Vol 1 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5 - Area of the Fastest and the Strongest

Part 1

”Unh”

Awaiting Taiga's return to the real world was his little sister who rolled around groaning, he wasn't sure if it couldn't be classified as cute——probably He guessed

”just when did this place turn into demon world?”

If it had to be explained why he said that, it was because the rooed co

The nu in rams were deployed in every direction, on every wall, and even on the ceiling

Reality and cyber interled, it looked quite chaotic

”Fuyuki〜, are you alright—?”

He hesitated to get closer to the motionless Fuyuki, and called out to her He wa s afraid of cora down on the floor fatigued and her glossy black hair was scattered on it, the pretty girl feeling she usually had was ruined because of that

When he placed a hand on her forehead but it was considerably hot, but she see like intelligence heat, caused by overworking her brain

”seriously, so reckless”

He sighed, then he crouched and picked up Fuyuki's body

After that, he carried her to bedrooht she was, and laid her down on the huge bed Fuyuki curled up like a cat

”Unyaa”

She was in a state where she would need to keep her eyes open with small sticks But she somehow shook off sleepiness and rubbed her eyes

”My headit's so heavy”

”Keep lying down like you are now, I'll bring you so to drink”

Taiga was fah he wanted to let her go sleep as soon as possible, it couldn't be helped this time

He passed her a cup of coffee he brewed as a cure for drowsiness, he also added h it should still be quite bitter, bitterness should increase the effect and wake her up

”Uuhh it's been a while since I did my best like this”

Fuyuki continued to process vast amounts of information in her head ever since yesterday, except for a mo at an exceptionally fast rate

While Taiga's weapon was physical speed, Fuyuki's weapon was the speed she was thinking at

A capability of processing s in parallel, ability to deal with multiple events that was far beyond a normal person's, and an intuition, a sixth sense when it cas

On par with Taiga's 『Eye』 in reality, she had a 『Eye』 for the Elysion”

It wasn't so the human brain to its very limits

But it didn't change the fact that it was quite absurd

If her brain was used for a long time, she could collapse and wake up only three day after

”Good job, Fuyuki Thanks”

Taiga knew just how tired she was, so he stroked her head

Funya〜, she enjoyed the feeling with a char expression on her face for a moment, and shortly after she corrected her posture The look in her eyes became serious

”well then, let's get down to the main issue”

Taiga retracted his hand and looked at her, Fuyuki operated the ter athat projected a crystal

Theangle as it floated in front of Taiga's eyes, and a sed from its body

《”Subram 《 Synchro Infinity 》 sent from Tenryo Fuyuki 『 YES 』 or 『 NO 』?”》

”Let raht with the Reaper It perfectly fixes the malfunctions with Brother's body”

Even though fatigue obscured her thinking as she spoke Fuyuki had to tell thather own mind

”The studies Little Sister was involved in while at Karasuba was 『Synchronization of virtual and real body』 and she helped to h risk research has been frozen 《Synchro Infinity》 is without a doubt a dangerous program a researcher should never create”

”dangerous, and more specifically?”

”Life-threatening level dangerous”

His little sister answered instantly as she stared right at him

——It was not a domain he should step into with half-assed determination

”When it co move and you will become a cripple”

Fuyuki looked co

”This prograh risk no return for a normal person, completely pointless for them to use But Elysion specific ative effect on Brother”

”Specific mechanism?”

”Half of Elysion was ative feelings have been eliminated as much as possible They are either cut off or restricted, pain is a prime example”

”Well, no one would like to feel pain in a structure like 《Aries》 ”

You can get cut, crushed, burned, and so on If those feelings were left unchanged people would not be able to stand pain

”《Aries》 provides physical ability assistance according to rank, although it's a systeinal to the structure that helps you enjoy it, at the sainal”

It wasn't reality, so they dropped as unnecessary

That's why it was impossible to tune a virtual body to be exactly same as a real one

”In the first place, a normal person doesn't use their body's full perforht difference does not affect them but it's different when it comes to Brother's physical ability that was trained to the limit, and when it comes to our 『Eyes』”

For someone who has reflexes and dyna is nothing but an obstruction An error appears when the movement intended and actuallittle by little and eventually ends up disconnecting them

”So that's why I lost feeling in my arm”

”Yes That's how it is, the effect this prograram that creates that difference, it will continue to hack you”

”Hack me?”

”Full explanation would take three hours, but I'll omit that There are two e dealt to the electronic body is transferred to you If your are as if it really was cut off If you receive a horrible aht collapse”

Even though it has no effect on his real body if his virtual body is dae his spirit

A wound someone received in the past and the phanto afterwards is a perfect example

”Also the other one Because it continues to hack so that it can trigger the effect, the burden on the brain is tremendous Little Sister tried it but only withstood fiveas it went on untilIn Brother's and Little Sister's case, because of our 『Eyes』 the time limit is shorter than usual”

”Another thing that's restricting in various ways, huh”

Receiving attacks is bad on the tih

”I'm sorry, Brother”

Fuyuki apologized and bowed her head

”I tried to reduce the risk soht while using such a flawed program, Little Sister is the worst I am really sorry”

Painfully aware of her own shortco, Fuyuki continued with her head bowed down

If she was the one who used the defective crystal, it wouldn't matter because she would only risk herself

However, this tia The one risks and the one who is exposed to danger is the person was front of her

That's why, she had to say it

”whether you accept it or not, I leave the decision to Brother If you don't trust this program, and decide it's too risky——”

click ——he interrupted his little sister's speech by tapping 『 YES 』 Fuyuki was surprised, but Taiga didn't hesitate

”I swore That I would definitely save her Life-threatening? I am here thanks to Rui, I won't hesitate with just this much”

If he was unable to save her, Tenryo Taiga wouldn't be able to ever forgive himself If he broke his promise, he wouldn't be able to live any

”Also, I believe in Fuyuki”

”haa, geez, Brother is really hard to handle”

Fuyuki sighed, but she continued somewhat happily

The crystal shattered turning into sa's terminal

《Install started Three minutes left》

That's as displayed in the , it switched into a status screen that displayed progress They could only wait

And, Fuyuki's body suddenly tilted He wondered if it was because she has done everything she had to do It looked like she could no longer fight back against fatigue, and it surged all at once Her eyelids started to close

Thanking his little sister for the hard work she has done, he gently pat her head

”leave the rest to me I will definitely save Rui”

Calmed down by his words, her drowsiness increased as he pat her head——and Fuyuki smiled faintly before she entered the dream world

”I believe in you Brother”

Saying just that much, Fuyuki closed her eyes, and started to breathe sleepily a few seconds later He covered her looking at her relieved expression, and left the bedroom

He entered the dive rooh the ter in

”I'm prepared on this side”

〈”Okay Then please come to the school's structure at once The place will be that classroo to break the locks so you can come from the front”〉

All of his senses gradually switched over as he signalized the dive start

After logging in safely, he confiret and——he stepped into the compartment that was as deserted as in reality

Come to think of it, the first time I met Iora was here

At that tiram projector She didn't appear properly back then and her figure only flashed for a moment

if that didn't happen, I wouldn't be acquainted with Haya now

If he didn'tnow——useless thoughts filled his head as he tried to escape from reality

Maybe nothing would be happening now Such a convenient illusion came to him, but it faded away soon after

”You came”

The privatized classroom has become a weird space where a lot of s floated all over

Haya was i on the sofa like usual, she still wore the suit he saw the other day

Because she had the appearance of a japanese-style beauty, it didn't fit her

”A little longer and I'll be done Just wait for a moment”

Haya continued to hile operating at dozens of s at once, at an incredible pace without looking his way The fact that she completely concentrated on her as obvious

He sat on an edge of the sofa as to not to get in the way Taiga looked around daydrea to do in particular And, as he looked around he saw so that made him feel uncomfortable

”nn?”

A lot of s repeatedly appeared and disappeared——between thee He leaned towards it curiously, for some reason it wasn't operated

It was a picture And on it, there were two girls

Haya and Iora? No, but why is she wearing Kiritou uniform?

It looked like Haya was younger, he wondered if it was taken one or two years ago But it didn't

Haya aside, it eird that Iora earing a uniform Also the quality of Iora as captured in this photo, felt like she wasn't a hologra human

What did that mean——he wanted to look closer, but the photo suddenly disappeared

”Peeping is not good”

Haya was staring at him Apparently she finished her work, all the s she used for development disappeared the same way

”Did you finish?”

”We don't have ti the battle Theoretically it should delete Iora's 《Jail》 if she's dah”

As opposed to blood-like crimson, the crystal she had was sky blue

Though Taiga received it on reflex, it was sucked into his body the instant he touched the crystal And with that, the installation was complete

”I see Then next, is my job”

With that, everything was ready

Taiga ed into a long coat, at the same time he checked if his nodachi showed up by his waist

”about the picture, don't you want to know?”

Haya asked cautiously as he was preparing for battle After looking back at her, Taiga honestly answered

”I won't say I'm not curious about it, but it seeet an answer”

Just by looking at her, he could tell that she was depressed and in a bad state He wasn't that insensitive to probe any further in that direction

”You too are suffering because of so I think you want to help Iora no h for you to cooperate with us So both of us have so ant from the other”

They are partners who had just met a few days earlier There was no reason to trust each other

”One of us uses the other That's the relationshi+p between us right now, right?'

He simplified it, no, he simplified it too much, even Haya was surprised by what he said

”that's surprising Looking at you your relationshi+p with your little sister and Saionji-san , I thought you easily trust people and pushi+ng an idea on you would be piss easy You're ht you were”

”If it's to save Rui, I won't care about what you are really thinking”

In these words, Haya noticed a glimpse of a similar nature to hers

Probably, in order to save Saionji Rui, this boy will act without hesitation Just like her, who didn't care if she was to make the entire company into her enemy if it was to save Iora

Both of thehts and determination

why is she that attached to Iora, I think I can understand a little

Part of the wall changed as Haya snapped her fingers, it changed into a shi+ning white door It was big enough for one person to pass through it, and he couldn't see what's inside

”This place and 《Aries》 are teh, I'll disconnect it You'll be able to contact me from the other side, when you're done, call me”

”Yeah, got it”

Taiga took a step towards the gate he couldn't see anything through And he heard a voice from behind his back

”Taiga, it's an order You oes to waste, I won't forgive you”

”I get it It's not just yours, I also carry Fuyuki's share over here”

Taiga entered the transfer door, setting his foot into 《Aries》 once again

”——I decided long tiain”

Part 2

rustle ——He felt hard soil with his feet Apparently it was dayti fiercely

Here and there on the plains, huge swords were stuck in it Even though they fought with the Reaper in this place the previous day, it felt like it was a long tio The darkness was much more dense in this place before

the date, it was really fun

It was the first tiirl of the sae In between the memories of his brutal daily life, it was a htly

Living together with his little sister, playing with a friend, everyone laughing together

Such a normal, every day life was extremely precious, he understood that That's why——

”I won't forgive you bastard”

In the direction he looked to, was soe sickle al as her dress was lowered, an existence that looked like a girl

He received no answer

Dead——her eyes had no light in them, no intent, and her hair colour was also in harmony with that word There, was a Grim Reaper in front of him

〈”Virtual body confirmed”〉

Her head rotated to face his way, an inorganic cold sound was emitted

That figure, that sound, they caused a treer to well up inside of him

That thing robbed him of it

The daily life he recovered after waiting for eight years, her bright and warm smile that reminded him of the sun

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath

3, 2, 1 together with the countdown he roused all the cells in his body

〈”assessment of situation, experiment re——”〉

”——A thank you gift, for what happened e first met!!!”

In an instant, he juht in front of the Reaper and dealt an explosively powerful blow to her with his left fist

He ignored her unnecessary operation and stopped it with his fist, the Reaper barely reacted to it As her shoulder was hit her delicate body was blown over twenty meters away

If it was the real world, that bloould have crushed her shoulder bone

Whether it was caused by 《Jail》, or whether it was Iora's original characteristic, the Reaper was more durable and the bloasn't that effective There wasn't a single scratch on her, not tofatal

The Reaper tried to stand up, but was bound at a furious speed,

”And one more blow!!!”

And with his tremendous speed he drilled his fist into her body, and slaround

Her back was nailed to the ground, and a loud impact echoed, in the middle of which was the Reaper But, even with that she barely sustained any dae

〈”Resistance confiret harmless recommended”〉

”Wa——”

Taiga intuitively realized that it didn't work, and he half-turned his body while clicking his tongue, and looked for the sickle's strike While trying to cut her neck at the same time, he blocked the sickle

That's as far as the first et me

After receiving the strike with his sword, hefrom the flank

Because her posture was not too good a light hit was enough As she was standing up, Taiga held his nodachi vigilant and kicked off the ground

CLANG!! Both of theh pitched htly, but the nodachi had less power behind it and was pushed back, the cutting edge of the sickle grazed Taiga's clothes and hit the ground

——He knew That as he is right now he couldn't win against Reaper

Rather than to say he eaker, it was that he couldn't use his greatest strength

There was no significant difference between their speed, which was his greatest weapon If he received a blow from the front it was obvious he would be pushed back

The time limit of his trump card, 《Synchro Infinity》 was five e

Which h

There's no other way than to endure it for now!

If he a's defeat

The sickle and nodachi a was forced back every time

Even so, Taiga parried the sharp sickle strikes without wasteful ain

Rather than to win, it was offensive to make sure he won't lose

Although she couldn't have guessed Taiga's intention, Reaper's attacks continued to gain a paid full attention as well

”Nhthis brute force, where does it come from!”

In response to the sickle's slash from the front, he retreated ten meters away from her

They had exchanged around thirty blows already, yet neither of therazed each other While the Reaper pushed hia competed with his skills and experience

Nothe Reaper is, her attacks were si himself it was not difficult

”Fuu——”

It ht be called a stalemate, but the fact that it continued was because he devoted himself to defence He didn't use any tricks or skills to breakthrough

Taiga opened his endlessly sky blue eyes wide,

”It's my turn from now on!!!!”

He threw over a th

If the opponent was a hus, their face would be dyed with shock

Because the blade rotated at a high speed like a deep blue bullet Even if it was Elysion there should be a limit

Less than a second before it reached her neck——the sickle reacted just in time to flick away the sword

Even though the Reaper was ah speed intercepting it whilea posture she can't use much force in It wasn't a feat a human could possibly pull off

”Haaa! You're full of openings standing like that——!!!”

And, using that opening the boy delivered a bloith his fist to her

As if the flow of time was completely different, as if he knew the reaction of the opponent beforehand, Taiga launched at her and sunk his fist deep into the Reaper's unprotected belly like it was an artillery shell

The posture the Reaper was standing in wasn't fit for defending herself, and she rotated three times——

”Fly away!!”

As she rotated, and together with his loud voice, she was hit by an uppercut and bloay into the sky

It wasn't justhis legs like a spring, ah thethe punch hit her internal organs, crushi+ng her

〈”Body dae, 10”〉

The Reaper's body bent and was thrown up ten netic wave rippled through her

The Reaper emitted a sound, a screae she accuo easy on her

He bent his knees lightly, and kicked off the ground, ju

Taiga easily overca in the air with perfect tiirl's body with the speed of sound

〈”Body dae, 15”〉

The supersonic slash caused a shockwave, and the Reaper screaain While she tried to raise her sickle and resist, Taiga grabbed her hand not allowing it

”It's the first aerial fight, Reaper!!!”

He twisted his entire body, and slashed with all his strength at the Reaper's s for the shoulder

The Reaper had no way to resist, and was knocked straight into the ground head on like lightning

The continuous attacks would kill a normal human ten times already

Taiga landed after finishi+ng the chain of inhuround as dust has risen from the shockwave after Reaper's fall

His, swordsmanshi+p——it wasn't just techniques that only used the sword

His entire body was a weapon, at times he used solid slashes, but his swordsinally, it was just huh, but in ht And as such inhued

I don't know if I'll defeat her with this

He didn't think she would coe dealt

He looked at the other side of the dust cloud vigilant——and stood up all at once

Find her, if he doesn't, he'll die

As a split second alar him of the threat, he juh force to bloay the dust, and engraved itself into the ground on the plain ahead

〈”Body daet extermination recommended”〉

The Reaper rose up like a ghost while holding a sickle that swayed like a flame

《Jail》 that was confined within the sickle leaked out, looking like a crimson flame

Seeing the red sickle slowly rise up, Taiga shouted

”flying slashes, give ——!!”

While spitting curses, he kicked off the ground and accelerated

The two slashes released just that a was earlier and left deep scars in the ground

Without stopping his legs, he ran in a circle around the Reaper whilea certain distance The Reaper casually continued to release a stora

”If I'm hit by this I'll be eaten by a virus and it'll be the end! This is so messed up damn it!”

The Reaper's attack was unusual enough to cause Taiga to lose his composure Even so, he still continued to observe the attack and analyse it in his head

The speed of the slashes, the interval between two blows, the time required to rotate and how proportional it was to distance he continued to cram it all into his head, and instinctively devised tactics

He wasn't stupid enough to think about slowing down even for an moment, he instinctively knew that

”———!!!”

As he was getting closer to her, she thrust at his belly

Taiga obstructed the thrust with the sheath, and as he dashed she released another slash He avoided it in the very last razed his cheek, and ju the next two slashes

The Reaper tried to fix the direction of her attacks, and continuous strikes stopped for ain an instant

With a sheath in his hand, he stopped after reaching her and intended to cut her in two But then, in a distance just a step away, it appeared

”Wha——?!”

Fro, the crimson substance that covered it bubbled violently And pebbles sed one after another

He could never forget that That's what Rui was using——

As Taiga was stunned and showed an opening, multiple stones turned into blades, and his visibility was dyed white