Dura 3 Volume 6

"Vulgar cur."

She spat out that insult, and without a second thought discarded Lævateinn. It landed on the ground of the ring with a clatter—

"Hyaaaaa!"

—just as Deus Ex Machina's whip struck Stella full-on.

Part 12
All according to plan.

As Deus Ex Machina's train-whip rained blow after blow on Stella, who having discarded her sword was now standing still in the ring, the Puppeteer within, Reisen Hiraga, was assured of his victory. Indeed, it would be more accurate to say that he had been sure of his victory ever since the match had begun. When she had suggested that reckless penalty, luring Akatsuki's members out into the ring, he had immediately realized that her intention was to get revenge for their past attack on Hagun Academy.

Facing an uphill battle knowingly for the sake of her friends who were injured. Hehe, how beautiful. That good heart of hers is worth respect.

That proud spirit and gentle soul was—

—So easy to control.

Funnily enough, he could sway her as he wished without the use of his threads. Only words had been necessary. Such a kind person, surely, could never sacrifice an innocent like Mikoto Tsuruya in order to further her own ends. Using Mikoto as a hostage, he would make Stella cast her sword aside and lose the will the fight―this had been the scenario written in his mind ever since the match began. And Stella had been ensnared by his plot.

「Deus Ex Machina's train whip strikes the ground again and again! Is Vermillion alright? The dust cloud being churned up is making the situation in the ring hard to see! Just as inexplicably, Vermillion let go of her sword just before Hiraga started his assault! Just what does she intend to do, letting go of her sword like that?」

「Whatever she intends, this situation is dangerous.」

The umpires around the ring seemed to feel the same way―they were looking for an opening to stop the match. Seeing the surrounding circumstances as they were, Reisen swung once more and then stopped. He had felt the sensation of the train striking flesh through the strings that ran throughout every cranny of the rubble giant. She could not have been dodging like she had previously. Thus, this much was enough. He had not intended to kill her, in any case. If the umpires saw Stella collapsed and splayed out on the ring floor, they would stop the match for sure.

So he thought, and with him staying his hand the dust cloud began to dissipate.

「The dust settles… what has happened to Vermillion—!?」

The commentator seemed to be wondering whether she was alright, but stopped short—and in the next moment every spectator was agape in shock, the world standing still as they forgot to breathe.

Why? Was it because of the copious amount of blood flowing from a hollowed-out crater in the ring? No. It was because of the one atop that pool of blood: though it flowed in rivulets down her head, Stella was unbowed, standing ramrod straight as she glared at Deus Ex Machina.

「Unbelievable! Vermillion! She neither avoids nor defends, but takes that onslaught without moving from her spot! Her endurance is on a whole new level!」

The blows had shattered the ring and upturned the soil underneath, but Stella's endurance was such that she did not flinch at all. Even Reisen found himself flabbergasted.

"You're stupidly tough. But this match has been decided, so why won't you lie down quietly?"