I could see that Currier-san was drawing the attention of the mysterious enemy towards me.

　A-Un's Breath, let's call it.
　Maybe it's the result of training together on a daily basis.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what I'm going to do with it and form a pincer movement.

　A giant with jet-black skin.

　As I stuck to that giant's back, I aimed at the opponent's spine and activated the Third Forbidden Spell.

　I had already used the Third Forbidden Spell today, so I had to be prepared for the strain on my eyes.

　But I can still shoot.

　A line shot of lightning lightning that was released in super close proximity.
　The shooting sound of the Destruction Forbidden Curse that violently hit my eardrums.
　Continued, a collision sound that resembles a popping sound.

　Blood flies into the sky.
　It is the blood of a black giant that danced due to Currier Versteen's slash.

　The giant changes the direction of its body.

　Twisting its hips, the giant, whose momentum has not waned, threw a side hook at me.
　A super-attack, like a gust of wind, blows past my eyes.

"...and...

　Manipulating Forbidden Spell's wings to force the angle in the air, he successfully evades.
　As it is, he turns around and strikes the giant's cheek with his left arm of the forbidden curse.

　A hard sensation, like punching a rock.



　The giant lets out a low, muddy roar.

　Guillotine.

　The black bloodshot golden eye caught my presence.

　I immediately launch a series of slashes with the Mad Cherry Blossom.
　The giant defends with both arms.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find fine lacerations that reach 10 of your arms that are as thick as logs.
　However, it's hard to say that the damage has passed.
　You can see it visually.
　The giant is perfectly still.
　With the other arm, the giant unleashes a hook that reaps life.
　A sudden acceleration of the fifth forbidden curse.
　Wind pressure.
　I will not go along with the attack now, and for once, I will keep my distance--

Krohi--oh, my God!
Excuse me, Mr. Currier!

　On the way across, I put my arms around Currier's waist and held her body in my arms.
　With her in my arms, I took a dozen or so meters away from the giant.

　This was an action based on the judgment that her current condition could not be called good.
　I felt that I should pull her away from the enemy as much as possible.
　Let go of Currier-san's body.

''I'm sorry, Kurohiko.
No. I'm just glad you made it just in time.
Well I didn't expect you to come. What Cecily meant when she said she fell in love with me at the Four Deadly Disasters, well, now I know a little bit about it.

　I'm happy, but I'm not in a situation where I'm jumping for joy right now.
　Currier-san understands that as well.
　She quickly tightens her expression and stares at the giant.

''What is that guy?''

　Facing the giant with increased caution, we stand shoulder to shoulder.

''I don't understand. They appeared out of the blue, dragging the corpse of a man who looked like the Tenth Tenth Legion. The man from the Last Ten Indications Army must have been killed by that giant beast. It seems almost impossible to communicate with him.......he seems to have intelligence, but I don't think he's sane.

　The giant - or should I call it a giant beast - had been standing there with its fist released after its own attack had ended in a blank stance.
　Now it has its back to us.

　It swallows its spit.
　The back of his neck, which had been directly hit by the third forbidden curse, was red, swollen and bleeding.
　Currier wrinkles his brow, as if to say it's hard to believe.

''After receiving a direct hit from that forbidden curse of Kurohiko's over there, is that the extent of the wound...?''

　Currier's wrinkles were faintly etched with despair.
　But she shook off the despair that was about to surface.

But it's still too early to give up. And now that such a grateful reinforcement has arrived, it's just that........

　I understand.
　Right now, Currier-san seems to be right after going through quite a bit of strain in the fight.
　Your body is not as strong as you would like it to be.
　From the way the blood vessels in his neck and hands are floating, it can't be called a normal condition.
　The reason for this is probably due to the large amount of holy elements that were kneaded into the mixture in a short period of time.
　Currier-san leaned against a street tree and sat down with his back to it.

''Looks like you've figured out my current condition I'm sorry, I don't think I can join you for a while.''

　Without taking my gaze off the giant beast, I stand between Mr. Currier and my enemy.

'Just knowing that you're alive is enough for me.
"Huh.........that's your response.......

　The giant beast seemed to be in contemplation.
　He just turned his back on it and there was no gap.
　本当に何者なのだろう？

「あの巨獣について、伝えておくことがある」

　短く簡潔に、あの巨獣の使う《超低速攻撃》についてキュリエさんが教えてくれた。

「わかりました……頭に、叩き込んでおきます」

　第五禁呪を発動。

　黒い羽が街路樹の左右から上空へ向かって生えてくる。
　第五禁呪は発動場所から離れるほど性能が落ちる。
　なので一度解除し、またこの場で発動し直した。
　フィードバックで重く鈍い痛みがしばし背に走ったが、第三禁呪使用時ほどの負荷はなかった。

　黒い翼のせいか巨獣が注意を向けてくる。
　俺は第五禁呪をさらに重ねがけした。

　背に、計四枚の羽が生える。

　ザクッ。

　振り向いた巨獣が眉間を歪ませた。
　疑問を抱いている目だった。

　手にしている刀を俺が自分の翼に刺した意味を、理解できないのだろう。

　しかし血を吸うことで切れ味を増す妖刀の存在を知っていれば、この行動の意味は理解できるはずだ。

「ふっ……そんな方法でその妖刀を使うのは、このユグドラシエではおまえだけだろうな……」

　無念と達観の狭間で揺れ動く声の調子で、キュリエさんが微笑した。

　第五禁呪の羽はまた生やすことができる。
　もちろん痛みはあるが、これは我慢しなくてはならない。

　痛みには慣れがない。
　傷を負えば、当然ながら痛い。
　いつも大事な人を失った時の想像の痛みと比べることで、俺は現実の痛みを覆い隠していた。
　痛みで痛みを、緩和しているとでも言おうか。

　平気な顔をしている理由は簡単だ。
　キュリエさんにかっこ悪いところを、見せたくないから。
　だからこれは――やせ我慢。

　元気を取り戻した妖刀を、翼から引き抜く。
　傷口から血液が飛び散った。
　まるで、花が咲いたみたいに。

　使える羽は、三枚。

　最低二枚あれば、第五禁呪の加速効果は十分望める。

「グルゥゥ……グォ……グゥゥ……」

　くぐもった唸りを洩らす、巨獣。

　ピキッ。

　巨獣の踏みしめた地が、鳴いた。

　――来る。

　巨獣が、跳――

　第五禁呪の加速。

　今まさに敵が跳ぼうとしたその瞬間、俺は狙いを定めて一気に加速し、巨獣の懐に飛び込んだ。
　機先を制すのに、成功。

「グッ……ォ……ッ」

　想像以上のスピードだったのか、驚いた素振りを見せる巨獣。

　すかさず妖刀で斬り上げる。
　巨獣は両腕でガード。
　噴き上がる鮮血。
　けれど、傷は浅い。
　鋼鉄級の硬度だ。

　この硬度をかつて、俺は体験した気がした。


『貴様は、オレに勝てない』


　威圧感。
　戦闘力。

　あの男。

　四凶災、最強の男。

　ただ――この巨獣にはたった一つだけ、何か決定的なピースが欠けているような気もした。
　しかしソレが欠けていたとしても、驚異的な戦闘力を有しているのは事実。

　あのベシュガムやヒビガミがこの巨獣と戦り合った場合、その結果の想像が追いつかない。

　それほどには、高みにいる相手。

　何者なのだろう？
　わからない。
　でも確実なことが、一つだけある――

　斬り上げた勢いをそのまま利用し、翼を揺らし巨獣の視界を遮りながら――妖刀の狙いを、足首へ。

　――こいつは《敵》。

　砲弾のごとく振り下ろされた巨獣の拳に対し、真っ向から左腕を突き上げる。

　互いの拳が、激しく衝突。

　皮膚――肉が潰れる音。
　超硬度の鉱石と打ち合ったような感覚だった。
　痛みが、拳から肩にかけて急速に《浸透》していく。

　右手の妖刀を振る。

　巨獣の膝が、眼前に出現。

　clatter

　The giant beast's knee kick hit me in the face.

''Gu--''

　The giant beast's knee attacked faster than he could swing his demon sword.
　But the youkai's attack also cut through the skin of the enemy's knee.
　Since it was a slash while receiving the opponent's attack, it was not a direct hit, but--

　Milly.

"--?

　Love, one.

　In an instant you understand what the giant beast is trying to do.
　The sensation of flesh ripping apart and separating from each other.

　Wings ripping, ripping, ripping, ripping........!

　Merrimilligutti, Belli!　Goff!

G... gahhhh...


　Opportunity.


　This is an opportunity.


　The giant beast is about to tear my wings off.
　So...

　You try to slam your left fist into the giant beast's lower abdomen and release your fist in an unbalanced position while attempting to block the pain from your consciousness as much as possible.

　Right now, your hands are occupied.

　The giant beast showed its reflexes as expected and blocked the fist with its knees.
　The reflexes are off-kilter.

　But this is good.

　I also made him spit out his knee, which is the third "shield".


　Now...you can't block this one with your arms!


　Zash!

　From a stance that can be said to be on the verge of falling down, the arc of the slash flash is drawn to the heavens, the cherry blossom blade of the crazy bloodsucking.

　The pulsing light pink blade carves a vertical wound from the giant beast's neck to its temple.

''Gu........Nu.........!　　

　So I'm gonna stick the blade into his neck...

　At that moment, it was.

　The giant beast grabbed the nearly shredded wings, crushing them with a tremendous grip.

　Then it slams me to the ground with all its might.

　Bagaan!

Phew!

　The impact of the smack makes the air in my lungs look funny.
　Continuing on, I vomit blood.

'Gosh.............................Gosh!　Geez.........!

　Not good.
　It's not good to stay slammed down.
　The last thing you want to do is get mounted with a body that big...

"Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

　I wielded the power of the remaining fifth forbidden curse.
　To avoid the chase, I forced myself to regain my position.
　Sliding on the soles of my shoes, I planted my feet on the ground and faced the giant beast.

　The giant beast was looking at me with a complicated expression, blood flowing from its cheeks.
　There was a hint that I had missed my opponent's aim.
　A sign that the future I was planning to do this was not fulfilled.

　I knew he was going to cover up and mount me and take my freedom.

'Ha, ha!　Huhhhh.....　Peh!

　Spit out the blood in your mouth.
　I breathe on my shoulder.

'Hah--ah--ah... ah!　Hmmm........

　Regulate your breathing.

"Kurohiko!

　Currier-san, who had been killing her voice to keep out of the way, shouts my name as soon as the dam is broken.
　I stick out my palm to her.

　--It's okay, Currier-san.

　I think she got the message.

　--I can still do it.



　There is one wing left.

　Two battered wings.
　Acceleration itself is still possible.
　However, against this giant beast, the fifth forbidden wing is also a risk.

　The chances of your opponent grabbing you increase.
　But you can't disarm it now.
　You should wait until after this battle to get feedback.
　You shouldn't take this thing's load now.

　Move the demon sword and let it suck the blood from the torn wing.

Huh!

　When I touched the wound, pain coursed through my entire body.
　But I didn't scream.
　Screaming to release the pain is an opening.
　A spirited roar of strength is still a good idea, but screaming is not good.
　Clenching my teeth, I topped the pain with my battle cry for the giant beast.


　It's not as if it wasn't doing any damage.


　With the current sharpness of this demon sword, it can cut through that steel skin.

　The beast took a bent forward stance.

　I can feel the power injected into its legs.

　--coming.

　The ultra-low speed attack that Currier-san was talking about.

　It can no longer control the plane with the same level of acceleration as before.
　The wings are tattered.
　The same countermeasures cannot be taken.

　That monster must have instinctively sensed that the cause of its first move was the fifth forbidden wing.
　That's why he came to rip off the forbidden wings first, prepared to be slashed.......
　If that's the case, my aim was successful.

　Zulli.

　Stopping the sucking blood of the demon sword.

But that doesn't mean I'm going to give up on you.

　He brings his left arm back to the first realm of his shield and holds up his sword, which is dripping blood.

"Come.

　The beast jumped.