[!!!]
When Shido ca back to his senses, he realized that while the three of them had been talking, around ten human-shaped figures had lined up behind them, blocking the path.
Their heads looked like full-face helts, connected to thin, long bodies. Their reverse-jointed legs, built opposite to a human's structure, stepped against the ground. Together with their huge arms, they gave off a strange, uneven shape.
Without a doubt, they were so kind of chanical dolls. Their entire bodies were covered in CR-Units. Just by standing there, they gave off a dangerous feeling.
"DD-007, Bandersnatch… Though even if I say that, I doubt you would understand."
From behind the dolls, the figure of a woman slowly appeared.
[!!!]
Shido knew her.
She was the photographer traveling with them. However, her appearance had changed a lot from before. If not for her clothes and the cara hanging in front of her chest, he might not have recognized her.
"Ellen… Mathers…"
Mikoto looked at the woman before her and spoke through gritted teeth. She had thought the photographer looked a little familiar from the start, but she had never expected it to be that woman.
"Senpai knows the photographer-san? And what is that na?"
It was the first ti Shido had seen Mikoto show such open hostility. Ellen Mathers. That was completely different from the na the photographer had first given them.
"To think you still rember my na after only eting once. What an honor."
Ellen smiled.
"Of course I rember. A woman who tried to cut off my limbs and drag back as a living specin is not that easy to forget."
Mikoto stared hard at Ellen as she spoke.
"Eh?"
For a mont, Shido thought he had misheard.
[Cut off her limbs? Use her as a living specin?]
Even the AST would not do sothing that cruel and absurd. And yet—
"Then this makes things simple. My goal this ti has not changed. Could I ask you, along with Princess, to co with ?"
Everything Mikoto had just said was calmly confird by the woman in front of them, with a smile.
Ellen raised her hand. In response to her movent, the Bandersnatch all rushed toward the barrier at once.
However—
"Sandalphon!"
The path of the blade turned into light, cutting several machines apart in one stroke.
"I see. Miko together with Princess. That really is a troubleso combination."
Ellen's body was wrapped in light. In an instant, she changed into her CR-Unit Pendragon. It was completely different from the standard AST equipnt Shido had seen before. It was a set of weapons filled with force and pressure.
"Be careful, Tohka. That woman is not on the sa level as the AST."
Mikoto had fought Ellen before. She knew very well that if they treated that person like an ordinary AST mber, they would pay for it.
"Mm! I can feel it too… a really, really unpleasant feeling."
Tohka raised her greatsword toward Ellen and spoke carefully.
"Then, here I co."
The thrusters on Ellen's back ignited.
In an instant, Ellen appeared before the barrier.
Clang!
The high-output laser blade, Caledfwlch, scattered countless sparks across the night barrier. Ellen slashed at the torii gates several tis at a speed that was hard to follow with the naked eye.
However, the divine realm did not shake at all. Instead, Tohka's slash from inside the barrier forced Ellen back.
"As troubleso as ever. Truly an unpleasant Angel."
Ellen ca to a stop and frowned at Tsukuyomi. She recalled her first contact with Miko. Because of that Angel, Ellen had been forced to watch Miko vanish before her eyes.
"Pierce! Rhongomiant!"
The weapon carried on her left shoulder began to transform. It extended forward from beneath her arm, and power began to gather at the tip.
"Ugh…"
Mikoto, who had experience fighting Ellen, seed to feel the pressure. The girl clapped her hands together, and three torii gates appeared directly in front of them.
"Yakumo-senpai…"
Shido knew what that was.
It was the frontal multi-layered barrier used to defend against concentrated attacks. She had only used it before against Fraxinus's cannon fire and Kotori's cannon, giddo.
Boom!
Then, a dazzling light burst forth.
Magic power struck the barrier like it had physical form. If one had to describe it, it was not cannon fire, but a spear made from gathered magic power, trying to pierce through Tsukuyomi.
"Ugh…"
Shido closed his eyes. The light alone felt like it would burn his eyes if he looked straight at it.
Violent explosions rang out all around them. The magic power collided with the barrier, then scattered in every direction, turning the nearby area into scorched earth.
When everything ended, what entered Shido's sight was a ruined stretch of land, and the three layered torii gate standing in front of them.
The first layer had been completely blasted open. The second layer was cracked like broken glass, and even had a rather large hole in it. Even so, Tsukuyomi had managed to protect the three of them.
"What is this? Miko, has your power grown weaker?"
Ellen frowned.
From their previous clash, she had already felt that the barrier's strength was not as strong as before. Acting on a test, she did not rely on the airship and instead attacked the barrier with only Rhongomiant. She had not expected the barrier, which had once taken no damage at all, to be blasted into that state in one go.
"…"
Mikoto did not answer. She only adjusted her breathing, trying as much as possible to draw spirit energy from Shido.
"Hmph. It doesn't matter. Once I take you in, I will have plenty of ti to study that question. Co, Arbatel."
Ellen raised both hands.
The night sky above split open, and a huge crimson airship appeared at an extrely close distance, completely ignoring the risk of being seen by ordinary people.
"As expected…"
Mikoto looked up at the battleship in the sky and frowned. Ever since they had lost contact with Fraxinus, she had felt sothing was wrong. Now it seed that this airship had likely blocked their connection to Fraxinus.
As Ellen raised Rhongomiant again, the airship's main cannon also began gathering power.
In other words, this ti they would be facing a double bombardnt.
[I can't block it…]
If she were in her complete state, that would be another matter. But right now, just by feeling the dense magic power in the main cannon, Mikoto understood. In her sealed state, there was no chance she could take that attack.
"Shido… take Tohka and leave."
She looked at the incoming fire in the sky and spoke calmly.
"Eh?"
"Wait… Senpai?"
Mikoto's words made Tohka and Shido show shocked expressions.
"You still don't understand? I can't block the next attack. Even with Tohka helping, it won't be enough. So at least, before they break through the barrier, I need you and Tohka to escape to a safe place!"
Seeing that the bombardnt was about to co, Mikoto spoke in a strict voice.
"Don't joke around! I won't leave you behind, Senpai!"
Shido swung his arm and answered firmly. Tohka also nodded, showing that she would not abandon Mikoto either.
"Is that so? I knew you would say that… Tohka, I'm leaving Shido to you."
Mikoto smiled bitterly, then showed an expression of firm resolve.
[!!!]
In the next instant, Shido and Tohka felt a huge force push them out of the barrier. Tsukuyomi rejected the two of them, throwing them far behind the barrier, preparing to face the final bombardnt alone.
"You've got to be kidding…"
Understanding Mikoto's intention, Shido stood up and rushed toward the barrier.
"Shido…"
Tohka reached out, trying to stop Shido.
Mikoto had already made her decision. Then they should not waste the chance the girl had created by sacrificing herself.
However, that hand stopped in midair.
Even Tohka herself could not abandon Mikoto and run.
At the sa ti, the double bombardnt ca from sky and ground, turning into torrents of light that rushed toward Tsukuyomi.
[I'll be the one to protect Shido, who always throws his life away.]
The girl's smile flashed through his mind.
[I will never let Shido get hurt.]
Regret and helplessness tore at his body and heart. The burning torrents rushed forward with unstoppable force. The girl standing before the shrine looked as if she would lt into the light at any mont. She looked so fragile.
"Yakumo—senpai—!"
He wanted power.
It was not enough to only be protected by Mikoto. He wanted power. Power strong enough to protect Mikoto.
Even if it only happened once in his life.
Even if it was only a miracle that lasted for a single mont.
At least—
[At least let save Senpai!]
Praying with all his heart, Shido reached his hand toward Mikoto.
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