Equipped with Aabi Eshuh, Toki was on the undisputed front line of powerful contenders… perhaps even more formidable than that.
Sure, they say “gear makes the hero,” meaning the power of her suit was immense. But that doesn’t mean you should underestimate Toki’s own skills.
After all, Toki is a Zero Four, a call sign in C&C, where all the members are elite… bluntly put, one could say she was the hunting dog that Rion commanded.
So, when she aimed a machine gun-like weapon attached to both arms of her suit at me, I couldn’t help but lightly bite my lip.
My gun, which I had set down next to me to break through the barricade, was already in my hand…
It hurts… ugh…
My blood-soaked right hand, which had been viciously smacked against the wall, had not a single intact spot left.
I could feel that my bones hadn’t actually shattered, but the intense pain that was equivalent to that sensation kept swirling around my hand.
The raw skin that had been scraped away constantly offered me a prickling, nerve-racking pain.
Honestly, I hadn’t even gotten to fight properly, and now I had this kind of adverse condition added on top of everything.
If there is a god in this world, I must have undoubtedly insulted Him in my sleep. Because there’s no way He would unleash such harsh Trials upon me otherwise.
Admittedly, the pain in my hand was self-inflicted. That’s a stone-cold fact. But if I hadn’t broken through that wall, I would never have been given the opportunity to face Toki.
And it would make sense—what could a pigeon trapped in a cage do? Just leave it alone, that’s what.
…Wait a second. Since the trapped bird opened the cage door itself, does that mean I’m the one at fault after all?
But, the responsibility primarily falls on the one who caged it, right…?
Setting aside my torment, my mental state right now wasn’t exactly bright either. Seeing Rion like that for the first time made me think a lot.
Killing Aris.
The life and death of Aris.
Tsukatsuki Rion had never once referred to Aris as anything but human.
That is, Rion was prepared to commit murder. Isn’t that an interpretation that one could accept?
Rion didn’t simply decide to crush the front lines that would lead to the destruction of Kivotos.
She resolved to personally destroy the Halo of the girl who had laughed and played with us, enjoying her happy days in the Millennium Academy…
The effort I had put into swaying Rion’s heart had now undoubtedly turned into a sharp blade…
No. From the moment Rion judged that she must kill Aris, she must have been relentlessly torturing her own heart without pause up to this moment.
Because of me… I couldn’t even fathom how hard Rion had it mentally for months on end.
For someone like her, who had the mindset of doing what must be done regardless of her tender heart, how could she even bear the weight of the burden I had placed upon her?
If it came to pass that Rion destroyed Aris’s Halo, would her heart truly remain unbroken?
Considering the sight of Rion collapsing just moments ago, it was clear she wouldn’t be able to hold out.
So… I must absolutely step in front of Rion and block her with everything I have.
Guh…!
I instinctively dodged Toki’s barrage of bullets by lowering my head. Just then, I rolled over on the ground. I could feel something barely grazing over my head.
Getting hit wouldn’t take me down immediately, but that wasn’t the point.
The core of Toki’s power lay in her overwhelming speed.
The initiative to unleash one-sided attacks.
The moment I couldn’t hold myself together due to pain even once, Toki would undoubtedly squeeze through that gap. Just like Neru had to endure a one-sided beating.
I had confidence in my body’s durability, but I needed to evade all attacks. I still didn’t have faith that I could land a solid hit on Toki.
However, one undeniable truth in this world is that everyone has grand plans until they get completely pummelled.
Guh…
After narrowly avoiding an attack, as I attempted to counter, a gripping pain shot through my hand.
I kept narrowly dodging Toki’s attacks, yet my counter never seemed to connect; it was a battle solely focused on evasion.
Every circumstance favored Toki.
Even the space, which could be considered adequately large.
The current state of my dominant hand being in ruins.
And,
[I know better than anyone how strong you are, Mika. Without a doubt, Misono Mika is the strongest student on Kivotos. Your actions will prove that fact.]
[That’s why I had to ponder deeply on how to subdue you. Fortunately, an opportunity to gather the needed information came quickly. I decided to secretly observe the situation once you entered the depths of the ruins with Himari… through my drone.]
[But Mika, after witnessing you single-handedly defeat the Decagramaton’s prophet… I began to think maybe my preparations were lacking. It was the moment I realized I had to completely revise my plan.]
[Originally, I wouldn’t have intended to use Aabi Eshuh to subdue you and Neru. But if I can’t take you down before facing the nameless goddess’s daughter, then everything would be pointless. So right now, you’re facing Aabi Eshuh, which is now at least 1.5 times stronger than the initial design.]
[Mika, you have no chance of winning.]
Whether it was intended to shake my resolve or simply to boast about her own efforts to make me give up, Rion’s words pierced through my mind like needles, recalling the image of her once again breaking down.
She was leading me toward the deep pit called defeat.
“Don’t you dare…!”
“…?!”
In an instant, I dropped my gun as I turned my head. I caught sight of Aabi Eshuh’s leg passing by that very moment.
With all my strength, I reached out and grasped that leg. My hand, which had been complaining about pain, screamed, but I gritted my teeth and endured.
Swinging with all my might, I felt like my shoulder was about to dislocate, but as intended, I could see Toki mounted on Aabi Eshuh getting pulled along.
As I spun Toki around dramatically, I let go of her leg.
“…”
For real, if this were a game, it would be the worst kind of garbage game. They blatantly cheat, and no one’s stepping in to do anything? This is just not right.
Toki, who should have crashed into the ceiling, was absurdly floating in mid-air.
Something like a jetpack at the back of her suit was aiding her.
“Indeed, this is Trinity… perhaps the power of someone close to being the strongest on Kivotos. I’m quite amazed, meme. I never predicted that even Aabi Eshuh could wield this device with pure strength.”
“Hah, I really hate this…”
“But as a perfect maid, this level of improvisation is nothing but child’s play for me.”
Looking down at me as if she had already won, she chattered on. This was genuinely infuriating.
I picked up the gun with my left hand—not the injured right. One hand was enough for shooting.
Ignoring the pain in my right hand, I focused on Shinpi.
Soon, a cluster of stars began to bloom one by one, scattering brilliant light.
[Mika, you can’t possibly…!]
“Improvisation? Yeah, that sounds good. I don’t dislike it. So… if you can respond with a little more than just this, let’s see you try blowing up this entire place.”
[Why… so much…?]
I heard Rion muttering something, but I focused all my senses on Toki. I couldn’t afford to lose focus and get hit by her attacks.
The number of awakened stars soon exceeded double digits. However, the count kept growing…
…Ah, maybe this is pushing it.
The exhaustion flooding through my body signified that I had nearly wrung out every ounce of available Shinpi. But still, this should work somehow.
It has to work.
Gritting my teeth, I swung my arms. The brilliant starlight cascaded over the entire arena that trapped both Toki and me.
“Cough…”
Toki’s shots found me amid that brief opening, but I recognized that it was nothing compared to the calamity she was poised to face shortly.
Bang—
The light erupted.
All those predictions from the mighty Aabi Eshuh, no way she could foresee an attack targeting the entirety of this space.
An explosion of Shinpi engulfed the entire area. I kneeled down.
It felt as though every ounce of strength had drained away from my body, and I thought I might pass out, but not yet. I can’t collapse here…
For Aris, and Rion. For both of them…!
At this point, the pain had crossed the limit, and even though I pressed my right hand to the ground, my face didn’t contort in anguish. Struggling to get up, I slowly scanned the arena as the aftermath of the explosion began to settle.
“…ha.”
In my line of sight stood Toki. Aabi Eshuh was still intact…
“Damage level has surpassed 70%… I will now switch to Mode 2 for the preservation of Aabi Eshuh.”
Although it hadn’t happened, Toki herself remained unharmed. It appeared that Aabi Eshuh absorbed most of the damage.
“meme, I advise you to surrender right now. My chances of winning in this current situation are at 100%.”
“…”
I sensed the end nearing. Toki’s Mode 2 might not reach its peak when mounted inside Aabi Eshuh but suffice to say, it still surpassed Neru’s speed. She was an opponent I could only guarantee a win against if I was in perfect condition.
Yet, my stamina was at rock bottom. While Toki wasn’t at peak condition either, she was still in much better shape compared to me.
“Surrender…”
Tatata-ta!
All of a sudden, gunfire rang out. The hail of bullets aimed at Toki disappointingly missed her, but…
“You jerk, who gave you the right to give up!!! If you brought me this far, show me a little more spirit, grunt!”
“…Neru.”
Someone’s shout reached me very clearly. So clearly, in fact, that it was giving me a headache.
I had no clue when he recovered his senses, but Neru had jumped over to my side. As always, he was resilient, taking hits yet somehow still returning to full alertness.
How unfair. I could’ve sworn I didn’t intend to think about giving up. I just wanted to express myself in a slightly more refined manner…
Ahaha. How foolish…
Ah.
Huh…? Why is the ground suddenly getting closer…?
“Whoa! Hey! You okay…? No, you look like you’re totally not okay! Hey!!! Oh man, this is driving me crazy, this——”
Just as my consciousness was slipping away, one thought crossed my mind.
Honestly, I let Toki down from Aabi Eshuh like this. If I couldn’t even pull this off, then Neru really ought to drop the title of the strongest in the Millennium.
…Yeah. If I lose here again, I’m going to tease him to death.
