Episode 276: Flash of the Flame Sword
The Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter) begins to move.
Until now, its speed was almost invisible, but now, the closer it gets to Rui, the more it is caught in small explosions, restricting its movements.
–At this rate, I can catch him!
Rui thrusts his flame-clad sword at the opponent’s throat. But it’s narrowly avoided, and he’s circled around from behind.
Countless “Firefly Lights,” fragments of flame, danced around, but the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter), while defending with its shield, charges in regardless.
Even so–
Rui’s katana and the Dark Knight’s (Donkel Ritter) sword clash violently. A high-pitched metallic sound rings out, and both weapons are repelled. Rui leaps back, and the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter) also creates distance.
“Even with its movements restricted, it’s this fast… It won’t be easy.”
Rui smiles softly. Then, he faces his palm forward and puts strength into it with a “Hmph!” releasing Fire Magic.
Flames scatter, and the area is enveloped in light for a moment.
The Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter) takes a step back as if faltering. No wonder, as thousands, tens of thousands of “Firefly Lights” sway around, filling an area of about fifty meters in radius.
Rui holds his katana and cuts through the flames. The “Firefly Lights” open a path only where Rui passes, never hindering him.
On the contrary, countless explosions occur around the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter), making it difficult to move even slightly.
The two swords clash again. The speed is almost equal, and the katana swung by Rui hits the opponent’s shield and explodes.
The Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter) took a step back, but the surface of the shield was melting and dripping.
“As I thought, its power and defense aren’t that high.”
While its speed is outstanding, everything else is not comparable to Yuma’s [Black Armor].
Rui takes his stance once more, glaring at the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter). After a brief pause, both step forward simultaneously.
Parting through the small explosions, the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter) swings its sword.
Rui deflects the sword with his katana, and a fierce exchange of slashes ensues. An almost equal sword fight. But gradually, the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter) begins to push.
Due to repeated explosions, the surrounding “Firefly Lights” have decreased.
Without the obstructing Firefly Lights, the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter) will be able to move freely. On the other hand, Rui is preoccupied with the battle and has no余裕 to create new “Firefly Lights.”
Unpleasant sweat runs down his forehead. The moment Rui repels the opponent’s sword and steps back, the Dark Knight’s (Donkel Ritter) figure disappears.
Rui cannot catch up with an opponent moving without restrictions.
The Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter), having circled around directly behind, swings its sword down at Rui’s head.
A desperate situation. Even so, Rui didn’t panic.
He dodges the slash coming from behind without even seeing it, twisting his body and turning around. The Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter) had swung its sword through and lost its balance.
Flames run along the Scorching Blade in Rui’s hand.
“I’ve already seen through your movements.”
A flowing flash of the flame sword. The katana lops off the Dark Knight’s (Donkel Ritter) head.
The black helmet flies through the air, falling to the ground and rolling. Small sparks scatter from the wounds on the neck and torso, exploding.
After a few seconds, the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter) returned to sand.
Rui lightly flicks his katana and slowly sheathes it. He looks back at the street, gazing at the giant fighting in the distance.
“Yuma, I’m counting on you for the rest.”
◇◇◇
“Hey, hey, hey, hey! That Japanese guy took down the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter)!!”
Wolfgang shouts loudly. Emilia also peers down from the rooftop, straining her eyes.
The Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter) lay motionless, eventually turning into sand. He really defeated it alone.
Emilia couldn’t believe it, and words failed her.
None of the Seekers in Germany could match the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter). Not even Matteo, the leader of ‘Schmerz.’
When Emilia was at the government’s Laboratory, she heard about the worsening war situation every day.
The city was completely closed off by the Conglomerate, and soldiers and Seekers died one after another. The death of Matteo, Germany’s strongest Seeker, who was even called the last hope, was enough to break people’s hearts.
Matteo’s body was swallowed by the Conglomerate, and people couldn’t even bury their hero.
That Japanese man defeated the demon that brought such nightmares, the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter).
He defeated the [Black Lord], who was said to be absolutely unbeatable.
Emilia raises her gaze, looking further ahead. A corner where Commercial Buildings stand. There, a “Black Giant” was fighting the Conglomerate, raising a large amount of dust.
The giant slams its Iron Fist dozens of times, causing a large explosion each time.
The Conglomerate’s body is chipped away, and many of the rubble that make up its entire body scatter on the ground.
Maybe… maybe we can really win.
Holding a glimmer of hope, Emilia clenched her fist tightly without even realizing it.
◇◇◇
“Nuooooooooooo!!”
Yuma’s Iron Fist explodes on the Conglomerate. The fist is imbued with “Wind Magical Power,” and the part he hits shatters, blowing away into the distance.
The Monsters seems to be gradually getting smaller each time it is destroyed.
If so, he should be able to defeat it if he keeps punching it like this. Just as Yuma thought that, he felt an unpleasant presence from behind.
Startled, he turns around, and there was a “Black Wall” approaching, wriggling.
That was part of the Conglomerate that was connected to the chain. Yuma had cut it off along with the chain to prevent it from merging, but it was still moving with lingering attachment.
Yuma runs towards the “Black Wall.”
No matter how much he chips away at the main body, it’s meaningless if materials are supplied for regeneration.
Yuma pulls back his right fist and punches the “Wall” as if tackling it. As the fist imbued with Fire Magical Power sinks in, an explosion occurs with a roar, and the “Wall” shatters and blows away.
Only the scattered debris and the remaining fire burning it were visible.
He can’t allow any more merging. If parts of the Conglomerate scattered throughout the city gather, it will become a terrible situation.
He was paying attention with that in mind…
“Eh!?”
The Conglomerate’s main body repairs itself, becoming even more gigantic.
“That’s ridiculous… I should have stopped the supply.”
At that moment, Yuma looked at the ground and was startled. Something was gushing out from underground.
Chunks of concrete, steel frames, and even the corpses of large Monsters. There’s no mistake.
The Conglomerate’s body, which had been dispersed throughout Berlin, had moved underground and returned.
The patchwork Monsters begins to expand rapidly.
Its height stretches from one hundred meters to two hundred meters, then to three hundred meters, four hundred meters, and finally five hundred meters, becoming so tall that you’d think it would pierce the sky!
The figure lifting its head while wriggling is exactly like a “Snake.”
Yuma could only stand there, staring at the sky.