Volume 7
Chapter 23
"No way... To Nozomu, something like that..."
Lisa, having received
treatment from Zonne, Tom, and Somia, had heard the general circumstances from
the three who had treated her.
To be precise, it
would be more correct to say that the three of them had been forced to talk.
Lisa, whose wounds had
been healed by Zonne's secret art, had, upon recovering and getting better,
started to make a fuss while repeatedly calling out Nozomu's name.
At this rate, she might
just run off in search of him. In fact, as she was about to run into the depths
of the forest, Zonne and Tom had been forced to stop her in a panic.
At the very least,
they had to make her understand the current situation after clearly explaining
the cause-and-effect relationship of the fact that Nozomu had been attacked.
Tom, having judged so, had told her Nozomu's secret and the current situation
as far as he knew in order to calm her down.
Both Tom and Zonne had
at first considered blurring the details with vague expressions, but they had
decided against it, judging that a clumsy cover story might instead arouse
Lisa's suspicion and fan her doubts.
In reality, this
judgment was correct. Because she had heard the name "Tiamat" that
Azel had let slip towards Nozomu.
"Um... Lisa-san,
are you okay?"
"Ah, thank you...
I'm okay, I'm okay..."
Lisa, who had heard
the story from Tom, was shocked by its content.
Somia called out to
her in concern, but there was clearly no spirit in Lisa's reply.
Her exhaustion was
understandable.
What had assimilated
with Nozomu was a dragon, said to be the strongest among the spirit species.
Moreover, it was an existence that was considered off-the-charts even among the
dragon race. He had ended up harboring in his body an existence so
overwhelmingly powerful that it could easily crush any insignificant human.
She herself had
thought that Nozomu might have some secret.
The trigger was when
Nozomu had fought a close battle with Jihad in the Martial Arts Garden. And her
doubt had turned into conviction when Nozomu had saved her, who had been taken
in by Ken, who had turned into a monster.
Her memory of that
time was vague, but still, she had sensed that Nozomu had saved her.
At the same time, that
fact had also made her somehow understand that he was far removed from the
Nozomu she knew.
But the name that
Azel, who had been chasing Nozomu, had uttered, and the content she had just
been told by Tom, had given her a shock that was more than enough to leave her
in a daze.
Although Lisa had
thought that he might be shouldering something she didn't know, she had never
thought that he would be involved with such an extremely dangerous existence.
"Probably, the
brat is now rampaging, being dragged along by Tiamat's anger. Before, there
would have been room for him to return to normal, but..."
"Rampaging...?"
At the word
"rampaging," Lisa, who had been in a daze, turned her gaze to the old
man, and he was crossing his arms with an expression as if he had bitten into a
bitter bug.
Somia, who had been
concerned for her, also raised her face and turned her gaze to the old man who
was lost in thought in front of her.
"When I came to
this other phase world, I felt the aftereffects of a clash of great powers. And
considering that the young lady had suffered a life-threatening injury, it's
easy to infer what kind of situation it was."
"That's true..."
At Zonne's words, Tom
also gave a small nod.
Lisa Hounds had no
direct connection to Tiamat, and as for Azel, her existence was no threat at
all. She should have been able to be ignored, like the weeds growing around
her.
Considering the
situation where such a person was injured and collapsed, it was easy to imagine
in what kind of situation, who had done it, and what kind of result that had
brought.
"Azel's
elimination of the young lady as a nuisance and injuring her touched the brat's
anger.
At the same time, the
brat had released Tiamat's power in a state of having lost his reason, so he is
probably completely synchronized with Tiamat's hatred now."
"Furthermore, if
this continues, Nozomu-kun's body won't hold out. In the worst-case scenario,
Tiamat will break through his body from the inside."
"If that happens,
Nozomu will..."
"Naturally, he
will die."
At the words of
Nozomu's death, Lisa's pupils dilated. At the same time, as if she were a
puppet with its strings cut, she swayed.
Somia, who was by her
side, hurriedly supported her swaying body, but Lisa's complexion was as pale
as a sick person's.
Tom was looking at the
standing her with pity, but he shook his head as if to change his mood and
returned his gaze to Zonne.
"H-H-Hey! If it's
you, old man, can't you do something about the current Nozomu-san!?"
Somia, who had been
supporting Lisa, let out a voice that was close to a scream.
However, Zonne's lips
were tightly sealed in a straight line, as if he were in great pain.
"As I said
before, if I were to appear before Tiamat, there is no doubt that I would
further fan its anger. If Michael were safe, I would be able to suppress the
brat's movements to some extent, but I don't know if I could bring back his
reason..."
"Why is
that?"
"The brat and
Tiamat are connected even deeper than their surface minds, at the depths of
their souls. Before, I tried to check the brat's soul under the pretext of
fortune-telling, but it didn't go well.
It seems that with my
power, I cannot interfere with the depths of the brat's soul."
"No way..."
"I don't know if
it's because Tiamat is obstructing my interference, or because the brat is
still an incomplete dragonslayer..."
"Then, isn't that
meaningless..."
Even if he could
suppress him, it would be meaningless if his heart did not return.
At Zonne's scathing
words, Somia couldn't help but look down.
At the painful
expression of the young girl, Tom bit his lip.
"It would be
great if Irisdina-san and the others could bring Nozomu-kun back to
normal..."
"It might be
difficult. The situation is different from before, and with the brat himself
having lost his senses... For me to step forward in this situation could be
counterproductive."
Tiamat, who hated the
dragon race. And the dragon race, who had the means to seal that Tiamat. Since
they had a great influence on each other, it was difficult to make a calm
judgment in such a desperate situation.
Furthermore, even if
he were to suppress Nozomu, it would be meaningless if his reason did not
return.
How could they
suppress Tiamat's anger?
No, could they
separate Tiamat's and Nozomu's spirits?
At that moment,
Zonne's words from before got stuck in Tom's mind.
"By the way,
Azel-san seemed to be chasing Tiamat as the enemy of her father, Michael, but
just now, you said, 'if Michael were here.' Is he still alive?"
Azel was chasing
Tiamat as Michael's enemy. However, from what he had heard just now, her father
seemed to still be alive.
Michael. Could it be
that his existence was deeply related to Tiamat's hatred?
Thinking so, Tom
frankly threw the question he had just felt at Zonne.
"Ah, strictly
speaking, Michael still exists in this world. He is now, like Azel, supposed to
be trying to seal Tiamat.
However, he now has
neither the body nor the power of a dragon, and his soul has become a key to
seal Tiamat..."
"A key?"
As if to confirm, Tom
asked Zonne back.
From what he had
heard, Michael had already lost his body as a dragon. But he was not dead.
In the first place, if
he had been killed by Tiamat, then Tiamat would also have to have the power of
a white dragon.
However, Tiamat did
not have the power of a white dragon.
According to what Tom
had heard from Nozomu before, Tiamat was a giant dragon with five colors and
six wings, but among those wings, the white wing, which was the symbol of the
white dragon's power, had not appeared in the story.
Tiamat had not killed
Michael. However, she had a reason to be targeted by Azel as an enemy.
"What did you
old-timers do to Tiamat? No, in the first place, what happened to that
dragon?"
Perhaps everything was
in Zonne's statement that "Michael has become the key to the seal,"
but unfortunately, he still lacked the information regarding Tiamat to make a
judgment.
"According to the
literature, Tiamat is treated as an evil dragon who devoured her comrades out
of a lust for power. However, from what I've heard from you, old man, it seems
there are some extraordinary circumstances..."
"The stories
about Tiamat that the current humans can know are only fragmentary and on the
surface..."
At Tom's question,
Zonne let out a deep sigh, dropped his shoulders, and began to speak slowly
with a grave atmosphere.
"5000 years ago,
I was in the position of the chief who led the White Dragon clan. At the same
time, it was also I who changed Michael's form to that and sealed Tiamat."
In that voice that he
slowly revealed, there was not a shred of his usual cheerfulness.
"Before Tiamat
was called the detestable dragon, she had cooperated with her friends to save
the suffering humans and had built an order.
A crossroads of ley
lines. A place where nature raged without order, dragons, humans, beasts, all
species cooperated and created a single utopia.
However, numerous
schemes, desires, and misunderstandings overlapped, and in the end, everything
collapsed..."
While biting his lip,
with a painful expression as if peeling off an unhealed scab, Zonne continued
to speak.
"After their
utopia was destroyed by their own hands, in order to suppress her, who was
rampaging while destroying everything, we dragons sealed her along with the
ruins of the utopia she had built.
In the end, that was
all we could do."
With a deep color of
regret seeping into his eyes, Zonne looked up at the gray sky with a tragic
expression.
"...It was a sad
misunderstanding. Both Tiamat and Michael were just trying their best to do
what they could for the sake of those they wanted to protect."
Perhaps it was too
painful to put into words any further, as he said only that and fell silent.
Zonne's heavy breath
echoed in Tom's and the others' ears.
Upon closer
inspection, blood was dripping from his tightly clenched fist.
Both Tom and Somia
could only stare at Zonne, who had a pained expression, in silence.
"Kuh, uuh!"
At that moment, Lisa,
while twisting her lips with a look of impatience, took a step forward as if to
walk into the depths of the forest.
Somia, who had been
supporting her body next to her, hurriedly called out to Lisa.
"L-Lisa-san, are
you okay?"
"I'm okay... This
is no time to be standing here in a daze... I'm going to Nozomu's place."
A desperate voice, as
if she were driven by impatience.
"What will you do
when you get to Nozomu-kun's place?"
"I don't know
what I should do. But I can't bear to do nothing like this..."
"...'Where
there's a will, there's a way,' is that it? But, young lady, you're not just
being desperate, are you?"
Zonne's sharp gaze
pierced Lisa.
For him as well, Lisa
was the key to Nozomu's rampage. If she were to move carelessly and die, it
would be irreversible.
"If you were to
ask me if I don't have such feelings... it would be a lie. To be honest, I
can't help but want to slit my own throat..."
Even now, when she
remembered the words her past self had directed at Nozomu, the impulse to tear
at her own chest was, to be honest, Lisa's true feeling.
"But I can't do
such a thing anymore. If I did, everything that Nozomu has endured until now
would be in vain. That alone, I can't let it be in vain... I started to think
so after seeing Irisdina-san and the others..."
Yes, she had answered.
As Nozomu had wished,
she had to look forward properly again.
Her feelings for
Irisdina who had scolded her were complicated, but she also had the feeling
that Irisdina would not be satisfied if she were to back down like this.
While judging the
feeling that welled up in her chest as her natural competitiveness, she smiled.
"And besides,
there are still words I haven't properly conveyed. If I don't say them
properly, I can't begin...
And in the sense that
I can't afford to die, Irisdina-san and the others are the same, aren't
they?"
At those words, Zonne
groaned.
In the sense that she
couldn't afford to die, Lisa's words were correct.
This time, Lisa was
the trigger for Nozomu's rampage, but depending on the circumstances, it would
not be strange for Irisdina and the others to become so.
If Azel had involved
Irisdina and the others, the positions of Lisa and them would have been
reversed.
Furthermore, the
current situation where the rampaging Nozomu and Irisdina and the others were
facing each other could not be prolonged.
If he, in his rampage,
were to lay his hands on them, it would be an irreversible situation.
Precisely because they
had once had a deep connection, the despair when that happened would be
immeasurable.
Although Lisa had
managed to escape from the brink of death for the time being, the situation was
still far from predictable.
"Well, in the
end, I guess we have to act to get started... Anyway, let's join up with
Irisdina-san and the others."
Although he could not
yet see a path to a solution, any more time was precious. Tom, who had judged
so, called for them to join up with Irisdina and the others.
Even if they were to
argue here, action was always necessary for a solution.
Knowledge is power,
but so is decision.
If he were to be asked
if there was not a part of him that was being reckless, Tom could not deny it,
but in any case, it was difficult for Irisdina and the others to continue to
suppress Nozomu on their own.
Then, they had no
choice but to act.
However, Tom's inner
thoughts were in a state of trembling. He could say with confidence that he
could absolutely not face him in his ability-released state with just his own
body.
What he had remembered
was the figure of Nozomu, dismantling and disposing of the attacking corpse
dragon. Combined with the blackish power gushing from his body, it was a
terrifying sight beyond belief.
His whole body
stiffened. He almost wet himself.
"Tom-san...
pfft!"
He tried to force a
smile to reassure Somia, who was looking up at him with anxious eyes, but the
corners of his mouth twitched and he couldn't manage a proper expression,
instead convulsing like a flattened frog.
Laughed at by Somia,
Tom coughed to cover his embarrassment.
The tension in his rigid
shoulders had vanished before he knew it.
"Let's go too.
And old man. There's one more thing I want to confirm."
"What is it? I
won't hide anything now. Ask me anything."
"That is..."
While looking at the
depths of the forest, where Irisdina and the others were likely fighting, Tom
finally threw one last question at Zonne.
***
In his red-dyed
vision, Nozomu, filled with anger, continued to shout at the top of his lungs.
He himself could no
longer distinguish whether the hatred that welled up with the pain was his own
or Tiamat's.
The outburst of
emotion from Lisa being hurt.
With that as a
trigger, his spirit, which had synchronized with Tiamat, resonated with each
other, and their boundaries became ambiguous.
It was a sensation as
if he were melting in lukewarm water.
The fatigue that had
been weighing on his entire body was forcibly moved by the power that
overflowed from the depths of his body.
He had long since
stopped feeling the pain in his body.
He did not feel any
sense of wrongness in his crimson-dyed vision. On the contrary, the red that
dyed his vision was gradually deepening.
He just stared at the
white shining "sworn enemy" in front of him, and just for the sake of
slaying it, he raised his katana and continued to advance.
"Tet,
good work."
"Gosh~.
Why do I have to be in a human form and wear this kind of outfit~!"
"I told
you, didn't I? If you're the head of a country, you need a certain amount of
dignity. Since you're unfortunate on the inside, Tet, you have to at least do
something about your appearance, right?"
"Uuuuh,
Michael is so mean..."
Someone's voice echoed
in the depths of Nozomu's ears. A voice he knew, and a voice he didn't.
The voice he knew had
no anger, and was dyed in a color of confusion and shame.
The mischievous-sounding
unknown voice also felt somehow familiar.
Every time he heard
that voice, the stabbing pain in his chest also increased.
"Michaeeeeeel!"
Her voice, covered in
hatred. However, Nozomu could not perceive it as someone else's.
The red that dyed his
vision was already as blackish as blood, and the welling anger knew no bounds.
Nozomu and Tiamat. The
two of them continued to push forward like a mad carriage.
While feeling a dull
pain that pierced their chests.
***
""Oooooooooooooooooooooooh!""
A rage-filled scream
echoed through the gray forest that had lost its color.
The one who was
running while blowing away the ground was a young man dyed in rage.
In his path was
Michael, who had lost his strength and was rolling on the ground. And Irisdina,
standing as if to protect him.
"Mimuru-kun, I'm
counting on you!"
"Aye-aye, leave
it to me."
Irisdina picked up
Michael, who had fallen at her feet, and tossed him to Mimuru.
Mimuru caught the
thrown Michael with a nimble movement and was about to retreat.
Nozomu's gaze turned
to Mimuru, who had caught Michael.
Flash Step was
activated with a roar. Nozomu closed the distance to Mimuru like a gale and,
surrendering himself to his rage, raised the katana he held in his right hand.
"Nya-nya!?"
"Like I'd let
you!"
As if to cut in, Mars,
who had raised his greatsword, stood in front of Nozomu.
In time with the
charging Nozomu, he swung his greatsword down with all his might in a diagonal
slash.
His physical ability,
enhanced with all his ki, and the weight of his greatsword. The blow from him,
which possessed both, held a power that could easily shatter even a rock.
"Shh!"
But Nozomu had easily
parried the blade that was approaching with the force to shatter even a rock.
The blade of Mars,
which had been swung down with great force, flowed over Nozomu's katana as if
sliding, and then was deflected to the side.
Nozomu dealt with
Mars's slash as if brushing away a gnat with one hand. He then stepped in and,
as if to return the favor, swung his katana horizontally in a single flash.
The blade of Nozomu,
swung with his increased physical ability. His weapon was already imbued with a
sharpened blade of ki. If he were to be hit directly, a human body would be
bisected along with its weapon.
Furthermore, Mars was
in a state where he had swung his greatsword through and was completely
exposed.
"D-Don't mess
with me!"
The moment it seemed
Nozomu's blade would bisect Mars's torso, Mars's gauntlet once again burst with
a flash of light.
Immediately after, as
a dense magic power and ki wrapped around the swung-through Mars's body and
greatsword, the greatsword was pulled back at an unbelievable speed and blocked
Nozomu's approaching blade.
A grating sound that
could tear the ears echoed, and an impact ran through Mars's entire body.
"Guuh!"
"!"
While gritting his
teeth, Mars had firmly blocked Nozomu’s attack. At the fact that his own ki
blade had been blocked, a slight agitation ran across the rage-filled Nozomu's
face.
"Oooorya!"
Furthermore, putting
strength into his body, which had been slightly numbed by the impact, Mars
tried to push in with the greatsword that had blocked Nozomu's katana, held
like a shield.
Nozomu also braced his
feet and blocked the pushing-in Mars.
The two locked in a
deadlock. While making a grinding sound of metal rubbing against each other,
neither would yield an inch.
"Gugugu,
gigigi..."
A groan leaked from
the back of Mars's gritted teeth.
The reason he could
lock blades with the ability-released Nozomu was, of course, the enhancement
from his magic-ki combination technique.
In fact, on his
gauntlet, the formula that Tom had constructed to maximize both his weapon and
his physical ability was shining.
But no matter how much
he used the magic-ki combination technique, it was not easy to stop the current
Nozomu.
In fact, as Nozomu
increased the density of his ki, the balance gradually began to crumble, and Nozomu’s
katana was closing in on Mars.
Furthermore, along
with a grating sound, Nozomu's blade was beginning to dig into Mars's
greatsword.
"Geh!?"
At Nozomu's blade,
which had begun to tear through his magic-ki, Mars couldn't help but let out a
voice.
At that moment, Nozomu
released his left hand from the hilt of his katana and drove his fist into
Mars's side.
"Gah!? Damn it!
As I thought, just a weapon and body strengthening isn't enough!"
At the impact that
echoed in the core of his body, Mars staggered back a few steps.
No matter how much
support he received from Tom's special magic circle, Mars was originally not as
good at controlling his power as Nozomu. A difference in proficiency would
inevitably arise.
To the Mars who had
stepped back, Nozomu mercilessly added a follow-up attack.
Nozomu's blade was
swung down diagonally at a speed that was too fast to follow. Mars, while
letting out a pained voice at the pain running through his side, gritted his
teeth and swung his greatsword up.
The blades of the two,
which clashed in mid-air, echoed with a high-pitched sound that rang in the
depths of their ears.
The clashing two. The
iron that clashed a second and a third time illuminated the gray forest with
sparks.
"Zeeeeeeei!"
Along with a sharp
cry, Mars braced his feet so as not to be defeated.
The impact transmitted
by his feet kicked up a cloud of dust, and the swept-out greatsword tore
through the atmosphere and bared its ferocious fangs as if to slay its
opponent.
That bold sword line
was so magnificent that it was reminiscent of that Jihad.
In fact, Mars's
physical ability, which had been enhanced by his magic-ki combination
technique, was comparable to Jihad's.
But the dragonslayer
in front of him was a difficult enemy that even that Jihad would have trouble
felling.
Nozomu’s katana
technique deflected and struck down the uniquely powerful sword one after
another, and as if in return, it grazed Mars's shoulder.
"Guuh! As I
thought, I'm not enough by myself!"
He couldn't be
suppressed even with the magic-ki combination technique. While gritting his
teeth at the pain running through his shoulder, Mars continued to swing his
sword.
But even though he was
being pushed back, there was no color of impatience on Mars's face. As for him,
he had also expected this development.
No matter how much he
raised his physical ability, no matter how much he strengthened his weapon, he
would not be able to win by fighting this state of Nozomu head-on. He had
understood that from their previous battle.
Yes, if it were Mars
alone.
"Haaaaaah!"
From behind the
clashing Mars, Irisdina jumped out with great force, and while circling around,
she swept her rapier with great force.
Nozomu quickly drew
the scabbard that was at his waist and deflected Irisdina's slash.
"Guuh!"
An impact that was
unthinkable to have been released with one hand reverberated through Irisdina's
arm.
Furthermore, Nozomu
turned to face her with a flowing motion and was about to swing the katana in
his right hand at Irisdina in a reverse diagonal slash.
The blade, approaching
Irisdina like a gale.
"Hah!"
But the next moment,
the sound that echoed in the area was not the eerie sound of flesh being cut,
but a high-pitched metallic sound.
The rapier of
Irisdina, which had been swung up like a flash of light, had deflected Nozomu's
blade.
Upon closer
inspection, a dense magic power was enveloping Irisdina's body, and multiple
talismans were shining on her chest.
This was the same
enhancement magic using another person's magic power as when she had weathered
Azel's attack before.
For a normal
enhancement magic, one talisman would be sufficient.
But to match Tima's
immense magic power, she had used a total of four talismans for the transfer of
magic power, the activation of the spell, its control, and its support.
And what was imbued in
her rapier was her trump card, the magic sword "Lunar Eclipse Night."
Irisdina's trump card,
"Lunar Eclipse Night," was
a magic sword that could originally cross blades with even Nozomu's Phantom
head-on, but its control was extremely difficult. While using this magic sword,
she could not use any other magic, including body strengthening.
That's why she had had
her friend's enormous magic power and Feo's talisman magic give her a boost,
and had temporarily obtained the physical ability to fight on equal terms with
Nozomu.
"!
Ooooooooh!"
At his own attack
being blocked, a slight astonishment appeared in the rage-filled Nozomu's eyes.
However, Nozomu
immediately corrected the trajectory of his deflected katana. He quickly swung
up the katana he had swung down by turning his wrist.
"Hah!"
But that blade too,
Irisdina dealt with with certainty.
Nozomu further
unleashed a storm of slashes repeatedly, but Irisdina completely blocked them
with her magic sword, into which she had poured all her own magic power, and
the enhancement magic, which had consumed all of her best friend's enormous
magic power, and in return, she returned a thrust like a flash of light.
"Nozomu, snap out
of it!"
""Michaeeeeel!""
The thrust-out rapier
was deflected by the scabbard in his left hand, and she blocked the returning
right sweep with her pulled-back rapier with all her might.
"Guuh! Even with
Tima's magic power, I'm at my limit just dealing with him!"
Although she was
desperately calling out to him as she had when she had brought Nozomu back to
his senses before, his gaze did not return to Irisdina.
His gaze was directed
behind Irisdina and the others, at the small, powerless crystal that Mimuru was
holding.
The last time Nozomu
had gone berserk, although he had been deceived by Tiamat's illusions, he had
been searching for Irisdina and the others, and there had been a slight bit of
reason in his impatience.
However, this time, it
had been triggered by Lisa being hurt, and moreover, that wound was a serious
one. So much so that it would not be strange to predict her death.
Nozomu had wished for
Lisa to recover, no matter what form it took. It was not unreasonable for him
to explode with an anger that would make him lose his reason.
(Just calling out to
him is not enough. There has to be some factor, something that can awaken his
reason...)
"Ooooooooooooh!"
"Kuh!"
Irisdina was
desperately trying to think, but her thoughts were interrupted by Nozomu’s attack.
Originally, due to the
control of Lunar Eclipse Night and the excessive body strengthening, her
thoughts were on the verge of dulling.
And in this situation
where she was being pushed back one-sidedly, she didn't know when she would be
pushed over the edge.
"If you ignore me
too much, you'll be in danger!"
As if to support such
an Irisdina, Mars attacked Nozomu from the opposite side.
A slash enhanced by
his magic-ki combination technique. Nozomu parried it with the scabbard in his
left hand.
"To parry it with
one hand, you're as absurd as ever, hey!"
The ones crossing
swords were Mars and Irisdina, but they were receiving support from Tima and
Feo. Even with a 4-on-1, they couldn't break through.
While letting out a
voice of exasperation for the umpteenth time at Nozomu's absurdity, Mars
slammed his greatsword down as if to press his whole body into it.
"Guuh!"
The two, glaring at
each other at close range again. This time, since Nozomu was blocking with his
scabbard, not his katana, Nozomu's blade would not slice through Mars's
greatsword.
Furthermore, Irisdina
attacked Nozomu from the opposite side.
A katana and a rapier,
locked at the hilt. Irisdina's Lunar Eclipse Night blocked Nozomu's Phantom,
and Tima's enhancement magic withstood his physical strength.
Irisdina and Mars had
held Nozomu down, sandwiching him from both sides.
"Guuh!?"
"Alright, we got
him!"
"Even you can't
push us back with one hand!"
Even for Nozomu, he
couldn't push back Irisdina and the others, whose abilities had been
dramatically enhanced, with one hand. But Irisdina and the others were also
unable to push him back.
"Shina-kun, I'm
counting on you. Somehow, persuade him..."
In this stalemate
situation, Irisdina sent a look to them, who were waiting in the rear.
***
Mimuru, who had
recovered Michael, rushed over to Shina's side and couldn't help but jump at
her best friend's leg and let out a scream.
"Hiiiiih! I
thought I was going to die!"
Perhaps she was so
scared, as her proud tail was also shrinking and trembling.
"Mimuru, good
work. Hurry up and give me that crystal."
"Couldn't you at
least give me a few more words of praise!? I was on the verge of my head and
body saying goodbye, you know!"
"For
example?"
"As expected of
Mimuru-sama, this Shina is at the height of gratitude. Please continue to work
me hard from now on..."
"Just hurry up
and give it to me! We don't have time!"
Shina forcibly
snatched the crystal that Mimuru had been holding. As expected, in this
critical situation, she had no room to listen to Mimuru's jokes.
Shina had already been
calling out to Nozomu through the path they had formed before. However, all she
could feel was a burning rage.
Although she tried to
synchronize with Nozomu's spirit many times, the synchronization between Tiamat
and Nozomu had progressed too far, and it had become a situation where it was
difficult to separate Nozomu's spirit from Tiamat with just external
interference.
The last time,
although Nozomu's spirit had been cornered, he had properly had his reason
left. However, this time, with his synchronization with Tiamat, his reason had
been completely blown away.
"Uuuuh, even
though it's a joke, Shina is so cold. Tom, come back soon..."
"Mimuru. Stop
spacing out and get back here. We still have things to do, don't we!"
"...Someone,
please give me a smile."
While kicking the butt
of the teary-eyed, hanging-headed Mimuru, Shina immediately tried to connect a
path with Michael with her contract magic.
The crystal that Azel
had called Michael. If her guess was correct, then this crystal was Tiamat's
childhood friend and Azel's father.
If so, he might know a
way to stop the current Nozomu.
"Michael, o
royalty of the white spirits. Please listen to my words..."
"..."
Shina poured her magic
power into the crystal that had been placed on her palm with a glimmer of hope
in her heart and formed a simple contract.
But the crystal in her
palm did not answer.
Shina's voice had
surely reached Michael, but the crucial reply from Michael was silence. Just
like its appearance, it was as silent as a rock.
However, Shina could
not back down either. Without a care for the silent Michael, she continued to
speak.
"Please. Please
cooperate to stop Tiamat. You are her..."
"It's
useless..."
"Eh?"
"Her
heart has already been painted over with hatred. My voice will no longer reach
her."
What she heard was a
nonchalant, emotionless voice.
"You and Tiamat
were childhood friends..."
"That is
precisely why she will never forgive me. And I have no intention of being
forgiven. All I can do is to accept that she and I will just decay..."
"However, in the
worst-case scenario, not only the humans who live in this land..."
"And
besides, I no longer have my power as a dragon. All I have is the function to
suppress Tet's power and push it into that world. Even if you tell me to cut
his and Tet's synchronization, I have no such power..."
"No way..."
At Michael's reply, Shina
was at a loss for words.
If his words were
correct, then it meant that he could not bring Nozomu back.
""Oooooooooooooooooooooooh!""
"Uoh!"
"Kyah!"
"!? Irisdina-san!
Mars-kun!?"
At that moment, a
single shockwave ran through the gray forest along with a roar.
While being tossed
about by the shockwave, Irisdina and Mars were sent flying to where Shina and
the others were.
"Hey, hey!
Fugo!"
"Fugya! Ah, it's
a little soft..."
The blown-away Mars's
body crashed into Feo, sending them both flying, and Mimuru, while falling,
firmly caught Irisdina's body.
"Damn, to think
he would use our swords that were coming at him from both sides..."
"So simply fighting
him with brute force is no good..."
Nozomu, who had been
held down from both sides, had, upon sensing that it would be difficult to
escape with just force, suddenly released the strength he had put into both his
arms and had immediately crouched on the spot.
Normally, he would
have been bisected by the down-swung blades, but at that time, since Mars and
Irisdina had been sandwiching Nozomu from both sides, the swords of the two had
clashed in mid-air. Nozomu had adjusted the sword lines of the two in such a
way.
Nozomu, who had become
free for a moment, immediately got behind Mars and blew away the two who were
in his way with his ki technique " Vibration Cannon."
"T-Kuh!? The
control formula is collapsing!"
With Feo, who had been
controlling Tima's magic power, being blown away, the enhancement magic that
had been cast on Irisdina dissipated.
"Tch! Mimuru! We
have to hold out somehow until Irisdina's formula is fixed!"
"Ueh!? M-Me, go
out in front!? No way, no way! I'll die!"
"I can't hold
Nozomu back by myself! I'm not telling you to fight him. Just get his
attention, so hurry up and go!"
"Damn it~! This
party is too rough on cats~!"
Mimuru drew the dagger
at her waist with teary eyes.
But here, a question
arose in Irisdina's mind. Why hadn't Nozomu cut the two of them when he had
escaped from his restraints?
That question was
quickly answered. An enormous amount of ki had been concentrated in Nozomu's
raised left hand.
A strong chill ran
through everyone present, including Mars and Mimuru, who had been about to step
in.
It was the preparation
for Nozomu's one and only, and greatest, annihilation ki technique.
Ki Technique "Annihilation Light Impact"
If it were to be
activated, Irisdina and the others, who were physically weak, would not even
leave a speck of dust behind. Nozomu had intended to group Irisdina and Mars as
the rear guard and annihilate them all together.
"!? This is bad!
Everyone, put up your defenses!"
Irisdina hurriedly
tried to construct a barrier magic at her feet, but Nozomu's left arm was
already emitting a dazzling light, and she was clearly not going to make it in
time.
""Ooooooooooooooooh!""
Furthermore, a
five-colored elemental essence gushed out from Nozomu's body and flowed into
his left arm.
The light of the elemental
essence, which was flickering like a hellfire, was on the verge of breaking the
spirit of Irisdina, who was trying to put up a barrier.
If even Tiamat's power
were to be added on top of "Annihilation
Light Impact," then even if the activation of the barrier magic were
to be in time, there would be no way to block it.
Still, Irisdina, as if
to say she would not give up, tried to deploy her formula.
Nozomu's left arm was
swung down towards the ground.
But that arm did not
pierce the ground. Because a fire bullet that had been released from behind
Irisdina had hit Nozomu's left arm and had dissipated the power that was
contained in it.
"I made
it..."
"Lisa, is that
you?"
What Irisdina, who had
turned around, saw was the figure of Lisa, standing dignified with her crimson
hair flowing.
-----
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