How many shots and blades have they exchanged?

'Wow, he's strong!　Zeke, he's strong!　Huh?　What?

　Zeke had handled Soni's series of blows with precision.
　But each time he did so, his nerves were being cut down.
　The speed of Soni's attacks was so fast that it could be said to be unstoppable.
　Still, Zeke managed to handle it because the opponent is using a sword.
　If Soni hadn't been using a sword, she would have been able to launch a transformational attack from her long, whip-like arm, she would not have been able to catch it like this.
　Sword attacks usually have a certain preliminary motion.
　You have to assess that preliminary motion and read the trajectory.
　Of course, there is no single trajectory prediction.
　But just knowing that 'there is no attack other than the sword' makes it much easier to read.

　In addition, it is probably due to the training in swordsmanship that he received from Currier.
　When Cecily was learning the sword from Currier, Sieg and Hyrgis had also been mixed in with the training on several occasions.
　Yes.
　Thanks to the experience of receiving that Currier's sword several times, they have managed to keep up with the speed of Soni's attacks.

　As long as I can bring myself to compete with the sword only, I can bite back.

''Wow!　There it is again!　I'm played again!　Oh, my God!　That's awesome, Zeke!　

　Contrary to the spare Soni, Zeke is dripping sweat on his face.
　Even so, he continues to desperately handle the incessantly approaching attacks.
　While dealing with it at the very last minute, Sieg was looking for an opening.

　Do you want to see an opening and dive into the pocket and slash both eyes horizontally?
　Would he slip underneath his crotch and cut the tendons in his legs as it were?
　Considering the difference in height, passing underneath the crotch would be more likely - but even if I could do it, it would only be one tendon.
　Then again, the eye is more likely.

"I'm doing my best and this guy is amazing!　I can't hurt you at all!　Oh, this is so funny!　People, after all, are the best toys in the world!

　Zeke felt discomfort in his arm.
　Fatigue was beginning to set in.
　Fatigue was beginning to accumulate on Zeke's side, albeit slowly.
　If this was the case, he would be jittery--.

"A sudden drop in the water will break them down.

　Zeke remembered what Currier had taught him in practice.
　Immediately after receiving Soni's attack with his sword, Zeke relaxed enough to not let go of the hilt.
　Then.

　Snapping.

'Wow, wow!'

　Soni leans forward as her knees snap in surprise at the sudden lack of challenge.

　--now.

　Soni's face looms in front of me.
　Her long bangs scatter from side to side, revealing both of her eyes.
　Zeke replaced his sword in one hand and swung it horizontally toward both of Soni's eyes as it was.

''--No more,''

　A thin chill ran down Zeke's spine.
　Soni's body instantly bent languidly.
　It was a mollusk-like movement.
　With that movement, Soni effortlessly avoided a swing from Zeke.

I'm not going to be able to get to the bottom of it. The rules of the game are meant to be broken, right?

　The one that continued to fly was Soni's sonic fist.
　The fist gouges out the pigeon tail.

''Guh, fu.........!

　If a chunk of iron flew at high speed, would he feel this kind of pain?
　A dull, heavy, intense pain rages in Zeke's belly.
　Zeke's body folds into a figure of a ku.
　Soni's arms straightened out like spears and struck Zeke's shoulders with a force that almost pierced him.
　Zeke wiped out and slammed the back of his head against the stone pavement.

'.........shit.....

　What a power.
　I don't feel like I've been hit by a human fist.
　Soni stomped on Zeke's arm as he tried to stand up.

''Guh........!
"...as long as you win any way you can. This is what brother Beshgam taught me.

　Soni looks down at Sieg with a smirk on her face.

─ Because it's so boring for me to lose. "Because it's boring for me to lose," she says, "but it was a little bit of fun. It was just--

　Soni struck down hard on Zeke's left arm with the bottom of his foot.

'Guh!'
You lost, you have to be punished, right?

　The bones in my left arm shattered.

Gu............................
Yes!

　Soni picked up Zeke's sword, which had fallen.

'This time, I'm going to slash your arm off!

　A purely evil smile, if you will.
　Soni's smile was the kind of smile that made me want to describe it as such.

'Then we can move on to the next game!　I'm not crying, so Zeke passes!　I'll give you a second chance!　Come on, let's have some more fun!　Playing with Zeke is....yeah, it's fun!

　Hearing Soni's words, Zeke lifts the corners of his mouth.

　--Time, still, can buy you some time.

　Soni hasn't lost interest in herself yet.
　She's going to continue this 'game' after she cuts off her arm.

　--Okay.

　I can do what I came here for in the first place with one arm I can do with my eyes or my leg tendons.
　If I could, I'd really like to finish him off--

I don't want my broken arm!　What you don't want - let's get rid of it!

　Soni dropped to her knees on the ground and raised her sword.

　It was only after her arm was cut off.
　Zeke steeled himself to endure the pain that would be coming.

　That's when it happened.

　Something jumped out of the shadows.
　The eyes of the one that flew out caught only one thing, Soni's cervical vertebrae.
　It was a killing spirit without any mixture of the two.
　He had such a horrifyingly cold expression that he was only thinking of killing.
　When Zeke recognized the person's appearance, he felt his liver go cold.
　And then.

　--Why?

　The figure is like an assassin.
　Almost without making a sound, the blade of the sword on Soni's neck--

What?　Why are they still around?

　A long arm reached behind him and grabbed the wrist of the Lord, who controlled the approaching blade.

''--!
You didn't want to play with me, did you?

　With a grin, Soni laughs.
　The figure grabbed by the wrist twists his expression in pain and removes his sword.

'Why,'

　Zeke propped himself up with his safe right arm and got up.

'Why did you come back ... Hyrgis?'

　But Hyrgis doesn't have time to respond to Zeke's words.
　Soni grabbed his left wrist and lifted Hyrgis' body up.
　Then Hirgis's legs lifted from the ground and it was as if he was suspended.

''Ugh........''
"Ha-ha, what, if you wanted me to play with you, you should have told me!

　Hirgis stared at Soni with a look of anguish on her face.


-Oh!

　There was a pecking sound.
　I broke it.
　Sonny snapped the little finger of Hyrgis' right hand.

"Huh?　Doesn't sound right?

　Hirgis clenched his teeth and struggled to hold back his voice.

''Hmmm.......you have a lot of patience, do you?''

　Zeke takes the sword that had fallen and stands up.

'Stop!　I'm the one you play with, aren't I?
I'll be playing with my sub-humans, too. So don't bother me. Besides I've already beaten Zeke once.

　While saying this, Soni broke Hirgis's ring finger this time.
　Tears welled up in Hirgis' eyes as her body trembled spasmodically.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

'So, come on, don't interrupt me!

　but is quickly blown away by a kick.
　He falls to the ground, but Zeke quickly pokes his hand out and gets up.

'Why ... why ... why did you come back, Hyrgis!
Zeke, you were going to die, weren't you?

　Weakly, Hyrgis said.

'What?'
Because you were willing to die.

　Hyrgis let out a huff and a smile.

''If I left you like that I wouldn't have a face to match, Cecily-sama.
But that doesn't mean that if we're both dead...
I should have stayed.
What did you say?
I was already dead in the beginning.

　Hyrgis looked remorseful.

''I'm ... sorry, Zeke.''

　Sorry, Hyrgis laughed.

'I was scared...'

　Tears welled up in Hirgis' eyes.

''I'm afraid of the Four Deadly Disasters.............
Hyrgis....
I don't know why I feel so guilty...

　Tears run down Hyrgis's cheeks.

'I'm sorry, Zeke...'

　-- Although he looked calm, but........inwardly, he was frightened?

　Normally, Hirgis doesn't show any emotion on her face.
　However, she is actually a girl who is still in her infancy.
　No one can complain, even if she is arrogant in the face of the Four Deadly Disasters.
　In fact, it's admirable that you've been able to keep your expression and attitude in check.

　When faced with someone from another dimension, the first thing you feel is fear.
　That's normal.

　Sometimes when I'm with Kurohiko and Currier, I almost forget the emotion of fear.
　The same thing happened during the mission to defeat the giants.
　From what I've heard, even in the battle against Hibigami, the two of them stood up to it without fear.
　Even when they were facing a powerful enemy, they didn't get frightened and stood their ground.
　But normally, when faced with a powerful enemy, the first thing they would feel is fear.
　In fact, I'm surprised that I wasn't afraid.
　Maybe it was the desperation that paralyzed the nerve to feel fear.

　-- and yet, Hyrgis overcame her fear and faced the Four Deadly Disasters.

　Hence, he was in no mood to blame her for coming back now.
　I just wanted to praise her courage.
　But--

　Pekki.
　Soni broke Hirgis' middle finger.

"--

　Hyrgis meditates tightly, as if in pain.
　His cheeks and forehead are covered in greasy sweat.
　Zeke raised his spirits and slashed at Soni.
　But he is swept away again by a kick.

''You know what, Kimi?''

　Soni asked Hirgis.
　Hirgis opens her eyes thinly.

'Cecily Arkwright's whereabouts I have a feeling I know something. If you tell me I can let you off the hook?

　Hirgis gave a condescending, trembling smile.

Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you ... would I?
..........
Why don't you figure out some things on your own?

　Pekki.
　Hirgis's index finger snapped off.

...Ugh!
You annoy me. Huh?　Speaking of which, you're a subhuman!
...?
'Sub-humans are funny when they pull their ears and tails off!　You'll look like a d*mn human being!　Hahaha, that was it!　Let's try that!

　For the first time, Hyrgis' face was tinged with fear.

'Soni Angren!
Hmm?

　Zeke shouted Soni's name.

'What?'　Right now, we have to play pulling out first, okay?　Zeke ... later.

　Soni's expression as she turned around, clearly losing interest in Zeke.

'You've never beaten me,'
'What?　Why?

　Zeke grinned wryly and patted himself on the chest with the hand that held the sword.

'I'll live to see it.
...What's that?
"You can't kill me if you can't kill me!　Soni Angren!
What the hell is that?

　The tone of Soni's voice changed blatantly.
　The irritation was palpable.

'What the hell is that?

　Soni throws down Hyrgis and attacks Zeke.
　Zeke turns himself around and tries to run to the nearest alleyway.
　But he is quickly caught up with him.

''Guh!''

　Soni pushed Zeke down and got on his horse.

'You know it's not fair, that sort of thing.
Zeke!
Run, Hyrgis!　Please!　Run!

　With all his strength, Zeke shouts.

'Shut up,'

　Soni punched Zeke in the left arm, where his bones were shattered.

'Guh!'
You're already beaten and that's pretty d*mn uncool, Zeke.
So what's your problem, then?
What did you say?
If you think you've won, normally you wouldn't be so angry. You still don't feel like you've won in your heart.
Hmm.

　Soni's eyes, behind her red bangs, narrowed emotionlessly.

'Well then--you can die.

　--This is it.

　Sieg is ready to go.

　--Take care of the rest, Kurohiko.

　The next thing that came to mind was Cecily's face.

　--Lady Cecily please be safe.

　I wonder if Hirgis has escaped.

.......................

　Finally, Zeke wished 'her' well as he looked at the blue sky behind Soni's quiet, murderous expression.
　And.





　I heard a familiar voice.

'Hmm?　What is it?

　Soni turns around behind her.　

'If you wander over after receiving the forbidden spellbook from the empire... kaka, how interesting...'
Who, honey?
The Four Deadly Sins, right?　It's a pleasure to meet you.
...so who the hell are you?

　--the voice.

　Lifting his head, Zeke looked at the owner of the voice.

　The person as he had imagined was there.

　He was dressed in red and black, with a strong eastern color.
　Two swords at his waist.
　Eerily stagnant eyes.
　A wild stubble.
　And - that unfathomable smile that I'll never forget.

'Hivi, gami.'

　Sliding.
　Hibigami pulls out his sword and releases it.

"There's no 'no kill' for the four deadly enemies, who are probably already built as fighting individuals.

　Hibigami thrusts the tip of the cherry-colored blade into Soni.
　And then the hibigami.

Come on...

　He laughed.

'Let's die together.'