‘- Inside me, I should not have the desire to win nor the fear of losing. Just fought like a dream. Without being noticed by anyone.’
‘- I see. What I am afraid of, is not the loss itself. It’s when I lose, being laughed at by the gallery. Being compared to Takumu. And also disappointing that person, I had feared those all along. Not only in reality, even in the accelerated world, caring just «how others look at me» - this kind of thing...’
“...A huge fool, that’s what I am.”
After whispering, Haruyuki put strength into his right hand that was frozen and stayed open without power.
It squeaked with ‘Gishi Gishi’ sounds, however the five fingers held tightly together.
He held that fist straight up, and hit his right cheek with all his strength. With a ‘Gatsun’ kind of impact sound, a burning pain ran along his inner teeth. That burning sensation went through all of his virtual nerves, sending signals to his four limbs.
He held his head up. On the crater’s north edge, Black Lotus tried her last resistance against the lethal blade. The dully colored edges of her crossed blades were pushed barely above her head, and the sparks that flew apart displayed her armor’s many scars.
“...Senpai!”
Haruyuki shouted. At the same time, he expanded his wings that now have power, and flew straight out.
Gliding along the crater’s bottom at almost full speed, he flew towards the edge that was Chrome Disaster’s blind spot.
“U... Oo!”
With his roar, the punch that was aimed for the black silver armor, was barely blocked by the right gauntlet.
However, at the moment when one hand was removed from the sword, Kuroyukihime thrust her two hands forward with a psyche.
With a ‘Gaan!’ impact sound, the blade was bounced away, and Chrome Disaster was pushed back a few meters. It did not seem to disturb his stance, and he soon held his sword low, while under the hood the fangs fiercely grinded.
“Ruruu... Ruoo...!!”
That sound, was clearly filled with anger.
While his whole body shook with terror, Haruyuki stood against that, and covered Black Lotus behind him. Maybe she used up all her strength, Kuroyukihime stuck one arm on the ground as a cane, and eventually stood up with that, then moved to Haruyuki’s left side.
“Then, Haruyuki-kun. - For one game, let’s lose in a cool way.”
Haruyuki involuntarily made a wry smile, and nodded.
“Yes, senpai.”
He lowered his waist, spread his legs apart, and took a martial art like stance.
Kuroyukihime who was beside him too, held her sword hands up and got ready.
One second later, a few things happened one after another.
Chrome Disaster roared in anger and lifted his sword up.
For Haruyuki who was concentrating on that slash, on his left side, he saw some kind of shining light.
Kuroyukihime’s right sword hand flashed with a fierce speed - and the flat side of her sword hit Haruyuki’s chest with all her strength.
He was knocked flying behind easily, and while he was tumbling on the ground with surprise, he saw a crimson wall of light in front of him.
From his left side - he realized it was a beam attack fired from center of the crater, and with the fearsome scaled explosion that was initiated, he was again blown flying back, more than ten meters this time. He used both hands in reaction to protect himself from the oncoming heat and shock wave, even so the HP gauge in his view’s upper left lowered, and his body gave out unpleasant metallic sounds here and there.
All of his nerves felt sharp pain and burning sensation on them, so Haruyuki just lay on the ground with arms and legs open while breathing hard. He could not even scream, and while he waited for the pain of his shaking body to lessen, a huge question marked wind blew in his head.
Why did that happen - the Yellow legion should have retreated without leaving a single long range type behind. Or did they come back half way and cut into the fight? But with that kind of power. It’s not just a gun. It’s a tank’s - no, a battleship’s main gun kind of overwhelming power.
When he waveringly pushed himself up with his right hand that finally had feeling returned, in front of his eyes.
With a ‘Gashaa’ kind of hard sound, something fell.
A deeply cracked, pieces missing black armor. The transparent gloss was lost, only brutal scorch marks remained. From the four swords, the left arm and left leg ones were half broken, the mirror face goggles also had spider web like cracks running on it.
“Ku...”
Haruyuki put out a raspy sound, and his sharp pain was blown away and forgotten.
“Kuroyukihime senpai!!”
He held her up in a daze, and from various places on her body many black fragments fell down. The avatar that lay slack without any strength was very light, from the damaged places, blue purple sparks that looked like blood came spraying out.
In front of him, came another heavy metallic sound. He lifted his head up on reaction, and saw that a bit away, the shape of Chrome Disaster kneeling on one knee with head lowered. His damage was also severe. The black silver armor was covered with soot, and a few places had large depressions. Inside the hood type helmet, there was unstable darkness, and the sword that flew somewhere could not be seen.
The destruction even changed the terrain of the field.
The Ikebukuro crater north edge that became the battle field till now was carved another small crater, with places burning and thick smoke going up. The cannon fire cut through everything and went north, buildings were uprooted and mow down, and a new road was made going towards the Green highway.
And then finally, Haruyuki fearfully turned his head south.
The scene that his eyes captured, Haruyuki had already half guessed. However he did not want to believe it. He determined logically that there could be nothing else, but his feeling strongly resisted it, and that conflict became tears that distorted his vision.
“Why... why did you do that... Niko.”
The fortress avatar that he thought was so broken that it could no longer move, the Red King, Scarlet Rain’s right arm main cannon was lifted up, pointing straight at the center of the new crater. The large size gun barrel released heat, and the haze made the surrounding waver.
The attack that was fired from that cannon - probably the highest rank special attack skill, swallowed Kuroyukihime and Chrome Disaster whole, and there was no doubt about the huge damage it caused.
Haruyuki grinded his teeth, and look at Niko’s eyes in between the armor plates. However those red lens did not take notice of Haruyuki nor Black Lotus that was in his arms.
“...Why!!”
Haruyuki screamed, and the Red King remained silent. In exchange the thrusters on her back and bottom sides shone, and the huge body that was the «Immobile Fortress» slowly started to move forward.
When it started moving, it was surprisingly fast, and it quickly shrunk the crater’s radius distance.
“Ruu... u...”
That moan, came from Chrome Disaster who curved up like a wounded beast. Sensing the approach of the Red King, it crawled on all fours and waveringly retreated north. From the many wounds on the armor, red black «Automatic Repair» lights covering them can be seen. However the wounds were way too deep, and they could not be easily healed.
As if chasing a knight that lost and ran away, the crimson fortress’ shape appeared on the crater’s edge. That majesty, Haruyuki looked at while crying.
“Wh... y...”
His shaking voice, once again leaked from his throat. At that moment, the fortress stopped its forward movement.
Turning to look up at the avatar standing right in front of him, Haruyuki took a deep breath and called out.
“Niko! ...No, Scarlet Rain!! You haven’t forgotten right... if y-you take down senpai... Black Lotus will lose all her points!!”
Kuroyukihime in his arm, still remained unconscious. From the de
gree of damage, it can be clearly seen that her HP gauge has little remaining.
To Haruyuki’s accusation, the Red King replied in one short sentence with no feeling.
“What about it.”
To the speechless Haruyuki, he was continued to be showered by a young yet cold sound.
“For a Burst Linker, any Burst Linker aside from yourself is an enemy. If you get taken down by an enemy you lose points. When it becomes zero, you are forever retired. That is all it is about.”
“B... but... we... you and us are...”
“Comrades?”
With a heavy sound, Scarlet Rain’s main cannon hit the burnt ground. A blade sharp sound, cut through the air in the last remaining sunlight.
“You guys are so sweet that it makes me want to puke! Listen, I will teach you one final thing. In the accelerated world... something that you can believe in doesn’t exist!! Comrades, friends, legion... and also «Parent Child»’s bonds, are all just illusions!!”
With her shout that was like blazing flames, at the same time, the Red King removed all of her badly damaged armor containers.
From inside the enhanced armament that disappeared like melting into air, a delicate avatar appeared, and it jumped down onto the ground.
The crimson female type avatar’s armor, still maintained a ruby like shine even now. However only the front part of her left elbow was cruelly full of cracks, and small sparks flew out.
That should be hurting, but with an action as if she isn’t feeling it, she straightened her back and the avatar’s face turned slightly towards Haruyuki. Inside the two round lens, he seem to see a high temperature flame roaring.
“...After I have disposed of that guy, I will deal with you guys properly. If you don’t like it, run away right now. The next time we meet... we are enemies.”
After informing him with a cold voice, the Red King looked back ahead. She pulled her large handgun from her waist, and slid the gun body while walking away.
Where she was heading, was towards Chrome Disaster, with his whole body wounds showing blood color lights, he crawled straight north. He was supposed to be closer to the center of the explosion than Kuroyukihime, so he must have really surprising stamina to be able to still move like that. However, right now he cannot move at half of Niko’s walking speed, so it’s impossible for him to retreat.
While holding the heavily wounded Kuroyukihime in both arms, in Haruyuki’s view, the two avatars that were slowly closing the distance gap looked blurred.
If it was rational judgement, thinking that Niko’s previous announcement might be acted out, he should escape to Ikebukuro station or Sunshine City Leap Point right now.
However Haruyuki did not move. No, he did not want to move.
If he escaped, then something that is mistaken might be confirmed as a fact. He felt it like that.
Near the exit of one of the block of buildings that the huge beam mowed down to be a road, Niko finally caught up to Chrome Disaster, and casually lifted up her right foot. With a ‘Crunch’ like metallic noise, she kicked the knight avatar down, and the back of his neck was stepped on by Niko’s left foot.
That was an unspeakably sad sight, Haruyuki felt.
To be sure, that devilish armor should be eliminated. And then, to score a special attack on that guy with the transcendental reaction speed, it is also true that he could only be aimed at while he was right before a confrontation with Kuroyukihime.
However - then, what about that night.
In Haruyuki’s home living room, Niko and Kuroyukihime hugging as if they longed for each other while they slept. Surpassing the fate that «Kings» must eventually fight each other, he felt a larger «bond» between the two girls. That scene that made Haruyuki want to cry as he thought of it, was it just one night’s illusion? Just a meaningless coincidence?
Scarlet Rain pushed the handgun in her right hand at the back of Chrome Disaster’s head.
Somehow not able to bear looking at what’s coming up, Haruyuki lowered his head.
- The gun’s sound, however, he could not hear no matter how long he waited.
In exchange, near his ear, a weak sound was issued.
“...Ex-actly... this is why, children... I dislike them...”
It was the wounded, painfully wavering Kuroyukihime’s voice. However in it, there was not a single bit of anger. Haruyuki lifted his head up, and looked at Kuroyukihime’s goggles that were close by.
Inside them, a faint violet light shone. He pushed down the things welling up, and Haruyuki whispered to Kuroyukihime.
“Se... sen-pa...”
He then heard a ‘Gyariin’ metallic sound at that time.
What Haruyuki saw after moving his view was, Chrome Disaster with upper body turned around, and his left hand raised up high. And Scarlet Rain with her right hand-armor fragments scattering.
Dancing high in the sky, was the crimson handgun.
“Wh... why, did you not shoot!!”
Haruyuki shouted without thinking.
There was plenty of time for her as a legion master to use the member punishment «Judgement Blow» to hit Chrome Disaster. To execute that, Niko involved Kuroyukihime in her special attack, and spewed out all those cruel words. Why did she hesitate now?
The one who answered his raising questions, was Kuroyukihime in his arms.
“...That, little girl... is just sulking. Painful... and lonely, so throwing a tantrum...”
“Wh... what!?”
Surprised, Haruyuki looked between his arms and the rubble, and saw Chrome Disaster’s right hand that flashed like a lightning bolt, caught Niko’s throat.
With the right arm that regained a lot of power, he slowly hung the small avatar up. Niko’s right hand held the Armor’s arm, be she did not seem to resist beyond that, and just dangled down. As if, she gave up on everything, after being thrown away.
“That little girl truly... seeks trust more than anyone. As a Burst Linker’s final bond...”
Kuroyukihime murmured in a quiet voice. Haruyuki opened his eyes wide in a daze and asked in return.
“Bo... bond...?”
“That is... correct. I can understand. Those two are... «Parent Child». The Red King is... Disaster’s... no, Cherry Rook’s «child».”
Parent and Child - !? Those two!?
Till now, he had not thought of it like that even once. However, being told that, he can comprehend just one thing.
In the real world, Niko was able to track Cherry Rook’s position in detail. Haruyuki guessed that it was a legion master’s privilege, but it was not that. Niko simply knows about Cherry Rook’s «Real» side. The one and only «parent» who gave her Brain Burst.
Haruyuki was again surprised, and while he was speechless, his eyes saw Kuroyukihime’s gentle eyes return his look. She lifted up her badly damaged right hand, and knocked Haruyuki on the shoulder.
“Hey, what are you doing. I am... fine. Go and help... Niko... our comrade.”
At that instant.
From Haruyuki’s eyes, unsuppressed tears flowed out.
He did not understand the reason. However, he felt that some kind of huge hot thing born inside his chest, and wanted to rise.
“...Yes!”
He gave a big nod.
After laying Kuroyukihime’s body flat there, Haruyuki stood up. With a sharp sound, he opened the wings on his back wide.
Far away, Niko who was hung up, Chrome Disaster’s jaw closed in on the top of her shoulder. Haruyuki took a deep breath, and held his right hand in a fist - .
“...Ooo!”
With that roar, fiercely kicked the ground.
After a few steps of running, he flapped the two wings of metallic fins with all his strength.
His feet left the ground, and Haruyuki became a silver beam that shot forward into the sky.
Towards the far away rubble road, where the mad Armor was about to devour Niko - his own Linker «child»’s body, Haruyuki closed in bit by bit. With his r
ight fist strongly held together, and body leaning forward -
“Stop ittt!”
With that yell, Haruyuki’s fist that was covered by blinding light, hit the deep black jaw in the center.
With a ‘Crunch’ sound, the silver flash split open the lurking darkness. After a pause, as if repulsed by an explosive force, Chrome Disaster was bent back and blown flying away. He bounced on the rubble, then rolled more than ten meters, and fell down with his arms and legs spread apart.
After folding his wings and landing, Haruyuki found out with a glance that «Punch» just now cost half of his special attack gauge, then he looked down at the crimson avatar kneeling beside him.
Niko who was holding her throat that was caught by Disaster and coughing, lifted her head and glared at Haruyuki with eyes that had flames returned to them.
“Y... you bastard... why...”
“I came to help you.”
With the heat rising up from the bottom of his body, he used a more violent speech style that he normally would not have.
“We are... comrades, that’s why.”
Niko who was momentary breathless, stiffened her body, and wrung out a raspy sound.
“This, bastard... even though you are a small fry, trying to be... cool...”
“You too, even though you are a King, how long are you planning to be so poor.”
Haruyuki kicked the crimson handgun that had fallen right by him with his right foot up, and grabbed the barrel in the air.
He held the grip out to Niko, and continued saying.
“...He, Cherry Rook can only be helped by you, Niko. For him, Brain Burst is just a curse now. Release him from it.”
Inside the round lens, red lights wavered with hesitation.
But one second later, her extended right hand, strongly grabbed the gun.
“Aa... I know. I understand.”
With that whisper, the Red King that soon stood up, stepped on the ground with her left foot loudly as if to shake off something, and looked forward.
Chrome Disaster that was blown away, was raising his upper body at that moment. Holding his face that was hit by Haruyuki with his right hand, and his throat rang in panic.