If Kaeda is an honored mage knight, then she is still an apprentice knight. This surprised Itsuki a little. - Good. I am ready to listen to the strategy. But he convinced himself to listen to this girl's plan. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ - …That's all. - ... After listening to Toki's suggestion, Itsuki leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. … The strategy that Toka suggested. As mentioned earlier, Tendou cannot be defeated with normal attacks while in " over-awakening " mode . But Tohka offered something that Itsuki had never expected. “… There are two ways Tendou wins when he transforms his body into spirit form during the" over-awakening ". The first way was to destroy all existing space near Tendou. For example, using the " World Collapse " technique of the World Clock, which shifts the coordinates in the spacetime continuum. Another method relied on the Naniwa Star's Tiger Bite technique, which destroys the very essence of magic. But Tiger Bite alone is not enough, which is why I suspended the operation on Kyushu. But .. just like Todo said, there is a third way to conquer the Great Flame. Attack with even greater magical power and destroy him. It is true that during the duels between the knights on the spirit blades, someone, emitting more magical power, cut through the magical barrier of their opponent.
If your magical power is much stronger than that of your opponent, then doing something like this is as simple as breaking glass with a stone. Especially when it comes to techniques such as " World Collapse " and " Tiger Bite ". To hit the enemy, these techniques did not even need to have strong magical powers. But, It is about the Great Flame, which sows catastrophe with its presence. Its magical power is immense. In a simple encounter, he cannot be defeated. You can break glass with a stone, but not vice versa. No matter how you beat a stone with glass, the result will always be the same. Tendou Harima's Great Flame abilities are capable of causing disasters. Without a doubt, he is currently one of the strongest blazers in the world. This is why Itsuki did not initially mention this method .. “The power distribution strategy that you suggested, Todo-kun, really has a chance of being implemented. The plan suggested by Tohka was to smooth out the difference in magical power. And with the current strength in Kyushu, it certainly could have been realized. But, - So !? “However, your proposed plan has only a small chance of success. Itsuki decisively rejected Toki's proposed plan and then looked at her silhouette in the monitor.
... How did it happen? He had doubts. Raikiri is a famous apprentice knight. By actively participating in special events, she has already established herself as the strongest B- rank knight with a promising future. Then why? Why did she come up with a strategy that could theoretically be feasible, but which needed to involve large numbers of ordinary people on the battlefield. How could a well-established knight suggest such a dangerous plan? For a small chance of success, put a lot of people at risk. Why did Kaeda approve of her plan? Wouldn't it be appropriate to refuse her? There are so many questions, but there is only one answer to such a proposal. “It’s outrageous not only to involve ordinary people in such adventurous ideas, but also to think of them as some kind of source of“ power ”. The main duty of a knight is to protect the weak. I will never approve of such a plan, as it is contrary to the principles of the League . Trying to achieve illusory luck through violence. This " wrong " act could only cause extreme disgust. It is human nature to strive to achieve results that exceed his capabilities, to challenge himself and to waste time and valuable resources. But this is wrong. The right person must be in the right place. Standardize human resources and allocate them wherever possible.
This is the only way the system can operate with maximum efficiency and save a huge number of people. None of them can beat Tendou, so the offer itself is meaningless. They just have to wait. Following the values of the Kurogane family, Itsuki turned down Toki's offer. But, - Leaving everything as it is is also dangerous. Despite the refusal, Tohka was not going to retreat. - The temperature outside has already dropped below zero. Shinguji-san promised to return in three days, but at this rate, on the second day, civilians without proper endurance will begin to die. I don't want to just sit there and do nothing! Please ... let me fight! “From the outside, I would like to make a small addition,” opened his mouth Kaeda, who had passed on Toki's word earlier. - Currently, we have already begun preparations and are selecting the right people for this operation. If you give us permission, it is likely that tomorrow morning we will defeat the Great Flame. - Kaeda-san ... “… We know that Shinguji-kun has returned to Tokyo to confront the White Whale. She will be overwhelmed during these three days. We just want to lighten her burden. "... Currently, preparations have already begun .. "
This step can be taken knowing that they will be allowed. "... No, not really." Most likely they were going to carry out their plan even without his permission. Can even a person like Kaeda fall into despair? Or maybe Kaeda noticed something in the girl that he can't see? When Itsuki thought about it, - I beg your pardon, head. His personal secretary intervened and began to whisper something in his ear. Such a willful act was too audacious even for a personal secretary. - ... The words whispered in his ear by the private secretary were about what he had expected. Hearing them, Itsuki folded his fingers into a house and pressed them to his forehead so that the interlocutors on the other side of the monitor could not see the expression on his face. - ... And then he thought. What should he do as a head? What decision should he make? He always adhered to the principles of not chasing illusory luck, even during emergencies, and using the right people at the right time. Sometimes cruel choices have to be made to avoid big sacrifices.
As the head of the entire system, he was always ready to make these choices. Maybe that's why they gave him the nickname Iron Blood. But these are his choices, and they do not have to coincide with others. The league is not a mechanism with a bunch of gears, but an association of people of flesh and blood. . . He had just received information from a satellite tracking the movement of American forces that a second fleet was moving across the Pacific to help the enemy. With their speed of movement, they will attack Tokyo tomorrow morning. … If help arrives at the enemy, the battle in Tokyo Bay will drag on. And this means only one thing - help to the residents of Kyushu will be delayed again. A logical question arose whether people from Kyushu would be able to survive this delay? In hell where people die one by one? Most probably not. Almost all of the knights from Kyushu, including Tohka, will surely try to turn their dangerous plan into reality. Should he stop them? "Is this the only correct option, Kurogane .. ?" Think soberly, as the head of the entire military, you must make the best choice. I have never allowed myself to make a decision for so long before.
It's time to break the silence. “… We've just received information that the US Second Fleet has crossed the Pacific Ocean. Itsuki decided to share the report he received earlier. - Ah !? Then… “I hate to say it, but Kyushu's help is being postponed again. These words instantly hardened Kaeda and Toki's face on the other side of the monitor. - Then we can .. ! - Waiting is deadly. Desperate to embark on a plan that has such a slim chance of success. I cannot give you my permission to do this. -…! “However, if you are not acting out of desperation, I want you to answer my question. - AND? “In theory, Todo-kun's proposal could actually get to Tendou's life. But if you cannot defeat him, all your efforts will go to waste and many people who could have been saved will die. This is where your risk plan can lead. Tell me .. knowing all this, are you ready to shoulder the lives and future of these people? Can you say with confidence that you will defeat Tendou? Itsuki asked. He wanted to test Toki's readiness, who proposed a strategy that endangered many lives. If Tohka dodges the answer even a little, he will instantly remove her from the main role in this operation.
This is necessary for the sake of Toka herself. Such a responsibility is not on the shoulders of a young apprentice knight. In case of an incorrect answer, he was going to change Tohka from the main executor in this regard to Kaeda. Tohka and Kaeda, their abilities are about the same. In theory, the proposed strategy could be implemented by Kaeda. While Itsuki was pondering his backup plan, “I'm afraid I won't be able to defeat Tendou-san. Tohka dumbfounded him with an unexpected answer. Itsuki expected Toki to give a confident answer in his strength, and instead received a categorical refusal, to which it was even impossible to argue. However, Tohka did not finish her thought with these words. - At first I thought about it. That I must personally kill Tendou-san, that I must personally protect everyone. I am a knight, this is our main task .. I was in despair. But nothing worked for me. I couldn't go beyond my own potential. I was much weaker than I thought. That's why… ” Tohka broke off for a moment, smiling broadly . - I decided not to carry this burden alone, but to share it equally with everyone. -…! “Everyone here is fighting right now. And they cannot be stopped. While I was just crying and blaming myself for powerlessness .. all these strong people continued to fight. With such people, nothing is impossible. Therefore, now I want to answer your question from the bottom of my heart: our efforts will be enough to defeat Tendou-san. I have no doubt about that. - ...
Confident words without the slightest hesitation. Bright shine in the eyes without a shadow of doubt. It's shine .. - Ok, I understood everything. It was enough to make a difficult decision. Tohka has proven that her will is firm and unclouded by despair. Then from that moment he, as the head, will take all responsibility into his own hands. - The Joint Operations Headquarters approves your operation. From this moment on, the " Joint Operations Headquarters " takes all the damage and damage from your operation. You can do whatever you have planned. - Ah, thank you so much !! - Tohka shouted joyfully and turned towards Kaeda . - Then I'll go and let everyone else know! - Oh, good. I'm counting on you. All the people that Kaeda mentioned, it is possible that they were waiting outside the door all this time. Delighted, Tohka tried to leave the room, - Todo-kun. But Itsuki managed to shout out to her and stop her. - I got the impression that you have a low level of self-esteem. But the Brank bestowed on you is a title that is responsible for the existence of a nation. The league believes in your strength. Therefore, Todo-kun, do your best.
- …Yes! Believe in us! Emboldened, Tohka disappeared from the monitor screen. Leaving her sidelong, Kaeda bowed deeply to Itsuki. - Thank you very much for giving your permission. Although, I suppose, this decision went against your principles. - If I had not given my permission, everything would have gotten out of control. If it is impossible to avoid something, then it is better to take part in it. I .. decided to place a " bet " on it. I hope my solution is not wrong. The reason Itsuki gave his permission is because of Toki's eyes as she answered his question. These eyes were ready to cope with any difficulty, without any hesitation. He was sure of it. After all, his son had exactly the same eyes. In the face of his weaknesses, Ikki did not abandon the path of a knight, did not give up in the face of difficulties and continued to swing his sword in the garden. In the past, Itsuki has often observed his efforts. Everyone believes in their own truth, but .. - She has the eyes of a man who stepped over his own destiny. I thought it would be nice to believe in her eyes. Kaeda-san, you thought the same when you gave the lead role to her and not to yourself. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
- Attention! I got permission from the head! Everyone should immediately prepare for the operation! - shouted Tohka, running out of the conference room into the corridor, where a dozen men were already waiting for her.
All these men were ordinary people who agreed to take part in Toki's plan. When they heard that the go-ahead for the operation had been received, they shouted in unison. - HOORAY! - Well! Let's do that! “It's cold outside. Jumpsuit alone won't be enough! Need to wear winter clothes! - How do we keep in touch with the shelter and with other units? Outside, a disaster. Our equipment cannot work in such cold weather. - Japan's Self-Defense Forces will share theirs. - Military radios! Whoa! I've always wanted to touch them! Communicating with each other, the men began to move quickly, preparing for the operation. Watching them from behind, Tohka remembered the recent words she heard from Itsuki. ". . Many people who could have been saved will die ..." It's true. They will not take direct part in the battle, but the mere presence next to Tendou is already dangerous. The snowstorm outside is gradually increasing. And this is in Miyazaki. It will be even colder in the center of Fukuoka. However, despite all the dangers, these men decided to join. - Please listen to me! If I hadn't been able to persuade Kaedu-san, you wouldn't have had to participate in this dangerous operation! Thank you so much for responding to my call! - Tohka said and bowed her head low.
She wanted to thank these people for their brave deed. On the other side of the man “This is our way to thank you, young knight,” one of the men said with a gentle smile on his tanned face. - Thank you. Please rely on us. “We've been building this city for so long. He came and destroyed it. We are furious and want to fight. - My child is sick .. His condition may worsen if the current situation drags on. If there is anything I can do that I will do. You gave us the opportunity to fight. I am very grateful to you for that. “Your feelings, girl, have reached our hearts. We want to help you. - ... Exactly! Extra hands won't hurt! Tohka shook hands with everyone and watched them go. Their broad backs looked strong and secure. They will definitely do their job. For myself, for my family, for my pride. Each of them was willing to challenge the threat for their own reasons. Then she too should take care of her duties. While Tohka was overflowing with enthusiasm, - Yo, Todo. What an interesting thought you just said. A cheerful voice hit her ears from behind. When Tohka turned to look at the familiar voice
“Moroboshi-san… huh !? She was very surprised. And no, it wasn't Morobosi. Next to the guy, she saw a person whom she did not expect to see at all. “W-why is Kurashiki-san here !? Everything is correct. Next to Moroboshi was the Sword Eater Kuraudo Kurashiki, who was supposed to be in Tokyo. - Well, I zhezh invited him here. - Call !? Isn't all the knights in Tokyo convened !? - Calm down, calm down. I changed my mind about him and attracted him to us. - Shut up. I have to fight in Tokyo, not hang around here with you in Kyushu, ”Kuraudo said angrily and punched Moroboshi in the shin. However, he did not react in any way and continued his thought. - Well, actually, there are no problems here. The decision was made in accordance with the permission of the head of Kurogane. If he had met Tendou in person, he would have made the same decision as me. There was no doubt in his words. - Is it so…? Is everything really all right? How can you act so selfishly in an emergency like this? Although, if she had not been given permission, further actions could also be called selfish.
- Let's talk about this later. After all, this is the least of all problems. There is a lot of work ahead of us. Tohka could only nod at such words. - …Yes. You are probably right.
- Of course I'm right. If we cannot leave this place, there is only one thing to do. Help will have to wait a long time, and without us all these people will simply die. So ... fuck it all! We are knights and it is our duty of honor to save everyone. We will fight the old man ourselves. We with this scoundrel will be the " first " and " second " blade. We will keep all the attention of the old man on ourselves. You zhezh, Todo, our " third " blade. You will wait for the right moment. Although, there is a chance that we ourselves will defeat him, ”said Moroboshi and extended his fist forward to Toki. Tohka did not understand what Moroboshi was up to. The only thing she could say was that this guy was an excellent warrior that she could not defeat. At first glance, he seemed like a wild guy, but in fact, he always kept a cool head. He never overdid it, but he also did not coward at the decisive moment. He left when he had to, and returned when needed. Moroboshi is the only knight who was able to adequately cross with Tendou. Perhaps in that fight he received some valuable information. Then now there is no more reliable assistant to be found.
“… I'm counting on you,” Tohka said and slammed her fist into Moroboshi's fist. Thus, an alliance of young knights began their activities to suppress the Great Flame. Chapter 7: Two Battles - Suppression of the Great Flame I have a dream. A beautiful cold landscape before me. Of course, I could not see him, because I lost my eyes. Rocks, wind, snow, a pile of ruins and .. corpses. The memory of the day when I received the " blessing " came before my eyes . After the withdrawal of Japanese troops, the army from the continent caught us and tortured us. Every day I groaned in pain and prayed to God in the hope that he would help me. Please help. Please help me. But… On that day, at the end of the prayer, neither the enemy nor the friend survived in that snowy clearing of death. - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA .. ! I was choking with tears. God's " blessing " saved me.
The daily torture was over. A blizzard of freezing temperatures exploded around me, freezing and smashing all my tormentors. But .. when it happened, all the people who were captured with me were gone. Many had their parents, wives, and families in their homeland. Someone was waiting for each of them at home. But God decided to save me, absolutely alone. …What for? Why did God only save me? Why did God give me a " blessing " just now? Had it happened a day or at least a few hours earlier, perhaps someone else would have survived. Why me, why only me .. The realization of this was so unbearable that in a dream I personally gouged out both my eyes, And then he asked. God. What am I supposed to do for you as a weak human being. And then in the absolute darkness, which pressed from all sides and in which it was easy to get lost, I felt the light. Distant myriads of lights, similar to the countless glow of small stars. The realization came intuitively. These are people.
These stars are the lights of human life. There was so much warmth and love in them. I have never seen anything like it before in my life. However… At the same time, the fact that there was not a single light around me made me think about responsibility. My weakness is to blame for everything that happened. I only prayed for my salvation. It was because of my weakness that I received the " blessing " when it was already too late. I only saved myself. … I have no forgiveness. Then I realized that I should try to make amends. It is impossible to take back what is lost. But I can try to save those little lights sparkling far from me, from the deep night, from the nightmare that consumes the light of life. And I know how to do it. The existence of the power of " blessing " that came to me at the end of the prayer. The path to it is already known to me, so I am obliged to share it with other people who have the qualities of a hero and are able to go beyond their own destiny in order to save loved ones. I will not allow the future generation to be late in the same way as it happened to me. If you want to protect someone, you definitely need strength. I will be that very bridge leading to the " blessing " of God.
That's exactly how it is. For this reason alone, I am still alive. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. In the middle of a blizzard that swirled like a typhoon There was a calm space, the eye of a typhoon, about a hundred meters in radius. It was there that Tendou was. As a result of a powerful earthquake, almost the entire mountain turned into a heap of rubble. He slept on the edge of the surviving part of the mountain. - ... When he woke up, he shook his head to shake off any remaining drowsiness. - I fell asleep, right? Feels like half a day has passed. ... I had a nostalgic dream. Thinking about it, how long has it been since he achieved " overwakening "? Now that his body was no longer human, he did not need sleep. It was for this reason that, while in the ice prison, his consciousness remained awake. Once trapped, he never stopped gazing into the glow of the lights. This activity was more entertaining and interesting than just indulging in dreams. But today everything was different.
He had a dream. First dream of all time. Why now… - Oh ...? Before Tendou could think about the matter more deeply, he noticed a change in his environment. Tendow felt the entire subjective world around him. In this blizzard, he saw hundreds of thousands, millions of lights of human lives. At the moment, some of them were getting closer and closer to Tendou. They were already several kilometers away. Yesterday they tried to escape by sea, hiding in the southern part of the island. What do they want? What do they think about doing such dangerous things? Unclear. “ Recklessness,” Tendou lamented. Almost all of the approaching lights belonged to ordinary people. What do they want? This is just frivolous. Trials are meaningless for those who do not have the strength to transcend fate. The shining of little stars will never dissipate the deep night. To dispel the darkness, you need the glow of a giant star.
Only a hero can clear the way for a new era. Even he, who has passed the test in the distant past, cannot stop the deep night from the east, devouring the radiance of lives. Efforts are in vain. The immature hero still trembles with terror. But there is no more time. He is obliged to convey a message to him. - Heavenly Punishment - "The Thundering Rolling Thunder ". Aiming the edge of the Ama no Muromo sword into the sky, Tendou created a thundercloud in the center of the storm, similar to the eye of a typhoon. The thundercloud, having melted into vortex clouds, became one with the blizzard, giving it the power of lightning. A snowstorm with a thunderstorm will freeze everything around and extinguish the lights of those who foolishly dared to go to him. Or… - It's time to end your rowdy. Grandpa, you've gone too far. The intense radiance drew closer and closer to him. Maybe this particular light will be able to dispel its darkness? ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ “You are the young man who escaped with Toka-san last time,” Tendou said, turning to face them. Despite the ice storm, Yudai Moroboshi and Kuraudo Kurashiki climbed the rubble up the mountain. He knew that two bright, large lights were approaching him. - ...
At some point, Kuraudo, when he first met Tendou face to face, felt a tremendous pressure on his shoulders. Magical power that shines from the depths of empty eye sockets. A landscape full of destruction. A huge disaster-level blizzard that threatens to freeze all people in Kyushu. This old man, who looked like a withered tree, is the culprit of all the incidents. Far from being an ordinary blazer, we can say that it is a real monster. Before that, Moroboshi had told him in detail what kind of person this old man was, but only now Kuraudo realized that this was not a joke. At the same time .. he wondered. - We met not so long ago. I'm Moroboshi. I advise you to remember this name, grandpa. After all, it is the person with this name that will expel you from this world. ".. What about him?" I can sense intense animosity from this young man. - Yes, he is my assistant. You don't have to worry about him .. Curaudo decided not to wait for the two to talk. Pushing Moroboshi aside for a silly joke, Kuraudo rushed forward at Tendou .. And he made four quick lunges with snow-white bone blades that wriggled like snakes. - " Snakebite " !! However, neither his whitish blades, which threatened to rip apart flesh, nor his body, which rushed forward with the intention of crashing into the enemy, did not reach Tendou's life. Kuraudo went right through the enemy.
- Passed through the body? He was not countered with a technique like Tenyi-Muho . As the owner of this ability, Kuraudo understood this perfectly. He just couldn't touch. - Idiot! I told you that you can't touch grandpa! Start thinking with your head! - shouted Moroboshi, indignant at Kuraudo's deed. "It seems that something like that Moroboshi really said .. " - thought for a moment Kuraudo. He didn’t listen to him very carefully, because from the very beginning he hated Moroboshi with every cell of his body. - A-ha-ha. What an energetic young man. Great, ”Tendou praised Kuraudo's brave deed. “I am very glad that in such times there are still brave young men who are ready to challenge the danger. I want you, too, to go through the test of God and get the " blessing " in the end. -…! Curaudo's intuition instantly trumpeted danger. Listening to his intuition with a superhuman reaction speed called a " divine reflex ", he jumped away from Tendou. Immediately thereafter, a huge burst of black magical power exploded around the old man. - " Whirlwind of the Black Dragon ". It was a black storm whirlwind heading into the heavens. At the same moment, a black tornado, attracting debris and stones, made them spin at breakneck speed around Tendou, thereby protecting him.
- Everything is exactly the same as last time. Again you stand before me. Come on, show me, the old man, how you're going to deal with me this time, ”Tendow said, recalling the battle in the cemetery. However, Moroboshi only grinned at such words. ".. Everything is exactly the same as last time .. " Tendou's black storm whirlwind was much more intense than the last time. Debris and stones circled ten times faster. Moroboshi will never break through. He will not succeed .. But, "Are you ready, Sword Eater?" The reason he called Curaudo here . . - Do not worry about me. I am full of spirit and ready to continue, ”Curaudo grinned, confirming his readiness. He raised his bone blades high. In response to Moroboshi, - " Tiger Bite " ...! Activated a powerful technique that allowed him to destroy the very essence of magical power, - Be enchanted !! And the spiritual bone blades of Kuraudo " Orochimaru " enveloped with golden radiance . ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
While riding a motorcycle along the destroyed trail leading from Miyazaki to Fukuoka, Moroboshi, sitting behind Kuraudo, shared information. “I don’t know how, but Tendou’s body can take on a spiritual form. In other words, even if you stand face to face with him, you cannot touch him. - . . Is it a problem for you, you have the same technique. - It's like that. But Tendou's attacks are too intense. I miss the reaction to break through them. - Shitty. - AND!? - You are not breaching? - I'm in all seriousness. - ～～～～ ! Behind him, Kuraudo felt Moroboshi swing his fist into the air. “Hehe, so it's true, ” Curaudo grinned viciously. Moroboshi himself admitted his weakness. - I can't reach him. No matter how hard I try to get there, I will be hit by his attack. I can't do anything about it. But besides me, no one can reach his life. Then I wondered what to do? How to be? - And what do you propose to do? - I'll cover your Orochimaru with Tiger Bite. - Haa !? At such sudden words from Moroboshi, Kuraudo could hardly restrain himself from cursing.
Moroboshi's idea is so ridiculous that its meaning did not even fit into his head. - Hey wait. Doesn't your ability destroy someone else's magical power? Do you want to eat my "Orochimaru" .. ? Or can you somehow transfer your ability to possession to others? - No I can not. Your Orochimaru will also be eaten. - I'll kill you. “But it’s within your power to handle it. Remember our last fight. -…! “If you stretch your Orochimaru, you will survive Tiger Bite. If you endure, then your "Orochimaru" will acquire the ability to destroy other people's magic. In this state, your attacks will not pass through Tendou. Until your Orochimaru is completely devoured, you will attack Tendou. It's simple. - It's not that easy, Moroboshi! - Kuraudo was furious . - I did not imagine that you would invent something like that ... Bone blades " Orochimaru " could boast of colossal dimensions. While fighting, Kuraudo could freely change their sizes. It is true that Kuraudo will be able to fight further, even if a piece is cut off from his Orochimaru . However, this does not mean that Curaudo is not feeling anything. It is only thanks to his incredibly strong will that he is able to continue to fight. - What? Don't you believe in yourself? - What !? - Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that Sword Eater Kuraudo Kurashiki-san is as insecure as all the girls. Do you also go to the toilet while sitting? Okay, it looks like I made the wrong choice.
- What did you say!? - succumbing to the provocation, Curaudo buried the protest inside himself . - I agree, let's do it! But if you get in the way under my feet, I will kill you! Without even thinking, the enraged Kuraudo immediately agreed to Moroboshi's plan. “ Okay… I just hope you understand. If your Orochimaru is consumed completely, you will die. “If you’re so afraid of using your ability, go hide in the closet and whine there,” Kuraudo snapped, provoking Moroboshi in response . However, Moroboshi did not even try to laugh it off as before, in a quiet voice he answered Kuraudo's words. “… I just want you to understand the risk. If something goes wrong, I don't want to be the only survivor back home. Both guys were ready to show their determination. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ " Tiger's Bite ", destroying the very essence of magical power, naturally began to devour the spiritual matter of which the device consisted. The blades of the Orochimaru , wrapped in this power, began to collapse with great speed. However, thanks to his incredibly strong will and abilities, Kuraudo enlarged his blades faster than they shattered, thus retaining their shape. A snake that devours not only the flesh of its enemies, but also its own body. - Let's call our joint technique " Ouroboros [1] ". Sounds cool, yes! - Don't give such strange names !!
[1] Ouroboros is a coiled serpent or dragon biting its own tail. Kuraudo understood that the current fight was a fight against the clock. Cursing to himself, he kicked himself off the ground with all his might and ran toward the swirling tornado. Leaping into it, he began to break through the muddy stream of countless stones and debris that threatened to deliver powerful blows to the back and sides. - Haha !! - What!? Tendou was bewildered by the fact that Kuraudo, without stopping a step, was breaking through the Black Dragon Vortex and running towards it at full speed. How is this possible? How can a person break through the " Whirlwind of the Black Dragon ", in which a huge amount of debris and stones are spinning at a frantic speed. Unclear. But there is no time to think. - ... Tendou turns into a cloud and soars into the sky, riding the updraft of the Black Dragon Vortex .
In an instant, Tendou reached an altitude of 400 meters above sea level, thereby breaking the distance from Kuraudo. With this movement he wanted to protect himself, - Do you think you can escape !!
- Ha !? But the next second, a surprised cry came out of his mouth. When Kuraudo saw Tendou soaring high, he, without thinking twice, pushed off one of the debris circling around him and ran up the tornado. - " Thunder Rumble " !! Tendou decided to summon a rain of lightning, which would throw off the impudent snake that was trying to get to him without wings. But even after such a formidable technique .. Curaudo's movement did not slow down. - Weak! It's not easy to stop me, old man !! " Snakebite " !! Still heading for the heavens, Kuraudo, wielding the Ouroboros , dispelled all lightning bolts aimed at him. The continuous rain from lightning had no weak points. An ordinary person would never be able to cope with such a formidable technique. But Curaudo .. he cannot be attributed to ordinary people. From birth, God endowed him with reflexes that surpassed the reflexes of ordinary people. " Divine Reflex " With unrivaled dynamic visual acuity and instant response, Kuraudo made many movements until the average person barely had time to react. For him, the " Whirlwind of the Black Dragon " was like an ordinary ladder, and the lightning of the " Thundering Rumble of Thunder " was not fast as sleepy flies.
That is why, he did not see any difficulties in defeating this enemy! - Oraaa !! - Tts! " Lightning Body Change " ...! Kuraudo reached a critical distance when the Ouroboros was long enough to attack Tendou. Realizing this, Tendou applied noble art and turned himself into lightning. Moving at the speed of light, he landed on the ground one kilometer from the Black Dragon Vortex . And canceled .. At the same moment, debris and stones, having lost the centrifugal force of the tornado, fell to the ground. And in the wake of them and Kuraudo, because he used them as a support. However, - You're lying, you won't leave, old man! Kuraudo, falling from a height of 400 meters, stretched out the Ouroboros in front of him , and when its blade pierced the ground, he instantly reduced the size of the blades. With this maneuver, he reached the ground before the falling debris. But Curaudo did not stop there. Without even trying to catch his breath, he rushed back to Tendou. With serpentine strength and obsession, he did not want to let go of his enemy. -…! Then Tendow understood. " Rumbling thunderclap " and " Vortex Black Dragon ", two powerful techniques, are not enough to stop this young man. He needs to combine three techniques at once.
- " Whirlwind of the Black Dragon - Howl " He again created a tornado around himself, attracting various debris. However, instead of using the wreckage as a barricade, Tendou sped up the tornado's rotation to fire at the approaching Kuraudo. -…! Huge boulders, debris from houses, parts of cars and other debris scattered throughout the area flew to Curaudo. But Tendow didn't end there. - Heavenly Punishment - " Rumbling Thunderclap " In addition to shelling from debris, - Heavenly Punishment - " Consuming Flame " !! He added a few more to form a combination. Having created a luminous sphere around him, he released a curtain of heat in all directions. Rubbish, lightning and a wave of heat. Crossing three techniques at the same time, Tendou tried to get rid of the annoying snake that stubbornly pursued him. However, even such a truly monstrous power, - Freak! Not enough to stop Curaudo. - I already said that you cannot escape. For your sake, I specially came from Tokyo
...! Don't even think about disappointing me, old man! With a powerful thrust from the ground and not showing a drop of fear, Curaudo pushed his upper body forward and threw himself into the barrage of fire with the same determination. His act itself was recklessness. Of course, Kuraudo possessed super-fast reflexes that far surpassed the speed of ordinary people, and the Tenyi-Muho technique , which negated the enemy's numerous attacks. But " Tenyi-Muho " is just a technique based on mastery of the sword. A prerequisite for the use of this technique is that the enemy's attack should not exceed the level of his personal skill. But the enemy is in front of him .. he does not use ordinary intense attacks, but attacks of the " disaster " level . Impossible. It is a fact. But Curaudo, as always, decides to overcome the impossible with an innate sense of " violence ". - HAAAAAAAAAAAAA !!!! The world reflected in his eyes. A stream of air touching his skin. Fear of the enemy that makes all hair stand on end. Pass all the information through your five senses, draw in the flow of forces and use as little physical effort as possible. This will not change the attacking position, but will allow for a lightningfast counterattack. This theory was at the heart of Ten'yi-Mukho . But the " genius of violence " developed this theory further, using his own qualities.
For " Tenyi-Mukho ", stones flying into Kuraudo were flying stones, so the guy could not dodge with this technique. The same was true for lightning and heat waves. But, Kuraudo wanted to destroy all stones, discharge lightning and dispel the wave of heat in front of him. With a unique killer instinct, he wanted to attack what was being attacked; blow up what exploded and nullify any enemy attack, without thinking about it for a long time. Without loss of speed, move only forward, without stopping, without stopping for a second. Identify all obstacles on the way with the help of an innate sense of " violence ", break through them and race on. Only with the help of " Divine Reflex " can you achieve absolute defense and attacking strength. As the master of such a reflex, Sword Eater Kurashiki Kuraudo took the base of " Tenyi-Muho " And it evolved .. - " King of Bad Roads " !! A new technique that will destroy everything in the path, no matter how bad the road is in front of it. Thanks to her, Kuraudo avoided all Tendou's catastrophes without any problems, without stopping. - What!?
- Die !! Kuraudo, taking advantage of Tendou's surprise, extended his right hand with the Orochimaru and aimed at the enemy's neck. - " Lightning Body Change " ...! Of course, Tendou was quick to avoid Kuraudo's attack using the previous technique ... But his attempt, - Grargh !? Was in vain, the left hand of Kuraudo with " Ouroboros " stabbed Tendou in the back. Kuraudo predicted where Tendou would flee and attacked immediately. The sharp fangs of the snake gripped the old man's shoulders. “Grabbed! But how…" It was too late when he noticed. - " Serpentine Blade " As soon as Kuraudo grabbed onto Tendou, he instantly approached him, as if teleporting. He used the same trick he used to land on the ground when Black Dragon Vortex was canceled. Shortening the Ouroboros to its minimum size , he instantly pulled his body to Tendou, like an anchor. Finally Kuraudo reached Tendou. In his hand is the shortest possible " Ouroboros ".
But these sizes are quite enough for the next technique. A technique that boasted the fastest speed among all the techniques of Curaudo. - " Yamato no Orochi " !! Nowhere to run. Fast-approaching fangs on either side tore Tendou's body to pieces. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ - Phew, phew, phew, haaaaa !! With a dying expression on his face, Moroboshi tried to catch his breath. " Bite of the Tiger " is not different from the others his techniques and had a specific range of applications. Or is it better to say limited coverage? Okay it does not matter. In short, Tiger Bite had a radius of about 500 meters around Moroboshi. But, - My God, what an idiot! Up, down, right, left, back and forth .. did everything possible to go beyond the action .. ! On the way to Miyazaki, Moroboshi detailed Kuraudo about the range of his technique, but Kuraudo completely ignored his words. Although, perhaps, he did not ignore his words, but simply did not listen. Because of this, during the fight, Moroboshi had to run around the pile of rubble without respite to keep Kuraudo within the range of his ability. Supporting his deadly tired body with a spear that threatened to collapse to the ground, Moroboshi wanted to curse his comrade in battle, but .. - Perhaps it was worth it . .!
Moroboshi's hard work was not a waste of time. Before his eyes, Kuraudo was able to get close to Tendou and attack. Blood gushed from Tendou's body. From afar, the wounds on his body looked fatal. If the old man falls to the ground, victory is theirs .. - What. Unfortunately for them, Tendou was not about to fall. Without stopping, the blood continued to gush from his body, but the old man continued to stand motionless. - It can't be .. ! Stretching out his hand in front of him, Tendou began to clap his hands loudly and praise the young man with a joyful intonation in his voice. “What a fierce but brave attack! Do not be frightened by my terrifying noble art and bravely rush forward. As an old soldier, there is no greater happiness than meeting such a promising young man! “… I cut his arteries to make him die. What's going on, Moroboshi !! - Open your eyes !! - shouted Moroboshi loudly when he was reproached. - Look at his body! He is restoring it! Sensei and Sister Kurogane-chan have a similar noble art that allows them to turn their body into steam for subsequent regeneration! If we don't end Grandpa's life with one blow, he won't die! As Moroboshi noted, Tendou stopped the bleeding by turning his body into steam and restoring it. Seeing this with his own eyes, Kuraudo just clicked his tongue in displeasure. - Shopping mall. This dead body, like a dried tree, has more life than a cockroach.
“Ha ha ha . . what a funny comparison. Tendow wasn't even going to be offended. With a happy smile on his face, he decided to validate Moroboshi's guess. - Everything is just like that. Even though you attacked my body with your destructive magical power, as long as the wound is superficial, I will not die .. Unlike Toki-san's gentle, red glow, who cares about others and not herself, your glow seems cold, like a blue flame, but at the same time incredibly strong. You, like that girl, have a dazzling shine. I'm sure God likes young people like you .. That's why I just have to put you to the test of the most powerful technique I have !! Shedding emerald-colored magical power from empty eye sockets that looked like tears, Tendou threw Ama no Muromo high into the sky . The sword released from his hands, turning into green lightning, ascended into the heavens and dissolved into the clouds. At the same second, under the rumbling sounds of tens of thousands of lightning strikes, - Come! " Ama no Muromo " !! A giant sword of light appeared, cutting through the storm clouds in the sky. - What the hell is this ...! - Shit ...! A huge sword made of light, the blade of which exceeded 100 meters in length. Soaring slowly in the sky, the tip of the blade aimed at the tiny blazers on the ground, - Forward. Do your best. Put yourself into the next attack. Step over your limits and then you will receive the " blessing " of God! This is the only
way you will be able to protect your own future from the coming deep night !! And with the speed of a bullet flew out of the clouds down. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ Shaking the air with a deafening roar, a giant sword of light fell down. His target was Sword Eater Kurashiki Kuraudo. However, one cannot absolutely say that he was the only target. The energy contained within Ama no Muromo , a sword of light, was the energy of a hundred thousand lightning bolts. Falling to the ground, he has the power to blow away the entire Fukuoka in a couple of seconds. Even if you dodge a direct hit, death from the explosion cannot be avoided. No one will survive. Neither Kuraudo, nor Moroboshi, nor the civilians in Fukuoku taking refuge in Miyazaki. "Damn it all ...!" Curaudo, in front of whose eyes a real threat, saw no choice but to take action. "I have to take it upon myself !!" Gaining determination, Kuraudo stepped over the rubble onto solid ground, stood up and crossed the Yamato no Orochi . It was at the intersection between the two blades that the tip of the Ama no Muromo's blade landed . - Ghah !? Immediately upon impact, Curaudo's body shook violently.
The blow was so strong that it blew away and destroyed all the debris at his feet, and he himself was pushed into the ground. - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !!!! The piercing noise from Ama no Muromo mingled with the heavy sound of cracking earth. Layers of earth collapsed around Curaudo, forming a crater around him, which became wider and deeper with each passing second. In the middle of the devastation, Kuraudo fiercely resisted the monstrous pressure. - Ghhhh, shit! What ... durable ... !! As a matter of fact, it was believed that any magical power, regardless of the level of noble art, had to be destroyed by the " Bite of the Tiger ". Shroud of heat, lightning, pressure, whatever. Moroboshi's ability had the ability to forcibly destroy the main essence of the world. So it was up to now. But right now, Curaudo was definitely feeling an enormous pressure on his shoulders, threatening to crush his bones and spine. This was direct evidence that the magical power contained in Ama no Muromo was so super-dense that it even surpassed the instant devouring ability to destroy the magical essence of Tiger Bite . The blades of the Yamato no Orochi corroded the Ama no Muromo in the impact of the collision . The magical force that devoured the blade of light shattered and tore the blade into pieces, which, turning into a storm of magic, self-destructed. But ... the size of " Ama no Muromo " did not decrease. The tip of the giant sword's blade was only slightly cut off.
The devouring magical power of Tiger Bite was not up to its task. Kuraudo was convinced that before he could destroy the Ama no Muromo , his device would disappear first. The moment this truth reached him, Kuraudo felt his skin begin to blister. The heat of the Ama no Muromo , emitted by ultra-high-density energy, caused his skin to burn and blister. However, as paradoxical as it was, he felt his blood begin to freeze in his veins. The thing is that in addition to the monstrous pressure, Kuraudo inside himself began to feel the feeling experienced some time ago. He first experienced this feeling in a match against Moroboshi during the last clash. …Fear. And not just fear. After that mock battle, Kuraudo realized. It was his fear of " death ". Kuraudo is a " genius of violence " whom God has endowed from birth with the exceptional instincts of a warrior. These instincts guided him in battle and told him what to do. It was only thanks to them then in battle that he managed to intercept the invisible attack of Moroboshi with his teeth. And now his intuition, his instincts warned fiercely of " death ." Curaudo's sixth sense was responsible for intuitively assessing the level of danger and taking steps to avoid " death ". In other words, he sensed " death " better than anyone else. This was his exceptional warrior instinct.
But the distinctive features of Curaudo did not end there. Just like a dog that is capable of feeling the agony and impending death of its owner due to its special stench, Kuraudo likewise smelled the stench of absolute " death " approaching him. Realizing that he could not deceive the fear of death, the blood chilling in his veins made his body tremble violently. His muscles, paralyzed with fear, were numb, and the strength in his hands, holding the blades, weakened. Gradually, fear began to eat away at his heart. Run away. Run away. Run away. There is no way for him to cope with such monstrous power. Cover your whole body with spiritual energy and run. The explosion " Ama no Muromo " will cause irreparable destruction of the entire neighborhood. It is likely that neither Moroboshi nor the other people who arrived in Fukuoka for surgery will survive. But there's nothing you can do about it. There is no other way to save their lives. Until now, intuition had guided him unmistakably. He must continue to follow his feelings. . . All the instincts of the warrior screamed about mortal danger. But still… - Fuck it all ...!
Curaudo roared, not shy of expression. - MOOOOOOOOOOOOOBOSIIII !!!! ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ - This guy! Moroboshi decided everything for himself at the moment when " Ama no Muromo " hit Kuraudo. The blades of Orochimaru were still embraced by Tiger Bite , so Kuraudo managed to survive, but even from afar it was clear that the magical power of Ama no Muromo was too great. The total length of the sword made of light that fell from heaven was 100 meters. Right now, at the point of contact, Tiger Bite was eating the blade of the Ama no Muromo . The emitted magical power scattered in all directions, but if you look closely, the tip of the blade of the Ama no Muromo was only slightly damaged. On the other hand, there was no face on Curaudo. Was he broken by the pressure of an overwhelming force approaching the tip of his nose? Or is Orochimaru's limit ever closer? Moroboshi could only guess. But, - Now .. !
Like a tiger entrenched in the bushes, Moroboshi was about to hit Tendou with a spear, currently fighting Kuraudo. The stakes are higher than ever The energy of hundreds of thousands of lightning strikes concentrated in Ama no Muromo is equivalent to a nuclear warhead. If the sword explodes, neither Kuraudo nor Moroboshi, nor the civilians behind them will be safe. Only " Torao ", clothed with the magical power of " Tiger Bite ", is able to defeat their current enemy. Right now, he simply must join the battle. This is what Moroboshi intended to do .. - Moroboshi !! Don't even dare get in the way under my feet !!!! - Ha !? But the sudden loud cry of Kuraudo, who was in a quandary, stopped him. Trying to understand the reason for such a strong statement, Moroboshi quickly looked in his direction in response and was stunned. In Curaudo's eyes, he saw something that was difficult to believe. - …Seriously? " Ama no Muromo " that fell from heaven. In a difficult situation . . Kuraudo began to wield " Yamato no Orochi ". Holding the blade with his left sword, he swung the sword in his right hand and began striking hard at the Ama no Muromo blade, as if intending to cut it off.
With these attacks, he wanted to expand the area of destruction of the giant blade from the destructive power of Tiger Bite . - Do you want to cut it .. ! Violent, jerky movements continued to wield a sword to whittle " Ama but Murom ". His idea certainly worked. The speed at which the blade " Ama but Murom " go to pieces, increased. But . . if you remember the gigantic dimensions of the sword of light, it was still not enough. Blade " Ama but Murom " exceeding 100 meters in length, was still intact. The desperate state of affairs has not changed in the least. It was like trying to dig up a mountain with a shovel. At first glance, this is how the situation looked from the outside. But now, there was no longer that tense feeling in the gaze of Curaudo, who dared to challenge the threat. With firm determination, he gazed with all eyes at the impending danger at his nose. I thought we lost. I thought he was going to lose. But no. This person has an incredibly strong will. Reflecting on this, Moroboshi fully realized the folly of his own thoughts. “… I'm sorry. Play is not part of my program. I lost to this man, which is why I understand how strong Curaudo's spirit is. - Hah, exactly. I believe. Your fortitude will handle everything. ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
- Oraaaaaa !! Kuraudo continued to hold back the Ama no Muromo's thrust with the sword in his left hand, while at the same time wielding the sword in his right hand in order to inflict as much damage as possible on the sword of light and destroy it. Whenever his sword touched the blade of the Ama no Muromo , pieces of the giant sword flew in all directions and exploded in the air, shimmering. But considering the size of the sword of light, all his efforts were in vain. This is obvious to everyone. In the current situation, trying to stop him seemed completely pointless. If you don't retreat immediately, he will die. Run away, someone whispered in his ear. This "someone" was well known to Curaudo. The voice belonged to none other than himself. "Surrender" It's like that. Whenever there was a reason to surrender, that voice would whisper invitingly to him. I lost to Sarah Bloodlily. I lost to Ikki Kurogane, who managed to become the King of Swords of Seven Stars. And when I heard that he had defeated the Black Knight, the 4th most powerful in the world in a far and foreign country for himself . . I convinced myself that I was just not lucky. Unfortunately for myself, I fought against the best knights in the world. I will never win.
I will never catch up with them. Once my strength has already given way to them, there is no point in trying again. There's nothing you can do. Just get used to these thoughts and take comfort in the fact that you have the chance to fight such powerful opponents. "Shut up…!" - Kuraudo was furious as his mind began to actively seek new reasons for surrender. Of course, the only connection between me and Ikki is that loss in a random battle. But even now, I cannot forget that one defeat. For the first time in my life, I regretted losing. This defeat gave me new strength in the hope for a future roleplay. I think my regret is close to longing. That's why, - I did not come to joke .. ! It's time to stop comforting yourself with thoughts of another defeat and put up with your own powerlessness. I don’t want to turn into my dirty father, who complains about bad news, bad politics and bad people while drinking on TV. If I can't deal with my own regret, then I just need to keep running forward. Continue to chase the ghostly back in the distance. No matter how bad the road ahead, no matter how difficult the obstacles, I will not retreat anymore. I can't stop even for a second.
After all, that person has already crossed all boundaries and continues to rush forward ... - I would never die in a place like this !! - AND…!? While Tendou watched Kuraudo's actions in confusion, he, in addition to continuously wielding his right blade, connected the sword in his left hand and began to cut with a vengeance on the giant blade " Ama no Muromo ". - Ora-ora-ora !!!! With each new blow, the speed of the twin swords increased, cutting the Ama no Muromo with great force. "Yamato no Orochi" Without slowing down, Curaudo struck a series of sixteen lightning strikes against the giant blade. Such resistance is too reckless. The human body is incapable of such a load. And the reserves of magical power are not endless. So Tendou thought as he watched Curaudo from the sidelines. But… -…! Curaudo did not stop. Even if his lungs ran out of oxygen and he could not scream.
Even if the blood vessels ruptured from high blood pressure, resulting in bleeding from the nose and eyes. He was not going to stop. Five minutes .. , ten .. , more than an hour, attacking at the same pace, Kuraudo continued to fight the looming threat at his eyes. Finally, to Tendow's surprise, - He did it ... Before Kuraudo's zeal swords were depleted, the Ama no Muromo shattered to smithereens. At first, Tendou's idea seemed reckless to Kuraudo, but later he hoped that this young man would cope. This is exactly what happened, the continuous hammering on the blade of the " Ama no Muromo " led to the fact that half of the giant blade broke off. Countless cracks ran along the surviving part of the blade and .. - GHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !!!! To the loud roar of a bloody Kuraudo, Ama no Muromo exploded into a myriad of dazzling splashes. - What the… Surprisingly, Curaudo did not stop there. The enemy is still alive. Shifting from foot to foot three times, Kuraudo pushed off the bottom of the crater and rushed to Tendou. Blood gushed from his eyes and ears, but he didn't care, he ran up the wreckage with swords aimed at Tendou's neck. A brave figure striving for a goal. His blue radiance of life, like a bright flame, flared up more and more.