City Series:Volume8b Chapter16

Chapter 16: Rush a Difficulty

Welcome back! This “Listen! It’s the Oracle Message Board!” is forgoing the usual intro!

So, everyone, DT – and the whole world really – is facing a big problem right now.

If DT disappears and all us Minus residents go along with it, the great god will be summoned into the world.

Now summoning a great god will improve the world – that’s true. But we don’t want to die.

Sorry, but if anyone out there thinks it’s better if the world doesn’t improve, then could you come save us?

It all comes down to money.

I’m going to set up a special donation account for DT at a Swiss bank.

Any money sent there will be transferred to the DT Yard’s account and used as a boost fund.

Then the Demigods at DT Yard will use that power to fuel their attacks so they can stop the summoning.

How about that? Does anyone want to make yourself a watchman by trying to stop the great god?

And with that, I think “watchman” will be the subject this time.

“Take a guard. Go, and have him keep watch over the tomb.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

(Matthew 27:65-66)

I have a question. -NoName

Would you mind answering a question from the outside?

I get that things are bad for the Minus world of DT, but how do we out here benefit by spending our money on you?

Your deaths would be a loss for our world, but your survival isn’t a benefit or a loss for our world because that is the default state. So…

07/07/2000 DT 03:21 PM x1k (+00:21)

Help Text

Word Race origins and Types

The Word Races began as a technology known as an Extension Word Race which was created during NPC Body research. The idea was to apply something like a Message to the data used to create the Body in order to give it a stable and unique extension, which was likened to the concept of humanity’s different races.

Several ideas were proposed for how to determine Word Races:

–The language used to create the Body.

–The format of the subprograms and data used by the Body.

–The primary format used when interacting with other Bodies and Lives.

In the end, people were allowed to choose from any of those options when arriving in DT.

People would choose (or have chosen for them) the Word Race best suited for them and that would become a part of their name. This combined with the pseudonyms being used to create a unique form of expression where the people in DT use their pseudonym plus their Word Race Name in place of their real name.

This is especially common among the second and third generations born within DT when the Word Race system was already in place and with corporate workers, but that has led to frequent trouble when contacting the outside world.

However, since some nonhumans have a rule saying only their parents are allowed to know their true name, people born in DT have used that as precedent to gain authorization to continue using their pseudonym and Word Race name while staying outside the city'.

There are a large number of Word Races, but they can generally be split into a few different categories.

• Text Data

Ex: Txt, Doc, Log.

Can read and produce text data quickly and accurately. These Word Races can only be held by humans and nonhumans with Lives data, so NPC Bodies cannot use them.

• Voice Data

Ex: Wav, Dat, Sn, Aud, Pmc.

Can rapidly create and receive detailed voice data as well as convert it into text data.

• Image Data

Ex: Gif, Jpg, Bmp, Png, Pdf, Pct.

Excels at image processing, image creation, and image extraction.

• System

Ex: Sys, Bat, Dll, Cnf, Exe.

Excels at creating programs and the understanding and control of program contents.

• Language

Ex: Bas, C, Asb, Pas, Cob, For, Xc.

Each one excels at different things such as movement speed, movement options, data processing, data control, etc.

If necessary, these Word Race traits can be applied to your Lives when leaving the city, so they can be brought from the city to an extent.

Algo’s Sight Mode: In DT Castle

<Algo’s Over Reload>

Algo left through the castle’s main entrance and walked through the courtyard.

Mini Alternative sat on his shoulder as he walked briskly along, but out of nowhere, he looked behind him.

<Algo’s Over Zoom>

The castle was there.

It didn’t look the same as it had. A tower was missing from the northern roof. It had collapsed. The collapse of the ceremonial ground in the northern basement and the fall of the northern lift had begun a chain reaction.

The entire castle looked a bit off. There were cracks here and there and some of the stones forming its surface had fallen away where they now sat on the ground like decorations. The castle had originally drawn out the rectangular shape of a fortress, but it now had a trapezoidal shape, like a cake squashed from above. Algo stared at it.

“ ‘Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged.’ Yes, that is exactly what we are accomplishing here. With the boost setting inside this shield set to x1000, we now have ten times as long until our Words Warn day of destruction.”

<We were meant to be destroyed at 3:40 and the setting was changed at 3:00, so we have 400 minutes left.>

Just as Alternative spoke in her window, a different window appeared next to Algo.

It displayed a square-faced man – Mekton.

The dark sky made up the background and the image was redrawn once every second.

“Wh-where is Daikatana?”

“He stayed inside. As a guard to stop Aoe.”

That put a worried look on Mekton’s face. Algo looked away from him.

<Algo’s Over Zoom>

He saw the castle gate up ahead.

“Don’t worry. He has spent 400 years cutting down his fellow NPC Bodies as an actor. He has more experience than Aoe, me, or even Master Ungyou.”

“B-but th-that idiot…”

“Yes, Aoe already repelled Daikatana once.”

He walked through the gate. The sky was dark, but the gate still cast a shadow.

Algo coughed within that shadow.

He held his throat and let out a scratchy breath. He used that breath to speak.

“That is because both Daikatana and Aoe want the same thing, even if they hold opposite positions.”

“The strongest power?”

“Do you have something like that as well? Something you can use to test if he is really worth entrusting with Yuo?”

“Yes. I will…disappear soon. I have something…for before that. I want to test the one…who wants to look after Master Yuo.”

Algo responded to Mekton’s affirmation by lowering his eyebrows and nodding.

“Is that something you can’t use to test Yuo herself?”

“Yes,” confirmed Mekton and Algo let out a coughing breath.

Algo finally raised his lowered head to reveal his usual smile.

“Aoe has something like that too. And you can test a Plus person like Aoe even if you can’t do so with Yuo, right? That is what allows the two of you to battle. Because you both have a deep connection to Yuo.”

He left the other side of the gate.

“But Akalabeth told him the strongest Plus power he should seek is a method of learning of and surpassing the Minus anxieties and fears.” He took a breath. “That means he still doesn’t know that method.”

Algo kept walking with his eyes shut and a smile on his lips.

“Learning someone’s anxieties and fears is no easy task.”

<It really isn’t. Everyone’s are different and we can’t read each other’s minds.>

“When we discussed this last night, you said the strongest defense would be to protect against anything, didn’t you? That is because the act of defense makes it easier to learn your opponent’s anxieties and fears. When you defend, your opponent’s attacks tell you those things in place of their words. For a defender, defending against your opponent’s attacks is the very act of learning and surpassing their anxieties and fears. So blocking and defending against their anxieties and fears leads you directly to the strongest defense.

“But,” he said. “It isn’t so simple for attackers like us. We can only learn things through the attacks we send out. We must think about their unique anxieties and fears and then make our attacks accordingly.”

After a few seconds, he opened his smiling eyes and looked out ahead.

“But we cannot read people’s minds, so how are we supposed to learn what our opponent’s anxieties and fears are?”

Alternative tilted her tiny head in thought.

After a few seconds, her eyebrows bent in defeat.

<I don’t know.>

“Oh? Are you sure you aren’t overthinking it? The answer is actually extremely simple. Alternative, you asked before how Aoe and Yuo could be together, remember?”

<Yes, but I still don’t have an answer to that.>

“I suppose not.” Algo continued like he was questioning himself. "They feel no anxiety or fear when together…but that requires more than just being together. They must notice each other’s anxieties and eliminate them.

“So,” he said. “How are we to notice and understand each other’s anxieties?”

<If you ask me,> he added silently. <Figuring out that system is the key to reaching the strongest power.>

<Algo’s Over Zoom>

After passing through the castle gate, Algo found a surprise where the drawbridge and moat should have been.

Everything was gone.

A long trench had formed from the castle all the way to the amusement park in front of Babel. The trench had filled with rubble, the main road had become a hole 5 yards deep, and the bridge crossing DT’s central lake was missing.

Algo came to a stop and looked into the sky.

Overhead, he saw the double-layered sky flowing toward Babel. One sky layer was inside the defense shield and the other was outside it. Gray clouds swirled through the sky and their movement was slower outside the shield.

Ten times slower to be exact.

And Algo noticed a point of white in the sky.

That was Mekton’s blimp. Algo smiled when he noticed it remained steady against the current of the gray clouds.

He pulled a program trigon from his robe. The yellow tetrahedron was printed with a music note coming from a mouth. He rolled it around in his hand.

“Mekton, I have something for you, so hurry here.”

“What is it?”

“Yuo’s songs. The voice of the girl who stayed by your side and watched your performances back when you were a failure of a jester whose large size scared everyone away.”

Mekton hung his head in the window. He shut his eyes too.

“I-I will hurry.”

“Please do. And then take me to the top of Babel. Fulfill your role as part of the Quartet. Managing the Questron on my own, it should take…probably 6 hours.”

“6 hours. I will work hard. With Daikatana. To stop Aoe.”

“Yes, the two of you need to stop him. Ideally you would defeat him, but slowing him down should be sufficient.”

“Master Algo,” said Mekton.

The window showed him smiling now. He had raised his square face again to show the smile there. But it was a forced smile.

“I will w-win, but Daikatana is the same. The same.”

“The same how?”

“We want to see. See Master Yuo.”

Mekton nodded and the window vanished. He had ended the transmission.

Algo lowered his gaze. His eyebrows drooped a bit and he let out a breath that may have been a sigh.

Hearing the unclear exhalation, Alternative turned to look at him from his shoulder.

He looked over to find her watching him. He noted the angle of her eyebrows.

“Mekton can’t see us now, so you can cry.”

<About dad?>

She lowered her eyebrows a bit and shook her head.

<Sorry. Let me cry alone for this one. I should have some time alone while you prepare the Questron at the top of Babel.>

“Is that so? Then once you finish crying, we can board the blimp and enjoy the view on our way to meet Aoe and Yuo. It isn’t that I don’t trust Mekton, but we cannot focus on working in the Questron if we aren’t certain those two have been defeated.”

<Then you need to get things ready quickly so I can finish crying quicker.>

Alternative formed a small smile with her eyebrows still lowered. Algo smiled back.

“I really didn’t expect that idiot to show up.”

<That’s just how Shouzou is. My sister too. I’m sure those two are having some kind of silly conversation right about now.>

“The two of them have been a constant source of trouble for us, haven’t they?>

<I don’t want to hear anything bad about my sister.>

Alternative gave him a displeased look and he smiled bitterly.

“I seem to recall a time when you were constantly lamenting how awkward she was.”

<That was because…>

She paused and nodded.

<Because I hated that she didn’t remember me. Uncle Ungyou had told me they couldn’t contact dad and that my sister had been adopted by DT’s royal family.>

“You knew there had to be more to it, didn’t you? Perhaps things would have been different if you had discussed it with me back then.”

<Yeah. But my uncle and I had decided we weren’t going to tell anyone about it. She didn’t have her memories and we knew she was going return to DT in three years, so I saw it as a temporary dream even if I didn’t know what had happened.>

“Was it a good dream?”

<Yes. Everything is a good dream if you adjust your point of view – even Word’s Warn. I’ve always looked at things that way, even back then. That’s what makes me a Minus person. That unhappiness was very real, but I managed to convince myself it was all fake and that I was happy.>

She nodded.

<The one thing I knew was that dad had taught me that. Algo, you have always been so kind to me. Is that because you thought I looked unhappy?>

“No, not really.”

<I see. Then you must be a Minus person too.>

She narrowed her eyes and then looked up into the sky.

<So let’s stay together. Until the ending comes, whatever form it ends up taking.>

“Whatever form? You mean whether you are overwritten by the Great God Lives or Aoe and Yuo stop that and you are destroyed by Words Warn? Either way, we will have our answer in 6 hours.”

<We will,> she said with a nod, her eyes viewing the white blimp approaching with the giant tower behind it.

Algo viewed Babel’s sky as he spoke.

“The Son of God died once, but he was resurrected and ascended into heaven. To take his seat at the right hand of god. And now we are attempting the same. But…”

<But if Shouzou hopes to defeat us…>

Alternative let that thought trail off and Algo nodded.

“Yes, he needs to use his fists to tell us everything will be all right even if we don’t do that.”

Algo looked up into the sky as he continued.

“Can his fists surpass the divine symbolism?”

<Algo’s Sight Mode has ended>

Aoe’s Board Mode: In DT Castle

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

You are in 1F Audience Chamber Entrance Passageway, a Top Page of the castle.

The current time is 3:32 PM.

The passageway is 5 yards wide, 4 yards tall, and 20 yards long.

You have just entered from the adjacent page, 1F Audience Chamber.

You carry one PC Body in your arms: Yuo Suedomsa Wav.

One old-style NPC Body is in the passageway: Daikatana Uriel Undefined.

Aoe: “Just when I thought we were safe after leaving that secret passageway behind the throne, I run into you.”

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Daikatana notices you and turns to face you.

He makes one final statement into the window he has open and then closes it.

Aoe: “What was that window? Looked to me like you were talking into it.”

Daikatana: “That was from Mekton and Master Algo on their way to our headquarters. They told me to buy them time.”

Yuo:

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Daikatana is in Sight Mode without any sight program active. He cannot read Yuo’s window.

Aoe: “Time to set up a new Questron at Babel?”

Daikatana: “Indeed. It should take them approximately 3 koku. That means until around 9:30 PM today. That is also around when the disease Master Algo shares with Master Alternative comes to an end.”

Aoe: “Huh? But I thought their limit was 3:40.”

Yuo: <Because of the x1000 boost.>

Daikatana: “Babel continues to accumulate the Great God Lives from the ley lines. Once the Questron is back up and running, the two of them will be able to summon the great god. If they are stopped…”

Yuo: <Babel will become oversaturated with Great God Lives and explode?>

Daikatana: “Indeed. Which will lead to mass destruction just as it did for Master Yuo 2000 years ago.”

Daikatana: “You have 3 koku. That might seem like plenty of time, but in truth…”

Daikatana: “I only need an instant.”

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

A metal gray emblem appears on Daikatana’s staff.

Daikatana: “The 3 koku will pass in no time once you are injured.”

Aoe: “Oh? Big talk for the guy who turned tail and ran last time.”

Daikatana: “I will not be as careless this time.”

Aoe: “Then are you planning to use your strongest power to test me like Myst did and Suedomsa told you to?”

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Daikatana raise his head and nods.

Daikatana: “So Myst did this as well. I will of course do so. And Mekton agreed when I relayed Master Suedomsa’s message just now. I can assume Excel has already done so, so by the end we will all have tested whether or not you are worthy of Master Yuo and given her a memento so she will not worry for us after we are gone.”

Aoe: “Yes. Excel passed away after confirming that Yuo was a better programmer than him. And Myst sent her a picture.”

Aoe: “So what will you be giving us?”

Daikatana: “I will demonstrate my strongest sword technique for Master Yuo.”

Aoe: “Sword?”

Daikatana: “Indeed. My strongest sword technique exceeds DT’s frame limit and becomes no more than a hitbox. Demonstrating it and having it accepted will prove I have my own strongest power.”

Aoe: “And that will eliminate Yuo’s anxiety over losing you?”

Daikatana: “Before she fell to resignation, we made a promise. When I was lamenting that my sword was only good for killing, she accepted it from a Minus perspective by saying it was beautiful regardless.”

Daikatana: “I promised to show her my most beautiful Minus sword technique…and I will do so even though she cannot see.”

Daikatana: “Then, even if she has lost me, she will still remember the promise I fulfilled and the power of my blade.”

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Daikatana reaches his left hand into his pocket and pulls out a program trigon.

The trigon contains Yuo’s sight program.

Daikatana: “I have Master Yuo’s sight program trigon here and I promise to return it after our battle.”

Aoe: “Mh? How can she see your sword technique before you return that?”

Daikatana: “I have always been blind. I developed my strongest sword technique from my blindness, so that will not be an issue. It is…a must-see.”

Aoe: “Fair enough. Then the question is whether or not I am strong enough for you to use this strongest sword technique against me. And if I want to prove I’m worthy of Yuo, I have to defeat you after seeing that technique. Do I have that right?”

Daikatana: “Indeed. I ask that you assist me. I have determined you are the worthy opponent I have been searching for. So now you must confirm my technique using your fists.”

<Aoe’s Board Mode has ended>

Aoe’s Sight Mode: In DT Castle

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Aoe’s view opened up within a large, stone passageway. He lowered Yuo on a step behind him with the green cloth still wrapped around her. The step led up to the audience chamber’s entrance.

When Yuo felt him release her, she looked to him with her Sight Mode expression.

<Be safe,> she said with unfocused eyes and a troubled smile, so he grunted an acknowledgment.

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

A window opened in front of Daiktana.

<Daikatana: Uriel Word Race Conversion: Switching to C Word Race Traits: Limiter Off: Movement Stability>

“Now let us fight to our fullest. I am certain it will be…”

“Fun.

“Because the Plus and the Minus are destined to keep fighting forever.”

A metallic gray light appeared in the metal staff he swung.

<Pseudo Grandload: Running Pseudo Load Emblem: Moebius: Preparing>

The emblem at the tip of the staff gave a cry. The loud, low noise was like stone breaking.

Several windows opened in rapid succession and surrounded him in no time.

Text raced down from the emblem at the end of his staff. The text first drew out a spiral.

●Type-XX049: Imperial-class: Moebius●

The staff instantly became a nagamaki with a 1.5 yard shaft and a 1.5 yard text blade.

Aoe did not move forward or back as he lowered his hips and clenched his fists.

“Bring it on.”

A shattering glass sound echoed through the stonewalled passageway.

That acted as their cue to begin.

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

The first to move was Daikatana.

He took a fighting stance.

He held the nagamaki in a loose two-handed grip and slowly raised it overhead.

He moved his right leg forward and put his weight on it from a somewhat diagonal angle.

He pulled the staff back like it was a fishing rod, ultimately holding it parallel to the floor.

He placed his right hand at the top of the staff, simply supporting its weight from below.

He placed his left hand on the bottom of the staff, simply holding its front side in place.

He was ready to lift with his right hand and pull with his left.

He was prepared for a rapid, bending attack similar to casting a fishing rod.

<Unlike before, this stance lets him throw his sword wherever he wants, not just swing it.>

“Prepare yourself. When I fought you before, I was only using my stage-fighting techniques.”

“So this is your real stance?”

Daikatana did not reply.

Aoe took that silence as confirmation and responded with his body.

He let out a single breath and raced forward without warning.

“––––!”

His aim was to rush right up to Daikatana before he could react.

He charged a few steps along the floor, using the kind of force usually reserved for running up a wall.

He easily pulled it off and leaned forward like he was about to crawl along the floor.

He was so low the sword’s path would have to nearly reach the floor to hit him.

Maintaining a stance with his chin nearly scraping at the stone floor required the leg strength to move at high speed and…

“Go.”

It also took the load Text that provided power to his feet.

As soon as the wind danced in his ears, Daikatana entered his view overhead.

His head was within range of Daikatana’s attacks.

In that moment, he saw the big toe within Daikatana’s tabi pressing hard against the floor.

Something was coming.

From overhead.

A high-speed attack was dropping from a blind spot.

With that realization, Aoe deduced where the attack was likely to land.

He removed both his feet from the floor while leaning so far forward and running.

As soon as he dove forward, he threw his fists straight down.

He punched the floor to lift himself and push himself backwards.

The double blow landed and his fists worked to stop his forward momentum. From there…

“Stop!”

His body seemed to be floating.

He bent his back with his fists against the floor, spinning his legs around to the sides, and placing his heels down in front of him.

“Now move back!”

The force definitely pushed him backwards. His forward momentum vanished and he got up as if bending backwards.

He could now see overhead where Daikatana’s downwards-swinging staff was getting awfully close.

Aoe felt something cold on the left side of his neck.

On instinct, he immediately let himself fall further backwards and twisted his head to the right.

That saved his life.

Daikatana’s text string had reached Aoe. It was only by about an inch, but the metal staff had moved out faster than Aoe had predicted.

The blade graced his top half of his left collarbone.

He saw the flash of light as the blade brushed its way down his tank top chest.

He felt the wind on his left side.

“Kh.”

But that was all. He hadn’t been cut. And now it was his turn to act.

“Mh!”

With a grunt to motivate him, he threw his backwards-leaning body forward and took a step.

He confirmed out of the corner of his eye that the metal staff’s tip was on its way to the floor and then he threw his right fist.

Immediately, Daikatana moved in front of him. He crouched low and gripped his lowered staff in both arms.

<Is he going to raise the staff!?>

The staff had been swung down right in front of Aoe, so it would jab him in the belly if it was lifted now. But…

“He can’t manage it after the momentum of that swing!”

The 3-yard metal staff had only just now hit the floor with a powerful swing.

It was too late to change its course now, concluded Aoe as he prepared to jump over the staff and keep going.

That was when he heard a Text.

“I am the bearer of attack.”

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

A shattering stone sound came from both of Daikatana’s arms.

He gripped the staff with both hands. No, he practically embraced it.

He held the bottom of the staff under his left arm and wrapped the arm itself around it. He held the top of the staff tight in his right hand.

Then he leaned forward.

“Kh!”

He twisted his body to the side. He balanced on his heel like a top starting to tilt.

Aoe watched as Daikatana rapidly rotated his own body while holding onto the staff.

The sleeves of his Japanese clothing spread out and whipped at the wind. The dry sound was joined by the nagamaki rotating.

The blade should have struck the floor, but it instead easily sliced through the floor and kept rotating.

His rotation created a new attack with even greater acceleration.

And this slash had his full weight behind it.

As for Aoe…

“Is this how you really fight!?”

He lowered his right fist and took evasive action. He poured all his strength into his legs to fall back.

But it was too late. He saw a white trail of water vapor form behind the sword tip.

And he heard the cry of a rent in the air when the blade sliced through it.

It sounded almost like a whistle.

That sound was only created at speeds too fast to be seen.

The attack passed through Aoe’s lowered left chest to his right side.

<Oh, no!>

His vision predicted the injury he had taken: half an inch deep from the left collarbone to the gut.

He felt a chill down his spine when he saw the location of the wound.

Daikatana’s attack hit him in the same place as the slash from Algo in the mountains of North Kantou.

Back then, it had been a blast from Algo’s palm. Here, it was a slash through the center of his chest.

<…!>

The memory briefly resurrected in his mind and threatened to fill him with anxiety, but he forced it down.

“I won’t lose that way again now that I have Yuo by my side!”

The injury was a serious one, but he gathered strength in his body. He held his breath and kept his muscles from releasing their tension. He felt the chilly air on the flesh of his split left chest.

But he ignored that injury and faced forward.

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

He saw Daikatana holding the staff below his left arm and lowering his hips after swinging it downwards.

He heard three sounds like breaking wood from below Daikatana’s left arm. That was the metal staff breaking his ribs.

He had paid that price and groaned in pain just once to keep the staff from swinging further downwards.

He had thrust it out before its downward momentum was fully gone.

Aoe tensed his left side while evading backwards. He sandals sounded coldly on the floor twice once and then twice.

Daikatana’s jab had not reached him. It had reached its full length with about 2 inches between its tip and Aoe’s gut.

Then Aoe saw a certain movement in Daikatana.

Daikatana let go of the metal staff that was his primary weapon.

“What the hell!?”

Daikatana ignored Aoe’s confusion and leaped forward. Toward Aoe. Over the staff.

He swung his leg up and stepped atop the airborne staff.

He used his second step to kick firmly off the staff near the front end, clearing its entire length.

Aoe had only taken half a step back, so this brought Daikatana right in front of him.

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

“…!”

Aoe tried to put himself at the appropriate distance for throwing a punch. He tried to fall back in order to make a counterattack against Daikatana.

Before he could, Daikatana reached for his inner pocket and threw something.

<What!?>

Aoe first noticed it was red.

It was in fact a box cutter.

The blade Aoe had previously stabbed into Daikatana’s shoulder now flew toward him.

It was aimed at his face, so he swung his right hand on reflex. He tried to grab the red-handled blade.

He avoided getting stabbed in the face, but his evasive action was delayed.

Daikatana was already right in front of him.

“Every part of a battle is setup for what comes next! Isn’t that right!?”

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

Behind Daikatana, the staff he had kicked downwards was beginning to spin in the air.

And Daikatana drew the wakizashi at his hip.

He flipped the wakizashi’s blade around and sent it in from the right.

Aoe did not hesitate. He acted on reflex, swinging his right arm outwards after grabbing the box cutter with it.

Before he saw the result, he heard a fibrous cutting sound.

A blade had grown from Aoe’s right upper arm.

Daikatana’s wakizashi had stabbed into it up to the hilt.

Aoe had been prepared for it – both for the pain and the force of the impact.

“Bear with it!”

The emblem on his right arm glowed bright as he endured the pain.

Daikatana responded by stopping his movement.

Aoe smiled at the hint of surprise on Daikatana’s face.

Then Aoe lowered his hips a bit and sent out his left fist.

His stance wasn’t great, but he definitely heard his opponent’s sternum break.

“Kh!”

Daikatana staggered back.

Aoe stretched both arms up and yanked the wakizashi out of his right arm.

He could ignore the pain. He could not ignore his opponent’s actions.

He saw something on Daikatana’s right shoulder. It was the bottom end of the metal staff.

The staff had rotated all the way around and was now swinging forward over his shoulder.

He placed both hands on the staff and turned his closed eyes toward Aoe.

Some blood was dripping from his lips after the blow to the chest, but those lips were definitely smiling.

His scarlet-dyed mouth moved.

“Prepare yourself!”

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

“Bring it!” shouted Aoe, spreading his arms.

Daikatana’s arm muscles swelled as he pulled down on the staff. The staff drew out an arc as it rotated over his right shoulder.

The sound of a breaking bone came from his right shoulder, but his strength did not flag.

He let out a breath and lowered his hips like he was taking a seat in the empty air.

He lowered all of his body’s strength.

He achieved an instantaneous explosion of movement.

The blade seemed to shoot up from behind his back.

He raised his voice.

“If you cannot look with your eyes, then look with your ears!

“Behold my strongest blade, Master Yuo!”

Aoe heard a whistling sound.

It was much louder and carried farther than the previous attack.

I sounded like the cry of an attacking bird of prey.

That sound was everything.

The end of the metal staff left the emblem and the text string as it grew too fast for the eye to follow. This attack exceeded DT’s drawing speed. Only the hitbox could keep up with it.

At the base of that power, Daikatana’s expression relaxed.

“That is the sound I have sought!”

Aoe no longer tried to fall back.

He readied his left fist.

“I am watching carefully!”

He swung his right wrist.

Swung it upwards.

The first thing that accomplished was tossing the box cutter he held in that hand.

After launching the box cutter straight up with only a snap of his wrist, he shut his eyes.

He focused on his ears.

He could see the path of the blade from the whistling sound.

He noticed another sound mixed in: a light sound similar to breaking bone.

That was the sound of the thrown box cutter contacting the blade hitbox and being destroyed.

That sound marked the location of Daikatana’s blade.

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

Aoe located the blade from the light, breaking sound.

He used the sound, not his eyes.

He worked out the trajectory and velocity from the sound of the box cutter’s destruction and threw his fist overhead.

He opened his eyes.

“There!”

His fist flew rapidly to the left, making a windy sound.

The tearing sound of the downwards swinging staff and the windy sound of the rightwards swinging fist collided.

Aoe punched the metal staff from the left as it swung down toward him.

But Daikatana lowered his stance further.

“That is not enough to stop it!”

The blade was pushed rightward, but it also continued downward. The whistling of the sliced air continued unabated.

The leading edge of the sound was about to slice through Aoe’s right shoulder.

But Aoe immediately sucked in a breath.

“I have more than one fist!”

His right fist was already swinging by the time the words were out of his mouth.

“Hear the sound of true power!”

He tried to get a counterattack on the staff from the right as well.

Daikatana’s expression changed, but not to surprise or anger. He wrinkled his brow in a look of focus.

“Ohhh!”

Both men roared and accelerated themselves.

Daikatana’s slash maintained its strength.

Aoe did not pull his punches.

Aoe poured strength into his extending right elbow and wrist.

“Stand strong.”

He poured further strength into his shoulder and planted his feet firmly on the floor.

A moment later, the fist collided with the metal.

The sound was that of a fist punching steel.

“Kh!”

The struck staff lost some speed.

Its black angular shape was visible again. It was now bent from the punches it had taken from either side.

Aoe threw all of his strength into the point his fist had contacted.

He focused all his speed, grip strength, body weight, center of gravity, and will on the punch.

The force of the punch passed through the bent steel.

A tearing sound came from the point of impact and the wind split on the other side of the staff.

In an instant, the metal staff was torn to pieces.

The metallic gray text string surrounding the staff scattered.

In its place, a black light raced from Aoe’s fist.

It expanded until it enveloped Aoe and Daikatana and then it broke apart with a shattering glass sound.

<Aoe’s Sight Mode has ended>

Aoe’s Board Mode: In DT Castle

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Daikatana has fallen to his knees on the floor in front of you.

He is looking up at you with his broken staff in his hands.

You keep your left side tense as you look down at him.

Daikatana: “Well done, Aoe Shouzou. I would expect nothing less from the one chosen by Master Yuo.”

Aoe: “Don’t be stupid. If you hadn’t explained your strongest sword technique, I might not have been prepared to face it. I only won because you told me what you wanted beforehand.”

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

You take a breath.

Aoe: “There is one thing I don’t get.”

Aoe: “I have to know. What makes you think what you leave Yuo will eliminate her anxiety and fear? It isn’t like you can read her mind.”

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Daikatana’s jaw has dropped. It is a look of surprise.

Daikatana: “Do you…not know how to learn what other people are thinking?”

Aoe: “This might be a weird thing to ask, but if you do know how, could you teach me?”

Daikatana: “I will consider it. You would be worth teaching as you are worthy of looking after Master Yuo, but…I do not have much time left.”

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Daikatana’s mouth has curled somewhat upwards. It is a slight smile.

A color other than his shadow colors the floor at his feet.

Aoe: “Blood? But why? Did my fist do that?”

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

The stomach of Daikatana’s inner clothing is soaked with blood. He is lethally wounded.

Aoe: “Really? But that practice is so outdated.”

Daikatana: “This way you will not let your guard down. Since you only have one chance at your coming performance.”

Aoe: “You fool.”

Daikatana: “You are the bigger fool. More importantly…Master Yuo, are you still in Sight?”

Yuo: <Oh, yes, I am. Give me a second. I’ll go to you.>

<Aoe’s Board Mode has ended>

Aoe’s Sight Mode: In DT Castle

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Daikatana had fallen to his knees. The floor was stained with his blood and he was soaked with sweat.

Aoe wiped sweat from his own brow and asked Daikatana a question.

“Are you returning her sight?”

Daikatana shook his head and spoke so only Aoe could hear.

“I am sorry, but not yet. I do not want her to see me like this. My play is not over yet.”

Daikatana did not raise his head as he sighed. And he called a certain name.

“Master Yuo.”

Aoe heard Yuo stand up in response.

Before he could look back, he heard awkward barefoot footsteps approaching behind him.

Daikatana raised his head when he heard the same.

He lowered his metal staff to the floor and held the hand against his side instead.

He wiped the blood off with his hand and bowed his head. He placed his hands on the floor in preparation to prostrate himself.

“Master Yuo, please give me your judgment of my previous attack.”

As soon as he was finished speaking, Yuo arrived at the bloody floor with her head still lowered.

Aoe took her hand when he saw how unsteady she was next to him.

A window saying <Oh.> opened in response, but he did not look to her face and instead guided her in front of Daikatana.

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

He saw the swordsman gradually fading away.

So he tapped Yuo on the top of the head to tell her to hurry up and speak.

But Daikatana spoke before Yuo could think of something to say.

“Aoe Shouzou, you relay her answer for me. Could Master Yuo see my previous sword technique?”

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

Yuo turned toward Aoe, looking close to tears.

But then she nodded, still looking close to tears. A window appeared, conveying her will to him.

He read her window aloud. He did his best to read it plainly, without placing any of his own feelings in it.

“She saw it. She says it was even more beautiful than any you have shown her before.”

Aoe’s words put a small smile on Daikatana’s face.

Then he slowly stood up. He continued to fade away as he stood weakly but firmly.

“Then I achieved my strongest power here.”

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

He opened his eyes and looked toward Yuo. There was no tension on the face carrying those white eyes.

“I have fulfilled my promise. The promise I made to the girl who did not fear my killing techniques, called them beautiful, and said she wanted to see my invisible sword technique.”

He spread his now empty hands and brought them behind his head.

In one smooth motion, he untied the green string tying back his hair.

“You gave me this 2000 years ago as proof of my promise.”

He held a hand carrying a single string.

“Ever since you lost your memories, I have shared the burden of my anxieties with this memento.”

Aoe took Yuo’s hand and placed it on Daikatana’s hand.

But the string fell before her hand could touch his.

Daikatana’s hand was flashing, as was the rest of him, including his clothing.

Aoe caught the string in the air and placed it in Yuo’s hand.

He heard Daikatana’s voice.

“Farewell.”

Hearing that, Aoe looked up and faced forward.

<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

Daikatana was no longer there.

Aoe sighed.

It felt wrong to notice how hungry he was, so he brought a hand to the wound on his chest instead.

Blood was starting to seep from his left chest where Daikatana’s slash had reached him. He knew it would eventually start bleeding too much for his hand to hold back. He needed first aid before that happened.

The feeling of his hand on the wound felt somehow familiar.

<It reminds me of when I woke up in that mountain stream half a year ago.>

He sucked in a breath to stiffen his side and faced forward again.

All that remained of the battle was the dampness of Daikatana’s blood on the floor. But…

“Mh.”

Aoe’s eyes lowered to where Daikatana had sat earlier.

There were two things there.

The first was Yuo’s program.

The other was some writing.

Dark, thick writing spelled out a message on the floor. Daikatana had written it in his own blood.

If it bothers you so much that you cannot read people’s minds, then start by thinking of Master Yuo.

Aoe mouthed the fading words to help record them to his memory.

“Is he saying that is how to learn what people are thinking?”

<Aoe’s Sight Mode has ended>

Aoe’s Board Mode: In DT Castle

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Yuo’s Mouse runs over to the program trigon on the floor.

Yuo has started retying her hair with her head still lowered.

She remains in Sight Mode.

Yuo: <How do I look?>

Aoe: “Great. You can switch to Board Mode now.”

Yuo: <Oh, have you already switched? But Daikatana just returned my sight program, so I was hoping to start it up and get a look at things.>

Aoe: <Makes sense.>

Aoe: <Mh? I can’t seem to speak out loud.>

Yuo: <What’s wrong? You aren’t saying anything.>

Aoe: <This is weird. …Oh, whoops. Yuo can’t read my thought windows when she’s in Sight without her sight.>

Yuo: <Really, what’s this about? Say something.>

Aoe: <Hold on. Something’s wrong here.>

<Warning: Your bodily functions are breaking down. Please resolve the issue immediately>

Aoe: <Huh? Sure, I was just slashed by a sword, but it wasn’t that bad, was it?>

<Warning: The primary reason for the breakdown of your bodily functions is the limited quantity of spare heat energy caused by your hunger. The secondary reason is the bleeding from your chest wound.>

<Warning: Conversion to high performance mode will not be enough. Please resupply on heat energy before you are frozen.>

Aoe: <So an empty stomach is even worse than a wound? What an annoying city.>

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

You are seated on the floor. Blood is starting to flow from your chest.

Yuo’s Mouse has finished installing her sight program.

She opens her eyes and looks to you.

Yuo: <Eh?>

<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Her eyebrows rise and her eyes widen. It is a look of surprise.

Yuo: <Senpai! You’re covered in blood. A-are you alright!?>

Aoe: <Don’t worry, Yuo. The blood is only from a serious injury. The bigger problem is…I’m hungry.>

Yuo: <N-now is not the time for stupid jokes!>

Aoe: <Shut up. I’m ashamed to admit it, but Daikatana was exactly right.>

Aoe: <Sorry. I need time to rest. I’m going to sleep for a bit…>

Aoe: <So please…>

Aoe: <Be there by my side when I wake up.>

<Warning: Your life functions are at risk. Your mental link is being forcibly severed.>

<Aoe has been temporarily frozen>

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