Vol 1 Chapter 4 (2/2)
There were two mobile enemies in the plaza while the remainder were amidst the trees
Of the presences in the jungle, one was positioned farther away, most likely a sniper
Usingall vectors of enemy attacks would lower the thickness no et penetrated by rifle bullets
—In that case, I only needed to defend precisely
My accelerated consciousness and expanded senses in the battlefield were raised to an even higher level
Switchingthat Major Loki wanted to mold me into
Back then, Major Loki had said:
Your talent is neither the ability to create dark estions in weaponry developreatly
What he meant by that I still did not understand, even now
But that existence, which was gradually constructed inside me, Major Loki called it ”Fafnir”
Rat-at-at-at-at—!!
Anti-materiel armor—Damascus 09P
Multiple gunshots rang out, but I had simultaneously created five s lines
The bullets struck the shi+elds exactly as though they were attracted to them
—Ammunition replenished
While descending, I reloaded Nergal's bullets using dark matter transmutation
Then I fired the instant I landed Of the twoat the one on the right, but the other guy rushed out and got hit
”Gah!?”
Grunting in pain, the man collapsed
With that, only one person rele
I did not shoot but pointed Nergal'sin the plaza
Judging frouy was ht be able to use hie
”nobody move”
To le heard, I yelled loudly
”You monster!”
The un atthe whole tile also stopped
”Hey, is that the way to speak to the former captain Hmm? Who the heck are you?”
His face was obscured by theto anyone in Sleipnir
”W-Who the heck are you!? What is your goal!?”
He did not recognize me?
On further thought, they were too weak, after all
I took another look Their equipment was different too Meal, but I coudl not see that kind of gun auys' equipment
It looked like they were not the people sent by Major Loki
Had he kept his proht, I could feel that this was his doing
Most likely, he had abstained fro someone else to do it Major Loki was so that nonchalantly
—However, there wasfor me to accept Major Loki's request
Had I refused, the teaard would undoubtedly be Sleipnir With that, winning would not be this easy
I exhaled and glared at the er
”—Are you fine with this? If you continue to fight, more of your team will be injured, yes? There are currently four people incapacitated and four unscathed as well If you intend to retreat with your coht to be the limit”
””
”If anyone else is rendered i evidence behind whether dead or alive Midgard simply decided not to interfere in NIFL's operation but did not grant you per the outside world know of this?”
”Ku”
Still glaring at esture with his hand
With a rustling froed and picked up their teaal also had soe with a teammate on his back
”—Retreat”
Theup one of his tea the trees
I stayed on alert until all presences had gone afar
Aine noises could be heard They probably used some kind of boat to leave
”Phew”
I exhaled and relaxedthe briefly awakened Fafnir into the depths of the subconscious
”Iris, it's okay now!”
I yelled and Iris poked her head out froe entrance
”I-I'lad Mononobe, you're still alive”
Iris ran over with tears in her eyes
”I said I'd be fine”
”B-But I kept hearing gunshots I was so scared I didn't dare look out Whenever I thought you ht have been shot I-I—”
Large droplets of tears flowed out of her eyes
”You're such a crybaby”
Despite feigning a look of exasperation, I actually felt slightly relieved If she had seen ht not have approached me so naturally now
”Mononobe Don't die, okay? Absolutely do not die, okay?”
”Co about your own life first Although NIFL's intervention was prevented, unless Leviathan's is stopped, I'll still have to kill you, Iris”
”Yeah I know, that's fine too It's so weird I' killed”
Saying that, Iris wiped her tears away
”Mononobe, what's left is observe the battle against Leviathan, right? Then let's return to the shelter”
”—No, returning is useless”
”Eh? Why?”
Iris cocked her head in puzzlement
”You saw Leviathan's powers, right? No round you hide, all it needs to do is approach the ground above would be easily forced apart, so returning to the shelter will only delay things slightly Co the time limit forward, I'd like to do what I can do”
Holding Iris' hand, I walked over to the path connected to the plaza The sound of waves became very near Soon, ould reach a place with open visibility
This was on a tall cliff, overlooking the sky and the sea A line of Midgardsormr's laser units could be seen near the horizon, but a portion was broken from Leviathan's attack
”Although out of sight, Leviathan is over there If it breaches the final defensive line, ill intercept it here”
I pointed towards the other side of the daed units and spoke
”Ehhhh!? Just us? That's too difficult”
”No, from what I saw before, Iris, your attack is the ainst Leviathan”
”My attack?”
”That's right, Iris, you're able to generate darkexplosives near the enee to it”
Causing explosions inside the enemy's body would be even better, but unfortunately, dark matter was very unstable prior to transmutation As soon as it caenerated it, the dark matter would vanish
Just by trans it, darkbullets, but when ile that even collisions with nitrogen and oxygen radually wear it away
Hence, trying to send dark matter into Leviathan's body was impossible
”Me fighting Leviathan”
”Yes, don't hold back and do it I will also—do everything I can”
Then at this moment, a voice came from above
”I re that you do not have the power to defeat Leviathan, Nii-san”
”What—Mitsuki?”
I looked up at the sky in surprise, only to see Mitsuki floating in the air Holding a glowing fictional ar upon us strictly
I did not feel too surprised atching froh videos, but it still startledin the air like this
According to what shi+no was possible just bydark matter in the state of a fictional ar air Given the lack of dark matter at my disposal, this skill was not possible for me
”Nii-san, why are you here? The saoes for Iris-san too Please think about your position”
”S-Sorry, Mitsuki-chan”
Iris apologized on reflex whereas I placed my hand on her shoulder
”Iris, you don't need to apologize This battle concerns your life You have the right to try your hardest to survive We will intercept Leviathan here”
Hearing this, Mitsuki's expression grew even more serious
”Are you serious?”
”Of course I'hting alongside Lisa and the others?”
Hearing ravely
”The third defensive line has been breached There is no turning back”
”What? Mitsuki, you can shoot antiht? Even that move doesn't work?”
The trump card that had defeated ”Purple” Kraken in the past was one of reatest hopes
But Mitsuki shook her head
”It does not Very regrettably, after using laser attacks to bait Leviathan into distorting space, I finally landed one hit with difficulty But the explosion was repressed by a repulsive field and could not cause serious dae”
”No way”
My hopes were easily dashed in an instant I could not find any words to say
Mitsuki gazed down at me and explained the situation calmly
”Whether poison that would spread frole hit or a chain of attacks, Leviathan would slice off parts of its body to neutralize the multiple repulsive fields to create spatial discontinuities to gouge it own body Since its body is so huous, it only results in trivial scratches”
”No other methods are effective?”
I asked in a hoarse voice
”Nothing coh constant accumulation of small wounds is the only way, I think We are currently attacking using the Dragon Subjugation Squad's full force But chances ofit in time are very low, hence I returned to prevent the worst-case scenario”
Mitsuki spoke in a depressing tone
”Hey, you don't mean to say—”
”Indeed When Leviathan breaches the final defensive line, I shall personally kill Iris-san”
Mitsuki stared at Iris with an expression like she was forcibly holding so in
And as though trying to block her gaze, I stood in front of Iris
”Sorry, Mitsuki, Iris has already promised me”
”Nii-san Did you forget the condition I set out?”
Mitsuki's gaze turned sharp
”I remember but it's Iris who entrusted her life directly to me Even if my adorable little sister asks me, I can't hand this job to anyone else”
”A-Adorable!? T-This is not the tis! Orders reed to this condition, I would not have peruard!”
Despite her blushi+ng, Mitsuki still glared at me solemnly
”In that case, I'll just have to doto kill Iris, Mitsuki, I'll protect her”
”Stop saying such willful things! This is what I must do! Because my hands are already tainted!”
Mitsuki said the sa as before but now, I already knew the reason
”—About shi+nomiya Miyako?”
”!?”
Mitsuki gasped
”I heard your were best friends”
””
Mitsuki bit her lip hard and did not answer Although it was heartbreaking to see the suffering on Mitsuki's face, I still continued:
”What feelings you had when you killed your friend who had turned into a dragon To be honest, it's iine But You want to shoulder Iris' irl? I can't accept this kind of reason Don't ether as the same matter!”
Listening tothe limit of her endurance, she spoke up:
”In that case Who else should do it apart from me? This is the method I cannot accept More importantly, Nii-san, I do not want you to be the one to kill Iris-san!”
Despite her tre voice, that was how Mitsuki responded to me
”I absolutely won't let you do it either, Mitsuki”
”I have already decided, never to have regrets again like three years ago I shall not leave anything to you again, Nii-san!”
Mitsuki and I glared at each other
”We're saying the sa”
”Indeed Viewpoints on parallel lines”
We both realized that further words were less
”Now this hasn't happened for a long tiht?”
”Very well”
Fictional arfried
I tossed the Nergal in un of dark matter Mitsuki also raised her iridescent bow
I could not use Nergal in a fight against Mitsuki because she probably would not want to see me like that
Hence, I was going to confront her as Mononobe Yuu of Midgard, as Mitsuki's older brother I knew very well that Siegfried was not suitable for coo the whole ith it
Feeling a fight about to break out, Iris panicked
”Mononobe and Mitsuki-chan, you can't fight! Now's not the time for that—”
”No, now's exactly the time for that”
”No, now is exactly the time for that”
Mitsuki's words and mine overlapped
”This stubborn little sister won't be persuaded by words alone”
”Obstinate beyond hope, Nii-san refuses to listen unless I do this”
I aifried's muzzle at Mitsuki
Mitsuki also nocked a black arrow of dark matter on her bow
”Mitsuki”
”What is the matter, Nii-san?”
”I've been wanting to tell you this Your panties are showing, you know?”
”—!?”
Going red in the face, Mitsuki frantically held down the hem of her skirt
I could not possibly
Siegfried was limited to a maximum of three shots of dark matter bullets Once depleted, the fictional arfried to be recreated, which would present a , hence bullets must not be wasted, however—
While building the picture in my mind, I fired a bullet filled with two shots worth of dark matter
”Cage Bullet!”
The black bullet transe Due tocapacity, the iron bars were quite slih to surround Mitsuki
Weighed down by the ht, Mitsuki fell to the ground, but using the wind enveloping her body, Mitsuki landed gently just as she was about to contact the ground
”Not only staring at other's panties but also conducting a sneak attack Your h to catch me, you know?”
Readying her bow froe, Mitsuki called out sharply:
”Self-destruct”
The instant the se, the iron bars cracked and fell apart in pieces
”That was a spear imbued with matter with the concept of destruction, capable of forcibly altering the state of any object it strikes A high-level skill, but Leviathan handled it using the method of amputation”
Mitsuki explained cal the next arrow to the bow
In a contest of abilities as a D, I had no chance of winning
But froe to trap Mitsuki The point of the earlier attack was to drag her down to ground level Because I could not do anything to her while she was flying in the air, I had to do this as the initial step of attacking, even if ittwo shots worth of dark matter
Just as I predicted, Mitsuki landed on the ground I dashed towards her
Mitsuki simply narrowed her eyes and spoke briefly
”Adhesive restraint”
The fired arrow turned translucent orangeout explosively She had most likely transmuted dark matter into an adhesive net
Deciding it was too late to evade, I raised Siegfried
This was the last shot
Mitsuki was not going to give ain Hence, this trans to decide the victor
”Red Bullet!”
I pulled the trigger, trans in the fictional ar its place was soht hand
What I had transmuted was air that had been co the co a red afterie
This principle was the sa the test, but did not require the sa All I needed was heat sufficient to h the adhesive substance
Using the high-temperature blade of air, I sliced Mitsuki's net
Almost virtually unimpeded, I ripped apart the net before me that was about to cover me
Mitsuki's expression turned even more solemn
”Nii-san, you will get hurt if you continue to resist First arrow—Forked Wind!”
Probably deciding it was iaze changed She looked like she intended to use her prided technique
While Mitsuki shot the arrow, the atradually contracted I tried to judge their nuh wind currents, but the nurasp completely
Mitsuki's move was most likely the same as mine, an attack based on compressed air
But the difference in level was too great Her volu
Countless arrows of wind approached me
It was virtually impossible to evade attacks that were invisible in the first place Besides, they were too nu
Impossible for a human, but if it was Fafnir—
—Just this one instant!
”!”
I gritted ain My consciousness accelerated while the air currents read by my skin were added to my visual data
This time, I understood
The fired arrows of air—I could see them
They nuhly a hundred
”AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
I dodged and squeezed past those arrows Those I could not dodge, I severed theh-temperature blade
Breaking through the curtain of projectiles head on, I approached Mitsuki
Meanwhile, she was staring in wide-eyed surprise
I swung the knife of air Just as it was about to touch her, I asify and dissipate—
—Then I applied a light chop on Mitsuki's head
”Ow!?”
”First person to touch the other's head wins That's the rule we agreed for our fights Noncos, do you still remember?”
”Yes”
Mitsuki rubbed her forehead and nodded
”Leave the matter of Iris to me”
””
However, she did not nod this ti fro rule between siblings
”It's fine if you still can't accept things But through the fight just now, I'ht? Mitsuki, you can't stop me”
”That is”
”There's no point arguing further about who's going to kill Iris Instead, why don't we struggle and fight back to the bitter end?”
Just as I asked that, Iris exclai in the sea's direction
”Ah”
Mitsuki and I followed Iris' gaze
On the other end of the destroyed laser units, the horizon was shaking nonstop A giant silhouette was floating there like a e
Sht flashes
”Leviathan has finally invaded to here—”
Mitsuki groaned with a grave expression
Perhaps it was advancing quite quickly The figure grew huge in the blink of an eye
Because it was too e the distance Its outer shell of pure white was dotted with red, probably bleeding froation Squad
Uooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
A deep and sonorous cry reverberated everywhere Iris was holding her flank Even through her clothing, one could see her dragon htly
”It's callingthat it wants me—”
Perhaps resonating with Leviathan's consciousness, Iris h in a trance
”So the theory of seeking a mate is correct”
”Yeah Looks like it”
Iris nodded, her body tre
”So, what are your plans?”
”Huh?”
”Men are idiots If you stay silent, they'll take it as a hint of acceptance and go further, you know?”
Originally distracted, Iris suddenly regained vigor in her eyes
”I won't forgive dragons I can't tolerate that thing taking away all the people dear toto take me as well!”
Iris yelled loudly, creating her fictional arht hand—Caduceus
”Can you hit it from here?”
”Although it's quite far, I'll try! I will bo capacity!”
Pointing the staff's tip at Leviathan, Iris concentrated while chanting her usual incantation
”Mitsuki, just to be safe, could you contact the Dragon Subjugation Squad nearby and tell them to keep their distance?”
I could only see s in Leviathan's surroundings As soon as Iris attacked, they ht in the blast by accident
Mitsuki nodded in agree to say She pressed a button on the communicator on her neck
”—This is B3 All units retreat to Hypothetical Level A blast proxi from a distance”
Mitsuki issued the coation Squad in the distance instantly changed their movements and left Leviathan
”Okay, Iris, do it!”
”Great! O holy silver! Explode!”
Silver-white explosions suddenly appeared near the giant body swi in the sky afar
Pushed by the explosive blasts, Leviathan's body tilted slightly
”Dae report?”
Mitsuki asked through the communicator
'—Widespread daet's left side, but apparently did not reach deep'
I heard the voice responding on the communicator
Mitsuki exhaled and disconnected
”Sure enough This happened Leviathan can create repulsive fields inside its own body Even explosions could detonate near the skin, the daans That type of ability is truly too omnipotent”
”But this is better than attacks that don't hit And it definitely wears down its sta As for me—I won't hold back anymore”
Saying that, I extended my left hand to Mitsuki
”What is it, Nii-san?”
”LendI did three years ago, I need to borrow dark matter from another D”
”I kneas this requirement Three years, you were able to perform such a massive transmutation only because I was at your side”
While talking about this subject yesterday, Mitsuki had already guessed the requireh it was all expected
”Yes, because I can't extract enough dark matter on my own”
”Against Leviathan It is useless, right?”
”Probably Even so, it's far better than giving up without trying”
I gazed into Mitsuki's eyes while I spoke
”Nii-san You are so unfair You arethe same face as back then the ti me want to believe you, are you not?”
S wryly, Mitsuki held my hand
”Thank you, Mitsuki”
I thanked her then shi+fted so my eyes, out of all the blueprints in o
No, calling it a blueprint would not be accurate, because this contained all sorts of infore
—The most sharpened power, in other words, data on weapons
That was the truth of the power I had obtained in the deal with ”Green” Yggdrasil three years ago My ability to al and other firear but because the correct data was engraved in my mind
But because the volureat, it could not all fit into my memory
Back when I was about to lose this personality of Mononobe Yuu, I had cut the link to Yggdrasil halfway through
However—Even so, severing the link was still too late
Scrubbed by the turbulent flow of information, I had lost several key elements as Mononobe Yuu
I lacked the emotion of fear and lost part of my memories
The day I arrived at Midgard, Mitsuki had advised me to contact my parents and friends, but I must not talk to them Because as soon as we conversed, ht and this would reach Mitsuki's ears eventually
With that, Mitsuki would surely blame herself very much
Hence, I absolutely ht
The only memories kept intact in my heart were just the ones with Mitsuki
Hence, Mitsuki was the one person I must not allow sorrow to come to her
”Anti-dragon armament—Marduk!”
I constructed the weapon I had shot Hekatonkheir three years ago The blueprint was burning ininto radually took form
Rather than cutting-edge weaponry of the modern era, this was a lost weapon froo
I only learned after receiving this power that there once existed an era with even y than the current civilization All the weaponry data I received fros that had existed in the distant past
Hence, I participated in NIFL's weapons development The ones adopted were the al and Ishtar, the ICBM Gáe Bolg and the tactical laser These all y
However—This Marduk was an exception, a weapon that could not be reproduced with y no matter what
Originally attacking continually, Iris stared in wide-eyed amazement in my direction
The barrow, ten-odd , a base with circuits and wires exposed Even by borrowing Mitsuki's power, it was impossible to recreate completely, so only the minimum necessary components were constructed Hence, it could only fire one shot Because no cooling functionality was installed, the barroould melt
The fatigue caused transmutation was unprecedented My entire body felt heavy My vision blurred If I could still transain, it would be at most once more
Connecting the the control systelared at Leviathan The barrow shi+fted slightly on its own and adjusted its aim
”—Nii-san, please wait! To prevent it fro space first!”
Mitsuki was stunned just now too, but she suddenly caation Squad through her communicator
”All units, pull back froain! B5, B6, du capacity! Apply pressure to the target's handling capacity!”
'Roger that'
'Mm'
Hearing brief responses, I realized those were Ariella and Ren's voices
Then giant blocks of rock and ice fell towards Leviathan but they were caught by a repulsive field, stopping in the air motionlessly
”Spread out B1 to the right, B2 to the left Ai-distance non-projectile attacks!”
'Understood!”
'Roger that'
This time, those were Lisa and Firill's voices A thick laser beaht side while an electrical attack appeared fro Leviathan at the same time
Although these attacks deviated due to spatial distortion, of course, Mitsuki discerned the laser and electrical attack's trail and said to me:
”Nii-san, now an attack from the front should not be deflected back Please fire!”
”Okay—Fire!!”
I yelled forcefully fros
BOOM!!
The at A bullet of blue-white light was fired It was a weapon of annihilation that caused everything caught in its blast to disintegrate on the atomic level
In the past, Hekatonkheir had instantly turned into dust after being struck by this bullet
Due to Hekatonkheir's trait of ih it revived several hundred kilouaranteed
The blue bullet fleards Leviathan in a straight line, but the instant before striking—Its path was altered fro to the lower left
In that very instant, blinding blue light erupted This was because I had adjusted the energy co Even if it failed to strike, it would still explode next to Leviathan
The pillar of blue light devoured Leviathan
The blocks of rock and ice ht
Making contact with the light, a large piece of the sea surface was gouged away The surrounding seawater evaporated froh temperature Like cumulonimbus clouds, thick water vapor rose upwards
—Please, let it work!
I squinted, praying that it had destroyed Leviathan successfully
Uoooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Angry roar was heard fro ain
The white ht and the cloud of water vapor The left side of its outer shell was al muscle E