succeeds in shooting down the artificial satellite.But-------there is one person. Still escaped from underground, there is only one person that might still be left on the surface.
When s.h.i.+dou stopped at the front entrance, the sound of a rhythm started to echo from his cell phone again. After he pressed the call b.u.t.ton, he could hear Kotori’s voice which has irritation mixed in.
“Hey, what are you doing s.h.i.+dou. I told you there is no time………….”
“Kotori”
Kotori said it in impatience, and then stopped. Maybe she felt something was up with s.h.i.+dou, Kotori continued her words in doubt.
“What is it, what happened?”
“Aah. There is something I want to ask you to do…………could you retrieve Tohka and the rest first?”
“Huh? Why again.-------aah, are you perhaps referring to take everyone else to a safer place first before me? You don’t really have to worry about that, since we will properly retrieve everyone”
“No………there is still something on the surface I have to do no matter what”
When s.h.i.+dou said that, Kotori [Haaa!?] echoed a voice filled with anger.
“I told you this is an emergency, didn’t you get the message!? I don’t know what you have to do but, its not worth risking your life for! First and foremost-----“
“It’s Natsumi”
“……..uh”
Kotori gasped at s.h.i.+dou’s words.
“You all still haven’t find Natsumi right………….?”
Yes. It would be a big problem if she is still on the surface.
A normal person would run to the shelter when the s.p.a.cequake alarm rings. That is only normal. But for Natsumi who is a spirit, he has no idea whether or not she would obey that alarm. Natsumi was locked up in the underground facility in the first place, so he doesn"t think that Natsumi would want to go back into the shelter once again, with her own will because it"s underground.
“That’s…………but, even Natsumi isn’t stupid! Even if she does not enter the shelter, there is a possibility that she has already run far away---------and even if the blast and fragments of the artificial satellite falls down, she is a spirit you know!? She can protect herself from something like that!”
“That might be the case. But………….Natsumi’s wounds she got from Ellen should not be healed completely yet. There might be chance”
“……………………uh”
Kotori groaned softly before, falling silent. As If he was making a supplication, s.h.i.+dou let out his voice to Kotori who was on the other side of the phone.
“I beg you…………………Can you let me search for Natsumi until the last minute? It might be running with no reason. No………………that possibility is probably high. But, as long as Natsumi is being exposed to danger, I can’t just………………keep quiet”
When s.h.i.+dou said that while clenching his fist, Kotori continued being silent for a while before-----
“……………..haaa”
Like that, she made a sigh as if she given up.
“…………….I understand. Rather, you won’t listen anymore even if I say anything”
“Kotori…….!”
“However, the time limit is until we finish preparing our intercept attack. I won’t allow any longer than that. Also, you have to put on your Incam so we can contact you anytime”
“Aah, I get it”
“Then, hurry up and go. We will try to use the remaining automatic cameras to find Natsumi’s whereabouts too. Well, it’ll be a problem if you expect something though”
“Roger…………! Kotori!”
“What”
“Thanks”
When s.h.i.+dou said that, Kotori *fuun* snorted through the phone.
“…………..That is my line. I panicked and lost sight of something important. I am counting on you, s.h.i.+dou”
After s.h.i.+dou tilted his head forward, he put the chupa chups that fell in the corridor into his pocket and went outside the house.
Maybe the evacuation of the residence in the neighbourhood was almost done; almost no sight of anyone could be seen on the road. The only thing left was a hint of the presence of many people just a little while ago; it was such a miraculous silence. s.h.i.+dou has walked in the city with no one in it many times to have a conversation with the spirits but, no matter how many times he experience this, as expected he could not bring himself to like this kind of weird feeling.
But, now was not the time to be making wry smiles. s.h.i.+dou ran on the street while taking deep breaths, he then raise his voice as if to make an echo in the surroundings.
“--------Natsumi!!!”
s.h.i.+dou’s voice echoed throughout the unnaturally quiet residential area of the city. But of course-------there was no reply.
However, that was within his predictions. s.h.i.+dou did not bother about that and continued shaking his throat.
“If you are nearby, listen to me! From now, countless artificial satellite fragments will fall around this whole area! It’s dangerous to stay on the surface! You have to hurry up and evacuate! That’s why, even if it is just for a little time! Please come with me! We won’t lock you inside a room! Once everything ends, you can go anywhere you like! That’s why!”
s.h.i.+dou’s shout echoed in the city street of the residential area, and vanished nearby. There was no reply as expected.
But, s.h.i.+dou did not think this was a useless action.
He has no idea where Natsumi is. Just like Kotori said, she might already run away to another place, or she might have mixed in with the residents and went underground already.
However, if she is still up on the surface---------and what’s more if she is in Tenguu city then, he stumbled upon a possibility that in order to have revenge for being confined underground, she might be examining s.h.i.+dou while hiding somewhere.
Betting on that small possibility, he continued shouting.
“I don’t mind if you don’t have to like me! Please hide in the shelter with the citizens or run away to another city as fast as possible! Worst comes to worst------you can run to the other world! Anyway, it’s dangerous to stay in this city! I beg you! Get away from here!”
Shouting while running has forced a huge burden on his lungs. Even though he did not advance that far off, his lungs hurt and it was hard for him to breath.
But, s.h.i.+dou did not stop his legs. Maybe, Natsumi wasn’t hiding around these parts.
In order for s.h.i.+dou’s voice to reach Natsumi, he once again took a deep breath.
Part 3“------Natsumi! I beg you! Reply back if you can hear me!”
s.h.i.+dou was shouting for the unknown number of time while running in the empty city.
“…………………”
Natsumi silently heard that voice.
Mostly likely, s.h.i.+dou still thinks that the escapee Natsumi is still nearby and what’s more in a place which she can observe him.---------actually, that thought is correct.
“Natsumi! Natsumi! Are you here!? Natsumi!”
s.h.i.+dou’s imploring voice echoed in the city.
His voice was dried out and his breathing was faint. He looked very pathetic.
However, s.h.i.+dou did not stop shouting. When he tripped over a stone, he would immediately stand up afterwards and would start shouting Natsumi’s name over and over again.
---Why would you go that far.
Just moments before Natsumi was about to spill those words, she stopped.
It’s not like she thought s.h.i.+dou would find out her position if she let out her voice. It’s just simply; she knew the answer without even letting out those words.
---why?
It’s obviously to save Natsumi.
Fragments of an artificial satellite will fall in this area. What s.h.i.+dou was saying was most likely the truth. Looking at the residence in the surroundings evacuating, there is no mistake there is some kind of disaster predicted.
Of course if that is the case then, it is possible to think that the organization backing s.h.i.+dou and the rest, rang the alarm to draw Natsumi out but------listening to the slight sounds coming from s.h.i.+dou and Kotori phone just now, that possibility is denied.
s.h.i.+dou did not consider about the danger towards him and with a reason of, Natsumi might still be left behind; he remained alone in a city with no one in it.
“Uu………….”
When she thought about that, a weird feeling once again expanded inside Natsumi’s chest.
It was fluffy, whirly, and irregular, and it felt disgusting.
---The first time Natsumi came over to this world silently. No one in this world would look at Natsumi.
Natsumi hated that very much. She wanted to be talked to; she wanted to be bothered and wished to be acknowledged by someone. That’s why------she used ’s power to remake her own appearance.When Natsumi transformed into a beautiful one-san, everyone became gentle to her. Everyone would fawn over Natsumi and would listen to her words. But-------no matter how many times it repeated, Natsumi’s heart was not satisfied.
In the end, no one would look at Natsumi. In the end, no one would acknowledge Natsumi. That feeling only gets stronger, the more she gets pampered.
But right now, the one s.h.i.+dou was looking for was the [Real Natsumi] that no one acknowledged.
---He tried to find the Natsumi who was ignored by everyone.
“……………”
Events that occurred one after another floated in her head.
The fact s.h.i.+dou protected her when Ellen attacked her.
The fact everyone transformed Natsumi.
The fact he made me think I was cute.
---And the fact he acknowledged someone like me.
“………….don’t tell me, I”
She didn’t have to think about it anymore.
Natsumi-----does not want s.h.i.+dou to die.
Without her noticing, she didn’t really bother anymore about the fact that he saw her secret. More importantly, she was very happy that someone would look properly at her real self.
“------Natsumi!”
“………….., …………….”
At that moment her name was just called, and she almost let out her voice in an instant.
She did not really mind if her voice comes out. If that happens, s.h.i.+dou will definitely find Natsumi. It would be better if they both ran to a safer place.
However, now that Natsumi is aware of that, she has no idea what she should do with the new emotions she now holds.
“I-it will be alright………alright”
She mumbled that in a soft voice so that she won’t be detected by s.h.i.+dou.
Even s.h.i.+dou would evacuate once the fragments are going to fall. Worst case, there is no mistake that the organization behind him will do something about it like when they saved Natsumi.
Natsumi chanted [It’s going to be alright, It’s going to be alright] in her heart as if to let herself hear it while, praying for s.h.i.+dou to give up looking for Natsumi as fast as possible and evacuate to a safer place.
Part 4“Coming from the D3 underground facility, Tohka-chan and the rest have been retrieved!”
“Retrieval of the 13 accompanying organization members is complete!”
“The wall of the facility is closed with the remote control!”
After swallowing s.h.i.+dou’s suggestion, it has been almost 20 minutes since sending him out to the empty city. Kotori opened her lips after confirming the report of the crew echoing in the bridge.
“Okay------How about s.h.i.+dou’s current position?”
“Yes, s.h.i.+dou-kun is currently running towards the northern main street at the 3rd district. It seems he is heading towards the school”
“How about Natsumi from the automatic camera?”
“Sadly, we have not found her”
“I see”
Kotori made a short reply. She did not think it would be that easy to find Natsumi who holds the power of transformation in the first place.
And,
“! Commander! The artificial satellite has started falling!”
Normally, when an artificial satellite falls, it would gradually fall off orbit and while turning around the earth’s surroundings, it would slowly lower its alt.i.tude from the influence of the gravity and atmosphere before burning up when it breaks through the great atmosphere.
But in the icon shown in the monitor, coming from the satellite orbit, it was falling straight towards earth as if there was something pulling it in a vertical line.------it’s was clearly abnormal.
“------It’s here huh”
After Kotori licked her lips, she brought forward her hand and made an order to the crew.
“Calculate the fall prediction point immediately! Parallel activate the Ar-008, and machine no.3 to no.5, also please make it so that could be fired! After we retrieve s.h.i.+dou, we will then move to the interception point and destroy the target!”Normally, pin pointing the falling point of the artificial satellite precisely is very difficult. But, if they use the calculative power of the AI installed in the then it is possible to calculate the falling point with a few kilometers error.“Roger! Ar-008, no.3, no.4, no.5, has started generating Maryoku!”
“The predicted point of the fall is out! It is aim precisely at the vicinity of east Tenguu in the Tenguu city!”
After she heard Mikimoto’s report, Kotori clicked her tongue.
“Tsk, s.h.i.+dou’s position is unexpectedly near”
The only time when they are able to use the teleporter device, is when the target is right underneath without any obstructions. Which means; they must move directly on top of that target if they want to retrieve someone on the ground.But nonetheless, as long as there is a fear of the explosion arts activating at the same time with the interception, it’s not a good plan for the to be too close to the target. After retrieving s.h.i.+dou at the area near the impact predicted point, there came the need to take distance once again to prepare for interception.“What’s the limit of the time after we move to s.h.i.+dou’s retrieval point?”
“Estimated to be…………5 minutes 30 seconds!”
“It’s a little off, thinking its preparations for an interception attack. Please pick up the pace”
“Roger!”
At the same time with Kawagoe’s reply, the bridge was wrapped with a low tone motoring sound------- that was remaining still in the air started moving.After recognizing that, she made more orders.
“Connect a line to s.h.i.+dou”
“Roger”
Nakatsugawa operated the console. And then, at the edge of the monitor, s.h.i.+dou who was running around the city while finding Natsumi was shown out.
She pulled the mike closer to her mouth and sends her voice to s.h.i.+dou’s Incam.
“s.h.i.+dou, can you hear me?”
s.h.i.+dou in the screen then made a small reaction and stopped his legs.
“……….a-ahh………I can, hear you………..”
Pressing the incam with his fingers, s.h.i.+dou replied back while breathing heavily. His voice was raspy just like when someone gets a cold. It seems he has been running the whole time while continuously calling out to Natsumi.
She hesitated to say the next word when she looked at s.h.i.+dou like that. But, she could not allow him to keep on looking for Natsumi. She swing her head a little to regain her composure before letting out her voice at the mike.
“Sadly, it is time limit. We will head there to pick you up so, don’t move from that spot”
“Wha……………Time……….already…….!? I beg you, a little more-----“
“No. you promised”
“Bu-but”
s.h.i.+dou implored back. Kotori *crack* bit her chupa chups.
“Don’t make me say it again……………..inside the lives you want to protect, please properly add yours in it too”
When Kotori said that, s.h.i.+dou kept quiet for a while before making a soft sigh.
“………………, …………….I understand. Sorry, for being so selfish”
“Not really. I am used to it”
After Kotori fluttered her hands while saying that, she then looked back at the monitor.
At that moment when she did that, the buzzer that announces an emergency started echoing from the speaker installed in the bridge.
“Uh, what happened!?”
“Thi-this is………….The falling speed of the artificial satellite is suddenly rising!”
“What did you say……………!?”
The same time with Kotori raising her eyebrows, the fore said artificial satellite was showed out in the monitor. It"s square frame type with solar panels attached to both its sides. In a fas.h.i.+on of cramping the upper part, there was some kind of unshapely round object clinging onto it. It seems one part of it was serving as a thruster. It is clearly not a normal artificial satellite.
“Kuh……what’s that……….!?”
Kotori opened her eyes wide and let sweat flow down her cheeks. It seems they seriously went that far to cause huge damage when it falls. Or maybe-----they foresaw that was in the Tenguu city, and was cautious of an interception.No matter which one is correct, there is no mistake that this situation is something not good for Kotori and the group. She hit the commander seats handrail while standing up and bounced her voice at the lower bridge.
“Hurry with the correction of the predicted arrival time! What’s the time!?”
“………., …………….., the predictions are out! Jud-judging by these values, we won’t make it if don’t enter interception now!”
“Kuh……………!”
Kotori distorted her face painfully. But, she immediately immersed herself in thoughts and
“……….s.h.i.+dou, sorry but there’s a problem with the plan”
“Eh?”
“We cannot go pick you up anymore. ------but, if we intercept the artificial satellite, there should be no damage done underground. Please hurry to evacuate to the a nearby shelter”
“------, aah, I get it. Don’t worry about me. -----I am counting on you”
He probably guessed the situation from Kotori’s voice. s.h.i.+dou did not ask anything extra and said that. Kotori restrained her trembling voice while [Yes] making a nod before cutting the transmission.
“Co-commander………….”
“………There is no problem. More importantly, please hurry with the preparations for interception.-------we have to accurately shoot it down”
“Ro-roger!”
The crew shouted and operated their consoles. changed its course and headed towards the interception point.“………kuh”
Kotori grinded her teeth and clenched her fist.
Kotori’s decision was supposed to be right. If they prioritize retrieving s.h.i.+dou there, it will make it impossible to intercept for and in result, many people will lose their lives. But-------“----commander!”
And after some time of thinking, s.h.i.+zaki’s voice shook Kotori’s eardrum.
“We reached the interception point!”
“The target will pa.s.s the prescribed point in 30 seconds!”
“Ar-008 has finished loading the Maryoku! We can go anytime!”
The voices of the crew echoed in the bridge. Kotori swung her head to throw off any unnecessary idle thoughts before, staring straight at the monitor.
And as if to match with the countdown displayed in the corner of the screen, she followed the numbers by counting in her heart too and when the target fell into the screen perfectly------she raised her voice.
“-------! Fire!”At the same time with Kotori’s shout, a strong torrent of Maryoku was shot out from the cannon.The giant cl.u.s.ter of Maryoku released from the giant Realizer installed inside the airs.h.i.+p headed towards the target shown in the middle of the screen and swallowed it up.
It was in a perfect timing. There were even some in the crew that made a guts pose even though they haven’t checked it was shot down or not.
But-------
“Wha……….!?”
In the next moment, Kotori made an unbelievable face while raising a dismayed voice.
However that was only natural. The moment the convergence Maryoku cannon reached straight at the artificial satellite, it distorted and only pierced one side of the solar panel and thrusters before disappearing into the sky.
Although the artificial satellite loses its balance because it flicked away the maryoku cannon-------it then continued falling down as if it was pulled down by gravity like that.
“Wha-what was that………!”
“It is most likely, a Territory……..”
Kannazuki standing beside the commander seat was the one who answered Kotori’s shout. He placed his hands on his chin and *Fuumu* groaned. “Territory you say……..!?”
Kotori shouted and-------at that moment, she found a weird point inside the artificial satellite inside the image.
The round object that got pierced through by the .Inside it, a familiar looking face peeped out.
“That’s………………..!?”Yes. The DEM’s mechanical doll . More specifically, it was a unit quite similar to it. It was able to use the Realizer without the a.s.sist of a Wizard, and thus is able to deploy the Territory; it was the DEM’s unmanned weapon.That was completely docked onto the artificial satellite.
“Impossible-----they had such a method……..!”
Looking at that, Kotori understood the outline of this artificial satellite in an instant.
Most probably the DEM Company launched the custom type from the ground and made it dock with the artificial satellite which was planned to be disposed of.Even though it is an artificial satellite cruising with crazy speed, it is possible to seize it if it is a unit with a Realizer installed.
And having the attached on it would mean------it is possible to attach a Territory onto the artificial satellite.“I see…………….That’s the reason why the artificial satellite is not damaged even a little when it breaks through the atmosphere…………!”
After Kotori clicked her tongue in detest, she heard the sound of Reine fiddling the console.
“………This is not a good situation. If an artificial satellite with this size crashes down while maintaining that ma.s.s, the high-rank explosion arts owned by DEM, and what’s more all of that would be amplified by the Territory made by the …………..”*Kaa* the sound of a key was produced and a number was shown on the screen.
“…………..I don’t know the exact numbers so, it would just approximate but…..most likely, it would be equal to a tactical nuke”
“……………………!!”
Hearing those words, Kotori gasped.
She planned to expect the worst case scenario but------in reality, it crossed her a.s.sumptions by a lot. If something like that falls, the Tenguu city would wholly turn into scorched earth.
And inside them, Kannazuki was the only one making a difficult face while stroking his chin.
“-----it’s weird”
“What is”
“No, it is unthinkable that the Territory generated by the Realizer from the installed would deflect ”“Then what is……no, anyways, striking it down now is our first priority! Reload the Maryoku! We have to do it before the artificial satellite reaches the ground------Kyaaa!?”
In an instant, the frame shook intensely and Kotori cut her voice.“What happened!?”
“It’s a bombardment! The Realizer has reduced by 15 percent!”
“A bombardment………..?”
“The image is out!”
At the same time with Minowa’s voice, the image of the sky was shown out in the monitor. Wondering when it appeared, an airs.h.i.+p bigger than was floating there. Even though it was organized in a straight line, it has a frame which makes them think it was somewhat coordinated. DEM’s common, eerie weapons could be seen on it.“That’s----the DEM’s”
“Kuh…………..so that’s the reason why our cannon attack was averted”
Kotori clenched her teeth in regret. Most likely, they predicted that the artificial satellite would be intercepted by them.
They don’t know the details of the enemy s.h.i.+p’s performance but-------it’s true that it was powerful enough to generate a spontaneous point with the Territory to avert the . They could not shoot down the artificial satellite unless they do something about that enemy s.h.i.+p. On the other hand, if they do that, the artificial satellite will fall to the ground.“Commander……..!”
That result was probably easy to predict. The crew made horrified face while raising their face.
However. After Kotori made a sigh in a very calm manner, she once again sat back at the commander seat.
“Kannazuki, I will leave this to you.-----we will use the ”When Kotori said that, everyone twitched their eyebrows.
“…………are you alright with that, Kotori”
“Yes. It’s not like I am going to shoot it in my full form. And I can’t take away s.h.i.+dou’s regenerative abilities now”
After Kotori answered Reine with that, she then brought her sights towards Kannazuki.
“Don’t miss this, Kannazuki”
“Leave it to me”
Kannazuki said that while standing straight. After Kotori nodded in satisfaction, she then placed the palm of her hand on the verification device attached to the side of the console.
When she did that, the commander seat Kotori was seating, slide back downwards as if it was being sucked to the ground.
And after a few seconds, Kotori who was sitting in the chair came out in an open area.
It was a round shaped s.p.a.ce with a radius of 3 meters. Since the outside condition could be projected on the smooth curved wall in real time, she felt a delusion as if she was floating in the air.
But, Kotori does not have the leisure of enjoying a walk in the pleasant air now. After Kotori jumped off the commander seat, she stood in the middle of the circle and made thin exhales while calming her heart.
“Well then, let us begin.-----My war”
Inside the cage of her consciousness, she felt the reeling in of a thin thread.
She imaged a scorching hot fire covering her body.
Not long later, that imagination turned into reality and when Kotori thought a swirl of fire was covering her surroundings, it turned into the shape of a magical raiment. And after that, the fire crawled up to Kotori’s hair and-----horns of an oni[9E 1] appeared on the side of her head.
--Astral Dress. The absolute armor covering the Spirit.
There was once a time when, Kotori’s reiryoku was sealed by s.h.i.+dou but, thanks to her controlling her own mental state, it became possible to reverse the reiryoku from s.h.i.+dou spontaneously.
Nonetheless, if she brings out 100 percent of her power then, there is a danger of her consciousness being eaten by that power. By ensuring her reiryoku to a certain level, she would close the pa.s.s deliberately and maintain a limit release astral dress.
“”After Kotori quietly said that, the flames concentrated in Kotori’s hand and it turned into a giant battle-axe.
At that moment, an explosion echoed and the s.h.i.+p shook a little.
It was most likely because they received an attack from the foresaid enemy s.h.i.+p. It seems the protective territory was defending right now but, if more time was wasted, then would get damaged before the artificial satellite falls. Kotori hanged while releasing her voice.“----[Megido]!”
When she did that, the cylindrical shape of changed and was equipped on Kotori’s arm perfectly. The appearance was like-----a giant cannon. The giant cannon that did not look suitable on Kotori’s small body, was equipped onto Kotori’s right hand.And at the same time, a giant connector like equipment descended in front of her. When Kotori then touched it with ’s tip, a small electronic sound was produced and was linked towards the connector tightly.“Let’s do this, Kannazuki”
“Yes, anytime as you wish”
When Kotori said that, she could hear Kannazuki’s voice from the speaker.
After acknowledging that, Kotori concentrated her mind and gathered her reiryoku in the Angel.
Yes. If it was able to flick off the convergence Maryoku cannon then, there was only one method left.The Spirit Reiryoku cannon .Just like its name, she would convert the power of the Spirit and release a amplified mortality attack; it is ’s strongest weapon.---in the surrounding of her body,
“Now! Spirit Reiryoku cannon !”“Fire!!”
At the same time with Kannazuki’s voice echoing from the speaker, the Spirit cannon fired from the giant cannon located in the center of .That was. It was something that could no longer be called a laser cannon or beam anymore.
Suffice to say-------a pillar.
The giant light pillar made up of thick reiryoku, extended out to the artificial satellite from like a straight line connecting.If it was pierced with this cl.u.s.ter of reiryoku then, just what would happen to the target.
Immediately, that peerless ill.u.s.tration got shown.
The instant the cannon hit its target, the artificial satellite once again averted its course and had the Territory deployed on its surroundings.
But, after the attack slaughtered that in an instant--------the artificial satellite that was falling to Tenguu city got annihilated without leaving any shadow or shapes left.The explosion art. Countless fragments. All those predicted damages, got evaporated without a trance with that simple ultra-high output attack.
“-----Target, destroyed! It’s a success!”
The crew’s voice echoed through the speaker. After hearing that, Kotori fell to her knees on the spot.
“Haa…………haa……………”
A light headache and drowsiness attacked Kotori. Although it was a part, maybe because she used her spirit powers, a mysterious destructive impulse started licking Kotori’s heart as if it was scorching it.
This was the reason why they could not frequently use which holds absolute power. By any chance, Kotori’s consciousness got eaten by that destructive impulse then, Kotori would become a threat to . Because of that, they could only fire the main cannon during really critical moments.Kotori took a deep breath while erasing her angel and released her Astral dress. She then sat on the ground like that.
She then let out her voice to call out to the crew in the bridge.
“Good work. But we still can’t rest. We have to do something about the enemy s.h.i.+p-----“
But, at that moment.
As if to interrupt Kotori’s voice, a very loud emergency rang and echoed.
“…………., what happened! Did the enemy s.h.i.+p do something!?”
“N-no! it’s not! Thi-this is------“
At the same time the crew’s words, the radar image got shown on a part of the wall showing the sky’s scenery.
Looking at that readings shown on it------she gasped.
“Wha………….this is------another artificial satellite………..!?”
Yes. A reading similar to the one’s that got annihilated has appeared on ’s higher air again.“Impossible-------are you saying the last one was a decoy…….!?”
Kotori distorted her face in detest.
Most likely the enemy prepared several artificial satellites in the beginning as they saw through the fact that they had an airs.h.i.+p and they had a method to shoot down the artificial satellite. Kotori clenched her teeth before placing her hand on her knee and putting strength in it to stand up on the spot.
“Bring it on…………! One more time……….!”
“…………no, you can’t, Kotori. Continous would bring big burden to you and ”Just when Kotori hung her hand up to manifest her angel again, Reine said that softly.
In an instant, another sound of an explosion echoed and the s.h.i.+p shook harder compared to just now.
“Kuh…………..!”
The attacks from the enemy s.h.i.+p probably increased. It was dangerous to stay defensive. Either they have to switch to retaliation or took evasive maneuvers.
It was the worst thinkable situation. Even now when the 2nd artificial satellite was falling towards the ground, they could not shoot the and they are unable to shoot down that s.h.i.+p’s territory with ’s output. No, even before that, if they were to concentrate their attacks onto the artificial satellite then, the would sink before that.“Just what should we------“
When Kotori was lost in her decisions for a few moments, she could hear the door of the bridge opening from the speaker.
“Mu…………….Wha-what is happening”
After confirming securing them just now, Tohka and the girls were the ones that entered the bridge. Maybe she saw the noisy bridge, the enemy s.h.i.+p shown n the screen and also the image of the 2nd artificial satellite continuing its fall; she echoed her voice in surprise.
“Ah-Ahnoo……..what is this……….”
“Uhhaa. Don’t you feel we are in a pinch?”
“Kuku………..how miserable. To think you would panic with something like this”
“Agree. You all should be calmer”
“Ah-re? Is that the artificial satellite we were told just now on the screen? Somehow……….it feels like it’s still falling though……….”
Following after Tohka, the next that entered the bridge were, Yos.h.i.+no, [Yos.h.i.+non], Kaguya, Yuzuru, and Miku; all of them said that.
“Yo-you girls……….!”
After Kotori opened her eyes wide and answered back, Tohka replied in wonder.
“Kotori? Where are you? I don’t see s.h.i.+dou but, what is……….”
Kotori gasped unintentionally at Tohka’s question.
Maybe she felt something from that Kotori manner, Tohka made her expression a little stern.
“-----Kotori, what’s wrong. Please tell me. Is there something we can help?”
“…………”
Kotori silently clenched her teeth. The Spirits are targets to be protected. Even if there is a mistake, they should not send them to the dangerous surface.
But-----s.h.i.+dou is on the ground.
If they find out that the artificial satellite is still falling then, s.h.i.+dou, that kind brother would without a mistake oppose it.
Commander and sister.
Each position"s intentions fought each other------ Kotori opened her lips half unconscious.
“Please……….everyone. That stupid………..my only Onii-chan…….save him…………!”
Part 5“Time limit……………huh”
After the transmission from Kotori got cut, s.h.i.+dou looked downwards and clenched his fist.
In an instant, he was about to ignore Kotori’s evacuation advice and the thought of resuming to find Natsumi scratched his mind. Even if he gets heavily injured by the poured down artificial satellite fragments and blast, if it is s.h.i.+dou who has Kotori’s protection then, he would not die straight away and would probably resurrect back.
But, when he thought about that, Kotori’s words revived in his mind.
(------inside the lives you want to protect, please properly add yours in it too)
“That’s right……sorry, Kotori”
s.h.i.+dou said that as if he re-thinks back, and raised his face.
He has been shouting while running around for this much. If Natsumi is observing s.h.i.+dou then, she would probably run away after realizing the restless situation. He could only pray for that.
s.h.i.+dou crawled his sights and, looked for the public shelter nearby. During the time when the s.p.a.cequake alarm is announced, the electric signs and electric noticeboard would show the path to the nearest shelter.
After s.h.i.+dou confirmed the direction to the nearest underground shelter, he once again raised a shout to his surroundings.
“---Natsumi! I will now evacuate to the underground shelter! If you don’t know where the shelter is, then follow me!”
A reply……..there was none, like he thought.
“Okay!?”
s.h.i.+dou prayed that his voice would reach Natsumi and ran towards to the shelter.
Since he ran around to find Natsumi, it was hard for him to breath, and his legs were in dull pain. But he could not stop. He does not know how much time he has left. If Kotori and the group were to destroy the artificial satellite then, an explosion would probably occur. Before that happens, he has to run inside the shelter------and if Natsumi was hiding herself while following s.h.i.+dou then, Natsumi would probably be dragged into this too.
He appealed to his body which wants to stop and somehow manage to reach a nearby shelter.
Since quite some time has pa.s.sed since the alarm was announced, the main entrance has already closed down. But, basically these types of public shelter would make an emergency entrance for late runners like s.h.i.+dou. He moved towards that.
“Fuu…….made it”
Having reached the emergency entrance, s.h.i.+dou made a small sigh before looking behind.
“Natsumi! it’s over here! It’s okay to hide yourself! Before the fragments fall------“
He then raised his chin for his voice to get through, before leaving a last appeal.
But.
“Eh……….?”
s.h.i.+dou stopped his body there.
The reason was simple. When he raised his face, he saw some kind of small shadow coming from the rift of the clouds.
“That’s-----“
s.h.i.+dou opened his eyes wide in surprise for an instant but, he immediately noticed its ident.i.ty.-----It was the artificial satellite Kotori told him about.
“Oi, You’re joking right………?”
s.h.i.+dou squeezed out his trembling voice from his throat.
That was only normal. That’s because, instead of thin fragments, right now the thing falling down to Tenguu city was-----a giant cl.u.s.ter of metal.
If that artificial satellite falls down the ground like that, the surrounding shelters won’t end up safe. He recalled back what Kotori said just now. s.h.i.+dou felt something cold expanding in his stomach.
Don’t tell me, failed to shoot it down…………..!? s.h.i.+dou raised his voice towards the Incam in panic.“Kotori! Oi, Kotori! What happened!?”
When he did that, he could hear a voice with noises mixed in from the Incam.
“-----dou!? Right now, with enemy s.h.i.+p…………., ………….failed to shoot………, ……..right now-----“
“Eh!? Wha-what did you say!?”
He asked again but, at the same time he heard some kind of explosion, he could not hear anything anymore from the Incam.
He doesn’t know the details. But, he could at least understand that there was some kind of emergency situation happening in the sky.
After s.h.i.+dou gasped, he once again looked back at the sky.
That black boorish silhouette was slowly-----but certainly getting bigger.
“…………….d.a.m.n it!”
After s.h.i.+dou shouted that, he did not enter the shelter and ran away from that spot.
Even if he enters the shelter now, it would be meaningless if that artificial satellite remains un-destroyed and crashes down. The whole area would be scorch down because of the explosion arts and impact of the crash, and the people evacuated in the shelter would die too.
Tonomachi, Ai, Mai, Mii and his other cla.s.smates, his homeroom teacher Tama-chan-sensei, the neighbor he exchanges greeting with every morning, the people in the shopping district that are always kind to him………………..countless lives would disappear in an instant.
“I won’t let…………..something like that happen…………!”
He glared at the sky while shaking his throat and ran towards the bottom of the artificial satellite.
s.h.i.+dou did not think he could do something with that giant artificial satellite with his powers alone in the first place. But, there was no one else that can move in the ground. If s.h.i.+dou gives up then at that moment, everyone losing their lives would be definite. s.h.i.+dou would never allow something like that.
“………….!”
But even so, the speed of the artificial satellite falling was crazy. it got bigger in a blink of an eye-----and the whole picture could be seen by s.h.i.+dou eyes.
“Kuh…………….!”
s.h.i.+dou ran while grinding his teeth.
If this goes on----it would be no good. Even if he reached the point where the artificial satellite was going to fall to, it would end with s.h.i.+dou and the city getting blasted off.
--Power.
It was essential to have a giant power strong enough to sink that embodiment of despair coming from the sky in one hit.
But even so, s.h.i.+dou was human. A normal…………...although he walks a life decorated with misfortune, he was still human in the end. Thinking logically, there was no way he would have that power.
But. Even if s.h.i.+dou does not have it------if it’s the Spirits powers that s.h.i.+dou was borrowing then.
“I beg you…………..there is only me! Please lend me your power………!”
After s.h.i.+dou shouted, he thrust out his right hand. As if he wanted to cling onto something invisible.-----or possibly-----he grasped something.
And then. There was only one thing in his heart. He only pictured the wish of wanting to save everyone.
“-----I beg you………!”At that instant when he did that, a dazzling light s.h.i.+ned in s.h.i.+dou’s sights and------a feeling of holding something in his right hand was born. When the blinding light faded away, a giant sword giving off a pale glow appeared in s.h.i.+dou’s hand.
The Angel . It was the absolute sword Tohka holds.“……..! I did it!”
s.h.i.+dou raised his voice unintentionally. It was the angel that he has manifested many times until now. This was the first time he was able to hold by his own will.“With this I could-----!”
After s.h.i.+dou sharpen his sights, he stopped his legs and glared at the falling artificial satellite while making a stance with using both his hands.He made a thin exhale and calmed his heart down. He threw away any unnecessary worries and only thought of protecting the people in the ground. s.h.i.+dou then swung down ----and made a line towards the sky.“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-----!”
Light overflowed out from ’s blade and s.h.i.+dou then extended it to the sky as if he was following swordsmans.h.i.+p. An absolute strike from the powerful Angel. No matter if the opponent has a territory put up; it should break easily in front of the Angel’s slash.But.
“Wha……….!”
s.h.i.+dou opened his eyes wide.
The moment the strike s.h.i.+dou released approached the artificial satellite, it then changed its direction unnaturally just before it hits and then extended to the sky just like that.
The artificial satellite was still going strong. It was spreading thunderous roars while, approaching the ground to annihilate Tenguu city.
“d.a.m.n…….! Once more-----“
After s.h.i.+dou clenched his teeth, he once again lifted up . But at that moment, a strong pain ran through his body and fell to one of his knees after distorting his face in reflex.“A-gah………..”
It’s the price for using the power of Angels which is too much for humans. s.h.i.+dou’s whole body turned worn-out in just one swing.
Next off, a scorching feeling of him being thrown into fire attacked his body. It was the fire regenerative ability he gained by sealing Kotori’s powers but, it half-forced heal s.h.i.+dou’s injured body.
“Guh-------!”
His faced was dyed in pain and he put in strength into his right hand to avoid dropping .But, while he was doing that, the artificial satellite was still approaching to the ground. If he waits for his body to heal then, everything would end before he could release the next strike. Inside the pain and heat which is almost causing him to faint, s.h.i.+dou somehow managed to stand up with both his legs.
“Kuh, ah, ah ah………….!”
He lifted with all his might. However, the artificial satellite was already showing its giant appearance towards s.h.i.+dou’s sights. Most likely in another 10 seconds, the whole of Tenguu city would become scorched earth.“A-Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
s.h.i.+dou recklessly swung . But, there was no way he could use an angel after having lost his concentration. The point of sliced the sky fruitlessly and produced loud sounds when it touches the ground.But, s.h.i.+dou did not give up. He did not let go of even when his muscle fibers are torn, bones cracked and his whole body was burned in scorching heat due to it getting forcefully healed.“The h.e.l.l….I will let you……….!”
He put strength into his legs when he was about to fall.
The moment, if s.h.i.+dou gives up, the people evacuated in the shelter will be killed. He would never let something like that ever happen.
“My………….city……….! Don’t you fall………..on itttttttttttttttt!”
s.h.i.+dou mustered his strength into his whole body and swung down. The sword strike turned into light and stretched out to the artificial satellite as if to swallow it. But-----that strike could not even break the Territory.--at that moment.
“……………..!?”
s.h.i.+dou suddenly twitched his shoulders.
The moment s.h.i.+dou swung the sword, a cold wind suddenly blew pa.s.sed by suddenly.
It was a sudden cold win