Volume 10 Chapter 4 (2/2)

「If we don't breathe in outside air……these two won't get back to normal.」

Kizuna gently laid down Sylvia on the floor and then he stood up with staggering motion.

His head was hazy, but he had the sensation of immeasurable power welling up from inside his body. That was the proof that the Connective Hybrid succeeded.

Kizuna looked at the clock hanging on the hangar's wall. It was already time for the transports to takeoff.

「Sylvia, Hayuru. The Connective Hybrid succeeded. Wear your pilot suit and then let's get out.」

He somehow made the half awake girls to stand up and then he handed over their pilot suit.

At that moment, terrible shaking that felt like earthquake a.s.saulted the three.

「Uwah!」

Their feet tripped over and the three fell on the floor on top of each other.

「Wha-……what……happened?」

Himekawa groaned and tried to raise her body.

「――Don't tell me!」

Kizuna jumped to his feet and looked around outside.

The walls of the hangar were getting dented one after another. Something was colliding into the wall from outside.

「That size……the mechanical angel!」

Fortunately it didn't seem to be Thanatos. However it didn't change that this was a dangerous situation. They couldn't hear any sound inside, but there was no doubt that there was a great commotion outside. He could see Hyakurath, Mercuria, also Ragrus and others were going outside using hatch for human use in order to intercept the enemy.

Kizuna turned around and shouted at the two lying on the floor.

「It's enemy attack! Hurry wear your pilot suit!」

「Ye, yes……but, because of the aroma, I'm still……」

Himekawa stood up somehow, but her feet were staggering.

「You will get better if you breathe the air outside. Do your best at least to wear your suit!」

Kizuna was saying that while putting his foot on his own pilot suit in panic. And then he put his arm through the suit and what was left was only sealing up the suit, but it was at that time that a large shaking attacked once more.

「KYAAAA!」

「UWAA!」

When they stumbled and their hand leaned on the wall of the Love Room, it easily came apart.

――d.a.m.n it!

Cracks were spreading through the wall all at once and the whole wall broke, the three were thrown outside rolling on the floor.

「Hayuru, Sylvia, are you two okay!?」

「Ye, yes……somehow.」

Their words and expression changed into a firm one when they got outside. The effect of the aroma was blunted by them breathing the air outside.

Himekawa raised her body while pulling up the electronic fastener of the pilot suit and sealed it up. Sylvia also finished her suiting up at that time.

「Let's go, both of you.」

「Roger!」

「Roger desu!」

Kizuna heard the reply of the two and he yelled the name of his core.

「Eros!」

Following after him, Himekawa and Sylvia yelled.

「Neros!」

「Taros!」

And then the body of the three was equipped by their respective Heart Hybrid Gear.

「Yosh, then――」

Just when all their sortie preparation was in good order, Kurumizawa was running toward them with both her hands waving at them.

「TROUBLEEE! We finished the transport's takeoff preparation, but there are magic weapons outside and we cannot get the runway out-! Do something, Eros-maou!」

The hangar of Nayuta Lab was adjoined with runway, so if they went outside it would be possible to takeoff. However with the enemy lying in wait, they would be helplessly destroyed if they went outside. Besides if the runway itself was destroyed, it would be impossible to takeoff.

A communication window opened beside Kizuna.

『This is Hyakurath! Fifteen hostile magic weapons are outside the hangar hatch! Magic armor squad is repelling them, but at this rate the transports won't be able to takeoff!』

Hyakurath's voice of desperation could be heard from the communication window.

「This is Kizuna. Amaterasu's Connective Hybrid is finished. Get out the transport to the runway from now.」

Hearing that, Hyakurath replied in panic.

『Eeh!? If we do that, the transport will be destroyed!』

「Amaterasu will protect them! Committee chairman, please give support from above!」

『Un, understood! Please take care!』

After yelling that Hyakurath's communication cut off, surely she was going back to battle.

「Hayuru, Sylvia, are your preparation okay?」

Himekawa who already readied her Corruption Armament『Gladius』answered with a composed smile.

「Of course. My weapon is itching to be used here.」

「Sylvia is also ok to go anytime desu!」

Kizuna looked up at Sylvia and smiled at her reliability.

「Kurumizawa! Open the door that and get out the transports!」

「Roger! I'll leave it to you Eros-maou!」

And then the hug door toward the runway was starting to open along with the creaking sound of metal and heavy motor sound.

White and gold colored mechanical angel quickly slipped through from the gap.

「They are coming! Hayuru!」

When Kizuna called out, Neros's figure was already pa.s.sing through the mechanical angel. Gladius was cutting through while emitting a cold light. The wreck of the bisected mechanical angel crashed on the floor of the hangar, it was sliding on the ground while giving out sparks from its falling momentum.

「Nice, Hayuru!」

「Naturally.」

Himekawa replied to Kizuna's praise as though it was only natural and then she stood in front of the hangar blocking the way.

「Blade!」

Four huge swords flew out from Himekawa's back. Each of those swords was moving automatically and struck down the mechanical angels heading toward the hangar.

「Sylvia will go too desu!」

Sylvia estimated the timing when the gate opened into a size that Taros could pa.s.s through before going in offense.

Sylvia that went outside confirmed the surrounding. On the runway, there was a magic armor that was taking on three mechanical angels simultaneously.

「Ragrus-chan! Dodge desu!」

Demon's large frame fell sideway all of a sudden without even looking back.

「Ignis!」

The light of giant particle cannon rushed through the place where Demon was standing. One mechanical angel was blown away and one other lost one of its wings.

「I GOT YOUUU!」

Demon's strong arm smashed the one winged mechanical angel. The armor of the mechanical angel was crushed and its internal machinery protruded out from the cracks.

The remaining angel attacked Demon's back using that opening.

「TAAAAAAAAAAA!」

Taros charged toward that mechanical angel. Its left arm rose up and punched the mechanical angel using its charging momentum. The blown away mechanical angel was then punched back by Demon who was waiting with a superb timing. Demon's giant fist smashed the mechanical angel's body into pieces.

「We did it desu, Ragrus-chan!」

「You are late Sylvia! Did you have that much fun with your captain?」

Sylvia's face turned bright red and she made excuse to Ragrus who looked a bit in a bad mood.

「Yo-, you're wrong desu! We, we did it because of the mission desu……but, it wasn't unpleasant, though desu.」

Blood vein was emerging on Ragrus's forehead.

「……That brute captain……I'll make him explain later, just what was he doing to you! We are going now Sylvia!」

「Sy, Sylvia doesn't want Ragrus-chan to know desuuuu」

Demon and Taros were heading at the mechanical angels descending to the runway. Kizuna saw off their figures and opened a communication window.

「Kurumizawa! The sweep of the runway is finished. Go!」

『I've been waiting for that!』

An airframe with total length more than forty meters came out from the hangar. Clementine and Leila from Masters were riding on its back.

A window from Scarlet opened in front of Kizuna.

『Kizuna! Leave guarding the transport to Masters!』

Then Clementine who was riding on top of the transport yelled in a good mood.

「The one in charge of this transport are me and Leila! Nooow let's shoot like crazy~」

「We will absolutely see to it that it arrive safely, so be generous with the success reward later!」

Kizuna gave a thumb up at the two and wished them a good fight. The jet engine raised a thunderous roar and the large airframe accelerated in one go. It lifted up to the sky when the range of the runway almost reached the limit.

『IIYAHHHOOOOOOOO!』

『Flying feel somewhat different when someone else give you a lift eh―. Free ride is the best!』

Excessively high tensioned voice came from the communication window.

Those bright voices for some reason made him thought that it would be okay with their mood like that.

「I also mustn't get leave behind huh――」

Kizuna looked up to the sky. There Hyakurath and Mercuria were fighting hard against the troop of mechanical angel.

Hyakurath readied her sword against two mechanical angels as her opponent. Her body charged forward as though to force her way through between the mechanical angels.

「Gloria!」

She cut down one angel instantly and then cut apart another with her returning slash. The mechanical angel didn't even explode, falling into the cloud below. It was a beautiful and perfect sword technique.

「Arc Drive.」

Mercuria's bow fired arrow as big as spear. That spear flew at a squad of mechanical angel lining up at far distance and caused a fierce explosion. The angels were swallowed by an explosion with diameter that reached a hundred meter and several of them were annihilated.

Leaving Himekawa, Sylvia, and Ragrus to guard the hangar and runway, Kizuna was thinking to support Hyakurath and Mercuria, so he was going to raise the output of Eros's thruster.

『Kizuna!』

A floating window materialized in front of his eyes that stopped him.

「Uah! Nee-chan. What's the matter!?」

『Is the idiot parent over there at your side!?』

The sudden question made Kizuna speechless for a moment.

「N, no……I don't know whether she come here or not though. I don't see her.」

Reiri gnawed on her thumb when he answered so.

「What's wrong, Nee-chan?」

『I cannot find that woman anywhere. I was concerned because she ran off her mouth saying strange thing at the briefing but……』

『There is no need to fret. I think that Thanatos herself won't move. Of course, I really don't have concrete proof of that.』

Certainly she said that. He wondered just what was the meaning of what she said. Besides, until now he thought that it was because they were lucky, but for Thanatos to not appear when they were rampaging this conspicuously was also――,

「Don't tell me!?」

Kizuna raised the output of his thruster.

「Corruption Armament『Nayuta』!」

Several magic circles were emerging in front of Kizuna. Eros's figure changed each time it went through a magic circle, transforming into a large magic armor that looked like a machine G.o.d.

「I'm going!」

And then he flew out of the hangar and accelerated to the speed of sound instantly.

Sylvia's eyes turned round at Kizuna who was flying out without fighting mechanical angel.

「Wha, what's the matter desu? Captain.」

Himekawa who similarly noticed Kizuna flying out also entered the communication.

『I don't know……but, there is no doubt that there is some kind of circ.u.mstance.』

「The, then, we have to go too!」

However Himekawa smiled gently.

『No. He would have told us if our a.s.sistance is necessary. Kizuna-kun didn't do that mean that we have to do our own job.』

「Himekawa-senpai……」

Sylvia nodded with a determined expression.

「Sylvia understand desu! Sylvia will absolutely protect this place so everyone can escape desu!」

『Right! Let's do our best!』

They could see reinforcement of mechanical angel coming from the sky far away right at that timing. Their number was roughly thirty.

『No matter how many come, I'll turn them into the rust of Gladius!』

Himekawa pointed the tip of her Corruption Armament at the enemy and smiled.

Part 3

「Thanatos, you want to know just what are you, isn't that right?」

「Are you saying that you have the answer of that?」

「――Yes.」

Nayuta answered calmly.

「Who gave birth to you, why were you born, how were you evolved until your current point. You are looking for the answer to those questions aren't you?」

The eyes of Thanatos that were half closed slightly opened.

「That's correct. The experiment is for the sake of confirming that.」

Thanatos stared fixedly at Nayuta. That powerful gaze was so intense to the degree that could made other think, that perhaps she was even a.n.a.lyzing Nayuta's body, her inner structure, and her thought circuit.

Nayuta's calm att.i.tude didn't crumble from that, it was unknown whether that was from her composure or her bluffing.

「Each of the machine G.o.ds has different origin. For example Hokuto. She is an aggregation of a peris.h.i.+ng world. An existence of a digitalized world and people. Hokuto herself is the one in charge of the consciousness inside that, so to speak she is a girl that became G.o.d by becoming the world itself.」

Nayuta took out a fan from her chest.

「For example Osiris. The queen of the dead of the a ruined world. The scientists there made her body as the raw material for a repeated experiment that continuously prolonged her life on and on, and it resulted with an existence that reached a shocking variation. By making an infinite power of destruction obtained from another world into her source of energy, she was a wife and a mother that arrived to G.o.dhood.」

Nayuta relaxedly fanned herself.

「For example Odin. By using battle as means of evolution and simplified the direction of the evolution, the speed of the natural selection is accelerated and it raised the speed of evolution. By acquiring every kind of ability into her body, she is a warrior that reached G.o.dhood.」

Wind shook Nayuta's hair.

「Everyone has different origin, but they have a point that is in common to a certain degree. Yes, everyone of them were originally human-like organism. But there is just one machine G.o.d among them that is obviously a different existence.」

Thanatos was quietly listening to Nayuta's talk. However there was a bad premonition, as though the energy inside her body was whirling with increasing force.

「Thanatos. You were born as G.o.d right from the start. And then the evolution was carried out inside yourself. Other people is not related at all with that process. You were born as G.o.d, the ultimate person of solitude.」

「You are saying that from the start……I was a G.o.d when I was born?」

「That's right. You have no memory of your origin is because of that.」

「However I should reach this point by evolving.」

「Yes. The evolution was carried out by your own hand. The program you are composed from was improving yourself. The repet.i.tion of that was your evolution. But, right now you are losing sight of the direction of your evolution. That's why you wanted to know just what is needed in the first place. For what sake you should evolve. You wanted to know your origin, what is the meaning and the reason of your existence. That was why you started to search for your past. It's something like that isn't it?」

Thanatos's gaze that was filled with sorrow changed slightly. Her expression didn't change. However it looked like an emotion that was different somehow was rising up from underneath it.

「Then what is it that you want to say? Where can I find the answer?」

Nayuta raised her voice and laughed.

「Such thing, it doesn't exist.」

「The person who gave birth to you, their world, their sense of value, they don't exist anymore. They perished. They are extinct. The people who need you already didn't exist when you were born.」

Nayuta talked with a voice that sounded grave, and gentle.

「The path where you should evolve to, can only be decided by yourself.」

The giant wings towering behind Thanatos were starting to emit radiance.

「What I want is answer. Is that all the information that you have? Then」

Thanatos's eyes s.h.i.+ned. Golden light was spreading, as though it was rippling out from the center of her blue eyes. And then her blue eyes carried out a change into golden eyes.

「My, the color of your eyes is literally changing there.」

Cold sweat was coming out from the forehead of Nayuta who was joking.

「Purge.」

The golden eyes were gazing at Nayuta. Thanatos's arm pointed at Nayuta and that palm was enveloped in golden light. And then the light was increasing in radiance until the limit, and that light was fired toward Nayuta.

That was a light that guided everything to destruction.

It was a radiance of the end that purge existence from all world.

Nayuta was staring at that radiance with composure until the end.

And then, Nayuta was enveloped by that light――,

「KAA-SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNN-!!」

「Kizuna!?」

A black wall stood in the way of the light of ruin.

The dreadful flood of light had pressure that washed away everything. And also vibration that shook the world.

The light of destruction that was like the rage of G.o.d was blocked by the barrier of Kizuna's Corruption Armament『Nayuta』and by the wing on his back turned into s.h.i.+eld.

「Kizuna! Why are you here!?」

「Nee-chan, said that Kaa-san isn't there. That perhaps……you are here!」

Even while answering, Kizuna was being overwhelmed by the intense power of Thanatos. His body creaked, his muscle and bone were screaming. If he stopped focusing even for an instant, the magic armor that should have obtained Nayuta's power felt like it would break into pieces anytime.

「Kuh! G.o.d d.a.m.n ITTTTTTTTTT!」

『Eros! Can you hear!?』

The extreme impact made the communication window only looked like noise.

「Kuh, Kurumizawa-! I'm, busy right now!」

『The electricity here returned! Our parting gift will be something intense coming there so run away! Escape from there!』

「Wha――」

Before he could ask what she was talking about, he felt a ma.s.s of terrific energy approaching.

――That stupid idiot!

He carried Nayuta in his arms right away and flew up. He poured all his power output into his thruster.

「UOOOOOOOOOO!」

By running away, it created an opening that he couldn't avoid. In that instant of opening, Thanatos's light blown away Eros's armor.

「UGUOOOOOH!」

The leg units were blown away from his knees.

「Taros!」

Taros's large rocket was instantly created on his back. The maximum ignition of that rocket brought him to charge to the ceiling without pause.

「Gladius!」

Neros's Corruption Armament『Gladius』was created from his arm.

「YOU'RE IN THE WAYYYYYYYY-!」

Gladius stabbed into the ceiling of the sanctuary. The sword that cut apart all existence cut apart even G.o.d's sanctuary. Gladius's power blown away the ceiling and Kizuna and Nayuta escaped from Thanatos's palace.

Below the feet of the climbing up Kizuna, just a few meter under him, an astonis.h.i.+ngly large caliber particle cannon rushed through.

――Ataraxia's main cannon!?

It was the largest artillery in existence with caliber of twenty meter and three kilometer cannon barrel, needing all the electricity in Ataraxia to be poured into it. It was a giant particle cannon that blew away even Vatlantis's fleet.

That pillar of light hit Thanatos's sanctuary. However the wall of the sanctuary repelled back even that cannon attack.

――As expected, it cannot be that easy.

Just when Kizuna thought that, the giant particle cannon blew away the mountain itself.

「WHAAATT!?」

A giant hole was gouged on the mountain slope, and the particle cannon raised its output further. That absurd destructive power couldn't destroy the sanctuary, but it blew away the mountain summit where the sanctuary was constructed. The mountain broke and snow became avalanche that rushed down the slope. The sanctuary was then rolling down the mountain slope still in its original shape.

Seeing that situation made Kizuna raised a cheer spontaneously.

「You did it you guys! Hahahaha!」

Nayuta was also staring at the crumbling mountain with an astonished face. And then she looked up at the face of her son who was carrying her as though she noticed something.

「Kizuna……」

At that time, a jet transport was approaching Kizuna's position. Kurumizawa was waving her hand in the c.o.c.kpit. A communication window opened and Sylvia's face was projected there.

『Captain! You are safe desu! Sylvia is glad desu!』

「Sylvia, I'm glad you are safe too. Where are you?」

『Behind the transport desu.』

When he turned there, he could see the figure of Taros and Demon around five hundred meters from the transport.

However a black shadow was approaching from behind them.

「What, that's?」

When Kizuna focused his eyes, Nayuta answered in his place.

「That's Thanatos's magic weapon, the mechanical angel……if it's one by one they are not a match against Taros, but that number is too many. Perhaps there is two hundred――」

『Hah! What are you saying!』

That self-important retort didn't come from Sylvia, but from a different cute voice. A new window was opened and the proud looking face of Ragrus was projected.

『Just that many isn't Sylvia's enemy!』

『Wa, wait Ragrus-chan.』

Sylvia stopped her with a panicked face.

『If it's now you can use it right! That thing!』

『Ah……right dues. It's usable desu!』

Ragrus grinned broadly.

『You have never shot that seriously before. If it's now then you can let go and fire without reservation!』

Sylvia frowned.

Taros's lowered its speed and changed direction. She hovered still midair and glared at the approaching mechanical angel army.

「……Understood desu. But, it's dangerous so everyone please go ahead desu.」

Kizuna and Ragrus also lowered their speed and stopped midair.

『Got it. We are watching from here so we'll leave it to you, Sylvia.』

『Let them have at it! Sylvia.』

「EEEEEEEE? Sy, Sylvia said, to go ahead desu!」

『You think we can leave you behind! If you don't want us to die then decide the fight right away.』

『Yeah, Sylvia! Blow them altogether with boo―m!』

「Uu……un, understood desu, so at least please take some more distance desuuu!」

Violet colored magic power rushed around Taros's whole frame and gathered into its right arm.

The seal on Talos's right arm that was like a safe box was lifted while making a sound.

「Indeed, it's a bit scary using this on the ground or Ataraxia desu……but」

And then the door of that seal was opened.

「Sylvia, is serious desu!」

A heavy ba.s.s sound was resounding from Talos's right arm, at the same time black darkness was shot out.

A jet black meteor was floating toward the army of mechanical angel.

The mechanical angels tried to shot down that black meteor and fired s.h.i.+ning beam. But, those lights were all sucked into the black darkness.

And then that black darkness flew to the middle of the mechanical angel crowd.

「t.i.tania(Ultimate Gravity Compression)!!」

Sylvia raised a yell of her soul.

As though responding to that voice, the black sphere made a low echoing sound and it instantly spread out. The surrounding scenery was distorted at the same time. The black celestial body that suddenly materialized was drawing in everything with gravitational force of a black hole that warped the light. And then the atmosphere of this world was starting to move with fierce speed. The cloud, the atmosphere, the mechanical angels, were all being sucked into that black celestial body in the blink of eye.

It was irrelevant how much the mechanical angels raised the output of their thruster. t.i.tania was mercilessly, and greedily sucking in everything.

「Thi……this thing is!」

Kizuna yelled unconsciously.

Squall was attacking Kizuna and others even with this much distance. The super gravitational force t.i.tania was producing was mercilessly sucking in everything and compressing them. The figure of nearly two hundred mechanical angels was already gone. Even so t.i.tania was swallowing in the sea of clouds without settling down.

「Yos.h.!.+ It's enough already Sylvia――」

Something was visible from the gap of the cloud that was streaming like muddy stream.

――That's?

s.h.i.+ning black object peeked out its face from under the thick cloud. It looked like land but it wasn't soil. It was made from black metal, flickering like a small s.h.i.+ning star. It even looked like a terrifyingly gigantic electronic equipment.

「That's, just what in the world……」

『Oi! Come back quickly! The last transport landed already. We are going to depart now!』

Reiri's voice that suddenly echoed shook Kizuna's eardrum.

「Ro, roger! Sylvia!」

『Roger desu!』

Taros confirmed that t.i.tania was sealed once more before Kizuna and others were flying toward battles.h.i.+p Ataraxia in full speed.

――However, just what was that thing under the cloud? Besides…….

Kizuna turned his head and looked behind.

The mountain where Thanatos's sanctuary was at couldn't be seen anymore. Perhaps it had disappeared beyond the horizon, or else perhaps the mountain had crumbled and sunk below the cloud, he couldn't immediately make the distinction.

「Thanatos hasn't perished yet.」

Nayuta spoke as though she was reading inside Kizuna's heart.

「I see……well, no matter how much destructive power Ataraxia's main cannon has, it won't be able to defeat machine G.o.d huh. As expected if it's not with Reincarnation……」

However Nayuta hung her head down with an apologetic expression.

And then she whispered with a voice that no one could hear.

「……No matter what kind of method we use, defeating Thanatos is impossible you know.」

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