Episode 62 — Dyeing the Blue Sea Crimson (III)
～ Part 1 ～
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“King–!”
Looking up at Akai’s body that had spread its wings and was flying away, a Pawn tried to follow after it. He was forcibly kept in check by Goubayashi Genshuu’s fist that came bashing from his flank.
“You’re not going…!”
“Guh…!?”
An ogre with big frame close to 3 meters in height. That right arm cladding in golden fighting spirit was as thick as a log. Having outstanding combat ability even within the class, Goubayashi was confronting a Pawn in a perfect 1-on-1 form.
The ‘King’ escaped. To be precise, he was chasing after Kaoru group. To chase after him, Sakuma and Harui continuously took off from the deck. Kaoru group’s objective was to destroy the ship prepared for the vampire’s escape, the ‘King’‘s objective was to obstruct that, and Sakuma group’s objective was to detain that ‘King’.
The deck of the heavy cruiser branch school had already turned into a melee state. The remaining Pawns numbered 3. They had to soundly defeat those 3. They couldn’t afford to let them escape this place. Goubayashi was challenging the least damaged Pawn among the remaining Pawns.
The Pawn barely managed to avoid Goubayashi’s fist, black lightning was running between his hands, he was glaring at Goubayashi.
Goubayashi had once suffered a defeat against a vampire Pawn. That was when he left the base and was walking in the wasteland of the continent together with Kaoruko. His body freedom was taken away by the black lightning the opponent released, he even fainted, and was completely defeated. For him to be alive like this was none other than thanks to the intervention of the human knights. It was the result of luck.
At that time, he was sheltered by the female knight in her prime, until his injuries healed, he spent time in human territory. It was an incident happened in a short time of less than one week, but by the time his injuries healed, he had got the female knight — who could brawl with the vampires more than equal — to give him training, and had endeavored to improve his heart, technique and physique.
The result was his present self.
Goubayashi gripped his fist and glared back at the Pawn.
‘Fighting spirit’ itself was something manifested by his Phase 2 ability. All the knights Goubayashi had interacted with, used their own tempered body and articles tempered by master craftsman as weapons. The super heavy mantle Goubayashi had and the drop-kick he used some time ago were all things given by that female knight.
“(Let’s see how much I’ve grown here…. No, that’s not right)”
This clenched fist is for the sake of my friends.
In the end, he couldn’t discard the ‘oni’ nesting inside himself. Goubayashi Genshuu, while being a son of a temple, was quick to resort to violence since his childhood. Coupled with his large physique, he was extraordinarily strong in a fight, he started in order to gain self-discipline, by the passage of years, he gained composure, gradually, he had mellowed out, but still, there was a part of himself that found a little joy at the prospect of fist-fighting with strong people.
If the result of those was his present appearance, then it was inevitable.
The various things in his soul was irrelevant here and now.
The enemy in front of him was to be defeated. Otherwise, someone was going to be sacrificed again.
That simple truth was born in Goubayashi’s heart, clearing away all doubts.
“Let’s go–!!”
Goubayashi kicked the deck and vigorously closed in on the Pawn. The Pawn released black lighting that was cladding on his arms. Cladded in golden fighting spirit, his pectoralis major muscle caught that lightning. His body felt numb, but that wasn’t enough to stop Goubayashi’s big frame.
“Fuun!!”
∗Buon∗, air ripped, fist groaned.
The fist shook off the slight resistance and smashed down the sound barrier. The fist he unleashed crashed into the Pawn’s black armor. That armor that had rejected all and every attacks of other students, got cracked. The Pawn’s expression markedly warped by the impact.
“OOOOOOOo–!!”
Continuing, the 2nd attack came. The Pawns crossed his arms in order to guard the cracked part, Goubayashi’s left fist struck against it.
“Guu–…!”
His fist scooped up from somewhat below. The Pawn’s body floated in the air for a moment.
To further pursuit the exposed armor, Goubayashi drove in his knee. Right after attacking, he straightened his knee, swinging it sideway and kicked the vampire flying. The armored body of the Pawn crashed into the wall.
Still, the Pawn immediately stood up, while gathering black lightning in both arms, he glared at Goubayashi. Soon, the lightning converged, forming a spear, the Pawn released it like throwing. As Goubayashi tried to take avoidance movement, the melee behind him crossed his mind. I must not avoid, he stopped his feet, that instant, the black spear stabbed his thick chest.
“……–!!”
The spear reached neither his heart nor lung. Taking advantage of that gap, the Pawn produced the 2nd spear. It seemed he intended to keep attacking from long-distance like this. In no time, the 2nd spear was shot, to repelled that, Goubayashi concentrated fighting spirit to his right arm.
“Fuun–!!”
“What–…!”
The thrown black spear was knocked down by his sword hand. The Pawn faltered for a moment, Goubayashi pulled out the spear stabbed in his chest and threw it away. The spear — which was originally energy — disappeared like melting into the air.
Goubayashi further compressed golden fighting spirit to his right fist.
This golden energy which was called fighting spirit was written in the documents left in Ryuzaki’s room. In the memo about Phase 2 ability Akai left behind, Goubayashi’s Phase 2 ability was written as «Fighting Spirit Awakening».
On the other hand, in the memo left behind by the human girl named Selena, there was description about the energy called fighting spirit. It was a method to divert life energy to use in combat, and was said to be used by a combat ethnic group in the eastern part of the continent.
According to what he read in the documents, there were various usages for fighting spirit. If it could become an armor cladding one’s body, it could also become a weapon. Now, Goubayashi was consolidating all the fighting spirit that was covering his body to his right fist. The protection of his body was completely neglected. On top of that, he closed his eyes, attempting fo concentrate his mind.
In the battlefield, even just a few seconds of opening could cost one’s life. But Goubayashi invested all of those few seconds to strengthen his fighting spirit. He spent the precious few seconds for a single attack. The fighting spirit covering his right fist even rolled up the surrounding wind, making rumbling sound.
Suddenly, his eyes opened. Goubayashi saw the Pawn releasing the 3rd black spear toward him.
“UOOOOOOOO–!!”
Brandishing his fist, Goubayashi charged at the Pawn. The fist that was grandly pulled back, thrust straight ahead, it pulverized the black spear. In long stride, the first step started from the right, 2nd step, 3rd step.
Simultaneously with the 3rd step, his fist stabbed to the Pawn’s chest.
“Gahaa–…!!”
Vampires would die if their heart was crushed. This one merciless attack had faithfully put that advice to practice.
The Pawn, with look ready for death, glared at Goubayashi. Covered in blood the Pawn had spat out, Goubayashi calmly looked back.
“…! …!! ……”
Trying to say something, yet no words formed from his throat, the Pawn soon stopped moving.
He had killed an almost human one. He killed those who could come to a mutual understanding with human.
Goubayashi quietly joined his hands (to pray) in front of the person who would soon become ashes, and not a trace that it was once a human would remain.
“You … why are you alive!!?”
A Pawn with one arm missing looked like he saw an absolutely incomprehensible someone or something, he shouted.
The fact that a handicapped opponent was turned over to him, was very unsatisfactory to Harao Masaki. This flow where they naturally brought it to 1-on-1 was a proof that the many classmates of 2nd year class 4 had functioned properly for the first time. But the enemy with all limps intact became Goubayashi’s opponent, the one turned over as his responsibility was a Pawn missing an arm.
Well, fine. To let the citizen take the credit is also important.
While raising the broken ankh, Harao answered this to the Pawn’s question:
“Because I’m well-bred.”
“You joke…!”
The Pawn projected black lightning in energy form. A hemispherical barrier expanded right in front of Harao obstructed the lightning.
Thanks to Uozumi younger sister’s recovery magic, his condition was coming back. Although recovery by water-attribute spirit magic wasn’t as effective as life magic Hakuba used, it was effective to undead like Harao as well, so it was helpful. That Uozumi younger sister still remained on the deck and was in charge of healing the wounded students.
“If t’s 1-on-1, there won’t be any mercy.”
“Tch…!”
Did he judge that long-distance battle would be disadvantageous? The Pawn, while one-armed, came closing in on Harao in one go. The Pawn quickly sent forth a fist, however, Harao brushed that away with one arm. Unintentionally, the Pawn pitched forward, Harao further pushed his back, making him eat dirt.
Though his wounds healed, the broken ornaments decorating his body and the torn bandages weren’t fixed yet. He was shabbily dressed as if his tomb had just been robbed, yet Harao was magnificently puffing up his chest. Turning both arms around his back, he was striding around.
“You–…!”
The Pawn bashed him from behind, but Harao nimbly avoided it, all the while keeping his arms around his back.
“Don’t put on airs … ugo–.”
Without letting him finish his words, Harao sent a backhand blow toward his face like a whip. Harao kicked to further pursue, but the Pawn recovered his crumpled posture and firmly caught that kick.
“Mu…”
Harao’s physical ability wasn’t outstanding at all. Therefore, his foundational tactics centered around parrying. He took advantage of the gap in the opponent attack and quickly dealt a blow of his own, when their balance collapsed, he pursued. Therefore, when the enemy rebuilt their posture, this time would be his turn to expose a fatal opening.
The Pawn scooped up Harao’s leg with one arm, turning him over on the deck. Leaving no time after he collapsed, the Pawn released black lightning. Lightning extended toward Harao, it covered him as it to paint out his body.
“Ha—Harao-kun!”
Uozumi Masuyo shouted his name.
“Thy worry is unnecessary.”
However, Harao raised the chipped ankh and blew away the Pawn who was releasing lightning.
“Y, you…–! Why can you still move like that…!”
Still managed to recover his footing somehow, the Pawn spilled words of resentment.
“Blood energy is an attack that can stop monsters’ movement and neutralize them, is it not!? Why are you…”
“T’s the difference in education.”
Harao easily informed him, he crossed both arms in front of his chest and slowly stood up. His body remained straightened, it looked exactly like it was being pulled up by string, a very eerie manner of standing up. And again, he turned his left arm around his back, raised up the ankh clasped in his right hand.
“O foolish one who disturbs the slumber of mine fellows, thee can taste the wrath of Harao.”
In response to the words that had been recited like a spell, the Pawn’s body was slowly lifted in the air. The black armored vampire struggled, but he couldn’t do any resistance other than that. Harao glared at the Pawn floating in the air, he exerted much more telekinesis power.
“Mun!”
“Ga–…!”
The heart which was the source of life was crushed. In the air, the Pawn’s body jumped, and stopped moving, as it were, it smoothly crumpled and became ashes.
“……”
Harao returned both arms to his back, he motionlessly watched the ashes that were once a vampire, soon, as if his string had been cut, he threw his body down on the deck.
“Harao-kun!?”
Uozumi Masuyo slide on the deck and rushed over.
“Oi Harao!”
“Harao-kun, pull yourself together!”
“Harao-kun!”
Hebitsuka, Hanma, Kahara rushed over, and raised up the upper body of the collapsed Harao.
But immediately after that, from under the golden mask Harao was wearing, a characteristic snoring sound was heard. Everyone suddenly got awkward and looked at each other. The mermaid Uozumi separated the hand raising Harao’s upper body, the back of his head crashed into the deck big time, even so, Harao only continued to snore carefreely.
To be continued…
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