Shakugan no Shana:Volume22 Chapter 2

Yoshida Kazumi was in the midst of wind. It wasn’t a violent amber wind but a gentle one of the fields.

She existed, beneath a vast and distant azure sky enough to make one truly feel the arch of the heavens, across a quiet lake creased by waves with many low mountains covered by the forms of clouds in the distance while nearby, green hills peppered here and there with white before her eyes.

The scent of water, earth and grass filled the core of her being.

The field wind caressing her cheek could have been the edge of a blade of grass or the petal of a flower.

Standing atop a hill, Yoshida took it all in and sighed

“What a beautiful…..dream”

Yes, she knew this was clearly a dream.

Where she was, what had happened, she knew, and that made her heart tremble. A blissful sorrow, a joyous pain, a tranquil misery; she felt that all in this scenery.

That is why; she even knew whose dream this was.

“Thank you, Yoshida Kazumi-san.”

Ahead of her, on the gentle green slope, Yoshida noticed for the first time, a single boy seated with his back facing her.

She understood that was obviously Johan of the Engaged Link.

“Thank you?”

“Un”

Johan gently, quietly responded to the girl’s nervous question over his small back so as to not wake the sleeping “Coloured Wave” Pheles beside him leaning on his shoulder with her cheek close to his.

“Because you fulfilled my selfish wish that Pheles utterly did not wish for.”

Yoshida could not understand the intent behind that strange expression.

“And so you thank me?”

“That’s right. Being within the Reiji Maigo, I would disappear at any rate. You are without a doubt, the one who allowed us to meet again before that happened. And because of that, thank you.”

However, Johan’s honest gratitude was too much for Yoshida.

With frankness stemming from the fact that it was a dream, she gave word to her pent up feelings. “I’m sorry.”

“Nn?”

The sudden apology caused Johan to turn his eyes behind him.

To the one suited to be the wind’s partner; to the boy whose carefree smile was so appropriate Yoshida confessed,

“I probably understand the feeling Pheles-san had when she handed over Giralda. But to change the state of the two whom I love, I forced that which she utterly did not want upon her. So, I’m sorry.”

“…”

Because he was slightly taken aback, Johan smiled in respect for her straightforwardness.

“….You apologize for Pheles’s sake. In the first place, Giralda was a hougu that presented an unreasonable demand from Pheles when she handed it over, and for that reason, you have agonized badly over it. You have been exposed to unthinkable danger. That is why my reply will still be ‘thank you.’”

“Johan-san…”

Facing the awestruck Yoshida once more, who was choking on her words, Johan gazed at the sprawling, picturesque scenery, his contented sigh mixing with the field wind.

“The reason I called you here was to pass a word from a friend. That was originally all, but….now I feel that our conversation has been a very good thing.”

“A….word?”

“It’ll be very hectic from here on so we’ll be too busy to handle this, that’s why. Because ‘she’ did something terrible to Pheles once, Pheles severed all connections with her but….on the contrary, I seem to have everything OK. It’s because we’re friends after all.”

In the midst of that innocent selfishness, Yoshida felt it. A vague helplessness or possibly a hidden anguish.

Although she felt that she was meddling too much, as it was a dream, she still frankly asked.

“From here on, what will you do? If it’s something that Pheles-san does not wish for, then Johan-san….”

“Un. I’ll disappear. This is simply the only thing that Pheles abhors. She has never been interested in her own wishes. I may not have much time left but in this period, I’ll take a gamble….no, rather, it’s more of placing one’s hope somewhere.”

Looking only at the back of Johan who had replied with a certain voice, Yoshida asked with firm faith,

“Is it a cure or something along those lines?”

Kind in every respect Yoshida may be, but her words were denied by Johan with a smile. “No, it isn’t. However, there was once a “Lord” who tried a unique method to overcome death. Should the occasion to use it arise, that may be realized.”

With such an unclear explanation, resigned certainty became words that answered one’s own question.

“We’ll make use of the God of Creation’s Taimei Suikou. That is why we have handed over the ritual changing volume of the tiger hoping to bribe them. Thanks to the model used for reference that those two senior geniuses left behind, the ritual we researched out of interest has reached a somewhat functional level…..Ah, what I just said about making use and bribing; keep it a secret. Else the God of Creation and the Flame Hazes will get angry.”

“Yes, I understand.”

She did not understand most of what was said, however Yoshida still reflexively smiled like a naughty child made to keep a secret.

Led along, with a hint of a smile and flourishing his small shoulders, Johan looked upwards.

“Beautiful scenery no?”

The sky, the mountains, the lake, the dream that they together beheld; all boasted themselves to the girl.

“This here is a young boy but it’s me nonetheless. This is where I first soared in the sky with Pheles. When I heard how my father flew in the heart of the world, I threw a fit that I too should fly.”

Yoshida watched and listened intently, letting the boy speak, a reply from her not being needed.

“I wanted to fly together with Pheles forever, and I endured the chill of the wind and the heaviness of my eyelids. Clinging on tightly to the warmth of our interlocked hands, I hid again and again from the pain. But passing over Constantinople to the side, I lost consciousness…..I found myself falling asleep by this lake.”

Just slightly, his face inched closer to the side.

“When I awoke, I saw this scenery and Pheles who was anxiously peering over me. ‘We’ll fly again together to wherever we want so don’t worry’ she chided me in this strange manner. Since then, we haven’t been here in all these hundred years; the chance to fly together being available for how many tens of thousands of times and how many tens of hours.”

Hotter than tears, his voice, overflowing with emotion, mingled with the wind.

“And yet, why is it that now, Pheles is dreaming this dream?”

Taking in a large breath, and saying loudly

“AHH….WE ARE HERE JUST LIKE BACK THEN!”

As a rooster heralds dawn, he announced the end of the dream

“I AM FORTUNATE!”

Pheles’ leaning shoulders trembled slightly and her hair shivered.

Softly and strongly, Johan pledged to his lover

“From now on, regardless of whatever may be and whatever happens to me, I’ll be with Pheles.”

“Un. Me too, Johan.”

Acknowledging that sincere oath, or possibly building up that oath, Pheles answered and looked over her shoulder.

Yoshida looked upon both their smiling faces which were relaxed in every sense.

She was moved by that pure beauty but at the same time, she felt like the dream was being dispersed on the wind.

“Ah….”

Before long, as the fragments of the dream began to fall, the Engaged Link stood facing her.

Those two, who, for their love, separated from each other, gave faint smiles to the girl whom they had guided to that unexpected meeting.

Their hands joined, never to part again.

And with that, Yoshida, who had been entrusted with the message, awoke.

“….___”

Through the aftereffects of her nap, the entire world before her eyes that she was suddenly thrust into was a vast battlefield.

It was a nightmarish landscape with groups of grotesque Tomogara charging and attacking.

“_____!?”

Yoshida, who was unable to make a sound in that gap, endured her body being contorted.

(I’ve been captured!?)

She fell over in a panic when she realized her body had been bound.

Desperately struggling with her hands to undo her bindings, she suddenly heard the urgent voice of a man from her side.

“Please calm down! It’s alright….”

“…..not really.”

He added impotently.

Yoshida noticed the presence of other people but then, in before her, whose eyes still had not left that nightmare scene, there was a single strike.

It engulfed the area to the side, and detonated.

A black mass clad in brown flames—

Its true form was an automobile pulled along by flames but as it had been pummeled on all sides, it had lost its original shape—

But still it charged on.

From outside the range of its effect, even more Tomogara could be seen flooding towards this way.

However, Yoshida sensed that she was being protected and that she understood what the brown flames meant.

After she’d regained some of her awareness, she regarded her surroundings once more.

Before her eyes was a glass panel that separated her from the battlefield. She was within a room that was moving on its own with sound of an engine reverberating through it.

And with that,

(I’m in a car?)

The thing that was restraining her was a seatbelt.

When the disgraceful picture of her desperately struggling here became clear now, her face turned red.

And this was only because she had the leeway to do so.

Again from there,

“Have you calmed down yet?”

From her left side (she couldn’t so much as tell left and right apart,) the voice came.

“Sorry for the confusion with the belt. For the time being, the interior is my domain of responsibility. The impacts and slopes are largely of no concern but it’s a habit of mine whenever someone’s sitting in the front seat.”

At that man’s reassuring voice, Yoshida turned towards him and gave a feeble smile but then she fell into a panic again.

Because at the driver’s seat desperately gripping the handles, was a strange man in a green uniform cap, his face hidden by goggles and a scarf.

She intuitively sensed that he was a Tomogara but she could also feel that he was a friend. But even so, that was not a situation where a lone girl like her could easily get used to.

As she had grown somewhat accustomed to what would normally be feared, the driver asked casually,

“As I thought, isn’t it much better to use transformation spells? Despite all appearances, Lord Khamsin has a wealth of battle experience that we can ask about.”

“Alright, alright. Para, if you’ve got time to bother about extra stuff, just stay focused on driving.”

From somewhere else, came another voice, that of a middle-aged man. With a stiffening of his back, the driver, “Yorei no Gyosha” Para, redoubled his efforts.

“Yes, apologies, Boss.”

With that, he manipulated the long shift lever, shearing the handle side to side. The car flew forward, with fresh bursts of brown enveloping lightning.

Dokan, came the sound of them running aground on something solid. However, as what the driver said, within the car, the shaking as was evident from the scenery, could not be felt.

The throaty voice came again, this time speaking with Yoshida.

“My lady, it’s a bit noisy but please bear with it. At any rate, it’s like this all around.”

In the not very large windows of the light van, the thing where dancing flames were reflected and passionate cries roared was a battlefield.

To tidy up that horrific “landscape” which would cause one to immediately faint if he were to let his guard down was not kind in the least. The situation was heavy with the threat of the window flying apart.

“The plan was to secretly escape but there aren’t many escape routes. In this case, we choose the one with fewer enemies.”

The boss, “Shinin no Fu” Gyuuki, was a wooden mask at the middle of the front grille forming the leading edge of the vehicle towards the battlefield where originally an alphabet group emblem had been placed.

When that mouth moved, a voice that dispelled all worries was projected towards the interior of the car.

“As we do not have any means to do so, we can only run from place to place within the city until the situation changes. Understand?”

“Y, yes. Err….where are Khamsin-san and his band?”

Before Yoshida, who was nodding while asking,

“Look atop the roof—”

Before the nose of Gyuuki who had replied, buying brief moments of respite for the charging vehicle, a mass clad in brown flames was moving with terrifying speed and weight.

Large numbers of Tomogara who approached it were artlessly butchered.

“Our bodyguard is busy as well. Before that, have you received the message from our master and elder sister? Take a look at those two in the back. Honestly, we can’t do everything up to there.”

(Master and elder sister refer to Johan-san and Pheles-san isn’t it?)

Yoshida guessed without asking and nodded once more.

“Yes, I understand.”

Her entire body feeling as if it were being pulled apart by the landscape that was shaking and flowing more than what she could physically experience, Yoshida, who had somehow undid her seat belt, passed through the narrow space with the driver’s seat (she had some difficulty doing so) and entered the luggage space in the rear.

When she saw the thing that was in that small space, cleared of seats, she reflexively sucked in a breath.

“……!”

At the heart of the scattered, broken fragments of Western armor that used to be defensive equipment, across the crimson fist that had burst apart under ferocious impact, the Jizaishiki that had been driven by means of the ring Hougu “Chorde” into the world egg that carried the Paradise “Xanadu” was temporarily increasing the empowerment of the surrounding’s “Taimei Shihen.”

It was like a ripple that was thunderously roaring Shana’s will.

Or it was also a pathogen eating away at the egg of the world.

The avatar of the God of Creation “Sairei no Hebi,” Sakai Yuji, having fallen after receiving a tremendous blow,

“Ku!?”

Somehow regaining his posture at the same time, the General “Senpen” Sydonay, taken aback by the strange phenomenon overhead, sent a call towards the staff commander in the central control room.

“HECATE—!!”

He directly called the name of the girl who had become the nucleus of the egg.

Before the reply from the control room had even arrived, there was a response, that of the Miko “Itadaki no Kura” Hecate.

《―It’s….al…..right―》

She sent those faint feelings too ethereal to be called words to Sydonay.

《―But….I….feel…..bad―》

Continuing, the staff commander “Arbiter of Reverse Reasoning” Bel Peol sent to those two

《There is no damage》

In response to that curt status report,

《This is not damage》

The voice of Bel Peol, who was reminding, dipped at that unexpected event.

As she had said, even if the world egg had rode one full round on the ripple, no change to its structure had occurred.

The damage to the ritual that Yuji and his circle feared, a destruction that was likewise, brought about by the “Imperial Psalm,” did not appear anywhere nor was there any shard of evidence of it.

But it was because of that, that it was odd.

It was the first time since the opening of hostilities that Yuji looked up at the strange phenomenon that was not strange overhead because he had forgotten something.

“What, happened—!?”

The voice of the “Sairei no Hebi,” who had finally, for just an instant, turned his awareness towards the battle, spat from the same mouth.

“What happened to the paradise I’m creating?”

Before that,

“….”

Sydonay, who was standing guard over the avatar, projected a neutral façade through his sunglasses, which were concealing a rage that was on the brink of exploding.

Before they realized it, they were confronted by three hunters who were equivalent to six.

At the left, clad in the short and thick battle robe “Toga,” the Flame Haze of “Claw and Fang of Violation” Marchosias, “Composer of Laments” Margery Daw opened her mouth in a wide, crescent shaped laugh.

“That guy has a statement from someone about to be bashed in”

“Mark that, listen well, Kiiiihihihihihiii!”

On the right, with countless ribbons flying in a mane from a mask, the Flame Haze of “Crown of Fantasy” Tiamat, “Performer of Ten Thousand Ribbons” Wilhelmina Carmel placed her hand to the side in display.

“A decree of the god that judges gods….now is the time you receive the honor of that.”

“Prostrate yourself and listen well.”

And finally, in the middle, blazing into incandescence, twin wings of crimson and a jaw with massive fangs, the “Flame Haired Burning Eyed Hunter” Shana said,

“Our goal is not to stop you.”

“However, we can’t approve of you wildly acting as you please.”

Alongside that, the God of Divine Retribution “Tenjou no Gouka,” Alastor, grandly proclaimed his own judgment in a loud voice.

“― For this new world that is being created, we are going to―”

“―Newly weave in a single rule―”

Yuji, who had heard both of their voices, immediately understood.

As a fighter, the effect of the Jizaishiki that had been driven home.

“The target was not the destruction of the spell formula…..it was an alteration!!”

“Sairei no Hebi,” who had heard both of their voices, strongly raged.

As the God of Creation, the abnormalities wrought as a result of the Jizaishiki.

“You’re going to warp the fruits of the Tomogara that will be realized by my hands?”

And so on one hand, he doubted if he should just accept everything on faith.

On the other, he directed his attention towards the timer floating in one corner of the battlefield.

《48:20》

Like twisted ropes converging, Yuji gave voice on both considerations.

“And that new concept is?”

He smoothly asked in the voice of the God of Creation.

“Some kind of snare that will entrap the Tomogara in future?”

Shana and Alastor would never lie to buy time.

They would again answer clearly, having nothing to hide when questioned.

Casting their authority at their enemy at a magnitude great enough for the entire battlefield to hear,

“―There will be no eating of human beings. The new concept is simply just that―”

“―We will never allow this new world to turn into an unconditional paradise―”

The thundering voice was like an imperial decree.

Before long, everything settled down again.

Yuji realized it,

“That…..is…..”

The God of Creation felt it.

“The paradise has been thrown into chaos―”

Those females had quite simply, by means of that concept, recklessly and wildly, thrown down the gauntlet for battle.

The Flame Hazes and the God of Divine Retribution exist in total opposition to the Guze no Tomogara and the God of Creation—

As judging eyes, as the power that hunts and slays, the “Enpatsu Shakugan no Uchite” and her companions exist—

In the midst of the reckless and unrestrained Guze no Tomogara, a divine existence that solemnly exacts retribution exists—

Thus was it revealed.

For the paradise, that was exactly the biggest threat.

Before the shining forms of Shana and Alastor who had declared that war,

“…..”

“―”

Yuji could feel his voice trembling.

“……That, means…”

The God of Creation noticed the abnormality.

“―mu?”

The intent from the two caused him to grab the chest of his raiment with the hand that was not clutching the great sword.

It was as if he were firmly holding down something that was slightly out of alignment, forcefully securing it.

His expression resolutely remaining unchanged, Yuji spoke.

“Sydonay,”

He commanded the General in front of him.

“Do your worst.”

“By your will.”

The incredible force of rage compressed into humanoid form that was Sydonay, in respect to the overwhelming will exhibited by the avatar, curtly answered as he shot forwards.

At the same time, with his outline gradually dissolving, he swelled in size.

At the back of that, “Sairei no Hebi” personally sent a call to Bel Peol in the central control room.

《My strategist, we should wait until the brink of the final hour before using that.》

《Yes. While we work out extraneous plans, we give them time to consider new moves; we should not allow them any of that, our Commander.》

She smiled with her voice overflowing with joy from the pleasure she gained as a strategist from being always consulted for the basis of the execution of her Commander, the God of Creation’s war strategies.

Nodding, “Sairei no Hebi” spoke with the avatar’s mouth,

“Above all else, let us all work together to solve the imminent problem.”

Putting more strength into his grasping hand, he surveyed the battlefield he would subjugate.

He had chosen his own path.

《NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—!!》

At the base of the massive pagoda “Shinsaisha,” “Tirelessly Seeking Researcher” Prof. Dantalion’s hysterical cry reverberated at a great volume which did not lose to Shana and her companions……However, it was neither a reaction to the declaration of war nor an expression of differing opinion regarding the objectives they had spoken about.

《THE MEEEMMMMMMMORRRYYY LOOOGGSSSS OF ALLLLLL THE RITUAL’S CONTINUOUS OPERATIONS UP TO THE MANIFESTATION HAAAVVVEEEE BEEN COMPLLLLLLLEEETTTELY WIPED!? FURTHERMORE IT’S BEEN ALTERED!? IIIIT’S WHAT YOU CALL A CRISIS OF AN EEEEEMMMMERGEEEEEENNNNNNCCCCCYYYYY—!!》

More than anything else, the anger at his own plan being thrown into disarray was fully scattered over the battlefield by the speakers protruding outside from the top of the control room.

In synchronization with its fabricator, the iron colossus kicked up the surface of the river, also acting like a child throwing a tantrum.

Invisible vortices coalesced in those two fists; the execution weapon “Trap of the Swinging Fist” that would thrust the target into the rift between the two worlds if it hit, blasting it from this world.

Continuing from that, Domino calmly read the list out loud.

《Red alert positions are core sectors level three through five, major structure groups 10510 to 50468. Next, operation groups 3061810 to 96185101.》

《WHAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT MASSIVE FIGURES! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNDDDD, SUCH POOOOOOOOOOOOWERRRRRRRR TO OOOOOVERWRITE THE CORE IN ONE SHOT LIKE THAT TO BOOT!! IS THHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTT THE WORK OF A JIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIZAISHIKI!?》

Slicing apart the air that was reverberating from the Professor’s cries, throwing up wild and turbulent waves and bearing two Flame Hazes upon it, the Jinki “Zorya” flew.

Through the gap between the killing fist the iron colossus was swinging and the field of rocks floating around the Shinsaisha, it charged with a momentum like that of an arrow that had its trajectory curved.

The aurora shots it would sometimes fire, “Draken’s Roar” and “Grippen’s Howl” were however mostly deflected by the “Trap of the Swinging Fist” which acted as a shield, causing them to uselessly bore through the masses of rock.

Contrary to its outlandish appearance, the Professor’s vaunted defense system accurately coordinated itself and chased down the two Flame Hazes.

Meanwhile, the conversation continued to blare from the speakers.

《Ehhhh, somehow when the code was forced in, by means of the operation of the renewal function for the alternative plans, a large portion of formula was overwritten in one go…..huh, the composition of this technique and formula is the same as that previously tested in the professor’s innovation experimentsOWOWOWOWOW》

Intending to hide whatever shady thing in the latter part,

《FUUUUUUURRRRRTHHHHHEEERRRRRMORE! THAAAAAAAAATTTT RESULT WILL PREVENT CHANGING THE EXISTENCE OF HUUUUUUUUMAAAAAAAANNNNNNSSSSS?》

The Professor finally made reference to the war declaration.

《DAAAAAAAAMMMMMMITTTTTT! INEXPLICABLE, SENSELESS, MEANNNNNNIIIIIIINNGGGGGLLESSSSSSSS CLAUSES THAT ARE ILLEGAL! THIS IS A BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE ENTIRE WORLD THAT IS THE COMPLETED FREEDOM LAND XANADU!!》

“That’s why that is disgusting Oyaji-dono.”

“For one thing, it’s because we are Flame Hazes.”

With something like a clicking of his tongue, the “Puppeteer of Devilish Skill” Sale Habichtsburg and the smug “Hanging Trap of the Kimono Patterns” Gizo artlessly plummeted at high speed towards the center of the flowing landscape.

“Sale-san!?”

“Chyo!?”

“What are you doing―”

“Kyokkou no Ite” Chiara Toscana, who had instinctively turned around and the confused “Hagyou no Senku” Utrennyaya and “Sekibo no Koujin” Vechernyaya pushed the flying “Zorya” ahead.

“Well then, although it’s a little demanding”

“Let’s all do our best no?”

Sale and Gizo took one, two sliding steps on the river’s surface. The speed almost causing him to fall over, he spun the cross-shaped marionette controller Jinki, Länge and Saite that he drew from his waist, like dual handguns while at the same time restraining himself from falling.

Of course, this was not putting on a show.

It was an action for the purpose of lengthening the invisible strings that extended from the controllers.

《WHO’S AN OOOOOOOOOOOYAJIIIIIIIIIIIII!? TOOOOOOOOOOODAY’S THE LAST OF MESSING ABOUT WITH STAGNATING FAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILURES! LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG GOODBYE!!》

In parallel with the Professor’s voice, multiple iron colossi, each wielding “Trap of the Swing Fist” rushed to crush him.

Dead in the center of the river’s surface, Sale, who had suddenly stopped moving the cross-shaped controls, adopted a lowered posture.

“You want to say goodbye…….huh? I completely agree!!”

In a single breath, he raised both arms.

From the controllers at his fingertips, invisible strings ran in all directions on the water’s surface.

At the leading tips, numerous hands made out of water appeared.

They caught the legs of the approaching iron colossi; using the force of such great masses charging forwards to topple them.

However, when he used this tactic again,

“!?”

The expected friendly-fire kills from the “Trap of the Swinging Fist” did not happen.

The invisible vortices that wrapped the hands of the iron colossi vanished right before they contacted with each other giant.

“Chi, he did wail something about getting that countermeasure before.”

“As expected, he’s unpleasant up till the last.”

From the machine fabrication room protruding out, directed at Sale, who was clicking his tongue this time round, and Gizo, whose tone had not changed, was the supremely smug voice of the Professor.

《NNNNNNNHHHHUUUUHUHUUHUUUUUHUUUUUHUUUU! YOU ALWAYS UUUUUUUUSSSSEEEEE THE SAME TRICKS ON MEEEEEEEEEEEE》

Trampling down on the fallen iron colossi with immense weight, a jumping object could be seen.

Having appeared from beneath the water’s surface and composed of rocks; it was a puppet of a lion baring its fangs.

The materials were the ruins of the rock field that had been submerged in the depths of the river after being shattered after numerous fierce battles.

《―NOOHOOOAAAAAAAA!?》

The anti “Puppeteer of Devilish Skill’s” strings system that had been installed in the rock field that acted as a shield surrounding the great pagoda “Shinsaisha,” was lost after being destroyed.

Sale had daringly leapt into the heart of danger to ascertain this fact.

(Next is to find out how tough the Oyaji-dono’s existing protrusions are.)

The fallen iron colossi, lying on top one another in the water stood up with grinding noises, straightening their stances.

Standing in the water, Sale’s expectation of continuing the attack from his lion was however, suddenly broken.

“!”

It took the form of the lion leaping in the wrong direction and shattering after it collided with the wall of the pagoda.

Together with that, he was also pulled along.

He realized that the strings made of invisible energy had all been seized together from the middle.

There was no need to ponder who was behind this.

Standing in a corner of the floating rock field, was “Golden Hand of Desire,” Mammon.

“In the paradise, it’s overflowing with “Power of Existence.” Knowing this, you still expressly forbid the eating of humans. Are you planning a compromise with those who voice differing opinions to the Creation to protect humanity?”

By the shadows cast by the light of the “Covetous Hand” he muttered his suspicions as a Tomogara.

“In any case, we do not want any harm to the work— namely the crystal we wished for— of the God of Creation.”

Noticing his appearance, Sale—

(He’s already here eh? As my compatibility with him is the worst, I really don’t want to face him.)

(He’d planned for one excellent timing to enter the fray, that’s thus a futile discussion.)

Exchanging his thoughts on the moment with his partner, Sale adjusted the length of the strings extending from the controllers in both his hands. With the point where the strings were grabbed acting as a fulcrum, he danced through the air like the young of a spider which traveled by throwing threads into the wind.

That action which took all delicate skill was however, extremely forceful.

“A most dangerous bastard like you….”

His coat flapping, he flew forward in a single breath,

“We can’t let them get to the other side!”

“That’s a hell of a task on us!!”

The machine fabrication room at the same time the lion was shattered,

《P…P….PROFESSOR!?》

《EEEEEHHHHHHHHH, PEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRSSSSIIIIIIISSSSSSTTTEEEEENNTTTTT ARE WEEEEEE!》

Pochi, at the instant when that faint sound could be heard at the end of his voice,

ZUBA!

With the sound of the air detonating, a massive electrical discharge that shrouded the entirety of the machine fabrication room occurred.

“Gu, ah!”

“This is bad!”

By the flashes in his eyes, his entire body burned by electricity, Sale lost his balance.

Mammon, watching in the distance, thought,

(A free gift—)

Partway through aiming his hand, lit by the Jizaihou “Donshishou,”

“—!!”

He turned behind on the spur of the moment.

ZUN!!

Aurora light struck him dead in the center, giving his beautiful white face a small grimace of pain.

Having been unable to continue grasping the enormous power which thus exploded in his hands, his splendorous body moved to evade.

“Oh, that was dangerous.”

Ripping up the end of his tailcoat, Zorya shot through with Chiara riding on it.

If he were fixated on holding on to the aurora light or if he’d delayed dodging by half an instant, he’d have been slaughtered in one attack.

Of course, that did not happen as he was an immensely powerful Lord.

“Just a little more!”

Regretfully and calmly, Chiara flew Zorya on a zigzag course.

It was a countermeasure to prevent getting caught in Mammon’s “Donshishou” but right now, that minor loss grated on her nerves.

“If it were that easy, no one would need to suffer.”

“More importantly, keep calm and hurry up!”

Receiving the additional thoughts of Utrennyaya and Vechernyaya, the arrowhead-shaped Jinki that flew at such speed that it tore free from the shadows, scooped up the smoking, fallen form of its mentor in one breath.

His hand pulled along, barely clinging on, Sale’s convulsing body calmed with a slight coughing fit.

“Apologies”

“Ah, how shameful”

Faced with both their frank apologies, Chiara did not immediately reply.

As she had been focused entirely in escaping, when she steered Zorya into the cover of the rock masses, Chiara exclaimed like she was releasing all her pent up stress.

“Just what were you thinking pulling off that crazy stunt, Sale-san!”

“Yeah, yeah, getting all hot-headed like that, it’s not like you at all.”

“All this while being taken in by the old man’s excitement, it isn’t that shallow a relationship?”

In the face of successive criticism, Sale did not flinch.

Far from it, he answered with a rare serious expression.

“It’s exactly because it isn’t shallow that I was impatient like that.”

“Anyway, now is a once in a lifetime opportunity in which we can slay the “Tantankyuukyuu” Dantalion. It’s likely we’ll never get a second chance again.”

Gizo was definitely not exaggerating when he said those words.

He knew the Professor was a master of escape with the title of “The most uncontrollable Tomogara in this world.”

He spent his madness and genius on far too grand undertakings and due to that, his attachment to each project was non-existent.

If he felt only the slightest hint that he was in danger, or perhaps could not see the interest or worth in what he was currently engaged in, he’ll make a quick exit regardless of whatever responsibility or position he has.

And on top of that, his means were wide ranging. Unable to be guarded against in the first place, in that manner, the trouble caused by his wiles was perfect.

However, now was different.

In the midst of a never seen before undertaking of immense scale, the creation of the paradise Xanadu that originated with the God of Creation “Sairei no Hebi,” and as one responsible for its technical aspect, he sat on a seat in which he has oversight of everything.

In the capacity he holds, he could not flee this place.

Or perhaps, he basically did not conceive of fleeing this place.

It is here then that “Tantankyuukyuu” Dantalion, unable to flee, will be slain.

Sale muttered,

“I was thinking that being a little brash would get the job done.”

Gizo also calmly stated,

“You’re right that it was out of character but please understand our aggression.”

Chiara had originally been of the position where she should stop this dangerous, overly impetuous behavior.

However,

“I understand.”

Riding hard atop Zorya, her words were the polar opposite of that.

“Then at the very least, please take me along too.”

““Chiara!?””

In response to the voices, combined in surprise, of the Lords, Chiara laughingly replied,

“If they were restrained and would listen then Sale-san and Gizo-san wouldn’t just charge ahead from the outset no? If that’s the case then together, let’s combine our strength and break through head-on. It’ll be fitting for us as the “Kyokkou no Ite.””

““…..””

Right now, they were all moved to the point of speechlessness.

There, with a laugh carried in his voice, Gizo suggested,

“Please be our escort, our Chiara.”

Lowering his hat over his eyes, Sale murmured softly yet clearly.

“Well it’ll be easier for two people together to escape death.”

Her entire face lighting up with a smile at the recognition of her own self as an assassin, the shadows of the iron colossi once more loomed before Chiara.

In the time it took for them to speak, they had circled entirely around the Shinsaisha.

(What?)

Bracing herself, her eyes, while scanning for an evasive course, noticed a strange sight.

The vortices in the giants’ hands, the execution weapon which ejected everything, had swelled to much larger than before in a single turn.

The vortices which enveloped their hands had, together with an irregular pulsation, expanded until they swallowed up to the middle of both arms.

Already, half of their upper bodies could not be seen due to the vortices.

“Sale-san!!”

“!”

Solely by her voice, Sale took the hint.

Extending scores of invisible strings at the water rather than the rocks, he caused Zorya, which they were riding fast upon to make a wide U-turn.

In the midst of that,

“Chiara!!”

Solely by his voice, Chiara took the hint.

In the middle of her field of vision as she turned at high speed, she saw at an even greater distance than the iron colossi, a point of bright yellow light, and fired the shooting star like “Draken’s Roar” and “Grippen’s Howl.”

The aurora stars that had been set to detonate immediately after they’d been fired were scattered in billowing light beams.

By their accelerating pressure on the fleeing Zorya, its form was hidden from the “Donshishou” which sought to target it as it was turning.

The bottom half of those bursting light beams were swallowed up by a massive vortex that the giants released together at once.

Everything suddenly turned into an unnatural void space.

Nothing could be seen, or rather, the vortex had vanished after everything there was to be seen had been sucked in.

“Sale-san, right now….!”

“Ah. Another announcement of new weaponry now huh?”

Chiara and Sale shuddered at the realization of that.

Until the surface of the riverbed, like a crater, a sharp, spherical void had been cut.

Water was rapidly pouring in, covering any trace of it.

What just happened was evident even without further explanation.

Naturally, the Professor explained anyway.

《HOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW’SSSSSS THAT!? TAKING THIS “KIKEN NO KENTOU” TO THE NEXT STAGE, THIS IS THE POOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWERRRRRRRRRR OF THE UUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLTIIIIIIIIIIIIIMAAATTTTTEE BOMB THE “KISAN NO TAIKEN!!” NOOOOOOO ARMOUR OR JIZAIHOU IS A PROBLEM! FROM A SINGLE ATTACK, A 30M DIAMEEEEETEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR CIRCLE WILL BE SWAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLOOOOWWWWWEEEDDDD, MY EXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNTTTTT SUPER WEAPON NUMBER 2!!》

Ten of the iron colossi still remained.

In one group, they surrounded the area.

Waiting for an opening in the distance, Mammon had little time left.

《NNNNNNNN HUHUHUHUHHUUUUUUUUUU! IF YOU CAN’T DOOOOOOOODDDDGGGGGEE COMPLETELY, PAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTT OF YOUR BODIES WILL BE CAAAAAAAAAAARRRRIED AWAY YA? IF YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUU WANT TO DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SOMETHING THEN I RECOMMEND CURLING UP YOUR ENTIRE BODY NIIIIIICCCCCEEEELYYYYYY! 》

Although he could not escape, or perhaps because he could not escape, a serious “Tantankyuukyuu” Dantalion was not an easy opponent at all.

Shana and Alastor’s declaration of war on the paradise caused dramatic changes on the battlefield surrounding the great pagoda Shinsaisha.

The Three Gods of the Great Land, who had halted in their tracks, resumed their offensives at the same time on all three sides.

The various garrisons of Bal Masque facing that withdrew further from the Three Gods who were up to some devious scheme.

Coupled with precautions at the objective of their defense, the Shinsaisha, it caused a considerable deployment of troops in the rear areas.

Entrusting the task of engaging in direct battle with the Three Gods to the countless Tomogara closing in from outside the Fuuzetsu might have been a half-hearted strategy but it made the commanders of the garrisons realize that they had all unknowingly gotten drunk on this extremely thrilling behavior of sending fodder to the meat grinder.

This was due to the fact that gathering large masses of troops to stop the Three Gods was as futile as doing it with a thin piece of paper.

Consequently, for the Three Gods who had resumed their advance, it was just like proceeding through a deserted field as they caught up; only needing to push into the areas that the garrisons had voluntarily retreated from.

The commanders of the three directions had their own individual forms of regret for their blunders but with the Shinsaisha already at their backs, there was no longer any allowance for scant leisurely introspection on the subject.

At last, the head-on attacks from the directly led Bal Masque troops on the Three Gods faltered.

North.

Facing “Souha no Furite” West Shore whose footfalls were like light taps on the surface of the Mana River, “Doubou no Kura” Orobas, who had discarded his human guise and became a black war horse, charged.

Standing on his back was “Roukou no Kinu” Lerajie.

Leaving his troops far behind, he charged forward.

Naturally, this wasn’t behavior that was born of recklessness.

Rather, it was to use themselves, who had the greatest combat ability, as a shield for their men before they exhausted their options.

Orobas roared,

《If this is in response to the Hime-sama’s reckless words, just what tactical implications for this renewed offensive are there!?》

Lerajie replied in a curt and calm manner,

《Who knows? Even if it wasn’t, it’s difficult to tell what the girl’s thinking from that face she’s wearing.》

They aimed straight at the girl who dragged along a tempest of death, interwoven with silent cries, as she walked—

West Shore.

All around, countless Tomogara who did not understand for what reason they fought, whose ears Shana’s proclamation did not reach, harassed her and were annihilated.

The annihilation was not carried out by West Shore herself.

The two bears that accompanied her at both her sides and the walruses bearing razor-sharp tusks that appeared from the water’s surface beneath her feet were all beasts freshly wrought from the water itself.

From the outset, West Shore herself was timid and frail and she looked as if she would occasionally collapse to the ground weeping.

However, as what Lerajie said, whatever the battle situation, that appearance never changed at all.

It was due to this that both of them thus felt dread.

(But then, all the more….!)

(We cannot let them come any closer to the Shinsaisha……!)

In the heart of battle, their youthful selves did not have the freedom to carefully consider the meaning and significance of the declaration of war.

Whether as mere warriors of the army heads or as the commanders of a company, they acted as such only to wield their abilities.

Putting in strength into his rear hooves which were kicking up the surface of the water, Orobas raised a column of water like an explosion.

From the top of that water column, both of them aimed unerringly at her, flew towards West Shore.

“―Clad us, ‘Nimrod no Kira’―”

As she murmured, the hem and sleeves of Lerajie’s waving white robe billowed like sheer silk.

Becoming translucent, they covered Lerajie herself as well as Orobas whom she rode on, before they knew it.

From directly ahead, with their wings vibrating, a flock of hummingbirds flew towards them.

Of course, this was an attack, freshly crafted out of the water by West Shore.

Deftly cleaving through heavy armor with a single wing, it was a storm of bullets.

However, those two flying through the air completely did not allow the birds to come close to them.

Or rather, the hummingbirds changed their course, avoiding them.

Lerajie’s Jizaihou, ‘Nimrod no Kira’ had allowed her and Orobas to evade.

Having totally evaded the more than thousand strong flock of projectiles, Orobas, aware of the form of West Shore who was being guarded by the bears, sucked in air until his chest was full.

“KAAAAAAAA!!”

Orange flames vomited forth.

The blazing exhalation dissolved the already swinging arms of the bears, vaporized their faces and destroyed their entire bodies.

Additionally, Orobas himself as he exhaled and Lerajie riding atop him also became a flaming mass.

Facing West Shore, whose eyes were opened wide at their alacrity,

“SHAAAAA!”

Having reassumed his human form, Orobas thrust his long-handled axe forth as a spear.

With the bears guarding her already destroyed, she didn’t have the leeway to send something flying forth from the ground beneath her feet or to conjure up some large-scale unnatural event.

Right now, the lone girl who cowered in fear―

Kan!

―With that, that girl’s footwear lightly flicked the side of the axe-head.

“!?”

Before the eyes of the surprised Orobas, that one-piece outer garment, covered with mysterious patterns, fluttered.

He was aware of the slender right leg that extended from her robe hem as it unleashed a graceful high kick.

The kick continued, making a small sharp turn from the impact point, the second attack from that same right leg struck home on the cheek of the youth who had drawn near to herself.

“Ka―”

Orobas, whose consciousness was sent reeling in a flash from that piercing assault, fired projectiles of flame in desperation to keep his distance from his opponent.

With prescient timing, Lerajie barely managed to pull clear of the space between them.

West Shore, who had landed on the river surface quickly bent down to commence her next attack with a frightened expression on her face…..and knitted the brows of her troubled face at something strange.

From the medal at her waist, “Seihyou no Suzu” Chalchiuhtlicue gently pointed out,

“The water….is heavy.”

“Those groups opposite….what does it look like they’re doing….”

West Shore’s teary eyes lingered on the ranks of escorting Bal Masque Tomogara troops enacting a Jizaishiki beyond Orobas and Lerajie, who were standing directly before her.

What they were carrying out appeared to be over ten different kinds of interference activities directed at the river water.

If a power that afforded no protection against the “Three Gods of the Great Land” by its lonesome was gathered together in large numbers and various forms, and devoted purely to hindering them, they will be dragged down and impeded.

They had approved of the measures planned beforehand as there was a location from which they could extend their grasp from the source of the water that acted as the main constituent for mutual interference.

“It’s a little troublesome.”

At Chalchiuhtlicue’s distressed— yet not to the point of gloominess— murmur, West Shore somehow put on a slightly joyful look and replied

“But this is just right.”

At that moment, the onrushing Tomogara, who were not of Bal Masque, were all casually slaughtered by another high kick.

A giant crocodile whose lower jaw was kicked up, causing its upper jaw to burst apart—

A three headed armored beetle which had been struck through in a line from its temple, obliterating half its head—

A bat man who was cleaved in by her left leg like a keen blade crashing to earth while, at the same time, her right leg hammered home on its forehead, blowing its entire head away—

They were all turned into water.

West Shore touched her finger to the tip of that water and with that, condensed the liquid into a string of ten harpoons.

“I too feel that compared to continuously fighting with those who cannot return to Guze….”

With her grasping the end of that string as she spoke right at the center, she skewered the multitudes of Tomogara scattering in all directions. At an accelerating rate, the amount of water grew.

Before anyone realized it, the freshly formed water in her hands was no longer a slender string.

It had become a massive octopus that stretched its tentacles in mid-air.

Orobas and Lerajie shuddered at this terrible skill.

(Fucking, monster!)

(There’s no stopping her like this)

To the two people who’d blocked the plan of having the garrison engage in a general counter-offensive once the attack weakened, an unbelievably gentle voice reached.

“…..Speaking with these Bal Masque people is far more fun.”

Beneath the extended tentacles of the octopus, on a stage that the panicking Tomogara could not get close to for the moment, West Shore held out her hand as if ushering someone.

“We would wait right until when we receive the words of the God of Divine Retribution “Tenjou no Gouka” Alastor and “Enpatsu Shakugan no Uchite” Shana. For this reason, all of you should embrace their message.”

Moved by her empathy, as well as a hidden broad-mindedness deep within them, Orobas, Lerajie and the Bal Masque garrison behind them nearly caved in to her words. 《She’s trying to deceive us》

《 Don’t you fall for her charms now》

Both of them having returned to their senses as they bantered, Orobas spun his long-handled axe several times before slamming the rear end down on the river surface.

At the sharply reverberating sound, the troops of Bal Masque regained their wits and steeled their hearts.

Into the Jizaihou still binding the river water, into the weapons they each grasped in their hands, they charged with their power in preparation.

“After all this, why would we listen to anything similar to the Hime-sama’s drivel!”

“Persuasion doesn’t seem like what Flame Hazes do.”

To Orobas and Lerajie who had mustered their will to fight, West Shore’s reply was really strange.

“This isn’t persuasion. After all, there’s no need to reverse anything.”

Chalchiuhtlicue’s cold voice, in direct contrast to the girl who cried and laughed for their sakes, confronted the main issue as if she were beginning a lecture.

“Where shall we start? Yes, first we begin from the words we gave to the ‘Enpatsu Shakugan no Uchite,’ ― we’ve had a wonderful dream, and we’re going to make it come true. ―”

Orobas and Lerajie secretly inclined their heads within their hearts.

West.

“Gunma no Meshite” South Valley’s undead horde which had suddenly and rapidly advanced from the main street of the residential district and the buildings which they were positioned in were met head on by the garrison commanded by “Yousen” Haborym.

First, there was the repeated fortifying of the defensive Jizaihou, then after that, pole-arms, teeth and claws were thrust from the gaps to destroy. Everything else acted under the protection of various Jizaihou; such was the Tomogara phalanx.

Even if the Three Gods of the Great Land had managed to break through due to unpreparedness, a solid wall that fights for all intents and purposes would stop this.

The flawless assembling of the force was surely credit for Bal Masque’s name.

The road surfaces in the entire area were burning lilac from Haborym’s Jizaihou “Keiryougen,” strengthening the garrison in its entirety.

Narrowly halting the hordes of earth-formed undead was the result of this strengthening.

Haborym himself was at the rear of the garrison.

(It isn’t that there is no battle objective, simply that the condition for commencement has not been fulfilled?)

He didn’t have to take specifically take command of his army since he was able to obtain detailed statuses of movement and communications into the area within the zone of effect of his “Keiryougen.”

If necessary, he would unflinchingly throw himself into the fray but at present, the time for that strategy had not yet come.

His thoughts revolved only around the enemy’s intentions.

(Let’s say they are acting as decoys to aid a swift infiltration, why did they halt before that? If the Hime-sama and the God of Destruction’s message was a signal, why did they resume their offensive after their aim of perverting the Paradise had been achieved?)

He could not help feeling that the Three God’s actions did not add up.

The undead horde adopted the tactic of swarming from the rear of an assault, devouring the Tomogara it attacked, then pumped the dividing/multiplying portion into the Bal Masque formation.

Encircled from the start by numbers they could not deal with they thus adopted a position for siege.

For them to dive into a chaotic melee where no superior ground could be gained and where they were caught in between the front and rear on top of that was unspeakably stupid.

(But those bastards are definitely nothing of that kind)

On the contrary, they were an exceedingly dangerous enemy that acted according to their own independent logic.

If it was as expected, it would be proper to look for any other hidden objectives of theirs.

(It’s a little overly violent but eventually, we have to arrive at a solution.)

Presently, at the rear of the garrison……namely the battlefield very near to the Shinsaisha, the “Hyakki Yakou” that bore the uncertain factor of the “Engaged Link” were literally fleeing and hiding.

Shana’s party, “Engaged Link”, and The Three Gods of the Great Land; it was not impossible that these three forces were collaborating in any way.

Even if there was no relation, it was unknown if inter-contact between them could give rise to whatever chemical reaction that would create a poison for Bal Masque.

To avoid this danger, Haborym assembled the southern garrison in a tight formation, blocking the routes; the advice by Bel Peol, who had also seemingly discarded her concealment, making things easier.

Only the south will not fall to the Three Gods; they had far more than enough to do just that.

(On top of that, on the avatar’s orders, “Kodeki no Hai” has been sent in again. When that happens, their capture would be close.)

Just then, using “Keiryougen” as a medium, a single message by his subordinate was delivered.

《Commander, the entire body has been formed up.》

“Alright….advance to the range of the ‘Keiryougen’s’ effect. On my command.”

《Ha!》

Haborym, for whom the incredibly rapid advance of the undead horde was enough to somehow make his blood freeze, finally managed to recover true calm in his heart.

With the blazing “Keiryougen” as a medium, he oversaw the battle field on a grand scale within both his heads.

Before long, the power that was narrow and confined at the rear areas where friendly forces were but which spread out at the front where the enemy was, acquired a single figure.

A little close to the front of the roughly circular undead horde…

“Hahahahahaha! Hopelessly stubborn, you are.”

“What, I’m all for testing our endurance against an enemy hero!”

From the medal at the waist of South Valley, who was seated on the chair atop the golden litter borne by undead, “Tanshou no Kan” Tezcatlipoca raised his voice in fury.

(The undead preparing for an assault are not massing. The front line is at a stalemate….there is no movement.)

The answer, calculated from that intel was provided to the entire garrison as clear and concise instructions. By the same token, the deployment of advance units was ended.

And with that, minute corrections to targeting began.

(Here)

Once more sensing the makeup of the entire battlefield, he gave the execution order to all his troops in one breath.

《 First action! Second action! 》

On receiving the silent order that was transmitted only to Haborym’s friendly units, the formation of the front-most rank parted in three large areas.

Next, filling the empty gaps, flaming shots were fired from the rear, forming a barrage.

《Third action! Fourth action!》

Additionally, within the troop ranks, their angles of elevation set at zero degrees, the line of Rinne cannon opened fire simultaneously.

Dishing out destruction that pushed the limits of being withering and unrelenting, the Rinne fire enfiladed the undead horde.

《Fifth action! All troops―Charge!!》

At a speed such that their bodies were scorched by the residual flames yet still well-organized, the garrison rearranged themselves in their battle formations and charged into the attack.

Although dreadful devastation had utterly blown away an entire chunk of the horde, the undead did not halt in their tracks.

Their golden faces, which gave away no hint of their intentions, shining, they only pushed on.

Even so, squarely taking the simultaneous bombardments from the three positions in the face would definitely result in physical losses.

Before the decidedly significant breaches could be filled, the Bal Masque garrison thrust themselves in. Or more specifically, it was the result of a concerted attack against the remnants of the undead frontline.

At this, Tezcatlipoca and South Valley burst into wild laughter.

“Well done! As expected of the one much admired within Bal Masque, ‘Yousen’ Haborym!”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA! How unlike the pre-operation subtlety that we, this pack of hunting wolves, have!”

They were crossing over the hardened earthen bulwarks formed by the undead to protect them.

Directly beneath their litter,

““!””

South Valley hammered his artificial leg down, sending him flying away to cover from the attack that had come from the blind spot that was the Earth’s surface.

Rising up, clad in gold fragments, his scarecrow-like body grown to three times its original size, was Haborym.

Casually smashing the litter bearers who assailed him from all directions to ruin, he spoke to his escaping targets.

“How flattering, how extremely and humbly delightful….to be in the presence of “Yousen” Haborym.”

And then, he noticed.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA! No need for pleasantries. I was about to kill you while you were at it in a single breath.”

“Umu! Saves effort, having your opponent whom you were going to enlighten come over here.”

“Gunma no Meshite” who had answered, lightly lifted the golden chair atop the litter in one hand.

With a crash, he dropped it heavily to the ground.

Pointedly crossing his legs, he re-seated himself upon the chair.

While confirming that the surrounding undead encircling them were not moving for some reason, Haborym asked,

“Enlighten, about what?”

He judged that even if they were stalling for time or trying to deceive him, he would still get a clue to the nature of their intentions.

Treating Haborym’s aim of doing so as though it were nothing more than wind blowing from somewhere, South Valley and Tezcatlipoca answered in a happy-go-lucky manner,

“It’s tiring having to deduce each other’s intentions, I’ll say this first.”

“That’s right. It’s the same as constantly saying ‘kill! Kill! Kill!’”

This was exactly the heart of what Haborym wanted to know, so he sought to examine their true intentions.

Tezcatlipoca roared in a delighted voice,

“It’s because this war is a frenzied execution ground where everyone will come and gather no matter how many you kill.”

“Ten thousand, a hundred thousand, a million; kill that many and still the greed towards the new world will be a bug zapper that outshines all…..that’s why here and now, the beasts that have a taste for humans, those vermin that actually feel that way must be exterminated as far as it is possible to do so.”

With shadows forming from the resultant creases on his face,

“Whittling away little-by-little the experience of eating humans. For the sake of the new world soon to be born.”

He burst into an endlessly deep smile.

At that conviction which was beyond understanding, Haborym reflexively asked,

“Simply killing…..for that reason, the ‘Four Gods of the Great Land’ are going to become sacrificial pieces?”

Now, South Valley’s smile became mixed with amusement.

“I don’t feel that we’ve become sacrificial pieces, but whatever. If that’s the case, then there’s a message for all of you.”

Before Haborym knew it, the golden masks of the undead surrounding them were forcibly distorted and they began to sing.

“―We are of little significance. The reason for our path of life is―”

“―To propagate our eternal feelings. We are merely a single strand of rope―”

“―And thus we, whose bodies are the edge of a cloth, set out on a journey that pierced time and space―”

They sang joyously and boisterously as they slew and ate.

Translator's Notes and References

Taimei Shihen: Imperial Psalm

Enpatsu Shakugan no Uchite: Flame-Faired Burning Eyed Hunter

Shinin no Fu: Deeply Hidden Raft

Yorei no Gyosha: Coachman of the Slave Palanquin

Choushi no Yomite: Composer of Laments

Itadaki no Kura: Ultimate Throne

Gyakuri no Saisha: Arbiter of Reverse Reasoning

Senpen: Thousand Changes

Kikyuu no Kinshou: Golden Hand of Desire

Donshishou: Covetous Hand

Tantankyuukyuu: Tirelessly Seeking Researcher

Kyokkou no Ite: Aurora Archer

Hagyou no Senku: Vanguard of Dawn

Sekibo no Koujin: Rearguard of Dusk

Kikou no Kurite: Puppeteer of Devilish Skills

Kiken no Kentou: Trap of the Swinging Fist

Kisan no Taiken: Great Gircle of Sublimation

Souha no Furite: The One who Stirs the Ocean Waves

Doubou no Kura: Saddle of the Outburst of Ferocity

Roukou no Kinu: Robe of Musty Light

Gunma no Meshite: Summoner of the Devil Horde

Yousen: That which Fans the Flames

Keiryougen: The Field that Burns from the Baleful Light of Mars

Kodeki no Hai: Chalice which Drowns one in Poison

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