Accel World (先飞看刀) Accel World Vol 3 Chapter 13

Chapter 13

When he dove across the Umesato middle school gate, it was just a few seconds before starting of the unforgiving late count.

After checking that his Neuro Linker connected to the school net without penalty, Haruyuki breathed a sigh of relief, and wiped the sweat from his face.

The front courtyard was already mostly empty of students. This time if he could not make it to his cla.s.sroom within five minutes, then he would be counted as late anyway. He climbed the stairs after being irritated from having to put on his indoor shoes, then flew through the cla.s.sroom rear door, where his two childhood friends who were already seated turned to look at him.

Chiyuri’s eyes look worried, but Tak.u.mu’s eyes have a pained look in them. Haruyuki returned looks from one of their face to another, bit his lip hard, then quickly went to his seat.

Chiyuri was concerned about Haruyuki being forced into a dangerous position, and Tak.u.mu was probably disappointed with Haruyuki for not telling him anything. However to resolve this situation from the foundation, it could only be done if Haruyuki somehow conquer Noumi Seiji/Dusk Taker in a duel.

At this moment, Noumi held «Haruyuki’s real information», «Video in front of the shower room», and «Flight ability» three cards. On the other hand, Haruyuki only know about «Noumi’s real information».

But if he thought about it, then the Burst Linker’s real information is way too lethal, that no matter how many other cards were gathered could not be canceled out. Even in this era, somewhere in the United States and Russia deep sea, nuclear missile submarines swam like ghosts, and similar to that, even one of them could have a huge deterrent effect. For example, if Haruyuki expose Noumi’s photo, real name, address, and his duel avatar name in the accelerated world, then Noumi would be same as dead as a Burst Linker. If radical groups willing to do Real Attack go after him, he would probably be bound till all of his points are drained dry. Haruyuki heard that happened in no small numbers of times in the past.

That was why, the «Video» that Noumi recorded with his tricky setup, in the end was a card that could or could not be used due to its power. If he submit that to the school authorities and it reach a point where Haruyuki’s school life was destroyed, then he should at least have understood that there is the danger that Haruyuki would expose his «Reality» while in desperation.

That meant, in order to make Haruyuki into «A dog that brings points to munch on», the card that Noumi would use without hesitation would be «Flight Ability» only. But, in order to transfer points, it could only be done in a duel, so if he could win against Dusk Taker even with his wings robbed, then he could resist or possibly even turn it around.

Of course, this decision, would mean that he would have to bid farewell to the silver wings that shone brilliantly on Silver Crow’s back until yesterday.

But even that is fine, Haruyuki’s heart decided. It was not because he was given new way to fly by Sky Raker. The attachment towards that wing’s appearance as an object, was forcing dependence onto his small frame, he finally realized.

‘—— I will, defeat Dusk Taker who has my wings.’

‘—— And then eventually, without the use of ability or enhanced armament, show that I can fly in the sky with just mind power.’

Holding both hands tightly, Haruyuki declared that to himself.

Right after, the front door opened, and their homeroom teacher Sugeno entered. His tense mood, made the noisy cla.s.sroom suddenly returned silence.

Before the stand and bow courtesy ended, Sugeno said in a loud voice.

“Everyone, keep standing!”

After the students who were sitting down stood up again with troubled faces, the young j.a.panese history teacher, with blood vessels appearing on his face under the short hair, again ordered.

“Everyone, look down and close your eyes!”

The air became more dubious, but pushed by Sugeno’s threatening att.i.tude, everyone quietly followed the order. Haruyuki’s mouth was twisted, but also did as told.

“...Good. Listen like that. Everyone, I think you already know. Yesterday morning, a small camera was discovered in the heated pool girls’ shower rooms. Fortunately, it was soon noticed as the students entered, so basically there was no victim, but even so that is something that absolutely cannot be forgiven. Sensei is sad. And then ten times more angry. That there is a student in this Umesato middle school who did such a despicable thing.”

‘Bang!’, the teacher’s podium being hit sounded.

“...This time, since there was no victim, this morning’s meeting decided that it will be kept to punishment inside the school. That’s why, listen... if, the offender is in this second year C cla.s.s, lift up your head now, and look at sensei. If you give yourself up, then the punishment will be lighter. How about that... is there anyone?”

‘—— Are you seriously saying that?’

Haruyuki was appalled while facing down. Even with head down and eyes closed, with just one manipulation of the virtual desktop, the Neuro Linker camera video can easily be displayed inside the eyes. There should be students who were actually doing that right now. Anyway, after angry, despicable and punishment being freely said, who would be crazy enough to confess.

Haruyuki of course did not raise his head, and other students were the same. Sugeno stubbornly made everyone stand for over one minute, but eventually said in a low sound.

“...Alright. This is the final chance. Sensei, will not be so lenient next time.”

‘That speech sounded like you are certain that the offender is in this cla.s.sroom.’

He was nervous that Tak.u.mu might actually say that —— Kuroyukihime would definitely say it —— fortunately, he heard “Okay, sit and open your eyes.” sound there. After 40 chairs creaked, when it became silent, the teacher said.

“If you are going to confess, do it today. Before the punishment gets more severe.”

While that was said, he felt that Sugeno was staring at him intently, so Haruyuki frowned. And then soon, he thought, ‘Ah, that’s right’. The day before yesterday, on the Sunday that Haruyuki came to school, the log of it should have remained in the school local net. Going to school on a non-school day when he did not belong to any club, must be the reason why Sugeno was suspicious. But with just that degree of evidence, he could not even be called to the student counselling room.

Haruyuki looked away while making a ‘I don’t know about that’ face. Doing so, he saw Chiyuri’s eyes who looked at him sidewise. Seeing her deeply scared by fright, Haruyuki this time sighed. Chiyuri had just became a Burst Linker for a few days. She did not know that there was a huge risk of reality intrusion for Noumi if he actually used that video.

He wanted to tell her «Don’t worry» with email, but with Sugeno stubbornly glaring at him, in exchange he just sent a short, but strong look to Chiyuri. She seem to have felt something, and after his childhood friend’s mouth moved slightly, she looked back to the front, but the bluish white on her cheeks did not disappear over time.

The morning cla.s.ses, Haruyuki listened with twice his normal seriousness, and took lots of notes. Since if he drift off even slightly, his consciousness would soon be drawn waveringly towards the direction of his revenge match with Noumi.

However, he had no way to challenge Noumi who used some kind of unknown method to block being registered in the matching list even now. The chance to fight him again, would probably be when Noumi come to «collect» next week’s share of points. Anyway, he still have to practice with the ultimate unruly enhanced armament he got from Sky Raker. If he thought like that, then one week is too short.

When attending cla.s.s seriously, the time was strangely short, so in no time the noon break chime was rang. He looked at Chiyuri and Tak.u.mu to see which of them he should talk with for a bit, but Chiyuri was eating lunch with a few girls, and Tak.u.mu left the cla.s.sroom without even looking at Haruyuki.

After a short sigh, as his back lifted up in order to chase after Tak.u.mu first, a small message receive icon blinked in the center of his view. Neither an email or voice call, it was a full sensory mode conversation request dialog.

Who would that be, at the moment he looked at the sender’s name, Haruyuki crashed down to the chair with a thump. He instantly forgot everything, closed his eyes and whispered the command.

“D, Di, Direct Link.”

Due to too much of a rush, his stuttering command was accepted by the Neuro Linker, and Haruyuki’s five senses were cut from the real world. The cla.s.sroom scene was painted by darkness, and he was soon visited by a falling sensation. If he wait like that, then he would land in the Umesato middle school local net’s VR s.p.a.ce, but before that, Haruyuki extended his hand towards the access gate floating in front of him.

His body was sucked in virtually, and where he was spitted out ——.

Under the intense sunlight and could not be any more blue sky, right in the middle of a white sandy beach that stretched everywhere.

He stood up with the pink pig avatar shape, took a few steps towards the sh.o.r.e seen somewhat far away, then Haruyuki noticed that this was not a virtual s.p.a.ce made with polygons. There was no sensation of stepping on sand. That meant this was a real world optical image taken with a video camera and projected to Haruyuki’s sight as a planar view. The proof for that, was when he looked left and right, the scene did not follow and was distorted by unnatural perspective. Right behind him was complete darkness.

The conveyed information should be sight and sound only, but strangely he could even feel the hot and dry wind of the southern country, so Haruyuki took a deep breath. Right after that.

“Ya..., long time... maybe not. Three days no see, Haruyuki-kun.”

With the familiar, yet never even slightly boring sound echo, a figure appeared smoothly from the right side of his view.

Large straw hat. Thin white parker. The deep black hair on those shoulders, glittered with light as sunlight slid on them.

With both hands behind her, Kuroyukihime who had a slight irritated expression, quickly continued.

“Is there any lag? This is connected through the student council room server to the local net there, so it might be a bit slow.”

“N... no, none at all, it’s fine. There is no noise either. Ah... that is, Go, good day, Kuroyukihime senpai.”

After a bow with his avatar’s head, Haruyuki again looked at the shape in front of his eyes.

There was no three dimensional feel due to it being an optical image, however it was not made with polygons, it was the real Kuroyukihime. She went to the trouble of using a camera, to bring the Okinawa scene to Haruyuki as promised.

“Be, beautiful, very. The beach too... ah, also, senpai too.”

After he added the end with a very small volume sound, even though Kuroyukihime had half a wry smile, a happy smile appeared on her lips, and she also turned towards the emerald green sea.

“It’s the Henoko beach. Just earlier, a military plane that you like so much flew pa.s.s.”

“Is... Is that so. Wish I could have seen it.”

While saying that and other things, Haruyuki’s sight nailed down the pure white bare feet extended from the hem of the parker. When Kuroyukihime again turned towards him, he quickly looked up towards the sky and un-naturally said.

“W, ww, weather is fine so that’s great! The sky is very blue, just like the «Desert» stage!”

That side should be looking at the camera lense, and should not be able to determine where Haruyuki’s eyes were focusing on, but even so Kuroyukihime seemed to have felt something instinctively, and firmly pulled her hem down while her lips became slightly pointed.

—— At that moment.

“Geesh, Hime, how long are you going to be in that shape?”

With that sound, a new figure appeared from the left side of the picture and was framed in. The fluffy haired girl, was a student council member known to Haruyuki. She was wearing a pink one piece swimsuit, that made Haruyuki’s throat tighten in a gulp, but the girl who went around behind Kuroyukihime, suddenly acted unbelievably.

With tremendous sleight of hand, she lowered Kuroyukihime’s parker zipper, and pulled it off with both hands.

“Waa, hey, what are you doing!”

“Who was it that went to all the trouble of going with someone to pick swimwear this morning?”

While laughing in a giggle, the female student waved towards the camera.

“Arita-kun, relax and enjoy yourself.”

And then quickly framed out from the right side. After that, only left behind Kuroyukihime with bright red face under the straw hat, holding her hands tightly in front of her body.

The swimsuit that appeared from under the released armor, was of course black. Furthermore very small separated one, with close to 90% of the pure white skin exposed. At that point, when he saw bright sunlight reflected from the bulge top of two modest and extremely graceful arcs, Haruyuki felt his heartbeat suddenly rose, and had to take many deep breaths to prevent his Neuro Linker from Linking Out him due to abnormality.

Eventually, Kuroyukihime looked at Haruyuki with upturned eyes, and said.

“...W, well, that is, you know. Since this is Okinawa.”

“Th, th, that is right. OOO, Okinawa after all.”

He would very much like to press the record b.u.t.ton on the side of his view, but doing that during full dive connection would let the opponent know. So without any choice, as the real time video flowed into his brain, he carved them into his memory with his whole body and soul, and Haruyuki desperately moved his mouth.

“Ah, that, err, that... v, very, very much... f, fits you.”

“...Th, thank you.”

With a slight smile, Kuroyukihime again put her hands behind her back, which he stared at her body naturally, and what pulled back Haruyuki who was going to faint this time was ——.

In the porcelain smooth skin of the lower left side of the abdomen, there was a very faint crosswise small scar.

“...!”

Haruyuki’s eyes opened wide for a moment, then he bit down hard on his lips, but since the virtual pain created was way too slight and not enough, he bit down with all his strength.

That scar, was without doubt from half year ago when she suffered near death serious injury after saving Haruyuki from a runaway car. The modern regenerative medicine development should be able to erase most treatment marks, but even that should have a limit. In other words, her wound was that deep.

The reason for the silence seem to have been guessed by Kuroyukihime’s perception this time also, and after a slow blink, a gentle smile different from ones till now appeared on her.

With a held up left hand fingertip, she lightly caressed that scar.

“...Normally it could mostly not be seen. Under this strong sunlight, just a little.”

Haruyuki could not reply to the quiet sound. With her head lift up, looking straight at the lense —— directly at Haruyuki’s eyes, Kuroyukihime strongly said with somewhat more firm voice.

“There is no need for you to feel bad. This is my only decoration. Since I was born, the first wound and pain from protecting someone instead of just fighting. And then right now, this scar supports me.”

“...Senpai.”

Haruyuki somehow was able to whisper that one word, as he tightly held his avatars hands.

‘—— I will, never, never, hurt you again.’

He once more confirmed his vow that he repeated many times before inside his chest, but at the same time, he was also aware of a vague sense of guilt.

At this time, if Haruyuki explained the predicament he had recently fallen into, Kuroyukihime would be angry at why he did not tell her immediately, and would probably be hurt again. And then probably, she would make up some kind of excuse to immediately return from Okinawa, and try to save Haruyuki to the best of her ability.

However, that was exactly why Haruyuki did not tell her. In order to become a knight that can protect Kuroyukihime from any and everything, he felt that right now he has to fight with his own fists.

“...Senpai.”

After calling her another time, Haruyuki said as firmly as he possibly could.

“I too..., I too will become stronger. Although up till now I had just been protected... even so, someday definitely, I will become strong enough to support senpai.”

“...Un. But, I said it before, slowly is fine. The joy of protecting you, if that was too quickly gone, it would be boring.”

Her smile became something mischievous, and Kuroyukihime took a step forward, then lightly slid her hand at Haruyuki’s avatar’s position.

“It will be gathering time soon, I will contact you again. I will return there on Sunday, so decide what you want for a gift by then.”

At the moment that was said, inside Haruyuki head, «Okinawa trip gift» and «Territory battle reward» got mixed up, and the resulting words that came out of his mouth was ——

“Ah, then, th, ththth, thirty centimeter, di, di[1]...”

“Ha? What? Thirty centimeter diameter... long Sata andagi? Hey hey, no matter what, I don’t think that would be for sale... well, I can try to find it...”

‘What a glutton’. Being hit what that amazed beam, Haruyuki hurriedly shook his head many times. But sadly, that motion could not be seen over there.

“No... that, that is... —— If it exists, it would be nice... The trip, please enjoy it...”

“Un, thank you. Then, see you.”

After saying that, Kuroyukihime who reached her hand towards the camera, stopped while muttering “Ah”. He immediately raised his head that was hung while downhearted, and while trying hard to resist looking at Kuroyukihime’s pure white slender legs, Haruyuki inquired.

“Wh, what’s the matter?”

“Come to think of it, Tak.u.mu-kun sent me a strange email. About that kendo club’s first year student suspected of being a Burst Linker...”

“What.”

Swallowing a breath, Haruyuki continued in a rush.

“Email... about what!?”

“Nn, about that... person called Noumi I think, he asked if I could check that first year student’s entrance exam point results for each subject, and I was planning to reply after checking the student database, but did you hear anything from Tak.u.mu-kun?”

After she told him that in a secretive voice, Haruyuki opened his mouth with a snap.

“En... entrance exam? Why that data at this time... —— No, nothing from Taku...”

“I see... ah, I have to go. Then, disconnecting here. See you.”

With a slight wave of her right hand and a flash, the connection from Okinawa was finally cut, and only Haruyuki remained in the dark plane. He soon forgot about Kuroyukihime’s ultra high definition swimsuit video, and tried to guess what Tak.u.mu was thinking of, but could not come up with anything.

‘He might be digging around to gather various data’, Haruyuki thought, and after saying to himself, ‘But the only choice left is for me to «Duel» with Noumi’, then he mouthed the ‘Link Out’ command.

When he returned to the real world cla.s.sroom, there was only ten minutes left of the noon recess. He hurriedly stood up to go buy bread from vending machine, and took a glance at Tak.u.mu’s seat, but he still had not returned. When he looked to Chiyuri next, he saw she was in a rare full dive. After staring at the Neuro Linker on the hung down slender neck for a bit, Haruyuki left the cla.s.sroom.

‘—— Like this, the situation would not change for a week.’

Haruyuki predicted it would be like that. After Noumi said that he would not go after Tak.u.mu and Kuroyukihime for a while, he thought that nothing more would happen.

However, Haruyuki was mistaken about his childhood friend’s intelligence and action ability, he who had cornered the Black King, Black Lotus. The time when he was forced to realize that, was soon after the contact from Kuroyukihime —— Tuesday, 5th period, right before the physical education cla.s.s ended.

Compared to the girls who were practicing creative dance in the gym, the boys were given instruction for a 3000 meters running measurement that make you feel somewhat of a gap, so Haruyuki went around the schoolyard track while huffing and puffing.

In the center of his view, heartless digital numbers engraved the time. The remaining distance and predicted goal time that he did not want to know, and also from average pitch to heart beat was displayed, so as he looked at the violently shaking heart mark, he was worried if his heart was going to explode like that.

Most of the students had already reached the goal, and only a few extreme cultural type people like Haruyuki remained. The sports club people seemed to have too much remaining energy, so that a few happy go lucky people were even imitating Haruyuki’s stumbling form and was running with him on the inside track, ‘s.h.i.+t, you jocks better remember this, one day when I become level 9, I will use Physical Full Burst in the 100 meters measurement to get the world record, then when the track and field club come to scout me, I will say something like “There’s an anime I want to watch” for rejection, serves you right, idiot, idiot’.

While thinking such absurd thoughts, Haruyuki exerted his best spurt on the last straight line.

At that time, he caught a glimpse of the shape of Tak.u.mu quietly sitting near the goal line.

His childhood friend was not looking at Haruyuki’s sad flat out run at all. It did not seem to be samurai’s compa.s.sion either, towards a point in the air —— that meant he was staring deeply at some kind of AR information.

‘What is that guy doing?’, Haruyuki thought as he wiped infinite flowing sweat off his forehead.

Far in his blurred vision, Tak.u.mu’s lips opened slightly, seeming about to whisper some kind of command.

Of course, he was not within range to hear the content. However the words that were issued, were the only ones that Haruyuki could read from lip movement, that command. That was ——

Burst Link.

‘...That guy Taku, why is he accelerating right now...’

While thinking that, Haruyuki wanted to complete the remaining tens of meters in a full power dash, and put his right foot down.

At that moment.

‘—— Vis.h.i.+!!’

With that familiar cold thunder explosion, the ground’s color changed. Going through a sense of transparent blue, towards a greenish dull silver. The back of student running ahead, the sports club member beside who teased him, and the PE teacher waiting at the goal line all disappeared.

“Oo... oops... uwaa...!”

Right after, Haruyuki’s body was covered by light, and was changed to the white silver duel avatar. After falling forward for a few steps, he controlled the strikingly changed light body movement compared to his real self. After standing up by stepping on the hard ground, Haruyuki leaked out a sound of shock under his helmet.

“Ta... Taku!? Why are you «Dueling» me right now...”

—— Naturally, he thought of it like that. Tak.u.mu accelerated, and right after he was also accelerated, so Tak.u.mu should had challenged him to a duel through the local net.

However, it was not that.

The flaming words that came up with a rumble as it craved in the center of his view was ——

[A REGISTERED DUEL IS BEGINNING!!]

That was, «A registered for viewing duel has started». Haruyuki was not the dueler. He was a gallery. Since Tak.u.mu started a duel with someone, Haruyuki who registered as viewer for his duels was automatically accelerated, and invited to the stage.

In the upper left of his view, the name of the one who started this duel, «Cyan Pile» and his HP bar appeared.

Next, to the upper right, the Burst Linker that was challenged ——

The name «Dusk Taker» appeared.

“Wha...”

Haruyuki gasped. Dusk Taker, that is Noumi Seiji used some unknown method to normally block being registered on the matching list. To challenge him in school, it could only be done like what he was forced on by Noumi the previous day, bind his real body and forcefully direct connect with him, it should be like that.

About thirty meters ahead, the heavy looking indigo and blue avatar stood up. Here he finally looked at Haruyuki, however instead of saying anything, Tak.u.mu raised his right hand and motioned him to back off. Anyway, other than «Parent Child» and «Same Legion» gallery, they could not close to within ten meters of the duelers.

Cyan Pile soon looked back to his front side, and the blue light eyes inside the small slits lined on the mask, captured the top part of the school building.

The normal cla.s.s building, was already changed to a sticky metallic l.u.s.ter biological form. Numerous windows were all replaced with eyeball like black convex gla.s.s, and the wall was lined with numerous protrusions that looked like gills with fins and folds. The sky was painted a weird green color, and the wide schoolyard was covered with blood vessel like tubes of wiggly moving metallic tentacles. Without doubt, it was the «Purgatory» stage.

Taking a step away from the metallic insects that were crawling around his feet, Haruyuki again wanted to ask Tak.u.mu how he managed this.

However before that, a ‘Bushaa’ kind of hideous explosion sound loudly echoed in the field.

He looked towards the source of the sound, near the center of the third floor, an eyeball gla.s.s around the first year B cla.s.sroom was shattered from the inside. From the hole in the wall, large amounts of sticky mucus flowed out, and while kicking those aside with his feet, a small shadow bled out from inside the dim darkness.

“...Well well, I expected you to be a more cautious type, Mayuzumi senpai.”

With the light youthful voice, the shape that appeared was the blackish purple color duel avatar, Dusk Taker, and as he looked down at Tak.u.mu from high above, he slowly shook the blank spherical visor left and right.

“Gather my data little by little, knead trends and countermeasures again and again, and when you eventually move it would be too late..., I wanted to give that kind development to you as a present too.”

“I have gathered more than enough data already.”

After that blunt retort, Cyan Pile shook his left hand slightly.

“That’s why I can pull you out to the duel stage like this right, Noumi?”

“...”

Facing Noumi who leaked out a slight displeased breath, Tak.u.mu this time held up his right hand metal pile, then continued.

“Noumi Seiji. The trick that you used to block being registered in the matching list, is regrettably still unknown. But, the moment that wall is canceled, is already possible to be guessed.”

“Ca, canceled...!?”

That shout was from Haruyuki. Tak.u.mu took a glance at Silver Crow who stood away from him, and at this point he finally talked to Haruyuki.

“Yea. Noumi use acceleration ability in the real world for personal gains. Even for just a practice match in the kendo club. Then, naturally he would use it for other situations. To knock down someone, to finish homework... and of course also, for tests.”

“Test...”

At the moment he whispered that, Haruyuki felt he finally realized the reason for Tak.u.mu’s strange questions that he asked Kuroyukihime.

As if seeing through that, Cyan Pile lightly nodded, then moved his sight towards Noumi above his head.

“At this moment, the first year students are taking their first proficiency test. The fifth period subject, Noumi, is History where you got full marks in the school entrance exam. Of course, with the power of acceleration. ...Except, different from kendo match where you just need to sign in, during the test you need to often transfer data back and forth with the school local net. You cannot be separated from it. That was why I thought, that during this fifth period, you would momentarily contact the local net with Brain Burst, so I waited. And then when using acceleration during a test, naturally it would be just before time expires. Using outside application to check items and gather them up should be better for efficiency. The result is...”

As you saw.

Tak.u.mu spread his left hand wide to show it was like that.

Haruyuki who listened while even forgetting to give responses, involuntarily sighed with deep admiration.

At the last moment before the test which he got full marks during entrance exam ended, Noumi would appear on the matching list for one instant. Tak.u.mu who arrived at that deduction, continued to accelerate many times while sitting in the schoolyard, and continually checked the list probably.

For Noumi whose action was read precisely, after continuing to be silent for a few more seconds, suddenly shouted brightly.

“Something like History test, what is it anyway! Something that can be instantly understood after searching, don’t you think it’s totally pointless to answer based only on memorization? Furthermore during test you are connected to the local net, yet only browsing the database is blocked! Makes you think it is some kind of joke!”

While laughing with shoulders shaking, Noumi continued with gradually lowered temperature sound.

“...Mayuzumi senpai, early you said it like this right. ‘Acceleration ability being used in the real world for personal gains’ ...as if, makes it seem like that is the lowest misdeed. But, I have to say, I don’t trust the people who only use Burst Points for duels. In that case, why would it have to be «Brain Burst»? Aren’t there mountains of other more cruel, violent, and furthermore painless games around? —— After all, you people also think inside your heart that you are the privileged cla.s.s. One of just 1000 acceleration ability users in the world, different from other slow kids, like that. While clinging to that elite consciousness, and not use the ability for advantage? If that is not hypocrisy and deceit, what else can it be called...?”

“Not particularly, I have no intention of condemning you.”

Tak.u.mu lightly shook his shoulder, and countered.

“Just a little while ago, I too used acceleration ability to cheat a lot. How to use points, that’s personal preference, do as you like. Just, if you are willing to accept one advice from a senpai, you are getting too many full marks, Noumi. Just inviting useless attention, with no gain at all.”

“That is where our opinion differ. For me, anything I can obtain, it is my principle to want the upper limit. Even for just one point in a test, or just one point in a practice match. No... to be precise, it should be call «Rob», Fufu.”

Moving his avatar’s upper body out from the hole in the wall, Noumi’s right hand equipped with the huge cutter, thrusted his palm above.

“There is a limit to all things existing in the world. Then, when someone obtain something, at the same time someone lost just the same thing. As though it is a conservation of energy. This world’s fundamental principle is a «Contest», senpai. For me, I... love to rob, but above that, cannot tolerate lost, and being robbed. Right now you, are about to rob a maximum of 1.8 seconds of my time. Furthermore, valuable time during a test. In order for that to be forgiven... naturally requires compensation. Of your Burst Points.”

“No... it is I, who plan to make you return something you got unfairly, Noumi Seiji. What you robbed from my best friend, his important thing.”

At the instant he heard that quiet sound, Haruyuki’s body immediately tensed up.

Tak.u.mu already knew. That Silver Crow’s silver wings, were robbed by Dusk Taker.

A somewhat sad look appeared on Cyan Pile’s fierce looking face, and Tak.u.mu momentarily looked at Haruyuki.

“...Last night’s, your duel in s.h.i.+buya, I heard the rumor about it, Haru. Sorry... that I did not notice anything. This time, is my turn to fight.”

“Ta... Taku...!”

Hearing Haruyuki’s short shout, Tak.u.mu held up his left hand thumb to say “Leave it to me”.

At that moment, Haruyuki strongly felt his own smallness. Haruyuki who said nasty things to hurt his best friend because he did not want him to know about his lost of wings and power, even so Tak.u.mu still wanted to save him. For just that he wrung his intelligence and spent points to make this duel possible.

“Taku...”

While strongly holding his fists tight, Haruyuki felt ashamed of himself for trying to resolve the situation while hiding everything. He even momentarily forgot about the acc.u.mulated long training in the Unlimited Neutral Field for that purpose, and Haruyuki released a shout from the bottom of his heart.

“Taku, Win! Not just for me, so that he understand your strength, win!!”

“I will win. For taking back your wings, Haru.”

With a nod, Cyan Pile who took a heavy step out, thin blue flames blew up in the area around his right foot and made the air waver.

Dusk Taker who was the target of that spirit, turned his head away as if disgusted, and lowly spat out.

“Aah... please don’t make me watch something disgusting. It will give me gooseb.u.mps. Seeming to believe in illusion like «Voluntary Friends.h.i.+p», looks like only blissful people can do it with a straight face.”

Here, the blackish purple avatar that finally fully appeared from the dark hole, coiled his left hand tentacles around the edge of the hole, and smoothly descended by extending those. After kicking away the metallic insects creeping about the ground and landing, he looked at the much taller than him Cyan Pile from about twenty meters away with upturned eyes. Returning the tentacles released from the school building wall with a whiz, he lightly touched the two curved horns extending from his avatar’s back —— the folded flying membranes.

“Return what I obtained unfairly? Don’t joke with me. Anything I rob once, is forever mine. Until I am bored of it, and don’t want it anymore. I am starting to like these wings... so until Arita senpai finish paying the two year loan, I will get the most enjoyment out of it.”

Feeling huge rage and disgust in the bottom of his stomach, Haruyuki grounded his inner teeth together.

However before he can say anything back, Tak.u.mu’s unchanged quiet —— but still filled with high heat flame sound whispered.

“No, that’s wrong. No matter what, robbed strength will never become your own. Strength is... something you produced, polished, and trained, there are no other way of obtaining it.”

“Oh ugh... someone like you, still saying things like that.”

While showing the gesture of covering his mouth with his right hand, Noumi taunted.

“Since talking anymore will make me puke, it’s about time I accept your points and leave. The test only has five minutes left too.”

And then the diminutive avatar lowered his waist a little, and held his hands in front of his faceless mask.

On the other hand, Cyan Pile took an imposing stance like in a kendo match, and only thrusted his left hand straight out.

In the upsurge of fighting spirit, Haruyuki took a step back and quickly shouted.

“Ta... Taku, that guy’s tentacles can revive even if cut! The right hand cutter also has a lot of cutting power! Also, if you are bound, and get hit with a black beam from the mask, it will rob ability or enhanced armament, be careful!”

Even if it was bad manner for the gallery to give advice to one dueler, but of course in this situation there is no reason to be reserved. Haruyuki’s sound, made Noumi give him an irritated glance ——

Right after, Tak.u.mu moved.

With a ‘Gashuu!’ rumble sound, the blue giant flew out at a speed that made him hazy.

Something not possible for a heavy type body, a fierce frontal dash. Furthermore, with no motion. What produced the propulsion force, was the right hand pile driver that poked the ground behind him sometime ago. Using the special attribute of «Purgatory» which made the ground into hard metal, the power of the metal pile that he fired out was changed straight into dash power.

Maybe momentarily caught off guard, the slow to react enemy’s face was closed in by Cyan Pile’s huge fist with a howl.

Dusk Taker gave up on evading, and took a position to guard with both arms crossed. The punch that still landed coming from above, made the battle’s first attack spread out bluish white flashes.

An impact sound like hammer smashed onto iron plate roared, then the diminutive avatar was blown away spinning. It looked like he would crash into the school building behind him like that, but he coiled his left hand tentacles around the protrusions on the ground, and slowly braked as if with a rubber band.

Dusk Taker who landed with one knee on the ground, even though he guarded, his HP bar was cut over 5%, showing Cyan Pile’s huge power.

“...Hmm, isn’t that very different from that time in kendo? That means that body, represents Mayuzumi senpai’s «Lack»? Even though you are that smart and clever, deep in your heart yearn for savage masochism[2]?”

To Noumi’s ‘Kuku’ ridicule, Tak.u.mu no longer said anything. While he reloaded his right hand pile, he carefully closed the distance. Noumi who backed away as if pressed, again continued to spit out words mingled with mockery.

“Or was it, from the avatar’s name, the wound itself is the right hand metal skewer? Uun, what would that symbolize? Piercing... penetration... oh, what’s the matter? Your eyes are becoming a bit scary...?”

“Stop... stop it, you coward!!”

It was Haruyuki who shouted. If he was not just a gallery, he might have went for a straight line punch.

Duel Avatar, was born from its owner’s wound of heart. It was something that any Burst Linker would know.

However, that was exactly why, no matter what kind of opponent, thus far Haruyuki especially avoided bringing out that conversation topic. As for Tak.u.mu and Kuroyukihime, he was cautious of even guessing what’s inside their heart. To be sure, Cyan Pile’s «Pile» should be a representation of some kind of wound that Tak.u.mu is holding. However, Tak.u.mu is using that openly as a weapon. That would mean, he is continuing to fight with his own wound daily.

“Noumi! You too... your avatar also, is the shape of some kind of «Wound» that you don’t want to talk about either!!”

Hearing Haruyuki’s sharp words, while Dusk Taker kept facing the front, he sneered with ‘Kuku’.

“That’s no good, Arita senpai. Didn’t I already say it? My wound is «Being Robbed». That means this Dusk Taker has the power to «Rob». It’s pretty clear, about the same as your Silver Crow... right!”

The end of that speech, was mixed with air being cut sound.

The three tentacles dangling on the ground flashed snake like, and the thing held in each tip some time ago, were thrown in a direct line towards Tak.u.mu. Tiny legs wiggling as they flew through the air, were metallic insects belonging to the geographical effect of the «Purgatory» stage. They were mostly just unpleasant and harmless imitations, but when various kind of them are crushed, different poisons spill out.

The three insects that Noumi threw, were all bright red and green colored. Without taking his eyes off Cyan Pile who was closing in for even an instant, and able to talk to Haruyuki at the same time as he grabbed and threw the poisonous insects, was not a feat that could be done without considerable far-sight.

‘...That guy, is unexpectedly familiar with fighting.’

At the time that Haruyuki’s eyes opened wide as he thought that, Cyan Pile’s left arm moved in reaction to slash away the metallic insects. With egg crunching sounds, the insect sh.e.l.ls broke, and poisonous looking mucus was scattered. Different parts of the blue body armor that were showered by the flying liquid gave out white smoke.

“Kuu...”

The HP bar decrease was just a bit, but the unexpected attack made Tak.u.mu lean his upper body back. Not letting that moment escape, Dusk Taker’s body moved forward like a black lightning bolt.

The tentacles that were extended with a whine, restrained Cyan Pile’s pile driver in the blink of an eye. Continuing, the right hand bolt clipper thrust out towards his throat.

His neck is going to be sandwiched —— before that was shown, at the last moment Tak.u.mu’s left hand grabbed one of the cutter blades.

However, the thumb that went between the blades without any choice, did not go unnoticed by Noumi. He instantly pinched that thumb, and as if to extend the pain, gradually munched on it.

“U... Guu.”

To Tak.u.mu’s low moan, Noumi sneered from the low position.

“Aah, didn’t your mother teach you not to grab opened scissor blade? See, it becomes like this.”

With a ‘Bachin!’ frightful sound echo, Cyan Pile’s left hand thumb danced in the air. His HP gauge was again cut by a gulp, and at the same time his special skills gauge increased with a glop ——.

“...You also, did no one tell you that my right hand is not my only attack power?”

Right after saying so with suppressed sound, Tak.u.mu tensed up his chest, and shouted.

“—— «Splash Stinger»!!”

With a cutting sound, from staggered holes lined up on Cyan Pile’s chest, the face of small missiles poked up, and fired all at once.

Dusk Taker showed impressive reaction, and took a both arms crossed guard stance, but even so he was. .h.i.t at point blank range with one needle missile after another, and flower of explosions bloomed. While his gauge decreased in gulps, he was blown straight backwards, and this time the blackish purple avatar crashed into the school building, half buried in the metallic wall.

“...Oooo!”

Not letting that chance escape, Tak.u.mu started a fierce charge. With the dash that shook the ground, his left shoulder forcefully smashed into Dusk Taker. The school building wall crumpled towards the inside, and the two avatars were thrusted inside the school like that. Haruyuki hurried ran, since he could not damage the stage himself, he went in from an entrance a bit far away.

The long first floor hallway, was transformed to a weird shape like the schoolyard. The slits carved in the wall wiggled sinuously, occasionally spitting out steam. From pipe bundle like things sticking out, mucus hung down, and dripped down the hallway in drops.

In that hideous scene, were the shapes of those two that already moved apart. The remaining gauges, Cyan Pile had more than 80%. On the other hand, Dusk Taker’s was decreased down to 60%.

“...Noumi, you have already lost.”

Tak.u.mu’s low sound announced.

“...Huh? Is that so?”

“That’s right. With your power, you cannot destroy the Purgatory stage walls. The exit is behind me. And then in this narrow s.p.a.ce, there is no chance of winning for you as a speed type.”

Actually, he thought it was like what Tak.u.mu said. Haruyuki himself, had already fought Cyan Pile in a building hallway like this before. At that time he desperately avoided Cyan Pile’s attacks, escaped to the roof and somehow found a way to win. However right now, behind Dusk Taker were many dead end hallways.

The two reddish purple eyes made a tiny blink —— abruptly, the slender avatar sped forward without any starting motion. Maybe he was doing it for spite of Tak.u.mu’s first dash, his left hand tentacles had grabbed hold of the wall pole sometime ago, and coiling that threw his body forward.

With his posture lowered to the limit, and not wanting to give up, he planned to slip pa.s.s Cyan Pile’s feet and escape from the blind alley.

But, Tak.u.mu remained calm. His right foot stepped on the floor with a ‘Blang!’, and created a vibration wave specific to heavy cla.s.s avatars, that caught Dusk Taker’s feet. To the stumbling opponent, his left foot kicked forward to attack. Noumi guarded it, but he was once again blown back towards the depth of the first floor hallway.

Holding his arms out wide to stop anyone pa.s.sing, Tak.u.mu added.

“It’s useless, you can’t get around behind me. If the fight started inside school, the winner would have been decided earlier. After this, if you don’t want me to challenge you during tests, return those wings to Silver Crow. If you do that, then I will at least not interfere with you. So... how about it?”

Noumi who was. .h.i.t with that condition, while holding his wounded body with his right hand, continued to be silent for a while.

Eventually he took a breath, and said while shaking his head left and right.

“...If it is Mayuzumi senpai, then he would probably keep this idiotic verbal promise with honor. Geesh... in this world, no, in the same school, there are people with this much different sense of values...”

After he spread both hands wide in exasperation, Noumi whispered a short command he had not heard of before.

“«Remove all equipment».”

And then, his left hand tentacles and right hand bolt clipper, melt into s.p.a.ce and disappeared. Equipping and removing enhanced armament can be done with voice commands recorded previously in the «Install Menu». Those frank words that were said, were probably keywords chosen by Noumi.

‘—— Does that mean, he acknowledge defeat, and plan to return the wings —— that Noumi Seiji would?’

Haruyuki became speechless, and while looking at Tak.u.mu like he was going to checkmate in the next move, he was once again impressed.

“Taku...”

‘You did it!’, when he was going to shout that, at that time ——.

Noumi’s empty hand and wounded avatar took a low posture. And at the same time causally said.

“Not really, I am not surrendering. Just, with both hands full, I can’t use this «Trick», only that.”

“...Tri... ck...!?”

To be sure, before also —— right before his first duel with Haruyuki ended, he also said that. At that time, Haruyuki thought it was just an insult —— does he really, have something else...

At the same time that Haruyuki took a deep breath, Tak.u.mu quickly aimed his right hand at the enemy.

“...If you still want to continue, then I won’t hold back, Noumi! I will take any chance I have to fight you. And then knock you down. Is that fine with you!!”

The response, was the most calm and no feeling sound up till now.

“...Geesh, I don’t like that. Being that serious. I don’t want to p.r.o.nounce the special skill... but, well, I guess there’s no choice when it came to this...”

Dusk Taker made a small triangle in front of him with his hands. Continuing, incantation —— or curse like words were quietly released.

“...Toru. Eru. Tsukamu. Kezuru. Ubau. Ubau, Ubau, U, Ba, U[3]...”

An ‘iiiiIIIIIN’ vibration sound was created, and that soon changed to a high frequency metallic type. And then Haruyuki saw it. Noumi’s two hands, were covered by thick blackish purple wave.

It even shook the air in the hallway, with sparks running in a wide range. ‘Special Skill!?’ He thought that for one instant, but soon canceled it with not that. With this much effect being created, the special skill gauge should be decreasing even before any attacks start. But Noumi’s gauge, with over half charge, did not move even slightly.

The logic for this kind of phenomenon appearing other than special skills, Haruyuki only learned of it recently.

That was —— image type control. Overwriting events with imagination.

Its other name was ——

“Ta.. Taku! Don’t worry about me anymore! Defeat him, right now!!”

Haruyuki screamed.

“—— «Lightning Cyan Spike»!!”

After Tak.u.mu hesitated for an instant, he sharply shouted.

Cyan Pile’s half full special gauge disappeared in one gulp, and at the same time aura like back flare spilled out from the «Pile Driver»’s rear end ——.

The air was burned with a ‘Shaa!!’ sound, and the iron pile that became a ray of light was released towards Dusk Taker.

At that distance, it would be impossible to evade Taku’s level 4 special skill —— it should had been. However.

‘Snap’.

With that dense gas being popped sound, the tip of the s.h.i.+ning iron pile stopped without penetrating anything.

What stopped it, were just two fingers.

Dusk Taker’s purple wave covered left hand index and middle fingers, held and stopped Cyan Pile’s greatest special skill as easily as if it was a cylinder made with paper.

“...Wha...”

Right after Haruyuki’s raspy sound leaked out, with the sound of hot metal being dipped into water, the s.h.i.+ning light pole itself was sucked into the pulsating wave, and disappeared without a trace.

Lowering his hand listlessly, Noumi lifted up his head slightly, and looked at Cyan Pile who stood while dumbfounded.

Up till now, this would be a scene where words full of insult would be released with suppressed laughter.

But, while Dusk Taker remained silent, the fingers of his both hands were curved to like claws, and producing even stronger purple vibration, kicked the ground.

It was a fearsome high speed dash that made his legs fuzzy. About double the speed of when he used the tentacles earlier. The over ten meters of distance between him and Tak.u.mu was closed with less than an eyeblink, and Dusk Taker who came close, his left hand with fingers opened wide drew a large arc from bottom up.

The purple crescent moon carved in the air, cut diagonally across Cyan Pile’s thick chest armor. And then, Haruyuki saw something impossible. The blue armor, like clay —— no, like pudding, was deeply gouged out.

From the wounds left by the five claws, after one instant of delay, with a ‘Splas.h.!.+’, bluish white sparks bundle sprayed out like blood.

“Guu...”

Even though the moaning and leaning back Tak.u.mu himself was probably more shocked than Haruyuki, he immediately counter attacked.

Towards Noumi’s undefended left flank as his left hand was swung to near his right shoulder, Tak.u.mu’s thrust out the tip of his piledriver strongly ——

‘Clank!’

That sound of firing echoed, however, Noumi’s body itself was no longer there. After a short teleport like speed right slide to easily evade the pile attack, this time his right hand thrust straight out, and caught the base of the iron pile that was extended the furthest right after firing.

Again, with that strange wet sound echo, the pile was crushed.

No, to be exact, the part grasped by Dusk Taker’s purple s.h.i.+ning hand instantly disappeared. While showing mirror like smooth cut surface, the iron pile heavily fell to the ground.

‘—— So, I was not mistaken.’

It was the «Mind Power Attack». The image from Noumi Seiji’s consciousness interfered with the system, and made various objects grasped in his hands disappear. Denial of existence. Overwriting event.

Tak.u.mu probably did not know about the existence of the «Incarnate System». While showing shock in his whole body, he still bravely tried to counter attack. Maybe he saw that Noumi’s hands can cut various things, he made a big jump to distance himself, then released a kick attack.

It was an awesome right roundhouse kick that seem to burn the air. If hit, even a heavy type avatar would be blown flying.

However that kick, calculated with the avatar weight, plus armor strength, plus muscle parameter, only contained numeric data.

On the other hand, faster than Tak.u.mu’s kick power reached him through the motion control type system, Noumi overwrote the event with his image type control. The result ——

‘Thud’.

With that dreadful sound, the kick was again stopped by only the left hand. The force that should had caused damage, were all swallowed by the purple wave, and canceled. That wet echo, was the sound of Noumi’s five fingers stabbing almost all the way into Tak.u.mu’s right leg s.h.i.+n portion.

“Ua...!”

Tak.u.mu’s suppressed painful sound leaked out.

As if he was tormenting him, while moving the fingers buried in the leg with wiggles, here Noumi finally released his whisper.

“... Mayuzumi senpai. Earlier, did you say it? Something about me not able to destroy this stage’s walls?”

And then, dragging Tak.u.mu who was down on his left knee while his right leg was caught, he walked towards the south wall.

Dusk Taker’s right hand that was thrust out casually, buried up to his wrist in the Purgatory’s metallic wall that shone a metallic green color without making any sound.

Like that, as if pus.h.i.+ng aside jelly, a large circle was drawn on the wall.

“Honestly, I did not want this to be seen. Well, even though you would not understand it by just seeing. This skill’s logic is known to six... no, seven kings and their aides, and then only us, it should be. But, you are a smart guy. After experiencing this much of a difference in power, you should have understood...”

While the words flowed, a close to two meters diameter trench was carved in the wall. With one kick from Noumi, the wall fell inside with a clank, and the outside light shone in.

“That you people no longer have any choice, this means. While I am enrolled in this Umesato middle school, your destiny is determined to be working as my dogs for the remaining school period, this also means.”

After finished saying what he wanted, Noumi swung his left hand, and dropped Cyan Pile’s huge body out of the hole. Without giving Haruyuki even a single glance, he also moved out to the schoolyard.

The inside of his head was numb, and while Haruyuki shoulders shook in small spasms, he stood in the dim hallway for a while.

‘—— Why. Why did that guy like Noumi have «Incarnate System». That should not be something that you could find the existence of by yourself. It should be a technique that could not be learned without being directly guided by someone.’

What pulled Haruyuki back from his stupor, was Tak.u.mu’s low moan echoed from far away.

Haruyuki quickly lifted his head up, and hurriedly started running. Going through the hole that Noumi opened, and after s.h.i.+vering from the scars carved by fingers while sliding, he also jumped outside.

Almost in the exact center of the wide schoolyard, were the shadows of two intertwined avatars.

However they were not fighting. That should already be called one sided ravage.

Cyan Pile who was spraying large amount of sparks from his chest and left leg wounds, even had trouble standing. Even so he still continued to bravely attack with both hands, without even scratching Dusk Taker. The dusk colored avatar avoided the punches with dance like jumps, while his claws carved shallow sc.r.a.ps from the opponent’s armor.

Cyan Pile’s HP gauge was cut to only 20% left. With his broken pile driver machine not fixed, the special skill gauge that was gained shone emptily.

“Ta... Taku...”

Haruyuki wrung out a broken sound.

What he should say to his best friend who was not giving up under overwhelming disadvantage, he could not find the words for it. Probably against Noumi’s mind power attack that could erase objects including physical attacks, the pure «Close Range Blue» Cyan Pile would not have the skill to counter it.

After tens of wounds was carved on his mask, Cyan Pile eventually fell down to his knees.

In the normal duel field, the pain created by damage was half of unlimited field, but even so, if many small wounds added up, the total amount was not something that can be endured. Noumi without doubt went after that, and deliberately repeated small attacks.

Tak.u.mu who was trying to stand up again while resisting the virtual pain torturing his nerves, was kicked by Noumi with full force fell rolling.

Dusk Taker’s small foot stepped firmly right on top of the fallen Cyan Pile’s mask.

“500 seconds remaining huh. ...Well, you did better than I thought, Mayuzumi senpai. You have more talent here than kendo.”

After a ‘Fufufu’ laugh, Noumi raised his right hand claw high. The cyclic, concentric circle of purple wave increased in strength.

“So then, I will take the payment for robbing 1.3 second of my real time. From your Burst Point, pain, and then humiliation.”

On Tak.u.mu’s throat, that right hand was going to thrust in, right before that ——.

“Wait, Noumi!!”

From as close distance as a viewer was allowed, Haruyuki yelled.

To Dusk Taker who stopped his hand, and glanced at him with his round visor, Haruyuki continued to desperately throw his voice.

“Wait... if it’s points I will give you mine! In order to fight with you, Taku used up a lot of points! I still have extra, so if you want to rob, take it from mine!!”

Half of it was his true feelings.

—— However, the other half, was Haruyuki’s plan to bet on a slight chance.

He suddenly kneeled down there, pus.h.i.+ng the face of his helmet onto the ground crawling with insects, and Haruyuki said with a sound close to crying.

“As you see, I beg you, Noumi!!”

Kneeling down on the ground ungracefully, was of course his first time in the accelerated world, but that was not so in the real world.

Last year, before he met with Brain Burst, Haruyuki suffered terrible bullying from three boys in his cla.s.s. Whenever possible he was extorted buns and juice, and when he did not have the money to buy it, they forced him to apologize by kneeling on the ground like this. They were humiliating memories that he did not want to remember, but right at this moment, he use all those times’ desperate sound and manner to continue strongly rubbing his head on the ground.

“...Uwaa, that’s the worst. The worst in many ways, Arita senpai.”

Noumi’s appalled sound echoed.

“Going that far for something like friends.h.i.+p is a sickness, are you still a Brain Burst owner? Not acting like that in the duel field, even I feel that way.”

“...You can think whatever you like. I will of course pay next week’s points as well, please... I beg you!!”

“Yea, yea, I understand. Somehow, you remind me of the pill bug that I was teasing in my courtyard when I was a child. But well, I acquired flying ability from this person as well...”

In the sound filled with large dose of disgust, he heard the sound of Noumi’s foot leaving Tak.u.mu’s face. Next, he felt that Noumi was manipulating the install menu through the HP bar.

Then, with a sharp warning sound, a window showed up in his view. It was a confirmation dialog for changing this field from one on one «Normal Duel Mode» to gallery included «Battle Royal Mode».

Haruyuki lifted his head up slightly, then after looking at Noumi who was shaking his head in exasperation, and Tak.u.mu who was still fallen, immediately pressed the YES b.u.t.ton.

With that, if Tak.u.mu also consented, then the mode will be changed to where Haruyuki will be a dueler instead of gallery. That’s right, without waiting for next week, he would be able to fight Dusk Taker.

However, although it was expected, Tak.u.mu did not press the b.u.t.ton for a while. Naturally, Tak.u.mu also should have believed Haruyuki’s words at their face value, so having his points that was going to be taken away shouldered by someone else, was not something that his pride would allow.

From a position above ground where the standing Noumi barely could not see him, Haruyuki stared at Tak.u.mu with all the power he could put into his two eyes.

‘—— Press it.’

‘—— I have not given up yet. I want to fight him. I have to fight him. That’s why, press the b.u.t.ton, Tak.u.mu!!’

The scream in Haruyuki’s brain, might have actually reached him.

Takmu’s eyes inside his damaged mask opened wide for a moment, then lifted up his shaking arm —— and touched a point in the air.

After a few silence filled seconds, suddenly the various data display in his view vanished. Right after, with a ‘Glop!’ sound, Silver Crow’s HP gauge extended in