Chapter 166

--------------------------------------------------------
-- Chapter 166
--------------------------------------------------------

NovelReader (Spoiler):

Missile launchers and the fight Kouki/Eri/Puppets vs Suzu/Ryu/Shizuku begins!

--------

>> Originally Posted by Corvo269:
>> I'm guessing Ryu took puppet massacring duty. I'm pretty sure he's like: I have seen and heard of enough SHIT already, as long as I can test out my new skills and just let loose

Lol, actually...

borisdrakoni (Spoiler):

The corpse puppets had both Ryuutaro and Shizuku in a fairly tight spot for a moment before they were saved by Suzu using what I can only describe as a barrier version of Bleach's Senbonzakura, ending Round 1 essentially in a draw.

--------

[original link: http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=5622412&postcount=17725]
>> Originally Posted by Hokoga:
>> I can't even imagine that
>> So it wasn't Santen Kesshun but Senbonzakura?
	http://bleach.wikia.com/wiki/Santen_Kesshun
	http://bleach.wikia.com/wiki/Byakuya_Kuchiki#cite_ref-187

Lol, she even says 舞い*散れ*(mai*chire*) to activate it.

>> Originally Posted by sierra117
>> I wonder why didn't Hajime give them Metzelei to deal with the puppets?

borisdrakoni (Spoiler):

Well he did take most of them(along with that poor city) out with the new Orkan, leaving only about 150 left. Eri's new zombies have magic stones planted in their bodies, making them human-monster hybrids, greatly upping their power and granting them different abilities, including recovery for some of them. Besides, as much fun as Hajime's op beat downs are, it would be a pretty sad final battle if there was no tension or excitement whatsoever.

--------
El Rue (Spoiler):

Hmm, its possible that ruined ancient city must have been a past world that mad god has visited or even originated from. If so then he has been at it for a while huh.

The 1st round between Kouki x Eri VS. ShizuSuzuRyutaro was more like a warm up. The odds did seem against the three as the 2 crazy pants even have field advantage as

	they may even have infinite energy in there.

Well, I guess we'll see them truly shine next week. (Suzu was the only one who did a lot this chapter)

>> Originally Posted by obnuchious
>> what about the others? are they just eating popcorns or something?

Hajime, Shia & Tio went ahead after he carpet bombs the place because a surprise party was waiting for them as a trap.

Shizu-chan see them off saying that they'll take care of those 2.

--------
borisdrakoni (Spoiler):

In the Ruined City

Suzu and Ryuutaro respectively commented that it looked like a city at the end of an era shown in movies, or a scene from Resident Evil while looking around at their surroundings.

Shizuku told Ryuutaro to stop that, asking what he would do if zombies really came out.

The sight of a city that had gone to ruin extended all around them.  The place they had arrived at from the brightly colored world resembled a city on Earth with high rise buildings flooding around a maintained road.  However, as Suzu and Ryuutaro had said, it looked like people hadn't lived there for hundreds or perhaps thousands of years.

There were buildings that seemed like they would crumble at any moment, as well as others that leaned over against the ones next to them.  All the places where windows were fitted were damaged, scattering remains.  The ground, covered in a hard material that felt like asphalt, was cracked.  There were places where the ground had heaved up as well as places that had sunken down.

Because of the slight remains of letters on billboards and buildings, as well as the fact that the buildings weren't made from reinforced concrete, it could be understood that it was not a city from Earth.

Hajime commented that the whole city must have been brought over in commemoration of destroying it.  There are signs that it had been built with magic rather than technology.  After being developed to that extent, it had been destroyed similar to knocking down a tower of cards.

Tio called it bad taste, while Shia said it was horrible.

Even on Earth there was a story overflowing with romance of an ancient city that no trace remained of whose technology was better than the present age.  In this world, during the age of gods there may have been a country that developed to a level near modern Earth using conjuring rather than science.

To those people who had risen up, it had been necessary for Ehito to trample them down.  Imagining the sight of Ehito laughing, everyone had an unpleasant expression.

Though it is cruelly going to ruin, the city similar to present day Earth made them feel some nostalgia, and they though a part of Earth would be shown off too if Ehito was left alone.

Before long, when passing over several intersections following the compass, a large clock tower similar to Big Ben in London appeared among the skyscrapers.  Apparently the entrance to the next space seemed to be in that tower.

Hajime, put away the compass that had drawn a line toward the clock tower.  However, he put down his foot that was about to step forward.  Everyone besides Shia took a battle ready stance guessing from the glare in his eyes.  Only Shia had already ascertained where the enemies' whereabouts were, glancing to the surrounding buildings one after the other momentarily.  She asked Hajime what they should do since they were surrounded while tapping Viredoryukken on her shoulder.

Hajime answered nonchalantly that if they were captured in a cage, of course it was common sense to crush the cage, and told everyone to prepare to jump.

While Shizuku, Suzu, and Ryuutaro let out a foolish voice, Hajime pulled a large, cross-shaped weapon with three protuberances like wings extending from one side.

--New rocket and missile launcher Agni Orkan

 The appearance of Hajime holding the three meter long cross with wings in both arms was a form like wearing a reinforcing exoskeleton.

Tell the ambushers that they should scatter thoroughly since it was troublesome, Hajime pulled the trigger with a devilish grin.  There was a commotion raised in the surrounding buildings but they were too slow.

With a sliding sound a metallic board on the surface of the wings slid back, revealing them to be loaded with innumerable pencil missiles that shot out all together.

More that 300 missiles were shot.  They went out with an orange firing line and jumped into the ruins through windows and entrances like they understood there was an enemy there.  Moreover, large missiles firing 60 shots in only a few seconds came from the end of the cross and attacked in all directions.

What followed as a roaring explosion as the impact and flame caused all the surrounding buildings to collapse.

Shizuku exclaimed about all the buildings falling.  Hajime said that's why he told them to jump.  She retorted that he shouldn't say it so calmly, calling him a one man army.

Hajime continued his bombardment as several shadows that had escaped the first round tried to jump out of the buildings.  Shizuku jumped into the air using Aerodynamic while letting out a tsukkomi.  With the buildings falling all around them like rain, Suzu and Ryuutaro also dashed up in a panic.  Having managed to escape somehow, they landed on the roof a building some ways away.

Suzu commented that it looked like a scene of an air raid she had seen on TV.  Ryuutaro said that fighting was useless.  Who would think of bombing a town.  Techniques and experience were totally unrelated.  Shizuku patted them on the shoulders and told them not to look with distant eyes since she knew how they felt.  Then, while thinking to herself “What is strength?” in the depths of her heart, a bad sound was heard.  Turning to face it, she saw Hajime who had finished reloading Agni Orkan there.

The three of them exclaimed “Another attack?”  Hajime replied that if it is going to be done, not even a single piece of meat should be left behind.  That was the culture of Japan recorded in the Kojiki(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki).

Though the three of them wanted to tsukkomi that there was no such thing, Hajime pulled the trigger faster than they could say anything and the large and small missiles flew out again.

Shia commented that there was nothing for them to do.

Tio mentioned that even though he appeared calm on the outside, Hajime had been building up frustration.  With no other way, she'll just watch over him warmly until her turn comes up.

Seeing those two gently watching over Hajime as he continued to bombard the city, Shizuku sighed while plugging her ears with her fingers, thinking about the troubles ahead in the future if she had to reach that kind of level.

While she thought “Why did I fall in love with such a person?” just like Shia did before, Hajime unexpectedly turned around and pointed muzzle of Agni Orkan toward his allies.  Before they could react, he pulled the trigger without hesitation.  Suzu let out a scream as the missiles flew out, but of course they evaded his allies magnificently.  The missiles rained down on the buildings about 500 meters away exactly like an air raid.

Wondering just what he attacked, from the destroyed building a pure white light shot up in the air.

Suzu and Ryuutaro panicked, realizing it was Kouki and Eri and shouted at Hajime to stop since according to the promise they would be left to them.  Hajime replied that he had merely shot around them to prevent their escape since they seemed to be trying to run away.  Since they were heading to the clock tower it seemed it really could be used to get to another place.  After telling them to talk to their hearts' content, Hajime headed out towards the clock tower, followed shortly after by the others.

Using their skills, the distance of 500 meters was covered in no time.  Kouki and Eri had not moved from the rooftop they stood on, guessing they would become targets for the missiles again if they tried to run away.

As Hajime and the rest got on the rooftop Eri asked them how they got there since she had purposefully hidden in one of Ehito's collection.  Kouki told her it didn't matter since he had to free everyone from Hajime.  It could be considered a piece of good luck.

Having a conversation that didn't quite match, Kouki and Eri were stuck closely together like lovers.

Eri seemed to have not wanted to meet with Hajime and the others from the bottom of her heart.  The desire to save his friends from Hajime's brainwashing had not disappeared from Kouki's mind, so the contradiction that they had just tried to run away was likely erased by Eri's brainwashing.

The eyes Kouki looked at Hajime with were as usual filled with hatred, envy, and indignation.  Eri who rubbed her cheek on Kouki's shoulder as she spoke to him in a sugary voice seemed to unconsciously resemble her mother.  Her clothes were pure white to match Kouki, but slit so as to expose the breasts and back greatly.

Kouki declared to Hajime that while he would normally try to save a classmate, since Hajime did too much he had no choice but to kill him and free everyone from his control.  Eri clung to Kouki, saying he was cool.

Shizuku told Hajime to go on ahead while she and the others took care of things there.  Hajime asked if that was alright since his magic eye noticed something strange about Eri and Kouki.

Shizuku told him she understands, but it was fine.  They had the artifacts he made, plus his purpose is to rescue Yue.  This big idiot(Kouki) should be left to them one way or the other.

Hajime agreed, ducking his shoulder.  With a glance, he indicated to Shia and Tio that they should move on, while Kouki's eyes glinted dangerously hearing how Shizuku and Hajime called each other and the reliance between them.

Guessing that Hajime was trying to go ahead, Kouki shot out murderous intent and tried to charge at him, but he was blown away by a punch from Ryuutaro while Eri was forced to take her distance from him by an exploding shield that had appeared at some time.

Kouki spoke to Ryuutaro, saying he was brainwashed after all.  Ryuutaro responded that he had just saved Kouki then.  Turning murderous intent to Hajime, his best friend would be made into minced meat.

Kouki asked what he was saying, but Ryuutaro said the current him wouldn't understand.  Therefore he would wake his best friend up even if he had to beat him half to death.

Ryuutaro was angry at himself for not being able to do anything for Kouki who didn't try to see reality.  Grasping his fist with that anger, he sprang toward Kouki.

Eri complained to Suzu about pulling her away from Kouki, asking if that's what a best friend does.  Suzu said she was there because she thought of Eri as her best friend.  Because she will not put her hand on Hajime and the others, she does not need to be so frightened.

Eri erased her expression at Suzu's words.  It seemed like she was no longer someone who could be trifled with.  Suzu smiled, understanding that Eri could no longer disregard her.

Like Shizuku, Suzu also asked Hajime if he would leave things there to them while she took a stance with the iron ribbed fan.

Hajime told her not to leave things incomplete since he would kill any troublesome things later.

Suzu told him not to worry since she would definitely show him results, and that they should take care.

He meets Shizuku's gaze one last time and she nods with a small smile.  With mutual trust passing between them, they say they'll meet again later.  Hajime then turned and ran toward the clock tower with Shia and Tio following close behind him.  Though Kouki shouted for him to wait, it was drowned out by Ryuutaro's roar, and the three of them disappeared in a ripple in the side of the clock tower.

Commenting about Hajime's leaving and that they only needed to ask for his help, Eri looked at Suzu and Shizuku and asked what could be a problem if that monster wasn't there.

Shizuku said she wondered.  Even if Eri and Kouki seem to not be normal, Shizuku and the others also weren't how they were before.

Eri laughed, saying she couldn't be careless around Shizuku.  She then snapped her fingers and an uncountable number of shadows jumped out from the rubble of the buildings, surrounding Shizuku and Suzu.

They were puppet soldiers that had been crushed by Hajime's bombardment.  Eri chuckled, saying that like she said, there was no problem without the monster there.

Additionally, Ryuutaro was suddenly blown back toward Shizuku and Suzu with a scream by Kouki's skill Halo.

Suzu caught Ryuutaro using a ring of light made by her iron ribbed fan.

He thanked her for saving him.

Suzu said not to mention it and asked how Kouki was.

Ryuutaro said it was no good.  No matter what he said or which contradictions he pointed out, everything was solved by the brainwashing.  Sending over just one or two fists wasn't enough.  He sighed while scratching his head.

Shizuku asked him several questions about his strength and abilities while watching the surrounding puppets as Kouki landed next to Eri.

Kouki could constantly wear the white light that was like Limit Break and strengthened him, but he did not seem to become tired at all.

Shizuku commented that from the beginning they had the outlook that the future would be full of trouble.

As the three of them confirmed their information in whispers, Kouki, while wearing white light, sadly asked them if they would surrender.  He didn't want to fight them since they were brainwashed, and only wanted to free them from Nagumo's spell.

Eri praised Kouki for bravely helping the childhood friends who betrayed him.

Kouki said it was fine.  Everyone would be safe as long as the incarnation of evil could be defeated.

Eri told him it would be alright since she was Kouki's only ally.

Kouki thanked her, saying that for a long time he had been supported just by her.

Looking at each other, Kouki's eyes gave off an increased feeling of emptiness while Eri's distorted smile deepened.

Ryuutaro wondered where that conversation was heading.

Shizuku agreed, and said that to return that idiot to how he was he needed to be freed from Eri's soul binding.

Suzu said that on top of that they needed to beat reality into Kouki.  She will take charge of Eri since having her dark magic support on top of Kouki's breakthrough power would be the worst.

The three nodded to each other, exchanging a look.  Kouki's head dropped sadly, saying it was no good after all.  Then, even if they had a grudge against him he would make them powerless first and solve their brainwashing by beating Nagumo.

Getting heated up on his own, Kouki raised his sword.  An abnormal amount of magic shot out of his body, scorching the air.

Ryuutaro tried to rush Kouki to interrupt him, but the puppet soldiers attacked all three of them at once.

Cackling, Eri told them not to forget about the brave heroine that supports the hero.  Before anyone was aware, she was waving a sword artifact with a red line down it like a baton, and was clad in gray colored magic.

Suzu retorted that she only looked like a female executive of evil, and that if she wasn't conscious of it she would lend her a mirror.  She gracefully moved her fan and cast her shield around the three of them.

As the puppets' swords struck the barrier, she closed her fan and made the shield explode, blowing the puppet soldiers away.

Ryuutaro charged toward Kouki again.  Suzu erected some more barriers forming a tunnel around him.  He was confident they could defend him long enough for him to stop Kouki, however, issuing a voice that sounded wrong, a puppet leaped into the air and cut through the barrier like it was made of paper.

While raising a voice of surprise, Ryuutaro barely dodged the sword of another puppet.  The two puppets aimed for a pincer movement.  He was unable to block or dodge them, so he used Vajra to strengthen only the areas about to be hit.  Their swords hit him with a sound like striking metal, but before he was aware of it a third puppet was aiming a burning red spear at his heart.  Ryuutaro crossed his arms in front of his chest and managed to catch the spear on his gauntlet somehow.  Without Hajime's improvements, both his arms might have been destroyed.  However, the red spear did not just burn what it touched.  In the next moment and explosion roared out, knocking him back.

As he stood up, two more puppets stabbed their swords into the ground nearby, freezing it as well as Ryuutaro's feet.  Unable to move, four additional attacks came at him, the swords glowing red like the spear before.  If he was hit directly he would be in trouble.

Behind him, Shizuku also had her feet restrained by another puppet manipulating the rooftop.  Four attacks were also directed at her, two spears clad in purple lightning, two swords clad in a gray sand cloud.  It was clear that none of them were good.

Shizuku, floating an impatient expression due to the unexpected power of the puppets, tried to end the situation, but she was hit by Eri's dark magic that prevented her from moving, exposing a fatal opening.  Eri smiled smugly.

To Kouki, it was recognized that it was possible to revive with Soul Binding even if a mortal wound was received.  That was why even though he wanted to “help Shizuku and the others”, he did not obstruct their being hurt.  There was no need to hesitate since they could be revived later.

Of course, it's impossible to be able to revive them, and in the first place there was no way Eri would do it.  She could add them to the puppet soldiers with Soul Binding, but she had no will to do that.  Therefore, that was the reason why she chuckled.

At that moment, with a call from Suzu, a countless number of shining fragments like a blizzard of cherry blossoms swept across the battlefield.  They danced sensationally in the air centering on Shizuku and Ryuutaro.  The fragments caught and dispersed the attacks aimed at the two of them, cutting the puppet soldiers to pieces.  Sacred Absolute – Cherry Blossoms.(1)  Literally,  fragments of the strong barrier Sacred Absolute like petals of cherry blossoms.  They cut whatever they touched,  and gathered together became a wall.  It was a magic integral with both offense and defense.  The direction of the petals could be controlled with the movements of the fan.

Shizuku and Ryuutaro thanked Suzu for saving them.  Suzu said not to mention it, and commented that like demonic beasts' magic neither an incantation or magic array was used.

Shizuku and Ryuutaro went back beside Suzu.  They narrowed their eyes grimly watching their surroundings so as not to be caught off guard by the puppet soldiers surrounding them.

At that time Kouki's skill was finally completed.  White light that had been shot into the sky began to focus back behind Kouki like a video being rewound.  The abnormal magic gradually began to take a shape while shaking.

Kouki quietly declared that it was the end, and that even if it was possible to revive them later he did not want to damage Shizuku and the others if possible.

The mass of magic expanded something like wings and a large tail, a long neck with a head full of fangs, and claws that gouged out the building.

Kouki continued his explanation of his new skill: Heaven's Might – Infinite Changes.  It was a technique that could freely change the shape of and manipulate Heaven's Might, which previously could only be used for bombardment.  The dragon could shoot the power of Heaven's Might at maximum power in no time.  Moreover, in the Sanctuary his magic power would not run out, so it was useless trying to buy time.  He asked them if they understood.  The current him was stronger than Nagumo.  No one could defeat him.  Therefore, he asked them to surrender.

The light dragon made from Heaven's Might roared and shot a bombardment blowing away a building about one kilometer away.

Eri added that the surrounding puppets had magic stones built in, making them like human/demonic beast hybrids with raised specs and able to use magic like monsters.  She had an unpleasant smile and had her dark wings out.  Having power herself reminiscent to an apostle, she invited them to feel despair.

Additionally, there were puppets that could use recovery magic in the surroundings.  Those blown off by Suzu had their wounds healed and stood up.

Certainly, faced with around 150 puppets, Kouki who could use Limit Break at will and never run out of magic, as well as Eri whose dark magic and power was close to the level of an apostle, normal classmates might have felt despair.

However, for them to be there, they had challenged the great labyrinths and had their own weaknesses pointed out, learning about their powerlessness.  They had stepped forward, overcoming themselves.

And, no matter what the situation or who the enemy was, they saw that boy who was close to them not retreating even a single step.

Therefore,

“Stronger than Hajime?  Your misunderstanding is also severe, huh.  He is, surely, the strongest in the world?”

“Geez.  Aren't we being looked down on?  We won't fall to such 'strength'.”

“Is 1000 strange, though I don't know about corpse-beast soldiers.....ha, really, it should be sufficient.”

If it was only at this degree, they did not enter a difficult situation.

Kouki's eyebrow twitched.  Eri's expression changed to a cold expression from a jeer.

Facing them, Shizuku set up her sword drawing technique, Suzu danced with her iron ribbed fan, and Ryuutaro set up a karate stance.  In their eyes there was neither tension nor despair, only the will to do what needed to be done.

“Things like that really make me sick.”

“The brainwashing's influence is deep, huh....  Can't be helped.  I'll wake you all up.”

Signaled by the words, the gong for the second round rang.


(1.  Note, one thing I've noticed for awhile is that some of the kanji used for skill names does not translate well.  Suzu's strongest barrier magic for instance, 聖絶, gets spit out as “Beyond Sage” by TA, and gobbledegook by Google and Excite.  Individually, though, the characters can mean sacred and absolute respectively, hence for my own peace of mind I will just refer to the literal translation if I can't extrapolate a better meaning.  Apologies for any confusion this might cause if it appears different form the names used in the translated chapters, but it's too much effort to go back through all those chapters to see how the skills might have been called to make it all match.)











--------------------------------------------------------