『『『『『『 black lightning 』』』』』』

Parry.

　I watched in wonder as the man in front of me flicked the lightning with his Black Sword.

　Standing at the vanguard, protecting those behind me.
　That had always been my role.
　And now I'm standing behind this man.


　────[Grace], "Divine Shield".

　I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing.
　Because of this, people sometimes call me a "monster".

　People do not avoid me because of misunderstandings.
　I think it's because they have the right understanding.

　The film of light that I can create infinitely, which can cut through everything, has cut through even the hardest metal, and has cut through any huge creature with a single stroke.
　It could also be created in an infinitely large and wide range.

　What this means is that ────
　If I wanted to, I could destroy an entire country with just one cleave.

　A power given to me as a child that is far too great for any one person to possess.
　No, maybe I'm not a person anymore once I have this.
　I was potentially an incompatible threat to all humans.

　If my [Grace] is misused, it can bring about catastrophic disasters.
　That's why the [Six Saints] who raised me dared to call this power that could be used in any way a 'shield', and I was raised to be one.
　I myself accepted that fate, and worked hard to become one.

　And yet, the more I wield my power, the more those who fear me grow.

　It's inevitable.
　I was given a special power to protect the weak. I have to accept it.
　My unreasonable power is there to protect someone else.
　I have to protect others who are weak compared to me, no matter what they think.

　That's how I've come to terms with my "power".

　But this situation seems to me as if ──── I am on the side of the protected (the side of the weak).

"[Divine Shield]

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　────The Sword of Light cuts through everything.
　If I wield it, something will surely be destroyed.
　It also destroys something unintended.
　So this power must be handled with extreme caution at all times.
　I have always disciplined myself to remain calm and not to let my emotions get the better of me no matter what.

　I have also avoided, as much as possible, wielding this power destructively as I do now.
　If I wielded it flamboyantly, I would frighten the people around me, and they would call me a monster.
　I think I've been living in fear inside.

　See .......
　I wonder if I was right in my fear.


　I look at the scene in front of me and can't help but wonder.

『『『『『『 black lightning』』』』』』
Parry.

　If I wield my powers properly, will I be marginalized by anyone?
　...... Who?　Who? Me?

　The man over there wielding the black sword, the man that no one seems to fear.
　I'm not even close to that guy.

　...... be feared?
　By whom, exactly?
　More like.
　What on earth was I so afraid of?

　Thinking about this, I felt a strange smile creep up on my face.

"......Huh...... haha.

　At that moment, I was laughing out loud.
　It was impossible for me to laugh like this in a situation where everyone was fighting for their lives.
　I don't usually laugh like this, even in normal circumstances.
　Even so, I couldn't help the strange laughter that welled up in me as I looked at the scene in front of me.

『『『『『『 black lightning』』』』』』
Palii.

　There's a really funny guy right there.

　I'm not sure what to make of it.
　He's already won the trust of the king and Lord Linneburg.
　I've only known him for a short time, and I don't really know who he is, but I know in my heart that it's okay to trust him with my back.

　So now I can leave the role of my original "shield" and forget about protecting someone else. ──── I can even quit protecting myself.
　You don't have to worry about the ridiculousness of trying to act like a human being in front of this man.

　So, for this moment, I understand that it is pointless to try to bind myself to anything.

　──── moment.

　At the same time, my body and consciousness were shattered.
　At the same time, my body and consciousness accelerated in an incomprehensible way.

"God Shield".

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

　──── Was that me releasing them?

　It must have been.
　Because there was no one standing here but us.

　My body continued to wield the sword.
　The countless slashes of light from my palm overlapped in the air, swirling like a giant vortex, covering and carving the monster. At the same time, the whole area was dazzlingly illuminated.
　...... I've never seen anything like this.
　I've never even thought about doing it.
　But it's done.



　My body was moving much faster than I knew it could. And yet, ...... still feels like there is room for more.

　Somehow, I have a feeling that my body is not yet at its limit (・・・・・・・・).
　I feel confident that I can still move much faster than this.

　My whole body feels as if it were made of feathers.
　I don't feel any weight at all.

『『『『『『 black lightning』』』』』』

　That monster's lightning is coming straight at me.
　But ────

"[Divine Shield]

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it'll be fine.

　──── I see.
　I'm not sure I could have done this.

　I've been watching that guy striking the lightning for a while now, and maybe that's how I figured it out.
　Slashing and striking lightning...
　It seemed like a ridiculous story, but ...... there is nothing you can't do.

"[Divine Shield]".

　I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not, but I'm sure you've heard of it.
　In the same time, the demon dragon (Lara) scorched all the pieces of flesh that flew apart, and the monster's body became smaller and smaller as soon as it was seen.

　The body moves too fast for the ──── to hold.

　......, but it's still (...).
　Still (...) my body (・・・・・・)accelerates (・・・・).

『『『『『『 black lightning 』』』』』』

"Parisi.
"[Divine Shield]

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

　...... What on earth has become of my body?
　It's no wonder people are calling me a monster.
　Rather, I feel that I have begun to deviate from the realm of humanity.
　But still, strangely enough, I didn't feel bad.
　I began to think that it might be okay if someone called me a monster.

　...... I wonder why.

　While I was thinking about this, the monster also changed its ways.

『『『『『『 black lightning』』』』』』

　The monster stretches out countless creepy thick arms and tries to shoot black lightning at us from all directions at the same time.

　But ────

"Parry.

　With one swipe, the man changed the trajectory of all the lightning and protected me and the dragon.
　I watched the action from the side and sliced off all of the monster's outstretched arms.

"[Divine Shield]".

　Now I kind of get it.


　I'm sure I wasn't afraid of being called a monster, per se.
　I was probably just afraid of being lonely ...... and being 'alone'. That's what I think.
　I don't feel any discomfort whatsoever while fighting shoulder to shoulder with this obviously monstrous man. 　

　...... It's appalling.

　I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　──── What is the "strongest shield in the kingdom"?
　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one.

　...... No, actually, I suppose it is.
　That's what I was originally meant to be.

　I was just a small girl who was suddenly given a great deal of power. ...... I've been pushed around by that power all my life.
　The power that was unexpectedly given to me was praised.
　And at the same time, they are feared.
　You may have misunderstood ......, didn't you?
　I'm not sure what you mean by that.
　It's not that I'm not special.
　Or rather, ────

　I've been trying to convince myself that it's okay to be alone.

　...... I'm fed up with my own weakness.

　But I suddenly think that a man like me in this ridiculous world would not be swayed by such things from the start.
　If you care about such trivial things as what some people think of you, you will never be able to ──── stand in this realm.

Parisi.
"God's shield.

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

　Without even needing to think about it, the body moves first.
　You don't even have time to think about it.
　I just kept moving, letting my body do the work.

　It was a strange feeling.
　This is not the way I am supposed to fight.
　At least not the way I know how to fight.
　But I can't get there in time if I'm thinking about it, if I'm stuck in something (・・・・・・).

　So, as if to discard the hesitation in my mind that I seem to have carried with me all my life, I step out and wave my arms as my body goes, unable to keep up with my thoughts.

"[Divine Shield]".

　Each time I swing my sword, I feel something inside of me breaking down, and it feels strangely comfortable.
　The more I move, the lighter my body becomes, and the more I accelerate.

　The more I moved, the lighter my body became and the faster I accelerated. It's a cliché to say this, but ──── I felt as if I were dancing.

　I had never been involved in glamorous arts.
　I have never even danced.
　I've never danced before, but I'm sure if I could dance, I'd feel like this.

──── I'm a dancer. It doesn't suit you.



　The thought of such a metaphor is so funny to me that I can't help but smile, a smile that is inappropriate for this critical situation.

　Then, I feel even lighter again. ────

"[Divine Shield]

　I laughed as I shredded the flesh of the giant monster floating above me.