Vol 7 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5 – A Fight of Katanas

The sound of the ringing bell pierced through the air at noon A newof lunch break The shouts of Military Artists filled the air Hundreds of Military Artists shouted with internal Kei, creating a huge noise that shook the air

Siave the order to attack

”Forward!” Vance shouted The front line team, the 2nd platoon took the lead At the sah speed created waves of impact that spread out in the battlefield

”We have similar numbers of people”

Myath had around 200 Military Artists, close to the number in Zuellni The main problened 30 Military Artists and a suitable number of Psychokinesists to reinforce teaned a defensive job They would receive aid from the Psychokinesists located in the center of the city in order to fight back Myath's infiltration teaht between lead eleoal could be seen fro in the middle of the city The conditions for victory were either to take over the central command post or to destroy the Mechanical Department of the other city Of course, Military Artists fro they could to prevent destroying the other's Mechanical Departeneral city too That was because the destruction of the Mechanical Depart norh the city that had lost its seleniuuilt inferred was less than ould co the Mechanical Depart key to victory was to overtake the Co of the Student Council Keep on ht to obtain the fluttering flag of the other city On a certain level, the Military Arts Coe scale platoon ht on the outskirts wasn't the key to victory The s up the infiltration team was decisive to the outcome of the battle

”The second wave is to switch with the lead element Cannon tea to attack us”

The cannon teaan its preparation At the saathered their Kei

”Now!” Vance coan its retreat Zuellni's gun fire stopped the lead ele their best Whirl Kei

At a place that was slightly away from the battlefield –

”How's it?” Sharnid said

”Wait a bit more Wait till the wave coht with a pair of binoculars She and the others, wearing protective suits for outside city use, were located beneath Zuellni'sthe city from outside the contact point wouldn't break the rules And outside city gear use was permitted In truth, Myath would probably also have an infiltration teay since the fighting power of the infiltration team didn't amount to much If the teay Still, the value of an infiltration team couldn't be denied But Vance had sent Nina and the others for infiltration work because he wanted to win in the less not to win In that way, Nina felt the saht back If they can smoothly distract the ene at Gorneo who stood beside her

He nodded silently

In the end, Gorneo and Shante had replaced the vacancy created by Layfon Nina didn't tell Gorneo why that change was iven a special ns of incomprehension Since Gorneo had replaced Layfon, he probably no the reason behind it, but he gave no objection to the change of plan

”The second wave has begun,” Naruki said She had taken over the job of observing through the binoculars

Since all e scale Kei techniques

”Good, then we'll get closer”

Along with that, their outer city gear was of the old style Old helmets that weren't made for Psychokinesis support to widen the field of vision But, since they couldn't find anyone with Felli's ability to track over a large area, they had to move without Psychokinesis support

Underneath Myath, the team shot out ropes to hook onto the pipes under the city They climbed up to the outskirts of Myath

Another world showed outside the helo,” Nina said All h speed for the building of the Student President

◇

The Intercity war had begun

”And I”

Felli had no other thoughts than shock The city on the other side of Zuellniin the air and hear the sound of fights It really had begun

”Did he plan it this way?”

Haia ht before kidnapping her But then, why?

”For the HaikizokuBut why must he kidnap me?”

If she had to find a reason for it, was it because she was a Psychokinesist? Zuellni's fighting strengthPsychokinesist like Felli But what good would this do for the Mercenary Gang? Did they know the Haikizoku was now in Nina's body? Were they planning to use the Student President's sister to exchange for Nina?

”I never thought I'd drag everyone down” She bla to predict this outco without her Dite Now all she could do was let loose the few flakes she had and check the outside situation She could use the Kei storm if she had the Dite

(Wait)

The Mercenary Gang was the one that kidnapped her They hters here in addition to the nu bus A Psychokinesist wasn't enough to fight them Besides, her Psychokinesis had been sealed

”Unbelievable” she sighed, shocked and feeling insulted

In fact, she didn't need the Dite to use Psychokinesis because of her inborn a didn't seem to have discovered that yet A san to shi+ne as she attempted to release Psychokinesis

”Uh”

As that feeling was about to seep through the room, an intense sound that hurt her head assaulted her She had no choice but to drop her power

”Fer's Psychokinesist

It was a usual tactic used during platoon match to interfere with the Psychokinesist and reduce the detective functions of the other tea over the ene Fer her Psychokinesis cut off Her bad luck was to fight against an experienced other It was the saht the first platoon But she had yet to coh her eneed to see through the other's trap However, she would be in a terrible disadvantage if the other possessed both power and experience In other words, she had th was beyond hers, particularly now that she didn't have her Dite Felli gave up resisting and waited

Pain reainst the wall

”So I can only wait for rescue”

Would anyone co her wasjust leave her hereIf it was for negotiation, her brother would come? That was thethe Gang's true objective If their aiht come

”Fon FonWill he save hts stopped there Layfon was obviously shaken when Nina wentFelli didn't want to see how shaken he orry but she couldn't just leave him She did all she could to support him instead Would he worry about her like that time? Would he save her? She realized her pal flitted in the depth of her brain What was the relationshi+p between her and Layfon? Soh her body whenever this question came up Classmates in the same school? Friends? Comrades in the same team? Senpai and junior? Male and female? Romance? Lovers? She understood well the possibility of each candidate For someone as slow as him, he probably would never realize unless she told hihtforay Why Why was he so slohen it cas? That was incomprehensible

(Aaa, reallyI hate this)

Felli's heart swayed left and right because of Layfon She said nothing furthermore buthit the roa bus

”What”

The second wave of irab hold of the edge of the bed The roa?

”What”

She used Psychokinesis reflexively, forgetting Fer her power, but no interference was forthco? Or that Fer were outside the roa

”Layfon”

Layfon was fighting! A large roa bus station, tied by a sturdy rope It swayed and made metallic noises every ti in front of that roa bus

”So you did come alone,” he said

Layfon surveyed him and everyone else with euys I alone ah”

”Ha, you still like to joke If you provoke uarantee that lady's safety”

Black, yet Layfon didn't back down

”Give it a try if you're bold enoughBut please also seriously consider whether you can then live in this world”

Layfon's right wrist suddenly disappeared Explosions and a tragic yell sounded in the path of his stretched wrist Layfon's Kei had hit one of the Gangfor Haia

”I'ht you Release Felli-senpai afterwards I can guarantee the safety of everyone here The Student President will not ask after this offense”

That was true If they took offense at the Mercenary Gang's actions, they ht And if anything happened in the key h to handle then the contract to continue teaching Zuellni's Military Artists He'll also negotiate the payment Unlike me, the Student President is very kind”

Layfon didn't care whether the Gang would accept the suggestion He was just using Zuellni's attitude to keep the Gang froood, but there's one ht?”

The condition was for Layfon to use the Katana

He wordlessly took out the shi+m Adamantium Dite ”It isn't difficult to betray one's beliefs That can be done anytime But it's different when it's forced”

Restoration The dark blade seeht of noon

”This can't be settled carelessly”

”Just as I wanted,” Haia restored his Dite

Katana and Katana Both fighters used the Psyharden technique Layfon's shi+m Adamantium Dite had a safetyof the blade However, Haia's Dite had no such limitation The rest of the Mercenary members couldn't predict the effect caused by this difference Perhaps this was enough to decide ould win this duel

The two of them lifted their weapons at the sa to strike as they ainst the 10th platoon see itself Nu paths lay in the space between the two Having inherited the same moves, the two of them could easily predict the direction of the other They could probably judge the other's plan through the weak change in breath and make adjustments to react to that intention They stayed like that in a stalemate for a while

”Aaaa~h”

”Arrr-”

Both shouted at the same time and ran for each other The ed in a fight of Kei as if they were trying to destroy the weapons in their own hands

”Aaaaaaaaaa~h”

Perhaps this ithin predictions After the first strike, the advantage fell to Layfon Haia's cut path didn't work against hih Haia's Kei ed by that Kei and deflected

Haia's body flew a long distance away He e of the city However, Layfon's attack continued He had chased after Haia to execute his second strike Haia blocked that strike with his full strength and tried counterattacking, but Layfon remained rooted on the spot as if his feet had fused with the earth This meant that every ti Haia a step back Chaotic Kei flows enveloped the space between them

Suddenly, Kei that stirred like a lively creature appeared above their heads, gradually creating a whirl in the air So was about to reveal itself

”No!” Fer froht on Haia

External Kei variation – Snake fall

The Kei trapped Haia inside it, swept hiround and flew him to the outskirts of the city But Haia wouldn't just leave it at that ”Ahahahaha!”

He drew the blade close to his waist and pressed on the blade with his left hand A flash appeared on the Katana Flames shook on its surface!

That was just a quick illusion Fla on the blade touched the fire-triggering device set on his left hand The strike hidden behind that flah Layfon's typhoon

Psyharden technique – Flame cut

The problee of the outskirt and Layfon didn't hesitate to cancel the typhoon but kept pressing on He had no choice but to make a swift decision This arena had beco Kei But the space of movement in front of Haia had been sealed In that case? He suddenly understood his opponent's intention

”Fine As you wish”

He leaned back, his feet holding onto the edge of the city He could just barely round far below hiree, Layfon was before him

The Kei exploded in his feet Internal Kei variation – Whirl Kei Haia ju close behind, Layfon also leaped off Zuellni's edge

◇

Savaris felt it, the presence of Kei that rose like the ocean's waves

”It's begun”

”Eh?” Leerin lifted her head to look at hi close to the contact point It was a musical arena altered fro out the so”

”Ah, ok,” she followed hiet to the other side?”

They moved outside underneath the noonday sun Leerin squinted, feeling a little dizzy At this distance, even a norht at the contact point Thrown into chaos by Zuellni's second wave, the Military Artists of Myath had now recoan their counterattack The situation was still a staleh Leerin didn't know much about the details of a war, she could tell how difficult it was to get past the large crowd of Military Artists without being detected

”I reme me”

”Then, excuse e with one hand and carried her with another A light jump took theht should be about it?”

”Uh, excuse ain?”

He smiled at her uneasy look then fell into silence

”Oh yes, Leerin-san, you don't look like you're good at sports Can you hold your breath for one minute?”

”Yeah, if it's that level,” she nodded, feeling like a fool

”That's good then,” he crouched as if he was doing stretching exercise He shouldn't be able to do any high speeda person, but

”Hold your breath now and please hold on tight~”

Her body naturally tightened as she held her breath Confirathered in his knees and jumped

It wasn't a leap to fly past the contact point It was a leap upward into the sky that took them up to the liht beneath theht

(nobody should notice e're this high)

If they had ht have detected Leerin's breath But no one would think that someone would infiltrate a city from outside the air shi+eld

(But)

Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang had successfully distracted Layfon, the only person that Savaris orried of noticing the on Sakkei to mask his and Leerin's presence Even if he was found out later, the other side would've thought it a fig perforht and the impact created by Kei had put the ate pressure above him, he used the airflow to aid hih he was blown a little bit this way and that in the ated to land in Zuellni

The landing was quiet He tapped Leerin's shoulder

”It's ok now”

”Eh?Eh?” she had closed her eyes during the jump She looked around ”Thisthis is?”

”Yes, Zuellni”

”” her feet touched the ground She looked at the buildings before her, numb ”This is where Layfon is”

She had finally arrived, but at a place she was unfaave her hesitation, and she stood, forgetting to react But she at last came to and turned around to bow deeply before Savaris

”Thank you very much”

”No no, I only did it to keep the proh the Queen's order still held, he'd just let Leerin think otherwise His decision actually didn't have any deep reason behind it It'd be troublesome if the Military Artist he met in Myath was a student of Zuellni The information that Savaris had been in Myath would leak out one way or the other Perhaps Layfon already kneas there In that case, Leerin's actions to keep this event a secret would be less

Savaris planned to stay in Zuellni and eventually bring the Haikizoku back to Grendan That was the Queen's order but Leerin had no need to know of it Not only that, Savaris had made up a lie to buy himself time

(I'm just of this level)

He had never viewed hihter, and he hter

(SoDoes thatisolated?)

That was for Layfon Leerin was the person who of the truth Hoould she affect Layfon? Or perhaps he wouldn't be affected at all? Savaris wanted to know just out of curiosity

”Anyway, you better find someplace and hide If you find a shelter, stay there and don't ot it Thanks very much”

”Then, take care,” he said and disappeared ”Next, tiet so ago to reach that place – Zuellni's facilities for travelers The remnants of Kei waves were limited to the outskirt areas The air in here was still as always He could hear the sound of the fight drifting fro bus stood in the bus station, surrounded by a number of Military Artists They e arrive?” he asked, and everyone else turned to him with shocked expressions It appeared no one had noticed hi Sakkei

”Is my request too difficult?”

Yes, there existed a level of difficulty in his request However, Layfon hadn't noticed hi the city This meant he had been lured to so him on his own, and that was of his own volition He did so that didn't suit his position as the leader of the Gang His na,” Ferht be a story behind it, but Savaris had no interest in listening toin that content On the other hand, he turned his gaze to the direction where he felt Layfon's presence Internal Kei strengthened his vision and helped hih he's been exiled, he's still a rare elite”

”Thanks I'm sure if he heard that himself, he'd be happier”

Two irl as about Savaris' age ran to the edge of the city and looked at Myath in desperation Her level wasn't as good as Savaris, but she tried all she could to strengthen her vision That desperation of hers orth the ad what looked to be the city's unifor silvery hair was a beautiful face But Savaris' interest wasn't on her face He felt that this girl possessed an extreo here?” She said to Ferer

”Yes, but I can't return the Dite to you yet If you enter the fight, he ht not keep to the promise”

”Is that so?” she said and left

It see interest in the girl, Savaris turned his gaze back to Myath

(Layfon, allow lued to the fight between Layfon and Haia from now on

◇

A blink of an eye was all the time it took him to reach Myath, his body exposed to the pollutants Before the burning sensation subed itself in his body, he had entered Myath's shi+eld and the pollutants dissipated off his body Haia landed on the outskirt of the city as Layfon entered the air shi+eld

Layfon attacked, using the momentum of the Whirl Kei Haia countered with Flae explosion sounded Different fro on Haia's blade His Dite was a combination of steel and Ruby Dite This was his special h the Ruby Dite to form flames

”Don't think I'm still the same as before”

Shock showed on Layfon's face at Haia's fighting stance This wasn't a Psyharden technique In a sidle, Haia hid his fatal point with his arm drawn up, the handle of the blade above his shoulder, the blade pointing doard The fla his Kei flow Layfon didn't ht have understood the iin,” HaiaShadows The presences scattered around threw themselves at Layfon

Layfon stood firht shake of the very tip of his Katana Having seen through the cut path that swung to his right hand side, he juave chase The two of them headed deeper into the city

They crossed blades a number of times in the air Haia's sword technique ht confirh none of Haia's moves had yet to injure Layfon's fatal points, Layfon was surprised at his opponent's special attacks If he could grab hold of the opening shown through the releasing of the ly, he should be able to deal quite soth was different Layfon took the Heaven's Blade title through the power of Kei that he was born with He couldn't possibly have finished Behemoth if he relied on technique alone

Haia's flame Kei and his non-Psyharden technique created cut paths that alent beyond Layfon's expectations One would reflexively follow a certain defensive pattern because one was faed his attack at the lastunexpected

The two of theht above Myath Layfon could defend well if he could read the other's Internal Kei flow But the heat from the Flame Kei blurred his vision In the end, he could only react by instinct, and consequently, he was reacting according to Haia's attacks This was the disadvantage born out of the two of the from the same Military Arts school In addition, he had less experience than Haia and the influence of Psyharden pulled that gap further apart Attacking Haia's psychology in the last fight ht have been key to Layfon's previous victory

”Tsk!”

In that one swift moment when the two Katanas crossed blades, Layfon made a feint, a kick at Haia's stomach, and pulled open a little distance between theather Kei to his left hand External Kei variation – Nine bullets

He shot out four Kei arrows, but Haia twisted his body and evaded all four attacks On the other hand, the side-effect of the move made Layfon's feet stand on air for a h Whirl Kei

External Kei variation – Flame Snake

As part of the Snake Fall variation, the typhoon of flahout his entire body while he resisted the pressure generated by the wind, atte to leap for the opposite direction before the flaet closer to Layfon They swung their Katana at the same time

”Aaaaaa~”

”Haaaaa~”

Psyharden technique – Flame Cut

Sa around thee amount of Kei hidden in the blades clashed and deflected their opponents

Forced to fend off Flath had fully recovered As such, that had created an opening for Haia It was just a very sht not be less than 1/100 of a second, but this tiny aht be able to determine one's life and death

Haia immediately took a step forward

Psyharden technique – Flaer, hurriedly retreated Blood spurted from Layfon's left wrist

◇

At the sahtly somewhere in Zuellni

”I fail to help at all”

This wasn't just about her being kidnapped No ret the past She was happy to see Layfon coht Haia because of her She still didn't knohat Haia's aim was, but reality was that Haia had kidnapped her Theto do noas to let Layfon know she was safe

Felli headed for the building of the Student Council

She had decided not to head for a shelter Besides, she'd be reproved if she went there Even though she had a reason to evacuate, she had little to defend against her current situation Shefor a shelter did little to help her make contact with Layfon

(Student Council)

She needed a Dite She would find one in the Student Council building However, Myath's infiltration teaainst Zuellni's defense line That would put considerable obstruction in her path Felli halted her steps

”Fu”

She could use Psychokinesis even without the flakes She regulated her breathing and her hair began to shi+ne Though her senses eak, she had soed to take stock of the situation A Dite would provide her with more accurate information, and with a Dite, she could aid Layfon and let Nina know she was safe She had thought of taking over someone else's flakes, but that task still required a Dite