Initial illustrations
- We haven't seen each other for so long, but, alas, we will have to part again. Goodbye
my friends. Goodbye my beloved daughter. You all brilliantly performed the roles that I
composed for you.
The White Queen White Cosmos, sitting on a pegasus floating in the night sky, uttered
these words in such a sad voice, as if she really did not want to say goodbye.
Her right hand slowly raised the Radiance, one of the Seven Artifacts. The scepter
glimmered a silvery glint of pure moonlight that gave its name to the level.
A second later the Radiance descended smoothly, as if cutting the thread of fate.
Until now, the 100-meter giant known as Enemi Ultra-Class “God of the Apocalypse
Tezcatlipoca” had only silently gazed at the burst linkers pinned to the ground, but now
concentric crimson circles appeared on his left hand.
He was going to attack.
Haruyuki immediately realized that most likely ... no, no doubt this attack would be
stronger than anything he had ever seen in the Accelerated World. But he could not dodge
either. The black concentric circles on Tezcatlipoca's right arm still emitted gravitational
waves, crushing the combined army of the Six Great Legions to the ground to fight Inti.
Haruyuki could hear Silver Crow's armor cracking, but his attention was focused on what
was happening a couple of dozen meters ahead.
The red circles in Tezcatlipoca's palm were not just a threat to Haruyuki and the
army. Seconds ago, five Burst Linkers appeared in Kitanomaru Park near the Imperial Castle
- more precisely, in the place of the Budokan - which were also supposed to fall into the
affected area.
Purple Queen Purple Thorn, nicknamed the "Electric Arc Empress".
Yellow King of Yellow Radio nicknamed "Radioactive Psychopath".
Blue King Blue Knight nicknamed "The Conqueror".
Green King Green Grande, nicknamed "Invincible".
And the Black Queen Black Lotus, nicknamed "The End of the World."
Senior White Legion Officer Ivory Tower, aka Black Weiss, sacrificed himself to drop
Inti on the Five Kings and kill them instantly. The Five Legions had to join forces to fight
Inti. But even the victory over him and the resurrection of the Kings turned out to be part of
the White Cosmos plan. When Haruyuki cut Inti with the Omega Universal Style,
Tezcatlipoca emerged from within, and the White Queen immediately enslaved him with
Divine Light - the ability to Shine.
After receiving news from their legionnaires of the victory over Inti, the Kings plunged
into an unlimited neutral field, believing that the danger was behind. But although they did
not expect to see Tezcatlipoca, a Level 9 Burst Linker is able to assess the situation in a split
second and come up with a plan of action.
However, the Kings did not move and stood in a dense group in the middle of the crater
left by the Budokan.
They could not move, because they also fell into Tezcatlipoca's super-powerful
gravitational field, which pressed ninety-six participants to the ground. Narrowing his eyes,
Haruyuki saw black circles under the Kings' feet. If he had not been lying prone, he would
probably have made out a similar one under Silver Crow.
The power of the Monochrome Kings had to be given their due, because gravity could not
bring them to their knees, but even Blue Knight and Green Grande, the most powerful of the
five, held out with their last bit of strength. Against the background of the quiet hum of the
giant, the Kings' joints creaked and their armor cracked.
While Tezcatlipoca's right hand held the one hundred and one Burst Linker in place, red
circles flashed on the left one in turn. If there were only five blacks, then eight were already
burning red. Haruyuki had no idea why Tezcatlipoca was so diligently charging a blow that
would have destroyed both Haruyuki and the Five Kings in no time anyway. Rather, even
six, because among the participants in the campaign was the Red Queen Scarlet Rain. And
this meant that, despite the victory over Inti, all the Kings with the exception of Cosmos, as
well as all the main burst linkers of the Six Great Legions, would again fall into endless
extermination.
"No ... No way! .." came a choked scream to Haruyuki's right.
It belonged to Sky Raker, a senior officer of the Neg Nebulas. She pressed her hands on
the wheels of the carriage, trying to get up, but the thin silver only bent, unable to withstand
such a weight.
Hearing the loud crunch of broken spokes, Haruyuki realized exactly what Sky Raker was
afraid of.
No, Kings will not fall into endless annihilation.
The god of the apocalypse Tezcatlipoca is dominated by White Cosmos. Most likely, the
game will attribute all his successes to the White Queen. But if from Haruyuki and most of
the participants in the campaign, she only takes away a small part of the burst points, then
Nico, Kuroyukihime and the rest of the Kings will face a different fate. In the Accelerated
World, all level 9 burst linkers are bound by the merciless rule of sudden death: if they are
killed by a player of the same level, they will instantly lose all points, and Brain Burst will
be forced to retire.
In other words, when Tezcatlipoca launches its attack on them in a few seconds, Blue
Knight, Purple Thorn, Yellow Radio, Green Grande, Kuroyukihime and Niko will cease to be
burst linkers. They will lose both the memory of the Accelerated World, and the bond with
their friends, and the dueling avatars that have already become a part of themselves.
- No no! Haruyuki's groan escaped from the avatar's mouth hidden under the silvery visor.
"No. Do not! Not that! ” - mentally he called to White Cosmos, looking at her horse
soaring in the heights.
But the White Queen did not move, continuing to point with the lowered Radiance to the
bottom of the crater. A long time ago, at the dawn of the Accelerated World, she fought
shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the Kings, and now she tried to destroy not only them,
but also her "child" Kuroyukihime - but her figure still gave the impression of complete
serenity.
Yes. It seems that the White Queen has this in mind.
When the first Dwarf Platinum Cavalier brought her here in his Pegasus, she said, "You
helped me collect all the cards." Obviously she was referring to the God of the apocalypse
Tezcatlipoca and the six Kings.
If you look at it that way, White Cosmos had the opportunity to get rid of the Kings
earlier. She just had to not give the Radiance Platinum Cavalier during the fall of Inti, but to
keep it in her hands. In this case, all the Kings - with the exception of Niko - would not fall
into endless extermination, but would perish on the spot. But she did not do this to force the
Six Great Legions to defeat Inti, too powerful for the White Legion alone; and to take control
of this Enemi's second form, Tezcatlipoca. And already the killing of the Kings was the next
point in her plan.
White Cosmos was going to do what was considered impossible among players - to kill
five other nines and get the tenth level first in history.
But she will hardly stop there.
She will have the strongest Enemi Tezcatlipoca, the ultimate level ten for a burst linker
and a clot of dark Incarnation called the Armor of Calamity 2. Having gathered together the
three greatest forces of the Accelerated World, the Cosmos will certainly try to do something
with them. Something related to the White Legion principles that Rose Milady mentioned.
But whatever she's up to, she needs to be stopped. There can be no principles for which
Kuroyukihime, Niko and the rest of the Kings should die.
Brain ... or rather, Haruyuki's quantum circuits were overclocked. He saw that there were
nine red circles. Something suggested that the next one would be the last.
The thought flashed to ask for help from his strongest ally - Enemi of the Legendary Class
“Archangel Metatron”. But now she was just healing her wounds in the Air Hut at the top of
Old Tokyo Tower. To do this, she had to go deep into herself, although she would surely
hear Haruyuki if he addressed her through a mental link. On the other hand, a wounded
Metatron is unlikely to be able to defeat an enemy a whole class above herself. Moreover,
even she will not be able to get here in a couple of seconds, because the Old Tokyo Tower is
located almost four kilometers from the Budokan. Haruyuki had to do something himself, not
rely on someone else's help.
He has to get up.
Because otherwise everything will be in vain: the consent to become a burst linker, and
the achievement of the sixth level, and the passed tests.
- Oh ... ah ... ahhhhhhh! Shouted Haruyuki.
But the gravitational field that enveloped the avatar did not yield. Haruyuki could not get
up, nor spread his wings, nor even turn his hand towards Tezcatlipoca. He had already turned
on Incarnation, but the grip of the invisible shackles still did not loosen.
If the White Queen did not lie, and this crimson giant is really an Ultra-Class Enemi, then
he is one of the lords of the Accelerated World on a par with the Four Gods, and maybe even
stronger than them. Once, Graphite Edge, nicknamed "Anomaly", said about these superbeings that they cannot be defeated unless they go beyond the system limits.
System restrictions ...
As soon as I thought about them, a voice emerged from the memories:
"If the system generates a picture in front of your eyes, you can interfere with this
process."
So spoke Haruyuki's teacher - Centorea Sentry, nicknamed "Ruthless." On the first day of
training in the pavilion, Omu Sentri showed him what the omega style is capable of. She
vanished into space, disappearing from Haruyuki's eyes, and then chopped off his shoulder
pad. He did not notice anything until the metal shield fell at his feet.
She then explained to the shocked Haruyuki what had happened:
“During the fight, the system actually predicts the future for a moment ahead and shows
us this picture. The system predicts the future with amazing accuracy and, as a rule, is not
wrong. No wonder, because she bases her predictions on our thoughts - or rather, on the
signals of the imagination circuit that controls the avatar. Okay, that's not the point, but the
fact that if you understand the principles of this prediction, you can make him make
mistakes. "
Sentry talked about how Brain Burst's systems are responsible for what Haruyuki sees, but
they also control Enemi. The strongest among creatures react surprisingly quickly to the
movements of Burst Linkers, so they probably rely on predictions of the future.
Tezcatlipoca attacked each of the one hundred and one Burst Linkers separately. Its
gravitational field is not the same for everyone, but its own for each purpose - this is
indicated by the black circles that appeared under the avatars.
Haruyuki only had to disappear from this place for a second. Not to break out by force,
but to force the system of predicting the future to be mistaken and suggest to it that the duel
avatar is somewhere else ...
Four months of training in the Omu Pavilion was not enough for Haruyuki to master all
the secrets of the omega style. But he remembered every word Sentry said and every skill she
showed.
“You must completely free your mind and not even think about standing still. Complete
attenuation of all thoughts, transformation into a part of the surrounding world - this is the
secret of Synthesis ”.
Will he be able to clear his consciousness and subconsciousness right now, when only a
few seconds separate them from the catastrophe? It was Haruyuki's mind control that was the
most difficult.
Even after being a Burst Linker for nine months, he was still worried before battles for
territory, and even before ordinary duels - so much so that his heart almost jumped out of his
chest. When talking to unfamiliar Burst Linkers, he inevitably began to stutter. Although
Rose Milady, aka Tsubomi Kosika, spoke of Silver Crow as one of the Burst Linkers that
everyone in the Accelerated World knows, Haruyuki did not consider himself a hero at
all. He was only lucky with the teachers, friends and rivals who helped him live so
long. Without them, Haruyuki would have lost all his glasses long ago ...
But even if all this is true, he never - never! - would not forgive himself if his own
weakness did not allow him to try to save Niko and Kuroyukihime from impending death.
One cannot stop thinking, even if the consciousness, accelerated to the point of
impossibility, engages in fire from tension.
According to Centorea Sentry Synthesis, one of the strongest omega-style moves, like
Incarnation, relies on the circuit of the imagination, but does something exactly the opposite
with it. During Synthesis, the burst linker must completely drown out mental images coming
from quantum circuits and become a part of the surrounding world.
Once upon a time, the Second Red Queen, Scarlet Raine, had already told Haruyuki about
a similar phenomenon called Zeroing. When the Burst Linker is overwhelmed by despair and
a sense of powerlessness, the negative Incarnation drowns out all commands sent to the duel
avatar, and he cannot budge. Once, during a battle with the Dusk Taker, nicknamed the
"Marauder", Haruyuki also lost his will to resist and almost experienced Zeroing on himself.
But the similarities between Synthesis and Zeroing are deceiving. In the case of Zeroing,
in fact, only the motor commands are nullified, while a powerful stream of negative
Incarnation is poured out of the quantum circuit that plays the role of the soul. However, in
order to achieve Synthesis, it is necessary to completely erase all signals that pass along the
circuit of the imagination. This can be called Zero Incarnation as opposed to positive and
negative.
But how can this be achieved? Most likely, the key lies in Sentry's words about merging
with the world. If you try to embrace the boundless Accelerated World with your mind, the
image will become extremely subtle. In other words, you need to imagine infinity.
Until now, Haruyuki's adventures have been limited to downtown Tokyo, ranging from
Suginami to Chiyoda. It would seem that he could not imagine the entire Accelerated World,
which stretches from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
But in fact, Haruyuki had seen the whole world more than once. It was not at the lower
and middle levels - also known as the usual dueling and unlimited neutral field - but at the
higher. He saw how the galaxy of countless nodes shimmers, forming not only the familiar
world of Haruyuki Brain Burst 2039, but also the already closed “attempts” number one and
three - Accel Assault 2038 and Cosmos Corrupt 2040. Together they make up the
Accelerated World.
Here's the image you need: an endless three-layer world. If you imagine it only for a
moment, throwing away all fears and worries, you can merge with the world. But at the same
time, Haruyuki cannot rise to the highest level. Now he needs not to focus his consciousness
in order to break through the wall between the levels, but to spread it so widely that it will
disappear from the eyes of the system.
It should stretch from the northernmost node of Brain Burst to the southernmost one ...
capture both Axel Assolt overhead, and Cosmos Corrupt underfoot ...
Form.
Synthesis.
Haruyuki felt as if ripples ran across the world in front of him. This wave engulfed Silver
Crow and turned him into tiny particles of light, which began to be absorbed into the earth
and air. Of course, none of this really happened. It was only tricking Haruyuki's senses
... and the Brain Burst systems .
It was no longer the eyes, but the brain and soul that spoke about how the world works. It
added the adjacent Imperial Castle and the Kasumigaseki government quarter, then the
Shinjuku and Shibuya skyscrapers, all twenty-three districts of central Tokyo, the Kanto
Plain, Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu ... then two worlds located parallel to Brain
Burst ... or not? What…
The stretched consciousness shrank sharply and returned to the avatar.
Most likely, less than a quarter of a second had passed. But that was
enough. Tezcatlipoca's gravity field momentarily lost its target, and the pressure
eased. Haruyuki still couldn't get up ... but at least his right hand was moving.
Raising the limb with the cracked armor, Haruyuki pulled it back as far as he could and
filled the tips of the outstretched fingers with an image of light.
Silver Crow has a ranged attack called Incarnation Laser Dart, but this ability requires
both hands and is not very accurate. His second long-range attack is the 3-meter Laser Lance,
but Tezcatlipoca's face is 100 meters from the ground and his gravity-emitting palm is
fifty. And this is not to mention the fact that such an attack for Enemi Ultra-Class is like an
elephant. Therefore, Haruyuki had to come up with a completely new technique here and
now, which could somehow influence what was happening.
Ever since the "Laser Sword", Haruyuki created combat Incarnation techniques such as
"Increase the attack radius". Filling his own palm with the powerful sword or spear image, he
summoned Override and could deal damage to enemies standing at great distance. However,
even creating long-range techniques, Haruyuki did not weave images of firearms, but of
swords and spears, because the strength of Silver Crow was in only one thing.
Shortly before the decisive battle with the Dusk Taker, Haruyuki and Takumu learned
from Niko how to use the Incarnation System. She showed them Radiant Fist and Pyro Slide
- Increase Attack Range and Increase Mobility Incarnation - and then explained that Scarlet
Rain's ranged attacks are like hedgehog needles. Inside, under the most powerful armor, there
is only a small helpless child, and that is why Niko could not even increase her defense and
attack power with an Incarnation. These are the fundamental limitations of the Incarnation
System.
Haruyuki believed that his Silver Crow was born from the embodiment of inner trauma - a
keen desire to fly away from adversity. Almost all of his potential was in his ability to fly,
but otherwise he was a virtually unarmed avatar who relied primarily on speed in battle. Like
Niko, he only had Increased Attack Range and Increased Mobility among the main types of
Incarnation. Haruyuki believed that even his imagination could not make the avatar stronger
or more protected.
But is it?
Once upon a time, Argon Areus, one of the senior members of the Acceleration Research
Society, proposed the Theory of Heart Armor. The latter says that the owners of metal
avatars surround their soul scars (which become the main avatars) with such a strong shell
that they themselves cannot see them. Of course, Argon cannot be taken at her word, but if
she is still right, then Haruyuki comes out, and he himself does not know what is hiding
under the metal armor of Silver Crow.
What if…
What if there is more than just a desire to escape inside the avatar?
A month ago, Kuroyukihime - the "parent" of Haruyuki and the Queen, to whom he had
sworn allegiance - told him about the second level of Incarnation.
“In order to generate a positive Incarnation, we need to go against our trauma. We need to
go against their incarnation in the Accelerated World - our own dueling avatar, and against
ourselves in the real world. You have to accept them and turn them into hope ... and it's
extremely difficult. But you should succeed. After all, you were able to independently realize
what imagination is ”.
Inspired by these words, Haruyuki promised her that he would do his best to find an image
of his hope.
The result of that conversation was that during his next escape from the Imperial Castle,
Haruyuki went against his mental trauma and created a second level Incarnation called
"Speed of Light", which helped him escape from Suzaku.
However, what if in Silver Crow there is not only moral trauma, but also some kind of
hope that does not need to be fought?
The armor of the metal avatar is a shell that hides something so terrible that even the
player himself cannot look it in the eye. Argon Ares was hardly mistaken in her reasoning,
but is this really the whole truth? Is the armor, which is even stronger than that of the green
avatar, given to Silver Crow only to protect his pathetic gut?
The pioneer Chrom Falcon, who became the first Chrom Disaster, was also a metal avatar
and all the time thought only about how to protect his partner Saffron Blossom. When he was
the first among the players to sneak into the impregnable Imperial Castle, he had to choose
what to take with him: either the strongest sword "Infinity", or the strongest armor
"Destiny". In the end, he chose not a sword, which would make him much stronger, but an
armor that would save Saffron from her vulnerability. And even the fall of this Pathfinder
into darkness caused the insidious Acceleration Research Society to strip Saffron of all
points. Under the shiny armor of Crom Falcon there was always a desire to protect a dear
person.
And it burned inside Haruyuki. Moreover, at some point it came to the fore, and now he
always sought to protect not so much himself as Kuroyukihime, Nega Nebula and many other
burst linkers whom he considered his friends.
Of course, for the most part, both his fellow Legion members and Haruyuki's rivals were
much stronger than him. More recently, it was they who mainly defended Silver Crow, and
not vice versa. However, now he had a desire to save them - and nothing else. Theirs are not
only Kuroyukihime and Niko, but also the rest of the Kings, and even burst linkers from
other Legions with whom they have been in conflict for so long. Haruyuki wanted to protect
all one hundred people from Tezcatlipoca.
He felt the avatar fill with heat. But it was not a flame of rage that burns the soul from
within, but the energy of pure and quiet light. Feelings told Haruyuki that this was not some
new, just emerging power - it had long been hidden in the depths of his soul. Yes, this light
has lived under the impenetrable armor of Silver Crow since the very birth of the duel
avatar. It was thanks to him that "Headbut", the first special move of the avatar, inflicted part
of the damage with the element of light.
"My light, please ... Protect everyone!" - pleaded Haruyuki, straining all his mental
strength. He collected this light in his right palm and released it along with his mental image,
throwing his hand forward.
- Light Shell
[✱ ]
Light Shell, Light shell. !
At the same moment, Synthesis stopped deceiving the system, and Tezcatlipoca's
gravitational field again tried to pounce on Haruyuki.
But around Silver Crow's right hand, a ball of light rose silently, stopping the space distorting field. The snow-white shell was thin to the point of transparency, but it still
continued to expand inexorably. The hemisphere in the blink of an eye grew to ten meters,
then to twenty, and already gradually approached the five Kings standing in the middle of the
Budokan crater.
Just a little more ... and Haruyuki's light will reach Kuroyukihime.
- Ty ... no-and-and-ish ...
Haruyuki reached out with all his might, but the figure of Black Lotus standing in the
distance suddenly began to blur before his eyes. The soul, or rather, the quantum circuit
could not withstand the overload and began to junk. But Haruyuki couldn't turn off the
Incarnation. He had to free the Kings from their gravitational shackles at all costs, until
Tezcatlipoca launched the final attack with his left hand. If he doesn't help them escape, then
all the efforts expended on the Synthesis and the Light Shell will be in vain.
Everything blurred and darkened before my eyes. The sensations were gradually
dulled. Still, Haruyuki continued to squeeze out his mental image. There were only three ...
no, already two meters ...
But then the Overrey on Silver Crow's right hand flickered and went out.
In that instant, the shell of light shattered like glass, shattering into myriads of fragments.
A ninth concentric circle lit up on Tezcatlipoca's left hand.
The circles, in turn, from outer to inner, began to flash with a dazzling radiance. The
world shuddered at the unprecedented density of energy that gathered in the giant's
palm. The hour of death has come.
All of a sudden, to the left, right and behind Haruyuki, colorful lights flashed - blue, red,
yellow, green, purple. Special Move Effects ... and Overrey.
The light barrier made sense. Although he only lasted a split second, Haruyuki's
companions did not miss their chance. Until gravity pushed them to the ground again, they
managed to shout out the names of their attacks:
- Lightning Cyan Spike!
- Siring Note!
- Limonene Sorbet
[✱ ]
Limonen Sorbet, Lemon Sorbet. !
- Isilin Strike!
- Charjd Vine [✱] Charged Vine, Charged Vine. !
- Rocket Straight [✱] Rocket Straight, Rocket Fist. !
- Carnage Canonball
[✱ ]
Carnage Cannonball, Killing Core. !
- Superluminal of Strings!
- Renjless Sizhen!
- Spyral!
- Wind Ballet!
- Radiant Burst!
- Havenly Streitos!
Haruyuki could only make out these names, although there were nearly fifty others. A
massive volley of long-range special attacks and Incarnations lifted off the ground and
rushed skyward, merging into a rainbow.
But the most striking thing was not even the speed of reaction of the Burst Linkers, which
attacked the enemy, as soon as the gravitational field weakened.
The strongest burst linkers of the Six Great Legions did not agree on anything, but all as
one chose one target, and this target was not Tezcatlipoca's head, and not even his palms, but
the White Queen White Cosmos, hovering on a pegasus at the back of the giant Enemi's
neck.
Judging by its extremely graceful forms, the avatar Kosmos, even at the ninth level, could
not boast of strong armor. She would never survive the fifty special moves and Incarnations
if they succeeded. Proof of this was the fact that the Platinum Cavalier, who was sitting on a
pegasus behind Cosmos and holding the reins, reached for the shield on his back. But he
would not have had time, and the shield still would not have stopped such a squall.
White Cosmos also realized this and sharply raised the lowered Radiance.
Tezcatlipoca's left hand, ready to deliver the decisive blow, jumped at an incredible speed
for its size. A rainbow, woven from many ranged attacks, slammed right into the powerful
palm.
Flash.
In a moment, the night sky turned red from a monstrous explosion.
It seems that it was not only the burst linker special moves and Incarnation techniques that
exploded, but all the energy that Tezcatlipoca was accumulating in his hand. A moment later,
a shockwave hit the level, causing it to shudder and the armor of Haruyuki on the ground to
creak.
Tezcatlipoca bent down. Haruyuki almost shouted, "He's falling!", But Enemi stretched
out his right hand to the side, took a step back and resisted. I really wanted to assess the
damage done, but the health bars hung a hundred meters above the ground and seemed so
tiny that Haruyuki could not even count them.
But although they did not manage to knock Enemi to the ground, he had to wave his right
hand, so the gravitational field disappeared, and did not turn on again. Haruyuki knew that
such a chance should not be missed, but the recoil from the overload of imagination had not
yet let go of him and even prevented him from thinking.
Someone suddenly grabbed Haruyuki and helped him up.
- Then we ourselves, Crowe! - shouted Takumu, hugging his friend with his powerful left
hand and aiming at the sky with a Pile-driver in his right.
The rest of the Burst Linkers also got down to business without waiting for orders.
Fifty-something ranged avatars immediately formed a formation and began to prepare the
next volley. The melee avatars split into two squads and rushed forward along the flanks. But
while their cohesion deserved respect, they forgot something very important. The Five Kings
in the Budokan crater have not yet come to their senses. Judging by the cracks running
through even the Green King's armor, gravity hit them hardest.
“I have to… protect senpai! Haruyuki squeezed out hoarsely and tried to step towards the
crater, when suddenly ...
- Brother! Shouted one of the long-range avatars.
That sugar voice could only belong to Lemon Pierrette of the Yellow Legion.
The Yellow King of Yellow Radio, who was standing behind the other Kings, responded
to her call.
He spread his surprisingly thin arms to the sides. The right one hugged Blue Knight and
Purple Thorn, the left one - Green Grande and Black Lotus.
- Clowns Last Resort
[ ✱]
Clown's Last Resort, The Jester's Final Reason. ! - shouted
Yellow Radio the name of the technique and flashed a dazzling yellow light. It was not just a
special effect, but the Overrey of Incarnation ...
The light quickly turned into poisonous smoke. There was a loud bang and the Kings
disappeared from sight.
Then the same yellow smoke appeared in front and to the right of Haruyuki, in the very
center of the Burst Linker army. The night wind cleared the air and five Kings emerged from
the clubs.
- Teleportation ?! Boomed Takumu in a surprised bass.
What had happened really deserved amazement. Brain Burst is basically a fighting game,
and teleportation is a huge advantage in it. Haruyuki knew only one ability of this type "Instant Leap" by Chrom Falcon, and even that was just an imitation of real telepo rtation. In
fact, the avatar using this ability turned into a bunch of photons and quickly flew forward.
But even that was enough for Haruyuki, becoming the Sixth Chromium Disaster and
gaining access to Instant Leap, to smash his enemies with almost impunity. He was stopped
only by the vice-president of the Acceleration Research Society, Black Weiss, using
"Hexagonal compression." But now it turned out that Yellow Radio secretly owned such a
skill, which - to be honest - was considered by many to be the weakest fighter among the
Kings - even after the White Cosmos.
The kings have moved almost fifty meters. But if Radio can teleport so far, why didn't the
Kings help the Kings to penetrate Black Weiss's “Icosahedral Blockade” and avoid death
from the falling Inti? ..
However, the question hanging in my head was not one that required an urgent
answer. Although the legionaries could now defend the Kings, the danger was not over yet.
Barely restraining himself from immediately rushing towards the wounded Kuroyukihime,
Haruyuki looked up into the night sky.
Tezcatlipoca was still standing, bent over, and did not move. The last flashes were
extinguished, and the left hand protecting the Cosmos appeared from the smoke.
Nothing was left of the huge palm but a thumb. This meant that some of the attacks went
through Enemi and reached the White Queen. Perhaps she even died along with the Platinum
Cavalier.
Haruyuki gazed up at the sky with all his might.
Suddenly voices rumbled around.
Against the background of the snow-white moon, a dazzling pentagon sparkled with
gold. The same shield that hung behind the Platinum Cavalier's back, but for some reason
became so huge that it covered not only the owner and the White Queen, but the entire
Pegasus.
Then the shield diminished soundlessly, revealing the two Burst Linkers on the back of
the winged horse. Haruyuki couldn't see them well from a distance, but they seemed safe and
sound.
- Wow, “Modest” was hiding such a trump card from us? Muttered Mangan Blade of the
Blue Legion, standing to Haruyuki's left.
Apparently, she fought the Cavalier many times, but never saw him increase the shield in
size.
“But we still destroyed Tezcatlipoca's left hand. Now he will not be able to use a lethal
attack, commented Cobalt Blade next to Mangan.
“The gravitational field of his right hand is extremely dangerous even by itself,” said
Ardor Maiden, who was standing in front of them, turning for a second. “We must be ready
to immediately attack his right arm as soon as he tries to move it.
"That's for sure ... It wasn't enough for Crowe to have to save us again," Mangan Blade
agreed, patting Haruyuki on the back.
“Never mind, I will protect you as long as necessary,” he wanted to answer, but even his
lips did not move from weakness. Perhaps if Takumu had let him go, he would have
immediately collapsed to the ground. But even though Haruyuki realized that he was unlikely
to have the strength for another Light Shell, he promised himself to use it again and again if
necessary.
Suddenly Tezcatlipoca began to move, and the Burst Linkers tensed at the same
time. However, the giant only straightened up, dropped his injured hand and froze again.
The Platinum Cavalier and the White Queen, floating in the night, did not even move. All
over the field, only the pegasus's wings moved.
Suddenly Haruyuki heard:
- Just awesome.
This exceptionally innocent, pure and sweet voice belonged to White Cosmos, nicknamed
“Eternity in passing”.
The White Queen took the Radiance with both hands and pressed it to her chest, as if in a
fit of admiration.
- A long time ago, a whole army of experienced warriors could not do anything with
Tezcatlipoca, and you defeated his "Toshkatl" in an instant
[✱]
The fifth month of the Aztec
calendar. - she continued.
Haruyuki was puzzled by her words.
Tezcatlipoca emerged from the gut of the "Sun God Inti" - the monstrously powerful
Enemi, whom no one had defeated since the inception of the Accelerated World. This means
that even the White Queen saw Tezcatlipoca for the first time. Nevertheless, she spoke as if
some army of strong Burst Linkers had already tried to fight him.
And for that matter, how does the White Queen know the name of this Enemi and the
name of his weapon? Neither other Pathfinders like the Blue and Green Kings, nor even
Saints Enemi Metatron and Amaterasu knew that Inti's death would lead to the appearance of
Tezcatlipoca. Where could White Cosmos find out about this?
Haruyuki, still unable to stand without Takumu's help, pondered these questions until a
slightly tired but resonant voice full of fighting spirit came from the right.
- Your equanimity is more like a bluff, Cosmos, - Black Queen Black Lotus, aka
Kuroyukihime, raised her slightly chipped right hand-blade and pointed the point exactly at
the White Queen. “You understand perfectly well that no matter how strong this creature is,
we will not fall for the same bait a second time. As soon as we destroy the right arm, he will
not be able to use the gravitational field, and further the fight will be similar to the u sual hunt
for Enemi. Perhaps he has a mountain of health, but if he takes damage, it will be much
easier to defeat him than Inti. Yes, it will take a long time, but we will prevail, and we will
not let you down with the Cavalier!
But no matter how Kuroyukihime threw thunder and lightning at her older sister, the
White Queen was not at all embarrassed and answered her “child” in a soft voice:
“There’s no way to shake your bad habit of running ahead, Lotus. Do you think that
Tezcatlipoca, Inti's second form, will be easier to defeat than the first? Let me remind you
that only one wreath of Radiance was enough for me to take control of Inti, but this kid took
six.
Indeed, on Tezcatlipoca six spiked rings glittered: on the head, wrists, chest, abdomen and
thighs. In fact, this only indicated that it was six times more difficult to tame a giant than
Inti, but another conclusion could be made: six wreaths are enough to take control of even an
Ultra-Class Enemi.
The thought exploded in Haruyuki's head like fireworks. He remembered again the
question he had asked a couple of minutes ago.
What is White Cosmos trying to achieve by gathering the three greatest forces of the
Accelerated World?
There was only one answer: the Imperial Castle. She was going to defeat the invincible
Gods protecting the gates, then defeat the even more powerful Enemi in the palace dungeon
and get the last artifact: "Shimmering Light". Any burst linker ultimately strives for it.
But if so ...
Haruyuki leaned on Takumu's shoulder and straightened up somehow, straining all the
strength that had returned to him.
- White Queen! He shouted at the top of his voice.
The Cosmos above turned its head a little. The look from behind the lenses of amazing
color seemed to pierce him through and through.
Haruyuki's legs trembled, but he controlled them and spoke as loudly as possible.
- White Queen, if you can subjugate even the Ultra-Class Enemi ... then we, united, could
subdue even the Gods of the Imperial Castle! Don't you like this decision ?! Why choose the
path of pain and blood when all the Legions could form an alliance and go through the final
dungeon together ?!
Both he and Kuroyukihime considered the White Queen the greatest enemy that hardly
deserves forgiveness ... But even understanding everything, Haruyuki could not help but ask
this question.
The rolling echo of his scream finally fell silent, but for a long time no one broke the
silence.
Finally, in the moonlit night, there was a quiet voice, almost a whisper from the White
Queen:
“How amazing.” She paused so briefly that Haruyuki didn't even have time to think about
what might have been surprising. - A long time ago ... in one virtual world, completely
unlike this one, almost the same situation developed. Many players, who came from different
worlds, were faced with a choice: to cooperate and complete the game together or to kill
others before they betray you. Among them there was an idealist who spoke exactly like you,
Silver Crow. Many listened to his words, but in the end ...
The White Queen paused and shook her head.
Haruyuki felt as if the snow-white avatar had changed. The halo of holiness was replaced
by an aura of inexorable cold.
- Too late. You are all hopelessly late, ”she finished in an imperious voice that made
Haruyuki's insides feel cold.
Even the Takumu next door tensed.
The White Queen seemed to have put shackles on everyone, but Kuroyukihime
immediately threw out her fury in response, smashing them to smithereens:
- If so, you are finished!
There was a deafening rumble, and a purple Overrey gushed from the Black Queen's
body. The rest of the Kings also lit up with their colors, as if conveying their own
determination to the rest of the Burst Linkers.
We'll have to defeat her to prevent further tragedies, Haruyuki thought to him self,
clenching his left fist. He still felt exhausted, but he would have had enough strength for one
more Incarnation Technique.
He knew what to do. Now, after the destruction of Tezcatlipoca's left hand, they only had
to fear the gravitational field. As soon as the lowered right hand rises and turns towards them
with an open palm, the Burst Linkers will have to unleash all their attacks on it. Tezcatlipoca
may be six times stronger than Inti, but it does not have such protection from damage. As
Kuroynezhka has already noted, this is quite enough to win.
The air over the battlefield was almost sparkling with tension. In the night sky, clouds
swirled and wriggled, as if summoned by the auras of one hundred and one burst linkers.
But the White Queen still didn't move.
Maybe she was waiting for her enemies to get tired? But today's battle is mostly attended
by high-level Burst Linkers who are proficient in Incarnation. They could hold a mental
image for an hour or two. If the Cosmos keeps idling, they might even send someone to the
portal to come out and bring in reinforcements.
In addition, the Enemi-Pegasus, on which Cosmos and the Cavalier sat, could hardly soar
forever. Silver Crow has to spend energy on flight, and the powers of the winged horse are
also probably limited. As soon as enemies land, they are immediately taken over by melee
avatars. It turns out that it is not profitable for the White Queen to drag out the battle.
But when Haruyuki thought about it ...
How the earth trembled finely under his feet.
For the first second he thought it was the morale of a hundred burst linkers that had made
the level shudder, but then he realized his mistake. Someone heard distant, heavy steps - both
to the left and to the right, and in front and behind.
It could only be ...
"Enemi ..." Haruyuki muttered.
“Damn,” Mangan Blade said nervously beside him. - After the battle with Inti, we
defeated a whole crowd, and I thought that they would be gone for a long time. It seems in
vain.
Haruyuki didn't forget that Enemi was attracted to Incarnation. But, as Mangan already
said, during the battle with Inti, they attracted a couple of dozen huge Enemi with
Incarnation, which they had to defeat with ordinary skills. They completely cleared the area
around Kitanomaru, and Haruyuki believed that new enemies would not appear here until the
Transition. But the Incarnation Flurry that destroyed Tezcatlipoca's left arm was so powerful
that it attracted the attention of Enemi, who were even further away.
Soon, huge monsters of the Wild and Beast Classes will run in from all sides, and the
Burst Linkers will not have the hand of Tezcatlipoca. But shooting in the palm right now is
too risky - what if the past was destroyed only because it was turned to the squad by the
vulnerable side?
“Normal Enemi should attack the tamed,” said Sky Raker, standing to the right and behind
Haruyuki.
She got up from the broken stroller and raised her hands, wrapped in a green
halo. Kuroyukihime once said that Foucault uses only positive Incarnation, so it seemed to
Haruyuki that she only possessed mass defense techniques like Veil of the Wind and
Whirling Vortex, but during the attack on Tezcatlipoca's arm, Sky Raker did not stand aside
and used a powerful combat Incarnation called "Wind Bullet".
Those Burst Linkers whose Incarnation is in the first quadrant (that is, they are
characterized by outward positive energy) suffer terribly when they have to appeal to the
force of the fourth (outward negative energy). For example, the Utai Incarnation is even
more positive than that of Foucault, and has a cleansing power, so when she once burned
Enemi in the Incarnation Lava Lake, she then fainted, unable to withstand the load. However,
Foucault, without showing any weariness, spoke in a confident voice:
“Moreover, the strong Enemi attack not just the nearest enemy, but the one that seems to
them the most dangerous. But if some of the Beasts target Tezcatlipoca, the White Queen
will have to intervene. That's when we can destroy the right hand.
“Okay, that's fine with me,” said the previously silent Blue King, Blue Knight.
He raised the Impulse sword, one of the Seven Artifacts, with both hands, and then
glanced at the Black Queen.
- Lotus, you have a command for a massive attack. You among us are the best versed in
the habits of the Cosmos.
“Good,” Kuroyukihime answered shortly.
The Green King raised the "Conflict" cross-shaped shield, the Purple Queen hit the ground
with the "Tempest" staff, the Yellow King twirled his "Spinning Rod" cane in his hands, and
the Red Queen took out the "Peacemaker" pistol from its holster.
The trembling kept growing, already resembling a small earthquake. Looking closely,
Haruyuki saw giant - though much smaller than Tezcatlipoca - figures running along the
moat of the Imperial Castle.
Most likely, about half of Enemi will attack the army of the Six Legions, which will have
to simultaneously contain the onslaught and prepare to attack Tezcatlipoca at the command
of Kuroyukihime. Armored and melee avatars were already lining up around the others,
without waiting for orders.
What happens first? The protective ring will not resist Enemi's attacks, and a chaotic fight
will begin? Or will the White Queen order Tezcatlipoca to re-enable the gravity field to stop
the incoming damage?
The answer to this question would determine not only the outcome of this battle, but also
the war with the White Legion and the Acceleration Research Society.
- Haru, can you stand? Takumu whispered as quietly as possible.
"Yeah," Haruyuki nodded. - Thank you, Taku, I'm fine.
- Then I will also stand on the defensive. There will be more use for me, because the
energy has run out.
Indeed, Takumu launched his Thunderous Cyan Spike in a recent volley. This special
move consumed a lot of energy, so Cyan Pyle could not use it too often. As for the
Incarnation, the Cyan Blade is a melee weapon and, alas, will not reach Tezcatlipoca's hand.
"Got it." Haruyuki nodded, walked away from Takumu and straightened up.
His legs gave way, but he resisted and pulled the Clear Blade from his belt, along with its
scabbard.
- Take it bye. I won't need it anymore in this battle, ”he said, holding out his sword with
the hilt forward.
"But ..." Takuma tried to argue, but immediately fell silent.
He must have realized that, logically, that would be the best way. Haruyuki's task in this
battle would have boiled down to one of two things - either to participate in the next volley
with a Laser Dart, or to protect allies with a Lightshell, so he really wouldn't need a
sword. On the other hand, if Takumu was going to protect his comrades, he could not use the
Cyan Blade, because the Incarnation can attract the attention of those Enemi who attack
Tezcatlipoca.
- Thank you.
Thanking his friend, Takumu took the Clearblade and hung it on his right thigh. Perhaps
this sword was too short for Cyan Pile's huge body, but Takumu would probably figure out
how to use it in parallel with the Pile-boy on the second hand, no matter how strange it looks.
Haruyuki nodded to him, glancing over to the outer ring of avatars, then turned his
attention to Tezcatlipoca and the White Queen above him. Takumu and the rest of the Burst
Linkers will surely repel Enemi's attack. Haruyuki could only believe in them and wait for
Kuroyukihime's orders.
The tremors of the earth grew rapidly. Enemi's pack must have been no more than a
hundred meters away. But the White Queen still did not move, pressing the Radiance to her
chest and keeping a meaningful silence.
Enemi's flock split in two. One flank rushed straight for the Burst Linkers, the other
turned towards Tezcatlipoca's feet. Before the collision of Enemi with the defenders and
Tezcatlipoca, there was very little left ...
Suddenly the White Queen abruptly lowered the Radiance.
- Get ready! - Kuroyukihime shouted, putting her left hand across and putting her right
hand on it.
Haruyuki took the same stance and filled his hands with Overrey as best he could.
Here's what should have happened: Tezcatlipoca would raise his right hand to charge a
gravitational attack, which the White Queen called "Toshcatl." In response, the six Kings and
dozens of other Burst Linkers would unleash all their ranged attacks in order to destroy the
palm before five circles appeared on it.
But instead, the crimson giant raised neither his right hand, let alone his left. Instead, a
yellow circle appeared on his chest.
And the other is the same - at Haruyuki's feet.
- Raven-san!
- Crowe!
The voices of Sky Raker and Mangan Blade came from the sides. Both girls tried to grab
Haruyuki's hands, but only managed to scratch their fingers at the metal armor. The
monstrous thrust has already managed to lift Silver Crow into the sky.
- Whoa ?! Haruyuki wondered, but immediately tried to spread his wings.
However, before they had time to decompose, Tezcatlipoca's huge right hand came close
and grabbed him.
Haruyuki was crushed with terrible force. The armor rattled and the health bar
dramatically decreased.
But he overcame the fear of being crushed and shouted with all his might:
- Senpai! Shoot me straight!
Death threatened Haruyuki with only the loss of several burst points and an hour's
expectation of resurrection. The victory over Tezcatlipoca's right hand more than deserved
such a sacrifice, and Kuroyukihime should have understood that.
But still…
The invisible connection between “parent” and “child” informed Haruyuki that
Kuroyukihime was unable to make a quick decision.
That is why the White Queen was the first to succeed again.
She swung her Radiance sharply, and Tezcatlipoca crossed his right arm with Silver Crow
and his wounded left across his chest. Before Haruyuki even had time to think about what
this movement meant, a red circle a dozen meters in diameter suddenly appeared under the
giant's feet.
Only seven or eight Beast-Class Enemies were inside the circle, and the Burst Linkers
were far enough away. But Haruyuki shouted with all his might anyway.
- Protect yourself!
In the next instant, crimson flames burst from the soles of Tezcatlipoca. Huge Enemi
flashed like matches and with heart-rending screams turned into embers, despite the huge
reserves of health.
The power of this attack was amazing. If it were not Enemi, but melee avatars under
Tezcatlipoca, they would not have lasted even a second.
However, Haruyuki's horrified thoughts were only partially correct.
He could not move, but suddenly felt the force of gravity increase. Tezcatlipoca's huge
body rose into the air. The fire from the soles turned out to be not an attack at all, but an
exhaust, moreover, strong enough to knock a hundred-meter Enemi Ultra Class off the
ground.
Suddenly, Haruyuki's ears were choked up by the monstrous rumble. The stream of flame
has increased several times. A wave of smoke and heat swept over the crater and engulfed
the Burst Linkers. The glitter of defensive techniques quickly faded under the black clubs.
And that was the last thing Haruyuki could see.
Tezcatlipoca soared skyward like a rocket, leaving the earth far below. Looking around,
Haruyuki noticed a pegasus nearby, also galloping into the night sky.
The White Queen chose flight over battle.
But why? Even if the exhaust from Tezcatlipoca's “engine” was enough to destroy half a
dozen Beast Class Enemies, he would have easily incinerated Burst Linkers without arms.
“Why didn't the Cosmos do it? And why didn't she kill me? .. ”Haruyuki wondered and
suddenly realized what had happened.
It was early to be glad that he had survived the battle. Perhaps death in Kitanomaru Park
will seem like flowers compared to what comes next.
Enemies captured him.
Recovering himself, Haruyuki looked at the ground and narrowed his eyes, but saw only
an endless sea of "Moonlight" buildings that looked like temples, which did not help to
understand where he was being carried. However, judging by the speed with which the
landscape floated below, they flew at great speed. At this rate, they will soon leave Tokyo.
What to do? Enemi's hand gripped him so tightly that he could not escape. An attack on
the White Queen was also out of the question. Haruyuki caught himself thinking, “I wish I
had lasers out of my eyes, like Argon Arei,” and again began to think constructively.
He had to figure out the route right now. Then, when Tezcatlipoca lands, it will be
necessary to find out exactly where he ended up. He should succeed. It was not for nothing
that he, having become a burst linker, studied the map of Tokyo in detail.
Fighting his fear, Haruyuki opened his eyes wider and stared at the ground below him
again.
Chapter 2
Haruyuki tried hard to remember as many details about the route as possible, but his efforts
were almost in vain.
Enemi Ultra Class "God of the Apocalypse Tezcatlipoca" flew after the pegasus, on which sat
the White Queen White Cosmos and her protector Platinum Cavalier. From Kitanomaru Park,
they flew first to the east, then to the southeast. With Ginza, Harumi and Ariake left behind,
Enemi began to descend smoothly to the surface of Tokyo Bay and eventually landed on an
artificial island called the Central Breakwater and later renamed Reiwajima [✱] Early 2020. It is
an island named after the new era of Reiwa, which began in Japan in 2019. Since the islands
of Showajima (in honor of the Showa era) and Heiwajima (in honor of the end of WWII,
“heiwa” means “peace”) were already located nearby, it was decided that the new island
should be given a name in the same spirit. ... More precisely, the landing site was the Tokyo
Grand Castle, opened the year before last.
Haruyuki has never been here, but he has seen photographs and videos of a huge European
castle built in the heart of the park many times. And although the Accelerated World usually did
not repeat the appearance of the real one, on the "Moonlight" this castle hardly differed from the
real one, sharply standing out against the background of other buildings, similar to foreign
temples.
Tezcatlipoca gradually descended, emitting flames from the nozzles on the soles. He
eventually landed in the square in front of the Grand Castle's main castle. I think it was called
Heimveldt. And although the tallest spire of the structure rose eighty meters above the ground,
Tezcatlipoca was still significantly higher.
Still clutched in the giant's palm, Haruyuki looked around as best he could. Finally he saw a
pegasus landing on a balcony on the front of Heimveldt.
The Platinum Cavalier dismounted first and held out his hand reverently. The White Queen
touched his palm with graceful fingers and gracefully flew to the floor.
Haruyuki hoped that they would head inside the castle right away, but he was wrong. The
White Queen waved her Radiance, and Tezcatlipoca removed his hand from his chest, placing
the prisoner on the balcony.
Of course, Haruyuki considered taking off and dashing away as soon as Enemi released his
grip. But he did not know if there was enough speed to escape, and the White Queen could easily
arrange endless extermination for him. Since the Grand Castle is an important landmark known
to any inhabitant of the capital, there must have been a portal on its territory - only Haruyuki
could not afford to waste time searching.
So he let his avatar slip from Tezcatlipoca's palm as soon as he let go. Silver Crow's soles
touched the marble floor, and the crumpled avatar fell on its feet and fell to the floor.
The Platinum Cavalier looked down at the seated Haruyuki and spoke in the same slightly
lazy voice as when they first met.
- What, you can't even stand?
"You won't give me your hand, no matter how I answer," thought Haruyuki and shook his
head awkwardly.
- I can, don't worry.
In fact, he felt more exhausted than ever - after all, first he had to train for four months in the
Omu pavilion, and then, without the slightest respite, fight first with Inti, and then with
Tezcatlipoca. But Haruyuki didn't want to embarrass the Black Legion with his
complaints. “Having slept for an hour on Mei-san’s lap, I’m ready to move mountains!” - he
encouraged himself and resolutely jumped to his feet.
His head spun a little, but he forced his back to straighten. Looking first at the Platinum
Cavalier, and then at White Cosmos, standing behind him, he asked:
- What are you going to do with me?
Instead of a knight, the holy maiden in a white dress answered him:
- Hee hee. You are as impatient as people say about you. Do you want to hurry me up? What
if I decide to strip you of all your glasses or to brainwash you?
"Then I'll ... fly away, of course ..." Haruyuki replied, because he didn't know how else to
react.
- Maybe, just in case, cut off the wings? - the left hand of the Cavalier lay on the hilt of the
sword.
- What?!
It was not clear from the knight's voice whether he was joking or serious. Fortunately, the
Cavalier never pulled out the blade, because the White Queen said:
- Don't worry, he won't run anywhere. After all, only here he can find out the answers to
questions that haunt him.
“Q-questions? ..” Haruyuki repeated like a parrot.
“Exactly,” the White Queen smiled and nodded. - What are Oscillatori Universe and the
Acceleration Research Society striving for? What is the true essence of this world that even Rose
Milady, who has left our Legion, does not know about?
Cosmos and the Cavalier did not emit any hostility or even informational pressure inherent in
high-level Burst Linkers. Because of this, Haruyuki relaxed a little, but now the words of the
White Queen were frozen like ice.
This graceful avatar, dressed in the finest armor, is controlled by the same villain, through
whose fault innumerable tragedies occurred in the Accelerated World.
It was she who orchestrated the endless extermination for Saffron Blossom and the
transformation of Chrom Falcon into the First Chrom Disaster.
It was she who provoked her "child" and her younger sister Kuroyukihime to the dishonorable
murder of the First Red King Red Ryder.
It was she who distributed the ISS kits throughout the Accelerated World, pulling dozens of
burst linkers to the dark side of Incarnation.
It was she who captured the Second Red Queen, Scarlett Raine, and took her Invincible
Enhancement Equipment to make it into the Armor of Calamity 2.
It was she who treated Wakamia Megumi and her avatar Orchid Oracle as a tool and
imprisoned her in Tokyo's Midtown Tower on an unlimited neutral field.
And finally, it was she who forced the Burst Linkers of the Six Legions to fight the Sun God
Inti in order to tame the God of the apocalypse Tezcatlipoca and try with his help to destroy the
rest of the Kings at once.
There is no and cannot be any justification for her crimes. Haruyuki should have answered
“I'm not interested in this” and immediately attack the villains, even if his only goal was to
ingloriously lose this battle, finally anger the White Queen and find himself in endless
extermination ...
Haruyuki silently clenched his fists. Seeing this, White Cosmos once again smiled softly and
said in a low voice:
“You can unleash your rage after you listen to me.
- Where is the evidence that you will tell the truth? How can I trust you after you cheated your
own “child”? He asked in a shriveled voice.
Platinum Cavalier's fingers gripped the sword hilt, but White Cosmos waved her hand, and
the knight froze like a statue.
The leader of the White Legion hung the Radiance on her belt and sat down on a white leather
sofa that stood right in the middle of the balcony. She crossed her legs, exactly repeating the
manner of Kuroyukihime, and looked up at the prisoner standing like an idol.
- Hee hee ... Silver Crow, I just realized that you are my only “grandson”. It's common in the
Accelerated World, but it still evokes deep feelings, right?
Her voice was still melodic and soft, there was no threat in it, but Haruyuki shook his head
and objected:
- It does not matter. The Black Queen no longer considers you a “parent”, so nothing binds us.
“Well, I don’t argue,” Kosmos agreed, not at all upset. - In the copy of Brain Burst, which the
“parent” sends to the “child,” there is no metadata, so in this world there is no genetics and
heredity, unlike reality. I made her my “child” simply because I wanted to ...
- Wanted? ..
"The parent-child relationship in the Accelerated World is much more serious than you
say!" Haruyuki wanted to scream, and he had to use all his willpower to restrain himself.
The White Queen's worldview and principles were fundamentally different from his
own. Even though they are both burst linkers, there is such a wide and deep abyss between them
that no words will help to throw a bridge over it.
Therefore, Haruyuki only muttered in a low voice:
“Still, I don’t believe a single word you say. Even though you know the truth about the “true
essence” of this world, why would you tell me about it?
“Since it comes to that, have you thought why I brought you here at all? If I wanted to, I
would reset the points for your entire squad. While I didn’t expect you to be able to wound
Tezcatlipoca in the arm, it’s such a small thing for him that it cannot even be called damage.
"You're lying," Haruyuki whispered.
- Look for yourself, - the White Queen raised her hand and pointed somewhere behind his
back. "You can see Tezcatlipoca's health from here, right?"
Haruyuki turned awkwardly towards the blood-red giant who was still standing in the
square. It was about forty meters from the balcony to his head, but the scales above his head
were really visible. And as soon as Haruyuki counted them ...
- Oh ... - he involuntarily breathed out.
Ten.
Saint Metatron, Legendary Class Enemi, had four. The Ultra Class Gods Suzaku and Seiryu
have five each. And Tezcatlipoca has twice as much.
But what is even more terrible, the first scale has lost so far ... no more than one tenth of the
reserve. The most elite fighters of the Six Legions used against this Enemi not only special
moves, but also Incarnation, but they did not deprive the giant even of one percent of his health.
Haruyuki was speechless, and the White Queen's quiet voice was heard behind him.
- His right hand "Toshkatl" and left hand "Weimikkaihuitl" [✱] The ninth month of the Aztec
calendar. allow you to use only the simplest techniques, available even with full health. And
yet he is already attacking with such force. By my calculations, Tezcatlipoca is generally
stronger than all the Saints and the Four Gods combined.
"It can't be," Haruyuki retorted mentally, but his intuition told him otherwise. Unlike the
Saints and Gods, Tezcatlipoca looked extremely primitive, possessing a cylindrical, like a huge
column, smooth body, arms and legs without joints and an egg-like head. However, it was this
appearance that made him look like an alien element. The impression was involuntarily created
that this is some kind of nightmarish creature that exists outside the rules of the Accelerated
World.
On the other hand, if Tezcatlipoca is really stronger than the Saints and Enemi, then the
question naturally suggests itself. Even two questions.
- Why does he even exist? Games shouldn't have monsters that are stronger than all the
players put together, ”asked Haruyuki, turning back on cotton feet.
The White Queen shrugged her shoulders as if she had just been waiting for these words.
“That's why he is the“ God of the apocalypse ”. This is a destroyer with only one task: to end
this world. Crow, have you already been told how the Accelerated World came to be?
- Ah ... Yes, Graphite Edge said ... - Haruyuki tried to drive deeper his dislike for the White
Queen, and then thought, fished out of his memories of that amazing story. - That once upon a
time a war broke out in one virtual world ... According to the Earl, two armies fought for some
creature locked inside this world. One of the parties wanted to free him, the other - to
destroy. Eventually, the leaders of both sides made it to the system console ... Leader A tried to
destroy the creature with administrative powers, but it proved impossible, so he decided instead
to permanently seal it. Having created a huge dungeon like a castle in the center of the world, he
placed the creature in the very depths, placing eight monsters on the way to it and four more
around the dungeon. Now we call this dungeon the Imperial Castle,
When Haruyuki finished speaking, the White Queen nodded and asked quietly:
- So?
- What's next?
- There were two leaders, right? What did the Earl say Leader B did?
“Uh…” Haruyuki drawled and repeated the story of Graphite Edge, heard in the Imperial
Castle. “He decided to put hope in the future. He believed that one day strong warriors would
appear who could defeat the defenders of the gate, burst into the dungeon, defeat the eight
watchmen and save the captive creature. At least that's what the Count said.
“I see, I see…” The White Queen nodded again.
Haruyuki was worried. Did he accidentally reveal an important secret that even the Cosmos
did not know? However, the Queen remained unperturbed and spoke not at all about what
Haruyuki expected:
- He is quite knowledgeable, although this was to be expected from a veteran who started
playing even earlier than the Pioneers.
- Before the Pioneers?
Haruyuki stared blankly at the snow-white mask of Cosmos.
The first hundred burst linkers were called pioneers. A hundred children who received Brain
Burst 2039 from the creator of the program - the very leader B that Haruyuki just talked
about. Obviously, in the Accelerated World, there can be no players more experienced than
them.
- How to understand this? .. - he asked again.
The White Queen stared at him for a while, then smiled faintly.
“We're almost at the heart of things… and you want me to continue? Didn't you say you didn't
believe my words?
- Oh, oh ...
Haruyuki nearly covered his mouth with his hand. He wondered why they had raised this
topic at all, and quickly remembered - it all started with the White Queen talking about the God
of the apocalypse.
Tezcatlipoca is so powerful that it upsets the balance of Brain Burst. The reason he is
endowed with this monstrous power is because this Enemi was created to destroy the world. Of
course, White Cosmos's words could have been deception ... but Haruyuki still wanted to know
what she was so ominously hinting at when she spoke of “the end of the world”.
“I’ll listen to you… and then I’ll decide whether to believe it or not,” Haruyuki said, even
though he knew he was behaving exactly the way the White Queen wanted.
White Cosmos silently raised her right hand. A thin finger pointed to the chair opposite the
couch. Haruyuki didn’t know if he could sit down, as this would mean that the Platinum Cavalier
would be the only one to stand, but the silent knight suddenly said:
“If so, I'll go and put Arion in the stable.
Nodding to the hostess, he again sat down on the pegasus standing in the corner of the
balcony, and flew away, hiding behind the castle towers. So Haruyuki learned that the mount had
a name ... and one more, much more important thing: apparently, the White Legion used the
Grand Castle as one of the bases.
He turned his gaze to the White Queen. She was still pointing to the chair, so he had no choice
but to obediently sit down, but on the very edge - in order to take off as soon as possible. After a
little hesitation, he asked:
- Is it okay that you were left without a bodyguard? They say you are the weakest of the Kings
in close combat. What if I attack you?
- Mm ... Yes, if you had a sword, I would be a little nervous. But until you get to me with bare
fists, I will have time to unscrew your hands with Incarnation. Or a head, - uttering these
nightmare words in a light tone, White Cosmos leaned back on the back of the sofa.
On her head, in the moonlight, a graceful crown glittered coldly, which was the core of the
Radiance.
After giving Takuma the Clearblade, Haruyuki was truly unarmed. But it seemed to him that,
otherwise, he would hardly even have time to draw out his sword, let alone strike. He doubted a
little if the White Queen was really capable of twisting the hands and heads of the Incarnation,
but he didn't want to check.
"I ... I'm sorry," Haruyuki bowed, then returned to where they left off. - You ... said that the
Earl started playing even earlier than the Pioneers ... How to understand this?
- M? Oh yeah ... He's an Isotope.
- What? Isotope? .. - Haruyuki was confused, not understanding the meaning of the word.
"Are you sure this is so important?" The White Queen shrugged. - Don't you have more
pressing questions?
Of course, Tezcatlipoca took first place in the ranking of important things.
"Okay ... Tell me about the God of the Apocalypse," Haruyuki said, glancing sideways at the
huge Ultra-Class Enemi who was standing in the square to the right of the chair.
Cosmos nodded, dropped her thrown leg, and bent down slightly towards Haruyuki, placing
her palms on the thin plates of her skirt-like armor.
- Okay, I'll tell you.
Although she spoke with the same voice and with the same intonation, Haruyuki felt an
ominous chill in her words.
- In general, you correctly retell the background of the accelerated world. The secret war, the
sealed creature, it was all there. You were not even mistaken when you said that leader B, having
failed to free the creature, decided to rely on the future ... But then a problem arose. Long after
the end of that war, three experimental games began to work, captivating many children. Those
who played Accel Assault 2038 and Cosmos Corrupt 2040 loved these worlds and everything in
them was no less loving than you love Brain Burst 2039.
When the White Queen spoke of the long-vanished games that were the forerunner and
development of Brain Burst, Haruyuki involuntarily recalled the Umesato High School Cultural
Festival late last month. After rescuing Aqua Karent, defeating the first Metatron form,
destroying the ISS kit's body, recovering the stolen Red Queen's equipment, and battling the
Disaster 2 Armor, Nega Neboulas gathered for a meeting. It was then that the White Queen
unexpectedly appeared in front of them in the form of a spectator's avatar.
She told them the reasons for the closure of Accel Assault 2038 and Cosmos Corrupt 2040.
Imbalances have ruined both worlds. AA2038 put too much emphasis on war, and in CC2040 on peace. But Haruyuki still didn't quite understand what Cosmos meant.
- When you came to us during a cultural festival, you said: “Endless peace, boring coexistence
and mutual assistance ... they do not generate acceleration, but stagnation. Time in the KK world
has stopped. That is why he died. "
- I'm very glad that you still remember. Yes, that's exactly what I said, and it's true.
- But the Count warned that your words are mostly tools for managing people, so they should
not be taken on faith.
- Ah well? The White Queen chuckled.
“But the fact that AA and KK no longer work is an indisputable fact. Is this the “problem”
you mentioned? That the children who loved those worlds no less than ours lost both programs
and memories?
- Hee-hee ... - White Cosmos for some reason chuckled, then shook her head. Particles of
moonlight were falling from her golden hair. “You’re usually very perceptive, but now you are
very wrong. The mechanism of forced removal of the program and memories is a real salvation
for those who have lost all points. Just imagine that you were thrown out of the world forever,
but you have preserved both your memory and the program, although you will never again
participate in duels. You wouldn't want that, would you?
Haruyuki almost agreed, but gritted his teeth and shook his head.
Yes, personally, it would be easier for him to lose the program and its memory. But at the
same time, he would have forgotten the friends with whom he fought shoulder to shoulder in this
world: Kuroyukihime, Takumu, Chiyuri, Fuko, Akira, Utai, Nico, Pard, Rin, Shihoko ... and
Metatron. Haruyuki wondered how they would react to the fact that his memory would be
erased, and realized that he could not so easily agree to this.
Cosmos smiled faintly as she saw Silver Crow stiffen.
“Perhaps my question sounded too harsh. I'm not surprised you're hesitant ... but I'm still sure
that most players, given the choice, would rather have their memories lost after losing
points. Because the memory of the Accelerated World disappears along with the spiritual scar
that formed the basis of the dueling avatar.
Haruyuki remembered how Nomi Seiji, aka Dusk Taker, smiled carelessly after the removal
of Brain Burst. He seemed to be freed from the evil spirit living inside him, full of indomitable
hatred and thirst for power, and turned into a diligent schoolboy who succeeds both in studies
and in sports.
It would seem that the current Nomi was much happier than the "Marauder". However, when
Seri Suzukawa somehow mysteriously brought her avatar Centorea Sentri back to life, she told
Haruyuki: “Having ceased to be a Burst Linker, I always felt a kind of emptiness inside me. As if
I could not remember something important, no matter how I tried, and lived with this unbearable
feeling all the time ”.
Did the White Queen know about this feeling that tormented all former Burst Linkers? And if
so, why did she continue to insist that the loss of memories is salvation?
Haruyuki took a deep breath, let it out and asked:
"If so ... why did you decide to become famous as the Necromancer?" Why are you bringing
“saved” people like Dusk Taker, Red Ryder and even one of your legionnaires, the Oracle
Orchid, back to the Accelerated World? Why are you making them suffer?
Haruyuki mentally prepared himself for the fact that this question could anger the White
Queen, and she would either refuse to continue the conversation, or even attack with
Incarnation. However, Cosmos did not change in her face - however, from the very beginning he
could not see any emotion behind the impenetrable mask - and only slightly tilted her head.
- First, I have to correct you. My nickname “Necromancer” came about thanks to the special
move “Resurrection by Compassion”. However, it only shortens the resurrection timer for
avatars who died at the middle level. Of course, he cannot do anything with those who have lost
all points.
- What? .. But before the resurrection of Dusk Taker, your subordinate Argon Arey said that
your "Reincarnation" is a cruel ability, and that you probably had to sell your soul to the devil for
such a power ...
- Oh, - Cosmos smirked, and much more ironic than after retelling the words of Graphite
Edge. - Years go by, and Ares cannot get rid of his manner of speech. The power of true
resurrection is not such a cheap thing that one can buy it at the price of one's own soul ... And by
the way, Silver Crow, can you blame me for that?
- A?..
“You sold your soul to Saint Metatron, didn't you? But it was I who had to sweat to get her
out of the Shiba Park dungeon.
“Y-you pulled her out to guard Tokyo Midtown Tower where the ISS kit's body was! Shouted
Haruyuki in a fit of rage.
After all, the White Queen treated Metatron as an instrument, although she was in no way
inferior to people either in intellect or emotion. And not only to Metatron. Rather than
patronizing and training promising newcomer Wolfram Cerberus, White Cosmos and the
Acceleration Research Society treated him like a pawn and turned him into a repository of
Disaster Armor 2. Not wanting to harm Haruyuki, Cerberus once deliberately left himself only
ten burst points to lose in duel with Silver Crow and leave the Accelerated World forever.
Orchid Oracle, Rose Milady, Black Lotus. The White Queen betrayed everyone who trusted
her, used them and left them with nothing. No reason, no need, can justify this behavior.
Reminding himself of this again, Haruyuki quietly continued.
“And I didn’t sell Metatron's soul ... We became friends with her. We help each other because
we are friends. Is it really that strange?
- Not at all strange. True, I suppose that because of this you still have grief ... But it does not
matter. The “problem” I mentioned is not at all related to the erasure of the memory of the
former players from Axel Assolt and Cosmos Corrupt. It's about ... what happened before these
games ended.
“What happened? ..” Haruyuki asked, fighting the smoldering resentment inside.
Before discovering Brain Burst, Haruyuki saw online games die several times. They were all
closed off from falling revenues, so in the end there were almost no players left in them, and
Haruyuki stood in the empty city square, listening to the countdown until the servers went
down. He believed that experimental games were closed in the same way.
As Haruyuki waited, the White Queen turned her gaze to the motionlessly towering
Tezcatlipoca and narrowed her eyes slightly. In the lenses that seemed now pale pink, now pale
blue, now lavender, a feeling flashed, but it quickly disappeared, giving way to equanimity.
White Cosmos turned her head to Haruyuki and replied:
“When that person you were talking about… Leader B created the prototype of the
Accelerated World, he had to wait another ten years before starting the experimental
games. There were two reasons for this. The first is that the first civilian devices based on Soul
Translation technology - neurolinkers - were to appear on the market, and a few years later - and
the first children who wore them all their lives and developed high compatibility with STLT. The
second reason is that it was necessary to bring artificial intelligence to mind to control these
games.
- What? Intelligence?! Brain Burst is controlled by artificial intelligence ?! Haruyuki
exclaimed, remembering a recent conversation with his Legion friends.
It was a Sunday about ten days ago. Shortly before a simulated battle for territory against the
Green Legion, Nega Neboulas gathered in a pool on one of the upper floors of the Shibuya Ravin
Tower. Kuroyukihime and Foucault assumed that on this day, the fourteenth of July, the level
“Space” would be added to the game, because it was “Sunflower Day” - the anniversary of the
launch of the first Japanese meteorological satellite. The calculation was justified, and Nega
Neboulas successfully won the battle, which took place in Space, however, in Haruyuki's head
there was still a dumb question to the game administrator: is this connection between space and
sunflowers too tight? However, if the game is actually controlled by artificial intelligence, then
everything falls into place.
In addition, when Haruyuki relived Crom Falcon's memories through the Armor of Calamity,
he learned that he was also thinking about it. A certain administrator with amazing speed patched
all the errors found by burst linkers - especially tricks that made it easy to gain burst
points. Therefore, Falcon suggested that the game is controlled not by humans, but by artificial
intelligence. And, indeed, immediately after he infiltrated the Imperial Castle, flying over the
wall with the Instant Leap, the system immediately increased the gravity above the moat so that
this did not happen again.
After waiting for Haruyuki's amazement to turn into understanding, the White Queen
continued.
- Of course, I have never met this administrator, but I am sure of it. If you hadn’t stopped me
in Kitanomaru Park, I would have already climbed to the tenth level and saw who he really is.
"I will continue to interfere," Haruyuki said harshly, but then decided to return to the topic. Let's say Brain Burst is controlled by artificial intelligence ... But how does this relate to what
happened before the end of Axel Assolt and Cosmos Corrapt?
“Like leaders A and B, the administrator of this world is far from an omnipotent deity. Add to
this the fact that classic, non-STLT artificial intelligences are heartless monsters who strive only
for optimization ... - said the White Queen mysterious words, then raised her thin hands as if
holding a ball on each palm. “But it would be better if this intellect was really a deity. In this
case, having decided to close the world, it would simply take programs and memories from all
players. But artificial intelligence had no such powers. He realized that he would have to reset
the players' points in order to delete their programs and erase the memory. Therefore ... - The
White Queen joined the invisible balls into one. - The Intellect Administrator from the very
beginning added something to the world capable of this. Your angel ... or an executioner. Even if
not omnipotent,
“Executioner? ..” Haruyuki repeated the ominous word hoarsely and looked at Tezcatlipoca.
Indeed, due to its unusually primitive appearance, the crimson giant looked like an artificial,
soulless creation. But Haruyuki did not rule out that there may be other Enemi like him. Also…
“But this can be said about any Enemi. All of them, with rare exceptions, mercilessly attack
the Burst Linkers that they come across.
- But ordinary Enemis can be defeated, right? Even when fighting the Four Gods, you
probably felt that it was possible. Otherwise, would you tell me in Kitanomaru that together we
could defeat the defenders of the Imperial Castle?
- Yes, I ... felt ...
“But Tezcatlipoca is another matter. Even if all the Burst Linkers of the Accelerated World
challenged him, they would not devastate even five of his ten health bars. Crow, you don't think
Tezcatlipoca's egg, Inti's Sun God, just rolled around average?
- Is not it so?..
- Some Enemi species are able to evolve. By defeating Burst Linkers and other Enemies, they
increase their stats. Inti appeared at the dawn of the Accelerated World and for eight thousand
years of inner time burned to ashes countless Enemi and players, feeding Tezcatlipoca within
himself. Everything in order to bring destruction to this world and to erase the burst linkers from
it at the cherished hour.
Haruyuki fell silent for a long time after hearing these words.
If the servers simply went offline at the end of the game, the players would retain their
memories. To remove them, you must first reset the glasses to burst linkers. Haruyuki
understood that the administrator was looking for some way to deprive players of their burst
points, however ...
“There are two huge contradictions in your words…” he finally said quietly.
Cosmos lenses blinked.
- What kind?
“First… The artificial intelligence that invented Tezcatlipoca was created by Leader B — that
is, the person who is trying to save the being sealed in the Imperial Castle. If you are telling the
truth, then the invincible Tezcatlipoca had to defeat the Gods, invade the Castle and fulfill the
leader's dream ...
- And the second?
- Secondly, even if all Burst Linkers are not strong enough to defeat Tezcatlipoca, how did
you manage to tame him? I once heard that not all Enemies can be tamed, but only those who
can be defeated by one burst linker. But if someone alone can defeat Tezcatlipoca, then your
words are a lie.
- I see…
The White Queen blinked twice and even lost herself in thought. She folded her hands at a
strikingly narrow waist, lifted her right index finger and began to run it in a circle.
“Mm… these are really key secrets. Of course, I can reveal them to you ... but after that you
will be faced with a choice.
- What other choice?
- You have to choose one of two. Either you help us, or you lose all your points.
Haruyuki tensed, not knowing what to answer.
He would never have helped the White Legion and the Acceleration Research Society, but he
could not afford to lose his glasses. At the same time, he would not have been able to sleep
peacefully without learning the secret of White Cosmos.
For three seconds he struggled with himself and finally decided to give up these questions. He
was about to say so ...
Suddenly, the White Queen shuddered slightly and looked past him into emptiness.
“Alas, it looks like we'll have to continue next time.
- What? W-why? ..
- The backup of your lightcube has begun ... of the quantum brain circuit. This means that in
reality someone removes the neurolinker from you.
- A?!
How could the White Queen know something about Haruyuki that he didn't even feel? And
why is the neurolinker removed from him? However, after a moment he realized that the second
was to be expected.
Most likely, Kuroyukihime went out through the portal closest to Kitanomaru Park, woke up
in the real world and immediately disconnected Haruyuki from the network. She knew that
White Cosmos had Resurrection by Compassion, which allows her to forcibly resurrect killed
Burst Linkers, so she was able to quickly take away a huge number of Burst Points from
him. Haruyuki himself would have removed Kuroyukihime's Neurolinker as quickly as possible
if she had been captured.
He did not know how many more seconds he would spend in the game, and he thought to
spend precious time trying to get more information from White Cosmos, but the White Queen
spoke first:
- Silver Crow. So you dived next to someone from your Legion?
- What? Ah, yes, along with Kuroyukihime and… ”Haruyuki replied without thinking.
- From Lotus? - The White Queen even stood up. - At this hour ?! Have you and her already
reached this point ?!
- Before this is ... Oh, no, no! Haruyuki objected hastily.
He finally began to feel how the world in front of his eyes recedes, and he himself thinks
more and more slowly.
The last thing he heard was the cool warning of the White Queen:
- I will contact you within a week. Don't forget to make a decision for our next meeting. And
by the way ... be prepared for the fact that if you dive here at the wrong time, you will live no
more than a second. And your friends too.
Before Haruyuki could reply, darkness enveloped him.
Opening his eyes, he did not immediately understand what he was seeing.
The eyes gradually focused. And as soon as he realized that he was looking into the face of
Kuroy White ...
"Are you okay, Haruyuki ?!" She screamed, shaking his shoulder.
Noticing the tears in his black eyes, he involuntarily gasped and nodded hastily.
- Ah ... yes, everything is fine. Sorry to scare you, ”he replied hoarsely and tried to sit up, but
failed. Kuroyukihime, dressed in a long T-shirt, sat astride his belly.
“Uh, senpai ...
- Are you sure everything is fine ?! You didn't have all your glasses taken, did they?
“N-no, of course. Whatever, I was never even killed.
The tension finally left Kuroyukihime's face, she relaxed a little and exhaled slowly.
"I see ..." she whispered as she climbed off Haruyuki and sat on the floor to his left.
Not a single lamp burned in the hall of the Arita family's apartment, but the twilight was
transparent. Haruyuki entered the unbounded neutral field at half past one, but now it was
already past six, and it was slowly dawning outside the window.
Having strained, he nevertheless sat down, and then another voice rang out from the right.
- Oh, take it.
Kusakabe Rin sat on her lap and held out a glass of water. Haruyuki immediately realized
how dry his throat was.
“Thank you so much,” he thanked the girl, taking a cold glass and draining it in one gulp.
The cool drink chilled his head, and Haruyuki realized that from the very beginning of the
battle with Inti until the removal of his neurolinker, he had not relaxed for a second.
Still holding the empty glass in his hands, he turned to Kuroyukihime and once again
apologized.
“Sorry senpai for being caught so easily ...
- Nothing ... You have nothing to apologize for. On the contrary, I must ask your
forgiveness. You saved me, no, all the Six Kings from execution by the rule of sudden death, and
we just watched helplessly as you were carried away ...
Hearing the pain and frustration in the girl's voice, Haruyuki immediately leaned forward.
- No! .. Most importantly, you were able to exit through the portal. Whatever happens to me is
still a mere trifle compared to your salvation!
- Stop talking nonsense! I had no idea of sacrificing you for my own sake!
They were arguing, almost touching each other with their knees, when suddenly ...
- So after all, what happened? - An imperturbable voice came from behind.
Haruyuki winced, stood up and turned around.
He and Kuroyukihime and Rin sat on the edge of the rug, while a girl in a T-shirt, shorts and a
long ponytail looked at them from the sofa. Her name was Seri Suzukawa or Centorea Sentri,
nicknamed "Ruthless." She was the one who taught Haruyuki the Universal Omega Style.
After four months of training on an unlimited neutral field, Seri left Haruyuki alone in the
Omu Pavilion, and she herself returned to the real world and did not yet know how the battle
against Inti ended. Nor did Rin know, because her task was reduced to notifying
Kuroyukihime. They both deserved to hear the story in full detail.
"Uh ..." Haruyuki stood up, hastily refreshed his mind, and wondered where to start.
- Hmm ... - was heard suddenly behind him, and he had to turn around again.
Kuroyukihime also got up from the floor, frowned and began to move her finger in the air.
- Incoming calls from Fouko, Utai and Akira ... now also from Chiyuri, Takumu, Nico and
Leopard ... but from Shoko and Rui ...
Almost the entire Legion could be said to have been trying to reach Kuroyukihime. They
probably wanted to know what happened to Haruyuki. You could have called me too, he thought
before he remembered that his Neurolinker was in Kuroyukihime's hand.
- Senpai, since this is the case, I will explain everything to the others in the virtual chat. Tell
them to connect to the network of my apartment.
“Hmm… okay,” Kuroyukihime first nodded in response to the offer, but then shook her
head. - No, you urgently need a rest. Then you will tell ... Wherever Silver Crow is on an
unlimited field, while you are not there, nothing threatens him.
Haruyuki really felt extremely tired - both in his head and throughout his body - although
there was really no reason for her. During acceleration, he did not use his own contour, but a
dedicated quantum circuit inside the Main Render. At the time of the release, she synchronized
the memories with the brain, but was not supposed to transfer the feeling of fatigue into the real
world.
But no matter how hard Haruyuki tried to convince himself, his eyes stubbornly
drooped. Blinking a couple of times, he replied:
“Then I… will do so, if you don't mind.
“Rest,” said Kuroyukihime and held out the Neurolinker.
Taking it away, Haruyuki turned to Rin.
- Thank you for your help.
“Next time… I'll fight too.
- Yes, I'm counting on you.
Finally, he looked at Seri and nodded.
“Master… I mean, Seri, I won't have time to explain everything now, but I will say two
things. Omega-style limit helped me cut Inti.
- Okay, that's good news.
The girl replied so coolly that Haruyuki involuntarily grinned, but quickly pursed his lips and
continued.
- And second ... I think I was able to turn on Synthesis for a second.
This time Seri's face twitched a little, at first in surprise ... then she smiled. The girl nodded
twice silently, then got up from the sofa.
- Then I went home. It was fun and interesting with you.
- Thank you very much! Haruyuki bowed again.
Seri patted him on the shoulder, lifted her bag from the floor and headed for the door, but
Kuroyukihime stopped her with a wave of her hand.
- “Ruthless” ... No, Sentry ... that is, Seri, - having made a reservation twice, Kuroyukihime
coughed and continued: - Accept my gratitude. You have done us a great service ... Sorry to
propose so suddenly, but join our Legion.
- What?! Haruyuki's voice came not from Seri.
He already had an image in his head of Centorea Sentri as a noble lone swordsman, so he
could not even think about inviting her to Nega Nebula. On the other hand, such an ally would
really not hurt them.
Holding his breath, he waited for an answer. And finally ...
- Snowball. I hope you have not yet forgotten how I was vied with each other to be invited to
different Legions, but I refused everyone?
- Of course no. But in those years you flatly refused not only to have a “child”, but also to
take students. If you cheated on one principle, what prevents you from changing another?
Kuroyukihime slashed from the shoulder as usual, although Haruyuki thought it was out of
place now. What if Seri gets angry?
The "Ruthless" looked at the Black Queen, who in reality was noticeably shorter than her in
height, then said:
- Yes indeed. Okay, I'll join.
- What ?! Shouted Haruyuki in shock, and immediately caught the eyes of Seri and
Kuroyukihime.
- Why are you shouting, Crowe? Al don't you like my participation?
Seri suddenly switched to her character's old-fashioned speech, and Haruyuki shook his head
sharply.
- N-no-no-no, I don't mind at all! On the contrary, I'm oh-oh-very happy!
“That's nice,” the girl nodded and looked at Kuroyukihime again. - I am now disconnected
from the global network. Can you invite me through a cable connection?
- Why not? Haruyuki. ”The Legion Commander held out her left hand.
He picked up the XSB cable that was lying on the table and placed it in his graceful palm.
Putting the two Neurolinkers together, Kuroyukihime whispered, "Burst Link." The girls
froze for a moment, but immediately came to life and disconnected the cable. Haruyuki let out a
sigh of relief. He was afraid that they would decide to fight along the way, but in that case the
acceleration would last at least a second.
The girls shook hands in silence.
Returning to the Accelerated World and joining Nega Nebulas, the great swordsman nodded
to Haruyuki and Rin, then calmly walked out of the apartment.
“Ah…” Rin called out to her uncertainly. "Suzukawa, do you really want to go home ... like
this?"
Seri froze, glanced over at her T-shirt and shorts, then tossed it over her shoulder.
“Arita, I’ll borrow your bathroom for now, change.
Chapter 3
Strictly speaking, even after disconnecting from the unlimited neutral field, Haruyuki could
not consider himself and Silver Crow safe. He did not come out through the portal, so after the
next dive he will again find himself in the Grand Castle on the Heimveldt balcony. Then, as the
White Queen had warned, he would most likely be killed immediately by a blow from
Tezcatlipoca. And this will repeat every hour.
He actually found himself in endless extermination. For the first time since reaching the
fourth level, he had lost the right to visit an unlimited neutral field and now began to choke at the
mere thought of being cut off from the real Accelerated World. At one time, he tried to imagine
how Utai and Akira, sealed at the gates of the Imperial Castle, and Kuroyukihime buried under
Inti felt themselves, but nothing could prepare him for this sensation - it seemed that there was
no oxygen left in the air.
He controlled himself until he walked Seri, Rin and Kuroyukihime to the door, then returned
to the room, fell on the bed and instantly passed out. Consciousness quickly drowned in the
depths of dreams, shrouded in warm darkness.
Haruyuki hardly remembered that he experienced something strange in his dream.
Was it even a dream? He walked through some barren wasteland, stretching to the very
horizon. His wounded body was aching with pain at every step, but he did not stop, hearing the
relentless rumble following him.
Haruyuki glanced over his shoulder.
In the distance, in the colorless wasteland, was something unimaginably huge. A giant
enveloped in crimson flames. He stamped his feet like the trunks of centuries-old oak trees and
swung his fists like rocks. After each of his blows, sheaves of multi-colored sparks appeared and
someone's muffled cries were heard.
More recently, he fought against this enemy shoulder to shoulder with friends, but the giant
was winning too easily, and Haruyuki was the only one to fled from the battlefield. He told
himself that he should return, but his legs did not obey. They carried him away, pushing off the
dry ground in order to be even a little further.
The sounds of the battle behind his back gradually faded away. At last there was silence.
Haruyuki turned fearfully to see the giant standing motionless.
There was no one under his feet. The massacre was accomplished. The fearless comrades
whom Haruyuki had abandoned to their fate, every last one was killed.
From the very beginning, they foresaw that this world would come to an end. And now the
apocalypse has come.
The giant slowly turned its head and looked at Haruyuki.
The white concentric circles that replaced his face blinked like a huge eye.
Chapter 4
Haruyuki shuddered with such force that he woke up.
He blinked a couple of times without getting out of bed. The air conditioner worked under the
supervision of a home server and kept the temperature and humidity exactly at the set level, but
the forehead and chest still covered with sweat.
He waited for his heart to stop beating wildly, and tried to remember what a terrible dream he
had had. But only a caustic mixture of fear, despair and hopelessness remained in my head. Soon
these faint echoes faded away.
Exhaling slowly, Haruyuki sat up. He never put on the Neurolinker, so he had to look at the
clock on the table. The LCD screen showed seven minutes past ten. He fell asleep at about six in
the morning, so he slept only four hours.
Oddly enough, he felt asleep. In fact, he still slept four hours before training with Centorea
Sentry, making a total of eight. Kuroyukihime ordered Haruyuki to get some rest, so she set the
Legion meeting at three o'clock in the afternoon, but he didn't want to waste the rest of his time
sleeping.
Despite the nightmare, the rest had somewhat smoothed the emotions of endless
extermination. Pushing them into the background, Haruyuki climbed out of bed, found a change
of clothes and headed for the shower.
On the way, he put on a neurolinker. As soon as the virtual desktop appeared against the
backdrop of the half-dark corridor, Haruyuki was almost overwhelmed by an avalanche of
missed calls and messages. Hastily opening them, he found letters not only from comrades in the
Neg Nebulas, but also from burst linkers from other Legions, who wrote from anonymous
mailboxes. Their curiosity was not surprised - there had been no news since Tezcatlipoca had
kidnapped Silver Crow.
Although it seemed to Haruyuki that Kuroyukihime, Fouko, and Chiyuri had already alerted
everyone, he still stopped and opened the mail attachment. Typing: “Sorry to write so late, but
I'm fine. More details later. ”Haruyuki sent this message to all the addresses he received the
letters from.
The next stop was the door on the left, leading to the mother's bedroom. Haruyuki focused his
gaze on her, and a holographic mark appeared: "In the room / Asleep." It seems that during these
few hours the mother managed to return home. He reached the end of the corridor and opened
the door on the right, trying not to make any noise.
As soon as he took the first step into the bright room, a window popped up over the dining
table with a message from his mother. Approaching, he read:
“I ate one tortilla roll from the fridge. I'll be home tonight and tomorrow until lunchtime, so
be sure to show me your draft Council election speech. ”
"Ah ..." Haruyuki drawled, closing the window, and headed for the kitchen.
There he drank a glass of cold barley tea and went to the bathroom, where, sitting under a hot
shower, he thought about the school elections.
Two weeks ago, Mayu Ikuzawa, the headman of their 2nd-C grade, invited Haruyuki and
Takumu to join her in the election of the next student council.
Council elections at Umesato High School were not quite ordinary. Most schools elect the
chairman, deputy chairman, secretary, and accountant separately, but in Umesato they are all
nominated by the same team. In other words, the future chairman should prove himself as a
skilled personnel officer and manager even at the election stage. You could say that this rule was
the best fit for a school run by a large educational corporation.
Haruyuki understood perfectly well why Mayu had invited Takuma to her team. Kendo
section star, excellent student, docile character and good looks, Takumu was indeed a perfect
candidate. On the other hand, Haruyuki could not particularly boast of grades, did not shine at all
with sports achievements and was distinguished by tongue-tiedness and fullness. He was
unspeakably surprised that Mayu chose the seemingly most stupid classmate as a partner, and
even began to treat the girl with suspicion. But it turned out that Mayu was impressed with
Haruyuki's efforts as he fine-tuned the augmented reality displays their class was preparing for
the cultural festival, as well as his efforts as chairman of the animal welfare committee.
However, the student council member's burden was still too heavy for Haruyuki; besides, he
was afraid that if he agreed, he would sink the team in the elections. At first, he thought to
refuse, but changed his mind after talking with Takumu and Kuroyukihime.
The key to this was the question asked by Kuroy White:
"Are you wondering if there is any point in making an effort if it doesn't work?"
Yes, that's what Haruyuki has told himself all his life. He had always believed that it was
better not to try at all than to suffer shameful failure. However, new acquaintances and events in
the Accelerated World gradually cured him of cowardice.
He learned to try for himself and for others. Try, simply because he wants to and because no
effort is wasted.
Therefore, when on the eve of the last day of school, Haruyuki met Ikuzawa Mayu on the
school roof, he accepted her offer.
And since he said yes, now he had to roll up his sleeves and get down to business. The
election campaign began only in the second trimester, but even preparing for it is a mountain of
work. We need to write a draft as soon as possible, which my mother reminded of, but the most
important thing is to find the fourth member of the team. Mayu, of course, was engaged in
searches herself with might and main, but she asked me to tell if someone appeared in mind. And
if so, it would be nice to offer her at least one candidate at the next meeting ...
In the process of thinking, Haruyuki managed to wash, rinse himself and leave the
bathroom. Back in the room, he glanced at his watch again and pulled on his school
uniform. Then I opened an application for holographic notes, created a new one with the text: “I
went to school for committee affairs. I haven’t written the draft yet, it will take more time ”and
went to the kitchen. There, Haruyuki opened the refrigerator, took one of the three remaining
tortilla rolls and along with it a small container hidden in a corner of the top shelf.
Turning around, he went to the sink, put the tortilla roll in his mouth, opened the lid of the
container ...
- A! He exclaimed, almost dropping the roll.
Barely managing to catch it with his teeth again, he looked inside the container.
On an important gauze lay pale brown ovals, seven millimeters long - cherry pits. They
appeared there on the 7th, when Niko and Kuroyukihime unexpectedly came to his house to
spend the night. After dinner, Haruyuki offered the girls as dessert a cherry, which had been sent
by their mother's grandfather. Niko liked the treat so much that she suggested planting some
seeds.
Fruit cherries are usually planted by grafting, and growing a whole tree from seed is
extremely difficult. In order for it to germinate, moisture and coolness are needed, and not at all
the July heat. That's why they took twelve bones, washed, dried, and laid them on wet
gauze. Haruyuki kept it in a container in the refrigerator and carefully added water every day ...
And only now, after two weeks of complete indifference on the part of the bones, on three of
them tiny roots appeared, similar to sticking debris. The winter climate of the refrigerator finally
woke them up and they began to sprout.
"Wow ... It worked," Haruyuki muttered, although in fact he had already managed to sprout a
cherry pit several years ago.
That time, he immediately planted the sprout in a pot and put it on the balcony, but either the
land was poor, or Haruyuki watered it too diligently, but, alas, it did not go further. Will it go this
time? ..
He took another small container, spread the damp gauze on the bottom, and carefully laid the
three hatched bones on top of it. Then he covered them with another piece of gauze and closed
the lid. After a little thought, Haruyuki took the thermal bag and put the container inside, along
with the ice, in an airtight container. Finally, he poured some iced tea into a reusable bottle and
headed for the front door. Haruyuki lifted the school bag from the hanger onto his shoulder and
hid the bottle and thermal bag inside. Then he pulled on a baseball cap hanging from another
hook, slipped into mesh sneakers, and quietly opened the door.
Although it was still morning, a searing heat immediately blew from the corridor. He usually
made Haruyuki want to slam the door immediately, but now the joyful anticipation told him that
the summer heat wasn't all that bad.
Going out into the corridor, he ran to the elevator, hearing the automatic lock clicked behind
his back.
Although he tried to walk in the shadows, he still came to the gates of Umesato High School,
drenched in sweat.
As he entered the school grounds, he stopped, took a towel from his bag and wiped his face
and the back of his head. Then, a little dry, he continued his way to the back of the second - or
old - school building.
A walkway between the concrete fence and the high wall of the building led him to an open
area at the very corner of the property. Few of the schoolchildren even knew about this inner ...
or rather, the backyard. It was surrounded by concrete on both sides and a hull wall on the third,
but it still seemed bathed in sunlight.
To the north of the backyard was a boardwalk, four meters long and two meters wide and two
and a half high. Of course, she seemed tiny against the backdrop of the school buildings, but on
the other hand, sixteen square meters is more than Haruyuki's room.
As he approached the building, the sound of his footsteps caught the attention of a girl
sweeping the leaves.
- Oh, chairman? Is today your day? She asked, raising her head.
Her name was Izeki Reina. She was also a member of the animal care committee and was
Haruyuki's subordinate.
On ordinary school days, she looked bold and catchy, but now, thanks to her athletic uniform,
white cap and hair gathered in a ponytail, she has become remarkably similar to an
athlete. Haruyuki waved his hand as he walked, stopped in front of Reina and replied:
- No, I was on duty yesterday and will be on duty tomorrow ... but I still have nothing to do.
Only very recently did he learn to speak to this girl without hesitation. "But I was so afraid of
her before ..." Haruyuki thought secretly. Reyna blinked a couple of times, then smiled broadly.
- You have nothing to do? Chairman, where did you get any free time on vacation with such
and such a harem?
- Gare ... N-no-no, you got it wrong!
- A-ha-ha! Oh yes, this kind of confusion suits you better.
Reyna burst out laughing, and there was a sudden pop from the building.
Haruyuki looked through the iron mesh that served as the front wall and saw an African dawn
named Hou flapping its wings on its perch. He already knew the pet well enough to understand
that he is not angry or nervous, but simply greets him.
The Animal Care Committee was formed just a month ago to care for Hou, and Haruyuki
became chairman almost by accident. In addition to Reina, there was also a guy named
Hamadzima on the committee, but he came only on the first day of work and has not appeared
since then. Perhaps Haruyuki, as chairman, should have somehow influenced him, but he was
thrown into shivers and cold sweat at the very thought of coming to Hamajima's class and
scolding him out loud for his laziness and neglect of duties.
"We'll do without him for now," Haruyuki made a decision that combined optimism and
pessimism.
“The heat is just awful today,” Reyna wiped her forehead. "Doesn't Howe suffer from this
kind of weather?"
- Well, these owls are from Africa, they are used to the heat. But I, of course, also worry ...
They looked into the cage together. Noticing their gaze, Hou stopped picking his feathers and
stared at Haruyuki with large orange eyes.
"Food?" He asked with a turn of his head.
"No, it's too early," Haruyuki responded telepatiously and looked at Reina.
“The cage is spacious and airy, and has a large basin of water for bathing, so I think it's
enough just to check Howe's condition regularly ... But we'd better ask Shinomiya when she
comes. She didn't say when it will be today?
- At half past eleven. Probably already underway.
- I see. Then let me help with the cleaning.
- Thank you, chairman.
Seeing that Reina's forehead was sweating again, Haruyuki took a bottle out of his bag and
handed it to the girl.
- Here, this is barley tea. Have a drink if you like. Oh, I haven't drunk myself yet, don't worry.
- A-ha-ha, I do not disdain, even if someone drank before me!
Reina clapped Haruyuki on the shoulder, thanked him for the tea, and unscrewed the bottle
cap. In the meantime, he went to the back entrance to the old building and put the bag on the
stairs. Then he opened the booth and took out a brush and a hose with a nozzle.
Plugging a hose into the tap next to the cage, Haruyuki went inside and warned Hou that he
was going to clean up now. He brought out the waterproof pads laid out under the perch, then a
large bathing basin, and began to hose the floor. Almost all of the droppings went to the pads, so
the cage was not particularly dirty. Utai insisted that it was enough to wash her once a week, but
Haruyuki thought that Hou was more pleasant to live in a clean house.
Then it's time to scrub away any excess water, dirt and feathers with a brush. From the
outside, the cage looked small, but inside, sixteen square meters felt very different. Haruyuki
walked slowly from south to north and from north to south, not letting go of the brush from his
left hand, but from his right hose.
He worked diligently until only brown, slightly damp boards were left under his feet, and
Reyna's voice was heard outside:
- Hi Super Chair!
Haruyuki did not see the "super chairman", but a chat window opened before his eyes.
"UI> Good morning Izeki."
Howe flapped his wings even though he shouldn't have seen the chat.
“This is definitely food now,” Haruyuki whispered to the owl and left the cage.
Shinomiya Utai stood opposite Reina. She wore a white dress - the uniform of the elementary
division of Matsunogi's private academy, Umesato's sister school. Idzeki Reina referred to Utai
as super-chair, since she was the one who approached the Umesato administration with a request
to organize this committee.
Utai lifted her wide-brimmed white hat, saw Haruyuki emerging from the cage, and blinked in
bewilderment.
"UI> Oh, I thought Arita was on duty tomorrow."
- It is, but ...
Of course, Hou had to be looked after even during the summer holidays, and since there were
only three people on the committee, including Utai, Haruyuki, it would seem, should have come
every three days ... But in fact, he and Reina went every other day, and Utai - every day. The fact
is that only Utai managed to feed Hou. Of course, the owl also took food from Haruyuki's hands,
but only in the presence of the girl. Therefore, out of solidarity, he decided to come to school as
often as possible, and not only on duty days.
However, he said something else out loud so as not to flaunt his thoughts:
- I was free, so I decided to come and help a little.
"UI> Really?" - Utai typed in an instant, then removed her hands from the virtual keyboard,
folded her palms at her chest and frowned for a moment.
After a moment, Haruyuki realized what was the matter.
Utai, aka Ardor Maiden, was also in Kitanomaru Park of an unlimited neutral field and saw
with her own eyes how Tezcatlipoca carried away Silver Crow. After that, Kuroyukihime or
Fouko informed her that Haruyuki was disconnected from the network and was safe, but the girl
still did not know what position he was in.
Haruyuki dropped the brush and hose, walked over to Utai and hugged her small hands.
- Mei ... Sinomiya, I'm fine. Sorry if I made you worry ... but it's really good.
Utai widened her eyes for a moment, turned a little pink, and nodded. Her lips quivered as if
trying to voice a response, but Haruyuki didn't hear a sound. His girlfriend suffered from efferent
aphasia, so she could not talk in the real world and used a brain implant chip to communicate via
chat. However, now he was holding her hands, and she could not type.
- Oh ... P-I'm sorry!
Shouting out an apology, Haruyuki almost jumped backwards. He was about to ask for
forgiveness again, but Utai threw up her hands and nodded. But before he could relax, Reyna's
voice rang out over his right shoulder:
- Ay-yay-yay, chairman. It is not good to harass girls in primary school.
"Domo ... I n-did nothing!" Haruyuki hastily objected to the grinning Reina, picking up a
brush and a hose from the ground.
He looked at Utai once more, mentally promising her all the details during the Legion
meeting, and walked over to the cage.
Haruyuki dragged the pads and bowl to the tap. The first thing he did was spread the pads on
the ground, changed the nozzle on the hose, and thoroughly washed them with a strong
jet. Thanks to the waterproof coating, they were quickly cleaned, and Haruyuki left to dry in the
sun while he took a sponge and began to lather the basin.
While he worked, Reyna finished sweeping the leaves and weeding the weeds. When they had
finished and put all the tools in the booth, Utai was putting on a leather mitten. Howe in the cage
flapped his wings loudly, feeling that now they would definitely feed him.
Fastening her mitten, Utai entered the cage first. Waiting for Reina to enter with a large
container of food and Haruyuki with an armful of new pads, Howe hopped off the perch. He
made three circles around the cage, then landed softly on Utai's outstretched hand. The girl
stroked the owl, which was clicking its beak impatiently.
Reina stood by her side, lifted the container to chest level and opened the lid. Inside were
crimson pieces of meat in a vinyl bag and tweezers. Utai took the tweezers with her free hand
and picked up one of the pieces of meat. It was worth bringing it to Howe's beak, as he instantly
swallowed the treat.
Owls feed on raw meat from mice, chickens and ducks. Utai bought whole carcasses and cut
them herself. Today, judging by the color and shape of the chunks, Howe was eating duck. But
although Haruyuki had already begun to understand the types of meat, he still had not the
slightest desire to do butcher himself. Once, he saw Utai cutting a frozen mouse with a small
knife, and he needed to strain all his strength not to look away. However, if he wants Utai to
have at least one day off, he still needs to learn how ...
Haruyuki was watching the process thoughtfully when suddenly Reina's voice rang out.
- Listen, superpredict ... Utai. May I try?
Utai froze and looked at Reyna. Then she smiled warmly and nodded.
The girl took the outstretched tweezers, grabbed a small piece of meat with them and
carefully brought it to Howe's beak.
Until now, the owl ate with great appetite, but now it suddenly turned away. Large eyes stared
at Reyna, and feathers quirked menacingly.
Howe's once shameless past owner threw him out of the house. Utai found a half-dead owl in
the courtyard of the Matsunogi Academy and has tended to her ever since. They had no doubt
that Howe hadn't escaped on his own. All pets are required to have subcutaneous identification
chips due to the animal welfare law, but Howe has it cut out.
Hou no longer trusted people except for his savior Utai. Recently, he began to accept food
from Haruyuki's hands, but only sitting on the girl's hand.
- Didn't work, did it? Reyna whispered, looking at the hissing Howe.
She was about to put the meat back into the container, when Utai stroked her back
reassuringly. Then the girl looked at Howe and her lips quivered.
Haruyuki realized again how hard it was for her. Even now, she couldn't say a word to either
Howe or Reina. Moreover, she could not even really move her lips so that the interlocutor could
read words from them. The only exceptions were the acceleration commands, which she gave in
a soundless voice.
He thought about turning to Howe instead of her, but bit his lips. Even though Utai was silent,
she still tried to convey her thoughts to the bird in her own way. It was not worth interfering in
their silent conversation.
Finally…
The raised feathers began to fold, and the head turned back. Blinking a couple of times, Howe
gave Reina an appraising look.
Utai's hand on Reyna's back moved slightly, signaling. The girl timidly raised her hand,
offering the meat again.
This time, Howe neither turned away nor hissed, but still he was in no hurry to peck. The owl
swayed back and forth, not daring to overcome its own instincts and trust Reina. But finally the
bird froze, shook its head ... grabbed the meat with its beak and swallowed it.
Utai moved her right hand again. Reyna straightened her back as if she had come to her
senses and took a new piece with tweezers. This time, Howe ate it without hesitation.
Haruyuki breathed a sigh of relief and stared into Reina's face, puzzled.
A small tear ran down her cheek, sparkling brightly in the light falling outside. The girl was
crying with joy.
Silently looking at her, he suddenly thought:
"We should invite Izeki."
They still lacked a fourth person to run for school council elections. Of course, this thought
still needed to be discussed with Mayu Ikuzawa, and it is not yet known whether Reina herself
would agree to such an offer, but Haruyuki still wanted to fight for the votes of voters shoulder
to shoulder with this girl ... and in case of victory, do a common cause with her in school council.
When she and Mayu were discussing the fourth candidate, she said:
"I want a harsh person like you, Arita-kun, Mayuzumi-kun."
Haruyuki was very surprised at this epithet and objected:
"I can still understand - Taku, but this has nothing to do with me ..."
However, Mayu explained without even raising an eyebrow:
“In fact, I think everyone has something that sets them apart from the rest. But it is very
difficult to show your differences. You work as hard as you can, not hiding your strengths and
hobbies. ”
Izeki Reina was also very open. Haruyuki had already managed to be convinced of this,
although he worked with her on the committee for only a month and hardly talked about abstract
topics.
Finally, the gorged Hou took off from Utai's hand, made a circle in the opposite direction and
returned to the roost. Reyna suddenly noticed her own tears, wiped them away with her left fist,
looked at Utai and Haruyuki, and smiled embarrassedly.
One o'clock struck.
The committee members finished their work and finished their bottle of tea. This concludes
today's meeting.
Haruyuki watched Reyna leave the dressing room, looked up at the cloudless summer sky and
mentally sighed ...
"UI> Arita, are you sure you're okay?" - a message suddenly appeared before his eyes, forcing
him to come to his senses and turn his head to the left.
Utai looked at him closely from under her wide-brimmed hat. The black eyes glowed with
excitement.
- Yes, it's all right. Fair. I haven't even lost a point yet, ”Haruyuki answered hastily, but her
face remained grim.
Thin fingers danced in the air.
"UI> But since you were shut off from the outside, you couldn't escape captivity, did you?"
The girl paused briefly and continued:
“UI> Fu already said that all the details will be in the three hour meeting. I understand that if
you explain everything now, you will have to repeat yourself. But I, frankly, do not find a place
for myself from anxiety. I have the feeling that somewhere, unnoticed by us, terrible, irreversible
things are happening ... "
Haruyuki bit his lip, not immediately finding an answer.
It was not at all difficult for him to explain the same thing twice, if it would calm Utai. But in
fact, he himself did not really know how to look at his position.
In fact, he found himself in endless extermination, but that was where the certainty
ended. The main question was: why did the White Queen kidnap Haruyuki and tell him so
much? White Cosmos's behavior did not bode well for her, because no words would convince
Haruyuki to betray Nega Neboulas and the Black Queen. But if the White Queen was going to
deprive him of all his glasses, then she would have done it without further ado.
“I’m sorry you have to worry about me so much, Shinomiya,” Haruyuki said, shaking his
head. “But the White Queen just took me to the Grand Castle and did nothing to me there. I have
no idea if I can escape, but otherwise there are no threats hanging over me.
Utai raised her eyebrows.
“UI> Tokyo Grand Castle? Why exactly there? "
“I don’t know… It looks like it’s some kind of Oscillatori base…” Haruyuki replied, bringing
the huge castle back to life.
Suddenly someone's quick steps were heard behind. Thinking that Reina had forgotten
something in the backyard, Haruyuki turned around ...
- Phew! - Air burst from his mouth from a strong blow to the stomach.
Miraculously, standing on his feet, he lowered his eyes and realized that a small figure had
run into him with a running start, two tails of red hair tied up in black bows bouncing at its
head. Only one person could choose such a combination of colors.
- N-Nico ?! Haruyuki exclaimed.
The girl immediately lifted her face, looking at him.
Tears glistened in the eyes, which seemed either green or brown, depending on the lighting.
- Brother ... I was so worried about you!
- Uh, ah, oh ...
Haruyuki had not faced Niko's angelic regime for so long, or rather, Kozuki Yuniko's, that his
brain went into a reboot from surprise. The girl stared at him with wet eyes for three more
seconds ... until the malicious smile that appeared on her lips turned the impression upside down.
Niko took a step back, put her hands on her hips and spoke a tone lower, as if becoming a
different person:
- And you seem to be alive and well.
"Oh ..." Haruyuki sighed and replied, "Not only me, but my avatar as well." You better tell
me, Niko, what are you doing here?
- Like what? You wrote to me yourself, - Niko shrugged her shoulders and went to Utai. - Hi,
Maiden! Thanks for helping out!
“UI> Please. And thank you so much. "
- Did you sleep well though? And that still makes me sleepy.
“UI> To be honest, me too. But I was worried about Ku. "
- In-in. I wonder what happened to him, even though he said that everything is fine.
Haruyuki silently watched the text-to-voice dialogue.
Niko, like Utai, came in a school uniform, however, hers consisted of a white blouse with
short sleeves and a dark blue skirt with suspenders. In general, these girls had a lot in
common. Both were in elementary school - albeit in different grades - both were Burst Linkers,
both had pure red avatars. He had never seen them fight each other before, but such a duel would
surely have looked like a difficult firefight.
“Anyway, Mei is level 7, and Nico is level 9. They had no reason to fight each other ...
”thought Haruyuki.
Niko, meanwhile, finished speaking with Utai and turned to him.
- Well, come on!
- Uh ... What to give?
- What are you doing ?! I already said, you wrote to me yourself.
- Oh, yes, I wrote ...
On the way to school, Haruyuki actually sent Niko a message: "Cherry pits hatched, I'll try to
plant them at school." But he meant ...
- It's just for information. I didn't ask you to come at all ...
- What ?! It was I who suggested growing cherries from seeds! Such an event cannot do
without me!
"W-maybe ..." he muttered and looked at Utai.
The embodiment of the conscience of the entire squad and the youngest legionnaire, Nega
Nebulasa smiled and typed:
“UI> I didn't fully understand what was going on, but it's always more fun together!”
- That's it! Let's quickly decide where we will plant!
Nico pushed Haruyuki in the stomach and all he had to do was nod.
Seeing three bones in the thermal container, Niko exclaimed happily:
- Wow, roots!
They then set out with Haruyuki in search of a suitable location. As the omniscient Network
said, a special tray with a bunch of cells filled with special soil is usually used to germinate
seeds. But this method was usually used for vegetable seedlings, and it is not a fact that the store
soil is suitable for cherries, so he decided to just plant the seeds in the ground for now and see
what happens.
Haruyuki gazed thoughtfully along the ground until a message popped up in front of his eyes:
"UI> Why not here, Arita?"
He looked up to see Utai pointing towards the concrete fence that rose to the west of the
cage. Coming closer, Haruyuki noticed for the first time several beds of natural stones, about
fifty to eighty centimeters each. They were densely overgrown with weeds, so until now he had
not paid attention to them.
Haruyuki stopped in front of the flower beds and looked up at the sky. The fence was in the
west and covered the sun in the afternoon, but in the morning and at noon there should be
enough light. And it’s not that time of the year when the plantings need to be constantly
illuminated - the earth can overheat.
- Yes, not a bad place. Only need to weed.
- Three of us will manage in a moment! - exclaimed unknown when Niko approached,
squatted down and began to pull the injury with both hands.
She's even more impatient than I am, thought Haruyuki, joining her. Utai sat down opposite
and also set to work.
After a few minutes, the black soil of the flower bed was cleared of excess plants. The land
looked moderately moist and fertile. He dug three holes fifteen centimeters apart and turned his
head.
- Okay, Niko. You plant.
- There are three of us. Let's each plant one, - the girl answered with a grin, took a bone from
the container and put it in the right hole.
Haruyuki chose the central fovea, Utai the left. They carefully sprinkled the seeds with earth,
then took a watering can from the booth and carefully watered the flower bed. It smelled like
damp earth. The Accelerated World had tree-type levels like Primeval Forest and Meadow, but
even these didn't have such a dense spirit of life.
Haruyuki turned his gaze to Niko, who was silently admiring the flower bed, and quietly said:
- Sorry if I ruin my mood, but growing cherries is actually very difficult. Even only three
seeds out of twelve sprouted. Better just treat it as a test.
“I know,” Niko muttered.
“UI> Then let's pour Incarnation into them,” Utai typed back.
Haruyuki looked at the girl in amazement, who smiled and continued.
“UI> I'm sure the Incarnation of three high-level burst linkers will be enough for the bones to
sprout.”
- But ... I only have the sixth level ...
“It's good to be modest,” Niko snapped mockingly, and when he shook his head again, she
poked him in the stomach.
“Haruyuki, you already own the Incarnation as Kings… no, this is probably too much. As an
officer of the Great Legion.
The officers of the Grand Legions mean, for example, the "Triplexes" of Prominens, the
"Bastions" of the Great Wall, and the "Elements" of Neg Nebula. He always considered them to
be real celestials and did not believe that he could defeat them even in an ordinary duel, let alone
an incarnation battle.
"It can't be like that ..." Haruyuki shook his head. “But I will be glad if the sprouts will
sprout… so I will put as much Incarnation into them as possible.
- Well! - Niko held out her left hand, which just hit him on the belly.
He squeezed it with one hand, and held out the other to Utai.
Having united in a single chain, they closed their eyes in front of the flower bed and prayed
together.
"Come up, little cherry, grow up and become a big tree ... so that one day we can all come
together here and eat your berries."
Since Niko was visiting the backyard of the campus for the first time, she went to meet
Howe. Meanwhile, Haruyuki opened the committee's diary, made a note of the work done (of
course, without writing about Niko) and sent it to the school server.
They packed their things and returned to the front yard. It was twenty minutes to two. The
Legion meeting was eighty minutes away.
- By the way, Niko, how did you get here? Did you throw a pard on a motorcycle? Haruyuki
asked.
“No, on the bus,” the Red Queen shrugged. “Pard works in a cafe ... but said she was just
taking a break during the meeting.
- I see ...
Blood Leopard, nicknamed “Bloody Kitten,” was considered the number two person in
Prominence. In the real world, her name was Kakei Mihaya, she worked as a waitress and even
started taking on the functions of a pastry chef at the European sweets cafe “Patisserie La Plage”
in Nerima. Mihaya, too, had already left for summer holidays, but the cafe was open almost
seven days a week. She once picked up Haruyuki on a motorcycle, dressed in a waitress's
uniform, but could not easily leave in the middle of the working day, even during a break.
- Will you take the bus back too? Let's take it to the stop then, ”Haruyuki suggested, but Niko
grimaced.
- What, I can't come to you already, or what? I even got permission to spend the night in the
hostel.
- A?! Why didn't I say it before? .. My mother is at home until tomorrow's dinner ...
- Eh ... - Nico drawled sadly and fell silent in frustration.
She had never met Haruyuki's mother before, so even the Red Queen didn't have the resolve
to ask for a visit. And he had no idea how he would explain his acquaintance with Niko.
As they pondered what to do next, Utai tilted her head in puzzlement and typed.
"UI> Why don't you sleep with me, Niko?"
- A? - simultaneously escaped from Niko and Haruyuki.
The red-haired fidget blinked a couple of times, and then noticed, cautiously pulling her head
into her shoulders:
- But ... Maiden, you must have parents at home.
“UI> No. Grandpa, dad, mom and brother are on local tours, they won't be around for a long
time. I now live together with our housekeeper, but she will not mind a friend's overnight stay. "
- That's how ...
Niko interacted with Utai several times in the real world and knew that she was from the Noh
theater family. However, the Red Queen was still clearly shy and just shifted from foot to
foot. Utai stared at her for a long time, then turned her gaze to Haruyuki.
"UI> Arita, since this is the case, come with us?"
- Ue ?! I?!
“UI> Let's say this is an animal care committee meeting. Moreover, we really need to talk
about Howe. "
All that was left was to admire how cleverly Utai composed the answers. However, she wrote
the pure truth, and even Haruyuki ceased to think that he would go to visit her just to have
fun. “No wonder she is the partner of the unpredictable and deadly Foucault!” He thought, and
nodded.
- Yeah. If this is the case, then I agree ... But are you sure?
“UI> Of course. Besides, Niko will definitely like this option more. ”
As soon as Utai wrote the message, the Red Queen slapped Haruyuki with all her might on
the back.
- No, no, you misunderstood everything! It's just more fun for me when the company is bigger
... And in general, we have already decided everything, so let's go!
Niko hung a red rucksack on her back and hurried to the gate. Haruyuki and Utai exchanged
smiles and hurried after them, admiring the bouncing tails of red hair.
Chapter 5
- Well, pull in the belly!
- Aha! Haruyuki stifled in response to the slaps on his stomach and tensed all his muscles.
As soon as the string wrapped around the body was tied tightly under the navel, Haruyuki felt
that he no longer needed to hold the front. She seemed to press herself against her hips.
- Now there is order. See, from the fundoshi [✱] Traditional Japanese underwear. For
example, sumo wrestlers perform in it. decisiveness is needed, ”said a woman named Siomi,
standing up to her full height.
This was the housekeeper Utai spoke of. She looked about sixty-five years old, and because of
her height and thinness she looked like a heron. Now she was wearing a beautiful gray and silver
kimono, but Haruyuki was wearing only a white fundoshi.
When they reached the Shinomiya family home in Omiya, the girls immediately suggested
that Haruyuki take a shower. He, of course, out of politeness said “only after you,” but that did
not change anything, because he was the only one of the three who managed to sweat in the heat.
The bathroom in the house was entirely decorated with expensive hinoki cypress, like in an
expensive ryokan [✱] A Japanese sanatorium hotel with an emphasis on onsen (hot spring)
bathing. ... After enjoying the luxury and washing off the sweat from himself, Haruyuki went
into the dressing room and was dumbfounded. He originally intended to go home immediately
after Howe's feeding, so he did not bring a change of clothes. Haruyuki thought that he would
have to put on his sweaty underpants and uniform again, but both of them disappeared
somewhere. And while he looked around in dumbfoundedness, a woman's voice came from
behind the door, ordering him to put on what was left for him on the shelf.
And everything would be fine, but it was a yukata [✱] Slim single layer kimono for home
and summer walks. ...
Rather, the real difficulty was that it came with a fundoshi, which Haruyuki had never worn in
his life.
He immediately found a manual for tying the fundoshi with the help of a neurolinker and tried
to cope on his own, but then Siomi came in, critically assessed his efforts and said: "So it will
fall off right away." Then, not wanting to hear any objection, she tied the lace herself.
Haruyuki stood like a thunderbolt, unable to digest what was happening, while the
housekeeper, meanwhile, deftly put a blue yukata and a mustard-colored belt on him.
- Ah ... Thank you, - he could only say.
Siomi patted him on the shoulder with a bony hand.
“I hope you will continue to be friends with Lady Utai.
She seemed to be about to say something else, but closed her mouth, smiled warmly and left
the locker room.
Haruyuki dried his hair with a hairdryer and returned to Utai's room in a long corridor. The
two girls had a lot of fun commenting on Haruyuki's appearance before heading to the bathroom
together. It was twenty-three minutes past three. Chiyuri once said that girls always wash for a
long time, but they had to finish by the beginning of the three-hour meeting.
Haruyuki was visiting Utai for the second time in his life. Except for the air conditioner, her
room was designed in a classic Japanese style - tatami flooring, sand-colored walls on the
walls. Around a small table lay an expensive-looking leg pillow. The last time He had already
tried to fit on it according to all the rules, but gave up after three minutes. Swearing that he
would correct this misunderstanding, he sat down in seiza [✱].. The same "sitting by all the
rules." This is on the knees brought together with the
On the way here, he had already sent a message to his mother that he would be delayed due to
the committee meeting, but there was no answer yet - she must be still asleep. Her own note said
that today, oddly enough, she spends the night at home, so he will certainly see her, but, alas, he
will not have time to prepare a draft of his speech ... Or will he have time? Haruyuki decided not
to give up ahead of time. The mother promised to look and correct the draft, and if so, her son
should also try.
Finding a text editor on the virtual desktop, he launched it. Fingers rested on the holographic
keyboard, eyes staring at the blinking cursor. But the first word never crossed my mind.
When Haruyuki talked to his mother about this speech, she said, "Say what you want."
"But I don't know what I want to say ..." Haruyuki objected then, and his mother answered
this with a question: "Then why are you rushing to advice?"
On reflection, he eventually revealed his true feelings to her:
“I just… thought I wanted to do something. Anything I couldn't do before. "
In response, the mother smiled faintly and gave advice:
“Say so. The main thing in speeches is to reach out to the listeners' souls. If you read
grandiose manifestos, you will lose your audience. ”
"To knock on the soul ..." Haruyuki muttered, wagging his fingers.
Finally, he pressed the "I" button. Then, after a moment's hesitation, on a space. Another
button. More. When Haruyuki wrote messages to friends, he was typing blindly almost at the
speed of Utai, but now his hands moved as awkwardly, as if he were trying to type text with
boxing gloves.
Only ten seconds later, he put the first point, raised his head and read: "I hate myself."
He immediately imagined that most of the listeners would immediately think: "So work to
love yourself." From this chorus of imaginary voices, the hand itself reached for the backspace,
but Haruyuki restrained himself and did not erase anything. Instead, he continued:
“I hate it so much that many years ago I turned my back on myself, not wanting to look in the
mirror or think about who was there. Wherever I was, whatever I did, I always tried to remain
invisible, so that no one would talk to me. "
Did he really want to talk about it in front of the whole school? Maybe it is better not to
disgust the audience with hysterical confessions, but to read out some more optimistic
manifesto? But the words poured in an endless stream:
“I had friends who took care of me no matter what. But I didn't even believe them. Sometimes
I pushed aside the outstretched helping hands and ran away, throwing terrible insults as I
walked. And, to be honest, even now, reading this speech to you, in my heart I have not changed
at all. I want to drop everything and run away, and I can't imagine myself as a student
councilor. But even so ... ”
Even so ...
He wanted to change. He found the strength to want.
Haruyuki couldn't tell exactly when it happened. When did he get Brain Burst from
Kuroyukihime? When did you first fly into the sky of the Accelerated World? When did you win
the hardest battle against Dusk Taker? When did you break free from the grip of the Disaster
Armor? When did you manage to clean the birdcage on the first day of the committee? When did
you volunteer to finish the class exhibition at the cultural festival? When did you agree to
participate in the student council elections? ..
Most likely, there was not a single point.
New acquaintances, events, sorrows and joys gradually changed Haruyuki. Gradually, longforgotten feelings hatched in him - faith in himself, the desire to look into his eyes ... He
gradually stopped living with a hunched back.
Even if he does not break out of endless extermination and does not flee from Tezcatlipoca ...
Even if he loses all points in the Grand Castle and ceases to be a burst linker ...
These feelings will never go away. Even after leaving the Accelerated Realm and becoming
Haruyuki's Arita again, he would never walk with his head down again.
His hands clenched into fists above the keyboard. Burst Linker's determination supplanted
thoughts of a school board election speech.
- We have returned! - Suddenly a voice rang out, and the door to the room swung open.
Haruyuki winced and froze with his hands up.
Niko and Utai rushed in, also dressed in yukata. Niko's kimono was red with white peonies,
while Utai's was white with blue morning glory. Haruyuki could not help staring, and the Red
Queen - with her hair gathered in unusual tufts - pouted resentfully.
"And what, Haruyuki, have you nothing to say?"
- A? Uh ... in-both of you very well.
“I wish I didn't have to pull these words out of you with tongs,” Nico shook her head
dejectedly.
Utai smiled and typed:
“UI> I think that's a very cute trait in his character.”
“You wouldn't play along with him like that, Maiden… in the sense of Ui.
It looks like they agreed in the bathroom that Nico would call Utai Ui. Haruyuki was glad that
the girls managed to make friends, but then Niko pulled his hair.
- Good to smile - better get ready. We will dive soon.
- What? Oh, in three minutes? Haruyuki closed the file he could only see, folded the editor
and turned to Utai. - Sinomiya, have you already agreed in whose space we are going?
“UI> Yes. Sattin said Fu will be the organizer, just like when discussing the trip to Inti. "
- Yes? Oh, really.
It was only then that Haruyuki noticed a new icon lit up in the notification area. He got so
carried away with the draft that he didn't notice Kuroyukihime's mailing list. To be on the safe
side, he opened the letter and looked at the pillow beneath him.
“So… this meeting will not be accelerated, so we’ll have time to sit out our legs and fall if we
connect to it like this, at the table.
“UI> Indeed. Now wait. "
Utai opened the closet and took out a terry bedspread.
"UI> Of course, this pillow is not for the head, but I suggest that you remove the table and lie
down."
- But ...
- It's too late to be shy! Come on, time is running out!
Niko tugged at Haruyuki's hair again, and he hurriedly stood up. Then he lifted the table and
dragged it to the wall under Utai's guidance. All three lay down on the vacant seat.
Finally, they wrapped themselves in the blanket that Utai took out. Preparations ended exactly
ten seconds before the scheduled time.
“Hey, Haru,” Niko snapped from the other side of Utai.
Haruyuki turned his head to the right.
- Whatever happens, we will definitely get you out. Don't worry and tell it as it is.
- Yeah.
He had no time left for a more meaningful answer. Exactly two seconds before three o'clock,
Haruyuki and Niko gave voice commands, and Utai launched the application from the virtual
desktop.
- Direct link!
Chapter 6
As soon as Haruyuki turned into a pink pig and entered Fouko's virtual world, he screamed
exactly like the last time:
- A-ah-ah!
He foresaw that he would be on a flying whale named Talassa - or rather, on a wooden
platform on his back - but his character appeared at the very edge, literally a step away from the
abyss.
Haruyuki waved his hands desperately, trying not to get lost. Suddenly, something pulled the
piglet by the pointed ear, and he felt as if his head was drowning in something like soft pillows.
“Don't worry, Raven-san. My world is set up so that you will fly a hundred meters, and then
you will be returned to your back, - explained Fouko, the owner of the virtual space, hugging
Haruyuki's neck.
Like last time, she dressed like a teacher - in a white blouse and rimless glasses. This means
that the pillows felt on the head ...
“No, no, no, it's VR, VR, VR!” Haruyuki exclaimed mentally and replied:
- B-but why such complicated settings? .. Why not just make a transparent wall around the
site so that no one falls?
- As a child, I hated invisible walls in 3D games.
- Well ... I didn't like them either ...
"Are you good there, Haruyuki?" Asked another voice as he spoke to Foucault, drowning in
her arms.
"Yes, how ... Oh, oh," Haruyuki winced and froze.
To Foucault's side was Kuroyukihime in a dress a la black swallowtail. She kept her hands on
the handle of the parasol umbrella, as if on the handle of a blade, and although her smile was not
really icy yet, it was only one step away from the dangerous level.
- ABOUT? Sattyan, do you want to hold him too? Foucault asked.
Kuroyukihime snorted, turned away and said:
“I have less soft matter compared to you. He will not be so pleased in my arms.
“Uh… but you can customize the avatar as you like…” Haruyuki blurted out.
Kuroyukihime's left hand rushed towards him like lightning, and squeezed the snout tightly.
- Haruyuki. You, of course, are a guy, but you have to understand how sad a girl's soul is
when her avatar's breasts are larger than real.
- Aha ... - he nervously nodded with a pinched snout.
There were chuckles all around. He noticed that in addition to Utai and Niko, who entered at
the same time as him, Shihoko, Satomi and Yume from Petit Paket had already appeared, as well
as many others. Even on the lips of the unflappable Rui, Pard and Akira in the form of an otter,
faint smiles appeared.
Blushing deeply, Kuroyukihime let go of the piglet, and Fouko carried Haruyuki to the front
of the platform and put him in the teacher's chair.
Meanwhile, avatars continued to appear in the virtual space. First, two other “Triplexes” of
the former Prominence: Cassis Moose as a man in a black suit with a deer head and Thistle
Porcupine as a girl in a red dress with a porcupine head. Then the charming singer in a red bolero
hat and miniskirt is Blaise Hart.
Takumu appeared in the form of an old-fashioned robot and an avatar belonging to Trilid in
the form of an aristocrat of the Heian era in heavy robes, a high hat and mask. The very last to
appear was ... some kind of animal of one meter height, dressed in a long blue kimono and wide
black pants. In general, it resembled Akira's otter, but differed in a narrower muzzle. Perhaps a
marten?
Who is this? .. Haruyuki wondered, turning his head.
The marten walked up to the pulpit, rustling her long kimono, looked at Haruyuki, and a grin
appeared on her mustachioed face.
- What is your virtual image, student? Pretty cute.
- Ah ... master! Haruyuki shouted involuntarily.
Only now he looked closely at the kimono and noticed that it has a slight purple hue, like a
cornflower.
As the newest addition to the ranks of Neg Nebula, Seri Suzukawa found herself on the back
of a flying whale for the first time, but was not in the least frightened. She quietly turned around
and surveyed the assembled avatars.
- So what, Crowe? Can't you introduce me?
- Ah ... Exactly, Trilid and Prominence's legionnaires have not heard of you, except Rain and
Pard ... Meet, this is Centorea Sentry, she joined the Legion today.
- What ?! Shouted Cassis Moose and Thistle Porcupine, leaping back instinctively - so far
they were thrown off the platform.
Haruyuki silently prayed for the two avatars sliding down the smooth body of the whale.
The meeting began as soon as the two from Prominence returned to the platform.
Kuroyukihime greeted the Legion, which had gathered in full force for the first time in two
days, then passed the word to "child." Since they did not use acceleration, the meeting could not
last long. Haruyuki had to not only tell about the captivity of Silver Crow and the words of the
White Queen, but also to do it quickly.
Blinking his eyes for a second and ordering his thoughts, he spoke from the pulpit, addressing
his comrades in the Legion.
Seven minutes passed.
Haruyuki ended the story with the following words:
“Maybe it’s not entirely correct to talk about it just now… but the White Queen could lie
partially or completely about Tezcatlipoca and the Accelerated World. We need to make plans
based on the fact that she may be trying to manipulate us with words ...
“Hmm ... I totally agree,” Kuroyukihime responded, walking up to him and whispering in his
ear: “Well done, Crow.
Then she turned to the others and took the floor:
- White Cosmos would not share information, not expecting to receive any benefit for
it. Remember that often words for her are a tool for managing people ... But at the same time, I
don't see any contradictions between her story and our knowledge.
Foucault and Parde nodded.
The White Queen said Tezcatlipoca is a tool to destroy the world. And those who personally
encountered the monstrous power of the giant could no longer say that the Cosmos was
exaggerating.
The tense silence was broken by the lazy voice of the only Burst Linker who did not
participate in the battle - Centorea Sentry:
- Tezcatlipoca ... So that's what was hiding inside the burning ball, - a marten in a kimono
approached the pulpit, folded her arms over her chest and continued: - But is there any point in
discussing the meaning of Tezcatlipoca? Now that he has already got out, this is the tenth
case. We must not solve the riddles of the Accelerated World, but save the kidnapped Crow.
“I totally agree,” said Blaise Hart of the former Prominence.
She was a member of “Heliosphere” - one of two or three musical groups of the Accelerated
World, and had not only a charming appearance, but also an indomitable fiery character. On one
occasion, she even broke the truce between the Legions and attacked the Suginami.
During the meeting the day before yesterday, she publicly announced that she had not
forgiven Kuroyukihime for the death of Red Ryder. Surely, deep down, she still disagreed with
the unification of Neg Nebulas and Prominens, but right now there was no hint of this in her
words:
“Our ultimate goal is to defeat the White Queen and her henchmen so that the Oscillatori and
the Acceleration Research Society will pay for their sins and can no longer poison the life of the
Accelerated World. But without Silver Crow, we will not do this. Let's quickly save him to move
on to the next stage!
- Right! Niko exclaimed, banging her fist against her palm.
Her fairytale prince-like avatar stepped forward.
- No matter how powerful this Enemi is, the road to ordinary dueling fields and battles for
territory is closed for him. As soon as we get Crow back, the Six ... or rather, the Five Legions
will be able to attack White territory together and finish them off. But first, let's figure out how
to get it out!
Niko spoke like a real Queen, inspiring vassals to feats. Cheers of approval were heard from
all sides.
As soon as they were quiet, Takumu's voice, cold-blooded but deeply full of emotion, came
from somewhere behind.
“Basically, we only have one chance to do this,” Haruyuki's friend stood up to share his
opinion. “Defeating Tezcatlipoca in a fair battle is almost impossible. Any mistake - and besides
Crow, there will be someone else in endless extermination ... perhaps we all will. But
Tezcatlipoca is dangerous not only for us, but also for the White Legion.
- Got it! Shouted Chiyuri, who looked like a girl with cat ears. “We just need to dispel the
taming! After that, Tezcatlipoca will stop following the White Queen's orders, and Crow will be
able to escape!
“Yes, exactly,” Takumu agreed, and then began a tone lower. - But ...
Trilid said instead:
“To free Tezcatlipoca, we must destroy the wreaths of Radiance. But not only are there six,
they are all protected from fire and physical damage in the manner of Inti's wreath ...
The meeting participants began to talk quietly.
Indeed, after the destruction of the wreaths, Tezcatlipoca would cease to obey the White
Queen. In addition, as experience suggested, Enemi needs at least three seconds to recover after
the end of taming. This would be enough for Haruyuki to get out of the affected area at full
speed.
But, as Lead said, it won't be easy to destroy the wreaths, because they are reinforced by a
blacksmith. Haruyuki had to learn the Omega-style precisely because otherwise he would not
have broken Inchi's wreath. How can they now break six wreaths at once, protected from fire and
physical damage?
“I think they are not too vulnerable to electricity and cold,” said Foucault, who was standing
next to the pulpit in the form of a teacher. Several avatars nodded. “If so, we only have one thing
to do: attack them with Incarnation. It didn't work against Inti, because he burned both the
Enhanced Equipment and any avatar that approached him, but Tezcatlipoca has no passive
damage. If we jump quickly and break the wreaths in one blow ...
“But, Raker,” the marten jumped onto the pulpit, took a smoking pipe out of her kimono and
swung it at it like a sword. - If an object is invulnerable to physical damage, then it is difficult to
destroy it even with Incarnation. Moreover, I understood that we need to break six wreaths at the
same time. Do we have six really strong swordsmen?
“There's definitely one,” said Kuroyukihime, tapping the top of her umbrella on the platform.
All silently looked at her.
`` N-no, senpai! Shouted Haruyuki.
Several other people supported him. The general opinion was expressed by Foucault,
switching to an edifying tone:
“Lotus, the whole point of attacking Inti was to get you out of endless annihilation. If you get
into it again now, it will be a vicious circle.
- So I just need not to get into it. I've already seen Tezcatlipoca's gravitational attack, he won't
catch me off guard again.
- No-and-and-and for what! Shouted Haruyuki. “There shouldn't be a King among the six
swordsmen!
- Ooh ... - Kuroyukihime stretched out resentfully, still not wanting to agree.
Dressed as a priestess, Utai gently stroked her back. Deciding that the sympathy of the
youngest legionnaire would help convince even the Black Queen, Haruyuki breathed a sigh of
relief. Suddenly, a loud male voice was heard:
- So, "Conqueror" ... Blue Knight, too, delete?
The prickly Cassis Moose, wearing shiny leather shoes, walked up to the pulpit and
continued:
- The best swordsman of Promi is Lavender Down, nicknamed "The Tranquilizer" ... but I
don't know if she has enough Incarnation to cut through her invulnerability to physical
damage. If we talk about other Legions, then the “Duals” of the Leonids, Viridian Decurion of
Greveau and Platinum Cavalier of Oscillatori immediately come to mind ... but he, of course,
does not count. Who else?..
Cassis Moose hummed, arms folded across his chest. Spiked Thistle Porcupine intervened at
once.
- Yes, we have three more swordsmen literally before our eyes!
First of all, she pointed to a Heian aristocrat wearing a porcelain mask. Indeed, Trilid
Tetrooxide was perfect for this role. Even if he was not famous enough to have a nickname, he
possessed the artifact "Infinity" and the powerful Incarnation "Heavenly Plexus". Haruyuki
rightfully considered him one of the strongest swordsmen among his acquaintances.
However, Thistle then pointed ...
On the one who proposed to destroy the wreaths.
- A ... What? Takumu froze, his eyes wide.
“Don’t deny it, Pyle, I saw it this morning,” Thistle said in her almost ultrasonic voice. - How
you waved the sword you took from Crowe - just mortality! You, of course, mainly pound
enemies with a Pile driver, but your true calling is to be a swordsman!
“Oh yeah, I borrowed Takum's Clearblade. I wonder what came of it? " Haruyuki mused as
Takumu retorted nervously.
- N-no, my vocation is to fight with a Pile-driver ... I hardly own an Incarnation either - I can
only create a sword, nothing more.
- And that's enough! Thistle snapped, then pointed to the marten next to Haruyuki. “Finally,
you, Centorea Sentri, or“ Ruthless, ”or“ Asura, ”or“ Omega-Vepon ”!" I have a mountain of
questions for you - for example, where have you been and since when have you been in Negaby but the main thing is that you are definitely one of the strongest swordsmen of the Accelerated
World. So take this three, add Kobamaga and Decurion - and the squad is assembled!
The Trinity of Petit Paquet, Chiyuri and Rin applauded with delight. Haruyuki also had time
to agree that such a unit should cope, but then ...
- So, wait, - Seri knocked out the pipe into the silver ashtray, then pointed with this saucer at
Lida and Takuma. “As for these newcomers, I will personally check them ... But I don't like that
you want to take the Duals and Decurion.
- ABOUT? Why then? Asked Kuroyukihime.
“The Cobamaga use Blue Knight's Endless Style, don't they? - the marten shrugged. “As far
as I know, Knight is extremely cautious about Incarnation. If he taught his officers to use it, then
most likely only the first level.
- And the truth ... - agreed Kuroyukihime. - Knight especially hates the dark side of the
Incarnation.
Foucault and Akira nodded.
Then Seri explained that she was not satisfied with the second “Bastion” of Great Wall:
“As for Decurion… He is, of course, a strong swordsman and master of Incarnation, but he
will not show himself on this mission. His style, like that of Green Grande, is based on
counterattacks.
- Ah ... - Foucault stretched understandingly.
Seri nodded and continued:
- All Decurion attacks start with a shield in his off hand. Parry, strike, parry, strike - he enters
the rhythm and only then finishes off the enemy with a powerful blow. I've never seen him attack
with full force at the start of a battle.
No one, of course, could argue with the words of Sentry - perhaps the oldest Burst Linker in
this congregation. The silence was broken only by the whistling of the wind.
“But…” Utai finally said, “do we have someone to replace them with?
Seri moved her narrow muzzle.
- Deerhead just mentioned Lavender Down. It's news to me that she has joined the Red
Legion ... but Tranquilizer is perfect for the role of the fourth swordsman.
- W-what? - Cassis Moose was amazed. - Our modest and inconspicuous Lavi is actually a
swordsman stronger than Kobamaga and Dekurion ?!
- Lavi? - Seri grinned. - Are you a fan of her?
- Y-you misunderstood!
- Okay it does not matter. If this Lavender is what I think of, then it is an order of magnitude
stronger than Kobamaga. Arrange an urgent meeting for me. As for the fifth ... - Seri's gaze
moved to Foucault. “There was once a guy in the Oval of Aurora ... called the Coolest Name in
History. Is he still alive?
- Coolest name? Foucault frowned. - Krikin? I think Lotus mentioned him recently ...
Glances gathered again on Kuroyukihime. She nodded, but somehow uncertainly.
- Yes, I ... saw him six months ago. Until then, I believed that Cricin had lost his glasses, but
it turned out that he simply moved from Tokyo for family reasons.
- Clear. Disappeared due to relocation. After all, both duels and a real hunt for Enemi happen
only in Tokyo and the surrounding area ... Usually such burst linkers gradually use up the entire
supply of points, but you say Crickin is still holding on?
- Yes. He lives in the house of his niece, either straight or cousin. I made a “child” out of her,
and she chose her own. So the three of them are hunting Enemi little by little.
- Ha-ha-ha, - Seri laughed, - this is stubbornness. I recognize Cricin.
"Ah ..." Haruyuki said timidly. - Who is Krikin? I think I have already heard about the
"Coolest name in history", but for some reason I do not remember it ...
Foucault, standing behind Seri, smiled and replied:
- Raven-san, when we united with Prominens, you fought against a man with a similar
nickname.
- What? Ah, Almost the Coolest Name in History! Iodyne Steralizer! Haruyuki exclaimed,
recalling the events of three days ago. - Yes, exactly, you yourself told me that Iodyne once
fought with someone for the title of the bearer of the coolest name in history, but lost and
became “Almost the coolest”. It turns out ... that it was Cricin who defeated him and became the
Coolest Name in History?
Foucault and Seri nodded at the same time. However, suddenly, from the crowd of burst
linkers, the incredulous voice of Yuruki Yume or Plum Flipper, the former legionnaire of Petit
Paquet, was heard:
- But it seems to me that Krikin is not such a cool name.
Her neighbors Mint Mitten and Chocolate Papetta - also known as Mito Satomi and Nago
Shihoko - nodded in unison.
The veteran Burst Linkers laughed in unison. When the laughter died down, Pard, who was
standing right next to the three, took the floor:
- Crickin is just a contraction. Real name - Crimson Kingbolt.
"Wow. This is a really cool name. Maybe even cooler than Ayodain's, ”Haruyuki said, but a
disgruntled voice came from the crowd again, and from the very middle.
- I understand everything ... - Niko took a couple of steps forward, snapping her boots, and
looked at Seri at the chair. - But I already heard about this your Krikin. They say he was
considered the most powerful ranged avatar of the Accelerated World prior to my arrival. Let's
not argue, the most or not the most, but the emphasis on long-range weapons should mean
weakness in close combat. Does he even know how to fight with a sword?
“Right point,” agreed Kuroyukihime, who was standing to the left of the pulpit (from
Haruyuki’s point of view) and developed the question: “I fought several times both along with
Krikin and against him. In each battle, he used only ranged attacks, both in his normal form and
after transforming into a robot. Sentry, are you sure you're not confusing him with anyone?
"Into a robot ...?" Asked Haruyuki, but never heard an answer.
“So Lotus,” Seri pointed her pipe at Kuroyukihime. - If I use old-fashioned expressions, it
does not mean that I have senile insanity. Naturally, I don't confuse him with anyone ... You see,
Krikin always had a complex.
- Complex? Such a merry fellow?
“Complexes are in the heart of every burst linker,” Seri said gloomily.
Kuroyukihime fell silent and lowered her eyes.
Indeed, every duel avatar is born of moral trauma. Therefore, with each acceleration, the burst
linker has to face its own shortcomings and its weaknesses. Even the owners of beautiful, strong
avatars are no exception to this rule.
The silence was broken by Seri's quiet voice:
“Krikin made an inhuman effort to find my home in an unlimited neutral field. He stood in
front of its gates and waited for me for ages. When we finally met, he revealed what worried
him. It turns out that Krikin always believed that something was missing from his robo-form.
- Lacks? With all its firepower?
- Yes. The fact is ... that the traditional weapon of huge Japanese humanoid robots is a giant
sword. You can have lasers, missiles, and cannons, but if you do not have a giant sword, you
cannot consider yourself an elite robot. At least that's what he told me, shedding burning man's
tears.
Silence reigned again.
Five seconds later, Kuroyukihime turned to Foucault.
- Raker, where is the southwest?
- What? Ah ... I adjusted Thalassa so that she was flying due to the west, so ... over there.
- Thank you.
Kuroyukihime turned in the direction Foucault had indicated, took a deep breath, arching her
back, and ...
- What-oh-oh-oh for-a-a-a bre-e-e-ed ?! Krikin, you idiot! You are a round idio-oh-oh-ohfrom !!!
After Seri's words, she urgently wanted to sit down, so Foucault created several virtual chairs
and distributed drinks. After a short pause, the meeting continued.
Seri, who was sitting in the pulpit next to Haruyuki, sipped tea from a miniature cup and
returned to the story of Crimson Kingbolt:
- That's how it turned out. Of course, I also decided that Krikin was an idiot and refused to
take him as an apprentice, but I taught how to turn a ranged weapon into a sword using
Incarnation. Changing the shape of the Enhanced Equipment is just the first level, “Increased
Impact Power,” so anyone can master this Incarnation on their own with enough time and
effort. In fact, I thought that Crickin would not succeed ... but after a few months he came to me
again and showed what he had learned. He turned all of his robot's equipment into a giant sword
and in one blow he shattered one of the damn solid buildings in Demon City. True, it took so
much effort that he froze as if stunned, and then he was thoroughly beaten by Enemi, who
flocked to the smell of Incarnation ... But the point is that this power should be enough to break
the crown of Radiance. Moreover, in an unlimited neutral field, no one will prevent him from
calmly collecting trash to turn into a robot. Therefore, I think Crickin is a good choice for the
role of the fifth swordsman.
Seri's long story came to an end. This time, Kuroyukihime still nodded and agreed:
“I see… If he was able to cut through the building of the Demon City, then he would certainly
succeed. Only he now lives in Okinawa. It is not enough just to send him a message to come and
help us.
The assembled burst linkers sighed in unison.
Although in the forties of the twenty-first century, supersonic stratospheric spacecraft already
fly between the capitals of different countries, in inland directions, including Tokyo-Naha,
passengers are still carried by traditional jet liners. Haruyuki decided to look for tickets just in
case. It turned out that the flight takes two and a half hours and even low-cost airlines cost at
least twenty thousand yen [✱] More than 14 thousand rubles for the time of transfer. for a round
trip ticket. Indeed, this is not the distance and not the money for Cricin to quickly agree to come.
However, Haruyuki then remembered how he had fought the Dusk Taker three months earlier.
During that battle, Kuroyukihime was in Okinawa as part of a school trip, but she also took
part in the decisive battle, covering a huge distance right on an unlimited neutral field. Most
likely, the meeting with Crimson Kingbolt also occurred at the time of that trip. Why not do the
same again?
- Maybe ... Cricin will get to Tokyo across an unlimited neutral field? Haruyuki suggested
timidly.
“Um,” Kuroyukihime stretched out next to the pulpit. “I thought about it myself… but to get
out of Okinawa, you have to somehow get across the sea. And even if he makes it to Kyushu, it
will take him many days or months to reach Tokyo ...
“What if he tames the flying Enemi like the Cavalier did? Foucault asked.
Kuroyukihime grunted again.
- There are indeed flying Enemi in Okinawa, which can be ridden, but they can only be tamed
with rare Enhancement Equipment. I had it, so I was able to fly here on Enemi, but even this
flight took thirty hours. And on the way, I still had to fight off flying monsters - however, they
were mostly of the Small Class, so I coped alone, but a flock of such Enemi can kill even a
veteran.
“Sorry…” Rin suddenly raised her hand, whose avatar wore torn jeans and a leather jacket
that had no living space from rivets. But even a punk costume could not add courage to a timid
girl. "The rest of the Legions support this operation, right?"
Kuroyukihime and Foucault exchanged glances, then nodded in unison.
“At least they should,” Foucault replied, being Rin's “parent”. - I think that even Yellow
Radio is not such a scoundrel to leave Raven-san in trouble, who made the largest contribution to
his salvation.
“If so, why not divide the price of Cricin’s travel across all Legions?” If it costs thirty
thousand per living, then it is enough for a hundred people to invest three hundred yen each ...
And we can afford it ... no? ..
- Hmm. What can I say ... You, of course, are right ... - Foucault nodded, but her voice
sounded extremely uncertain. “Moreover, when we were planning an attack on Tokyo's Midtown
Tower last month, someone also suggested we rent a hotel room on the upper floors and dive into
an unlimited neutral field from there. Yes, I remembered, that time the question was also about
thirty thousand. But we rejected the idea. Throughout the history of the Accelerated World, burst
linkers disdained bypassing in-game difficulties with the help of money, compulsory
contributions from legionnaires and using acceleration to earn money ...
“Because even behind the strongest veterans and warriors, schoolchildren of the junior and
middle grades are hiding,” Seri reminded, making everyone breathe. - Of course, among the
burst linkers there were always those who tried to make money with the help of acceleration, but
usually it ended in failure. Perhaps it’s better not to touch Krikin ...
"I could fly after him ..." Haruyuki thought involuntarily.
Of course, because of the endless extermination, he would have failed, but had it not been for
him, Silver Crow could have flown to Okinawa, put Krimson Kingobolt on his back and bring
him to Tokyo. On the way, he probably would have run out of energy, but he would have called
on the power of Metatron and flew all 1,500 kilometers between Naha and Tokyo, never landing
...
- Ah ... - he suddenly gasped, dumbfounded by this thought.
Seri, Kuroyukihime and Foucault immediately looked at him.
Haruyuki looked around them and explained:
“I just… thought Metatron could easily fly to Okinawa and back. She once spoke about flying
to Mount Fuji in such a tone as if she could just spit it ...
- Metatron? - confusion appeared on the marten's face. "Is that the name of some Burst Linker
in our Legion?"
“Oh, yes, master, you haven't met her yet. No, this is not a duel avatar, but Saint Metatron, the
final boss of the dungeon under Shiba Park. There is a long history, but now it is, in fact, in Nega
Neboulas.
Seri goggled for a few seconds, then smiled.
- Clearly, that explains a lot. So are you Bound Crowe?
- "Tied up"? What does it mean?
“It doesn't matter now. So can you summon Saint Metatron's true body anywhere in the
unlimited neutral field? Then why would we send her for Krikin when she can easily replace him
herself?
Seri's words baffled all Burst Linkers, including Foucault and Kuroyukihime. Haruyuki
himself was speechless for a second, but then he waved his hooves.
“B-but how? Metatron has no sword at all! And I don't think she owns the Incarnation ...
“I'll lend her the sword. And as for Incarnation, all the Saints, not to mention the more
powerful Enemi, in fact, own the third level, because they have access to the highest level.
Haruyuki gasped loudly. Locked in the Imperial Castle, Graphite Edge, a lecture on the third
level of Incarnation flashed through his memory. As the story progressed, Metatron inserted a
comment: Third level incarnation is a direct intervention in the highest level.
If she deeply understands the principle of work of the Incarnation, then for sure she can use it
herself. However, before appointing Metatron as the fifth swordsman, there is another snag to
deal with.
"Uh, this is the case ..." Haruyuki said carefully, trying not to accidentally establish a mental
connection with the Saint. - During the battle with the White Legion, Metatron lost her
information body, retaining only the core, so with Foucault's permission, she went into deep
hibernation in her Air Hut. If I call her, she will wake up, but I would like to first wait for her to
recover.
- Hmm, - Seri tried to say something else, but then the firm voice of Kuroyukihime was heard:
“I fully support you, Crowe. Metatron has saved my Legion more than once, so I don’t want
to demand the impossible from her again, even if for the sake of your salvation.
- Of course! Haruyuki nodded.
- Crow, when exactly will she recover? - Seri spoke again.
- A? Well ... The day before last night she said she needed three days ... so tomorrow is closer
to sunset.
“Oh, then that's not a problem. It will still take us time to prepare.
- A…
Indeed, they still need to gather six swordsmen, discuss the attack plan with them and select
the legionnaires for the support squad. Whatever one may say, they will not save Silver Crow
today. It is possible that even counting on tomorrow is too optimistic.
Haruyuki nodded, Seri nodded and twirled the phone in her hand.
“So the fifth swordsman will be Saint Metatron. There remains one more to find ... and it will
obviously be him.
Usually, at such moments, Haruyuki's spinal reflex worked, and he asked: "Who is this?" But
now the answer to that question was all too obvious. No one has yet pronounced the name of the
most famous swordsman of the Accelerated World.
Kuroyukihime and Foucault sighed in unison - they probably guessed from the very beginning
that this candidate would have to be discussed. Haruyuki was in no hurry to say anything,
intending to give them the first word, but then another voice rang out from front to right.
- You mean my teacher ... "Anomaly" Graphite Edge?
- ABOUT? - Seri was surprised at Trilid's words. - Did the Count have students besides
Lotus? Do you also own the Ainu style, Trilid?
“No…” Trilid shook his head and looked down. “Because I haven't learned to fight with two
blades.
- Hm? But in the Ainu style there are techniques for one sword.
- Yes, and the teacher also talked about this, but still the essence of the Ainu style is precisely
in the possession of two blades. I am trying to master one perfectly.
- Um, I see. However, since such a thing, the Count will certainly agree to join our
detachment. He will not allow the disciple of the first generation to save the disciple of the
second without his participation.
"Generations?" Haruyuki was puzzled, but quickly realized that the second generation student
was himself. First of all, the Ainu style and manner of fighting with two blades was inherited by
Kuroyukihime, and Haruyuki was not only a “child” to her, but also a student, so Graphite Edge
really was like a great teacher. But does this mean that Haruyuki will also have to fight with two
blades to truly master the Ainu style?
He glanced sideways at Kuroyukihime, but she only pursed her lips, looking into the distance
- perhaps into her past. Haruyuki didn't dare to distract her.
"However ..." Trilid's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. “It won't be easier to enlist the
support of my teacher… no, much more difficult than Metatron. We have to deal with a serious
obstacle.
- What is it?
After a little hesitation, Trilid straightened his back and replied:
“The Graphite Edge is locked inside the Imperial Castle right now.
Chapter 7
Waking up from a complete immersion, Haruyuki stared mindlessly at the unfamiliar plank
ceiling. It took him a while to remember that he was in Utai's room.
Taking a deep breath, he checked the time. Eight minutes past five. The full immersion lasted
a little over one hour, but it seemed that all three. Although, can you call a “dive” meeting on the
back of a flying whale? Who came up with the idea that people “dive” and “dive” into the virtual
world? ..
Haruki thought about his own until the fingers of Utai, who was lying next to him, suddenly
tapped on the covers.
“UI> Ku-san”.
She named him "Ku-san" instead of "Arita". Haruyuki waited a few seconds, but there was no
continuation, so he had to turn his head.
Utai stared at the ceiling through the chat window, a serene light in her eyes. After a while,
she slowly typed:
"UI> Do you remember when the two of us ended up in the Imperial Castle?"
- Yes of course.
How could he forget the operation to rescue Ardor Maiden, sealed by the god Suzaku at the
southern gate of the Imperial Castle? On the eighteenth of June this year, Haruyuki, with the help
of Sky Raker, accelerated to the maximum (for those times) speed, flew over the bridge and
grabbed Ardor Maiden, but could not escape from the enraged Suzaku. He could only run
through the southern gate.
This is how Haruyuki first entered the Imperial Castle, where he met Trilid Tetraoxide and
revealed many secrets. More than a month had passed since then, but he could still remember in
every detail how beautifully the maple leaves of the Heian Age level fell in the castle courtyard.
Utai seemed to understand that he remembered everything, and continued:
"UI> There you saw me using the fourth quadrant ... Incarnation of destruction."
- Yeah.
This scene also remained a bright spot in my memory. When they were attacked by a
powerful guardian Enemi, Utai turned the floor beneath his feet into a lake of lava. She mastered
this nightmarish technique to ...
“You said you created it ... to fight Genbu.
“UI> Yes. It's time to use it to its full potential, ”Utai typed emphatically and clenched her
fists as if trying to cheer herself up. And there is. It was decided at the meeting that at ten
tonight, Nega Neboulas, with the support of the other Legions, would challenge Genbu, the
defender of the north gate of the Imperial Castle.
The goal of this battle is nothing more than the rescue of the Graphite Edge locked in the
Castle. They were not going to defeat God, but simply to immobilize him enough so that the
Count could run across the bridge over the moat. However, this task is by no means easy. Genbu
is considered the most armored of the Four Gods. Even the blades of the Earl, often referred to as
the strongest swordsman of the Accelerated World, failed to cut through his shell.
That is why their main weapon will have to be Utai, who long ago developed a special
Incarnation to fight Genbu.
However, when the girl used the fourth quadrant technique inside the Imperial Castle, she
could not stand the stress and fainted. And now she was required to create a lake much
larger. Haruyuki couldn't even imagine what a monstrous burden awaits her soul.
He wanted to help her. I wanted to stand next to her when she uses the strongest negative
Incarnation, and protect her with his positive. But alas, Haruyuki was in endless extermination
on the balcony of the Grand Castle and could not take part in the battle with Genbu.
He had never felt so helpless before. Hands themselves grabbed the coverlet.
So this is how it feels to be in endless annihilation! Because of him, he could not help his
friends, who faced a difficult battle on an unlimited neutral field - the most important in the
Accelerated World. Probably, this is how Utai, Akira and Kuroyukihime felt, being held captive
by Suzaku, Seiryu and “Sun God Inti”, respectively.
It was only now that Haruyuki was really impressed by the grave danger he was in.
Friends will try to save him either tomorrow night or the day after tomorrow morning. If they
fail, then the White Legion will certainly take action, and then escape will indeed become
impossible. Haruyuki would be cut off from the unlimited neutral field for weeks, months ...
maybe even years, as happened with Utai and Akira. Yes, Silver Crow will still duel and defend
the lands of the Legion on weekends, but he will no longer be able to hunt Enemi with friends,
talk with them about all sorts of trifles, admiring the magnificent scenery, and fly around the vast
world without bumping into the borders of war zones. ...
And the worst thing is that he will not be able to be with his friends when they are in mortal
danger.
He felt like crying with fear and vexation, but then ...
"Hey, Haruyuki, move here too," he heard a voice and turned his head.
Niko hugged Utai from her side and held her tightly to her.
- Uh ... Why should I move to you? ..
- Just do what I do!
Haruyuki would have refused, but Niko was the chief officer of the Neg Nebulas, and Utai
didn't seem to mind. Determined, he turned to the side and took Utai's shoulder over Niko's arm.
The palm felt vibration.
Utai shivered. The little girl, half the size of Haruyuki, shivered as if from cold. She didn't
clench her fists for courage. She was just trying to control the shaking.
After her return to Nega Neboulas, Sinomiya Utai quietly became the main moral support of
the rest of the legionnaires. She always smiled and found warm words that helped her friends
find courage in themselves.
But she was only ten years old. While you can often hear that high-level linkers have mental
age far ahead of physical age, this does not mean that they lose their emotions. Just because they
know how to deal with fear doesn't mean they don't.
Three years ago, Utai was unable to defeat Suzaku. Most likely, she still remembers that
battle in every detail. If the Incarnation let Ardor Maiden fail tonight during the battle with
Genbu, then not only she, but also her comrades will be in endless extermination.
Little Utai shivered under the weight of responsibility. Surely, sometimes she also wanted to
cry and be weak. But she lost her “parent” both in the Accelerated World and in the real one. Just
a year after Mirror Musker, aka Shinomiya Kyoyi, made Utai his "child", he was crushed by a
huge mirror in the theater's mirrored room, and he died right in front of his sister. Because of
this, she lost her voice.
Utai said that Kyoya was four years older than her. This means that now he would be a second
grader of high school and the same age as Haruyuki. But Haruyuki couldn't replace Kyoyu. He
could not give her what his brother did.
But let it be so ...
Haruyuki slightly tightened his hand on Utai's shoulder. Although she had recently left the
bathroom, the body under the yukata cloth seemed to be frozen through. He gathered all his
strength, trying to at least share warmth with the trembling girl.
“Listen, Ui…” Niko suddenly whispered from the opposite side. “Yes, it’s true that you’ll be
the only key fighter tonight… but you don’t have to take on all the responsibility, all the stress
and all that crap. When your burden is too heavy, give it to others. The good Legion will
definitely help you with her.
Niko was telling the truth.
When Haruyuki was infected with the Disaster Armor, he tried to deal with it on his own. But
Takumu, Chiyuri, Kuroyukihime, Fouko ... and Utai extended their helping hands and helped
him not to break under the weight of the Armor.
“I… I will carry it with you. Even though I cannot participate in the battle with Genbu, I will
sit next to the accelerated Shinomiya and begin to transfer my power to her ...
Of course, the Brain Burst system will not allow Haruyuki to interfere in any way with events
taking place on an unlimited neutral field from the real world, even if he connects with a cable to
Utai's neurolinker. He won't even be able to cheer her up with words. But there must be a
connection between them that goes beyond the system. Haruyuki believed that.
Utai's body gradually warmed up under the veil, and the tremors subsided. The girl gradually
unclenched her fists and put her hand on the keyboard, visible only to her.
The chat window reopened before my eyes.
“UI> Niko, Ku-san…” text appeared in pink.
In the next instant, there was a loud knock, and the three turned their heads in
unison. Haruyuki thought it was Shiomi, and was about to remove his hand from Utai's shoulder,
but did not have time.
The door was thrown open and someone entered with a wide step, casting a disapproving
glance at the trio.
- I thought it would happen!
“Ah… S-senpai ?! Haruyuki exclaimed as Kuroyukihime leaned towards him.
He saw her quite recently - literally this morning in his apartment. And now she was here,
together with Foucault.
- And the teacher? .. But how ?!
Foucault smiled slyly and replied:
“Uiui told us that Raven-san and Nico are spending the night with her.
Haruyuki turned his head. Utai, without getting up, erased her previous message and wrote
another:
“UI> An important battle begins tonight and will last until tomorrow, so I figured Sattin must
know where you are. But I didn’t think she would come, especially with Fu. ”
“It is my duty as a commander to see that my legionnaires behave in a proper manner.
"Decent ...?" Haruyuki muttered.
"Raven-san," Foucault smiled. - What you are doing now is an undoubted violation of the
rules of decency.
Haruyuki really didn’t come up with any excuses for being covered with Utai and Niko. To
make matters worse, footsteps were heard in the hallway again, this time measured and clearly
belonging to Siomi. He immediately jumped out from under the covers and sat on the pillow.
Soon the housekeeper appeared at the door, holding a tray. She glanced around at what was
happening in the room and knitted her eyebrows a little.
“Lady Utai, I remember your new visitors because they came to you several years ago. I also
understand that the young lady and the young gentleman are also your acquaintances. But could
you please clarify your relationship?
This question was to be expected. If the sixth grader Niko could still pass for the same age as
Utai, then Haruyuki was in the second grade of high school, Kuroyukihime - in the third, and
Fouko - in general in high school. It would seem that nothing could unite them and Utai. How,
then, to explain this acquaintance without talking about Brain Burst?
- Of course, Lady Utai is an exemplary girl, sometimes even unbearable, so I would like to
close my eyes to this, but alas - I am responsible for her to the master.
All the guests, including Haruyuki, froze in suspense, but Utai straightened her clothes, sat
down on the pillow and typed with a smile:
"UI> Aunt, all these people are my dear ..."
Her sentence lacked the last word. A dainty purple Neurolinker was visible around Siomi's
neck, so she had to see everything Utai wrote.
The girl removed the virtual keyboard with a wave of her left palm and put her hands on her
knees.
Then she straightened her back and took a deep breath.
Her lips trembled. The smile disappeared, and his breathing became rapid and choppy.
- Lady! - Shouted Siomi, rushing to Utai.
But she raised her hand to stop the housekeeper. Then she tapped her chest with the same
palm, as if pushing out something stuck in her throat.
“Uiui…” Foucault breathed, but she stayed where she was.
Niko and Kuroynezhka were also watching the girl with serious faces.
Utai gritted her teeth. Tear drops swelled in the corners of his eyes, rolled down and fell on
the yukata.
Soon after meeting Utai, Haruyuki decided to read about speech loss on the Web.
If it is associated with trauma, it is usually not called aphasia because aphasia is a complex
disorder that is caused by physical damage to the speech center in the brain. Utai stopped
speaking due to shock after seeing her brother Kyoi die, so her case did not seem to be related to
aphasia, but in exceptional cases, stress can still physically damage the brain. Since the doctors
decided to treat Utai with a chip implant, they probably saw some changes in the brain on the
tests. This meant that her syndrome was caused by an injury that could not be overcome by
volitional effort. And the girl herself knew about this better than anyone.
Despite this, she did not give up trying to speak.
The palms of his knees clenched into fists. Utai bent down slightly, breathing rapidly. Even
silent acceleration commands were given to her with great difficulty, and now she required even
more effort. Drops of tears and sweat fell one after another on the palms.
"Enough!" Haruyuki wanted to scream, but he held back with the last of his strength.
Time seemed to slow down. Ten seconds passed ... fifteen ... and finally ...
- D ... - there was a sound, inferior in volume even to the singing of cicadas outside the
window.
But it was a voice. It almost did not differ from the voice of Ardor Maiden from the
Accelerated World, except that it sounded even softer, even clearer ...
- p ... y ... sb ...
Squeezing three more letters out of herself, Utai hung her head as if from exhaustion and
rested her hands on the floor.
For a few more seconds she breathed noisily, coming to her senses. And then suddenly she
straightened up, put her hands on the keyboard again and typed confidently:
"UI> ... me!"
Although Haruyuki could clearly see the new message, the borders of the chat window
somehow blurred, turning into rainbows. He blinked a couple of times and felt warm drops on
his cheeks. Only then did he realize that there were tears in his eyes.
Haruyuki quickly wiped them away with his hand, then turned his head to see Shiomi
blinking hurriedly as well. Then she nodded slowly, smiled good-naturedly and said only one
word:
- I see.
Then she went to the table against the wall, put the glasses of iced tea on it, and stood up.
- If so, have a nice time.
With these words, the housekeeper left. And as soon as the sounds of her steps died down ...
- Wooey! - there was not even a cry, but a cry of Foucault.
She started from a standstill with such speed that smoke almost poured out from under the
heels, as from under the wheels of a racing car. Having flown up to Utai, Foucault deftly turned
around, fell back on the floor and hugged the girl tightly. The hand of her little friend, hanging in
the air, was pounding with all her might on the virtual keyboard:
“UI> Fu, tf mknya dshtshb”.
Haruyuki, Niko and Kuroyukihime smiled together through their tears.
For dinner, Shiomi cooked sukiyaki.
She usually cooked for one Utai and went home by five, but today she had to stay an hour to
feed five people. Of course, the guests helped as best they could, but the housekeeper worked so
skillfully that the efforts of the schoolchildren changed little.
After a noisy supper around a large pot and washing dishes, Kuroyukihime and Foucault also
took a bath. After that, Kuroyukihime chose a black yukata with white streaks, while Foucault
chose a white one with a blue hexagonal pattern [✱] In fact, this ornament depicts cannabis
leaves, but it does not look at all like what you just imagined. If interested, copy to Google 麻
の 葉柄 and see the pictures. ... At about half past seven, all five sat down to do their summer
homework.
On the twenty-first, the first day of vacation, Haruyuki slept at Kuroyukihime's house. At his
22nd home, he had a massive party to celebrate the upcoming battle with Inti, which ended with
Seri, Rin and Kuroyukihime staying overnight there. Finally, today he was going to sleep at
Utai's. He practically doomed himself to a mockery: “You’re constantly sleeping with girls on
vacation!” from Chiyuri's side, so I decided to seriously advance with my homework, so that at
least there was something to justify.
Fortunately for Haruyuki, as soon as he faced difficulties, the "techie" Kuroyukihime and the
"humanist" Foucault came to the rescue, so he safely exceeded the daily plan.
The senior pupils not only dealt with their assignments, but also helped the junior pupils. The
work went quickly, but not for long - Kuroyukihime ordered to finish at exactly nine-thirty so
that the legionnaires would not get too tired before the start of an important battle.
It was only half an hour before her.
Foucault and Utai made tea, and Kuroyukihime took out the cookies she had brought with
her. Having replenished their reserves of energy, the legionnaires again removed the table and
laid out the one-and-a-half futons. In rokujo [✱] The Japanese room is just under 10 square
meters. The floor in it is laid out of six standard tatami, and the very name "rokujoma" means
"room for six tatami". there were only two of them, but Haruyuki decided that there was no
need for more, because only four girls were to plunge into the Accelerated World.
`` I'll sit here for now, '' he said to Utai, and sat down on a wooden stool in front of the desk,
but ...
“Haruyuki, you can lie down with us,” Kuroyukihime suddenly declared.
The rest of the girls nodded in unison, and there were no smiles on their faces now.
- But ... you yourself can hardly fit, but I still do not participate ...
“It will be calmer for us, Raven-san. I won't be able to fight normally, thinking about the fact
that you are looking at our faces, - explained Foucault.
“Yes, yes,” Niko assented, nodding at the same time as Utai. - If you do not participate, then
be with us at least in the real world.
“UI> There is no borderline between officers and privates in Nega Nebula!”
There were too many arguments to argue with. I had to get off the stool and go to the futons,
on which the girls were already sitting.
“L-okay, then I’m over the edge ...
Haruyuki tried to take up as little space as possible and lay down so that he was half hanging
from the futon.
Suddenly, Niko jumped over him with the ease of a dueling avatar and found herself between
Haruyuki and the wall. And then, with a battle cry, she pushed her shoulder. The blow was so
strong and unexpected that it rolled and landed in the gap between two futons.
- Ui, fix it!
"UI> Now!"
Niko and Utai instantly understood each other. The red-haired girl jumped on the right, the
dark-haired one on the left.
Haruyuki blinked dazedly, unable to move. He saw next to him the mocking smiles of Niko
and Utai, as well as Kuroyukihime's face, both amazed and condescending. Finally, the Legion
Commander clapped her hands and said:
- We start in five minutes. Utai, do you have a home server port in your room?
- Yes, on the bottom shelf.
Although the traditional Japanese house of the Shinomiya family could qualify for inclusion
in the cultural heritage register, it did have a certain amount of modern electronics. There was
indeed a small router with XSB ports on the bottom shelf. Kuroyukihime took five long cables
from her bag. First, she connected her neurolinker to her home server, and the others connected
the neurolinkers into a chain. Now it was enough for her alone to disconnect from the Network,
so that the others also left the game. The daisy chain and shutdown timer are absolutely essential
safety features when visiting an unrestricted neutral field.
- I will set a timer for three hours of internal time. That is, we will be automatically turned off
after ten whole eight-tenths of a second, regardless of whether we finish or not, ”said
Kuroyukihime and looked at Haruyuki, who was lying next to Niko. “Of course, we're not going
to sit there for ten seconds ... or rather, three hours. Trust in us, Haruyuki, and wait until we
return.
- Of course! He blurted out.
Kuroyukihime smiled and nodded, then lay down on the other side of Niko. Foucault is
located next to Utai. It remains only to wait ten hours. There are forty seconds left ... Thirty.
“Hey, Haruyuki. Just don't say “unlimited” out of habit, ”said Niko, who settled down beside
him.
“H-I won't, of course! - he assured in response. “Then I’ll die immediately!
- I just know your absent-mindedness.
There were chuckles on both sides. Haruyuki turned his head and saw that even Utai was
smiling broadly.
Fifteen seconds left.
“Good luck, Mei-san,” he whispered.
Utai nodded, still smiling.
- Okay. Nico, Utai, Foucault, diving into the count of three, ”Kuroyukihime announced,
overcoming her laughter.
Haruyuki again felt intense excitement at these words.
Couldn't he somehow support Utai ... and the rest of the battle with Genbu? Can he do more
than pray for their victory in the real world?
- I'm starting. One, two, three, unlimited burst!
The girls unanimously pronounced the command - however, Utai did it silently. At the same
moment, a thought was born in Haruyuki's head.
He came up with. Understood how Silver Crow, sealed in the Grand Castle of the Unlimited
Field, could help in the battle against Genbu.- Burst Link! Haruyuki commanded a second after
the girls.
Chapter 8
Haruyuki jumped out of his body like a pink piglet and found himself in the clear blue of the
initial accelerated field.
He bounced off the floor, then landed on his feet and turned around. On the spread out futons,
Kuroyukihime, Niko, himself, Utai and Foucault lay in a row with their eyes closed.
That in an unlimited neutral field, that in the initial accelerated time passes at the same speed,
a thousand times higher than the real one. However, Haruyuki sped up a second later, so
Kuroyukihime and the others had already spent about seventeen minutes in the Accelerated
World. Since they needed time to gather around the Imperial Castle and discuss tactics, the battle
hardly had time to begin, but Haruyuki still had no time to waste.
After a little thought, he slipped through the door of Utai's room and ran down the corridor,
clattering his hooves, heading for the exit from the house.
The Sinomiya family are hereditary actors of the Noh theater of the Kanjo school. There was
even a full-fledged theater on the vast territory of their home. It was there that Haruyuki ran. He
stopped to bow respectfully to the door, then slipped inside.
The Noh theater consists of a stage, a mirror and a bridge (which can be just a corridor)
between them. Right now, Haruyuki slipped into the mirrored room where the actors were
preparing to go on stage. The initial accelerated field is mainly formed on the basis of images
from social security cameras, but where they are not available, data from the built-in cameras of
neurolinkers come to the rescue - both actual and archived.
This is why the mirrored room looked exactly like reality, except for the ubiquitous blue. It
was a room about four by four meters, lined with boards on all sides. On the left was the door to
the stage, on the right was the door to the wardrobe, and in front was a high, two meters long,
mirror.
Haruyuki took a couple of steps and stopped in front of him.
Three years ago, this mirror shattered, falling on Shinomiya Kyoyu, Utai's older brother and
her “parent” in the Accelerated World. Sharp shards dug into his body and took away his
life. The tragedy left Utai speechless and repainted Ardor Maiden's pale pink skirt with crimson
blood.
The mirror remained a mirror even in the initial accelerated field. Haruyuki focused on the
image of the pig and spoke to the person who was probably standing behind somewhere behind
his reflection:
Kyoya ... Mirror Musker. I can't even imagine the depth of your longing.
I can't be your replacement. I cannot rid Utai of suffering in your place. But I ... really want to
help her.
Right now, she is preparing for the toughest battle of her life in the Accelerated World harder than fighting Suzaku three years ago. This time she understands the awesome power of
the Gods. She knows that she can fall into endless extermination, and still challenges the huge
Enemi, because she wants to save me from the captivity of the White Queen.
Therefore, I want to help her. I want to lighten her burden, at least a little. If your soul is still
here ... then please - teach me how to do this.
Haruyuki mentally turned to Mirror Musker, then bent his knees slightly, put his left hand in
front of him, and put his right hand on the hilt of an imaginary sword. Clenching his fists (as
much as possible to clench black hooves), he concentrated.
This method of connecting to the highest level helped him resurrect Centorea Sentri, Seri
Suzukawa's dueling avatar. However, that connection only lasted a moment, and now Haruyuki
was aiming for a permanent one. Until now, he went to the highest level with the help of
Metatron or after ten hours of training in an unlimited neutral field, but now he was faced with
the task of getting there on his own from the short-lived blue world.
Ultimate ... no, transcendental concentration is a weapon capable of breaking through the wall
between the fields.
He has to almost burn the thought circuits of his quantum chain, which the White Queen has
called a light cube.
To save Seri, Haruyuki touched the top-level wall. Now he must destroy it.
There is no time for trial and error. If the first blow does not break the wall, then the next
cannot. Perhaps, after ten hours of repetition of the same movements, he would have broken
through to the highest level, as already happened on an unlimited field, but by that time the battle
with Genbu has already ended, and besides, on the initial accelerated field, you can spend no
more than half an hour.
Concentration.
Concentration.
Concentration…
Haruyuki focused as hard as he could, clenching his right fist.
Suddenly a voice rang out in his right ear.
Shine.
Feel the light that lives inside you. The same light that you used to protect Utai and the others
from the darkness of the God of the apocalypse.
Trapped photons fluctuate endlessly within the LightCubes and the Main Renderer. Feel their
light, merge with it and move from Incarnation to the next step.
"Light ..." Haruyuki whispered silently, closing his eyes.
When he used the Shell of Light, he decided that he was groping not just light, but the
elemental power of Silver Crow. But what if it wasn't actually the light of the dueling avatar, but
of Haruyuki himself? What if the same light lives inside every burst linker? ..
Shine.
Concentration and light. Haruyuki focused his mind, fusing it with light. It no longer
overloaded the lightcube, but merged with it.
Using the Omega-Style Synthesis, Haruyuki connected with the outside world.
And using the Incarnation of the second level "Shell of Light", Haruyuki merged with the
inner world.
Now it was necessary to do both at the same time. The outside world is the Main
Renderer. The inner world is a light cube. If you lay a light path between them and connect to
each other, a new door will open.
A pure white light appeared inside the pig. It spread out in waves, filling the entire body.
The reflection in the mirror gradually faded into the glow.
Haruyuki stepped forward and threw out his fist, but not at all like when Seri was
resurrected. This blow came out soft.
A fist enveloped in waves of light touched the mirror.
A web of cracks appeared silently on the smooth surface. The fragments flew away into the
distance, and behind them ... an endless galaxy stretched out.
I leave Utai to you.
The voice was heard again, almost inaudible against the deafening clap of acceleration.
Chapter 9
When Haruyuki regained consciousness, he was standing on a quietly shimmering galaxy.
- Whoa ?! - he involuntarily exclaimed and examined himself.
There was no pink pig. Instead, a transparent Silver Crow appeared.
Highest level.
He was able to get to him again on his own.
- Oh yeah…
Haruyuki nearly raised his fist in joy, but he recovered himself. Firstly, the most important
thing was yet to come, and secondly - was it really only on its own?
He heard a voice in the mirror. Balanced, a bit boyish, not like Trilid, nor Chrom Falcon, nor
Cerberus Wolfram. Perhaps he belonged to ...
Haruyuki shook his head, banishing unnecessary thoughts. There are more important things
now.
He looked down at the galaxy below him again.
It consisted of dense clusters of stardust. Almost all of them were called nodes and showed
where social cameras are in the real world. With this in mind, Haruyuki gradually began to see a
map of downtown Tokyo in the glowing sleeves.
Directly below him, a dense constellation similar to Shinjuku sparkled dazzlingly. Two more
clusters were visible to the north and south - Ikebukuro and Shibuya.
Eyes slid along the bright star road that ran east of the dense light of Shinjuku Station. This
must be Shinjuku Street, part of the 20th National Highway. To the south of it was the emptiness
of the Shinjuku Imperial Gardens. On the other side of them could be seen Yotsuya, Kojimachi
... and a huge black nebula at the site of the imperial residence. Imperial Castle.
Haruyuki spread his wings (though it probably didn't make sense) and dived towards the
castle.
He did not hear the usual whistle of the wind, but the sea of lights was gradually
approaching. Smaller lights appeared, scattered along the roads. This is probably Enemi. After
flying over the tracks of the Sobu Line in Yotsuya, Haruyuki took a little to the left. He first
crossed the Ichiban quarter [✱] It's in Chiyoda. Quarters in Japan are numbered, but this one is
special, so the buildings in it don't have a quarter at all. , then flew along Daikancho Street. To
the left in front of him appeared Kitanomaru Park, the site of yesterday's battle, and to the right the northern gate of the Imperial Castle. They were sometimes called the Genbu gates.
At the highest level, the great and terrible Gods probably look like bunches of super-bright
lights, but for now, pitch darkness reigned near the gate. This meant that the battle had not yet
begun.
With a sigh of relief, Haruyuki took a sharp turn to the left. His comrades decided to gather in
the same place as before the battle with Inti - in the front square of the building of the Ministry of
Defense. But when I turned around ...
“Ah,” he breathed and spread his wings to brake sharply.
The avatar stopped instantly - there was no momentum, unlike the unlimited neutral and
normal dueling field. But even unusual sensations could not distract Haruyuki from the cluster of
colorful lights on Yasukuni Street, about eight hundred meters east of Ichigaya Station.
There were at least fifty of them - clearly not Enemi, but Kuroyukihime and the army of Burst
Linkers who had come to the battle with Genbu.
Realizing exactly what he was seeing, Haruyuki soon saw blue, blue, green, and scarlet lights
at the head of the squad, and in the middle a black dot with a blue-violet border. Earlier it
seemed to Haruyuki that at the highest level it was impossible to distinguish one burst linker
from another, but now intuition dictated that they were Takumu, Fouko, Chiyuri, Utai and
Kuroyukihime. A little further, Nico, Pard, Rui, Shihoko and the rest could be seen.
Right now, they were about two hundred meters from Kitanomaru Park. After about ten
minutes of unrestricted neutral field time, they will stop at the bridge leading to the Genbu Gate
and begin their final preparations.
However, at the highest level, time passed so quickly that even an unlimited field seemed to
freeze. Haruyuki could have spent several hours here, and Kuroyukihime and the others would
not even come close to the gate.
He came to the highest level because he hoped to help Utai.
Metatron once told him that from this level one could only observe, but later added that a
sufficiently skillful being could directly interfere with information at the highest level.
Of course, Haruyuki was far from that. But what if he can still somehow influence the
Accelerated World? What if he would share power with Utai if he touched her light? Perhaps this
will turn out to be just an imaginary support, but it's better this way than lying aimlessly in the
real world, counting seconds.
However, help is needed not now, but during the battle with Genbu, so first you have to
somehow waste time. Haruyuki realized that he would not have enough strength to return to the
highest level if he went out into the real world. Perhaps the acceleration factor can be somehow
lowered?
"I wish I could ask Metatron ..." thought Haruyuki, but immediately shook his head. It would
be another day of real time before Metatron fully recovered, and he was not going to disturb her
ahead of time.
“I’m flying to the Genbu gate, or something,” thought Haruyuki, gaining altitude again.
Metatron said that at the highest level there are no distances. It might even be possible to
teleport anywhere here with an effort of thought, but Haruyuki had no idea how. Moreover, he
was in no hurry.
Turning around, he flew back and soon found himself over Kitanomaru Park. After the
disappearance of the “Sun God Inti”, the Transition had already taken place, so that the Budokan
stood safe and sound. As for Inti, it must have gone blank, but Haruyuki had no reason to find
out.
It flew slowly to the right of the Budokan and stopped over the National Museum of Modern
Art.
The Imperial Castle is perhaps the only landmark in Tokyo that changes beyond recognition
in the Accelerated World. In reality, there is an imperial residence - an elongated hexagon, while
in the Accelerated World it is a perfectly flat circle surrounded by a wide moat, over which four
bridges are thrown to the cardinal points. The north gate of the castle corresponds to the Inui
gate, which in the real world is located south of Kitanomaru Park. However, if in reality the gates
are connected to the park by land, then in the Accelerated World a five-hundred-meter ditch is
laid in front of them. It looks like a mouth that is just waiting to swallow everyone who dares to
approach the Castle.
There was a huge gate in the wall, to which a thirty-meter wide bridge led. This northern
entrance was called the Genbu Gate.
Three years ago, the first Nega Neboulas split into four squads and attempted to storm the
Imperial Castle.
The attack on the southern gate of Suzaku was led by Ardor Maiden, nicknamed “Testarossa”.
To the eastern gate of Seiryu - Aqua Karent, nicknamed "Aquamatic".
To the western gate of Byakko - Sky Raker, nicknamed "Stratospheric Comet" and Black
Lotus, nicknamed "The End of the World."
Finally, Graphite Edge, nicknamed "Anomaly", was assigned to the north gate of Genbu.
The battle lasted only two minutes and ended with the defeat of Neg Nebula. Sky Raker
managed to escape captivity at the western gate and took Black Lotus with her, but Ardor
Maiden, Aqua Karent and Graphite Edge sacrificed themselves and fell into endless
extermination to save the rest of the legionnaires.
Maiden and Karent were rescued only last month, but Graphite Edge, as it turned out, long
ago managed to escape from captivity on its own. However, monstrous gravitational attacks did
not allow the bridge to run through, so the former officer fled not outside, but inside. Although
the gates of the Imperial Castle usually remain closed until the victory over God, Graphite Edge
opened a passage for himself with the help of the third level Incarnation "Enlightener" and took
refuge behind the walls.
Since then, it has become the first Bastion of the Great Wall, although in an unrestricted
neutral field it still remained a prisoner of the Imperial Castle. However, Graphite Edge did not
grieve too much about this, and when Kuroyukihime herself fell into endless extermination, he
even plunged into an unlimited field for almost a year to observe the Sun God from inside the
Castle. But now they had to free the swordsman at any cost, not so much to save Haruyuki as to
confront the White Queen, who was about to use Tezcatlipoca for her sinister purposes.
By the way, Haruyuki thought suddenly. Of course, Graphite Edge has been warned of today's
operation, so he's probably waiting outside the gate, waiting to be rescued. Can you see it from a
higher level?
Haruyuki flew higher and tried to look inside the Castle.
But behind the transparent gates, woven of luminous points, there was only pitch darkness. As
he thought, the knotless Imperial Castle existed separately from the rest of the world. Even the
creator of this impregnable fortress - or dungeon? - not at all the one who built the rest of the
Accelerated World. Haruyuki had no doubts that even at the highest level, there was some kind
of invisible wall above the moat, which would prevent them from flying into the castle grounds.
Giving up hope of seeing Edge's Graphite, he wondered what to do next.
Whatever one may say, in such conditions he cannot wait for the beginning of the battle. Time
needs to be accelerated, and for this you need to slow down your own mind. Is it
possible? Haruyuki folded his arms over his chest and looked down, as if hoping for a clue.
To the west of the Museum of Modern Art was a grove and a huge parking lot; to the north - a
science museum; to the east - an unusual commercial and office building with two spiers on the
roof. Of course, this high-rise building had the most lights - and therefore social cameras - the
most. Now that Haruyuki flew close enough to the nodes, he saw the thinnest lines that
connected them. All social cameras are connected to a separate network and send data to the
Social Security Observatory. His address was kept secret, but now Haruyuki could study where
the lines went and find him.
He stared at the network between the nodes, lost in thought ...
And suddenly he noticed something.
Inside one of the narrow spiers was not a cluster of knots, but a cluster of colored lights. Four
... no, five. Pale purple, dark red, dark gray, almost black ... and one particularly strange light,
which seemed to be silvery, sometimes red, sometimes black.
Not Enemi. Burst linkers.
Maybe it's a small squad of Enemi hunters who accidentally entered an unlimited field at the
same time as Kuroyukihime? But the small group would not approach the Imperial Castle, as the
mighty Beast-Class Enemi constantly appear on the streets of Uchibori and Yasukuni. Haruyuki
himself was convinced of this when, before the battle with Inti, the Flamethrower attacked their
army, making even a dozen high-level Burst Linkers sweat. Then who is it?
He began to descend, carefully looking at the lights ...
And he gasped, struck by an unpleasant insight.
In the very center of the detachment was a pale purple light. Haruyuki had seen this color
several times before, flashing the lenses on the glasses and hat of the "Four-Eyed Analyst" Argon
Arei before she unleashed her deadly lasers.
As soon as you realized this, the personalities of the other lights became clear along the
chain. Crimson is Rast Zhigso who attacked the "vertical race on the Hermes Cable". Dark Gray
- Shadow Clowker, whom Haruyuki fought in the battle for White Legion territory, and who then
reappeared shortly before Inti's fall. The black point, almost imperceptible against the
surrounding background, is Black Weiss, the worst enemy of the Black Legion. And the silvery
red-black iridescent light ... this is Tungsten Cerberus, fused with the Armor of Calamity 2.
Society for Acceleration Research. Almost complete.
No, it couldn't have been an accident. They were preparing to ambush Kuroyukihime's squad
heading for the Genbu Gate.
“Did our plans flow to them? ..” Haruyuki muttered in a low voice and shook his head.
There could be no infiltrators in the ranks of Neg Neboulas who worked for the enemies. The
White Legion and the Society were somehow keeping an eye on everything that happened in an
unbounded neutral field. Black Weiss's ability to slow down his own mind came to mind, but it
was clearly not she who played here. The fact is that Weiss, unlike Avocado Avoyder, slows
down with a chip in his head and cannot affect other burst linkers.
However, it is not so important how exactly they monitor the field. More important is to warn
Kuroyukihime that the Society is preparing an ambush. If enemies intervene in the course of the
battle, then Haruyuki's friends will not only fail to save Graphite Edge, but may also lose Utai
and other Burst Linkers in the endless extermination.
But how can this message be conveyed?
Disable acceleration and remove the Neurolinker from Kuroynezhka? No, Haruyuki recently
made sure by his example that even to turn off a person lying next to him, it will take three
seconds, because you need to wake up, get up, grab the neurolinker and rip it off your
neck. During this time, three thousand seconds or fifty minutes will pass in the Accelerated
World. The squad will probably already reach the Imperial Castle and join the battle.
In addition, Haruyuki could only turn off Kuroyukihime itself and Utai, Fuko and Niko
connected through it. The rest of the Burst Linkers will find themselves in even greater danger,
suddenly losing their strongest fighters.
What to do? What to do?..
Haruyuki thought desperately as he hung in the black void of information space. There was
plenty of time, so he carefully considered all the options, cut off the unacceptable and came to
the only correct one:
Friends need to be warned directly from the highest level.
Haruyuki did not even find out whether he was able to transmit the energy of Utai, and even
the transmission of voice was not something that can be learned in an hour or even in a day. But
he has to do it.
When Metatron was about to perish in the battle against the Armor of Disaster 2, Haruyuki
reached out to her through the highest level and reestablished the nearly broken connection. Of
course, he succeeded only because this connection existed before. He couldn't connect to
Kuroyukihime and Utai the same way he could to Metatron ... but there was already a strong
bond between them. Perhaps, with their help, it will not be possible to convey a voice, but the
girls will certainly hear at least his thoughts.
- Senpai ...
Haruyuki closed his eyes and pictured Kuroyukihime.
First, in the form of a black swallowtail, in which she appeared on the virtual squash court and
addressed him for the first time. Then in school uniform and with an extended XSB-cable in the
break room of the school cafeteria. As a beautiful and majestic dueling avatar announcing the
return of Neg Nebulas.
And, finally, in the form of a fragile, like an ice sculpture, and a fabulously beautiful girl with
a barcode on her naked neck ...
Haruyuki vowed to be a loyal knight of the Black Queen Black Lotus and promised to protect
her at all costs. This decision has so far illuminated his path and gave him the strength to move
on.
He could not do it for himself, but he will - he will certainly do it! - for Kuroyukihime's sake.
Haruyuki clenched his fists and opened his eyes. He spread his wings and turned towards
Yasukuni Street to fly back to Kuroyukihime.
Suddenly there was a soft ringing like the blow of a tiny hammer.
Then again and again. From the darkness came a crystal ringing, gradually getting louder and
awakening something in Haruyuki's memories.
Yes, he heard it three days ago, when, during the battle for territory against the White Legion,
Wakamiya Megumi, aka Orchid Oracle, transported all Burst Linkers to an unlimited neutral
field using the Incarnation Technique “Paradigm Break”. In response, Haruyuki immediately
summoned Metatron and transferred his consciousness to a higher level. There he heard this
ringing, and it meant ...
Haruyuki got goosebumps and turned sharply.
The bell rang for the last time.
A whitish figure hovered against the backdrop of darkness.
The translucent lights formed the shape of a striking slender female avatar. A dress that looks
like a scattering of snowflakes; long, curly hair at the ends; tiara made of sharp needles. The
physique of the girl resembled the White Queen of White Cosmos, but was much
shorter. Although Haruyuki couldn't see the color of the armor, he still knew who it was.
"Sonya", the second Gnome Oscillatori Universe. She's ...
- Snow Fae! Haruyuki exclaimed.
The fairy-like avatar smiled back nonchalantly.
“Haven't seen each other for a long time, Silver Crow,” her voice resembled a sweet syrup
spilled on the snow. It carried through the void and returned with a barely audible echo. - So we
met again.
- What are you doing here?!
- You already asked this question last time. My answer will be the same - I felt that we were
being spied on.
Indeed, the Snow Fae responded in exactly the same way last time during the battle for
territory. She said that she felt a gaze from a higher level, standing on an unlimited neutral field.
Haruyuki cast a quick glance at the spire of the high-rise, then looked back at the Snow Fae.
“But… there is only the Acceleration Research Society. I didn't see you.
- What should I do among these amateurs? - the girl spoke dismissively about the whole
group, including such veterans as Black Weiss and Argon Arey, then smiled again. “Although
you are far from me, Crowe. At the highest level, I am much ... much more experienced than
you.
Haruyuki involuntarily threw up his hands and took a defensive stance. He knew that at the
highest level there was no health bar or the ability to deal damage, but there was nothing he
could do about his instincts.
After thinking a little about the meaning of Faery's words, he decided to ask a question:
"Are you… Bound too?"
- Oh? .. Who suggested this term to you?
"Centorea Sentry," Haruyuki almost answered, but revealing the truth would be the height of
folly. In addition, even before Sentry, another burst linker suggested that Haruyuki had sold
Enemi's soul. He disagreed, because he considered Metatron to be his friend, not his mistress, but
it was by no means necessary for the Fae to know about this.
"The White Queen," Haruyuki said.
“Oh, that's it,” Fairey tilted her head with a graceful movement. - Have you already spoken to
Cosmos? How wrong the Queen wanted to be capricious ... because the story is already
approaching the last page.
- The last page? Haruyuki repeated like a parrot, but Fairey didn't explain her words.
She put her hands behind her back, took a couple of resounding steps and looked at him again.
“Perhaps yes, the Queen would call me Bound. But the creature with whom I had a
connection no longer exists.
- Does not exist? But I thought you were related to one of the Saints. Not with Metatron and
not with Amaterasu, but with one of the other two.
- This is not Si-wan-mu, not Ushas, and even less Nyukta.
"Si-wan ...?" Muttered Haruyuki, who had never heard these names.
However, Fairey continued, as if not noticing:
- There are other Enemies with light cubes. Until they are reset to their original state, of
course ... ”the girl whispered, then shook her head and looked at Haruyuki with charming lens
eyes. - I think this conversation can be ended. I'm sorry, but you have to stay frozen for a while.
- Freeze?
“You were going to thwart the ambush of Argon and the others, weren't you?
Fairy asked a key question so unexpectedly that Haruyuki was taken aback for a second. But
there was no point in lying.
- Of course. I will not be silent, having noticed an ambush.
- So I can't close my eyes to the fact that you want to intervene.
Snow Fae smiled faintly. Suddenly, her small body gave off an aura of freezing cold, and
Haruyuki involuntarily gasped.
No, he must have imagined it. At the highest level, it is impossible to physically influence
others. Yes, last time Snow Fae tried to sever the connection between Haruyuki and Metatron,
but now the Saint is not here. It would seem that the opponent is beyond the power to harm
Silver Crow ... but at the same time, Fairy did not lie when she said that she was much more
experienced than him. It is not entirely clear what kind of “freeze” we are talking about, but it is
quite possible that this girl not only knows how to cut ties, but is also able to somehow influence
avatars at the highest level.
That is why Haruyuki soared skyward without any preparation.
It climbed until the clusters of nodes below became glowing spots, then flew with all its might
straight west towards Shinjuku Station.
Snow Fae walks the highest level on foot and cannot keep up with Haruyuki's
wings. Therefore, he was going to first fly away from her, then make a large detour with a
smooth descent and return to Kuroyukihime practically on the ground. Of course, Faerie will
sooner or later overtake him, but if he manages to warn his commander about the danger, then
what will happen next is not so important.
He raced over Shinjuku Street much faster than the last time. But when he flew over Yotsuya
and ended up over the Shinjuku Imperial Gardens ...
Ding.
The bell rang out again.
Haruyuki was taken aback and braked sharply. Despite the lack of inertia, he flew another ten
meters before stopping.
A white figure loomed straight ahead.
Needle tiara. Snowflake dress. Snow Fairy.
- But ... but how ?! Haruyuki turned involuntarily towards the Imperial Castle before
addressing the Faerie, who stood silently against the dazzling glitter of Shinjuku's knots. “You
shouldn't have caught up with me!
- So I say that you are an amateur, - "Sonya" shrugged her shoulders. - Didn't anyone tell you
that there are no distances at the highest level?
- Well ... They said, but ...
- Crowe, right now, you and I seem to be something like a three-dimensional monitor that
shows the location of the data at the middle level. And, of course, the field of view of this
monitor can be freely adjusted. But if you, so to speak, desperately move the cursor to change the
frame, then I just indicate the necessary coordinates and immediately find myself where I need it.
- In short ... can you teleport to any point of the highest level?
- Only if I can imagine where she is.
- W-how do you do that? ..
- First you find in the right place ... - Snow Fae began, raising her hand, but broke off and fell
silent for a while. - But why should I tell you this?
- I don't even know what to say to this ...
- Moreover, my words will not help you anyway, because soon this world will come to an
end.
"The end? .." Haruyuki muttered.
Faery, meanwhile, smoothly turned her raised hand, directing her open palm towards him.
- This is already inevitable. The only question is what kind of end awaits us, burst
linkers. Will we perish in agony, humiliation and despair, as happened with the Assault and
Corrupt Linkers, or ...
Snow Fae broke off again, sighed softly and clenched her fist.
Haruyuki's body was suddenly completely petrified.
It was not paralysis or rigor mortis. He retained all the sensations, but his fingers, mouth, and
even his eyelids seemed to have turned into motionless iron. Although dueling avatars don't need
oxygen, Burst Linkers can still feel like they're breathing through their chest, even at the highest
level. But now Haruyuki couldn't breathe in or out.
“I’m not suffocating, it only seems to me,” he repeated to himself, perfectly aware of what
was happening, but still could not drive away the rolling waves of fear. I wanted to scream. I
wanted to breathe. I wanted to cling to my own throat, but my hands did not move either.
- Sorry. It's hard for you, isn't it? But I have no choice. Freeing Graphite Edge is a bit out of
place right now. Don't worry, we're not going to plant the Black Lotus in endless
extermination. Let's just make her step back from the gate, - Fairy explained almost with
tenderness in her voice and stepped back a couple of steps. “I think you’ll have to be here for a
very, very long time until someone at the lowest level removes your Neurolinker. I sympathize
with you, so I will stay by your side.
Smiling, Snow Fairey sat up and hugged her knees. Then she looked away and began to sway
slightly, as if admiring what was happening next to the Imperial Castle.
But Haruyuki couldn't even think about what she was up to.
He felt stifling. It's stuffy. It's stuffy.
He tried to inhale, but his lungs seemed to have turned cast iron and refused to fill. Fainting
seemed like a salvation, but consciousness did not want to leave. A choking panic still reigned
within him.
“Anyone. Anyone. Someone. "
But they were at the highest level, where only those Burst Linkers who are supported by the
strongest Enemi can get. No one would have responded to Haruyuki's requests. Is Faerie right
and will have to wait until Kuroyukihime and the others cut him off from the real world? But
when will this happen?
“Anyone. Anyone ... "
Not even a minute had passed, although it seemed to Haruyuki that he was suffering for an
eternity. Suddenly he remembered.
Metatron.
The saint knows the highest level well and will probably figure out how to get Haruyuki out
of the freeze. He wanted to get rid of the torment as soon as possible and saw no other way to do
it.
He concentrated, going to address the archangel ...
But he didn't.
At the last moment, the remnants of his mind, gripped by the grip of stuffiness and fear,
sounded the alarm and stopped him.
Why didn't Snow Fae return to the unlimited neutral field, but stayed next to Haruyuki?
A pity? No matter how it is. He did not know the exact acceleration rate of the highest level,
but if time on it flows a thousand times faster than on an unlimited neutral field, then another
thousand hours or more than forty days may pass before the forced shutdown. It was hard to
believe that Fae could really do this out of pity.
And if so, she is waiting for something.
Namely - Metatron. She tries to force Haruyuki to summon her so that this time she can sever
their bond. This meant that the Fae considered Silver Crow's relationship with the archangel to
be as much of a threat to the White Legion as the rescue of Graphite Edge.
"You can't call her!" Haruyuki shouted to himself, summoning all his strength to endure the
torment.
He vowed that he would not disturb Metatron until she regained her strength. Haruyuki was
not losing his health or burst points right now. Of course, his body in the real world did not
suffer either.
He only felt heaviness and suffocation. But these are mere trifles compared to how he lived
just a year ago, hounded by classmates.
And by the way ... it turns out that Snow Fae, one of the undoubtedly strongest Burst Linkers
of the White Legion, came here solely to deal with Haruyuki. At first, Silver Crow was a
laughing stock for the audience because of his worthless appearance and ridiculous special
technique, but now the strongest fighters were sent to fight him. Isn't this real gaming happiness?
So he was going to wait until Faerie got bored. He will overcome pain in order for the enemy
to waste time.
No. It won't do. Haruyuki must warn Kuroyukihime about the Society's ambush. Fae said that
they were not going to arrange endless extermination, but leaving without freeing Graphite Edge
from the Castle is still a defeat.
Haruyuki must defeat the freeze on his own.
He can. He should succeed. Although Snow Fae is more experienced, she is a burst linker like
Haruyuki. At the highest level, there are not only distances, but also levels and characteristics.
This is the world of thoughts in which information takes on visible form. The real in him are
only the lights of nodes, Enemi and burst linkers, and Silver Crow is nothing more than the
subjective feelings of his owner. There is no dueling avatar, only the consciousness of
Haruyuki's observer. Snow Fae somehow interfered with this consciousness and tricked me into
thinking it couldn't move.
Haruyuki couldn't do the same.
But can he really not interfere with the work of his own consciousness?
He had already done this when he was fleeing Tezcatlipoca's gravitational “Toshkatl”.
Haruyuki used Void Incarnation and blurred his consciousness so much that Enemi
momentarily lost sight of the target. Perhaps this same trick will help get rid of the influence of
the Snow Fae?
But to do this, Haruyuki would have to clear his mind of the discomfort and fear caused by
the inability to breathe. Even though he was well aware that in this world there was neither his
real body, nor his dueling avatar, the feeling of emptiness in his lungs did not let go for a
moment. Even now, he tolerated it, only distracted by desperate reflections. As soon as he tries
not to think about anything, the suffocation will return to the spotlight. If only Faerie would
freeze not only the body, but also the sensations! Then Haruyuki wouldn't have to suffer ...
Stop.
The faerie probably could have done that, but she didn't. She deliberately caused Haruyuki to
suffer, so that he could not stand it and turned to Metatron for help.
If so, he only needs to turn off the sensations on his own.
Form. We need an image. There is no body inside the avatar. There is only the light of
information. Light doesn't feel. It can neither be broken nor tied. It only exists - and only ...
Warmth gradually spread over my body. The sensations have dulled, starting from the tips of
the fingers. The arms and legs were taken away. The loin and abdomen seemed to dissolve into
emptiness.
As soon as the chest disintegrated into particles of light, the suffocation disappeared as if by
magic.
Gone are the neck, face, head. Haruyuki turned into a bunch of photons floating in space.
Snow Fairey sat motionless, hugging her knees. She still saw the subjective Silver Crow and
did not notice that Haruyuki had turned off his senses.
Meanwhile, for Haruyuki, the avatar had disappeared. But he did not find freedom of
movement. He was still constrained by the influence of the Snow Fae, who ordered him to freeze
in place. These bonds need to be broken to warn Kuroyukihime.
It's time to move on to the next stage. The incarnation of emptiness will expand his
consciousness so much that it falls out of the Fae's field of vision.
Form. The image of the lights of consciousness spreading all over the world.
He saw, no, he felt the highest level.
Information flows between endless nodes. Bunches of lights and, conversely, voids, weaving
a complex pattern. An endless chain stretching through the whole of Tokyo, Kanto, Honshu ...
Japan.
The flat information card is layered. Three Japan, the real face of the Accelerated
World. Haruyuki himself was stationed on the central, full of countless Enemi and rare Burst
Linkers, but the worlds above and below showed no signs of life. Axel Assolt and Kosmos
Corrupt were already closed. If you believe the White Queen and Snow Fae, soon the same fate
awaits Brain Burst.
Stop.
What is it?..
One more? Somewhere far above, in the unattainable height, is another map visible?
Fourth world.
Small, lively and new.
Not believing his own sensation, Haruyuki tried to reach for him with his mind.
At the same time, he involuntarily stretched out so much that Snow Fae ceased to feel him.
The shackles holding consciousness in place were dispelled. Because of this, photons of
Haruyuki's mind scattered to all corners of the highest level - in other words, the Main
Visualizer.
At the same moment, Haruyuki's consciousness touched the strongest beings of the
Accelerated World. It did not touch only the deeply self-contained Archangel Metatron and the
Goddess of the night Nyuktu, as well as the Four and Eight Gods who live in an isolated area of
memory.
Divine King Bali.
Dawn princess Ushas.
The goddess of the dead Si-wan-mu.
The storm king Rudra.
And finally, the Sun Goddess Amaterasu.
In response, two of the creatures showed fleeting curiosity, one was mildly annoyed, and
another unexpected touch infuriated. The creature immediately tried to banish Haruyuki's
consciousness from the higher level, but Amaterasu intervened and deflected the blow.
As a result, all five creatures tagged Haruyuki and established a weak bond with him, but he
himself did not notice anything.
So much information was poured into Haruyuki's scattered consciousness that he would never
have processed it all. However, he managed to focus on a single entity. There was no voice or
appearance among the information, but Haruyuki still found what he was looking for. He was
helped by what he would call a scent. Sweet, refreshing, clean, piercing ...
Kuroyukihime.
"Senpai!"
Haruyuki immediately contracted his consciousness. The streams of information pouring from
all directions immediately dried up, but a bright star appeared before my eyes.
Black with blue-violet border.
There were more stars nearby - scarlet, blue, green. Kuroyukihime and the legionnaires of
Neg Nebula. Haruyuki teleported from the sky above the Shinjuku Imperial Gardens to
Kitanomaru Park. Surely Snow Fae had already noticed. In a second - or maybe even earlier she will also appear here.
Haruyuki turned into a silver star himself. He lost both his hands and his mouth, but his
instinct told him what to do.
Moving forward, Haruyuki touched the black star.
Feeling a connection between the quantum circuits of Silver Crow and Black Lotus, he sent
out a compressed mental message.
Acceleration Research Society Ambush. Black Weiss, Argon Arey, Shadow Clowker, Rast
Zhigso, Wolfram Cerberus. The spire of the commercial and office building east of the Tokyo
National Museum of Modern Art. Snow Fae are also nearby, but no one knows where. She
monitors the attack from a higher level and transfers information to enemies.
It took Haruyuki a split second to deliver the information. He felt that the Snow Fae was
about to appear.
Therefore, Haruyuki expanded his consciousness again. But this time he did not try to cover
the entire highest level. Finding the right Burst Linker, Haruyuki immediately moved to him.
The fires of friends were grouped in the center, merged with the nodes, then scattered in
different directions. Before my eyes appeared completely different stars: gray, rusty, pale violet
... and black.
This star resembled a lump of all-consuming emptiness and, undoubtedly, belonged to Black
Weiss. But how? This is a fake name, but in fact the dueling avatar is called Ivory Tower. Its star
must be ivory ...
But Haruyuki could not waste time on other thoughts. Snow Fae was still chasing him.
Therefore, he shifted his gaze to the fifth star, which was slightly farther than the others.
It was strikingly different from the lights of other Burst Linkers. The main color for her was
steel, reminiscent of Haruyuki's silver, but a tone darker. On it, like streaks on marble, two
overflow systems spread, like ripples on water: one blood-red, the second black.
This is how Wolfram Cerberus looked now. The red ripples most likely meant the rocket
engines of the Invincible Enhancement Equipment stolen from Niko, and the black ripples were
a monstrous accumulation of negative Incarnation. After understanding the meanings of the
ripples, Haruyuki noticed that the black color seemed to bind the red and steel.
Black Weiss called Cerberus Wolfram Disaster, as if he had changed once and for all.
But Haruyuki didn't believe it. He was able to free himself from the power of the Armor of
Calamity, which means that Cerberus can also be saved from the Armor of Calamity 2. He will
again become that genius fighter, the boy that Haruyuki saw in Koenji among the crowd.
Haruyuki touched his star the same way he touched Kuroyukihime's star.
A monstrous stream of not even information, but of senseless chaos, in which rage, suffering
and hatred were mixed, immediately washed over him.
But in the very depths, in the core of the star, a puny boy was seen, sitting with his knees
clasped. He did not succumb to negative Incarnation and remained himself.
"Cerberus! Haruyuki shouted to him in his mind, fighting the current. - I will definitely save
you! We will clear Disaster 2 Armor and put an end to the Society's plans! And then we will
fight again! ”
Haruyuki didn't know if Cerberus had heard the message.
But it seemed to him that the boy raised his head.
There is no time left. Haruyuki sensed that Snow Fae was already teleporting. Alas, he did not
have time to transfer the energy to Utai, but Kuroyukihime would still probably postpone the
battle after learning of the ambush. There was still a day left before the battle with Tezcatlipoca this is enough to try again.
Haruyuki was no longer kept here. He disconnected from Cerberus and mentally commanded:
Burst Out.
The world quickly disappeared into the distance. Finally, the sweet voice of the Fae was
heard:
"Bye, Crow."
The sound of acceleration passed through Haruyuki, played backwards, and only whiteness
remained.
Chapter 10
When Haruyuki woke up in the real world and coped with a brief attack of dizziness, he stood
up abruptly and sat up. Foucault, Utai, Nico and Kuroyukihime were still lying with their eyes
closed. Undoubtedly, they decided to cancel the attack, and they are already running to the
nearest portal. In less than two seconds they will wake up.
But two seconds passed, and the girls did not open their eyes.
Two and a half ... three ... three and a half ... Haruyuki's palms were sweating - more than an
hour had passed since the unbounded neutral field had been turned off. Has Kuroyukihime not
received the message? Did they attack Genbu and get ambushed by the Acceleration Research
Society?
The timer stood at ten point eight seconds, or exactly three hours of internal time. This means
that in seven seconds they will all wake up, no matter what happens. But now those seven
seconds seemed like an eternity. Haruyuki barely fought the urge to remove the Neurolinker
from Kuroyukihime.
He sat, gritting his teeth and trying to keep his hand crawling forward ...
Until the girls opened their eyes together. Haruyuki's gaze rested on the face of Niko on her
right.
For the first second she didn't seem to know where she was. At this time, there was a
synchronization of memories between the brain and the quantum circuit. Blinking her browngreen eyes a couple of times, the girl saw a face hanging over her.
- Hey, Haruyuki! Have you been staring at me all the time? She asked, frowning.
- N-no-no! He instinctively brought his knees together and shook his head. - How did
everything go?! Society has not trapped you ?!
Niko pushed his face away and sat up too. The girls gradually got out of the futons, looked at
each other and nodded silently.
“So I didn't hear your voice,” said Kuroyukihime with a smile on her lips and suspicion in her
eyes. - How did you manage to talk to me when I was on the unlimited field? And how did you
know about Weiss and Argon's ambush?
Neither the legion commander's face nor her voice expressed annoyance. Obviously, at least
they didn't get caught up in the endless extermination at the Genbu gate. But what then delayed
them so?
Fighting the urge to find out the truth as soon as possible, Haruyuki replied:
- Uh ... When you accelerated, I went to the highest level ...
- What? Have you summoned Metatron? Kuroyukihime's brow furrowed threateningly.
- N-no-no! Haruyuki waved his hands. - I was not sure that I would get there myself, so I
asked someone for help ...
He glanced at Utai, but she just blinked in bewilderment. Haruyuki didn't think he actually
heard Shinomiya Kyoi's voice on the initial accelerated field, but he intended to return there
sooner or later from Utai.
“I think he helped me get there,” Haruyuki continued, looking at Kuroyukihime again. - I
looked around the Genbu Gate from the highest level and saw that Black Weiss was hiding
nearby with his people ... And then the Snow Fae appeared and froze me, but I managed to
extricate myself and warn you.
"I see ... So this is how it was," Kuroyukihime muttered, then sighed at the same time as Nico,
Foucault and Utai.
“Oh, you never cease to amaze us, Raven-san,” Foucault said. - Are there many burst linkers
in the Accelerated World that can rise to the highest level on their own?
- But I'm not really my own ... By the way, how did it go ?! You were able to escape
?! Haruyuki asked, leaning forward, but Nico immediately pushed him back.
- Don't fuss, now we'll tell you everything.
- Oh, yeah ...
- In general, to begin with, we were all scared. We walk like this on Yasukuni, and here Lotus
says: "I heard Crow's voice." At first, I decided that her roof finally went off.
- What do you mean “finally” ?! - Kuroyukihime was indignant, turning to Niko, but she did
not pay any attention to it.
- Well, and so, at first we thought to get up and discuss everything, but Lotus ordered us to go
without stopping. She also mentioned that “Sonya” was following us. Is it because of her?
“Yes, exactly,” Kuroyukihime confirmed and continued: “If the Faerie saw that we were
stopping not because of Enemy, but just in the middle of the street, she would have guessed that
Crowe had warned us. Conversely, if we walked as if nothing had happened, Fairey would have
decided that we did not know about Weiss's ambush. At least that's how it seemed to me.
- And what happened next?..
“On the way, I conveyed your words to the commanders of the remaining legions: Kobamage,
Astra and Pound. And that was the defining moment of the whole operation.
Haruyuki tilted his head in puzzlement. Why is the decisive moment suddenly not the
message itself, but its transmission to the rest of the hike?
Kuroyukihime smiled as if she had read Haruyuki's thoughts.
- If it was about someone else, Koba and Maga would never have believed that I heard your
voice. They would have stopped and demanded clarification. But that didn't happen. Not because
they trust me. They knew that if someone could somehow miraculously contact from the outside
with a burst linker on an unlimited neutral field, then only Silver Crow.
Haruyuki was dumbfounded, but a small hand immediately fell on his knee. When he turned
to Utai, she nodded gravely and then typed directly on the leg of her pajamas:
“UI> Of course, we and the rest of Nega Neboulas also believed in you. So we went ahead
and discussed what to do on the go. "
- What to do? .. You knew that they were waiting for you, you had to leave immediately in
order to pack up later.
“This is not in the spirit of Neg Nebula, Raven-san,” Foucault retorted with a smile.
Dumbfounded, Haruyuki stared at her. Adjusting the yukata that was slightly open on her
chest, Foucault continued:
- Our principle is that if you accelerate, you just have to fight, right?
- But Black Weiss, Argon Ares, and even Cerberus were ambushed! It's too dangerous to fight
with them if you are dealing with Genbu in parallel!
“Of course, we didn’t fight on two fronts,” came Kuroyukihime's voice.
Haruyuki immediately straightened his back and turned.
“Thanks to you, we learned not only that Weiss was preparing an ambush, but also where he
was hiding. This meant that we had the opportunity to attack first.
"Attack first? .." repeated Haruyuki.
“Our Legion has one more principle.” Kuroyukihime's face hardened. - Use Incarnation only
in response to Incarnation. Do you understand why?
- Ah ... yes. If you use an Incarnation thoughtlessly, you can be captured by its dark side.
- Right. But there is one more answer, and it is much simpler. The fact is that a preemptive
strike by an Incarnation is too strong a weapon, because only an Incarnation can defend against
it. No armor will help. And if the enemy is caught by surprise, he is unlikely to have time to use
the Incarnation for protection.
It was completely true.
Three days ago, at the very beginning of the battle for the territory of the White Legion, Nega
Nebulas died almost in full force, because Glacier Behemoth and Snow Fae began the battle with
two powerful second-level Incarnations: Ice Age and Brainicl. If these were ordinary special
moves, the Black Legion would probably have figured out how to protect themselves from them,
but they could not get through the Behemoth Incarnation Dungeon and protect themselves from
the Faerie Incarnation Cold. And since the Society many times vile, sneakily attacked
Kuroyukihime and the others with Incarnation, it deserved a symmetrical response.
But in this case, another question arose.
- So, you were going to ... or rather, attacked Black Weiss's people with the help of
Incarnation? But they knew your route. How could you have taken them by surprise?
Niko answered his question. First, she waved her right hand to reveal a three-dimensional
map of Tokyo, and quickly found Kitanomaru Park on it.
“They were waiting for us in the Palace Side Building, it's here. And here is our route.
Niko clicked on the map and marked the spire that Haruyuki had seen from the top level in
red. She then drew a blue line, first along Yasukuni Street and then through Kitanomaru Park to
the Inui Gate.
“We immediately assumed they were using Argon's ability to see through walls to keep an
eye on us. Probably, they wanted to wait until we go to the bridge and engage in battle, then to
attack from behind and pinch us in pincers. But in an unlimited neutral field, there are things that
Argon's gaze does not pass through.
"A ... the walls of the Imperial Castle?"
- They too, but there are others. One of them is located inside the Museum of Modern Art.
Haruyuki shook his head in bewilderment, imagining a boring square museum building, and
suddenly remembered something.
- A ... Portal!
- Exactly. My Expanded Sight has a thermal imager mode. This is also in some sense the
ability to see through walls, but it does not work when the burst linker is behind the portal. I
decided that Argon was the same.
"I see ..." Haruyuki looked at the map again and pointed to the blue route. “So you walked
like this until you were in line with the spire and portal, and used the Incarnation from there?
- Yes Yes. The portal still has no hitbox [✱] The area in which an attack hit is recorded. ,
attacks go right through him. ”Nico grinned.
“Just don’t think it was easy,” Kuroyukihime shrugged. “We had to rebuild as naturally as
possible so that all owners of long-range Incarnations were in the middle, then fire a volley at my
command. Well at least we have already worked out this moment during the battle with
Tezcatlipoca.
- But you did it?
“Otherwise, we wouldn't be talking about it so calmly,” Kuroyukihime replied calmly.
“UI> It was incredible,” Utai added immediately. - First the museum banged, and then the
Incarnations flew like a rainbow.
Haruyuki smiled - Utai's speech rarely sounded so childish. Even Kuroyukihime could not
keep a stone face, but quickly pulled herself together and continued:
- But Black Weiss, of course, managed to notice our volley at the last second and with the
help of the "Shadowhunters" saved himself and Argon. Shadow Cloaker and Rast Zhigso died on
the spot, and Cerberus ... survived all ten-odd Incarnations and attacked us.
"What ...?" Haruyuki clenched his fists in his lap and asked in a low voice, "So you ... fought
against Cerberus?"
“You see… a strange thing happened there.
- Strange?
Kuroyukihime silently nodded and looked at Foucault, passing her the floor. Haruyuki turned
nervously to his mentor. She blinked a couple of times, refreshing her memories, then quietly
said:
- I stood closest to him. At first, Cerberus ran towards us as if possessed by the Armor of
Calamity, but when he got near the portal, his movements suddenly became awkward. It felt like
the burst linker was resisting the avatar's movements ...
Kuroyukihime, Niko and Utai nodded silently.
- And what happened next?
- Cerberus reached the portal with the gait of a broken robot and disappeared.
Maybe…
Perhaps Foucault hit the mark. What if Cerberus did indeed resist the pressure of his dueling
avatar, or rather Armor of Calamity 2? It seems that he really escaped from the power of the
Armor for a while and left the unlimited field.
"Cerberus ..." Haruyuki whispered and felt the heat rise to his eyes.
He hastily closed his eyes and breathed frequently.
Haruyuki didn't know what really happened. Only one thing was clear - Cerberus's own will
had not yet sunk into oblivion. That boy in the middle of the raging darkness, whom Haruyuki
saw at the highest level, continued to fight for his right to exist.
Silver Crow needs to be pulled out of endless annihilation in order to free Cerberus from the
power of the Armor of Calamity and the Acceleration Research Society.
- And Snow Fairy? Did she bother you?
- No, I didn't even show up. This time she was just an observer.
- Clear…
Mentally reminding himself that soon they would have to fight the Fae, Haruyuki decided to
ask the main question:
"So ... you attacked Genbu after all?" And as a result?
The four high-level Burst Linkers exchanged glances and smiled.
“Um,” Kuroyukihime said. - Graphite Edge asked for a message: "If you want to learn the
Ainu style, I am ready to train you on an unlimited field as much as you like."
Chapter 11
When the girls finished talking about everything, it was already half past ten in the evening.
Older schoolchildren at this time still do not go to bed, but the younger schoolchildren have
come to go to bed. However, it would be too crowded for all five of them to sleep in the same
room, so Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime and Fouko wished Niko and Utai good night and moved to
the eight-tatami guest room opposite [✱] About 13 square meters. ...
After settling there, they did their homework a little more, worked on Haruyuki's campaign
speech and got ready to sleep at midnight.
As soon as the table was pushed against the wall, the room easily found space for three futons,
and Haruyuki breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe he will have to sleep with two girls, but at least
not under one blanket.
Siomi brought in pajamas made of what looked like gauze. Sitting closer to the exit, Haruyuki
changed his clothes, turned off the light, and laid his head down on a rustling but very pleasant
pillow. Nothing foreshadowed trouble, and he was about to remove the Neurolinker from his
neck ...
Suddenly Foucault, who was in the middle, turned to him and whispered:
- By the way, Raven-san.
- A ... yes?
- When you were visiting Sattyan, you took a bath together, right?
- Mg! Haruyuki choked on air and coughed.
Somehow, catching his breath, he plaintively turned to Kuroyukihime, who was lying closer
to the window:
- Sempa-ay ...
- Well ... I, actually, was not going to tell anything, - there was an apologetic voice in the
semi-darkness. “But when we washed with Foucault today, I showed her my barcode.
Haruyuki threw himself up involuntarily, but immediately relaxed his muscles and lay back
on the pillow. The fact that Kuroyukihime found the strength to reveal the secret of her origin to
Foucault is definitely a good thing.
- I see ... She did show it?
- Yes ... Then she told how she was born, mentioned that you had already seen the barcode ...
and let slip that it was in the bath.
- Clear…
Fouko was usually remarkably tactful about such matters, so Haruyuki was not too
worried. However…
- And how do you, Raven-san? - the voice came again from the right.
He turned his head, but could not make out the expression on her face in the twilight.
- What how?
- How was it to wash with Sattyan?
Although Fouko asked in a gentle voice, Haruyuki knew that this tenderness could not be
trusted. Immediately sweating, he tried to find the right words:
- Well ... I, of course, was at first confused, but I was very pleased to hear what
Kuroyukihime-senpai had been hiding for so long ... This made me want to help her even more
...
“Thanks, Haruyuki,” came Kuroyukihime's quiet reply.
But before Haruyuki had time to spread warmth in his chest ...
“I’m not talking about that, Raven-san,” Foucault said even more gently. - What can a boy
your age think when he sees Sattyan naked?
"Goal ..." Haruyuki made an indistinct sound at the same time as Kuroyukihime muffledly
exclaimed:
- Hey, Foucault! What are you talking about ?!
“You see, Raven-san's utter harmlessness in such matters is one of his most important virtues,
especially for girls like us. But I'm still a little worried. Are you sure we should go to bed with
him in the same room?
"We need to save ourselves immediately! .. Maybe escape to the accelerated world? .."
A regular burst link will not work because Foucault can challenge him to a duel; the road to
an unlimited neutral field is closed. What then - to run to the highest level? But what if he again
collides with the Snow Fae? Maybe she knows how to answer the most damning question a high
school student can ask a high school student? By the way, which Faerie class is in?
Haruyuki's panic lasted for about a third of a second, but then he timidly replied:
- Well, as if ... I, of course, will not lie that I did not feel anything. But I have always believed
that you should not be ... treated inappropriately ... even if you really want to ...
To come up with this answer, he had to strain his brains so that smoke almost poured out of
his ears.
“Okay, that's fine with me,” Foucault for some reason sighed with relief. - True, Raven-san,
keep in mind that in the future the address you are talking about will cease to be so
inappropriate. But when that happens, you have to choose only one and appreciate it with all
your heart.
- Ah ... yeah.
- Although Sattyan is also good. What if Raven-san suddenly turned into a beast upon seeing
you naked? Have you figured out how to get out?
- Into the beast? Listen, Foucault ...
- No more such antics, okay? Of course, communication in the real world is good for the
Legion, but I will not allow moral decline!
“I don’t understand what she wants? So that there was something between me and
Kuroyukihime, or not? Okay, the main thing is not to get her attention anymore. You can also
fence off with a spare futon to be sure, ”thought Haruyuki, pulling a thin blanket up to his chin.
It's Wednesday, the twenty-fourth of July.
Fouko and Utai made a traditional Japanese breakfast of fried salmon with boiled Chinese
cabbage, onsen eggs [✱] These are eggs that are boiled at a low temperature (like in onsen). It
turns out an egg with raw protein, but boiled yolk. , rice and miso soup. After eating, Haruyuki
helped clear the table and wash the dishes. At fifteen to eight in the morning, he left the
Shinomiya family home with Niko.
Since she ate a little, they had to walk slowly. Finally, the narrow streets of the residential
areas led them to the Seventh Ring Road. At Honan Junction, they boarded a bus going
counterclockwise on the highway and took the double seat.
Niko immediately took an XSB cable from her shoulder bag and handed it to Haruyuki. While
he was struggling with the hesitation, the girl had already plugged the second plug into her
neurolinker. Making up his mind, he took the other end of the cable.
The bus turned out to be about two-thirds full, and among the passengers there were many
schoolchildren, probably in a hurry to the sports sections. Haruyuki would have been lying if he
said he didn't care about the looks of strangers, but on the other hand, he couldn't make himself
look like a coward in front of Niko, who without the slightest hesitation plugged the cable into
her neck. As soon as the magnetic plug clicked, a voice rang out in my head:
- Listen, Haru. We already discussed Howe at breakfast, but I wanted to add something else.
- A? You connected to me for this ?!
- Come on! In short, about Howe.
"I'm listening," Haruyuki nodded and paused, expecting more.
At breakfast, it really was mostly about Howe. When Utai invited Niko and Haruyuki to visit,
she said that they needed to discuss their pet's affairs, but due to the battle with Genbu and
homework, the time for this conversation was only now.
It turned out that Utai wanted to remind about two questions. The first is how to be in the
heat. Although Howe is one of the African dawns, it will still be difficult for him to be in the
thirty-five degree heat in a small enclosure, where there is nowhere to hide from her.
The second question is who will look after Howe during the Legion's trip to Yamagata,
scheduled for early August. This task looked even more difficult than the first, because she had
only two solutions: either entrusting Howe's care to someone else, or taking him with
you. However, it is very difficult to implement any of these options.
Of course, there are pet kennels in Tokyo where they will happily hold an owl, but Hou agrees
to accept food only from Utai's hands. Despite the fact that yesterday Reina did it for the first
time, and before that a couple of times with Haruyuki, the owl still ate only after Utai's
admonitions. Without her, Howe won't even look at the food offered.
But taking it with you on a trip is also an impossible task. Due to his sad past, Howe became
terribly nervous and did not even get used to the new cage right away. A trip in a carrying box,
and even such a distance, will be a monstrous stress for him. It remains to be seen whether he
will like visiting Haruyuki's grandfather.
When Utai pointed out these difficulties, he immediately guessed: the girl believes that she
will have to stay in Tokyo.
But that would be terribly unfair. The trip to Yamagata was seen as a long-awaited reward for
winning a hard, exhausting war against the Acceleration Research Society and the White
Legion. Haruyuki had already called and asked if he could take about fifteen friends with him,
and his grandfather happily agreed. Most likely, he and his grandmother will be very surprised
when they see that there is only one guy among this crowd of friends, and Haruyuki will not be
able to explain how they all met. However, the trip still promised to be fun.
But only because the Legion was going to ride together.
Utai participated in the friendly battle against the Green Legion, and in the battle for the
White Legion territory, and even played a key role in yesterday's battle with Genbu. It seemed to
Haruyuki that there was no point in going anywhere without her, but he knew that Utai was
unlikely to agree with him. She will insist to the last that the others should go on their own and
not worry about her ...
Haruyuki was about to hang his head, remembering the morning conversation, but then Niko's
voice rang out again.
- In general, I do not yet know what will come of this, so I decided not to say anything with
Maiden, but we can ask our Porky for help.
- At Porky's? Thistle Porcupine? Haruyuki asked, remembering the porcupine avatar with the
rarest fur armor.
“Yeah,” Niko nodded. - She once said that in real life she keeps a huge bird.
- What? But she's a porcupine!
- Yes, that's not the point! The Red Queen exclaimed, forcing Haruyuki to recover.
- A huge bird? Is it really an owl? ..
- Here I have no idea, but I heard that she feeds her with meat, so she must be some kind of
predatory. Parrots don't eat meat, do they?
“I-like,” he finally understood where the conversation was going and turned his head to
Niko. "Uh ... so Thistle can keep Howe at his place?"
The girl immediately shook her red head.
- Don't get ahead of ourselves, it's not yet certain. I haven't asked Porky yet. Moreover, I have
never met her in my life.
- Really?
"It's a common thing," Niko shrugged, covered by a short sleeve blouse. - It's only in
Negabyu some psychos, polls familiar in reality. Although ... lately it seems to me that it would
not hurt us to get closer to the main legionnaires of Promi ... now the former Promi.
"Yes, that would be nice," Haruyuki nodded quickly.
- But I'll tell you right away, - Niko looked sideways at him, - that we will go together to ask
her.
- What ?!
- How else, you are the chairman of the committee! But before that, of course, we need to find
out what kind of bird Porky has, and discuss this idea with Maid ... with Ui. Porky might not
mind, but will she have Howe?
- Uh-huh ...
Indeed, Howe is unlikely to agree to accept food from the hands of an unfamiliar Thistle if
Utai is not around, and besides, he may not agree with the "huge bird" in character. However, the
final decision lies with Utai.
"Thank you, Niko," Haruyuki said in a mental voice.
The girl shrugged.
- By the way, the next stop is not yours?
- What? Oh, exactly!
Looking out the window, Haruyuki saw that the bus had already passed Oume Street and was
approaching the overpass. He barely had time to raise the button and press the virtual stop
button [✱] In Japanese city buses, all stops are on demand. ...
Fifteen minutes past eight.
Haruyuki made it to the house at the same time as most of the residents were leaving for
work. Somehow he squeezed through the crowd that was rolling towards, he climbed into the
empty elevator. There was not much to do during the trip, so he ran the conversation with Niko
in his head. “By the way, Trilid should also be invited to Yamagata,” he thought. Trilid
Tetraoxide did not meet with other legionnaires in reality and refused to even discuss the real
world, but another guy on the trip was needed like air.
Haruyuki got off the elevator and walked down the hallway to his apartment. Believing that
his mother was still asleep, he silently went inside and tiptoed into the hall.
However, he immediately came across her - she was just leaving the kitchen.
“I'm back,” he said, blinking a couple of times in surprise. - Good morning, mom.
“Good morning and welcome back,” answered Arita Saya with a nod, holding a white
porcelain cup.
Still dressed in a shiny nightie, she walked past Haruyuki and sat down at the table. Barely
settling down, she sipped her tea and began fiddling with the virtual desktop.
Meanwhile, Haruyuki walked into the kitchen corner, washed his hands and opened the
refrigerator. Pulling out a bottle of iced tea, he checked the stock of food. Tortilla rolls, canapés
and lasagna yesterday's disappeared without a trace. It seems that they became for the mother not
only yesterday's breakfast, but also dinner.
After pouring tea into a glass and quenching his thirst, Haruyuki lifted the bag from his
shoulder and pulled out a biodegradable plastic container. Initially, he was going to put it in the
refrigerator, but now he changed his mind and threw it over his shoulder:
- Mom, will you be onigiri?
Mother looked up from the work table and looked in bewilderment.
- Onigiri? Did you buy them downstairs?
- No, friends blinded me after spending the night.
Although Haruyuki was hiding everything about the Accelerated World from his mother, he
now spoke the truth. Fouko had extra rice and salmon, so she made an onigiri, and he got three
things.
- Hmm ... With what?
- With salmon.
- Then I'll eat one. Can I have some more miso, at least instant?
- Now.
Haruyuki turned on the electric kettle with his right hand, and with his left took out a bowl for
soup and a square saucer. He poured wakame, onion and a cube of miso into a bowl, then added
boiling water. Finally, he brought his mother a bowl of soup and a saucer of onigiri, and then he
also sat down at the table and pretended to click on the virtual desktop, when in fact he was
following his mother's expression.
She took a sip of the soup, then took a bite of the onigiri. It was difficult to understand
something from her expression, but she did not put the onigiri aside, but continued to eat. So she
liked him.
"By the way, her birthday is coming soon," Haruyuki suddenly remembered.
Saya got married and gave birth during her graduate studies. She was twenty-three, her
husband twenty-six, and by modern standards, this is very early. She is only thirty-eight this
year, and her short hair still shines luxuriously, and her face looks young ... except for the skin
under her eyes, but even that was only visible in the bright morning light.
But these bags were not surprising. Saya worked in the dealing department of an international
investment bank and regularly dealt with international currency exchanges. In addition to
irregular working hours, she often stayed in the evenings for drinks with colleagues. Even at
home, Saya constantly followed international trends with the help of a neurolinker, so she did not
relax for a second. Sometimes it seemed to Haruyuki that his mother was working too hard ... but
otherwise they would not have lived in a huge apartment, the hall of which could easily
accommodate a dozen guests from the Legion.
Haruyuki could still complain that his mother did not cook food ... but at the same time, he
understood: if he was tired of semi-finished products, he had to get down to business
himself. Even little Utai deftly wielded a kitchen knife, which means that he should do just as
well. He promised himself to try to cook something today.
- What did you talk about at the committee meeting? - suddenly asked the mother, looking up
from the onigiri.
"Uh ..." Haruyuki drawled. - We discussed the animal that we keep at school, homework for
the summer ... and a little game ...
- An animal? Do you have a rabbit or what?
- No, African dawn. This is such an owl.
Saya looked up from the virtual desktop. Her expression softened slightly.
- Ah, we called such azorki.
- A ... dawns? Is this short for dawn?
- Yes. Once upon a time I wanted this too.
- Uh ... You wanted an owl?
“A long time ago,” Saya confirmed. “You know about the girl’s cherry orchard in
Yamagata?” There are a lot of fans in the forest to feast on cherries ... From birds, sparrows,
starlings and bulbul, from animals, rats, civets, and bears.
- The Bears?! Bears attacking the cherry orchard ?!
- Now it is no longer thanks to high-voltage electric fences, but birds and rats cannot be
stopped by them. Therefore, they built a nest in the garden and put an owl in it.
- Wow ...
- When I was little, there was a long-eared owl in our garden. They usually fly south for the
winter from Tohoku [✱] North-eastern part of Honshu. , but ours never left the garden ... She
lived for about six or seven years, and then she died when I was in high school. I never found out
what happened to her, but I was very sad and thought that when I grow up and start living alone,
I will definitely have an owl.
Now Saya almost did not communicate with her parents and hardly talked about the past. At
least for the last few years, she hasn't exactly said anything like that.
“But once she lived with her grandfather in Yamagata and was also a child,” Haruyuki
thought and asked:
- But you didn't?
- If you are caring for an owl at school, you should have already understood that keeping a
bird of prey is very difficult. I put it off for later and eventually forgot, - she smiled faintly and
finished her tea. - Thanks for the onigiri, I liked it. What are your plans for today?
- Uh ... go to school closer to lunch.
- Look, don't get heatstroke, - answered Saya, transferred five hundred yen to her son's
Neurolinker for lunch and got up from the table to take the dishes to the kitchen.
Haruyuki wanted to stop her, since they hadn't discussed so many things yet ... Would mother
want to come to school to see Hou? Will he go to Yamagata too? Will she tell anything about her
ex-husband? ..
But he fell silent, afraid to hear a refusal.
Saya hastily washed the saucer, bowl and cup, then returned to the hall. She was about to go
out into the corridor, but suddenly stopped and turned around.
- By the way, did you write your campaign speech?
"Ah ... Yes," Haruyuki found the file on the virtual desktop and handed it to his mother.
- I will review and send it in a couple of days.
- Don't be in a hurry, it's not urgent.
“Otherwise, I’ll forget,” her mother answered and closed the door behind her.
Haruyuki returned to his room, did some more homework, then took a shower and left the
house at exactly eleven.
It was another clear day, but with a dry east wind that slightly dispersed the heat. The forecast
explained this by the appearance of a typhoon in the south, which could hit Honshu in a few
days. However, forecasts for the first ten days of August still promised clear summer weather, so
the trip to Yamagata was not in danger.
When they reached the school, Haruyuki greeted Hou and started cleaning the grounds. It
turns out that trees shed their foliage abundantly even in summer. If it is not removed every day,
it accumulates in heaps in the corners.
When Haruyuki finished, he was in for a surprise - Utai came not alone, but with Izeki
Reina. He even decided to remind that today it is his turn to be on duty, but Reyna retorted: "So
what, you also came yesterday."
The three of them fed Howe again, then went about their business. Haruyuki first went to the
cafeteria - open but not working - to eat a bun he had bought along the way, then moved to the
library, where he took up his homework again. Towards evening, Chiyuri and Takumu finished
their workouts, and the three of them went to the favorite Angie pastry shop, where they took
fruit paste.
In the meantime, the mother left for work, leaving a message: "I'll be there late tomorrow
night." Haruyuki did not give up the idea of making dinner and went down to the mall for
groceries, but on the way he accidentally bumped into Chiyuri. She instantly asked what he was
planning, after which she turned up to visit him and endlessly commented on the entire cooking
process.
Thus, Haruyuki's plan to cook dinner solely on his own did not come true, but thanks to the
help of a friend, the fried chicken and bean salad turned out to be quite edible. Chiyuri also ate,
and even as if the dinner was prepared for her. When he accompanied her to the door and
returned to the hall, the clock showed exactly seven in the evening. Outside the window, the last
rays of the sunset blushed and the first stars lit up. Haruyuki drew the curtains and played the
day's events in his head.
From whatever side you look, he turned out to be quiet, calm and cheerful.
In the future, he recalled this day many times - ordinary, but this and dear to his heart.
When Haruyuki sent off his school uniform and washed himself, he put on shorts and a Tshirt, brushed his teeth, and returned to his room.
The Silver Crow rescue operation was scheduled for eleven o'clock in the evening, but an
hour before that, a general collection in full immersion was scheduled. Since it was now only
half past seven, Haruyuki still had more than two hours left.
How to kill time? Do your homework? Finish a game? To see a movie?
Making plans, he lay down on the bed and suddenly heard the long-awaited sound in his
head. As if a distant bell rang softly twice.
Jumping in place, Haruyuki instantly dropped his head on the pillow and inhaled deeply.
- Unlim ...
He barely had time to close his mouth. It was still not enough to enter an unlimited neutral
field! Overcoming the habit, Haruyuki shouted:
- Burst Link!
A thunderous acceleration separated his consciousness from the real world.
Chapter 12
Haruyuki turned into a pink pig again and found himself in a blue world. At first he landed on
the fifth point, but sprung and stood on his hooves. The eyes were already looking for something
that could become the gateway to the highest level. Something that can be dealt a concentrated
blow. But there were only furniture, wardrobes and a bed around. Haruyuki did not keep a mirror
in the room.
It could only be replaced by the glass of the window with the prudently parted
curtains. Haruyuki got into a fighting stance and clenched his fist. Fighting the urge to strike
quickly, he tried to remember how he felt before ascending to the highest level from the
Shinomiya family home.
Suddenly a small dot lit up in front of my eyes. But this snow-white light could not appear in
the blue world!
Nevertheless, he gradually grew, turning into a ring. Then a sharp spindle and a pair of wings
appeared underneath. The light has become a three-dimensional icon covered with a golden
color.
"Ah! .." Haruyuki exclaimed.
He relaxed a fist clenched at the hip and reached forward, trying to touch the icon. But here ...
“How many times have I told you not to touch me for no reason! - sounded a melodic voice
caressing the ear.
Only she, his archangel friend, could speak so imperiously and at the same time tenderly.
- Metatron! - Haruyuki shouted in a broken voice and, mentally prepared for another
thrashing, jumped on the icon with outstretched arms.
Firmly clutching a tiny, about five centimeters, spindle to his chest, he, with difficulty holding
back tears, squeezed out:
- Welcome back, Metatron ...
He expected an explosion of indignation or a slap on the cheek with his wing, but the icon
was silent.
Finally, she slipped out of the embrace and took off, stopping out of the pig's reach. Then the
icon spread its wings ... and the blue world suddenly filled with a dazzling golden
glow. Haruyuki had to close her eyes.
He thought that Metatron had left, but then he opened his eyes ...
And he saw in front of him a slender girl in a snow-white dress and with long silver
hair. Behind her were folded wings, a thin halo sparkled above her head. The second, she is the
real form of Enemi of the Legendary Class of Archangel Metatron.
Shocked, he froze in place. Metatron slowly looked around without opening her eyes and
said:
“It looks like it's… not quite the lowest level.
"Uh-huh," Haruyuki nodded.
Metatron and other higher beings call the unlimited neutral field the middle level, the usual
dueling field low, and reality the lower. Of course, Metatron has never been in the real world, but
she probably saw the blue world for the first time.
- We call this place the initial accelerated field or blue world. It is ... a kind of space between
the lowest and the lowest ...
"In that case, does this bleak landscape represent your lower-level living quarters, servant?"
"Yes, that's right," Haruyuki nodded again.
“Okay, but why do you look like that? Metatron asked, looking down at the piglet.
- Ah, this look, he ... I don't know if you understand or not, but I use it in the virtual worlds of
the lower level ...
- In other words, do you choose this look when you go to other worlds besides BB2039?
With these words, Metatron bent down, stretching out her right hand, and caught the pig by
the ears. Haruyuki kicked in vain, but Metatron lifted him to face level and frowned.
“Servant, I am amazed that you are using this form, but at the same time you call me an insect
or a pet.
“It… I didn't name it! Haruyuki protested desperately, not taking his eyes off the archangel's
face.
Her unearthly beauty has not faded in the least since their first meeting near Tokyo's Midtown
Tower. Metatron looked impeccable, and nothing in her appearance indicated that she was
severely injured during the battle with Disaster Armor 2.
“Metatron… have you recovered yet? Haruyuki asked timidly.
The archangel flapped her wings slightly in response.
- Yes, that's why I called you. In fact, I wanted to invite you to the Air Hut at the intermediate
level, but you have to fly from here at least a hundred seconds, so I came myself.
“Ah… thanks.
Haruyuki tried to nod in gratitude, but since Metatron was holding his ears, he was only able
to sway a little.
In fact, there are about ten kilometers between Koenji, where Haruyuki lives, and Shiba Park,
where the Air Hut is located. Considering that the average speed of Silver Crow is about one
hundred kilometers per hour, the journey would take six minutes, or three and a half times as
long as Metatron said. However, now, if he wanted to, he would not have been able to respond to
such a call.
- I am very glad that you came. The thing is, I can't get to the intermediate level ...
- Hm? Metatron tilted her head in bewilderment. - During the recovery, I was cut off from the
flow of information, but still continued to monitor you to a limited extent using our
connection. As far as I understand, you managed to destroy this intolerable ball ... or rather, Inti.
- Yes, albeit with difficulty ...
- After that, I turned off the tracking in order to throw all my strength into rehabilitation. Did
something happen after defeating Inti?
"Uh ..." Haruyuki hesitated, not knowing where to start the story.
“Okay, whatever you want,” Metatron snapped irritably. - Then I myself will study your
memories.
- Ah, b-but this is only possible at the highest level!
- It seems that I have already said that our connection is growing stronger while I am
recovering. Now I can read your memories at any level, as long as we are both there, ”Metatron
snapped, brought the hanging Haruyuki to her face and touched his forehead with hers.
Haruyuki felt as if he had been electrocuted. A huge amount of information was rapidly
copied from his quantum circuit to the Metatron circuit.
When finished, Metatron did not move for a while. Only a few seconds later, Haruyuki made
out, very close, opposite his patch, a barely audible whisper:
- Tezcatlipoca ...
Metatron finally lifted it from her forehead, but did not place Haruyuki on the floor. On the
contrary, she hugged the pig to her chest. From the unexpected gentleness and warmth, he was
completely speechless, but the archangel, it seems, did not even understand what happened. She
just stood with her eyes closed, as if pondering the information received.
And finally ...
- A device for closing the world ... So that's what was hiding inside Inti ...
Metatron's reaction was almost the same as Centorea Sentry's, but his voice was noticeably
darker.
No wonder. Neither Haruyuki nor the rest of the Burst Linkers would truly die if they had lost
Brain Burst. However, Metatron and other beings will disappear along with the accelerated
world.
No, though.
Sentry responded in a different tone not at all because she was not in danger of death. She was
just trying to cheer up and calm the others. Most burst linkers in their hearts believe that losing
Brain Burst is worse for them than death, and Sentry, as she returned from the "dead", is familiar
with this horror firsthand.
The world cannot be allowed to perish. For Metatron and for all Burst Linkers.
“Don't worry, Metatron,” Haruyuki said, lifting his head. - We will not let the world close.
The White Queen and the Oscillatori legionnaires argue that this is inevitable, but I disagree with
them, as I continue to move forward. Step by step we are approaching the main goal: the
storming of the Imperial Castle and the Shimmering Light.
"Crow ..." Metatron whispered, for some reason not calling Haruyuki "servant." The next
second, she opened her eyelids. Charming golden eyes looked at the pink piglet drowning in her
soft chest ...
- Y-so! What does it mean?! You allow yourself too much, servant! She exclaimed, grabbing
Haruyuki by the ears and throwing him away.
- Oh! Y-you hugged me yourself!
Jumping across the blue floor like a bouncing bouncy, Haruyuki was delighted at heart. This
injustice meant that Metatron became herself again.
They chatted happily about various things until Haruyuki realized that more than twenty
minutes had passed and the acceleration was coming to an end. He told Metatron as quickly as
possible the essence of today's rescue operation: to destroy the six wreaths of Radiance and to
take Tezcatlipoca out of the control of the White Legion. Metatron will also take part, and the
sword will be lent to her by Centorea Sentry. The ten-hour meeting will be held in a virtual space
of the real world, but then the participants will visit the Air Hut in an unlimited neutral field and
once again discuss the plan with the archangel.
After listening, Metatron nodded and said:
- Indeed, if you have collected swordsmen of the Graphite Edge level, then it will not be
difficult to break these disgusting wreaths ... However, the main difficulty is not in this, but in
the flight itself.
- A?..
“When you broke the wreath of my first uniform near Midtown Tower, it froze for a little
over seven seconds. This is enough for you and me to fly to a safe distance, but what about the
rest of the fighters? I'm not sure they can get far enough on the ground.
- A…
Really. Five participants in the battle - Trilid Tetraoxide, Cyan Pyle, Centorea Sentry,
Lavender Down and Graphite Edge - will have to retreat from the battlefield on foot, but even
the fastest avatar will not run in seven seconds and two hundred meters. The territory of the
Grand Castle is a square with a side of a kilometer, and Tezcatlipoca stands exactly in the
middle. In seven seconds, none of them will have time to rush half a kilometer to the main gate.
Haruyuki hung his head. He realized that he was thinking only of how to escape from endless
destruction, and completely forgot about the safety of his comrades.
Suddenly they grabbed him by the ears again. Metatron lifted the piglet, frowned slightly as if
hesitating, then pressed it to her chest again.
“Don't worry, Crowe.
- A?..
- I'll help them escape. Think only of your own salvation.
- B-but how ?! Even you can't take five of them fast enough! Haruyuki objected.
The archangel lightly flicked his forehead.
- Who are you holding me for? I regained my strength, and now taking the five warriors away
is easier for me than ever.
- Then take at least the wings ...
Haruyuki offered to return the Booster Equipment that Metatron had given him, and she
poked the piggy with her finger again.
- They are already part of our connection, they cannot be touched. If I said I can do it, then I
can do it. Seven seconds is enough for me to take them to my house, - assured Metatron and
smiled softly. Then she put the piglet on the bed and began to dissolve into thin air. “Well, I'll be
waiting for Graphite Edge at the Air Hut. Yes, and by the way ... - the archangel has almost
disappeared from the initial accelerated field, but managed to add: - This is your incarnation to
my liking.
The acceleration came to an end, and Haruyuki immediately sent messages to Kuroyukihime,
Fouko and Seri that Metatron had returned to duty.
He spent the rest of his free time studying and memorizing the three-dimensional map of the
Grand Castle. Silver Crow's task during today's operation is to start from the balcony as soon as
the wreaths break and rush in the safest direction. Perhaps you will not have to fly up, but
forward, in which case Haruyuki must perfectly know the terrain so as not to lose speed.
There is very little left.
The rescue of Silver Crow and the successful escape of the six swordsmen will mark the end
of a series of intrigues of the White Legion that began three days ago with the fall of Inti ... or
rather, even earlier. Haruyuki had no idea how Tezcatlipoca would behave, freed from the power
of the Shining, but even if the White Queen enslaved him again, she could hardly harm the
Legions in an unlimited neutral field. Although this huge Enemi can fly, any burst linker will see
him from afar and have time to escape.
There was only one obstacle in their path.
Break it - and they will finally be one step ahead of the "Transient eternity" White
Cosmos. Haruyuki believed that they could do it, but he suddenly remembered the last words of
the White Queen, spoken on the balcony of Heimveldt:
“Be prepared for the fact that if you dive here at the wrong time, you will live no more than a
second. And your friends too. "
Haruyuki shook his head, repelling the echo of the sweet voice.
- Nobody dies. Not me, not the others, ”he said aloud and looked again at the threedimensional map.
At half past nine, Chiyuri and Takumu came to visit.
Chiyuri, as usual, did not come empty-handed, but took with her a caffeine-free and almost
sugar-free soy latte. For a while, friends drank coffee and talked about all sorts of nonsense, and
at exactly ten they sat down on the sofa in the hall and connected to virtual reality.
The Legion once again gathered on Thalassa's back, and even the line-up remained almost
unchanged, save for one new girl from the former Prominence: Lavender Down, whom Cassis
Moose called "The Tranquilizer."
Haruyuki had already seen her during the unification of the Legions, but then did not pay
much attention to the slender avatar in the lilac armor like a jacket. She didn't seem to have a
sword with her. During the vote, Lavender joined those who approved the unification of the
Legions, but with conditions.
In virtual space, she looked almost the same as her game avatar. Her gray jacket and lavender
tie made her the only one who seemed alive. Rather long hair was gathered in a side ponytail at
the left ear, and the girl's eyes were hidden behind glasses in dark purple frames.
First, Lavender Down stood in front of the pulpit while Cassis Moose introduced her to the
others. Then she bowed and was about to return to her seat, but a marten in a kimono suddenly
came out to meet her.
“Haven't seen each other for a long time, Love,” said the character Centorea Sentry.
- Sensen ...
They called each other by diminutive nicknames, but for some reason they did not even shake
hands, they froze in silence for a long time. Finally, Sentry smiled slightly.
“Thank you for agreeing to take part in an extremely dangerous operation. I was forty percent
sure that you would refuse.
- I heard that Crowe helped Orhi and Rosie ...
- I see. By the way, do you know what happened to the rest of the "flowers"?
Haruyuki had no idea what this was about. Lavender Down silently shook her head, then
replied:
“But you and the Orhi, whom I thought were dead, are now back, so ...
- Yeah. Okay, let's talk after the battle.
Lavender Down nodded and sat down in her chair. Sentry looked around the audience and
asked:
- “Anomaly” didn't come, or what?
Indeed, no Graphite Edge, the most important of swordsmen, was visible on the whale's
back. Trilid stood up, and even his mask radiated guilt.
- I beg your pardon, but the teacher said that he would meet with us on an unlimited neutral
field.
- Hmpf, again he is for his own. Sorry to interrupt, Raker. Go on.
Having taken over the baton, Foucault stood at the pulpit in the already familiar costume of a
teacher and tapped with a pointer on the board behind her back, where a large arrow pointed
downwards at the head of the sketchy giant.
“Our plan is extremely simple. I'll take two fighters, Metatron three. We will take off from the
roof of the Telecom Center [✱] TOKYO MX TV headquarters, one of the most prominent
buildings on the artificial island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. Also known as Teleport. Looks like
a big P. , infiltrate the airspace of the Grand Castle and drop the swordsmen on
Tezcatlipoca. After that, I immediately fly to Wakasa, and Metatron dives towards the
soldiers. The six of them cut wreaths and land. While the freed Tezcatlipoca regains
consciousness, they escape through the main gate of the Grand Castle to the west. Metatron gives
Haruyuki a command through their bond, he enters an unlimited neutral field and immediately
flies away in a safe direction. All!
Foucault spoke without pauses and stops. As soon as she finished, Kuroyukihime raised her
hand.
- Raker, can I have a question?
“Of course, Lotus.
“I understand that it’s a bit late to think about it, but do we rely too much on Metatron, who
barely had time to recuperate? She is now a transport, a fighter, and a coordinator.
“Indeed,” Foucault winced and nodded. “But I won't carry six of them, and from the ground
none of the swordsmen will reach the wreaths on the head, chest, and so on. I thought a lot, but it
doesn't work out any other way.
“How about leaving her only transportation and coordination? Why not take me as a
swordsman and ...
- No-no! - shouted all the participants in the meeting.
Kuroyukihime sulked in offense, and restrained chuckles were heard from all sides.
"May I ...?" Asked Haruyuki, raising his hand.
- Yes, Raven-san?
“I just spoke to Metatron, and she said that the swordsmen won't have time to escape until
Tezcatlipoca comes to his senses. Therefore, she promised to carry away the rest of the soldiers
during the retreat ...
Foucault was silent for a few seconds, then smiled awkwardly.
- Looks like we owe her a mountain of cakes.
They thoroughly discussed all the details and ended the meeting at quarter to eleven.
Further, the participants in the operation will have to plunge into an unlimited neutral field
and meet at the foot of the Old Tokyo Tower. There they will meet with Metatron, explain the
plan to her, and then fly over the Rainbow Bridge to the Telecom Center. The helipad on the roof
of this building is one hundred and twenty meters from the ground - even higher than the head of
Tezcatlipoca. Foucault believed the Hurricane Nozzles had enough energy to carry the two
dueling avatars to the Grand Castle. Metatron will probably offer to carry the five swordsmen in
both directions, but during the attack, the squad will need as much speed as possible.
"Eh, I could also carry someone ..." - Haruyuki involuntarily thought, but this time he had to
wait patiently for Metatron's signal. Usually they had to choose a dive time approximately, but
this time the bell in their head will be heard exactly when needed. Senior burst linkers have
already shared their experience: in the “unlimited burst” team, you can drag “c” for up to two
seconds, so that with proper concentration you can have time to dive a tenth of a second after the
command. On an unlimited neutral field, a little more than one and a half minutes will pass
during this time.
Haruyuki and Chiyuri sat on either side of the already submerged Takumu and exchanged
glances.
“Don't worry, Haru. You will succeed, ”whispered Chiyuri.
“Yeah.” He nodded, then deliberately asked a non-battle question, “By the way, will you and
Taku be allowed to skip class during the trip?”
“Yes, for sure, but Takkunu…” Chiyuri shook her head. - He's got the Kanto championship
on his nose. But Takkun is also very much looking forward to her and will probably get out
somehow.
- I see. If Taku doesn't go because of this, I'll be one guy there ... Of course, I will invite Lida
too, but ...
The childhood friend giggled.
- Yes, your grandfather and grandmother will be very surprised.
“Don't giggle, but help me come up with a legend. What can I tell them about how we met?
- Tell me honestly what's in the game.
- So my grandfather is also a gamer. He will definitely ask which one.
- Then tell me that we have a circle of fans of fighting games.
- Listen ...
Time flew by while talking.
Eleven o'clock was approaching inexorably. The squad has probably already gathered and
flew to Odaiba. Metatron would have alerted Haruyuki in case of unforeseen difficulties, but so
far their connection has been silent.
Suddenly, Chiyuri held out her hand over the motionless Takumu. Haruyuki took it in his
own, and they placed their clasped hands on their friend's stomach.
Ten hours fifty nine minutes ten seconds. Twenty seconds ... thirty ... forty ... fifty.
Fifty five.
Six, seven, eight.
- Unlimited burs-s-s ...
There was a soft ringing in Haruyuki's head.
-… T!
The dry roar of acceleration separated the mind from the body and sent it to a distant world.
Chapter 13
He opened his eyes.
A pearly milky sky stretched overhead. The neat spiers of numerous temples stretched
towards it. “Holy land”, one of the highest holy levels.
A good start. This level will give Archangel Metatron even more strength, moreover, there are
no obstacles for flight on it. Its main feature is frequent ricochets of ranged attacks, but
swordsmen are not affected.
Haruyuki looked to his left.
In the central square of the Grand Castle stood the tower-like figure of Enemi Ultra Class
“God of the Apocalypse Tezcatlipoca”. [✱] Sound then thought that it hadn't been torturing you
for a long time with inappropriate footnotes with fig tracks. Inazuma Eleven Ares / Orion
OST - Intense Struggle, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmf8aH6586Y
He had already noticed Haruyuki. On a face that looked black against a light background,
white concentric circles glowed dimly. The right hand began to rise with a dull rumble.
This single blow could kill Silver Crow. Haruyuki wanted to immediately spread his wings
and fly away, but now he was acting as a decoy. I had to conquer fear and stare at the giant.
Shooting stars flashed in the sky.
They approached from the northwest - one blue, the other white. The first quickly turned
south, the second flew straight down. Five figures soon became visible around her. It was
Metatron and the other swordsmen who arrived.
Tezcatlipoca was still looking at Haruyuki. Black circles appeared on the right palm facing
Silver Crow, visible even in the shadow. Gravitational attack "Toshkatl". And the circles lit up
much faster than in Kitanomaru Park.
Realizing that the gravitational field could affect the flight path of the swordsmen, Haruyuki
mechanically raised his left hand. He focused the image of light in his palm, squeezed it to the
limit, then released it.
- Light Shell!
A thin white film appeared around the avatar.
In the same second, the giant's hand released a space-distorting wave.
Haruyuki had no idea how exactly the Accelerated World handled the collision of these
attacks. But personally it seemed to him that some of the gravitons had decayed, colliding with a
photon barrier, and the rest enveloped the giant from all sides.
However, then a dimly glowing gravitational veil was pierced by a white comet. Archangel
Metatron.
- Ha-ah-ah! She exclaimed, slashing downward with all her might with the two-handed sword.
The blade taken from Centorea Sentry left a rainbow mark in the air and cut through
Tezcatlipoca's body, not only cutting through the largest chest wreath, but also damaging the
wreaths on the stomach and hips. The huge body arched, probably feeling the strongest blow.
Then came Cyan Pyle and Trilid Tetraoxide.
- Cyan Blade!
- Havenly Streitos!
The two Incarnations cut the wreaths on the right and left hands.
It was the turn of the next pair - Lavender Down with a pleated skirt fluttering in the wind and
Centorea Sentry with flowing silvery hair. They didn’t shout anything, and only staggeringly
quickly swung their swords enveloped in the finest concentrated Overrey. Third level incarnation
...
The wreaths on the belly and thighs fell silently into halves.
And finally ...
In the soft light of the Holy Land, a pair of diamond blades of the black dueling avatar dived
into Tezcatlipoca's head blindingly flashed.
Graphite Edge, the last participant in the attack.
The giant raised his right hand sharply, trying to brush the swordsman away.
In response, the Count took his left hand back, lit the sword with a scarlet Overrey and threw
it forward. Haruyuki's eyes could barely keep up with the movements of the avatar.
- Vorpal Strike!
A crimson spear fired from the sword and pierced Tezcatlipoca's arm.
In the next instant, the second sword, enveloped in a pale white Overrey, gently touched the
wreath on Enemy's head.
At first nothing happened, but then a white line ran through the wreath and split it in two.
Incarnation of the third level "Enlightener".
It took six swordsmen only half a second to free Tezcatlipoca from the shackles of the
Radiance.
The level shook with a low hum, and the giant froze.
The moment of truth has arrived. After being freed from the power of the White Queen, the
strongest Enemi will need from seven to ten seconds to recover. Friends gave Haruyuki his first
and last chance to escape.
"Fly!"
Haruyuki shot the light of Incarnation from his wings and soared into the air.
- Light Speed!
He was not afraid to spend all his energy. If only to fly away to where the hands of the White
Queen no longer reach him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the falling swordsmen catch the carpet of light woven
from Metatron. The archangel carried the dueling avatars almost to the very ground, and at such
a speed that she probably squeezed all the energy out of herself too. In seven seconds they will
be far beyond the Grand Castle.
There is very little left.
It will be over soon!
But suddenly a sound wave came from behind, almost deafening him.
- Goar-r-r-r-r-r!
Haruyuki turned around reflexively, continuing to climb.
He saw Tezcatlipoca leaning forward and squeezing his outstretched arms and butting his
head in the air like an angry bull.
As he roared, the concentric circles on his face trembled and widened. A hole opened in the
void, from which some black slabs appeared. Teeth. But not sharp animal, but flat human. The
huge mouth - like the embodiment of anger and insatiable hunger - opened wide ...
And a black wave spread in all directions from Tezcatlipoca.
It was then that Haruyuki realized that the White Queen was not at all controlling the giant
with the Shining.
She held him back. Limited. Suppressed the power of the God of the apocalypse and made
him just an Ultra Class Enemi.
The white marble slabs under the giant's feet cracked as the black wave touched them. The
high walls of Heimveldt also began to crumble.
A second later, the shockwave caught up with the taking off Haruyuki.
The metal scales on the wings flew in all directions, the armor cracked. Haruyuki felt as if he
had been hit with a thirty-ton weight. He had never experienced anything like it before. The
health bar in the upper left corner of the field of view instantly lost four-fifths of its reserves.
Having lost his wings, he immediately went into a tailspin and crashed into the upper spire of
Heimveldt, losing half of his remaining health. The scale turned dark red.
But Haruyuki still raised his head with the last of his strength and looked not at the scale, but
at the main gate of the Grand Castle.
The shockwave just swept over the six swordsmen.
Metatron's snow-white wings tore off at the root and shattered into feathers. She immediately
fell and rolled over the marble masonry. The dueling avatars fell from her back and crashed into
the temple wall.
“Ah… ah…” Haruyuki moaned, trying to get up.
But his avatar was stuck in the roof and couldn't move. He even obeyed somehow reluctantly
- perhaps the damage from the wave reached his inner body.
Nevertheless, Haruyuki was able to pull his hand out of the wreckage and point it at
Tezcatlipoca's head.
- Look here, monster! - he shouted hoarsely and gathered in his fingers all the remaining
energy of the Incarnation.
When Overrey flushed uncertainly, Haruyuki cast on him the only image he was still capable
of.
- Laser Lance!
The lance of light hit the back of Tezcatlipoca's head, leaving a five-centimeter hole ...
And that's all. Haruyuki didn’t notice that the ten-level health bar above the giant’s head was
getting any smaller. At the same time, he did not feel that his attack was reflected back, as
sometimes happened at this level.
Tezcatlipoca's mouth changed slightly, as if taunting the impudent dwarf. Then the giant
turned to the six swordsmen lying on the ground and raised his left hand. Haruyuki couldn’t see
the palm, but realized that red circles were lighting up right now.
- Goa! - the giant roared shortly and released a scarlet fiery spiral.
The fireworks, which were probably not inferior in strength to Suzaku's fiery breath, flew
right into a handful of fighters.
- Run! Haruyuki yelled.
One of the Burst Linkers rose as if hearing his voice. Graphite Edge. His black armor was
cracked all over, but the diamond blades were not damaged. The avatar ran, not from the
fireworks, but towards him - and put his swords in front of him.
- Spinning Shield [✱] Spinning Shield, Spinning shield. ! - he shouted the name of the
technique and began to rotate the mill with swords.
The blades instantly turned into a light shield. The spiral hit him, and a dull rumble echoed
throughout the area. The flash hid the Earl from sight, but he seemed to resist. Haruyuki always
considered Graphite Edge an avatar created exclusively for offense, but now he showed miracles
in defense, because not everyone can defend against the blow of the freed Tezcatlipoca. If the
rest of the five swordsmen quickly come to their senses and survive until the end of the attack,
they will still have time to escape.
As such, Haruyuki couldn't just watch the battle. He must take off again so that the efforts of
his friends are not wasted. Fortunately, he still has the angelic wings donated by Metatron.
- Equip ...
He was already beginning to utter the command to summon Boost Equipment, when suddenly
he heard a strange wet sound.
Tezcatlipoca continued to release a fiery spiral from his left hand, but at the same time he shot
from the stomach with some kind of black ball.
But it was not a bomb. The translucent ball trembled in flight, as if it consisted of a dense
liquid. Purple sparks ran endlessly across its surface.
Haruyuki had seen this attack before.
Yes, that was ... when they rescued Aqua Karent at the eastern gate of the Imperial Castle ...
As he tried to remember the details, someone had broken through from within the curtain of
fire that hung in front of the Graphite Edge light shield. One of the avatars ran straight towards
the black ball. Cyan Pyle, Takumu.
- Whoa-oh-oh! He roared, grabbing the Incarnation Sword with both hands and hitting it with
incredible speed.
The blade emitted a blue wave and split the ball in two.
But…
The halves, as if nothing had happened, stuck together and swallowed Cyan Pile with a loud
squelch.
The liquid ball froze in place, and the purple sparks looked like living worms. Yes, Haruyuki
knew this attack.
Level Pulling. The most evil and unusual attack in the accelerated world, available only to
Seiryu. Right now, this ball was siphoning hard-earned burst points from Takumu.
- Wow ... ah-ah-ah! Haruyuki yelled.
Having lost his head, he again thrashed, trying to get out of the roof. Sharp debris pierced his
armor, and Haruyuki began to break them off, oblivious to the fact that he was losing health.
But he only managed to free his torso when the ball around Takumu blazed brightly.
Cyan Pyle fell to his knees. He just rolled back from level six to level five.
Haruyuki remembered one of their conversations in the living room.
- Let's promise each other. Someday, when we both become high-level burst linkers ... say,
seventh level, we will fight you with full strength again. You go through a lot of workouts and
get stronger. But I want to try to defeat you, and this time on my own. What do you say, Haru?
- Good. I promise, Taku.
All this time, Haruyuki and Takumu fought, remembering their promise to each other. Thanks
to the victory over Inti, they have almost reached the airbag for the next level. It seemed to
Haruyuki that the promised battle would take place immediately after defeating the White
Legion, but ...
- No no! Shouted Haruyuki, feeling the tears flowing from the lenses of his avatar.
His voice drowned out the crackle of new sparks. Fourth level.
Tezcatlipoca raised his right hand, wounded by the Graphite Edge Incarnation. This time, the
black energy gathered on the fingers, not in the palm.
He was preparing to finish off the avatar.
Realizing this, Haruyuki cut off his left leg, hopelessly stuck in the roof, to the knee. There is
only one division left of the health bar.
He struggled to stand on one leg and once again gathered the light of Incarnation in his right
palm. But Overrey flickered, not burned. Will you have enough attack power to get
Tezcatlipoca's attention? And yet ... still ...
Suddenly Haruyuki felt something, not with his body, but with his soul.
Someone is watching. Right at them. Someone is watching the tragedy from another
dimension.
As soon as Haruyuki realized this, a sudden super-acceleration without demand sent his
consciousness to the highest level.
Chapter 14
The milky sky of the Holy Land turned into pure darkness.
Buildings have become clusters of white dots.
Cyan Pyle, Graphite Edge, Trilid Tetroxide, Centorea Sentry, Lavender Down, and Metatron
now resembled twinkling stars.
A monstrous vortex of energy swirled right before my eyes. Haruyuki had never seen
anything like it before. Compared to this storm, even the Armor of Disaster 2 seemed like a grain
of sand.
It was a real black hole, ready to devour the whole world ...
- Here you see? I told you, you can't beat him.
A voice rang out from behind, and Haruyuki immediately turned around.
Next to him stood the White Queen White Cosmos. Even composed of white lights, her avatar
looked almost as usual - not so much because of the color of her armor, but because of the aura
that always surrounded the Queen.
“You… knew it would be so? Haruyuki asked in a whisper.
“No,” Cosmos shook her head slowly. “I foresaw that you would try to save Crowe, but I
didn’t expect that you would be able to break six wreaths protected from corrosion, physical and
fire damage. I laid down a program in Tezcatlipoca to grab the rescue team before my
arrival. You have finally managed to exceed my expectations. You can be proud of that.
The White Queen spoke as if she was trying to comfort Haruyuki.
In response, he clenched his fists and shouted:
- What should I be proud of ?! Because I'm ... a jerk that got my best friend into a nightmarish
trap for his stupidity ?!
Haruyuki dropped to his knees on the invisible floor. Despite all the wounds sustained on the
unbounded neutral field, at the highest level, Silver Crow seemed safe and sound. But he did not
think about it, continuing to squeeze out words of repentance with difficulty:
- I ... it never even occurred to me to look at Tezcatlipoca from the highest level ... Then I
would have understood that there was no escape from him ...
- Nothing would change. Your words would not make Lotus change her mind. Nega Neboulas
would still try to save you. This is his strength and weakness.
Haruyuki thought to argue, but couldn't find the willpower.
He just turned his eyes back to the giant black hole, continuing to kneel.
- This is the end? Will he trample my friends and begin to destroy the unlimited neutral
field? I ... caused the end of the world, right? He asked in an undertone.
The White Queen replied in a soft, almost gentle voice:
- Last time I was able to tame Tezcatilipoca, because I took advantage of his only
vulnerability - the launch phase immediately after emerging from Inti. This will not happen
again. But…
- But? ..
- But there is still hope. Perhaps I, the only Burst Linker, can stop him.
- Why you? ..
“Because he ate me a long time ago,” she said in an imperturbable voice.
Haruyuki didn’t understand what he meant and was about to ask again, but decided it wasn’t
that important right now. He had only one thing to do:
- Please, White Queen. Please stop him before he destroys my friends.
He put his hands on the ground and bent down in front of White Cosmos in an earthly bow.
- But why do I need it? The White Queen asked, tilting her head slightly. “Why should I help
you after you tried to throw Oscillatori Universe and the Acceleration Research Society out of
the Accelerated World?”
Haruyuki clenched his fists. He had to inhale and exhale a couple of times before deciding
and saying:
“I…” The words stuck in my throat, but he ordered them to say, “I’m going to Oscillatori
Universe.” I will serve you faithfully. Therefore ... therefore ...
I didn't have enough strength for more.
After listening to Haruyuki's proposal, the White Queen did not change her face at all and
only asked:
“I believe Anomaly is even stronger than Kings, but now I have the opportunity to get rid of
him and other dangerous enemies. Are you suggesting that I pass this chance for some newbie?
- Yes ... The only thing I can offer in return ... is my life and loyalty.
- Hmm ... - White Cosmos tilted her head to the other side.
While she was thinking, Haruyuki was about to hit his forehead on the ground again, but
suddenly another voice rang out in the cold space.
“I will go to the White Legion with Crow.
Turning sharply, Haruyuki saw Archangel Metatron. She stood with her eyes closed, as
always, her wings spread wide.
- A?! - he immediately jumped up and threw up his hands. “D-don’t think of it,
Metatron! Nega Nebula needs you! You have to protect senpai ... and the others in my place!
- You are ... stupid! - shouted the archangel, and sparks gushed out of her eyes ... no, tears.
Metatron ran up to Haruyuki and punched him on the left shoulder; then, without stopping,
she hugged and hugged her. Placing her other hand on the head of the avatar, she exclaimed with
pain in her voice:
- Don't you understand ... how I missed you these ten years, while I was recovering ?! I don't
want to part with you anymore! Therefore, if you go to the White Legion, then I go with you!
“Metatron…” Haruyuki only had enough to say her name.
Barely restraining his rushing emotions, he turned his head and looked at the White Queen.
The mask of Cosmos, which did not reflect any feelings, looked at them, smiling
mysteriously. The silence was broken by a gentle voice:
“Okay,” the White Queen nodded and continued in a slightly different tone. “Silver Crow and
the being Metatron. In exchange for the lives of five of your comrades, you will join my
Legion. Crow, swear allegiance.
Haruyuki obediently backed away from Metatron and took a step towards the White Queen.
“Sorry, senpai,” he mentally turned to Kuroyukihime, dropped his eyes and knelt down.
He brought his hand to his left thigh and the Clear Blade appeared on it. Fingers groped for
the guard, drew the sword from its scabbard and turned its hilt towards the new mistress.
White Cosmos took the sword and touched the tip of the left shoulder to Silver Crow.
- From now on you are my knight. Obey only my orders and sacrifice yourself for me.
"Yes," Haruyuki bowed deeply.
Metatron was on her knees too. The Clear Blade slammed into the ground before my eyes and
stood on its edge. Graceful feet turned slightly behind him.
Haruyuki looked up. The White Queen White Cosmos stood with an unreadable face and
looked at the swirling black hole.
(To be continued)
Afterword
Thank you for reading Accel World 25: Titan of the End of the World.
I again made you wait a whole year after the release of the previous volume ... But some of
you still follow the story, and I am deeply grateful to you. I’ll even repeat: many thanks!
(There will be spoilers for the storyline of this volume, so if you haven't read it yet, be
careful!)
In this volume, the drawn-out arc of the White Legion comes to an end, and the next begins
the arc of the Seventh Artifact. The ISS kits arc ended in volume sixteen, so the White Legion
arc began in volume seventeen and spanned nine books. I think Haruyuki and his friends have
done a great job! True, despite their efforts, the elder sister was always one step ahead, which led
to such an ending ... But I think many of you already doubt whether the Cosmos made the right
decision. After all, Haruyuki will remain himself wherever he is!
I wrote the twenty-fifth volume in the spring of two thousand and twentieth, when the
working conditions ... and what, really, our whole society has changed dramatically. Frankly, it
was not easy for me. Primarily due to the fact that my workplace is, whatever one may say, a
table of a chain restaurant! Of course, I had to work from home instead, but after twenty years of
writing books in a restaurant, I felt like I could only accelerate to the third broadcast instead of
the usual fifth. Plus, my engine is constantly stuck. I tried to work in other places, but I still
didn't get the desired feeling of detachment from home! Because of this, I am now planning to
temporarily occupy some table with my managers at Straight Edge, but will I be able to work
under the constant supervision of an editor? ..
Although, of course, my own inconvenience from the coronavirus is a mere trifle. More
important is how this disaster will affect the entertainment industry and society at large. Most
likely, dock-like life in the foreseeable future ... and maybe never will be. Full immersion
technology could be a real salvation in terms of protection from infection, so we can only hope
that it will be invented as soon as possible. I understand that you all now have to constantly deal
with stress, and I hope that my book will help you with this.
Well, despite all the circumstances, the plot moves of this volume are quite at the level of the
Ultra Class, if not Tezcatlipoca Class. I sincerely thank my editors Miki and Adachi, as well as
the illustrator HIMA, who draws, maybe once a year, but with all my heart! See you in the next
volume!
July 2020, Kawahara Reki
Afterword of the team
Arknarok
Hello, the Acceleration translation team is with you. Thank you for reading volume
twenty-five.
This time we have a unique case. Everything I wanted to say is already written in
the top review on the Japanese Amazon, so I'll just translate it.
This volume, of course, ends the White Legion arc, but don't worry: it doesn't end
any of the storylines associated with the Oscillatori Universe and the Acceleration
Research Society. Yes, you read that correctly. None.
Did the abstract promise the end of the battle with the White Legion? Lies. There
are no decisive battles in the volume.
What is good - according to my feelings, Kawahara almost stopped pouring water,
chewing on the events of the previous volumes.
But although this feature, which had become boring in the previous volumes,
disappeared, others remained. Given how rarely volumes come out, I can no longer
stand the way characters act against their character.
Well, I'm already used to the fact that omnipotent and omniscient enemies predict
all the actions of the heroes (but for some reason they fight with them half heartedly), but now it is added to this that the Kings and Legions who have sided
with Neg Nebulas are amazingly useless as in battle, and intellectually. Is it a
phenomenon known to all gamers when a boss decides to join a group and suddenly
loses all power? Even so, it doesn't make an excuse.
By the way, about the Kings. Because of the stupid scenes, written either for
beauty or for show-off, they seem like a bunch of idiots. At first, mindlessly and all
together, they attack Cerberus, although they are well aware of his invulnerability to
physical damage, and then they are just as amicably captured by Inti. But if the Red
and Purple Queens have beam and electrical attacks that can bypass physical
invulnerability, then why would they attack Cerberus at the same time as the
rest? Too carried away by the long-awaited battle shoulder to shoulder with your
comrades?
Okay, let's talk about volume twenty-five again. The battle against Teska ends
with him carrying Crow away. He is then turned off from outside during negotiations
with the White Queen at her base (under Teska's supervision), so that Crowe finds
himself in endless extermination.
Therefore, the Legion decides to save a comrade together! If you destroy Teska's
six wreaths, he (probably) will freeze for a few seconds, and Crowe will (probably)
have time to escape! To do this, you need to collect six swordsmen, and for this you
need to get the Edge Graphite from the captivity of the Imperial Castle!
I don’t understand how the characters came up with this.
First, we are told that the Crow are in endless extermination because of Teska,
but is that true? Yes, he ended up at an enemy base, but he was not imprisoned or
even tied up. Teska just stands by his side.
Not only is Crowe an exclusively mobile avatar, he learned at the very beginning
of the book to block Teska's gravitational field with Incarnation. Considering Enemi's
speed, I see nothing to prevent Crow from escaping. At least the situation is
definitely not as desperate as we are shown it.
It turns out that Haruyuki put his friends in danger, without even trying to break
free on his own, albeit at the cost of several burst points. Does it really fit with his
character?
Secondly, I do not understand how the Legion could simply go and decide, “Let's
free Tezcatlipoca,” without thinking about the consequences. Not only did Haruyuki
just tell them how dangerous this Enemi is (created to complete the game; stronger
than all the Gods put together; the strength of all the players will not be enough to
take even half of his health from him), they have experienced Teska's power on their
own skin!
Did none of them foresee that after this Tezcatlipoca would start indiscriminately
killing all Burst Linkers that came to hand before the end of the game? Have they
forgotten the example of the Disaster Armor? Moreover, with Tezcatlipoca,
everything a priori will be even worse, because he is not a player, but Enemi, who
never leaves the game. This is some kind of blatant carelessness.
And after all, this stupid plan was approved by all Six Legions. Didn't one of the
hundreds of burst linkers object? It seemed to me that among them there should be
people with heads on their shoulders ...
It would seem that after constant intervention from the White Queen, the heroes
should have grown wiser and began to anticipate ambushes and traps, but instead,
each next plan comes out dumber than the previous one. The identity of the enemies
is not revealed, the heroes cannot find the limit of their capabilities, and therefore the
plot is marking time.
And what is the result? After the destruction of the wreaths, Teska is expected to
spiral out of control, and Crowe and six of his friends find themselves in mortal
danger. At this point I just want to shout: "Yes, it was obvious!"
At the very end of the book, Crowe suddenly asks to join the White Legion in
exchange for saving his friends from Teska, and Metatron goes with him. All. Teska
is never stopped at the end of the volume.
I have no idea how THIS could be called the “end of the arch”. But at least for me,
this is the end of Accel World.
Most likely, the author is too busy working on SAO, so he can be distracted by this
work only once a year, but something I look at recent volumes and think: it's better to
come out every three years, but with a sensible plot.
See you in the next volume!