiting, Aruji-sama.」

The black clothed girl displayed a smile that was filled with deep affection and bowed elegantly.

The last servant who swore with that body of the Old Empire’s restoration, the Empire’s Assassin Blade, Kirihime Yoruka.

「It seems various things happened below hasn’t it? That princess also said it, something about someone’s Drag-Ride getting manipulated──. Aruji-sama, are you suspecting me of that?」

「──No, that wasn’t your doing.」

Lux shook his head toward Yoruka’s question and declared so.

The Divine Drag-Ride she controlled, Yato no Kami.

Its Divine Raiment, Spell Code. Certainly, there was a time when Lux suspected her because of that ability.

But, there was something he noticed from talking with Yoruka several times.

This girl’s principle wouldn’t trifle with that kind of petty trick.

What happened was most likely──Hayes’s schemes.

It was a trap to provoke and incite the Vanheim Principality that had a grudge against the Old Empire, making them aim at the members of the New Kingdom that included Lux, and at the same time made Lux and the others to doubt Yoruka as the perpetrator to make them fight each other.

「But if that’s the case, this is a bit strange isn’t it? Then why does Aruji-sama appear in front of this me? Isn’t Aruji-sama’s first priority to beat this Gigas first, which you can do by ignoring this insignificant battle against me?」

Yoruka tilted her head slightly and asked in wonder.

「That──I cannot do.」

Lux answered with a calm face while slowly closing the distance between them.

「With you the strongest one in this place waiting here, I won’t be able to pass even if I avoid you, besides I believe that surely there is a reason for me to fight you.」

「…………」

Yoruka didn’t reply anything to Lux who muttered that calmly. She was only deepening her smile.

Without defeating Yoruka, Lux wouldn’t be able to break through the path until Gigas’s deepest part.

But, Lux himself had his own thinking that differed from that objective.

Others might laugh if they heard his reason but──he wanted to save Yoruka.

She was controlled by the Old Empire, exchanged contracts with the emperor, and even now she adhered to it, tied by that curse.

「──Erode, the serpentine dragon of massacre that is the personification of evil omen. Exercise the authority of unworshipped god, Yato no Kami.」

Right after Lux spoke, Yoruka also drew out her Sword Device and summoned Yato no Kami.

The Drag-Ride of darkness color was clad with a blade’s majesty, worthy of its name. It immediately split into countless parts and transformed into an armor that covered Yoruka’s body.

「I thank you, Aruji-sama. Then, it will be a discourtesy if I make you wait for more than this.」

Yoruka declared with a smile and took a stance with her katana type Blade.

At the same time, Lux also held aloft his Chaos Brand.

「Here I come, Yoruka.」

「Yes.」

At the same time with that voice, Lux’s Bahamut kicked on the shoulder of Gigas that became the floor and soared.

The remaining expenditure time of Bahamut’s operation limit was approximately nine minutes.

If Lux’s assumption wasn’t mistaken, he would consume seven minutes here.

The curtain of that mortal combat had been cut off and fallen down.

Part 14

On the other side, inside the arena that was noisy from witnessing the Drag-Knights stopping the invasion of Gigas, something unusual occurred.

Greifer who crashed onto the outside wall and stopped moving now woke up, furthermore the selection members of the Vanheim Principality were each wearing their Drag-Rides and came down at the center of the ring.

「Wha, what are you doing, everyone of the Vanheim Principality? The last match of the All-Dragon Battle was over already, right now a state of high alert is being imposed! Please hurry and evacuate from──……-!?」

The New Kingdom’s officer that acted as the commentator called out nervously, but he stopped.

He sensed the unusual hostility from the Drag-Knights of the selection members there.

「It’s unfortunate with the match, but it’s your side’s victory. But, the case where a member of ours was attacked in the inn, and the case where our country’s princess almost got assassinated in the match before this. Regarding these two attacks towards our country, we don’t recognize the explanation that your country is giving us.」

A girl wearing a Wyrm declared that with a cold voice and glared at the New Kingdom’s officer.

「This is not a threat or revenge. It’s your side who made a move first. We were told by his excellence to find out the perpetrator of this incident.」

「Tha, that is──!?」

The New Kingdom’s government office as well as the New Kingdom’s military weren’t in the condition that could take action because they were dealing with the dangers that were occurring simultaneously at present, but that reasoning wouldn’t get through to them.

「Well, that’s how it is.」

The leader of the selection members, Greifer, declared while readying his Sword Device.

「The duke-sama of our country is already in an angered state. Just like I said before, we received an order regardless of the result of this All-Dragon Battle. We were ordered to subdue the consuls of your country and make them take responsibility. And so──first we are going to question you yeah.」

The female officer of the New Kingdom who got the point of a Blade pointed towards her spontaneously faltered, it was at that moment──

「……-!?」

• BANG!* A sharp sound piercing the air accompanied a streak of flash running through the air.

That light bullet of cold air was fired aiming at the Blade. Greifer pulled his sword just before the bullet hit and he dodged.

The light bullet struck the stone ring and the spot that was hit instantly froze.

「Can you please wait a little for the investigation of the incident──even if you all are told that, it doesn’t look like you all are in a state that will listen isn’t it?」

Along with that voice, Krulcifer clad in Fafnir was coming down to the center of the ring.

「Hee, it’s really interesting that even outsiders like you are coming out, but it’s better to stop now yeah?」

「I agree with that. I too don’t want to do a pointless fight after all. Because right now there are enemies nearby──what’s more it’s closer than you think.」

Krulcifer calmly brushed up her hair and spoke smoothly.

Her gaze was taking in what was far behind Greifer, at the figure of Gigas.

Lux clinched victory at the last match of the All-Dragon Battle, but the attack he hit Greifer with was shallow.

There was a chance that the Vanheim Principality that was suspecting the New Kingdom as the mastermind of this time’s assassination attempt incident would directly act using force.

Surely the Rebel Army and Hayes’s subordinates would take advantage of such commotion and chaos.

Therefore, Lux gave instructions for Krulcifer to stop that.

「It’s unfortunate but we cannot do that. Even I have a fight that I cannot pull back from. If you are also someone from a military family then you get it right? That’s what this is.」

But, Greifer didn’t budge for even an inch and he readied his special armament the Tail Blade.

In response Krulcifer also reacted by directing her usual composed eyes towards the opponent.

「I understand it. I too cannot possibly lose here after he entrusted this place to me.」

「That’s a nice resolve, too bad that you are a woman.」

「You said a strange thing just now. When the battle begins, it’s the woman who is more resolved you know?」

Right after Krulcifer replied like that, Cuelebre suddenly moved.

It approached with a powerful speed that even the eyes couldn’t follow like a single bullet. At that moment Krulcifer also carried out her act of interception.

Greifer made a slash following a peculiar trajectory as though drawing a spiral using his Tail Blade that transformed into a whip shape.

Krulcifer ignored that using her automatic defense from Fafnir’s Auto Shield while pulling the trigger of her Freezing Cannon at short range. The freezing bullet sniped at the right arm’s wrist that was holding the sword.

Tactics and attacks that were both filled with certain victory crossed in that place and light scattered.

Part 15

「What is going on!? What should we do about that Ruin Gigas!? What happened to the mixed army stationed at the hidden fortress!?」

On the other hand, a tense war conference was opened in the conference room of the castle and many angry yells and screams flew around.

The Drag-Knights that the New Kingdom military and the Four Great Nobles rounded up.

Almost all of them, six hundred Drag-Knights fell into Hayes’s scheme and got scattered, more than half were annihilated and the rest were forced to retreat.

Furthermore the Drag-Knights stationed at the northeast for monitoring the area and the scouts altogether failed to notice the Gigas, making them late to deal with it. The dispersed Drag-Knights took flight where they were then crushed quickly.

The radical and large change in situation that was too much made the second and third defense plans that were prepared to be of no use and they fell into a kind of confused state.

「Confirm the situation! What happened with the force there!? How many Drag-Knights remaining that can fight!?」

「Half the number of Lord Dist’s force is rescuing the people and defending the surrounding blocks you say!? If they have that kind of free time then tell them instead to go suppress the enemy! What are they going to do if the enemy reaches until the castle! The safety of her majesty is number one!」

The remaining senior statesmen raised their voices roughly while gasping for breath.

Amidst that, suddenly a voice came from beside the room.

「How ugly. So any authority figure is all the same when they are cornered.」

「Sto, stop it! This room is──guhah!?」

• DON!* Two palace guards were blown through the conference room’s door from the shockwave of Howling Howl.

「──Wha, what’s going on-!?」

After the panicked consuls yelled, three Drag-Knights were standing at the other side of the broken door.

At the front was a girl with trait of brown skin wearing a B-blood Wyvern──Saniya.

And then right behind her was a man wearing a B-blood Wyrm, Egnid, and lastly a masked girl wearing a B-blood Drake, Kirly. Both of them were accompanying Saniya.

Hayes’s direct subordinates──the three Drag-Knights who were called Cerberus.

「Yo, you bastard, who are──hih!?」

The moment one of the consuls raised his voice, several shots of light and sound of destruction reverberated inside the conference room, blowing away several desks, flower vases, and documents.

The shooting of Breath Gun from Saniya’s B-blood Wyvern threatened everyone there.

「All of you don’t have any right to ask anything. Just answer my question truthfully.」

Saniya directed a cold gaze at the speechless consuls and quickly told them.

「Where are you guys hiding the Gran Force you brought from Cross Field’s Academy?」

「Wha……what are you talking about?」

Several consuls paled at Saniya’s question and replied like that.

Saniya who saw that pointed her gun muzzle on a consul’s head while smiling.

「I see, a splendid resolve. If perhaps you really don’t know about it, then I’ll ask someone who definitely knows about it. ──Where is the queen?」

「Tha, that’s──!?」

When one of the consuls was faltering to speak, the fingers of the B-blood Wyvern Saniya was controlling touched the trigger of the Breath Gun.

But at that instant, a territory of faint light spread inside the conference room and the space wavered.

「──!?」

Saniya reflexively leaped behind, right after that a girl clad in armor appeared along with a seven colored halo.

In the past when Saniya infiltrated as a spy into the Academy, she idolized this girl like a big sister──a daughter of one of the Four Great Nobles, Celistia Ralgris, it was her figure.

「Celistia……! Why are you here!?」

「To pay back my debt──no, to take responsibility.」

Celis told while directing a sharp eye glint towards the bewildered Saniya.

「In the past, I didn’t know anything about you even though I was trying to understand you. That’s why──I will settle this right now.」

It was a reunion with the girl who betrayed her.

However, different from the past, now even when Saniya looked at that figure, there was no more hesitation inside Celis.

Celis’s consciousness was sharpened pointedly like a spear’s tip, her body was clad in an aloof atmosphere.

Celis’s stance that was polished to the utmost limit from the accumulation of diligent constant training had not even the slightest opening.

「Fuh……」

Saniya who should know about Celis’s strength from staying closest to her more than anyone smiled without any fear.

「Is it the instigation from that ruined prince? That’s just fine……I’ll show you! The power I obtained, I’ll show it to you bunch of noble bastards who went through a lukewarm way of life all this time!」

Saniya drove her B-blood Wyvern and slashed at Celis with swift action.

When Celis blocked that with her Lightning Lance, Egnid and Kirly started giving cover fire.

Part 16

「……Hmph. We too finally finished reorganizing our formation here huh, that damn Lux, he made me go through this kind of trouble.」

On the other side, in front of the street that connected to the castle and the arena, the supreme commander of the Rebel Army, Ragreed and his subordinates were assembled.

There were a total of fifty Drag-Knights, their armor was dyed grey that symbolized the Old Empire.

Furthermore in the sky above them were around thirty flying type Abyss that possessed wings.

「That guy preparing a fake Bahamut was a miscalculation, but it’s convenient if he is fighting Gigas. Like that there won’t be any trouble or enemy──standing in our way to obtain this castle.」

Ragreed stifled his laugh and lifted the Blade of his EX Wyvern high.

「Here we go! From here we are storming into the castle. We are taking back the glory of the Arcadia Empire from the hands of those thieves this time for sure!」

‘OOOOOOOO!’ His subordinates, the Rebel Army hailed back in response with a war cry.

The path to the castle had been evacuated with the people taken to shelter. There were already no more guards remaining there.

If Ragreed made the remaining Abyss and the Rebel Army force charge, the castle would fall easily.

「Finally……. Finally I can become this country’s emperor!」

Ragreed raised a voice that was hoarse from excitement. He flew his EX Wyvern and right after that──*GAUNN!* There was a sound slicing the air from something sharply sweeping sideways.

『Enemy Drag-Ride’s attack confirmed──defensive movement activated.』

El Fajura’s robotic voice resounded and a barrier was forcefully deployed.

The barrier deflected three Daggers approaching from the front, but a pile at the tip of a wire that was fired with a delay split to up and down like a snake’s jaw, snapping into the shoulder of the EX Wyvern.

「……Nuuh!?」

When Ragreed who was surprised by the surprise attack turned his gaze downward, a huge purple Drag-Ride was there.

Philuffy who was driving the Divine Drag-Ride Typhon appeared to intercept Ragreed.

『Enemy sign confirmed. Warning. Two Drag-Rides that are the Divine Drag-Ride Typhon as well as a Drake have appeared.』

「……Kuh!」

Ragreed grasped the situation from what El Fajura pointed out, but Philuffy didn’t give him time to react.

With high speed she rolled back the wire she fired from her left arm’s armor and pulled the EX Wyvern until in front of her.

At the same time, she made the stout right arm of her Drag-Ride that was already in a stance to hum in energy, and then that right straight struck.

「Gu, Aa!」

It was a certain kill attack from an enforced counter after he was drawn in by the Pile Anchor.

Although the Drag-Ride was a strengthened general purpose type EX Wyvern, that strength easily broke through the barrier and it should have broke the armor and the Force Core──but,

『Defensive coating as well as trajectory change success.』

Ragreed’s Ex Wyvern that got hit by that was sent flying far away backward, but it corrected its posture midair and landed.

The moment Philuffy’s attack landed, light powders shined brightly on the surface of the EX Wyvern.

That was exactly the power of the clone of the Automata(El Fajura) that was converted into the form of countless miniscule machines and fused with the EX Wyvern.

「What’s that? It was really solid than normal.」

Philuffy tilted her head while taking some distance. At the same time Noct who was hiding at the back wearing Drake quickly called out.

「Yes. Please be careful Philuffy-san. The surface of that Drag-Ride is being specially coated by something. The mechanism is unclear, but most likely it’s an ancient technology from a Ruin.」

「Right. It’s fine. That side cannot fly anymore, after all.」

But, Philuffy replied indifferently with her usual expressionless look.

As though to prove her words, the soaring back wings of Ragreed let out crackling sparks.

『Back wings’ booster damaged──it’s judged to be unable to be used for a long time.』

「Chih……!」

Ragreed confirmed the deterioration of his booster’s function from El Fajura’s voice.

Philuffy’s aim was the booster in the back wings.

Because Typhon was a land battle type, it was unsuited to hold back flying enemies.

But, the calculation was that if she could just take away the wings of the supreme commander Ragreed, the Rebel Army and the Abyss in the surroundings would also inevitably get held in place in order to protect him.

Ragreed who noticed that clicked his tongue while gazing at Philuffy in front of him. His eyes opened wide as though he noticed something.

「……Hah. Just when I wondered who this is, it’s the dim-witted daughter of the Aingram Conglomerate who came to the imperial court in the past. It has been seven years huh? Are you planning to take revenge on me?」

「…………」

Ragreed recalled his memory and asked like that, but it was as though Philuffy didn’t react at all.

「I heard that a part of an Abyss was implanted in you it seems. Kukukukuku, you’re a monster whose inside isn’t fully human anymore. Hahahaha! What a great mess! Surely even that ruined prince is also in despair──」

「I remember you know? About that time.」

Philuffy muttered as though to interrupt Ragreed’s provocation.

「That time, Lu-chan didn’t think of himself, like the two of you. He was really sad, saying that he couldn’t help me skillfully.」

She spoke indifferently with her usual expressionless look.

However, she continued with a clear tone.

「I was happy he helped me. But, because of my fault Lu-chan got sad, that made me really pained too, so──」

After showing just a slightly lonely look, she stared ahead with a straightforward gaze that was filled with a strong will.

「That’s why, I won’t let you anymore. I will──defeat you.」

Ragreed frowned seeing those eyes and stance that had not the slightest hesitation in it, and then he laughed.

「……Hah! Just try it you monster! What can you do against this number with just you alone!」

Ragreed lifted up his Blade high and gave the command to attack.

Right after that, fifty Drag-Knights behind him and the Abyss in the sky started moving.

Part 17

At the arena’s ring.

In front of the door of the conference room on the second floor inside the castle.

And then in front of the front gate of the castle. Around the time the battles started at those places.

Above Gigas that came to a stop just a few hundred mel until the palace, a mortal combat was unfolding.

On the balcony located at Gigas’s right shoulder, the duel of Lisha versus Hayes was being carried out.

Lisha was firing her throwing weapons, the Legion, to hold back her opponent while using the Seven Heads that she equipped by using supplemental equipment transfer aiming to fire a bombardment, but her attack was altogether deflected by the two-bladed sword Hayes handled, she was completely held back.

Even so Lisha was still calm, she kept shooting her Legion one shot at a time.

「You got cold feet? With that kind of attack, I won’t even need to use Nidhogg’s Divine Raiment you know?」

Hayes closed the distance bit by bit while showing a fearless smile and talked in provocation.

But, in contrast Lisha kept glaring quietly at Nidhogg as though she wasn’t budging even an inch.

「You’re wrong──. A bit more.」

And then, she whispered faintly like that with an expression as though she was heightening her focus.

「Or else, are you perhaps trying to buy time until your friends come to help? ──You incompetent.」

Hayes’s Nidhogg that was being held back by Breath Gun suddenly accelerated and drew near.

She slashed at Tiamat as though striking using her two-bladed sword that possessed two blades at opposite ends of the handle.

「Kuuh……!?」

Lisha barely blocked using her barrier, but a part of her armor chipped due to the impact that pierced through.

After Lisha took further distance to the back, the sky was right behind her.

「What’s up? Aren’t you the princess who possesses both talents as a researcher and a Drag-Knight? Looks like that’s just excessive flattery by this peace idiot country huh!」

Hayes floated a faint grin. In response Lisha let out a sigh.

「Certainly, that might be an excessive title for me. ──But」

Lisha whispered in self-deprecation like that while pulling out her Sword Device.

And then, she quickly swung it and pointed at Hayes.

「I haven’t fallen that low that I need someone like you to worry about me!」

Two Legions were fired at the same time with that yell.

The two armaments that approached at high speed were deflected by the two-bladed sword, it was at that moment that something unusual happened.

「……What-!?」

Another Legion that was hiding in the shadow of the second Legion hit Nidhogg and sent it flying backward.

It was a concealed shootingHide Shot by making use of Legion that was a throwing weapon with physical substance.

Lisha accurately grasped the opponent’s line of sight and positioning and made her attack succeed using advanced technique where accurate trajectory manipulation was indispensable. At that moment, the cannon Lisha readied had its trigger pulled and it fired.

Right after that, the shot impacted Nidhogg that had its movement stopped and its frame was enveloped in flame.

Part 18

On the other balcony of Gigas’s left shoulder that was several times larger than a large type warship──

There Lux and Yoruka’s duel was unfolding.

Every single one of the high speed slashes that were unleashed in rapid succession aimed at the vital spots. Even Lux found it difficult to defend.

In addition, the Divine Raiment of Yato no Kami that Yoruka wore──the Spell Code that could steal control from other Drag-Rides, it would be strengthened in its controlling strength and the span of time it stole control in proportion to the length of time it touched the opponent.

Not to speak of locking swords for several seconds, even being touched by Yato no Kami would invite danger.

Furthermore, even when Lux tried to use Quick Shot using the reinforcement of time compression from Bahamut’s Reload on Fire, he was unable to predict Yoruka’s attack’s preparatory movement at all.

Quick Shot would decelerate the time of one’s own body by several times first before activating, because of that at the beginning it would leave an opening. It couldn’t be used without being able to see through the opponent’s attack’s preliminary movement first.

Right now Lux was still able to continue defending against Yoruka’s attack just barely, but that was the best that he could do.

「As expected from Aruji-sama. This is the first time there was someone who could evade my sword this long. But──」

The slash of Yoruka who was showing a composed smile increased further in speed and weight.

「Is it fine like this? The current Aruji-sama doesn’t have that much time left until you cannot fight anymore correct?」

「Kuh……!?」

Yoruka’s tone that sounded like she had seen through him caused Lux to feel impatient.

The operation time limit of Bahamut was approaching moment by moment even while they were doing this.

Yoruka’s exquisite swordsmanship wasn’t something he could ascertain in this short time.

Therefore Lux resolved to throw away safety.

「Then──I’ll make you let me pass.」

The moment Lux declared, Bahamut’s great sword drew a slashing line with speed that te eye couldn’t follow.

It was the super speed activation for one action only by completely harmonizing body control operation and mind control operation──Quick Draw.

The attack that came from the Drag-Ride control technique that Lux devised in the past, when it hit the shoulder of Yato no Kami──that instantaneous attack clashed with the slash Yoruka unleashed and fierce sounds and sparks scattered.

「Wha-……!?」

Lux who saw that was shocked. He quickly flew backwards and took some distance.

Quick Draw’s attack shouldn’t be able to get overtaken by a normal Drag-Ride operation even when they reacted.

That movement that he had seen only once before at Cross Field was as expected──

「Truly splendid Aruji-sama. It’s only to be expected from someone who had devised this hidden technique as well as the remaining other two earlier than me isn’t it?」

「Eh……?」

Yoruka suddenly showed an innocent smile and told Lux so.

「The great figure who was the youngest Drag-Knight of the Arcadia Empire and devised special control techniques that ought to even be called as three types of hidden techniques. The true identity of that person wasn’t known until now but──I can understand with this.」

「…………」

Lux was speechless hearing those matter-of–fact words.

If Yoruka was speaking the truth, then she too was also able to use the three hidden techniques just like Lux.

(──No good. This girl’s strength far surpasses my imagination.)

But, there was no time for him to hesitate.

Lux kept taking distance while concentrating his mind. He readied his great sword.

The second hidden technique──Recoil Burst.

By creating a contradiction of holding down a full power body control operation with mind control operation that was focused into one point, this hidden technique of destruction would unleash an attack that was impossible to control from an intentional rampage.

The armor’s Mythrildite raised a strange creaking sound. That sound could be heard from Bahamut and Yato no Kami.

(──Yoruka is also doing Recoil Burst!? Is she planning for both of us taking each other down simultaneously!?)

• giggle* A small chuckle leaked out from Yoruka’s mouth. Right after that, the blades of both sides that were unleashed as though there was an explosion behind them crossed while grazing each other.

The slash was unleashed so that both sides would dodge just barely, but that terrific might blew away both Drag-Rides just from the shockwave of the aftermath.

「Ku……aa!」

Lux endured the recoil from the attack that was strengthened until more than ten times while rushing so as to not miss that opening.

The third hidden technique, End Action.

It was a special move where a Drag-Knight could infinitely launch consecutive attacks without end by alternately stacking operation command of body control operation and mind control operation that was independent from each other. Lux executed the technique with the resolve to decide the match before Yato no Kami’s Spell Code was activated , but──

「My──so this time it’s a contest of endurance?」

The slashes that were unleashed without pause over and over were all returned blow by blow with exactly the same sword speed by Yoruka too.

Upper slash, low slash, thrust, return slash, repel, dodge, parry.

The sharpness of the sword flashes was gradually increasing, accelerating in high speed as though all the other awareness was cut loose.

When more than a hundred slashes were crossed and repelled in the span of a few seconds, their arms and legs finally stopped.

「Haa, haa……haa……!」

「Haa, a……haa……」

Because they were unleashing slashes without any pause in a state of not breathing, they both ran out of breath and stopped moving.

「──It’s not so easy to defeat you Aruji-sama. There were several chances if I aimed for a simultaneous defeat but…… I too still cannot die.」

Yoruka smiled with her shoulders heaving up and down. Her breathing was rough without even any composure to hide her exhaustion.

Lux who was similarly lacking the composure had a question coming to his mind after hearing those words and he asked back.

「……What do you, mean?」

「Because after this, I have to raise Aruji-sama’s younger sister to become a king in Aruji-sama’s place.」

Yoruka said that with a matter-of-fact tone.

She said that if Lux died, she would raise Airi who would be the last remaining bloodline of the Old Empire as king.

「……Why are you that fixated on the Old Empire? No matter because you promised──」

「……How about we have a bit of a talk about the past?」

Yoruka said that and started talking quietly about it.

「Just as I said before this, I am a defective article. I didn’t have a human heart since I was born. A heartless doll that lacked humanity. Even when my father told me that and cut off our familial relationship, I didn’t feel a single thing.」

Yoruka who was the princess of the nation of Koto and her younger twin brother.

Her little brother was sickly but a person of character, in contrast to him Yoruka continued to instinctually kill the hostiles who attacked her and she was avoided by all her surroundings.

「It was only my sickly little brother who was concerned for me who was shunned by everyone in the castle. Inside the castle that was like a rubbish heap where every single person only thought of kicking down another person, it was only my little brother who tried to become a splendid lord. He even spoke that he would surely protect me who wasn’t understood by anyone──」

Lux wondered why.

Yoruka’s little brother whose face he didn’t even know, he felt the same as Lux who tried to change the Old Empire from the inside.

「We swore. My little brother would become a splendid lord. And I would become a servant who devotes my loyalty to my little brother who would succeed the throne. Both of us would risk our lives to protect the other, and persisted on our respective paths until the end. And then──」

Yoruka suddenly put her breathing in order, twisted half her body, and readied her katana shaped Blade in middle stance.

「Now then, let’s end this soon. Next I will display my own personal sword. This left eye──that has been strengthened from having the operation called 『Baptism』conducted on it, enabled this technique──」

The pupil of Yoruka’s left eye suddenly opened and it was tinged with bewitching purple light.

Lux put up his guard against the uncommon presence, but right at that moment, it happened.

• zagu-!*

「Wha──!?」

When Lux heard the sharp sound of slicing wind, he was already cut.

Bahamut’s barrier that was deployed before his eye was slightly torn, a part of his armor was broken, and an impact pierced Lux’s body.

「Instant Strike──perhaps that’s how I should name it? It doesn’t has that much power, but if it’s a Drag-Ride that only has average armor then it will take only one strike you know?」

「U…… kuh!?」

Lux immediately took distance from Yoruka and grasped the situation.

(……Just now, what did she do!?)

The speed of the Blade that Yoruka slashed was indeed fast.

But, its speed was obviously inferior to his hidden technique Quick Draw, and her swordsmanship just now also wasn’t particularly unusual.

And yet, it was as though Lux was unable to see that slash that should be extremely simple.

「Human, cannot do something like being conscious of the unconscious.」

Yoruka talked matter-of-factly while closing the distance.

The pupil of her left eye stayed open while shining blazingly with mysterious light, a gruesome smile surfaced on her face.

When Lux noticed, he was receiving the second attack.

Lux concentrated trying to at least ascertain that sword flash, but he was unable to.

「What is called consciousness is the same as breathing. No matter how much someone tried to focus, there surely will be an instant where they paused. If I attack at that moment──it will feel like the attack is visible but the opponent won’t be able to react.」

「Gu, ah……!」

Lux received the slashes Yoruka unleashed one after another and his Drag-Ride’s output was rapidly decreasing.

The moment his balance suddenly broke, Yoruka unleashed a slash as though she was aiming for that and he received it in full. He was sent flying.

(Damn, it……!)

「When using Aruji-sama’s hidden techniques and Instant Strike, I need to focus so I cannot use my Divine Raiment but──the attack just now was different you know?」

「Ku, a……!」

Mysteriously shining cursed pattern was surfacing on Bahamut’s armor.

Due to the ability of Yato no Kami’s Divine Raiment, Spell Code, Bahamut’s control was taken away.

The power of that Divine Raiment gave stronger domination the longer the opponent was touched, but facing against an opponent as skilled as Yoruka, even a single second of opening would be fatal.

Bahamut’s movement stopped and even the barrier deployment was dispelled.

The instant Lux became completely defenseless, Yoruka swung up her Blade with a smile.

「-……!?」

(──She got me)

That moment when Lux resolved himself, Yoruka’s sword quickly moved. With his gaze kept facing the front, two throwing weapons flying from behind him deflected that attack.

Right after Lux noticed that it was the cover fire from Lisha’s fired Legion──

「Uwah!?」

Two more Legions hit Bahamut’s shoulders and blew Lux backward.

「I see, so that’s her aim.」

Right after Yoruka smiled, the effect of Spell Code was dispelled because a distance was opened from her.

『Get a hold of yourself Lux! Why are you having trouble facing against that kind of person!』

The Dragon Voice from Lisha became blurred from the middle.

Looking there, far away at the other side of Gigas, Lisha was receiving fierce attacks from Hayes who was wearing Nidhogg.

Part 19

「Hah! Exposing an opening to save that shitty prince, you made an awful mistake!」

Hayes laughed loudly while doubling her attacks, but Lisha endured stoically.

Although she once built an advantage against Nidhogg, but in order to save Lux she used Legions. Hayes took advantage of it and the battle situation was reversed once more.

Because Tiamat was a Drag-Ride that possessed a lot of armaments for long range, it was weak when the enemy got close.

But, the glint in Lisha’s eyes didn’t weaken even slightly even while she was getting cornered into a disadvantageous situation.

「Mistake you say? Are you talking about me?」

「That’s right. How can someone standing above other people get done in from covering for their subordinate’s life? Because you don’t even understand something like that you’ll──」

「It’s you who don’t get it, you damn wannabe strategist!」

• GAKII!*

The two-bladed sword Hayes swung got through the barrier. But the Sword Device Lisha pulled out blocked it and using Howling Howl, Nidhogg was pushed back.

「……What-!?」

That unexpected defense shook Hayes. It was then that Lisha swiftly swung her Sword Device.

Countless Legions were circling around Nidhogg like a tornado, cutting off the path of escape. Lisha pulled the trigger of Seven Heads.

「Gu, AAAAH!」

The barrier of Hayes’s Nidhogg was smashed through and a part of her armor broke apart.

Hayes couldn’t hold out and fell on her knee. Lisha readied her weapon once more.

「You said that I’m weak. But then, how can you lose against this me? No one was telling it to you. You put the Ragnarok and this Gigas, things that no one can be a match against under your control, and you got deluded that all these are your own strength just from that. But, I’m different from you! That guy remonstrated me who was conceited of my own strength. That’s why──the current me is here, because I had piled up hard work, wanting to be recognized by that guy!」

Hayes was crouching in front of the pointed cannon muzzle.

「Ku, kukukukuku……」

Her lips were distorted into a fearless grin.

Part 20

The duel of Krulcifer versus Greifer was continuing in the arena.

Thanks to Fafnir’s Divine Raiment, Wise Blood, that was the ability of future foresight, Krulcifer was avoiding Greifer’s fierce offensive, but at the same time she was also unable to find a decisive chance.

「You’re really something huh! It’s a waste of your skill that you appeared as a borrowed thing of your allied country yeah!」

「I also think that you would be even more troublesome if you were just a bit more prudent, it will be at the level that I wouldn’t be able to manage.」

Greifer’s Tail Blade lengthened its blade and attacked by drawing a strange trajectory.

That consecutive attack that was unleashed with rapidly increasing power and precision was evaded by Krulcifer using her mobility and Auto Shield.

Even so, because of Greifer’s Divine Raiment, the invincibility ability──Photon Dive, Krulcifer’s counterattack was all neutralized.

Therefore, both sides didn’t have the deciding factor and the battle was prolonged, but──

「……I wonder if you can withdraw soon? I also don’t have much free time.」

「Is it about that huge thing approaching this way?」

Greifer kept his gaze on his opponent Krulcifer while replying like that with a fearless grin.

「If you understand, then restrain yourself. Continuing further than this is meaningless.」

「Doing that caused things with the Old Empire to get vague for many years. Unfortunately this is an order from above yeah.」

「It looks like the intention of my words is not conveyed to you isn’t it?」

Krulcifer who heard that let out a small exasperated sigh.

And then, she gazed quietly at Greifer and informed him with a calm tone.

「Fighting more than this will end with your defeat──that’s what I’m saying.」

「What……?」

「You didn’t notice? You have lost once to Lux-kun. At that time, the weak point of your Divine Raiment was identified.」

「Fuh, that’s interesting yeah! I got curious now, just how confident you are in that!」

Greifer dashed and attacked fiercely. Krulcifer evaded while sniping with Freezing Gun. Greifer instantly activated Photon Dive and reflected back the freezing bullet that hit him.

「It’s pointless! At this state, nothing will get through to me.」

「Kuh……!」

Krulcifer who kept evading like that was cornered to the wall and when she couldn’t continue backing away,

「Soon──it will be time for your invincibility to end isn’t it?」

Krulcifer stopped escaping and dodging and stood her ground.

「I see, so you really believe that my Photon Dive only has seven seconds in it huh?」

「……!?」

Until now Greifer showed that his Divine Raiment’s effect of invincibility would stop at precisely seven seconds.

That fact itself was a trap Greifer laid out.

In order to bring down Krulcifer who shifted into offense aiming at that moment when the effect was cancelled──

「The loser is you, young lady of Ymir.」

The Tail Blade that was filled with energy to the maximum was deflected once by the Auto Shield, then the returning blade attacked Krulcifer.

But,

「──No, it’s as I thought. It’s you who lost.」

At that time, the muzzle of Fafnir’s Freezing Cannon was already pressed on Cuelebre’s shoulder.

• BANG!* The sound of a normal bullet hitting was echoing inside the arena’s ring.

Right after that, Cuelebre that was clad in Photon Dive was sent flying backward. At the same time, its Divine Raiment and reinforced barrier were dispelled and decreased in output.

「Wha, aat-……!?」

「What I’m measuring isn’t the timing when your Divine Raiment’s invincibility cut off. But how to make my attack hit when you’re in that state──. Thinking back it’s a simple thing. If all material and energy are deflected when you are clad in that light, your own attacks too should only push back your opponent instead of hitting.」

Krulcifer was informing the shocked Greifer with her usual cool smile.

「In other words, anything that attacks you will be ineffective unless it’s an attack that is done with a certain mass and speed. That’s why, if I shoot in zero distance with my gun muzzle glued on you, even the light of invincibility covering your Drag-Ride can be broken through. If I readied my gun muzzle the moment you rushed in convinced of your victory──」

「What a……woman. So you making me think that you were aiming at the moment my invincibility ran out was──intentional huh. I must be losing my touch.」

「It’s not something that you should feel that down about. Your Drag-Ride also still has that damage from Lux-kun, also I was told about your Divine Raiment so I had the time to prepare a countermeasure. And then──」

Krulcifer whisperd while fixing the aim of her rifle on Cuelebre again.

「It was him who gave advice to me, who was lacking a trump card against the powerful. If I drive in an impact aiming at the dead center of the Force Core, then even when it only hits from across the armor, it can stop the energy output of the Drag-Ride temporarily.」

As though following Krulcifer’s words, the Freezing Cannon that was aimed at Greifer was focusing bluish white light of cold wave.

If she was unable to obtain instantaneous high offensive power, she would surpass it with her accuracy.

That was the answer that Krulcifer reached based on Lux’s advice.

「I don’t know how our next fight will go, but for the time being this match is──my and his victory.」

Krulcifer said that calmly and pulled her weapon’s trigger.

That moment, the conclusion in the arena was settled quietly.

Part 21

Inside the castle──at the reception hall in front of the conference room, countless light bullets and blades were flying about.

The three Drag-Rides that were planted with the seed of Yggdrasil. Horn flute was played to strengthen them.

The grotesque Drag-Rides that were called B-blood were pushing back Celis’s Lindwurm.

Inside the complicated structure inside the castle where countless marble pillars were standing, Celis’s options in fighting were extremely limited.

Her special armament, the huge assault lance, Lightning Lance was too big to be wielded freely indoors, and Starlight Zero that fired light bullet of wide range destruction was impossible to even be used here.

Therefore she was forced into a one-sided defensive battle against the teamwork of Saniya, Egnid, and Kirly.

「What’s wrong Celistia! Can you still call yourself as a Drag-Knight of a prestigious noble family like that!?」

The Blade of Saniya’s B-blood Wyvern sharply slashed through, furthermore her other hand pulled the trigger of a Breath Gun and attacked further with rapid-fire.

Holding a Blade and a Breath Gun in her left and right hands, she continued to attack without pause. That style of hers was the same as in the past, but her skill and power were far increased than in the past.

Furthermore the support of Egnid who was wearing a Wyrm and Kirly who was wearing a Drake that were similarly B-blood allowed them to completely grasp the initiative of the battle.

「Kuh……!」

Celis was sent flying by the impact and crashed onto the stone wall inside the castle. She groaned faintly.

Saniya who was convinced of their superiority slackened the tension in her lips there into a smile.

「With this──my dear wish will finally come true. All of you will be defeated and put under the rule of our Heiburg. All of you who are standing above other people only because of your lineage, but from now on the time has come for you to be the ones to obey us!」

「Is that your objective? You took part in this plan for the sake of something like that?」

When Celis asked that, Saniya exposed her rage.

「You who were born from the house of a great noble won’t understand, about us who were used by them and had our everything snatched away! My life will start from here! I will stand on the top of this country, and then I’ll make all you bastards pay what you owe us without fail!」

「Is that so──but, I reject that.」

In response to Saniya’s words, Celis slowly stood up and took a stance with her lance.

「I understand your circumstance but, that kind of wish is pointless. You only want to torment other people with weaker position than you, just like what happened to yourself in the past. ──There is no way I can let such wish be accomplished.」

「Fuh, that’s what I thought you would say. Do it! Egnid! Kirly!」

Saniya grinned fearlessly and called out to her two subordinates.

The three Drag-Rides simultaneously attacked Celis all at once.

「If it’s the me of the past, I would surely have been shaken by your words. I would wonder whether my actions are really correct. Whether the current rule is actually just the same as the rule of the Old Empire in the past──but」

But, Celis’s eye glint wasn’t wavering at all.

Instantly, Lindwurm’s armor shined and a territory of faint light was spreading around.

「……-!?」

At the same time Celis rotated a Dagger in the air. She accurately thrust at the butt of its handle and fired it like hammering a nail.

「────」

Saniya who saw that movement instantly guessed what was happening.

A double attack. It was Cross Fire from two directions by using Lindwurm’s Divine Raiment, the Divine Gate’s instant teleportation.

The strength of that special technique that only Celis could use was something that Saniya had witnessed many times.

「Damn idiot! We have prepared──countermeasures against that!」

Saniya quickly flew backward until near the wall, threw way her Breath Gun and readied her Blade with two hands.

The countermeasure was to limit the directions she needed to be on guard against by making it impossible to attack her from behind.

With the strengthened barrier of B-blood Wyvern, she could repel the Dagger flying to her from the front.

Next if she could just drive away the lance attack, Egnid and Kirly would take advantage of the opening──but,

「Crossing──Multi Attack.」

Celis appeared in the space right before her eyes, at the same time her lance that was tinged with electricity lunged diagonally downward.

And then, the Dagger that she was throwing just now, the Dagger that was similarly tinged with electricity, its tip hit the same spot of the lance’s target.

It was an attack focused to one spot from two directions that was done with a flawless timing.

After receiving Lux’s advice in the training camp, Celis devised this new tactic by herself.

「Gu, AAaAAH!」

The impacting attack easily pierced through the Wyvern’s barrier that was strengthened by Yggdrasil’s ability and the readied Blade, furthermore even its Force Core was pierced and destroyed.

「What-……!?」

Even Egnid who was trying to attack from behind stopped moving seeing that unimaginable result.

「────」

Celis finished Saniya and turned around, then in a flash she aimed her lance at Egnid before firing a Dagger wrapped in electricity once more.

Staying on guard against the Crossing Multi Attack just now──the attack that focused its hit on one spot, Egnid resolved himself to block it.

He poured all his energy into his barrier, strengthened it to maximum, and deployed it facing the front, but,

「──That’s a bad move.」

「Whaa-……!?」

Using Divine Gate, Celis circled behind Egnid this time, launched a thrust of her lance that was tinged with electricity, and smashed apart the armor of the B-Blood Wyrm.

「Gahah……!? Bi, bitch──that’s just, cheating……right?」

It was Cross Fire attack from two directions of back and front, right after she showed the Crossing Multi Attack that was an attack that focused on one spot simultaneously from two directions.

Pressed with two options that would result in his instant defeat if he chose mistakenly, even Egnid was tragically defeated.

「Winning percentage is sharply reduced──retreating.」

The remaining Kirly activated her B-blood Drake’s camouflaging and began escaping, but Lindwurm that circled right in front of her eyes smashed the armor with one lance attack.

「──Escape is not permitted. I’ll have you receive a slightly painful experience too.」

• BASHIiIII-!*

Blinding electricity spark scattered and Kirly’s mask slowly fell.

Behind the mask, there was the face of a little girl with special trait of ears that looked like a bird feather.

「Second clone──serious damage.」

Kirly whispered while at the same time her body crumbled into sand──no, into something powder-like that was even more minute than sand.

From her heart area, a mechanical lump that had countless steel wire growing from it spilled out and in the end only her head retained its shape.

「This is……what in the world!? Your true identity is──」

Right after Celis reflexively raised her voice, something strange occurred.

「Kukukukukukukukukukukukukukuukuku kekekekekekekekekekkekekekekekekeke」

The head of the girl who until now persisted in her artificial silence started laughing like a broken record.

And then, the Automaton borrowed Hayes’s words and muttered something terrifying.

Part 22

「What is happening!? Why is she not defeated even with this much battle strength!? The enemy is just a single Drag-Ride!」

On the other side, at the plaza in front of the castle gate, it was a battle between Philuffy’s Typhon versus the swarm of Abyss and fifty Drag-Knights of the Rebel Army Ragreed was leading.

It was a battle that started in a condition that should be advantageous for the Rebel Army Ragreed was leading.

The battle that seemed to be all but a victory for them was disturbed by Typhon that Philuffy was driving with control technique that was interweaved with martial arts. The battle situation was gradually inclining to her side.

Against the enemy’s long range sniping, Philuffy would use Pile Anchor to pull in the Abyss and made them into a shield, or she would throw them and reduce their numbers. Furthermore if she was surrounded, she would shoot her wire into the ground or the castle wall and moved herself at high speed.

Furthermore her straight punch with all her weight behind it and her various kicking techniques that would suddenly come flying would smash apart the enemy along with their weapons without giving them any time to react, burying them into the ground.

「──Biting FlareDragon Bite Bursting Fire」

The last Abyss, a Chimera was seized by Typhon, and with its special armament the Chimera was blown up while still being seized.

The remaining Drag-Knights of the Rebel Army who saw that raised fearful voices and backed away.

「──This, bunch of dullards-!」

Ragreed was enraged seeing his fearful subordinates and spat out in irritation. But even the few who escaped were seized by Typhon’s Pile Anchor and they were easily shot down.

「How, how can you fight like that!? You fight alone continuously using a Divine Drag-Ride, why aren’t you breathing hard!?」

「Because, Lu-chan taught me.」

Philuffy told the yelling Ragreed the answer seriously.

「I became tired from fighting, because I put too much strength.」

Even in the academy, Philuffy was among the top class powerful people there, but her unique fighting style that incorporated martial arts consumed a lot of stamina within a short time.

Therefore through mock battles Lux taught Philuffy the way to relax even in the middle of battle──she would constantly tense a part of her consciousness while also looking for timing to rest her body. She learned it and carried it out in actual practice.

「Hah, just a pointless struggle! You think making such effort would actually bear fruit? If your true shape as someone who has a part of an Abyss inside you is brought to the open, you won’t have any place to belong anywhere in this country! Your solitude fighting won’t be rewarded at all!」

Right after that, Ragreed took out a horn flute from his pocket and blew into it strongly.

The discordant chord resounded through the plaza in front of the castle, right after that Philuffy’s face grimaced slightly.

「-……!?」

「You get it now, damn monster! Become skewered meat just like that!」

Philuffy split her focus in order to oppose the domination effect from the horn flute. In that moment Ragreed’s EX Wyvern soared, then swooped down with his great sword at the ready.

He fully used the flying device on his back wings that he preserved until now and violently assaulted Philuffy who couldn’t take her stance, at that moment──

「──Missing Faith.」

Philuffy’s eyes were dyed jet black with slight tinge of gold light.

• GAUNN!* Typhon’s armor shined and a jet black wave was emitted to the surrounding.

「……Wha, aattt!?」

It was Typhon’s Divine Raiment that neutralized other Drag-Ride’s Divine Raiment and lowered the power output of the Drag-Ride itself.

The output of Ragreed’s EX Wyvern decreased the moment that wave of howl dashed over it and its speed fell.

Right after that, Typhon’s straight punch that was lying in wait struck the EX Wyvern.

「Gu, GAAaaAH!」

The impact pierced the barrier and crushed the armor.

Ragreed spat out blood and he was sent flying far away behind, crashing into the closed castle gate.

「Gehoh…… ho, how……can you maintain your sanity? My horn flute, certainly──」

「Because, I keep training. Since then, Lu-chan and Airi-chan always, trained me with that.」

The eyes of Philuffy who was whispering that indifferently had already returned to her usual eyes.

「It’s not pointless. Because from here on, I’ll protect Lu-chan.」

It was a training to accustom the body, in order to endure the horn flute’s control.

Although there was a limit to the time and number she could endure, the training was continued periodically so that she would at least be able to maintain herself as much as she could.

Therefore, it was possible for Philuffy to Abyssificate herself by her own will although it would only be for a short period of time.

Of course it was a trump card that would put a burden on her body, but in that short time she would be able to activate Typhon’s Divine Raiment that originally she was unable to use while her physical ability would also increase by leaps and bounds.

「That’s, impossible……! Something, like hope, for you is……」

Ragreed’s head dropped down and he fainted.

Philuffy who saw that leaked out a relieved sigh, but at that moment, a strange voice could be heard.

『Kukukukukuku──how admirable to defeat two bodies of the facility’s Gear Leader who is my compatriot and resist until this far. But, don’t think that you are in the advantage with this, you lowlifes.』

「……What’s, this?」

The shining powder flaking off from the EX Wyvern Ragreed was wearing took the shape of a human face and started talking.

It copied the expression of the strategist Hayes grinning fearlessly.

「This──don’t tell me」

Airi who was hiding together with Noct’s Drake near the castle gate saw that and groaned reflexively.

『I’ll at least show you the prize for resisting my plan until this far. The destruction of this country that is!』

• UUUN!* Instantly, Gigas that was visible far away at the capital’s townscape radiated light and the ground was starting to shake like an earthquake.

「Lu……chan?」

Philuffy whispered anxiously, at the same time she fell on her knee from exhaustion.

Part 23

「Gigas is vibrating……!? What are you planning to do, Hayes!」

Nidhogg stood up taking advantage of when Lisha’s attention was diverted by the loud rumble.

Lisha who saw that reflexively pulled her Cannon’s trigger.

But, when Hayes swung her two-bladed sword that was tinged with light as though drawing a circle, a wall of light was created before her and blocked Lisha’s cannon shot.

No──strictly speaking it wasn’t a wall.

The light of Nidhogg’s Divine Raiment was transmitted through to the two-bladed sword and tinged the blade──turning it into a light blade that cut apart everything, the trajectory that blade passed would leave behind a cut section.

「──It’s futile. No one is able to pass through the cut section this thing creates. And then, eat this!」

Next Nidhogg swept its weapon sideways. Just by doing that, the flash from it diagonally severed the upper part of the castle that was far behind. The castle crumbled down.

「Wha-……!?」

「This is your fault you know, damn substitute. To use this──Nidhogg’s Divine Raiment, Astral Line, even I will need to resolve myself. After all it’s a Divine Raiment that splits apart space itself, it’s an article that might destroy even this Gigas and the treasure I want to snatch.」

Hayes laughed seeing Lisha shuddering from witnessing that terrible might.

「See, I’m good with just killing you guys, the top of the royalty in the capital. Beheading everyone will make it troublesome for controlling this country later, it will also prolong the chaos. But──I gave up holding back already. Using Nidhogg’s Divine Raiment and Gigas’s all-direction firing, I’ll blow up everything altogether along with this capital!」

「Are you sane……? You──」

「It’s the fault of you guys for making me angry! You can go to hell without worry! Cause you’ll go together there with the people of this New Kingdom that you try to protect!」

Hayes yelled while Nidhogg swung down the blade that was tinged with the light of its Divine Raiment once more.

The flash of Astral Line split the world vertically, from the sky to the ground.

「-……!?」

Lisha’s body was blown away along with one arm of Tiamat that immediately deployed a reinforced barrier.

Part 24

A moment later, even Lux and Yoruka who were standing at the opposite side could hear that abnormal sound of slicing wind.

Due to the Divine Raiment Astral Line that severed the very space itself, the capital’s clock tower along with the city below were severed and collapsed with thunderous sound.

The Gigas was quickening the gathering of faint light toward its central cannon muzzle and on its whole body. The aftermath of the vibration from it shook the ground.

While screams and shrieks could be heard from below, Lux who was on his knee lifted his face.

「──It looks like that side will also be concluded soon doesn’t it?」

Yoruka was approaching near with a composed look even now after witnessing the omen of destruction that Gigas was showing and Nidhogg’s attack.

Although Lux was saved from his predicament due to Lisha’s support, he was unable to find a conclusive means of survival.

Lux had no method to block Yoruka’s special move──the Instant Strike that took advantage of the gaps of consciousness.

There was less than three minutes left for the activation time limit of Bahamut.

He was completely──cornered.

「Are you……not scared? Even though that Gigas and Hayes might destroy this capital soon.」

「Yes, not at all. Because I don’t have any human emotion in me.」

Yoruka answered instantly while showing a carefree smile.

「But, this is curious. Aruji-sama too doesn’t look scared at all. Aruji-sama is seriously intending to do it, isn’t it──of saving this country.」

「……What happened with your little brother?」

「Yes?」

「Your little brother swore to succeed the throne of Koto and become a splendid lord. And then, you──swore to walk the path of a servant who would protect him, what happened to that?」

「In this kind of situation, Aruji-sama is asking an interesting thing isn’t it?」

「Because I think that I have to ask it, as the last prince of the Old Empire.」

「…………」

Yoruka hesitated just for an instant with the smile still fixed on her face.

「My little brother──was killed.」

She said it smoothly from start to finish without any change at all in her expression and tone.

「Eh……?」

「The castle was surrounded when I was going outside, so in order to save my little brother I surrendered. I obeyed the command to enter under the banner of the Old Empire with the condition that only my little brother’s life was saved──but」

Yoruka talked with a hint of nostalgia in her tone and she smiled.

「My little brother was already killed, by none other than his subordinates, the chief vassals. The chief vassals who gave up the war because of the difference in battle strength with the empire laid the responsibility on my little brother in order to protect themselves. They beheaded him and presented his head to the empire.」

「…………」

「It was, vexing.」

The girl who was said to be not human whispered with something that felt like emotion coloring her tone for the first time.

「My blood relative who was the only one who believed in a defective product like me died. And yet, even when I heard that news, I didn’t feel sad even a little. That’s, the most vexing thing above all else, was how I wasn’t a proper human until the very end.」

「Then, you following the contract with my father──with the Old Empire is……」

「Both of us really weren’t cut out for it. Something like becoming a splendid lord, and a servant who devoted her loyalty to such lord is just──」

Even so just like her little brother who kept his oath until he died, she herself also exchanged a contract with the Old Empire in order to save her little brother. She was attempting to be faithful until she died to the only oath she had ever sworn by protecting that contract.

「Now, the time to talk harmoniously is also over with this. Let’s conclude this, Aruji-sama.」

「……Got it.」

Lux gazed straight at Yoruka, then he took a stance by pulling his sword greatly to the back.

「As a prince of the Old Empire, I’ll defeat you here.」

In response, Yoruka took her stance and her purple eyes shined fierily.

The battle technique of perceiving Lux’s conscious wavelengths and taking the opening of the unconscious gap──Instant Strike.

Yoruka intended to settle the match using the greatest technique she had.

The surrounding atmosphere tensed tinglingly and the tension was drawn until the very limit.

A few instants later, it came.

• BAKIiiIN!*

「──!?」

An instant of crossing, when the blades of both sides ran through empty air, Yoruka’s Blades snapped and twirled in the air.

At the same time, the Chaos Brand that Lux wielded also cracked, but it wasn’t separated from his hand.

「──Reload on Fire.」

Lux’s attack that struck last pierced through the barrier of Yoruka’s Yato no Kami and her armor was destroyed.

The impact on the Force Core completely downed the Drag-Ride’s output.

「──How……can this be?」

Yoruka showed a color of agitation for the first time. She whispered with a dumbfounded voice.

「I don’t understand something like the moment when there is gap in a human’s consciousness.」

Lux answered with wheezing breath.

「But, I predicted it only hazily, your tendency, the omen when you are about to move after reading the gap of my consciousness. I was finally able to see it, thanks to you getting emotional for the first time.」

「…………」

Lux’s Quick Shot that originally should only be usable when he used Reload on Fire.

That technique which aimed to attack at the moment the opponent unleashed their attack by perfectly seeing through the attack preparation movement of the opponent, against Yoruka, it was unable to reach until her armor.

Therefore, in the first attack Lux concentrated on only brushing away her sword, and then he decided the match with the next attack.

「Certainly, my tendency will come into view if I exert my strength emotionally. What a failure. For I who am not a human──to still have something like that.」

The moment Yoruka chuckled, the Gigas shined once more and it shook fiercely along with the ground.

Right after that, from the shoulder of Gigas that was tilting diagonally──Yoruka and Yato no Kami slipped off.

「With this, the Arcadia Empire is finished too. Sayonara──Aruji-sama.」

That moment she began to freefall, Lux flew his Bahamut, weaving through the gaps of the broken armor that was thrown away along with the Gigas’s movement. And then──

「What are……you doing?」

With a look as though she was seeing something inexplicable, she stared at the hand of Bahamut that was saving her.

Lux reached out his hand in order to save Yoruka at a timing where it seemed like he wouldn’t make it in time at all.

Even while shaking with most of his strength used up, Lux slowly pulled up Yato no Kami.

「Aruji-sama doesn’t have any responsibility or free time to save me you know? My wish is already──」

「I once tried to change this country──and then I failed.」

Lux spoke cutting off Yoruka’s words and he turned his eyes that were tinged with sadness to her.

「No matter how I couldn’t believe in how the country was, so I resolved myself to change it. After that various things happened and the Arcadia Empire was destroyed. My older brother, he told me that it’s impossible to persuade them. Perhaps he was right. Something like my wish might be a mistake that won’t come true in the end. But……」

While whispering, Lux mustered his remaining strength and pulled Yoruka up.

「If it’s possible to save, then I want to save even just one more person. It doesn’t matter even if that’s a reckless wish. After all, I resolved myself to destroy the Arcadia Empire for that.」

「……I’m astonished. Something like that──to choose the path of destroying one’s own country by one’s own hand in order to save it. This is my terrible misunderstanding. Aruji-sama, from the start you are fighting all this time for the sake of the Arcadia Empire aren’t you? In order to make it come true, the ideal country that you dreamed of──」

Yoruka suddenly made a tranquil smile, as though she was released from something.

Like that Lux pulled up Yoruka to the edge of Gigas’s shoulder before he let go of her hand.

「My battle is still not over. It has continued all this time──since that day seven years ago. That’s why, I’m going.」

Lux only left those words behind and he was about to turn on his heel. It was then he heard a voice.

「……Does Aruji-sama know, about the entrance to the shortest route heading towards Gigas’s control room?」

Yoruka who dispelled her armor was looking up to Lux with her usual smile.

「I think it’s a necessary information for Aruji-sama. If it can save your country, and really grant your wish then──」

Part 25

「How long are you going to run? It won’t be much longer until Gigas’s all-directional bombardment you know? You’re planning to abandon this country huh, princess-sama.」

「Kuh……!」

Lisha barely continued to avoid fatal wounds from the fierce attacks that Hayes’s Nidhogg unleashed by skillfully using Legion and Suppressor.

The trajectory that was passed through when the blade of Nidhogg’s Divine Raiment, Astral Line was swung──that severed cut section remained behind as a wall of light. Because the space was literally cut apart like that, any attack wouldn’t pass through to the other side.

(As long as the enemy doesn’t dispel that cut section created by the Divine Raiment, my attacks won’t reach, huh……)

Besides, the slash from Hayes’s Astral Line could further sever that cut section of space from above.

Just like how a paper with countless lines drawn on it had a new line drawn on it and enclosed an area, Lisha’s was also gradually getting cornered with her escape path getting cut off one by one.

It was a hopelessly unfavorable situation. Even so inside her head, Lisha was trying to form a strategy towards victory.

How to make her attacks pass through using all the methods available to her.

That was the tactical thinking possessed by Lisha who was called as the New Kingdom’s Scarlet Battle Princess.

(However, thanks to seeing that Divine Raiment many times like this, I finally understand how it works.)

The moment Hayes tried to unleash a slash using Astral Line again, Tiamat flew.

「Idiot! No one can fly through the space that Nidhogg cut──……!?」

But, the moment Hayes unleashed a new slash using her Divine Raiment, one of the walls of light from the cut space that was surrounding the area suddenly disappeared as though dissolving into air.

「You’re quite something in scheming, but you are not really a big deal when it comes to Drag-Ride tactics huh──bungler strategist.」

Lisha charged and slipped through that vanishing cut section──the hole between the light walls.

The cut section of space created by Nidhogg’s Divine Raiment couldn’t be done infinitely by any means.

In the case when more new slashes were unleashed after already cutting apart a certain size of surface area, the cut section that was previously made would vanish in turn, starting from the oldest cut section.

Therefore, Lisha memorized the order by which the light wall of cut section was created, then she matched her timing with Hayes’s attack and broke through the hole of the vanished wall.

Even though Hayes understood the trait of Nidhogg’s Divine Raiment, she wasn’t grasping it thoroughly in real battle.

That time when the difference in battle experience between the two sides was brought to the fore, Lisha aimed her Seven Heads.

「Prepare yourself Hayes! This is──your loss!」

「──Hah」

But that moment, *gashiin!* Lisha together with Tiamat were restrained.

「Wh, at……!?」

The rumbling Gigas that should be only preparing for its all-directional bombardment until now.

Its giant arm had moved unnoticed by anyone and caught Lisha with it.

「That’s naïve, you substitute princess. Even if Gigas is in a state of opening all its gunports, but were you looking down on it that it won’t be able to move all the time?」

「-……!?」

「I have great power, the proof of my bloodline that once ruled over this world and made you lowlifes succumb! This is──the status that you fake absolutely cannot obtain.」

「──That’s idiotic.」

Lisha raised her voice in response to Hayes who was showing a triumphant smirk.

「What did you say……?」

Gigas’s hand was tightened until just barely, even so Lisha grinned fearlessly.

「Just what is amazing from that? I don’t get it at all. Are you really satisfied that you are able to subdue a junk that will move just because of your bloodline?」

「You are still going to bluff even at this point huh, this fake princess.」

「……You see, when I obtained Tiamat, I didn’t think like that for even the slightest bit. No matter how strong specs it has, I didn’t want something like that for even the slightest bit. Since the past until now, what I want is the strength and qualification that is worthy for that Drag-Ride!」

Lisha put her strength into her Drag-Ride, trying to tear off Gigas’s restrain.

「I’ll teach you! The thing that I’m trying to obtain by fighting, if far higher in rank than your so called strength!」

「──That as far as your joke goes, get crushed and die.」

Hayes raised an angry voice and Gigas moved to closed its fist and crush Tiamat.

But at that instant, several of its five fingers were cut apart and a jet black Drag-Ride cut through the sky.

「I’m sorry to make you wait, Lisha-sama.」

Lux carried Lisha along with her Drag-Ride in his arms and spoke to her.

Lisha who became aware of that saw Lux’s face from close up and her face flushed up red.

「──!? Yo, you are slow, really! Don’t make me worry so much……」

Lisha yelled angrily to divert attention from her state before she averted her face and whispered so at the end.

「Also, that girl’s Divine Drag-Ride, Nidhogg, I saw through its ability. It will be sink or swim, but will you follow me?」

Seeing his master, the princess pretending to be tough, Lux gently smiled at her.

「There is only little time remaining until Bahamut’s activation time limit. Please instruct me about your plan through Dragon Voice.」

「……Yeah! We are going to teach that mad strategist a lesson!」

Lisha faced Nidhogg once more and began to focus energy into Seven Heads.

At the same time, Lux who flew drawing a sharp arc attacked towards Nidhogg.

His swordsmanship was endowed with weight and speed, but Nidhogg obstructed it with the wall its cut section created.

「It’s futile! It’s impossible for you to surpass this wall! You guys will absolutely──」

「Try blocking this Hayes! The other technique that I devised!」

Immediately after Hayes who was convinced of her victory yelled, *DON!* Tiamat’s armament the Seven Heads fired flickering purple light bullets from its center muzzle.

Seeing that unfamiliar attack, Hayes showed an alert expression, even so she didn’t move from her spot.

Nidhogg’s surrounding was already surrounded by the cut section light wall it created. No attack would pass it. In that case it should be absolutely safe if she didn’t move but──

「Linker Burst. ──And then, Reload on Fire.」

The moment Lux raised his voice, Nidhogg itself advanced forward as though it was being pulled.

「Wh, at-!?」

Bahamut was internally equipped with a special armament to create force fields that controlled a material’s trajectory. It went through compression reinforcement by Reload on Fire, and the force field that originally didn’t have the strength to move a Drag-Ride moved Nidhogg.

In order to prevent herself from getting crushed by the light wall that her own Divine Raiment created, Hayes removed the cut section. In that instant──the purple light bullet Lisha fired directly hit Hayes.

「Gu, u……! Damn idiot! My Nidhogg’s barrier won’t even break from just this much──」

「No worry Hayes. Your time is already over.」

The moment Lisha showed her grin, it happened.

Nidhogg that received the black purple light bullet became unable to move.

No, far from that──

「What, this is──!?」

Her armor creaked fiercely and began to distort in turn from the small parts.

It was as though she was being held in place by pins midair. She was fixed on the spot by a powerful pressure and she was unable to escape.

「Gravity bullet, it’s a technique that applies Tiamat’s Divine Raiment, the Suppressor. Also, once you get touched, you will be dragged to the center of the sphere until its effect runs out and get crushed there. In other words──」

Lisha was explaining while loading energy into Seven Heads.

At the same time in front of her Lux’s Bahamut was silently readying its black great sword──a red flash surged.

「──Reload on Fire.」

Lux compressed his own time to the greatest degree and then he unleashed Quick Shot.

Faster than Astral Line could create a light wall, that two-bladed sword that was the Divine Raiment’s starting point was destroyed into pieces.

「──Farewell Hayes, Heiburg’s strategist whose identity isn’t even revealed, see with your own eyes the strength of this Scarlet Battle Princess and fall!」

Right after that, the maximum output cannon shot of Seven Heads attacked Nidhogg.

「──Gu, GAaAAAaAaAAH……!?」

Extremely glaring light bore into the armor, then Nidhogg broke down along with Hayes’s shriek.

Shriek and armor fragments scattered everywhere along with an explosion, melting inside the light.

『Wh, y……! Why are you bastards! The likes of the descendants……who betrayed us……!』

Hayes’s voice that was sent through the Dragon Voice got blurry at the end and became distant.

When their sight returned a few moments later, Hayes’s figure had vanished without any trace.

「We did it, next is──」

Lisha moved even while wheezing roughly.

「Yes! There is only one left──」

Mustering their last strength, Lux and Lisha followed the passage that Yoruka told Lux and infiltrated inside from Gigas’s chest part. After progressing through a single path for ten-odd seconds, they found the control room area just like what they saw before inside the Ark. There, a single girl was sitting on a chair.

She had countless cables connected to her and a mechanical crown on her head, gazing to the front with emotionless eyes.

Perhaps she was splitting her focus with the control of Gigas, she moved her face for the first time when catching sight of Lux and Lisha.

「Situation of certain defeat. Evacuation impossible. Last order──activate.」

The Automaton’s expression was hollow. But, just a single animosity could be sensed from the peculiar tone of Gigas’s Gear Leader, El Fajura.

She knew of the defeat of Hayes, the Lord that she worshipped. And yet, even now she was resolved to take revenge by destroying the capital.

「Stop! The outcome has been decided already. More than this is──」

Lisha raised her voice to stop her while aiming her Cannon’s muzzle at El Fajura.

But, perhaps she had used up all of her energy and willpower because Tiamat didn’t show any reaction.

And then, Lux’s Bahamut had also passed through its activation time limit and got dispelled.

「Damn i──」

「Confirming situation change by sight, achieving the objective within the remaining few seco──」

El Fajura whispered while watching that movement at the corner of her sight, in that instant,

「That will be impossible I think.」

• stab* A katana shaped Sword Device sprung out from the center of her chest, *crackle* and yellow sparks scattered.

「……!?」

When the surprised Lux and Lisha looked behind them, they noticed that Yoruka who had arriving from behind the two of them had thrown her Sword Device.

「You──!?」

Right after Lisha raised her voice in surprise, Yoruka smiled bewitchingly like usual.

「This is a contract violation Automaton-san. Destroying this very country itself is different from my agreement with your master you know?」

「…………」

El Fajura didn’t react to those words. She gazed at Lux with sparks scattering from her stabbed chest. And then, her lips distorted into a grin and she laughed, as though displaying her will as an Automaton for the first time.

「……I see, so you are the rebel. Did you obtain the world you wished for after throwing the previously created world principle out of order?」

「──What?」

Lux asked back with a dubious face after hearing the Automaton’s sudden words.

「You will soon remember. Even if you forgot, someday──if you wish for that once more.」

After leaving those words behind at the end, light vanished from El Fajura’s eyes. At the same time Gigas’s rumbling stopped and the surrounding was filled with silence.

The many long battles were closed here.