Vol 12 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2: The city of descending shadow

The bike continued to run, but the hand of the te near the top, and he could feel the heat of the tires beneath his feet He ht have to abandon the bike and run back to Zuellni It was impossible to return without a speed that was as fast as the bike's And if he did that, he th before he reached Zuellni So, before all these happened

Layfon blocked Savaris' Kei shots with the Katana The other Heaven's Blade successor was riding his bike ahead of hi on the bike with his foot on the accelerator, his body leaning in Layfon's direction Layfon shot back his Kei as a return gift and Savaris took the attack with external Kei

They continued to exchange explosions between them

In the next moment, Savaris had torn apart the screen of dust to appear before him His expression was clear behind the helan his attack

Left fist

Layfon quickly took evasivepast his helmet The wind pressurethe shi+ past Layfon's side The bike shook violently, its speed suddenly reducing Savaris had grabbed the rear of the bike with his injured right hand He turned his body around and sent a kick at Layfon with only his right hand as support

Layfon jumped Savaris followed

Fist and blade clashed The hammer of a fist and the strike of the Katana shattered the air and threw off sparks Savaris was trying to find a chance to destroy his opponent's vision device At the sa for an opportunity to send Savaris' vision device flying The two of them attacked to protect their devices

Layfon landed on the bike He attacked with his foot and Savaris avoided it by returning to the sky The enemy next kicked at Layfon's jaw He then moved his left arth and reflexes ca for close quarters combat His vertical body spin became horizontal Layfon sensed bloodthirstiness behind his head and quickly bent doith his neck, but the next kick was ready for him

This style of battle was natural Savaris' real strength lay in his bare-handed close quarters combat rather than with the Heaven's Blade It was natural for hiht with a suitable distance

Above the bike, Layfon and Savaris fought, each executing top-notch techniques

Savaris' figure vanished from the path of Layfon's sweep-kick He jumped to return to his own bike But Layfon's attack followed straight after He deflected it with his left fist and sent out a huge ball of Kei to counterattack

If Layfon didn't stop this attack, the bike nore this though, but the ball of Kei wasn't aimed at him It flew past Layfon's left hand side

Because of the recoil of firing off that huge ball of Kei, Savarisback onto the bike His Kei caused a distant hill to explode The smooth surface of the hill that was shaped by wind and rain split apart, and the thing that sustained the hill was destroyed The earth stirred A bad premonition rose in Layfon

”You mean it?”

Fermaus' electronic voice was devoid of emotions, but Savaris could still sense the reproach and shock in it He looked at the shed

”The spectator didn't find this interesting That's unexpected!”

He truly did find this unexpected Had Fer not had this experience? If that was the case, they should hire people who had fought and defeated filth monsters alone

”If that hill collapsed, even you'd be buried”

”Yeah, I know”

So that hat his doubt was?

”But isn't it unfair if I' his last word ”But if I were ok, what if he abandoned his bike and took mine?”

It looked like Savaris' purpose was to coht he only did this to prevent Layfon fro Zuellni ahead of him, even at the cost of his life

”Coet the thing?”

” The plan has failed”

”Aaaa, but you're still irl, aren't you?”

” You knew?”

The rolling sand and soil were closing in, he could only speak the key points Fermaus paused for a little while

”We've promised”

”Promised what?”

”It's better that you don't know,” Fermaus cut hi sounded in his ears

Fer but Savaris lacked the patience to listen to him He must use this opportunity to avert the crisis He couldn't suppress the excite, you'd definitely live a life that wouldn't be what you wanted That's what I think, even though that's what I wish for!”

The bike flew Sand slid beneath the tires The bike landed and shook With his foot on the accelerator, Savaris used his own balance to drive the bike Layfon was doing the same behind him Bloodthirstiness stimulated his back His heart thumped expectantly The excitement threatened to burst froe ruhter

◇

At this time, Mifi was uneasy Meishen had been sent to the clinic after fainting due to exhaustion Her childhood friend, who used to sleep beside her, was gone, but she then realized that even Leerin was not here

(She did say She's gone off to buy some drinks?)

She couldn't quite remember what Leerin had said Mifi herself ht back as shejust to buy a drink?)

She wasn't sure, but she did feel that a long time had passed She pushed the need to confirh she didn't re ti happen?)

But if that was the case, according to Leerin's personality, she wouldn't have left without telling Mifi

(Strange)

Dragging around wouldn't help with anything She looked at Meishen who showed no signs of waking If she woke and Mifi was not around, she would feel lonely! But before she woke Mifi cut off her train of thought and stood up

”Hey, what's up?”

A voice that she hadn't heard for a long ti she was in a clinic Looking at her red-haired childhood friend, she widened her eyes

Naruki rapped in bandages Though she had changed into her uniform that was devoid of dust and blood, she had failed to hide the bandages Bandages covered her forehead, left eye and right ares stabilized her ankles and knees

”Ah, Ahhh This? It's not as serious as it looks!” she laughed, but Mifi was still stiff

”I just need to get on the treatment machine andthe Kei vein It takes ti the Kei vein” reminded Mifi of Nina That person had fainted precisely because of that condition

”Are you all right?”

”Truth be told, it hurts more than my tense muscles,” Naruki smiled bitterly

Mifi felt more relieved ”Uh, Mei's fainted”

”Uh Ah”

She explained the reason behind it

”Naruki, please stay with Mei”

”Uh? What's up?”

She told her about Leerin Naruki knew Leerin too Her expression sank

”That's strange Ok, I'll come too!”

”Eh? But”

”If we coal, I can deal with it,” she looked at Meishen She was still unconscious

”Let's go”

”Ah, ok”

Naruki gave her back a push and walked ahead of her Mifi followed in a fluster Her footsteps staggered like a set of scales Her childhood friend was important, but a new-found friend was also i

(Yeah, I can't not go!)

Having decided, she chased after Naruki with resolve

”Ah, Leerin!”

The target unexpectedly appeared after they walked past a few corners

”Ah You two,” Leerin looked at them in shock as well She lacked life in her face, but that couldn't be helped in this situation Everyone in the shelter held such a face Even Leerin, the person with such a strong personality, had changed But a question surfaced in Mifi

(Did anything happen when Mei fell?)

”Naruki, are you all right?” Leerin said She hadn't seen Naruki for a while too

”Aa, co here?”

”I wanted to quiet down so I went for a stroll Sorry I said I would get soht,” Mifi shook her head, but the question remained She remembered Leerin hadn't looked this bad before Meishen fell unconscious Besides, she was the only one who had been encouraging her and Meishen

(So interesting happen?”

Mifi looked at the corner that Leerin had appeared in It wasn't a straight passage, and its end seemed to have been blocked off A dark corner that even the sht couldn't illu bad within it Leerin was already walking back with Naruki, concerned about the bandages wrapped around her body

Mifi cocked her head in inco her surprise at Naruki's appearance, Leerin peeked at Mifi's reaction

(Has she found out?)

It was the same as expected And if it became reality, it'd cause soic scene That scene was still here Leerin saw Mifi looking at her That thing was still here on the side, but Mifi had failed to see it

(So normal people can't see it?)

This was the same as the time at Myath The bird-like Electronic Fairy was trapped, but Savaris didn't see anything Why was it like that? She still wasn't sure Anyway, Leerin hadn't thought of the event in Myath She had forgotten it along with her encounter with Nina there

(That child What is she?)

This girl looked the sairl in Myath, but she acted co to Leerin Revealed? Was Leerin the one who caused everything? Or did that irl make it happen? Leerin confirmed the place that Mifi had looked at The scene was still there, but Mifi didn't see anything Was this Leerin's own iination then? Hope appeared in her But that event didn't feel like an illusion It happened in reality But what if this washappen?”

”Huh, nothing”

Naruki noticed the uneasy expression that appeared for a split second She was quick to ae if even Mifi had noticed it

Leerin thought to herself that she could not let the more

(This, this unusual situation)

Even though she didn't want to, she had to reed that scenery

Countless nu nothing behind When that girl's hand touched Leerin's right eye, everything had vanished What Leerin's right eye saas gone Instead, so had replaced it It was an eye, an eyeball No, just so that looked like an eyeball She didn't feel any life and gentleness fro radually overtook the entire floor, wall, ceiling They then descended onto the floor The sound of hard falling rain hurt her ears She covered her ears

Even so, the sound of glass breaking was loud The girl's laughter pierced her eardruun! And then everything will end”

She continued to laugh through the rain of glass An insane laughter that contained tremendous emotion In her voice weaved happiness, sadness, love and hate

”It's finally finally begun! I've waited for so long So long!” the tired girl said, as if facing so the girl She was in such a strange situation, yet she couldn't suppress that urge However, the girl got ahead of her to hug Leerin froentle

”Welcome back,” she said next to Leerin's ear

And the feeling vanished

Leerin looked around She was alone The pain in her right eye was also gone She heard Mifi and Naruki's voice as she stood there, confused and perplexed She didn't kno this ca had happened Leerin clapped her hands against her cheeks and appeared before the two girls

(Uh, it's ok It's ok)

Leerin walked as she listened to the two talk What was to happen next? Would anything change in her body? Just as her own identity? Uneasiness filled her, but she sed it and hid it all in her heart She really wanted to tell soh, but she knew she shouldn't

(Layfon's doing his best Everyone else is too I can't speak of this with anyone)

She must not add to the burden of others This calmed her down This problem came from herself She must not tell anyone of this at this time She must keep her expression cal uncomfortable about the current situation In this hour, when they didn't knohat the future held – their uneasiness was obvious, so she ive the fro for help

”Has a Military Artist returned to the shelter?” Naruki said This er was still around If it was safe, that news should already have been conveyed to everyone

Leerin sed her oorry

”I'll go help,” she said and ran She couldn't face these two anymore

Mifi and Naruki did not notice Leerin's reason behind her action Leerin did it because she ht not be able to hide her uneasiness before those two Shea ht even ask why the two of them hadn't noticed she was different