Chapter - 20

For the first time this night, the world's strongest swordsman was serious. At that moment, a sword spirit that couldn't be compared to anything up until now poured out from Edelweiss's body. And similarly, a storm of light. Dust roiled up, and the trees creaked, and every glass window broke into tiny pieces.

A single human. While a presence unimaginably huge for a human body's dimensions spread forth, Twin-Wings Edelweiss spread the blades in both hands like wings―

"Prepare yourself."

―and soared.

Not as a child who should be protected, but as a knight whom she should show gratitude, she was aiming at one she recognized as an enemy. In order to sever that enemy's life absolutely―!

Just before things had become complicated, Ikki had certainly felt it. The footsteps of the reaper. The presence of a sharp sword that would cut away his future. If he defended, he would die―

But be that as it may, now was not like the situation then. It was different from the fight before, where he could underestimate his opponent or retreat. The forward speed of Edelweiss in seriousness could not be compared to that. To say nothing of swordsmanship, this was already to the point where Edelweiss's form had changed to light itself―

And with no sound, it all flickered for a moment before passing. Belatedly, a spray of blood flew in the darkness. Ikki Kurogane had no time to utter a sound―this time, he fell.

Part 9[]

If her judgment had been a moment late, her life would've been lost. At this truth, Shizuku gasped.

If Alice hadn't cried out, it really would've been dangerous.

An arm had been taken.

"Kuh…."

From the middle of the upper arm, her entire left arm had been cut away. From that perspective, the numbing pain crept up to her brain.

However, there was no room to cry in pain. The enemy before her eyes was preparing another one of the attacks had entirely cut through her fortification of ice and even taken her left arm.

"Hyakuya Kekkai!"

"Hmm!?"

Shizuku's decision in response was appropriate: promptly raising a screen of mist over the surroundings and disappearing from Wallenstein's field of view. And in the gap of Wallenstein losing sight of her, she froze shut the bleeding wound of her left arm―and ran.

Darting around Wallenstein, going to the place that was hidden by Hyakuya Kekkai, the sole place that wasn't perforated by the bullets of Keppu San'u. Where Arisuin was.

A slash that cuts through any kind of protection. A defense that lets him walk calmly even in the middle of a barrage. And a stride that was unaffected by Toudo Heigen.

If that man's ability is as I expected, it would be the highest among abilities.

She could not fight him directly. Therefore Shizuku chose to take Arisuin and escape.

But―

"Scampering about… how insolent."

Together with those words, Wallenstein planted his sword into the floor as he stood in the mist.

"Ugh…!?"

Shizuku lost her footing and tumbled down, as if dizzy. She wanted to get up immediately, but no matter how many times she tried, her feet slipped.

I can't get up…!?

Was she unable to stand upon the ice that she had made with Toudo Heigen? No. Toudo Heigen was Shizuku's own ability. That power could not hinder Shizuku's movements. All the more given Shizuku's command of magic power.

Then why? ―There was one answer. There was another power in action.

"This is…!"

There was no doubt. Shizuku was sure that her hunch was the truth, and asked Wallenstein who was slowing coming into view through the mist.

"You made the ground lose friction, didn't you…!?"

"What a fast realization. That's quite correct."

Wallenstein answered as he slowly walked up to Shizuku.

"Blocking, slashing, shooting. In this world, the effect of every type of power is greatly related to friction. No matter how fast the bullet, if its speed is stolen by friction at the point of impact, it would have no penetration and fall uselessly at its target's feet. And if an attack was altered by the same power, a blade can be made to unparalleled sharpness that cuts through any material without resistance."

A sword of excellent offense. A shield of divine defense. It was power that manipulated friction, which makes up the foundation of every kind of force.

"―That is the ability that I, the One-Armed Swordsman Wallenstein, possess."

And Wallenstein finally stood before Shizuku.

"Sh-Shizuku! Run awayyyyy!"

Before the eyes of the screaming Arisuin―

He cut the silver-haired girl at the waist, splitting her in two.

"Ah―"

With a thump, the upper body cut at the waist fell to the frozen floor. Spraying an immense quantity of blood and entrails. At that hopeless sight,

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Arisuin's cry shook the air.

Edelweiss brought Ikki Kurogane down with a single cut.

The expression of the winner… was dyed in astonishment. What she thought back on was the instant of conclusion. The unbelievable incident that developed amidst the entanglement that shined as if with light.

In that instant, Ikki Kurogane had, in front of the world's strongest sword—of all things, he had attacked on his own accord.

Until now, it could not be said that she, the world's strongest, went easy or acted the slightest bit hesitant while using the sword. Becoming serious, she had charged deep in order to take Ikki's life, but he had driven the blade infused with his soul into the needle-thin gap.

To the end, he had been trying to win against her. Against that edge, Edelweiss had been forced to protect herself completely, and as a result—her attack had faltered. A single step had rendered her fatal blow useless.

And so, Edelweiss had not slayed Ikki Kurogane's spirit.

Furthermore, that last bit of swordsmanship he showed was unmistakably—….

"…Amazing. I never thought it would be to this degree."

Edelweiss stood beside Ikki who had collapsed, and held her pure-white blade to his throat.

And she smiled slightly.

"If I lay my hand on you as you lie there, it would be me who loses face, wouldn't it?"

At that moment.

"K-Kurogane!"

She turned her gaze toward the voice—

"…Isn't that World Clock?"

"Edelweiss, you bitch—!"

Kurono Shinguuji, the World Clock, had jumped over the wall, and sighted Ikki's bloody and fallen form. Pulling out her Device, a pair of one-white-one-black handguns in anger, she turned the muzzles toward Edelweiss.

"Calm yourself."

At the instant Edelweiss was going to be shot between in the eyes, the fingers on the trigger were frozen in place. It was as if Kurono's heart had exploded from fear. She had landed on the ground, and only just barely pointed the gun barrels, but even so her fingers didn't move.

What was stopping her was none other than Kurono's own instincts. Because if she moved her fingers just a little, the battle was start instantly, and she knew she couldn't win this fight.

"You monster…."

"Even though it's been a long time since we last met, this is your greeting?"

Against Kurono on whose face an uneasy look was spreading, Edelweiss spoke with a cool countenance.

"Be at ease. He is still alive."

"I-Is that true!?"

"Even though I did not intend to spare him."

While smiling a bit bitterly, Edelweiss said this, and jumped silently. Again, she moved to the Akatsuki Academy school building rooftop she had started from.

"Wh-Where are you going!?"

"I'm leaving. After all, I was never really connected to all this in the first place."

Answering so, Edelweiss once again gazed on the young warrior who had faced her. And she thought on the scope of the tribulations he would probably face in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival that was about to start. She was not directly involved in the plan, but she knew the rough outline of it.

Most likely, you will learn of it personally.

The fated coming battle. What lies in front of Ikki Kurogane was not just the Sword Emperor of Wind and the Crimson Princess.

Before long, Amane Shinomiya will stand in your way.

And that fight will probably be harsh beyond imagining. Even more than the fight against herself. Thinking this—

"World Clock. If Kurogane wakes, please tell him this for me."

Edelweiss left these words for the Worst One.

"The next time we meet, I hope you will be a worthy opponent."

And just as silently, the world's strongest swordsman disappeared into the night.

"I'll definitely tell him."

Replying like this to the empty air where Edelweiss had been, Kurono rushed over to the fallen Ikki. Though he had certainly suffered severely… there was not a fatal wound. He could be saved. Knowing this, Kurono felt profound relief.

"Superb. To face that Edelweiss and still come back alive—"

And when she used her powers over time to plug his wounds—

"…Eh?"

Kurono saw something she couldn't believe at the edge of her peripheral vision.

It was where Edelweiss had been standing just a while ago. Upon the white concrete. What remained there was—red spots.

They were only a few drops, but without a doubt, they were bloodstains. They didn't come from Ikki, but from the one who had been standing there seconds ago. What that meant was—

He wounded her!? A kid who just came of age, against the world's highest…!?

Indeed. He had reached her.

Just a few drops. It was so shallow that one couldn't really call it a wound—even so, the sword of the Worst One had definitely left proof on the world's highest.

"Ha ha ha. …What is this, you just keep on surprising me."

With full delight and surprise, Kurono's entire body shook in excitement.

"…Sheesh. What an ominous boy."

After that, Kurono immediately began to treat Ikki's wounds. In doing so, she reassessed the situation.

Kurono and Nene. When the two of them arrived at Hagun, no one had been there with the exception of the Hagun students who lost consciousness. Therefore with Kurono's ability, they had reviewed what transpired in that place, and Nene had gone after Stella and the others, but Kurono had taken on the task of rescuing Ikki and Shizuku.

And only Ikki was found here. Where were Shizuku and Arisuin? Kurono sharpened her senses, and searched for magic power in the surroundings.

And—she found them.

"This is…!"

Directly below—deep under her feet, something unbelievable had happened.