Volume 12 Chapter 6 (1/2)

Episode 6 - Marauder and Demise

–

Part 1

「What is this, just what in the world is going on!?」

「Calet out of the building and wear your Drag-Ride!」

Tillfur was raising a loud voice in bewilder her voice

The Acadeht

In front of the girls ere enjoying the passing night of holy night festival, hell manifested suddenly

Various Abysses suddenly appeared inside the girl dor fiercely

It was an abnormality that visited without any advance notice

Bearing Soffice's case in ainst surprise attack froon Marauder, but as expected they couldn't completely hide their anxiety

「Where is Noct!? Have her grasp the situation around here with Drake's radar and request Syvalles to sortie! At this rate we are going to get annihilated!」

Sharis sed the screa to squeeze out froave an order with a firmness that befitted her leader sstatus

But, the situation orsening by the seconds

Finally the Abysses bit a hole into a rooirl inside

「……-!? Stop! Let go of her!」

「It's i-Ride!」

Sharis pulled out her Sword Device and she was going to slash, but Tillfur clung on her and stopped her

Sharis bit her lower lips hard until it bleed Then she went out to the entrance of atriuirl dormitory's corridor and drew out her Sword Device

「──Coon of crest that is the symbol of power Obey my sword and soar, EX Wyvern!」

「──Coon that sy, EX Wyrm!」

Both of the-Ride that they were barely able to use due to Lisha's tuning

The energy consueous for protracted battle, but in order to overturn the current hopeless situation, they wanted as much power as possible even if just for a little more

「Noct! Where are you!? Is AIir-chan safe!?」

「……Yes She is safe I secured her」

Sharis and Tillfur were relieved hearing the familiar voice and turned around

But, the ht, they froze

「No,ct?」

「Airi, chan……?」

It was Noct there

But, the girl's features were obviously different from the usual her

There was no trace at all of her expression that was taciturn but intelligent Her face was tinged with e like pendulum

She wasn't wearing Drake, but black tentacles were growing fro a parasite in her

And then, the girl earing unifor in her arirl who should be her roommate and her best friend

「What's wrong? Where is Lux-san? Let's gather everyone quickly If they become like this then──nobody else will be killed」

「──U, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

Cold sweat oozed out fro with a shriek

Some kind of Abyss acted as parasite in Noct and broke her heart

Lux's little sister Airi was killed

She was beyond help already

They didn't have any face to look at them anymore

She would have to deal with her important childhood friend who had stayed by her side as servant until noith her own hand

Ruled by that despair and resent her impulse

「What are you doing Sharis? Please return to your senses」

「Stop! Stop it! I don't want! So like this──!」

Sharis swung down her EX Wyvern's Blade as though to reject the reality

However it didn't cut down Noct's neck So deflected it from the side

「──Stop it both of you! That is a fake!」

A faint green light entered their sight along with a sharp voice

『……Perception, change』

Right after that, the field of vision of Sharis and Tillfur warped flabbily and the surrounding returned into the corridor of girl dormitory that was still pristine

「Wha-……!?」

「Wha, what's going on!?」

The sight until now that was like a nighted and returned into the proper world

Even the room that looked like it was broken into now actually only had its wall dented a little

And then, Noct as in front of them didn't look odd anywhere except that she had her Sword Device drawn out while taking a stance

「What……happened?」

Noct also muttered with a dumbfounded tone

When they noticed and looked closer, although the warning sound of the bell tower could be heard, the girl dormitory was exactly like normal

「You all had illusion showed to you Your mind was eroded by a special sound wave」

Beside the Triad ere facing each other, there was Coral with his Sword Device unsheathed when they noticed

He earing the military uniform of Vanheim Principality with his hair braided like usual His expression was tense

His appearance was familiar just like before, but one of his eyes looked faintly shi+ning in yellow green color

「Mind erosion with sound……? Then, the scene just now──」

「Yes it was the work of the great denarok that existed in the Garden It's heading here fro to crush this Academy in this chance──no, don't tell me……」

Coral's words halted in the ht

「Then, all the students who are affected by this sound wave are dangerous? If we don't head to intercept the Ragnarok, ill get affected by illusion again later?」

Coral nodded with a serious gaze at Sharis's question

「For now plug your ears If you don't try to get out froe can be prevented I will call Lux-kun and the others to externarok, so you three, please save the Academy's students and staffs Perhaps because a lot of the students are sleeping, there is still no victi from the sound of battle after this, then friendly fire will be increasing」

「N, NOOoOOOO-……! Abyss, Abyss is inside the dormitory──!?」

A shrill screa paja around her Sword Device

The Triad iirl suddenly flopped down in the middle

「──Good grief Even though I heard that the holy night is a time to be quiet」

「Wait, Yoruka!?」

Tillfur raised a surprised voice A girl in only her underwear appeared from the other side of the corridor

She was in a state where ed due to injury while one ar were fixed in place with splint, but she knocked down the girls attacking her with the cane supporting her body

「It seems that thanks to the Baptism that was applied into my left eye, I am able to resist the illusion Aa, there is no need to worry about the girl I only made her faint」

Even though Yoruka herself was seriously injured and couldn't wear Drag-Ride, she subdued the girl as ra due to the illusion in a flash

The height of that skill and the precision of her attack caused the Triad to be in admiration once more

「Then, it will be fine if the four of us make all the students here to sleep correct?」

When Yoruka talked to Coral as sifor a bit

「Yes──everyone, I'll leave it to you」

After saying only that, Coral sheathed his sword and ran outside

At the saave the order

「Noct! Call out to the main force of Syvalles with your Drake! As soon as you detect the presence of Lux and others, ill leave the Ragnarok to theo!」

「Yes Let's hurry」

「Rooogerr」

「My my, me too isn't it」

When the three and Yoruka nodded, the mission started at the same time

Noct worn her Drake in order to convey the fact they obtained from Coral

She confir radar while calling out to Syvalles on Voice, then quickly there was one reaction

–

Part 2

「Ah, AAaAH, AH, DIEEEEEEEE ABYSSS──! Geuh!?」

Pashi+-!, dazzling flash of lightning burst in the courtyard at night A guard Drag-Knight wearing Drag-Ride fell silent

Celis was easily neutralizing several people while frowning froon Voice

「So it was like that, this sound that feels like splitting the head and the illusion are……」

The guards raan to strike each other, so Celis wearing Lindwur strike

Of course Celis was also under the influence of the , she somehow maintained her sanity

『Once you finished there, please head to the practice ground right away Thinking fro-Rides──Iblis is there』

「Understood I also cannot hold on that long As soon as everyone gathered──」

「There is no need for that, Celistia」

The instant Celis responded to Noct, a presence arrived beside her

It was Lisha wearing Tia in the wind

In addition beside her was Krulcifer wearing Fafnir and also Philuffy wearing Typhon on the ground

A few seconds later, Lux wearing Baha EX Wyvern also arrived

Excluding Yoruka as unable to participate due to her injury froathered here right now

「It see with Soffice were taken away by the enenarok'swithout defeating Iblis first, but like this on't be able to approach it」

Lux was on tenterhooks because his little sister was taken away once more, but if he lost his calm here it would be just what the enemy wanted

Thus he suppressed his eaze to reality

「Right If we approach closer than this, then it's likely even with our ears plugged on't be able to resist This Iblis, it will also launch ht? We will be obliterated altogether without some kind of countermeasure」

Krulcifer also agreed with Lux

Although it was only by a hair's breadth, Syvalles had defeated several Ragnarok until now, but as expected they wouldn't be able to avoid a bitter fight even with their full strength

Just facing a single Ragnarok was always accompanied with the risk of total annihilation

「But, there is no tiressing to so our way then No, even if that's not the case, we have to defeat the eneht now!」

「Yeah, it will be no good if it get away to Cross Field! A lot of citizens will get mixed up!」

「……Yes We have, to stop it here」

Celis's statereement from Lisha and Philuffy

But, while they were unable to find an effective method, Coral suddenly took out four knives from somewhere

「Everyone, take this」

Coral threw the knives that were put inside holder to Lux and others Then following Coral instruction they unsheathed the knives

Then──a blade with its edge shi+ning in seven colors appeared

「This is──Elixir!?」

The secret medicine of Ruin that liberated the hidden ability of human and turned them into Nocturnal

But, the compensation for that would be a backlash to the body if the poas overused It was a double-edged sword

「Why……do you have this?」

Krulcifer asked with a suspicious face Coral thought for a bit in respond and then answered

「……I confiscated theon Marauder in Vanhei on them just in case, but now there is no other choice than to use them The amount of Elixir in thee, but if it's just for around ten-odd ainst mental pollution──supposedly」

Even if for exae would happen at the surface of their body, they would still be reluctant to use it

Lux and co were all hesitating, but hearing the roar of Ragnarok once more, they resolved themselves

「……It doesn't look like there is ti will be over」

「Yosh, we're going to do this!」

Krulcifer sighed, while Lisha also resolved herself and agreed

Everyone except Coral stabbed the tip of the knife on their skin Then the liquid of seven colors permeated inside and intense heat enveloped their body

「Let's go everyone! The target is the Ragnarok in the practice ground, this so called Iblis! Fight froet done in by the mental pollution! I and Krulcifer will take care of firepower!」

Lisha took a deep breath and took command with a loud voice

Krulcifer's Fafnir had the sniper rifle Freezing Cannon, while Lisha's Tiamat possessed a main cannon with super firepower Seven Heads as special armament

Because they would receive more influence of mental pollution the closer they were to the ene role to those two

At the sa-Ride and started to move siround and Iblis's figure ca out in front of them

「……What-!?」

Lisha and others who conarok were taken aback and came to a stop

Not letting go of that opening, a single Drag-Ride leaped out from inside the darkness and approached before their eyes

Clad in Divine Drag-Ride Asp that possessed four legs and claws, it was Dragon Marauder's division coistri

「This woman-!? Where did she appear from!?」

Lisha's eyes snapped open in surprise while she barely deployed a reinforced barrier and blocked the steel claw attack

Beside her Krulcifer quickly intercepted using her sniper rifle, but Drakkhen leaped backward and escaped

When Lisha and others who lost sight of her figure were perplexed, Drakkhen had instantly round

「──No That's a dom's Academy raid force, ladies of Syvalles」

When theto chase after her, a thick male voice came

「We didn't appear here We aiting, for you all to come here」

Thanks to the torches that were prepared here and there in the practice ground, they could see the figure of three Drag-Knights at the deepest area within the swarm of Abyss

「You three, if I'm not mistaken──」

「Sorry for the late introduction princess of new kingdoon division commander, Gatouhan Barres」

A large man with tanned skin, muscular body build, and masculine impression first introduced himself like that

「Sion division commander, Vine Hachettes」

「Siistri I'uys from that time」

Further the three, and the woe dressed like bandit also introduced themselves

The group of Drag-Knights who had repeatedly held skirard to Ruins until now

These three ere the ether

「Just when I thought that the bunches ere sneaking around until now are finally conarok and Abysses As expected huh, don't you even have courage to fight properly?」

Lisha glared at the three and provoked them Drakkhen responded with a wry smile

「Royal family member don't know about mercenary work huh For us, result is what matter What's more when it come to a scra in honest way is foolish right?」

「Besides──you all are strong The speed of your growth is also not common I believe that this much suppleht you all you know?」

After the boy called Vine said that indifferently, Celis readied her Lance and gazed at the opponents

「Praise fronarok, I will listen to your story from inside the prison」

「Dealing with us while taking out Grand Force fro Iblis's mental pollution to the whole Acade us to participate in this battle……is it correct to consider that as your plan?」

In addition Krulcifer also stated that while overlooking the area from the sky

「Nice conjecture Incidentally we are planning to catch you alive After all Key's Supervisor is a tool that ht be still necessary」

Gatouhan grinned fearlessly Lisha snapped and yelled

「Enough with the tedious talk, we've got no ti to hold back!」

The tension was slowly rising At thatof hostilities would start, Philuffy as staying quiet until now muttered quietly

「Lu-chan, is gone How?」

'Now that she ly

When they noticed, the figure of Lux and Bahaether with them had vanished completely

「How ht be related so isn't iiit?」

Drakkhen's grin that was uard, but right after that Coral quietly spoke

「There is one thing that I want to ask to you three The one who kidnapped Soffice and Lux-san──your current master, who is it?」

「……? What do you on Marauder's employer, Soffice Xfer isn't it?」

Krulcifer was puzzled In respond Coral shook his head slightly

「No, I also stood watch over Soffice and Re Plica, but they vanished froive instruction to Ragnarok──such feat should be ion Marauder's authority In other words……the enemy mastermind who moved that function is somewhere」

「A mastermind existence who can move Ruin……you say?」

Lisha showed a dubious expression, but right after that the Wyvern division commander Gatouhan drew out his Sword Device

The back wings of the Divine Drag-Ride with poisonous purplish red color were tinged with light and he instantly took a fighting stance

「──The talk ends here Becodom that ill obtain!」

The trigger of the battle was pulled

Great aon Marauders, and then a Ragnarok Iblis at the back The curtain of a deathly battle against those lineups was opened

–

Part 3

「This place……where in the world──!?」

Lux woke up from his interrupted consciousness

Even though he should be in the Acaderound just a moment before, he wondered just what had happened

A spherical space that was surrounded with silver colored metallic wall

The space was as spacious as the Acaderound There was no one there except Lux with his Bahamut

But, there was a gigantic mechanical pillar in the middle of the room

At first Lux thought it was thewas different

The pillar changed shape with corew limbs and took a stance like a fortress

「-……!? Don't tell !」

「That's right you da the Moon's instruction It's the Ragnarok that protect Ymir Theocracy's Hall!」

The mysterious voice echoed inside the space

When Lux searched for the voice's origin with his gaze, he found a s at a room above

「──Airi!?」

Lux glided with Baha roolass He unconsciously raised his voice

Airi in her unifor tied at the corner of the room

Furthermore beside her there was also Soffice as in a worn-out state

Her usual expressionless face that was likeuneasy

So low over her eyes was standing before the two girls That person abruptly snapped her fingers

Then the wall of the rooefraht

Thefrairl dorht festival, and the predicareat amount of Abysses

「This is, the happening in the Acade on!? Why am I──why is Soffice beaten up like that?」

「That is, because she is not needed anymore desu」

Inside the roolass, the Autoht

And then, she grabbed Soffice's neck with both her hands and lifted her up on the air

「This place is inside the Moon that is floating above the Acade etting rid of the Arcadia siblings」

The abundant emotional expressions fro

She only coldly carried out her order and coed into a pure machine

Soffice who guessed that bit her lips in frustration while her usual blank expression crumbled

「How…… Why did the Dragon Marauder betray me!? We should have a contract!」

「That's obviously because you became unnecessary desu, fool」

Re Plica asopen into crescent shape

「Just like how you didn't seriously believe in them, just how you had no intention to hand over Avalon to the you If there is another person who can move the Moon, then the rest doesn't matter for them, do you understand desu?」

「Uh, a……!」

Soffice endured the pain fro her throat constricted and she barely shook off Re Plica's arms

After she coughed geho geho, tears oozed out from the pain

「You can feel happy desu Your name will remain in history as the villain who declared war to the world This new kingdom will perish……you can be useful as a pawn of thisthis world!」

Re Plica's voice was

It sounded to Lux as though she was speaking as proxy for someone asn't here

「I, won't……let you What I wished for, isn't such conclusion──uah!」

「Soffice!?」

Soffice's face was kicked by the Auto that

When he drove his Bahaantic steel pillar suddenly e arm that was like a lump of iron

In contrast with its slow and dull appearance, the fist attack launched with a speed that eye couldn't follow

Different froe its speed was incomparably fast

The attack that was launched like a battering ram instantly smashed Bahamut's solid barrier

The reat sword as shi+eld, the pillar suddenly circled behind Lux and swung down its huge arm like an iron hammer

「Tsu……!? ──Reload on Fire!」

Lux activated his Divine Rainarok, Deus ex Machina that was attacking him

The Divine Raiantic mechanical body

It was a battle technique called Violent Strike that co continuous strikes during that co five seconds the a the destructive power

Lux swung his great swords and concentrated ten slashes into one point, but the impact was deflected and the enemy didn't even twitch

「Wha-!?」

When Lux was taken aback, the counterattacking iron arh the air and mowed him down

The barrier of Bahamut was easily smashed and Lux crashed on the far away metallic wall behind

「Guh……! What, hardness……!」

It wasn't that Lux's attack didn't work

The surface of Deus ex Machina's body had thin lines carved on it like countless scratches

It showed that the ansas the enemy's hardness was merely in different dimension

The hidden technique that boasted the greatest offensive power even ae wouldn't be inflicted without using it

(Everyone isn't here I have no choice but to do it alone……!)

All the Ragnarok he had faced until noere all sihty without equal, but at those tith for him

But this time he had no such support

Could he win alone against this unprecedented monster by himself?

「Ku-ku-ku…… So you still have so your attack like that?」

「What……?」

Lux took distance while forh of Re Plica as speaking as proxy for someone else came from above

「If you hesitate and stop attacking, Deus ex Machina will assist with the battle below y'know?」

The countless light frae that was showing the sight on the ground below, he could see the figure of Lisha and others under attack

It see its instant teleportation ability to back up the battle of Dragon Marauder

Even though there was also Iblis below there, the battle would be un out

He had no time to run away

Ho could only continue attacking in order to not let the Ragnarok before him to assist with the battle below

「──That's right Come」

Lux let out a heated sigh and glided toward the Ragnarok

He put his strength into the fingertips holding the control stick and threw his body into a reckless fight for the sake of diverting the enemy's attention

–

Part 4

「shi+t, what is going on fro constantly!?」

Below the Moon where Lux was fighting inside

A deathly battle against Dragon Marauders was continuing in the Acaderound

Perhaps it was difficult for Iblis to activate its ability to only specific targets, because it wasn't really attacking with its mental pollution

But, its attack using its six arms that was unleashed when it was approached was sharp and heavy

In addition the scorching heat breath attack it blew out couldn't be blocked with Drag-Ride's barrier, so it was extreerous

Thus, Celis who possessed outstanding skill even anarok's opponent e

「This is a terrible miscalculation──no, ere careless The eneeable about us」

In order to decrease the effect of mental pollution, Lisha and Krulcifer sniped at Iblis froe

──But, the swarround became shi+eld and they couldn't aieted by multiple Abysses, it was next to ih speed midair battle

On the ground, Vine and Philuffy, the fellow users of land battle type Divine Drag-Ride were fighting

It seemed that Philuffy was a cut above Vine in skill, but the Abysses on the ground wereon Philuffy alone, because of that she was currently being pushed back

「Strange So is odd The Abysses here are too powerful, there are even some that I have never seen before──uah!?」

Coral was also undertaking the role of facing Abysses using his EX Wyvern, but he was gradually receiving attack from all directions

The Abysses in the air were of faoyle, Chimera, Diablos, and so on, but their appearance was different from before

For sooyle that was transparent like Phanto Drake type that had radar, they would fall behind in dealing with such enemy no matter what

「It's strange as expected! Strange Abysses that I've never seen before until now are a in!」

Lisha was also using Legion and hit back the Abysses, but while she was defeating her opponent, she was bewildered when she discovered things like sli in the air

Due to the appearance of things like chaff slith of her special armament was damped

「Calling the them like that was really hard you know?」

「……What-!?」

Lisha showed an opening fro-Ride closed in and slashed

「Watch out-!」

Coral immediately cut in and blocked it, but that Blade vanished

「……What!?」

「──Hmph」

Gatouhan didn't overlook the opening of the shaken Coral and swung down his Blade

Lisha who saw that ier and dealt an i the slash's trajectory

But, right when the dagger hit Gatouhan's arh it was

「-……!? What the hell with this guy's Drag-Ride!? It's taking in the very weapon of me and Coral……!?」

「So you noticed Well, it's a trick that will get exposed sooner or later anyway」

「So that's, the power of the Divine Drag-Ride you're wearing……!」

Coral who took distance pointed that out Gatouhan responded with a bold smile

「My Divine Drag-Ride's name is Hydra Its Divine Raiment's name is Re-AliveSacred Eclipse Toxin, the power to 『fuse』 fellow things that are in contact with this armor and weapon」

「Fuse──then, these unfamiliar Abysses too, don't tell me!?」

They weren't just new types that were refined with Ruin's power, but coe quantity

「It's ih, but it can take away your weapon and break them down──haah!」

Hydra brandished its Blade right overhead, and then unleashed a sword flash along with a breath

At that er were fired at the saments made Lisha and Coral to falter

The weapons that were fused and absorbed just noere shot out as ments

「U, guh……Legion-!?」

Unable to endure, Lisha intercepted with Tiaion

「Hahahaha! Do you feel like giving th?」

Pakii! The weapon was taken in by Hydra's Divine Armament as soon as it came into contact

But at that moround of the practice ground

「Nuuh!?」

Purple gravity field──Tiamat's Divine Raiment Suppressor

「Just noas only bait you idiot! The sin of stealing two of my important weapons……I'll make you pay for them in full! Seven Heads!」

Lisha aiht below and fired the thick beam of her main cannon

The torrent of dazzling energy was going to s Gatouhan along with Hydra, it was then his figure vanished instantly froround

「Chih──don't tell me!?」

「Behind you! Be careful!」

Krulcifer yelled, at the sa Cannon toward Gatouhan as teleported behind Lisha

The freezing bullet splendidly hit Gatouhan's Hydra using the future prediction that was Fafnir's Divine Raied into ice that covered the armor's skin

「……So even coagulation of water fluid is treated as inorganic matter That's troublesome」

「Hahaha, it's you girls who cannot be underestierous without our employer's backup there」

Gatouhan took a distance for the ure suddenly vanished at the same time with his bold smile

Right after Lisha lost sight of Gatouhan's figure, Hydra with its Blade readied was falling fro

「Ku……! It's strange since just now! Strange teleportation is happening in ti these guys!」

「Instant teleportation……Deus exthem from the Moon above! Most likely, Lux-kun and Soffice are also there──uah!?」

Phantoered him

For a uess the situation right away, but she had no leeway to think deeper about it

Right at the beginning the battle situation looked even, but the advantage was gradually leaning toward the enemy

「──Haah!」

BAshi+!, Lindwurm that Celis piloted thrust her Lance with the ht behind it

The great denarok Iblis could only be held back by the Acadeht now

If she looked at Iblis's eye, she would receive lint, so she could only s──or from the wind pressure after it moved

The opponent was anorainst such enemy, Celis raised her fervor and displayed a battle where she didn't take even a step back, but even that was rapidly approaching the limit

Each time Celis received the bizarre sound wave that Iblis would e the heart of Celis who had a

──Terror, anxiety, hatred, rage, grief

The mental disturbance that was induced by the sound wave caused the listener to iave birth to disorder in mind

The strengthened resistance fro out

There weren'tfor her

She had no choice but staking all her strength in the re offense and defense that she could only execute several ht the enemy down!

『Lizsharte, is it possible for you to back me up?』

『I can anytiirl is facing the boy while Coral is taking on the female bandit』

Of course, they were doing so while also defeating the Abysses that were being manipulated by horn flute sound that was played by the Divine Rai the number of Abysses until dozens of them

They perseveringly whittled the hindrances one by one while holding back the three Dragon Marauders

In order to crush Ragnarok Iblis, they preserved the sta range while the other members shouldered the burden

「What terrifying bunch, to persevere in a situation that is this disadvantageous Vine! Can you back me up here?」

「It's impossible Unfortunately, even the petrification of my Basilisk is defeated by Typhon's Divine Rai」

Vine ielded a Blade to fight was avoiding lethal dae also due to the reinforceular attack froether, his ar to be broken in some places

「If you're going to surrender then do it quickly We've no leeway, to go easy after all」

In order to use Typhon's Divine Raiue She closed the distance with Vine and declared so

Each fight was approaching the conclusion It gave the premonition that the end of this battle was near

Celis who saw her comrades' exhaustion resolved herself to settle the battle here

Divine Gate would be effective in offense and defense, but here she suppressed her strength and didn't use it as much as possible

「The eneo Surely Lux is holding back the Ragnarok that is in the Moon Then──!」

Celis faced the great denarok Iblis and closed in

The Ragnarok spewed out hell fire and consecutive attacks from its six arms Celis fired her own armor like a buckshot in a counter

「Break Purge!」

The technique functioned as s It threay one's own defense and transfor-Ride into a shape that was specialized for offense

The thrust of Lightning Lance that was unleashed from the minimum frame motion was sucked deeply into Iblis's chest

「──U, UaaaaAASU!」

Iblis that only emitted sound of roar until now raised a pained scream for the first time

Using that opening, Krulcifer who shook off the pursuit of the Abysses sniped the mouth of the demon that was opened and froze it for the sake of their counterattack

「Now! Philuffy!」

「……Got it」

Philuffy's Typhon kicked away Vine's Basilisk At the same ti Iblis ires and restraining it

In addition she skated on the practice ground's ground and swung around Iblis who had its chest stabbed

Even if Deus ex Machina that was inside the Moon above tried to use teleportation, it would be obstructed in advance by constantlythe enemy That was the aim

If the target was ularly, the enemy would also become unable to narron the coordinate for teleportation

The plan was for Lisha to fire the finisher in that ti with certainty

「──UU……UaaAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAassU!」

It see le

「Ku……! Airheaded girl! Don't you dare let go of the enemy!」

Lisha endured that pain while calling out to Philuffy

So that other Dragon Marauders wouldn't be a hindrance, she activated the Divine Rai the

And then,

「──Ei」

With a bland voice, Philuffy reeled in Iblis close and kicked it up to the sky with Typhon's ar

The wire binding was disconnected and Iblis floated in the air with its back facing the night sky Right after that, Tiamat's main cannon fired

「This is the end Ragnarok! Seven Heads!」

An extreht

The flash of ih the atmosphere and attacked ave motion

The defending six arrowing froether The core inside its body, the Grand Force was exposed

「Va, Aa……」

Iblis raised a pained scream with its chest and lower jaay

Its re the after wave of the cannon shot's ht

With this everyone in the Acade affected by

It was great they could defeat the ene where the effect of Elixir had run out

Of course there was still one Ragnarok reuard down, but they were released froht relaxedness was born

Even so they didn't avert their gaze frouard but──

「It's only you three re you know? This will be the last time I permit you all to surrender」

「That's really aweso that Iblis without the Black Hero here──」

In respond to Celis's gaze and announcement, Drakkhen clapped and sent them words of praise

Her ar a composed smile for some reason

「Even though you girls have that th, but you all are naïve We mercenaries aren't like that We won't have e of defeat」

「Can I take it to mean that any consideration is unnecessary for all of you?」

Celis pressured once more Drakkhen smiled wryly to that

「Yeah, that ain't necessary We are the victor after all」

「──What?」

Lisha as far in the back frowned hearing that At that instant, the voice of Philuffy as standing on the ground could be heard

「──Be careful! There is strange s!」

Philuffy raised an urgent voice that was unusual for her who usually was following her own pace

Right after that, the figures of Dragon Marauder ere gasping tiredly from the battle until now vanished one after another

First Gatouhan and Vine vanished, leaving Drakkhen alone at the end

「Teleportation!? You are planning to escape to the Moon?」

「Wait! The situation is strange! Certainly there are presences fro」

Krulcifer said that and activated the Divine Raiment of future prediction

At that ht of a few seconds in the future that was reflected in her eyes

「For what reason we chose this spacious practice ground as battlefield instead of near the Acadeet the students involved Can you understand why? The poill decrease if there are obstacles, and in the first place they cannot be led there ith ho they are The oil type slime Abysses that can explode, that are fused with Phantom so they can become transparent I mean」

Right after Drakkhen told that with a wicked s Iblis

「I'll also say this, Iblis was purposefully weakened a bit so it could be killed instead It's so that it can ignite the fire for us you see Well then everyone of new kingdom Adieu」

Right after she finished saying that, Drakkhen's figure vanished from there

The teleportation by the other Ragnarok that was re in the Moon

Lisha yelled when she understood theof the three's disappearance

「Everyone! Run away froht──」

Bachii-!

Iblis that was floating in the air spewed out fire fro and scattering

Right after that, the great a between the audience seats so they wouldn't get noticed caught fire The practice ground ed by intense light and hell fire

–

Part 5

「N, nn……」

The tied Airi woke up due to the explosion sound froround below that reached even until the Moon

Within her dazed consciousness, the silver colored metallic wall came into her view

On a part of that wall surface, countless rectangle s of light were floating

There, the scene below the round that Airi was fa bloith a destructive blast

「-……!? Everyone!? What is──」

When she raised a voice of incomprehension, she noticed the presences inside the room

Airi held her breath in surprise There the three division co-Ride were standing

「Haa, haa…… I'm tired, really」

「We are also nearly at our liirls, as expected they cannot be faced with normal means」

「Right But with this, the preparation is finally in place」

A part of their armor was broken, but their flesh body was mostly unharmed

Furtherures of Re Plica whose eyes were blank and office as prostrating on the floor

「I before this, was kidnapped in the Acade in there!」

Airi who fainted just a little while ago was unable to grasp the situation accurately

But from this tense atmosphere, the control of Re Plica as Automata was stolen by someone

And then the Dragon Marauder bared their fang toward their eine

「……Why, did you betray me?」

Soffice slowly stood up and asked with aher head down Drakkhen turned an exasperated gaze toward her in respond

「……Mercenary business isn't philanthropic work Theis to stick on the side that looks like the winning side We are different fro in being dutiful You cannot co huh」

「At the very least, I should have given you all your reward as stipulated by the contract You betrayed me even then?」

Shadow covered her eyes, even so Soffice forly

It was the last re thread of hope for her

As though to desperately reel in the chance for turning the table no matter how thin and unreliable the thread was

But,

「Unfortunately, we had gone back to our past employer Besides you had opened the door to the deepest part of the Garden already right? You are left alive because your authority as Key's Supervisor is useful but, our business with you is mostly finished now」

Soffice lost her words at the blunt rejection of Vine

The control of Re Plica as like her little sister was stolen, and she was also betrayed by the otiation──all her hopes were completely severed

「Sorry, Uruk I'm unable, to accomplish the mission……」

Soffice spoke her repentance toward her dead little sister

──What awaited trust was betrayal and murder

That hy she tried to fight alone until now, and yet she couldn't do even that

She also wasn't able to grant the wish of Uruk who said that she wanted friend, and she wasn't even able to accomplish her mission as a Key's Supervisor

Besides, as the ot taken away

Even though till the very end, only her should be the one──ould stay as her ally until her death

「It's pitiful but, this is also what they call fate If you are going to hold grudge, then resent yourself for lacking the caliber to obtain comrade who is worthy of trust」

After Drakkhen who cal said that over her shoulder, beside her Vine looked down on the spherical shape at the side from the smallin the room

Inside the battle space that was for use of virtual battle, Lux and Deus ex Machina were unfolding an intense battle

「Even so, that Lux Arcadia is a really terrifying narok until this far with just that Bahamut」

Lux was breathing hard with his front hair trickling sweats

He had cut wound froments of the enemy body that he smashed, but other than that his armor was mostly unharmed But he couldn't hide the color of exhaustion in his face

If his movement stopped for even a moment, Lux himself would be teleported by the ene This was the result

And then above all else, Lux had no deciding move

He was lacking firepower to destroy the Ragnarok which possessed hardness that was several times more than Myhtrildite

When he struck a hundred consecutive slashes with End Action, the countless overlapping shell of Deus ex Machina dispersed the impact

「With that huge mechanical God as opponent, an attack without concentrated power behind it won't work properly」

Gatouh added an explanation after the calm impression of Drakkhen

Having said that, if Lux launched an attack with extraordinary power like Recoil Burst, such attack that was using large swing and ed with teleportation

Thus, his stae

Lux was fighting a Ragnarok by himself inside a battle space that could be looked down from this room

Airi who heard that desperately struggled with her body that was tied by rope

Luckily or unluckily, the restrain wasn't that strong, perhaps because they thought she wouldn't be able to escape from here anyway

She took out the knife that she was covertly carrying within her pocket and secretly began to cut the rope

There was alht now

Even so, there was no way she could just stay quiet watching the predica brother and everyone else

「Enough with the pointless talk you rels The explosion below has settled down Recover Iblis's Grand Force and finish off those trashes there」

「Yeah, with this our association with those bunches will be over」

Right after Drakkhen replied to Re Plica's words, the three division coht A teleportation by Deus ex Machina occurred

After the three vanished, the controlled Re Plica sloalked toward Soffice with a knife in hand

「I've no more business with you Now you're only a disposable key──so I'll cut the tendons of your limbs」

The looking Soffice down didn't even twitch, let alone resisting

The Auto it doard the girl

Fresh blood danced in the air along with the sound of torn flesh

But, Soffice was e with an impact that suddenly came from the side and she was pushed down on the floor

「──Airi! What, are you doing?」

Soffice's eh she had died already opened wide, and light returned into them

Seeing that, Airi endured the pain from her slashed back and smiled stout-heartedly

「That'saway? Are you going to be done in silently without fighting?」

「……It, doesn't ……」

「Are you going to give up just because you got betrayed twice? Even though you tried to save the world by going as far aswish of your little sister!?」

「Stop with the pointless struggle The entrance of this room is already locked There is no escape」

Re Plica seemed to use her function as Gear Leader to lock the roo

Airi stood up, pulled on Soffice's arm, and desperately hit on the door

「You can be desperate because your co anyon Marauder that I hired──」

「That's wrong」

Airi took a stance with the knife she brought and faced Re Plica as closing the distance bit by bit

Airi as a civil official cadet didn't even learn basic self-defense satisfactorily, even so she stood to protect the unarmed Soffice

「My big brother, it was a short time that wasn't even a week but, I believe that you also understood He was always getting dragged into troubleunnecessary incident, just a softhearted and si brother who is beyond help, has a really good side in hinized」

「……That's──」

「Once he decide on so, he will surely carry it out no matter what」

Saying that, Airi brought her face closer to theinside the small room

She exchange glance with Lux who looked up her way for an instant, and she twirled her finger quietly

It was as though she gave sonal to Lux

「Around Nii-san in the past, there wasn't anybody ould becoht no matter how many years In order to make a country that we can like and stay at, in order to find coht After all I am──Nii-san's little sister」

Soffice lost her words hearing the words of Airi who resolved herself

「I won't let Re Plica-san kill you Because, I don't want to let your friend, be forced to do so like that」

「My, friend……?」

Hearing that, Soffice stared at the Automata before her

The figure that coot controlled by someone

The er than anyone

「I……」

Beside the wavering Soffice, Airi told Re Plica who had caave her order and talked through her

「……You, should be unable to kill e toward Nii-san at the critical ht? Then, you won't be able to lay your hand on her withher like this」

「Hah……hahahahaha!」

Re Plica's hed loudly

「You talk like you knoho isthis doll huh, former princess-sama?」

「I knoho are you Even I haven't keep observing people for so many years just for show Because I was treated like nuisance in the old edom, I need to carefully watch everyone's expression in order to live until now I have become skilled only in that kind of unpleasant aspect」

「……I see But you know, youfor your big brother! It's over for that guy already! Nolike a narok──」

Pakii-!

Right after Re Plica boasted her victory, thebeside her was pierced through

What was thrown into the rooh there was a Sword Device sheathed inside a white scabbard

While fighting Deus ex Machina, Lux looked for a chance and threw it

Airi broke into a run and picked that up

She slightly pulled out the sword froht away

「Just when I thought what you are going to do, are you planning to fight with general purpose Drag-Ride at this late? Just try it It's pointless though」

「U, kuh……!?」

But, Re Plica ran toward Airi and grabbed her neck She hung her up midair

Airi dropped the sheath and it slid on the small room's floor It stopped near Soffice's foot

「As I thought, it's……impossible」

The hopeless situation didn't change

No e Airi summoned, in the end it became like this

Lux had that kind of fate, which Soffice didn't have

And then, even that possibility would soon come to an end

But──, seeing the Auto Airi's neck with an expression that arped in delight, a twinge of pain was created inside Soffice

『These people are surely, not bad people desu』

『The people of Syvalles, all of theood natured people』

『You lie desu! Even though the truth is──you want co away because you are scared to get hurt desu!』

The pain in her chest that she should have forgotten flared up hotly

She was unable to protect her betrayed little sister

However, Uruk, she put her life in the line and resisted

In order to not let bad people used the power of Avalon to rule over people and hurt them

『That's why I'll also fight After all I am, Nii-san's little sister』

「I──」

As though being pushed on her back, Soffice pulled out the Sword Device from the white sheath

Soffice would be unable to suht with the sword When she made that determination, she noticed

「This is!? This Sword Device──」

「……U, a!?」

Re Plica lifted up Airi with one hand Her other hand was holding a knife

「I can how hi will be a sight to see for sure Hahahahaha!」

Re Plica pressed Airi on theintentionally so that Lux as fighting in another room could see

Right after that, the blade the Auto doard Airi's chest

–

Part 6

「U, ku…… Everyone, how are-, you……?」

Under the seventh Ruin, Moon──the Acaderound

The simultaneous explosions of Oil Slimes that approached stealthily due to Drakkhen's tactic caused the practice ground and even the audience seats to become tattered

Lisha oke up confirmed that her li where the flame blast had settled down

It seemed because Lisha was the farthest froht

Three girls were lying down at the audience seats that had already cruinal shape

She could see Celis, Philuffy, and then Coral through the smoke

With Coral, blood was flowing from his whole body His four limbs also broke and his breath was faint

「……Can you, tell Lux-kun for me? Tell him I'm sorry, that I cannot meet him anymore with this appearance」

Coral aze met Lisha, Coral's reached out hand fell powerlessly

Then light vanished froether

「damn, it……──!?」

Lisha cursed at her coe sense of discomfort

If it was Philuffy and Celis, then it felt like they would be able to avoid lethal wound even in that situation but──

「……Both of them, had too much burden piled up Both of them are the type to pretend to be okay no matter their actual condition after all」

「Krulcifer, you are safe!?」

A voice that was oozing exhaustion cae mound of rubble

After Lisha collapsed the rubbles with Tiaure of Krulcifer as standing there

Fafnir's ar from her forehead and limbs

「Celis-senpai held back the Ragnarok……Iblis by herself, so she received its powerful mental pollution the most than anyone here, her defense was also ak because she purged a part of her armor That hy at the moment of that explosion, she was unable to use her Divine Raiht away」