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Chapter 159.2 : Berserker Vs Archer
『Viola Poison』 was the enhanced version of 『Poison』 which Hinagiku Saya learnt in the midst of battle.
Excluding his martial arts, this 『Deadly Poison Arrow』 was Touya’s deadliest killing weapon. Since it was lacquered with powerful poison, even a scratch from it would be a fatal blow. The 『Deadly Poison』 part of its name wasn’t just for show.
「THIS IS, THE END!」
Touya, who abandoned his kindness which was preventing him from pointing poisoned arrows towards his classmate, finally fired his arrows. Yes, it wasn’t just one arrow, he fired the entire 『Deadly Poison Arrow』 in his quiver.
The Touya she faced right now was a true, formidable enemy worthy of respect. They went after each other’s life with no hard feelings about it.
「Uhn, kuh…」
Even Meiko with her superhuman reaction speed couldn’t keep up with the incoming poison arrows which were raining down like a barrage from a machine gun.
The speed of the arrows couldn’t be seen with naked eyes, and yet, Meiko crushed every single one of them which was aiming for her vital spots with her cursed knife―― and let the others hit her.
The first poison arrow lodged on the top part of her left shoulder.
The sharp pain of when the arrowhead penetrated her skin aside, she also felt the raging heat that felt like it was going to burn her inside.
The next one grazed her cheek, the third one stuck into her right thigh, the fourth her flank.
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The 『Viola Poison』 in those arrows had finally shown its effect, slowing down Meiko due to the pain she felt.
「W-Why doesn’t she stop!? Don’t tell me the poison isn’t working!」
And yet, Meiko kept running, vertically. No matter how weak her vital sign has become due to the effect of the poison, she kept running.
「KILLKILLKILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!」
Along with a warcry that was resounding from the bottom of her stomach, the berserker closed in the distance toward her opponent in one go.
—Crap, she is unstoppable.
Touya, who was already aware that he was at a complete disadvantage at such a close distance, turned around at once, running into the building.
Meiko’s running speed was truly befitting of a warrior, but Touya didn’t lose in that regard when he ran with 『Fast Drive』. He definitely wouldn’t fall behind Meiko if both of them were running at their top speeds.
Once he entered the building, he would be able to regain his advantage again with the traps that he already prepared in the building. Though he felt some anxiety upon seeing Meiko’s predominance, he still had the chance to defeat her as long as he didn’t fight her head-on on the rooftop.
And then, the moment Touya took the first step.
「KYOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!」
A crow appeared right in front of him along with a loud cry.
The black bird that was sweeping down from high altitude like a falcon was clearly aiming for Touya.
「Dammit, this guy is Momokawa’s――」
It was really obvious that its role was to prevent Touya from getting away from Meiko.
And for that role, Kotarou prepared another Crow Rem.
Kotarou reckoned that even an archer like Touya would have his hands full with how to deal with Meiko the moment the latter reached the base of the building that became his base, too busy to even take care of a bird flying across the river.
And then, the Crow Rem used to obstruct Touya was barely within the ability of Kotarou to create familiar.
「―― Gotcha, Sakurai-kun.」
A chill ran down Touya’s spine the moment he heard Meiko’s voice.
The familiar crow that was sweeping down from the sky had already been shot down reflexively by Touya.
But that action resulted in him stopping. And that moment was only less than a second but was more than enough for Meiko to reach the rooftop. Because now, she was right behind Touya.
「OAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
The moment he turned around, her blade had already chopped his back.
Her blade sliced through the quiver on Touya’s back along with its owner, resulting in Touya collapsing on his own pool of blood.
「GU, UUUH….」
He couldn’t stand. Meiko incapacitated Touya in one fatal strike but that result was only natural for archers whose defense wasn’t their forte.
「G-U-H, Dam, it…….」
Nevertheless, his hand never let go of his black horn bow as he yelled to the top of his lungs, mustering the last of his power to raise his body―― until a single, black flash decapitated his left hand in silence.
「AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!」
That black flash severed the left hand that was gripping on the bow.
With fresh blood spewing out from the deep gash on his back and the cross-section on his wrist, Touya who couldn’t even feel the pain in his body anymore felt that he was about to die. Instead of pain, what hurt him the most was absolute despair.
He can’t win. A total loss, he couldn’t think of any means to reverse the situation against the monster called Meiko who couldn’t even be stopped with poison arrows.
Finally, his heart was broken.
「F-Futaba-san… please…」
「Give it up, I won’t spare your life.」
The real reason was because it was already too late to save him right now.
「I don’t care about my life but… please, please save Saya-chan.」
「That’s—」
Impossible. It was an easy remark. And she knew that was true.
Sakurai Touya loved Hinagiku Saya. And Hinagiku Saya loved Sakurai Touya too.
If Meiko killed Touya, there’s no way Saya would forgive her.
And Kotarou was merciless against anyone who tried to kill him. The same went for Meiko, she wouldn’t show a shred of mercy towards anyone who tried to kill Kotarou.
Reconciliation was already impossible the moment Touya’s arrow mercilessly pierced Kotarou’s clone.
「――Okay, leave it to us. Kotarou-kun will definitely save her with his medicine.」
「I see, thank goodne—」
Touya, whose face showed a genuine, calm smile, looked even more sublime as death approached him.
—Aah, such beautiful love.
—As if I can trample upon such pure love, the least I can do is send him in peace.
But the matter of killing the 『Archer』, Sakurai Touya who blocked their way was also the way for the 『Berserker』, Futaba Meiko to show her care towards her classmate, one might say that this act was in fact a mercy kill.
Thus, she didn’t have a shred of hesitation in killing Touya.
「Sorry, Sakurai-kun. And goodbye――」
Her cursed blade decapitated Sakurai Touya’s head, ending his life for sure.