339 336. Stage.txt (2/2)

Rastiara hesitates. At the end of it, did he read the hard will in my expression, or did he bide his time? I don't know which, but he agrees very succinctly.

''All right!　But don't take it easy!　I'll catch up with you!　Me too, Snow!　Maria and Diah, too!　We'll all catch up with Nosfi!

Good.

Ragne had reminded me beforehand that I would fight him, and Lastiara seemed to agree with me. Now I can have my ideal (・・・・・・・) 'One-on-one with Ragne'.

''--Yes!　We'll meet up 'together' later!

I know I'm sorry for the way I have to deceive everyone.

But instead, I promise Lastiara that today, no one will die.

That no one will die, including me. We'll meet 'all together' later. I swear.

'......!　Yeah, I'll be 'together' later!　That's a promise!　...... Serah, we'll both keep Elmirad at bay!　I mean, I'm going to take it down as fast as I can!

Rastiara quickly switches his thoughts and goes to counterattack Elmirado.

With that movement, I run out as well.

--Goodbye, Rastiara.

I didn't say the words, but said my goodbyes in my chest.

''--, ------ ----!

Only, of course, Elmirad barked and tried to stop me from going up the stairs. She instantly creates a gust of wind magic and rushes at me under the cover of that wind.

''--[Zeerewind]!

The magic of that gust of wind is offset by Rastiara, and Sera hits Elmirado's body with her body.

In the same way as Snow-san, Elmirado is restrained, clearing the way for me to run up.

I gather my strength and run through the stairs.

The sound of battle rang out at my back. But I never looked back and headed for the thirty-fifth floor.

I can't even waste the strength to look back anymore. Now that I'm alone, I have to carve out everything from here on out by myself.

''...... Right now, Fafner's influence is definitely weakening. There are only about fifteen floors left, even if I'm alone ......--!

Before I could finish that scolding to myself, a 'blood puppet' appeared standing on the stairs.

However, they were few in number.

''-- 《Light Rod》!

I re-filled the flag I was holding with magic and waved it at the approaching 'blood puppets'.

To be honest, I couldn't put any more strength into my body.

But the blood dolls are equally vulnerable. With just a few pounds, I succeed in restoring all of the blood dolls to their original form.

I kept my guard up, waiting for the next enemy.

But the enemy that follows does not appear.

I check the water level. The amount of blood was clearly decreasing. A reduction that could not be explained by the total attack on the castle of the Foozeyards group outside alone. Fafner's main body must have been in danger, and it must be collecting blood from the castle.

Thanks to the companions below, the 'blood puppets' that are standing in the way are weak and are not being hobbled by the blood. It can be said that there is no longer any interference that seems to be an interference.

''Hah, hah ......!

However, climbing those empty stairs was a huge task for me now.

Both of my legs, which had been able to run at the time of my parting with Rastiala, were gradually becoming immobile.

My legs had deteriorated from being heavy as lead, and I was beginning to lose feeling.

Gradually his running speed slowed down.

The shortness of breath would not stop. His breath began to contain more than just a bloody smell.

But still, I was sure. With the fastest speed imaginable, I go up the 36th floor, 37th floor, and 38th floor - and up the stairs of the castle.

'Hah, hah, hah, hah ......, hah, hah ......!

Undoubtedly, the cause of my current discomfort is probably the 'substitution'.

Among them, a lot of it is the substitution of Maria-san and Dia-san's magic power. The magic power and strength that these two bring with them alone exceeds the consumption of the entire Hoosiers' army of 10,000 people.

However, they will definitely not cut off the magic power supply to the two of them alone.

Right now, the two of them should be in the middle of a fierce battle with Fafner. With the assistance of me, the one that steals the Reason of Light, the one that steals the Reason of Blood, which had a high level of combat ability even in the battle a thousand years ago, they have cornered the one that steals the Reason of Blood to the point of not avoiding consciousness upstairs.

Just imagining how everyone was fighting downstairs, this 'alternative' was unbreakable.

Most of all, years of combat experience insists that it's no good for the safety of the street I'm walking on.

In my head, I know exactly what I'm doing. But even so, my heart grows weak. I want to turn off the 'alternative' and take a break, even if it's only for a few seconds.

'Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah ......!

My vision flashes and my thoughts flicker as I'm out of breath.

Sometimes I don't even know why I'm walking.

The reason why I'm working so hard to endure the pain jumps out at me.

And what tries to fill my head to replace the reason - the pain.

My body worries me and tries to fill my head with pain, a danger signal.

Fewer allies, fewer enemies, more room to think, and conversely, the pain is more pronounced.

I've tried not to think about it so far, but ...... honestly, it hurts.

The bruises and bruises are punctured and blocked in my body over and over again. It hurts so much.

My body hurts all the time. I'm in pain, I'm in pain, I can't stand it.

The more time goes by, the more I walk, the more the pain increases.

It hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts.

It hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts.

My stomach hurts. My head hurts. My arms hurt. My legs ache. My thighs ache. My flesh hurts. Bones ache. My blood vessels ache. It hurts inside. It hurts in the middle. I don't even know what it is, but it hurts. Everything hurts, anyway.

The pain, slow and steady as a wave, can only be thought of as an attempt to twist my mind.

I want to cry out on instinct already. I want to stop, prod my knees, tap the floor with my hands - I want to cry out to distract myself before I lose my mind.

It really hurts. It hurts so much. Painful and painful. It hurts and I'm scared. There's nothing but pain in my head anymore. It hurts and hurts and hurts and hurts, and I don't even know when it started hurting anymore. I don't even know where it hurts anymore, I don't even know why it hurts, I don't even know what the word ”pain” means anymore. The reason for enduring the pain I almost jumped at the beginning was now about to disappear--and

'Hah, hah, no (...) - hah, hah, hah ......!　Absolutely, I'm not--!

I will not lose sight of the only reason.

So my steps are the only thing that will never stop.

No matter how much pain makes you blank out, that reason will never disappear.

After all, that reason is what the ”logic thieves” call ”regrets”.

There are many of them inside me right now.

His words.

His face.

Her words. Her face. Her voice.

Everything about him is shining inside me now.

He is helping me, the one who steals the truth of light.

Yes.

That's an example - the thoughts I received from Rastiara.

The first time 'Rustiala Fuzzy Yards' was saved by 'Aikawa Uzumi'.

I have memories of the time I was saved by her words, admired her appearance, and was pulled by her hand.

I ruminate on that thought as I walk up the last steps of my life.