315. Retribution (4)
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“-Hoo-“
I barely catch my breath, which is heavily strained.
Fighting in a state of loss of composure puts a lot more strain on stamina than I anticipated.
Thinking that way, I smash the head of the automaton that resembles the Emperor, covered in a brown aura.
There’s a hint of sweat. Maybe even the smell of blood.
My whole body is screaming. My head feels like it’s about to split.
Time seems to be passing even slower because of the adrenaline coursing through my body, but the excruciating pain that cannot be dulled even by such bodily reactions feels like electrodes being stuck into my brain.
[…Are you really okay?]
“Well, even if I’m not, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Thanks to the ‘setting’ purposely meant to trigger my temperament, I’ve been exhausted more than I anticipated, but the difficulty of the battle this guy prepared from the start is quite high.
I can’t even remember the last time I felt this tired during a fight.
If I were to estimate, maybe just before I came over to ‘this side’ to receive training.
Still, it’s not like there are no positive aspects at all.
“-Now, the last one.”
Seeing that everything is prepared, there’s only one target left for me to fight after this.
“Truly, you are a stronger opponent than I expected, Dowd Campbell.”
Just by listening to what Mobius is muttering, it becomes clear.
“You’ve been through a lot to come this far.”
While listening to such words flowing through the stage via the broadcast, he cleared his throat, choked with mucus, and spat it out.
The remaining automaton probably imitated only one aspect of Eleanor. There had been no one among the opponents he had faced who could mimic the abilities of the Gray Devil until now.
With that thought in mind, he stepped towards the next stage.
Regardless, in this duel, that guy must at least keep the condition that if I win, he will set Astrid free. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find a way to enforce such a condition.
So, if I win here—
Before he could continue his thoughts, he stiffened his body at the scene that unfolded before his eyes.
A place he remembered.
“…This bastard.”
He swallowed the curse that naturally slipped out while scanning the surroundings with his eyes.
[“…What’s this? It’s the first time I’ve seen this place?”]
Caliban’s voice could be heard saying so.
A building.
It could also be called a dilapidated factory.
As Caliban said, it was a sight that residents of ‘this side’ of the world would never have seen.
It was a place that was more familiar to me than anything else.
To the extent that it could be said to be attached to the bottom of my soul, like something stuck behind my eyeballs, a place that I could never forget even if I closed my eyes.
So.
It was a terrain that was taken directly from the place where my ‘first lover’ had died.
…
From Noble mtl dot com
His hand trembled.
I don’t know how I found out what this place was and how I knew that it held a heavy significance for me.
But at least, it’s certain that the intention to shake me using that knowledge is as clear as day.
I know.
And…
He grabbed his trembling left hand tightly with his other hand, calming his wrist.
In the meantime, Mobius’s voice echoed again, as if it were suffocating.
“The final test is simple.”
With these words, particles of light scattered in all directions, completing the composition of the obstacle I had to break through inside the stage.
It is exactly the same as before, in terms of composition or the number of opponents I have to face.
The situation is identical to when I ‘failed’ before.
The only difference is that this time, they are composed of state-of-the-art automatons fully equipped with the Matap’s technologies, unlike back then.
If you only consider the conditions, it’s actually worse than back then. I am much more exhausted than before, and the opponent’s combat prowess is so extraordinary that it would be impolite to compare it to the enemies from that time.
“If you break through over there—”
The voice continues.
In the place I last reached, it’s Mobius himself, who descended from the control seat, standing right next to him.
And standing beside him is…
“…”
Long black hair. Amber eyes.
However, the body is modified with mechanical devices all over, and there is no focus in those eyes.
It’s the first time I’ve seen her like this, but even without any explanation, I can immediately recognize her.
That’s Astrid.
A body that should have been discarded, leaving her organs intact.
The feedback on what that guy did to her for sure plays in my brain.
Anger surges through my entire body to the point where my field of vision turns blood-red.
Whether or not, Mobius’s words continued.
“When you reach here, that’s all you need to do.”
He finishes the sentence with a smirk-like expression on his face.
It’s an expression that seems to mock whether I can reach this far in that condition.
In that state, he casually places something like a key card on Astrid’s shoulder.
“This is the control key for Professor Astrid’s ‘body’ storage device. If you manage to defeat me here, I’ll hand it over.”
“…”
My head is boiling.
“Save the person you want to save, David Campbell. Isn’t it your so-called ‘family’ that you’re so obsessed with?”
As I mumble something, his voice mocks me.
Unconsciously, I take a step forward.
Of course, I know my condition has its limits. Even in my current state, with all the skill adjustments, it’s clearly an impossible battle.
But still—
[…ya.]
“It’s okay.”
I cut off Caliban’s words with a firm voice before they could become longer.
Actually, it’s not okay, but I can’t just leave now that I’ve come this far.
[No, you can leave. You’re pushing yourself too hard.]
“…”
[I understand the situation. I understand your anger. But aren’t you at your limit standing here?]
“…”
I hear those words flowing through my tense mind.
With each passing moment, the sense of reality begins to fade, like a ship that hasn’t dropped anchor. I take a deep breath, hearing those words, feeling my rough breath.
It’s true. Due to consecutive battles, my stamina has been drained to the point of exhaustion. Fighting against someone who is clearly prepared in this state would most likely be a suicidal act, no matter how much I have prepared.
Yes, I know that too.
[Why on earth are you-]
“I have to prove myself.”
And, in the midst of that consciousness.
Without even realizing it, those words come out of my mouth.
“It’s different from before.”
As soon as I hear that response, I feel Caliban lose his words momentarily.
“…If I run away from here, it seems like I won’t be able to do anything about it.”
Although there have been various things that have happened.
Ultimately, if I were to summarize my motivation behind my actions, it would be compressed into the fact that I don’t want to see the people around me die anymore.
But.
I don’t want to run away from someone who clings to that fact so stubbornly.
If I don’t change something here.
I feel like I will be dragged along by that fact and have all my remaining time consumed.
Thinking that, as I take a step forward.
“For now, one thing.”
At the same time, I hear those words suddenly coming from the side.
My head is forcefully pushed back.
“…”
It’s called a sharp knife.
Bouncing a finger and placing it on the forehead.
There aren’t many people who can put something like this on me to the point of breaking my neck.
Huh.
Haven’t I experienced this once before?
I remember doing this during the Night Incident, when I fought the demon sleeping in the fenol.
The person who put it then was definitely-
“I’ve told you before, but please don’t try to handle everything alone. It seems like it has become a habit for you to struggle on your own by this point.”
-It’s this person.
Thinking so, I blink my eyes and look at Elnoer, who is standing next to me and smiling.
I absentmindedly stroke my slightly swollen forehead and speak.
“…Elnoer?”
“Well, anyway, it’s not like lending a hand to the people around you would wear you out. It would be better to quickly fix such a bad habit.”
“…”
When did they come here, how did they come here, why are they here.
Such questions fill my mind, but before I can express them, Elnoer continues speaking.
“Well, there is still a reason to consider this time.”
I wipe my head and look at the stage that is being prepared in front of me.
“…To you, it seems like a place with a lot of meaning.”
“…”
“Facing the past head-on…it’s romantic. It also helps with growth. I understand the desire to do it alone.”
“Elnoer…”
“Oh, don’t worry. I don’t have any intention of disturbing that. After all, the support of the outsiders is a virtue of the insiders, isn’t it?”
“…”
With those words, the red pupils coolly turn away.
The gaze flies towards Professor Mobius, who is looking at this direction with a frown on his face.
“But.”
Continuing.
That voice also becomes sharp.
“If we’re dealing with such a dangerous individual, we should at least create a fair stage.”
With those words,
Eleanor placed her hand on her chest.
“Oh, by the way, it seems I’ll be seeing you for the first time.”
“Yes?”
“Before… was it around the time of the school performance? I recall being locked in the practice room alone for a while.”
Upon reflection,
During the school performance, there was a period when she unexpectedly secluded herself in the practice room and cut off contact for a few weeks.
Back then, even though there were plenty of reasons for me to be angry with her, I felt like she forgave me for something.
As she continued with these thoughts,
“During that time, I realized I could do something a bit interesting.”
Eleanor tightly clenched the hand she had placed on her heart.
“For example, like this.”
Then,
Beneath that hand, something began to stir.
– “Together” with the inhabitant inside my body, I can do something.”
The colors of the world began to fade away.
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