Chapter 2.6
The artificial dimension is a space with a boundary limit existing at a man-made realm, where it was created by science and magic. This space does not interfere with the space at reality, but its time was connected to it. Originally this space is created for storage purposes, but then simulations were added to the system— creating any possible scenery, now it sells as one of the best worldwide products as a reality simulation dimension, which was created by Central Imperial Island.
Though it`s a worldwide product, but it`s not cheap at all. Even the smallest, cheapest of it costs nearly 10k, and the currency of Central Imperial City is the highest of all times worldwide. Comparing to the first runner up, their currency difference had an overwhelming difference of 1.31.
Anyways, the simulation for this dimension is probably 'blue sky plains'.
An area with nothing but a flat surface with grass and a blue sky;
An area where guns had the upper hand;
An area where I had the most disadvantage.
Because if I were to have a sword to a gun fight— and I was— in this empty area where I have nothing to shield me from the bullets, I would definitely lose.
I had no supernatural powers, martial arts, nor magic to back me up, all I have is superhuman strength. With just these two normal looking swords dangling on my hands and nothing else, facing against a bullet requires something more than just a necessary amount of courage.
The principal is fully well aware of my weakness. Not only he set up the team, but also the landscape of the artificial dimension as well— all in contrary to my weakness.
…This is one of the reasons I hate him.
After we were transferred to the artificial dimension, I`m not quite sure how much time has passed, but I think it was around thirty seconds or so, though not obvious, but I could see a thin layer of mist covering the sky, where it was no longer blue.
My exposed skin slowly felt the cold sensation.
Then as more time passes, the temperature fell drastically enough for my uniform to switch on its keep warm function.
Plus, it`s snowing.
It`s just a matter of time before the ground was fully turned white.
Now as I recall back Kuroyuki`s codename
It perfectly fits the current scenery I`m witnessing.
"A-A-Ac-Achoo…!"
A voice came behind me, to be more accurate— a sneeze.
I turned to find August, which he was rubbing his redden nose.
"N…!"
Timing with the voice, a soft pair of cushion-like things— like two large marshmallows, cuddled and was squeezing on my left arm.
A feeling I`m overfamiliar with— a girl`s chest.
I`m not quite bothered by it, or rather, I`m quite used to this sensation because of my cute little sister and my magical pet.
If it`s isn`t for them, perhaps I would`ve felt troubled from dealing against the only girl in the Imperial Knights Academy who had the tendency to play such a bold act on me.
The girl whom could be none other than Persia Silverlight.
"What are you doing?"
As I said casually with a familiar tone and looks to my left—
"K-Ku… T-This is… I was just…" Sherry said before falling to silent, yet still clinging on my arm.
—I was bombarded from surprise by Sherry Scarlet Rosenberk, the vampire.
Vampires are cold blooded, but because of the current weather and the keep warm system— I couldn`t tell who it is at all just from touch. Her redden cheeks, troubled expression and her upward gaze dealt quite a blow to me. I was so shocked that I don`t know what sort of reaction I should give in return.
As I was mentally preparing for the following conversation—
"L-Lucifer…!"
Timing with the voice, a soft pair of cushion-like things— like two larger marshmallows, cuddled and was squeezing on my right arm.
I look at my right arm.
It was Persia.
"What are you doing?" I asked casually.
"Receiving body heat." She replied casually. "You are rather warm~"
"I`m warm? Is this a compliment or flattery? Either way, I`m not particularly fond with it. The way your tone gives, made me feel like a radiator."
"Of course you are~" Persia said cheerfully, and leans her head on my shoulder. "You are the perfect radiator that melts my heart~"
"Hah?" I inadvertently opened my jaw wide from the surprise.
God, I don`t want to let Restia hear this.
She`s the only special one to pull off such a line, right?
With such a doubt lingering in my mind, I inadvertently look around.
Kronos is wiping his foggy glasses with his blazer.
Blaze is standing at his spot, glaring at me with his teeth gritted for some reason. He doesn`t seem to be affected by the cold at all, maybe it`s because he`s a fire elemental user?
August is making some swings to warm up. His swings are extremely swift— it`s almost like there`s not air resistance at all.
Sherry had been avoiding my eye contact with a shy look and she`s hugging my arm even tighter than Persia.
—hold on, am I the only special one?
"Hey~ Stop looking around~ How does it feel~?" Persia suddenly whispered. "Fu~"
Damn. Why are you blowing my ear? You were just as skilful as my perverted cute little sis!
I gave Persia a glare— a fierce one, which she was stunned surprised for a moment. Then I act as if nothing happened.
"Ngh…!"
Seeming unpleased, Persia acted like a kid and squeezed harder with her chest.
Unfortunately, I`m immune to sexual harassment.
…Thanks to those two.
Since I`m not giving any reaction, Persia then rubs her face wildly on my shoulder— again, like my perverted little sister.
If there`s a reason for this perverted behaviour, then there are two.
The first is to intake my scent, and the second is to mark her scent on my clothes— or so what Ruby told me.
Though it`s a bit annoying, but nevertheless it`s a reward at any rate. In the end, I decided to let her be.
"Ehem, I know you had your fun and all, now what?" Kronos suddenly muttered through the earphone.
"What do you mean I had my fun?" I retorted. "You wanna switch?" I turn to face him.
The girls both on my left and right— moved in sync with my movement and faced him, and hugs tighter on both of my arms.
…This is a serious problem.
"…No thanks."
Kronos backed off as he nudges his glasses, avoiding eye contact— this is to imply that he`s refusing.
"Of course he won`t~"
Through the earphone, Persia said with her voice raised, it`s as if to let Kronos hear her.
"Why? Is Rumelia going to hang him to death if he did?" I asked as I stared at Persia.
"Exactly~!" She replied.
Whoa, that grin is really evil.
"…Mrk." Kronos shows signs of panic.
"Kronos, do you have any idea how many guys out there still don`t have a girlfriend?" August suddenly said. "I`m one of them."
"So do I." Kronos muttered. "She`s just a childhood friend."
As he said those words, though it`s not quite not evident, but Kronos looks a little sad, or remorseful…? It`s like he did something wrong— something like a regrettable decision.
Nevertheless, I`m quite sure no matter how it goes, I`m sure everything will be fine at the very bitter end.
"…For now." I then added against Kronos`s remark. "You had no idea how does single feels like."
Given my current situation, it seems the last sentence that slipped out from my mouth completely contradicts it.
However, I`m single— and that`s a fact.
"You know, it`s better if you don`t say anything." Kronos nudged his glasses.
"Are you trying to pick a fight? Anyone in the Imperial Knights Academy is allowed to say that except you." August groaned.
"No, hold on. Why can`t I? Kuroyuki, Persia, or Sherry— they are just classmates and acquaintances?"
Ow.
Persia pinched me.
"You know what? I don`t care anymore if we lose." He then muttered.
WHAM!
Without any hesitation— August swiftly swung his sword for my neck, and was stopped by Sherry. She pinched her fingers right on the tip of August`s blade, where it almost touched the skin of my neck.
"Nrk…!?"
Persia lifelessly rested on my shoulder as the blade just went past over her head.
"H-Hey…!?" I inadvertently yelled. "You serious…!?"
Even though I won`t die in this dimension, but the pain will still remain even after I was sent out. There`s still a chance to die from the intense pain, or if not a trauma would remain. If August really did cut off my head in that moment— I might have this weird sensation that my head was removed as I woke up.
But that probably would never happen on me. I survived even the worst pain.
"Careful with the blade…! You are scaring Persia!" Sherry scolded.
Sherry hurriedly push away the sword from Persia`s head and my neck at the same time with her superhuman strength.
"You had no idea what`s it like to be rejected…!" August then shouted, escaping his blade from Sherry`s fingers and pointed at me, with his hand trembling.
Plus, his voice looked like he`s in pain.
I then look at Persia with a doubting look. My expressions are trying to say 'Was he rejected by lots of girls?'
Since this is Persia, I think she could read it.
"…No?" Persia whispered. "He didn`t confess at all?"
Then why is he getting so agitated for? He`s not even trying.
"So melodramatic…" Kronos muttered. "Rejected by your own little sister is normal."
"Stop it! Stop saying it!"
August switched his target to Kronos.
"Eh?" Persia was visibly surprised.
…There are some things that a guy would never tell a girl. It`s normal if Persia doesn`t know everything.
"So..." I interrupted. "You are a sis-con?"
"No! No I`m not! I just want to be a better big brother!" He screamed.
"I have had enough of this nonsense." Blaze suddenly uttered. "I`m going."
Saying that, he released some of the transformation magic on him, releasing and spreading a pair of large wings from his back.
The wingspan— I guess, is about 8m long.
Though having a dragon-shaped wings, yet his wings were covered by burning-looking feathers instead of scales and skins.
It was… stunningly beautiful.
With a gentle flick of his wings, like an explosion— his wings were covered in hot, orange flames and the heat evaporated the snow in an instant.
However, I`m surprised that his clothes still remain. From the look of it, I think the principal made it to be heat resistant.
Then... with a single flap— Blaze shoots up to the sky and disappeared above the clouds.
I then realize what I should do.
"…Ehem. Sherry."
"Ah, uh…"
As I reminded her, Sherry then realized what she needs to do. She let go of my arm unwillingly, then jumped to the air with her superhuman strength and spread her wings— disappearing above the clouds at another direction.
So convenient.
Suddenly… I wish I could fly.
Putting those feelings aside, I activated my screen for the dimension map.
There`s nothing special about it. It`s just a normal map that displays my location as well as my ally`s location. As our team explores the map, the map`s landscape will be updated.
I represent the blue arrow.
My allies are the green arrow.
The enemies will be the red dot.
I could see what my allies sees from the screen, and I could put a mark on the map if there is something suspicious.
…This is just like Defence of the Ancients.
"Okay… let`s go." I said.
We are currently located at the bottom left corner on the map.
Blaze covers the bottom right part of the map and Sherry`s covers the top left part of the map. As for the middle part, it will be covered by four of us. Currently there are no issues with it.
37% of the map was covered. However, there still shows no sign of Kuroyuki`s group at all.
"There`s a thing I`d like to ask, leader." August suddenly murmured.
"Eww, stop. Why are you suddenly calling me leader?" I quickly replied. "Just call me Luc if you want."
Huh? Why did I suddenly say that…?
Even August was stunned by my sudden friendliness.
"Me too! I want to call you Luc!" Persia pouted.
"Hmm… ugh, whatever, I guess."
"Yeah~!" Persia shouts happily.
"…Okay then, Luc." August murmured. "Blaze`s flames are quite dazzling, don`t you think Kuroyuki`s group could easily find out where he is…?"
August`s question impressed me. I can`t believe he`s actually shaper than I thought.
"So… what do you think I`m planning?" I asked.
"Hmph. So you actually know that his wings would burn bright." Persia muttered.
"Even if I don`t know, it won`t be a problem either my dear Persia."
"You are using him as bait…?" Kronos made an extremely shocked look that he could barely even speak afterwards.
"I don`t think so, Kronos." August then looks at me. "You are luring them to us, aren`t you?" He said calmly.
"Correct." I replied.
"Yes, that means he`s bait." Kronos remarked.
I was nearly speechless for a second.
"…No, it`s not." I retorted.
"What`s the difference? It`s just like fishing."
"That`s different. This is like giving a candy to a kid."
"He`s the candy, then? That`s even worse than bait—"
"Enough with the talk." Blaze suddenly interrupted from the earphone. "I just saw Kuroyuki Shiroha and Rumelia Heartlock."
From the map, two red dots— labelling Kuroyuki and Rumelia, is approaching towards our direction. There`s still around 5km before we meet.
"Come back, Blaze. Fly as far as you can before Kuroyuki attacks��"
"GARGH…!" Blaze screams.
Through the earphone, I heard a large rustling sound that was created by wind. It seems he just increased his speed for a moment.
"Blaze? Were you attacked?!" Persia yelled.
"Tch…! Kuroyuki shot a spear at me…!" He replied immediately.
It seems he just evaded an attack.
"Hey… Luc, is that—?" Persia tapped my shoulders.
An ice spear, perhaps at least 20 times the size larger than the normal ones— I could saw it clearly flying upwards towards the sky, piercing a hole through the clouds— like a rocket that was shooting to the sky. When it was about to fall, the trajectory of the spear suddenly changes it direction towards us.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!? It`s coming here!?" August looks terrified. "Is she trying to kill us!?"
Witnessing such a scene, it wouldn`t be strange for August to panic.
"Relax. It won`t hit us. Her prediction on our distance is a little bit off." I muttered.
Our start time to walk were three minutes late.
"He`s right. The impact point will be 274 metres in front of us. Impact area predicted— 60m2… or more." Kronos conceded.
His high-tech glasses seemed to be good enough to calculate the trajectory.
"You are too calm— this is Kuroyuki we are talking about." Persia reminded me. "Do you really think it will be that easy?"
"And this is me we are talking about." I said. "Do you really think I can`t handle it?"
THWOOM!
As the spear strikes the ground, the heavy impact that shook the ground and roaring voice took me aback. Then afterwards, the shockwave between the ground and the spear came rampaging to us.
Without knowing, I inadvertently stood myself in front of Persia, shielding her from the powerful blow.
It`s just like I`ve heard Kuroyuki`s finger snapping for a moment— the ice spear suddenly cracks and crumbles to snow, flooding towards us like a tsunami.
Ah… damn. This… is really humongous.
"EEK…!!? IT`S THE SNOW TSUNAMI!!!" Persia inadvertently shouts, and quickly hid behind my back.
"That`s 50 meters high." Kronos muttered. "We are all going to die."
Kronos was surprisingly negative.
"We aren`t." I quickly retorted.
To be honest, this is the first time I`m facing such a thing— and I`m not confident that I`m able to protect them. There`s still some time before it hits us. I hope these swords could handle my power…
A 200m distance run would take about seven seconds… I hope the snow doesn`t slow me down.
After taking a deep breath, I quickly ran forward to the snow tsunami with the 'Silent Step' footwork.
"Eh? Why are you charging straight in?" Persia asked hurriedly.
"No time to explain— just stay right there and don`t move an inch!" I ordered.
…With every step I take, the view in front is getting darker.
The tsunami that was inching forward, slowly seals away the light on the front and above. The darkening surrounding gave me tension.
Damn… I never knew a tsunami that was this close could be this scary. If I`m not careful— one slightest mistake could get me buried alive.
I can`t afford to let this happen.
Taking the speed of the tsunami into account, I stopped at a point where I could get a good strike with three swings.
Here it comes...!
"Hah…!"
First swing— a diagonal swing downwards to the left with the sword on my right.
The resistance of the snow tsunami is tougher than I thought, but I managed to cut a line out from the snow tsunami.
The blade survived without a crack…! Unbelievable— this is junk!?
I took a quick step back, opening some distance for the second strike.
Second swing— a backhanded horizontal swing to the right with the sword on my right once again.
Good. The sword made it.
I took a quick step back once again.
Third swing— a backhanded swing diagonally upwards to the left with the sword on my left.
This sword survived too. I doubt is he really giving me junk.
With the triangle shaped mark on the tsunami that was disrupted by external force, that place will be the weak point.
'Silent Blade' would just puncture a small hole through it… It`s not enough, I need a bigger hole.
As I took a step back, I threw the sword on my right to the tsunami, stabbing it at the centre of the deformed mark.
Then, I took a left stance with my left foot forward—
"Silent Punch."
BAM!!!
—and landed a right straight punch on the hilt of the sword, using the momentum from the twist of my waist.
With the triangle mark as the centre, the snow sunk inwards with two large, visible cracks spreading to both left and right of the tsunami— a hole was then plunged out from the centre, creating a tunnel fit for several people standing to pass through.
Of course… the tsunami didn`t stop nor slow down even after I punched a hole on it— and what`s more, the tunnel is starting to collapse.
"Lucifer." Kronos suddenly murmured. "Estimated 19 seconds for the tunnel to collapse completely."
Crap. I need to be fast.
"I`m coming to get you guys, hold on…!" I said through the earphone.
"Get? What do you mean by get!?" Persia doubted.
"Hey, no, don`t think about it…! There`s no way I`m going in through that dangerous looking hole…!"
I saw August turning his back— trying to run away from me.
"You are first, August!"
Sprinting pass Kronos and Persia— I caught August on his Blazer with my right hand.
"Uh, Eh? No, Luc— please, wait, no— AHHHHHHHHH...!!!!!????"
With a turn, I threw him like a spear— he went past Kronos and Persia, flying straight through the faraway tunnel.
After witnessing such a scene, Kronos and Persia stood on their place, in a daze.
"…That was barbaric— GYAAAAAAHHHHHH...!!!?"
Using the same technique, I grab Kronos on his blazer and threw him straight through the tunnel.
Then I stared at Persia.
"Hold my sword." I said.
"P-Please be gentle…" Persia murmured with her face whitened.
As I walk close to Persia and handle her my sword, she made a cute screech, 'Eek!?', or so she shrieks with her eyes closed as she curls herself with her hands.
"Relax… there`s no way I would throw you." I told her.
I carried her on her legs and back with my arms. Persia, with her cheeks reddens— looks at me with an upward gaze and muttered.
"Is… this the feeling of love…?"
"..." I was stunned silent with a poker face.
I wondered why she said that.
"—GUH, AH, OW!?"
From the earphone, seems like August just made a rough landing.
"—GAH, BUH, OOF!?"
Kronos too made a rough landing.
But here`s my answer.
"Unfortunately, no." I said with a gentle smile.
"Eh— KYAAAAAAAA...!!!!!??"
With Persia on my hands, I carried her and charge towards the tsunami.
Crap, the hole was almost sealed.
I could only force my way in and out.
The more we got closer to the collapsing tunnel, the more Persia clings to me with fear.
"Hang on…!"
I added a boost with my right leg, attempting a long jump all the way to the tunnel.
During the flight of trajectory, I quickly turn Persia to face me and pressed her head on my chest as I cradle her with my hands.
"EEEEEEKKKKK...!!!!?"
Even with her mouth sticking to my chest, Persia stills trying to scream as hard as she could.
I then extended my legs.
With my legs acting like a spear, I punctured the hole once again and got inside the tunnel. Then my back acts like a sledge— sliding across the tunnel and finally got out at the end.
"Hup."
I landed safely with both of my feet sliding on the snow.
"My… my hero~!"
As if those words were a punchline, Persia hugged me as if it`s the most natural thing to do.
"Stop joking. Can`t you at least do me a favour to fight properly?" I retorted Persia as I put her down.
…And here I was doing all the work.
"G-Guys…? What just happened…?" Sherry suddenly interrupted. "There`s a lot of noises…?"
I was surprised that Sherry didn`t hear anything just now.
"Nothing much Sherry~ We just encountered a snow tsunami." Persia replied.
"Yeah, a big one." I added.
I took back the sword from Persia.
"Are you guys alright now?" She asks worriedly.
"…Kuh— Ow…?! Of course… we aren`t…!"
August struggled to crawl himself up from the snow, as he stabs his sword on the ground— pushing himself up.
"Guh… it was, definitely, bad luck… to be picked to this team."
Kronos who was laying on the ground, mumbled as if it was the last of his strength left.
"We are fine." I replied, and gently kicked Kronos on his leg. "Just continue to fly your way there, Sherry."
"…N."
With that, I opened the map to see where she is. With the pointer moving faster, it`s clear that she`s increasing her speed to the right end corner of the map.
Persia who was right next to me, staring at the map— jerked my sleeve with her fingers.
"…Say, if by chance— Kuroyuki let them live, do you think they will be aiming for a pincer attack?"
As I was just going to reply my answer vaguely or just to laugh it off— Persia`s serious expression caught my attention. She`s the type to be serious when she needs to, the type to have fun when she needs to.
"Hah. I know what you are worrying about, Persia." I said with a gentle smile.
Hearing that, Persia paused for a moment. I was wondering if she was surprised by it. But then she lets out a smirk.
"Really now? Then what am I worrying about~?"
"Hmph. I`m not so weak to be needing your protection, my dear Persia."
"Eh~ You rejected the protection from the eldest daughter of the Silverlight family. To any of the worldwide nation, that`s a big loss, you know~?"
I gently knocked Persia`s head with my knuckle.
"Owie~?!"
As she cradles her head with her hands, Persia stares at me with a pair of poor-looking, teary eyes— like a puppy.
…Stop acting pitiful.
"Worldwide nation? You are merely just a sixteen-year-old, like me. Now why would you care about that?"
"Because it`s all for your sake…"
As she murmured, Persia looks away and pouted with a displease look.
I was dumbfounded.
…My sake?
I don`t understand what did she meant by that. The way Persia interprets made me felt like she already knew me for a long time, and she`d been behaving as such since ever since we met. Somehow, there`s a feeling deep inside me somehow agrees with it— yet, I don`t have a single memory about her existence.
I reached out my hand and gently moves Persia`s cheek to make her face me.
I gave her a solemn look.
"…You think too highly of yourself, Persia Silverlight."
I said her full name on purpose— it was to made clear of our relationship.
…It may be harsh, but I`ve already held back my words. If my words were to be a little more excessive or harsher, then I would`ve click my tongue and told her 'Who do you think you are?'.
We are familiar with each other, but not so much. There`s still a line— a wall between us that we had yet to shave it off.
And… I`m not in any right to accept any kindness.
"If you could be a little more selfish and do things for your own sake, I would be happier." I added.
I`m sure Persia could understand that.
Just when I thought the atmosphere would turn edgy, where she would`ve kept quiet and look away— but instead of that, Persia made a bitter smile as she stares at me with a vehement look.
"…I could say the same for you as well." She murmured.
Then she hugs my arm as if it was the most natural thing to do.
"Hello…? G-Guys— I found them…! They were frozen…!" Sherry suddenly informs.
I quickly open the map.
With Sherry as the spectator, four red dots appeared.
If those dots were still here, this means they were still conscious inside Kuroyuki`s ice block.
"I don`t think they can take the cold any much longer. Just leave them be." I replied.
"T-Then, I will head back immediately…!"
"…By the time you reach us, we would most probably already be engaging combat against what`s left of Kuroyuki`s team. So I need you to stay on air, do not engage combat and avoid from their sights."
"Why?" Sherry complained. "I want to help!"
"This guy wants a sneak attack, Sherry." August said. "A dirty battle strategy but extremely reliable at all times."
"Indeed. An undeniable fact." Kronos conceded.
…They seem to have a grudge on me now.
"I understand…" Sherry replied, her voice seems to be a little despondent.
From the map, Sherry`s arrow is facing back to us now, Blaze already flew back to us, and currently on the sky.
As well as… the two new red dots right in front of us.
Just when I close the map and raise my head—
"O-Oi!!! Look out!!!"
CLANG CLANG CLANG THUNK!
—I saw Persia standing in front of me, with her skirt flipped-up.
Though there are quite some other few things that caught my attention, but the first thing to capture my attention, was the content underneath Persia`s skirt that was put into plain sight— the kind of elegant undergarments that refused to release one`s gaze once a pair of eyes were attracted to them.
Aside from the pantyhose, I assumed they were a tidy and pure white, with strings.
Those types that my little sis likes to wear.
—gasp.
Once remembering Restia, I came back to my senses.
Persia`s panties— no, I saw Persia, which was clinging on my left arm just a second ago, is now in front of me. The golden card, to be precise, the Queen of Golden Hearts which she held on her right hand— she did three instantaneous strikes on the sword that was flying towards me.
I could tell that she strikes for three times because of the bright golden light that was left behind from each swing. There are three strings of light, three of it intersected at the same point— so I`m sure she cut it three times with that card.
Is she trying to stop that sword…?
When I realized, the sword that Persia is trying to stop— is the sword that Kronos lent me. The sword that I blasted it far away with a punch.
Someone threw it back.
…Kuroyuki Shiroha.
She`s the only one who could pull off such an amazing feat.
She really deserves an applause. The aiming was so precise that it would definitely stab me on my chest if I didn`t move at all.
How did she pull it off— I see, so there`s icing on the sword.
She coats the sword with her ice and threw it back while controlling its trajectory. This means it`s like a homing missile.
Judging from Persia`s mid-air posture, she would definitely move a little more to the right afterwards— with her in the way of the sword`s trajectory, it would definitely pierce her.
The Persia Silverlight that both me and Nightwalker have known, wouldn`t make such a big mistake. We both know she`s good enough to make such a judgement.
This means Persia voluntarily wants to shield me with her body.
What about August, who`s right next to the sword…?
He`s the one who warned me— and a little more, the sword he`s swinging down with both of his hands is going to hit it.
His outstanding judgement and quick decision surprised me.
But the only thing is— is he trying to protect me, or Persia…?
Just when I was wondering where is Kronos, the corner of my right eye caught a glance on him.
He was nudging his glasses with his right hand.
He had a frown look.
The forefinger of his left hand pointed downwards— with that look and his posture, it seems like he was pointing his finger to the ground by an act of surprise.
This means he`s trying to push the sword down with his powers…?
I wanted to see how things would go, but— I can`t let Persia to be out of the game just yet. When the sword stabs her, she would be sent out from my team.
I can`t let that happen.
"Ugh…!"
WHAM!!!
In an instant, I took a step forward to get close to Persia, and gently placed the back on my palm on the right side of her waist, stopping her from moving into the thrown sword`s trajectory. Then I took the sword I have, backhanded, and stabs it downwards onto the sword— as well as destroying Kuroyuki`s coated ice.
The snow scatters, a hole was formed.
When I made sure that the sword wouldn`t move anymore, I quickly raise my head and scanned the area at the front, and noticed Kuroyuki.
At the same time, she noticed me too and gave me a smile.
Yup, it`s her.
Fortunately, it doesn`t seem like she had any intention to attack for now.
Very well. There`s still some time before we`d actually fight.
So I turned to face August.
He was pushed back by my sword blow.
August is looking at me with an extremely surprised expression, it was like he didn`t expect any of that to happen.
I thought you tasted this once from Nightwalker? Well, whatever.
"You alright?" I then asked.
"Y-Yeah…"
As he replied, I noticed that the corner of his mouth twitched upwards. It was like, he`s smiling…?
…It feels a little creepy.
"N... My side… hurts."
As Persia`s weak voice came from my left, I turned to face her with my brows frowned.
When Persia gently placed her hand on the side of her waist— the place where I stopped her, she made a pained look, and was breathing heavily.
It looks painful and perhaps it would be my fault, but despite this— I`m not in any mood to feel any sympathy to Persia.
"Or do you prefer your sides to be pierced through, hmm?" I told her angrily.
Seeming to understand something, Persia`s expression turned anxious. Her head then hung low with a depressed look, with her hand grabbing my sleeve.
"I… just want to protect you…" She murmured.
In that moment, I`m sure Persia could protect me while leaving herself unscathed. This is why her reply did not let me feel persuaded.
In fact, I think she`s trying to tell me something that she doesn`t want others to know. She`s hiding something. But even if I ask 'Why?', I don`t think she would let me know the actual answer.
Perhaps Persia couldn`t sustain from my silence— she then reached for my hands and grabs them, then she immediately raises her head and stare at me with an upward gaze.
"Lucifer… Please believe me." She said.
There`s only one sentence— and nothing else.
"...!"
Persia had tears on her eyes.
It`s like she`s asking for help.
"…Why me?"
I lowered my voice. It`s not to let anyone else hear me.
"Because… you are the only one I can count on…" Persia murmured.
"Luc." August suddenly called. "The princess is here."
Not giving a second thought, I gave Persia a nod as an agreement, and faced to the front.
Persia seemed to have gotten my message— she squeezed my hands with hers for a quick second, then gently release them and retreated backwards to my rear.
I saw Kuroyuki standing afar with the purple hair— I mean, Rumelia Heartlock, Kronos`s girlfriend.
"Achoo…!"
Kronos suddenly sneezes.
There`s an incoming video call— from Kuroyuki.
Calling your enemy…? Is she crazy or too confident…?
Kuroyuki made a gesture with her hand, telling me to accept it… or else.
I gladly accepted.
"…Hello." She said with a cold smile as she waves her right hand.
Her gesture seems a bit too… normal. I was expecting a sneak attack.
"Kronos, be prepared." Rumelia suddenly pops up from the side of the screen.
She waves her hand like Kuroyuki, but expressionless— as usual, like a doll.
"Ngh…!"
I saw Kronos flinched for a moment with his hand nudging his glasses. I assume that is a warning to Kronos.
He then walks to in front of the screen.
"Uh… Don`t ask for the impossible, please." He nudges his glasses.
Seeming there`s nothing else to say, I pushed Kronos away and steal back the spotlight.
"…Aren`t we supposed to be enemies…? This video call is too inappropriate." I said to Kuroyuki.
"…Not yet." Kuroyuki replied. "…Not until you tell me why you lured me here."
"Because you aren`t my target." I murmured.
"…Sherry Scarlet Rosenberk is missing. This means you already knew how they died." Kuroyuki said.
"Sigh… Sometimes I really hope you could be a little dumb."
"…I`m not all that smart, but I can`t afford to be careless against you." Kuroyuki lets out an evil smile. "…I`m not even sure why you are helping us."
"…What?" August suddenly muttered. "Is she telling the truth?"
My teammates' morale was easily swayed from Kuroyuki`s words.
"Come on, that`s obviously not it." I told him.
"…Anyone smarter should have misguide me and lure me into a trap." Kuroyuki added.
"Those would only work to dumb peoples." I retorted. "Would you even fall for that kind of simple trick?"
"…You are right." Kuroyuki then placed her finger under her chin, seeming to be in deep thoughts. "…I won`t."
"I`m sure you already knew what I was going to do. Because you knew, you decided to come instead of splitting teams."
"…Very well. Try it, then." Kuroyuki boldly declared. "…I won`t let you have Rumelia."
With that, Kuroyuki ended the video call.
"...What did the two of you just talked…?" Persia asks. "I had no idea what is going on…?"
"What does the princess meant by 'I won`t let you have Rumelia'???" August added.
"Why Rumelia?" Kronos glared at me.
"…Sorry, there are things I haven`t told yet. Save the talk for later." I told them. "Now shoot her, and don`t stop."
"…Fine." Kronos replied.
With his left hand nudging his glasses, Kronos extended his right hand and grabs on something— like a rusty gear on an old clock, although it`s nothing but thin air.
As he rotates his hand in a clockwise direction— ten magic circles appear on thin air spontaneously. The 'junk' weapons that I was familiar with peeks out from the magic circle, and stopped halfway when his hand stops exactly after a 180 degrees turn.
Kronos raises his left hand, and pointed his hand towards Kuroyuki`s direction.
The moment he did— the weapons from his magic storage then rampages forward and bombards the area in front.
Among the bombarding, Persia took four golden cards on his right hand and stood in a stance where she`s ready throw it at any moment— but I think she`s trying to find the perfect route for her cards to slip through.
Seeming to find the perfect route, Persia threw them.
The cards fluttered swiftly while avoiding from the trajectory of Kronos`s weapons, yet all of it— everything, was blocked by Kuroyuki`s ice wall.
Everything was within my predictions.
I bet Kuroyuki can`t hear anything. Very well… if Blaze fails, then he will be the first decoy for my sneak attack.
…But I don`t really feel like talking to him.
First, cut off everyone`s connection. I don`t want anyone to hear what I`m going to say.
"Oi, Crimson Veludora Blaze."
"Tch…! Don`t call my name!"
"Cheh. Does that matter? Once I defeated Kuroyuki before you, I will be watching you kneeling down before me."
"I WON`T LET YOU!!! GARGHH!!!"
Although dragons would obey anyone who defeated them, but that doesn`t mean they would stop challenging them. They would challenge them once they got stronger. To dragons, defeating those who defeated them hurts their pride even more. Blaze`s pride could never allow Kuroyuki to be defeated, he needs to defeat Kuroyuki before I could— before he witness such a scene with his own two eyes (even though I know it`s impossible for now).
After Blaze made a loud roar— the clouds above Kuroyuki were punctured by balls of fire. To be accurate, there were three of it, raining down to Kuroyuki`s team. Blaze then followed from behind, with flames cloaked on himself, like a fire arrow shooting downwards.
…I think either one of those things could easily vaporise me for twenty times over.
When I manage to caught a glimpse Kuroyuki from afar through the transparent ice wall, I saw her taking a spear on her hand, and spun it to gain more momentum. She`s not even looking the slightest bit afraid, she faced the fireballs with a calm look as if it was breathing air.
As she threw her spear, the recoil from her shot scattered the snow below her feet outwards. I could imagine how powerful it is from that throw.
Like a needle bursting a balloon, Blaze`s fireball was extinguished in an instant as her spear went through it.
For the other two, she did the same as well.
When it was Blaze`s turn, Blaze skilfully dodged Kuroyuki`s spear by spiralling downwards around it without making any gurgling sounds nor moans.
I thought so.
Blaze did dodge the large spear with nearly the same speed. So such a small one wouldn`t have mattered.
"BURN!" Blaze yelled.
The fire on Blaze`s body was then compressed and shifted to his right fist. With that speed and compressed flames, perhaps that punch Blaze was about to throw out would cause an explosion powerful enough to blow even us to bits.
However, without being particularly surprised or anything, Kuroyuki calmly extended her hand towards Blaze with her special three finger gesture.
"…Freeze.", or so I lip-sync from Kuroyuki.
Well, that`s probably the only thing she would say.
Though not particularly visible, but I saw a gust of cold air hurling towards Blaze.
"Gargh…!"
Blaze`s scream is well heard from the earphone.
His flames were completely extinguished.
Before he could escape, Kuroyuki clenched her fist while her hand is still pointing at Blaze.
All of the sudden, cold air hurls on Blaze. Taking not more than a second— he was frozen inside an ice block.
The ice block then falls and smashed a hole on the ground.
Blaze failed miserably.
Now it`s my turn to shine.
Earlier when I gave Persia and Kronos the order, I`ve been hiding my presence and secretly sneaking behind Kuroyuki`s wall from the right side.
Kuroyuki or Rumelia, I don`t think either of them knows I`m here.
At any rate, Kuroyuki is too much of a monster— she could probably react before I could actually land a hit on her.
I`m sorry, Rumelia Heartlock. Die—
Before I was going to swing my sword, Rumelia suddenly turns to face me.
"Whoa!?" I inadvertently scream.
Because Rumelia behaves like a doll that was free from any expression— she doesn`t look surprised or terrified, nor does she look confident from catching me.
She was just— expressionless.
What surprises me the most is that I couldn`t tell what she`s thinking.
"Welcome. I`ve been waiting." Rumelia said to me.
When I realized, she`s pointing her right forefinger at me. Then she simply swipes her finger from up to down for two times— it`s as if she`s trying to connect me to something.
Something…?
Crap.
"Too late." Rumelia told me.
In an instant, a thread of string suddenly zips down from above, typing and wrapping my upper left arm. I tried to cut it with the sword, but it was stopped by more of her strings.
Eventually, both of my arms were tied up— the way Rumelia wraps it, is like the time I had a bone fracture and needs to be plaster cast. I can`t move my wrist either to cut her strings.
Then she hoists me up with her strings pulling on my shoulder.
I felt like a puppet.
Damn it, I failed.
No matter how much I struggled, I can`t seem to break her strings at all. It seems Rumelia reinforced it by coating with her mana.
"Hey, Rumelia— are these 0.30mm monofilament strings?"
"..."
Rumelia splendidly ignores me, and daring enough to turn to the front.
Yeah, right. Of course she would.
I just wanted to reactivate my earphone using my voice recognition, since my hands were tied up.
All it needs is just a 'Hey'.
"Ehem. Persia, some help please?" I whispered.
"It`s on the way…!"
After she says so, I saw one of Persia`s golden card fluttering towards me.
That was quick.
Rumelia and Kuroyuki doesn`t seem to notice it.
Without any resistance or whatsoever, Persia`s golden card easily cuts through Rumelia`s string that was connected to my right shoulder.
Once the string on my right shoulder is off, the rest easily came off once I contracted my biceps muscles. I slit off the string on my right shoulder with the sword, and landed silently on the snow without Rumelia noticing.
…Come to think of it, I wonder what is Rumelia is doing. Both of her hands were raised with her fists clenched… it`s like she`s pulling something with both of her hands.
She was just standing there— full of openings.
…That can`t be.
No, it doesn`t matter. If that`s all she`s capable of, then she`s just as good as dead.
After silently approaching to Rumelia Heartlock from behind, I swung the sword for her neck with a backhanded strike.
"…Not so fast."
CLANK!
With a right kick from below using the heel of her foot, Kuroyuki kicks my blade away from Rumelia. She then turns her left foot to face me, slashing her sword down from above.
Reluctantly, I took a side step to the left as I did an anti-clockwise spin, evading her blade. With the momentum, I extended both of the blades and swung them horizontally, aiming Rumelia.
CLACK— T-THUNK!
Kuroyuki stabs her spear down to the ground as she held her hand at the tail of her spear, absorbing the impact easily.
"Guh…!"
Too well, in fact.
…The swords broke to several pieces.
It finally reached the limit.
"…Where are you looking…?"
"W-Whoa!?"
Kuroyuki thrusts her spear for three times aiming my chest— though the snow is slippery, but I managed to avoid it by taking a step backwards, and deflect the other two strikes with the rest of the swords.
Why did Kuroyuki stop me…?
She knew I wouldn`t be careless to look away… this means she`s telling me to 'look' at something, but— where, and what…?
It will be suspicious if I look around, I need her to tell me. Everything I`ve said would make my teammates to be suspicious of me, so I need to choose my words carefully.
"Your spear is even tougher than last time." I told her.
"…That`s right."
Kuroyuki caught on to my hint. She slams her spear to the snow with the head pointing upwards.
Up…?
The moment I look up—
"Wha—"
THUD!
—a clump of metal from above smashed down into the snow.
A marionette…?
It fell between me and Kuroyuki.
There a thin wires connected to its back of the neck, shoulders, and wrists.
With just five strings? Probably not. That thing might be more complexed than I thought.
Moving my field of vision away from the metal clumps, I scanned the area above us. At least fifty— no, maybe a hundred magic circles could be seen.
Those are… dimensional storage circles.
Those aren`t Kronos`s… it`s Rumelia`s—
BAM!
I managed to block a right-hook punch from that lump of metal with my left elbow, but it`s more or less capable enough to push me backwards because of the slippery snow.
Now it stood up, I`m quite surprised that it`s actually twice my size.
"Phew… Hmm?"
The metal marionette in front of me, extended his right hand towards it`s right. On its right palm, it seems there`s a thread of wire attached to it, seems like it`s connected to…
"I`m sorry… Lucifer." Kronos suddenly apologizes. "It seems I had made a grave mistake."
…'Grave' mistake?
The ice wall disappeared.
One-by-one, the 'junk' that Kronos left behind on the ground after the bombarding— were pulled by a mysterious force, as it flew and lands on the hands of the metal marionettes.
Why isn`t Kronos putting everything back to his storage…? Is this what he meant by 'grave' mistake?
"You can`t put it back?" I asked.
"Rumelia`s mana is interfering it."
If I take her down, then everything will be over. The only obstacle is…
"…How many marionettes does she have?"
"…96."
"My bad." I replied. "I`m asking how many marionettes does she have in her storage."
"…That`s all she has."
After hearing Kronos`s reply, the marionette came swinging with a broad-axe from the right— which I dodged it by hairbreadth by bending my waist.
Actually, I could tell it isn`t that powerful.
Perhaps fighting against Restia, Ruby, Felix, Asha, Forsjá, and Kuroyuki had heightened my level till a certain degree.
I reach out for the left wrist of the metal marionette, stopping it`s movement to swing back.
It struggled to swing back.
With one hit on the left arm, the marionette`s arm snaps out from the shoulder— and another kick from below on the right arm, it snaps on the elbow.
…The limbs came off easier than I thought.
Taking the broad-axe from its hand as I plucks off the wire from it— I gave a swing, splitting it to half on the centre.
Seeming no sign of movement anymore, I hurriedly ran to Rumelia`s direction while being aware of Kuroyuki`s attack.
Rumelia is still standing like a lifeless doll, while Kuroyuki— is exchanging sword blows with August.
Rumelia suddenly notices me, six of the 96 marionettes suddenly surrounded her, forming a defensive metal wall, while another 18 was sent to deal with me.
Here it comes.
With two marionettes came flying from both sides with a longsword on their arms, they made a swing aiming for my neck and legs.
The broad-axe is too short to shield me. If I jump in between, there`s five javelins waiting for me.
I extended my hand with the broad-axe facing upwards. The arm of the marionette that was aiming on my neck pops out from its shoulder.
"Break." I murmured.
With a low kick— aiming the elbow of the marionette, the arm pops out from the elbow and flew towards the javelin marionettes. Three of them were cracked on the abdomen.
Looks like it`s not enough to stop them unless I split them to half.
I threw the broad-axe towards the javelin marionettes��� it hits two of them, breaking their abdomen to half.
Three of them charges forward with a thrust.
I dodged by squatting down, then leaping a step to the right as I took the longsword that was lying on my feet.
"Hup."
With one swing— I split the remaining three javelin marionettes with ease.
There`s still eleven of them, which they aren`t moving.
Three of the marionettes that I sliced crashed down to the snow. It`s as if I heard some wire snapping sound 'zip' or something, the remaining eleven of the marionettes came to me all of the sudden.
Immediately, I took a solid stance as I took the longsword with both of my hands.
Phew…
"Silent Wind Blade."
After the swing, a line flashes forward— splitting the marionettes to half.
POW!!!
After the sound roars, the marionettes were then blasted backwards.
With enough explosive power on the sword, I could cut the air and make a flying edge. However, the range is not that long and the sword would break in just that one swing— plus, it consumes a lot of my stamina.
It`s easy for Nightwalker to pull off this technique, but not me.
But for these things… it`s more than enough.
Throwing away the broken longsword, I took the other one that was lying nearby.
It`s been a while, but it seems like August is still trying her best to fight against Kuroyuki.
CLANK!
With one swing on the centre to his right— August knocks back Kuroyuki with a backhanded swing.
It can`t be— Kuroyuki was pushed back…!?
After taking a leap and landing with a fencing stance, Kuroyuki made five sharp thrusts with her sword.
August calmly took a step back with his right foot, and placed in the between of Kuroyuki`s thrusts— deflecting all five them by drawing a circle with his sword.
With Kuroyuki`s stance now broken with her right side exposed, August thrusts his sword forward.
However—
"Guh—!"
Kuroyuki thrusts her spear with her left hand for three times— pushing August back.
Kuroyuki then spins her spear for a better grip, and threw her spear towards August with the exact power that she dealt against Blaze.
BAM!!!
Just before seconds of hit— August managed to stable himself and stabs his sword to the ground. Though most of the impact was absorbed to the ground, but he was still sent flying backwards on the air.
"H-Hey someone catch him—"
"Relax." August muttered. "The snow is soft enough— GUH, ARGH, GAHH…!"
Seems like he made a rough landing.
"Hah… hah…" Kuroyuki catches her breath, then glares towards my direction.
She looks exhausted.
"…Heh." I inadvertently grin.
As I approached her with Silent Step, I swung the longsword downwards with just my right arm.
The moment Kuroyuki noticed my arrival— she quickly raised her spear to her head position with both of her hands.
CRACK!
The power broke Kuroyuki`s spear cleanly into 2 parts on the middle.
Just before the sword is going to hit her— Kuroyuki quickly leans to her body to her left, evading the longsword, and attempts to cut me with her sword.
…As usual, a terrifying reaction speed.
I immediately restricted her by grabbing her wrist with my left hand. Then I let go of the longsword and did a knife-hand chop towards her abdomen— but she managed to slap it away.
"…Let go!" Kuroyuki uttered to me with a displeased look.
If she sees me as an enemy, she wouldn`t say that.
"Sorry, just stay with me and watch."
Hearing my reply, Kuroyuki quickly flicks away my left hand as she takes a step back.
Without a need to take any sword or spear, and without any warnings— she immediately closes our distance, throwing a palm strike towards the left side of my chest.
I swiftly evaded by turning my body to the left and returned a same palm strike back.
Uhh… her chest…? This is bad— I can`t stop.
Just a millisecond before my palm strikes her, she managed to stop it by grabbing my wrist. Before I knew it, my left leg was kicked by her— I guess she`s trying to make me trip.
Using this opportunity, I pounced forth—
"…N-Nngh!?"
—and hugged her.
Kuroyuki was completely freaked out. The shock was so much to her that her body stiffens.
Anyways, this sensation…
…I would totally get addicted to this.
Now, back to my job.
"Sherry!!!"
The moment I yelled, the clouds on the sky was immediately punctured by the vampire girl that was diving down.
Rumelia was right below her.
Though there are strings peeking out from the magic circles that was summoned on mid-air, Sherry skilfully dodged them all while maintaining her speed.
"Please cover your ears!" Sherry ordered.
Hearing that, I immediately switch off the earphone, covering Kuroyuki`s ears with my hands and my left ear with my shoulder.
"KAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
Sherry`s supersonic sound waves blasted downwards straight to Rumelia. Though Rumelia used the marionettes around her to block, but the power was so strong that it blasted a hole right through the centre, and even scattered the snow around her.
Anyone is supposed to bleed from their ears and even on their eyes and nose.
Not Rumelia— she did not.
Without showing any sign of pain, Rumelia expressionlessly, quietly, fainted on her spot without making a single excessive sound.
As soon as she falls, her marionettes then stop— one-by-one they lifelessly crashed down to the snow like a broken doll.
"I-I did it…!" Sherry shouts happily.
"Nice job— Eh…? Sherry watch out…!"
"KYAAA—!? NNGH…!!!!?"
Before Sherry could hear me— I could clearly hear her scream when three ice spears that came raining from the sky forks her down to the snow.
It was Kuroyuki— the girl that I`m still hugging did this to her.
And those are… the spears she used to shot Blaze…?
Lots of blood are spurting out from Sherry`s wounds.
It`s alright, vampires won`t die from something like this. It`s just that something didn`t felt right…
"Tch…!"
I immediately backed off— then a spear rained down from above, just in front of Kuroyuki.
…The fourth spear.
The shot was so precise that a tilting a single centimetre could`ve killed her instead.
Even though I was expecting this, but this is way too extreme. I`m sure she`s going to be really mad…
"Huh?"
The moment I look at Kuroyuki`s expression, I was deeply dumbfounded.
No, no, no, no, no you are supposed to be angry— why are you making that bashful, embarrassed look…?!
"…p-p-p-pervert...!" Kuroyuki groans.
In contrast to it, her hands inadvertently wiggled up and down along with it.
She refused to look at me in the eye.
This is too cute, too stimulating…!
"…Hmm? Grk!?"
Saying no more, Kuroyuki made a spear and threw it to me without any hesitation— I can`t block, so I quickly evade it by leaping to my right.
"…Don`t dodge…! Don`t look at me…!"
Saying that, she threw more of them— each and every one of it is lethal if it hits, so I dodged it with all I had.
Each and every spear that hits the ground gouged out a large hole.
With one leap, I reached out my hands. I quickly grabbed Kuroyuki`s face, squeezing her cheeks.
"…Mu...?" She looks at me.
I can`t believe I`m able to catch her that easily.
"Come on, just stay calm…!" I told her.
PAK!
She knocks away my hands from below with her left arm.
"...I am calm." She replied.
Alright, she`s back—
"Urk—!!?"
A moment later, my world began to spin.
…Kuroyuki kicked me on my abdomen.
Is this revenge for the hug earlier…?
I quickly adjusted my posture, balancing myself and landed safely with both of my feet sliding on the snow.
"Guh…!"
After a second as I stop, strength left me all of the sudden— my legs trembled and shook so much, all I could do is to kneel on one leg, with the other leg giving all its strength, trying to support my body.
Spurt.
My mouth was filled with the thick taste of blood.
…Seems like some of my organs were crushed from that kick.
So this is what will happen when I take a direct hit from Kuroyuki…
Given an average human, their body is supposed to tear off from this much power. Fortunately, my body is quite sturdy— but nowhere till Nightwalker`s level.
But in return, because I often get injured during the time I was having my training, my body developed a portion of regeneration capabilities that`s way past a normal human`s. Nightwalker don`t have such. This is why I could always stand back up even if Kuroyuki cracked my skull.
I need some time to recover.
When I raised my head and look from afar, I find Kuroyuki, she`s now fighting against Kronos with a spear on her hand— hmm?
Kronos`s sword looks cool— is that an electromagnetic sword…!? That`s… a high-tech weapon that`s not available even on the military.
When I scanned around, I could see the broken pieces of the marionettes that was cut and melted on the stomach.
Must be that sword.
With the heat generated at the edge of the sword, Kronos could easily cut through anything— even Kuroyuki`s ice spear.
After melting the ice spear before it could touch Kronos, Kronos made a diagonal swing downwards to his left.
Facing against that cheating weapon, Kuroyuki did not flinch the slightest. She calmly avoids the sword by skipping to her left— and strikes Kronos`s waist with her palm.
WHAM!!!
An energy buckler shield…!?
Not even Central Imperial Island could pull out such a technology— where did Kronos get all of that!?
…Even Kuroyuki was surprised.
Just seconds before it hits, Kronos pulled out a buckler energy shield on her left hand— blocking Kuroyuki`s palm. But nevertheless, her superhuman strength could easily knock back any average person.
"...I… still… wanna fight…!"
Hearing the familiar voice from behind, I immediately turn to face Sherry.
Her body is lying flat on the ground, the blood from her wounds were frozen because of the cold. Kuroyuki`s ice is stopping her wounds from closing. The ice spears pierced through her right chest, abdomen, and left leg, but Sherry still struggled to crawl forward.
…I don`t understand.
This is just a mock battle, Sherry.
"Just rest." I murmured.
With a knife hand strike on Sherry`s Carotid Sinus, she faints— then was delivered out from the artificial dimension.
"Thank you, Lucifer." Persia said to me.
When I turned back and watch— Persia`s already fighting against Kuroyuki.
With a golden card between her fore and middle finger at her right hand— she made five instantaneous cuts in a shape of a star, which Kuroyuki blocks it with five of her spears.
Persia then threw a card with her left hand, it went through from the middle of the golden star that was left behind after the cut— the star flashed brightly.
Surprised by the blinding white light, Kuroyuki quickly closes her eyes— but she managed to deflect the card with her spear by hitting the blunt side.
When I realized— August already reached Kuroyuki, with his sword nearing reaching her.
It`s as if Kuroyuki could hear him— no, I think she could feel him from her snow on the ground— Kuroyuki swings her spear back, knocking August`s sword aside.
Though she stops August from hitting, but Kronos had his electromagnetic sword swinging down towards Kuroyuki`s stomach.
Once again, with the tail of her spear, Kuroyuki deflected Kronos`s sword to August.
"O-Oi…!?" August inadvertently shouts.
I could hear from the earphone.
CLANG!
August— he swiftly parried Kronos`s sword back with his sword, once again pushing Kronos`s sword back to Kuroyuki as he quickly swings his sword back aiming Kuroyuki`s neck.
When I realized— Persia`s card is almost going to stab Kuroyuki on her heart.
Even if her situation looks hopeless, but I know… Kuroyuki won`t go down that easily.
BOOM!!!
"Kyaaa!?" "Gah!!?" "Urk!?"
I heard their screams.
Kuroyuki exploded— no, the explosion came from her.
A blast, a powerful explosion that`s able to destroy a quarter of the training room… with Kuroyuki as the centre of the blast.
That blast bursts out a thick, heavy mixture of snow and mists— limiting my vision. It`s as if I`m experiencing a heavy snowstorm.
However, the snowstorm did not last long. After a few seconds… everything died down.
Kuroyuki, still standing at the centre of my vision— she`s completely unscathed.
Persia, Kronos, and August flew afar, they were half covered by the snow. From the look of it, they survived the blast.
"K-Kuh… There`s no way to win…!"
The first person to speak from the earphone, is August.
"Why do I have to do this…?" Kronos then added.
"I-It`s so cold..."
…Persia`s line felt like a punchline.
Phew, looks like I`ve finally recovered.
"Don`t worry guys… I have a plan."