Accel World Vol 2 Chapter 7 (1/2)

Chapter 7

“Wh... who?”

Haruyuki whispered in a sound that was not a voice.

To be able to get close behind the suspicious Yellow King, furthermore, to be able to penetrate that armor like paper without the use of a special skill. No, before that, to cut in between a direct contact fight between two Kings, who would think of doing that?

Then, as if hearing Haruyuki’s sound, from behind the Yellow King, a shadow melted slowly into view. Blending into the twilight almost perfectly, a deep grey silhouette. At the moment its surface was touched lightly by the remaining sunlight, it shone with wet reflection.

The mysterious intruder's body was fully covered with black silver mirror-like armor. The color combination could be said to be similar to Silver Crow, but the form is largely different. The shoulders, chest and elbows had volume, with a heavy feeling like a knight from the Middle Ages. The right hand that was covered by a huge gauntlet, held a double-edged sword of the same length as his height, its extreme tip narrowed as it pierced through the Yellow King from behind.

What drew attention more strongly than the sword, was the knight’s head.

It was covered with a hood type helmet that had long horns extending behind from either side. However, in the place that was originally a face - there was nothing. Shone on by the sunlight, the interior should be clearly seen, but like a manifestation of darkness, the inside of the hood was painted all black. No, if he stared at it longer, he certainly could see something unknown, deep black and wriggling as though it's alive, on the surface.

The knight of dark silver with a mask of darkness.

That name, right before Niko, who was under him leaked it out, Haruyuki too, realized what it was. That was probably... That must be—

“«Disaster Armor»... «Chrome Disaster».”

Right after hoa.r.s.ely leaking that out, Niko continued.

“Why. Way too early. There should be at least a whole day left.”

The reason she was surprised, Haruyuki soon realized.

Chrome Disaster’s real self, «Cherry Rook» who is a level 6 Burst Linker belonging to the Red legion, and while the train he was riding on was about 2 minutes from Ikebukuro, Haruyuki’s group dived into this Unlimited Neutral Field. Here, the time flows at 1000 times of the real world, so that 2 minutes is about equal to 33 hours.

There could only be one answer. Cherry Rook who was taken over by that armor, accelerated while he was riding the train, and appeared in this world.

If it was a normal duel with 1.8 second max, that is understandable. However this place is an upper world, where one is unable to leave from anywhere aside from one of the Leap Points once dived in. In a place close to others, such as a train, not to mention, leaving the real body behind on a form of transportation, that is an action that surpa.s.sed bravery into recklessness.

“Cherry... To be unable to wait for even 2 minutes, is he already that far gone?”

Niko whispered in a m.u.f.fled voice.

However, Haruyuki did not seem to sense that kind of madness from the fifth Chrome Disaster standing across the crater, on its far west edge.

The stature is not all that powerful. At most 170cm, and compared to the fourth that Kuroyukihime showed them in the playfield yesterday, this one is very small. The form had an orthodox human shape. While holding the sword that pierced through the Yellow King, he did not seem to be doing anything else, s.p.a.cing out like expression as he stood there quietly.

Why did the Yellow King not escape? Why did he turn his head to the limit and look at Chrome Disaster silently?

That answer - .

Once second later, Haruyuki found out.

“Yuruoooooo...!”

Suddenly, there was a strange scream.

It was not a human’s sound. Not a beast’s. Not a machine’s. He had never heard it before, a heterogeneous roar.

The source was the deep darkness lurking about the knight’s face. From under the bent backward hood type helmet, with the yell, a tangible darkness was blown out, and it slowly formed into a solid shape.

On the hood’s top and bottom came a set of teeth, a sequence of sharp triangles. Fangs. Deep black fangs, from the hood’s edge, as if that was all one mouth, they stuck out.

‘Gupaa’.

With that wet sound, the «mouth» opened.

From the deep darkness inside, two small round eyes, shone with a vaporous red.

At the moment he saw that, the Yellow King, Yellow Radio finally moved. He turned behind with a snap, and held the sword that pierced him with both hands, trying to pull it out.

The reason he did not move till now was - he cowered. Bound by terror.

Kuroyukihime who was also nearby, continued to be silent in her stance. She did not seem afraid, but he sensed a slight hesitation in her. There was a chance to attack, but which should she aim for, to be certain in this situation, she could not decide.

To the Yellow King who was trying to pull the sword out, the Disaster Armor, Chrome Disaster brought his huge «mouth» near as if eating something on a fork. That jaw that was opened wide, closed in on the clown avatar’s round raised shoulders - the fangs dripping a clear mucus -

“...«Deceit Firecracker»!!”

Before his shoulder was bitten, Yellow Radio shouted in a loud voice.

With a poisonous yellow smoke going up, the skewered avatar blew up, and disappeared.

‘Self destruct!?’ Haruyuki’s eyes popped out, however right after that, about five meters away, a similar colored smoke went up, and he saw the clown jumping out from inside. That was probably a dazzle and escape special skill.

While his breastplate with a sharp hole was giving out small sparks, the Yellow King dashed back another few meters. After he indicated to his subordinates’ avatars to gather, he finally released a sound.

“You starving dog, forgetting your owner’s kindness, and want to disturb my program? ...Fine then, if you are that hungry - eat the «Black» one in front of you!! It’s not too tantalizing a color for appet.i.te though!!”

He laughed with ‘Hahahahaha’, but that sound echoed with a tension that was not even disguised.

As the black jaw opened and closed with ‘Gachin Gachin’ sounds, Chrome Disaster looked from the Black King to the Yellow King, who were at an equal distance away. That action did not have the feel of a player trying to decide who to «Duel» with.

It’s the gesture of a beast figuring out which prey he is supposed to hunt.

The face that was not a face, casually turned towards the bottom of the crater. His look stopped for a moment at the damaged and silent Red King, however he did not show any feelings upon seeing his own legion master, then moved his face towards Haruyuki who was standing on the stabilizer on her back.

Suddenly.

‘- Feed.’

‘- Feed, become meat.’

What’s more terrifying than anything else, no matter how you listen to the tone of voice itself, which was from a similar aged boy before his voice changed.

In his back, a fear that he had never experienced in the accelerated world thus far, he now felt it.

Even with Brain Burst’s strange «Accelerate» technology, it is still just a duel fighting game. After arriving in this south Ikebukuro crater, he had been in a gruesome to the extreme battle, but that was still barely within the scope of a game.

To be truthful, if the Yellow King’s trap succeeded with Niko or Kuroyukihime being hunted, those two’s Brain Burst would be forcefully uninstalled, and they would never be able to visit the accelerated world again - however, that is a «Game Ending», but their real life will continue afterwards.

But even so.

If that voice now, belonging to the Burst Linker called Chrome Disaster.

Inside that black silver armor, the boy called Cherry Rook that should have enjoyed this game no longer exists.

‘Enhanced armament will erode its user’s mind’, Kuroyukihime had said. Haruyuki half believed that, but the humanity of the person wearing the armor will mostly be lost, that short sound now clearly showed him. And that condition was probably not just limited to during acceleration. Whoever is in that armor, he would never think that person would be peacefully living in the real world.

“Niko... He, no longer.”

The meaning Haruyuki’s shaky voice tried to convey, the Red King guessed with her sensitivity.

“Don’t say it. Still.. still, we might make it in time. If we destroy that armor now, maybe.”

That quiet voice, did not finish till the end.

As if to reject Niko’s wish, Chrome Disaster again released another roar.

“Ruuoo...oooooo!!”

What he slowly turned to face, was the Yellow King’s direction.

Carrying the large sword in his right hand on his shoulder, his left hand with five huge claw-like fingers was extended straight forward.

Right after that, a surprising phenomenon happened. Even though the Armor did not shout any skill name, right next to the Yellow King’s gathered group, a red type avatar was sucked to Chrome Disaster’s left hand at a fierce speed.

With a ‘Gachin’ metallic sound, the unfortunate duel avatar’s body was penetrated by the Armor’s fingers.

“Hii...”

While loudly screaming, that red type tried to point the rifle held in his right hand towards the Armor’s head area. It was then, that Haruyuki realized that red type was the long range type protecting that jamming avatar earlier.

The rifle’s barrel opening shone, and a blue white beam was fired at point blank range.

However, just before that, the right arm holding the gun was cut off at the base. The beam grazed Chrome Disaster’s helmet, and pa.s.sed behind him. The sword slash that cut off that arm, Haruyuki could not even see most of it.

Right after that.

“Ruuuu!!”

With that yell, Chrome Disaser’s closed fangs all opened wide at once.

The red type’s left shoulder was bitten by that jaw of darkness with a ‘Crunch’ sound.

“Gya... aaaaa!!”

The scream that was sent out was so grisly that he wanted to cover his ears. In this Unlimited Neutral Field, the damage pain is increased twice that of lower fields. Probably right now, for that red type, he is feeling the same level of pain as being bitten by a beast on his real body.

That avatar’s armor was pierced through easily by the tens of huge fangs. From shoulder to chest area, a half circle shape was eaten, and the cut left arm fell slowly to the ground.

“Aaa... Aaaaa - !!”

With his stomach exposed, and both arms lost, pain made the avatar’s head violently flap around.

After swallowing completely, Chrome Disaster opened his «mouth» wide again, and swallowed that head whole.

With a wet ‘Crunch’ sound, some spray was released, was it spark effect, armor fragments - or maybe that avatar’s flesh and blood.

The scream was fully cut off. With its whole head lost, that avatar’s remains slid down strengthlessly, and a few seconds later, finally dissolved and split into a light pillar.

Haruyuki thought that his view was shaking. The reason for that were his own knees shaking, which took him a while to realize.

That was no longer a «Duel».

Not violence, nor slaughter.

It’s «predation». The captured avatar’s blood and meat, and also Burst Points being consumed, just that kind of instinctive activity.

At the same time the top and bottom black fangs stop moving, on the connections between the black silver armor, Haruyuki saw a deep red light run around. As if not just points, some kind of energy was stolen kind of phenomenon - that was probably what Kuroyukihime said yesterday, the HP gauge absorption ability, «Drain».

“Ruuuuu...”

Chrome Disaster lifted his head up and that low throat rumble came out.

“Rabid dog... no choice, it’s a shame the show will be canceled. Everyone, retreat to the Ikebukuro train station Leap Point!!”

That shout came from the Yellow King. At the time of his directive, he used some kind of special skill, and the around ten remaining Yellow legion members’ shapes became half transparent.

The avatars that became vaporous shadows, left the crater at a tremendous pace, and retreated northwest. Even though his plan clearly failed, the Yellow King’s sound that was moving farther away, his final sneer spread in the field.

“Kukuku... Red, and Black, to my circus’ fun fun carnival, I will someday invite you again! Get eaten up by that dog, if you still have fighting spirit remaining... if only! Kukuku... Kufufufufu...”

If they thought calmly, they could interfere with those people’s retreat and let Chrome Disaster attack them, then take the Yellow King’s head in the confusion, that kind of tactic might be possible. However Haruyuki, not only did he not make a sound, he did not even move a finger. He was paralyzed like a small animal being glared at by a predator, and it was all he could do to stand above Scarlet Rain’s armor plate.

‘- To fight with that? Make him unable to fight, and at super close range attack him with «Judgement Blow»? I am supposed to help with that?

Impossible.

I cannot do it. I am my limit not screaming and running away from this place.’

While Haruyuki’s knees and the roots of his teeth shook slightly, in his view, Chrome Disaster’s body sunk. It was the action of a carnivorous beast wanting to chase and kill the Yellow legion members that were running away like baby spiders being spread apart.

‘Just go away with the Yellow legion like that’, Haruyuki prayed. However.

Behind Chrome Disaster who was going to start a fierce dash - .

“...«Death By Piercing»!!”

The confident echo was Kuroyukihime’s voice.

The right sword arm that was held by the left hand, was thrust straight forward with a jet engine-like loud noise. The violet s.h.i.+ne that covered the blade, brilliantly painted the world, as it extended close to 5 meters in a direct line.

The huge attack power that was released compressed the virtual air, and the view there was distorted like flickering flames. A ‘Gakiiin’ kind of high pitched destruction sound echoed - but what was cut apart, was just the right side, the bent back horn on Chrome Disaster’s helmet.

The black silver Armor, in the biggest opening right before starting a chase, and furthermore aimed at from behind, with a mist like movement slid left to avoid the attack.

The horn that danced high, came down while spinning, and stuck into the blue black ground.

“...Ooh, you manage to avoid that.”

While she brought back her extended right hand, Kuroyukihime said as if impressed.

Against that, Chrome Disaster who had turned around, between the huge fangs, a clearly angry moan resounded.

“Yurururuuuu...”

With a ‘Clink’ sound, the large sword in his right hand cut a half circle on the ground.

Picking that up to carry on the right shoulder, the demonic knight faced the deep black beautiful princess. Inside the slightly opened jaw that was under the hood, the deep red light eyes sharply shone as they moved around.

“Se... sen, pa...”

Haruyuki’s dried up parched throat leaked out a raspy sound.

‘- You want to fight? Even though it’s the Red King’s request - against that. Face to face.’

The truth was, Chrome Disaster is still level 7. Even if she loses, unlike against a «King» opponent, she won’t lose Brain Burst.

But, in exchange, she will be eaten.

In the field with the same or higher pain sensation as reality, while alive, the avatar being greedily eaten. That pain cannot be compared to being hit by the gun in Haruyuki’s own self made training room.

No, it’s not just a problem with the pain sensation. A few minutes ago, the long range type avatar that was captured by that, his scream echoed with deep despair. The despair of being captured by an overwhelming predator, and being consumed while helpless.

‘No way. I don’t want to be eaten by that. If it became like that, I will - ‘

Strength suddenly left his legs, and Haruyuki knelt down on top of Scarlet Rain’s armor plate. He tried to stand up in a hurry, but his body did not move. Even his fingers were hard and stiff, frozen while ignoring his commands.

‘- What is this? What is happening to me? Earlier, I said things in such a patronizing way to Kuroyukihime who was lying there, and now I’ve become so unsightly and unable to move.’

The more he panicked, the colder his whole body went. As if the nerves of the avatar’s limbs were cut.

For Haruyuki who was just breathing shallowly under his silver mask, in his ears - .

“«Burst Linker with no fighting spirit cannot move their duel avatar».”

From the crater’s edge while she faced off with the black silver Armor, Kuroyukihime’s dignified voice reached him.

“...Earlier, it is as that little girl said. I don’t want to admit it, but I regretted the betrayal two years ago. I felt it was an unforgivable crime. So with that, my fighting spirit - the fighting feeling that made me want victory, I feared it to the bottom of my heart.”

While being vigilant with both sword arms held up, Black Lotus’ blue purple color eyes glanced in Haruyuki’s direction.

“However Haruyuki-kun. You are the opposite. You fear losing. You think that losing will lower your worth. That, during the recent territory battles, was the reason for your bad condition.”

Those were words that were relentlessly forced deep into his heart.

While kneeling, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide, and strongly ground his teeth.

‘- It’s not just thinking, that’s the truth!’

He shouted that in his brain.

‘- If I lost I would obtain nothing. My, Silver Crow’s value for existing is to continue to win with the one and only «Flight ability». Leveling up and expanding the territory of «Nega Nabulas», to fulfill your expectations only.’

‘- Because, if I don’t win, if I don’t become stronger, you will surely - someday see me as...’

“I will return the same words from earlier, Haruyuki-kun!”

After a slash of her right sword hand, Kuroyukihime shouted fiercely.

“The bond linking you and me, is it just to such a degree... do you really think that way!!”

And then right after that, she started to slash at Chrome Disaster.

As if, with that action, she wanted to convey something to Haruyuki.

Kuroyukihime’s left sword hand that started the attack from high above, was met by Disaster’s huge sword, and a tremendous impact happened. The ball like energy that appeared shone onto the black and silver armor surface, then bounced away and dispersed in numerous dots of light.

Both were fiercely knocked back, slid to a stop while gouging the ground, then with almost the same timing attacked again. Disaster’s huge sword in both hands was swung horizontally. Kuroyukihime did a spin and blocked it with a right kick.

The fierce big attacks that drew deep red and blue purple arcs, caused an actual explosion this time, and a small crater appeared at that place. Both of them were blown flying in opposite directions, Kuroyukihime who got up after tumbling around - was faced directly with Chrome Disaster’s wide open left hand.

‘- It’s that skill!’

Not being able to move, nor able to speak aloud, Haruyuki held his breath.

The special skill that sucked in the enemy with a mysterious attraction and held its target. If she got hit by that, then she wouldn’t be able to swing her swords properly in close contact, and will only be eaten at will.

He thought he saw a silver flash between them.

At the same time, Kuroyukihime had a large lump in front of her that appeared at an unknown time, she placed her right sword foot flat side on it and kicked it up. That was a piece of rock broken from the ground in the earlier explosion.

Chrome Disaster’s palm sucked that rock in at a fierce speed. To the enemy avatar that was shaking off the hard rock that his fingers had deeply pierced, Kuroyukihime started charging at full speed.

‘Gyaan!’ With the release of the sound of metallic impact, the left sword foot was stuck into Chrome Disaster’s breast armor after a kick.

‘...Incredible.’

Haruyuki momentarily forgot the lethargy that bound him, and whispered inside his brain.

Against that terrifying opponent, how could she fight like that? It could be said that her level is higher, but the strength difference is filled in by the enhanced armament, their power is about the same. With a mistake, she will be eaten by those huge fangs, and will actually taste sharp pain and despair. Why that way - as if - .

As if she was enjoying it.

Is it because she has confidence? Since she truly believes that she is stronger than the enemy that she can move that freely?

No, that could not be true. The same level 9 Yellow Radio, even with ten subordinates remaining, fled without hesitation. He could not absolutely say that decision came from fear. Chrome Disaster is no longer a normal Burst Linker. His threat might be beyond the huge «Enemy» Haruyuki saw while on way to Ikebukuro.

As if to support Haruyuki’s awareness, the crazed knight showed him a fearsome phenomenon.

A red black light concentrated on the wound that was cut in the armor by Kuroyukihime, and it slowly flowed to start reviving.

“Yururuu...”

A laughter like low sound leaked from the Armor, then he suddenly started a fast and furious counter attack. The sword in his right hand swung down at an unseen speed, cutting from the air towards the ground in a straight line. Kuroyukihime managed to avoid that path with her miraculous reaction, but with a ‘Pikin’ faint sound, the left tip of the armor skirt on her waist was cut off.

Chrome Disaster’s attack did not stop there. The huge sword with a meter and half long blade, flashed again and again with a speed that made the blade seem weightless. Black Lotus who dodged with a dance like movement, or continued to block, slowly had her elegant armor carved with lines here and there.

In the rush that continued limitlessly, even though she was slowly pushed from the crater’s west edge to the north edge, Kuroyukihime’s fighting spirit did not seem to weaken at all.

With four sword limbs s.h.i.+ning violet, she looked for small openings in Disaster’s actions and countered with sharp attacks. Even though the opponent’s armor soon repaired the carved wounds with red light, she simply and accurately stabbed, cut or thrust again and again.

There would be no way that she does not feel fear. With similar attack power, speed, and accuracy, against an opponent that can automatically repair itself, she will eventually be pushed back for sure. If she got hit by the heavy attack even once and her ability to dodge became dull, she will be captured by the opponent at that moment, and a part of her body will be chewed up. Her pride of being a «King» will be robbed, and she will just become food crawling on the ground.

And yet - why...

“Why... are you not escaping!”

From Haruyuki’s throat, a hoa.r.s.e call leaked out.

Running away won’t lower the Black King’s value. The Yellow King already ran away, and actually, when the previous generation Chrome Disaster was taken down, you said it took an alliance of «Pure Color Seven Kings» to finally stop him right. This is a situation where retreat is a matter of course. Also, above all else -

‘I don’t want to see it. That person being broken and eaten while screaming, absolutely don’t want to see it.’

“Please run away, senpai!”

Haruyuki called out again.

However, right after that.

The iron sword, was swung down from high above with a timing and speed that did not allow it to be avoided.

Kuroyukihime crossed her two sword hands and blocked it, but she was not able to be pushed back like it had been till now, and knelt down on one knee there. A thunder like clas.h.i.+ng sound echoed, and the ground around Kuroyukihime cracked in a radiating way.

“Yururuooooooo!!”

Maybe he was sure of his victory, Chrome Disaster roared loudly. The sword that was held in both of his hands, was pressed down with all his weight. With ‘Gii Gii’ hard grinding sounds, small sparks flew out from the contact point of the three blades.

It’s the same situation as when she went against the Yellow legion’s fighter type avatar, however this time the one who was pushed back was clearly Black Lotus. The blue purple aura that surrounded her two sword hands slowly dimmed, and blinked irregularly.

Very soon, her body will be cut apart along with her two swords and she’ll probably suffer large damage. She will get jumped on where she fell, and until her HP gauge was gone, she will be chewed apart at will.

“Why... did you not run away.”

Haruyuki murmured without any strength.

It would not be for protecting Haruyuki who could not move. She attacked Chrome Disaster who was about to chase the Yellow legion, and it was Kuroyukihime who pulled him back herself. That means Kuroyukihime intentionally went against that Armor, furthermore she chose a fight with no chance of winning.

To be truthful that was their goal for diving into the Unlimited Neutral Field, but the situation had already greatly differed from what they had predicted. Tak.u.mu who «died» won’t be revived for a few tens of minutes, and the important Scarlet Rain is majorly damaged so she could not move.

And yet, why did that person - .

“This is... my obstinacy, Haruyuki-kun.”

Suddenly, words echoed.

Looking up at the blade closing in front of her with her s.h.i.+ning violet eyes, Kuroyukihime said in a calm and heavy sound.

“This time, I became unsightly in front of you. As your mentor... and also your «parent», I cannot face you like that in the real world.”

During that time, Chrome Disaster’s sword moved closer to Black Lotus’ mask bit by bit. Haruyuki took a breath, and ground out a sound from his shaking throat.

“O... obstinacy...? But... if you lose, then whatever... meaning...”

“That is what you are mistaken about. A «Clever Retreat» while you get eaten up by a dog! That kind of thing does not have any value! Once you dive into the battle field... no matter who the opponent is, you have to fight once!!”

The proud words released by Kuroyukihime as she is just about to lose, hit Haruyuki like an iron club.

Inside his brain, the many battles and accelerated feelings that he had experienced till now came flas.h.i.+ng back.

Earlier, when he wanted to take down the jamming avatar and had to avoid the supporter’s laser attack. When he slipped through the Red King’s fierce anti-air fire. And then three months ago, when he had just became a Burst Linker, and he held up Ash Roller’s bike, or when he saw through Cyan Pile’s special skill.

‘- Inside me, I should not have the desire to win nor the fear of losing. Just fought like a dream. Without being noticed by anyone.’

‘- I see. What I am afraid of, is not the loss itself. It’s when I lose, being laughed at by the gallery. Being compared to Tak.u.mu. And also disappointing that person, I had feared those all along. Not only in reality, even in the accelerated world, caring just «how others look at me» - this kind of thing...’

“...A huge fool, that’s what I am.”

After whispering, Haruyuki put strength into his right hand that was frozen and stayed open without power.

It squeaked with ‘Gis.h.i.+ Gis.h.i.+’ sounds, however the five fingers held tightly together.

He held that fist straight up, and hit his right cheek with all his strength. With a ‘Gatsun’ kind of impact sound, a burning pain ran along his inner teeth. That burning sensation went through all of his virtual nerves, sending signals to his four limbs.

He held his head up. On the crater’s north edge, Black Lotus tried her last resistance against the lethal blade. The dully colored edges of her crossed blades were pushed barely above her head, and the sparks that flew apart displayed her armor’s many scars.

“...Senpai!”

Haruyuki shouted. At the same time, he expanded his wings that now have power, and flew straight out.

Gliding along the crater’s bottom at almost full speed, he flew towards the edge that was Chrome Disaster’s blind spot.

“U... Oo!”

With his roar, the punch that was aimed for the black silver armor, was barely blocked by the right gauntlet.

However, at the moment when one hand was removed from the sword, Kuroyukihime thrust her two hands forward with a psyche.

With a ‘Gaan!’ impact sound, the blade was bounced away, and Chrome Disaster was pushed back a few meters. It did not seem to disturb his stance, and he soon held his sword low, while under the hood the fangs fiercely grinded.

“Ruruu... Ruoo...!!”

That sound, was clearly filled with anger.

While his whole body shook with terror, Haruyuki stood against that, and covered Black Lotus behind him. Maybe she used up all her strength, Kuroyukihime stuck one arm on the ground as a cane, and eventually stood up with that, then moved to Haruyuki’s left side.

“Then, Haruyuki-kun. - For one game, let’s lose in a cool way.”

Haruyuki involuntarily made a wry smile, and nodded.

“Yes, senpai.”

He lowered his waist, spread his legs apart, and took a martial art like stance.

Kuroyukihime who was beside him too, held her sword hands up and got ready.

One second later, a few things happened one after another.

Chrome Disaster roared in anger and lifted his sword up.

For Haruyuki who was concentrating on that slash, on his left side, he saw some kind of s.h.i.+ning light.

Kuroyukihime’s right sword hand flashed with a fierce speed - and the flat side of her sword hit Haruyuki’s chest with all her strength.

He was knocked flying behind easily, and while he was tumbling on the ground with surprise, he saw a crimson wall of light in front of him.

From his left side - he realized it was a beam attack fired from center of the crater, and with the fearsome scaled explosion that was initiated, he was again blown flying back, more than ten meters this time. He used both hands in reaction to protect himself from the oncoming heat and shock wave, even so the HP gauge in his view’s upper left lowered, and his body gave out unpleasant metallic sounds here and there.

All of his nerves felt sharp pain and burning sensation on them, so Haruyuki just lay on the ground with arms and legs open while breathing hard. He could not even scream, and while he waited for the pain of his shaking body to lessen, a huge question marked wind blew in his head.