Volume 10 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Episode 4 - The Steel Witch
–
Part 1
「Ki, kill! One hostage is enough! Attack hiuah!?」
An officer of Heiburg athered force let out his voice But right at that instant, a great sword cut up his shoulder
The Force Core there that was the vital part of Drag-Ride was sround
「Wha-……!?」
The co The reitated
Lux didn'tdoo Drag-Knighs ere around Philuffy
Their shoulder armor was smashed up and the Blade in their hand danced in the air
「Fi, fire-! Stop hie of Breath Gun!」
「No wait!? That guy's surrounding──!?」
Around Lux as driving Bahaers and Blades were floating
Thetroops were perplexed, those weapons were fired to all direction with speed like bullet
「──Linker Burst」
The special armament that was loaded inside Bahamut
Nors like for closer things toward the user's hand, but the Over Lith which could throw objects with high speed
Heiburg troops that becae instead broke their for
「H but──I wondeer, how long you will be able to keep up that output?」
On the other hand, while the exter speed, Rosa was for the tactic for after this
Rosa had also obtained about the information of Over Limit itself
It was a double-edged sword that realized the -Ride's output by several ti the output of the Drag-Ride to avoid burden to the user
In that case, it was convenient if Lux was spending strength to defeat her subordinates
That full poouldn't continue for long
The normal option to take here was to wait until the opponent ran out of breath and his Drag-Ride got dispelled from that, but she had to implement the best plan for that to happen
『──Infor down Lux Arcadia Don't be scared, the guy's strength won't last long』
Rosa gave her subordinates instruction once on Voice At the same time, she herself also deployed bait
She used the Twelve Vice that ether with illusion ability of Sin Phanto unmanned drones that acted as her body doubles
She made her doubles to assault the back of Lux as crushi+ng his ene firepower──but, at that instant the drone was cut apart into pieces
Quick Shot── the application of time acceleration from Bahamut's Divine Raiment
The Drag-Ride's four lis, head part, and then even its Force Core, the drone was destroyed to the lith
「So its weak point is seen through already eeh……」
Expression vanished for the first tiraveness tinged her voice
Gorynych's Divine Rai-Ride and rearranged them
In other words, even if a Drag-Ride was destroyed, this Divine Rairee
But, if even the Force Core that functioned to power up the Drag-Ride was also destroyed, the Drag-Ride wouldn't be able to receive order and it became impossible to reconstruct and repair it in the middle of battle
「──However, I wonder how long that strength can continue?」
But, even though she was standing at disadvantage, Rosa was composed
In the state of Over Li-Ride's function would be reinforced drastically in all respects, but the backlash froreat
Although the co of Reload on Fire was also ascended until more than ten times, if Lux used it consecutively his limit would arrive soon
No, if he used his Divine Raiment two more times, he would surely self-destruct immediately
That prediction was correct, but mistaken
「Ru, RUUUuUUUUNN! THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN WIN AGAINST A MONSTER LIKE THIS!」
「WE ARE GOING TO GET KILLED, RETREAT! RETREAT!」
The battle force of fifty Drag-Rides was reduced to half in less than ten-odd seconds Even Rosa's double was carved apart into pieces
The rean to run away like baby spiders scattering away
For awhat had happened
But, she immediately showed a wicked expression and scolded her subordinates
「Looks likeaway in front of the enemy is a sin heavier than capital crime you know? If it's now I'll still be──」
「Who cares! We are going to get killed before that!」
「It's impossible already, even you aren't a match for him see!? I'll escape until outside the country!」
「Wha──!?」
Even so her subordinates didn't stop and continued to escape Seeing that, Rosa was shaking in agitation
Seeing the good chance, the Triad landed down on the central plaza and Sharis called out in panic
「Lux-kun! Sorry we are late! We will take care of o defeat Lady Rosa! I'll go take a look at missy Calensia's situation, after that ill reinforce you!」
「Yes Please leave this side to us」
「Lux-chi, be careful!」
Next Noct and TIllfur quickly rushed in Noct lifted up Philuffy while Tillfur carried Stefa They then retreated from that place
「──Please」
Lux shortly replied, at the same time he skated Bahamut in the air and slashed at Rosa
Quick Draw──the attack cut off the shoulder of the ar the Scythe and instantly destroyed the Force Core there
If it ith the super output of Over Lih it was a slash that was specialized for speed, it still could cut through the thick barrier and armor
But, the figure of the pilot Rosa vanished at the same time when she was cut like it was only natural
It was an unmanned drone created by Sin Phanto drones were eight
Lux was reducing the nu his opponent
「──Those useless, diave those bunches were too lukewarm」
「You're mistaken, Lady Rosa」
Lux was destroying evenher
His voice was cold and monotone
Pierced by that eye glint that consisted from only hostility that was condensed and sharpened to the extrehtly
「I wondeer, what do you mean?」
「It's because you are ruling over them with only fear Human can be made to obey easily if one use fear──but at the sath of that authority will also crumble」
「────That scene of destruction with your full power, you are saying you did that intentionally?」
In exchange of an answer, Lux smashed another drone that was rode by Rosa's double once more
Just now, Lux displayed an overwhel that could be taken advantage of
Even though there was still the troops' ruler, Rosa was still waiting in reserve, why did Lux unleashed his full pohen he wassubordinates and body doubles?
He intentionally th from Over Limit to be in full display before their eyes and unnerved the ene spirit
Even though if all of theht be able tothereat, the subordinates were cornered to escape
「Yeah And then it's over──I won't forgive you anymore」
When Lux continued to cut down the sixth drones, he declared coldly
But, Rosa who should be cornered even further grinned fearlessly
「Is that soo? Then it can't be helped I'll also stop trying to capture you alive」
The veil of rain and wind that was hitting the body inside the darkness
When it weakened for a iant armor
Over there, existed a strange shape that was completely different from until just now
「So you made your comrades into bait and formed that」
A giant dragon walking on two legs, with a size that -Ride
That form used the real Gorynych as the base where its whole arthened
Not to s, two ar in thickness due to the combination
Gorynych's special armament──the unmanned drones of the Twelve Vice should have been destroyed until a state where it was ienerate, that hy no matter how Gorynych's main frame combined with the Twelve Vice, this size didn't match the calculation
In other words──
「Thaat's right My Tartaros Fra-Ride and reconstruct it into my own armor Those useless subordinates, at the very least they should become nourishment for me, don't you think sooo?」
Rosa who recovered her corinned and looked down on Lux
She su from all direction and to exhaust Lux
It was for her trump card where in the end she would incorporate the leftover arthened herself like this
「Tartaros Fraht and let you die a noble death fitting for a hero Of course, after you die──, you will be treated as traitor thoough!」
Immediately after that, several wheels that cas rotated with terrific power──and accelerated
That giant armor that had increased in volued with an explosive speed
「U──OOOOOOH!」
Lux swung Baha it head on
He slashed with a counter to cut Gorynych's fist that was like a huge rock, but when his sword hit, a shockith terrible impact pushed him at the same time and Lux was blown backward
「Gu, ah……!?」
「How fooliiish Only idiot will put on air like a hero」
On the other hand, Rosa wasn't shaken at all She attacked further with all out bo the Cannons that were installed on her whole armor
Lux dodged the stor distance in order to rally himself
The power output of Gorynych that had entered Devil Machia Mode was almost equal with Over Limit
But, Lux was one-sidedly pushed back was the influence of the weight difference that was more than ten times over
Especially because Gorynych was a land battle type, when they hit each other directly while stopping in place, the difference in stability between both sides was remarkable
But, even after understanding that he was at disadvantage, there was no way Lux could relax his offense here
Lux changed his trajectory once reat shile putting his weight on it
But, it was deflected without difficulty by the thick armor and multiple barriers
Even though they were both using Drag-Ride with high power output, there was a clear difference in their reserve energy Lux realized Rosa's trick
「This too──is within your calculation since the start?」
Rosa wasn't as exhausted as Lux surely because in the middle she received support from her subordinates' Drakes
The special equipy to the other party
In other words, right after the reinforceth of several people portion from them
On the other hand, Lux's body that had been worked too hard until noas nearing its limit
Surely he would run out of strength and his armor dispelled in less than two minutes because he couldn't endure the burden
If that happened, everything would be over
Whether it was the new kingdom after Babel was conquered, and also Philuffy as lethally wounded, and also the Triad who came here
「It's unfortunate buut──it seeood cannot triuainst me with the correct path, this is your limit You don't have both the sense and ability to dirty your hand with evil You are just spouting the nonsense of the loser and the k」
Rosa continued as thoughtheir body
On the other hand Lux wielded his great sword and earnestly searched for the clue to breakthrough this situation
But, no matter froh barrier and armor
「At that ti like this I thiink When I killed father──」
Rosato herself It was unclear whether she did that because she intended to act co
「With the death of the Dark Marketeer Hayes, the -awaited chance for Granhide family to take over the ht……」
「You, killed him?」
Lux asked with a stifled voice
Rosa's ia
「It was fuun When that reat noble and tried to discipline htly state and then stopped breathing── Of course, the crime was treated as the work of a thief who sneaked inside With that I was convinced In the end no one can notice the truth Even if they stay alive, the likes of sheep will only get preyed on Those who can skillfully use evil is the strongest」
Rosa also h she was drunk into her own creed
The huge ar with one attack was striking toward Bahamut
「Kuh!?」
Lux neutralized the punch with a counter, but a fierce impact exploded in reaction
「With this strength I will start by stealing Babel and the new kingdo at Avalon, I will stand on even further height with the power there Not just the current tiny Heiburg, I will put everything in this world under my rule!」
All the Cannon ed with light and they fired consecutively
Lux barely dodged by using his Blade as shi+eld He glared at Rosa
「Like that, you intend to rile over soain? In order to do that, you intend to hurt those who stand in your way!? The same like that era of the empire that I lived at──」
Rosa only laughed even against Lux's objection that was filled with intimidation
「Sayonaraa, you sore loser who pretend to be a hero Nothing can be changed with your belief You cannot protect anything Accept your defeat and die」
Rosa grinned with a belittling look
The ed with heat as though it got burned
–
『No matter how much resolve you tried have, you believe that 「country」 and 「people」 are so precious That hy you could speak of a pipe drea a place of dialogue』
–
Those were the words of Lux's elder brother──Fugil whoLux as trying to save even the people of the old empire as many as possible and made a place to talk with each other
Those words were replayed at the back of his mind, which turned into a violent emotion that burned his heart
That's right──there is no other choice but to do it
(She is the same like his majesty the emperor and Hayes──an evil beyond salvation that has to be killed I can only kill her here!)
Lux resolved his will, at the sa stamina
Even after he was using Over Limit, this Rosa was a formidable enemy
But, nothe way to break the opposition
When the ar to creak was distorting even more conspicuously, he moved
「A rae──, is it? That's finee I'll scatter apart that flower petals faster than you can ruin yourself disgracefully!」
Rosa flashed a wicked smile and pulled back the fist of the Devil Machia Mode She unleashed an attack that was like a battering ram
Matching his ti with that, Lux also unleashed the power he stored
「Recoil Burst-……!」
「──Wha-!?」
Body control operation and mind control operation, the command to suppress and the command to unleash
By executing two kinds of simultaneous control operation that ran counter to each other, it suppressed the starting point of the attack and gathered strength until the limit
One of Lux's hidden techniques that produced destructive power more than ten time the normal directly hit Gorynych's Devil Machia Mode
With the fist of the eneht of his attack was transmitted in chain toward the armored arm's wrist, elbow, and then shoulder That arether cracked and burst open
「Impossible, don't tell me──!?」
Rosa's both eyes snapped open in shock and she trembled
The table was turned in one move
If there was soine the scene that would unfold next, but immediately after that──
「……Juust joking」
The Steel Witch grinned as though everything went as she planned
The Devil Machia Mode that should be pulverized into pieces with one attack
But, the chain of destruction didn't reach until the very armor of Gorynych's main frame It was still unharmed
And then, the ar reconstructed once more
「You intentionally disassembled the armor ahead to disperse the impact──is that what you did?」
「You can feel proud This Devil Machia Mode is tuned to destruct its outer shell autoree If the attack's power is dispersed to theit, the force that Gorynych's main body receive will drop sharply」
It was an attack of full power fro-Ride control
Rosa even dealt against a special move that she should have seen for the first time and cornered Lux
Rosa treated evil as right and she was convinced of that as the proof of ability, but she had also investigated thoroughly his strength as Drag-Knight
Therefore, in the exchange of tactic just now, she should be the one who cahtly──but
「-……!? What is this? My body──cannot move!?」
「Reload on Fire──the moment you disasse of time on Gorynych」
Reload on fire compressed the phenoth to decrease sharply until a fragth was unleashed in the next five seconds
The Divine Raithened by Over Li to be increased until th to swell up abnormally
Rosa was also being vigilant against that, but she didn't think that the Divine Raiment would be applied to hers rather to Lux himself
The ti Rosa was decelerated The disassembled armor didn't return back to normal
Lux didn't overlook that opening when the armor was disconnected and slashed
「──End Action」
After applying full power Reload on Fire at Rosa and her movement stopped, Lux's Blade struck from above her barrier A hundred of consecutive attacks without a singleup two kind of control operation repeatedly were driving into Gorynych's armor
「Hahh! No ht slashes, you won't be able to break -Ride!」
Currently no matter how many times Gorynych was hit by Lux's attacks, its barrier wasn't reduced
But, Rosa didn't notice that she was already checkmated
「It's over already for you, Lady Rosa」
Lux indifferently told the fearlessly grinning Rosa
One of three hidden techniques, End Action was finished in just four seconds Lux hovered in the air while breathing hard
「Your Drag-Ride isn't receiving dae I because of Reload on Fire's effect that sharply decreased the flow of time」
In other words, the impact of a hundred consecutive attacks until now that was concentrated onto just a single point, all of that attack poould flood in all at once
Rosa noticed that fact and her expression distorted in despair The effect of Reload on Fire arrived at the five seconds of the later half
「──N, OoOoOOOOOoOOOOoOOOOOO-!」
A shriek
Rosa was sent flying along with Gorynych backward She vanished froht in a speed that human eye couldn't follow
At the sa-Rides that were severed from Tartaros Frame's control were all scattered around on her trajectory
「Haa, haa……, guh……aaa!」
Baha still for a while on that spot
The muscle joints of his whole body ih his whole body was burned
The cold rain robbed his very little re stamina A temptation to just faint like this assaulted him
「Not, yet……!」
But, Lux pulled out the Sword Device of Wyvern and used it to stab his thigh He awakened his consciousness with pain
Rosa's combat potential should have been neutralized already with an alet away from here
He more or less calculated the direction where he sent Rosa flying He airound beside the underground market
He ht up and restrained her
「U, guh……!?」
Lux coughed heavily When his hand pressed on his ot stuck on his palm It made him felt an intense exhaustion
It was a paper thin victory
The multiple layers of piled up evil tactics that made use of every method effectively
And it didn't stop there, she had also accu that surpassed the coht
It was just as ruon Paladins, Rosa boasted a true strength that orthy for the na thatwithin her palm
If Lux didn't use Over Limit within his muddy memory, he would be the one defeated without a doubt
(How did I, becoain? No, actually, from where did I know about the method to release Over Limit?)
If he knew the method, then why? Why did he become unable to remember it?
Lux harbored even
「Right now isn't the tih-!」
He took deep breathwouldn't calm down
Also, he couldn't even suht now
「If I don't defeat Rosa, if she get away fro── Philuffy, Stefa-san, the people of this country too, everyone will──」
When Lux was about to fall on that spot, an arht him
Lux was taken aback and held his breath In front of hiirl
「You are……?」
Under the heavy rain, a girl with peculiar braided hairstyle was riding a Drag-Ride
But, he had seen that androgynous looks before
A pain ran behind Lux's eyes sharply, his field of vision was obstructed by a sandstorm
The obstruction vanished instantly When his consciousness became clear, Lux realized as the boy before him
The one who supported the collapsing Lux while wearing EX Wyvern was Coral
「I'm sorry I'm late, Lux-kun I was in coon Voice, they are all safe Philuffy-san too, it looks like she is heavily injured, but her life isn't in danger I was told」
「That's, great……」
His breathing eak and frail, even so Lux made a relieved smile
「I received special mission from Vanheion Marauder in the underground ht them in the act, so I could send evidence to the world alliance But right now your condition is the concern We should also retreat for the moment」
「Not, yet If we don't finish off Lady Rosas, this country will──」
「It's better to not force yourself You cannot use Drag-Ride anymore If I let you die here, I won't have any face to meet your comrades」
「I'm fine, that's e have to pursue Lady Rosa here── If it's just Wyvern, I'll be able to use it after resting for a bit more」
「……I get it」
Coral sighed Even so he obeyed Lux's instruction
He lifted Lux with his EX Wyvern Then he faced the ene
He fleard the et bloay to
–
Part 2
「Gefuh, gopuh…… Ue」
On the other hand, Rosa who got the flow of her time sharply decreased by Reload on Fire and then struck by concentrated slashes fro that tiround just as Lux predicted She voround
Fortunately because the direction she was sent flying at was a forest, the trees became cushi+on and she avoided the fate of instant death, but not just the are were broken She was on the verge of death
「……Why, how? This, shouldn't happen…… For me who carry out evil to the extre──」
Rosa twisted her body with gasping breath while her blood soaked body was tre
The rainy night reminded Rosa of her past
In the night of that rainy day, theher died
The King of Vices killed him
Everything should be over with that
At that time she should have stood──in the side of the ruler