Accel World (先飞看刀)

‘-Unlimited Burst!’

After he shouted that while preoccupied, the many times louder sound of accelerating hit his consciousness.

His view instantly became dark.

However, the darkness was soon pierced by silver light. That was the effect light that changed Haruyuki’s real body into a steel mechanical body.

Normal acceleration - with the «Burst Link» command, he would first become his pink pig avatar, that phase was now skipped and Haruyuki was changing into his pure silver duel avatar - «Silver Crow».

Right after that, the surrounding darkness was also blown away by rainbow light.

What appeared beyond the radiating aura was shining blue black steel.

The place that was supposed to be his apartment living room had become a cold metallic corridor like a demon king’s castle from a fantasy movie. The windows facing south were all gone, from the walls and pillars with many iron plates stuck on, like the design of heat releasing fins, many light blue flames were lit. Near his feet was a layer of thick fog, and the high ceiling sunk in a deep darkness that could not be seen.

The metallic part is very similar to the «Purgatory» stage, but there was not a single sign of disorder from life. Haruyuki looked around the cold straight scene that’s everywhere.

When he looked back around him, he saw three duel avatars standing there.

Dark blue armor and strong limbs, and the right hand equipped with a huge pile driver, is «Cyan Pile».

Crimson delicate stature with only one handgun on her, is «Scarlet Rain».

And then with a pure black semi transparent armor, sharp sword like limbs shining, is «Black Lotus».

Standing in the same place, with the two «Kings» was one thing, but even the same leveled Cyan Pile - Tak.u.mu made him feel inferior, he swallowed that and whispered.

“...This is the «Unlimited Neutral Field»...”

“That’s right.”

After confirming with electronic effect like sounds, Kuroyukihime lightly turned around. Black Lotus that became all sharp endpoints, did not walk normally, she moved while slightly hovering above the floor.

With her right hand that is a large blade similar in size to her leg, she pointed past the corridor.

“That is probably the exit. It’s faster if you see for yourself.”

“That’s true. Let’s go.”

Scarlet Rain - Niko nodded too, while her twin pigtail antenna moved up and down.

After walking in the steel pa.s.sage covered in thick fog for a bit, their destination was filled by white light from outside. Haruyuki involuntarily walked faster and pa.s.sed the other three, then took a left turn and opened his eyes wide.

The place that was originally the apartment east street side wall, had became a fully open outside terrace. He was currently at a height that was similar to his 23rd floor home, so he could see everything outside the terrace.

Dreadful - is the only thing that could describe the scene.

The sky was covered with many thick grey clouds. Between them, frequent blue violet lightning pa.s.sed through.

And then on the ground, similar to Haruyuki’s apartment, were buildings designed with sharp steel plates stuck on like objects. Right in front, the hazy fog covered Shinjuku, was no longer crowded with tall buildings, but was now like a fortress filled with an evil army. No matter how he looked, there was not any movement. As if it was totally uninhabited.

Demonic city, while those words appear in his mind, Haruyuki asked Kuroyukihime who stepped out beside him.

“It’s the first time I"ve seen this kind of field. Here, the attribute is...”

“It’s «Chaos».”

After that short answer, she turned her eyes shining with violet light towards Haruyuki and added.

“You will eventually understand what that means. Instead of that, Haruyuki-kun. Looking at the scenery is fine, but there is something else that you should realize quickly.”

“Wh... what?”

While Haruyuki hurriedly looked around, he finally saw what he was supposed to.

Up till now in duel fields, normally in the upper part of his view is shown his own and his enemy’s HP bars, right between them is the remaining time count starting from 1800 seconds. However right now, there is only his HP bar, and there is no countdown number.

So far, the game application «Brain Burst» that Haruyuki experienced were, detailed fields that could only be thought of as reality, with perfect real five senses feedback that is ultimate technology, but the content was an old style one on one fighting game. At the moment he arrived at this «Unlimited Neutral Field», the graphics design only changed slightly, but he felt that the game suddenly changed clothes and became a cutting edge large scale network game, so he involuntarily shouted.

“Th, there isn’t any remaining time...!? What does this mean...?”

“Exactly what it seems.”

The one who answered, was Niko who came up on his left side.

“Here, there is not a dive time limit setup. That’s why it’s «Unlimited».”

“Wha.”

Again losing his words, Haruyuki desperately tried to think about the meaning of what he heard.

“...Th, that is. We, «Accelerated» right?”

“Of course, that’s right.”

Kuroyukihime’s reply made his thought turning fully again.

Brain Burst accelerated its user’s thinking by 1000 times while in a full dive in a virtual field. That’s why, even if the normal acceleration limit of 30 minutes are all used up, in the real world it would only have been 1.8 seconds.

However, with no limit, that means.

If just 10 minutes of real time is spent in this «Unlimited Neutral Field», that would be a length of 10,000 minutes - that is about 166 hours, which is around 7 days.

Then, if he spent a whole real day here.

After he calculated with his fingers, Haruyuki murmured with a raspy voice.

“Th... three years...”

‘Oh my G.o.d’. That is about equal to forever in time. That means, if he uses the command «Unlimited Burst», no matter how much homework he left behind, or slack off on studying for a test...

“You should not do that, Haru.”

At that moment, as if he perfectly traced Haruyuki’s brazen thoughts, Tak.u.mu said behind him.

Turning around, he saw the avatar’s muscular shoulders shrug, and his friend continued with a sound containing laughter.

“I too, came here just once before. At that time I was as excited as you are, also since 10 Burst Points were used, I thought it would be a waste to go home soon, so I spent 3 days inside. When I returned to reality, I had forgotten all about what I was going to do before accelerating, it was awful.”

“That’s right, Haruyuki-kun. With just 3 days you can get away with forgetting what you were going to do, but if you spend 1 month, or half a year in here...”

Saying till there, Kuroyukihime’s tone of voice became serious.

“- when you return, your personality would have changed. Of course, compared to yourself up to that point, at worse your soul’s age would differ too. If you don’t want your family or friends to look at you with puzzled faces, you should not come here too often.”

At the instant he heard that speech, one awaken voice rang in his mind.

‘- If you knew how much time that girl and I spent in the accelerated world...’

Yesterday, Niko said that with laughter. The meaning of that, which is - .

However before he can think ahead, he was lightly hit on the back by that person.

“Instead of that, it’s time to move. At the time we accelerated, it would be still two real minutes before the train Cherry is on arrives at Ikebukuro, so we still have time though.”

“Y, yea. Moving... that is to Ikebukuro right.”

Two minutes of real time is over 33 hours in the accelerated world. While he thought that might be way more time than needed, Haruyuki moved his view towards the northeast direction.

Beyond the blue black steel city that extended far away, he could make out a lightly floating huge structure. If that is Ikebukuro’s Sunshine city, the distance there should be about 6km, similar to the real world.

“Let see... do we walk? Or run...?”

“No way. Why do you think we have you here?”

“Huh? That means...”

In front of the dumbfounded Haruyuki, the pitiful crimson avatar held her hands together in front of her chest and tilted her head.

“Carry me and fly, onii-chan♪”

Haruyuki used his «Punch» and «Kick» to destroy the objects of deformed statues and iron bars set on the open terrace, and after his special gauge was maxed, he turned around while saying ‘Let see...’.

There, were shapes of two Kings looking at him sharply.

“He will carry me, since I have these arms. You can dangle below Silver Crow’s legs.”

“Stop joking! Why do I have to do that humiliating thing? It is your avatar’s design fault, you go ride the train by yourself!”

Between the two with sparking flashes that were not an expression but was really there, Tak.u.mu sighed and interrupted.

“Then, let’s do this. Master on Haru’s right arm, and Red King on his left arm, have him carry you like that. And then I will dangle on his legs. Will that work, Haru?”

“Ah... y, yea, probably. I can’t put out much speed though.”

Moving to the front of the still unsatisfied Niko and Kuroyukihime, Haruyuki first extended his right hand.

“Ex, excuse me.”

He tightly held Black Lotus’ slender waist which had a lotus flower like armor skirt below, next he used his left hand to hold Scarlet Rain’s even more delicate body.

Without a fragment of mental s.p.a.ce for a ‘Yay, a flower in both hands’ kind of thought, Haruyuki slowly put strength into his shoulder blades, and opened up the metallic fins folded on his back.

The wings that spread apart with a clear sound, soon released a light flapping sound. The virtual lift that was created made them float above the ground.

He slowly rose, when he was about 1.5m above ground, he hovered.

“Taku, it’s okay now.”

“Yoroshiku, Haru.”

Soon, Cyan Pile’s strong arms held onto around his calf area.

“Then... we are going!”

With his announcement, Haruyuki shook the fins with all his strength.

Three extra people’s weight was a lot, but he still managed to accelerate and fly towards the sky. The steel terrace was left farther and farther behind, and the uninhabited, deformed city opened up wide below.

“Oh... oh, incredible...!!”

In his left arm, Niko shouted.

“You are really flying! That is Seven Ring[1]... that is central train line huh. Wonder if I can see my school!”

For Haruyuki, it was all familiar scenery. Even within the Normal Duel Field’s movement limit, he could still see not just Tokyo, but the whole district of Kanto.

However, no matter how many times he saw it, the feeling that welled up in his heart never seemed to thin. More than anything, this «Unlimited Neutral Field», according to Kuroyukihime’s explanation, is limited by the social camera network range - that meant it continued all the way to the edge of j.a.pan.

That is a scale that could no longer be called a game map. It is another world.

“I see... this huh.”

Haruyuki unconsciously whispered.

“This is the true «Accelerated World» right. Always existing beside the real world... not an instant, but a permanent world...”

“That’s right.”

That short murmur, was from Kuroyukihime he held in his right arm. From the sharp shape, shining eyes turned towards Haruyuki and her strict yet kind voice flowed.

“And this is Burst Linker’s true battle field. If you aim for level 9, eventually you will have to fight here, and win. ...Well, right now is not that time yet.”

Does that mean his level is too low, or Haruyuki himself does not have enough ability?

Realizing that a bit of impatience p.r.i.c.ked at his chest, Haruyuki lightly nodded.

“Yes... In, instead of that...”

“Nn? What is it?”

“Since this is a permanent map, that means, at this moment other than us, there are other Burst Linkers who dived in here right?”

“Of course.”

It was Niko who answered him. Haruyuki changed the way he was facing, and asked another question.

“B, but, if that is the case... I don’t seem to sense anyone else...”

The deformed city below was filled with cold silence, and he could not see any movement. Haruyuki thought it would be like the usual duel field, with duel avatar shapes here and there, so what does this mean?

However soon, this time it was from Tak.u.mu dangling on his legs that made a sound.

“Haha, that’s of course, Haru. The total number of Burst Linkers is around 1000, so at any one time the number of them that dive in this Unlimited Neutral Field is at most 100 people. Even saying it like this, for places like Suginami that does not have anything, not seeing anyone is a matter of course.”

“Th, then... if we head towards the city center...?”

“That is exactly it. That’s why we, and also «Cherry Rook» are aiming for Bukuro.”

At the same time she said that, Niko knocked on Haruyuki’s helmet head.

“Instead of that, if you keep floating and don’t move, your gauge will disappear.”

“Ah, y, yea.”

Haruyuki checked the small blue shining special attack gauge bar below his HP bar. Hovering does not use up a lot of the gauge, but it already lost about 10%.

“Then, we will be taking the direct route.”

With that announcement, Haruyuki again increased his wing’s vibration rate.

Right below the hanging black clouds, he moved forward like sliding. Soon they pa.s.sed the empty Seven Ring and entered Nakano.

When his eyes captured the elevated central train line supported by awfully sharp pillars, he looked ahead casually. He saw something unexpected and murmured.

“Ah... Th, the train is moving...!?”

On the black shining rails, just made up of only two cars, there really was a train shaped long small shadow moving with heavy sounds towards the direction of Shinjuku.

“You can really ride it. It will cost points though.”

Hearing Kuroyukihime’s somewhat fun explanation, under the silver armor his eyes opened wide.

“Wha... wh, who is driving it!?”

“Fufu, you should check it out yourself someday.”

While they were chatting, the train line was left farther and farther behind, in exchange he could see Yamate street. After they pa.s.s that, they will arrive at Mejiro, and then Ikebukuro.

In the real world, Haruyuki usually went there to buy old styled game software and paper media books, but access to it from Suginami is unexpectedly bad. Either he took the train to Shinjuku and left from there, or rode the bus from Kouenji, both ways are right angle movements so it took time.

‘If I can fly like this it would be fun’, while he was thinking those carefree thoughts, at that time - .

“Hey, Haruyuki-kun. Look at that.”

Kuroyukihime who was riding on his right arm, pointed with the tip of her sword towards the east side.

Haruyuki who looked that way casually, his overwhelming shock almost made him drop the two Kings he was carrying, so he hurriedly held them tighter.

“Uwaaa... Wha... what...!?”

On Yamate street where deep fog flowed, there was a huge slow moving shadow. It could only be said to be strange looking. Its full body form was like a four legged beast, but its body was flat like a stingray, and where the head was supposed to be, many tentacles dangled to the ground. At the end of long strong legs, like on a bug, two brutal looking sharp claws extended.

And then its large size, no matter how you look at it, was about the height of a three storey building. Taking over three car lanes of road below, it slowly moved south.

When its feet touched the ground, a ‘Booom’ like low sound shook the air, while feeling that, Haruyuki whispered in amazement.

“What is... that?”

“It is an «enemy». Created by the system, it moves, and is this world’s resident.”

Continuing after Kuroyukihime, Niko blew a short whistle.

“Seeing one that big all of a sudden, you are lucky. But, don’t approach too close to it. If we become a target of that cla.s.s, even these members won’t be able to handle it.”

“Target... you said, what, it will attack us!?”

“The meaning of the word ‘enemy’, you should have already learned it in middle school.”

He did not have time to retort to Niko’s bad mouthing, as Haruyuki hurriedly gained alt.i.tude. The strange looking huge beast did not seem to notice the people looking from above, and slowly continued to walk.

“Wh... why is that dangerous thing setup...”

“Why, you ask... that is...”

Kuroyukihime’s reply faltered. Niko and Tak.u.mu too seemed to show they lacked the answer, so Haruyuki tilted his head.

Then, Tak.u.mu who was dangling on his legs shouted with an undertone.

“Ah, there, it’s just starting. The «Hunt».”

“Hu... hunt...?”

Right after that, the huge beast pa.s.sing right under them suddenly roared, and Haruyuki jumped a few meters.

“Uwaaa!?”

The beast stood up on its two hind legs, and while the tentacles on its head violently shook, it roared again. However its opponent was not them, as Haruyuki soon realized.

Farther south on Yamate street, there were many small shadows.

At first he thought they were other «enemy», but he soon realized that was not the case. The many colored armored humanoid silhouettes - must be Burst Linkers.

The large size person standing at the front raised its right hand and brought it down.

At that moment, from the roof of buildings to either side of the street, many beam lines and actual ammo ballistic curves were sent, which exploded around the huge beast’s head.

The huge body of the «enemy» was momentarily staggered, then with a ‘Yuoooon’ roar, its head turned towards one of the buildings. While its front legs scratched the air, it started to move forward with earth tremors.

However, right before the huge body crashed into the building, the Burst Linkers taking formation on the road all released mid range attacks at the same time. The beast that stood while covered by many explosions roared in anger and changed its target, charging towards the people standing on the road.

“Ah, danger!”

Haruyuki shouted involuntarily. The huge beast’s front leg came down from far above, the one that looked like a leader was stepped on in one fell swoop and crushed - that was what it looked like, but the blue silver heavy armored duel avatar stopped the huge claw with his crossed arms.

Even so it did not seem like they want to stop the beast and fight it there, while he guarded the people the rampaging huge beast was attacking, he slowly backed off.

After pulling it a far enough distance away from the two buildings, from the rooftops all weapons were fired again, hitting the base of the huge beast’s tail. While the beast turned slowly to head for the building on the eastern side, this time the group on the ground chased it for close range attacks.

“That’s a pretty nice party. The hate control is good. Who is that leader?”

To Kuroyukihime’s impressed question, Niko answered.

“It should be a management member of the Green legion. But that party seems to be made up of random people.”

With that conversation, Haruyuki finally understood what the fight occurring below him was for.

“I, I see... those Burst Linkers are not attacked by that monster... They are going after it to kill it right.”

“That’s right. That is a «hunt».”

“That means, if they kill it, experience points... not that, Burst Points...?”

“Umu, exactly that.”

After Kuroyukihime nodded, Niko knocked on Haruyuki’s head.

“Even you should have understood by now. The reason enemy exist in this Unlimited Neutral Field, that also is the reason why this field exists. Not just from normal duels, Burst Linkers can hunt here to level up as well. But...”

“...That efficiency, is significantly worse compared to duels. That cla.s.s of large size beast, even hunting with the risk of full annihilation, is similar to winning a duel with a same level once... that is about 10 points are gained.”

Kuroyukihime who continued the explanation, paused there, and lightly shook her flowing form mask.

“That is something that could not be helped. Hunting enemy in this world, is an act of creating Burst Points from nothing. That means, for the «Duel fighting game» that is Brain Burst, originally hunting in the Unlimited Field is just a method of supplementing points. However right now, that became about the only way that high level can be reached. The reason is...”

“The mutual no invasion treaty... right.”

Haruyuki murmured.

“For high level Burst Linkers, even if they want to duel normally, they cannot strike in other legions’ territory. For that reason also, the weekend «Territory battle», due to the treaty cannot function...”

Haruyuki looked away from the fierce battle occurring far below him, and again started moving northeast, below him Tak.u.mu said in a thoughtful tone of voice.

“Master, but... to be exact, there is another way right. Getting points with high efficiency in this current situation, the method to get pa.s.s the high level barrier.”

“What? Taku, that is...?”

“What I mean is... in this world, you can hunt another target other than «enemy». In addition, a prey that has way more points...”

After thinking for an instant, Haruyuki took a sharp breath.

“I, I see... earlier... instead of the huge beast, those people...”

He glanced back, far south behind them, he could still faintly see the cloud of continuous fire fight.

The short silence was broken by Kuroyukihime’s quiet voice.

“That is exactly it. For normal duel, the high level Burst Linkers that usually do not leave their own legion territory, and even if you want to challenge them you cannot, but in this place you can attack them as you like. Moreover you can ambush, sneak attack, anything you like.”

“And then, the one who is doing exactly that, is «Cherry Rook»... no, «Chrome Disaster».”

Niko murmured that in a low voice, her crimson round eyes were fogged as she looked straight ahead.

They had already pa.s.sed Mejiro street that was one of seven radiating roads, and the center of Ikebukuro is straight ahead. The palace surrounded by strange steel spires that seem to swallow the deep black roads, from there was the JR[2] Ikebukuro station. East of that extended a huge sky corridor, linked to the skysc.r.a.per fortress standing a little further away- Sunshine City.

At the base of the corridor stood some small buildings, and he seemed to be able to see different kind of lights blinking.

‘Are those just light effects? Or maybe it is actually similar to the real Ikebukuro, with a wide shopping center?’

While thinking he unconsciously forgot their current situation and tried to move there, but Niko’s right hand pulled his head back.

“Whoa, stop here. It will be a long time before Cherry comes here, but just in case let’s go to the ground. Flying around will be easily seen from below.”

“Well, that is true... however even if you say Ikebukuro, it’s a big area. Do you know where he will appear?”

To Kuroyukihime’s question, she snorted.

“If it’s the same pattern till now, it will be around Sunshine City. Circle around the south side, and just pick a building to descend onto.”

Haruyuki did as he was told and changed his body direction to head east.

He could see the fortress pointing to the sky on his left front side. To the right side, there is a gaping open hollow-like place. In the real world that should be the south Ikebukuro park, however there is not any type of trees, it was like a huge meteor crashed into it, making it have a crater like bleak feeling.

“...Then, we will descend near that empty ground.”

While saying so, Haruyuki checked his little remaining special gauge, determined that they will barely make it, and moved his wings.

Slowly, the four people weight started to move forward -

At that moment.

“Haru!!”

Near his feet, Tak.u.mu shouted.

Haruyuki who looked down in reaction, what his eyes captured, were bright orange firing lines extending up from between the buildings on the ground.

“...!!”

Without even time to scream, Haruyuki on reaction fully dashed towards the right front.

‘Jyaaa!’

With the sound of air being burned, he felt a huge heat wave going by near his back. He felt some frizzling pops on the tips of his wings that did not have any pain sensors.

However he ignored it, and again slid in the air, this time to the left side. Because he saw the second volley of fire from the ground. Moreover, its color is different from the first attack.

Right after the blue white ray was also dangerously dodged, Kuroyukihime lowly shouted.

“Could it be... Chrome Disaster?”

Against that, even though tense, Niko’s reply voice also has a dumbfounded echo.

“There is no way... it’s way too early, before he appear, there should still be a full day’s worth of time here! Also, that guy doesn’t have this kind of skill...”

Those two’s conversation was overwritten by Haruyuki’s scream.

“Descending!!”

Since, from the buildings on the ground, the third attack - this time he could see multiple lights. Those are not direct line lasers, but are actual ammo, moreover probably are tracking missiles’ firing lights.

Haruyuki stopped all of his wing’s lift, and descended almost like falling. However if he descend straight down, they will instantly be captured by the mysterious enemy. He spread his wing straight, and while sliding in the air like a glider, he aimed for the huge crater in front.

“Here they come! Missiles!”

With a tongue clicking sound, Niko bended over in Haruyuki’s arm and pulled out her handgun.

‘Dadadan’, that crisp continuous gun fire sound echoed, and many small sized explosion sounds also roared. However, just one handgun cannot shoot down all the missiles, the few missiles that pa.s.sed through the flames and closed in -

“...Yaaa!”

Were mowed by Kuroyukihime’s left hand sword strike and cut apart.

After a bit more distance apart, more explosions occurred. Using that pressure wave, Haruyuki cut through the last few ten meters, and flew at full speed towards the center of the circular crater.

First, Tak.u.mu released his arms, and landed while gouging the ground. Right after that, from his left and right arms, the two Kings jumped off, and lightly landed on the ground.

After falling in an awkward mess in between the three, Haruyuki hurriedly jumped up. With a quick glance, he checked his HP bar, luckily only less than 3% was lost. Kuroyukihime and the others should not have been directly hit either.

In the center of the huge hole filled with numerous radiating cracks, Haruyuki’s group breathed a sigh of relief.

As if the continuous attacks a few seconds ago were lies, the world returned to silence. Far up above in the black clouds, flashes of lightning making thunder sounded, and the wind blowing sound lightly echoed.

Then - .

With a small foot step sound, on the crater’s west edge, one shadow appeared.

It was a Burst Linker. Without a doubt it was probably one of the people attacking them earlier. Since it was mostly a silhouette, Haruyuki could not determine its color.

“That... is the person who attacked us earlier...?”

Haruyuki whispered in a sound that could barely be heard.

However, just one second later.

Right next to that, a second shadow appeared without a sound. And then a 3rd, and a 4th too.

“Wh... what is going on...”

Tak.u.mu’s light murmur, was about at the same time as the sound of many foot steps’ echo.

Looking up, Haruyuki saw that the crater’s edge, left, right and every which way was filled with avatar’s shadows. Large sized, small sized, long ranged, and close ranged, their abilities differed, but they had one thing in common.

That is their feel. Their looks filled with overflowing battle intention, silently looking at their prey - a hunter’s feel.

The total number of Burst Linkers that appeared was around 30 people. And then finally, pa.s.sing between the circle gathered at the crater’s outer edge, an avatar with the strongest presence appeared.

Long and slender. With a height probably taller than Cyan Pile, however its four limbs were delicate like Silver Crow’s. The humanoid shape almost looked like it was made up of bones, only widening at the shoulder and hip.

The head was covered with a hat that is shaped like horns on either side that was small and curved. Large b.a.l.l.s at the tip of those horns wavered without a sound. And then the face was covered with a mask that had a laughter on it.

“Clown...?”

Haruyuki unconsciously whispered. That avatar’s silhouette is very similar to the joker drawn on playing cards. However that mask did not have a single bit of humor. The long small eyes that slanted upwards were ash white in the shadow of backlight, filled with a cruel light.

Then, suddenly part of the clouds above thinned. The weak grey sunlight reached the ground, and showed the shape of avatars surrounding the crater.

Many different colors. However, to say it strongly, most were red and yellow.

The one that shone especially brightly, was the loosely standing in the center of that group, the clown avatar’s armor.

Without a single part of cloudiness, a poisonous yellow like uranium ore. At the moment he saw that, a strong sense of terror ran through Haruyuki’s back. There are not many duel avatars with that degree of fresh color saturation. Up till now the ones he’d seen directly were darkness deep black, and flame crimson, only those two. That means -, that means that clown is...

As if supporting Haruyuki’s imagination, the crimson avatar standing beside him let out a dry sound.

“«Yellow Radio»... «Yellow King»... Why is he here...”

King. Only 7 of them existed in the accelerated world, level 9 Burst Linkers.

Up till now for Haruyuki, never mind the Yellow King, he did not even have contact with members under that King’s control. The reason is the territory under Yellow legion’s control, are on the opposite side of Suginami in the Tokyo area - from Ueno to Akihabara. When he went to Akihabara to buy old PC parts, he always disconnected from the Global Net at those times.

That means right now the Yellow legion being in Ikebukuro, and moreover in these numbers, is extremely unnatural. Of course it was not a coincidence. However, the time since Haruyuki’s four person group dived from his apartment home with «Unlimited Burst» command into this Unlimited Neutral Field till now, only a few seconds at most should have pa.s.sed in the real world. For their legion member to discover Haruyuki’s group inside, contact the outside, and gather those members in Ikebukuro, there absolutely won’t be that much time for it.

That means, they had also monitored Cherry Rook’s movement, and predicted that at this time, this place, Haruyuki’s group will appear, so they waited in ambush.

If that was the truth, then there is only one reason.

Everything. Everything from the cause of this situation, is their -

“...It’s you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!!”

Suddenly, Niko roared.

The Red King who reached the same conclusion at the same time as Haruyuki, jumped out one step, held her fists, stuck out her chest, and her youthful shout was filled with majestic lion roar.

“You b.a.s.t.a.r.d planned all of this, Yellow Radio!!”

That’s right. It could only be that.

After being showered with the inferno of accusations, however the Yellow King’s thin body did not seem to be affected.

Unexpectedly, the bone like right arm slowly moved. Extending it wide to the right side, and turned the palm upward.

“Hey hey, thought I saw some dizzily flying insect fall down, it’s this unexpected guest? Good day, Red King.”

What came from the smiling mask, was a fresh, flowing young man’s voice. However, it was like it had an effect with extreme compression encode, so the sound was filled with various poisonous taste.

“Still saying that after the ambush...!”

“I do not seem to understand what you mean? I just, for my cute subordinates who were attacked after breaking the no invasion treaty, someone in the red legion who is forcing them to lose all points, I only came to ask for responsibility right? Recently, that duel avatar that rampages in defiance in our territory is quite troublesome.”

The horns on the hat made with many metallic rings swayed slowly. It was almost as if he was suppressing laughter.

On the other hand, Niko’s right index finger was pointed straight forward, as she shouted like a fiery explosion.

“It was you who made him do that! To lure me to this place, you gave that hidden «Disaster Armor» to Cherry Rook... it was you who instigated his violation of the treaty and indiscriminate attacks!!”

“Hidden? Gave? What bad words... that «Armor» was supposed to have been annihilated long ago right? Did your subordinate make another one?”

While saying that with a throaty voice, this time he extended his left arm, while he pointed to the sky with strangely small and sharp fingers, the Yellow King continued.

“In the holy treaty between the Kings, there is something like this. If attacks in violation of the treaty was carried out, and that caused the legion member’s forceful Brain Burst uninstall, then from the attacker’s legion, someone will be picked to suffer the same fate, that. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth... in truth a savage revenge method right?”

‘Kuu. Kuukuuku.’

Then, this time actual laughter leaked from the inverted triangle and sharp horned mask. The up slanted eyes shone lightly with the laughter.

“However, it is decided... isn’t that right? Here, if a King like me ignored the treaty, then more and more similar violators will appear. So without any other choice, that’s why came all the way to the frontline like Ikebukuro. To find one Red legion member, to make him pay for his comrade’s crimes, right? However... is this perhaps another trick of fate...?”

The Yellow King put his hands one his waist, and leaned forward as he continued with a cool yet obscene voice.

“That person, by chance to be the Red legion’s leader... «Scarlet Rain» herself.”

‘- No way it’s by chance!’

Haruyuki shouted inside as he ground his teeth.

The number of avatars around the crater’s edge is around 30. Even for a King’s legion, that should be about the upper limit number that can be moved in a week day evening. And that goal, can only be for hunting the strongest existence, a «King».

The Yellow King predicted Scarlet Rain - Niko would act this way. That for Niko’s personality, she would personally use «Judgement Blow» to purge her subordinate Cherry Rook for his crimes, and would appear in the Unlimited Neutral Field like this.

No, not only that. To force Niko into that situation, he wanted to legally hunt one of five heads that will make him a level 10 - for that goal, the Yellow King gave the enhanced armament «Chrome Disaster» to a Red legion member. He could only think of it like that. If that is the case, that means.

“...Two and half years ago, when the fourth was put down, at that time it was the Yellow King who hid the dropped «Armor»...”

Haruyuki unconsciously whispered. However there isn’t any proof. If he use that conjecture here, it would be a pointless argument.

Niko probably realized that as well, and while she remained silent, her fists shook violently.

Eventually she opened her hands, and let them dangle down. Her controlled flat voice flowed from the bottom of the crater.

“In the treaty, this should have also been written. «...Anyone can be selected for revenge, but if the legion master purge the criminal, causing him to lose all points then that won’t apply»... that guy, I will deal with Cherry Rook. Then you don’t have any complaint against that right.”

“Please do, please do.”

Opening both hands, the Yellow King, Yellow Radio say joyfully.

“If you can manage to do that! I heard a rumor on the wind... the other day, you tried exactly that, and you failed superbly... was it that you even suffered an unsightly time up lost? You are free to challenge him again, however... where is that certain person called Cherry Rook?”

As if on purpose, he moved his head covered by the huge hat left and right as a show.

“We don’t have much free time. For someone that you don’t know when he will appear, you don’t want us to wait here for days right? If you can’t deal with it right now... then we just have to use you to fill in right...?”

“Kuu...”

Niko growled in chagrin.

For Haruyuki’s group, with Niko’s long distance surveillance they found out when Cherry Rook was moving in the real side and accelerated, however there is a time lag before the actual person will appear in the Unlimited Neutral Field. Even with a few minutes of real time lag, in the 1000 time accelerated world, the difference at worse would be over one day. As the Yellow King said, capturing Cherry Rook right now is impossible.

After deciding, Haruyuki took a step forward, and whispered lightly behind Niko’s back.

“It’s useless, Niko. That guy set a trap to go after you from the beginning so he won’t let you escape... here, we should just leave for now. Log out, and wait for the next chance...”

“Can’t.”

The answer was instant and simple.

“That is not possible in the system way. In the Unlimited Neutral Field, instant log out is not possible.”

“Wha...”

In the speechless Haruyuki’s ears, the murmur from Tak.u.mu who moved forward reached him.

“That is the way it is, Haru. To exit this place, you have to go to Leap Points placed in various locations. Even if you «suicide», you can’t log out. You will just be revived in one hour at the place you died. Of course, if in the real world someone removed the Neuro Linker from your neck, that’s a different story... right now, at Haru’s home...”

There isn’t anyone. His mother is on a trip and will return tomorrow, and then three years would have pa.s.sed in this world.

Niko who glanced around, again quickly whispered.

“The closest Leap Point from here is either Ikebukuro station or Sunshine City. We cannot quickly reach either. Even if we aim for those, to break through the encirclement we have to fight at least once no matter what...”

There she momentarily stopped, and Niko’s ruby like eyes shone a sharp light.

“But, that Radio b.a.s.t.a.r.d also miscalculated.”

“Mis, miscalculate?”

“That’s right. That number of people, is for me... that is a number gathered to kill one King. However, right here, is not just one.”

There Haruyuki opened his eyes wide.

For the color circle that determine duel avatar’s affinity, Yellow is a color best at «Indirect Attack». It specialized in various forms of unpleasant weak point attacks, but its direct attack power is less than other colors. On the other hand, the Red King Niko is a demon of long range firepower, and for Black King Kuroyukihime, he had only seen her fight a few times, but her form is built for close range attacks.

If those two cover each other, even if the enemy is a King and 30 people, there might be a chance to win.

Thinking till there, Haruyuki was filled with a small feeling of strangeness.

Why did Kuroyukihime keep silent all that time? If it was the normal her, at the moment when the Yellow King appeared, she should be going after him with more force than Niko?

Haruyuki who turned around to look at his right side behind, saw - .

With both sword hands dangling down, and slumped like she was in fear of something, that deep black avatar shape.

“Se...”

Before he involuntarily called ‘Senpai’, the Yellow King’s crisp voice again echoed loudly.

“Unless Cherry appears, we will have you take responsibility right, Red King? ...Since that is the case...”

The slowly lifted up left hand long and small finger, pointed straight at the black spot on the bottom of the crater.

“The now starting fun fun carnival, you will watch without interfering right, Black King?”

After being hit with the extremely self-righteous speech, Kuroyukihime remained head down without a single reaction. After over five seconds have pa.s.sed, she finally lifted up her head, and pointed her right sword hand at the Yellow King.

“...Don’t mess with me, Radio.”

The speech that leaked out of the mask was in attack mode, however the sound was not fierce like usual. To the opponent, or more like to herself, Kuroyukihime continued to spit out words.

“That formation, even you would not think it can stop two Kings. I... if you think I would just watch silently, that is a huge mistake.”

“Oh? Does that mean you will fight? You will turn that blood soak blade on me as well? I went to the trouble of giving you a side seat to watch, do you actually want to make it difficult on yourself...?”

As Kuroyukihime pointed out, that was not an absolute advantageous situation, but the Yellow King still showed a ‘Kukuku’ laughter from deep in his throat.

“...To be honest, that you would come to the Unlimited Field today with Scarlet Rain, even I did not expect that. But... this level of irregularity will not stop my legion «Crypt Cosmic Circus»’s fun carnival. I have waited a long, long time for the day to meet you like this, Lotus. To give you this small present that had been sitting in my pocket for a long time!”

With a showy gesture the Yellow King extended his fingers, and Haruyuki saw something rectangular that flashed. About the same size as a playing card, but he could not see the design.

The clown avatar skillfully spun the card on his finger, then snapped it.

From the sunlight shining down between the clouds, that card danced in the air with a sparkle for tens of meters, then stuck into the ground silently a little away from Haruyuki’s group.

He did not think it was an attack object. As Haruyuki looked on while dumbfounded, from the surface of the card, a sideways triangle, floated up, and lightly lit up. At that moment, Niko beside him lightly whispered.

“It’s a Replay File.”

Right after, the card’s surface shone brightly, and an inverted cone shape light was released directly above it.

Many noise like lines appeared in the air, and was soon turned into a picture. The half transparent 3D image, was a duel avatar that he had not seen before.

Red. The form was orthodox humanoid, well balanced armor on different parts, shone a pure red that could not be more than that. Different from Scarlet Rain’s many colored flame red - to say it in words, it’s color of pa.s.sion.

Again, Niko’s raspy voice leaked out.

“Previous generation... «Red Rider».”

Kuroyukihime backed off a step, and said in a moan.

“Stop... stop it!”

It was at that time that the 3D image suddenly started to move.

The pure red avatar appearing large in the air, leaned forward with its right hand held in a fist, and left hand spread open to the side. In Haruyuki’s ears, a pleasant sounding crisp boy’s voice loudly flowed.

“This... this worthless goal, had we been fighting till now for it!? Hating each other, fighting each other, killing each other... to see that ending, for years, for thousands of «duels» again and again!? No, even if that is Brain Burst developer’s written scenario... we are not NPC controlled by game masters! This game’s main character, is us! Isn’t that right, Lotus!”

The scene was pulled back, at the time the red avatar became smaller, another avatar sitting directly in front was framed in. A deep black avatar with four long large blades, it was Black Lotus.

To the head lowered Black King, the first generation Red King continued to gesture wildly and speak fiercely.

“We did control our legions and continued to fight till now. But that, is not because we are enemies! It’s because we are rivals right!? I... like your style of fighting, Lotus. If someday we meet in the real world, I want to become your friend. Absolutely will. No, I want to! That is why I don’t want to fight you with sudden death! You are probably the same!”

At that moment, a little bit sharp girl’s voice echoed.

“Wait Rider, I can’t just ignore what I heard!”

Then the red avatar turned left as if in a panic, and raised one hand.

“N, no, that’s not it. I don’t mean it like that... now I am done for.”

On top of that voice, were many sounds of laughter.

Black Lotus who was head down in the scene, suddenly relaxed her shoulders. She raised her head, and with calm voice - .

“Yea... That’s right. It’s like you said, Rider. I like you too. Of course, in a respect kind of way.”

She quickly stood up, moved forward one step, and the Black King extended her right sword hand towards the Red King.

“I thought you would understand, Lotus!”

After shouting that joyfully, the Red King was about to extended his right hand to shake hands, but stopped while a bit lost. Then the Black King shrugged her shoulder, and said with a bit of laughter.

“Oops, sorry about this. Then... let’s do this.”

After saying that, she stepped close to the Red King, and made a gesture to hug around his neck. The Red King, after scratching his face like he was embarra.s.sed, put his hands around Black Lotus’ waist. Again from outside the scene, the girl earlier shouted.

“Wait wait!”

“Don’t be mad, it’s in exchange of handshakes only.”

The Red King said in an anxious voice for excuse, and again multiple laughter echoed -

At that moment.

Inside Black Lotus’ deep black goggle, two eyes lit up with ice like blue white light.

Her two sword hands crossed behind the Red King’s neck gave off a strong violet shine.

“«Death By Embracing».”

A special attack skill was quietly voiced, the two crossed swords, moved in a cutting way just like a huge scissor.

Red Rider’s body completely lost strength, and collapsed down near Black Lotus’ feet like a broken doll. However just his head, remained on the Black King’s crossed arms.

From the cut on the head, large amount of bright red sparks dripped down, and Black Lotus turned her face away.

The high density silence, was broken apart by a high pitched scream.

“N... nooooooo!!”

The replay ended there, the shape of Black Lotus who stood there while holding her rival’s head, was melting away and erased by noise lines again.

However the small scream did not stop and continued to ring in Haruyuki’s ears. That, was from the throat of Kuroyukihime who stood right beside him, he finally realized.

“Stop... stop, stop it...!”

“Se... sen, pa...”

Haruyuki who called out on reaction, noticed that his voice was violently shaking and stopped his breath. Kuroyukihime looked slightly at Haruyuki, and soon turned her face away, shaking her head left and right many times.

“Haruyuki-kun... I am... I, am...”

What was ahead did not become words.

Suddenly, the two eyes in Kuroyukihime’s face plate goggle that was shining blue violet light, with a small line of light going left and right, then abruptly disappeared. At the same time, like a robot with its power cut, all the strength went out of the deep black avatar body - .

With a dry sound, the Black King’s body fell down to the blue black crater bottom.

“Senpai... senpai?”

Not understanding what’s going on, Haruyuki called with his shaky voice as he knelt down and shook the delicate avatar. However Kuroyukihime did not show any kind of reaction at all.

“...«Zero File»...! Lotus, you... that much...”

Behind him, Niko whispered quietly.

Not understanding what she meant, Haruyuki was going to turn around, but went still on hearing the loud laughter from up high.

“Kukuku... Fufufu, Kufufuhahahahahaha!!”

The owner of the roaring laughter, was the Yellow King, Yellow Radio looking down from high above.

“Kufufufufu... as I thought. You are still tied to that betrayal. You going with expectation to become Zero state is on the other hand disappointing... you should have quietly stayed hidden in a small cellar, with that level of resolution, I am surprised you said that big talk about aiming for level 10, Black Lotus!”

“Y... you b.a.s.t.a.r.d...”

That murmur leaked out of Haruyuki’s throat with a rasp.

Right after, changing to a whip like sharp sound, the Yellow King’s voice echoed throughout the crater.

“Well then, my carnival’s final program, let us enjoy it! - Ready attacks! Target, Scarlet Rain! The small fries who try to interfere, crush them ruthlessly!!”

“s.h.i.t.”

With that poisonous word, Niko’s delicate avatar spread both arms wide.

“Come, Enhanced Arm...”

However, Tak.u.mu’s quickly extended hand held Niko’s shoulder.

“You can’t, Red King! If you expand your armament, then you will lose mobility and won’t be able to escape! It’s not possible to go against that number of people even with a King, forget Chrome Disaster’s subjugation for now, break through the encirclement from behind and retreat to Sunshine City’s Leap Point is what we should do!”

The small slits lined up under the mask, this time those blue white shining eyes turned towards Haruyuki.

“Haru, I will leave master to you! I will become a wall, so no matter what you do, bring her to the City!”

“B, but... then, you will...”

“I am fine! Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, if they bring down the Red King, they will definitely go after master! I will not allow that!”

To the dignified yet somehow forcing himself tense voice, Haruyuki could do nothing else but nod.

“I... I understand, leaving it to you!”

While shouting, Haruyuki held up Kuroyukihime’s lax body with his left arm.

Right after - .

“Attack, Start!!”

The Yellow King moved his highly raised right hand down all at once.