Interlude: Stretching Ripples Totokubara family. This family, with its roots in the French aristocracy, was the second largest of all conglomerates in Japan. Supporting the idea of " aristocratic debt, " the Totokubara conglomerate did not monopolize wealth. This family created community foundations that supported numerous social facilities. Kanata Totokubara, daughter of the head of the Totokubara conglomerate, acted as general affairs assistant at the Totokubara Family Welfare Fund and handled paperwork. Currently, she has arrived in Fukuoka Prefecture with her friend Toka Todo and Student Council Vice President Utakata Misogi. However, they stayed
inseparable for only two days. Kanata was summoned to the Foundation, and she again took up writing reporting. “… I'm stumped,” Kanata muttered. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. The thought of one facility subordinate to their foundation, Wakaba's orphanage, did not leave her mind. Because of the construction of the largest automobile plant, people poured into their prefecture. And now all these people disliked their home, in which the children who had lost their parents lived. And it was not just about dislike. There have already been cases of harassment and violence against the staff of the house and its residents. Not In My Backyard . If you don't like living with Wakaba's house so much, why did you buy the land around it? The current problem is extremely complex. The director of the Wakaba house, Hisako Nishikata, suggested that Kanata move the object to another location, but, unfortunately, the move would not solve such a problem. It cannot be ruled out that a similar conflict could break out on the new earth. Moreover, it is an orphanage with many children. Moving will cost a tidy sum. The Totokubara Family Welfare Fund has a limited budget. Ideally, it is best to keep the object's previous location. However, if nothing is done, children can be even more hurt. “… I hope Ji-san's efforts will soon bear fruit…”
It was about an old man who suddenly appeared for everyone in the area of the Wakaba house a couple of days ago. The old man named himself Tendou Harima . In gratitude for the kindness of House Wakaba, he volunteered to help lead a positive campaign based on volunteerism. This was to help bring the people and residents of the Wakaba house closer together. He insisted that the root of all conflicts is not people's knowledge of each other. The children of the Wakaba house are very kind, so if you convey their kindness to people, the appearance of allies will not be long in coming. In part, Kanata agreed with him. You can't sit on the sidelines. It is better to do something than do nothing. It's time to act and show yourself to others. … Since Kanata is busy with the Fund, she only took part in cleaning the park on the first day of her volunteer work. But judging by all of Toki's words, the ice started to move. The neighbors of the Wakaba house, previously uninterested in its residents, praised the children yesterday for their hard work cleaning the city. If the old man's venture continues to improve contact with people, and the number of allies of the House of Wakaba only increases, the Totokubara Family Welfare Fund can breathe a sigh of relief. “Lady Kanata-sama, there was a call from the Japan branch of the League ,” said an employee who was working with the girl next door unexpectedly. - From the League branch ? Kanata asked, widening her eyes in surprise. It is very rare for a League branch to contact the Totokubara Family Welfare Fund rather than the Crimson Lady. Although, their Foundation, in addition to supporting social facilities, is engaged in the protection of wildlife. Maybe the call has something to do
with this? “Please connect me,” Kanata asked the employee and picked up the phone from her desk. - Hello. Kanata Totokubara is in touch. - Totokubara Kanata-kun. My name is Itsuki Kurogane and I am the secretary of the Japan branch of the League . -… !? On the other side of the phone was the man in charge of all the Japanese knight magicians. That's why Kanata found it difficult to contain the surprise in his voice. “Secretary Kurogane, why are you .. - I do not have much time. The case concerns your request to establish the identity of the old man whom you are now caring for in your orphanage. We urgently need to talk about him. - AND!? Kanata actually asked the local police a couple of days ago to inquire about an old man currently guarded at Wakaba's house. But why is the League branch interested in this issue ? - As I said, I have little time, but the situation is extremely serious. The fact is that old man Tendou Harima is a very dangerous criminal who escaped from prison during a mass escape. - What!? For a while, Kanata forgot about breathing. - But in the database, which I received during the special convocation, there was no photograph of the old man ..
- During the special convocation, the fact of the escape of this criminal was not established. That's my fault. I have already declared a state of emergency for the magic knights in Kyushu. By my order, Kurono Shinguji's World Clock will also come to you soon. You are now in great danger. I request that all local residents and children be evacuated as soon as possible away from Tendou Harima . -… !? "Is this old man really that dangerous .. !?" The unexpected news hit Kanata like a bolt from the blue. Cold sweat beaded down her back. For fear, Kanata could not make a single sound. The League branch has no reason to deceive her. Everything that this man has now told her is true. The dangerous criminal, for the sake of whom the secretary of the League branch contacted her , is now in Wakaba's house. We must hurry! - I-got it! I will contact Wakaba's house immediately! - I hope for you. The main thing to remember is that no matter what happens, you must avoid battles with him. The Great Flame of Tendou Harima is a man-shaped calamity. In the fight against him, special knights are needed. - G-Got it! I will pass this information on to the others! Sorry for being rude! To save time, Kanata hung up on her own. She immediately tried to contact Toka, but her friend did not answer the phone.
In even more disheveled feelings, Kanata dialed Utakate. He immediately picked up the phone. - Oh, Kanata? What? “Utakata-kun! Is Toka-chan with you now? - Toka? No, she's not with me. Together with the old man, she recently went to the cemetery. - ～～～～! Fear, like an electrical impulse, ran down her spine and squeezed her throat. Her excitement on the other side of the pipe passed on to Utakata. - …Something happened? ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ As soon as Kanata hung up the phone, Itsuki Kurogane immediately called another person. He served as secretary of the Japanese branch of the League . All the knights-magicians of the country were subordinate to him, so he approximately knew the abilities of each knight. Now he was pursuing a specific goal. According to his estimates, there were at least a few knights in the country who had the power to resist the Great Flame of Tendou Harim without being able to kill him. … As much as Kurono Shinguji is in no hurry, it will take her some time to arrive from Tokyo to Fukuoka. Dispatching an ordinary knight mage is tantamount to murder. However, this person might be able to contain Tendou Harima .
It's time for more risks .. While Itsuki was pondering, the other side answered the phone. - Hello. The director of the Bukyoku Academy is listening. “This is Kurogane's secretary. Director of the Bukyoku Academy, I need you to pass on something to a few students .. Chapter 4: Blessed Strength The sound of the blades colliding with each other echoed through the cemetery silence. The evening sky above them was covered with a bloody haze. Toki Todo's deadly Raikiri technique was easily repulsed by an old man as dry as a dried branch. - Who are you !? “I am the founder of the Tendoushu religious movement , the Great Flame of Tendou Harima. I am the one who brings the love of God to people, ”the old man replied, introducing himself to her by his full name for the first time. - Come, Ama no Muromo . The bronze blade immediately materialized in his hand. His device looked extremely decrepit, as if it had been pulled out of the ground during an archaeological dig. However, the monstrous magical power poured out in huge quantities from the blade did not match its appearance. -…! Sensing danger, Tohka instantly jumped back.
Magical energy, like a spiritual garment, covered the body of the old man. His power was located at the transcendental level, Tohka first encountered something like this. In front of her is not an ordinary person. It is dangerous not only to fight, but also to be near him. Especially… “ You mentioned Tendoushu. This word was formed from the name of old man Tendou Harim. It was also familiar to Toki. - Once upon a time in the records I came across the name of this criminal group. It was their hands that carried out the massive terrorist attack, better known as the "Occupation of the Teito Hotel" . This incident happened long before my birth. - That's right. “But I don't remember that Tendou Harima's name was mentioned in those records. “Perhaps everything was kept secret. Until recently, I myself was hidden from human eyes. Toki didn't know exactly how the old man was connected to this organization, but without a doubt he was a very dangerous criminal. - You are a terrorist! Have you been deceiving us all this time! - I'm sorry. I couldn't tell about myself earlier. It was important for me to know the will of God, who again released me into this world. But when I heard Toki-san's story, I can confidently say that you are worthy of God's test !!
- I do not understand anything…! - Not everyone realizes this right away. Toka-san, later, you will definitely understand everything, - said old man Tendou and raised his Ama no Muromo blade high into the sky. In the same second of emerald color, magical power rose from the old man's body into his blade and pierced the sky. The pillar of light that pierced the heavens was so high that it was almost impossible to track it with the naked eye. This light caused a change in the celestial masses. The evening sky was painted with new colors. The clouds, swirling around the pillar of light, were attracted closer and closer to it. Forming a huge black cloud, they sank lower and covered the entire sky above the cemetery. It was not a simple cloud. - Thundercloud .. !? As a knight using the element of lightning as the source of her power, Tohka immediately realized how destructive power is concentrated in these black clouds. Fear ran through her body. The huge thundercloud, hiding the evening sky, consisted entirely of Tendou's magical power. This cloud was millions of times more powerful than her Raikiri . Even the techniques of the Crimson Princess, Stella Vermilion, were no match for theirs. However, “The power is truly terrifying, but ... As scared as Tohka was, she didn't plan to retreat. Clenching tighter in his hand his sword "NARUC" , Current prepared to attack again.
The battle between the magic knights depends not only on the amount of magic power. There was such a thing called compatibility. No matter how enormous amount of magical power this person had in front of her, they both possessed the element of lightning. Thanks to this, Tohka was able to transform his power for her own purposes. - You were unlucky! Lightning is useless against me! Possessing the same elements, they both could cancel each other's techniques. If we accept this fact, the outcome of the battle should depend only on the skill of using the blade. And in this, Toka was not inferior. She is young, her body is trained. And the old man is already old, and his body was seriously damaged during torture in the war. Lean hands with sagging skin and atrophied muscles; unnaturally twisted skeleton; empty eye sockets shimmering with magical light. Even though he developed an excellent ear, this does not win a melee fight. Tohka was fully convinced of her own superiority and prepared to attack, But, - Not. My power is not for you. - AND? The old man's words confused Tohka. However, Tendou, lowering his blade to chest level, suddenly screamed loudly for her. - Oh ...! My heart…! What could be worse than the murder of those kind children who fed me, a hungry, blind old man .. ! But this is the essence of
the tests .. ! It is impossible to achieve the "blessing" of God without sacrifice ! - ... Tohka froze in horror. The old man's words stabbed into her head like sharp needles. “Tests are love given to us by God! This is God's Gift that allows people to reach new heights! You grew up such a wonderful person after the death of your parents, so you will definitely get back on your feet after the death of all your relatives and friends! You will definitely get God's "blessing"! " Ominous words spoken by Tendou a couple of minutes ago. Their true meaning came to Toki only now .. - Do you think I'll let you do it !!!! - shouted Tohka, activating at the same second one of her most powerful techniques in stock " Sippu Dzinrai " [1] [1]疾風 迅雷- Whirlwind and Lightning Charging her muscles with electricity, Tohka darted from her place to an enemy who was about to harm her dear family. With a cruel expression on her face, Toka rushed at the old man, but he opened his arms wide in response, as if he was preparing to greet someone dear to him. - Yes. Don't let me. But unfortunately .. you can't do anything right now. The old man seemed to be making fun of her. However, Tohka was not embarrassed by Tendou's unusual action. With the blade at the ready, she continued to rush at the old man. "Shippu Dzinrai" charged the muscles with electricity and gave them additional mobility. Taking advantage of Tendou's blindness, Tohka found herself on the other side of his hand holding the Ama no Muromo.
There is no way for an old man to defend himself. With firm determination, Tohka pushed her blade forward. - "RAIKIRI" !!!! A flash of lightning, exceeding the speed of sound, ran across the blade. The Narukami blade went in through the old man's side, went through the peritoneum and exited on the other side. Yes. Her blade just passed, not pierced. - What !? Toki felt like she was cutting the air. From her blow, Tendou should be cut into pieces. But not a drop of blood spilled from his torso. The trace in the torso of Toki's " Narukami " was covered with smoke and disappeared before our eyes. Keeping a remnant of composure in the face of the impossible reality, Tohka launched two more slashing attacks with her blade. But everything happened again. Not a single blow made Tendou shed blood. The Narukami blade just went through his body. Tohka didn’t feel her blade slicing through flesh and breaking bones. - What is it !? Maybe the old man is using some ability? “I'm sorry, but you can't touch me. You are still human, and I am the one who deserves the "blessing" of God. There is a huge gap between us, ”Tendou said to the puzzled Tohka, still in a soft tone.
- What "blessing" do you constantly talk about !? - "Blessing" is the salvation given to man by God. When a knight paints the world with the color of his own ego, and overcomes his own fetters, given to him from birth, his soul and body go beyond the human kingdom. -… !? - The magic power of a knight is often associated with his fate. It is said that the total amount of magical power is determined at the time of his birth. But sometimes it happens that a knight transcends his destiny and enters the realm of special beings. Not only the soul, the body of the knight also becomes closer to God. I am one of them, so you, as an ordinary person, cannot touch me in any way. What nonsense. The total amount of magic cannot be increased in any way. All knights know about this. Bluff. Immunity to physical attacks was clearly acquired by the old man through some noble art. That was how Tohka calmed her mind. But on the other hand, somewhere deep down .. the warrior's instincts reminded Toki of something. Seven Stars Sword Art Festival , final match. Ikki Kurogane received a direct hit from the " Fire Salamander " from the Crimson Princess. Then everyone thought that the fight was over, but in spite of everything, he was able to get up. The minute interval of his "Itto Shura" ability is long gone. However, somehow in the arena he again used "Itto Rasetsu". Wasn't this the phenomenon Tendow had just told her about?
- If you want to stop me, you have no other choice but to go beyond the human kingdom and get the "blessing" of God! The only way! -…! As if confirming his words, Tendou's body glowed even brighter. An enormous amount of magical power ascended into the heavens in the form of a pillar of light pouring out from the edge of the Ama no Muromo sword . A magical force that rushed to the heavens beat the sea of dull black clouds, making them circulate more strongly. Finally, the storm cloud, fueled by Tendou's magic, reached its peak. - Heavenly Punishment - "The Thundering Rolling Thunder". As soon as the old man spoke the name of his technique, a waterfall of light fell to the ground. - AND!? Rumbling furiously, the blinding light rushed to destroy the world. At the sight of the falling pillar of light, Toka, cringing, was numb in place. However, none of the falling lightning fell into the cemetery. After all, initially the old man was aiming at everything that was located below their slope. - Oh my God! There was a beautiful view of the city from the hill. And right now, countless lightning bolts were continuously falling on him. Every time the lightning hit the ground, an explosion occurred. The entire city was engulfed in flames in the blink of an eye.
But there, somewhere below the slope with the cemetery, was also her home, Wakaba. - Stop! Stop doing this !! How can Tohka neutralize Tendou's attacks? There is too little time for reflection. Activating Raikiri and Inazuma at the same time, Tohka lunged at the old man. But everything is useless. Tohka tried to decapitate the old man, chop, pierce. Sink your blade into your neck, thighs, arms. Forgetting her breath and not paying attention to the consumption of magical power, Tohka inflicted ten .. no, a hundred different blows to the old man. But nothing happened. Its blade "into the hands of" just slipped through Tendou body as if through the air. - Haa, haa, haa! W-why .. why not! A protracted, incessant series of blows quickly depleted Toki's pulmonarycardiac function, causing physical exhaustion. Her body became sluggish, overstrained muscles cramped with fatigue, the former furious fuse went out. The reserves of magical power were running out. Blade "playing into the hands" , charged "Raykiri" considerably lost speed, but the current stubbornly continued to attack the old man. Until I heard this ... Through the deafening claps of thunder, Tohka heard the sound of numerous shouts from the city. The screams of people fleeing from incessant lightning strikes.
- Aaaaaa .. ! In the same instant, Toki's mind threw a horrifying picture into her head as Wakaba's house was completely engulfed in flames. Crushed by her own illusion, Tohka, as if knocked down, collapsed on her bent knees to the ground. Exhausted spiritually and physically - Stop .. I don't know what kind of test, blessing and love you are talking about, but if you need me, beat me .. Other people have nothing to do with it! Tohka, who fell to her knees, held out her hand to Tendou. But her hand did not reach the old man and fell helplessly to the ground. This once again made Tohka feel completely helpless. - Please…!
She could not oppose anything like that. It remains only to pray for pity and hope that the old man will show mercy. - Oh, poor thing. I understand, I understand. All this is hard for you, - bending his knees, Tendou sat down next to Toka and gently hugged her. - I, too, could only beg for mercy. I went through the same thing. That captivity in the war turned into hell for me. I prayed to God! Please help me! Help! Help! But our merciful god has other methods for confronting difficulties. I received my sight and now I want to share the love of God with everyone! Toka-san, your life started out with difficulties when your parents left you as a child. But you did not give up and until now you are trying to convey parental love to other children. You are used to fighting hardships, so you will definitely succeed! You are much nobler and stronger than I was in my youth. Those children who came to Japan from countries on the other side of the ocean could not give up their arrogance in front of their own strength! But you can do it! You will pass this test and save everyone! You will become the new light of this era and disperse "deep night" ! Your radiance will erase all this impenetrable darkness !!!! - ～～～ A voice with notes of sobbing. Magical sparks that flew out of empty eye sockets in the form of tears. Tendou's wrinkled face represented deep tenderness and endless sadness. The sight made Toki feel dizzy. Conversations are meaningless. And requests too. The old man hugged her tightly. But Toki's gesture and requests did not reach the goal. The thundercloud behind Tendou, possessing the energy of a million Raikiri , continued to strike the city with a continuous string of lightning. "I am not able to protect anyone ..."
The Narukami blade fell helplessly out of Tohka's hands to the ground. There is a huge gap in power between her and the old man. - Someone please help me . . Tears of despair welled up from Tohka's eyes. Nothing remained of her noble and powerful appearance. - Not. You yourself will help yourself and save everyone after you receive the "blessing" of God, ”Tendou whispered in a gentle voice to Toki's supplication. - TOKAAAAA !!!! -…! Suddenly, Utakata Misogi, whom Kanata had contacted, appeared at the entrance of the cemetery. Seeing his girlfriend crumpled helplessly at the old man's feet, Utakata's face changed and ran to her aid. A reckless act. “Please hate me even more. This will help you pass the test. The old man pointed the tip of the Ama no Muromo at Utakata. A red light, like a vein of blood, ran to the tip of the sword. The blade of the Ama no Muromo took on the appearance of a red-hot iron. There was no doubt a tremendous heat erupted inside the blade now. - Do not… - Heavenly punishment - "All-Consuming Flame" .
The pause did not last long. After a couple of seconds, flames began to burst from the tip of the Ama no Muromo blade . - Uta-kun, run away !!!! - shouted Tohka. But it's too late. The "All-Consuming Flame" , similar to a volcanic eruption, burst from the tip of the blade of "Ama no Muromo" and completely engulfed Utakata, even his shadow .. - AND? Something is wrong. The entrance to the cemetery .. the place where the flames erupted, Gravel, stone tombstones, sidewalk . . everything was charred or turned to ash. Apart from Utakata, he was completely unharmed. - Well, well, I told you. The enemy is extremely dangerous, don't run too far from me. I never thought you'd rush forward so recklessly. Next to Utakata stood a young lad with a long spear, the tip of which shone with magical golden light. It was the Former King of Swords of the Seven Stars, Yudai Moroboshi. - Moroboshi-san ... !? - Okay, this time it looks like everything worked out. Taking a step forward, Moroboshi shielded Utakata with his back and looked at Tendou. “Glad to meet you, Great Flame Tendou Harima. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
Itsuki Kurogane, head of the Japanese branch of the International League of Mages-Knights , which was in charge of all knights-mages in Japan, contacted Kanata Totokubara and informed her of the whereabouts of the dangerous criminal Tendou Harima in their prefecture. As soon as Kanata hung up the phone in a hurry, Itsuki called Academy Director Bukyoku to help him contact the two knight apprentices. One of these Apprentice Knights was the Star of Naniwa. The second was his classmate, Byakuya Jugasaki. Moroboshi was needed by Itsuki as a temporary deterrent against Tendou, and Byakuya was needed to instantly teleport the Naniwa Star to the battlefield. The director of the Academy Bukyoku instantly conveyed a special message to the two knights, and they, without hesitation, immediately agreed. It took about five minutes to teleport from Osaka to Fukuoka. They immediately saw Kanata directing the emergency evacuation of civilians. Moroboshi left his friend to help Kanata, while he himself, in the meantime, familiarized himself with the surrounding area in detail. A little later, he joined Utakata Misogi, alarmed that Tohka was left alone with the dangerous criminal Tendou. - Todo! All children in your home are absolutely safe. Kanata, teamed up with the other knights, leads the evacuation. Shiro helps them too, so you don't have to worry about anything! Now all that remains is to take care of this person so that he cannot get out of the water! Shouted Moroboshi Toki, who was kneeling beside Tendou. The moment Moroboshi's words reached her ears, - ... Toka, like a doll that had its threads cut off, fell to the ground with its whole body. Her whole family is safe.
Anxiety and concern for the family remained the only feelings keeping Tohka conscious. Learning that everything is in order with her loved ones, the exhausted and weakened Tohka from a lack of magical energy immediately fell unconscious. - Toka! His former rival at the festival is severely emaciated. Coupled with the fact that the catastrophe burning the city was caused by one person, Moroboshi realized that he was faced with an enemy of unprecedented strength. Sighing heavily "Misogi, you're wearing Todo!" Grab her and run away from here! Moroboshi commanded Utakata, and immediately rushed towards the old man. The tip of his spear was aimed directly at Tendou. Moroboshi ran straight, along the shortest path. In response, Tendou fired lightning bolts from a thundercloud to stop his opponent. Countless lightning bolts erupted towards Moroboshi. The guy decided to confront such a danger with a technique based on footwork. Slowly picking up the pace, Moroboshi tried to get Tendou to miscalculate his position. His technique was very similar to the fourth secret blade of Ikka Kurogane - "Shinkiro" . In the past, this ability has seriously spoiled his nerves. However, he is a high-class knight, so it was not difficult for him to reproduce the once seen technique based on body movement. Disorienting Tendou with a trick, Moroboshi instantly closed the distance between them. - ORAAAA !!
A lunge with a spear forward and the tip of the "Torao" hit the opponent's chest. -… Khh. A powerful spear thrust Tendou far back. But Moroboshi had no intention of continuing the pursuit. - Now! Take her! - Got it! As Tendou fell to the ground, Moroboshi immediately ordered Utakata to pick up the unconscious Tohka as soon as possible. Taking her in an armful, Utakata hobbled towards the exit of the cemetery. Without hesitation, Moroboshi stepped between them and Tendou to cover his friends with his back. Meanwhile, the old man attacked Moroboshi with lightning again. But he was already ready. His trump ability, which saved Utakata from being burned to the ground, was still active. Undaunted, Morobosi swung his spear towards the lightning bolts flying at him. The second the lightning touched the tip of his Torao spear , they lost their strength and disappeared. “… An ability to destroy a magical entity? So the All-Consuming Flame was also dispelled by you? “The name of this ability is " Tiger Bite " ... " A monster woven of magical power, which you can dispel, just like spirit devices or abilities " . . Secretary Kurogane was not exaggerating, my power is really very effective in fighting you. A special message to Moroboshi contained all of the League 's information about the man known as the Great Flame of Tendou Harim.
Tendou Harima, wielder of the Ama no Muromo double-edged spirit blade . He possesses the abilities associated with "catastrophes" and one of the few knights who subjected himself to a special phenomenon called "excessive awakening" . Having abandoned humanity, he turned his body into a spiritual form, like spiritual blades. Finding incredible protection and combining his abilities, Tendou can turn his body into steam and let any enemy attacks pass through him. However .. even against such seemingly invulnerability there is a way to fight. The special power of Moroboshi. A technique capable of destroying the very essence of magical power. It was for this ability that Itsuki Kurogane called on Moroboshi to fight in an emergency. Moroboshi is one of the few knights capable of wounding Tendou. “I have no idea why you woke up… but by giving up humanity and assuming spiritual form, you cannot avoid Tiger Bite , old man !! Moroboshi was absolutely confident in his advantage and again prepared for the attack. Tohka has been saved, so he can now fully focus on the enemy. “Your ability will no doubt kill me,” Tendow replied. He dutifully agreed without even trying to trick Moroboshi. “If, of course, your spear reaches me. But that's a completely different story .. In the face of such a powerful ability of Moroboshi, Tendou, with a slight movement, directed the "Ama no Muromo" with the point towards the ground, - Raging Wind - "Whirlwind of the Black Dragon" . And surrounded himself with a black storm whirlwind.
- Gkhh, tornado !? "Whirlwind of the Black Dragon" , possessing incredible destructive power, interrupted Moroboshi's attack. A black tornado, rising to the sky, swirled the sea of clouds over it. The size and power of the tornado far exceeded the abilities of the Hurricane Sword Emperor, Ouma Kurogane, whose element was also the wind. In the face of such a massive ability, Moroboshi froze in place. He learned well from the instructions given to him that the Great Flame was a "catastrophe" in the form of a man. But, - Never mind! As great as the natural disaster is, as long as it consists of magic, I can handle it! Moroboshi aimed the Thorao's tip , glowing with golden light , at the black tornado and launched an attack. A quick thrust, and he pierced a tornado with his spear, which looked like a black dragon curled up in rings. - Tear to pieces, "Torao" !! Moroboshi managed to make a dent in the Black Dragon Vortex . - I found you! Tendou's helpless figure appeared in the middle of the tornado. If Moroboshi runs straight, he can get close to him. Among the many techniques, Moroboshi did not have a single ranged attack. That is why the Star of Naniwa did not hesitate to jump into the windless gap made by Tiger Bite . Tendou is as close as ever, a little more and Moroboshi's spear will pierce him. But,
“… Grargh !? A sudden attack in the side and Moroboshi's body was thrown aside. Something hit Moroboshi with such force that he, crushing the gravestones under him, flew straight to the entrance of the cemetery, which was located thirty meters from Tendou. - Moroboshi-san !? Are you okay!? Utakata asked in dismay, dragging Tohka on him. All this time he was dragging Tohka to the exit of the cemetery. Moroboshi's appearance at his feet was definitely a surprise for him. - ... Ghhhh ...! Shit…! What struck Moroboshi turned out to be one of the tombstones ripped out of the ground by a tornado. Countless debris, from small to large, whirled randomly in the tornado at breakneck speed. "Another careless burst, and I will be left with pieces of meat .. " Even if he made a hole in the tornado with the Thorao , the inertia of the debris would not easily disappear. It is impossible to break through such a dangerous barrier. Then what to do? How to break through the storm zone? While Moroboshi was discussing this topic, his intuition sounded the alarm. -…! If you look at the sky above Moroboshi, you can see a low-hanging black cloud that gleamed with a greenish glow. - "Rumbling Thunderclap".
- AAAAAAAAAAAAA !!!! A waterfall of light fell from the sky onto Morobosi, motionless from the impending threat. To avoid the fate of being incinerated on the spot, Moroboshi was forced to raise the spear above him with Tiger Bite activated . "Shit, their density is not decreasing .. " An unceasing string of lightning struck him without delay. If he weakened his defense even for a second, the enemy attack would immediately incinerate him. Unfortunately, there was no question of any counter-attack in response. Holding the spear over him and defending himself was what he could do in a situation like this. But this is not the worst thing. Moroboshi was pinned down by the pressure of endlessly spewing energy from the heavens, his spine squeaking with tension, and his heels dug deep into the ground. On the other hand, Tendou, who constantly used destructive techniques, did not show a single sign of magical exhaustion. . . So these are the Desperate ones the League told him about . Creatures who forcibly broke the natural barriers given to them from birth. Previously, Moroboshi had never heard of such people. But now, meeting Tendou face to face, he realized how powerful the enemy was in front of him. These are no longer human stores of magical power. And the enemy cannot be called a man.
Tendou is truly a disaster in human form. Having come to such thoughts .. Moroboshi made the only correct decision. - BARE !! "TORAAAAAH" !! - shouted Moroboshi and with all his might pushed the spear high up. He shot Tiger Bite into the sky. The magical light of golden light from the tip of the Torao slammed into the black-greenish clouds tainted by Tendou's magical power and made a huge gap in them. Having scattered thunderclouds over him, Moroboshi stopped the endless eruption of lightning in his direction. - I only won a little time! Feet in hand and run! Catching the dumbfounded Utakata and the unconscious Tohka, Moroboshi started to run. He turned with his back to Tendou and fled the battlefield like a cowardly rabbit. - Ha, haa! Without making out the road, the three rushed down the mountainside. However, oddly enough, Moroboshi's act delighted Tendou. - I correctly assessed the difference in strength and made the right decision. His act was more appropriate than Tohka's useless, exhausting waste of energy. “This boy seems to have a very different level of warrior instinct than Tokisan,”
Tendou muttered with a gentle smile on his face. “Just think, in the future there are still young warriors who put the protection of others first. Just thinking about it makes me happy. That is why he simply must show them God's love. I must allow them to feel the judgment of God. After all, just for this reason, he again set foot on this sinful earth. - Earthquake - "Planetary Ringing". To impose an even harsher fate on Toki, Tendou plunged Ama no Muromo into the ground and spoke the words of invocation. The greatest call to awaken the earth. An earthquake is the biggest catastrophe on Earth. And his technique can manipulate them. Tendou's magical power oozing from the Ama no Muromo mixed with the ground, and the mountain shook. At first, the tremors were faintly felt, but gradually, growing, they turned into a strong tremor. Under the influence of her tombstones fell to the ground, and the trees rattled loudly. Finally, at the place where the " Ama no Muromo " was stuck , a crack ran. Growing rapidly, it caused the mountain to split with a deafening roar. The shattered mountain turned into a stream of sediment and began to collapse. A huge landslide, crushing and crushing everything underneath, destroyed both burning forests and high-rise residential buildings of people who had left them during the general evacuation. The underground points were felt not only on the mountain, but also in the city of Fukuoka at the foot of the mountain.
Huge cracks appeared here and there. The earth was shaking, destroying and turning all structures into a heap of rubble. The incessant eruption of lightning caused new explosions and fires. In just one hour, the city of Fukuoka was completely razed to the ground. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ - ... Oh ... Slowly, the veil fell from her eyes, and Toki Todo's consciousness awakened. The first thing she saw above her was a completely empty, white ceiling. She was lying on the bed. Next to her was a drip, which was injecting something into her through intravenous tubes. - This place… - Oh, Toka-chan? Did you wake up? - Someone's voice was heard near her. It belonged to her friend Kanata Totokubara, who looked at her with relief. - Kana-chan ... Seeing her friend's face, Tohka suddenly remembered what happened to her in the recent past. - Kana-chan! What's with everyone? How is okaa-san doing? - Tohka asked Kanata with concern. “All the residents of the Wakaba house are in perfect order. Thanks to the quick reaction of the League , we were able to organize an evacuation for everyone in the shortest possible time, ”Kanata replied in a soothing tone. - . . That's how. Thank God… What Moroboshi told her before she passed out turned out to be true.
Hearing words of confirmation from her friend, Tohka breathed a sigh of relief. On the other hand, Kanata's face, on the contrary, only darkened. “Utakata-kun, along with Moroboshi-san, rushed to Toki-chan's aid .. and was hit by a landslide. He still hasn't woken up. -…! Uta-kun !? “Moroboshi-san carried you and saved your lives. But Utakata-kun is still in a coma. “… Uta-kun. She woke up, exhausted and unconscious, and Utakata was still in a coma. Sounds too implausible considering the guy's abilities. Tohka knew immediately that Utakata had helped her by manipulating her own outcomes. Mentally thanking Utakata, Tohka continued to question Kanata. - I lost consciousness even before escaping, so I don't know anything about the landslide. What did I miss? How are things now? “I'll start from afar,” said Kanata. “Firstly, five days have passed since that incident. - Five days!? - A thundercloud that hung over Fukuoka in the evening five days ago, grew at an incredible speed, watering and burning the city with lightning. The situation was aggravated by the fact that, in addition to lightning, the city was buried in torrential rain and was destroyed by an earthquake. In addition to our prefecture, Oita, Nagashiki and Kumamoto were also destroyed .. We tirelessly protected civilians from all disasters, while simultaneously
evacuating to the southern part of Kyushu. We are now at Miyazaki Prefecture University Hospital. “Awful damage in size…” Tohka muttered, looking out the window. There, outside in a square that most likely also belonged to the university, there were countless tents in which refugees temporarily huddled. So many people. There was no end to them. However, in terms of the scale of the evacuation, it was only a small part. “Second… the damage and destruction will only continue to increase. The rate of growth of the thundercloud has decreased, and the tremors have calmed down. But ... the source of the threat has not yet been caught. While he is alive, you need to prepare for a new chaos. “… So he hasn't been caught yet. - Yes. Moroboshi-san and Jugasaki-san came to our aid, and a little later Kurono-sensei also appeared, but .. the damage from thunderclouds and earthquakes was already too great. We had no choice but to give priority to the rescue of civilians. We did not catch the criminal, but we were able to reduce the number of human losses in comparison with material damage. Kanata's voice was clearly disappointed that the main culprit went unpunished. - I did not even imagine that the old man is capable of such terrible acts .. it seemed to me that I read people well. “… I don't think he even realizes that he is doing something terrible. - AND? While doing all these horrible things, Tohka remembered how the old man's face was full of compassion and tenderness.
Everything he had previously done for the Wakaba house, and these disasters .. the old man was guided by good intentions. To tell the world about God 's "blessing" . His thoughts were far from understanding, and his actions were chilling. -…! Tohka shuddered, feeling fear in her veins. But suddenly, - Attention to all knight magicians involved in the rescue operation. Today, at three o'clock in the afternoon, a meeting will be held at the emergency response headquarters to capture a dangerous criminal. Mage Knights from B-rank and above are kindly requested to participate in this event. Apprentice knights, this also applies. I repeat ... The radio broadcast to the knight-magicians echoed both indoors and outdoors. Hearing the call, Kanata immediately stood up. - Now, while there has been a temporary lull, it is time to counterattack in response. I have to go. Toka-chan, please rest and gain strength. However, Toki had his own thoughts about this. - Not. I'll go with you, ”she said resolutely and got out of bed. - But ... - I'm fine and not injured. Moreover, before I can defeat Tendou, I need to find out more about him. - …Good. I will escort you to headquarters. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
The emergency response headquarters is located in the conference room of the university hospital. It was there that Kanata took Tohka. When they arrived, there were already about two dozen knight magicians gathered there. Their appearance was like a carbon copy. Covered with soot and grime, their faces showed signs of weariness. All these five days, they did their best to protect the helpless civilians from Tendou without stopping. Among all the knights was Moroboshi. He immediately saw Tohka. - Yo, Todo. Woke up and immediately decided to join us? He asked Toki amiably. “Moroboshi-san, thank you very much for everything you've done for us. I am scared to imagine what happened to us if you had not come to our aid. “If you thank someone, so that guy… If not Utakata's strength, we would all be buried in a landslide,” Moroboshi said, waving his hand casually. - Sure. But Moroboshi-san came to my aid. - Then somehow you will feed me in some tasty establishment. You come from here? - Agreed. Looking forward to our meeting. Although who knows when local establishments will open. And in general, will they open. “… Surprisingly, there are few knights in the hall. - So call B-rank knights and above. Many magic knights and apprentice knights from western Japan came to the rescue. But when it comes to B-rank and above, in Japan, God forbid, there are a hundred knights.
Everything is correct. Now eminent knights have gathered in the hall, among whom was the chairman of the organizing committee of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival , Yuzu Kaeda. The source of the entire disaster is one person. It is quite the right decision to gather here only the elite among all the knights. Ordinary magic knights will not be able to oppose anything to him. Better they will continue to provide assistance to refugees. All these people have lost their homes, they are naked and hungry. It will be very difficult for them without support. In the fight against such a monster, only the strongest knights are needed. - Something is wrong? “N-no, nothing like that. I just thought. The scale of Tendou's attacks. The thought of the monstrous power made Tohka shiver. - I apologize for waiting. The doors of the conference room opened again, and the A-rank knight of the World Clock, Kurono Shinguji, appeared on the threshold. It was she who was responsible for the current operation. She quickly walked over to the screen and carefully looked at everyone present. Naturally, Toki's presence did not escape her. She stared at the girl for a while. "Are you okay?" - such a dumb question she asked her. To calm Kurono, Tohka nodded emphatically.
Confirming her gesture, Kurono opened her mouth. “Okay, then let's begin our strategic meeting to conquer the Great Flame. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ - Before starting, I would like to once again voice the current situation. The Great Flame, which suddenly appeared in the city of Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, is the main culprit of all the disasters that destroyed the northern part of Kyushu. Against his incredibly destructive magical power, capable of destroying vast areas of territory, the Star of Naniwa and Raikiri fought side by side .. but the destruction could not be prevented. However, as the Heavenly Eye's reconnaissance showed, the Great Flame was also noticeably tired. It's natural to hear such words. Even a powerful creature will be pretty exhausted after such madness. “But we don’t have to sit back. If the Great Flame continues, southern Kyushu may suffer this time. We need to attack him before he resumes destruction. ”Kurono continued her gloomy words. The answer for her was a friendly nod from all the knights. They understood all this without her words. It is difficult to simultaneously carry out military operations and the protection of civilians. But if nothing is done, there will only be more victims. Apart from all these thoughts, all the assembled knights had another important question. Yuzu Kaeda decided to voice him , as the oldest among the knights. “We've been told that the main culprit of this whole Great Flame, Tendou Harima, is a special knight who has achieved a phenomenon called " overawakening " , and because of this it is very difficult to attack him .. " Over-
awakening " ? I've been a knight for a long time, but even I don't know this term. Could you explain to us what it is? Confirming that his question was heard, Kurono nodded. Previously, this information could only be disclosed to knights who stood on the doorstep or had already reached "awakening" . But now the League has officially given its permission to release classified information. You can't risk your life when you don't know the enemy's capabilities well. That is why Kurono began her explanations not only for Kaeda, but for all the knights. - As you know, the magical power of blazers is determined at the moment of birth. I think everyone has heard about this, but in fact it is not entirely true. In very rare cases, some knights manage to increase the maximum amount of magical power, overcoming their limits. This is called "awakening" . During the "awakening" , the knight's soul is transformed into something different from the ordinary human soul. In fact, "awakening" allows the wearer to get rid of the shackles of fate. We call such creatures Desperate . In addition, every Desperate, in addition to increased magical power, has a thing called gravitational attraction. This power directly allows them to influence the causal relationship of this world, making them practically invulnerable to abilities based on causation. - Sounds like something incredible. So this is some kind of amplification? - You can call it amplification. But "awakening" deprives only the soul of humanity. And it is with this that the following phenomenon is connected. Sometimes a soul that is no longer human attracts a knight's human body. We call this "over-awakening . " In this state, the knight completely abandons humanity, and turns into a monster, like his soul. An inflated ego takes away feelings from a person. If you lose all the brakes against your own desires, it will be difficult to live in the human world. - At present, the League is of the opinion that the creatures who have been called "demons" and "monsters" since ancient times are people who have
lost their humanity during this phenomenon. - So there is a danger of turning into a monster. Was the league hiding information about the "awakening" because of this? - asked Tohka. Kurono nodded in agreement. “We knights have an ambitious desire to reach new heights. If everyone knows about "awakening," many people will strive to achieve it. But "awakening" is the stage of personality disintegration. This is not a form of enhancement that can be achieved with talent or multiple training. Give your best, exhaust all your strengths and capabilities, have an incredibly strong ego that will not stop at the border of your own potential. Only with such qualities and aspirations will you be able to take a step forward, like the Mediocre Knight at the final of the Seven Stars Sword Art festival . The reason the League did not expand on this topic, it is the fear of false rumors that every knight can go beyond their limits. After all, it cannot be ruled out that ordinary people, with selfish motives, can put pressure on the knights and force them to go through it. If information leaks out, the knights' public rights will be seriously undermined. -…! The faces of all the assembled knights froze the same expression. Fear. Fear of the harsh reality that Kurono told them about. Indeed, without a doubt, if this fact spreads widely throughout the world, the number of victims among the knights will increase exponentially. - So this is how it is. Sounds really dangerous. Force the knight to reach the limit of his capabilities and forcefully step over them. The Mediocre Knight was mentioned as an example, but everyone sitting here understood what this guy went through.
A person, limited from childhood by his limits, has always struggled with adversity and laid out all of himself to achieve the goal. Such a possessed knight; no one wanted to repeat his lifestyle. Moreover, what happens when the force for overcoming one's own limits is not the knight's own will, but compulsion from the side of society? The knight's body or his soul, or maybe both, will collapse in the process of such a test. - Information about "awakening" and "excessive awakening" is specially announced to knights of B-rank and above, participating in the current operation. The permission for this was issued by the head of the Japanese branch of the League himself . Disclosure of information to outsiders is strictly prohibited. Confirming Kurono's words, everyone in the audience nodded gravely. Each of those present acknowledged the fact that such information should not be divulged lightly. After looking closely at everyone, Kurono continued speaking. “Okay, we've discussed this with you, and now it's time to talk about the Great Flame. The Great Flame is a knight who has achieved "overawakening . " In a state of "excessive awakening" , he can transform his body into a mass of magical energy. Thanks to this, his body becomes durable, like our spiritual devices. With the ability to turn his body into a mass of magical energy, he takes on a spiritual form. All enemy attacks pass through it like a haze. All this is very similar to the noble arts of the Knight in White and Lorelei, able to turn their body into fog. However, this is where the similarities end. Their noble arts blend their own body molecules with mist, and the Great Flame takes full spiritual form. Thanks to this, it is absolutely not subject to chemical changes such as heat. In other words, Tendou is completely immune to physical and magical attacks.
Based on this fact, Kurono continued her speech. “Taking this into account, I can effectively fight the Great Flame by shifting its coordinates in the space-time continuum using the " World Collapse " technique , and the Former King of Swords of Seven Stars, capable of destroying the very essence of magical power. Therefore, my plan is this, me and Moroboshi will be the main attackers, and you will distract the attention of the Great Flame and create a perfect moment for us to break in. “But is there any use from us? You said yourself that our abilities are ineffective? “Not really, Totokubara. The Great Flame has already fought against Moroboshi. Therefore, now he will be wary of any ability. Even if your attacks are not capable of damaging him, you can perfectly distract him. Besides, the Great Flame is blind. He can only rely on his hearing, but if he is surrounded by a large number of people, it will disorient him. - Clear. Then we can really help with something. After convincing Kanatu, Kurono looked at the guy who, according to the plan, should be in the forefront with her. - . . Moroboshi. Do you agree with my strategy? At Kurono's words, Moroboshi just shrugged. - The plan can be crowned with success. Last time against the old man, I could not really show my "Tiger Bite" , because I was forced to fully focus on defense. His lightning burst from machine-gun fire at me. Last time he could do nothing against Tendou. He saw how monstrously powerful the enemy was, and that he alone could not cope. That is why Moroboshi stepped back without hesitation. But,
“I think if the other knights give me protection, I can handle it. I will certainly succeed. In the face of necessity, Moroboshi placed the burden firmly on his shoulders. - Good. In this operation, you will not have to fight alone, I will be by your side and help with Doubling Time . - I'm counting on you. After agreeing with Moroboshi, Kurono turned her gaze to the apprentice knight in a crystal white robe without a drop of dirt and blood. It was the Knight in White Yakushi Kiroko, who was urgently called for help from Hiroshima. “Yakushi, I would like you to stay here and continue to deal with the wounded. - Of course. I can do much more here than on the battlefield. I understand. I leave everything to you. Yakushi Kiriko, like Lorelei Shizuku Kurogane, was promoted to rank A after all the chaos in Vermilion. She will be able to prove herself great on the front lines, but in the current situation there are things that are much more important than simply taking part in the battle. Kiriko understood this, so she immediately agreed. Thanking Kiriko, Kurono looked at everyone again. “Leave this to me .. Our operation to suppress the Great Flame begins tomorrow morning at six in the morning. We perform at dawn. I understand that during this whole evacuation you are tired, so please rest and gain strength for the remaining half day. The decisive battle awaits us tomorrow. That's all. On that note, the meeting came to an end.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ - It all turned into a disaster, Todo. As soon as Kurono announced the end of the meeting, she immediately rushed to Toki, who had been in a coma for a long time. The girl studied at the academy under her supervision, it is only natural that Kurono was worried about her. On the other side, Tohka, seeing her, bowed her head low. - I'm sorry. It all happened because we gave shelter to the old man. - Nothing like this. It was only thanks to your application for the identification of the old man that the League was able to track him down. Besides, helping a person in need is not something to apologize for. You are not to blame for this situation. - …Yes. - Good. Then I have a question for you. Tendou .. what kind of man is he? Asked Kurono. Toki's face instantly darkened. "Tendou-san said .. that everything he does is called a" test of God . " He said that there is a "blessing of God" , but in order to receive it, a knight must first go through a "test" . He told me that I must definitely get it. At first I did not understand his words, but after today's meeting, I am sure that by the so-called " blessing of God" Tendou-san means "awakening" and " excessive awakening . " - So Tendou is trying to force you to "wake up" with all this violence ? - Probably yes. - So the tragedy "Occupation of the Teito Hotel" by Tendou ..
Not so long ago, from the head of the Japanese branch of the League, Kurono heard details about this incident, which was the largest terrorist attack since the end of the war. Tendou organizing religious protest movement Tendousyu , occupied the hotel with foreign children who arrived on an exchange, and forced them to fight each other. At first, Kurono did not quite understand Tendou's action, but after Toki's story, the last puzzle fell into place. “What an unpleasant person,” Kurono spat, frowning in displeasure. Of course, in history there have been examples of how a person in a crisis situation, experiencing a strong sense of hopelessness, stepped over the boundaries of his own capabilities and "woke up". However, without a truly strong will, without a strong enough determination, you can only do huge damage to your own soul. This is exactly what happened to the Black Knight, who awakened as a child. Until the last moment, she was forced to live under the influence of her own distortions. Perhaps .. the Puppet King was exactly the same. An abnormal increase in one's own strength leads only to the strongest psychological damage. And this is very, very dangerous. If you have managed to achieve "excessive awakening" , this does not mean that from now on you can impose it on others. “It's not that power. We must stop him. -… By subjugation, I correctly understand that you are not going to arrest him?
- Alas. Last time, the Great Flame was captured only by the power of Ryoma Kurogane, the strongest knight with water techniques, and also one of the Desperate ones who achieved "awakening" . Unfortunately, there is not a single Desperate in Japan right now . Nango Sensei is still looking for Tsukikage Sensei, and Nene is in Vermilion. If we tried to arrest him, we suffered huge losses. Therefore, our task is to conquer the Great Flame. In other words, the operation was supposed to conquer the Great Flame. And it doesn't matter whether he will be alive or dead. Kurono agreed with this order, because once upon a time she herself stood on the verge of "awakening." What is beyond human understanding is not in vain hidden for everyone. “Todo, you need to rest too. We start early tomorrow morning. “No, I overslept a lot while you were all busy .. I think I need to practice a bit before tomorrow's fight with Tendou .. - Here's how. Don't overdo it, ”Kurono said, taking a step towards Toki and patting her on the shoulder. She wanted to cheer up the girl - AND… But suddenly, a loud scream escaped from Toki's mouth. - Todo? - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !!!! With a loud scream, Tohka collapsed senseless to the floor. - Hey! Todo! What happened!? - Toka-chan !?
Turning pale, Kanata ran to her friend. Casting a glance at Tohka, Kurono and Kanata saw her lips turn blue and her body tremble finely. When they touched her body, they felt that Tohka's clothes were wet from cold, beaming sweat. He had rapid, shallow breathing. But what happened? When she was taken to the hospital after her fight with Tendou, no injuries or injuries were found. Before the meeting began, Tohka even nodded to Kurono that she was fine. "…Can not be" Suddenly, an unexpected guess, like a bullet, flew through Kurono's head. - Yakushi! Urgently to us! Check out Todo! - I'm running! ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ - AND? Tohka was confused. She had just been standing next to Kurono in the conference room, discussing a countermeasure against Tendou Harima. But as soon as Toki thought about the enemy, Tendou's face surfaced in the back of her mind. Its light, glittering inside the empty eye sockets, began to consume her. "W-what is this place?"
Suddenly, Tohka noticed that she was on an empty hill, blown from all directions by the winds. The leaden clouds hanging low over her were ready to cry at any moment. Surrounded by a huge number of torches, a nude Tohka was crucified on a cross sticking out on a hill. - AND!? What's happening!? Where are my clothes .. At the same second, Tohka moved her body in an attempt to escape, but nothing came of it. She, as a knight, should have been able to break the chain that held her. But no matter how much power Tohka put into her body, the chain still held her tightly. No doubt this is no ordinary chain. And what happens to her can in no way be called a familiar situation. … Why was her body crucified? As soon as Toki thought about it, she heard someone's footsteps. Leaving her thoughts for later, the girl looked around and realized that she was surrounded on all sides by countless silhouettes. "Tendou-san ... !? All silhouettes had the same faces as Tendou. Fear, rising from the depths of the abdomen, gradually grew throughout Tohka's body. What's Tendow doing here? Why is there so much of it? What kind of place is it?