Volume 8
Chapter 42
The battle between Mars and Rugato, which had begun in Central Park, immediately erupted into a great commotion of roars and screams from the citizens who saw the two rampaging on the rooftops. Fortunately, they were fighting on top of the buildings. Because the battle was at a high altitude, the gaps between the buildings acted as trenches, preventing the shockwaves from the slashes and magic from striking the citizens directly. Surrounded by the din of the fleeing citizens, the two clashed with blade and magic.
"Oooooooraaah!"
With a war cry, Mars,
his greatsword wreathed in wind, mowed down the rain of magic bullets Rugato
had unleashed. Magic-Ki Combined
Technique: Cleaving Wind Blade.
Like the Ki technique: Dust Wind Blade,
it was an art that cloaked his weapon in a wind blade, but its scale and power
far surpassed the original. A wind turbulence, reminiscent of a tornado. The
wind blade, having crushed the ten magic bullets, pulverized the flying roof
tiles and mortar as it assaulted Rugato.
"Kuh...!"
Rugato quickly
deployed a four-layered magic barrier, but Mars's Cleaving Wind Blade tore through them in an instant.
"To think the
aftershock alone has such power... What dreadful force."
The moment the third
barrier shattered, Rugato leaped backward, covering a dozen meters in a single
bound. He jumped from the roof, trying to escape the phenomenally powerful wind
blade.
"Like I'd let
you!"
But Mars pursued him,
not letting him escape. His immense leg strength pulverized the roof tiles,
sending a roar through the air. The Magic-Ki
Combined Technique wasn't just on his greatsword; it was also reinforcing
his body. Landing in the now-empty Central Park, Mars instantly became a
whirlwind, catching Rugato in his blade's range once more. Rugato's fingers
moved swiftly, activating his magic. He created a blood-colored magic sword,
cast an enhancement spell on his own body, and parried Mars's sweeping
greatsword.
"Ghhh...!"
An intense load was
placed on Rugato's arms. Mars, now in complete control of his Magic-Ki Combined Technique, had
physical abilities that rivaled Nozomu's with his Soul-Sealing Chains released. Therefore, Rugato, trying to avoid
being overpowered, raised his magic power to resist the pressure.
"Gotcha."
"!"
But the next moment,
the wind coiling around the greatsword expanded, attempting to swallow Rugato's
arms, blood-sword and all. Rugato instantly released his sword and threw
himself backward. A flash from the greatsword ran through the air, and a
violent wind blew the old gentleman's monocle away. Rugato had somehow dodged
the strike. But he hadn't escaped completely.
"Guh...!"
A pained voice escaped
the old gentleman's lips. Looking closely, the fingers on both his hands had
been shredded and torn off by the wind blade.
"Since your magic
originated from your finger. I made sure to seal
them for a while."
Mars pressed his
attack on the fingerless butler. Rugato's magic was activated by drawing magic
circles with his fingers. While his vampiric regeneration would make restoring
his fingers easy, it would still take time.
"Hah!"
But Mars wasn't about
to give him that time. He attacked again, determined to catch Rugato on his
blade.
"Do not underestimate
me!"
"!"
However, the next
moment, Rugato transformed his body into a swarm of bats. The bats, each
equipped with claws and fangs sharp enough to rend iron, scraped the ground as
they rushed to attack Mars.
"Hmph..."
But Mars was unfazed.
He raised his sword, flipped it into a reverse grip, and thrust the
tornado-wreathed blade into the ground.
"Begone!"
The "Dust-Cleaving Magic Blade" wrapped
around his greatsword instantly swelled, and a giant tornado erupted.
Magic-Ki
Combined Technique: Explosive Storm Vortex.
The localized tornado
instantly mowed down the benches and trees of Central Park, pulverizing and
vacuuming up everything in its path. The intense tornado vanished after a few
seconds, but in its wake, the pulverized remains of stone and wood rained down.
Its power was comparable to Tima's high-level magic. However, Mars's own
expression was grim.
"Tch,
missed."
Where Mars looked, the
swarm of bats had gathered, having escaped the vortex by a hair's breadth. From
within the swarm, Rugato reformed.
"I was burned by
Nozomu-dono when he did the same thing. I'd rather not go through that again.
Besides, my preparations are complete."
"What?"
"I did not just
blindly turn into bats, you know!"
Rugato flared his
magic and stomped his foot on the ground. The magic power slammed into the
earth and flowed along the cracks in the ground. The light of the magic flowed
along the ground, forming a giant magic circle that encompassed the area just
outside the crater from Mars's "Explosive
Storm Vortex." It was a formation Rugato had prepared while in bat
form, all while attacking Mars. Seeing the light gathering at his feet, Mars
finally realized Rugato's plan.
"!"
The next moment, a
giant wave of darkness erupted from under Mars. The dark wave swelled in size,
swallowing his body.
"Guuu...
OOOOOORAAAH!"
Enduring the pain, as
if his whole body were being flayed, Mars raised his greatsword, poured his
magic-ki into it, and stabbed it into the ground, unleashing "Explosive Storm Vortex" once more.
Rugato's magic, gouged from the inside by the eruption of magic-ki, turned to
dust.
"You are just as
reckless as Nozomu-dono."
"Hah... hah... whew.
If I don't do this, that guy will get too far ahead of me."
Wiping the blood from
his cheek, Mars gave his greatsword a casual swing. His magic-ki filled the
blade to its very tip. Though he was wounded, his fighting spirit hadn't
diminished in the slightest.
"It seems...
things have started over there as well."
"Huh?"
Urged by Rugato's
gaze, Mars looked in the direction he was facing and saw a five-colored pillar
of light rising high into the sky. That alone was enough to tell him what was
happening. All that was left was to deal with the old vampire. Thinking this,
Mars lowered his stance, ready to charge. But, as Mars's fighting spirit raged,
Rugato dispersed his own magic and took a step to the side, as if to clear the
path. Mars looked on suspiciously as Rugato urged him forward, but the old
gentleman was smiling.
"My role ends
here. I have been ordered not to interfere any further..."
Mars's brow furrowed.
He couldn't gauge Rugato's true intentions. But, as if to dispel his doubts,
Rugato placed a blood-stained hand on his chest and bowed deeply. His posture
held not a trace of deceit.
"...I see. To be honest,
I'm not done with my revenge, but if you say so, I'll be on my way."
Mars remembered the
old gentleman in the Francilt mansion, how he'd refused to listen to them in
his duty to Vitora. For better or worse, this old man was loyal to his master.
He slowly relaxed his stance. Even as he lowered his sword, Rugato didn't move.
Mars slung the greatsword onto his back and ran past him. Rugato remained, head
bowed, and did nothing, even as Mars turned his back.
"Hmph. I'll
settle this with you properly one day."
"I shall look
forward to the young man's challenge."
Tossing their parting
words at each other, Mars hurried toward the Francilt mansion. The erupting
five-colored elemental essence was
blowing away the elemental essence-laced
magic from Vitora that had begun to cover the city, raging like a volcanic
eruption.
"It's starting.
This is going to be a huge mess. Well, that was guaranteed the moment he
started running through the city..."
But the next moment,
the erupting elemental essence began
to recede, as if in reverse. A silence, the complete opposite of the explosive
phenomena, fell over Arcazam. But Mars could easily imagine what was coming.
His best friend's rampage was about to begin.
"Tima, I'm
counting on you over there."
Glancing toward the
academy, Mars hurried on, trying to catch up to his friend.
***
The reactions to
Nozomu and Shina bursting into the Francilt mansion were varied. The sisters'
eyes widened in shock. The red-haired girl snorted proudly. And the vampire
princess, the source of this all, smiled in delight.
"You're finally
here, Dragonslayer. I welcome
you."
Her face filled with
joy, Vitora spread her arms to welcome Nozomu. Meanwhile, Nozomu set Shina down
and whispered in her ear.
"Please."
"Yes."
Moving away from
Shina, Nozomu walked toward the crumpled Irisdina. Somia and Lisa, who had been
by her side, moved away, clearing a path.
"Nozomu, I'm
leaving the rest to you."
"Nozomu-san..."
"Yeah. Leave it
to me."
He gave a small nod to
their pleas and knelt in front of Irisdina. He gently placed his hands on her
shoulders, lifting her face, which she refused to raise. The black, vein-like
lines invading her white skin were painful to see. Nozomu bit his lip.
"Iris... I'll
save you now."
"Ha... hah...
hah..."
Save her. Even at his
words, Irisdina looked away, shaking her head in refusal. He gave a wry smile
at her stubbornness, but stated his will clearly.
"Sorry, I've
already decided. Besides, I think a lot of people in town saw me on the way
here."
He had already
decided. His path. His way of life. On his way here, Nozomu had run through the
city with his Soul-Sealing Chains
undone. That was tantamount to his power becoming public. Nozomu, who had been
so afraid of his power being revealed, now spoke with a light tone, but one
that held an unshakeable, resolute will. Irisdina, who had reflexively looked
up, found his lips pressed against hers.
"Ah..."
A wet sound escaped
her lips at the sudden warmth. The next moment, Shina, who was waiting behind
him, connected the contract "link"
between the two. And Nozomu activated his Soul-Sealing
Chains once more. The invisible chains wrapped around his body. The
powerful seal affected Irisdina through the link,
suppressing Vitora's magic that had been invading her. The spread of the black
veins stopped, then began to fade as if being absorbed.
"You idiot... Why
did you come...?"
"Well, probably
because I'm an idiot. But you'll just have to accept it. This is who I am.
And..."
At Irisdina's
words—tinged with regret, exasperation, and above all, joy—Nozomu gave a wry
smile, pulled "that" from
his pocket, and held it out to her.
"This is..."
"The promised
bell. The materials are a bit too good for it, though."
A hair ornament, with
a purple flower and a silver bell. The flower's name was Crowea. Its flower language: "Make my wish come true." At the ornament, a physical form of
his feelings for her, Irisdina's eyes wavered. She trembled, overwhelmed,
letting out a sob. Nozomu gently fixed the ornament in her hair. Just as he'd
thought, it suited her white hair well. Finally able to give her the promised
bell, Nozomu smiled, a gentle smile of relief and joy.
"Good grief.
Ignoring me to flirt... I've never been treated so rudely."
Meanwhile, the ignored
Vitora stood with her arms crossed, watching them with displeasure. Nozomu
entrusted Irisdina to Lisa and the others, and turned to face Vitora.
"I want to ask
you one thing."
"Hm?"
"Why did you need
to push the Francilt family this far? From your attitude, your only target was
me."
His eyes held a strong
will, different from when they had faced her at the Opening Festival. Vitora's
lips quirked, and she answered her guest's question.
"Ah, yes. I only
acted against these girls to test your resolve. A touchstone, if you
will."
"A touchstone...?
You involved Iris and the others just for that?"
Anger welled up from
the depths of his chest.
"Good eyes. So
full of fighting spirit. That's how it should be."
"I have no reason
to play along with your hobby."
"Hobby? Well,
that was part of it. But perhaps you think I came here for such a simple
reason?"
"What?"
"In the end,
these people, everyone in your country, are just beings who will disappear in
the great flow of time, knowing nothing. They'll never even realize the true battle of this world."
"True battle?"
"I came to see if
you are worthy of that battle.
Frankly, those girls were just bait... but now, they are nothing but shackles."
A dangerous light
flashed in Vitora's eyes.
"!"
Nozomu reflexively
ducked. The next instant, a wind blade, tearing through the ambient elemental essence, passed where his head
had just been.
"Nozomu!?"
As Irisdina cried out,
Vitora, her right arm still extended, continued to speak flatly.
"My true purpose
is to test your worth and take you back with me."
"Take me!? For
what!?"
"I told you. For the true battle of this world. Though,
if you're not worthy, I'll just discard you at the bottom of the earth..."
Vitora's right arm
swung again. Nozomu leaped sideways with all his might. A vertical flash of
light, as if to split him from head to groin, ran through the air, and the wall
behind him was pulverized. Vitora's movements were so fast, even Nozomu
couldn't perceive them. He had only dodged by sensing the "intent" before her attack and
reacting on pure instinct. Before he knew it, a lethal blade was flashing past
with a roar. He just kept moving his body, trusting the instinct screaming down
his spine.
"Ah, that's
right. I should have just taken you from the start. I could have left the
Francilt contract to Rugato. If I took you by force, it wouldn't matter how the
humans screamed... Hm? No, if I do that..."
Vitora paused, looking
up at the ceiling as if in thought.
"Ah, I see. I've
been... drunk. On your blood..."
"What?"
"Your blood. The
blood that holds the power of the Dragon
King of Destruction. It's true I didn't care for it when I drank it before,
but it is still the blood of a Dragonslayer.
Looking back, I think my self-control was already slipping, even then."
Vitora's claws swung a
third time. He couldn't dodge completely. The aftershock of the wind blade
sliced his cheek.
"Guh!"
"Ah, what a
fragrance. For my spirits to be so uplifted just by it gracing my nostrils.
I've realized it myself, but you truly are magnificent."
Vitora's cheeks
flushed, as if intoxicated by the scent of the blood dripping from his wound.
"But it is a
shame. For the sake of the girl behind you, you cannot undo your shackles. If
you do, my magic will begin to invade the Francilt girl once more."
"Guh..."
Nozomu couldn't
release his Soul-Sealing Chains. If
he did, Irisdina would be consumed by Vitora's magic. And for the same reason,
Shina couldn't use her spirit magic.
"I did it to see
your resolve, but instead, I've just added to your shackles."
Vitora's arm swung in
an arc. The next moment, a storm, like a tornado, slammed into Nozomu.
"Gah!?"
The inescapable
tempest blasted Nozomu's body, slamming him into the wall. As he collapsed,
letting out a pained voice, Vitora watched him with disappointment.
"Oh, well. It's a
bit of a pain, but I'll just tear off your limbs and take you home. Don't
worry. I'll heal you properly once we're in my domain."
"You're...
wrong..."
"Hm?"
Bleeding from his
mouth, Nozomu began to crawl, pushing himself up. He tried to stand, but his
legs trembled, and he looked ready to collapse. He had already released
Tiamat's power once. The strain remained in his body, and Vitora's last blow
had brought it to the surface. Finally managing to stand, Nozomu took a deep
breath and swallowed the blood in his mouth. Gulp. The bitter, metallic taste went down.
"They're not
shackles. They are not my shackles."
His voice was a
strained, weak rasp, as if it would die out. But it held a power that echoed in
the ears.
"I was the one creating
the shackles. I was always the one binding myself."
He had run from his
past, and then looked away from his present. And now, he had lost his way,
searching for his future. Every time a doubt was born in his heart, he had felt
a suffocating tightness, as if his body were being crushed.
"I... have no
dream. I came to the academy because I was drawn to Lisa's dream. I wanted to
save them because I was drawn to their dreams."
Nozomu Bountis had
never had a strong will of his own. He was always seeking something else to
supplement the core he lacked. He was like a moth to a flame.
"Their dreams, as
they ran straight for the future... they were so bright. Because... I had
nothing like that."
Nozomu looked down at
his body. The invisible chains were still wrapped around him, clear in his
vision. The chains he had torn apart, time and time again. But they never
disappeared. They were always with him.
"I am a chain.
Just a chain that exists. A chain can't go anywhere, and it can't create
anything."
A chain. It's not a
flame, like a candle, that illuminates others. Looking back, this was his very
existence, his very self. A chain that bound him, a shell to hold his core-less
self together. It was him.
"But a chain
isn't just for binding. It's for... connecting. To hold on to things that are
about to spill, or be washed away, or disappear."
He held up his
chain-wrapped right hand. A chain. Something that binds and seals. But that is
only one aspect. A chain is, fundamentally, something that connects. It exists
to protect, to keep things from breaking apart, from being lost. At his words,
filled with resolve, the illusory, invisible chains began to glow, slowly
taking on substance and reality.
"That's..."
"...White...
chains?"
The shining chains
grew in intensity, until finally, they became clearly visible, even to others.
As everyone stared, dumbfounded, Nozomu, having faced his own heart, looked at
the chains that were his very being and slowly spoke.
"I... I will
become 'The Chain that Binds Dreams.'"
So that fading dreams
do not fade, so that breaking brilliance is not lost. And even if tears fall,
he will bind that breaking heart. It was a declaration, defining his own heart,
his own way of life. The next moment, the rings of the chains binding his body
unraveled, like thread. Then, a vast amount of elemental essence erupted from his body, shattered the ceiling of
the Francilt mansion, and rose to the sky.
"What!?"
The elemental essence, having instantly
erased Vitora's magic, was enveloped by the swarm of unraveled chains and, just
as quickly, pulled back into Nozomu's body. And all the elemental essence returned to him. The guest hall, after the storm,
was enveloped in a silence like a new moon, and only Nozomu, clad in white
chains, remained. In contrast to the immense power he'd just shown, he faced
Vitora with a surprising calm. No pressure could be felt from his body, wrapped
in the quietly shining chains. His very presence was faint, as if facing an
insect, or a tree. A silent space expanded. At this natural, yet intimidating,
silence, Vitora's eyes narrowed for the first time.
"!"
Vitora's right arm
blurred. An arm-strike, delivered with physical abilities beyond even a
vampire's. The blow, wreathed in a vacuum blade, closed on Nozomu at a speed
impossible for a human to perceive...
And the next moment,
it was shattered like glass by countless flashes in the air.
"Gah!?"
The flashes of light
had shredded her vacuum blade, her arm-strike, and her arm itself. She stumbled
back, bleeding. In her line of sight was Nozomu, who had, at some point, drawn
his katana. The chains that had been wrapped around his body now extended to
his katana; "Mumei,"
wrapped in chains, now glowed with five-colored elemental essence. It was clearly Tiamat's power, manifested. But
it held none of its previous wildness. If anything, despite having unleashed
such a rain of slashes, he exuded a surprising serenity. It was his own way of
being. This was the moment Nozomu, having defined the true nature of his Soul-Sealing Chains, took complete mastery
of his Ability.
"...Here I
go."
Nozomu's body sank.
The next moment, with only a tonk
sound, as if lightly tapping wood, he accelerated.
"!"
In less than an
instant, Nozomu crossed the distance and stood before Vitora. A swinging blade
and a slender arm of brute strength. A rainbow flash and a magic-infused strike
clashed, and the air exploded.
The awakened Dragonslayer and the Vampire Princess. Their battle had
finally begun.
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