Winter Fall (I)

by Shūsuke Amagi

  Then......

  "I'm going."

  Layfon restored his Dite. The Shim Adamantium Dite. The dark blade highlighted Layfon's leap.

  "Hey, hold on!"

  Ruimei roared.

  However, by now he already couldn't stop.

  Layfon raised the blade of the Dite, preparing to pierce through Lævateinn's head.

  The thorns swung left and right to block Layfon. Though it had a giant form, it was still agile enough to keep up with Military Artist speed. Moreover, the destructive power that the giant mass brought couldn't be ignored.

  Layfon dodged the thorns from a very close distance, and sparks flew because of the Kei covering his entire body touching the chaotic shockwave.

  A giant tendril of thorns obscured Layfon's vision.

  There was nowhere he could run. The opponent was trying to stop his momentum.

  He had no reason to let this succeed.

  Layfon rotated his body in midair, letting his feet first touch the opponent...... that moment, he suddenly entered a world of instantaneous speed.

  Internal Kei variant, Reflecting Water Ferry.

  Passing through the thorns that blocked the road ahead, Layfon stood in front of Lævateinn.

  Her eyes stared at Layfon.

  She kept up with Layfon's speed.

  But even so, he couldn't stop here.

  Psyharden Technique, Flame Cut.

  He drew a flaming cut path, but unfortunately he wasn't able to complete it.

  "Ugh."

  He hadn't finished his desired action, and the shock passed through his arm and spread through his entire body.

  Lævateinn had used her hand to block Layfon's blade.

  "Though I know your power, I cannot stop because of this."

  "......I as well, I can't stop here without moving forward."

  Layfon held Lævateinn's gaze, replying with this.

  "So, I came here."

  Regardless of how many time he was asked, regardless of who asked him.

  "I haven't changed my plans."

  Flame Cut had been stopped.

  However, the next move had already been prepared.

  External-type Kei, Composite Blast variant - Flame Reversal, Flame Tempered Edge.

  The blade had been stopped, and the slash of Flame Cut had been invalidated.

  However, that didn't mean that the Kei technique was over.

  The same time the blade had been pulled out, the Kei of Composite Blast had been scattered above Lævateinn's head.

  In the next moment, the expanding red color became countless blades, slashing towards Lævateinn.

  Taking advantage of the gap of time in which Lævateinn raised her head to look up, Layfon moved back.

  The countless flaming blades formed by Kei all caught the immobile Lævateinn, exploding one after another.

  Layfon didn't stay in one spot to watch the outcome of this attack.

  He only retreated with all his power.

  Using the same methods to destroy the thorns that he had done just before, he returned to the place where he had originally been.

  Savaris stood there like the past, welcoming Layfon with a familiar smile.

  "Using all your might to run, huh."

  "Please say something like 'I understand my current power'".

  Layfon calmly replied to Savaris' ridicule.

  "It sounds like you've already become an adult, how silly."

  "If you have so many opinions, why don't you try them out?" [12]

  "But, didn't I already work hard for so long just now? I at least want a bit of time to rest."

  "Really......"

  Speaking of which, traces of blood were all over Savaris' body.

  Seeing as there was no new blood flowing out, his wounds had already been closed by his use of internal Kei.

  The other Heaven's Blades like Ruimei, Kanaris, and Troyatte didn't take any actions either, using this time to focus on recovery.

  He didn't know why Haia and Claribel would be here, but Layfon had already noticed that they held things like Heaven's Blades in their hands.

  He had already noticed, and moreover felt surprised, but he didn't have time to express it.

  More concerning, where in the world were Reverse, Cauntia, and Kalvan?

  "It seems like some people aren't here?"

  "Those few have already died. You should have understood, right?"

  "......I never heard of it."

  That was probably the only reason for them not being on the battlefield. The feelings squeezed inside Layfon's chest were ejected in an instant.

  It was very normal for people to die on a battlefield. When he had fought in Grendan, he had seen many Military Artists die with his own eyes. Regardless of whether filth monsters or Military Artists, if fighting happened, then there would definitely be a death between the two sides.

  So, the reason wasn't strange, and even Heaven's Blade successors could lose in battle.

  But, his heart wouldn't be throbbing if he only relied on reason.

  "We can't let her reasons for leaving increase." [13]

  He said quietly.

  Next to Layfon, Savaris continued speaking cheerfully.

  "Rather than that, it seems like you thought up of a very interesting move. So that's how it is, you were confident to come here because of that."

  "Though it seems like it wasn't of any use."

  During the process as Layfon had been returning, the explosions produced by his Kei technique had ended, for the most part.

  An unharmed Lævateinn was leisurely standing there.

  Layfon understood that it wasn't possible to defeat her so simply.

  What Layfon cared more about, was why hadn't the Kei technique just now been able to cut her? Or had it cut her, but she had instantly recovered already?

  Though it didn't change much about the fact that Lævateinn was standing over there unharmed, Layfon still looked for a clue from that fact.

  "Judging from the results I've seen here, it should have cut her."

  As if reading Layfon's thoughts, Savaris spoke.

  "However, there's no way to defeat her."

  "If she were defeated that easily, then it would be meaningless for us to be here."

  Savaris' tone was frivolous like the past, but the more frivolous his tone got, the more it expressed the strength of the enemy. Layfon was certain on this.

  Because to Savaris, fighting was more meaningful than anything else.

  (How pitiful that you can speak so well with a person after you tried to kill each other.)

  Felli said by the side.

  "Eh? Ah, uh...... true."

  Speaking of which, that kind of thing had indeed happened.

  "That was a very nice battle."

  It had probably been heard by Savaris, as he spoke.

  "Something that I can't picture like being able to fight even without a Heaven's Blade, let me experience it a bit another time."

  "No."

  (You two really are weird.)

  He had rejected Savaris' interest, but Layfon had still been told off by Felli.

  "Please don't classify me as that kind of person."

  Though Layfon said this, the confused atmosphere of the other side had already passed through the Psychokinesis flake.

  "Ooh, that person is also beginning to test her out."

  Before Savaris' words were spoken, Layfon already felt it.

  He could feel an extremely great Kei ripple from that place.

  The surroundings were already filled with his steel threads, showing that his steel threads could become deadly blades to attack Lævateinn at any time.

  Layfon looked at Lintence.

  The man who pursued battle for another reason different from Savaris' momentarily moved the five fingers of his leisurely drooping hand left and right.

  Layfon hadn't missed that fine movement because there had once been a master-student relationship between them.

&nb
sp; In a breath, countless thin blades attacked the monster of thorns and Lævateinn.

  Cut lines produced by the rushing wave of strikes appeared everywhere on the thorns.

  "It wasn't cut apart, huh."

  Yes, Lintence's cuts hadn't cut off a thing from the thorns.

  "If it's just cutting, then Cauntia-san should have been the strongest, and there's also you and Haia. So this isn't a surprising outcome."

  "I guess that is true."

  "That guy's strength shouldn't be in that area."

  "I also understand."

  He had never thought that Savaris would speak like that to him. The unexpected and strange confrontational feelings that arose in him made Layfon a bit low-spirited.

  "That's only his first contact, I understand."

  Using steel threads to investigate the state of the enemy, this was called 'contact' by them.

  However, because Lintence's contact was too strong, just that could directly eliminate large numbers of filth monsters.

  "Then this is enough."

  Layfon felt annoyed at Savaris' attitude as he watched the battle.

  The monster of thorns had seemed to have decided to first stay aboveground. Not only because of Lintence who currently attacked it, but Layfon and the others had also received the attacks of its giant body.

  Layfon easily jumped to evade the assaults of the thorns that came with a crashing noise.

  The same time he dodged, the thorns exploded.

  "What!"

  A huge amount of smoke filled the surroundings in a moment, and his vision was ruined, but even so, he wouldn't miss any abnormal changes in the air.

  Countless things were flying towards Layfon.

  Layfon ducked his body according to their presences.

  The countless things that broke through the smoke and rushed over were...... thorns.

  Thorns whose thickness had become closer to reality became countless spears to break through the smoke and assault Layfon.

  "They've changed?"

  Layfon checked his posture, sweeping his blade to ward off the thorns, but the thorns appeared wave after wave, seeming completely limitless.

  "Damn."

  The recoil produced when he dealt with the thorns continuously pushed Layfon's body back.

  "Die!"

  External-type Kei Composite Blast variant, Compound Sendan - Kagome.

  The strikes that ran up and down assembling something like a net rushed out, wiping out the group of thorns.

  However, the number of the thorns was limitless.

  External-type Kei, Composite Blast variant - Hunter's Pursuit.

  While following Sendan's momentum with additional Kei, Layfon confirmed the situation in the surroundings.

  The smokescreen was slowly dissipating.

  If he looked closely, the number of thorns breaking through the smoke numbered one or two thousand.

  Not only Layfon, but Savaris next to him as well as the other Heaven's Blades endlessly received the thorns' assaults.

  Like an endlessly inflating pincushion.

  The Heaven's Blades had all carried out evasion and counterattacks, but they still couldn't stop the swelling trend.

  And other than Layfon and Lintence, the other Heaven's Blades' movements were not very smooth.

  It seemed that the degree of weariness was much more serious than Savaris had spoken of.

  Layfon abandoned his attack, beginning to focus on evading.

  Layfon endlessly avoided or parried the thorns rushing at him, his target the ball of thorns. Because the opponent had such a great number, if he avoided them once, the next attack wouldn't come so quickly.

  However, the superiority of that number was still there.

  Regardless of whether he leaped or dodged, if he erred once, then because of the enemy's number, he would be forcibly pushed back to his original position or somewhere even farther.

  From the opposite side of the extending thorns came the sound of something being destroyed.

  Was it the sound of the Heaven's Blades doing something to the thorns?

  No, it wasn't like that.

  "She's destroying the city?"

  If he considered the speed at which the thorns expanded, it had already reached the size that the palace had originally been. Moreover, it was very easy to speculate that it had already extended outside of the palace.

  A crisis was already approaching Leerin.

  "I can't go on leisurely like this."

  Layfon once again flowed Kei into his feet, running into the center.

  Sprinting in the opposite direction towards the extending thorns wasn't such an easy thing. Something that looked like very fast movement actually wasn't so.

  "Damn."

  An anxious word came from his mouth.

  At that time.

  A sound different from before closed rapidly in on him from behind.

  There was already no time to turn his head to confirm.

  Even so, some kind of feeling told him that the sound closing in was even more dangerous.

  Layfon forcefully escaped from the path of the advancing sound.

  Right after that.

  The thorns in the direction that he had left from disappeared in a moment.

  No, they had been torn apart.

  "What?"

  Layfon didn't even finish his sentence. However, he couldn't resolve anything if he didn't confirm with his own eyes. Layfon looked over.

  As expected, it was a scene that was hard to describe.

  The thorns had been broken, torn apart.

  There was something he couldn't see well that was spinning, shredding the countless thorns, scattering around.

  What was it?

  No, there was no reason to consider.

  "Let's go."

  Though Layfon felt a chill run up his spine at the seemingly displeased voice, he still quickly jumped into the suddenly-created space.

  He had originally thought that he would be cut into two along the way, but that hadn't happened.

  But even if he entered right now, it didn't mean that he would be able to be at ease afterwards. Layfon focused his consciousness into his eyes, and after he found it, landed on top of it.

  The fine net-like object that he landed on was...... steel threads.

  Yes, it was probably only Lintence who could do that kind of reckless thing.

  "It seems like we can't cut them when they're packed."

  Above Layfon's head, Lintence seemed to be talking to himself.

  His voice sounded like he seemed bored.

  But, even this Lintence had quite a dangerous expression.

  He didn't feel despair at his opponent.

  "I always feel like your tone makes it hard to swallow."

  "What are you saying?"

  A spiraled blade of steel threads continuously cut apart the extending group of thorns, piercing, and guiding Layfon and Lintence as they ran towards the center.

  Layfon had finally spoken because he was being escorted.

  "It hasn't used its full strength yet, huh." [14]

  "Eh?"

  "I'm talking about that thing. It called up a bunch of forces to drive off the palace Military Artists, and even told the Heaven's Blades to retreat at the start. That isn't what a person who destroyed Reverse's shield and who defeated Kalvan should say."

  "That......"

  Though he wanted to say something, Layfon couldn't think of what he should say.

  Did Lævateinn actually want to avoid battle?

  Why?

  Unexpectedly, something appeared in Layfon's mind.

  "Even if she has the outer form of a human, that thing isn't human in the end."

  "Ah......"

  "The reason I cleaned up the other forces first was because I wanted to understand this. In the end, it was the same after I investigated just now."

  His investigation just now...... he should have been speaking of his 'contact'.

  "Even if
she imitates humans, she isn't a human. Since she doesn't have organs or a heart. She's a monster formed of things even smaller than sand."

  The thing which had appeared in Layfon's mind had been broken into pieces by Lintence's words, and he couldn't even reform it.

  Yes, it was like that.

  Hadn't he also seen it when he had been in the abandoned city, that being who had appeared with the same form as her.

  Hadn't he seen her calling Lævateinn the mother form.

  Vati Len, she was not a human.

  Rather, she was the monster known as Lævateinn.

  He couldn't forget that.

  "Why would that kind of thing want to avoid battle? ......It really bothers me."

  Because he had been born as a Military Artist, he had pursued battles corresponding to his abilities.

  Layfon had heard him say something like this before. He had been the one who had spoken about his reasons of the time when he had left his birthplace city, but he hadn't thought about that time much.

  Perhaps for this kind of person, Grendan's battles hadn't been able to satisfy his thirst for battle.

  Not to say that he played around in a crisis like Savaris.

  Had Lintence done what he had merely as a duty? There were times when Layfon thought this. Though it was possible that this way of thinking was a bit twisted, it was because of those kinds of thoughts that had brought about the current Lintence.

  If he was like that, perhaps he currently stood before the enemy that would allow him to complete his duty.

  He who looked no different from normal might actually be lacking calmness. This kind of dangerous feeling passed through Layfon.

  The spiral of steel threads endlessly cut through the thorns, bringing them to the center. It was already impossible for him to grasp his position. Where was he, in what part of the city? Had there been any big changes from the place before? Or had he already dove underground? Or had he peen pushed back up into the air?

  Various worries continuously sprung up in Layfon's mind, throwing it into disarray.

  However, perhaps what he had just felt from Lintence might have been his illusion.

  Layfon looked at the other side of the spiraling blade.

  If he saw his battle opponent, there wouldn't be time to let himself be in disarray.

  The spiral continuously brought Layfon and Lintence forward.

  "It's coming."

  As they came closer and closer into the center, the gaps between the thorns became smaller and smaller, and they almost couldn't see the things ahead of them.