Accel World Vol 4 Chapter 10 (2/2)

Holding that beautiful weapon in stance, Cyan Pile was now, coupled with the color of his are-type duel avatar No, it was a coure that could already be a «swordsman»

……Taku

Haruyuki whispered that in a voice that didn’t form into a real voice

As if heading his thoughts, Takumu looked at Haruyuki for an instant and nodded Then, he once again turned to the front and directly put his right leg forward He positioned his sword halfway up with the expert hter

Aspirit was blown out violently from that step, and the aura in Noumi’s hands flickered

“…I see”

Even after receiving that fighting spirit, Nouitation could be externally seen He then ih

“Fufu, I see It’s because losing to , is that it? So you es into that kind of shoddy sword But well, if it’s a swordwith you for a little while”

And then Nou with his hands, and took the exact same halfway up stance

Haruyuki watched feeling half-surprised and half-coe stretched out and took the fore into the fore weapon, it probably could change into various fore in his mind

Although having the outward appearances of their duel avatars, the two of the the final match in the kendo club inner tournament last week However, there was no referee here Nor any protective ar in the balance was their very life as Burst Linkers

JIRI Both tiptoed forward and began to close the distance between them

In the space between their tord points, actual minute white sparks burst out and burned the air

The battle had already started Taku an «Override[2]» battle between theination

—Taku, believe in yourself!!

Haruyuki shouted that out in his mind, and at that instant

“—SEEAAAAAH!!”

“—CHEEEEEE!!”

Two spirited cries resounded loudly on the ht battlefield, and the two of theround simultaneously

Blue and purples trails were brightly drawn through the air, and their tords crossed each other from the front

GAKIIIIN! An intense impact sound Takumu’spower», hit away Nou These swords that greatly repelled each other swung down at the saain once more

Then, the two of them took distance fro up their halfway up stances again

Fro voice leaked out

“My,your best to use that hastily improvised sword, haven’t you?”

“Of course When it’s a kendo er than you after all”

Nouhed in a ‘Kukuku’ throaty voice in response to Takumu’s retort

“I wonder about that, senpai Do you think I wouldn’t notice? It’s obvious no matter how you try to hide it! You…have a fatal habit!!”

While shouting that out, Nourasped in his hand increased and extended with a ‘SUUUU’

Taking into account the force of the ely shot out a thrust, ai at Cyan Pile’s throat

“CHEIIIIIIN!”

Taku and tried to protect his throat with his blue sword’s blade But at that instant, Noued the trajectory of its thrust

BYUUH! An ear-hurting vibrating sound resounded, and the tip of the purple sword ht side

Nou that trajectory, a single pale spark flowed from Takumu’s wound

“Guh…”

Iroan, Taku attacks at Noumi’s forearm, other forear thing and precisely repelled the attacks

“Co your neck like that?”

Once again, a ‘BYUO’ roar was emitted and Noumi’s sword thrusted out It didn’t miss the moment when Takumu’s movements hardened for an instant, and this time the left side of his abdomen was cut up

——Taku, hang in there!!

Haruyuki shouted that out within hiainst the black vise he was in

The scars of Taku he received in his kendo class as an ele been used as a practice stand for thrusting while having his ar to hi fear in him

However, Takuive up kendo Takumu himself had said that it was because he didn’t have the willpower to give it up, but that wasn’t it He continued it because he liked kendo His love for it exceeded his fear Those feelings…

Believe in those feelings, Taku!!

He couldn’t have heard Haruyuki’s voice However, Taku body and—

He lifted up the sword in his hands Higher than his neck, and far above his head

A blue aura even bluer than the ht wrapped around not only the sword that was positioned above his head, but also all the way from his arms to his shoulders

Noulared from below at Takumu as his mind power’s «Over-Ray» wavered and he took a firm stance

“……What a transparent bluff Very well, if you want to leave your windpipe wide open, then…”

A dark purple Over-Ray gushed out with a ‘ZUAA’ from Noumi’s sword and arms

“……Just as you wish, I’ll pierce it!!”

Dusk Taker’s charge was faster than Haruyuki’s eyes could follow After stepping forward like a blur, he suddenly fired a thrust at Takumu’s throat that wasn’t a feint this time

Takumu—neither avoided it nor protected himself

Instead, he moved forward He received the point of the shich hid a certain-kill power in it with his thick left shoulder A deep hole was dug unto his armor and thin pale sparks flew

“Guh…”

A low pain-enduring voice leaked out from under his mask However, immediately after

“ZEAAAAAH!!”

With a force that shook the air, the «Cyan Blade» ung straight down

Nouht in an expected reaction, but he couldn’t coh the left side of his chest Although it was slightly shallow, red-purple sparks still shot out dazzlingly

“Tch…!”

As Nouue, Takumu showered him with even more attacks Just before the blue blade touched his mask, his purple blade unfortunately blocked it

Like that, the two of the swords Sparks fleed out like a waterfall frohtly illuminated their masks

This state of equilibriu a better physique and physical strength, Cyan Pile pushed his sword forith a jerk The Incarnate Syste to do with this result It was purely the power difference between a close range-type and an overall distance balance-type co out here

Eventually, Dusk Taker faltered as his right knee hit the ground

His blade slipped, and Takumu’s «Cyan Blade» approached Noue pressure, a fine crack ran through the white-tiled schoolyard Their two

Suddenly, a certain preh Haruyuki’s mind with a shi+ver

‘—Taku, dodge!’ An instant before he could shout that out

Noumi let out a sharp voice

“«Demonic Commandeer!!»”

SUBA! Along with that sound, a darkness with density was emitted from Dusk Taker’s lens-type visor in a whirl

It hit Cyan Pile’s mask fro, it invaded inside hi The blue avatar’s upper body bent back and stopped for an instant

«Demonic Commandeer»

That was the only inherent special technique that Dusk Taker had Its effect, which consule ability belonging to the targeted duel avatar, like their special techniques or an Enhanced Ars and had instead done a close-quarters battle fro for this

Cyan Pile did not have a system-like ability[3] And even two of his three special techniques were derived from his Enhanced Armament In other words, in the case that he received the «Demonic Commandeer», he would likely have both his «Pile Driver» and special techniques stolen all together with a probability of 75

If that happened—that «Cyan Blade», which was reconstructed from his steel stake due to mind poould also disappear

The momentary still state that covered the field felt like it was forever to Haruyuki

The darkness which should have flowed backwards from Cyan Pile’s mask and returned to Dusk Taker—

Didn’t occur

Instead

“…OOOOH!”

With a war cry, Takuht line

Noumi’s left arm was cut off froht before disappearing At the saround, bounded violently and rolled backwards by almost 10 meters

As one would expect, he iness with only his right hand However, as if displaying the agitation within his heart, the point of his sword trembled minutely

Pointing his brilliantly shi+ning blue blade at Noumi, Cyan Pile spoke

“You really are too greedy, whatever the circumstances are”

Haruyuki did not grasp the h he probably didn’t plan on explaining, Taku calmly

“—I’ve always thought it was strange Why you didn’t take Lih if you did, you would have all three abilities of «flight», «firepower» and «healing», and becos The reason for that is—”

As the eyes within his slits brightened with a ‘PIKA’, Takumu declared it

“Because your capacity is insufficient It shouldn’t be possible for an overly powerful special technique like «stealing the abilities of others» to have no restrictions Your «Deeneral potential of the abilities you steal and retain Because of that, you lack the capacity to take two rare abilities like «flight» and «healing» at once, even if you were to delete all the other powers you have Isn’t that right?”

Pressing down on the cut-off section of his left arht now, Noumi should be tormented by an intense pain that was double as experienced in the usual duel field Was it that he couldn’t ot about the pain?

While carefully pointing his sword at him, Takumu slowly closed the distance between theh the field once again

“—The person who coached me in mind power said this That most of Cyan Pile’s potential is comprised of this «pile driver» You surely estiet rid of your current free space as well if you stole ed the value of my «pile driver» incorrectly”

“……Fufufu, I see”

Although Dusk Taker finally let out his usual conteloos

“I see Although I said it before, that stick was ht? That…is apainful in the kendo club? Could it be that such a cool senpai like you was bullied in an unsightlyover there!!”

…Taku, those words are another of Noumi’s traps! Don’t listen!

Even though he was desperately resisting against the jet black vise that washard on him, Haruyuki shouted that out within his mind

Perhaps because of anger produced within Takuhtly However, he quickly regained control and responded in a calm voice

“—My own memories don’t amount to much Not when compared to the scars that made Dusk Taker, your avatar appear The reason you’re a «plunderer» is because you have nothing left inside you You steal everything because you’re an empty hole You also have probably already realized it Even if you take away the powers of others…no, their hopes, their friendshi+ps and love, the real reason you do that is because you can never have them yourself”

Once again, silence

The dark-colored avatar turned down his face deeply beneath the bluedown

Eventually, he rose up while feebly staggering While pressing down on his left shoulder, he slowly turned his face upward His entire body ed to intense shaking

“…Kukuku”

What leaked out frohter

“Kuku, fufufu…Hahaha, aha…AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

His whole body bending far backwards, Dusk Taker let out a burst high-pitched loud laughter

“AHAHAHAHAHA!! Nothing inside uy instead!!”

After laughing for a while, he began to talk like a dam had burst within him

“Since you people are clever, you raduation albuht? Yes, uy was the real plunderer Using his slightly large body and violence, he stole sweats and toys froer he stole my pocket money and New Years’with A co, fufufu”

He shook his head left and right two, three tiue continued

“…The first thing that that guy gave to lad and even excited That’s why, just as his first lecture finished, I felt disappointed when he said ‘Earn ten points every week’ But I would go through terrible experiences of real life violence if I refused I would desperately «duel» by going to depopulated areas and supply the points I gathered honestly to uy even tookfrom me in the process My «pride» as a human”

…No I don’t want to listen

Haruyuki held his breath, and tried to shut out froht with the to the power in the words themselves

…I don’t want to hear such a story No, I don’t need to hear it

—Taku, deliver the finishi+ng blow already Make it end We don’t need to go along with a story whose veracity is not certain No, it’s surely a lie A strategy to unsettle us

However, Haruyuki couldn’t help but understand

That Noumi’s story was the truth And that Takumu could not cut him down in this situation

Dusk Taker continued speaking to Cyan Pile who had stopped

“…But, even in that kind of situation, I collected points little by little for myself and raised my level And one day, I finally obtained my first special technique in this avatar that didn’t possess any significant power That was «Deot two other great powers Nae of the Incarnate Syste was harsh…my coach told me countless times that it was a waste of time But, I stuck to my hatred towards my brother as sustenance Yes, that ti that that guy…that my brother had stolen from me”

Kukukuku

That chuckle tinged with the sound of resenth the field

“—I called my brother to the Unli that, I tortured my shocked brother to death with mind power Since his HP disappeared a little too quickly for ht more on how to do it the second time After one hour passed and he revived, I was more skillful in how I killed him The excitement and pleasure I felt then can’t be described in words! The way he cried when his points finally ran out and he lost Brain Burst last of all…just reh even now…kuku, fufufu, AHAHAHAHAHA!”

After grasping his stomach for a while, Noumi raised his head up and shouted

“Nothing inside me!? An euy now!! An ex-Acceleration Ability User that has lost Brain Burst There is no other existence sadder and more pitiable than that! I’ Both in Accel World, and the real world Even the illusions like friendshi+p and bonds that you people believe in…”

The eyes within his visor glowed strongly

“—I won’t be left behind, but steal and rise up!!”

Along with that shout, Nou

On his left shoulder, there was so that shot out from the cut-off section of his arm at a violent speed like black snakes It was the three tentacles Enhanced Armament that he had equipped when he first dueled with Haruyuki He must have secretly recited the equip coenerate

The tentacles that could extend anywhere let out a roar and pounced, but it wasn’t towards Cyan Pile as standing in front of him Furthermore, it wasn’t towards Silver Croas squeezed within a vise either

It was towards Chiyuri—Li her body underneath the shadow of the distant school building and had not tried to speak a word until now

“Wha…”

Although he leaked out a short voice of astonishment, Takumu still reacted and raised his sword up to cut away the tentacles

However, one moment before he could do that

The tentacles, which quickly contracted like rubber, coiled around the leaf-colored avatar and hoisted her beneath his blade

GIshi+ Cyan Pile’s whole body jarred, and he stopped his slash The sword edge slightly touched the brile spark

The three tentacles instantly coiled around Chiyuri’s entire body and mercilessly constricted her

“……!”

The delicate avatar bent backwards and leaked out a pained gasp Added on to that gasp was Nou

“Fu, fufufu Did you think Ime? No way! I’m already aware that Lime Bell is a weak point of yours You have to effectively use any thing that can be used…That is the secret of «duels», right!”

“…You, bastard…”

As Takurowl, Chiyuri tried to say so to him However, the tentacles instantly coiled around her mouth several times over and halted Lime Bell’s words

“Now then, please throay that sword and cancel your Enhanced Armament as well”

After Nou voice

“…Li in our «Sudden Death Duel» You can’t e”

“Heh? Is that really so?”

Dusk Taker tilted his head

And casually grasped around Li with purple wave surge

GOGIN

And then a very, very unpleasant sounded resounded It was the sound of her thin yellow-green ar cut off from her elbow joint

“……————!!”

Lime Bell’s whole body convulsed and she let out a silent scream Her back bent backwards as far as it could two, three tiushed out from the cut-off section of her arm

Haruyuki’s vision was suddenly dyed a blazing red An overwhelgled to escape However, the black vise didn’t so er On the contrary, thethe pressure until noere disturbed due to his anger, they pressed against his shoulders even ly

“You…bastaaaaaaard!!”

Instead, the one that shouted was Takue avatar’s chest with a whack as he took a step forward It was Lih the air, it becaons and disappeared

“…You understand now, don’t you, senpai? She is Diving into the Unlimited Neutral Field for the first time In this world where we receive twice as much pain than in the lower order field”

He didn’t need to say that Right now, Chiyuri should be feeling pain that was equivalent to having her body’s ar the shock was, the slender avatar continued convulsing bit by bit

Before the eyes of the frozen Cyan Pile, Nouain

“…Also, if I keep doing this, her special technique gauge for healing me will also fill up”

Just as he said that, he pierced the tip of his sharp index finger into Chiyuri’s flank

Once again, her avatar sprang up greatly Even from beneath the tentacles coiled several times around herfrom her

Stab Again And then—again

Just before the fourth hole was stabbed into her

“……Stop it!!”

Takumu shouted in a low and broken voice

His whole body tre his sword and ar

‘—Don’t do it, Taku’, is what Haruyuki wanted to shout out But he couldn’t speak

“……Please, just stop…”

He spoke as ifThe «Cyan Blade» fell froround with a clear metallic sound

It then ih the air and was sucked into his avatar’s right arinal pile driver

Takumu murmured the unequip command, and then the Enhanced Ar that, Dusk Taker swung his left arm widely and threay Chiyuri towards a location far away

He no longer paid anyLime Bell

The dark-colored avatar charged straight at Cyan Pile and eht claws into his robust abdomen

DOBAH There was a wet set, and his black arm stuck out from Cyan Pile’s back

A rapid stream of pale blue sparks caered, pressed against his knees to hold hi his head

“It’s because you believe in a lie like «bonds»”

Quietly—as if seriously having pity for Takumu, Noumi’s voice resounded

“No, it’s because you act as if you believe in it, that you lost If you really had faith in each other, you would have cut ?”

—You’re wrong…you’re wrong, you’re wrong!!

Haruyuki fiercely struggled As he tried to escape froo save Takumu, sparks flew out froainst it, he cried out in an unspoken voice

—What do you understand!! There’s no way you could understand just how much Taku feels for Chiyu!! If he had cut down Chiyu as well there, that wouldn’t be faith, but just cold calculation!!

But, the black lumps on either side of hi to crush even his anger

—Why can’t I ht now, if I don’tI did until now…

“Sorry, boy”

From behind him, Haruyuki heard a quiet whisper It was the voice of the laminated avatar who had been completely quiet until now

“This technique stops your speaking as well as your movement Therefore, you can’t speak nor use any voice commands I would have liked to at least let you say words of farewell to your friend, but…Sorry”

Hearing those words that sounded like a serious apology, Haruyuki’s anger becah the inside of his avatar

ZUKIN His back hurt

ZUKIN, ZUKIN A lightning-like pain periodically spread out from the middle of his shoulder blades

He felt like he could hear so obstructed by the vise, it didn’t reach Haruyuki’s consciousness

If he couldn’t talk, he could only resist with mind poith his «Laser Swords» He knew that, but his pounding anger disturbed his concentration

In the schoolyard, Dusk Taker raised his right hand while facing Cyan Pile as on his knees

The wave surge of nothingness once again changed into a thin sword Making a ‘BYUBYUN’ sound, he cut doice

With a heavy sound, both of Cyan Pile’s arround A ushed out from his shoulders like a waterfall

Haruyuki heard a voice,

…Haru, I’m sorry

…I can’t fight anymore I’m truly sorry…

The tears that overflowed beneath Haruyuki’s mask blurred his vision Within his distorted screen, he could see Dusk Taker raising his sword high in order to deliver the finishi+ng blow

—Here

Is it going to end here? This is the ending of my…and also Takumu’s «Brain Burst»?

Those thoughts fell doith a plop within his mind

As if that was also a drop at the freezing point of absolute zero, the flaer becahts on his hands flickered, and vanished All sensation in his body went far away The feeling he had experienced several times before, the premonition of the phenomenon where an avatar stops in a standstill

…Ah, I see «Zero File[4]» So this is also an act caused by the Incarnate Systeates the heat of the heart, and changes an avatar into a cold lump

…Even if I noticed such a thing, there’s no longer anyto it

…No, that’s not right

If «Zero-fication» was the «Minus mind power» that all Burst Linkers could use, the opposite must also be true An avatar that couldn’t ination Even if—he was in a situation like this where he was trapped in a vise of absolute strength

Like that time once before, where he had spurred himself on with his tattered body while next to that person who had been sleeping on a bed of black thorns, and rose back up once again

With a ‘PO’ sound, a small fire was lit in Haruyuki’s chest

It wasn’t the flaer that he had felt many times until noards Noumi It hat could be called ‘will’ The pure power of the heart that Kuroyukihiht him

The s his entire body The connection to his limbs was restored

A blue radiance that also resembled a hot flame—«Over-Ray» was suddenly released from the thin seems and joints of Silver Crow’s mirror-like armor

However, without even being conscious of this light, Haruyuki tightly applied both his palms to the vise on either side of him

“Gu…uh…”

A low voice leaked out from his throat He mu