Vol 5 Chapter 4 (2/2)
Severed at the base, the branches i the captives immediately tilted
”Kyahhhhhhhhh!”
”Waaah!?”
Iris and the other fell down together with the branches, screa
”Leave it to Tia!”
However, I definitely heard Tia's voice far away
”Great!”
Putting my faith in her, I entrusted the fates of Iris and the others to her
I felt a gust of strong wind blow fro Iris and the others just before they struck the ground Tia had made a cushi+on of air
I judrasil's root and rushed over to their side
”Mononobe, I still can't move”
Iris was still entangled in branches, squir toall over her uniforled in vines looked especially salacious
”Mononobe-kun I'htly”
”Mm”
Firill and Ren were groaning in pain, their clothing disheveled
But I had no time to be taken aback by their appearances
”I'll save you now Don't move”
Dispelling the surging wave of irrelevant thoughts, I forcibly pulled apart the vines and branches entangling their bodies
This allowed the girls to regain their freedos and vines, they stood up
During this ti countless vines towards us but Tia and the others ed to delay them
Still, several thick roots were gradually approaching We were running out of time
After rescuing Mr and Mrs Highwalker after irls
”Take theet back to Lisa and the others, your dark et interfered!”
”G-Got it! But Mononobe, what on earth is this?”
Despite nodding, Iris still pointed to the gigantic writhing tree monster and asked She probably did not know the situation because they were caught before getting the announcement
”—It's Yggdrasil You're right, Iris, that thing is an enes became like this”
To avoid getting overheard, I whispered to her
”Eh”
After hearing what I said, Iris instantly froze her expression
At this moment, the barrier of as finally broken
I raised my voice and yelled at everyone:
”Hurry and run! I'll hold the rear!”
Carrying his wife, as too frightened to hwalker rushed out with Firill and Ren guarding them
However, for some reason, Iris did not move from her position at all
”Iris, you run too! This thing needs to be destroyed in one go from a distance—”
”No, Mononobe If this is Yggdrasil, then so it”
Iris interrupted drasil and yelled:
”Yggdrasil, return Mononobe's memories to him!”
But the vines and roots ignored her yelling and approached us
—Consideration, unnecessary
I heard Yggdrasil's voice faintly It see
”Guh!”
I pushed Iris aithfrom that spot in the nick of time
”Please, as long as it's so! I'll agree to any condition! So please return Mononobe's memories to him!”
However, Iris refused to retreat and yelled at it again
The answer it gave was silent violence
Yggdrasil's vines and roots attacked but before they could touch us, dazzling light annihilated them
Now that the hostages were freed, there was no need forcover fire for us I tossed away the unneeded paintball gun and took Iris' hand instead
”Iris, it's useless! It's idrasil”
I yelled and pulled Iris by the hand
Back when ed it drasil did not listen at all By this point, I did not think it was possible to negotiate terms
”Yeah, I know, then I'll change ”
Despite getting dragged away by drasil
”If you won't return Mononobe's memories, I'll destroy you By any means necessary, I will definitely destroy you”
Iris' words conveyed pure anger and true killing intent
This was not a request but a threat
However, this was far too reckless
Perhaps enraged to the point of forgetting herself, she raised her right arenerate dark matter
”No! Don't summon your fictional armament!”
I hastily stopped her
As though suddenly regaining her senses, Iris stopped constructing her fictional armament
However, Iris was not the only one to stop
The vines and roots extending towards us also stopped momentarily
It was not in reaction to htly earlier than when I called out
It was the instant when Iris raised her hand
No , Yggdrasil with its ability to interfere with dark matter should not have any reason to fear her, but it stopped as though frightened
”Iris, now!”
Although Yggdrasil's reaction was baffling, we could not miss out on this chance
I led Iris towards Lisa and the others This ti
I heard strange noises from behind
Yggdrasil was probably taking action again
Nevertheless, I si back, because Lisa was up ahead
Flashes of light fronir, flew over Iris andtowards us
Thus, we successfully reached Lisa and the others without getting caught by Yggdrasil
Having arrived a step earlier, Firill and Ren had already raised their fictional ar the situation froation Squad
”Please accept ratitude It is entirely thanks to you that my parents and our classmates could be rescued successfully”
Lisa thankedthe spear tip of her fictional ardrasil
”No, Lisa, it's all thanks to your precision cover fire Then what's left is just destroying Yggdrasil in one go”
I held Iris' hand and turned to face Yggdrasil
But when I saw the giant tree's figure with its writhing roots, I instantly felt a chill along my spine
So a different aura from before
—Threat recognized, self-preservation prioritized
I heard Yggdrasil's voice in my mind
It remained a robotic and monotonous voice However, I could somehow feel a kind of intense emotion from it
”Nii-san, hurry and borrow dark on armament!”
But after hearing Mitsuki's instructions, I cast away all unnecessary thoughts
Yggdrasil's change was adht now
”Got it But firing froht?”
”Nothing to worry about We will use the saainst Hekatonkheir and use wind to blow Yggdrasil into the air Please destroy Yggdrasil while it is airborne, Nii-san”
Roughly three ard and that was the method we had used to destroy it
Yggdrasil was currentlyit into the air should not be difficult
”Understood Iris, we're up”
I called to Iris as glaring at Yggdrasil
”Yeah If possible, there's so much I still wanna find out about your ot no choice but to defeat it”
Despite showing a gloomy look, Iris whispered and nodded reluctantly
”Anti-dragon armament—Marduk”
I borrowed dark iant turret
”Special artillery, Megiddo!”
What appeared was a pre-civilization weapon that y could not replicate—Or more precisely, part of it
The barrel, extending ten-odd meters from its base, had wires and pipes exposed all over the place
”We will transdrasil into the sky! Counting down! Five!”
Seeing on arave orders to the Dragon Subjugation Squad
Apart from Iris andat Yggdrasil on the sports ground's edge
”Four, three, two, one—Attack!”
At Mitsuki's orders, the group perfor dark matter into air
Raging wind bleeeping up dust froiant body
On the other side of the dust, Yggdrasil's shaking figure rose into the air
Blown higher and higher, Yggdrasil broke through the cloud of dust and appeared under the sun
”Now is the moment, Nii-san!”
”Yes!”
Controlling the anti-dragon ardrasil in the air
However—
”!?”
The turret began to creak while shaking intensely My thoughts could not transmit successfully The aim deviated
Was this Yggdrasil's electronic interference!?
Clearly there should be enough distance between us and Yggdrasil, I was shocked
But my eyes, widened from surprise, had already captured the answer
Up in the air, Yggdrasil had extended towards here—Small branches
By extending its branches, it had expanded its range of interference!?
Most likely, it had extended its branches while the dust cloud was blocking our view
”Guh Fire!”
Thinking I must shoot before control was coiddo
The shell of blue radiance shot into the air while the barrel
—Strike!
I prayed in my hart
However, due to being fired before aidrasil's branches, sih in the sky
As though pushed by the blast, Yggdrasil descended upon us
”—Attack!”
Although Mitsuki issued orders anxiously, her raised fictional armament of a bow, Brionac, twisted in shape and transformed back into a ball of dark matter
This phenomenon spread to the others in a chain reaction
”My Gungnir!?”
Lisa's fictional ardrasil Dark ation Squad also fleay from their hands
While electronically interfering with irls' dark matter
By this stage, we no longer had away means to resist
”All units retreat! We drasil to create some distance!”
Mitsuki commanded and everyone instantly escaped
”Iris, we're running away!”
I gripped her hand firmly then broke into a run
”Y-Yeah!”
Despite nodding and running, Iris still looked at the sky with an expression of intense anger
The dark athered on the tips of Yggdrasil's extended branches
Despite running, I still looked up at the sky to watch out for Yggdrasil's movements
—Eliminate, threat
Hearing the voice in my head, I shuddered
I now understood the edrasil
It was killing intent
”Mononobe! So!”
Iris suddenly yelled urgently She had been keeping her eyes on Yggdrasil the whole time
Then Yggdrasil's killing intent h dark matter
The hacked darkinto countless tiny branches, scattering on the ground
”Everyone hurry and avoid them!”
Although it was too late for me to escape, I still cried out
I was neither able to dodge completely nor protect everyone
Soet hurt or die, that was the type of attack launched
But just as the branches extended with frightening speed, they suddenly changed trajectories before they could pierce anyone
”!?”
Iris gasped
The destination of all the branches was next to me
They were pointed at the girl as running, holding hands with me
Was this killing intent directed towards Iris alone!?
”!!”
Usingpositions with Iris in a rotation
That was all I could e in an instant
”Ack!?”
I felt a scorching sensation in n object, followed by intense pain that rocked my mind I released Iris' hand
One of the branches aimed at Iris had pierced my body
The other branches stopped before touching me
”Mononobe!”
Iris went pale and steadied my body with her hands
”Nii-san!?”
”Yuu!?”
I heard Mitsuki and Tia's voices from the distance
—Neun injured Eency Review response—
I heard Yggdrasil's voice in my mind The branch inMost likely, Yggdrasil did not intend to harm me in the first place
The extended branches returned to the falling Yggdrasil, writhing as though in a conundrum
”Gah”
I pressed ainstme dizzy I could not help but fall on my knees
”Mononobe You're bleeding, so ”
Tears spilled out of Iris' eyes while shewhat to do
I endured the pain and said to her:
”Iris—Run! Yggdrasil wants to kill you!”
Yggdrasil was falling towards the ground Its looer in my field of view
It as apparently unsettled as a result of har me But the attack just noas clearly meant to kill Iris
If it attacked Iris again, I would be unable to protect her
”able Unforgivable—”
However, Iris lared at Yggdrasil above
I felt a shudder along my spine
Even the sensation of Yggdrasil's killing intent could not compare to this
I was stunned by this pure fury, too intense
”I absolutely won't forgive you!!”
Iris raised her hand, instantly su a staff
It was her fictional armament—Caduceus
”Don't The dark drasil—”
I tried to stop her in a hoarse voice but e
Red—
Her fictional armament was supposed to be silver-white
But now, it was a vivid hue of red
This dazzling red gloas like the setting sun's
Not a minor discoloration caused by trans off red radiance
I recognized that color—That light
—Code Fünf, nized as successor to Basilisk
After I heard Yggdrasil's cold and emotionless voice in my head, the countless retracted branches aiain
It was clearly a lethal attack conducted with clear intent to kill
Too led in futility
However—
”Stay away!”
Accompanied by Iris' voice, the staff released a flash of red light
Since it was blindingly bright, I reflexively closedIris had all turned into dust
The severed ends of the branches were hardened and showed cracks
Indeed, this was the fast forwarding ability of the Basilisk ”Catastrophe”
Just as I had inherited Leviathan and Hraesvelgr's abilities, it was predictable that so Iris, I found it surprising but definitely not unexpected
However It was strange
We should be within range of Yggdrasil's interference
Suppose Iris was trans dark drasil should be able to interfere with the process
However, Iris' red staff was glowing continuously
Was it possible that Iris was producing that red light without using dark matter?
With feelings of disbelief, I looked up at Iris
She was sier
She was angry—for my sake
She was probably not even aware that she was using Basilisk's power
”I absolutely won't—forgive you!!”
Iris yelled eic staff of red
The dazzling light turned the world into the color of sunset
A cri body
The tiradually
—Sustained existence, impossible, abandon terminal—
I heard Yggdrasil's voice faintly, then the voice grew more and more distant
Even a dragon outside of coanise of time
Once the end of time was reached, only death's equality awaited
When the light vanished and drasil's form
Hardened, shattered, turned into tiny fragiant tree were scattered across the ground
”Huff Huff Huff”
Iris' shoulders heaved up and dohile she panted, staring at the sky where Yggdrasil had vanished
The red staff in her hand had disappeared Exhausted, she sat down on the ground
However, she i hand
”Mononobe Don't worry, we'll save you soon”
While I applied pressure to ently and stroked my cheek
”Iris—”
My consciousness had gone hazy fro and the sharp pain I called her name
I actually had a ton of questions for her but I no longer had the strength to speak
”Nii-san!”
”Yuu!”
”Mononobe-kun!”
Hearing everyone's calling voices and the approaching footsteps, I closed my eyes
”Mononobe Yuu! Pull yourself together!”
The last thing I heard was Lisa's especially anxious voice
Part 5
”Hey Jeane-chan, do you want to hear about so?”
This was a hotel near Frankfurt Airport in Germany
Inside one of the hotel roo on the bed, Kili Surtr Muspelheim spoke to Jeanne Hortensia who had just exited the bathroom
”No need, because what you find interesting are s that displease me”
Drying her wet hair with a towel, Jeanne replied
”Really? It's about Yuu”
”What? Did so happen to the Captain!?”
Hearing Kili's reed expressions in alarm
”Oh dear, you want to listen now? Very well, I'll tell you, actually According to the news just now, Yggdrasil appeared at Midgard”
Kili spoke with a smile
”What—Yggdrasil? How is the Captain!?”
”Who knows? The news report wasn't that detailed However, Yggdrasil was apparently defeated rapidly, so things are probably fine? Seriously You instantly become adorable whenever Yuu is mentioned”
”S-Shut up!”
Jeanne went red in embarrassment and covered her face with her towel
Seeing her like that, Kili laughed in delight
”Further Jeanne-chan, look at the television, the news hasn't ended yet”
Kili urged Jeanne while using the remote to increase the television's volume
”This is—”
Turning her gaze to the television, Jeanne was rendered speechless by surprise
'A giant tree has suddenly appeared on Mount Fuji in japan This is accompanied by unidentified electrical interference within a ten-odd kilometer radius—'
Shown on the television screen was a giant tree whose scale could not be deterlance It was even taller than Mount Fuji shown on the screen The treetop was hidden out of sight in the clouds
”So like this appeared in japan?”
”Yes, indeed Jeanne-chan, do you regdrasil, first appeared?”
Kili asked with a smile
”I re it at the base—Its first confirmed location was apparently japan”
”Correct answer What an interesting coincidence In drasil's main body”
Saying that, Kili pointed her finger at the television screen
”How do you know that?”
”—Because I know s you have no idea about”
After dodging Jeanne's question with an vague answer, Kili narrowed her eyes
”Jeanne-chan, our next destination is japan”
”japan”
Staring at the television, Jeanne murmured
”Indeed, where Vritra first showed up, it is also so the information on Hreidmar we found at the NIFL base, there were records that he had passed through this country So will surely happen to this country in the future”
Kili answered with a stiff expression then used the rely, she whispered softly and continued:
”I must be present there, in order to become—an existence worthy of him”