ALL NOVEL <Author's Notes> freēwebnovel.com
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The countless tiny shards of ice exploding around Yomibito.
Only the immediate surroundings had turned into a state nearly like a whiteout.
This being the case, Yomibito should be deprived of visibility———
Having anticipated that, I closed the distance between us.
Thereupon, the ice particles, now resembling a thick fog, scattered.
A katana suddenly thrust out, Yomibito's strike was a remarkably smooth blow that stripped away all its “presence.”
At first glance, it might seem like a trivial and mundane slash.
However, its true nature was a potentially lethal, extraordinary flash.
Had I not noticed it early, I might have stepped in thinking it was an opening.
Accelerating with a technique resembling that of my sister's <One>———-
I succeeded in dodging.
That said, their strike had dispersed the icy fog around us.
[………………..]
Yomibito's gaze focused on me———- seemingly thinking about something.
(As I thought, they seem to be trying to read my next move…… Also…… I need to be cautious of that strike, but it's not impossible for me to close the distance……)
I released a blast of blazing wind towards Yomibito's face.
However, my blazing winds seemed to have been anticipated, as they easily brushed it aside without reaching their face.
Dodging the retaliatory pillar attack, I then imbued lightning to my <Wind>.
Compressing wind and lightning, I fired it at Yomibito like a laser.
A straight-line lightning strike accompanied by a thunderclap.
However, this wasn’t meant to deal substantial damage.
The real intent of this attack was———– its sound.
(Yes, this is————)
The thunder sound from Itsuki's <One>, closing in on Yomibito, serving as a cover.
Yomibito swung their katana diagonally backward.
However, the blade passed over Itsuki’s head———– only cutting through the air.
[————Shifter > ——— < Lock End >———-]
In that instant, two pillars appeared and slammed with each other.
The clash occurred at a position slightly behind Yomibito.
It wasn’t an attempt at a pincer attack——— for offensive purposes though.
Instead, it was used defensively, like a shield.
So they could also use those like that huh.
However, the concentrated, super-dense lightning———-
……broke through the pillars like fragile pastries and reached the powerful white warrior.
[…………………….]
That was the first time Yomibito reacted with what seemed like surprise from something they hadn't expected.
(Perhaps———–)
Just like Vysis, they probably thought it was a range attack of some degree.
In other words, it anticipated a lightning strike that would cover a broad area.
But at that time, stopping Vysis had been the priority.
Therefore, the <End> used at that time had been oriented towards its paralysis effects.
Yet, what Yomibito didn’t know was……
Due to Itsuki’s adjustments, <End> could also become an attack with high-compression, power-focused capabilities.
They had preconceived notions in mind.
This being the case, the priori information they received from Vysis had instead backfired.
[—————-]
The flank area of their armor was cracked.
However, what's inside that armor wasn't exposed yet.
Nevertheless, it was a fact that the carapace had been destroyed.
I released a blazing wind towards Yomibito’s face again.
At this distance, it would hit.
Even if it didn’t cause damage, it would obstruct their vision and actions to some extent.
I avoided the Yomibito’s slash with the aid of wind pressure———– and began preparing <Gungnir>.
And then———–
[ < Lock End > ]
[ ! ] This time, Yomibito was completely caught off guard.
<End> suddenly being used———– <End> being able to be consecutively used without delay.
With consecutive use, <End> doesn't require the prior <Lightning Shifter> chant.
Yes———-
The final Thunder Fang strikes twice.
The two fingers I briefly showed to Itsuki earlier was to signal "twice".
The ability to use it consecutively was unlocked after leveling up in the Demon Zone after we had that battle with Vysis.
Thus, this is a characteristic of the <End> that Vysis couldn’t have known.
After the first strike was unleashed, Yomibito would become wary of my <Gungnir>.
As a result, they ended up receiving <End>'s second strike more directly.
Crack——– Bagaaaan——-!
The armor……
——–had been shattered.
And then———– I saw it.
Behind the armor, there was something like a mass of white flesh.
It was as if those clusters of white flesh had been tightly packed within that armor.
And on the surface of that flesh inside the armor———–
A golden eyeball and what seemed like a small mouth appeared.
The small mouth screamed, one that sounded like a cry of terror.
[———–……GIYEEEEHHHHHHH……————]
An opening brought about by Itsuki.
Yomibito’s two arms were in a semi-paralytic state due to the <End>'s secondary effects.
They wouldn't be able to defend———-
They don't have enough time to do that.
This is the only chance.
(Right now———-)
———-riiiiiiiiiiiip———–
The Divine Spear of Wind, once launched to destroy the Goddess.
I call upon its name……
[—————–< Gungnir >—————-]
▽
[………………..]
It should have had a piercing power.
However———- I wouldn't say its piercing power was great, only a slight amount.
It has speed, and……
Should I have considered that they might have a characteristic that we don't know as well?
……No.
The sudden and unexpected change of the enemy———— at such a critical moment.
Now, Yomibito has retreated to the wall, with their back against it.
Their carapace was starting to get repaired.
And their arms……
Well, they actually now have four arms.
Along with the increase of arms, the number of their swords also increased.
[Haahhh…… Haahhh……]
I observe Itsuki.
(……It seems impossible to immediately follow up from here. My <Gungnir> is on cooldown…… More importantly, the burden on Itsuki……)
Having used <End> consecutively in such a short interval.
The burden on Itsuki must be considerable.
(For now, we need to escape this space to regroup……———-)
Yomibito’s pillars split, changed shape, and rapidly blocked three passages.
Like filling holes with putty……
(As soon as I thought of escaping, they blocked the paths…… DID they read my thoughts from my gaze? I see, they won't let us escape……)
[……………………]
Yomibito was emitting a murderous intent.
However———- I wouldn't say they particularly wanted to kill us.
There was a subtle difference from what I felt from them.
That was……
—–simply a desire to kill.
The substance blocking the passages had turned a dark, grim color.
Is this new power gained from the mutation?
I tried to cut through the blocking material with wind blades, but the power was entirely insufficient.
(That feeling…… It might require the power of <Gungnir> to penetrate it…… However———)
Just as I released <Gungnir>, I clearly saw it.
Yomibito had mutated right before I could do it and used their newly grown two arms to protect the inside on impulse.
The original two arms were in a semi-paralytic state, unable to defend in time.
(The new two arms were used for defense rather than attacking me…… Which means……)
Destroying the inner side of the outer shell is indeed critical.
"I don't want to die."
I could clearly feel such desperate determination conveyed from them.
Loqierra's prediction was indeed correct.
(That is the core…… Yomibito's heart……)
Although I wasn't able to reach the core———
The newly grown two arms that protected the core were destroyed by <Gungnir>.
They didn't have an impenetrable hardness.
That said, they were almost fully regenerated now.
No———– there seemed to be some damage to the core as well.
Before the carapace covered it, red blood dripped down.
That red puddle still remained on the ground.
It was created by the blood flowing from their core.
I observe the immobilized Yomibito.
(From Yomibito's current state…… It doesn't seem like they anticipated such a mutation. If so, that isn't their hidden trump card…… but rather an accidental mutation——— an evolution brought about by Yomibito feeling a life-threatening crisis?)
If that’s the case, there shouldn't be any signs or warnings.
That mutation was not a last resort.
Even Yomibito themself was probably caught off guard.
I take a deep breath to steady myself.
In our next clash———– We should definitely finish them off.
We must finish them off then.
[Itsuki.]
[Haahhh…… Haahhh….. ———Ou!]
[It's alright.]
[ ! ]
The anxious look in Itsuki’s eyes began to fade away.
[It’s still too early to give up. Just don’t think about what comes next for a while. I won’t think about it either. Here———– We will defeat this Divine Servant.]
I then ask Itsuki.
[Before our next attack…… Can you buy us 20 more minutes?]
[Hahh…… Haahhh…… Hehe, if that's what Elder Sis says…… I'll do it…… I'm your little sister after all……]
[Thanks.]
(Maybe my attack timing…… had been just slightly slow. Good grief…… I really just had to blunder at the last moment……)
In the first place, the human named Takao Hijiri……
(——–isn't as perfect as people might think.)
However……
(At least, in front of my little sister……)
I place my hand on my stomach.
The abdomen of my Fly Knight armor is torn.
It seems I was slightly cut by Yomibito’s katana during our earlier clash.
The wound feels shallow, and the bleeding isn’t severe.
[………………..]
(For whose sake———)
Seeing the blood on my fingers, a thought crossed my mind.
(Right…… I was still thinking about what comes next earlier…… What would happen after this battle. But now, it's alright…… I'm certain now. I don’t need to think about what comes next. Yes, if it's her———– if it's Itsuki, she will overcome it…… She will definitely…… reach our goal.)
Back then…..
When I was faced with the prospect of death from Vysis' poison……
Itsuki showed the resolve to overcome even my death.
She showed it to me.
Although she sometimes seems incredibly fragile when it comes to me.
[Itsuki.]
(She's already stronger than I thought.)
She has the strength to rise.
And in this battle———–
(Everything within me is telling me to leave the rest to her.)
She will carry on my will.
She will live on with my spirit.
Continuing to wrap myself in wind, I gaze steadily yet resolutely at Yomibito.
And then, I spoke:
[I'll see it through, Itsuki———– Our role.]