Volume 5 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Episode 4: Fifth Artifact(Transforiant soldier)=””>

Part 1

Lux continued to fly in a straight line through the night sky of the dawn that was still dim

The uard soldiers in the capital knew about the defense h altitude so that he wouldn't get found by the Drag-Knights froon Battle

After flying to the north like that for a few ht outside the royal capital's wall

「So you finally coht of her highness the princess huh It's still a talk in the future if you can receive an official peerage but──」

When Lux landed in front of the troops, a red-haired big hed heartily

「Chore prince is fine Rather than that, is there any change with the operation?」

When Lux asked seriously, Bugriser spread a large map for use of the operation and nodded

At the abandoned village northwest froht to be hidden by the rebel army there

Lux would lure them as a decoy, led thedo by, and exterminated the Abysses with all-out attack That was the broad sense of the operation this time

Bugriser's Drag-Ride force was taking position at the north gate in order to intercept the Abysses that ed to slip away from that

「There is no change to the plan Currently, there is no change in the abandoned village that beca strange fro around the capital But──」

「But, what?」

「……It see that they are hearing strange ru sound sometimes Well, I think that's just an absurd fear of theirs, but just in case we are being on guard」

「Understood Then──」

「Yeah, start the operation Just like we first planned, the group of Drag-Knights of the coreat noble and the new kingdo forward to your effort here」

「……Yes」

Lux nodded lightly, then he put his strength into the touch part inside the armor and made his Wyvern flew

After increasing his altitude once et, he concentrated energy into the propulsion device at the wings on his back and accelerated the Drag-Ride further

He heard that there was no inhabitant in the deserted village that was his target

In the imperial capital recapture plan that the spy acquired, ht there except several a the horn flute

But, if Lux's prediction was right on the money──

(……No, it's useless even if I think about so I don't know Today just concentrate at the current operation)

Lux put e

That village he was overlooking fron of people, in exchange there was a sht in just one spot

Lux strengthened his vigilance while going down to the village

What leaked the light was from a cave inside the forest

Lux walked between countless abandoned houses and when he got near the light, strange thing happened

IiIIiiIIIIIIIIiIiI-!

「Kuh……!?」

His brain felt like it was directly thrown out of order An intense strange sound reverberated

It was the sound of horn flute that manipulated Abyss

The ht bullets were fired at Lux's feet

He reflexively swung Scale Blade and deflected the light bullet of Breath Gun slantingly ──Then, he si presence and flew to midair

An additional Cannon attack was fired at hi with a thunderous roar

He deflected it with Scale Blade once ht of three Drag-Knights in his field of vision

「As expected hero A Drag-Knight who get aht away or back away in panic but……like this even the captain ain't your match」

A young drasil's seed and got re his short bristling up forelock while leaking out a sigh mixed with a wry smile

「Don't waste your tinid Take your position just as planned」

The one who rebuked that frivolous talk was a fa the same B-Blood Wyvern

A girl with trait of wild long hair and dark brown skin, Saniya Lemiste

She was a spy of Heiburg Republic who once infiltrated the Royal Officer Acade with Hayes

Another girl wearing B-Blood Drake was standing by on her side She earing a doodled round mask Her true identity couldn't be peeked at

「Kirly, check if there is any sign of ene?」

「Uuu…… Aa」

The htly in a display of answer no

Saniya saw that and she seemed to understand She turned toward Lux once more

「Was it you guys who gathered the Abysses here?」

「Stop probing so transparently like that ruined prince You yourself, what are you doing coe by yourself while the All-Dragon Battle is going on? ──Haa?」

Saniya grinned fearlessly like that before she lifted up a horn flute dangling from her neck

Instantly a shuddering chill ran through Lux's back and he reflexively flew to the sky behind him

At the saed man assaulted from the darkness of the forest behind the three

「This thing──!」

A winged oyle

It was a forh speed mobility in the air in addition of the capability to fire feather shaped light bullet

Defeating it with the counter attack Critical Hit using Scale Blade would take some time because he needed to predict its inherent attack pattern

Lux quickly readied his Breath Gun and laid down a barrage in front of the Gargoyle

The claw tips of the Gargoyle who slipped through the barrage attacked Thewith Scale Blade──one more Abyss, a Chimera assaulted from behind his Wyvern

「Got you」

Saniya who laid the trap saw that and her lips loosened up into a grin──but, right after that The neck of the Chimera who should have taken Lux by surprise was snapped cleanly and the Abyss fell

「……What-!?」

Lux pretended to intercept the attack fro the Critical Hit on the Chi trip his sword dealt the second Critical Hit at the Gargoyle and smashed one of its hands

He pretended to get caught in Abysses' coordination and reversely created the chance for Critical Hit

Saniya and Egnid who saw that looked up to the sky with a strongly alert look

「This is a harsh joke yeah……? That guy, is he really human?」

「──I see, just because he isn't using Bahamut, doesn't mean that it will be that easy」

Right after Egnid whispered in aly once more

Abysses were going out one after another from the cave Lux who saw that took even more distance

He defeated the Chi on his part was n order to provoke Saniya and others

In order to lure the Abyss swarm to the hidden fortress north of the capital, he had to make all the Abyss came out

Therefore, Lux needed to h to defeat him

「I want to pay my debt back to you directly, but it can't be helped Become Abyss's food like this!」

Right after Saniya yelled, countless Abysses that surged out fro simultaneously

After seeing that, Lux also turned around and fleay to escape

『──Fu, I'll tell you beforehand, your tactic is less you know?』

A coon Voice came from Saniya Lux held his breath for only a moment

『You ht at theyour own horn but──it's pointless Inside that swaruy will broadcast the co area andout the sauy is alive, the effect of the horn won't be dispelled, and they also won't accept the command of other horn user』

The reason how a large amount of Abysses could be controlled in the period of several days when the horn's effect would run out in a fixed time

If they had that Abyss called Grimoire, certainly it was possible but──there was also the possibility that Saniya's statement itself was a trap

SheLux to think that it was i the horn so to lure hi the Abysses with decisive battle of brief duration

(In any case, I need to at least confirm it)

Lux evaded the attack of the countless Abysses while buying ti detour in his escape route

It was approxiical clock

In the ti when it see out, Lux strongly blew into the horn he was carrying

Strange noise ran through the area, but the e

『Now you get it that it's pointless? Then this tiht』

(──Good!)

After confir the existence of the Abyss called Griain

Lux showed the fact that 『he was carrying a horn flute and tried blowing it』 and made a reason for Saniya and others to chase after him

If Lux identified the Grimoire and defeated it, it was possible that the swarm of Abyss could be stolen by him

Therefore, Saniya's group should beto finish off Lux

Like this it was possible to carry out the plan──luring all the Abysses to the hidden fort

「USHAAAAAaaA-!」

Right after Lux decided his action's objective, the swaror

Lux slipped through the fierce attack of a great variety of Abysses using sword handling and control skill and continued to escape

Because he continued to defend, he could only mix action to hold back the eneer and several ti-Ride's frame

「Kuh……!」

His arradually shaved, he also becaetting limited

He wasn't even allowed to blink inside the offense and defense to the utmost limit That tiet forest──the hidden fort where the interception force was standing by

(……Here they come!)

Right after Lux confirhts stationed inside the fortress were already readying their respective weapon sier one after another

The fired countless flashes roared and ran through the sky, shaking the atmosphere and exploded

It becanal of the battle and the exteran

Part 2

After a total of two hours since the beginning of battle between an army of around a hundred Abyss and a mixed force at the hidden fort

In the arena at the capital, the latter half of the All-Dragon Battle──its first battle was already going to start

A lot of spectator gathered in the audience seat and the venue was filled with even fiercer enthusiasm than the day before yesterday

The three battles today would be against Heiburg Republic, Markafar Kingdom, and Wanheim Principality, in that order

Inside the waiting rooan, the selection dom with the exception of Lux was assembled

「──Because of that, Nii-san cannot appear in today's match」

When Airi talked about the detail of why Lux headed outside for the decoy mission, the selection members were shaken

The imperial capital recapture plan was also a fearso a decoy in order to lure nearly a hundred Abysses alone was also reckless, soo to help but──,

「Nii-san's wish is so that everyone won't be exposed to danger and for us to win the All-Dragon Battle」

When Airi said that to everyone, before long everyone nodded in acceptance one by one

「However this is a let-down I thought that those guys who attacked us at the academy before this would surely come out here too but──」

The naistered in the roster of their first battle against Heiburg

「As expected, Saniya and others won't on Battle Currently I cannot see that they are preparing strong elite line-up that is even stronger than them, but……」

Celis too hispering with a complicated face, perhaps because she was Saniya's for

「At any rate, we cannot let our guard down Whether inside the match, or outside it too──」

Philuffy also nodded shortly toward Krulcifer's words

Then, for the last Lisha took a deep breath and made a smile

「Then, we're going to obtain the greatest result before Lux return here! Let's go!」

Along with those words, the signal bell that infor outside the venue

The audiences' voice that was heated up due to the starting of the match could be heard until where they were

Part 3

At the same tie scale battle between the Abysses and the

After Lux led the swarhts ere tired of waiting started Cannon boed to exterminate a little under 20 percent of the enemy number

After that was an all-out war between the two sides

Thinking based on the pure battle strength, the advantage lied with the re around 80 Abysses

Abyss's strength varied depending on the size and type, and their battle strength would greatly change depending on the combination too

And then, even adom military, there were only 20, 30 percent officers ere used to fight Abyss

But, they had the terrain advantage where they were able to take cover behind a solid fortress while attacking

And then, because Lux had lured the swar at hi were now scattered froressing the fight advantageously

Lux entered inside the fortress and finished his decoy role for the moment He reported to the comuided hiround room

「As I thought, perhaps facing against a hundred was a bit reckless……」

Lux forgot because he was absorbed in the , but in actuality he only made it barely

A great number of Abysses that received a command from a horn flute once had the tendency to attack in simple pattern

Furtherh altitude If he didn't li type like that, there was no doubt that he would be done in already

「Even so──」

Lux laid down face up, staring at the ceiling while wiping the sweat on his forehead with a towel

The three Drag-Knights that included Saniya vanished since midway for some reason

There was also the unlikely chance that they got dragged into the Abysses' attack, but he didn't understand the reason

Even if by chance they were heading to the capital by the with just the three of them

(But, why is it I wonder? It feels like, we are overlooking so important──)

The recoil fro liberated froue to steal Lux's ability to think

His consciousness was falling as though getting sucked into darkness

Part 4

『Next, the second battle today The in The participants of the first !』

When the new kingdo a Drake prompted the participants, the representative froht walked toward the arena first

Markafar Kingdom had a wide territory, but perhaps because there was no Ruin existing in their territory, their Drag-Knight's nurturing wasn't that advanced

Therefore, deciding that they would be able to take advantage in the pair battle using things like cooperation and so on, it was decided that in the first one-on-one battle Lisha would couard

They obtained victory froht win, so they had some leeway for this battle

「Now then, I'll win and create the momentum」

Lisha exited the waiting roo-Ride, Tiamat

When she entered the passage that connected to the ring's entrance, a figure clad in black robe ran in a straight line toward her

「Lisha-sama!」

Airi as si room to look at the situation saw that and yelled reflexively

「H?」

「Eh……?」

There was nothing behind Lisha and Tiamat who turned around No, Airi saw that the moment the black robed shadow touched Tia into air

「N, no, it's nothing…… It was just, ination」

「……Strange girl If it's about Lux, then he is surely fine」

Lisha showed a se toward the venue

But, Airi rushed through the stair toward the audience seat still with uneasy look

『Both sides are in position, so the first doin Battle, Start!』

Finally the match started

The vanguard of Markafar Kingdo-Ride Wyvern

As long as there was no large incident, the victory of Lisha as a user of Divine Drag-Ride was unshakeable

Lisha herself also sported a composed smile, and when she was about to press the opponent as forced into a one-sided defensive battle──,

「……Wha-!?」

Her expression instantly stiffened and agitation eed on her face

『Oh, is there sohness Lizsharte is──……-!?』

The announcer Drag-Knight saw that and tilted his head Lisha's Tiaht after that

The cannon that was charged until maximum was aimed at the audience seat that was in a coer was suddenly pulled

DOUNN!

The cannon roared and a single beah the air

The defense Drag-Knight in front of the audience seat was shocked while blocking it with his strongest barrier

Although he barely blocked the attack completely, scared voice rose from the audience seat behind him

「Wa, wait-!? I' any──!?」

In contrast with Lisha's bewildered words, Tiay once more

And then, it ignored the the Drag-Knight of Markafar Kingdohtest deviation──toward the audience seat that was fired at just now

「──Why!? Why is Tiamat's control is──!? STOOOPPP……!」

Lisha screamed At the same time a scream rose from the whole venue

The defense Drag-Knight was still unbalanced and was unable to deploy the next barrier

The moment the cannon with the maximum output was fired once ht spread in front of Lisha

「Divine Gate」

Celis's Lindwurm appeared before her eyes and deployed the maximum output barrier

Celis was blown backward fro it, but the attack was so occurred

In addition, the ar Cannon fired its freezing bullet and instantly froze Tias

With that──Tiamat was completely suppressed

『Ho, how could this be!? The Drag-Ride of her highness Lizsharte suddenly raed However, this──』

Right after the commentary voice was raised,

「Be silent! This match is suspended because of the trouble's occurrence!」

The referee official landed down on the ring together with several Drag-Knights

After that, Lisha's Tiaaphone function, a forment was handed down

「It's deemed as an attack that intentionally aimed at the audience! The second do!」

Great commotion spread like ripple from the audience seat and people raised their voice

「Is her highness still unable to handle Divine Drag-Ride that it raed at that kind of time?」

「The aimed audience seat, the VIPs froht? Perhaps this will become international problem──」

「Was she trying to kill the……」

「──That's wrong-!? I didn't do it! Such thing, absolutely──!」

Krulcifer gently put her hand on the shoulder of Lisha who lost her self-control and shouted with tre voice

「Let it pass for now No ht now──it's still」

Hearing those calm and serious words, Lisha lowered down her hand that was reaching to empty air

That becadom's second battle

Part 5

「Wha, what happened!? Why is fire from inside──uwah!?」

「Re, retreat! They infiltrated until inside this fortress already!」

「Idiot! Retreat you say!? There are still thirty Abyss re there! No e can run away to the capital at this rate!」

「You are the idiot! We cannot maintain the front line now that the formation has crumbled this far! At this rate it will be total annihilation!」

There was the loud bo-Ride's propulsion device from above

Furthermore the scream of the soldiers was mixed with the roar of the Abysses Lux who only just woke up instantly recognized the graveness of the situation

He quickly took the pocket watch that he put on the stand beside the pillow and checked the time

It was less than two hour since Lux's consciousness cut off

He put strength into his lower feet and stood up and took a deep breath

Strength returned to his body, but under this ele miss would be permitted

He opened the door froilance When he tried to cliht sight of a wounded person who seemed to roll down from the stair

「Get a hold of yourself! What happened!?」

When Lux rushed to the person in panic and lifted up his body, the soldierexpression and talked with a hoarse voice

「Re, retreat quickly! We were tricked Our strategy was leaked to those guys right froht the Abyss well at first, but those guys……the rebel army that suddenly appeared from inside the fortress, attacked us──」

「……The rebel army? How?」

In the idom's spy obtained, the rebel ar to the plan

「I don't know But there is only one thing that is clear It's already impossible to defend this fortress anymore……」

Lux instinctually grasped the true situation

The fact that Lux heard from the consuls──the rebel ar by at a far away base It was a trap froht in

(However──it's only natural)

If a great number of Abyss were found to exist near the capital, anyone would have their attention diverted there

In order to intercept a hundred Abyss in this hidden fortress, sixty percent of the full strength of new kingdom's army was invested here

The situation wasthan expected

「Please hide underground and retreat when there is chance I'」

「Wa, wait! What are you planning to do!?」

「I'll lure away the re Abysses and the rebel army somehow for sure」

「Sto, stop acting rashly……!? Such thing, is imposs──!」

Ignoring the soldier who tried to stop him, Lux summoned his Wyvern

He quickly equipped it and flew, got out of the fortress that was on fire, and headed to the sky in order to grasp the situation

What he found there was the swar over the fortress while destroying it and──around two hundred rebel army behind them

Until that point it ithin Lux's expectation, but an unexpected face was a that army

「Hoo, it has been a long time──Lux O little brother of my best friend Abel Arcadia」

Lux unconsciously held his breath after seeing the Drag-Knight inside the EX Wyvern flying in the front as though leading that army

「You are……if I reht──」

Ragreed Forus

Five years ago he escaped fro and colluded with the military division thereThe supreme commander of the rebel army

Once at Arcadia Empire, he was the best friend of Lux's older brother, the sixth ireat noble faed to becouard

His personality and ideology were dyed with the same color as the old empire, he schemed to put a false accusation on Philuffy as still a child at that time, to Lux he was an opponent that he had a tie with

The subordinates behind hion Voice so that they didn't interfere

「Strange fate really does exist We who have relation as someone who similarly spend childhood time in the imperial court are now reunited like this as fellow eneist you know? Black Hero」

Ragreed sent a condescending gaze at Lux and grinned

It seemed that he already heard about Black Hero and Bahamut from that Hayes

「Since that tiot a hunch even as a child This guy is absolutely──going to be an eneainst me」

He said with an annoyed tone before pointing his middle sized Blade toward Lux

「But, in the end it'sto certainly fall I will succeed the will of the old e to the throne of this country as the new emperor」

「──Pitiful person」

「Wha……?」

Ragreed knitted his eyebrows slightly in respond to Lux's cold gaze toward him

「Don't you understand that you are only being used as pawn by Heiburg's ist? By the ti uys ordered to you Are you planning to beco like a ruler because your eyes are blinded by greed?」

「……Fuh, fufufu KukukukukukukuHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!」

When Lux pointed that out, Ragreed covered his face with his right hand while laughing loudly

「You haven't changed at all huh You, are you stupid or are you idiot──or are you drunk?」

Ragreedon his own head tap tap with his finger

「A propped up figurehead? A cloho is only acting? So what? Isn't that just fine? I will be able to wield the authority of this country publicly as the e I'll be able to toy with this country's fortune and foolish mass, and act as tyrannical as I pleased After all I'm a nition of other──I don't have any interest to anything like that from the start It's all fine if I can just live easy and make you all submit」

Lux listened to that and let out a sh

This reat noble fao even inside the ilier than any kind of Abyss

「──Only you, I absolutely won't allow to do that 」

Lux quietly took a breath, then he looked forith a chilly gaze

And then he took a stance with his Scale Blade positioned horizontally at the sareed also moved his EX Wyvern

「Kukuku! You sure can talk huh ruined prince! ──Then, I'll !」

He fleing a sharp curve while saying that and unleashed a slash from his rush toward Lux

It was an attack that made use of EX Wyvern's mobility, but that was all there was to it

Lux saw it and then reacted He intercepted using Critical Hit by means of Scale Blade

With that the opponent's attack power should be reflected back into a single point and destroyed that weapon and armor but──

BACHIIN!

Instantly a dazzling light burst at the point of contact and both sides were blown backward

The Critical Hit should have been executed perfectly, but the EX Wyvern was unharmed

No, rather than that──

(The Drag-Ride's ed?)

There wasn't just a powerful repelling force just now, right before Lux blocked the attack, the eneed subtly

It happened in the ti-Ride was only controlled normally