Volume 4 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Episode 4 - Abyss's Awakening

Part 1

The world a few years ago

Look was looking back at the continuation of that

The memory when he was a child The continuation of the day when he helped Philuffy and they recognized each other as friend for the first time

After that, it didn't take much time until the two of them became close with each other

Because of the circumstance of Philuffy's father's work, until now she had never stayed for long at the sae as him who he could open his heart to

While Philuffy's father was staying in the capital because of the business condition of that ti time with Philuffy inside and outside the imperial court, he also went to play at her house

It was only a period of around two months, but for Lux who didn't have friend until now, the happy time that was like a dream continued

In the castle they explored various places that they could enter, because of that they got lost and later got scolded by their parent

They made toy craftsmanshi+p at a workshop outside the castle and presented it to each other, and explored the nearby vast forest

Lux was treated by Philuffy's specialty cooking that was hotcake, because Lux said that it was delicious Philuffy created a lot and it felt like his stomach would burst

When they became covered all over with ether

Lux was used to see his little sister's naked body, but he still felt a bit embarrassed

But, the happy every day suddenly met its end

The day Lux's grandfather Wade had an audience with the emperor

Because he gave a strong counsel and tried to admonish the erandfather was imprisoned due to the crime of defamation and Lux's family was also expelled from the imperial court

What aiting for Lux and others who left the castle was the hatred and fury of the people ere oppressed by the empire

The gaze of resentment that he felt when he went out of the residence at the outskirt of the imperial capital

Lux had never heard of anything that they said then, but even fro maliciously about him

When he were living in the imperial court, his nerves orn out as an imperial faht, but the conclusion was the worst

Lux and his fanized as the decoration of the imperial capital was only used as an exa

Those who turned their blade to the emperor, the people whose will strayed from the imperial family, they would lose protection

What would happen as result to those who lose that protection? Lux tasted the resulting terror and repulsiveness keenly

He also became unable to meet Philuffy that often

Thinking back, Philuffy's father erous to meet him openly

Even so, when he was able to meet Philuffy sometimes, it would be just like in the past It supported Lux very much

And then──that day seven years ago

Under the raining hill, that day the horse carriage Lux and hisfell

Lux asked for help But the people that his grandfather tried to protect showered the his seriously wounded

Even Lux as still a child at that tiically understood why it turned out like that

Other than a part of the nobility and the irandfather said to the eet thrown into the prison

The people resented the i out tyrannical rule and lived in vice while tor them

As the punish the emperor, the emperor deliberately sent Lux and his family to such environment

The horse carriage falling into a cliff at that tiic incident that came at that unfortunate time

But, this was about his only mother

Furthermore she was the only parent that protected Lux For Lux who lost her, such logic didn't become any consolation for him

His father the emperor, the imperial family, the factions──and even the people were his enemy

Lux as hit by the hatred and resent up day by day inside his chest

「……I don't want to o home」

After his mother's death, when her modest funeral service was over, Lux said that to Philuffy in front of his rave

He knew that he was just venting his anger to the wrong person

However, because of theinside his chest, he was unable to look at his childhood friend's face like usual

And then, if even Phillufy and her fa at Lux then──

That i, that he couldn't help but distancing Philuffy from himself

「I'll, coain」

Lux pretended to not hear the small voice from behind him because of the rainfall

But, so

The i them, and then the people too were the enemy of Lux's family

Even so, perhaps only Philuffy would stay as his ally He held such hope

After that, a week passed

But since that day, Philuffy had never visited Lux's residence again

He thought that it couldn't be helped

His family was already an existence that was shi+rked in the imperial capital

If soht meet misfortune There was no doubt that Philuffy's father also stopped her fro

Even though he understood that logically, it was painful

That day Lux also carave in front of the church

He visited the grave once a day, but every tile flower placed before the grave

Thinking that it must be the priest who placed that flower, Lux felt saved just for a bit

But, that day there wasn't any flohen Lux returned to his residence, he heard the sound of the door being knocked

「Lux-kun!? It's a disaster! Philuffy disappear from home──」

Lux'sRelie's words, and then, he noticed

The one who brought flower everyday to his rave, was Philuffy

According to Relie, Philuffy was forbidden fro to Lux's residence for a while by her father's order

In the first place, there was a far distance from their mansion until this residence, they wouldn't be able to coe

But, Philuffy sneaked behind the back of the servants and slipped out of thedistance and came until nearby Lux's residence

Since then Philuffy came everyday to where Lux was

When Lux split with Relie to search separately, he found Philuffy placing a flower in front of the grave of Lux's mother

Her clothes was covered withfrom her knee and forehead Perhaps she had fallen down in the forest

「Why……?」

Hearing the words Lux squeezed out, Philuffy turned around and answered

「I thought that if I come here, I can meet you」

「Why did you sneak out and coh I told you that I don't want to h,soless──」

「Because, I'm a poor talker」

When Lux yelled that with a sorrowful voice, Philuffy looked doith her usual expressionless face looking just a little sad, and muttered

「I don't understand, what should I say to Lu-chan in this kind of time, but……」

Philuffy was speaking while walking slowly under the rain toward him

And then, he tightly embraced Lux's body, and whispered

「Phi……chan?」

「In the past, my dead Okaa-san told me Do this, to your important person, she said」

The sensation of cold skin that was exposed to rain

Even so a faint warmth shook Lux's heart

「Lu-chan, isn't alone」

Lux's body began to tre the kindly whispered words

He hugged back her body with a tre hand He raised his voice and continued to cry

The tears that he had never let out even once since that day his mother died, the dam broke and it overflowed out

Philuffy continued to gently pat Lux's back

The hatred and resentment that filled Lux's chest until now felt like the all vanished just from that

After that, the father as beaten down by Philuffy's persistence attached Relie and servant and guard at her side to bring her to Lux's residence everyday

A few days after that, it seemed that they would have to leave the capital because of work circu finally arrived

「Really thank you, for everything Phi-chan」

Lux who had co with Philuffy

He would be lying if he said that he wasn't lonely, but thanks to her he could keep on living from here on too

He thought that he wouldn't lose sight of himself anymore

On the other hand Philuffy was silent like usual, Lux was talking various things with several adults including Relie and Dalt

And then, when the time to part arrived, Lux yelled toward that back

「That……, I'll absolutely create it! A country where even girls like Phi-chan can feel safe, I will create it! I swear that I'll absolutely change this empire! That's why──」

Lux looked down his words got caught in his throat Philuffy turned around toward such Lux

And then, she sloalked toward Lux, then she softly pressed her lips on Lux's lips

「──Eh?」

The soft sensation touching his lips

A sweet fragrance tickled his nasal cavity before it went away

「Good luck charain for sure, she said」

Lux couldn't make any word

It wasn't just because of feeling e kissed, he was co his chest

「Bye bye, Lu-chan」

「Rig,ht……」

The little bit of Philuffy's smile he saw at the end melted into Lux's memory and vanished

And then──Lux woke up

Part 2

Fourth day of training camp

Following their usual plan, after coround, they carried out the Ruin investigation once more

「I and Airi-chan will coerous activity, so we'll try to not be much of a hindrance」

Relie as putting a bundle of ancient text in order consulted Celis and they decided today's unit composition

Lux, Relie, Philuffy, and Tillfur, these four naroup and advanced forward

「Philuffy, how is your condition?」

Lux asked Philuffy in consideration of her recent poor physical health and anemia

「Yes I'm okay」

She gave a concise ansith her usual serious face

「Tell ood to force yourself you know?」

Lux felt so that

It wasn't toward Philuffy, but regarding this situation

But, he couldn't put into words about as strange specifically Everyone entered the Ark with hi

Using what the Ruin's girl, La Cruche told thehted the route until the control room area in the map and distributed it

The turnaround point of the Ark that was divided into eleven level in total──the sixth floor They had already finished deter the safe route until that point

Therefore, as long as they didn't encounter any Abyss, they should be able to reach until the control area with their fast pace but,

「Everyone I've been waiting It has been a long time」

Everyone reached the sixth floor afterfor dozens ofthere following the prearranged place and time

「Waaa, she is tiny and cute!」

「She looks like a doll isn't she? Let me touch her too」

「Aa, the, the ears are delicate so please don't touch them!」

The autoirl was surrounded by the girls eren't wearing their ary

「Will she be fine……?」

「It's all right I think? I've told her beforehand to not say anything important」

When Lux s on, Krulcifer smoothly said so

According to La Cruche, she would obey the command of Krulcifer as an Xfer, so she was told to keep it a secret about their relationshi+p──it appeared that La Cruche was following that order properly

「But, there is one thing that concern me」

Krulcifer atching over La Cruche from afar while she suddenly muttered that

「Concern?」

「According to what she said, I am simply her supervisor, and above the supervisor it seems there is the existence of the Lord(Creator) A possessor of authority that surpass mine──」

A figure that was even more important than her that was the Ruin's supervisor

Lux couldn't iine at all what kind of position such person had but,

「But, that kind of person rarely exist isn't it?」

Krulcifer as discovered inside a Ruin

And then, thinking back about how La Krusche had never awakened until now inside the Ark, it should be fine to believe that the possibility of encountering the existence of a person with such high position was really low

「Most likely the possibility is really low, but it's safer to not let her meet with anyone else other than us Especially in a situation like this time」

The investigation of unknown Ruin where they didn't knoould happen

In the case that a hostile opponent snatched the control of La Cruche, they didn't knoould happen

「Krulcifer-samaaa! Then, let's depart immediately」

La Cruche went toward Krulcifer after all the members be affectionate with her

While they were , La Cruche would be entrusted to Krulcifer

「Then, see you later Be really careful okay?」

「Yes Krulcifer-san too, be safe」

They exchanged light words, and then they forroups once more under Celis's instruction

When it was over, Relie walked to the front and talked lightly

「The seventh floor ahead seems to be a place that is called as theto the Drake's enen of Abyss there They aren't , but their number is quite a lot」

Hearing those words, everyone present tensed their loosened expression

「So that on't get discovered by Abyss and ai, ill circle around the center and advance through the corridor route Everyone, be careful okay?」

「Yes!」

After everyone replied, they began advancing

When they advanced through the seventh floor, the passage immediately branched into five paths

There was the main center route that was blocked with a sturdy door, and four other small corridors

Lux and co planned to split into four groups and marched the four corridors

There was no doubt that all the path would lead to in front of the stair toward the eighth floor, but although the center route had the shortest distance, it was spacious and there were a lot of Abyss sign detected from there

Therefore, they chose the detouring route that was the four corridors other than the center path

Lux's group advanced through the corridor at the very left

Lux and Tillfur were clad in their Drag-Ride and protected Relie, while Philuffy was saving her energy and walked on her own feet

Even so if everything went according to the plan, they should be able to reach the ninth floor within today

「Even so we almost don't see any Abyss in this Ruin isn't it? No, it's better if we don't meet any but, somehow, it feels unnatural」

Tillfurat the lead

「Certainly……」

Just because they were inside a Ruin didn't mean that they would encounter Abyss for sure, even so, although they haddistance in this exploration, they had only encountered the Abyss two times until now

Was that just a coincidence, or perhaps so else──

『Everyone We will soon pass through the side of the center main street Please be quiet so to not awaken the Abyss』

Noct's dragon voice that suddenly ca tensed Lux

The wall of the corridor Lux and co was passing through becaht side They could look down at the center route from there

The glass was different frolass Lux and others normally saw, it seemed to be made from a solid material that was unique for Ruin but──

「……Lux-chi That's, could it be」

Tillfur looked doard the center route and she gulped

「Yeah……」

At the large hall spreading at the other side, there were countless things that looked like giant bottle lining up

Inside theure they had never seen before

Inside the transparent bottles, was Abysses immersed in liquid of various color They couldn't see whether the Abysses were conscious or not from where they were

But, even just from a simple estimation, the number of the bottles was a few hundred

If by any chance all of the Abysses awakened all at once, even if it was Lux and others they wouldn't stand a chance

「Manufacture area……could itAbyss?」

Relie nodded toward Tillfur as raising a cramped voice

「Looks like it Fro like that exist soh, most likely the Abyss manufactured here will appear inside the Ruin or at the surrounding」

「By that youthat!」

Relie s with the Wyr

「Then, let's get through this place quickly without delay」

They were going to resu like that, it was then,

「Wait」

Philuffy alking quietly until now lifted up her absentminded face and spoke

「So」

GAshi+N!

Right after that, a loud and heavy metallic sound resounded from behind Lux and others

At the sa the corridor with bluish white light instantly flickered and switched color to red, piercing warning sound could be heard

「This is……!」

「Wai-, what happened!? We don't really do any──!」

When Lux and Tillfur raised a bewildered voice,

GUooOoOOOON!

Such heavy bass roar passed through the corridor and entered their ear

It was the existence of powerful Abyss that they felt for the first ti here

They felt that dreadful killing intent fro and narrow corridor, and then,

「Be careful」

Philuffy whispered and pulled out her knife-shaped Sword Device

The ust blew from the front

「GURURURUGAAAaAAAAA-!」

「Kuuh……!?」

Tillfur blocked the co attack with the battle axe of her Wyrm and she was bloay

The large body that was only barely could be seen didn't pause and rushed forward When it circled at the back of Lux and others, it twisted its body and accelerated once more

When a front leg that was thick like a log attacked, Lux's Wyvern blocked it using its blade

「Lux-chi! Thank you! ……-!?」

Tillfur leaked out a relieved voice for a moment, but she then held her breath when the true identity of the attacker became clear

It was a gigantic dog

No, it was too halfhearted to call that shape as dog It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a monster

It was as though it was outside the categorization of anie body that easily surpassed a house

Violet fur that was nearly black, pointed eyes and sharp pupil that were laced with madness

Inside its ap

And then above all else, it had two head, seven snakes were growing on its back, they were crawling around

Its size took space of ardless of that it was abnorile

And then, it possessed terrific strength just as its appearance suggested

「Ku, u……」

The giant dog put its strength to s it, but Lux soed

After that the ure vanished deeper into the dim corridor──into the darkness once more

It wasn't running away Piercing sharp killing intent was still directed toward Lux's group of four

「Wha, what's that……!? It's so I've never seen at the acadeoing on!?」

Tillfur couldn't hide her agitation and yelled Relie whispered with her face also looking tense

「Soate of the center route and infiltrated the h that this Abyss appears in response to that」

Most likely thatall the mechanisms in this Ruin

Most likely because there was someone who infiltrated that place, the defense mechanism activated

「GUAAaAAaAaaaaAH!」

When the rowled once more, Lux leaped forward

「Howling Roar!」

It was the basic technique of Drag-Ride, the howl of Drag-Ride that deployed a vortex of shockwave

Originally it only possessed the strength that could only frighten the eneht line, it was able to definitely stop the enemy's momentum

But──,

「Lux-chi, be careful! It's not faltering at all!」

Tillfur whose gaze was focused at the darkness further ahead readied her battle axe while covering the other two behind her

Immediately after, the wall of shockas easily pierced through, and the

GIIN, a piercing sound stabbed the eardrum

The front leg attack the Abyss unleashed once more was blocked by Lux's blade, at the sae claw

Critical hit

The Scale Blade that Lisha created──a sword that had barrier running along its blade, by using that, it was possible to force back enemy's attack if the userIt was Lux's specialWyvern

By focusing the opponent's strength into one point and returned it back, it becaht about destruction

Lux used Howling Roar wasn't to give the enee, it was to limit the offensive option of the enemy

「GU, ooOOH!」

Even though Lux couldn't defeat it with his attack just now, but it see leaped backward and then turned around

And then it hid its body inside the darkness once more and this time even its presence vanished

「Haaa, that was scary……」

A few second after the threat left, Tillfur exhaled out deeply

「Just what in the world is that……」

Even Lux was still agitated

He could use Critical hit in large part because this area of the corridor was narrow, so the direction of enereatly limited from one direction

He would need soh the ene perfectly

For the ti, he confirmed that Relie and Philuffy were safe And then when he was being vigilant at his surrounding omce more,

『Lux-kun, can you hear me?』

A dragon voice from Krulcifer that was exclusively sent to Lux came in

「A large dog Abyss came out, but everyone here is safe! What about Krulcifer-san and others!?」

When Lux replied like that, Krulcifer let out a faint relieved sigh, then she talked with a voice that was tinged with tension once more

『That Abyss isto La Cruche, when the Ark entered the alert state, three of that Abyss will be released The first will target the one that caused the alert, the second will patrol inside the shi+p, and then the third will go outside the shi+p and attack the surrounding They are the Ark's watchdog It see the Abyss』

『I'll give you thefrom quite far in the back, it seems that it was because someone wrenched open the door of the manufacture area』

「Just as──」

『If the door is opened because the Ruin confirmed someone to be related to the Ruin like me, it wouldn't become like this The one who forcefully opened the door was roup of that Marquis Dobar, this is their work』

「But if I reht, they should be several floor above──」

『Yes, I don't kno they caught up to us but…… They've arrived until the beginning of this seventh floor, at the bow area And then right now they are planning to break through the shortest center route in order to overtake us』

「But, if they do that……!」

They would be rushi+ng through the very center of the Atelier that wasAbyss

Surely there was no way that all the Abysses inside those bottles would start erous

『Yes, it's possible that they will get surrounded by Abyss and get killed But, we can only ask the head to do now』

「Yeah……」

After the communication with Krulcifer was cut, Lux hurriedly reported the information he heard to Relie and others

Marquis Dobar's private force suddenly raised their h possibility that they would catch up

As the result of the wrenching open the door in their atteh the manufacture area, this alarm sounded and three powerful Abysses appeared

Marquis Dobar's force was also in danger

Relie who heard all those inforhtly

「It can't be helped Let's hurry ahead」

Relie brushed up her hair and declared that

「……Eh?」

「From the start we had talked about this with theate this Ark at our own risk Besides we are already half-way through this seventh floor corridor If Abyss came out in response to this alarm, then on't make it in time even if we turn around」

The corridor route Lux's group was in didn't have direct connection with the center route of the manufacture area

If they tried to return until the seventh floor entrance from here, it would take several minutes even with the top speed

Besides, in the case that a swarroup atteh, then they would siroup that headed out to save them would instead become surrounded by the roup

If they assumed such worst case, then it would be the safest to reach the control room area at the tenth floor below

But,

(Is that okay? Is it really──)

「Come……, Typhoon」

That -Ride Typhoon was summoned in front of Philuffy

「Philuffy?」

When Lux turned toward the direction of the voice, Philuffy's body was clad in armor

「I think, that it's better if I and Lu-chan return to the surface, for the moment」

And then, she continued with her usual calm voice

「Because perhaps right now, that Abyss is co out outsidethe Ark too」

Philuffy lass along the wall

According to La Cruche's explanation that her heard fros would head outside the Ark

Currently there was alht in Ries Island

「I understand……」

Hearing her little sister's words, Relie looked doith a face that looked worried and then she gave a new instruction

「Lux-kun Can you pursue that Abyss together with Philuffy? Everyone else will hurry to reach the eighth floor while no Abyss is pursuing」

「Yes! But, headmaster's is」

「Ah, it's fine about that There is contact froroup of Celis-senpai that reached the eighth floor earlier will hurry to come here so── Until they come, I can hold out here even alone!」

Tillfur readied her armament, the battle axe and showed a confident smile

Her body was still shaking a bit, but she was encouraging herself as a member of Syvalles

「Just as I was taught, it'll be fine if Iat the opponent's movement ain't it, sensei?」

Tillfur recited Lux's teaching that he gave her when giving personal guidance at the practice ground

Lux's expression loosened seeing the girl's enthusiasm and he nodded

「Yes If it's Tillfur, you can do it ──That's why, do your best」

「Ro-ger, instructor-sama」

After exchanging salute with Tillfur, Lux turned toward Philuffy

「Philuffy, is your body all right?」

「……Yes I can go」

Philuffy responded with her usual serious face

It was hard to notice inside the corridor that was lighted by red light, but Philuffy's condition looked worse than before

Her cheeks were slightly red, and her breathing was rough

Above all else, her reaction when the Abyss attacked just noas unthinkably slow compared to her usual movement

When Lux ruminated about those facts and hesitated, Philuffy took a deep breath

「Let's hurry If we have to search for the Abyss that headed outside, it would be too late if we don't split」

「……Got it Let's go」

The safety of the islanders was the foremost

Lux accepted Philuffy's will and he pulled out his other Sword Device

「──Manifest, the violent dragon that devour the Gods' flesh and blood Sever the sky of dark clouds, Bahamut!」

Lux pushed the button on the grip together with the Passcode, and su-Ride

That huge dragon that possessed streaed into armor

And then, he flew glidingly through the corridor that was still filled with ominous alarm sound

When fighting an Abyss that he had never seen before, normally Lux would first use the Wyvern that was specialized for defense

Bahathening──Reload on Fire(Violent Eater)

At the first five seconds, one's own time would be decelerated by several times over, and then at the next five seconds the flow of ti that special ability, Lux could use Quick Shot that would instantly destroy the opponent's mobile parts, but to perform that attack it was necessary for Lux to be able to see through the enereat precision

In order to see through the attack, Lux needed to confire of offense and defense Wyvern was effective as the preparatory steps for that, but as expected this time there was no time for that

In order to pursue the Abyss heading outside the shi+p fro speed of Wyvern was undependable, and above all else Lux was impatient

(I also don't want Philuffy forcing herself, if I don't protect everyone in the island……!)

For that too he had to defeat that Abyss without wasting ti behind using her Typhoon, and then he accelerated Bahamut even further

「This is……, bad!」

Lux noticed a certain fact after he passed through seventh floor and continued to retrace their steps from the sixth floor until the first floor

With Bahamut's top speed, even that Orthros could be pursued But he couldn't use that much speed in order to avoid the obstacles inside the Ark

And perhaps because of the alert state of the Ruin, bulkhead appeared in a part of the route and blocked Lux's path Because of that he lacked behind the Abyss

He finally reached until the portal of the Ark, but he had to wait several second until the transfer to outside started

(If the Abyss get outside the Ark like this, then everyone, the people of the island will──!)

「It's fine, Lu-chan」

When Lux was losing the presence of his mind, Philuffy drove Typhoon to his side and talked to him

「But……!」

「That Abyss still hasn't go outside I know from its presence……」

「……Philuffy?」