Blue Mazurka

by Shūsuke Amagi

  "I see."

  Dalshena wasn't the only one. Naruki had fainted due to overworking her Kei vein. She used Karen Kei too many times when she still hadn't completely grasped hold of how it worked.

  The air shield reflected dusk. The earlier shot of the Kei cannon had missed its target to draw an arc in the sky.

  "Don't shoot another cannon," Nina said.

  "Makes me think of that stingy Head of Business, hugging his head in regret," Sharnid smiled.

  The fact that he could still joke in this situation eased Nina's heart. Forget the male filth monsters trying to invade the city. They must first destroy the larvae here. Having had her brief rest, Nina jumped back into the front line. Sharnid's accurate shots took his bullets through the cracks in the shield of the larvae to either kill them off or slow their movements. And Nina no longer held the fear she held when she first fought the filth monsters. She could now wield the iron whips to deal heavy internal damages and defend herself using Kongoukei.

  When she first fought...... she met Layfon and knew of his strength and past. She had fought the larvae after a setback. At present, she had definitely grown compared to the past. She truly felt it in this battle but she didn't feel happy about it. The enemies were still outside. Even so, Nina and the others had successfully eliminated all larvae in their designated area. Were they to fight the matured forms now?

  The male filth monsters that were waiting for their chance outside the air shield were creating a huge negative setback for the Military Artists around them. Exhaustion swiftly turned to despair.

  Next came the report that added frost to ice.

  "A number of larvae have broken through the outskirt and destroyed the cannon. We can't use the cannon anymore."

  Felli was concentrating in supporting Layfon. This was another psychokinesist's voice.

  "Wha!" Nina said in despair at the report.

  "What is the current situation?"

  Nina was horrified at one other thing even though it was bad they couldn't use the cannon.

  "The filth monsters had broken through the third defensive line. Some people have gone chasing after them but they have yet to eliminate them......"

  "Then we're heading over too!"

  "Hey, don't be reckless! If you don't rest......"

  Nina didn't listen to Sharnid's advice.

  "I'm leaving this to you!" She left him the defensive job and headed for the inside of the city with part of the team.

  Filth monsters entered a city to eat people. She didn't have to fathom what the larvae's destination was.

  The shelter.

  Nina knew the locations of the shelters even without the help of a psychokinesist. She increased her pace as she drew the location of the third defensive line and the shelter around it in her head. She wasn't thinking of the Military Artists following her at all.

  She had promised Layfon to protect Leerin. Of course this wasn't the only reason. She knew clearly that it was every Military Artist's job to protect the citizens. But now, all that filled her mind was Layfon's disappointed face when he returned.

  Nina's speed was faster than others.

  One only needed to turn the mechanism on the entrance to open the door. Right now, the door was tightly shut. Humans only needed to look at this sign to know it as an entrance, but the illiterate larvae were heading straight for this shelter. Perhaps they could sense the presence of numerous people. Perhaps they could smell them because of their keen sense of smell.

  There were six larvae winging their way in.

  Nina arrived earlier than them and she breathed, regulated her breathing on top of the shelter. She swung her iron whips and attacked one of the larvae.

  "Uu!"

  Pain shot up her right arm. Did she twist her wrist? No. Her right arm was tired for having held the heavy weapon for a long time. The attack she dealt the filth monster just then had reached her nerves.

  "The movement of your right hand is too easy."

  Layfon's words flashed through her mind. She couldn't keep swinging this heavy weapon without considering the side effects of rebound, especially when it was a long fight......Layfon had reminded her of that.

  "Damn!"

  Tolerating the pain, she gave the filth monster a fatal strike with her left iron whip.

  Five more to go and her reinforcements had yet to arrive.

  The remaining filth monsters rushed her immediately.

  Combination of external and internal Kei: Kongoukei.

  The Kei covering her entire body deflected two larvae. The other two filth monsters didn't have time to fold their wings before Nina's consecutive strikes hit them, killing them.

  Three more to go.

  "Uu......Uu!"

  The pain running up her right arm was intensifying, making it unable to move as she wanted. The rebounding Kei caused pain in her joints. She was using her left hand more to cover for her right, and that hand felt heavier than before too. Both of her arms felt heavy.

  (Just when......)

  Without her knowing, she had sunk into pondering something that had nothing to do with the fight.

  (When did he start calling me Captain?)

  Layfon. At first, he called her senpai. Somehow, he had started calling her captain. Just when did it happen? She had only realized it now. But she felt lonely, being called captain.

  (What do I want to be called?)

  Captain, senpai or Nina?

  (So stupid.)

  She was in a battle right now.

  The three remaining larvae folded their wings and closed off their shells. Clothed in hard black shell, the three huge insects closed in on Nina, their multi-eyes shining, devoid of emotion.

  Nina's arms felt so heavy. The fingers holding the iron whips shook. But only three more to go.

  (It's ok.)

  She was gathering Kei. She had to protect this place.

  (Because I've promised Layfon.)

  She didn't want to see his sad expression again.

  Internal Kei variation – Raijin.

  Run.

  Lightning pierced the filth monsters. They exploded before they were sent flying away.

  Nina could already grasp hold the key of this move. This had become her ultimate move, the move taught by Layfon that she could show to Dixerio.

  "I......did it."

  She tottered on her feet and collapsed onto the ground. She couldn't move. It was already a miracle that she was still holding the iron whips.

  She had protected Leerin.

  Completely exhausted, she felt for a split second that she had finished her mission. Yes, just a split second. She only saw some shadow when she looked at the sky, but she then understood what it was.

  They were five black spots. Shadows then blocked off the sunlight to shade Nina's entire body.

  Male filth monsters. The five male filth monsters hovering outside the city had finally broken through the air purification shield, and all five were in top condition. As for Zuellni, all of her Military Artists were exhausted for having fought the larvae.

  (If this continues......)

  Zuellni would be destroyed. Layfon would lose the place to return to. Leerin would die. Not only that, all other students here would die. What was the Mercenary Gang doing?

  No......They had lost Haia. The Mercenary Gang's prime purpose was the Haikizoku. They weren't trustworthy. These words echoed in Nina's heart.

  Is this......the real purpose? Did the Mercenary Gang deliberately allow Zuellni to face a crisis so all students sank into despair? So that the Haikizoku in Nina could awake?

  "This......"

  Her voice was lost. She was surprised at her own condition. She couldn't even get up. Right now, her body kept shaking and her flesh refused to listen to her.

  She couldn't lose here. The cannon was useless, but Zuellni still had Vance and Gorneo.

  (But, but.........)

  She couldn't do anything more. She had promised Layfon, but she was sleeping h
ere. Just why did she want to be strong? She didn't think it was bad to let others do the work. She had kept training till now to make herself useful in battle. Even so..........

  (Even so!)

  "This is your true personality," a sudden voice said. "Though that stubborn wall protects your usual heart, that is your real heart. It is the heart that seeks to protect the city, the heart that hides deep in the side of the hard shell."

  The owner of the voice was next to her, but Nina couldn't turn her head. It was in her blind spot.

  "Who... are you?"

  "Do you want to cry?"

  The words touched Nina's heart.

  "Wha......"

  "It's your promise with the Electronic Fairy. Yes, the promise. You always live in promises. A promise between Military Artists, a promise you made in the childhood and even now, a promise with the person who can touch the most vulnerable part of your heart."

  "Uu......Uu..."

  Who? Who's speaking?

  "You also cannot live on your own. No need to hide that truth. You just need to give voice to your wish. Say you want power."

  Stop the nonsense!

  She wanted to shout but she couldn't. Her body failed to move.

  "Let me give it to you. The power that can pierce through a forest of spears. Awake from your body."

  The hand of that voice appeared in Nina's sight. The hand was holding something. A something filled with complicated curved lines fill her sight.

  Then she didn't see anything else.

  A mask had appeared on Nina's face.

  Leerin lifted her head without realizing it.

  "?"

  She seemed to hear something.

  "What is it?" Meishen asked. She looked paled.

  "Ah, nothing."

  It must be her imagination.

  Leerin and the others were in one of the underground shelters. She was leaning against the wall. Because she had nothing to do, she was looking at the ceiling, spacing out. Bags for emergency use lay by her feet and piled on top of them were neatly folded blankets. The air-conditioner continued to work but it was useless. The vast, sealed space was filled with the body odors of many people.

  The booklet on living in a shelter said to stay in the middle of the shelter, but Leerin had chosen the location near the wall. Mifi and the others agreed with her after knowing why she did it. But Meishen was still hesitant as she was cautious in her approach with things. However, even Meishen didn't say much after living in here for three days. She looked at the people in the middle of the shelter with sympathy.

  This shelter contained close to 1000 people.

  Toilet. Shower. The passages connecting to other facilities were all located by the wall. It was natural for Leerin to choose this place as she had plenty of experience living in a shelter. However, it was different for others. Not that the people staying the middle of the shelters were any better, they were just naively fearing to live in a shelter. On the other hand, Leerin was used to it. She herself must be stranger than anyone else.

  "Speaking of which, this time it's so long," Mifi said, less careful than her usual self.

  Everyone must be very tired. Perhaps they were used to danger now, many more people came to walk in the corridors, and as such, more arguments ensued.

  Right now, it was happening somewhere too.

  The commotion quieted down quickly. The City Police was taking those people away to another place.

  Mifi saw someone familiar among the City Police and waved.

  "How's it? Your spirit still up?" Formed asked.

  "Hoho, I'm a bit tired," Mifi smiled bitterly.

  "How's the situation above the ground?"

  "Uh? Going all right. But it takes time to resist successive waves of enemies."

  "Really."

  "Ah~" Mifi lay down on the blanket. At the same time, Meishen fell.

  "Mei?" Leerin said, finding it strange.

  If it was Meishen, she wouldn't do something like that.

  Mifi found it strange that Meishen was not responding. She looked at her face. Blood had drained from Meishen's face and she was panting heavily.

  The two girls quickly sent her to the clinic.

  It appeared she had come down with a fever due to over-exhaustion. The doctor said it was caused by extreme tension. A few people who were diagnosed with the same thing lay on the beds around Meishen.

  As she had to look after Meishen, the burden was becoming heavier for Mifi.

  (Because Naruki's not here.)

  The three of them were always together. This separation was weakening them. Leerin thought of this as she told Mifi she'd leave and get some food. Mifi nodded tiredly.

  Leerin walked out of the clinic and took in a deep breath. Even she herself was about to collapse. Was it because this wasn't Grendan? Because there weren't any Heaven's Blade successors? But Layfon was here. She never once doubted his strength. She could be so calm because of this belief. But what else was she thinking? Was it because her strength hadn't recovered since she fainted the last time?

  Leerin pondered as she headed for the canteen.

  Suddenly, she halted her steps. She stopped, not knowing why.

  A path branched off before her. It didn't connect to the toilet, the shower or the canteen. This path led to the outside. For some reason, Leerin had entered this path. At present, the entrance was blocked with numerous heavy metal walls.

  But she kept walking in that direction.

  No one else was on the path. No one would risk it as filth monsters were still outside.

  Leerin stopped after walking a while. Thick walls blocked her way.

  "What am I doing?" she said.

  She had no idea, but she felt there must be a reason behind her action.

  "Uu......"

  All of a sudden, she covered her face with a hand and knelt down on the floor. Her right eye hurt. This wasn't the usual pain. The pain was such that she couldn't even make a noise. It felt as if the nerves in her right eyeball had been cut, and the pain was now individualized, as if her right eye didn't belong to her anymore. And tears kept leaking from the eye.

  (What......?)

  The pain prevented her from opening her right eye.

  That was what she thought, but she did see the metal wall before her. Even though her hand was covering her eye.........

  Her mind was blank. This wasn't even connected to the pain anymore. Who knew when, but the figure of a woman had appeared before the wall. That figure was blurry......Why so blurry? Because Leerin only saw this woman with her right eye.

  Black clothes and black hair. The woman appeared before her as if attending a funeral.

  (Who......are you?)

  Right eye kept crying tears. Was it too painful? Or because it was suppressing an intense emotion? But, she didn't know.

  This woman did not turn back. She just faced the wall.

  What was on the other side?

  So slow. No, she hadn't taken any actions. He knew clearly the filth monsters were attacking, but Dixerio hesitated in front of so many enemies. No matter the consequences of his action, it'd affect many people. What kind of influence would it be? Maybe that was the Wolf Faces' true aim?

  It'd have been good if she knew nothing. But he couldn't say that now.

  The mask danced in the air. Her hands held two iron whips.

  Nina Antalk.

  But there remained some difference between her mask and those of the Wolf Faces. The shape was the same, even the pattern was the same.

  But something was different.

  Using the building as a foothold, Nina jumped. The green light that seeped from the mask to envelop her entire body was something that the Wolf Faces didn't have. This was the proof of a Haikizoku.

  "Damn, it's awakened."

  Dixerio didn't know how Nina became possessed, but the truth was here before him.

  Had she walked the same doomed road as him?

  "I won't let you guys win!"

/>   Dixerio jumped and killed the final filth monster with his weapon. Nina's iron whips had already eliminated the other four. Corpses filled the land of Zuellni.

  Dixerio stood on the head of the filth monster that fell from the sky. On its back stood Nina. The two of them faced each other.

  "Hey, you still conscious?"

  Nina didn't reply.

  "Give me the mask. You'll feel more relaxed that way."

  Still no reply.

  "Damn, already swallowed up?"

  She was the same as him back then......

  "........."

  Nina crossed the iron whips before her. How was she viewing Dixerio? As an enemy? A strange creature?

  "Well then, guess I'll have to take it by force. It's good to take what I want with my power."

  Dixerio readied his metal whip on his shoulder. His other arm was stretched in front of his face. When that arm was removed from his vision...

  "And that is the essence of the city of Strong Desire – Velzenheim"

  The same mask appeared on Dixerio's face.

  The corpse of the filth monster touched the ground.

  At the same time, the two Military Artists jumped to cut two green traces in the air.

  Epilogue

  Sharp teeth flew everywhere. Savaris avoided all the teeth by centimeters. A chill went down his spine after he took one look at the gigantic pillar of tooth stabbing the ground that was about his height. Still, he smiled through his helmet. Instead of increasing his distance with the filth monster, he ran close to it.

  Ten more seconds till the next attack. That was Layfon's conclusion after observing Savaris and the filth monster. Savaris deliberately slowed down as he closed in on his opponent in a relaxed manner.

  Ten seconds.

  The filth monster opened its mouth and at that moment, its mouth exploded.

  That was Layfon. His External burst type Kei had shattered the sharp tooth the filth monster was about to shoot out. The shattered pieces ran wild inside its owner's mouth. The filth monster spit out liquid and roared in fury. It changed its target to Layfon.

  Layfon kept his distance as he evaded the attacks. The filth monster chased after him, its every step shaking the earth. Layfon had to move cautiously to prevent himself from falling due to the intense shaking of the ground. He kept his speed the same as his opponents. The distance between them remained constant. Felli's map appeared in a corner of his vision. The blue dot was him. The red dot was the filth monster, and the yellow dot chasing the red dot was Savaris.