CH 5

Episode 5 – Night of Betrayal

Part 1

「With this we can relax somewhat. Everyone, thank you for your hard work.」

Relie said that to the members of Syvalles who returned to the boardinghouse and finished their medical treatment and dinner.

The alarm that was activated at the seventh floor’s manufacture area settled down and they were able to safely open the direct passage from the eighth floor to the deck.

They found Airi who was separated from them and there was no member who was seriously harmed.

Philuffy also fell into fever because she fought Orthros and collapsed, but her condition was settling down right now.

Tomorrow they would finally aim to reach the control area and the deepest floor, tonight they would retire to bed.

After Lux talked to Airi who was separated from the group at the afternoon and everyone who fought Orthros, Lux visited Philuffy’s room.

「How do you feel, Phi-chan?」

「Nn……. I think, I’m hungry.」

When Lux asked, Philuffy got up and said that.

When Relie asked her about what happened right after she woke up, it seemed that Philuffy didn’t remember anything after she went out of the Ark chasing after Orthros.

It was fortunate that she didn’t remember about herself running wild right after that and also about the conversation with Hayes.

「Then, you’ve already waken up, so do you want to eat something? Something like fruits, I asked Krulcifer-san to cut various things──」

「Yes. Thank you.」

「Then, I’ll feed you today.」

Normally Lux couldn’t do that because he would feel embarrassed, but he was able to act naturally toward the current Philuffy.

(It feels like we returned to when we were children……)

Lux recalled that period when he spent time with Philuffy inside and outside the palace.

Lux used a fork to carry the assortment of fruits Krulcifer cut for him bit by bit into Philuffy’s mouth.

Philuffy was continuing to eat them silently with her mouth moving like a small animal.

「Is it delicious?」

「……Yes」

It was a short reply, but Lux could sense Philuffy’s happiness from the slight change of her expression.

「Lu-chan too, eat with me.」

Philuffy silently took the fork from Lux’s hand and stabbed at the orange on the plate.

And then she silently presented it toward Lux’s mouth.

「Eh……!? I, I’m fine. Besides──」

It was the same fork Philuffy just used, so he felt a bit embarrassed.

Lux thought like that and his heart pounded hard. Seeing such Lux, Philuffy brought her face close toward him.

「Here.」

She urged him with an attitude that didn’t bother at all with Lux’s rejection.

「…………」

As expected, he wasn’t a match against Philuffy.

The orange that was steadily fed to him felt especially sweet.

「……Then, rest at ease until your body recover okay? If you need something, call someone right away.」

After the fruit plate became empty, Lux turned off the lamp’s light and he was about to leave──.

「Lu-chan.」

Her single word that she suddenly heard caused Lux to twitch and stiffened.

The Ratatoskr of Yggdrasil that was planted on Philuffy’s heart.

It wouldn’t be strange even if the impulse of the command that Hayes sent to Philuffy through the Yggdrasil ran wild anytime.

When Lux turned around nervously,

「It’s no good, if you act too recklessly you know?」

He saw the usual gentle face of Philuffy there.

But, Lux’s expression froze seeing that face.

One of Philuffy’s eyes was dyed jet black, the golden pupil in it was shining.

But, Philuffy’s expression was the same like usual. It was unknown whether she noticed it herself or not. Lux stared at her in a daze.

「……Right, I, know.」

He barely nodded back and Lux left the room.

「Rest well, Phi-chan.」

And then he quietly closed the door. Lux walked in the corridor with heavy footsteps.

After walking for around a few mel, he knocked his forehead on the wall.

「Uu……, a, aa……」

The inside of his head was going around in circles, the world warped.

His limbs shook and he didn’t know what his expression looked like.

「How……! Why!? Did I not save Philuffy that time……!? Why, why, I──」

When Lux headed toward another room as though running away, there was Relie standing at the middle of the corridor.

「Thank you for looking after her, Lux-kun.」

Her face didn’t have her usual joking expression, it was a face that somewhat looked quiet.

「How about, we talk a little?」

Following Relie’s words, Lux headed toward another room away from that place.

「Looking at your face, it looks like you have noticed it already haven’t you?」

Lux guessed the truth from Relie’s extremely calm words.

「Do you know, about Philuffy’s condition……?」

Lux asked with an empty expression.

It was a dark voice that was chilly even for him.

「I don’t know as far as the specific, but I too only realize it only recently.」

Relie opened a room’s door with a smile that was mixed with self-derision.

It was the personal room for the use of the manager. On the table inside the room, there was documents that Relie brought from the academy piled up high there.

Most likely, she herself was also investigating the information from Ruin even after giving Airi the work to decipher the ancient text of the Ruin.

Looking for a way to save her little sister that assimilated with Abyss.

「……Where should I begin from I wonder. Lux-kun, do you remember about the incident when Philuffy was kidnapped by the old empire’s military in the past?」

「Yes……」

There was no way he would forget.

Five years ago, he cooperated with Lisha’s father Count Atismata and planned the coup d’etat. He heard about the incident from his eldest brother Fugil and went to this Ries Island alone.

That disgusting incident where young girls were taken away under the guise of medical care, when it was actually in order to do medical experiment of military weapon.

Lux located the experiment place. When he arrived at the experiment facility underground the monastery, he didn’t find Philuffy there.

「That time, I sent a letter to Lux-kun, saying that Philuffy was saved.」

「……Was that, a lie?」

「Half of it.」

「Eh……?」

Lux opened his eyes wide at Relie’s baffling answer.

「She actually should be died. When we discovered her, it was already……too late. Even the doctor I brought with me threw up the towel and stopped his examination. But──after that, Philuffy was resurrected together with a mysterious light and pattern.」

「…………」

That must be the Ratatoskr Hayes mentioned.

A part of Ragnarok, the seed of offshoot that Yggdrasil supplied combined with Philuffy and saved her.

「Seeing her condition at that time, I was wondering whether there was something dangerous planted in Philuffy. Since then, Philuffy’s body became tougher than before. If she is serious, she can exert strength that even adult cannot compare with. I entrusted Philuffy to a teacher from martial art family to teach her the way to suppress her strength. I hid my little sister’s condition while investigating about the thing planted inside her.」

「…………」

「I noticed that my little sister become something like Abyss since I became headmaster here and Philuffy became student. That’s why even when Philuffy became a Divine Drag-Ride user, I excluded Philuffy from getting involved with Ruin and from the Abyss extermination duty. It’s because Abyss is a target to be disposed in the new kingdom’s law. If this fact become known by someone──there is high chance that she will get killed.」

「Such thing……!」

Lux who was listening until now spontaneously yelled.

Relie who saw that made an empty smile along with a small sigh.

「For me, the inside of that ruin is my last hope. It’s only a slight possibility, but it’s the only place with any chance where I can save my little sister. If I can grasp the information at the untrodden deepest level, then perhaps it will be also possible to save a human that is assimilated with Abyss.」

「That’s why you use us to investigate the Ruin without taking permission from the new kingdom……?」

「……Yes, that’s right.」

Relie nodded in resignation toward Lux’s question and confirmed it.

And then, she took a deep breath and showed a face that contained determination in it.

「Regarding what I’m doing, I’m doing it with the resolve to accept the consequence. I don’t regret it, and I don’t intend to. I’ll reach the deepest floor in this time’s Ruin investigation no matter what.」

「Relie-san……」

「I don’t mind even if you tell everyone. At that time I intend to go alone. It seems according to La Cruche, Abyss almost surely won’t come out in the remaining distance until the deepest level anyway, if I’m lucky I can reach there.」

Relie said only that then she silently sat on a chair inside the room.

And then she looked down as though to say that she had no more words.

Lux went out of the silent room and looked up to the sky from the corridor’s window.

「…………」

Lux couldn’t say anything.

The parasite body of Ragnarok that was administered into Philuffy was constantly receiving the command to kill Lux. Because Philuffy rejected it, her body was weakening.

The time until Philuffy’s life ran out wasn’t that long anymore.

「What should I choose……」

The answer didn’t come out even when he looked up to the sky.

Part 2

The next day, the Ruin investigation was carried out since the morning.

They started the investigation from the stopping point at the eighth floor and hurried through the path that was almost a straight line.

Airi and Relie participated this time too. Including them there were thirteen people participating, but Philuffy was resting at the boarding house because her condition wasn’t well.

Fortunately, they reached safely until the tenth floor without encountering Abyss just as expected.

While continuing to walk the corridor where unfamiliar strange objects were lining up, La Cruche suddenly stopped her legs, and then, she looked up to the ceiling with her small body.

「Everyone, thank you for accompanying me until this far. We have safely arrived at the control room area. I will open the door after this, so can I ask for a little help?」

「I’ll do it. What do I need to do?」

Krulcifer replied like that earlier than everyone and came forward.

This was something that she had arranged beforehand with La Cruche.

The cooperation of Krulcifer who was an Xfer, someone who inherited the blood of the Ruin’s supervisor was necessary to open the door of the control room area. She wanted to hide that true identity of hers.

For that, La Cruche asked for the cooperation of 『someone』 to hide that fact.

『Xfer’s existence is confirmed. The door will open.』

The door of the control room area was opened along with the sensation of an unfamiliar inorganic voice echoing directly inside the brain.

It was a fairytale-like space that was enveloped with faint mysterious light.

「Please wait for just a bit. I will supplement my memory and restore the Ark’s system.」

And then, La Cruche sat down on a small chair at the center of the room. At the same time, something like a helm came down from overhead and connected with her.

She slowly closed her eyes and began to concentrate her consciousness.

「If everyone has spare time, it’s fine even if you all go ahead to look at this Ruin’s deepest part you know? It looks like it will take quite a bit of time until my lost memory is restored.」

「Then we will do as you say. Airi-chan, will you come with me?」

「Ah, yes. I don’t mind but──it’s just……」

Relie immediately agreed and she was about to head to the deepest part. In contrast Airi was mumbling as though she wanted to say something. Even so she nodded.

Lux and others also accompanied the two of them.

The distance from the tenth floor’s control room area until the deepest part was really short.

After they went down cream colored and smooth stair, they could see the door of the deepest level.

It was a grey colored gate that was far firmer then everything until now.

「This place, so this is……」

Relie touched the solid door and muttered emotionally.

She approached the strange gem before the gate, but there wasn’t any reaction.

『……Ah, please don’t give any impact to that room over there.』

「Uwah……!?」

Lux and Lisha reacted in surprise hearing that voice that came out of nowhere.

Krulcifer calmly looked up and muttered.

「La Cruche. Is this your voice?」

『Yes master. I’m contacting you through the communication equipment and monitoring devices deployed through the Ark. The last room will need your──not that, it need specific authentication, but as long as you have that then you’ll be able to enter inside.』

「Then, can you teach me that method?」

Relie urged from the side.

She was feigning calm, but most likely she was impatient inside.

She wanted to obtain the knowledge of the ancient era as soon as possible, deciphered it, and found the method to safe Philuffy.

Everyone present there gulped and held their breath, it was then──,

「Please wait!」

Suddenly Airi spoke out and broke the mood.

While everyone there held their tongue from the surprise, Airi started talking with trembling voice.

「This morning I deciphered an ancient text──it’s a text that was newly obtained from the Garden previously. It was written there that a mobile device of a weapon that mustn’t be touched is sleeping here. About the detail, even I was unable to decipher it, and it also need confirmation from the government so I stayed quiet but……. If, this translation is correct then──」

「Don’t tell me, what destroyed the ancient era that created this Ruin was……」

Airi silently nodded at Lux’s muttering.

「Yes, it’s highly likely that it was because of that weapon. If the forbidden device sleeping at the Ruin’s deepest part is activated, we don’t know what will happen. It’s dangerous for us to decide it right now.」

「That might be so.」

Krulcifer also agreed with Airi’s fearful opinion.

「If there is a secret that important inside, then we cannot open this with our own discretion. We should send messenger to the capital and ask for the decision from above. We also have to obtain the information at the control room area from La Cruche, and then every country need to have discussion with each other based on that.」

「…………」

Relie’s shoulders were quaking a bit beside Krulcifer who was talking calmly.

Even Lux could understand her feeling like the back of his own hand.

Philuffy’s condition was a race against time.

Surely Relie wanted to enter this room right now without wasting time.

Lux also felt the same like her.

If the door of the deepest part wasn’t opened until the sunset of two days later──.

Hayes’s words crossed through his mind.

However, he couldn’t divulge that fact right now in this place.

While Lux was feeling conflicted, Relie made a choice.

「──It can’t be helped.」

She made a gentle expression and calmly spoke.

「Certainly it will be dangerous to enter the deepest part with our current group. Let’s come back again here later. The restoration of La Cruche’s memory will also finish around that time.」

「Yes……」

Airi leaked out a relieved sigh.

With her methodical personality, originally she wouldn’t immediately speak about the content of the ancient text she deciphered, instead she would confirm it with other expert first without fail to make sure that her translation was correct, but this time the content was too risky, so that was why she was flustered like that.

They met up with the other members, and then after explaining that, they returned back to the surface.

La Cruche said that it would take half a day for her to restore all her lost memory.

And then after getting information from her, they would submit their report to the new kingdom government and waited for the next instruction regarding the Ruin investigation.

They finished talking with such conclusion.

「Come to think of it, where is that guy called Dobar or something? Even though that guy was that hasty, but we didn’t catch sight of him at all──」

Lisha said that while they were going back. Everyone exchanged opinion casually, but in the end they all returned to the surface without knowing anything.

At night, inside the boardinghouse after dinner it was silent as death as though the bustling atmosphere a few days ago was just a lie.

Other than training camp, there was also the Ruin investigation and fight against Abyss.

More than half of the members reached their limit from the fatigue of training and investigation every day. They quickly headed to their bedroom after lightly washing off their sweat.

When Lux returned to his room, there was Airi nodding off while facing her desk.

She must be tried from the nervousness of traveling inside Ruin in flesh without wearing protection and from her work deciphering the ancient text.

Lux carried her in his arms and moved her to the bed, then put a blanket on her.

He thought to consult her, but as expected he couldn’t involve Airi.

Philuffy was sleeping inside her room. She didn’t show any sign of waking up.

The promised date was approaching.

『Finish your investigation in two days.』

Hayes’s objective might be the activation of the forbidden device that Airi mentioned.

If he asked Krulcifer to open the last door, it was possible that the device would get stolen by Hayes, and the new kingdom──no, the world itself would be in danger.

「──What should I do?」

Even though he wanted to save Philuffy no matter how faint the hope was──he couldn’t decide.

Perhaps what he was going to choose to do might become a repeat of the same mistake like that time.

Just like before when for the sake of his wish to change the country, he caused a war and he failed.

(Even so, I──)

Lux gripped the sheath of his Sword Device hard and closed his eyes tightly, it was then,

「────」

Dread ran through him.

Even Lux didn’t understand what was going on at first, he looked at his fingertips and knees that were starting to shake, and he noticed the cause.

The night in the island that was wrapped in the roar of the sea.

A monster melted into the tranquil darkness and held its breath.

「…………」

Lux wordlessly got up and went out of the boardinghouse through the backdoor so that other members wouldn’t find him.

He crossed through the bushes where there was no lighting and came out into an open space.

That man was standing under the brilliantly shining full moon.

「──It has been a long time, my younger brother. O the weakest hero who was defeated in the battle of ideal.」

Calm and elegant voice, and a composed bearing.

He was wearing a luxurious overcoat. Silver hair, fiercely glaring gray eyes that reminded one of a hungry beast. He was that man without a doubt.

*dokun……!*

Lux’s heart jumped, it caused a hallucination as though his blood was flowing in reverse.

The face of his only relative who understood him.

And the scorning face that was looking down on the fallen him.

The countless memories until that point flowed inside Lux’s mind in an instant──,

「Fugil Arcadia……!」

He spouted those words as though they were pushed out from his lungs.

The man who was the first imperial prince of the old Arcadia Empire, planned the coup d’etat together with Lux……, and then he was the man who betrayed Lux at the end and erased the remaining imperial family.

Lux’s longtime enemy, the older brother that he was chasing for these five years.

「……Why are you here?」

His throat felt terribly parched just from saying that short sentence.

Lux questioned with a tense voice, at the same time he drew out Bahamut’s Sword Device.

At this distance, it was faster to directly slash at the opponent rather than summoning and deploying Drag-Ride.

And also, there was no sign and presence of enemy at the surrounding other than Fugil.

He could take the initiative at the instant of opening when the opponent prepared for summoning.

Lux slowly closed the distance while observing Fugil.

「Is that Heiburg’s strategist called Hayes, also instigated by you?」

「What if I say that’s true?」

Fugil showed a fearless smile and jested.

Lux didn’t overlook the instant of opening when Fugil breathed in to reply.

「I’ll capture you.」

Lux kicked on the ground that was covered with grass while muttering that at the same time.

Lux stepped forward with low posture. He swung his sword quickly at the same time, tripping the foot of Fugil who tried to dodge.

「Oof……!」

Fugil fell down face up. Right after that, Lux swiftly thrust the tip of his sword on Fugil’s throat.

「……I see. You intend to take me hostage to safe your childhood friend by using me to bargain for her release?」

Fugil asked with a composed smile without even a twitch in his eyebrow.

Lux glared at him and silently affirmed it, then,

「Really it’s just as I expected from you, my younger brother.」

An admiring voice came from behind Lux.

「──!?」

Lux who had progressed the event calmly until now instantly opened his eyes wide in surprise.

The figure of the man who should be lying down on the ground with a sword pointed on his throat was vanishing.

When Lux turned around in panic, there was Fugil calmly standing above a low-rise hill at slight distance away.

「Wha……!?」

‘What happened!?’

Lux was confused by the impossible reality.

(I didn’t take my eyes off him even for a moment. He also didn’t use any distraction or that my attention was diverted. And yet, how──)

「Way to go my younger brother. Amazing thought and judgment as expected. The moment you saw me your bitter enemy, if it’s a normal person they will only stand still trying to understand the situation, but you formed several plans in merely a few moment and carried them out.」

Fugil continued his words looking like he was enjoying it happily from the bottom of his heart, along with a wicked smile on his face.

「You predicted my connection with Hayes, thought a plan to capture me to make use of me as negotiation material, and you tried to make it reality. That was an action that was unthinkable to come from someone who had been beaten to the punch. It was also amazing how you dare not to call your Drag-Ride in order to take me by surprise.」

「…………」

With a snap, Fugil sheathed his sword while smiling.

Lux only noticed just now that the brother he was confronting had unsheathed his sword without him realizing it.

Did he overlook that because he was too flustered?

(──No, that’s not it. Fugil didn’t unsheathe his sword, I’ve no doubt about that.)

Perhaps his hand held the sword handle and moved in just an instant. But, even so what was the connection?

(No! It’s not the time to think about that right now!)

Lux aborted his thought that was starting to wander off course. He concentrated toward the phenomenon before him.

At any rate, his first attack missed and a distance was opened between them.

He could only call Bahamut.

Lux put his strength onto the button on the sword handle, and he was going to whisper the passcode, it was at that instant,

「But, unfortunately you misread the situation, my younger brother. I don’t have any worth at all as a hostage. It’s pointless to capture me.」

Fugil informed indifferently as though to shave off Lux’s resolve.

「And then you are going to commit a great mistake. If you start to fight me here, there will be no helping your childhood friend anymore for eternity.」

「……-」

Lux’s hand stopped hearing Fugil’s extremely calm statement.

「What do you……, mean?」

「I’m trying to stop that woman called Hayes. I should be her ally, but that woman is deviating too much from our original conduct you see. It’s necessary to correct the course here. In other words it’s only in this moment right now──that my interest align with you.」

「…………」

「To control that Yggdrasil──the Ragnarok’s main body, a particular requirement is necessary. The horn flute that brat is carrying is specially made, a one and only item that is called『Origin Variety』. Therefore──if you can just destroy or steal it, she won’t be able to give new instruction to the Ragnarok anymore. And then if you can just defeat the main body of Yggdrasil, you can remove the harm toward that childhood friend of yours. That’s how it is, even if for example the blood of Abyss is already residing in half of her body.」

「……Do you have proof that this isn’t your trap?」

Lux fixed his expression so that the agitation in his heart couldn’t be detected and he asked.

There was no way he could just swallow the words of his enemy Fugil, but he asked that in order to probe Fugil’s true intention.

「Unfortunately, I can only put my hope on your discernment for that. That’s including your discernment whether I have any need to tell such lie.」

「…………」

The horn flute to use at Ragnarok that only Hayes possessed, the Origin Variety.

Previously, when Poseidon was resurrected, Hayes was hiding inside the shadow of her robe and he couldn’t see what she was doing.

But, two days ago when Hayes showed up in front of him, the horn flute that he saw she was holding had strange pattern engraved on it.

「──Is that, everything you want to say?」

「No, putting aside my advice, I have one thing I want to ask. Assuming that what I said was all true──do you really have the intention to save that childhood friend of yours?」

「…………」

In respond to Fugil’s question, Lux met his gaze wordlessly.

「As I thought, you haven’t changed huh. You are still the same like that time, foolish and weak.」

Fugil sighed in exasperation and he looked up to empty air.

With his back still facing the deep ultramarine of the darkness, he formed a smile that could even be called as evil countenance.

「Don’t you notice that you too are trying to do the same thing like that woman called Relie? Saving what is important, an existence that is irreplaceable for you. Certainly it sounds nice, but in actuality doing that is a betrayal toward this country and those students. You are committing a folly that might turn you into the enemy of the world.」

「It’s evil──is that what you want to say?」

「No……」

Unexpectedly Fugil instantly denied it.

「It’s troubling because it’s not evil or anything. However, if there are a thousand people then there will be a thousand path of justice──I don’t have any intention to speak any tomfoolery like that.  They don’t have any awareness of good and evil, this is nothing more than them merely in conflict regarding something that they cannot concede, as only natural.」

Fugil continued so still wearing his composed smile.

「That is the nature of living thing as it were. People who have been hungry in the past will try to gather more food. The weak will try to obtain even stronger power. People who have their important person robbed from them will try to protect their important person desperately. And then──」

Fugil peered into the eyes of Lux who was still holding up his sword and laughed.

「Someone who wasn’t loved by anyone, will try to be loved ny anyone.」

「…………」

Lux didn’t reply at all toward Fugil’s words.

But, he narrowed his shadowed eyes and spoke.

「Why, did you kill all the imperial family and army of the old empire that day? Your true objective──what is it?」

「The current you won’t understand even if I told you.」

Fugil replied with a tone that was mixed with a sigh.

「But, someday you will understand if you keep walking your path as it is. In the future each nation will develop even more intense conflict. The lot of the new kingdom will approach to make use of your and your comrade’s strength. They will come to take you into their fold. They will try to lure you into a repulsive path, carrying the great cause that is no other than『to protect the new kingdom’s peace』.」

「…………」

「You should understand before long. Just what did I do at that day. Why did I make use of you. If you get involved with this country again, and yet you will still try to persist in your ideal, then──」

Fugil turned around. He tilted his head and looked back with a smile.

「You will understand that nothing exist in this world. Whether it’s your ideal, or what you want to protect, everything.」

He left behind only those words and walked away.

When Lux stepped forward to chase after him, he saw Fugil drew out his Sword Device.

The blade glistened with light, silver lines were running through it.

The sword emitted undulating faint light of seven colors.

「Uu……, ku……!」

Sharp and piercing pain instantly ran at the back of Lux’s eyes. Lux pressed his hand on his forehead and fell on one knee.

When he noticed, Fugil was vanishing like a mist.

It was as though nothing was there right from the start.

「Oooii! Lux!」

A voice came while Lux was staring at the darkness in blank amazement.

When he turned around, he saw the figure of Lisha approaching him in a run.

「Lisha, sama……」

「I finally completed it! I succeeded in the last system removal so that your Bahamut can use the awakened state! It’s thanks to the code that your little sister solved. But──」

She talked in excitement until midway before her tone became faltering.

「This thing, as I thought it’s better not to use it……. It’s a good thing that the ability can come to light but, the burden is too great. Using that with Bahamut is still──」

「Please teach me! I beg you!」

「Wah!?」

Lux took both her hands and pleaded.

The surprised Lisha was blushing while,

「Ca, calm down. Certainly it’s a failed work right now, but perhaps it will become usable depending on the future improvement. That’s why, don’t be reckless. Letting you do something dangerous by yourself more than this is──」

「I beg you, Lisha-sama.」

Lux sent her a serious gaze and didn’t let go of her hands.

「A time will come where I have to use it. At this rate, it might turn into something I regret again. I──don’t want, to repeat the same thing like that time!」

「That, time……?」

When Lisha tilted her head, a strange scene was revived at the back of Lux’s mind.

That day when the old empire was finished.

Sparks danced in the sky, swarms of Drag-Ride crossed in the dark night.

And then──.

「-……!?」

The consciousness of Lux that was receding away was called back.

The sensation of soft and smooth small hands.

In front of him Lisha was grasping back at Lux’s hands while her cheeks were slightly dyed red.

「I, I get it.」

She directed her gaze at Lux with slightly exasperated face and puffed up cheeks.

「You won’t listen to anything once you already speak. Even though normally you are that humble……. But, the code to release Bahamut is complicated, so I have to teach you from scratch you know?」

「Thank you very much, Lisha-sama.」

「……Fuh」

Seeing Lux bowing his head really deeply, Lisha smiled with a troubled look.

──With this, the preparation was in order.

This was the only plan left that could save Philuffy within tonight.

Lux resolved himself like that in his heart. It was then Lisha suddenly lifted up her face,

「Come to think of it, where is Relie? I was looking for her since some time ago to get the permission to use the awakened mode──」

「──」

Lux suddenly realized hearing that.

「……I’m sorry, Lisha-sama.」

And then a few second later Lux turned to face Lisha and told her with a serious expression.

「Can I ask you to contact everyone? If Relie-san cannot be found anywhere then──」

Saying that, Lux resolved himself.

It was the determination to plunge himself into the upheaval once more.

「I’ll look for her. At the deepest level of the Ruin──」

Part 3

Ten minutes later. Everyone split to search for Relie at the likely places like the boarding house, the practice ground, and other places.

But, there wasn’t any sign of her at all.

There was also the possibility that she was kidnapped by someone, but Lux had an idea about her whereabouts.

The Ruin.

In order to look for a way to erase the Ratatoskr of the Ragnarok taking hold of Philuffy, Relie planned to slip into the deepest level.

Therefore, Lux would slip into the ruin alone in order to not involve the other students.

From here onward, there was the possibility that the students would get dragged into a serious crime.

If they weren’t careful, it wouldn’t end as only the problem of the new kingdom. It might become a big international problem that could affect the international tournament that would start after this.

(But……, I cannot leave her alone like this.)

At the night duty room in the boardinghouse where Relie was.

There was a letter placed on the table there. It was only written with ‘please take care of Philuffy’.

Lux who sensed an alarming atmosphere from the letter hurriedly moved to exit the boardinghouse, it was then──.

「Lu-chan. Wait.」

「Philuffy……!?」

When he looked there, Philuffy was getting up with her face red and her body staggering.

「You must not! Right now, if you don’t sleep──」

There was no way he could talk about the Ragnarok, so Lux told her like that in panic.

However,

「I, already know.」

「Eh……?」

「That in my body, there is Abyss.」

Philuffy said that with her usual absentminded tone and serious face.

The moment Lux heard that, the inside of his head became blank.

「Philuf, fy……」

A listless voice was squeezed out from Lux’s lungs.

「Sorry, for staying quiet.」

Philuffy calmly smiled while saying that.

「……I noticed it recently but, well, it doesn’t really matter.」

「Eeh!?」

Lux was taken by surprise from Philuffy’s words that were still at her own pace even now.

But,

「Yes. because, it’s important that I live. Because, if I die, both Onee-chan and Lu-chan will surely be sad.」

Philuffy lightly put her hand on her chest and muttered.

「Onee-chan, after Okaa-san died from sickness, she looked like she was really lonely. That was why, I thought, I cannot die.」

Philuffy continued talking while smiling. Her tone was detached in nostalgia.

「Lu-chan is also someone who get lonely really easily, so I thought that it will be really painful for you, if I die.」

「────」

「That’s why──I’m glad, I’m alive until today.」

Lux’s chest tightened hearing that sentence that was like a surprise attack.

He wondered since when he misunderstood that Philuffy didn’t notice.

Normally Philuffy was silent and she wasn’t good in expressing her emotion, but with her sharp intuition, she understood about Lux and Relie more than anyone.

Of course that included how Lux and Relie were actually alive while carrying unbearable loneliness and wound.

And also how if Philuffy who was their support died, both of them would lose sight of themselves.

Philuffy knew all about the change of her own body, she noticed it, but she still tried to live.

「But, it’s already okay.」

Saying that, Philuffy made a transient smile.

「Because, Lu-chan already made, a lot of important people. Because, you’ve become strong.」

She said that with a voice that sounded just a little lonely.

「That’s why surely, you’ll be fine.」

That voice that was trying to reassure him was the same like that time seven years ago.

However, it was different from that time.

「──You’re wrong-!」

Lux reflexively yelled, but he couldn’t speak further.

And then, he strongly embraced the body of Philuffy before him.

「Lu, chan?」

Warm body and the faint sweet fragrance.

Lux whispered while pushing down his emotion that usually made his heart pounded hard at this kind of time.

「I’m, no good……. I haven’t changed at all since then……I’m still, weaker than anyone else!」

Faint surprise and perplexity could be felt from the girl inside his arms.

Even so, Lux didn’t let go of her.

「Don’t disappear……. The wound inside me still remained all this time since that day! It was because Philuffy saved me that day, because you stayed alive until today, that I could fight as the prince of Arcadia Empire!」

A person who lost the important person that they ought to protect.

A person who cursed the whole world and turned it into enemy, such person wouldn’t be able to change a country.

「That’s why, don’t go! Don’t disappear! I absolutely, this time for sure I absolutely will save you! That’s why──」

「I see.」

A gentle sensation of a hand caressed Lux’s front hair.

When he noticed, Philuffy was making a faint smile at him.

「Lu-chan, still haven’t changed.」

「…………」

Philiffy caressed Lux’s cheek in nostalgia and muttered.

「Thank you. I’ll wait.」

It was only a brief sentence.

It was the demonstration of will showed by the silent Philuffy using words.

Lux understood everything just from that.

「Please, take care of Onee-chan.」

「Yes.」

Lux nodded firmly and turned around.

And then, the moment he turned his back, Philuffy’s voice called out to him.

「Also, call me Phi-chan, okay?」

「Yes……sorry.」

Lux smiled wryly hearing Philuffy’s words that sounded a bit sullen.

「……Then, I’m going, Phi-chan.」

And then Lux exited the boarding house and started running.

Part 4

Lux ran at full speed along the coast late at night.

Lux asked Lisha and others to communicate to everyone at the surface to not go near the Ruin, and for them to wait until Relie and Lux returned.

If he tried to get the cooperation of Lisha and others, they would get dragged into this dangerous battle where there would be no return.

Lux jumped on the deck of the Ark, opened the door of the direct passage, then stepped above the relay portal.

「──Come, the symbol of power the winged dragon of crest. Obey my sword and take flight, Wyvern」

First Lux equipped Wyvern and waited. Then the transfer began.

The corridor of the eighth floor that they previously reached now had bluish white lamp shining, different from before.

「Did the system, recover?」

La Cruche was recovering her memory at the control room area and restored her authority as the Gear Leader.

Originally everything should turn out well with that but──.

「GURORORO……!」

A weird growl came from behind an object.

「Don’t tell me──!?」

When Lux noticed, the thing already leaped at him.

「SHAAaAAAAH!」

A winged person made from a solid material attacked while letting out a piercing cry.

Lux barely used his sword as shield and blocked the first attack.

「Gargoyle!? Why here……!」

The Automaton(La Cruche) said that Abyss mostly shouldn’t appear at eighth floor and below. It was because originally it wasn’t a place that should be protected.

For that reason Relie hurried ahead thinking that she could reach until the deepest level even without Drag-Ride but──.

(No, right now isn’t the time to think about that!)

Lux instantly erased his various imagination and poured his concentration to the battle in front of him.

He destroyed the second attack toward his Wyvern with the Scale Blade’s Critical Hit.

「GUGAH, AAaAAH!」

The Gargoyle writhed when its sharp claw along with its right arm was pulverized.

But at the same time, even more enemy presence appeared as though they heard the scream.

There was a Chimera that he once witnessed together with Celis, a winged beast Gryphon, and also squid type Abyss called Kraken.

There were more than ten enemies just from what he could see.

The Abysses were taking formation that surrounded him in this place where there was little cover.

(This is bad, at this rate──)

Although Lux was used to fight Abyss, this situation was still overwhelmingly disadvantageous for him.

He could face them down if he switched his Drag-Ride into Bahamut!

「SHAaAAAAH!」

The Gargoyle roared and it was about to attack Lux once more, it was then──.

*DOON!*

Dazzling flash ran through empty air and hit the Gargoyle.

「GA, aAAAAH!」

Its dying scream was drowned by an explosive sound. It scattered black fragments and vanished.

The canon attack that was fired from behind Lux pierced the one armed Gargoyle.

「As always, you are a forceful guy huh.」

「──Eh?」

Lux’s eyes opened wide in surprise and he turned his gaze to the surrounding.

At that time, large type Abysses that were waiting for the chance to attack had their body frozen one after another.

「I understand that you’re feeling impatient, but it’s putting the car before the horse if you’re defeated.」

When Lux turned toward the voice from behind him, he found the figure of Lisha and Krulcifer there wearing Tiamat and Fafnir.

Without even any time to let out any word in surprise, lightning ran at the surrounding and turned the frozen Abysses into ash one after another.

「The headmaster is like that, but you too are also really rash. I conclude that a lecture is needed when we get back.」

Celis who was wearing the Divine Drag-Ride of lightning Lindwurm told Lux that in exasperation.

「It appears that the headmaster is going ahead until the tenth floor. From the reaction, La Cruche is also beside her. Abysses are approaching them from the surrounding. It’s better to hurry if you want to chase them.」

Noct said from behind while confirming with her Drake’s radar.

「Aah but, a lot of enemies are coming down to this area, so Lux-chi , you can just leave this to us! Ah, you can pay us back for this later on!」

「Well, putting aside Tillfur, those three Divine Drag-Ride users are really something, so leave this place to us lad.」

「Uwah, meanie! Even though I’m enduring my fear like this!」

Hearing Sharis’s words, Tillfur showed her actual feeling and acted flustered.

It seemed that everyone gathered here because they noticed Lux’s objective.

However,

「Why is everyone, doing this──」

「I told everyone.」

*step*, A small walking sound echoed and a small statured girl walked forward.

The girl wearing school uniform was Airi.

「I accidentally listened to Nii-san and headmaster’s talk. After hearing that, it’s simple to predict how Nii-san will act so──」

Saying that, Airi looked up toward Lux with slightly anxious face.

「Nii-san is going to save Philuffy-san right? No matter what.」

「……Yes.」

「Then, let’s start. Doing it with everyone should have higher chance of success. Surely──」

「Airi, please be careful. It’s enemy reinforcement.」

Noct raised a tensed voice, at the same time everyone stood ready.

「Lux. Go quickly! We will take care of these guys!」

Right after Lisha raised her voice, Krulcifer also sent a dragon voice that was transmitted to only Lux.

『We’re going to catch up soon. I think that my authentication might be necessary to open the door to the deepest level. For now, go on ahead to the headmaster──』

「Yes!」

Lux replied while flying his Wyvern at the same time.

「Everyone, thank you.」

Lux said his thanks to everyone who gathered here and rushed through the passage in full speed.

Lux thought while going straight through the remaining floors in high speed.

Even though he intended to not involve them, in the end he made them to fuss about him needlessly instead.

Even though there should be no time for them to hear about the detail from Airi, even so everyone rushed to help him.

He felt a mysterious feeling.

The thing that he couldn’t obtain all this time since that day when he was a child.

Perhaps this time for sure he would obtain irreplaceable comrades that he could trust.

And then, even now Lux was scared that those comrades would abandon him, or perhaps he would lose them because of his fault.

That was something that didn’t change since that day where he harbored doubt toward the old empire(that country).

(But──!)

There was already no time for hesitation.

The time of his childhood where he couldn’t do anything.

And then, the day of revolution five years ago when he was betrayed and failed.

His current answer would come out after this.

Passing through the scenery that was flowing in high speed over him, Lux resolved himself, at that moment,

「──Relie-san!」

He saw it.

「……Lux-kun-!?」

He overtook Relie who was together with La Cruche and intercepted the beast type Abyss that was standing in their way.

「Uo, OaaAAAAH!」

The Abyss that was called as Werewolf received the Critical Hit from the Scale Blade and its upper body was blown away.

After confirming the Abyss’s death, Lux walked toward Relie who was falling on her knees.

「Are you all right? Is anywhere hurt──?」

「How, did you know I came here──? No, rather than that……even you」

Relie opened her eyes in blank amazement while whispering.

「Yes. I’ll also save Philuffy. No matter what, for sure.」

「Is that so……」

Relie made a frail smile hearing Lux’s words and she averted her gaze.

「……But, something like that, actually might not exist. Something like a way to save that girl, actually it’s nowhere to be……. Even so──I」

A voice that was filled with emptiness was squeezed out from Relie’s lungs.

She used every way available in order to save her beloved little sister, then she realized that everything she did was for naught,

Even so, she couldn’t give up.

Inside those words, there was the suffering of someone who continued to fight loneliness.

「It will be fine. Surely, we will manage somehow.」

「…………」

Even so, Lux didn’t take back the hand he offered and formed his words strongly.

「Besides I promised her, that this time for sure, I’ll absolutely save her──」

Relie looked down hearing Lux’s voice that was filled with conviction.

But, this time she took Lux’s hand and stood up.

「I’m sorry for dragging you into this. ──But, thank you.」

Relie wiped her eyes that were blotted with tears and silently stood up.

「Sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s hurry.」

Relie tensed her expression and turned her gaze toward her side. There La Cruche was smiling.

「I read the mood and stayed quiet. I’m a good child.」

「Ah, isn’t that right……」

Lux responded with a wry smile.

While no more Abyss came, they went down until the deepest level of eleventh floor. It was then Lisha and others caught up from behind.

「Master. Please touch the crest of the door and think silently. The door of the deepest part will open after that.」

「──I understand.」

Krulcifer took a deep breath, then she walked toward the huge door.

At that time Lux whispered into the ear of Airi who was standing beside him.

「Airi, do you bring the horn flute?」

「Yes. I’m carrying it close to my person though──」

「Then I have a request. If the situation become like what I predicted, I want you to use it.」

When Lux began telling Airi about 『that plan』 , Krulcifer’s hand was held out toward the door.

The moment her hand touched, several streak of blue lightning ran on the surface of the door.

「-……!?」

Krulcifer leaked out a small moan from feeling a stimulus that felt like pain. Shining countless letters were emerging on the smooth surface of the door and it was opening.

『The authentication of Xfer is confirmed……connection complete. There is also no problem with the usage restriction. Unlocking is possible with mind control operation.』

The inorganic artificial voice could be heard. Bewilderment appeared on Relie’s face.

「What happened? Krulcifer-san, you are……!?」

「I’ll explain later. If we are still safe at that time──」

Krulcifer closed her eyes with her hand still on the door and she concentrated.

And then the door rumbled and a strange vibration was transmitted through her hand, after that,

*GASHIiiIIIN!*

The door opened to four directions like flower petals along with heavy metallic sound.

An unimaginable sight was spreading there.

「Is this……the deepest level!?」

It was a vast dome shaped space that was surrounded with hard metallic wall.

That place which was illuminated by light source overhead looked like the colosseum of the ancient era.

「……Is this place really the deepest level, La Cruche?」

Celis’s question was only natural.

Their image regarding the Ruin’s deepest level was a huge treasure warehouse.

And yet, don’t mention ancient text or tool of ancient era, not even a part of Drag-Ride could be found here.

When they had walked until nearly the center of the space, Relie watched the back of La Cruche with an expression that was a mix of bewilderment and anxiety.

「Is there some kind of mistake? Could it be, that your memory restoration faile──?」

「That’s not true.」

La Cruche walked ahead. She then twirled around that caused her dress to flutter before answering.

Her height only reached until Lux’s waist. She was a lovely girl that looked like little girl.

He didn’t notice until now how the look of her eyes was covered with dark shadow.

「My memory restoration was a success. I remember everything. The thing that I should do is──」

La Cruche smiled and lifted her hand.

It was the smile of a predator that caught its prey into a trap.

「──getting rid of all of you, leaving not a single one alive.」

A shudder ran through Lux and everyone else. In that instant, the thick door behind them closed swiftly.

「Wha-……!?」

When everyone turned around, it was already too late.

The thick last door was firmly closed. In front of it there were the silhouettes of two figures wearing black robe.

「What are you doing? Listen to what I’m saying as the supervisor──」

When Lucifer was questioning her in panic, La Cruche bowed courteously.

「Master. I have the obligation to listen to your order. But that is not the top priority of the current me. As the Gear Leader of the Ark, I have to eliminate all of you, a family of the rebel who betrayed and overthrew my masters then invaded this place, and his comrades──」

La Cruche glared at Lux with naked animosity filling her gaze.

Several scenes were resurrected at Lux’s mind seeing that gaze.

The inside of the ship that was destroyed and fell into ruin that they saw right after entering the Ruin.

And then, the Ragnarok that appeared from the Ruin, Poseidon.

Fresh traces of destruction that weren’t from the war of ancient era, which appeared to come from the invasion of the old empire ten-odd years ago.

Did La Cruche traced back that memory, and because of that she considered Lux who had the same features as her opponent?

(But──a family of the rebel……she said, what does she mean? Is there someone else other than me and the imperial family?)

He didn’t understand.

Lux had no way of knowing about the truth of the old empire that had continued for several hundred years.

But, the footsteps of two people approaching from behind pulled Lux back into reality.

What existed ahead of his gaze when he turned around were two figures clad in robe.

The figure walking at the front pulled off her hood and showed her face.

It was a girl with shining silver hair and asymmetrically colored eyes──Hayes.

「The negotiation breakdown huh, prince. No, you were moving like an idiot and carried out my objective just like I planned, so perhaps I ought to say thanks to you instead?」

「You──!?」

Lux who confirmed her identity muttered with a groan.

Why did the girl who told him to open the door at the afternoon was here?

She specified the time period and told him that he had to follow it was a trap.

Although he was threatened, Lux and others should have resistance of being made to open the last door just as Hayes ordered.

Hayes saw through that. She saw Lux and others were moving in the night and grasped their side’s movement.

「You are on the wanted list of the new kingdom. Prepare your──」

「Celis-senpai!」

Celis who confirmed Hayes’s existence faster than others assaulted with Lindwurm.

She unleashed a stab of her special armament the large spear, <Lightning Lance> in high speed. ──But,

*BASHIIN!*

「Wha-……!?」

Celis unleashed a lunge with her large spear through the shortest motion, but her eyes opened wide in shock.

The other robed figure stood in front of Hayes faster than the tip of the spear could hit.

The spear was blocked.

The attack of the lance that could pierce Abyss and destroy even fellow Drag-Ride without difficulty was stopped by a slender robed human.

The robe fluttered, the figure didn’t overlook the opening when Celis stiffened because of the hard to believe reality.

*DOGUH!*

「Kuh……!」

Celis retreated for ten-odd mel from receiving the punch attack.

Celis had quickly strengthened the output of her barrier to block the punch, but the flow of her offense was completely severed.

「As expected from the honor student’s leader, even your surprise attack is beautiful. Just discharge your specialty electric attack and burn your cute junior black already.」

「You are, don’t tell me──?」

Celis didn’t respond to Hayes’s provocation and focused instead on the hooded figure before her eyes.

The figure threw away the robe that was turned into scrap rag from the impact which made clear her identity.

「Phi, luffy……?」

Lux muttered reflexively.

「Wh, y……」

Relie was also dumbfounded and stood still in place. The remaining members were also speechless from the revelation.

His childhood friend’s expression looked hollow and shadowed.

「…………」

Philuffy who should be waiting in the boardinghouse for their return was right there.

「Why is that natural airhead here!? Besides──」

「Aa, I forgot to say, but if this woman continue to oppose the order of Yggdrasil, the Ragnarok that I’m controlling, she will die. But see, it’s also possible to give powerful order signal that leave no room for opposition and make her listen if Yggdrasil devotes its strength for that.」

Lux sent a sharp gaze at Hayes who was talking with ridiculing tone.

「……So you mean, that you were toying with us right from the start?」

「You only notice it this late? Is what I want to say but──this is also within my calculation. Everything, including toying with you guys is nothing more than a part of it. Well no matter, I’m grateful that you open this door for me you know?」

Hayes walked with brisk footsteps that echoed on the metal floor. She passed through the side of Lux and others and headed to inside from the center.

It was the best chance to strike at her, but because Philuffy was following closely behind her, they couldn’t move.

A huge crystal the size of a human head was being held under Hayes’s arm.

「Now then, from here on just me alone will be sufficient. Thanks for your hard work, false prince and his hangers-on.」

The moment Hayes lifted up her hand toward the wall surface, the wall moved like puzzle pieces and she entered inside.

「You guys must be coming here a step ahead planning to outwit me, but your expectation missed. After all, your shallow thinking is like an open book for me.」

Before the door of the strange room closed, Hayes looked back and laughed.

「But, it’s fine right? Your childhood friend is a wonderful girl. Originally it’s hard to find a body that Yggdrasil’s Ratatoskr can adapt to──but she showed the greatest adaptability, she is an excellent monster. Even though she should be really usable as battle strength, but you didn’t notice anything, and her big sister the headmaster also only kept her hidden.」

「…………」

Lux who heard that clenched his fist tightly.

「That’s why you are a complete failure. You don’t use a useful pawn, you don’t understand the way to use people. As someone who is similarly standing at the top I’ll give you a lesson──about how to use a useful pawn!」

Hayes opened both her eyes wide in a flash and took out a horn flute from her pocket.

It was the Origin Variety horn flute that Fugil said was controlling the Ragnarok.

She put it on her mouth and strongly blew into it.

『Philuffy Aingram! Exterminate the all the low born there! When you finished with that, you can be free you know, HAHAHAHA!』

Right after that gyrating noise, a commanding voice echoed inside the dome.

And then Hayes vanished behind the door along with a callous laugh.

「That damned low-life……! Giving such command──」

Lisha gritted her teeth hard while groaning.

Lux and also everyone else understood the meaning of that evil command.

In the case that everyone there couldn’t kill Philuffy and she killed everyone instead, then surely Philuffy too would suicide after that.

It was Hayes’s evil design that was anticipating until that far.

「Nothing will begin even if we complained. Can the door to outside get opened?」

With a conflicted face Celis looked toward Krulcifer beside her.

「I don’t know. But──」

「I won’t let you, master. In any case, if I the Gear Leader don’t cooperate, you all won’t be able to get out from here.」

La Cruche stood in their way and she waved her finger lightly like a conductor baton.

Instantly three Drag Rides came down before Lux’s eyes along with a faint light.

「This is──!?」

「Start On」

The three Wyvern deployed at the same time with La Cruche’s shout.

But, the Drag-Rides didn’t have any human piloting it.

In exchange there was strange puppet made from metal placed in them.

「That’s──!? Puppet!? Something like unmanned Drag-Ride, I’ve never even hea──」

Lisha raised a bewildered voice. At the same time those three Drag-Rides brandished a large blade and flew toward Lux.

「-……!」

Lux who was wearing Wyvern immediately blocked with his blade.

At the same time when the battle began, there was a small sound of blade being unsheathed from behind him.

Philuffy was pulling out her short sword type Sword Device with shining pair of eyes.

She readied the sword before her eyes and quickly spoke the passcode.

「──Activate. The star breaker, the end piercer, godslaying giant dragon. Release the fangs of a hundred head and kill the almighty, Typhoon.」

It was an empty and dark voice that was completely different from the usual Philuffy.

And then, her face that was tinged with crazed delight gave fear to everyone there.

Should they persuade her? Took shelter? Or restrained her?

A huge violet dragon was summoned and connected to the summoner, snatching even the time to feel hesitation.

Philuffy’s golden pupils shined, red pattern was emerging on her skin. She took her stance while smiling.

The selection members with Celis at the lead faced her from the front. Their expression tensed.

「Celis-san……, Philuffy is……」

「Yes, I understand.」

Celis gave a small nod toward Relie’s pleading. She then looked toward Krulcifer and others behind her.

「Everyone! We will restrain her. Then as soon as we succeed doing that, we will reinforce Lux.」

「Yes!」

Lisha and others nodded wearing their Drag-Ride. At the same time Philuffy’s Typhoon skated forward.

Part 5

「Kuh……!」

Lux moved to the position of the wall where Hayes vanished while fighting the three Drag-Rides.

Fortunately the unmanned Drag-Rides weren’t that strong.

But, their movement pattern was clearly different from human. Their movement was hard to read.

「How long you are planning to run away?」

La Cruche asked with a robotic tone that was unique to a puppet mixed with sadistic smile.

Most likely she was controlling the Drag-Rides using her thought in place of pilot.

「It looks like you are getting pushed back, but you still have composure. Are you not defeating them because you are waiting for the chance to bring down with certainty?」

「…………」

Lux didn’t answer La Cruche’s question.

If he got serious then he could destroy his opponent with Critical Hit, but if he did that there was the possibility that La Cruche would call for a fresh reinforcement.

「I see, you are quite clever. You are pretending to avoid your opponent’s attack continuously──while aiming at me.」

Lux shook off the unmanned Drag-Rides. Then when he fixed his aim at La Cruche,

「──But, that’s your fatal mistake.」

*bachi-……!*

「-……!?」

The Wyverns that he had completely dodged until now shined and accelerated.

The three Drag-Rides made strange noise like creaking metal and they swung down their large sword.

「Nii-san-!?」

When Airi’s voice resounded at the surrounding, the blades from the three smashed the solid floor.

「This movement──!?」

Lux barely reacted and dodged, but he was amazed with the three Drag-Rides.

Their driving force was clearly different from the performance of a normal Wyvern.

Was that because they were controlled by La Cruche and not by human hand, no──.

「Did you misread? Or else, did you not understand? The true form of these Drag-Rides──」

Right after that, light flickered and countless letters and images that looked like small window were floating around La Cruche.

The three Wyverns were also tinged with light as though in alignment. The string of letters shined faintly orange and flowed from above to below in high speed.

*bashun!* Countless frame parts changed construction and their lock was taken off.

「That’s, don’t tell me──!」

Lisha who saw that from distance raised an amazed voice. La Cruche muttered at that time.

「Release all safety device. Maximum output──<Over Limit(Limit Break)>」

Instantly, all the floating letter strings vanished and the three Wyverns shined.

Bluish white beam of light wrapped around them like vapor, right after that,

「Sayonara.」

The unmanned Wyverns La Cruche controlled broke the sound barrier.

「Kuh……!」

It was high speed movement that was incomparable with everything until now.

Blades of large sword were swung down, surpassing every estimation of movement range limit.

The dagger and barrier that Lux reflexively prepared were severed without difficulty, and his neck was assaulted.

The slash that came flying with speed that naked eye couldn’t follow was about to cut Lux’s neck altogether with his barrier, it was then,

*GIIN!* Lux repelled the slash with the blade his other hand was equipping.

「Hee……?」

*clang* A part of his armor that was cut diagonally fell on the floor.

「Ku……!?」

Lux had instantly touched the handle of his Sword Device and activated Quick Draw.

It was a hidden technique that used perfect alignment of body control operation and mind control operation to execute only a single action with godpseed.

Lux used that technique reflexively, matched the sword and barely avoided direct hit to himself.

「It’s amazing that you can avoid that. For someone to survive it at the first sight, it’s the first in my memory.」

La Cruche smiled with an admiring voice.

At that moment, fresh blood splattered from Lux’s shoulder.

「Lux-kun!」

Relie screamed. Lux’s face grimaced a bit and he backed away.

「Lux. Are you okay──!? Uah!?」

Lisha who was wearing Tiamat was caught by the Pile Anchor that Typhoon fired from the side and she was sent flying.

Celis, Lisha, Krulcifer, and the Triad, a total of six Drag-Knights were facing Philuffy simultaneously. And yet Philuffy was more than a match against them.

「It can’t be helped. Let’s give her a shock temporarily to dispel her Drag-Ride, then subdue her!」

Celis who saw their unfavorable situation gave instruction to everyone.

They held back their attack in consideration to Philuffy’s body, but such leeway was gone.

「Then, I’ll start.」

Krulcifer nodded in response, immediately after that she flew her Fafnir and moved above Typhoon.

Originally she was more suited to support from long range with precision sniping in conjunction with her comrade’s cooperation, but she dared instead to approach near in order to read the movement of Philuffy who was controlling her Drag-Ride peculiarly.

「──Wise Blood(Wisdom of Fortune Calamity)」

She activated the Divine Raiment that Fafnir possessed.

With the ability of future prediction activated, she looked for an opening at Typhoon.

At the same time Lisha flew high above and activated the Divine Raiment of gravity load, Suppressor(Heavenly Voice).

Then at the end Celis activated Divine Gate(Ruler’s Sanctuary) and instantly took the stance to shift into offence, it was at that moment,

「──<Missing Faith(Fruit of Heartlessness)>」

Philuffy whispered with shining golden pupils.

Right after that, the whole body of Typhoon shined faintly and its Divine Raiment activated.

*GAUuuUUUUUNN!*

Instantly jet black wave motion was generated with Typhoon at the center, spreading outward in spherical shape.

The three girls put up their guard thinking that it might be a type of shockwave. When the wave reached them, the gravity load of Suppressor disappeared.

「Wha-……!?」

「Too, slow.」

Not letting go of the opening when Lisha’s body stiffened from surprise, Philuffy fired Pile Anchor from the ground. The tip that was modeled after the jaw of a large snake snapped at the right arm part. Typhoon then ran in high speed on the floor and pulled at Tiamat before throwing I toward the wall.

The aim of the throw was toward Krulcifer who was also midair.

「-……!?」

Krulcifer who was aiming to snipe with her special armament, the gun of freezing bullet──Freezing Cannon(Frozen Breath Projectile), couldn’t evade Tiamat that was approaching before her eyes.

「Why, do my foresight vanish──!?」

The two Drag-Rides collided before she could grasp the answer and they were sent flying to the back.

「Why is this……. My Divine Gate’s teleport barrier is……!」

Lindwurm’s Divine Raiment could do instant teleportation within a fixed distance.

A domain of light was deployed in order to create that teleportation range. That light was now dispersed without any trace behind.

Celis used her lance to barely blocked the huge arm of Typhoon that was sent toward her──but, the electric attack that should be dealt to the enemy wasn’t generated for some reason.

「Lindwurm’s output is falling drastically. Don’t tell me, this is──」

「Be careful! Philuffy right now can use Typhoon’s Divine Raiment! It neutralize the Divine Raiment of other Drag-Ride and also lower their performance──」

「Ku……!」

Everyone who heard Relie’s voice was shaken and nervous.

Until now Philuffy had never used Typhoon’s Divine Raiment that was called Missing Faith in real battle.

The reason was because of the problem of concentration and burden.

Because Philuffy was performing a special movement that was called martial art using Drag Ride, the majority of her concentration was poured into Drag-Ride control.

Therefore, if she used her Divine Raiment that demanded powerful concentration at the same time, the burden would be too large for her and her Drag-Ride would rampage.

That was why, she was unable to use it skillfully and she also had no intention of using it in real battle in the future.

According to Relie that was what Philuffy told her.

That was why until now no one had witnessed the might of that Divine Raiment that ought to be called as anti Divine Drag-Ride specialist, but,

「So this is, because of the Abyss’s power……」

Lisha muttered along with a bitter expression.

Even Philuffy’s brain function was improved by the strengthening of Yggdrasil’s Ratatoskr.

Philuffy became able to use her Divine Raiment must be because of that.

「At this rate, we won’t have any chance of victory……」

Noct who was guarding Airi and Relie using her Drake whispered in a daze, it was then Airi slowly put her horn flute inside her pocket.

In exchange she took out a pocket watch and watched its second hand as though praying. It was then the door at the inner part opened.

「……Haa, so it’s still not over yet here. Troublesome.」

Hayes who was showing a fearless smile slowly stepped out from inside.

Most likely she had already finished with what she was doing at the innermost room.

「I also want to play around a bit more, but it’s not like I got a lot of free time. I also finished using Grand Force, I gotta go soon. I’ll give the command to that woman through Yggdrasil to strengthen her until she become ash!」

「Stop it! Please!」

Relie yelled when she saw Hayes taking out her horn flute once more.

Hayes who saw that responded with a wide smile.

「Now, get serious monster! Fight until you die, make those guys──!」

The thinly smiling Hayes’s face stiffened.

「Lord(Creator)-sama!」

The moment La Cruche raised her voice in panic, a Pile Anchor was fired from Typhoon with speed like bullet.

「……!」

Because there was quite a distance in between, Hayes managed to dodge in a hair’s breadth.

But,

「Why……!」

*PAKIIN!*

The Origin Variety horn flute in Hayes’s hand was smashed apart and golden fragments danced in the air.

High-pitched sound resounded inside the dome and time stopped for just a few second.

「U, aa…………」

Right after that, Philuffy’s eyes suddenly closed and the red pattern vanished from her whole body.

And then Typhoon’s armor was dispelled and she collapsed limply on the ground.

「Philuffy……-!」

Relie who ran close to her caught her body firmly.

「──What’s this!? How could she go against the order Yggdrasil gave──」

Smile vanished from the face of Hayes who saw that.

When Lux turned his face toward that voice with bottomless darkness and cold anger,

「It’s something like this.」

Some distance away Airi held up the horn flute she held.

The horn flute possessed by the captain of the rebel army’s leader Velvet and later on was managed by the academy.

「──How do you son of a bitch know how to use that?」

Airi faltered for a moment when a gaze filled with hatred was directed toward her.

But, the Triad members stood in front of her to protect her, so Airi tightened her expression.

「You didn’t notice? Something like your stupid scheme, it had been seen through by us──by Nii-san right from the beginning.」

「…………」

Hayes smiled once more in response to Airi’s resolute expression and voice.

「I see……, so it was seen through. By temporarily erasing the command given by Abyss or Ragnarok using the horn flute──」

The effect of the flute that controlled Abyss only worked within a certain time after its user played it.

They confirmed the sound of the horn flute repeatedly when Abyss attacked was because of that.

If the horn flute could put Abyss under human’s control permanently after playing it one time, they wouldn’t hear the flute’s sound that often from nearby.

As for the way to use the flute, Airi deciphered the ancient text from the Ruin of the Garden that Krulcifer opened, and when they came to this Ruin, Airi had tested it several times.

Therefore, it could be predicted that even the 『command』 given to Philuffy would wear off as time went on.

Hayes was purposefully trying to play the horn flute once more was because of that.

Therefore, Airi took advantage of that opening where the command had cut off, played the flute in between the battle, and gave Philuffy a new command. That was the instruction that Lux gave to her.

The command was 『Dispel your armor and fall asleep』.

「──Manifest, the violent dragon that devour the gods’ flesh and blood. Sever the sky of dark clouds, Bahamut!」

When Hayes was taken by surprise, La Cruche turned the three Wyverns into defense in order to protect her lord Hayes. Lux switched Drag-Ride in that moment.

Lux who was clad in the violent black dragon that was the symbol of destruction rushed in a counterattack and divided apart the three Wyverns right away.

「────」

「It’s only you and that piece of junk puppet left. Are you prepared?」

Lisha who had rallied herself and landed down pointed her Sword Device toward the two.

「I guess. It looks like you possess a strange authority in this Ruin, but the distance is too far to run away from here to outside. ──You’ve dug your own grave here.」

Krulcifer also landed quietly from behind.

「It’s over already for you. If you surrender we’ll at least guarantee your life. There’ll be no mercy if you refuse. We’ll execute you here together with that Automata too. This is your last warning──arms dealer Hayes.」

At the end Celis pointed the tip of her lance to Hayes and declared so.

「──Fuh. Fufufufufufu」

Surrounded by Syvalles, a small voice leaked out from the mouth of the looking down Hayes.

It wasn’t her usual foul-mouthed tone that sounded like a man, but the voice that was appropriate for a girl her age.

Dark shadow dwelled around Hayes’s eyes and her expression changed.

And then, her hand took a small gem that was inside the broken horn flute and she lifted her face.

「The last warning you say? So you haven’t notice yet, these fools.」

Instantly, the Dome’s ceiling cracked.

「The one who fell into trap──is you all.」

And then, a strange giant tree with dark red veins running on its surface fell down from the ceiling.

「Don’t tell me, this thing is──!?」

「One of the Ragnarok, Yggdrasil……!?」

The Ragnarok that was the main culprit who tormented Philuffy following Hayes’s order.

That thing appeared as though to blanket the vast dome.

「It’s true that I cannot give out any new order to that woman. ──But, as long as I’m holding the gem of the horn flute that was played last, this Ragnarok will protect the owner and destroy the enemy standing against it.」

Thick tree trunk with skull-like shadow on its surface was supported by countless roots creeping on the ground, it adjusted its stance like a single animal and roared.

EEEeEEeeEEEAOOooOooOOOOO!

A thunderous roar that human language couldn’t comprehend shook the atmosphere like an electric shock.

「Kuh! Shut up, this──!」

Lisha immediately flew, and the moment she swung her Sword Device, ──a flexible branch flew toward her like a whip.

「Ku, ah……!?」

It sent flying the Legions Lisha were controlling and hit Tiamat several times.

Tiamat was blown away along with its barrier that should possess tough endurance.

「Lisha-sama!?」

The moment Lux called out, the giant tree trunk creaked and countless holes opened on it.

What showed up from those holes were countless gun muzzles.

They were tinged with the light of Cannon(Drag-Ride Breath Gun) that was Drag-Ride’s equipment and fired all at once.

「Kuh……!」

When Lux barely evaded them, blades grew from countless tips of branches and they were tinged with the same light like Blade(Drag-Ride Fang Sword) and attacked him further.

Lux used his large sword to sever the tentacles and blades that moved with speed his eyes couldn’t even follow.

Although he barely managed to at least defend against direct hit, he was pushed back by the force and then he got thrown backward.

The slashes of the blades that were filled with energy would deal lethal wound if he mistaken how to block them.

The advantage of that being the only weapon that could win against Abyss was now possessed by the enemy too.

「How can a Ragnarok, use Drag-Ride’s armament──」

After Krulcifer whispered in amazement, Hayes’s ridiculing laugh resounded.

「I’ll teach you something good. Yggdrasil’s basic ability is controlling and strengthening through its parasite. It works at both organic and inorganic matter. I made it ate several dozen general-purpose Drag-Rides and armaments. In other words──you get it already?」

「…………」

Lux and others were at lost for words, at the same time that tree trunk and branches moved, and they could see countless iron lump wriggling from inside the dark red surface.

It wasn’t just a merely powerful monster.

This main body of Yggdrasil was able to incorporate all Drag-Ride’s ability and armament and controlled them like its own limbs.

What’s more, it controlled them with the number and power several dozen times that of a normal Drag-Ride.

When Krulcifer fired the bullet of light of her Rifle(Sniping Dragon Gun), barrier emerged instantly from its surface and repelled the bullet.

「Looks like it’s also meaningless to simply aim and shot it……」

「It’s futile! The attack of the likes of you all won’t work against this guy!」

Yggdrasil moved at the same time with Hayes’s insult.

The air at the surrounding whirled and a tremendous shockwave burst out.

Howling Howl.

Perhaps because the number of Force Core that generated the shockwave was off by a digit, it caused a storm that swept over not just its surrounding but the whole room.

Several hundred Daggers grew from the tip of its branches like leaves and poured down like rain to further strike everyone who lost their balance.

A mortal combat against Yggdrasil that had been turned into Drag-Ride fortress began.

「That’s a terrifying opponent. But──! We cannot lose!」

Celis didn’t even flinch against the difference in strength that was despairing even from a glance and she raised up her spirit.

Following after her who took the role as vanguard, Lisha and Krulcifer also threw their body into the battlefield.

Against the overwhelming number of attack and might of Ragnarok that was said to be able to destroy even a small country, the girls were devoting themselves to defensive evasion for a while.

「So this is Ragnarok, I thought that it’s unbeatable unless we use the whole force of the new kingdom but──it’s a total disappointment!」

After a few minutes passed, the flow of battle suddenly began to change.

Lisha who was starting to grasp the enemy’s movement gradually controlled her Legions, while conversely she dodged the whipping branches the enemy stretched out and the armaments it fired.

The moment she finally entered the enemy’s space, she activated her Divine Raiment.

「Prostrate under the name of god! Suppressor!」

The moment Lisha pointed at the grotesque giant tree with her Sword Device, a wide range gravitational field was generated and the trunk creaked.

Her objective wasn’t just to seal the enemy’s movement, she put super heavy pressure on it aiming to flatten it.

Countless branches made sound and snapped off, while the many armaments loaded inside the trunk were creaking.

「GU, OooOOOOOOoOOOOH!」

Yggdrasil raised a roar that sounded like scream.

But, there wasn’t any sign that the essential part, the trunk would also snap.

「Do you think you can kill Yggdrasil with just that much?」

Hayes that was inside a cage made from countless branches muttered mockingly.

But,

「Naturally, no one here think so.」

Krulcifer answered while at the same time she pulled the trigger of her Freezing Cannon.

「The endurance contest is starting from here you know?」

Her aim was the countless Force Cores that moved the great amount of armaments loaded inside its trunk and branches.

She froze every part where Force Core was loaded, then used normal bullet of light to shot through them one after another, destroying them.

That amazing accuracy and speed caused splinters to scatter in succession.

Due to the Force Cores’ destruction, Yggdrasil’s main method of offense was drastically reduced.

The remained offense method for it was hitting or stabbing with its branches, and also using the horn growing from the skull on its trunk part.

「With this we finally──can attack at the main body’s core.」

Celis muttered. She evaded the branches that stretched toward her in counterattack using Divine Gate and teleported right before Yggdrasil.

「You made light of human, Ragnarok.」

And then, she fired the light bullet of wide range bombing, <Starlight Zero>.

「oooOOOAAA!」

After a few second, light and shockwave burst out inside Yggdrasil’s mouth.

Even the dome shook. When the violent explosion blast stopped, there was Yggdrasil that snapped from its burnt black trunk there.

「Fuu……. We somehow defeated it……. However, this kind of disgusting flesh tree cannot even become replacement for firewood.」

Lisha let out a breath in relieve. Seeing the burnt black Yggdrasil, she came down.

But, Celis and Krulcifer didn’t let down their guard.

「It’s still too fast to relax your attention. We have weakened it, but we cannot be relieved until we confirmed the destruction of its core. Without delay──」

「Yes, I’ll foresight the enemy’s movement one more time, so for now let’s deal additional──」

Celis readied her lance, and in respond Krulcifer put her hand on the armor part of her head, it was then,

「Aa─a, it’s boring.」

The despondent voice of Hayes echoed inside the dome.

「Even though I thought that you guys will let your guard down and got done in instantly.」

*GOO-!*

「-……!?」

At the same time with Hayes’s whisper, new branch extended out from inside the burnt trunk with speed that eye couldn’t even follow.

Fafnir avoided getting pierced in a hair’s breadth, but several other branches that came after that hit Fafnir hard and knocked it down.

「Krulcifer! Kuh……this thing!」

「Lizsharte. The gravity load!」

「I know even without you telling me! Suppressor!」

Urged by Celis, Lisha attempted to stop Yggdrasil’s movement with gravitational field at maximum output once more. But──,

「What-!?」

The countless branches that were snapped before this now endured with only bending lightly from the gravity effect. Then they sent Lisha’s Tiamat flying.

Without pause she collided on the wall at the back. At that moment Celis deployed Divine Gate and circled at Yggdrasil’s back.

Right after she carried out the instantaneous teleportation, she stabbed her lance with the shortest motion──but, it was as though her movement had been predicted, a whipping branch quickly flew and struck Lindwurm hard.

「Ku, ah……!」

The flow of battle completely changed for the three. After their offensive, they were now struck down in the blink of eye.

Krulcifer only barely managed to stand up. She fired the branches’ joint with her Freezing Cannon, but the spot she fired at only scattered ice beads at the surrounding and didn’t freeze.

「It doesn’t freeze……!? Why!? Before this it certainly──」

Lisha who rallied herself passed through beside the shaken Krulcifer and let her Legion flew.

All the bullets that the Legions fired without aiming were flicked off by the countless branches without difficulty.

「Wha-……!? ──It’s not just the Divine Raiment! Even special armament also become ineffective……! Don’t tell me, this thing──」

Everyone there who saw that sight felt shuddering sensation, it was then,

「Hahahaha! Thanks a lot you guys. It’s just as planned──you guys made Yggdrasil strong for me.」

The high-pitched loud laughter came from Hayes who was watching the battle.

「Defeating Ragnarok you said? Don’t tell me that you guys seriously thought that its ability is just high-speed regeneration and parasitic ability?」

Hayes laughed while toying with the jewel inside her hand.

「I’ll tell you something good. The greatest ability that is only possessed by Yggdrasil’s main body is 『high-speed reinforcement』. If it get attacked it will prepare resistance against that attack, it will also surpass the opponent in speed and power. It will evolve in the middle of battle and become strong endlessly.」

「…………」

Everyone trembled with fear hearing that terrifying declaration.

「Well, although I said that, it has limit more or less. Even though it can regenerate and reinforce itself, it will be over for it if its life force runs out, but unfortunately it won’t turn out like that no matter how many attack it received. The reason is──I already made it devour several hundred Abysses in this Ruin’s manufacture area for its life force stock.」

「……Don’t tell me, there was almost no Abyss coming out in this Ruin until midway was because──」

Celis stood up and whispered with trembling voice.

「That’s right. I used the usable facility of the manufacture area and devoted myself in storing life force for Yggdrasil. I overlooked you bunches of insipid girls until you arrived here was also all for the preparation period for this.」

「You’re really loose lipped for someone who introduced herself as Heiburg’s strategist.」

Krulcifer stood up and sent a cold gaze at Hayes.

「You will regret it if you get cocky and talk too much you know? When you lose that is.」

「……What enviable people. Not knowing anything is really happiness.」

Hayes snorted in response to Krulcifer’s words and shrugged.

「You guys already lost by the time you came here and fell into my plan! But, do your best to fight back! And then become food for Yggdrasil!」

The giant tree began to move once more along with the declaration.

Lisha and others also desperately fought back, but their every single move was surpassed.

And then──, finally Tiamat’s armor was dispelled because of excessive damage.

「U, aa……!」

「Lisha-sama-!?」

Lux repelled the countless stretching branches while rushing toward Lisha’s side.

He held her body and retreated to the rear.

He lowered down Lisha who was breathing hard from exhaustion. At the same time Lux spoke.

「Lisha-sama. Please let me use it. The other power hidden inside Bahamut──」

「……You, must not. It’s dangerous to use that right now! We haven’t test it yet using Bahamut, and you are too exhausted already. If you force yourself here, you’ll──」

「Please. We cannot lose here. I don’t want it to turn out like that day five years ago again!」

「…………」

That day five years ago──.

The last day when the old kingdom perished and the palace fell.

Was Lisha also thinking back about that too?

「I’ll have to send the code from my Chimeratech Wyrm to you. Also, hold out for a minute. If you do that, I’ll sent it to you for sure.」

Saying that, Lisha pulled out two Sword Devices.

「That’s why, return back properly! Lux!」

「──I promise.」

Right after telling her that, Lux stood in front of Yggdrasil’s way.

The remaining members were already wounded all over, they couldn’t even fight.

「Now, you’ve resolved yourself right, false prince.」

Hayes displayed a wicked smile. At that moment, dark red branches approached with speed several times faster than before.

But, from an inescapable situation, Lux’s Bahamut cut the branches with speed that surpassed it.

One of the three hidden techniques, Quick Draw.

Lux let out a single flash with certainty, but against this powerful monster as the opponent, it couldn’t hope to inflict a lethal wound.

(Then first──I’ll expose its core!)

Lux slipped through the countless branches flying about and approached the main body that was the trunk.

At the same time, the right arm of the Drag-Ride that was holding a large sword began to make a strange sound.

It was a gyrating sound of creaking metal. In order to block Lux’s path, several branches formed a defensive wall that looked like a spider’s wed. Then a single flash exploded out.

Recoil Burst.

It was the hidden technique that used both body control operation and mind control operation, by controlling them in opposite to each other instead of harmonizing them, it caused an intentional rampage.

The single attack that obtained the might of several dozen times a normal slash had broke apart countless branches, and gouged a large scar on the trunk.

(Did I do it? But, not yet──)

Although the giant tree was shaved, but it didn’t reach so far that its core was exposed.

The burden from using Recoil Burst was great, but he could only gamble here.

Lux didn’t let the chance to win escape and launched the finishing attack.

He swung his large sword, erased the opening that should have resulted when his action ended, and persisted to shower the enemy with rain of slashes one after another without pause.

Infinitely continuing consecutive attack, End Action(Perpetual Links).

He shook off the burden and fatigue that was gradually piling up in him and attempted to make his blade reached the core, it was then,

*GAKIN-!*

Such metallic sound echoed. Yggdrasil repelled the blade of the large sword he swung down.

「Wha──!?」

The moment the slash that he was about to unleash was stopped, Lux got hit consecutively by whip of branch and got blown away.

「Why!? Even though it shouldn’t have been given time to even regenerate──」

Celis yelled from behind.Hayes laughed loudly to that.

「Idiot! You thought that Yggdrasil will croak just from a few hundred of slash!? This monster can evolve even while getting attacked! With this, your specialty hidden techniques whatever are all used up!」

Hayes who laughed scornfully got out from in the middle of the branches surrounding her and yelled.

「This is the end! You damn shitty prince pretending to be hero. I’ll send those bunches idolizing you to death altogether──I’ll also destroy the new kingdom that you wished for. Anything and everything is all your fault! No matter how much you bluff and enumerate your ideal, in the end you cannot save anything. HAHAHAHAHAHA!」

Part 6

Lux was inside the darkness.

His surrounding was covered with countless dark red branches. His Drag-Ride was slowly constricted to smash it.

Yggdrasil was already surpassing the full power of Bahamut.

A sudden fatigue assaulted his whole body, it felt like his blood had become like mud.

Cold despair was invading Lux’s thought and heart.

In order to oppose the fate that was the old empire’s rule and accomplished his duty as a prince, he fought desperately.

(Even so, was it impossible no matter how much I did my best……. From the start I──)

『Someone who wasn’t loved by anyone, will try to be loved ny anyone.』

It was true.

He had no power or position to move the country.

He knew that he couldn’t do anything, even so he wished to protect what was important for him and he began to fight that day.

The girl who he wanted to protect even at the cost of his life was snatched from him, the country that he tried to change followed the path of ruin.

Even though it would be fine as long as his important people were safe even if he had to use up his life.

(……I, couldn’t save anything)

Lux thought that something like Black Hero was just a terrible irony.

He was merely scared.

He was scared that he would lose his important people, he was also scared that the people would turn into his enemy.

He feared, and feared.

He tried to fight that mighty empire.

He tried to accomplish his duty as a prince.

He was putting on so much effort that his body might break apart.

All of those, he was fighting only for the sake of continuing to run away from the malice haunting his heart.

It was just as she, Hayes said, surely──.

「──That’s, not it.」

「-……!?」

Inside his fading consciousness, he could hear a girl’s voice.

「Don’t decide, about Lu-chan, when you don’t know anything.」

It was a familiar voice. From a glance that voice sounded indifferent, however it was a straightforward voice, with strong will in it.

Inside the sleepiness where he didn’t understand if he was even awake or living.

From the gaps of the branches enveloping him, he could see the girl’s figure.

She had only just waken up, her breathing was also feeble, even so Philuffy gazed at Hayes at the opposite side and stood up.

「Because, I know. Even though Lu-chan is hurt, he tried to change this country. I know that. Even now he wants to know the feeling of everyone in the country, so he did many odd jobs. I also know that.」

And then, she continued to speak as though to talk to Lux inside the darkness.

「I know everything, that’s why fight. Not for anyone else. But for the sake, of the wish Lu-chan desire──」

「────」

Instantly Lux was liberated from the sleepiness and he tightly gripped Bahamut’s controller.

At the same time a dragon voice from Lisha’s Chimeratech Wyrm was sent to him.

『Lux! Can you hear me!? I sent you the procedure to release the Drag-Ride’s limit! Use it! The Over Limit!』

Instantly Lux’s consciousness was detached from the real world and blacked out.

It was a world that enumerated strange numbers and letters where there were only him and his Drag-Ride in existence.

A scenery that Lux should have never seen before was occupying his field of vision.

──No, that’s not it.

The release code that Lisha sent to him.

He certainly remembered, that release method.

His thought ran off by its own and overtook his self from the past up to the present.

If he remembered right, this was──.

『Lux! What’s wrong!? That’s, what in the world──』

When he woke up in response to Lisha’s yell, light was floating at Bahamut’s surrounding.

All the code for the safety measure and output restriction emerged and warning signals were displayed one after another.

Originally, the utmost concentration in addition of training for the sake to remember the complicated procedure was needed to run the release code.

It was now unfolding with abnormal speed with surpassed the time when Lisha was doing it before.

He had already seen several times the release procedure where this should be his first time doing it.

Before La Cruche used the procedure of full release that ignored the burden limit because the user Drag-Knight was puppet. Now Lux carried out the steps of that same procedure in high speed.

The mechanism of ability restriction that was used to protect the Drag-Knight, he released them all until the last one without leaving a single one.

「This is, what I showed just now. The procedure of maximum release of Over Limit──. Don’t tell me, you remembered that!? From in the middle of the battle just now!?」

While La Cruche raised a shocked voice, even more letters and graphics made of light were unfolding.

They increased in number with accelerating speed, and the moment all the enumeration vanished, the suspended Bahamut activated.

「Impossible──!? How can, this guy……!」

Hayes’s expression twitched and her eyes snapped wide open.

That instant, light flashed and along with it, the branches covering Lux burst out and a transformation started.

「──Over Limit – On」

Right after Lux whispered, light particles gathered at the surrounding in high speed, and additional summon was executed on the armor that was emitting ominous luster.

In the blink of eye, new pair of wings and various parts connected and the shape of huge dragon changed.

Both arms were attached with cartridge that was for high output flying mechanism and increasing the offense of the blade.

The dragon figure that expressed majesty uncovered its tyrannical true nature and accomplished transformation into a fiendish form that was specialized for offense.

「This is, Bahamut’s……Over Limit.」

The moment everyone there including Lisha held their breath, red light burst up from under Bahamut’s legs.

「OOOOOoOOOOOOOOOoooooOOOOO」

Yggdrasil roared as though responding to the appearance of a formidable enemy and attacked.

「Lux-kun! Be careful──」

Krulcifer yelled when she saw dark red tentacle branches stretching out in countless number.

The great number of branches that had regenerated many times──were strengthened and endowed with steel-like endurance.

However,

*ZAGUU-……!*

Jet black slash line that split the space vertically instantly severed all those.

It was a single strike that didn’t even use the Divine Raiment Reload on Fire or the hidden technique of Drag-Ride control.

Despite that, it could be confirmed from what just happened that the attack was endowed with both heaviness and speed that was incomparable from before.

「……What the?」

Hayes reflexively frowned seeing that hard to believe sight, it was then──,

「──Prepare yourself, Hayes.」

Lux who was wearing the awakened state of Bahamut proclaimed quietly.

「I won’t, forgive you.」

It wasn’t a threat or even recommendation to surrender.

Those eyes that were clad in bottomless coldness were directed to her.

「……Fu」

Hayes almost flinched from that chilly pressure that was completely different from the usual Lux, but,

「──Just try it! You lowly false prince!」

Her expression immediately turned furious and she tightly grasped the gem inside her hand.

Due to its special characteristic of protecting the master that blew the horn, Yggdrasil’s branches that were covering Hayes to protect her increased further, forming a solid protective wall.

At the same time Bahamut was clad in flickering light that looked like flame and flew.

「ooOOooOOOOooOOOoOOOOOO……!」

Yggdrasil roared with the appearance of a formidable enemy and met the huge dragon.

It created sharp spear tips with its branches to skewer the enemy.

It created branches with hammer-like tips to crush the enemy.

It opened its branches up and down like a beast’s jaw and sent it forward to bite the enemy dead.

Devilish branches were set forth, covering the whole field of vision.

The jet black streak ran every which way, dodging and cutting everything.

Finally Yggdrasil’s main body, the trunk that had skull pattern on its surface had countless wounds carved on it.

The full strength of Yggdrasil that had grown until it surpassed even Divine Drag-Ride was being completely excelled by Lux and Bahamut.

「What power……. Perhaps, if it’s with this──」

Celis was looking for an opening while whispering toward that terrifying offense and defense that was beyond human understanding.

The great number of Yggdrasil’s branches were rapidly diminishing and at this rate it seemed possible to overcome the Ragnarok.

But──,

「……!?」

*BASHIIN!*

The giant flesh tree that had its branches severed and its trunk pierced many times was starting to react gradually.

Although it still couldn’t land a direct hit at Bahamut, but it wa starting to follow Bahamut’s movement, what’s more it was even scraping off Bahamut’s reinforced barrier.

「Fuh, fufufu……what’s the matter false prince? You are finished getting cocky already!?」

「Is it impossible even with that Bahamut……」

Every aspect of Yggdrasil was starting to surpass Bahamut as though to make Lisha’s words a reality.

「I told you already that you cannot win against this guy! Even if you use the awakened state of Drag-Ride, its power would be several times the normal Drag-Ride at best. It doesn’t have the power to finish with one blow my Yggdrasil──the monster that has eaten several hundred Abysses. Thanks a lot false prince. For making my Yggdrasil──into the strongest.」

Hayes’s loud laughter resounded in the area.

「This is, already……!」

Everyone, including Tillfur was starting to let out air of pessimism.

Even the power of Bahamut that used Over Limit was being overwhelmed in attack speed.

They were already unable to even make a dent on the enemy no matter how hard they struggle with the battle strength they currently had in hand.

Something like a method to defeat the Ragnarok before them, it existed ──nowhere.

While everyone present lost their voice in despair, only Lux kept focusing on the enemy before his eyes without even a single twitch in his eyebrow.

「Now! Get smashed into pieces and fall! You weakest ruined prince!」

Yggdrasil’s trunk creaked at the same time with Hayes’s bellow and the skull at the center opened its mouth gaping wide.

Silver horn grew from inside its mouth.

The greatest attack lengthening out with high speed was about to pierce Lux’s Bahamut, it was at that moment fierce red light rose up like flame pillar from that jet black armor.

「Reload on Fire.」

「Dumbass! Don’t you get it that it’s pointless!? It’s useless no matter how strong you try to become! With your strength, defeating this Ragnarok is absolutely──impossible!」

The moment the two sides crossed, Lux whispered with cool-headed glint reflected in his eyes.

「Hayes, you said, just try it right?」

Yggdrasil’s horn──the tip that was generating shockwave hit Lux’s large sword.

Impact that was incomparable with everything from before burst out and Lux’s body should be blown away──but.

*BIKIiiiII-!*

The thrusting horn instantly snapped, then immediately after, cracks ran through Yggdrasil’s whole body.

「……Wha-!?」

Hayes raised a bewildered voice, at the same time Lux swung his large sword through.

「I absolutely──won’t hand Philuffy to you. No matter how weak I am, never again.」

The created cracks increased in size and number with accelerating speed and the trunk was smashed up into pieces.

The giant flesh tree Ragnarok──Yggdrasil crumbled.

「──Ho, how!? How, is my Yggdrasil……!?」

Hayes who lost the barrier of branch protecting herself whispered dumbfounded.

「That guy’s life force should still be all right! It doesn’t matter even if the opponent is a Divine Drag-Ride that is usuing Over Limit, it shouldn’t pose any problem at all! My plan should be perfect! And yet──!?」

Lux was standing in front of the yelling Hayes who couldn’t hide her shaken mind and he pointed his sword at her.

「Don’t move, Hayes.」

「……!?」

Hayes stiffened from receiving Lux’s cold gaze that was lacking in emotion.

Hayes gritted her teeth hard, even so she showed a fearless smile and her hand was about to grasp the gem in her hand even tighter, it was then.

*zashu-!*

「Gu, aGAAAaH……!」

Lux’s sword quickly moved and destroyed the horn flute’s gem inside that hand.

「You, bastard-……!」

Hayes whose right hand was slashed glared at Lux with hatred-filled eyes. It was at that timing──,

「We are retreating, your highness.」(TN: In the raw, it’s your highness the imperial princess. It’s too long so I shorten it)

That moment, a calm voice came down inside the dome.

The ceiling of the dome where the destroyed Yggdrasil was at.

From there two people, a male and a female came down and stood in the way of Lux and others.

「Fugil……!」

「Uh oh, I don’t have any intention to quarrel with you. Your body is already at its limit already anyway. If you force yourself more than that, you’re going to die for real you know?」

Fugil also took out his Sword Device and took a stance as though to hold back Lux who was readying his Blade.

The strange scene from when Lux met Fugil before was brought back in Lux’s mind.

「Wait Fugil! It’s still not over yet! My subordinates are standing by nearby! This time for sure──」

「It’s pointless, Hayes.」

Fugil returned a fearless smile toward Hayes whose face contorted in rage.

「You cannot defeat him. It looks like you don’t even notice why that guy intentionally strengthened Yggdrasil huh──」

「Wh, at……!?」

Hayes’s expression twitched hearing Fugil’s words and she raised a stifled voice.

「A Ragnarok that devoured more than a hundred Abysses’ life cannot be defeated by a Drag-Knight’s strength no matter who. ──That’s why that guy made use of the ability and attack of none other than the Ragnarok itself, using that sword technique to receive the enemy’s attack and reflect it back.」

「…………」

The special move that seized the starting point of enemy’s attack, and then countered by returning back that attack strength as it was──Critical Hit.

Lux held back from using that technique in this battle so that Yggdrasil wouldn’t adapt against it, his last technique.

「Bu, but, even if he reflect Yggdrasil’s attack back to itself, there was no way it could get done in just by──!」

「You’re right. But, it’s a different story if that Yggdrasil’s attack power was magnified until nearly a hundred fold. He used Bahamut’s Divine Raiment that was extremely reinforced by using Over Limit see.」

Yes──.

That was Lux’s aim.

Even the performance of Reload on Fire that was a Divine Raiment of compression reinforcement, because of Over Limit, it was strengthened to the degree that it was able to amplify an attack’s original might until nearly a hundred times.

The attack power of the Ragnarok that Lux raised up until now, and even the Over Limit at the end, everything was the groundwork for this.

For the sake of destroying the strongest Abyss that no one could win against using its own strength──.

「So you see Hayes, it’s impossible. No matter what, something like a person who doesn’t fear an enemy that is getting stronger endlessly──something like a person who doesn’t hold any fear whatsoever in planning to actually make use of that strength to strike back at such enemy, there is no way such person exist. Except this terrifying weakest enemy in front of you.」

「…………」

Fugil averted his gaze from the speechless Hayes and gazed at Lux.

「You win the gamble. You saw through Hayes’s trap, and yet you dared pretending getting caught in the trap, and chose the path to defeat the Ragnarok.」

For Hayes to not bring any minion while Philuffy was near meant that there was high likelihood that the main body of the parasite, Yggdrasil was also in this island.

If Hayes’s objective was to enter the deepest room of the Ruin, then if a battle occurred──, the probability was high that Yggdarsil would come to clash against Lux and others.

In other words──the flow until this point where it looked like they got caught in Hayes’s trap was Lux’s plan to defeat Yggdrasil and saved Philuffy.

Fugil saw through that.

「Now then, it’s regretful, but we have to retreat soon. My bad, but we too have things to do.」

「Well then, please excuse us, everyone.」

The maid beside Fugil bowed, took Hayes in her arms, and then floated using EX Wyvern along with Fugil.

Her emotionless eyes slightly reflected Krulcifer who was inside the room.

「…………」

Krulcifer also sent her gaze toward the female who was dressed as maid.

But, a few seconds later, the maid flew away as though nothing happened and vanished from the hole overhead.

「…………」

No one could chase because of their wounds.

Lux too lost consciousness after seeing them vanished.