, he was stroking his short bristling up forelock while leaking out a sigh mixed with a wry smile.「Don"t waste your time with stupid chatter Egnid. Take your position just as planned.」
The one who rebuked that frivolous talk was a familiar girl wearing the same B-Blood Wyvern.
A girl with trait of wild long hair and dark brown skin, Saniya Lemiste.
She was a spy of Heiburg Republic who once infiltrated the Royal Officer Academy, betrayed Celis, and a.s.saulted the academy along with Hayes.
Another girl wearing B-Blood Drake was standing by on her side. She was wearing a doodled round mask. Her true ident.i.ty couldn"t be peeked at.
「Kirly, check if there is any sign of enemy around. Is there other Drag-Knight coming?」
「Uuu……. Aa」
The masked girl called Kirly shook her head slightly in a display of answer no.
Saniya saw that and she seemed to understand. She turned toward Lux once more.
「Was it you guys who gathered the Abysses here?」
「Stop probing so transparently like that ruined prince. You yourself, what are you doing coming to this kind of deserted village by yourself while the All-Dragon Battle is going on? ──Haa?」
Saniya grinned fearlessly like that before she lifted up a horn flute dangling from her neck.
Instantly a shuddering chill ran through Lux"s back and he reflexively flew to the sky behind him.
At the same time a silhouette of winged man a.s.saulted from the darkness of the forest behind the three.
「This thing──!」
A winged man type Abyss that possessed firm body, Gargoyle.
It was a formidable enemy that possessed high speed mobility in the air in addition of the capability to fire feather shaped light bullet.
Defeating it with the counter attack Critical Hit using Scale Blade would take some time because he needed to predict its inherent attack pattern.
Lux quickly readied his Breath Gun and laid down a barrage in front of the Gargoyle.
The claw tips of the Gargoyle who slipped through the barrage attacked. The moment Lux try to match the timing with Scale Blade──one more Abyss, a Chimera a.s.saulted from behind his Wyvern.
「Got you.」
Saniya who laid the trap saw that and her lips loosened up into a grin──but, right after that. The neck of the Chimera who should have taken Lux by surprise was snapped cleanly and the Abyss fell.
「……What-!?」
Lux pretended to intercept the attack from the front and evaded the claw while dealing the Critical Hit on the Chimera behind him. And then on the returning trip his sword dealt the second Critical Hit at the Gargoyle and smashed one of its hands.
He pretended to get caught in Abysses" coordination and reversely created the chance for Critical Hit.
Saniya and Egnid who saw that looked up to the sky with a strongly alert look.
「This is a harsh joke yeah……? That guy, is he really human?」
「──I see, just because he isn"t using Bahamut, doesn"t mean that it will be that easy.」
Right after Egnid whispered in amazement, Saniya blew on her horn strongly once more.
Abysses were going out one after another from the cave. Lux who saw that took even more distance.
He defeated the Chimera with a bit of gambling on his part was n order to provoke Saniya and others.
In order to lure the Abyss swarm to the hidden fortress north of the capital, he had to make all the Abyss came out.
Therefore, Lux needed to make them think that just several Abyss wouldn"t be enough to defeat him.
「I want to pay my debt back to you directly, but it can"t be helped. Become Abyss"s food like this!」
Right after Saniya yelled, countless Abysses that surged out from the cave started moving simultaneously.
After seeing that, Lux also turned around and flew away to escape.
『──Fu, I"ll tell you beforehand, your tactic is meaningless you know?』
A communication using Dragon Voice came from Saniya. Lux held his breath for only a moment.
『You must be planning to steal the control right at the moment the effect of my horn run out using your own horn but──it"s pointless. Inside that swarm, there is a special Abyss called Grimoire. That guy will broadcast the command sent out by the horn to the surrounding area and make the Abysses to continue carrying out the same command. As long as that guy is alive, the effect of the horn won"t be dispelled, and they also won"t accept the command of other horn user.』
The reason how a large amount of Abysses could be controlled in the period of several days when the horn"s effect would run out in a fixed time.
If they had that Abyss called Grimoire, certainly it was possible but──there was also the possibility that Saniya"s statement itself was a trap.
She might be making Lux to think that it was impossible to steal control using the horn so to lure him into challenging the Abysses with decisive battle of brief duration.
(In any case, I need to at least confirm it.)
Lux evaded the attack of the countless Abysses while buying time by intentionally taking detour in his escape route.
It was approximately ten minutes with his biological clock.
In the timing when it seemed like the effect of the first horn flute should be running out, Lux strongly blew into the horn he was carrying.
Strange noise ran through the area, but the movement of the Abysses in front of him didn"t change.
『Now you get it that it"s pointless? Then this time resolve yourself for sure and fight.』
(──Good!)
After confirming the existence of the Abyss called Grimoire, Lux started escaping again.
Lux showed the fact that 『he was carrying a horn flute and tried blowing it』 and made a reason for Saniya and others to chase after him.
If Lux identified the Grimoire and defeated it, it was possible that the swarm of Abyss could be stolen by him.
Therefore, Saniya"s group should be moving to finish off Lux.
Like this it was possible to carry out the plan──luring all the Abysses to the hidden fort.
「USHAAAAAaaA-!」
Right after Lux decided his action"s objective, the swarm of Abyss attacked with even more vigor.
Lux slipped through the fierce attack of a great variety of Abysses using sword handling and control skill and continued to escape.
Because he continued to defend, he could only mix action to hold back the enemy from his end, each time he did that he risked danger and several times there was attack that grazed his Drag-Ride"s frame.
「Kuh……!」
His armor was gradually shaved, he also became unable to use weapon, his option to defend and dodge was getting limited.
He wasn"t even allowed to blink inside the offense and defense to the utmost limit. That time when Lux almost ran out of breath, he finally saw the target forest──the hidden fort where the interception force was standing by.
(……Here they come!)
Right after Lux confirmed it, the Drag-Knights stationed inside the fortress were already readying their respective weapon simultaneously, and they pulled the trigger one after another.
The fired countless flashes roared and ran through the sky, shaking the atmosphere and exploded.
It became the starting signal of the battle and the extermination operation began.
Part 2After a total of two hours since the beginning of battle between an army of around a hundred Abyss and a mixed force at the hidden fort.
In the arena at the capital, the latter half of the All-Dragon Battle──its first battle was already going to start.
A lot of spectator gathered in the audience seat and the venue was filled with even fiercer enthusiasm than the day before yesterday.
The three battles today would be against Heiburg Republic, Markafar Kingdom, and Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality, in that order.
Inside the waiting room before the battle began, the selection members of the new kingdom with the exception of Lux was a.s.sembled.
「──Because of that, Nii-san cannot appear in today"s match.」
When Airi talked about the detail of why Lux headed outside for the decoy mission, the selection members were shaken.
The imperial capital recapture plan was also a fearsome threat, but that duty of becoming a decoy in order to lure nearly a hundred Abysses alone was also reckless, some voices rose saying that they should go to help but──,
「Nii-san"s wish is so that everyone won"t be exposed to danger and for us to win the All-Dragon Battle.」
When Airi said that to everyone, before long everyone nodded in acceptance one by one.
「However this is a let-down. I thought that those guys who attacked us at the academy before this would surely come out here too but──」
The names of Saniya and others weren"t registered in the roster of their first battle against Heiburg.
「As expected, Saniya and others won"t make appearance in the All-Dragon Battle. Currently I cannot see that they are preparing strong elite line-up that is even stronger than them, but……」
Celis too was whispering with a complicated face, perhaps because she was Saniya"s former friend and hoped for a chance meeting.
「At any rate, we cannot let our guard down. Whether inside the match, or outside it too──」
Philuffy also nodded shortly toward Krulcifer"s words.
Then, for the last Lisha took a deep breath and made a smile.
「Then, we"re going to obtain the greatest result before Lux return here! Let"s go!」
Along with those words, the signal bell that informed the match starting time rang outside the venue.
The audiences" voice that was heated up due to the starting of the match could be heard until where they were.
Part 3At the same time. Nearby the hidden fortress north of the capital, the large scale battle between the Abysses and the mixed troops was continuing.
After Lux led the swarm of Abyss and rushed into the forest, the military Drag-Knights who were tired of waiting started Cannon bombardment all at once and managed to exterminate a little under 20 percent of the enemy number.
After that was an all-out war between the two sides.
Thinking based on the pure battle strength, the advantage lied with the remaining around 80 Abysses.
Abyss"s strength varied depending on the size and type, and their battle strength would greatly change depending on the combination too.
And then, even among the Drag-Knights of the new kingdom military, there were only 20, 30 percent officers who were used to fight Abyss.
But, they had the terrain advantage where they were able to take cover behind a solid fortress while attacking.
And then, because Lux had lured the swarm through a long distance, the Abysses that were coming at him all at once at the beginning were now scattered from each other, at present the new kingdom military was progressing the fight advantageously.
Lux entered inside the fortress and finished his decoy role for the moment. He reported to the commander of the mixed army, after that he followed someone who guided him and collapsed onto a bed in an underground room.
「As I thought, perhaps facing against a hundred was a bit reckless……」
Lux forgot because he was absorbed in the middle of fighting, but in actuality he only made it barely.
A great number of Abysses that received a command from a horn flute once had the tendency to attack in simple pattern.
Furthermore Lux was constantly fighting in high alt.i.tude. If he didn"t limit his opponent to only flying type like that, there was no doubt that he would be done in already.
「Even so──」
Lux laid down face up, staring at the ceiling while wiping the sweat on his forehead with a towel.
The three Drag-Knights that included Saniya vanished since midway for some reason.
There was also the unlikely chance that they got dragged into the Abysses" attack, but he didn"t understand the reason.
Even if by chance they were heading to the capital by themselves, they shouldn"t be able to do anything with just the three of them.
(But, why is it I wonder? It feels like, we are overlooking something important──)
The recoil from finally getting liberated from the extreme tension caused the fatigue to steal Lux"s ability to think.
His consciousness was falling as though getting sucked into darkness.
Part 4『Next, the second battle today. The match of New Kingdom Atismata versus Markafar Kingdom will begin. The partic.i.p.ants of the first match, please come up on the ring!』
When the new kingdom"s referee who was wearing a Drake prompted the partic.i.p.ants, the representative from Markafar, a male Drag-Knight walked toward the arena first.
Markafar Kingdom had a wide territory, but perhaps because there was no Ruin existing in their territory, their Drag-Knight"s nurturing wasn"t that advanced.
Therefore, deciding that they would be able to take advantage in the pair battle using things like cooperation and so on, it was decided that in the first one-on-one battle Lisha would come out as the vanguard.
They obtained victory from the previous battle against Heiburg with two straight win, so they had some leeway for this battle.
「Now then, I"ll win and create the momentum.」
Lisha exited the waiting room and whispered that before she wore her Divine Drag-Ride, Tiamat.
When she entered the pa.s.sage that connected to the ring"s entrance, a figure clad in black robe ran in a straight line toward her.
「Lisha-sama!」
Airi who was similarly going out of the waiting room to look at the situation saw that and yelled reflexively.
「Hm……? What"s the matter little sister? Is there something?」
「Eh……?」
There was nothing behind Lisha and Tiamat who turned around. No, Airi saw that the moment the black robed shadow touched Tiamat, it looked like it vanished as though melting into air.
「N, no, it"s nothing……. It was just, my imagination.」
「……Strange girl. If it"s about Lux, then he is surely fine.」
Lisha showed a smile before walking through the pa.s.sage toward the venue.
But, Airi rushed through the stair toward the audience seat still with uneasy look.
『Both sides are in position, so the first match of the first battle, New Kingdom Atismata versus Markafar Kingdom shall begin. Battle, Start!』
Finally the match started.
The vanguard of Markafar Kingdom was a user of general purpose Drag-Ride Wyvern.
As long as there was no large incident, the victory of Lisha who was a user of Divine Drag-Ride was unshakeable.
Lisha herself also sported a composed smile, and when she was about to press the opponent who was forced into a one-sided defensive battle──,
「……Wha-!?」
Her expression instantly stiffened and agitation emerged on her face.
『Oh, is there some kind of trouble? The Drag-Ride of her highness Lizsharte is──……-!?』
The announcer Drag-Knight saw that and tilted his head. Lisha"s Tiamat moved right after that.
The cannon that was charged until maximum was aimed at the audience seat that was in a completely different direction from the opponent, and the trigger was suddenly pulled.
*DOUNN!*
The cannon roared and a single beam of light ran thorugh the air.
The defense Drag-Knight in front of the audience seat was shocked while blocking it with his strongest barrier.
Although he barely blocked the attack completely, scared voice rose from the audience seat behind him.
「Wa, wait-!? I"m not doing any──!?」
In contrast with Lisha"s bewildered words, Tiamat started charging the cannon"s energy once more.
And then, it ignored the the Drag-Knight of Markafar Kingdom who was the opponent and once more aimed without the slightest deviation──toward the audience seat that was fired at just now.
「──Why!? Why is Tiamat"s control is──!? STOOOPPP……!」
Lisha screamed. At the same time a scream rose from the whole venue.
The defense Drag-Knight was still unbalanced and was unable to deploy the next barrier.
The moment the cannon with the maximum output was fired once more toward the spectators behind, faint territory of light spread in front of Lisha.
「Divine Gate」
Celis"s Lindwurm appeared before her eyes and deployed the maximum output barrier.
Celis was blown backward from blocking it, but the attack was somehow held back so that no damage to the surrounding occurred.
In addition, the armament of Krulcifer"s Fafnir, the Freezing Cannon fired its freezing bullet and instantly froze Tiamat"s cannon, both legs, and its back wings.
With that──Tiamat was completely suppressed.
『Ho, how could this be!? The Drag-Ride of her highness Lizsharte suddenly rampaged. However, this──』
Right after the commentary voice was raised,
「Be silent! This match is suspended because of the trouble"s occurrence!」
The referee official landed down on the ring together with several Drag-Knights.
After that, Lisha"s Tiamat was dispelled, and using a Drake"s megaphone function, a formal judgment was handed down.
「It"s deemed as an attack that intentionally aimed at the audience! The second match is counted as the losss of the new kingdom side due to rule breaking!」
Great commotion spread like ripple from the audience seat and people raised their voice.
「Is her highness still unable to handle Divine Drag-Ride that it rampaged at that kind of time?」
「The aimed audience seat, the VIPs from Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality were sitting there right? Perhaps this will become international problem──」
「Was she trying to kill them while pretending it as accident? Don"t tell me, such thing……」
「──That"s wrong-!? I didn"t do it! Such thing, absolutely──!」
Krulcifer gently put her hand on the shoulder of Lisha who lost her self-control and shouted with trembling voice.
「Let it pa.s.s for now. No matter what happened, right now──it"s still」
Hearing those calm and serious words, Lisha lowered down her hand that was reaching to empty air.
That became the fall of the curtain of new kingdom"s second battle.
Part 5「Wha, what happened!? Why is fire from inside──uwah!?」
「Re, retreat! They infiltrated until inside this fortress already!」
「Idiot! Retreat you say!? There are still thirty Abyss remaining there! No way we can run away to the capital at this rate!」
「You are the idiot! We cannot maintain the front line now that the formation has crumbled this far! At this rate it will be total annihilation!」
There was the loud bombing sound and the sound of Drag-Ride"s propulsion device from above.
Furthermore the scream of the soldiers was mixed with the roar of the Abysses. Lux who only just woke up instantly recognized the graveness of the situation.
He quickly took the pocket watch that he put on the stand beside the pillow and checked the time.
It was less than two hour since Lux"s consciousness cut off.
He put strength into his lower feet and stood up and took a deep breath.
Strength returned to his body, but under this emergency situation, not even a single miss would be permitted.
He opened the door from inside with strong vigilance. When he tried to climb to the first floor from the stone underground room, he caught sight of a wounded person who seemed to roll down from the stair.
「Get a hold of yourself! What happened!?」
When Lux rushed to the person in panic and lifted up his body, the soldier made a suffering expression and talked with a hoa.r.s.e voice.
「Re, retreat quickly! We were tricked. Our strategy was leaked to those guys right from the start! That"s the only explanation. We fought the Abyss well at first, but those guys……the rebel army that suddenly appeared from inside the fortress, attacked us──」
「……The rebel army? How?」
In the imperial capital recapture plan that new kingdom"s spy obtained, the rebel army that was the main force shouldn"t attack yet according to the plan.
「I don"t know. But there is only one thing that is clear. It"s already impossible to defend this fortress anymore……」
Lux instinctually grasped the true situation.
The fact that Lux heard from the consuls──the rebel army"s main force should be still standing by at a far away base. It was a trap from the enemy that they were caught in.
(However──it"s only natural.)
If a great number of Abyss were found to exist near the capital, anyone would have their attention diverted there.
In order to intercept a hundred Abyss in this hidden fortress, sixty percent of the full strength of new kingdom"s army was invested here.
The situation was more pressing than expected.
「Please hide underground and retreat when there is chance. I"m──going.」
「Wa, wait! What are you planning to do!?」
「I"ll lure away the remaining Abysses and the rebel army somehow for sure.」
「Sto, stop acting rashly……!? Such thing, is imposs──!」
Ignoring the soldier who tried to stop him, Lux summoned his Wyvern.
He quickly equipped it and flew, got out of the fortress that was on fire, and headed to the sky in order to grasp the situation.
What he found there was the swarm of Abyss that was climbing over the fortress while destroying it and──around two hundred rebel army behind them.
Until that point it was within Lux"s expectation, but an unexpected face was among that army.
「Hoo, it has been a long time──Lux. O little brother of my best friend Abel Arcadia.」
Lux unconsciously held his breath after seeing the Drag-Knight inside the EX Wyvern flying in the front as though leading that army.
「You are……if I remember right──」
Ragreed Forus.
Five years ago he escaped from the new kingdom to Heiburg and colluded with the military division there. The supreme commander of the rebel army.
Once at Arcadia Empire, he was the best friend of Lux"s older brother, the sixth imperial prince Abel, a man from a great n.o.ble family who was arranged to become a member of that Abel"s imperial guard.
His personality and ideology were dyed with the same color as the old empire, he schemed to put a false accusation on Philuffy who was still a child at that time, to Lux he was an opponent that he had a tie with.
The subordinates behind him didn"t move, perhaps because he gave instruction using Dragon Voice so that they didn"t interfere.
「Strange fate really does exist. We who have relation as someone who similarly spend childhood time in the imperial court are now reunited like this as fellow enemy. I heard about your story from the strategist you know? Black Hero.」
Ragreed sent a condescending gaze at Lux and grinned.
It seemed that he already heard about Black Hero and Bahamut from that Hayes.
「Since that time, when you became hindrance in my scheme, I got a hunch even as a child. This guy is absolutely──going to be an enemy against me.」
He said with an annoyed tone before pointing his middle sized Blade toward Lux.
「But, in the end it"s me who win at the end. Already the capital is going to certainly fall. I will succeed the will of the old empire──ascending to the throne of this country as the new emperor.」
「──Pitiful person.」
「Wha……?」
Ragreed knitted his eyebrows slightly in respond to Lux"s cold gaze toward him.
「Don"t you understand that you are only being used as p.a.w.n by Heiburg"s miltary division and that strategist? By the time you become the emperor only in name, you will be nothing more than a puppet that rule this country obeying what those guys ordered to you. Are you planning to become a clown who is only acting like a ruler because your eyes are blinded by greed?」
「……Fuh, fufufu. KukukukukukukuHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!」
When Lux pointed that out, Ragreed covered his face with his right hand while laughing loudly.
「You haven"t changed at all huh. You, are you stupid or are you idiot──or are you drunk?」
Ragreed made a vulgar grin on his mouth while tapping on his own head *tap tap* with his finger.
「A propped up figurehead? A clown who is only acting? So what? Isn"t that just fine? I will be able to wield the authority of this country publicly as the emperor under the banner of Heiburg. I"ll be able to toy with this country"s fortune and foolish ma.s.s, and act as tyrannical as I pleased. After all I"m a modest and clever person. Qualification as emperor or recognition of other──I don"t have any interest to anything like that from the start. It"s all fine if I can just live easy and make you all submit.」
Lux listened to that and let out a small sigh.
This man before his eyes, originally he was a man from a great n.o.ble family at the level that allowed him to come and go even inside the imperial court, but right now he looked uglier than any kind of Abyss.
「──Only you, I absolutely won"t allow to do that. 」
Lux quietly took a breath, then he looked forward with a chilly gaze.
And then he took a stance with his Scale Blade positioned horizontally at the same height with his eyes. In respond to that, Ragreed also moved his EX Wyvern.
「Kukuku! You sure can talk huh ruined prince! ──Then, I"ll make you beg!」
He flew drawing a sharp curve while saying that and unleashed a slash from his rush toward Lux.
It was an attack that made use of EX Wyvern"s mobility, but that was all there was to it.
Lux saw it and then reacted. He intercepted using Critical Hit by means of Scale Blade.
With that the opponent"s attack power should be reflected back into a single point and destroyed that weapon and armor but──.
*BACHIIN!*
Instantly a dazzling light burst at the point of contact and both sides were blown backward.
The Critical Hit should have been executed perfectly, but the EX Wyvern was unharmed.
No, rather than that──.
(The Drag-Ride"s movement, at the midway……it changed?)
There wasn"t just a powerful repelling force just now, right before Lux blocked the attack, the enemy"s movement changed subtly.
It happened in the timing that absolutely couldn"t be changed if the Drag-Ride was only controlled normally.
「──What"s up, is that everything you got? You seriously think you can protect this country when you cannot even beat me alone?」
Lux"s Critical Hit ended in failure wasn"t because Ragreed"s movement was exceptionally excellent.
Certainly he had the skill that was near the level of High Cla.s.s Drag-Knight, but that was all.
The Drag-Ride he was wearing had the appearance of a simple EX Wyvern but──it contained some kind of secret.
「You aren"t going to use Bahamut against the like of me? Then I"ll teach you something good. About right now a bigger calamity is approaching the new kingdom. A tremendous force that is even more dangerous than that Ragnarok.」
「What……!?」
Ragreed"s fearless grin didn"t show any sign of falsehood.
No, leaving that aside Lux had a clue about it.
If his worst imagination that normally should be absolutely impossible was right on the mark──.
「──Howling Howl!」
Instantly Lux emitted shockwave from his armor"s head aiming at Ragreed in front of him.
Right after the EX Wyvern was sent flying before his eyes, Lux moved backward and took a wide distance.
Lux took position at the shadow of a large rock behind him, then he quickly dispelled his Wyvern.
「Fuh! Finally you got motivated huh? Then──I"m going to go at full power too!」
Ragreed who saw that also pulled back temporarily before pulling the horn flute on his neck toward his mouth.
Along with the dissonant chord of the horn, the command toward the Grimoire was rewritten and the remaining thirty Abysses stopped attacking the fortress. All of them simultaneously changed direction toward Lux. Furthermore with that as the signal, the rebel army"s Drag-Knights who were colored in grey also directed their weapon"s aim toward Lux.
The current Lux could only use Bahamut for the time limit of twelve minutes.
Using it for more than that would cause the Drag-Ride to be forcefully dispelled and became unusable.
The remaining thirty-odd Abysses and approximately two hundred Drag-Knights of the rebel army.
The greatest threat currently approaching the royal capital.
There was already no other way except making a gamble here in order to stop all those threats.
Lux quickly muttered the pa.s.sscode and equipped a jet black armor.
「Kuku, finally showing up huh Black Hero! User of the violent dragon Bahamut! Now, show me! Just what can you do with that few remaining time and strength!」
Ragreed yelled and lifted his Blade high toward the sky.
Instantly, the Abysses and Drag-Knights he was leading simultaneously started attacking.
Part 6The All-Dragon Battle waiting room for the new kingdom was dead silent as though cold water had been poured there.
The second battle before this ended as the loss of the new kingdom because they were regarded as violating the rule intentionally. In addition Celis and Krulcifer who barged into the arena also lost their qualification to partic.i.p.ate today and their side was forced into a disadvantage.
Lisha who was the perpetrator of the incident was taken away for a hearing by the investigator who came from the palace.
Of course it was the fact that she was under suspicion, but because she was also in the position as the new kingdom"s princess, there was also the intention to shelter her personage as quickly as possible.
With this, for the last battle against Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality, the only Divine Drag-Ride user who could partic.i.p.ate was Philuffy, but there was an even more serious problem for the new kingdom.
Lisha"s cannon shot was directed toward the audience seat where the VIPs of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality were placed.
Currently the All-Dragon Battle was still ongoing, so the matter was put on hold, but the other side was holding doubt that the incident was intentional.
In the case that after the All-Dragon Battle was over Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality denunciated the new kingdom with the suspicion of a.s.sa.s.sination, it was unavoidable that the new kingdom"s position would worsen, in the worst case──it might even become the spark of war against Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality.
And it would happen by the hand of none other than Lisha who said that she would fight for the sake of the new kingdom──.
「Even with the investigation of the cause, for the time being we have to prepare against the next match. The third match against Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality will surely have a different atmosphere than before. ──Are you good to go, Philuffy Aingram?」
「It"s fine. Even in case someone blow a horn flute, I can endure it for a little while.」
Putting out Philuffy under this emergency situation was a kind of gamble.
The opponent wasn"t Heiburg Republic, but if they felt like doing something, there was the possibility they would use the horn flute to control Philuffy who possessed the trait and ability of Abyss to cause damage.
An especially strict inspection toward the personal belonging of Heiburg people should be carried out, but they still couldn"t let down their guard.
And then──,
「Controlling Drag-Ride……if there is someone who set up Lisha-sama, then as expected, is it that girl?」
Airi spoke out what she was thinking since some time ago with a low voice.
The girl who possessed the nickname of the Empire"s a.s.sa.s.sin Blade, Kirihime Yoruka.
The Divine Raiment of her Yato no Kami──Spell Code, was the ability to control other person"s Drag-Ride which was activated by touching the Drag-Ride.
Lisha and others had witnessed it, and the other selection members had also heard about it from them.
「Even if that is actually the case, we will have to search for her and apprehend her. There is almost no chance that we can make it until the next match begin but──we can only do it.」
Saying that, Celis and Krulcifer stood up.
「There is no time. I and Celis-senpai will split up and search for her. So──Airi-chan. Can we leave the command of the team to you?」
「……I understand.」
Airi accepted with a nervous voice.
「Yes. I"m going to equip my Drake constantly, so if there is something I will contact you two.」
「I"ll leave it to you, then」
The two said just that and left the waiting room to search for the culprit.
If Kirihime Yoruka was aiming for Lux, there was a possibility that she was lurking nearby.
Thinking so, Krulcifer headed outside. Then she saw the figure of the guard soldiers around the practice ground rus.h.i.+ng around in panic.
「What"s the matter? Perhaps something troubling has happened?」
Krulcifer who felt the abnormality called out to a young officer.
「Ah……, no, there is nothing! Ple, please, you can continue to watch the match……」
For a moment Krulcifer thought whether this was the government putting the incident that Lisha caused just now in order, but the situation was strange no matter how she looked.
「I am a Drag-Knight who belong to Syvalles, the raid force of the academy of Cross Field. This time I am here as a partic.i.p.ant of the All-Dragon Battle, but I have finished my turn. If there is a problem, can I please at least be informed about the detail?」
Krulcifer presented her student ID and told the soldier so.
Originally speaking, Krulcifer who was an oversea student from Ymir couldn"t partic.i.p.ate in a mission with high danger level, so she lied only in that point.
「Is, is that so!? N, no……there is only a bit of mistaken information circulating between the defense force for the area around the capital……! We are gathering information to confirm it while being on guard just in case──」
「Can you tell me specifically what is happening?」
Krulcifer who heard of that detail questioned the soldier further.
The soldier was sweating nervously while forming his words.
「Currently, a giant enemy force from the northeast of the royal capital──there is high chance that this is a mistaken information, but it mentioned that the fifth Ruin that existed in Heiburg itself is moving──」
The complexion of Krulcifer who heard that sentence changed.
She already knew that behind the scene of this All-Dragon Battle, Heiburg"s imperial capital recapture plan was in motion.
And then, there was the existence of Hayes who was called as Lord(Creator) at the third Ruin the Ark.
If they were similarly related with the attack this time──.
「Northeast of the capital is it? I will also go to take a look at the situation.」
「Ple, please! I"m in hurry to evacuate the resident at the northeast area so──」
「Oi! What are you doing there! Quickly go!」
The young officer was scolded by a man who seemed to be his superior and he hurriedly dashed away.
After parting with the man, Krulcifer summoned Fafnir and equipped it.
She took a high alt.i.tude where she could have bird-eye view of the capital and flew to the northeast.
With Fafnir that possessed the greatest level of mobility, she would be able to make a round trip until outside the capital in just a few minutes.
After continuing to fly with the maximum output of the booster in her back wings, before long the sight of the surrounding became obstructed.
「Mist──? Even though the capital had clear weather just now……?」
Krulcifer decelerated Fafnir and hovered midair.
She should be right outside the wall of the capital, but it was as though the scenery below was completely unseen.
But, a heavy moving sound that the thick mist couldn"t erase could be heard from right nearby.
「This is──!?」
The moment Krulcifer whispered, a thunderous roar exploded.
Countless flashes flew piercing the white mist obstructing her sight.
One of it exploded and burst in front of Fafnir, sending it flying backward for a few dozen mel.
「Kuh……!?」
She escaped danger because of the protection of the special armament of automatic defense──the Auto s.h.i.+eld that activated just before it hit her. The power of the attack was tremendous to a degree that it wouldn"t be strange that she would get serious damage without the protection.
The enemy itself blew away the mist due to the explosion blast of the cannon attack it fired. Because of that the true shape of the enemy became clear.
「Wha……!?」
The moment she was able to look the full picture of the enemy, Krulcifer"s spine froze.
It was gigantic.
A giant body that far surpa.s.sed a large type Abyss──Golem that Krulcifer once fought personally.
It had two legs that could be mistaken as a mountain of steel. On top of those legs was a large waist two size bigger than the royal castle and an inverted triangle of a chest, at the left and right were protruding shoulders where each looked like a large type battles.h.i.+p. On the surface of those shoulders, countless cannon muzzles could be seen.
The head part that resembled rhinoceros beetle had a neck that slightly extended to the front, looking down on the royal capital with robotic eyes.
Its thin long arms had countless streaks running on it. At the end of each of those arms was a hand with five fingers. Several houses were already pinned under them.
It modeled the shape of an armored soldier, the gigantic fortress of steel that should be emplaced at Heiburg.
The fifth Ruin 『Gigas』 that Krulcifer once saw in a book was moving as it was.
「They got us. Who will ever thought that they were hiding this kind of trump card──」
The Ark where Poseidon existed left its movement route until now by the action of Hayes and her group and its whereabouts became unknown.
In that case, it wouldn"t be strange if they also had done something to the Ruin of Heiburg where Yggdrasil──the Ragnarok that Lux and others had defeated probably came from.
But, although the fifth Ruin was liberated by that, for the Ruin itself to come invading like this was just too much.
『Warning - we demand for you to dispel your armor as well as surrendering, Xfer-sama.』
「Eh──?」
Suddenly, a cold apathetic voice without any inflection in it could be heard through Dragon Voice.
Krulcifer didn"t see any other Drag-Ride around her.
Krulcifer noticed a moment late that the voice came from the Gigas before her.
『Identifier name - Gear Leader of the fifth Ruin El Fajura will break the prohibition in causing unnecessary harm to you──no』
That girl who was most likely similarly an Automaton like La Cruche of the Ark suddenly completely stopped her words that were said with no gap in between.
『Unfortunately just now there was notification from my Lord to immediately──exterminate you she said.』
The change in att.i.tude of the Automaton that also happened at the Ark.
Krulcifer recalled the shadow of Hayes from that situation.
『Transitioning to attack preparedness──firing』
At the same time with that voice, innumerable countless cannon muzzles extended from the Gigas"s protruding shoulders.
Right after that, thunderous roar and explosive blast that completely filled the surrounding swept over above the sky of the royal capital.
Part 7「What in the world……」
Noct who was wearing Drake inside the arena"s waiting room heard the Dragon Voice from Krulcifer and she unconsciously groaned.
The third battle of the All-Dragon Battle"s latter half, the battle against Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality was entering into the last third battle.
Philuffy won at the first battle the individual match, and the second battle the pair match ended in defeat just now.
With both sides having one win each, the third match would begin. But before it could start, the state of high alert was invoked in the royal capital and it was discussed to temporarily suspend the All-Dragon Battle.
But, only Greifer who was the Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality"s partic.i.p.ant for the third match was firmly maintaining his att.i.tude that wished for the match to continue. He stayed rooted on the arena ring.
「I"ll wait just for five more minutes yeah? Come fight already, new kingdom.」
Greifer showed a fearless grin. He was already clad in his Divine Drag-Ride Cuelebre waiting for the signal of start of the battle in the ring.
「I"ll say this beforehand. For the time being there is also this need for keeping up appearance so I come out into this match, but if you guys don"t take responsibility for firing a cannon at our princess, then it doesn"t matter what is the result of this match, I"m gonna locate the criminal myself. I"ll catch anyone suspicious one by one──and then interrogate them with this hand.」
Greifer"s eye glint that was tinged with killing intent caused the spectators to get gooseb.u.mps.
──Right now, there was no Drag-Knight of the new kingdom who could stop Greifer who was in a frenzy.
Almost all the Drag-Knights were already departing in order to defend against the force attacking from both sides of the royal capital.
「……Will he make it in time?」
Airi gazed at that ring. And then when she lifted up her face, Noct"s Drake suddenly showed a reaction of receiving transmission of Dragon Voice.
『Can you hear me──Airi, Noct?』
When she came to hear the familiar voice of her big brother, Airi"s lips burst into a relieved smile.
But, her expression immediately returned into her usual calm look and she brought her face closer to the Drake before throwing out her voice.
「You"re late! Just what have you been doing Nii-san! This side is in really grave trouble! A giant Ruin is attacking from the northeast! Lisha-sama"s Tiamat rampaged, and the people of Wanheim Prinic.i.p.ality was also aimed at──what should we do about this!?」
『Yeah, I also got set up in my side. The hidden fortress already fell, and I"m getting chased by the rebel army and Abyss swarm.』
「-……!? And, what is Nii-san planning to do?」
『I want you to tell everyone what I"m going to say after this.』
Lux told Airi the 『strategy』 in the shadow of the arena that was enveloped with uneasy commotion.
Part 8「The prime minister of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality is saying that they will bring up the incident this matter resolutely. They won"t accept the explanation that there is defect in the Drag-Ride. He told us to hand over the princess to be judged by their law.」
「There is no way we can do something like that! Even the All-Dragon Battle isn"t over yet you know!? Tell him that we will listen to what he has to say again later!」
On the other hand, inside the castle. Inside the wide conference room, the angry yell of the consuls flew around.
The extermination mission of the Abyss swarm failed due to the surprise attack of the rebel army led by Ragreed, and enemy army was marching on from the northwest.
Their aim was just as the name 『imperial capital recapture plan』 suggested, this very royal capital itself.
It wouldn"t even take tens of minutes until all that force arrived in this place.
「But, there is also the fact that just the other day a guard of the royal capital attacked a selection member of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality. In addition of the continuing bad blood since the era of the old empire. At this rate they surely won"t listen to us urging them to go home to their country without even giving out any proof or the perpetrator.」
「……The princess also really has done something outrageous. Even though that bunch has been troublesome since the past──」
「Please calm down. The clarification of the incident is not finished yet. Only after that everything can──」
Lamenting voices continued to rise from the consuls hearing the reports coming in one after another.
Lisha was hanging her head down while listening to those voices of despondency and indignation from the floor immediately below.
After that match, still in her suit without even changing, she had been absentminded as though her soul had left her.
Why it had turned out like this?
Even though she should have done the best she could.
Even though for the sake of this country, while knowing that she was still immature──she thought of trying to become the real thing, and yet.
She didn"t have any such power, she betrayed everyone"s expectation, and invited the greatest predicament.
「It"s like……I"m a criminal.」
Inside the hidden room for royalty"s personal use that was prepared underground.
She was isolated so that she wouldn"t get aimed by the people of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality that she enraged. Lisha made a powerless bitter smile toward her situation.
Her feeling was the same like five years ago when she was kidnapped by the old empire and became hostage, before she was then abandoned by her father the great hero.
She couldn"t do anything. She was toyed by the happening with nothing she could do with her own strength and lost everything.
「Why……. Why it became like this again? Was I mistaken? From the start, someone like me──」
When she couldn"t endure anymore and let out a complaint, footsteps came from in front of her.
When Lisha came back to herself and quickly lifted up her face, the room"s door was opened.
Over there, the Drag-Knights of the rebel army whose uniform was painted grey were standing with their weapon at ready.
「We are going to have you come along okay, your highness. Together with us.」
Lisha could only look down with a pale expression.
Just like that day in the past.
Part 9「How long you"re planning to continue running huh, Black Hero? Aren"t you going to stop me?」
Lux who was wearing a jet black Drag-Ride was being chased by Ragreed who was driving EX Wyvern.
After exchanging blow several times above the hidden fortress, Lux who got a part of his shoulder armor broken escaped in a straight line toward the direction of the capital.
But, he was chased by the strengthened general purpose Drag-Ride EX Wyvern, taking along the majority of the rebel army being led by Ragreed and also the Abyss that already numbered more than thirty.
「Kukuku, I heard from the strategist you know? The time you can fight in that Bahamut is limited. That"s why you are trying to lure us into a place where you can get the military"s reinforcement and bring this into advantageous situation aren"t you?」
「But, that"s already impossible! Try looking in front of you!」
That sight entered the eyes of Lux whose field of vision was continuously filled by the scenery flowing backward in high speed.
Bugriser"s unit that should be preparing for interception in front of the wall already disappeared from there.
「……-!? I see, just as I thought……」
Lux held his breath. At the same time he saw at far ahead and guessed the reason why the military had abandoned their position.
The information that the fifth Ruin Gigas that existed at Heiburg couldn"t be seen anymore.
His worst prediction came true.
The fifth Ruin, Gigas.
The strange looking weapon that was filled with evil omen to accomplish destruction and atrocity was standing as though looking down on the capital"s townscape.
(But why? Why is no report came that it has arrived until this near!? If the Ruin is moving, the Drag-Knights at the east of the capital should have seen it and yet──)
GIgas that should be visible even from the distance of a few kl had approached until this near. Why didn"t anyone notice? (TN: kl is kilometer and mel is meter)
『……The Drag-Knights stationed at northeast of the capital──at the fortress along the rocky mountain and sea, it seems that they are being afflicted with a headache of unknown cause. There is no abnormality with their body, so it doesn"t look like that it"s poison or disease though.』
Suddenly that sentence that Airi told him was replayed inside his mind.
Instantly, a p.r.i.c.kling pain as though behind his eyes was burned ran through Lux"s head. A scene that felt like it wasn"t his memory entered into his head.
「──I thought that you will understand if it"s you though, my younger brother.」(TN: Fugil use the word "kentei" to call Lux, it"s usually a polite reference to another person"s younger brother, but here he used it to call his own younger brother. Translated literally it means wise younger brother)
A vaguely nostalgic refined noise──the voice of his eldest brother Fugil entered his ear.
Red night sky that was illuminated by blazing flame.
In front of the castle of Arcadia Empire where whirling up fire sparks were falling down, that thing was existing.
(This place──what in the world? Is this the memory of that day, five years ago?)
Lux could affirm that this scene had happened almost without a doubt, but a violent uncomfortable feeling bewildered Lux.
Lux didn"t have any memory at all that he had exchanged this kind of conversation with Fugil.
「……We cannot do such thing. There is no way something like this can be repeated because of the convenience of the like of me, the like of us!」
The Lux inside the memory raised his voice, in respond Fugil smiled fearlessly.
A figure wearing a strange-looking Drag-Ride he had never even seen before with gigantic size even bigger than the castle at the back was there.
「Is that so? You should have noticed already from a long time ago. You who were born inside that corrupted palace, living while stuck in dilemma between the royal family and the people, if it"s you then you should have noticed the structural defect of this country──no, this world and its people.」
Fugil spoke admonis.h.i.+ngly, also as though in conclusion.
「See, you who are purer than anyone, because you want to avert your eyes from that fact really much, you could only take on the ideal of a king that is more righteous than anyone and took refuge inside that dream. ──But Lux, you should wake up already from the dream. We should accomplish it, we ought to carry out our true mission as hero.」
「You"re wrong! There is absolutely no such thing! I……what I really wished for is──」
「──Fine. Then you can come at me.」
The Drag-Ride that was so gigantic its full figure couldn"t even be grasped from nearby was starting up with a roaring sound that shook the earth.
「You won"t lose or anything. You cannot even stand on the same stage where I fight for eternity. Therefore, there is no victory of defeat right from the start. I will take the burden of your karma. Because I am──after all.」
Lux who was wearing Bahamut in Over Limit state flew toward that giant dragon.
Instantly, the scenery distorted fiercely like jelly, enveloped by light, and vanished indistinctly.
Seven Ruins. The simultaneous activation of the Artifacts(Transforming Weapons).
The transforming Drag-Ride of the end at the beginning──Uro……boros.
Lux returned to his senses and returned his consciousness to the sight before his eyes.
Perhaps it was a happening of only one or two seconds, because the Gigas at far away and Ragreed before him were in Lux"s sight the same like before.
「Now you get it? It"s over for you all. You fell into our strategist-sama"s scheme. Your body"s shouldn"t be in the condition to use that Bahamut for some more minutes right?」
「──So your aim for luring me is that?」
Lux gazed at Ragreed with chilly eyes and voice.
Lux was lured at the north hidden fortress, the new kingdom"s army was made to fall apart──and the clincher was how he kept talking provocatively at Lux. All of those were the groundwork to make this situation.
Hayes was on guard the most against Bahamut. She guided the event into a situation where Lux had to use it and drastically stole its operation time limit.
No matter what their side tried to do, they already got cornered into a helpless situation with nothing that could be done. Hayes"s scheme tried to obtain a certain victory like that.
All of Lux"s bad premonition was right on the mark──no, the event was transitioning into a situation that was even worse than he imagined.
Just like when Lux tried to destroy the empire in the past.
But──the present was different from the past, he now had a lot of comrades he could trust.
That was why he resolved himself. That right here right now once again──they would save the new kingdom with their power.
「Ragreed Forus. You"ve resolved yourself right?」
「……What?」
Ragreed frowned toward Lux"s calm declaration.
Completely different from in the past when they were in the imperial court, Lux"s face there was hiding determination inside.
「You put your bet on Heiburg and that strategist Hayes. As for me──I"ll bet on everyone who put their trust on me, and drive away all of you.」
Right after that, the jet black Drag-Ride Lux was wearing released a vortex of shockwave using Howling Howl.
「Kuh, ─futile act!」
But, Ragreed held his ground and pulled his Cannon"s trigger aiming at Lux"s silhouette.
The jet black armor was smashed and countless fragments danced in the air. ──But,
「This is……?」
Ragreed was bewildered because the opponent purposefully didn"t deploy barrier and there was strangely no resistance from the hit.
When he searched for Lux"s silhouette that he lost sight of, a calm voice entered his ear from beside a nearby bell tower.
「──Manifest, violent dragon who devour the flesh and blood of the G.o.ds. Sever the sky of black cloud, Bahamut!」
「What-!?」
Ragreed raised a shocked voice hearing the muttered pa.s.scode.
Right after that, light particles converged in high speed and formed shape. A jet black Drag-Ride was summoned once more.
The aerodynamically shaped Mithrildyte(Phantasmal Gem Steel) clad in dragon"s might manifested and emitted an ominous l.u.s.ter as though to display that absolute power hidden inside the frame.
「How-!? How can there be two Bahamut!?」
「──Connect - On」
The moment Lux muttered coldly, the Drag-Ride unfolded from inside and transformed into an armor that covered Lux"s body.
「What I was wearing while you were chasing after me was a mere Wyvern. It only had its armor parts adjusted and painted black.」
「Kuh……! Such thing! Impossible!?」
Yes, the true ident.i.ty of the thing Lux requested at Lisha in the capital was that.
It was another Drag-Ride that was different from his original Wyvern that was tuned for defense. It was a Wyvern with its armor and barrier sc.r.a.ped down as low as possible to make it light weight type that stressed in speed.
By skillfully using it properly, Ragreed"s eyes were tricked.
「Bu, bu, how can you do something like that!? In the first place you should be only preparing for Abyss extermination! You shouldn"t know anything about our attack! And yet why──guah!」
Lux glided and took the position overhead Ragreed. He ignored the question and slashed at the EX Wyvern.
Ragreed almost crashed into the bell tower from the impact he got, yet right before he crashed, the surface of his armor s.h.i.+ned and his trajectory was altered, preventing him from cras.h.i.+ng.
「It wasn"t like I understand what will happen. But──I"m just planning beforehand, to at least prepare a plan that can react against anything that could happen.」
The answer for Ragreed"s question was exceedingly simple.
From the start Lux was already harboring doubt toward the existence of the deserted village where a great number of Abyss was staying, and also the very fact that the new kingdom was able to obtain the information about it beforehand.
The enemy"s strategist Hayes also knew well about the information regarding the specification of Over Limit.
In that case──naturally Lux put into consideration the possibility that Hayes would put into motion a plan to exhaust him, and then Lux requested Lisha as the countermeasure against that.
「I don"t have time right now. ──But, I too still have something I want to confirm.」
Lux put in energy into his great sword Chaos Brand and let out a slash with the shortest movement he could toward the unbalanced Ragreed.
He aimed at the part that was s.h.i.+ning on the armor"s surface just now and hit it hard.
『U, aa……!』
*crackle crackle-!* After a small burst of electricity, light that looked like s.h.i.+ning powder spilled out from the surface and a faint voice could be heard.
「So that"s the true shape of it? The thing that strengthened your Drag-Ride and a.s.sisted the control was──」
「Chih!?」
Ragreed clicked his tongue hearing Lux pointing it out.
Lux was uncertain of the full detail of it, but most likely it was because of someone"s cooperation──or perhaps an old technology sleeping inside the Ruin that was applied on the EX Wyvern.
Thinking about how Hayes used the fifth Ruin to invade the royal capital, it wasn"t hard to imagine.
「Guah!?」
Lux struck down Ragreed to the ground with the returning movement of his sword.
After looking at the EX Wyvern cras.h.i.+ng at the vicinity outside the arena, Lux landed down on the arena ring where the spectators were already starting to evacuate.
He landed facing Greifer who was standing there clad in Divine Drag-Ride Cuelebre.
Cheers and commotion rose up seeing the intrusion of the unidentified Drag-Ride.
『Wha, what could this be!? Suddenly, a mysterious Drag-Knight landed down at the position of new kingdom"s side!』
The military officer clad in Drake who had the commentator role also raised such surprised voice.
Because the distance from the audience seat until the center of the ring was quite far, surely almost everyone didn"t notice that it was Lux.
「Oh. To think that there will be a superb performance where you come here for me huh.」
At the opposite side Greifer seemed to notice that it was Lux. His mouth loosened and made a grin.
「Can you accept fighting me, right here right now?」
「Got no objection here, I don"t intend to retract my previous statement yeah? Regardless of this match"s result, we gonna capture the princess of you guys, then make her spit out the location of the culprit no matter what. I"m not gonna allow