The two heart outfits clashed with a resounding clash.

　The flying sparks still shone fiercely in the sunlight, illuminating the faces of the two swordsmen.

　Facing each other at close range, the former master and apprentice slashed at each other head-on with wariness in their eyes.


''Haaaaah!''

'Oh, oh, oh!'


　Sora and Goz, their roars echoed through the mansion, the sound of continuous sword fights hitting their earbuds painfully.

　Right, left, front, right, front, and left, and then right, front, and front.

　Sometimes they slashed with force, sometimes with skill to take advantage of an opening. The two guards are in constant conflict with each other or with each other in midair as if they were squabbling, and they never cease to create sparks.

　The only thing they attack is the sky.

　The power of the soul eater is blocked by Goz's mind-suits Suzumaru. However, Sora's own power is not sealed.

　The Soul Eater's power is now sealed by the Soul Eater's power, but it is not blocked by Sora.

　In contrast, Goz was on the defensive, observing his opponent's movements.

　From Goz's point of view, Sora's jade techniques were extremely wasteful and his sword techniques were also noticeably inexperienced.

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one. I'm sure the average soldier or adventurer is no match for the current sky.

　Even Goz cannot be caught off guard. The current sky is a dangerous adversary where the slightest gap, the slightest hesitation can lead to death. It's not that there wasn't a moment of flinching, even though he's withstood all the attacks so far.


　-- so what's wrong with the natural smile on your lips?


　Goz asks himself.

　The answer to his own question came back quickly.

　It's fun. Competing with the grown-up sky for a sword - something he had once dreamed of and failed to achieve - is now a reality. When I thought about it, I couldn't hold back my joy.



　At the same time, while they were fighting, he could see that Sora was growing up. That fact also made Goz happy.

　Sora, who had not been able to go beyond the trial ritual, was unable to formally learn the Illusionary Itto-Ryu style. Of course, he had done some basic training, but there was a limit to what he could convey in training.

　As long as both the power and sword techniques were in his own style, it was only natural that there were many gaps and rough edges.

　To such a person, Gozu's presence is not only a huge barrier, but also a hard-to-reach role model. Even when they are killing each other, there are many things that can be stolen.

　Body movement, footwork, and the flow of power. The more they crossed blades, the more they sharpened Sora's skills.

　It's a good thing that the two of them were practicing, because Sora was striking unilaterally and Goz was on the defensive, and from the outside it might have looked like the two of them were practicing.

　--It's not that Sora himself has any such intentions, of course.



'.........tch.


　Sora couldn't resist attacking Goz's unshakable defence as if it were a wall of towering greatness, and Sora retreated with his tongue in his mouth.

　At this time, Goz could have gone after them if he wanted to. The reason he didn't do so was because he was hesitant to end the fight like this.

　While confronting the sky at a distance, Goz muttered inwardly that he was sorry.

　It was too good to let this young man become a body that would never be able to hold a sword again, he thought.


　Although such feelings have existed in the past, Goz himself had to admit that they originated from personal feelings.

　But now, the feelings of regret for Sora emanated as a public figure - the Gokenshi's Shikama.

　He was convinced of this after actually crossing swords with him. The lid that once blocked Sora's growth has been completely removed. Its inexperience could not be wiped away yet, but Goz could make up for that as much as he could. Considering his age of eighteen, he will continue to grow in the future.

　In addition, it's the ability of Sora's mind attire. Right now, he's sealed it off with the power of Suzumaru, but the power that conquered the Belhi sisters must be good for the demons of the demon gate. Perhaps it could help them defeat the demon gods.

　Losing this talent would be a loss for the swords family. It would also be a great loss. He must be brought back to Demon Island at all costs.



　But no matter how many words Goz piles on top of each other, Sora will not listen to him. That has already been proven.

　Therefore, although we have decided to speak with our swords, will Sora listen to us even if we continue to win?

　No, Goz thought.

　The sky had gained power and lost its pride. That power was the mind gear. Even if the victory is won with the mind-dressing sealed, the sky will not admit defeat.

　As long as you think like that, you can't break the delusion of the sky.

　In order to break this delusion, you need to crush the whole outfit.

　Only by defeating the mind-dressed sky from the front and proving that there is an upside to the sky will he be able to get rid of the arrogance in his mind - that's what Goz thought.





To be aware of, control, and embody the anima. This is called mind-dressing - this is what I told Kukden in the past.

...what?


　At Goz's abrupt words, Sora looked doubtful.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends.


It's a good thing that you're not the only one," he said. The heart attire is only a doorway. Don't get complacent.

...and the mind is the gateway?

'Goodbye. I believe that Lord Ku-dono must have been in tune with the anima when he mastered the mind outfit. There are different people who have different kinds of anima, but in general, their power is immense. Its power is far beyond the realm of what a human being can achieve.

....

It is the mind suit that makes that immense power available to human hands, that it is. It's not a good idea to have a newborn baby. That's why I said the outfit is the entrance. Those who have attained the status of "dressing up" will have a new responsibility from that moment on. The responsibility of overcoming the impossibility inherent in the outfit and drawing out the power of the anima to its limits.


　Goz says.

　The shinsuo is like a wooden sword given to a child who cannot handle a serious weapon.

　With the blade, the mind-dresser learns how to raise himself up and draw the power of the anima.

　When he is able to draw all the power of his anima, he surpasses the limits of humanity and obtains the power to bury even the seeds of illusion. This is what it means to control the power that is beyond the reach of a human body.

　Goz spun his words as if he were writing a poem.


Goz spelled out the words as if he were reciting a poem: "Will it be a faint, faint, formless thing? Shin, shin, shin, infinite. Formless, therefore infinite. The Itto-ryu school of thought calls this a realm of illusion beyond humanity.

The void....

Sora-dono. Your name is filled with Shizuya's wish. That is certain, that it is. However, I have been told by Goz that it also contains the wish of your house. My child who was born into this world may stand in the same place as his father. It is with this wish in mind that the pavilion was named after the Lord of the Skies.

..........

As I told you earlier, that is what I have done, and I will do everything in my power to see that you are free of your arrogance. As I told you earlier, this is what I am about to do, and I will do my utmost to dispel your hubris and see it for what it is. As I said before, you are now ready to see the essence of the Itto-One technique, which is the realm of the void.


　Goz raised the prayer beads he was holding high in the sky.

　Then he said.　


"Kuuso Excitation.


　The moment Goz's voice echoed, the string of beads wrapped around the flange sounded and flew off, and the countless beads that were bound up in the bundle scattered into the air.

　At the same time, Sora felt as if an invisible hand was grabbing his heart. The pressure of this illusion was so great that the space around it was creaking.

　In front of my eyes in the sky, the Shikaku Maru was changing. The nondescript shape of the sword changed its shape like an amoeba, and repeated its eerie contraction.

　It's a good thing that you're able to get the best out of the game.


　At this time, a fantasy killer is about to descend on the city of Ishka.





◆◆◆






　Same time. In the depths of the Titis Forest.


　It was quietly slumbering.

　Like a thunderstorm. Like a tornado. Like an earthquake. Or like a volcanic eruption.

　It is a phenomenon that is triggered when the conditions of the world are right. An illusory disaster born of flesh and blood.

　It has been appearing in the world little by little for several months now.

　The stake that prevented it from appearing in the world has been pulled out and there is no sign of it being driven in again. Therefore, the present world of "it" will not stop.

　It is almost ready to fully realize the present world.

　Until then, I had planned to stay in the dark a little longer.


　But today, it noticed a bad sign.

　He knew that there was a being nearby that could kill itself.　

　It is like a natural phenomenon in the sense that it is triggered when the conditions of the world are right. However, it was born of flesh and blood, and had a function that does not exist in natural phenomena: self-preservation.

　It could not tolerate a being that could destroy itself.



　It raised its head.

　Slowly, as if leaning back its sickle-neck - it lifted all eight heads.