《Accel World》


 Volume 1 - CH 1

    On the virtual blackboard¡¯s upper right corner, a yellow message mark flashed.


    Haruyuki, who was daydreaming during class, involuntarily shrunk his head and shifted the focus of his eyes.


    At that moment, the deep green blackboard that was fully in his sight became half transparent¨Cbut the backs of students sitting in rows, and the teacher beyond them became sharp.


    The classroom, classmates, and teacher existed in the real world, but the transparent blackboard and the closely packed math formula on it was not so. The numbers and formula that the teacher was writing in mid air were sent to the ?Neuro Linker? worn on the back of his neck and directly into his brain as a picture.


    The elderly math teacher, in a difficult way, moved his finger that held nothing on the blackboard that only he can see and continued to explain the formula in a subdued tone of voice. That voice too, was not at a volume that can reach Haruyuki¡¯s ears in the real world, the teacher¡¯s Neuro Linker worn around his neck increased the volume and clarity, then sent it to Haruyuki.


    When he focused closer again, the blackboard with more math formula than before became solid. So it seemed that the mail he received wasn¡¯t the teacher sending out a compressed homework file. That means, since he was currently separated from the global net, the sender must be a student at the same school.


    Some girl who broke the school rules and sent him a good message ¨C that kind of expectation, he threw away long ago in the half year after entering middle school. He deeply thought of just dropping the mail into the garbage box in the lower left corner of his view, but if he did that, he didn''t know what would happen to him afterwards.


    Not really wanting to, seeing the gap when the teacher turned his back, he moved his right hand up (this movement is not virtually, it¡¯s real world movement) and clicked the mail icon with his finger.


    Instantly, Bubibaborobubiro! A sound without character and a graphic with the primary color of a flood hit Haruyuki¡¯s hearing and sight. Continuing, a voice message instead of written words started on the body of the message.


    ¡°Pig-kun, this is your command directive for today! (There¡¯s Gyahaha laughter in the background) Two fried noodle buns, one cream melon bun, three strawberry yogurts, bring them within 5 minutes at the start of lunch break to the roof! Being late will mean meat bun punishment! Tattling will mean roasted pork fillet punishment! (Again loud laughter)¡±


    - He turned to the sticky stare he felt on his left face, his concentration solidified after his turn. After looking, without a doubt it¡¯s Araya and his underlings A and B sneer-sent threat.


    Recording this kind of mail with sound and sight effects during class of course is impossible, so they must have made this ahead. What a bunch of leisurely people, and what¡¯s this ¡°command directive¡±, the meaning is doubled, idiots!!


    He started abusing them in his mind; saying it out loud or putting it in a mail reply was of course something Haruyuki could not do. If Araya was some kind of cockroach level idiot that won¡¯t go extinct no matter how far periods advance, then Haruyuki who got bullied by him would be a fool that was tied to the wheel.


    Actually, if he had a little courage and willingness to take action, then he could use this mail and the tens of pieces of ?evidence? that he kept and give it to the school, then they would easily be punished.


    However, Haruyuki could not stop thinking of what would happen next.


    Even if the Neuro Linker is said to be as common as one per person in the country, and that life is said to be half lived in the virtual network, humans still had a ?physical body? as a shackle and continued to exist in a low level setting. We are hungry at every meal time and still go to the toilet, and then - getting hit will hurt, crying while hurt will be miserable like death.


    Linker Skill will determine school advancement and promotion, that kind of talk is just some huge network company¡¯s image strategy. What determines a person¡¯s value is after all appearance and physical strength, that kind of primitive parameter.


    That was from when the elementary school 5th year student with a weight of over 60kg, during 50 meter runs never managed to go below 10 seconds, and eventually became the 13 year old Haruyuki¡¯s conclusion.


    Every morning before school, his mother charged his Neuro Linker with 500 yen for lunch money, but buying buns and juices for Araya''s group used up all of that. He had around 7000 yen of allowance savings left, but if he used that he wouldn¡¯t be able to buy the Linker-only game coming out this month.


    Haruyuki¡¯s huge body had especially bad fuel consumption, if he skips even one meal, his empty stomach would make him faint, but today he just had to endure it. Also, during lunch break when he can use ?Full Dive?, there¡¯s a special means left to him.


    Shrinking his round body as much as possible, Haruyuki headed toward the second school building that was lined with specialty classrooms. Currently, from physics experiments to home economics cooking, lessons are done with virtual classes making these rooms useless, so not many people came here. Especially at lunch time, there was not a single student to be seen.


    On the side of a dusty hallway is the men¡¯s toilet, it¡¯s Haruyuki¡¯s personal hidden sanctuary. He totteringly fled inside, stopped to catch his breath, then looked at the mirror above the washstand.


    What was reflected from the foggy glass, as if seen in a TV drama, was a too solid and straight ?bullied fat kid?.


    His unmanageable hair bounced here and there, the curves of his cheeks didn¡¯t have any sharp angles. Around his fat neck, his uniform necktie and silver Neuro Linker ate into it as if he was being hung.


    He had to do something about this appearance, he once went on an almost zero food intake and running like crazy kind of forward thinking period. However the result was, during lunch time he collapsed due to anemia, and the worst legend of several female students¡¯ lunch as collateral damage was created.


    Afterwards, Haruyuki threw away his real self - at least while he was a student - he decided.


    He removed his eyes from the mirror after 0.1 of a second, then went farther inside the room, into a cubicle. He made sure to lock it, then lowered the toilet seat cover and sat on it. He was already used to the plastic cutting into his lower body. He laid his back against the water tank, relaxed, and closed his eyes.


    His chanting was like a magic spell to release his soul from his heavy body.


    ¡°Direct Link.¡±


    When the Neuro Linker received the voice command, its quantum connection level went up from sight and sound mode to full sense mode, Haruyuki¡¯s feeling of body weight and the squeezing of his stomach from hunger disappeared.


    The toilet seat¡¯s hard surface, and his school uniform¡¯s tight fit also disappeared. The joyful sound of students from the far off school yard, the smell of cleaning agents in the toilet, and the door that was right in front of him, melted into darkness. ?Full Dive?.


    Even the sense of gravity was cut, Haruyuki fell into the depth of darkness.


    However, soon a soft floating feeling and rainbow light covered his whole body. From the tip of his hands and feet, the ?Avatar? used for Full Dive was being formed.


    Black hoof-like hands and feet. Plump limbs, the ball-like body with a fresh pink color. He can¡¯t see it himself, but there should be a flat nose in the center of his face, and big ears hanging down. That is, to say in other words, the shape of a pink pig.


    The comical avatar shape, with a thump, landed in the middle of an even though education scientist recommended design, it was still a fairy-tale forest.


    Huge mushrooms grew everywhere, the strikingly bright sun shone on circular grass field, and in the center a crystal like spring gushed.


    At the outer edge, like a huge tree with empty center, many wheels stacked above, those were for conversation and relaxation use, many levels were separated and connected by stairs.


    This virtual space is the local network of the Suginami district¡¯s Umesato Middle School that Haruyuki attends.


    Those walking or talking in the forest by twos or threes while producing laughter, were mostly non-human. About half were comical animals walking on two legs, the rest were winged (but flightless) fairies, tin plated robots, and robe covered magic users. They were all avatars of Umesato Middle School students or teachers diving in the local network.


    The student¡¯s avatar can be freely picked from many source selections, and can be customized. If you have the perseverance, you can even use the provided editor and start a fully original avatar from scratch. Even though it was a middle school student¡¯s skill and sense, the self made black knight that he debuted in April attracted a lot of attention.


    - That was just a fleeting moment of glory. Haruyuki sighed and looked down at his current shape. Within the time of an eye blink, Araya got involved with the black knight avatar, so Haruyuki was forced to use this default pig.


    Naturally, this pink pig didn''t lose in the point of being unique, because no one was willing to pick this self-degrading body. Similar to the real world, Haruyuki shrunk his round body as much as possible while trotting toward a tree.


    Then, on the spring''s banks, he noticed a remarkably large crowd. While running he looked at them, and slowed his feet without thinking. In the center of the group of students, he saw a rare avatar that was seldom seen.


    It was not something in the default set. A deep black dress studded with transparent gems. Hands holding a black parasol. On the back, black swallowtail butterfly wings with rainbow-colored lines running in them.


    A snow white face shaded by long straight hair, it was such a perfect beauty that was hard to believe that it was self made. Haruyuki too couldn¡¯t possibly compete with this kind of design skill that a professional might use.


    Leaning her delicate body slovenly on a huge mushroom and listening to the surrounding avatars talk with a listless expression, Haruyuki knew her as the 2nd year student who was also the vice-president of the student council. The surprising thing was that this beauty was an almost perfect replica of her real self, that¡¯s why her offered street name was -.


    ?Snow Black?. ?Kuroyukihime?.


    That kind of existence and himself, their only common point was that they were both Umesato Middle School students, he felt like it was some kind of lie. Looking with virtual view like this made him feel like his tortured self-conscious sense of being a dwarf increase, so he forcibly turned his head to face forward.


    His full strength dash destination was a tree set with relaxation rooms. Simply said it is a game corner, of course without a single market software like RPGs or battle games. It¡¯s filled with quiz, puzzle and other educational types, with healthy sports games, but even so, many students filled each corner, making cheering sounds.


    They were all in Full Dive from their classroom seat or from the school cafeteria. During that time, their real bodies were left defenseless, playing tricks on someone in a dive is obviously a violation of manners but the only person who cared was Haruyuki. Diving in the local network from the classroom, when he returned, his school uniform pants were removed. That was something that happened to him less than a month after entering school.


    Hiding his real body in the toilet, fleeing from people¡¯s eyes in the virtual space, he went up the stairs carved in the tree trunk. The higher up it went, the less popular the games became.


    He passed by baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, and what he arrived at after ignoring the soccer floor was the ?Virtual Squash Game? corner.


    There was not a single student. The reason it was unpopular was clear. Squash is similar to tennis, but where you hit the ball to with a racket was a square space with hard walls on all sides, you silently continue to return a bouncing ball, it¡¯s a very lonely sport.


    Normally the game genre Haruyuki liked was FPS[1] where he held a machine gun and ran around a battlefield, there he had skills that were above par even compared to Americans. Of course this is a popular genre even in Japan, but there was no way a school network had that kind of game, also - while in elementary school, he used one handgun to kill most of his male classmates in a game, the next day he suffered terrible bullying that left very painful memories. After that, Haruyuki vowed to never play a game, no matter what genre, with those guys at school again.


    He walked to the right side of the empty court and touched the control panel with one hand. He entered his student ID, then his saved level and high score was read out.


    During the first school semester, Haruyuki spent most of his lunch periods in this game to waste time. The result was that his score became a shocking number. He was starting to get bored of it, but there was no other place for him to go. His pink right hand with black hoof held tightly onto the racket that floated up from the panel.


    After the words ¡®Game Start¡¯, a ball dropped from nowhere. He hit it with the racket injecting it with today¡¯s gloom with all of his might.


    Leaving only a flash, the ball flew like a laser, hit the floor and front wall and then returned. His reaction was faster than sight, following his brain¡¯s automatically led optimal solution, he moved left one step while hitting a backhand.


    The real Haruyuki of course could not do this movement. But this was the electronic world which released him from his raw physical limitations. Recognizing the ball and moving the body was just quantum signal communications between the brain and Neuro Linker.


    The ball slowly lost substance and became flashing trajectory paths. Pon Pon effects sounded many times a second, like a machine gun firing. Even so, Haruyuki¡¯s pig body freely jumped around, his racket continuing to twist in all directions.


    Shit - I don¡¯t need reality.


    His mind should not wonder when challenging the game speed at its limit, but his mind full of resentment still shouted.


    Why was shit like real school and classrooms still necessary. Humans can live just in the virtual world, and the adults who actually did that were way too many. In the past, experiments were done where the human consciousness was wholly converted to electronic data, and they built a real different world.


    Even so, for learning group living, fostering sentiment, and other idiotic reasons, children were thrown into the cage of reality together. For people like Araya it¡¯s probably fine, they can release stress moderately, and save their allowance. But, for me - beyond this, what can I do.


    With a Pipon sound, the game level in the side view went up.


    The ball suddenly sped up. Its angle of reflection became irregular, it came attacking at a path that was outside of his prediction.


    Haruyuki¡¯s reaction slowly started to become late.


    More - more acceleration!


    The virtual world, real world too, break past all the walls, go to a place with no one -


    Hurry!


    Cleanly, his racket cut through the air. The ball that became light grazed Haruyuki¡¯s cheek, passed behind him and disappeared. With a miserable and comical sound effect, the words ¡®Game Over¡¯ fell down from the ceiling, and bounced in the court.


    Without looking at the high score shown, the droopy Haruyuki headed toward the panel to restart the game.


    At that time, a sudden voice shook Haruyuki¡¯s holy sanctuary.


    ¡°Ah - !! You were hiding in this kind of place!!¡±


    A high pitched yelling sound numbed his ears, no, his brain with a shriek. Startled, Haruyuki with his back tense turned to look, he saw a similar animal type student¡¯s avatar.


    Even so, it didn¡¯t have a particle of humor like Haruyuki¡¯s pig. Supple and slender, a purplish silver fur covered cat. An ear and the tip of the tail were tied with a deep blue ribbon. It was not made with polygons from scratch, but many of its parameters had been customized.


    Angry colors floated in its golden iris eyes, the cat¡¯s mouth with many small teeth opened wide and shouted again.


    ¡°Haru has always been missing during lunch time lately so I was searching! Games are fine, but you don¡¯t have to play this minor one, go play with everyone below!¡±


    ¡°...It¡¯s my choice, leave me alone.¡±


    That was the only thing he could reply with, Haruyuki turned back to the court. However the silver cat extended its neck, took a glance at the Game Over display, then again shouted with a high pitch voice.


    ¡°What, what is this... Level 152, Score 2,630,000!? You...¡±


    - Are awesome!


    Even if shameful, Haruyuki momentary expected this kind of speech, but the cat unceremoniously betrayed him.


    ¡°Are you an idiot!? What were you doing without eating lunch! Disconnect right now!!¡±


    ¡°...No way, there¡¯s still 30 minute of lunch time left. You should go away somewhere.¡±


    ¡°I see, if that is your attitude, then I''ll have to use force.¡±


    ¡°Do your worst.¡±


    After his muttered reply, Haruyuki held onto his racket again. The school net avatar doesn¡¯t have ?impact determination?. On the context of preventing inappropriate conduct, a student cannot touch another student¡¯s avatar. Of course, forcing someone to log out is out of question.


    The cat avatar, after extending its small tongue out to the limit for a Be~[2], shouted.


    ¡°Link Out!¡±


    Instantly, leaving behind a light vortex and bell like sound, the cat disappeared.


    The noisy one finally disappeared, he blew a short sigh from his nose while feeling slightly lonely, at that moment.


    Bang! A serious kind of attack hit his head and the surrounding view disappeared. From the darkness, pulled by spots of light, he returned to the real world¡¯s scenery.


    While feeling his heavy weight, Haruyuki desperately blinked, trying to focus.


    Originally a men¡¯s toilet cubicle. However, instead of the blue-grey door in front of him, Haruyuki saw something he wasn''t expecting.


    ¡°You... Why...!?¡±


    Standing imposingly in front of him, was a single female student. The color of her blazer and ribbon showed that she was a similar first year student.


    She was small, less than ? of Haruyuki¡¯s weight. Her short-cut fringe was raised on the right side with a blue hairpin. Cat like small contour, disproportionately large eyes burning with anger stared at Haruyuki.


    Her left hand held a small basket, and her right hand extended right above Haruyuki¡¯s head, in a small fist. Seeing that, Haruyuki finally understood why he had been suddenly disconnected from Full Dive. The female student had hit his head with that fist, and the shock activated the Neuro Linker¡¯s safety causing an automatic Link Out.


    Normally, the safety would activate from shaking the shoulder or a loud shout, but for sensitive girls, if anyone gets within a meter of them, they were set to Link Out. The reason Haruyuki didn¡¯t notice the intruder until he was hit on the head was since he was hiding in a toilet stall, he set his safety level to the lowest.


    ¡°Why you!!¡±


    Surprised and amazed, Haruyuki shouted at the only girl in this school that he can talk to without panicking.


    ¡°What were you doing! This is the men¡¯s toilet! The door was locked... are you an idiot!!¡±


    ¡°You are the idiot.¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s childhood friend while wearing a skirt climbed over the wall of the men''s toilet stall, this strong person is Kurashima Chiyuri, after replying in a sulky voice, she pulled back her right hand and unlocked the door behind her.


    With a light movement, she jumped out of the stall. Haruyuki¡¯s eyes narrowed from the sunlight reflected from her chestnut-color hair, Chiyuri finally had a small smile on her face, and added.


    ¡°Hey, come out already.¡±


    ¡°...I got it.¡±


    Swallowing his sigh, Haruyuki stood up as the toilet seat cover creaked. While chasing Chiyuri who was heading to the exit, he had another question.


    ¡°...How did you know I was here?¡±


    The reply did not come immediately. After poking her head out of the men¡¯s toilet to check outside, Chiyuri slipped into the hallway and tersely said.


    ¡°I was on the roof too. So I followed you.¡±


    That means -.


    ¡°...You saw.¡±


    Haruyuki stopped after putting one step into the hallway, and whispered.


    Looking like she was trying to find the right words, Chiyuri leaned her back on the far wall, then finally nodded.


    ¡°...I won¡¯t say anything more about those guys. Since Haru decided that was fine... I have no choice. But you should eat your lunch. It¡¯s bad for your body.¡±


    With a forced smile, Chiyuri held out the basket in her left hand.


    ¡°I made lunch. I can¡¯t guarantee it''ll taste good though.¡±


    - So miserable, Haruyuki thought.


    His heart trying to find feeling beyond compassion in Chiyuri¡¯s words and actions, was without a doubt pitiful.


    Because Chiyuri had a genuine boyfriend. In many ways opposite of Haruyuki, their other childhood friend.


    His mouth moved on its own, a strangely flat voice issued, Haruyuki heard it.


    ¡°...Remains of what you made for Taku?¡±


    Chiyuri¡¯s face suddenly became cloudy. Unable to stand looking into her eyes with raised eyebrows, Haruyuki looked down at the hallway.


    ¡°That¡¯s not true, Ta-kun has school lunch. This... sandwich is made with potato salad, ham and cheese. Haru¡¯s favorite right.¡±


    Haruyuki extended his right hand to push back the white basket that entered his view.


    However, the slow real body moved in a different way from his control, the sudden movement knocked the basket from Chiyuri¡¯s hand and fell. Upon hitting the floor the cover opened, from inside the water color cooking paper, one or two triangle cut sandwich fell out and broke apart.


    ¡°Ah...¡±


    He wanted to apologize on reflex, but the inside of his head became hot and the words he should have spoken could not take shape. He could not raise his head, and stepped back while cowering, then he shouted and turned around.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want them!!¡±


    He wanted to log out from this place right now, Haruyuki painfully thought, but of course that¡¯s impossible. He should at least run, but his real body became unbelievably heavy, he could not escape from the small voice behind him.


    In the worst mood, he passed the afternoon lessons and home room, and fled out of the classroom.


    He pushed the voice in his head aside that told him to wait for Chiyuri at two classrooms next to his, or in front of the school, or on the way home to apologize, and went to his other hidden place, the library.


    Originally, the usefulness of places like the library were gone. However, some adults thought that in a school, children need the same paper media books to learn, so with a waste of material and space, brand new hard cover books lined the shelves.


    Mostly due to this, he has an important personal space within the school, so he can¡¯t complain. He took two or three hardcover books for camouflage and went into a reading booth near the wall, he pushed his body into a tight chair, and went into Full Dive with a volume barely recognizable by the Linker.


    Since it was only a few minutes after classes had ended, the school net was still quiet. He should go right now to hide in his usual place, he quickly passed by the grass field then climbed the tree.


    The virtual squash corner of course was devoid of people. Honestly, he did not want to simply hit a ball, he wanted to go into a bloody battle where he can blow away the fuzzy feeling in his chest as soon as possible, but without a global net connection and inside the school where games were not allowed to start, it was impossible.


    His empty stomach was also beyond limit, but even so he did not feel like going home right away. If he met Chiyuri on the way home, he had absolutely no idea what expression to make or what words to use. No, apologizing should be fine, but he did not have the confidence that his mouth would follow his intentions.


    - It¡¯s the same as that time.


    In the past, he made Chiyuri cry similar to now, he was starting to remember that time so he tightly closed his eyes. He moved his right hand to the panel and logged in.


    He groped for the racket and held it, then turned his body to face the court.


    Opening his eyes, he was going to hit the falling ball with the many gloomy feelings -.


    Haruyuki¡¯s full body froze.


    ¡°Level... 166!?¡±


    His level that had just increased a few hours ago, yet now more than 10 levels had been added.


    How, the score is stored with the student ID, after an instant of thought, he understood. That time, he was forced to log out because Chiyuri hit his head, the game was kept like that. That means it¡¯s possible that someone continued to play and changed the score. However.


    Who else other than himself could make this kind of ridiculous score!?


    For Haruyuki¡¯s pride that was on the blink of collapse, his support was his VR game technique under Full Dive. Of course, excluding quiz and board games where your knowledge decided the outcome, for reaction speed types like gun shooting and action race games, he had the conceit that no one else in the school could beat him.


    He wasn''t showing off. The reason why he did not stand out was that he learned from very bad experiences during elementary school. There was no proof, but as he thought up to this point - who made this squash game¡¯s fearsome score...


    At that time.


    Behind him, there was a voice. It was female, but wasn''t Chiyuri''s. A much lower tone, a sound as smooth as silk.


    ¡°You made that absurd score?¡±


    He fearfully turned around, standing in front of him was.


    A silver-studded dark dress. Staff, or sword like parasol poked the ground. Pure white skin and jet black eyes - ?Kuroyukihime?.


    Even though an avatar, she didn''t have a digital feel to her, an extreme beauty tilted slightly, the school¡¯s most famous person moved forward without making a sound.


    A slight smile appeared on her red lips, the only place in her body with any color, and Kuroyukihime continued saying.


    ¡°Do you want to... ?Accelerate? further ahead, boy?¡±


    ¡°If you are interested, come to the school lounge at lunch time tomorrow.¡±


    Leaving just that sentence behind, Kuroyukihime abruptly logged out.


    Her avatar was in Haruyuki¡¯s view for less than 10 seconds. Was it a local network server bug? If it wasn''t an illusion, then what¡¯s left was something that won¡¯t happen in a thousand years, however, the fearsome score floating in the court was real.


    Haruyuki didn¡¯t feel like challenging a new high score anymore, so he ended the dive and continued to sit in the reading booth while spacing out. Inside his ears, the three lines of speech repeated in an infinite loop. Kuroyukihime¡¯s expression was diverse as a middle school female student, but that overwhelming presence mixed with uncomfortable feeling was something no one had, it¡¯s partly why she was ultra popular with not only males, but females as well.


    He eventually left school on fluffy legs and headed home, his body mostly on automatic mode. If it wasn¡¯t for his Neuro Linker on sight and sound mode doing traffic prediction navigation, he would have been hit by cars two or three times.


    Returning to the empty Kouenji high-rise mansion home, Haruyuki heated up a frozen pizza and ate it with a soda drink. His parents divorced long ago, he was now living with his mother, she won¡¯t be back home till after midnight, and he only sees her for a moment when he gets lunch money from her before going to school.


    His empty stomach filled with junk food, Haruyuki returned to his room. Normally, he would check his patrol course in the Global Net, then he would bustle about the battlefields around Europe for a few hours, while his remaining strength would be for homework and then sleep, but just today he didn¡¯t feel like doing anything.


    Since too many things happened today, his brain felt heavy like it was swollen. Haruyuki changed his clothes, removed his Neuro Linker and then fell heavily on the bed.


    He wanted to say his sleep was very peaceful. But dreams of Araya group¡¯s scorn, Chiyuri¡¯s tears, and Kuroyukihime¡¯s mysterious speech kept repeating, it made him toss and turn.


    Do you want to - ?Accelerate? further ahead?


    Inside his dream, instead of Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar, it was the real student council vice president¡¯s shape. He should not have seen her other than on the stage of school assembly where she kept a detached and expressionless face, but why in his dream she has a little devil like smile inviting him somewhere, and whispered in Haruyuki¡¯s ear. ¡®Come here.¡¯

 Volume 1 - CH 2

    Yes, everything was a dream. Including yesterday¡¯s encounter in the local network.


    The next day, Wednesday, Haruyuki went to school with his usual gloomy face, and thought that while entering his classroom.


    In the d¨¦j¨¤-vu lesson, Araya group¡¯s bullying mail came again. It was the first time that they had extorted lunch for two days in a row, what they wanted was same as yesterday, fried noodle buns and cream melon buns. How much do they like those anyway, he closed the mail while thinking that, and left his seat when the bell for lunch chimed.


    Where his slow feet headed however was not the roof that Araya¡¯s group asked him to go, but the first floor in the school building, the lounge next to the student cafeteria.


    Instead of the cheap long tables lined up in the cafeteria, the half circular lounge was filled with elegant white round tables. Beyond the large glass window for lighting, the autumn colors of the central courtyard¡¯s trees could be seen clearly, without a doubt this was the highest rank space in Umesato middle school.


    Hence, there¡¯s an unwritten law that first years are not allowed to use it. The students around the tables, their ribbons and neckties were all blue (2nd year) or dark red (3rd year), there wasn¡¯t a single green.


    Half of the upperclassmen held a cup of coffee or tea in one hand while chatting to each other, while the other half leaned back on high back chairs with eyes closed, not sleeping, but rather Full Diving on the school network.


    Haruyuki first hid his large body behind a decorative plant in front of the lounge entrance, then looked around inside.


    She couldn¡¯t be there, that thing yesterday was a dream, he more than half believed it - but.


    ¡°...She¡¯s there...¡±


    He involuntarily swallowed a breath of air. In the deepest part of the lounge, at a table near the window, there was a striking group. Six students, a mix of 2nd and 3rd years. Looking closely, he could recognize them all. They were all current student council members, male or female in different orientations, and all of them were handsome.


    The largest presence in that group was a female student with a blue ribbon flipping the pages of a hardcover book with melancholy. Her long hair, that came down to nearly her waist, was a deep black that was rare nowadays. Her legs that peeked out from her dark grey pleated skirt were covered with black stockings too. He was surprised that her open-collared shirt under her blazer was also glossy black. Without a doubt - she was Umesato middle school¡¯s most famous person, ?Kuroyukihime?.


    From the lounge entrance to that far table, it should be less than 20 meters in a straight line. However, that distance felt like it was almost infinite to Haruyuki. Passing by upperclassman to get there is like an adventure that he couldn¡¯t possibly complete.


    Turn around and go back. Then buy buns and juice from the school cafeteria and bring them to the roof for Araya¡¯s group. After that go hide in the 2nd school building toilet and play single player games in the local net to waste time.


    - Shit. Damn. I will go.


    Haruyuki ground his teeth, came out from behind the decorative plant¡¯s shade, and stepped into the lounge.


    The stares from the upperclassmen in the surrounding tables were not just his paranoia, but contained actual criticism and displeasure. A new student might not know, but in the later half of 2nd term, all 1st years should know about the no entry rule.


    However luckily, no one said anything to blame him. His shaking two legs earnestly carried his heavy body, passing between the tables, Haruyuki almost stopped breathing, and finally reached the deepest section controlled by the student council.


    The first to raise her head, was a 2nd year who sat nearest to him. The female student¡¯s fluffy hair waved as she turned her head, she faced Haruyuki with a slightly questioning smile and kindly said.


    ¡°Oh... What is your business?¡±


    ¡®I have business here.¡¯ Being unable to say that, Haruyuki mumbled.


    ¡°Well... that is... err...¡±


    At that time, the remaining four members all looked at Haruyuki. Their faces did not have any ill will, but he almost could no longer stand the displeased stares from the surrounding tables, when he was about to faint from all the tension, the last member finally raised her head from her book.


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s face first seen at close range with naked eye, really was many times more beautiful than the avatar that he (thought he) saw yesterday. Under her cleanly split front hair, below her clear eyebrows, were eyes that even the iris looked black, shinning brightly. If her avatar can be compared to a black rose, then she would be a black narcissus. He did not know if such a thing existed or not.


    He was prepared for that beautiful face to show a ¡®what?¡¯ expression to match his unsightly year-level.


    However he was deeply surprised, Kuroyukihime¡¯s lightly colored lips showed a familiar smile and she said a short line.


    ¡°You came, boy.¡±


    She closed the hardcover book with a clap sound, while standing up right waved Haruyuki over, her view moved to the members at the table.


    ¡°He has business with me. Sorry, can you empty that space?¡±


    The latter half was directed at the 3rd year male sitting next to her. The short hair, tall upperclassman stood up with an amazed expression and used his palm to show his chair to Haruyuki.


    After mumbled thanks, Haruyuki shrunk his round body to the limit and sat down. The delicate chair creaked loudly, but Kuroyukihime did not seem to care about it, she took out a bundle of something small and long from her blazer''s left pocket after searching in it.


    It was a cable. The cord was shielded with thin silver lines, and both ends had a small plug. Her left hand raised the hair at her back, there was a Neuro Linker around her surprisingly small neck (Of course, the Linker was piano black), her right hand inserted one end of the plug into her Neuro Linker, and casually handed the other end to Haruyuki.


    This time for sure, the students in the lounge waiting to see what would happen broke into a huge buzz. Screams of¡®It must be a lie¡¯ and ¡®No it can¡¯t be¡¯ could be heard from it.


    Haruyuki was dumbfounded too. Sweat started pouring out of his face.


    ?Wired Direct Connect Communication?.


    Normally called Direct Connect, it was something that Kuroyukihime wanted to do with Haruyuki. Neuro Linkers normally use wireless communication with each other using the network in that area, under many levels of security. However, with Wired Direct Connect, 90% of the security wall became useless. For people with a certain level of Linker skill, they can peek into the other person¡¯s private memory, or install malicious programs.


    That is to say normally, Direct Connect is only done with people one trusted the most - family, or lovers only. Saying it in another way, males and females who used Direct Connect in public places were very likely to be going out with each other. The cable length being a measure of intimacy is something of an existing custom without technical justification.


    The XSB cable that Kuroyukihime was holding out right now was about 2 meters, however in this situation the length doesn¡¯t matter. While looking at the shining silver plug, Haruyuki somehow managed to make a sound to ask.


    ¡°...U, Umm, what do I do with...¡±


    ¡°It has no other use than to be plugged into your neck.¡±


    She instantly confirmed it. While Haruyuki was about to faint, his shaking fingers accepted the plug and inserted it into his Neuro Linker.


    At that moment, a ?Wired Connection? warning was displayed in front of his eyes. When that faded away, from the view of the lounge, only Kuroyukihime¡¯s shape freshly floated in front of him.


    Without moving her lips that had a slight smile, a smooth voice sounded in Haruyuki¡¯s brain.


    ¡°Sorry to make you come all the way here, Arita Haruyuki-kun. Can you do thought talk?¡±


    It¡¯s a skill where you talk through the Linker without moving your lips. Haruyuki nodded then replied.


    ¡°Yes. Umm... what is this really about? Is this an elaborate, well... prank or something?¡±


    He thought she would be angry, Kuroyukihime shook her head slightly and gave a ¡®Hmm¡¯.


    ¡°Well... in a certain sense it might just be that. Because I will send an application to your Neuro Linker. If you accept that, then your current reality will be completely destroyed, and rebuilt in a shape you can¡¯t imagine.¡±


    ¡°...Re, Reality... destroyed...?¡±


    Haruyuki repeated in blank amazement.


    He no longer saw the students around the tables full of curiosity or heard their noisy comments. Only Kuroyukihime¡¯s words repeated in his mind.


    The deep black upperclassman looked at Haruyuki with another smile, and raising her right hand, her supple white fingers made something slide.


    Pon, a beep sounded.


    [Execute BB2039.exe? YES/NO] A holo dialogue appeared.


    This should be a familiar system display, but he thought this window seemed to have its own intention that forced him to make a decision.


    With common sense, executing an unknown application sent by a stranger over Direct Connect would be indiscretion. He should pull out the cable right now. However, Haruyuki for some reason could not do that. In exchange, he looked down at his body squeezed into the chair.


    - Reality. My reality.


    Stolid body. Lackluster appearance. Repeatedly being bullied and escaping to the net. And more than anything, the self that did not change this situation. Being like this is fine, since nothing will change, this self that gave up.


    Haruyuki moved his view, and looked into Kuroyukihime¡¯s dark eyes.


    In half a second, he raised his right hand, and thrust his finger into the YES button. Her white face held a slightly surprised expression, slightly satisfied, he relaxed his chest.


    ¡°That¡¯s my wish. This reality... if it was destroyed.¡±


    He whispered that, at the same time.


    In his full view, a huge flame erupted.


    He instinctively stiffened his body as it seemed as if the wild fire might sweep him up, but its flow eventually concentrated in front of his body, transforming into a logo. Its design sense was certainly not new. It was a harshness that reminded him of the late last century, of a certain popular VS fighting game.


    The words that appeared was - ?BRAIN BURST?.


    This, is how Haruyuki met the single program that would revolutionize him and his recognized reality.


    The installation continued for about 30 seconds. It was a huge application even for the Neuro Linker.


    The indicator bar under the burning title logo finally reaching 100%, Haruyuki swallowed his breath and watched. Reality - will be destroyed, was what Kuroyukihime said. How exactly is that shown?


    The indicator disappeared along with the logo as if it was being burnt. The remaining orange fire displayed in small English font the message ?Welcome to the Accelerated World?, which was soon split like fireworks. What does it mean - Accelerated World?


    Haruyuki held his breath for about 10 seconds in anticipation.


    However, his own body or the surrounding view, nothing felt like it was going to change. As usual, under his uniform, he is wet with sweat, and the displeased stares from the surrounding tables seemed to increase.


    Letting out a short yet lengthy breath, Haruyuki looked questioningly at Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Umm... This ?Brain Burst? program, what is...¡±


    Asking with thought talk, the black clothed upperclassman, while maintaining her smile, said something different from his question.


    ¡°It installed without any problems. I was confident that you had enough aptitude for it.¡±


    ¡°Aptitude? For this program?¡±


    ¡°Yes. ?Brain Burst? cannot be installed in someone without a high level brain neurological response rate. For example, like someone that can make stupidly huge scores in virtual games. When you saw the illusion flames, the program was checking your brain¡¯s response. If there¡¯s not enough aptitude, you won¡¯t even see the title logo. However... I was a little bit surprised. For me, it took about two minutes of doubt whether to accept this strange program. This made all the speech I prepared to convince you useless.¡±


    ¡°Ah... sorry. But, that, nothing... seems to be happening. It¡¯s not a resident application, but a select execution type?¡±


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t be in such a hurry. From now you will need a little mental preparedness. I will explain the basic functions later. Why, we have plenty of time.¡±


    Haruyuki took a quick glance at the continuous time displayed in his view¡¯s lower right corner. Half of lunch time had already passed. He didn¡¯t think they had plenty of time left.


    He painfully felt the curiosity and disgust in the surrounding atmosphere, and leaned back. The chair under his body squeaked.


    That was a familiar sound, but it felt like even the chair was laughing at his ugly and comical self, he bit his lip. There¡¯s no way he would love this reality. If it can be changed, no matter what kind of change it was, he would accept it.


    ¡°...I am already mentally prepared. Please teach me about this program...¡±


    As he said up to that point.


    From the lounge entrance behind Haruyuki, the voice that he didn''t want to hear the most could be heard.


    ¡°You dickwad, Pi... Arita! You can¡¯t escape!!¡±


    Haruyuki cowered in reaction, his waist lifted from the chair. When he turned around, he saw a red-faced Araya standing there, he wasn''t supposed to leave the roof while at lunch time.


    As Haruyuki¡¯s expression changed from surprise to fear, Araya¡¯s face also changed from rage to doubt. After Haruyuki stood up, Kuroyukihime¡¯s delicate shape and the cable that connected their Linkers, which were hidden behind his huge body earlier were shown.


    While frozen, Haruyuki¡¯s sensitive feelings detected that other than the council members, the rest of the students around him, their atmosphere were subtly changing. What the relationship between the same green necktie but big build Araya and the small but large width Haruyuki¡¯s was, they probably instantly realized. However the students didn¡¯t show displeasure toward Araya, but a ¡®Ah, so it really is¡¯ kind of understanding.


    Stop - Stop this right now.


    Haruyuki desperately wished. He absolutely did not want Kuroyukihime to know that he was being bullied or such. ¡®After I finish here, I will buy buns and bring them to the roof so please wait there quietly¡¯, he wanted to tell him that, so he faced Araya and forced a smile.


    Araya who saw that smile, his further outrage made his face turn purple. ¡®Pig¡¯, his lips moved without sound, Haruyuki saw in horror. The meaning of his smile while in Direct Connect with the school¡¯s most famous person, was totally misunderstood by Araya.


    With his eyes lifted up shinning, Araya silently dove into the hedge that separated the cafeteria and the lounge. With the heel of his indoor shoes making crushing sounds, he approached in a direct line. Behind him, his underlings A and B followed with somewhat tensed faces.


    It¡¯s hopeless, while thinking that Haruyuki took a step back.


    Araya is unbelievably tall for being 13 years old, the same age as him. He might be doing karate or something of the like, as he''s built up quite a lot of muscle. He wore a short blazer over a long lavender shirt, and big pants. His white-tinged golden dyed hair stood up like a mountain of swords, his small eyebrows and piercings on both ears, his colored up-angle eyes all spelt danger.


    Umesato middle school is a private future preparation school, but since this is a low fertility era, just about no middle schools require an entrance exam. So a fighting type like Araya came here thinking ¡°Easy to control¡±.


    With that handicap, Haruyuki was controlled on his first day entering school. He wimpishly looked up at the Araya who stood in front, looking down at him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me.¡±


    After the line came out of Araya¡¯s twisted lips, Haruyuki was about to mouth a servile apology, but before that.


    From behind him, Kuroyukihime¡¯s real voice with a cool rich inflection was heard.


    ¡°You are Araya-kun right?¡±


    Araya who heard that was surprised for an instant, then had a flattering smile. Even this guy is happy that his name is remembered by ?That Kuroyukihime?.


    However, what she said not only shocked Araya, but Haruyuki as well.


    ¡°I heard about you from Arita-kun. About whether or not you were mistakenly sent from the zoo to the middle school.¡±


    Araya¡¯s jaw dropped and started trembling, Haruyuki looked on while dumbfounded.


    ¡°Wh... Wh... What...¡±


    At the same time that Araya¡¯s mouth starting to move, Haruyuki wanted to shout.


    Wh - Why did you say that!


    But that thought did not become sound, Araya released a tremendous roar.


    ¡°Why you, I am going to kill you, pig!!¡±


    Haruyuki shrunk from fear, he saw Araya¡¯s right fist tighten and held high.


    At the same time, in his brain, a piercing voice commanded Haruyuki.


    ¡°Shout now! ?Burst Link?!!¡±


    Haruyuki did not know if he used his real voice or thought voice to say that short command. However, he felt for sure that every corner of his body reverberated with that sound.


    Burst Link!!


    Bashiiiii!! With that impact sound, the world wavered.


    The colors were drained, replaced by a transparent blue that started to spread out. The surrounding lounge, the staring students, and Araya in front of him as well, all became a monotonous blue.


    Everything stopped at that moment.


    Araya¡¯s fist that should have hit him flying in a second, was frozen a few centimeters in front of him, he watched while dumbfounded.


    ¡°U... uwaa!!¡±


    He involuntarily shouted, and jumped back a step.


    The result of that action, showed him something else that was hard to believe.


    His own back. He was the same blue color as Araya, his round back was unnaturally stopped in a comical cowering position. It looked like only his soul left his physical body.


    Then, what happened to him now!? He looked down in surprise, there he found the familiar looking pink pig. Without a doubt, it¡¯s the avatar he used in the local net.


    No longer understanding anything, Haruyuki turned around shakily.


    In front of his eyes, was another strange sight.


    On the lounge chair, Kuroyukihime sat with elegance, her back straight and lap tightly closed. However that body too, including the cable extending from her neck, were all transparent blue like a crystal.


    And next to her body, in a black dress with a parasol, her avatar with the swallowtail butterfly wings stood with a mysterious smile.


    ¡°Wh... What is this!?¡±


    Haruyuki frightfully shouted.


    ¡°Full Dive!? Or... astral projection!?¡±


    ¡°Fufu, neither of those.¡±


    With a happy tone, Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar told him.


    ¡°We are now under ?Brain Burst? program¡¯s function. ?Accelerated?.¡±


    ¡°Ac... Accelerate...?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The surrounding looks stopped but that¡¯s not true. Our consciousness is moving at ultra fast speed.¡±


    Kuroyukihime moved a few steps with the silver balls at her cuff¡¯s rim shining, and stopped beside the blue frozen reality of Haruyuki and Araya. The tip of her parasol pointed at Araya¡¯s fist in the path of a right straight punch.


    ¡°This fist too, you cannot notice it but it is even now moving very slowly... like the short hand of a clock. If we continue to wait, it will eventually pass this 80cm or so and we will see it make a dent in your face.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s no joke. No that¡¯s not it... wait a minute please.¡±


    Haruyuki held his head with his two pig hands, desperately trying to sort the information.


    ¡°Th, this means... our souls did not leave our body right? Does that mean our thoughts are from our original heads?¡±


    ¡°You catch on fast. That¡¯s exactly it.¡±


    ¡°But, isn''t that strange! If only thoughts and feelings got sped up, this... astral projection like movement, looking at your own back, that means I shouldn''t be able to talk to senpai[1]!¡±


    ¡°Hmm, a good question, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    Kuroyukihime nodded her head like a teacher, then with her length-wise rolled hair waving, moved to beside the table.


    ¡°The blue world we are seeing is the real world in real time, but it¡¯s not seen with light refracting in our eyes. Take a look under this table.¡±


    ¡°O, ok...¡±


    Haruyuki crouched his pig body that¡¯s smaller than his real body, and peeked under the blue table.


    ¡°Ah, huh?¡±


    Strange. The table is made from wood, its surface has many cross-grains running length-wise. However the underside is smooth like plastic, without any texture.


    ¡°What is this... Looks like polygons...?¡±


    When he raised his face, he saw Kuroyukihime lightly nod a few times.


    ¡°Exactly. This blue world is made up of pictures from many Social Cameras in the lounge, the pictures are made into 3D scene and sent to your brain through the Neuro Linker. The areas in the cameras'' dead zones are filled in with conjecture. So, peeking under this girl¡¯s skirt will be useless.¡±


    The Social Camera¡¯s actual name is Social Security Surveillance Camera, for maintaining security, they are placed all over Japan, it means a government video surveillance network. Even a private middle school cannot reject camera placement, that data is protected with strong national level security walls, a normal citizen absolutely can not peek into it - that was what was said, but...


    While thinking about such a theory, Haruyuki in reaction followed the female student council member¡¯s leg which was extended under the table, he confirmed that the graceful line ended at her skirt¡¯s edge.


    After he hastily stood up, he saw Kuroyukihime giving him a sharp glance.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at my legs. They are within the camera¡¯s view.¡±


    ¡°I... won¡¯t look.¡±


    While taking an effort to steady his gaze, Haruyuki shook his head.


    ¡°W, well, after seeing this, I somewhat understand the theory. This is the real time world made into 3D... we use avatars as substitute bodies to see and talk through direct connection right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Now, for convenience you are using your school''s local net avatar.¡±


    ¡°If possible, I would prefer another.¡±


    After whispering, he gave a huge sigh. While shaking his pig head to sort his thoughts, he looked at Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar again.


    ¡°But... this is just half way. What I want to know is from here on. ¡­?Accelerate?, what exactly is it? I have never heard of Neuro Linker having this kind of time stop like function!¡±


    ¡°Of course, the Neuro Linker¡¯s secret accelerate function can only be drawn out with the ?Brain Burst? program, or people with that program.¡±


    After Kuroyukihime whispered that, she raised her left hand, and poked the XL size Neuro Linker around the reality frozen Haruyuki¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun, do you know the operating principle of the Neuro Linker?¡±


    Seeing the slender finger touching ?his? neck, Haruyuki felt a thump for no reason and nodded.


    ¡°Y, yes... just perfunctory information. Using quantum level connection with brain cells, picture, sound and sensation can be sent, that means canceling reality¡¯s five senses...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. That means its principle is basically different from 2020s headgear type VR machine, or 30s implant type. Quantum connection is not a biological mechanism. That is, it won¡¯t put any burden on the brain cells, and you can do unreasonable things... someone realized that.¡±


    ¡°Unreasonable... that means?¡±


    To Haruyuki¡¯s question, Kuroyukihime returned a somewhat different question.


    ¡°Have you played with a 20s era PC?¡±


    ¡°Y, yeah, I did. I have one at home too.¡±


    ¡°Then, you know what the PC¡¯s standard operating frequency is called right?¡±


    ¡°Base Clock... ?¡±


    Kuroyukihime nodded with satisfaction.


    ¡°Yes... the oscillator on the motherboard sends out a signal, with a set multiplier moving the CPU at an overclocked speed. And then the human brain, our consciousness operates with the same mechanism.¡±


    ¡°What...!?¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s eyes became round, and his pig nose breath out rapidly.


    ¡°No, no way. Where is our oscillator?¡±


    ¡°Here.¡±


    Kuroyukihime instantly replied, she hugged the reality blue Haruyuki from the front, with roguish up-turn eyes, her left hand poked the center of the back.


    ¡°Wh... wh, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Right now, your clock went up a little. You already know right... the heart! The heart is not just a pump for sending out blood. This beat determines the thinking speed, it¡¯s a standard clock generator.¡±


    Taking a breath, Haruyuki touched his pig body¡¯s chest. Kuroyukihime, like she was teasing him, still continued to touch around his heart area.


    ¡°Even if the body is in a stopped state, depending on the situation the heart beat will increase... like a racing driver. Why? That is thought - situational awareness, and judgement ?Acceleration? is necessary. Or it is like two lovers touching each other. For every minute and second to be densely experienced, ?Acceleration?.¡±


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s finger that was around the reality Haruyuki¡¯s chest, slowly moved up and stopped at his neck.


    ¡°The heart with a thump beat, creates a quantum pulse signal that travels through the central nerve to the brain, that is, the thought. If - that signal is overwritten at the neck by the Neuro Linker, and overclocked, what would happen?¡±


    With a prickle of horror at his back, Haruyuki felt it.


    ¡°Thought will... accelerate?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, for the Neuro Linker that is possible. Without causing any harm to the physical body or brain cells. Right now at this instant, our Neuro Linkers multiply the single heart beat clock, and send it to the brain with wireless quantum signal. Actually this rate, reaches 1000 times!¡±


    ¡°1000... time... s.¡±


    Haruyuki could not do anything else other than repeat in blank amazement what he had been told. His paralyzed consciousness was shocked by Kuroyukihime¡¯s flowing voice.


    ¡°Thought sped up by 1000 times. That means, 1 second in reality equates to 1000 seconds, dividing that up, you experience 16 minutes and 40 seconds of time.¡±


    This is way beyond an F1 racer''s speed. It¡¯s no longer technology anymore, it¡¯s equal to ?Time Stop Magic?.


    However, what is basically possible with this wonderful phenomenon, while Haruyuki was thinking about that, Kuroyukihime looked like she noticed something and whispered ¡®Oops¡¯.


    ¡°...?¡±


    ¡°Ah, sorry. I was engrossed in explanation, so we used up a bit too much time. I completely forgot, but the real you is going to be knocked flying soon.¡±


    ¡°Arg...¡±


    Haruyuki hurriedly moved his feet, heading to the front side of his blue frozen self.


    For sure, while they talked for about 5 minutes (about 0.3 seconds in reality), Araya¡¯s fist had traveled quite a bit. Less than 50cm until it reaches Haruyuki¡¯s round cheek.


    Araya¡¯s face, it was hard to believe it was made up from pictures of Social Cameras hidden in the ceiling, his violent excitement twisted his lips.


    What is he so happy about. - No, he should be happy. His fist is heading to me, who was futilely standing there with a hollow expression, exactly what they called a garbage character.


    While the murky thought passed in his mind, he turned toward Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°...Umm, this ?Acceleration?, how long will it continue?¡±


    ¡°In theory, it''s unlimited. However the ?Brain Burst? program has a set limit, your maximum accelerated experience is 30 minutes, that is about 1.8 second in real time.¡±


    At Kuroyukihime¡¯s cool reply, Haruyuki¡¯s pink pig¡¯s round eyes widened. If his real self is frozen like that for around 2 seconds, Araya¡¯s punch will surely move pass the remaining distance, and gradually sink into his nose.


    ¡°...I''ll be beaten up!¡±


    Thinking about his body flying slowly, Haruyuki shouted. However Kuroyukihime lightly laughed and added.


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry. Of course, you can stop the accelerated state at any time.¡±


    ¡°O, oh... is that so. Then, I can return to reality and avoid this punch too...¡±


    ¡°Easily. Fufu, this is ?Acceleration?¡¯s easiest to understand use. For situations where a reaction speed that is impossible for your physical body is needed, if you assess and consider it, then you can calmly deal with it after cancelling the accelerated state.¡±


    As she said, he had not been able to avoid the many beatings till now, due to fear he had not been able to see the path of Araya¡¯s punch and its target, but now inside ?Acceleration? he can easily understand it.


    After cancelling acceleration, moving left just 15cm would be fine. He swallowed his saliva while carving that into his head, then looked to Kuroyukihime to find the cancel command.


    However, the black beauty said something outrageous before he could ask.


    ¡°However, don¡¯t avoid it. Be daringly knocked out here, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    ¡°Kn...¡±


    While his pig nose trembled, Haruyuki shouted.


    ¡°N, no way! It will hurt.¡±


    ¡°Which?¡±


    ¡°What...? Wh, which means...¡±


    ¡°I want to ask, is it your body or mind that will be hurt?¡±


    The smile disappeared from Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar. Without waiting for Haruyuki¡¯s reply, she appeared in front of him with her black high heels clicking.


    Kuroyukihime bent her slender body that was about 50cm taller than Haruyuki¡¯s pig body, and peeked at his eyes from close range. He held his breath and stood still.


    ¡°This is not the first time you have been beaten up by the student named Araya.¡±


    ¡°Y... yes.¡±


    He definitely did not want her to know that he was bullied, but why did he nod.


    ¡°Then, this student had not been punished thus far, there should be two reasons. The first of course is you accepting it meekly. And the other one is, Araya¡¯s violence and blackmail area is strangely outside of the Social Camera''s view.¡±


    Certainly, the places where he was directly bullied was normally the roof¡¯s air exhaust shadow, behind the school and other places where students don¡¯t normally go to. However, that was not for avoiding people eyes, but to avoid cameras.


    While Kuroyukihime showed a difficult expression, she stood up straight.


    ¡°...Unfortunately, this school¡¯s 2nd and 3rd years have the same kind of people like this guy. They have some kind of network, that share things like illegal applications that warn them of Social Camera zones. They will never show their tail in a camera zone... even this new guy should have been strictly ordered about that.¡±


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s ice like stare looked at the blue Araya¡¯s face once, then her strangely calm voice continued.


    ¡°But, he¡¯s still a child. He lost control of himself from my earlier provocation, and used violence in this area full of cameras. Listen, this is your chance, Haruyuki-kun. It¡¯s easy to avoid this punch, but if you do that then Araya will leave us, and disappear from this place. The chance to give him the punishment he deserves, it will be long gone.¡±


    - And then, Araya will again make him hurt. That revenge, which will be more than the current half play, is something he can easily imagine. While his back shivered with a prickle, Haruyuki looked at his real self, and Araya¡¯s fist nearing his face.


    The bony right hand was sharp with rock-like points, getting hit with that will be painful enough to make him cry. This half year, he has experienced this pain more than he wanted. However -.


    What will really bleed is not his physical body, but his heart. It¡¯s his pride that was torn to shreds.


    ¡°...Umm.¡±


    With hesitation, Haruyuki asked Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°If I use ?Brain Burst? well, can I win against this guy in fights?¡±


    Her beautiful face without any expression stared straight at Haruyuki.


    ¡°- You would win. You now have power way beyond non-accelerated people, as a ?Burst Linker?. Without being hit a single time, you can hit as much as you like, if that is your wish.¡±


    My wish. There¡¯s no way I won¡¯t wish for that.


    Elegantly avoiding Araya¡¯s karate punches, making his looks more ugly than a pig. Crushing his nose, knocking out all of his front teeth, while he cries, begging on his knees pulling out his boastful golden hair.


    Creek, while grinding his big teeth, he let out a sigh, Haruyuki tells Kuroyukihime in a trembling voice,


    ¡°...No, I will not do that. I will quietly get hit... since this is a rare chance.¡±


    ¡°...Fu.¡±


    Kuroyukihime, with a satisfied smile, slowly nodded.


    ¡°Wise decision. Well, this will be the least damage and greatest effect. After ?Acceleration? is cancelled, jump straight back to your right. Don¡¯t forget to turn your face to the right to parry the fist.¡±


    ¡°O... ok.¡±


    Haruyuki moved right behind his real self to check Araya¡¯s punch path. For sure, if he jumped while turning his face, even karate¡¯s force will mostly be cancelled.


    He moved his view to check where he will be jumping to. The left side has tables, the right side behind has a large empty space, there are no obstacles all the way to the window looking out the central courtyard. Except for one person that is.


    ¡°Ah, no... this is no good. If I jump from here to there, I will crash into senpai¡¯s body.¡±


    The standing Haruyuki was only about one meter from the real Kuroyukihime who was sitting in a chair. If his huge body hit her, he won¡¯t know what would happen to her slender body.


    However, the black dressed avatar just lightly shrugged.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, that way will be more effective. Don¡¯t worry, I''ll dodge so I won''t be hurt.¡±


    ¡°...O, ok...¡±


    That¡¯s true, if known before hand that is possible. He forced a nod.


    ¡°We will soon be out of time. Hurry and stand in your real self.¡±


    Pon, he was pushed from behind, Haruyuki took a step forward, his pig avatar overlapped his blue real self. Behind him Kuroyukihime also seemed to have sat down, her voice coming from a lower position.


    ¡°Ok, I will teach you the acceleration cancel command. Do your best - ?Burst Out? !¡±


    Burst Out!


    Haruyuki took a deep breath and shouted.


    Kiiiin, with a jet engine like sound, something approaching from far away broke the surrounding silence. The blue world slowly returned to its original color.


    In his left side view, the stopped Araya¡¯s fist moved bit by bit. From as slow as a snail, it gradually sped up, heading to Haruyuki¡¯s cheek.


    Haruyuki did as he was told, while jumping to his right side behind with both legs, desperately turned his head to the right. The fiercely approaching fist touched his skin, and sunk in a bit -.


    And then, the world returned to normal.


    Waa, after he heard the noise from the surrounding, Haruyuki¡¯s left cheek felt the hit from the fist. He felt that the inside of his cheek hit his teeth, and his lips were torn. There was some bleeding, however compared to the many karate punches he ate before, this was definitely about half the pain.


    However, at the same time Haruyuki¡¯s huge body showily flew in the air like in the movies.


    Please dodge well! While praying, his back crashed into the chair behind him. A nice smell and a feeling of soft hair reached him.


    The chair fell with a Gataan sound, and right after, Gatsun!! An ominous sound.


    Haruyuki¡¯s breath was knocked out of him when he fell on his back to the floor, while gasping for air, he desperately turned his head, trying to confirm the state of Kuroyukihime who was supposed to avoid the clash.


    What his two wide eyes captured was, head reclining on the window, hands and legs spread out like a broken doll, a delicate shape with eyes closed.


    Under the messed up front hair, on the almost see through white cheek, a line of blood flowed.


    ¡°Ah... ah.¡±


    While swallowing a scream, Haruyuki tried to stand up. But, before that -.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!!¡±


    From the still Direct Connect Linker, Kuroyukihime¡¯s thought voice hit Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness. Reacting to that, his body froze while in the fallen state and replied.


    ¡°Bu, but... Blood!!¡±


    ¡°No worries, it¡¯s just a small cut. I told you, we are aiming for the greatest effect. After this, Araya won¡¯t appear in front of you. For a second time.¡±


    After being told, Haruyuki moved only his view from left to right side.


    Araya whose right fist was still held out straight, vacantly looked down at Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime. His face slowly lost blood, his thin lips trembled two or three times with a twitch.


    In the silence that covered the lounge -.


    ¡°...Kyaaaaaa!!¡±


    The surround table¡¯s female students¡¯ tremendous scream echoed.


    Araya and his underlings A and B didn¡¯t resist when the male student council members captured them. The three people with slightly green faces and shaking legs were taken away by flustered teachers who arrived. Kuroyukihime was carried by the female student council members and headed straight to the hospital.


    Haruyuki himself was lightly treated in the school infirmary, while the school doctor put a disinfection patch on him, the words that Kuroyukihime said to him right before pulling out the Direct Connect cable, still echo deep inside his ears.


    ¡°- Oops, almost forgot to tell you. Until you come to school tomorrow, absolutely do not remove your Neuro Linker. However, do not spend a single second in Global Connect. Listen, absolutely. Promise me.¡±


    He could not figure out what her true intention was for that directive. While he spent the afternoon two hours in the infirmary, a strange dissociated feeling covered his whole body. The many things that happened to him in the two days between yesterday and today, he has no idea how to sort and absorb them.


    However at the very least, he no longer has to worry about having his shoes missing from the shoe rack, or finding strange things in his shoes. He mechanically changed his indoor shoes to sneakers, while leaving the school building, he did as he was told and cut the net connection from the Neuro Linker.


    What is the meaning for that, while thinking about that again he walk toward the front entrance of the school, at that moment.


    ¡°Haru.¡±


    The small voice reached his ears and Haruyuki abruptly stopped his legs.


    Looking around, he noticed a small shape in the shadow of the school building that was dyed by the evening sun. While noticing his face tense up, he called that person¡¯s name.


    ¡°...Chiyu.¡±


    He did not forget, the incident from yesterday that he forcibly pushed out of his consciousness, instantly replayed. ¡®Uwa, what should I do, no, I should apologize first, that¡¯s the only thing I can do¡¯, while he was panicking, Kurashima Chiyuri who was showing a difficult face stepped on the synthetic soft pavement of the school yard and approached.


    ¡°Ah... that is... yesterday¡¯s, err.¡±


    ¡°Haru, I heard about what happened at lunch time.¡±


    Chiyuri said so, interrupting Haruyuki¡¯s disoriented words.


    ¡°What? Lunch... Ah, Ahh.¡±


    ¡°You were hit by them, and flew really far... then, that injury? Are you ok?¡±


    Chiyuri¡¯s face with wrinkled large eyebrows approached him, Haruyuki¡¯s left hand went to cover the patch near his mouth. ¡®No way, the flashy flight was done by myself¡¯, but he can¡¯t say that.


    ¡°Ye... Yeah, I am fine. It¡¯s just a little cut. I am not hurt anywhere else.¡±


    ¡°...I see, that¡¯s good.¡±


    With her face still tense, but now with a slight smile, Chiyuri took a quick look at their surroundings. After the incident at lunch time, Haruyuki became the subject of talks at school, the students returning home from school stared at him without refrain.


    ¡°Then, let''s go home together once in a while.¡±


    Chiyuri said with a hard sound, and started walking without waiting for him.


    ¡®Once in a while she said, we haven¡¯t done that once since entering middle school¡¯, Haruyuki thought, but if he said no and ran away, it will be a repeat of yesterday¡¯s foolish actions. That¡¯s right, no matter what happens he has to at least apologize for yesterday¡¯s incident.


    Chiyuri was walking in large steps that did not fit her height, Haruyuki had to run a bit to catch up to her, he went beside her, keeping a strange distance. Like that, they left the school entrance and walked onto the quiet sidewalk where only cars with in-wheel motors could be heard.


    Normally, after he left school, he would automatically put the surrounding people, bikes, and cars in his virtual view as color symbols while walking with his eyes closed, but now that he is disconnected from Global Net, he can not use navigation. Why would Kuroyukihime direct him to do that, while he was again thinking about that, Chiyuri who was on his right side saying that name nearly made him jump.


    ¡°Is it true that you Direct Connected with 2nd year¡¯s Kuroyukihime-san?¡±


    ¡°What!? Ho, how -¡±


    ¡®How did you know¡¯, he was going to say, but he realized that it would be like that. Compared to Araya¡¯s punch, that one incident would leave a bigger impact on the students.


    ¡°...Yeah, well...¡±


    Without looking at Haruyuki¡¯s nod, Chiyuri¡¯s small lips became pointed and walked even faster. That expression, was her showing the highest rank of displeasure, he knew that from being around her for so long. Why would she be like that? This time too he answered himself after thinking a bit. The idiot who knocked her handmade lunch down onto the hall, without apologizing went and did something strange with another girl, even if it wasn¡¯t Chiyuri they would certainly be mad.


    ¡°Bu, but, there wasn¡¯t any strange meaning. That is, I was just copying her application.¡±


    It¡¯s October, his back was still filled with unpleasant sweat while he tried to explain. However Chiyuri¡¯s expression did not become peaceful, it seems no matter what, he has to apologize about the sandwich incident first! After deciding that, he earnestly tried to arrange words in his brain.


    ¡°In, instead of that, that is... yesterday¡¯s...¡±


    Just as he finally said till there, a well carrying voice from the front made him swallow what he was going to say next.


    ¡°Hey, Haru, Chii-chan! What a coincidence, going home now?¡±


    Chiyuri¡¯s legs abruptly stopped, and Haruyuki raised his face. On top of the seventh circular line escalator, a boy of the same age smiled with a raised hand.


    His uniform was a blue-grey stand collar that¡¯s different from Umesato. His right hand held an old style black leather student bag, from his shoulder hung a shinai[2] case that¡¯s used in kendo[3]. Slightly long hair with a clean feeling was split in the middle, the face below it has a fresh form that fit him more than anyone else, a refreshingly handsome man.


    ¡°Ah... Ta-kun.¡±


    After blinking a few times, Chiyuri smiled.


    She was so displeased till now. While thinking that, for the 3rd time in a short period of time, ¡®Ah, that¡¯s right¡¯, Haruyuki whispered in his heart. - While walking with the annoying guy who dropped her sandwich, she met her boyfriend by accident.


    Haruyuki and Chiyuri¡¯s childhood friend, Mayuzumi Takumu, with his shinai case swinging, approached with a short run, and faced Haruyuki with a cheerful smile.


    ¡°Hey, Haru! Long time no see.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Taku. Long time... has it been?¡±


    Haruyuki said while looking at Takumu¡¯s face that¡¯s 10cm higher than his.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I haven¡¯t seen the real you in two weeks. You don¡¯t go to mansion events.¡±


    ¡°I went to the athletic meet.¡±


    Haruyuki replied with a wrinkled face, Takumu made a ¡®just like usual huh¡¯ smile.


    The three of them were born in the same year in the complex high-rise mansion built in North Kouenji. However, just that reason won¡¯t get him friendly with a boy who had everything he did not have.


    Ironically, Takumu was so good at studying that he entered a famous all grade escalator school in Shinjuku, thus Haruyuki can have a carefree relationship with him. Because Takumu didn¡¯t have to see him once in a while being a target of bully in the local elementary school.


    For Chiyuri who went to the same elementary school as him, he told (that is, begged) her not to tell Takumu about him being bullied. If he knew, then Takumu will save Haruyuki, he would call out the brats and beat them with his shinai.


    However even if that stops the bullying, Haruyuki felt that he would then no longer be able to be friends with Takumu.


    ¡°Now that you mention it...¡±


    While the three were walking, Haruyuki started a conversation. It was something he hardly did at school.


    ¡°I saw the previous city tournament video on the net. Taku is amazing, champion even as a 1st year student.¡±


    ¡°Luck, pure luck.¡±


    While scratching his head, Takumu made a ticklish like smile.


    ¡°The difficult guy disappeared in the semifinal. Also, Chii-chan came to cheer.¡±


    ¡°Eh, m, me!?¡±


    On the other side of Takumu, Chiyuri yelled with wide eyes.


    ¡°Why me, not really, I was just watching in a corner...¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, what are you saying. ¡®Knock him out¡¯, didn¡¯t you shout loudly?¡±


    Takumu laughed with a pleasant sound.


    ¡°Above that, you won¡¯t give me lunch if I lost, you said. That was with a serious look right, Chii-chan.¡±


    ¡°Ah gee, I hear nothing! Nothing.¡±


    While watching Chiyuri cover her ears and increase her walking speed, Haruyuki poked Takumu¡¯s body with his right elbow.


    ¡°I see, that is the reason why you were so motivated in the final round.¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah, hahaha.¡±


    While laughing with Takumu -.


    Certainly, this is great, Haruyuki thought.


    His choice two years ago was not a mistake. Right now, they can talk like they did before.


    He did not want this relationship to break apart.


    At that time, like a counter, Takumu lightly said.


    ¡°Haru too, you ate Chii-chan¡¯s handmade lunch yesterday right?¡±


    ¡°Eh, no, that, that is.¡±


    While looking at Chiyuri¡¯s suddenly tense back, Haruyuki went into a light panic. ¡®Oh no, I haven¡¯t apologize yet, should I apologize now, or with email when I return home -¡¯.


    No, wait a minute.


    How did Takumu know about that.


    Haruyuki¡¯s legs became tangle, when he was about to fall, Takumu supported him while saying ¡®Oops¡¯. However, without noticing that, his brain was getting hot due to repeated thinking.


    That sandwich was made by Chiyuri because she knew that his lunch money was used by Araya¡¯s group. She was not good with cooking so why, he thought, it could not be from Takumu¡¯s advice right?


    Is that was the case, then Chiyuri consulted with Takumu. That Haruyuki was being bullied. Otherwise, he would not have said that.


    The inside of his head became white hot, Haruyuki unconsciously shook off Takumu¡¯s hand that was holding his right elbow.


    ¡°H, hey, Haru - ?¡±


    To Takumu''s questioning voice, Haruyuki could not face him. His wandering gaze met the frozen like expression in Chiyuri¡¯s eyes. Her lips moved, trying to say something, but Haruyuki shouted before she could.


    ¡°Ah... Sorry, there is a show I want to see! I will return first, Taku, see you again!¡±


    He ran out like that. His legs got twisted and was going to fall many times, but Haruyuki ran earnestly.


    Those two would probably consult again. On how to save Haruyuki.


    Even thinking about their conversation topic made him feel like his innards were being cut up. Even though a miracle-like happening made Araya disappear, if Takumu already knew about it, it would be too much even for irony.


    Until he passed his mansion¡¯s entrance, and jumped in the elevator, he did not stop running even once.


    That night, the dream he had was without a doubt the worst that he ever remembered having.


    The elementary school brats, Araya and his underlings A and B, and other outlaw students whose names he doesn¡¯t know, took turns to appear and hurt him.


    A little distance away, Chiyuri and Takumu watched while holding hands. More than the pain in his full body, the pitying expression on their faces is what Haruyuki could not endure.


    As the dream progressed, more viewers appeared. His mother appeared beside them, his father that left home long ago also appeared, along with the people living in the mansion and his classmates, the crowd of people looked down at him.


    Their faces no longer had a pitying expression, but a scornful laughter. Many people pointed at the ugly and miserable Haruyuki and laughed.


    Stop. I don¡¯t want to be here anymore.


    While thinking that, he looked up at the dark sky far away, there was a shadow of someone there. With wings darker than night spread out, flying lightly like birds of a feather.


    I want to go there too. Higher. Further.


    I want to fly.


    To beyond.


    ¡°- Is that your wish?¡±

 Volume 1 - CH 3

    Haruyuki opened his eyes with a sigh.


    From the white light coming through the window, he could see that it was 6:30AM on the clock. He calculated that he had been sleeping for about 12 hours.


    His entire body was full of sweat, and the remains of the nightmare made his skin feel slimy. Even so, he could not remember a single thing about his dream.


    He dimly remembered Kuroyukihime¡¯s last words to him yesterday.


    ¡®Don¡¯t remove the Neuro Linker over night¡¯, was her directive, it can¡¯t be that this has some relation to his dream?


    After he idly thought about that while taking a shower, he changed into his school uniform, then ate cereal and orange juice for breakfast in the kitchen alone. He put the dishes in the dishwasher then knocked on his mother¡¯s bedroom door for the one ritual before going to school.


    ¡°...I am going.¡±


    Saying that to the dim room, he heard a cracking voice say something unclear from the bed. She seemed to have drunk a lot last night.


    While he waited for his mother to operate her cell phone to charge his Neuro Linker with 500 yen, she suddenly said with an irritated voice.


    ¡°Haruyuki, your Linker is disconnected.¡±


    Oh no, he put his hand to his neck. While feeling that he forgot something, he connected his Neuro Linker to the Global Net, soon with a ¡®chariin¡¯ sound effect, his electronic money balance increased.


    ¡°I am going.¡±


    He said it again, but there was no more reply. He softly closed the bedroom door, put on his sneakers at the entrance, and left his home.


    He took the elevator to the first floor, while saying hello to residents he did not remember, he went through the front entrance.


    The automatic door closed, he stepped into the mansion¡¯s front courtyard, just 3 seconds.


    Bashiiiii!! That sound reverberated in all of Haruyuki¡¯s brain.


    What!? ?Accelerate?!? However - why, by itself!?


    While he held his breath, in front of his eyes in the familiar burning font, was a line of alphabet.


    [HERE COMES A NEW CHALLENGER!!]


    Where had he seen these words before. The words burnt out before he could remember, and on the top part of his view, something even more strange appeared.


    In the center, a [1800] number. And to the left and right of that, blue bars extended. Under those is a small thin green bar which extended.


    Finally, in his view¡¯s center, with flame letters - [FIGHT!!]


    The number became 1799.


    Not sure what to do, Haruyuki first looked at the four digit number that was counting down.


    1800 seconds. 30 minutes. Where had he heard those numbers before. Oh yes - Kuroyukihime said it, the ?Acceleration? time limit was about this long of a number.


    But this time, Haruyuki did not even say the ¡®B¡¯ of ?Burst Link? that was the Acceleration start command. The world¡¯s color also, instead of mono-tone blue, it¡¯s full color. And, what¡¯s the meaning of ¡®Challenger¡¯ and ¡®Fight¡¯ anyway.


    In order to get a handle on the situation, he desperately looked around, and soon noticed something.


    The breezy October morning had disappeared without a trace, but the surrounding area was still within his memory, he was still in front of his home. The two lane street on the left side, the convenience store and office buildings on the side of the street, and if he turned around, he would see the high-rise mansion that he just left stand with the darkness.


    However, the group of cars filling the street heading to Shinjuku, and the students going to school that filled the walkways, both had disappeared. Also, the street was cracked and had sinkholes here and there, the guardrail and signs were bent, and the glass on buildings were flashily broken.


    At the intersection a bit away, rubble was piled up like a barricade, and flames were flickering from a huge dome, like something was burning inside. The scares of destruction included Haruyuki¡¯s mansion home, concrete pillars were collapsed, the outer wall with a huge hole and other awful likeness.


    He wanted to go back home right now to check out his house, with that motivation, he strolled a few steps and looked in the entrance from between the rubble.


    Then, his eyes widened in amazement. The building¡¯s interior looks like a game¡¯s polygon building that was made inside his head, it looks like the inside of a grey flat surface box. No - not looks like. It is just that.


    This is real but not reality. Haruyuki is now under ?Accelerate? function, in a Full Dive in the virtual net, the surrounding scene are 3D images made from Social Camera video. Like the blue frozen world he saw yesterday in the lounge.


    Even so, Haruyuki has never seen such a detailed virtual space. He could not see the pixel pitch. Each small rock near his feet was made with overwhelming detail.


    If it¡¯s like this, what has became of his body, Haruyuki looked down.


    He thought he was going to see his familiar pink pig, but -.


    ¡°...Wh ...What is this.¡±


    Amazed, he involuntarily leaked a sound.


    What came into his view were legs, chest and arms that were slender like wires, a body like polished silver. It was like a robot - however, it did not have the fighting image of games or anime.


    He hurriedly put his hand to his face, but instead of a nose or mouth, his fingers slid on something hard like the shape of a helmet. He took a moment to look around, and saw a cracked window on the front wall of an apartment building on the other side of the street from the mansion, with ¡®cachin cachin¡¯ foot steps he ran there.


    The shape reflected by large glass was a truly full-body metallic robot. The body was slender and small, only the streamlined head was unusually large. To say it in one sentence - it¡¯s a very small-fry look.


    At least his forehead should have horns... or both eyes should shine with golden beacon.


    While he was complaining to the unknown avatar designer, at that time.


    Behind his reflection in the glass, on the other side of the street, a few wriggly human shadows were seen.


    Shocked, he crouched his metallic body and turned around. Unknown since when they appeared, three shapes stood under a destroyed convenience store. Since they were surrounded by darkness, he could only see their silhouette, but each of them were much bigger than Haruyuki.


    The shadows seemed to be facing each other and were talking. Haruyuki involuntarily tried to listen.


    ¡°...Somehow, a strangely victim-like guy.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember his name, a newbie?¡±


    ¡°But he is metallic color. Maybe he has some ability?¡±


    Those guys - were not NPCs[1].


    Haruyuki felt that directly. That manner and speech pattern, without a doubt they are human instead of programs.


    But this place was the ?Accelerate?¡¯s virtual net. That means they are, like Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime, people who installed Brain Burst, this would be how it is.


    Then, they would know what this situation is. First let¡¯s ask those three about the circumstances, after deciding that, he timidly stepped out onto the road and got as far as the white center line.


    Suddenly, he felt someone else looking at him. He stopped his feet and turned that way.


    There. More than three people. Unknown where they appeared from, on roof of ruin buildings, on top of rubbles, all around were strange silhouettes watching Haruyuki. However they did not seem to approach closer, just - yes, a feeling of waiting for something.


    Haruyuki was bewildered, he moved his view back to the center of the road. The count on top of his view has decreased to 1620. The bars to the left and right of that number had not changed -.


    No, he did not notice it until now, under the left and right bars were lines of small alphabet.


    The left side read as ?Silver Crow?. And the right side was ?Ash Roller?.


    This screen structure, he felt very familiar with it.


    Haruyuki had a strong sense of d¨¦j¨¤-vu as he thought that.


    This is not something new - over 30 years before Haruyuki was born, near the end of the 19xx era in Japan, it dominated amusement centers, a kind of game program. And recently, something he saw triggered this feeling. That was...


    Haruyuki who was standing there searching through his memory, jumped as an explosion suddenly sounded behind him.


    ¡°...!?¡±


    He lost his balance while turning around and fell down on his rear, in front of his eyes was a huge towering silhouette.


    It was a bike. Even so, it was not a familiar motor drive type... illegal since long ago, an internal combustion engine nestled in the gut, from which a ¡®Doddoddo¡¯ heavy vibration sound came.


    The front fork was ridiculously long, and the tire it connected to was jokingly fat. From the rugged grey tread, a faint burnt odor drifted over.


    Haruyuki looked up, behind the excessively curved handle, his gaze fearfully captured the figure of the rider sitting on top of the leather seat.


    Full body covered in black leather with tacks, two feet with boots spread apart, and both arms crossed at the chest. Head too covered in a black helmet, the face shield was a skeleton like showy thing.


    From inside, a creaking voice appeared, Haruyuki listen while dumbfounded.


    ¡°A long time no see ?End of Century? stage, Luckkyy~¡±


    From one of his crossed hands, an index finger wriggled left and right.


    ¡°You as an opponent are a shiny newbie. Mega Luckkyy - !¡±


    The skeleton rider lifted his right boot and put it on the handle bar, doing a skillful thing. At that moment, ¡®Dobobaroruoooon!¡¯ A roaring wail sounded, and Haruyuki jumped up again.


    No matter how he sees it, this is not a friendly opponent. Instead, if his previous thoughts were right, this is a ?Fighting Stage? - and this rider is - .


    ¡°U... Uwa...¡±


    Haruyuki inched back, and turned.


    ¡°Uwa -¡±


    With the robot¡¯s small legs crackling, he ran desperately.


    ¡°Whahahaha!! Run away, run away!!¡±


    Another engine roar sound from behind him, and sounds of tire screeching continued - just one second later, his back suffered a huge hit and he felt sharp pain, Haruyuki flew high up into the dark night.


    At the same time, at the top left of his view, ?Silver Crow?¡¯s blue bar shrank.


    After seeing that, Haruyuki thought as he spun in the air, ¡®Ah so it really is this¡¯.


    That is, this is a ?Fighting Game?, he was a newbie that doesn¡¯t know left from right, and his opponent was a veteran player that knows how to win.


    There¡¯s no way he can win.


    ¡°Hahaha, you got hunted right away. That was because you did not stick to our promise, boy.¡±


    Lunch time.


    Same as yesterday, Haruyuki was Direct Connected to Kuroyukihime in the lounge, under watchful eye of the healing patch below her front hair, she shook her head and skillfully laughed with thought only. Her injury, which showily bled, seemed to have left only a scratch. All his speech for thanks and apology was stopped with a wave of her right hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s... not a laughing matter. I thought I was going to die... Well, it was my bad for carelessly connecting my Neuro Linker to the Global Net...¡±


    Kuroyukihime looked pleasantly at the complaining Haruyuki, and took the tea cup from the table and put it to her lips. The shrimp-au-gratin that was next to the cup was left intact, it put out hot steam just like the large pork curry in front of Haruyuki.


    The student council members sitting at the same table were already moving their chopsticks or spoons, Haruyuki¡¯s stomach was making pathetic sounds, but it seems Kuroyukihime¡¯s lecture, in other words preaching will not be ending any time soon.


    ¡°- But well, this way, it saves me some explaining. The lesson fee was a bit high, but you already understand right?¡±


    ¡°Understand... what?¡±


    ¡°The identity of ?Brain Burst? program. It¡¯s not a grand conspiracy, just a - ¡°


    Haruyuki nodded, and continued with what the words should be from where Kuroyukihime left off.


    ¡°Just a fighting game. Using reality as a stage for encounter fights. It¡¯s outrageous...¡±


    ¡°Fufu, it sure is an outrageous talk that caused false alarm.¡±


    ¡°Using the tremendous technology of thought ?Acceleration?, and what did they do with it, a fighting game! That¡¯s a genre that was thrown away 30 years ago!¡±


    Hearing that, Kuroyukihime tilt her head to think a bit, then gave an ironic smile.


    ¡°Hmm, that way of saying is a bit wrong. Haruyuki-kun, we Burst Linkers do not ?Accelerate? just to play fighting games. It¡¯s the other way, we fight to be able to continue using ?Accelerate?. We are forced, that is this program¡¯s unpleasant part.¡±


    ¡°That... what does it mean?¡±


    ¡°Un... what¡¯s ahead, is better explained in practice. Go into ?Accelerate? mode.¡±


    ¡°Oh, ok...¡±


    Haruyuki cut his attachment to the large curry, sat up straight in his chair, and shouted the Accelerate command silently.


    Burst Link!


    Bashii, that sound hit his body and consciousness, the surrounding student¡¯s movements stopped. At the same time, many colors disappeared, replaced with a translucent blue.


    Kuroyukihime in front of him stopped too, but soon from the tidy uniform, like a spirit leaving the body, a bewitching black clothed avatar stood up. Haruyuki¡¯s pink pig avatar too got down from the chair, without looking at his real round self, moved forward.


    ¡°Then... what do I do?¡±


    ¡°Your view¡¯s left side, are there any new icons added?¡±


    He moved his focus as told, and for sure in the line of application icons, he noticed a burning B mark new icon. He raised his left hand and clicked that.


    ¡°That is the Fighting game ?Brain Burst?¡¯s main menu. You can check your status and fighting history, and search the surrounding for Burst Linkers to challenge to a fight. Push the Matching button.¡±


    Haruyuki nodded then clicked the button at the very bottom of the menu. Immediately a new window opened, after an instant of the ¡®Searching...¡¯ display, a name list is shown.


    Even saying so, there were only two names in the list. The one he saw this morning, his own ?Silver Crow? and - the other one. ?Black Lotus?.


    Haruyuki has no doubt that is Kuroyukihime¡¯s Burst Linker name, he raised his face a little to confirm. As expected, the black swallowtail butterfly avatar lightly nodded and said.


    ¡°Now, we are disconnected from the Global Net and connected to the school local network, the list is just you and me - or should be.¡±


    ¡°Yes... Black Lotus-san.¡±


    ¡®Beautiful name¡¯, and, ¡®fits you perfectly¡¯, of course he did not actually say that out loud, all that happened was his pig nose trembling.


    ¡°Ok. Then, click my name, and go into a fight.¡±


    ¡°Wh... Whattt!?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have to actually fight. Just let the time run out and end it as a draw is all.¡±


    With a light bitter smile, Kuroyukihime urged him on.


    In an era where tens of thousands of people connect to have a huge battle in the same field is not uncommon, and now one on one, while thinking that, he clicked the name in the list, and from a new pop-up menu selected [DUEL]. And from the YES/NO dialogue that showed up next - [YES].


    Instantly, the shape of the world changed again.


    From the blue stopped lounge, all the students disappeared. The pillars and tables, while color returned to them, showed decay like it was due to age, and the glass has thick dust caked on them.


    And then the sky, was dyed with a deep orange color. A dry wind blew from somewhere, moving the unknown name grass that grew here and there on the floor.


    The familiar 1800 number is clearly carved at the top of his view. Blue bars extend to the left and right, and at last - the burning word [FIGHT!!].


    ¡°Oh... ?Twilight? stage. We pulled out a rare one.¡±


    Beside Haruyuki who was looking around, Kuroyukihime¡¯s voice sounded.


    ¡°The stage¡¯s attributes are: burns well, quickly destroyed, and unexpectedly gloomy.¡±


    ¡°Ah, oh...¡±


    While nodding, Haruyuki checked out his own body. Unknown since when, his pink pig was changed to the slender silver robot.


    Then, what would Kuroyukihime¡¯s shape be, while thinking that he moved his view, what he saw was the same black dress avatar without a single change.


    ¡°So that is your duel avatar. ?Silver Crow?, nice name. Color is nice too. I like the form too.¡±


    Kuroyukihime extended her hand, and patted the slippery silver head.


    This sure sense of touch, Haruyuki again realized that this place does not have the ?Contact Forbidden? kind of code to protect children, and that this is the real virtual reality.


    ¡°Th, thank you... but this looks like a small fry. A re-make, is not possible... right. Who designed and named this anyway? In the first place, what is a duel avatar?¡±


    ¡°As the name says, it¡¯s an avatar for fighting only. - Last night, you had a very long and scary dream right?¡±


    ¡°...Yes.¡±


    He did not remember the contents, but the feeling that it was a very bad nightmare was left behind. He involuntarily rubbed his robot¡¯s two slender arms with his hard hands.


    ¡°That¡¯s caused by the program accessing your deep image. Brain Burst uses the owner¡¯s desire, fear and obsession to chop and mix, creating the duel avatar.¡±


    ¡°My... image. Fear and... desire.¡±


    While whispering, Haruyuki looked down at his body again.


    ¡°This... small, weak and smooth body is my wish? Well, it¡¯s true that I usually thought about being more skinny but... If it¡¯s like this, I want to be a bit more Heroic looking...¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s not that simple. What the program reads and uses, is not the ideal but the inferiority complex. In your case, you should feel lucky that your pink pig-kun was not used for your duel avatar just like that. Although, I like that too.¡±


    ¡°S... stop it. I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    He should make a new black knight avatar for school net use, while thinking that he asked.


    ¡°Then, does this mean senpai¡¯s school avatar is also made by Brain Burst? That is a symbol of senpai¡¯s inferiority complex? But it¡¯s so pretty...¡±


    ¡°No...¡±


    With a light shadow in her eyes, Kuroyukihime frowned.


    ¡°This is made by myself with the editor. I... for reasons right now, have sealed my original duel avatar. I will tell you the reason later, when the time comes.¡±


    ¡°Sealed...?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, my duel avatar is ugly. Ugly to the extreme. That¡¯s not the reason for sealing it... well, never mind about me.¡±


    Kuroyukihime shrugged, and soon returned to her normal mysterious expression. Her white hand again caressed Haruyuki¡¯s helmet head.


    ¡°This morning, another Burst Linker fought you in the Global Net, and you used your just made avatar to fight. Then you were completely beaten and lost. Is that right?¡±


    ¡°...U, well, that¡¯s it exactly. A perfect loss.¡±


    ¡°The result display after the fight, did you properly see it?¡±


    Haruyuki unwillingly remembered the ?Fighting Stage? he had been in before coming to school. In that dark ruin, a skeleton helmet rider on a vulgar bike hit and bashed him flying, his HP gauge disappeared very quickly.


    With a pathetic sound effect, the words [YOU LOSE] appeared in front of him, then -.


    ¡°I am pretty sure... My name and Level 1 was shown, and then a strange number came out. Burst... Point, maybe. That decreased from 99 to 89.¡±


    ¡°Good, you remembered well. Burst Points! That is why we go stand on the ruthless battle field.¡±


    Kuroyukihime said that like a shout, she walked a few steps toward the glass window, then turned around. The parasol held in her two hands went ¡®thud¡¯! She stabbed it into the floor, small broken pieces of flagstone flew up.


    ¡°Burst Points, namely, are the number of times we can ?Accelerate?. One Acceleration will decrease your points by 1. Right after installation the starting point is 100, but yesterday in the lounge you Accelerated once, so your points decreased by 1. And earlier, you used another 1 point.¡±


    ¡°Arg... How do you charge that up? Don¡¯t tell me it use real money to charge?¡±


    ¡°Wrong.¡±


    Kuroyukihime drastically denied.


    ¡°There is only one way to increase Burst Point, winning a ?Fight?. When you win, if it was the same level fight, you gain 10 points. However losing means lose 10 points. Like what happened to you this morning.¡±


    Kuroyukihime turned her face to look at the evening sky past the window, and continued to whisper.


    ¡°?Accelerate? is very powerful. Winning at fights is a simple matter of course, getting full marks on a test, a big win in some kind of gamble or sports is easy too. That last summer Koushien[2], the new record holder for home runs, a first year high school student, is a high level Burst Linker.¡±


    ¡°...Wha...¡±


    To the dumbfounded Haruyuki, she threw a somewhat sad look.


    ¡°Thus, once we tasted the forbidden nectar, we can only forever continue to ?Accelerate?. For that we need Burst Points, so we can only continue to fight forever.¡±


    ¡°...Wa ...Wait a minute please.¡±


    What, that genius power hitter is a Burst Linker.


    No that¡¯s not it - Kuroyukihime¡¯s speech, isn¡¯t there something strange about it?


    Haruyuki desperately thought, then opened his mouth.


    ¡°Ah... well, earlier you said fighting win is 10 up and lose is 10 down. That means... there is also point decrease from ?Accelerate?, so the total points from all Burst Linkers can only decrease. That means, the points of people weak at fights will certainly become zero... What happens when they became like that...?¡±


    ¡°You are certainly quick at comprehension. It¡¯s simple. ?Brain Burst? will be lost.¡±


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s dark eyes that had a burning like color looked straight at Haruyuki.


    ¡°The program will automatically uninstall, and it cannot be installed a second time. Even changing the Neuro Linker is useless, since the program knows the specific brain waves of each Burst Linker. The people who lost all their points, will not ?Accelerate? anymore.¡±


    The cold feeling voice told him that, and she added.


    ¡°New people like you enter the battle, so the pie won¡¯t just decrease. Even though now, the trend seems to be on slight decline.¡±


    However Haruyuki almost did not hear a single word of the added speech.


    ¡°Brain Burst will be... lost.¡±


    Having just tasted the power of ?Accelerate? two or three times, Haruyuki¡¯s back froze just thinking about it. It was not from not being able to Accelerate anymore. For Haruyuki, it meant losing his only connection to Kuroyukihime who was originally living in another world.


    Once again, he realized how heavy that 10 points hunted by the skull rider was.


    ¡°Then... what will you do, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    Haruyuki raised his face at this whispered question.


    ¡°Will I do...?¡±


    ¡°You can still go back now. To the normal world without ?Accelerate? or ?Fighting?. The idiots who bullied you won¡¯t appear again, this I guarantee as a student council member.¡±


    ¡°...I ...I...¡±


    ¡®- Accelerate or Brain Burst does not matter. Just, I don¡¯t want to be separated from you.¡¯


    Of course he could not say that. In exchange, he held his silver fists tight and answered.


    ¡°...I, still have things I need to pay back to senpai.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°You gave me Brain Burst, and pulled me out of that hell. The reason for that is not to steal my starting 100 points, I understand that at least. If it is like this, there isn¡¯t a really good way to say this. ...Then, you should want me for something. Checking my squash game high score, going to the trouble of lecturing me on Accelerate from the beginning, there is a goal. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°...Hmm. Accurate reasoning.¡±


    The lightly smiling, beautiful avatar looked straight at Haruyuki¡¯s silver face.


    ¡°I... I am truly not someone who should talk to senpai like this. I am uncool, fat, a crybaby, have a grudge against my only two friends and am jealous of them, run and escape quickly, a really no-good person. The lowest.¡±


    ¡®What am I saying¡¯, while thinking that, Haruyuki could not stop the words flowing out. He was saved by the fact that his avatar¡¯s face is like a mirror without expressions.


    ¡°Even so, that Kuroyukihime-senpai talked to me and Direct Connected with me, that I understand was because I am somewhat good with games, and there should not be any other reason, I would not be unhappy with just that, that is.¡±


    ¡®What am I really trying to say, I should sort it better then say it, ah now is the time to use Accelerate, no, I am already in Accelerate mode.¡¯


    Already falling into panic mode, Haruyuki could only expose what¡¯s inside of him.


    ¡°That¡¯s why... why I want to answer senpai¡¯s expectations. Your... mercy, I want to fully repay that. I don¡¯t know what I can do, if you are in need now, I will do whatever I can. That¡¯s why I... will not uninstall Brain Burst. I will fight... as a Burst Linker.¡±


    ¡®What¡¯s that, I should have just said the last part! What did I say anyway.¡¯


    After he finished spilling out all the words, Haruyuki felt embarrassed and shrunk his slender avatar body, cowering.


    ¡®Anyway, aren¡¯t you mistaken about something, you self-conscious guy.¡¯ He was prepared for her to think like that, right after, a simply released speech shook his hearing.


    ¡°Mercy... don¡¯t use this kind of word.¡±


    He looked up slightly and saw the most feeling expressed in a face he''d seen in the past few days.


    ¡°I am only a foolish and powerless middle school student. Standing in the same place as you, a human breathing the same air. In this stage, we are equal Burst Linkers. You are the one who is making the distance. These mere two virtual meters, does it seem that far to you?¡±


    She silently extended her white right hand.


    It¡¯s far.


    The inside of Haruyuki¡¯s chest murmured.


    ¡®To be in the view of someone like you who has everything, you won¡¯t understand how dreadful it is for someone like me. I am willing to be a servant. To move as a piece under your command, just that is unexpected happiness for me. If I take your hand here, I would have expectations that I am not allowed to have. Later certainly, it will be double the regret paid for that poisonous expectation.¡¯


    Same for Chiyuri and Takumu. With those two, he is satisfied with being happy bosom friends. Just without pity and sympathy, he absolutely did not wish for a position beyond that, but...


    The sound leaked from his mouth, was as dry as the wilted tree in the virtual twilight.


    ¡°...Senpai saved me from hell. That... is my whole life worth of happiness. I do not wish for anything beyond, absolutely.¡±


    ¡°...I see.¡±


    As she murmured, Kuroyukihime lowered her hand.


    A hard and heavy silence took over the stage. What broke that, was a sound he thought had not changed from before.


    ¡°I gladly accept your determination. It is true right now I have a bit of a troublesome problem. I need your help to resolve that.¡±


    Haruyuki took a small breath and nodded.


    ¡°Sure, if it¡¯s something I can do, anything. What should I do?¡±


    ¡°First, learn the way to ?Fight?. Click your name displayed below your life gauge. Open the ?Install?, you can view all the commands for your Duel Avatar¡¯s set of normal and special skills.¡±


    ¡°Sp... special skill?¡±


    He stopped his extending hand and asked while repeating.


    ¡°Yes. When the Duel Avatar is created, the program will spread a certain number to different parameters according to the potential avatar¡¯s attributes. The superior attack type, the hard defense type, and the one special skill make a turning point kind of peak type too. But, the golden rule is that Duel Avatars of the same level have about the same total potential. Your first fight was a crushing defeat, that does not mean your opponent was too strong. Just that you don¡¯t know how to fight.¡±


    That bike person, ?Ash Roller?, was the same level 1 as Haruyuki. He thought that was an overwhelming opponent, but in truth, he has the same fighting power as ?Silver Crow??


    If that is the case, then this small and slender robot avatar should certainly have a tremendous special skill. Haruyuki excitedly extended his silver finger, and pressed his own name.


    With a sound effect, a half transparent window opened.


    A simple humanoid animation showed the movements, to the right is shown skill names.


    First one, lower the waist and make a fist, do a thrust motion. Normal skill ?Punch?.


    Second one. Pull back right leg, do a kick in front motion. Normal skill ?Kick?.


    And lastly, special skill - cross both arms, open them wide left and right, thrust the head out with a swing, the name is ?Headbutt?.


    Just those. Nothing else.


    ¡°...Err.¡±


    Haruyuki murmured while dumbfounded.


    ¡°Normal skill Punch and Kick... and special skill is just Head thrust.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Kuroyukihime who heard that, put her right index finger to her chin, and tilted her neck. He thought that her expression did not change, but he could not keep watching, so he cowered. Just thinking of the disappointment flowing in her dark eyes, made his whole body heat up.


    He unconsciously moved his mouth.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s fine. This is within expectations. This avatar looks like it is full of uselessness. I am sorry it¡¯s not what you hope for. It¡¯s ok, you can just leave me alone. Just think of it as a missed lottery.¡±


    ¡°You... fool!!¡±


    That shook his body, Haruyuki raised his face. Unknown since when, Kuroyukihime was right in front of him, her eyebrows raised, and her burning eyes looked down at him.


    ¡°I won¡¯t say anything about your way of living, since I am just a similar middle school student. However in regards to Brain Burst, I am over six years your senpai. I already said it before, different Duel Avatars have equal potentials. Have you already forgotten?¡±


    ¡°B... but, my only skills are Punch, Kick, and Head thrust...¡±


    ¡°Then, there is a strength to supplement that somewhere for sure.¡±


    Her stare softened a bit, Kuroyukihime continued like admonishing him.


    ¡°That Duel Avatar was born from your heart. What happens if you don¡¯t believe in it?¡±


    ¡®The person I do not believe in the most, is myself.¡¯


    While he murmured in his chest, Haruyuki nodded.


    ¡°...I am sorry. I will believe... not sure about myself, just your words.¡±


    Hearing that, Kuroyukihime¡¯s face twisted slightly - maybe it was just a bitter smile - Haruyuki¡¯s shoulder relaxed slightly.


    ¡°For you, before learning how to fight, there is something else you must learn. Strength is...¡±


    For a little while. Her slight bitter smile was mixed with some pathetic expression.


    ¡°Strength is, not just a word meaning the result of a victory. I wasted a lot of time to learn that. And when I learned it, it was much too late.¡±


    The true meaning of her quietly whispered words, Haruyuki could not comprehend. When he tilted his head about to ask, without giving him the time to do it, Kuroyukihime suddenly turned around.


    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s almost time.¡±


    When he looked, the 1800 second time count only had 20 second left.


    ¡°Then, the next lecture will be a practice lesson.¡±


    ¡°Huh... what...? What does that mean...?¡±


    At the puzzled Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime showed an fearless smile.


    ¡°Of course, you are going to get it back. Your 10 points.¡±


    Right after, the Draw result displayed, then the ?Fight? ended, and ?Accelerate? canceled.


    At the moment they returned to the real lounge, without giving him a chance to speak, Kuroyukihime pulled out the Direct Connect cable and took it back.


    ¡°Well! Let¡¯s eat, Arita-kun. The food is getting cold.¡±


    With a smile, she picked up a small spoon from the table. Without any choice, Haruyuki too pulled the curry rice plate in front of him close. Even though he experienced over 30 minutes of time since he took it from the counter, it still had warm steam rising, his stomach growled.


    From the surrounding tables, the same displeased stares like yesterday focused on him, he thought about bringing it to the cafeteria corner to eat, but lost to his empty stomach. After he ate three big mouthfuls, he heard an upperclassman at the same table talking to Kuroyukihime, that made his throat tighten.


    ¡°Hime[3], isn¡¯t it about time you tell us? We are about to die from curiosity. How should we comprehend your relationship with this person?¡±


    He looked up, and saw that the one who spoke was the fluffy hair student council member he saw yesterday. She should be the 2nd year secretary.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Kuroyukihime put her spoon on the side of the gratin plate, elegantly held up her tea cup, and looked like she thought for a bit. The surrounding students all quieted down.


    ¡°Bluntly speaking, I confessed, and he rejected me.¡±


    Screams and shouts of consternation filled the world.


    Haruyuki held the spoon in his mouth, took his curry, and escaped by running.


    ¡°Y... you there!!¡±


    The afternoon next two hours, Haruyuki passed them while being showered with needle like stares, he went behind the right side of Kuroyukihime who was heading to the school gate and complained in a low voice.


    ¡°What were you thinking!! I will be bullied again!! I will absolutely be bullied again!!¡±


    ¡°That was a majestic proclamation.¡±


    While laughing, Kuroyukihime continued with a wise look.


    ¡°I only said the truth. Also, you were not altogether bad yourself.¡±


    While saying so she manipulated her virtual desktop, and made a flipping her finger tip motion. From the local net he instantly received a file, an icon lit up in his view. When he clicked it, a large picture opened up in front of his eyes.


    It¡¯s a picture of him with curry spoon in his mouth, a blankly stupid expression shown on his face.


    When he saw that, Haruyuki shouted.


    ¡°Ugyaa!!¡±


    He instantly threw the file into the trash can.


    ¡°Wh, when did you take this field of view screen shot! Even sleight of hand has a limit!!¡±


    ¡°What, just a souvenir.¡±


    While bantering like that, the surrounding stares with real killing power was focused on Haruyuki. He shrunk his neck like usual, but after all he could not hide behind Kuroyukihime¡¯s slender body.


    ¡°Hold your chest a bit higher. In this school, there are not many males that rejected me, on the other hand you were the only one.¡±


    ¡°So, when did I do that!¡±


    ¡°Saying it like that is so mean. I might get hurt again. ...Well, instead of that.¡±


    With ¡®instead of that¡¯ words Kuroyukihime put the question on pending, she changed her expression and said in a low voice.


    ¡°When we leave the front gate, your Neuro Linker will connect to the Global Net. Any Burst Linker in this ?Suginami 3rd Battle Area? can force you into a fight. Before you are challenged, Accelerate, look for ?Ash Roller? in the matching list and challenge him.¡±


    ¡°What... area? Is there a limit in the area where fighting is possible?¡±


    To Haruyuki¡¯s question, Kuroyukihime made a small nod.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Even if you fight someone on the other side of Tokyo, 30 minutes will pass before you can meet. ...Eventually, you can go to a multi-person, unlimited connection, group-use battle field, but that is something beyond level 4. Right now just concentrate on the fight in front of you.¡±


    With a slightly sharper sound, the lecture is nearing end.


    ¡°I will tell you now, if you lose you can not instantly re-match, you can only challenge the same person once a day. I will go in the gallery, unfortunately I can not help you. ...Don¡¯t make such a dejected face, if you fight like I wrote in the mail, you won¡¯t lose.¡±


    ¡°O... ok.¡±


    He swallowed while nodding. He copied and pasted the text mail he received during the sixth period into his brain.


    ¡°This is your real debut fight, ?Silver Crow?. Good Luck.¡±


    With a push at his back, Haruyuki stepped into the walkway blowing with the dust of battle.

 Volume 1 - CH 4

    The battle field was again the late night ruin and burning ?End of Century? stage.


    Haruyuki shrunk his small avatar and hid on the walkway above the Seven Rings[1].


    He did not notice it in the previous battle since he was panicking too much, in his view other than remaining time and HP, a small water color triangle was shown. It is a guide cursor displaying the general direction of the enemy.


    The triangle pointed straight north at the wide road, shaking slightly. That meant the enemy, ?Ash Roller?, was not staying still somewhere far away, he was probably coming closer in a direct line in a hurry. The cursor did not show him the distance.


    Haruyuki reviewed the the attack strategy mail that Kuroyukihime sent him in his brain.


    [The result from considering your information is that Ash Roller has two big weak points. First, when he moves, he makes a lot of loud noises.]


    That is true. The previous time, if he actually noticed his surroundings, he would have heard the rumbling noise of the gasoline engine from far away.


    This time he won¡¯t be surprised by the same thing again. He held his breath and listened intently. And - .


    ...He¡¯s coming!


    The cursor was shaking slightly like usual, but an unmistakable heavy low tone reached Haruyuki¡¯s hearing. In the Seven Rings empty of people, Ash Roller seemed to be roaring around with engine on full throttle. He must be really happy, if he rode a bike in the real world, he would be going slowly daily in that congestion in a low power electric scooter. And his challenger, was again his perfect win newbie from this morning.


    ¡®But this time, at the very least it won¡¯t be a perfect win. Since the first attack will be mine.¡¯


    Haruyuki ground his inner teeth and stared at the water colored cursor.


    It was pointed straight south like usual, he could tell the enemy approaching by the engine sound. But, it¡¯s not the same for the other person. In a straight line high speed approach, the only time he would notice the cursor change direction, is at the instant when they cross.


    While laying on his stomach on the floor of the overhead walkway, Haruyuki intently looked down at the direction of Kouenji station. The explosive sound became louder, to the point that he could even feel the vibrations in his body -.


    Saw it.


    Ash Roller had his headlights off of course, but Haruyuki for sure saw the red flames reflect off the chrome. The time that they will cross is 15 - no, 10 seconds.


    There is only one chance for a surprise attack. However, Haruyuki¡¯s weapons are only the normal skills Punch and Kick. That is, he can only jump down from the overhead walkway and hit with his body.


    ¡®Scary. This is not something I can do.¡¯


    To the self that thought that for an instant, he cursed in his heart.


    ¡®Don¡¯t say stupid things. Right now I am not the overweight 13 year old Arita Haruyuki, I am the Burst Linker ?Silver Crow?. And then this is not the real world but the virtual game field. It¡¯s the world where I have been putting most of my time and passion thus far. Rather, it can be said that this is my real world.¡¯


    ¡®Then, I won¡¯t be defeated. Instead - this time will be my happy win against this skeleton person!¡¯


    ¡°Uwaaaa!¡±


    With that shout, Haruyuki stood up, in one breath climbed over the metal railing, and jumped.


    For a biker approaching at over 100kph, to be able to land a kick on him from a high above drop, is probably a performance harder than Haruyuki thought it would be.


    However, for Haruyuki who can continually hit virtual squash balls that are even harder to see, Ash Roller¡¯s skeletal helmet was a huge target. He extended his right leg in the air, stabilizing his path with both hands extended, and flew forward like a silver arrow.


    ¡°...Owa!?¡±


    He noticed that cry leaked from beneath the skeletal face face-guard.


    However at that time, the heel covered by silver armor scored a direct hit at the center of the skeleton.


    Bakyaaaan!! With that tremendous impact sound, the face-guard cracked radially. The rider¡¯s head bend back with a crunch sound, Haruyuki slid past above that face, fell to the asphalt road and tumbled around.


    His eyes were spinning for a moment, but he soon raised his head to check behind him.


    The bike, with sparks flying out the front and rear brake rotors, flew off to the right side, it stopped when it crashed into the pile of rubble at the side of the road. The rider¡¯s body, from reaction to the kick, hit his face on the tank, at the same time, the engine stopped with a sad sound.


    ¡°...Di, did it.¡±


    While whispering and holding his right hand in a fist, Haruyuki checked both of their HP gauges.


    For Silver Crow, with his fall damage from a high place, he had lost about 5% HP. As for Ash Roller, he had suffered large damage, with the flying kick and crashing dealing big damage, his gauge lost about 20%, and it became a slight purple color.


    It can be said that his first attack was a perfect success. But in detail, it was not a critical hit that can kill.


    Haruyuki stood up, his eyes found a five story building to the left side of the road and he started running that way. From what Kuroyukihime said, the ?End of Century? stage''s main fight area is on the road, so you cannot enter the buildings. However, the outside of the buildings was not limited by this.


    On the building¡¯s wall was a half collapsed emergency escape stairs put there like an afterthought. Haruyuki jumped on it, and climbed all the way to the top of the building in one go.


    [As for Ash Roller¡¯s 2nd weakness. That is, his duel avatar¡¯s potential is mostly put into his bike. The rider¡¯s fighting ability should be almost zero. So first you attack to damage him, then move to the top of a building that the bike cannot climb to.]


    That was the battle plan Kuroyukihime gave him.


    As long as his opponent is damaged more than himself after he climbed to the top, all he has to do is wait for time up to win. Even if the rider got off the bike to climb to the top, he can just use Punch or Kick to easily pummel him.


    From the looks, it might be said to be a cowardly battle plan. However, Haruyuki actually loves this kind of clever win with attacking weak points. It can be said to be his nature in games.


    For now from the top of the roof, Haruyuki wanted to return Ash Roller¡¯s laughter from this morning in multiples, so he moved to the edge.


    Looking down, he can see that the crashed bike¡¯s engine has finally been re-ignited. With the idling sound like someone breathing hard shaking, the body of the bike was pulled out of the rubble.


    While he was thinking about how to provoke him, Haruyuki heard some whispering sound.


    ¡°Ah, that small kid did well.¡±


    ¡°A big difference from this morning. Wonder who the ?Parent? is.¡±


    Looking that way, from the roof of the building a little away, were silhouettes sitting on top of a huge water tank looking down this way. The ?Gallery?.


    Since a Burst Linker ?Duel? is only a maximum of 1.8 seconds real time, there won¡¯t be enough time to accelerate once a fight starts. So, for interested Burst Linkers and friends who registered the name, once that person starts a fight, he will also automatically accelerate and dive into the battle field to watch, there seems to be that function. For that purpose, no Burst Points are expended.


    Looking around, Haruyuki can see shadows here and there on rooftops and roads. They should not have marked him, so they must be Linkers that are checking out Ash Roller.


    However, one person in that gallery should have registered Silver Crow. Of course, it would be Kuroyukihime¡¯s ?Black Lotus?.


    Now, where is she? While he was looking around, one of the two sitting on top of the water tank waved to him.


    ¡°If you win this duel, I will register you too. Good luck, boy.¡±


    ¡°Well, it won¡¯t be this easy I think.¡±


    To the other one¡¯s speech, Haruyuki replied in his mind.


    ¡®Unfortunately, it won¡¯t be too exciting development from here on, it will probably time up.¡¯


    He shrugged a bit with that feeling, and looked back to the road.


    Then, he froze in consternation.


    Far down looking like a pea, Ash Roller¡¯s bike¡¯s front wheel stood against the building¡¯s wall.


    Wai... wh, what are you trying to do?


    The reply, was a high pitched furious shout.


    ¡°Don¡¯t... be so full of yourself, baldy!! You dare to step on my V-twin sound!!¡±


    Bogaaaan!! The engine roared, and the chrome exhaust put out flames.


    Right after, the huge American bike started up the building wall at a blistering pace.


    ¡°Aaa...¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s eyes bulged out under his silver face plate, he retreated back a step - just two seconds after that. Within the span of an arm held out, with loud noise and burning stench, the steel frame appeared.


    Baruoooon! With that high pitched engine sound, the bike that flew about two meters above the roof¡¯s edge, landed right in front of Haruyuki¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Uwawawa!!¡±


    He hurriedly back dashed a few more steps.


    With a loud crashing sound, the grey rear tire hit the rooftop concrete. The concrete cracked radially, and some fragments hit Haruyuki¡¯s armor. At that moment, he noticed that his health gauge lost about one dot, he was surprised again.


    For normal fighting games, damage is only dealt with system-set methods. For sure, this ?Brain Burst? is not just a normal game. With graphics and sound that is difficult to distinguish from reality, and this detailed realism.


    The key to winning fights in this world, must be in there.


    While he engraved that in his mind, Haruyuki looked up at his far more experienced enemy.


    While he skillfully steadied his bike, Ash Roller stared down at Haruyuki, and began speaking in a metallic high pitched voice.


    ¡°Actually, from my win against you this morning, I finally reached 300 points, and became level 2.¡±


    The gunmetal helmet¡¯s skeleton face-guard was mostly broken, and a part of his face was visible. It did not seem terrifying, what is there looked more like a science type, a slender young man¡¯s face.


    Duel Avatars are a manifestation of one''s inferiority complex, that speech from Kuroyukihime faintly passed by in his mind.


    Ash Roller, smiling with thin lips, continued his speech after moving the throttle handle once.


    ¡°I was super stumped on what to use the level up bonus on, it had special attack, movement speed up, and wall-climbing. Ah, I made the ultra ~ correct ~ choice ~¡±


    He removed both hands from the handles, and pointed two index fingers at Haruyuki.


    ¡°And so you are giga unlucky~¡±


    ¡®I know without you saying so.¡¯


    While he grumbled in his mind, Haruyuki wasn¡¯t just listening quietly. He desperately look around the surroundings, and tried to remember Kuroyukihime¡¯s mail, squeezing his knowledge to try to find a way out of this situation.


    [If the first attack, or the retreat fails, and you have to fight Ash Roller still on his bike head on, unfortunately the chance of your winning will become very low. Because - ]


    Continuing, Kuroyukihime had written about Duel Avatar¡¯s ?affinity?.


    For a Burst Linker¡¯s automatic English name, it always include a color word.


    That color determines the Duel Avatar¡¯s affinity.


    ?Blue? is short range direct attack, ?Red? is long range direct attack, and ?Yellow? is indirect attack. For middle colors like Purple and Green, can have two types of affinity. Also, for color that is away from the the color circle, the metallic names ?Metal Color?, instead of attack, these are best at defense affinity.


    [Your ?Silver? included, the metallic colors are very rare, it is a strong color type. It has resistance against cutting, piercing, heat and poison attacks, and attack strength using it¡¯s hard metallic body for close combat are not low. But of course it has weaknesses. Corrosion attacks are it¡¯s natural enemy, and it is also weak against blunt attacks.]


    That was how Kuroyukihime analyzed Silver Crow¡¯s affinity, continuing, she also said the details of the supposedly never before seen Ash Roller.


    [On the other hand, Ash Roller¡¯s ?Ash?, in the color circle, it is closer to blue than green. The low color saturation means its attacks are special type. It is hard to tell if the tires are weapons or not, but I am afraid its affinity is the close-range blunt attack type. That means your armor has almost no effect against Ash Roller¡¯s charge. In that case, there is only one way against him in a head to head fight.]


    - For all the remaining time, continue to dodge.


    Even though she said that.


    While Haruyuki was in despair, he checked out the size of the building rooftop.


    The length and width was under 20 meters. Kuroyukihime¡¯s dodge battle plan was probably made for fighting in the empty Seven Road, she probably never thought that the bike could climb walls. The end result was, Haruyuki fled to a place where he was at a disadvantage.


    With the bike¡¯s charge, it¡¯s probably impossible to run and escape to the emergency stairs. How about jumping off the roof knowing that he would take damage? However, if that made him more damaged than Ash Roller is now, there would be no turning back.


    To Haruyuki who stood there without a fighting plan, the rider on the metallic horse released a victorious laugh.


    ¡°Hyahahaha! No way to fight back huh, you bald shiny boy! Then I will start!!¡±


    Dorooo!! The internal combustion engine roared, and the free wheeling rear tire put out blue smoke.


    The front tire hit the ground with a thump, and the huge bike charged straight at Haruyuki.


    ¡°Uwaaa!!¡±


    With a scream he jumped right, but the distance was way too short. The tip of his foot was scratched by the tire, and his health gauge decreased. At the same time, with the paralyzing hit, an instant of pain rushed through Haruyuki¡¯s nerves.


    In virtual games, the ?Sensation of Pain? being used was long ago forbidden by law. This really isn¡¯t just a game. Even though virtual, at the same time it is a real fight.


    After the bike moved just 3 meters past him, it made a huge skid sound then did a spin turn, putting it again in a charge position.


    Is there anything? A secret move that will turn the tide in one go, saving him -


    That¡¯s right, the special attack!


    Even though the name is just ?Head Butt?, maybe it has the power to crush rocks.


    Gambling on this one chance, Haruyuki followed the install silhouette''s display, and crossed both arms in front. Next, he leaned his upper body forward, and opened his arms.


    With a humming sound effect, he noticed that his bald and shiny head was starting to be surrounded by a white aura. The people in the surrounding gallery put out a surprised sound.


    ...This can work!!


    With deep belief, Haruyuki stared at the huge bike in front of him.


    ¡°Uoooo!¡±


    With that shout, he aimed his shinning head at the bike¡¯s headlights and charged - .


    Long before his head hit, he was run over by the front tire and fell backward, making a human-shaped hole in the concrete. The effect light on his head dispersed into space, and his special attack gauge emptied and disappeared.


    The gallery¡¯s roar of laughter shook the stage. Mixed in that, one person¡¯s whisper reached his ears.


    ¡°Unfortunately, it looks like the end.¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s whole body was covered by a familiar heat of humiliation.


    ¡®Damn. Damn. Inside virtual games, I should be the hero. My character is way too weak. What is this special attack Head Butt that won¡¯t even hit, I can¡¯t take this.¡¯


    He stood up, but in a rotten mood sat back down, in Haruyuki¡¯s view was - .


    Far away, on top of a tall building, a lonely standing silhouette was there.


    The rolled hair waving in the night wind. The softly moving dress. See-through looking butterfly wings.


    The shape smaller than a rice grain, it¡¯s expression can not be seen. However, it¡¯s stern look going his way, Haruyuki felt it fully.


    Can¡¯t - can¡¯t give up.


    Even if losing, stand up again and again, lose ungracefully. If he can''t do at least that, he can¡¯t even be a pawn for that person.


    Pushing down his humiliation, Haruyuki desperately thought about his various knowledge and experiences.


    Virtual but real. That is this game, ?Brain Burst? biggest specialty. Overwhelming detail and reality. Then, that Ash Roller¡¯s bike too, should not be just polygons made for looks. Delicately recreated means it should have weakness too.


    Bike - that is the previous era gasoline engine type¡¯s feature, what is it?


    Noisy. Stinks of gas. Those are weaknesses before meeting it, so they don¡¯t matter to the current situation.


    It can¡¯t move without gasoline. Then make a hole in the tank - no, this kind of pinpoint attack is impossible.


    Is there anything else. Anything - .


    With its rear tire making tracks while the bike turned, the single bright yellow eye faced Haruyuki for the 3rd time.


    At that instant, Haruyuki swallowed a sharp breath.


    There is. That. Internal combustion bike¡¯s feature, and its weakness.


    ¡°Hya - hahahhaa!! Dance more - !!¡±


    With that shout, the iron horse galloped.


    Just once is fine. Move, Silver Crow. Faster than that person.


    Biting his teeth, Haruyuki stared at the bike rushing at him.


    That¡¯s right - even though that person is fast, it¡¯s not beyond his vision. Instead of a showy dodge, a bare minimum of movement should avoid it.


    ¡°...!!¡±


    Taking his full concentration, just before he was bashed flying, Haruyuki slid only 50cm to the right.


    The tip of the handle brushed his body a bit, then Ash Roller passed by his eyes.


    At that instant, Haruyuki extended both hands, knowing that he would get damaged, he grabbed the edge of the black fender above the rear tire. With shock that almost ripped his fingers off, sparks flew off from the joints in his hands, and his health gauge lightly dropped.


    The bike¡¯s speed dropped slightly. Not missing this chance, Haruyuki put his feet on the ground hard, and leaned his body back as far as possible. Crackle, the steel feet broke the concrete, and his gauge continue to drop.


    ¡°Hyaahaa - !!¡±


    Ash Roller looked back and released a high pitched laughter.


    ¡°Idi - ot!! A gully small fry like you wants to try and stop my monster machine!!¡±


    The rider boots stepped on the foot pedal with a crunch. Black leather gloves opened the throttle.


    The engine roared, and the muffler put out flames. Right after, the American bike put out fearsome torque, it sped up again while pulling Haruyuki.


    Crackle crackle!! He heard his feet release an incredible friction sound - at the same time.


    ¡°Oucccchhhh - !!¡±


    It¡¯s like his feet are being scraped away, no, the heat and pain of that hit him, Haruyuki screamed.


    ¡°Kihyahyahya! If you don¡¯t let go in a hurry, you will get shorter - !!¡±


    Ash Roller¡¯s sure win voice was mixed with ear splitting metallic sound. His silver legs became red due to overheat, and his health gauge dropped at a fearful speed.


    However, Haruyuki did not let go of his hands. He bit his teeth under the silver mask, frantically endured the heat and pain, and simply continued to drag behind the bike.


    If this was the Seven Road under them, then Silver Crow¡¯s small body would be like Ash Roller said, it might eventually become a small piece of metal and disappear. But the ruin building roof top has limited space, there should be no way to continue dashing forward.


    The low fence slowly approached, the skeletal rider made a strange ¡®Hyoo-¡¯ sound and started to bend his bike for a spin turn. The brake rotors spewed out sparks, and white smoke raised from the huge tire.


    ¡°Kuuuu!¡±


    Haruyuki desperately resisted being blown away by the centripetal force.


    Soon. In half a second, the first and last chance will come.


    The engine rotation dropped, the bike finished its turn, it was going to start its violent dash again -


    Just before that. For one instant, Silver Crow¡¯s feet was firmly on the ground.


    ¡°- Ooooo!!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted.


    At the same time, summoning all his strength, he raised the fender in his two hands straight up. Sparks flew from his knee, elbow and shoulder, he lost another 10% of his remaining 20% of health gauge, his two small legs endured the huge weight, standing straight.


    0.1 second after, the huge tire fiercely spun. But that movement energy did not change to forward momentum. Just barely, the treads were above the ground.


    ¡°O...oo?¡±


    Right in front of Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, Ash Roller yelled while still sitting facing forward. He frantically moved his hand two or three times more.


    With that the engine roared, and the rear tire spun like crazy. However, the steel bike body did not move at all.


    This is the ?Weakness? that Haruyuki noticed. Different from the in wheel front and back electric motor bikes, the previous era internal combustion bike¡¯s engine links to the rear tire with a chain for movement. It¡¯s absolutely impossible to lift the whole bike, but with the steel robot avatar, even with reality details, he can keep it up for one hour.


    ¡°Damn... you! Hey!! Let me down, baldy!!¡±


    Ash Roller looked back at Haruyuki while shouting. Seeing that, he grinned even though his opponent could not see it.


    ¡°No way, if you don¡¯t like it, try turning the front wheel.¡±


    After returning from the accelerated world, Haruyuki took a huge breath of the afternoon sunlight, and blew out a long breath.


    The fight concluded at the count of 600, that is about one second of real time. However his palms were soaked with sweat, and a paralyzing cold.


    His tense finger reached for the Neuro Linker¡¯s Global Net disconnect button, suddenly his back was hit with a Bam!


    ¡°Oh, you did it, Silver Crow! I truly thought you would lose like that.¡±


    Turning around, he saw Kuroyukihime¡¯s small face with a rare real smile. Both of them accelerated after leaving the school ground, this is of course why she is here, but inside the stage with her viewing the battle from the top of a far building, gave him some confusion.


    ¡®That, is the real distance between her and me. Don¡¯t be mistaken.¡¯


    Listening to his own words, Haruyuki returned an awkward smile.


    ¡°I... I too thought I was going to lose.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so humble, that was a superb victory. I too, never thought about Ash Roller¡¯s bike¡¯s internal makeup... It¡¯s a weakness that your avatar¡¯s instantaneous strength can handle. Anyway, you took back your points.¡±


    ¡°No, more than that. It was 20 points added, that person became level 2.¡±


    Kuroyukihime blinked, then gave a huge smile, and hit Haruyuki¡¯s shoulder again.


    ¡°Hahaha, I see, that was the reason he can climb walls.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no laughing matter, I was shocked.¡±


    ¡°Fufufu, ah sorry. Due to that, it was an interesting way to win, right? I heard from the gallery, you are the first one to fight Ash Roller that way. A splendid victory.¡±


    ¡°Ah, ha...¡±


    With the movement wheel lifted up and unable to go anywhere, Ash Roller stubbornly continued to rev the bike for 5 minutes before he got off it.


    For Haruyuki who was just running away or getting blown away, he was just waiting for a fistfight, of course he won easily with steel fists.


    ¡°Even your ?Punch? and ?Kick? became useful. As for ?Head Butt?, that might be fine with orthodox fighting type opponent. ...Ah, we can¡¯t just stand here and talk.¡±


    Hearing Kuroyukihime¡¯s words, Haruyuki looked around. With them standing right in front of the school gate, the students leaving school while they walked, or just stood there staring at them with obvious curiosity.


    Haruyuki shrunk himself to make him look smaller, and his breath stopped when he saw Chiyuri¡¯s face in the crowd. He turned his face away in reaction.


    Yesterday, him running away to escape in front of Chiyuri and Takumu was still fresh in his memory. He had not apologized for the sandwich incident either, then he did that, now he does not know how or where to start repairing their relationship.


    ¡®No - it¡¯s not my fault. I had told her many times to keep quiet, it was her fault for telling Takumu about Araya¡¯s group. I don¡¯t want to be shown mercy and pity.¡¯


    To Haruyuki who was hunching down like a rock, Kuroyukihime sort of asked him.


    ¡°What happened, if we are changing locations, how about that shop there... Hmm? You are...¡±


    ¡°What are you trying to do with Haru?¡±


    Chiyuri¡¯s sudden close range voice made Haruyuki jump.


    Looking up, he saw his childhood friend¡¯s slender body stiffen up fully to go against Kuroyukihime.


    Only Haruyuki understood, that was Chiyuri¡¯s biggest not-wanting-to-lose pose, she stiffened her big eyebrows, and again spoke in a low tone.


    ¡°The violence on Haru yesterday was due to some trick by senpai right? Then you expose Haru like this again, what are you trying to do? Are you getting enjoyment from this?¡±


    Hiii - .


    What is this what is this situation what should I do.


    Completely over his capacity, while his body is fully shrunk down, he somehow managed to move his tense mouth.


    ¡°H, hey, Chiyu...¡±


    ¡°Haru, you shut up!!¡±


    Having been hit with the stare that was carved in him while he was still a kid, all he could do was stand still and be quiet.


    While being hit with that super powered Chiyuri Beam, Kuroyukihime showed her dignity, with a cool smile and small tilt of her head, said.


    ¡°Hmm... I don¡¯t really understand what you mean. Are you accusing me of enjoying myself by staining Arita-kun''s will somehow?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right? Haru hates this kind of thing, standing out and being stared at. Hasn¡¯t he been really troubled since earlier? Although senpai would not understand.¡±


    ¡°Ah. It is true that I might have put Arita-kun in a situation that he is uncomfortable with. However, I think it is his choice to accept it or not. Do you have any right to say it?¡±


    ¡°I have. In this school, I''ve been friends with Haru for the longest time.¡±


    ¡°Oh, friend... huh.¡±


    Upon hearing Chiyuri¡¯s announcement, on the white beautiful face, a super cold Kuroyukihime smile appeared.


    ¡°Then, I have higher priority. You have heard the rumors right, I confessed to him and am currently waiting for a reply. We are going on a small date.¡±


    Gyaaa - .


    Oh no this is it the world is ending I have to transfer schools tomorrow.


    It was like when he was accelerating, Chiyuri and the surrounding people froze instantly. Haruyuki too froze in an unnatural pose, only sweat continued to pour from his face.


    In the silence, Kuroyukihime took out a pure white handkerchief from her uniform¡¯s pocket.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost winter, what a strange person.¡±


    While wiping off Haruyuki¡¯s sweat, she took his right arm in her own.


    ¡°See you later then, friend-kun.¡±


    Then, going in the center of the walkway lined by students on the left and right, Kuroyukihime pulled Haruyuki¡¯s huge body along as she moved forward.


    While being pulled forward, he looked back and saw his childhood friend¡¯s face, changing from dumbfounded to shock then to something just short of an angry explosion.


    ¡°G, going back to before... What were you thinking!!¡±


    After entering the brick paved ally from the main road, Haruyuki finally pulled his arm from Kuroyukihime and shouted.


    ¡°I, I have to say it, in this world there are things that can not be solved with ?Acceleration?!!¡±


    ¡°Ahahahaha.¡±


    Kuroyukihime laughed from the bottom of her heart.


    ¡°Hahaha... You reach this main point about Burst Linkers so quickly, that is great.¡±


    ¡°That is not great at all! It is senpai¡¯s fault if I can¡¯t go to school tomorrow!¡±


    ¡°Hey, your face did not look altogether bad this time either. I took a field of view screen shot this time too, want to see?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see it! Rather, throw it away!!¡±


    ¡°Fufufu...¡±


    With clop clop sounds as her loafers bit into the pavement, Kuroyukihime¡¯s shoulders shook as she continued to laugh for a while. Eventually, letting out a small breath, she continued with an ¡®oh, about that¡¯.


    ¡°There is something I wonder about... that is, I want to make sure.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Wonder about... you mean Chiyuri?¡±


    ¡°Ah, close enough to use just first name?¡±


    ¡°Ah, no, well, she is Kurashima, Kurashima Chiyuri from first year class one.¡±


    ¡°I know. It''s just that it''s the first time I heard of her being your best friend. On the other hand, is she really just a friend?¡±


    While being showered with looks of doubt, Haruyuki nodded a few times.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Old childhood ties...since she has a boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°Oh? That means... no... Hmm, hum.¡±


    ¡°...What¡¯s that hum about?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing, I just again realized the depth of the real world.¡±


    ¡°Ah, ha...¡±


    Sighing while not knowing what¡¯s going on, Haruyuki asked about something that tickled him earlier.


    ¡°Ah... earlier, you said you know Chiyuri¡¯s name?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. It was purely incidental, I noticed her with a meaning different from noticing you.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°It can not be easily explained. It is connected to the reason I found and invited you to the accelerated world. Well, let¡¯s drink some tea while we slowly talk. As a victory celebration, my treat.¡±


    Saying so, Kuroyukihime changed direction, heading to the coffee shop chain store that seemed to be her original destination.


    Maybe it was still early in the afternoon, there were not too many people in the store, but as Kuroyukihime stepped in, Haruyuki felt some gazes concentrating on them. Just that, it¡¯s scary to follow behind her.


    Just going home from school - no, doesn¡¯t matter what time in his life, Haruyuki who had no experience drinking tea with a girl, his brain was in overload mode, so he automatically ordered a huge sweet drink and let Kuroyukihime pay for him, then sunk into the seat of a table far inside the store. Right after, he took the cable offered and plugged it into his Neuro Linker, while thinking.


    ¡®Uwaa what is this, this is like a real date...¡¯


    ¡®It does not look like that, this kind of combination. Sister and brother? No, master and bag holder?¡¯


    ¡°I can understand what you are thinking.¡±


    At that moment, noticing that he is being stared at, he took a quick sip of his caramel favored sweet drink.


    ¡°N, no, nothing. Instead of that, earlier you mentioned the reason for inviting me to the accelerated world...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a hurry. It¡¯s a long... talk.¡±


    With high class elegance, she sipped her not-too-sweet looking drink, then with a sigh rested her chin on her hands.


    With the pale yellow light coming from the window, that shape looked like a uniformed middle school student in an old foreign country movie scene, Haruyuki involuntarily became speechless. It was like there was an old style shooting screen in front of him, with just a direct cable linking them - .


    Since he was just looking with a blank gaze, the sudden tap on his right hand on the table almost made him jump.


    ¡°Well, you did really well earlier. Again, congratulations on your victory, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    ¡°Ah... yes, thank you very much. It was because of senpai¡¯s advice.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s because of your ability to adapt. At that rate, you will soon be level 2. Or you might become level 3 within this year.¡±


    ¡°Ha... ah... Actually, I can¡¯t even imagine it...¡±


    Having barely won in a dangerous situation. Later, winning tens more of such hard fights, the thought just amazes him.


    Then, Kuroyukihime¡¯s smile disappeared, and like she was reading what¡¯s in Haruyuki¡¯s heart, she nodded.


    ¡°Hum. Actually, it¡¯s a long road like you thought. Of the around 1000 Burst Linkers, only a limited number reach level 4. Level 5 and 6 is almost impossible to reach with solo play. Level 7 and 8 Burst Linkers are all huge groups'' commander class, without a doubt.¡±


    ¡°Gr, groups?¡±


    ¡°It is like guilds and teams in other online games. For us, ?Army Corps?... called ?Legions?. In the current accelerated world, control is divided between six huge Legions. Controlling those are the rare six level 9 Burst Linkers... Crowned with the names of Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, Purple and White, the ?Six Kings of Pure Color?!¡±


    Suddenly, a knife sharp sound echoed in his mind, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide. Noticing the stare, Kuroyukihime blinked some then with a slight bitter smile.


    ¡°...Sorry for the loud voice.¡±


    ¡°No... but, six people?¡±


    It was a shock to learn that there were around 1000 Burst Linkers, but there was only awe to learn that there was so few level 9s.


    ¡°I have played many net games, but I have never heard of so few players reaching the level cap.¡±


    Maybe with sure feeling, Haruyuki said so with a feeling of envy, Kuroyukihime who heard that, one of her eyebrows moved, and she tilted her head.


    ¡°I never said that level 9 was the cap.¡±


    ¡°Eh... then there is a level 10? How many...?¡±


    The answer, was again denied with a juice sip. Kuroyukihime took another sip of her coffee, then leaned her back into the seat and stared playfully in space. The cable that was pulled, swings between them in a silver dance.


    ¡°Brain Burst... actual name ?Brain Burst 2039? was released by an unknown programmer seven years ago, it has been updated many times since then. However after all that time, there isn¡¯t a single Burst Linker who has reached level 10. There is only one reason... the set rule was just too cruel.¡±


    ¡°Do you have to win a lot of duels? Like a 1000 wins... or 10000?¡±


    ¡°No, just 5 times is enough.¡±


    After the unexpected words left her lips, for an instant, she had an insecure smile.


    ¡°Just that the opponent can only be another level 9 Linker. Furthermore, with even one loss from a level 9 fight, at that moment all the points will be lost, and Brain Burst will forcefully uninstall...¡±


    The speechless Haruyuki was stared straight by the dark eyes of Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun. An amazing phenomenon like ?Thought Acceleration?¡¯s Brain Burst being kept secret from the general public for seven years, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s strange?¡±


    That sudden question confused Haruyuki, but saying so, it is a mystery. If there were 1000 Burst Linkers, the secret would have been leaked long ago, and the world should be amazed by it.


    ¡°The reason for that, is the strict requirement for a Brain Burst candidate.¡±


    ¡°Requirement...? Good at games... or something...?¡±


    To Haruyuki¡¯s question, Kuroyukihime answered with a bitter smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that vague a reason. The biggest requirement is, ?After birth, usually continue to wear the Neuro Linker?. The first generation Neuro Linker was sold on the market 15 years ago... that means.¡±


    Pausing for an instant, Kuroyukihime slowly continue.


    ¡°There are no adult Burst Linkers. The oldest is 15 years old, just a child. For a child¡¯s play, he will do anything to defend his usage while he was a Burst Linker, and after forceful uninstall, whatever he says won¡¯t be believed by the adults.¡±


    The glossy lips, for one instant, showed a sarcastic smile.


    ¡°That is also like a shared child¡¯s sweet illusion. The summer two years ago... the young kings reached level 9 at almost the same time. Right after, the system message showed the cruel rule to reach level 10. The result, did they go into a bloody war? - No. The kings chose eternal stagnation. Instead of going forward, they chose to maintain their mini gardens. That means... the accelerated world was divided between the Legions for control, and a no-invasion treaty was signed. What a farce. To reach level 9, they have hunted numerous Linkers.¡±


    Haruyuki swallowed his saliva in a gulp. Pain ran through his dry throat, he took a big sip of his melted caramel frapp¨¦ then sent out his thoughts fearfully.


    ¡°That is, senpai¡¯s goal is to challenge this ?Six Kings of Pure Color?...?¡±


    Hearing that, Kuroyukihime displayed a mysterious smile.


    ¡°No, I already did that.¡±


    ¡°Wha...!?¡±


    ¡°The Six Kings... were once the ?Seven Kings of Pure Color?. Even though they were rivals, they were linked by strong bonds, these seven boys and girls. They went through numerous duels, winning and losing, however they did not hold a single drop of hate. The ?Black King? betrayed everyone, and hunted them, a night two years ago.¡±


    Black - King.


    That is, the avatar name should be... black crowned...


    Haruyuki opened his eyes wide, and stared with breaths held, as Kuroyukihime slowly nodded.


    ¡°Yes... that is me. The Black King, Black Lotus, was the only person of the people who reached level 9 that did not choose peace. Throwing away bonds, friendship, respect, and everything to suggest a fight with all seven¡¯s total points on the table. When that was rejected - the meeting round table was suddenly covered with fresh blood.¡±


    ¡°Wh... what did... you do?¡±


    ¡°At the last night of the Seven Kings¡¯ meeting... even saying so, it was not a meeting in the real world. Because Burst Linkers do their best to hide their real face and name.¡±


    Why is that, Haruyuki was going to ask, but he soon realized the reason. If real face and name was exposed to other Burst Linkers, the worst situation, ?Attacked in reality? might happen. When someone is in a situation where he can not get points any other way, he might just do that.


    Kuroyukihime made a small nod like she read Haruyuki¡¯s mind, and continued.


    ¡°For that night¡¯s meeting, the seven duelists were all connected to the same field with ?Battle Royal Mode?. I... when the ?Red King? was unguarded while he was preaching friendship and non-aggression...¡±


    Behind the silky front hair, the white face lost all expression. Her empty eyes staring at one point, Kuroyukihime lonely spoke what was ahead.


    ¡°Cut off his head. A perfect critical hit... he lost his full gauge in an instant, lost all his points according to the new rule, that is, losing his Brain Burst. The current Red King is the second generation. What was next... was like the realization of hell, Fufu. Red¡¯s lover, Purple cried while screaming, Blue went crazy with anger, those people and I went into a killing play with no respect or honor. I knew it was the first and last chance... desperately trying to somehow take four more heads, it was truly reckless...¡±


    Her lips with almost no color became distorted, a voiced laughter leaked out.


    ¡°Rational judgement was blown out. I fought while driven by madness, however I did not hunt a single person more, neither was I taken down, when I noticed it, 30 minute had passed and I was linked out. - For the next two years, all I did was run and hide. The current me, is accelerated world¡¯s biggest traitor, the head with the highest reward, and the lowest coward.¡±


    ¡°...Why...¡±


    The monologue was so gruesome that Haruyuki¡¯s thoughts were half paralyzed, only a simple question was released from his mind.


    ¡°Why did you do that...?¡±


    ¡°Instead of friendship or honor, I picked something far beyond... becoming level 10. You can say that is my only reason for living. - The System Message also said this. The Burst Linker who reach level 10 will have a chance to meet the program creator, find out the real reason for Brain Burst¡¯s existence, and be told about its ultimate goal. I... want to know. I want to know no matter what.¡±


    Putting both elbows on the table, Kuroyukihime whose face was hidden by her linked hands, her tortured thought that seemed to echo from a bottomless abyss reached Haruyuki.


    ¡°Accelerating thoughts to obtain money, performance, and fame. Are those the only reason we fight, the rewards we wish for, and the limits that we can reach? More... isn¡¯t there something more ahead...? This... shell called human... on the outside... more...¡±


    Ah - .


    A little, just a little... he understood. From the intolerable ?Ground?, looking up at the far away ?Sky?, that kind of feeling.


    Maybe his momentary thought reached her, Kuroyukihime slowly raised her face, she looked at Haruyuki with eyes radiating pressure.


    But that was only for an instant, the beautiful upperclassman let her arms fall to the table, and spoke with a dry smile.


    ¡°...So, are you dumbfounded... or maybe scornful, Haruyuki-kun? I, for my goal, someday I might sacrifice you too. If you say you cannot cooperate anymore, then that¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t hold you back, and I won¡¯t take back your Brain Burst.¡±


    After Haruyuki thought for about two seconds - .


    He slowly extended his right hand, and stopped about one centimeter before Kuroyukihime¡¯s fingers, saying.


    ¡°Ah, that is... For any game, giving up seeing the ending, staying in the map right in front of it forever, if there is a person like that, then he is a fool. It is of course a matter of aiming for a higher level... since, isn¡¯t this the reason for the existence of Brain Burst?¡±


    It was not a lie to win favor from Kuroyukihime. For a hard core gamer, Haruyuki truly thought so from the bottom of his heart.


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s eyes instantly opened wide, a few seconds later, she blew out a laugh.


    ¡°Fu, ahaha... How could it be, you are more of a Burst Linker than me. I see... it¡¯s of course a matter to aim for, that way huh...¡±


    ¡°It... it¡¯s no laughing matter.¡±


    A little hurt, Haruyuki¡¯s mouth became pointed, he straightened his back and continued.


    ¡°Any... anyway, I will continue to help senpai. I too, want to eventually become... level 10.¡±


    Suddenly, Kuroyukihime¡¯s left hand that was on the table moved, and grabbed hold of Haruyuki¡¯s right hand.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    To the flustered Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime¡¯s thoughts that were hollow and without reverberation just before, warmly flowed into him.


    ¡°Thank you, Haruyuki-kun. For sure... my judgement was not wrong. I am glad to have chosen you, from the bottom of my heart.¡±


    At this point, he should return the hand held, and look into each other¡¯s eyes - these kind of thing, is something that Haruyuki could not possibly do.


    Instead of that, he pulled his right hand back on reaction, shrunk his head like a turtle, and stuttered with his retreated thought voice.


    ¡°N, no, not really... I am just someone barely to be used... In- instead of that, what is the main point, that is... what am I supposed to do...?¡±


    In the short silence, in the eyes that stared straight at him, was it compassion?


    Eventually, after a short sigh, Kuroyukihime spoke into the silence.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. That was left for a long while... let¡¯s get to the main point. Earlier, I told you about how I lived for two years, right?¡±


    Haruyuki too, took a huge sigh and raised his head, he nodded to Kuroyukihime whose cool expression had returned.


    ¡°That is, it was not that I was able to continually win against the anger crazed kings or the assassins they sent. It¡¯s not that... during these two years, I have not even once connected my Neuro Linker to the Global Net. If I am not on the matching list, then there won¡¯t be any challenge or anything right?¡±


    ¡°Aa... Rea... really?¡±


    He said without thinking. For Haruyuki, getting information from the Global Net is a must, like drinking water or breathing air. If that was cut, it would really be like the comparison of withering to death.


    ¡°Really really. I can use set terminal panels to check sites or read email, although the 2D view makes my eyes tired. It¡¯s nothing once you get used to it... however, even if I am disconnected from the Global Net, for my social status, there is one net that I must connect to everyday.¡±


    ¡°S, status...? Is that rich girl... no, princess?¡±


    ¡°Idiot.¡±


    The cold voice denied it, he finally thought that this person too is a middle school student like him.


    ¡°Ah, ah... I see. It is the Umesato school¡¯s local net. ...Ah... wa, wait a minute. No way...¡±


    ¡°It''s true.¡±


    Kuroyukihime finished her coffee in one gulp, then continued while holding her cup.


    ¡°Two months ago, the day after summer vacation ended, I was ?Challenged? through the school local net. By someone in Umesato middle school.¡±


    To the speechless Haruyuki, he was further surprised by the continuing speech.


    ¡°And the worst thing was... At that point my original Avatar was switched to a viewing dummy Avatar.¡±


    ¡°Dummy... is that kind of function available?¡±


    ¡°Yes. There are many who want to be in the gallery while hiding their real avatar. But of course, as a dummy it does not have any fighting ability. However the problem was not that... thinking back on it now it was most regrettable, I, for the dummy avatar, used my avatar for the school local net. I had never expected that a Burst Linker would suddenly appear in the same school...¡±


    After a moment of doubt, Haruyuki did a slight jump that made his chair creak.


    ¡°Eh... is that the black swallowtail butterfly...!?¡±


    The sexy avatar shown in his mind, overlapped the neatly uniformed shape in front of him.


    ¡°The enemy saw that... in the school local net...? That means... that is...¡±


    ¡°You are pretty sharp. Yes, that person, this me...¡±


    ¡°That person knew that this real me is ?Black Lotus?. The Burst Linker¡¯s biggest taboo, ?Reality Fracture?. I became fearful of attacks in the real world by the six kings¡¯ assassins.¡±


    Attack... in the real world.


    Haruyuki had already deduced the fearful meaning of those words. If the real person can be stopped, to put it in extremes, then kidnapping and imprisonment while using violence and threat to steal points is possible too.


    Of course that is a felony. Even for ?Normal Games?, there were incidents of reality harm from troubles between players. And then, ?Brain Burst? is not just a normal game.


    Haruyuki held his breath while waiting for Kuroyukihime to continue explaining. However - .


    ¡°Even so... nothing happened. No attacks, nor even sign of contact.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡±


    ¡°I too was in a huge confusion, but... if it was like that, it can only be thought of like this. The enemy... wants to keep me to themselves. Fortunate to have found out the real me, gradually chase after me who has a huge reward on her head, without letting the legion that person belongs to know, hunt all my points for their self.¡±


    ¡°Chase after...?¡±


    Looking at the head tilted Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime coughed, then desperately listed.


    ¡°In the toilet. While changing. During shower. During school, moments when I am not mentally prepared are plenty. Being pin pointed and challenged during those moments, there is no way to fully fight back.¡±


    ¡°Sho...wer, ooh.¡±


    To Haruyuki who unconsciously imagined the full shower scene and leaked that word, Kuroyukihime again gave him another cold stare. Fortunately, she did not go after him beyond that, she sighed and continued.


    ¡°Actually, I was attacked over ten times this past two months by that person. Recently it was not all blunt timing, so I was somehow able to escape with a draw.¡±


    ¡°I... see. How to say it, that is a very greedy person... But, in a certain sense, it''s a blessing within misfortune, kind of...¡±


    ¡°Well, compared to attacks in reality, yes. But, other than that, I also can not return to my original Duel Avatar and beat him up. If the enemy thought it was no longer possible, he might give up my points, and give my head to the kings for the reward points instead...¡±


    ¡°A, ah... I see... yea.¡±


    Haruyuki unconsciously muttered. The reason she was stuck was because of this.


    ¡°Then, but, what should we do? You can¡¯t run, and can not attack back.¡±


    ¡°I know. There is only one way out. We have to know his real side too. His school year and class, and if he is a Burst Linker I don¡¯t know about.¡±


    Bam. The feeling of wanting to hit his knee overwhelmed Haruyuki. In a situation when both sides know each other¡¯s real identity, to protect their Brain Burst, they should absolutely be able to stop the fighting.


    ¡°I see, that is right. If we can do that, we can completely seal the enemy¡¯s movement. Saying so... isn¡¯t that really simple? For example during morning assembly, when all the students gather in the auditorium, accelerate and challenge him. From the place he appear, you can find his class and seat number.¡±


    ¡°Oh, pretty good. It took me a day to think of doing it that way.¡±


    ¡°...That means... you have already tried it?¡±


    ¡°Already tried. And then... I was shocked. It had been a while since I was so surprised.¡±


    ¡°Wh... who was it...?¡±


    ¡°There was no one.¡±


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s answer was not within Haruyuki¡¯s expectation.


    ¡°There was only my name on the matching list. As you know, for Umesato middle school students, when they are in school, they are not allow to disconnect from the local net even for one instant. Since attendance and classes are done through the net. If you disconnect, you will instantly be warned through the school announcement system. For that reason, I also can not block the enemy¡¯s attacks. Even so... that person was not on the list!¡±


    ¡°He might be taking a break from school due to flu?¡±


    Kuroyukihime stared at Haruyuki, then lightly snorted.


    ¡°I already checked that all the absent students were there that day. Other than that, after I was attacked, and managed to painfully escape with a draw, and right after, his name was not on the list either. That means... it¡¯s hard to believe, that person can block his name, using some kind of method. He can challenge anyone as he likes, but other Burst Linkers cannot touch him. This blows away accelerated world¡¯s golden rules at its roots, a terrible privilege. To be able to do that... means that there is a super hacker that succeeded in modifying the impregnable Brain Burst Program, or - someone that has contact with the program creator...¡±


    Meeting the creator, finding out the ?Meaning? of Brain Burst was her only goal for living. Kuroyukihime said that a little while ago. Then, finding out the truth of this mysterious enemy might be more important than her own protection.


    For Haruyuki who deduced that, there was an unknown tingling feel in his chest, he muttered.


    ¡°...That means... the thing senpai want me to do... is help to find the truth about this enemy right?¡±


    ¡®Not a knight protecting a princess from a demon.¡¯


    ¡®No... that is a matter of course. Don¡¯t think about stupid things. I am a hound chasing a beast, or just a pig sniffing for mushroom in the ground.¡¯


    ¡°Yea... well, that¡¯s about it.¡±


    Not showing any sign of noticing Haruyuki¡¯s moment of conflict, Kuroyukihime lightly nodded.


    ¡°Actually, I have already acquired a lot of information. I will list the ones I understand now... First, the enemy¡¯s name. His Duel Avatar is called ?Cyan Pile?. Level 4.¡±


    ¡°Cyan... Pile...¡±


    Very... cool. That seems to be strong. No, Kuroyukihime said level 4 was the first wall. So that means actually strong.


    ¡°Affinity is, very pure ?Close Range Blue?. I have seen him punch out the stage¡¯s thin wall many times. Does not have any lateral jump equipment. That¡¯s why I was able to escape thus far... to be honest, I''m almost at my limit. I can not keep up the concentration.¡±


    That must be it. From arriving at school till leaving for home, not knowing at what moment the attack come, this kind of situation, Haruyuki probably could not endure for three days. However, Kuroyukihime, without showing any sign of exhaustion, continued to send him clear thoughts.


    ¡°Also, this is just a conjecture... that not just me, that person is being haunted too, I get this feeling.¡±


    ¡°Eh... by what?¡±


    ¡°Fear of losing acceleration. That person is probably on the dangerous verge of drying up his Burst Points. For people with enough points, normal duels are more enjoyable. Like Ash Roller that you fought.¡±


    ¡°A, ah... that¡¯s right, that person was enjoying it a lot...¡±


    ¡°However, Cyan Pile does not have a single bit of that extra. Silent, without any inhibition, and chased me with an almost crazy appearance. That is a sign only Burst Linkers fearing loss have. The cheap reward from the kings on my head was not enough, he wants all the points that I have gained. ...Well, that does not mean much of anything...¡±


    ¡°I... see. We can not really do a mental check on all the students. Are those the only things you found out?¡±


    Haruyuki lightly asked to find out - but.


    Suddenly, he somehow felt that Kuroyukihime¡¯s thought became strangely tense. He thought a bit, before he could ask, she shook her head and said.


    ¡°No. There is one more important information detail. ...The Guide Cursor.¡±


    ¡°Oh? That water colored arrow icon?¡±


    ¡°Yes. That, from the start of battle, points to the enemy''s position. That means... even if I can not see the moment that Cyan Pile appear, if I memorize the starting direction of the cursor, the enemy¡¯s real body will be somewhere in a direct line in that direction... this is the theory.¡±


    ¡°Ah... ah! I see, that¡¯s right. If the stage is same shape as the real one, then you can find out which corner of the school he is hiding at!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I have memorized the guide cursor direction from tens of attacks up to now, and compared it to the list of students in Umesato middle school in that direction, keeping track of the overlap names. The result, I deduced the person with the highest chance of being Cyan Pile. But, there is no actual evidence. In a place that is packed with so many people, one line is not enough. Since there are usually tens of students in that line. ...Haruyuki-kun, what I want you to do is, when I am attacked next time, you will be automatic audience, then memorize Cyan Pile¡¯s direction with the gallery use cursor.¡±


    ¡°Cursor... if there are two, then...¡±


    At Haruyuki¡¯s amazed speech, Kuroyukihime nodded with a harder than usual expression.


    ¡°Right. With two cursors, then there is only one point they cross. Then, if there is a student at that position... that will be proof without doubt. Being Cyan Pile¡¯s real body.¡±


    Biting her lips, Kuroyukihime¡¯s right hand finger swiftly moving in space, manipulating the virtual desktop that only she can see. The one file that she pulled out, was going to slide toward Haruyuki - right before, however, her finger stopped.


    ¡°...? What¡¯s going on? Who is that, this candidate?¡±


    With his interest roused, even after he drank the huge frapp¨¦, his throat was still dry when he moved it, he leaned far out.


    Kuroyukihime still seemed to be hesitating, eventually, like she has something else to say, finally shot the file over.


    ¡°Listen... when I prepared that file, it was one week before meeting you at that game corner, after a difficult search to find the third acceleration candidate in Umesato middle school.¡±


    Not understanding why she has to say that, Haruyuki winkled his brow as he accepted the file. He unhesitatingly tapped on the icon in his virtual desktop.


    What opened, was just one picture. It was probably used in student identification cards, a bust up frontal shot was shown.


    ¡°...Eh...? This...? Wh...y.¡±


    Vigorously cut neat short hair. Blue hairpin. Cat like large eyes.


    Looks familiar... not just that. It¡¯s a face he has seen the longest in the world other than his mother.


    ¡°Chi... Chiyuri? That person is... a Burst Linker...?¡±


    Muttering, he relaxed for more than five seconds, then burst the bubble and faced Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°No... that is not possible! She is very bad at games. She is bad at every genre... there is no way she has the aptitude for Burst Linker. Slow-witted... everything shows up on her face... that is, she is not someone that can stubbornly hunt senpai.¡±


    ¡°You seem to know a lot about her.¡±


    Hearing the slightly harder voice, Haruyuki said without looking at Kuroyukihime¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°That is... well, we are childhood friends...¡±


    ¡°When I met her earlier at the school gate, I was surprised. If she is ?Cyan Pile? then of course she would know that I am ?Black Lotus?. I suspected she had some kind of plan, but...¡±


    ¡°That is, because she is not deft enough for this kind of psychological like attack. Actually she is extremely inept, all her thoughts are shown on her face.¡±


    Somehow, the more Haruyuki protested, the higher the angle Kuroyukihime¡¯s eyebrows became, she replied with a cold voice.


    ¡°In that case it is more natural to think that she is ?Cyan Pile? right? She... Kurashima-kun clearly showed hostility toward me, you saw it too.¡±


    ¡°No, that is, not like that, it was because senpai and I Direct Connected and things...¡±


    ¡°Why would she be angry about that? Kurashima-kun has a genuine boyfriend right? Then, if Haruyuki-kun and I direct connect or link arms, she has no obligation to complain.¡±


    ¡°...That is... it is like that but...¡±


    How did it become like this, Haruyuki felt like holding his head as he became speechless. Chiyuri surely has a nothing to complaint about boyfriend in Takumu, other than that, that is - I am her - .


    Underling? Belonging? Possessed property?


    Some unspeakable words crossed his mind, he was having trouble with how to explain the nuance, when Kuroyukihime showered him without mercy.


    ¡°Maybe her attitude is like this? Kurashima-kun was a Burst Linker from before, thinking of eventually making you into her ?Child?. Then I suddenly snatch you from the side. So, unable to hold her anger, she came after me. How about that?¡±


    Logical or illogical theory somehow became a speech of a somewhat spoiled brat; unable to understand Kuroyukihime¡¯s mentality at all, when he noticed, he had already went with the flow and announced.


    ¡°I... understand! Then, I will directly check with her!¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Moving one eyebrow, Kuroyukihime obstinately said.


    ¡°But, how are you planning to do it? Asking her face to face if she is a Burst Linker won¡¯t work; you understand why, right? Saying so, when ?Cyan Pile? can freely block attacks, you cannot just challenge her when you see her. The reason I am so troubled in the first place is because I cannot find out. Just saying any fancy idea can be troublesome.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just a fancy idea!¡±


    Unable to hold back a sharp retort, Haruyuki did so with pointed mouth.


    ¡°Listen, I will direct connect with her. Even with attack blocking, during direct connect I should be able to check her memory to see if she has the Brain Burst program or not. Senpai should be satisfied with this right?¡±

 Volume 1 - CH 5

    ¡®¡ªWhy? Why?¡¯


    While hunching his shoulders dejectedly and trudgingly walking home on the evening sidewalk, Haruyuki kept repeating those two words in his mind.


    ¡®Why did things turn out this way?¡¯


    ¡®Even though I only desired to be Kuroyukihime-senpai¡¯s faithful pawn, why did I reply in such a quarrelsome manner in the end and rush out of the store to return home?¡¯


    ¡®Please, let me go back just 30 minutes in time!!¡¯ Haruyuki keenly prayed for that, but it was impossible, even with Brain Burst that could nearly stop actual time.


    But then, even if he could reload that scene like an adventure game, he felt that it would still be difficult to obediently agree to the theory that Chiyuri = <<Cyan Pile>>. Haruyuki just couldn¡¯t believe that Chiyuri was a Burst Linker and moreover that she had hid it from him for such a long time was possible.


    No¡ªIt wasn''t that he didn''t believe it, but that he didn''t want to believe it.


    Honestly speaking, there was no objective proof that substantiated this. Though it had been different when they were young, he hadn''t had a long talk with Chiyuri for the past one or two years here. Even though not as much as Kuroyukihime, Chiyuri, as a girl, was also a plenty mysterious existence to Haruyuki.


    Also, it could be said that there was proof that disproved that she was unable to keep something secret. Because, even though Haruyuki had begged her so much, Chiyuri had consulted about the matter of his being bullied with Takumu and hid that from him.


    Come to think of it, before he could make such a dangerous request like Direct Connecting with her, he had to at least apologize for the matter of knocking down the sandwiches. And in order to apologize, he would first have to accept and swallow the fact that Chiyuri and Takumi had discussed this and that about him.


    That could easily take one week. Rather, he didn¡¯t want to think about it. He would rather not confirm it and leave the matter alone. But then, he would have no choice but to accept the Chiyuri = <<Cyan Pile>> theory.


    ¡®What in the world do I want to do? What do I want to do with Taku, Chiyuri, and Kuroyukihime?¡¯


    While overloaded with thoughts that practically emitted burnt fumes from his head, Haruyuki passed through the entrance of his apartment building with heavy steps.


    He briefly glanced at the time display in the corner of his vision. It was 5:30 PM.


    Chiyuri would already be home, but Takumu should be still at school practicing in his Kendo Club. So, the two of them couldn¡¯t be having a private chat together at one of their homes.


    Inside the elevator lift, Haruyuki agonized within himself plenty until the warning alarm rang.


    Then, he pressed the button for the 23rd floor where he lived.


    After the lift had risen halfway, he pressed the button two floors below that.


    "Oh my, Haru-chan, it¡¯s been so long since I last saw you!!"


    As Chiyuri¡¯s mother cried out that out with a smiling face as soon as the door opened, but Haruyuki mumbled a ''long time no see'' in response.


    "Ah, you¡¯ve grown taller, how old are you now, wait, that¡¯s right, you''re the same as age as Chiyu who is 13 years old, after all. Since you haven¡¯t come over to play ever since entering middle school, oba-san* was so lonely, you can take it easy and stay here as long as you like today, okay? Please have supper here, since my daughter has been eating so little lately, all the food I¡¯ve made has been in vain. That¡¯s right, I thought of making Haru-chan¡¯s favorite dish of curry today, I will be cooking a lot of helpings tonight so just help yourself, Chiyuri will also be happy, since she¡¯s been displeased about not playing with Haru-chan recently.¡±


    The seemingly endless chattering of Chiyuri¡¯s mother was cut off by a sharp voice that sounded from inside the hallway.


    "Mama!!"


    Looking past Chiyuri¡¯s mother, Haruyuki saw Chiyuri staring at them with an expression of raging fire as she stuck her head out from the living room.


    "Please don¡¯t talk about unnecessary stuff!!"


    "Yes, yes, she¡¯s at that rebellious age. Haru-chan, please relax and stay as long as you like."


    Seeing off Chiyuri¡¯s mama as she retired to the kitchen from a door in the middle of the hallway while waving her hand with a pleasant smile, Haruyuki once again put a stiff smile on his face.


    "...H-Hey."


    "......"


    Giving a long stare, Chiyuri moved her small chin in a manner that signaled ¡°Are you coming in?¡±, and then disappeared back into the living room. Letting out a strained breath and taking off his shoes, Haruyuki mumbled quietly.


    "Sorry to intrude..."


    In the past¡ªuntil the time of his third or fourth year of elementary school, he would had said ¡°I¡¯m back¡± instead. Back then he would play outside with Chiyuri and Takumu until it was dark, and he would always return to the Kurashima household first after becoming sweaty. He would take a bath, be treated to dinner and even watch the television before wearily returning to his empty home two floors above. To Haruyuki, who had been bullied at school even in those days, those evenings were the only times that seemed fun.


    But that also ended two years ago.


    That time, when Takumu confessed to Chiyuri, and she then consulted with Haruyuki about it.


    Among the slippers on the rack next to the door frame, the ones with blue bear faces that Haruyuki had always used were still there. He put his feet into the faded slippers and timidly opened the door to the living room, but Chiyuri was nowhere to be seen within.


    After running his sweaty palms on the trousers of his uniform, he passed through the house that he knew like the back of his hand and softly knocked on the door to Chiyuri¡¯s room, which had been inside the most.


    "......Come in."


    After a brief moment of silence, he heard the short reply. After taking a big gulp, Haruyuki turned the doorknob.


    Since he had last visited it two years ago, Chiyuri¡¯s room hadn¡¯t changed much from his memories, having the same simple interior decoration as back then. Her desk and bed had a colour tone of black and white and her curtains were also a monochrome, very similar to Haruyuki''s room.


    But, there were also several changes. First, it had a somewhat excessively good smell. Second, there was also the clothes of Chiyuri, who was sitting on her bed with a sullen face.


    Of course she wasn¡¯t still in her uniform. However, Chiyuri, who had had only a tomboyish appearance during elementary school, was now dressed in a pink fluttering skirt with some kind of white fluffy sweater.


    Well, after all...she did go on dates with Takumu... As Haruyuki thought that while stunned, he was hit by an unexpected first strike.


    "I called you so many times yesterday."


    "Heh...?"


    Staring at her from below, Haruyuki let out a stupid response.


    ¡®Yesterday¡ªoh, right, that day had ended with me running away in front of Chiyuri and Takumu. Uhii, before that, I have to apologize for the earlier sandwich incident first.¡¯


    "Y-Yeah, that¡­it¡¯s because I disconnected my Neuro Linker during all of yesterday¡­"


    "Letting me send you a message should be fine. Because of that, I didn¡¯t go to sleep until really late last night!"


    "So¡­Sorry¡­"


    As Haruyuki apologized to Chiyuri who was puffing out her cheeks, he murmured in his mind ¡®Just as I thought, she couldn¡¯t be¡¯.


    No matter how he thought about it, she just couldn¡¯t be that. To think she could be the Burst Linker ?Cyan Pile?, and moreover a strong warrior of Level 4. And on top of that, a super-hacker that successfully could change the Brain Burst program that no one else could as well!


    But, even if he said that, getting proof of that wasn¡¯t easy. Like he declared to Kuroyukihime, the only method was to do a memory-range-search while Direct Connected together, but how could he ask such a thing in this situation?


    ¡®No¡ªWait, wait.¡¯


    Haruyuki quickly jumped at the idea that suddenly flashed through his mind.


    Because it¡¯s such a situation, couldn¡¯t he ask it? It was inexcusable to Chiyuri, but¡ªNo, he wasn¡¯t particularly tricking her. He would apologize sincerely, and at the same time check her memory a little while synced¡­


    "Ah, ah, uuum, Ch-Ch-Chiyuri!"


    Haruyuki cried that out as he intensely stumbled over his words, which was acted on his part.


    "Wh...What is it?"


    "That is...I-I¡¯ve come to a-apologize about various things...like the sandwich incident, and the incident in front of the school gates. B-B-But, I¡¯m not very good at talking with my mouth like this, so, umm...please D-D-D-Di-Direct Connect with me."


    Chiyuri stared opened-mouth at Haruyuki¡¯s face, which had sweat that certainly wasn¡¯t part of an act sliding down it.


    The angle of her plump eyebrows rose even more as she went from surprised to suspicious.


    No good, this was just too abrupt, after all. As Haruyuki resolved himself to being yelled at, a strangely defiant look appeared on the face of his childhood friend. That¡ªwas the face that Chiyuri had always shown in the past when quarrelling with boys, which basically said ¡°Just try it if you dare¡±.


    "¡­Did you bring a cable?"


    As shed suddenly asked that with a stiff voice, Haruyuki shook his head while thinking ¡°Oh no¡±.


    "Err¡­I-I didn''t bring it."


    "Fu~n. Just so you know, I don''t have anything except this."


    Bending her body forward and opening a case underneath her bed, what Chiyuri took out was a mere thirty centimeter off-white XSB cable.


    "S-Short. Do you¡­always use that with Taku¡­?"


    When he unconsciously asked that, she immediately started yelling at him.


    "A-Are you an idiot!! Takkun carries a one-meter one. This is the cable for connecting to a PC that was attached when I bought my Neuro Linker!!"


    "Ah...aah..."


    Because the super-fast communication standard Xtra-Serial-Bus (XSB) required a high-grade cable that was securely shielded, the ones that attached as bonus equipment were always short. But even so, wasn¡¯t thirty centimeters a bit too short? What a stingy manufacturer.


    Effortlessly tossing the cat tail-like cable over to Haruyuki who was thinking about escaping, Chiyuri snorted lightly and rolled her small bad onto the bed.


    "Do what you want."


    Not knowing what to do with the cable in his hand that was like a burning wire, Haruyuki spoke nervously.


    "U-Umm¡­if possible, err, could you please sit on a chair with your back facing me¡­?"


    No response. Chiyuri didn¡¯t seem to intend to move even an inch as she laid sprawled on the sheets.


    Haruyuki quite seriously thought ¡®Hmm, should I run and escape?¡¯, but he had already done that in front of Kuroyukihime today. If he ran away again here, the situation would reach the point of being impossible to fix.


    "...T-Then..."


    Having made up his mind, Haruyuki shuffled over to the bed that Chiyuri was lying on, and took off his slippers.


    Slo~wly, he put one knee on the white-and-gray striped sheets.


    The sturdy-seeming pipe frame of the bed protested with a creaking sound at the weight that was several times heavier than it was used to.


    Once he had crawled forward on all fours until he was within seventy centimeters away from Chiyuri¡¯s ride side, Haruyuki first placed the plug at one end of the cable into the outer connection port that was on the right side of his Neuro Linker in the back.


    Then, he tilted his head at an unnatural angle and held out the plug at the other end while stretching it to its limits. However, the port of the closed-eyed and lying Chiyuri was still practically a light-year away from him.


    ¡®Ugeeeh, oh no, I should have approached from the left instead. Should I draw back and approach again, no there isn¡¯t that kind of psychological room left anymore, but even so it¡¯s absolutely impossible for me to go to the other side by crossing over Chiyuri.¡¯


    Having fallen 90% into a panicked state, Haruyuki tilted just his upper body in a very precariously balanced posture and forcibly brought their necks closer to each other. A sweet smell like that of milk drifted from Chiyuri¡¯s body, and his sense of balance became unsteady¡ª


    Immediately afterwards, his left knee slipped. Just before he pressed against Chiyuri¡¯s slender body with his large build, his outstretched hand was just barely enough to stop his fall.


    Nonetheless, the situation was on the brink of a crisis. With his left knee in the space between Chiyuri¡¯s spread out legs and his left hand having landed right next to Chiyuri¡¯s right cheek, his body was being supported in a dangerous position. Uoooaaaah, what¡¯s with this situatioooooooon, as the needle of his panic meter swung into the red zone, Chiyuri¡¯s eyes, which were only ten centimeters away from him, blinked open.


    Haruyuki couldn''t read the expression that was in her big light brown pupils. Of course, there was anger and irritation in them. But, that seemed to have less to do with Haruyuki¡¯s current insolent conduct¡ªsomehow, it seemed like she had been biting back those feelings for quite a long time¡ª


    Unable to endure gazing at each other¡¯s eyes any longer, Haruyuki moved his right hand and inserted the plug into Chiyuri¡¯s neck. The Wired Connection warning that appeared hid Chiyuri¡¯s face from view for a moment.


    ¡ªThe delay wasn¡¯t more than a second, but even so Haruyuki somehow managed to reorganize his thoughts in that time.


    Blinking several times, he turned his gaze away from Chiyuri¡¯s eyes and fixed his focus around the slender collarbone that peeked out from the collar of her white sweater.


    "Umm¡­I¡­came because I felt I didn¡¯t apologize about the matter the other day."


    The words, composed through thought-speaking, resounded through both their sense of hearing without stumbling, despite their awkwardness.


    "Umm, about spoiling that boxed lunch you went to such trouble to make¡­I''m, really sorry."


    Though he was apologizing for that seriously¡ª


    Haruyuki moved his right hand¡¯s finger outside of Chiyuri''s vision, and opened the storage icon.


    In the window that opened and piled over half of the real Chiyuri¡¯s face, there was a folder that displayed Chiyuri¡¯s ID Name, next to a folder that displayed the physical memory range of her Neuro Linker.


    At this point, it could be said that the possibility of Chiyuri = ?Cyan Pile? was already exceedingly close to zero. Because if she were ?Cyan Pile?, Chiyuri should have already known that Haruyuki was ?Silver Crow?, an underling of Kuroyukihime, and therefore should have refused to Direct Connect with him.


    Or¡ªher intentionally laying down on the bed might be a ploy by Chiyuri to discourage Haruyuki from Direct Connecting with her. Right now, Chiyuri might be shocked and panicking in her heart.


    While feeling ashamed of himself for suspecting the childhood friend he had known for ten years in that way, Haruyuki quietly moved the cursor over the physical memory folder of Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker.


    "But¡­but, I was a bit shocked."


    As if to overwrite his guilty feelings, such words gushed out from my thoughts.


    "When I imagine Chiyu and Taku¡­discussing the matter of those guys, I¡¯m unable to contain myself¡­I understand that you¡¯re thinking about all those things for my sake¡­but I...."


    -- ¡ªI just don¡¯t want to be pitied by Chiyuri and Takumu. Exactly because we''re friends¡ªI want the distance between the three of us to remain the same at least.


    Though it¡¯s already too late.


    Haruyuki put more strength into his finger, and clicked the folder.


    At the same time as a differently colored and semi-transparent window suddenly opened, Chiyuri¡¯s voice sounded in both his head and ears.


    "Haru¡­You misunderstood."


    The clumsy Chiyuri seemed to be unable to do thought-speaking up until now. Right before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, her small lips moved and more words followed.


    "I didn''t tell Takkun anything. I couldn¡¯t tell him. I promised to remain silent. Takkun only knew about the sandwich because, when I went to his kendo tournament the other day, I told him I would also make one for Haru next time."


    "Eh¡­"


    Haruyuki unconsciously turned his gaze away from checking the window and met Chiyuri¡¯s eyes. Her determined eyes suddenly softened, and her eyelashes turned as if yearning for the past in some way.


    "¡­How many years has it been? Since Haru has talked about himself so much."


    Avoiding eye contact with Haruyuki, who couldn¡¯t say anything, Chiyuri continued murmuring.


    "I also... I was also dishonest. And cowardly. Even though Haru¡­was going through so much pain for such a long, long time, I could only pretend not to see. Even though there were so many things I could have done if I really felt like it. I could have told the teachers, written a letter to the school board, or asked Takkun and he would have beaten them all up. But I couldn¡¯t¡­I thought Haru would get angry at me and hate me¡­I was afraid that we couldn''t be ¡®us¡¯ anymore."


    Haruyuki held his breath as he watched a clear drop distinctly gather along the long eyelashes that bordered one of her eyelids. It was only two days ago that Chiyuri had cried as he knocked down her sandwiches, and even though they had both cried and made the other cry in the so many times they had quarrelled in the past, but he felt that the tears he saw now had a completely different hue from those times.


    "But, Haru is also dishonest."


    Squeezing her eyes closed, Chiyuri continued to speak with trembling lips.


    "You said that it would never, never change. That we¡¯d be the same friends. Two years ago¡­when I consulted with you about Takkun¡­Haru said that if I rejected him, Takkun wouldn¡¯t play with us anymore. But, Haru promised that, even if me and Takkun went out together, you would always stay as our friend. I¡­I just felt that I didn¡¯t want anything to change. I just wanted the three of us to always be together¡­"


    ¡ª¡ªI also feel the same.


    Haruyuki resisted vocalizing that thought at a dangerous moment.


    But, as if she had heard him, Chiyuri opened her eyes and looked straight at Haru as drops scattered about.


    "Yet¡­Why!? Why are you depending on that person now!? You told me to do nothing, yet why did you act like a servant and beg to that person!? You¡¯re so unfair...It¡¯s so frustrating, even though I always worried about you for so many years, that person¡­settled everything in just a single day¡­And then, she acted as if Haru¡­was an object that belonged to her¡­"


    That person¡ªKuroyukihime.


    When the name of that person came out with unexpected timing, Haruyuki nearly forgot about checking Chiyuri¡¯s memory and shook his head while trembling.


    "Th¡­That¡¯s not it, I didn¡¯t beg her¡­Senpai just resolved the bullying because she¡¯s the vice-president of the student council¡­"


    "If that''s the case, why does that person lead Haru around like you¡¯re her pet!? Why did Haru act small behind that person as if you¡¯re her underling!?"


    "No¡­That¡¯s not how it is!"


    While shaking his head vehemently again, Haruyuki tasted the feeling of wanting to ask himself ¡°What on earth do I want to do?¡±.


    Before, he had stubbornly denied the claim that Chiyuri was ?Cyan Pile? by Kuroyukihime, and this he was earnestly denying the accusations against Kuroyukihime by Chiyuri. The situation was similar to a jigsaw puzzle that had already been stirred around by a blender, and he couldn¡¯t imagine where and how to put it back together.


    Even as the tone of his voice fell, Haruyuki repeated it again.


    "That¡¯s not how it is. Because I don¡¯t particularly¡­hate it¡­"


    "But I hate it!!"


    Just then, Chiyuri cried out with a voice that could even be heard from outside the room.


    "Haru, you were always cold ever since we entered middle school. You wouldn¡¯t go home with us at all, had an annoyed face when I talked to you at school, and you wouldn¡¯t even come over to my house anymore. You weren¡¯t like that in elementary school."


    "That¡­couldn¡¯t be helped, because you already had a bo¡­boyfriend."


    "Haru was the one that told me to do so!! Haru said that, if I did that, me, Haru and Takkun could stay together just like always!! Was that a lie!?"


    "It wasn¡¯t a lie! It wasn¡¯t a lie, but¡­we can¡¯t stay as elementary students forever!!"


    Clenching the sheets tightly on both sides of Chiyuri¡¯s face, Haruyuki also shouted.


    "In the past, I didn''t care about it, about walking alongside you and Taku, about entering a hamburger restaurant together! But¡­it¡¯s impossible anymore, it¡¯s too tough! Taku keeps getting more and more handsome, and you also keep getting cu¡­cuter, but I, the one walking next to you both, is like this! Even when we¡¯re in the same place, I feel like digging a hole and burying myself!!"


    Until now, he hadn¡¯t openly confessed his inferiority complex to Chiyuri¡ªno, to anyone. He firmly believed that he¡¯d regret it to the point of dying later, but Haruyuki couldn¡¯t stop his thoughts no matter what.


    If he tried to say the same thing with his mouth, he¡¯d end up stuttering and be unable to get the words out. But right now, he was Direct Connected and using thought-speaking, so Haruyuki¡¯s had become a torrent and were pouring into Chiyuri¡¯s brain.


    "You¡¯re the same! Even though you walk with Taku while holding hands, you can¡¯t do it with me! That shows that you yourself have chosen Taku! Whatever I say is just unrelated now!!"


    From two centimeters below Haruyuki, Chiyuri¡¯s eyes widened as she listened to his monologue in silence.


    Then, a silk curtain of water appeared under her pale-colored eyes again.


    Her face distorted and a whisper-like voice leaked out from her intensely trembling lips.


    "¡­Do you really feel that way? Do you seriously believe that a person''s value is decided just by their appearance? ¡­Haru is always like that. You always act that way, criticizing scolding yourself. Why do you hate yourself like that? Why do you reproach yourself so much?"


    "Hate myself¡­Of course I do."


    Haru replied as if groaning.


    "If I were anyone else, I would absolutely hate someone like this. Chubby, sweaty, servile¡­There¡¯s not a single thing to like about me. I would hate¡­just being seen together with me."


    "I know it. I know a lot of good points about Haru. I know so many I can¡¯t count them all with the fingers of both my hands!"


    Chiyuri continued while sobbing childishly like she did in the past.


    "At snack time, you would always give me the bigger portion; when I lost the doll I hung on my school bag, you looked for it by yourself until late; whenever my Neuro Linker had problems with it, you would immediately fix it; you have so many good points that no one else has. It has nothing to do with your appearance. If¡­if that time two years ago, you had been the one to¡­"


    Suddenly, after looking as if she was firmly swallowing something, Chiyuri smiled sadly.


    "¡­I''m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t say this. I¡­I just feared that Haru was not only distancing himself from the kids at school, but also from me and Takkun. I didn¡¯t want you to be alone. I wanted you to feel that your two close friends were also here for you anytime. That¡¯s why I did as Haru said."


    Haruyuki, while feeling the inside of his throat tighten up intensely, somehow squeezed out his thoughts.


    "¡­Don¡¯t tell me, you did it for my sake¡­? So that me and Takkun could still be friends¡­?"


    "It''s because Haru seems to have the most fun when playing with Takkun. And it was the most fun for me, watching you two like that. I just thought that I wanted only this time not to change. But¡­it¡¯s impossible, there is nothing that doesn¡¯t change, and a person¡¯s heart doesn¡¯t stop."


    Chiyuri suddenly lifted both her hands and put them around Haruyuki¡¯s large body, hugging him with all her strength.


    She gave a tear-filled smiling face to the frozen Haruyuki from super-close distance.


    "My hand can no longer reach Haru. To be honest, when I saw Haru and Kuroyukihime-san at the school gate, I thought¡­¡°Does that role perhaps belong to that person?¡±. That was frustrating to me, because I believed that I knew many times more about Haru than that person. But¡­if that person has the power to change Haru¡­¡ª"


    While right in the midst of a great whirlpool of confusion, Haruyuki could only listen to Chiyuri¡¯s words. Sticking to him, Chiyuri¡¯s body hadn¡¯t changed at all since all those long, long years ago, it was still small and warm.


    "¡­But, I¡¯m begging you, please stop that kind of attitude. it''s kind of hard to take in. You look like a follower. If that¡¯s how it is, try to become her boyfriend. And surprise the students in school that way."


    ¡®If I hugged Chiyuri tightly here and now, what would happen?¡¯


    It was only for a moment, but Haruyuki seriously considered that. Of course, his body didn¡¯t actually move, but just the fingertip of his right hand betrayed his thoughts, trembling.


    The holo-cursor, which moved in reaction to that movement, by chance hit the icon of the Application Install folder in the window that indicated the contents of the internal memory of Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker. After a brief delay, a new window silently opened.


    While unconsciously the displayed application groups one by one with his gaze, Haruyuki likewise unconsciously murmured out loud with his natural voice. (Note: Voice-speak ends here.)


    "Sorry...I''m sorry, Chiyu. Until now, I¡­didn¡¯t consider that you were worried by something, or that you were suffering. That¡¯s why I¡¯m hopeless..."


    "That¡¯s right. I also worry, Takkun also has things that worry him, and even that person is probably like that too. Including "that person". Everyone is the same, no different from Haru."


    Both Chiyuri¡¯s voice and small hands were so warm that it seemed to soak into him.


    Inside his mind, Haruyuki thought, ¡®How could I? How could I think for an instant that she was hiding being a Burst Linker from me?¡¯


    In fact, he had understood with one look that the icon symbolized by a flaming letter B wasn¡¯t in the Application folder. Just in case, he checked each installed program, but he couldn¡¯t seem to find anything outwardly suspicious among the commercial mailers, media players and simple games.


    Sure enough, Chiyuri wasn''t ?Cyan Pile?.


    While persuading himself of that, Haruyuki suddenly felt uneasy when he opened up the properties of some of the applications.


    The programs weren¡¯t the problem. That wasn¡¯t it¡ª just now, the response to the operation was subtly sluggish.


    Rather than wirelessly communicating through the inexpensive home server, right now he was Direct Connected to Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker with a high-grade cable (moreover, a very short one), so there was no reason for lags that could be sensed in the response to occur.


    If there was a lag, the only possible cause was that the communication bandwidth of Chiyuri¡¯s Linker was mostly occupied by other circuits.


    Becoming all the more suspicious of that, Haruyuki opened the network status window as well.


    Chiyuri''s Neuro Linker was currently connected to three networks, the Global Net, the Kurashima family¡¯s Home Net, and the Direct Connection with Haruyuki. Among that, the only packet exchange that should have been happening right at this moment was with Haruyuki.


    However, as he checked her network, Haruyuki nearly cried out. A massive packets was being sent to the Global Net. The local sender was an unidentified program that was installed under many layers of folders. The receiver on the global side was unknown. In other words, this was¡ª


    A Backdoor!!


    Someone had hacked Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker, and was secretly connecting to it from the outside. And that person was right at this instant stealing Chiyuri¡¯s sight and hearing information.


    This bastard!!


    While nearly shouting unconsciously, Haruyuki began to move his fingertip in order to erase the problematic application.


    But he stopped himself just before he threw the icon he was dragging into the garbage can.


    The person connecting right now had to be ?Cyan Pile?. Without a doubt, this guy hadn¡¯t succeeded in altering Brain Burst, but rather he was using Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker as a step-point in order to allow himself to freely appear and disappear on the matching list.


    In other words, if he could trace the packet¡¯s destination, the true identity of ?Cyan Pile? would also become clear. However, tracing without being sensed by the other side was difficult work. The only chance would most likely be while they were in battle. For that to happen, he would have to hide the fact that he had noticed the backdoor until that person next attacked.


    Quietly letting out a breath, Haruyuki closed all the windows.


    "¡­Thank you, Chiyu."


    He murmured that and quietly separated their bodies.


    Still crying a little, Chiyuri also slowly dropped her hands, smiled while nodding. As he returned an awkward smile, Haruyuki stretched out his left hand and removed the plug from Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker.

 Volume 1 - CH 6

    Friday.


    Haruyuki trudgingly walked along the sidewalk with his shoulders drooped dejectedly among the other students, who were going to school with shining expressions at the prospect of the holiday the day after tomorrow after the long week finally ended.


    "A guy... a guy like me..."


    He mumbled to himself, filled with maximum self-loathing so early in the morning.


    If the dream he had on the night of installing Brain Burst was the scariest one of his life, the dream he had last night would have to be the lowest and most disgusting one. If the other person, who had done things he only knew about through virtual knowledge, had just been Kuroyukihime, it might have been the best dream he had ever had. But before he knew it, the number of people in the dream increased to two, and the second person was¡ª.


    "Auu...aaa..."


    He desperately pushed back the urge to grab his head and run.


    Currently, the producers of Neuro Linkers were said to be ruthlessly competing to create a truly dream-like application called ?Dream Record?. It was a good thing that it didn''t exist yet. No¡ªwell, he had to admit that part of him was disappointed about that...


    "Hey, good morning, boy!"


    Haruyuki jumped as somebody greeted him cheerfully with a slap on his shoulder.


    Then he jumped again after turning around and seeing the beauty in black standing there.


    "Hwuaaa?!"


    "...What was that? Is it a greeting that''s popular these days?"


    Kuroyukihime had a dubious expression on her face. Haruyuki shook his head.


    "No, it-it''s nothing!! Umm, go-good morning, senpai!!"


    "...Hmmm."


    Kuroyukihime cocked her head once more, then coughed slightly and spoke again.


    "Hmm¡ª. Ahh¡ª. Well, I... apologize about yesterday. I wasn''t being very mature."


    "N-no... there''s no way it''s like that, it''s nothing of the sort. I should be the one apologizing... I went home without even saying goodbye properly..."


    As the two of them stopped speaking, students wearing the same uniform slowly started milling around them. Not just first years but even second and third years were waiting to greet Kuroyukihime with looks of admiration in their eyes, and before they knew it, a line had formed behind them.


    Having seen this, Kuroyukihime finished her greetings in one fell swoop by shouting "Hey, good morning everyone!" to all the people in the back, and then tapped Haruyuki on the back and hurried off. She continued the conversation, whispering in Haruyuki''s ear after he had hastily caught up with her.


    "No... of course you wanted to get away. I had treated your precious... friend, as a cowardly marauder. Because of that, I made you say something impossible, that you would check Direct Connecting. I sincerely apologize."


    "Huh? Ah... Well, I did it... the Direct Connect."


    "...What?"


    Her face froze. She spoke even before Haruyuki could put up his guard. He had the feeling that something wasn''t quite right.


    "Where did you do it?"


    She asked with an edge to her voice, so there was no choice but to answer truthfully.


    "That-that is... at her house..."


    "Where in the house?"


    "I-in a room... He-her room."


    "...Ho."


    Kuroyukihime increased her pace for some reason. Haruyuki had to chase after a person with a much longer stride than him with sweat running down his brow. It took him a couple seconds to catch up and continue the conversation.


    "So, I sneaked a peek at her memory... and in her Neuro Linker there was..."


    "How long was the cable?"


    Kuroyukihime asked with an aura that seemed to bore into him. Haruyuki answered timidly, feeling more and more frightened.


    "Th...irty centimeters."


    "...Hmph."


    Taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap.


    Haruyuki could only watch Kuroyukihime''s long hair shake to and fro as she walked towards the school entrance ahead of them at a frightening pace.


    I don''t understand. This world is just full of things I don''t get.


    After seriously listening to the morning classes, half as a way of escape, and taking a mountain''s worth of notes, Haruyuki couldn''t himself to take any sort of action even when he heard the lunch bell ring.


    If he thought about it logically, he should immediately go find Kuroyukihime and talk about the backdoor that ?Cyan Pile? had installed in Chiyuri''s Neuro Linker, as well as how to track the packet down. But before that, if he couldn''t figure out the reason behind why Kuroyukihime had been acting strangely ill-humored since yesterday, he wouldn''t be able to concentrate on the conversation.


    It was true that he made people in front of him feel disgusted quite a lot. It would be more of a surprise if there was someone that didn''t get annoyed at an overly obese guy that sweated like a waterfall and mumbled almost inaudibly. And the expression that conveyed that on the person''s face would further intimidate Haruyuki and his voice would continue to get smaller until it became hard to even hear.


    Perhaps Kuroyukihime had been secretly tolerating him until now. And perhaps she had finally gone past her limit.


    If so, it would be better to give up talking to her face to face in real life. If they talked with their full dive avatars, he wouldn''t sweat at least and the volume of his voice would be automatically compensated. Getting things done like this smoothly and efficiently would be the most desirable thing for him as well.


    As Haruyuki kept telling himself this while gazing at the table, an unfamiliar and loud voice suddenly blared down from above his head.


    "Hello! First year, Class-2 Arita Haruyuki-kun, right?"


    He jerked his head up in surprise. Two girls whose faces he didn''t know were standing in front of him. Both had a holo-tag on their shoulders that showed that they were in the middle of a club activity. [Newspaper club].


    Geeh, a new icon flashed in Haruyuki''s vision as he almost fell down in surprise. [SREC], that was an icon that told you that the other person was recording your conversation. Of course it wasn''t something that was freely allowed, but it was allowed in very few instances within the school.


    For example, collecting data for the newspaper club.


    Haruyuki couldn''t even look at his classmates who were watching with interest around him. He prepared to run away, disregarding how he would look. But, as if they were used to these sorts of situations, there was someone who stood behind him to block his escape route.


    Right in front of Haruyuki who was frozen in a half-risen position, the attacking reporter pushed out her hand that was holding a holo-board and threw out the question which struck at the heart of the matter.


    "This is Umesato Real Times, ?Head¡îshot to that guy in the rumors? corner!! Well to get straight to the point, is the rumor that Arita-kun is going out with that famous Kuroyukihime-san true!?"


    Haruyuki glanced at the blinking recording icon.


    Then, he concentrated all his mental power and managed to reply in what could be called a calm voice.


    "It''s a lie. A rumor. Groundless."


    The reporter typed furiously on her invisible keyboard in front of her and then launched a counter-attack.


    "But according to the information we have gathered, Arita-kun has direct connected with Kuroyukihime-san twice in the lounge and even did a non-stop Direct Connect date in a caf¨¦ within the school district!"


    "Wha..."


    Looking down at Haruyuki who was shocked and thinking "Why do you know that?", the female student made light flash across her real glasses, which were a rare thing these days.


    This was bad, really bad. If he answered wrong here, it would become something that can''t be taken back.


    Several sensational headlines appeared in his head. He could even hear the battle cry of the Kuroyukihime fan club as they saw that and swore bloody punishment.


    With one of his cheek twitching and convulsing in spasms, Haruyuki made his brain think three times faster than the time he had fought ?Ash Roller? and came up with an answer that seemed innocent enough.


    "Eh¡ª, w-w-well that is. I-I-I know quite a lot about Neuro Linker operating systems, and umm, senpai''s Neuro Linker was in bad shape, so I just fixed it for her when she asked me to, and the thing in the caf¨¦ was nothing more than compensation for that. There wasn''t anything else to it, really, not even a little."


    As he shook his head with a stiff smile, the newspaper club member stopped typing and frowned.


    Even if they saw them direct connecting, it was impossible to tell if they had talked through or if he had just fiddled with the Neuro Linker. It wasn''t a great excuse but they wouldn''t be able to refute it.


    As Haruyuki calmed down, he kept talking to make his defense stronger.


    "Be...Besides, if you look at how that person acts when she''s with me you''ll know. Senpai gets upset really easily when she talks with me. There''s no way that she''s going out with me."


    With this, the interview was over.


    That was what he thought, but the girl cocked her head and repeated his words as if suspicious of something.


    "Upset? It didn''t seem that way at all..."


    "I-It''s true! Even this morning, she went off by herself and was angry for some reason... She''s always acts like that whenever I talk about Chiyu, I mean Kurashima..."


    "Kurashima...san? You mean the girl who quarreled with Kuroyukihime over something at the school gate...?"


    After blinking her sparkling eyes behind her glasses several times¡ª


    The newspaper club club member''s dramatic attitude suddenly vanished and moved her finger. The recording icon disappeared from Haruyuki''s sight.


    "...? Has the interview finished?"


    "Erm, well... that is......"


    After strangely faltering and exchanging glances with her partner behind her, she then continued to talk in what seemed to be her normal manner of speaking.


    "Well, you see. The truth is, we were also skeptical and just came came to collect data thinking it was just some silly mistake, but..."


    "Yes...?"


    The girl brought her face closer and whispered low enough so that only Haruyuki could hear.


    "Hey, Arita-kun. It couldn''t really be... well this is what I think... but maybe, are you and Kuroyukihime, really... like that?"


    "Haah!?"


    "Well, y''know, if she gets upset every time you talk about that Kurashima-san who''s close to you, that''s, well... you know?"


    The other club member who stood next to her continued.


    "Yeah. That, the only thing it could be is..."


    Then both of them whispered to Haruyuki at the same time as if they were oracles from a temple.


    "...jealousy, right?"


    When Haruyuki recovered his state of mind, Haruyuki found himself in his usual cubicle in the men''s restroom.


    In the end, he had run away, but he didn''t have the luxury of mind to feel remorse for what he had done.


    ''Jealousy? With what characters is that written with? I don''t know of any such word in Japanese.''


    He wanted to run away from his thoughts like that, but the kanji to spell it was already etched into his mind like a red hot iron brand.


    The reason that Kuroyukihime showed a displeased face when they talked of Chiyuri was because of...jealousy.


    Yes, that''s what the two of them had said.


    Jealousy. Envy. In other words, Kuroyukihime had not been acting or joking, but had seriously been¡ª


    "It''s a lie."


    Haruyuki rushed ahead of where his thoughts were going and muttered that. There was no way that was true. It might happen to other people but to him, Arita Haruyuki, such a thing cannot happen. Don''t think like that. Don''t wish for it. If he did, he would, without a doubt, toss and turn in his bed while regretting it two to three times more.


    Haruyuki banged the back of his head on the flush tank behind him and told himself again.


    "It''s a lie...a lie."


    But the more he kept telling himself that, the more the little actions, expressions and words Kuroyukihime had showed and told him flickered through his mind.


    That time...and that time, and that time, did that person really...?


    "......It''s a lie!!"


    Bang! Haruyuki punched the cubicle wall and hugged his head.


    It was painful to even continue thinking now, he wanted to run away from here more than ever, but¡ªat the instant he was going to give the command for Full Dive.


    He remembered the crazy high score that Kuroyukihime had managed to achieve in virtual squash.


    He could never exceed that score. If so, he couldn''t use that game to escape from reality anymore.


    "...Why."


    He muttered again, a little louder this time.


    "...Why!? Why me!?"


    You have everything. Looks, brains, physical skills, social graces, and even¡ªthe one thing I really prided myself on, reaction speed in virtual games.


    In comparison, I am just an unlikable person with a flabby and sweaty body along with a stupid face.


    In other words, I didn''t have anything that was better than you.


    "And yet...why did you say that you believed in me...?"


    Of course Haruyuki was the person with an aptitude for Brain Burst that Kuroyukihime had been looking so hard for.


    But even then, there were three of them in the same middle school, it meant nothing more than that.


    Furthermore Haruyuki''s ?Silver Crow?, with its huge helmet head attached to tall and thin wire-like body, had no skills beyond kicking, punching and headbutting. With a duel avatar like that, he wouldn''t be of any use other than finding out the identity of the enemy¡ª?Cyan Pile?. In that case, he wanted to be suitably treated according to that. He wanted to just be commanded calmly, indifferently, as a chess piece.


    He didn''t wish for anything more than that. He wouldn''t have dreamed of anything more than that. Yet¡ªwhy, why did Kuroyukihime act like that, make such expressions, and look at him with such eyes?


    Finally Haruyuki decided to cling onto the single conclusion with the sole wish to set his mind at rest. It didn''t seem as if he would be able to find any reason other than that now.


    Although the person who had extorted food money from him had already disappeared, Haruyuki had skipped lunch, but he wasn''t conscious of being hungry and just passed through the afternoon classes indifferently.


    In homeroom, the teacher seemed to have talked about Araya and his gang, but Haruyuki ignored that too, and after the other students rushed out of the classroom just as the school bell rang and in high spirits in anticipation of the weekend, he stood up slowly with his bag in his hand.


    He then slowly walked to the entrance, changed his shoes and left the school building.


    Even though it was only just past 3 o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the late autumn sun was already a deep red and had sharply gone down in the sky, illuminating the school gates. Catching sight of a black silhouette standing there as if absorbed into the gatepost, Haruyuki approached while dragging his feet.


    "¡­Hey."


    Kuroyukihime stopped her hand, which had been typing on a holo-keyboard, and raised one small hand along with a slightly stiff smile. Probably, she had expressly taken out the work which she should have dealt with in the student council room here in this uninteresting place.


    In contrast, Haruyuki just bowed his head silently.


    An awkward silence instantly descended between them. A cold wind passed through them, rustling the leaves at their feet.


    As Haruyuki still hung his head, Kuroyukihime lightly cleared her throat and then continued speaking.


    "¡­Let¡¯s talk as we walk."


    "Ok."


    Haruyuki nodded as he gave a faint response.


    Kuroyukihime walked silently, while Haruyuki followed a step behind on her left as they walked out of the school gate.


    After walking for a minute or two without talking to each other, Kuroyukihime began to speak after clearing her throat once more.


    "Umm¡­That is, I''m very sorry for this morning. I had a strange attitude."


    "No, I...don¡¯t particularly mind. I should apologize too, for not coming to find you during lunch time."


    After hearing that unusually smooth reply from Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime seemed to tilt her head slightly, but then nodded.


    "Then, it¡¯s fine, but¡­Umm. Even I don''t know what exactly came over me, but¡­yes, when it comes to talking about ?Cyan Pile?, I''m unable to keep my calm."


    With her gaze set straight ahead, Kuroyukihime kept talking just a little fast¡ª


    Haruyuki cut her words off with a dry voice.


    "About that. I¡¯ve found the connection between ?Cyan Pile? and Kurashima."


    "¡­Eh? Ah¡­I-I see. Then, let¡¯s talk about it through direct connect. Since someone might hear what we say."


    Kuroyukihime spoke quickly, and searched through the bag hanging on her right hand instead of her pocket.


    What she pulled out was a small paper bag that had the name of a store within Umesato on it. Breaking off the tape with a stinging noise, Kuroyukihime drew out a new XSB cable from the bag.


    "Ah, I accidentally broke the cable that we used yesterday. So¡­I didn''t have a lot of money with me, and could only buy this."


    Haruyuki purposely ignored Kuroyukihime¡¯s explanation, which sounded like an excuse, as she held out a 1-meter cable¡ªthe shortest size sold in stores. Without meeting her eyes, he silently took the plug at one end of the cable and inserted it into his Neuro Linker.


    "¡­¡­"


    Kuroyukihime seemed to be waiting for Haruyuki to say something, but eventually she inserted the plug at the other end into her own Neuro Linker. As the Wired Connection warning appeared and then disappeared, Haruyuki sent out his dry thoughts to her.


    "Kurashima isn''t ?Cyan Pile? herself. ?Cyan Pile? has installed a virus in Kurashima¡¯s Neuro Linker and made a Backdoor inside it. That¡¯s why he appears on the stage from the coordinates where Kurashima is within the school."


    After Haruyuki had spoken up to that point, Kuroyukihime did not respond immediately.


    Eventually, her voice sounded through the center of his brain, sounding suspicious, or perhaps just a little scared.


    "¡­Did something happen to you¡­? Somehow...you¡¯ve been a bit strange since earlier."


    "Not really¡­nothing¡¯s wrong."


    Haruyuki responded to Kuroyukihime as she walked beside him 1 meter away, obstinately not turning to look at her.


    "But¡­¡ªCould it be that you¡¯re angry? Because I acted strangely this morning and yesterday¡­?"


    "No way. There''s no reason for me to be angry at senpai¡­I¡¯m fine, so let¡¯s return to the important discussion here."


    Once again, only silence flowed through the thin cable.


    With dusk approaching, the sidewalk was dim and gloomy from the group of buildings lined up to the left, and the people who came and went were all sunk into black shadow. No one paid attention to Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime as they walked while direct connected, it was as if there was just the two of them, wandering through a calm country of shadows.


    "...Do you have evidence that proves this?"


    Abruptly, a thought that had suddenly changed to cold resounded in Haruyuki¡¯s mind.


    "Did you get a hold of evidence that proves that Kurashima-kun really isn''t ?Cyan Pile??"


    "No. If I touched the virus, there was the danger of them noticing, so I just checked it."


    "Ho. That¡¯s a calm decision, but at the same time it lacks persuasive power. Even I¡¯ve never heard of something like connecting to Brain Burst via a Backdoor virus, so how should I believe your words?"


    As she kept composing her words, Kuroyukihime¡¯s thoughts became more and more sharp. Haruyuki clenched his teeth firmly and replied in an even more monotone voice.


    "So in other words, you¡¯re pointing out the possibility that I made up the story about the virus¡­ in short, that I changed sides over to Kurashima, ?Cyan Pile?? If that''s the case, it isn¡¯t about evidence or the like. How the matter is judged all depends on what senpai decides."


    "¡­I never said any of that. You¡¯re thinking too much."


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s words shook a little, but Haruyuki obstinately gave nothing in reply to that.


    "¡ªAre those really your heart-felt words?"


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s feet suddenly stopped and she spoke with a stiff voice that made the temperature quickly fall.


    "The instant I concluded that you had gone over to ?Cyan Pile?, I would hunt you, take away all of your Burst Points, and drive to forced uninstallation of Brain Burst. You would forever lose the ability to accelerate. Do you understand what I''m saying?"


    "I understand. I¡¯m just an ordinary chess piece, an ordinary tool for you to freely use as you like. When I¡¯m no longer needed, I¡¯ll be thrown away."


    "¡­You¡­"


    Suddenly, Haruyuki¡¯s left shoulder was lightly seized.


    When he looked up, Kuroyukihime¡¯s face was close to him, strained hard like a work of ice.


    "You really are angry with me. Certainly, I haven¡¯t been perfect either. I apologize for that. But."


    Her lips faintly trembled, and she squeezed her words in a forcibly restrained voice.


    "¡­I also can¡¯t freely control all my emotions. When I get irritated, I also think anxiously. Especially concerning you¡­and Kurashima-kun¡­"


    Hiding her gaze for a moment, Kuroyukihime tried to continue speaking as her pale cheeks stiffened.


    "¡­Very well, if you wish to know the reason, I¡¯ll tell. I¡­"


    Before he received her thoughts through the cable, Haruyuki turned his head to the side and cut her off.


    "It¡¯s fine, just stop it already."


    "Eh¡­W-What¡­?"


    "It¡¯s also tough to watch it. It¡¯s painful to see."


    "What are you talking about¡­What do you¡­mean?"


    While fixing his gaze on a single pavement tile on the lower-right, Haruyuki spoke out loud the ?only conclusion? he had arrived at earlier today.


    "You¡­hate yourself, don¡¯t you?"


    The sound of a sharp intake of breath.


    Haruyuki was conscious of the fact that the words he was giving shape to right now could not be taken back.


    In his ear, he faintly heard Chiyuri¡¯s encouragement from last night like a refrain, but he could no longer stop thoughts he was letting out.


    "You hate yourself for being too perfect in everything. So you purposely try to diminish yourself. Isn¡¯t that right?"


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s fingers which were holding his shoulder stiffened hard, as if they had become iron. While thinking that ¡°This will be our last contact¡±, Haruyuki threw out the last words which would destroy everything.


    "By speaking to me¡­to a fat, unattractive and unlikable person like me, by touching my hand, by showing kindness¡­or rather, showing something like kindness to me, you were just trying to dirty yourself¡­Even if you don¡¯t do those things, I will still do as you say. I don¡¯t wish for anything else. I don¡¯t need compensation. Being just a pawn, just a tool to be ordered about, is suitable treatment for someone like me, you should also understand that!!"


    Slowly¡ªSlowly, the white hand left his shoulder.


    ¡®That¡¯s fine.¡¯


    ¡®Without touching me, nor meet my eyes again.¡¯


    ¡®Without even facing me in the real world, just make me into an ordinary tool.¡¯


    Haruyuki didn''t know whether those feelings reached her as thought.


    ¡®Goodbye.¡¯


    Just as he murmured that at the end.


    Slap!!


    A sharp sensation hit his left cheek.


    Feeling a burning heat, Haruyuki raised his face in astonishment.


    "¡­Idiot!!"


    That word came from her pale lips as real sound.


    Dumbfounded, Haruyuki watched as tears poured out like a waterfall on that face that was twisted to its limits, yet was still extremely beautiful.


    While still in the stance of having waved her left hand in a big way, Kuroyukihime¡¯s face and entire body became crumpled and disheveled like an infant, and she kept shedding tears without interruption.


    "Idiot¡­Idiot¡­"


    The sound of that repeated word seemed different from the ?idiot?[1] with a mature and wry smile he had heard up until now.


    As a single girl of suitable age¡ªof 14-year-old, Kuroyukihime had abused Haruyuki so, so many times.


    And Haruyuki, without even some responses that a 13-year-old boy should be able to do coming to mind, just stood there stock-still and wide-eyed.


    The words he spoke had deeply injured the person in front of him. He understood that.


    However, Haruyuki had thought that, if it¡¯s Kuroyukihime¡ªif it¡¯s this person, who is perfect in everything and possesses a reasoning and ability to think beyond that of adults, she would simply hate Haruyuki, be disgusted with him and separate her heart from him.


    To think that she would cry so much. That she would have such a fragile face. Such a¡ªsuch a possibility was¡­


    Haruyuki opened his mouth as he tried to say something.


    Kuroyukihime covered her flowing tears with both hands.


    Only a momentary breeze passed by them as they stood on the sidewalk as it sunk into the color of dusk.


    Immediately after that¡ª


    The dreadful sound of metal striking metal hit Haruyuki¡¯s ears.


    At first, he thought that it was quantum noise that originated from the Neuro Linker.


    As Haruyuki was shocked and his heart jumped, he turned his neck and upper body to the right.


    What burst into his field of vision was¡ªa terrible sight.


    A white car, as it cut down the guardrail that separated the road and the sidewalk with its left front fender, was hurtling straight towards him.


    An accident!? No! He couldn¡¯t hear the sound of brakes.


    Those four thoughts flashed through Haruyuki¡¯s mind in less than 0.1 seconds.


    His mouth moved almost automatically and sent out one word. And at the same time, the same words sounded in his mind through the direct connect cable with a voice completely different from his own


    ""Burst-Link!""


    Bashiiiiiiii!!


    Along with a sound similar to thunder, the world stopped.


    Blue.


    A frozen scene, that was transparently blue as far as one could see.


    But, Haruyuki was immediately conscious of that fact that it wasn¡¯t completely stopped.


    The tires of the large sedan that was driving right before his eyes, as if resisting the freeze, were turning little by little, little by little, gnawing on the road surface and decreasing the distance between them


    ¡­Uwaaah!?


    Though a little late, Haruyuki screamed and sprang back. Instantly, the form of the car vanished. Hiding it from view was his¡ªroundish back, wearing the Umesato middle school uniform.


    This blue world wasn¡¯t simply a scene of reality. The Brain Burst program was hacking the images from the countless Social Security cameras installed in the surroundings streets and reconfiguring them as a polygon-made pseudo-reality.


    Turning his gaze down a little, he saw that his body had changed into a pink pig. Moving his familiar virtual avatar, Haruyuki went around the back of his real self and saw the white sedan once more.


    There was only three meters of distance between Haruyuki and the car, which had slantingly gone outside of the road and crashed through the gap between guardrails. Also, judging from its speed as it gradually but steadily advanced forward, it would come into contact with the two of them in less than ten minutes within this accelerated world.


    For such a thing to happen¡ªWhy!?


    Haruyuki thought desperately within his confused mind.


    It was normally impossible for a car to deviate away from the road. Because the instant an abnormal course was detected, the control AI of the car would take the driving authority away from the driver and automatically perform a course correction, deceleration and stop.


    In other words, this car¡¯s control AI must have been broken, or temporarily stopped by the driver''s manipulation.


    Most likely the latter, as Haruyuki quickly surmised. Because his ears couldn¡¯t hear the screeching sound of the tires chafing against the road surface due to full braking at all.


    The driver wasn¡¯t stepping on the brakes. Rather, he was plunging forward by accelerating full throttle.


    This was an intentional attack. Kuroyukihime had hinted at it before, about ?attacks? on the side of reality by Burst Linkers.


    Was the attacker an unknown Burst Linker belonging to the legion of a ?King?? Or was the person at Umesato middle school, ?Cyan Pile??


    Most of the surrounding social security cameras didn¡¯t seem to catch the image of the car¡¯s interior, and the window couldn¡¯t be seen through easily. Haruyuki changed angles, strained his eyes and finally found a position where he could peek into the interior.


    After raising the short pig avatar to its full height, he saw that the driver, who had almost collided with the car hood, was¡ª


    ¡°Wha¡­!?¡±


    The instant he saw, Haruyuki once again let out an astonished cry that was similar to a scream.


    The one inside there was the face of a classmate that he recognized completely and had never wanted to see again.


    ¡°A¡­Araya¡­!? Wh¡­Why¡­¡±


    Why was this guy here.


    Because of the assault event he had caused inside school and the things that had been discovered in his Neuro Linker as a result, including the game of illegally copying the social security camera-avoidance application, images and even virtual drugs, he had simply been arrested without any question. Like that, he had been thrown into the juvenile institution of the Discrimination Office for the time being¡ªat the very least, he shouldn¡¯t be returning to our school.


    Not believing his eyes, Haruyuki blinked several times and stared at the icy blue face of the attacker.


    However, that needle-like hair that stood up on end, those raised-up thin eyebrows, those lips that were twisted in cruel excitement¡ªand the feeling of fear that all those features forcibly created inside Haruyuki, all these things told him that the person in front of him really was Araya.


    ¡°This morning¡ªhe was given bail.¡±


    A said voice spoke out suddenly next to him, and Haruyuki quickly turned his face.


    Kuroyukihime, wearing the body of her black swallowtail butterfly-like fairy princess avatar, stood there biting her lip.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯d hear that he was going to have a trial in family court next week and would be imprisoned for one year at least¡­That¡¯s why I that it was no long necessary to worry about this man anymore. But¡­to think he would do such a¡­¡±


    After murmuring that with a stifled voice, Kuroyukihime hid her long eyelashes and shook her head.


    ¡°No¡ªI should have anticipated and watched out for this. One doesn¡¯t need the power of ?acceleration? to attack someone¡­I should have known that a knife or car is more than enough, but¡­it seems I didn¡¯t truly understand that¡­¡±


    As she said that in her usual tone, any lingering of the childish crying from before couldn¡¯t be seen on Kuroyukihime¡¯s face.


    ¡®No, that¡¯s simply what I want to believe¡¯ is what Haruyuki immediately rethought.


    In the eyes of her avatar, of what should have just been a constructed image, a keen regret and something like resolution could be clearly seen.


    Kuroyukihime slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then spoke in a whisper.


    ¡°This¡­is something like a punishment. For me, who didn¡¯t understand the hearts of people, nor tried to understand them, and yet still kept toying with them for amusement.¡±


    ¡°¡­Wh¡­What¡­What are you saying?¡±


    Haruyuki barely managed to say just those words. Kuroyukihime didn¡¯t responded immediately, and instead turned towards Haruyuki and quietly kneeled her avatar, whose height was double his own.


    Spreading her black dress on the ground, she went down to the same height as Haruyuki and gazed straight at him.


    ¡°Arita-kun¡­Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    Her voice now was kinder than any other moment in his memory, gently stroking Haruyuki¡¯s hearing.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The one who caused this situation was me. But, I won¡¯t let you get hurt. I¡¯ll definitely protect you.¡±


    ¡°¡­Eh¡­Wh¡­What¡­¡±


    Dumbfounded, Haruyuki repeated the same words as before.


    Even if they undid the acceleration now, there should be nothing they could do.


    The instant they returned to reality, the sedan before them would cross the distance between them with dreadful speed and would splatter first Haruyuki, and then Kuroyukihime from behind.


    Good thing that it was in that order. If he became a cushion, there was the slight possibility that it would end without Kuroyukihime being greatly injured. Haruyuki had already thought of that.


    But, Kuroyukihime said something shocking with a tone that hid a strong resolution.


    ¡°I can definitely save just you. I haven¡¯t told you yet, the greatest and final power of Burst Linkers¡­of ?acceleration?.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­!?¡±


    Save me¡­? You, my master, save me, a mere tool¡­?


    Haruyuki held his breath and vehemently shook his head left and right.


    ¡°Y¡­You can¡¯t!! You can¡¯t do that!! If there¡¯s such a power, I¡¯ll use it! And I¡¯ll protect you!! Because I¡¯m your chess piece¡­it¡¯s only natural that I have to protect you!!¡±


    He stretched out his short arms and desperately cried out.


    ¡°Please teach it to me¡­What is this final power!? With what kind of command is it used!?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no good. This command can¡¯t be used if one isn¡¯t Level 9 or above, and it consumes 99% of one¡¯s accumulated points. And before that¡ªI am your ?parent?. How could a parent not protect its ?child??¡±


    ¡°Bu¡­But¡­But, but!!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make that kind of face. Because to me as well¡­in this situation, there is just one saving grace.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­s-saving grace¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes. In this moment, and as my last words, you¡¯ll believe what I say, right?¡±


    Kuroyukihime quietly lifted both of her hands, overlapped her open palms together, and put them against her chest.


    Closing her eyes, a smile like a blossoming flower bud appeared on her lips, and¡ª


    She slowly said a single sentence, a single sentence, like a falling jewel.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun. I love you.¡±


    From within her lifted eyebrows, those black pupils looked at Haruyuki while giving off an infinite radiance.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve felt this way in my life. I just feel so confused without being able to really control myself. Even when I¡¯m at school or lying down in bed at home, I¡¯m always thinking of you, becoming happy, and becoming sad. This is the thing called love, huh¡­How wonderful this is. It¡¯s like miracle.¡±


    Clenching both hands in front of her chest, Kuroyukihime smiled.


    That smile was warm, kind, and pleasant, but it pierce through Haruyuki¡¯s chest with a splitting pain.


    I want to believe. I want to believe.


    I want to believe¡ª


    The tears which overflowed from his avatar¡¯s eyes distorted Haruyuki¡¯s vision with too strong of an effect.


    With a jerk, Haruyuki wiped them away and looked at the two eyes that were so close, and then asked with a blurred voice.


    ¡°Why¡­Why me? Why someone¡­someone like me?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, a reason, huh. There are an uncountable number of reasons, but¡­No, I don¡¯t think a reason is needed for love, but alright. Then, I¡¯ll just tell you the trigger.¡±


    Smiling Kuroyukihime stretched out her hands and put them on Haruyuki¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun. Do you remember our first meeting?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­of course, of course I remember it. In the local net¡­in the Virtual Squash room, you said it to me. ¡®Do want to accelerate further ahead?¡¯¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. The high score I made in that game¡­¡±


    Her smile changed and became just a little mischievous.


    ¡°I used ?acceleration? to achieve that.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­Eh!?¡±


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t use it, I wouldn¡¯t be able to achieve that kind of score at all. I did it thinking to attract your interest and easily persuade you, because you would want to improve yourself at any cost¡­I¡­¡±


    There, Kuroyukihime paused in her speech a little, and turned her gaze towards the sky of the accelerated world.


    ¡°I became a Burst Linker only six years ago at eight years-old. Since then, I craved for only strength and speed and became Level 9 by cutting down so many enemies it can¡¯t be counted, and yet even so I dyed these hands in the blood of friends without being satisfied. There is no way that someone like me could possibly achieve the high score you carved out.¡±


    Changing her expression and looking straight at Haruyuki with strong eyes, Kuroyukihime continued speaking.


    ¡°Listen well, Haruyuki-kun. You are fast. You can become faster than anyone. Faster than me¡ªthan the other Kings. Speed is a Burst Linker¡¯s greatest power. One day, you¡¯ll become known far and wide as Accel World¡¯s fastest Linker. You¡¯ll take down the Kings, cross beyond even the surface of the earth, and reach the origin of Brain Burst. And I know. That you¡¯ll reach the ultimate potential hidden within people¡­within our minds and souls.¡±


    Nodding slowly just once, Kuroyukihime continued further.


    ¡°I¡­When I saw your figure as you play that game, I trembled. I shivered as I never had before, and was moved. Inside my heart, I cried out, ¡®To think a person could be this fast. Eureka¡­Finally I had found the true King, who will once more accelerate this stagnant world.¡¯¡±


    Haruyuki could only listen dumbfoundedly to her words now.


    ¡®I¡¯m, faster than anyone¡­?¡¯


    He couldn¡¯t just suddenly believe that. But, in this situation right now, he didn¡¯t allow himself to doubt even a piece of the words that Kuroyukihime told him. That was the only thing he absolutely could not do.


    ¡°But, while you possess such strong power and potential, the real you is very fragile¡­so painfully so that it¡¯s heartrending, and seemed to tear up my chest. I want to kneel before the future king. But, at the same time, I want to protect you and wrap you in my arms. Those contradicting feelings steadily swelled up inside me¡­and before I noticed, I only saw you. I was in love. I finally realized it yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Yester¡­day?¡±


    ¡°Yes. When you were talking about Kurashima-kun. How should I say it¡­By experiencing the thing known as jealously for the first time in my life, I couldn¡¯t control myself. I got that kind of attitude because of that. This morning too. I was too slow to notice¡­No, I was slow, but it¡¯s not too late. Like this¡­¡±


    Putting a bit more strength into her hands on Haruyuki¡¯s shoulders and bringing her face close, Kuroyukihime smiled.


    ¡°Because I was able to confess. If could have a wish, I would have wanted to face you in reality and properly say it, but.¡±


    Jewel-like tears suddenly welled up in her glistening jet-black eyes, and collected into drops on the corners of her eyes.


    ¡°Now then¡­It¡¯s time to say farewell.¡±


    ¡°What¡­what do you intend to do? No¡­saying farewell, that¡¯s just¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki felt his breath catch and shook his head, she left her last words like an instruction.


    ¡°Please. Become stronger¡­And become faster. Beat the other ?Kings? in my place, climb to the top and see what I wanted to see.¡±


    ¡°No¡­No!!¡±


    Haruyuki gave out a cry similar to a scream.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that!! That¡¯s too¡­it¡¯s no good if only you leave! I¡¯ll protect you¡­If I can¡¯t do that, I¡¯ll go with you!! Please don¡¯t leave me¡­I¡¯ve, I¡¯ve still done nothing for you¡­not a thing¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki spoke with a voice mixed with sobbing¡ª


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s lips quietly approached and closed up his mouth.


    It was between virtual avatars, but that sensation was above all soft, warm, and gentle.


    After that kiss that was a thousandth of a second in the real world, and also like an eternity in Haruyuki¡¯s perspective, their lips slowly separated and Kuroyukihime whispered.


    ¡°Someday¡­we will surely meet again.¡±


    On the track where she stood up, the drops of the tears she had spilled lined up in a silver radiance.


    As Kuroyukihime faced the approaching car and blocked its path resolutely, an aura of incredible willpower rose from her back, while Haruyuki couldn¡¯t move or even speak.


    She spread both her hands wide. Her back tightly straightened and¡ª


    Kuroyukihime spoke out in a dignified voice.


    ¡°Physical Full Burst!!¡±


    Paaah¡­!


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar was wrapped in dazzling white light, and then disappeared.


    What? What had happened?


    Exploding with confusion, uneasiness and a unnameable feeling that overwhelmed those other emotions, Haruyuki strained his voice and cried out.


    ¡°Senpai!!¡±


    Brimming with tears again, he lost his sense of balance with his distorted vision and staggered back several steps.


    And then, Haruyuki saw something he couldn¡¯t believe.


    Kuroyukihime¡ªthe body of the real Kuroyukihime, while still under the blue permeation effect, was moving.


    Kuroyukihime, who should have been standing in the back with the real Haruyuki interposed between her and the approaching car, put her foot forward at about 10% the speed of running in the real world but still definitely in a continuous movement, kicked off the ground and moved forward.


    Such a thing¡ªshouldn¡¯t be possible!!


    The Brain Burst program overclocked the quantum signal by a thousand times using the heartbeat as its source and accelerated only the user¡¯s consciousness.


    Conversely speaking, the effect of that didn¡¯t extend to the entire body. Therefore, even if one accelerated, it wasn¡¯t possible to move the body, let alone one¡¯s gaze. That why¡¯s the program, at the same time as one accelerated, separated the user¡¯s consciousness from their body by using Full Dive, and connected it with a pseudo-reality generated from the Social Security cameras.


    Yet right now, the flesh and blood Kuroyukihime was moving her body at a speed which was so fast it could be clearly seen and confirmed by the accelerated Haruyuki. Her ice-colored body sometimes blurred here and there as if flowing, perhaps because she had exceeded the photographing speed rate of the Social Security cameras.


    In other words¡ªher real-world self was dashing at a super-speed one hundred times that of an ordinary person!


    So this was the greatest and final power of Brain Burst. Overclocking not only the consciousness, but the entire body, truly a forbidden command.


    Doing such a thing, the body couldn¡¯t possibly finish it safely.


    On the expression of the charging Kuroyukihime¡¯s face, along with resolved determination, there was stiffening as if she was mustering all her force of will to endure something.


    That was most likely intense pain.


    Her muscles and joints, which were being driven at an original impossible speed, must all be screaming simultaneously.


    However, Kuroyukihime didn¡¯t stop.


    With one, two, three steps, she lined up with the real Haruyuki¡¯s left side.


    The front bumper of the Araya¡¯s car was now not even eighty centimeters away from Haruyuki.


    Kuroyukihime lifted up both her hands and gently drew Haruyuki¡¯s body close to her, as if embracing him.


    Putting in a little strength, she started to move Haruyuki¡¯s body as she pushed it to the side.


    At the same time.


    He felt a terrible impact through his whole body and his vision blacked out.


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s movements were graceful, but in the real world it was equivalent to a body blow with that extreme speed. The safety mechanism of his Neuro Linker had activated from that shock, and automatically released the Full Dive.


    In an instant, from the center of his darkened vision, the reality of regular colors returned as if enlarging outwards.


    Haruyuki returned to his living body from his avatar in an instant, and right away he hit the pavement on his back, his breath stopping.


    As Haruyuki forgot to even breathe again and opened his eyes wide, immediately in front of him was¡ª


    With both hands still extended forward, Kuroyukihime seemed to be smiling.


    Immediately after, the white car which had fiercely crashed into the sidewalk collided with Kuroyukihime¡¯s slender body.


    She was sent flying as if both her legs were scooped up by the bumper, then crashed against the front window and was thrown up even higher.


    Her black hair flowed in the air while drawing an arc.


    It caught the light of the sunset and shined orange.


    Next to her, the pulled-out direct connect cabled danced and fluttered white.

 Volume 1 - CH 7

    Haruyuki¡¯s broken consciousness could only remember what happened afterwards in images of three colors.


    The image of that slender form, lying on the brick tiles of the side walk and bent unnaturally¡ªblack.


    The image of blood spreading out in fearfully large amounts under that body¡ªred.


    The image of those still closed eyelids, and of those cheeks which had lost their complexion¡ªwhite.


    The necktie Haruyuki used to stop the bleeding and his own hand were also dyed red in an instant.


    The clothes of Araya, who crawled out from the driver¡¯s seat of the white car, which had crashed into the wall of a store while laughing manically, were also red.


    A patrol car came with its red lights flashing rushed onto the scene, and the still laughing Araya was forced into its backseat.


    Immediately afterwards, a white ambulance with likewise red-flashing lights also arrived and the men in white who got off of it fixed Kuroyukihime onto a stretcher. At his urging, Haruyuki also rode with them and the ambulance had started driving at high speed¡ª.


    And now, Haruyuki was looking up at the ER¡¯s red in-operation lamp in a corner of a white hallway.


    Until now, Haruyuki couldn¡¯t think about what had happened before.


    The only thing that was floating in his mind was a replay of every moment over the past four days since he met Kuroyukihime.


    That time too¡ªthat time too, and that time as well, Haruyuki should have been able to make different choices.


    And if he had chosen that instead, this situation could have been avoided.


    Why didn¡¯t he try to believe even a little in the hand that Kuroyukihime extended towards him, and the feelings she showed? If he had obediently accepted it without obstinately looking down, that quarrel between them on the road wouldn¡¯t have happened and they should have been able to notice the approaching car as well.


    ¡­Among all the mistakes I¡¯ve repeated so many times in my life until now, I¡¯ve made the number-one mistake that can¡¯t be undone.


    Haruyuki went back to every crossroad among each fragment of his broken consciousness and tried to do down a different future one by one, but even Brain Burst couldn¡¯t change the past.


    He continued doing that for who knew how long as he gazed up at the lamp.


    The lamp indicated that they were still in the middle of operating, but suddenly the door slid open and a female nurse came out. Haruyuki simply looked at that form in a white gown as she then approached straight towards him.


    She was a young nurse who seemed like she had just graduated from nursing school. As he faced her, who showed a strained expression under her beautifully arranged bangs, words flowed out almost of their own accord from Haruyuki¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°How¡­is it?¡±


    ¡°The doctor and all the staff are doing their best.¡±


    The nurse¡¯s voice was slightly hoarse and stiff.


    ¡°But¡­She has too many damaged organs. We fully injected repair-use micro-machines, and the deterioration of her conditions has somehow been delayed. And¡­that¡¯s right, about her family¡­we¡¯d like to contact them, but there wasn¡¯t an emergency contact address registered in her Neuro Linker.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­¡±


    Sitting next to Haruyuki who was at a loss for words, the nurse leaned forward and continued from there.


    ¡°I thought that you would know her home¡¯s telephone number. You¡¯re¡­her¡­?¡±


    There was a questioning note at the end, but Haruyuki didn¡¯t respond at once.


    What am I for that person? A chess piece, an underling. I don¡¯t want to use those kinds of words anymore. But now, I also don¡¯t want to refer to us as friends, or as senpai and kouhai.


    Hesitating to speak, Haruyuki heard the words the nurse spoke after a moment¡¯s pause, and unconsciously looked up.


    ¡°¡­her boyfriend, right?¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­W-Why do you say that?¡±


    Looking at the beauty of Kuroyukihime, which had miraculously not been damaged, and the physical appearance of Haruyuki, there shouldn¡¯t have been anything for her do draw such a conclusion from.


    As Haruyuki reflexively shrunk his body, he was quietly presented a small notebook.


    Stamped with a metal emblem on its blue synthetic leather cover, it was the Umesato Middle School¡¯s student handbook.


    ¡°I saw it just now when I was looking for her phone number and confirming her personal effects. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Wearing just a slight smile on her stiffened cheeks, the nurse opened the student handbook to the last page.


    In the clear pocket on the left side, there was a student ID with a face-shot of Kuroyukihime.


    And on the right side, there was a familiar round face.


    Receiving the notebook with trembling hands, Haruyuki gazed at a picture of himself wearing an idiotic expression on his face. From that time¡ªIt was without a doubt the sight-capture picture she printed, from when he heard Kuroyukihime¡¯s first ?confession? to him in the lounge.


    With a dripping noise, a single drop of water fell onto the surface of the picture.


    Haruyuki hadn¡¯t noticed that tears had been overflowing from his eyes for a while now.


    ¡°Senpai¡­Kuroyukihime-senpai.¡±


    His murmuring voice trembled greatly. It didn¡¯t take long for him to dissolve into crying like a child.


    ¡°Uu¡­aa¡­Uaaaaa!!¡±


    Holding the notebook to his chest and bending forward, Haruyuki cried.


    The tears flooded out one after another, and fell along his cheeks and onto the floor. Within the gouging-like pain his chest, Haruyuki found for the first time, in this moment now, his true feelings.


    The operation continued for nearly five hours.


    When the time indicator in the corner of his vision changed from evening to late night, Haruyuki simply sent a text mail saying ¡°My friend was involved in an accident today, tonight I will return very late or not at all¡±, and then simply returned to sitting on the chair.


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s home seemed to have been contacted through the school, but surprisingly, instead of her family, only a family lawyer appeared by himself.


    Equipped with large-type Neuro Linker and also like a machine himself, the middle-aged lawyer completed only the legal procedures in a very business-like manner, and then went away after about fifteen minutes without even casting a glance at Haruyuki.


    After a long, long time pass, the red lamp was finally extinguished at around 10 PM.


    The young doctor, who came out in an utterly exhausted state, looked a little confused at seeing Haruyuki alone in the hallway outside, but he still explained her condition in a polite tone.


    They had succeeded in stopping the bleeding, but the damage to the internal organs was extensive, and it wouldn¡¯t be strange for her to fall into a state of shock.


    The batch of synthetic protein micro-machines were going through tissue reconstruction and assimilation at full power, but in the end it depended on the patient¡¯s physical strength.


    ¡°¡­In short, I have to say that her present condition is serious. The next twelve hours will be the difficult part¡­Please prepare yourself.¡±


    When he finished saying that with a grave expression, the doctor left the hallway along with the staff.


    The only person left was the female nurse from before.


    Giving a brief glance to the student handbook still being grasped in Haruyuki¡¯s hands, the nurse spoke in a gentle tone.


    ¡°You should also¡­return home and rest. It seems that someone from her family will be coming tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow¡­will be too late.¡±


    Haruyuki replied with a stubborn attitude that showed that he had no intention taking even one step away from this place.


    ¡°The doctor said that the next twelve hours would be the hard part. Even though senpai is doing her best, that no one would be at her side now, that¡¯s just¡­too cruel.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­I see¡­That¡¯s true. Did you contact your home?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­My parent won¡¯t be returning until around one o¡¯clock anyway.¡±


    ¡°I understand. Then, I¡¯ll bring you a blanket, please wait a moment.¡±


    Leaving for the nurses¡¯ station within the hallway with quick feet and then returning immediately, the nurse nodded firmly while handing a thin blanket to Haruyuki.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. That girl will surely be all right. She¡¯s so pretty¡­and has such a nice boyfriend like you. The fun things, it all starts from here.¡±


    Really¡ªso many more things are ¡°all starting from here¡± than you think. Defeating ?Cyan Pile?, taking down the legions of the other Kings, and going to the place that person is aiming towards. Of course, I will also go with her.


    While instantaneously thinking that, Haruyuki spoke.


    ¡°Th¡­Thank you very much. Umm¡­when can I meet with senpai?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible right now, since the micro-machine operation room has been air-sealed. But, you can see camera images of her via the hospital network. For this time only, a special privilege for you.¡±


    The nurse smiled, and manipulated her fingertip in the air. At the same time as she made a flicking gesture, an access gate appeared in Haruyuki¡¯s vision.


    Haruyuki was a little surprised that he could wirelessly connect with the nurse¡¯s Neuro Linker even though they were cut-off from the Global Net, but he quickly realized that they were connected through the hospital¡¯s local network.


    When he clicked on the icon, a video window was opened. The screen was dim and blurry, but by straining his eyes he noticed a bed with a strange shape in the middle.


    It seemed to be a capsule with only its top-half transparent. A semi-transparent liquid filled its interior, and he could see a white body down to the shoulders soaking inside it.


    The tubes that were connected to the arms and mouth were painful to look at, and the eyelids remained closed without even a flutter.


    ¡°Senpai¡­¡±


    Right now, inside that delicate body, countless micro-machines and her life-force were fighting against huge damage. Haruyuki could do nothing to help in that battle. There was nothing he could do, but pray.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯ll definitely be saved.¡±


    The nurse repeated that again, and after gently patting Haruyuki¡¯s back, she got up.


    ¡°Since her condition is being monitored in detail, we¡¯ll come right away if something happens. You should rest a little too.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Ah¡­umm, thank you very much.¡±


    As Haruyuki thanked the nurse who was departing and lowered his head¡ª


    As he looked at the video window displayed on the right side of his vision, he unexpectedly felt unease over a certain place within it. His intuition, polished by his enormous virtual game experience, was whispering that there was something he should be seeing, something he should be thinking about.


    What¡ªWhat did I see just now?


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s body was naked above the shoulders. But, she was still wearing something.


    She was sunk in semi-transparent liquid, so he couldn¡¯t see it well, but¡ªthat black thing behind her neck was a Neuro Linker. And, directly connecting to it was a single thin cable. It extended outside the bed parallel to an oxygen tube, and connected to a large machine on the side.


    ¡°Pl¡­Please wait a moment.¡±


    Stopping quickly, the nurse tilted her head while looking back at him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°No, umm¡­Kuro, no, senpai¡¯s Neuro Linker, it¡¯s still equipped, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Since we¡¯re monitoring her brain waves.¡±


    ¡°Then, umm¡­that machine connected to it by cable isn¡¯t stand-alone¡­?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, it¡¯s connected to the hospital¡¯s network.¡±


    ¡ªWhat!?


    Seeing Haruyuki lose his breath, the nurse put on a quizzical expression and smiled as if to make him relieved.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, are you worried about the security? Don¡¯t worry, the medical-treatment level of the hospital¡¯s network has amazingly tough protective firewalls. There isn¡¯t a hacker that can do anything bad to that girl.¡±


    As he watched the back of the nurse, who was waving her hand with a ¡°See you later then¡± and disappearing into the nurses¡¯ station, Haruyuki replied back in his mind as if groaning.


    ¡ªNormally, that would be true. But, ¡°that¡± isn¡¯t normal. ¡°That¡±, which can easily invade the social security camera network that should be equipped with the strongest firewalls in the country, and can steal real time images¡­


    Only Brain Burst could.


    Now alone in the hallway, Haruyuki sat down with a thud while holding the blanket in his left hand.


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s Neuro Linker was completely severed from the Global Net. However, due to the direct connecting for the sake of treatment, she was connected to the hospital¡¯s network. ¡ªIn other words.


    Haruyuki murmured with a trembling voice.


    ¡°Burst Link.¡±


    Instantly, all sound and the world froze.


    Standing up in his pig avatar form, Haruyuki clicked on the flaming B mark from among the icons lined up on the virtual desktop on his left with feelings of praying.


    The Brain Burst console activated and the matching list opened.


    Following the Searching indicator, the name ?Silver Crow? appeared at the top of the list.


    And, placed just a little below it was¡ªthe name ?Black Lotus?.


    ¡°No¡­No way¡­¡±


    Haruyuki groaned.


    If he operated his Neuro Linker and disconnected from the hospital¡¯s network, he could disappear from the matching list. But, Kuroyukihime, whose brain waves were being monitored, couldn¡¯t do that.


    Of course, they weren¡¯t connected to the Global Net, so people couldn¡¯t limitlessly intrude from the outside. But, if there was a Burst Linker in this hospital¡ªand if they activated Brain Burst, saw ?Black Lotus? and challenged her to a duel¡ª


    The unconscious Kuroyukihime would without a doubt be hunted.


    No, it couldn¡¯t be so convenient, there was no reason for a Burst Linker to be in the same hospital. At this hour, there shouldn¡¯t be anyone going in and out of the hospital anymore, and if there were a Burst Linker besides Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime currently connected to the hospital¡¯s network, their name would also have to appear on the matching list.


    So there¡¯s no need to be impatient.


    Haruyuki tried to tell himself that. However, the sweaty feeling running over his avatar¡¯s round hands didn¡¯t go away at all.


    No¡ªnot yet. I¡¯m still overlooking something.


    What if¡­there was a Burst Linker who was in a position to know that ?Black Lotus?, Accel World¡¯s largest bounty, had sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized, and would even know which hospital she was in?


    After trying to keep thinking that ¡°There couldn¡¯t be such a person¡±, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide along with a profound shudder.


    There was. There was just one such enemy. ?Cyan Pile?.


    A mysterious enemy whose true identity could only be traced through the virus they had put in Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker. At this point, it could only be said that they were someone at Umesato Middle School.


    And Kuroyukihime¡¯s accident had already been notified to the school. When the cause was Araya driving and plunging a car without a license into her immediately after being bailed, this was already big news. By now, this topic would without a doubt be coursing through the gossip network of the Umesato Middle School students.


    The hospital she was staying at wouldn¡¯t be specified yet. If her admirers from among the lower-year female students or her fan club members knew about her hospital destination, they would be rushing through here in throngs by now.


    But¡ªthe teachers would already know. Like that, it was just a matter of time before it spread among the students. If well-wishing students were to appear in great numbers and ?Cyan Pile? was mixed in among them, picking him out would be difficult.


    It was¡­inevitable.


    Haruyuki dropped his shoulders crestfallenly, and sat next to his blue frozen real self.


    Kuroyukihime was fighting for her life right now. Considering that, it was a fact that she wouldn¡¯t be able to fight in ?duel? yet.


    Fortunately, challenging the same opponent to a duel was limited to once a day. Until Kuroyukihime¡¯s condition recovered, it would be alright if she was defeated once or twice and lost some points¡ª


    No¡ªidiot me!! What did Kuroyukihime say back then!?


    Haruyuki clenched both his fists, and stood up with a rush.


    The final command she used to save Haruyuki, ?Physical Full Burst?.


    The compensation for using that transcendental effect, which accelerated not just one¡¯s consciousness but also the physical body, was the loss of 99% of one¡¯s Burst Points.


    Most likely, if the current Kuroyukihime, whose Burst Points were on the verge of annihilation, were to lose even once against the lower-level ?Cyan Pile?, her Burst Points would become zero all too quickly.


    And at that instant, Kuroyukihime¡¯s Brain Burst would be forcibly uninstalled.


    To that person¡­to Kuroyukihime, who kept fighting just to struggle to reach the goal of Level 10, that was nearly synonymous with death.


    I can¡¯t allow that to happen, I absolutely won''t let just that happen. I can¡¯t allow ?Cyan Pile? to battle Kuroyukihime even once.


    Kuroyukihime risked her life to protect me.


    That¡¯s why this time, I¡¯ll protect it. That person¡¯s other half.


    From this moment on, I¡¯ll watch the hospital¡¯s entrance without a wink of sleep. With the resolution to consume all my points if I have to, I¡¯ll accelerate every time an Umesato student appears, find ?Cyan Pile? and challenge him.


    And then¡ªI¡¯ll beat him. I¡¯ll beat that guy who¡¯s on the verge of exhausting his points and banish him from Accel World eternally.


    ¡°I¡¯ll protect you. I¡¯ll definitely protect you.¡±


    In the blue world where there was only himself, Haruyuki spoke out.


    ¡°Because¡­I¡­I have something I have to say to you. When we meet again. That¡¯s why, this time, I¡¯ll fight.¡±


    Turning his eyes towards the direction of Kuroyukihime, who should be laying on the other side of the blue wall in front of him, Haruyuki declared that firmly.


    Returning to reality by giving the Burst Out command, Haruyuki hugged his knees and sat down sideways on the bench, wrapped the blanket around his body and stared fixedly on the entrance to the left inside the hallway.


    There were other entrances within the hospital, but one had to authenticate their Neuro Linker at this entrance in order to connect to the hospital¡¯s network. So ?Cyan Pile? should definitely appear there.


    The time was half-past ten at night.


    The chances of them appearing at this hour, when visiting hours had already passed, was low, but the enemy was also cornered right now. If they aimed at Kuroyukihime while she was in an unconscious state, they could certainly start attacking as soon as they learned the name of the hospital.


    Haruyuki operated his Neuro Linker and set the awakening alarm at the highest volume. With this, if he was close to falling asleep, it would ring at a practically deadly level of noise and wake him up.


    This was the first time in Haruyuki¡¯s life that he stayed up to such a late hour at night.


    However, he never found himself bored, let alone sleepy. Haruyuki kept turning his wide-open eyes to the dim light of the entrance most of the time, and occasionally glanced at the miniaturized video window of the ER.


    The white form of Kuroyukihime lying in the capsule bed didn¡¯t even twitch, but Haruyuki distinctly felt that she was going through a desperate battle there.


    Do your best. Do your best.


    Every time Haruyuki looked at the video, he prayed that inside his heart. He and that person were connected through their respective Neuro Linkers, the hospital¡¯s network and also the Brain Burst program. That¡¯s why his prayer should surely be answered. Haruyuki unquestionably believed that.


    Around 2 AM, the worried-face nurse came with a paper cup of coffee to see how he was doing. Declining milk and sugar, the taste of the black coffee he drank for the first time in his life was so bitter that it stung his tongue.


    At 5 AM, the first light of dawn shined through the entrance slightly. After hesitating briefly, Haruyuki dashed to the toilet and then returned full circle to the bench after coming out in the shortest time in his life.


    6 AM. As the staff who came and went on this floor increased here and there, Haruyuki strengthened his vigilance even more.


    7 AM. The night duty staff that had finished their work were going home one after another. That nurse handed another cup of coffee and a sandwich, and then left as well while leaving warm words to him.


    8:30 AM¡ª


    After the late night staff at the reception desk had been changed, the automatic door of the hospital''s front entrance opened.


    As if they had been waiting for that, several people, mainly elderly patients, came through the entrance.


    Feeling more alert than before, Haruyuki opened both his eyes fully and stared fixedly at the flow of patients.


    Even if one said that already half a year had passed since he entered school and that it was a small-scale school with only three classes per grade, he couldn¡¯t remember the faces of all the students at Umesato as expected. When he saw the faces of young people he was uncertain of, he didn¡¯t hesitate to accelerate and check the matching list.


    As he continuously strained his concentration, the digit of the digital time indicator in the corner of Haruyuki¡¯s vision slowly, slowly changed, seeming to laugh at him.


    Thirty-five minutes. Forty minutes.


    Kuroyukihime hadn¡¯t gotten out of her serious condition yet. Of the twelve hours the doctor had told him, more than ten hours had already passed.


    Please regain consciousness quickly. And release the cerebral monitor.


    Haruyuki desperately prayed.


    Once more¡ªonce more, I want to me that person in the accelerated world for just the two of us.


    And I¡¯ll say it this time. My feelings. I¡¯ll speak honestly from the bottom of my heart.


    8:45 AM.


    At last, Haruyuki saw a face that was familiar before his eyes for the first time since he became vigilant.


    For an instant, his breath was caught¡ªand then, he let it back out without a long sigh of relief.


    That face wasn¡¯t just familiar. It was one of the two faces he had seen for the longest time in this world.


    That tall and slender figure with good posture was wrapped in mature velour¡¯s jacket and chino-pants. His hair, which had an airy feeling, shined a transparent brown in the morning light.


    So he came¡­


    Haruyuki removed the tension from his shoulders and smiled a little.


    ¡°Hey, Taku! Over here!¡±


    As Haruyuki overly loud shout passed through the hospital from the hallway to the entrance, Takumu¡ªMayuzumi Takumu suddenly stopped his right leg while stepping forward.


    It seemed that he hadn¡¯t noticed Haruyuki yet. His eyes turned left and right from the furthest inside the entrance, and then finally turned straight towards the hallway that was connected to the emergency room.


    He made eye contact with Haruyuki who had gotten off the bench and waving his hand, and then¡ª


    Takumu inclined his head a little, and blinked intensely several time.


    And then, he gave his usual bright and cheerful smile.


    After quickly raising the right arm of his navy-blue jacket, he tapped his blue Neuro Linker with his finger.


    ¡®Wait until I¡¯ve been authenticated by the hospital¡¯s network¡¯, is what Haruyuki immediately guessed from that. At the same time, he smiled, thinking ¡®What a methodical guy as usual¡¯.


    Regardless of whether the goal of visiting the hospital was for a check-up or to visit a patient, it was a national regulation in all hospitals that one must sign in their Neuro Linker to the hospital¡¯s network while walking through the entrance, and then show one¡¯s ID at the reception desk and get a name tag.


    However, one has to stand and wait at the entrance for only thirty seconds until the strict authentication is finished, so there¡¯s not much difference if one saves time by moving while it does so. Actually, when Haruyuki came here last night, he didn¡¯t stop running even for a moment until he reached the front of the ER, so the authentication had ended after Kuroyukihime had disappeared to the other side of the door.


    But it seemed that Takumu didn¡¯t intend to commit even that kind of trivial violation of regulations. Even while looking at Haruyuki with a frustrated face, he stood in the middle of the entrance and waited for the sign-in completion.


    Then, as if he suddenly noticed something, Takumu turned his body to the side.


    His eyes turned to the direction of the automatic door, and he put his left hand over his mouth as if he were calling out to someone in a loud voice.


    As Haruyuki thought ¡®Did Chiyuri also come?¡¯, he also tried to look through to the other side of the front entrance.


    Just before his gaze left Takumu. A faint uneasiness came upon him.


    Takumu, who had good conduct unlike Haruyuki, was shouting inside a hospital?


    Rather using his hand in place of a megaphone, it was as if¡ªhis mouth. And the words he was issuing from there.


    To Haruyuki, it seemed like he was trying to hide them.


    At that instant, the uneasiness changed into a shudder. A needle of ice pierced straight through Haruyuki¡¯s spine.


    Even as his eyes widened and he stood upright, several thoughts flashed through his mind at the same time.


    I¡ªWhy did I conclude that that guy, that ?Cyan Pile?, was a student at Umesato Middle School?


    Of course, because he put that virus in Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker. Because he was using Chiyuri as a stepping stone, and attacking Kuroyukihime like a ghost from somewhere within the school¡¯s local network.


    But. What if he made that Backdoor for the sake of accessing it from the Global Net? In that case, the suspects wouldn¡¯t be limited to within Umesato Middle School, but extend across the entire country.


    However, at the same time, a new filter to narrow the suspects down appeared.


    Why Chiyuri? Of course, because she was within easy contact for him.


    Someone outside the school, who is the closest to Chiyuri. Someone so close to her side, that he could direct connect to Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker. There was only one person who fit these conditions. Someone who, right this instant, was standing just twenty meters in front of him¡ª


    The instant his thoughts reach that point, Haruyuki¡¯s mouth moved automatically and sent the command.


    ¡°Burst Link!!¡±


    ¡ªThe boy who was both Chiyuri¡¯s childhood friend and boyfriend. Takumu.


    Bashiiiiiiii!!


    A cold and dry froze the world.


    Ahead of him, Takumu, with his left hand in front of his mouth, hardened into blue.


    But, that wasn¡¯t true. Within that palm, Takumu was also reciting the command at the same time. And his consciousness was being accelerated in a different frozen space from Haruyuki.


    You? It was you? No way. Impossible. Why. Why?


    Even while he made incoherent shouts in his mind, the right hand of Haruyuki¡¯s avatar flashed to the top of the virtual desktop at the highest possible speed.


    Right at this instant, Takumu should also be doing the same thing. Activating the Brain Burst console, and waiting for the update of the matching list. And then, like touching a dropped fruit, he would click on the name ?Black Lotus? and challenge her to a duel.


    Before that happened, Haruyuki had to challenge ?Cyan Pile?.


    Haruyuki clenched his teeth, opened his eyes wide, and stare at the searching indicator of the matching list.


    With a ping, there was his own name at the top. ?Silver Crow?.


    Next, the beloved person he had to protect. ?Black Lotus?.


    And then last, the name of the enemy he had to defeat finally appeared as a real string of characters for the first time before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes. ?Cyan Pile?.


    Be in time¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!


    While sending out that scream with all his body and soul, Haruyuki clicked the name at super-speed and hit the duel command from the window with a pop.

 Volume 1 - CH 8

    BAKIBAKIBAKIBAKI!!


    What rang through the world in that moment was a strange tremor, like countless metal clumps grating against each other.


    The fresh morning sunlight flowing in from the front entrance degenerated into a creepy yellow.


    The surrounding floor and walls were covered with biological-looking slime everywhere from Haruyuki¡¯s feet, and with creased and rusted metal. The support pillars had joints like the abdomen of an insect and were twisted, and there were many strange eye-like bulges visible on the ceiling.


    It had only taken a few seconds for the interior of the cutting-edge hospital that had been so clean to be covered with organic metal-like pollution like something from the nightmare of a classic cyberpunk author.


    As he held his breath and stood stock still, Haruyuki¡¯s body began to be covered by shining silver armor from the tips of his limbs and at the same time was squeezed and thinned down like a wire.


    Everything from his lower back to his abdomen and chest also changed into smooth silver, and at the end his head was wrapped in a round helmet.


    At nearly the same time as Haruyuki transformed from the pink avatar to the duel avatar ?Silver Crow?, two physical strength gauges extended out in the upper corner of his vision with a screeching sound.


    In between the gauges were the numeral digits of 1800.


    And then finally, a flame burst out with a roar in the middle. The characters of ?FIGHT!!? that appeared inside the flames shined a deep red, and then scattered with an explosion.


    After quickly looking at the countdown that had started to decrease and letting out a breath of relief as he thought ¡®I made it in time¡¯, Haruyuki looked towards the end of the slimy hallway, where Takumu had been standing.


    Standing there while facing towards the side in the exact same place was a duel avatar with an unexpected form.


    That¡­was Takumu!? ?Cyan Pile?!?


    Haruyuki unconsciously moved back half a step with his right leg in astonishment.


    He was gigantic, no, his height wasn¡¯t that big. He was only about five centimeters taller than Takumu, who was one-hundred-and-seventy-five centimeters in his first year of middle school¡ªbut even so, Silver Crow, who was at most one-hundred-and-fifty-five, had to raise his eyes to look up at him.


    However, more overwhelming than that was how incredibly thick Cyan Pile¡¯s entire body was.


    It was different from being fat. Limbs and torso with rugged muscles bulging on them like a pro-wrestler¡¯s. And that was all wrapped in metallic-blue snug bodysuit-type armor.


    Dark blue rough boots on the feet, and a similarly colored giant glove on the left hand.


    He looked like a macho hero from some American comic book. This image was a full 180 degree reversal from the actual slender and slim Takumu.


    While Haruyuki was inescapably overwhelmed and stood stock still.


    Turning his body to the left slowly, Cyan Pile¡¯s gaze poured straight forward at him.


    Cyan Pile¡¯s head was covered by a stylish tear drop-shaped mask. Several long and narrow slit-like gaps were opened horizontally on the face, with points facing downward vertically at the center of each slit. Looking at it, it reminded one of a kendo mask.


    Inside one of the slits, two bluish-white eyes suddenly flashed and shined sharply. He slowly lifted his left leg and stomped the floor heavily. The piled up slime there went flying left and right with a splash.


    While he took another step with his left leg, Haruyuki¡¯s eyes were drawn in by Cyan Pile¡¯s exposed right arm. What¡ªwas that!?


    There was no arm-like glove on his right arm. It was connected to a pipe from the elbow onwards.


    The pipe had a diameter of fifteen centimeters and a length of one meter. Furthermore, the sharp tip of a rod, which stuck out from an aperture on it and seemed to be installed in the pipe, was emitting a glaring and dangerous radiance.


    Cyan Pile¡¯s attribute, based on the color of the armor that wrapped around his entire body, was ?Close Range Blue?. Moreover, according to Kuroyukihime, this was exceedingly close to the pure color of blue. So, that sharp rod shouldn¡¯t be a projectile weapon.


    But even as Haruyuki thought that, he couldn¡¯t help moving back another step.


    As if he was tormenting the stock-still slender Silver Crow, Cyan Pile took one slow step, then another down the organic metal hallway. Then, his movements suddenly stopped.


    That mask with parallel slits turned to look at the surroundings.


    The voice that flowed out from inside that was¡ªdarkly warped, but that was certainly the refreshing voice that he had heard for so long, of his best friend Takumu.


    ¡°Hmm, so this is the ?Purgatory? stage. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen it. What were its attributes again?¡±


    In the face of that carefree chatting, Haruyuki unconsciously opened his mouth.


    ¡°Ta¡­Taku¡­¡±


    SUGYAAAAAH!!


    Suddenly swinging it, the steel rod of Cyan Pile¡¯s right arm ate into the metal wall of the hallway, and unseemly tore it up. Scattered metal scraps, slime and crushed unknown bugs fell and dripped down onto the floor.


    Haruyuki gulped back down his words and cringed in fear with a ¡®HIKUN!¡¯.


    Fleetingly looking at his reaction, Cyan Pile continued speaking further in a cheerful voice.


    ¡°As expected, it¡¯s hard. Destroying this stage may be a little difficult.¡±


    Thud. He resumed walking, and his big blue frame approached before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes as if leaning over him.


    ¡°Haru¡­Haru. As usual, the way you operate a virtual desktop is so fast. Though all I had left to do was pull the Duel button, you broke in just before that.¡±


    ¡°Ta¡­kumu¡­¡±


    ¡ªSo it really is you. Why? Since when?


    Since when on earth have you been a Burst Linker?


    Before Haruyuki could give voice to the questions swirling in his chest, Cyan Pile uttered more words.


    ¡°To think you would become a Burst Linker¡­I¡¯m shocked. Yesterday, I couldn¡¯t keep myself completely calm as expected. I never thought that my best friend would betray me like that, right, Haru?¡±


    ¡°Ta¡­kumu¡­N¡­No, that¡¯s not it. That was¡­¡±


    The words that Haruyuki blurted out in a hoarse voice were drowned out by the loud sound of the steel rod hitting against the wall again.


    ¡°¡­How was it, Haru? How did it feel to direct connect on Chii-chan¡¯s bed? How did it feel to hug her? How did Chii-chan¡¯s body feel as you touched her while thinking about me?¡±


    ¡ªThat isn¡¯t Takumu. Haruyuki cried that out without saying it.


    That isn¡¯t the Taku I know. Taku wouldn¡¯t say such things. Always bright and refreshing, never showing any negative feelings at all, that is Takumu.


    Cyan Pile was someone else. Surely, he¡¯s put a Backdoor in Takumu¡¯s Neuro Linker as well and is connecting from somewhere far away.


    Haruyuki desperately tried to tell himself that.


    But, at the same time, the presence that he had felt back then.


    Haruyuki was strongly aware that the presence he had felt when he had direct connected with Chiyuri and discovered the virus in her Neuro Linker, of someone lurking deep inside there, watching and listening intently, was exactly the same as the presence he felt densely rising up from the blue duel avatar in front of him.


    And, possibly, it might have been the same as the fleeting glances that Takumu had given towards the playing Haruyuki and Chiyuri since long ago, from the time that the three of them had been small children.


    ¡°Taku¡­It was you.¡±


    The words that Haruyuki emitted from beneath his silver helmet resounded so sharply and strongly that it surprised even himself.


    ¡°It was you that put that virus in Chiyu¡¯s Neuro Linker. You secretly connected to Chiyu, and peeked through her memory, sight and hearing as you pleased!¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t call it a virus.¡±


    Stopping just five meters away from Haruyuki, the huge avatar lightly spread out his left hand in a stylish manner that was the only thing like Takumu.


    ¡°Chii-chan is my girlfriend. So it¡¯s only natural that we direct connect. And direct connecting is the same thing as presenting your Neuro Linker to your partner. Things like circumventing password authentication, exposing the deepest parts of one¡¯s local memory, looking at any file and installing any kind of program, it¡¯s all acceptable. Am I wrong? Haru, even you ¡­¡±


    Haruyuki felt that, inside the thin slits cut across Cyan Pile¡¯s mask, there was a warped smile on the face that he couldn¡¯t see.


    ¡°Even you direct connected with Chii-chan, and secretly looked through her memory, didn¡¯t you? What¡¯s more, you¡¯re not even her boyfriend either. The one who took advantage of Chii-chan¡¯s kindness and pretended to be pitiful was you, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Th¡­That¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve always been like that since long ago, Haru.¡±


    As Cyan Pile began to speak in a calm voice, a big metallic bug with a weird shape tried to pass by on the wall to the right of him.


    Cyan Pile lifted the giant needle of his right arm with a casual gesture, and lightly pierced the back of the bug with it. Stopped on the wall and making squeaking noises, the bug furiously waved its countless legs as it tried to escape.


    ¡°Always, always since long ago, you kept saying to Chii-chan, ¡®Aren¡¯t I pitiful? Aren¡¯t I pathetic? That¡¯s why, be kind to me. Care for me more.¡¯ Even if you didn¡¯t use words, in your behaviour, in your eyes¡­No, it could be seen in your existence itself.¡±


    Making a wet squishy noise, the needle sank further into the shell of the bug. Grew fluid scattered around, and the virtual bug began to wriggle and struggle even more.


    ¡°Girls sure are incomprehensible. Compared to when she holds hands with me, Chii-chan seems to be enjoying herself more when she¡¯s pulling your hand while grumbling and complaining. She always looks so much happier by looking after you and meddling in your business, since long ago¡­Did you know? Whenever she goes anywhere, she always carries a huge toweling handkerchief. For the sweaty you.¡±


    BACHA!!


    And with a horrifying noise, the bug was crushed, and its dark green shell and legs scattered about along with slime.


    As the bug¡¯s fluids dripped from the needle, the half-dumbfounded Haruyuki asked Cyan Pile.


    ¡°That¡¯s why¡­? That¡¯s why you confessed to Chiyu two years ago? Looking like you were impatient¡­?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t ¡®like¡¯, I was impatient. If things were left as they were, Chii-chan would have tried to keep looking after you for the rest of her life, you know? Like one of those old-fashioned manga that you have archived. ¡®Since you¡¯re no good without me around, I¡¯ll marry you.¡¯ ¡ªAh, could it have been your plan to induce Chii-chan into that as well?¡±


    ¡®Hahahaha¡¯, Cyan Pile gave a seemingly pleasant laugh, but which contained a distorted echo that made one shudder.


    No. That¡¯s not it¡ª


    Takumu, you¡¯re wrong. Chiyuri definitely didn¡¯t enjoy looking after the pitiful me. She was seriously worried and suffered.


    But, Haruyuki didn¡¯t know how to express those thoughts in words to Takumu. Because when looking at everything from the surface, what Takumu said was true to some extent.


    Cyan Pile¡¯s foot took another step towards the stock-still Haruyuki.


    ¡°When Chii-chan chose me two years ago, I was so happy. I thought that Chii-chan also finally understood. That it was much better to be happy at my side, than going through hardships by looking after Haru. That¡­was the pragmatic decision after all.¡±


    ¡°Pragma¡­tic?¡±


    ¡°¡®We can¡¯t stay children forever¡¯, right?¡±


    Those were the words that Haruyuki had told Chiyuri yesterday. Cyan Pile lifted the tip of his green-dyed metallic needle in the air as if asking for agreement.


    ¡°Even Chii-chan is a girl¡­no, a woman. She eventually realized that having a boyfriend you can boast about to your friends, a happy marriage, and a satisfying life is what true ?happiness? is. That¡¯s why I also worked hard. I studied desperately to enter my current school, and trained my body by running every day. While you were playing worthless games and spent time fast asleep, Haru.¡±


    ¡°You¡­do you seriously mean that?¡±


    Still unable to gather his thoughts, Haruyuki cried that out almost reflexively.


    ¡°Do you seriously believe that Chiyu chose you over some calculation like that!?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like how you call it ¡®calculating¡¯. It¡¯s looking at everything from an impartial point of view.¡±


    ¡®Fufufu¡¯, Cyan Pile laughed once again.


    ¡°Chii-chan has the right to be happy. The right to go out with me, who has the first place results among the first years at school and is the municipal tournament champion in kendo.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Haruyuki sharply drew in a breath, and took in even more.


    As I thought, this isn¡¯t Takumu.


    I don¡¯t believe, I don¡¯t want to believe at all that this is Takumu¡¯s true nature. Something has warped him.


    Certainly, Haruyuki and Chiyuri were also partly to blame for it. While going out with Takumu, Chiyuri putting feelings towards Haruyuki. That was also part of what drove Takumu into a wall.


    But¡ªwhat changed Takumu far more greatly than that was, most likely.


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re wrong, Taku.¡±


    Haruyuki lifted up his silver mask and stared straight at the sharp eyes of Cyan Pile.


    ¡°The first place position, the championship, those aren¡¯t your power. That¡¯s Brain Burst¡¯s¡­?accelerations?¡¯s power. Since when? Since when did you become a Burst Linker?¡±


    For a short while, silence filled the Purgatory stage.


    A group of small bugs passed by their feet, and steam like that of a living being¡¯s sometimes rose from the creases that opened up along the wall.


    Since it had started from 1800, the countdown had already passed through 200 seconds. At the same time as the hundred-digit column became ¡®5¡¯, Cyan Pile spoke out.


    ¡°It¡¯s my power.¡±


    He pointed his right arm¡¯s needle straight at Haruyuki.


    ¡°?Acceleration? is my power. My power, from fostering my aptitude by immersing myself in intellectual training software in my Neuro Linker to the point of hating it ever since I was an infant! It¡¯s only been a year since I became a Burst Linker. The captain of my kendo club is my ?Parent?¡­and a close-aide of the ?Blue King?. He had great expectations for me. I became a cadet for the elite guards. But¡­¡±


    GAGYAAAAAN!!


    He greatly swung his right arm and engraved several scars into the wall.


    ¡°It¡¯s too late!! You¡¯ve only recently become a Burst Linker, haven¡¯t you!? And you think you¡¯ve become my equal with just that, Haru!? Since you have confidence in your ?acceleration? power, you think you can get back Chii-chan again!? It¡¯s no good, Haru. You can¡¯t win against me. Whether it be in studying, sports, Chii-chan¡¯s feelings¡­and of course, even in this Accel World. I¡¯ll make you understand. Understand my power¡­against that weak duel avatar of yours.¡±


    SHINE!! Both of Cyan Pile¡¯s eyes emitted a dreadful light.


    He¡¯s serious. Takumu seriously intends to fight.


    Inside Haruyuki, there were still feelings like, ¡®If I exhaust all my words, he¡¯ll understand. I want to explain Chiyuri¡¯s and also my true feelings. I don¡¯t want to fight like this.¡¯


    But, if Haruyuki lost here.


    Cyan Pile would duel with Black Lotus again. And would hunt while she¡¯s unconscious. At that instant, Kuroyukihime would lose all her points, and also lose her acceleration ability at the same time.


    Just that. Whatever else happened, he had to prevent just that.


    ¡°¡­Taku. You certainly are amazing. You can study, play sports, and are so cool. You have all the things that I don¡¯t have.¡±


    Looking down, Haruyuki murmured in a subdued voice.


    But, immediately after, he stared straight at Cyan Pile and shouted sharply.


    ¡°But, you¡¯re an idiot. You¡¯re a great big idiot!¡±


    ¡°¡­What? I¡¯m an idiot?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, because you can¡¯t win against me! Have you forgotten? Since long ago, in just how many games were you able to win against me?¡±


    ¡°¡­Haru. Haru.¡±


    There was a laugh mixed in there, but it was a fierce-sounding voice.


    ¡°Then, right here and now¡­I¡¯ll make you lose the last of your pride!!¡±


    BANG!! Cyan Pile¡¯s boots kicked off from the floor.


    With that, he shortened the two-meter distance between them with an amazing speed that didn¡¯t suit his huge body.


    But, as expected, compared to the charge of Ash Roller¡¯s bike, it was slow.


    I¡¯ll slip past him. And then move to somewhere more spacious. The entrance hall¡­no, the rooftop.


    Haruyuki concentrated his focus on Cyan Pile¡¯s right hand. The opponent was a close-combat type, so as long as he didn¡¯t enter the range of that needle, he wouldn¡¯t receive damage.


    After seeing Cyan Pile¡¯s movements as he drew back his right arm in preparation, Haruyuki also dashed in order to escape to the opposite side of him.


    Silver Crow¡¯s speed, which nearly his only redeeming feature, seemed to be unexpected for the opponent as well. With a hint of a little surprise, the right arm drew an arc and stuck out towards Haruyuki.


    ¡ªI can dodge it!!


    While predicting the attack trajectory, Haruyuki lowered his posture and tried to cut across right next to Cyan Pile¡¯s left leg.


    GASHUN!!


    At that moment, an unexpected sound rang out.


    In the corner of Haruyuki¡¯s wide-open sight, flames spouted out from the tail end of the thick pipe attached to Cyan Pile¡¯s right arm.


    From the pointed end at the front, a shining and thick steel needle shot out at a speed he couldn¡¯t follow.


    It seemed to be a device that extended out double its original length instead of a firearms-type weapon, but that range was enough to catch Silver Crow.


    CLANG!! Haruyuki heard an unpleasant breaking noise go through his body.


    At the same time, an impact. And a numb-like dull pain.


    Haruyuki saw the tip of the steel needle cut pierce through and cut off his arm from the left elbow.


    Haruyuki belatedly remembered that ?pile? meant ?stake?.


    Falling on the floor while emitting sparks from its end, his arm immediately smashed into thousands of small fragments and vanished.


    His health gauge in the left corner of his vision also suddenly decreased by almost 30% from that single attack.


    But, Haruyuki didn¡¯t have the time to regret receiving such great damage so quickly right at the start. While his posture was destroyed and he endured having his back noisily strike the hallway¡¯s wall and falling down, Haruyuki saw the still-extended brutal steel needle¡ªno, steel stake be stored back into Cyan Pile¡¯s right arm.


    It was clear that, the instant the sake was reloaded in the launcher tube, it would fire that terrible attach attack again.


    Its attack attribute was most likely ?piercing?.


    The metal-color Silver Crow should have resistance against that. For it to have torn apart his arm with a single blow despite that, was it because the place that was hit was bad, or because there was a difference of three levels between them, or was it more simply Cyan Pile¡¯s strength?


    Even as he instantly considered those things, Haruyuki readjusted his posture and created distance between them by jumping far.


    Like that, he dashed in the direction of the entrance hall at full power without looking back.


    ¡°Hahaha! What, are you going to suddenly run away, Haru!!¡±


    Plunging into the hall as if urged forward by that warped laughter which sounded behind him, Haruyuki quickly ran his gaze over the surroundings.


    The long benches that were lined up in the waiting space had changed into cast iron with thorns poking out of them like some medieval torture device, and the reception counter to the right had rusted barbed wire twined around it. Naturally, there were no signs of people.


    And behind the counter was the thing he was looking for. Elevator doors.


    In the ?End of the Century? stage, you couldn¡¯t enter inside the buildings and so naturally the elevators wouldn¡¯t function either, but if it was the ?Purgatory? stage where the indoor was reconstructed in such detail, it may function.


    Rushing over to it, Haruyuki hit the skull-shaped button next to the door, which had turned into ferocious-looking iron grill bars, while praying. Sure enough, with a grave metallic thud and clang, the iron grill opened up left and right. He clutched his right hand while thinking ¡®Alright!¡¯.


    From behind him, the thudding footsteps of Cyan Pile approached moment by moment.


    Plunging into the prison cell-like elevator box, he slammed his right hand into the button engraved with an ¡®R¡¯. Quickly, move quickly.


    Just as the iron grill closed with a frustratingly slow speed, something hit the door with a loud clang. Sticking through the space of about five centimeters between the grills was a shining sharp tip.


    ¡°¡­!!¡±


    Stopping himself from nearly letting out a scream, Haruyuki sprang back at once and pressed his back against the wall.


    GASHUN!!


    The steel stake, which was launched while pushing and bending the grill a little, stopped just barely a few centimeters in front of Silver Crow¡¯s thin abdomen.


    At the same time has that brutal radiance was pulled back out, the box finally shook with a clattering and the elevator began to rise.


    ¡°Hahaha! Hahahahaha!!¡±


    As that howling laughter continued to stick close from below his feet, Haruyuki stamped his right foot down hard and tore it away.


    Getting out on the rooftop, Haruyuki turned his gaze around while taking a rough breath.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    His eyes widened unconsciously.


    The sky of the ?Purgatory? stage was filled with a creepy yellow light, and darkish clouds were swelling up there like living creatures. The surrounding streets, which should have originally been at the center of the Sugunami area, had uniformly changed into a strange living creature-like form, and shined in a slimy dark-red rusty color.


    The group of lance-like spires that could be seen over that way seemed to be the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office in Shinjuku and the skyscrapers that surrounded it.


    Just how far did this stage spread? As Haruyuki thought that, he suddenly noticed something and held his breath.


    There were people.


    No, those silhouettes were too strange to be called human. Lined up in small groups on the surrounding buildings that were taller than the hospital, they looked down at Haruyuki. They were unknown Burst Linkers¡ªspectators.


    Why!? After a moment of astonishment, Haruyuki finally realized.


    Haruyuki was currently cut off from the Global Net, but the other person in this duel, Takumu, was probably globally connected just before the match had started. The reason why he would go so far as to risk the danger letting others intrude was unknown, but in any case this stage was opened to the outside and Burst Linkers who had registered Cyan Pile and Silver Crow in their automatic gallery had appeared as a result.


    However, even if there was a gallery, there was no great difference to the situation.


    The light blue arrow cursor that was visible in his vision began to change direction slowly as it slightly trembled, indicating that Cyan Pile had also gotten on the elevator and was heading towards the roof.


    After moving about ten meters across the vast roof, Haruyuki turned around to face the elevator door. In this place, there was plenty of space to dodge and evade unlike the hallway.


    I¡¯ve already grasped the range of Cyan Pile¡¯s steel stake with my body. If I¡¯m careful and pay attention to the direction of his right, it should be possible to dodge it. Don¡¯t be afraid. I have to do it.


    As Haruyuki told himself that, the elevator stopped with a clang ahead of him, and the door slowly opened left and right.


    As his huge figure rubbed against the box that fully enclosed him, Cyan Pile stepped out onto the roof, and the eyes within his slits glowed weakly.


    ¡°¡­I see. If it¡¯s here, you¡¯ll be able to use the strategy of hit-and-run by darting about, Haru¡­no, Silver Crow.¡±


    ¡°And your body build must have been getting hot down there.¡±


    ¡°Ahaha, to think you of all people would say such a thing.¡±


    While letting out deep-throated laugh, Cyan Pile slowly began to move forward.


    Haruyuki lowered his posture and measured the distance between them.


    He shouldn¡¯t have been able to see through Silver Crow¡¯s speed yet. A chance to win lay only there. Before his eyes can get accustomed to it, seize victory no matter what.


    Just before his heavy-looking boot took its fourth step and connected with the ground, Haruyuki kicked off the ground with all his strength.


    The air range in his ears with a swishing sound, and he instantly got close to that huge blue figure.


    Cyan Pile¡¯s right arm followed the straight-rushing Haruyuki while aiming.


    ¡ªHere!!


    Haruyuki unexpectedly took off from his left leg, and swung his course to the right. The steel stake then shot out at ultra-high speed along with a yell. It was nearly impossible to react after seeing it launch, but if you anticipate its collision path beforehand¡ªit¡¯s possible!


    The tip of the steel stake stopped just short of Haruyuki¡¯s left cheek as he drew an arc and circled around to Cyan Pile¡¯s left side. While feeling heat on his cheek as if it burned, Haruyuki kicked off the ground with his right leg using all his strength, and¡ª


    ¡°U¡­raaah!!¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s right fist drive into Cyan Pile¡¯s virtually open flank. A strong reaction. The huge blue body shook.


    More¡ªKeep going!!


    Running after Cyan Pile¡¯s back as his body spun and turned around, Haruyuki dashed forward with another step and this time lodged a right spin-kick into the enemy¡¯s left calf. As Cyan Pile lost his balance, Haruyuki sent a final left knee-kick to the middle of his back.


    BANG!! A heavy impact. His huge figure bent forward in a ¡®¤¯¡¯ shape.


    Staggeringly making some distance between them, Cyan Pile groaned hatefully.


    ¡°Guh¡­as¡­as expected, you really are good at games, Haru. But, such weak attacks have no effect¡­ at all!!¡±


    WHOOSH, just barely avoiding the left fist that was swung at him, Haruyuki rolled his body with that momentum and buried his right heel into the back of Cyan Pile¡¯s defenseless protruding neck.


    ¡°Gguuuuuh!!¡±


    Blocking his ears to the crushing scream from Takumu¡¯s voice, Haruyuki continued his rush further.


    He unleashed a combo without pause using not only both his legs and right arm, but even his torn-up left arm too.


    Before he knew it, scream-like shouts also started coming out from his own mouth as well.


    ¡°You¡­ idiot!! You great big idiot!! Chiyu!! Chiyu didn¡¯t want for you to be first place among the first years, the metropolitan tournament champion, or anything like that!!¡±


    Jumping high using a front kick he desperately fired as a kick-off point, Haruyuki grabbed Cyan Pile¡¯s mask and hit his own silver helmet against it with all his strength.


    CRACK, with a breaking sound, part of the blue mask broke and fell.


    As Cyan Pile lost his balance and fell to the ground on his back, Haruyuki sat on top of his chest and kept repeatedly hitting with his right fist.


    ¡°Chiyu only wished for you to stay as you were!! The one making her see only the past, who is making her think ¡®I want to return to the old days¡¯, is you, Takumu!! The only one that changed among us is you!!¡±


    Without thinking of anything, he cried out those words in a violent fury.


    But, just as Haruyuki¡¯s voice resounded, both of Cyan Pile¡¯s eyes let out a shudderingly cold and strong light beneath his fissure-like slits.


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­get¡­¡±


    Suddenly, both of Cyan Pile¡¯s thick arms crossed together with a jerk as if protecting himself.


    But, Haruyuki didn¡¯t immediately realize that this wasn¡¯t a defensive movement.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get cockyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!¡±


    At the same time as he fully expanded his two arms to the left and right, the sharp tips of over ten stakes rose to the surface of Cyan Pile¡¯s bodysuit from chest to belly with a ¡®HOGOGOGOGO¡¯ noise.


    What!? This is bad¡ªDodge¡ª


    But, the instant that Haruyuki tried to kick off the ground with both legs and jump away.


    ¡°¡ª?Splash Stingeeeeeeeeer?!!¡±


    ZUDODODODODO!!


    Along with a rapid-fire sound like a heavy machine gun, the many stakes were shot straight at Haruyuki from close range.


    ¡°Kkuooo!!¡±


    He somehow managed to avoid the stakes flying towards his head and the middle of his chest. However, immediately after, Haruyuki received dreadful impact to his left shoulder, left flank and right knee, and was blown high up like scrapped garbage and then fell back down to the floor of the rooftop on his back.


    ¡°Guh¡­hah¡­!!¡±


    A gasp mixed with a shout was squeezed out from his throat. His vision flickered, and a dull and heavy pain coursed through his whole body. He couldn¡¯t believe that this was virtual damage being transmitted from his Neuro Linker.


    What on earth¡ªwas that just now!?


    As Haruyuki supported himself on his right arm and somehow lifted up his upper body, Cyan Pile sluggishly stood up first in front of him.


    ¡°Ku¡­fu, fufufufufu.¡±


    As if some screws had come loose in him, laughter slowly leaked out from beneath Cyan Pile¡¯s blue mask.


    ¡°Kufufufu. You¡¯ve¡­pushed me around quite vigorously, haven¡¯t you? I was just a little surprised. But¡­after all, you are an annoying little bug. It seems you even expressly built up my special technique gauge.¡±


    ¡°Special¡­technique¡­¡±


    While murmuring that, Haruyuki checked the gauges in the upper part of his vision once again.


    Of the thick health gauges that extended left and right, Cyan Pile had 60% left. He had received damage beyond words during Haruyuki¡¯s rush. But Haruyuki¡¯s, due to directly receiving those blindly fired stakes just now, already had only about 30% left.


    And, another light green gauge extended beneath each of their health gauges.


    Cyan Pile¡¯s was shining clearly close to 70%. In comparison, Haruyuki¡¯s was nearly full to the tank.


    ¡°Hey, hey, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re only hearing about it for the first time, Silver Crow.¡±


    While letting out ¡®Kukuku¡¯ laughter, Cyan Pile slowly began to move forward.


    ¡°The exchange of special techniques is the essence of ?duels?. The ?Splash Stinger? just now was my Level 2 special technique. It¡¯s an ideal attack for shooting down noisy little bugs, right? Oh, speaking of which, your gauge should have also built up a lot. Please, by all means, use it as much as you like as well.¡±


    Haruyuki clenched his teeth hard.


    The only special technique provided to Silver Crow, ?Headbutt?, couldn¡¯t hope to oppose Cyan Pile¡¯s technique that had a much long range than his. Furthermore, its motions were long and obvious, as though clearly saying that he was preparing to attack.


    ¡­Damn it, I don¡¯t need something like a special technique. I have my fist, feet and speed.


    At the same time as his swaying vision settled down, Haruyuki threw all his strength into his right leg in order to quickly stand up.


    But.


    He heard a horrible cracking noise.


    And a metallic clanking noise from his body falling back onto the ground.


    As he confusedly looked down, what lay in front of him was a thin silver leg, which had been pierced by a stake shot and broke off from the knee¡ª


    ¡°Aha, ahahahahaha!!¡±


    Cyan Pile¡¯s piercing loud laughter.


    ¡°Your leg came off!! How fragile!! And yet you¡¯re a metal-color!?¡±


    That voice didn¡¯t reach Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness.


    Damn it. Damn it!!


    Without my leg, I can¡¯t run anymore. Let alone dodging or dashing, even just moving is unreliable.


    The creeping signs of panic quickly chilled the bottom of his body.


    This is bad. I can¡¯t lose here. I have to protect senpai no matter what.


    THUD.


    A boot stepped down on Haruyuki¡¯s torn-off leg and shattered it like glass.


    As Haru looked up, two bluish-white eyes narrowed quietly.


    ¡°¡­In the end, this is how you are, Haru.¡±


    A faint whispery voice.


    ¡°Being like that suits you. Though, you really said whatever you wanted to say earlier, didn¡¯t you? As if only you understand Chii-chan?¡±


    ¡°¡­I do, at the very least more than you.¡±


    ¡°Then, what about me? Did you ever think about me? When me and Chii-chan are together just the two of us, she¡¯d suddenly show a sorrowful face¡­When I know that it was because she was thinking about you, did you consider my feelings, Haru?¡±


    Momentarily pausing his words and bringing his face closer, Cyan Pile¡ªTakumu spoke the decisive words.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re like that.¡±


    It was a tone that even seemed to be gentle in some way, but those words pierced Haruyuki¡¯s chest far more deeply than the giant steel stake.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re like that, me and Chii-chan are held back by you, as if we¡¯ve fallen into a muddled swamp and can¡¯t get back out. Just disappear already, Haru. And free me and Chii-chan.¡±


    THUD.


    This time, he stepped down on Haruyuki¡¯s still-intact leg with the sole of his foot.


    Emphatically raising his upper body and putting his right hand¡¯s launcher tube up high, Cyan Pile drew a complex trajectory with its tip. With that, everything from the launcher tube to his shoulder was wrapped in a vivid blue light.


    Suddenly, the launcher made a deep noise and expanded to about three times its original thickness.


    Sticking out from inside that was a tip that had become flattened, like a huge hammer.


    The striking edge of the hammer was suddenly pointed at Haruyuki, who couldn¡¯t even consider moving anymore.


    ¡°Now then¡ªLet¡¯s end it Haru. Everything.¡±


    This battle, and our pretend friendship. Cyan Pile¡¯s eyes said that.


    Immediately after, the tip of the hammer emitted a dreadful light.


    ¡°¡ª?Spiral Gravity Driver?!!¡±


    GYUAAAA!!


    As the hammer shot out while spinning and making mechanical sounds like countless gears turning, Haruyuki desperately tried to avoid it. But his leg was being steadily held by the foot, and he couldn¡¯t escape. Immediately after, Haruyuki was crushed by giant steel.


    An instrumental duo with a high-pitch screech from his silver armor being smashed and a heavy bass from the floor beneath him being crushed.


    Without being able to even cry out, Haruyuki was knocked through the floor and crashed into the hospital floor of next floor below.


    But the hammer didn¡¯t stop there, further digging into both Haruyuki and the floor, and then¡ª


    BOGOH! BOGON! BOGOAH!!


    While making continuous breaking noises, it finally stopped moving after going through all five floors of the hospital and embedding Haruyuki into the ground of the first floor.


    CHIKA. CHIKA.


    Something red flickered within the darkness in the upper left corner of his vision.


    It took several seconds for Haruyuki to realize it was his health gauge, which had decreased to less than 10%.


    As if regretting that it couldn¡¯t finish shaving off the gauge, the tip of Cyan Pile¡¯s hammer ate into Haruyuki¡¯s chest for a while, but soon enough it started spinning in the opposite direction and returned back up.


    After the hammer left while rubble clattered down, what remained before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes was a small hole leading up to the distant rooftop. From inside that hole, Cyan Pile¡¯s voice resounded faintly.


    ¡°Ah, there¡¯s still a little left. Well, it¡¯s fine, there¡¯s only five or six minutes left anyway, the time will run out before I can go look for him and deliver the finishing blow. Besides, I still have to have to challenge the true ?final boss? after this. ¡ªNow then!¡±


    The tone of his voice changed. It sounded boastful¡ªor somehow fawning.


    ¡°Did you see that, ladies and gentlemen within the gallery! And everyone from the Blue Legion in particular!! I¡¯m still useful! I can fight properly even in the ?Unlimited Field? above this! It¡¯s a waste to throw me away, just because I used up points a little too much, right!?¡±


    Taku¡ªTakumu¡­You¡­


    While rolling over like a broken doll at the bottom of the hole, Haruyuki felt hot liquid go down his cheeks. It was tears. But, he didn¡¯t understand very well what he was crying over.


    Probably, the tears were flowing because something precious had been broken and completely damaged without his noticing.


    Even thought it was a battle he couldn¡¯t lose. Even though he had to absolutely win, for Haruyuki¡¯s own sake, for Chiyuri¡¯s sake, for Takumu¡¯s sake¡ªand for Kuroyukihime¡¯s sake.


    While holding that pain of huge regret, Haruyuki slowly raised his body. Fragments of cracked armor spilled from his entire body like rain, and scattered onto the ground.


    There was no meaning in standing up anymore. In order to accept this decisive defeat and return to his previous self before he knew about Brain Burst, Haruyuki held his knees where he lay and tried to wait just for the moment when the time count reached zero.


    He began closing his eyes¡ªjust before he did that.


    In the corner of the dimly-lit room.


    That person¡¯s form emerged like an illusion.


    There was a bed braided with thorns.


    Encircled by countless jet-black petals in full bloom, a delicate form was laying down on it.


    A dress blacker than darkness. Silver frills. A parasol placed beside her. And, spread-out beautiful black hair, and skin shining whiter than snow in the dim darkness. Her long eyelashes were quietly turned down.


    Am I hallucinating?


    While thinking that, Haruyuki dragged along his severed right leg and slowly, slowly approached the thorny bed. But, no matter how much he approached, there were no signs of Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar vanishing.


    After propping his right hand on the edge of the bed as if falling down on it, Haruyuki finally realized.


    Here, this place is the micro-machine room of the ER, where Kuroyukihime is receiving medical treatment.


    And Kuroyukihime was connected to the hospital¡¯s network. So, as soon as Haruyuki began an accelerated duel, automatic-spectator mode was activated and she was also invited to this stage.


    ¡°¡­Senpai.¡±


    While murmuring in a hoarse voice, Haruyuki extended his worn-out right hand and gently touched Kuroyukihime¡¯s cheek.


    Words gushed out of him one after another as if a dam had broken. At the same time, his tears also returned.


    ¡°I¡­I couldn¡¯t protect you. I couldn¡¯t protect your dream, your wish. I couldn¡¯t respond to your expectations.¡±


    A tear, dripping from a crack of his half-broken helmet, fell down onto Kuroyukihime¡¯s cheek, and then scattered into a miniscule blaze and vanished.


    ¡°¡®I can change¡¯¡­that¡¯s what I thought. I can change through your words, your kindness, and your feelings¡­But, it¡¯s useless. It¡¯s not my avatar¡¯s fault¡­probably, this avatar was created as the embodiment of my ?resignation?. The reasons that this, that Silver Crow was made like this is because of me. I who, without looking at the sky and only facing the bottom, lives while groveling.¡±


    Haruyuki softly turned over his body, and clung to the tip of Kuroyukihime¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°I wanted to go there. To the place where you were¡­To that distant and high sky, where you easily flapped your wing. Higher¡­faster¡­escaping this bog-like reality¡­together with you¡­¡±


    With a sob, Haruyuki squeezed out the last words.


    ¡°I wanted, to fly.¡±


    ¡ªTOKUN.


    At that time, as if responding to his voice, a faint sound was heard.


    TOKUN. TOKUN.


    The source of the sound was Kuroyukihime¡¯s chest, which Haruyuki¡¯s cheek was lying on top of. A rhythm that was small and fleeting, but certainly ticked away in the center of her chest. A heartbeat.


    Right now, within acceleration, it was impossible to hear the actual beating of a heart in reality. But it was impossible that it was an auditory hallucination. Desperately straining his ears and listening, Haruyuki suddenly understood.


    This was a sound being issued from Kuroyukihime¡¯s will. Right now, Kuroyukihime was desperately fighting. On the edge of life and death, she was desperately resisting in order to hold on. That strong will had become a heartbeat, and was resounding in the virtual battlefield.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s right¡­¡±


    Haruyuki murmured. At the same time, new tears flowed out, dripping hot. Inside his ears, he faintly heard the words Kuroyukihime had told him once again.


    ¡ªThe meaning of strength isn¡¯t about the result of winning.


    I didn¡¯t know the meaning of being strong at all. Without knowing it, I simply envied and gave up.


    ¡°Strength is about simply ?winning?¡­¡±


    Even if I¡¯m unsightly. Even if I look ridiculous. Even if I am defeated at the end, fall to the ground, and am covered with mud.


    Kuroyukihime¡ªBlack Lotus, after surviving a life-and-death battle with the other Kings, held her breath and continued staying hidden in a small network. But, that wasn¡¯t because she was cowardly, or afraid. It¡¯s because she never gave up. Because she never looked down.


    ¡°¡­To simply ?resist?. To still keep looking towards the sky even after falling down¡­that is the only proof of strength. Isn¡¯t that right¡­senpai?¡±


    There was no response.


    But, Haruyuki clearly felt a powerful beating being born deep within his own chest as well.


    His heart¡¯s pulse became a signal and was transmitted to his brain.


    And then once more, the soul, the will, the spirit that confronts adversity accelerated.


    As long as there was this beating in his chest¡ª


    ¡°I can still stand¡­I can still fight!¡±


    Haruyuki cried that out to himself, and to Kuroyukihime.


    He grasped the edge of the bed with his right hand, threw all his strength into his left leg, and stood up while staggering.


    Minute fragments fell from his entire body while glittering. But, the beat that had been born from his chest flowed heat all the way to his wounded limbs, and trembled intensely.


    Suddenly¡ª


    Intense white light was emitted from the many cracks in his armor.


    At the same time, the armor on his back crumbled greatly, and a feeling of blowing away came on him. Haruyuki opened his eyes wide and bent his body backwards as he threw back his head.


    There was a big mirror on a wall that was a short distance away in front of him. Perhaps it was a magic mirror that connected with the monitor room next door in the real world. Right now, like the bed, it had changed into a huge full-length mirror bordered by black cast-iron thorns on its edges.


    In the middle of that mirror, the form of Kuroyukihime lying on the bed of thorns, and of himself standing up was reflected.


    His entire body¡¯s armor was in very bad condition. His left hand and right leg were torn off from the middle, and his chest had deep cracks radiating across it. The cracks also reached to his back, and a cracking sound seemed to be resounded from there. Every time a thin spark ran out, small pieces of broken armor scattered about, and¡ª


    ¡°¡­¡­!?¡±


    Dumbfounded, Haruyuki watched as some white and shining things started extending out slowly, slowly from the left and right side of his back.


    They seemed to be two sharp oblong and thin pieces of metal. Swords¡ª?


    The instant he thought that, the two extending metal fragments made a clear swishing noise and spread out like a semi-circle. Nearly ten thin folded-up metal fins also respectively unfolded from the tip of the first sword-like protuberance.


    These¡ªweren¡¯t weapons, but¡­


    ¡ª¡ªWings.


    Haruyuki remained dumbstruck for less than one second.


    Hot!!


    Feeling a terrible heat along his entire back, Haruyuki raised his body as if to repel it.


    He staggered back several steps on his knees while writhing, and shrunk his small body by embracing his shoulder with his arm.


    Rather than hot temperature-wise, it felt more like a cluster of pure energy was crammed airtight inside his back, swirling as it wanted to go somewhere.


    ¡°¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    It¡¯s no good. I can¡¯t hold it down any longer.


    As he bent his body like a bow and faced above, ahead of Haruyuki¡¯s gaze was¡ª


    He saw the huge hole that had been drilled through the building by his body only tens of seconds ago. And also a small yellow light that looked isolated on the other side of that black and deep hole. A corridor leading to the far away sky.


    It¡¯s calling me.


    Moving unconsciously, Haruyuki raised his broken left arm up high, and drew his intact right arm to his side. He felt the energy raging at the tip of his shoulder blades suddenly increase in density and compress.


    After returning his gaze just for a moment to catch sight of the stretched-out form of his beloved person.


    Haruyuki fixed his gaze above once again.


    ¡°¡ª¡ªGoooooooooooo!!¡±


    He stuck out his right arm straight ahead along with that shout.


    DOOO!!


    Along like an explosion-like impact sound, a silver light cut through the darkness.


    In an instant, Haruyuki¡¯s entire body flew straight up like a fired arrow.


    GOH, GOGOGOH¡­.


    Each time he passed by one of the hospital¡¯s floors, the air twisted in his ears.


    Going through the dark corridor in just a few seconds, the silver avatar flew out from the drilled hole to the roof, and then kept flying higher and higher. The metallic fins on his backs vibrated loudly at high-speed. That energy accelerated his small body with overwhelming momentum, easily cutting off the virtual gravity and persistently, persistently pushing Haruyuki upwards.


    Immediately, the swirling black clouds drew near in front of him.


    The instant he touched the thick cluster with his raised right fist, the clouds were pushed away like mere coins with a loud whoosh.


    After having gone through and moreover ascended out of a black tunnel, a pale yellow and dazzling light filled Haruyuki¡¯s vision.


    Immediately after going through that sea of clouds, Haruyuki expanded both his arms and legs, reducing his acceleration. The high-pitched vibrating sound lowered in pitch, and a soft floating sensation like when an airplane has finished taking off came upon him.


    While gently hovering, Haruyuki spun his body around.


    ¡°¡­Aah¡­¡±


    Unconsciously, he leaked out a voice mixed with a breath.


    A view beyond imagination was spread out beneath his eyes. From the breaks in the sea of clouds that flowed and swelled, he could see an unbroken view the huge dull-colored city that continued on as far as the eye could see. The Shinjuku urban center which had changed into leaning spires was there, and a deep forest was over there, and the building that looked like a towering magic fortress was perhaps the Imperial Palace.


    When he looked in the other direction, streets that continued from Suginami to Mitaka to Hachiouji[1] extended out as far as he could see, and over there were the mountains of Okutama, and the steep high peak next to them that towered through the sea of clouds was probably Mt. Fuji.


    Finally looking to the south, Haruyuki caught sight of a grey level surface that shone brilliantly.


    The sea. The Tokyo Bay. And¡ªthe Pacific Ocean, which spread on endlessly.


    Infinite.


    ¡°This world¡­is infinite¡­¡±


    While murmuring that, Haruyuki slowly, slowly began to descend.


    Sinking back through the clouds from behind, he went through to the bottom of them and approached the ground.


    Once he had descended to a height where he could start seeing the details of the streets below, he made his fins vibrate strongly again, and hovered once more.


    Just thirty meters below Haruyuki as he regained his posture, was the roof of the hospital.


    That battlefield that he had thought so large and wide now looked small, as if he could pick it up with his hands. And the form of the blue giant, standing at the edge of the big hole in the center and looking up towards him, was still there as well.


    Cyan Pile gazed up at Haru for nearly a full three seconds, as if his soul had fallen out.


    He weakly raised his left hand, and leaked out a hoarse voice.


    ¡°Ha¡­Haru¡­¡±


    But those words were erased by the loud commotion that suddenly arose.


    Voices. The gallery people, that stood on the roofs of the buildings surrounding the hospital and watched the duel between Silver Crow and Cyan Pile, all simultaneously raised their voices in a squall.


    ¡°He isn¡¯t¡­he isn¡¯t falling!? He¡¯s completely stationary!!¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t a jump¡­he¡¯s flying!? No way!?¡±


    ¡°A ?Flight Ability?¡­it¡¯s finally appeared. Look at those wings!! That¡¯s a ?Flight-type Avatar?!!¡±


    Haruyuki didn¡¯t understand why the gallery was in such a clamor. As he stared down in mute amazement, among the the duel avatars came up to several tens, some moved towards higher positions, while others drove their finger to their consoles.


    ¡°There¡¯s no data on him! Where is that guy from!? What legion does he belong to¡­who¡¯s his ?Parent?!?¡±


    ¡°F-For now, let¡¯s contact headquarters! You, log out and go tell them!!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke around! As if I¡¯m going to miss what happens next!!¡±


    What calmed down this uproar that was like a prodded beehive¡ªwas a terrible shout that was suddenly released.


    ¡°Oo¡­Oooooooooh!!¡±


    Spreading his arms and legs, Cyan Pile bellowed. The tremor that rocked the atmosphere like an electric shock reached even Haruyuki far up in the sky.


    ¡°No!! Nononononooooooooo!!¡±


    As it made a mechanical ¡®GASHUU!!¡¯ sound, he pointed his right arm¡¯s launcher tube straight at Haruyuki.


    ¡°Don¡¯t!! Don¡¯t you!! Look down on meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!¡±


    A scream as if spitting up blood.


    At the same time, a metallic clang resounded, and the loaded steel stake scattered out many lines of light.


    As Cyan Pile struck a stance of spreading out both legs, dropping his waist and supporting the launcher tube with his left hand, the remaining 40% of his special technique gauge suddenly vanished with a jerk.


    As Cyan Pile aimed what was likely his final attack technique at him, Haruyuki quietly lifted up his right hand while hovering in place and clenched his fist hard.


    Haruyuki now finally realized the true ?special techniques? that was giving to him.


    ?Punch?. And ?Kick?.


    At the same time as those were normal techniques, there were also special super-attacks.


    Greatly drawing back his clenched fist, Haruyuki fully expanded all his fins and changed his body¡¯s direction. Straight towards Cyan Pile beneath his eyes.


    ¡°Fa¡­aaaall, dooooooown!! ?Lightning Cyan Spike?!!¡±


    At the same time as Cyan Pile screamed out the technique name, the steel needle, having changed into a long beam of light, shot out from his right arm.


    Facing it, Haruyuki released all the propulsive power of both his wings while preparing just a punch.


    ¡°Uu¡­ooooooooo!!¡±


    DOGOOO!!


    As if igniting a rocket engine, Silver Crow¡¯s body charged forward as a bullet of light.


    In the left-hand corner of his sight, the green special technique gauge quickly began to decrease. At the same time, the white light wrapped around his right fist endlessly increased its radiance.


    ¡°Haruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!¡±


    Takumu cried out.


    ¡°Taku¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    Haruyuki also cried out.


    KIIIIIIIIIIIN!!


    A ?hyper-acceleration? beyond the acceleration of Brain Burst surged from his back and wrapped around Haruyuki.


    The color of the world changed.


    Haruyuki certainly saw Cyan Pile¡¯s blue lance rushing up from the ground, and the glare of its single tipped point. Its predicted trajectory stood out like an illusion in his vision.


    The speed of Haruyuki¡¯s mind surpassed the speed of the attack that was certainly like the lightning the technique was named for. This was the power of a true ?accelerated person? that Kuroyukihime found and believed in.


    I can see it¡­I can see it, senpai!!


    Haruyuki shouted that out in his thoughts.


    The speed of the lance fell.


    In comparison, Silver Crow¡¯s speed increased endlessly, as if he had become light itself.


    Both of them closed in and blended¡ªin that instant, Haruyuki slide his charging trajectory a little to the right.


    ZASHUUU!!


    The lance grazed the left side of his helmet, passed through and scattered fierce sparks.


    Immediately after.


    Haruyuki¡¯s ?Punch? deeply, deeply went through the center of Cyan Pile¡¯s chest.


    Along with a roaring ¡®SUGAAA!!¡¯ sound, their two bodies were blown off together while carving a deep rut in the roof¡¯s floor.


    They crashed into the steel fence of the roof, smashed it into pieces and sprung out into the open air.


    ¡°¡­Oooh!!¡±


    Haruyuki cried out and made his metallic fins flap.


    The intense and powerful lifting power wrapped around his entire body. While embedding his right arm all the way into Cyan Pile¡¯s body, Haruyuki pointed his trajectory upwards and rose higher, higher.


    He pierced through the sea of clouds in several seconds and flew out into the yellow sky.


    After he reduced acceleration and shifted to hovering, Cyan Pile, who seemed to have lost consciousness at the moment of impact, made a coughing noise under his mask from where it lay on top of Haruyuki¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Go¡­fuh¡­¡±


    After his huge figure quivered for a bit, he raised his head.


    Immediately after, he let out a thin scream that made his angry voice of resentment until now seemed like a lie.


    ¡°U¡­wah¡­!? F¡­fly¡­ing¡­!?¡±


    While shaking his mask left and right, he cried out further.


    ¡°Stop it, Haru¡­! D¡­Don¡¯t drop me!! If I fall now¡­I¡¯ll l-lose¡­¡±


    Both of their health gauges were dyed deep red together, and their width had decreased to the point of being thing like a thread. Cyan Pile¡¯s entire body was still from the fear of falling from struggling, and he changed his voice to a tone of begging.


    ¡°If¡­if I lose¡­if I lose against to a Level 1 like you, my points will become zero¡­but it¡¯s fine for you, you¡¯ll only lose 4 or 5 points anyhow! Please, please surrender here, Haru! I can¡¯t lose Brain Burst now!!¡±


    ¡°Taku¡­Takumu¡­¡±


    While murmuring as if groaning, Haruyuki strongly clutched his right fist that was still pierced through Cyan Pile.


    What¡ªWhat are you saying after all this time!! You tried to take away all of Kuroyukihime¡¯s points¡­You tried to erase that person¡¯s Brain Burst, and her one and only wish!


    Right now, with just the smallest change of his arm¡¯s angle, he could deprive Cyan Pile¡¯s huge body of support and make him fall to the ground far below. Takumu would lose about 40 points and at the same time have Brain Burst forcefully uninstalled. And then¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t be able to attack Kuroyukihime-senpai from beyond the local network again.


    Haruyuki gritted his teeth to the point of breaking them.


    His whole body trembled, and then the momentary urge passed from his head to his toes and left him.


    The voice he pushed out from the space between his clenched teeth was cracked, as if it wasn¡¯t from himself.


    ¡°¡­Do you acknowledge it, Taku?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­W-What¡­?¡±


    ¡°You can never win against me anymore in this accelerated world. Do you acknowledge that, Taku!!¡±


    An instant of silence.


    The words that were returned through the body glued to him were quiet, as if something had collapsed.


    ¡°¡­¡­Yeah. That¡¯s true¡­As expected, I can¡¯t win against you. Just like in the various games we played together in the past¡­¡±


    Haruyuki inhaled deeply, and then exhaled. Then, he spoke in the same quiet voice.


    ¡°Then¡­me and you are the same.¡±


    ¡°¡­!? W-What¡­¡­?¡±


    ¡°In the real world, I can never win against you. But, in this world, you can¡¯t win against me. We are the same. That¡¯s why¡­that¡¯s why.¡±


    Pausing in his speech, Haruyuki looked at the bluish-white eyes within Cyan Pile¡¯s mask, and then continued.


    ¡°That¡¯s why¡­become my ally¡­my comrade, Taku. Just like me, fight as that person¡¯s subordinate from now on.¡±


    Takumu became speechless and gasped sharply. After a short time, a hoarse groaning voice leaked from beneath his thin slits.


    ¡°¡­Don¡¯t be stupid, Haru, you should know as well. Your parent¡­?Black Lotus?, who tries to hide and hunt the legion I belong to as well, is Accel World¡¯s biggest traitor! In other words¡­to fight together with her would mean¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. We would have to beat the ?Six Kings of Pure Color?. That¡¯s nothing to feel frightened about. Let me tell you something good¡­Something like that is how a game essentially is.¡±


    After Haruyuki declared that, Takumu responded with a long silence.


    The words he let out several seconds later seemed to be dinged with a self-derisive smile.


    ¡°¡­Haru, do you still believe in me? Even if I say yes here, do you intend to believe in my words without any basis at this late hour? The words of me, who broke the laws of my legion, broke the rules of Brain Burst, and betrayed my only two friends?¡±


    ¡°After this, the two of us will tell Chiyu everything.¡±


    As Haruyuki immediately retorted back, Takumu let out an astonished breath for the nth time today.


    ¡°Eh¡­!?¡±


    ¡°About Brain Burst, about our battle, and also¡­about the feelings you and I kept hiding, we¡¯ll confess it all to her.¡±


    Haruyuki turned his gaze towards the sky that continued on far away into infinity, and slowly spoke.


    ¡°We probably have to start from there. Until now, all three of us kept hiding the things we shouldn¡¯t have hidden. We doubted the things we shouldn¡¯t have doubted. We have to start over¡­from somewhere.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Start over¡­do you really think that, Haru? I¡­I, to Chii-chan¡¯s Neuro Linker¡­¡±


    As Takumu said that with a trembling voice, Haruyuki hit his back lightly with his broken left arm.


    ¡°She¡¯s be mad enough to die, alright. She¡¯ll yell, she¡¯ll rage¡­but in the end, she¡¯ll forgive, if it¡¯s her.¡±


    Haruyuki said that with a laugh in his voice as they slowly began to descend.


    Returning to the roof and freeing himself from Silver Crow¡¯s right arm, Cyan Pile staggered back several steps and then sat on the floor with a thud.


    Haruyuki briefly confirmed the remaining time. After two minutes and a little more, this long duel would end.


    Just in case he clicked on the gauges to confirm them, but their remaining health had both the exact same numerical value. If the time ran out like this, the result should be a draw and an exchange of points shouldn¡¯t occur.


    Looking at Cyan Pile once again, who was hanging his head between his knees and wasn¡¯t moving, Haruyuki thought in his mind.


    Am I¡­making a mistake?


    Should I have mercilessly thrown Takumu to the ground back them, and made the possibility of him breaking his promise afterwards and attacking Kuroyukihime completely zero?


    No¡ªthat¡¯s wrong. To doubt in others, or to believe in others, it¡¯s the same as to doubt myself, or to believe in myself.


    I believe in myself who has decided to believe in Takumu.


    It¡¯s fine like this, right¡­?


    He called that out with the voice of his heart¡ªimmediately after that.


    The elevator door opened behind him, resounding with a grave metallic clank.


    In the instant that his whole body stiffened and quickly looked back, Haruyuki guessed which form would appear before his eyes here, and believed once again.


    It¡¯s impossible for it to be a new enemy. Since the only ones who could fight on this stage were Haruyuki and Takumu.


    And it couldn¡¯t be an unknown duel avatar. There was no reason for an unrelated spectator to appear from the hospital.


    But, the instant he actually confirmed it with his own eyes, Haruyuki¡¯s breath stopped, his chest was filled with something hot, and tears flowed from both his eyes.


    A pure black, as if the essence of darkness was condensed. The clear silver which colored its edges.


    The cold wind which blew too much shook her long rolling hair and the hem of her skirt, and lightly chimed the bells that decorated her parasol.


    ¡°Sen¡­pa¡­¡±


    His squeezed-out voice trembled thinly like a small child¡¯s.


    Looking at Haruyuki as he dragged his broken leg and went forward one, two steps¡ª


    Kuroyukihime tilted her head to the side and at the same time smiled pleasantly.


    ¡°Senpai!!¡±


    Finally calling out with a decent voice, Haruyuki ran up to her at maximum speed while letting out irregular clanking sounds.


    Kuroyukihime also ran up to him with her high-heels clicking furiously.


    There was neither hesitation nor nervousness at all as he stretched out their arms and dive into the other¡¯s opened arms.


    Hugging her soft and sweetly fragranced body with all his might, Haruyuki cried out in a voice mixed with sobbing.


    ¡°You¡¯ve¡­you¡¯ve regained consciousness! Thank goodness¡­I believed¡­I believed that you¡¯d definitely be saved¡­thank goodness¡­truly¡­¡±


    Holding Haruyuki in her arms as if wrapping him up, Kuroyukihime pressed her cheek near while remaining silent for a while.


    Finally, the whispery voice that resounded in his ear was wet like his.


    ¡°¡­Within the darkness that was neither heaven nor earth¡­I heard only your voice. You¡­protected me, didn¡¯t you? Getting this hurt¡­¡±


    Her right hand gently stroked Silver Crow¡¯s crack-covered body.


    ¡°Becoming so torn-up¡­Thank you¡­thank you, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    ¡°No¡­Senpai was the one who protected me. Because I heard you say¡­that you believed in me, that¡¯s why¡­I was able to fly.¡±


    Kuroyukihime nodded several times in silence, and gently stroked the thin wings stretching out from Haruyuki¡¯s back with her extended hand.


    ¡°They¡¯re beautiful¡­This is your power, the potential that was hidden within Silver Crow. Until now¡­there has never been a single duel avatar that possessed a true flying ability. As I thought, my premonition wasn¡¯t wrong. You are the person who will change this world.¡±


    Kuroyukihime softly lowered Silver Crow¡¯s small body onto the ground with her hands.


    Inclining her head and looking down at Haruyuki with a smile, the fairy princess with her ephemeral silhouette spoke in a tone that possessed just a little strength in it.


    ¡°It seems the time has come¡­The time for me to also leave my peaceful cocoon and aim for the sky once more.¡±


    She then turned her gaze to look behind him. Cyan Pile, who was sitting at the place he had been left at, had only raised his eyes a little while still hanging his head and was looking at the two of them.


    ¡°To you as well¡­I should apologize, Cyan Pile.¡±


    The words from Kuroyukihime were unexpected.


    ¡°I also disgraced the duel which should have had honor with you many times. I will show it now, my true form. And if you so wish, I will face you with my full strength.¡±


    Raising her right hand, she quickly operated her virtual console.


    BACHI. BACHIBACHI!!


    Black lightning that was suddenly released wrapped around the avatar of the fairy princess over and over again.


    Before the eyes of Haruyuki as he hurriedly took several steps back, the form of the silhouette that was wrapped in purple light changed little by little, little by little. The skirt that nearly grazed the floor quickly shortened, and split into sharp serrated edges. Her arms and legs became perfectly straight lines, and the tips contracted like needles.


    The long hair melted into the light and vanished, and in its place a mask shaped like a bird of prey with wings at the back appeared¡ªand finally, after still more lightning soared, all of the effects disappeared.


    What stood there, as if cut out of black crystal, was a beautiful, extraordinarily beautiful duel avatar.


    The form of its entire body was somewhat similar to Silver Crow¡¯s.


    But its height was quite tall, over a hundred-and-seventy centimeters. Elegant, though mainly a straight line, and wrapped in black armor that gave a feeling of transparency, the body was thin like a doll and connected to an armored skirt similar to a black lotus flower which surrounded the waist.


    And the characteristic that stood out above anything else were the limbs. Both arms and legs were chillingly long and sharp swords. Looking as if they would immediately cut in half anything they touched, the blade edges that emitted a bright radiance faintly resounded coldly, coldly against the stage¡¯s breeze.


    The front part of the head, which was shaped like a V tilting towards the back, had utterly black mirror-like goggles. Within that, two bluish-purple eyes shone with a vibrating ¡®VIIIIN¡¯ sound.


    Haruyuki stood stock still for a short while as if his soul had fallen out. Cyan Pile also gave off the same speechless feeling from where he sat. To the two of them, more than that violently beautiful form¡ªthey were overwhelmed by the bottomless potential that rose out from that entire slender and jet-black body.


    Haruyuki was certain that, if he ?battled? that, he would be minced up without even having a few seconds and would disappear while crumbling into pieces.


    Eventually, Haruyuki squeezed out a voice from his chest that was similar to a sigh somehow.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­beautiful. Very¡­beautiful¡­Senpai said it was ugly before, but¡­it¡¯s not like that at all¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­is that so¡­¡±


    Only the voice that came out was still like Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Even though I have no hands to hold someone with¡­¡±


    Those words didn¡¯t continue to the end.


    D O O O O O !!


    Suddenly, fiercely loud voice of shock burst out once again from the surrounding buildings.


    ¡°U, uooo! Oooooo¡ª!?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­That duel avatar is¡­!!¡±


    ¡°?Black Lotus?!! The ?Black King?!! She was in such good health¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    The shouting voices of the gallery were at a volume that was clearly more than double than when they had seen Silver Crow take flight.


    Kuroyukihime looked at the surroundings and then spoke while lightly shrugging her shoulders.


    ¡°Now then¡­Silver Crow. Will you take me along and fly?¡±


    ¡°Eh, ye¡­yes.¡±


    No matter how high her potential may be, her actual weight couldn¡¯t be greater than Cyan Pile¡¯s. But, even if she said ¡®take me along¡¯, how should he¡­?


    Moving with a hover while emitting a faint vibrating sound right up to the bewildered Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime turned her body to the right and raised her arms with a casual gesture while lowering her waist.


    As if inviting him to give the so-called ?princess carry?.


    Though thinking ¡®Eh!?¡¯, Haruyuki knew he could under no circumstances run away and escape here. While dripping sweat drops from his helmet¡ªor rather while experiencing the illusion of that, Haruyuki awkwardly held out both his arms and put them around Kuroyukihime¡¯s back and waist.


    ¡°Please take care of me.¡±


    Saying that in a somewhat playful tone, Kuroyukihime entrusted her body to Haruyuki¡¯s arms. While being poured on by Takumu¡¯s gaze, which might have been his imagination that it seemed teasing, Haruyuki resolved himself and carried the avatar of black crystal. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t that heavy like he thought, and Haruyuki then made the fins on his back vibrate strongly and kicked off the floor with his one leg.


    With ¡®Gyuuu!¡¯, he moderately accelerated and aimed for the sky.


    From within his arms, Kuroyukihime cried out in a whispery voice while craning her back and neck in order to survey the streets below.


    ¡°This is¡­incredible! It seems I could get addicted to this¡­Next time, I want us to direct connect duel and fly for the whole thirty minutes¡­oops, this is high enough.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Nodding, Haruyuki switched to hovering.


    They weren¡¯t that high up. Below, the countless duel avatars gazing upwards from the scattered roofs could be clearly seen.


    Kuroyukihime inhaled a single, big, breath, and¡ª


    She shouted in a dignified and swelling voice, seeming to reach out to the other side of the horizon.


    ¡°Hear me!!¡±


    Just then, everything within the stage turned silent.


    ¡°Hear me, you Burst Linkers of the Legions of the Six Kings!! My name is Black Lotus!! The one who opposes the rule of the tyrant kings!!¡±


    The swelling black clouds shrunk back, and even the hard-blowing wing held its breath. The only thing that moved was the timer, which had only ten seconds left. In this silence, the loud declaration echoed through the world.


    ¡°I, and my legion ?Nega Nebulous?, will now emerge from the depths of the net that we have hidden within, and destroy this false peace!! Take up your swords!! Alight the fires!! The time to fight ¡ª Has come!!¡±

 Volume 1 - CH 9

    Late autumn weather.


    Speaking of which, what month was it now?


    While thinking that, Haruyuki walked along the path to the hospital that he was now completely accustomed to. The rhythm of his shoes hitting the pavement quickened unconsciously. ¡®I¡¯ll be sweaty by the time I get there¡¯, he thought, but even so he couldn¡¯t stop himself.


    Today was the day that Kuroyukihime was finally being moved from the ICU to the general recovery ward.


    Of course, the ICU prohibited direct meetings, so the last time they had actually seen each other face-to-face was two weeks ago. As such, it was inevitable that he walked with slightly light steps.


    He had dashed out of school the instant classes had ended, so the November sun was still high in the sky and warm sunlight pressed down on his back. The charging data-collecting group of the newspaper club, who had heard information about it from somewhere, had been lying in wait for him at the school gates, but he had activated his recently rusty ?running-and-escaping skill? and somehow succeeded in escaping to outside the local net.


    He had also been feeling light on Sunday yesterday, as they had gone out to play as three childhood friends for the first time in so long.


    Leaving aside when Haruyuki had carelessly connected to the sightseeing tourist network while they were climbing up the New Tokyo Tower and had been challenged to a ?duel? (which he had luckily won by having the advantage of super-height), it had been a very fun day off without any trouble.


    On the day of that decisive battle three weeks ago, Haruyuki and Takumu had visited Chiyuri¡¯s house together, and had confessed everything, really everything, in Chiyuri¡¯s room.


    The reason why Takumu confessed to Chiyuri two years ago, the reason why Takumu was steadily driven into a wall since then, and the reason why Haruyuki and Takumu recently had come to a confrontation where they knocked their innermost feelings against each other.


    Chiyuri didn¡¯t easily believe in the existence of ?Brain Burst? at first.


    In the end, Haruyuki and Takumu had ?accelerated?, and by finishing the homework that had been taken out by Chiyuri for that day, she finally admitted it was real, but there was an even greater obstacle after that.


    When Takumu confessed about the Backdoor virus he had obtained from his ?Parent?, a blue Burst Linker who served as the captain of his kendo club, and about how he installed it in Chiyuri, Chiyuri displayed an explosion that exceeded Haruyuki¡¯s expectations by several times, and had thrown them out of her room while screaming that she hated both of them, that their friendship was over.


    After that, Chiyuri didn¡¯t speak to them for a week, but she spent time considering Takumu¡¯s feelings in her own way and thought that she herself was part of the reason that Takumu did that as well, and so she forgave the two of them on the condition that they would treat her to as many first-class parfaits as she could eat.


    Truthfully, Chiyuri and Takumu were still awkward together even now.


    But, Haruyuki believed that would be settled with time.


    Because Haruyuki and Takumu, after ten years, had finally entered the relationship between them that Chiyuri had wished for¡ªtrue best friends.


    No, probably something more than that,


    Right now, Cyan Pile and Silver Crow were a tag team that fought shoulder-to-shoulder in Kuroyukihime¡¯s legion.


    After signing into the hospital network while greeting that female nurse he had become completely friendly with with a smile, Haruyuki aimed for the hospitalization ward on the top floor at the highest permissible speed.


    He got out from the elevator he had used during the duel, and followed the navigation line towards the hospital room with the room number that he was sent by mail.


    The bouquet of flowers in his right hand had flower buds of a breed that were closest to black, among pink Gypsophila flowers and tropical water lilies. They weren¡¯t in season, so it was expensive beyond his expectations and he had used up all his meager savings that were for buying new game software, but his intention to buy it had already vanished anyway. Since software more exciting than ?Brain Burst? couldn¡¯t possibly exist in this world.


    After walking for only a few minutes, the navigation line quickly stopped short within his vision.


    In front of him, there was a sliding door to a private room in the southeast corner of the top floor.


    ¡°Umm¡­¡±


    Haruyuki gulped fiercely, and rehearsed in his brain the words he should say.


    ¡®Congratulations¡¯¡­is that good? No, she hasn¡¯t been discharged from the hospital yet, so it would be a little strange. ¡®Good work¡¯¡­is of course a no. ¡®It¡¯s been a while¡¯¡­that¡¯s no good either. I meet with her every day on the net. Umm, aaah, what should I do?


    SHU.


    The door suddenly slid open in front of him, and Haruyuki confusedly sprang back.


    Now, a scolding voice came from inside.


    ¡°Hey you, how many minutes do you intend to make me wait! Hurry up and enter!¡±


    ¡°Ye¡­Yes!¡±


    Crying out in a pitiful voice, Haruyuki crossed the door threshold with teetering footsteps while shrinking his shoulders as much as possible.


    After hearing the sound of the door closing behind him, he looked up cautiously.


    At that instant¡ªall of the wide hospital room, the scenery outside the window, and even the big bed were excluded from his sight.


    The only thing that Haruyuki caught sight of was the form of the person he was seeing for the first time in three weeks, wearing cute pink pajamas and a black cardigan.


    She seemed to have become a little thin. Her originally white skin had lost even more color as if becoming transparent, her always silky and flowing hair was gathered in a braid that seemed tightly firm, and her entire left leg was covered up by a big cast.


    But.


    Those eyes¡ªjust those big jet-black pair of eyes, which looked as if they sealed the night sky inside, welcomed Haruyuki with a radiance that hadn¡¯t changed at all from before.


    Kuroyukihime wore a smile like a just-blooming flower bud on her face, and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.


    ¡°Hey¡­it¡¯s been a while, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    ¡°Ye¡­Yes.¡±


    With all the words he had been considering completely blown away, Haruyuki simply nodded while blinking his eyes many times.


    After looking at each other like that for nearly ten seconds, Haruyuki finally came to his senses and stepped forward a few steps while holding out the small bouquet.


    ¡°U¡­Umm, please have this, though it¡¯s small.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Kuroyukihime and accepted it in her hands. She brought it near her face and breathed in the fragrance.


    ¡°?Black Lotuses?, huh. I look forward to when they bloom. I¡¯m sorry, but since the vase is over there, could you draw the water and arrange them?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Haruyuki poured water from the sink in the corner of the room into a small vase on the sideboard, put in the received bouquet and then came back.


    Silence once again.


    The one who undid their connected gazes was Kuroyukihime. Suddenly putting on a stern expression, she spoke in a voice with increased hardness along with a light cough.


    ¡°Then¡­let me hear the report about the aforementioned matter. Please sit on the chair there.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­Y-Yes.¡±


    That¡¯s right, this wasn¡¯t a merry-and-frolicking situation.


    Though he thought that, Haruyuki quietly put his body on the visitor¡¯s chair while feeling a touch of loneliness.


    He operated his virtual desktop and slid the report he had gathered over to Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Umm¡­ As mentioned before, the Backdoor program was given out in absolute secrecy to several subordinates by Taku¡¯s ?Parent? for trial use, but thanks to the patch on the matching server last week, it can¡¯t be used at all anymore. It seems that the ?Parent? was ?executed? within the Blue Legion¡­in other words, he was punished by the loss of all his points. However, it seems that he never confessed about who was the maker of that program¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I see.¡±


    Kuroyukihime let out a short breath and placed her head on her crossed arms behind her with a thud.


    ¡°Most likely, it came from the yellow side, whose specialty is conspiracies. Instead of using it on themselves, they tested it out on an upper-echelon member of an enemy legion. Well, someday I¡¯ll yank out the black curtain with my own hand.¡±


    Muttering dangerous words while moving her right hand¡¯s finger in imitation of a sword, Kuroyukihime then changed expressions and looked at Haruyuki.


    ¡°Then, how is it, our legion?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­that is, you could say it¡¯s passable, we¡¯ve somehow gained control of the ?Suginami Third Battle District? and ?Fourth Battle District?.¡±


    ¡°Fufufu, that is a small territory. But, it¡¯s splendid. It¡¯s just right for a legion composed of only three members.¡±


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s shoulders shook a little and she laughed.


    The Black Legion, ?Nega Nebulas?. In the past it was said to have been a huge group which ranked among the legions of the Six Kings, but had broken up during the event two years ago and followed the path of extinction. It had brilliantly revived in that declaration¡ªit was good until that point, but at any rate its members were only three people for the moment, consisting of Kuroyukihime, Haruyuki and Takumu, and moreover the strongest rebel ?Black Lotus? couldn¡¯t go out to actual battles for the time being. It took all their might just to protect the field around Umesato Middle School.


    As if guessing what was within Haruyuki¡¯s mind, Kuroyukihime spoke while smiling.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so downhearted. There¡¯s no need to be impatient¡­increasing our comrades and expanding our area little by little is fine.¡±


    ¡°Ye¡­Yes.¡±


    Haruyuki nodded, and put his hand in his uniform¡¯s pocket in order to wipe his sweat that was running just a little from meeting after such a long time. Then, instead of a handkerchief, his fingers touched something else.


    He pulled out the item he had completely forgotten about. The student handbook with a blue cover that was no longer used for its original purpose now and in the future. It was Kuroyukihime¡¯s.


    ¡°Ah¡­that¡¯s right, I was holding on to this. I¡¯ll return it to you.¡±


    Kuroyukihime looked at the notebook he had held out while he said that without thinking really well, and¡ª


    She blinked several times, opened her mouth a little, and suddenly blood rushed to her cheeks.


    HASHI! Taking the notebook as if snatching it away, she held it to her chest and looked down again.


    ¡°¡­¡­Did you look inside?¡±


    A question that was issued in a faint-sounding voice.


    Haruyuki finally realized the reason for Kuroyukihime¡¯s reaction.


    ¡°Yes! No, yes, no, that is, yes, umm¡­I¡­I looked¡­¡±


    SHIIN.


    Suddenly, a short phrase tore through the super-high density frozen atmosphere.


    ¡°Forget it.¡±


    ¡°¡­Hah?¡±


    ¡°Erase it completely from your memories and never touch it again. If you speak of this matter from now on, you will experience my Level 9 special technique with your body.¡±


    Hiii!?


    Gulping, Haruyuki shook his head furiously.


    ¡°I won¡¯t talk about it, I won¡¯t remember it! Ah, I forgot, I completely forgot it just now!¡±


    Keeping her chin up, she glared at the sweating Haruyuki with a sidelong glance.


    Kuroyukihime then sighed with a ¡®Dear me¡¯, and gave a smile.


    ¡°Geez¡­Even though you¡¯re the ?Silver Crow? whose name is already famous now in Accel World, you¡¯re still always like that, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    While removing some of the tension in his shoulders, Haruyuki also answered back.


    ¡°E-Even Kuroyukihime is the same, your scariness hasn¡¯t changed at all¡­?Black Lotus?-san.¡±


    ¡°How rude. I¡¯m always kind¡­but, speaking of that, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    Giving a cough, Kuroyukihime changed attitudes and spoke with a gentle smile.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it about time you stopped calling me by my nickname and used my real name?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­Ye¡­Yes.¡±


    After nodding.


    Haruyuki¡ª


    Realized an unbelievable fact that made him shudder.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡­Umm.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I¡­don¡¯t¡­know¡­senpai¡¯s¡­real name¡­¡±


    BISHI.


    It was as if the world froze again with a hardness and density that was the same as, no, more than when he ?accelerated?.


    However, it was soon melted by a laugh mixed with a sigh by Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°I say, you¡­Didn¡¯t you look in my student handbook?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­err¡­that is, I only quickly looked inside it once¡­¡±


    ¡°Fufu. You really are you, Haruyuki-kun. Then, I¡¯ll introduce myself once again. Though, even if I say that, it isn¡¯t much different from my nickname.¡±


    A gentle wind blew in from the slightly opened window, and the fragrance of the black lotuses softly spread.


    Spreading out her thin body a little and putting both hand together in front of her chest, and the top-class beautiful rebellious Black King then spoke in a clear-sounding voice.


    ¡°My name is¡­¡±

 Volume 2 - Prologue

    Haruyuki just stared at the steel hole with six counterclockwise spirals with his pig avatar¡¯s eyes.


    There was nothing in the surrounding space. White floor and walls. A huge room sealed with a white ceiling.


    In the center of the room floated a steel-blue, large automatic pistol. The slide with hairlines, the grip carved with checker rings, all showing overwhelming weight and density, sent out a cold feeling, but of course it¡¯s not real. The reason you wouldn¡¯t be able to tell the maker or modeler¡¯s name is, it is just a substitute Haruyuki made with randomly selected polygon gun parts.


    But it can shoot. With that intention, it pointed between the eyes of Haruyuki¡¯s avatar who stood just 20 meters away.


    After referring to the book manuals to create this virtual reality training application, on his first dive, Haruyuki was very disappointed with the dull white room. He really wanted the setting to be the roof of a high rise building, and the pistol held by a dark suited hitman, but making that kind of scenario would be too much for a poor middle school student gamer.


    If he asked his upperclassman and mentor for help, no matter what kind of set, it would be easily built. However, Haruyuki did not do that. He was afraid of her asking why he would do this kind of beginner training at this time. The result, was an eye irritatingly pure white room with just one brusque handgun floating, an ultra dull substitute.


    But, after actually using it, it might be better this way.


    Because there was nothing aside from himself other than the gun. This made him only have to concentrate on the gun muzzle.


    The pink pig avatar squatted, extended both hands slightly, and Haruyuki earnestly stared at the black hole.


    He lost the feeling of time. He could not remember how many minutes he had been in that position. This application¡¯s specification is very simple. After diving and saying ¡°Start¡±, with a five second countdown, the pistol will automatically aim at Haruyuki, and from that instant on, it will randomly fire within 30 minutes.


    Of course, in the real world nothing could be done and he would die, but this is a virtual space made within the Neuro Linker. At the instant he sees the handgun muzzle flare, if he reacts within the shortest time, he would be able to dodge it, since he already checked the bullet speed and distance.


    However, the problem is the he has no idea when the gun muzzle will flare within the 30 minutes. Different from the virtual squash game, there is no information provided like reading the ball¡¯s path and timing. The only thing he could do, was to open his eyes wide, and keep up his concentration.


    However that is a difficult thing. He had no faith in his long term concentration. A month earlier when he started this training, after just two or three minutes he relaxed, and started playing ?Senpai Album? in his mind with a small idle smile, so he was shot without mercy by the unseen hitman.


    But for Haruyuki, since this is a self made application, he perversely continued the training.


    Since the opponent is just one immovable pistol. In that ?Field? - veteran fighters use many fearsome skills to continually fight for 30 minutes of ?Duel?, compared to that, this can be said to be an easy thing. In Haruyuki¡¯s plan, one month later the number of handguns would be increased to five. However, he is currently having a hard time with just one shot from the single gun.


    No talent. He understood that from the start.


    However, if training cannot help him improve, then that would mean the ?Top? - next to that person, will be forever denied to him.


    ¡®Shit. Shittt. I have to become faster and stronger. For that person. To continue being that person¡¯s partner.¡¯


    The haste in Haruyuki¡¯s heart, became noise that made the avatar¡¯s extremities tense.


    Then, as if it was waiting for that - .


    Click, with that metallic sound the trigger moved. The hammer hit the firing pin. At the same time the slide was blown back, orange flash blew from the muzzle.


    ¡°A...!!¡±


    Haruyuki did a full jump to the right.


    However his reaction was a bit slow, the bullet that flew in with a roar hit a point between his left cheek and ear.


    He was blown away as if being hit by a huge hammer, bouncing many times on the white floor, and the intense pain that hit him made him scream.


    ¡°A... uaaaa...!!¡±


    His two short hands holding his face, he continued screaming as he rolled on the floor.


    This application, was installed with an illegal patch from the net, rendering the default pain absorber in the Neuro Linker useless. On top of that, if the gain for pain was set high enough, shock equal to being hit by a real gun would be applied to the diver.


    ¡°A... a...!!¡±


    With tears falling, and full body convulsions, Haruyuki thrashed about on the floor. This is the third time he tasted this pain today. One month after the training started, he can no longer remember how many times total this had happened. However many times he got hit, he could not seem to get used to it. Putting it another way, he had already got used to the mid level pain quickly, so it¡¯s mostly the upper limit of pain now.


    However due to that harmful effect, eventually the Neuro Linker will detect the abnormality in Haruyuki¡¯s brain waves and activate the safety, automatically canceling full dive. This is a hardware function, so it could not be easily cracked. This time too, he reached that threshold, and suddenly with a ¡®Butsun¡¯ sound effect, the white room disappeared from his eyes.


    The feeling of weight changed its axis. From the deep darkness, stretching out radially, the view of reality appeared.


    Tears appeared from his real eyes. In his distorted view, was the familiar male toilet single person stall¡¯s blue-grey door.


    In the current situation, he could have full dive from his classroom since there are no more people playing tricks on him, but it would be a big incident for his teacher to discover him using this dangerous program, and, aside from that, there was a reason that he must use the toilet when using the training application. The left over feeling from the incredible pain, and the shock of instant return from full dive confused his nerves, things wavered in front of his eyes - or so he thought, then he was hit with a feeling of his stomach contents going up.


    ¡°...a.¡±


    Haruyuki held his mouth, changed his seat from the toilet cover to the floor, and turned to lift up the toilet seat cover.


    Dangerously just in time, the reverse flow from his digestive tracks was pushed back where it belonged. After many dry heaves, he extended his weak right hand and pushed the button on the wall.


    He felt the flow of water splash on his face, but he did not have the strength to stand up, so he just left his face above the toilet.


    Tears that welled up dripped into the moving water and were swallowed up.


    It was not just because of intense pain and throwing up. Despair at his own worthlessness, Haruyuki ground his teeth and his shoulders shook.


    This training, was just trying to improve his beginner reaction level. In ?Duels?, depending on the opponent, some held firearms in both hands and showered him with many rounds in one second. Even so, after one month, his dodge rate had only improved by about 20% or 30%.


    Slowly getting stronger is fine, that person said.


    However deep in those eyes, was there actual disappointment, Haruyuki could not put this fear out of his mind.


    Haruyuki accelerated his thoughts with the secret function in the Neuro Linker, obtained by the ?Brain Burst? duel fighting game that used half real stages, and became a member of its players called ?Burst Linker?, three months have passed.


    Back then, the Duel Avatar that Haruyuki controlled, ?Silver Crow? has the one and only ?Flight Ability?, a huge advantage that allowed him continuous fast attacks. He reached level 2 in merely about one week, and one month later obtained level 3, believing that he might become the real hero in this world.


    However, that was just a moment of glory before flight also being his weakness was discovered. Flight meant that you were also in the full view of the enemy. For long ranged attackers, that is, high speed precision attacks where tracking the bullet path is hard, he could no longer show off.


    The result was a long road to finally reaching level 4. Their current goal, to expand the Legion ?Nega Nebulas? territory of control was not going well, right now they have to work hard to just control the surroundings near the school.


    Territory, that is the area under the control of a Legion, is determined by a ?Territory Battle Time? every Saturday evening, it is a no level limit, same number group fight, the system will recognize the winner as the group who maintain an average of 50% wins. Under the Legion¡¯s territory, even if its members¡¯ Neuro Linker is connected to the Global Net, they are given the privilege to refuse ?Duel?.


    However the result of Silver Crow¡¯s abilities being analyzed was that the enemy teams who came to attack them, always included a high level anti-air duel avatar, which sealed Haruyuki¡¯s easy flight. With that, ?Silver Crow? became merely a weak close range melee fighter. His winning rate lowered, and was forced to be continually covered by his team members ?Cyan Pile? and ?Black Lotus?.


    That is why he does this training.


    If he can dodge at least half of the anti-air attacks, then he can find the attacker¡¯s position, and fight back with high powered attack from a rapid descent. This is the application he made while thinking that, but the result was not as he¡¯d expected. If he cannot dodge a bullet from a known firing location, how can he dodge anti-air attacks hidden by obstacles in the ?Duel Field??


    That person did not seem to show impatience or frustration. On the other hand, she gently encouraged him after his many unsightly losses in territory battles.


    However the disappointment that must be building up in her, Haruyuki could not stop himself from dreading it.


    - It will eventually, come down.


    At that time, he was shocked to notice himself thinking like that. If he disappointed that person more than this, it would be better if everything ended. This escaping side of him showing up due to old habit, was little by little, but surely continuing to grow in the bottom of his heart.


    He thought he had changed. When he accepted Brain Burst, the instant he became Burst Linker, he believed that he was no longer his previous self.


    But, isn¡¯t it the same after all? School or virtual battle field, no matter where he goes, is he destined to become the lowest losing group?


    While his round, soft and flabby body huddled in the toilet single person stall, Haruyuki shut his eyes as negative thoughts ran through his mind. With his throat still hurting from the burn by stomach acid, he desperately tried to push out a sound.


    ¡°...Even so... I...¡±


    However, he could not voice what¡¯s ahead. Right now he does not have enough strength to say that to his losing self.


    With the after school chime sounding directly through the local net, Haruyuki muttered without making a sound.


    ¡®- I want to become stronger.¡¯


    ¡®I want to become stronger.¡¯

 Volume 2 - CH 1

    ¡°Welcome home, Onii-chan!¡±


    When he got home, took off his shoes, and ploddingly walked half way down the hall to his room, he heard that sound coming from his left side, the direction of living room.


    Haruyuki automatically responded with a slur.


    ¡°...I am back...¡±


    He walked another one, two steps, then, on the third step he suddenly put on the brakes.


    ¡®- Huh?¡¯


    ¡®What was that just now?¡¯


    In Haruyuki¡¯s awareness, for Arita Haruyuki¡¯s 13 years and 10 months of life from birth up till now, he should be an only child. Instead of feeling displeasure, he was supposed to be thankful for being lucky, was he actually unconsciously very lonely, and started hearing things?


    Even so, it would not be ¡®Onii-chan¡¯. Even in a cute girl¡¯s voice. Is this an urban legend of ?Imouto? or what?


    While Haruyuki was having self doubts in an unnatural pose, he again heard an improbable sound.


    ¡®Funfuun¡¯, kind of humming. Pitter-patter kind of light slipper sounds. Not just those, somehow a sweet fragrant smell too. Illusion... smell? Do such words exist?


    He dropped his school bag from his shoulder, turned 180 degrees, and then stiffly walked towards the living room.


    Then he saw a mirage too.


    At the left side upon entry, usually, its original purpose was not put to much use, at that kitchen space.


    Around 10 years old. A surprisingly slim and slender body, wearing some elementary school uniform that consisted of a white blouse and a navy blue skirt with shoulder straps, and above those was a pink apron. Reddish hair with small pigtails on both sides, under a smooth and round forehead, the face could only be said to be ?innocent?. Maybe of slight mixed blood, the milky skin was covered with small freckles, and the large eyes were reddish-brown. To say the full impression in one word - .


    ¡®...Angel? Spelled like that?¡¯


    Having lost his thinking ability, Haruyuki was just staring while spaced out, the girl glanced at him then said with a cute smile.


    ¡°I am baking cookies right now, please wait a bit more, Onii-chan.¡±


    ¡°...Uwaa!¡±


    Haruyuki did a delayed scream, then hid his round body behind the living room door. While unable to understand the situation, he just poked the top part of his face out.


    The girl tilted her head in wonder, soon after she gave another smile, and turned around to peek into the oven. Her red hair with two pigtails swung softly, and shone from the winter light coming from a window.


    After coming this far, Haruyuki finally determined that this was not a mirage.


    For daydream, or delusion, the girl¡¯s existence was way too real. This means - this could only be a malicious program in the Neuro Linker. Ultra high detailed model layered on Haruyuki¡¯s view, information like sounds and smells were fed to him. It is unknown who did this imitation for whatever reason - .


    Since, there could not be an ?Imouto?.


    There was no need to be afraid of a polygon fake. While Haruyuki was thinking that in his mind, he stepped into the kitchen, and extended his right hand to the ?Imouto? who looked up smiling.


    Then, he pinched the freckled cheek, and pulled.


    For the Neuro Linker that communicated with human consciousness using quantum signals, at sight and sound level limit, virtual reality that¡¯s hard to tell from reality can be made. Due to the limits in memory and CPU power, creating the whole human is the best it can do.


    However, for the other senses, especially the sense of touch, it is hard to digitize, or research is slow. Something like a ?Human cheek?, the skin texture, muscle resistance, and contraction in reaction type of complicated virtual sense is impossible to perfectly recreate. So, if he did that, then his fingers will return a lifeless gum like feeling -


    ¡°Wh, wha ar yo doin ~¡±


    ¡°...Uu, uwaaaaa!?¡±


    Haruyuki shouted, let go of his hand, jumped back and his behind hit the refrigerator.


    It¡¯s perfect.


    Soft, smooth, also young and vivacious, that can only be said to be perfect ?feeling of pulling a 10 year old girl¡¯s cheek? - up till now he had never experienced this - occurred on his fingers.


    While being stared at by the suddenly outraged girl with round cheeks, Haruyuki extended his right hand towards the Neuro Linker at his neck, removed the lock and pulled it right off.


    From his view, time, calendar, application icons and AR information disappeared.


    The girl did not disappear.


    ¡®Haruyuki, sorry.¡¯


    That starting message from his mother, he finally noticed that it was left in the home server, he put the Neuro Linker back on, and stood there listening.


    [- sorry, but we will be taking care of a relative¡¯s child for two or three days. You know right, Nakano¡¯s Saitou-san, my cousin. He went on an emergency overseas trip, like I just said, I too will be going to Shanghai today. I will return three days from now, please look after that girl. If anything happens, send an email, see you.]


    His mother, Arita Saya, worked for an American bank in the dealing department. Every night she wouldn¡¯t be home till around midnight, once in a while she flew overseas and left him home for a few days and things. For that, how many parts for work and how many parts vacationing with the man she went out with, he did not know. If the divorce 7 years ago wasn¡¯t because his father cheated on her, Haruyuki would have thought that it was strange that he was left in her care.


    So, since Haruyuki was in elementary school, he was continually left in the care of the Kurashima house two floors down in the same apartment complex - that is Chiyuri¡¯s home.


    Chiyuri¡¯s mother and father always kindly welcomed him, on the other hand, if they had shown being bothered even once, he would have felt very bitter. Without any place to go, he would have grown up and become a child ten times more bullied than he was now.


    While thinking about those, Haruyuki peeked at Saitou-san¡¯s child moving busily in the kitchen.


    After the oven timer gave a light sound, the girl opened its door and pulled out a metal tray. A sweet smell drifted by strongly. It seems the source of the fragrance were cookies.


    She carefully moved with tongs around ten cookies onto a large plate covered with cooking paper, then she relaxed with a sigh.


    Holding the plate with both hands, she turned around, and looked up at Haruyuki.


    ¡°Umm... sorry for using the kitchen without permission. I thought Haruyuki onii-chan would be hungry when he returned... so...¡±


    A much lower volume voice than earlier, Haruyuki thought.


    ¡®I see, this child too, felt uneasy about whether the ?onii-chan? she was left in care of showed a bothered face or not. I am so helpless. Even though the opponent is a girl I met for the first time, there¡¯s no reason for me who is older to feel scared.¡¯


    While feeling some pain inside, Haruyuki tried his best to put up a smile and said.


    ¡°Th... thank you. I am starving.¡±


    Doing so, the girl too, smiled happily like ice melting.


    ¡°Umm, I am, Saitou Tomoko. Elementary school 5th year. We haven¡¯t seen each other for many years, so you might have forgotten... I think onii-chan and me are second cousins. Umm... I am unworthy, but please look after me.¡±


    While holding the plate, she bowed, that made Haruyuki¡¯s heart beat rocket up and his sweat glands open wide.


    However he soon remembered his earlier thought, and managed to return a barely understandable greeting.


    ¡°Yes, err, I... I am Arita Haruyuki, h-here also, p-please take care of me, Saitou-san.¡±


    The instant reply of ¡®Tomoko is fine¡¯ and smile caused Haruyuki to desperately pull his thoughts going far away back to normal.


    Nakano¡¯s Saitou-san, about that, all he remembered was having this kind of relative. For a parent¡¯s cousin, that was normal.


    ¡°...Y, you are also a single child?¡±


    Hearing that, Tomoko nodded.


    ¡°There is just father and me in my family. He suddenly had to go on a business trip, I said I was fine by myself, but he was worried. Earlier, he brought me here from school, and then left for Narita.¡±


    Tomoko answered while placing the plate of cookies on the table, which confirmed something for Haruyuki.


    ¡°Ah, then, you haven¡¯t met my mother.¡±


    ¡°No. I have only been given an instant key for onii-chan¡¯s house.¡±


    That was very fortunate. If it was that mother, she would have shown Tomoko a 100% bothered face without hesitation.


    - However.


    ¡®Then, if it¡¯s like that. That means for the next three days, I will be living alone with this girl.¡¯


    ¡®No no, you don¡¯t need to panic, you fool. The opponent is just an elementary 5th year child. She and I are a whole two years apart... Two years... Whole? Is that whole?¡¯


    Without noticing Haruyuki¡¯s panic attacks, Tomoko said ¡®Please wait till it cools¡¯, then after another smile, turned around. She quickly washed the bowls and things in the sink, at the same time boiling some water, and after just a few minutes, she returned with a tea tray. Clearly, she¡¯s already more familiar with this kitchen than Haruyuki.


    Girls are incredible, after thinking that, Haruyuki shook his head. A child, the opponent is just a child.


    However the cookies, were so delicious that they could be sold just like that in a shop.


    After eating nine of the so-so big cookies, Haruyuki wondered how many years it had been that he had eaten someone¡¯s handmade sweets, and sipped the tea Tomoko poured for him.


    On the other side of the table, his red-headed second cousin blew on her cup with a serious face. Each of those gestures, were simple and cute, just looking at it gave him a warm and snug feeling.


    ¡°...Thanks for the food. They were... d-delicious.¡±


    Haruyuki somehow managed to say that normally, it made Tomoko show a huge smile of relief.


    ¡°Really, I am glad! Since you did not say anything, I was worried.¡±


    ¡°S-sorry. I was eating in a daze...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    With ufufu laughter, she extended her hand in a half-raised posture, and took a cookie crumb that was stuck to Haruyuki¡¯s cheek.


    Then she threw it in her mouth, and laughed again.


    Zing, noticing a strange sound effect in his brain, Haruyuki wiped around his mouth in panic.


    ¡°W, well then, err... th, that is, what should we do now? Wa, want to play games? I have mountains of them, a collection of games starting from 40 years ago...¡±


    After saying so, he remembered that most of them are the bloody and hellish graphic type.


    However fortunately, Tomoko smiled and lightly shook her head.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t play too many games. I have a bit of trouble with Full Dive...¡±


    ¡°I, I see.¡±


    Haruyuki looked at her after saying so, on her small neck above the top blouse button, he belatedly noticed that the current era''s absolutely necessary social tool, the Neuro Linker, was not there.


    Indeed, there are families who avoid having elementary school student wearing the Neuro Linker permanently. The unlimited Global Net is a hothouse for many different kind of crime. Even with the parental control functions, it¡¯s difficult to block 100% of the harmful information.


    If they only use sight and sound mode for daily school classes, it¡¯s reasonable for them to be scared of full dive that cut all five senses. Then what should they do, while desperately thinking, his eyes finally stopped at the large panel monitor in the living room, Haruyuki pointed to that.


    ¡°Th... then, want to watch a movie on that? Even for old 2D software, they are pretty fun.¡±


    However, this time too, Tomoko shook her head slightly, and shyly said.


    ¡°Umm... Instead of that, can we talk? I want to learn about onii-chan¡¯s middle school.¡±


    She then stood up, walked around the table, and sat beside him.


    A milk like sweet smell tickled his nose, his long nurtured anti-female field activated at that moment, and Haruyuki moved back in reaction. His chair leaned, about to make him fall to the left, he flapped both arms to balance himself.


    Tomoko laughed while looking at Haruyuki returning to his original position with a bang.


    ¡°Onii-chan, you have a pretty cute side to you.¡±


    ¡®- Uwaa.¡¯


    While blowing bubbles from his mouth, Haruyuki lowered himself deeper into the bathtub.


    On his mother¡¯s whim, the Arita house bathroom is very big. The bathtub is big too, so Haruyuki¡¯s huge body fit in it with no problem and he was able to extend his hands. He breathed in a big whiff of the bathwater soap scented steam, kept it in his his lungs, then exhaled it slowly.


    Even though his speech was awkward, his rare long speech made his throat hurt a bit. Along with the curry rice dinner Tomoko cooked, he calculated that he had spent four hours total speaking. He was strangely impressed that he had so many stories to talk about from his everyday life.


    In the end, starting with the Umesato middle school¡¯s different systems, various episodes with his two childhood friends, to his ?most important person?, that is the black clothed upperclassman as well, were completely talked about. The only things he did not mention, was the bullied incident that continued till a few months ago, and - the ?other world? related information.


    To those talks that he thought certainly were not interesting, Tomoko seriously listened, and once in a while laughed with a comment.


    Is this the feeling of having a sister? Haruyuki tried to get a hold on it.


    At the same time, he hated himself for maintaining a certain doubt.


    It¡¯s just - too perfect. One day after returning home from school, a little sister suddenly appeared, baked cookies and made curry, and even used the killer move of ¡®Wanting to talk with onii-chan¡¯. Beyond that, they will be living with just two of them for three days?


    Haruyuki was not brought up in such a pure way that he could accept this rare event that fell on him.


    However, even if this incident had a back side to it, who would have done it and for what reason? And how should he go about to check it?


    After thinking for a while, Haruyuki raised his top half from the bath, and took the aluminum silver Neuro Linker from the corner rack.


    Even though it was water proof, he wiped his neck of water just in case, and put it on from behind. The U-shaped parts swung together, and locked around his neck.


    After turning it on, the start-up logo shone in front of his eyes, and after twenty or so seconds of brain connection check, the virtual desktop opened. Moving his right hand finger quickly, he opened the Arita home server window.


    In the data storage, Haruyuki thought of going into the family album, but he hesitated. In recent years they haven¡¯t taken any family photos, but in there before Haruyuki became so rounded - when his father and mother were still happily together, there were lots of their family pictures. Those things, he would rather die than look at.


    Going back up to the home server lobby, he opened the connection to the external net.


    A few solid access gates popped up. These were all of the Arita relatives¡¯ home nets. Of course you cannot fish for data as you like, but you can leave messages or check the relatives¡¯ public schedules.


    However, the access gate with ?Nakano¡¯s Saitou-san? home net did not exist. Most of the home net top pages only showed recent reports of family gathering pictures, he checked them out, but the only connections were from his mother¡¯s family, a few uncles and aunts, it did not cover their cousins.


    For a moment, Haruyuki looked away from the desktop towards the bathroom door and listened. He could hear slight sounds from the panel TV in the living room. Tomoko was probably still watching family oriented variety shows. Since she strongly urged him to take a bath first, he should finish quickly and go out. If the reason for his long bath was due to doubt if she was his real second cousin, even more so.


    He looked back to the desktop again, the access gate that was floating in the center - his mother¡¯s family home net, he opened it.


    He ignored the family picture taken in a mountain village, and clicked on the gate connecting to the internal net. Of course a login confirmation appeared, Haruyuki quickly moved his fingers.


    There, he entered the ID and password he got from mother. Since this access will be logged, if the other side asked his mother about the login reason, he would be in big trouble after his mother found out that he stole her ID, but he did not think that his village born grandparents would check their home net access logs.


    But of course, he must quickly finish what he had to do. Haruyuki hurriedly dived into his mother¡¯s family home net, and opened the album folder.


    He was overwhelmed by the number of pictures from all the years, but he found the era and number of people from the folder data. If his vague memory was right, five years ago for his grandfather¡¯s birthday, a lot of Arita family gathered. He might have greeted ?Nakano¡¯s Saitou-san? at that time. If it¡¯s like that, then five years or so old Tomoko should be there.


    His search was soon over, and a few thumbnails were stacked.


    He flicked each with his finger.


    Not this, not this either... ah, around here. The next one was bingo.


    ¡°Onii-chan?¡±


    Suddenly, a song like voice came from his right side, Haruyuki turned his head in reaction.


    Then, he froze with his right finger in the air.


    Not sure when, the bathroom door was opened a crack, on the other side, Tomoko peeked in with her face and right shoulder shown.


    From the reddish hair head that was warped in a towel, to the slightly shy looking face, then the slender neck and shoulder skin, his view moved down - .


    ¡°Wha... wh, wha...¡±


    To Haruyuki who was moving his mouth quickly, Tomoko returned a slightly pink smile.


    ¡°Onii-chan, can I join you?¡±


    ¡°To... gether... that...¡±


    ¡°Since, onii-chan is taking so long. I got tired of waiting.¡±


    With an ehehe smile, Tomoko entered the bathroom without waiting for an answer. Haruyuki lowered his body in panic, and shout with his eyes shut tight.


    ¡°S, sorry, I am getting out now! I am getting out soon so wait a bit more!!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, we are second cousins.¡±


    ¡®It¡¯s absolutely not okay - !!¡¯


    While his brain screamed, Haruyuki¡¯s biological optical observation system, that is his eyes, betrayed his command and opened. When the small bare feet on the ivory tiles entered his view, his breath stopped.


    Both of his eyes¡¯ focus automatically moved up. Surprisingly slender calf drawn with slippery lines. Small round knees and supple lower legs.


    The end of the legs were barely covered by a pink bath towel, Haruyuki momentarily thought, ¡®fool, what are you doing¡¯, he blamed himself as his eyes moved further up. The towel covered a body that did not have too many bumps, his eyes moved pass the cloth that could come off at any moment, and saw smooth skin covered a delicate collarbone.


    ¡°B... but, please don¡¯t stare at me so much.¡±


    And finally, the shyly lowered face.


    Haruyuki compare that to the large Arita gathering picture shown on his view¡¯s left side.


    The front line was a group of children including himself. Now, he would not know who was who, but fortunately, the pictures in this era used technology that contain embed data.


    Moving his focus, made names appear and disappear in front of the children.


    This name, appeared on the 6th person. ?Saitou Tomoko?.


    When he stared at it, the child¡¯s face automatically zoomed in, becoming the same size as the Tomoko in front of him.


    Five years old then. It is said that girls change, but becoming this face in five years...


    No way.


    Haruyuki took a deep breath, held it, then let it out.


    He faced the girl that said she was his second cousin with a vacant expression, and called with a sad smile.


    ¡°Tomoko-chan...¡±


    ¡°What is it, onii-chan?¡±


    ¡°...You, are a ?New Burst Linker? right?¡±


    The reaction was immediate and real.


    Tomoko¡¯s cute face, instantly became blank with a surprised look.


    That face probably was dyed red with some other reason than embarrassment, and the right eye jerked.


    But what was impressive, was the around 10 year old girl, tilted her head and said with a normal cute voice.


    ¡°What, onii-chan, what did you say? Bu..rst? What is that?¡±


    ¡°Tan line.¡±


    Haruyuki replied with a murmur.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Around your neck, there¡¯s a nice tan line. Similar to mine. To that degree, you could not get it unless you often worn it since birth... the Neuro Linker.¡±


    Tomoko - probably not her name girl, covered her neck with both hands. Then, Haruyuki continued.


    ¡°There¡¯s a picture from five years ago in my grandfather¡¯s home server. Saitou Tomoko-chan was there... even though I am saying it in this situation, you are 10 times cuter.¡±


    The girl¡¯s face jerked again, showing a complex expression.


    Eventually that multi-faceted face, settled on a sulky face that was one light year from the naive face till now.


    ¡°Geesh.¡±


    With her hands on her waist around the bath towel, she clicked her tongue strongly.


    ¡°I checked the family album here. To dig around in your grandfather¡¯s home net, you have too much distrust.¡±


    The sharp dig made his eyes spin, but Haruyuki somehow managed to retort.


    ¡°Y... you are too unreasonable. You probably faked an email from Saitou-san to my mother, what would you do if my mother checked with them?¡±


    ¡°The email and call from your mother¡¯s Neuro Linker to Saitou-san were all interrupted and redirected to me. It took three days of preparation.¡±


    ¡°That... must be hard work...¡±


    While holding the edge of the bathtub, Haruyuki let out an amazed sound.


    To put a virus in someone¡¯s Neuro Linker, it could only be done with a cable direct connect. Probably this girl checked his mother¡¯s movement, and connected their Neuro Linker in the changing room of the sports gym that his mother frequent.


    Of course, having a family member subjected to that did not feel good, but before that, he was impressed. This world has many self proclaimed Linker hackers and wizards, but to leave their safe home and go to the outside for ?Social engineering? - meeting others to do offline extreme hacking - there are not many strong ones like that.


    Hearing Haruyuki¡¯s words containing admiration, the girl¡¯s face showed a strong smile.


    Seeing that, Haruyuki continued to voice his guess.


    ¡°...For you to go this far, you must be trying to hack my supporter, ?that person?, that¡¯s too naive. For that person, one look and she will know you are a fake, unlike me who took 5 hours. ...I can understand that you cannot win fighting face to face as a Burst Linker... since the opponent is that ?Black Lotus?...¡±


    ¡®Would you hurry and leave¡¯, while thinking that he said up to that point -


    At that moment.


    The girl¡¯s presence, again changed sharply.


    Her eyes shot out strong light, with a hint of red like her hair. Her glossy lips twisted into a bend, showing pure white teeth.


    An expression that can only be described as arrogance looked down at Haruyuki, and the girl said in a low voice.


    ¡°...Hey you, what did you say?¡±


    ¡°...Eh? Th, that is... even if you challenge her face to face...¡±


    ¡°Cannot win? Me? That¡¯s why I sneak around and go about this bothersome real hack?¡±


    ¡®- That¡¯s not it?¡¯


    At the same time Haruyuki asked that question with his eyes, the girl¡¯s right hand moved, and took off the towel that was around her head. She threw that towel to the floor with a loud thud, then pointed her index finger at him.


    In the foggy air, he seemed to see that her near deep red hair stood up on ends. With her short hair waving like flames, the girl let out a threatening voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s too bothersome, I will force you to listen to me. I will have you pay dearly for looking down on this ?Scarlet Rain?-sama, wait right there till I get my Neuro Linker!!¡±


    With her index finger waving, she stuck out her thumb, then turned it down and wiggled it, turning around in a big move.


    Then, her right foot that took a step, stepped on the towel that she threw earlier, and slipped.


    ¡°Nyaa!?¡±


    A high pitched scream. Looking at the girl falling in an almost perfect back flip, Haruyuki also shouted.


    ¡°Uwaa!?¡±


    He hurriedly opened both arms, and caught the girl before she hit the bathtub¡¯s edge. However his feet slipped inside the bathtub, so he also fell backward.


    Splash.


    With a huge splash sound, a water pillar went up high, that blew up most of the bath towel.


    When Haruyuki hit the wall behind, he shut his eyes to wait for the pain to pass, then lifted his head to check the situation.


    He was sitting in the wide bathtub.


    A red haired girl was riding his flabby stomach as cushion. Her slender body was held by both of his arms.


    And also, both of them were completely naked.


    ¡°U, uwaaaaa!?¡±


    Haruyuki shouted that, then,


    ¡°Ugyaaa - !!¡±


    The girl¡¯s scream overwrote his shout. She stumbled around, then from her foot¡¯s bounce on Haruyuki¡¯s stomach, she somehow managed to escape out of the bathtub. She picked up the bath towel on the floor, fled to the change area in high speed, then showed just her face.


    ¡°...I will beat you to death.¡±


    When he heard her footsteps head towards the living room, Haruyuki thought in a daze.


    ¡®- I saw and touched.¡¯


    ¡®- Not that. That girl was probably an assassin from the one of the six kings. With that word and action, she will probably be back later to challenge him to a duel.¡¯


    Then, should he remove the Neuro Linker to prevent that? However, she is probably an enemy they will meet again, so it might be better to obtain information early. Since he is just level 4, losing once won¡¯t cost him too many points, also - since the opponent is just a child, he might not lose that easily.


    With about 80% of his thinking processes in confusion, the remaining 20% reached that conclusion, then the name that girl said earlier pop up in his brain.


    ?Scarlet Rain?. He probably hasn¡¯t heard of it. For the color circle, it¡¯s probably ?Long range red? type, with that, he thought she might be a Burst Linker belonging to the red legion. He would find that out when they duel, but he wanted a bit more information.


    It will take some time for the girl to put on her Neuro Linker, start the OS, and finish the quantum connection check. While he sat in the bathtub, he issued a voice command.


    ¡°Command. Voice Call. Number 01.¡±


    At that moment, [Voice call for registered address number 01. Is that okay?], that holo dialogue appeared in front of his eyes. He instantly answered ¡®Yes¡¯.


    With two rings, the opponent answered.


    ¡°It¡¯s me. What¡¯s wrong, Haruyuki-kun, calling at this time.¡±


    With that smooth voice, a background sound like musical accompaniment of splashing water was heard.


    ¡®Ah, is senpai also taking a bath...¡¯ While thinking that and other things, Haruyuki talked to the person he called - one of the strongest Burst Linkers, Black King ?Black Lotus?, also known as Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Sorry for calling this late. I want you to tell me about something...¡±


    ¡°Oh, what is it?¡±


    ¡°Well, senpai, do you know of a Burst Linker called ?Scarlet Rain??¡±


    The answer to his question, was a bit long silence.


    ¡°...A, ah, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°...Nothing, sorry. You are seriously asking that right?¡±


    ¡°Seriously... of course. I won¡¯t make a prank call at this time.¡±


    ¡°I see. Hmm, this should be my omission. I used the common calling only so haven¡¯t told you their names. However, ?Silver Crow?, you are also a bit short on study.¡±


    ¡°Eh...? What, does that mean...¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s tilted head heard running footsteps in the hall, on top of that was Kuroyukihime¡¯s cool voice.


    ¡°- ?Scarlet Rain?. That person is also called ?Immobile Fortress? and ?Bloody Storm?... is the second generation Red King.¡±


    ...Huh?


    In a daze, with both eyes and mouth wide open, Haruyuki¡¯s thoughts stopped.


    Right after, the bathroom door was pulled open hard, and the red haired girl again appeared.


    She must be really furious, since she only wore underwear on top and bottom. However she did not seem to be hiding anymore, her pure white body was held high, and arms crossed in front of her chest.


    He moved his view on reaction, and noticed the only other thing she had on other than underwear, then stared at it. Around her slender neck, a glossy pure red shone.


    The girl showing a violent smile, shouted with a cute yet forceful voice.


    ¡°Burst Link!!¡±


    Viiiii!!


    - That familiar, yet always hair-raising sound reverberated in his world.


    Instantly, his five senses were cut, in the darkness ?HERE COMES A NEW CHALLENGER!!? words burned. Right after, his view returned.


    However, there was no longer his home bathroom with ivory makeup panels. Unbelievable that it was high up in a apartment floor, it was a huge open space.


    Haruyuki had already accelerated his thought with the Neuro Linker, and fully dived into the virtual world created by the duel fighting game application ?Brain Burst?. The surrounding world, was made up of images from Social Camera Net all over Japan, a virtual ?Duel Field?.


    However, normal residences including Haruyuki¡¯s home did not have a social camera, so this was supplemented with guess work - that is the software built it up with the structure. This time, the apartment was returned to while it was being built. The concrete littered floor had steel pillars here and there.


    In this bleak space, Haruyuki and the girl faced each other in their real form for about half of a second.


    However soon, both their body color and shape started changing. Towards their other self, the combat use ?Duel Avatar?.


    Haruyuki¡¯s round limbs were covered with silver from the tips and at the same time twisted smaller and smaller. What appeared was silver armor covered robotic hands. The change reached his body, and his stomach shrunk by more than half in one go. When the slender metallic body was finished, the white light covered his head, and became a slippery round mirror helmet.


    While he was transforming to his duel avatar ?Silver Crow?, Haruyuki continued to stare at the girl a few meters in front of him.


    The doll like delicate arms and legs were covered by a deep red shine. As the light circle moved up, the places it passed were transformed to a ruby colored armor. The flat stomach and chest were also changed to be covered by dark grey and ruby mixed half transparent armor, and with a last flash, an android like head appeared.


    A mask that only had bead like eyes. Front hair shape metal extended from both sides of the head, like pigtail shaped antenna.


    The twin pigtails wiggled, and a deep red light shone from both eyes.


    ¡®- This is the ?Red King??¡¯


    Haruyuki stood still and looked at the Duel Avatar a few meters in front of him.


    Small. Height only around 130cm. For weapon-like items, only a toy-like handgun on the right waist.


    ¡°...E, err.¡±


    He unintentionally opened his mouth, and under the mirror helmet, a metallic effect voice leaked out.


    ¡°Are you really...¡±


    ¡®Accelerated world¡¯s only seven level 9 Burst Linker, highest commander of huge legion, one of the ?Pure Color Six Kings??¡¯


    He wanted to ask that, at that moment.


    Suddenly, the space behind the cute girl avatar became twisted.


    Four brusque blocks shining pure red appeared from the void, and warped around the girl¡¯s arms and legs. Then thick armor surrounded her from left and right, fully covering the elegant body.


    ¡°What the...¡±


    Haruyuki looked with a daze at the red avatar that became several times bigger than him in one go.


    However, the addition of armaments did not stop there.


    With low Gon Gon sounds reverberating, huge hexagon pillars, cylinders, and plates kept appearing behind and connecting. The height soon reached for the ceiling, compared to the panicky retreating Silver Crow, its height was 2 meters more, 3 meters more...


    A few seconds later.


    When silence finally returned, what stood in front of Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, was a tank, or might be a thing better called a fortress.


    Like an extension of its original arms, two huge cannons were slowly lifted up, and white steam came from various heat release valves.


    In the center of the armor container, two shining red eyes peeked out just a bit.


    ¡°...No way...¡±


    At the same time as Haruyuki¡¯s whisper, in front of him in burning font, ?FIGHT?, shone, then blew apart.


    ¡®I should run away first!!¡¯


    That was the first thing Haruyuki thought of, he wanted to turn around and quickly dash away behind, but stopped when he thought that would be dangerous.


    The enemy¡¯s type is ?Long range red?. This huge fortress like duel avatar, no matter how you look at it, is a demon of long distance attacks. In addition to the main cannons on the left and right side, the containers on both shoulders were probably missile pods, and the short tubes in front should be some kind of machine gun. Against this type of opponent, trying to distance himself would be foolish.


    With that determination, he gathered courage to stand still, then the fortress avatar ?Scarlet Rain?¡¯s red eyes focused on him.


    ¡°...Hmm, not running away. You have guts.¡±


    The metallic yet cute voice, was released by the Red King.


    ¡°I, I am so scared that my legs won¡¯t move.¡±


    Haruyuki replied with a pitiful sound, then he desperately looked at the Red King¡¯s different parts.


    Normally in games, the strategy against this kind of huge armored boss enemy, is to attack the thin area weak point in a blind spot. Attacking from the front is out of question, left and right is probably covered by those movable main cannons. That leaves right behind. If he could dash at full speed around to the back side.


    Unknown if she knew of Haruyuki¡¯s thinking or not, Scarlet Rain laughed.


    ¡°You said a cute thing? But, you didn¡¯t forget, right?¡±


    ¡°Eh? About... what?¡±


    ¡°That I will...¡±


    Guin! With that sound the right main cannon moved, pointing right at Haruyuki.


    ¡°- beat you to death, you hentai[1]!!¡±


    ¡°That was beyond my controlll!!¡±


    While shouting back a reply, Haruyuki kicked the ground hard. He moved towards the enemy¡¯s left side at lightning speed, then made a sharp turn for the back side.


    Scarlet Rain who turned while chasing Haruyuki, was surprisingly quick for such a huge size, but even so, Silver Crow - is a very specialized speed type duel avatar, so she could not catch up to his dash.


    ¡°And you were the one who came into the bathroommm!!¡±


    With another shout while turning, Haruyuki finally saw the enemy¡¯s back and rushed forward.


    As he had predicted, the back side had large heat releasing fins and vernier like things lined up, but he did not see any armaments. The armor looked thinnest at the connection between the missile pod and fin, his right fist aimed for that - .


    ¡®...Vernier?¡¯


    At the same time he thought of that, four black exhaust holes let out fierce jets of flame.


    ¡°Uwaa hot -!!¡±


    He had a strong feeling of heat when he was covered by the flames, so he screamed. In his view¡¯s upper left, his own HP gauge dropped.


    However, Haruyuki did not stop moving forward.


    The damage to him, was not an amount to be feared. The metal color Silver Crow has heat attack resistance.


    ¡°Fire won¡¯t work against this Silver Crow!!¡±


    ¡®- It¡¯s decided.¡¯


    While thinking that, Haruyuki put all his strength behind his punch against the back armor in front of him. However.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that easy, brat!!¡±


    Fuhahaha, with a roar that he could almost see the words, at the same time the containers on Scarlet Rain¡¯s shoulders opened their covers.


    From those, numerous small missiles flew out, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide on seeing that.


    ¡®Wait... here, the building... inside...¡¯


    Right after, the concrete ceiling, floor, and steel pillars were all covered by red rose like explosions.


    Haruyuki desperately ducked when a missile headed straight for him, it hit the concrete ceiling above his head, breaking it up mesh like, and it started falling.


    ¡°No way...¡±


    He dangerously dodged a huge slap of concrete that fell down, it hit near his feet and the floor abruptly sank.


    ¡°No way - !!¡±


    With that shout, Haruyuki dashed fiercely. This was no longer the time to worry about keeping distance with the enemy or not. This was the 23rd floor above ground. If he was caught in the collapse, his HP would be gone in an instant.


    The originally Haruyuki¡¯s home apartment was now a building with only floor and pillars, so tens of meters ahead he could see the outside space. He jumped around the broken floors and used his fist and head to break falling concrete fragments, while checking the special attack gauge below his HP gauge.


    The damage that he dealt and received did not amount to much, but maybe due to the stage destruction points, his gauge was at about 20% with a green shine. With this -


    He could fly!!


    Haruyuki took a deep breath and exerted force on his shoulders.


    On his back, folded metal fins started to make a crisp sound.


    With the fins¡¯ high frequency vibration, Haruyuki¡¯s dash speed also increased.


    ¡°Fuooooo - !!¡±


    With that shout, Haruyuki aimed for the grey space coming up in front of him and dived head first.


    Haruyuki¡¯s home was very high up in the building. That meant, the moment he jumped out from the building, he could see all of the streets from Kouenji to Shinjuku.


    The superb panoramic view - was there, but all the buildings were similar to his apartment, becoming stark segments with steel pillars. This is probably the ?Weathered? stage. Its properties are: easy to destroy, dusty, and occasional gust blowing...


    While thinking of many things, Haruyuki controlled his metallic wings'' speed and hovered in the air.


    He checked his special attack gauge, there¡¯s still a little left. With that, he should be able to fly continuously for three minutes.


    He turned around - .


    That was about the same time as the huge high-rise building split almost in half and collapsed.


    ¡°Ah, ah... My home...¡±


    He whispered unconsciously. Of course that was just polygon data created by the system, but this was the first time his home was destroyed in a ?Duel?.


    ¡°That was reckless.¡±


    While shaking his helmet head, Haruyuki looked down at the rubble mountain that his apartment had become. The Red King seemed to be buried in her own destruction, and could not be seen. At that rate, probably even a fortress avatar won¡¯t escape unscratched.


    ¡®What was she thinking¡¯, he shook his head and started to descend, right after.


    Haruyuki noticed something and became horrified.


    Scarlet Rain¡¯s HP gauge - did not decrease. To be exact around 3% was lost, but that could not be called damage.


    And then, her special attack gauge, was flashing at 100%.


    It would be like that. With the destruction of that huge environmental object, a huge bonus must have been added. That meant, her reckless missile fire, was not to prevent Haruyuki from attacking behind her, nor was she trying to trap him in the destruction...


    Suddenly.


    From under the rubble, muscle like red light appeared from cracks. At the same time, a sharp shout.


    ¡°- ?Heat Blast Saturation?!!¡±


    With a sharp squeal and explosion sound, a crimson flame extended from the wreck of the apartment, Haruyuki who saw that screamed.


    ¡°Hiaaaa!!¡±


    He moved his right wing as fast as he could, and tried to avoid with a spin dive. However.


    The flame was way too huge. He was unable to completely avoid the flame with a diameter about the same as his height, and the wavering hot column touched Silver Crow¡¯s left hand, and below his elbow came a burning sound.


    His HP gauge lost one fifth, at the same time a non-virtual hot feeling attacked him, but Haruyuki almost did not notice it.


    Because, the heat ray that went by him head east of the stage, hit Shinjuku city far away, and blew up everything above 300 meters in that area.


    ¡°No way...¡±


    The not sure how many time in this battle, shocked voice leaked from Haruyuki.


    While his mouth flapped under the silver face plate, he moved his view to look at his home¡¯s wreckage.


    At that moment, from the huge hole in the rubble, the Red King¡¯s majesty appeared.


    The full body beautiful ruby armor, didn¡¯t seem to have a single scratch. The back and lower verniers glowed red from exhaust, and white steam came from the slits on the left cannon.


    ¡°...Ooh, he¡¯s flying?¡±


    From between the front armor, the Red King¡¯s two round eyes looked up at Silver Crow and said in a sing song voice.


    ¡°I wanted to try it once, like anti-air cannon fire? In SF movies and others, when they let it all out seems to be very fun.¡±


    Clink.


    With that clear metallic sound, the missile containers on both shoulders all opened, the right main cannon was lifted up, and the four machine guns in the front changed angle.


    While trembling, a certain anime movie scene played in Haruyuki¡¯s brain. A small robotic weapon, trying to infiltrate an enemy fortress filled with anti-air weapons - however, he was shot down like a small bug, and he shouted his lover¡¯s name before exploding.


    ¡®Ah, then it would be Kuroyukihime for me. But that¡¯s just a nickname. Even though, it¡¯s embarrassing to say her real name.¡¯


    While repeating escapist thinking, the enemy¡¯s main cannon started charging with a rumbling sound. From the containers, around 100 small missiles appeared, their seeker head lenses shining.


    Compared to the again full special attack gauge from destroying a city, Haruyuki¡¯s own gauge only had less than 5% left. He only had tens of seconds of full strength flight probably. It was not his habit, but he might have to bet on a simple banzai attack in this situation.


    ¡°...I have to say this, huge war ship is supposed to be shot down by a single robot, it was decided in the past!¡±


    With a loser like retort, Haruyuki took a dashing form in the air.


    ¡°As if a robot piloted by a hentai can be that active, idiot!¡±


    The Red King shouted those very nasty words, then continued with a loud shout.


    ¡° - ?Hailstorm Domination?!!¡±


    Giyudoaaaapapapapaundaridaridari, those three attack sounds reverberated, main cannon, missiles, and machine guns fired at the same time.


    This is truly, a huge manifestation of ?Long range anti-air attack? that Haruyuki was having long time trouble with. The previous week, and the week before that as well, Haruyuki was chased by one tenth of that firepower and was shot down.


    Then why did he now, have no wish to give up, or feel any fear?


    Since the enemy is so much stronger, he might just be having a ¡®so-what¡¯ attitude. However Haruyuki, for once in a long while, his whole body was covered by the heat of his boiling blood. That was, the excitement of ?Duel?.


    ¡°...Zuoriyaa - !!¡±


    With that roar, Haruyuki first dashed to the right in the air, avoiding the main cannon¡¯s high heat beam. If he was directly hit with that, he would be burn to a crisp instantly. The beam dangerously passed by him, this time it opened a huge hole in park tower and NS building.


    However, the enemy seemed to have predicted that move. Numerous small missiles came after him from the front with their seeker shining.


    Taking a deep breath, Haruyuki started full body ultra high speed movement.


    He flew straight and pulled a group of missiles behind him, then did a more than 90 degrees sharp turn. While he wavered from the explosions of missiles that lost their homing target, the next group of missiles closed in, and he again dodged.


    He zig zag in the air like an UFO, and left numerous explosions as Silver Crow continued to fly.


    Strangely, he could clearly see the missile and machine gun bullet paths. If this was result from the training in that white room, he could not tell.


    While doing unlimited high speed flight, Haruyuki felt a strong resentment against himself.


    Why couldn''t he do this kind of movement in the weekly territory battle? Why did he always get shot by just one rifle and his legs - no wings shun and he stopped flying? If it was because of pressure, then his one on one fight with the one called ?Red King? should be way more fearful.


    ¡®- I am this fast. I can fly this way. Then, why in the moment when it matters I was so clumsily hit by bullets? I should be a lot stronger. Become strong, raise my level, then that person...¡¯


    ¡°...!¡±


    While he strongly ground his teeth under his helmet, his flight speed slowed just a bit, and the only dodge route trace was missed.


    In front of him was the remaining around 30 missiles group. Behind him was the machine gun bullet shower. And below him Scarlet Rain¡¯s left main cannon finished charging, and started tracking him.


    ¡°Sh... it!¡±


    Haruyuki right kicked the missile that came in front of him. It flew away and blew up. From the reaction, he changed his angle and dived straight below. However, in front of his eyes, the left main cannon¡¯s hole waited -.


    At that time, a fierce wind blew in the battle field.


    It was the ?Weathered? stage¡¯s geological effect. From the concrete buildings to the ground, a large sand storm blew up, his view was temporarily filled with grey. The surrounding missiles lost their target and exploded one by one.


    ¡®...This is it!!¡¯


    Haruyuki opened his eyes, aiming just for the ruby color in the sandstorm, and did a rapid spiral dive.


    In the middle of his path, the main cannon¡¯s beam passed by, burning just air.


    ¡°Oooooo!!¡±


    With that roar, Haruyuki changed his position, the sharp front of his foot moved forward like a spear of light. His all or nothing left kick, aimed between Scarlet Rain¡¯s twin missile containers. If this could be a critical hit, there might be a chance for him yet -


    - However.


    ¡°...!?¡±


    Right before the sword sharp feet hit, the huge fortress avatar broke apart at once.


    The containers and main cannons split apart, and the armor plates too opened up all around.


    From the center, an elegant girl avatar appeared, and looked up at him.


    With an unbelievable speed, she slid one step, and dodged Silver Crow¡¯s kick.


    Blam! Silver Crow made a big hole on the ground, he fell clumsily, and something was stuck on his helmet. Looking up, he saw a small gun hole. Scarlet Rain¡¯s main body, the small girl avatar, held a crimson handgun in her right hand, and ¡®hold up¡¯ Haruyuki.


    ¡®- When that kick was easily dodged, I lost.¡¯


    Even acknowledging that, Haruyuki said while not knowing when to give up.


    ¡°...Do you think that toy like gun can penetrate my armor?¡±


    Then, on Red King¡¯s mask that only had two lens like eyes, a bright smile showed.


    ¡°If I said this gun was my strongest weapon, would you believe it, onii-chan?¡±


    Haruyuki took a deep breath, then blew it out, with both hands - his left hand was mostly gone - held up.


    ¡°...I believe you. You win, Scarlet Rain.¡±


    Then, the Red King smiled once more, and said.


    ¡°Then, will you listen to my wish?¡±


    ¡°Eh? Wish...?¡±


    It wouldn¡¯t be betraying the Black legion right? That would be impossible negotiation.


    While he panicked inside, the answer was beyond his expectation. With a sudden threatening tone, the girl haughtily said.


    ¡°- I want to meet your ?Parent?. In the real world... with our real selves.¡±

 Volume 2 - CH 2

    The following day, January 22nd, Thursday, 12:05pm.


    While looking bleary eyed due to lack of sleep, Haruyuki walked towards the student cafeteria on the first floor of Umesato middle school.


    Last night, Haruyuki eventually slept in his own room, and his second cousin Tomoko - the ?Red King? who faked being her, slept in the living room sofa bed, but of course he did not have the courage to sleep properly in such situation.


    What was the goal of the Red King anyway? Why did she pretend to be a sweet imouto character in the beginning and even bake cookies, and then want to meet and talk with Kuroyukihime, who is the Black King.


    He wanted to think about that and other things seriously, but his brain kept replaying that bathroom scene, ¡®ahaa this way I might really be a hentai, since I am a troubled 13 year old boy, however I already have someone called Kuroyukihime.¡¯


    With that kind of worry it became daylight, Haruyuki tried not to wake up the Red King who was sleeping deeply, ate cereal for breakfast then left his home quickly.


    He somehow managed to get past his morning classes with the help of the Neuro Linker alarm to keep him awake, however when the noon recess neared, he was excited about meeting Kuroyukihime today too, so he was partially awake, and at the same time as the chime sounded, he rushed out of his classroom.


    Haruyuki stepped into the still almost empty cafeteria, went between the long tables that were lined up, and jumped into the lounge that was on the other side.


    A circular area with elegant round tables, at the farthest table inside. With the winter light shining through the glass wall behind her, was a black clothed human shape that looked as if she was shining with an aura, Haruyuki stared at her while forgetting to breathe.


    During the past three months, he had seen the same scene many times. However, the painful tingling in his chest never seemed to wane. That this picturesque scenery exists today too, he thought was a miracle.


    Looking small and quiet with her cheek resting on one hand, reading a large book on the table - Kuroyukihime eventually raised her head without a sound. Long black hair that flowed down her shoulders, shone in the soft sunlight.


    ¡°Ah, good morning, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    While feeling happy that the somewhat low and smooth silky voice called his name today too, he recalled a little bit of his recent clumsy battle losses and felt shameful, Haruyuki walked to her table and bowed.


    ¡°Good morning, senpai. That is... to...¡±


    ¡®Today too, you are beautiful.¡¯


    He had the ambition of saying that one day, but he did not have the skill to say that with his human voice, so with no choice, changed to something else.


    ¡°...Today too, you are early. I have never gotten here before senpai...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s of course. The first year classroom is on the 3rd floor, and the second year on the 2nd floor.¡±


    She shrugged with a composed expression. Haruyuki pulled out the chair beside her and sat down, then retorted.


    ¡°Th... that¡¯s reasonable, but. Even though, that¡¯s everyday...¡±


    ¡°That, I like waiting for you more than you waiting for me. In this precious time, I can store in memory from the moment you enter.¡±


    Again, she smiled like a black lily flower opening.


    Those words and smile was aimed at his fat and clumsy self, that made him felt equal parts of happiness and wither, he blew out his momentarily stopped breath slowly.


    - It¡¯s absolutely unbelievable. That the ephemerally kind senpai, and the Sparta demon instructor in the accelerated world were the same person.


    For Haruyuki, he wanted to spend more time with the former type, but that wish probably wouldn¡¯t be granted today. After he explained the situation from last night that continued today, the kind ?Kuroyukihime senpai? will surely change into the scary ?Black death water lily?.


    He wanted to spend even one second more looking into each other¡¯s eyes, while Haruyuki was thinking like a girl in love, Kuroyukihime said ¡®oh that¡¯s right¡¯ and opened her mouth.


    ¡°Last night¡¯s phone call... what was that? While I thought you went silent during the conversation, then suddenly you hung up after ¡®good night¡¯. Something like... ?Red King? was mentioned...¡±


    ¡°Ah... well... that...¡±


    ¡®In that one second of silence, I dueled with the Red King herself.¡¯


    If he had said that suddenly, she would not have believed him. For the level 9 ?Kings?, they no longer need to fight normal duels to earn Burst Points to level up, so they rarely appeared in battle fields.


    So Haruyuki voluntarily told her everything. Everything starting with ¡®Welcome home, onii-chan¡¯ - he was not able to avoid the problematic bathroom scene.


    A few minutes later.


    Kuroyukihime with 30% amazement and 70% anger, took in a long breath, and held her hard right fist in the air.


    ¡®You fool!¡¯ Blam!


    That angry roar and slam on the table, dangerously did not happen. In the lounge, some students entered while holding their lunch trays. They glanced at Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime, even though it was a familiar sight to them, the unbelievable expression still always showed on their faces, and they sat at tables a bit away from them.


    Unlike Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime did not seem to notice the other students¡¯ looks, she held her fist about 5cm above the table and repeatedly breathed hard, then eventually lowering her hand onto the table.


    ¡°Why did you not... notice when you first met her, I would like to say that very much... but with that perfect social engineering, also, the ?King? herself coming is beyond expectations...¡±


    ¡°Ye, yea, isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    After avoiding Kuroyukihime¡¯s violent eruption, Haruyuki rubbed his chest and nodded.


    With her final expression heading towards a large bitter smile, Kuroyukihime shook her head many times and said in a low voice.


    ¡°Well... there¡¯s also your unexpected success from failure. A direct fight with a ?King?, is an important experience that no amount of Burst Points can buy. How was the 2nd generation ?Red King??¡±


    ¡°Absolutely unreasonable. One hit blew away half of a city... my home was totally destroyed...¡±


    Thinking back on that transcendental firepower made Haruyuki tremble. Seeing that, Kuroyukihime laughed.


    ¡°That is the power of ?very specialized ability?. I heard that ?Scarlet Rain? put all of her level up bonuses into enhancing her long range firepower. That¡¯s right... in your duel, did the Red King move?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Momentarily unable to understand the question, Haruyuki blinked.


    Soon, he understood what Kuroyukihime was trying to ask.


    That¡¯s right - thinking back, while the Red King Scarlet Rain changed to her duel avatar in front of him, she was covered with that fortress like armament. She destroyed Haruyuki¡¯s apartment home, and finally shot all that anti-air fire, but she did not move even once.


    While he was shaking his head, he suddenly stopped.


    No, to be exact that¡¯s not right. At the duel¡¯s very end, to avoid Haruyuki¡¯s full speed descent attack, the Red King moved just one step - .


    ¡°Ah... she moved. Just for 50cm.¡±


    Hearing that, Kuroyukihime finally smiled once more, and clapped her hands together.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s impressive! One of Scarlet Rain¡¯s names is ?Immobile Fortress?, it was given not because she could not move, it was because she did not need to move. According to rumors, in a large scale battle for the throne of 2nd generation Red King, she did not move even one step from where she appeared and destroyed around 30 people.¡±


    ¡°Wow...¡±


    Haruyuki unconsciously let that out. Fighting that kind of person head on, being ignorant was scary.


    ¡°If... if I heard of that before, I would have surrendered at the start. Or more like, if I knew she was a ?King?, I would have instantly rejected the duel. Since it is called ?Pure color six kings?, I just thought the Red King would be ?Red something?.¡±


    Hearing that, Kuroyukihime said with a smile.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I said you were short on study on the phone. In the accelerated world, the Red crowned, is the one and only ?Red Rider?...¡±


    She said till there.


    Then stopped abruptly.


    As Haruyuki looked on, her smile slowly disappeared. Her white flesh lost blood, and seem to become pale as ice.


    ¡°Se, senpai...?¡±


    After Haruyuki asked with wide eyes, Kuroyukihime replied with ¡®No, nothing¡¯ in a completely dry tone.


    With a completely blank expression, Kuroyukihime slowly lowered her face. When he saw her right hand that was on the table trembling slightly, Haruyuki finally - way to late, realized the reason for Kuroyukihime¡¯s reaction.


    The previous Red King. ?Red Rider?.


    It was the first time he heard of that name from Kuroyukihime. However, he knew the reason why the Burst Linker with that name left the accelerated world.


    Two years ago, Kuroyukihime - the Black King - Black Lotus, cut off his head with her own hands.


    However it was not in a normal duel, it was during the gathering at the seven kings¡¯ conference. She sneak attacked him while he was delivering a speech.


    For level 9 Burst Linker duel, a cruel rule existed that made them lose all their Burst Points even in one defeat. Without needing to say, those who lost all points is the same as forever losing Brain Burst itself.


    Looking at Kuroyukihime¡¯s tightly clenched white hand on the table, Haruyuki half involuntarily asked.


    ¡°Senpai... perhaps, the previous Red King, to you...¡±


    ¡®- Instead of just a friend, did he have some kind of special place in your heart?¡¯


    That question, instead of being concerned for the person in front of him, it¡¯s more to quell his own jealousy. After dangerously noticing that, he abruptly stopped what he was going to ask. Right after, he lowered his head trying to hide it.


    ¡°Sorry, I was way too insensitive. Last night¡¯s phone call... and the question now as well. I am sorry, really...¡±


    ¡°...No... it¡¯s okay, don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    That reply lost all luster and was faded.


    ¡°It¡¯s the path I chose. Having this kind of reaction means I am still immature. Fufu... I thought I had made up my mind long ago... that all other Burst Linkers are foes, that is set as ?enemy?... this is what I get for being caught off guard, this is way too ridiculous.¡±


    With Kuku low laughter, Kuroyukihime tried to put her hand back on her knee.


    That hand, was held by both Haruyuki¡¯s hands that involuntarily reached out. It seemed like with a breath, she tried to pull her hand back hard, but Haruyuki became stubborn and resisted.


    Even though she was bathed in the sunlight from the window, she was as cold as a statue. He almost could hear her tendons that were strained to the limit.


    While he tried to concentrate as much of his body heat into the cold hand as possible, Haruyuki opened his mouth.


    ¡°...I... I am...¡±


    The image of what he wanted to say was in his head, but he did not have to ability to convert it into language. Not even noticing the stares of more students coming into the lounge, Haruyuki desperately moved his mouth.


    ¡°I will absolutely not fight with senpai. Never become your ?enemy?. Senpai is my ?parent?, and I am senpai¡¯s ?child?. Before we are foes, we are family, right?¡±


    The silence continued for a while.


    Eventually, Kuroyukihime raised her head to look up at Haruyuki, and slowly nodded.


    Her lips contained a light smile, however, Haruyuki saw that it was mixed with a somewhat sad feeling.


    ¡°...Let¡¯s change the location.¡±


    Kuroyukihime said simply, and this time she took her right hand back.


    After that she got up smoothly, and started walking while holding her hardcover book, Haruyuki chased after her and inquired.


    ¡°Wh, where to...?¡±


    ¡®To a place where we can be alone.¡¯


    That was not it, Kuroyukihime¡¯s response was business like.


    ¡°How to deal with ?Scarlet Rain?, we can¡¯t just decide that for ourselves. This kind of thing, must be conferred with the whole legion. For lunch, let¡¯s go buy sandwiches.¡±


    ¡°Ah... Th, that¡¯s right.¡±


    While a bit disappointed, he was relieved that Kuroyukihime¡¯s manner had returned to normal, so he nodded.


    The Black Legion was called ?Nega Nebulas?.


    It was a large scale naming with the meaning of a dark star cluster, but they were an ultra small legion with only three members, the last member responded to Haruyuki¡¯s email with ¡®on the roof¡¯.


    Haruyuki shrunk his head from the outside cold wind when he opened the iron door, he looked around, and found someone sitting on a bench far away.


    While he quickly approached, what he saw was different from Kuroyukihime¡¯s view earlier, but was picturesque enough to hold his sight.


    Slender but muscular and tall. His face under his long front hair wavering in the light breeze was gentle and sharp like a Japanese sword. Leaning forward slightly, his right hand fingers moved in the air, he was probably manipulating a holo keyboard, that posture looked like a samurai sitting in a kneeling position.


    When the same aged boy noticed their foot steps and looked up, Haruyuki raised his right hand to wave to him.


    ¡°Yo, sorry to interrupt your studies. But, you don¡¯t have to study in such a cold place right, Taku?¡±


    Hearing that, Haruyuki¡¯s childhood friend and brother in arms, Mayuzumi Takumu - that is Takumu, touched his frameless glasses and smiled.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the sunlight feel nice today? Haru, you should bathe in sunlight once in a while.¡±


    Then he stood up energetically and deeply bowed to Kuroyukihime who was behind Haruyuki.


    ¡°Good morning, master.¡±


    ¡°Un, good morning, Takumu-kun.¡±


    While nodding, Kuroyukihime had strong wry smile.


    ¡°I have said it many times, although it¡¯s true I am the legion master, you don¡¯t have to always call me that.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. But that is the best way for me.¡±


    With that reply, Takumu moved a step, and indicated the bench he was sitting on with his left hand. With another wry smile, Kuroyukihime sat down, and crossed her black stocking small legs. Then she raised one eyebrow and inquired Takumu.


    ¡°Excuse us, but Haruyuki-kun and I will be eating lunch here, how about yours?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I have already eaten.¡±


    Looking around, Haruyuki spotted a properly wrapped lunch box on the bench. Haruyuki remembered the cross colors, and made a jab at him.


    ¡°That, is made by Chiyuri right? Then you two should be eating together!¡±


    Hearing that, Takumu also had a wry smile and answered.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a relationship like Haru and master, where we can have a public lovey-dovey time in the cafeteria.¡±


    ¡°I-it¡¯s not love!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not love.¡±


    Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime denied with different voices, and Takumu laughed while pushing his glasses up with a finger.


    ¡°You two look at each others eyes every day in the lounge while exhibiting a pink aura. I''ve heard that rumor even in my classroom. Well, never mind that... I have stopped being hasty. Bit by bit, I will pay back what I owe.¡±


    ¡°...I see.¡±


    Haruyuki made a serious face and nodded.


    It was only two weeks ago, during the start of third school term, that Takumu had transferred to the local Umesato middle school from the school that he went to for seven years in Shinjuku.


    The original school that he went to included grades from elementary to university. When Haruyuki remembered how hard the young Takumu had studied to get in, he tried to stop Takumu once by saying it was such a waste. However, Takumu¡¯s decision was firm.


    Even though Shinjuku is the territory of ?Blue Legion?, it was not that passive of a reason. For Takumu, his crimes - hacking his childhood girlfriend Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker to break the accelerated world¡¯s rule for hunting Kuroyukihime, were too much for him. As atonement, he decided to use all his time to further her cause.


    Basically, he will stay by Chiyuri. And then, defend ?Nega Nebulas?¡¯s territory, the Suginami area till death.


    Put it in another way, Haruyuki thought that the glasses he started using this winter, was part of that decision.


    In the year 2047, using glasses to correct vision had lost its original meaning and became a part of fashion. This was because the Neuro Linker worn by many people functioned as a strong visual supplement.


    However, Takumu¡¯s blue glasses were not a fashion item. It¡¯s real with degree lenses. That is, Takumu became near sighted from studying paper media and panel terminals, and had stopped using the Neuro Linker as visual correction.


    Even for the Neuro Linker, it could not correct the actual light receptor pins in the flesh eyeball. Instead of that, the fuzzy image from near sightedness is composed with the Neuro Linker¡¯s internal camera picture and digitally corrected in real time. That is, people in the world that use Neuro Linker as replacement for glasses, will have over half of their view being virtual images created by Neuro Linker processors.


    Takumu rejected that function, and decided to continue seeing the real world with his own eyes. The real Chiyuri, Haruyuki, and the real himself.


    Takumu¡¯s feeling will eventually reach Chiyuri, who continued to behave in an awkward manner. And Haruyuki himself too, should have conveyed plenty of his feelings.


    That was what he wanted to say, but it was very difficult. Going back on his own words, Takumu too sometimes seems to be in deep thought.


    That¡¯s right, he had eyes similar to Kuroyukihime¡¯s earlier when they talked about the previous Red King.


    Haruyuki threw off his momentary musings and sat beside Kuroyukihime, opening the lunch bag he held.


    While he ate his cutlet sandwich, he again explained the situation to Takumu who leaned on the fence in front of them.


    After the wide eyed Takumu heard everything, he mumbled a short ¡®Hmm¡¯.


    ¡°...What do you think, Taku.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I do not have enough data to guess what the Red King wanted to say to master. But, I might know what would happen if she had managed to continue fooling you for three days.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Facing Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime who both responed at the same time, his glasses¡¯ lens flashed while Takumu continued.


    ¡°With Haru¡¯s personality, he would have warmed up a lot to the ?Imouto? that he lived with for three days. Then, if that ?Imouto? said ¡®Actually, I am a Burst Linker. But since I am a kid, most of my hard earned points were taken by legion senpai with force. I beg you, onii-chan, come to my legion and protect me!¡¯...¡±


    ¡°Hey hey, that¡¯s unreasonable.¡±


    Kuroyukihime shouted in an amazed tone.


    ¡°No one would fall for that easy to see through trap. On the other hand you can easily see that you would lose all your points. Even Haruyuki-kun, won¡¯t go that far...¡±


    Then she glanced at Haruyuki,


    ¡°That... far...¡±


    And was speechless. Since she noticed that Haruyuki¡¯s eyes were already wet with sympathy.


    ¡°...Ar, are you an idiot!¡±


    ¡°B, but... bullied, so pitiful...¡±


    At that moment, she extended her left hand, pinched Haruyuki¡¯s cheek and pulled.


    ¡°Wh, wha ar yo doin?¡±


    ¡°Hey, let me say this now.¡±


    Kuroyukihime stared at him with shining eyes and murmured.


    ¡°Momentarily changing legion, helping your ?Imouto? then returning, that kind of cool act is impossible.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Wha do ya mean?¡±


    Nega Nebulas¡¯ legion master answered him in a scary voice while releasing his cheek.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten right? About how Takumu¡¯s ?parent? and other blue legion members who spread the backdoor program ended up?¡±


    ¡°Err, well... I think they lost all their points... that is, their Brain Burst was forcefully removed as punishment, I heard...¡±


    To the head tilted Haruyuki, Takumu added from the front.


    ¡°That ?all lost?, it¡¯s not from fighting duels till all their burst points were taken. Actually that¡¯s impossible to accomplish. After the first duel, when acceleration is canceled, if you disconnect from the Global Net or remove the Neuro Linker, then you can escape. After that, it will be similar to master¡¯s situation, where you will be chased with a reward on your head.¡±


    ¡°A, ahaa... I see.¡±


    ¡°However, without going through something so troublesome, legion masters have a simpler way of ?executing? subordinates.¡±


    ¡°Wh... what!? I have never heard of that!!¡±


    Hearing that for the first time, Haruyuki turned his head to look at Kuroyukihime beside him.


    The composed face senpai made an ¡®Oh, that?¡¯ gesture and opened her right hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s clearly written in the application document when you were invited to the legion, it was your fault for not reading it. Anyway, I won¡¯t execute you. Of course, when you are unfaithful to me with other girls, that¡¯s an exception.¡±


    Smile.


    While being looked at with that affection full smile, Haruyuki¡¯s back became straight.


    ¡°I, I won¡¯t do it, there¡¯s no way I would. B, but, I should learn of it for knowledge sake. Execution... basically, what does it mean...?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s see... well, it¡¯s all right to call it a type of special attack. When a legion creation is requested to the system, the one who is registered as the master will obtain a command, with assigned user names. That is called the ?Judgement Blow?.¡±


    ¡°Judgement...¡±


    Kuroyukihime looked away from Haruyuki who whispered that, she became more serious and continued.


    ¡°Burst Linkers who joined a Legion, that is a team, obtain a lot of safety. Group battles have less risk and a more stable return. The price for those advantages is the existence of the ?Judgement Blow?. Joining a legion means putting your neck out to the legion master. The legion members who are struck with that blow, will instantly have zero Burst Points, and forever lose Brain Burst. The effective time frame is, while in the legion, and one month after leaving the legion.¡±


    ¡°O, one month... that long?¡±


    ¡°Un. That is right. If you fall for Red King¡¯s social engineering and left Nega Nebulas for even just a bit to join the Red legion, then at that instant your... Silver Crow¡¯s life or death will be the same as in their hands.¡±


    ¡°Uuhee.¡±


    That was all he could say.


    Honestly, if he did not see that picture in his grandparent¡¯s home server, he could not deny the possibility that he would believe the Red King was his second cousin Tomoko-chan. If they then spent two nights together, and he was put to the earlier Takumu guess of ¡°I am actually¡±, he would probably have followed his feelings and joined the Red legion. There was almost no question he would have.


    ¡®- However, still.¡¯


    ¡°...But, why?¡±


    Haruyuki whispered, and looked at Kuroyukihime and Takumu one after another.


    ¡°Why, would the Red King do such troublesome thing...?¡±


    ¡°Umu. After all, it¡¯s where this question leads.¡±


    Kuroyukihime murmured.


    ¡°Nn... She went that far to get Haruyuki-kun to join the Red legion and put the ?Judgement Blow? on his neck, but that won¡¯t give her Haruyuki-kun¡¯s loyalty. For a member that does not want to belong to that legion, that would only be harmful without a single advantage. That means...¡±


    ¡°That means, just once, she wanted Haru to do ?something?, right?¡±


    Takumu pushed his glasses¡¯ bridge up with his middle finger while he continued from where Kuroyukihime left off.


    ¡°If just once, he might listen with the threat... that¡¯s what I think. If that is the case, then what she wants to say to master later in the meeting would be the same. Since her fake imouto act is found out, in exchange she changed tactics and is going for trade maybe?¡±


    ¡°Fuumu.¡±


    After another low murmur, Kuroyukihime looked up at Takumu and said.


    ¡°How to say it... you, seem to be in good shape.¡±


    ¡°Wh, what? What do you mean, master?¡±


    ¡°Like a glasses type character. How about we call Takumu-kun ¡®professor¡¯ from now on?¡±


    Clink clink, Takumu slip down the fence he was leaning his back on, and shook his head left and right.


    ¡°N, no... thanks for the offer, but I will have to refrain.¡±


    Haruyuki desperately tried to control his laughter and said.


    ¡°I... I too, think Taku¡¯s deduction is correct. During yesterday¡¯s fight, the Red King could have had complete victory over me but did not. In exchange, she said she wanted to meet senpai. That would mean, for the second best option she picked negotiation, to show her goal is not to be an enemy maybe...¡±


    ¡°A bit late for you to say good things!¡±


    Kuroyukihime snorted, and changed her leg cross. She crumbled her empty sandwich paper bag in her hand, and over threw it into the waste basket a bit away.


    ¡°Anyway fine, I will listen to what she has to say. At the very least, for the king herself to come while accepting ?Reality Intrusion? means she has shit amount of courage, for a child. Haruyuki-kun, give the Red King a call. The meeting will be 4pm today, the place will be...¡±


    Kuroyukihime stopped there for a moment and stood up.


    She turned around, grinned and - .


    ¡°Your home living room.¡±


    ¡®Nooooit¡¯stooearlyIhaven¡¯tmentallypreparedandwe¡¯repureandpropermiddleschoolstudents.¡¯


    To that kind of confused refusal from Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime¡¯s ¡°The Red King is fine but I am not?¡± one sentence stopped him dead.


    Since Takumu had invited Chiyuri to go home together, and later go to Haruyuki¡¯s house, that naturally left just Kuroyukihime and Haruyuki going home alone.


    She must be bringing her student council work home, while one of her hand is busy with the holo keyboard, she smiled and greeted many students on their way home. Haruyuki walking beside her took glances at her and desperately thought.


    ¡®Let¡¯s see, the living room, kitchen and toilet should be properly cleaned. I had bought tea and snacks as well. But the problem is my room. Especially the early era collection of Z type bloody games. If that was seen then I would have no foot to stand on from today.¡¯


    ¡®My room must be defended till death. Defend no matter what. Absolutely do not release the electronic lock.¡¯


    With that decision, Haruyuki stared at his apartment that could now be seen pass the elevated Chuo Line[1].


    He entered the elevator with the usually nonvocal Kuroyukihime, pressed the button, and got off on the 23rd floor.


    After about 10 meters of public hallway, it will be his home¡¯s door.


    ¡°Ah... it¡¯s a not especially interesting normal home. No pet either.¡±


    ¡°I, I see. No, no problem. I don¡¯t like animals that shed their fur.¡±


    With a cough, Kuroyukihime stopped next to Haruyuki.


    ¡®Please, let nothing bad happen!¡¯ With that prayer, Haruyuki touched the door opening dialogue in his view. Clank, the lock released.


    The moment he pulled on the door knob, he heard.


    ¡®Zubararararara¡¯, that kind of machine gun continuous fire sound and, ¡®Gyaa - Help Me - ¡¯, that kind of English screams and, ¡®Uorya -, Die -, Go Die -¡¯, that kind of girl¡¯s shout.


    ¡°Ugyaa - !!¡±


    Haruyuki also screamed, and while taking off his shoes, he stumbled towards the living room.


    What he saw there were, the previous era game hardware connected to the panel monitor on the wall, Haruyuki¡¯s collection of Z type game packages scattered on the floor, and the shape of ?Red King? sitting on the sofa cross-legged while holding a wireless controller.


    ¡°Ho... how... my room... key...¡±


    To Haruyuki who mumbled after taking one step into the living room, the Red King glanced at him and said.


    ¡°Ah, welcome home. Onii-chan, you have a nice hobby. I love this type of thing!¡±


    Next to the stood still, thinking frozen Haruyuki, a little bit dumbfounded voice echoed.


    ¡°...Well, I don¡¯t dislike it either. That era western games are philosophical, yes.¡±


    At about that moment, in the large monitor, an old guy that is perhaps a mafia boss was blown away while spewing blood.


    ¡°Yes! Stage 5 cleared!¡±


    While looking down at the elementary school girl doing a victory pose, Haruyuki once more murmured without any strength.


    ¡°How did you... the key...¡±


    Then, the Red King posing to the game finally turned around.


    She first looked at Haruyuki, then Kuroyukihime beside him, and smiled an angelic smile while shaking her twin red pigtails.


    ¡°I told you that I got an instant key from Onii-chan¡¯s mother right. With a bit of work, it¡¯s easy to make it into a master key. But, don¡¯t worry, onii-chan. I did not touch the other meaning of Z type software behind the reference books?¡±


    ¡®I am done for...¡¯


    His school bag dropped from his right hand that no longer has strength.


    The Red King looked away from Haruyuki who was like that, and once more looked straight at Kuroyukihime. All the innocence left her expression.


    She put the controller beside her, raised both legs, and jumped impressively off the sofa.


    Her clothing, was no longer the pure white blouse and navy blue skirt that she had on yesterday. A crimson T-shirt with a zippered black vest above, cut jeans showing the base of her slender legs, and red black bordered socks that came to below her knees.


    And then, on her neck was a ruby like half transparent accessory, that is, the Neuro Linker shone brightly.


    The girl that was dressed like a flame had a sword like sharp smile, she walked a few steps forward, to the opposite of Kuroyukihime who was beside Haruyuki.


    As a counter, the black clothed middle school girl with no color, like a concentration of cold darkness, returned an aloof look and attacked with a smile.


    ¡®Crackle crackle¡¯.


    Seemingly blue white sparks were almost visible between the two, Haruyuki momentarily forgot about the disaster in the living room and slowly backed away.


    ¡®- No way, they won¡¯t just ?duel? like that right?¡¯


    While he looked on with that serious worry, the Red King put her hands on her waist, and said with her jaw held high. Her voice no longer had a single fragment of the earlier sister taste.


    ¡°Hum, so you are the ?Black King?. I see, this is truly black, if it was night I wouldn''t be able to see you right in front of me.¡±


    Kuroyukihime immediately crossed her arms and retorted.


    ¡°Now that you mention it, you are truly red, ?Red King?. It would be interesting to see cars stop if you were thrown into an intersection.¡±


    The sparks instantly increased in voltage, Haruyuki shouted silently and backed away another step.


    These two are both level 9 ?Kings?. If they duel, following that special rule, the one who lost will have her Brain Burst taken away. There is no way a light duel will happen either, since Kuroyukihime is easy to anger, and the Red King seem to be a livid character who hate to lose.


    ¡®- Here, I have to jump in between them!¡¯


    With Haruyuki¡¯s determination of noble sacrifice, he scratched the back of his head with one hand and said.


    ¡°A, ah, I am so happy to get a cute imouto and beautiful onee-san at once.¡±


    When he giggled.


    ¡°I will kill you again.¡±


    ¡°Are you an idiot?¡±


    Two ultra cold sounds were thrown at Haruyuki, hitting him between his eyes and in his heart.


    They looked away from Haruyuki who collapsed slowly, and continued to stare at each other for a few seconds, then eventually both snorted and looked away.


    ¡°Hey, hurry and prepare tea and things, you seem to be inconsiderate.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Haruyuki-kun. I would like coffee, black.¡±


    ¡®- The Tomoko-chan that baked cookies and made curry yesterday no longer exist.¡¯


    While Haruyuki was truly depressed about that fact, he retreated to the kitchen on all fours, and wiped his forehead when he could no longer be seen by those two.


    At the large dining table, Kuroyukihime and Haruyuki sat beside each other, and opposite them the Red King sat cross-legged on her chair, drinking their coffee - Kuroyukihime is black, Haruyuki with milk and sugar, and Red King caf¨¦ au lait with mostly milk - together, at that time the chime rang at the house entrance.


    From the door that Haruyuki opened with remote control, after ¡®Sorry to bother you¡¯, Takumu continued in a cheerful voice.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s so nostalgic. How many years since I came to Haru¡¯s house...¡±


    Then he saw the tragedy on the living room floor, he seems to instantly understand what had happened, and with sympathy behind his glasses, he patted Haruyuki on the shoulder.


    Next he stared at the Red King, his eyes instantly became small, and he silently sat beside Haruyuki.


    That seat already had a coffee cup with a little bit of milk in it, Takumu said ¡®itadakimasu¡¯ then extended his hands towards it, and said in a tactful tone.


    ¡°First, let¡¯s start with introducing ourselves. Here, shouldn¡¯t you tell us your name, ?Red King??¡±


    After a look at Takumu, the girl snorted then opened her mouth.


    ¡°Well, fine. I will give you that much service. I am... Yuniko. Kouduki Yuniko.¡±


    Next she snapped her finger, and a crimson name tag flowed into Haruyuki¡¯s view. In a somewhat cute font, [Kouduki Yuniko] is shown.


    That is like a name card for showing your name to someone you first met, it also act as a simple personal identification card. At the lower right side of the tag shone the Juki Net[2]¡¯s certification mark, that would be hard even for wizard class hackers to fake, so the name on the tag should be ?Red King?¡¯s real name.


    On the tag, other than name and other things, the birthday is also shown. Born on December 2035, that meant just 11 years old.


    It is often said that Burst Linker¡¯s mental and physical age is out of sync, Red King - Yuniko¡¯s was hard to judge on first impression. Sometime she felt like much older than Haruyuki, and other times she could be seen acting her age.


    ¡°Fuun, Yuniko-chan huh.¡±


    Looking at the lightly laughing Takumu doubliously, Tomoko that is Yuniko said.


    ¡°Give your name too, ?Cyan Pile?.¡±


    That sentence, showed that the Red King have very detailed information on the legion ?Nega Nebulas?.


    Takumu probably realized that, his smile changed to a sarcastic one and he said his real name.


    ¡°I am Mayuzumi Takumu. Yoroshiku[3].¡±


    Then he did a gesture of snapping his finger. It was probably sending his name tag to the Red King.


    After a momentarily look in the air, she faced Haruyuki and pointed her chin.


    ¡°M... my name is already known to you. Arita Haruyuki.¡±


    ¡°Send your tag.¡±


    After being told, he manipulated his desktop.


    Finally, the three pair of eyes concentrated on the so far silent Black King.


    She raised her coffee cup to her face, and blinked her long eyebrows slowly.


    ¡°N? Ah, me. I am Kuroyukihime. Nice to meet you, Kouduki Yuniko-kun.¡±


    ¡°Hey you, that could not be your real name!!¡±


    Yuniko instantly retorted, and Kuroyukihime flipped her finger with a cool face. Instantly, not just the Red King, in front of Haruyuki too floated a deep black name tag.


    [Kuroyukihime].


    On the right side below that written in large Courier font, the Juki Net certification mark shone clearly, Haruyuki sighed and shook his head. Just this person, he could not understand.


    The Red King too, sighed with a difficult look, and clicked her tongue hard.


    ¡°Ah fine, whatever! I will just remember the cheeky girl who called herself Princess!¡±


    If she tried to give her real name to Yuniko at that moment, with Kuroyukihime being able to hack the tag¡¯s quantum signature key, there¡¯s no way to tell if the next one would be real.


    Kuroyukihime grinned and said in a cool voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s much more cute than calling yourself ?King? right? - Anyway, self introduction is over, let¡¯s hurry onto the main topic.¡±


    Her smile instantly disappeared, and her deep black eyes shone sharply.


    ¡°First, Red King... that is Yuniko-kun. I would have you tell me how you did reality intrusion on Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    Hearing the unexpected question, Haruyuki was surprised and left breathless.


    That¡¯s right - everything with the problem, started with that. Not how the Red King faked being his second cousin Tomoko-chan, nor her goal. ?Reality Intrusion? is a Burst Linker¡¯s biggest taboo - because that directly links Haruyuki to being in danger in the real world.


    Yuniko glanced at the understandably green faced Haruyuki, then lightly shook her shoulders.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to make that kind of face. Even in the Red legion, I am the only one who knows you are Silver Crow. I swear on the name of King. The way I did it was...¡±


    There, she lifted part of her lips.


    ¡°It¡¯s the same technique as infiltrating this home. Social engineering. However, it could only be done by elementary school student like me.¡±


    ¡°Huh...? What do you mean...?¡±


    ¡°Everyone knows that your territory is Suginami. Then, with the time of your appearance we can find out that you are a middle school student. Do you understand up to there?¡±


    ?After you are born you must usually wear the Neuro Linker?, with that being the first condition, the oldest Burst Linker now is not yet 16 years old. To be precise, there is a chance there might be first year high school students, but if they are a student, most can be determined to be middle school students.


    With his nod, the Red King pulled her jaw slightly then continued.


    ¡°With that, I used my elementary student status to visit future middle schools in Suginami city district. With a visitor¡¯s pass, I can connect to the school local net. Then, when I am being shown the tour by a teacher, I ?Accelerate? and check the matching list...¡±


    ¡°- And eventually found Silver Crow right. Hmm, a troublesome but logical method.¡±


    After that little regretful sentence, Kuroyukihime continued with ¡®However¡¯.


    ¡°But, you won¡¯t be able to tell which of the 300 student in Umesato middle school he is. How did you manage to determine it was Haruyuki-kun?¡±


    Hearing that, the Red King bit her lips and was silent for a while.


    She glared at Haruyuki sideways, and said in a childish excuse kind of voice.


    ¡°Listen, I do not have any special feelings for you. I only have a use for your duel avatar, to be more precise just the wings on its back. - After I found Silver Crow in Umesato middle school, I took a window seat at a family restaurant that can see the school gate, and accelerated when a student stepped outside of the school. At the moment Silver Crow appeared on the matching list, and the guy who stepped pass the line was this onii-chan, I was a little surprised.¡±


    Normally he would listen to that speech while slightly bored, but this time he could not.


    Haruyuki¡¯s eyes became rounded, he opened and closed his mouth for a few times, then fearfully inquired.


    ¡°...That, how many, Burst Points were used...?¡±


    ¡°Around 200.¡±


    ¡°200!!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted, Takumu dropped his cup, and Kuroyukihime had a large wry smile.


    ¡°...I see. That means, other than being an elementary school student, it¡¯s a method that can only be used by a ?King? with extra points. However, well... that¡¯s an impressive obsession. Have you fallen that hard for Haruyuki-kun?¡±


    ¡°No way!!¡±


    With an unreasonable kick to Haruyuki¡¯s shin under the table, Yuniko retorted.


    ¡°I already said it!! I have no use for him, just his avatar!! Anyway, if everything had gone as planned, he would have been lured away to be my minion by now!!¡±


    ¡°That means...¡±


    With a smile and calm light in his eyes, Takumu said in a quiet voice.


    ¡°That ?need?, is the reason why you used 200 points to do reality intrusion on Haru, used yourself to do social engineering, and finally requested this meeting.¡±


    At that moment - .


    Yuniko¡¯s expression lost all childishness.


    With her red hair swaying, she leaned her back on the chair, and the Red King acknowledged in a low voice.


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    She lowered her face with eyes half closed, and looked straight at Haruyuki with cherry brown eyes. That pressure, even this little girl, is a ?King? like Kuroyukihime, he fully realized that.


    ¡°The wings on your back... ?Flying ability?, I want to borrow it just once. To destroy the ?Disaster Armor?.¡±

 Volume 2 - CH 3

    Haruyuki could not understand the meaning of Red King Yuniko¡¯s words. Takumu was probably the same, his eyebrows behind the glasses were slightly raised.


    The one who showed extreme reaction was Kuroyukihime.


    The right hand that she used to reach for her coffee cup was suddenly clenched together. Banging on the table with that fist, the Black King shouted.


    ¡°No way! That ?Armor? is... supposed to be totally annihilated!!¡±


    She stopped there with her eyes going empty and face white, Haruyuki fearfully asked.


    ¡°Ah... that is. What is that... Disaster Armor? It isn¡¯t a human, but a thing?¡±


    Kuroyukihime continued to be silent for a few more seconds, then eventually leaned back on her chair and took a long breath.


    While crossing her stocking legs, she turned her upper body toward Haruyuki.


    ¡°Nn... about that... As a human it¡¯s a Burst Linker, as a thing it¡¯s an object... it could be said to be like that. Haruyuki-kun, do you remember your first duel opponent?¡±


    ¡°Wha, y, yes. That bike guy... ?Ash Roller?.¡±


    While that flashy chop bike and skeleton helmet appeared in his mind, Haruyuki nodded. He belonged to the Green legion whose territory ranged from Shibuya to Roppongi. They still fought once in a while with some wins and some losses.


    ¡°That man¡¯s bike. That¡¯s an object other than the rider himself, however together they make up the Duel Avatar. So that¡¯s a thing and a person, isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see... that, is right. For sure.¡±


    He nodded again.


    ¡°That kind of external item, is called an ?Enhanced Armament? in the Brain Burst system.¡±


    ¡°Enhanced... Armament.¡±


    Somehow, a cool name appeared.


    Haruyuki was momentarily excited, but it was soon replaced by depression. For the empty handed Silver Crow, no matter how you put it, he did not have any.


    Realizing what Haruyuki was thinking, Kuroyukihime said with a small wry smile.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any either, don¡¯t be so depressed.¡±


    ¡°But I have.¡±


    Yuniko said with relaxed lips. And was immediately bathed in Kuroyukihime¡¯s sharp sound.


    ¡°In your case, instead of having, it¡¯s more like the armament is the actual body.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I heard a nice loser phrase.¡±


    Between the two glaring at each other, Haruyuki hurriedly cut in.


    ¡°I, I see. Scarlet Rain¡¯s, that incredible firepower container... that is all an ?Enhanced Armament?, right?¡±


    ¡°That is right. However, it¡¯s not such a rare thing that could make this little girl proud. There are four ways to obtain it.¡±


    Kuroyukihime extended her thumb from her raised right fist, and continued.


    ¡°First, as beginner equipment at the start. Ash Roller¡¯s bike is probably that.¡±


    ¡°My right hand¡¯s ?Pile Driver? is also that right.¡±


    Hearing what Takumu interrupted with, Haruyuki involuntarily said ¡®What¡¯.


    ¡°Why does Taku also have one!¡±


    ¡°There there, let¡¯s listen.¡±


    ¡°...Continuing.¡±


    Her extending index finger¡¯s nail snapped the air.


    ¡°Second, obtained using level up bonus. If it does not exist in the bonus selection, that¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°...I didn¡¯t have any...¡±


    Haruyuki whispered after remembering the three level ups till now. Other than that, he already followed Kuroyukihime¡¯s advice and put all of his level up bonuses into speed and flight time upgrades.


    Next Kuroyukihime lifted her middle finger and continued with the explanation.


    ¡°And the third. Use points to buy in a ?Shop?. Here it is possible for Haruyuki-kun too, well, I would not recommend it.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Shop... that is a store? That, where is it?¡±


    ¡°Secret. I can easily imagine that you will waste all your points.¡±


    ¡°N, no way.¡±


    With ¡®Ahaha¡¯ laugh, Takumu also nodded.


    ¡°Without doubt. Haru¡¯s personality changes when he goes to that kind of store.¡±


    ¡°Wh, what¡¯s with you two...¡±


    The relaxed air flowing around the living room - .


    Was cut by Yuniko¡¯s one sharp sound.


    ¡°...Hurry and say the fourth way.¡±


    Kuroyukihime took the Red King¡¯s dangerous look directly, nodded slightly, however did not say anything right after that.


    Then, Yuniko extended her hand, forcefully extended Kuroyukihime¡¯s ring finger, and spit out a short sentence.


    ¡°Fourth. ?Take forcefully by killing?.¡±


    ¡°Ki... kill...¡±


    To the wide eyed Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime sighed and added.


    ¡°This, is still not fully understood phenomenon but... when a Burst Linker with an ?Enhanced Armament? loses, if at that point his Burst Point became zero and forever leaves the accelerated world, there are cases where the ownership of the loser¡¯s armament will transfer to the winner.¡±


    ¡°Low rate random event, is the current theory.¡±


    Yuniko interrupted with that, then held the back of her head with both hands.


    ¡°But, that does not apply to ?Disaster Armor?... Transfer rate 100%, a perfect cursed item...¡±


    ¡°But... however.¡±


    Murmuring that, Kuroyukihime ground her teeth and snapped.


    ¡°Not possible. It was supposed to be destroyed. Two and half years ago, I clearly saw that ?Armor?... ?Chrome Disaster?¡¯s final moment, and confirmed its annihilation!¡±


    ¡®- Chrome Disaster is the legendary name of a Burst Linker from the early days of accelerated world from seven years ago.¡¯


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s story started with those words.


    ¡®- Covered in metallic grey knight like ?enhanced armament?, his incredible fighting power covered the ground with many dead Linkers. His fighting style was severe, or more like cruel, those who surrendered, heads were cut off, limbs disemboweled, it was violent to the extreme.


    However, he who forced many opponents to forever lose Brain Burst, his final day also arrived. Aside from him, the highest leveled Burst Linkers at that time allied, and continued to go after only Chrome Disaster for duels.


    Eventually his points dropped to zero and at the moment he ?died? in the accelerated world, he shouted with a loud laughter. ¡°I curse this world. Corrupt. I will revive again and again¡±.


    Those words were true. The Burst Linker named Chrome Disaster retired, but the Armor... the enhanced armament did not disappear. Its ownership transferred to one of the people in the subjugation alliance; lost to the lure of curiosity and the mentality of the Linker who put that on... was taken over. The till then admired noble leader, changed into a cruel killer over night. That savage shape could not be distinguished from the ?First generation?.¡¯


    Kuroyukihime stopped there, after she wet her throat with coffee, she continued in a low voice.


    ¡°The same thing happened three times. The owner of the ?Armor? went on fearsome ravages, and was subjugated. However the armor did not disappear, it changed owners and changed personality and shape one by one... that Burst Linker no longer used his original name and became known as Chrome Disaster. Two and half years ago when I was already one of the ?Pure color seven kings?, I joined the subjugation of the fourth Chrome Disaster with the other kings. How incredible that fight was... I still feel it in my skin now. It could not be told in words...¡±


    She returned the cup and rubbed her arms through her uniform, then Kuroyukihime¡¯s tone suddenly changed.


    ¡°Then, Haruyuki-kun. Sorry, but can you find two direct connect cables?¡±


    ¡°Wha... ca, cable!? And two of them...?¡±


    ¡°I have one already. The length, well, about one meter is fine.¡±


    ¡°O... okay.¡±


    Haruyuki stood up while not understanding what¡¯s going on, ran to his own room, took two XSB cables from the wire rack on the wall and returned to the living room.


    ¡°There were just two cables. Let¡¯s see the length, this one is one meter, this one... err, 50cm.¡±


    While he shrug his head and dangle the cables from his hands, Yuniko stood up with an understanding like face.


    ¡°Hahaa, that huh. OK OK, I will endure the 50cm one.¡±


    She grinned, took the short cable from Haruyuki¡¯s left hand and plugged that into the connector on her red Neuro Linker. At that moment.


    ¡°H... hey, don¡¯t kid me! I will use that!¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±


    Yuniko dodged Kuroyukihime¡¯s extended hand and jumped to Haruyuki¡¯s left side. Her body with youthful hardness was stuck to him and a sweet and sour like smell also drifted by. Haruyuki was lightly stunned. She hung onto his neck and extended the plug. Without any time to avoid, it was plugged into his Neuro Linker and wired connection warning appeared in front of his eyes and disappeared.


    ¡°U, uwaa!? Wh, what...¡±


    Looking up at the flustered Haruyuki, Yuniko said with a fearless smile.


    ¡°Hey, hurry and plug in that long one, then give it to that girl. Ah, also, if you peek in my memory you will be sorry, so careful.¡±


    With that speech, Haruyuki finally understood the meaning of three cables. Kuroyukihime wanted to daisy chain the Neuro Linkers of the four people here.


    Takumu and Yuniko¡¯s Neuro Linkers are the light weight type with only one external connection terminal. To connect four people, it has to be done with the double terminal high end type Neuro Linkers of Kuroyukihime and Haruyuki in the middle. Yuniko who realized that quickly, must have picked the shortest cable to annoy Kuroyukihime. With an instant effect, Kuroyukihime¡¯s right cheek jerked and her fists shook as she shouted in a threatening tone.


    ¡°Hey you, don¡¯t stick so close to him!¡±


    ¡°I have no choice, the cable is short.¡±


    ¡°You selected that one!¡±


    Kuroyukihime who raised her voice, eventually snorted and looked down at the Red King with an absolute zero degree black snow smile.


    ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s why I hate kids. Cable length as a measure of intimacy, truly ridiculous!¡±


    ¡°Oho, no one said that right? I just thought the shorter one will have less signal lost.¡±


    ¡°Y, y, you...¡±


    Seeing that absolute zero temperature raising quickly to the temperature of the sun¡¯s surface, Haruyuki extended the cable, connected the other terminal on his Neuro Linker towards Kuroyukihime with ¡®Your majesty please excuse this with your understanding!¡¯ look in his eyes desperately. Kuroyukihime snatched that, while plugging it into her own Neuro Linker, she took out the usual two meter cable from her pocket and handed it to Takumu.


    As the half amazed and half smiling Takumu looked on while plugging that in, another two direct connection warnings appeared and the four people¡¯s Neuro Linkers were finally directly connected, Haruyuki relaxed with a sigh.


    ¡°...Ah, th, this... what is it for?¡±


    ¡°First, let¡¯s sit.¡±


    After saying that with a still gruff voice, Kuroyukihime sat down properly onto the living room floor. Before the cable was pulled tight, Haruyuki hurriedly follow suit, and Yuniko also sat down while sticking to his left side.


    Finally, Takumu sat down properly like he was wearing a kendo uniform, and glanced at Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Master, do we ?Accelerate??¡±


    ¡°No, no need for that. After the full sensory mode, fly towards the access gate shown. Then, let¡¯s go... Direct Link.¡±


    Seeing Kuroyukihime closing her eyes and relaxing her shoulders, Haruyuki hurriedly sang the command.


    ¡°Direct Link!¡±


    Bit by bit, his fully body senses and the surrounding view went away. The Neuro Linker canceled the five real senses and led the consciousness towards the virtual world. In the darkness, only a strong falling sensation could be felt. If he kept waiting, he would full dive into Arita house¡¯s home net. But before that happened, a round and shining access gate floated in front of him.


    He extended his unseen right hand and the moment he touched it, Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness was drawn in by the gate.


    Light expanded from the center of his view and covered Haruyuki. The scenery from deeper inside was an unlimited wilderness lined by many strange purple rocks.


    While he was wondering where this place was, he looked down and was a bit shaky when he could not see his own body. However soon, he realized that this is not a virtual world but a VR movie that is a recorded video directly played in his brain. As evidence, the lower right of his view had a number that counted the play time and a slide bar.


    ¡°Ah... senpai?¡±


    When he asked, a reply came from his right side.


    ¡°I am here. Takumu-kun, and the little girl is here too?¡±


    He could not see her but it was without a doubt Kuroyukihime¡¯s voice. Continuing, ¡°Yes¡±, and ¡°Stop calling me like that¡± two sounds echoed. Haruyuki looked around again, after determining there were only rock formations, he timidly inquired.


    ¡°Err... wh, what is this movie file that is playing? If it is just watching a movie, why go to the trouble of direct connecting everyone...?¡±


    ¡°To stop any chance of it leaking outside. If I send it through your house¡¯s home net to everyone, there will be a cache left in the apartment server.¡±


    ¡°I, I see.¡±


    He now understood the reason for direct connection, but the content of the movie was still a mystery. It could not be a movie that needed such precautions, as Haruyuki tilted his unseen head, at that moment - .


    Suddenly he heard a sharp wind cutting sound above. Without the time to look up, around 10 meters in front of him, a shape landed with a sharp sound.


    Deep black shining half transparent armor. Long and sharp sword like limbs. V shape head. Without a doubt, it is Kuroyukihime¡¯s duel avatar, ?Black Lotus?.


    ¡°That is, senpai...?¡±


    To Haruyuki¡¯s involuntarily shout, Kuroyukihime answered with a ¡®Un¡¯.


    ¡°That¡¯s me. That is, two and half years ago.¡±


    ¡°Two... and half years. No, before that... since senpai is in that shape, this is ?accelerated world? right? That means this is a recording of a ?duel?...?¡±


    ¡®Does Brain Burst have this kind of function?¡¯ he wondered and was about to ask, this time from his left side, Yuniko¡¯s voice echoed.


    ¡°Something called ?Replay?. A shit expensive item that can record. Instead of that, two and half years ago means this is what you earlier mentioned as ?Pure color seven kings? vs ?Chrome Disaster? fight¡¯s replay, right? Then why just you?¡±


    ¡°No, another will come soon.¡±


    Before those words were finished, from left side of the scenery a new duel avatar¡¯s shape appeared. ¡®Is this a many vs one battle?¡¯, while Haruyuki wondered in mystery, he stared at it.


    About one head taller than Black Lotus. Slender, but with athletic limbs that have a feeling of volume. Left hand held a thick rectangle shield and right hand empty. The color of full body armor is - emerald like deep green.


    ¡°What a beautiful green color... master, that is...?¡±


    Kuroyukihime replied to Takumu¡¯s low sound.


    ¡°Yes. The ?Green King?. Affinity type is close range or indirect... but, the second name more accurately describes the ability. That is ?Invulnerable?.¡±


    ¡°Looks stiff. From rumors, all losses were from time out, and at those times its HP never went below half... that must be a lie.¡±


    ¡°You will understand if you watch.¡±


    When Kuroyukihime curtly replied to Yuniko¡¯s mocking tone, in the movie, Black Lotus approached the green avatar, and indicated with gesture the shade of a large rock right nearby. The Green King nodded silently, went behind the rock and leaned back against it. The Black King also hid behind a rock a bit further away. Clearly, they were trying for an ambush.


    Even understanding that this was a past recording, Haruyuki looked on while holding his breath. Suddenly ¡®crackle¡¯ like small sound echoed from his left side.


    He moved his view. The crackle crackle sound of dry ground being stepped on came slowly closer.


    A few seconds later, what appeared between the rock formations was a very huge duel avatar. Probably 50cm taller than the Green King. The body covered in bellow like metallic armor was strangely elongated, and the head tilted forward like a snake. Left and right arms were unbelievably long too. The hands that dangle down held a crude broad ax, its thick blade almost scraping the ground.


    The head was covered in a worm like slippery cylinder, with two black holes at the top. From the darkness inside, red filled eyes moved around.


    The full body armor was deep black cloudy silver. The avatar that looked around while sunlight reflected lightly off it suddenly stood still and stared straight at Haruyuki. At that moment, Haruyuki forgot that this was a recorded movie, and froze on the spot.


    ¡®- What is this. This is a... Burst Linker? An avatar controlled by a real person?¡¯


    ¡®No way. This is like a robot... no, a wild beast.¡¯


    ¡°This guy is... the fourth ?Chrome Disaster?? Compared to the currently ravaging fifth, the form and size are totally different.¡±


    To be expected, relaxed, however some light tension mixed in Yuniko¡¯s murmur.


    ¡°It should be like that. That black silver armor is an ?Enhanced Armament?, it would change depending on the shape of the avatar who wears it. But, its characteristic won¡¯t change no matter how many hundred generations. That is, thoughts of only insane attacks...¡±


    Kuroyukihime responded quietly, like being led by those words, the huge black silver avatar raised the large ax silently.


    What the blade aimed for, was clearly the rock ?Green King? was hiding behind. With whatever method, or just direct feeling, Chrome Disaster found out about the ambush.


    ¡°Gaa!!¡±


    With a carnivorous beast like roar, the ax was swung down with furious speed. The thick rock was cut in half like butter, however right before that, the green avatar jumped out to the side of the rock¡¯s shade.


    To chase after that, the huge ax was swung again. The Green King that turned around, this time he did not dodge, and held up the shield in left hand instead.


    Right after that, with a sharp metallic sound the shield extended in four directions, and from its rectangle shape changed to a huge cross shape. It was a size that covered all of the Green King¡¯s body. In the center of that, the crude ax hit with power from high up.


    With a loud noise that hurts the ears, waterfall like sparks flew. The ax was rebounded, but the Green King also knelt down.


    ¡°Gaa, Gagaa!!¡±


    An angry and joyful sound leaked out of Chrome Disaster, with unreasonable moves, he swung the ax down many times. The attacks where even one hit could cut apart a body, the Green King¡¯s cross shield continued to guard against them simply.


    It was then that Haruyuki finally noticed that Chrome Disaster¡¯s black silver armor had many deep wound like openings. While the ax was swung, from those wounds came black fog like substance that spread out in the air.


    ¡°Wounded...?¡±


    After he unconsciously murmured, Kuroyukihime coolly replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. That guy fought with other kings earlier and was driven here. As for the health gauge, it¡¯s near death. But still that savage. At that time, I was frightened to the depth of my heart.¡±


    ¡®That would be the case. Even watching a replay like this, the urge to run away is strong.¡¯


    While he whispered in his mind, he felt that his supposed to be sensory cut real body¡¯s hairs were raised. Actually, it¡¯s unthinkable. Against the strongest in the accelerated world, the ?Kings?, this one sided crazy rampage - furthermore, this was near death stage. This means, Chrome Disaster¡¯s actual strength, could only be beyond level 9.


    Maybe Chrome Disaster got annoyed with the Green King since no matter how many times the ax hit, it could not break the defense, so it made a low growl. While continuing the attacks, that long head extended - suddenly, the mouth opened with a wet sound.


    From the mouth, or more like a concentric suction hole¡¯s center, a long tube like tongue extended, that Haruyuki stared at while dazed. At that time Kuroyukihime said with a sharp sound.


    ¡°That, is one of Chrome Disaster¡¯s abilities, ?Health Drain?. That guy can steal duel opponent¡¯s HP gauge.¡±


    Like those words said, the long tube went around the Green King¡¯s shield and extended near the neck.


    ¡°Look out!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted in reaction, and right after.


    The till now not joining the battle even once, hidden Black Lotus jumped out from deep to the view like a black lightning bolt.


    Her right hand sword swung down with unseen speed and cut off Chrome Disaster¡¯s tongue from the root.


    ¡°GaaGagagagaa!!¡±


    From the round mouth, a clear scream and black darkness spew as the huge avatar leaned backward. Aiming for the large wound on its chest, Black Lotus¡¯s left leg sword pierced all the way through without mercy.


    The long blade that pierced through the back suddenly shone a dazzling violet. The Black King raised her leg and cut upwards, dancing higher above, and elegantly flipped around. Before the shining deep black avatar landed, Chrome Disaster¡¯s head was split in two - .


    There, the slide bar that showed play time in the lower right reached the far end.


    With Link Out command, Haruyuki returned from full dive, he noticed that his real hands were wet with sweat.


    Takumu who sat in front of him also looked similarly green in the face. Looking left, he saw the Red King Yuniko too was silent with stiff lips.


    ¡°...That guy continued to fight in that condition for another two minutes before it finally ended.¡±


    Kuroyukihime murmured just that, and pulled out the two cables plugged into her Neuro Linker at the same time.Haruyuki did the same, while controlling his stiff hands, he inquired with a dry voice.


    ¡°That... is that really a Burst Linker? Like us, a real player was inside that...?¡±


    ¡°Without a doubt. The current fifth too, with big difference in fighting method... But, that¡¯s that, Black King.¡±


    Yuniko stood up while saying that in a low voice, and glared at Kuroyukihime with an unusually grim look.


    ¡°You guys went to a lot of trouble to defeat the fourth, that is certain since there is a replay to prove it. But... then, why did that ?Armor?, that enhanced armament did not disappear!?¡±


    ¡°It disappeared!¡±


    Kuroyukihime stood straight up and shouted back.


    While grinding her teeth, Kuroyukihime sat on a chair by the table, and waited for the other three to sit down before continuing with a suppressed voice.


    ¡°...When the owner of that ?Armor?, the fourth Chrome Disaster left the accelerated world forever, the Green King and I met up with the other five people, and checked our status window there. Everyone there clearly said it. That the ?Armor? was not in their storage. That meant it disappeared... the curse about it transferring to the one who killed the owner was broken at that time. In fact, Chrome Disaster did not appear since then!¡±


    That final part was almost said with a shout, then Kuroyukihime glared at Yuniko with a challenging look.


    Withstanding the pressure from the deep black eyes directly, the second Red King returned sharply.


    ¡°Then, explain the current situation! The fifth appeared, ravaging like the past is a fact!¡±


    ¡°...What is the name of the fifth? Even wearing the ?Armor? and mentally corrupted by it to become the fifth Chrome Disaster, the name registered in the system would not change. In a duel, you should be able to find out the name of the avatar inside the armor. The one who was taken over by the armor, which King was it!!¡±


    This time, Yuniko looked down and was silent.


    After a few seconds, blowing out a long breath, the girl shook her head left and right.


    ¡°...It¡¯s not a King. The fifth, is my... Red legion, ?Prominence?¡¯s member. The original name is ?Cherry Rook?... but, he¡¯s no longer the original person. He was eaten by the armor, and has disappeared.¡±


    That voice, contrary to the violent language, was somewhat dry and wavering.


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s eyes became small, and she touched her thin color lips with her right hand finger.


    ¡°Not a... King...? Red legion member...? However...¡±


    Kuroyukihime frowned and started thinking, then Takumu lightly raised his hand and said.


    ¡°It might be like this, master. Enhanced Armament, even ones from shops, can be transferred to another Burst Linker in the real world with direct connection. It¡¯s not something I should say, but thinking about that backdoor program incident, I don¡¯t think all the kings are incorruptible pacifists. One of the Kings with an agenda might have sworn a false oath and secretly kept the ?Armor? and might have given that to ?Cherry Rook??¡±


    ¡°It would be... like that... It was mentioned earlier, Kings... level 9 players have no reason to desire lots of points. Since no matter how much is gained, you can not become level 10. That¡¯s why, if given out... it¡¯s only for the reason of strengthening your own legion and weakening other legions... so releasing the uncontrollable Chrome Disaster has way too high risks. Before that, for a Red legion member to have it, it should have come from the Red King. That certainly might be the case but... the Red King that had joined the subjugation two and half years ago...¡±


    Momentarily, Kuroyukihime¡¯s voice paused, probably only Haruyuki noticed it.


    Suddenly under the table, Kuroyukihime¡¯s cold left hand touched Haruyuki¡¯s right hand. Gaining warmth from there, the suppressed wavering speech continued.


    ¡°The Red King from then is no longer in the accelerated world. After just three months since the subjugation of Chrome Disaster, he was also struck down. So, it could not be from him.¡±


    ¡°At that time, I was still a growing Burst Linker chick so I don¡¯t know the details.¡±


    The Red King did not seem to notice Kuroyukihime¡¯s momentarily conflict and interrupted with a somber voice.


    ¡°Obviously, I did not obtain the ?Armor? from the previous generation King and even if I did obtain it, I would not think of letting a member wear it. There¡¯s no way... after seeing that fiendish like battle...¡±


    ¡°Is the fifth also... that incredible?¡±


    To Haruyuki¡¯s question, Yuniko looked up slightly and spit out.


    ¡°In a certain sense, beyond that earlier replay. That guy is no longer a Burst Linker, or more like fighting is no longer a ?duel?. I... I saw him eating a fallen opponent¡¯s arm.¡±


    ¡°Gee...¡±


    He unconsciously imagined the scene and groaned.


    After overwriting the sour after taste with his coffee full of milk and sugar, Haruyuki asked the two Kings.


    ¡°B, but... earlier you said ?taken over? and ?mental corruption?... enhanced armament, that is just an item right? To be able to interfere with the actual Burst Linker¡¯s thoughts, is that possible...?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s possible.¡±


    Kuroyukihime instantly said.


    ¡°Do you remember? At the time Haruyuki-kun became a Burst Linker, I explained it. That Brain Burst read the owner¡¯s inferiority and obsession, then compressed them to make the Duel Avatar.¡±


    ¡°Y... yes.¡±


    ¡°That means, not only can the Neuro Linker access the sensory part, but it can access the thinking and memory part of the brain as well. For normal applications those are strictly forbidden areas. ...That is, enhanced armament is tainted with negative awareness of the Burst Linker who created it. If another person wears it, that awareness could be thought of flowing the opposite way.¡±


    ¡°That... kind of thing...¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s back shivered. He had no more room other than carrying his own negative thoughts, so he is sure that he would be instantly crushed if he had to carry someone else''s burden.


    ¡°I... I don¡¯t want enhanced armament.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    Kuroyukihime nodded after a short laugh.


    ¡°Well, to be able to corrupt personality, probably only the ?Chrome Disaster?. The first generation, what kind of person was he...?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know and have no interest!¡±


    Suddenly, with a chair clanking sound, Yuniko stood up and shouted.


    ¡°Big troublesome shits, the idiot who made it, and the one who got and hid it to give ?Cherry Rook? as well! Cherry was... a nice guy. He did not have any flashy ability, but slowly he worked hard to get to level 6, and the fun was just starting! And then... shit, damn!!¡±


    The Red King who quickly turned her back, Haruyuki saw some wetness in her big eyes.


    Glaring at the high-rise buildings outside the balcony, Yuniko squeezed out a shaking sound.


    ¡°...That guy, while belonging to the Red legion, attacked other Kings¡¯ legion members left and right. Breaking the no invasion treaty. I... have to purge him.¡±


    The brief heavy silence was - .


    Broken by Kuroyukihime¡¯s quiet sound.


    ¡°...I see. For Chrome Disaster who is normally hard to defeat... to still belong to a legion. For you who is his legion master, just one blow will forever exile him from the accelerated world. - With the ?Judgement Blow?.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After a few more seconds of silence, Yuniko slowly nodded, however she shook her head left and right next.


    ¡°...Ten days ago, I challenged him who just had reached level 7 while being negligent. To purge him. But... do you believe it, Black Lotus. That guy... Chrome Disaster avoided all of my long range attacks.¡±


    ¡°...Say what?¡±


    ¡°?Judgement Blow?, no matter for which legion master, is an almost zero range contact ability. For it to hit, you have to score a number of normal attacks and stop the person. But no matter how many times my main cannon and missiles were fired, I was not even able to scratch him... I was hit here and there by his sword and lost HP. In the end... it was time up and I lost.¡±


    ¡°Lost!? Let¡¯s leave ?Judgement Blow? alone, a King like you lost!?¡±


    ¡°Such a big show of surprise... you also fought it before so you should have understood. That mobility, other than a monster no one has. Huge distance jumps, changing path in the air... it was almost like flight.¡±


    ¡°Fly... ing...¡±


    With that whisper, Kuroyukihime first looked at Yuniko standing pass the table, then at Haruyuki sitting next to her.


    Then, she slowly and deeply nodded.


    ¡°I see. Finally, your goal... using a very troublesome way to do reality intrusion on Haruyuki-kun and using yourself to do social engineering, I understand the reason now.¡±


    At that time, Takumu seemed to have reached the same conclusion. Looking dubiously at the three other than himself, Haruyuki moved his body and view around.


    ¡°Wh... what is it? The goal... what is that anyway?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious, onii-chan?¡±


    Yuniko¡¯s mood suddenly changed sharply and said sweetly with angel mode pure simile.


    ¡°I need Haruyuki onii-chan to capture Chrome Disaster.¡±


    After about 5 seconds of relaxed feeling.


    ¡®No way...I am scared. Don¡¯t joke.¡¯


    Haruyuki screamed that, falling from his chair and went to hide behind Kuroyukihime.


    However Kuroyukihime titled her head as if thinking about something, then ruthlessly held the back of Haruyuki¡¯s uniform and pulled, saying with a saint like smile.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun, you should experience everything. I think there¡¯s no harm in trying.¡±


    ¡°Wh... whattt!?¡±


    ¡°I never said it would be a one on one fight. Also, this is not just the Red legion, it¡¯s all of accelerated world... including our ?Nega Nebulas?¡¯s problem. Then here, it¡¯s time for you to stand up like a man as a Burst Linker.¡±


    ¡®- This person saying that with this face, she is planning something.¡¯


    That appeared in Haruyuki¡¯s mind, but he could not determine what that ?something? was, so he desperately tried to find excuses.


    ¡°B, but... that¡¯s an opponent that the King, that is level 9 Scarlet Rain could not deal with! Level 4 me would be instantly blown away and it would be over! I don¡¯t want my head and arms to be pulled off!!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let that happen to you.¡±


    Another smile that can melt the highest grade gelato[1].


    ¡°Use your speed and flight ability to chase Chrome Disaster and just stopping him for a short while is fine. Afterward this little girl and I will rob him of mobility.¡±


    ¡°So... so simply said, but...¡±


    Being a bad loser, Haruyuki put this normal run away skill into full gear, and mumbled his final rebuttal.


    ¡°That¡¯s right... that requires a team battle to happen first right? Also, against just Chrome Disaster, at the very least needs senpai, Scarlet Rain and I. He would not accept such a disadvantageous duel!¡±


    For Burst Linkers, while their Neuro Linker is connected to the net, could not refuse a normal one on one duel from other Burst Linkers. But if the battle mode was ?Team? or ?Battle Royale?, that¡¯s another story. In that situation, it would be three against one with Chrome Disaster, with that kind of disadvantage, there¡¯s no way he would accept.


    ¡®- No, wait. Earlier, didn¡¯t he have the same question?¡¯


    After nodding lightly to the speechless Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime took a glance at Yuniko and asking in confirmation.


    ¡°If Chrome Disaster would have been rampaging with normal battles, I would have heard about it already. However I have not heard a single rumor, so that means...¡±


    ¡°...That¡¯s right.¡±


    The Red King put her hands into her cut-jean pockets and twisted her slender upper body around to nod.


    ¡°That guy¡¯s hunting ground is no longer the ?Normal Duel Field?. Above that... in the ?Unlimited Neutral Field?.¡±


    ¡®...What is that?¡¯


    Haruyuki raised his head with a question mark, instead a bit to the right front, Takumu shouted sharply.


    ¡°Da... dangerous, master!¡±


    He rose up with a clank from the chair and continued.


    ¡°With our lineup, diving ?above? is way too reckless! For me and Haru maybe, but you are chained with a special rule! If you were suddenly ambushed by other level 9 players, with one loss, at that instant you would lose Brain Burst forever... no, in the worst case...¡±


    Takumu took a quick glance at Yuniko to the right and after a bit of hesitation, touched the bridge of his glasses with his right hand finger and said.


    ¡°...It¡¯s my duty to say this, so let me say it. - The worst case, all of this act... Haru¡¯s reality intrusion, the talk about Chrome Disaster, all of these could possibly be the Red King¡¯s trap. To lure master into the ?Unlimited Field?, with a big army in ambush, planning to take your head, is possible.¡±


    Yuniko who again returned to the little devil mode, with her hands in pockets, point her small jaw and glared at Takumu.


    ¡°...Well said, Cyan Pile. Everything you said earlier was in a clever way, what are you? Glasses character. Nickname Professor?¡±


    Hit.


    His little hurt face soon returned to normal, Takumu said in rebuttal.


    ¡°Show some kind of proof, then we can talk, Red King. We are just a three person legion, for us to dive ?Above? knowing the danger, you should provide some kind of proof!¡±


    ¡°Here is your proof.¡±


    Yuniko took her right hand from her pocket and manipulated her virtual desktop for a bit, then snapped three fingers. In Haruyuki¡¯s view, another half transparent name tag appeared. But, this time bigger than the one earlier. Not just the real name, below that also showed home address.


    Starting from Nerima ward in Tokyo, ending with unfamiliar school and dormitory name, Haruyuki looked on in amazement. With face and name can be said to be plenty of ?Reality intrusion?, showing home address too, is way past courage into recklessness.


    Takumu and Kuroyukihime too were surprised by that, while being looked on by three silent and wide eyed middle school students, Yuniko removed her right hand from her virtual desktop and poked her small chest with her thumb.


    ¡°You still do not understand why I personally contacted you? The real world me is an elementary kid with no strength, economic or organizational power. I have no way to defend against ?attacks? on me. If I betrayed you, you can come get revenge anytime you like in reality.¡±


    Yuniko who said that, her eyes seem to be burning from the left over winter sunlight coming through the window.


    He thought she was reckless, but she had tremendous resolution. To be true, she could not possibly overlook the problem of her legion member breaking the no invasion treaty and attacking other legion members. However, before everything else, Brain Burst is just a ?Duel Game?. Something that exist for play, enjoy and excitement.


    That¡¯s why Haruyuki thought that sacrificing your real self for Brain Burst is a mistake. That deceived Takumu three months ago, and he is still tormented by it now.


    ¡°Yuniko... -chan.¡±


    In place of the overwhelmed Takumu, Haruyuki involuntarily called out, trying to find words to continue.


    However, that one word seemed to allow the Red King to see through his heart, she lowered her right hand and said with a self delirious smile.


    ¡°I understand what you want to say. But... you will eventually come to understand when you get to this height, that this game with ?accelerate? technology can make the wall of real side thin. If you knew how much time that girl and I spent in the accelerated world, you would certainly fall right down.¡±


    ¡°Wh... total play time...?¡±


    Haruyuki titled his head and did a little calculation. Right now, he had about 10 ?duels? per day. Each fight average around 20 minutes, so total 200 minutes - a bit more than 3 hours. It¡¯s a bit high playtime for a middle school student, but not way too absurd.


    If one day is around 3 hours, one month is 100 hours. One year is 1200 hours. Since Yuniko became a Burst Linker for about two and half year -.


    ¡°3000... hours or about?¡±


    That¡¯s a big number, but compared to actual VRMMO-RPG addicts, that¡¯s nothing. Those people dive at least 10 hours a day.


    However, after hearing Haruyuki¡¯s hard mental calculations, Yuniko laughed aloud and Kuroyukihime too had a slight wry smile.


    ¡°Wh, that¡¯s not right? Yuniko-chan, then how much total time...?¡±


    ¡°Not telling you. That answer, you can find out yourself. Also...¡±


    The Red King suddenly put on a scary face and said in a threatening tone.


    ¡°Stop calling me Yuniko-chan. I get shivers in my back. ...Niko is fine. Call me Niko, absolutely not allowed to add -chan or -tan.¡±


    Somehow feeling that they are off topic, Haruyuki nodded and looked around.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see... So the result is that ?Nega Nebulas? will assist Niko-cha... the Red King, is that right?¡±


    ¡°...Umu. There are many risks, but for now we will swallow it whole. Also, there is some merit.¡±


    ¡°M, merit?¡±


    Kuroyukihime looked away from Haruyuki who asked that, towards the Red King.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. ?Prominence? under the sun coming to request this very big favor, must have prepared some kind of exchange condition. For example... from now on do not touch our small territory, things like that.¡±


    ¡°Chii.¡±


    With that small click of her tongue, the Red King - Niko light waved her right hand.


    ¡°I understand. If you are fine with a verbal promise. My guys won¡¯t touch the Suginami area.¡±


    Kuroyukihime nodded slowly, then one finger from her folded right hand came up.


    ¡°However, just one thing. Scarlet Rain... how are you supposed to ambush Chrome Disaster in the ?Unlimited Field?? In that place, it¡¯s almost impossible to purposely encounter someone, you should have already known that.¡±


    ¡°...I won¡¯t trouble you guys. It¡¯s my responsibility to determine the time and place. Not right now, probably tomorrow evening... is all I can say.¡±


    ¡°Ohh. You can do that?¡±


    To Kuroyukihime¡¯s question, Niko nodded.


    ¡°I will leave it to you. Tomorrow after school, we will meet here again and dive into the ?Unlimited Neutral Field?. Is that okay, Haruyuki-kun and Takumu-kun?¡±


    ¡®- What is that Unlimited Field anyway?¡¯


    Before that question, Haruyuki was surprised with ¡®Arg, my home again!?¡¯ that shout in his mind. His mother won¡¯t be home till the day after tomorrow so that is fine, if he returned home tomorrow, and this time Niko played with praise the ?other type of Z games? in the living room - if that happened, he would not be able to stand up again.


    ¡®Defend till death. This time he will defend his room till death!¡¯


    With that oath, Haruyuki and Takumu both nodded.


    ¡°Then, for today from now on is free time. Haruyuki-kun, thank you for the coffee.¡±


    With those words Kuroyukihime stood up, she again looked at the tens of years ago vintage collection of western games scattered in the living room.


    ¡°Next time, I will come to play normally. There are many titles I don¡¯t know of.¡±


    ¡°Y... yea, please do.¡±


    ¡®Something that doesn¡¯t have a lot of blood and guts spilling.¡¯


    He added that in his mind, then walked Kuroyukihime and Takumu to the entrance.


    ¡°See you Haru at the school tomorrow. Uwaa, it¡¯s already this late.¡±


    First Takumu waved his hand then walked out of the hallway to another part of the apartment, next Kuroyukihime put on her loafers and turned around.


    ¡°Ah, that is. I will walk you home, it¡¯s late...¡±


    Haruyuki said that, but she waved her hand lightly and said.


    ¡°No need to worry, with student council work it¡¯s even later than now, so this is nothing. Also, this place is pretty close to my home.¡±


    ¡°Is that... so. But, be careful.¡±


    ¡°Un, then, sorry to have disturbed you. See you tomorrow.¡±


    Kuroyukihime smiled, raised her right fist, then was about to step outside the door.


    To her back, from behind Haruyuki, Niko¡¯s drawling voice called out.


    ¡°See you, black one. Don¡¯t be late tomorrow. Okay then, time to continue.¡±


    To the Red King who then skipped to the living room, this time Kuroyukihime turned around with incredible speed and shouted.


    ¡°Hey wait, wait a minute, red one!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    She glared at Niko who stuck her head out and cross-examined.


    ¡°You are not thinking of staying here today as well.¡±


    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s troublesome to go back all the time.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mess around, go home! A child should go home, do homework, brush teeth and sleep!!¡±


    That fiery sharp tongue was washed away by a grin from Niko.


    ¡°But, my school is a boarding school. After getting a three day pass to go out, even if I return, there won¡¯t be any food. ...Anyway, onii-chan, what should we have for dinner tonight?¡±


    After saying the later part in angel mode, Niko disappear into the living room.


    ¡°Wha... wha...¡±


    While her face quivered as if right before a huge eruption with her fists shaking, Kuroyukihime glared sidewise at Haruyuki who stood there dazed.


    ¡°...Cancel the ¡®See you tomorrow¡¯. I will stay over here tonight too.¡±


    With that fearsome announcement, that was declaration of war, she forcefully shut the door, took off her shoes and stamped pass the hallway into the living room.


    It took more than one minute for Haruyuki¡¯s totally frozen brain to restart.


    ¡®- What is this?¡¯


    ¡®What is this....what is happening...is this reality? Or is everything and everyone a polygon created fake reality?¡¯


    Haruyuki sat on the living room sofa, hugging a cushion, and stared off into space.


    Maybe everything from the beginning - meeting Kuroyukihime, obtaining Brain Burst, and becoming Burst Linker ?Silver Crow? was all a dream. Maybe an escape from reality application was running that allowed him continue to see such long delusion.


    Those were Haruyuki¡¯s serious doubts, but the hamburger he ate just 30 minutes ago, its slightly burnt aftertaste, the happiness in his stomach, and also from the bathroom in the hallway, sounds of water and girls¡¯ playful sounds were way too real.


    After Kuroyukihime¡¯s sudden announcement, the three of them went shopping in the mall under the apartment, made dinner together, washed dishes - and then Niko and Kuroyukihime went to use the bathroom first together. That¡¯s what happened.


    The situation where everything occurring all at once was so unreal that Haruyuki wasted it, being mostly on automatic mode. ?While parents are away? ?two girls came to stay over? ?made dinner and went to bath?, those kind of situations could not be adjusted into his consciousness.


    What is the best way for him to act? Normally in this situation how is a man suppose to choose as best selection?


    While steam puffed from his ears, Haruyuki tried to spin his overloaded thoughts. In this type of game or anime, for this kind of scene usually the man went to ask how the bath water was, and ?something? made him stumble into the bathroom. Then buckets, shampoo and things will be thrown at him to drive him away.


    ¡®Then, me doing that would be an optimized solution.¡¯


    Haruyuki stood right up and turned towards the bathroom. In his brain, there already floated an event graphic where Kuroyukihime and Niko washed each other wearing just bubbles.


    However unfortunately, or in other words fortunately, right before he opened the living room door, he heard two sets of footsteps heading there. Haruyuki teleported at light speed to the sofa and sat down properly.


    After the knob¡¯s violent turn, Niko jumped in first shouting ¡®ice ice!¡¯ and ran to the kitchen. Haruyuki turned around in reaction to the loose sweatshirt and shortpants rough shape, this time his eyes met Kuroyukihime¡¯s.


    It must be the one she bought in the shopping mall that evening, she was wearing a light pink pajama. Her head tilted, drying her shining hair with a towel, that shape is different from her normally all black clothing that rejected others, she stood there unbelievably defenseless and lovely, Haruyuki could only watch in a daze.


    ¡°...Don¡¯t stare so much. This color was the only size that fits.¡±


    As Kuroyukihime said that while looking away, Haruyuki finally snap back and shook his head hard left and right.


    ¡°N, nooo way, m, matches nicely.¡±


    ¡°I, I see. Isn¡¯t it a bit childish?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not. Great. Perfect. Critical.¡±


    While sitting properly he stretched his back and desperately said up to there, from the side Niko showed her face while waving a popsicle in her right hand.


    ¡°Hey, do you know, Silver Crow?¡±


    ¡°Wh... what about?¡±


    ¡°This girl, even looking like that, after she is naked, is unexpectedly sugofuu¡±


    The end of those words was messed up by Kuroyukihime¡¯s unsparing one hit.


    She then held the Red King¡¯s neck from behind, and laughed generously.


    ¡°There, you should hurry and use the bathroom. The bath water will get cold.¡±


    Looking at Niko who collapsed, Haruyuki gave a scream in his mind and jumped off the sofa.


    ¡°Y, yes, then excuse me, I will go take a bath! There¡¯s barley tea and things in the fridge so feel free, I am off!¡±


    That night turned out to be a late night Z type retro game spree night.


    Sitting around the large game hardware from 40 years ago, with excited shouts they massacred creatures in the flat screen, Haruyuki still continued to think a little about if that was really real.


    ¡®- These people and me, are basically connected to each other through a VR game called Brain Burst. That¡¯s why their relationship is online, that is net based, it should be recognized like that.


    Certainly, I love Kuroyukihime senpai, and she said she love me too. However, the intermediary of those feelings were usually quantum signals exchanged through the Neuro Linker. Their relationship is mostly made up of vector data, he thought it was fine like that.


    But today, they made dinner and ate it together in my home, took turns to bath, and now are sitting a few 10cm or so from each other, feeling each other¡¯s body heat.


    This world - the separation between real and virtual is infinitely thin, in a world where information from your five senses are hard to distinguish which are analog and which are digital, this is what would happen? Things like ?Offline human relationship?, how do I capture and recognize it? So far in the offline world, all I had been doing was run away, hide, and huddle.¡¯


    His thinking that went round and round, was covered by a flashy scream from a huge boss monster in the screen.


    At the same time, Niko let go of her controller and lay down backwards.


    ¡°Ah... I can¡¯t take it anymore. Sleepy. Sleepyyy!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I said, children should hurry... Fuwa...¡±


    Kuroyukihime also covered her mouth with her left hand, letting out a refined yawn.


    Since his Neuro Linker was taken off, he looked at the clock on the wall, it was past midnight.


    ¡°Th, then, we should sleep. Let¡¯s see... Yuniko-cha, not that, Niko is fine with the sofa today too right. So, senpai please use my mother¡¯s bedroom. Ah, but the heat wasn¡¯t on for a while so it might be cold...¡±


    Haruyuki said till there, then Niko interrupted loudly.


    ¡°Never mind, too troublesome. Just bring out blankets, I will sleep here... it¡¯s fine...¡±


    Then, she buried her head in a huge cushion, and closed her eyes quickly.


    ¡°Un, that¡¯s fine with me too. Sleeping together around game software, is truly a historical experience... or not...¡±


    Kuroyukihime too lay down onto a cushion.


    ¡®Whattt - .¡¯


    What he was thinking was, he would not be able to imitate ?carry both to bed?, so he did as told and took out some blankets. He used them to cover the already sleeping Niko and Kuroyukihime, and thought ¡®now then¡¯.


    ¡®Should I be sleeping in my own room?


    But, with both guests sleeping on the floor, wouldn¡¯t it be bad manners for me to sleep in a bed? Here, shouldn¡¯t I sleep on the floor as well for fairness? Isn¡¯t that what a gentleman should do?¡¯


    After his own suggested justification, Haruyuki turned the ceiling lights to the lowest level, and slowly became round there. The floor was slightly warm from the buried heating pipes, the large semi-fluid cushion was fluffy soft - and within hand reach distance, was extremely nice smell.


    ¡®There¡¯s no way I can sleep in this situation!¡¯, while thinking like that, Haruyuki closed his eyes under the blanket.


    However strangely, in exchange of tension, a mysterious peace covered Haruyuki, and his consciousness slowly fell into the gentle darkness.


    Deep in the night, Haruyuki woke up just once.


    He stood up thinking of going to the toilet, and look around casually, in the dim lighting and blue white moonlight, there was an unexpected scenery.


    Niko and Kuroyukihime who were supposed to be one meter apart, some unknown time ago, had fallen between two cushions and were sleeping soundly.


    Furthermore, Niko had her face buried in Kuroyukihime¡¯s chest, her right hand holding tightly on to the pajama fabric.


    And also, Kuroyukihime had her arms around Niko¡¯s red head like she was holding her.


    That scene, before he was surprised by it, his heart was moved by something and Haruyuki opened his eyes wide.


    ?Red King? and ?Black King?. They are level 9 Burst Linkers chained with a special rule of sudden death.


    Those two spent an unknown amount of time in the accelerated world and fought many fights to the death. What they were looking forward to, Haruyuki could not imagine. However he could say this. If they both aimed for level 10, someday they will have to fight. To defeat other Kings, is how a King moves forward.


    But.


    Tonight, these two, with a coincidence brought together by complex situations, slept together in the real world like this. Just like at the bottom of their hearts, they wished for that.


    This is, this scene, is just one night¡¯s illusion? An incidental miracle that won¡¯t happen again?


    Or it could be - .


    Haruyuki at that moment captured a premonition that he had arrived at a very important something.


    However, the unknown feeling overwhelming his heart and the tears flowing out of his eyes, he could not put his thought into words accurately.


    So Haruyuki just stood there, looking at the girls sleeping soundly in the blue white moonlight, without being full no matter how long he continued.

 Volume 2 - CH 4

    ¡°Then, I will be going.¡±


    ¡°I... I am leaving.¡±


    ¡°Okay, have a nice trip... Ah.¡±


    To Kuroyukihime and Haruyuki¡¯s farewells, Niko rubbed the side of her face lightly and then wrinkled her eyebrows.


    ¡°...Hey. Isn¡¯t this a bit weird?¡±


    ¡°Nn, what is?¡±


    ¡°No... even if you ask what is...¡±


    While Niko crossed her arms and started thinking, Kuroyukihime shrugged her shoulders lightly and said.


    ¡°Strange girl. Instead of that, I will leave the details of today¡¯s battle plan to you. ?Chrome Disaster?¡¯s appearing location and time specifics, you have no problem with that?¡±


    ¡°Y, yea. Leave it to me.¡±


    ¡°Umu. Then, I will be going.¡±


    ¡°I... I am leaving.¡±


    ¡°Okay, have a nice trip... Ah.¡±


    Then she closed the door and after backing off a step, Kuroyukihime turned away.


    January 23rd, Friday 7:30AM.


    Up till now, the situation was similar to the many ?going to school? moments he had daily. The grey light shining in the apartment public hallway, his white breath in the cold air, were all the same as yesterday''s.


    However just one thing was different - right beside him, wearing a neat Umesato middle school uniform with a blue ribbon tie, right hand holding a school regulation bag, and left hand carrying a shopping bag, a female student¡¯s shape was there.


    Turning on her Neuro Linker and looking in the air, Kuroyukihime said casually.


    ¡°Today will be cloudy, I hope it doesn¡¯t rain. Then, let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Y... yes.¡±


    He nodded, took his normal position to her left and slightly behind, and while walking, Haruyuki thought in a daze.


    ¡®- Ah... this person, is my onee-san? And the one earlier, imouto?


    No no, this kind of specification should not exist in the real world. Going to school together with onee-san, like some antique novel game.


    As he shook his head slightly, the empty elevator came down, and he went in after his onee-san.


    ¡®- Even if this was a game, with the girls being only ?older sister? and ?younger sister?, that is not possible right?¡¯


    With his brain that wasn¡¯t working too well due to slight lack of sleep, he thought up to that point while spacing out, the elevator went down just two floors, and stopped on the 21st floor. Haruyuki backed up one step by reaction, to make space for people coming in.


    And then, after the door slid open, with an energetic jump inside, a similarly uniformed girl - ?childhood friend? Kurashima Chiyuri¡¯s eyes collided with his.


    ¡®NO - .¡¯


    As Haruyuki screamed in his mind, Chiyuri¡¯s large cat-like eyes blinked and a big smile appeared on her face.


    ¡°Ah, Haru, morning! How come today you are so early... wh... wha...!?¡±


    However, once she recognized the person standing to the right side behind Haruyuki, her voice and expression changed abruptly. From relaxed, passed through surprise, then approaching right before an eruption.


    ¡°...Haru? What¡¯s this?¡±


    With her eyeballs jerking, Chiyuri whispered.


    In contrast to the totally solidified Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime greeted her lightheartedly.


    ¡°Ya, morning, Kurashima-kun.¡±


    ¡°Ah, g..good morning.¡±


    After she bowed in reflex, Chiyuri grabbed hold of Haruyuki¡¯s necktie and shouted.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on!!¡±


    ¡°...It, it¡¯s not what you think.¡±


    While Haruyuki shook his head, he used his hand behind him to start the Mailer program, asking help from the only person who could resolve this situation. That is, ¡°Taku, I need help badly¡±.


    ¡°What isn¡¯t what I think!!¡±


    When more of the tough interrogation was about to continue, the elevator finally reached the first floor and the door opened. Haruyuki took hold of Chiyuri¡¯s shoulders, and turned her half way around.


    ¡°Th, there, let¡¯s go to school! Let¡¯s take classes, let¡¯s return home and forget about this during the weekend.¡±


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t change the topic!¡±


    He kept pushing the shouting Chiyuri¡¯s shoulders from behind, passing between the wide eyed residents in the lobby and somehow exited to the front courtyard when a helpful sound came from behind.


    ¡°M... morning, Chii-chan. Morning, Haru. Mo... rn...¡±


    ¡°...Good morning, master.¡±


    Then somehow, after reading his email and coming in a full dash, his comrade murmured to Haruyuki while blowing out large clouds of white breath in the cold morning air.


    ¡°...Haru. You seem like someone who likes stepping on tiger¡¯s tails.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like it. I don¡¯t like it at all.¡±


    After replying, he turned the still yelling ¡®Explain it!¡¯ Chiyuri toward Takumu then released his hands from her shoulders.


    Just like Takumu, he said to Chiyuri with a calm voice.


    ¡°Chii-chan, I was at Haru¡¯s house yesterday too.¡±


    ¡°Wha...? What does that mean?¡±


    Facing the suspicious face of a childhood friend and able to voice a clear explanation; that kind of smooth speech, Haruyuki could not imitate.


    ¡°A little problem dealing with that application occurred. We used Haru¡¯s house as a conference room. But it got late and if a middle school student walking at that time was captured by the social camera, it would be troublesome. So without any choice, senpai had to stay over at Haru¡¯s house. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    To Kuroyukihime who was asked that, fortunately she dutifully nodded.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s what happened. Don¡¯t need to be strangely suspicious, Kurashima-kun.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Chiyuri continued to be silent with a complex expression for a few seconds - .


    Eventually, she said with a low tone.


    ¡°Again, that. Brain... Burst?¡±


    She looked at the three who nodded together, then puffed up her cheeks.


    ¡°Somehow, I am not convinced! That¡¯s just a game right? Then, why would you talk for so many hours about it!¡±


    ¡°It... it¡¯s a game, but not just any game.¡±


    After looking around the wide apartment courtyard to make sure no one else was around, Haruyuki continued.


    ¡°I have told you before... that accelerated thinking and creating a different world from this one. That¡¯s why, similar to reality, many problems occur...¡±


    ¡°...Muu.¡±


    Chiyuri¡¯s lips became sharp, and she murmured while looking unsatisfied.


    ¡°I do not believe that in the first place. Even if you say accelerate or whatever, I can¡¯t imagine it. ...Then...I got it. If you let me see it, I will accept it.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    To the wide eyed Haruyuki, Chiyuri said it like it was nothing.


    ¡°That game, can be copied and installed right? Let me have it too. Then I too will become, what was that, that... ?Burst Linker?.¡±


    ¡°Wha... whattt - !?¡±


    That shout, came not only from Haruyuki but from Takumu and Kuroyukihime as well.


    And then all three held their right hand in front of their face and waved it left and right.


    ¡°Im... impossible. Absolutely impossible.¡±


    Haruyuki who leaked that truthfully, his round cheeks were pinched by Chiyuri.


    ¡°What¡¯s that! Just hand it over!¡±


    ¡°No, I told you... that game needs aptitude.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t understand that till I try!¡±


    ¡°But you are... ultra bad.¡±


    At that moment, Chiyuri¡¯s cat-like eyes shone.


    ¡°I see... you have the nerve. I get it, you will see! I will train too, and win over Haru and Taku in games!¡±


    ¡°Wha... whattt!?¡±


    Haruyuki opened his mouth wide and saw a look of challenge shining in Chiyuri¡¯s eyes. This, he often saw when he played with Chiyuri in the past, is the ?won¡¯t turn back after saying it? face.


    While pulling Haruyuki¡¯s cheeks to the limit like a flat rice cake - .


    ¡°After that, let me copy that Burst something!!¡±


    After saying that she let go of Haruyuki¡¯s cheeks, stuck her tongue out for a ¡®Be -¡¯, then the similarly aged childhood friend ran away at a tremendous speed.


    ¡°...Training huh.¡±


    Haruyuki murmured that while rubbing his cheeks, then turned toward Takumu beside him.


    Then, he bowed deeply.


    ¡°Sorry, Taku. I made you lie to Chiyu.¡±


    Earlier, Takumu¡¯s explanation to Chiyuri was not 100% the truth. When Kuroyukihime announced that she would stay over, the meeting was already finished.


    Takumu smiled and slowly shook his head.


    ¡°...It¡¯s okay.¡±


    His expression was calm, but Haruyuki felt that it contained some self-deprecation, so he bit his lips lightly. Then, Kuroyukihime too said in a caring voice.


    ¡°Takumu-kun. Asking might be an intrusion... you and Kurashima-kun, still... that is...¡±


    ¡°Being back to normal...will take a long time.¡±


    Takumu shrugged and looked towards the street tree canopy that had lost all its leaves.


    ¡°I did a lot of things. Or more like, we might never return to being boyfriend and girlfriend again. But... if it¡¯s part of Chii-chan¡¯s wish for me to be at her side, I think just that is fine.¡±


    ¡°Taku...¡±


    Haruyuki tried to find the words he should say, however just at important moments, his throat was stuck. On his behalf, Kuroyukihime¡¯s quiet voice said.


    ¡°If... you feel burdened, or if it interferes with your relationship with Kurashima-kun, you can erase it... the Brain Burst.¡±


    Takumu¡¯s eyes opened wide instantly.


    However, he soon greatly shook his head left and right.


    ¡°No. I still, to you... and to Haru too, need to make amends for.¡±


    ¡°Y... you don¡¯t have to. There¡¯s nothing like that, Taku.¡±


    This time, he said in reaction.


    ¡°I don¡¯t desire any amends from you. Senpai should be the same. Brain Burst does not exist for that reason... that is, that software is...¡±


    However, just there, Haruyuki¡¯s poor vocabulary ended.


    Takumu looked at him with pain filled eyes, then patted him on the shoulder.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I too still enjoy ?duels?. Instead of that, master. I want to consult with you.¡±


    He turned toward Kuroyukihime and continued with a serious sound.


    ¡°...Chii-chan¡¯s possibility of being a Burst Linker, do you think it is really zero?¡±


    Compared to the wide eyed Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime almost did not change her expression, she tilted her head with ¡®Fumu¡¯.


    ¡°...The first condition has been cleared?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it should be.¡±


    Takumu instantly nodded.


    The first condition for being a Burst Linker is ?to wear the Neuro Linker right after birth?. Takumu¡¯s was from his parent¡¯s educational policy that is full of enthusiasm and Haruyuki¡¯s was used to remotely monitor him since both of his parents worked, their condition was fulfilled.


    Chiyuri was raised in a family full of love, the newborn her had worn the Neuro Linker for a different reason from them. Chiyuri¡¯s father was treated for throat cancer, so it was difficult for him to produce a physical voice. That meant Chiyuri was raised while hearing her father¡¯s mind talk through the network.


    Takumu did not explain that far and Kuroyukihime also did not ask.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    After consenting, she looked toward the direction Chiyuri ran off to.


    ¡°Actually, the second condition... ?Brain reaction speed? does not have a rigorous standard. There are people who were bad with VR games that have installed Brain Burst. However, making someone into a Burst Linker without confidence could be said to be a large gamble.¡±


    ¡°G, gamble...?¡±


    To Haruyuki who repeated what he heard, Kuroyukihime gave him a look with meaning and nodded.


    ¡°Right now, Brain Burst¡¯s copy and install... that is the privilege of a ?parent? making someone a ?child?, is limited to be only once. And that privilege, even if the installing failed, will be lost and never return.¡±


    ¡°O, once!?¡±


    Haruyuki involuntarily shouted, then he hurriedly held his mouth. He lowered his volume, but continued in haste.


    ¡°B, but then, the number of Burst Linkers won¡¯t increase by much. The people who retired after losing all points and the new people who joined... would at best be even...?¡±


    ¡°That means, Haru.¡±


    Takumu who already knew the ?once rule?, pushed his glasses up and said.


    ¡°I think the unknown administrator who manages Brain Burst, that the current number of people... about 1000 people is set as the upper limit. A limit to keep ?accelerate? technology concealed, that is.¡±


    ¡°Th... that might be the case... but even as it is right now, the day that the secret will be found out will absolutely come right? Now Chiyuri almost knows about it. If... if that administrator is the developer, eventually the existence of Brain Burst will be exposed to the world and of course then the Neuro Linker would no longer be able to use accelerate function, if he operates while already factoring that in, that guy... what is his goal anyway?¡±


    Haruyuki opened both hands and looked at Takumu and Kuroyukihime one after another.


    ¡°Since, we... don¡¯t pay to play the game. I have never seen any advertising either.¡±


    For many net games in the world, their profit structure is mostly of two different types. Monthly fees or item sales to users for money, and a flood like spread of contracted business advertising in the game, one of those.


    Brain Burst is unmistakably a net game and also with the ?accelerate? technology, thus giving its users extraordinary privileges. With the price of zero, so no matter how you think of it, it does not fit.


    Hearing Haruyuki¡¯s fundamental questions that were way too late at this time, Kuroyukihime had a slight wry smile.


    ¡°Thinking about it is useless, Haruyuki-kun. To know that, you have to reach level 10 and hear it from the developer directly. However, I can say two things in confirmation. First, like you said earlier, the accelerated world probably cannot continue as it is forever. Eventually its secrecy will be lost, and the time when all Burst Linkers disappear will come. And the other point... the day that we will pay the proper price for the special privilege of ?accelerate? will come. Or maybe...¡±


    What¡¯s ahead, did not come with a clear sound, it was stuck with slight trembling lips.


    However, Haruyuki while blowing white breath in the cold morning air, seem to be able to see the short words.


    ¡®- Or maybe, we are already paying for it.¡¯


    Kuroyukihime looked at Takumu with a short laugh.


    ¡°We went off topic. About Kurashima-kun... I think her chance of becoming a Burst Linker is pretty low, however there is worth in trying.¡±


    ¡°Re... really, master?¡±


    To the wide eyed Takumu, Kuroyukihime nodded slowly.


    ¡°Her physical potential is not low. Her earlier dash had a superb speed.¡±


    ¡°Ah, she is in the track and field club.¡±


    After Haruyuki¡¯s supplement, she murmured ¡®Fumu¡¯.


    ¡°I see. ...For the brain, the circuits for moving the real physical body, is almost the same as the one for moving the virtual avatar. That means in Kurashima-kun¡¯s case, her circuit ability might have fulfilled the required condition. The problem is her affinity with the Neuro Linker, which we can only try by force.¡±


    ¡°Aha... but she can¡¯t even do mind talk.¡±


    ¡°For your case, you are way too specialized in the Neuro Linker side. Move your real body a bit more.¡±


    Kuroyukihime looked away from the immediately silent Haruyuki toward Takumu.


    ¡°...Takumu-kun. If Kurashima-kun succeeds in installing Brain Burst, there will be a strong relationship between you two. As in ?Parent and child?. ...However, that does not always exist as a positive element, please remember that.¡±


    Haruyuki could not immediately understand the quiet but strongly said words.


    ¡®Not positive... that means minus element? Between Burst Linker ?parent? and ?child??


    What does that mean? ?Parent? guide, and ?child? admire. There shouldn¡¯t be a dark side to that, isn¡¯t that right? Different from the parent and child relationship in the real world. The father who threw away the crying young me and left the house, and the mother that doesn¡¯t look at my face, nor talk to me, totally different from those. The parent and child in the accelerated world - between Kuroyukihime and me, there is a strong bond.¡¯


    Haruyuki¡¯s body momentarily trembled, and looked into the eyes of Kuroyukihime who stood right beside him.


    They, like usual, were filled with a gentle shine.


    ¡®- No. Deep inside, there¡¯s a somewhat sad... or more like, a fear like flash, that might just be me over thinking.¡¯


    In that instant, in Haruyuki¡¯s mind, since Kuroyukihime guided him to become a Burst Linker, a question he never thought about appeared.


    ¡®Who was Kuroyukihime¡¯s ?parent??¡¯


    ¡°...Ah, that is.¡±


    When he fearfully started to say that, Kuroyukihime said as if interrupting him.


    ¡°Oh no, we have stood still and talked for too long. It¡¯s the time that if we don¡¯t hurry we might be late.¡±


    ¡°Wha...¡±


    He hurriedly looked in the sky, it was becoming bright past the low clouds.


    ¡°Uwa, it really is. If might be better to run a bit, Haru.¡±


    ¡°Arg, spare me that.¡±


    As Takumu tapped him on the shoulder, and he shook his soft head, Haruyuki could not forget his earlier question.


    While he chased after Kuroyukihime who was already walking quickly, he wanted to ask that question again, but somehow the words did not come out.


    Rushing through the school gate right before the first morning chime, and determining that his Neuro Linker successfully connected to the Umesato middle school local net without a late count, Haruyuki left the other two.


    However, even during morning classes, one thought kept circling around in his mind.


    ¡®Why did Kuroyukihime say that there is a bad side to ?Parent child? relationship for Burst Linkers? And why did she look somewhat sad at that time.


    I want to know. No matter what.¡¯


    After the second class was over, and confirming that the virtual blackboard had disappeared from his view, Haruyuki started his Mailer without hesitation. With short words [Can we talk right now?], he typed and sent in 2 seconds.


    The reply came after 8 seconds. [Let¡¯s meet at the local net virtual squash corner.], after reading that, Haruyuki sat deeply in his chair, closed his eyes and sang the Direct Link command.


    Between the 2nd and 3rd classes there is only 15 minutes, so the fairy-tale forest that is Umesato middle school¡¯s local net was quiet. After confirming that his avatar¡¯s short legs touched the ground, he aimed for a large tree standing on the outer edge and dashed.


    The leader of the bullies who forced Haruyuki to use the pink pig for avatar is no longer there, his underlings were now in hiding, so he could have changed to a more cool design anytime, but somehow did not have the chance, so he continued to use that. Kuroyukihime said ¡®I like that also¡¯ probably had influence on him.


    With that shape he bounced up the stairs carved in the tree trunk, when he jump onto the top floor with the squash game, he saw a slender avatar standing quietly in the center of the court.


    Deep black dress with silver edges. A similar colored parasol in hand, and on the back, black swallowtail butterfly wings with deep red lines running in them.


    Kuroyukihime, who looked like a dark fairy princess, turned her almost colorless white face toward Haruyuki and lightly smiled.


    ¡°Hi. It¡¯s been a while since I saw you in that shape. Lately we have just been talking in reality.¡±


    ¡°...Senpai hasn¡¯t been to the local net much, the fans of that avatar are feeling sad.¡±


    With about three times smoother voice than reality he replied, and Kuroyukihime¡¯s smile changed to a wry smile as she shrugged her shoulders lightly.


    ¡°Really, I was thinking of how eventually it would be nice to use a black pig avatar to match with you. ...Instead of that, what is it, that you want to meet and talk.¡±


    ¡°Ah... about that... that is.¡±


    This time he faltered like usual, and Haruyuki tried to find the words.


    Thinking about it, so far he had asked almost nothing about Kuroyukihime¡¯s private matters. And now suddenly, he is doing something like stepping his foot inside.


    To Haruyuki who hesitated after calling her out, Kuroyukihime showed a wry smile for a while, eventually the wings on her back waved as she moved. The bells on her parasol made a clear ringing chime.


    ¡°...Haruyuki-kun. What you want to ask about, is my ?parent? right?¡±


    Kuroyukihime murmured with a somewhat more mysterious silky voice than her actual voice.


    Without waiting for Haruyuki¡¯s reply after he took a breath, she continued with lowered long eyebrows.


    ¡°Sorry, but... right now, I cannot say that name. I don¡¯t want there to be a chance of you contacting that person. For a legion master... and also as a girl. That might just be ugly jealousy.¡±


    While his avatar stood frozen, and his eyes wide, in Haruyuki¡¯s brain a few thoughts flashed in his consciousness.


    With that speech, he understood some things. First, Kuroyukihime¡¯s ?parent? is still a Burst Linker existing in the accelerated world. And the other thing, is probably a female.


    While moving around soundlessly on the squash court, Kuroyukihime¡¯s voice continued like a harp¡¯s low tones being played with fingers.


    ¡°...That person, was... to me, the closest human being. Continuing to forever shine brightly in the center of my world, or in other words driving darkness and cold far away, I believed.¡±


    ¡®- That is just like what you are to me¡¯, Haruyuki thought in reaction.


    ¡°However, one day... at that time, that instant, I learned that it was a fleeting illusion. Right now that person could be said to be an existence as my arch enemy. Just like, this bottomless hate, was born the moment I met that person, I can only think of it like that.¡±


    The voice was controlled to be calm, but the fierceness of those words, it was unbelievable that they came from Kuroyukihime. The lowered eyes took a quick glance at Haruyuki who stood still, and a somewhat hollow smile appeared on the deep black fairy princess.


    ¡°If possible, I want to fight with that person right now. I want to cut away her limbs with my sword, throw her on the ground, and while I enjoy her unsightly plead for life, cut off her head mercilessly. However that wish won¡¯t be granted. ...Haruyuki-kun. Do you understand the conclusive difference between Burst Linker¡¯s ?Parent child? relationship, and the other for example ?Comrade? or ?Lover? kind of relationship?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After a moment of confusion, Haruyuki remembered that fateful day three months ago, the shining thing that Kuroyukihime held out. That is, the silver colored direct connect cable.


    ¡°That is... ?Parent child?, without exception, know each other¡¯s ?reality?.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is exactly it.¡±


    Nodding, Kuroyukihime stuck the tip of her parasol into the court.


    ¡°To copy and install Brain Burst, two Neuro Linkers must be directly connected. At that time, the ?parent? and ?child? must face each other in reality, and also have a relationship that allows direct connection. That means, Burst Linker ?parent child? relationship is strongest bond in accelerated world... at the same time, the strongest curse is created.¡±


    ¡°Cu... curse...?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. For example when ?parent? and ?child?¡¯s path differ, and they have a fighting relation, that hate will definitely expand to the real world. I... right now, even with this much hate could not fight my ?parent?. Because that person, in the real world, can use overwhelming influence on me. - The proof of existence for a Burst Linker is ?duel?. To fight each other, we put our mind inside a Duel Avatar. Even so, only a ?parent? and ?child? cannot fight. What would you say that is, other than a curse?¡±


    ¡°...Senpai.¡±


    Haruyuki whispered that, and tried to find words to continue. However, he did not think he can put the feeling swirling in his heart all into sounds that will express them.


    That¡¯s why, he took a step, then another forward, and held Kuroyukihime¡¯s left hand that was hanging down without any strength with his two round hands. For an avatar that is not supposed to have a temperature difference, that hand was freezing cold.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun...¡±


    The quiet voice was similarly cold.


    Probably, Kuroyukihime now is still suffering from her hunt of Red King Red Rider, forcing him to forever retire. And then to conform to that action, she must continue to make herself turn her sword against many Burst Linkers. Even if the opponent is her own ?parent?, or - ?child?.


    Her white hand touched his mouth, more like his big nose like pushing against it, as Haruyuki desperately tried to speak. ¡®This is all I can convey to her right now¡¯, while thinking that.


    ¡°I said it yesterday too. I will absolutely not fight with senpai. Never become senpai¡¯s enemy. If, for some uncontrollable reason that became the case... before we fight, I will un-install Brain Burst.¡±


    While the virtual sunlight came down the tree canopy with diagonal drawn lines, there was a long silence.


    Eventually, Kuroyukihime¡¯s voice with a bit of returned temperature echoed, at the same time she hit Haruyuki¡¯s round head with her parasol.


    ¡°Fool, I should be the one to leave. You keep fighting. Compared to me, you who enjoy Brain Burst... ?duel? way more, should stay in the accelerated world.¡±


    ¡°No, absolutely no way!¡±


    Then, with a light sound the parasol fell down to the blue carpet of fallen leaves.


    On Haruyuki¡¯s face while he was screaming like a spoiled brat - .


    Her right hand smoothly caressed.


    When he lifted his head up, he was eye to eye with Kuroyukihime who knelt down at an unknown moment. At very closer range, her faint red lips moved.


    ¡°No matter what kind of future awaits us, I will never regret choosing you.¡±


    At the same time as her speech, her two hands extended and hugged Haruyuki¡¯s head to her.


    That was supposed to be a heavenly moment, but from his almost burnt out sensory signals, Haruyuki felt that an indescribable loneliness floated through.


    After school.


    Kuroyukihime and Takumu said they would drop off their things at their house first, so Haruyuki returned home by himself.


    He opened the front door while somewhat prepared for the worst, but today there were not any loud game sounds or any screams, so he said ¡®I am home¡¯ in a low voice and peeked in the living room, and saw the back of Niko sitting on the sofa.


    She was so quiet that he thought she was asleep, but soon she waved her small right hand. Haruyuki who came around to the front, saw the girl looking at space with her wide open big eyes - that means she is busy with her virtual desktop, he determined.


    ¡°...I am home.¡±


    After saying it once more, Niko replied shortly with ¡®Ou¡¯, and instantly looked at Haruyuki.


    ¡°What about the other two?¡±


    ¡°They went home before coming here. It won¡¯t be more than 20 minutes I think.¡±


    ¡°Okay, we should be able to make it in time... Chrome Disaster has not started to move yet.¡±


    Haruyuki blinked to that speech. Somehow Niko with whatever method, can monitor the movement of ?Disaster Armor? that is ?Chrome Disaster? - the Red legion member ?Cherry Rook? who was given that enhanced armament, for that purpose of course her Neuro Linker will have to be connected to the outside net.


    ¡°Y...you, are fine with connecting to the Global Net? Since this is not Red legion territory.¡±


    To his involuntarily question, Niko showed a fearless smile.


    ¡°Earlier I was ?challenged? by a daredevil once. I blew him away in 10 seconds, and told him to tell other guys not to bother me, so it should be fine.¡±


    ¡°Is... is that so...¡±


    Inside a ?territory?, for the controlling legion¡¯s members, while they are not set to accept fights, is given the right to reject ?challenge? from other Burst Linkers.


    That means, for Haruyuki¡¯s group, at home and around their school is safe to connect their Neuro Linker to the Global Net, but of course that right is not given to Niko. However, thinking about it, only other Kings can win against the King Niko in a one on one fight, but they have a no invasion treaty with each other so they would not be suddenly challenged. Right now, the King who must always disconnect from Global Net when leaving their territory, is the one and only rebel Kuroyukihime.


    Thinking up to that point, Haruyuki realized suddenly, that the red haired girl in front of him is a potential person who might subjugate Kuroyukihime.


    While they are alone, he should confirm that, so Haruyuki coughed and opened his mouth.


    ¡°Ah... that is, Niko-cha... Niko. Can I ask you one thing?¡±


    ¡°No. ...When you know I have no room for that reply, don¡¯t have to be so polite. What is it.¡±


    While he was being glared at, Haruyuki stood by the sofa, and asked in the most simple and straight way.


    ¡°Y, you, don¡¯t hate Kuroyukihime senpai?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why?¡±


    Looking at the true blank stare, Haruyuki was also undauntedly amazed.


    ¡°Why, you said... that person has the highest reward on her head... even more the reason for that is from the previous King, that is the one before you, ?Prominence?¡¯s legion master being struck down...¡±


    ¡°Ah, you mean that.¡±


    With a snort from her nose, Niko spread her small legs with cut jeans wide in front. While her right hand fingers twilled one of her red pigtails, she looked out the window.


    ¡°Nn, even if he was my master. I, with the previous generation... ?Red Rider?, never directly talked to him.¡±


    ¡°Wha... is, is that so?¡±


    ¡®Niko¡¯s ?parent?, is not that Red Rider?¡¯ Haruyuki thought that and unconsciously asked.


    ¡°You see, I became a Burst Linker two and half years ago, and a few months later the previous King retired. I was only level 3 or 4 at that time, we have never dived together in the same field. When I heard that the master was sneak attacked by Black Lotus and lost all of his points, all I thought of was ¡®Hmm, level 9 seems to be pretty serious¡¯.¡±


    ¡®Anyway¡¯, Niko raised one eyebrow skillfully.


    ¡°In the first place, my booster equip rapidly raise through the ranks to become the next King was also after Lotus killed the previous King, and the Red legion was disbanded once. At that time Nakano and Nerima were big warring states, every day group battles happened at an incredible pace, so I got lots of points here and there from that. Even if I am the strongest, without that it would have taken me at least two more years to become level 9.¡±


    With Niko¡¯s ¡®keke¡¯ laughter, Haruyuki was also drawn into a smile.


    ¡°I... I see. Then, Niko and the Red legion don¡¯t have a reason to go after the Black King...?¡±


    ¡°Nnn~. To be exact, there are some in the old members that would. But, the ones who really won¡¯t forgive Black Lotus, that burning group, after Prominence disbanded once, moved to other legions. Darn spineless bunch. They only talked about following the previous King¡¯s will, if they really thought that way, then they should have worked hard to revive Prominence.¡±


    She stopped there, looked up at Haruyuki with ¡®What is it¡¯ threat. After he hurriedly shook his head, she turned away, and opened her mouth after a bit of silence.


    ¡°...After that. That... absolutely don¡¯t tell that girl.¡±


    ¡°O... okay.¡±


    ¡°I, in truth, about that girl... Black Lotus is an awesome, I think. For motivation.¡±


    ¡°Huh...!? Th, that, what does it mean...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell her. Really don¡¯t tell her.¡±


    After a sharp glare at him, Niko continued in a quiet sound that did not match her violent language.


    ¡°The reason is, she is the only one among the ?Kings? who seriously announced that she aims for level 10. The other Kings, including me, in the framework of no territory invasion treaty, just play duel. No, maybe worse, there might be people in the Kings that secretly aim for level 10. While saying ¡®For the continuance of accelerated world¡¯ to maintain the current situation, those lowest bastards who look for a chance to skip the line.¡±


    ¡°...You are.¡±


    After hearing Niko¡¯s monologue, Haruyuki asked in reaction.


    ¡°Which one are you, Niko.¡±


    ¡°...I don¡¯t know.¡±


    The reply was short, but it rang with truth.


    The young King laid her too delicate body on the sofa, and held the back of her head with both hands. She extended her bare toes to right in front of Haruyuki, and kicked the air with rhythm.


    ¡°...The other Kings, especially ?Purple? and ?Yellow?, said that the moment a level 10 Burst Linker appear, the game called Brain Burst will be ?cleared?. With a Panpakapaan fanfare, the developer will show up to say congregations or whatever, and the ending roll will scroll... then all Burst Linkers¡¯ Brain Burst will be forcefully un-install, like that.¡±


    ¡°No...¡±


    ¡®No way would it be like that, that there would be a net game where everyone¡¯s ending is at the same time.¡¯ He wanted to laugh and say that, but Haruyuki¡¯s mouth froze.


    He remembered this morning¡¯s topic of talks with Kuroyukihime and Takumu. ¡®- Someday the accelerated world¡¯s secrecy will be lost, and the day of the game¡¯s collapse will definitely come.¡¯ The one who said that, was supposed to be Haruyuki himself.


    Niko lightly nodded as if she read what Haruyuki was thinking of.


    ¡°I too, think it¡¯s not something that¡¯s 100% impossible. Actually, I don¡¯t want to think about what will happen without Brain Burst. For me, it could be better said that side is the reality. But... even so, if it is okay to cling to it like this, I thought. Seven Kings... not that, six Kings¡¯ no invasion treaty might be distorting the accelerated world¡¯s true shape, due to that, right now many things are happening is clear.¡±


    ¡°Di, distortion...?¡±


    ¡°For example, Chrome Disaster is also that.¡±


    After those brief words, Niko closed her lightly red eyes.


    ¡°...Cherry Rook lost to the ?Disaster Armor?¡¯s lure was probably due to despair with the high level wall. Right now, the accelerated world that is stalled by the treaty, in the ?Normal Duel Field?, no matter how hard you work level 9... no, even level 8 will be hard to reach. There are no opponents. The reason I got to level 9, like I said earlier, was due to me taking advantage of a time of big confusion due to the incident with Black Lotus... that kind of thing, probably won¡¯t happen a second time. That¡¯s why right now, if you aim for higher levels, you must take risks and fight in the ?Unlimited Field?. Cherry reached for that ?Armor? while thinking like that. And then, the one who pushed him to do that, in a certain sense is a King like me...¡±


    Suddenly Niko strongly wrinkled her brow, and ground her teeth.


    Looking at her thin chest shook strongly twice and three times, Haruyuki involuntarily held his breath and whispered.


    ¡°Ni... Niko...¡±


    ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t say anything! Don¡¯t Look! Go away!¡±


    While lying on the sofa, her two feet kicked while she screamed, Niko used her right hand to rub around her eyes.


    Then suddenly her eyes opened wide, and she shouted like she was surprised by something.


    ¡°That¡¯s right!!¡±


    ¡°...Huh?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, why do I tell you these things!! Hey forget it!! All of that earlier was a lie!! If you don¡¯t forget it right now I will beat you up!!¡±


    She shouted with a muffled voice, with her feet extended like she was about to kick, that Haruyuki stopped with both hands on reaction.


    And then, like hugging them to his chest, he held those small feet tight.


    ¡°Gyaaa, wh, what are you doing hentai!!¡±


    ¡°...Niko.¡±


    Despite the straight vocal abuse, Haruyuki put more strength into his hands. He really wanted to hold her hands, but if he did that then getting hit would be the least of his worries.


    ¡°Niko, you are not wrong.¡±


    At the moment Haruyuki said that, Niko¡¯s violent movement of trying to take her feet back stopped still. Looked on by the big reddish brown eyes, Haruyuki desperately continued speaking.


    ¡°Not wanting the game to end, wanting to stay in that world forever, that kind of thinking is normal. But... I understand after playing mountains of net games till now. There is nothing more lonely or sad than the ?termination? of a game without an ending. Net games where users got bored and moved to another one so they became unprofitable, one day suddenly they announce the termination of operation, and without much talk the server is closed. I experienced that moment many times ?inside?. The familiar weapon shop oji-san[1] and the hotel onee-san while smiling forever ?died?, after seeing that and Link Out in my own room, I cried many times. That way of termination is wrong. Absolutely wrong.¡±


    Niko was motionless, with her feet on his chest, both her wide eyes looking at him.


    While his palms touch the thin skin, and felt the blood flowing inside, Haruyuki continued to speak in a raspy voice.


    ¡°If... if Brain Burst has an ending, we want to aim for that. Even if that will result in the lost of acceleration function, compared to seeing the unreasonable ?termination of the world?, that¡¯s a much much... more correct way.¡±


    ¡®Because, that effort, is our compensation to many others in what they paid for the game called Brain Burst. The brooding me, being able to talk using flesh voice for so long with a girl I don¡¯t know, is probably due to Brain Burst.¡¯


    He kept the last short thought in his heart, and Haruyuki closed his mouth.


    Even in the silence, Niko continued to be motionless and quiet.


    ¡®Uwaa, I said something contradicting again¡¯, while Haruyuki was having a doleful feeling, the young King finally murmured briefly.


    ¡°Correct... huh. There actually is a Burst Linker who would say that.¡±


    Her eyes looking up settled on Haruyuki, and Niko showed just a little bit of angelic smile.


    ¡°You, are a strange guy. Actually, I was thinking of why a round and useless guy like you have the one and only ?flight ability?... I feel that I might understand a little bit about that. But, leaving that aside.¡±


    There her expression suddenly changed to a dark look, and Haruyuki extended his back in a shiver.


    ¡°...How long are you going to hold onto my feet, you super hentai! I will kill you!!¡±


    The left foot that was thrust at the same time, exploded on his nose bridge, and Haruyuki fell backward helplessly.


    Along with a heavy thump, the door chime¡¯s sound lightly echoed.


    ¡°I met with master there. Ah, here, a gift. I snatched it from home.¡±


    Takumu who showed the cake like box he was holding, saw Haruyuki sitting on the floor rubbing his nose, and Niko sitting on the sofa looking the other way, he tilted his head.


    ¡°...What happened?¡±


    ¡°Looks like they had a big fight. Nice nice.¡±


    Kuroyukihime held her hand at her uniformed waist while lightly laughing, and Niko also snorted.


    ¡°Well yea. You can say we are close enough to fight.¡±


    Haruyuki hurriedly jumped in between the two that were releasing sparks.


    ¡°W, welcome you two! Taku, thanks for the gift! Let¡¯s eat it, I want one with a strawberry on it!!¡±


    He quickly got up, and moved towards the kitchen, then two voices came behind him at the same time.


    ¡°Strawberry is my/mine!¡±


    ¡°...Yes.¡±


    Fortunately, the box contained two strawberry shortcakes and two chocolate cakes. So another fight did not start up again... ¡®Is it okay for the cake not to be black?¡¯ ¡®Chocolate is not black, it¡¯s just burnt brown.¡¯ while with those back and fore - the four ate the first bite at the same time, and after a swallow of tea, Kuroyukihime¡¯s expression changed.


    ¡°...Chrome Disaster¡¯s tracking, did you do it?¡±


    After being asked, Niko looked at her virtual desktop again and lightly nodded.


    ¡°Yes. He should be moving soon.¡±


    That reply, made Haruyuki feel slightly uncomfortable.


    Burst Linker¡¯s long distance tracking, how is that kind of thing possible? When a target¡¯s ?duel? start, if you dive in as gallery then you can find out where, but Niko did not seem like she accelerated earlier. Or maybe, legion masters can find out the real world location of a member, they have that kind of outrageous privilege?


    At that moment he wanted to ask, and opened his mouth -


    At exactly that moment.


    ¡°...There!¡±


    Niko shouted sharply, stuck her fork on her last bit that is the round strawberry, and put it into her mouth.


    ¡°Cherry got on the Seibu to Ikebukuro train line. With his pattern till now, today¡¯s hunting ground is Bukuro.¡±


    ¡°Ikebukuro huh. That¡¯s troublesome.¡±


    ¡®Damn¡¯, Kuroyukihime lightly clicked her tongue. She placed her fork in her empty plate with a clink.


    ¡°How should we move? We also can use trains or taxi in the real world... or maybe move through ?inside??¡±


    Not understanding the meaning of those words, Haruyuki wrinkled his brow.


    ?Inside? probably means ?Duel Field?, it looked like it extended forever, but it¡¯s actually an area with boundary lines that stop movement. Without that, after one hit, someone can keep running away forward till it timed up kind of battle tactic would be possible.


    So, for example from this place - if they dive from Haruyuki¡¯s home, their movement limit will just be to the northern end of Suginami, they will never reach Ikebukuro in Toshima.


    However, after just thinking for a bit Niko replied clearly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go from inside. With these members, we probably won¡¯t pull ?enemy?.¡±


    ¡°...If we are lucky, that is.¡±


    Kuroyukihime too, consented with a serious face.


    While Haruyuki was dazed without understanding anything, he was caught by Kuroyukihime¡¯s serious looking eyes.


    ¡°Then... Haruyuki-kun. I will tell you the command to dive into us Burst Linkers¡¯ true battle field. It will use up 10 Burst Points, that won¡¯t be a problem right?¡±


    ¡°Y... yea, if it¡¯s just 10 points. Instead of that... t, true, battle field...?¡±


    ¡°Like the words said. Our ?accelerated world? calling is based on that. Listen, sing the command right after me. Let¡¯s go... the fifth Chrome Disaster subjugation, Mission Start!¡±


    There she took a deep breath, and stretched her back straight - .


    At the same time she pressed her Neuro Linker¡¯s Global Net connection button, the deep black beautiful princess, shouted with a dignified sound.


    ¡°Unlimited Burst!¡±

 Volume 2 - CH 5

    ¡®-Unlimited Burst!¡¯


    After he shouted that while preoccupied, the many times louder sound of accelerating hit his consciousness.


    His view instantly became dark.


    However, the darkness was soon pierced by silver light. That was the effect light that changed Haruyuki¡¯s real body into a steel mechanical body.


    Normal acceleration - with the ?Burst Link? command, he would first become his pink pig avatar, that phase was now skipped and Haruyuki was changing into his pure silver duel avatar - ?Silver Crow?.


    Right after that, the surrounding darkness was also blown away by rainbow light.


    What appeared beyond the radiating aura was shining blue black steel.


    The place that was supposed to be his apartment living room had become a cold metallic corridor like a demon king¡¯s castle from a fantasy movie. The windows facing south were all gone, from the walls and pillars with many iron plates stuck on, like the design of heat releasing fins, many light blue flames were lit. Near his feet was a layer of thick fog, and the high ceiling sunk in a deep darkness that could not be seen.


    The metallic part is very similar to the ?Purgatory? stage, but there was not a single sign of disorder from life. Haruyuki looked around the cold straight scene that¡¯s everywhere.


    When he looked back around him, he saw three duel avatars standing there.


    Dark blue armor and strong limbs, and the right hand equipped with a huge pile driver, is ?Cyan Pile?.


    Crimson delicate stature with only one handgun on her, is ?Scarlet Rain?.


    And then with a pure black semi transparent armor, sharp sword like limbs shining, is ?Black Lotus?.


    Standing in the same place, with the two ?Kings? was one thing, but even the same leveled Cyan Pile - Takumu made him feel inferior, he swallowed that and whispered.


    ¡°...This is the ?Unlimited Neutral Field?...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    After confirming with electronic effect like sounds, Kuroyukihime lightly turned around. Black Lotus that became all sharp endpoints, did not walk normally, she moved while slightly hovering above the floor.


    With her right hand that is a large blade similar in size to her leg, she pointed past the corridor.


    ¡°That is probably the exit. It¡¯s faster if you see for yourself.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Scarlet Rain - Niko nodded too, while her twin pigtail antenna moved up and down.


    After walking in the steel passage covered in thick fog for a bit, their destination was filled by white light from outside. Haruyuki involuntarily walked faster and passed the other three, then took a left turn and opened his eyes wide.


    The place that was originally the apartment east street side wall, had became a fully open outside terrace. He was currently at a height that was similar to his 23rd floor home, so he could see everything outside the terrace.


    Dreadful - is the only thing that could describe the scene.


    The sky was covered with many thick grey clouds. Between them, frequent blue violet lightning passed through.


    And then on the ground, similar to Haruyuki¡¯s apartment, were buildings designed with sharp steel plates stuck on like objects. Right in front, the hazy fog covered Shinjuku, was no longer crowded with tall buildings, but was now like a fortress filled with an evil army. No matter how he looked, there was not any movement. As if it was totally uninhabited.


    Demonic city, while those words appear in his mind, Haruyuki asked Kuroyukihime who stepped out beside him.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I''ve seen this kind of field. Here, the attribute is...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s ?Chaos?.¡±


    After that short answer, she turned her eyes shining with violet light towards Haruyuki and added.


    ¡°You will eventually understand what that means. Instead of that, Haruyuki-kun. Looking at the scenery is fine, but there is something else that you should realize quickly.¡±


    ¡°Wh... what?¡±


    While Haruyuki hurriedly looked around, he finally saw what he was supposed to.


    Up till now in duel fields, normally in the upper part of his view is shown his own and his enemy¡¯s HP bars, right between them is the remaining time count starting from 1800 seconds. However right now, there is only his HP bar, and there is no countdown number.


    So far, the game application ?Brain Burst? that Haruyuki experienced were, detailed fields that could only be thought of as reality, with perfect real five senses feedback that is ultimate technology, but the content was an old style one on one fighting game. At the moment he arrived at this ?Unlimited Neutral Field?, the graphics design only changed slightly, but he felt that the game suddenly changed clothes and became a cutting edge large scale network game, so he involuntarily shouted.


    ¡°Th, there isn¡¯t any remaining time...!? What does this mean...?¡±


    ¡°Exactly what it seems.¡±


    The one who answered, was Niko who came up on his left side.


    ¡°Here, there is not a dive time limit setup. That¡¯s why it¡¯s ?Unlimited?.¡±


    ¡°Wha.¡±


    Again losing his words, Haruyuki desperately tried to think about the meaning of what he heard.


    ¡°...Th, that is. We, ?Accelerated? right?¡±


    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s right.¡±


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s reply made his thought turning fully again.


    Brain Burst accelerated its user¡¯s thinking by 1000 times while in a full dive in a virtual field. That¡¯s why, even if the normal acceleration limit of 30 minutes are all used up, in the real world it would only have been 1.8 seconds.


    However, with no limit, that means.


    If just 10 minutes of real time is spent in this ?Unlimited Neutral Field?, that would be a length of 10,000 minutes - that is about 166 hours, which is around 7 days.


    Then, if he spent a whole real day here.


    After he calculated with his fingers, Haruyuki murmured with a raspy voice.


    ¡°Th... three years...¡±


    ¡®Oh my god¡¯. That is about equal to forever in time. That means, if he uses the command ?Unlimited Burst?, no matter how much homework he left behind, or slack off on studying for a test...


    ¡°You should not do that, Haru.¡±


    At that moment, as if he perfectly traced Haruyuki¡¯s brazen thoughts, Takumu said behind him.


    Turning around, he saw the avatar¡¯s muscular shoulders shrug, and his friend continued with a sound containing laughter.


    ¡°I too, came here just once before. At that time I was as excited as you are, also since 10 Burst Points were used, I thought it would be a waste to go home soon, so I spent 3 days inside. When I returned to reality, I had forgotten all about what I was going to do before accelerating, it was awful.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Haruyuki-kun. With just 3 days you can get away with forgetting what you were going to do, but if you spend 1 month, or half a year in here...¡±


    Saying till there, Kuroyukihime¡¯s tone of voice became serious.


    ¡°- when you return, your personality would have changed. Of course, compared to yourself up to that point, at worse your soul¡¯s age would differ too. If you don¡¯t want your family or friends to look at you with puzzled faces, you should not come here too often.¡±


    At the instant he heard that speech, one awaken voice rang in his mind.


    ¡®- If you knew how much time that girl and I spent in the accelerated world...¡¯


    Yesterday, Niko said that with laughter. The meaning of that, which is - .


    However before he can think ahead, he was lightly hit on the back by that person.


    ¡°Instead of that, it¡¯s time to move. At the time we accelerated, it would be still two real minutes before the train Cherry is on arrives at Ikebukuro, so we still have time though.¡±


    ¡°Y, yea. Moving... that is to Ikebukuro right.¡±


    Two minutes of real time is over 33 hours in the accelerated world. While he thought that might be way more time than needed, Haruyuki moved his view towards the northeast direction.


    Beyond the blue black steel city that extended far away, he could make out a lightly floating huge structure. If that is Ikebukuro¡¯s Sunshine city, the distance there should be about 6km, similar to the real world.


    ¡°Let see... do we walk? Or run...?¡±


    ¡°No way. Why do you think we have you here?¡±


    ¡°Huh? That means...¡±


    In front of the dumbfounded Haruyuki, the pitiful crimson avatar held her hands together in front of her chest and tilted her head.


    ¡°Carry me and fly, onii-chan?¡±


    Haruyuki used his ?Punch? and ?Kick? to destroy the objects of deformed statues and iron bars set on the open terrace, and after his special gauge was maxed, he turned around while saying ¡®Let see...¡¯.


    There, were shapes of two Kings looking at him sharply.


    ¡°He will carry me, since I have these arms. You can dangle below Silver Crow¡¯s legs.¡±


    ¡°Stop joking! Why do I have to do that humiliating thing? It is your avatar¡¯s design fault, you go ride the train by yourself!¡±


    Between the two with sparking flashes that were not an expression but was really there, Takumu sighed and interrupted.


    ¡°Then, let¡¯s do this. Master on Haru¡¯s right arm, and Red King on his left arm, have him carry you like that. And then I will dangle on his legs. Will that work, Haru?¡±


    ¡°Ah... y, yea, probably. I can¡¯t put out much speed though.¡±


    Moving to the front of the still unsatisfied Niko and Kuroyukihime, Haruyuki first extended his right hand.


    ¡°Ex, excuse me.¡±


    He tightly held Black Lotus¡¯ slender waist which had a lotus flower like armor skirt below, next he used his left hand to hold Scarlet Rain¡¯s even more delicate body.


    Without a fragment of mental space for a ¡®Yay, a flower in both hands¡¯ kind of thought, Haruyuki slowly put strength into his shoulder blades, and opened up the metallic fins folded on his back.


    The wings that spread apart with a clear sound, soon released a light flapping sound. The virtual lift that was created made them float above the ground.


    He slowly rose, when he was about 1.5m above ground, he hovered.


    ¡°Taku, it¡¯s okay now.¡±


    ¡°Yoroshiku, Haru.¡±


    Soon, Cyan Pile¡¯s strong arms held onto around his calf area.


    ¡°Then... we are going!¡±


    With his announcement, Haruyuki shook the fins with all his strength.


    Three extra people¡¯s weight was a lot, but he still managed to accelerate and fly towards the sky. The steel terrace was left farther and farther behind, and the uninhabited, deformed city opened up wide below.


    ¡°Oh... oh, incredible...!!¡±


    In his left arm, Niko shouted.


    ¡°You are really flying! That is Seven Ring[1]... that is central train line huh. Wonder if I can see my school!¡±


    For Haruyuki, it was all familiar scenery. Even within the Normal Duel Field¡¯s movement limit, he could still see not just Tokyo, but the whole district of Kanto.


    However, no matter how many times he saw it, the feeling that welled up in his heart never seemed to thin. More than anything, this ?Unlimited Neutral Field?, according to Kuroyukihime¡¯s explanation, is limited by the social camera network range - that meant it continued all the way to the edge of Japan.


    That is a scale that could no longer be called a game map. It is another world.


    ¡°I see... this huh.¡±


    Haruyuki unconsciously whispered.


    ¡°This is the true ?Accelerated World? right. Always existing beside the real world... not an instant, but a permanent world...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    That short murmur, was from Kuroyukihime he held in his right arm. From the sharp shape, shining eyes turned towards Haruyuki and her strict yet kind voice flowed.


    ¡°And this is Burst Linker¡¯s true battle field. If you aim for level 9, eventually you will have to fight here, and win. ...Well, right now is not that time yet.¡±


    Does that mean his level is too low, or Haruyuki himself does not have enough ability?


    Realizing that a bit of impatience pricked at his chest, Haruyuki lightly nodded.


    ¡°Yes... In, instead of that...¡±


    ¡°Nn? What is it?¡±


    ¡°Since this is a permanent map, that means, at this moment other than us, there are other Burst Linkers who dived in here right?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    It was Niko who answered him. Haruyuki changed the way he was facing, and asked another question.


    ¡°B, but, if that is the case... I don¡¯t seem to sense anyone else...¡±


    The deformed city below was filled with cold silence, and he could not see any movement. Haruyuki thought it would be like the usual duel field, with duel avatar shapes here and there, so what does this mean?


    However soon, this time it was from Takumu dangling on his legs that made a sound.


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s of course, Haru. The total number of Burst Linkers is around 1000, so at any one time the number of them that dive in this Unlimited Neutral Field is at most 100 people. Even saying it like this, for places like Suginami that does not have anything, not seeing anyone is a matter of course.¡±


    ¡°Th, then... if we head towards the city center...?¡±


    ¡°That is exactly it. That¡¯s why we, and also ?Cherry Rook? are aiming for Bukuro.¡±


    At the same time she said that, Niko knocked on Haruyuki¡¯s helmet head.


    ¡°Instead of that, if you keep floating and don¡¯t move, your gauge will disappear.¡±


    ¡°Ah, y, yea.¡±


    Haruyuki checked the small blue shining special attack gauge bar below his HP bar. Hovering does not use up a lot of the gauge, but it already lost about 10%.


    ¡°Then, we will be taking the direct route.¡±


    With that announcement, Haruyuki again increased his wing¡¯s vibration rate.


    Right below the hanging black clouds, he moved forward like sliding. Soon they passed the empty Seven Ring and entered Nakano.


    When his eyes captured the elevated central train line supported by awfully sharp pillars, he looked ahead casually. He saw something unexpected and murmured.


    ¡°Ah... Th, the train is moving...!?¡±


    On the black shining rails, just made up of only two cars, there really was a train shaped long small shadow moving with heavy sounds towards the direction of Shinjuku.


    ¡°You can really ride it. It will cost points though.¡±


    Hearing Kuroyukihime¡¯s somewhat fun explanation, under the silver armor his eyes opened wide.


    ¡°Wha... wh, who is driving it!?¡±


    ¡°Fufu, you should check it out yourself someday.¡±


    While they were chatting, the train line was left farther and farther behind, in exchange he could see Yamate street. After they pass that, they will arrive at Mejiro, and then Ikebukuro.


    In the real world, Haruyuki usually went there to buy old styled game software and paper media books, but access to it from Suginami is unexpectedly bad. Either he took the train to Shinjuku and left from there, or rode the bus from Kouenji, both ways are right angle movements so it took time.


    ¡®If I can fly like this it would be fun¡¯, while he was thinking those carefree thoughts, at that time - .


    ¡°Hey, Haruyuki-kun. Look at that.¡±


    Kuroyukihime who was riding on his right arm, pointed with the tip of her sword towards the east side.


    Haruyuki who looked that way casually, his overwhelming shock almost made him drop the two Kings he was carrying, so he hurriedly held them tighter.


    ¡°Uwaaa... Wha... what...!?¡±


    On Yamate street where deep fog flowed, there was a huge slow moving shadow. It could only be said to be strange looking. Its full body form was like a four legged beast, but its body was flat like a stingray, and where the head was supposed to be, many tentacles dangled to the ground. At the end of long strong legs, like on a bug, two brutal looking sharp claws extended.


    And then its large size, no matter how you look at it, was about the height of a three storey building. Taking over three car lanes of road below, it slowly moved south.


    When its feet touched the ground, a ¡®Booom¡¯ like low sound shook the air, while feeling that, Haruyuki whispered in amazement.


    ¡°What is... that?¡±


    ¡°It is an ?enemy?. Created by the system, it moves, and is this world¡¯s resident.¡±


    Continuing after Kuroyukihime, Niko blew a short whistle.


    ¡°Seeing one that big all of a sudden, you are lucky. But, don¡¯t approach too close to it. If we become a target of that class, even these members won¡¯t be able to handle it.¡±


    ¡°Target... you said, what, it will attack us!?¡±


    ¡°The meaning of the word ¡®enemy¡¯, you should have already learned it in middle school.¡±


    He did not have time to retort to Niko¡¯s bad mouthing, as Haruyuki hurriedly gained altitude. The strange looking huge beast did not seem to notice the people looking from above, and slowly continued to walk.


    ¡°Wh... why is that dangerous thing setup...¡±


    ¡°Why, you ask... that is...¡±


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s reply faltered. Niko and Takumu too seemed to show they lacked the answer, so Haruyuki tilted his head.


    Then, Takumu who was dangling on his legs shouted with an undertone.


    ¡°Ah, there, it¡¯s just starting. The ?Hunt?.¡±


    ¡°Hu... hunt...?¡±


    Right after that, the huge beast passing right under them suddenly roared, and Haruyuki jumped a few meters.


    ¡°Uwaaa!?¡±


    The beast stood up on its two hind legs, and while the tentacles on its head violently shook, it roared again. However its opponent was not them, as Haruyuki soon realized.


    Farther south on Yamate street, there were many small shadows.


    At first he thought they were other ?enemy?, but he soon realized that was not the case. The many colored armored humanoid silhouettes - must be Burst Linkers.


    The large size person standing at the front raised its right hand and brought it down.


    At that moment, from the roof of buildings to either side of the street, many beam lines and actual ammo ballistic curves were sent, which exploded around the huge beast¡¯s head.


    The huge body of the ?enemy? was momentarily staggered, then with a ¡®Yuoooon¡¯ roar, its head turned towards one of the buildings. While its front legs scratched the air, it started to move forward with earth tremors.


    However, right before the huge body crashed into the building, the Burst Linkers taking formation on the road all released mid range attacks at the same time. The beast that stood while covered by many explosions roared in anger and changed its target, charging towards the people standing on the road.


    ¡°Ah, danger!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted involuntarily. The huge beast¡¯s front leg came down from far above, the one that looked like a leader was stepped on in one fell swoop and crushed - that was what it looked like, but the blue silver heavy armored duel avatar stopped the huge claw with his crossed arms.


    Even so it did not seem like they want to stop the beast and fight it there, while he guarded the people the rampaging huge beast was attacking, he slowly backed off.


    After pulling it a far enough distance away from the two buildings, from the rooftops all weapons were fired again, hitting the base of the huge beast¡¯s tail. While the beast turned slowly to head for the building on the eastern side, this time the group on the ground chased it for close range attacks.


    ¡°That¡¯s a pretty nice party. The hate control is good. Who is that leader?¡±


    To Kuroyukihime¡¯s impressed question, Niko answered.


    ¡°It should be a management member of the Green legion. But that party seems to be made up of random people.¡±


    With that conversation, Haruyuki finally understood what the fight occurring below him was for.


    ¡°I, I see... those Burst Linkers are not attacked by that monster... They are going after it to kill it right.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. That is a ?hunt?.¡±


    ¡°That means, if they kill it, experience points... not that, Burst Points...?¡±


    ¡°Umu, exactly that.¡±


    After Kuroyukihime nodded, Niko knocked on Haruyuki¡¯s head.


    ¡°Even you should have understood by now. The reason enemy exist in this Unlimited Neutral Field, that also is the reason why this field exists. Not just from normal duels, Burst Linkers can hunt here to level up as well. But...¡±


    ¡°...That efficiency, is significantly worse compared to duels. That class of large size beast, even hunting with the risk of full annihilation, is similar to winning a duel with a same level once... that is about 10 points are gained.¡±


    Kuroyukihime who continued the explanation, paused there, and lightly shook her flowing form mask.


    ¡°That is something that could not be helped. Hunting enemy in this world, is an act of creating Burst Points from nothing. That means, for the ?Duel fighting game? that is Brain Burst, originally hunting in the Unlimited Field is just a method of supplementing points. However right now, that became about the only way that high level can be reached. The reason is...¡±


    ¡°The mutual no invasion treaty... right.¡±


    Haruyuki murmured.


    ¡°For high level Burst Linkers, even if they want to duel normally, they cannot strike in other legions¡¯ territory. For that reason also, the weekend ?Territory battle?, due to the treaty cannot function...¡±


    Haruyuki looked away from the fierce battle occurring far below him, and again started moving northeast, below him Takumu said in a thoughtful tone of voice.


    ¡°Master, but... to be exact, there is another way right. Getting points with high efficiency in this current situation, the method to get pass the high level barrier.¡±


    ¡°What? Taku, that is...?¡±


    ¡°What I mean is... in this world, you can hunt another target other than ?enemy?. In addition, a prey that has way more points...¡±


    After thinking for an instant, Haruyuki took a sharp breath.


    ¡°I, I see... earlier... instead of the huge beast, those people...¡±


    He glanced back, far south behind them, he could still faintly see the cloud of continuous fire fight.


    The short silence was broken by Kuroyukihime¡¯s quiet voice.


    ¡°That is exactly it. For normal duel, the high level Burst Linkers that usually do not leave their own legion territory, and even if you want to challenge them you cannot, but in this place you can attack them as you like. Moreover you can ambush, sneak attack, anything you like.¡±


    ¡°And then, the one who is doing exactly that, is ?Cherry Rook?... no, ?Chrome Disaster?.¡±


    Niko murmured that in a low voice, her crimson round eyes were fogged as she looked straight ahead.


    They had already passed Mejiro street that was one of seven radiating roads, and the center of Ikebukuro is straight ahead. The palace surrounded by strange steel spires that seem to swallow the deep black roads, from there was the JR[2] Ikebukuro station. East of that extended a huge sky corridor, linked to the skyscraper fortress standing a little further away- Sunshine City.


    At the base of the corridor stood some small buildings, and he seemed to be able to see different kind of lights blinking.


    ¡®Are those just light effects? Or maybe it is actually similar to the real Ikebukuro, with a wide shopping center?¡¯


    While thinking he unconsciously forgot their current situation and tried to move there, but Niko¡¯s right hand pulled his head back.


    ¡°Whoa, stop here. It will be a long time before Cherry comes here, but just in case let¡¯s go to the ground. Flying around will be easily seen from below.¡±


    ¡°Well, that is true... however even if you say Ikebukuro, it¡¯s a big area. Do you know where he will appear?¡±


    To Kuroyukihime¡¯s question, she snorted.


    ¡°If it¡¯s the same pattern till now, it will be around Sunshine City. Circle around the south side, and just pick a building to descend onto.¡±


    Haruyuki did as he was told and changed his body direction to head east.


    He could see the fortress pointing to the sky on his left front side. To the right side, there is a gaping open hollow-like place. In the real world that should be the south Ikebukuro park, however there is not any type of trees, it was like a huge meteor crashed into it, making it have a crater like bleak feeling.


    ¡°...Then, we will descend near that empty ground.¡±


    While saying so, Haruyuki checked his little remaining special gauge, determined that they will barely make it, and moved his wings.


    Slowly, the four people weight started to move forward -


    At that moment.


    ¡°Haru!!¡±


    Near his feet, Takumu shouted.


    Haruyuki who looked down in reaction, what his eyes captured, were bright orange firing lines extending up from between the buildings on the ground.


    ¡°...!!¡±


    Without even time to scream, Haruyuki on reaction fully dashed towards the right front.


    ¡®Jyaaa!¡¯


    With the sound of air being burned, he felt a huge heat wave going by near his back. He felt some frizzling pops on the tips of his wings that did not have any pain sensors.


    However he ignored it, and again slid in the air, this time to the left side. Because he saw the second volley of fire from the ground. Moreover, its color is different from the first attack.


    Right after the blue white ray was also dangerously dodged, Kuroyukihime lowly shouted.


    ¡°Could it be... Chrome Disaster?¡±


    Against that, even though tense, Niko¡¯s reply voice also has a dumbfounded echo.


    ¡°There is no way... it¡¯s way too early, before he appear, there should still be a full day¡¯s worth of time here! Also, that guy doesn¡¯t have this kind of skill...¡±


    Those two¡¯s conversation was overwritten by Haruyuki¡¯s scream.


    ¡°Descending!!¡±


    Since, from the buildings on the ground, the third attack - this time he could see multiple lights. Those are not direct line lasers, but are actual ammo, moreover probably are tracking missiles¡¯ firing lights.


    Haruyuki stopped all of his wing¡¯s lift, and descended almost like falling. However if he descend straight down, they will instantly be captured by the mysterious enemy. He spread his wing straight, and while sliding in the air like a glider, he aimed for the huge crater in front.


    ¡°Here they come! Missiles!¡±


    With a tongue clicking sound, Niko bended over in Haruyuki¡¯s arm and pulled out her handgun.


    ¡®Dadadan¡¯, that crisp continuous gun fire sound echoed, and many small sized explosion sounds also roared. However, just one handgun cannot shoot down all the missiles, the few missiles that passed through the flames and closed in -


    ¡°...Yaaa!¡±


    Were mowed by Kuroyukihime¡¯s left hand sword strike and cut apart.


    After a bit more distance apart, more explosions occurred. Using that pressure wave, Haruyuki cut through the last few ten meters, and flew at full speed towards the center of the circular crater.


    First, Takumu released his arms, and landed while gouging the ground. Right after that, from his left and right arms, the two Kings jumped off, and lightly landed on the ground.


    After falling in an awkward mess in between the three, Haruyuki hurriedly jumped up. With a quick glance, he checked his HP bar, luckily only less than 3% was lost. Kuroyukihime and the others should not have been directly hit either.


    In the center of the huge hole filled with numerous radiating cracks, Haruyuki¡¯s group breathed a sigh of relief.


    As if the continuous attacks a few seconds ago were lies, the world returned to silence. Far up above in the black clouds, flashes of lightning making thunder sounded, and the wind blowing sound lightly echoed.


    Then - .


    With a small foot step sound, on the crater¡¯s west edge, one shadow appeared.


    It was a Burst Linker. Without a doubt it was probably one of the people attacking them earlier. Since it was mostly a silhouette, Haruyuki could not determine its color.


    ¡°That... is the person who attacked us earlier...?¡±


    Haruyuki whispered in a sound that could barely be heard.


    However, just one second later.


    Right next to that, a second shadow appeared without a sound. And then a 3rd, and a 4th too.


    ¡°Wh... what is going on...¡±


    Takumu¡¯s light murmur, was about at the same time as the sound of many foot steps¡¯ echo.


    Looking up, Haruyuki saw that the crater¡¯s edge, left, right and every which way was filled with avatar¡¯s shadows. Large sized, small sized, long ranged, and close ranged, their abilities differed, but they had one thing in common.


    That is their feel. Their looks filled with overflowing battle intention, silently looking at their prey - a hunter¡¯s feel.


    The total number of Burst Linkers that appeared was around 30 people. And then finally, passing between the circle gathered at the crater¡¯s outer edge, an avatar with the strongest presence appeared.


    Long and slender. With a height probably taller than Cyan Pile, however its four limbs were delicate like Silver Crow¡¯s. The humanoid shape almost looked like it was made up of bones, only widening at the shoulder and hip.


    The head was covered with a hat that is shaped like horns on either side that was small and curved. Large balls at the tip of those horns wavered without a sound. And then the face was covered with a mask that had a laughter on it.


    ¡°Clown...?¡±


    Haruyuki unconsciously whispered. That avatar¡¯s silhouette is very similar to the joker drawn on playing cards. However that mask did not have a single bit of humor. The long small eyes that slanted upwards were ash white in the shadow of backlight, filled with a cruel light.


    Then, suddenly part of the clouds above thinned. The weak grey sunlight reached the ground, and showed the shape of avatars surrounding the crater.


    Many different colors. However, to say it strongly, most were red and yellow.


    The one that shone especially brightly, was the loosely standing in the center of that group, the clown avatar¡¯s armor.


    Without a single part of cloudiness, a poisonous yellow like uranium ore. At the moment he saw that, a strong sense of terror ran through Haruyuki¡¯s back. There are not many duel avatars with that degree of fresh color saturation. Up till now the ones he¡¯d seen directly were darkness deep black, and flame crimson, only those two. That means -, that means that clown is...


    As if supporting Haruyuki¡¯s imagination, the crimson avatar standing beside him let out a dry sound.


    ¡°?Yellow Radio?... ?Yellow King?... Why is he here...¡±


    King. Only 7 of them existed in the accelerated world, level 9 Burst Linkers.


    Up till now for Haruyuki, never mind the Yellow King, he did not even have contact with members under that King¡¯s control. The reason is the territory under Yellow legion¡¯s control, are on the opposite side of Suginami in the Tokyo area - from Ueno to Akihabara. When he went to Akihabara to buy old PC parts, he always disconnected from the Global Net at those times.


    That means right now the Yellow legion being in Ikebukuro, and moreover in these numbers, is extremely unnatural. Of course it was not a coincidence. However, the time since Haruyuki¡¯s four person group dived from his apartment home with ?Unlimited Burst? command into this Unlimited Neutral Field till now, only a few seconds at most should have passed in the real world. For their legion member to discover Haruyuki¡¯s group inside, contact the outside, and gather those members in Ikebukuro, there absolutely won¡¯t be that much time for it.


    That means, they had also monitored Cherry Rook¡¯s movement, and predicted that at this time, this place, Haruyuki¡¯s group will appear, so they waited in ambush.


    If that was the truth, then there is only one reason.


    Everything. Everything from the cause of this situation, is their -


    ¡°...It¡¯s you bastard!!¡±


    Suddenly, Niko roared.


    The Red King who reached the same conclusion at the same time as Haruyuki, jumped out one step, held her fists, stuck out her chest, and her youthful shout was filled with majestic lion roar.


    ¡°You bastard planned all of this, Yellow Radio!!¡±


    That¡¯s right. It could only be that.


    After being showered with the inferno of accusations, however the Yellow King¡¯s thin body did not seem to be affected.


    Unexpectedly, the bone like right arm slowly moved. Extending it wide to the right side, and turned the palm upward.


    ¡°Hey hey, thought I saw some dizzily flying insect fall down, it¡¯s this unexpected guest? Good day, Red King.¡±


    What came from the smiling mask, was a fresh, flowing young man¡¯s voice. However, it was like it had an effect with extreme compression encode, so the sound was filled with various poisonous taste.


    ¡°Still saying that after the ambush...!¡±


    ¡°I do not seem to understand what you mean? I just, for my cute subordinates who were attacked after breaking the no invasion treaty, someone in the red legion who is forcing them to lose all points, I only came to ask for responsibility right? Recently, that duel avatar that rampages in defiance in our territory is quite troublesome.¡±


    The horns on the hat made with many metallic rings swayed slowly. It was almost as if he was suppressing laughter.


    On the other hand, Niko¡¯s right index finger was pointed straight forward, as she shouted like a fiery explosion.


    ¡°It was you who made him do that! To lure me to this place, you gave that hidden ?Disaster Armor? to Cherry Rook... it was you who instigated his violation of the treaty and indiscriminate attacks!!¡±


    ¡°Hidden? Gave? What bad words... that ?Armor? was supposed to have been annihilated long ago right? Did your subordinate make another one?¡±


    While saying that with a throaty voice, this time he extended his left arm, while he pointed to the sky with strangely small and sharp fingers, the Yellow King continued.


    ¡°In the holy treaty between the Kings, there is something like this. If attacks in violation of the treaty was carried out, and that caused the legion member¡¯s forceful Brain Burst uninstall, then from the attacker¡¯s legion, someone will be picked to suffer the same fate, that. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth... in truth a savage revenge method right?¡±


    ¡®Kuu. Kuukuuku.¡¯


    Then, this time actual laughter leaked from the inverted triangle and sharp horned mask. The up slanted eyes shone lightly with the laughter.


    ¡°However, it is decided... isn¡¯t that right? Here, if a King like me ignored the treaty, then more and more similar violators will appear. So without any other choice, that¡¯s why came all the way to the frontline like Ikebukuro. To find one Red legion member, to make him pay for his comrade¡¯s crimes, right? However... is this perhaps another trick of fate...?¡±


    The Yellow King put his hands one his waist, and leaned forward as he continued with a cool yet obscene voice.


    ¡°That person, by chance to be the Red legion¡¯s leader... ?Scarlet Rain? herself.¡±


    ¡®- No way it¡¯s by chance!¡¯


    Haruyuki shouted inside as he ground his teeth.


    The number of avatars around the crater¡¯s edge is around 30. Even for a King¡¯s legion, that should be about the upper limit number that can be moved in a week day evening. And that goal, can only be for hunting the strongest existence, a ?King?.


    The Yellow King predicted Scarlet Rain - Niko would act this way. That for Niko¡¯s personality, she would personally use ?Judgement Blow? to purge her subordinate Cherry Rook for his crimes, and would appear in the Unlimited Neutral Field like this.


    No, not only that. To force Niko into that situation, he wanted to legally hunt one of five heads that will make him a level 10 - for that goal, the Yellow King gave the enhanced armament ?Chrome Disaster? to a Red legion member. He could only think of it like that. If that is the case, that means.


    ¡°...Two and half years ago, when the fourth was put down, at that time it was the Yellow King who hid the dropped ?Armor?...¡±


    Haruyuki unconsciously whispered. However there isn¡¯t any proof. If he use that conjecture here, it would be a pointless argument.


    Niko probably realized that as well, and while she remained silent, her fists shook violently.


    Eventually she opened her hands, and let them dangle down. Her controlled flat voice flowed from the bottom of the crater.


    ¡°In the treaty, this should have also been written. ?...Anyone can be selected for revenge, but if the legion master purge the criminal, causing him to lose all points then that won¡¯t apply?... that guy, I will deal with Cherry Rook. Then you don¡¯t have any complaint against that right.¡±


    ¡°Please do, please do.¡±


    Opening both hands, the Yellow King, Yellow Radio say joyfully.


    ¡°If you can manage to do that! I heard a rumor on the wind... the other day, you tried exactly that, and you failed superbly... was it that you even suffered an unsightly time up lost? You are free to challenge him again, however... where is that certain person called Cherry Rook?¡±


    As if on purpose, he moved his head covered by the huge hat left and right as a show.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much free time. For someone that you don¡¯t know when he will appear, you don¡¯t want us to wait here for days right? If you can¡¯t deal with it right now... then we just have to use you to fill in right...?¡±


    ¡°Kuu...¡±


    Niko growled in chagrin.


    For Haruyuki¡¯s group, with Niko¡¯s long distance surveillance they found out when Cherry Rook was moving in the real side and accelerated, however there is a time lag before the actual person will appear in the Unlimited Neutral Field. Even with a few minutes of real time lag, in the 1000 time accelerated world, the difference at worse would be over one day. As the Yellow King said, capturing Cherry Rook right now is impossible.


    After deciding, Haruyuki took a step forward, and whispered lightly behind Niko¡¯s back.


    ¡°It¡¯s useless, Niko. That guy set a trap to go after you from the beginning so he won¡¯t let you escape... here, we should just leave for now. Log out, and wait for the next chance...¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t.¡±


    The answer was instant and simple.


    ¡°That is not possible in the system way. In the Unlimited Neutral Field, instant log out is not possible.¡±


    ¡°Wha...¡±


    In the speechless Haruyuki¡¯s ears, the murmur from Takumu who moved forward reached him.


    ¡°That is the way it is, Haru. To exit this place, you have to go to Leap Points placed in various locations. Even if you ?suicide?, you can¡¯t log out. You will just be revived in one hour at the place you died. Of course, if in the real world someone removed the Neuro Linker from your neck, that¡¯s a different story... right now, at Haru¡¯s home...¡±


    There isn¡¯t anyone. His mother is on a trip and will return tomorrow, and then three years would have passed in this world.


    Niko who glanced around, again quickly whispered.


    ¡°The closest Leap Point from here is either Ikebukuro station or Sunshine City. We cannot quickly reach either. Even if we aim for those, to break through the encirclement we have to fight at least once no matter what...¡±


    There she momentarily stopped, and Niko¡¯s ruby like eyes shone a sharp light.


    ¡°But, that Radio bastard also miscalculated.¡±


    ¡°Mis, miscalculate?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. That number of people, is for me... that is a number gathered to kill one King. However, right here, is not just one.¡±


    There Haruyuki opened his eyes wide.


    For the color circle that determine duel avatar¡¯s affinity, Yellow is a color best at ?Indirect Attack?. It specialized in various forms of unpleasant weak point attacks, but its direct attack power is less than other colors. On the other hand, the Red King Niko is a demon of long range firepower, and for Black King Kuroyukihime, he had only seen her fight a few times, but her form is built for close range attacks.


    If those two cover each other, even if the enemy is a King and 30 people, there might be a chance to win.


    Thinking till there, Haruyuki was filled with a small feeling of strangeness.


    Why did Kuroyukihime keep silent all that time? If it was the normal her, at the moment when the Yellow King appeared, she should be going after him with more force than Niko?


    Haruyuki who turned around to look at his right side behind, saw - .


    With both sword hands dangling down, and slumped like she was in fear of something, that deep black avatar shape.


    ¡°Se...¡±


    Before he involuntarily called ¡®Senpai¡¯, the Yellow King¡¯s crisp voice again echoed loudly.


    ¡°Unless Cherry appears, we will have you take responsibility right, Red King? ...Since that is the case...¡±


    The slowly lifted up left hand long and small finger, pointed straight at the black spot on the bottom of the crater.


    ¡°The now starting fun fun carnival, you will watch without interfering right, Black King?¡±


    After being hit with the extremely self-righteous speech, Kuroyukihime remained head down without a single reaction. After over five seconds have passed, she finally lifted up her head, and pointed her right sword hand at the Yellow King.


    ¡°...Don¡¯t mess with me, Radio.¡±


    The speech that leaked out of the mask was in attack mode, however the sound was not fierce like usual. To the opponent, or more like to herself, Kuroyukihime continued to spit out words.


    ¡°That formation, even you would not think it can stop two Kings. I... if you think I would just watch silently, that is a huge mistake.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Does that mean you will fight? You will turn that blood soak blade on me as well? I went to the trouble of giving you a side seat to watch, do you actually want to make it difficult on yourself...?¡±


    As Kuroyukihime pointed out, that was not an absolute advantageous situation, but the Yellow King still showed a ¡®Kukuku¡¯ laughter from deep in his throat.


    ¡°...To be honest, that you would come to the Unlimited Field today with Scarlet Rain, even I did not expect that. But... this level of irregularity will not stop my legion ?Crypt Cosmic Circus?¡¯s fun carnival. I have waited a long, long time for the day to meet you like this, Lotus. To give you this small present that had been sitting in my pocket for a long time!¡±


    With a showy gesture the Yellow King extended his fingers, and Haruyuki saw something rectangular that flashed. About the same size as a playing card, but he could not see the design.


    The clown avatar skillfully spun the card on his finger, then snapped it.


    From the sunlight shining down between the clouds, that card danced in the air with a sparkle for tens of meters, then stuck into the ground silently a little away from Haruyuki¡¯s group.


    He did not think it was an attack object. As Haruyuki looked on while dumbfounded, from the surface of the card, a sideways triangle, floated up, and lightly lit up. At that moment, Niko beside him lightly whispered.


    ¡°It¡¯s a Replay File.¡±


    Right after, the card¡¯s surface shone brightly, and an inverted cone shape light was released directly above it.


    Many noise like lines appeared in the air, and was soon turned into a picture. The half transparent 3D image, was a duel avatar that he had not seen before.


    Red. The form was orthodox humanoid, well balanced armor on different parts, shone a pure red that could not be more than that. Different from Scarlet Rain¡¯s many colored flame red - to say it in words, it¡¯s color of passion.


    Again, Niko¡¯s raspy voice leaked out.


    ¡°Previous generation... ?Red Rider?.¡±


    Kuroyukihime backed off a step, and said in a moan.


    ¡°Stop... stop it!¡±


    It was at that time that the 3D image suddenly started to move.


    The pure red avatar appearing large in the air, leaned forward with its right hand held in a fist, and left hand spread open to the side. In Haruyuki¡¯s ears, a pleasant sounding crisp boy¡¯s voice loudly flowed.


    ¡°This... this worthless goal, had we been fighting till now for it!? Hating each other, fighting each other, killing each other... to see that ending, for years, for thousands of ?duels? again and again!? No, even if that is Brain Burst developer¡¯s written scenario... we are not NPC controlled by game masters! This game¡¯s main character, is us! Isn¡¯t that right, Lotus!¡±


    The scene was pulled back, at the time the red avatar became smaller, another avatar sitting directly in front was framed in. A deep black avatar with four long large blades, it was Black Lotus.


    To the head lowered Black King, the first generation Red King continued to gesture wildly and speak fiercely.


    ¡°We did control our legions and continued to fight till now. But that, is not because we are enemies! It¡¯s because we are rivals right!? I... like your style of fighting, Lotus. If someday we meet in the real world, I want to become your friend. Absolutely will. No, I want to! That is why I don¡¯t want to fight you with sudden death! You are probably the same!¡±


    At that moment, a little bit sharp girl¡¯s voice echoed.


    ¡°Wait Rider, I can¡¯t just ignore what I heard!¡±


    Then the red avatar turned left as if in a panic, and raised one hand.


    ¡°N, no, that¡¯s not it. I don¡¯t mean it like that... now I am done for.¡±


    On top of that voice, were many sounds of laughter.


    Black Lotus who was head down in the scene, suddenly relaxed her shoulders. She raised her head, and with calm voice - .


    ¡°Yea... That¡¯s right. It¡¯s like you said, Rider. I like you too. Of course, in a respect kind of way.¡±


    She quickly stood up, moved forward one step, and the Black King extended her right sword hand towards the Red King.


    ¡°I thought you would understand, Lotus!¡±


    After shouting that joyfully, the Red King was about to extended his right hand to shake hands, but stopped while a bit lost. Then the Black King shrugged her shoulder, and said with a bit of laughter.


    ¡°Oops, sorry about this. Then... let¡¯s do this.¡±


    After saying that, she stepped close to the Red King, and made a gesture to hug around his neck. The Red King, after scratching his face like he was embarrassed, put his hands around Black Lotus¡¯ waist. Again from outside the scene, the girl earlier shouted.


    ¡°Wait wait!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, it¡¯s in exchange of handshakes only.¡±


    The Red King said in an anxious voice for excuse, and again multiple laughter echoed -


    At that moment.


    Inside Black Lotus¡¯ deep black goggle, two eyes lit up with ice like blue white light.


    Her two sword hands crossed behind the Red King¡¯s neck gave off a strong violet shine.


    ¡°?Death By Embracing?.¡±


    A special attack skill was quietly voiced, the two crossed swords, moved in a cutting way just like a huge scissor.


    Red Rider¡¯s body completely lost strength, and collapsed down near Black Lotus¡¯ feet like a broken doll. However just his head, remained on the Black King¡¯s crossed arms.


    From the cut on the head, large amount of bright red sparks dripped down, and Black Lotus turned her face away.


    The high density silence, was broken apart by a high pitched scream.


    ¡°N... nooooooo!!¡±


    The replay ended there, the shape of Black Lotus who stood there while holding her rival¡¯s head, was melting away and erased by noise lines again.


    However the small scream did not stop and continued to ring in Haruyuki¡¯s ears. That, was from the throat of Kuroyukihime who stood right beside him, he finally realized.


    ¡°Stop... stop, stop it...!¡±


    ¡°Se... sen, pa...¡±


    Haruyuki who called out on reaction, noticed that his voice was violently shaking and stopped his breath. Kuroyukihime looked slightly at Haruyuki, and soon turned her face away, shaking her head left and right many times.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun... I am... I, am...¡±


    What was ahead did not become words.


    Suddenly, the two eyes in Kuroyukihime¡¯s face plate goggle that was shining blue violet light, with a small line of light going left and right, then abruptly disappeared. At the same time, like a robot with its power cut, all the strength went out of the deep black avatar body - .


    With a dry sound, the Black King¡¯s body fell down to the blue black crater bottom.


    ¡°Senpai... senpai?¡±


    Not understanding what¡¯s going on, Haruyuki called with his shaky voice as he knelt down and shook the delicate avatar. However Kuroyukihime did not show any kind of reaction at all.


    ¡°...?Zero File?...! Lotus, you... that much...¡±


    Behind him, Niko whispered quietly.


    Not understanding what she meant, Haruyuki was going to turn around, but went still on hearing the loud laughter from up high.


    ¡°Kukuku... Fufufu, Kufufuhahahahahaha!!¡±


    The owner of the roaring laughter, was the Yellow King, Yellow Radio looking down from high above.


    ¡°Kufufufufu... as I thought. You are still tied to that betrayal. You going with expectation to become Zero state is on the other hand disappointing... you should have quietly stayed hidden in a small cellar, with that level of resolution, I am surprised you said that big talk about aiming for level 10, Black Lotus!¡±


    ¡°Y... you bastard...¡±


    That murmur leaked out of Haruyuki¡¯s throat with a rasp.


    Right after, changing to a whip like sharp sound, the Yellow King¡¯s voice echoed throughout the crater.


    ¡°Well then, my carnival¡¯s final program, let us enjoy it! - Ready attacks! Target, Scarlet Rain! The small fries who try to interfere, crush them ruthlessly!!¡±


    ¡°Shit.¡±


    With that poisonous word, Niko¡¯s delicate avatar spread both arms wide.


    ¡°Come, Enhanced Arm...¡±


    However, Takumu¡¯s quickly extended hand held Niko¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°You can¡¯t, Red King! If you expand your armament, then you will lose mobility and won¡¯t be able to escape! It¡¯s not possible to go against that number of people even with a King, forget Chrome Disaster¡¯s subjugation for now, break through the encirclement from behind and retreat to Sunshine City¡¯s Leap Point is what we should do!¡±


    The small slits lined up under the mask, this time those blue white shining eyes turned towards Haruyuki.


    ¡°Haru, I will leave master to you! I will become a wall, so no matter what you do, bring her to the City!¡±


    ¡°B, but... then, you will...¡±


    ¡°I am fine! Those bastards, if they bring down the Red King, they will definitely go after master! I will not allow that!¡±


    To the dignified yet somehow forcing himself tense voice, Haruyuki could do nothing else but nod.


    ¡°I... I understand, leaving it to you!¡±


    While shouting, Haruyuki held up Kuroyukihime¡¯s lax body with his left arm.


    Right after - .


    ¡°Attack, Start!!¡±


    The Yellow King moved his highly raised right hand down all at once.

 Volume 2 - CH 6

    What came falling down at the beginning, was of course, a heavy rain of long range attacks.


    Even in the ?Yellow Legion?, of course not all members are yellow type - that is made up of only indirect attack type Burst Linkers. The 30 or so enemies surrounding the crater, with at least 10 red type people, released beams and explosive ammo that could be appropriately called a concentrated bombardment.


    Most of that firepower was directed at Niko, which, the Red King, when compared to fortress mode, dodged with far more agile back dashes. However, one blue beam, maybe they were wrongly targeted, aimed for Haruyuki while he was holding Kuroyukihime and was immobile.


    ¡°Kuu...¡±


    He somehow managed to twist his body and avoid it, but his left shoulder was lightly scratched. ¡®This can¡¯t even be called damage¡¯ - as he strongly said in his mind at that moment.


    ¡°...!!¡±


    From the burning sensation and sharp pain on his shoulder, Haruyuki involuntarily leaned back.


    For Brain Burst ?duels?, at the same time the damage is dealt, a painful stimulus is given at a level unlike other Neuro Linker applications. However, the pain Haruyuki was feeling right now, is double the intensity of normal duels.


    That means, it could only be like this in the Unlimited Neutral Field. In order to balance against the benefit to gain points without the risks of dueling, the special rules of ?Unlimited time? and ?Cannot leave instantly? existed in addition to having damage pain sensation doubled.


    To Haruyuki who momentarily stood up, over his head, in just short moment, many small missiles would arrive.


    ¡°Oooo!¡±


    It was Takumu who roared. He stood in front of Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime, Cyan Pile¡¯s right hand¡¯s pile driving equipment was aimed at the missile group.


    ¡®Click!¡¯ With that metallic sound a sharp steel pile was fired out, and from the blast wave, most of the enemy missiles exploded. However a few missiles remained, and hit the blue armored body here and there. Flashes. Explosion sounds.


    ¡°Guaaa...!¡±


    Even though moaning and staggering, Takumu did not fall down. He turned his smoking huge body and shouted shortly.


    ¡°Haru, run!¡±


    ¡°Un... understood!¡±


    ¡®Sorry¡¯, while he apologized to his best friend in his mind, Haruyuki started running while dragging Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar. Where he was running to, was to Niko who had pulled her gun from her waist, and started firing at the enemy formation on the east side of the crater.


    If they don¡¯t get out of this encirclement first, then they cannot retreat nor counter attack. Fortunately, since the enemy completely surrounded the 100 meters or so diameter crater, the wall itself is thin. If they break through the enclosure with a charge attack, and make it out to the Green highway, then Sunshine City with the Leap Point would be just ahead.


    While Haruyuki held Kuroyukihime with his right arm, he opened the wings on his back. After he was hit by the earlier attack, his special skill gauge recovered a little bit. It is possible to slide dash just to the edge of the crater.


    With Niko¡¯s continuous fire, there was one point of opening in the east enclosure. Staring at that, Haruyuki used all his strength to kick off the ground.


    At that time, behind him the Yellow King, Yellow Radio¡¯s crisp yet somehow squeaky voice loudly echoed.


    ¡°...?Silly Go Round?!!¡±


    Special attack skill!


    ¡®But it¡¯s too late! The crater¡¯s edge is right in front - ¡®


    ¡°...Uwaaa!?¡±


    The phenomenon that abruptly occurred made Haruyuki stood still.


    The world began turning. No, to be precise, with the crater¡¯s edge as a dividing line, the inside and outside rotated in different directions. The buildings in the background, and the enemy duel avatars standing there, all flowed in high speeds from left to right.


    Furthermore, without knowing when it started, from the area around him many hazy yellow toy horses appeared and started to move up and down in an easy going way. Also, in his ears, a cheerful country style - however somehow the notes were a bit off kind of BGM could be heard.


    Losing more and more of his sense of balance, Haruyuki knelt down on one knee there. Looking around, Niko who was right in front of him, and Takumu beside him were also trying their best to stand firm, with their bodies swaying.


    ¡°The fi... field is, turning...?¡±


    To Haruyuki who said that while dumbfounded, the Red King¡¯s sharp voice came flying.


    ¡°It¡¯s just you seeing it turning! Nothing is actually moving! Close your eyes and run!¡±


    ¡°But... where to!?¡±


    Actually, he could no longer tell which direction was the east side he was aiming for. If he went forward blindly and ended up going farther from the Leap Point, then there will be no turning back.


    ¡°That way!¡±


    ¡°This way!¡±


    At the same time, Niko and Takumu pointed in the opposite directions.


    At that moment, as if the enemy was aiming for the resulting immobility - .


    From outside the crater, an angry swarm of firing lines came attacking.


    ¡®We cannot avoid this¡¯, was Haruyuki¡¯s direct feeling as he looked up at the many incoming firepower lines. Those strong curvature of the paths, were just from looking. From the Yellow King, Yellow Radio¡¯s illusion attack, they just seem to be curved.


    While thinking of at least protecting Kuroyukihime, Haruyuki was going to cover the small avatar with his expanded wings.


    However faster than that, Takumu shouted once.


    ¡°Get down!!¡±


    And then, his two strong arms held all three, and covered them while falling down.


    ¡°Ta...¡±


    Opening his eyes wide, the words coming from Haruyuki¡¯s mouth were erased by tremendous explosion sounds. His view was coated white, and his cheeks were seared by the heat - right next to his ears, his best friend¡¯s suppressed screams sounded.


    ¡°Guuuuuu!!¡±


    Right now, on Takumu¡¯s wide back, many different kinds of long range attacks are raining down. Just one hit¡¯s scratch gave him that much pain. What would be the total amount of pain sensation forced on Takumu¡¯s nerves? If it¡¯s like this, then wouldn¡¯t this be above the pain level Haruyuki felt in his self made training room - .


    ¡°Stop... Taku, stop already!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted, as he tried to get out from under Takumu.


    However steel like arms with strength held Haruyuki still, and at the same time a heavy breathing voice was released right next to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s... okay, Haru. To you... what I owed, just this, kind of thing... can¡¯t pay it back...¡±


    ¡°Nothing... there isn¡¯t anything! How many times do I have to say it for you to understand, Taku!¡±


    His shout was desperate, but the reply to that was more anguish. While shaken by direct hits, moaning sounds leaked from cracks in Cyan Pile¡¯s mask.


    Mixed in the numerous range attack sounds, the Yellow King¡¯s detestable voice reached them.


    ¡°Unsightly... Burn that wooden puppet up.¡±


    Many firing sounds responded to that, however Takumu did not fall.


    Probably, the red type Burst Linkers in the enemy group, were people with not too high levels. Against those, Cyan Pile is not just level 4, but a blue type, furthermore with stamina as the main focus. That meant, he can take that all that concentrated fire without falling and continue to resist. But that also means the painful torment Takumu was experiencing would last longer.


    Haruyuki could no longer say anything. Takumu was determined to protect the three of them until the Yellow King¡¯s special attack, ?Silly Go Round?¡¯s effect time ends.


    Maybe she also realized that, Niko who is next to Haruyuki said shortly.


    ¡°...I take back what I said about you using your brain only, Cyan Pile. Just 30 seconds more.¡±


    ¡°Under... stood, I...¡±


    ¡®Gasuu¡¯.


    That unpleasant sound echoed at close range, and Takumu¡¯s sound scrapped off.


    Haruyuki saw three shining sharp pieces of metal slightly sticking out of the thick chest covering him, and looked at them while dumbfounded.


    Some unknown time ago, long range attacks from the surrounding area has stopped. As the Go Round¡¯s cheerful strange BGM flowed, Cyan Pile¡¯s huge body was lifted up not by his own movement.


    Standing right behind him, was a similar sized blue green duel avatar. With a rough form that made you think of heavy civil engineering equipment, a remarkably huge right arm was lifted up. The end of that arm became three atrocious claws, and those were buried deeply in Cyan Pile¡¯s chest from behind.


    That was one person in the waiting close combat type, he must have jumped out in frustration. While the goggle on his head that is like a previous era CRT monitor shone, the avatar let out a loud sound.


    ¡°I heard you were pretty good in the young ?Blue?. You are just proud of being a hard wall, Cyan Pile.¡±


    Lifting the skewered Takumu up, the heavy equipment type avatar lowly sneered.


    ¡°Heehe, before you die, remember this. The one who defeated you is, Sakkusu...¡±


    ¡°Your stupid name... I have no interest in it.¡±


    Takumu who murmured that with raspy sound, suddenly lifted up his right arm, and stuck the pile driver¡¯s firing hole at the center of his own chest.


    ¡°?Lightning Cyan Spike?!!¡±


    With a weak yet firm shout, blue white flash is sent from the back end of the hole.


    At the same time, the lightning that was shot out, passed from Cyan Pile¡¯s chest, to the heavy equipment type avatar¡¯s right arm, and then extended in a line to the square head and shot through. With ¡®crackle¡¯ sounds, Sakkusu something¡¯s right arm and goggle was blown apart, both of them floated in the air for an instant, then fell with an explosion.


    With the Go Round illusion in effect, even if the enemy close in there was no way to aim accurately. However, that is a different story if the enemy¡¯s arm is holding you up. Following that arm in a line, the enemy¡¯s body is always there.


    ¡°Ta... Taku!!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted.


    ¡®Incredible, after all you are incredible. You are far stronger and smarter than me - a best friend to be proud of.¡¯


    That feeling rose in his chest, but he did not have a chance to put them into words.


    ¡°U... gyaaaaaa!!¡±


    To the screaming enemy avatar who fell to the ground while holding his face with left hand, Takumu used his last strength to hold him still.


    From under the mask that glanced at Haruyuki, a fading sound leaked out.


    ¡°After... I will leave it to you, Haru.¡±


    Then both of his arms firmly held down the enemy - .


    ¡°?Splash Stinger?!!¡±


    Between the two that is close together, machine gun like continuous fire sounds and flashes continued to appear.


    The enemy¡¯s jerking movements stopped, and many cracks of light ran on both avatars.


    An instant after, two different blue pillars towered up from the crater bottom. As polygon fragments dispersed from the explosion, Takumu and the enemy¡¯s shapes were no longer there.


    At almost the same time, the Go Round illusion attack ended, and the world returned to the original state.


    A moment of silence filled the crater that was south Ikebukuro park.


    The long ranged attacks from the surrounding have already stopped, and only distant sounds of thunder and wind echoed.


    For duel avatars'' long range attacks, beam types overheat, and actual ammo will run out, so continuous firing forever was not possible. However even taking that into consideration, this silence is strange. They were probably taken in as well. By Cyan Pile and the other person¡¯s over dreadful display of their attacks on each other.


    ¡®This is our chance to escape¡¯, Haruyuki thought. It¡¯s the time that Takumu bought with his life. However, somehow his feet could not move. While he was on one knee, Haruyuki¡¯s small avatar shook.


    A feeling that he could not explain himself, roared in his chest.


    The feeling of helplessness as he could only be protected by his best friend. Anger at the Yellow King for setting his despicable trap and playing with others'' hearts. And above all else - the feeling toward the person he held in his right arm, the deep black avatar that drooped without any strength as if power was cut - .


    ¡°...Senpai... senpai.¡±


    From the bottom of Haruyuki¡¯s throat, a squeaky sound was wrung out.


    ¡°Kuroyukihime senpai... why... why are you not standing up...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s useless, Silver Crow.¡±


    It was Niko who murmured that.


    With a strong ¡®Crunch¡¯ footstep echo, the Red King stood her delicate body up straight.


    ¡°?Zero File?... Right now, the power signal from that girl¡¯s soul that is sent to the avatar is zero. A Burst Linker with no fighting spirit cannot move a duel avatar. The reason is that a duel avatar¡¯s source of power is the heat from its owner¡¯s heart. If you don¡¯t even have the strength to face your wounds, you cannot even stand up. That is the ?Brain Burst? game. That girl, too, understood even if she does not want to. But it¡¯s a problem that you cannot do anything about even if you understand it.¡±


    After saying that in a low voice, Niko took a quick glance at Haruyuki.


    ¡°...Sorry, even though Cyan Pile sacrificed himself to buy time for us... I am not running away. I do not have the discipline to just quietly escape here. You are fine, just take that girl and retreat from here.¡±


    Haruyuki thought he saw that the crimson girl avatar starting to burst into flames.


    No, it was not an illusion. The area around her foot that took a step forward, he actually saw slight flames flare up.


    ¡®It¡¯s reckless. The enemy formation is almost totally unscratched. There would be no way to win.¡¯


    While he thought that escaping is a sensible choice, Haruyuki did not move. If he left Niko here and ran away, then to himself, and also to Kuroyukihime, he realized that he would definitely lose something, so he just crouched there and replied in a low voice.


    ¡°I am not running away... I don¡¯t want to run away and leave a comrade behind!¡±


    ¡°Comrade... - A hardcore fool. Then, do as you like.¡±


    After a short break of speechlessness, Niko said that while dumbfounded, then took another step forward.


    Extending her right hand straight out, she pointed her finger at the Yellow King standing on the crater¡¯s west edge, then the Red King shouted.


    ¡°Yellow Radio! Before your cool appearance, your sneaky filled special attack gauge should now be empty! This time is my turn to pay you back... don¡¯t forget, if you are defeated by me, you will at that time be forever retired!!¡±


    As if being pushed back by the pressure, the Yellow King¡¯s clown type avatar backed off half a step.


    On the other hand, Niko took another step forward, and extended both arms wide.


    ¡°Come... Enhanced Armament - !!¡±


    With a ¡®Gou¡¯ sound, flames flared up, and the avatar covered in that lightly floated up.


    From the surrounding space, armament made up of flames appeared one after another, and containers covered the girl from all sides. Missile pods on both shoulders, thick armor skirt, thruster on the back - also in place of both arms, fearsome long and large main cannons.


    Then Red King Scarlet Rain who became the shape of her other name ?Immobile Fortress?, landed on the center of the crater with a heavy tremor, and put out white steam all over her body.


    From the 30 avatars surrounding them, Haruyuki felt that they momentarily wavered. Since the Yellow Legion¡¯s territory is on the east side of Tokyo, they did not have many chances to be in contact with the Red Legion controlling the west side in Nerima and Nakano. Not having a chance to battle Niko directly is a matter of course, and there should not even be many that had seen her fight from the gallery. Looking at Scarlet Rain¡¯s true shape, the first thing that happened was to be scared out of their wits from the huge size that could not be a duel avatar. The same as Haruyuki the other day.


    As Haruyuki swallowed his saliva, in his ears came Niko¡¯s low voice with strong effect added.


    ¡°Hey, Silver Crow. Sorry to ask, but take care of just the close combat opponents that stick to my behind.¡±


    ¡°Un... understood. But... senpai is...¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t lay a hand on that girl, before they defeat me, that is. If I am taken down, then it does not matter, just fly away together with Lotus.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ?Taken down? - in this situation, it would mean that Niko¡¯s Brain Burst would be forcefully uninstalled.


    Before Haruyuki could reply with something, the Yellow King looking down from high above shouted with his usual poisonous voice.


    ¡°There is no need to fear! That thing is just a stationary turret, if you close in it¡¯s just a lump of steel!¡±


    Then he held up his right hand.


    ¡°Close combat team, it is your turn! Long range team, support them! - Go!!¡±


    With yellow light reflecting, at the same time as that arm going down - .


    With ¡®Uoooo¡¯ battle roar echoing, from the crater¡¯s edge around 15 duel avatars all started charging in.


    As if in response to that cry, the missile containers on both of Niko¡¯s shoulders opened with a crisp metallic sound. The few tens of seeker heads exposed shone red, and right after, they were fired with white smoke trailing them.


    The missile groups that were fired straight up, did a half circle curve and fell down aiming for the enemy duel avatars on the ground. Some dashed while pulling missiles, others took defensive stances, and the charge slackened.


    Two of the standing ones, were instantly aimed at by the main cannons from both arms.


    With ¡®Kuooon¡¯ high pitch resonance sounds, the released ruby heat rays swallowed the unfortunate two duel avatars. Instantly, ball shaped energy lumps that grew created tremendous explosions here and there.


    They next became tall fire pillars with the same color as their avatar''s armor. Their HP gauges were blown apart and disappeared.


    ¡®- In one hit!¡¯


    Haruyuki was terrified. At the same time, ¡®If it is like this then maybe¡¯, he thought.


    However, immediately from the outside edge, long range attack avatars who had finished recharging began firing. There would be no way that they could miss Scarlet Rain¡¯s avatar that¡¯s so huge that it cannot move, so they were sucked by the crimson fortress.


    Her whole body was covered by flowers of explosions, but the Red King did not seem to tremor. In response, she aimed her four machine guns towards the outside and showered them.


    Against long range attacks, they can do nothing but withstand them right now. Haruyuki grounded his inner molars strongly, and placed Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar there.


    According to Niko, when you lost to the wound in your heart, then the Burst Linker will no longer move.


    Haruyuki himself also experienced that.


    Three months ago, when he knew of the existence of ?Accelerate? for just a bit, to protect Kuroyukihime, he fought his best friend Takumu - Cyan Pile. Then he was beaten up to smithereens, and while overwhelmed by feelings of being small and powerless, he could no longer stand up beside the unconscious Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar.


    If at that time, Kuroyukihime¡¯s voice - illusion sound or they actually communicated - did not reach him, then Haruyuki probably could not fight any longer. Then he would not have awaken Silver Crow¡¯s hidden potential ?Flight Ability? and would probably have lost everything.


    That¡¯s why right now, seeing Kuroyukihime being unable to move, Haruyuki felt neither disappointment nor anger.


    But he was sad.


    He did not understand the reason why, but he was very sad.


    Haruyuki blinked his eyes hard, removed his hand from the deep black avatar and stood up, then turned around and ran straight forward.


    What he was aiming for, was the shape of a close combat avatar closing in behind Niko. Color is olive green, with oversized long and fat arms becoming U-shaped metal at the tip.


    The opponent saw Haruyuki coming in from the front of his path, and yelled in a deep voice.


    ¡°Out of the way, small fry!¡±


    Then he aimed the left U-shaped hand at Haruyuki, and continued with a shout.


    ¡°?Magnetron Weeeeeb?!¡±


    At the same time as the skill name was being shouted, purple lightning was sent out, and it caught Haruyuki. However it did not do damage, in exchange it pulled Silver Crow¡¯s small avatar with tremendous power, and stuck him to the U-shape with a clank.


    ¡°Hihiii, metal color is easy to suck in!¡±


    As the olive colored guy shouted, he used his right hand to excessively beat Haruyuki. While Haruyuki used both arms to guard against that, he thought calmly.


    From the name, this is the enemy¡¯s special attack using magnetic attraction. Then it should have a time limit. Furthermore, since it is a skill that can completely hold an opponent, then at most 10 seconds.


    Haruyuki suddenly extended both hands, and covered the opponent¡¯s goggle shaped eyes. Then he expanded his wings, and left the ground all at once.


    ¡°Hey, you, let go of your hands.¡±


    With the screaming opponent, while they were stuck together like a magnet, Haruyuki went up some tens of meters high into the air.


    Right after, the purple waves generating the magnetism disappeared, and the opponent shoved Haruyuki away with his freed left hand.


    ¡°Just covering my eyes, doing that won¡¯t have any damage on... hey whattt!?¡±


    Haruyuki ignored the screaming opponent that found out he was left in the sky with nothing to hold onto, and started a full speed descent. He passed the magnetic avatar in the air, and extended his right foot, moving forward with a sharp cone.


    ¡°...Uoo!¡±


    At the same time as he psyched up, he pierced through the back of the drill equipped avatar that was about to jump onto Niko. To the enemy who was nailed to the ground with a loud impact, Haruyuki hit using his left hand the area at the back of the neck.


    ¡°Aaa... Gaaa... Aaa!¡±


    After breaking two spinal bones, Haruyuki jumped back from the screaming enemy, and a little in front of him the magnetic avatar fell down from the air. With full body landing shock, this one too could no longer move.


    As Haruyuki was jumping out to finish that guy off, his right cheek was suddenly forcefully hit.


    He was blown away in a flashy way, and tumbled around. Sharp pain from his broken inner teeth made him see sparks in front of his eyes.


    Haruyuki forcefully ignored that and jumped up, seeing the 3rd enemy closing in. A four corner body as if carved from stone, and covered by a light blue martial arts robe. The mask reminiscent of a Moai[1] statue was humorous, but he knew the power of those rock like fists from one hit. A very close contact type with no weapon, but these orthodox types are very fearsome.


    Maybe a veteran, the martial artist not only silently attacked, he slid up into range and suddenly released a right front kick.


    Silver Crow is fortunate to have a very thin body, he somehow managed to avoid a direct hit, and the left flank that was scratched gave out sparks and his HP bar was cut. He used a left punch for counter attack, but that was stopped by a huge wooden like right arm.


    ¡®- When you get into a situation of close combat with a blunt type that is disadvantagous to metal color...¡¯


    Suddenly, an old lecture from Kuroyukihime was awakened in his brain.


    ¡®- Don¡¯t guard or counter attack in panic, try to flow with the enemy¡¯s attack and use its power. It is possible with your reaction speed. Listen, no matter how powerful a punch is, it¡¯s slow compared to a bullet, don¡¯t forget.¡¯


    ¡°Zeryaa!!¡±


    The martial artist avatar released a right front straight punch with a large psyche.


    The fist came flying in with a blue aura, as Haruyuki pushed down his fear and watched. ¡®While falling back behind, left hand under the enemy fist, and right feet against the enemy¡¯s stomach.¡¯


    ¡°...Raaa!!¡±


    At the same time as his shout, he flapped the wings on his back for just an instant with all his strength. With the lift generated, Haruyuki kicked his right foot up, and then with his own punching power as a catapult, the brusque martial artist danced up into the sky.


    ¡°Niko, above!¡±


    Hearing Haruyuki¡¯s yell or not, Scarlet Rain¡¯s shoulder missiles fired, and all of them hit the martial artist in the sky. Swallowed by many red black explosions, that avatar fell to the ground trailing smoke, and right after, a light blue pillar of light went up and disappeared.


    ¡°...Hmm, not bad for so being so delicately built, Silver Crow.¡±


    ¡°Why thank you!¡±


    After shouting a reply to Niko¡¯s bad mouthing, even thought it distract him from countering the next enemy, from the side of his eyes, Haruyuki looked at the deep black avatar laying a bit away.


    ¡®- That person, Kuroyukihime, is definitely not a super woman that¡¯s totally perfect. A middle school student like me, and a girl that is easily hurt.¡¯


    That thought, when he saw Kuroyukihime crying from words not from his heart, he definitely could not forget. However even with that, the admiration and worship inside him did not reduce even a bit.


    Not against strength.


    It¡¯s the will to become strong. The soul that continues to shine while resisting different adversity, Haruyuki is absolutely drawn to it.


    ¡®- That is why, you should be standing up again. I don¡¯t know what kind of relationship you had with the previous Red King, but you should get pass that memory, and should be standing. Isn¡¯t that right!!¡¯


    At the same time as Haruyuki¡¯s desperate silent shout under his silver mask.


    The momentarily slowed enemy legion attack restarted fiercely.


    The remaining close combat types were less than ten, but they started advancing from all directions. To support them, long range fire came down like rain.


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate meeee!¡±


    Niko roared, left and right main cannons, missile pods, and machine guns started firing.


    Then all of them spit out fire - right before that, Haruyuki thought he heard a strange sound.


    A high frequency sound that could only be called noise shook the air. At the same time, his view of the world doubled, and tripled.


    The missiles released by Scarlet Rain suddenly spun in the sky, and flew in different directions. Even the main cannon beams aiming for the long range attackers outside missed them from above, and hit a far away building, with explosion sounds echoing.


    ¡°Shit... it¡¯s jamming!¡±


    Niko shouted in a low voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that Radio guy... one of his yellow color underlings! Find him!¡±


    ¡°Un... understood!¡±


    At the same time as his answer, Haruyuki expanded his wings and strongly kicked the ground to fly up. However.


    From the ground two wires extended up like snakes and wrapped around Haruyuki¡¯s feet.


    He was pulled back all at once, and hit the ground hard. Even out of breath from the shock, Haruyuki tried to cut the wires with his knife. But.


    ¡°?Electric Therapy?!!¡±


    ¡°...!!¡±


    With someone¡¯s shout of a skill name, blue white lightning ran along all of Haruyuki¡¯s body, and at the same time he was assaulted by intense shock. Looking around, he saw a mechanical avatar with wires extending from both arms, and on his back was a transformer like equipment emitting sparks.


    It seems like the main attack was to stun, so he was not damaged much at all, but with his body not under his control, Haruyuki could not shake loose the wires around his feet.


    ¡°Gu... u...!¡±


    Haruyuki groaned, and he was showered by the electric avatar¡¯s high pitched laughter.


    ¡°Kihihihihi! Just sleep there for a while, brat! Till the Red King¡¯s whole body is stripped apart!!¡±


    Like those words said, he could see many shapes of close combat avatars rushing towards Niko¡¯s fortress type avatar. They close in from her main cannons¡¯ blind spots and started to shower her enhanced armament connection points with punches and kicks. Orange sparks flew, bolts were knocked apart, and the thick armor was stripped off one by one.


    Haruyuki desperately resisted the electricity paralyzing his whole body and turned his body around, trying to crawl towards the electric avatar.


    However the sparks did not seem to weaken even a bit, and he could not even change his head¡¯s direction.


    ¡®- What should I do. What should I do. What should I do at this time, senpai.¡¯


    ¡®- Hurry... if I don¡¯t hurry, then Niko!¡¯


    Sounds of despair appeared in his head, at that time from the far edge of the crater, he heard rich tone laughter loudly echo.


    ¡°...Hahaha! Hahahahahaha!!¡±


    It was the Yellow King, Yellow Radio. His slender and long body with the two horn hat swaying, showing joy with pantomime actions.


    ¡°How! How unsightly! Comical shapes! A King¡¯s dignity and such... there isn¡¯t a single fragment of that!? After all, you two don¡¯t have the qualifications to be a King, that is what it means! The Red is an upstart fake! And the Black, is a despicable traitor right!?¡±


    The relentless insults, was overlap by ¡®Gishi gishi¡¯ metallic breaking sounds. And then, a girl¡¯s small painful sounds too.


    ¡°A... a...¡±


    He looked that way, and saw a large close combat type avatar standing on Scarlet Rain¡¯s missile container, holding her left main cannon.


    He used his whole body to pull the huge cannon up. From the joints a lot of flame like sparks came out, that looked almost like fresh blood.


    Eventually, with a ¡®Bikin¡¯ sudden sharp breaking sound, the main cannon was pulled off.


    Linked to that, without a doubt, was Niko¡¯s broken left arm that came dangling down. With Niko¡¯s unsuppressed scream that leaked out, the enemy avatar lifted the cannon up high in a victory pose and roared at the same time.


    ¡°All right! The Red King is just like this! You guys, strip off all her skin and yank that kid out!! Till right before her gauge run out, give her plenty of humiliation!!¡±


    Haruyuki grounded his inner teeth till they almost broke, and his extended fingers of his right hand desperately clawed the ground.


    In front of that, was a dust covered black lotus avatar laying flat there with eyes fully lost all light.


    ¡°Senpai... senpai.¡±


    Haruyuki pushed out a raspy sound from his throat paralyzed by the stun effect.


    Behind him, maybe Niko¡¯s last resistance, her remaining weapons continued to sound as they fired. While feeling the vibration from empty explosions, Haruyuki still shouted.


    ¡°You... you are okay with this? This way of finishing, is your game ending?¡±


    In his brain, from last night, the real Kuroyukihime and Niko sleeping while holding each other appeared lightly.


    What that scene represent, and what the two girls truly wish for, Haruyuki could not conjecture. But, the one thing he was sure is, soon everything will end. The slight bond born out of chance in one night, will be cruelly broken apart.


    ¡°Senpai... Black King!!¡±


    Haruyuki used the rest of his strength and screamed.


    Right now, the wound Kuroyukihime faced in her heart, might be so huge size that Haruyuki could not fathom. The first generation Red King - a comrade, and friend, while he was excited, he was betrayed and forever retired from the accelerated world, Kuroyukihime must have continued to suffer a long time for that action.


    No, maybe ?Red Rider? and her, were more than just comrade or friends. That kind of opponent, that person was put down by her hand.


    But.


    Even if that was true.


    ¡°What is ?Accelerate? to you! And ?Brain Burst?!!¡±


    Hitting the ground with his fist surrounded by sparks, Haruyuki roared with passion.


    ¡°Going to level 10 that has never been reached before, your ambition of wanting to see what¡¯s ahead in this world is just to this degree? Is it so cheap as to exchange for the memory of just one man! Someone who wants to exceed the human husk... being tired down by past regrets, how long are you planning to be this unsightly! You don¡¯t have the free time to do that, you should cut through all kind of obstacles, mow them down, and charge forward as the last person, isn¡¯t that right, Black Lotus!!¡±


    ¡®Rin¡¯.


    In front of his thrown out right hand, was it an illusion that he saw the deep black sharp part waver?


    No, that¡¯s wrong. Inside the sharp form¡¯s goggles, like distant stars, slight violet lights shone. Weak like glowing embers of soul, beat with ¡®thump thump¡¯.


    ¡°Sen... pa...¡±


    Haruyuki quietly said.


    ¡®Bun!¡¯ kind of strong vibration sound overlapped that.


    That, was under the goggles, the sound of two eyes strongly shining.


    In the half transparent armor as if made from obsidian, from parting lines starting from the head to the limbs, the same light filled them up. That blew away all the dust covering her whole body, reviving its dull reflection.


    Finally, the sword arms and legs strongly vibrated.


    To the lightly rising, as if pulled by invisible strings, deep black avatar, Haruyuki watched without blinking as his throat clogged up.


    Black Lotus who stood straight up, with the tip of her feet slightly floating above ground, slowly began to hover and move. She reached Haruyuki who was lying flat while being caught by electric shocks, and stopped still.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    The sound that echoed was kind and strict like usual.


    ¡°...Yes.¡±


    Hearing his groaning reply, she murmured with her familiar wry smile mixed sound.


    ¡°That is... the way you said it earlier, it was like Rider and I were lovers.¡±


    ¡°Is... is that wrong?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely wrong. You are my first, I should have told you before. Also... how long are you planning to lie there, try sticking a hand into the ground.¡±


    ¡°Huh... o... okay.¡±


    As told, Haruyuki lined up his sharp fingers, and stuck them into the dry ground near him.


    At that moment, he felt that the sparks holding his whole body slowly flow into the ground, and Haruyuki shouted in realization.


    ¡°I... I see, earth...¡±


    ¡°If you think about the skill¡¯s affinity and feature, you should be able to counter even if seen for first time. It seems I still have a lot of things to teach you.¡±


    Right after, he heard a ¡®Pusun¡¯ kind of pathetic sound from behind, and Haruyuki turned his head to look.


    He saw the electric avatar slowly backing off while white smoke came from the transformer on his back.


    ¡°You should be able to handle the rest yourself. - I have to go look after the little girl that fell into a trap.¡±


    She said that casually.


    With a ¡®Bunn¡¯ air vibration, the deep black avatar disappeared.


    Without a single preparation, that was a fearsome speed dash. Kuroyukihime who went forward like a dark color beam for a few tens of meters, the next moment, she appeared beside the close combat type enemy standing directly on Niko.


    ¡°Uooo...¡±


    After that surprised yell leaked out, the enemy avatar holding Red King¡¯s main cannon let it go, and opened both hands with strangely strong fingers trying to dance with Kuroyukihime. Having the arm strength to pull off Niko¡¯s main cannon, instead of a blunt attack type, it must be a hold skill type duel avatar.


    Against that, not sure what she is thinking of, Kuroyukihime extended her right arm straight out as if saying ¡®please grab it¡¯. The enemy¡¯s eyes shone strongly, and his snake like extended hands held Black Lotus¡¯ arm in two places.


    ¡°Got you, ?Oneway Sl...?.¡±


    With the shouting of the skill name, he turned around, putting the arm he was holding on his right shoulder, going into a judo throw posture - at that instant, some things dropped down.


    Ten fat curved cylinders. Fingers. The enemy¡¯s fingers holding Kuroyukihime¡¯s sword arm, to throw her, he applied strength, and they were cut by the sharp edge.


    ¡°Sorry, hold type skills do not work on me.¡±


    Kuroyukihime said that to the enemy frozen in the throw posture, and cut her carried right arm down in one go.


    From right shoulder to left flank, the faint light passed through. Then the enemy avatar¡¯s tough upper body slid down, and the remaining 70% of the body fell to the ground.


    ¡°Aaa... ga... gaaaaa!!¡±


    He seemed to still have HP remaining so did not disappear, however just disappearing might be better off for him. Screaming in the pain of body being cut apart, and his remaining one arm flapping on the ground, Kuroyukihime moved her eyes away to stare at the remaining 7 or 8 enemy close range type avatars.


    ¡°I am not sure if you all realized, however people fighting with me always taste the damage of losing body parts.¡±


    The tone was calm, but the savagery echoing in it made everyone in the battle field breathless.


    ¡°You can not... say that you don¡¯t want to now!¡±


    With that loud shout, the black raptor like avatar attacked an unlucky guy that she set her eyes on. High pitched metallic sounds, intermittent screams, and the surrounding Burst Linkers¡¯ cries of desperation soon filled the air.


    After determining that he could leave that place to her for a while, Haruyuki turned towards the electric avatar that still had the wires around him.


    When their eyes met, the enemy turned his old fashioned instrument-like face away and raised a hand.


    ¡°Hey, wait a minute. I am recharging my battery right now...¡±


    ¡°Like I would wait!!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted, and grabbed the two wires wrapped around his feet with both hands and released them, then kicked the ground all at once leaving it behind.


    ¡°U, uwawawa!¡±


    With the moaning enemy dangling below, he attained altitude, then while hovering started turning in circles.


    ¡°Waa - Aaa - Aaa -¡±


    With the high and low screams continuing from the opponent, Haruyuki attained plenty of centripetal force then let go of the wires, and the heavy looking robot avatar flew south with tremendous speed, then with a small falling sound somewhere in the group of buildings.


    His own eyes were spinning as well, so he shook his head strongly to clear them and looked down, the expanding battle below was right in his sights.


    That could no longer be called a ?Duel?, but a ?Slaughter? probably.


    Most of the blue type close combat avatars fight with their hand or foot, and some with hammer or sword like contact weapons. That is for blue type comrades, they basically switch between attacker and guard, aiming for any opening in the opponent.


    For Kuroyukihime - Black Lotus, with four sword limbs is a super close combat type as seen, but can take various attack actions.


    Cut, a slash forward type of action is matter of course, if the opponent block with fist or arm those will be cut apart, and just chasing an opponent with a dash while swinging a leg up, that target will be cut apart. Absolutely no contact allowed, everything that touches her gets cut apart, just like a ?Black death water lily? - .


    The dance like battle shape was incredibly beautiful, and also full of very painful rejection.


    Within merely a minute or two, the enemy close combat team was mostly annihilated, or with lost parts, damaged, in sharp pain, rolling on the ground out of action.


    ¡°Y... you bitch!!¡±


    The last remaining large build Burst Linker suddenly roared loudly. He held up his thick long sword, and swung it down right at Kuroyukihime.


    Spectacular speed and timing. The lightning like steel colored thick sword that came down, Kuroyukihime did not avoid it, but took it with two crossed sword arms.


    ¡®Kiiiiin!¡¯ That ear splitting high frequency wave echoed pass. Brilliant sparks came from the contact point, and the movement of both stopped.


    ¡®Screech screech¡¯ like high pitch metallic sound continued to echo. The silver and black swords, with every second ate into each other deeper.


    Which will eat into the other first, Haruyuki could not instantly determine. However, the sword wielding fighter type avatar, his Hannya[2] like mask twisted in a sneer.


    ¡°Zann!¡±


    At the same time as the fighter¡¯s low sound, right below the sword, Kuroyukihime¡¯s hands cut left and right in one instant.


    What fell without a sound, were the fighter¡¯s head, and the huge sword¡¯s upper part. The head that rolled around with unbelieving eyes was pierced without mercy by Kuroyukihime¡¯s left foot tip. A light pillar went up, and the enemy avatar blew apart like glass figurine and disappeared.


    Again, a few seconds of silence.


    What broke it was a short sound released from the far edge of the crater.


    ¡°...Why.¡±


    With a flat sound that finally lost composure maintained till now, the Yellow King, Yellow Radio said in a moan.


    ¡°Why appear now, to interrupt my years- long prepared circus carnival? After continuing to hide in a basement somewhere for two years, why?¡±


    In the clown¡¯s laughing face, the up turned eyes were filled with white phosphorescent. The dead branch like arms spread wide left and right, standing swaying on one leg, and head swinging slowly left and right.


    Suddenly under the mask, a ¡®kukukukuku¡¯ small laughter leaked out. His right hand pointing straight at Kuroyukihime, the Yellow King said in a voice with regained mockery.


    ¡°That means, you have already forgotten? From your betrayal, our friend that was beheaded? ...Right now he, what he is doing and where. Never to return to the accelerated world again... I wonder if you remember the person who created the reason why that is? If it was me, I won¡¯t be able to forget it. If it was a normal fight then fine, but that kind of sneak attack... right?¡±


    ¡®Kuu, kuukuukuuku¡¯.


    While hearing the laughter coming up from that throat, Haruyuki shouted in his mind.


    ¡®- Don¡¯t listen to it. That guy want to take away your fighting spirit again.¡¯


    However, to say that in actually words, Haruyuki could not do it. For the Black King and the Yellow King, since the beginning of the accelerated world they have been training together, between the two that had been friends till an incident two years ago, he thought there is a history that not just anyone can cut into.


    Haruyuki slowly descended, and he landed behind Black Lotus who was standing beside the half broken Scarlet Rain. Inside his chest, he just strongly prayed that she would not lose.


    Suddenly - .


    Kuroyukihime lifted up her right arm without a sound. The obsidian edge that did not have a single scratch from the battle was pointed straight at the Yellow King.


    The Black King started her smooth silky voice.


    ¡°...You are mistaken about just one thing, Yellow Radio.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What would that be? Don¡¯t tell me that was not a cowardly sneak attack?¡±


    ¡°Not that. You think that your head has the same weight as Red Rider¡¯s to me, that. Let me tell you another thing... I...¡±


    With a ¡®Riin¡¯ sound, she slashed her right hand horizontally, and Kuroyukihime said.


    ¡°From the first time I met you, I disliked you a lot!¡±


    The Yellow King¡¯s upper body bended backwards.


    Kuroyukihime glanced to the side then behind her and quickly called out.


    ¡°Rain, your remaining weapons finished recharging right!? Crow, protect her!! - Let¡¯s go!!¡±


    And then, carving a line in the bottom of the crater, she started a fierce dash.


    ¡°Damn... let me rest a bit more!¡±


    It was Niko who cursed. With her remaining right cannon and half broken missile pods giving out grinding sounds, she pointed them towards the enemy long range group at the outer edge of the crater.


    While Kuroyukihime and the Yellow King talked, Haruyuki was not just idly listening. He used the few tens of second pause to find someone. The enemy indirect attack avatar that used jamming to mess up Niko¡¯s aim.


    ¡®- That guy!¡¯


    Haruyuki discovered a yellow type hiding behind a red type at the crater¡¯s north side, and shouted in his chest. The pods equipped on both shoulders were open, and from the center a parabolic antenna with the center cylinder giving out light effects stuck out.


    After determining that avatar was in the middle of doing electronic wave attacks, Haruyuki fiercely kicked the ground.


    However, there is a full 30 meters from the center of the crater to the outside edge. Even though Silver Crow is a speed type, he could not get there instantly, so the support red type has time to aim his huge weapon.


    A slight chill ran down Haruyuki¡¯s back. Just like this, being aimed at in an open space by a gun with no place to hide - this is truly the situation and reason why he had so low success rate these past few weeks.


    He could only dodge it.


    If he does not defeat that jamming avatar, then Niko¡¯s firepower will remain sealed. If that is the case, then the enemy formation¡¯s existing red type avatar firepower will be concentrated on Kuroyukihime, to prevent her from directly fighting the Yellow King.


    Whether Haruyuki can avoid this one shot will probably determine the trend of this battle.


    The huge pressure made his hands and feet cold with paralysis. His view narrowed, and only the gun barrel opening darkness expanded wide. It¡¯s no good, if he is like this then he cannot avoid it. The bullet released by the still gun in the virtual training room, he could at most avoid 30% of them.


    ¡®- No. This current situation, is different from that white room.¡¯


    The reason is, that gun is held by an avatar. With a brown camouflage pattern body and large lens like eyes shining, that¡¯s a sniper type duel avatar. Not the gun, look at that guy. Try to see the action of when he is about to pull the trigger.


    Instantly, from Haruyuki¡¯s view, everything other than the enemy avatar disappeared. He forgot about the battlefield situation, opened both eyes, and just captured the shape of the enemy holding the rifle.


    The back of the enemy¡¯s neck tensed, right shoulder lifted up a few millimeters, right hand shook -


    ¡®...There!¡¯


    - Right hand finger squeezed the trigger, and a blue white shone from the gun barrel.


    At that time, he had already leaned left.


    ¡®Shaaa!¡¯ With that air vibration sound, a heat ray scratched by Haruyuki¡¯s right chest and right shoulder going behind him. He ignored the burning sensation and flew the last ten meters forward, passing right beside the enemy long range type to dance with the indirect type behind.


    To the surprised electronic wave avatar, Haruyuki attacked both antennas with two hand knives. After seeing the delicate equipment smashed to bits, he sunk down for a moment, then flew straight up.


    ¡®- Niko!¡¯


    Whether his mental shout reached her or not, the instant the jamming was stopped, Scarlet Rain¡¯s remaining weapons all spewed fire.


    Her right main cannon shot out a beam of heat, and left side missiles fell down, then the there was a mysterious curtain of flame that went up on the crater¡¯s outer edge. Of course that one shot would not kill all of the enemy army, but all the long range shots that were firing at Black Lotus were silenced.


    In the moment of silence after the explosions, Kuroyukihime¡¯s fierce roar echoed.


    ¡°Radio!!¡±


    Her right arm blade drew a deep black path.


    What was cut apart without a sound, and floated in the air, was Yellow Radio¡¯s huge hat¡¯s right side horn.


    ¡°Lotus!!¡±


    After the angry reply with not a single bit of banter up till now, the Yellow King took out a long and big baton like weapon from somewhere and started counter attacking. The hit that came in while drawing golden lines, Kuroyukihime used her left sword arm to parry, and the sparks that flew brightly lit up both of them.


    Niko that was intermittently shooting restraining fire, Haruyuki landed on the long stabilizer extending from her back and watched the fierce battle starting on the western edge of the crater with half amazement.


    Kings, that is, level 9 Burst Linkers fighting each other, of course it was his first time seeing it.


    That, everyone in this place - including the two persons fighting - would probably say the same thing.


    The current ?Pure Color Seven Kings?, aside from Niko, reached level 9 almost at the same time a bit more than two years ago. Then they found out about the cruel sudden death rule that is needed to reach level 10, and to avoid fights to the death, they started a round table conference.


    In that conference, the Black King, Black Lotus sneak attacked the first generation Red King, Red Rider and killed him in one critical hit. A King killing another King, that time was the first and only one. After that, the Black King was hunted as a betrayer and she stayed hidden in Umesato middle school¡¯s local net for about two years, and the other Kings signed no invasion treaties with each other and did not leave their own territory.


    That is why, for level 9s fighting each other normally, since the beginning of accelerated world, this is the first time.


    Haruyuki, and Niko too.


    And the remaining around ten yellow legion members, all stopped attacking, and watched the fight with breaths held.


    ¡®- Fast!¡¯


    Haruyuki leaked that sound of awe in his chest.


    If he did not concentrate, then all he could see around the two fighting, were mysterious flashes that continued to bounce around. The Black King¡¯s four chain, and five chain continuous attacks, were impressively parried by the Yellow King¡¯s baton as he turned in high speed, while he looked for openings and used his long leg to kick. That was blocked by Kuroyukihime¡¯s leg, and ripple like impact waves spread out, distorting the background.


    With the way to high power attacks continuing, radiating cracks started to appear from both fighter¡¯s feet, and pieces of rubble started flying about. The space was filled with colorless pressure, and the lights shining from both combatant''s armor, also seem to increase in intensity.


    ¡°...It will be soon.¡±


    Niko murmured, and Haruyuki asked in reaction.


    ¡°Wh, what?¡±


    ¡°Those two¡¯s special attack gauge should be full. The real battle will be starting.¡±


    Before that sentence finished, ¡®Baan!¡¯ that one impact sound exploded, and pushed by that those two distanced themselves from each other.


    They soon closed up, Kuroyukihime slowly lowered her waist, left arm held horizontal in front of her body, and right sword arm perpendicular to that peak. The long blades pulsed and started to be covered by violet light, and at the same time a low frequency vibration shook the air.


    On the other hand, Yellow Radio crossed both arms in front of himself, with fingers holding the golden baton. The balls on the baton¡¯s either end, also released cyclic light.


    The increasingly higher pressure, made Haruyuki feel a light snapping sensation around his cheek area.


    A King¡¯s special attack, Haruyuki saw a fragment of its power in his duel with Niko. The huge beam released by one main cannon, blew away the top part of Shinjuku metropolitan government building far away in the battle field without much of effort.


    If same level potential power as that attack, is released in such close distance, what would happen? To Haruyuki who opened his eyes wide and forgot to breathe, Niko¡¯s voice again lightly reached his ears.


    ¡°...Not with power, it will be decided by speed.¡±


    ¡°Eh... wh, what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°No matter how you look at it, Lotus¡¯ special attack is direct contact type. Against that, Radio¡¯s special is illusion type. That means before Radio¡¯s skill going into effect, whether Lotus¡¯ one hit can reach him or not - will decide the battle.¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s throat made a ¡®Gokuri¡¯ sound.


    The largely tilted sun, cut through the black clouds slightly, and one red beam of light came down.


    That was reflected on the obsidian blade, at that instant.


    Black Lotus¡¯ dignified sound echoed.


    ¡°?Death By Pi...?.¡±


    At the same time, Yellow Radio too.


    ¡°?Futile Fortune Wh...?.¡±


    However.


    Two skill names that were shouted at the same time, neither finished the last sound.


    ¡®Ton.¡¯


    That kind of small, however overwhelming presence dry sound echo, pressed down the two King¡¯s sounds.


    That, was from Yellow Radio¡¯s bright yellow color breast armor, something piercing through from behind kind of sound.


    Kuroyukihime who stopped her skill in mid shout, Haruyuki, Niko, the other Burst Linkers, and the Yellow King himself as well, looked at the about 15cm of silver grey metal sticking out of the armor.

 Volume 2 - CH 7

    ¡°Wh... who?¡±


    Haruyuki whispered in a sound that was not a voice.


    To be able to get close behind the suspicious Yellow King, furthermore, to be able to penetrate that armor like paper without the use of a special skill. No, before that, to cut in between a direct contact fight between two Kings, who would think of doing that?


    Then, as if hearing Haruyuki¡¯s sound, from behind the Yellow King, a shadow melted slowly into view. Blending into the twilight almost perfectly, a deep grey silhouette. At the moment its surface was touched lightly by the remaining sunlight, it shone with wet reflection.


    The mysterious intruder''s body was fully covered with black silver mirror-like armor. The color combination could be said to be similar to Silver Crow, but the form is largely different. The shoulders, chest and elbows had volume, with a heavy feeling like a knight from the Middle Ages. The right hand that was covered by a huge gauntlet, held a double-edged sword of the same length as his height, its extreme tip narrowed as it pierced through the Yellow King from behind.


    What drew attention more strongly than the sword, was the knight¡¯s head.


    It was covered with a hood type helmet that had long horns extending behind from either side. However, in the place that was originally a face - there was nothing. Shone on by the sunlight, the interior should be clearly seen, but like a manifestation of darkness, the inside of the hood was painted all black. No, if he stared at it longer, he certainly could see something unknown, deep black and wriggling as though it''s alive, on the surface.


    The knight of dark silver with a mask of darkness.


    That name, right before Niko, who was under him leaked it out, Haruyuki too, realized what it was. That was probably... That must be¡ª


    ¡°?Disaster Armor?... ?Chrome Disaster?.¡±


    Right after hoarsely leaking that out, Niko continued.


    ¡°Why. Way too early. There should be at least a whole day left.¡±


    The reason she was surprised, Haruyuki soon realized.


    Chrome Disaster¡¯s real self, ?Cherry Rook? who is a level 6 Burst Linker belonging to the Red legion, and while the train he was riding on was about 2 minutes from Ikebukuro, Haruyuki¡¯s group dived into this Unlimited Neutral Field. Here, the time flows at 1000 times of the real world, so that 2 minutes is about equal to 33 hours.


    There could only be one answer. Cherry Rook who was taken over by that armor, accelerated while he was riding the train, and appeared in this world.


    If it was a normal duel with 1.8 second max, that is understandable. However this place is an upper world, where one is unable to leave from anywhere aside from one of the Leap Points once dived in. In a place close to others, such as a train, not to mention, leaving the real body behind on a form of transportation, that is an action that surpassed bravery into recklessness.


    ¡°Cherry... To be unable to wait for even 2 minutes, is he already that far gone?¡±


    Niko whispered in a muffled voice.


    However, Haruyuki did not seem to sense that kind of madness from the fifth Chrome Disaster standing across the crater, on its far west edge.


    The stature is not all that powerful. At most 170cm, and compared to the fourth that Kuroyukihime showed them in the playfield yesterday, this one is very small. The form had an orthodox human shape. While holding the sword that pierced through the Yellow King, he did not seem to be doing anything else, spacing out like expression as he stood there quietly.


    Why did the Yellow King not escape? Why did he turn his head to the limit and look at Chrome Disaster silently?


    That answer - .


    Once second later, Haruyuki found out.


    ¡°Yuruoooooo...!¡±


    Suddenly, there was a strange scream.


    It was not a human¡¯s sound. Not a beast¡¯s. Not a machine¡¯s. He had never heard it before, a heterogeneous roar.


    The source was the deep darkness lurking about the knight¡¯s face. From under the bent backward hood type helmet, with the yell, a tangible darkness was blown out, and it slowly formed into a solid shape.


    On the hood¡¯s top and bottom came a set of teeth, a sequence of sharp triangles. Fangs. Deep black fangs, from the hood¡¯s edge, as if that was all one mouth, they stuck out.


    ¡®Gupaa¡¯.


    With that wet sound, the ?mouth? opened.


    From the deep darkness inside, two small round eyes, shone with a vaporous red.


    At the moment he saw that, the Yellow King, Yellow Radio finally moved. He turned behind with a snap, and held the sword that pierced him with both hands, trying to pull it out.


    The reason he did not move till now was - he cowered. Bound by terror.


    Kuroyukihime who was also nearby, continued to be silent in her stance. She did not seem afraid, but he sensed a slight hesitation in her. There was a chance to attack, but which should she aim for, to be certain in this situation, she could not decide.


    To the Yellow King who was trying to pull the sword out, the Disaster Armor, Chrome Disaster brought his huge ?mouth? near as if eating something on a fork. That jaw that was opened wide, closed in on the clown avatar¡¯s round raised shoulders - the fangs dripping a clear mucus -


    ¡°...?Deceit Firecracker?!!¡±


    Before his shoulder was bitten, Yellow Radio shouted in a loud voice.


    With a poisonous yellow smoke going up, the skewered avatar blew up, and disappeared.


    ¡®Self destruct!?¡¯ Haruyuki¡¯s eyes popped out, however right after that, about five meters away, a similar colored smoke went up, and he saw the clown jumping out from inside. That was probably a dazzle and escape special skill.


    While his breastplate with a sharp hole was giving out small sparks, the Yellow King dashed back another few meters. After he indicated to his subordinates¡¯ avatars to gather, he finally released a sound.


    ¡°You starving dog, forgetting your owner¡¯s kindness, and want to disturb my program? ...Fine then, if you are that hungry - eat the ?Black? one in front of you!! It¡¯s not too tantalizing a color for appetite though!!¡±


    He laughed with ¡®Hahahahaha¡¯, but that sound echoed with a tension that was not even disguised.


    As the black jaw opened and closed with ¡®Gachin Gachin¡¯ sounds, Chrome Disaster looked from the Black King to the Yellow King, who were at an equal distance away. That action did not have the feel of a player trying to decide who to ?Duel? with.


    It¡¯s the gesture of a beast figuring out which prey he is supposed to hunt.


    The face that was not a face, casually turned towards the bottom of the crater. His look stopped for a moment at the damaged and silent Red King, however he did not show any feelings upon seeing his own legion master, then moved his face towards Haruyuki who was standing on the stabilizer on her back.


    Suddenly.


    ¡®- Feed.¡¯


    ¡®- Feed, become meat.¡¯


    What¡¯s more terrifying than anything else, no matter how you listen to the tone of voice itself, which was from a similar aged boy before his voice changed.


    In his back, a fear that he had never experienced in the accelerated world thus far, he now felt it.


    Even with Brain Burst¡¯s strange ?Accelerate? technology, it is still just a duel fighting game. After arriving in this south Ikebukuro crater, he had been in a gruesome to the extreme battle, but that was still barely within the scope of a game.


    To be truthful, if the Yellow King¡¯s trap succeeded with Niko or Kuroyukihime being hunted, those two¡¯s Brain Burst would be forcefully uninstalled, and they would never be able to visit the accelerated world again - however, that is a ?Game Ending?, but their real life will continue afterwards.


    But even so.


    If that voice now, belonging to the Burst Linker called Chrome Disaster.


    Inside that black silver armor, the boy called Cherry Rook that should have enjoyed this game no longer exists.


    ¡®Enhanced armament will erode its user¡¯s mind¡¯, Kuroyukihime had said. Haruyuki half believed that, but the humanity of the person wearing the armor will mostly be lost, that short sound now clearly showed him. And that condition was probably not just limited to during acceleration. Whoever is in that armor, he would never think that person would be peacefully living in the real world.


    ¡°Niko... He, no longer.¡±


    The meaning Haruyuki¡¯s shaky voice tried to convey, the Red King guessed with her sensitivity.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say it. Still.. still, we might make it in time. If we destroy that armor now, maybe.¡±


    That quiet voice, did not finish till the end.


    As if to reject Niko¡¯s wish, Chrome Disaster again released another roar.


    ¡°Ruuoo...oooooo!!¡±


    What he slowly turned to face, was the Yellow King¡¯s direction.


    Carrying the large sword in his right hand on his shoulder, his left hand with five huge claw-like fingers was extended straight forward.


    Right after that, a surprising phenomenon happened. Even though the Armor did not shout any skill name, right next to the Yellow King¡¯s gathered group, a red type avatar was sucked to Chrome Disaster¡¯s left hand at a fierce speed.


    With a ¡®Gachin¡¯ metallic sound, the unfortunate duel avatar¡¯s body was penetrated by the Armor¡¯s fingers.


    ¡°Hii...¡±


    While loudly screaming, that red type tried to point the rifle held in his right hand towards the Armor¡¯s head area. It was then, that Haruyuki realized that red type was the long range type protecting that jamming avatar earlier.


    The rifle¡¯s barrel opening shone, and a blue white beam was fired at point blank range.


    However, just before that, the right arm holding the gun was cut off at the base. The beam grazed Chrome Disaster¡¯s helmet, and passed behind him. The sword slash that cut off that arm, Haruyuki could not even see most of it.


    Right after that.


    ¡°Ruuuu!!¡±


    With that yell, Chrome Disaser¡¯s closed fangs all opened wide at once.


    The red type¡¯s left shoulder was bitten by that jaw of darkness with a ¡®Crunch¡¯ sound.


    ¡°Gya... aaaaa!!¡±


    The scream that was sent out was so grisly that he wanted to cover his ears. In this Unlimited Neutral Field, the damage pain is increased twice that of lower fields. Probably right now, for that red type, he is feeling the same level of pain as being bitten by a beast on his real body.


    That avatar¡¯s armor was pierced through easily by the tens of huge fangs. From shoulder to chest area, a half circle shape was eaten, and the cut left arm fell slowly to the ground.


    ¡°Aaa... Aaaaa - !!¡±


    With his stomach exposed, and both arms lost, pain made the avatar¡¯s head violently flap around.


    After swallowing completely, Chrome Disaster opened his ?mouth? wide again, and swallowed that head whole.


    With a wet ¡®Crunch¡¯ sound, some spray was released, was it spark effect, armor fragments - or maybe that avatar¡¯s flesh and blood.


    The scream was fully cut off. With its whole head lost, that avatar¡¯s remains slid down strengthlessly, and a few seconds later, finally dissolved and split into a light pillar.


    Haruyuki thought that his view was shaking. The reason for that were his own knees shaking, which took him a while to realize.


    That was no longer a ?Duel?.


    Not violence, nor slaughter.


    It¡¯s ?predation?. The captured avatar¡¯s blood and meat, and also Burst Points being consumed, just that kind of instinctive activity.


    At the same time the top and bottom black fangs stop moving, on the connections between the black silver armor, Haruyuki saw a deep red light run around. As if not just points, some kind of energy was stolen kind of phenomenon - that was probably what Kuroyukihime said yesterday, the HP gauge absorption ability, ?Drain?.


    ¡°Ruuuuu...¡±


    Chrome Disaster lifted his head up and that low throat rumble came out.


    ¡°Rabid dog... no choice, it¡¯s a shame the show will be canceled. Everyone, retreat to the Ikebukuro train station Leap Point!!¡±


    That shout came from the Yellow King. At the time of his directive, he used some kind of special skill, and the around ten remaining Yellow legion members¡¯ shapes became half transparent.


    The avatars that became vaporous shadows, left the crater at a tremendous pace, and retreated northwest. Even though his plan clearly failed, the Yellow King¡¯s sound that was moving farther away, his final sneer spread in the field.


    ¡°Kukuku... Red, and Black, to my circus¡¯ fun fun carnival, I will someday invite you again! Get eaten up by that dog, if you still have fighting spirit remaining... if only! Kukuku... Kufufufufu...¡±


    If they thought calmly, they could interfere with those people¡¯s retreat and let Chrome Disaster attack them, then take the Yellow King¡¯s head in the confusion, that kind of tactic might be possible. However Haruyuki, not only did he not make a sound, he did not even move a finger. He was paralyzed like a small animal being glared at by a predator, and it was all he could do to stand above Scarlet Rain¡¯s armor plate.


    ¡®- To fight with that? Make him unable to fight, and at super close range attack him with ?Judgement Blow?? I am supposed to help with that?


    Impossible.


    I cannot do it. I am my limit not screaming and running away from this place.¡¯


    While Haruyuki¡¯s knees and the roots of his teeth shook slightly, in his view, Chrome Disaster¡¯s body sunk. It was the action of a carnivorous beast wanting to chase and kill the Yellow legion members that were running away like baby spiders being spread apart.


    ¡®Just go away with the Yellow legion like that¡¯, Haruyuki prayed. However.


    Behind Chrome Disaster who was going to start a fierce dash - .


    ¡°...?Death By Piercing?!!¡±


    The confident echo was Kuroyukihime¡¯s voice.


    The right sword arm that was held by the left hand, was thrust straight forward with a jet engine-like loud noise. The violet shine that covered the blade, brilliantly painted the world, as it extended close to 5 meters in a direct line.


    The huge attack power that was released compressed the virtual air, and the view there was distorted like flickering flames. A ¡®Gakiiin¡¯ kind of high pitched destruction sound echoed - but what was cut apart, was just the right side, the bent back horn on Chrome Disaster¡¯s helmet.


    The black silver Armor, in the biggest opening right before starting a chase, and furthermore aimed at from behind, with a mist like movement slid left to avoid the attack.


    The horn that danced high, came down while spinning, and stuck into the blue black ground.


    ¡°...Ooh, you manage to avoid that.¡±


    While she brought back her extended right hand, Kuroyukihime said as if impressed.


    Against that, Chrome Disaster who had turned around, between the huge fangs, a clearly angry moan resounded.


    ¡°Yurururuuuu...¡±


    With a ¡®Clink¡¯ sound, the large sword in his right hand cut a half circle on the ground.


    Picking that up to carry on the right shoulder, the demonic knight faced the deep black beautiful princess. Inside the slightly opened jaw that was under the hood, the deep red light eyes sharply shone as they moved around.


    ¡°Se... sen, pa...¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s dried up parched throat leaked out a raspy sound.


    ¡®- You want to fight? Even though it¡¯s the Red King¡¯s request - against that. Face to face.¡¯


    The truth was, Chrome Disaster is still level 7. Even if she loses, unlike against a ?King? opponent, she won¡¯t lose Brain Burst.


    But, in exchange, she will be eaten.


    In the field with the same or higher pain sensation as reality, while alive, the avatar being greedily eaten. That pain cannot be compared to being hit by the gun in Haruyuki¡¯s own self made training room.


    No, it¡¯s not just a problem with the pain sensation. A few minutes ago, the long range type avatar that was captured by that, his scream echoed with deep despair. The despair of being captured by an overwhelming predator, and being consumed while helpless.


    ¡®No way. I don¡¯t want to be eaten by that. If it became like that, I will - ¡®


    Strength suddenly left his legs, and Haruyuki knelt down on top of Scarlet Rain¡¯s armor plate. He tried to stand up in a hurry, but his body did not move. Even his fingers were hard and stiff, frozen while ignoring his commands.


    ¡®- What is this? What is happening to me? Earlier, I said things in such a patronizing way to Kuroyukihime who was lying there, and now I¡¯ve become so unsightly and unable to move.¡¯


    The more he panicked, the colder his whole body went. As if the nerves of the avatar¡¯s limbs were cut.


    For Haruyuki who was just breathing shallowly under his silver mask, in his ears - .


    ¡°?Burst Linker with no fighting spirit cannot move their duel avatar?.¡±


    From the crater¡¯s edge while she faced off with the black silver Armor, Kuroyukihime¡¯s dignified voice reached him.


    ¡°...Earlier, it is as that little girl said. I don¡¯t want to admit it, but I regretted the betrayal two years ago. I felt it was an unforgivable crime. So with that, my fighting spirit - the fighting feeling that made me want victory, I feared it to the bottom of my heart.¡±


    While being vigilant with both sword arms held up, Black Lotus¡¯ blue purple color eyes glanced in Haruyuki¡¯s direction.


    ¡°However Haruyuki-kun. You are the opposite. You fear losing. You think that losing will lower your worth. That, during the recent territory battles, was the reason for your bad condition.¡±


    Those were words that were relentlessly forced deep into his heart.


    While kneeling, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide, and strongly ground his teeth.


    ¡®- It¡¯s not just thinking, that¡¯s the truth!¡¯


    He shouted that in his brain.


    ¡®- If I lost I would obtain nothing. My, Silver Crow¡¯s value for existing is to continue to win with the one and only ?Flight ability?. Leveling up and expanding the territory of ?Nega Nabulas?, to fulfill your expectations only.¡¯


    ¡®- Because, if I don¡¯t win, if I don¡¯t become stronger, you will surely - someday see me as...¡¯


    ¡°I will return the same words from earlier, Haruyuki-kun!¡±


    After a slash of her right sword hand, Kuroyukihime shouted fiercely.


    ¡°The bond linking you and me, is it just to such a degree... do you really think that way!!¡±


    And then right after that, she started to slash at Chrome Disaster.


    As if, with that action, she wanted to convey something to Haruyuki.


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s left sword hand that started the attack from high above, was met by Disaster¡¯s huge sword, and a tremendous impact happened. The ball like energy that appeared shone onto the black and silver armor surface, then bounced away and dispersed in numerous dots of light.


    Both were fiercely knocked back, slid to a stop while gouging the ground, then with almost the same timing attacked again. Disaster¡¯s huge sword in both hands was swung horizontally. Kuroyukihime did a spin and blocked it with a right kick.


    The fierce big attacks that drew deep red and blue purple arcs, caused an actual explosion this time, and a small crater appeared at that place. Both of them were blown flying in opposite directions, Kuroyukihime who got up after tumbling around - was faced directly with Chrome Disaster¡¯s wide open left hand.


    ¡®- It¡¯s that skill!¡¯


    Not being able to move, nor able to speak aloud, Haruyuki held his breath.


    The special skill that sucked in the enemy with a mysterious attraction and held its target. If she got hit by that, then she wouldn¡¯t be able to swing her swords properly in close contact, and will only be eaten at will.


    He thought he saw a silver flash between them.


    At the same time, Kuroyukihime had a large lump in front of her that appeared at an unknown time, she placed her right sword foot flat side on it and kicked it up. That was a piece of rock broken from the ground in the earlier explosion.


    Chrome Disaster¡¯s palm sucked that rock in at a fierce speed. To the enemy avatar that was shaking off the hard rock that his fingers had deeply pierced, Kuroyukihime started charging at full speed.


    ¡®Gyaan!¡¯ With the release of the sound of metallic impact, the left sword foot was stuck into Chrome Disaster¡¯s breast armor after a kick.


    ¡®...Incredible.¡¯


    Haruyuki momentarily forgot the lethargy that bound him, and whispered inside his brain.


    Against that terrifying opponent, how could she fight like that? It could be said that her level is higher, but the strength difference is filled in by the enhanced armament, their power is about the same. With a mistake, she will be eaten by those huge fangs, and will actually taste sharp pain and despair. Why that way - as if - .


    As if she was enjoying it.


    Is it because she has confidence? Since she truly believes that she is stronger than the enemy that she can move that freely?


    No, that could not be true. The same level 9 Yellow Radio, even with ten subordinates remaining, fled without hesitation. He could not absolutely say that decision came from fear. Chrome Disaster is no longer a normal Burst Linker. His threat might be beyond the huge ?Enemy? Haruyuki saw while on way to Ikebukuro.


    As if to support Haruyuki¡¯s awareness, the crazed knight showed him a fearsome phenomenon.


    A red black light concentrated on the wound that was cut in the armor by Kuroyukihime, and it slowly flowed to start reviving.


    ¡°Yururuu...¡±


    A laughter like low sound leaked from the Armor, then he suddenly started a fast and furious counter attack. The sword in his right hand swung down at an unseen speed, cutting from the air towards the ground in a straight line. Kuroyukihime managed to avoid that path with her miraculous reaction, but with a ¡®Pikin¡¯ faint sound, the left tip of the armor skirt on her waist was cut off.


    Chrome Disaster¡¯s attack did not stop there. The huge sword with a meter and half long blade, flashed again and again with a speed that made the blade seem weightless. Black Lotus who dodged with a dance like movement, or continued to block, slowly had her elegant armor carved with lines here and there.


    In the rush that continued limitlessly, even though she was slowly pushed from the crater¡¯s west edge to the north edge, Kuroyukihime¡¯s fighting spirit did not seem to weaken at all.


    With four sword limbs shining violet, she looked for small openings in Disaster¡¯s actions and countered with sharp attacks. Even though the opponent¡¯s armor soon repaired the carved wounds with red light, she simply and accurately stabbed, cut or thrust again and again.


    There would be no way that she does not feel fear. With similar attack power, speed, and accuracy, against an opponent that can automatically repair itself, she will eventually be pushed back for sure. If she got hit by the heavy attack even once and her ability to dodge became dull, she will be captured by the opponent at that moment, and a part of her body will be chewed up. Her pride of being a ?King? will be robbed, and she will just become food crawling on the ground.


    And yet - why...


    ¡°Why... are you not escaping!¡±


    From Haruyuki¡¯s throat, a hoarse call leaked out.


    Running away won¡¯t lower the Black King¡¯s value. The Yellow King already ran away, and actually, when the previous generation Chrome Disaster was taken down, you said it took an alliance of ?Pure Color Seven Kings? to finally stop him right. This is a situation where retreat is a matter of course. Also, above all else -


    ¡®I don¡¯t want to see it. That person being broken and eaten while screaming, absolutely don¡¯t want to see it.¡¯


    ¡°Please run away, senpai!¡±


    Haruyuki called out again.


    However, right after that.


    The iron sword, was swung down from high above with a timing and speed that did not allow it to be avoided.


    Kuroyukihime crossed her two sword hands and blocked it, but she was not able to be pushed back like it had been till now, and knelt down on one knee there. A thunder like clashing sound echoed, and the ground around Kuroyukihime cracked in a radiating way.


    ¡°Yururuooooooo!!¡±


    Maybe he was sure of his victory, Chrome Disaster roared loudly. The sword that was held in both of his hands, was pressed down with all his weight. With ¡®Gii Gii¡¯ hard grinding sounds, small sparks flew out from the contact point of the three blades.


    It¡¯s the same situation as when she went against the Yellow legion¡¯s fighter type avatar, however this time the one who was pushed back was clearly Black Lotus. The blue purple aura that surrounded her two sword hands slowly dimmed, and blinked irregularly.


    Very soon, her body will be cut apart along with her two swords and she¡¯ll probably suffer large damage. She will get jumped on where she fell, and until her HP gauge was gone, she will be chewed apart at will.


    ¡°Why... did you not run away.¡±


    Haruyuki murmured without any strength.


    It would not be for protecting Haruyuki who could not move. She attacked Chrome Disaster who was about to chase the Yellow legion, and it was Kuroyukihime who pulled him back herself. That means Kuroyukihime intentionally went against that Armor, furthermore she chose a fight with no chance of winning.


    To be truthful that was their goal for diving into the Unlimited Neutral Field, but the situation had already greatly differed from what they had predicted. Takumu who ?died? won¡¯t be revived for a few tens of minutes, and the important Scarlet Rain is majorly damaged so she could not move.


    And yet, why did that person - .


    ¡°This is... my obstinacy, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    Suddenly, words echoed.


    Looking up at the blade closing in front of her with her shining violet eyes, Kuroyukihime said in a calm and heavy sound.


    ¡°This time, I became unsightly in front of you. As your mentor... and also your ?parent?, I cannot face you like that in the real world.¡±


    During that time, Chrome Disaster¡¯s sword moved closer to Black Lotus¡¯ mask bit by bit. Haruyuki took a breath, and ground out a sound from his shaking throat.


    ¡°O... obstinacy...? But... if you lose, then whatever... meaning...¡±


    ¡°That is what you are mistaken about. A ?Clever Retreat? while you get eaten up by a dog! That kind of thing does not have any value! Once you dive into the battle field... no matter who the opponent is, you have to fight once!!¡±


    The proud words released by Kuroyukihime as she is just about to lose, hit Haruyuki like an iron club.


    Inside his brain, the many battles and accelerated feelings that he had experienced till now came flashing back.


    Earlier, when he wanted to take down the jamming avatar and had to avoid the supporter¡¯s laser attack. When he slipped through the Red King¡¯s fierce anti-air fire. And then three months ago, when he had just became a Burst Linker, and he held up Ash Roller¡¯s bike, or when he saw through Cyan Pile¡¯s special skill.


    ¡®- Inside me, I should not have the desire to win nor the fear of losing. Just fought like a dream. Without being noticed by anyone.¡¯


    ¡®- I see. What I am afraid of, is not the loss itself. It¡¯s when I lose, being laughed at by the gallery. Being compared to Takumu. And also disappointing that person, I had feared those all along. Not only in reality, even in the accelerated world, caring just ?how others look at me? - this kind of thing...¡¯


    ¡°...A huge fool, that¡¯s what I am.¡±


    After whispering, Haruyuki put strength into his right hand that was frozen and stayed open without power.


    It squeaked with ¡®Gishi Gishi¡¯ sounds, however the five fingers held tightly together.


    He held that fist straight up, and hit his right cheek with all his strength. With a ¡®Gatsun¡¯ kind of impact sound, a burning pain ran along his inner teeth. That burning sensation went through all of his virtual nerves, sending signals to his four limbs.


    He held his head up. On the crater¡¯s north edge, Black Lotus tried her last resistance against the lethal blade. The dully colored edges of her crossed blades were pushed barely above her head, and the sparks that flew apart displayed her armor¡¯s many scars.


    ¡°...Senpai!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted. At the same time, he expanded his wings that now have power, and flew straight out.


    Gliding along the crater¡¯s bottom at almost full speed, he flew towards the edge that was Chrome Disaster¡¯s blind spot.


    ¡°U... Oo!¡±


    With his roar, the punch that was aimed for the black silver armor, was barely blocked by the right gauntlet.


    However, at the moment when one hand was removed from the sword, Kuroyukihime thrust her two hands forward with a psyche.


    With a ¡®Gaan!¡¯ impact sound, the blade was bounced away, and Chrome Disaster was pushed back a few meters. It did not seem to disturb his stance, and he soon held his sword low, while under the hood the fangs fiercely grinded.


    ¡°Ruruu... Ruoo...!!¡±


    That sound, was clearly filled with anger.


    While his whole body shook with terror, Haruyuki stood against that, and covered Black Lotus behind him. Maybe she used up all her strength, Kuroyukihime stuck one arm on the ground as a cane, and eventually stood up with that, then moved to Haruyuki¡¯s left side.


    ¡°Then, Haruyuki-kun. - For one game, let¡¯s lose in a cool way.¡±


    Haruyuki involuntarily made a wry smile, and nodded.


    ¡°Yes, senpai.¡±


    He lowered his waist, spread his legs apart, and took a martial art like stance.


    Kuroyukihime who was beside him too, held her sword hands up and got ready.


    One second later, a few things happened one after another.


    Chrome Disaster roared in anger and lifted his sword up.


    For Haruyuki who was concentrating on that slash, on his left side, he saw some kind of shining light.


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s right sword hand flashed with a fierce speed - and the flat side of her sword hit Haruyuki¡¯s chest with all her strength.


    He was knocked flying behind easily, and while he was tumbling on the ground with surprise, he saw a crimson wall of light in front of him.


    From his left side - he realized it was a beam attack fired from center of the crater, and with the fearsome scaled explosion that was initiated, he was again blown flying back, more than ten meters this time. He used both hands in reaction to protect himself from the oncoming heat and shock wave, even so the HP gauge in his view¡¯s upper left lowered, and his body gave out unpleasant metallic sounds here and there.


    All of his nerves felt sharp pain and burning sensation on them, so Haruyuki just lay on the ground with arms and legs open while breathing hard. He could not even scream, and while he waited for the pain of his shaking body to lessen, a huge question marked wind blew in his head.


    Why did that happen - the Yellow legion should have retreated without leaving a single long range type behind. Or did they come back half way and cut into the fight? But with that kind of power. It¡¯s not just a gun. It¡¯s a tank¡¯s - no, a battleship¡¯s main gun kind of overwhelming power.


    When he waveringly pushed himself up with his right hand that finally had feeling returned, in front of his eyes.


    With a ¡®Gashaa¡¯ kind of hard sound, something fell.


    A deeply cracked, pieces missing black armor. The transparent gloss was lost, only brutal scorch marks remained. From the four swords, the left arm and left leg ones were half broken, the mirror face goggles also had spider web like cracks running on it.


    ¡°Ku...¡±


    Haruyuki put out a raspy sound, and his sharp pain was blown away and forgotten.


    ¡°Kuroyukihime senpai!!¡±


    He held her up in a daze, and from various places on her body many black fragments fell down. The avatar that lay slack without any strength was very light, from the damaged places, blue purple sparks that looked like blood came spraying out.


    In front of him, came another heavy metallic sound. He lifted his head up on reaction, and saw that a bit away, the shape of Chrome Disaster kneeling on one knee with head lowered. His damage was also severe. The black silver armor was covered with soot, and a few places had large depressions. Inside the hood type helmet, there was unstable darkness, and the sword that flew somewhere could not be seen.


    The destruction even changed the terrain of the field.


    The Ikebukuro crater north edge that became the battle field till now was carved another small crater, with places burning and thick smoke going up. The cannon fire cut through everything and went north, buildings were uprooted and mow down, and a new road was made going towards the Green highway.


    And then finally, Haruyuki fearfully turned his head south.


    The scene that his eyes captured, Haruyuki had already half guessed. However he did not want to believe it. He determined logically that there could be nothing else, but his feeling strongly resisted it, and that conflict became tears that distorted his vision.


    ¡°Why... why did you do that... Niko.¡±


    The fortress avatar that he thought was so broken that it could no longer move, the Red King, Scarlet Rain¡¯s right arm main cannon was lifted up, pointing straight at the center of the new crater. The large size gun barrel released heat, and the haze made the surrounding waver.


    The attack that was fired from that cannon - probably the highest rank special attack skill, swallowed Kuroyukihime and Chrome Disaster whole, and there was no doubt about the huge damage it caused.


    Haruyuki grinded his teeth, and look at Niko¡¯s eyes in between the armor plates. However those red lens did not take notice of Haruyuki nor Black Lotus that was in his arms.


    ¡°...Why!!¡±


    Haruyuki screamed, and the Red King remained silent. In exchange the thrusters on her back and bottom sides shone, and the huge body that was the ?Immobile Fortress? slowly started to move forward.


    When it started moving, it was surprisingly fast, and it quickly shrunk the crater¡¯s radius distance.


    ¡°Ruu... u...¡±


    That moan, came from Chrome Disaster who curved up like a wounded beast. Sensing the approach of the Red King, it crawled on all fours and waveringly retreated north. From the many wounds on the armor, red black ?Automatic Repair? lights covering them can be seen. However the wounds were way too deep, and they could not be easily healed.


    As if chasing a knight that lost and ran away, the crimson fortress¡¯ shape appeared on the crater¡¯s edge. That majesty, Haruyuki looked at while crying.


    ¡°Wh... y...¡±


    His shaking voice, once again leaked from his throat. At that moment, the fortress stopped its forward movement.


    Turning to look up at the avatar standing right in front of him, Haruyuki took a deep breath and called out.


    ¡°Niko! ...No, Scarlet Rain!! You haven¡¯t forgotten right... if y-you take down senpai... Black Lotus will lose all her points!!¡±


    Kuroyukihime in his arm, still remained unconscious. From the degree of damage, it can be clearly seen that her HP gauge has little remaining.


    To Haruyuki¡¯s accusation, the Red King replied in one short sentence with no feeling.


    ¡°What about it.¡±


    To the speechless Haruyuki, he was continued to be showered by a young yet cold sound.


    ¡°For a Burst Linker, any Burst Linker aside from yourself is an enemy. If you get taken down by an enemy you lose points. When it becomes zero, you are forever retired. That is all it is about.¡±


    ¡°B... but... we... you and us are...¡±


    ¡°Comrades?¡±


    With a heavy sound, Scarlet Rain¡¯s main cannon hit the burnt ground. A blade sharp sound, cut through the air in the last remaining sunlight.


    ¡°You guys are so sweet that it makes me want to puke! Listen, I will teach you one final thing. In the accelerated world... something that you can believe in doesn¡¯t exist!! Comrades, friends, legion... and also ?Parent Child?¡¯s bonds, are all just illusions!!¡±


    With her shout that was like blazing flames, at the same time, the Red King removed all of her badly damaged armor containers.


    From inside the enhanced armament that disappeared like melting into air, a delicate avatar appeared, and it jumped down onto the ground.


    The crimson female type avatar¡¯s armor, still maintained a ruby like shine even now. However only the front part of her left elbow was cruelly full of cracks, and small sparks flew out.


    That should be hurting, but with an action as if she isn¡¯t feeling it, she straightened her back and the avatar¡¯s face turned slightly towards Haruyuki. Inside the two round lens, he seem to see a high temperature flame roaring.


    ¡°...After I have disposed of that guy, I will deal with you guys properly. If you don¡¯t like it, run away right now. The next time we meet... we are enemies.¡±


    After informing him with a cold voice, the Red King looked back ahead. She pulled her large handgun from her waist, and slid the gun body while walking away.


    Where she was heading, was towards Chrome Disaster, with his whole body wounds showing blood color lights, he crawled straight north. He was supposed to be closer to the center of the explosion than Kuroyukihime, so he must have really surprising stamina to be able to still move like that. However, right now he cannot move at half of Niko¡¯s walking speed, so it¡¯s impossible for him to retreat.


    While holding the heavily wounded Kuroyukihime in both arms, in Haruyuki¡¯s view, the two avatars that were slowly closing the distance gap looked blurred.


    If it was rational judgement, thinking that Niko¡¯s previous announcement might be acted out, he should escape to Ikebukuro station or Sunshine City Leap Point right now.


    However Haruyuki did not move. No, he did not want to move.


    If he escaped, then something that is mistaken might be confirmed as a fact. He felt it like that.


    Near the exit of one of the block of buildings that the huge beam mowed down to be a road, Niko finally caught up to Chrome Disaster, and casually lifted up her right foot. With a ¡®Crunch¡¯ like metallic noise, she kicked the knight avatar down, and the back of his neck was stepped on by Niko¡¯s left foot.


    That was an unspeakably sad sight, Haruyuki felt.


    To be sure, that devilish armor should be eliminated. And then, to score a special attack on that guy with the transcendental reaction speed, it is also true that he could only be aimed at while he was right before a confrontation with Kuroyukihime.


    However - then, what about that night.


    In Haruyuki¡¯s home living room, Niko and Kuroyukihime hugging as if they longed for each other while they slept. Surpassing the fate that ?Kings? must eventually fight each other, he felt a larger ?bond? between the two girls. That scene that made Haruyuki want to cry as he thought of it, was it just one night¡¯s illusion? Just a meaningless coincidence?


    Scarlet Rain pushed the handgun in her right hand at the back of Chrome Disaster¡¯s head.


    Somehow not able to bear looking at what¡¯s coming up, Haruyuki lowered his head.


    - The gun¡¯s sound, however, he could not hear no matter how long he waited.


    In exchange, near his ear, a weak sound was issued.


    ¡°...Ex-actly... this is why, children... I dislike them...¡±


    It was the wounded, painfully wavering Kuroyukihime¡¯s voice. However in it, there was not a single bit of anger. Haruyuki lifted his head up, and looked at Kuroyukihime¡¯s goggles that were close by.


    Inside them, a faint violet light shone. He pushed down the things welling up, and Haruyuki whispered to Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Se... sen-pa...¡±


    He then heard a ¡®Gyariin¡¯ metallic sound at that time.


    What Haruyuki saw after moving his view was, Chrome Disaster with upper body turned around, and his left hand raised up high. And Scarlet Rain with her right hand-armor fragments scattering.


    Dancing high in the sky, was the crimson handgun.


    ¡°Wh... why, did you not shoot!!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted without thinking.


    There was plenty of time for her as a legion master to use the member punishment ?Judgement Blow? to hit Chrome Disaster. To execute that, Niko involved Kuroyukihime in her special attack, and spewed out all those cruel words. Why did she hesitate now?


    The one who answered his raising questions, was Kuroyukihime in his arms.


    ¡°...That, little girl... is just sulking. Painful... and lonely, so throwing a tantrum...¡±


    ¡°Wh... what!?¡±


    Surprised, Haruyuki looked between his arms and the rubble, and saw Chrome Disaster¡¯s right hand that flashed like a lightning bolt, caught Niko¡¯s throat.


    With the right arm that regained a lot of power, he slowly hung the small avatar up. Niko¡¯s right hand held the Armor¡¯s arm, be she did not seem to resist beyond that, and just dangled down. As if, she gave up on everything, after being thrown away.


    ¡°That little girl truly... seeks trust more than anyone. As a Burst Linker¡¯s final bond...¡±


    Kuroyukihime murmured in a quiet voice. Haruyuki opened his eyes wide in a daze and asked in return.


    ¡°Bo... bond...?¡±


    ¡°That is... correct. I can understand. Those two are... ?Parent Child?. The Red King is... Disaster¡¯s... no, Cherry Rook¡¯s ?child?.¡±


    Parent and Child - !? Those two!?


    Till now, he had not thought of it like that even once. However, being told that, he can comprehend just one thing.


    In the real world, Niko was able to track Cherry Rook¡¯s position in detail. Haruyuki guessed that it was a legion master¡¯s privilege, but it was not that. Niko simply knows about Cherry Rook¡¯s ?Real? side. The one and only ?parent? who gave her Brain Burst.


    Haruyuki was again surprised, and while he was speechless, his eyes saw Kuroyukihime¡¯s gentle eyes return his look. She lifted up her badly damaged right hand, and knocked Haruyuki on the shoulder.


    ¡°Hey, what are you doing. I am... fine. Go and help... Niko... our comrade.¡±


    At that instant.


    From Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, unsuppressed tears flowed out.


    He did not understand the reason. However, he felt that some kind of huge hot thing born inside his chest, and wanted to rise.


    ¡°...Yes!¡±


    He gave a big nod.


    After laying Kuroyukihime¡¯s body flat there, Haruyuki stood up. With a sharp sound, he opened the wings on his back wide.


    Far away, Niko who was hung up, Chrome Disaster¡¯s jaw closed in on the top of her shoulder. Haruyuki took a deep breath, and held his right hand in a fist - .


    ¡°...Ooo!¡±


    With that roar, fiercely kicked the ground.


    After a few steps of running, he flapped the two wings of metallic fins with all his strength.


    His feet left the ground, and Haruyuki became a silver beam that shot forward into the sky.


    Towards the far away rubble road, where the mad Armor was about to devour Niko - his own Linker ?child?¡¯s body, Haruyuki closed in bit by bit. With his right fist strongly held together, and body leaning forward -


    ¡°Stop ittt!¡±


    With that yell, Haruyuki¡¯s fist that was covered by blinding light, hit the deep black jaw in the center.


    With a ¡®Crunch¡¯ sound, the silver flash split open the lurking darkness. After a pause, as if repulsed by an explosive force, Chrome Disaster was bent back and blown flying away. He bounced on the rubble, then rolled more than ten meters, and fell down with his arms and legs spread apart.


    After folding his wings and landing, Haruyuki found out with a glance that ?Punch? just now cost half of his special attack gauge, then he looked down at the crimson avatar kneeling beside him.


    Niko who was holding her throat that was caught by Disaster and coughing, lifted her head and glared at Haruyuki with eyes that had flames returned to them.


    ¡°Y... you bastard... why...¡±


    ¡°I came to help you.¡±


    With the heat rising up from the bottom of his body, he used a more violent speech style that he normally would not have.


    ¡°We are... comrades, that¡¯s why.¡±


    Niko who was momentary breathless, stiffened her body, and wrung out a raspy sound.


    ¡°This, bastard... even though you are a small fry, trying to be... cool...¡±


    ¡°You too, even though you are a King, how long are you planning to be so poor.¡±


    Haruyuki kicked the crimson handgun that had fallen right by him with his right foot up, and grabbed the barrel in the air.


    He held the grip out to Niko, and continued saying.


    ¡°...He, Cherry Rook can only be helped by you, Niko. For him, Brain Burst is just a curse now. Release him from it.¡±


    Inside the round lens, red lights wavered with hesitation.


    But one second later, her extended right hand, strongly grabbed the gun.


    ¡°Aa... I know. I understand.¡±


    With that whisper, the Red King that soon stood up, stepped on the ground with her left foot loudly as if to shake off something, and looked forward.


    Chrome Disaster that was blown away, was raising his upper body at that moment. Holding his face that was hit by Haruyuki with his right hand, and his throat rang in panic.


    He probably no longer has the strength to stand up. The red black light that was trying to repair his whole body¡¯s damage had mostly disappeared, and instead from the wounds drips of darkness came out like blood.


    ¡°Cherry.¡±


    Niko called with a quiet sound as her feet stepped out.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end it. The game that is just painful and tough, there¡¯s no meaning to continue.¡±


    In between the fingers that were covering the helmet, Chrome Disaster¡¯s red eyes faintly shining could be seen.


    He lifted up the left hand that was pushing on the ground, with an ¡®I surrender¡¯, like gesture the palm faced the sky.


    ¡®Did he regain his rationality?¡¯ Haruyuki thought that for an instant.


    - However.


    Suddenly, without any preparation, the heavy looking black silver avatar danced up with fierce speed.


    ¡°What...¡±


    In the view of Haruyuki who shouted, at a steel beam that was sticking out the top of a mostly broken down five storey building, Disaster had reached that place. He turned backwards, and again, as if sucked in by the air, jumped above.


    While staring at the shape that got smaller and smaller, Haruyuki blurted out.


    ¡°Fl... ?Flight Ability?!?¡±


    ¡°Wrong, it¡¯s ?Super Long Distance Jump?!¡±


    Niko answered in an urgent sound.


    ¡°...He wants to logout at the Sunshine City Leap Point. If he escape from here... there won¡¯t be another chance...¡±


    Cherry Rook that is covered by that armor, must have realized that his ?child?, legion master Niko traced his movements with some kind of method. After logging out, he would surely find a counter for that, and then the ?Wait and Ambush in Unlimited Neutral Field? kind of tactic could not be used again.


    Haruyuki ground his inner teeth, then stared at the Red King and said.


    ¡°Niko. This time be sure to shoot. The ?Judgement Blow?.¡±


    ¡°...Long-winded. I will shoot. For his sake.¡±


    ¡°Then...¡±


    Finally, it¡¯s time for the original plan with Silver Crow to chase and capture Chrome Disaster to start. After that, all he has to do is fly. With that determination, Haruyuki clearly announced.


    ¡°...Until Niko catches up, I will hold Disaster down.¡±


    After an instant of speechlessness, Niko tilted her head slightly.


    ¡°O... one person is impossible! Even though you can say he is wounded, he can still move like that. Instead of capturing him, you would be eaten up!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Haruyuki took a quick glance at the deep black shape that was still lying far south at the crater¡¯s edge.


    Soon his eyes turned back, and said forcefully.


    ¡°Then I will hold out till being eaten at that time!¡±


    With a ¡®Crunch¡¯ rubble sound he changed his direction - .


    Haruyuki opened his wings wide, and left the ground in a straight line.


    He flew out of the half broken buildings, and gained altitude, then soon saw the dully shining avatar. He had already went about 300 meters northeast, and with tremendous long distance jumping from one building top to another going further away.


    After confirming with his glance below, that the crimson avatar started to run northeast as well, Haruyuki took a deep breath, and with a rumble sound, started flying.


    His two hands stuck straight in front, and charged forward while cutting the virtual air. He soon flew past the Green highway, then he went into the crossing capital number five highway and continued to accelerate.


    The towering Sunshine City that he was heading for was just right ahead. Of course, that shape was not the grey colored high-rise building in the real world. Made up of bluish sharp steel trusses, and piercing through the dark clouds like a huge tower where a demon king lived. The shopping mall at its base was also changed to a desolate courtyard, the space with cracked tiles, black trees with twisted branches spread wide here and there.


    There was a big set of stairs that passed through the courtyard to the tower from the street, and there he saw a blue white light filling the entrance. That was probably the ?Leap Point?. If he escaped there, then there won¡¯t be another chance to capture Chrome Disaster in the Unlimited Neutral Field.


    That Disaster, while leaving a deep black blood trail, continued to jump in a zigzag way from one building near the highway to another. The fierce speed from not just any jump, however, it was obviously slower than Silver Crow¡¯s flight.


    ¡®- Catching up!¡¯


    Haruyuki held his breath and calculated his rapid descent timing. First he has to knock the Armor to the ground, and then stop his movement.


    While maintaining more than enough altitude, Haruyuki reached the blind spot right above the opponent, and the Armor reached the top of another building, then at the moment he jumped towards the next target, Haruyuki entered a full speed dive.


    He stuck the tip of his right foot out, and descended like a sharp wedge. Maybe he heard the sound of air being cut, the Armor¡¯s helmet turned to look up. But he should not be able to dodge while in his jump path. The strongly shining tip, headed towards the back of the badly wounded armor -


    ¡°Wh... what!?¡±


    Right before that, something improbable happened.


    Chrome Disaster that was in the middle of a jump, as if seeing some kind of omen, changed his path to the right.


    With a ¡®Zaa¡¯ kind of brushing sound, Haruyuki missed kicking his target. He would be buried in the building right below like that, so he controlled both wings with full strength, and barely succeeded in slowing down.


    With a ¡®Boom¡¯ loud noise release, Haruyuki landed on both feet, and watched in shock as Chrome Disaster flew away to the right side.


    ¡®What was that just now!?¡¯ No matter what kind of long distance jump, while in the middle of a jump there is no way to change the path in the air. If that is possible, then for sure that would be the same as Haruyuki¡¯s ?flight?, it could only be concluded like that.


    Hastily leaving the ground again, Haruyuki chased after Disaster. Until the Leap Point at Sunshine City, there was only two or three jump¡¯s distance left.


    For an unknown reason, when the opponent can change its path in the air, he probably can no longer score a hit with a straight dive kick. If it is like that, then he would have to brave the danger of being captured, and try to attack in a close contact chase.


    ¡°...Ooo.¡±


    With a short psyche, Haruyuki accelerated all at once, and closed in near the black silver armor¡¯s back. Then, the Armor again made a left turn, and he unreasonably followed the turn. With the centripetal force on his whole body, his avatar creaked.


    While grinding his teeth, his held fist hit towards that back, at that time. Again, Chrome Disaster showed him an unthinkable action.


    This time right below, sinking almost straight down. With his punch cutting the air, Haruyuki flew past his target, and turned left while diving to aim for the opponent after it landed.


    No matter what, just at the instance both feet landed on the building top, to thrust for the next jump he should stop. To the falling Disaster¡¯s shape, with his unreasonable moves, Haruyuki desperately tried to continue capturing him in his view in the dim light, and calculated his timing.


    The Armor¡¯s body became round, looked up, and extended his right arm.


    And then Haruyuki saw a third startling scene.


    The heavy metal avatar that should have a huge mass, rapidly decelerated in the air. With movements as if gravity was turned upside down, he momentarily stopped in the empty space, then again flew straight up. Haruyuki who again missed his target, his right foot cut through only air as he turned around - .


    In his wide open eyes, he finally saw it.


    Chrome Disaster who ascended in a sharp angle, and towards the somewhat high building he was heading to, between them, was a very small red line, that shone for an instant.


    It¡¯s not a beam. That was a reflection from the last remaining sunlight that came in between the buildings.


    It is a wire.


    Inside Haruyuki¡¯s brain, from the earlier Chrome Disaster¡¯s fierce battles, the strange grip skill that he showed flashback one after another. The Yellow legion¡¯s long range avatar, and the rock that Kuroyukihime kicked up, was improbably sucked in by the Armor¡¯s open palm skill - that, also Disaster¡¯s long distance jump and mid air movement, are all the same principle. Fire from both hands, an ultra small wire with anchor attached hit the target object and sucked it back in. Or hit a stationary object and pull itself up with it.


    In Haruyuki¡¯s view, Chrome Disaster who ascended with very high speed coiling of the wire, disappeared between the buildings.


    While rising again to chase after him, Haruyuki desperately thought.


    To interfere with that jump, all he has to do is cut the wire that was in the air.


    But would he be able to cut it with his knife or kick? That heavy looking avatar, furthermore while in descending speed was being supported easily. The hooking power of the anchor, and the wire¡¯s load carrying capacity, must be thought of as to the ultimate range. He won¡¯t be able to cut it, or on the other hand might be damaged by it.


    Haruyuki who desperately turned his thinking wheel as he rapidly ascended, saw Chrome Disaster landing on the top of a building with a curved roof.


    On the other side of that building is Sunshine City. Just one more jump and he will reach that tower. What should he do? How will he stop him?


    Disaster extended his right hand towards the tower¡¯s blue black wall.


    That sharp five fingered claw form opened. In the center, a flash of wire being fired shone.


    ¡°- That¡¯s it!!¡±


    At that moment, Haruyuki shouted after being visited by revelation. It could be said to be a reckless tactic, but he no longer had any method other than that.


    Putting all his energy into the white silver metallic fins that made up his wings, Haruyuki aimed straight for the Sunshine and went forward. The small avatar was covered by dots of light, and trailed a tail in the sky like a comet. Soon he caught up to Chrome Disaster and went past him, then over the road, and kept flying.


    More - more, ?accelerate? more!


    With his increase in speed, the world¡¯s shape started changing. Relatively speaking, everything other than himself started to decelerate.


    Haruyuki who went forward like a brilliant laser, ahead in his view, he accurately captured it. Chrome Disaster¡¯s right hand that aimed for the tower¡¯s outer wall and fired the wire. The ultra small hook at the tip of that wire.


    ¡°U... O...o!!¡±


    With that roar and final acceleration, Haruyuki started a shallow angle dive, with his flight trajectory aiming to cross the wire.


    A ¡®Kan¡¯ kind of sound passed through his body, and he felt something ate into the center of his back.


    Right after, a tremendous weight wanted to pull Haruyuki back. He resisted that, expanding all the acceleration he had, and Haruyuki continued to move forward.


    That weight lessened. Chrome Disaster¡¯s body that was behind the wire, floated in the sky behind him. Without looking behind, in Haruyuki¡¯s brain, the Armor that was connected to him and flying at the same speed in the sky appeared.


    Disaster controlled the wire¡¯s coiling speed, so as not to crash into the thing that he hooked onto while landing. However being pulled like this, he should no longer have any skill to slow himself down.


    In front of his eyes, the outer wall of the huge tower that reached for the sky closed in. While glaring at the numerous big steel beams that made up the surface of the wall, Haruyuki endured the terror and calculated timing. If he was too early then he would give Disaster time to land, and if too late he would crash into the tower as well.


    ¡®- Here, here,¡¯


    ¡°It is!¡±


    With that shout, Haruyuki turned straight up to the limit of angle allowed. All the joints in his whole body creaked, and sharp pain ran in them. One steel beam¡¯s tip lightly scratched from his chest to his stomach. While trailing orange sparks, Haruyuki rose while sticking to Sunshine¡¯s wall, and at the same time slowed down his speed.


    Right after that.


    With an impact sound that shook the whole Ikebukuro area, Chrome Disaster¡¯s huge body crashed into the tower¡¯s wall.


    The tower itself trembled, with broken material and glass blown apart like explosions. The energy wave that was created, became blue white sparks that flew through the air.


    The wire that extended from Haruyuki¡¯s back, was sucked into the huge hole on the wall around ten floors high in the tower.


    With mushy quiet echos, a large amount of water spew out from that hole while Haruyuki looked on in amazement. If he concentrated on looking, he could see large and small strange sea creatures in the water as well. They danced in the air as the remaining sunlight reflected red light from their scales, and they fell to the ground floor courtyard and bounced around.


    In the real world Sunshine City, that location should be the aquarium, Haruyuki realized in a daze. Probably that was also recreated in this accelerated world, and the water tank was broken by Disaster¡¯s crash.


    After huge fishes and amphibians flowed out, at the end something like a lump of metal was pushed out of the huge hole, and caught by a bend steel beam.


    It was Chrome Disaster. He was so broken up that his original shape no longer remained.


    The right arm was half smashed to pieces, and the right foot was like crushed iron scrap. The armor was broken and crushed, with almost none of its usual shine.


    From the numerous wounds, a fearsome amount of black liquid flowed out, and before they reached the ground, they dissolved in the air and disappeared. With all those, that he did not get eliminated from the field right this instant, was strange enough.


    Haruyuki blinked hard once, then listened to himself saying that this is not the time to be emotional, and prepared to lower Disaster to the ground with the wire that was still connecting them. Niko should reach that place soon.


    He rose up slightly, and the wire that was pulled tight brought the Armor¡¯s right arm up.


    - At that moment.


    ¡°Ruu... oooOOOOOO!!¡±


    Suddenly, a tremendous volume roar was sent out.


    Chrome Disaster raised his head, and in his hood like helmet, many long and large fangs of darkness appeared, and opened wide.


    His right hand grabbed the air like a claw - and Haruyuki¡¯s body was pulled in with unspeakable force.


    After falling for a few meters, Haruyuki used all his strength to move his wings, and resisted the demonic pull. The wire that was pulled tight rang with a ¡®Giriri¡¯ sound. Right in front of him, hungry fangs opened and closed.


    ¡°Gu... O...¡±


    Groaning, Haruyuki desperately resisted. Chrome Disaster¡¯s ?feed on prey? has damage repair function. If he got eaten up here, then that guy that healed up will again go after Niko, and also Kuroyukihime will be attacked.


    Turning his eyes away from the fearsome jaw, Haruyuki looked straight up into the sky.


    In the Unlimited Neutral Field sky that was getting covered by darkness of night, it was mostly filled with deep black clouds, but in between those he could see a few stars.


    He extended his right hand all the way towards the biggest red star in that group. Holding his fist tight, Haruyuki also roared.


    ¡°U... O...O - .¡±


    With a ¡®Douu!¡¯ vibration sound in the air, the silver wings¡¯ thrust overcame the steel thread¡¯s pull. Haruyuki who went forward as if shot out, while dangling the Armor below him, flew up with a fierce speed close to the outer wall of Sunshine. The impact wave shook the wall like a ripple, and following behind, was glass breaking.


    Haruyuki who reached the top of the tower in a few seconds, kicked a strange thorn that stuck out horizontally from its edge, and changed his body¡¯s direction on reaction.


    He headed towards Chrome Disaster that was pulled flying by the wire.


    ¡°U... Raa!!¡±


    At the same time as that shout, his right foot kicked into the Armor¡¯s throat area. With a dull metallic sound, the helmet¡¯s bottom half was blown apart, and the fangs of darkness also crumbled.


    In that posture, this time he started a full speed descent. The white silver and black silver avatars became one and fell to the ground like a shooting star.


    - Then.


    With a ¡®Boo¡¯ sound, the darkness inside Disaster¡¯s helmet was all blown away.


    What appeared from inside, was a bright pink, simple mask.


    The horizontal oval eyes dimly shone, and a small sound leaked from the mouth. With the remains of innocence, a boy¡¯s voice.


    ¡°...I... strong... want to become. Just that...¡±


    While continuing to dive, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide. He met the peeking like eyes, and the pink colored avatar again murmured.


    ¡°If it is you, then... you understand right? You too, power... want it right...?¡±


    At the moment he heard those words - .


    Deep in his body, Haruyuki felt an emotion with fierce heat erupting.


    That was anger. Overwhelming fury.


    ¡°Want to become strong... you said?¡±


    Haruyuki concentrated all the thrust from his wings towards the right foot on the Armor¡¯s neck, and he said that. His voice slowly changing to a shout that was sent out.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you want to say everything is forgivable!? Wearing that armor, attacking many avatars, and wanting to eat your child, Niko, you want to say all that was justified?!¡±


    The dive already passed half of the tower. If he doesn¡¯t retreat soon, he will be in danger as well. He understood that, however Haruyuki could not stop releasing his words.


    ¡®Wanting to become strong¡¯. Those were truly words that he repeated recently like a curse. Thinking of being inferior to everyone else, he became involved in a reckless training. But, arriving in the battle field today, and gotten past many different fighting situations, Haruyuki finally realized that he had forgotten something important.


    Strength is absolutely not something relative.


    Winning or losing in a duel, above or below someone, those kind of superficial reference is worthless.


    It¡¯s yourself. The only absolute reference is within yourself.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just you!¡±


    Haruyuki wrung out all his sound, and shouted.


    ¡°Niko as well... senpai too... Taku and other Burst Linkers... Chiyu, the guys in school, and teachers, everyone thinks like that!! Wanting to become strong, wanting to live strongly... everything painful, wanting to face with your own power, everyone thinks like that!!¡±


    Not able to withstand the falling speed, the cracked armor fragments that broke off became points of light and disappeared. The darkness that leaked out from numerous wounds also, at the moment they touched the wall of air, were burnt up by friction.


    The avatar under the helmet, no longer said anything.


    Haruyuki neither decelerated nor retreated, and rushed forward with the Armor as one body.


    At the center of the large stairs extending from the tower¡¯s entrance, the two avatars that were locked together crash landed with fearsome speed, and finally, it caused a huge explosion.

 Volume 2 - CH 8

    Although he was swallowed up by a pillar of fire that reached to the sky and violently tossed around by the impact wave, Haruyuki¡¯s HP gauge still had about 20% left, the reason for that was, he did not suffer most of the impact damage.


    Crashing onto Sunshine City¡¯s big stairs, making a huge crater, Chrome Disaster¡¯s armor - enhanced armament was completely destroyed at that moment. From inside the armor that blew apart thousands of metal fragments, a high concentration of darkness particles erupted straight up, and that cushioned Haruyuki¡¯s avatar and pushed him back up into the air. After being brushed by the fragments, with a ¡®Butsun¡¯ sound, he felt that the wire on his back was cut.


    From the huge explosion that occurred right after that, while he was tumbling inside like a broken scrap, Haruyuki desperately curled up into a ball, and endured the damage that lowered his HP gauge. Somehow he was able to escape from the super high heat area, and slowly descended while thin smoke trailed from his whole body, after landing, he could no longer stand up, and fell to his knees.


    When he looked up, the orange and black fire pillar finally spread in the atmosphere, and started disappearing. Embers that fell down like rain rebounded from the grey tiles and withered trees, illuminating the area in red.


    A deep bowl-shaped depression sunk into the center of the big stairs.


    Right in the middle of that, half buried and lying flat, a small avatar could be seen.


    The cherry pink armor was all burnt to a crisp, its left hand and right foot was missing. In the somewhat humorous oval lens, a very faint light blinked irregularly.


    It was a very helpless and painful shape. That avatar was dressed in that brutal armor and went on ruthless killings, it was hard to believe.


    For Haruyuki who was kneeling and could not move, he heard small footsteps closing in from behind him. His left shoulder was lightly knocked on.


    ¡°...You did it, Silver Crow. The rest... leave it to me.¡±


    Haruyuki silently continued to watch the small back of the Red King as she stepped forward and went down the side of the crater.


    He thought of standing up and following her, but soon changed his mind. Those two people¡¯s final conversation, he felt that no one should eavesdrop.


    The red and similar sized avatars, one lying flat, the other standing, exchanged words for a while. Eventually, the crimson girl type avatar knelt down beside the light pink boy type avatar, and her broken left arm held up the crumbly body, and hugged him hard.


    She lightly lifted up the handgun in her right hand.


    And placed the muzzle on the boy¡¯s chest.


    The ?Judgement Blow?, compared to its name, the sound and light were modest. However at the moment the virtual bullet pierced through the avatar, a phenomenon that Haruyuki had not seen till now occurred.


    The boy avatar was disassembled like numerous ribbons being scattered. Those were all shining small sequences of code. All of the information that made up the duel avatar called ?Cherry Rook?, was released, split apart, and melted into accelerated world¡¯s sky.


    About ten seconds later, there was no longer anything on Niko¡¯s arm.


    The crimson avatar slowly sat down there, and looked up at the sky fully covered by dusk.


    Haruyuki waveringly stood up, and dragging his fairly damaged right foot, started walking towards the bottom of the impact area. After a few seconds, he arrived behind Niko¡¯s right side and stopped, but his chest was stuck with a torrent of different emotions, that prevented words from coming out.


    Eventually, Niko slowly said.


    ¡°...Cherry and I, we don¡¯t know our parents.¡±


    ¡°...?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t understand the meaning of her words. He took a breath to ask, then the words were quietly connected.


    ¡°As for parents, I am not referring to the origin of our copies of Brain Burst. The real world¡¯s... real parents. Previously, I mentioned my school was a boarding school. To be exact, it is an ?Abandoned children total protection foster school?.¡±


    Haruyuki could only listen silently to Niko¡¯s speech that was released while she remained sitting.


    The program where newborn babies were unconditionally taken from hospitals and other places began around the start of this era. It is part of the measures to counter the accelerated declining birthrate and aging population, the program was legalized around 2030, and in many places shelters that also served as school were built. To be sure, the Nerima area that the Red legion is controlling should also have one such school.


    ¡°I have... this kind of personality, so I don¡¯t get along with people around school... I¡¯ve always played VR games by myself. But, three years ago... a boy two years older suddenly talked to me. ¡®There is a way more fun game, do you want to try it?¡¯ he said.¡±


    With ¡®haha¡¯ small laughter mixed in, Niko continued.


    ¡°That kind of invitation method, it surprised me that I did something like a direct connection. But you know... that guy, with face bright red, was trying so hard with all his might that it was laughable. That side of him did not change even after I became a Burst Linker. He very seriously taught me this and that, and protected me as a shield when it got bad. But... in time, my level caught up to his... and passed him... when I noticed, I had become something like level 9. After being pushed to be a legion master, I was also frantic... I did not care about what he thought about and worried about. In reality... when we met in school, I did not even notice that he looked strange...¡±


    Niko¡¯s right hand scratched the ground lightly. With her head lowered, shoulders shaking, the young King wrung out a small voice.


    ¡°...That guy, wanted to always be my ?parent?. He wanted me to be his ?child?. That¡¯s why he sought more power and lost to ?Disaster Armor?¡¯s lure. If I... I had said just one thing properly... that level didn¡¯t matter, you are my only ?parent?... that will, never, change... if I said it...¡±


    With that, her back became rounded as she curled up, and ¡®Uu Uu¡¯ weeping leaked from Niko - .


    For Haruyuki, what he needed to say was lost to him for a while.


    Burst Linker¡¯s ?parent child? relationship. That weight, he who had the same bond with Kuroyukihime, should have understood. However, for Niko and Cherry Rook who did not know their real parents, that must have been the only true bond that they could make. And then right now, Niko cut that apart with her own hands. She had no other choice.


    Haruyuki desperately forced what was coming up back down, and got on his knees, then put a hand on Niko¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Niko. To be truthful... Brain Burst is not just any game. But... it¡¯s not all of our reality.¡±


    After thinking and thinking, he said that, and a very painful throat lowered his sound volume.


    ¡°I too, was always afraid of my powerlessness. Feared being abandoned by that person. But... I know that person in the real world. Face, name, and sound, I know those. That bond, no matter what happens, will not disappear. Because it¡¯s not data. It is carved inside my heart. That¡¯s why... that¡¯s why, you too, in the real world, should become friends with him again. You should be able to do it... even though you and I belong to different legions in the accelerated world, in the real world, we are already friends.¡±


    Her low crying voice continued for a while, but was eventually blown away by the dusk slight breeze and melted away.


    With one final violent shake on her back, Niko wiped her eyes with her right hand, and pushed Haruyuki¡¯s hand that was on her shoulder away.


    ¡°Friends... you said?¡±


    The sound was raspy, and shaking, but a bit of that audacious echo had returned. She stood up, red lens looked down at Haruyuki, and the young King let out.


    ¡°Hundred years too early! You can at best become my underling or whatever! Don¡¯t get carried away!!¡±


    ¡°Wh... what.¡±


    ¡®It can¡¯t be like that¡¯, Haruyuki wanted to continue with that, but it was overwritten by a cold echo from behind him.


    ¡°Hey, who is whose underling?¡±


    Haruyuki turned around with a ¡®Hiii!¡¯ surprised sound, in front of his eyes was, whole body in tatters, but firmly standing deep black avatar - Black Lotus¡¯ shape appeared.


    And then, steadying her left arm, was a blue indigo avatar, Cyan Pile.


    ¡°Se... senpai! Taku!!¡±


    While shouting, Haruyuki jumped near those two.


    ¡°Ar-are you okay, senpai... and also Taku, how come...¡±


    As he asked, he finally remembered. Right before they fought with the Yellow legion, Takumu himself had said it. The Burst Linker who died in this Unlimited Neutral Field, after a one hour waiting penalty, would be revived at the same place as death - which meant, somehow that much time had already passed.


    ¡°Taku... Geesh, being that unreasonable...¡±


    With a grumble, Takumu retorted with one hand spread wide.


    ¡°Now that you mention it, Haru is also in bad shape. Chasing Chrome Disaster by yourself, there is a limit to being reckless.¡±


    ¡°That recklessness was from his mentor.¡±


    After saying so, that mentor left Cyan Pile¡¯s hand, and with one leg¡¯s hovering movement, went to stand right in front of Niko.


    While waving her right hand sword tip around, Kuroyukihime said in a somewhat arrogant voice.


    ¡°Now then, Scarlet Rain. Isn¡¯t there something you are supposed to say to me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After the Red King¡¯s right fist trembled for a while, she eventually turned her face away.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Hey, just that?! ...That¡¯s why, this is exactly why children...¡±


    ¡°Y-you too, while we battled with hardship, you were just unsightly lying there right?!¡±


    ¡°...What did you say?¡±


    ¡°What, want to fight?¡±


    Between the two Kings face to face, giving off red and blue purple sparks, Haruyuki and Takumu desperately pushed them apart with ¡®there there¡¯.


    - Then.


    Suddenly, a remarkably strong wind came down from the Sunshine City huge tower, and Haruyuki involuntarily closed his eyes. Niko whispered ¡®O¡¯ sound. Continuing, Kuroyukihime said,


    ¡°There, Haruyuki-kun, look. It¡¯s ?Transition?.¡±


    ¡°Tr... transition?¡±


    As Haruyuki repeated what was said, he looked up and saw - .


    The world¡¯s landscape itself rapidly changing, an extraordinary scene.


    The demonic city with just blue black steel and desolate ground, coming from the east direction, was covered by an aura like light veil.


    Wherever that curtain touched, the street-scape that was bare cold steel material, changed to an appearance of large trees with thick trunks lined up. The trees used round openings for entrance, trunks twisted to make stairs, and thick branches suspended together to form bridges. Just like, a fairy country in a fantasy movie.


    The many layers of lush leaves, faint blue phosphorescence shone in the darkness of night, lighting up what¡¯s under the forest. In front of Haruyuki who stood there in a daze, a rainbow aura came up, covering everything with rumbling sounds and passing behind him.


    ¡°Ah... S-Sunshine is...¡±


    An instant before, the place that was the huge tower where a demon king might have lived, a huge tree that rose to the sky stood proudly there, and Haruyuki held his breath.


    From the golden green moss covered trunk, it branched out and rose up, with the tree top melting into the clouds far above. From the trunk, here and there small scale forest like terrace extended, and blue light particles spill onto the ground. A majesty just like a world tree.


    However, why did the field changed to this?


    When he looked questioningly at her, Kuroyukihime¡¯s wounded avatar showed a smile and answered.


    ¡°Remember, when we first dived into this field, I said the attribute was ?Chaos?.¡±


    ¡°Y... yea, now that you mention it...¡±


    ¡°That means, this world¡¯s attribute changes with a certain period of time. However most of them are brutal looking. You are lucky, it¡¯s not often that you are shown this beautiful appearance.¡±


    ¡°Ah... ah.¡±


    Haruyuki deeply breathed in the air that had also changed to a sweet smell, and nodded again and again.


    There were painful and tough continuous battles, but he was glad to come to this place, he felt for the first time.


    ¡®- I still, don¡¯t have enough power to fight here. But, eventually I will become strong enough to freely fly in this world¡¯s sky. From now on, there will be many uncool losses though... someday, for sure.¡¯


    ¡°...I want to say, ¡®Carry me again to fly around¡¯, but. With the ?Transition?, Enemy will be repopped[1], so it¡¯s dangerous to loiter around. Here, we should obediently head back.¡±


    To Niko¡¯s voice, Kuroyukihime also nodded.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do that. ...Oops, before that. I almost forgot something important.¡±


    She looked at everyone once, then continued in a stricter voice.


    ¡°...Everyone, open your status window, and check the item storage. And if the ?Disaster Armor? is there... erase it completely. So the same thing won¡¯t happen a second time.¡±


    Haruyuki opened his eyes wide.


    That¡¯s right, they must confirm that.


    Two and half years ago, after the Pure Color Seven Kings subjugated the previous generation Chrome Disaster, the Kings probably did the same thing. And then everyone there reported that the Armor did not move to them.


    However that was a lie. There is no proof, but the Armor should have dropped to the Yellow King, Yellow Radio¡¯s storage. The Yellow King hid that, and recently contacted Cherry Rook who belonged to the Red legion, and gave the Armor to him. The devilish Armor caused the no invasion treaty to be broken, to use that crime to take Niko¡¯s head.


    Like Kuroyukihime said, this tragedy should not be allowed to happen again. Haruyuki extended his right hand and touched his own HP gauge, and from status window that opened, he moved to his item storage.


    That window - was completely empty. No matter how much he stared at it, there was not a single line of text.


    ¡°...Nothing.¡±


    Looking up and answering that, next Niko said ¡®Me neither¡¯ and Takumu also ¡®Me neither¡¯ while shaking his head. Finally Kuroyukihime murmured ¡®Me neither¡¯, and the four were silent for a moment.


    The fifth generation Chrome Disaster that is Cherry Rook, with Niko¡¯s ?Judgement Blow? forcefully uninstalled his Brain Burst. The enhanced armament, when its owner lost all points, with a certain probability move to the storage of the one who defeated its owner. Then this time, it finally completely disappeared without moving - that was probably it.


    Since you cannot see other¡¯s status window, there is a possibility here that someone might have hid it like the Yellow King. However.


    ¡°It disappeared, this time for sure.¡±


    Haruyuki announced in a clear voice.


    Soon Niko also confirmed.


    ¡°Yea. We are not like that Radio bastard, that guy... after fighting with Disaster, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any idiot here who wants that for themselves. The ?Disaster Armor? disappeared. We completely annihilated it.¡±


    ¡°Yea... That explosion, could be seen from south Ikebukuro. It¡¯s proof that it disappeared, right.¡±


    Takumu also nodded, and finally Kuroyukihime too clearly announced.


    ¡°All right. Yellow King¡¯s confrontation will be left till next time, for now - Mission Complete. Then, let¡¯s head back and celebrate.¡±


    ¡°Oh, let¡¯s open a bottle of champagne.¡±


    ¡°Fool, children should drink juice.¡±


    While arguing with each other, the two Kings walked out. Takumu and Haruyuki, with wry smiles, chased after them.


    At the base of the world tree, there was a big opening, and inside, the blue light that he saw from the steel tower was lit. Aiming for the bright swirl that is the ?Leap Point?, Haruyuki who was at the back of the line, in his ears - .


    He thought he heard a sound that was not a voice.


    ¡°...What?¡±


    He involuntarily turned back, but of course no one was there.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Haru?¡±


    Hearing Takumu¡¯s voice, he hurriedly turned back, and shook his head.


    ¡°No, nothing! ...Ah, I am ten times more exhausted than a normal ?Duel? somehow. I am so hungry... can¡¯t take it anymore...¡±


    ¡°Hey hey, let me remind you, we just ate cake in the real world a few seconds ago.¡±


    ¡°Arg, I forgot...¡±


    While lightly bantering with his best friend, he passed through the entrance surrounded by thick roots.


    The world tree¡¯s root became a wide half ball shaped dome. In the center of that, like a mirage, floated a blue portal that sealed the real world Ikebukuro scene.


    While following his three comrades and walking forward, Haruyuki looked back once more.


    ¡®...Must be my imagination.¡¯


    He whispered that in his chest, and soon turned to face forward.


    However, at the moment he jumped towards the slowly turning portal, a strange sound again echoed from behind his head. That, he heard it like this.


    ¡®- Want to feed.¡¯

 Volume 2 - CH 9

    Haruyuki desperately stared at the steel hole with the eight clockwise spirals.


    Saturday. Afternoon 4pm.


    To defend the Black legion, ?Nega Nebulas?¡¯s control of Suginami 3rd area, they were currently in the middle of an official territory battle.


    The challengers were a Blue, Red, and Purple balanced trio. Those were the faces that attacked them a lot recently. Which meant they were the opponents that caused Haruyuki¡¯s unsightly piled up losses.


    The one he was weakest against, was the dark red cloak sniper type avatar with the long and large anti-materiel rifle. Lying down at the roof of a building far away from the front line, tremendous powerful bullets were shot with fearsome accuracy in their direction.


    Of the three people in Nega Nebulas, Kuroyukihime and Takumu are mostly close contact types, so naturally the enemy sniper opponent was left to Haruyuki who had high movement abilities. Even saying so, since Haruyuki did not have any long range attacks, he must determine the sniper¡¯s position and fly there in the flesh.


    However in territory battles thus far, while he was closing in, Haruyuki was unable to avoid the enemy¡¯s shots, and was unsightly knocked down many times. For balance, Kuroyukihime had to use her high fighting ability to make it up, so during the weekend he was fiercely disgusted at himself.


    And then right now, while Haruyuki was flying at full speed, he was accurately tracked by the black gun muzzle from the roof of a building one kilometer ahead.


    Closing in with a straight line is the same saying ¡®please shoot me¡¯, so he moved as randomly as possible to escape from the enemy¡¯s scope, and once in a while hid behind obstacles on the ground. However, with some kind of skill, the large caliber rifle continued to track Haruyuki from a long distance without any delay.


    ¡®- When will it fire. Now? Next?¡¯


    In his view while he passed by at high speed, on street buildings here and there, were shapes of the gallery. Right after his debut, being the owner of the one and only ?Flight Ability?, Haruyuki was very active, but methods to attack him were analyzed, so now he mostly showed them scenes where he was unsightly shot down. If the gallery was disappointed with that - it might have been better. Recently whenever he passed them, he thought about whether they were laughing at him or not, and the root of his head got hot.


    Also, in the battle field behind him, while Takumu and Kuroyukihime were fighting with their close combat opponents, were they looking at him? Will he be able to take care of the sniper today, or do they have to follow up after him again, as he thought of those things.


    ¡®- When will you shoot? Hurry and shoot. So I can be released from this heavy pressure.¡¯


    Unknowingly, for Haruyuki who went straight into the defeated mode - .


    His eyes opened wide suddenly.


    This is just a repeat of the previous week. Had he not learnt anything?


    Of course, he did not become stronger overnight. With just a little training, he would not be suddenly able to dodge that bullet.


    But, he could change his awareness at anytime.


    ¡®I am not fighting to look cool in front of the gallery. Not to be recognized by Takumu, or be praised by Kuroyukihime.¡¯


    It¡¯s for himself. The menial, weak, and heavyweight self that he hated, he wanted to fight so that he liked himself a little better than yesterday.


    Then -


    ¡°Don¡¯t run away!!¡±


    He scolded himself quietly, and put strength into his two eyes again.


    Don¡¯t look at the gun muzzle. That anti-materiel rifle is not the enemy.


    The one who laid flat, that avatar whose finger is on the trigger. The one who moved the avatar is a Burst Linker. That brain sending out intention for shooting - feel it!


    Haruyuki wrung all his concentration to look away from the gun muzzle, and stared straight at the sniper¡¯s right eye that looked through the scope.


    Then, somehow he felt a slight movement from the enemy.


    Right after that, an orange flash shone from far away, and a shining bullet was shot from the rifle¡¯s jaw.


    Before he could determine the incoming bullet¡¯s path, Haruyuki¡¯s right wing angle changed slightly, and his body tilted. With a ¡®Gyan!¡¯ sound, the bullet left a shallow gouge on his right chest, and flew behind him.


    1.5 seconds later, before the enemy could finish pulling the bolt handle on the rifle, Haruyuki hit his jaw with a punch.


    ¡°Oi, you managed to avoid that!¡±


    At the moment he returned to the real world, his back was knocked on so Haruyuki jumped up from his chair.


    Turning around, he saw the Burst Out one step ahead - Kuroyukihime¡¯s smiling face.


    In the lounge next to Umesato middle school¡¯s cafeteria, they were at their normal table deep inside. Since it was a late Saturday afternoon, there wasn¡¯t a sign of any other students, including Takumu, as he dived from the roof.


    ¡°Ah, yes... that, probably once in a while...¡±


    After he shrunk his head and said so, she showed him a face of relief.


    ¡°It¡¯s not once in a while. That was perfect timing. Did you see some kind of cue ahead in time?¡±


    To Kuroyukihime who leaned her waist on the table and looked down at him, Haruyuki mumbled ¡®that, that is¡¯ as he answered.


    ¡°Cue... if you put it that way... somehow, at the moment I looked at that guy¡¯s scope instead of the gun muzzle, I felt like his aim shook... and dodged on reaction, something like that...¡±


    After he mumbled that out, Kuroyukihime raised one eyebrow sharply.


    ¡°Hoo? Nn... I see, I got it... so it¡¯s like that.¡±


    ¡°Wh, what do you get...?¡±


    ¡°No, for that sniper. No matter what, I thought that sniper¡¯s accuracy is way too good... probably, he has an ability that can be said to be ?Gaze Sensing?.¡±


    Haruyuki blinked, and asked in return.


    ¡°G, gaze sensing...?¡±


    ¡°Umu. That is, ?Feeling the enemy¡¯s gaze on the gun muzzle, and automatically aiming?.¡±


    ¡°Huh!? Th... that means, up till now, I kept staring at that gun muzzle and was shot down, is that what it means...?¡±


    ¡°That is what it means.¡±


    ¡°No... no way...¡±


    He dropped his jaw in shock, and slid down on his chair, as Kuroyukihime laughed with ¡®Fufufu¡¯.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so depressed. Even with that trick, you dodged that bullet with that kind of speed, it¡¯s a tribute to your efforts. In just this one month, your reaction speed went up so much that I can see the change. You did some kind of training in secret right?¡±


    ¡°Ah... you knew...?¡±


    In front of Haruyuki who cowered, Kuroyukihime crossed her black stocking covered legs, then her neat and wisdom filled beautiful face showed a smile.


    ¡°Of course. I am your ?parent?. What kind of training did you do?¡±


    ¡°Th... that is, well...¡±


    Haruyuki explained the training room that he made from his idea.


    Then.


    With a ¡®Gochin!¡¯ sound, his head was knocked on, and a scream came from Haruyuki.


    ¡°Higii!?¡±


    ¡°A... ar, are you an idiot!? From that close range, trying to dodge a handgun bullet with no gunman!? And furthermore with pain sensation set to maximum!?¡±


    Kuroyukihime who shouted with a blazing expression, for a while her right fist shook, but - .


    She saw Haruyuki with tears frozen in both eyes, and she blew out a long breath, then suddenly hugged his head with both hands.


    ¡°Wa, waa!? Se, senpai, wh, wha...¡±


    When he almost fainted from the feeling the softness through the school uniform, a changed and calm voice echoed from above his head.


    ¡°...I told you right? No matter what happens, our relationship, nothing will be harmed. Believe it. This is an order.¡±


    ¡°...Y, yes.¡±


    Seeing Haruyuki relax and nod, Kuroyukihime left his head and smiled.


    ¡°I will tell you now, the reason for accepting the Red King¡¯s request this time was, to convey to you that winning and losing is not everything, I also thought of it like that. That¡¯s why, don¡¯t be too unreasonable. Become stronger bit by bit... that way, I will be happy too. Then, it¡¯s about time to go home.¡±


    Haruyuki looked at Kuroyukihime who stood up and took her school bag from the table, then gave another deep nod.


    And then he could not make a sound, so murmured only in his mouth.


    ¡°Me too... Me too, no matter what happens... I won¡¯t hurt you a second time.¡±


    ¡°Nn? Did you say something?¡±


    To Kuroyukihime who turned around while her long hair swayed, Haruyuki hurriedly shook his head.


    ¡°N... no, nothing!¡±


    Then he stood up from his chair, and quickly chased after his parent that¡¯s a King, and also upperclassman and beloved person.


    After he opened his apartment home door, the air that still had a bit of sweet smell covered Haruyuki.


    The dim hall that returned only silence, was a familiar scene, but it gave him a bit of loneliness. The two Kings staying overnight was just for two nights, but that experience will not be forgotten for a long time.


    ¡°...I am home.¡±


    He murmured that and took off his shoes, then Haruyuki continued to the empty living room and opened the door.


    His mother should have returned this morning from her overseas trip, but somehow she left only her suitcase and soon went to work. That is unbelievable vitality.


    After he removed his uniform coat, and placed it with his necktie on the back of a chair, it was then that Haruyuki noticed the blinking icon in his view. Just like that time, his mother left him a message in the home server.


    While taking a bottle of Oolong tea from the refrigerator, he played the message with his voice command. A slight noise touched his hearing, then his mother¡¯s flesh voice continued.


    [- Haruyuki, today I will be late, or might not return home. The clothes in the suitcase, please take them out for cleaning. Ah, also, sorry but we are again asked to take care of a child. This time is a colleague''s child, it¡¯s just for one night so please take care of it. When Haruyuki comes home, that child should be there already. Then, yoroshiku.]


    ¡®- What was that?¡¯


    While tilting the Oolong tea glass, Haruyuki froze.


    ¡®No way. It must be a lie. No matter how you put it.¡¯


    He took one drink, then left the glass. While holding his breath, he looked around.


    The living room and kitchen was completely empty. The lights were off, and the air was quiet. With Haruyuki¡¯s desperate cleaning last night, the retro game tournament¡¯s disaster from the day before yesterday was all gone without a trace.


    While he held his breath, and look around again, in Haruyuki¡¯s ears - .


    From somewhere, a slight, however for certain, he heard a cackling sound.


    ¡°...Kidding, must be...¡±


    While groaning, he flew out of the living room with lightning speed, dashed in the hall, and pushed open the door to his room that was ahead.


    And then, Haruyuki took a deep breath, and screamed.


    ¡°Gyaaa - !!¡±


    On top of his bed.


    Lying flat, with crossed legs, on top of a mountain of previous era paper comic pulled from his secret storage area, flipping one book, was a bright red girl.


    ¡°Ni... ni, nini...¡±


    Taking a glance at the trembling Haruyuki, the girl lifted her head with the pigtails on either side swaying, and said in a smile.


    ¡°Welcome home, onii-chan.¡±


    ¡°Wh, who!!¡±


    With that scream, Haruyuki collapsed where he was, the girl - ?Immobile Fortress?, ?Bloody Storm?, the Red King, Scarlet Rain that is Kouduki Yuniko, he pointed at her as his mouth opened and closed, then finally managed say one line.


    ¡°...Niko. How did you get here?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me explain the same thing again. Just a little fake email.¡±


    Sudden returning to her normal tone of voice, Niko lifted her upper body. The comic book - not an educational one, the one filled with dead people - she waved that around and snickered.


    ¡°You, also have nice interest here as well.¡±


    ¡°Wh... why thank you. ...Not that!!¡±


    While breathing heavily with ¡®haahaa¡¯ sounds, Haruyuki shook his head that lost strength left and right.


    ¡°...No matter what, isn¡¯t this unreasonable? Just one day after using the same kind of social engineering, why...¡±


    ¡°Say what. I was thinking of coming here to say thank you.¡±


    To Niko whose lips became pointed, he hurriedly showed a nod.


    ¡°Th, that courtesy, thanks.¡±


    If she became upset again, and ?Duel? him today, this time for certain he would be roasted by that super firepower. While showing a stiff smile, Haruyuki quickly said.


    ¡°You are welcome. ...That business, is done right? For your return, you can use that door...¡±


    ¡°Ah, that kind of attitude huh. Hmm. I was going to report after the fact, forget it.¡±


    ¡°H, hear it, I will hear it!¡±


    She looked down at Haruyuki who sat down properly, sat cross-legged with her slender legs extending from the cut jeans, then Niko gave him an once over, but fortunately she continued her words.


    ¡°...About the incident with Chrome Disaster.¡±


    Haruyuki swallowed a small breath, and changed his mind¡¯s gear. This is information that he must report to Kuroyukihime later.


    ¡°...Last night, I reported the execution of Disaster to the other five Kings including that Radio guy. For now, that incident is taken care of. For me, Yellow hiding the ?Armor? is still a problem. Unfortunately we don¡¯t have proof...¡±


    ¡°...I see...¡±


    Haruyuki slowly nodded. Continuing, he fearfully asked.


    ¡°And then... That, ?Cherry Rook?...?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Niko was silent for a while, as she looked up at the evening sky through the south window.


    The red brown eyes narrowed, and she winkled her long eyebrows once, then quietly answered.


    ¡°That guy, will be moving away next month.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡±


    ¡°A distant relative, offered to take him in so late at this time. Our school¡¯s expenses are all covered by taxes, so they cannot reject that kind of offer for students. The place he is moving to... is Fukuoka.¡±


    ¡°...I see. That is far away.¡±


    ¡°Well, yea. That was why he was so impatient. Once he moves away, his bond with me, will become just Brain Burst. Furthermore, there are almost no Burst Linkers outside Tokyo. Not being able to duel means he won¡¯t level up... with that impatience, he was eaten by the ?Armor?...¡±


    Showing a drinking something gesture, Niko smiled slightly.


    ¡°But, maybe because he lost Brain Burst... today that guy, had his original... the face that he showed me when he first talked to me. Recently he did not go to classes, and did not talk to anyone, but today he talked to me properly. So then... I, thought. Even if he is not a Burst Linker... and he moved to Fukuoka. VR worlds, is not limited to the accelerated world, right?¡±


    Haruyuki looked at her, and made a big nod.


    ¡°Y... yea, of course that is right.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why, I, had never thought about it till now though... think that I should play some other VR game. Together with that guy, something that you can play for a long time. If you, know of something good, tell me.¡±


    ¡°...I see. I see...¡±


    Again, this time he repeatedly nodded, then Haruyuki answered.


    ¡°Then, what I have at home, you can take anything. ...The genre is a bit deviated though.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha.¡±


    Niko laughed, and suddenly turned around, searching in the small rucksack that was beside her.


    What she pulled out, was a brown paper bag. She lightly threw that, and Haruyuki hurriedly caught it in both hands.


    ¡°Wh, what?¡±


    ¡°Well... somehow, that is.. the thank you. You, at that time, ate while saying ¡®delicious delicious¡¯ right.¡±


    While tilting his head, he opened the paper bag, and a light sweet butter scent whiffed up. Covered with white kitchen paper, the face of a few golden disks looked up.


    While dumbfounded, Haruyuki took out a still slightly warm cookie, and fearfully asked Niko.


    ¡°Err... th, this, can I really have it...?¡±


    ¡°Say what. Give it back if you don¡¯t want it!¡±


    After being glared at, he hurriedly shook his head.


    ¡°Want, I want! Th... thank you. I was a little surprised...¡±


    He lowered his head and bit into the cookie in his hand.


    Sweet, fragrant, and a bit salty taste.


    Reality¡¯s taste, he thought. This taste is a symbol of something in reality.


    That something is - ¡®Niko and I, right now without a doubt became friends in the real world¡¯, that is what it means.


    ¡°...Ugu.¡±


    From Haruyuki¡¯s throat, a strange sound leaked out.


    Shrinking his round body as much as possible, desperately hiding his face, Haruyuki took another bite of the cookie. At that moment, he heard a high shriek coming from above the bed.


    ¡°Y... y, you, why are you crying! Ar, are you an idiot, you can just die!!¡±


    While Niko who was face down on the bed, as he listened to her continually shouting ¡®idiot idiot¡¯, Haruyuki continued to eat the cookies that became slightly saltier.

 Volume 3 - Prologue

    The largest network called ?Global Net?, transcended the name Global five years ago. In the Eastern Pacific, a space elevator was built to a stationary orbit space station, that also connected to many bases on the moon, and now anyone who wishes, can dive from their home to the moon''s surface in true real time image.


    Of course, numerous networks other than that exist. Countries and businesses with their firewall protected large scale Closed Nets, schools and apartments with their Local Nets, or personally operated Private Nets, and many more are built on top of each other. If you could see the internal communication signals flying around, the world would be seen as covered by a thin shining white mesh.


    Compared to those, it''s very small scale, however for Arita Haruyuki, it''s a net that holds a very important meaning, which is occurring in Haruyuki''s room right now.


    "...Th-Then, connecting, Chiyu."


    He announced it in a low voice, and Chiyu, that is Kurashima Chiyuri, answered with a voice that had none of his tension.


    "Why are you trying to be pompous. Just do it quickly."


    Not understanding other''s feeling.


    While moaning in his heart, Haruyuki inserted the plug held in his left hand into the Neuro Linker on his neck.


    At the same time, two Wired Connection warnings lit up red in the center of his view, then disappeared.


    Chiyuri who sat on the bed, from her light purple Neuro Linker, two XSB cables extended from left and right side, one of them connected to Haruyuki who sat on the floor. And the other one, was connected to Taku that is Mayuzumi Takumu who sat on a mesh chair.


    This connection situation should not be filled with such tension. No, before that¡ª


    "...You don''t really need to direct connect with me..."


    After he complained, Chiyuri''s cat like eyes gave him an once over.


    "No. If the copy from Ta-kun fails, I have your promise that the next install will be from Haru. I won''t let you get away."


    "...Yes."


    He nodded, and took a glance to the right, where Takumu returned a wry smile while pushing his frameless glasses up.


    Haruyuki, Chiyuri, and Takumu were all born in the same year in this south Kouenji large apartment, that is they had childhood-friends relationship.


    The long time old friends played together everyday, sometimes they had silly quarrels, and then made up, which continued till three years ago¡ª when the three of them were 11 years old, Chiyuri and Takumu started going out with each other, so Haruyuki backed off. The result, was that the equilateral triangle they had till then, one corner moved far away and it became an isosceles triangle.


    However last year, with a certain incident''s trigger, their relationship was fully reset once, and now half a year later, it continued to be in a delicate state.


    For Haruyuki, he wished they would quickly make up. However Takumu who started the incident, still continued to blame himself, and with him not taking any proactive action, the triangle''s sides expand and shrink unstably day by day. Just like¡ª right now, the uneven sway of the two cables between the three Neuro Linkers.


    "Then, you are ready right, Chi-chan?"


    With a soft sound that did not show his inner feelings, Takumu said so.


    Chiyuri nodded as her short hair swayed, and her hands held tight above her small knees which peeked out from her skirt.


    Takumu also returned the nod, then his long finger moved in midair¡ª he must be manipulating the virtual desktop that only he could see, and while his middle pressed on a file, a slight hesitation showed on his well featured white face.


    "...Chi-chan. For the last time, let me again make sure... the ?Brain Burst? that I will send you, it is a game but not a game. In exchange for tremendous privilege, pleasure, and thrill, it requires many different kinds of compensation. Someday... you might regret it."


    Those words, easily represented Haruyuki''s misgivings in his heart.


    With the installation of the mysterious game application ?Brain Burst?, people that became accelerated ability users called ?Burst Linkers?, can no longer go back to what they were before. Completely captured by the unknown net of the accelerated world, and to keep the rights to connect to that, ?Duels? must be repeated forever. That pressure sometimes distorted the personality. The incident in which Takumu placed a backdoor virus in Chiyuri''s Neuro Linker and was given a ''friendship break off'' announcement for a while, was due to his fear of losing accelerated ability being pushed to the limit.


    However, for Chiyuri who was faced with worried looks from left and right, she puffed up her cheeks and said in a sharp voice in return.


    "Look here! I want to become that Burst whatever, is not that I want that accelerated ability, nor that senpai coming to our home! Ta-kun and Haru being that deep in it is what I can''t stand! For a game, if you don''t play it with more fun it''s no good, I want it so I can clearly teach that to you!"


    While he involuntary leaned back, Haruyuki and Takumu looked at each other at the same time and had wry smiles.


    "U-Understood, Chi-chan. Then... ready right? Sending."


    "Please."


    Lifting her sharp jaw up, Chiyuri prompted with her wink.


    Towards that face, Takumu slid his finger in midair.


    Chiyuri''s large eyes locked onto a point in the air. Right now, there should be an installation confirmation dialog open for the application ?Brain Burst 2039?.


    Lifting her right hand from her knees, Chiyuri did not show any sign of hesitation as she used her index finger to poke where the YES button was supposed to be.


    "Ah...!?"


    Right after, sitting on the bed''s edge, the slender body wearing the pink knitwear jerked. Her wide eyes looked left and right. Haruyuki remembered half year ago, the time that he accepted Brain Burst. At the moment he pressed the button, lots of virtual flames erupted in his view.


    Those flames, were shown to the person installing the program to check their ?acceleration aptitude?.


    There are two aptitudes required to become a Burst Linker. First, to wear a Neuro Linker since birth, which Chiyuri cleared without any doubt. However the problem is the second one, the brain''s reaction speed.


    The Neuro Linker communicates with the wearer''s brain using wireless quantum signals. But, the flesh and blood organ''s, that is the brain''s, response rate differs from person to person. Either born with high reaction nerve circuits, or increased through long training, anyway if the Neuro Linker and the brain''s response speed is not beyond a certain level, the illusion flames will be extinguished in the middle, and Brain Burst will not successfully install.


    No... maybe, failure is better.


    While holding his sweaty hands tight, Haruyuki thought like that.


    In the accelerated world, the feelings of people who fought there¡ª hatred, resentment, envy, lust and other different malicious feelings can be trapped in the whirlpool. He absolutely did not want to see the shape of the innocent Chiyuri being hurt after exposure to that.


    "...Haru."


    Suddenly, Takumu''s sound echoed inside his head. It was a thought voice sent only to Haruyuki.


    With a quick glance to his right side, he saw his childhood friend''s mouth lightly biting his lips while sitting on the chair.


    "I am.. afraid. That Chi-chan... might change..."


    His finger quickly manipulated his virtual desktop, setting his thought voice to be sent only to Takumu, Haruyuki answered.


    "We... no, you protecting her will definitely be okay, Taku. Also, we still don''t know if the install will be successful for sure. On the other hand... too bad for Chiyuri, it''s probably not possible."


    "W...Well yeah. She said she went through some kind of amazing training, but with just two months, I don''t think she can gain enough ?aptitude?..."


    Then, at that time.


    Chiyuri''s face that was turning as she looked around, became fixed to right in front of her.


    As she winkled her sort of big eyebrows, her pupils moved from left to right.


    Her mouth opened slightly, and the raw sound that dripped from there, Haruyuki and Takumu listened while holding their breath.


    "What is, this? W...Welcome To The... Accelerated World?"

 Volume 3 - CH 1

    The intense howl of the wind, as if it was knocking on the window, woke Haruyuki from his shallow sleep.


    In the darkness, as he listened while under the mattress, he could hear numerous water droplets carried by the wind bouncing off the glass window. It seemed to have started raining sometime ago.


    For sure, during the night, this wind would blow away most of the cherry blossoms from the trees around the apartment. However, unrelated to this wind, spring was a season of melancholy for Haruyuki.


    There were two reasons for that. First, the humidity and temperature would rise. For Haruyuki, whose sweat function was double that of normal person''s, even around 25¡ãC, his forehead began to become moist.


    And then there was the other reason: his school year would change. His long suffered days of being bullied were finally over, and he had somehow obtained a neutral position, so at this point, having his class shifted is nothing other than harassment. For unfamiliar student opponents, he had to Ping[1] them again to determine their relationship from the beginning, and thinking about it made him feel faint.


    At the very least, for the last few hours of Spring break, trying to extend it a little wouldn''t warrant any punishment.


    While thinking like that, Haruyuki searched on the bed''s top panel and got hold of his Neuro Linker. He put it on from the back of his neck and turned it on, and with the sound of a light motor drive, the lock arm closed. The startup stage began, then after the five senses connection check was completed, a half transparent virtual desktop appeared in front of his eyes.


    At the bottom right of his view, he took a look at the time display, ?2047/04/08 AM01:22?, and sighed, then took a deep breath and opened his mouth.


    "Burst..."


    Link.


    He was going to sing that magic spell, but right before that, with a faint ''message received'' sound, a voice call icon lit up blue white.


    He touched it with his right index finger without thinking, and realized at the same time that the call was from his childhood friend two floors below.


    "...Haru, are you awake?"


    When the soft voice echoed in his head, Haruyuki was slightly shocked. Chiyuri who normally sleeps at 10pm and should not wake up no matter what till 7am, what was she doing up at this hour? And for what?


    While pushing the tangled thoughts to a corner of his mind, Haruyuki mumbled an answer with his thought voice.


    "Just now, I woke up..."


    "The wind, is pretty amazing. But, the reason for me being unable to sleep is something else."


    "Unable to sleep!? You!?"


    As he blurted that out, Chiyuri immediately shouted "Hey!".


    "You, who do you think I am. In the first place, the reason I can''t sleep is Haru''s fault!"


    "Huh...? M-Me...?"


    "That''s right. You, today... it''s already yesterday, in the evening before I went home, didn''t you say something strange? ''Tonight you might have a scary dream, but absolutely do not remove your Neuro Linker, or turn it off'', you said. After being told that, being uneasy and unable to sleep is a matter of course!"


    To be truthful, around 10 hours ago, Haruyuki did say that to Chiyuri.


    The reason was simple. The duel fighting game software ?Brain Burst?, after its install was completed, on the first night, used a nightmare-like method to search the user''s memory, looking for scars in the heart like trauma and inferiority, straining them to create their battle field alter ego, the ?Duel Avatar?.


    Half a year ago, Haruyuki himself had the biggest nightmare in his life on the night that he obtained Brain Burst. The details were scattered so he could not remember, but the result from the software creation, was a spindly slender body with a huge helmet headed silver avatar, ?Silver Crow?.


    While remembering his sore disappointment fondly at that time, Haruyuki answered Chiyuri.


    "N...No choice. If you don''t have that dream, then your crucial duel avatar won''t be created. Also... I just thought of it, do you actually have any emotional trauma..."


    "That, you dare say it! I have traumas at least. Long ago, in our elementary school excursion trip, someone played games in the bus and messed up his sense of balance, became badly car sick, and finally, on my lap,"


    "Excuse me. I am sorry. Please don''t say anymore."


    Provoked by his own trauma, Haruyuki moaned as he apologized. However Chiyuri''s pursuit didn''t stop, and she continued to complain as if her puffed up face could be seen.


    "Ah, now that I remember it, Haru did not properly apologize that time. Perfect, you can return what you owe now."


    "Wh...What!? How many years ago was that... the statute of limitations is over!"


    "The ''statute of limitations'' will become obsolete words soon, was what the news said the other day."


    To be truthful, after all of Japan''s public spaces were set up with ?Social Camera Net?, the statute of limitations for criminal cases were eliminated a few years ago. However if they followed this trend, then Haruyuki didn''t know how much he needed to pay Chiyuri back for what he owed her.


    "The ?Special Law of Childhood Friends? makes anything have a one year statute of limitations."


    After he mumbled that complaint, Haruyuki sighed with his real mouth, and sent out the question from his mind at the same time.


    "...So then, how do I pay you back? Again, the ?Enji Shop? jumble parfait?"


    "I feel that the taste at that place got worse recently. It might be because their cow''s milk had been changed to a milk mixture... hey, that''s not it. It''s troublesome to explain by mouth, so dive into my Home Net right now. I will open the gate."


    "Huh...?"


    While he was still blinking from the unexpected order, Chiyuri had already cut the voice connection at her end. As he watched the icon fade, Haruyuki wondered what she wanted at this time as he tilted his head, but he did not have the guts to disobey either, so as ordered, he sang the command with his flesh voice.


    "Direct Link."


    At that moment, with a *slush* sound effect, the dim scene of his room melted away radially and disappeared. The feelings of his body surface and weight were also cut, and then Haruyuki slowly fell into the darkness. With the Neuro Linker''s ?Full Dive? function, only his consciousness was released into the net.


    In the view of Haruyuki, who was enjoying the floating feeling, a few round access gates came near him from below. Those, were net entrances that could be dived into. The Global Net VR spaces recorded in his favorites list, his apartment''s home Local Net, and Kurashima''s Home Net tag was there as well. Haruyuki extended his unseen right arm that way.


    Soon a virtual pull occurred, and Haruyuki''s consciousness was drawn to the small gate. When he went through with a *Supon* sound, in front of his eyes, a calm lemon yellow ring of light expanded¡ª


    "U...Uwaaa."


    The scene that appeared made him involuntarily shout out.


    Usually, a normal Home Net''s VR space was mostly based on the house''s design. The Living Room, Parlor, and family members'' ?Single Rooms? exist, with different things not possible in the real world like large space or decorations being customized as mostly fun places.


    However right now, what spread out wide under Haruyuki''s eyes were, objects with many different shapes and sizes¡ª a sea of cushions.


    Square walls did not seem to exist. Under a lovely blue sky, the pastel-colored cushions were piled up as far as the horizon. Haruyuki fell right into the middle of that, bounced up once, then again landed on his behind.


    "...Wh-What is this."


    While looking at the yellow giraffe cushion lying flat right in front, the elephant cushion beside it, and also the strangely shaped one beside it and murmured that once again.


    "That is an Anomalocaris. A creature from the Cambrian Period."


    Suddenly Chiyuri''s voice echoed from behind him, and Haruyuki turned around.


    Standing on top of probably an Acanthaster like black star-shaped cushion, was an elegant avatar. Its whole body covered in soft looking light purple fur, dressed in a small one piece, the cat-evolving-into-a-human kind of design, was Chiyuri''s avatar that she also used in the Umesato middle school Local Net.


    With a 60% cat-like face, Chiyuri blinked her large bluish green colored eyes as she snorted.


    "You are still using that avatar. It''s about time you changed it to something better."


    After being told that, Haruyuki glanced down at his own body.


    What was there was what he used at school, a pink pig-type avatar. With an almost ball shaped body, and round limbs. A flat nose stuck out from the center of his face, and although he could not see it himself, there should be large ears growing out of his head.


    It was a shape that you could not call cool or cute, and actually it was not an avatar that Haruyuki himself selected, but somehow he continued to use it. As Haruyuki moved his nose, he responded as if it was an excuse.


    "I have already gotten used to the sensations of this body, and changing it now will be troublesome. Instead of that... earlier I said, ''What is this'', was not referring to this strange creature, it''s about the whole VR space. What is this cushion hel... heaven."


    To be sure, Chiyuri liked cushion type stuffed animals from long ago, and he remembered different ones lying on her bed, but this scale was way beyond anything. ''What is the total number of objects'', he inquired as he thought about it, then the cat avatar wiggled her tail with a ribbon and smiled proudly.


    "Nihihi, isn''t it great. Recently, as a present for going to the next grade, I got a Home Server expansion and my own user memory space. Even at this resolution, from edge to edge it is about 15km."


    "Re...Really!"


    At that moment he leaned back in reaction, his round behind slid, and Haruyuki fell in between the elephant and the Anomalocaris. While he fumbled around, he thought. With that much capacity, if it was him, he would recreate the battle field around Kursk in 1943. With a mountain of Tiger tanks and T-34 tanks placed everywhere, and in the sky BF109 fighters. You would cry out, ''What a blood tingling spectacle''.


    "...H-Hey Chiyu, let me play with it a bit"


    "No!!"


    While he was still talking, he was coldly denied, and Chiyuri stuck out her tongue for a "Be~" between the small fangs in her mouth.


    "If I let Haru customize it, it will definitely become something that''s oil, steel, and smoke filled."


    "Th-That''s just fine."


    "N-o-W-a-y! Ah geesh, we haven''t gotten anywhere in talks at all."


    As he looked up at the cat type avatar with her slender arms crossed, Haruyuki finally remembered the reason he was called here.


    "Ah... o-oh yeah. Then, what did you want me to do anyway?"


    "Just sitting there is fine."


    "Huh?"


    Not understanding what she meant, Haruyuki threw out his short legs in front as he sat on top of a huge cushion, with his head tilted. Then, right after¡ª


    With a *bounce*, the cat type avatar jumped in front of him, and without any hesitation, she laid her supple body on top of Haruyuki''s legs.


    "U...Uwaa!?"


    As Haruyuki jumped up to escape, Chiyuri''s right hand held his nose and pulled him back to where he was.


    "You, become a pillow there for a while. Then I will forget about the time of that trip. Let me warn you, if you do anything erotic, I will let the Anomalocaris bite you."


    "I-I won''t! Speaking of which... a pillow, what do you..."


    Not answering Haruyuki''s excited question, Chiyuri extended her small claw fingers and snapped them. At that moment, the calm blue sky above, turned in one direction, and changed to a night sky with a huge moon floating above.


    Under the blinking stars that looked the same as constellations found in picture books¡ª and on top of Haruyuki''s knees, Chiyuri stretched widely, lay on her side and curled up.


    "...There isn''t, any deep meaning."


    From the mouth that Haruyuki could not see, came a small whisper.


    "Just, when Haru used to come for sleepovers in my home, I remembered that I soon fell asleep when you became my pillow."


    "...Wh-When was that..."


    "Who knows. Long... long ago."


    With a "Fuwa" yawn, the cat type avatar really closed her eyes.


    ...This kind of role, ask Taku.


    He wanted to say that, but Haruyuki swallowed back those words. While they were young, only Haruyuki had experienced being used as a pillow by Chiyuri. Due to Takumu''s parent''s strict educational policy, he usually did not have a chance to sleep over at either of their homes.


    But, even so, would a conditional response from that long ago remain till now? Furthermore they were both animal type avatars, and this was a virtual cushion heaven created by the Neuro Linker. However, of course, he absolutely could no longer imitate this with his real body. No, even for VR it was questionable, to be truthful.


    While that kind of thought spun around in his head, what was amazing was Chiyuri really starting to sleep, breathing calmly.


    "...Unbelievable..."


    As he groaned involuntarily, Chiyuri, whom he thought just entered sleep, mumbled in an indistinct voice.


    "Hey, Haru... I, really worked hard..."


    "Huh? For what...?"


    "To become a Burst Linker... I tried really hard... Like this... again, we, will return. Like back then... three of us, every day, playing till the sun goes down... that... time..."


    There, this time for sure Chiyuri went into a deep sleep. To the avatar that was breathing virtual air with a *Suu Suu* sound echo, he touched the soft fur under her ear, and Haruyuki answered in his chest with a sigh.


    ¡ªThere should be something that won''t change.


    ¡ªBut, something that changed, and will no longer return to where it was, also exists for sure.


    A few minutes later, after the Neuro Linker determined that Chiyuri had went into a deep sleep, it automatically canceled Full Dive for her. Even after the cat type avatar on his knees disappeared with a bell like sound effect, for a while Haruyuki sat in between the mute stuffed animals.

 Volume 3 - CH 2

    On the eastern side of the Suginami district, was the private Umesato middle school, with three classes for each grade, so its size couldn''t be considered large.


    Even so, as the school''s total of 360 students lined up in the gym, the pressure from their looks should be considerable. If he himself was the target of that concentrated stare, Haruyuki believed that he would at least have a physical hole burnt into him.


    However, standing on the podium at the school entrance ceremony, even without the help of the Neuro Linker, the dignified voice reached the back line of students, that person''s face was so cool as if it did not feel a single milligram of pressure.


    "...Many of you right now must have feelings of anticipation, unease, and things like that. For newly arrived students, seeing a new school, and new upperclassmen might result in great confusion. However, please think about it. Right now, those people with composed faces behind you, one or two years ago, were sitting where you were with unease exactly the same as yours..."


    ¡ªUnbelievably, the person speaking those respectable words was, in the other world, a wanted destroyer, a ruthless killer, and above that a demonic trainer that would surprise even US marines.


    While he grumbled in his chest, Haruyuki continued to look with unsuppressed longing, at the girl on the stage¡ª with a black blouse and a dark red ribbon, slender long legs covered by black stockings, she was Kuroyukihime.


    His relationship with that person was special¡ª calling it like that did not convey its full meaning, and half a year later, they still had not reached the level of boyfriend and girlfriend. Inside school, the recognition from the surrounding students were similar, Kuroyukihime''s sense of duty and pity saved a round underclassman, and kept him as a favorite pet to walk with, they thought of it like that.


    And for Haruyuki, he was actually not dissatisfied with it. On the other hand, he thought it showed the truth. He would like to avoid being treated as a pet, instead as the knight of a princess¡ª no, a squire, nono, a page, he would be well satisfied around there.


    "...One year, is equal to 31,536,000 seconds, if that time is passed massively, then it is just an instant. I wish you all a fruitful year. And that ends my greeting."


    She bowed, then turned around with her long black hair swaying, and returned to the line of student council members in the back.


    While he was desperately clapping his hands along with all of the school''s students, he went into idle thought.


    Today, I will be in my 2nd year, and senpai will be in her 3rd year. That means in just one year¡ª that person will graduate from Umesato middle school.


    No, that does not mean their relationship would be broken. That person and him, other than upperclassman and lowerclassman in the same school, had a far stronger relationship¡ª they had their Burst Linker ?Parent Child? bond.


    He closed his eyes tightly once, and when he opened them again, Haruyuki clapped his hands together hard.


    At that time¡ª


    Haruyuki who was staring intently at Kuroyukihime on the stage, felt that he saw the detached beauty subtly move suddenly.


    Her narrowed jet black pair of eyes, stopped at the foremost group of fresh first year students, and soon returned to looking in front. Haruyuki wrinkled his eyebrows, and straightened his back on the chair in an attempt to see who Kuroyukihime was staring at, but of course he could not find one person in the middle of everyone wearing the same uniform.


    After the school''s entrance ceremony had finished, Haruyuki, who returned to the school building, almost went to the 3rd floor in a daze, and hurriedly changed direction to his new classroom on the 2nd floor.


    The class he was placed in was already announced through the Local Net, but other students'' names would not be known to him till he entered the classroom. I beg you, please don''t have anyone in class who will call me ?Pig-kun? again, or make me buy buns and other things!, with that wish, Haruyuki passed through the 2nd year C class door¡ª


    "Haru, Hi!"


    With that sound, his back was knocked on with full force, so his breath was stopped.


    When he turned 90 degrees to the left at a high speed, what he saw was the cat type hairpin holding up the front bangs as usual, the face of his childhood friend with a smile showing her canine teeth.


    "...Chi-Chiyu. You... here?"


    "What? What''s with that complex looking face?"


    Seeing that pout, Haruyuki wondered in his heart if she really saw that ?nightmare? last night, and answered.


    "No, nothing."


    That''s right, even if he was in the same class as Chiyuri, if he did not get bullied again, then he did not need to fear. But, there was a problem aside that. With this, the triangle''s side lengths would again become subtly¡ª


    "Hey, Haru. Chi-chan too."


    His back was knocked on again, and this time Haruyuki turned 90 degrees to the right. When he looked up, he saw Takumu''s smiling face behind blue glasses.


    Somehow the three of them seemed to be placed in the same class. That meant the triangle shrunk while keeping the same size. While remembering Chiyuri last night saying, "We can return right, to that time", he realized there was some disturbance in his chest, and Haruyuki made the same smile while saying.


    "Hi, Taku is also in C class huh. ...Let''s see."


    Faintly recalling the probability calculation for this situation, he mouthed the answer.


    "The probability of the three of us being in the same class is... ? over ? over ?, that is 1/27 huh. This is an incredible coincidence."


    Then, while walking towards the window, Takumu lightly shook his head.


    "No, that is 1/9."


    "Huh, why?"


    "Why?"


    Chiyuri who reached the same answer as Haruyuki, also asked in surprise at the same time. While leaning his smart tall body on the window ledge, Takumu explained after pushing his frameless glasses up.


    "If it was ?the probability of us three being in C class?, then it would be 1/27 as Haru said. But, in this case where the class is does not matter. So it becomes ?the three of us together in A class, B class, or C class?, then the number is 3 times, and becomes1/9."


    "Ah¡ª!"


    "I see!"


    Again, he and Chiyuri nodded at the same time, and Haruyuki finally added with a smile.


    "As expected from Taku, during Spring Break you sharpened the Professor character huh..."


    "Haru, really stop that! If I am given a nickname as ?Professor? or ?Glasses guy?, it will be Haru''s fault."


    While making a seriously unpleasant face, Takumu took a glance at the 2nd year C classroom increasingly filled with more students and said in a low voice.


    "...Anyway, there are all sort of coincidences in the world, and if you calculate it, you can see that it is relatively higher probability than your impression, that is what it means. That''s why I think we should be prepared just in case."


    "Huh? For what?"


    Takumu got close to Haruyuki''s blank looking face, and whispered with a low sound¡ª


    "The new first years. In that 120 people, there is a possibility of unknown Burst Linkers mixed in it."


    After hearing that, Haruyuki took a momentary sharp breath, then shook his head slightly.


    "Th-That... possibility is not zero, but, would they go into a school other than their ?Parent?''s school? If they transfer in like Taku then that is another story..."


    "Yeah, normally, you don''t make a ?Child? of someone going to a different school than you. Because, if that school has another Burst Linker, there is a very high possibility that your ?Child? will be taken into the fighting force of that side. The strongest relationship in the accelerated world is ?Parent Child?, but ?Same School? is next to that..."


    Like Takumu said, for Burst Linkers that are going to the same school, eventually they would unavoidably commit ?Reality Intrusion? with each other. If they started fighting, then that fight would always be to the death with no game rules. In that situation, to protect their Brain Burst, they would have to cease fire and make up eventually.


    That''s why many Burst Linkers did not pick someone who had a possibility of going to a different school from theirs to be their ?Child?. That means, the Burst Linkers in Umesato middle school right now should be Kuroyukihime, Haruyuki, Takumu ¡ªand Chiyuri too¡ª only those, in this situation, you could say there should be almost no unknown Burst Linker that would be a new first year student.


    However, of course that did not mean they didn''t have to check to make sure.


    While trying to think back to when he was a new student last year, Haruyuki asked Takumu.


    "Let''s see... When would be the first time a new student connects to the Local Net?"


    "It should be soon. If it is the same as the school I previously attended, certainly after the school entrance ceremony ends, while moving to the classroom, when the account is first given out."


    With that answer, after thinking for a bit, Haruyuki said with a snicker.


    "...Then, let''s do this. Since checking will use up 1 Burst Point anyway, we might as well see what kind of Duel Avatar Chiyu obtained in the ?Duel Field?. When the homeroom that is next ends, I will ?Accelerate? and challenge Chiyu, so Taku can join in the gallery."


    Their new homeroom teacher was a young male teacher in charge of Japanese history. The teacher called Sugeno, as opposed to his age, was a very firm "Children don''t need the Net" advocate, so Haruyuki did not feel close to him, but his hot blood fever got along with the other students.


    If you search the Net for everything, then you will become an adult that cannot think with your head!, while ignoring that kind of expressed belief belonging to Sugeno, the student self introduction was somehow over, and right after the first period homeroom ended, Haruyuki sang the acceleration command in his mouth.


    "Burst Link."


    After the *Viiiii!* dry thunder like sound echoed all over inside his brain, the surrounding scene was all dyed blue.


    At the same time, Sugeno who was stepping off the teacher''s podium, and the other students who were going to stand up from their chairs, all suddenly stopped.


    The time did not stop. The ?Brain Burst? program that was hiding inside Haruyuki''s Neuro Linker, only accelerated his consciousness 1000 times.


    On the left side of his virtual desktop, he touched the burning ?B? icon, and started the game console. While the matching list refreshed, he waited somewhat in anticipation.


    On the very top of the list, soon ?Silver Crow?, that is Haruyuki''s own Duel Avatar''s name floated. The right side showed level 4.


    Continuing was ?Black Lotus?, that is Kuroyukihime. Of course, level 9. Next, was at same level as Haruyuki, ?Cyan Pile?¡ª that is, Takumu''s name appeared.


    With a tiny delay, another line of letters popped up shining.


    ?Lime Bell?. Level 1.


    At that time, the list''s ''Searching'' display disappeared. That meant, at this moment, there were four Burst Linkers connected to the Umesato middle school Local Net. And then, ?Lime Bell? without a doubt would be Chiyuri.


    At this time, without exception, all 120 new first year students should have signed into the Local Net, so he could conclude that there really were no new Burst Linkers among those students.


    However, there was one thing that nagged at him, if he really wanted to mention it.


    During the school entrance ceremony, from the top of the stage, Kuroyukihime momentarily stared at the line of new students sharply. What did that mean?


    I should send her an email to check, he thought that for an instant, but since Kuroyukihime who is the vice president of the student council should be swamped by a mountain of different tasks right now, he changed his mind.


    As his avatar''s finger extended towards the names of four Burst Linkers in Umesato middle school, Haruyuki had a quick thought.


    Lime, that is probably a yellowish green color. A little close combat kind of indirect attack type. However what kind of ability she actually had, he would not know till he saw it in the duel.


    Duel Avatar is a manifestation of its owner''s sense of inferiority¡ª. From half year ago, Kuroyukihime''s words rang in his ears.


    Of course, just by looking at the avatar''s appearance, one could not instantly fathom the owner''s ?Emotional scars?. Actually, right now Haruyuki still could not determine what was Takumu and Kuroyukihime''s sense of inferiority that created such powerful avatars.


    Even so, it was true that it exposed the ?Hidden inside?.


    In his blue frozen view, Haruyuki glanced at the back of Chiyuri that was a bit away to his left side. Swallowing his slight hesitation, he touched the name ?Lime Bell?, and clicked ?Duel? from the pop-up menu.


    The field that appeared had huge gears and conveyors moving around in a rumble, the ?Construction Site? stage.


    While waiting for himself to be changed to the silver colored ?Silver Crow?, and the burning word ''FIGHT'' to pop up, he slowly stood up.


    He looked around the 2nd year C classroom where his classmates had disappeared, and in exchange were filled with mysterious machines, and first saw the large blue avatar, ?Cyan Pile?. After giving a quick nod to him, Haruyuki looked at the one standing opposite of him, a delicate avatar that was similar to his.


    ?Lime Bell? was covered in unexpectedly vivid lettuce green equipment.


    The whole body''s supple lines showed a clearly female shape. The limbs and body were mostly slender like Silver Crow''s, and the waist was equipped with a tree leaf like armor.


    The head was covered with a magic-user-like wide-brim pointed hat, and under that was a face mask with eyes that resembled a cat''s.


    However the most distinctive feature was, the huge bell-shaped equipment in her left hand, probably a hand bell. While thinking whether it was a weapon or a musical instrument, just as it looked like, Haruyuki walked towards her.


    While looking at the bell connected to her left hand, ?Lime Bell?¡ª Chiyuri tilted her head and said.


    "Somehow... isn''t this color too flashy?"


    "Don''t complain, such high color saturation, even if you wanted it, doesn''t show up often."


    "On the other hand."


    Under the hat, the orange colored eyes narrowed in doubt.


    "...You, are Haru?"


    "...Yes. I understand what you want to say, so you don''t need to say it!"


    He quickly added that, but Chiyuri shouted without mercy.


    "No way! This game''s avatar, is a representation of trauma... right? Hmm, hoo, I see."


    "Leave it alone."


    After taking a glance at the body that is over half more slender than his real body, he turned his head away.


    Then, he saw that Cyan Pile had appeared there some time ago.


    The blue avatar with a pile driver equipped on his right hand, was looking down at the yellowish green avatar with a somewhat tense look.


    Chiyuri also accepted those eyes silently.


    Once¡ª half year ago, Takumu could not endure the fear of losing that avatar ?Cyan Pile?, and put a backdoor program into Chiyuri''s Neuro Linker.


    That virus''s real objective was to use Chiyuri''s Neuro Linker as a stage to connect to Umesato middle school''s Local Net from the outside, and hunt the accelerated world''s highest bounty, the ?Black King?, Black Lotus.


    However as a side effect of the virus, it made it possible for Takumu to steal Chiyuri''s sight and hearing information, and he put that to use to find out Chiyuri''s real feelings.


    Eventually he confessed, and Chiyuri who he apologized to went into a rage, of course. She announced the breaking of ties to both Haruyuki and Takumu, and it took a week before she talked to them again. To fulfill her presented ?All she can eat of Enji shop''s parfait? condition for settlement, the two of their Neuro Linker''s charge limit easily dropped, but the three''s relationship, was repaired to the same as before¡ª


    That, was what Haruyuki believed, and wished it to be, but.


    The three sides of the triangle, the one connecting Chiyuri and Takumu, was still changing unstably right now, was what their looks at each other showed.


    "...Well, it is about time we start the beginner lessons."


    Trying to break through the tension, Haruyuki announced and turned towards the yellowish green avatar.


    "Chiyu, you have already heard of most of this ?Brain Burst? rules from Taku right?"


    "Yeah. All I need to do is, win a lot of duels to earn points, then become level 10 to clear the game right?"


    "...D-Don''t say it so simply. Well, that is right though..."


    If that person heard Chiyuri''s indifferent words, what would she say, while Haruyuki shook his head thinking like that, he continued.


    "An-Anyway, to win a duel, you have to see through the opponent''s weakness and fight in a way that is advantageous to you. For that reason, you have to fully grasp your avatar''s abilities."


    ¡ªUnbelievable, that a day where I said such bossy words to someone would come.


    While noticing that slight realization, he moved his right index finger.


    "Around this part in your view, should be your own ?Health Gauge? right? Touch that, and from the expanded window open the ?Skill List?."


    Normally this was the Parent''s role for Takumu, but the flow of conversation somehow had Haruyuki pointing it out to her,


    "O...Okay."


    Chiyuri, who nodded, with somewhat awkward movements extended her finger, and tapped a point in the air. Continuing, she did a few more manipulations.


    "Let''s see... normal skills, three of them, and looks like one special skill. ?Citron Call?...? Somehow, the left hand bell... like this..."


    While murmuring, Chiyuri followed the skill list animation silhouette, spinning the huge bell that was in front of her left elbow around twice, and finally from above coming down with a snap. But of course, nothing happened.


    "What is this, it didn''t do anything."


    "To use special skills, you have to fill the blue ?Special Gauge? below the Health Gauge."


    "That, how do I fill it?"


    "Damage the opponent, take damage yourself, and..."


    As he reached that point, Chiyuri lifted her heavy looking bell and raised it, aiming for Haruyuki''s head, as he hurriedly added.


    "Th-That and also, you can fill it by destroying the stage. The machines around there, any of them can be destroyed!"


    "Ah, I see."


    It might be his imagination that she nodded with some slight dissatisfaction, and walked towards the steam engine sitting where the teacher''s podium was, then without any hesitation, she used her left hand to hit the machine that was putting out a lot of steam.


    With a *Boom!* light explosion sound, sparks and white smoke spew out.


    "Wow, feels great!"


    With innocent sounds of joy, the pointed hat avatar started hitting and destroying one side of the gears turning the belt conveyor, as Haruyuki''s back shivered while watching her. The realism of that explosion, and the stage''s ultra high detail, not showing signs of being impressed even by a little, this is why girls are...


    While Haruyuki grumbled in his heart, the silent till now Takumu whispered from beside him.


    "Haru, did you notice it? Chi-chan''s HP gauge, did not seem to drop at all. For the ?Construction Site? machine objects, when you destroy it, you should take a little damage."


    "Ah... that''s right."


    "Unlike her appearance, her defense is pretty high. ?Green? is originally, the next below ?Metal Color?, a superior defense color..."


    With Takumu''s calm analysis, Haruyuki thought of the rumored ?Green King?''s iron wall legend.


    Lime Bell''s armor, compared to the level 1 Silver Crow, was clearly harder. That means, Chiyuri is also a defensive type. That is completely opposite of the real person''s personality, somehow.


    While thinking about those things, Lime Bell''s special gauge was filled to near half while shining blue.


    "Hey Chiyu, that''s plenty."


    After being called out, the avatar that turned around came walking close¡ª


    And without a single hesitation, raised the huge bell in her left hand high.


    "Higuu!?"


    In front of Haruyuki, who screamed, and held both hands up to protect his head in reflex.


    After two half clockwise spins, the bell was suddenly covered with a brilliant yellowish green shine.


    "...?Citron Ca~ll?!!"


    With the relatively proper skill name shout, from the bell that was swung straight down, with a *Rigorigoriin* kind of magnificent sound effect, light particles that covered Silver Crow''s whole body spewed out.


    "...!"


    Unable to predict what kind of damage he would take, Haruyuki held his breath and closed his eyes. Heat, impact, or some unknown name acid dissolving attack might be possible¡ª


    "...Huh?"


    "...Oh?"


    From his left and right ear, Chiyuri and Takumu''s quizzical sounds reached him, and Haruyuki opened his eyes slightly.


    As he nervously looked down at his body, it still shone the same fresh white silver color. He did not feel any pain or heat, and his HP bar did not decrease at all.


    "What is this! Nothing happened!!"


    To Chiyuri''s indignant shout, he shook his head on reaction.


    "Th...That should not be it. Your skill, without a doubt hit me... your special skill gauge also decreased. Overtime damage... not that either. Delayed start damage, maybe...?"


    As he mumbled, he waited for something to happen, but a few seconds, then a few tens of seconds later, Silver Crow''s HP did not move at all.


    "Hmm... this means, light and sound only, some kind of eye dazzling skill maybe. That is sort of yellow color type..."


    Haruyuki''s words did not seem to ease Chiyuri''s dissatisfaction, and she put her right hand to her waist.


    "That is boring! Haru, give me one of your special skills!!"


    "What, that is impossible. Anyway, my special skill is just a Head Butt."


    "At this point, I will take even that."


    As this bargaining expanded to something that''s no different from reality, suddenly Takumu said in a low murmur.


    "No... for just a dazzle skill, the decrease in the special skill gauge is way too much. Even though it was half full, all of it was used up... some kind of, there should be a more practical effect..."


    With his strong arms crossed, Cyan Pile lowered his small slits lined face.


    "Not damage, not Debuff[1]... that means... ah... wait, just maybe...!!"


    His sharp sound made both Haruyuki and Chiyuri turn their heads at the same time.


    "What is it, Taku? Did you think of something?"


    "...Well yeah, something with unbelievable feeling though... Chi-chan, with that bell, hit Haru normally."


    "Okay, understood."


    *Gochiri~n!!*


    Before Takumu''s words finished or not, Chiyuri without a single hint of holding back, swung the huge bell down, and Haruyuki who took that right on his head, saw numerous stars in his view.


    "O-Ouch..."


    As he moaned, the relentless directions continued.


    "The gauge is still not enough. About three more times."


    "Okay, understood."


    *Zukazukazukari~n!!*


    ...Chiyu''s bell is nice. When it hits, incredibly nice sounds come out.


    While he was thinking that and other stuff, Haruyuki abruptly fainted while laying with his arms and legs spread apart.


    For the duel fighting game that is Brain Burst, just leveling up would not majorly increase HP, Attack, and Defense. With new special skills and abilities obtained, tactics can be expanded, but if you get hit without defending like this, corresponding damage occurred. The result, after Haruyuki was hit for four times, his HP gauge decreased by about 30%, and in exchange, Chiyuri''s special skill gauge again filled over half, shining blue.


    While moaning, Haruyuki somehow managed to stand up, and in front of his eyes¡ª


    Again the bell was spun around, and yellowish green light effect shone.


    ¡ªThat''s strange, when I was first lectured by senpai, this ?Using the mentor''s body to teach skill? scene never happened.


    ¡ªAnyway, in the first place, why am I the duel opponent for Chiyu?


    As he thought about that now too late, Chiyuri''s second skill-name shout, louder than the earlier one, started.


    "Citron Ca~~ll!!"


    The clear sound of a bell. A lime green ribbon of light overflowed out. And then, lightly drifting by, was a fresh citrus scent.


    That covered Silver Crow''s body in layers. At that moment.


    "Uaaa...!?"


    Haruyuki experienced something which he had not experienced in the accelerated world for a few months, a shock to the bottom of his heart which made him shout out loud.


    In his view''s upper left corner, his HP bar that was decreased by about 30%¡ª


    Was slowly recovering!


    HP recovery.


    For duel fighting genre games, that is originally an impossible phenomenon. Actually, till now Haruyuki had not seen a single HP gauge recovery ability in ?Brain Burst?.


    No, to be exact, there might be one exception that he had seen. Three months ago, after an incredible battle and destruction, the cursed enhanced armament, ?Chrome Disaster? that was annihilated. That avatar had an ability that could ?Drain? the opponent''s health that he ate to heal his wounds.


    However, since during the Disaster fight, they were in the ?Unlimited Neutral Field? where other people''s HP gauge could not be seen, this was the first time he actually saw a HP gauge recover.


    Within just about 10 seconds, his HP was returned to full, and the yellowish green light disappeared at the same time.


    However Haruyuki, and Takumu who was a bit further away, could not move or make a sound.


    What released them from their paralysis, was the dissatisfied shout from Chiyuri.


    "No way, what''s that?! Your Hit Points were fully recovered!! No fair, that didn''t count!!"


    "No... it''s not that I am not playing fair..."


    With his raspy voice he said till that point, then looked at Takumu, begging for an explanation.


    Cyan Pile opened his blue eyes inside the small slits wide, and eventually shook his head left and right as he whispered.


    "Wh... what a thing... That right now was without a doubt, ?Recovery Ability?. Chi-chan''s avatar is a ?Healer?..."


    "What? That means a priest? That is boring."


    Continuing after the somewhat dissatisfied Chiyuri, Haruyuki who finally came out of his shock, gave his honest opinion.


    "Healer... First time I heard of it. Brain Burst has this kind too."


    However, on the other hand, Takumu whispered in a somehow fearful voice.


    "Instead of boring... it''s an outrageously rare avatar. With this, Chi-chan''s ?Duel? debut might become very serious... Just maybe, beyond the time when Silver Crow appeared..."

 Volume 3 - CH 3

    "Say what?"


    That short speech, and the continuing long silence, showed her huge shock.


    In the real world she was the Umesato middle school student council vice president, in the accelerated world she was the Legion ?Nega Nebulas?'' leader, also Haruyuki''s ?Parent?, a level 9 Burst Linker, the Black King, ?Black Lotus? that is who Kuroyukihime is. Yet she stared at Haruyuki''s face for over 5 seconds, then finally returned the cup held in her right hand to the saucer.


    "...Kurashima-kun becoming a Burst Linker, had about fifty-fifty expectation... but of all things a ?Healer?..."


    She combed up her long black hair, and leaned back onto the white painted chair as she gave a small sigh. On top of the jet black blouse, the brand new dark red ribbon gave out bewitching light.


    In these days he felt she was more and more intensely beautiful, so Haruyuki became dazed in fascination.


    2047, April 10th, Wednesday, afternoon 3:30pm.


    As usual, they were seated facing each other in the lounge beside the student cafeteria, at a table deep inside. During lunch time, this place was fully occupied, but after school in this place where you cannot connect to the Global Net, there was not anyone who was whimsical enough to stay, so right now there was not any other students here.


    Chiyuri becoming a Burst Linker, her avatar ?Lime Bell?''s special ability shocked Haruyuki and Takumu, two days had already passed. At the start of school year, Kuroyukihime was swamped with student council related work, without her even able to have time for lunch, so it was today that they were finally able to talk to each other directly.


    Chiyuri''s installation success from Takumu''s copy, and her avatar''s name, were already reported to Kuroyukihime two days ago. He really wanted to write about that avatar''s shocking ability as well, but Takumu said "It''s better to tell her when you directly meet her", with that strong insistence, so it was today that he explained it to her.


    After he used a small voice to apologize for the late report, Kuroyukihime finally looked back, and shook her head with a ''No''.


    "For that, Takumu-kun''s judgement is correct. If there was even a slight chance, that this information was leaked to other Burst Linkers on the net, it would be a big problem."


    "It...It''s to that extent?"


    "Without a doubt. The Burst Linkers in Tokyo will come gather in Suginami, before Kurashima-kun... Lime Bell joined some kind of legion, they will try to recruit her with different kind of measures taken, for certain."


    After that was said with a slight wry smile, Haruyuki was again dazed in wonderment.


    After stepping into the accelerated world for half a year yet not seeing or hearing of it, made him understand the rarity of ?Recovery Ability?. However, to be able to start scouting battles, that wasn''t peaceful at all.


    Talking about rarity, Haruyuki''s ?Flight Ability? was rare in the rares. However, even with his ?Nega Nebulas? tag, he was marked to be invited to another legion two or three times.


    While feeling a huge surprise, Haruyuki mumbled an inquiry.


    "B-But... Why? She had not even debuted in an actual fight yet..."


    "Nn... about that..."


    After showing her thinking about how to answer, Kuroyukihime suddenly held up one finger.


    "You might understand if I tell you this. Seven years after the birth of accelerated world, only two Burst Linkers have appeared with ?Recovery Ability?. One of them, after getting past countless invitations and assassination traps, is still in good health. The other one could not endure the repeated conflict, and retired from the accelerated world due to self decision."


    "Re..."


    Retired. So that meant, erasing your Brain Burst by yourself, right?


    To the paralyzed Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime showed a slight cynical expression.


    "Well, I have to call it as, ?Troubled by two princes seeking love, then finally jumping off the tower?, that kind of princess-ish sickness worsen as time pass."


    "No, no way, that''s too blunt..."


    Haruyuki involuntarily pulled his cheek, then Kuroyukihime said some even more dreadful things.


    "Fortunately, Kurashima-kun isn''t like that type at all. On the contrary, I can''t say that there would be two princes fighting over her."


    While she was laughing with "Hahaha", Haruyuki involuntarily glanced behind to check that no one was there, and quickly returned to the topic.


    "B-But, that, why just having that ?Recovery Ability? can cause that much uproar...?"


    "Just imagine it. During official territory battle, you took a lot of effort to decrease the opponent''s front line avatar''s HP, then that guy retreated, and when he came back his HP is all full. To say it truthfully..."


    "...To continue fighting would be pointless."


    That definitely is tough. Or more like awful.


    Haruyuki nodded, then Kuroyukihime casually opened her right hand and added.


    "So it is like this. If the enemy team has a healer, you have to take that person down first no matter what. On the other hand, that kind of thinking is easily read by the other side, and they can use ambushes, pincer attacks, and other traps as much as they like."


    "...I see..."


    "To say it clearly, even right now, for the situation where the enemy contains a healer, counter strategies for it have not been established at all."


    After hearing the words said with a snicker, Haruyuki blinked hard.


    "Err, wait a minute. Earlier you said that, ''right now there is only one healer''... ah, except Chiyu, that is... Is that right? Then, if the legion that Burst Linker belong to ?feels like it?, is it possible for them to unify the accelerated world...?"


    "For possibility then it certainly is conceivably. More than enough."


    "Why did they not do it?"


    For Haruyuki''s simple question, Kuroyukihime had a wry smile for an instant, that soon disappeared.


    From the narrowed jet black eyes, a sharp light went across them¡ª he felt it like that. The sound that she released, was also mixed with a strangely cold echo that was different from before.


    "The reason is simple. That healer is one of the ?Pure Color Six Kings? right now. Even if they have 99% success rate in team battles, with just one loss from another King, at that time ?Acceleration? will be lost. Therefore, that person won''t appear on the battle field."


    "One of... the Kings!?"


    Haruyuki almost dropped the Oolong tea paper cup he was holding up, and hurriedly held it with both hands.


    "What color!?"


    He asked that after a cough, but somehow the answer did not come soon.


    Kuroyukihime who was looking down, seemed to hesitate for a long while, then eventually shook her head.


    "...Sorry, right now about that person, I don''t want you to even hear her name. I don''t want you to have a single grain of interest in that person."


    "What? That... What does that mean?"


    Not able to grasp Kuroyukihime''s intention, Haruyuki asked a stupid question.


    Instead of answering, a question was asked back.


    "Hey, Haruyuki-kun. Let me ask you something odd... You, in this half year, how many times have you been scouted by other legions?"


    "Huh!?"


    With his back suddenly stretched straight, Haruyuki opened and closed his mouth many times.


    However of course, he could not choose to lie to her. So he told the truth in an almost inaudible voice.


    "That is... including the Niko incident three months ago, from the ?King? controlled six huge legions, twice. Other than those, from a small legion, once. Bu-But of course, I instantly rejected all of them right then!!"


    He desperately add the last part, but unfortunately Kuroyukihime did not seem to be impressed by it¡ª on the other hand she was bothered by something else, and winkled her eyebrows as she asked again.


    "Fumu. That other one from the six huge legion, basically what color was it?"


    "...Let''s see... that was, Blue I think..."


    After his answer, a few seconds later, Kuroyukihime took a small long breathe.


    "...Is that so, I see. However, Blue huh. Even though they kept sending assassins every week, that is way too shameless."


    "Th-That''s right."


    With the white beautiful face finally going into a slight smile, Haruyuki also relaxed his speech, and then tilted his head.


    "But, what about it?"


    "Of course, I believed. That you will absolutely not accept another King''s invitation. I believe, but... even so, I cannot stop feeling unease. Because that guy''s attraction is absolute..."


    Which color King she mean for ?that guy?, Haruyuki could not understand.


    While Haruyuki was confused, he looked up at the evening sky, and Kuroyukihime suddenly raised her right hand. With a delicate gesture, she caressed the line from Haruyuki''s round cheek to his jaw, and at the same time whispered. That sound was smooth as silk, but at the same time a tense coldness from somewhere was mixed in it.


    "Haruyuki-kun. Listen... You are mine. Up till now, and from now on. For eternity, I will not give you to anyone."


    With the sudden touch and announcement, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide, and forgot to breath as he was paralyzed.


    Taking the words at face value, a confession of love - he could accept it like that. However in Haruyuki''s ears, even after Kuroyukihime closed her mouth, he felt that he could hear a sound that did not become voice.


    ¡ªIf you go to another King, I will cut you before that.


    While feeling terror running down his back, even so Haruyuki answered in his heart.


    ¡ªAt that time, please cut me without mercy.


    At the same time, he responded with a joking like sound.


    "Of-Of course. If you want, you can write your name on my avatar with an oil type marker pen."


    "...Fufu, that is good thinking. Let me tell you, it really exists on the ?other side?. A non-erasable pen."


    "Wh-What!?"


    With Haruyuki''s surprised face, Kuroyukihime finally showed a normal smile, and lowered her hand to pick up her tea for a sip.


    "Sorry, we got a bit off topic. The main topic is about Kurashima-kun. I think that I have already conveyed to you how rare ?Healer type avatar? is..."


    She returned her cup, and after looking far away for a bit, she made a small nod.


    "Certainly, as Takumu-kun said, this needs to be handled with care. After the news of the 3rd ?Healer?''s appearance in the accelerated world is spread, different powers will be scheming after Kurashima-kun."


    After hearing that, Haruyuki also felt unease.


    He did not think that Chiyuri would easily accept other legion''s invitation, however what''s said and done, ?Nega Nebulas?''s leader is Kuroyukihime who is in no way on friendly terms with Chiyuri. If those two had a big fight, and Chiyuri being impulsive. She might leave the legion on momentum, and the situation where she might be fished up by the enemy group could happen¡ª no, the probability is pretty high¡ª


    "...It could happen, that..."


    After murmuring, a tremor shook his back, and Kuroyukihime said after a big sigh.


    "Here, I really need to open up and have a discussion with her."


    "...Th-That''s right."


    When they have that discussion, he definitely would not want to be there, and also he felt uneasy about something that exists but couldn''t be seen. At least before that he need Takumu to find ways to deal with all kinds of development, and put effort into them having a good resolution.


    ¡ªLet''s work hard. Maximum work hard.


    With that decision, he held his right fist that was below the table tightly, and at that moment, however Kuroyukihime said something unexpected.


    "Well, anyway, it''s a topic that''s ten days too early to approach."


    "Huh? Te-Ten days? Why wait that long?"


    "Why, you say...?"


    With a slightly dumbfounded expression, the black clothed upperclassman readily answered.


    "School field trip."


    "What!?"


    "It should be written in the yearly schedule file distributed during today''s homeroom. From the Sunday four days later, the new 3rd year students will be going on a one week school field trip. The destination is Okinawa, so think about what you want for a gift."


    ¡ªOkinawa!?


    In his brain, Rafute ¡ª Mimiga ¡ª Sokisoba[1], those and other words scrolled one after another, but you can''t bring those things all the way to Tokyo, so it must be that, that donut like, that is, Sata...


    "Andagi[2]? But if that is not freshly fried, it''s not tasty."


    Somehow he had said it out loud, and after Kuroyukihime replied, he snapped back to normal, and hurriedly shook his head.


    "Wa-Wait a minute please. One week!? Then Chiyu''s matter can wait... no, before that, what about the next weekend''s territory battle!?"


    ?Official Territory Battle?, or normally called Territory Battle, occurs every Saturday evening, it is a team battle to fight over a legion''s area of control.


    The Black legion, ?Nega Nebulas? that Haruyuki belonged to, currently controls Suginami 1st to 3rd battle fields, that is all of Suginami, but to maintain that control, they have to keep 50% wins of opponent challenges that come during territory battle.


    Team battle''s win or loss is determined by either side''s total destruction, or if time up then the remaining number of people, and furthermore if same number then by the amount of remaining HP gauge. Recently, Haruyuki was no longer completely shot down like before even if the opponent was a sniper, but that was because he had his leader Kuroyukihime with overwhelming attack power for an attacker there, so he felt at ease.


    No, even before that, the reason they could match the challenger''s team in numbers was only when they have three or more people for defense. One person, or two people could go out for defense, so this would mean that¡ª


    "Wha? You mean, just Taku and I have to handle three enemy opponents?"


    "Fumu, well, that is what it means."


    After a nonchalant nod, Kuroyukihime swelled the milk tea in her cup.


    "The ideal way is, if Kurashima-kun joined our legion in time for next week, we might overcome that... but one week after becoming a Burst Linker, going into a territory battle might be asking too much. Anyway, with you and Takumu-kun for tag team, you can outdo those three person team."


    "Ye...Yeah..."


    He definitely did not dislike being told that, so Haruyuki showed a subtle smile.


    "I will put in the effort, but... th-then, if that could not happen it could not be helped right. We can take it back the week after right."


    "No, that''s no good."


    She turned her head to the side.


    "This Suginami, I cannot stand having another legion''s flag on it. Since it''s like this, Haruyuki-kun. Defend it till death."


    "Defend it till death!?"


    Looking at Haruyuki who was going to be in tears, Kuroyukihime gave an ''Oh dear!'' kind of smile.


    And then, suddenly said an incredible line.


    "Let''s see... Then, let''s do this. If next week''s defense is successful, as a reward I will grant you one wish. It can be anything. How about that?"


    "Reward!?"


    Suddenly, Kuroyukihime''s words that could only be like a physical attack hit him directly between his eyes, and Haruyuki leaned back on his chair. He dangerously recovered his balance, and returned to the front with a *Clank*, with both of his hands shaking.


    Anything...? What is anything!? All I can eat of school meals? No, that is possible for shops outside school too?


    Nono, it''s not limited to eating. Like just the two of them going out somewhere... No, asking her to come play at his home... Then getting direct connection... Furthermore with cable length of one meter, no, 50cm, no, 30cm is also possible? Is it possible!?


    "Ah, let me warn you, a wish beyond my ability is impossible. Like eating spaghetti through the nose."


    "Wh...Who could do that!!"


    With his pink fantasy fully wiped, Haruyuki slid down on his chair.


    After shaking his head lightly many times, his thoughts returned to normal.


    "An...Anyway, I will put out my full effort... Also, while senpai is away, I will give Chiyu the basic lectures..."


    "Good. After that, I will give her joining request for the legion."


    At that point, Kuroyukihime took a quick glance at the clock display on the edge of her view.


    "...So, I should return to the student council room soon. That''s right, didn''t you have something you want to talk about?"


    "Ah, I had."


    After nodding, Haruyuki quickly continued.


    "No, it''s not something important though. The new first year students, there doesn''t seem to be a Burst Linker in it, just that."


    "You also checked huh. I also looked at the matching list through the school''s Local Net earlier, indeed the addition was Kurashima-kun... ?Lime Bell? only..."


    As she said that, there seemed to be a bit of unclear feeling mixed in her tone, and Haruyuki suddenly remembered Kuroyukihime''s one instance of stare from above the stage during school entrance ceremony. So he timidly asked about that.


    "Ah... Senpai, after you finished your speech, did you notice someone in the first years?"


    Then Kuroyukihime made a "Fu" wry smile, and shook her head.


    "You managed to see that. No, it''s not to the degree of noticing. To say it strongly... I felt a presence, something like that."


    "P-Presence?"


    "You should also have experienced it. In the ?Duel Field?, somewhere a sniper is hidden while aiming the scope at you, like that..."


    That was the highest rank unpleasant feeling for Haruyuki in the accelerated world, so his face involuntarily stiffened, but soon after Kuroyukihime shook her finger with ''Nono'' gesture.


    "In the end, there were no new Burst Linkers in the first year students, so it''s my hallucination. ...Well then, I will excuse myself here."


    "Ah... I am going home as well."


    Haruyuki had already become a brand new 2nd year student, so he now had the privilege to use the lounge, but he did not have the guts to remain in this fancy space by himself. He stood up after Kuroyukihime, and put his cup in the recycling bin, then an incoherent thought crossed his mind.


    ¡ªThat earlier ?Anything reward?, could that also apply to Taku?


    No, no way, he wanted to deny it like that, but to Kuroyukihime for Brain Burst related matters, she treated Haruyuki and Takumu exactly the same way. If it was a reward for working hard during territory battle, then it would not be strange to be for both of them.


    ¡ªBut, even so, for Taku who is single minded about Chiyu, he should not request something far out of senpai.


    ¡ªBut that guy also hardcore worships senpai. He used ?Master? to call her too. For a knight, Taku is way more appropriate... Senpai would also not be dissatisfied with it...


    Following to the left behind of Kuroyukihime who was walking towards the cafeteria entrance, with his brain giving out steam due to over thinking, Haruyuki involuntarily said.


    "Ah... That is, senpai."


    "Nn?"


    Looking at the profile of the white face that turned around with glossy hair swaying, after he opened and closed his mouth a few times, Haruyuki fearfully inquired.


    "Earlier, the talk about two princes and one princess. That, how would senpai decide...?"


    Then, Kuroyukihime put up a fearless smile and instantly replied.


    "I don''t even have to think about it. Fight with me, I will pick the winner."


    And then, while walking, she extended her left hand index and middle fingers lined straight, and aimed right at Haruyuki''s heart.


    Hiii''


    His back cowered, and after stubbing his toes on the leg of the cafeteria long table, Haruyuki again realized.


    Having strange suspicions of this person is absolutely meaningless.

 Volume 3 - CH 4

    On the following day, Thursday after school, afternoon 2:50pm.


    Haruyuki was hurriedly walking towards an area of the school that he did not remember going too often in his one year of school life.


    Umesato middle school was built like very old traditional schools where the normal classroom building is connected to the special classroom building by the sports building in a H shape.


    In the horizontal part of that H shape, beside the gym that held the school entrance ceremony, was the martial arts gym that Haruyuki was aiming for. Of course, he was not going to join the judo club to work his overweight body. If there was a ?Special Forces Club? that taught shooting and martial arts, then he might have thought about joining, but unfortunately those did not exist.


    In the first place, it was not Haruyuki who wished to join a club, instead Takumu was today''s main focus.


    When he neared the martial arts gym, from inside already came echoes of discrete cheering, and dry impact sounds that overwrote those. He took off his indoor shoes and put them in the bag he brought, then stepped onto the polished wooden floor.


    In the line of not too many visitors, he spotted the familiar short-haired back of the head, and Haruyuki jogged near. Chiyuri who turned around, instantly pouted and complained in a small voice.


    "Haru, you''re late! Ta-kun has already finished one match!"


    "Sorry. But it should have been an instant win, for the first match."


    "Well, that is true."


    He looked away from Chiyuri''s puffed up face, and stood on tiptoes to look around, then in the line of kendo members sitting with defensive armor, he soon spotted his childhood friend with a strikingly cool appearance. He might have seen Haruyuki at the same time, as he made a small movement with his right hand.


    After returning a slight nod, Haruyuki turned his attention towards the match area.


    "Eaaaa!"


    "Shieee!"


    Two slender members, vigorously attacked each other with their shinai. The high pitched fervor, and their straps being green, meant they were probably both 1st year students.


    Today, is Umesato middle school kendo club all member participation tournament battle. In the name of selecting regular and semi-regular members, but it also seem to have the goal of allowing new members to bash the upperclassmen''s power. Umesato middle school has an exclusive use dojo, so the kendo club is somewhat strong traditionally, and this year about ten people seem to have joined. In that, there was only one 2nd year new member, which is Takumu.


    While Takumu personally wanted to devote all his time to Nega Nebulas, but Kuroyukihime strongly remonstrated that. "Don''t mix all your real life with Brain Burst", after his worshiped ?Master? told him that, the kendo that was always inside of Takumu was renewed, and he wanted to do it here as well, so this spring he finally handed in the club joining application form.


    To Haruyuki''s understanding, the reason Takumu invited Chiyuri and him to this tournament was to show his decision that: even if he lost, he would not use ?Acceleration? in kendo again. That was also the reason why Haruyuki stepped into the sports territory that he was truly intimidated by.


    "Body hit, winner decided!"


    With the echo of the advising teacher''s voice, Haruyuki''s thoughts were interrupted.


    After returning to the start line, one 1st year student who lowered his shinai, with undisguised chagrin and stumbling footsteps, returned to the line of members. On the other hand, the student that seemed to have won, turned his strikingly slender body around, and left the match area without a sound.


    Haruyuki who made a "Hmm" sound as he chased that slender back with his eyes, was interrupted by the teacher''s voice that came next.


    "Second round, first match! Red, Takagi. White, Mayuzumi!"


    Then, two students stood up. Takagi was a 3rd year student, and Mayuzumi¡ª Takumu, was of course 2nd year. They were about the same in height, but for body size, Takagi was much larger.


    After bowing to each other, they stepped forward three steps to the starting line. Haruyuki stared at the shape of Takumu who held his shinai straight in the middle.


    Thinking back, this was his first time seeing Takumu wearing a kendo uniform with his real eyes. Of course he had seen recordings of matches uploaded to the net, but the amount of information was definitely different from the live scene. The weight of the black shining shinai they use, the hardness of the uniforms, and he seem to even smell the scent of the defensive equipment, so he involuntarily swallowed.


    For those kendo participants that did not change for over 100 years, the only differences were the more shiny face mask, and the Neuro Linker peeking out from under it.


    For different kind of sports matches, it was not that long ago that they were allowed to participate while wearing a Neuro Linker.


    The reason for that, was mainly to display points obtained and match time overlay in the view, but especially for kendo and fencing, it was used for effective judgement purpose. The few hundredths of a second difference being common impact timings, using the Neuro Linker senses feedback function, that was easily determined.


    Naturally, during matches it is strictly checked for use of outside applications and Global Net connection. But, there is one super program that can easily stay undetected by this kind of surveillance. Without needing to be said, that is of course ?Brain Burst?.


    During last year''s summer Tokyo middle school kendo tournament, Takumu used ?Acceleration? ability to win first place as a 1st year student. However for that reason he used up too much Burst Points, and was in danger of losing Brain Burst, so he was finally cornered into putting a virus into Chiyuri''s Neuro Linker to rob points from Kuroyukihime¡ª aka Black Lotus.


    The regret for that action, even after Chiyuri and Kuroyukihime forgave him, right now he still had that stain inside of him.


    However, returning to kendo gym like this, Takumu finally took a new step forward, Haruyuki felt it like that.


    "Ta-ku~n! Knock him flying¡ª!!"


    While shrinking involuntarily from Chiyuri''s unreserved cheer beside him, Haruyuki also put out as much sound as he could.


    "Ta-Taku! Fight Hard!!"


    Against the 3rd year Takagi-something opponent, Takumu won superbly after getting hit once.


    He easily won the next quarter finals. And he also won the semi finals from judgement, and advanced to the finals.


    However, the talk of the tournament was not Takumu, it was the 1st year student who advanced through the tournament with all two hit surprisingly strong wins.


    "Gl...Glove hit! Winner decided!!"


    The advisor''s slightly higher sound, was overlayed with loud commotions. "There is an incredible 1st year" kind of rumor went through the Local Net and spread out, and even though it was after school, in about ten minutes, the area surrounding the match arena was almost full of students.


    Not even showing that he noticed any of that, the 1st year student that returned to the starting line with a sliding walk, was the slender participant that Haruyuki saw in the first match. The number tag on him was marked with the name Noumi.


    The height, was at most 155cm. The body structure was also small, and compared to the large built upperclassmen, it was like adult and child, where a match was unthinkable.


    However, they could not hit him. The high speed hits from 3rd year students, almost unseen by Haruyuki''s flesh eyes, were lightly dodged by his reaction as if he predicted them. Or he matched the hits with his own hits.


    According to Haruyuki''s vague understanding of kendo, before the opponent started attacking, or finished attacking, it''s not a completion that can easily get in a hit that counts. The early one is called front of front, and the late one is call front of behind, that means, how fast you can react to the enemy attack, will determine the fight.


    With that point in mind, it was as if the 1st year Noumi had an ability beyond the rest.


    That''s right¡ª Ability.


    "Final match!! Red, Noumi! White, Mayuzumi!"


    With the advising teacher''s sound, Noumi and Takumu advanced towards the match arena. Loud cheers rose from the gallery.


    The relatively tall Takumu for a middle school student, and Noumi who could only look like a elementary school student, had close to 20cm difference in height. Even without thinking, the advantage is with Takumu. Their reach is totally different. But, thus far for opponents bigger than Noumi, he had won them all without taking a single hit.


    The two bowed to each other, then stepped to the starting line holding their shinai, as most of the gallery who felt something was suddenly swallowed by silence. For Haruyuki, he could almost see blue white sparks coming out of the sword tips of the two facing each other.


    "Begin!!"


    ¡ªRight after that sound echo, two shouts and one impact sound crossed the wide kendo gym.


    The first one to move was Takumu, as Haruyuki thought he saw. While standing he leaned forward, with an "Meeeen!" psyche as he attacked. With a barely within reach distance aiming for the opponent''s head, an unforgiving blow. Noumi who has short reach could not counter attack, that was what it was supposed to be like.


    However, quicker than Takumu''s shinai could hit.


    "Teeee!"


    With that instant of psyche, Noumi''s shinai hit Takumu''s left glove. And a loud *Baan!* impact resounded, strong enough to even cause big ripples in the air.


    Takumu tried to chase in for a collar hit, but that already gave Noumi enough time to raise his shinai high.


    "Glove hit!"


    With that sound and the rise of the red flag, finally the gallery and the over 30 members were in commotion. Beside Haruyuki, Chiyuri with eyes wide also said "Unbelievable!".


    Haruyuki also felt that he could only say ''No way''.


    The first one to move was Takumu, that was without doubt.


    And then, he was attacking the face of the opponent that was barely within his own reach. During that attack, his glove was hit, how could that happen? That meant Noumi completely grasped the timing and path of Takumu''s attack, and followed that prediction to place his shinai ?ahead?¡ª it could only logically be that way. Not front of front, or front of behind. It could only be said to be ?front of middle?.


    Haruyuki forgot to even blink momentarily, and wondered if this was the real world or the virtual world.


    If it was the virtual world¡ª the electronic world where everything is decided by the brain''s reaction speed, then that kind of reaction was possible. However for the real world, different kind of movements are restricted by physical laws. Inertia that holds the heavy body still, nerve transmission speed, muscle contraction speed and others put into consideration, seeing the attack then swinging the sword before the attack occurs is not possible, absolutely.


    With just one exception that a limited number of people have for ?ability?.


    While feeling his tightly held fists wet with sweat, Haruyuki stared at the two that again faced each other at the starting line.


    "Second round!"


    This time, it was a completely opposite developement than the first round. Takumu held his shinai horizontally, and faced the opponent. The eyes in his face mask were sharp as a blade, and his mouth was stiff.


    On the other hand, Noumi who moved his sword tip up and down softly, did not seem to have any tension. Haruyuki could not see his face due to backlight, but there seem to be a thin smile on his lips.


    Ten seconds. Twenty seconds.


    Without either of them attacking, just time passed.


    Haruyuki opened both eyes wide, and just continued concentrating all his nerves on Noumi''s face.


    If Haruyuki''s reasoning, or bad premonition was correct, then at some point in time, Noumi''s mouth will move slightly. In a sound volume that no one could hear, to sing a short command.


    To the two that was still other than the clock moving *Tick tick*, the advising teacher finally took a deep breath.


    However, when he was going to say "Wait", right before that¡ª


    Suddenly Noumi raised his shinai with not a terribly fast speed.


    And then Haruyuki finally saw it. Noumi''s mouth, slightly and quickly opened and closed.


    ¡ªWithout a doubt.


    The Acceleration command.


    The 1st year student called Noumi, the Neuro Linker on his neck contained the mysterious super application ?Brain Burst?, and he was a Burst Linker.


    "DOOoooo!"


    At the instant that Noumi raised his shinai, Takumu cut towards the opened up bosom.


    At the same time Haruyuki also shouted in his mouth.


    "Burst Link!"


    With a *Vishiiii!* sound, the world was frozen in blue color.


    With his 1000 time sped up senses, he saw Takumu''s shinai slowly moved towards Noumi''s trunk. No matter how you look at it, this attack could not possibly be dodged or defended by Noumi. That''s right, even if he also ?Accelerated? at that moment.


    With his pink pig avatar, Haruyuki entered the match arena and peeked through the blue face mask of Noumi. Unfortunately it was beyond the range of the Social Camera, so the actual face could not be seen. But, just the smiling mouth was recreated by polygon.


    While gazing at that face, Haruyuki used his left hand to start the Brain Burst console.


    This 1st year student Noumi, how he managed to evade Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime''s check after the school entrance ceremony was unknown. However right now, during the match his Neuro Linker must be connected to the Umesato middle school Local Net, then this Noumi''s name must also appear on the matching list.


    ¡ªAt this moment, I will ?Duel? him.


    Haruyuki decided that while he waited for the list to refresh. Noumi clearly used Acceleration ability in the kendo club''s match. Then probably, in the academic ability test next week he would also do that. However for Umesato middle school Burst Linkers, Haruyuki must teach him the "During tests and matches, ?Acceleration? is not allowed" iron rule of Nega Nebulas. If necessary, he will use virtual fists.


    After the searching finished, in the list, Silver Crow, Black Lotus, Cyan Pile, and then Lime Bell popped up on the display.


    "What...!?"


    While his right hand was extended towards the list, Haruyuki heavily panted.


    Not there.


    Noumi''s name was not there. The list was same as that day before, with only four known Burst Linker names on it!


    "Wh...y?"


    He whispered while dumbfounded.


    He did not think he was mistaken. Probably Takumu also thought that this Noumi was a Burst Linker, so he attacked without waiting in the first round. So he won''t give Noumi any time to sing the Acceleration command.


    No way, is this the reappearance of the backdoor program that Takumu used half year ago?, he thought like that for an instant, but soon negated it. That program was used as a stepping stage for someone from outside, in the Global Net, to connect to.


    However, at this moment, Noumi is actually in the Umesato middle school''s kendo gym. Then without doubt he should be connected to the school Local Net, and thus should appear on the matching list, absolutely.


    Haruyuki crossed the pig avatar''s two short arms, hung his head down, and desperately turned this thinking wheels. It took him a full minute to sort out the three possibilities that could explain this situation.


    The truth should definitely be one of these. But, no matter which, unexplained parts remained.


    While experiencing hard to say bad feelings and impatience, Haruyuki had a long sigh. Right now thinking more than that was pointless. He would need to discuss it later with Takumu and others.


    Before he stopped the blue world and returned to his real body, Haruyuki stared at Noumi''s shape once again.


    He might be recklessly aiming for Takumu''s face, with his shinai floating high above as he was about to jump. And Takumu''s timing in his attack on the body, was perfect even in the untrained eye of Haruyuki.


    Even if Noumi was a Burst Linker, or a kendo genius, or both, there was no longer anything he could do. Haruyuki wanted to look at Takumu getting a solid hit with his flesh eyes, so he shouted the Acceleration stop command while his eyes were wide open.


    "Burst Out!"


    From far away, the sounds of reality closed in. At the same time, color returned to the blue world. Takumu and Noumi''s movements, slowly, slowly returned to normal speed¡ª


    "...!?"


    And then Haruyuki, was again shocked for the umpteenth number of time in the past few minutes.


    Noumi''s body shifted right.


    It could not be called the level of footwork. Noumi''s foot, only the left tip was in contact with the match arena. Even so, with that one point as axis, the small body spun left like a figure skater, and slid right. From Takumu''s shinai''s chase, the body ran away, and escaped...


    At that point, Haruyuki''s senses'' acceleration was fully canceled.


    Takumu''s shinai hit Noumi''s body with a *slap*. But, it was too light.


    Right after, Noumi''s extended shinai that lashed out, caught Takumu''s face mask with pin-point precision.


    With a right foot step hard on the floor, he slashed down like that.


    "NMEeaaa!!"


    After that psyche, was a concentrated hit that could not be complained about.


    Within the kendo gym that was returned to full silence, eventually the words "Face hit!" echoed.


    "...Winner decided!!"


    From Haruyuki''s hand, the bag with his indoor shoes dropped down.

 Volume 3 - CH 5

    Not able to prioritize the matter that should be considered first, Haruyuki continued to stare for a while at the small shrimp on a slice of pizza held in his right hand.


    After deciding, he took a bite of out of it, then raised his head and inquired.


    "...Taku. That guy... Noumi is a Burst Linker right?"


    "Suddenly facing it head on, huh?"


    The right side of Takumu''s mouth rose in a wry smile, as he too had bit into a slice of pizza at the same time.


    8:30pm at night, they were in Haruyuki''s room in his apartment. After Takumu finished his club activities, took a shower at his home, and came here; it was sort of late already.


    As usual, Haruyuki''s mother wouldn''t be home till after midnight, but Takumu''s mother allowing him to go to a friend''s house for dinner, that would have been unthinkable while he was in elementary school. Haruyuki had not heard the details from Takumu about his transfer to Umesato middle school at the beginning of this year, but his parents seemed to be opposed to his decision.


    The result, after many conditions Takumu himself put up, his parents finally allowed it, but of course Haruyuki did not know about the finer details. At the same time, he admired Takumu''s struggle, with himself completely being neglected by his parent, which one is more blessed as a child? He pondered on these random thoughts.


    "Aa, eating those kinds of things again!!"


    It was during his 2nd bite of pizza, when that sudden voice broke through his thoughts.


    Chiyuri came straight in from the open door, put her right hand on her waist, and yelled again.


    "Geesh, Haru, I always told you to learn to make your own dinner!"


    "M-Made it."


    "Just taking it out of the box and warming it up right!"


    "P-Put it on a dish too."


    "That can''t be called cooking!"


    She pointed her finger at the tip of Haruyuki''s nose, then lifted the paper bag in her left hand high and held it out.


    "I thought it would be like this, so I asked Mama to make lasagna. There, lower your head!"


    ¡ªYou didn''t make it yourself either!


    He thought like that, but with the scent of cooked cheese drifting from the bag, Haruyuki could only prostrate himself and say "Yeah yeah".


    The lasagna that sat in the rectangular heat resistant dish, was a masterpiece made with a lot of Chiyuri Mama''s special bologna sauce, with a taste that the similar Italian cooking of frozen pizza could not compare to. They moved to the living room, with Haruyuki having 40% of the total, Takumu and Chiyuri having 30% each, it did not take them even 15 minutes to finish all of it.


    "Thanks for the food. Chi-chan''s mother, should open a shop."


    To the words said by a fully satisfied Takumu, Haruyuki also confirmed while nodding.


    "Really. She can make Japanese, Western, and Chinese food."


    "Aa, no go, no go. Mama''s cooking, when it''s not for Papa, she only puts out 50% effort."


    After Chiyuri said that with a serious face, Haruyuki involuntarily looked down at the empty lasagna dish.


    "Fo-For real? It''s this delicious and yet it''s just half the effort?"


    "Ah, this is about 95% effort. Mama said that if it was for my future husband candidate, Gyaa, what did you make me say, I will knock you out!!"


    With that sudden shout, and actually kicking Haruyuki''s shin under the table, Chiyuri carried the stacked dishes and forks towards the kitchen.


    While in agony, he exchanged slight wry smiles with Takumu, then Haruyuki cleared his throat and forcefully returned to their conversation topic.


    "...So, about Noumi. That''s right, what was the bottom part of his name?"


    "I think it was Seiji. Spelled like this."


    Takumu created a holo paper on top of the table, and smoothly moved his finger tip. The name that was written on the virtual paper with virtual pen was ?Õ÷¶þ?[1].


    "Hmm... does he have an older brother?"


    After Haruyuki''s murmur, Takumu also nodded after erasing the paper.


    "Yeah. I checked the graduation album, and there was a student called ?Noumi Yuuichi? three years above us. But his home address is encrypted that it could only be read by the same graduation year students, so it is not yet confirmed if he is Noumi''s onii-san or not."


    "Three years above? As far as age goes, that barely fulfills the first condition..."


    With the first condition of a Burst Linker aptitude being ?Wear a Neuro Linker right after birth? fulfilled, then he must be a child that was born in the year when the first Neuro Linkers became available in the market. That is to say, the ?First generation?, is in the current 2nd year high school¡ª that is looking from Haruyuki''s point of view, three years above.


    "However, if that Yuuichi-shi[2] is a Burst Linker, then he would be in the school with Master for one year. But, I never heard Master mention having any of her senpai being Burst Linkers."


    "Is that so... that''s right."


    After mumbling "Uun", Haruyuki said as to change the topic.


    "Well, let''s leave that Yuuichi-shi alone. For now the problem is the 1st year Noumi... Taku, that guy... ?Accelerated? during the match with you right? If it wasn''t for that, then you would not have lost like that..."


    Hearing that, the edge Takumu''s mouth had largely distorted smile.


    "Not really, I am not that great. It would not be strange that I lost after the 2nd match. Without acceleration, I am like that."


    "That''s not true. You were a lot stronger than the captain during the semi-final match!"


    After Takumu''s self deprecating speech, Haruyuki became irritated and retorted, then lowered his tone of voice.


    "Instead of talking about that, what happened? I for sure saw Noumi sing something like the acceleration command."


    After a long silence, Takumu lightly nodded.


    "...Aa. I also saw it..."


    "What~!!"


    That high pitched shout, was from Chiyuri who returned to the living room after having finished washing dishes. She put the bottle of green tea and three glasses on the table roughly, then continued.


    "No way, that guy is a Burst Linker too!? Then, but, Haru and Ta-kun also said that this year there wasn''t one in the 1st year!"


    "There wasn''t. That''s why we are troubled."


    After replying while pouting, Haruyuki scratched his head.


    "I also accelerated at the instant when I thought that guy accelerated, and checked the matching list. But Noumi was not there... Taku, that guy was connected to the Local Net right?"


    "He did. In the first place, if he did not, then he could not be in the match."


    "I thought so... But, that kind of reaction without acceleration... that guy, Taku''s first hit towards the face, and second hit towards the body seemed to be avoided as if he knew ahead of time. Especially the second hit, how to say it, it was as if he moved his real body while accelerating... That kind of thing, could not be possible."


    "Ah."


    Takumu made a strange sound, and Haruyuki also responded with "Huh?".


    "Wh-What is it?"


    "No... Haru, perhaps you did not know?"


    ¡ªThat way of speaking and expression, created a strong sense of Deja Vu in him.


    "Wait a minute... Stop that, it''s as if there is more ?Accelerated World common knowledge? that I did not know about. Like the ?Unlimited Neutral Field? and ?Judgement Blow?, while asking my face is red with embarrassment you know."


    "Yeah. Then, this is the third time."


    While snickering, Takumu seem to think for a bit, then he took one glass and filled it half way from the bottle of green tea.


    Then he lifted his right hand up, and stared at the yellowish green colored liquid¡ª


    "...?Physical Burst?!!"


    Right after the shout of a command that pulled at Haruyuki''s memory from somewhere, Takumu threw the tea in the glass straight up.


    "Wha..."


    "Kyaa..."


    Haruyuki and Chiyuri shouted in surprise at the same time, then right after, they were doubly shocked as their eyes opened wide.


    From high in the air, the green tea that came down drawing small curved paths, was caught without loss in the glass held in Takumu''s right hand!


    His right hand moved slightly while matching the uneven liquid, going from top to bottom then jumping back up. One second later, with a *Thump*, the glass bottom landed on the table, with almost the same amount of tea that was poured from the bottle sat in it and swayed. The droplets that fell onto the tabletop, was just four drops.


    "No way..."


    After hearing that whisper from Chiyuri, Haruyuki finally remembered where he heard a command similar to the one now.


    There was no way he could forget it. Half a year ago, to save Haruyuki from being hit by a runaway car, Kuroyukihime used the forbidden command ?Physical Full Burst?. It could only be used by level 9 Burst Linkers, with a cost of 99% of the user''s Burst Points, its effect was to ?Accelerate the real flesh body movement by 100 times?.


    The command Takumu used now, was without a doubt a lower ranked version. ?Physical Burst? without the ?Full?. That should exist at an earlier level, he suspected.


    "That means... it''s an acceleration command while the consciousness remains in the flesh body?"


    With Haruyuki''s quiet question, Takumu slowly nodded with a serious face.


    "That''s right. The rate is 5 times, duration is 3 seconds, cost is 5 points. The acceleration does not include the physical body movement, but for avoiding the fighting opponent''s attack, and getting in counter attack it''s easy."


    "If it is baseball, you can hit all home runs. I see... Noumi actually ?Moved while accelerating? to avoid Taku''s hit on his body..."


    After adding that, Haruyuki blew out a breath.


    He now understood the reason why Kuroyukihime did not teach him this command. Different from the basic command ?Burst Link? that is required for duels, ?Physical Burst? is only a function of acceleration ability that is needed for a user who desired fame or wished to be noticed. Above that, if you used it once there was no stopping, and if used often, he could imagine a fearful situation where many points would be used up.


    At the edge of his lips, with a self deprecating smile as that situation was fully mixed in, Takumu said.


    "Noumi Seiji is, exactly the same as I was last year. Everything. Winning matches with the power of acceleration, with the reparation of risk in existing duels, and using some kind of method to avoid detection. That''s why I, even if I lost to that guy, have no right to say anything"


    What broke that speech, was¡ª


    Chiyuri who was, not sure since when, standing behind Takumu. She knocked on his head with her knuckles.


    To Takumu who dropped his glasses and had his mouth open wide, Chiyuri snorted then yelled.


    "Wrong. It''s not the same. Ta-kun wanting to win matches is for me right. Ta-kun, after winning always waved to me first, right?"


    "Y...Yeah."


    "But, it''s different with that guy. That Noumi kid, did not look at anyone after the match. He just looked at himself and smiled. That''s why Ta-kun is totally different!"


    From the face of Chiyuri who said that frankly, Haruyuki moved his eyes to Takumu, and also gave a big nod.


    "That''s right, Taku. You are no longer your old self. More than anything, if that guy is a Burst Linker, then he''s already committed reality intrusion on us. In this situation, we can''t allow him to break our rule of no illegal use of acceleration ability in our base... no matter what, we have to find out why he does not appear on the matching list, and then ?Duel? him as a slap on his head."


    "Yeah! It''s okay, no matter how you are beaten up, I will heal you up with gusto!"


    "..."


    With his eyebrows deeply wrinkled, Takumu hung his head for a while.


    However, eventually his lips moved with the words "Thank you" leaking out lightly.


    When he lifted his head, he had returned to his usual calm expression. After one nod, Takumu said in a low voice.


    "...Understood. I will somehow try to check during club activity. You can leave that guy to me for now, Haru."

 Volume 3 - CH 6

    However, two days passed without any noticeable changes to the situation.


    Haruyuki was desperately trying to grasp the names, faces, and personalities of the students of 2nd year C class he was put in, so he did not have any extra time to think about the Noumi Seiji incident.


    For Haruyuki who was uncomfortable dealing with other people from long before, and the only people who talked to him were bullies, he could not believe that Chiyuri soon became friendly with a few girls, and started eating lunch with them. Even Takumu who transferred into this school, had already mixed into the smart group, and during lunch break, while surrounded by somewhat difficult formula on the 3D display, talked about this and that.


    Of course, if he ever said ''Let''s eat lunch together'' to those two, they would probably reject the invitations from their new friends, and eat lunch with Haruyuki. However, he absolutely did not want to depend on Chiyuri and Takumu like that.


    Like he had in the accelerated world, he had to break his shell in the real world, and at least make new friends. Thinking like that, he desperately listened around trying to find male students with similar conversation topics, and hung around the local net, but everyone talked about sports, music, and fashion mostly, with him not able to hear even a single microsecond of conversation about games and anime.


    ¡ªWell, I should try hard at it slowly. Even I have someone to eat lunch with. Furthermore, she''s the school''s most popular person.


    Even though he encouraged himself with that, since that person is the student council vice president, she was extremely busy with the school field trip in a few days, and danced around different classes, so the continuing situation was that he could not even meet her in the net, much less during lunch time.


    With that, the time when Haruyuki was finally able to speak to Kuroyukihime, was in the duel battlefield of the weekend ?Territory Battle?.


    "Iii...Yaaa!"


    In front of Haruyuki''s view, the jet black avatar ?Black Lotus?''s right leg, trailing a bluish purple color shaft of light, kicked straight up.


    With a *Bang* sound, the close range type enemy was cut apart from the waist to the shoulder in a straight line, and was blown away while spinning around, then hit a far away building and stopped moving.


    Looking up at the team winning display floating in his view, he saw that today their battle win ratio was over 80% and while feeling at ease, he walked towards his legion master.


    "Hey, good work, Silver Crow. Cyan Pile."


    "Good work!"


    "Good work."


    After Haruyuki, Cyan Pile''s huge body appeared from the entrance of the fallen building nearby with a greeting, and then continued in a low voice.


    "Sorry, I am on a break during club activities, so if you will excuse me. Master, in the field trip from tomorrow at Okinawa, have fun, and take care."


    Watching Takumu leave with Burst Out command in a hurry after leaving those words, Kuroyukihime lightly laughed with ''fufu'' sound.


    "He became a proper kendo club member already. Did he immediately become a member of the regular lineup?"


    "Ye...Yeah well. About that... Concerning that kendo club."


    Haruyuki quickly glanced around, confirming that the enemy team of three, and the over ten members of the gallery had already disconnected, still continued in a low sound.


    "There is still no proof, but... somehow, the new first year student that got in the regular lineup with Takumu, might be a Burst Linker..."


    "...Say what?"


    Haruyuki turned towards Black Lotus, who held up her two swords as if to cross her arms in front of her chest and narrowed her violet eyes to slits, and explained about the match the day before yesterday.


    Even after the explanation was finished, Kuroyukihime continued to be silent for a few seconds. Eventually she glanced up, and whispered "That''s still not close enough", as she leaned her elegant back on the nearby rubble, and Haruyuki also hesitantly sat near there.


    "Noumi... Seiji huh. His brother Yuuichi''s name, is not in my memory. Last year, and the year before, there was no Burst Linker amongst the upperclassmen. That''s why even if that Yuuichi was Seiji''s ?parent?, he had already lost Brain Burst when I entered Umesato middle school."


    After chewing on Kuroyukihime''s smoothly released words, Haruyuki mumbled "Yeah".


    "That means... If Noumi Seiji is a Burst Linker, then his ?parent? would be going to another school."


    "That is rare, but it is not unheard of. Actually, it is the case for me. However before that... Is that for sure? About that first year student called Noumi ?Accelerating? during matches."


    "We have no proof. But... for other sports maybe, but this is kendo. For Taku who used ?Physical Burst? command himself in kendo, I don''t think he would be mistaken about that..."


    "Fumu..."


    Black Lotus who lightly nodded, leaked out a sigh there as if she had a wry smile.


    "However, with that you learn of the existence of the physical acceleration command. I won''t tell you not to use it, but becoming a ball sports hero with that is prohibited by Nega Nebulas."


    "I-I won''t use it! Paying 5 points for just 3 seconds, then it would be way better to dive into the ?Unlimited Neutral Field? with 10 points. ...Instead of that, the problem is with the reason why Noumi did not appear on the matching list."


    "For sure, it''s hard to believe."


    With both eyes narrowed, Kuroyukihime whispered.


    "After the ?Backdoor Program? incident half year ago, similar type of inside trick should not have been able to be used after the patch. If Noumi is a Burst Linker, and he is connected to the Umesato middle school local net, then he must absolutely be recorded in the matching list. If he was not on the list, then that means Noumi was not connected to the local net."


    "B-But, while inside school, a student not connected to the local net, is that even possible? Furthermore during class, and in a kendo match too!"


    "...To be truthful, that is not possible..."


    To Haruyuki''s rebuttal, the black mirror goggles swung sideways.


    "If the school local net base server was invaded, or... No, no matter what that is way too risky. If it was discovered, then even for middle school, he might be expelled. After all... with some kind of illegal program, he might be masking himself from other Burst Linkers..."


    "That had happened before, right. I too, felt that is the most likely case... as well."


    While lowering the silver helmeted head, Haruyuki answered quietly.


    "However, even if that was the case, what would Noumi''s goal be? If he really wanted to hide the fact that he is a Burst Linker, then using commands like ?Physical Burst? would have the opposite effect. Actually due to that, we are already majorly suspicious of him. Even saying so, he should have complete grasp of our real information, but he had not used it to challenge us to ?Duel?. What does he really want to do?"


    For Kuroyukihime''s questions, of course Haruyuki could not answer them. After thinking for a bit, he said in an uncertain tone.


    "...That, we have to find out why he does not appear on the list, and ?Duel? him to ask about it, I think..."


    "Well... Yeah. For Burst Linkers, nothing will start without duels. I want to begin the fight, but unfortunately from tomorrow on I will be away from Tokyo for a week... Hmm, maybe I should fake sickness and remain..."


    "No, no way, don''t do that!!"


    Haruyuki hurried shouted, and shook both arms to push back Kuroyukihime''s outrageous lines.


    "Middle school field trip, isn''t that once in a lifetime thing! Please go, we will deal with the Noumi incident somehow!!"


    "Nn... is that so? But, don''t be too unreasonable. That''s right, have you decided what you would like for a gift?"


    "Aa, that is... I will feel bad asking for something too bulky... so something like let me watch video or whatever that senpai takes..."


    To be precise, video that has senpai in it.


    To be more detailed, something like high definition video of senpai in a swimsuit.


    Furthermore, add in the territory defense without the master reward, sent those through a 30cm direct connect cable.


    Hearing the request that Haruyuki added a lot to inside his heart, Kuroyukihime tilted her head and said.


    "What, are you fine with just that? Then, I will take lots and send them with email. Of all the Okinawa food that I eat during my vacation."


    And then Kuroyukihime, on the next day, Sunday morning, boarded an airplane at Haneda with 120 Umesato middle school 3rd year students, and flew to the far southern part of the country.


    Of course, it was still possible to contact her with voice call or full dive anytime, but thinking of a few thousand kilometers of physical distance between them made Haruyuki feel uneasy, and he continued to roll around on his bed as he tried to sleep again after waking up.


    ¡ªWhy am I not in the same school year as that person.


    If that was the case, then he might have been able to see her swimsuit with his own flesh-and-blood eyes during the field trip, and they would graduate together, going to the same school... no, being able to go the same high school or not might be a problem...


    While he was thinking of many round and about things, he noticed the icon lit in the center of his view about receiving a voice call message. After realizing that was from Takumu, Haruyuki jumped up, and tapped the icon with his fingertip.


    "Haru, good morning. About the Noumi incident, sorry for the late report. I wanted to somehow get hold of that guy''s Neuro Linker to check if the Brain Burst program is there or not, but did not get a chance... I finally managed to get only a picture, I''ve attached it. This morning I also have club practice, and if I find out anything I will contact you, see you."


    At the time the message replay was finished, the attached file icon lit up.


    After noticing the large data size, he wrinkled his eyebrow, but soon understood the reason after opening the file. What was displayed, was the kendo club''s new 1st year all member group photo.


    The Neuro Linker contains a camera inside, so it is technically possible to take a static picture or video anytime. However, that is also much easier to take hidden pictures than old cell phones.


    So right now, without permission through the net from the person in view, there is a function to prevent field of view screenshot of other people. ¡ªOf course, using strange methods to go around that limitations like Kuroyukihime is another thing altogether.


    For Haruyuki and Takumu, their Neuro Linker knowledge and tricks were not of that level, so obtaining Noumi''s facial picture could only be possible with waiting for a chance like a commemorative photo session. Haruyuki moved his eyes through the photo that was fully displayed in his view, and from the tags that float up and disappear one after another, eventually found the name tag ?1st year A class, Noumi Seiji?.


    Noumi''s true face¡ª could only be said to have the features of a boy with a lot of youth remaining.


    Round cut hair with light brown color, hanging down in length from the forehead. The eyes and nose were cute like a girl''s, but the smile that floated on the lips, had a wild flavor fitting for a proper kendo club member.


    "Are you... a Burst Linker...?"


    He whispered that, but of course Noumi in the still photo did not reply.


    Haruyuki carved the features of the very mysterious first year student in his brain, cleared the photo, then got down from his bed. He was thinking of going to Shinjuku or Shibuya area in the afternoon for ?Duels?, but changed that plan, and changed into his uniform to go to school. If Takumu and Noumi are going to train in their club, something might happen.


    In the kitchen, he put some ham and cheese in the stock up bread and ate it, left his mother that seem to be still sleeping a short message, then Haruyuki softly opened the door and went outside. Looking up at the bright blue sky above the high rise apartment made sparks twinkle in his view.


    Going to school during days off, might be the first time since entering that school, after he thought about it.


    He changed his shoes at the entrance, and glanced at the clock. His preparation and trip seem to have taken a lot of time, as it was already 12:15 pm noon. He was thinking of sending an email to check if Takumu was still here, but changed his mind after thinking that it was faster to go check directly.


    The school on Sunday afternoon, was surprisingly quiet.


    It was not that there was no one here. He could hear the sounds from soft baseball and track club in the grounds, and if he went to the cafeteria, he would find culture club students there.


    But, the inside of the school building with lights turned off was dimly lit, and it was quiet all around, which gave Haruyuki a doubt that he was lost at a different place somewhere else.


    Without really understanding why, he held his breath and walked in the first floor hallway, entering the sports building. He went pass beside the gym with basketball shoes scraping the floor sounds, and headed towards the martial arts arena¡ª


    "...Shieaaa!"


    That sharp psyche sound that entered his ears made him stop suddenly.


    It was mixed in a few other people''s sounds, but within the sounds that repeated with similar tempo, he accurately picked out Noumi''s high and sharp sound that he heard from the other day.


    Haruyuki became more stealthy, and left the hallway to go down to the gravel courtyard, then went forward a few meters towards the martial arts arena wall, and peeked into the window there.


    It seemed like the whole club training had already ended, so there were only a few members remaining in the wide wooden floor arena. There all seemed to be first year students that must had been ordered by upperclassmen to remain training, as they swung their shinai while lined up. From Haruyuki''s position, he could only see their backs, but near the right edge, one person with slender build and brown color mature style hair, was without a doubt Noumi Seiji.


    Even looking with Haruyuki''s eyes, he could see that compared to the other first years, Noumi''s swings were overwhelmingly sharper, with actual ability behind it.


    Haruyuki bit his lips and wondered why Noumi used acceleration ability to win matches when he had such degree of ability. Or did he have some sort of nonnegotiable circumstances? As Takumu''s thought and conclusion?


    At the time that Haruyuki leaked out a small breath, just Noumi suddenly stopped moving.


    As Haruyuki shrunk his head while wondering if he had been found out for peeking, but it seemed that was not the case. While still with his back to Haruyuki, Noumi walked towards the wall, and started putting away his shinai.


    "Hey Noumi, you haven''t finished the number of swings."


    While continuing to practice swinging, one first year student said that. With no reply to that, Noumi picked up his sports bag, and walked towards the arena exit as if he had already finished training. The club member that voiced the warning clicked his tongue, and the person beside him called out "It''s different for Regular-sama".


    Even hearing the blatant sarcasm, Noumi did not change his walking pace. If he left the arena while wearing his uniform, then Noumi would turn towards the side that Haruyuki was hiding at, so he hurried left the window side and went to hide behind a plant nearby.


    Noumi did not seem to notice Haruyuki, walked towards the hallway and went straight ahead, then he disappeared behind the stairs heading below the gym. Underground, was an even more out of the way location for Haruyuki in the school, which was a heated pool.


    Does he want to go swimming now?, amazed, Haruyuki had that thought, but soon canceled that speculation. There should be shower rooms beside the pool. After sweating plenty from training, he might be going there before changing out of kendo uniform.


    ¡ªShower Room.


    "...!"


    Haruyuki took a sharp breath.


    From look of the situation, the remaining first years should be continuing to practice swinging for a while. And in the surroundings, he could not see any other sports club students. That means Noumi Seiji, for a few minutes, would be completely alone.


    Is this a chance? Why was Noumi able to refuse to be shown on the matching list, and why did he ignore other Brust Linkers going to the same school, isn''t this a golden opportunity to ask him those?


    Of course, he might feign ignorance. But for Noumi, he had already used ?Physical Burst? command in front of Haruyuki and Takumu that he should have known were Burst Linkers. It seemed like he was purposely showing it to Takumu during a match. That, if he thought about it, was like an urge for contact¡ª wasn''t it?


    Even though he still had doubts, Haruyuki chased after Noumi while checking the surroundings.


    Right after entering the gym, the stairs going down were set against the side of the wall, and Haruyuki sneaked down it. Umesato middle school''s swimming class is an elective course, and Haruyuki had no incentive to select that, so this is without hyperbole the first time he went down those stairs.


    After taking a peek ahead of the left turn corner, he could no longer see Noumi''s shape in the short corridor. On the left wall, he could see divided entrances for the shower plus changing rooms. He glanced at the ceiling to check, but the familiar black dome social camera did not exist. From this passage to the interior of the shower room, is beyond camera range.


    After hesitating behind the cleaning equipment left at the corner for ten more seconds, Haruyuki made his decision and headed towards the shower room.


    Looking on the wall at the entrances, he could see the relatively fresh markings, left side pink for female use, and right side blue for male use were indicated. After checking the direction of the steps, of course he went to the right side, and after a few steps he listened for sounds. Of course, if there were other students inside other than Noumi, then he would have to sadly retreat, but he could not hear any sounds of talking. He noticed that his palms had became wet with sweat, and wiped them on his pants.


    ¡ªThere''s no particular need to be scared.


    I am also a male student of this school. Then no one could blame me for going ahead. Just that, I want to ask about Noumi''s intentions with only the two of us.


    After whipping himself once more, Haruyuki stiffly walked ahead, and succeeded in invading the shower room.


    The space was a lot wider than his expectations, with lockers lined up on the right wall. A long table was set in the center, and above it was left a school regulation sports bag. Many shower booths were set at the left wall in a line.The booths use smoke colored plastic panels to obscure view, and from one booth deep inside, he could hear water sound and see steam coming out of it. Other than that, no one else was there.


    ...Too late?


    Haruyuki gave out a small sigh. While he was having a lot of doubts, Noumi had entered a booth. Truly, he did not have the guts to assault someone during a shower.


    I should probably leave, while thinking that, he tried to back away¡ª at that time.


    On top of the long table, inside the half open sports bag, something flashed with reflection of light.


    He could only see a part of it, but it had smooth curves, without a doubt was a Neuro Linker.


    Normally, for security conscious people, they would put this device that could said to be another brain at a place out of sight. Maybe wearing it during showering, or at least put it in a locked locker. But, inside school, and furthermore was careless while alone, went without the turning of the mechanical key on a locker.


    If this was the case, then the Neuro Linker might not even be powered off? If it was powered off, then starting it would require brain check, so nothing much could be done, but while it was left on standby state, if he connect to that, then he could directly search the memory area.


    That''s right, in January this year, that ?Red King? Scarlet Rain connected to Haruyuki''s mother''s Neuro Linker, and left a fake email with this exact same method.


    Of course, this is not allowed by moral or school rules. If the teachers found out that he secretly connected to another student''s Neuro Linker, then being reprimanded would be the least of it.


    However¡ª even for the social camera net that usually do surveillance on the country''s people, it did not cover the school toilet and shower room. And then, without video evidence, it is the school policy to ignore violation of school rules. Just like how Haruyuki was totally ignored while he was thoroughly beaten up and threatened by his classmates while outside of camera view range. Also, with direct connection to peek at the physical memory, not only could he find out whether Noumi was a Burst Linker, there is a high possibility that he could find the truth of why he did not appear on the matching list.


    ¡ªThen, with about two seconds of thinking, Haruyuki made his decision.


    While listening to the continuing echo of water sound in the shower booth, he held his breath and went near the bag, pulling it open slightly. Inside, on top of a neatly folded jersey, was a pale purple Neuro Linker. The indicator light blinked light blue, showing it was in standby mode.


    He quickly connected the plug pulled from his pocket to his own Neuro Linker, then caught the other plug that was swinging in the air, and held it towards inside of the bag¡ª


    ...No, wait.


    This color. Purplish satin silver. As familiar as his own Neuro Linker, was not Noumi''s.


    While his thoughts stopped, Haruyuki froze while holding the plug, and in his ear came the creaking sound shower faucet being turned. The sound of water cut off.


    In front of his face that was raised in a daze, the swing type panel door opened with a creak.


    With a large towel from head to shoulders, Kurashima Chiyuri who came out, collided with Haruyuki''s view, and four eyes opened wide.


    This time, his frozen thought processes exploded with a boom, and for Haruyuki ¡ªwhat little saving grace for him in this situation¡ª the focus of his eyes did not have the leisure to move downwards, and just continued to stare at Chiyuri''s face. It was the same for the other party, who had frozen while in the posture of drying her hair.


    Eventually Haruyuki regained enough control to somehow move his mouth, and whispered in a sound that was almost not a voice.


    "Chiyu... you, why in the boy''s..."


    At the same time, Chiyuri also blinked once and said.


    "Haru. What are you doing in the girl''s shower?"


    ¡ªSay what?


    And then, at that moment Haruyuki finally noticed that the basic color of the space surrounding them was not blue, but pink instead. The slip resistant floor, the slick wall and ceiling, and also the table in front of him, were all greyish pink colored.


    ...But, that is, there''s no way!!


    Haruyuki opened his eyes wide as he screamed inside his chest.


    For sure, I went into the passage with the male marking. That display was not a wall panel, but a direct marking on the wall, so someone switching them as a prank was not possible. Or was it forcefully painted over with some kind of paint? No, there was not enough time for such large scale effort.


    While Haruyuki was turning his thinking gears at full speed on various things, Chiyuri finally seem to have realized her current appearance.


    As she glanced down at her body, her eyes became round, and the skin up to her ears became blood red. She covered as much of herself as she could with both hands, and raised her head again, taking a deep breath¡ª


    The loudest scream or burst of anger was going to be released, but right before that.


    From the outside passage, the sounds of a few female students chatting as they approached were heard.


    Instantly, Haruyuki belatedly realized that this situation could not be explained with just a mistake or a joke.


    This, is a truly dangerous situation. If it was exposed to the school authorities, there would be suspension, or expulsion, no, before that¡ª this incident might even involve the police.


    Chiyuri might have arrived at that realization at the same time, and from her beet red face, all the blood left it at once. As the two looked at each other with tense faces, the female students'' sounds were getting louder and louder.


    Suddenly Chiyuri''s extended right hand caught Haruyuki''s necktie that was on his chest, and pushed him with the power of peremptory force into the shower booth she used a moment earlier. Chiyuri also entered inside, pushing Haruyuki against the wall with her back, and put her towel on top of the smoke colored door.


    She took hold of the shower nozzle, set the touch panel temperature control all the way to the max of 60 degrees C, and turned the faucet fully open. The spray of water that come out fiercely hit the right side wall. With the bursting hot water, the booth was soon covered with pure white steam.


    "...Don''t say a word, stay still!"


    Right after hearing Chiyuri''s whisper, in the shower room on the other side of one panel, he felt the presence of at least three girls entering.


    "Ah gee, all sticky with sweat!"


    "Yeah, I want to wear summer uniform already."


    "I should at least change the Linker pad to mesh."


    Probably, they were track and field club members like Chiyuri. With the voices, sounds of zippers being pulled down continued.


    However Haruyuki of course did not have the room to imagine the outside scene, as he pressed his face against the wall, closed his eyes tight, and continued to stay quiet.


    With about 90% of his brain taken over by panic, the remain 10% continued to think of the reason why it had become like this.


    No matter what, he could not have mistaken the male and female use shower room markings. And since it was impossible to physically change the markings. Then, there was only one trick left.


    Electronic markings in his view.


    Overwriting his view with the Neuro Linker. With some kind of preset, to change the shower room markings from male to female, and female to male kind of fake picture was filled in with a program that was put in him. With that realization, he arrived, too late, at the thought of the markings that he saw a few minutes ago, the color tones were relatively fresh in the dim hallway. It was like it was giving off its own light.


    It was still a mystery where and when that program got into his Neuro Linker, but the person who sent it was probably that guy.


    Noumi Seiji.


    Everything was Noumi''s trap. That guy knew that Haruyuki was peeking at the kendo arena. Then he was lead to the shower room, where he invaded the female side due to reading the markings wrong, and therefore was plunged into this dangerous area. To fully remove Haruyuki, that is the Burst Linker ?Silver Crow? from this Umesato middle school.


    A fearfully vivid, ruthless, and relentless method.


    Just like, the time that Kuroyukihime removed a student named Araya, or even beyond that.


    "Ah, Chii? Are you still in there?"


    Sudden, right on the other side of the swing door, a girl''s voice called out.


    Chiyuri''s reply that was right beside his ear, Haruyuki listen while cowering in fear.


    "Yeah, I was also covered with sweat."


    "Isn''t that right, since it''s before the district qualifications, the teacher is over enthusiastic."


    With a T-shirt, white shirt, and a blazer on top while in the high temperature steam, Haruyuki''s whole body was already covered with sweat, so he could not feel the heat at all. Instead, his teeth were almost chattering due to the cold on his skin.


    If right now, the female student playfully opened the partition, then not only Haruyuki, Chiyuri would also be in trouble. Even though she was the first peeking victim, she would also be punished the same as Haruyuki.


    "Hey Chii, isn''t the water too hot? There is way too much steam."


    "Ah, it feels better when hot. It also promotes blood flow."


    "Oh no, don''t talk like my grandma."


    She and the other students laughed with "Ahahaha". Chiyuri also laughed, but passing through her back that was in close contact with him, he could feel her muscular body tremble slightly.


    ...Sorry. Sorry. Forgive me. I was an idiot. If I didn''t try something like fishing for the Neuro Linker in the bag, then something like this wouldn''t have happened!


    While screaming that in his heart, he ground his inner teeth to the limit¡ª at that time.


    A *creak* kind of door swing sound, made Haruyuki''s body jerked in surprise.


    However that was, the sound of a girl entering the booth beside. Then two more door open and close sounds came after, and shower water sounds all started.


    A few seconds later, he felt that Chiyuri''s body leave him momentarily to check outside.


    She soon returned, and after turning towards Haruyuki''s face, said with only her lips moving.


    ¡ªRight now, get out!


    Haruyuki held his breath, and nodded without even able to say thanks to Chiyuri''s quick wit, then unsteadily stepped out of the booth.


    He only glared at the exit, and desperately moved his tense body in a half bent posture one step, two step forward. If he fell here¡ª or some other girls came in....


    That kind of thinking almost made him faint, but miraculously his feet did not tangle, and Haruyuki succeeded in escaping from the shower room. After a short run past the U-shaped bend, he reached the separation area between the boy''s and girl''s sides, then leaned his lost strength back on the wall.


    Strength left his legs, and he was going to sit down like that, but the sudden eruption of anger prevented that.


    "...Bastard...!"


    After that shout in his mouth, he lifted his head, and charged towards the actual male shower room on the opposite side of the hallway.


    ¡ªHowever. In the pale bluish grey colored space, there was no one there. There was no sign of the shower booths being used. Probably, at the time of Haruyuki''s intrusion into the girl''s side, Noumi had already left.


    "...Shit."


    With that groan, Haruyuki hit the wall behind him with a *bang*.


    About two hours later, in his apartment''s 22nd floor''s Kurashima house, in Chiyuri''s room.


    Haruyuki pushed his forehead directly onto the floor.


    "Excuse me, sorry, my bad, really sorry!!"


    Not sure how many times the words of apology, that he kept repeating.


    The owner of the room, while sitting on the edge of the bed in her school uniform with arms crossed, continued to release intense killing intent. After letting in Haruyuki, who came visiting to apologize, she had not said anything, but that was even more fearful.


    What he had done, was really too true to be funny level of atrocity, he had fully realized that¡ª or supposed to. However, the true size of the shock on Chiyuri was something a male like Haruyuki could not fully share or understand.


    Anyhow, her stark naked body, was seen at a very close distance of at most one meter.


    Needless to say, this is already a bigger crime than last year''s Takumu putting a virus in Chiyuri''s Neuro Linker. It was different than going into the bath at the same time when they were young. Yes, everything was different. The collarbone that clearly stood out, the line of the greater pectoral muscle that connected her shoulder and chest, and the unexpectedly voluminous pure white¡ª


    "...You are remembering it, right."


    That sudden low sound echo, made Haruyuki jumped about 1cm up while in his kneeling position.


    "No, I haven''t remembered, didn''t remember!"


    "You''re lying, your ears are all red. Let me warn you, if you use that for something weird, then till your memory is gone, in that... what was it, oh yeah, ?Unlimited Neutral Field?, I will make you dive there. About 100 years worth."


    Haruyuki jumped again with that.


    "I-I won''t use it, I won''t!"


    ¡ªTo tell the truth, if Haruyuki was forced to use ?Unlimited Burst? command here, and he was monitored for 1 hour like that, then over 40 days would have passed inside. The picture stored inside his brain would have been mostly distorted without a doubt.


    However, over that time he would be chased around by other Burst Linkers or ?Enemy?, and other than loss of memory, he would have succumb to exhaustion, so Haruyuki desperately shook his head.


    "Forgot it, super forgot it!"


    "...Well, what kind of penance I want from Haru, I will think about that deeply later. That, I will put it on hold for now."


    With a snorting sound from her nose, she threw something fluffy at Haruyuki''s head. When he glanced up, he saw that it was a large doll cushion.


    "You can stop kneeling, just sit."


    "Ye...Yes."


    With a nod, he picked up the cushion. He thought it was an elephant, but the nose was short, and there were three pairs making six legs.


    "Wh-What''s this?"


    "It''s a waterbear. The strongest living thing on earth... Hey, instead of that! The reason why you sneaked into the girl''s shower was a virus''s fault, and the person who put it there was some kid named Noumi, that talk... Is it true?"


    Haruyuki hurriedly sat properly on top of the strange living thing, and kept nodding.


    "Wi-Without a doubt. For sure I went into the male marked side shower. No matter what kind of goofy alien I am, I would not have mistaken pink and blue markings."


    "But, when did he put that in you? You did not even talk to Noumi right?"


    "Ye...Yeah."


    He slowly nodded.


    Actually, the route the virus was put into him was all a mystery. It would be contact with his Neuro Linker in the one week between the school entrance ceremony and today, but Haruyuki himself could not think of any chance for that.


    If he was able to examine the virus itself, then he might be able to find the time that it was put there, but no matter how much he checked the physical memory, he could not discover any strange program. After looking at the Neuro Linker activity log, he found out that right after he entered the female shower room, a trace was left of an unknown file automatically erased. Since he did not remember doing that himself, then probably, the virus was activated and reached it''s goal¡ª that meant after filling Haruyuki''s view with those markings, it was set to self destruct.


    "But then..."


    Chiyuri''s thick eyebrows wrinkled, and she tilted her head.


    "If he could do that, then why did he not totally destroy Haru''s Neuro Linker OS, or erase the ?Brain Burst? program? If his goal is to stop you from ?duels?, then wouldn''t that be more effective?"


    "No matter what, viruses cannot destroy system files. The most it could do is use functions for pranks. And also, for the Brain Burst program itself, once a person becomes a Burst Linker, he could download it from anyone else. Without that, upgrading the Linker would not be possible. Of course, you would have to put the core card in the new Linker..."


    After that rebuttal, Haruyuki also wrinkled his face.


    "No, but... to tell the truth, if he could use high level skill of replacing sight and sound, then instead of prank level, he could have used more wild methods... For example, like replacing the road crossing red signal with blue signal, and full sensory masking of the racing cars, then he could even kill me...?"


    "Ki-Kill...?"


    After that involuntary shout, Chiyuri held her mouth with her hand to prevent her mother that should be in the living room from noticing, and once again said.


    "Kill, hey you, what are you saying!? Th-That''s not game talk."


    Here, Haruyuki could only weakly smile and shook his head.


    "Brain Burst is a game but not a game. For guys like Noumi who use ?Acceleration? for status in the real world, they will do anything to protect their power. Think about it, if it was not you who came out of the shower booth there, and it was some other girl, then now I..."


    "...Would be in the police station, right."


    With a belated shiver on her back, Chiyuri whispered.


    "But... Then, from now on, that Noumi guy would set more traps for us like that? Not only Haru... Ta-kun, Kuroyuki-senpai, and me also would be targeted...?"


    "No, I won''t let him behave like that."


    Trying to sweep away Chiyuri''s unease, Haruyuki interrupted with unaccustomed tone.


    "After understanding that guy''s attitude, we will no longer just wait and see. Maybe tomorrow, Taku and I will go after that guy. Though it''s not my choice... if necessary, even with forced direct connection, we will expose the secret of why he did not appear on the matching list."


    "...Haru..."


    However, Chiyuri still looked depressed as she bit her lips, and her face lowered.


    "I... somehow, don''t like it. I feel something is wrong. It''s just a game... but Haru, Ta-kun, and Noumi also, don''t seem to be having fun at all."


    "Th-That''s not true."


    He hurriedly shook his head, but at the same time thought that it was not unreasonable for her to think like that.


    Since Chiyuri is a rare avatar, that is ?Recovery Type?, she had not even once experienced the normal ?Duel?. That field''s width and detail, the battle''s excitement and the exhilaration of winning, he wanted a lot to show her that quickly, but that would have to wait till Kuroyukihime returned to Tokyo one week later.


    "At-At least for me, I changed after meeting Brain Burst... I also had a heart to heart talk with Taku, and I feel that my slavishness parameter had gone down a little..."


    After hearing those non-connecting words, Chiyuri quickly blinked, then showed a smile with deep meaning.


    "...Well, that might be true. If it was Haru from before, after seeing me naked, you would have surely ran away for a month without even apologizing to me."


    Ugh.


    At the end of those words, that problematic picture again reappeared inside his brain, so to hide his heated face, Haruyuki again kneeled down.


    "Excuse me, sorry, my bad, really sorry!!"


    "Stop that already!"


    Again another cushion came flying, hitting his head.


    Continuing after that, what a returned sharp tongue, Chiyuri announced in a low tone.


    "Also, let me warn you. That shower room incident, if you tell Ta-kun, then this time for sure I will blow you away. I will also tell Kuroyuki-senpai afterward."


    "Wha?"


    Haruyuki suddenly froze.


    To be truthful, he did not plan to leak this to Kuroyukihime, but he thought about reporting this to Takumu after this apology.


    "Ta...Taku also?"


    "Of course, what were you thinking of?!!"


    While getting hit with the third cushion on his head, Haruyuki thought, So it''s matter of course.... But, if it''s like that, how would he explain Noumi''s attack? No, he should only report that he had been mislead to the female shower room, then he would not have to say anything about running into Chiyuri there.


    While feeling somewhat shameful for keeping a secret from his best friend and comrade, Haruyuki took a deep breath, and shook that away.


    Right now is not the time to drag that shower room incident out.


    That, was a declaration of war from Noumi. In the war that was going to begin, they would need all of their concentration. And then if possible, he would like to have this problem solved before Kuroyukihime returned from Okinawa. He would not want to expose that level 9 person to danger.


    While listening to himself saying that, Haruyuki left the Kurashima house, and returned to his home two floors above.


    However, Haruyuki was mistaken. He did not see that he was already in a situation with no way to turn around.


    Before he realized that, the war had already begun, and it also ended.

 Volume 3 - CH 7

    "It''s game over, Arita-senpai... no, Silver Crow."


    Those were the first words from Noumi Seiji when Haruyuki first met him.


    The front entrance of Umesato middle school was on the east side, with the north side shaped like the top of ¹¤ character. The north section was the special classes building, and the south section is the normal classes building, with two empty blocks divided by the sports building in the middle. The east block is the ?Front Courtyard?, and the west block is called the ?Central Courtyard?.


    That central courtyard has many old camphor and oak trees stretching their branches profusely to all sides, so it is dim even at noon. Without any bench or grassy area, most students don''t go near there, and it was not setup with social cameras.


    When Haruyuki received the call to go there by Noumi using type email, it was right after the ending of the first class on Monday morning. After seeing at the end of the short message composed with small font saying "Come alone", Haruyuki looked at the back of Takumu that sat to the right front of him.


    Haruyuki hadn''t conveyed the shower room incident from yesterday to Takumu, after all.


    It was fine to explain up till having a virus put into him, and rushing into the female side, but to explain how he managed to survive that, he would have to touch on the fact that he had encountered Chiyuri. But Chiyuri herself had forbidden him to speak about the incident, so no matter what he said to hide that would be a lie.


    He did not want to lie to Takumu at all.


    But he also understood why Chiyuri would not want to be shamed more than she already had been.


    While he was moaning, due to being caught in the dilemma of the two opposing situations, that was when he got Noumi''s message.


    Unavoidably, Haruyuki decided that he would have to leave reporting to Takumu till after the direct meeting was over. Since the email clearly said to come alone. If Takumu was with him, Noumi might not appear.


    The time specified was from the start of the 20 minute break between the 2nd and 3rd period class, which was when Haruyuki stood up from his seat and jumped out into the hallway. He went down the stairs, reclaimed his sneakers from the shoe box, and from the gravel path beside the gym, stepped into the central courtyard.


    It was not a place with good memories for him. Since it was outside the social cameras'' range, so while he was in first year, he was called here many times by groups of bullies. After being pushed, he would fall on his behind on top of the damp fallen leaves, with nothing else other than being miserable.


    ¡ªBut, that was all in the past. The me right now, is different from the me of those days.


    While whispering that inside, he walked towards a big Mongolian oak standing in the center of the gloomy woods.


    With a *crunch* small footstep sound, a human shadow appeared in that direction, and faced Haruyuki.


    Haruyuki who thought that he would absolutely be the first the arrive, was slightly taken aback by the opponent at that moment, and his right foot took half a step back.


    Seeing Noumi Seiji face to face, he noticed that he definitely had a very small build. Compared to Haruyuki who was somewhat shorter than the class average, he was another 10cm shorter. His limbs, trunk, and his dark grey Neuro Linker equipped neck was small like a child''s. Their difference in weight were probably near two times.


    His face too, was so childlike that you would mistake him for a girl. Haruyuki should have remembered this face from the photo that Takumu sent him, but for a moment, he doubted whether this really was the opponent that set that ruthless trap for him.


    With clean cut soft looking hair waving, Noumi made a slight bow. On his eyes with long eyelashes, and his small mouth, a smile appeared¡ª


    "It''s game over, Arita-senpai... no, Silver Crow."


    Noumi Seiji said that.


    "Wh...Wh-What?"


    Being caught on the wrong foot, Haruyuki could only inquire with those words.


    While still smiling, Noumi shook his delicate shoulders, and said once more.


    "That is, winner decided. It''s my win, senpai."


    "Wi-Win what...?"


    After taking a large breath, and revived his thought, Haruyuki glared at his opponent.


    "We haven''t had a ?Duel? yet. That''s because you used some kind of trick to not appear on the matching list."


    "That is no longer necessary, the duel. Since I have this."


    Noumi took his right hand out of his pocket, and lightly manipulated his virtual desktop. In Haruyuki''s view, an accept file confirmation holo dialogue lit up.


    "Please don''t worry, I haven''t put a virus or anything like that in it."


    "..."


    Even being told that, Haruyuki could not believe it immediately, so he glared at Noumi with doubtful eyes, and slowly asked.


    "...You, how did you put a view masker into my Neuro Linker?"


    "Hmm, you noticed that much, huh? Then, I will tell you the spoiler as a reward. The photo, it''s the photograph! Mayuzumi-senpai sent it to you right?"


    "Ph...Photograph?"


    After being told, Haruyuki belatedly realized it. It was the kendo club first year student group photo that he got from Takumu yesterday. Right before he opened the file, he clearly remembered that the data size was relatively large.


    "That, embedded in my nametag. The Neuro Linker''s photo viewer, and the Augmented Reality information display use the same engine. Hiding a program that does a bit of view manipulation with it is easy."


    Noumi explained while smiling, but for Haruyuki who finally had a bit of a grasp on programing, he did not think that was possible to make with just shallow skill level.


    Probably Noumi is also similar to Kuroyukihime and ?Red King? Niko, with an outer appearance not matching mental age level of veteran Burst Linker. He could not be underestimated for being younger.


    While listening to his inner self saying so, Haruyuki this time started virus checkers other than the default ones, and fearfully accepted the file that Noumi sent over.


    What was instantly sent over, seemed to be a short video. Before playing, he checked that there were no inconsistencies in the file size with the video quality and length. Then with stiff lips, he tapped the icon with his fingertip.


    A rectangle replay window opened up fully in his view.


    The video that was shown, was crisp even with a bit of noise. It was capturing a place that seem like a school hallway from a high viewpoint.


    It seem to be underground, with no window on left and right sidewalls. The hallway did not seem to be too long, and on the left side of the wall right in front, was an entrance and exit with no door.


    The inside of that area was soon split left and right, with two markings on the wall in between. Blue color for male use, and pink color for female use. That was¡ª


    The entrance to the shower rooms below the gym.


    After realizing that, Haruyuki could clearly predict the scene that the video would show. At the same time, goose bumps rose on his two arms and back.


    One second later, from the lower right portion of the view, a stubby male student came into the frame. Shaggy and poorly organized hair. Aluminum silver Neuro Linker.


    After the boy reached the center of the video at the shower room entrance, he glanced back once at the direction of the camera. The round face that was captured from the front, was none other than Haruyuki.


    Haruyuki that was in the video, after seeming to hesitate for a while¡ª


    Then, with a trot, went to the right side path that had the female use marking.


    "Ah, gee, you were too hasty, senpai!"


    While his head became all white, and he stood there in a daze after the video replay finished, and Noumi''s cheerful voice reached him.


    "Normally, when you realize that it was all pink colored inside, you would have ran away! But still you never came out. I was wondering what to do."


    Those words of Noumi were a mystery, but before that, he could not believe that this video itself could exist, and Haruyuki wrung out a dry sound.


    "Y-You... this, how did you...? That pathway, should not have a place to hide..."


    Hearing that, Noumi laughed as if it was actually funny, then shook his head sideways.


    "That is why the recent young people are.... You made me want to say something like that. Do you think that the Neuro Linker is the only portable device in the world? About ten years ago, this kind of thing was also for sale."


    What he pulled out from his pocket, was a sleek device small enough to fit in his palm. The front side was fitted with a single lens.


    "Well, for current digital cameras, there are only large diameter single lens reflex(SLR) ones. But, even with that, the resolution is plenty right? The one being captured is Arita-senpai, anyone can tell by looking. This, was set above the tool storage in that hallway."


    While gazing at that toy like machine with a dumbfounded expression, Haruyuki inquired half automatically.


    "...You... you going that far, just to remove me from this school...? No matter what you have to do, you are going to force me to be ex-expelled?"


    "No no, no way, not at all!"


    With his narrow eyes wide open, Noumi shook his head as if he heard something foolish.


    "Forcing senpai to be expelled, what benefit would it have for me? Anyway, if I corner you that far, then senpai might get desperate enough to attack me in the real world, and that would not pay. I just, for my middle school life from now on, want Arita-senpai to..."


    There he paused, Noumi Seiji revealed an innocent¡ª yet extreme cunning and coldness hidden inside kind of smile on his whole face.


    "...become a loyal and hard working dog is all. To come and let me munch on burst points for my use everyday, as a smart pet dog."


    "I won''t let that happen."


    ¡ªThat sound, shook the oppressive atmosphere in the central courtyard.


    Haruyuki was so startled that his back flinched, and Noumi while maintaining his smile, turned towards the direction of the sound.


    Coming out of the woods, was Chiyuri with blazing eyes shining like a cat. Takumu was not with her. It seemed like she chased after Haruyuki by herself, and heard the conversation.


    Chiyuri approached while crunching on the underbrush, then she faced Noumi at very close range, and released sharp words.


    "I called Haru from the inside of the girl''s shower room. If that video is made public, I will testify like that. The reason was, I fell and twisted my leg so I could not stand up, how about that? With that, there is a valid reason for Haru to enter the female side. Of course, there would be no suspension or expulsion from school."


    After hearing that, Haruyuki forgot about his crisis, and opened his eyes wide in a daze.


    Truly, that explanation had plenty of persuasive power. In the first place, if the reason was for peeking, then openly intruding from the front entrance is too absurd.


    ¡ªHowever.


    Even after Chiyuri closed her mouth, Noumi''s thin smile did not disappear.


    With leisurely movements he put away the small camera device, then his hands slowly came together, as if he was clapping and said.


    "That is good, very good, Kurashima-senpai. For a baby chick that just became a Burst Linker."


    "...Stop your bluffing please. Already, the video that you took, has no more effect."


    "Hmm, don''t bet on it. It''s just an example..."


    Noumi gestured as if acting, and held up one finger.


    "...If, around this time, a hidden camera was discovered from the locker inside the female shower room... what would happen? There would be a big uproar in the school. Then, after the search for the offender begins, that previous video is uploaded to the local net... with that, would Kurashima-senpai''s cover for Arita-senpai still work?"


    "...!!"


    Haruyuki and Chiyuri took in a sharp breath at the same time.


    "No way... You, went that far?"


    At the same time that dry sound left his mouth.


    Suddenly a red light flashed in front of his eyes. On the top of his view, in pretentious large Mincho font, [Emergency Notice] words scrolled past. Without the time to be surprised, a *Kinkon Kankoon* sounding chime echoed all over his hearing. Different from the bell for start of class, it''s a tone charged with a sense of urgency. Continuing, a female synthetic voice sounded the announcement.


    "From the Umesato middle school management department, this is an emergency notice. From the current time on, the areas below will be forbidden entry by all students. The students in those areas, please leave quickly. Repeat..."


    Right after, displayed fully in his view, was a transparent 3D map of Umesato middle school. A section in the center, was dyed in bright red.


    That was, the area above and below the gym. Of course, that also includes the female shower rooms.


    Even after shrinking the picture to a small icon, and his view recovered, Haruyuki continued to stare at Noumi''s face in a daze. The first year who just entered school, brightly said with unchanging smile.


    "They finally discovered the camera, huh? Well, the shutter sound was set to ring at this time, so naturally they would."


    Those words, were half overwritten by the commotion that came from all of the school buildings at the south side.


    Chiyuri who took a step back, whispered in a sound volume that could almost not be heard.


    "Are you... s-still sane? This...This large scale thing being done... just, for a game...?"


    "It''s me who wants to ask you, Kurashima-senpai. Brain Burst is ?Just a game?, do you really think like that...?"


    At that moment, Haruyuki saw the sharp change in the quality of Noumi''s bright smile up until then.


    A corner of his mouth lifted up, and from his narrowed eyes, cold light was released. His tongue that poked out, licked his lower lip mockingly.


    Towards Chiyuri who shivered, the blue ribbon on her chest.


    Noumi''s right hand extended snake like and casually grabbed it. Then violently pulled.


    "Ah...!?"


    As she let out a small scream, the young and strong voice was released sternly in front of Chiyuri''s eyes, with both of their noses almost within touching distance.


    "Don''t use insolent words against me again. You can only follow my orders, if you want to save Arita-senpai. ...Even saying so, the level 1 Kurashima-senpai, won''t be able to earn points so easily..."


    Suddenly, Noumi slipped behind Chiyuri, holding his left arm strongly around and below her chest. He put his jaw on Chiyuri''s right shoulder, and directly whispered into her ear.


    "...You, will be my toy dog instead of a hunting dog. While I ?Duel?, be sure to be in the gallery and attend to me. Fufufu... a special use pet, even the ?Six Kings? don''t have one. Ah, don''t worry, I don''t think I will ask you to do anything in the real world. For the moment, that is."


    After hearing Noumi''s words, Haruyuki''s temple had an intense pain. The *Creak Creak* strange sounds which he did not notice immediately, were his inner teeth grinding together.


    "Y...You bastard."


    With that groan, Haruyuki was going to take a step forward. At that moment.


    "Who said you could move, dog... no, senpai."


    With a cold smile, contemptuous words came flying.


    "I said it at the beginning, that it''s game over. There is no longer any choice left for senpai. Quietly, just sit there or something for a while."


    After saying so, Noumi took out something small and long from his blazer pocket. Without having to look closer, Haruyuki soon understood that was an XSB cable. And then, it''s purpose.


    From behind, with his left arm holding Chiyuri''s body tightly, Noumi held the small plug towards Chiyuri''s neck.


    A thin mist of tears covered Chiyuri''s wide open eyes¡ª


    And then, when he saw that her pure white teeth were shaking in small chatters.


    Inside of Haruyuki, a certain kind of sound snapped.


    "...You bastarddd!!"


    Before he realized that the shout was his, Haruyuki had kicked the wet ground. With his unaccustomed fist tightly held, he fiercely charged towards Noumi.


    He had no idea what he was going to do right now.


    With his flesh and blood fist, that is using violence to make an opponent succumb, destroy his pride, and make him obey. That was the lowest and worst act that Haruyuki himself painfully suffered, but that kind of sense had already been blown away. Only the urge of wanting to recklessly hit this far smaller than him boy called Noumi exist.


    Even seeing Haruyuki huge body charging in¡ª


    Noumi''s thin smile did not disappear.


    He strongly pushed Chiyuri flying, making her roll on the grass. Then he lowered his waist, with his mouth slightly open.


    At that moment, Haruyuki realized what his opponent was going to do.


    It''s ?Acceleration?. Furthermore, not the normal kind. With the consciousness remaining in the flesh, the 10 times sped up ?Physical Acceleration?.


    The instant he realized that, Haruyuki at the same time as Noumi, instinctively shouted the command that he had never used before.


    ""Physical Burst!!""


    With *UUUuuuu* sounds, all of the surrounding sounds'' pitch lowered. And the color of the sunlight darkened.


    And then, the density of the air increased.


    It was like he was inside a colorless, transparent viscous liquid. It took a long time even to take a step forward. Instead of acceleration, this is deceleration, but that thought was soon dismissed. The effect of this command was that, the consciousness was accelerated 10 times while it remained in the real world. This meant that the speed of your flesh and blood body and everything else was lowered to 1/10.


    Just one meter ahead, Noumi also moved, slow and sluggish. While the cold smile was pasted on his mouth, he held up his right fist. After that fist reached above his shoulder, it slowly turned to move forward. Normally Haruyuki would not be able to see this punch path, but right now he could clearly predict it.


    While in the sticky and heavy air, Haruyuki leaned his body to the right side. At the same time, his left fist came from below and thrust upwards. He would avoid Noumi''s punch, and at the same time counter with a hit aiming for his stomach.


    ...Is this, really alright?


    Bubbles of those kind of thoughts, floated up to the water surface of his heart and popped up with very small sounds.


    However, Haruyuki forcefully sunk them back into the depths.


    ...This guy, just Noumi he would not forgive no matter what. Not just me, he also threatened Chiyuri, frightened her, and above that¡ª what did he say? Toy dog?


    Won''t forgive. Absolutely.


    Haruyuki carefully steadied his fist that was aiming to thrust into Noumi''s right flank.


    Due to that, he realized it too late.


    Noumi''s right straight, stopped after moving just a little, and in exchange, his left hook shot out.


    ¡ªA feint!?


    He hurriedly stepped down with his right leg, and tried to lean to the left side this time.


    However, the center of mass that was leaned to the right side, could not be returned easily.


    Noumi''s left fist closed in on his face. At the same time, his body opened up, and the right flank that Haruyuki was aiming for moved far away.


    The effort he put into correcting the path was not enough, and Haruyuki''s fist just grazed pass Noumi''s blazer.


    Right after, he felt the right side of his jaw touched by Noumi''s fist.


    What is with this punch? It doesn''t hurt at all, upon the brief moment of that thought¡ª


    The force that passed through the thick layer of stored fat around Haruyuki''s neck area, reached his jaw bone, then irresistible heaviness and hardness was conveyed by his nerves. Soft cell groups being destroyed, blood capillaries being broken, those kind of feelings, Haruyuki tasted them in 1/10 replay speed.


    As if pushed by some kind of slow explosion like heat and pressure, Haruyuki started to fall to his left side. At the edge of his sideways view, Noumi who pulled his fist back, with that momentum not stopping, spun his body and held up his right leg.


    With action movie like slow and perfect motion, Noumi let out a back spin kick, which Haruyuki could only look on helplessly.


    The heel of the right leg that was extended straight out, touched his right flank, ate in, fearfully deep, and thrust in deeply¡ª


    As if a huge pole was stuck in his jiggly stomach, after tasting pain beyond imagination for many seconds, Haruyuki slowly floated into the air. At the edge of his view, blurred by tears, he saw Chiyuri''s face, distorted by pain.


    Before his back hit the ground, it took 7 more seconds.


    For the remaining amount of ?Physical Burst? command''s subjective time of 30 seconds, as Haruyuki unsightly rolled, he could only withstand the pain that flared up.


    With *uuuUUU* sounds, the pitch of the surrounding sounds returned, and at the same time, the air''s thickness also disappeared.


    "Gu... haa!"


    After the acceleration of his consciousness stopped, he let out a sharp moan, and held his kicked stomach as he curled up. While repeating dry heaves, he saw Noumi''s sneaker that approached after crunching on the underbrush.


    "Ah, that''s no good, senpai. Fights during physical acceleration are determined by reading ahead and using feints, you should have understood if you thought over it a little right? Or could it be that, you haven''t even fought before? If it was like that, then I should have had no need to use the command. 5 points wasted."


    Stopping right in front, he used his right foot on Haruyuki''s shoulder, and kicked him into a face down position.


    "There are 3 more minutes till the next class, huh? ...Well, we will make it in time. I will respond to your request, and be your opponent, Arita-senpai."


    "Ah... ouch...?"


    While enduring the sharp pain that finally lessened, Haruyuki moaned.


    After doing so much already, what does he want now?


    The answer to that question, was not with words, it was with the shining XSB plug that approached.


    While stepping on Haruyuki''s back with his left foot, Noumi bent over, and without any hesitation, thrust the plug into Haruyuki''s Neuro Linker, then shouted.


    "Burst Link!!"

 Volume 3 - CH 8

    [HERE COMES A NEW CHALLENGER!!]


    After the familiar sounds of acceleration, those words were displayed in his view, which Haruyuki gazed at while stunned.


    ?Duel?!? Why now!?


    Up till now, Noumi had used some unknown method to block being registered on the matching list, and had kept on avoiding duels. So then, why at this time, and furthermore initiated a challenge himself?


    Haruyuki whose thoughts were confused by all the happenings, could not immediately fathom Noumi¡¯s intentions. With his eyes opened wide, he could only look on as the world morphed into the ?Duel stage? with dry seismic sounds.


    The dense grove of trees lost all their fresh leaves at once, and morphed into deep black withered woods. The sky became darker and darker, sinking into the indigo of dusk.


    The school building that stood on three sides, slowly decayed into skeletal ruins. From the grey colored ground, with ¡®Zubo zubo¡¯ sounds, numerous poles and boards grew out. No, not poles ¡ª¡ª grave markers. Mossy crosses and tombstones continued all the way to the edge of his view.


    At the same time as the stage creation was completed, on his view¡¯s upper left and right side, two HP gauges extended. Under the left side bar, Haruyuki¡¯s duel avatar, ?Silver Crow?¡¯s name floated up. And then the right side ¡ª¡ª.


    ?Dusk Taker?. Level 5.


    He had never seen or heard of that name before. However, the level was unexpectedly high.


    Probably, the person called Noumi, had always repeated the same thing. Set a trap for other Burst Linkers, obtain their weakness, then threaten them to ?pay up? Burst Points. With that, he could level up without having to fight.


    In front of Haruyuki who was grinding his teeth, finally the large [FIGHT!!] words burned up, and blew apart.


    After seeing that, Haruyuki finally realized that he had been kneeling on the ground as he had before the acceleration. And then, someone was also stepping on his back.


    ¡°...!!¡±


    He hurriedly bounced up, and took a large jump to distance himself. As he held his hands up and stared, in front was ¡ª¡ª.


    A strange looking avatar stood there.


    The silhouette was normal human shape. The size was small, not much different from Silver Crow. The face was also similar. The whole face was a blank visor shape, with only reddish purple eyes sharply floating inside. The body and legs were slender like poles.


    But, just the two arms, could only be called weird.


    The right one was clearly machine type, with gears and shafts made up the thick arm with side armor, equipped with a brutal edge tool like a bolt clipper.


    However, the left side, no matter how you look at it, was a living thing type. With fine rings on the outside, from a creature like arm, at the wrist, were three split up long tentacles.


    It was a shape with no sense of unity, but the whole body color was as the ?Dusk? name implied, a blackish purple. For its color circle affinity, it could be close or long range, but the color saturation was very low.


    After his momentary observation was over, as Haruyuki carefully stood on guard, he quietly spit out the deduction that he had finally arrived at.


    ¡°...This means, you are going to drain my points right? To be taken down without resistance, for today¡¯s ?payment?, is that what you want to say?¡±


    Noumi ¡ª¡ª Dust Taker, staying silent for a while, continued to face Haruyuki with the dusk colored visor.


    Eventually, his tentacle shaped arm jerked, and a sound with laughter was released.


    ¡°At the moment you became your duel avatar, you got more spirited, senpai. Even though in the real world you are still stepped on by me.¡±


    Ignoring the sneer laughter, Haruyuki immediately retorted.


    ¡°You also, can you still show me all that composure? Already, I know of your real face and name, now also your avatar name and appearance. That, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s about the same deadly information as that previous video from in front of the shower room?¡±


    ¡°Is this what you mean to say? If that video is made public, in return that will cost my ?Reality Intrusion?, to make other Burst Linkers attack me.¡±


    ¡°...Do I have any reason to hesitate?¡±


    ¡°Fufufu, scary. Well, I will admit that senpai also holds a card. But, to accept points, eventually this kind of ?duel? is necessary. In this case... something else, I think I will accept from you.¡±


    The meaning of Noumi¡¯s words spoken with metallic effect, Haruyuki could not immediately understand.


    ¡°A... accept?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Senpai¡¯s, important thing. Well then... since we are in a stage, how about a fight? Since this is a direct connection duel, it is a bit lonely without the gallery.¡±


    After saying so, the blackish purple avatar held up his right hand cutter, and closed it once with a clank.


    He could no longer understand Noumi¡¯s intentions.


    However if it was a fight, he was not going to be beaten up silently. Without doubt, Haruyuki also held Noumi¡¯s ?Reality? as a card, so if he made that public in the accelerated world, then Noumi won¡¯t be able to go about at ease with point hungry Burst Linkers going after him. Noumi would also want to avoid that.


    If that was the case, then the winner could only be determined by an ordinary duel. Probably, Noumi will show overwhelming power like in the previous fist fight to steal Haruyuki¡¯s ?important thing?, which is his pride, in order to make him submit.


    ¡ª¡ª However.


    ¡°If you can also win easily in this world... try it, Noumi Seiji!!¡±


    With that shout, Haruyuki held his fist, and kicked the ground all at once.


    The battle field was the ?Cemetery? stage. The main features are darkness, and sometimes arms of dead people grow from the ground to grab hold of dueler¡¯s feet.


    The other side was one level higher, but for the duel fighting game ?Brain Burst?, it was not the same as online RPG where level difference was a deciding factor in a lost.


    Indeed, level 1 and level 9¡¯s basic performance is too different to be overturned, but for 4 and 5, then the stage¡¯s attribute and compatibility could be said to be more important. And then for this Cemetery stage, Haruyuki has confidence that he had the absolute advantage.


    ¡°U... OO!¡±


    While madly dashing in a straight line, he used his metallic fists and feet to pulverize the tombstones in his path like polystyrene foam. With the object destruction bonus, his blue special skill gauge started to slowly charge up.


    Noumi ¡ª¡ª Dusk Taker, while he looked at Silver Crow who was charging in, did not seem to move at all. He lowered his waist with leisurely movement, held his right hand bolt clipper in front, and left hand tentacles behind.


    ¡°ChieEEEE!¡±


    Similar to his kendo match, with a sharp psyche, Dusk Taker swung his left arm, when the distance between them was still more than five meters.


    The three tentacles that became whip like, let out a ¡®Snap!¡¯ sound and extended straight forward.


    However, Haruyuki had predicted that action. About any kind of game, had tentacles that could extend out.


    He had to face the fairly fast speed of the sharp tips that shone as they came attacking, but they were still slower than bullets. He evade the one aiming for his head by titling his head, and the remaining two he chop away, then Haruyuki came close to Dusk Taker.


    ¡°Shiee!¡±


    The bolt clipper that was thrusted out with that short sound, he lowered his body to let it pass by.


    ¡°...Raaa!¡±


    He stepped down hard with his left leg, and the elbow that was thrust out, scored a direct hit on the enemy¡¯s jaw that he was aiming for. With the fierce impact sound and light effect explosion, the ground was lit up by bluish white light. The right side HP gauge decreased with a glop. That was the first hit.


    To the greatly bent backwards, trying to hold his ground Noumi¡¯s undefended chest, Haruyuki pursued with a right middle kick hit.


    ¡°Guu...¡±


    While Noumi groaned and staggered, Haruyuki continued the pursuit, from a left hook making him float up to a right high kick. With the slender body that could not be compared to his real world body, the light Silver Crow body flashed with lightning like speed, faithfully tracing the commands from Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness that was sent before the last one was over.


    ¡®How about that, did you see... did you see!!¡¯


    While releasing three showy kicks in the air like wire action in a Kung-fu movie, Haruyuki shouted inside his mind.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª You who kept running away from ?duels? probably didn¡¯t know, for short range melee combat, there isn¡¯t anyone in my level range that could win against me. To obtain this kind of speed, do you know how much hardship I went through... getting hit with virtual bullet many times and throwing up in the toilet, you probably don¡¯t know about that. For someone who use dirty information battle in the real world, with only that trying to reach the peak of ?Brain Burst?, guys like you...¡¯


    ¡°Don¡¯t deserve to be called a Burst Linker!!¡±


    The right straight that went out tracing laser like path, smashed into the blackish purple helmet, craving radial cracks into it.


    After being blown away, crashed into a tombstone and laying still, Dusk Taker¡¯s health gauge was already decreased to about 30% remaining.


    ¡°...One more hit will finish this!¡±


    After releasing those intense words, at this time Haruyuki finally put strength into his shoulder blades. At the same time as both arms were pulled to the other side, with a cutting like sharp metallic sound, large wings opened up.


    The battle up till now, had completely filled his special skills gauge. If a dive kick from very high altitude scored, then Noumi¡¯s remaining HP would easily be blown away. Since the surroundings were tombstones as far as the eye could see, there was not a single structure to hide in.


    He lowered his body, before leaving the ground in one breath ¡ª¡ª right before that.


    Dusk Taker who was collapsed by a grave marker, his left arm moved without any previous motion, and three tentacles came flying like some different kind of living thing.


    He managed to dodge the two that was going for his body, but one of them wrapped around his right wrist. However Haruyuki did not panic, he grabbed that and pulled, then kicked the ground as planned.


    He floated at about 50cm up, and changed his two wings thrust from straight up to horizontal, going to pull Dusk Taker along. The opponent¡¯s legs dug in to resist, but he started craving groves into the ground.


    There were many enemies who tried to capture Silver Crow with whips or wires like this. However most of them were pulled into the air while they were linked, or broke up after being dragged on the ground. The thrust force that can be produced by Silver Crow¡¯s wings, could be said to be unlimited as long as his special skill gauge is not empty. Even the demonic Burst Linker, ?Chrome Disaster? that had strength beyond ?Kings?, he won the tug of war against it.


    ¡°U... OO!¡±


    At the same time as Haruyuki¡¯s psyche, white silver aura was sent out from the two wings. He would pull through the tombstones like that, breaking up Noumi¡¯s remaining HP with his avatar, he thought so without mercy ¡ª¡ª


    At that moment.


    Dusk Taker¡¯s right hand huge cutter, closed on his own left elbow.


    Without giving Haruyuki the time to be surprised, a ¡®Bachin!¡¯ unpleasant sound went out, and without any hesitation, that arm was cut apart.


    With the tentacles¡¯ pull instantly disappeared, Haruyuki was forcefully thrown back behind as he spun around. After two, three bounds on the ground, and breaking numerous tombstones, he finally stopped.


    After staring at the reddish black dusk sky in a daze for a bit, he hurriedly tried to jump up. However suddenly, from the surrounding ground bluish white skeletal arms thrust out, and grabbed hold of Haruyuki¡¯s limbs. ?Ensnare?, the cemetery stage¡¯s topographic effect.


    ¡°Shit.¡±


    While cursing, he tried to shake them off, but the arms came up relentlessly and wrapped around him. Without any choice, he opened his wings after rolling on his back, trying to lift off straight up ¡ª¡ª however.


    Right before his body floated up, a shadow that came flying with some kind of insect like movement, stepped on Haruyuki¡¯s right shoulder with a kick. He was again pushed back to the ground.


    The one who stood there, was of course Dusk Taker. His HP gauge, after cutting his own left arm, was decreased to 20%. On the other hand, Haruyuki still had about 90% remaining, he did not think that this could be turned around, but the dusk avatar¡¯s whole body was strangely relaxed. His upper body slowly bend, with the blank helmet closing in on Haruyuki.


    ¡®After the Ensnare is gone, I will lift off and settle it.¡¯


    While thinking like that, Haruyuki quietly said.


    ¡°...You like stepping on someone so much.¡±


    ¡°Fufu... speaking of that, senpai seem to like being stepped on.¡±


    After muttering that thinly, Noumi held up his half lacking left arm, and stared at the cut surface. Haruyuki who looked there as well, noticed that from the cut, three new tentacle tips seem to slowly poke out, and felt a bit psychologically disgusted.


    ¡°...Regrowth? Just like a lizard¡¯s tail.¡±


    ¡°If it is like that, then it should be octopus or sea anemone. No, the previous owner said it was starfish.¡±


    ¡°Wh... what?¡±


    Turning to face Haruyuki who was not able to grasp the meaning and inquired ¡ª¡ª.


    Noumi whispered with a sound that had more coldness in it.


    ¡°I said it right? That I will take senpai¡¯s important thing. That is...¡±


    With a ¡®Clank¡¯, the bolt clipper¡¯s sharp tip held onto Haruyuki¡¯s left arm.


    ¡°Like this,¡±


    Approaching to almost touching distance, from the center of Dusk Taker¡¯s helmet, lights overflowed from the two reddish purple eyes, and swirled.


    ¡°Meaning. ¡ª¡ª ?Demonic Commandeer?.¡±


    ...Special Skill!


    Furthermore that skill name pronunciation, did not have any fighting spirit or exaltation, it was like it was spat out.


    It was like, the need to call out the skill name to activate a special skill was being shunned.


    The black light pillar that was released from Dusk Taker¡¯s whole face, scored a direct hit on Haruyuki¡¯s mirror helmet, and small rays reflected in all directions.


    ¡°Ku...!¡±


    Haruyuki bite down on his teeth, preparing to endure the shock. Even though he took that at extremely close range, it was not possible for one attack to turn the difference in HP. After that skill finished, he planned to immediately counter attack, and calculated that timing ¡ª¡ª however.


    His gauge was not decreasing.


    Silver Crow¡¯s health gauge, continued to shine bright green, not even moving a little. There was no pain either. And he could feel no heat.


    Even so, Dusk Taker¡¯s special skill gauge, from full charge condition, was decreasing at a fearsome rate. The released blackish purple vortex increased in force, and put a cold pressure on Haruyuki¡¯s face, but there was no change other than that.


    ¡ª¡ª No.


    Suddenly, Haruyuki felt that there was something being sucked out from his whole body. When he realized that, was at the moment the enemy¡¯s special skill gauge was decreased to half, then the light¡¯s flow direction reversed. From Haruyuki¡¯s helmet, light gushed out like loose liquid spray, and was swallowed by Noumi¡¯s face.


    A few seconds later, abruptly all the phenomena stopped.


    The opponent¡¯s special skills gauge had been consumed to zero and exhausted. On the other hand, Haruyuki¡¯s was once again completely full. His HP gauge was not damaged at all, and Noumi¡¯s was also unchanged at less than 20%.


    ¡°...OOo!¡±


    Haruyuki roared, and was going to fly up all at once. That skill was probably a delay type, then there was no point waiting for it to activate. He would fly Dusk Taker to very high altitude like this, and throw him falling down to ground to settle this ¡ª¡ª


    ¡ª¡ª ...


    Silence.


    The cold silent air, covered the bottom of the field.


    The dead people¡¯s arms that grasped his whole body had disappeared. Dusk Taker¡¯s left foot and right hand, were only lightly holding his shoulders. But still.


    He could not fly.


    No matter how much he put strength to his back, and concentrated his mind, the silver wings that made Silver Crow¡¯s body float and release him into the sky did not respond.


    Haruyuki turned his head while dumbfounded, and peeked at his own shoulders.


    They weren¡¯t there.


    The normally reliable, beautifully shining ten white silver fins on the left and right side, had disappeared without a single trace.


    Unable to understand the situation, Haruyuki who slowly turned his face back forward, saw the blackish purple avatar stood up without a sound.


    He carelessly released Haruyuki from his bounds, and stepped back a few steps.


    ¡°...Fu, Fufu.¡±


    With childlike innocence, tenacity of someone who had years of experience and other things mixed in laughter, was thinly leaked out.


    ¡°Fufufu. Under that mask, should be deep shock right, senpai? Even so, maybe your proud gamer brain is thinking of this and that. What was that earlier skill... what happened to me. Being pompous is not my taste, so I will clearly tell you. It means...¡±


    Similar to what Haruyuki did a few minutes ago, Noumi crossed both arms in front of his chest, and strained on both sides.


    ¡°This kind of thing.¡±


    ¡®Slither.¡¯


    With that wet sound, two curved protrusions grew out of Dusk Taker¡¯s back, which Haruyuki could only stare at silently.


    It stopped after sticking out about one meter, shook, and groaned ¡ª¡ª


    While spraying out black mucus, it expanded widely to the left and right.


    Wings.


    The bone and flying membrane shape, was like a bat¡¯s, or a demon¡¯s kind of sinister silhouette, that darkly carved into the blood color dusk sky.


    With wings flapping sound, in front of Haruyuki whose thought processes were all stopped, the small avatar slightly bounced. However he soon returned to the ground, and the purple helmet lightly tilted.


    ¡°Hey, this is pretty difficult... Not just physical action type command, it needs some other kind of input for control maybe.¡±


    ¡®Flap flap¡¯. With many repeated fierce wing flaps, the avatar increased in rise height.


    ¡°Oh, like this huh. This, will need practice before full control is possible.¡±


    While slowly swaying to the left and right, the avatar clearly left the ground, and started floating up. It was not a jump. It was also not being pulled up by a wire. This was ¡ª¡ª, this was.


    ¡°...No way.¡±


    From Haruyuki¡¯s mouth, a crack like sound leaked out.


    ¡°Lie. Lie.¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Up till now, pure ?Flight Ability? being achieved, only one avatar that obtained it existed.¡¯


    ¡®¡ª¡ª That person also said so right. Only me. Only I fly in this world. One and only, my power. My hope. My... everything.¡¯


    ¡°No, it is the truth, this.¡±


    While hovering at about three meters high, Dusk Taker slowly opened both hands.


    ¡°My only special skill, ?Demonic Commandeer?, robs one of the opponent duel avatar¡¯s special skill, enhanced armament, or ability. That tentacle earlier, was taken from someone long ago. I don¡¯t use it often though. That meaning, do you understand? That means... the effective time, is unlimited. Of course, there is an upper limit to the number of stock.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª Ability robbing. Forever effect.


    That means, it¡¯s like this? The proof of existence of Silver Crow, those silver wings, was robbed by that blackish purple avatar, and will never return...?


    ¡°L... lieee! Return it... return ittt!!¡±


    Haruyuki screamed as if to resist the bottomless sense of emptiness that suddenly assaulted him.


    He bounced up, ran a few steps, then jumped up with all his strength. He extended his right hand, trying to grasp Noumi¡¯s foot.


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    With a slight lift up of that foot, Haruyuki¡¯s hand cut through the air. Fallen to the ground with metallic sounds, he was down to his hands and knees miserably. His limbs became cold, and his sensations went far away. He wanted to stand up again, but the avatar would not listen to his command.


    ¡°Senpai, senpai! Please don¡¯t be so depressed.¡±


    From high above, banter like, or comforting like words came falling down.


    ¡°I said it right, that I will take something important. Please be at ease, I will return it. On the day that senpai graduate from Umesato middle school, that is. Of course, every week till then, you will pay me a quota of points. It could be said to be two years of payment in installments, but even one non-payment... you know what would happen right?¡±


    As if to show him, the wings that became grotesque was flapped hard once, then the coaxing voice continued.


    ¡°¡ª¡ª It¡¯s okay, with just that close range melee ability. With just normal skills, you forced me into danger and almost made me use a trick... so even without wings, that should be plenty. I guarantee it! Fufufu... Hahahahaha...!¡±


    Haruyuki could not stop himself shivering all over his body.


    This is not reality, this should not be happening. Robbing ability, this kind of unreasonable special skill should not be allowed in the system. This is... this is ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Unfair, cheat, you are thinking like that?¡±


    With ¡®Kusu kusu¡¯ kind of throaty laughter, Noumi continued with relentless words.


    ¡°But, isn¡¯t that what everyone who dueled senpai up till now felt? Flight is unreasonable, is that even real, like that. Well... then, I will take this week¡¯s payment. Please stay still there... no, you can no longer move right?¡±


    With sinister wing flapping sounds, he sensed that Noumi landed close by. However, Haruyuki no longer had a single shred of fighting spirit left.


    With a work like feel, the large cutter closed on his left arm. The metallic cutting sound and sparks, the sharp pain conveyed by the nerves, Haruyuki faintly felt them like they were happening in some different world.


    When the ?duel? finished, and they returned to the real world, Noumi¡¯s foot left Haruyuki¡¯s back. While coiling the cable pulled from both Neuro Linkers, the small build first year student brightly said.


    ¡°Good work, Arita-senpai. With this, the rating in both the real world and accelerated world is finished. You at the lowest end, could only be used by me who is far above, right. ...Since this is the case, excuse me but for two years, please take care of me.¡±


    He lightly turned around, and continued after looking at Chiyuri who was still fallen down after being pushed.


    ¡°I am tired after that serious duel, so I will leave the show of Kurashima-senpai¡¯s avatar till next time. Please remember it, the promise of becoming my pet. That and... it need not be said, but this incident, please keep it secret from Mayuzumi-senpai and your boss, if you want your wings returned. I still need some preparation before settling with them. Then, excuse me.¡±


    A bowing farewell.


    Noumi Seiji, with unruffled steps like when he appeared, left the central courtyard.


    Haruyuki who was on all fours, pushed his body up with difficulty using shaking arms, and sat there heavily.


    In this world, it was less than one minute after being punched and kicked by Noumi, but he could not feel much of his body¡¯s pain. His whole body was soaked with sweat, but as if it became empty inside his body, he could only feel hollow coldness. With his teeth chattering, he could not even take a deep breath.


    Chiyuri¡¯s shoulders were also shaking, but she eventually moved to the front of Haruyuki using her knees, and let out a raspy sound.


    ¡°...Haru... Why..., how come, it became, something like this... Why those... cruel things, had to be said...¡±


    ¡®It¡¯s only a game. Something for enjoyment.¡¯ The wide open eyes said that.


    Haruyuki deeply hung his head, and pushed out a sound that was not a voice from his throat.


    ¡°Sorry, Chiyu. I am sorry to get you involved in this. Sorry for your scary memory. But, already, I... can¡¯t do anything. My wings, was taken by that guy. I, can no longer, fight. I no longer, have anything, nothing.¡±


    While muttering, drops leaked from both of his eyes, and flowed down his cheeks.


    ¡®I ¡ª¡ª Arita Haruyuki / Silver Crow lost to Noumi Seiji / Dusk Taker in many ways. The information battle in the real world, the flesh body fist fight, and even the duel in the accelerated world, I was defeated to smithereens. And then ¡ª¡ª robbed. Of everything.¡¯


    In the view where his tears fell in drops, two white kneecaps slowly approached.


    ¡®Will I be hit?¡¯, he momentary thought. ¡®Like usual, get rough with the shiftless, pathetic me, and be yelled at?¡¯


    However.


    Suddenly, Chiyuri hugged Haruyuki¡¯s head close, and also buried her face in Haruyuki¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°No... no, I don¡¯t like it, this... Broken... the hard, hard, work... returned to normal... all that effort...!¡±


    The faint sobbing with painful sounds mixed in, towards Haruyuki¡¯s chest, clamped way deeper than the pain of a fist.

 Volume 3 - CH 9

    That day, Haruyuki mostly could not remember how he got through his remaining classes, what he ate for lunch, or what path he took to return home.


    When he became aware, he was laying on the bed in his own room in school uniform, staring at the ceiling in a daze.


    His whole day of memories, were all covered with transparent cushioning material, and tumbled silently into darkness. As if wanting to say that everything was a dream.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª That¡¯s right, it was a dream. It could not be real.¡¯ He whispered that without making a sound.


    Of course, if he accelerate right now, pick any opponent from the matching list for a duel, then the truth of the situation would be clear. Whether there are wings on his back, he would know without looking.


    However, he could not make himself actually confirm it.


    He rolled onto his back, pulled the blanket from near his feet up to his shoulders, and thought to skip his usual special training at this time and sleep, at that moment.


    Directly from his hearing, a light visitor chime sound echoed.


    It was probably some package delivery for his mother, so he planned to ignore it, but inevitably a visitor picture displayed in a small window in his view. That it was the severe face of his best friend ¡ª¡ª Takumu¡¯s shape that he saw there, made Haruyuki suddenly cover his head with the blanket.


    Today, Takumu asked Haruyuki what happened at lunch and after school. What showed him that something happened, was the bruise at Haruyuki¡¯s mouth, and looking at Chiyuri¡¯s appearance should be more than clear enough.


    Chiyuri seemed to have replied with just ¡°Ask Haru¡±, and then Haruyuki could only respond with ¡°Nothing¡±. He thought that telling him the truth or not would betray Takumu, and gave himself the excuse that he needed to think about it, thus kept running away all the way back home like that.


    However it seem like Takumu did not want to back down. The again echoing chime seem to say, ¡®I will wait for hours till you come out¡¯, that stubborn intent was sent.


    Haruyuki took a deep breath, raised his hand in half desperation mood, then push the open door button on the holo dialogue.


    After he got up and stumbled out to the hallway, he was faced with Takumu who had just opened the door and arrived at the entrance. He prompted him to enter with his eyes.


    The two of them silently went into the living room, and sat opposite each other at the table.


    The silence continued for about another three minutes.


    ¡°...If you say that you can¡¯t talk about it no matter what, then I will no longer ask what happened.¡±


    After looking at the faint bruise remaining on the edge of Haruyuki¡¯s mouth, Takumu suddenly said so quietly.


    He took off the smooth blue glasses, and looked Haruyuki straight in the eye.


    ¡°But, tell me just this one thing. Haru... what is Chi-chan to you. Why did she make that painful face, no, why did you leave the crying Chi-chan alone. No matter what happened, she is our... friend, best friend right, Haru.¡±


    Not being able to look at Takumu¡¯s eyes, Haruyuki swung his view to the lower left side.


    ¡®...Leave her alone? No!¡¯


    He shouted that inside his chest.


    However, to resolve this situation where Chiyuri would also be arrested, he would have to totally conquer the existence known as Noumi Seiji. If he could not make him erase the video of the intrusion into the female shower room, and also defeat him in the accelerated world to make him return the wings, then not only would Haruyuki have to forever follow Noumi¡¯s command, Chiyuri would also have to as well with Haruyuki taken as hostage.


    If he had calm judgement, then even if Noumi said not to, he should explain the whole incident.


    However for Haruyuki, that he thoroughly stepped into Noumi¡¯s view masking program trap, rushed into the female shower room, and finally involved Chiyuri in it, he could not tell that to Takumu no matter what.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Anyway, that program was put in the photograph you sent. If you had noticed that the file size was strange, then this would not have happened.¡¯


    Putting aside the fact that he also did not noticed it, he muttered that in his mind.


    That was clearly shift the responsibility feeling but something Haruyuki did not want to say spit out from his mouth.


    ¡°Y... you too, what do you think of Chiyu. If you say that, then wouldn¡¯t it be better if you do something first?¡±


    ¡°...Want to. Want to, but... I.¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I, betrayed Chi-chan once.¡¯


    At the moment that he felt he heard words that did not become voice, Haruyuki hit the table with both hands with all his strength.


    ¡°Ta, Taku... you also, are the same!¡±


    He roared with the sudden overwhelming feeling.


    ¡°Everytime, everytime, p, pulling back like that! Always dragging out old things, swallowing everything you want to say! You, do you like Chiyu at all! Do you want to date her once more, Taku!!¡±


    ¡°Aa, that¡¯s right, I like her! I think of her more than anyone else!!¡±


    With a clanking chair groan, Takumu also shouted back.


    ¡°Because I like her, I want to let Chi-chan do as she desires! Until Chi-chan answer the girlfriend question, I will wait forever!¡±


    ¡°Wait!? Then, what will you do if Chiyu¡¯s answer isn¡¯t you!? What will you do if she pick someone other than you!?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all right, even that is fine!!¡±


    With teeth grinding, while Takumu¡¯s two hands that were grabbing the edge of the table gave out screeching sounds, the continuing words from inside his throat came out shredded.


    ¡°If that, will make, Chi-chan happy. That opponent, even if it is... Haru, even you. I, with that, will be satisfied.¡±


    ¡°...Are you seriously saying that, Taku.¡±


    With even to himself strangely flat voice leaking out, Haruyuki asked.


    ¡°Then... what? You mean to, give Chiyu, to me? Ah... or was it.¡±


    ¡®No. No. I don¡¯t want to say it. I don¡¯t want to say something like this. I too, I too always, want you and Chiyu to go back to normal, just that,¡¯


    ¡°Or was it, you, this time started to like senpai? So, if I and Chiyu got together, you can get senpai, that kind of scheme?¡±


    ¡ª¡ª Always, hoped.


    The heat and impact that appeared on his right cheek, Haruyuki accepted it half naturally.


    After being hit by Takumu¡¯s left fist that reached over the table, Haruyuki was blown back with his chair, and fell down to the floor.


    In his view that was twice covered by tears today, on the standing Takumu¡¯s face, Haruyuki saw that there were thread fine tears there.


    ¡°Haru... Haru.¡±


    Takumu¡¯s sound was cracked, and shaking.


    ¡°Haru, we no longer, have anything hidden right? Why... why did you not tell me. Why, did you not tell me the truth. I am... I am, that, untrustworthy a person?¡±


    ¡°Ta... Wr...¡±


    Taku, Wrong.


    However, any kind of sound beyond that, did not come out from Haruyuki¡¯s throat.


    Could not say it.


    If everything was cleared up, then Takumu would probably immediately have a direct conflict with Noumi. Then he would know. That Haruyuki, Silver Crow lost his wings. That he would not fly again.


    No, that alone should be cleared up. For partners. For best friends.


    However, Haruyuki could not say it. That he became far weaker than he was at level 1, that he no longer has the qualification to serve as Cyan Pile¡¯s partner, he could not confess that no matter what.


    Takumu waited more than ten seconds for Haruyuki¡¯s words, but eventually his shoulders sagged, and he wiped his eyes with his right sleeve, then turned around behind.


    ¡°...The punch, sorry.¡±


    Quietly leaving those words behind, the tall best friend, slowly left the living room. After one echo of the door opening and closing sound, only silence remained afterwards.


    How long had he been laying on the cold flooring?


    When he realized it, the outside of the south facing window had already changed to a night scene.


    While stopping all thought, Haruyuki slowly stood up, changed to suitable clothes in his room, then left from the entranceway. He used the elevator to go down to the first floor, and quickly walked through the entrance.


    At the apartment site, it was bustling with families visiting the nearby shopping mall. After seeing one child tightly holding a game shop bag at chest level with face shining, he remembered that today a famous RPG series new game was put on sale.


    ¡®...Should I buy one too?¡¯


    Buy a package, rush back home and put it in the Neuro Linker, then intensely play it. But, current sales that use media, the size would be huge. Probably his local memory would not have enough empty space. Then, he could just erase another game. Something big, like that program... ?Brain Burst?.


    That¡¯s right, it should be fine to quit that. Since eventually he will get bored of that game. Thinking back, he had been engrossed by that continually for half year already.


    If he step down from the accelerated world, and was no longer a Burst Linker, then Noumi¡¯s interest in him would also disappear. The evidence video that he held would become worthless. Using Haruyuki as a hostage to threaten Chiyuri would no longer be possible.


    At this point, isn¡¯t that the best choice? Of course, he would no longer able to help that person aiming for level 10, but, the avatar that could not fly anymore would no longer drag her down, or disappoint her.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª It would just return to what it was. Something that once obtained became lost, just that.¡¯


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Is there any other reason for not stepping down, that still remain in me?¡¯


    A little girl that was passing by, looked up at Haruyuki with a mystified face.


    It was there that Haruyuki first realized, while he was walking in the crowd of people, his face was soggy from crying.


    Hurriedly using the parka sleeves to wipe his face, Haruyuki aimed for the apartment gate and started running.


    To ?duel? someone, somehow win, and earn enough points to pay Noumi. Meet the quota that was told, and one day have his wings returned.


    If he fight in Suginami, then there was a chance that Takumu¡¯s spectator wait might be set to ON, and he might be called to the field in the gallery, so to change area, Haruyuki walked to the Seven Ring road.


    At the Kouenji overpass intersection bus stop, he thought a bit about taking the inside or outside circle bus, then went to wait at the one going to Shibuya. To the north, Nakano and Nerima was the Red legion, ?Prominence?¡¯s territory, and he did not feel like facing its leader, Scarlet Rain.


    A spherical EV bus with lots of wheels stopped, and Haruyuki stepped onto the boarding ramp. At the edge of his view, his electronic money balance was lowered by the bus fare with a clinking sound.


    He pushed his body into an empty seat at the side, then while looking at the night scene, absent mindedly thought.


    ¡ª¡ª The total number of Burst Linkers is about 1000 people. Most of them is in this Tokyo area, Haruyuki was told that.


    However, the total number of people ¡ª¡ª that means from when the ?Brain Burst? program appeared on the network till today, in the seven and half years, the total number of people that obtained acceleration ability, and how many lost it, he did not know that much.


    Those who used to be Burst Linkers, what would they be feeling now. Biting their lip in regret, or just fond memories ¡ª¡ª or maybe shaking their body in resentment?


    ¡®If it was me¡¯, Haruyuki imagined it.


    ¡®If I lost all the points, and was caught by forced uninstall, would I be able to think of it as just a ?Game Ending?? Even though my wings that could be said to be my proof of existence was robbed, I am still hanging on to being a Burst Linker like this.¡¯


    No, he would absolutely not be able to forget it soon. He would probably struggle here and there trying to obtain Brain Burst once again.


    And then ¡ª¡ª there would for sure be people who think about ?after that?. With high anger and disappointment, there should be someone who thought of bringing the accelerated world itself down with them. Kuroyukihime had explained to him that, as children with no physical evidence, they would not be believed, but was it really like that? If the mass media and police received many of that kind of report, even adults would begin an investigation?


    How did ?Brain Burst?, for over seven years, continued to be this perfectly concealed...? And then, what would be the intent of the program creator for making this kind of situation...?


    While thinking about those in half escapist way, the bus took a left on Koushu Road and entered Shibuya, the Green legion¡¯s territory.


    Not being able to be challenged while in the legion control territory, that privilege should have been canceled at this time. Haruyuki ¡ª¡ª Silver Crow¡¯s name will be recorded on the matching list, and could be intruded upon anytime.


    ...Anyone is fine.


    Haruyuki closed his eyes, and leaned his body deeply back on the seat to wait for that moment. Silver Crow was already just a ?Weak to beating close range type?. Ranged, Contact, Indirect, with not a single opponent he had advantage against.


    8pm at night, even though it was a weekday, this was a busy ?duel? time range, so just 30 seconds later, the thunder like acceleration sound echoed in his hearing.


    Haruyuki who was put into the darkness, transformed into his duel avatar and dropped a short distance down, then stepped onto the ground.


    After all the first thing he checked was his back, but there was not a shadow or shape of the metallic wings. After closing his eyes tight once, he started looking around.


    It was the same Koushu Road, but the cars that lined the street, including the bus he rode on, had disappeared. The road surface was cracked, collapsed, and there were rubble mountains here and there.


    While he thought that this was the ?End of Century? stage, Haruyuki avoided the look from the ranks of gallery on top of the surrounding ruin buildings, and looked downwards without even seeing his duel opponent¡¯s name. Just like that, he waited in the middle of the wide road. The guide cursor that showed the enemy direction, shook while pointing east.


    Eventually ¡ª¡ª from the deep darkness, a ¡®DoKo DoKo¡¯ kind of bold motor sound was heard.


    For a machine type armament, it was approaching at a very fast speed. That meant it was a moving force type, then this sound should be from an old style internal combustion engine, which not many Burst Linkers own...


    Thinking up to that point, Haruyuki finally raised his head.


    ¡®Sparkle!¡¯ kind of round headlight shot into his eyes. With front and back brake rotors giving out red sparks, the American bike that did a showy spin turn, stopped with its chrome parts reflecting the surrounding bonfires.


    ¡°Hey hey hee ¡ª¡ª y!!¡±


    The skull faced rider that swagger in the seat, pointed index finger from both hands straight at Haruyuki.


    Even without looking at the name displayed in the upper right of his view, the old familiar bike user that appeared, was without a doubt ?Ash Roller?. That meant the stage and opponent was exactly the same as half year ago, in his first accelerated duel after being reborn.


    ¡°Mega longtime huh, YOU! Oh, fell in love with me and came all the way to Bitter Valley huh, YOOOOU!?¡±


    ¡°...Huh?¡±


    Being taken aback, Haruyuki forgot about greeting and returned an inquiry.


    ¡°Bi, Bitter Valley, what is that?¡±


    ¡°Hey hey heey, know it, understand it! It is Yashibu of course, Yashibu!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After thinking for about another second, Haruyuki finally guessed that it was Shibuya.


    ¡°...Umm, Ash-san. Bitter is not ?œi¤¤(Shibui)?, it¡¯s ?¿à¤¤(Nigai)? I think... Then that would not be Shibuya, it would be Nigaiya.¡±


    ¡°...For real?¡±


    ¡°...For real.¡±


    Being pulled along by Ash Roller¡¯s mood, even though he could not be anymore depressed, Haruyuki made the correction, and from the buildings surrounding the road, laughter from the gallery boiled over. Ash Roller looked up at them, and shook his middle finger from both hands.


    ¡°Don¡¯t LOL, Ma ¡ª¡ª n! I will soon knock you away, wait for it!!¡±


    The skull face soon returned to Haruyuki, and in a low sound.


    ¡°...So, what¡¯s Shibui in English?¡±


    ¡°Th, that is... Rough, I think.¡±


    ¡°I see. That should be Rough Valley huh. ...Hey, that kind of thing, doesn¡¯t matter!!¡±


    ¡°Y, you asked...¡±


    ¡°Quiet Shut Up! Having a bit more total wins, don¡¯t be so full of yourself, YOU! Look at this and tremble!!¡±


    With that sound, he pushed the button on the side of the handle, and from the mysterious tubes equipped on both sides of the front fork, evil looking red cone faces peeked out. ¡®No way¡¯, he thought, no matter how you look at it, it could only be that, and Haruyuki whispered while dumbfounded.


    ¡°Th... those, missiles?¡±


    ¡°Yes right! Missiles, with homing attached, you flying bastard!¡±


    ¡°B, but, American bike with missiles, for design point... or aesthetic point, how about that...?¡±


    ¡°Say what! It¡¯s End of Century kind of mega co ¡ª¡ª ol!! Hey quickly go fly! Then you will cry!!¡±


    While shouting that, Ash Roller finally noticed the anomaly with Silver Crow, and extended his head.


    ¡°...Hey, you, why is your wings closed up. The duel had already started, take it out already.¡±


    Haruyuki shook his head slightly, then quickly said.


    ¡°There was some kind of circumstance. Today, I will face you on the ground.¡±


    ¡°...Hmm. Well, do as you like but... if you underestimate me, I will really make you cry, get it?¡±


    With a quick glance to check the time, he opened the throttle once, then yelled in high pitch.


    ¡°Lets Daaa ¡ª¡ª nce!!¡±


    With the rear tire giving out intense white smoke, Haruyuki stared at the bike that dashed to the right side.


    For his recent duels with Ash Roller, the bike that could freely run on straight walls, was usually scored by Haruyuki¡¯s rapid descent attack kind of development. But of course, he could no longer use that tactic. He could only dodge the charge, and try to damage him little by little from behind.


    The bike made a sharp turn at a distance away, then charged in a straight line. He lowered his waist, and concentrated to find that trajectory.


    With his gamer spirit, when the duel started his body and feelings moved in reaction, but of course he could not forget about Dusk Taker robbing away his wings. In his heart, there was still a huge hole that was opened up. Right now, Haruyuki felt that he was sticking his hand in that hole, trying to find if there was anything.


    ¡°...Kuoo!¡±


    Staying till almost the last moment, he jumped right with a psyche. The front wheel tread grazed his leg a little.


    ¡ª¡ª Here!


    Haruyuki spun his body like that, then thrusted a fist towards the rider.


    However.


    ¡°TOOOoo!¡±


    With that sound, the boot that suddenly flew in from the side, caught Haruyuki¡¯s helmet. While he was blown away, he saw standing on the seat, the shape of Ash Roller pulling back the leg he kicked out.


    Soon he dropped his waist down, and accelerated again. After a turn in about 20 meters, he again stood up on the seat. Somehow he was controlling the accelerator with his right foot.


    ¡°See that, YOOOU! This is my new skill, V-twin fist!!¡±


    Forget about the naming, that was a spectacular technique, and Haruyuki was impressed while standing up.


    The huge bike being controlled like a surfboard with only two legs. Not only attacking with the vehicle body, the rider also has attack power, then the gap after dodging was filled.


    ¡®...This is, impossible huh.¡¯


    Haruyuki whispered that inside his chest.


    If it was just a simple contest of hits, then Ash Roller with the bike¡¯s rush power has overwhelming advantage. Even if they hit each other, the damage Silver Crow take would be far higher. Trying to hang on anymore would be a waste of time.


    After lowering both hands loosely, Haruyuki who just stood there was bounced flying by the bike¡¯s front tire.


    He danced in the air like a stick, then crashed onto the road surface, and bounced two, three times. With a loud noise, he smashed into a rubble mountain, and finally stopped.


    While unsightly laying there, Haruyuki thought in a daze with his wobbling head.


    ¡®...As I thought, it was empty inside the hole. I who lost the wings, have nothing remaining.¡¯


    From now on, he could only continue to go after and fight lower level, and furthermore better compatible Burst Linkers. Earning just a few points with each fight, and pay Noumi with them after saving up. Always for two years. Till the day that his wings were returned.


    Suddenly, a ¡®Dorun¡¯ low engine rumble sounded right by his head.


    ¡®Hurry and finish me off¡¯, he thought that and waited, but the hard and hot tread attack did not come as seconds went by. In exchange, came a sound from a high place.


    ¡°That was so ¡ª¡ª bad. Hey Crow, you, why not flying.¡±


    Haruyuki slightly raised his head, with the edge of his eye capturing the skull face, answered in a small sound volume that could not be heard by the gallery.


    ¡°...I can¡¯t fly. My wings are gone. That¡¯s why I can no longer, win in same level duels. Today was just to verify that. ...It¡¯s okay, to just finish me like this.¡±


    Again, only the ¡®DooDokooDoo¡¯ V-twin engine sound echoed.


    The sound that eventually arrived, contained a calm that was not in Ash Roller thus far.


    ¡°...Finish it? What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°What else can it mean... sink that tire into me again and again, to finish the duel.¡±


    ¡°Fuun. That means like this huh. You can no longer fly. So you can¡¯t win. So you want to throw the fight, and lay there without resisting.¡±


    His behavior, was not something a dueler should be praised for, Haruyuki also realized that. However, if he wrung his intelligence here, and win through some clever scheme, that would not have any meaning. It was not about leaving some kind of advantage for the continuous fights that will come. The important thing was just that, and he also understood that was not possible anymore. That was why ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°...Already, standing is useless.¡±


    After whispering that while laying down, Haruyuki waited for Ash Roller¡¯s condemnation.


    However, what was returned, was even more quiet ¡ª¡ª could be said to be calmly controlled words.


    ¡°...Hey, do you remember? Long ago, you and my second ?Duel?... the time when you, held up the rear end of my bike.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    There was no way he could forget. That was Haruyuki¡¯s first victory, and a fight that needed to be commemorated. But Haruyuki did not say anything, not even a nod, he just waited for the continuation of the words.


    ¡°That was troublesome. With the rear up, no matter how much I stoked the bike did not move at all. That¡¯s why if all I did was sit there, then I would just eat headbutts from behind. That was really checkmate for me. But...¡±


    With a flash of light from both eyes inside the helmet skull shield, Ash Roller let out a strained low voice.


    ¡°At that time, did I throw the fight? Give up like you now, and lost while being beat up?¡±


    ¡ª¡ª That was not it.


    With most of his potential put into the ?Enhanced Armament? that was the bike, the rider himself at that time was almost equal to a Burst Linker with zero fighting power. He left the seat, and started attacking the metallic armored Silver Crow with his flesh and blood body.


    The result, Haruyuki beat up his opponent one sidedly, and won.


    But, till his HP gauge was shaved to the last dot, Ash Roller did not give up. While yelling dirty words, he stood up till the moment of the KO punch, and continued to swing his fists.


    ¡°...No.¡±


    Haruyuki denied with a sound small enough that he himself could not hear.


    At the same time, under his helmet, he felt that tears flowed from his eyes for however many times today.


    ¡°...But. But. I am... my wings, will no longer return. You won¡¯t understand. You who always continued to fight together with that bike.¡±


    Once again, long silence.


    From the surrounding buildings, the gallery had indeed started a commotion. However without seeming to mind that, Ash Roller shook his head, and spit out something small.


    ¡°...Suck. Giga suck. No it¡¯s terra. Terra sucking bastard, you are. Becoming level 4 already, without knowing anything. ...At the time of our third ?Duel?, when I saw you suddenly flew, how much I... no, not just me. All the Burst Linkers that found out some guy who could fly appeared in this world, how much we had being blown away, how much at you...¡±


    What was ahead did not come out of his mouth, instead he thrusted his face forward, then the skull rider inquired with whispering sound.


    ¡°Hey. Right now, where are you?¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    Not able to understand the sudden question, Haruyuki blinked his tear filled eyes.


    ¡°Where are you diving from, I am asking.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª Asking about the physical body location during a duel, was an improbable question normally. However somehow Haruyuki did not even think about the danger of reality intrusion at all, and answered while being engulfed.


    ¡°Ko... Koushu Road... riding the bus.¡±


    After a short tongue click curse, Ash Roller said something else that did not make sense.


    ¡°Then, return home immediately when this is over. Go to toilet then into bed, and dive ?Above?.¡±


    ¡°Ab... above...!?¡±


    ¡°Idiot, your voice is too loud, the gallery will hear it! As for above, is there anything else other than ?Unlimited Neutral Field?? After you dive in, come to the crossing between Seven Ring Road and Inokashira Road. The dive time... let¡¯s see, 9pm just. Don¡¯t miss by even one minute.¡±


    After ordering the dazed Haruyuki like that, Ash Roller lifted up his body, and ran his finger in the air. In front of Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, a Draw Offer window opened.


    ¡°Come on, hurry up and acknowledge it.¡±


    Being pushed by that momentum, Haruyuki pressed the OK button without understanding.


    After the ?Duel? ended in a way that he could not think of, he returned to the real world inside the bus that was moving on a road, then Haruyuki immediately canceled his Global Net connection.


    As the bus stopped at that moment, Haruyuki got off it by almost tumbling down the boarding ramp. After looking left and right, he ran to the closest crosswalk, went to the opposite direction side of Koushu Road, and this time jumped onto a bus heading for Kouenji.


    After collapsing into a seat, while breathing heavily, Haruyuki thought about Ash Roller¡¯s intentions.


    ¡ª¡ª Is he going to perform the last rites? In order to forever retire the worthless Silver Crow from the accelerated world, calling him to the Unlimited Neutral Field that has no instant logout, to rob all his points?


    No way, that could not be possible. The degree of danger is same for the other side as well. There is no guarantee that Haruyuki would not appear with a large group of comrades. However if that is the case, then what goal ¡ª¡ª .


    ¡°Well... whatever.¡±


    After muttering that, Haruyuki simply gave up thinking. Probably the enemy he fought the most in the accelerated world, but he never dislike Ash Roller himself. For that opponent to finish him off, it would be fine, he felt it like that.


    After returning to the Kouenji overpass intersection bus stop, the time was already past 8:30pm. Haruyuki desperately ran home, used the toilet as told, drank some oolong tea, stuff a slice of the leftover pizza from yesterday into his mouth, then rolled into bed.


    ¡ª¡ª Maybe, this will become his last ?acceleration?.


    Then, just once more, he wanted to see the person who invited him to this world ¡ª¡ª Kuroyukihime. Even if he could not explain the situation, he wanted to exchange even just one word with her.


    After that sudden thought, far away in Okinawa, Kuroyukihime would be busy with responsibility for the 120 students there, so he hesitated about calling her. Even so, while the time display on his view¡¯s edge neared 9pm, he waited while thinking if she would call him, but the call receive icon did not lit up even once.


    When the digital number was at 8:59:58pm, Haruyuki shut his eyes tight, and took a deep breath, then whispered the command.


    ¡°...Unlimited Burst.¡±

 Volume 3 - CH 10

    The eternal world constructed above the Normal Duel Field, the Unlimited Neutral Field. This was only the second time that Haruyuki visited there, and the first time that he dived in by himself.


    Under the pale yellow sky, the display of huge reddish rocks lined up told him that this was the ?Wilderness? attribute. However this world has a system called ?Transition?, that changed the attribute in a certain amount of time. Thinking that he should get to the meeting point while the footing is still good, Haruyuki desperately ran across the dry ground.


    No matter what kind of attribute, the accelerated world''s geography itself is based on the real world Tokyo. The Seven Ring Road exist as a dry valley sandwiched between huge rock formations. He avoided the center of that, and selected to run under the shade of rocks, while being careful to check left and right.


    In the Unlimited Neutral Field, there are monsters called ?Enemy? created by the system, moving around and living there. Haruyuki had only seen the large type once, and had no experience fighting one. Individually they are stronger than high level Burst Linkers, so if he got attacked by them, then he would easily be slaughtered since he could no longer fly now.


    He saw a number of cow and snake like ones moving slowly in nearby wastelands, but Haruyuki fortunately did not get targeted as he reached the border between Suginami and Shibuya, around Daitabashi.


    Just in case, he searched the surrounding rock shades, but there did not seem to be a large number of people in hiding.


    ¡ª¡ª Instead of saying that.


    At the moment he peeked in the crossing between two wide valleys, Haruyuki relaxed in a snap. On top of the American bike stopped right in the middle, leaning back with arms crossed, the very flashy skeletal helmet rider jumped into his eyes.


    ¡°Too ¡ª¡ª late! You made me wait!!¡±


    Seeing Haruyuki who approached, Ash Roller swung his right hand and shouted.


    ¡°S, sorry. I ran here...¡±


    ¡°You probably moved sneakily while being scared by Enemy. You don¡¯t have to worry, this kind of trunk road, only ultra large ones appear.¡±


    ¡°Th, then, please tell me ahead of time! So, then what do you do when ultra large ones appear?¡±


    ¡°Cry and run away of course.¡±


    Haruyuki sighed under his mirror face, and shook his head to change the topic.


    ¡°...So, why did you call me out to this place? To continue that from before?¡±


    ¡°Fool, even if I win 10 points from you, diving used 10 points so I ain''t no earnin'' it back.¡±


    ¡®That was double negative¡¯, he gave up correcting that, and Haruyuki opened both hands wide to stop him.


    ¡°Then, why?¡±


    ¡°Well, get on.¡±


    Being told quietly, made his jaw drop.


    ¡°...Huh?¡±


    ¡°Ride on the back. Helmet... you won¡¯t need one.¡±


    With ¡®Hihihi¡¯ laughter, he pointed to his back with his index finger, and while Haruyuki felt like an idiot for being wary of traps and whatnot, he got on the seat with unfamiliar movement.


    ¡°Okay, hold on tight. My machine¡¯s acceleration is violent, you see!!¡±


    Around the ¡®ent¡¯ place, the throttle was opened fully, and the front wheel was raised up high, dangerously making Haruyuki almost fall off. Right after he hurriedly steadied himself with both hands, the deep black bike, while roaring a deep rumble, headed straight east ¡ª¡ª on Inokashira Road towards central Tokyo, and started riding fast.


    ¡°U... waa.¡±


    With the wind pressure hitting his face, and the acceleration power that made his whole body whimper, Haruyuki let out an awkward sound.


    The engine¡¯s groan went high, and while he was wondering if this was the highest speed, the boot kicked the pedal into a higher gear, and the speed went higher. The reddish road surface melted into numerous streamlines, and the rocks approaching from in front were blown behind one after another.


    ¡°A... bit... too fast...¡±


    He inquired half in a scream, but the returned reply was relaxed.


    ¡°Oh? Are you an idiot, this can¡¯t even go half as fast as your flight.¡±


    ¡°B... but, a bike, like this.¡±


    Haruyuki had not even got on a electric scooter before in the real world. Of course he rode four wheel cars like the family car his parents owned before the divorce, or the taxi that he rode many times, but electric automobiles have no engine sound, and of course you cannot feel the wind from inside.


    But this old style bike, even though a virtual world polygon object, seemed completely different from current vehicles that prioritize energy efficiency and safety.


    This kind of substitute, was roaring noisily along the real world¡¯s roads just twenty years ago, which he completely could not believe. The rider wearing just a helmet with flesh body exposed, sitting there without a seatbelt or airbag.


    ¡°Th... this, how fast can it go!¡±


    Since Haruyuki could not see the meter from his position, he shouted an inquiry, then again heard the slow response.


    ¡°This is not a racer type, so it can only put out around 200[1].¡±


    ¡°Two... two hundred...¡±


    After screaming ¡®If there is an accident I will dieee¡¯ in his brain, Haruyuki suddenly realized.


    It was this kind of vehicle.


    This machine, other than putting out speed, did not think of anything else. The engine that turns while exploding the valuable fossil fuel without thinking of waste, the complicated transmission, and the desperately thick tires, were all designed to just run fast. The image of this then assembled.


    So to speak, it exists as a pure embodiment of the longing for speed.


    As if to resist the destiny of living while stuck on the ground, moving at least a little faster, ignoring everything else. With that longing, a human without wings created this machine.


    Haruyuki forgot about his fear, and turned his wide open eyes towards the light yellow sky.


    Then he saw from high above, flying in a small flock, were Pterosaur like Enemy silhouettes.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I.¡¯


    ¡®I did not understand anything about the power of the wings I was given.¡¯


    ¡®A tool for fighting, an advantage for winning, I had only thought of it like that. But those silver wings were not a level up obtained special skill, or enhanced armament bought with points. It was created by my heart, something that should be the foundation of the avatar named Silver Crow. As my salvation, longing, and hope.¡¯


    ¡®I had forgotten about that, and... just saw it as a tool, so... that¡¯s why, for sure, it was that easily robbed from me. At this point... when did it become like this ¡ª¡ª¡¯


    Realizing something so important as that.


    So that Ash Roller right in front of him would not notice it, Haruyuki desperately swallowed his sobbing.


    Already, he was no longer afraid of the 200km per hour speed. Instead of that, the engine that continue to desperately roar right under him, he thought it was a very admirable and reliable existence.


    On the Inokashira Road, the bike curved south to avoid the city center, then again headed east.


    When they entered the Minato district, Haruyuki finally asked the question that he should have asked at the start.


    ¡°Ah... where, are we going?¡±


    ¡°You can already see it. There.¡±


    Looking towards where the tilted helmet pointed, he saw that in between the rough standing huge rocks, there was a faint, long and slender silhouette ahead.


    That was probably a steep rocky mountain, no, it was more like a ?Tower?. From the ground, it drew a line straight up, and extended far above into the sky.


    To match the building at that place in the real world, Haruyuki thought and drew the south part of Tokyo in his brain, then after a few seconds finally arrived at the answer.


    ¡°Wha... th, that, is that the ?Old Tokyo Tower?...?¡±


    ¡°Very yes.¡±


    Putting aside the weird English instant reply, he dug out his dim knowledge.


    The Tokyo Tower in Minato, Shiba park that sent television signal to the area around the capital, its job was given to the ?Tokyo Skytree? built in Sumida, Oshiage over thirty years ago.


    It continued to operate as an observation deck for a long time after, but easily over 333 meter highrise buildings were constructed one after another in the Tokyo area, so near the beginning of 2030, its use as a sightseeing spot was also over. Right now even the elevator is stopped, and it is kept as a historic building that was forbidden entry.


    Looking at the slowly nearing sharp tower, it seem like the old Tokyo tower exist in this Unlimited Neutral Field as a solid rock, with no internal reconstruction. That meant, standing alone in the wilderness, was a 300 meter high rock pillar.


    ¡°Th, that place, is something there?¡±


    After he inquired in a daze, Ash Roller strangely mouthed ¡®Ah, Umm¡¯.


    ¡°Nn, well, that, something. There is a person I want you to meet.¡±


    ¡°Person...?¡±


    ¡ª¡ª Not ?Guy?, ?Bastard?, or ?SOB??


    ¡°Err, ah, I will say it right out, my ?Parent?.¡±


    ¡°Y, yes!?¡±


    That shocked him to the bottom of his heart, and Haruyuki shouted.


    ¡°A, Ash-san¡¯s ?Parent?...!? That means... mo, more spectacular? Bearded face, sunglasses, leather vest, with tattoos and beer belly.¡±


    ¡°What do you bastard think I am.¡±


    Haruyuki wasn''t sure why, but after that yell, his back trembled.


    ¡°...Let me tell you this, if you run your mouth like that while facing that person, regret will be the least of what you will have. That person already retired from the ?Duel? front line for a long time, so you probably didn¡¯t know... long ago, the name ?Astro? or ?ICBM? would make you shake in fear.¡±


    The word from the strange ending sentences that Ash Roller said because of fear, Haruyuki repeated it in a whisper.


    ¡°I, ICBM...?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Ah, also, another one... ?Icarus? was also a nickname.¡±


    ¡°...Th, that does not seem to be too scary though.¡±


    ¡°Well yea. That seem to be used after the retirement. That person was... before you appeared, the Burst Linker closest to the sky in the accelerated world.¡±


    Almost at the same time as Haruyuki taking in a breath, the bike stopped with a cloud of dust.


    In front of his eyes, from the dry reddish ground, a 90 degree triangle kind of straight rock pillar stood in there.


    The diameter was about 20 meters. Almost completely circular shape, and for sure there was not something like stairs or entrance anywhere. The old Tokyo Tower that was entry forbidden in the real world, was probably recreated in this form.


    He looked around trying to find that person called ICBM or Icarus, but could only see a turtle like silhouette moving slowly far away. ¡®It can¡¯t be¡¯, he inquired while thinking that.


    ¡°Err..., that person?¡±


    ¡°Are you an idiot, that is an Enemy. I am waiting for the wind to stop.¡±


    ¡°Wi, wind?¡±


    After being told, even though he did not notice it while riding fast on the bike, but to be sure, due to the ?Wilderness? stage¡¯s geographical effect, somewhat strong winds were blowing. But that was not for a duel, so what was it for ¡ª¡ª.


    The instant that he thought that. The wind that continued to howl without a break, suddenly stopped.


    ¡°All right, going! Hold Me Tight!!¡±


    To Ash Roller¡¯s sudden shout, after Haruyuki was taken aback and wondered what he was saying, then he realized the reason for the instruction.


    After opening the throttle to full, the bike¡¯s front wheel was brought up, and Haruyuki on reaction put his arms around Ash Roller¡¯s trunk. The engine roared in high pitch, and the rear wheel kicked up dust. The front wheel bumped into the straight rock wall with a thump, and without giving him time to think ¡®What, no way¡¯.


    The American bike with two person riding on it, started climbing the cliff that rose perpendicularly.


    ¡°Uwa... Uwawawawa!?¡±


    And screamed ¡®That¡¯s unreasonableee¡¯ inside his chest, while Haruyuki freshly predicted that the bike will do a backflip and fall off in the opposite direction.


    However, as if the tires were stuck to the wall surface with some kind of mysterious attraction, the bike climbed the straight wall without any wobble. After five more seconds, he relaxed, and finally realized it.


    This, was Ash Roller¡¯s ability, ?Wall Surface Travel?. If he thought about it, then he would remember seeing many times that bike was ridden and freely drove around building walls in duels. However, he did not know that even without a running start, it could climb the wall for such a long time. Saying it another way, right now Ash Roller was idly exposing the upper limit of his ability to Haruyuki who belongs to an enemy legion.


    But, Haruyuki still could not grasp his true intent, and held his breath while staring at the top of the tower.


    Indeed, it could not put out the same speed as on the ground, but the bike strongly climbed the wall in low gear rumble. Taking a glance downwards, he saw that the ground was far enough already to be so hazy that its color changed.


    When he was flying with his own wings, this height was nothing to him, but right now the area around his stomach suddenly shrunk, and Haruyuki hurriedly returned his view. The top of the tower that he could finally see, seem to have a straight cut surface, with the edge drawing a beautiful arc in the yellow sky.


    They would reach there in about ten seconds, then at that time, he felt that a wall of air came pushing from the left side in a howl.


    ¡°Shit! Wind Shiii ¡ª¡ª it!!¡±


    With the profane outburst, Ash Roller tilted the handle, and shifted the bike¡¯s path from the left side. The gust of wind that came blowing right after, relentlessly hit the side of the bike.


    ¡°Fly Hi ¡ª¡ª igh!!¡±


    ¡°Gyaaaaaa!!¡±


    As if riding on the wind, on top of the bike that flew straight up, Haruyuki and Ash Roller used all their strength to grasp the air like crawl swimming. Maybe that had some kind of effect, while the front shifted by inches, they reached the parabolic top, the bike¡¯s rear tire that fell down next, landed around 5cm from the tower¡¯s top edge.


    ¡°I, I am not riding this a second time! I will never ride something with less than four tires ever again!!¡±


    Rolling off the seat, Haruyuki held the hard rock with both hands and legs firmly, then yelled that. As for Ash Roller, while still looking across from the bike, annoyingly shook his right index finger with a chit.


    ¡°Don¡¯t seem to understand, You. The bike is fun because it can fall.¡±


    ¡°Earlier was not about just falling or whatever problem!¡±


    After screaming that with shoulder shaking breath, Haruyuki shook his head, then he finally looked at the surroundings.


    The top of the rock pillar that substitute for the old Tokyo Tower in the real world, became a 20 meter diameter round space almost exactly the same as the bottom.


    However, the appearance was completely different from the lower part.


    ¡®Sky garden¡¯, those kind of words suddenly appeared in his brain. All over the area, soft looking grass shone fresh green color. There was a small spring in the center, and the sparklingly swaying water could not be any clearer.


    In the center of the spring, a small floating island drifted ¡ª¡ª and then above it, Haruyuki saw something unexpected.


    Wavering like a mirage, was a slowly spinning oval of blue light. It was a ?Portal?. From this Unlimited Neutral Field, the only method under your control for returning to the real world.


    ¡®Why in this place¡¯, he was surprised, but most portals were set at large train stations or tourist spots like landmark buildings. Then it existing in old Tokyo Tower might not be strange, but to use this portal, it would be someone like Ash Roller who could climb straight walls, or someone like Silver Crow who could fly, although that was not possible anymore.


    After returning his view while tilting his head, he saw another unexpected thing on the garden¡¯s opposite side.


    A home.


    Small like a toy, a cute home, was built standing surrounded by numerous flowers. The walls were painted pure white, with the pointed roof being deep green. Along with the green ivy hugging the wall, that was a beautiful scene that could be mistaken for a page from a picture book.


    While watching without words, suddenly that house¡¯s door opened with a slight ¡®creak¡¯ sound.


    At that moment, beside him, Ash Roller quickly jumped down from the bike, and took a rigid standing position.


    That would mean, the person who was coming out from there, would be Ash Roller¡¯s ?Parent?. Probably macho in leather like a Hell''s Angel. It was somewhat a mismatch in dwelling, but he would not be surprised if a huge Harley came rumbling out of that door, Haruyuki decided resolutely.


    However, in the end he was astonished from the bottom of his heart.


    What rode out with ¡®squeak squeak¡¯ sounds, were for sure two wheels. But not in a line, they were side by side. The spoke was of ultra fine silver wires, and the tires were not rubber, but about 1cm wide silver wheels. What rode above those wheels, also made with silver wires, was an elegant chair.


    It was a wheelchair. Without engine or muffler, a vehicle opposite of the rugged American bike.


    And then the person sitting there, had the appearance that was 10,000 light years away from Haruyuki¡¯s expectation.


    That was without doubt a duel avatar. Both arms on top of knees were smooth with hard looking bluish gloss, and the lowered face chin area also, was a sharp mask shape.


    The reason he could not see anymore of the face, was that the avatar was wearing a wide brim hat. It was not like Chiyuri¡¯s avatar, ?Lime Bell?¡¯s witch like pointed hat, instead was a pure white bonnet type. The body was also covered with a similar white one piece dress.


    ¡®...What, a female person?¡¯


    As if to confirm Haruyuki¡¯s shock, the swaying wind shook the long hair under the hat. The hair that extended all the way to the waist, was a seem to draw you in clear blue ¡ª¡ª no, it was the color of a very clear autumn sky.


    Again, with wheels squeaking, the wheelchair slowly started moving forward. Even so, the avatar¡¯s hands were still lowered on top of the knees. Somehow the wheelchair seem to be setup with some kind of self-propelled mechanism.


    On the brick path that was laid surrounding the spring in the lawn, the wheelchair approached with slide like movement, and stopped at a place about two meters from them. The hat was lightly lifted up, and the avatar¡¯s true face was exposed. It was an appearance that you would never thought was ?Parent Child? with the End of Century rider, Ash Roller, so Haruyuki stood still and stared at it.


    Common to female type duel avatars, it was a mask shaped face with only lense type eyes fit on it. However, the face without nose or mouth, Haruyuki thought it was more beautiful than any similar type avatars he had seen before. Glowing well on her pale blue skin, the avatar¡¯s faint madder red shinning jujube eyes first looked at Haruyuki, then Ash Roller next.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Ash. I now understand that you haven¡¯t forgotten about me, so I am happy.¡±


    ¡°Lo, long time no see, mistress. Forgot, no way, nottt possible.¡±


    To Ash Roller who made the most respectful salutation, Haruyuki unfortunately did not have the room to correct him with ¡®Isn¡¯t it ¡°Mega Longtime¡±?¡¯. Since the sky color avatar again poured her gaze onto Haruyuki.


    ¡°...You are Silver Crow, right?¡±


    After being called with the swaying wind like graceful voice, Haruyuki also immediately bowed his head. For some reason, he acutely felt that he had to do that.


    ¡°Ye, yes, nice to meet you. I am Silver Crow.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you. My name is ?Sky Raker?. I am happy we met, Karasu[2]-san.¡±


    Feeling that she glanced towards his shoulder area, Haruyuki suddenly shrunk. From her speech, this person already knew about Silver Crow, however that name known in the accelerated world by the silver wings ¡ª¡ª flight ability had already disappeared.


    Avoiding Sky Raker¡¯s gentle gaze that seem to be able to see through to inside of his head, Haruyuki deeply cowered.


    However, after a bit of silence, hearing words issued by Ash Roller, made him forget his shame and looked back up.


    ¡°Then... see you mistress, I... I, will excuse myself here.¡±


    ¡°Wha... Whatt!?¡±


    Haruyuki quickly drew near the skeletal helmet rider that was returning to his bike.


    ¡°Go, going back you said... I, what am I going to do!¡±


    ¡°As if I would know.¡±


    ¡°Would know, you said, but you brought me here!!¡±


    ¡°That, was because you were hesitant, depressed, and crying. Like that, the trouble of setting up my machine with missiles would have no chance to be shown...¡±


    As if to remove non-existing mud from of his boots, Ash Roller scrapped their bottom on the stone pavement as he grumbled for a while, then suddenly changed his tone and said.


    ¡°...Hey, Crow. I don¡¯t know what kind of situation made you lost your wings, and you are probably thinking like this right now. Without flight you can¡¯t win, and fighting would be useless. However... in the accelerated world, how many Burst Linkers are there that could not fly even if they wanted to, have you thought about that?¡±


    Taking a small breath, Haruyuki looked down at his feet on reaction. However, the sharp cutting words from Ash Roller still continued.


    ¡°And then, after a long time fighting ?Duels?, anything could happen. The loss of power also. But, your wings, are not something that after losing them should be immediately given up. If you fight lethargically like that, and finally just disappeared, then to the guys who kept looking up at your flying shape ¡ª¡ª we would...¡±


    As if he could not say the words ahead, Ash Roller fiercely kicked the ground with a thump.


    While cowering, Haruyuki quietly whispered inside his chest.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I too, don¡¯t want to give up. But, my wings... flying ability disappearing in system term, what else can I do.¡¯


    Slowly lifting up his lead like heavy head, he somehow managed to reply with blocked throat.


    ¡°...For sure, in the earlier ?duel?, my attitude was not good. But... that, and this situation, what kind of relation is there?¡±


    ¡°Err, ah, that... that is... like this...¡±


    At that time, from behind, the silent till now Ash Roller¡¯s ?Parent?, Sky Raker¡¯s quiet sound echoed.


    ¡°Karasu-san. Ash is, thinking like this. That maybe I, can help you take back your wings.¡±


    ¡°What.¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s eyes opened wide, and his mouth also became round.


    ¡°My, my wings...? Help... you said... but, Ash-san is, Green legion¡¯s...¡±


    ¡°Ah that¡¯s right! Is that bad!!¡±


    After putting his ass on the bike¡¯s seat with a thump, Ash Roller yelled.


    ¡°Listen, don¡¯t misunderstand! This is a loan! No, it¡¯s a tactic! To boost your favorability parameter up, so you will betray the Black legion kind of secret operation, you bastard! Uhii, I am, Mega Co ¡ª¡ª ol!!¡±


    To the skeletal rider, Ash Roller whose right middle finger was up and shaking, Sky Raker¡¯s quiet sound flew his way.


    ¡°That is vulgar, Ash.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sorry, mistress. Th, then, here I will excuse myself and be excused!¡±


    With a ¡®Burun!¡¯ engine loud roar, the American bike charged towards spring at the center of the yard, made a high jump at the shore then flew towards the shining blue portal ¡ª¡ª


    And disappeared.


    While standing there in ultra amazement, Haruyuki somehow managed to quietly whisper.


    ¡°...Secret operation, you said... It¡¯s no good if you said it out...¡±


    Hearing that, Sky Raker said in small laughter.


    ¡°Head, mouth, and looks are bad, but other than those a pretty good kid.¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Other than those, what would that be.¡¯


    After involuntarily thinking about that for a few seconds, Haruyuki for the moment pushed Ash Roller from his consciousness, and walked a few steps towards the silver wheelchair stopped at the shore of the spring.


    A mountain of questions swirled inside his chest that he wanted to ask, and even with doubt about where to start, he hesitantly opened his mouth.


    ¡°Ah... that is... It was Ash-san who said it. That you are, ?The person closest to the sky in accelerated world?, he said...¡±


    Then, Sky Raker¡¯s smile somehow became transparent, and nodded.


    ¡°What Ash said, about those wanting to but unable to fly. That would be me... or rather, it should be said that I could not fly. Since these hands, in the end, could not reach the sky.¡±


    The answer that he sort of expected, made Haruyuki close his eyes tight on reaction.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Then, this person, instead of helping me, on the other hand has the right to hinder me.¡¯


    He whispered that inside his chest, however Haruyuki could not stop himself from jumping for the faint single line in front of his eyes.


    While blinking, he looked up, and issued the next question with raspy sounds.


    ¡°Then..., is it true...? That you, can return my wings to normal...¡±


    This time, the reply did not reach him immediately.


    The metallic gloss sky color hair was lightly lifted up, and the serene avatar looked at Haruyuki for a while ¡ª¡ª then after that clearly said.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°Wha...¡±


    ¡°If a duel avatar lost something, then there is a reason that must be lost. This place, and I, do not have the means to cancel that reason.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    With his faint hope instantly cut, Haruyuki¡¯s head lowered with heavy heart. However, right before his sight left, Sky Raker casually lifted the skirt of the white dress covering her body, and his eyes were startled out of his eye socket.


    ¡°Take a look.¡±


    What was there ¡ª¡ª, no, was not there, was what was supposed to be below the avatar¡¯s knees.


    The slender thighs drawn with supple lines, were connected with round kneel join parts. However, the shin part of the legs that should extend from there did not exist.


    Since the avatar was riding a wheelchair, he should have thought that there was some problem with the legs. But, for what kind of reason, would the duel avatar¡¯s legs have disappeared?


    For sure, during battles, for different kinds of reasons, parts loss due to damage was possible. For Haruyuki as well, he had numerous experiences of losing an arm or a leg during fierce fights. However, the parts loss damage were immediately canceled after the duel was over, and should have returned to brand new again in the next battlefield.


    Haruyuki held his breath, without being able to look away, and invertible thought.


    ¡®Just maybe, Sky Raker also...? A Burst Linker with similar ability to Noumi that is Dusk Taker, forever robbed her leg...?¡¯


    However, the words that were issued next, denied that suspicion.


    ¡°I selected to cut them off myself.¡±


    ¡°Wha...!?¡±


    ¡°I decided that I no longer needed legs, and asked someone to cut it, while understanding it was a move of huge arrogance, egotism, and madness. Afterwards, my two legs, no matter how many times I dived into the accelerated world, never returned. In other words... inside of me, even now the fire of madness burns, is what it means. As long as it is not extinguished, my legs will probably forever remain like this.¡±


    To the standing still Haruyuki, the auroral eyes stared at him, and Sky Raker quietly decided.


    ¡°Your wings are the same. Unless you face the reason for the loss once more, and overcome it, then they will never return.¡±


    Reason.


    That means, Noumi/Dusk Taker¡¯s special skill, ?Demonic Commandeer?.


    No, not that. It was the defeat itself. Unless Haruyuki can conquer Noumi Seiji in different fronts, and overcome the scar of defeat deeply carved in his heart, then he would never get back his wings. That was what it meant.


    However, that was already absolutely impossible. The reason was, Haruyuki¡¯s only power which was the flight ability was lost, and Noumi who robbed it was flying freely now. He could not see any way to win.


    To Haruyuki who involuntarily kneeled down onto the grass ¡ª¡ª.


    Sky Raker said something unexpected to him.


    ¡°No matter what you do in this garden will not return your wings, however, I did not say you can not fly, Karasu-san.¡±


    "Let¡¯s sit down to talk about the next part."


    With those words, the automatic wheelchair started moving with squeaking sounds, so Haruyuki chased after her while majorly confused.


    In the circular sky garden, at the East, West, South, and North edge, a white bench was setup. They were a type with no backrest, so could be sat on from any direction. Sky Raker stopped her wheelchair at the north bench facing outwards, so Haruyuki also hesitantly sat beside her. At the moment he raised his head, he was breathless from the superb view.


    He could see all of the ?Wilderness? attribute Tokyo city center 300 meters below.


    The area around the civic center in Nagatacho became a huge ruin made up of red sandstones. In that valley, stone arches support the capital high above drawing an arc around.


    Further away, he was drawn in by a remarkably vivid red palace¡¯s majestity. It was the imperial palace in the real world. No matter what kind of attribute stage, the sometimes graceful, other times full of ghastly feeling huge castle was always there.


    ¡®I wonder who lives there¡¯, as he idly thought that, suddenly Sky Raker broke the silence.


    ¡°I thought about meeting you once, Silver Crow.¡±


    ¡°Wha... ah, th, thank you...¡±


    He lowered his shoulders while mumbling. Seeing that appearance, as a warm smile feeling drifted by, the sky color avatar quietly continued.


    ¡°Seven years passed since the beginning of the accelerated world, ?Flight type avatar? finally appeared. When I heard about you from Ash, I was hugely shocked, and was also interested. What kind of soul... what kind of wounded spirit, could manifest power to cut off this world¡¯s huge gravity, I wondered.¡±


    ¡°No, that.. so, sorry. My, my wounds, are really not something important.¡±


    Shrinking his body more, Haruyuki shook his head slightly.


    ¡°Fat in the real world, being bullied, and mopped around for a long time only... those kind of things, calling them wounds would be presumptuous, I recently thought.¡±


    He was having doubts about why he was saying those kind of things to a first met, and furthermore could be said to be near enemy force Burst Linker, still strangely words freely dripped from his mouth.


    Hearing that, Sky Raker again smiled and shook her head sideways.


    ¡°After installation, the Brain Burst program that read the owner¡¯s consciousness for the duel avatar¡¯s resource, ?Wounds of heart?, does not always mean the strength of anger or hatred.¡±


    ¡°Wha...? Th, that is, wound means, negative feelings right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, but not only that. Having large negative thought, for example a boiling kind of anger as a source, will without exception create a duel avatar whose power leans towards pure destructive power. For example, the huge disaster that spread through the accelerated world, that ?Chrome Disaster?.¡±


    Hearing that name, Haruyuki took a sharp breath.


    Seeing Disaster Armor, Chrome Disaster¡¯s fearsome attack power, had shaken him to the marrow of bone, and he saw it only a few months ago. For sure, that enhanced armament was stained with tremendous feelings of rage, he thought.


    ¡°...And then also, avatars that use grudges as a source obtain curse-like indirect attack power, and avatars made from despair in many cases hurt the self to damage the enemy, a kind of self destruct type. But, not all of the avatars have that kind of destructive power, which you already understand right?¡±


    ¡°...Yea.¡±


    It was exactly like what she said. Haruyuki¡¯s wings were not direct attack power, and Ash Roller¡¯s bike also. However, then, ?Wounds of heart?, what would it ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Wound, means lost. The hole in the heart from clipping off something important.¡±


    As if reading what was inside Haruyuki¡¯s chest, Sky Raker quietly answered.


    ¡°Holding the hollow hole, and having anger, resentment, despair ¡ª¡ª or again reaching with ones'' hand held out high. That choice determines the type of avatar.¡±


    ¡°The hand... reaching out?¡±


    ¡°Yes. That is ?Hope?. Wound of the heart, is also the flip side of desire.¡±


    After affirming emphatically, Sky Raker lifted up her face, and looked straight at Haruyuki¡¯s eyes from under the white hat.


    ¡°Silver Crow. You, above any Burst Linker that appeared, should have most desired to reach the sky in your heart. Your strength of will aiming for the sky created your flight ability, and the wings. Listen... you did not fly because of the wings. It¡¯s the opposite.So that you can fly, you made the wings materialize.¡±


    ¡°So that I can... fly...¡±


    He muttered that with raspy sound, and repeated that many times in his chest to understand the meaning ¡ª¡ª then Haruyuki¡¯s face under the silver mask distorted, and he sharply shook his head.


    ¡°That... is foolish. If just willpower can fly, then... those wings, are something only for looks...¡±


    ¡°Ultimately it is exactly that. Through some kind of phenomenon, the wings that you thought were objects, and ?Flight ability? in the system, were robbed. However, the root source of the flight ability, your willpower, has not been robbed. Since to rob that, no matter with what kind of special skill, is impossible.


    ¡°Lie... it could not be, that kind of talk!¡±


    Then, he grabbed his knees and deeply hung his head.


    ¡°Even if my heart, has the will to fly in the sky, that is just... a trigger. Brain Burst read that, and created those wings and flight ability. Then, in this world, as I thought that ability itself should be the essence! Unless that... that was taken back, I will, never...¡±


    Holding his hands tight enough to break his fingers, Haruyuki said that in a moan.


    For a while, just the sound of wind blowing through at 300 meters above ground echoed in the surrounding. Right in front of his eyes, at the garden¡¯s edge extending to the sky, flowers that he did not know the name of swayed, and the petals flew apart without a sound.


    ¡°...That is, you want to say something like this?¡±


    Sky Raker¡¯s sound that reached him carried by the wind, even after Haruyuki¡¯s outburst of anger shout, was calm as usual, no only that, it contained an echo of amusement.


    ¡°In this accelerated world, something like willpower is meaningless. Set by the system, only computed numeric data determine different kinds of phenomena.¡±


    ¡°...Since, it¡¯s like that right. This is inside a VR game. Other than digital data, what else can you say is there.¡±


    ¡°This wheelchair.¡±


    The sudden unrelated words lured Haruyuki¡¯s face up.


    ¡°Look carefully. This is not an enhanced armament. Just, as seen, an object made up of chair and wheels. However earlier, you saw that this wheelchair moved by itself right?¡±


    While confused and unable to grasp the real meaning of the question, Haruyuki answered.


    ¡°Ye... yea. It has some kind of internal propulsion system right? Like a motor, somewhere.¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª There must be one. Since, earlier it moved by itself. Probably in her hand a small controller...¡¯


    While thinking like that, he extended his neck and stared at the elegant silver vehicle.


    And then, his eyes became slits after being hit by a huge shock.


    Nothing. Small axle, hub, rim or any motor like parts could not be seen. Then maybe jet propulsion equipment, and looked behind, but a nozzle or anything like that did not exist anywhere.


    ¡°Bu, but, since earlier, by itself, it moved.¡±


    In front of Haruyuki who muttered in a daze, Sky Raker lightly opened her overlapping thin hands for him to see. Controls or anything like that, there was not any sign of it.


    In that posture, the fully stopped avatar riding on the wheelchair ¡ª¡ª.


    With a ¡®squeak¡¯ wheel sound, slowly backed away.


    ¡°...No, no way.¡±


    ¡®Squeak, squeak¡¯. The chair moved back more, and on the grass, suddenly spun around. Furthermore, like a figure skater on a sheet of ice, it slid front, back, left, and right in graceful movements. After finishing a few seconds of dance, the chair stopped at its earlier position without a single inch of difference.


    ¡°How was that?¡±


    ¡°How was that... you said.¡±


    Trembles shook Haruyuki¡¯s shoulders, as his eyes opened to their limits.


    ¡ª¡ª should not have moved. This world created by the ?Brain Burst? program, could be said to pursue reality as if it was another reality itself. Different kind of machines need motive equipment, and the motive equipment must have a source of energy. For example, if it was Ash Roller¡¯s bike, there was gasoline in the tank, and the drive wheel was connected to the engine with chains so it could be turned. That was why, when Haruyuki lifted up the rear wheel in that duel, that bike could no longer move. If it was another game, something like the drive system would not matter, and even the front wheel could dash by itself, without a doubt.


    That¡¯s why, this wheelchair, moving by itself without any drive system sound or jet exhaust light was ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Not possible... It should not. Something..., exactly, what kind of power is moving that chair?¡±


    The question that Haruyuki gasped out.


    The sky color haired duel avatar, with a graceful smile on her small mask, answered.


    ¡°It is Will.¡±


    ¡°Wha...!?¡±


    ¡°It was moved with only willpower.¡±


    This time he was hit with a shock that almost made his soul leave his body, as Haruyuki shouted many times haltingly like a broken sound file.


    ¡°Bu, but. But, but... th, that is, as if. As if... it is movement by will!! Th, that means, that is... ?Psychokinesis? ability or something... like that...?¡±


    Here Sky Raker¡¯s smile changed to wry smile, and largely shook her head.


    ¡°Fufufu, that is not it. This world... Normal Duel Field, or Unlimited Neutral Field, for Burst Linkers that fight in the accelerated world, anyone can have the same power.¡±


    ¡°Wha... what!?¡±


    ¡°Please think about it. You could freely fly when you had your wings. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°Ye, yes...¡±


    ¡°But, how did you manage to control your wings? Since the real you, did not have experience with using wings or anything like them.¡±


    He had not thought about that before, so when asked he blinked in surprise, then Haruyuki involuntarily moved his shoulders as he hesitantly answered.


    ¡°Th, that was... moving around the shoulder blade area...¡±


    ¡°If you just did that, then you would not be able to use something like your fist properly during flight, right? Please remember it... even if you are not conscious of it, your will power controlled the flight path. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    While speechless, ¡®Now that you mention it¡¯, he thought. Indeed Silver Crow moved both hands around a lot, and without any running start, he could immediately lift off at any place, or stop flying in mid air, and start hovering. At that time, if you want him to say how he was moving his body ¡ª¡ª he could not answer.


    But, he also could not swallow Sky Raker¡¯s explanation, so he said while shaking his head slightly.


    ¡°Will... power. But, then, that, how is it read? The Neuro Linker having that function... should not...¡±


    After those words left his mouth, inside Haruyuki¡¯s ears, he heard an echo of Kuroyukihime¡¯s words from her speech.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª The Neuro Linker, has the power to access things other than sensory cortex and motor cortex in the brain.¡¯


    But that, should be about the earlier talk of ?Wound of heart? related conversation. Then he could understand that far. Because he could interpret it as wounds equal to memory. However, how do you convert something ambiguous like ?Will power? into data?


    ¡°Will, instead of that, would you understand if I say ?Image Power??¡±


    Sky Raker¡¯s voice, made Haruyuki lift up his head suddenly.


    ¡°Image...?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You can also say it as the power of imagination. From then on, how you wanted to accelerate, turn, and slow down, you should have strongly imagined them during flight. The Neuro Linker read that, and moved your avatar. Listen... Image Power! That is truly, us Burst Linker¡¯s secret true power. This wheelchair, my firm incarnation of the image for these two wheels turning is how it is controlled. I made it move this much, but it required a long time for this... however, it is not impossible. Definitely.¡±


    Again, the right wheel slightly turned with a squeak, then Sky Raker and her wheelchair faced Haruyuki.


    Her words that were issued next, somehow contained echo of majestic, mysterious, and divine revelation.


    ¡°Hidden inside the normal avatar control of ?Action command type?, the Burst Linkers who reach the existence of ?Image power control type?, called this power like this. Will from the mind ¡ª¡ª that is, mind power[3].¡±


    A pause.


    ¡°?Incarnate[4] System?.¡±


    ¡°Mind... power?¡±


    It was a word he had not heard of in the accelerated world or the real world.


    However that echo, had some kind of convincing power feel to it, which Haruyuki repeated many times in his mouth.


    What Sky Raker said, he could not understand immediately. Even though the principle of Neuro Linker is a different existence from old era VR machine, and Brain Burst is an unknown super application, still the process of ?Changing the dive person¡¯s image to data? or whatever, exactly what kind of mechanism would make that possible.


    However, the elegant wheelchair made with silver did not have any propulsion system, but could still show him the dance on the grass. That alone was the truth.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Accept it.¡¯


    Haruyuki closed his eyes tight, and whispered that inside his chest.


    It¡¯s circular, but if will ¡ª¡ª belief has real power in this world, and if he believe Sky Raker¡¯s words, then he felt that without doubt it would become truth for him.


    ¡°That means..., that means.¡±


    Something big and hot was stuck in his throat, and Haruyuki with difficulty changed the words ahead.


    ¡°If I can use that ?Incarnate System?, then I, can fly again even without wings... is, is that right?¡±


    He stared at Sky Raker¡¯s face as if trying to devour it, as Haruyuki waited for the answer with searing craving.


    A few seconds later, the quietly released words, however, was something that was neither confirmation or denial.


    ¡°...Earlier, I showed you how I moved the wheels with mind power right? However, even without the difficulty of straining image power, you can do the same thing simply with the use of hands. Listen... using mind power for something that is possible to do with normal control type, and trying to use mind power for the incarnation of a phenomenon that is normally not possible, between them there is a very wide and deep gap... no, a large gorge exists. For example, that is like, in the real world, hitting one bullet with another bullet. It is physically possible, however it is hard to do. Extremely.¡±


    Sky Raker looked away from the speechless Haruyuki, and casually looked up in the sky.


    And then, there was a serene monologue containing something indescribable.


    ¡°I could not do it. Threw away my legs, my friends, and everything else I could thought of, and still could not cut off this world¡¯s virtual gravity... Earlier, I said it right. Even if wanting to fly, but could not fly Burst Linker, that was me...¡±


    ¡°Ye... yea...¡±


    After he nodded while drawn in, the sky color avatar extended her supply right hand straight up, and returned the nod.


    ¡°Close, but could not reach it... ¡ª¡ª From the beginning, my avatar had an enhanced armament. The power to leave the ground and get close to sky. However, that was something you can not really call flight. With just a moment of thrust, only about 100 meters high jump, afterward just falling down kind of substitute for flight.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Without being able to say anything back, Haruyuki just held his breath.


    Once long ago, he checked to see how high Silver Crow¡¯s flight ability could rise to. The Normal Duel Field¡¯s four side ?Area? borders were surrounded by half transparent walls, but how would the sky be like, which he wondered.


    The result was, even using up a full tank of special skill gauge, Haruyuki¡¯s finger could not touch a wall. The height at that time, he remembered it was over three times the height of Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building seen far away. The recently rebuilt government building, boast a majestic height of 500 meters. That meant, Haruyuki easily rose to a height of over 1500 meters, and furthermore that was just done out of a whim.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I, did not even think about the meaning of the power I was given.¡¯


    Feeling the same regret that he had while on top of Ash Roller¡¯s bike, Haruyuki shrunk his body even smaller, and Sky Raker¡¯s sound continued to reach his ear.


    ¡°...One day, I was taken by the desire to go higher, and fly farther. I used various level up bonus to enhance jump ability, and then was devoted to battles to get more points. The few friends I had, and even my ?Parent?, became dissatisfied with me and left. Just one person, the master of the legion I belonged to at that time understood, and cooperated with me. I also wanted became her strength, and we fought shoulder to shoulder for a long, long time... ¡ª¡ª However, reaching level 8, using that bonus would not be enough to make ?Jump? into ?Flight?, when I realized that... my desire became a deep rooted delusion... no, became madness.¡±


    ¡°Mad... ness.¡±


    Looking momentarily at Haruyuki who whispered that in a raspy sound, Sky Raker showed a very faint smile, and deeply nodded.


    ¡°I... in order to make my avatar itself lighter, and to increase flying strength from mind power, determined to throw away my highest attack power, which were my legs. I asked that person who was friend and master to cut them off with her sword. She tried to stop me. However, I already, no longer even understood how she felt... I threw cruel words at her, however she only made sad faces, and finally granted my wish.¡±


    Sky Raker¡¯s right hand gently caressed her knee, and calmly concluded.


    ¡°Spent all the bonuses, trained mind power, and even threw away legs so that I can no longer walk... after all those, the height limit reached was, 350 meters. 3.5 times of the starting value. However, I could not reach the sky. It barely reached the top of this old Tokyo Tower, then I finally realized it. The wounds of heart that was my avatar¡¯s source, my hope and desire, did not have that kind of power. ?Raker? means ?Someone who overlooks?. Momentarily overlooking the sky at the top of a parabola... that was the absolute limit of the power given to me. By the time I realized that, I had already lost everything important to me.¡±


    With the shadow of a smile on her mouth, Sky Raker asked Haruyuki.


    ¡°How about it, Silver Crow. After listening to words of this fool, do you still want to use ?Incarnate System? for flight training? Probably, it would be 99% impossible, with that will you still try?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Haruyuki hung his head, and bit his lip.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Could not possibly do it. If it was impossible for this person who reached powerful level 8 Burst Linker rank, then what could the crybaby, coward, and full throttle underdog me do.¡¯


    ¡®¡ª¡ª My wings, would not be forever lost even remaining like this. It will be returned after enduring two years. As for Takumu and Kuroyukihime, I would make up some kind of reason for excuse, lie about it, and continue to secretly pay points to Noumi as tribute for two years would be fine. At the time I was bullied by Araya, didn¡¯t it go for half a year like that? As for Chiyuri, if I desperately begged her, then she should endure being used as a pet in duel fields. That should be fine, shrink my hands and feet, living just looking down is fine.¡¯


    ¡°...For me.¡±


    It¡¯s impossible.


    Haruyuki wanted to answer like that. He wanted to answer, stand up, and turn towards the portal behind to return to the real world.


    ¡°...I, for me...¡±


    However, something inside his chest stubbornly resisted, and would not let him say what was ahead. As if, the avatar called Silver Crow itself refused to speak that. Now that he lost the wings, the avatar was just a stickman with needle like limbs and a huge head on top, but it still had something important, as if it wanted to tell Haruyuki that.


    He breathed in a lot of cold air into his trembling chest, and held them.


    Then Haruyuki said with his head deeply lowered.


    ¡°For me, there is still something that I must do. ...I beg you. Please teach me... how to use the ?Incarnate System?.¡±


    Sky Raker again faintly smiled, and slightly tilted her head.


    ¡°It will take a long, long time.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°More than you imagine right now, probably a lot longer. It might come to, the ?Point of No Return? for a Burst Linker.¡±


    The meaning of those words, Haruyuki somehow immediately understood.


    Haruyuki knew of two Kings ¡ª¡ª Black King, Black Lotus, and Red King, Scarlet Rain. Those girls¡¯ speech and action, had parts far removed from their real world appearance. The reason was, they spent a long time in this Unlimited Neutral Field. So much that a gap was created between their actual age and mental age.


    For him also, the time for that choice finally arrived. Haruyuki shuddered, but still took a deep breath, and nodded.


    ¡°I understand. ...I beg you, Sky Raker-san.¡±


    ¡°Fine then.¡±


    With a ¡®squeak¡¯, the wheelchair turned, and the accelerated world¡¯s hermit looked at the sky.


    ¡°...Right now, the real world time should be just after 9pm. How much longer over there can you keep on diving?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see... tomorrow is school day, but three or four more hours should be fine. If necessary, till morning...¡±


    Before, Kuroyukihime warned him that staying in this world for too long would make the real world memory from before the dive fade away. However, he thought there would be no need to worry about that this time. No matter how much time past, he would not forget about Noumi Seiji who robbed his wings. Absolutely, he would not.


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Holding the fingers of both hands together, Sky Raker turned back towards Haruyuki.


    ¡°So then..., we will rest for today.¡±


    ¡°Ye, yes!?¡±


    ¡°Your mind is disturbed by today¡¯s happenings. You can not train mind power or anything like that in this state. Since it is already night here, have a good night¡¯s sleep, then we will start tomorrow morning. There is plenty of time.¡±


    ¡°Go, good sleep... you said.¡±


    Haruyuki inquired while dumbfounded.


    ¡°Si, since, if you fall asleep during full dive, the Neuro Linker will detect the brain wave and automatically Link Out right?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that during acceleration. Recently a work was animated by an active high school student that is a famous manga artist right?¡±


    While puzzled by those abrupt words, he still made a small nod.


    ¡°Ye... yes. I am a big fan...¡±


    ¡°He is a high level Burst Linker. All of his sleep is taken here, and while going to school is putting out a weekly series, that kind of unreasonable thing is being done.¡±


    ¡®What, that natural hitmaker is a Burst Linker? Now that you mention it, there was something like that before.¡¯


    While a slight sense of Deja Vu spun around his head, Haruyuki chased after the wheelchair that started moving lightly.


    After being invited in, the inside of the white wall and green roof house, was unexpectedly wide.


    Even saying so, there was only one room. In there, only a small kitchen, table, and bed was setup.


    Sky Raker¡¯s wheelchair moved to the cooking stove set at the kitchen side, and took the lid from the pot on top with some clanking sounds. At that moment, a soft nice smell expanded in the house.


    While Haruyuki looking on in a daze, she quickly put something like stew in wooden bowls, then with both hands holding dishes, this time the wheelchair moved to the table. While putting similar wooden spoons beside them, she said to Haruyuki.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, how about sitting down?¡±


    ¡°Ah..., ye, yes.¡±


    After he unsteadily sat in the high back chair, he looked down at the steaming white stew, and Haruyuki muttered inside his mind.


    ¡®No, but, how to say it, here...¡¯


    ¡°Is inside a duel fighting game, right...¡±


    After he carelessly said that, Sky Raker nodded with a composed face.


    ¡°That is right. Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°Since, that, eating dinner in a fighting game...¡±


    ¡°Oh, the background of a certain fighting game in the early days, had the gallery eating ramen.¡±


    ¡°Th, that might be true but!¡±


    At the same time as he was hit by the feeling of wanting to scratch his head, Haruyuki realized that he was fiercely hungry. Even though he had eaten pizza just a bit ago in the real world, where did this empty stomach feeling come from?


    Even that kind of metaphysical question was instantly cleared up when Sky Raker said ¡°Please, eat up¡±, and Haruyuki quickly held the wooden spoon.


    And then he hesitated again.


    ¡°Ah, bu, but, my, mouth.¡±


    Silver Crow¡¯s face was covered with a mirror like silver helmet, without any eye, nose, or mouth. However, since Sky Raker urged him to eat with gesture, he hesitantly scooped up some stew, and brought it to his mouth. Then ¡ª¡ª.


    With a light humming sound, the bottom of his helmet slid just a little upwards. As he used his left hand to touch in amazement, he could definitely feel a mouth inside. Not understanding anything anymore, Haruyuki muttered ¡°Let¡¯s eat¡± and closed his mouth on the spoon.


    ¡ª¡ª It was delicious.


    More natural than any company¡¯s VR taste recreation engine, the fine tastes spread in his mouth, then Haruyuki scooped up potato, small onion, and chicken one after another and crammed them into his mouth. As he greedily ate, facing him, Sky Raker who elegantly moved her spoon said with a smile.


    ¡°I am happy that you like it, Karasu-san. Please fully taste it while eating. That memory, so that it will be remembered for some time.¡±


    ¡°...Yes?¡±


    After emptying the dish without pausing for breath, Haruyuki finally thought about the meaning of those words just now. However, without the time to answer his question, Sky Raker started throwing the dishes into the kitchen shelves with flicks, so all he could do was bow his head and said ¡®Thanks for the food¡¯.


    When he noticed it, outside the south facing window, it had became completely dark. Probably it was bright around the Odaiba area, and the swaying reflection from the black sea surface could be seen from afar.


    Sky Raker¡¯s fingers sounded with a snap, and either from house function or ?Mind Power? movement, all the curtains closed shut. The wheelchair moved with squeaking sounds to the side of the small bed, then the avatar who lost legs, with just the right hand for support lightly moved her body on top of the sheets.


    ¡°So then, it¡¯s a bit early, but we should sleep.¡±


    What.


    Sleep she said.


    There was only one bed. There were two avatars. This means ¡ª¡ª what would this mean?


    Haruyuki thought in high speed for an instant, but that was cut apart by the pillow that was thrown to him. Holding that, he thought ¡®Yea it should be like this what was I thinking I am an idiot idiot this fool¡¯. While cursing himself, Haruyuki lay his silver avatar on top of the floor. Since his whole body was covered with hard metallic armor anyway, whether it was bed or board below would not make much of a difference.


    After putting her hat on the hook on the wall, and quickly taking off her one piece and throwing it, Sky Raker lay flat on top of the bed, then snapped her fingers once more. The ceiling lamp and wood stove fire extinguished, then the inside of the house was covered with light blue darkness.


    ¡°Good night, Karasu-san.¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª As expected of her being that Ash Roller¡¯s Parent, this person is not someone ordinary.¡¯


    While impressed, Haruyuki also answered.


    ¡°Go, good night...¡±


    At the same time in his mind, he shouted ¡®As if I could sleep in this situation!¡¯ ¡ª¡ª but.


    Unexpectedly, at the moment he closed his eyes while shifting to a sleep position beside the table, the base of his head immediately started to be covered with a fluffy white fog. As Sky Raker said, the many happenings were a big drain on him mentally after all.


    Of course, he would not forget the humiliation and despair Noumi visited upon him. However right now, while inside this house in this world, he felt that the black things were driven away. Maybe that was, because the inside of his stomach was filled with delicious stew worth cup of happiness feeling, or it might be due to his gluttonous eating of the pretty realistic food.


    Resisting the sleepiness that want to close his eyelids with violence like heaviness for a bit, Haruyuki very light whispered.


    ¡°Ah, Sky Raker-san. A little, can I ask you something?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Since he heard that sound immediately, he took a glance towards the bed, and asked while facing the graceful curved silhouette.


    ¡°That is... Ash Roller-san, has he already learned the ?Incarnate System??¡±


    ¡°In earnest, not yet. But I just gave hints, and that kid devised various things.¡±


    With that answer, he understood something. Ash Roller¡¯s new skill of controlling the bike while standing on top seem pretty absurd, but that probably contained image control. He gave a small nod on the floor, and asked the next question.


    ¡°Since you are his ?Parent?, are you also in the Green King¡¯s legion now...?¡±


    The reply this time, took a bit of time.


    ¡°...No. The legion I belong to, before and from now on, there is only one.¡±


    ¡°Then... that is.¡±


    While involuntarily lifting up his head, Haruyuki asked the question that he really wanted to.


    ¡°The name of that legion is... perhaps, ?Nega Nebulas?? And then, the person you asked to cut off your legs is...¡±


    ¡°?Black Lotus?. Stronger, more noble, and kinder than anyone, my one and only friend.¡±


    The somewhat quiet, yet song like beautiful echo answered, and made Haruyuki nod lightly.


    ¡°It would be that... I thought. You... somewhere, towards that person...¡±


    ¡°That is an old story.¡±


    As if to cover Haruyuki¡¯s words, those short words descended from the bed.


    ¡°Long, long ago old story. There... sleep already, Karasu-san. Tomorrow is an early day.¡±


    As if to refuse any more conversation, he heard a quick sound of rolling over.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I want to hear more. Of old times, about that person.¡¯


    Even with that kind of feeling, however at that time an intense force weighted on Haruyuki¡¯s face.


    He left his body to the visiting warm darkness, and Haruyuki sank down into the abyss of deep sleep.


    The next moment, his head hit the floor with a clank, and he unwillingly opened his eyes.


    ¡®What was that, I was still sleeping, who pulled my pillow away¡¯, with that thought he lifted his upper body up. Then, through the fully open curtains, the sky with beautiful orange and purple dye made him closed his eyes into slits.


    ¡°Whaa... already, morning...!?¡±


    ¡°That is right. Good morning, Silver Crow.¡±


    When he moved his face to the sound, he saw the shape of Sky Raker returning the pillow that should have been pulled from under his head to the bed. She was already dressed in her white hat and one piece.


    ¡°Go, good morning... Umm, right now, what time is it?¡±


    After his inquiry from greeting, the sky color avatar silently pointed towards the kitchen. The small brass color table clock on the cabinet by the wall, its needles showed it was 5am. If the time he lay down yesterday was soon after sunset, then he calculated that he slept for a full ten hours, seemingly without any dream.


    However, for sure his head was refreshed as if being thoroughly washed with cold water. On the other hand, it could be said to be that he did not recall ever waking up this invigorated. Furthermore, no more than 30 something seconds passed in the real world.


    ¡°...I see, sleeping here, might be a pretty good use of points...¡±


    After he involuntarily muttered, Sky Raker smiled.


    ¡°There is the risk that your head might be cut off while sleeping though.¡±


    ¡°...Whaa.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too late to hold your neck now. You did not wake up even after I called you five times.¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª So that¡¯s why she resorted to the roughness of pulling away my pillow¡¯. With that understanding, Haruyuki lowered his shoulders.


    ¡°So, sorry. I will wake up properly next time.¡±


    However at that point, Sky Raker returned a smile with deep meaning, then drove her wheelchair towards the door.


    The Unlimited Neutral Field in the morning, shone a different kind of beauty from the evening. The attribute was still ?Wilderness?, but the reddish brown rocks in morning sun, seemed like huge ruby gemstones.


    The wheelchair moved with squeaking sounds through the grass wet with morning dew, then arrived at the north side bench where their talk last night was, and stopped. Haruyuki went beside her, and this time stood still while waiting for Sky Raker¡¯s words.


    The original ?Nega Nebulas? member, now accelerated world¡¯s hermit, and level 8 Burst Linker, took a deep breath, then said with a more strict sound.


    ¡°Silver Crow. Then, from now on, you will start the training for ?Mind Power?.¡±


    ¡°Ye... yes, please take care of me!¡±


    Haruyuki made a deep bow with his head.


    Controlling the avatar with image called ?Incarnate System?, learning that was his only remaining hope. However many days or weeks it takes, he will absolutely learn it.


    With that determination burning, Hong Kong made kung-fu movie training scene BGM played in his head, as Haruyuki waited for his first instruction.


    ¡ª¡ª However.


    ¡°...Even saying so, the essence of mind power could be expressed in one word. If that was understood, then anyone can use it.¡±


    ¡°...Ye, yes?¡±


    Sky Raker¡¯s smoothly continued speech, made his knees bent.


    ¡°...Ju, just one...? Is that, secret learned then have full mastery?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°Please teach me, that.¡±


    Naturally, after he said that.


    ¡°Fine. However, when you meet me next time, only then.¡±


    As if to return that answer, he hurriedly took a step closer.


    ¡°N... no, until you teach me, I will not return to the real world!¡±


    ¡°Not met, when we meet, did I not say that? That means...¡±


    There she paused and waved her hand, so Haruyuki took another step closer.


    With the sky color hair swaying, the elegant avatar¡¯s right hand softly touched Haruyuki¡¯s back ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°Like this.¡±


    And pushed him in a horizontal direction.


    ¡°Whaa... Oo... oops...¡±


    Haruyuki stumbled on the grass one, two steps.


    On his third step, he stepped on air.


    ¡°...Wha.¡±


    ¡°I wish you good luck, Karasu-san.¡±


    The smiling Sky Raker shape, went far away above. To be exact, Haruyuki¡¯s body, dropped out of the top of the 300 meters high tower.


    ¡°Wha... wai... waa...¡±


    He flapped both hands like wings in panic, but of course that had no effect. Like that, he was pulled by the virtual gravity and free fall straight down ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°Wa... a... a ¡ª¡ª¡±


    Haruyuki died.

 Volume 3 - CH 11

    One hour later, he was resurrected.


    Death in the Unlimited Neutral Field was very strange indeed. The surrounding scenery changed to a black and white monochrome, his body became transparent like smoke, and could gently move around, but could not go beyond a ten meter radius from the death position.


    A small digital number was carved in the center of his view, starting at 60:00:00, and when it became zero, finally the field colors and the avatar body itself was recovered.


    While looking down at the pretty big crater he made, Haruyuki said the first thing he thought of.


    ¡°...It seems like 100% without doubt that she is Kuroyukihime senpai¡¯s friend...¡±


    And then he held both hands at his waist, and looked up at the towering vertical rock wall ¡ª¡ª old Tokyo tower in front of him.


    ¡°...The next meeting, that means... means...¡±


    ...Climb to the top. Would be what it meant.


    After shaking his head, he sighed deeply. Something like this was said, ¡®The lion throwing its cub down a bottomless ravine¡¯, but that probably should be story about it being a Good Job staying alive after being dropped.


    However, unlike the lion, Haruyuki¡¯s avatar has two skillfully moveable hands. More than that, his body is as light as possible, and power is as the words said can go through rocks.


    ¡°...I will climb.¡±


    He whispered as if saying to himself, and Haruyuki held both hands into fists.


    Even if it was a 300 meter continuous vertical rock wall, it was not a smooth flat surface like glass. There were numerous gaps where hands and feet could cling to, and it should be possible to dig small holes.


    Planning to carve his determination at the beginning, he lowered his waist, and held his right hand at waist level.


    ¡°Uryaa!!¡±


    The punch that was thrust out with that psyche, bore a hole deep into the reddish brown rock, and sank in about 20cm deep.


    He put his right foot there solidly, lifted his body up, then Haruyuki¡¯s left hand held onto a crack a bit higher.


    Moving his sight left and right, and after drawing the starting route in his head, he lifted his avatar up with just his left hand. Towards the step he aimed for, this time the tip of his left foot was firmly set.


    Actually, climbing like this in the virtual space, was not his first time. Carrying a rifle in jungle and mountainous terrain shooting games, climbing cliffs like this was a worthy strategy for blindsiding the enemy team. In order to gain that tactical advantage, he even borrowed rock climbing VR training software from the library.


    The trick for free climbing is, to precisely imagine the optimal route at the start, and do not stick too close to the surface of the rock.


    Looking ahead to the limit of his vision, with where and how to place his four limbs drawn in detail in his thoughts, Haruyuki continued to climb the rock wall in a steady pace.


    As if it was a race, the sun that dyed the eastern sky red also inched its position upwards. The color of the morning glow eventually disappeared, and the sky was changed to a eerie yellow.


    How many holds he had grabbed onto, he had already forgotten. The top was melted into the sky so it could not be seen, and if he looked down, the ground should be far away. However he did not look towards his feet even once, and while facing the sky, he innocently and honestly challenged the cliff. He was mostly not conscious of it himself, but the concentration that he put to various ?Games? like this, was without doubt mostly the only and greatest ability of the person called Arita Haruyuki.


    That well-honed nerve, captured the slight shaking of the air from far away. It was a sign of the gusts that was a feature of the Wilderness stage. Immediately, Haruyuki¡¯s both hands thrust into the cracks in the rocks and firmly held on, with his body tightly close to the surface.


    A few seconds later, the atmosphere shook with a rumble, and a strong gust that was like a giant blowing came attacking Haruyuki as if to shake him off. However, while not even feeling any fear, Haruyuki calmly waited for the wind to stop. Since, the slender and slippery body of Silver Crow without any protrusion should offer no resistance to the wind. That meant Haruyuki believed that he would not be blown away by just wind, and it was actually like that.


    The nasty giant finally gave up, and after Haruyuki took a small breath, he again continued the ascent.


    At the time that the sun reached straight above, and started leaning slightly west.


    Finally, the tip of the rock wall that seemed to continue infinitely, drew a sharp arc in the sky. The tip of that cylinder, was the top where Sky Raker waited.


    The distance should still be over 100 meters. However at this pace, he should reach it before night time. Now that he thought about it, Sky Raker¡¯s ¡°So that you can remember well the stew¡¯s taste¡± words, and the smile she showed after Haruyuki said that he would wake up properly tomorrow, were probably predictions that Haruyuki could not climb this old Tokyo tower in one day.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I will show you that I can reach the top today!¡¯


    With that determination, however with no carelessness, Haruyuki attacked the rock surface using steady movements. The wind gusts that changed direction in the afternoon, came attacking with increased frequency, but all of them passed by with Haruyuki sticking to the wall.


    The sky¡¯s color slowly became more saturated, and the climb that started at dawn soon reached nine hours. He was indeed starting to feel tired, and as he ground his teeth in frustration, Haruyuki¡¯s nose captured a slight floral scent. Furthermore, the spring¡¯s noise, and the faint blue light of the portal also reached his ears and eyes.


    Soon. Just 20, no, 15 more meters.


    If he finished climbing on his first try, then even Sky Raker should be shocked, so Haruyuki enthusiastically increased his hands and feet speed ¡ª¡ª


    ¡ª¡ª At that time.


    Something he had not felt till now, a ¡®Ring Ring¡¯ kind of high resonance sound shook the atmosphere. The echo from unlimited number of bells being sounded from far away at the same time, made Haruyuki lift his face up, and look at the eastern horizon.


    And then he groaned.


    ¡°Ah... not good...¡±


    Coming into his view, was what came falling down from the sky, the shine of the aura that gently caressed the earth.


    It was a ?Transition?. An ultra large phenomenon that changed the attribute of all of Unlimited Neutral Field.


    Haruyuki quickly looked back, and started climbing the wall surface at double the speed he had been going till now. Occasionally his limbs slipped, and he felt a cold sweat, but his fingers grabbed hold of a gap while in danger and held on. Without waiting for his heart to calm down, he again jumped towards his next hold.


    As if to hurry Haruyuki on like that, the aura closed in at tremendous speed from the east, and the bell sounds grew louder. The surfaces that were caressed by the seven color light curtain had the reddish brown wilderness colors dispersed in a poof, and was reborn in a new form. That was right, it was refreshing this world. After the ?Transition?, the Enemy that were killed were replaced, and the stage that was destroyed was repaired. There was no Enemy around this tower, but the latter was a problem. If he was caught in the aura, then the holes that Silver Crow¡¯s sharp hands thrust into the rock wall, would probably ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°U... O...!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted, and the final distance were mostly climbed while running on all fours.


    However, he was five meters short.


    Numerous bell sounds pressed against his ears, and the seven color shine painted all of his view, and in the next instant, Haruyuki¡¯s hands and legs were thrown away from the wall with a repulsive force that could not be denied.


    ¡°Shitt... Nooo...¡±


    He clawed the air with his hands, trying to get close to the wall once more, but that effort was also in vain.


    ¡°Wa... a... a... ¡ª¡ª¡±


    Haruyuki died again.


    After he was resurrected one hour later, the world was already covered by sunset, and it was no longer the red wilderness.


    The ground was made up of properly arranged stone pavement. And then the old Tokyo Tower in front of him was, changed to a bluish black shining metal plate jointed steel tower. It was the ?Demonic City? stage.


    ¡°...¡±


    Haruyuki slump down to sit on the hard stone pavement, and gave a deep sigh. If this was a normal game, then at this point he would hit his pillow in his room for distraction, but right now he could not logout, and he did not have the energy for it.


    However, for his first try, he almost climbed to the top. Sky Raker seemed to have sounded like this training would take weeks, or at worse even longer. If it was like that, then he could say that he had done pretty well. He strongly held his two fists with, ¡®I will absolutely climb it next time¡¯.


    He really wanted to tackle the wall again right now, but thought that it would not be possible at night. Planning to challenge it again the first thing tomorrow morning, Haruyuki sneaked into a suitable building in the surrounding, and lay down at one side of a safe looking room.


    It might be recoil of concentrating for nine hours continuously, he was suddenly attacked by a strong drowsiness, and without the chance to feel hungry, Haruyuki fell straight into sleep.


    However, in the third morning of his dive in the Unlimited Neutral Field.


    Haruyuki¡¯s eyes popped out from sudden shock.


    Last night he was careless and did not notice it, but the Demonic City stage¡¯s old Tokyo Tower was similar to Sunshine City where he fought Chrome Disaster, both made up of smooth and hard steel plates. Since there were no windows, there were also no ladders. Instead of that, not a single crack where his fingertips could hold onto could be seen. That meant, there was no way for him to climb it.


    ¡°...Then, I can just make my own holes.¡±


    He muttered, then after knocking on the steel with his fingertip.


    Like yesterday, Haruyuki punched using his held fist with all his strength.


    And then jumped up as he screamed.


    ¡°Ouch... ch ¡ª¡ª-!¡±


    The sharp pain that was increased two times of the lower field, made him hold his right hand while jumping around, and he stared at the place he hit, but the bluish black wall did not have a single dent. Indestructible object ¡ª¡ª that could not be, but probably it was not possible to open a hole without a heat ray or drill, and of course Silver Crow was not equipped with something like those.


    ¡°...Does that mean I have to wait for the next ?Transition?...¡±


    He cursed while grinding his teeth, but how many days later would the next aura visit be, and whether the next time will be a destroyable attribute, he had absolutely no idea. The sudden sense of frustration, made Haruyuki slump down to his knees.


    That head, was suddenly hit by something with a thump.


    ¡°Huh!?¡±


    When he jumped up in consternation, he saw that a white cloth bag was dropped there. He quickly looked up, but the steel color spire extended infinitely into the gray sky, and no one could be seen.


    However that bag was dropped by Sky Raker¡¯s hand, which Haruyuki had no doubt. He picked it up in amazement, untied the knot, and found out that inside contained a large round bread, and a small piece of paper.


    At that moment, he was immediately attacked by a virtual empty stomach feeling, so Haruyuki bit into the large bread as the lower half of his helmet slid up with a hum. It was plain bread with nothing inside, but even so he thought it was somewhat warm, fragrant and incredibly delicious, so he was absorbed in eating.


    Soon half of it was gone, then Haruyuki finally turned the paper around, and read the words written there in elegant handwriting.


    ¡ª¡ª [The mind power training had already started. Yesterday, why were you not blown away by the wind, please think about that.]


    ¡°...Huh?¡±


    After reading it once, he could not grasp her intent at all.


    This wall climbing, was actually before the ?Incarnate System? training, or put another way something like basic training, which Haruyuki understood. Even in Kung Fu movies, before the master taught martial arts, wasn¡¯t there a lot of stair climbing?


    And then, ¡®Why were you not blown away by the wind?¡¯, that sentence also made no sense. That was because he was holding on tightly, of course. Also, Silver Crow¡¯s body has low air resistance. That was why when he stuck to the wall, the wind passed by his back...


    ¡°Ah...¡±


    Suddenly, Haruyuki made a small shout. He felt that he was close to something important. While involuntarily chewing the rest of the bread, he again continued to think.


    Mind power was, a method of using image power to control avatar or object.


    Yesterday, when Haruyuki was sticking to the rock wall while enduring the wind, he did not even think about being blown away. If it was Silver Crow¡¯s slender and smooth body, he believed that any kind of wind gust would pass by, and that became the actual case.


    Maybe, that was ¡ª¡ª at that time, the ?Incarnate System? power was already being used? Did strongly drawing the image that the wind would pass through him actually lessen the wind pressure?


    In that case, in the same manner, would he be able to deal with this steel wall?


    After putting the last piece of bread into his mouth, the helmet closed shut, and Haruyuki stared hard at his right hand.


    The five fingers could not be any smaller, nor sharper. And the silver armor gave off a really hard looking shine.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Not punch, it should be a jab.¡¯


    Thinking so naturally, he lined up the five fingers together and extended them straight out. When the wrist was steady, the parts in front of the elbow looked exactly like a sword.


    He lowered his waist to half of his height, and this time stared at the wall in front.


    The bluish black shining steel plates looked truly tough, however, it was just a stage background. Without any consciousness, it just exists. That meant its physical shape, was only a series of code recorded in the Brain Burst server somewhere.


    If he could not even open a hole in such thing, then how could he call himself a dueler. If it was that person, Black King, Black Lotus, then without doubt she would cut this degree of walls apart like butter without even getting worked up.


    He held his fingers extended right hand at waist level. ¡®Suu, Haa¡¯, deep breaths, then one more breath in ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°...Haa!!¡±


    With that psyche, he thrust straight out.


    With a ¡®Giin!¡¯ sharp sound, bluish white sparks flew apart. All of his finger joints, wrist, and elbow had a sharp pain running through them that made his eyes dazzle. The HP gauge in his view¡¯s upper left was slightly shaved.


    He involuntarily moaned, and Haruyuki slumped down to his knees there, but when he looked up, it certainly existed there. Carved in the smooth wall, was about 1cm long, 1mm deep sharp scar.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª It will work!¡¯ Right after that thought, he also yelled ¡®Not enough!¡¯.


    His image power was still not enough. He thought of his fingers as fingers and arm as arm, and that was why he was hurt. Think of them as a sword. Similar to that person, a sword that can pierce through various things, and cut them apart.


    He stood up, and again sharply extended his fingers. Thinking for a bit, he bent his thumb to the side of the palm, then from elbow to the tip of his middle finger, was made up of a sharp line as if it was designed like that from the beginning.


    And then from now on, instead of holding at waist level, held a bit higher to near shoulder level, drawn back to the limit. The left hand held out mostly in front, turned horizontally. Just like the motion he saw from Black Lotus¡¯s special skill, ?Death By Piercing?.


    ¡°...Shaa!!¡±


    The sound this time, was somewhat higher and clearer echo compared to the previous one. A lightning like pain again made him ground his teeth, but the scar that the wall sustained was a little bit deeper.


    That day eventually ended with him single mindedly continuing to thrust against the wall.


    He gradually stopped feeling pain, and by sunset, his fingertip ate in about 3mm, but that was still not at a level that could support him for climbing the wall. However Haruyuki did not feel terribly impatient, and returned to his sleeping place from yesterday while feeling satisfied from the heavy fatigue.


    ¡®What I am doing now, might be just some kind of escape.¡¯


    He could not help but think like that while laying there. Using ?Acceleration? to extend the time, and fast forward his problem with Chiyuri, Takumu, and Noumi was an actual fact. But right now, he was happy while single mindedly concentrate on what he was doing, and it was saving him. Closing his eyes, Haruyuki again slept like the dead.


    Morning on the fourth day.


    He stood at the same place as yesterday, and stared at the numerous scars carved on the steel wall shining bluish light, as Haruyuki once again thought.


    The direction of his image should be correct. His fingertips being hard and sharp, and his arm¡¯s thrusting power was being drawn in thought. But, he felt that he was missing something.


    While mumbling, he was again directly hit on his head by a cloth bag. Quickly picking it up, he face the sky and shout ¡®Itadakimasu¡¯, then bit into the bread inside.


    Today also, came with a piece of message. After opening it excitedly, that was ¡ª¡ª.


    [Do your best, Karasu-kun ?].


    It was only that, and while embarrassed by the symbol at the end, Haruyuki sighed with a snort. He was expecting a similar hint as yesterday, but nothing else was written.


    This would mean, ¡®I already know all I need to know¡¯, it would be like that.


    While thinking that, Haruyuki finished eating the bread, and again desperately worked his head.


    Mind power. Will from the mind. Image power. Inside his ears, Sky Raker¡¯s words replayed.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª- Listen... Image power! That is truly, us Burst Linker¡¯s secret true power.¡¯


    Wait... a minute. Something very similar to that was said, long ago... very long ago, by that person also.


    At the moment he thought of that, that sound freshly replayed from deep in his memory.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Listen, Haruyuki-kun. You are fast. You will become faster than anyone else. Faster than me, and the other Kings as well. Speed is truly Burst Linker¡¯s greatest power.¡¯


    There was no way he could forget it. That, was right before Kuroyukihime used her final command ?Physical Full Burst? to save Haruyuki, the words she left after being prepared for her own death.


    Kuroyukihime at that time, should definitely have known about Burst Linker¡¯s hidden ?Incarnate System?. However, she expressed the greatest power as ?Speed? instead of ?Image Power?. That meant ¡ª¡ª


    These two, are the same thing.


    The word ?Speed? that Kuroyukihime used, did not just mean the duel avatar¡¯s movement speed in the field. It was the brain connected to the Neuro Linker, the signal speed sent out by the consciousness. The speed of response between this world and himself. That meant, how close to the essence of the world, it would be like that.


    ¡°With image... control...¡±


    Muttering, Haruyuki held his right hand up.


    Not power. It was speed. What he should image was that. Move to the limit of speed. Get as close to the world as possible. And assimilate with it.


    ¡°...Fuu.¡±


    With a slight exhale, Haruyuki¡¯s right hand thrust out with an image of light.


    In fact, a dim but definite white light path floated through the space. A ¡®Shukiin!¡¯ sound, like something from some kind of musical instrument beautifully sounded.


    After seeing his fingers buried over 5mm deep in the steel wall, Haruyuki strongly clenched his left hand.


    For three more days, Haruyuki continued the same training at that place.


    He got up at sunrise, and munched on the round bread thrown down from above his head. The message that accompanied it sometimes had a heart mark, and sometimes did not, but with those words of encouragement as support, he intently continued to repeat left and right jabs.


    For Haruyuki¡¯s about 14 years of life, he had never experienced concentrating on one thing for this long time.


    No, it could be said that this time could not possibly exist in the real world. The real body often get hungry, soon tired, and also had to go to school. In the 1000 times accelerated time flow of the Unlimited Neutral Field, and then with the duel avatar that doesn¡¯t know fatigue that this was a possible action.


    The light released by his fingertips, and the depth they ate into the wall, were in a range that he could not feel any increase. However Haruyuki did not doubt that he was doing important training, and while just conscious of the signal speed that his brain sent to the avatar, he repeated the same action 1000s, 10000s, and 100000s time.


    Haruyuki felt that this training was not something like ?Suddenly true power awaken one day?. He realized he was aiming for something that was built up with results that his eyes could not distinguish. Similar to the virtual squash game in Umesato middle school¡¯s local net where he continued to gradually challenge the high score. Concentration and accumulation. There was no shortcut other than those.


    That¡¯s right..., probably Sky Raker who waited at the top of the steel tower also, and standing on the very peak of accelerated world itself, ?Red King? Niko and ?Black King? Kuroyukihime also, for sure passed through this road.


    Right now, he could not even see the shadow of that person walking far ahead in the long, long road, but.


    ¡®I too someday..., someday will definitely reach that place, I will show you.¡¯


    When the sun set on sixth day, while looking at his right hand with fingers that were fully pierced through the thick steel, Haruyuki strongly decided that inside his chest.


    To be able to do the same thing while sticking to the wall, took another half day.


    On the day that marked his one week visit to this world, close to noon time.


    He glared at the weak sunlight through the thick black clouds, and after thinking for a bit, Haruyuki finally decided to start his second climb. There were only five or six hours till sunset, but he would not need to search for routes or backtrack due to running out of hand holds on the rock in the ?Wilderness? stage. If he just climb in a straight line, then it might be possible for him to reach the top before nightfall.


    ¡°...All right!¡±


    With a ¡®Bang¡¯ hit against both sides of his helmet for psyche, Haruyuki threw out his first thrust.


    With a ¡®Shukiiiin!¡¯ clear sound and path of white light that was created, his hand sword deeply pierced the wall.


    Using his firmly pierced in right hand to hold his body up, this time his left hand attacked a place that was a bit higher.


    Speed. Speed of light. He only thought about that.


    Eventually, Haruyuki stopped even thinking about the word ?Speed?. Inside his brain, only the image of sword tip thrusting out like white light existed.


    Thrust. Pull his body up. Concentrate. Thrust again.


    Since the fingers need to be as horizontal as possible for the piercing, one action only gained him about 30cm of distance. Using that to climb 333m, a simple calculation would give at least 1110 thrusts on the wall.


    However Haruyuki just absorbedly, and single mindedly repeated the same actions. Without looking at the top or bottom, forgetting about past and future, so only the wall in front of him and his fingertips became his whole world.


    Thrust. Thrust. Pierce. Pierce.


    His hands were already releasing a laser like bright light. The depth that his hand sword went in was going deeper and deeper, making it almost difficult to pull them out, but he ignored that and just thrust, and climbed.


    Haruyuki went into abnormally deep concentration, even beyond when he was challenging his self made bullet avoidance game. Sight and hearing information lost their meaning, the steel wall also eventually disappeared, and in the darkness that was everywhere, only the flash released by his hands blinked alternately ¡ª¡ª.


    ...No.


    He could see something.


    Far in the darkness, very, very far away, there was a water surface like blue sway.


    Portal? There was someone over there. Full of a golden shine, he could only see the silhouette, but for certainly ¡ª¡ª someone...


    Haruyuki wanted to break the dense darkness with his two hand thrusts, to go to that place. He was being called, he felt.


    ¡°You are... who...?¡±


    A deep echo accompanied the sound that range in the darkness, and reacting to that, some kind of reply, no, signal like thing was ¡ª¡ª.


    At that time, a faint vibration was transmitted to his body, and Haruyuki opened his eyes with a snap.


    In front of his eyes, was the same bluish black steel wall. The sky was already painted a deep red. Sunset was nearing.


    However, a light other than the sun reached him from the east, so Haruyuki looked there. Just then, a seven color aura came falling down from the sky. ¡®Ring ring¡¯ like bell sounds. It was a ?Transition?.


    But this time, Haruyuki did not panic.


    Similar to before, he continued to move his hands at a set pace. Even without looking up, he could feel that the top edge was right above. The aura, as if it intended to throw Haruyuki off, closed in at a breakneck speed. Snapping and rumbling sounds of the world being recombined filled the world.


    Thrust. Lift up. Thrust. Lift up.


    At the same time as the next thrust, his view was covered by the seven color shine.


    Flicked away by the fingertip of an invisible giant, Silver Crow¡¯s elegant body was instantly blown away into the sky.


    The top of the tower that he could soon see went far away. The virtual gravity, licked its lips and extended its hands towards Haruyuki ¡ª¡ª.


    However.


    ¡°...Shaa.¡±


    With a small exhale, Haruyuki released his final thrust from the air at the wall two meters ahead.


    A ¡®Shuraaaaan!¡¯ light sound echoed, the pure white light sword extended, deeply piercing the wall that he should not have been able to reach.


    At the same time that he was feeling positive, Haruyuki used that as support, and jumped up with all his strength. After spin turn flying inside the aura, what he landed on with a crunch was ¡ª¡ª


    On top of the sky garden grass that he stepped on about one week ago.


    ¡°Welcome back, Karasu-san.¡±


    Right above Haruyuki who hung his head while standing on one knee, he heard a soft sound.


    While resisting the sudden attack of fierce lethargy, Haruyuki lifted up his head with difficulty.


    The sky color avatar sitting on the silver wheelchair, looked down at Haruyuki with a smile.


    ¡°You returned much faster than I predicted. As expected of a ?Child? selected by her.¡±


    In reaction to those words, Haruyuki whispered back an unrelated reply.


    ¡°...It should not have reached.¡±


    Somehow inside his head, only the feeling of the last thrust he released, was very strongly burned there.


    ¡°It was a distance that my short arm absolutely could not reach. ...But, I believed that it would reach... no, I knew that it would reach. If that... that could be said to be ?Mind Power?, then...¡±


    Here he finally looked into Sky Raker¡¯s eyes, and continued.


    ¡°That was not something like ?Control Power?. More... more deeper level... connected to this world... that is to say... to say...¡±


    After searching his vast vocabulary with difficulty, Haruyuki somehow put what he wanted to say into words.


    ¡°That is to say, something like ?Rewriting the facts?...¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly.¡±


    Sky Raker¡¯s smile disappeared, and she crossed the fingers of both hands, then said in a more serious tone.


    ¡°?Overwrite?. That truly is the one word that is the essence of mind power. However you will not understand it if you heard it as a word. You can only experience it.¡±


    ¡°Over... write.¡±


    To Haruyuki who repeated that with raspy sound, Sky Raker quietly nodded.


    ¡°The Incarnate System, that is the image type control built into the Brain Burst program, was just something for support originally. To support the action command type control, it was just a system to supplement the avatar movement. However, with very fast consciousness, the strongly sent out image exceeded the program constraint, and materialized. The wheels that should not turn, turned, and the arm that should not reach, reached. Firm will, mind power, can overwrite events.¡±


    Those words, to Haruyuki who should have already learned the beginning stage of the ?Incarnate System?, once again filled him with a huge sense of awe.


    Half year already passed since he began playing this game, Brain Burst. That¡¯s right, this should just be a game. But, in the numerous game titles he had played thus far, did image power... that is the strength of ?mind? matter in any of them at all.


    ¡®Squeak¡¯, the wheelchair moved forward, and stopped right in front of Haruyuki who squat there while being struck by deep emotion.


    To the right hand that was held out, Haruyuki hesitantly caught it. He was pulled up with unexpected amount of force, and stood up unsteadily.


    Sky Raker removed her hand, smiled once more, then said something he did not expect.


    ¡°...With this, I have nothing more to teach you.¡±


    ¡°Whatt...¡±


    Swallowing a breath, Haruyuki shook his head sideways many times in reaction.


    ¡°Bu, but, I am not yet... finally able to climb the wall only, right! That is far from flying... still, there are many things I need to be taught...¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it, Karasu-san. That I, could not reach the sky.¡±


    After calmly saying so, the sky color avatar also gently shook her head.


    ¡°Just maybe, someday you can fly in the sky with just mind power. However, that will probably take a tremendously long time. Even with continued intensive training in this world, for... perhaps ten years.¡±


    ¡°Ten...¡±


    Haruyuki was speechless, he ground his inner teeth with a creak ¡ª¡ª and said.


    ¡°Does... doesn¡¯t matter. If I can fly again with that, then... I will...¡±


    ¡°You must not.¡±


    Suddenly, a harsh sound interrupted what he was going to say.


    ¡°Half year, one year, with that amount you can still return. However a person who lives in this world for ten years, can no longer return to reality.¡±


    ¡°Whatt...¡±


    ¡°The real world will no longer matter. Quit school, forget friends, and just shut himself in the room, thinking that just this world is good enough. In the Unlimited Neutral Field, there are no small number of such Burst Linkers roaming around. They no longer duel or train, just shut in here to escape from the real world... Silver Crow. Why did you play this game, Brain Burst anyway?¡±


    The sudden question, made Haruyuki slightly hesitate, then he soon took a breath and answered.


    ¡°To... to become strong. Gain strength, to reach level 10 together with that person... to clear this game. To know what is ahead, I am...¡±


    ¡°Then, you should not continue to stay here. If you don¡¯t return, eventually you will become afraid of this world ending. You will only wish for the continuation of the accelerated world. If you don¡¯t want to lose what you are feeling now... please return, to reality.¡±


    ¡°Bu, but... I... I.¡±


    Moving his head sharply, Haruyuki shouted.


    ¡°I want to fly! No... once again, I... have to, fly.¡±


    To Haruyuki who slumped down to his knees on the the grass, he was supported by two extended arms.


    He was then held tightly to Sky Raker¡¯s chest like that, and while all his body froze due to the immense shock, a soft voice whispered near his right ear.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I will give you my wings.¡±


    ¡°What...¡±


    ¡°My enhanced armament, ?Gale Thruster?. The current you should be able to use it... towards the height that I could not reach, you surely should be able to fly there.¡±


    For Haruyuki who almost fainted from the plump feeling under the white dress that did not seem to be something from an avatar, he somehow managed to arrange his thoughts and asked in a shaking sound.


    ¡°...Wh, why... Why, do you, have to do so much? It, it¡¯s a bit late, but... you are Ash Roller¡¯s ?Parent?, he and I are...¡±


    ¡°Friends. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    The instantly released words, again made him breathless.


    ¡°That kid, when he was dueling with you, how he won, or lost, always happily talked to me about it. Having that kind of opponent is a joyful thing. Even when under different masters. That¡¯s why, for that kid, I want you to fly once more.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After a long, long silence, Haruyuki managed with difficulty to wring out one thing to say.


    ¡°...Thank you, very much.¡±


    At the same time, even though way too late, how much his attitude in the previous duel with Ash Roller disappointed him ¡ª¡ª no hurt him, he now found out. There was no way he could put the different feelings swirling around inside his chest to words, so he just repeated the short word again and again.


    ¡°Definitely..., definitely, definitely.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Definitely, you should be able to overcome that wall. Well... it¡¯s time to leave this garden, Karasu-san. The next time, we will meet in the real world.¡±


    ¡°Wha... whatt!?¡±


    Lifting his head after hearing some unthinkable words, he saw a smile from the madder red eyes at extreme close range.


    ¡°It¡¯s a matter of course. In order to give an enhanced armament, either use ?Shop? to mediate, or direct connection in reality. If that was sold, it would have a tremendous price, a range that the Burst Points you have would never be able to afford.¡±


    ¡°...So, something that valuable...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, that kid would also want to fly again... Place and time, let¡¯s see... morning 7am in real time, in front of the Shinjuku station west entrance, the...¡±


    Haruyuki knew about the burger shop that Sky Raker specified, and even though he was dumbfounded by the quick development, he nodded. With that time, there would be plenty of time to make it to school.


    ¡°Good. So then..., huh...?¡±


    Releasing the arms that held him, Sky Raker who was going to pull Haruyuki¡¯s body up, slightly tilted her head. Her fingertip poked a few times at the center the Silver Crow¡¯s back that had lost the wings.


    While resisting the ticklish feeling, Haruyuki also tilted his head.


    ¡°Ah, is there... something...?¡±


    ¡°No... ¡ª¡ª Nothing. There, please go.¡±


    This time she helped Haruyuki stand up, and Sky Raker on the wheelchair nodded with a smile.


    No knowing how to express his gratitude, Haruyuki bowed as deeply as possible, and said with a trembling sound.


    ¡°...Thank you very much, Sky Raker-san. The... stew and bread, were delicious.¡±


    And then, before she realized that he was crying under the helmet, he turned around behind, carved the sunset of Unlimited Neutral Field¡¯s new shape into his deep memory, then jumped straight into the blue swaying portal in that center.


    After waking up on his bed in the real world, Haruyuki continued to lay under the sheets for a while.


    Eventually he glanced at the clock, the time was still only 9:10pm. Even so, he felt like he had left home for a terribly long time. The memory of the taste of the pizza that he should have eaten before the dive, also completely disappeared.


    Just ten minutes ¡ª¡ª over there only one week passed, he felt this much separation. If that became half year, or one year, what would happen? His mouth tighten strongly, and suddenly a sharp pain came from his right cheek.


    He should not have forgotten the reason for that pain.


    He said something nasty to Takumu, and that was the wound from being hit.


    ¡°...I should apologize...¡±


    While touching his cheek with his fingertip, he muttered. He should properly apologize, so they could once more return to being one and only partners, and take back what was robbed no matter what. His pride, and ¡ª¡ª also, his wings.


    Haruyuki removed his Neuro Linker, set his wake up time on the clock at his bed¡¯s top board, then closed his eyes.


    At that moment, the fatigue from the tower climb in the other world all came rushing back, and he fell into the abyss of deep sleep like that.

 Volume 3 - CH 12

    Haruyuki was one hour earlier than his usual time for going to school, fortunately his mother did not seem to notice.


    On the bright April 16th, Tuesday, morning at 6:30am. He said ''I am leaving'' to his mother in her bedroom after he obtained the 500 yen charge for his Neuro Linker, then Haruyuki left his home.


    As it was said that there are no three days of continuous clear days in spring, under the unsettled looking sky, he walked to the nearby JR Koenji station and got on the central line. He got off at the Shinjuku station after being squeezed by the crowd of unfamiliar people, and left from the west exit, the time was 6:55am.


    While moving with a small jog to the fast food shop where meeting was specified at, he suddenly realized it.


    ¡ª¡ªHow, am I going to be able to tell who I am meeting?


    If he could connect his Neuro Linker to the global net, then he could put ?Karasu? or some kind of waiting tag over his head, but here was right in the middle of Shinjuku where the Blue King controlled. If he was discovered on the matching list, and that information was spread, then he would be drawn into duels one after another.


    And yet, Haruyuki''s appearance had no common point at all with his duel avatar. On the other hand, everything was completely opposite. Anyway, way before that, why did he so easily accept the direct meeting, in other words, letting her know that what was inside of Silver Crow was this pudgy?


    The sad memory from before, where he once went to a game related offline meeting was re-awoken, making Haruyuki quickly glance around behind him and think.


    ...As I thought, I should leave before I am found. And for accepting the enhanced armament, there must be some way to use the shop in the accelerated world...


    "Morning, Karasu-san."


    "Hihee!"


    From behind, the soft sound and tap on his shoulder, made Haruyuki jump straight up.


    While fighting a hard battle trying to retract his head and limbs into his body like a turtle, for 0.3 seconds he seriously thought about answering with "Wrong person", but at the last moment he gave that up and slowly turned around.


    Standing on the walkway, an unfamiliar female wearing some kind of high school uniform¡ª¡ª was there, but Haruyuki instantly and intuitively felt that person was Sky Raker.


    The long hair style was familiar, and similar to the avatar, the chest was very abundant however that might touch on the harassment code, but it was mainly the atmosphere around the body. Calm and kind, but also not someone with an ordinary feel to her. The feeling was somewhat similar to what he felt from Kuroyukihime and Red King Niko. She was not riding a wheelchair on this side, but Haruyuki bowed his head with confidence.


    "...G-Good morning..."


    After the mumbled greeting, he looked up at the opponent''s Japanese style eyes and inquired.


    "Ah, that is... How, did you know it was me...?"


    "With mind power."


    "Wha...Whatt!?"


    "Joking. There are not many middle school students who stand in front of a fast food shop at this time."


    With a light laugh, Sky Raker touched Haruyuki''s shoulder, then headed towards the shop entrance. He went through the automatic door after being prompted.


    "Karasu-san, how about breakfast?"


    "Ah, al-already ate."


    "Then, just a drink should be fine?"


    After that kind of conversation, he was treated to a medium size Oolong tea without being given a chance to be reserved, then they sat facing each other at a corner table.


    While thinking, ''Seeing the real me, what would this person think of me?'', at any rate he lowered his head.


    "Ah... Tr-Truly, at that time... I was very much in your care... above that, coming all the way here, thank you very much."


    "Since my school is in Shibuya, it''s not that far away."


    With a smile, Sky Raker took out a coiled up XSB cable from her bag that was on the chair beside her. Peeking out from the collar of her sailor uniform, was a Neuro Linker with a white silver color very similar to the wheelchair she used in the accelerated world, which she plugged one terminal into, and held the other end tightly in both hands.


    That gesture was not hesitation, however a slight expression from the sorrow of separation appeared on her face. But, at the time a sharp pain went through Haruyuki''s chest, that silver plug was already lightly held out in front of him.


    In the same shop, the many concentrated stares from students and businessmen was felt by Haruyuki''s neck. If it was the middle of night then maybe, but while in broad daylight, and furthermore direct-connecting while in uniform could be said to be somewhat outrageous behavior.


    Normally, in this kind of place, furthermore something like direct-connect with a high school girl, would make his heart beat fast, sweat lots, and face all red, but right now was not the time to feel embarrassed.


    ?Enhanced Armament?, furthermore a beginning equipment instead of something bought from a shop, above that they fought and grew together all the way to level 8, how important and beloved that was, he painfully understood now that he had lost his wings. He also knew it was presumptuous of him to think that he could understand that.


    However, Haruyuki intuitively felt that something like showing the form of being reserved here would only insult this person. Since this action, should probably be based on the belief of the Burst Linker called Sky Raker.


    He bowed his head deeply once, accepted the plug with both hands, then Haruyuki plugged that into his own Neuro Linker.


    From Sky Raker''s plump lips, the shape of the words ''Burst Link'' was slightly motioned.


    The process of transferring the enhanced armament in a direct-connection duel, and the lecture on how to use it, was all completed within 1800 seconds.


    When he returned to the real world, the time was still 7:15am. While feeling the slight remaining heat and excitement after the direct connection plug was removed, Haruyuki drank all of his Oolong tea in gulps. Sky Raker also emptied her coffee, then while showing Haruyuki a smile in her eyes, stood up.


    While feeling exhilaration from gaining the new power, concern about comfortably using that very perky thing, and other feelings, Haruyuki walked to the station following to the left behind of the older girl.


    He noticed that sound, when they were about halfway through a long crosswalk.


    When the feet in dark brown loafers peeking out from grey tights extended forward to kick off from the ground, a slight¡ª¡ª however certain servo sound hummed. He was drawn back from his musings, and listened for a while with wrinkled eyebrows, then Haruyuki realized it.


    They were artificial legs.


    Sky Raker''s two legs, were electronically controlled artifacts. Connected to the Neuro Linker, motion commands sent from the brain move internal actuators and dampers. It should allow walk and run that would not hamper normal living, but even so, that certainly has limits.


    Right after they finished going through the crosswalk, Haruyuki stopped, deeply hung his head, and tightly held both hands.


    The reason Sky Raker desired the sky, and wanted wings, was probably not unrelated to these prosthetic legs. Then that motivation, would be a depth that Haruyuki could not even think of, and should be something crazy.


    ¡ª¡ªEven so, this person.


    ¡ª¡ªHelped me who lost my wings because I didn''t know the reason I was given them... and for encouragement... gave me her own wings. My motivation, was in no way something big. I just wanted to escape the ground where all the bad things happen, that was all.


    The inside of his eyes grew hot, and the inside of his nose had some tingling pain, ''I can''t cry here'', while telling himself that he should not do that, he desperately endured. The height of Sky Raker''s pride, compared to any Burst Linker Haruyuki knew¡ª¡ª yes, even compared to Black King, Black Lotus, she would not lose. Thinking of understanding that person''s circumstances in his chest, and easily cry, something like that is absolutely not permitted.


    While looking straight down, he pinched his right cheek hard to stop what was going to overflow, then the tip of a loafer stepped into his view.


    "...You are very kind."


    To the considerate words said from above his head, Haruyuki strongly shook his head many times.


    "Th...That''s not it. Something like that... not it."


    After his trembling words with strange guttural sound at the end, Haruyuki again wanted to pinch his cheek with his fingers.


    That hand, was caught by the extended white hand, and was strongly pulled to her.


    Sky Raker squatted down, held Haruyuki''s hand to her chest, and looked straight at him eye to eye.


    "Listen, Karasu-san. I definitely did not help you because I pity you, and also understand that you are not pitying me. Those tears, are proof of existence of your truth in the accelerated world."


    "Tru..., Truth...?"


    After a slight nod, Sky Raker moved her face close to a distance where both of their noses were nearly touching. They were showered by stares from the people who were commuting to the station, but she did not seem to care about that, and said with a secretive yet firm voice.


    "People who use ?Brain Burst? as a tool to accelerate their thought process for fun in the real world, will definitely not cry like that. For them, ?Duel? is just a way to earn points, and the ?Accelerated World? is only a hunting ground to trick and trap someone. But for us, we know that those are not everything. Even in that world, we believe there are real encounters, friendship, love, and also bonds. Isn''t that right?"


    "...Yes. ...Yes."


    No longer able to endure it, while his tears fall in drops, Haruyuki deeply nodded.


    After wiping the tears from Haruyuki''s cheek with her right hand fingertip, Sky Raker continued with a slightly emotionally shaken sound.


    "For me, because of my foolishness, my friendship... and bond was lost. The reason she threw herself into an ultra reckless fight against other Kings, was partly due to me, something I deeply regret. But, I do not want you to make the same mistake. I want you to fight to protect what you should really protect."


    "..."


    Haruyuki closed his eyes tightly, and strongly thought.


    ¡ª¡ªHow blessed I am now, even though my wings were robbed, I should not forget them. This time for sure, I should crave them deeply in my mind. The many people I encountered, and bonded with... Ash Roller, Sky Raker, Scarlet Rain, of course Takumu, Chiyuri, and then... Kuroyukihime. Those I should really protect.


    "...Yes!"


    After another nasal voiced answer, Haruyuki wiped his face and looked up.


    "Thank you, very much. I..., will definitely once more, fly with my own power. At that time, I will definitely, come return it... your, wings."


    "Yes. Do your best, Karasu-san."


    He stood up, bowed to the smiling Sky Raker once, and set off to the station, then Haruyuki stopped. Turning around, he said in a small voice.


    "Ah... That is. I, don''t think you lost it. That person, for sure, is still waiting right now... for your, return."


    When Sky Raker heard that, she opened her eyes wide, then blinked many times.


    Eventually, she showed him a slight, but true, smile, to which Haruyuki also awkwardly smiled back, then this time he really started running towards the crowded central line platform.

 Volume 3 - CH 13

    When he dove across the Umesato middle school gate, it was just a few seconds before starting of the unforgiving late count.


    After checking that his Neuro Linker connected to the school net without penalty, Haruyuki breathed a sigh of relief, and wiped the sweat from his face.


    The front courtyard was already mostly empty of students. This time if he could not make it to his classroom within five minutes, then he would be counted as late anyway. He climbed the stairs after being irritated from having to put on his indoor shoes, then flew through the classroom rear door, where his two childhood friends who were already seated turned to look at him.


    Chiyuri¡¯s eyes look worried, but Takumu¡¯s eyes have a pained look in them. Haruyuki returned looks from one of their face to another, bit his lip hard, then quickly went to his seat.


    Chiyuri was concerned about Haruyuki being forced into a dangerous position, and Takumu was probably disappointed with Haruyuki for not telling him anything. However to resolve this situation from the foundation, it could only be done if Haruyuki somehow conquer Noumi Seiji/Dusk Taker in a duel.


    At this moment, Noumi held ?Haruyuki¡¯s real information?, ?Video in front of the shower room?, and ?Flight ability? three cards. On the other hand, Haruyuki only know about ?Noumi¡¯s real information?.


    But if he thought about it, then the Burst Linker¡¯s real information is way too lethal, that no matter how many other cards were gathered could not be canceled out. Even in this era, somewhere in the United States and Russia deep sea, nuclear missile submarines swam like ghosts, and similar to that, even one of them could have a huge deterrent effect. For example, if Haruyuki expose Noumi¡¯s photo, real name, address, and his duel avatar name in the accelerated world, then Noumi would be same as dead as a Burst Linker. If radical groups willing to do Real Attack go after him, he would probably be bound till all of his points are drained dry. Haruyuki heard that happened in no small numbers of times in the past.


    That was why, the ?Video? that Noumi recorded with his tricky setup, in the end was a card that could or could not be used due to its power. If he submit that to the school authorities and it reach a point where Haruyuki¡¯s school life was destroyed, then he should at least have understood that there is the danger that Haruyuki would expose his ?Reality? while in desperation.


    That meant, in order to make Haruyuki into ?A dog that brings points to munch on?, the card that Noumi would use without hesitation would be ?Flight Ability? only. But, in order to transfer points, it could only be done in a duel, so if he could win against Dusk Taker even with his wings robbed, then he could resist or possibly even turn it around.


    Of course, this decision, would mean that he would have to bid farewell to the silver wings that shone brilliantly on Silver Crow¡¯s back until yesterday.


    But even that is fine, Haruyuki¡¯s heart decided. It was not because he was given new way to fly by Sky Raker. The attachment towards that wing¡¯s appearance as an object, was forcing dependence onto his small frame, he finally realized.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I will, defeat Dusk Taker who has my wings.¡¯


    ¡®¡ª¡ª And then eventually, without the use of ability or enhanced armament, show that I can fly in the sky with just mind power.¡¯


    Holding both hands tightly, Haruyuki declared that to himself.


    Right after, the front door opened, and their homeroom teacher Sugeno entered. His tense mood, made the noisy classroom suddenly returned silence.


    Before the stand and bow courtesy ended, Sugeno said in a loud voice.


    ¡°Everyone, keep standing!¡±


    After the students who were sitting down stood up again with troubled faces, the young Japanese history teacher, with blood vessels appearing on his face under the short hair, again ordered.


    ¡°Everyone, look down and close your eyes!¡±


    The air became more dubious, but pushed by Sugeno¡¯s threatening attitude, everyone quietly followed the order. Haruyuki¡¯s mouth was twisted, but also did as told.


    ¡°...Good. Listen like that. Everyone, I think you already know. Yesterday morning, a small camera was discovered in the heated pool girls¡¯ shower rooms. Fortunately, it was soon noticed as the students entered, so basically there was no victim, but even so that is something that absolutely cannot be forgiven. Sensei is sad. And then ten times more angry. That there is a student in this Umesato middle school who did such a despicable thing.¡±


    ¡®Bang!¡¯, the teacher¡¯s podium being hit sounded.


    ¡°...This time, since there was no victim, this morning¡¯s meeting decided that it will be kept to punishment inside the school. That¡¯s why, listen... if, the offender is in this second year C class, lift up your head now, and look at sensei. If you give yourself up, then the punishment will be lighter. How about that... is there anyone?¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Are you seriously saying that?¡¯


    Haruyuki was appalled while facing down. Even with head down and eyes closed, with just one manipulation of the virtual desktop, the Neuro Linker camera video can easily be displayed inside the eyes. There should be students who were actually doing that right now. Anyway, after angry, despicable and punishment being freely said, who would be crazy enough to confess.


    Haruyuki of course did not raise his head, and other students were the same. Sugeno stubbornly made everyone stand for over one minute, but eventually said in a low sound.


    ¡°...Alright. This is the final chance. Sensei, will not be so lenient next time.¡±


    ¡®That speech sounded like you are certain that the offender is in this classroom.¡¯


    He was nervous that Takumu might actually say that ¡ª¡ª Kuroyukihime would definitely say it ¡ª¡ª fortunately, he heard ¡°Okay, sit and open your eyes.¡± sound there. After 40 chairs creaked, when it became silent, the teacher said.


    ¡°If you are going to confess, do it today. Before the punishment gets more severe.¡±


    While that was said, he felt that Sugeno was staring at him intently, so Haruyuki frowned. And then soon, he thought, ¡®Ah, that¡¯s right¡¯. The day before yesterday, on the Sunday that Haruyuki came to school, the log of it should have remained in the school local net. Going to school on a non-school day when he did not belong to any club, must be the reason why Sugeno was suspicious. But with just that degree of evidence, he could not even be called to the student counselling room.


    Haruyuki looked away while making a ¡®I don¡¯t know about that¡¯ face. Doing so, he saw Chiyuri¡¯s eyes who looked at him sidewise. Seeing her deeply scared by fright, Haruyuki this time sighed. Chiyuri had just became a Burst Linker for a few days. She did not know that there was a huge risk of reality intrusion for Noumi if he actually used that video.


    He wanted to tell her ?Don¡¯t worry? with email, but with Sugeno stubbornly glaring at him, in exchange he just sent a short, but strong look to Chiyuri. She seem to have felt something, and after his childhood friend¡¯s mouth moved slightly, she looked back to the front, but the bluish white on her cheeks did not disappear over time.


    The morning classes, Haruyuki listened with twice his normal seriousness, and took lots of notes. Since if he drift off even slightly, his consciousness would soon be drawn waveringly towards the direction of his revenge match with Noumi.


    However, he had no way to challenge Noumi who used some kind of unknown method to block being registered in the matching list even now. The chance to fight him again, would probably be when Noumi come to ?collect? next week¡¯s share of points. Anyway, he still have to practice with the ultimate unruly enhanced armament he got from Sky Raker. If he thought like that, then one week is too short.


    When attending class seriously, the time was strangely short, so in no time the noon break chime was rang. He looked at Chiyuri and Takumu to see which of them he should talk with for a bit, but Chiyuri was eating lunch with a few girls, and Takumu left the classroom without even looking at Haruyuki.


    After a short sigh, as his back lifted up in order to chase after Takumu first, a small message receive icon blinked in the center of his view. Neither an email or voice call, it was a full sensory mode conversation request dialog.


    Who would that be, at the moment he looked at the sender¡¯s name, Haruyuki crashed down to the chair with a thump. He instantly forgot everything, closed his eyes and whispered the command.


    ¡°D, Di, Direct Link.¡±


    Due to too much of a rush, his stuttering command was accepted by the Neuro Linker, and Haruyuki¡¯s five senses were cut from the real world. The classroom scene was painted by darkness, and he was soon visited by a falling sensation. If he wait like that, then he would land in the Umesato middle school local net¡¯s VR space, but before that, Haruyuki extended his hand towards the access gate floating in front of him.


    His body was sucked in virtually, and where he was spitted out ¡ª¡ª.


    Under the intense sunlight and could not be any more blue sky, right in the middle of a white sandy beach that stretched everywhere.


    He stood up with the pink pig avatar shape, took a few steps towards the shore seen somewhat far away, then Haruyuki noticed that this was not a virtual space made with polygons. There was no sensation of stepping on sand. That meant this was a real world optical image taken with a video camera and projected to Haruyuki¡¯s sight as a planar view. The proof for that, was when he looked left and right, the scene did not follow and was distorted by unnatural perspective. Right behind him was complete darkness.


    The conveyed information should be sight and sound only, but strangely he could even feel the hot and dry wind of the southern country, so Haruyuki took a deep breath. Right after that.


    ¡°Ya..., long time... maybe not. Three days no see, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    With the familiar, yet never even slightly boring sound echo, a figure appeared smoothly from the right side of his view.


    Large straw hat. Thin white parker. The deep black hair on those shoulders, glittered with light as sunlight slid on them.


    With both hands behind her, Kuroyukihime who had a slight irritated expression, quickly continued.


    ¡°Is there any lag? This is connected through the student council room server to the local net there, so it might be a bit slow.¡±


    ¡°N... no, none at all, it¡¯s fine. There is no noise either. Ah... that is, Go, good day, Kuroyukihime senpai.¡±


    After a bow with his avatar¡¯s head, Haruyuki again looked at the shape in front of his eyes.


    There was no three dimensional feel due to it being an optical image, however it was not made with polygons, it was the real Kuroyukihime. She went to the trouble of using a camera, to bring the Okinawa scene to Haruyuki as promised.


    ¡°Be, beautiful, very. The beach too... ah, also, senpai too.¡±


    After he added the end with a very small volume sound, even though Kuroyukihime had half a wry smile, a happy smile appeared on her lips, and she also turned towards the emerald green sea.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Henoko beach. Just earlier, a military plane that you like so much flew pass.¡±


    ¡°Is... Is that so. Wish I could have seen it.¡±


    While saying that and other things, Haruyuki¡¯s sight nailed down the pure white bare feet extended from the hem of the parker. When Kuroyukihime again turned towards him, he quickly looked up towards the sky and un-naturally said.


    ¡°W, ww, weather is fine so that¡¯s great! The sky is very blue, just like the ?Desert? stage!¡±


    That side should be looking at the camera lense, and should not be able to determine where Haruyuki¡¯s eyes were focusing on, but even so Kuroyukihime seemed to have felt something instinctively, and firmly pulled her hem down while her lips became slightly pointed.


    ¡ª¡ª At that moment.


    ¡°Geesh, Hime, how long are you going to be in that shape?¡±


    With that sound, a new figure appeared from the left side of the picture and was framed in. The fluffy haired girl, was a student council member known to Haruyuki. She was wearing a pink one piece swimsuit, that made Haruyuki¡¯s throat tighten in a gulp, but the girl who went around behind Kuroyukihime, suddenly acted unbelievably.


    With tremendous sleight of hand, she lowered Kuroyukihime¡¯s parker zipper, and pulled it off with both hands.


    ¡°Waa, hey, what are you doing!¡±


    ¡°Who was it that went to all the trouble of going with someone to pick swimwear this morning?¡±


    While laughing in a giggle, the female student waved towards the camera.


    ¡°Arita-kun, relax and enjoy yourself.¡±


    And then quickly framed out from the right side. After that, only left behind Kuroyukihime with bright red face under the straw hat, holding her hands tightly in front of her body.


    The swimsuit that appeared from under the released armor, was of course black. Furthermore very small separated one, with close to 90% of the pure white skin exposed. At that point, when he saw bright sunlight reflected from the bulge top of two modest and extremely graceful arcs, Haruyuki felt his heartbeat suddenly rose, and had to take many deep breaths to prevent his Neuro Linker from Linking Out him due to abnormality.


    Eventually, Kuroyukihime looked at Haruyuki with upturned eyes, and said.


    ¡°...W, well, that is, you know. Since this is Okinawa.¡±


    ¡°Th, th, that is right. OOO, Okinawa after all.¡±


    He would very much like to press the record button on the side of his view, but doing that during full dive connection would let the opponent know. So without any choice, as the real time video flowed into his brain, he carved them into his memory with his whole body and soul, and Haruyuki desperately moved his mouth.


    ¡°Ah, that, err, that... v, very, very much... f, fits you.¡±


    ¡°...Th, thank you.¡±


    With a slight smile, Kuroyukihime again put her hands behind her back, which he stared at her body naturally, and what pulled back Haruyuki who was going to faint this time was ¡ª¡ª.


    In the porcelain smooth skin of the lower left side of the abdomen, there was a very faint crosswise small scar.


    ¡°...!¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s eyes opened wide for a moment, then he bit down hard on his lips, but since the virtual pain created was way too slight and not enough, he bit down with all his strength.


    That scar, was without doubt from half year ago when she suffered near death serious injury after saving Haruyuki from a runaway car. The modern regenerative medicine development should be able to erase most treatment marks, but even that should have a limit. In other words, her wound was that deep.


    The reason for the silence seem to have been guessed by Kuroyukihime¡¯s perception this time also, and after a slow blink, a gentle smile different from ones till now appeared on her.


    With a held up left hand fingertip, she lightly caressed that scar.


    ¡°...Normally it could mostly not be seen. Under this strong sunlight, just a little.¡±


    Haruyuki could not reply to the quiet sound. With her head lift up, looking straight at the lense ¡ª¡ª directly at Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, Kuroyukihime strongly said with somewhat more firm voice.


    ¡°There is no need for you to feel bad. This is my only decoration. Since I was born, the first wound and pain from protecting someone instead of just fighting. And then right now, this scar supports me.¡±


    ¡°...Senpai.¡±


    Haruyuki somehow was able to whisper that one word, as he tightly held his avatars hands.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I will, never, never, hurt you again.¡¯


    He once more confirmed his vow that he repeated many times before inside his chest, but at the same time, he was also aware of a vague sense of guilt.


    At this time, if Haruyuki explained the predicament he had recently fallen into, Kuroyukihime would be angry at why he did not tell her immediately, and would probably be hurt again. And then probably, she would make up some kind of excuse to immediately return from Okinawa, and try to save Haruyuki to the best of her ability.


    However, that was exactly why Haruyuki did not tell her. In order to become a knight that can protect Kuroyukihime from any and everything, he felt that right now he has to fight with his own fists.


    ¡°...Senpai.¡±


    After calling her another time, Haruyuki said as firmly as he possibly could.


    ¡°I too..., I too will become stronger. Although up till now I had just been protected... even so, someday definitely, I will become strong enough to support senpai.¡±


    ¡°...Un. But, I said it before, slowly is fine. The joy of protecting you, if that was too quickly gone, it would be boring.¡±


    Her smile became something mischievous, and Kuroyukihime took a step forward, then lightly slid her hand at Haruyuki¡¯s avatar¡¯s position.


    ¡°It will be gathering time soon, I will contact you again. I will return there on Sunday, so decide what you want for a gift by then.¡±


    At the moment that was said, inside Haruyuki head, ?Okinawa trip gift? and ?Territory battle reward? got mixed up, and the resulting words that came out of his mouth was ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Ah, then, th, ththth, thirty centimeter, di, di[1]...¡±


    ¡°Ha? What? Thirty centimeter diameter... long Sata andagi? Hey hey, no matter what, I don¡¯t think that would be for sale... well, I can try to find it...¡±


    ¡®What a glutton¡¯. Being hit what that amazed beam, Haruyuki hurriedly shook his head many times. But sadly, that motion could not be seen over there.


    ¡°No... that, that is... ¡ª¡ª If it exists, it would be nice... The trip, please enjoy it...¡±


    ¡°Un, thank you. Then, see you.¡±


    After saying that, Kuroyukihime who reached her hand towards the camera, stopped while muttering ¡°Ah¡±. He immediately raised his head that was hung while downhearted, and while trying hard to resist looking at Kuroyukihime¡¯s pure white slender legs, Haruyuki inquired.


    ¡°Wh, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Come to think of it, Takumu-kun sent me a strange email. About that kendo club¡¯s first year student suspected of being a Burst Linker...¡±


    ¡°What.¡±


    Swallowing a breath, Haruyuki continued in a rush.


    ¡°Email... about what!?¡±


    ¡°Nn, about that... person called Noumi I think, he asked if I could check that first year student¡¯s entrance exam point results for each subject, and I was planning to reply after checking the student database, but did you hear anything from Takumu-kun?¡±


    After she told him that in a secretive voice, Haruyuki opened his mouth with a snap.


    ¡°En... entrance exam? Why that data at this time... ¡ª¡ª No, nothing from Taku...¡±


    ¡°I see... ah, I have to go. Then, disconnecting here. See you.¡±


    With a slight wave of her right hand and a flash, the connection from Okinawa was finally cut, and only Haruyuki remained in the dark plane. He soon forgot about Kuroyukihime¡¯s ultra high definition swimsuit video, and tried to guess what Takumu was thinking of, but could not come up with anything.


    ¡®He might be digging around to gather various data¡¯, Haruyuki thought, and after saying to himself, ¡®But the only choice left is for me to ?Duel? with Noumi¡¯, then he mouthed the ¡®Link Out¡¯ command.


    When he returned to the real world classroom, there was only ten minutes left of the noon recess. He hurriedly stood up to go buy bread from vending machine, and took a glance at Takumu¡¯s seat, but he still had not returned. When he looked to Chiyuri next, he saw she was in a rare full dive. After staring at the Neuro Linker on the hung down slender neck for a bit, Haruyuki left the classroom.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Like this, the situation would not change for a week.¡¯


    Haruyuki predicted it would be like that. After Noumi said that he would not go after Takumu and Kuroyukihime for a while, he thought that nothing more would happen.


    However, Haruyuki was mistaken about his childhood friend¡¯s intelligence and action ability, he who had cornered the Black King, Black Lotus. The time when he was forced to realize that, was soon after the contact from Kuroyukihime ¡ª¡ª Tuesday, 5th period, right before the physical education class ended.


    Compared to the girls who were practicing creative dance in the gym, the boys were given instruction for a 3000 meters running measurement that make you feel somewhat of a gap, so Haruyuki went around the schoolyard track while huffing and puffing.


    In the center of his view, heartless digital numbers engraved the time. The remaining distance and predicted goal time that he did not want to know, and also from average pitch to heart beat was displayed, so as he looked at the violently shaking heart mark, he was worried if his heart was going to explode like that.


    Most of the students had already reached the goal, and only a few extreme cultural type people like Haruyuki remained. The sports club people seemed to have too much remaining energy, so that a few happy go lucky people were even imitating Haruyuki¡¯s stumbling form and was running with him on the inside track, ¡®Shit, you jocks better remember this, one day when I become level 9, I will use Physical Full Burst in the 100 meters measurement to get the world record, then when the track and field club come to scout me, I will say something like ¡°There¡¯s an anime I want to watch¡± for rejection, serves you right, idiot, idiot¡¯.


    While thinking such absurd thoughts, Haruyuki exerted his best spurt on the last straight line.


    At that time, he caught a glimpse of the shape of Takumu quietly sitting near the goal line.


    His childhood friend was not looking at Haruyuki¡¯s sad flat out run at all. It did not seem to be samurai¡¯s compassion either, towards a point in the air ¡ª¡ª that meant he was staring deeply at some kind of AR information.


    ¡®What is that guy doing?¡¯, Haruyuki thought as he wiped infinite flowing sweat off his forehead.


    Far in his blurred vision, Takumu¡¯s lips opened slightly, seeming about to whisper some kind of command.


    Of course, he was not within range to hear the content. However the words that were issued, were the only ones that Haruyuki could read from lip movement, that command. That was ¡ª¡ª


    Burst Link.


    ¡®...That guy Taku, why is he accelerating right now...¡¯


    While thinking that, Haruyuki wanted to complete the remaining tens of meters in a full power dash, and put his right foot down.


    At that moment.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Vishiiiiii!!¡¯


    With that familiar cold thunder explosion, the ground¡¯s color changed. Going through a sense of transparent blue, towards a greenish dull silver. The back of student running ahead, the sports club member beside who teased him, and the PE teacher waiting at the goal line all disappeared.


    ¡°Oo... oops... uwaa...!¡±


    Right after, Haruyuki¡¯s body was covered by light, and was changed to the white silver duel avatar. After falling forward for a few steps, he controlled the strikingly changed light body movement compared to his real self. After standing up by stepping on the hard ground, Haruyuki leaked out a sound of shock under his helmet.


    ¡°Ta... Taku!? Why are you ?Dueling? me right now...¡±


    ¡ª¡ª Naturally, he thought of it like that. Takumu accelerated, and right after he was also accelerated, so Takumu should had challenged him to a duel through the local net.


    However, it was not that.


    The flaming words that came up with a rumble as it craved in the center of his view was ¡ª¡ª


    [A REGISTERED DUEL IS BEGINNING!!]


    That was, ?A registered for viewing duel has started?. Haruyuki was not the dueler. He was a gallery. Since Takumu started a duel with someone, Haruyuki who registered as viewer for his duels was automatically accelerated, and invited to the stage.


    In the upper left of his view, the name of the one who started this duel, ?Cyan Pile? and his HP bar appeared.


    Next, to the upper right, the Burst Linker that was challenged ¡ª¡ª


    The name ?Dusk Taker? appeared.


    ¡°Wha...¡±


    Haruyuki gasped. Dusk Taker, that is Noumi Seiji used some unknown method to normally block being registered on the matching list. To challenge him in school, it could only be done like what he was forced on by Noumi the previous day, bind his real body and forcefully direct connect with him, it should be like that.


    About thirty meters ahead, the heavy looking indigo and blue avatar stood up. Here he finally looked at Haruyuki, however instead of saying anything, Takumu raised his right hand and motioned him to back off. Anyway, other than ?Parent Child? and ?Same Legion? gallery, they could not close to within ten meters of the duelers.


    Cyan Pile soon looked back to his front side, and the blue light eyes inside the small slits lined on the mask, captured the top part of the school building.


    The normal class building, was already changed to a sticky metallic luster biological form. Numerous windows were all replaced with eyeball like black convex glass, and the wall was lined with numerous protrusions that looked like gills with fins and folds. The sky was painted a weird green color, and the wide schoolyard was covered with blood vessel like tubes of wiggly moving metallic tentacles. Without doubt, it was the ?Purgatory? stage.


    Taking a step away from the metallic insects that were crawling around his feet, Haruyuki again wanted to ask Takumu how he managed this.


    However before that, a ¡®Bushaa¡¯ kind of hideous explosion sound loudly echoed in the field.


    He looked towards the source of the sound, near the center of the third floor, an eyeball glass around the first year B classroom was shattered from the inside. From the hole in the wall, large amounts of sticky mucus flowed out, and while kicking those aside with his feet, a small shadow bled out from inside the dim darkness.


    ¡°...Well well, I expected you to be a more cautious type, Mayuzumi senpai.¡±


    With the light youthful voice, the shape that appeared was the blackish purple color duel avatar, Dusk Taker, and as he looked down at Takumu from high above, he slowly shook the blank spherical visor left and right.


    ¡°Gather my data little by little, knead trends and countermeasures again and again, and when you eventually move it would be too late..., I wanted to give that kind development to you as a present too.¡±


    ¡°I have gathered more than enough data already.¡±


    After that blunt retort, Cyan Pile shook his left hand slightly.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I can pull you out to the duel stage like this right, Noumi?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Facing Noumi who leaked out a slight displeased breath, Takumu this time held up his right hand metal pile, then continued.


    ¡°Noumi Seiji. The trick that you used to block being registered in the matching list, is regrettably still unknown. But, the moment that wall is canceled, is already possible to be guessed.¡±


    ¡°Ca, canceled...!?¡±


    That shout was from Haruyuki. Takumu took a glance at Silver Crow who stood away from him, and at this point he finally talked to Haruyuki.


    ¡°Yea. Noumi use acceleration ability in the real world for personal gains. Even for just a practice match in the kendo club. Then, naturally he would use it for other situations. To knock down someone, to finish homework... and of course also, for tests.¡±


    ¡°Test...¡±


    At the moment he whispered that, Haruyuki felt he finally realized the reason for Takumu¡¯s strange questions that he asked Kuroyukihime.


    As if seeing through that, Cyan Pile lightly nodded, then moved his sight towards Noumi above his head.


    ¡°At this moment, the first year students are taking their first proficiency test. The fifth period subject, Noumi, is History where you got full marks in the school entrance exam. Of course, with the power of acceleration. ...Except, different from kendo match where you just need to sign in, during the test you need to often transfer data back and forth with the school local net. You cannot be separated from it. That was why I thought, that during this fifth period, you would momentarily contact the local net with Brain Burst, so I waited. And then when using acceleration during a test, naturally it would be just before time expires. Using outside application to check items and gather them up should be better for efficiency. The result is...¡±


    As you saw.


    Takumu spread his left hand wide to show it was like that.


    Haruyuki who listened while even forgetting to give responses, involuntarily sighed with deep admiration.


    At the last moment before the test which he got full marks during entrance exam ended, Noumi would appear on the matching list for one instant. Takumu who arrived at that deduction, continued to accelerate many times while sitting in the schoolyard, and continually checked the list probably.


    For Noumi whose action was read precisely, after continuing to be silent for a few more seconds, suddenly shouted brightly.


    ¡°Something like History test, what is it anyway! Something that can be instantly understood after searching, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s totally pointless to answer based only on memorization? Furthermore during test you are connected to the local net, yet only browsing the database is blocked! Makes you think it is some kind of joke!¡±


    While laughing with shoulders shaking, Noumi continued with gradually lowered temperature sound.


    ¡°...Mayuzumi senpai, early you said it like this right. ¡®Acceleration ability being used in the real world for personal gains¡¯ ...as if, makes it seem like that is the lowest misdeed. But, I have to say, I don¡¯t trust the people who only use Burst Points for duels. In that case, why would it have to be ?Brain Burst?? Aren¡¯t there mountains of other more cruel, violent, and furthermore painless games around? ¡ª¡ª After all, you people also think inside your heart that you are the privileged class. One of just 1000 acceleration ability users in the world, different from other slow kids, like that. While clinging to that elite consciousness, and not use the ability for advantage? If that is not hypocrisy and deceit, what else can it be called...?¡±


    ¡°Not particularly, I have no intention of condemning you.¡±


    Takumu lightly shook his shoulder, and countered.


    ¡°Just a little while ago, I too used acceleration ability to cheat a lot. How to use points, that¡¯s personal preference, do as you like. Just, if you are willing to accept one advice from a senpai, you are getting too many full marks, Noumi. Just inviting useless attention, with no gain at all.¡±


    ¡°That is where our opinion differ. For me, anything I can obtain, it is my principle to want the upper limit. Even for just one point in a test, or just one point in a practice match. No... to be precise, it should be call ?Rob?, Fufu.¡±


    Moving his avatar¡¯s upper body out from the hole in the wall, Noumi¡¯s right hand equipped with the huge cutter, thrusted his palm above.


    ¡°There is a limit to all things existing in the world. Then, when someone obtain something, at the same time someone lost just the same thing. As though it is a conservation of energy. This world¡¯s fundamental principle is a ?Contest?, senpai. For me, I... love to rob, but above that, cannot tolerate lost, and being robbed. Right now you, are about to rob a maximum of 1.8 seconds of my time. Furthermore, valuable time during a test. In order for that to be forgiven... naturally requires compensation. Of your Burst Points.¡±


    ¡°No... it is I, who plan to make you return something you got unfairly, Noumi Seiji. What you robbed from my best friend, his important thing.¡±


    At the instant he heard that quiet sound, Haruyuki¡¯s body immediately tensed up.


    Takumu already knew. That Silver Crow¡¯s silver wings, were robbed by Dusk Taker.


    A somewhat sad look appeared on Cyan Pile¡¯s fierce looking face, and Takumu momentarily looked at Haruyuki.


    ¡°...Last night¡¯s, your duel in Shibuya, I heard the rumor about it, Haru. Sorry... that I did not notice anything. This time, is my turn to fight.¡±


    ¡°Ta... Taku...!¡±


    Hearing Haruyuki¡¯s short shout, Takumu held up his left hand thumb to say ¡°Leave it to me¡±.


    At that moment, Haruyuki strongly felt his own smallness. Haruyuki who said nasty things to hurt his best friend because he did not want him to know about his lost of wings and power, even so Takumu still wanted to save him. For just that he wrung his intelligence and spent points to make this duel possible.


    ¡°Taku...¡±


    While strongly holding his fists tight, Haruyuki felt ashamed of himself for trying to resolve the situation while hiding everything. He even momentarily forgot about the accumulated long training in the Unlimited Neutral Field for that purpose, and Haruyuki released a shout from the bottom of his heart.


    ¡°Taku, Win! Not just for me, so that he understand your strength, win!!¡±


    ¡°I will win. For taking back your wings, Haru.¡±


    With a nod, Cyan Pile who took a heavy step out, thin blue flames blew up in the area around his right foot and made the air waver.


    Dusk Taker who was the target of that spirit, turned his head away as if disgusted, and lowly spat out.


    ¡°Aah... please don¡¯t make me watch something disgusting. It will give me goosebumps. Seeming to believe in illusion like ?Voluntary Friendship?, looks like only blissful people can do it with a straight face.¡±


    Here, the blackish purple avatar that finally fully appeared from the dark hole, coiled his left hand tentacles around the edge of the hole, and smoothly descended by extending those. After kicking away the metallic insects creeping about the ground and landing, he looked at the much taller than him Cyan Pile from about twenty meters away with upturned eyes. Returning the tentacles released from the school building wall with a whiz, he lightly touched the two curved horns extending from his avatar¡¯s back ¡ª¡ª the folded flying membranes.


    ¡°Return what I obtained unfairly? Don¡¯t joke with me. Anything I rob once, is forever mine. Until I am bored of it, and don¡¯t want it anymore. I am starting to like these wings... so until Arita senpai finish paying the two year loan, I will get the most enjoyment out of it.¡±


    Feeling huge rage and disgust in the bottom of his stomach, Haruyuki grounded his inner teeth together.


    However before he can say anything back, Takumu¡¯s unchanged quiet ¡ª¡ª but still filled with high heat flame sound whispered.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s wrong. No matter what, robbed strength will never become your own. Strength is... something you produced, polished, and trained, there are no other way of obtaining it.¡±


    ¡°Oh ugh... someone like you, still saying things like that.¡±


    While showing the gesture of covering his mouth with his right hand, Noumi taunted.


    ¡°Since talking anymore will make me puke, it¡¯s about time I accept your points and leave. The test only has five minutes left too.¡±


    And then the diminutive avatar lowered his waist a little, and held his hands in front of his faceless mask.


    On the other hand, Cyan Pile took an imposing stance like in a kendo match, and only thrusted his left hand straight out.


    In the upsurge of fighting spirit, Haruyuki took a step back and quickly shouted.


    ¡°Ta... Taku, that guy¡¯s tentacles can revive even if cut! The right hand cutter also has a lot of cutting power! Also, if you are bound, and get hit with a black beam from the mask, it will rob ability or enhanced armament, be careful!¡±


    Even if it was bad manner for the gallery to give advice to one dueler, but of course in this situation there is no reason to be reserved. Haruyuki¡¯s sound, made Noumi give him an irritated glance ¡ª¡ª


    Right after, Takumu moved.


    With a ¡®Gashuu!¡¯ rumble sound, the blue giant flew out at a speed that made him hazy.


    Something not possible for a heavy type body, a fierce frontal dash. Furthermore, with no motion. What produced the propulsion force, was the right hand pile driver that poked the ground behind him sometime ago. Using the special attribute of ?Purgatory? which made the ground into hard metal, the power of the metal pile that he fired out was changed straight into dash power.


    Maybe momentarily caught off guard, the slow to react enemy¡¯s face was closed in by Cyan Pile¡¯s huge fist with a howl.


    Dusk Taker gave up on evading, and took a position to guard with both arms crossed. The punch that still landed coming from above, made the battle¡¯s first attack spread out bluish white flashes.


    An impact sound like hammer smashed onto iron plate roared, then the diminutive avatar was blown away spinning. It looked like he would crash into the school building behind him like that, but he coiled his left hand tentacles around the protrusions on the ground, and slowly braked as if with a rubber band.


    Dusk Taker who landed with one knee on the ground, even though he guarded, his HP bar was cut over 5%, showing Cyan Pile¡¯s huge power.


    ¡°...Hmm, isn¡¯t that very different from that time in kendo? That means that body, represents Mayuzumi senpai¡¯s ?Lack?? Even though you are that smart and clever, deep in your heart yearn for savage masochism[2]?¡±


    To Noumi¡¯s ¡®Kuku¡¯ ridicule, Takumu no longer said anything. While he reloaded his right hand pile, he carefully closed the distance. Noumi who backed away as if pressed, again continued to spit out words mingled with mockery.


    ¡°Or was it, from the avatar¡¯s name, the wound itself is the right hand metal skewer? Uun, what would that symbolize? Piercing... penetration... oh, what¡¯s the matter? Your eyes are becoming a bit scary...?¡±


    ¡°Stop... stop it, you coward!!¡±


    It was Haruyuki who shouted. If he was not just a gallery, he might have went for a straight line punch.


    Duel Avatar, was born from its owner¡¯s wound of heart. It was something that any Burst Linker would know.


    However, that was exactly why, no matter what kind of opponent, thus far Haruyuki especially avoided bringing out that conversation topic. As for Takumu and Kuroyukihime, he was cautious of even guessing what¡¯s inside their heart. To be sure, Cyan Pile¡¯s ?Pile? should be a representation of some kind of wound that Takumu is holding. However, Takumu is using that openly as a weapon. That would mean, he is continuing to fight with his own wound daily.


    ¡°Noumi! You too... your avatar also, is the shape of some kind of ?Wound? that you don¡¯t want to talk about either!!¡±


    Hearing Haruyuki¡¯s sharp words, while Dusk Taker kept facing the front, he sneered with ¡®Kuku¡¯.


    ¡°That¡¯s no good, Arita senpai. Didn¡¯t I already say it? My wound is ?Being Robbed?. That means this Dusk Taker has the power to ?Rob?. It¡¯s pretty clear, about the same as your Silver Crow... right!¡±


    The end of that speech, was mixed with air being cut sound.


    The three tentacles dangling on the ground flashed snake like, and the thing held in each tip some time ago, were thrown in a direct line towards Takumu. Tiny legs wiggling as they flew through the air, were metallic insects belonging to the geographical effect of the ?Purgatory? stage. They were mostly just unpleasant and harmless imitations, but when various kind of them are crushed, different poisons spill out.


    The three insects that Noumi threw, were all bright red and green colored. Without taking his eyes off Cyan Pile who was closing in for even an instant, and able to talk to Haruyuki at the same time as he grabbed and threw the poisonous insects, was not a feat that could be done without considerable far-sight.


    ¡®...That guy, is unexpectedly familiar with fighting.¡¯


    At the time that Haruyuki¡¯s eyes opened wide as he thought that, Cyan Pile¡¯s left arm moved in reaction to slash away the metallic insects. With egg crunching sounds, the insect shells broke, and poisonous looking mucus was scattered. Different parts of the blue body armor that were showered by the flying liquid gave out white smoke.


    ¡°Kuu...¡±


    The HP bar decrease was just a bit, but the unexpected attack made Takumu lean his upper body back. Not letting that moment escape, Dusk Taker¡¯s body moved forward like a black lightning bolt.


    The tentacles that were extended with a whine, restrained Cyan Pile¡¯s pile driver in the blink of an eye. Continuing, the right hand bolt clipper thrust out towards his throat.


    His neck is going to be sandwiched ¡ª¡ª before that was shown, at the last moment Takumu¡¯s left hand grabbed one of the cutter blades.


    However, the thumb that went between the blades without any choice, did not go unnoticed by Noumi. He instantly pinched that thumb, and as if to extend the pain, gradually munched on it.


    ¡°U... Guu.¡±


    To Takumu¡¯s low moan, Noumi sneered from the low position.


    ¡°Aah, didn¡¯t your mother teach you not to grab opened scissor blade? See, it becomes like this.¡±


    With a ¡®Bachin!¡¯ frightful sound echo, Cyan Pile¡¯s left hand thumb danced in the air. His HP gauge was again cut by a gulp, and at the same time his special skills gauge increased with a glop ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°...You also, did no one tell you that my right hand is not my only attack power?¡±


    Right after saying so with suppressed sound, Takumu tensed up his chest, and shouted.


    ¡°¡ª¡ª ?Splash Stinger?!!¡±


    With a cutting sound, from staggered holes lined up on Cyan Pile¡¯s chest, the face of small missiles poked up, and fired all at once.


    Dusk Taker showed impressive reaction, and took a both arms crossed guard stance, but even so he was hit at point blank range with one needle missile after another, and flower of explosions bloomed. While his gauge decreased in gulps, he was blown straight backwards, and this time the blackish purple avatar crashed into the school building, half buried in the metallic wall.


    ¡°...Oooo!¡±


    Not letting that chance escape, Takumu started a fierce charge. With the dash that shook the ground, his left shoulder forcefully smashed into Dusk Taker. The school building wall crumpled towards the inside, and the two avatars were thrusted inside the school like that. Haruyuki hurried ran, since he could not damage the stage himself, he went in from an entrance a bit far away.


    The long first floor hallway, was transformed to a weird shape like the schoolyard. The slits carved in the wall wiggled sinuously, occasionally spitting out steam. From pipe bundle like things sticking out, mucus hung down, and dripped down the hallway in drops.


    In that hideous scene, were the shapes of those two that already moved apart. The remaining gauges, Cyan Pile had more than 80%. On the other hand, Dusk Taker¡¯s was decreased down to 60%.


    ¡°...Noumi, you have already lost.¡±


    Takumu¡¯s low sound announced.


    ¡°...Huh? Is that so?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. With your power, you cannot destroy the Purgatory stage walls. The exit is behind me. And then in this narrow space, there is no chance of winning for you as a speed type.¡±


    Actually, he thought it was like what Takumu said. Haruyuki himself, had already fought Cyan Pile in a building hallway like this before. At that time he desperately avoided Cyan Pile¡¯s attacks, escaped to the roof and somehow found a way to win. However right now, behind Dusk Taker were many dead end hallways.


    The two reddish purple eyes made a tiny blink ¡ª¡ª abruptly, the slender avatar sped forward without any starting motion. Maybe he was doing it for spite of Takumu¡¯s first dash, his left hand tentacles had grabbed hold of the wall pole sometime ago, and coiling that threw his body forward.


    With his posture lowered to the limit, and not wanting to give up, he planned to slip pass Cyan Pile¡¯s feet and escape from the blind alley.


    But, Takumu remained calm. His right foot stepped on the floor with a ¡®Blang!¡¯, and created a vibration wave specific to heavy class avatars, that caught Dusk Taker¡¯s feet. To the stumbling opponent, his left foot kicked forward to attack. Noumi guarded it, but he was once again blown back towards the depth of the first floor hallway.


    Holding his arms out wide to stop anyone passing, Takumu added.


    ¡°It¡¯s useless, you can¡¯t get around behind me. If the fight started inside school, the winner would have been decided earlier. After this, if you don¡¯t want me to challenge you during tests, return those wings to Silver Crow. If you do that, then I will at least not interfere with you. So... how about it?¡±


    Noumi who was hit with that condition, while holding his wounded body with his right hand, continued to be silent for a while.


    Eventually he took a breath, and said while shaking his head left and right.


    ¡°...If it is Mayuzumi senpai, then he would probably keep this idiotic verbal promise with honor. Geesh... in this world, no, in the same school, there are people with this much different sense of values...¡±


    After he spread both hands wide in exasperation, Noumi whispered a short command he had not heard of before.


    ¡°?Remove all equipment?.¡±


    And then, his left hand tentacles and right hand bolt clipper, melt into space and disappeared. Equipping and removing enhanced armament can be done with voice commands recorded previously in the ?Install Menu?. Those frank words that were said, were probably keywords chosen by Noumi.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Does that mean, he acknowledge defeat, and plan to return the wings ¡ª¡ª that Noumi Seiji would?¡¯


    Haruyuki became speechless, and while looking at Takumu like he was going to checkmate in the next move, he was once again impressed.


    ¡°Taku...¡±


    ¡®You did it!¡¯, when he was going to shout that, at that time ¡ª¡ª.


    Noumi¡¯s empty hand and wounded avatar took a low posture. And at the same time causally said.


    ¡°Not really, I am not surrendering. Just, with both hands full, I can¡¯t use this ?Trick?, only that.¡±


    ¡°...Tri... ck...!?¡±


    To be sure, before also ¡ª¡ª right before his first duel with Haruyuki ended, he also said that. At that time, Haruyuki thought it was just an insult ¡ª¡ª does he really, have something else...


    At the same time that Haruyuki took a deep breath, Takumu quickly aimed his right hand at the enemy.


    ¡°...If you still want to continue, then I won¡¯t hold back, Noumi! I will take any chance I have to fight you. And then knock you down. Is that fine with you!!¡±


    The response, was the most calm and no feeling sound up till now.


    ¡°...Geesh, I don¡¯t like that. Being that serious. I don¡¯t want to pronounce the special skill... but, well, I guess there¡¯s no choice when it came to this...¡±


    Dusk Taker made a small triangle in front of him with his hands. Continuing, incantation ¡ª¡ª or curse like words were quietly released.


    ¡°...Toru. Eru. Tsukamu. Kezuru. Ubau. Ubau, Ubau, U, Ba, U[3]...¡±


    An ¡®iiiiIIIIIN¡¯ vibration sound was created, and that soon changed to a high frequency metallic type. And then Haruyuki saw it. Noumi¡¯s two hands, were covered by thick blackish purple wave.


    It even shook the air in the hallway, with sparks running in a wide range. ¡®Special Skill!?¡¯ He thought that for one instant, but soon canceled it with not that. With this much effect being created, the special skill gauge should be decreasing even before any attacks start. But Noumi¡¯s gauge, with over half charge, did not move even slightly.


    The logic for this kind of phenomenon appearing other than special skills, Haruyuki only learned of it recently.


    That was ¡ª¡ª image type control. Overwriting events with imagination.


    Its other name was ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Ta.. Taku! Don¡¯t worry about me anymore! Defeat him, right now!!¡±


    Haruyuki screamed.


    ¡°¡ª¡ª ?Lightning Cyan Spike?!!¡±


    After Takumu hesitated for an instant, he sharply shouted.


    Cyan Pile¡¯s half full special gauge disappeared in one gulp, and at the same time aura like back flare spilled out from the ?Pile Driver?¡¯s rear end ¡ª¡ª.


    The air was burned with a ¡®Shaa!!¡¯ sound, and the iron pile that became a ray of light was released towards Dusk Taker.


    At that distance, it would be impossible to evade Taku¡¯s level 4 special skill ¡ª¡ª it should had been. However.


    ¡®Snap¡¯.


    With that dense gas being popped sound, the tip of the shining iron pile stopped without penetrating anything.


    What stopped it, were just two fingers.


    Dusk Taker¡¯s purple wave covered left hand index and middle fingers, held and stopped Cyan Pile¡¯s greatest special skill as easily as if it was a cylinder made with paper.


    ¡°...Wha...¡±


    Right after Haruyuki¡¯s raspy sound leaked out, with the sound of hot metal being dipped into water, the shining light pole itself was sucked into the pulsating wave, and disappeared without a trace.


    Lowering his hand listlessly, Noumi lifted up his head slightly, and looked at Cyan Pile who stood while dumbfounded.


    Up till now, this would be a scene where words full of insult would be released with suppressed laughter.


    But, while Dusk Taker remained silent, the fingers of his both hands were curved to like claws, and producing even stronger purple vibration, kicked the ground.


    It was a fearsome high speed dash that made his legs fuzzy. About double the speed of when he used the tentacles earlier. The over ten meters of distance between him and Takumu was closed with less than an eyeblink, and Dusk Taker who came close, his left hand with fingers opened wide drew a large arc from bottom up.


    The purple crescent moon carved in the air, cut diagonally across Cyan Pile¡¯s thick chest armor. And then, Haruyuki saw something impossible. The blue armor, like clay ¡ª¡ª no, like pudding, was deeply gouged out.


    From the wounds left by the five claws, after one instant of delay, with a ¡®Splash!¡¯, bluish white sparks bundle sprayed out like blood.


    ¡°Guu...¡±


    Even though the moaning and leaning back Takumu himself was probably more shocked than Haruyuki, he immediately counter attacked.


    Towards Noumi¡¯s undefended left flank as his left hand was swung to near his right shoulder, Takumu¡¯s thrust out the tip of his piledriver strongly ¡ª¡ª


    ¡®Clank!¡¯


    That sound of firing echoed, however, Noumi¡¯s body itself was no longer there. After a short teleport like speed right slide to easily evade the pile attack, this time his right hand thrust straight out, and caught the base of the iron pile that was extended the furthest right after firing.


    Again, with that strange wet sound echo, the pile was crushed.


    No, to be exact, the part grasped by Dusk Taker¡¯s purple shining hand instantly disappeared. While showing mirror like smooth cut surface, the iron pile heavily fell to the ground.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª So, I was not mistaken.¡¯


    It was the ?Mind Power Attack?. The image from Noumi Seiji¡¯s consciousness interfered with the system, and made various objects grasped in his hands disappear. Denial of existence. Overwriting event.


    Takumu probably did not know about the existence of the ?Incarnate System?. While showing shock in his whole body, he still bravely tried to counter attack. Maybe he saw that Noumi¡¯s hands can cut various things, he made a big jump to distance himself, then released a kick attack.


    It was an awesome right roundhouse kick that seem to burn the air. If hit, even a heavy type avatar would be blown flying.


    However that kick, calculated with the avatar weight, plus armor strength, plus muscle parameter, only contained numeric data.


    On the other hand, faster than Takumu¡¯s kick power reached him through the motion control type system, Noumi overwrote the event with his image type control. The result ¡ª¡ª


    ¡®Thud¡¯.


    With that dreadful sound, the kick was again stopped by only the left hand. The force that should had caused damage, were all swallowed by the purple wave, and canceled. That wet echo, was the sound of Noumi¡¯s five fingers stabbing almost all the way into Takumu¡¯s right leg shin portion.


    ¡°Ua...!¡±


    Takumu¡¯s suppressed painful sound leaked out.


    As if he was tormenting him, while moving the fingers buried in the leg with wiggles, here Noumi finally released his whisper.


    ¡°... Mayuzumi senpai. Earlier, did you say it? Something about me not able to destroy this stage¡¯s walls?¡±


    And then, dragging Takumu who was down on his left knee while his right leg was caught, he walked towards the south wall.


    Dusk Taker¡¯s right hand that was thrust out casually, buried up to his wrist in the Purgatory¡¯s metallic wall that shone a metallic green color without making any sound.


    Like that, as if pushing aside jelly, a large circle was drawn on the wall.


    ¡°Honestly, I did not want this to be seen. Well, even though you would not understand it by just seeing. This skill¡¯s logic is known to six... no, seven kings and their aides, and then only us, it should be. But, you are a smart guy. After experiencing this much of a difference in power, you should have understood...¡±


    While the words flowed, a close to two meters diameter trench was carved in the wall. With one kick from Noumi, the wall fell inside with a clank, and the outside light shone in.


    ¡°That you people no longer have any choice, this means. While I am enrolled in this Umesato middle school, your destiny is determined to be working as my dogs for the remaining school period, this also means.¡±


    After finished saying what he wanted, Noumi swung his left hand, and dropped Cyan Pile¡¯s huge body out of the hole. Without giving Haruyuki even a single glance, he also moved out to the schoolyard.


    The inside of his head was numb, and while Haruyuki shoulders shook in small spasms, he stood in the dim hallway for a while.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Why. Why did that guy like Noumi have ?Incarnate System?. That should not be something that you could find the existence of by yourself. It should be a technique that could not be learned without being directly guided by someone.¡¯


    What pulled Haruyuki back from his stupor, was Takumu¡¯s low moan echoed from far away.


    Haruyuki quickly lifted his head up, and hurriedly started running. Going through the hole that Noumi opened, and after shivering from the scars carved by fingers while sliding, he also jumped outside.


    Almost in the exact center of the wide schoolyard, were the shadows of two intertwined avatars.


    However they were not fighting. That should already be called one sided ravage.


    Cyan Pile who was spraying large amount of sparks from his chest and left leg wounds, even had trouble standing. Even so he still continued to bravely attack with both hands, without even scratching Dusk Taker. The dusk colored avatar avoided the punches with dance like jumps, while his claws carved shallow scraps from the opponent¡¯s armor.


    Cyan Pile¡¯s HP gauge was cut to only 20% left. With his broken pile driver machine not fixed, the special skill gauge that was gained shone emptily.


    ¡°Ta... Taku...¡±


    Haruyuki wrung out a broken sound.


    What he should say to his best friend who was not giving up under overwhelming disadvantage, he could not find the words for it. Probably against Noumi¡¯s mind power attack that could erase objects including physical attacks, the pure ?Close Range Blue? Cyan Pile would not have the skill to counter it.


    After tens of wounds was carved on his mask, Cyan Pile eventually fell down to his knees.


    In the normal duel field, the pain created by damage was half of unlimited field, but even so, if many small wounds added up, the total amount was not something that can be endured. Noumi without doubt went after that, and deliberately repeated small attacks.


    Takumu who was trying to stand up again while resisting the virtual pain torturing his nerves, was kicked by Noumi with full force fell rolling.


    Dusk Taker¡¯s small foot stepped firmly right on top of the fallen Cyan Pile¡¯s mask.


    ¡°500 seconds remaining huh. ...Well, you did better than I thought, Mayuzumi senpai. You have more talent here than kendo.¡±


    After a ¡®Fufufu¡¯ laugh, Noumi raised his right hand claw high. The cyclic, concentric circle of purple wave increased in strength.


    ¡°So then, I will take the payment for robbing 1.3 second of my real time. From your Burst Point, pain, and then humiliation.¡±


    On Takumu¡¯s throat, that right hand was going to thrust in, right before that ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°Wait, Noumi!!¡±


    From as close distance as a viewer was allowed, Haruyuki yelled.


    To Dusk Taker who stopped his hand, and glanced at him with his round visor, Haruyuki continued to desperately throw his voice.


    ¡°Wait... if it¡¯s points I will give you mine! In order to fight with you, Taku used up a lot of points! I still have extra, so if you want to rob, take it from mine!!¡±


    Half of it was his true feelings.


    ¡ª¡ª However, the other half, was Haruyuki¡¯s plan to bet on a slight chance.


    He suddenly kneeled down there, pushing the face of his helmet onto the ground crawling with insects, and Haruyuki said with a sound close to crying.


    ¡°As you see, I beg you, Noumi!!¡±


    Kneeling down on the ground ungracefully, was of course his first time in the accelerated world, but that was not so in the real world.


    Last year, before he met with Brain Burst, Haruyuki suffered terrible bullying from three boys in his class. Whenever possible he was extorted buns and juice, and when he did not have the money to buy it, they forced him to apologize by kneeling on the ground like this. They were humiliating memories that he did not want to remember, but right at this moment, he use all those times¡¯ desperate sound and manner to continue strongly rubbing his head on the ground.


    ¡°...Uwaa, that¡¯s the worst. The worst in many ways, Arita senpai.¡±


    Noumi¡¯s appalled sound echoed.


    ¡°Going that far for something like friendship is a sickness, are you still a Brain Burst owner? Not acting like that in the duel field, even I feel that way.¡±


    ¡°...You can think whatever you like. I will of course pay next week¡¯s points as well, please... I beg you!!¡±


    ¡°Yea, yea, I understand. Somehow, you remind me of the pill bug that I was teasing in my courtyard when I was a child. But well, I acquired flying ability from this person as well...¡±


    In the sound filled with large dose of disgust, he heard the sound of Noumi¡¯s foot leaving Takumu¡¯s face. Next, he felt that Noumi was manipulating the install menu through the HP bar.


    Then, with a sharp warning sound, a window showed up in his view. It was a confirmation dialog for changing this field from one on one ?Normal Duel Mode? to gallery included ?Battle Royal Mode?.


    Haruyuki lifted his head up slightly, then after looking at Noumi who was shaking his head in exasperation, and Takumu who was still fallen, immediately pressed the YES button.


    With that, if Takumu also consented, then the mode will be changed to where Haruyuki will be a dueler instead of gallery. That¡¯s right, without waiting for next week, he would be able to fight Dusk Taker.


    However, although it was expected, Takumu did not press the button for a while. Naturally, Takumu also should have believed Haruyuki¡¯s words at their face value, so having his points that was going to be taken away shouldered by someone else, was not something that his pride would allow.


    From a position above ground where the standing Noumi barely could not see him, Haruyuki stared at Takumu with all the power he could put into his two eyes.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Press it.¡¯


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I have not given up yet. I want to fight him. I have to fight him. That¡¯s why, press the button, Takumu!!¡¯


    The scream in Haruyuki¡¯s brain, might have actually reached him.


    Takmu¡¯s eyes inside his damaged mask opened wide for a moment, then lifted up his shaking arm ¡ª¡ª and touched a point in the air.


    After a few silence filled seconds, suddenly the various data display in his view vanished. Right after, with a ¡®Glop!¡¯ sound, Silver Crow¡¯s HP gauge extended in the upper left corner. The right side gauge remained empty, but above Cyan Pile and Dusk Taker¡¯s head, a fully recovered gauge floated. With the remaining time under 400 seconds, the flame words [FIGHT!] floated up, and blew apart.


    ¡®...Finally.¡¯


    While kneeling, Haruyuki whispered inside his chest.


    Finally, this moment arrived. The rematch with Noumi Seiji / Dusk Taker. To take back the many things he was robbed, it was a fight that he must not lose.


    With ¡®Clomp clomp¡¯ sounds of the metallic schoolyard being stepped on, the dusk avatar approached. Taking on the green light raining down from sky, that shape shone a strange color. Maybe he was still maintaining his mind power, since waves of emptiness dripped from both of his hands.


    While he was crouching down, Haruyuki silently moved his right hand to his chest, folding his thumb inside the palm, with the remaining four fingers lined straight.


    ¡®My arm is a sword. No matter how hard the armor is, even if it was empty darkness, it will pierce through anything, a light sword.¡¯


    At the same time as he held that firm image, he felt intense heat being created at his fingertips.


    The footsteps approached. Cold air stroke the back of his neck.


    Stopped right in front of him. One foot was lifted up, casually stepping towards Haruyuki¡¯s head ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°...Shii!!¡±


    With a short psyche, Haruyuki¡¯s left hand caught the foot that was going to step on him, and while being pulled up by that, he extended his right hand straight out at the same time.


    ¡°...Ku!?¡±


    Even while leaking a short sound, Noumi showed fearsome reaction speed, and used his left hand to block Haruyuki¡¯s thrust.


    A strange ¡®Kyuaaan!!¡¯ sound echoed throughout the field. Haruyuki¡¯s right hand fingertips that became a pure white sword, was swallowed by Noumi¡¯s left hand five fingers claw. However, neither of them touch each other. The white and purple, light and emptiness auras clashed, releasing a high pitched resonance sound.


    ¡°...Whatt ...this, skill is...!? You dog... when did you, this kind of trick...!!¡±


    Noumi snarled, and the purple wave¡¯s power increased. The imagination of darkness that erase various kind of existences fed into the system, trying to cut off Haruyuki¡¯s hand.


    Against that, Haruyuki resisted with the image of a laser that can pierce through various kind of existences.


    Speed. Light speed.


    ¡®...That¡¯s right. You, are faster than anyone.¡¯


    At the moment that he felt he heard that faint sound, Haruyuki shouted.


    ¡°Hardship... Pass, throughhh!!¡±


    Like thousand of icicles breaking apart, a huge, and also fleetingly clear sound filled the battle ground.


    With a slicing sound, Haruyuki¡¯s right hand sword that extended over one meter all at once, pierced through the darkness created by Noumi¡¯s left hand, and blew it apart without a sound. Right afterward.


    Dusk Taker¡¯s left arm itself, from palm to shoulder, shattered all at once from the inside out.


    ¡°Kuo...¡±


    Noumi was largely bent backwards while spraying out large quantities of reddish purple sparks, as Haruyuki released Noumi¡¯s left leg, he continued by thrusting out his left hand.


    ¡°Oooo!¡±


    The attack that was aimed for the center of the chest, however was regrettably deflected upwards by the enemy¡¯s right arm, and was stopped leaving a cut on that armor. Noumi back dashed with fierce speed, and stopped with two legs spreaded wide.


    There was a chance for followup attack, but Haruyuki did not chase after him. Maybe he wrung his image too strongly, so that white fireworks flicker and blinked in his view. After shaking his head many times to make those go away, and opened his eyes wide, Noumi had already taken a cautious posture.


    ¡°...Hee, e...¡±


    From under the blank spherical visor, a mocking but hoarse sound leaked out.


    ¡°No way, mind power attack huh... That meant, all night yesterday, you went on a training in the mountain huh, Arita senpai.¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t even take one night though.¡±


    After the quiet answer, Haruyuki also stood up. With his both hand fingers lined up, white light and vibration sound remained.


    ¡°Fuun? I heard of you losing indecently to some small fly in the blue legion though. I was worried if you could earn the quota points properly, but instead of that, you have enough energy to bite back huh. I had not foreseen this.¡±


    After the ¡®Kuku¡¯ sneer, Noumi shook his right hand quickly, and the purple wave that was there was blew away.


    ¡°...What, already out of energy?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, no way!!¡±


    After the bright sound shout ¡ª¡ª Noumi moved his right hand once more. As if to cut across in front of his body, his hand was raised high to the upper left.


    ¡°I also, was not just... sleeping!!¡±


    With that sound, he pulled and wrung his arm.


    At the same time as that movement, the horn that was extended from his back, opened wide left and right with a rustle.


    Five shafts of bone on each. Those were connected by thin membranes. The devil¡¯s wing ¡ª¡ª flight ability robbed from Silver Crow.


    In front of Haruyuki who was involuntarily breathless, the wings were extended high, and was strongly flapped once.


    Right after, with a ¡®Thump!¡¯ of air shaking, Dusk Taker¡¯s body flew up in a straight line.


    There was not a single fragment of the akwardness from the previous day, that was spectacular flying. Soon after reaching a lot higher than the school roof, he turned his body around and started hovering.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª No, I can¡¯t be shocked by something like this.¡¯


    Haruyuki bit his lip, and said that to himself. Noumi was someone who can use the ?Incarnate System?. And then, the flight ability control is the same image control type. Then it would be easy for him to get the hang of it.


    From the ominous silhouette carved in the green sky, a singing like sound came pouring down.


    ¡°...Actually, this is a great thing, these wings! Having this one sided advantage, but still only level 4! But well, with only those short limbs for weapons, Arita senpai can¡¯t do anything about it... Don¡¯t worry, I am different! Way better than senpai, I will use this power properly... like this!¡±


    Cutting his words off, Noumi extended his right hand straight out, and sang out in low volume.


    ¡°Equip ?Pyro Dealer?.¡±


    The system that accepted the voice command, started materializing new enhanced armament on Dusk Taker¡¯s right arm, which Haruyuki looked on while standing still.


    What was created, was a huge equipment that covered the whole arm. Many pipes extent to the elbow from the large tank like object carried on the shoulder, and connected all the way to the back of the hand where the firing mechanism was.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Long range firepower!¡¯


    Haruyuki¡¯s inner teeth bit down, and all of his nerves tensed.


    0.5 seconds later, casually like children playing with fireworks, flames spew from Noumi¡¯s short looking gun barrel.


    Those were as words said, flames of fire. Not bullet or beam, just like fantasy type game dragon blew out breath attack kind of high density flames, poured down from far above with a roar.


    He did not have the time to be doubtful about how to counter it. Right after Haruyuki dashed forward on reaction, an explosion sounded behind him, and an intense feeling of heat hit his whole back.


    ¡°Kuu...¡±


    While that leaked out from his clenched teeth, he desperately ran. Even with random snake runs, explosions of flame soon chased after him. Sparks of fire bounced around the surroundings, and his HP bar was cut by a few dots.


    After running west along the walls of the school building for close to ten seconds, the explosion sounds finally cut off. As he turned around while the bottom of his feet slid on the ground, Haruyuki looked on in awe.


    In the center of the wide school courtyard, an about five meters diameter crimson lake was form. From there small rivers snake around as they extended, and all the way to right in front of Haruyuki, bubbling liquid metal flowed.


    The new enhanced armament that Dusk Taker called out, was clearly a flamethrower. Furthermore, it could create terrifyingly high heat. If he was directly hit by it once, then the ground under his feet would melt and movement would be almost impossible, which would leave him just burning there.


    Haruyuki looked from the shining red pool, to Cyan Pile who was crouched down nearby. After the duel mode was changed, his HP gauge was fully recovered, which also healed all his outer wounds, but it seemed like the shock from full body pain had not left him yet. It would take at least one minute before he could join in the fight.


    ¡°Fu... Fufufu.¡±


    A few tens of meters above Haruyuki who was thinking in high speed, Dusk Taker¡¯s innocent laughter sounded.


    ¡°As I thought, the combination of ?Flight Ability? and ?Long Range Firepower? is awesome. While hovering high in the air like this, I can re-charge my special skills gauge with field destruction bonus. True perpetual motion... to say it bluntly, I am invincible.¡±


    And then the flamethrower was once more turned towards him, and towards this avatar that was truly a ?Flame Demon? right now, Haruyuki threw his suppressed voice.


    ¡°...About that. Your invincibility, is missing just one necessary condition.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What kind?¡±


    ¡°That is, those who can fly... is not only you!!¡±


    Cutting off his speech, Haruyuki raised both hands high, and at that moment, prayed inside his chest.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Sky Raker-san. My, other master. Right now, I will use it...¡¯


    ¡®Your, wings!!¡¯


    ¡°Equip!! ?Gale Thruster? ¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    The voice command echoed high above.


    Dusk Taker stopped still.


    And then, from the sky, two ribbons of sky colored lights came raining down. Those scored directly on Haruyuki¡¯s back, and concentrated ¡ª¡ª.


    A large, powerful, and beautiful objected was created.


    An 80cm in length, about 10cm in width, streamlined booster. Two of those were lined up on his back. The tip a thin cone, the rear a square exhaust, surrounded by a total of four extended small horizontal and vertical stabilizers. That meant instead of calling them boosters, it was the same as him carrying two miniature cruise missiles.


    This, was the enhanced armament that caused Sky Raker to be called ?ICBM? and ?Astro?.


    Staring at the enemy that seemed to leak feeling of shock, Haruyuki lowered his waist in one go.


    The boosters groaned with ¡®Hiiiin¡¯ sound. The ground at his feet shone bluish white reflection.


    ¡®...Heart¡¯s desire for sky. That is the true fuel for ?Gale Thruster?.¡¯


    In his ears, sounds from far away again replayed.


    ¡®...There, go on. Since it is you, should be able to fly again, Karasu-san.¡¯


    ¡°O... Ooo!!¡±


    Haruyuki roared, and kicked the ground with all his strength.


    A huge impact sound shook the atmosphere, and the surroundings were filled with bright light.


    Right after, Haruyuki flew towards the sky with tremendous speed. That speed, was easily over the silver wings straight lift off speed.


    Dusk Taker¡¯s black silhouette came closer and closer. However at the same time, Haruyuki¡¯s senses also started accelerating, slowing down the subjective approaching speed.


    ¡°Wha...¡±


    With leaking of a small sound of shock, Dusk Taker¡¯s right arm flamethrower was pointing towards Haruyuki.


    Right before red light came out of that muzzle.


    ¡°...Raaa!!¡±


    With that psyche, Haruyuki¡¯s left spear hand thrust out.


    The sharp fingertips covered by shining white aura, touched the muzzle, and cut it from top to bottom ¡ª¡ª reaching all the way to the fuel tank on the shoulder.


    With a ¡®Shugoo!¡¯ howl sound, the two avatars crossed, then separated. Haruyuki who continued to dance higher in the sky, saw a crimson flash below his feet, and then heard an explosive echo that seemed to chase after that.


    He opened his folded arms and legs, and stopped the rise. When he looked down, he saw the familiar Umesato middle school H shape building, the wide grounds, and then the shape of Dusk Taker who floated with those as background.


    After the total lost his left arm, his right arm also showed deep damage. The flamethrower was all blown apart, and from his shoulder to elbow was burned deep black. His armor that had shone like amethyst also had cracks running through it, with bright sparks dripping one after another. His HP gauge also, was cut by half.


    As Haruyuki controlled his descend path with his two hands opened wide, he head towards the edge of the school yard, where originally a grounds lighting tower was, he landed on top of a portal lined with strange eyeballs.


    Different from the wings that was robbed from him, the ?Gale Thruster?¡¯s flight did not use up the special skills gauge. However, same as Takumu¡¯s ?Piledriver?, an instant of firing used up all the energy, and required a long time to recharge.


    While checking the new third gauge on his view¡¯s upper left was starting to slowly increase, Haruyuki held his two hand knives at ready.


    In contrast, Noumi also waved his damaged right hand. The curved claws, were once again covered by purple waves.


    ¡°...I see, I see. You still had that kind of card hidden huh.¡±


    The sound that drifted by, was flat due to shock and anger, but still seem to contain an echo of sneer in it.


    ¡°Hey, please tell me, Arita senpai. How and where did you pick up that enhanced armament? You don¡¯t have the points to buy it from a shop right? ...Ah, is it like this, you forced its owner to un-install and robbed it, isn¡¯t that right? That is cruel, even I would not go that far.¡±


    To Noumi who was laughing ¡®Kukukuku¡¯ with his throat, Haruyuki calmly responded.


    ¡°You would not understand, Noumi.¡±


    ¡°...What did you say?¡±


    ¡°The wish of this person who created this sky colored ?Wings?, and the feelings of entrusting that to me, even if I tell you, you would definitely not understand. For you who think of the accelerated world as just a means. And then... that you, do not have the qualification to be called a Burst Linker!!¡±


    The right hand filled with white shine, was thrust by Haruyuki directly at Noumi.


    The dusk colored avatar, continued to be silent for a while.


    Eventually, with a tilt of his head ¡ª¡ª he said.


    ¡°I heard that before, that speech. ?Burst Linker?? ...When, have I used those words?¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°Hey, senpai. Do you know? Burst Linker, is a self calling started by the first Brain Burst owners. No matter where you search in the system, those words will not be used. That¡¯s why we will never use it.¡±


    ¡°We...?¡±


    Before he had time to think about the meaning of that word, Noumi strongly spit out.


    ¡°The properly way of calling, should be Acceleration Ability Owner... no, ?Acceleration User?. Use the given privilege to the maximum degree, take whatever your hand can grab. That should be the form that you and me should become. So... about time we settle this. I and senpai, whose mind power ¡ª¡ª that is, ?Desire?, is stronger!!¡±


    With a ¡®voom¡¯ moaning sound, Noumi¡¯s right hand scattered intense waves.


    ¡°...Mind power is not desire. It is ?Wish?!!¡±


    Haruyuki also shouted, and gathered light swords on both hands.


    At the same time, from every part of his body, he gathered all the feelings of hope and seeking for the sky. He filled his chest with clear sky blue, and directed that flow to the boosters on his back.


    This was the true goal of why Sky Raker had Haruyuki train the Incarnate System. Originally, after the ?Gale Thruster? fired once, it could not be used to jump in a short time, but that energy could be charged by mind power. If that was possible, then this booster would no longer be a simple jump support equipment. It will become real wings that is capable of continuous flight.


    The exhausted third gauge, fully charged all at once.


    From Haruyuki¡¯s back, bluish white flames sprayed out.


    Noumi¡¯s black wings were extended to the limit.


    Right after, both of them, trailing silver and purple trajectories in the sky, attacked at maximum speed.


    ¡°Ooooo!!¡±


    With a psyche from the bottom of his stomach, Haruyuki¡¯s left hand sword thrusted out at light speed.


    ¡°Chieeee!!¡±


    With blade like spirit, Noumi¡¯s right hand claws swung down.


    A ¡®Gakiyuuun!!¡¯ kind of impact sound echoed, shaking the sky. Two color flashes swirled, tangled up, then exploded ¡ª¡ª.


    Two arms, both torn at the middle, blew apart.


    ¡°Not ye... yettt!!¡±


    With a roar, Haruyuki continued with his right hand sword, thrusting it at the center of Noumi¡¯s chest.


    The arm that became a blinding ray of light, pierced through the blackish purple armor without a sound, burying all the way up to his shoulder.


    However at the same time, Noumi¡¯s right foot that was covered by waves of emptiness, sandwiched itself around Haruyuki¡¯s left flank. The HP bar of both, dropped by 30% all at once.


    While enduring sharp pain that might burn out the core of his head, Haruyuki wrung out all his remaining mind power, right below ¡ª¡ª towards the grounds of Umesato middle school and opened his boosters all the way.


    The two avatars that were locked together, dropped down like a shooting star trailing flames. The hard ground, came closer and closer.


    They would crash like that, even with about the same HP bar remaining, Silver Crow no longer had any remaining power of flight.


    Maybe his intuition told him that, Dusk Taker¡¯s body curved up, taking a defensive position.


    However Haruyuki lifted up his head, with his eyes remaining open, he made the final adjustment to their falling trajectory ¡ª¡ª


    And shouted.


    ¡°Taku, now ¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    ¡°Whatt...¡±


    Noumi gasped, and right in the center of his face that was quickly lifted up,


    A bolt of lightning charged in from the ground, Takumu¡¯s special skill ¡ª¡ª ?Lightning Cyan Spike? arrived.


    With that attack as a break, Haruyuki did not miss the timing of when the falling speed dropped, and after pulling out his right arm from Dusk Taker¡¯s chest, he turned his body 180 degrees, then fired all the energy remaining in his boosters.


    Even with that, at the moment when his two feet touched the ground, many cracks opened up on the white silver armor, and sparks were sprayed out. The ground was also cracked radially, and he collapsed to his knees in the center.


    One second later, tracing the remaining flashing trajectory in the sky, Dusk Taker fell down on a place a few meters away.


    From the look of him, it was a mystery that he still had HP gauge remaining. His both arms were lost, and a huge hole was opened up in his chest armor. His ball like face visor had spiderweb cracks, and the center was a black on black hole pierced through, with crackling sparks welling up.


    Maybe he still had the will to move, as the tip of the wings that lay flat on the ground shook, but that could never flap the wings.


    ¡®...It is finished.¡¯


    Haruyuki whispered that inside his chest. As for Dusk Taker, one attack of any kind on him later will probably determine the battle at that time.


    However Haruyuki remained crouched down and stationary, as he waited for the footsteps slowly approaching from behind.


    Eventually standing beside him was Takumu ¡ª¡ª Cyan Pile¡¯s awful shape. Most of his body was burned black, with smoke rising up.


    However that, was not from anyone¡¯s attack. It was from his own damage. Dragging the avatar that could not move too well due to the remains of painful sensation, he sank himself half way into the magma pool created by Dusk Taker¡¯s flamethrower. For at least one attack, to gain the gauge required to release his special skill.


    Haruyuki did not know about that because he saw it. If he looked at Takumu even once during the fight, then Noumi would notice that intent, and would see through Takumu¡¯s plan. That was why, Haruyuki never looked down from the sky. He just believed. That if it was Takumu, he would definitely do that.


    ¡°...Noumi.¡±


    Haruyuki quietly spoke to the out of power dusk color avatar.


    ¡°The reason you lost, was not because of my ?Mind power attack? or ?Gale Thruster?. It is that we are not one person. And then that is, also the reason why you cannot win against us from now on.¡±


    There was no answer.


    After looking up at his comrade beside him, Haruyuki made a small and strong nod.


    Takumu also returned the nod, then held out his burnt left hand. Haruyuki held it with his right hand, and stood up with that support.


    The remaining time was down to two minutes. In order to add the final attack on Dusk Taker, Haruyuki moved forward one, two steps.


    ¡®...Rin.¡¯


    It was at that time when he felt he heard that faint sound.


    Stopping still, Haruyuki quickly looked left and right.


    No one was there. There should not be anyone. This field was not created in the Global Net, it was made through the Umesato middle school¡¯s local net. That was why, there should not be anymore Burst Linker appearing ¡ª¡ª


    ¡®Chirin.¡¯


    Again, this time for sure, a clear, however somehow sad sound echoed.


    Haruyuki and Takumu turned at the same time towards the source of the sound ¡ª¡ª and looked up at the sky.


    In the Purgatory field¡¯s green colored sky, there was not even any kind of shadow. However in the next moment, Haruyuki caught a small movement in the edge of his view.


    It was not the sky. It was on the roof of the school building standing on the south side. Over there, surrounded by spear sharp cast iron fence, far fresher than the color of the sky, shining green like a peridot, was a small avatar ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Wha...¡±


    That whisper, was it from himself, or Takumu, Haruyuki did not know.


    That was, that avatar was.


    ?Lime Bell?.


    That is Chiyuri, Kurashima Chiyuri. However, why? Chiyuri should still had not registered Silver Crow or Cyan Pile for automatic gallery.


    ¡°Chi...¡±


    Haruyuki tried to call out with his raspy sound.


    However as if to avoid that, Chiyuri¡¯s left hand equipped large bell was lifted towards the sky.


    He felt that he heard a voice. Riding on the breeze in the stage, very faint, instead of sound, it was something that could only be quietly felt ¡ª¡ª


    ¡®...Sorry, Ta-kun. ...Sorry, Haru.¡¯


    And then, the yellowish green avatar, swung the left hand bell. At the same time, voiced the special skill name.


    ¡°...?Citron Call?.¡±


    The echo of the bell ringing sound was incredibly beautiful, however maybe due to the stage sound effect interfering, it was heard as somewhat distorted.


    The emerald drops that glitter as they rain down from the roof ¡ª¡ª covered the almost dead Dusk Taker.


    Haruyuki and Takumu, could only look on as the deep wounds carved on the blackish purple armor, all started repairing from the tip.


    ¡°Wh... y?¡±


    Haruyuki heard from his own throat, the cracked and crushed sound.


    ¡°Why... Chiyu?¡±


    (TO BE CONTINUED)

 Volume 4 - CH 1

    ¡°Wh¡­y?¡±


    Haruyuki heard the cracked and crushed sound from his own throat.


    ¡°Why¡­¡­Chiyu?¡±


    The cold wind of the ?Purgatory? stage blew away the hollow question, and scattered it to the yellow sky above. But, there was no answer. Standing still on top of the school building¡¯s roof, the bright green avatar ?Lime Bell?¡ªKurashima Chiyuri hid her face in order to avoid Haruyuki¡¯s gaze, and sat down with a scraping noise while grasping the roof railing with her right hand.


    Instead, what responded to his question was a very low, warped laughter.


    ¡°Fu¡­¡­fu, fu.¡±


    On the ground a little ways away, the lens-like mask of the dusk-colored avatar, which had thrown down its limbs and was lying on its back, was shaking bit by bit.


    ¡°Fufu¡­fu, amazing¡­how amazing¡­This is the ?healing ability?¡­truly a miraculous power¡­fufu, hahaha¡­¡±


    As he laughed quietly, the avatar¡¯s severe gashes from only dozens of seconds before were healed as if they had never been, and his whole body glowed a glossy dark purple. The recovery phenomenon didn¡¯t stop at just the body, but even restored his right arm¡¯s flamethrower which should have been destroyed.


    Haruyuki¡ª?Silver Crow?, and standing behind him, Takumu¡ª?Cyan Pile?, at the end of a hard-fought battle on the field of Umesato Middle School, had managed to crush the dusk avatar ?Dusk Taker?. Both of his arms had been blow off in an aerial battle with Haruyuki and had been pierced to the ground by Takumu¡¯s special technique, and all that was left was to go make his HP gauge run out completely with a single ordinary attack.


    However, the one who interrupted that was Lime Bell, suddenly emerging from on top of the roof.


    As soon as he was wrapped in a shower of light emitted from her right arm just now, Dusk Taker¡¯s HP had radically recovered, and even his right side was brilliantly glowing now.


    ¡°Why¡­Why, Chiyu!!¡±


    Haruyuki looked up at the school building again, and screamed out as if tearing his throat.


    Dusk Taker was the enemy. The first year student who controlled that avatar, Noumi Seiji didn¡¯t appear on the matching list even though he possessed ?Brain Burst?, and licentiously used his acceleration ability in kendo matches and real tests.


    Not stopping there, he even cornered Haruyuki to just before the point of school expulsion by setting a trap, and had taken away Silver Crow¡¯s wings in a match using his special technique ?Demonic Commandeer?. After somehow cheering up his heart that had been completely broken then and getting a new power at the end of a long struggle, Haruyuki had managed to grab victory despite becoming torn up in the process.


    Now pushed past the edge of confusion, Haruyuki could do nothing but widen his eyes beneath his silver face and stare at Lime Bell.


    Chiyuri didn¡¯t try to say anything, and just kept clenching the roof fence and hiding her face beneath the brim of her huge hat.


    As soon as he saw her delicate shoulders trembling intensely as if enduring something¡ª


    ¡ªWhy? It¡¯s obvious.


    ¡ªNoumi. Noumi Seiji probably contacted Chiyuri during today¡¯s lunch break, and demanded that she obey him. Like he did with Haruyuki, he took advantage of some weakness and threatened her. That was the only possibility.


    As Haruyuki¡¯s gaze turned back, while creakily laughing even further as he remained lying down, Dusk Taker opened up the black wings on his back fully.


    The wings that seemed to cut through darkness struck the air slowly, and the slender avatar gradually stood up as if pulled by an invisible thread.


    ¡°Fufufu¡­ku, kukukuku¡­¡±


    The volume of his gloating voice increased very fast. Inside his visor which had similar luster to the compound eyes of an insect, two reddish-purple eyes blinked intensely.


    ¡°Kuku, ha, hahaha. ?Flying ability?. And ?healing ability?. These two incredibly rare powers¡­are now both mine¡­¡±


    Now completely standing up, the avatar stopped and simply floated about thirty centimeters above the ground. Energetically opening up his regenerated arms, Dusk Taker pointed his ten claw-like fingers towards the sky. A dusky-dark aura rushed out like mucus from those hands.


    ¡°Aah¡­What a wonderful feeling! This pleasant feeling of robbing! This almighty feeling of stealing and trampling on someone¡¯s dreams, their hopes, their potential¡­it¡¯s just so irresistible¡­!!¡±


    That ugly joy coming from the voice of a young boy spread across the field as a physical pressure, and shook Haruyuki¡¯s badly-bruised avatar.


    But, without being conscious of that, Haruyuki squeezed out a voice covered in the noise of various feelings from beneath his helmet.


    ¡°¡­¡­Y, ou.¡±


    He took a single step toward the dusk-colored avatar that was floating at a slightly high place.


    ¡°Noumi¡­what did you do? What did you do to Chiyu?¡±


    Hearing that, Dusk Taker slowly moved his face and looked down at Haruyuki.


    Within that half-gross spherical surface, his two thin eyes slowly blinked once, and¡ª


    He formed a smile filled with the most venomous ridicule in silence.


    Haruyuki¡¯s sight was suddenly dyed in the color of blood. All his confused feelings converged onto a single needle-like point. That is, onto overwhelming hatred for Noumi Seiji.


    ¡°Nou¡­mi¡­¡±


    While muttering that, Haruyuki unconsciously gathered his remaining right hand¡¯s fingers into the shape of a sword. A high resonance ¡®IIIIIIIN¡¯ sound came out, and silver light flickered on his fingertips.


    As if the swirling hatred had become noise and was the formation of his ?silver sword? image, the light was quite unstable. Without caring about that, Haruyuki greatly brandished his right arm and tried to slice it towards Dusk Taker.


    But, an instant earlier.


    ¡°U¡­aaaaa!!¡±


    Along a cry that seemed to vomit blood, there was a blue shadow which passed by Haruyuki from the right.


    It was Cyan Pile. His armor burned from the previous battle and still emitting smoke, the heavy weight-class avatar rushed forward while unleashing a rumbling sound over the ground.


    ¡°You made Chii-chan¡­cryyyyyyyyyyyyy!!¡±


    Takumu, who never lost his calm at any kind of time and should have been the one who held back Haruyuki¡¯s rampage, tried to recklessly jump at Noumi while yelling like a little kid.


    Even in the face of the raging heavy tank-like charge, Dusk Taker didn¡¯t try to move away even a little.


    He slowly raised his slender right hand and fully opened out his five sharp fingers. At the same time, he spat out a short sentence.


    ¡°Disappear already.¡±


    *BYUAAA!!* Along with a different vibrating sound, his right hand was wrapped in a glistening purple wave of nothingness. It soon changed shape, and claws, no, sickles extended out longer and longer from the tip of all his fingers.


    The five sickles casually wrapped around Cyan Pile¡¯s huge body from the front as he charged at him. The points of the curving long claws touched both sides of Cyan Pile¡¯s neck, his right side, his left shoulder and his left side, and then¡ª


    Immediately after, those claws closed together without any resistance.


    ¡°¡­¡­!!¡±


    Before the eyes of the silently gasping Haruyuki, the upper body of the blue heavy weight-class avatar was split into several parts.


    His head and arms flew through the air while releasing a terrifying amount of sparks from their cut sections, and rolled onto the ground after brushing against Dusk Taker¡¯s body. Finally, his still charging lower body fell down with a grave sound.


    Following a slight time lag, as if saying that the system recognized the damage only after the phenomenon of being cutting apart, Cyan Pile¡¯s HP gauge suddenly began to decrease. Changing to yellow as it reduced to half and dying red when it reached the remaining 20 percent, it continued decreasing in width, and then¡ª


    Reached zero.


    The wreckage of the cut-apart avatar scattered into pieces of bluish-white polygons and disappeared. Before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, a system message signifying that Dusk Taker had destroyed Cyan Pile appeared.


    ¡°¡­¡­Ku¡­ku, ku, fu, ha.¡±


    Mincing laugher dripped out from the dusk-colored avatar¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°The ones known as loser¡­are always so comical. Without even trying to admit they were defeated, they struggle in an unseemly manner and in the end have even the last of their pride taken away. Though I thought Mayuzumi-senpai was more the intelligent-type, he completely disappointed me. Well, after all, even with a brain, he has that muscular macho avatar, kukuku, fufu, hahahahaha!!¡±


    Radiating a pronounced dark aura from both his arms, Dusk Taker laughed hysterically.


    While being bathed in that voice, Haruyuki stared at the spot where Takumu had vanished several seconds ago, and then looked at Chiyuri, who was still crouching small on the roof of the school.


    Standing stock-still, the sword of silver light on his right hand flickered little by little and then vanished.


    He hadn¡¯t lost his fighting spirit. It was the opposite. Like a blazing flame, a brutal destructive urge coursed through the inside of his avatar, and was disturbing Haruyuki¡¯s mental concentration.


    Hate. He wanted to destroy. He wanted to smash up the duel avatar called Dusk Taker¡ªno, the mind of Noumi Seiji that was lodged inside it, to mince it apart, to tear it into shreds and trample over it.


    The world already wasn¡¯t a virtual game field anymore, nor a battle where numerical points of damage were exchanged back and forth.


    Until now, in every game he had played including ?Brain Burst?, Haruyuki, while feeling frustration towards enemies who defeated him, had felt no hatred towards the real-life players who controlled those avatars.


    But, right now was different. The temperature of the dark hatred that flowed through the blood vessels of his entire body easily exceeded that of frustration.


    ¡ª¡ªThen, destroy.


    Suddenly, someone whispered from right behind him.


    ¡ª¡ªDestroy, eat. Devour his flesh, drain his blood, steal everything from him.


    It was a familiar voice. Haruyuki had definitely heard that warped low voice that was mixed with a metallic overtone at some point, somewhere.


    But, before he could trace the memory, an intense cold feeling like a needle of ice thrusting into him formed in the center of his back. It pierced deeply between his shoulder blades, penetrated all the way to Haruyuki¡¯s heart, and from there released a liquid metal-like chill through his entire body.


    The chilling hunger fused together with his burning hate, and at that instant¡ª


    His vision squeezed and contracted to the center.


    The gold-green ground of the Purgatory field, the school building with an organism-like form, Lime Bell hanging her head on the roof, it all disappeared into the swaying darkness. The only thing he saw was the still high-pitched laughing Dusk Taker.


    ¡°Nou¡­¡­mi.¡±


    A moan with the same metallic effect as the voice he had heard before leaked out from Haruyuki¡¯s throat.


    ¡°Noumi¡­You¡­you¡­¡­¡±


    All of his raging feelings flowed into the tip of his remaining right hand as if pulled there.


    In order to activate the ?Incarnate System?¡ªthe skill which intervened in the image control system of the Brain Burst program and caused a phenomenon that exceeded the limits of the game, absurdly deep concentration was needed. In truth, the ?sword of light? that was given form due to Haruyuki¡¯s mind had vanished the instant he was seized with hatred towards Noumi.


    In spite of that.


    Suddenly, a very long sword extended out from Silver Crow¡¯s right hand along with a grave ¡®ZUAAA!¡¯ vibrating sound.


    However, its color wasn¡¯t the clear white of earlier.


    As if drawing in and drowning out all light, a jet-black sword. It had a far deeper color of hungry darkness than the dark purple needles that Noumi had formed.


    ¡°¡­¡­Hmm?¡±


    Noticing Silver Crow¡¯s unusual phenomenon, Dusk Taker stopped laughing and gave a short mutter.


    ¡°Oya¡­Do you still intend to do something, Arita-senpai? Do you intend to follow your companion¡¯s lead and happily expose the same unsightly behavior?¡±


    Haruyuki had no mental room to respond to that mocking. He felt his thoughts and feelings being sucked into his right hand¡¯s sword. Besides that, the only thing that existed in him was the extreme impulse that only wanted to destroy the enemy in front of him into minced pieces.


    ¡ª¡ªThat¡¯s right. Eat. Devour.


    The brutal voice whispered in the center of his head.


    As if urged on by that, he took a step forward with his right foot.


    Immediately after, he kicked off the ground savagely.


    ¡°U¡­oaaaaa!!¡±


    While howling, he raised the dark sword in his right hand high above his head. He placed the speed of his charge, the entire weight of his avatar, and all of his raging hatred into the sword edge, and aimed to cut down the face of the floating Dusk Taker.


    It should have been impossible for the kendo player Noumi to not avoid the direct slash from Haruyuki who had no plan. But, the purple avatar didn¡¯t try to move even a little from where he was, and like he did to Cyan Pile, tried to catch the black blade with only his opened right hand.


    The blade created by Haruyuki and the five sickles created by Noumi touched in midair.


    In the previous battle, as soon as their two mentally-formed attacks touch, they had violently repelled and conflicted with each other.


    But this time, the exact reverse phenomenon occurred. That is, the instant the jet-black blade and the dark-purplish sickles clashed, the darkness swirled onto a single focused point and tried to suck each other in.


    ¡°Muu¡­¡­¡±


    Dusk Taker let a small voice leak out.


    ¡°An attack of the same attribute¡­!? What¡¯s going on¡­?¡±


    His eyes narrowed and seemed to fixedly observing the phenomenon. Facing him, Haruyuki no longer thought of anything, and just kept swinging forward his right hand and putting all his power into it.


    ¡°U¡­gu, ooh¡­¡±


    He bared his teeth beneath his mask and shouted in a twisted voice.


    ¡°Disappear¡­disappear, Noumi! Disappear¡­from my siiiiiiiiiight!!¡±


    *BYUAAA!!* His right hand¡¯s sword shook, and the swirling darkness increased in force at the contact point. The sickles extending from Noumi¡¯s fingers effortlessly crumbled from their tips and were swallowed in.


    ¡°Tch¡­¡±


    Clicking his tongue, Noumi produced purple sickles on his left hand as well, and piled it on top of his right hand¡¯s sickles to grasp Haruyuki¡¯s sword. The darkness that looked like a small black hole swirled even more violently, and fragments of glimmering metal and other things were suck in from the ground, leaving a momentary flash before disappearing.


    ¡°So insolent¡­!!¡±


    Dusk Taker shouted and increased the force of the purple wave of energy from both his hands.


    ¡°Gu¡­ooooh¡­!!¡±


    A beast-like roar also gushed out from Haruyuki¡¯s throat.


    Perhaps as a result of the abnormal gravity being calculated in, even the thick low-hanging clouds slowly turned and were being pulled in like a funnel towards the ground. The school building¡¯s windows broke one after another while scattering sharp light, and lightning-like sparks followed and radial cracks ran through the ground.


    And then, several things occurred at the same time.


    ¡°Stop it¡­stop it already¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    Chiyuri¡¯s scream mixed with crying resounded loudly through the stage.


    ¡°Disa¡­ppeeeeeeeeeeear¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s yell pressed down and roared over it.


    And the remaining time that was indicated in the upper part of his vision reached zero.


    The characters of ¡®TIME UP!!¡¯ burst out in front of him and signaled the end of the duel.


    When the accelerated state was released through the result screen of Battle Royal mode and he passed through rings of radial light and returned to the real world, let alone what Haruyuki had been doing before the start of the duel¡ªhe couldn¡¯t immediately remember even where he was or what time it was now.


    The sports-use track that was paved with auburn high-resistance material spread out straight in front of him. Many jersey-wearing male students were running in front of him.


    And Haruyuki himself was also kicking off the ground noisily with both legs. His consciousness couldn¡¯t link up with the movements of his intolerably sluggish physical body, and he nearly fell down before waving both his hands and holding himself up somehow. The students who sat on the inner part of the track and the male students running parallel to Haruyuki¡¯s left suddenly laughed.


    ¡ªSpeaking of which, I¡¯m in the middle of the measurement of the three thousand meter run. Right now it¡¯s Tuesday, fifth period¡­in the middle of phys-ed class¡­


    After thinking that in dumb surprise, Haruyuki suddenly became aware of a feeling blowing out like magma from the bottom of his belly.


    ¡ªJust what on earth am I doing?


    ¡ªThe phys-ed lesson? The long-distance running? Those are inconsequential! I have to¡­crush Noumi Seiji at all costs!!


    ¡°Uuu¡­!¡±


    He let out a low, unrestrained growl. After clenching his teeth and staring at the goal line over there, Haruyuki put all his fury into his arms and legs. The pace of his heavy resounding footsteps increased. He naturally leaned his body forward.


    Next to the measurement time shown in his lower sight, a red R characters blinked. It indicated that his pace had improved from his personal record. But without being conscious of that, Haruyuki ran the remaining ninety meters at full power. He couldn¡¯t overtake the students who were ahead of him, but Haruyuki¡¯s last spurt as he clearly shortened the distance made a light stir among the boys of the class.


    But Haruyuki didn¡¯t care at all about those voices, nor his new personal time which flashed in front of him as soon as he stepped over the goal line. Rather, he didn¡¯t even stop his feet and tried to run like that straight towards the entrance.


    ¡°Hey, where you going, Arita? The toilet?¡±


    He heard the carefree voice of the phys-ed teacher and the laughter of the other students, but ignored them.


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t aiming for the toilet. He was going to run up to the third floor of the school building and launch an attack on Noumi Seiji¡¯s classroom.


    He would directly squeeze Noumi¡¯s real body, forcibly direct connect with him, and this time, make him completely submit. If that was impossible, he would instead yank of his Neuro Linker from his neck, trample over it, and destroy its core chip.


    Was it necessary to give up on such brutality? Against an enemy that went as far as to use foul means to threaten Chiyuri and make her obey his will?


    Every time his intense violent impulse welled up, a point on his back throbbed. No, it seemed like the impulse was being infinitely produced from there.


    ¡°Just wait¡­!¡±


    Shouting as if spitting out, he tried to kick off the ground even more intensely¡ªat that moment.


    *GASHI* A strong hand held back Haruyuki¡¯s shoulder from behind.


    ¡°Stop it, Haru!¡±


    At the same time as a stifled voice resounded in his ear, Haruyuki reflexively put on the brakes. Unable to stop coolly like his duel avatar, he nearly pitched forward and fell, until his arm was grasped and he righted himself.


    While deeply hanging his head in that position, Haruyuki squeezed out a hoarse voice.


    ¡°¡­Taku, why are you stopping me!?¡±


    Takumu¡ªMayuzumi Takumu answered back while strongly holding Haruyuki¡¯s left arm with his muscular right arm.


    ¡°If Haru causes an incident of violence here and gets suspended from school, things will just become even harder for Chii-chan!¡±


    ¡°¡­She¡¯s already having plenty of a hard time! Noumi¡­he threatened Chiyu and told her to obey what he said by force! I can¡¯t forgive that!¡±


    For the first time, Haruyuki turned around here and saw Takumu¡¯s face.


    He noticed that Takumu¡¯s always refreshing eyes were twisted by strong anguish on the other side of his sports-type glasses, and he held his breath.


    That¡¯s right¡ªIt wasn¡¯t that Takumu couldn¡¯t feel anything. Inside his heart, he must have been more concerned about Chiyuri and more enraged at Noumi¡¯s actions than Haruyuki.


    But his childhood friend was worried about Haruyuki at the same time. Even though Haruyuki himself was simply filled with rage and didn''t try to think of Takumu at all.


    His back still throbbed, but at the moment he made that storm-like violent drive go away. After taking a big breath of air and slowly letting it out from his trembling throat, Haruyuki undid the tension in his shoulders and spoke with a sigh.


    ¡°¡­¡­Even though a short while ago you also jumped at Noumi before I did.¡±


    Then, Takumu revealed a brief bitter smile.


    ¡°Indeed. How many years has it been since I acted like that¡­?¡±


    The day Noumi stole Haruyuki¡¯s wings, cruel things had been said between himself and Taku after they quarreled at his home, but Haruyuki felt that it all had suddenly melted away and disappeared. The two of them kept standing in a corner of the school grounds like that, but eventually, it seemed that the time measurement for all the students at the track behind them had ended, and the teacher clapped his two hands together and called for everyone to gather.


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go back, Haru.¡±


    After slowly nodding at Takumu¡¯s words, Haruyuki added something in a low voice.


    ¡°Please go talk to Chiyu afterwards. Even if she was told something by Noumi, it isn¡¯t necessary in the slightest for her to obey that guy.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know. I¡­no, we will protect Chii-chan.¡±


    Looking into each other¡¯s eyes for a moment, the two of them turned back.


    Haruyuki stared at the third-floor section of the school building one last time, and muttered in the depths of his mind.


    ¡ª¡ªNoumi, you did something you absolutely never should have done. From this moment on, my battle with you will be an endless death match. I¡¯ll see through the method you use to block yourself from accelerated duels no matter what, and keep fighting relentlessly until one of our Burst Points reaches zero.


    Clenching his teeth hard, Haruyuki began to walk towards the gathering place alongside Takumu.


    However, only ten minutes later.


    The situation once again advanced in a direction that betrayed Haruyuki¡¯s expectations.


    As soon as fifth-period ended, Haruyuki and Takumu dashed over to the gymnasium that was on the other side of the school building. They found Chiyuri just as she was coming out from a corridor, and they beckoned her from the shadow of a pillar.


    Wearing a t-shirt and shorts, Chiyuri¡¯s face froze as soon as she saw the two of them. That was only natural, as she had just dived into the field of her first actual battle just several minutes ago, used ?recovery? on Haruyuki and Takumu¡¯s enemy Dusk Taker, and healed him. As a result, Cyan Pile (Takumu) had lost from losing his entire HP gauge. Silver Crow (Haruyuki) had also lost due to the Time Up, and they both had points taken away by Noumi.


    However, they put ¡®We didn¡¯t come to blame you for that¡¯ into their expression as much as they could, and Haruyuki continued waving his arm while giving an awkward smile. Chiyuri cast her eyes down and seemed to avoid their gaze, but eventually she approached Haruyuki and Takumu after saying something to her classmates in the locker room.


    In spite of the fact that he had just been strenuously exercising, when Haruyuki saw Chiyuri¡¯s pale cheeks, intense rage towards Noumi welled up in his chest again. After Takumu beside him also clenched his fists tightly for an instant, Takumu took a big breath and opened his mouth.


    ¡°¡­Chii-chan. We already know why you did such a thing. That¡¯s why, we¡¯ve some to tell you that it isn¡¯t necessary to obey him.¡±


    ¡°Th¡­That¡¯s right.¡±


    Haruyuki energetically added his own words as well.


    ¡°He should also fear Chiyu¡¯s power now. With an ability that can heal not only HP, but even broken armor as well, we can fight against him plenty¡­no, we can beat him!¡±


    As she listened to that, Chiyuri¡¯s eyebrows tightened for a moment. An action that showed she was considering something and hesitating.


    Several seconds later¡ª


    ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡±


    Those were the first words to quietly come out from Chiyuri¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Eh¡­th-that¡¯s not it¡­?¡±


    When Haruyuki dumbfoundedly repeated her words, Chiyuri¡¯s expression suddenly changed and her eyes released a strong light, and she said it again after looking from Haruyuki to Takumu in turn.


    ¡°That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m not being forced to obey Noumi.¡±


    ¡°Chii-chan¡­w-what¡­?¡±


    This time it seemed that Takumu was also surprised and tried to take a step forward while blinking rapidly. Backing away as if to avoid him, Chiyuri quietly, but decisively answered.


    ¡°I asked Noumi. ¡®Make me your comrade. I¡¯ll become your exclusive healer, so supply me with points without fail.¡¯ It¡¯s not a big deal, since I haven¡¯t joined you and Haru¡¯s legion yet.¡±


    Taking yet another step away from the two of them as they stood stock-still in shock, Chiyuri continued speaking.


    ¡°We and ?Nega Nebulas? will act without interfering with each other from now on. Since each side knows each other¡¯s real identities. Of course, the agreement between Noumi and Haru is a different story.¡±


    Even in the midst of his blank-filled mind that couldn¡¯t grasp the situation, Haruyuki could understand what the ?agreement? that Chiyuri spoke of was. In other words, that was about how, if Haruyuki continued to pay ten burst points every week for two years to Noumi, he would get back his ?flight ability?.


    They didn¡¯t intend to fight from now on. But, that wasn¡¯t related to Noumi extorting points from Haruyuki. That was what Chiyuri was saying.


    That was also a shock, but before that, but the fact that Chiyuri referred to Noumi and herself as ?we? had itself too enormous of an impact on Haruyuki. Among all the years until now, whenever Chiyuri said ?we?, only she, Haruyuki and Takumu were included in that.


    Showing a profile of evading the eyes from the frozen two of them, Chiyuri then simply gave a short ¡°See you later, then¡±.


    And then she quickly turned around and ran towards the locker room.


    After that, only the sweet milk-like smell that they were so familiar with was left behind.

 Volume 4 - CH 2

    Something terrible had happened at school, and he returned home while gazing down with the feeling of being knocked down.


    Such an experience was an everyday thing for Haruyuki. During the time he had been severely bullied by classmates last year, he had gone home while counting the tiles on the sidewalk beneath him almost every day.


    However, for Takumu next to him¡ªfor that Mayuzumi Takumu, who was walking next to him and hanging his head and dragging his feet just like Haruyuki, this must have been his first time experiencing this in his life.


    After silently walking along the path to their apartment building from Umesato Middle School alongside Takumu, who had skipped out on kendo club practice on the pretense of being sick, Haruyuki spoke in a whisper when they passed through the apartment¡¯s front gates.


    ¡°Come inside my place.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Sure.¡±


    He got on the elevator with Takumu who feebly nodded and got off on the twenty-third floor. After opening the door of his empty home and entering the living room, he threw his bag onto the floor and sat down on a chair at the dining table.


    Takumu sat down on the other side as well, and the two of them remained silent like that for a while.


    ¡ªWe sat down opposite each other like this before as well.


    Dimly thinking that, Haruyuki finally recalled that that incident that occurred only twenty-four hours ago¡ªin other words, on Monday after school.


    During the recess yesterday, Haruyuki had dueled Noumi Seiji for the first time, and had the silver wings on his back taken away by his special technique.


    Takumu had been puzzled by the strange state of Haruyuki and Chiyuri, who had been present there, and had visited Haruyuki after club activities had ended and sat down in the exact same place. That time, Haruyuki had showered Takumu with cruel words while feeling self-torturous, and had been severely hit. Afterwards, he had gone out to Shinjuku to challenge anyone to an accelerated duel in despair, had had his lethargic attitude scolded by the familiar bike-user ?Ash Roller?, and had been forcibly brought by him to the Old Tokyo Tower in the Unlimited Neutral Field.


    There, he had been introduced to Ash Roller¡¯s Parent and former member of Nega Nebulas, ?Sky Raker?. She had taught Haruyuki about the existence of the ultimate power of Burst Linkers, the ?Incarnate System?, and had given him super Spartan-type intensive training to make him learn it.


    Though Haruyuki had mastered the first step of the first step of Mind Power, he had actually needed one week in that world that was accelerated by one thousand times.


    That¡¯s why, in a sense, it was natural for him to feel like the current situation of facing Takumu was such a long time since the last time.


    Unconsciously raising his right hand, Haruyuki traced in his jaw where he had been hit by Noumi during yesterday¡¯s recess and then his right cheek where Takumu had hit him after school. Almost no marks were left anymore more on either of them, but he could still keenly feel the pain as it stiffened stingingly.


    ¡­No matter much I accelerate my minds and shut myself in a different world, the wounds of the flesh¡­in other words, real pain can¡¯t be healed.


    While he thought that, Takumu, who paid attention to that action, gave a self-deprecatory smile and muttered.


    ¡°Haru. When I hit you, I said that I said that was fine with Chii-chan becoming happy no matter who her partner was, but¡­I take that back. I can¡¯t accept it at all. That¡­Chii-chan would become that Noumi Seiji¡¯s partner.¡±


    Dropping his hands on the table, Haruyuki also responded back with a hollow voice.


    ¡°Before accepting it¡­I can¡¯t believe it. Certainly, there are no rules in Brain Burst that say that real-world friends have to enter the same team, but¡­For that Chiyu to betray us and join Noumi for the sake of getting points is¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, if you just think about earning points, it certainly is more efficient to join up with Noumi than us. Now that he¡¯s stolen Haru¡¯s wings, Dusk Taker¡¯s battle power is already at a foul play-like level¡­If he debuts in duels with that while paired with the ?healer? Lime Bell, there would be no Burst Linkers within the middle range that could directly fight against them.¡±


    ¡°What a calm conclusion while still being depressed, professor.¡±


    This time Haruyuki gave a wry smile, but then quickly swept it away with a sigh.


    ¡°But still, Taku¡­It¡¯s Chiyu we¡¯re talking about. Do you think Chiyu, who lacks any game sense and who is always useless in RPG event battles where she gets annihilated, would make a decision based on something like point efficiency?¡±


    ¡°T-That¡¯s¡­I don¡¯t think so, indeed¡­¡±


    It was in a subdued tone, but Haruyuki¡¯s shock from Chiyuri declaration of parting finally eased down a little from taking with his best friend, and he stood up slowly and headed toward the kitchen.


    He took out a box of frozen pizza from the large freezer and simply threw it into the microwave. He also took out a bottle of oolong tea and prepared two glasses. After the pizza finished thawing and heating in only a few dozen seconds, he carried it all to the table and properly placed them down.


    ¡°¡­Thanks.¡±


    After pouring tea into Takumu¡¯s glass as he muttered that, Haruyuki opened the box and picked out a piece of sea-food pizza. Just as he pulled at the thin strands of cheese, he suddenly heard a voice in the back of his ear as he tried to take a bite.


    ¡®Aah, you¡¯re eating something like that again!¡¯


    ¡®No other choice, I¡¯ll have to get Mama to make you something.¡¯


    But, of course, that was neither a real voice nor a PCM[1] file played by his Neuro Linker. Beginning to recall the taste of the lasagna that Chiyuri had brought over just a few days ago, Haruyuki emphatically bit at the mass-produced-type pizza in over to overwrite that taste.


    Casting his eyes down, he chewed the strangely salty pizza, and heard a sniffling sound all the while as he did so. When he quietly raised only his gaze, he saw Takumu rubbing vigorously beneath his glasses while eating with the same downturned face as him.


    Suddenly, a different pain than that until now pierced his chest throbbingly.


    ¡ªTaku, he¡¯s always so calm and so clever that I¡¯m no match for him¡­But, by no means is he someone who can stay strong in the face of all adversity.


    ¡ªWhen I lost my wings and became careless, he tried to help me with all his strength. Then, it¡¯s my turn this time. It¡¯s my turn to encourage him and support his back.


    Muttering that within his mind, Haruyuki closed both his eyes, and quickly made his pizza disappear with non-stop munching. He drank his entire glass of oolong tea, and returned it to the table with a bang.


    ¡°Taku!¡±


    As he shouted that out, Takumu¡¯s shoulder¡¯s shook, and he lifted up his reddened eyes to look at him. Haruyuki looked straight at him and continued speaking.


    ¡°Taku, I believe in Chiyu! That¡¯s why, I don¡¯t believe what she said!¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­?¡±


    ¡°I said it before. Joining up with Noumi because she wants points? That¡¯s not like Chiyu at all. So that possibility is completed eliminated. Probably¡­no, definitely by at least 90%, our first guess was correct. Chiyuri was threatened by Noumi to partner with him, and was forced to give that explanation to us. You can understand and agree with that much, right?¡±


    While tightly grasping his glasses, Takumu seemed to scrutinize the words that Haruyuki had vigorously lined up for a short while.


    Eventually, he slowly responded with some calmness returned to his voice.


    ¡°Yeah¡­Certainly, that may be. But Haru, your explanation has a small inconsistency. You say ?completely eliminate?, yet you also say ?90%?? In other words, the remaining 10% is that the possibility that Chii-chan voluntarily joined Noumi, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­but, for a different reason.¡±


    ¡°Reason¡­? You mean there¡¯s some reason other than points that Chii-chan would become our enemy?¡±


    After looking with upturned eyes at Takumu who titled his head, Haruyuki spoke in a whisper while instinctively shrinking his shoulders.


    ¡°In other words, umm¡­because of the boss of our legion Nega Nebulas¡­that person¡­¡±


    Takumu blinked several times just now as if he was caught off guard. Soon, the same kind of fear as Haruyuki was showing on his face appeared on his own face as well.


    ¡°I-I see¡­¡ªA situation where Chii-chan is thinking ¡®No way!¡¯ to becoming master¡¯s¡­Kuroyukihime-senpai¡¯s (Black Lotus) subordinate¡­¡±


    ¡°Can we absolutely say that she would never do that?¡¯


    At Haruyuki¡¯s question, Takumu shook his head left and right with a complicated expression. Letting out a long continuous sigh, he then added with a groan.


    ¡°But, in that case, that¡¯s all the most reason not to tell master about this and seek her assistance¡­If master found out that Chii-chan had betrayed us because of her¡­¡±


    ¡°She would take down both Dusk Taker and Lime Bell with a single stroke¡­¡±


    They didn¡¯t need to be reminded now of the severe nature of Kuroyukihime, the ?Black King? that lead the legion ?Nega Nebulas? and the one that controlled the Level 9 duel avatar ?Black Lotus?. Once she determined someone as an enemy, she would mercilessly cut them down with the swords on both her hands. It was very difficult¡ªno, impossible to think that she wouldn¡¯t apply that principle on only Chiyuri.


    Haruyuki temporarily raised his gaze from looking down at the table with a jerk, and though he looked at Takumu¡¯s face, he spoke as if telling himself as well.


    ¡°Senpai will return from the school trip on Saturday night, so we have four more days. We no choice but to settle things in that time.¡±


    ¡°Settle things, you say¡­how¡­?¡±


    ¡°Whether Chiyu is being threatened or is acting of her own volition, if we can defeat Noumi¡­if we can corner him until he loses Brain Burst, that will end everything. Right?¡±


    After letting out a big breath at Haruyuki¡¯s words, Takumu gave a faint smile.


    ¡°You say it so easily, Haru. Even if we expose the means that allows Noumi to not appear on the matching list, just how many times will we have to win in order to make that Dusk Taker lose all his points?¡±


    ¡°I wonder about that.¡±


    Muttering a little, Haruyuki spoke the continuation of all his thinking.


    ¡°Right now Noumi, who has just entered Umesato Middle School, must be consuming points at an incredible pace in order to build up his position through the ability tests and kendo matches. In particular, he uses that Physical Burst command which costs five points each time in kendo matches. Do you really think that he, a Level 5, still has that much accumulated points to spare?¡±


    ¡°¡­I see¡­Especially since right now he¡¯s not participating in ordinary duels either. The sources for supplying himself with points should be limited.¡±


    Takumu narrowed his eyes which had regained just a little of their sharpness behind his glasses and nodded as well. Then he suddenly looked back at Haruyuki and continued speaking quickly.


    ¡°But, Haru. In that case, it¡¯s a battle with a different time limit that has no relation to when master returns to Tokyo. Noumi, who has now obtained an exclusive ?healer? in addition to ?flight ability?, should be debuting in duels which he has bided his time for until now. He won¡¯t be able to immediately fight that many times with the limitations of tag-matches, but even so he¡¯ll still win in almost all duels¡­¡±


    ¡°In other words, we have to sever his neck before he begins saving up points.¡±


    After exchanging a short gaze with Takumu, Haruyuki spoke decisively.


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll somehow investigate the means he uses to block himself from duels by myself.¡±


    ¡°W-What are you saying? I¡¯ll also investigate with you¡­¡±


    ¡°No, there¡¯s something you have to do while I do that.¡±


    Tightly gripping both hands over the table, Haruyuki then lowered his voice a little¡ª


    ¡°Taku, you remember the attack you directly received, right? That technique of Dusk Taker that let him scrape off and invalidate everything with his hands.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­yeah. I can¡¯t believe it even now.¡±


    As if doubting his memory, Takumu shook his head a little.


    ¡°The fact that his special technique gauge didn¡¯t decrease even though he was emitting such intense light¡­No, before that, leaving aside punches and kicks, he even sucked in my non-substance attack ?Lightning Cyan Spike?. Such an impossible degree of relative priority, just what on earth kind of ability was that¡­?¡±


    ¡°Umm¡­it¡¯s neither an ability prescribed by the system nor a special technique. How should I say it¡­I also can¡¯t explain it very well, but¡­¡±


    While frowning and strenuously looking for the right words, Haruyuki tried to somehow convey the knowledge he had gotten just yesterday to Takumu.


    ¡°It¡¯s a ?super special technique? as it were, which turns the image power of Burst Linkers into an energy source. Its proper name is the ?Incarnate System?. Accel World¡¯s strongest offensive power which takes form due to the power of one¡¯s heart and will¡­¡±


    It took nearly twenty minutes for him to explain without leaving anything out the gist of the Incarnate System he was taught by the Old Tokyo Tower¡¯s recluse ?Sky Raker? and how he acquired the Mind Power for the ?sword of light? that he himself used.


    While talking, Haruyuki was once more conscious of the fact that he still had many questions about that system himself as well.


    From Sky Raker¡¯s words, it could be thought of as a bug technique that poked through a hole in the game system, but then why wasn¡¯t it dealt with by the game administrator? If it was purposefully left in the game, what was the goal of that?


    Certainly, ?Brain Burst? was an extremely player-unfriendly game as it had neither a manual nor any guide NPCs, but it felt like the game¡¯s mysteriousness increased even more with the existence of the Incarnate System. Just ?what? on earth is this application really¡­?


    Even while thinking about such things, though, Haruyuki somehow explained as much as he knew.


    After having finished listening and dumbfoundedly looking at Haruyuki who was drinking his oolong tea, Takumu finally muttered in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°¡­¡­How to say it¡­¡ªHaru, you really are the kind of guy that is popular with older women one after another.¡±


    ¡°T-That¡¯s the first thing you comment on?¡±


    ¡°Well, because¡­frankly, I can¡¯t easily take in this whole ¡®Mind Power¡¯ thing. Changing something vague like image power into real offensive power¡­even if you say that, such a thing already exceeds the limits of a fighting game¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. I also can¡¯t explain how I make my sword come out¡­¡±


    While staring at the fingers of his hands, Haruyuki voiced his still developing thoughts.


    ¡°¡­But, probably, Mind Power shouldn¡¯t be something rough like ?if you imagine it, anything can be realized?. The attributes of the avatar¡­and the nature of the Burst Linkers themselves¡­it may be closely related to such things. For example, I can emit a sword from my hand because Silver Crow¡¯s arm was originally shaped like that, that¡¯s what I feel.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­Then for example, you mean that even if I do the same training as Haru, I may not be able to emit a sword of light the same way you do.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. But, if that¡¯s the case, I think that there are other Mind Power shapes that are more suitable for Taku¡­for Cyan Pile. That means the problem is, through what kind of training can you acquire it¡­? When I think of it now, that person, Sky Raker, after seeing through a training method that was optimized for me right from the beginning, made me do wall-climbing. This is also just a guess, but maybe high-level Burst Linkers who have perfectly mastered the Incarnate System also know something like a method for that kind of Mind Power coaching¡­¡±


    Takumu bit his lip lightly and seemed to be pondering something, but eventually he began to speak while lowering his gaze.


    ¡°So what it amounts to is that, even if I dive into the ?Unlimited Neutral Field? and trained myself at random, the chances of me being able to grasp the Incarnate System is low. So it¡¯s absolutely necessary to have the guidance and coaching of someone who thoroughly knows about the system.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­Sky Raker would also surely teach it to Taku, but the problem is that we have no way to contact her¡­¡±


    When Haruyuki said that mixed with a sigh, Takumu also frowned and muttered ¡°I see¡±.


    ¡°Since she¡¯s not an NPC, we can¡¯t meet that person just by climbing the Old Tokyo Tower in the Unlimited Neutral Field. We have to set a time to dive after contacting her in the real world¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. We might meet her eventually by waiting at the top of the tower, but because the other side is accelerated by a thousand times, we have no idea how many months or even years that would take¡­If there was just one method, it would be to duel with Sky Raker¡¯s ?Child? Ash Roller in Shibuya and ask him to arrange an appointment with her there, but¡­you know?¡±


    He paused in his speech there and rested his chin on both hands.


    Then, Takumu immediately did a skillful imitation with a serious face.


    ¡°¡®Hey Heeey, don¡¯t depend on me like a spoiled kid, you sweets bastard¡¯¡­is what he doubtlessly say.¡±


    ¡°T-That¡¯s a strange skill you have¡­Well, he would certainly say that, yeah.¡±


    In truth, Haruyuki already owed a huge debt to Ash Roller just for introducing him to Sky Raker yesterday. Besides, to ask a guy from an enemy legion for help had to be said to be too much of a weakness as a Burst Linker.


    While taking another piece of the cooling pizza and emphatically taking a bite out of it, Haruyuki thought desperately.


    If the situation were normal, they should just directly ask Kuroyukihime, who was both Haruyuki¡¯s ?Parent? and their Legion Master. If it was her, the Black King, she should also naturally be familiar with the Incarnate System, after all. But Kuroyukihime should have her own reasons for not teaching it to them herself until now, so he didn¡¯t think she would teach them right away if they asked her, and from the beginning there was no way to meet with her in Accel World while she was currently in Okinawa in the south.


    In that case, perhaps Takumu¡¯s ?Parent?¡ªis what he¡¯d like to say, but that guy, who had been an executive of the Blue Legion, had already exited from Accel World due to the ?Judgement Blow? by the Blue King for being the mastermind of the ?Backdoor Program incident? half a year ago.


    The chances of there being another Burst Linker who was knowledgeable about the Incarnate System and furthermore had a reason to lend a hand to Haruyuki and Takumu was¡ª


    ¡°¡­Ah¡­Aah.¡±


    When he had thought that far, Haruyuki let his voice leak out without noticing a piece of shrimp fall out from his mouth.


    ¡°Yes¡­that¡¯s right. There is one, a super-high level player who owes a huge debt to us and whose theater of operations is nearby in the north.¡±


    Just as he heard that, the edges of Takumu¡¯s mouth lightly twitched.


    ¡°O¡­Oioi, Haru. You couldn¡¯t be talking about¡­¡±


    ¡°There is only that person. The Legion Master of ?Prominence?, the Red King ?Scarlet Rain?. If it¡¯s her who¡¯s Level 9, she definitely should have mastered the Incarnate System¡­¡±


    Even as he said that in a lowered voice, the form of the crimson avatar that occupied one corner of the Seven Kings of Pure Color was vividly recalled in Haruyuki¡¯s mind.


    The Red King who burnt the field and all her enemies to nothing with the firepower of her enormous reinforcement armor that was several times the size of her body. If she could do that much even without the Incarnate System, she should have a power even further endlessly ?beyond that?, but after putting aside that far too terrifying imagination from his mind, Haruyuki continued speaking further.


    ¡°That¡¯s not all, Taku should also not have forgotten that we went through a terrible experience because of her request.¡±


    ¡°I-I remember that, but.¡±


    Niko, or Kouduki Yuniko, had suddenly entered Haruyuki¡¯s home in her real body just three months ago.


    Her goal had been to get Haruyuki¡¯s help in subduing the mad Burst Linker who came from her legion, ?Chrome Disaster?. Her request was based on the conclusion that the only one that could capture Disaster with his three-dimensional movement was Silver Crow with his wings.


    Haruyuki had challenged the mission together with Takumu and Kuroyukihime, but it became a mess as an unforeseen life-or-death battle had unfolded with a large group from the Yellow Legion who had attacked them in the middle of their mission. No, in truth, Takumu had been taken out then together with a large enemy avatar.


    ¡°But, Haru. While we had both benefited by cooperating in subduing Chrome Disaster back then, what reason does Prominence have to help Nega Nebulas now? As the Red King, she won¡¯t just pay back the debt for that, you know?¡±


    But because Takumu himself said it in a skeptical tone, Haruyuki puffed up his cheeks and retorted back.


    ¡°T-Then, I¡¯ll just repay the favor of curry with hashed meat![2]¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t quite understand that example¡­¡±


    ¡°In¡­In any case, there aren¡¯t any other high-level Burst Linkers that we can contact in real life. And if we¡¯re thinking about fighting Noumi, we at the very least need the power to defend against his Mind Power attack. So¡­we can only bet on Niko¡¯s whim¡­¡±


    At the end of Haruyuki¡¯s sentence as he lost momentum, Takumu let out a big breath at the same time.


    His tall best friend lowered his face and hid it within his long forelocks, and kept quiet for a while. When he clenched his right hand on the table, Haruyuki understood that he was now remembering his fierce fight against Noumi.


    Eventually, Takumu lifted up his face, whose eyes now had a different strong light in them. The voice he let out also coldly resounded in the dim living room.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just as Haru says. I think I could fight equally against Dusk Taker until the middle stage of battle, but after he starts using Mind Power, I can¡¯t do anything, as frustrating as it is to admit. I felt the overwhelming difference in power. If we¡¯re going to beat him and take back Chii-chan, I can¡¯t afford to shrink back at a place like this.¡±


    ¡°Taku¡­¡±


    ¡°Besides, Haru.¡±


    Temporarily pausing in his speech there, Takumu stared straight through his glasses at him.


    ¡°Your ?sword of light? is also just as amazing¡­no, even more amazing than Dusk Taker¡¯s ?purple wave surge?. I also understand that Haru put in a serious effort in order to master that. You¡­told me when you fought me in the past. You can¡¯t win against me in the real world. I can¡¯t win against you in the virtual world. That¡¯s why we¡¯re the same, you said.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­n-no, that was¡­¡±


    Stopping with his right hand Haruyuki who was about to say ¡®That was just something I said in the heat of battle¡¯, Takumu continued.


    ¡°But¡­But, you know, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s truly the ?same?. It¡¯s how we compete and accept things, in both the real and the virtual, that makes us what we are.¡±


    Suddenly, his childhood friend made an expression as if he was yearning for some past.


    ¡°¡­In elementary school, whenever I bought a new game, I would immediately look at the walkthrough site. Not just for action-types, but for RPGs as well, I would play while having the chart window opened next to it, because I was worried about taking risks. That¡¯s why, it couldn¡¯t be helped that I was anxious about ?Brain Burst?, which for the most part doesn¡¯t even have a manual, let alone a walkthrough. I now think that may be why I depended on something like a Backdoor program. ¡ªBut, I finally understand now. Something like the development of allotment doesn¡¯t exist in this game. You have to face everything yourself, and cut your own way through. If the Incarnate System can be called a power that goes beyond even the limits of the program¡­I want to master it. In order to keep standing next to Haru¡­to Silver Crow.¡±


    Even after Takumu closed his mouth, Haruyuki reflected upon his words in silence for a while.


    For the past half-year, Takumu had kept showing self-deprecating behavior during every incident. Having lost his fear of losing ?Brain Burst?, he tormented himself over his crime of aiming at Kuroyukihime¡¯s neck to the point where he put a virus in Chiyuri¡¯s Neuro Linker, and so he had repeatedly acted at the risk of his own expense in various scenes.


    While being like that, he had been struck by the huge impact of Chiyuri¡¯s estrangement from them¡ªeven if her motives for it were unclear¡ªand yet, he still tried to confront his weakness once again.


    ¡­As I thought, you¡¯re strong, Taku. More than me in every way. You say that, but in the real world, I can¡¯t stand next to you at all.


    After pushing down that mutter and stopping it in the middle of his chest, Haruyuki finally gave a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to arrive at that. You¡¯ll master the technique to the point that Noumi¡¯s ?wave surge? won¡¯t be a problem, and then we¡¯ll rush him and swiftly take Chiyu back. Though most likely, Niko¡¯s training will ten times more Spartan than Sky Raker¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°¡­I-I¡¯m prepared for that.¡±


    Looking away from Takumu, who returned a subtly twitching smile, Haruyuki glanced at the time indicator at the right edge of his vision. The strategy meeting around frozen pizza had gone on for a long time beyond his expectations, and it had reached 7 PM before he realized it.


    The Red King Niko, while being one of the strongest Level 9 Burst Linkers, was still a sixth-year elementary school student in the real world, and moreover went to a school with a dormitory system. To call her out now, when she was severely restricted in going out at night, would be unfortunately difficult.


    ¡°¡­After school ends tomorrow, we¡¯ll contact her right away and go to Nerima. Taku, are you okay even if you¡¯re absent from club activities for two consecutive days?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, because I no longer do kendo for the sake of getting good results at tournaments. Even if I¡¯m watched by the advisor and club president a little, it¡¯s no big deal.¡±


    ¡°I see. Then, it¡¯s decided.¡±


    They looked at each other in the eye and nodded once again.


    As they stood up from their seats at the same time and head to the front door, Haruyuki suddenly opened his mouth to ask a different question.


    ¡ªTaku, just before the end of today¡¯s duel, did you hear a strange voice?


    But, the words didn¡¯t come out from his open mouth. He shook his head at Taku who looked at him with questioning eyes, and muttered in his chest ¡°See you school tomorrow¡± while waving his hand.


    ¡ªIt was just my imagination. There weren¡¯t any others in the gallery nor other opponents in that field. So something like hearing someone else¡¯s voice was impossible.


    When the door closed after seeing off Takumu towards the elevator, the interior of the house was wrapped in deep silence after the ¡®click¡¯ of the door automatically locking. After being suddenly struck by illusion that someone was standing behind him, Haruyuki pressed his back hard against the door once, and then returned to the living room at a half-run in order to clean-up.

 Volume 4 - CH 3

    April 17th, Wednesday.


    Before the dawn of the day when the Umesato Middle School field trip for new third-year students would finally be halfway done, Haruyuki saw a dream of Kuroyukihime who he hadn¡¯t seen in so long.


    However, it wasn¡¯t the kind of dream that he¡¯d seen countless times until now which he regretted not being able to record[1]. Rather, it could be called the exact opposite.


    In the dream, Kuroyukihime wasn¡¯t in her true form, but in her school avatar form with black swallowtail butterfly wings on her back. The lace-decorated hem of her likewise black dress fluttered, and she dashed lightly between the trees within a deep forest.


    Haruyuki was also in his pink pig avatar form, and moved his short feet desperately as he chased after the black butterfly. The fairy princess gradually went further and further away from him while softly half-flying, even while extending out her right hand as if beckoning to him.


    ¡ªSenpai!


    Haruyuki¡¯s shouting voice was tinged with a strange echo that resounded through the bottom of the forest.


    ¡ªPlease wait, senpai!


    But Kuroyukihime¡¯s feet didn¡¯t stop. Sometimes she would look over her shoulder and give a mysterious smile on her red lips, but her form would quickly be obstructed by a large moss-covered trunk. Eventually, Haruyuki could only see the ruby-colored pattern that colored her jet-black wings. That radiance which flickered like a blaze also melted into the dim light very quickly.


    ¡ªPlease don¡¯t leave me. Please¡­Please don¡¯t abandon me.


    Though he cried that out, there was no response.


    ¡ªBecause my wings disappeared. That¡¯s why you¡¯re abandoning me? You don¡¯t need me anymore?


    No response.


    Suddenly, a point on his back hurt with a sting. It quickly gained substance and squirmed intensely.


    *ZURURI* He felt something pierce through his avatar from the inside. It wasn¡¯t wings. Something like a darkened, long and narrow tail grew out from his back. It surged into the air, raised its snaky-form over his shoulders¡ªand then extended straight ahead like a spear.


    A damp and heavy sound resounded within the forest.


    Haruyuki unsteadily continued walking as he chased after his tail.


    After he went around the knot of trees, that scene spread out before his eyes. On the rough and bony surface of a remarkably think trunk, the black swallowtail butterfly was being kept in place by a thin pin. The wire-like tail that had extended out from Haruyuki¡¯s back had pierce through one of Kuroyukihime¡¯s large wings, and fixed her there like a crucifixion.


    Guided by strangely obstructed thoughts, Haruyuki stood in front of the butterfly and looked up. On that beautiful and ephemeral white face, there was nothing like an expression. She simply frowned a little, and motionlessly looked back at Haruyuki.


    ¡ªBecause you have those wings.


    From his own mouth, Haruyuki heard a dark and warped voice leak out.


    ¡ªBecause of those wings, you fly as you please.


    He involuntarily lifted his right hand. That hand, before he had realized it, was no longer the comical hoof of his pig avatar, but had changed into blackish silver claws. His sinisterly shining and sharp fingertips grasped the edge of one of her powerless and fluttering jet-black wings.


    With just a light squeeze, he cut off from the base one the lower-right of the four wings. It at once changed into dry black sand and spilled down from Haruyuki¡¯s hand.


    Another wing.


    And another wing again.


    Unnoticed, Kuroyukihime turned her face down deeply, and hanged her limbs languidly. While extending his hand to the last wing, Haruyuki spoke.


    ¡ªWith this, you can¡¯t go anywhere anymore. You¡¯ll be locked up on this dark ground eternally. Together with me. Just like me.


    As soon as he cut off the last remaining wing, Kuroyukihime¡¯s thin body fell into Haruyuki¡¯s arms.


    Haruyuki strongly embraced her body with his dark silver claws.


    But one second later, even her body within his arms became ink-black particles and dissolved away. It flowed down while making noise, and became a pile of small sand at his feet¡ª¡­¡­


    ¡°¡­¡­aaAH!¡±


    Haruyuki jumped up in bed along with a blurred voice.


    Inside his chest, his heart was ringing like an alarm bell. His whole body was covered in cold sweat, and yet his mouth was parched and dry.


    He blinked his blurred eyes many times, and desperately looked at both his hands within the gray light shining through the curtains. Of course, there weren¡¯t any ominous claws there, but just ten swollen fingers. He clenched them tightly, and pushed them against his forehead.


    Unlike the night half a year ago where he first received Brain Burst, his memory of this nightmare was vivid right to every nook and cranny. Still frightened from before, Haruyuki slept without wearing his Neuro Linker. In other words, the dream right now wasn¡¯t due to the intervention of the program. It was purely spun from Haruyuki¡¯s memories and feelings.


    While slowly shaking his head, Haruyuki muttered in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°Senpai¡­I, don¡¯t want to do such a thing to you¡­I, I just¡­¡±


    I just want to be with you forever.


    Haruyuki impulsively grabbed his Neuro Linker from the bed¡¯s tabletop, and attached it to his neck. It was 6:15 AM, much earlier than his usual wake-up time, but there was no fragment of sleepiness left in him. Exhausting his whole body, he spoke the Full Dive command.


    ¡°Direct Link.¡±


    The view of his dimly-lit room vanished, and darkness spread out from the other side of radial lights. Haruyuki was pulled down by virtual gravity, and soon alighted down on a cold and gray level surface. Many semi-transparent windows with tags like ?Participation in public utility rates? and ?apartment management association? emerged around him with clear sound effects. This space that was completely devoted to pure function was the main console of the Arita family¡¯s home network.


    After looking at the roundish right hand of his pink pig avatar for a while, Haruyuki spoke a voice command with a murmur.


    ¡°Command, Dive Call, Number Zero-One.¡±


    Before his eyes, a holo-dialogue appeared that read [Transmitting full-sensory telephone call to registered address 01. Is this okay?]. He shook off a moment of hesitation and pressed the Yes button.


    There are several modes of two-way communication using Neuro Linkers.


    The mode that is most used is the sound call that communicates using only voice like old cellular phones. The next most popular method is the video call, where you detach the camera part from the tip of the Neuro Linker and talk while projecting your face.


    Compared to those methods, the full-sensory call, where the two parties talk using their avatars in a virtual space, isn¡¯t used in as many situations. The reason was, simply, because the person being called may not be able to Full Dive immediately at the place they were at. At the very least, it was required to make an appointment through mail or voice call beforehand, so that ordinary tasks could be satisfied by the time of the conversation.


    Therefore, that Haruyuki would be requesting a Dive Call right now to the other person so early in the morning, and moreover without warning, could be said to be a considerably thoughtless act. Even so, Haruyuki wanted to meet with that person right now no matter what. Not just through voice or a 2D video, he wanted to touch her with all five senses. If he didn¡¯t do that, it felt like a part of him would change into something different.


    The Ming-cho font[2] of [Currently Sending] blinked eight, nine times, and just before it switched over to voice message, it changed into [Received].


    All the surrounding windows vanished with a whoosh. A grain of white light appeared in the cold gray space. It quickly increased in numbers, changed form, and created a single avatar.


    The front tips of her high-heel shoes touched the floor with a ka-thunk. After slowly blinking twice, three times, the fairy princess with black swallowtail wings on her back noticed the pig-type avatar standing a little away from her and smiled gently.


    ¡°Hey, good morning, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    Even after having being greeted like that by that smooth silky voice, Haruyuki couldn¡¯t say anything for a while. He was frightened by the feeling that the slender form in front of him would collapse into sand, and so just stared at her fixedly.


    But of course, no matter how many seconds passed, her avatar didn¡¯t disappear. Suddenly coming to his senses, Haruyuki started talking in a rush.


    ¡°U-Umm, go¡­good morning, Kuroyukihime-senpai. Err¡­s-sorry, for suddenly requesting a Full Dive Call at this hour¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I had just opened my eyes and I was hesitating whether to fall back asleep.¡±


    Smiling once again, Kuroyukihime then looked around at their surroundings.


    ¡°¡­In any case, this is quite a simple place. Such a light maximum preference of data, well, it is like you¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, n-no, that¡¯s not.¡±


    In the initial configuration setup, Dive Calls would summon the person being called to the VR space where the caller was. Because Haruyuki called without moving from the main area of his apartment¡¯s home network, Kuroyukihime had been invited to this world without even a single chair.


    ¡°S-Sorry, I¡¯ll change the location immediately!¡±


    He quickly took out the menu window and tried to call out object sets that he had made and stored himself, but all of them were places that had no emotions or feelings, like ruined battlefields or the deck of a battleship.


    As Haruyuki continued scrolling through the list while sweating greatly, Kuroyukihime watched him with a wry smile, but eventually clapped her hands and spoke.


    ¡°If it¡¯s like that, though it may be a bit slow, may I load my own set? I¡¯d like to try the one I bought yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, please do, please do, please do!¡±


    After Haruyuki nodded as if jumping up and down, Kuroyukihime moved her right hand after smiling once again. She manipulated her menu with high-speed finger movements as if playing a piano.


    In front of Haruyuki, a progress bar appeared with a ¡®PON¡¯. An object set was being sent over via the Global Net from Kuroyukihime¡¯s Neuro Linker in Okinawa.


    Though she said it would be slow, it needed only five seconds to be received, and two seconds to decompress and unfold. At the same time as the bar vanished, intense lighting, no, sunlight poured down from overhead and made the surrounding cold nothingness disappear.


    What appeared was a tropical landscape with colors that woke up his eyes. They were at what appeared to be a Shinto shrine, and moss-covered Okinawan lion stone statues were enshrined on both sides of the short path to the shrine. There were surrounded by trees to the left and right, and at the end of the shrine path, down-slope stone steps and in the background the blue sea could be seen.


    When he turned around, there was a small shrine painted deep scarlet. Standing next to him, Kuroyukihime opened her parasol with a tapping sound, and held it over both her and Haruyuki¡¯s heads. Then, as if that acted as a switch, countless cricket chirping surged forth from around them, and Haruyuki deeply breathed in the sun-scented air into his chest.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sit down over there and talk.¡±


    Kuroyukihime pointed at the small stairs arranged in front of the shrine. After nodding with a ¡°Yes¡± and moving while stepping on the gravel, Haruyuki lowered his avatar¡¯s waist alongside Kuroyukihime. For a short while, he was satisfied by the exotic though somehow nostalgic scenery spread out right before him.


    This was of course a VR space built through digital data, but it wasn¡¯t simply arranged from ready-made polygons. All the objects such as the see-saw images or hemp palm trees were generated based on a real landscape that had been photographed with great time and effort using a personal high-resolution camera. An object set that reproduced a scenic area in such minute detail was currently a standard item for travel souvenirs.


    Having foolishly never left Honshu[3] to go to Okinawa, Haruyuki also forgot this was a call on his own, and continued gazing at the scenery as if he had become senile. Kuroyukihime was patiently letting him do that and following his example, but finally she gave a small cough.


    ¡°Umm, I have no objection at all to just looking at the scenery with you like this, but¡­¡±


    Once she said that, Haruyuki, after blankly looking up at the lovely face of the fairy princess next to him, finally remembered that this situation continued from his ridiculous early-morning Dive Call.


    ¡°Hauah¡­s-so, sorry!¡±


    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need to apologize. I just thought that you might have some urgent business with me.¡±


    He stared at the patiently smiling Kuroyukihime, and¡ª


    Haruyuki realized another terrible fact. That is, he had no real reason that could be called business.


    That¡¯s right, I simply saw a dream right before dawn, a very scary dream¡­


    Suddenly recalling in his hands the feeling tearing off Kuroyukihime¡¯s wings from her back within the dream, Haruyuki¡¯s face became distorted. He tightly clenched his fists, and turned down his gaze.


    The words that came out of his mouth next resounded quietly as if the Neuro Linker wasn¡¯t taking it from his brain¡¯s language field, but from the bottom of his deeper soul.


    ¡°Umm¡­umm, I, was lonely.¡±


    While not being clearly conscious of what he was saying, Haruyuki continued letting his facsimile body mutter.


    ¡°That I can¡¯t meet with senpai¡­that you¡¯ve gone somewhere so far away, it¡¯s tough, and so¡­¡±


    It felt like the virtual forest was silent. Whether the sound effects of the crickets had actually stopped, or his brain was blocking off the environmental sound information, Haruyuki didn¡¯t know.


    At the end of the following long silence, a short reply was given with a sigh.


    ¡°Me too.¡±


    The shoulders of the pig avatar trembled slightly, and before his cautiously upturned gaze, there was a distorted white face.


    ¡°I¡¯m also lonely, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    Without trying to suppress her tearfully smiling expression, Kuroyukihime lifted her hands and strongly tucked Haruyuki¡¯s cheeks between them.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first time that a single week has felt so long to me¡­Even though I¡¯ve dived continuously in Accel World many times¡­I want to return to Tokyo quickly and meet you.¡±


    Somehow, just by mentioned that just now, Kuroyukihime bit her lip intensely, and suddenly hugged Haruyuki¡¯s head to her chest within her arms.


    Unlike in the Umesato Middle School local network, where the sensation of contact for avatars was impossible because it was diluted to the limit, her clear warmth, softness and fragrance coursed through Haruyuki¡¯s nervous system. Despite it being a situation where he would normally panic and stiffen up, just now only Haruyuki was stirred by an overwhelming longing, and in a daze he reach out his hands and clung to Kuroyukihime¡¯s slender body as well.


    ¡ªPlease come back.


    He wanted to say it. To say, ¡®Please come back, and save me like you always do.¡¯


    At this instant, Haruyuki was clearly aware of just how far he was corned in a deep abyss right now. No matter how much he desperately resisted, the enemy¡ªDusk Taker, who kept clocking his way as if laughing at his effort, was like a wall of deep black steel. The wish of piercing a hole in that wall with Silver Crow¡¯s slender fist and overcoming it didn¡¯t seem like it would come true.


    But, he couldn¡¯t say it.


    It wasn¡¯t just for Chiyuri¡¯s sake. For his own sake as well, he had to fight that enemy with his own power till the very end. If he lost to despair here and clung to Kuroyukihime who was in the middle of a school trip, that would be an act essentially no different than what he had done in that dream.


    ¡°¡­¡­We¡¯ll meet again soon, just three more days.¡±


    Haruyuki somehow muttered that with a hoarse voice.


    ¡°Yeah¡­that¡¯s right.¡±


    Kuroyukihime also responded, and after putting all her strength in her arms around him one more time, she released her embrace. With those black pupils that shined as if wet, she looked fixedly at Haruyuki¡¯s eyes from close-range, and¡ª


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun¡­¡±


    As if sensing something from him, she called his name in an anxious-sounding voice.


    Haruyuki mustered all his mental power to force a smile, and spoke before Kuroyukihime could say anything further,


    ¡°Umm, please enjoy the remainder of your trip. Sorry for suddenly calling you.¡±


    ¡°No, if you hadn¡¯t called, I would have. I¡¯m happy that we could meet, even if only as avatars. I¡¯ll be buying a gift for you as a souvenir, so please look forward to it.¡±


    Smiling pleasantly, Kuroyukihime stood up and got off onto the gravel. She spun and closed her parasol, and then called out the menu window.


    Even when she pressed the disconnect button and her figure vanished into grains of light, Haruyuki kept standing there for a while. The voices of the crickets, which had increased once again, washed away the lingering memory of the nightmare that remained in Haruyuki¡¯s mind.


    After Haruyuki finished a breakfast of cereal and milk, said ¡°I¡¯m heading out¡± to his mother in her bedroom and opened the front door to his home, Haruyuki was greeted by a dull and cloudy lead-colored sky.


    He focused his gaze on the icon to the left of his virtual desktop and pressed on the shortcut for the weather forecast. The chance of rain was 70% from 12:40 PM onwards. He went down a step and took out a light grey umbrella from next to the shoebox and then went outside.


    This tool known as an umbrella was one of the articles of daily life whose basic structure hadn¡¯t changed for the longest time. It had only changed in that it was now made of the best cloth from undegrading water-repelling material, and its frame was now made of hymonet joule carbon.


    While thinking that if it had had an automatic folding gimmick like the parasol used by Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar a raining day might also be a little fun, Haruyuki walked along the hallway and got onto the elevator.


    When the lift, which had begun to descend towards the ground, stopped a little two floors down, Haruyuki held a certain prediction that was close to conviction.


    The one who stood on the other side of the door as it slid open was, as he expected, Kurashima Chiyuri.


    When their gazes met each other directly, Chiyuri¡¯s big cat-like eyes shook as if hesitating. Though she should have just given her usual ¡°Ossu!¡± and cheerfully jumped in, her black shoes didn¡¯t move while she collected herself.


    The instant the door tried to close after several seconds passed, Haruyuki reflexively pressed the ?Open? button with his right hand. He kept looking obstinately looking at Chiyuri¡¯s face as he held the button.


    Just before the alarm rang, Chiyuri turned down her eyes and quietly boarded the lift.


    ¡°¡­Thanks. Good morning.¡±


    While she spoke in a low voice, Haruyuki released his hand from the button.


    Within the moving elevator, he responded absently while casting a side-glance at Chiyuri¡¯s left hand holding a pink umbrella, as she stood with a little more space between them than usual.


    ¡°¡­Ossu.¡±


    The words he should have said after that flooded his mind one after another.


    No matter what she had been told by Noumi Seiji, there was no need to obey him. Even if she had been threatened by him and the basis was the peeping video in front of the shower room, Noumi couldn¡¯t actually use that. Because the instant he ruined Haruyuki with that video, there was the possibility that Haruyuki would also distribute Noumi¡¯s ?real world information? in Accel World and take him down along with him.


    However, it was also clear that Chiyuri didn¡¯t understand that kind of ?nuclear deterrent due to mutually assured destruction?-type talk. If there existed even the slightest chance of Haruyuki being expelled¡ªor at worst, arrested due to an extremely shameful crime, Chiyuri would do all she could to avoid that. Even if she was, for example, forced to become Dusk Taker¡¯s exclusive healer and face Haruyuki and Takumu as enemies in Accel World.


    Because they were friends. Because there were childhood friends who had spent a long, long time together in this real world. To Chiyuri that was the most important thing to be protected above anything else.


    ¡°¡­Chiyu.¡±


    In a voice so small that it almost vanished in the faint driving sound of the descending elevator, Haruyuki called out his childhood friend¡¯s name.


    Chiyuri¡¯s small shoulders trembled with a twitch, but her lips were still obstinately pulled tight. Turning his gaze to Chiyuri¡¯s left hand which was tightly the handle of the umbrella, Haruyuki began to lift his own right hand as if to grasp that hand and make her face him.


    But, the words he should have said after that became a crumpled hot lump and remained jammed in his throat.


    Unable to move any further and standing stock-still, Haruyuki¡¯s body was wrapped in a gentle feeling of deceleration. Without looking behind her, Chiyuri briskly stepped forward towards the entrance.


    Separating in the blink of an eye from his childhood friend who belonged to the track-and-field club, Haruyuki walked to school while looking down the same way as he had on the way home yesterday. On Wednesdays, he always bought the package-version of a comics magazine he loved at a convenience store, but today he simply passed by the store without stopping.


    After following the route to school, which had a population density of a third less than usual with the absence of the new third-year students, and while alternatively feeling joy at having had a Dive Call with Kuroyukihime and regret at having said nothing to Chiyuri, Haruyuki stepped into the gates of Umesato Middle School that he eventually saw while curling up his back. Once he connected to the local network within the school, things like the log of the time he arrived at school, today¡¯s schedule and messages from the school were listed on the right side of his vision.


    At the end of those, Haruyuki saw a sentence that read ?Important Transmitted Matter: Addressed as Personal?, making his face twist.


    After changing to indoor shoes at the entrance, he touched that string of characters with his finger while biting back an unpleasant feeling.


    *SHUU* The message text opened and words in grim Ming-cho font were lined up in Haruyuki¡¯s visions.


    [To 2nd Year Class-C, School Register Number 460017, Arita Haruyuki: As soon as you arrive at school, you are to promptly present yourself at the career-counseling room on the first floor of the general education building: From the teacher in charge of 2nd Year Class-C, Sugeno Kouji]


    Instantly, his heart shrank with a start. He thought that Noumi really had submitted that video to the school authorities. But he quickly noticed that the sender of the message was his homeroom teacher Sugeno. If they had gotten that much clear evidence, it should have been handled by the administrative department without it ending at the level of an interview with his teacher. Most likely, he was being summoned based on Sugeno¡¯s personal prediction.


    Even though it was just a guess in his head, Haruyuki passed by the stairs up and headed towards the career counseling room on the first floor inside the school building while sweating plentifully within his clenched hands. While walking, he opened the student-exclusive database of the local network in his browser and uselessly searched for something like a ?manual for when you¡¯re summoned by the teacher?, which likely didn¡¯t exist.


    Then, he actually found it within a school newspaper from a few years ago, and Haruyuki read it thankfully while amazed.


    When he arrived in front of the counseling room, he immediately followed the first thing within the manual and confirmed left and right that no students were in sight just in case. He took a single big, deep breath in front of the gray door, and then pressed the room enter button indicated within his vision. Student authentication was performed, and the lock was released with a click.


    When he pulled open the as expected non-automatic door and peeked inside, he saw that Sugeno was already within the not very wide room. Sitting down on the window-side seat behind a long desk, Sugeno had his arms crossed in front of his chest as if displaying the thickness of his arms.


    ¡°So you came. Come in.¡±


    The first words from the young Japanese History teacher weren¡¯t that friendly. Suppressing the urge to just close the door, Haruyuki stepped into the room quietly and greeted him in an indistinct voice.


    ¡°¡­Good morning.¡±


    Sugeno sucked in a breath as if he was going to voice a complaint just then, but he seemed to reconsider as he closed his mouth for a moment, and then spoke once again.


    ¡°Good morning. Please sit down there.¡±


    Though the seat he indicated was only one seat away from Sugeno, Haruyuki couldn¡¯t say ¡°No, I¡¯ll stand here¡± and so reluctantly obeyed by sitting down.


    The teacher had carved a single line of deep wrinkles on his often-tanned forehead and seemed to be staring directly at Haruyuki with more of a ?looking? than ?scowling? gaze, but suddenly the corners of his mouth finally lifted up.


    ¡°Arita. Though I may not look like it, the truth is, I was also not very popular during middle and high school.¡±


    ¡°Hah¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not kidding. Because I was in the judo club, I was jealous of the soccer club guys who played around with girls instead.¡±


    While looking dumfounded at Sugeno who was nodding with a ¡®Uh-huh¡¯, Haruyuki muttered in his mind.


    ¡ªThere were at least four improper points in those words just now. Suggesting that you¡¯re good-looking, saying that all the members of the judo club were unpopular, saying that all the soccer club members were playboys, and in addition arbitrarily determining that I¡¯m unpopular.


    While Haruyuki added to himself that he couldn¡¯t help but agree with that last point, Sugeno¡¯s monologue continued.


    ¡°That¡¯s why, I understand that boys your age have a lot of things you don¡¯t know how to deal with. I understand very well¡­Hey, Arita.¡±


    Here, the teacher gave off a ?leave everything to me?-type vibe around his thick eyebrows, and gave a single big nod.


    ¡°If there¡¯s anything you want to tell me¡­anything you have to tell me, please say it right here and now. I promise that I¡¯m your ally. So, how about it?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡±


    Haruyuki stared at his face for a few seconds while becoming even more dumbfounded.


    Eventually, he somehow reorganized his thoughts and opened his mouth.


    ¡°¡­¡­U-Umm.¡±


    ¡°Ooh, what it is? Please tell me anything!¡±


    ¡°Errr¡­Before that, I¡¯m first going to record this conversation¡­¡±


    That had been the second thing that the manual said to ¡°definitely do¡±, but Haruyuki regretted it intensely as soon as he said it. Sugeno¡¯s gaping and wide-eyed face quickly turned red from his neck to his cheek to the border of his hair. Haruyuki even felt like he heard a ¡®clunk¡¯ sound when the reliable older brother-like expression Sugeno had worn until now fell away.


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean, Arita! You¡¯re saying you don¡¯t believe in me!?¡±


    Raising his eyebrows and shouting with an angry look, Sugeno¡¯s neck shrunk. But Haruyuki didn¡¯t drive him away anymore more after that and answered back with a mumble.


    ¡°No, umm, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t believe in you¡­It¡¯s recognized by the law that a student has the right to record a one-on-one interview with a teacher¡­¡±


    ¡°What law!? What right!?¡±


    Letting out a loud yell that little improper for a teacher, Sugeno hit the long desk with a bang.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you understand that I¡¯m thinking about your sake here!? If you wait until later to talk, your position will only get worse! As it is now, there¡¯s a possibility that it will become a police matter.¡±


    His speech was suddenly interrupted as Haruyuki desperately operated his virtual desktop and activated recording mode. Haruyuki wasn¡¯t in the newspaper club, so the other person¡¯s acceptance was needed for a recording of the conversation. Right now in Sugeno¡¯s vision, a ¡®Yes or No¡¯ button for allowing the recording should have appeared.


    If he pressed the ¡®No¡¯ button, then the log would record that that he had refused a legitimate request. Sugeno scowled at a point in space with an expression that he couldn¡¯t bear the indignation, but in the end he lifted his finger and stabbed it through the air with a jerk.


    A [SREC] icon along with a ¡®recording starting¡¯ message blinked in Haruyuki¡¯s vision. Even so, Haruyuki didn¡¯t have the nerve to think ¡°it¡¯s over¡± with this, and earnestly shrunk his neck, while Sugeno spoke in a low voice which had increased in hardness.


    ¡°Arita, I¡¯ll¡­I will only ask you once. On Sunday the 14th, why did yo¡­you[4], who doesn¡¯t participate in club activities, come to school?¡±


    ¡ªIt seemed that the conversation recording had had more of an effect than he¡¯d thought.


    ¡°I was meeting a friend from the kendo club.¡±


    When Haruyuki answered feebly yet instantaneously, Sugeno kept silent. Sugeno should also have known that Haruyuki was close with Takumu of the kendo club, and furthermore it was recorded in the local network that Takumu had come to school on Sunday. Haruyuki had actually gone to school in order to talk with Takumu that day in the first place.


    But Sugeno persisted in his attack while the temple of his forehead twitched.


    ¡°Is that really all? Can you affirm that there were no other reasons at all? Please look at me in the eyes and answer.¡±


    ¡ª¡ªWell, he¡¯s not a bad person, probably. We just don¡¯t seem to be able to understand each other.


    While thinking that, Haruyuki looked directly at Sugeno¡¯s clear eyes with an upward glance and responded.


    ¡°That really is all. I can affirm it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­I see, I understand. Then, you can go back now.¡±


    After letting out a long sigh that sounded like the sound from a large cooling fan, Sugeno told him that, so Haruyuki quickly stood up. He responded with a ¡°Excuse me!¡± with largest volume after visiting this room, and then headed towards the door over the shortest distance, pulled it open as minimally as possible and left.


    Escaping into the hallway, Haruyuki stopped the recording mode after deeply inhaling with all his strength, and headed towards the classroom at a fast pace while confirming that the voice file was saved normally. With this, unless new material came out, Haruyuki¡¯s innocence was now officially acknowledged. Nonetheless, with the exchange just now, Sugeno¡¯s impression of him would have fairly worsened. There was not a single benefit by antagonizing a teacher and it wasn¡¯t Haruyuki¡¯s hobby either to do so, but even so it was out of the question to admit to a peeping crime he didn¡¯t commit just for the sake of getting on Sugeno¡¯s good side.


    ¡ª¡®Even so.¡¯ Haruyuki thought while climbing up the stairs.


    Even if that fatal video hadn¡¯t been used, the trap that Noumi had set seemed to be slowly displaying effects like a weak poison. The reason was that Noumi himself had committed a crime and hid a miniature camera in the female shower room.


    As a result, a real peeping attempt incident had been produced, and Haruyuki who had gone to school despite not being in a club was suspected. Had Noumi predicted things this far? No¡ªHe couldn¡¯t have.


    Shaking his head, Haruyuki opened the door of his classroom one minute before the first bell rang.


    Just then, an uncomfortable feeling formed. He felt like the volume of the chatting that filled the classroom went down.


    ¡°¡­¡­?¡±


    He looked around in puzzlement, but the classroom hadn¡¯t changed at all from any other morning. He weaved his way between the students who were gathered in small group and were animatedly talking about a net show or a sports game, and sat down in his seat.


    At the same time as he hung his bag on his desk and let out a sigh, an incoming Voice Call icon flashed in the center of his vision. The caller was¡ªTakumu.


    Barely resisting from looking back at him who should have been sitting in the back of the classroom, Haruyuki pushed the icon.


    ¡®Haru, something bad has happened.¡¯


    At those sudden first words, Haruyuki responded with thought-speech, though he almost moved his mouth.


    ¡®Hah? Wh¡­what is it, all of a sudden?¡¯


    ¡®A strange rumor is going around. About you.¡¯


    At that point, the communication was cut off without notice. At the same time, the sound of a light chime filled his hearing. The first bell rang, and now real-time communication between students was prohibited. The next time they could call each other was at lunchtime and it was possible to send text messages as an exception, but school regulations prohibited them from exchanging contents that were unrelated to schoolwork through these.


    He thought of just standing up and going directly to Takumu¡¯s seat to hear the rest, but then homeroom teacher Sugeno came in from the door, so he had to give up on that. He was very interested in what Takumu had been talking about, but the only means to communicate no matter what right now was to talk in an ?accelerated duel?. Since he wouldn¡¯t go that far, there shouldn¡¯t be a serious problem even if he waited until the next break.


    But¡ªimmediately after the end of that lesson.


    As Haruyuki began to move his hand in order to mail Takumu, two male students blocked the way in front of his desk.


    He lifted his head with a start as his body reflexively stiffened. They were both his classmates, but he could only remember the name of the boy to the right. He should have been a regular player in the boys¡¯ basketball club, called Ishio if he remembered right.


    With a tall figure which didn¡¯t seem to be of the same age as Haruyuki, Ishio spoke while moving his mature yet troubled face to the left.


    ¡°Arita, sorry, but please come with me for a bit.¡±


    Haruyuki then noticed that it had become deathly silent at some point in the classroom. But there was almost no feeling of surprise in that silence. Rather, there was a hint of understanding and consent, as if this was an expected scene.


    Facing Haruyuki who couldn¡¯t understand the situation and was gathering himself, Ishio continued in a low voice that broke towards the end.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to have a disagreeable talk in a place like this. Even you feel the same as well, right, Arita?¡±


    At the same time as he heard that, Haruyuki felt a feeling as if his stomach was being squeezed.


    A disagreeable talk. The only subject that came to mind when he thought of that was the peeping attempt incident.


    ¡ªIn other words, before he had noticed it, Ishio and the guy next to him, no, the entire class had come to believe with considerable certainty that Haruyuki was the perpetrator of that incident.


    ¡°Ah¡­I-I, didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    While muttering that in a hoarse voice, Haruyuki turned his gaze diagonally to the left in front of him¡ªto Chiyuri¡¯s seat with a feeling of wanting to cling to someone.


    Over there, he saw the form of his childhood friend looking down deeply, firmly closing her eyes and clenching her hands on top her desk as if enduring something.


    As soon as he saw that, Haruyuki thought despite the crisis he was in.


    ¡ªRight this instant, the one that is causing Chiyuri pain isn¡¯t Noumi, but me. My foolish actions brought upon this situation. If I show pitiful behavior here, I¡¯ll just be making even tougher concerns for Chiyuri. Then, at the very least, I have to deal with the situation with resolution right now.


    Even if it¡¯s just bravado on my part.


    Taking a deep breath, Haruyuki pushed back his chair with a bang and stood up.


    ¡°Very well, let¡¯s go.¡±


    After Haruyuki gave his short reply, one of Ishio¡¯s eyebrows twitched. But he nodded without changing expression and began to walk away.


    As Haruyuki followed after him, the other boy went along with them from behind Haruyuki. While Haruyuki thought ¡®It¡¯s like I¡¯m a prisoner being escorted¡¯, a student stood up slowly at the back of the classroom. It was Takumu.


    His childhood friend whose height rivaled Ishio¡¯s sharply narrowed his eyes behind his glasses and tried to take a step forward.


    Holding him back with his right hand, Haruyuki quickly shook his head left and right.


    ¡ªI¡¯ll be fine. I can get through it by myself.


    It wasn¡¯t a Voice Call, so those thoughts couldn¡¯t simply be communicated, but even so Takumu gritted his teeth firmly and sat back down. Ishio forcefully pulled open the door to the dead silent classroom, making a loud sound as he did so.


    The place that Haruyuki was brought to was somewhere he was quite familiar with¡ªthe western edge of the rooftop. First period had only just ended, so there were no other students there.


    During his first year here, Haruyuki would make a delivery of bread and juice to delinquent students at this place practically every day. While clearly remembering those times, Haruyuki tried to go over to the antenna tower where the acts of bullying had happened. But, Ishio stopped him where he was and spoke.


    ¡°Here should be fine.¡±


    Haruyuki blinked, and talked back.


    ¡°¡­But, we¡¯re still within sight of the social security cameras here.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    Spitting that out, Ishio stuffed his hands into the pockets of his uniform and continued while leaning his back against the tall stainless fence.


    ¡°¡­Arita, you were summoned by that Sugeno, right?¡±


    ¡ªJust like Haruyuki expected, that incident was already known within the class. This was the ?strange rumor? that Takumu had mentioned in the Voice Call. He¡¯d been careful, but had he been seen by other students when he entered into the counseling room? But still, it was too fast for this information to have spread like this¡­


    While reconsidering that this wasn¡¯t the time or place to think of unnecessary things like that, Haruyuki nodded slightly after staring fixedly at Ishio and the other boy standing a little ways away from him.


    ¡°¡­Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Then, it was you. You were the one that planted that camera in the female shower room.¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    His response was immediate. Looking down from high above at Haruyuki who was vehemently shaking his head, Ishio just rubbed his close-cropped short hair, but the other boy spoke out for the first time here.


    ¡°Well, we can¡¯t say for sure that you did it, Arita. But, I don¡¯t think the school would summon a student at this hour without any basis. If done poorly, it would lead to complaints instead.¡±


    That hot-blooded Sugeno is the exception to that! That guy who said ¡®what rights, what laws!?¡¯!


    Since Haruyuki was certain they wouldn¡¯t believe that even if he claimed that, he had no choice but to remain silent. Then, Ishio took one, two steps towards Haruyuki, and spoke in a whisper.


    ¡°Being released after being receiving a summons is suspicious, but I don¡¯t feel like there¡¯s any evidence. But, I can¡¯t leave it alone like this just because there¡¯s no evidence.¡±


    Suddenly Ishio grabbed Haruyuki¡¯s necktie with his left hand and pulled him towards him tightly. He struck a burning gaze of anger at him from close range.


    ¡°Listen, when that camera was found, my girlfriend was also in the shower room. She received an incredible shock, and hasn¡¯t come to school yesterday and today!¡±


    At this point, Ishio¡¯s actions were in clear violation of school regulations. But, the regular player of the basketball club shook off the other boy¡¯s attempt to restrain him and swung his right fist far back.


    ¡°I can¡¯t forgive you, Arita. No matter what, I have to do this!!¡±


    And then, he swung his brandished fist with an inexperienced movement and¡ª


    There was a possibility that Haruyuki could avoid it. Ishio¡¯s motions, which was nothing compared to the brawl-practiced punches of the students who had bullied Haruyuki before, were awkward. No, more than that, if Haruyuki used the physical acceleration command¡ª?Physical Burst?, he might be able to even reverse the situation and beat up Ishio here. Ishio¡¯s face was greatly warped simply because it indicated that it was his first time hitting someone.


    But of course, Haruyuki neither dodged nor fought back, and simply received the punch on his left cheek. Something like winning in a brawl with the power of acceleration was the lowest act, which was even mentioned in the laws of the Black Legion. A high-pitched sound resounded, and at the same time the impact itself pushed Haruyuki¡¯s body back several steps.


    If it was the Haruyuki of half a year ago, his heart might have broken at this point and he would be servilely begging.


    However, the staggering but still standing Haruyuki sternly looked back at Ishio even while feeling a hot ache in his cheek, and shouted.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say it as many times as I need to, I didn¡¯t do it!!¡±


    Then, Ishio clenched his teeth and began to make a fist again, but eventually he loosened it and responded back.


    ¡°¡­If that¡¯s proven to be true, you can hit me as many times as you like. But¡­¡±


    Thrusting forward his index finger instead of a fist and the basketball member with close-cropped hair declared it clearly.


    ¡°If you¡¯re proven to be the culprit, I¡¯ll break your Neuro Linker, so you can¡¯t look at pictures or videos or anything else.¡±


    Then, Ishio turned his body around, and walked towards the stairs with a long stride while rubbing his right hand with his left hand as if trying to wipe away the remaining sensation in it. The other boy also followed after him, leaving Haruyuki alone on the rooftop.


    The scene just now should have been clearly recorded by the numerous social security cameras. If Haruyuki lodged a complaint of receiving an act of violence, despite the circumstances Ishio would be suspended from school at the very least, and would also lose his place as a regular in the basketball club.


    But of course, Haruyuki had no intention of doing that. Ishio was just another person that had gotten dragged into this. Into a whirlpool of nothingness without light or warmth that was created by the cruel plunderer known as Noumi Seiji.


    After tracing his cheek and confirming that he wasn¡¯t bleeding, Haruyuki wearily headed towards the stairs and typed a mail on the way, in order to send a short message to Takumu.


    After writing [It wasn¡¯t anything serious, I¡¯ll explain the situation after school, sorry for worrying you] and sending it, he continued and started to send a message to Chiyuri¡¯s address too.


    But, he stopped his hand just before he did it. It was no longer possible to erase Chiyuri¡¯s concerns with just words. There was no way to take her back but to destroy the root of it all, Noumi.


    Takumu immediately responded back with just a word of [Understood]. Feeling the worry of his best friend in that concise message, Haruyuki finally let out the tension in his shoulders and headed towards the classroom at a half-run in order to be in time for the next class.


    Lunch break.


    As soon as the chime rang, Haruyuki headed towards the school cafeteria alone.


    With the third-year students absent, the dining hall was also naturally quite uncrowded compared to usually. Having no intention to eat on the rooftop where something unpleasant had just happened, Haruyuki lined up at the self-service counter. From the menu displayed in his vision, he selected okra[5] toppings with eggplant in his pork curry, and confirmed that the holo-tag appeared in front of him.


    The obaa-chan in the kitchen filled up the curry at super-speed, and when she put the okra out onto the counter, an exact ¡®CHARIIIN¡¯ sound rang out.


    Haruyuki¡¯s gaze naturally moved towards the lounge at the east end of the cafeteria. But, he didn¡¯t have the courage to burst into that place with white circular tables surrounded by decorative plants and with a clearly different atmosphere, and instead sat down at in the corner of one of many long tables that were lined up.


    While picking up his spoon, he looked around his surroundings a little. All the students were enjoying their meals while making a lot of noise. No one was looking at Haruyuki¡ªthey shouldn¡¯t be.


    But Haruyuki couldn¡¯t help but feel that all the people here were talking about ¡°The peeping-camera perpetrator has come¡± with a telepathy-like communication method. ¡®No, impossible¡¯ is what he said to himself as he tried to deny it, but the unpleasant atmosphere that wasn¡¯t quite outspoken when he entered Class-2C this morning had deeply permeated his skin.


    He stuffed down the curry in order to drive that feeling away, but though he usually became unconditionally happy with just that, the lump that was blocking his throat wouldn¡¯t go away at all.


    If¡ª


    If at this rate, the belief that ?Arita of 2C was the perpetrator of the peeping camera incident? took hold of all of the school¡¯s students even without any evidence.


    Overturning that might be difficult for even Kuroyukihime, the vice-president of the student council. Conversely, Kuroyukihime might also lose her current position in the school if she got dragged down with Haruyuki. Even if that happened for argument¡¯s sake, he didn¡¯t think that that person would ever abandon him, but¡ªWhat if, in the worst case, Kuroyukihime was also looked at with cold eyes because of him? What if that person was alienated within the school like himself last year, and at worst was harassed in some way¡­?


    Haruyuki felt the skin of his entire body shiver due to his thoughts.


    His spoon dropped down onto his plate with a clang, and when he clutched his arms strongly with both hands¡ª


    Suddenly feeling a presence, Haruyuki looked up.


    A group of four, five people that were walking somewhere much further away entered his vision.


    In the Umesato Private Middle School, there exists a scholarship student system for athletic clubs just in case. This wasn¡¯t a prestigious sports school, so the system was only to the degree of reducing school expenses for club members who put in good results beyond the municipal tournament, but even so it was apparent that there was a clear division for the so-called ?scholarship students?.


    The group that held Haruyuki¡¯s eyes were indeed those few athletic club elites. They were regular players of the female softball club and the hopes of the male swimming club, and standing among them and chatting with them while smiling was a small-built student¡ª


    That was without a doubt, the first-year student of the kendo club, Noumi Seiji.


    The Umesato Middle School kendo club was certainly strong, but Noumi who had just entered the club this month had no regular game participation experience. Even though it should naturally take until the second half of the school year at the fastest for him to obtain scholarship student qualifications, for him to already be encroaching on that kind of group after only winning last week¡¯s club tournament was shocking.


    ¡ªBut, you didn¡¯t obtain that victory with your own power!


    Haruyuki unconsciously bit his lip hard. At that moment, as if feeling the gaze that Haruyuki was shooting at him from a corner of a long table far away, Noumi fleetingly turned his eyes in his direction with a casual action.


    Haruyuki saw the innocent smile that was on his girl-like well-proportioned face transform in an instant.


    What appeared from under that mask that came off was a sadistically joyful smile that was cold like a razor that was thinly sharpened to the utmost limit.


    ¡ªHow is it Arita-senpai, the feeling of being covered in mud and slipping off a hill no matter how far you climb? The feeling of having your precious things stolen and broken one by one¡­?


    And then Noumi returned his face to the front, and while turning his previous innocent smiling face to the senior students, unhesitatingly entered the lounge that was overflowing in dazzling light.


    Even after his view of him was obstructed by the decorative plants and he couldn¡¯t see him anymore, Haruyuki continued staring at the place where Noumi was.


    It seemed there was no longer any doubt. Noumi was the one who secretly made it so that talk of Haruyuki being summoned by the homeroom teacher was spread around the class so quickly. No, possibly, he was also the once who informed the school authorities that Haruyuki had gone to school on Sunday.


    As a huge anger and a fear that surpassed it welled up from the bottom of his body suddenly, Haruyuki desperately suppressed the urge to hit the table.


    No. I can¡¯t let my heart break here. If I do, I¡¯ll just return to the servile me from half a year ago. That¡¯s not all. If I get crushed here and sink all the way down into the bottomless hole that Noumi made, I¡¯ll drag Takumu, Chiyuri and Kuroyukihime down along with me as well.


    ¡ªI¡¯ll crawl up from here.


    Haruyuki muttered in his mind while clenching his spoon with all his strength.


    ¡ªI¡¯ve faced this kind of adversity many times. I¡¯ll crawl up from here once again. No, I¡¯ll get up no matter how many times it takes. I have already stopped walking towards only the bottom.


    He stuffed a heap load of curry into his wide-opened mouth, and chewed it forcefully. The first-year female student sitting diagonally across from him gazed open-mouthed at Haruyuki as he emptied his plate at a staggering speed.

 Volume 4 - CH 4

    Up until the clock hand reached 2 PM, Haruyuki felt like he was sitting on seat that as sharp as a horseradish grater. It could be said that he was slightly lucky that, thanks to Ishio of the basketball club confronting Haruyuki directly, there was an atmosphere of reserve from interacting with him any further than that.


    Even so, the gazes of the girls were 30% colder than usual, and certain boys seemed be in the middle of deliberating over what nickname to give to Haruyuki right away. Before they could finish deciding between the last two choices of ?Cameari[1]? and ?Papayuki[2]?, Haruyuki grabbed his bag and umbrella and escaped from the classroom.


    He came out into the front yard where it was blackly pouring rain that had begun to fall since the afternoon just as forecasted, and let out a deep breath after stepping across the school gate. After he was cut off from local network while also receiving a message of ?Please be careful heading home?, all kinds of online messages from the Global Net appeared in front of him in exchange, and he quickly felt his heart soothed by that feeling of connection.


    While he was attentively looking at the headline news along with the BGM sound of rain hitting his umbrella as he stood next to a wall about twenty meters from the school gate, familiar footsteps approached at last.


    ¡°Wait up, Haru.¡±


    As Takumu suddenly lifted up a navy-blue umbrella, Haruyuki also moved his hand slightly. They lined up with each and began to walk along the sidewalk towards the east.


    A few dozen seconds later, Haruyuki began to speak first.


    ¡°Is it really okay for you to be absent from club activities for two days in a row?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. The club president and advisor don¡¯t think anything of me who only joined hallway through while they¡¯re in a daze over the genius rookie.¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s also a complicated talk, huh. Well, thanks to that Noumi attracting attention to himself, Taku is on the other hand able to move easily, is what you mean, right¡­?¡±


    They both gave bittersweet smiles, and returned to walking in silence for about a minute.


    Once they saw the intersection where the Oume highway crossed with the Loop 7[3], Haruyuki finally began to talk on his own again.


    ¡°Today, I was summoned by Sugeno for the matter of the peeping camera incident ¡­Of course, I¡¯m not the culprit.¡±


    ¡°Obviously. That Sugeno, to summon you without any evidence¡­¡±


    Stopping Takumu as he began to speak in an angry tone, Haruyuki added something else as if groaning.


    ¡°But, I¡¯m in a position where I could easily be the culprit. That entire incident was a trap that Noumi Seiji put together. And I completely fell into it¡­¡±


    It unexpectedly took a long time to explain the whole story of Noumi¡¯s trap.


    Several minutes later after they boarded the EV bus of the Loop 7¡¯s outer circumference and sat next to each other on the back-most seats, Haruyuki had finally finished recounting almost the entire situation he had gotten caught in. The only two points he didn¡¯t speak of were the source of the visual masking program that had been prepared by Noumi, and how he had run into Chiyuri stark naked in the shower room.


    However, it seemed that the turning power of the wheels in Takumu¡¯s head perfectly displayed itself this time as well and he instantly deduced the source of the program. Almost immediately after Haruyuki closed his mouth, his best friend took off his blue glasses and pressed hard against the friend with his hand.


    ¡°¡­¡­I see.¡±


    The voice he let out was terribly smashed up due to strong self-reproach.


    ¡°It was that photo, wasn¡¯t it? The group photo of the new kendo club students¡­So there was a virus attached to it. I¡¯m sorry, Haru, I was negligent in checking it¡­¡±


    ¡°N-No, it¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    Haruyuki frantically shook his head many times.


    ¡°Most likely, that virus was set to self-destruct the instant the picture was read by the system with the kendo club¡¯s enrollments tags. Even if you noticed it, I was the only target. Because from the beginning he was aiming at not Taku, but me¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I should have thought it was suspicious that the file size was so large. Despite that, I barged into your house when you were suffering and said such awful things to you¡­Moreover, I even hit you!¡±


    Suddenly, Takumu put back on his glasses and lifted up Haruyuki¡¯s right hand with both his hands.


    ¡°Uwah, hey, what are you?¡±


    ¡°Haru, hit me. If you don¡¯t hit me, I won¡¯t be able to forgive myself.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine, really!¡±


    Haruyuki was flustered and switched his gaze between Takumu¡¯s face and the front of the bus. The housewives and students that were riding along with them were looking at the two of them at the back while either wide-eyed or giggling. Since they couldn''t hear their conversation, how on earth did they interpret this situation where the tall and handsome Takumu is bending over and clasping the hand of the small and fat Haruyuki?


    However, Takumu kept slowly bringing his face even closer without worrying about the eyes around them at all, so Haruyuki whispered reluctantly.


    ¡°Wait, wait a minute, Taku, umm, I too¡­I too deserve to be hit by you.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­? What is it?¡±


    Looking at Takumu doubtful and frowning eyes, Haruyuki whispered ¡°Sorry, Chiyu!¡± in his mind. She had told him to never talk about it, but Haruyuki didn¡¯t want to close his mouth and act as if he were looking down on Takumu ever again.


    ¡°Umm¡­When I was tricked by the visual masking and intruded into the female shower room¡­I ran into Chiyu there.¡±


    He needed another two minutes to explain about that matter.


    Returning his back to his seat with a thump, Takumu squeezed his brow with his fingers and made a comment that was mixed with a sigh.


    ¡°I see¡­So that¡¯s how Chii-chan was related to this¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s right¡­¡±


    While suddenly changing and giving a fixed sidelong glance, Takumu raised one finger.


    ¡°¡­For now, I won¡¯t ask what you specifically saw, Haru. For Chii-chan¡¯s sake as well.¡±


    ¡°Ooh¡­you really are a gentleman, Taku.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. ¡ªIn any case, if that happened, then it would be good to think that that¡¯s the contents of Noumi¡¯s threat. The video of Haru peeping would certainly be effective against Chii-chan as well.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Rather, it would be even more effective against Chiyu than me¡­If he saw through that and threatened Chiyu, Noumi really must be a genius in attacking the weak points of others.¡±


    Lightly hitting Haruyuki¡¯s knee as he let out a sigh, Takumu muttered in a voice that was slightly sharper than before.


    ¡°But, that¡¯s where his weak point is as well.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that so? Even if he steals, threatens and makes other people do as he says, that¡¯s not the true meaning of having comrades. Even if he temporarily makes Chii-chan¡­?Lime Bell? obey him, Noumi, ?Dusk Taker? is essentially alone.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡±


    This time Haruyuki grasped Takumu¡¯s hand that was still placed on top of his knee. Its cool and bony texture was indescribably reliable, and Haruyuki was thankful from the bottom of his head that Takumu¡ª?Cyan Pile? was next to him right now.


    As soon as they crossed beyond the New Oume Highway and entered the Nerima district, the two of them got off the bus.


    They opened their umbrellas, and looked at the line of cars flowing by in front of them for a short while. On the other side of those cars that passed by while emitting low driving sounds from their motors and hydrogen-engines, was the territory ruled over by the Red Legion ?Prominence?. Currently, though they were in a ceasefire with the Black Legion ?Nega Nebulas?, that was only in relation to the weekend territory battles, so if the two of them crossed that intersection right now while having their Neuro Linkers connected globally, they would without a doubt be challenged to a duel before even five minutes passed.


    After Haruyuki and Takumu nodded at each other, Haruyuki took a deep breath and spoke a voice command.


    ¡°Command, Voice Call, Number Zero-Five.¡±


    As he listening to the ringing, sweat slowly spread over his hands.


    ¡®Calm down¡¯, is what he thought to himself, but he couldn¡¯t suppress his nervousness. After all, the person he was calling was a Level Niner who controlled Accel World¡¯s strongest long range-type duel avatar, a crying child that was also the silent ?Immobile Fortress?, the Red King ?Scarlet Rain?¡ª


    ''Long time no see, Haruyuki-oniichan?''


    Completely surprised by that high voice in his brain, Haruyuki¡¯s knees jerked down. He somehow remained standing, and then responded out loud instead of with his thoughts for the sake of Takumu next to him.


    ¡°Ah, w-we haven¡¯t talked in a while, Yuniko-cha¡­¡±


    ''Just Niko is fine, geez-. So, what¡¯s wrong, for you to be calling all of a sudden-?''


    The Red King Niko only responded to Haruyuki in her ?angel-mode? like this on a whim when she was in a good mood. But she was certainly easier to talk to like this, so Haruyuki replied back while speaking fast in order not to miss this chance.


    ¡°Eh, umm, there¡¯s something we want to talk about¡­rather, we want to consult with you on something, Niko¡­If we could possibly meet with you today, right now and talk, that is¡­u-umm, of course we¡¯ll go to Nerima ourselves.¡±


    ''Hmm16:01, 30 September 2012 (CDT)~. In the rain? Ah, but, I do feel like eating a little cake, one with lots of strawberries on top?''


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll treat you, I¡¯ll treat you. How many should I treat you to?¡±


    ''Yay-! In that case, I¡¯ll meet you at this store.''


    Along with those words, a map opened up in his vision with a whoosh. The flashing dot on it was in the vicinity of the Sakuradai station on the Seibu subway line, which was fairly close to Haruyuki and Takumu¡¯s current location.


    ¡°S-Sure, I think we can get there in about fifteen minutes from here.¡±


    ''OK, then see ya later-.''


    And then the communication was cut. Raising his head while blowing out a breath at having broken through their first barrier for now, Takumu spoke with a meek expression.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll take care of the tip.¡±


    ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s fine if we split the bill.¡±


    ¡°No, today we¡¯re meeting with her for my sake, after all¡­¡±


    The next bus arrived as they argued over it, so they stopped and got on. As soon as they sat down, the two of them severed their Neuro Linkers from the Global Net together.


    As it began to moved forward with the spinning of its large motor, the bus crossed the New Oume Highway and intruded into the Nerima battlefield where the Red Legion reigned.


    The designated store was a cute cake shop that stood within a small-scale shopping area. Seats and tables were placed in one half of the store, and it also seemed like you could eat-in here.


    As they closed up their umbrellas in front of the store and brushed off the drops of water, the splashing sound of someone cheerfully stepping in puddles approached them from behind. As Haruyuki turned around, a small fist plunged into his round stomach without giving him any time to avoid it.


    ¡°Ugu¡­¡±


    The one that looked up at the groaning Haruyuki from beneath a bright red umbrella while grinning was a cute girl with large green eyes that twinkled on her small and freckled face. Her soft-looking red hair was thinly tied up on both sides of her head, and she carried a school bag on her back over her deep-blue school uniform. The Neuro Linker attached to her neck was a jewel-like transparent red color.


    The girl took a step back and spoke while spinning her umbrella.


    ¡°Long time no see, Haruyuki-oniichan. You¡¯re as fat as usual! And¡­¡±


    She turned her face to the left.


    ¡°Long time no see as well, professor. You¡¯re as gloomy as usual-.¡±


    Haruyuki and Takumu both gave stiff smiles and greeted her with a slight bow.


    ¡°L-Long time no see. Sorry Niko, for calling you out like this¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine already! More importantly, let¡¯s quickly get to the cake, the cake!¡±


    The two of them hurriedly chased after this girl¡ªthe ruler of the Nerima battlefield, the Red King Koudzuki Yuniko, as she snugly threw her folded umbrella into the umbrella stand and rushed into the store.


    After they sat down at the back-most table and a cake called the ?Strawberry Labyrinth? that was prepared with a dreadful amount of strawberries was placed on their table along with a milk and two coffees, Niko immediately picked up her fork. She stabbed at one of the glossy and glittering strawberries that were placed at the top of it, and stuffed it in her mouth with a single bite while smiling in apparent happiness.


    Looking at Haruyuki who was unconsciously moving his mouth in envy, Niko gave a pure smile and spoke.


    ¡°You can¡¯t have any!¡±


    ¡°¡­I-It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°Aah, just joking, just joking! Come on, say ¡®aah¡¯.¡±


    She stabbed another one with her fork and held it out right in front of Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, so he reflexively opened his mouth. However, the strawberry was moved back in full reverse along with the heartless words of ¡°Just joking~¡±, and Haruyuki¡¯s teeth only chewed air.


    Haruyuki came to his sense thanks to a forced cough from Takumu who saw the scene from next to him, and straightened his back as this was not the time for this kind of thing.


    ¡°S¡­So, Niko. About today¡¯s main subject¡­we called you out in real life like this because, umm, we have a small favour to ask¡­¡±


    ¡°A svissh? *SWALLOW* Shall I listen in exchange for ten strawberries?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a fair trade, but¡­¡±


    After briefly looking at Takumu, Haruyuki scratched his head and cut right to the main topic of this conversation.


    ¡°Err, I¡¯d like for you to teach the professor here¡­no, rather, Takumu. Umm¡­about how to use the ?Incarnate System?¡±


    As soon as she heard that¡ª


    Niko¡¯s movements suddenly stopped as she was trying to bite into her sixth strawberry.


    Her dark green eyes blinked incessantly. She tiled her head slightly and put her fork that was still holding the strawberry back down on the plate, and leaned back against her seat.


    In an instant, Haruyuki felt like he heard the ¡®GACCHIIIN!¡¯ sound of her circuit switching over. That is, the sound of Niko¡¯s ?angel mode? ending.


    As her innocent smile of a sixth grade elementary school student vanished and her eyes suddenly narrowed, she spoke shortly in a dangerous voice as if tinged with flames.


    ¡°¡­¡­you what?¡±


    After shutting up Haruyuki with a single finger as he tried to explain the situation while sweating all over, Niko stood up and spoke to the shop employee that was standing at the counter a little further away.


    ¡°We¡¯re borrowing the back room for a while.¡±


    The young female employee who was wearing a grape-colored apron dress silently nodded, and then Niko started briskly walking with the plate of half-eaten cake in her right hand and her glass of milk in her left hand. Haruyuki and Takumu stared at each other, and reluctantly ran after her while similarly holding their coffee cups.


    A narrow corridor extended out from behind the eat-in corner, and halfway done there was a massive door with a tag reading ¡®PRIVATE¡¯ hanging down from it. Naturally it seemed to be locked, but when Niko hit a spot in the air with the hand holding her glass, an unlocking sound rang out.


    On the other side of the door was a chic western-style room 6 tatami mats wide. The walls and floor were made of black-colored wooden boarding, a large sofa set was placed in the center, and a door to what appeared to be a toilet could be seen.


    After quietly putting her plate and glass onto the low table and operating her virtual desktop in order to check something, Niko suddenly turned around to face Haruyuki and Takumu and shouted.


    ¡°Are you idiots!! You don¡¯t blurt out about something like the ?Incarnate System? all of a sudden in a public space!!¡±


    ¡°Hah, s-sorry!¡±


    Niko glared with eyes that seemed to let out heat rays at Haruyuki and Takumu who were standing bolt upright for a while, but eventually she threw her small body down onto the sofa with a grand sigh and crossed her legs high.


    ¡°¡­Well, you can ease up now. Sit down.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes.¡±


    They similarly put their coffee down and sat down next to each other on the sofa facing hers. After picking up another strawberry with the fingers of her right hand, Niko spoke in a slightly lower tone of voice.


    ¡°This room is safe ¡®cause it¡¯s sealed. First of all, where did you guys hear about the Incarnate System? It wasn¡¯t from that woman¡­Black Lotus, right? It¡¯s still too soon for you to have learned about it directly from Lotus. Much too soon.¡±


    Before answering that question, there was something that Haruyuki wanted to ask as well. That is, what on earth was this store, and why was there a radio wave-insulated room in a downtown cake shop?


    But Niko¡¯s expression didn¡¯t seem like it would permit him diverting the topic at all. Haruyuki reluctantly shelved the question, took one big deep breath, and began to tell the truth straight to the Red King¡¯s face.


    ¡°Err¡­It¡¯s a bit of a long story, but¡­The beginning of the matter started when a Burst Linker entered the Umesato Middle School that we attend as a new first-year student¡­¡±


    While making an effort to summarize the main points as concisely as possible, Haruyuki continued to explain.


    How the new student ?Dusk Taker? wasn¡¯t registered on the BB matching list even though he was connected to the school¡¯s local network.


    How he used various schemes in the real world and cornered Haruyuki and the others, and furthermore stole Haruyuki¡¯s wings using his special technique ?Demonic Commandeer? in Accel World.


    How Haruyuki trained for a long time in the Unlimited Neutral Field in order to oppose this strong enemy, and mastered how to use ?mind power?. How, even though they were just a step away from cornering Dusk Taker thanks to that power, they lost in a reversal of events due to the sudden betrayal of ?Lime Bell?.


    And finally, how the Black King ?Black Lotus? was absent on a school trip until next Saturday.


    The only things that he didn¡¯t mention were Lime Bell¡¯s ?healing? ability and Dusk Taker¡¯s real information¡ªthat is, his real name Noumi Seiji.


    Even when Haruyuki¡¯s explanation ended after nearly fifteen minutes, Niko didn¡¯t speak right away. She stuffed her cheeks with the last piece of the cake she had been slowly eating while listening, and after spending time gulping it down, she finally gave a single snort.


    ¡°¡­I see. Dusk Taker¡­A duel avatar with a robbing ability. If he can use mind power in addition to that, he certainly is beyond your power to deal with.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s just as you say.¡±


    Takumu muttered quietly.


    ¡°Even though the situation should have been favorable to me in an indoor close-combat fight, I couldn¡¯t oppose him at all after he began to use the Incarnate System. As it is, I¡¯m nothing more than burdensome baggage. That¡­I don¡¯t like at all.¡±


    Looking at Takumu with a sharp gaze as he pushed his clenched hands against his forehead, Niko let out another sigh.


    ¡°So the reason you two personally came out all the way out to Nerima¡­was for the sake of asking me to teach Pile here how to use the Incarnate System, right?¡±


    ¡°Precisely, Red King.¡±


    When Takumu deeply nodded, Niko skillfully twirled her fork around her finger once and pointed its handle at the two of them in turn.


    ¡°Well, I also sympathize with your situation. But¡­frankly, it¡¯s the trouble of another legion and moreover the legion of another ?King?. Instead, wouldn¡¯t letting the ostracized ?Nega Nebulas? collapse like this and decreasing the number of future troubles be one of the logical decision here?¡±


    Unable to endure this, Haruyuki tried to get a word in edgewise. But Niko¡¯s speech still continued.


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s assume I said that. Then next, Crow next to you would say this. ¡®Even if you say that, didn¡¯t you request for us to help settle the trouble in your own legion? I think you still owe us a large debt for that.¡¯ Or something like that. That¡¯s the outline of it, right?¡±


    As he was indeed going to say exactly that, Haruyuki was beaten to the punch and gaped at her.


    Niko returned her right hand to her plate and pushed it to a corner of the table, and then put her legs with her rain boots removed on top of the table with a stomp and put her arms behind her head.


    ¡°Geez, I thought that such a development would come some day! Even so, to want a lecture on the Incarnate System, that¡¯s taking a lot of high interest for payback¡­¡±


    After staring fixedly at Niko¡¯s face as she sighed, Haruyuki unconsciously leaned his body forward.


    ¡°Eh, t-then, you¡¯ll do it?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t be helped. If I don¡¯t, it¡¯ll be a cause of offence that¡¯ll make it seem like I go back on my debts. Damn, if I¡¯d known it¡¯d be like this, I would have ordered a ?Royal Palace? instead of a ?Strawberry Labyrinth?.¡±


    Though he heard such abusive language, Haruyuki couldn¡¯t suppress the hot thing that spread within his chest.


    As he thought, Accel World didn¡¯t exist simply to fight everyone else as ?duel opponents?. Even if they were in the position of enemies, there was definitely something more important than that. That¡¯s right¡ªthe bonds of friendship.


    Not knowing how to express his overflowing feelings, Haruyuki threw himself down onto the table before him and tightly hugged the feet wrapped in white socks there in a daze. As soon as he did so¡ª


    ¡°Gyaah!! Hey, why do you always grab my feet, you hentai!¡±


    Her other foot kick out as she angrily said that and buried itself into Haruyuki¡¯s cheek.


    The first order from the instructor Niko who had steam coming out of her head was [Take out the plug underneath the table and connect it to your Neuro Linkers].


    While tilting his head in puzzlement, he groped with his hands, and there were indeed several XSB plugs sticking out from a hub-like device with a winding mechanism there. For the time being, he pulled one out at the same time as Takumu, but he felt a little resistance towards connecting to an unidentified circuit.


    But Niko spoke while casually inserting a plug as well.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing much I can simply teach you. Since this is sealed off from radio waves, we have no choice to but use a direct cable to connect globally!¡±


    She was angry, so they hurriedly followed her example. A connection warning appeared in Haruyuki¡¯s vision, and then vanished.


    After running the fingers of both her hands in the air for a while, Niko looked at Haruyuki and Takumu in turn, and spoke in a stern tone.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s almost 5 PM. I have to return to my dormitory at 6 o¡¯clock, so the amount of time I can stay with you guys is about thirty minutes until 5:30, which is five hundred hours in Accel world¡­about twenty days. You¡¯ll have to acquire the technique to use mind power only in actual combat. If that isn¡¯t possible, I won¡¯t be able to look after you any further than that.¡±


    Takumu immediately responded to the Red King¡¯s cool-headed words.


    ¡°No¡­just one week in internal time. That will be enough.¡±


    ¡°Ho-oh. You talk big, professor. I¡¯ll properly test to see if that resolution is the real thing.¡±


    Grinning, Niko leaned her delicate body that was wrapped in a blue jacket and pleated skirt against the sofa.


    ¡°Then, we¡¯ll dive into the Unlimited Neutral Field at the count of zero. Ready?¡±


    Haruyuki and Takumu fixed their backs and heads against the sofa just as she did, and answered ¡°Yes¡±.


    ¡°Here we go. Ten, nine, eight, seven¡­¡±


    Haruyuki closed his eyelids and took a deep breath, and then¡ª


    One second after he heard Nico¡¯s count reach one, they shouted in a loud voice the command to fly into the true accelerated world.

 Volume 4 - CH 5

    The first thing he felt was a merciless chill, as if the season had reversed to three months back.


    He timidly opened his eyes, and only colors that went from white to blue expanded out across his entire vision.


    It was snow¡ªand ice. All of the surrounding terrain was formed out of thick ice, and pure white snow thinly covered it all. The whole sky was filled with milk-colored clouds.


    ¡°The ?Ice and Snow? stage, huh. I don¡¯t like this one.¡±


    After Haruyuki looked to his right where the voice came from, a girl-type avatar with ruby-like vivid crimson armor stood there while shaking the long antennas on her head.


    Her size was slightly smaller than that of Silver Crow. Whether it was her face-mask with sparkling round and cute lenses or her body which had almost no sharp edges, she could only be seen as a harmless mascot character.


    But this duel avatar was the body of the long-distance firepower demon that silences even crying children, the boss of the legion ?Prominence?, Scarlet Rain.


    The Red King looked up at Haruyuki and spoke in a seemingly dissatisfied voice.


    ¡°Hey Crow, is that metal armor cold resistant?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, on the whole¡­¡±


    Nodding and shouting ¡°Unfair!!¡±, she suddenly scooped up some snow at her feet into her hands and struck it against Haruyuki¡¯s back.


    ¡°Uhyarue!¡±


    ¡°Come on, make this body rust! Come on, come on!¡±


    ¡°Hyoguu! W-When I say resistant, it¡¯s only in terms of numerical damage, the c-cold itself is still the same!¡±


    As he hopped away to escape from the cold-feeling attack, a magnificent cough was heard from a little ways away. As he turned to look in that direction at the same time as Niko, a large avatar with dark blue armor was standing there with his arms folded. Of course, it was Takumu¡ªCyan Pile.


    ¡°O-Oh, that¡¯s right, that¡¯s right.¡±


    Scarlet Rain moved away from Haruyuki while seeming a little embarrassed, and also coughed.


    ¡°For the time being, I¡¯ll say welcome to our Nerima area. If it weren¡¯t for this kind of situation, you¡¯d be immediately attacked and driven out, though!¡±


    She quickly spread her arms wide, so Haruyuki looked around at his surroundings once again.


    The first thing he felt was that the wideness of the sky. He immediately understood the reason for that feeling. The three of them were currently standing in a not very wide space that stood at an intersection of frozen roads, but almost no large geographical objects that could obstruct their vision were within sight.


    Only, he could see a slightly tall ice palace that was a little ways away from them to the northwest. When he compared it to a map of the real world in his mind, it was probably the Nerima District Government Office. In addition, he noticed a huge tower that grew hazier as if melting the higher it went, far away in the sky to the east. That was probably the Sunshine City in Ikebukuro within the Toshima district, where they had fought ?Chrome Disaster?. There were also no ?Enemies? or other Burst Linkers within sight.


    Haruyuki sucked a deep breath of cold air into his chest and then spoke.


    ¡°This is a spacious and comfortable area, isn¡¯t it!¡±


    Just then, a howling flying snowball hit Silver Crow¡¯s helmet right in the center.


    ¡°S-Sorry that there isn¡¯t anything here! We don¡¯t have anything like your Suginami!!¡±


    Shouting with her antennas standing on end, Niko turned away in another direction and continued.


    ¡°Ah geez, the preface is over! We¡¯re quickly starting the class! You guys sit down over there!¡±


    Sensing that his words had pressed the anger switch of Nerima residents, Haruyuki looked at Takumu and then they both hurriedly sat down in the center of the intersection.


    As she folded her arms and raised herself up to her full height while briskly walking in front of the two of them, Scarlet Rain¡¯s presence¡ªsuddenly changed.


    The childishness she had been given off until now evaporated without a trace. The light within her lenses became sharper, and it felt like her avatar¡¯s body itself became bigger.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say this first.¡±


    The voice she let out also had a tone that was clearer and more frigid than the stage¡¯s cold wind.


    ¡°Before I teach you about the ?Incarnate System?, you have to promise me one thing.¡±


    Looking one by one at Haruyuki and Takumu as they gulped, Niko declared clearly.


    ¡°You must never use an Incarnate technique outside of a situation where you are attacked with an Incarnate technique. Promise that you will uphold this on your pride as Burst Linkers!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­U-Umm, is that because it¡¯s cowardly to use it otherwise?¡±


    When Haruyuki unconsciously asked that, Niko immediately denied it.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s because, in this game, your true enemy is yourself. Because ultimately, mind power exists not just to defeat enemies, but to confront your own weakness.¡±


    Haruyuki and Takumu couldn¡¯t press the issue and say no. Besides, they by no means wanted to learn about the Incarnate System in order to win duels by using it. They just wanted to fight against the mind power-user Dusk Taker.


    Haruyuki and Takumu looked at each other for an instant, and then cried out ¡°Yes!¡± at the same time.


    ¡°Alright. If you break this promise, I¡¯ll make you experience a horrifying day in order to take responsibility for it, after all.¡±


    After nodding his head many times at high speed, Haruyuki cautiously asked an additional question.


    ¡°¡­U-Umm, but. I think it¡¯s difficult to distinguish between the appearance of a normal technique and an Incarnate technique¡­I feel that I can¡¯t tell if I¡¯m not hit by it¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve already learned the bare basics, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Niko let out an amazed voice, and struck out the index finger of her right hand with a snap.


    ¡°Listen well, Incarnate techniques have two big differences with special techniques¡­First, even if you use it, the special technique gauge doesn¡¯t decrease!¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­yeah, c-certainly, that¡¯s true¡­¡±


    Haruyuki nodded once, but then immediately the next question gushed forth in him.


    ¡°¡­But then, what do you do if you¡¯re in the Unlimited Neutral Field, where the opponent¡¯s gauge can¡¯t be seen?¡±


    Then Niko stuck out a second finger and¡ª


    ¡°That is the second difference! It shines!¡±


    ¡°S-Shines?¡±


    Haruyuki shouted back that far too vague word. Certainly, when mentioned it, Haruyuki¡¯s ?sword of light? shined white as its name suggested and Noumi¡¯s ?wave surge of nothingness? also emitted a purple light, but was that a system-like phenomenon that was common to all Incarnate techniques?


    Hearing Haruyuki¡¯s uncertain voice, Niko gave a thin smile.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t something vague like ?determination? or ?fighting spirit?. Listen well, when using Incarnate techniques, our consciousness and duel avatars are connected to an ?image control system?. When an excess of imagination passes through the circuit, the system overflows and the irregular signals are processed as a particle-like effect without substance¡ªin other words, as light. Specifically¡­like this.¡±


    Niko tightly clenched her still struck-out right hand.


    Suddenly, her arm from her fist to near her elbow burst into red flames, no, it wasn¡¯t exactly flames. It was a crimson light covering and shaking over her arm.


    ¡°¡­It also depends on the strength of your mind power, but if it¡¯s a strong image that can be used in battle, it will definitely shine like this. We call this ?Over-Ray[1]?. Listen well, the phenomenon of an avatar continuously emitting light like this never occurs except when activating the Incarnate System. Since even if special techniques emit light, it¡¯s only for an instant.¡±


    Abruptly putting out the flames, Niko spoke to sum it up.


    ¡°In other words, if an enemy avatar shines with an aura like just now and moreover their gauge doesn¡¯t decrease, that¡¯s an Incarnate technique. But¡­even in such a situation, if you can run away, then run away. Fight back with mind power only in battles that you can¡¯t concede no matter what. Understood!?¡±


    ¡ªNaturally, they had the question of ¡®why does it have to be restricted so strongly?¡¯. But, Niko, who was waiting for their reply, was surrounded by an intense intimidating air that was truly like that of a King, so Haruyuki didn¡¯t question it any further.


    ¡°¡­Yes, understood!¡±


    He shouted that out in a single voice along with Takumu, and the Red King finally seemed satisfied and nodded.


    ¡°Good. Then, with this the preface is over.¡±


    Folding her arms in front of her flat chest, she gave a single cough and then¡ª


    Niko suddenly said some unexpected words.


    ¡°Right now, you guys should be thinking this. ¡®Since its use is so insistently restricted, the ?Incarnate System? must possess a terrible power and if mastered anything can be done.¡¯ But, that¡¯s a big mistake.¡±


    ¡°¡­Eh¡­¡­?¡±


    Feeling far more surprised at the contents of her words than the Red King¡¯s intimidating air, Haruyuki unconsciously raised his voice.


    ¡°N-No way. Mind power should be able to make the impossible possible¡­¡±


    ¡°No. Listen well, mind power is never an almighty power. Drive this into your brains first.¡±


    After declaring that in a tone that made one think of hot flames, Niko gave an imperceptible smile over her mouth and continued.


    ¡°You seem dissatisfied, Crow. You don¡¯t agree?¡±


    Swallowing his saliva, Haruyuki nervously nodded.


    ¡°Y¡­Yes. Because, I¡­experienced just how amazing mind power is with my own body. Both by being hit by that power and by attacking with it myself.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you seem rather confident. Okay, stand up.¡±


    Obeying her raised index finger, he timidly stood up. While feeling Takumu¡¯s gaze, he took several steps forward.


    ¡°Now then, show us that power of yours.¡±


    Those were the words Haruyuki had expected, so he had already been prepared for it the moment he stood up. After answering with just ¡°All right¡±, he stepped up to one of the blocks of ice scattered about close by.


    ¡®My Incarnate technique will surely be nothing special when seen by the King Niko, but¡ªlet¡¯s show her something a step above her expectations¡¯, such thoughts and feelings also existed within Haruyuki. The ?sword of light?, which Haruyuki had mastered by facing off against the cliff that exceeded the 300 meters of the Old Tokyo Tower over the course of a week, had also certainly been able to pierce through the ?wave surge of nothingness? of the formidable enemy Dusk Taker.


    Stopping one meter in front of a transparent blue block of ice that was about the same size as himself, Haruyuki lowered his waist. It was a suitable distance that absolutely could not be reached if he threw out an ordinary punch.


    He folded his right hand¡¯s thumb into his palm and straightened together his remaining four fingers. While twisting his upper body to the right, he prepared his blade-shaped hand sword at his side.


    ¡ªMy hand is a sword. A sword that pierces through everything at the speed of light.


    The sound of the cold wind blowing through the stage went off far away and disappeared. The surrounding scenery also sank into dimness, and only the center point of the blue block of ice stood out clearly in his vision.


    *iiiIIIN* Minute vibrations were transmitted through his body, and a white light, what Niko called ?Over-Ray?, appeared on the tip of his piercing hand. It soon spread from his wrist almost all the way to his elbow.


    ¡°¡­¡­Shi!!¡±


    With a momentary fervor, Haruyuki made his waist rotate and then stick out his hand sword straight forward.


    *SHUKIIIIN!!* Along with a high and clear sound, a sharp white light was send out from his extended right arm, and sunk into the middle of the block of ice.


    A beat passed by after the light vanished, and the ice let out a cracking sound¡ªAnd then the huge block split apart right and left from a vertical crack in the middle and fell down. With a solemn impact, thinly-piled snow went flying through the air.


    As he let out a breath and raised his body back up, Haruyuki was greeted by Niko¡¯s applause when he turned around. Takumu wholeheartedly banged together his left hand and right arm¡¯s ?Pile Driver?, and Niko also clapped her hands without reserve.


    ¡°Heh, that was a more decent technique than I expected. Impressive.¡±


    As Haruyuki scratched his head and said ¡°Oh no, I wouldn¡¯t go that far¡± in response to the Red King¡¯s comment, his movements were stopped as her words continued.


    ¡°¡ªFor the first step of the first step, that is.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­F-First step?¡±


    ¡°Of course! What you used just now was one of the four basic types of Incarnate techniques, ?Attack Range Expansion[2]?.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­B-Basic?¡±


    After beckoning at the dumbfounded Haruyuki who was repeating her words and making him sit in his original place, Niko coughed and then continued.


    ¡°Listen well, it may be called by the exaggerated name ?mind power?, but in the end this is only a single logic that operates within the Brain Burst program¡­In other words, it is an operation that functions according to the Diver¡¯s image power. To put it another way, due to one¡¯s intense subjective impression, this world¡¯s God¡­the system mistakenly believes it to be reality.¡±


    After taking a short pause to breathe there, the scarlet avatar spoke slowly in order to engrave her words into the minds of her two students.


    ¡°But, in order to actually cause this phenomenon, an image that is strong enough to deceive even yourself is needed before the system can be deceived. A ?belief? that surpasses the level of imagination power. And two things are needed in order to conceive that belief in your heart. ?Experience? that has been instilled over an overwhelming amount of time, and a ?desire? whose source is an absolute lack of something. An image that isn¡¯t backed by these two things will never become reality.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Experience, and a desire¡­¡­¡±


    Nodding slightly at Haruyuki as he mumbled that in a hoarse voice, Niko stepped back several steps and spoke while loosely hanging her arms at her sides.


    ¡°¡ªThis is a huge service. I¡¯ll demonstrate it just once, so look carefully.¡±


    The instant they heard that, Haruyuki and Takumu corrected their sitting postures with a jolt while sitting in seiza[3] position. In order to miss nothing, they opened their eyes so wide that they were practically spilling out from their helmets.


    The smallest-sized female avatar turned her body towards the south side of the intersection and¡ª


    Suddenly, a pale red flame-like aura appeared on her left fist just as it did a while ago.


    ¡°This is the first of the four types of basic techniques, ?Attack Range Expansion?.¡±


    With a voice empty of fighting spirit, she threw forward her left arm at such a fast speed that it became hazy. The air resounded like a whip, and a long straight line of flames was etched into the air.


    Immediately after, a wall of ice that was 30 meters away spouted out pure white vapor into the air with a ¡®BOSHUU¡¯ sound. When that vapor had scattered to the winds, a huge hole of a size that a single person could slip through was visible in the middle of the wall. The color of the smooth inner wall had changed from blue to black, and it was impossible to tell just how deep the hole went.


    The still-speaking voice reached the ears of the two dumbfounded boys whose eyes had peeled.


    ¡°And this is the second basic technique, ?Movement Ability Expansion[4]?.¡±


    The aura of flames wrapped around her small legs this time. Her avatar quickly sank its body, and then her form suddenly disappeared.


    No, Haruyuki¡¯s eyes could just barely see a hazy silhouette. She was behind him. When he quickly turned in that direction, Niko was standing there with her hands against her hips. She had easily moved 30 meters from where she originally stood. When looking closely, a thin track that was melting and raising pale white smoke was etched into the icy road surface. Without giving them the time to catch their breaths, Niko¡¯s figure disappeared a second time leaving only a ¡®SHUWAH!¡± sound. She surrounded Haruyuki and Takumu with a circular white track and then returned to her original position.


    It was overwhelming.


    The range of her long-distance attack endlessly exceeded that of Silver Crow¡¯s ?sword of light?, and moreover the speed of her side-dash easily surpassed the charge of Ash Roller¡¯s bike.


    While clenching both his hands in order to hold down his enormous shock, Haruyuki didn¡¯t overlook a thing and waited for the next demonstration.


    ¡ªBut.


    The scarlet avatar nimbly spread out her hands and spoke.


    ¡°That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°B-But.¡±


    The one who raised his voice was Takumu.


    ¡°You said before that there were four kinds of basic techniques¡­¡±


    ¡°There are. The third is ?Attack Power Expansion[5]?. And the fourth is ?Armor Density Expansion[6]?. But¡­I can¡¯t use either of those.¡±


    ¡°Y-You can¡¯t use them!? Can¡¯t use a basic technique¡­a King like Niko can¡¯t!?¡±


    Glaring at Haruyuki who had reflexively shouted that, but without raising her tone, Niko explained.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s because¡­I myself know that I¡¯m not that strong. That is the ?scar of the heart? that was used as the source of this avatar¡­of Scarlet Rain.¡±


    Her cute mask turned straight up towards the snowy sky. The Red King, who was one of the strongest people that ruled over Accel World and who possessed terrifying long-distance firepower, spoke in a monologue with a voice that somehow felt lonely.


    ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m scared of the world. The closer I get to it, the more it hurts me in every way possible. Brain Burst consumed my craving to keep the world away from me, and produced this avatar. Scarlet Rain¡¯s long-distance firepower is like the spines of a hedgehog. The me inside it is just a weak brat without any power¡­That¡¯s why I cannot strengthen the offensive power or defense power of this avatar¡¯s body through mind power. Do you understand, Crow, Pile? That is the absolute limit of the Incarnate System.¡±


    For a while, only the sound of the cold wintry wing thinly flowed through this world of ice and snow.


    Haruyuki cast his eyes down deeply and reflected upon the Red King¡¯s words in his mind.


    In the real world, he couldn¡¯t say that he knew very much about Niko¡ªKoudzuki Yuniko. Without knowing the faces of her real parents, she went to an elementary boarding school that served as a shelter institution. That was all that he had been told. But, her early life had surely wounded Niko so severely that Haruyuki couldn¡¯t imagine it. To the point that, even if she was disguised in an avatar of the virtual world, it was impossible for her to believe in her own strength.


    ¡®In that case, I.¡¯ Haruyuki continued to think.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s all too clear that this avatar of mine is a projection of my longing of ?wanting to escape from this place?. A hand for seeking what I can¡¯t reach. Wings for escaping to a place where no one else can go. That¡¯s why I was able to master ?Attack Range Expansion? mind power and recharge the gauge of ?Gale Thruster? with ?Movement Ability Expansion? mind power. And for the same reason, I probably can¡¯t use ?Armor Density Expansion? that raises defensive power.


    ¡ªBut. Even if that¡¯s how it is. I want to believe¡­in the words that that person repeatedly told me, ¡®You can change¡¯¡­


    ¡°¡­In other words, it¡¯s something like this.¡±


    The quiet mutter that Takumu let our broke the persistently long silence. Haruyuki raised his head with a start and looked at Cyan Pile next to him.


    ¡°¡­The type of mind power that one can learn is restricted to what complies with the nature of each duel avatar. Conversely speaking, even if one masters mind power, things that one cannot do simply cannot be done.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    Giving that short affirmation, Niko then turned to look at Haruyuki.


    ¡°For example, even the ?Attack Range Expansion? that Crow performed earlier is originally an unnecessary technique for Silver Crow since he had speed and flight ability from the start. Well, it is the optimal training for mastering how to use the image control circuit. The same can be said for the technique I just showed you. It showily opened up a big hole in the ice like that, but even if I didn¡¯t use any image concentration, with this thing¡­¡±


    She tapped the gun holster on her waist.


    ¡°If I used this, I could much more easily make a much bigger hole. Then, why are Incarnate techniques necessary?¡±


    Staring at Niko as her words cut off, Haruyuki tilted his head and wracked his brain for an answer. But, perhaps as expected, Takumu answered clearly while sitting upright in seiza position.


    ¡°That¡¯s because an Incarnate attack can only be defended by an Incarnate attack, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s because the image control system determines the outcome of attack and defense faster than the motion command system can order the game¡¯s system. It¡¯s like the enemy having a laser rifle even though you yourself only have a leather shield and a club. If it¡¯s the Professor here who received such an Incarnate attack from Dusk Taker without knowing anything, you should understand the unreasonableness of it very well.¡±


    ¡°¡­That fact really did strike home to me. That attack of Dusk Taker¡¯s that could scrape off anything with his claws was probably an ?Attack Power Expansion?-type, but it felt as he could beat an edged tool with just his bare fist¡­¡±


    Letting out a snort, Niko put both her hands on her hips and spoke.


    ¡°In short, if you¡¯re going to seriously fight with Dusk Taker, you absolutely need to at least learn either ?attack? or ?defense?¡­Although we just dived into here and finally arrived at the main objective¡­¡±


    Then, the Red King gained a rare tone of slight hesitation in her words.


    ¡°¡­Just as you said before, there is almost no hope of mastering a type of mind power that is contrary to the attributes of your avatar, no matter how much you train. So, there is something I have to ask here no matter what. ¡ªPile, does your avatar have the attribute of ?close range? or ?long range??¡±


    ¡°Heh!?¡±


    The one who raised his voice wildly like that was Haruyuki. After looking at both Niko and Takumu, he spoke in a dumfounded voice.


    ¡°I-It¡¯s already decided that he¡¯s close-range¡­right? After all, such a vivid ?close-range blue? avatar is not easily seen even in the Shinjuku area.¡±


    ¡°I also think that, but even so, there¡¯s that Enhanced Armament of his¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡±


    Saying that, Haruyuki once again stared at the huge ?Pile Driver? that wrapped around Cyan Pile¡¯s right arm from the tip to the elbow.


    This Enhanced Armament shot out a built-in 1-meter long strong steel stake at a violent speed. Its piercing power was so great it had once torn apart the metal-color Silver Crow with just one attack in the past.


    It could still be just barely thought of as a close-range armament up to that point, but the problem was Cyan Pile¡¯s strongest special technique ?Lightning Cyan Spike?. That technique changed the stake into a beam of light and fired it. Its range easily exceeded 50 meters, and it was clearly classified as a long-range attack.


    After staring at it unconsciously for several seconds¡ª


    Haruyuki raised his face up with a start, and subsequently turned his eyes away greatly.


    A duel avatar was created with the scars of the heart as a source. Cyan Pile¡¯s appearance and his right arm¡¯s Enhanced Armament should represent the fears and desires that Takumu held. Haruyuki had decided in his heart that it was something that shouldn¡¯t be inquired into.


    However¡ª


    ¡°It¡¯s all right, Haru.¡±


    Takumu said that in a quiet voice, so Haruyuki timidly raised his head.


    ¡°¡­T-Taku¡­¡±


    ¡°Since the moment I heard of the Incarnate System from you last night, I somehow expected it. That in order to master it, I would have to directly face my scars¡­¡±


    ¡°T-Then, I¡¯ll leave here now.¡±


    ¡°No, I want you to hear it too. Because it¡¯s something I really should have said much, much earlier¡­¡±


    Precisely correcting his sitting posture, Takumu looked first straight at Haruyuki and then Niko, and then spoke.


    ¡°¡ªI think that this Cyan Pile is essentially a close range-type, as expected. Then, why was it created with a long range-type initial equipment¡­? That is most likely because my fear is embodied here.¡±


    ¡°¡­Fear¡­?¡±


    Just what on earth did Takumu¡ªMayuzumi Takumi, who seemed to have looks, ability and everything else, fear?


    Facing Haruyuki who was listening attentively while dumbfounded, Takumu spoke the following words.


    ¡°From third to fifth grade in elementary school, I was severely bullied. I also thought of jumping down from the roof of our apartment building more than once or twice.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡­!!¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s entire body froze with a start. ¡®No way, impossible, for that Takumu to be bullied¡¯¡­such thoughts whirled around violently in his brain. As if consoling Haruyuki instead, Takumu continued in a quiet voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s understandable that you didn¡¯t notice either. I was bullied neither at school nor at our apartment building, but at the kendo class that I attended at that time. I¡­although it may be immodest of me to say it, I believe that I had fairly good aptitude in kendo. I seemed to rapidly master the techniques from when I started learning in the spring of third grade. My rank also quickly rose, and I reached the point where I won against the older kids. But¡­it was when the second semester ended. When the teacher was absent from the dojo, a group of older students suggested practicing their thrust technique.¡±


    ¡°T-Thrust, you say, but¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s prohibited until high school. I said no to them. But, the practice was just an excuse. They bound my arms from behind my back and they thrusted a bamboo sword into my throat over, and over, and over again. I was horribly afraid¡­I cried out ¡®Stop, release me¡¯ from beneath my face guard. Before long my voice also stopped coming out¡­When they finally let me go, I had a terrible bruise even beneath my protector. Even now¡­¡±


    Cyan Pile raised his right hand and traced the left side of his neck with a jerk.


    ¡°¡­There remains a scar here that won¡¯t disappear. There were similar incidents repeatedly after that. But I didn¡¯t quit the class. No, I couldn¡¯t quit. I couldn¡¯t say it at all to my parents¡­nor Haru and Chii-chan either. That I quit because I was bullied.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Taku¡­I didn¡¯t¡­notice at all¡­¡±


    With a squeezed-out voice, Haruyuki somehow managed to say just that. But, Takumu lightly shook his head as if to say ¡®It¡¯s fine¡¯.


    ¡°Naturally there was also the choice of consulting with my parents and the teacher. But since there were no social cameras in that dojo and our Neuro Linkers were removed according to the teacher¡¯s policy, there was no proof¡­No, before that, I think I had lost even the energy to resist them. Along the road to the dojo, I would wish countless times to just disappear¡­The bullying continued until the guy that was the principal offender became a junior high student and left the class. When that guy was no longer there, I was so glad¡­¡±


    Those words that were issued along with a sigh were something that Haruyuki was able to sympathize with as if it were himself.


    However, Takumu¡¯s story didn¡¯t end there. What continued after a muttered ¡°But¡± was an unexpected confession.


    ¡°But, as soon as I entered sixth grade, I noticed that I had certain habit. Even though I was fine when I practiced, when it was a match, I would reflexively protect myself with my bamboo sword when the opponent¡¯s sword was pointed at my throat. It was a fatal gap in my actions. I persistently tried to cure it, but the more I concentrated on the match, the more that habit came out¡­I was deeply ingrained with the fear of receiving those terrible thrusts on my throat from that day. Even so, since thrusting is still forbidden in the rules, I¡¯ve been able to somehow hide it until now, but when I become a high school student, I probably won¡¯t be able to keep doing so in direct matches. I surely can¡¯t endure receiving thrusts and using them myself.¡±


    After cutting off his words there and looking one by one at the completely silent Niko, at Haruyuki next to him, and finally at the Enhanced Armament on his right arm, Takumu calmly brought his story to a finish.


    ¡°This ?Pile Driver? is the manifestation of my fear¡­and also anger towards thrusting. I wanted to line up those guys that bullied me back then and pierce their throats with this steel stake one after another¡­That¡¯s why my duel avatar, even though it¡¯s a close range-type, was created not with a sword but with a piercing weapon, Red King.¡±


    His last words were aimed at the silently standing scarlet avatar.


    Finished with listening to this long monologue, Niko finally nodded once and spoke.


    ¡°I clearly heard your ?scar?. So the reason the majority of your potential was poured into the an Enhanced Armament that has the opposite attribute of your avatar was because of something like that¡­In that case, Pile, what opposes you is your own stake. If you can overcome that fear, you will be able to conceive an ?Attack Power Expansion? mind power in your avatar as a true close range-type.¡±


    After declaring that in a severe tone, Niko turned to Haruyuki and asked him.


    ¡°¡­So then, me and the Professor will enter into practical training, but¡­what will you do, Crow? Will you stay here with us?¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­umm.¡±


    After Haruyuki intensely blinked away tears underneath his silver helmet at having understood these two, he answered.


    ¡°¡­No, I think it would probably be better if I left you two here. The reason is¡­I can¡¯t say it very well, but¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Haru.¡±


    Takumu said that and nodded, so Haruyuki stood up after awkwardly laughing. He looked at Niko and added one more thing.


    ¡°Also, I think I¡¯ll try investigating a little by myself after this. Into the mechanism that lets Dusk Taker not appear on the Matching List.¡±


    ¡°Certainly, that¡¯s something that can¡¯t be ignored either. If you think about it, it¡¯s an even bigger problem than his Incarnate attacks. Also, I feel like I¡¯ve heard a similar story recently¡­¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­R-Really!?¡±


    As Haruyuki sidled up to Niko without thinking, the Red King forced back Haruyuki with a jerk and shouted.


    ¡°Like I said, why do you keep approaching me like that!? It¡¯s just a rumor, a rumor! Since there¡¯s someone who knows more about it than me, ask that person!¡±


    ¡°Heh? Wh¡­Where?¡±


    He unconsciously looked around at their surroundings, but of course no one else was there.


    ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you log out. The log-out portal is on the first floor of the Nerima District Government Office.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes¡­¡±


    Niko coldly shook her hands at him now that his business here was done, so Haruyuki started to walk away¡ªbut.


    ¡°Oops, wait a minute!¡±


    He was called to a stop like that, and he turned around once more.


    ¡°Y-Yes?¡±


    ¡°Ah, about that ?Attack Range Expansion? Incarnate technique you used before. Does it have a name?¡±


    ¡°N-Name!?¡±


    Haruyuki exclaimed in a high-pitched voice at that unexpected question. Then, Niko thrusted her index finger at him and shouted rapidly.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t for a childish reason like being cool! It¡¯s guts and spirit that hardens the image and determines how strong an Incarnate technique is. The ideal is to be able to naturally let it out just like an original ability you have or a special technique. Earlier, it took about three seconds from when you started preparing to when you activated it. That¡¯s way too slow! That¡¯s why you first name the technique, turning the name into a trigger when you speak it and condensing the image. Come on, name it, name it now!!¡±


    *GA¡ª¡ªH!* Shouting that, Haruyuki considered it in a panic while looking at his hands.


    ¡°Err¡­blade¡­sword¡­light¡­T-Then.¡±


    Raising his eyes back up, he said,


    ¡°La¡­?Laser Sword[7]?, then.¡±


    ¡°Puh, lame.¡±


    As she laughed at the name that Haruyuki had desperately thought of and was super-cool by his standards, he reflexively retorted back.


    ¡°T-Then what about those names ?Range? and ?Movement? that you used before!¡±


    ¡°That was for teaching, idiot.¡±


    Hearing a familiar cough echo here, Haruyuki hastily looked at Takumu and scratched his head.


    ¡°No, umm. Err¡­Taku, uh¡­do your best!¡±


    As Haruyuki awkwardly raised up his right thumb, Cyan Pile stood up and returned the same gesture as he spoke.


    ¡°You too, Haru. But, try not to do too much reckless behaviour.¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯ll report back against tonight.¡±


    As they nodded to each other, Haruyuki ran several steps towards the Nerima District Government Office this time, before turning around just one last time and shouting.


    ¡°Niko! ¡­Thank you!!¡±


    The voice that came back to him was the same healthily abusive voice as always.


    ¡°Shut up, just leave already!!¡±

 Volume 4 - CH 6

    From the log-out portal point that was installed in the lobby of the Nerima Public Office, Haruyuki returned to the real world.


    After taking a deep breath, he raised his body from the sofa. Looking beside him while unplugging the XSB cable, he saw Takumu there with his eyes closed beneath his glasses and breathing softly.


    Right now, the consciousness of his friend should be doing nothing but desperate training within a different time-rate from Haruyuki. No, it couldn¡¯t be described with simple words like training. Takumu was directly facing his heart¡¯s scars that had been pressed down to the bottom of his heart for many years and was trying to overcome them.


    ¡°¡­Taku, do your best.¡±


    Haruyuki mumbled that with the lowest volume and then stood up.


    On the opposite side of the table, the girl that was dressed in an elementary school uniform there wasn¡¯t actually sleeping with an innocent sleeping face, but¡ªhe looked over at her. Haruyuki said ¡°Thank you¡± inside his mind to that figure which seemed like a true angel only when like this, and then opened the massive door and went out into the hallway from the radio-wave isolated room.


    ¡ªAt that moment.


    ¡°This way. Hurry.¡±


    A voice came down from above his head, and he raised his eyes with a start.


    Standing there was, without a doubt, the shop employee that had carried the drinks and cake to the table of Haruyuki and the others a while ago.


    Dark cherry-colored long skirt and coat that swelled out at the shoulders. Over that, a snow-white apron that was decorated with moderate lace. A white Katyusha[1] on her head, and a thin ribbon over her chest that was of a brighter crimson red than her clothes.


    In short dressed in the so-called maid uniform, the shop employee was younger than he had thought when he had seen her from a distance. Though she was quite tall, she was probably a high school student. Her bangs were exactly divided at the middle and her hair was braided all the way to the bottom of her shoulders behind her head. Her features were sharp, and her eyes that were thinly turned up increased the sharpness of her impression by two-fold.


    ¡­Is it because I came out early? Will Niko and Taku be okay like this?


    Even as Haruyuki thought that, he simply nodded for the time being and tried to escape to the interior of the shop from the hallway. But.


    ¡°Not that way.¡±


    As she said that, she caught the back collar of his blazer with a jerk and his head was thrown back suddenly.


    The shock of ¡®What was with this poor treatment by a shop employee of a cake shop and who moreover looked like a maid-san!?¡¯ that he felt was amplified dozens of times by her next words.


    ¡°We¡¯re going out from the back. Follow me, Silver Crow.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Wha¡­!?¡±


    While screaming ¡°ThisisbadI¡¯vebeendiscoveredinreallifeeeeeeeeee¡± in his mind, Haruyuki reflexively tried to run away, but because his collar was being held tight it only strangled his neck further. Despite her slender figure, she had a frightful grip.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to escape, and it¡¯s too late even if you run away now.¡±


    As she said that with a thinly-pitched husky voice, Haruyuki reluctantly gave up on escaping and turned around.


    The maid-san stared down at Haruyuki while completely expressionless, and then after finally letting go of the collar of his blazer, she spoke in a completely casual tone.


    ¡°Scarlet Rain told me to cooperate in your investigation. My name is ?Blood Leopard?. When addressing me, call me Leopard not Blood. If you shorten it, use Pard not Leopa.¡±


    ¡°Wai¡­t, plea¡­se wait a moment.¡±


    Haruyuki somehow managed to get just those words out and tried hard to understand the situation.


    ¡ªAsk the person who knows more about it.


    The Red King Niko had certainly said that to Haruyuki just before he logged out. But, Haruyuki had naturally assumed that he would only meet that person in Accel World.


    But, it seemed that the maid-san here that had exposed her real form before him in the real world was the Burst Linker belonging to the Red Legion that was the ?knowledgeable person? that Niko had spoken of and moreover was a shop employee here at the same time, so in other words, this place was not only a cake shop but also something like the base of ?Prominence?¡­


    As he somehow thinking up to that point, the maid-san that was changed to being called ?Blood Leopard? which was abbreviated to ?Pard-san? spoke as if growing impatient.


    ¡°I waited two seconds. Think about the rest while moving.¡±


    Then, her long skirt softly waved as she turned around and began to walk unflaggingly towards the door that was visible at the end of the dark hallway.


    Haruyuki no longer had any other choice but to follow the command of the mysterious older woman.


    The door seemed to be a back entrance, and it came out next to a garage that was built at the back of the cake shop.


    The maid-san operated something with her fingers in the air, and the shutters that faced the road began to open automatically. ?Blood Leopard? seemed to be quite a hasty character, and she stuck out one finger at Haruyuki as if the time to wait was also precious.


    ¡°The only information that I¡¯ve heard from master is this. There is a Burst Linker who connects to a local network yet doesn¡¯t appear on the Matching List. You want to see through the method he uses to do that. That¡¯s how it is, K[2]?¡±


    As she asked for confirmation using a shortened phrase that reduced the already short word ?OK? by half, he nodded in response.


    ¡°Ye¡­Yeah, that¡¯s exactly it.¡±


    ¡°Although this is my first time hearing of list interception, I¡¯ve also recently heard a rumor about a ?Local Net Troll?.¡±


    When the maid-san suddenly said that, Haruyuki reflexively leaned forward and asked impatiently.


    ¡°L-Local Net Troll¡­? What kind of person is that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know much about it. It seems that, in a certain network, a Burst Linker that intrudes into there but disappears before anyone can think of challenging him to a rematch has appeared.¡±


    ¡°W-Where is that ?certain network?!?¡±


    ¡°Akihabara[3].¡±


    This time he pulled his body backward when he heard that brief response that was returned immediately.


    ¡°¡­A-Akihabara is, if I remember right, the territory of the Yellow Legion¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Looking at the maid-san who nodded as if it were nothing, he gulped deeply.


    It was three months ago that the Red King Niko had fallen into an instant predicament due to the vicious plot of the Yellow King that controlled the Legion ?Crypt Cosmic Circus?, ?Yellow Radio?. Haruyuki and the others of Nega Nebulas who had been accompanying her had also been dragged into the ambush by dozens of other players and went through a tough time, so you could say that currently Nega Nebulas was strongly opposed to the Yellow Legion the most out of the six great legions.


    Although he very much wanted to go collect information, Haruyuki also lacked a little of the courage to enter the territory of such an enemy, and so he bit his lip.


    ¡ªBut, this isn¡¯t a situation where I can afford to be scared here. It¡¯s also fortunate that I was told that there is a clue in Akihabara. Besides, if I go into the gallery of an ordinary duel there and indirectly heard about that rumor, I may not have to encounter such a scary sight¡­


    While thinking that, Haruyuki tried to muster a tiny amount of courage.


    Then, Blood Leopard, who has been silent for several seconds, said a short sentence.


    ¡°K. We¡¯re going now.¡±


    ¡°Heh?¡±


    ¡­By ¡°going¡±, did she mean to Akihabara? This person is also coming along? Surely not with that appearance¡­?


    Once again grabbing the nape of the surprised and blinking Haruyuki¡¯s neck and saying nothing as if to say she didn¡¯t intend to say anything further here, the maid-san walked into the garage as her half-boots resounded on the ground.


    Enshrined within there while releasing an overwhelming presence was¡ª


    A huge electric motorbike whose full length was more than two meters.


    It could only be thought of as ?something? completely different from an electric scooter that ran about peacefully. Its entire body was wrapped in a glossy black and red cowl, and the front and back wheels with their own in-built motors were astonishingly thick. Even though the active suspension arms were already so rugged that the armor could be seen, its whole form was so smooth and low that it seemed to crawl on the ground.


    ¡°Ama¡­zing¡­¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki unconsciously spoke out in awe, Pard-san threw something round at him from a rack on the wall. The thing he reflexively caught and looked down at was a red open-type helmet.


    ¡°¡­¡­Yes?¡±


    Staring fixedly at him and approaching at a brisk pace as he didn¡¯t understand the meaning of this, Blood Leopard picked the helmet up again from him.


    *GAPO* She put the helmet on Haruyuki¡¯s head. Continuing, she skillfully fastened the harness under his jaw with a single hand.


    After also putting on her own black full-face helmet over her Katyusha and shaking out her overflowing braid, she once again grabbed the nape of Haruyuki¡¯s neck and made him sit down on the large bike¡¯s tandem seat with a thump.


    ¡­Impossible. No way. Wait. Wait a minute.


    Soon after he shouted that out in his mind, the maid-san straddled the bike while still in her maid clothes and grabbed the rough handles with delicate hands that had leather gloves on them.


    ¡°Starting.¡±


    As she seemingly muttered a voice command, the bike¡¯s meter panel dimly lit up. The suspension arms that extended out the front and back preloaded.


    As Haruyuki¡¯s Neuro Linker was also connected to the bike¡¯s CPU, the speed and battery meter windows opened up in his vision. At the same time, he heard Blood Leopard¡¯s voice, not through speech but through wireless communication.


    ¡®Grab on.¡¯


    ¡®Eh, umm, no, but.¡¯


    Immediately after he thought about it, her two hands extended from in front of him and grabbed onto Haruyuki¡¯s arms. His arms were then pulled and made to wrap around her thin waist over her apron. This woman seemed to follow the principle of never repeating the same command twice.


    Though he had already hallway given up as escape from here appeared impossible, Haruyuki still persisted.


    ¡®Ah¡­umm, are you going to drive with that appearance?¡¯


    ¡®Taking time to change clothes is pointless.¡¯


    ¡®Al¡­Also, will the shop be okay?¡¯


    ¡®My shift is till 5:00. If you have any other questions, say them all at once.¡¯


    ¡®¡­¡­¡­I don¡¯t have any more.¡¯


    ¡®K.¡¯


    And then, the maid-san casually opened up the throttle.


    *RYUUN* Along with a motor sound which felt like a bottomless torque within the silence, the huge bike easily slid out from the cake shop¡¯s garage.


    The time display at the lower right of his vision read 5:08 PM. The rain had stopped without him noticing it and the gaps between the clouds that flowed towards the west were dyed in a magnificent orange.


    Ah, I left my umbrella in the store. Well, Taku will collect it later.


    As Haruyuki faintly thought of that in an escapist manner, the electric bike they were riding smoothly came out from the Sakuradai town area at a nearly silent low speed pace. It seemed that Blood Leopard drove safely despite appearing to be an impatient person¡ª


    Just when he let the tension out of his shoulders, the bike turned right at the larger intersection and went onto the Loop 7.


    *KYUIAAAAA!!* The in-built motors of the front and back wheels roared out, and the needle of the holo-meter suddenly jumped upwards.


    *BATABATA* Her long skirt fluttered at the edge of his field of view. The wind pressure beat into his face over his helmet¡¯s shield.


    ¡°¡­Ah¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    Haruyuki screamed out using his real voice.


    The large motorbike that was carrying a rider in maid clothes and a middle school student in a school uniform entered Mejiro Street from the Loop 7 and was flat-out speeding determinedly towards the east.


    ¡ªBe that as it may, in this era, cases of bikes and automobiles breaking the legal speed limit didn¡¯t occur. This was because the vehicle¡¯s control system automatically places a limiter at the road¡¯s maximum speed. If you wanted to break that limit, you would have to illegally remodel the system, or you would have to order it to enter emergency mode and temporarily stop and suspend the control AI. Of course, since it was also illegal to suspend the AI without a justifiable reason, you would have to be prepared for a policeman¡¯s handcuffs either way.


    The bike that Blood Leopard drove naturally had not been modified through either method and its limiter was placed at 80 km/h which was the exact legal speed limit of Mejiro Street, but the time it had taken to reach the maximum speed from initially 0 km/h was uncommonly short. Inevitably, huge Gs that he had never experienced before in the real world were pushing down Haruyuki¡¯s round body and his screams rose each time, but in addition the slender body of Pard-san who he was clinging to was being pressed ¡®GUNI¡ª¡ª ¡¯ against his stomach, so he was already at his wit¡¯s end.


    ¡­Thank goodness I¡¯m sitting in the back. If our positions were reversed, I¡¯d be feeling her front instead of her back. No, isn¡¯t the reverse fundamentally impossible in the first place?


    Which he considered such things with his dizzy-feeling head, the bike entered Sotobori Street in Iidabashi[4]. The little road they were on right in the middle of the city during the evening was filled with traffic, and the drivers of the surrounding electric automobiles and scouters were noticing the Pard-san¡¯s and Haruyuki¡¯s bike and widening their eyes while blinking.


    That was only natural, as a dazzling maid in a snow-white apron was driving during dusk on a huge sports-bike that people almost never saw these days. Moreover, there was a fat middle school student sitting snugly behind her.


    Unable to bare the numerous looks that were concentrated on them as they waited at a red light, Haruyuki spoke with thought-speech while ducking his head down.


    ¡®¡­U-Umm, it¡¯s amazing, how much we stand out.¡¯


    ¡®Yes.¡¯


    Without being disheartened by Pard-san¡¯s reply that seemed to say it was inconsequential, no, that she really thought it was inconsequential, Haruyuki continued.


    ¡®¡­I-It seems a little dangerous to plunge into the headquarters of the CCC[5] like this.¡¯


    This time her words were a little longer.


    ¡®NP[6]. Conversely, we¡¯re not conspicuous.¡¯


    ¡®Heh?¡¯


    But she didn¡¯t answer any further, and when the light turned blue[7], she fully opened up the throttle. The motor short them out like lightning. Haruyuki choked.


    He understood the meaning of her words after the bike entered into a multi-level parking lot that was adjacent to the westernmost edge of the Akihabara district and they walked on foot for several minutes.


    As soon as they went into the main street that pierced through the electronics district from north to south, at least three maids jumped into Haruyuki¡¯s sight. Of course, even if one said that, they weren¡¯t actual maids, though speaking of which Blood Leopard wasn¡¯t a real maid either, but anyway¡ªthey were handing out holo-papers that seemed to advertise a shop somewhere to those that passed by while smiling. Certainly, the only outward difference between those girls and Pard-san was their smiling faces.


    ¡°¡­I see¡­¡±


    Deeply understanding it, Haruyuki looked up once again at the majestic appearance of the Sleepless Town, Akihabara.


    This district, due to redevelopments at the beginning of the 2000s, seemed to be have been reorganized thoroughly as an intelligent-looking street. But after that, the price of land fell into decline while the center of consumer electronics sales shifted to Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, the banks that became strength-deficient during the depression of those times quickly backed out, the landowners were sub-divided, and chaos covered this district in the 2020s once again just like back in the last century.


    And so, in the current year 2047, innumerable small scale shops of every industry related to electricity, networks and sub-culture were crowded together in this district. Since self-indulgent neon lights shined along all the windows of the buildings that lined down the street, there was no uniformity of color, and it was like standing in the middle of a galaxy where stars of pure color were crowded together.


    If Haruyuki connected to the Global Net right now and moreover accepted advertisement information without restrictions, bargain holo-leaflets like custom parts for Neuro Linkers or deferment PCs and various applications softwares would flood his vision and prevent him from seeing anything.


    ¡°How nice¡­¡±


    As he let his mouth slack in bliss at the chaos of information that could no longer be thought of as reality but as the virtual world, his nape was suddenly grasped hard.


    ¡°This way.¡±


    Blood Leopard, who did not seem to have any especially strong emotions, began to walk northwards along the sidewalk that was overflowing with shoppers while dragging along Haruyuki.


    The place she led him to was a particularly noisy building that was built at a place where you had to enter it a little towards the back from the main street.


    He didn¡¯t really understand what kind of shop it was at first glance. A neon sign that read ?QUADTOWER? blinked on and off at the entrance, and the interior was dim with narrow lighting. Also, countless electronic sounds of great volume overlapped and leaked out from within.


    ¡°¡­Quadtower? What is this shop¡­?¡±


    The slightly scared Haruyuki asked that,


    ¡°A ga-cen.¡±


    With that short answer, Pard-san unflaggingly headed towards the interior of the shop without any hesitation. While thinking ¡®Ga-cen, what¡¯s that?¡¯, Haruyuki went after her at a trot.


    The meaning of those words became clear the instant he went down the short stairs and stepped into a dark floor.


    The things that were tightly lined up on the naked concrete floor were prehistoric game machines, which were embedded with outdated CRT monitors and stick-type control panels on huge units. Striking sounds, explosions and BGMs were being discharged into the air from each speaker without reservation, and the players that were sitting on oblong chairs were absorbedly striking their panels with ¡®GACHAGACHA¡¯ and ¡®PASHIPASHI¡¯ sounds.


    As he watched dumbfounded from next to the wall, a player gave a victory pose on one side of two units that were lined up back to back, and the gallery people in the back suddenly sprang forward in a commotion. On the opposite side, a mortified-looking young man stood up. It seemed that they had battled each other through the two machines.


    One of the gallery people immediately sat down at the vacated machine. That girl, who also had a showy appearance like an actual game character, took out a silver 100-yen coin from her pocket and dropped it into the slot in the center of the panel.


    ¡°I¡­I see.¡±


    Haruyuki mumbled with a parched mouth.


    ¡°Ga-cen means game center¡­Those machines are the old-fashioned so-called ?arcade games?, aren¡¯t they!¡±


    He continued speaking excitedly, but Blood Leopard merely answered ¡°Yes¡± as usual and began to walk forward again.


    Although he understood the importance of the situation surrounding him and his goal in coming to this district, Haruyuki himself could not help but want to sit down at that battle machine while thinking ¡®Just once is fine¡¯. He hadn¡¯t touched one of those large-type controllers before, but he had played 2D hand-to-hand combat games that were controlled with a pad on a household machine at his home so many times he was tired of it.


    However, most regrettably, he didn¡¯t have any old-fashioned material money like 100-yen coins in either his pockets or his backpack. He might find an electronic money change machine somewhere if he looked around the shop, but if he got separated from Pard-san in this dark and large shop, it might turn out terrible¡ªrather than that, he¡¯d probably be scolded, so he tearfully gave up on that.


    While the far too late question ¡®In the first place, why did this person bring me here?¡¯ finally went through his mind, he chased after the swaying braid on the back of her maid clothes, and they eventually arrived at an elevator on the wall that was the farthest back inside the shop.


    The scarily old-fashioned lift carried the two of them and went upwards while rattling. It stopped on the fourth floor.


    What was on the other side of the opening door was completely different from the basement floor and was as silent as the grave. What were lined up here weren¡¯t game machines, but narrow booths that were divided by solid-looking panels. Next to the right wall, there were drink vendors set up in a row.


    Haruyuki also recognized a place like this. A so-called ?Dive Caf¨¦?, a shop that cheaply offered private rooms for Diving while in the town. Since the booths could be locked, the security was quite higher than leaving one¡¯s real body in an open space like a family restaurant or coffee shop.


    Nonetheless, there had certainly been plenty of Dive Cafes closer to the parking lot where they had left the bike. He wondered why they had expressly come to this far away building, but Pard-san quickly finished up with the receipt at the unmanned counter in front and then briskly walked further inside the place. Haruyuki reluctantly followed.


    However¡ª


    ¡°Enter.¡±


    What Blood Leopard indicated at was to all appearances a single person-use booth and she furthermore entered inside following after Haruyuki as if it were natural, so Haruyuki couldn¡¯t help but question her this time.


    ¡°U-Umm, there¡¯s only one chair.¡±


    ¡°There were no two-person booths vacant. If we cram in together, we¡¯ll fit.¡±


    As she replied with that expressionlessly, she shut the slide-type door and the sturdy-looking lock resounded out with a ¡®GACHINGACHIN¡¯. While collecting together her long skirt, she sat down sideways on the reclining chair.


    When she brought her slender body near the edge, there was certainly about 40 cm of space left on the chair. But even so the fat Haruyuki would just barely fit if he sat there. Rather, he would be squeezed in.


    ¡°¡­¡­Um.¡±


    As Haruyuki tried to continue to say ¡®I¡¯ll reserve another room for myself¡¯, the maid-san beat him to the punch and spoke.


    ¡°NP. I don¡¯t care about sticking close to a child.¡±


    ¡ªBut I care about it a lot!! Or rather, if you think about the first condition for being a Burst Linker, you can¡¯t be more than three years older than me!!


    Although he cried that all out in his mind, Haruyuki was already in a mental state of being used to this, and so sat down next to Blood Leopard while mumbling ¡°P-P-P-Please excuse me then¡±. Although he tried to lean as far as possible towards the armrest, there was still only about a 2 mm gap between the nose of Haruyuki¡¯s head and the chest covered by a pure white apron.


    He felt faint as soon as he noticed a sweet fragrance that drifted softly in the air and that smelt of cream and strawberries, but he somehow endured it, and then a whisper came from so close by that he could feel the breath on his brow.


    ¡°First, you must set up a Full Dive-use avatar that cannot be connected to your real life self.¡±


    ¡°¡­Ah, y-yes.¡±


    He somehow reorganized his decelerated thoughts, quickly operated his virtual desktop, and changed his avatar from the pink pig that he used on the Umesato Middle local network to a green lizard he had never used before.


    ¡°I-It¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°Then, when you Full Dive, pass into the access gate that has the shining tag ?Akihabara BG?.¡±


    ¡°U-Understood.¡±


    ¡°K. Counting down. One, zero.¡±


    ¡­One usually starts from three at least!


    At the same time as he thought that, the same command came out from both of their mouths.


    ¡°¡°Direct Link.¡±¡±


    *SHUWAH!* Along with that sound, Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness and real body separated, and he fell into darkness.


    A few Access Gates approached from below. Since Haruyuki was cut off from the Global Net, they all should have be local networks administered by this building ?Quadtower?. Among the sparkling characters that read ?Read as much as you like!? and ?Online Game Free Play?, there was indeed an inconspicuous tag that read ?Akihabara BG?.


    When he extended an invisible hand towards it, it drew closer within his field of vision. The moment he was sucked in by that circular gate, there was a slight lag. A sign that some kind of authentication was being performed.


    But the feeling of movement quickly came on him again, and finally the soles of Haruyuki¡¯s feet landed on the ground with a hard metallic sound.


    When he lifted up his turned-down head, he saw that he was in a place that could be called either a huge bar or a club.


    All the walls and floor were made of rusty steel plates and wire-mesh. The rectangular space in the center looked like an atrium, and on the floor of the first floor that was created as if to surround it and the floor of the second floor, there were rough tables made of just bare iron plates lined up at equal intervals.


    At the same time, many avatars that seemed to have also Dived into this bar could be seen seated at these gloomy tables. They were sunken in shadow, but the instant he saw their silhouettes, he got a shuddering feeling.


    This place was not in Accel world, but in a normal virtual space. Even so, Haruyuki understood. They were all Burst Linkers. In other words, this network known as ?Akihabara BG? was a place where only those that had Brain Burst in their Neuro Linkers could connect to.


    After gulping with his green lizard avatar¡¯s throat, he looked around further.


    The next thing he noticed was a large four-sided monitor that was hanging from the ceiling with a chain in the center of this large space. Since the shop was dimly-lit, the characters projected on the virtual screen could be clearly seen.


    Displayed at the top was [TODAY¡¯S BATTLE] in Gothic font.


    Beneath that was [18:00], most likely the current time.


    The next line [?Frost Horn Lv5? 1.57 VS ?Slate Bolt Lv4? 3.22] were without a doubt the announcement of a duel. But he didn¡¯t understand what the numbers with a decimal point that was written after the level were supposed to be.


    ¡°¡­¡­Umm, this place is¡­¡±


    When Haruyuki finally stopped looking around at his surroundings, he spoke in a low voice to Blood Leopard who was standing right next to him.


    Her avatar, perhaps naturally or as expected, wasn''t wearing a maid dress anymore. Her entire body was tightly covered with a black leather rider suit. However, what was on top wasn¡¯t a human head. A beast of the feline family with beautiful dark red fur. For the first time, Haruyuki remembered that ?Leopard? meant leopard[8].


    The female rider with a leopard head glanced down at Haruyuki¡¯s lizard avatar with her shining ash-gold eyes, and spoke.


    ¡°?Akihabara Battle Ground?. The holy place of duels for Burst Linkers.¡±


    ¡°H-Holy place¡­?¡±


    After repeating her words, Haruyuki suddenly thought of something and asked.


    ¡°Akihabara, that means, is this the base of the Yellow Legion or something?¡±


    ¡°No. This is the only absolutely neutral place within the Akihabara area¡­Follow me.¡±


    Her boots made a clacking sound as she started to walk, so for the time being he followed after her.


    At the very back of the bar, there was as expected a counter that was made from iron plates. Blood Leopard smoothly sat down on the center stool with a supple movement. Haruyuki also made his small lizard body climb onto the stool next to hers with a heave-ho.


    ¡°Good evening, ?Matchmaker?.¡±


    Looking at the avatar on the other side of the counter that suddenly raised its face in response to Pard-san¡¯s quiet voice, Haruyuki at once thought ¡®A dwarf!¡¯.


    A shaggy beard along with a short and stout stature. He wore metal-rimmed glasses over round, sunken eyes, and a huge butterfly necktie was tied around his neck. Rather, it was stranger that he wasn¡¯t holding an axe in his rough hands.


    The dwarf-type avatar first looked at Pard-san¡¯s leopard head and raised one of his eyebrows, then looked at Haruyuki¡¯s lizard heard and made a ¡®hmm¡¯ sound, and then turned back to Pard-san and grinned.


    ¡°Why if it isn¡¯t a rare customer. How many months has it been, leopard?¡±


    It was a completely dwarf-like tone, complete with baritone. But, since he was connected to this network, the one moving this avatar should also be a Burst Linker, so in other words he shouldn¡¯t be older than 17-years-old.


    However, to worry about such a thing would be dumb and boorish. Pard-san shrugged her shoulders slightly, and gave a short response of ¡°Eight months¡±. The dwarf that was appropriately named ?Matchmaker? laughed again as his mustache twitched, and then spoke.


    ¡°Have you missed having a real fight here? Or are you here to earn more pocket money?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but I didn¡¯t come here today to duel, nor to gamble.¡±


    Hearing those words, Haruyuki reflexively raised his voice.


    ¡°G-Gam¡­ble!?¡±


    Then, the dwarf raised his eyebrows and pointed at the huge center monitor with the tip of his beard.


    ¡°Look at those numbers there. Those show nothing except the odds.¡±


    ¡°Odds¡­¡±


    Now that he mentioned it, it was exactly as he said. The numbers of 1.57 and 3.33 that followed after the names of the announced fighters could only be the rates of betting.


    In other words, this place managed gambling for ?duels? between Burst Linkers.


    ¡°¡­J-Just what on earth do you bet? I-I-It can¡¯t be Burst Points, can it?¡±


    When he asked that in a hoarse voice, the dwarf let out a grand snort.


    ¡°Idiot, if we betted something like points, hot-headed idiots would have their Brain Burst forcefully uninstalled one after another. Of course the bets are real money.¡±


    ¡°R-Real money¡­¡±


    That was also plenty bad enough, or rather private gambling was a completely illegal act. As Haruyuki flapped his mouth open and shut, Matchmaker suddenly gave a satisfied smile.


    ¡°You, don¡¯t you know just how much this leopard-head onee-san has earned here?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say things that will cause misunderstandings. You can¡¯t earn anything by betting with just fight money, and in the first place you only get five hundred yen per game even if you win. It is much lower than a part-time job¡¯s hourly pay.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­F-Five hundred yen¡­¡±


    Haruyuki once again mumbled, aghast. Hearing him say that, the dwarf laughed pleasantly.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s how it is. The maximum you can gamble is 300 yen per game. That¡¯s the limit with the pocket money of middle and high school students.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­I-I see¡­¡±


    As the tension finally left Haruyuki¡¯s shoulders just a little, Blood Leopard¡¯s voice mentally strained him once again.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end the greetings here, and head into the main subject.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re an impatient leopard as always. If you¡¯re here neither to battle nor to gamble, what did you come here for?¡±


    ¡°I came to meet with you as an informer today. What I want to know is information about the ?Local Net Troll?¡­the Burst Linker who can intercept the Matching List without being connected to the network.¡±


    His reaction to that was striking.


    The instant he heard Pard-san¡¯s question, the dwarf gained a sharp glint in his eyes in shock, and quickly looked left and right over the counter. After checking that there weren¡¯t any other Divers without hearing range, he squeezed out an even lower voice.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve heard of the talk about list interception somewhere. The rumors that are flowing about right now shouldn¡¯t be that detailed.¡±


    This time Blood Leopard was the one who raised the eyebrows of her leopard head.


    ¡°The one that¡¯s asking is me.¡±


    ¡°Muh¡­that¡¯s true. Then, since an information fee concerning this topic is not needed, please tell me what you know as well in exchange.¡±


    ¡°K, to the extent that I can talk about it.¡±


    Matchmaker nodded, then leaned his body over the counter and started speaking in a voice that seemed to twist from inside his beard.


    ¡°¡­The Burst Linker that intercepts the Matching List¡­That is the big problem that is secretly shaking this Akihabara BG right now.¡±


    It¡¯s nice to be young.


    The dwarf said that to Haruyuki who was visiting here for the first time.


    Akihabara BG was a local network that can also be connected to within the game center ?Quadtower?. Burst Linker that wished to appear in betting matches here would visit this bard first and register as players at the counter. Then the system selected the most suitable duel opponents based on level and affinity, and the match time and odds were displayed on the central monitor.


    Those that wanted to bet money would bet up to 300 yen up until the deadline time. After that, one of the players would accelerate just before the game time started, and the opponent would be chosen from the Matching List and the ?duel? would begin. The fundamental structure of it was just that. Simple, no?


    The greatest rule in this local network was one must not ?duel? against anyone except the players chosen by the Matchmaker. Anyone that broke this rule and picked a duel against a betting visitor or another player that was more convenient for them would be beaten up by the strong-armed bodyguards¡ªof course, in a duel¡ªand would be kicked out from the local network. This was a holy place for duelers that not even the ?Yellow King? that ruled Akihabara could lay his hands on.


    ¡°However, then.¡±


    Matchmaker continued after some liquid inside of a tumbler that had appeared on the counter without notice.


    ¡°About one week ago, an insolent person appeared that didn¡¯t register as a player and started a duel against one of two fighters right before their announced match began. Because of the mechanism that automatically registers IDs for everyone that Dives into Akiba BG when they connect for the first time, the bodyguards accelerated the instant he appeared again the next day in order to beat him up. However. Even though he was definitely connected to the local network¡­his name wasn¡¯t on the Matching List.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­!¡±


    Haruyuki sucked in a sharp breath.


    The situation that Matchmaker recounted. It was exactly the same as the situation occurring at the Umesato Middle School¡¯s local network right now.


    The dwarf drank up the amber-colored liquid, and then struck the tumbler against the iron-plating of the counter.


    ¡°That day as well, that guy intruded into a match, took down the opposing player, and then calmly logged out. And the next day as well, and then the day after that too. At present, we¡¯ve explained to the players and visitors that it¡¯s the fault of the game registration system, but that''s also already at the limit. Rumors of a ?Local Net Troll? are also flowing around. At this rate, if that guy¡¯s rampage is allowed to continue, it will also affect the continuation of Akiba BG itself.¡±


    After gulping, Haruyuki timidly asked.


    ¡°U-Umm¡­That is, what is the name of the Burst Linker that doesn¡¯t appear on the list¡­?¡±


    The name that the dwarf spitefully spoke was¡ª


    ¡°?Rust Jigsaw?.¡±


    ¡ªIt¡¯s different.


    Haruyuki unconsciously let out a breath of relief, but it being someone different was also a problem. Because it meant that there existed multiple Burst Linkers that had the Matching List interception ability. Within the system of Brain Burst, that privilege was just too huge.


    Matchmaker also voiced in a subdued tone the same kind of misgivings.


    ¡°?One cannot choose one¡¯s duel opponent as one likes?. That is the great general rule of Accel World. Even if you only choose and fight convenient opponents, there is no way to tell when those kinds of opponents will appear on the list. While waiting for them to appear, you can also conversely be challenged to a duel by someone you¡¯re weak against. Therefore, Burst Linkers desperately try hard to polish their own special techniques and conquer their weak points as well.¡±


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s exactly as you say.¡±


    ¡°But, ?Rust Jigsaw? is now using the system of Akiba BG and is freely choosing the duel opponents he wants. If you look at that monitor, it¡¯s very clear which Burst Linkers are connected at any given time. After that, he just has to choose opponents he will certainly win against and intrude just before the start of a match. That guy has already earned over 100 points here just through duels. Not only as the Matchmaker¡­but as a Burst Linker, I absolutely cannot forgive him.¡±


    Finishing speaking those unpleasant words, the dwarf stared intensely at Haruyuki, and then Blood Leopard from behind his round glasses.


    ¡°My story ends here. Now then, this time it¡¯s your turn to talk. Although currently only myself and the bodyguards here should know about ?Rust Jigsaw? intercepting the Matching List, just where on earth did you hear about it?¡±


    Haruyuki glanced up at Pard-san to his left, then moved his lizard¡¯s mouth with a mumble.


    ¡°¡­Umm, I didn¡¯t hear about the case happening here. Another Burst Linker who possesses the exact same ability appeared at a certain local network that I usually connect to¡­So, I thought that there would be someone from Akihabara who knows something about it¡­¡±


    ¡°What!? Another one, at the same time¡­!? That¡¯s inexcusable¡­¡±


    ¡°Where is that local network?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. It has to do with my real life information¡­¡±


    ¡°What, then it¡¯s almost as if I¡¯m the only one that talked!¡±


    ¡ªThen.


    Here, Pard-san at last spoke in a quiet voice.


    ¡°Matchmaker. What is the level and type of that Rust Jigsaw?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? His level is 6, the same as yours. His color is just as his name says, an iron-rust color. This also bears a strong resemblance to you, but his fighting style is different. That guy¡¯s specialty is to hunt close-range types while remaining in the middle/long range, so a mainly close-range type like you would have honestly bad affinity with him.¡±


    ¡­Pard-san is a close-range type? Even though she belongs to the Red Legion, and the ¡®blood¡¯ in her name is reddish?


    These questions that Haruyuki momentarily had were blown away by Blood Leopard¡¯s next words.


    ¡°K. Then, I¡¯ll carry out the information fee like this. Register me and this kid as tag-team players, and set up a long-range type team as our opponents. In addition, if you cancel all the remaining games, Rust Jigsaw who has no other opponents to attack should choose us as his prey for today.¡±


    ¡°¡­W-W-Wha!?¡±


    As Haruyuki fell down from his stool and then held onto the counter in a panic, the dwarf turned suspicious-looking eyes at him once again.


    ¡°¡­Leopard, although your name has circulated around plenty enough for you to act as a lure¡­in the first place, who is this newcomer here?¡±


    Then, Pard-san gave the hint of a smile, though it was very faint, and whispered towards the dwarf¡¯s ear.


    ¡°His name may be even more famous than mine. This kid is the ?silver crow[9]? of the revived Nega Nebulas.¡±


    *PYUU*.


    What echoed out then was a low whistle that the Matchmaker let out from within his beard.


    Haruyuki and Blood Leopard opened their respective Brain Burst option menus and registered each other as a tag team. With this, if either of them were challenged to a ?duel?, both of them would be automatically connected to the stage.


    When Burst Linkers teamed up as a tag team, it was indicated at the top of the Matching List, and it was possible for solo linkers to challenge a tag team, but conversely, duel requests from a tag team to a solo linker naturally couldn¡¯t be done.


    The floor stirred up for an instant when the names ?Blood Leopard? and ?Silver Crow? appeared as a team on the bar¡¯s large central monitor. Things like ¡°Hey, the ?leopard? of Promi[10] is fighting!? and ¡°Why is she teaming up with the ?crow? of NN[11]!?¡± were shouted here and there, and the numerals for the odds instantly began to move.


    While moving from the counter to a seat at a gloomy table in the corner and waiting for the match to start, Haruyuki decided to ask some questions.


    ¡°¡­Umm, why are we fighting as a tag? Since the Rust Jigsaw in question is a solo, he wouldn¡¯t intrude against two opponents, right¡­?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not correct either.¡±


    After touching a cocktail glass to her leopard mouth, Pard-san shook her head a little.


    ¡°Since the level difference is calculated not from the tag team¡¯s average but the sum total of their levels instead, in the case of being challenged by a solo, his points will barely decrease if he loses, and if he wins he¡¯ll get quite a lot. Since Rust Jigsaw seems to be tenacious about points, there is a high probability that he will think of us as delicious prey. Since I have had my name circulated around as a close-range type and Jigsaw seems to specialize in hunting close-range types, he won¡¯t have a disadvantage when it comes to affinity either. Also¡­¡±


    There, she glanced at Haruyuki with her golden pupils, and after closing her mouth once, she continued.


    ¡°¡­The rumor that you have become unable to fly has already spread around considerably. If Rust Jigsaw knows about it, the chances of him attacking increase even further.¡±


    Feeling both pained and happy at Blood Leopard showing consideration just for an instant towards him about the fact that he had lost his wings, Haruyuki quickly continued the conversation.


    ¡°I see¡­if he can take me down instantly, he¡¯ll just have to face you normally one-on-one after that.¡±


    After nodding slightly, Haruyuki imitated Pard-san as she carried her glass to her mouth again, and also gulped down his own virtual cocktail. As he frowned at the strange taste, he thought.


    If, for argument''s sake, that Rust Jigsaw was connected to Dusk Taker and managed to acquire information on Silver Crow from him, then Haruyuki should naturally be cautious. Because Dusk was the perpetrator who had taken Silver Crow¡¯s wings and made him become weak.


    He checked that the start of the match still wouldn¡¯t occur for a while, and then voiced his next question.


    ¡°Next¡­concerning the story about the duels earlier¡­Although he said that Rust Jigsaw does not come out on the Matching List, since he connects to this local network, he must always be somewhere within the Quadtower building in the real world, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then, can¡¯t we find his real body somehow?¡±


    Then, Pard-san lightly shrugged her shoulders within her leather suit.


    ¡°This building is a ga-cen from the first basement level to the third floor, and a Dive Cafe from the fourth to sixth floors. Since there are hundreds of visitors crowded together here at the same time right now, finding someone particular is difficult. But.¡±


    ¡°B-But?¡±


    ¡°There might be a way.¡±


    ¡°H-How!?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain after. More importantly.¡±


    Pard-san¡¯s body that was sitting on the sofa next to him moved flexibly, and brought her mouth close to the ear of Haruyuki¡¯s lizard avatar. With the lowest volume that would absolutely not reach any of the other Divers here, she whispered the following words.


    ¡°Unless the enemy uses it, you must not use the ?Incarnate System?.¡±


    Though his body shrunk down with a jerk and he nodded at once, Haruyuki could not help but add something else.


    ¡°Ye¡­Yes. The Red King also told me that. But¡­But, why? Certainly, I think that it¡¯s not fair if only one side uses that overly strong power. But, if it¡¯s against an opponent that breaks the rules of Brain Burst¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it, it¡¯s not for the opponent¡¯s sake. It¡¯s for your own.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­¡­?¡±


    ¡®¡ªSpeaking of which, Niko also said the same thing¡¯, as Haruyuki thought that.


    Pard-san brought her body even closer, and whispered while looking into Haruyuki¡¯s eyes at point-blank range.


    ¡°?Mind power? is a power born from a hole within the heart. When power is pulled out from there, you also draw closer little by little to that hole. If you one day lose that tug of war, you will be swallowed up by the darkness at the bottom of that hole.¡±


    ¡°D-Darkness¡­?¡±


    ¡°What produced that curse of the ?Disaster Armor? you fought against was the reckless rampaging use of mind power by the first-generation Chrome Disaster. Because they knew that, the Kings have hidden the existence of the Incarnate System for many years.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­!!¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s body stiffened once again.


    What produced mind power was a desire born from an absolute lack of something¡ª. The Red King Niko had also certainly said it. That acquiring it was impossible if you didn¡¯t face the scars within your heart.


    ¡°¡­But.¡±


    Haruyuki mumbled, as if trying to persuade not Blood Leopard, but himself.


    ¡°The person that first introduced mind power to me said this. That what produces mind power is the power of a ?wish?. That the reverse side of the heart''s scars is ?hope?.¡±


    The crimson leopard that heard that let out a quiet sigh, and responded with a whisper.


    ¡°¡­I also believe that is the truth as well. But, like Brain Burst itself, there are two sides to the Incarnate System. On the back side of ?hope?, there is ?despair?. If that power is pursued, something will definitely be lost as compensation. Most likely, your teacher isn¡¯t an exception to that either.¡±


    For an instant, the figure of Sky Raker sitting on her silver wheelchair appeared in Haruyuki¡¯s mind. Her legs that had been lost, and would never return.


    After rapidly blinking the eyes of his avatar, Haruyuki spoke the words that contained his half-formed thoughts.


    ¡°¡­Even so, I want to believe. In ?mind power?¡­in the power of ?wishes?. No¡­in this Brain Burst that saved me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡­¡±


    Blood Leopard, unusually for her, kept silent for a long time while starting to say something.


    Finally, her fierce eyes softened, and she whispered while placing her mouth next to Haruyuki¡¯s ear.


    ¡°I see. It¡¯s just as Rain said. You are¡­you just might, to this Accel World¡­¡±


    But, he didn¡¯t heard what she said beyond that.


    One minute before the formal match time that was announced on the monitor came, the dry sound of thunder struck Haruyuki¡¯s hearing. Next, the string of characters that announced the appearance of a challenger blazed red across his entire vision.

 Volume 4 - CH 7

    Haruyuki, as the duel avatar ?Silver Crow?, landed on top of a water storage tank that jutted out from the roof of a building.


    The rows of stores that spread out in all directions on the streets below were colored with countless neon signs just like the scenery he had seen before he Dived. Numerous lights and laser illuminations shined from below up onto the clouds that hung low in the night sky. A blimp that was shining with a huge advertisement panel on it soared above their heads, and commercials in a strange language were being emitted from all the streets.


    But this, of course, wasn¡¯t the real world Akihabara. This was a 3D field that was reconstructed from the images captured by the Social Camera network. The attribute here was ?Shopping District?.


    Haruyuki quickly bended over his body and first checked the HP gauges in the upper corners of his vision.


    To the upper left was his own gauge. The smaller gauge of his tag partner, Blood Leopard, was visible right beneath it.


    And the gauge that was shining in the upper right corner had, just as expected, the name ?Rust Jigsaw? attached to it. Haruyuki¡¯s breath caught beneath his silver helmet, and he glared at the small light blue cursor that had appeared in the center of his vision. The enemy should be in that direction. Fortunately or unfortunately, since the Shopping District stage prohibited entry into building just like the End of the Century stage, it seemed that they had been relocated some distance away from their original position.


    Now then, first I have to link up with Pard-san¡ª


    Immediately as Haruyuki thought that, he heard a quiet voice from behind him and he turned around with a start.


    ¡°K. He¡¯s taken the bait.¡±


    Although he hadn¡¯t heard any footsteps or sensed her presence, a tall and lean avatar now stood quietly behind him before he noticed it.


    Her whole form bore a strong resemblance to the leopard-headed rider avatar she had used at the bar. But, she no longer had a leather suit, but instead non-glossy dark red armor that covered her entire body. Since her mask had a form which sharpened to a point like a bullet shell at the front and tapered into ear-like points at the back left and right tips, she resembled a savage beast of the feline family.


    Within her long and slim silhouette, she had greatly swelled-out thighs that were extremely conspicuous. This truly nimble-looking avatar sat down next to Haruyuki, and the Level 6 Burst Linker belonging to ?Prominence?, ?Blood Leopard?, continued speaking in a whisper.


    ¡°You and I are close range types, while the enemy we¡¯re facing is a mid-to-long range type. He will first try to split us up with long-range attacks and then take you down. Therefore, you mustn''t irrationally try to counterattack, but instead give priority only to not separating from me.¡±


    ¡°¡­R-Roger.¡±


    Haruyuki nodded, and then a half-second later.


    *JIIIII!* As a jarring vibrating sound quickly approached from the direction the cursor was pointing towards, Haruyuki jumped aside reflexively.


    A short time lag passed, and then the water storage tank that they had been standing until then was cut apart into two equal pieces. The water that flowed out with a splosh spread out across the rooftop. Trying not to step on it, Haruyuki hurried over next to Leopard, who had already jumped much further away than Haruyuki and had her back against a ventilation duct.


    ¡°That just now should have been that guy¡¯s long range technique, ?Wheel Saw?.¡±


    While remembering Rust Jigsaw¡¯s abilities that they had heard about beforehand from Matchmaker, Haruyuki also responded back as fast as possible to Pard-san¡¯s staggeringly fast-paced commentary.


    ¡°A technique that shoots out a jigsaw ring. But in this darkness, we can¡¯t see the saw¡¯s form at all.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to make do with sound. Since it seems he can¡¯t shoot them in rapid-fire, we¡¯ll move closer after dodging the next attack.¡±


    ¡°K-K[1].¡±


    Without the time for him to nod, another spinning ¡®JIII!¡¯ sound approached.


    He looked, no, listened for the source of the sound, and then jumped forward diagonally to the right. The high-speed rotating super-thin ring passed by to his left, where his body has just been. The ventilation duct was cut apart and fell down behind him.


    But Haruyuki didn¡¯t look back at it and instead desperately ran after Blood Leopard who was running right in front of him.


    The speed of the deep crimson avatar wasn¡¯t just average, as expected. Seeming to leap and jump rather than run, she reached the end of the building in only a few steps¡ªand then jumped into the air without any hesitation.


    It was a simple 20 meters from the building they were on to the building that faced it on the other side of the wide road. Leopard easily flew across that empty space colored by neon lights.


    ¡­I also have to jump!?


    ¡ªDon¡¯t waver, jump!!


    Putting that instantaneous thought into his right leg, Haruyuki also jumped across with all his strength. The air rang in his ears with a ¡®BYUUU!¡¯ sound, and the rooftop of the next building rapidly approached.


    Haruyuki¡¯s legs landed at a point ten centimeters away from the edge of the concrete. But there was no time for him to let out a sigh of relief. Because, on the rooftop of the next building over that was connected to theirs, the enemy¡¯s figure could at last be seen. An upright silhouette which stood out with its rust color among the stage¡¯s illuminating lights.


    ¡ªRust Jigsaw!


    Haruyuki cried out sharply in his mind.


    ¡ªAre you Noumi¡¯s¡­Dusk Taker¡¯s ally!? Do you use the same method to intercept the list!? Just what the hell is the truth of that secret!?


    As if ridiculing Haruyuki¡¯s impatience, Rust Jigsaw spread out his arms wide and then nimbly turned his body around. He then retreated to the next building at an unexpected high speed.


    ¡°¡­Think you can escape!?¡±


    Haruyuki shouted that out in a low town and fiercely dashed forward. Even if he had no wings, for him to fall behind in speed against a long-range type was¡­


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    If Haruyuki hadn¡¯t slowed down his speed slightly in response to that sharp order, his head might had gone flying.


    Suddenly, a violent impact hit his throat. A feeling of something thin eating into it. A ¡®BIIIIN!¡¯ vibration attacked his throat, and orange sparks scattered about just like blood. At the same time, his HP gauge grinded down along with his neck¡¯s armor.


    ¡°Guh¡­¡±


    While gritting his teeth, Haruyuki shook his body with all his strength and escaped from the thing that was eating into his neck. As he was in the midst of falling down backwards, he certainly saw it. In the air¡ªwas a super thin thread that was floating horizontally at the position where Rust Jigsaw had spread out his hands several seconds ago. A jigsaw.


    As Haruyuki lay collapsed on the rooftop, Blood Leopard¡¯s hand grasped his arm from behind. Immediately after she pulled him up with all her strength, a circular saw that came flying at them from the other building torn apart the spot where he has just been laying.


    After dragging Haruyuki to the shade of a huge signboard, Leopard spoke as if amazed.


    ¡°Good thing you¡¯re a metal color.¡±


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry, I forgot¡­about that guy¡¯s other technique that we were told about before¡­¡±


    ¡°?Still Saw?. A technique that places a jigsaw on a fixed location in the air.¡±


    Narrowing her golden eyes sharply from inside her tapered mask, Leopard continued.


    ¡°Close-range attacks are stopped by the fixed saw, and he continues his long-range attacks with the circular saw. Certainly, he is a natural enemy to close-range types.¡±


    ¡°¡­W-What should we do?¡±


    Thinking for just an instant, Leopard spoke.


    ¡°Let me have your special technique gauge.¡±


    Then, without giving time for Haruyuki to react, she suddenly opened up her mouth hidden beneath her mask and bit into Silver Crow¡¯s shoulder with sharp fangs.


    ¡°Hii!?¡±


    Crying out, Haruyuki was further surprised by the phenomenon that happened next. Haruyuki¡¯s special technique gauge, which had filled up to 30% due to the damage taken just now, started to vanish, and Blood Leopard¡¯s gauge increased at the same pace.


    Once she had taken his entire gauge, Leopard detached her mouth and shouted.


    ¡°?Shape Change?!!¡±


    Putting her hands down on the concrete ground, her avatar shined crimson for an instant, and then¡ª


    She instantaneously changed from a ?person crawling on all fours? to a ?perfect four-legged beast?. Her back extended out long and slender, her shoulders swelled strongly, and her hind legs folded into the shape of the letter ¡®Z¡¯, holding huge power.


    ¡°¡­¡­Wh-Wha¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki became shocked for the third time, Blood Leopard spoke to him in a voice whose effect intensity had increased.


    ¡°Get on.¡±


    At any rate, it was certain that if he remained gaping like a fool here, he would only get bitten again, so Haruyuki climbed onto the huge leopard¡¯s back while still in a daze. Bending her body low, Leopard next jumped to the side in order to avoid a ?Wheel Saw? that came flying at them, and then jumped into the neon-sparkling night air in a straight line.


    ¡°¡­¡­Kuu!¡±


    Haruyuki unconsciously cried out at the back of his throat as they dashed out at a speed that couldn''t simply be called ¡®fast¡¯.


    With just a single jump, they certainly crossed 10 meters. Countless neon lights melted into a thin line and flowed by on both sides of his vision.


    All at once, the silhouette of Rust Jigsaw, who was running on the roofs of several buildings ahead, stood out blackly. He was running while repeatedly carrying out the action of opening up his arms countless times without looking back. In the spaces he went through while doing that action, there should be a lethal saw thread suspended in the air there, but by moving at this fast speed Haruyuki couldn¡¯t see them at all¡ª


    Just as Haruyuki was having misgivings, Leopard jumped far diagonally to the right.


    She landed on her hands and feet on the back side of an advertising signboard that was illuminated by spotlights, and then jumped towards the left. She kicked off the neon-lit tower there and went towards the right once again. Although she avoided the spaces where the ?Still Saws? probably were with great zigzagging jumps, she was definitely shortening the distance between themselves and the enemy who was running in a straight line.


    When caught up after three, no, two more jumps, Rust Jigsaw turned around and displayed an action that was different from what he had done until then.


    After drawing a big circle in the art with his right hand, he swung it straight at Haruyuki and Leopard.


    *JIIII!* That vibrating sound. It was a ?Wheel Saw?. But Blood Leopard, who was in the middle of a jump, could not avoid it¡ª


    ¡°I leave it to you.¡±


    Hearing that from the body below him, Haruyuki reflexively responded with a ¡°K¡±.


    The cutting power of the circular saw was overwhelming, but even so it had a blind spot. That is, since what was flying towards Silver Crow¡¯s neck right now was a jigsaw in the form of a ring, the inside of the ring should not have a jagged edge. And most importantly, it was slower than a bullet.


    Of course, if he couldn¡¯t see the motion of the projectile, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to get the timing right. But, Haruyuki¡¯s eyes caught the super-thin line at the last moment as it crossed the color-filled nightscape. Just before it touched Blood Leopard¡¯s right shoulder¡ªhe stuck out his right hand with all his strength into the inner portion of the ring from the side.


    *CHUII!* A sharp sound resounded, and sparks flashed from his fingers. But, without cutting his thin fingers, he caught the ring that was probably fifty centimeters in diameter, changed its trajectory and parried it off to behind him. A hint of slight shaking and agitation spread through Rust Jigsaw at having his great technique parried away at hitting distance.


    ¡°GJ[2].¡±


    Giving just that brief comment, Blood Leopard then gave one last jump through the air.


    She pounced on Rust Jigsaw from the front as he was spreading out his arms in order to set another jigsaw in the air, and then¡ª


    She opened her jaw wide and deeply embedded it into his shoulder.


    Thrown off from Blood Leopard''s back from the shock of the crash, Haruyuki watched dumbfounded at the spectacle of the battle, or rather hunt, that was unfolding before his eyes as he lay on his backside.


    ¡°Guh¡­¡­¡±


    While letting out a low groan from his avatar whose form was joined together with its steel frame, Rust Jigsaw desperately pummeled the deep crimson Leopard bending over him with his left fist. However, the huge fangs that were deeply eating into his right shoulder firmly dug into him like a vise and wouldn¡¯t let go.


    If Jigsaw were a close-range type, he might have been able to reverse this situation as well. Leopard¡¯s HP bar also definitely decreased whenever his punches hit their mark, but the pace at which Jigsaw¡¯s HP was disappearing was far faster. A damage-generated light effect was periodically emitted from his bitten shoulder, looking red like real blood. Even when Jigsaw forcibly twisted his body and escaped from her fangs, Leopard, as if having already decided that on no account would she let him escape, immediately jumped froward and thrust her fangs back into the exact same place.


    Immediately after receiving the biting attack for the nth time¡ª


    ¡°U¡­GUA!!¡±


    That cry of pain was emitted from Rust Jigsaw¡¯s mask, as if he could no longer hold it back.


    At the same time, a terrible metallic ¡®BAKIIN!¡¯ sound resounded, and Jigsaw¡¯s right arm was torn off from his shoulder and rolled onto the floor.


    His HP gauge itself was also blown away from that body-part loss damage. Along with a familiar sound effect like breaking glass, Rust Jigsaw¡¯s avatar turned into countless fragments and disintegrated. Even as the flaming characters of [YOU WIN!!] blazed up in the center of his vision, Haruyuki was not able to stand up.


    ¡­Too strong!!


    That was the only thought that whirled through his numbed mind. The huge leopard that had slaughtered the enemy with a single bite quickly raised her head, look at Haruyuki with her golden eyes, and spoke a brief comment.


    ¡°GG[3].¡±


    And then, the accelerated world ended.


    Even when the momentary dizziness passed and the sensation of his entire body returned, Haruyuki was not able to immediately remember where his real self was or what he was doing.


    Therefore, right before he tried opening his eyelids, he was unable to guess what on earth the sensation that was rich in elasticity and was squished against his face actually was. Reflexively closing his eyes once again, he stiffened his body as he thought ¡®What was that just now?¡¯, and then the nape of his neck was pulled back along with a sharp voice.


    ¡°Get up.¡±


    He immediately jumped up and found himself, of course, on top of the reclining chair in the single-person booth within the Dive Caf¨¦ on the fourth floor of the Quadtower. Since Brain Burst, in its default settings, also canceled the Full Dive along with the acceleration once a duel ended, they had naturally returned to the real world instead of the Akihabara BG¡¯s bar.


    The girl in the maid outfit that had Dived in the same seat as him had already stood up and disengaged the booth¡¯s lock. As soon as the door opened, she poked her head out slightly and quickly checked left and right outside.


    Getting off from the chair while thinking ¡®What is she doing?¡¯, Haruyuki felt his consciousness go cold at once as he heard her next words.


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving the store. If it¡¯s now, we may be able to identify him.¡±


    Identify. Identify who? ¡ªOf course, it¡¯s Rust Jigsaw¡¯s real self.


    But, he shelved aside the question ¡®How on earth do we do that?¡¯ and followed after the braid which swayed on the back of her maid outfit.


    Blood Leopard headed towards the elevator at a fast walk while paying close attention to their surroundings. As soon as she pushed the Down button and they got into the lift, she talked on rapidly in a low voice.


    ¡°Earlier, I inflicted continuous damage to the right side of Jigsaw¡¯s neck. When the sensation of pain has been stimulated on a single point for such a long time, its effect will remain for a long time even after doing Burst Out. We¡¯re looking for a person who is displaying behavior that indicates such pain in the vicinity of the shop¡¯s entrance.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­U-Understood.¡±


    That was a very terrifying marking method. But certainly, that may be the only possible method to strike some kind of mark onto an enemy¡¯s real body while within Accel world.


    Once the elevator stopped on the first floor, Haruyuki walked out while gulping among the boys and girls amusing themselves with realistic battles on arcade machines. His gaze flew left and right with minimum motion, but he didn¡¯t see any such behavior. Everyone was engrossed as they stared at the old-fashioned screen monitors.


    Haruyuki and Pard-san escaped from this floor, and stepped outside of the building into the busy congestion of people on the street. After quickly exchanging glances, they silently separated left and right.


    Heading left down the street, Haruyuki concentrated all of his nerves on the dozens of people passing by in his field of vision.


    A woman distributing holo-leaflets and dressed up as a game character. Three young men stopping at the roadside and absorbed in their chatting. A man carrying many multi-colored paper backs and walking hurryingly¡ª


    Haruyuki¡¯s eyes were drawn to the back of a boy that was visible just for a moment on the other side of the crowd.


    The reason for that was because he could see the boy¡¯s white neck without a Neuro Linker equipped to it. As Haruyuki focused his eyes on him with a start, the boy strongly pressed his raised left hand down on the right side of his neck.


    ¡ªIs that him!?


    Quickening his pace, Haruyuki ran after the boy who was receding away from him. A gray stadium jacket. Faded-colored jeans. A leather cap on his head. Overflowing hair that was a dark brown.


    The boy was hanging his head downwards and heading in the direction of the station at a quick pace. While applying his left hand to his neck, he suddenly swiped out his right hand through the air in order to push aside a passerby.


    Haruyuki looked over his shoulder for an instant in order to call out to Blood Leopard, but her maid outfit was blocked by the crowd and couldn¡¯t be seen. The instant he reluctantly turned to look forward again¡ª


    ¡°Please come to our shop[4]!¡±


    Along with that cute-sounding voice, a palm was thrust out right before his eyes and his path was obstructed. As he raised his head with a start, he saw in front of him an onee-san wearing a full-blown smile who was advertising a shop somewhere. She was probably distributing holo-leaflets, but Haruyuki couldn¡¯t see any of them since he wasn¡¯t connected to the Global Net.


    Haruyuki shook his head with a ¡®No thank you¡¯, and pushed forward in order to avoid her palm. However.


    ¡°Ah¡­Huh¡­?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t see him. The back of that gray stadium jacket had disappeared.


    He picked up his pace while biting his lip with the thought of ¡®Damn it!¡¯ going through his mind, and desperately ran his gaze in every direction. But, the boy appeared to have turned down some corner, and no matter how far Haruyuki went, he couldn¡¯t see him. He retraced his steps in a panic and this time looked down the narrow alleyways on either side, but he couldn¡¯t find him as expected.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki reluctantly stopped and bit his lip, the passerbys pushed him aside as if he was in the way. But their expressions didn¡¯t register in Haruyuki¡¯s eyes either. Only the self-reproach and regret of having lost the clue that he had finally grasped spread bitterly through his chest.


    ¡°It¡¯s still a good job even if you only saw his back.¡±


    Although Blood Leopard told him that once they joined up together, Haruyuki was not able to raise his face for a while as he leaned against the wall of a building.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, after all that hard work¡­even though you did so much, Leopard-san......¡±


    Self-loathing over not being useful at all during both the duel and the subsequent pursuit weighed heavily on Haruyuki¡¯s shoulders.


    Then, Haruyuki felt a hand get placed on top of his ruffled hair.


    ¡°You also worked hard.¡±


    ¡°¡­Eh¡­¡±


    As he unconsciously raised his head, this older woman, who had worn a perfectly expressionless face until now, gave something similar to a very slight smile on her face, and whispered to him.


    ¡°That was a splendid battle¡­I¡¯ll tell the characteristics of the person whose back you saw to the Matchmaker. If we can identify his real self when he comes next time, we may be also to find out the secret of the list interception through surveillance of him after that. Once we confirm the logic of how it works, I¡¯ll immediately send the information to you as well.¡±


    ¡°¡­Y-Yes¡­¡±


    If I consider it like that, a ray of hope has been connected¡­Is it okay to think that?


    While comforting himself in this way, Haruyuki also finally returned a smile, though it was perfectly pitiful. Pard-san moved her hand from Haruyuki¡¯s head to his shoulder, and then returned his expression and added something else.


    ¡°Jigsaw will definitely not appear again today. Besides, it¡¯s time for children to go home soon.¡±


    Though she said that, Pard-san also had to be in the eleventh grade at the most, but he still obediently nodded.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Then, Blood Leopard brought this night¡¯s adventure to a finish with her usual abbreviated way of speaking.


    ¡°K, let¡¯s return.¡±


    The time had reached 8 PM, and after they left the electronics district which getting increasingly bustling and got onto the bike in the parking lot, the two of them headed west along the same route they had taken coming here.


    After suddenly returning to the Loop 7 from Mejiro Street with her usual dynamic driving, Pard-san then took him all the way to Suginami.


    After he got her to let him off by saying ¡°Here is fine¡± once they could see the overhead structure of the Chuo Line[5] and he returned the helmet to her, Haruyuki once again bowed deeply.


    ¡°Umm¡­Thank you very much, really¡­I made you come with me this far for the problem of another legion¡­¡±


    Then, Blood Leopard similarly removed her own helmet, and lightly shook her head.


    ¡°Since Akihabara BG is an important place to me, this is already my problem as well. Also¡­¡±


    After she stopped speaking and looked away for an instant, the Burst Linker wearing a maid outfit continued with a somehow shy-looking expression.


    ¡°¡­I wanted to give my thanks to you at least once. For protecting Rain during the Chrome Disaster incident¡­for protecting my ?King?, thank you¡­¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I want you to always stay as her friend from now on as well.¡±


    And then, Blood Leopard gave a clear smile for the first time since they met, before quickly covering herself with her helmet. As the motor groaned with a ¡®KYUIII!¡¯, the large bike suddenly made a U-turn to the opposite lane and left towards the north with a frightful energy and vigor.


    After seeing her off until her bike¡¯s taillight was indistinguishable from the other cars, Haruyuki bit his lip hard with a welled-up feeling that had been delayed by a time lag, and once more bowed very, very deeply.


    When he returned to his empty home, Haruyuki dropped his bag on the floor of his room and laid down on the bed as if throwing himself down.


    ¡ªI wonder how things went on Taku¡¯s side.


    As he thought that, he considered moving his right hand to make a call, but moving it was also tough. The physical and mental fatigue that was gushing through him heavily weighed down on his back.


    He remained motionlessly like that for a while, but his eyelids were becoming heavier and heavier, so he shook his head hard and got up. He couldn¡¯t sleep here. He needed to talk with Takumu while memories from Akihabara were still clear, and the homework he¡¯d been given today was completely untouched as well.


    For the time being, after removing his uniform and taking a shower while he was at it, he warmed up a frozen seafood casserole in the microwave. While waiting for it to cook, he connected his Neuro Linker to the Global Net, and made a Voice Call to Takumu.


    ¡®Hey, Haru.¡¯


    The voice that replied back was no different from usual, so Haruyuki let out a relieved breath for the time being.


    ¡®Hi¡­Are you okay? Did perfectly learn and acquire the thing today?¡¯


    When he timidly asked that with thought speech, a hint of a bitter smile flowed through the connection.


    ¡®Hey, hey, whatever the circumstances may be, I couldn¡¯t Dive there for such a long time. Although I say that, I did stay there for a full week, though¡­¡¯


    ¡®T-Then, did you successfully acquire mind power¡­?¡¯


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    A short mumble.


    ¡®It''s still far from enough to use in actual battle, is what the Red King said. Even so, I¡¯ve grasped the gist of it.¡¯


    ¡®I see. Since you follow the principle of perfection, you would probably dive into the Unlimited Neutral Field alone and self-train for many years!¡¯


    Haruyuki said that while letting out a sigh of relief, and Takumu also smiled again.


    ¡®I really don¡¯t have that kind of energy left. More importantly, what about on your end? Did you manage to grasp something about the secret of Dusk Taker¡¯s list interception?¡¯


    ¡®There was kind of an unexpected development on that¡­¡¯


    Haruyuki recounted the series of events that occurred after he left the cake shop¡¯s radio-wave interception room, while summarizing the portion concerning Blood Leopard as simply as possible. Even so,


    ¡®¡­¡­Hm-mm. So while I was training all by my lonesome, you were once again on a date with an older woman.¡¯


    After Takumu said that as his first words, Haruyuki protested agitatedly.


    ¡®I-It wasn¡¯t like that at all! B-Besides, even you were together with Niko for an entire week¡­¡¯


    ¡®Sorry, but she only coached me at the beginning and the end, and after making me go through great pain, she told me to earn points by hunting the Enemy and then disappeared on me.¡¯


    ¡®Is¡­Is that so¡­¡¯


    Before the conversation went in an even stranger direction, Haruyuki forcibly returned to the subject at hand.


    ¡®More importantly, back to the topic of the list interception. Since I blundered in those circumstances and missed seeing the real form of ?Rust Jigsaw?, now we can only wait for information from ?Akihabara BG?¡¯s manager.¡¯


    ¡®The holy place of duels¡­huh. I¡¯ve heard rumors about it, but it really exists, that underground playing field.¡¯


    ¡®Neither the amount of money nor the fight money are at very high underground prices, though.¡¯


    ¡®If it weren¡¯t for this situation, I¡¯d also like to go there and fight, but¡­¡¯


    Pausing a little, Takumu then sent over a sympathetic voice.


    ¡®Regardless of the result, I think you did well, Haru. Good job today. Now, we just have to hope that the manager over there will identify the method Jigsaw uses soon.¡¯


    ¡®That¡¯s¡­right. Thank you.¡¯


    ¡®Since I brought Haru¡¯s umbrella home with me, right? Then, see you at school tomorrow.¡¯


    Letting out a sigh as the communication was cut, Haruyuki took out the casserole that had finished heating and ate it by himself.


    He then tidied up the table and began doing his homework in his room, but as usual he wasn¡¯t able to concentrate on it right away.


    After having defeated Noumi¡¯s list interception system in a single day yesterday and then dueled right away the next day, he was completely crushed and exhausted along with Takumu who had mastered mind power. He had expected¡ªno, anticipated such a development somewhere in his heart.


    However, regrettably, taking time to rest was impossible. If he neglected the situation for a single day, just that would increase the time that Noumi was connected with Chiyuri. It was unbearable for him to imagine those two conversing with each other, even if it were only a conversation of a few words.


    Haruyuki shook his head repeatedly and tried to focus his mind on only the holo-window in front of him. But, as he translated the English words with great pain and trouble, the thing that was weighing heavily on his heart wouldn¡¯t go away.


    As if mocking Haruyuki¡¯s impatience¡ª


    That day, on the evening of April 17th, the tag team of ?Dusk Taker? and ?Lime Bell? achieved their full-fledged debut in Accel World. Haruyuki was told about it the next day by Takumu.


    The two of them had suddenly launched an attack not in Suginami, but instead in the Shinjuku area, the mecca of ?duels? in western Tokyo. This tag team, which added Lime Bell¡¯s ?healing ability? to Dusk Taker who possessed the ultimate combo technique of ?flight ability? and ?long-range firepower?, was literally invincible and crushed all types of duelers one after another.


    Noumi¡¯s tactics were the logical type that actively used Chiyuri who was inferior in offensive power as bait and then the enemies that approached to take her down first were slaughtered by his flamethrower. There were no blind spots in his cold-heartedness as he didn¡¯t mind dragging his partner into his wide-range attacks sometimes either, and the Burst Linkers that first dueled them were all burned out without being able to do a single thing.


    After two of the main force members of the Blue Legion that challenged them last were also defeated as a tag team, Dusk Taker¡¯s name became famous in Accel World with a shock that exceeded the appearance of Silver Crow half a year ago.

 Volume 4 - CH 8

    ¡°One¡­One hundred percent winning rate!?¡±


    Lunch break the next day, Thursday the 18th.


    Haruyuki shouted in a shocked voice on top of bench on the rooftop of Umesato Middle School.


    ¡°That¡­isn¡¯t just a figure of speech, but they really didn¡¯t lose even once¡­?¡±


    Sitting next to him, Takumu nodded while placing the sandwich he bought at the cafeteria on his knees.


    ¡°Yeah, I heard it from an acquaintance of mine in the Shinjuku area. Since he seems to have watched it all of Noumi and Chii-chan¡¯s duels starting from their first one, appears to be true¡­He said that, once Dusk Taker¡¯s gauge fills up and he starts flying, no duel avatars are able to do anything to him no matter what type they are.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    After looking dumbfounded at his partially-eaten hamburger for a while, Haruyuki nodded.


    ¡°¡­I see, so that¡¯s how it is¡­Close-range types aren¡¯t able to approach him from the beginning, and it¡¯s also impossible for long-range types to make Dusk Taker fall down in a firefight using firepower since he has a healer.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. ¡ªI don¡¯t mean to put you down, Haru, but originally your ?flight ability? was such a strong power that it couldn¡¯t be embodied in an avatar unless all other potentials were thrown away. But by stealing it from you, Noumi has made it compatible with long-range techniques. Right now, that guy has boundlessly deviated from the ?general rule of same level, same potential?. Furthermore, there are tactically no blind spots in Noumi either¡­¡±


    While mechanically tearing the film around his sandwich in half, Takumu added more in a heavy voice.


    ¡°Since the Level 7 and 8 rankers seemed to still be following a wait-and-see strategy regarding Noumi yesterday, there is no telling what will happen when they come out to face him, but¡­if Noumi still continues to win against them, then the situation is far more serious than I imagined.¡±


    ¡°W-What do you mean¡­?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Haru, somewhere in our hearts, we have probably been thinking something like this. ¡®No matter how strong Noumi becomes, when master¡­when Black Lotus returns, that person will solve the situation in a single stroke¡¯, right? But¡­¡±


    The moment he heard those words, Haruyuki almost dropped his hamburger. Without noticing how he reflexively grasped it with all his strength and how the overflowing sauce from within was falling on his hands, he shouted in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°T-Taku¡­Are you saying she¡¯d lose!? Senpai, against Noumi!?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to consider it either! ¡­But, at the very least, we have to admit that Noumi does intend to do that.¡±


    Haruyuki noticed how Takumu¡¯s hand was minutely trembling as he tried to tear off the sandwich¡¯s film. Turning even paler, his best friend spoke as if groaning.


    ¡°Yes¡­Noumi probably planned to do so from the beginning. Corner and put the three of us at a disadvantage during the week that master is absent, and gather only the trump cards that can let him oppose master. No, not just oppose her. That guy¡­intends to hunt the Black King, Black Lotus.¡±


    ¡°Hu¡­Hunt¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. ¡ªIn the past, I felt inclined to target the Black King just because she didn¡¯t possess any fighting power in her dummy avatar form. Even so, I only intended to go as far as taken some of her points. But Noumi is different. He without a doubt is thinking of taking down Black Lotus in her original form and taking over this school¡­no, taking her seat as a King¡­¡±


    Haruyuki shook his head strongly as if to negate the cold feeling that was crawling down his back.


    ¡°Impossible¡­As if, as if senpai would lose to a bastard like him!¡±


    To Haruyuki, that beautiful jet-black avatar was the only absolute existence in Accel World. No matter what kind of Burst Linker she faced, even if her opponent was another ?King?, he believed that there was no way she could lose.


    It was impossible for that ?Black King? to lose against a rule-breaking ?Acceleration User? like Noumi. It was impossible, but¡ª


    ¡­If I were to hold her back.


    If this idiot that was tricked by a virus, was caught on video, and even lost his wings, were to dull that person¡¯s sword.


    Or if the worst case situation were to become reality as well¡­


    ¡°¡ªHaru.¡±


    Takumu suddenly grasped Haruyuki¡¯s shoulders strongly.


    ¡°Haru, no matter what Noumi¡¯s intentions are, there is one thing we have to do. We must do everything we can do until this Saturday.¡±


    ¡°What we can do¡­but what¡¯s that? We¡¯re absolutely helpless as long as that guy is intercepting the Matching List.¡±


    After mumbling that in a hollow voice, Haruyuki¡¯s face strongly twisted and he continued.


    ¡°Or else, are you saying we should also go to Shinjuku? Do you plan for the two of us to intrude onto Noumi¡¯s team and take down Chiyu¡­?¡±


    This time, Takumu became silent for a long while.


    Eventually, he removed his hand from Haruyuki¡¯s shoulder, shut his eyes behind his glasses and answered back quietly.


    ¡°¡ª¡ªPlease don¡¯t say that to me.¡±


    ¡°¡­Sorry.¡±


    After hanging his head as well and letting out a long breath, Haruyuki apologized.


    ¡°Senpai and Chiyu can¡¯t be compared, after all¡­For now, let¡¯s believe. That the people of Akihabara BG and Blood Leopard will solve the mystery of the list interception¡­¡±


    Those words were closer to a prayer to God than hoping for something, but it was also a fact that there didn¡¯t remain any other methods. Even if they went to Akihabara again, that would only be like walking blindly down the road.


    While Haruyuki vigorously gnawed at his crushed hamburger and moved his mouth to chew, he stared up at the slightly cloudy sky.


    He connected his Neuro Linker to the Global Net with a feeling of praying and check the anonymous mail box he had told to Blood Leopard, but¡ª


    ¡°¡­¡­Still nothing, huh¡­¡±


    He understood that it wasn¡¯t such a simple matter, but Haruyuki was still struck by huge disappointment and dropped his shoulders.


    Kuroyukihime was already going to return from Okinawa the day after tomorrow, on Saturday night. Although it was a moment he had been looking forward to, now he also wished that she would remain longer in safe Okinawa for at least one more day.


    In the interval of 48 hours until then, they had to uncover Noumi¡¯s secret, eliminate the video evidence, and also get back Chiyuri. But right now, he couldn¡¯t do anything else besides patiently waiting for information.


    Tormented by burning impatience, Haruyuki hung his head downward as far as possible and walked down the path towards his home alone. Takumu had, as expected, not gone home with him and instead had gone to club activities today, since he had skipped for three days in a row.


    He trudged toward his apartment home under the sky that seemed on the verge of rain, and at the moment when he went into the large entrance and looked up.


    The back of a female student who was standing in front of one of the two elevators on the far-off wall at the end and was wearing the same Umesato Middle School uniform as him came into his view.


    Short hair that came to her shoulders. A sports bag she carried slanted. Even just by seeing her from behind, Haruyuki immediately realized that it was Chiyuri. ¡ªHowever, why was she here, at a time like this?


    Chiyuri was part of the track-and-field club, and ran around the track everyday right until it was time to leave school. The time when she returned home should have been two hours later than Haruyuki who was part of the going-home club. When he saw her in the classroom today, he didn¡¯t see any signs that she had caught a cold either.


    After that familiar back vanished into the elevator and the door closed, Haruyuki finally realized.


    She was skipping club activities on Noumi¡¯s instructions. In order to ?duel? from the evening in Shinjuku, just like yesterday. In order to use her avatar as bait and attract the enemy, while continuing to heal Dusk Taker who hovered above in the safety of the sky.


    ¡°¡­¡­Chiyu.¡±


    While mumbling that, he unconsciously gripped both his fists tightly. Haruyuki didn¡¯t understand this feeling that pushed up from the bottom of his stomach and that had the heat and density of melted metal. But, when he pricked that heat and moved, Haruyuki walked to the elevator, jumped in right as the door opened, and on impulse pushed as if jabbing the button for the floor two levels below his¡ªthe 21st floor.


    After he stepped out from the lift and started walking again, he stopped in front of the door of the Kurashima household. He pushed the displayed chime button without hesitation, and a sound effect chimed lightly.


    Chiyuri should also have already learned via the home server that the visitor was Haruyuki.


    After stubbornly standing there waiting, he finally heard the click of unlocking and the door opened.


    Perhaps aunty had gone shopping, since the one who stood in the apartment¡¯s entranceway was Chiyuri herself. It seemed she had been in the middle of changing clothes, for she had removed her blazer and her undone blue ribbon hung down from the neck of her shirt.


    Chiyuri slightly tilted her outwardly calm-looking face, and spoke only a single word.


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°I came, to talk.¡±


    Haruyuki immediately answered. Truth be told, he hadn¡¯t entirely thought of what he should talk about, but even so his mouth still moved almost automatically.


    ¡°¡­I see.¡±


    Giving a short answer again, Chiyuri then turned around and returned inside. Haruyuki held his breath, then went through the door, took off his shoes and followed after her.


    Half a year ago as well, Haruyuki had been driven by a similar impulse and visited Chiyuri¡¯s room.


    The reason for that visit had been to direct connect with her and confirm whether Chiyuri was the unidentified Burst Linker ?Cyan Pile? who had been making attacks in the Umesato local network back then.


    The visit this time as well was similarly related to Brain Burst. However, the situations differed greatly as much as they were similar. Chiyuri was definitely the Burst Linker ?Lime Bell? now, and on the surface had turned against Haruyuki and Takumu due to her own will.


    After sitting down on the bed with a thump and holding one of her big stuffed animal cushions that were lying around in large numbers¡ªprobably some kind of sea creature on top on her knees, Chiyuri spoke once again.


    ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡±


    While standing near the door, Haruyuki let out the words as his moved his mouth.


    ¡°¡­You skipped your club activities, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    When Chiyuri gave only that minimal answer, he unusually locked gazes with her firmly, and asked another question.


    ¡°Is that part of Noumi¡¯s instructions?¡±


    ¡°¡­If it is?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s so, then stop. It''s wrong to give priority to Brain Burst in real life.¡±


    Then, Chiyuri¡¯s expression changed for the first time here, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly and her sharp voice returned.


    ¡°Speak for yourself. Haru, how many times until now have you thought of nothing but Brain Burst?¡±


    ¡°Th¡­That¡¯s not true. I¡¯m not in any clubs, and I¡¯ve never carelessly forgotten about my homework because of it.¡±


    ¡°And in exchange, you pour in all your other time into it¡­¡±


    In that instant, Chiyuri shut her mouth.


    And she suddenly cracked a smile.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stop. It¡¯s just a game. Let¡¯s not become so serious about it.¡±


    She was brightly smiling, but Haruyuki, who had seen Chiyuri¡¯s face for such a long time even more than his own, clearly grasped the very faint awkwardness that was hiding in that expression. But Chiyuri smiled even wider and gave a V-sign with her right hand.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s amazing, you know? I only started yesterday and I¡¯ve already gone up two levels. The people in the gallery said that going from Level 1 to 3 in a single day might be the fastest record in the history of Brain Burst. I can¡¯t even count the number of legion invitations I¡¯ve gotten.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Chiyu.¡±


    Calling out her name in a voice that seemed to catch in his throat, he took a step forward.


    ¡°I¡¯m only skipping club for the time being, so you don¡¯t have to worry. Since my pace will drop once I stabilize and can fight even as a solo. I¡¯ve already gotten the knack of dueling¡­¡±


    ¡°Chiyu!!¡±


    He said it again in a half-cry, and words burst forth from Haruyuki¡¯s throat like a stream.


    ¡°Chiyu, you¡¯re obeying Noumi because of that video, right!? He told you that he would submit the video of me peeping to the school, right!? In that case, you don¡¯t have to worry about such a threat! Noumi can¡¯t use it, because even he understands that if he did, I would release his real world information to other Burst Linkers. That thing¡­That video can only be used to threaten not me, but you, so stop worrying about it already!¡±


    ¡ª¡®It¡¯s useless even if I say this¡¯, even though he should have understood those words intellectually.


    If Noumi exposed that video, Haruyuki would almost certainly be expelled. On the contrary, it was quite possible that he would be arrested and, as result of a trial in family court, be sent to Juvenile Hall.


    As long as that possibility existed at all, Chiyuri would continue to obey Noumi. That was because¡ªshe was Chiyuri. Because she was his childhood friend who always tried to protect Haruyuki since long ago.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡±


    After turning down her gaze and becoming silent for a long while, Chiyuri smiled once again.


    ¡°That¡¯s not how it is, Haru. I just want to collect points quickly and raise my level. I said this before the other day as well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­That¡¯s not like you at all!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted as tears flowed down from his eyes without him being aware of it.


    ¡°I¡¯m the one, I¡¯m the one that¡¯s completely at fault here! I let him manipulate me just like he wanted and let him take hold of my various weaknesses, and on top of that¡­if even you are stolen away by him, I don¡¯t know what to do¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki slumped to the floor and hanged his head downwards, in his ears¡ª


    The similar tearful voice of Chiyuri reached him.


    When he raised his head up with a start, his childhood friend was still giving an unchanged smile, but there were two thin lines of tears quietly falling down her suntanned cheeks.


    ¡°¡­¡­You don¡¯t understand. Haru, you don¡¯t understand me at all.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­¡­?¡±


    ¡°Even though you don¡¯t understand anything¡­anything at all!!¡±


    Suddenly shouting in a teary voice, Chiyuri then did an unexpected action.


    With the fingers of her trembling hands, she started to undo the buttons of her white shirt from the top one after another.


    In front of the Haruyuki¡¯s eyes as his breath caught and he froze, Chiyuri, after showing a momentary hesitation, took off her shirt in one go. Her upper body, which only had a simple bra covering it, was exposed to Haruyuki¡¯s eyes without anything obstructing it.


    Several days ago, Haruyuki had been tricked by a visual marker and entered into the female shower room, and as a result had seen her stark naked form, but for some reason, seeing her figure right in front of him like this now was accompanied by overwhelmingly huge implications and knocked down Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness.


    ¡°¡­¡­If I do this, do you understand?¡±


    Chiyuri whispered in a trembling voice.


    ¡°Even if my avatar in Accel World obeys Noumi, the me here in the real world¡­is in a place where you could touch me if you wanted to, Haru. Do you still not understand with this? I haven¡¯t been stolen away or anything like that.¡±


    Gazing at Haruyuki with eyes that shined intensely despite being wet with tears, Chiyuri spoke as if to engrave every word upon him.


    ¡°I act according to my own will. Both until now, and from now on.¡±


    Haruyuki¡ª


    Couldn¡¯t understand.


    Chiyuri was acting according to her own will. What was that supposed to mean? Did she mean that, just as she had said until now, she had judged that, as a Burst Linker, it was more advantageous to join with Noumi rather than Haruyuki and the others, and was cooperating with him in order to get more points?


    Suddenly, Haruyuki understood that the feeling that had been squirming and burning inside him since he saw her at the entrance was jealousy. It seemed that, even though he liked Kuroyukihime and wanted Takumu and Chiyuri to turn out well together, that black feeling hadn¡¯t been exhausted and had sprung up from the bottom of his chest just from thinking that Chiyuri was on Noumi¡¯s side.


    However, Haruyuki shook off that feeling, and merely looked down deeply and spoke.


    ¡°¡­¡­Sorry. Please put your clothes back on.¡±


    He didn¡¯t understand Chiyuri¡¯s aim and intentions.


    But, he decided he would believe. Chiyuri was also probably fighting. She was trying to eliminate this crisis with her own power. He had to believe just that. If he couldn¡¯t believe what she had said until now, he was already unqualified to be her friend.


    After getting up and turning towards the door in order not to look at Chiyuri who still didn¡¯t move, Haruyuki spoke one final time in a firm voice.


    ¡°¡­I believe in you. That¡¯s why, please believe in me as well. I won¡¯t lose to someone like Noumi. I will definitely regain everything that he took away.¡±


    Then, Haruyuki opened the door and began walking with a long stride in order to return to his own apartment.


    After going out onto the veranda from his apartment¡¯s living room, Haruyuki put both his arms on the handrail and looked out at the Shinjuku high-rise complex rising in the sky to the east.


    The clusters of high-rise buildings including the more than 500 meters tall Tokyo Government Office glittered brightly in the slanted sunlight. At this very instant as well, a ?duel? should be enthusiastically taking place at that skyscraper¡¯s stage.


    Right now, there was nothing he could do about Dusk Taker steadily increasing his battle power and making his fame grow.


    However, unable to give up here, Haruyuki strongly gripped the handrail and mumbled.


    ¡°¡­There is something even I can still do.¡±


    That something was, thinking.


    To scrutinize, consider and make conjecture from all the information.


    Just any kind of plunderer couldn¡¯t steal that kind of weapon. While letting the cold wind that blew through the 23rd floor breeze through his uniform, Haruyuki began to remember in detail all the occurrences that had happened since the cause of all this¡ªNoumi Seiji entered school eight days ago.


    After it became late at night, Haruyuki learned from Takumu that the place that Dusk Taker had appeared today wasn¡¯t at Shinjuku but instead Shibuya.


    But although the area was different, what happened was completely the same as yesterday. Burst Linkers that could oppose Noumi, who had the possibly strongest hand of ?flight?, ?healing? and ?long-range firepower?, when they fought for the first time did not exist in the middle range.


    This tag team, which had recorded a 100% rate of victory continuing for two days, had obtained a vast quantity of points once again. As a result, Dusk Taker was at Level 6. Lime Bell had reached Level 4.


    It wasn¡¯t a phenomenon that fit inside the frame of ?duels? anymore.


    It was already something was more appropriately called an ?invasion? into the existing Accel World.


    As the sky in Shibuya was blazing red like the fire of battle, Haruyuki continued thinking intently while leaning against the veranda¡¯s handrail.


    The playback of his memories passed through his desperate struggle with Noumi on Tuesday, and came to the scene at Akihabara yesterday.


    The mysterious Burst Linker ?Rust Jigsaw?. Just like Noumi was doing, he was invading the existing system. Using the privilege of list interception, he was making a killing on points within the Akihabara BG¡¯s local network.


    Looking at it like that, it wasn¡¯t necessarily far-fetched to think that there was some kind of connection between Rust Jigsaw and Dusk Taker either. At the very least, the possibility that they were using the same logic to intercept the list was high. That he had missed clearly seeing Rust Jigsaw¡¯s real form in the bustle of the crowd was tremendously regretful.


    While once again tasting the bitterness he had felt so many times since yesterday, Haruyuki recalled in his mind the sight of Jigsaw¡¯s back that he had seen for an instant.


    A gray stadium jacket. A white neck that was distinctly tanned-marked from wearing a Neuro Linker all the time. He had walked away at a fast pace while rubbing that place with his right hand as if it were in pain.


    Just before he disappeared from sight, that boy had suddenly swept out his right hand at the passerby in front of him, although they hadn¡¯t really been in his way¡ª


    His memory playback stopped exactly on that scene.


    He rewinded back several frames.


    The boy quickly cleared away the space to his right that was at about the height of his chest, with his right hand that had his fingers extended.


    Why did this scene bother him so much?


    Haruyuki tightly grasped the veranda¡¯s handrail with his hands, and strained all his thinking power. The feeling that faintly bit into the center of his head when he touched upon the beginning to answer in a riddle-solving-type game intermittently struck him.


    Think. Think.


    While repeatedly playing back the sight of the boy¡¯s back, Haruyuki unconsciously performed the same movement as well.


    He raised his right hand and quickly waved it to the right.


    He felt as if that movement was strangely familiar to his arm as well.


    Quickly waving his right hand. Waving his right hand. Waving.


    This was¡ªthis wasn¡¯t the gesture of moving aside someone in front of you.


    Wasn¡¯t this the motion of erasing windows on a virtual desktop?


    But that time, the boy hadn¡¯t been wearing a Neuro Linker. Then, was it some kind of retinal projection-type wearable device? No, according to the image in Haruyuki''s memory, he hadn¡¯t had any such apparatus on him at all.


    Had he been looking at a holo-window without using a Neuro Linker nor any other device?


    ¡­Impossible. As far as Haruyuki knew, devices like contact lens-type miniscule monitors had yet to be developed, and a device that was embedded in one¡¯s eyeball shouldn¡¯t exist either.


    ¡®Maybe I¡¯m mistaken¡¯, just as he abandoned that line of thought, he suddenly recalled the words he had once had heard from Noumi.


    ¡®¡­Do you think that the Neuro Linker is the only portable device in the world?¡¯


    Those were the words he had said while pointing at the small digital camera he had used in order to take a secret recording of Haruyuki in front of the Umesato Middle School shower rooms. He couldn¡¯t find any further meaning to his words than that. Yet, why did it bother him so much now?


    ¡°Devices¡­Devices other than the Neuro Linker¡­¡±


    Haruyuki mumbled that while touching the aluminum-silver Neuro Linker that was attached to his own neck.


    A VR device that wasn¡¯t a Neuro Linker. They certainly existed. In the 2020s before Haruyuki was born, there should have been huge headgears that were equipped to the head. But, the machines of those days were only for Full Diving, and the Neuro Linker should have been the first device that had an AR (Augmented Reality) function which allowed for a virtual desktop to be operated while moving around in the real world¡­¡­


    ¡°¡­No.¡±


    Haruyuki suddenly frowned.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. The first device that implemented AR, if I remember right, was¡­¡±


    His mumbling stopped, and his gaze wandered through the air. Within his uncertain memories, there was something stuck that was prickling at him. Between the early headgear-type and the present Neuro Linker, another kind of device should have existed.


    After wavering for a while, Haruyuki quietly moved his fingers and struck the Drive icon on his virtual desktop.


    He rapidly passed through the endless number of data folders that existed in his Neuro Linker¡¯s local memory. Eventually, at an absurdly deep level, a folder with only the title [F] appeared.


    F was the F for ¡®father¡¯. There, all the information, no, memories that were connected to his real father, who he hadn¡¯t gotten in touch with once since he left their family long ago, were stored. There were only a few photographs. Voice files. Text memos. And the data folders related to his father¡¯s work, which he had duplicated from the home server just before his mother completely erased them all.


    His father had worked as a business manager in a company related to the backbone of the network. Even if his father had hardly come back to the house and had only stayed at home for an occasional rest, the data of his work spread out wide in Haruyuki¡¯s vision, and he wasn¡¯t even looking at the other files there besides that.


    Having remembered that things like the history of VR device development should have been among the documents his father had left in the server, Haruyuki desperately went through the folder while shaking off the prickling feeling piercing his chest. Finally, he found the target file and opened it. He scrolled with his finger through the string of characters that summarized in chronological format.


    The first headgear-type VR machine that implemented Full Dive technology was marketed in May 2022.


    The first generation device of the present Neuro Linker was put on the market in April 2031.


    The moment when his gaze was drawn to the name of a certain device that described in small script between them.


    His heart jumped with a ¡®DOKUN¡¯, and his breathing stopped. While feeling his skin grow rapidly cold across his entire body, Haruyuki grasped the handrail tightly with his hands.


    ¡ªNo way. That can¡¯t be. It¡¯s impossible. But.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s possible. If this was used. One could also see a virtual desktop without having a Neuro Linker. And, one could also connect to a local network without using a Neuro Linker.


    His lips trembled, and released a single phrase into the air with a hoarse voice.


    ¡°¡­Brain¡­Implant Chip¡­¡­¡±


    Brain Implant Chip. Abbreviation, BIC.


    It had existed for only a short time in the history of wearable VR machines, a ¡®demon child¡¯ as it were.


    The body of the device was a small neuro-electronic chip that was implanted between the surface of the cerebrum and the dura mater. By laying out a self-growing terminal port around the sensory area of the brain¡¯s surface, the possessor was able to use the AR display of a virtual desktop and Full Dive without equipping any external devices. In a certain sense, you could call it the ultimate VR machine, even more so than the Neuro Linker.


    It was developed and marketed in 2029. However, its use was forbidden within this country only a few years later.


    The reason for this was because, unlike the Neuro Linker, the BIC couldn¡¯t be unequipped, not to mention being unable to have its power disconnected. In the case where one received malicious hacking for example, opposing it would be accompanied by extraordinary difficulty.


    Conversely, if the possessor used it with malicious intent, there were various ways to evade the law as well. An extreme example of that would be using it during the entrance exam of a high school or university, or during various kinds of qualification exams. Since the Neuro Linker didn¡¯t yet exist in those days, carrying VR machines during entrance exams was prohibited in principle, but if one had the BIC implanted in them, full marks could easily be taken on memorization-type subjects. Since it wasn¡¯t any different from carrying all the dictionaries and reference books with you.


    Inevitably, cases where parents made their test-taking children implant the BIC in them occurred frequently throughout the whole country, and moreover it reached the point where the same thing occurred in bar examinations and national examinations for the licenses of government officials as well, and so the government had no choice but to make laws about the manufacture and use of BICs.


    That¡¯s right¡ªin the current year 2047, the BIC was an illegal VR device.


    That was exactly why Haruyuki had not even considered examining that possibility since the beginning, when Noumi entered the school. However, he already thought that there was no other conclusion than this now. Although the general use of the BIC was regulated, he had heard that its manufacture itself was continued for special uses and that there were also hospitals which performed implantations of the illegal chips that were sold through the black market. He couldn¡¯t imagine how a middle-school student could get their hands on something like that, but he could certainly believe that Noumi of all people could have done it.


    Noumi Seiji/Dusk Taker, and probably Rust Jigsaw as well, possessed a second VR machine in his brain.


    Noumi wasn¡¯t intercepting the Matching List while connected to Umesato Middle School¡¯s local network. From the beginning, his Neuro Linker in which Brain Burst existed was not connected to the network.


    In other words, it was like this. His Neuro Linker was usually operating in stand-alone mode. By doing so, he avoided ?unavoidable duels? that were a risk that came along with the privilege of a Burst Linker¡¯s ?acceleration ability?, and furthermore could still connect to the network as well due to the BIC.


    For example, in the kendo match against Takumu. That time, Noumi was connected to the local network within the school by using the BIC in his cranium on the one hand, and activated physical acceleration using his Neuro Linker in its unconnected state on the other, letting his easily avoid Takumu¡¯s shinai[1]. Even if one looked at the Matching List, his name naturally wouldn¡¯t be there.


    Only, in order to get a high score in his social studies test using ?acceleration?, he had to connect to the examination application with his Neuro Linker instead of his BIC, but if you excluded that instant¡ª


    ¡°So¡­that¡¯s how it is¡­¡­¡±


    After getting rid of all the countless windows that were displayed in his vision with a sweep of his hand, Haruyuki squeezed out the words in a hoarse voice.


    At last. ¡ªAt last, he had finally arrived at it. The only correct answer.


    What¡¯s more, this information was fatal to Noumi Seiji. The existence of a BIC could be determined with an X linear scanner. And if the chip was discovered in Noumi¡¯s brain, his entry into Umesato Middle School would certainly be revoked.


    If he used this card, he would drag out Noumi into the same place as him. Into a battlefield without special privileges. Then, after that, there would be only one thing to do. ?Duel?, fight with all his strength¡ªand win.


    Staring out at the evening sky in the center of Tokyo where Noumi should be flying right now, Haruyuki said a short sentence, as if firing a bullet from a rifle.


    ¡°Noumi¡­This time, I¡¯m going to settle this.¡±

 Volume 4 - CH 9

    April 19th.


    Friday.


    On the lunch of this day which was just a day away from Kuroyukihime¡¯s return to Tokyo, Haruyuki went to the school cafeteria, cut through the long lines of tables and headed straight to the very back of the room.


    The place he was heading towards was the lounge. In this place where, in addition to the unwritten rule that only second and third year students could use it, there were also many tables for the exclusive-use of some committees and outstanding clubs, Haruyuki hadn¡¯t never once set foot inside here until now when Kuroyukihime wasn¡¯t present.


    However, just this once, he mustered his courage and went under the white gate, stepping up to a circular table there. The students that were sitting there and eating lunch while pleasantly chatting raised their heads as they noticed Haruyuki approach.


    Among these prodigies of the swimming club and softball club who were staring at this out-of-place student stepping up to them, Haruyuki walked up to the short first-year who was the only one with his back to him, and called out to him in a low voice.


    ¡°Noumi. I have something to tell you. Please come to the place where we talked for the first time.¡±


    And then, he turned around and left without waiting for an answer.


    While waiting for Noumi to arrive underneath the dense grove of trees that was at the back of the courtyard and outside of the range of the Social Cameras, Haruyuki recalled back to the day he had first met that first year student here.


    The underclassman who had a pretty-looking appearance like a girl had declared to Haruyuki that the battle was over using a cheerful voice while smiling. Just as he had said, Haruyuki¡¯s situation had worsened thereafter the more he struggled.


    He had hit Noumi and conversely been knocked down himself, his flight ability had been stolen in a Direct Connect duel after he was trampled on by him, and although he had grasped a come-from-behind win in their second battle after learning the Incarnate System in the Unlimited Neutral Field, he had been further defeated because of the unexpected intrusion of Chiyuri.


    Noumi¡¯s attacks hadn¡¯t stopped there, and in the real world he had spread rumours that Haruyuki was the peeping camera perpetrator in the real world in order to corner Haruyuki, while in Accel World he had earned a vast amount of points using his wings and Chiyuri, and further leveled up.


    At this rate, Noumi¡¯s objective, the Black King Black Lotus, would be exposed to danger just as Takumu predicted.


    ¡ªHowever.


    This is as far as you go, Noumi.


    Hearing a twig snap from being firmly stepped on and footsteps approaching from behind him, Haruyuki slowly turned around.


    Haruyuki saw the pure yet crafty smile on the face of the underclassman as he appeared from the shadow of the thick trunk of the big oak tree¡ªand then he spoke.


    ¡°Game Over, Noumi Seiji¡­No, Dusk Taker.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­What was that?¡±


    Still smiling, Noumi tilted his head.


    ¡°In other words, are you saying that you completely accept defeat this time? Meaning like ¡®I give up, so please don¡¯t bully me anymore¡¯?¡±


    ¡°¡­No. It means that bargaining things over with you is already over.¡±


    Haruyuki replied in a low voice, putting all his strength into his eyes while taking the sneering gaze from his opponent.


    Noumi¡¯s smile gradually faded. A detestable wrinkle was faintly etched between his brows.


    ¡°¡­Senpai, you¡¯re also someone who¡¯s bad at understanding things, aren¡¯t you? Although I recognize your efforts in acquiring a stingy incarnate technique and picking up a fireworks-like Enhanced Armament, isn¡¯t it already obvious that you can¡¯t stand up to up to me no matter what kind of hand you have? You and Mayuzumi-senpai can only hold your thumbs in your mouths and watch. I will take down the Black King, and rule over this school¡­no, over all of the Suginami area.¡±


    Haruyuki shook his head strongly and brushed off those words that were released in a knife-like cold voice.


    ¡°No. That won¡¯t happen.¡±


    Haruyuki took one step forward¡ª


    And spoke in a clear voice.


    ¡°The reason you don¡¯t appear on the Matching List is because you have a second VR machine within your head¡­in other words, a Brain Implant Chip.¡±


    Instantly.


    The sudden change that struck Noumi¡¯s expression confirmed the correctness of Haruyuki¡¯s guess.


    Both his eyes widened greatly for a moment, and then narrowed grimly. His bared teeth grated, and several thin lines of wrinkles raw down to the bridge of his nose.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡±


    Facing Noumi as he said nothing, Haruyuki attacked even deeper.


    ¡°If I¡¯m wrong, remove and show me your Neuro Linker right now. Your school register tag that¡¯s displayed in my vision shouldn¡¯t disappear even if you do that.¡±


    Both Noumi and Haruyuki were aware that there was no meaning in feigning ignorance by saying something like ¡®I have no obligation to do such a thing¡¯. Because, if Haruyuki anonymously conveyed his suspicions to the school authorities, Noumi would receive a head scan at the hospital with staff members of the School Management Department present, and falsifying the results of that scan were completely impossible. Noumi would then be accused of illegally passing his entrance exams, and in addition to being expelled from school he would be forced to receive treatment to have his BIC deactivated.


    The damage from that would be equal to or greater than the punishment Haruyuki would receive as the perpetrator of the peeping camera.


    Noumi glared at Haruyuki without trying to hide his fury, and spit out words in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°¡­I thought you were a pig, but to think you were actually a rat. Always darting about, sneakily sniffing around¡­¡±


    ¡°In that case, you should have crushed me from the beginning. Not doing so was your mistake.¡±


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s retort, Noumi gradually brought his expression of anger under control and gave a contemptuous smile once again.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll recognize that. So? What do you intend to do? Do you wish to exchange missiles between us and be destroyed together? ¡­Both me and senpai will be expelled from school. I¡¯ll go to the hospital, you¡¯ll be sent to juvenile hall. Furthermore, we¡¯ll both eventually receive real world attacks and then lose Brain Burst¡­That can¡¯t be the ending that you wish for, right, senpai?¡±


    ¡°If forced to, I¡¯m not afraid to do so, but.¡±


    Tightly clenching his cold and sweating fist, Haruyuki spoke the method to put an end to things that he had thought about overnight.


    ¡°¡ªNoumi. We each have our respective trump cards, with you having the video of me, and me knowing your secret. Supposing that there is a way to settle things without using those and mutually destroying each other in the real world¡­the only way is to ?duel?.¡±


    ¡°Duel¡­?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, since you and I are both Burst Linkers. From now on, you will connect to the local network using your Neuro Linker instead of your BIC. In addition, you will cancel your once-per-day restriction and do nothing but continue to duel against me. Until one of us either accepts defeat or loses all our Burst Points¡­Although, I have no intention to surrender, not until the last point is lost.¡±


    ¡ªAnd then, even if I were to lose, after that will be Takumu. And then Kuroyukihime-senpai will fight you.


    Noumi must have also heard those words that he added within his heart.


    Once again, Noumi Seiji let his deep anger and irritation appear on his face for only a very short time.


    ¡°¡­¡­Dueling. Burst Linker. Both of those are words that I hate. No, it¡¯s the mentality itself of seriously using those words that I find truly detestable. But¡­If that is senpai¡¯s wish, it can¡¯t be helped.¡±


    Changing his expression back to his usual thin smile, Noumi leaned his back against the trunk of an oak tree, and nimbly raised one finger.


    ¡°But, if we¡¯re going to do things like that, I also have a proposal.¡±


    ¡°¡­Proposal?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s ridiculous for us to repeat acceleration duels dozens or worse hundreds of times until either me or senpai loses all our points? Also, even if one of us surrenders, how we will be secure in the veracity of those words?¡±


    ¡°Then, what would you have us do?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s finish it in one go. With Arita-senpai¡¯s favorite ?duel[1]?


    Noumi spoke with a gruesome smile etched onto his face.


    ¡°In the Unlimited Neutral Field, there is a method for betting all of both side¡¯s Burst Points in a single match. Two or more duelers charge all the points they have into an item, and when there is only one person left standing, it becomes winner takes all. How about it, don¡¯t you think that we can settle things smartly like this?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    After staring intently at Noumi¡¯s smiling face for several seconds, Haruyuki shook his head slightly.


    ¡°¡­Unfortunately, Noumi, I cannot trust you that much anymore. I¡¯m not really surprised, though. If it¡¯s in the Unlimited Neutral Field, there¡¯s no way to eliminate the possibility that you will make a comrade of yours lie in ambush at the location of the duel.¡±


    Then, Noumi spread out his hands as if to say ¡®Good grief¡¯.


    ¡°I think that there is also such a danger for my side as well, though! ¡­In that case, let¡¯s attach too guarantees. First, you may take Cyan Pile¡­Mayuzumi-senpai with you. You two will fight me in turns. And secondly, you may postpone the time of the duel as many times and for as long as you want right up until its starts. If it¡¯s like this, it¡¯s realistically impossible for someone to lie in ambush.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡±


    Haruyuki held his breath, and quickly thought.


    In the Unlimited Neutral Field, time flowed 1000 times faster than in the real world. For example, if he specified to Dive in at 5 PM at first and then postponed it enough until several seconds after that, a timespan of one week would pass by inside the field during that interval. If this postponement was repeated several times, the elapsed time inside would become huge, and it would be impossible to continue waiting with normal nerves.


    However, if gradual Dives and log-outs were repeated one after another instead, one would have to consume 10 Burst Points for each time. One couldn¡¯t withstand that even if they were a ?King?-class.


    Speaking of an ambush in the Unlimited Neutral Field, Haruyuki recalled the case where the Yellow Legion had laid a trap for the Red King Niko during the Chrome Disaster incident three months ago, but he didn¡¯t know when they appeared there and they did not necessarily wait many months inside there for Niko. The real world identity of ?Cherry Rook?, Disaster¡¯s true form, had already been discovered by them due to the process of the Enhanced Armament transfer by Direct Connect, and as such he had likely been under surveillance and the time when he Dived was predicted.


    Since even that kind of method couldn¡¯t be used here, it was surely impossible to set an ambush in the Unlimited Neutral Field¡ªor so he thought.


    However, Haruyuki was aware that his knowledge regarding Accel World was still far from complete, so of course he didn¡¯t give an immediate answer.


    ¡°¡­In that case, may I consult with Takumu?¡±


    ¡°Of course, go right ahead! Please consult with each other for as long as you like.¡±


    Smiling, Noumi stepped back.


    ¡°When you come to a conclusion, please inform me at this address. Since I also want time to prepare myself.¡±


    He sent over an anonymous mail address to Haruyuki with a flick. Haruyuki held his breath and watched Noumi¡¯s back as he then simply turned around and walked away.


    He had an unpleasant feeling. When Haruyuki had said the words ¡®BIC¡¯ to Noumi, he had assumed that they would rush into a duel right away just like that. Now, he felt like the pace had once again been taken away from him by taking time between them here.


    After confirming that Noumi had disappeared from the school building, Haruyuki leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree and spoke with thought-speech.


    ¡®¡­What do you think, Taku?¡¯


    ¡®¡­It¡¯s dangerous.¡¯


    Takumu, who been listening to the entire conversation with Noumi online, immediately gave that response.


    Haruyuki had already told Takumu last night about the matter of the BIC that he realized. In addition, he had also told him how he had decided to settle things with Noumi Seiji. That is, by first having Haruyuki, then Takumu determinedly continue to challenge Noumi to local network duels until Noumi had no more Burst Points.


    Of course, they had considered the possibility of both of them losing all their points against the Level 6 Dusk Taker. But, if they lost a normal match¡ªthat just meant that was as far as they went, right? ?When you Dive into the battlefield once, there is nothing but battle?. That was the teaching of their master, Kuroyukihime.


    However, Noumi¡¯s proposal was something that they had not expected. Takumu once again repeated his words with tense thoughts.


    ¡®It¡¯s too dangerous, Haru. In the Unlimited Neutral Field, there is no telling what may happen. Even more so if the opponent is that Noumi.¡¯


    ¡®Then, shall we reject his proposal?¡¯


    ¡®¡­¡­¡¯


    Here, Takumu also became silent. Eventually, his voice resounded again in Haruyuki¡¯s mind in a lowered tone.


    ¡®¡­But, just as Noumi said, it is certainly true that there is no way to guarantee things even if he surrenders¡­Since there remains the possibility of him devising a new trap against us again someday¡­¡¯


    ¡®Hey, Taku. Do you think there is a way to avoid the constraints of the ?unfixed extension of the designated time? that Noumi spoke of and make an ambush ahead of time¡­?¡¯


    After sinking into silence again for several seconds, Takumu slowly answered.


    ¡®Either by having a huge amount of burst points¡­or a huge amount of patience. There shouldn¡¯t be any other ways besides those. The problem is whether Noumi has a comrade who would agree to pay such a huge sacrifice¡­¡¯


    This time Haruyuki thought for a while, and then answered.


    ¡®Hmm¡­¡ªI think that the possibility of him belonging to some kind of organization is high. In addition, the other members would be people who have undergone the BIC implantation operation as well. Rust Jigsaw, who I fought in Akihabara, is also probably a member. Though, since there¡¯s no tag attached to the names of either of their avatars, it¡¯s probably different from a legion¡­¡¯


    ¡®So they¡¯re guys who earn Burst Points efficiently with the Brain Chip and then use them earnestly in the real world. They really are ?Acceleration Users? just as Noumi said before.¡¯


    ¡®Yeah¡­Would guys like that cooperate to the point where they would almost infinitely waste points or time for the sake of Noumi¡¯s personal circumstances¡­?¡¯


    Suddenly biting his lips, Haruyuki immediately continued.


    ¡®No, I don¡¯t think so. Considering Noumi¡¯s words about there being no ¡®free of charge¡¯ friends, that must the true for him. Conversely speaking, if he had such a comrade, I think that Noumi¡­would surely have become a proper Burst Linker.¡¯


    There was no basis for Haruyuki¡¯s words, but Takumu immediately responded with thoughts of agreement.


    ¡®Yeah. Yes¡­That¡¯s exactly it. This is a battle between us Burst Linkers and the Acceleration User Noumi. That is our pride that lets us stand up¡­That¡¯s right¡­¡¯


    For a moment, both of their unified intentions flowed through the circuit of the Voice Call as a white flash.


    Haruyuki nodded his head and strongly transmitted his thoughts.


    ¡®Alright, I¡¯ll accept the proposal. I¡¯ll send Noumi the first designated time after you and him finished club activities and return home¡­let¡¯s say at 8 PM. We¡¯ll extend the time by 10 minutes at the lowest and a total of one hour at the highest, so the possibility of an ambush will be lost.¡¯


    ¡®Roger.¡¯


    Letting out a little of the tension in his shoulders after hearing that striking-like answer, Haruyuki added more.


    ¡®¡­Besides, a one-shot match is honestly much more welcome.¡¯


    ¡®Fufu, Haru is the overconcentration-type after all. You always expect to decided things in one go.¡¯


    ¡®You who spent so much trouble training in mind power are just as bad, though.¡¯


    After giving a short laugh at each other and saying they¡¯d meet against after school, Haruyuki cut the connection.


    ¡ªI¡¯m glad that Takumu is next to me.


    After sincerely thinking that, Haruyuki thanked from the bottom of his heart that, half a year ago when he had first fought Cyan Pile, he had decided not to deliver the finishing blow to his friend.


    After school. 7:30 at night.


    While he was tidying up his home¡¯s living room and taking out a box from the freezer in order to heat up the usual frozen pizza, his doorbell chime rang.


    After quickly confirming Takumu¡¯s face in a holo-window, he ran to the entranceway. He pressed the unlock button, and headed to the opening door.


    ¡°Hey. Right on ti¡­¡±


    Immediately after he ended in ¡®-me¡¯, Haruyuki was taken aback as he opened his mouth wide.


    Another familiar face was there to the side behind Takumu who was standing there with a grave face.


    ¡°¡­C-Chiyu¡­!?¡±


    Why did you come here now?


    Without giving him the time to voice that question, the plain clothes-wearing Chiyuri mumbled an expressionless ¡®Sorry for intruding[2]¡¯ and entered into the hallway. She quickly passed by Haruyuki and walked into the living room.


    After watching the sight of her back while dumbfounded, Haruyuki turned around to face Takumu and questioned him.


    ¡°¡­W-Why?¡±


    ¡°I didn''t call her here. She came with me inside the elevator.¡±


    Takumu mumbled that, seeming like he also was having trouble understanding. After letting out a thin breath and closing the door, he tilted his head in doubt to ask whether it was okay to enter.


    After deeply nodding, Haruyuki returned to the hallway along with Takumu.


    Standing not in the living room but in the kitchen, Chiyuri lifted up the box of frozen pizza which he had left in the sink, made a small smile and spoke.


    ¡°¡­As usual, you eat things like this.¡±


    And then she returned it to the freezer and lifted up a paper bag she seemed to have brought with her.


    ¡°I got Mama to make lasagna again. Let¡¯s eat it the three of us together.¡±


    She paused for a moment.


    ¡°¡­Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t put anything like poison into it.¡±


    As soon as he heard that joke, a sharp pain pierced through the center of his chest, and Haruyuki¡¯s face became distorted.


    ¡ªWhy did we have to become like this?


    That thought ran through his mind. Turning his gaze away, he saw that Takumu¡¯s eyes had also stiffened behind his glasses.


    Unable to look at the two of them like that anymore, Chiyuri quickly took out a heat-resistant container and divided its contents onto three plates. She skillfully carried one plate in her left hand and two in her right hand, and walked into the living room.


    ¡°Come on, sit down.¡±


    Smiling, she placed a plate with a slightly large serving in front of Haruyuki, and placed the other two plates with similar amounts in front of Takumu and herself. She took out forks from a cutlery basket that was placed on the middle of dining room table and held them out to the two of them.


    When compared to Chiyuri¡¯s behaviour over the last week, each of those separate actions were important as they weaved together as if in an unseen thread, to the point where Haruyuki couldn¡¯t watch anymore. He accepted the form, fixed his gaze on his plate, and spoke in a low voice.


    ¡°¡­Thank you. Itadakimasu[3].¡±


    ¡°¡­Itadakimasu.¡±


    Takumu also said it, and with Chiyuri words of ¡°Go ahead¡± as the signal, the three of them began to eat in silence the lasagna that was specially made by Chiyuri¡¯s mama.


    It was delicious. Its taste was far greater than the thing they had eaten as a meal a week ago. But within that deliciousness, there was still clearly that pain which dwelled in Haruyuki¡¯s chest. Since he would probably start crying if he stopped chewing, Haruyuki made sure to hold the plate and earnestly continued eating.


    Their three plates became empty in fifteen minutes. Chiyuri, after cleaning the dishes and coming back, sat down at the table once again.


    After remaining silent for a while, it was 7:50 when Chiyuri finally opened her mouth.


    ¡°¡­¡­Noumi told me to come. To the location of the duel.¡±


    ¡°Wha¡­¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­¡±


    Haruyuki raised their voices at the same time as Takumu.


    Following a momentary pause, his thoughts began turning at high speed.


    ¡°I¡­I see. You¡¯re already at Level 4 after all¡­so you¡¯re also entering the Unlimited Neutral Field¡­¡±


    Foolishly, Haruyuki hadn¡¯t considered at all the possibility that Chiyuri would appear. But, certainly, since it¡¯s Noumi, he would have no hesitation in using Lime Bell as part of an ambush.


    ¡°B-But¡­how does Noumi intend to transmit the designated time to you, Chii-chan¡­?¡±


    Takumu¡¯s question was quite natural. He and Haruyuki would be arbitrarily changing the designated time, in order to eliminate the chances of Burst Linkers lying in ambush for them. Chiyuri wasn¡¯t an exception to that either.


    Chiyuri turned down her face so as to escape from the looks directed at her from the two of them, and then mumbled.


    ¡°¡­Noumi instructed me like this. Meet directly with Haru and Takkun, and tell them that I¡¯ve betrayed him. Do that so that they trust me, and Dive at the same time as them¡­and then once the duel start, heal him.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Wh¡­at¡­?¡±


    Haruyuki clenched his teeth hard.


    ¡ªJust how much foul play does he intend to do!


    At the same time as that fury pierced through his brain, Haruyuki was even more confused by Chiyuri¡¯s intentions in confessing those instructions to him and Takumu.


    As if sensing that, Chiyuri continued in a thin voice.


    ¡°¡­But, that¡¯s impossible. Even if I said such a thing now, it wouldn¡¯t be persuasive at all. That¡¯s why, I¡­thought that I would tell you two the truth and ask you two.¡±


    ¡°Ask us, you say¡­¡­¡±


    Looking at first Haruyuki and then Takumu with wide eyes wet with pale tears, Chiyuri clearly spoke.


    ¡°Please take me there. I have to go. If you say it¡¯s impossible¡­if you say that, it can¡¯t be helped, so instead I¡¯ll Dive into the Unlimited Neutral Field right here and now, and wait on the other side until you two come. No matter how many months or years it takes, I¡¯ll wait.¡±


    ¡°¡­Chiyu, you¡­¡­¡±


    Those words were squeezed out from his blocked throat. Chiyuri may have declared that, but he felt a deep shock at hearing words like the ?Unlimited Neutral Field? coming out smoothly from the mouth of a girl who should have been a beginner that didn¡¯t know the basics of Brain Burst only a week ago.


    Haruyuki had held dozen, hundreds of questions within his chest since this incident began.


    ¡ªWhy!


    ¡ªChiyu, just what on earth are you going so far for! For what purpose are you continuing to so insistently and foolishly earn points in the Brain Burst that you denied until now!!


    Yes, Haruyuki wasn¡¯t able to stop himself from thinking even this.


    What if even Chiyuri¡¯s words now are a trap? What if this is a strategy where she betrays us two-fold, interrupts during the duel and steals away the points of me and Takumu?


    Honestly, although it was a battle against Dusk Taker where they didn¡¯t know what would happen in the match even if it¡¯s one-on-one, their chances of victory would almost entirely disappear if Lime Bell¡¯s healing ability was added to the mix. It would become just like the battle on Tuesday.


    Haruyuki couldn¡¯t understand. He couldn¡¯t grasp Chiyuri¡¯s true intentions at all.


    The one that broke the heavy silence was Takumu¡¯s quiet voice.


    ¡°¡­I understand, Chii-chan. We¡¯ll go together.¡±


    ¡°T-Taku¡­¡±


    Takumu turned towards Haruyuki, smiled quietly and spoke.


    ¡°Haru. Half a year ago, you saved me during our first battle in that hospital. You surely wavered about it, right? There was plenty of possibility that my pleading was just lip-service and that I would try to hunt the comatose Black Lotus immediately after our duel finished. But¡­you forgave me. No, you believed in me. I will never forget that time¡­¡­That¡¯s why.¡±


    Taking a deep breath through his trembling throat, Takumu resolutely declared.


    ¡°I will also believe in Chii-chan. It¡¯s frustrating that I can¡¯t understand Chii-chan¡¯s real intentions no matter how I think about it¡­But, whatever may happen due to Chii-chan¡¯s actions, I will accept it.¡±


    Within the silence that once again filled the room, Haruyuki saw Chiyuri¡¯s lips move silently.


    It was a minute movement like the shaking of a tree, but the clear words reached his ears.


    ¡­Thank you, Takkun.


    The instant he heard that, Haruyuki shut his eyes tightly. On the screen of his eyelids, the tears that he had seen Chiyuri shed yesterday in her room were recalled.


    I¡¯m acting according to my own will.


    Chiyuri had said that while crying. In that case, the small details of the situation already didn¡¯t matter. Just as Takumu had said, it was about believing, or not believing. The problem was only that. And the answer to that was decided. Since many years ago, since the time when Chiyuri and Haruyuki could satisfyingly talk to each other, it was already decided.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Haruyuki also nodded.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go together. The three of us.¡±


    At the same time as it reached 8 PM, Haruyuki sent the first typed email to Noumi. The specified Dive time was 8:30. The location was in front Kouenji Station within the Unlimited Neutral Field.


    Of course, these would both be changed from now on again and again. Since they would only send the new directions a few seconds before the arrival of the previous designated time, even if Noumi had someone set up in ambush, it was impossible for Noumi to transmit a postponement to them. Only, there was a danger of Noumi and his ambush accomplice Diving at the same time if they met up with each other in the real world like Haruyuki and the others, but Haruyuki didn¡¯t believe that Noumi had a comrade he trusted that much. Furthermore, Haruyuki and Takumu had also considered the idea that the accomplice would Dive after also meeting with Noumi on this side in order to eliminate that possibility, but they dismissed they because it was even more dangerous to leave one¡¯s unconscious body in front of Noumi.


    While randomly changing the time and location, Haruyuki continued to send mail after mail.


    The feeling of tension while on standby was unpleasant like when being left alone for a long time in the waiting room of a dentist¡¯s office. But, thinking that the irritation that Noumi must be feeling right now was incomparable to his nervousness made him able to endure it. On Noumi¡¯s side, he wasn¡¯t able to predict just how long and how many times they were going to extend this.


    9:12 PM.


    After amply repeating the extension more than 15 times, Haruyuki finally spoke.


    ¡°All right¡­We¡¯ll Dive in one minute.¡±


    ¡°Roger.¡±


    Takumu gave that answer, while Chiyuri also nodded.


    The one-match battle which bet all the points of three people. Despite how long it had been prolonged, it would start in one hour. In other words, everything would be over after only three to six seconds in the real world.


    Within his heart, Haruyuki called out ¡®Senpai¡¯ to Kuroyukihime who was in the far away Okinawa.


    ¡­Senpai, if I lose, you¡¯ll probably be extremely angry, and also sad. But, I believe that you¡¯ll definitely understand in the end. It is exactly because I aim to be your knight that I have to do this.


    Five seconds before 9:13.


    Haruyuki pressed the transmit button for the last email.


    The contents were¡ª[Location: Umesato Middle School grounds. Time: Now.]


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!!¡±


    Right after Haruyuki shouted that out, the three of them gathered their voices together and cried out the command.


    ¡°¡°¡°Unlimited Burst!!¡±¡±¡±

 Volume 4 - CH 10

    Night.


    A huge pale disc shone brightly in the black sky.


    The ground, the buildings, everything was a white stripped of color. It wasn¡¯t colorlessness, but the color of dry bone. Square houses casted distinct shadows over the wide road. Over there, the Shinjuku sub-center, which had changed into a spiral-formed chalk spire, rose so high it seemed to pierce the sky.


    ¡°¡­The ?Moonlight? stage, huh.¡±


    Takumu¡ªCyan Pile murmured that after looking around at this virtual world¡¯s Western Tokyo.


    Haruyuki also quickly listed the features of this stage that he remembered.


    ¡°It¡¯s bright, but you can see almost nothing within the shadows. Sound carries over a far distance. There are few Enemies. Trap-type terrain effects also don¡¯t exist¡­¡±


    ¡°In open spaces, unexpected attacks from hiding places are almost impossible. Using the school campus was a correct choice after all.¡±


    After nodding to each other, they glanced behind them.


    In this empty white space whose was basis the living room of the Arita home, the vivid emerald and shining ?Lime Bell? stood silently as well beneath the moonlight.


    There was no change in her outward appearance since they had seen her on Tuesday. However, by doing an enormous number of duels over only two days and winning completely in all of them, she had already reached the same Level 4 as Haruyuki and Takumu.


    Though, because there had been an interminably long time since they had become Level 4, there was probably a wide difference in total point acquisition between the two of them who would soon reach Level 5 and Chiyuri, but her potential at least must be equivalent to theirs.


    While catching up that close to them in a short period of time, Chiyuri who served as Noumi¡¯s healer/bait had surely been exposed to all kinds of attacks from countless Burst Linkers. Haruyuki also understood just how painful those harsh, difficult experiences must have been.


    However, Chiyuri stood right in front of the two of them with movements that didn¡¯t betray her fatigue at all, and she spoke only a short sentence.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    And then, without hesitating, she jumped down from the high terrace that corresponded to the 23rd floor of the original apartment building. She descended from slightly lower terraces and decorated scaffolds to the ground. There was not a fragment of newbie awkwardness in her movements either.


    Haruyuki and Takumu looked at each other once again, and after reflexively smiling bitterly, they also jumped down in the same way.


    The three of them avoided the main road they usually used when commuting to school, and instead went by back roads at a half-run. While paying attention to their surroundings, Haruyuki and Takumu destroyed suitable objects and filled up their special technique gauges.


    They didn¡¯t go straight into the school, but first came out onto the roof of the family restaurant on the other side of Oume Street, and confirmed the status of the dual location from behind cover.


    Umesato Middle School had changed into a form like a European palace from the Middle Ages. In what could be described as Gothic-style, huge pillars were placed in a row in the front, and many statues of angels or demons protruded out from the surface of the walls.


    After concentrating his eyes to see that there were no other duel avatars there and confirming that everything there was made of stone, Haruyuki looked at the schoolyard once again.


    The large grounds had become a garden intricately covered with small tiles. There were no objects there at all, and only a spear-like tower that stood at the southern end¡ªoriginally the support pole of a ball fence had a long and thin shadow that stretched over the ground.


    ¡°¡­There doesn¡¯t seem to be anyone hidden there.¡±


    Haruyuki murmured that, and Takumu nodded.


    ¡°Yeah¡­But, Noumi isn¡¯t there either¡­His Dive should only have been delayed by half a second¡­¡±


    ¡°If he doesn¡¯t come after five minutes, let¡¯s temporarily retreat away from Koenji Station¡­No, wait.¡±


    At that moment, a very faint wind noise reached Haruyuki¡¯s ears. Since the stage was completely still, something must be moving the air. A flying-type Enemy¡ªor, a flying-type avatar.


    As Haruyuki quickly looked up to the sky in the southwest, his whole body hardened the instant he looked.


    A silhouette was approaching in the night sky filled with small twinkling stars while being palely illuminated by the moonlight.


    A thin body. Claws on his hands. And devilish wings extending out on his back.


    ¡°Nou¡­mi¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki groaned that name out unconsciously, the avatar started descending as if being pulled by his voice. He folded his arms, drew a graceful spiral through the air and alighted down in the center of the schoolyard.


    His landing was almost silent. Just by seeing that manner and posture, Haruyuki could tell that Noumi had already completely mastered the operation of flight ability.


    This avatar with the attribute of ?robbing? slowly folded his wings and stopped moving there.


    Once again, complete silence filled the world.


    Haruyuki¡¯s sense couldn¡¯t grasp any changes either. No movements of stealthy approach, no footsteps creeping in at a blind spot, nothing.


    After waiting more than a full minute, Haruyuki whispered.


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go.¡±


    After Takumu nodded next to him, they rose at the same time and jumped down to the road. Hearing their footsteps, Dusk Taker quickly turned his face towards them.


    While he gazed right at them, Haruyuki and the others entered the grounds of Umesato Middle School through the gate, and then went around the end of the school building and headed towards the schoolyard.


    The footsteps of the three of them make a hard sound on the tiles. The moonlight clearly etched their shadows into the ground.


    Chiyuri did not go into the schoolyard, but instead walked along the southern wall of the school building and then stood quietly within its shadow. Haruyuki and Takumu headed straight towards the center of the wide space.


    Stopping about 20 meters away from Dusk Taker who was standing in the center, Haruyuki threw a silent look at him.


    After taking that look for a few seconds, Noumi unfolded his arms in front of his chest and lightly spread them out left and right.


    ¡°¡­Just like I said you could extend the time as many times as you wished, I¡¯m definitely the only one here!¡±


    The boy¡¯s voice, which was tinged with a metallic effect, resounded lightly through the pale world.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would prolong it so long, senpai! Is that being cautious, or distrustful, I wonder¡­?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because we¡¯ve already learned that we can never be careful enough against you.¡±


    After letting out a short ¡®Kukuku¡¯ laugh at Haruyuki¡¯s retort, Nomi stuck out his right hand in front of him.


    There was a card in between his fingertips. It looked similar to the item that the Yellow King, Yellow Radio had used before to replay a video of the past, but this one was red like blood. Haruyuki had heard that the special items sold at the ?shops? within the Unlimited Neutral Field were mostly in the form of cards like that.


    Noumi showed it to Haruyuki and Takumu, and then spoke.


    ¡°This is, just as its names says, a ?Sudden Death Duel Card?. It cost a fairly high price, but consider it my treat.¡±


    He gave another ¡®Kuku¡¯ laugh.


    ¡°¡­First, I charge all of the points I have into this. The remaining two dueler frames are set as a team, so you two need to bet your respective points as well. If both of you have survived by the time my HP gauge reaches zero, all of the points charged into it will be equally distributed to you two. If only one of you remains, the winner takes it all. And when I beat the two of you, I¡¯ll get all your points.¡±


    ¡°In other words, in the case that the two of us survive together, we won¡¯t have to fight each other, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Well, this is a little bit of consideration. It¡¯s important¡­¡±


    Noumi brandished the card around once again, and spoke.


    ¡°This duel won¡¯t end until someone dies. And those that die will definitely lose Brain Burst. There is no exception to this at all. I¡¯ll say this now, but if you ?retreat? through a portal, it will be treated as your loss at that moment. At the same time as you return to reality, the forced uninstall will activate.¡±


    ¡°¡­I see.¡±


    Nodding, Haruyuki looked at Takumu.


    Cyan Pile¡¯s eyes shined strongly behind the slits on his mask for a moment, and he firmly nodded his head.


    ¡°All right, that¡¯s fine.¡±


    Noumi slowly nodded to Haruyuki¡¯s words, and then touched the card with the fingertip of his left hand. After he operated it a bit, the card shined a bright crimson for a moment.


    He then threw the card to Takumu, who caught it and touched it the same as Noumi had done, causing it to shine again.


    Takumu threw the card to Haruyuki, who then held it between the fingers of his right hand.


    After taking a big breath, he clicked on it with his left hand. A holo-window was displayed in the center, and he touched the charge button.


    After the explanation of the Sudden Death rules in a blunt font flowed down the screen, a confirmation dialog of Yes/No appeared. Yes.


    When the exceedingly blunt Brain Burst system then once again asked the usual ¡®Is this really okay?¡¯, Haruyuki finally understood the reality that this was the edge of the edge of the point of death. Though he should have been detached from his real body, his back quickly grew cold. At the same time as his limbs became numb, virtual adrenaline was released into his blood vessels.


    However, of course, he chose Yes.


    The card shined an even more dazzling blood-like color and¡ªit lifted up from Haruyuki¡¯s hand and floated up to a slightly higher position.


    The digital numbers of a countdown slowly rotated around it.


    If this duel was made widely known in Accel World, an amazing number of gallery viewers would surely gather here. Although half a year had passed since Haruyuki had become a Burst Linker, he hadn¡¯t heard any talk about something like a Sudden Death Duel where you betted all your points.


    ¡ªNo.


    That¡¯s not right. He had heard of it.


    The king of swords who Haruyuki respected and admired more than anyone else, The Black King ?Black Lotus?. As part of the special rule that was imposed only on Level 9 Burst Linkers, she was always fighting while carrying the possibility of sudden death. That¡¯s right, for example, in the weekly territory battles, if the other kings were to arrange meticulous preparations and appear there. If she were to lose to one of them. That person would immediately undergo the permanent loss of Brain Burst.


    ¡­¡­Senpai. You must always be living under this kind of pressure.


    One second after he murmured that within himself¡ª


    The countdown reached zero.


    The blazing letters that flared up said ¡®Duel Start¡¯.


    Dusk Taker widely hoisted up the claws of his hands.


    Haruyuki also lowered his waist and prepared his hand-swords in front and behind him.


    Noumi¡¯s wings remained folded, and he didn¡¯t show any signs of taking out his purple wave motion attack. He must first wish to have a ground battle of incarnate techniques.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s just fine with me!


    Crying that out within his mind, Haruyuki then kicked off the ground.


    He dashed fiercely in order to close the 20-meter distance between them at once. The enemy¡¯s silhouette in the center of his vision rapidly became larger.


    He crossed over the shadows of the poles that stretched over the white courtyard. One pole, two poles¡ª


    When he stepped on the shadow of the third pole, it happened.


    From the darkness of a thin shadow no more than 10 cm wide which shouldn¡¯t have been able to hide anything, something sprang up as if gushing out and approached Haruyuki from his left and right.


    They were square plates that seemed to be about 1 meter long on each side. These two dim deep black plates rose up like springs the moment that Haruyuki had stepped on the shadow of the poll, and squeezed him between them from both sides with a tremendous force.


    Even with Silver Crow¡¯s speed, he was not able to avoid them. He could only spread out his hands and press them against the surface of the plates with all his strength.


    *GAAN!* A metallic sound resounded, and sparks flew from the joints of Haruyuki¡¯s arms. The HP gauge, which was the only thing he could see, decreased slightly.


    ¡°Guh¡­¡±


    He involuntarily cried out from the sharp pain. Although they were ultra-thin plates that were less than a few millimeters thick, they had a frightful pressure that pressed hard on him in a huge vise. He couldn¡¯t extend his arms out at all, so he adjusted the position of his hands and desperately resisted with the armor of his elbows and hands. However, the plates instantly crammed Haruyuki into a 50 cm wide gap, and then finally stopped in that position.


    *GISHI, GISHI* While hearing the sound of his avatar creaking, Haruyuki forcibly shook off his shock and thought.


    ¡ªThere are no traps in the ?Moonlight? stage. Then, is this an unknown special technique of Dusk Taker!? No, if it were, there would definitely have been some kind of motion or voice command on his part in order to activate it. Besides, if he had such a powerful technique, he would have used it in our last duel. In that case¡ª¡ª


    This jet-black board was not Noumi¡¯s technique. Of course, it wasn¡¯t Lime Bell¡¯s either.


    In other words, there was someone else on this battlefield¡­


    No, that¡¯s impossible. There shouldn¡¯t be anyone who could have performed an ambush in this duel that was repeatedly postponed so many times until just before it began.


    When his instantaneous thoughts had reached that far, as if to betray his thoughts all too quickly, Haruyuki sensed a very faint presence.


    His gaze was drawn to the left, in the direction of the school building.


    The northernmost end of the white schoolyard was sunken darkly in the shadow produced by the 4-storied school building. The figure of Lime Bell who was crouched down alongside the wall looked small in comparison.


    Haruyuki, and Takumu as well behind him, watched without speaking as a fifth avatar silently appeared right in front of her from the nearly-pointed tip section of the school building¡¯s shadow.


    Strange.


    That was the only word to describe its appearance. Haruyuki had never once a duel avatar that had a stranger form than this in Accel World.


    Its whole body was made out of thin plates arranged perpendicularly. It was as if many sheets of rectangular clipped paper had been piled in the form of body parts. Since gaps of approximately 1 cm existed between each plate, although its silhouette could be seen distinctly from the side, it only looked like thin vertical lines placed perpendicularly from the front.


    Also, all of the dozens of plates that constituted the avatar were dyed a dim black as if they were smeared in ink.


    To Haruyuki, he didn¡¯t know if it was the avatar¡¯s modeling or its color that was more shocking.


    The laminated plate avatar was completely black no matter how he looked at it. It wasn¡¯t like the ?blackish? avatars he had seen before¡ªnot silver like Chrome Disaster, nor purplish like Dusk Taker. It was a perfect black which absorbed the light of all wavelengths and refused to be dyed.


    ¡°¡­¡­You.¡±


    Haruyuki murmured that in a hoarse voice.


    However, the avatar didn¡¯t respond, but instead tilted its square head and stared at Haruyuki from inside its many gaps. In that instant, the pressure of the two plates on each of side of Haruyuki increased the pressure on his body. Silver Crow¡¯s armor made an unpleasant sound and creaked.


    At this point, Haruyuki finally noticed that the right arm of the laminated avatar didn¡¯t exist at all. Instead, a hazy grey light trembled at the end of its shoulder.


    Haruyuki didn¡¯t understand what kind of logic it used, but it was clear that its right arm was the two plates currently restraining him, considering both their color and form.


    And there was one more thing that was clear.


    This black avatar was an ambusher that Noumi had prepared. An ambush that should have been carefully eliminated after Haruyuki and Takumu examined all the possibilities.


    ¡°¡­Why¡­How¡­It should have been possible for the time to have been specified¡­¡±


    Takumu, who had remained standing behind him, cried that out like a groan.


    Even after he said that, the laminated avatar remained silent. Instead, the one that let out a short ¡®Kuku¡¯ laugh and spoke was Dusk Taker, who was standing several meters in front of Haruyuki.


    ¡°Fu, fu. Geez, you people make me enjoy myself time and time again. It¡¯s nice, that astonished-manner of yours. So much that it makes me want to pay a viewing fee¡­Speaking of which, what did you say a little while ago? ¡®We¡¯ve already learned that we can never be careful enough against you¡¯? Unfortunately, it seems that your diligence wasn¡¯t enough, haha, HAHAHAHA!!¡±


    After letting out another short bout of loud laughter, he suddenly spread out his hands.


    ¡°¡­Though I say that, since the two of you are in the position where you¡¯ll be losing all your points soon, it¡¯s meaningless no matter what you get at this point. At the very least, I¡¯ll let you in on the secret as a farewell gift. ¡ªIt isn¡¯t because I predicted the time you specified, but neither is it because the person over there waited on this side for months before we appeared here, of course.¡±


    He further moved the talons of his right hand and tapped his head which had a lens-type visor fitted to it.


    ¡°The two of you already know that we have a Brain Implant Chip here. The BIC, that is to say a growth-type terminal is connected to the sensory area of our brains as a bio-electronic interface, but¡­depending on the programming, it is possible for it to reach the deepest parts of the brain.¡±


    ¡°De¡­Deepest parts¡­?¡±


    As Haruyuki muttered that, Noumi nodded his head in an exaggerated manner.


    ¡°Yes. Naturally, it¡¯s extremely dangerous. Even I haven¡¯t gone that far. But, the person over there is quite daring despite his appearance. His terminal extends all the way to the thought clock control center of his brain.¡±


    Thought clock.


    Those were the words that formed the basis of the super-technology which realized the ?acceleration? of Burst Linkers. The Brain Burst program accelerates the user¡¯s thoughts by increasing the base clock inside the brain, which uses the person¡¯s heartbeat as the basis, by 1000 times. Whether it was Diving into the usual duel field or the Unlimited Neutral Field, that multiplication rate was fixed and couldn¡¯t be manipulated at all.


    In other words, since Haruyuki and Takumu had postponed the time of the duel for more than an hour, nearly two months of subjective time had passed in this world. Noumi shouldn¡¯t have a comrade that would help him by intently endure such a length of time and waiting in ambush¡ªthat was how it was supposed to be. However.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say it one more time. He dived into the Unlimited Neutral Field at 8 PM in real world time. However, he never had to wait so many months inside here. Listen well¡­By deactivating his brain¡¯s thought clock control center by using the BIC, he can arbitrarily stop the acceleration of his thoughts. He¡¯s, in other words, the only ?Deceleration Ability User? in all of Accel World!¡±


    ¡°¡­Deceleration¡­Ability¡­¡±


    Haruyuki didn¡¯t know whether those repeated words came out of his or Takumu¡¯s mouth.


    As Haruyuki couldn¡¯t find any other words to say, a new voice finally reached his ears.


    ¡°¡­Good grief.¡±


    It was the quiet voice of a youth, which seemed genial somehow even under the electronic effect that was characteristic of duel avatars. Haruyuki felt like it bore a strong resemblance to the voice of a young glasses-wearing male teacher that had been his only favorite homeroom teacher in his elementary school days.


    While still restraining Haruyuki with tremendous pressure, the laminated avatar spoke for the first time in a soft voice without any strain in it at all.


    ¡°Hey, Taker-kun. I can¡¯t help but feel that that talkativeness of yours was what bounced you around and drove you into a Sudden Death Duel situation like this.¡±


    ¡°Haha, that is merely a difference of opinion. Like you consider silence as a weapon, I only consider eloquence as a weapon. So, how about their shocked faces? Doesn¡¯t it look like they¡¯ve already lost the will to fight in the face of our technological capabilities?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. That small kid there is still doing his very best to hang on. I can¡¯t crush him any harder than this.¡±


    ¡°Hee, even if he¡¯s weakened, he¡¯s still a metal color after all.¡±


    As Noumi let out a ¡®Fufufu¡¯ laugh, the laminated avatar signaled Noumi with a small movement of his left hand.


    ¡°Under these circumstances, my hands are full with pinning him in place. It would be helpful if you could tidy up the big one back there a little early than planned.¡±


    ¡°Roger, roger. I don¡¯t plan to make you work more than the remuneration I paid you. Just give me three minutes¡­no, thirty seconds.¡±


    Those words of contempt by Noumi¡ª


    Finally relit Haruyuki¡¯s fighting spirit.


    ¡ªJust thirty seconds? You, who has never won an honest match against Taku, in just thirty seconds!?


    Gritting his teeth hard, he ran his gaze over the plates on either side of him for a moment.


    ¡ªThis isn¡¯t a situation where I can remain restrained forever by such flimsy plates. If the enemy is two, our side is also two. I¡¯ll leave Noumi to Taku, and I¡¯ll take down¡­this guy!


    Haruyuki concentrated all of his consciousness that contained those thoughts into one point on his brow.


    Suddenly, a metallic high frequency sound was produced out of nowhere and Silver Crow¡¯s body shook. The feeling that his consciousness was connecting to the imagination circuit hidden within the Brain Burst program.


    The laminated avatar that was constantly restraining Haruyuki had a grey aura around his right shoulder. Niko had said that the phenomenon of continuously emitted light, in other words ?Over-Ray?, was proof of the Incarnate System being in use. In other words, these plates were the incarnate technique of that avatar. In that case, he also had to muster all his strength and fight back.


    A white light was lit on Silver Crow¡¯s sharp fingertips.


    It quickly covered all the way from his wrist to the vicinity of his elbow in a pale light.


    Haruyuki sucked in a big breath¡ªand shouted out loudly the name of the incarnate technique that he had just recently named.


    ¡°?Laser¡­Sword?!!¡±


    Then, he crossed his arms, and thrusted the fingertips of his right hand at the left plate and the fingertips of his left hand at the right plate.


    *GYAAAAAN!* Along with a high-pitched sound, his swords of elongated light crashed into the jet-black plates and threw off dazzling sparks.


    The parts that the swords ate into instantly became red hot as if they had been showered with the flames of a plasma arc. A glow rapidly spread over the surface of the thin plates, and they vibrated violently.


    ¡ªAt this rate, I¡¯ll break through them!!


    The moment he cried that out inside his mind and strained all of his image power.


    ¡°Oops¡­my, my, this is serious.¡±


    A calm voice was heard. Then,


    ¡°?Static Pressure[1] ?.¡±


    The call of a technique name.


    Suddenly the two plates rumbled with a ¡®GOGON!¡¯.


    The thickness of the plates, which had only been a few millimeters, rapidly increased. Exceeding 5 cm, then 10 cm, they changed into something that would better called ?lumps? than plates.


    The two huge cuboids, which had a texture that felt like it could cut darkness itself, poured pressure that easily exceeded the pressure from before onto Haruyuki.


    ¡°Gu¡­uh!¡±


    While groaning like that, he mustered as much mind power as possible and resisted with his Laser Swords. However, even though it had looked on the verge of melting just a moment ago, the red hot portions were reduced by half the instant the thickness increased.


    An even stronger gray aura was being released from the laminated avatar¡¯s shoulder. It was already definite that this technique was not a special technique regulated by the system, but a incarnate technique derived from the image power of the enemy avatar.


    Through the imagination output of the two sides fighting each other, Haruyuki felt himself touch what filled the inside of the laminated avatar.


    Darkness.


    Unlike Noumi¡¯s mind power, it wasn¡¯t a hungry nothingness that sought to swallow everything. Although it certainly existed there, it didn¡¯t possess any kind of energy, and therefore did not give nor take, but instead rejected all interference. No, it wasn¡¯t even an active rejection. It was ?isolation?. An absolute detachment that couldn¡¯t consider the state of people¡¯s hearts at all.


    The instant he felt that, Haruyuki reflexively feared coming into contact with it through mind power.


    His hand¡¯s Laser Swords weakened in that short instant and flickered.


    That was enough. Becoming tremendously heavy, the hard objects dug into Haruyuki¡¯s shoulders, and Haruyuki¡¯s movements were completely confined. Once again, he heard the voice of the laminated avatar.


    ¡°Hey, you. If you could, please remain quiet and still like that. The work I¡¯ve been contracted to do only involves temporarily pinning you in place. I have no intention of fighting.¡±


    ¡ªWhat¡­kind of selfish thing are you saying!


    Shouting that out sharply within his mind, Haruyuki once again raised the output of his Laser Swords. However, it took all his strength just to reduce the pressure of the black lumps slightly, and he couldn¡¯t push them back much more than that.


    While he was completely restrained and unable to move, the figures of two avatars slowly stepping up to each other came into Haruyuki¡¯s vision.


    From the west, with his slightly longer arms compared to his short-statured body handing loosely at his sides, was Dusk Taker.


    From the east, with the top of his right arm¡¯s ?pile driver? shining sharply, was Cyan Pile.


    Both of them took a little distance and faced each other in the middle of the white schoolyard.


    An atmosphere of fighting spirit that was rapidly increasing filled the field and pushed up the density of the air. In this feeling of tension that trembled violently, Haruyuki could neither speak out nor pray for anything.


    ¡°¡­¡­Heh.¡±


    Suddenly, Noumi spoke while idly waving his wrists.


    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve made your own preparations. In that case, I should be able to enjoy myself a little¡­right?¡±


    He then raised his hands and made his fingertips touch the front of his chest. A distorted ¡®IIIIIIN¡¯ vibrating was produced, and suddenly, a pulsating purple light gushed out strongly. It was Noumi¡¯s incarnate technique which Haruyuki and the others called the ?wave surge of nothingness?. Haruyuki thought that he would immediately fly up and attack with long-range firepower, but it seemed like he intended to fight a ground battle, perhaps in order to mock Cyan Pile.


    ¡°Does that technique have a name?¡±


    Takumu asked that in a calm voice. In response, Noumi answered with a laugh that made it seem like he was letting out a great breath.


    ¡°Hah, I don¡¯t have any reason to give names to my techniques. Although having no name for it seems to make the activation somewhat slower, I decline doing that kind of game-like behavior! ¡­Besides¡­¡±


    He spread out his hands wide. The wave surge light left a hazy trail behind it in the air.


    ¡°Is there any reason in you asking something like that? When you¡¯ll be losing Brain Burst in just a few minutes?¡±


    ¡°There is a reason, of course. Because I want to remember, at least for a little while, the details about the opponent for whom I¡¯ll be performing their last rites over their corpse.¡±


    Coldly retorting like that, Takumu moved his right arm¡¯s Enhanced Armament in a stance sideways in front of his chest.


    Haruyuki also knew that Takumu had done mind power training under the Red King Niko¡¯s coaching over a period of one week. However, he hadn¡¯t heard what kind of technique Takumu had obtained, nor even whether he had reached the level where he could use it in real battle.


    Despite being in a situation where he was stuck between two lumps and his avatar was screeching, Haruyuki wasn¡¯t able to stop himself from pouring his gaze intently on Takumu.


    Next, Cyan Pile lifted up his left arm as well, and¡ª


    He did an action that Haruyuki didn¡¯t expect.


    With the fingers of his left hand, he strongly grasped the steel stake that stuck out from his Enhanced Armament.


    ¡­Taku, what the heck are you doing!?


    Haruyuki¡¯s eyes widened. That stake was the scar within Takumu¡¯s heart¡ªborn out of his memories of the cruel bullying he had received in kendo class when he was an elementary school student. It was the bamboo sword that had repeatedly poked his throat, and also a lethal weapon for the sake of piercing the throats of the guys who had bullied him.


    So why was he grasping its pointed tip himself?


    Takumu answered Haruyuki¡¯s question with his actions.


    ¡°¡ª?Cyan Blade?!!¡±


    Following that shouted technique name call.


    *GASHUN!* The steel stake shot out. Haruyuki compulsorily expected the spectacle of the pointed end to blowing off Takumu¡¯s left hand. But.


    The thing that was blown away and scattered was the right arm¡¯s ?pile driver? itself. Only the stake remained as a pale light while being grasped in his left hand. Takumu drew a big semi-circle with it and put it up above his head, and then brought up his now free right hand to hold it as well and swung it down in front of him.


    The light scattered, and what appeared out of it was.


    Namely, a sword.


    The blade extended up to one meter and a half. It was single-edged, but was completely straight, with a single deep indigo line running through it up to its point. The color of the blade was pale blue, and a faint glow of the same color was wrapped around the entire sword.


    Holding that beautiful weapon in stance, Cyan Pile was now, coupled with the color of his armor, nothing else except a complete close range-type duel avatar. No, it was a completed figure that could already be a ?swordsman?.


    ¡­¡­Taku.


    Haruyuki whispered that in a voice that didn¡¯t form into a real voice.


    As if heading his thoughts, Takumu looked at Haruyuki for an instant and nodded. Then, he once again turned to the front and directly put his right leg forward. He positioned his sword halfway up with the expert motion of a kendo fighter.


    A much more intense fighting spirit was blown out violently from that step, and the aura in Noumi¡¯s hands flickered.


    ¡°¡­I see.¡±


    Even after receiving that fighting spirit, Noumi muttered in a voice from which not much agitation could be externally seen. He then immediately let out a contemptuous laugh.


    ¡°Fufu, I see. It¡¯s because losing to me in a match was very mortifying, is that it? So you embodied those feelings into that kind of shoddy sword. But well, if it¡¯s a sword match that you wish¡­it can¡¯t be helped, I¡¯ll go along with you for a little while.¡±


    And then Noumi also made the gesture of grasping something with his hands, and took the exact same halfway up stance.


    Haruyuki watched feeling half-surprised and half-comprehending as the purple wave surge stretched out and took the form of a long sword. Noumi had once changed that wave surge into the form of long claws before. If it was a close-range weapon, it probably could change into various forms according to the image in his mind.


    Although having the outward appearances of their duel avatars, the two of them faced each other in the exact same stances as during the final match in the kendo club inner tournament last week. However, there was no referee here. Nor any protective armor. What hung in the balance was their very life as Burst Linkers.


    *JIRI* Both tiptoed forward and began to close the distance between them.


    In the space between their two sword points, actual minute white sparks burst out and burned the air.


    The battle had already started. Takumu and Noumi were fighting an ?Override[2]? battle between them to see which had the stronger imagination.


    ¡ªTaku, believe in yourself!!


    Haruyuki shouted that out in his mind, and at that instant.


    ¡°¡ªSEEAAAAAH!!¡±


    ¡°¡ªCHEEEEEE!!¡±


    Two spirited cries resounded loudly on the moonlit night battlefield, and the two of them kicked forward off the ground simultaneously.


    Blue and purples trails were brightly drawn through the air, and their two swords crossed each other from the front.


    *GAKIIIIN!* An intense impact sound. Takumu¡¯s mind power which embodied the true nature of a sword, ?cutting power?, hit away Noumi¡¯s mind power that tried to shave off everything. These swords that greatly repelled each other swung down at the same time. Again, a thunderous sound and sparks occurred. And again once more.


    Then, the two of them took distance from each other and confronted each other while taking up their halfway up stances again.


    From Dusk Taker¡¯s mask, a mocking voice leaked out.


    ¡°My, my, this is surprising. You¡¯re really doing your best to use that hastily improvised sword, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course. When it¡¯s a kendo match without cheating, I¡¯m stronger than you after all.¡±


    Noumi laughed in a ¡®Kukuku¡¯ throaty voice in response to Takumu¡¯s retort.


    ¡°I wonder about that, senpai. Do you think I wouldn¡¯t notice? It¡¯s obvious no matter how you try to hide it! You¡­have a fatal habit!!¡±


    While shouting that out, Noumi sharply stepped forward. The length of the purple sword grasped in his hand increased and extended with a ¡®SUUUU¡¯.


    Taking into account the force of the momentum from the lengthening of the blade¡ªDusk Taker savagely shot out a thrust, aiming at Cyan Pile¡¯s throat.


    ¡°CHEIIIIIIN!¡±


    Takumu¡¯s arms sprang up as if convulsing and tried to protect his throat with his blue sword¡¯s blade. But at that instant, Noumi¡¯s sword moved like a fencing fleuret and changed the trajectory of its thrust.


    *BYUUH!* An ear-hurting vibrating sound resounded, and the tip of the purple sword mowed down through the empty space on Cyan Pile¡¯s right side.


    Noumi cut his way forward like that. As if chasing that trajectory, a single pale spark flowed from Takumu¡¯s wound.


    ¡°Guh¡­¡±


    Immediately returning to his body immediately despite the groan, Takumu chased after Noumi. He let out a series of unstopping attacks at Noumi¡¯s forearm, other forearm, face and eyes. But the purple sword twisted like a living thing and precisely repelled the attacks.


    ¡°Come on, come on, is it really all right, not protecting your neck like that?¡±


    Once again, a ¡®BYUO¡¯ roar was emitted and Noumi¡¯s sword thrusted out. It didn¡¯t miss the moment when Takumu¡¯s movements hardened for an instant, and this time the left side of his abdomen was cut up.


    ¡ª¡ªTaku, hang in there!!


    Haruyuki shouted that out within himself while fighting desperately against the black vise he was in.


    The scars of Takumu¡¯s heart. That was the memory of bullying he received in his kendo class as an elementary school student. Having been used as a practice stand for thrusting while having his arms bound behind his back had been humiliating to him, and more than that produced an overwhelming fear in him.


    However, Takumu did not give up kendo. Takumu himself had said that it was because he didn¡¯t have the willpower to give it up, but that wasn¡¯t it. He continued it because he liked kendo. His love for it exceeded his fear. Those feelings¡­


    Believe in those feelings, Taku!!


    He couldn¡¯t have heard Haruyuki¡¯s voice. However, Takumu readjusted his staggering body and¡ª


    He lifted up the sword in his hands. Higher than his neck, and far above his head.


    A blue aura even bluer than the moonlight wrapped around not only the sword that was positioned above his head, but also all the way from his arms to his shoulders.


    Noumi glared from below at Takumu as his mind power¡¯s ?Over-Ray? wavered and he took a firm stance.


    ¡°¡­¡­What a transparent bluff. Very well, if you want to leave your windpipe wide open, then¡­¡±


    A dark purple Over-Ray gushed out with a ¡®ZUAA¡¯ from Noumi¡¯s sword and arms.


    ¡°¡­¡­Just as you wish, I¡¯ll pierce it!!¡±


    Dusk Taker¡¯s charge was faster than Haruyuki¡¯s eyes could follow. After stepping forward like a blur, he suddenly fired a thrust at Takumu¡¯s throat that wasn¡¯t a feint this time.


    Takumu¡ªneither avoided it nor protected himself.


    Instead, he moved forward. He received the point of the sword which hid a certain-kill power in it with his thick left shoulder. A deep hole was dug unto his armor and thin pale sparks flew.


    ¡°Guh¡­¡±


    A low pain-enduring voice leaked out from under his mask. However, immediately after.


    ¡°ZEAAAAAH!!¡±


    With a force that shook the air, the ?Cyan Blade? was swung straight down.


    Noumi dodged to the right in an expected reaction, but he couldn¡¯t completely avoid it and received the sword tip through the left side of his chest. Although it was slightly shallow, red-purple sparks still shot out dazzlingly.


    ¡°Tch¡­!¡±


    As Noumi tried to get some distance away while clicking his tongue, Takumu showered him with even more attacks. Just before the blue blade touched his mask, his purple blade unfortunately blocked it.


    Like that, the two of them shifted to a battle of locking swords. Sparks flew spewed out like a waterfall from the point their swords crossed, and brightly illuminated their masks.


    This state of equilibrium lasted only for an instant. Possessing a better physique and physical strength, Cyan Pile pushed his sword forward with a jerk. The Incarnate System had nothing to do with this result. It was purely the power difference between a close range-type and an overall distance balance-type coming out here.


    Eventually, Dusk Taker faltered as his right knee hit the ground.


    His blade slipped, and Takumu¡¯s ?Cyan Blade? approached Noumi¡¯s left shoulder. Due to the huge pressure, a fine crack ran through the white-tiled schoolyard. Their two masks approached each other just short of touching.


    Suddenly, a certain premonition ran through Haruyuki¡¯s mind with a shiver.


    ¡®¡ªTaku, dodge!¡¯ An instant before he could shout that out.


    Noumi let out a sharp voice.


    ¡°?Demonic Commandeer!!?¡±


    *SUBA!* Along with that sound, a darkness with density was emitted from Dusk Taker¡¯s lens-type visor in a whirl.


    It hit Cyan Pile¡¯s mask from the front and, as if it were also some kind of living thing, it invaded inside him while shuddering. The blue avatar¡¯s upper body bent back and stopped for an instant.


    ?Demonic Commandeer?.


    That was the only inherent special technique that Dusk Taker had. Its effect, which consumed his entire full gauge in order to activate, stole a single ability belonging to the targeted duel avatar, like their special techniques or an Enhanced Armament. The fact that Noumi hadn¡¯t used his wings and had instead done a close-quarters battle from the front until now was a trap aiming for this.


    Cyan Pile did not have a system-like ability[3]. And even two of his three special techniques were derived from his Enhanced Armament. In other words, in the case that he received the ?Demonic Commandeer?, he would likely have both his ?Pile Driver? and special techniques stolen all together with a probability of 75%.


    If that happened¡ªthat ?Cyan Blade?, which was reconstructed from his steel stake due to mind power, would also disappear.


    The momentary still state that covered the field felt like it was forever to Haruyuki.


    The darkness which should have flowed backwards from Cyan Pile¡¯s mask and returned to Dusk Taker¡ª


    Didn¡¯t occur.


    Instead.


    ¡°¡­OOOOH!¡±


    With a war cry, Takumu swung the sword grasped by his hands down in a straight line.


    Noumi¡¯s left arm was cut off from under the shoulder and scattered into purple light before disappearing. At the same time, his avatar itself was also struck to the ground, bounded violently and rolled backwards by almost 10 meters.


    As one would expect, he immediately got up and repositioned his blade of nothingness with only his right hand. However, as if displaying the agitation within his heart, the point of his sword trembled minutely.


    Pointing his brilliantly shining blue blade at Noumi, Cyan Pile spoke.


    ¡°You really are too greedy, whatever the circumstances are.¡±


    Haruyuki did not grasp the meaning of those words immediately. Although he probably didn¡¯t plan on explaining, Takumu continued speaking calmly.


    ¡°¡ªI¡¯ve always thought it was strange. Why you didn¡¯t take Lime Bell¡¯s healing ability. Even though if you did, you would have all three abilities of ?flight?, ?firepower? and ?healing?, and become an absolute person that could surpass even the kings. The reason for that is¡ª¡±


    As the eyes within his slits brightened with a ¡®PIKA¡¯, Takumu declared it.


    ¡°Because your capacity is insufficient. It shouldn¡¯t be possible for an overly powerful special technique like ?stealing the abilities of others? to have no restrictions. Your ?Demonic Commandeer? has a maximum limit to the number and general potential of the abilities you steal and retain. Because of that, you lack the capacity to take two rare abilities like ?flight? and ?healing? at once, even if you were to delete all the other powers you have. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Pressing down on the cut-off section of his left arm with his right hand, Dusk Taker remained silent. Right now, Noumi should be tormented by an intense pain that was double what was experienced in the usual duel field. Was it that he couldn¡¯t move¡ªor was he feeling so much anger that he forgot about the pain?


    While carefully pointing his sword at him, Takumu slowly closed the distance between them little by little. His calm voice flowed through the field once again.


    ¡°¡ªThe person who coached me in mind power said this. That most of Cyan Pile¡¯s potential is comprised of this ?pile driver?. You surely estimated that you could always get rid of your current free space as well if you stole my Enhanced Armament, but¡­unfortunately, you judged the value of my ?pile driver? incorrectly.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Fufufu, I see.¡±


    Although Dusk Taker finally let out his usual contemptuous laughter, his voice was tinged with a gloomy and distorted effect, as if reflecting his true feelings.


    ¡°I see. Although I said it before, that stick was made using very painful memories of yours as a resource, right? That¡­is a metaphor for a bamboo sword, right? Was it from something painful in the kendo club? Could it be that such a cool senpai like you was bullied in an unsightly manner? Haha, no way! You¡¯re not like that pig over there!!¡±


    ¡­Taku, those words are another of Noumi¡¯s traps! Don¡¯t listen!


    Even though he was desperately resisting against the jet black vise that was mercilessly pressing hard on him, Haruyuki shouted that out within his mind.


    Perhaps because of anger produced within Takumu, the light covering his sword wavered slightly. However, he quickly regained control and responded in a calm voice.


    ¡°¡ªMy own memories don¡¯t amount to much. Not when compared to the scars that made Dusk Taker, your avatar appear. The reason you¡¯re a ?plunderer? is because you have nothing left inside you. You steal everything because you¡¯re an empty hole. You also have probably already realized it. Even if you take away the powers of others¡­no, their hopes, their friendships and love, the real reason you do that is because you can never have them yourself.¡±


    Once again, silence.


    The dark-colored avatar turned down his face deeply beneath the blue moonlight pouring down.


    Eventually, he rose up while feebly staggering. While pressing down on his left shoulder, he slowly turned his face upward. His entire body minutely trembled, which then quickly changed to intense shaking.


    ¡°¡­Kukuku.¡±


    What leaked out from behind his spherical visor was thin and creepy laughter.


    ¡°Kuku, fufufu¡­Hahaha, aha¡­AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!¡±


    His whole body bending far backwards, Dusk Taker let out a burst high-pitched loud laughter.


    ¡°AHAHAHAHAHA!! Nothing inside me!? Empty!? Hahaha, that¡­that describes that guy instead!!¡±


    After laughing for a while, he began to talk like a dam had burst within him.


    ¡°Since you people are clever, you must have already guessed after looking over the graduation album, right? Yes, my ?Parent? is my real three-year-older brother. That guy was the real plunderer. Using his slightly large body and violence, he stole sweats and toys from me during our childhood, and when he got a little bigger he stole my pocket money and New Years¡¯ money¡­and finally he even stole the only girl I got along with. A completely splendid style of plundering, fufufu.¡±


    He shook his head left and right two, three times, and laughed as if amazed. His sad and gloomy monologue continued.


    ¡°¡­The first thing that that guy gave to me¡­it was of course ?Brain Burst?. I was foolishly glad and even excited. That¡¯s why, just as his first lecture finished, I felt disappointed when he said ¡®Earn ten points every week¡¯. But I would go through terrible experiences of real life violence if I refused. I would desperately ?duel? by going to depopulated areas and supply the points I gathered honestly to my brother. I was completely like a dog. Yes, that guy even took my one final thing from me in the process. My ?pride? as a human.¡±


    ¡­No. I don¡¯t want to listen.


    Haruyuki held his breath, and tried to shut out from his consciousness Noumi¡¯s words, which brought with them a pain just by listening to them, as if there were some kind of attacking power in the words themselves.


    ¡­I don¡¯t want to hear such a story. No, I don¡¯t need to hear it.


    ¡ªTaku, deliver the finishing blow already. Make it end. We don¡¯t need to go along with a story whose veracity is not certain. No, it¡¯s surely a lie. A strategy to unsettle us.


    However, Haruyuki couldn¡¯t help but understand.


    That Noumi¡¯s story was the truth. And that Takumu could not cut him down in this situation.


    Dusk Taker continued speaking to Cyan Pile who had stopped moving.


    ¡°¡­But, even in that kind of situation, I collected points little by little for myself and raised my level. And one day, I finally obtained my first special technique in this avatar that didn¡¯t possess any significant power. That was ?Demonic Commandeer?¡­During the same time period, I soon after got two other great powers. Namely, the BIC and knowledge of the Incarnate System. My mind power training was harsh¡­my coach told me countless times that it was a waste of time. But, I stuck to my hatred towards my brother as sustenance. Yes, that time finally came at last. The time when I took back everything that that guy¡­that my brother had stolen from me.¡±


    Kukukuku.


    That chuckle tinged with the sound of resentment dripped through the field.


    ¡°¡ªI called my brother to the Unlimited Neutral Field, and first took his ability. After doing that, I tortured my shocked brother to death with mind power. Since his HP disappeared a little too quickly for my taste, I thought more on how to do it the second time. After one hour passed and he revived, I was more skillful in how I killed him. The excitement and pleasure I felt then can¡¯t be described in words! The way he cried when his points finally ran out and he lost Brain Burst last of all¡­just remembering it makes me laugh even now¡­kuku, fufufu, AHAHAHAHAHA!¡±


    After grasping his stomach for a while, Noumi raised his head up and shouted.


    ¡°Nothing inside me!? An empty hole!? The one that¡¯s like that isn¡¯t me, but that guy now!! An ex-Acceleration Ability User that has lost Brain Burst. There is no other existence sadder and more pitiable than that! I¡¯m different¡­I will obtain everything. Both in Accel World, and the real world. Even the illusions like friendship and bonds that you people believe in¡­¡±


    The eyes within his visor glowed strongly.


    ¡°¡ªI won¡¯t be left behind, but steal and rise up!!¡±


    Along with that shout, Noumi shook off his right hand with a big swing.


    On his left shoulder, there was something that shot out from the cut-off section of his arm at a violent speed like black snakes. It was the three tentacles Enhanced Armament that he had equipped when he first dueled with Haruyuki. He must have secretly recited the equip command and had been waiting for it to regenerate.


    The tentacles that could extend anywhere let out a roar and pounced, but it wasn¡¯t towards Cyan Pile who was standing in front of him. Furthermore, it wasn¡¯t towards Silver Crow who was squeezed within a vise either.


    It was towards Chiyuri¡ªLime Bell, who had been sinking her body underneath the shadow of the distant school building and had not tried to speak a word until now.


    ¡°Wha¡­¡±


    Although he leaked out a short voice of astonishment, Takumu still reacted and raised his sword up to cut away the tentacles.


    However, one moment before he could do that.


    The tentacles, which quickly contracted like rubber, coiled around the leaf-colored avatar and hoisted her beneath his blade.


    *GISHI* Cyan Pile¡¯s whole body jarred, and he stopped his slash. The sword edge slightly touched the brim of Lime Bell¡¯s pointy hat, and let out a single spark.


    The three tentacles instantly coiled around Chiyuri¡¯s entire body and mercilessly constricted her.


    ¡°¡­¡­!¡±


    The delicate avatar bent backwards and leaked out a pained gasp. Added on to that gasp was Noumi¡¯s snickering.


    ¡°Fu, fufufu. Did you think I merely called her here just for the role of healing me? No way! I¡¯m already aware that Lime Bell is a weak point of yours. You have to effectively use any thing that can be used¡­That is the secret of ?duels?, right!¡±


    ¡°¡­You, bastard¡­¡±


    As Takumu¡¯s sword edge trembled and he let out that low growl, Chiyuri tried to say something to him. However, the tentacles instantly coiled around her mouth several times over and halted Lime Bell¡¯s words.


    ¡°Now then, please throw away that sword and cancel your Enhanced Armament as well.¡±


    After Noumi gave those cold directions, Takumu responded in a grating voice.


    ¡°¡­Lime Bell isn¡¯t participating in our ?Sudden Death Duel?. You can¡¯t make her a hostage.¡±


    ¡°Heh? Is that really so?¡±


    Dusk Taker tilted his head.


    And casually grasped around Lime Bell¡¯s right elbow with his right hand that was trickling with purple wave surge.


    *GOGIN*.


    And then a very, very unpleasant sounded resounded. It was the sound of her thin yellow-green arm being cut off from her elbow joint.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    Lime Bell¡¯s whole body convulsed and she let out a silent scream. Her back bent backwards as far as it could two, three times. Each time, huge amounts of green sparks gushed out from the cut-off section of her arm.


    Haruyuki¡¯s vision was suddenly dyed a blazing red. An overwhelming fury blew violently through him, and he frantically struggled to escape. However, the black vise didn¡¯t so much as shake slightly, as if mocking his anger. On the contrary, the moment the output of his Laser Swords that had been resisting the pressure until now were disturbed due to his anger, they pressed against his shoulders even more strongly.


    ¡°You¡­bastaaaaaaard!!¡±


    Instead, the one that shouted was Takumu. There was something which struck against his large avatar¡¯s chest with a whack as he took a step forward. It was Lime Bell¡¯s arm. After rebounding off him and flying through the air, it became countless polygons and disappeared.


    ¡°¡­You understand now, don¡¯t you, senpai? She is Diving into the Unlimited Neutral Field for the first time. In this world where we receive twice as much pain than in the lower order field.¡±


    He didn¡¯t need to say that. Right now, Chiyuri should be feeling pain that was equivalent to having her body¡¯s arm cut off in the real world. Perhaps because of how big the shock was, the slender avatar continued convulsing bit by bit.


    Before the eyes of the frozen Cyan Pile, Noumi raised his right hand again.


    ¡°¡­Also, if I keep doing this, her special technique gauge for healing me will also fill up.¡±


    Just as he said that, he pierced the tip of his sharp index finger into Chiyuri¡¯s flank.


    Once again, her avatar sprang up greatly. Even from beneath the tentacles coiled several times around her mouth, a thin scream could be clearly heard coming from her.


    Stab. Again. And then¡ªagain.


    Just before the fourth hole was stabbed into her.


    ¡°¡­¡­Stop it!!¡±


    Takumu shouted in a low and broken voice.


    His whole body trembled. The Over-Ray covering his sword and arms flickered irregularly like a bad contact lighting.


    ¡®¡ªDon¡¯t do it, Taku¡¯, is what Haruyuki wanted to shout out. But he couldn¡¯t speak.


    ¡°¡­¡­Please, just stop¡­¡±


    He spoke as if moaning. The ?Cyan Blade? fell from his hands and rolled onto the ground with a clear metallic sound.


    It then immediately dispersed into light. The light flowed through the air and was sucked into his avatar¡¯s right arm, before returning to the original pile driver.


    Takumu murmured the unequip command, and then the Enhanced Armament also disappeared. Immediately after confirming that, Dusk Taker swung his left arm widely and threw away Chiyuri towards a location far away.


    He no longer paid any more attention the body-bent and pain-enduring Lime Bell.


    The dark-colored avatar charged straight at Cyan Pile and embedded his right claws into his robust abdomen.


    *DOBAH* There was a wet set, and his black arm stuck out from Cyan Pile¡¯s back.


    A rapid stream of pale blue sparks came out as he drew his arm back out. Takumu staggered, pressed against his knees to hold himself up from collapsing, and stopped moving while hanging his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s because you believe in a lie like ?bonds?.¡±


    Quietly¡ªas if seriously having pity for Takumu, Noumi¡¯s voice resounded.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s because you act as if you believe in it, that you lost. If you really had faith in each other, you would have cut me along with her. Am I wrong?¡±


    ¡ªYou¡¯re wrong¡­you¡¯re wrong, you¡¯re wrong!!


    Haruyuki fiercely struggled. As he tried to escape from the vise and go save Takumu, sparks flew out from the joints of his arms in resistance. As he fought against it, he cried out in an unspoken voice.


    ¡ªWhat do you understand!! There¡¯s no way you could understand just how much Taku feels for Chiyu!! If he had cut down Chiyu as well there, that wouldn¡¯t be faith, but just cold calculation!!


    But, the black lumps on either side of him coldly applied pressure on him as if trying to crush even his anger.


    ¡ªWhy can¡¯t I move? Why can¡¯t I even let out my voice? Right now, if I don¡¯t move right now, then what was the point of everything I did until now¡­


    ¡°Sorry, boy.¡±


    From behind him, Haruyuki heard a quiet whisper. It was the voice of the laminated avatar who had been completely quiet until now.


    ¡°This technique stops your speaking as well as your movement. Therefore, you can¡¯t speak nor use any voice commands. I would have liked to at least let you say words of farewell to your friend, but¡­Sorry.¡±


    Hearing those words that sounded like a serious apology, Haruyuki¡¯s anger became even more inflamed and raged through the inside of his avatar.


    *ZUKIN* His back hurt.


    *ZUKIN, ZUKIN* A lightning-like pain periodically spread out from the middle of his shoulder blades.


    He felt like he could hear some kind of voice. However, as if it too were being obstructed by the vise, it didn¡¯t reach Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness.


    If he couldn¡¯t talk, he could only resist with mind power¡ªwith his ?Laser Swords?. He knew that, but his pounding anger disturbed his concentration.


    In the schoolyard, Dusk Taker raised his right hand while facing Cyan Pile who was on his knees.


    The wave surge of nothingness once again changed into a thin sword. Making a ¡®BYUBYUN¡¯ sound, he cut down twice.


    With a heavy sound, both of Cyan Pile¡¯s arms were severed from the joints and fell to the ground. A mass of lightning gushed out from his shoulders like a waterfall.


    Haruyuki heard a voice,


    ¡­Haru, I¡¯m sorry.


    ¡­I can¡¯t fight anymore. I¡¯m truly sorry¡­


    The tears that overflowed beneath Haruyuki¡¯s mask blurred his vision. Within his distorted screen, he could see Dusk Taker raising his sword high in order to deliver the finishing blow.


    ¡ªHere.


    Is it going to end here? This is the ending of my¡­and also Takumu¡¯s ?Brain Burst??


    Those thoughts fell down with a plop within his mind.


    As if that was also a drop at the freezing point of absolute zero, the flames of his anger became frost and dissolved. His limbs suddenly grew cold. The lights on his hands flickered, and vanished. All sensation in his body went far away. The feeling he had experienced several times before, the premonition of the phenomenon where an avatar stops in a standstill.


    ¡­Ah, I see. ?Zero File[4]?. So this is also an act caused by the Incarnate System. The Minus imagination negates the heat of the heart, and changes an avatar into a cold lump.


    ¡­Even if I noticed such a thing, there¡¯s no longer any meaning to it.


    ¡­No, that¡¯s not right.


    If ?Zero-fication? was the ?Minus mind power? that all Burst Linkers could use, the opposite must also be true. An avatar that couldn¡¯t move should be able to move through Plus imagination. Even if¡ªhe was in a situation like this where he was trapped in a vise of absolute strength.


    Like that time once before, where he had spurred himself on with his tattered body while next to that person who had been sleeping on a bed of black thorns, and rose back up once again.


    With a ¡®PO¡¯ sound, a small fire was lit in Haruyuki¡¯s chest.


    It wasn¡¯t the flame of black anger that he had felt many times until now towards Noumi. It was what could be called ¡®will¡¯. The pure power of the heart that Kuroyukihime, Niko, Blood Leopard, and Sky Raker had taught him.


    The small heat began to melt the ice binding his entire body. The connection to his limbs was restored.


    A blue radiance that also resembled a hot flame¡ª?Over-Ray? was suddenly released from the thin seems and joints of Silver Crow¡¯s mirror-like armor.


    However, without even being conscious of this light, Haruyuki tightly applied both his palms to the vise on either side of him.


    ¡°Gu¡­uh¡­¡±


    A low voice leaked out from his throat. He mustered all his power, and tried to widen the gap. His avatar creaked and groaned, and sharp pain burst through his elbows and shoulders.


    Many shrill metallic sounds resounded consecutively. It was the sound of fine cracks running through the armor of his arms. A blue light radiated in thin streaks from within them as well.


    ¡°U¡­o¡­oh¡­!¡±


    Lumps of pure pain exploded everywhere in his nervous system and dyed his consciousness white. But, Haruyuki continued putting forth his strength. Some of his broken armor tore off and scattered at his feet. His slightly exposed dark grey body was surrounded like flames by a blue aura.


    Even after this, the absolute hardness and pressure of the black lumps didn¡¯t loosen completely. But, Haruyuki believed.


    Not in his own power.


    He believed that the power of the people who didn¡¯t think of Accel World as just as tool, and the power of the people who had supported and guided him this far would not yield.


    ¡°Oh¡­oh, ooooooh!!¡±


    At the same time as he yelled, all of his upper body¡¯s armor other than his helmet broke and was blown off him.


    A blue flash condensed, exploded, and dyed the world.


    Haruyuki felt it. That the restraint of the black vise weakened for just an instant.


    He kicked off the through with all his power. His shoulders chafed against the surface of the walls, and his HP gauge changed and scattered into sparks. Putting all his energy into running across the distance of a single step that seemed infinite, Haruyuki finally escaped from the restraint.


    He rolled over the ground. After turning over once, he stood up. While running with the momentum from that, he drew his right hand to his side. He concentrated his mind power.


    He cried out.


    ¡°U¡­aaah!!¡±


    As Dusk Taker¡¯s arm stopped while in the middle of trying to cut off Cyan Pile¡¯s neck and he turned around to look with a hint of surprise, Haruyuki mustered all of the will power he had left and fired a ?Laser Sword? at him.


    *SHUKIIIN!* The sword point of light that flew more than 5 meters through the air¡ª


    Cut off two of the three tentacles from Noumi¡¯s left arm.


    That was the limit.


    As all his body¡¯s strength faded and his legs got tangled together, Haruyuki collapsed flat to the ground and rolled over face-up.


    Perhaps because he had mustered the image too strongly, Noumi¡¯s voice sounded distant when it reached his flickering consciousness.


    ¡°Oops, please don¡¯t startle me, senpai.¡±


    He paused a little there.


    ¡°¡­Letting your prey slip out from your vise, didn¡¯t you slack off a little too much?¡±


    And then the laminated avatar responded from far away.


    ¡°How cruel, I was going full-out there, you know? You should praise that boy instead, he really is an incredibly tenacious person. Though, it seems he¡¯s already reached his limit.¡±


    And then¡ªHaruyuki watched blankly as thin plates once again stretched up on both sides of his body.


    He moved his gaze, and in the middle of his vision that had turned upside down, he saw Dusk Taker raise his purple sword high in order to properly finish off Takumu this time.


    He couldn¡¯t think of anything anymore. Haruyuki¡¯s soul was exhausted to the point that he couldn¡¯t even feel despair.


    ¡°Then¡­Goodbye, Cyan Pile.¡±


    The purple blade dropped down through the air.


    Leaving behind many afterimages in a semi-circular descent, it headed towards the blue avatar¡¯s neck¡ª


    Just before Haruyuki tried to close his eyes and cut off his consciousness.


    *KIN*.


    A clear sound.


    Just as it was going to touch Takumu¡¯s neck right then, Noumi¡¯s sword was severed from its base and disappeared as if dissolving away.


    ¡ªMind power cannot be cut except by mind power.


    It wasn''t by Haruyuki. Furthermore, the laminated avatar that was restraining Haruyuki shouldn¡¯t have interfered with Noumi either.


    In other words, there a new Burst Linker that had arrived on this battlefield.


    Haruyuki opened his eyes wide, raised his head as if guided by something, and looked up at the night sky in front of him.


    The magnificent grey palace that stood completely still. In the middle, on top of the spire that had originally been the staircase section of Umesato Middle School.


    There was a single silhouette, with the enormous blue full moon in the background behind it.


    Impossible.


    A sturdy black horse stood there with its long mane fluttering in the wind. Its eyes shined a pale blue, and its four hooves were also wrapped in blue flames.


    And on its back, a slender rider gallantly straddled it.


    Black quartz armor that reflected the moonlight bewitchingly. A sharp V-shaped mask. A black lotus-shaped skirt that surrounded a delicate body.


    Both arms were sharp long swords. Both legs were also¡ªswords. That clever radiance, that seemed to cut apart even the pouring moonlight.


    ¡°¡­Aah.¡±


    A quiet voice similar to a sigh fell out from Haruyuki¡¯s mouth. And then once again.


    ¡°¡­¡­Aah¡­¡±


    He felt that, if he said anything more than that, the horse and its rider would become an illusion and vanish.


    However, the rider bowed her head slightly just now, as if having heard Haruyuki¡¯s whispers from where he lay far away on the ground, and lightly kicked the belly of the black horse with her right leg.


    The horse raised its forelegs high in the air, spurted out blue flames from its nostrils and neighed furiously, and then started running through the air as its hoofs resounded with a ¡®DOKA¡¯. As the duel avatars on the ground watched while unable to speak, the ridden horse drew a pale blue trail through the night sky, reached right above the schoolyard¡ª


    And there, the rider jumped off nimbly.


    She spread out her long arms and approached the ground as if gliding. Just before landing, she kicked out one of her legs a little right beneath her.


    *KIN* A sharp sound resounded, and the avatar alighted down to the white ground on the tip of her right leg.


    The black horse still in the air then drew an arc through the air, and immediately after starting to dash towards the southwest sky, it disappeared as if dissolving away.


    After seeing it off, the jet-black avatar gazed straight at Haruyuki. She nodded once again. And then to Cyan Pile who had raised his head. Her gaze also moved in turn to the laminated avatar further way, and to Lime Bell who remained fallen on the ground.


    And then lastly, she gazed straight at Dusk Taker.


    Within her reflective mask, both her violet blue eyes made a noise and shone.


    ¡°¡­¡­It, can¡¯t be.¡±


    The one that let out a hoarse voice was Noumi.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be. Why¡­How, here. How can you be here?¡±


    That astonishment and question existed similarly in Haruyuki as well. However, an overwhelming and deep emotion which exceeded that filled Haruyuki¡¯s chest to the brim, and he was unable to say anything. While he was collapsed there, the black quartz avatar merely gazed at him hard.


    Noumi groaned again.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­Did you return by yourself from Okinawa just for this duel? No, even if you did, you shouldn¡¯t have been able to arrive in time. Impossible¡­Why, how can you be here! Black King¡­Black Lotus!!¡±


    Yes, the jet-black avatar couldn¡¯t be anyone else besides that person, the Black King who served as the leader of the legion ?Nega Nebulas? and held a seat among the ?Seven Kings of Pure Color?, ?Black Lotus?.


    However, the one who held that displayed figure, the Umesato Middle School third-year student and student council vice-president, Kuroyukihime, should have been staying in Okinawa, the destination of the current school trip. And also, the time for this duel between Noumi and Haruyuki¡¯s group had been decided just a little less than an hour ago in the real world. Even if she knew about the duel through some means, she shouldn¡¯t have been able to return to Tokyo from Okinawa and come here in time.


    As Noumi showered his shouts on her, Kuroyukihime shook her mask coolly, and spoke for the first time.


    ¡°So you¡¯re ?Dusk Taker?. It seems like your pride yourself on your ingenuity, but¡­you¡¯re still far too na?ve. In Accel World, there exists infinite ways of fighting that you could never think of.¡±


    Though she had a smooth and beautiful voice like silk, those words cut the virtual air into pieces with a sharp edge. Noumi took a half-step back.


    ¡°I did not return to Tokyo, and neither did I need to¡­Let me remind you of one of Brain Burst¡¯s basic rules. In the ?Normal Duel Field?, there is a time restriction of 1800 seconds and a movement restriction within an area boundary. However, in the ?Unlimited Neutral Field?, neither of those restrictions applies. That¡¯s why it¡¯s ?unlimited?. Listen carefully¡­¡±


    *HYUU* Cutting in front of her with her right hand¡¯s sword, Kuroyukihime declared awe-inspiringly.


    ¡°In this world, Okinawa and Tokyo are connected to each other! ¡­It seems you¡¯ve finally realized. That¡¯s right, I Dived into this field from Okinawa, and ran all the way to Tokyo. Although it took 15 hours for me to tame that Divine Beast-class Enemy from just now and come all the way to here. Even so, in the real world, it was only just under a minute at the most.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Wh, at¡­?¡±


    As Noumi gasped in astonishment, Haruyuki¡¯s own shock also increased.


    ¡ªCertainly, during the many times I¡¯ve visited the Unlimited Neutral field until now, I always thought about how far this world must extend. I never thought of trying confirming it with just a vague question either, but the answer is actually simple. That is, it ?extends to the limits of the Social Camera Network?, which acts as the medium for Accel World. In other words, it extends across all of Japan. From Hokkaido in the north, to Okinawa in the south.


    But, who on earth would think of traveling across that vast world with their body alone? This wasn¡¯t a VR world used for safe sightseeing. It was a place of death where huge Enemies strode about, with just one of them capable of kicking about dozens of Burst Linkers at once.


    Yes, all except for this one person.


    ¡°¡­¡­Sen, pa¡­i.¡±


    Haruyuki leaked out a blurred whisper. Hot tears spread and spilled out beneath his cracked silver face.


    Kuroyukihime turned her gazed once again towards Haruyuki, and revealed the hint of a smile for the first time. However, it quickly disappeared and she then turned to look at the master of the vise that was restraining Silver Crow¡ªthe laminated avatar.


    *KIN!* A sharp metallic sound. At the same time, white sparks flashed in the dark night.


    After the black plates restraining him disappeared, Haruyuki realized a little late what had happened just now.


    Without moving her avatar at all, Kuroyukihime had fired a long-range attack with mind power just by cladding only her right arm in a faint light. The laminated avatar had similarly intercepted it with mind power. Therefore, the image of the vise that was restraining Haruyuki had been cancelled and vanished.


    *KIN, KIKIN!!* Three more flashes burst through the air. The visual phenomenon itself was small and meager, but the hugeness of the fired attack¡¯s power was displayed as Haruyuki felt the field under his body shake heavily.


    While gulping down a breath as he felt that power, he felt no surprise that Kuroyukihime, a king, could use incarnate techniques. Because a technique of such terrifying power had already been demonstrated to him by Niko, whose career as a Burst Linker was overwhelmingly shorter than hers despite also being the same Level 9.


    However, there was something bottomless about the laminated avatar as well, who was directly fighting against that Kuroyukihime¡¯s technique.


    Black Lotus stopped her attack as if she had just finished a greeting, and then asked a short question.


    ¡°What is your name?¡±


    From a location about 20 meters away from her, the laminated avatar titled its head composed of parallel plates as if puzzled. Just as until now, a quiet voice similar to his elementary teacher¡¯s flowed out.


    ¡°¡­There is no meaning in giving my name here. But, a king like you has gone through all the trouble of coming here from far away, after all. It would be rude if I didn¡¯t at least give a self-introduction, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    Making a ¡®HYUHYU¡¯ sound, many black plates rose up from the shadows at the avatar¡¯s feet, and arranged themselves in the form of his right arm that had been missing until now. That was without a doubt the vise that had been restraining Haruyuki up until now.


    The avatar placed that right arm over his chest, bended his waist and bowed. Again, his voice resounded.


    ¡°I am the vice-president of the circle[5] ?Acceleration Research Society?¡­known as ?Black Vise?. I look forward to being acquainted with you from now on.¡±


    ¡ªSince the moment he had seen that color, Haruyuki had possibly expected it slightly.


    However, when he actually heard his name, he still felt a huge shock, as expected.


    Black. ?Black of Pure Color?.


    It was a color that he had believed and never once doubted until now that it was entitled to only Black Lotus. No, before that, Haruyuki had never once heard of a color name, which all Burst Linkers were given, repeating with more than one person within Accel World.


    In opposition to Haruyuki who was widening his eyes in astonishment, Kuroyukihime herself did not display any agitation. She just let out a light breath, and spoke.


    ¡°Hmph, so it¡¯s not a legion, but a ?circle?. That gives off quite sense of care.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s what you would call the policy of our club.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t stand the name as well, of course, but¡­more than that, what I must really repay you for is how you¡¯ve been harshly tormenting my legion members. Of course, I¡¯ll return it to you twofold.¡±


    Her bluish-purple eyes let out an intense light. An aura of the same color clad the swords of both her arms.


    In response, the laminated avatar¡ªBlack Vise spread out his arms in a movement that lacked any feeling of tension.


    ¡°How troublesome. The one that mainly wounded your comrades wasn¡¯t me but Taker-kun, though. But well, I guess I¡¯m not in a position where I can tell you to overlook it¡­right?¡±


    One of his leisurely lowered arms became clad in a thin ink-colored aura, and immediately after many of the plates that composed it silently came apart and sank down into the shadows at his feet as if sliding.


    ¡°Se¡­¡±


    ¡®It¡¯s dangerous!¡¯ Haruyuki shouted out. However, by then, two plates had already jumped out at Kuroyukihime¡¯s feet and stuck her between them on her left and right at a speed that eyes couldn¡¯t follow.


    *GAAN!* The plates crashed into her arms. The thin plates then immediately increased their volume and changed into huge lumps. This was Black Vise¡¯s incarnate technique, ?Static Pressure?. Having harshly tasted that fearful pressure which completely stops the movements and voice of the avatar caught in it, Haruyuki forgot the pain going through his own body as well and tried to shout out again. However, before he could do that.


    *PIKIN* A clear sound resounded.


    And then blue lines crossed through the two jet-black lumps.


    Haruyuki watched dumbfounded as the lumps slide apart to the left and right from their middle, and fell onto the ground gravely. Appearing from inside that, Kuroyukihime spoke as if nothing had happened with her arms spread out slightly.


    ¡°Unfortunately, physical restraints aren¡¯t effective against me.¡±


    The cut-apart cuboids returned to being plates and sank down into the ground. Then, the sword of Kuroyukihime¡¯s right arm spouted red flames.


    She drew back her arm casually, and then¡ª


    ¡°?Vorpal Strike[6]?!!¡±


    Along with that coldly shouted name technique, she released a violent thrust.


    The motion bore a strong resemblance to Kuroyukihime¡¯s special technique ?Death By Piercing?. However, the range was in a completely different class. A crimson spear sent out from the sword charged at Black Vise standing far away along with a roaring sound accompanied by a metallic resonance.


    In response, the laminated avatar that was dyed a lusterless black put up his left arm right in front of him as it became clad in a grey aura.


    ¡°?Layered Armor[7]?.¡±


    The plates of his arm came apart with a rattle and each turned into a big square. About ten plates lined up sideways in the space that separated him from Kuroyukihime, and blocked the path of the crimson spear in order to protect the main avatar.


    *GAAAAAN!!* A dreadful crashing sound roared out, and the world shook.


    The spear penetrated 90% of the defensive plates that acted as layers, and then stopped there. But, it didn¡¯t disappear. While it didn¡¯t pierce through the remaining plate, it jarred the surrounding space itself and shone strongly.


    The two Burst Linkers that both had the name of black fought against each other with their mutual mind power, while standing with their right and left hands respectively stuck out.


    While in this extreme situation, Kuroyukihime glanced at Haruyuki¡ªand ordered him in a voice that was severe, and also gentle.


    ¡°Now then, stand up, Silver Crow. I''ve restrained this guy. You must defeat your own enemy¡­Dusk Taker.¡±


    A second ago, Haruyuki had thought that he didn¡¯t have any power left to fight inside him.


    However, the words of the king of swords penetrated Haruyuki¡¯s chest, as if even that was a kind of mind power, and relit the flames that had disappeared within him.


    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    Although hoarse, he responded in a clear voice.


    Haruyuki then bent the legs of his battered avatar, hit his fist into the ground, and stood up despite being unsteady. His remaining HP gauge was a little more than 30%.


    After confirming that, he turned his face towards Dusk Taker who was standing a little further away from him, and Cyan Pile next to him.


    Takumu, who had been pierced through the belly and had lost both his arms, was still hanging his head deeply as if his consciousness was being obstructed by pain. There were no eye lights within his mask. However, he was still there. He was alive.


    And then, as if finally awakening from his shock, Dusk Taker slowly raised his right hand and used it to cover his face¡¯s visor.


    ¡°¡­¡­Fu, fu, fufu.¡±


    From between those fingers, a derisive laugh that Haruyuki had heard many times until now thinly leaked out.


    ¡°Fufu. Really¡­you people are so repeatedly disgusting. Just how long do you intend to continue playing make-believe with things like ¡®friends¡¯ and ¡®bonds¡¯? You say you ran here from Okinawa? Fufu, that¡¯s an insane sentence, good grief.¡±


    *BUN* He shook off his hand. A faint wave surge coiled around his claws.


    ¡°But well, this saves me time¡ªis what I should be saying. If I can crush this lifeless doll and the small insect over there, there will be only Black Lotus left. You might call yourself a king, but even you can¡¯t fight against the two of us. Rather, this is a unique golden opportunity¡­Just like I did with that guy, I¡¯ll challenge and kill you once every hour. Until you lose all your points. Fufu, kukukuku.¡±


    Haruyuki didn¡¯t hear most of those sneering words. His consciousness was only turned to Takumu who was deeply wounded, and Chiyuri who was still lying fallen farther away.


    The spectacles of Noumi violating those two flashed through his mind¡¯s screen. Chiyuri, who had had her arm cut off and screamed. Takumu, who had had his belly gouged and collapsed. What those two had felt wasn¡¯t just virtual pain. It was the pain of having their friendship, their love being used and trampled over. The despair of having their most important thing soiled and destroyed.


    Turning towards Haruyuki who was tightly clenching his fists and whose entire body was shaking, Noumi whispered in a consoling-like tone.


    ¡°But, please don¡¯t worry. Because I¡¯ll spare only her¡­Lime Bell. And it isn¡¯t because I can¡¯t steal her healing ability like that lifeless doll there triumphantly said. It¡¯s because of Chiyuri¡¯s loyalty. Her way of dedication is very praiseworthy, after all. I¡¯ll treat her with as much love as possible from now on as well, hahahaha.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    From between his teeth that were clenched to the point of shattering, Haruyuki squeezed out words.


    ¡°¡­¡­Noumi. You¡¯re mistaken.¡±


    ¡°About what? Since when?¡±


    Gazing at that darkness-colored avatar as he titled his head, Haruyuki calmly told him.


    ¡°About everything, since the beginning. When you entered Umesato Middle School¡­If you had challenged any one of us to a normal duel and said ¡®Nice to meet you¡¯, that would have been fine. If you had said you wanted to enter our legion, that would have also been fine. If you had done that, you would have gotten the things you really wanted. Friends, friendship, and bonds.¡±


    In that instant.


    Dusk Taker suddenly stopped moving. His voice, having underwent a complete change and now low and hoarse, came out from beneath his visor.


    ¡°¡­What, did you say? I? Want friends?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re the same as me and Taku. You were oppressed, carried scars in your heart, and became a Burst Linker. In Accel World, you must have learned about it through duels. That in this world, there exist the genuine bonds that we wished for. Why weren¡¯t you able to believe in that? Why did you depend on a fake power like the BIC? Even though you must have had the opposite of those choices available to you as well.¡±


    Several seconds of silence passed.


    Noumi suddenly gushed out a dreadful aura from his entire avatar. Haruyuki understood that it was a wave surge of unbelievable anger, and also that its source was the feelings confined in the depths of his heart.


    ¡°¡­¡­In other words, you¡¯re saying something like this?¡±


    Noumi asked that in a voice that shouldn¡¯t be a voice.


    ¡°¡®I forgive you.¡¯ ¡®I pity you, so I¡¯ll become your friend.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m deeply compassionate, so I¡¯ll hold out my hand to help you.¡¯ Is that what you mean?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Haruyuki immediately shook his head.


    ¡°I have no intention of doing something like that. It¡¯s already too late for you and me to ever understand each other. Let¡¯s end this, Noumi Seiji.¡±


    Anger towards Noumi existed in Haruyuki too, of course. However, another feeling that was far stronger than anger became a super-hot blue flame and filled his entire body. It was determination. The resolute will to end everything here. That flame was too hot and burned so steadily, that it felt like it was in a still state instead. Like a star that shined quietly, coldly in the night sky.


    In response, Noumi let out another short laugh, while still radiating anger like a raging hurricane from his entire body.


    ¡°¡­Fufu. I¡¯m relieved to hear that. Even if I narrowly disposed of your avatar here, I would still never be able to forgive even the pathetic you in the real world¡­Very well, let¡¯s settle things, Arita Haruyuki. There doesn¡¯t need to be two flyers in this world.¡±


    And then, he raised his right hand, clenched his fist, and suddenly pulled it back.


    Synchronized with that movement, the black wings that had been always folded on his back until now spread out wide with a flap.


    In response, Haruyuki also raised his right hand high in the air, opened up his palm, and recited.


    ¡°Equip, ?Gale Thruster?.¡±


    *CHIKA* A sky-blue star flickered in the night sky. It poured down to the ground as two lasers, and collided with Haruyuki¡¯s back. It stopped there while shining, acquired form, and finally produced a beautiful Enhanced Armament.


    Dusk Taker spread his wings further and bent them strongly with a clench.


    The booster on Silver Crow¡¯s back began to make a loud driving sound.


    The only existing two flight-type duel avatars in Accel World locked gazes for a single instant and stood still.


    The one that kicked off the ground just slightly before the other was Noumi. He drew back his one remaining tentacle on his left arm like a tail, rang his membrane wings, and rose straight up with a silhouette that was clearly that of a demon.


    After ascertaining Noumi¡¯s trajectory and dropping his waist far down, Haruyuki¡ª


    ¡°¡­Go!!¡±


    Released all of his booster¡¯s energy along with a sharp voice.


    Blue jet exhaust flames burned the white ground. The amazingly powerful propulsion thrust made his small avatar take-off like a snap. He was immediately hot on the heels of the darkness-colored silhouette ahead of him.


    Noumi glanced down, and flapped just one of his wings strongly. While rapidly swiveling around, he brandished his right hand.


    ¡°CHEEEEEE!!¡±


    With a shrill yell, his purple wave surge became five long claws, and drew five long arcs through the air with them as the claws approached Haruyuki.


    Haruyuki also brought together the five fingers of his right hand and shouted.


    ¡°Laser¡­Sword!!¡±


    A sword of white light met and crashed into the purple claws from below.


    The mixture was instant. The point of the light sword and the tips of the claws were both cut into parts, but both attacks still headed towards their targets like that with their remaining mind power and struck them.


    A thick straight line cut appeared on Dusk Taker¡¯s chest. And five thin cuts were engraved into Silver Crow¡¯s chest, and scattered sparks of two colors. While gritting his teeth in sharp pain, Haruyuki continued ascending like that, and then spread out both his hands and went into free-fall when the energy gauge of his booster was emptied.


    In exchange for possessing overwhelming propulsion thrust, the Enhanced Armament ?Gale Thruster? that he had received from Sky Raker would consume its entire gauge once ignited. Dividing it into several take-offs or hovering by adjusting the propulsive force were also impossible. When he reached the peak of an upward trajectory, the only thing he could do after that was control the direction of the fall with the stabilizer equipped to the booster. And then about ten minutes were needed in order to refill the gauge.


    But, through the use of ?Movement Ability Expansion? mind power, Haruyuki could perform an override on the system with the thought of ¡®I can fly¡¯. Of course, he was nowhere near the level where he could actually fly just by thinking that. But now, when he has the Gale Thruster on his back, the system would shorten the gauge¡¯s charging time in order to conform with the interruption caused by his imagination.


    In other words, though he was still far from mastering the Incarnate System, Haruyuki could fly by combining the two powers of the ?image of flying? that had been ingrained into his body through his experiences until now, and of the ?Gale Thruster? which was a propulsion power prescribed by the system.


    The problem was¡ªthat it takes about five seconds to activate the mind power for restoring the gauge.


    And Noumi, who had already seen his mind power charge in their last duel, also knew that.


    While falling, Haruyuki spread out both his hands wide and firmly visualized the image of flapping wings on his back into the sky.


    Following Niko¡¯s advice, he had considered naming this mind power as well in order to shorten the activation time. However, Haruyuki felt a strong reluctance to giving a ?technique name? to the feeling of wishing for the sky and fixating that image.


    That was because that wish was something that Haruyuki had continued to hide within the depths of his heart for a long, long time, and was also the core that the avatar Silver Crow had been born from. The only other thing that it could be called was a ?hope?.


    Therefore, Haruyuki just silently prayed. That ¡®I can fly¡¯. That ¡®Even if my wings were taken, even if I was hurt so much and made to crawl on the ground so many times, I still aim towards the sky¡¯.


    That prayer, however, was only a big chance to Noumi.


    ¡°As if I¡¯d let you!!¡±


    Shouting sharply, Dusk Taker flapped his black wings violently and rushed straight at him.


    Haruyuki disregarded the ominous flying sound as he mustered all his force of will and completed the image.


    A clear sky-blue color spread out within his chest. That Over-Ray was released as phantom wings from his back, flowed into the booster attached there, and changed into the fuel known as ¡®will¡¯.


    *SUGA!* An intense shock was produced, and five claws gouged deeply into Haruyuki¡¯s chest, intersecting with the cuts from earlier.


    ¡°Guh¡­¡±


    Even as a great mass of sparks scattered out along with his groan, Haruyuki suddenly opened his eyes wide and grasped the tentacle attached to Dusk Taker¡¯s left arm as he tried to fly away.


    The wings that materialized ?flight ability?, when compared to his booster, certainly had a higher degree of endless freedom and flexibility. However, it still had a weak point. In compensation for its high mobility power, it lacked stability.


    As his tentacle was pulled back by Haruyuki, Noumi lost his balance and fell halfway into a tailspin. Haruyuki used that momentum as well, swung with all his strength and instantly cut off the tentacle with his light sword. As the centrifugal force piled onto his propulsive power, Dusk Taker was blown away horizontally with violent force.


    ¡°Chiii!¡±


    Leaking out an angry voice, he violently moved his wings in order to regain balance. But his control didn¡¯t return so easily.


    After facing his body towards him and sucking in a big breath¡ª


    Haruyuki shouted.


    ¡°Fl¡­yyyyyyy!!¡±


    The Gale Thruster responded with an intense combustion noise.


    Within the night¡¯s darkness, Haruyuki became a blue shooting star and rushed upwards. The lights on the ground, the stars in the sky, they all dissolved radially, until only the figure of Dusk Taker was caught distinctly within his field of vision.


    He drew aside his right hand. He arranged his fingertips.


    Voicing the technique name was no longer necessary. The pure intention to pierce dwelled in his hand as light, trembling violently.


    ¡°O¡­oooooh¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    Sending out a yell, Haruyuki aimed the core of the radiated light and released the silver radiance.


    ¡°CHE¡­EEAAAH¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    Noumi, who had restored his posture just before that, met the attack with his right hand¡¯s claws along with a shout.


    A shrill resonance sound and exploding shock wave roared through the world.


    The tip of the light sword was held back from five directions by the claws of nothingness and stopped. From the point of contact, intense heat and vibrations were emitted, and as they fought each other in the mutual stance of extending their right arms, their two masks were scorched.


    ¡°Uu, oh, oh!!¡±


    Haruyuki gushed out all of the energy could from the booster, and tried to break through Noumi¡¯s defense. The driving sound on his back increased endlessly. The flames that extended out so far from his back dyed the sky blue.


    ¡ªA little more. It will reach if I push back a little bit more. My sword will reach this ultimate enemy. A little further¡­just a little bit further¡­!!


    Even as he was within that accelerated sensation, he saw the energy gauge in the upper left corner of his vision rapidly decrease.


    If this gauge was depleted, Noumi wouldn¡¯t give Haruyuki the time to charge his mind power again, and would immediately cut him apart with his claws.


    Before that could happen¡ªpierce him!


    ¡°O¡­ooh¡­!!¡±


    His overheated consciousness burned off his vision in white. However, Haruyuki mustered still more of his imagination and tried to pierce through the barrier before him.


    The silver light firmly pushed into the nothingness. His gauge was mercilessly consumed.


    Perhaps because he was concentrating too densely on high attack power, the field itself made a ripple-like effect and swayed. His sword of light pushed through the center of that little by little, little by little.


    It reached. The point of his sword finally touched the palm of Noumi himself¡ª


    Immediately before that.


    The last pixel that lit up his energy gauge vanished.


    The combustion noise of the booster trembled, and the jet flames flickered intermittently.


    Dusk Taker gave an insane smile beneath his visor.


    At that moment¡ª


    ¡®¡­¡­Come now, Karasu[8]-san. Just a little more.¡¯


    He heard someone¡¯s voice, and a white hand was placed on Haruyuki¡¯s right arm.


    ¡®¡­¡­Come on, keep at it. It¡¯s just a bit further.¡¯


    A different voice resounded, and someone pushed Haruyuki¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°U¡­a¡­aaaaa¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    Gathering all the power he had left into a single point in his right hand, Haruyuki roared. Although it was only for an instant, huge flames gushed out from the booster whose gauge should have been depleted.


    It pushed him up with the last of its propulsive power, and then his light sword finally broke through the barrier of nothingness. The five claws scattered into purple light and evaporated.


    ¡°What¡­¡±


    As if to erase Noumi¡¯s gasp just then.


    *SHUKIIIIIIIN!!*


    A loud sound resounded, and the sword of light that had had extended far tore apart Dusk Taker¡¯s right arm in half, and shattered it into countless fragments.


    ¡°¡­Raaah!!¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness was so exhausted that it was a wonder that he could still move. Even so, before falling down from that high altitude, his body moved half-automatically and he pierced using his entire strength the enemy¡¯s chest with a left hand thrust.


    The light of his mind power was so weak that it almost couldn¡¯t be seen, but his arm still pierced the darkness-colored avatar along with a heavy feedback, and came out slightly from Dusk Taker¡¯s back.


    ¡°Guh¡­guuuh¡­!¡±


    Noumi groaned as red-purple sparks scattered out from him, and he threw his head back.


    ¡ªJust one more blow!!


    If he received another heavy attack, Dusk Taker¡¯s HP gauge would probably be depleted.


    However, at that moment, Haruyuki would also certainly die as well.


    That was because he had foolishly recharged his Gale Thruster again, and so he had no more power left to control his descent. His remaining HP was negligible, so if he crashed into the ground from this high altitude, the remainder would vanish all too quickly.


    ¡ªBut, still, that¡¯s fine.


    ¡ªIf it becomes a draw between us and all the points get awarded to Cyan Pike. If I let Takumu take over my dream. My battle is pointless.


    Spurring on his consciousness that would likely blow out any moment now, Haruyuki raised his right hand high to strike.


    The final attack against the black visor of the enemy that had similarly almost fainted now¡ª


    The moment he tried to strike,


    He heard a voice.


    ¡°Citron Call!!¡±


    The voice that he had heard the most in the world, probably even longer than that of his parents. The voice that he would laugh with, play with, and sometimes fight with, but then quickly reconcile¡ª


    As if attracted by it, Haruyuki looked at the ground.


    A pillar of beautiful emerald light rose up from the bright green colored avatar standing quietly in the schoolyard, and enveloped Dusk Taker.


    The sound of countless bells spread through the night sky.


    As if it were an angel¡¯s blessing, it healed the twilight-colored avatar. His cracked and scorched armor regained its gloss. His lost arms regenerated.


    A momentary but far too deep despair enveloped Haruyuki.


    Behind the black spherical visor, red-purple eyes blinked, and then became strongly relit.


    ¡°¡­Ku, kuha, hahaha.¡±


    A high-pitched laugh.


    ¡°Hahaha! Ahahahahahaha!!¡±


    At some point extending out his regenerated arms extremely high, Dusk Taker shouted.


    ¡°Look, isn¡¯t this truly pure loyalty!? How is it¡­This, is power! This is how one rules others!! Friendship!? Bonds!? As if I need things like that!! Controlling by robbing!! That is the only absolute power!! Hahaha¡­Hahahahahahahahaha!!¡±


    That loud and twisted laughter radiated from him as an aura, and dispatched purple electricity through the air.


    ¡°Now then¡­it¡¯s time¡­to end this¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    From his ten ominously sharp fingers, a wave surge of nothingness extended far out.


    Just as they tried to cut apart Haruyuki¡¯s body¡ª


    At that instant.


    The phenomenon occurred.


    *PAH* An intense flash.


    What was shining was the devil wings extending out from either side of Dusk Taker¡¯s back.


    The wings cracked as if they had changed into ultra-thin glass. With a cracking sound, they crumbled apart.


    And disappeared.


    ¡°Wha¡­¡­¡±


    Noumi widened his eyes and gasped.


    ¡°Wh¡­y¡­Why are my wings disappe¡­¡±


    Just before he finished speaking, the two avatars shook with a ¡®GAKUN¡¯. The flying power that had kept the two of them in the air until now was extinguished, and they began to fall while entangled with each other.


    However, Haruyuki immediately felt something trying to restore him.


    It was heat. A small heat that dwelled and gasped in both sides of his back and on the points of his shoulder blades.


    Only Silver Crow¡¯s falling speed slowed, and his left hand that had been piercing through Dusk Taker came back out.


    The twilight avatar fell headlong towards the ground with both his arms spread out in astonishment.


    In comparison, Haruyuki¡¯s fall became even slower, until finally he felt like he was floating and stopped.


    It wasn¡¯t the Gale Thruster. With its gauge completely depleted, the Enhanced Armament was still silent.


    That¡¯s right¡ªthis sensation. This longing so great he wanted to cry, and this exaltation.


    ¡°¡­¡­Ah, ah¡­¡±


    At the same time as his voice leaked out, actual tears flowed down from his eyes.


    The heat that dwelled in his shoulder blades rapidly increased in temperature. The energy swelled, and swirled in search of somewhere to go. As if two bones inside him had awakened the memories of the organ they were equipped with.


    Guided by something, Haruyuki put up his hands and crossed them in front of his body.


    He clenched his fists. He put his strength into them.


    ¡°¡­¡­Welcome back. Thank you.¡±


    Giving that short whisper, he suddenly opened up his arms left and right.


    *SHARAAAAN!!*


    A noise more beautiful than any other sound was produced, and spread through the night sky.


    Even without directly seeing it, Haruyuki knew. That ten metal fins that all reflected the moonlight and shone silver were unfolding out from his back and from either side of his booster.


    Silver wings. The soaring power that served as the proof of Silver Crow¡¯s existence.


    He had finally returned. To his true form. To Accel World¡¯s only flight-type duel avatar that had had been born from the scars in Haruyuki¡¯s heart.


    The instant that firm belief and feeling filled up his chest to the brim, another phenomenon occurred.


    The gauge of the Gale Thruster, which had fused with his wings, shined as if they were linked together and automatically refilled itself.


    ¡®Fly¡¯, is what it felt like it was telling him.


    Haruyuki nodded, drew back his right hand to his chest, and turned his body downwards.


    Dusk Taker¡¯s silhouette, which was still in the midst of falling, looked small over the center of the white field which spread out endlessly.


    Although he had lost his wings, his HP gauge itself should have recovered due to the power of ?Citron Call?. His HP might be equivalent to the damage he would take from falling from such a high altitude.


    ¡ªBut, I¡¯ll finish it before that.


    Haruyuki spread out his silver wings as far as possible.


    The fins began to vibrate minutely. A nostalgic propulsive power wrapped around his body.


    At the same time, the Gale Thruster also lit up. It blue flames were reflected by the silver wings, shining beautifully.


    After firmly holding his breath back along with the energy that was increasing at terrifying rate, Haruyuki shouted.


    ¡°Go¡­ooooooo¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    A silver aura spread out from his wings. Blue exhaust flames gushed far out.


    *DOH!!* Shooting through the wall of air in an instant, Haruyuki flew.


    It was probably a movement speed that no other avatar had attained since the beginning of Accel World. Adding the virtual gravity to the propulsive power of his wings and booster, Haruyuki rushed downwards as a streak of lightning.


    Even with Haruyuki¡¯s accelerated senses, it all happened in an instant.


    Having changed into an arrow of light with his right hand, clad in a sword of mind power, at the tip, Silver Crow approached the falling Dusk Taker, touched him¡ªand pierced through him.


    *PAH* The twilight-colored avatar disintegrated out in a circle fashion from the center of his body.


    Running through the mixture point without even touching any of those polygons, Haruyuki controlled his posture with his wings and turned his booster towards below him.


    The propulsive power offset the momentum of his fall, decelerated it, and finally stopped him.


    Immediately after, the bottoms of his feet touched the ground.


    As Haruyuki then knelt down as if collapsing, a slightly late and heavy falling sound reached his ears.


    He resisted the feeling of fatigue that was suddenly assaulting him, and raised his head.


    There was the Umesato Middle School schoolyard, near the place where he had taken off from. A black lump was rolling on the ground a little ways away from him.


    It was Dusk Taker. However, all that was left of him was just his head, his chest, and the short tentacles that were regenerating from his left shoulder. Behind his visor, his eyes were very weak and were flickering irregularly. Even if he had some HP gauge left, it had to be less than 10%.


    Haruyuki got up in order to drag along his body.


    After walking one, two steps, he heard a voice.


    ¡°¡­¡­Wh, y¡­Why¡­did my wings, disappear¡­¡±


    Noumi groaned that out as if that were more enormous shock than having his body blown away.


    The one that answered him wasn¡¯t Haruyuki.


    ¡°It¡¯s because¡­my power isn¡¯t ?healing?.¡±


    Turning his face with a start, he saw Chiyuri¡ªLime Bell standing there. She was covering her flank that had a hole dug in it with her severed right arm.


    And Cyan Pile was also standing next to her, still missing both his arms. Furthermore, Black Lotus and Black Vise could also be seen, still facing off against each other. They were standing on guard without any sign of inattention, but it seemed that they had both stopped their mind power attacks.


    ¡°Wh¡­at?¡±


    Noumi muttered in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°If it isn¡¯t¡­healing ability, then what are you saying it is?¡±


    After staying silent for a while, Chiyuri replied quietly.


    ¡°¡­I always felt it was strange ever since I became a Burst Linker. Why was I given a power like ?healing?? But¡­at fifth period on Tuesday, after I healed you for the first time, I realized it when I talked with Haru and Takkun. That time, Haru told me that when I healed you, I didn¡¯t just restore your avatar¡¯s wounds and HP, but also the mechanism of your right hand. I thought that was odd. That wasn¡¯t healing, but repairing. And then¡­I realized and understood.¡±


    After sucking in a big breath, the avatar of the color of new green leaves spoke clearly.


    ¡°My power isn¡¯t ?healing?. It¡¯s the ?power to turn back time?. I can turn back the time of the avatar I use my technique on. That¡¯s why¡­I thought. ¡®If I use this power, I can surely take back Haru¡¯s wings. I can turn back Dusk Taker¡¯s time all the way to before he stole Silver Crow¡¯s ability¡¯.¡±


    ¡ª¡ªSo that¡¯s, how it was.


    The instant he thought that, the inside of Haruyuki¡¯s chest hurt strongly with a ¡®ZUKIN¡¯. Tears built up in his eyes once again.


    ¡ªAnd yet, I doubted Chiyu once. I didn¡¯t believe in my childhood friend, who was doing her best for my sake. I¡¯m an idiot. A complete and utter idiot.


    As Haruyuki hanged his head deeply in shame, a voice of resounding resentment reached his ears from the ground at his feet.


    ¡°¡­¡­What¡­you betrayed me? You betrayed me, Lime Bell?¡±


    While in a state where he had lost his body and was dying, Noumi shouted out as if his anger gave his power.


    ¡°Me, who made you win so much¡­me, who gave you such a vast quantity of points, you betrayed me!!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong, I didn¡¯t betray you.¡±


    Chiyuri also responded in a voice that had regained just a little of its usual unyielding spirit.


    ¡°I healed you the first time because you threatened with that video. I obeyed you after that in order to level up my special technique and increase the amount of time I can turn back¡­And also to aim for this one chance today. I never once became your comrade!¡±


    Once again, there was silence for a while.


    The wrecked body of twilight-colored avatar trembled, and he suddenly gave a low laugh.


    ¡°¡­¡­Fu, fufufu. Good grief¡­every single one of you people are just idiots. It¡¯s disgusting just looking at your faces. I¡¯m going back. I¡¯ll distribute all of your real life information and leave the clean-up to someone else. I¡¯ll transfer to another school and make my kingdom again there. ¡ªNow then, what are you doing, Vise? Quickly take me away and let¡¯s retreat.¡±


    The instant he heard that, Haruyuki quickly raised his head and looked over at the laminated avatar who was confronting Black Lotus over there.


    The jet-black avatar slowly tilted his head¡ª


    And spoke quietly.


    ¡°That¡¯s a problem. No matter what you might say, doing that is difficult in this situation, Taker-kun.¡±


    ¡°¡­Then put in some effort. If a main force member like me is gone, the ?Research Society? will be troubled too. I may even leak information about the BIC.¡±


    ¡°No, I don''t think I have to worry about that. Our BIC has been customized so that, if Brain Burst is lost, it will automatically deactivate the instant it detects that and then soon after dissolve into the cerebrospinal fluids and vanish, so tracing it is impossible. Besides¡­Taker-kun, you of all people should know. That an ex-Acceleration Ability User cannot interfere in any way with this world anymore.¡±


    Haruyuki couldn¡¯t grasp the meaning of Black Vise¡¯s words at all.


    However, Noumi raised his face with a start, and then glared at the full moon above¡ªand suddenly shouted.


    ¡°Shit. Shit! Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!¡±


    He yelled for a while, and scattered out even more words.


    ¡°I won¡¯t accept it! I won¡¯t allow such a development! Someone, anyone, come here! Save me! If you do, I¡¯ll give you points!!¡±


    ¡ªI¡¯ve had enough.


    The instant Haruyuki thought that, Takumu also looked at Haruyuki and spoke.


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s end it, Haru.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah.¡±


    Nodding, Haruyuki started walking. In order to bring about a conclusion to everything.


    Dusk Taker shouted out in a high voice the instant he save Silver Crow approaching him.


    ¡°St¡­Stop! I know, from now on, I¡¯ll supply points to you people! It¡¯s not a bad deal! I¡¯ll even join your legion if you want!!¡±


    Haruyuki raised his right hand while walking. A white glow extended out from his straightened fingers.


    ¡°Stop, don¡¯t do it, I don¡¯t want to lose it! My power! My ?acceleration?!! Don¡¯t, don¡¯t¡­dooooooooooooooooon¡¯t!!¡±


    Dusk Taker sprang and turned over his over that consisted of only the top-half, and tried to get away by scratching the ground with his short tentacles.


    Freezing his heart, Haruyuki held up his sword of light high, and¡ª


    Brandished it without hesitation.


    *KAH* The air trembled, a thin line of light ran and extended to the white pavement tiles, and caught the crawling Dusk Taker.


    The twilight-colored avatar was cut in half left and right down his exact center without a sound .


    And immediately after, a huge red-purple column of flame spurted. Countless ribbons of light was released from the center of the flames into the sky, dissolved in the air and then vanished. All the ribbons were weaved with detailed digital code. It was nothing other than the final disappearance phenomenon of a Burst Linker that Haruyuki had only seen once before.


    At this moment, the ?plunderer? that had reigned over Umesato Middle School and trampled over Haruyuki and the others with overwhelming power, exited from Accel World forever.


    The system font that declared the conclusion of the Sudden Death Duel shined red in the vision of Haruyuki, who was standing stock-still. A massive amount of Burst Points was added to his, and it continued with a message that said that rising to Level 5 was now possible.


    However, neither the joy of victory nor a sense of accomplishment was born in Haruyuki¡¯s chest.


    Only the recognition that everything was over spread quietly through him and filled his entire body.


    When he dragged along his ragged body and moved several steps over to Chiyuri and Takumu, he heard a resolute voice.


    ¡°¡ª¡ªNow then.¡±


    It was the voice of Kuroyukihime, who had been perfectly restraining the mysteriously Burst Linker ?Black Vise? in a mind power battle until now.


    ¡°There are a mountain of things I¡¯d like to ask you, but you probably don¡¯t plan on talking. In that case, let¡¯s settle this quickly.¡±


    In response to that, the laminated avatar shook his head slightly.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve come to unpleasantly understand the true power of a king in these last few minutes. I can¡¯t win at all, so I will be quietly exiting here.¡±


    It was a quiet voice that showed how he didn¡¯t think anything of how his comrade had been completely annihilated before his eyes. Kuroyukihime quickly raised her right hand¡¯s sword and whispered in an increasingly-sharp voice.


    ¡°I also don¡¯t have the obligation to overlook you saying that. I¡¯ll cut you down first, and then slowly consider how to deal with you for the hour until you revive.¡±


    ¡°Scary, scary.¡±


    Shrugging his shoulders, Black Vise continued speaking in an even more aloof manner.


    ¡°¡ªBut, my greatest ability is ?running away?, you know. Ah, one more thing before that. I know absolutely nothing concerning you people of the Black Legion. Even though I came here, it was only because I was requested to with a prepayment from Taker-kun. Naturally, I didn¡¯t receive any information of your real life information at all from him, and if possible I don¡¯t want to ever have anything more to do with you from now on.¡±


    ¡°Too late.¡±


    Retorting back coldly, Kuroyukihime wrapped a red aura around her right hand¡¯s sword and a blue aura around her left hand¡¯s sword.


    Just after she took one step forward¡ª


    Suddenly, a strange phenomenon occurred.


    Black Vise gathered the countless thin plates that constituted his entire body and collected them into a single plate in the middle with a ¡®PATATATA¡¯.


    The only thing that existed there now was a single black plate¡ªno, it was just a shadow. It looked it just barely had a form from Haruyuki¡¯s position, but when it turned to the front, it was hardly possible to see it at all.


    ¡°Then, I bid you farewell.¡±


    Immediately after hearing that voice, the thin shadow sank as if melting into the shadow of the school building that spread out beneath him. A ¡®HYUU¡¯ moving sound receded away at a high speed.


    ¡°¡ªHAH!!¡±


    Kuroyukihime swung her wight arm up with a yell.


    A crimson line ran over the ground, collided with the school building, ran up it, and¡ª


    ¡°Uah!?¡±


    Haruyuki let out a voice of astonishment as he watched as the southwest corner of the chalk-like royal palace, which in the real world would have been a corner of the staffroom or principal¡¯s office, was cut off and collapsed hugely.


    Mixed in among the countless smashed white objects, a single small black plate was blown high up and away, pierced the ground further away in the schoolyard¡ªand transformed into a single arm and rolled over the ground.


    But, nothing else happened. The arm also immediately turned into countless polygons, dispersed and vanished.


    ¡°¡­So he got away, huh.¡±


    Muttering that, Kuroyukihime lowered her sword.


    After gazing at that far too beautiful, heroic, and also transient form for a while.


    Haruyuki shouted out a single word and started running.


    ¡°¡­¡­Senpai!!¡±


    He desperately ran with his avatar whose upper body armor had been blown away and furthermore had countless wounds running through it. Hearing his footsteps, Kuroyukihime turned around.


    Stopping right in front of her, Haruyuki grasped both his hands tightly.


    ¡°Senpai¡­senpai¡­I¡­I¡­¡­¡±


    He couldn¡¯t say anything more than that.


    Kuroyukihime gazed at the shining Gale Thruster that was fused with his wings on Haruyuki¡¯s back for a while.


    Her violet-blue eyes blinked, and she nodded her head deeply. She then lifted her right hand¡¯s sword, clapped Haruyuki¡¯s shoulder with its ridge, and spoke.


    ¡°¡ªYou really did you best. I¡¯ll have a detailed talk with you after I return to Tokyo tomorrow. For now, take a good rest.¡±


    And then her gaze move to behind Haruyuki¡¯s back. There, Cyan Pile and Lime Bell also stood together.


    ¡°You also fought well, Takumu-kun. Thank you for all your efforts today. And also¡­Kurashima-kun, no, Chiyuri-kun.¡±


    There, Kuroyukihime did an unexpected action. She suddenly bowed her head to Lime Bell.


    ¡°¡ªTruly, thank you. If you hadn¡¯t told me about this, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to run here.¡±


    ¡°Wha¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°What!?¡±


    Haruyuki and Takumu both cried out at the same time.


    ¡°T-Told you¡­wait, Chiyu, you!? Told Kuroyukihime-senpai!?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡±


    Brandishing her left hand¡¯s bell, Chiyuri shouted in her usual spirited voice.


    ¡°You guys probably wondered for what purpose I expressly came to see you. It was of course in order wait for you to specify the true duel time and then send it to Kuroyuki[9]-senpai!¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­eeh¡­w-wait a minute¡­¡±


    While sputtering that out, Haruyuki desperately turned the wheels in his already tired brain.


    Immediately before Diving into the Unlimited Neutral Field, and after sending Noumi the last of the postponement messages, Haruyuki had certainly said it. ¡®All right, we¡¯ll Dive in one minute.¡¯


    The instant Chiyuri had heard that, she had pushed the transmit button for a message addressed to Kuroyukihime, which she had maintained in her virtual desktop beforehand. Having received the message in Okinawa, Kuroyukihime had Dived immediately into the Unlimited Neutral Field, captured a flying horse Enemy, and dashed intently towards Tokyo for 15 hours¡ªor so is what must have happened.


    As Haruyuki and Takumu looked at each other dumbfoundedly, Chiyuri¡¯s voice continued showering them.


    ¡°Because I was anxious entrusting things to you obstinate boys, I sent an email to senpai the moment you guys decided to do this duel, and told her about everything that happened until now. Then, I got a reply saying ¡®I¡¯ll run there through the field, so specify the exact time¡¯. It was really irritating waiting at Haru¡¯s house, wondering when you¡¯d finally decide the time!!¡±


    ¡°So¡­Sorry¡­¡±


    After murmuring that, Haruyuki did a big shake of his head once¡ª


    And then first turned towards Kuroyukihime, and bowed his head very, very deeply.


    ¡°Thank you very much, senpai. To have traveled as long as 15 hours to come save us¡­When I saw senpai on the roof, I was extremely moved¡­and happy.¡±


    ¡°I think I was tried to show off a little too much there.¡±


    As Kuroyukihime shrugged her shoulders, Haruyuki responded with a smile while holding back tears.


    Next, he looked at Chiyuri, and bowed his head once again.


    ¡°¡­¡­Thank you, Chiyuri. If only me and Taku had been here, we would have definitely lost. Truly¡­thank you.¡±


    His throat was blocked and his voice trembled.


    ¡°¡­Geez.¡±


    Chiyuri¡¯s voice as she responded was also quietly wet. However, his childhood friend continued in a brighter tone.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get very anxious from now on if it¡¯s only the two of you, so¡­I guess I¡¯ll have to join Nega Nebulas as well.¡±


    ¡°Eh.¡±


    ¡°C-Chii-chan.¡±


    Now ignoring the two boys as they raised their voices, Chiyuri turned around to face Kuroyukihime, and tilted her head as if shy.


    In response to that, Kuroyukihime also nodded, and then quickly operated her BB console.


    Chiyuri didn¡¯t hesitate at all as she pressed the ¡®legion joining¡¯ request that was probably displayed in her field of vision.


    And then, the jet-black and bright green female-type avatars each took a step forward¡ª


    And made their sword and bell bump together with a loud pitch.


    As Haruyuki merely watched that spectacle silently, a whisper from Takumu standing next to him reached his ears.


    ¡°¡­It seems we were worried about nothing.¡±


    ¡°¡­You got that right. But¡­I¡¯m glad. I¡¯m so glad¡­really¡­¡±


    Haruyuki also unconsciously extended his arm, and firmly held Cyan Pile¡¯s shoulder.


    While receiving Accel World¡¯s blue moonlight, the four Burst Linkers remained standing there like that for a while.


    However, eventually, Kuroyukihime raised her head, and ordered her subordinates in a refreshed voice.


    ¡°Now then¡­Let¡¯s go back. To the real world.¡±


    After withdrawing from the Unlimited Neutral Field through Koenji Station¡¯s portal, Haruyuki returned to his home¡¯s living room in the real world.


    Although the duel had followed unexpected developments one after another, the total time that had passed wasn¡¯t even an hour. In other words, on this side, it had been an event that had lasted a mere three seconds.


    However, the instant he returned to his real body, Haruyuki felt like so immensely fatigue that he was on the verge of falling prostrate over the table. He endured it, and raised his head.


    Once he readjusted the focus of his blurred vision, he saw Chiyuri¡¯s face there, also blinking her eyes incessantly in the same manner.


    The two of them locked gazes for just a moment. Just that made something hot well up in his chest and made his eyes nearly wet, so Haruyuki opened his mouth hurriedly.


    ¡°¡­¡­It would have been fine if you told us.¡±


    Then, next to him, Takumu also spoke while shaking his head slightly.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. About getting in touch with master¡­no, before that, if you have told us that you had joined forces with Noumi for the sake of getting back Haru¡¯s wings, we wouldn¡¯t have needed to worry like that.¡±


    As the two boys used a reproachful tone because of their own self-reproach over doubting their childhood friend, Chiyuri made a show of giving a big sigh, and then responded in an amazed voice.


    ¡°Hey, I told you before! I only had once chance to turn back Dusk Taker¡¯s time with ?Citron Call?! Even if the chances of it were one in ten thousand, I couldn¡¯t afford for Noumi to notice. I didn¡¯t think it was possible, but if Noumi had placed something like a bug-tapping application or device on me, he would find out the instant I explained it to you!¡±


    After the two boys gulped and looked at each other, Haruyuki mumbled dumbfoundedly.


    ¡°Y-You thought that far¡­Even though you¡¯re Chiyu¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, what¡¯s that supposed to mean!!¡±


    Shouting and getting up from her chair with a ¡®GATA¡¯, Chiyuri went around the table in order to jab Haruyuki.


    But then, she collapsed to the floor as if dizzy, so Haruyuki and Takumu also hurriedly stood up and knelt down in front of Chiyuri.


    ¡°C-Chii-chan, are you okay!?¡±


    In response to Takumu¡¯s question, she nodded her head lightly while still hanging her head¡ª


    And then Chiyuri suddenly whispered in a delicately trembling voice.


    ¡°¡­¡­I did my best.¡±


    *POTA* A single drop of water made a sound on the flooring carpet as it fell down.


    ¡°¡­¡­It was very tough, but¡­I did my best. I really did my best, so¡­¡­¡±


    *POTAPOTA* The drops that fell one after another shone beautifully like jewels on top of the floor.


    Haruyuki felt his chest prick, and this time spoke quietly in a voice that was trembling deeply.


    ¡°Yeah¡­Thank you. Truly, thank you, Chiyu.¡±


    Heaving one great sob, Chiyuri raised her face that was overflowing with tears and suddenly jumped at their two necks with a ¡®GABA¡¯. She strongly drew close Takumu with her left hand and Haruyuki with her right hand, and shouted while pressing all three of their heads together strongly.


    ¡°I love you¡­I love you both!!¡±


    And then, Haruyuki also firmly held his childhood friend¡¯s back as she started sobbing like a child.


    Unable to hold it back any longer, his own tears flowed out. Takumu also followed as something shined on his cheeks from under his glasses.


    These three, who had been born in the same year and grew up in the same place, continued shedding their respective tears like that for a long time.

 Volume 4 - CH 11

    ¡°A win ratio of 100%!¡±


    After firmly clenching his right hand, Haruyuki dropped his shoulders and continued.


    ¡°¡­Is how it should have been, but we lost that last battle¡­¡±


    The next day April 20th, Saturday evening. The location was the same as yesterday, the living room of the Arita home.


    The territory battles between legions, composed of the best within the fighting game ?Brain Burst?, were performed every week at this time. The legion that Haruyuki and the others belonged to, ?Nega Nebulas?, had expected a hard fight this week with their master Black Lotus not present, but once it started the results had been mostly complete victories by them.


    The reason for this was because Lime Bell, who had just joined their legion yesterday, had immediately participated in the battles.


    Although her ?healing ability? was actually a ?time-reversing ability?, it could certainly be used as a means of pseudo-HP-healing. The only problem was that, when they were repeatedly healed, then shot, and then healed again, they returned all the way to their previous damaged state if their time was turned back too much, but that problem could also be covered by the ability-user¡¯s intuition.


    Therefore, Haruyuki and the others used the tactic of having either Silver Crow or Cyan Pile always protecting Lime Bell, and meanwhile having the other one of the two perform a kamikaze attack and then return to their base and get healed. This method functioned well, and they thought that they could score victories in all of their territory battles¡ªbut.


    The long range-type three-person team that challenged them last didn¡¯t approach the base of Haruyuki¡¯s group at all, but instead used the strategy of showering concentrated firepower on the person that performed the kamikaze attack. As a result, the remaining two members of their group had had no choice but to advance forward gradually, and then received the fortified attacks of special techniques when they reached the place where the three opponents had gathered, and so quickly got annihilated.


    ¡°Well, it can¡¯t be helped. It¡¯s enough that we were able to win this much with this hastily constructed team.¡±


    As Takumu said that and sipped his L-sized drink, Haruyuki pouted his lips.


    ¡°Yeah, but still. In the end, our weak point of having no long-range firepower was struck at and we lost.¡±


    ¡°That weak point won¡¯t change even once Master returns, after all¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s if we omit her mind power, though.¡±


    The two of them remembered at the same time Kuroyukihime¡¯s long-range technique that had cut apart the distant Umesato school building with one blow, and their backs shuddered.


    Perhaps because she was embarrassed about her huge sobbing fit yesterday, Chiyuri had said she would Dive from her own home and didn¡¯t come to Haruyuki¡¯s place, so it was only the two of them together right now. After throwing into his mouth one of the fries from the hamburger set that he had bought at the shopping mall on the first floor, Haruyuki gave a cough and changed the subject.


    ¡°In any case, that¡¯s enough about the territory battles. So next¡­Taku. Umm¡­have you gotten any kind of contact?¡±


    It was a question that omitted the last words ¡®from Noumi Seiji¡¯ at the end, but Takumu gave a small shake of his head.


    ¡°No¡­not at all. I¡¯m also worried about it, though¡­Even if it was a duel proposed by him, I can¡¯t believe that Noumi would immediately give up after losing.¡±


    ¡°Me too.¡±


    They both sunk into silence at the same time as the atmosphere suddenly became heavy.


    While taking another fry and chewing its tip, Haruyuki mumbled.


    ¡°¡­¡­The avatar called ?Black Vise? that appeared there. He said something strange. That ex-Acceleration Ability Users who have lost Brain Burst cannot interfere with Accel World in any way. Just what did he mean by that¡­?¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­? Didn¡¯t he simply mean that, since they can¡¯t accelerate, they also can¡¯t duel?¡±


    ¡°I also thought that was what he meant back then. But he didn¡¯t say it like that¡­I feel like there¡¯s something he purposely wasn¡¯t saying. ¡ªHey, Taku. What I¡¯m about to ask may be unpleasant to you, but.¡±


    Looking at Takumu who was sitting down on the sofa next to him, Haruyuki asked.


    ¡°Your ?Parent?¡­the kendo club captain in your previous school, he underwent the forced uninstalling of his Brain Burst from the Blue King¡¯s ?Judgement Blow?, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah, so I heard.¡±


    ¡°After that, did you talk to him? About Brain Burst.¡±


    Then, Takumu knit his nicely shaped eyebrows, and looked as if he was thinking about it a little.


    ¡°¡ªI had hurriedly transferred to another school after that, so¡­Although I went to the kendo club to give my greetings and farewells, there were other club members there on that occasion, so naturally I didn¡¯t talk about Brain Burst with him. Besides, somehow, he seemed unexpectedly unbounded by something, so I also didn¡¯t dare to bring it up again with him.¡±


    ¡°Unbounded, you say¡­¡±


    After murmuring that, Haruyuki thought a little about having heard something similar somewhere before. He immediately realized. It was the Red King Niko¡¯s Parent, ?Cherry Rook?. After using the Armor of Catastrophe, Chrome Disaster, and rampaging through Accel World, he had received the Judgement Blow by Niko¡¯s hand, and had lost Brain Burst.


    Niko had spoken about him after that. Saying that he had returned to his original self and that the two of them had properly talked. That, even if he was moving away, they planned to continue playing other net games together. Somehow, it was similar to Takumu¡¯s story.


    However, he couldn¡¯t believe at all that the examples of these two could be applied to Noumi as well. Noumi''s shout of resentment just before he left Accel World still rang through his ears even now. Very probably, Noumi was determined to achieve revenge against them¡ªand yet. He still hadn¡¯t contacted Haruyuki, Takumu or Chiyuri yet.


    ¡°¡­On Monday, we¡¯ll have no choice but to talk to him directly.¡±


    Takumu said that with a sigh, so Haruyuki also gave a small nod.


    ¡°I suppose so¡­There¡¯s also the matter of the video¡­¡±


    If they thought that what Noumi Seiji would do now that he wasn¡¯t a Burst Linker and had nothing to lose in Accel World anymore, it was possible that he would expose that peeping video for the sake of revenge and distribute the real life information of Haruyuki and the others to other Burst Linkers. The only hand they had that could oppose him was the Brain Implant Chip that Noumi had in his head, but Black Vise had also said something worrisome about that as well.


    If Brain Burst is lost, the BIC also automatically ceases functioning, and will dissolve away like that.


    The real form of the BIC was an aggregation of synthetic protein micro-machines. Since it was also possible for them to separate and dissolve depending on their programming, they couldn¡¯t be detected with a scanner anymore if that happened. In other words, it couldn¡¯t be used as a reason to make Noumi drop out of school.


    Therefore, Haruyuki and the others couldn¡¯t cut off contact with Noumi like this. They had no choice but to carry out direct negotiations one more time and make sure the video was erased. It was a topic that was truly heavy on their minds.


    Finishing his drink, Takumu spoke after throwing away the ice inside it in the kitchen, washing the recycled material cup and throwing it away in a cup-exclusive bag.


    ¡°Then, see you at school on Monday. When you go meet with Noumi, should I also go with you?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll go by myself, but thank you. Good work today.¡±


    Seeing Takumu off at the door and then returning to the living room to clean up, Haruyuki let out a sigh.


    He looked at the clock of his virtual desktop, and then gazed out at the evening sky outside the window.


    ¡ªIs that person still on the airplane? Or has she already arrived at the airport?


    After thinking that absentmindedly, he shook his head and changed his feelings. He would meet her at school on Monday. He had endured for a week, so he could last another day and a half.


    Therefore, when the door chime rang immediately after he firmly held down his feelings, he believed that Takumu had come to get something he forgot and so did not suspect a thing.


    He decided not to take the time and effort to open the interphone¡¯s window, and returned to the door. He canceled the lock while saying ¡®Yes, coming¡¯.


    ¡°Just what did you for-¡±


    The last syllable of ¡®-get¡¯ got stuck in his throat, and his breathing stopped. However, without being conscious of it, Haruyuki widened his eyes as he just stared at what was before him.


    Standing there was a female student in an Umesato Middle School uniform, with a paper bag hanging from her right hand and a carry-on bag with a motor assist hanging from her left hand. Her dark-red ribbon and long black hair swayed in the blowing gentle breeze, and he faintly smelled the scent of the south drifting from her.


    ¡°¡­For how many seconds do you intend to remain frozen?¡±


    As she said that, Haruyuki¡¯s brain finally rebooted. After repeatedly releasing several rough gasps, Haruyuki squeezed out a hoarse voice.


    ¡°¡­¡­S-S-Sen, sepa¡­senpai!? W-W-What are you¡­?¡±


    ¡°How rude. Even though I came here directly from Haneda[1] to deliver your souvenir.¡±


    *PUKU* As his upperclassman¡ªKuroyukihime puffed up her cheeks cutely, Haruyuki stood straight at attention when he saw her expression. He made his hand go back and forth at high speed as if he were a traffic control robot, and spoke.


    ¡°Ah, c-come, come in! Please enter!¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Sorry for intruding.¡±


    Nodding, Kuroyukihime stepped through the door, put down her shoes and carry-on bag, and entered the hallway. She quickly passed by Haruyuki and went into the living room.


    Chasing after her while his feet got tangled together, Haruyuki looked all around his home without knowing what to do anymore, and then spoke.


    ¡°¡­U-Umm, my parent never comes back until late.¡±


    ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I came.¡±


    ¡°I-I see. Err, umm¡­I-I know, I¡¯ll prepare some t-t-tea.¡±


    As Haruyuki headed to the kitchen while telling himself ¡®First calm down! Deal with the situation calmly!¡¯, Kuroyukihime said ¡®Ah, that¡¯s right¡¯ and put her hand into the paper bag.


    ¡°Then, why don¡¯t you warm this up as well in the microwave?¡±


    What she took out was a huge dark-reddish brown sphere. Haruyuki received the 15 cm-diameter sphere with both his hands and stared at it intently.


    The characters printed in truly Okinawa-looking font on the transparent packaging read as ?Bomb Andagi?.


    ¡°¡­¡­T-This is¡­sata andagi[2]?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Your request was that you wanted to eat something 30 cm in diameter, right? As expected, there wasn¡¯t anything that big, so please make do with that.¡±


    ¡°N-No, this is already huge enough. I¡¯m surprised at its size.¡±


    ¡°Right? I was also surprised when I saw it.¡±


    Staring at Kuroyukihime as she gave a ¡®Fufufu¡¯ laugh, Haruyuki finally felt his tension drain away. At the same time as that, his eyes grew moist of their own accord, so he hurriedly turned around and retreated to the kitchen.


    He picked out the huge Okinawa-style donut from the bag and warmed it in the microwave. He carried a bottle of Oolong tea and two glasses to the table, placed the andagi that had finished heating on a plate, and, after considering it a little, brought a petit knife to go with it.


    Kuroyukihime, who was already sitting at the dining room table, took the knife from the plate and cut the andagi into two equal pieces while expertly handling the edged tool as expected. She held out to Haruyuki one of the halves that had steam warmly rising from its golden section.


    ¡°I¡­Itadakimasu.¡±


    He accepted the offered portion and took a big bite out of its end. He enjoyed both its crunchy surface and its moist interior, and thought to himself ¡®I see, this size also had a meaning to it¡¯.


    ¡°I-It¡¯s very delicious.¡±


    ¡°I see, that¡¯s good.¡±


    Here, Haruyuki finally arrived at the question of ¡®In the first place, why did I request only something like a huge andagi?¡¯.


    As he desperately tried to remember his actions from back then while munching and chewing, Kuroyukihime, who was smiling on the other side of the table, gave an even wider smile on her daffodil-like beautiful face¡ªand spoke.


    ¡°Now then, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to inform you of what I¡¯m feeling right now.¡±


    ¡°Ye¡­Yes.¡±


    ¡°49% of me wants to praise you for doing so well. And 50% of me wants to give you a good whaling.¡±


    ¡­And the remaining 1% is?


    There wasn¡¯t the room for him to ask something like that, and so he straightened his back with a ¡®HII¡¯. A large fragment of food blocked his throat, and after he swallowed it down somehow, Haruyuki bowed his head down at full speed.


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry! It¡¯s all my responsibility. Even though I decided not to give trouble to senpai while on your trip, I depended on you in the end¡­And you even ran for 15 hours from Okinawa¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey, you.¡±


    Suddenly changing her smile into a dangerous expression, Kuroyukihime spoke in an extremely displeased voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m not getting angry with you because I had to fight. It¡¯s the opposite. Why didn¡¯t you call me from the beginning? If you had explained the situations in just a few words, I would have immediately flown from Okinawa and returned!¡±


    ¡°T-That¡¯s¡­because, it was your only school field trip in your whole life¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have that much fun there anyway! Will you not understand unless I also explain the reason for that as well!?¡±


    Saying that with such force that she would have definitely cut the table in half with just her sword spirit if she had been in her duel avatar form, Kuroyukihime gave a sullen look with a ¡®MUUU¡¯. However, she fortunately breathed out immediately after, and dropped her tone a little as she continued.


    ¡°¡­¡­Well, it¡¯s fine. In any case, I¡¯ll have you tell me about it. From the beginning to the end, without leaving out even 1 byte of information!¡±


    And so Haruyuki recounted everything that had happened while munching on the huge andagi. The long, long story, which went from Noumi Seiji¡¯s first appearance, to the first battle with Dusk Taker, to the training in the Unlimited Neutral Field¡ªand finally to yesterday¡¯s duel.


    After she finished listening to the explanation that took about an hour, Kuroyukihime turned down her long eyelashes, and gave a thin sigh.


    The words that came out of her mouth after several seconds were¡ª


    ¡°¡­Haruyuki-kun. When you summoned that Enhanced Armament¡­?Gale Thruster?, I thought my heart would stop.¡±


    Drinking his Oolong tea, Haruyuki raised his face with a start. However, no words came out from his mouth.


    Accel World¡¯s recluse who had given Haruyuki the ?Gale Thruster?, Sky Raker. She had been a main member of the first ?Nega Nebulas? in the past, and furthermore had been Kuroyukihime¡¯s friend as well.


    Having foolishly sought the sky, Sky Raker had asked Kuroyukihime to cut off her legs. Kuroyukihime had complied with her request¡ªand after that, had thrown herself into a desperate and bloody battle with the other kings.


    But right now, only a gentle, and also somehow sad, smile was shown on Kuroyukihime¡¯s face.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡­That the one to introduce the ?Incarnate System? to you would be her¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m sorry. I did something selfish without obtaining senpai¡¯s permission¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki apologized, Kuroyukihime gently shook her head.


    ¡°No. She would have been more qualified for it than me. Since Raker is probably the one that believes the most in the possibilities of that system among the high-level Burst Linkers that have mastered mind power. Besides¡­unlike her, I would not be able to completely turn into a demon when training you.¡±


    She showed a smile, and Haruyuki also gave a big nod.


    ¡°Sh¡­She really was dreadful. She pushed me off from the top of the Old Tokyo Tower, after all.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, that sounds like her.¡±


    After laughing nostalgically for a bit, Kuroyukihime suddenly sank into silence.


    Her gaze dropped down to a point on the table, but eventually she made her chair lightly screech on the floor and she stood up. She moved over to stand in front of the big window on the south side of the apartment, and stared into the night sky outside in silence.


    Haruyuki looked at her back with her long black hair flowing over it for a while, but then he made up his mind and also stood up. He walked over to stand next to Kuroyukihime, and similarly looked outside.


    ¡°¡­The power of the Incarnate System is too enormous.¡±


    She let out those words after several seconds.


    ¡°Therefore, all those who touch it become entranced by it. They reach into the deepest depths of its power, and plunge forward as if it belongs to them. But¡­I thought this. If it¡¯s just a program bug, the administrator of the game should not have left it alone without dealing with it. Therefore, that power isn¡¯t some irregular system that was created accidentally¡­instead, isn¡¯t it a certain kind of trap that was prepared in Brain Burst from the beginning?¡±


    ¡°A-A trap¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes. For the sake of tempting us Burst Linkers and drawing out our souls to another dimension somewhere¡­¡±


    The meaning of those words was a complete mystery to Haruyuki. Even so, he furrowed his eyebrows in order to try to understand somehow, and then Kuroyukihime glanced at Haruyuki and gently placed her left hand on Haruyuki¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t worry about it. You should merely progress straight ahead as you¡¯re doing now. Yes¡­if it¡¯s you¡­Only you may be able to overcome that deep darkness, and approach the truth light of the heart¡­¡±


    Smiling softly, Kuroyukihime faced him directly, and also put her right hand on Haruyuki¡¯s face,


    She then changed her expression and tone, and¡ª


    ¡°Now then. With that out of the way, I¡¯ll now tell you the remaining 1% of my feelings.¡±


    *HII* Haruyuki¡¯s entire body stiffened. Was it on the side of ?giving him a good whaling?!? In other words, a judo foot technique!? No, a submission technique!?


    As Haruyuki¡¯s uselessly spun around in that way, Kuroyukihime put her arms around Haruyuki¡¯s neck and drew him to her chest with all her strength.


    *MUGYUUUU* Held by that intense strength, Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness over-revved up too quickly from that all-directional pressure and the sensation of direct contact with what was in front of his face, and the gears in his head screeched.


    Her voice reached his left ear, which was probably blazing crimson, so close that her lips touched it.


    ¡°¡ªI wanted to do this. Since the time when I learned from Chiyuri-kun¡¯s email that you had lost your wings¡­and yet were still doing your best to face your enemy, I always, always wanted to do this.¡±


    Hugging Haruyuki even tighter with a strength that made him think ¡®Just how far will I be absorbed by this thin body?¡¯, Kuroyukihime whispered in a trembling voice.


    ¡°You truly did your very best. Under such painful circumstances¡­¡ªAt such a time, I wasn¡¯t at your side and could do nothing for you. I¡­am a failure of a ?Parent?¡­¡±


    A hot drop touched his left cheek with a drip.


    Haruyuki widened his eyes. The beautiful hair that swayed in his vision got mixed with the light of the room and blurred.


    Unconsciously raising both his arms, Haruyuki also put his hands around her thing waist and squeezed out a trembling voice.


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry for making you worry.¡±


    At that instant¡ª


    ¡°I was worried. I was so worried. Thinking that, if you were no longer here, what would I do¡­I was scared. I was so scared!¡±


    Saying that as it turned into a shout halfway through, Kuroyukihime¡¯s shoulders trembled slightly.


    His throat blocked, Haruyuki didn¡¯t say anything else. Therefore, he continued desperately praying inside his heart. ¡®I¡¯m right here. I¡¯ll always be by your side. I definitely will not disappear.¡¯


    Kuroyukihime leaked out thin sobs like that for several dozens of seconds, but eventually she sucked in a big breath, and finally loosened her hug slightly.


    ¡°¡­I have to give you a prize.¡±


    When she suddenly said that, Haruyuki blinked in surprise.


    ¡°Eh, a pri¡­?¡±


    ¡°You defended splendidly in the territory battles, didn¡¯t you? Like I said, if you defend Suginami to the last, I¡¯ll listen and give you one prize you ask for, no matter what it is.¡±


    As she whispered such a thing into his ear, Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness once again rushed into the red zone.


    ¡ªHowever.


    The insolent ideas of a Direct Connect with a 30-cm cable or a swimsuit photo of her were instantly swept away in his mind.


    Being like this right here, right now.


    Besides having this person here in this world right now, what more could he possibly wish for?


    ¡­I will become much, much stronger, and become a knight who can protect you from any enemies someday. So, please always remain by my side until then, watching over me and guiding me.


    The instant he wished that, his mouth moved half-automatically.


    ¡°¡­Then, please stay by my side.¡±


    With a feeling boiling up from inside his chest, Haruyuki spoke in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°Please always, always stay by my side. That¡­is my only wish.¡±


    Even once you graduate. As my senpai. As my legion master. And as my ?Parent?.


    Haruyuki added those words in his mind¡ªis what he intended, but.


    The body of Kuroyukihime who had been loosely holding Haruyuki¡¯s head intensely stiffened with a ¡®BIKUUN¡¯.


    Suddenly releasing her hug, she back-dashed about two meters with a ¡®SHUBAH¡¯, collided with the sofa and fell down on it. Even though her face just been quite serious with tears, the person herself widened her eyes as if she had forgotten that, and flapped her mouth open and closed.


    Eventually, she rapidly reddened from her neck to her forehead. Her voice, turned inside out, resounded in a high tone.


    ¡°W-W-Wha¡­W-W-What are you saying!!¡±


    ¡°Heh? Umm, eh¡­? I-I just, umm, meant nothing in particular.¡±


    Not understanding the situation, he similarly opened and closed his mouth at high-speed, and after a full ten seconds passed, Kuroyukihime¡¯s face began to return to its original whiteness from top to bottom. While letting out an unbelievably long sigh, she shook her head left and right many times.


    ¡°¡­¡­I understand.¡±


    Suddenly, Kuroyukihime muttered that.


    Standing up, she walked over to Haruyuki once again and placed her right hand on his head with a plop.


    ¡°I promise. I¡¯ll stay by your side. Always. For eternity.¡±


    While disheveling his hair, Kuroyukihime gave the highest grade smile, and said that.

 Volume 4 - CH 12

    ¡°¡­Arita, hit me!! Please, hit me!!¡±


    As those words were said over and over again, a shaven head stuck out in front of Haruyuki.


    The owner of that voice was Ishio of the basketball club. He was the student who had called Haruyuki to the roof several days ago and given him a single punch there.


    ¡°N-No, it¡¯s fine already. Since you understand now.¡±


    While also repeating the same phrase over and over again, Haruyuki desperately looked for a way to escape.


    However, with the location in front of the Class-2C podium, the time at Monday morning homeroom, and forty students approaching on his right side, there was no path of retreat. Furthermore, his homeroom teacher Sugeno was standing opposite Ishio, and had his arms folded with a meek face. He was cornered like this.


    Ishio brought his face even closer, and argued vehemently with him while moving his eyebrows in the shape of the character °Ë.


    ¡°No, until you hit me, I can¡¯t agree!! Even though there was no proof, I arbitrarily decided that you were the culprit of the peeping video attempt¡­What¡¯s more, I punched you¡­If it¡¯s true, then it wouldn¡¯t be strange even if I was punished for that! Yet, you didn¡¯t say anything to the teachers. As things stand, I cannot forgive myself!!¡±


    ¡­Then please hit yourself with your own hands!


    While screaming that out inside his mind, Haruyuki looked over at Chiyuri and then Takumu in search of help. However, the two of them were merely grinning. They were enjoying the situation from the bottom of their hearts.


    ¡ªThe reason the ?peeping camera attempt incident?, where a small digital camera was discovered in the locker room of the female shower room last week, had taken such a sudden reversal of events was all due to Kuroyukihime¡¯s ability.


    Her plan, which she had executed with a skill and idea that could only make one think of a Network Witch, was actually very simple and immediately effective. Kuroyukihime had completely changed the records of the peeping camera¡¯s maker, model number and serial number into being the exact same as a camera that she had found on the school¡¯s Lost Equipment List.


    Haruyuki had naturally asked ¡®Is it really all right to do something like that¡¯, but Kuroyukihime had answered easily, saying, ¡®The camera that was unrelated to you from the beginning will simply become even more unrelated¡¯.


    If even the serial number was made to match it, there was no room to suspect the fact that that camera was an item that had already been lost two years ago. And Haruyuki hadn¡¯t been attending this school two years ago. Thus, the suspicions that had been laid against him disappeared instantly, and the instant Sugeno had reported that in homeroom, Ishio had stood up and dragged Haruyuki over to the podium¡ªand so it became this scene.


    ¡°Come on, hit me, please!¡±


    Gazing at Ishio as he shouted that again, Haruyuki murmured in his mind.


    ¡ªEven if you say that, there are Social Cameras right in this classroom as well. As if I¡¯m going to make new proof of violating the school regulations again. Rather, Sugeno-sensei, you should be the one to stop this! Why have you been looking at me with such a strange face!?


    However, Ishio, who wouldn¡¯t stop unless he received a punch, seemed determined not to budge.


    Swallowing down a sigh, Haruyuki responded in a whisper.


    ¡°¡­T-Then, I¡¯ll do it if it¡¯s to the belly instead of the face.¡±


    He inwardly added, ¡®And if it¡¯s a body blow from this angle, it won¡¯t be captured by the cameras¡¯.


    Ishio gave a huge smile as if happy about something, and raised his body along with a ¡®Alright, bring it!¡¯.


    While carefully calculating the cameras¡¯ field of vision, Haruyuki clenched his right hand.


    When he launched a punch with an awkward motion, his round fist collided with trained abs, and rebounded back with a ¡®POYON¡¯.


    Showing a seemingly dissatisfied face for a moment, Ishio then immediately grinned, said ¡®You really are a good guy¡¯, and returned to his seat.


    ¡­It wasn¡¯t that I held back, rather, I really did put all my strength into it.


    Although he was dejected inside his heart, Haruyuki let out a sigh of relief, and also tried to return to his seat.


    Then, he heard Sugeno¡¯s solemn voice from behind him.


    ¡°¡­Arita. I am truly sorry. I don¡¯t mind, so please hit sensei too!!¡±


    ¡ª¡ªPlease give me a break!!


    Haruyuki let out that unvoiced scream.


    Nonetheless.


    He still couldn¡¯t say that everything was settled with this. There was still a big and also far too mentally heavy mission awaiting Haruyuki.


    That is, the negotiations with Noumi Seiji. If he couldn¡¯t get him to dispose of the peeping video from in front of the shower room that he should have saved, Haruyuki wouldn¡¯t be able to go to school with peace of mind.


    As soon as lunch break came, Haruyuki went to the third floor where the first-year classrooms were.


    He waited near the stairs, and after several minutes, he saw the moderately long hair that he remembered within a group heading towards the lounge.


    Noumi Seiji was walking while chatting cheerfully with several of his classmates. As the distance between them shortened, Haruyuki¡¯s hand sweated and his heartbeat sped up.


    ¡ªThree days ago, I fought a battle with him where we threw all our hate at each other to the utmost limit.


    ¡ªAnd then I mercilessly took away his Brain Burst. I completely annihilated his acceleration ability, the only thing he persisted in.


    Even while Haruyuki thought that, Noumi rapidly approached. His girl-like long eyelashes blinked, and his eyes caught Haruyuki standing in a corner of the hallway¡ª


    And then, his eyes passed over him.


    ¡°¡­¡­!?¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s breath was taken away. To be ignored, even though he had expected a glare or insults.


    No, it was also different from ignoring him either.


    It was as if Noumi didn¡¯t know him from the beginning. As if Haruyuki were only just another of the hundreds of students that attended the same school as him.


    Haruyuki unconsciously took a step forward, and called out to Noumi as he was about to pass by in front of him.


    ¡°U-Umm!¡±


    After stopping and looking at Haruyuki once again, Noumi merely titled his head with a puzzled-looking face.


    ¡°Umm¡­you¡¯re Noumi¡­-kun, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Did you need me for something?¡±


    What is this? What¡¯s happened to you?


    Swallowing down his confusion with difficulty, Haruyuki moved his stiffened mouth.


    ¡°Umm, I just want¡­to t-talk.¡±


    Noumi once again put on a face that seemed suspicious, and then he turned to his friends and told them to go on ahead to the cafeteria without him.


    He looked at Haruyuki again, and¡ª


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­err¡­¡±


    The short-statured first-year student before Haruyuki, who he didn¡¯t think was putting on an act, merely looked in curiosity at this second-year student that had called out to him. There wasn¡¯t any other emotion on his well-featured face at all.


    Could this be a different person? Some kind of twin brother or something?


    While thinking that, Haruyuki gave his name for the time being.


    ¡°Umm, I¡¯m Arita. Arita Haruyuki, in second year¡­¡±


    Then, Noumi¡¯s eyebrows twitched. He frowned, and seemed to be trying to remember something.


    ¡°¡­Arita, senpai¡­Ah, yeah, that¡¯s right. You played a net game with me¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­T-That¡¯s¡­right, but¡­¡±


    Strange. Something is unbelievably strange here.


    Looking at the stock-still Haruyuki, Noumi Seiji, while making an expression of searching through his memories even harder¡ª


    Spoke.


    ¡°Err¡­That game¡­what was its name again¡­?¡±


    The intense fear and dread that Haruyuki felt at this moment was without a doubt the greatest since he had become a Burst Linker. A shudder, colder than the time he stood face-to-face again the Armor of Catastrophe, Chrome Disaster, or the time that his wings had been stolen by Dusk Taker, crawled violently down his back.


    ¡ªHis memories have been suppressed!


    There was no other way to think of it than that.


    Noumi Seiji had had most of his memories related to Brain Burst erased through some kind of means.


    He didn¡¯t remember anymore. That he had been the ?plunderer? Dusk Taker. That a death match had unfolded between himself and Haruyuki¡¯s group. And even the existence of Accel World.


    Perhaps grasping whatever expression was on Haruyuki¡¯s face, Noumi smiled as if troubled.


    ¡°Ah, did you possibly come here to invite me to play? But¡­I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not that interested in net games anymore¡­¡±


    Haruyuki merely gazed this underclassmen, who was making an earnestly apologizing face.


    Just before a puzzled expression appeared on Noumi¡¯s face again, Haruyuki moved his mouth into the form of a smile with difficulty.


    ¡°Is¡­Is that so? Then¡­it¡¯s fine. Umm¡­also. About the video of me¡­¡±


    ¡°Eh, video¡­? I¡¯m sorry, what is that?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­No, sorry, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    After shaking his head a little, Noumi smiled again and quickly bowed his head.


    ¡°Is that so? Then, I¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    And then, the boy who had once been called by the name of Dusk Taker turned around, went down the stairs at a fast pace, and disappeared from Haruyuki¡¯s view.


    Stumbling back several steps and leaning his sweat-covered back on the hallway¡¯s wall, Haruyuki shut his eyes strongly.


    Ex-Acceleration Ability Users cannot interfere with Accel World in any way.


    Now, Haruyuki finally understood the meaning of those words from the mysterious avatar Black Vise.


    Burst Linkers who lost Brain Burst lost all memories related to Accel World. Therefore, they couldn¡¯t do anything. They wouldn¡¯t try to do anything.


    Noumi Seiji must have also known the truth from having driven his ?Parent?, his real life older brother, into going through the forced uninstallation. Yes, he recognized it at the moment his avatar was dispersing in the Moonlight Field. That his memories were being erased. That, in that moment of self-awareness, he was already becoming an ?ex-Burst Linker?.


    ¡°That¡­That¡¯s just¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki mumbled that while wearing a pale face in front of the first-year student classrooms, the other students looked at him strangely.


    After school.


    At the usual table in the student¡¯s dining lounge, Haruyuki explained what he had learned to Takumu and Kuroyukihime. There were no students in their vicinity at all.


    He could still feel his fear and dread even as he explained it. Because he feared that the Brain Burst program was possibly monitoring all his speech, and would also erase Haruyuki¡¯s memories the instant it detected keywords such as ?uninstall?, ?memory?, and ?erase?.


    Therefore, after making all of them remove their Neuro Linkers, Haruyuki had started talking rapidly.


    Even after they finished hearing everything, the other two did not speak for a while.


    After being silent for a full thirty seconds, Kuroyukihime picked up her cup of black tea, and after moistening her lips, she spoke in a whisper.


    ¡°¡­You two must have always wondered about it. About why Accel World¡¯s existence had continued to be completely hidden over the span of seven years.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Yeah.¡±


    Haruyuki nodded.


    ¡°If it were me and I lost Brain Burst, I would become desperate and be liable to expose everything about it on the net or the mass media, in order to take down Accel World along with me¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey, are you talking about me?¡±


    Kuroyukihime gave a faint wry smile, put her cup down, and continued.


    ¡°But, well¡­there would always be those who think like that¡­and those who would put those thoughts into action. But various reasons for why that doesn¡¯t happen have been conjectured. Because a child won¡¯t be believed by the mass media no matter what they say without proof. Because a system that deletes all information about Brain Burst is encroached into all networks. And there is one more conjectured reason¡­I also heard about it on the rumor level.¡±


    Her black pupils narrowed sharply. A voice that was even quieter flowed out from her.


    ¡°¡­That Brain Burst, when it vanishes, takes along with it the memories of it as well. But¡­I didn¡¯t believe it unless I could see it with my own eyes, no, I didn¡¯t want to believe it. However, to think that it really is¡­the truth.¡±


    Once again, silence.


    Takumu, who was wearing his kendo clothes as he was in the middle of a rest time in the kendo club¡¯s activities, asked in a stifled voice.


    ¡°However, master. In the first place, is it even possible? That¡­one application could erase the user¡¯s, no, people¡¯s memories¡­¡±


    ¡°¡ªTheoretically, it¡¯s not impossible, or so I¡¯ve heard.¡±


    Kuroyukihime answered while gazing at their three devices placed on top of the table.


    ¡°The Neuro Linker[1], strictly speaking, does not access brain as a biological organ.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­t-then, how does it connect to it¡­?¡±


    She turned her gaze towards the frowning Haruyuki, and looked straight into his eyes with her jet-black pupils.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand it perfectly either, but. In our brain cells, there are something called Microtubules[2], and the quantum light that is the essence of human consciousness is confined in there. The Neuro Linker reads and rewrites the data itself that is preserved by the spin and vector of those quantum lights. At that level, sensory information and memory information are no different than a form of data.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­In other words, the Neuro Linker reads and rewrites our memories in the same way as it lets us see and touch the virtual world¡­is what you mean.¡±


    When Haruyuki said that as if groaning, Kuroyukihime shook her head strongly.


    ¡°It¡¯s all hypothetical. Besides, I cannot believe, even if it is theoretically possible, that such a function would be equipped into the Neuro Linker, which is a commercial device. ¡ªI can¡¯t believe it, but¡­¡±


    ¡ªNoumi Seiji has actually lost his memories.


    No one voiced it out loud, but the three of them were certainly thinking that.


    After another span of silence, Kuroyukihime spoke decisively.


    ¡°It¡¯s pointless to discuss this any further. If we want to know the answer, we have no choice but to reach Level 10 and ask the developer of Brain Burst.¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s true. That was our goal from the beginning, after all¡­¡±


    After nodding, Haruyuki then timidly asked Takumu.


    ¡°¡­So, how does Noumi seem¡­?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a completely ordinary first-year club member now. Like an evil spirit has come out of him¡­is the best way I can describe it. Though he was also bright and cheerful on the surface until now, so no one besides us may be able to notice the difference¡­¡±


    Taking a short pause, Takumu muttered in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°Haru, I can¡¯t help but wonder. Between Noumi now and us, which is normal, and which is abnormal¡­?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already decided. We¡¯re the abnormal ones.¡±


    The one that made that snap declaration was Kuroyukihime.


    Her next actions of leaning her body on the back of her chair and nimbly crossing her legs that were wrapped in black stockings, made her completely regain her usual dignity.


    The Black King looked at each of her subordinates in turn, and added with a fearless smile.


    ¡°However, it¡¯s the path that we chose ourselves. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    After blinking, Takumu also gave a small smile.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s exactly right, master. Oops, then I¡¯ll be going back now. Err¡­about conveying the contents of this talk to Chii-chan¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah. For the time being, we¡¯ll conceal it from her.¡±


    Bowing his head, Takumu stood up from his seat, picked up his blue Neuro Linker on the table, and walked away at a trot as his black hakama swayed.


    Once he couldn¡¯t be seen anymore, Kuroyukihime looked intently at Haruyuki, and whispered in a small voice by starting with an ¡®Also¡¯.


    ¡°¡ªEven if I were to lose Brain Burst and all my memories of Accel World disappeared¡­I wouldn¡¯t forget about you. I definitely wouldn¡¯t forget.¡±


    While feeling the sensation of something digging firmly inside his chest, Haruyuki earnestly answered back.


    ¡°Yes. Me too¡­ Me too. I won¡¯t forget about just you, senpai.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I believe you.¡±


    Smiling, Kuroyukihime nodded greatly once, and spoke.


    ¡°Then, with this, would you say that this series of incidents is over for the present?¡±


    In response to that question, Haruyuki hesitated for a while, and then shook his head slowly.


    ¡°No¡­There¡¯s still just one more promise I have to take care of.¡±


    ¡°Hoh, what is it?¡±


    Facing Kuroyukihime as she tilted her head.


    Haruyuki spoke while bowing his head greatly.


    ¡°¡ªI have a favour to ask. Please come with me to meet the person that lent me her wings¡­Sky Raker.¡±


    5 PM.


    Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime came out from the Umesato Middle School gate together.


    They walked down Oume Highway in silence, and turned north on the way. They followed a narrow road and headed towards Kouenji Station.


    After Kuroyukihime had sent a typed mail after much hesitation, the reply that they got ten minutes after consisted only of two lines of text that specified the time and location.


    In order to head to the meeting place, the terrace of the south entrance of the Shinjuku Station, the two of them rode on the Chuo Line from the station.


    Kuroyukihime remained in complete silence the entire time. Haruyuki had no way to guess what kind of thoughts were passing through her mind.


    Since he had regained his flight ability, he had to return the Enhanced Armament ?Gale Thruster? to Sky Raker. That was the promise he had made to her.


    However, Haruyuki had also carelessly forgotten to ask her for her contact information in the real world. Therefore, he asked Kuroyukihime, who probably knew an anonymous address to contact her.


    Strictly speaking, there was also the method of once again asking Sky Raker¡¯s ?Child?, Ash Roller. However, Haruyuki dared to choose to rely on Kuroyukihime. In addition, he said something even more unreasonable to her, suggesting that they return home together, and got her to follow him to the meeting place.


    Haruyuki didn¡¯t know whether what he was doing was right or not.


    However, the momentary expression that Sky Raker had shown the morning she had transferred her Enhanced Armament to Haruyuki was strongly imprinted on his memories.


    I was foolish, and therefore lost a friendship.


    Accel World¡¯s recluse had said that to Haruyuki.


    Haruyuki, who knew nothing of what had occurred between her and Kuroyukihime, may not have had the right to say nor do anything.


    ¡®But¡¯, thought Haruyuki. Even if that friendship was truly lost, was there any reason not to regain it once again? After all, both of them still remembered each other. They had carved their many memories, and the times they fought together, deep into their minds.


    Yes¡ªthose memories surely still connected the two of them together.


    When the train gently slid into the platform and they blended in among the many passengers, Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime went up the elevator and came out from the southern entrance that opened widely at the front.


    The Shinjuku Southern Terrace was a shopping mall in the form of a huge pyramid-type layered structure. Passing between the crowded shoppers, the two of them rode the central escalator.


    Kuroyukihime still remained silent.


    Though he thought ¡®Maybe I should say something, yeah I should¡¯, Haruyuki also said nothing.


    The huge automatic stairs went between lively advertising panels, and carried the two of them past them. Eventually, they arrived at the top of the pyramid.


    The open terrace on the top floor reached 100 meters above the ground. Of course, it couldn¡¯t compare with the surrounding high-rise buildings, but it still commanded an unbroken view of the Shinjuku Station terminal, the countless train tracks, and the various trains that kept coming and going in each direction. The evening was still chilly, and there were very few silhouettes standing in this wind-blown place.


    Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime walked all the way to the handrail of the northernmost tip, and waited for the appointed time while staring side by side at the evening landscape below them.


    5:30 PM.


    Small clicking footsteps that were approaching from behind reached Haruyuki¡¯s ears.


    He sucked in a big breath¡ªand turned around. Kuroyukihime did too, a little delayed after him.


    Against the background of red-purple clouds, that person stood there while smiling.


    Her soft-looking long hair swayed in the breeze. The skirt of her uniform fluttered, and her white hand was pressed down over it.


    She made her legs wrapped in over-knee tights move another step forward, and¡ª


    The recluse that lived on the Old Tokyo Tower, the member of the first Nega Nebulas, ?Sky Raker? first spoke to Haruyuki.


    ¡°Good evening, Karasu-san.¡±


    And then, her gaze turned towards Kuroyukihime next to him. Changing the appearance of her smile slightly, she spoke once again.


    ¡°¡­Good evening, Lotus.¡±


    As a lot of feelings got stuck in his chest, Haruyuki could only bow his head down deeply. However, Kuroyukihime gave a smile just like Sky Raker¡¯s, and spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Raker.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes, it truly has. In the real world, it¡¯s been two years. In Accel World¡­I don¡¯t know how long it¡¯s been anymore.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    They let out a ¡®Fufu¡¯ laugh at the same time, but the two of them didn¡¯t try to approach each other any further.


    Haruyuki clenched his teeth tightly, took several steps forward, and then bowed once again.


    ¡°Umm¡­Raker-san. I¡¯ll be returning them now¡­your wings.¡±


    Sky Raker nodded gently with a kind smile.


    ¡°So you got them back. Your silver wings¡­no, your hope.¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡±


    And then Haruyuki took out from his pocket a XSB cable he had prepared, inserted own of its two ports into his Neuro Linker, and held out the other end.


    Sky Raker accepted it, and connected it to her own Neuro Linker without hesitation.


    The re-transfer of the Enhanced Armament through a Direct Connect duel was done quickly without any conversation at all. After issuing the transfer request window, accepting it, issuing the draw request, and also accepting that, they Burst Out.


    When they returned to the real world the next instant, the ?Gale Thruster? had already returned to its proper owner. After detaching the cable and returning it to Haruyuki, Sky Raker smiled once again.


    ¡°I definitely received it¡­¡­Then, I¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    And then she looked at Kuroyukihime¡ªand lightly bowed.


    Taking one, two steps back along with a faint servo sound, Sky Raker moved her lips slightly.


    ¡°¡­Karasu-san. If it¡¯s you, you¡¯ll surely fly to the heights that I couldn¡¯t reach. I¡¯ll be cheering for you¡­do your best.¡±


    She smiled and turned around after leaving a light wink. Then, she walked away with firm steps.


    But, Haruyuki definitely saw it.


    The small grains of light that fell from her blinking eyes and drew a silver trail through the air.


    Hanging her bag behind her back, Sky Raker walked far away with unslackening footsteps.


    Under the evening sky, the sight of her back gradually changed into a silhouette.


    Suddenly, Kuroyukihime, who had remained completely silent until now, took several steps forward with staggering footsteps.


    But, she stopped a little ahead of Haruyuki, and tightly clenched her hands as if enduring something.


    ¡ªSenpai.


    ¡ª¡ªSenpai!!


    Haruyuki shouted within his mind.


    Please, Kuroyukihime-senpai. That person is waiting for your words. Waiting for your hand. So, come on¡­¡­


    Come on!


    Haruyuki strained all of his mind power and pushed Kuroyukihime¡¯s back right in front of him without moving his hand.


    At that instant.


    *TATA* She ran several more steps forward.


    And Kuroyukihime shouted in a dignified voice.


    ¡°Raker!!¡±


    That receding back trembled, and stopped. Kuroyukihime sucked in a big breath as both her shoulder shook, and she shouted once again.


    ¡°¡­Come back, Fuuko! I need you!!¡±


    The instant she heard those words, Sky Raker hanged her head down deeply.


    Her left leg took another step forward¡ª


    It tried to, but stopped. As if the CPU that controlled her artificial leg resisted the command of its owner. As if it was following the true feelings being outputted from her soul.


    Little by little, little by little, she pulled back her leg.


    Sky Raker slowly, slowly turned around.


    Her lips moved, and released a very faint voice.


    ¡°¡­Sacchan[3].¡±


    And then, a silent question.


    ¡ªIs it okay?


    Kuroyukihime nodded greatly, and called her name once again.


    ¡°¡­Fuuko.¡±


    Immediately after, the two girls started running towards each other.


    They threw away their bags at the same time. Running at a speed that was slightly faster than Kuroyukihime¡¯s, Sky Raker opened her arms to catch her.


    Holding the girl with black hair just a little shorter than hers to her chest, the face of girl called Fuuko became distorted.


    Large tears rolled down her cheeks.


    ¡°U¡­uaaan¡­¡­¡±


    As if she had been always bearing it since she appeared on this terrace¡ª


    No, since the time she had started to live in seclusion on the Old Tokyo Tower, Sky Raker buried her face in Kuroyukihime¡¯s hair, and released her feelings.


    ¡°Aaan¡­Waaaaaan!¡±


    The still Kuroyukihime¡¯s own sobbing also mixed in with that crying voice, and reached Haruyuki¡¯s ears.


    Unable to keep watching that too beautiful and too precious scene any longer, Haruyuki turned his head upwards, so that tears of his own didn¡¯t roll down.


    In the middle of the sky which persistently continued changing from blue to dark red, an airplane that was pulling through thin white clouds and flying to an even high place shone and flashed silver.


    (END)

 Volume 5 - CH 1

    Preferably, it would be better if all of Tokyo¡¯s skies were covered in arcades[1].


    Avoiding the puddles that hadn¡¯t been absorbed into the water-permeable pavement tiles as he walked, Haruyuki thought that with a sense of desperation.


    He had hated rain since long ago. The signal connection level of his Neuro Linker would go down even if it was only drizzling, one of the two hands he used operating his virtual desktop would be occupied by an umbrella, and as if that wasn¡¯t enough, his dampness-prone body would get even more wet..


    Stopping at a stoplight along his route home from school, he looked up past the edge of his umbrella and saw that, even though they said that there wouldn¡¯t be any rain today on the first day of the month, the sky was still filled with plenty of moisture as it remained a sunken lead color. At the edge of his vision, the rain-probability prediction that was displayed alongside the headline news showed the numbers at 80 to 90 until tomorrow morning. It seemed that the seasonal rain front didn¡¯t intend to leave Kanto for the time being.


    It would feel good if he could take a short flight and pierce through those clouds until he flew above them. The pure-white sea of clouds that spread out forever, the ultramarine sky, and the intensely shining sun. It was a scene he had seen several times in the ?Storm Stage?, but of course he had never experienced it in the real world.


    At the very least, he could imagine it, and so he stood on his tip-toes as he flapped his imaginary wings, and¡ª.


    ¡°The light¡¯s turned green!¡±


    *BACHIKON* Haruyuki¡¯s back was suddenly struck, and he stepped toward the pedestrian crossing as if falling forward. After he narrowly avoided falling, he started walking quickly to hide his embarrassment, and turned to speak to the person now beside him.


    ¡°¡­Ossu[2].¡±


    ¡°Ossu.¡±


    The one that answered him back while turning her vivid yellow-green umbrella round and round was his classmate, Kurashima Chiyuri. As if she didn¡¯t feel the gloom of the rainy weather, but actually enjoyed it, she made splashing sounds with her water-repellant sneakers.


    ¡°Did you buy a new umbrella?¡±


    When he inquired about her unfamiliar belonging, his childhood friend blinked her cat-like pupil bashfully, and nodded her head.


    ¡°Yeah¡­Don¡¯t say anything more, I already know what you want to say! I know that I let myself be influenced about something like the color of an accessory. By my avatar.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just how it is¡­I¡¯ve also noticed that I¡¯ve gotten things like memory card containers and Direct Connect cables in silver, after all.¡±


    The armor of Chiyuri¡¯s duel avatar ?Lime Bell?, which she had gained two months ago in April, was a lime color just as its name suggested. She herself hadn¡¯t seemed really accustomed to that color at first, but without noticing it, she had changed some of her personal effects, including her trademark large hairpin, to a bright green color.


    ¡°But, you should stop it when it comes to your Neuro Linker. Going that far may cause your real identity to be identified.¡±


    After he said that while looking at the pale purple exterior of the VR device attached to her thin neck, Chiyuri puffed her cheeks.


    ¡°What, but Haru, Takkun and Kuroyuki-senpai[3] all have Neuro Linkers with the color of your avatars, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯ve just always used this one since long ago. The next time I change to a different model, I¡¯ll get it in a different color.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s going be piano black[4] anywa¡ª¡ªy.¡±


    He glared at her with a side glance, and unconsciously his eyes swam.


    His childhood friend laughed with an expression that said ¡®Yare-yare[5]¡¯, and then she leaned her brand-new umbrella back and looked up towards the sky past its edge.


    ¡°But it¡¯s really coming down, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, really¡­By the way, what about your club activities?¡±


    Haruyuki belatedly realized that Chiyuri normally, as part of the track-and-field club, and he, part of the go-home club, never found themselves together on the way home from school, and so he tilted his head in puzzlement. Then, Chiyuri shrugged her shoulder and answered idly.


    ¡°Whenever it rains, we always do muscle training in the gymnasium or long-distance swimming in the indoor pool. Since both places were full today with the other athletic clubs, I took the day off. It¡¯s unfair that Takkun and the kendo club have a dojo for their exclusive use¡­Aah, it¡¯s unpleasant how my muscles feel dull if I don¡¯t move my body for even a single day.¡±


    ¡°Heeh, so that happens¡­¡±


    As someone who took pride in being the exact opposite of an athlete, Haruyuki murmured with just a little bit of admiration.


    Hearing that, Chiyuri blinked as if she had thought of something, and then she suddenly took a step closer and put her hand on Haruyuki¡¯s arm¡ªand as Haruyuki became flustered at the sudden physical contact, she looked into his face and spoke.


    ¡°I know, Haru. Exercise with me.¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­Haa!?¡±


    Widening his eyes with a jerk, he flapped his mouth open and closed, before somehow asking again.


    ¡°E-Exercise, you say¡­where¡­what kind of¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­What¡¯s with that reaction? Ah, ah, you just thought of something weird, didn¡¯t you!¡±


    After staring at him intently once again, Chiyuri gave a teasing smile.


    ¡°I was just thinking of going into a ?duel? as a tag team. What other possible meaning could I have, Arita-sensei~.¡±


    ¡°I-I also naturally meant that too.¡±


    After giving an unnatural cough, Haruyuki feigned calmness and continued.


    ¡°In other words, I meant ¡®where is the battle area we¡¯ll go to¡¯ and ¡®what kind of rules will we fight with¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Heh, hoh, hmm.¡±


    Fortunately, as if she were feeling inclined to post bail for a suspect, Chiyuri changed her expression in a wide smile, and pointed with her umbrella at the overhead structure of the Chuo Line railway that was visible ahead of them.


    ¡°Since it¡¯s still early, let¡¯s go to Shinjuku. We may get above the clouds if we¡¯re at the viewing platform of the government office.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that would happen, but¡­Well, it¡¯s fine.¡±


    While answering with a shrug of his shoulder, Haruyuki was once again conscious of the weight of Chiyuri¡¯s hand, still placed on his right arm.


    Arita Haruyuki and Kurashima Chiyuri had been born into the same combined multistory high-rise apartment building in north Kouenji fourteen years ago in 2033. Since their homes were separated by only two floors, they had grown up almost as twin siblings since they were infants.


    Since their apartment building was huge, there had of course been many other children the same age as them. However, the only one of them that had remained steadfast close friends with him until today besides Chiyuri was Mayuzumi Takumu, who lived in a separate apartment. Since he had gone to a different elementary school than Haruyuki and Chiyuri, Takumu had been able to associate with him without any worry. And, even though Haruyuki had frequently gone to the same school as Chiyuri, his relationship with her had not changed¡ªprobably because of her earnest strength and kindness.


    When he had begun to be the target of bullying from upperclassmen in elementary school, Haruyuki had tried to keep his distance from Chiyuri, because he hated her seeing his wretched state. But Chiyuri had stubbornly tried to keep close to him. Haruyuki also understood now just how huge the pressure was to ?remain friends with a bullied kid? for elementary school students at that age. And yet, she had continued to return home to their apartment building together with him every day, and playing games and going on make-believe expeditions with him along with Takumu until fifth grade. The memories of the three''s time spent together after school were now stored deep within Haruyuki with a golden color.


    ¡ªNo, those memories may be even more important to Chiyuri.


    Because, the source of the pseudo-healing ability that Chiyuri¡¯s duel avatar ?Lime Bell? possessed was most likely¡­


    ¡°Let¡¯s take the train.¡±


    When she poked his elbow while saying that, Haruyuki raised his head and saw that they had reached the Chuo Line platform without him being aware of it. After looking at the orange train cars approaching from the west and then nodding with a ¡°Sure¡±, Haruyuki added something else in a low voice.


    ¡°¡­ank you, Chiyu.¡±


    ¡°Eh, did you say something?¡±


    When his childhood friend turned around towards him with a sway of her short hair, Haruyuki felt a moist and choked sensation in the middle of his chest, and then frantically shook his head.


    ¡°I-It¡¯s nothing. L-Let¡¯s get on!¡±


    An astounded voice he was used to hearing followed after Haruyuki as he jumped into the train.


    ¡°Hey, there are only two stations, you know!¡±


    Arriving at the government office after walking on the pathway that extended out from the underground west entrance of Shinjuku Station, the two of them jumped into the direct connect elevator that went up to the viewing platform on the highest floor.


    *GUGU* A momentary feeling of acceleration hit them, then disappeared. The digital floor indicator on the wall changed numbers at a staggering speed. The wall outside soon changed from concrete to glass, and Chiyuri immediately flew forward and raised her voice in exclamation.


    ¡°Uwah¡­amazing, it¡¯s all grey¡­¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t really see well with the rain¡­¡±


    It was expected, but the view of the evening landscape of the huge metropolis that spread out to the south was obstructed by the incessant curtain of rain and mostly wasn¡¯t visible. Moreover, something like a haze coiled around the glass as they went farther up and further obstructed their view.


    The elevator slowed down as a floating feeling gently went through his body, and then finally it stopped with an announcement of arrival. The other side of the opening doors was dyed all in white.


    Rebuilt in the 30s, the Tokyo Government Office Building reached up to 500 meters in height. The only other building of such a height in Tokyo, or rather in all of Japan, was the Sumida Ward¡¯s Tokyo Sky Tree. But since the viewing platform there was the second-highest at 450 meters high, the highest floor here at the government office was actually the closest to the sky in the center of Tokyo.


    Running out of the elevator, Chiyuri spoke as she placed both her hands against the huge window glass at the front of them.


    ¡°Uwah¡­¡­Amazing, it¡¯s pure white¡­¡±


    ¡°Rather than raining, this place is already within the clouds.¡±


    While smiling bitterly, Haruyuki stood next to Chiyuri. The window simply shone a milky white color as if the other side was covered in thick cotton.


    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that we can¡¯t see the sky.¡±


    Saying that, Chiyuri became even more resigned and scowled out through the window, but she soon turned around and smiled.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine. Thanks to this, we have this place all to ourselves.¡±


    Certainly, no one would care to go up to the viewing platform in the middle of such bad weather and furthermore on a weekday evening, so there was no sign of anyone on either side of the passage. Chiyuri suddenly latched her left arm around Haruyuki¡¯s right arm, and pulled him forward while shouting.


    ¡°Since it¡¯s rare to have it empty like this, let¡¯s do a once-around!¡±


    ¡°Uh, s-sure.¡±


    Recently, Haruyuki was also able to somehow talk normally with Chiyuri in person like he used to in the past, but whenever she got a little too close, his mouth and tongue became fumbled. Laughing as she saw Haruyuki like that, Chiyuri began to walk clockwise along the passage that ran along the circumference of the viewing floor.


    Naturally, the view outside the window didn¡¯t change no matter how far they went. Beyond the drops of water that clung to the glass, there were only surging lumps of white clouds. Even so, Chiyuri did not make a dissatisfied face, and moved her feet rhythmically.


    His relationship with this childhood friend of his had been hard to grasp for a while now. Immediately after the absurdly tough and painful battle two months ago had finished, Chiyuri had wrapped her arms around Haruyuki and Takumu¡¯s necks, and shouted out while crying, ¡®I love you two¡¯.


    Since then, she had continued trying to talk carefreely and come into contact with both Haruyuki and Takumu just as she declared. It was as if she was trying to rewind time back to those days when the three of them played every day until it became dark.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right, Haru.¡±


    Haruyuki raised his head when she suddenly called out his name.


    ¡°W-What?¡±


    ¡°If we¡¯re going to duel anyway, let¡¯s connect globally. If we do that, the sightseeing guidance tag will appear on the other side of the window.


    ¡°Ah¡­I see.¡±


    The two of them were currently cut off Neuro Linkers from the Global Net. They did so because, since the Shinjuku Ward was the territory of the Blue Legion ?Leonids?, they didn¡¯t know when other Burst Linkers would suddenly intrude on them while they were connected.


    For example, it would be dangerous if they ?waited for a duel? while on the road, but now that they were in the viewing platform where no one was present, there wouldn¡¯t be a problem even if they automatically accelerated from a challenge. Haruyuki nodded, and first opened the console for ?Brain Burst? and made a team with Lime Bell. With this, it would be clearly written on the matching list that the two of them were a tag team, and the opponents that could challenge them were also limited almost exclusively to two-player groups. After that, he connected his Neuro Linker to the Global Net simultaneously along with Chiyuri.


    Immediately, countless small holo-tags appeared in his vision. These were the guidance markers of famous places and large-sized building that would have commanded the view outside if the weather had been clear. When the two of them turned towards the east, the names of the nearby Shinjuku Station and Southern Terrace, and Kabukicho[6] beyond them also appeared.


    ¡°¡­Like I thought, it¡¯s no fun to see only the tags.¡±


    When Chiyuri said that with a bitter smile, as if the god of weather sympathized with the two of them, the thick clouds broke apart for a moment, and the evening view of the center of Tokyo spread out suddenly beneath their eyes.


    Letting out a shout of joy, Chiyuri flew over to the window. Haruyuki also hurried over next to her.


    As they looked down from an altitude of 500 meters high with their naked eyes, the metropolis was laid out chaotically beneath them as if it were a tapestry with 500 years of history woven into it. As he thought of how the laminated-structured streets shined dazzlingly, the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and the Akasaka Estate[7] that hadn¡¯t been changed at all since the last century were sunken in dusk within those streets.


    And furthermore, over towards the west, there was, like a large black hole that existed in the center of that galaxy, a vast space that was an even deeper black¡ªthe Imperial Palace.


    It was a place that, of course, Haruyuki and Chiyuri couldn¡¯t enter in the real world, and they hadn¡¯t experienced virtual images of the palace¡¯s interior as Burst Linkers either. That was because that space¡¯s security system was not connected to the social camera network, a very special exception in present-day Japan. As a result, the Imperial Palace in Accel World¡¯s ?Unlimited Neutral Field? couldn¡¯t have its actual appearance reproduced from the camera images like other place, and instead it always existed as an evil fortress-like original structure.


    However, what if the opposite was done?


    The Brain Burst Program was, for the time being, confirmed to be able to hack into the entire social camera network in Japan, and generate a field from it. It extended as far as even the Okinawa prefecture that wasn¡¯t connected to the mainland, and Kuroyukihime had once even covered the whole distance from Okinawa to Tokyo on the Unlimited Neutral Field. ¡ªIn that case, what if there were also places under social camera surveillance outside of Japan as well? Would Burst Linkers be also able to ?go? there¡­?


    ¡°¡­Hey, Chiyu.¡±


    Haruyuki whispered while gazing absentmindedly eastward.


    ¡°Hmm, what is it?¡±


    ¡°About the recent talk on the export of social camera technology on the news¡­¡±


    Did you hear about it?


    Haruyuki was not able to finish saying the question at the end of his sentence.


    *BASHIIII* A familiar sound effect struck his ears, and at the same time his vision blacked out. Automatic acceleration¡ªin other words, some Burst Linkers in the Shinjuku area had discovered the tag team of Haruyuki and Chiyuri on the matching list, and had instantly applied for a ?duel?. Within the darkness, the flaming characters of [HERE COME NEW CHALLENGERS] blazed brightly.


    The excitement of a duel in an outside area for the first time in a while immediately washed away his earlier thoughts.

 Volume 5 - CH 2

    Haruyuki¡¯s legs, wrapped in silver armor, landed on a thick moss-covered branch.


    When he raised his head, what he saw was completely different from the rain-covered skyscrapers until just now. The sky was dyed a curious lavender color, and all the high-rise buildings had changed into huge gnarled trees. A lot of thick ivy also hung between the trees, and many pterosaur-like silhouettes could be seen gently flying among them.


    Looking down on this netherworld jungle, whose basis was the Shinjuku Government Office, from a branch near the top of a frightfully high tree, Haruyuki grumbled.


    ¡°Uhheh. The ?Primeval Forest? stage. It¡¯s hard to fight in.¡±


    A voice then responded from right beside him.


    ¡°What are you saying, it¡¯s pretty. It¡¯s way better than the savage maps like the ?Wasteland? or ?End of the Century? ones.¡±


    The speaker of those words was of course the avatar covered in semi-permeable emerald-colored armor, ?Lime Bell?. Underneath the brim of her big three-cornered hat, her beady eyes shined.


    ¡°Well, its appearance is pleasant, but still. Even if I fly, I can¡¯t see the ground here at all because there¡¯s too much cover¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t complain! You should practice fighting on the ground every once in a while.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±


    Haruyuki nodded as he hit the huge bell in her right hall with a tap.


    The characteristics of the Primeval Forest stage were its extremely bad visibility because of the thickly grown plants here, and its many random small animal objects. No, there were also a few huge carnivorous beasts in the forest, and their intervention must also be taken into account when making a strategy.


    While reviewing the stage¡¯s attributes in his mind, Haruyuki checked the two HP gauges located at the upper-right corner of his vision with a glance.


    The ones that had challenged them to a duel were a tag team consisting of the Level 5 ?Frost Horn? and Level 4 ?Tourmaline Shell?. Both were names that Haruyuki knew well. They were active members of the Blue Legion, ?Leonids?.


    Since Haruyuki was currently Level 5 and Chiyuri was Level 4, there was no numerical difference. However, the opponents should have become Burst Linkers considerably earlier than them. Considering it simply, Haruyuki and Chiyuri seemed to be superior because of their quick pace in leveling up, but the reality was different.


    In other words, it was like this. Burst Linkers were divided in many types based on their disposition, but even if the ?types that ignore winning percentages and frantically duel against anyone at any time or place? and the ?types that carefully calculate advantages and disadvantages and take part in duels they can win for certain? have the same numerical level, there was actually a big difference between them that existed in an aspect that wasn¡¯t visible.


    In other words, it was their accumulated battle experience. Even if they challenged and lost against those of a higher level that they couldn¡¯t win against no matter what or against opponents with a bad attribute for their avatar, those duels gave the Burst Linkers themselves an experience value different from numerical points. Tactics, knowledge, and most importantly, a heart that stands firm in a crisis.


    Of course, the play style of the reckless-types was inefficient compared to the clever-types. Their Burst Points were occasionally unsteady and unreliable, and they had to work hard at the tiresome Enemy hunting in the Unlimited Neutral Field.


    However, those kinds of people have a higher chance of going ?upwards? in the end, is what his master Kuroyukihime had told him. Therefore, Haruyuki was also consciously not picky about his opponents when he came out onto the streets to duel, with the intention of maintaining a style in the middle of the reckless-types and clever-types, but¡ª


    The two that had challenged them this time, ?Frost Horn? in particular, were famous as super Go-For-Broke bastards that considerably exceeded Haruyuki in terms of being reckless. Also, it was probably exactly because they were like that that they had challenged Haruyuki and Chiyuri without hesitation immediately after the two of them appeared on the matching list.


    Concluding that the enemy tag team was heading towards the tree of this government office in a straight line based on the motions of the guide cursor in the center of his vision, Haruyuki decided to go along with the opponents¡¯ style and spoke.


    ¡°Chiyu, is it fine if we also go down to the ground and do a quick decisive battle?¡±


    His partner then grinned and nodded.


    ¡°Sure. My healing won¡¯t reach if the target¡¯s not in sight anyway, and besides, I¡¯ve also been practicing my close combat recently!¡±


    She waved the bell in her left hand, and it smashed five or six hard-looking fruits hanging together behind her.


    Having been hit on the head by that bell once in the past, Haruyuki involuntarily drew back his head, and then extended his hand out to his partner.


    ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s charge at them from above!¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Saying that, she grasped his offered right hand tightly, and without hesitation they jumped from the branch 500 meters above the ground. They aimed at a faraway hazy point beneath their eyes within the forest, the point indicated by the guide cursor, and went into a headlong free fall.


    The cursor only indicated the rough direction of the enemy. Therefore, the other team would not immediately notice that Haruyuki and Chiyuri were doing a direct fast approach from above. They had to delay their deceleration until the last minute in order to definitely seize that brief chance. The air groaned endlessly in their ears, and they approached the ground at a frightful speed. Even Haruyuki who was used to diving chocked back his breath hard, instinctively wanting to dodge it.


    However, Chiyuri, diving at the same speed right next to him, didn¡¯t let out a scream, but instead had shining eyes. She really was surprisingly a daredevil, no, that description was unsuitable for a girl¡­


    While Haruyuki thought that, a sharp whisper reached his ears.


    ¡°Found them! They¡¯re under that giant red flower!¡±


    When he frantically strained his eyes, he confirmed with a glance that there were indeed a silhouette with a large build and a silhouette with a slender build dashing alongside each other among a dense growth of tall rafflesia-like plants. The one on the right was Frost Horn, who had a heavy light blue armor and huge horns growing from his forehead and shoulders. The one on the left was Tourmaline Shell, who was wrapped in smart blue-green armor.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the one on the right, you take the one on the left. Let¡¯s hit them hard with all our strength.¡±


    He said that quickly, and she responded with a nod.


    Both of the enemies should be still thinking that Haruyuki and Chiyuri were somewhere on the ground or at the government office tree. However, in the next few seconds that would end, as the cursor disappeared when both sides were in close proximity. They had to slow down right before that and go into the offensive.


    Haruyuki widened his eyes, focused his consciousness, and measured the distance.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­Five seconds till deceleration, three, two, one, zero!¡±


    He grasped Chiyuri¡¯s hand tightly, and at the same time as the countdown ended, he spread out the wings on his back to their limit.


    In order to make the enemy mistakenly think that Silver Crow was still on the ground, he hadn¡¯t dared to store up his special technique gauge. Therefore, his wings couldn¡¯t produce any propulsion, but instead they could be used as a parachute. His metal fins caught hold of the air, and caused him to brake intensely.


    He used that recoil to shift the direction of their bodies. He stretched out his left leg, and set up the posture for a dive kick. He subtly pulled Chiyuri¡¯s hand as she took the same posture, and adjusted her aim as well. Immediately after, the guide cursor disappeared from his vision.


    At that instant, the enemy tag team also realized that Haruyuki and Chiyuri were in unexpectedly close proximity, and hurriedly brought themselves to a quick stop by braking so much that they dug into the ground. After they gave a quick look at their surroundings, they abruptly looked up at the sky.


    But by then it was already too late¡ª


    ¡°Oryaaaaaaaa!¡±


    ¡°To¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªoh!¡±


    Along with those shouts, Haruyuki¡¯s left foot and Chiyuri¡¯s right foot kicked through the rafflesia petals and then accurately plunged into their respective targets at a sharp angle.


    They had attacked with a timing that wouldn¡¯t allow the enemy to evade unhurt even if they were skilled masters. Frost Horn and Tourmaline Shell crossed their arms in front of their bodies together, and fortified themselves to block them. Regardless, the dive kicks that had gathered up energy by dropping down from 500 meters high above struck them hard.


    As if a special technique had hit the mark, flashy light effects and impact sounds occurred at the same time and filled the area.


    ¡°Mugoh¡­¡±


    ¡°Funeen!¡±


    Labored grunts leaked out from the mouths of Horn and Shell. They lowered their waists and resisted being bounced back by the kicks. They desperately dug both their legs into the green ground, and carved four deep tracks into it.


    However, no matter how big their builds were, it was impossible to guard against such heavy attacks.


    Their defense was torn apart in just a single second, and Horn and Shell were flicked backwards at the same time. They were blown away while deeply digging into the ground, and crashed into the trunk of a big tree far away. Impact effects shook the stage once again, and the upper right health gauges both decreased by almost 30%.


    With their first attack a success, Haruyuki and Chiyuri landed on the ground with a backwards somersault, as many shouts erupted from further away.


    Those cheers of things like ¡®Amazing¡¯ and ¡®You can¡¯t deal that kind of splendid damage with a normal technique¡¯ were from the gallery of small groups of players looking down at the site of hostilities from high branches. As expected of Shinjuku, the mecca of duels, there seemed to be over 20 people here even on a weekday like this.


    Just as the commotion settled down temporarily, Frost Horn and Tourmaline Shell stuck out and turned over their legs from the thicket of plants, and then stood up vigorously. Although they were a bit unsteady from the lingering intense damage, they quickly held their ground and shouted in loud voices one after the other.


    ¡°Da¡ªmn it, I hate it people like you that come from the viewing platform of the government office! Though you guys probably couldn¡¯t see anything with that much rain!¡±[1]


    ¡°That¡¯s not the problem, Horn-kun! A date, these two are on a date, Horn-kuuuun!¡±


    ¡°Wh¡­Wh¡­at¡­They¡¯re dueling while on a date¡­you mean¡­!?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it, Horn-kun! After defeating us, they probably intend to hug and kiss, Horn-kuuu¡ª¡ªn!!¡±


    ¡°Un¡­Unforgivable. No way am I going to accept Burst Linkers like that¡ª!!¡±


    Witnessing this little skit that one couldn¡¯t help but think had been prepared beforehand, the surrounding gallery suddenly got all excited again. One-sided cheering like ¡®That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right¡¯ and ¡®Show them the guts of the unpopular¡¯ came down along with roars of laughter.


    Hearing all this while dumbfounded, Haruyuki frantically shook his head back and forth.


    ¡°T-That¡¯s not¡­We¡¯re not on anything like a d-date.¡±


    ¡°You annoying people should also form tag teams with girls!¡±


    Chiyuri¡¯s shout there seemed to add fuel to the fire and overwrote Haruyuki¡¯s defense. Frost Horn once again staggered on his feet.


    ¡°N¡­Now, I¡¯m going to come at you guys seriously¡­¡±


    Next to him, Tourmaline Shell put both hands on his waist and said ¡®Yeah, yeah¡¯ while nodding.


    ¡°We Leonids have barely any girl Linkers. They all sweat and turn away just by hearing about something like a close-range type group.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way you can understand! Since it¡¯s like this, we¡¯ve got no choice but to fill ¡®em with holes and make them feel really sore on the way home!!¡±


    ¡°Uwah, that¡¯s really petty, Horn-kuuun!¡±


    ¡°Shut up! I¡¯ll show you! A real man¡¯s! Way of life! Let¡¯s go¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki was once again dumbfounded at this comic skit, Frost Horn suddenly positioned his arms on either side of himself. The rough horns that sprouted from his forehead and shoulders were tinged with an intense light.


    ¡°?Frosted Circle?!!¡±


    Along with that technique name announcement, a circle of pale light spread out with the horns at the center, and shot through Haruyuki and Chiyuri before dispersing behind them.


    It occurred at a speed and range that couldn¡¯t be avoided, but the light itself was harmless. Haruyuki and Chiyuri¡¯s health gauges didn¡¯t change even slightly.


    However, Haruyuki retightened his sense and waited for the phenomenon that would follow. He had fought with Frost Horn in the territory battles several times, but this was the first time that he had been directly hit by this special technique. If he remembered right it, it should be a technique that didn¡¯t do direct damage to the energy, but instead influenced the area and changed its characteristics.


    *KIN, KIN* Along with thin and sharp sounds, the surrounding plants began to be dyed white. Particles of glittering light danced through the air. It was all ?frost?. The crystallized moisture adhered to all objects and covered them in ice.


    While watching as Silver Crow¡¯s shiny silver armor clouded over all at once and a heavy frost formed right up to the tips of his limbs and armor, Haruyuki spoke in a low voice.¡±


    ¡°Bell[2], I¡¯ll face Horn. Hold back Shell until I finish him.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Immediately after she gave that short response¡ª


    ¡°Uo¡­raaaah!¡±


    On the other side of the veil of frost, a deep war cry was let out, and a huge silhouette charged straight at Haruyuki.


    It was Frost Horn. There was frost adhering to his light-blue armor just like Haruyuki¡¯s. It seemed that the horns on his forehead and shoulder in particular were covered in a film of especially thick ice.


    He thrusted with the big horn on his right shoulder, and attacked Haruyuki with a violent shoulder tackle. Dropping his waist and opening his eyes wide, Haruyuki measured the timing to evade and counterattack.


    ¡°¡­¡­Kuoh!¡±


    With that shout, Haruyuki jumped to the right and tried to intercept the ramming attack.


    However, his body was much heavier than usual because of the adhering frost, and his starting motion was too slow. Although not a direct hit, the horn grazed him, and he received a blunt shock through his left shoulder. He held his ground while gritting his teeth, and then let out a right punch at Horn¡¯s side as he tried to pass him by.


    But his timing was once again out of order due to the added weight. Since it was heavily wrapped in frost, Haruyuki¡¯s short punch would have induced more damage than usual if it hit its mark, but its power was halted due to only slightly grazing Horn¡¯s body.


    This was the main effect of the special technique ?Frosted Circle?. It increased the total weight of duel avatars within its effect range, and inhibited speedy small techniques and consecutive-hit techniques. Conversely, it also increased the power of big one-shot techniques. Moreover, since long-range vision got extremely bad as a side effect, sniping from a distance was prevented, and heat-source homing was also canceled because of the cold.


    In other words, it forced almost all types of avatars to use large sumo-like close combat attacks within this area, which made it a terrifying ability in various ways. Even if one moved and tried to leave the effect area, getting away was not easy since the frost was continually generated over a wide range with Horn as the center.


    While glaring at the silhouette of Horn as he turned around further away and went into a charging position to use his horns again, Haruyuki murmured within his mind.


    ¡ªFine then, I¡¯ll play it your way.


    While hardening his fists and his resolve, he glanced over at the two other people confronting each other further away.


    His partner Lime Bell¡¯s body was similarly frozen white all over. Her left hand¡¯s bell was especially covered in icicles, and seemed quite heavy.


    However¡ª


    Her opponent, Tourmaline Shell, wasn¡¯t covered in even a speck of frost anywhere on his body. The smooth and curved armor that covered his slender body was no different at all from when the duel had started, and shined a wet-like blue-green. No, it was actually wet. The ice that tried to cover him was melted the instant it touched him, and dripped down.


    This was the reason Tourmaline Shell and Frost Horn liked to pair together.


    His tourmaline-colored[3] armor was tinged with an electric current that generates heat when anything impacted it. There were not many ?electric-type? and ?heat-type? avatars that could produce heat continuously like this. Shell was one of the few avatars that was completely immune to Horn¡¯s special technique.


    *PACHI, PACHI* Positioning both his electricity-crawling arms as if to do a sword strike with them, Tourmaline Shell approached Lime Bell with a smooth motion. He fired close-range attacks with Chinese martial arts-like palm strikes one after another. Bell firmly hardened her guard using her large bell in place of a shield.


    Being a green type of a very high color saturation, Lime Bell¡¯s defensive power was so high that it was comparable to that of a metal color. Since both her arms were furthermore covered thickly in frost, Shell¡¯s ?electric heat palm strikes? seemed to deal almost no damage. As long as she concentrated on guarding, she should be able to mostly preserve her HP.


    However¡ªthat was also surely within the expectations of the enemy tag team.


    Horn and Shell of course knew that Lime Bell was an incredibly rare ?healer?. In this battle, where the total combined levels of each team were exactly the same, there was a high probability of them being defeated if she used her healing ability even once.


    Therefore, they were using the strategy where Shell, who could freely move even within the effect range of ?Frosted Circle?, was restraining Bell with small consecutive attacks, while Horn finished off Crow. Although their first attack from above had been successful, the duel had changed according to the enemy¡¯s plan after they landed on the ground.


    In order to overcome this situation, Haruyuki had no choice but to take down Horn without any support.


    ¡­But, we understood that from the moment we decided to fight at close quarters on the ground!


    Bringing the last of his momentary thoughts to an end with that inner shout, Haruyuki focused his consciousness on the silhouette of Frost Horn rushing towards him.


    He had felt the weight of the frost adhering to him in the tangle between them just now. He should be able to dodge with a last-second movement next time and land a counter without fail.


    Horn stuck out his left shoulder this time and thrusted the horn there forward like a battering ram. Haruyuki withstood his fear and deliberately drew towards the attack.


    ¡ªHere!


    He kicked off the ground to step out of the way with a timing just slightly faster than earlier, and at that instant.


    The top of the sharp horn directly hit Haruyuki¡¯s left shoulder.


    ¡°Uah!¡±


    Involuntarily letting out a shout from the intense impact, Haruyuki was helplessly blown away. He crashed into the ground while spinning, and without stopping he rebounded back high in the air. Since he would get additional damage if he fell like this, he somehow managed to make himself land on his feet to avoid that at least.


    Even so, though, Haruyuki¡¯s health gauge had decreased about 20% from just the horn attack. A deep gouge was dug into his left shoulder¡¯s armor, releasing crackling sparks. A sharp pain that was characteristic of receiving large damage locally ran through his nerves, but Haruyuki felt more surprise than pain.


    The timing should have been perfect. So then why had he been completely hit by the horn attack that should have been slower than a bullet?


    The answer was giving from the mouth of Frost Horn, who stood up to his full height a little further away.


    ¡°Uhahahaha! Are you surprised, bird-man! You might not know since you always look down from the sky, but my stylish horns get longer while within ?Frosted Circle?! They rise strongly and sturdily!¡±


    ¡°¡­W-What did you say¡­¡±


    While dumbfounded, Haruyuki focused his eyes, and saw that, indeed, the cone-shaped horns extending from the large water-colored avatar¡¯s shoulders and forehead were thickly wrapped in ice and seemed to be longer than they were when where the battle started.


    Furthermore, their size still seemed to be increasing moment by moment. In other words, no matter how many times Haruyuki memorized the distance and interval of his tackle attacks, it would be useless.


    ¡°How is it, this! Is a real man¡¯s! weapon! Uhahanohaa!¡±


    In response to Horn¡¯s loud laughter, applauses of ¡®yeah, yeah!¡¯ and retorts like ¡®How vulgar¡¯ rained down from the surrounding gallery.


    Listening to it all, Haruyuki sucked in a deep breath, and then breathed out.


    ¡ªIt seems I was mistaken about this.


    Fighting recklessly without choosing one''s opponent and fighting by destroying one¡¯s style and just bulldozing forward are both similarly mistaken. Thinking I could win without any strategy in the enemy¡¯s arena was the same as making light of my opponent. I should have fought by mustering all my ability from the beginning against this opponent. And if don¡¯t do so, I¡¯ll have no chance of winning.


    ¡ªFrom here on, I¡¯m going full-throttle!


    Making a fist with both hands and drawing them to either side of his body, Haruyuki started unfolding the wings on his back. With the first damage he had given and the damage he had received just now, his special technique gauge was about half-filled. First, he would retrieve Chiyuri and fly up towards the sky. He would then wait for the Frosted Circle to be canceled, and then defeat Tourmaline Shell first with another double dive attack¡ª


    Haruyuki formed that strategy in his mind, but then experienced an unexpected phenomenon and cried out.


    ¡°Geh¡­!¡±


    For some reason, his wings wouldn¡¯t unfold. When he promptly turned to look at his back, he saw that frost was sticking to his folded metal wings, most likely acting as a glue that prevented them from unfolding.


    Watching Haruyuki as he frantically moved his hands to his back and tried to rub off the frost, Horn shouted.


    ¡°Uhoh, somehow! I sense! A cha~~nce!¡±


    Lowering his waist, this time he took a position to dash with the remarkably larger horn on his forehead in front.


    Haruyuki¡¯s gauge had lost 20% from just the shoulder tackle. He absolutely couldn¡¯t allow himself to be hit by what seemed to be Horn¡¯s sure-kill technique. However, even if he abandoned doing a counter attack and ran out of the way, the situation would just gradually get worse. Something, something, he had to do something¡ª


    ¡°Teiyaah¡ª!!¡±


    It was at that moment that a high-spirited yell resounded.


    When he looked in its direction for a moment, his eyes beheld the scene of Lime Bell catching Tourmaline Shell¡¯s palm strike with her right hand and then flinging him over her shoulder with a one-armed shoulder throw of excellent form.


    *SUPO¡ªN* The thrown Shell fell somewhere behind her about 10 meters away. However, it was unfortunate. The effectiveness of a throwing technique was at the lowest in a grassland or sand stage like this ?Primeval Forest?. The blue-green avatar started to jump back up immediately without having received much damage.


    But, the true aim of that shoulder throw seemed to be something else.


    Chiyuri turned around without looking at where her thrown enemy was going, and cried out while hoisting the large bell in her left hand up high in the air.


    ¡°?Citron Ca¡ª¡ªll?!!¡±


    As she swung down her bell, a lime-green light was sent out from it along with a beautiful bell sound. The light headed straight towards Haruyuki, and then¡ª


    Passed right by his left arm and disappeared into the fog behind him.


    ¡°Wha¡­¡­¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s dumbfounded voice was overlapped by loud laughter from Frost Horn.


    ¡°Uhaha! Light beam techniques have their hit rate decreased by 30% within the ?Circle?! If you¡¯re a real man! Fight with! Your body!!¡±


    *GOH* White frost was whirled up into the air at Horn¡¯s feet. With an energetic dash with a strong kick-off, he thrusted towards Haruyuki. His forehead¡¯s huge horn shined sharply.


    In the near-instant it took the enemy to close in on him, Haruyuki¡¯s thoughts spun at full power.


    No matter how low the visibility was, had Chiyuri really missed with her special technique just now?


    She was an incredibly careful-type when it came to that. If she used her healing ability, she must have waited for the moment when it would surely hit. Yet, Haruyuki¡¯s health gauge was down by only 20%. It was too soon for activating ?Citron Call? with its bad energy consumption.


    In other words, Chiyuri had purposely made her technique miss, no, she had aimed at something else besides Silver Crow.


    If he had to name a factor besides the fighters in this Primeval Forest stage that could influence the state of the battle, it would be¡­


    The instant his thoughts reached that far, Haruyuki realized what he had to do.


    Opening his eyes wide, he waited for Frost Horn¡¯s charge. He lowered his waist, with one leg bent forward and the other extended behind him, and calculated the direction he needed to dodge towards.


    ¡°Uo¡­ryaaaaa¡ª!¡±


    Pretending as if he was unnerved by Horn¡¯s rough battle cry, Haruyuki turned his body around. He ran away at full speed while precisely following the line that Chiyuri¡¯s special technique had pass through earlier. A trembling in the ground drew near him from behind, and a premonition of damage suddenly hit his back¡ª


    He then suddenly braked and kicked off the ground with all his strength, aiming directly above. Spreading out his hands and bending his back, he jumped over Horn with a backwards somersault, and tried going around to behind his back.


    The enemy was aware that Silver Crow couldn¡¯t use his wings. In that case, he shouldn¡¯t expect for him to escape upwards. Sure enough, there was a feeling of grazing a sharp tip on the center of his back, but Haruyuki danced through the air without getting any further shocks.


    The large avatar was charging in a straight line towards the center of his vision that had become reversed.


    In the direction he was heading towards, a huge elliptical-shaped silhouette had appeared within the curtain of white fluttering frost.


    ¡°Owaah!?¡±


    That shout belonged to Frost Horn. He flapped both his hands frantically and tried to do an abrupt braking. However, since the ground at his feet was half-frozen, he couldn¡¯t immediately stop. While grandly kicking about the frost on the ground, he slammed straight into the round silhouette.


    *BAKUSHA* A dry yet wet smashing sound resounded.


    The huge elliptical sphere broke greatly, and transparent mucus flowed out. Something crept out from inside it, and let out an angry cry of ¡®GIIIIIII¡¯ as if its back had gotten cold.


    The things that one always had to look out for in the Primeval Forest stage were the gigantic living creature-type objects. There were various types like carnivores, dinosaurs, and also man-eating plants, but standardly all the creatures would indiscriminately attack any duel avatars that entered their vision.


    The only exception to that was ?when one broke an egg?.


    A huge living creature whose peaceful sleep within its shell had been disturbed would continue aiming at only the avatar that disturbed it for 500 seconds. Like this huge long-horned beetle, whose four eyes were shining red right now as it looked down on Frost Horn with its large robust jaws chattering.


    As amazed voices saying things like ¡®Aah, he really did it this time¡¯ rained down from the gallery, Horn put up his hands and spoke to the carapace-covered creature.


    ¡°W-W-W-Wait! ¡­If we talk as fellow men, we¡¯ll understand each other!¡±


    ¡°GIGIGIIIIIII!!¡±


    Unfortunately, it seemed to be a female. The long-horned beetle began to savagely chase after the avatar that wasn¡¯t even half its size, mowing down the surrounding rafflesia with its huge antennas. As Horn let out a scream of ¡®Uhiiii!¡¯ and tried to escape, its huge jaws bit the air several times above his head.


    ¡ªOf course, ?eggs of huge creatures? that could cause such a terrifying result didn¡¯t lie around the forest that conveniently. Even if you tried to use it as part of a strategy, there was a high chance of not finding even one after searching intently during the duel time limit.


    But, in this case, the egg being there wasn¡¯t a coincidence.


    Chiyuri had produced it. She had noticed the silhouette of a large insect moving on the other side of the mist while fighting. Then, she had had released her special technique while pretending to aim at Haruyuki, when in fact she was targeting the insect.


    ?Citron Call? wasn¡¯t a true healing ability. It was actually the power to ?turn back the time of the target?. It healed the health gauge in a pseudo-manner, but it also canceled things like alterations by Enhanced Armaments, and if it hit an object on the stage, its state would be reversed in time. Destroyed objects would be restored to just as they were before¡ªand a huge long-horned beetle would return to being an egg.


    Naturally, Frost Horn probably would have normally noticed what had happened as well and not approached the egg. However, the frost drifting thickly through the air had obstructed his vision and hidden Chiyuri¡¯s true aim. As a result, he had been deceived by Haruyuki¡¯s guidance and smashed straight into the egg¡ª


    ¡°Hiiyaaaaah¡ª!!¡±


    That shrill scream and the huge insect¡¯s angry cries went far off into the deep forest to the west, in the direction of Shinjuku Central Park. ?Frosted Circle? also moved along with him, and the surroundings regained their original brightness immediately.


    Watching his partner¡¯s fleeing escape in a dumbfounded manner, Tourmaline Shell turned around and shouted while looking from Haruyuki to Chiyuri in turn.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll take revenge for Horn-kun! C-Come at meeeeeeee!!¡±


    Of course, they came at him.


    ¡°Good work!¡±


    Haruyuki bumped his own fist against Chiyuri¡¯s stuck out right fist as she said that with a smile over her entire face, and then dragged himself to sit down on one of the benches lying along the passage of the Tokyo Government Office Building¡¯s top floor.


    He let out a long breath and cut off his connection to the Global Net for the time being, before collapsing and turning his face skyward.


    Even though he had merely finished a single normal duel without anything other than Burst Points hanging in the balance, he was somehow extremely tired. The reason was probably because he had forced himself to continuously fight in close-combat on the ground, a way of fighting that wasn¡¯t his usual style.


    The stress of ?not flying? truly was like being in a desert without water to him. When the first school term had started, there had been a time when he couldn¡¯t use his wings for more than a week, but that experience had only seemed to increase his desire to fly even more.


    A year had still not yet passed since Haruyuki had become a Burst Linker. If it was ?that person? who had six years of experience, it wouldn¡¯t be strange at all if she had continued hiding her passion for the sky more and more until it was maddening. Although signs of that couldn¡¯t be felt at all from her usually quiet manner¡­


    ¡°Hey, what are you spacing out about!¡±


    *GOTTSUN* Haruyuki confusedly blinked his eyes as his head was hit.


    Sitting on the next bench beside him, Chiyuri puffed up her cheeks and gave him a sidelong glare. It seemed he had completely missed what she had been saying.


    ¡°S-Sorry. What were you saying?¡±


    ¡°¡®Shall we do another battle?¡¯ is what I asked!¡±


    After she said that, Haruyuki glanced at the time display at the lower right corner of his vision, and saw that only a few minutes had passed since they had arrived at the viewing platform. Burst Linker duels finished after 1.8 seconds at the most, so it was only natural, but Haruyuki thought it over a little, before answering.


    ¡°Hmm, even if we wait for another duel challenge as a tag team, I feel that we¡¯ll probably just end up battling with Horn and Shell¡¯s team again¡­Well, that¡¯s not that bad either, though.¡±


    Chiyuri rolled her cat-like eyes, before shaking her head.


    ¡°Certainly, fighting the same team might be boring. But, it¡¯d also be a waste to do solo duels after the two of us came all the way here¡­¡±


    After staying lost in thought for a while with an expression where she would probably have been moving her big cat ears if she were in the avatar form she used on the school¡¯s local network, Chiyuri suddenly clapped her hands together and spoke.


    ¡°Ah, I know! Since we¡¯re already in Shinjuku, let¡¯s call Nee-san[4] over! If I remember right, she attends a high school in Shibuya, so she could just travel over one station.¡±


    The instant he heard that, Haruyuki was a little surprised. That was because the ?Nee-san? that Chiyuri spoke of was ?that person? who Haruyuki had been thinking of just now.


    Her name was ?Sky Raker?. She was a senior Burst Linker that had joined¡ªno, returned to Nega Nebulas just two months ago, and was also Kuroyukihime¡¯s old friend.


    The reason why Chiyuri called her Nee-san was very simple. It originated from when they exchanged name tags in their first meeting in the real world, where Haruyuki had noticed that, like how Chiyuri¡¯s family name was ?Kurashima?, Raker¡¯s real name was ?Kurasaki Fuuko?, and then nonchalantly commented ¡®Since you¡¯re an island and peninsula together, it¡¯s like you¡¯re sisters, hahaha¡¯.[5]


    Without waiting for Haruyuki¡¯s response, Chiyuri started typing an invitation email to that Raker-nee-san. As his childhood friend typed on her holo-keyboard with slightly awkward finger movements, Haruyuki wavered over whether to say ¡°Stop¡±. That was because he had an intuitive premonition that Raker-san would undoubtedly refuse that invitation.


    While she had certainly returned to the legion, Sky Raker was still not released from the guilty consciousness that bound her. Even now, she still deeply regretted having left the legion a long time ago as if she were forsaking the leader Kuroyukihime. Chiyuri of course also knew about that. And in her own way, she was probably trying to knock at the door of Raker¡¯s closed heart.


    That¡¯s why Haruyuki closed his mouth back shut.


    Completing the email after a few seconds, Chiyuri connected her Neuro Linker to the Global Net for an instant and sent it. She cut it off again, and then after waiting a little while, connected it once more. After receiving the reply from Raker, she disconnected from the net again, and then looked at the text.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡®Sorry¡¯, it says.¡±


    After whispering that, Chiyuri then raised her head and gave a tiny laugh; Haruyuki carefully prepared his next words.


    ¡°Raker-san is in high school, so she¡¯s surely busy on weekdays. Since she should be participating in the territory match next weekend, we can meet her there.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡±


    His childhood friend sucked in a deep breath, smiled as if renewing her emotions, and spoke in a chipper voice.


    ¡°Then, shall we fight another round as solo fighters this time?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I feel quite satisfied from the one earlier¡­If you¡¯re unsatisfied though, Chiyu, I¡¯ll keep going with you, of course.¡±


    When Haruyuki gave that as his answer, Chiyuri showed a sincere happy-looking smile and nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, since we were able to win in such an interesting and cool way, I¡¯m also done for the day. Ah, it was really satisfying!¡±


    ¡°Pretty much.¡±


    Giving a smile of his own, Haruyuki reflected on their tag match earlier.


    Just winning in a power battle with their avatars themselves was also very nice, but what was even more refreshing was having a strategic victory perfectly using the stage¡¯s attributes. Furthermore, it wasn¡¯t just something like a comeback victory while covered in disadvantages. That was evident by how the gallery had gotten thrilled and animated when the duel had been concluded.


    Of course, the regret of having lost was also consequently doubled for the losers.


    Chiyuri also seemed to recall at the same time as Haruyuki the magnificent words Frost Horn had declared to them after having somehow shaken off the hot pursuit of the huge long-horned beetle and returned to the battlefield only to be crushed by their concentrated attacks, and so the two of them burst into laughter together.


    ¡°Bufufu¡­¡®Next time I¡¯ll definitely dropkick you off from the top of the Tokyo Sky Tree!¡¯. If he gives us advance notice like that, we can just easily dodge it, and it¡¯ll end with him falling from that height.¡±


    ¡°Before that, there¡¯s the problem of how he would reach up there. There¡¯s probably 200 meters from just the viewing platform there to the antenna at the top, and in the first place, do the social cameras even¡­reach¡­that high¡­¡±


    An idea suddenly flashed through Haruyuki¡¯s mind as he spoke, and his words slowed down.


    It was about the topic he had tried to remember just before they had been challenged to a duel. The first case of exporting the social camera technology outside Japan.


    The memory of seeing it at a glance on the headline news finally came back to him.


    As Haruyuki suddenly sank into silence, Chiyuri tilted her head in puzzlement.


    ¡°¡­What¡¯s wrong, Haru?¡±


    ¡°Eh, ah, n¡­no, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    When he simply shook his head, Chiyuri shrugged, before standing up energetically.


    ¡°Then, let¡¯s get some tea somewhere and head home. You must be happy, Arita-sensei, you don''t have to worry about going home all beaten up and full of holes with me![6]¡±


    The thought ¡®No matter how much we make game talk, she still says that kind of remark as usual¡¯ flashed through Haruyuki¡¯s mind.


    ¡°N-Not especially, even if I was beat up, I wouldn''t really mind, not especially.¡±


    As he mumbled that, a giggle from Chiyuri who had started to walk towards the elevator reached his ears. After sighing, he hurriedly chased after her.


    Outside the window, only the white clouds continued slowly drifting through air as usual.

 Volume 5 - CH 3

    After parting from Chiyuri on the apartment floor below and returning to his empty home by himself, Haruyuki sat down on the living room sofa as soon as he changed out of his uniform, and ran his fingers over his virtual desktop.


    He first opened a browser and vocally inputted the search words.


    ¡°Social camera, export.¡±


    That news article on that was immediately displayed at the top of the search results.


    [Installation of Japan¡¯s security system into Hermes Cord]


    ¡®Security system¡¯ of course referred to the Social Camera technology.


    And ?Hermes Cord? was¡ª


    The name of the ?space elevator? that had been built in the East Pacific Ocean.


    Clicking the link with his finger, Haruyuki thought hard as he read the news story text.


    This article reported, to summarize, that the same Social Camera Network as the one used in Japan was being adopted as the security system of the space elevator, an international facility. The ground station for the space elevator was located in the sea near Christmas Island, a place quite far away from Japan. With social cameras deployed at such a place, would the Brain Burst program really adopt it as an ?Area[1]?? Even if it did so, would there be a way to Dive there?


    After desperately thinking over in his head for about thirty seconds, Haruyuki quickly abandoned the effort. He had too little knowledge to find the answer to this question. About Brain Burst, and also about the space elevator. At a time like this, he should ask for advice from his leader. Yes, if it was that person, she should have plenty of knowledge on both subjects.


    After closing the browser and starting a mail, he then hesitated for a bit.


    Haruyuki considered the ratio within himself between ?wanting to genuinely ask about it? and ?wanting to talk with her using that as an excuse?, and after concluding ¡®Hmm, it¡¯s a 6:4 ratio!¡¯, he quickly threw himself into the text mail. In order to make an Dive Call appointment with the talented woman with zero weak subjects, one of the most senior players in Brain Burst, the head of ?Nega Nebulas?, and the ?Black King?, Kuroyukihime.


    The specified time in the reply message he immediately got was in ten minutes. After finishing his supper of a frozen shrimp Doria dish and oolong tea in that interval, Haruyuki Full-Dived one minute before the specified time, and then changed the environmental data of his home¡¯s local network to the object set he had downloaded from an overseas website.


    When he had invited Kuroyukihime over to his home network in a similar manner once before, he had frantically flurried his head over the sets he had on hand that were either cold or filled with gunpowder, so since then he had collected ones here and there that seemed to have a good atmosphere. His mother had complained that he shouldn¡¯t waste the storage capacity of their home server, though.


    Once he had taken care of all the preparations, he pressed the connection request button as soon as the designated time arrived, and following a call sound for several seconds, an avatar appeared before him.


    A jet-black dress with gleaming silver frills. A folded parasol of the same color. Black swallowtail butterfly wings with a red pattern design on her back.


    With her mystique increased just a little more than her form in the real world, the fairy princess first smiled upon seeing Haruyuki¡¯s pink pig avatar, and then looked around at her surroundings.


    Then, her eyes suddenly widened, and she clung to the side of a pillar with great force while letting out a cry.


    ¡°U-Uwaah!?¡±


    ¡°Heh!? W-What¡¯s wrong!?¡¯


    ¡°E-E-Even if you ask what¡¯s wrong, it¡¯s all this! W-W-What-What is this environmental data!?¡±


    When she shouted that, Haruyuki also frantically looked at the surroundings.


    A ridgeline of mountains that hazily glowed purple. Vast woods and prairies, and a stone-made white city. The two of them were on top of a high, high tower that commanded a view of that beautiful scenery. Since there weren¡¯t any handrails anywhere on the very narrow watchtower with a diameter of about three meters either and there were only two chairs along with a gas lamp in the center, the view was the best.


    ¡°U-Umm¡­isn¡¯t it b-beautiful? It¡¯s an object set I found beforehand in the German net, but¡­¡±


    ¡°Before that, just how many meters high is this thin tower!?¡±


    Seeing her ask that with a pale face, Haruyuki peered down from the edge of the tower. His sense of distance told him the height from the ground was comparable to the height of the government office he had jumped down from in the duel earlier this evening, so he answered as such.


    ¡°E-Err¡­about five hundred meters¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too high, idiot! Or what, were you aiming for some kind of suspension bridge effect!?¡±


    ¡°H-Huh? What is that?¡±


    ¡°The suspension bridge effect is¡­when in a dangerous place like a high suspension bridge, the feeling of fear is mistaken for¡­¡±[2]


    Kuroyukihime stopped her words suddenly in the middle of her explanation, and after giving a light cough, she glared at Haruyuki again.


    ¡°¡­Anyway, that kind of psychological effect is already meaningless with me! Well¡­since this isn¡¯t a duel, I¡¯d probably be fine even if I fell from here, but at the very least tell me about this kind of thing in advance¡­¡±


    After the end of her sentence dissolved into mutters, Kuroyukihime stood up at last, and then lowered herself down onto the chair next to her. After Haruyuki also sat down in front of her, he asked a little dejectedly.


    ¡°Umm, I¡¯m sorry for scaring you¡­Should I change it to another object set?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Whatever the height, it¡¯s something you searched for.¡±


    Finally seeing a smile appear on her beautiful lips, Haruyuki let out a sigh. He scratched his head with his left hand that had turn into a round hoof, and then gave a delayed greeting.


    ¡°E-Err¡­Good evening, senpai. Sorry for calling you so suddenly.¡±


    ¡°Good evening, Haruyuki-kun. No, since we weren¡¯t able to talk at school today, I¡¯m glad I¡¯m able to meet with you now.¡±


    Since the cultural festival was at the end of June at Umesato Middle School and it was the last big job for the current student council, the vice-president Kuroyukihime continued to have busy days. Remembering that, Haruyuki took this opportunity to ask the question he had thought of several times until now.


    ¡°Speaking of which, why did you become a member of the student council, senpai? Since the chairman and vice-president are decided by election, you have to announce your candidacy, right?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, well yes. Your question of ¡®Why did I, someone concerned with only becoming a Level 10 Burst Linker, do that?¡¯ is quite natural. Duels that take up time in the middle of council meeting are also unavoidable, too.¡±


    After giving a meaningful smile, Kuroyukihime continued.


    ¡°However, if I had to answer honestly, it was all because of Brain Burst that I became a student council member as well.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­eeh!?¡±


    ¡°Think about it, to Burst Linkers, the school you attend is the most familiar and therefore the most dangerous field. To grasp all the information there and establish a firm footing could be called a rather indispensable matter. If you¡¯re a member of the student council, you can have almost full access to the school database, after all. With that point of view¡­¡±


    There, Kuroyukihime gazed at Haruyuki with a smile, and said something unexpected.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that the next student council elections that will be at the top for two terms will be a problem. How about you run for president, Haruyuki-kun?¡±


    ¡°Wha¡­W-W-W-W-Wha-Wha-Wha.¡±


    After jumping up lightly out of his chair, Haruyuki shook his nose back and forth at high speed.


    ¡°I-I-I-I-Imp-Imp-Impossible! I-I-If I did something like that, I really would get a dismissal ticket by the Supreme Justice Court, really!¡±


    ¡°Hmm, then I suppose I can¡¯t compromise by having Takumu-kun as the president and you as the vice-president either¡­¡±


    ¡°That! Isn¡¯t! The problem!¡±


    Resolutely turning her down while slightly infected by Frost Horn¡¯s tone, Haruyuki forcibly changed the subject.


    ¡°Anyway, I dueled in Shinjuku today, and¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I heard a rumor about it. It seems you fought desperately against some of ?Leonids? main forces.¡±


    ¡°N-News of that traveled quickly.¡±


    When Haruyuki blinked at that, Kuroyukihime changed her smile into a slightly more sarcastic one.


    ¡°Of course I know that you were in quite a close mood with Chiyuri-kun.¡±


    ¡°N-No, that¡¯s, umm, uh, err.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I''m not really blaming you for anything, am I? The fact that my legion members work well together is most important.¡±


    As he got a cold sweat from seeing her certain-kill Kuroyuki-smile, he changed the subject once again.


    ¡°J-Just before that duel ended, the opponent said ¡®I¡¯ll dropkick you from the Tokyo Sky Tree¡¯, and then I suddenly thought of something!¡±


    Quickly opening his browser, he called up the article in question and slid the window over to Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Umm, senpai, do you also know about that news article?¡±


    ¡°¡­Japan¡¯s security system in the Hermes Cord? Yeah, I feel like I glanced at it on the evening news, but¡­¡±


    After glancing at the holo-window, Kuroyukihime looked up and tilted her head a little in puzzlement.


    ¡°What about this article?¡±


    ¡°Err¡­Actually, I had a little idea¡­although it may be something extremely off the point, but¡­or rather, I feel truly sorry about calling you out for something of that extent, but¡­¡±


    After extending his mumbled excuses at high speed, Haruyuki finally brought up the main topic.


    ¡°That security system is the social camera technology, right? In other words, won¡¯t the Pacific space elevator be entirely in the ?Camera Sphere?? When that happens¡­will the Hermes Cord appear in Accel World as well¡­is what I mean¡­¡±


    When he had finished saying that much, Kuroyukihime widened her eyes, so Haruyuki prepared himself for her to laugh loudly and say ¡®What stupid thing are you saying?¡¯, or get angry and say ¡®Don¡¯t call me for such a foolish idea¡¯.


    However¡ª.


    ¡°¡­¡­H¡ª¡ªmm.¡±


    After giving a long hum, Kuroyukihime put her right hand¡¯s fingers to her chin, and stared at the browser window again.


    Finally, she raised her head and shook her head slightly.


    ¡°How to say this¡­you¡¯re a guy who thinks of very wild things. But¡­it¡¯s interesting. Yeah, it¡¯s a very interesting idea¡­¡±


    ¡°H-Hah.¡±


    As Haruyuki let out a foolish voice without knowing how to react, Kuroyukihime rose from her chair in front of Haruyuki and started walking back and forth on the narrow watchtower as if she had forgotten her fear of the five hundred meters height.


    ¡°Even if social cameras are installed there¡­it would normally be a closed network, but¡­in the Hermes Cord¡¯s central station, is there really the extra space and spare electrical energy needed for accommodating a huge image processing system? Rather that that, it¡¯s much more efficient and cheaper to process it by connecting to Japan¡¯s SSSC through satellite connection. If it¡¯s like that¡­then it¡¯s possible that the BB Program[3] could pass through even the firewalls there¡­¡±


    ¡°U-Umm.¡±


    Somehow slipping in his voice there, Haruyuki vigorously waved both his short hands.


    ¡°Senpai, I don¡¯t get what you¡¯re saying at all.¡±


    Stopping her walk at exactly that instant, Kuroyukihime¡¯s right hand¡¯s index finger waved back and forth as if she was wavering over how to explain, and then she spoke.


    ¡°Hmm¡­In other words, it¡¯s like this. Since the Hermes Cord is a low orbit-type space elevator, its design is extremely tight¡­¡±


    ¡°What does low orbit-type mean?¡±


    ¡°¡­So that¡¯s where you get stuck.¡±


    Kuroyukihime gave a small wry smile, and sat back down on her chair again.


    After giving a small cough, she called up a big blank window with her left hand. She drew a circle at the bottom of it with her fingertip, and wrote [Earth] inside it in elegant letters.


    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll start from the big basics. A space elevator, or also called an orbital elevator, is simply put an incredibly high tower building from the surface of the earth up to space, in order to carry people and materials that use the elevator to go up and down it. Unlike launch-type rockets or round-trip shuttles, the elevator¡¯s conveyance cost per weight can be made low beyond comparison. However¡­¡±


    Kuroyukihime moved her finger, and drew an absurdly huge conical tower extending up from the round Earth.


    ¡°If, for example, they tried to build an elevator reaching up to space using the same method of construction as the Tokyo Sky Tree, the area of the base would have to be on a scale that would take up Japan¡¯s entire surface, like so. No matter the circumstance, a tower of Babel like this is impossible to implement. So, you have to change your way of thinking.¡±


    She quickly erased the tower, and this time drew a small square in a section of outer space far away from the Earth.


    ¡°First, you build a station in geostationary orbit 36,000 km away the Earth like this. Then, a tough yet lightweight cable is suspended down toward the Earth¡¯s surface from there. The speed of an object that goes around geostationary orbit will synchronize almost perfectly with the Earth¡¯s rotation, so it will seem to remain ?stationary? just as the name suggests without moving from that one point in the Earth¡¯s sky. Therefore¡­¡±


    She drew a line that went down from the square¡ªfrom the geostationary orbital station to the Earth.


    ¡°Once the end of the cable that reaches the ground is fixed in place, a tower¡­or rather, a ladder that stretches up from Earth to space is completed in this manner.¡±


    ¡°Hah, I see!¡±


    Haruyuki was impressed and struck his knee with his right hand¡¯s hoof.


    However, he soon after furrowed his eyebrows and turned his head sideways.


    ¡°No, but, wait a minute. No matter how light the materials are, if its length is no less than 36,000 km and it also has to be a thick enough cable for the elevator to be installed, its total weight will be incredibly huge, won¡¯t it? By pulling tight on the cable, won¡¯t the geostationary orbital station fall to Earth?¡±


    ¡°It will fall down!¡±


    Since Kuroyukihime gave such an immediate answer, Haruyuki¡¯s hips slipped on top of his chair.


    ¡°Wha¡­¡±


    ¡°Then, to deal with that, they do this.¡±


    This time, Kuroyukihime extended a line upwards from the station, and then drew a black dot at the end of it.


    ¡°You just need to lengthen the cable further above the station and then stick a weight at its end, so that the station becomes the center point of the heavy weight¡­in other words, at center of its gravity. Then, an upward vector occurs due to the centrifugal force of the rotating weight, and it balances with the downward weight produced by the cable.¡±


    ¡°Hah, I see!¡±


    Haruyuki was once again impressed, and then once again tilted his head.


    ¡°¡­So, where is that weight brought from?¡±


    Kuroyukihime then gave a meaningful grin, and then used slightly abrupt words.


    ¡°¡ªThe concept of this ?geostationary orbit-type space elevator? was actually announced by America¡¯s NASA forty-seven years ago, in 2000 AD. However, in those days, they predicted that it would take until 2062 to complete it.¡±


    ¡°Heh!? ¡­I-Isn¡¯t that still much further in the future?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The reason why it was set in such a far future¡­is because, in NASA¡¯s plan, it was planned for an asteroid passing within Earth¡¯s neighborhood to be caught, and then used as the weight fastened to the cable extending up from the geostationary orbital station.¡±


    ¡°Hah!? T-They were going to catch an asteroid!?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. They said that, if they waited for as long as sixty-two years, a handy asteroid would fly by with luck and they would also have developed the technology to catch it by then.¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s fifteen years from now, isn¡¯t it? ¡­¡­Isn¡¯t it still impossible?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    No longer able to understand anything, Haruyuki flapped his mouth open and closed.


    ¡°¡­B-But¡­The space elevator ?Hermes Cord? has already been built! If I remember right, it was complete five years ago, so that was in 2042. H-How did they make it then?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing¡­¡±


    Kuroyukihime answered while wiping away and erasing the diagram she had drawn on the window with her palm.


    ¡°It¡¯s because, as opposed to the ?geostationary orbit-type space elevator? that I explained just now, which is so to speak an initial concept model, the Hermes Cord is a ?low orbit-type space elevator?, which was redesigned in a more realistic form.¡±


    ¡°Low orbit¡­type.¡±


    ¡°The basic idea is the same as the geostationary orbit-type. But the structure is different. The central station of the Hermes Cord floats at a much lower location than geostationary orbit, at 2000 km above the ground¡­Though that¡¯s still outside the atmosphere.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­err, if geostationary orbit is 36,000 km high¡­isn¡¯t that unreasonably close to the ground!?¡±


    ¡°It is close. Since the cable is also much shorter at that height and can thereby be made lighter, the weight for establishing balance does not need to use something like an asteroid either.¡±


    ¡°A-Aah¡­I see¡­¡±


    After nodding his head deeply, Haruyuki voiced a natural question.


    ¡°¡­Then, why didn¡¯t they plan to use the low orbit-type from the beginning?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because there¡¯s a problem with it. A man-made object placed at low orbit¡­in other words, from 1500 to 2000 km above the ground, has to orbit at a speed that far surpasses the Earth¡¯s rotation, in order to obtain the centrifugal force needed to balance the much greater attraction of gravity there than at geostationary orbit. For a geostationary orbit-type elevator, the lower end of the cable can be fixed onto the ground because the speed of its orbit synchronizes with the Earth¡¯s rotation, but a low orbit-type cannot do that.¡±


    While saying that, Kuroyukihime extended her finger and struck a small mark very close to the circle that represented the Earth.


    ¡°This is the Hermes Cord¡¯s central station, built at an orbit of 2000 km high. A cable made out of entwined carbon nanotubes stretches out from it both above and below, and this cable is connected to a top station that acts as the weight attached to the top end and a bottom station attached to the bottom end.¡±


    The bottom end of the line that extended upwards and downwards from the mark was just a little ways away from the outline of the Earth. Pointing at the gap between them with her finger, Kuroyukihime continued.


    ¡°This bottom station floats 150 km above the ground. If it was lower than that, the atmosphere would become too dense and the whole elevator would be drawn tight due to friction, and eventually fall to the ground.¡±


    ¡°Ha¡ª¡­¡­¡±


    Letting out a long breath, Haruyuki spoke in order to put his thoughts in order while twitching his pig nose slightly.


    ¡°In other words¡­err, the Hermes Cord is an artificial satellite with a length of 4000 km that is connected to these three stations by a CNT cable¡­right? And this orbits the Earth at a much faster speed than the Earth¡¯s own rotation¡­?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Since the ground speed of the bottom stations reaches Mach 10, the low orbit-type elevator is also called by the nickname ?Hypersonic Skyhook?.¡±


    ¡°But then, what about¡­the fact that it was built in the sea near Christmas Island in the east Pacific Ocean? I have memories of looking at the huge man-made island on the news at the time, but¡­doesn¡¯t the long tower surely extend up from there¡­?¡±


    ¡°That island is a base for the arrival and departure of space planes that carry people and materials to and from the bottom station of the Hermes Cord. The planes that take off from there rendezvous with the station at 150 km above and drop off cargo there. Then, the cargo is lifted up inside the elevator until it reaches the top station at 4000 km altitude, and then it is carried from there to a geostationary orbital station or the international base on the moon¡¯s surface by a round-trip shuttle. Incidentally, since the geostationary orbital station is also right above the arrival-and-departure base, even if people say ?the Hermes Cord is in the east Pacific Ocean?, it¡¯s not really incorrect.¡±


    ¡°Hofuu¡­¡±


    Letting out a sigh for the nth time, Haruyuki looked at the window diagram anew. Since the Earth¡¯s diameter was about 12,700 km long, comparing it with a 4000 km length could be considered as the same as the proportion between an apple and its stem, but the idea of such a thing flying overhead at Mach 10 was very difficult to take in.


    ¡°Hmm, somehow, I¡¯m scared that it will fall due to some kind of rebound.¡±


    When he murmured that without thinking, Kuroyukihime shrugged her shoulders lightly.


    ¡°Actually, there was someone who tried to make it fall as well.¡±


    ¡°H-Hah!?¡±


    ¡°What, you don¡¯t know? From what I remember, there was a case at around the beginning of spring where a terrorist that had slipped in among some tourists tried to set a bomb in the central station. Due to that, it was decided that the Hermes Cord¡¯s security system would be strengthened, and Japan was also participating in the bid for constructing the system, so it¡¯s connected to the recent news about the first export of the social camera technology.¡±


    ¡°Uwah, so that¡¯s how it was. I¡¯m sorry, I haven¡¯t been diligent with the news¡­¡±


    Just like the times he was nominated to speak up in class and he couldn¡¯t answer properly, Haruyuki hanged his head. However, Kuroyukihime didn¡¯t scold him any further, and continued her explanation with a wry smile.


    ¡°The low orbit-type elevator Hermes Cord has a small and thin cable compared to that of a geostationary orbit-type. Its design is tight. That¡¯s why, even if a bomb of a size that could fit in a pocket went off, it could cause tremendous damage depending on the location of the explosion. There is also no spare electric power or space for accommodating a large-scale surveillance system in it. I think that is the reason they adopted Japan¡¯s social camera technology¡­Yeah, with this we can finally return to our original conversation.¡±


    Letting out a long breath, Kuroyukihime waved her right hand¡¯s fingers and opened up the VR operating menu. She materialized two glasses and presented one of them to Haruyuki.


    ¡®Damn it, I should have prepared something like that as the one that called her here!¡¯ Despite inwardly panicking like that, he accepted it and took a sip. Seeming to be an original drink that had had countless flavor parameters fine-tuned, it was unlike any drink in the real world, and yet a fresh bittersweetness without any unnatural quality to it spread throughout his taste buds.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­It¡¯s very delicious.¡±


    When he said that, Kuroyukihime gave a small smile and then nimbly extended out her avatar¡¯s left hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ve also recently been doing real cooking practice, but¡­A task that you can¡¯t just do over again is really troublesome. Did you know, Haruyuki-kun, light-coloured soy sauce¡¯s only difference is its lighter color! What¡¯s with that, is it supposed to be like salt water!?¡±


    ¡°H-Heh, I didn¡¯t know that¡­Or rather, why are you suddenly trying to raise your cooking skills¡­?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s obvious, it¡¯s so that, one day, for yo¡­¡±


    Suddenly closing her mouth at that point, Kuroyukihime gave a big cough.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s just for recreation[4]. More importantly, let¡¯s finally get back onto the main subject.¡±


    Following her slightly forceful change of topic, she continued her rapid-speech explanation.


    ¡°I said that the Hermes Cord doesn¡¯t have the room to accommodate a large-scale surveillance system as well. So it became the turn of Japan¡¯s social cameras. That system collects in one place the images photographed by countless cameras through an exclusive high-speed network, and signs of criminal activity are detected by automatically analyzing them with a super high spec supercomputer. For example, if a gun were detected by a camera somewhere, the system would immediately analyze where the person who has that gun is and where they came from, and then continue tracking where they go. The locations of the facilities where this processing is performed, the ?Social Security Surveillance Centers?, have not all been revealed to the public.¡±


    ¡°E-Even you don¡¯t know, senpai?¡±


    When Haruyuki seriously asked that, Kuroyukihime gave the greatest wry smile yet.


    ¡°Hey, just what do you think I am? I¡¯m only a frail female middle school student, there¡¯s no way I would know the greatest of our nation¡¯s state secrets such as that! ¡­Well, I do have some guesses, though.¡±


    ¡°W-Where!?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a secret¡­More importantly, just as I explained just now, the social cameras gather the automated image analysis that acts as the guts of the system at the SSSC and process it there. In other words, neither huge recording equipment nor human operators are required for the surveillance cameras usually. Supposing that that very ?simplicity? is the reason it was adopted for the Hermes Cord in this case¡­you could say it¡¯s inevitable that the space elevator¡¯s cameras and Japan¡¯s social camera network are linked.¡±


    *POKAAN* As Haruyuki was listening attentively to these words, Kuroyukihime gave a wink as she said the word ¡®connected¡¯ as if she were waiting for something, and then Haruyuki finally remembered the main purpose of this sudden Dive Call.


    ¡°Ah¡­I see, err, so the fact that they¡¯re connected means, in other words, umm¡­¡±


    While flapping his pig avatar¡¯s short arms, he shouted,


    ¡°¡­we can go there!? To the Hermes Cord in Accel World!!¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­Well, we¡¯re only at the stage where we can¡¯t say it¡¯s impossible yet, though.¡±


    Giving a mischievous smile, Kuroyukihime continued in a tone as if she was somehow testing something out.


    ¡°First, there is the question of whether Brain Burst, a dueling game, will faithfully extend its stage all the way to there. And even if the networks are connected, how would we go all the way there? We Burst Linkers, generally, Dive in at the places where our real bodies are. In other words, in order to go to the Hermes Cord in Accel World, it would be necessary to actually board the space elevator on this side. Tour packs for going up to the geostationary orbital station have also been put on the market these days, but it¡¯s expensive.¡±


    ¡°¡­They¡¯re super-expensive, aren¡¯t they¡­¡±


    Haruyuki dropped his shoulders. He considered for an instant that as Silver Crow, with his wings, he could fly up to the bottom stations above after Diving on the ground, but he dismissed the idea before even voicing it. The limit to the altitude Crow could reach was at most 1500 meters. On the other hand, Hermes Cord floated in the sky a hundred times higher than that, at least 150,000 meters high.


    No, before that, he couldn¡¯t even go to Christmas Island, the terrestrial space plane departure base, with a middle school student¡¯s pocket money at all.


    ¡°Hmm¡­so in other words, unless you¡¯re a super-rich kid, there¡¯s no way to Dive in at the Hermes Cord¡­¡±


    ¡°Or rather, if you could go to the actual thing in the real word, I don¡¯t think there¡¯d be any need to go through the trouble to Dive into the reconstructed article in Accel World.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­true.¡±


    *HAFU* Giving a sigh of disappointment this time instead of admiration, Haruyuki looked up at the sky.


    Even when seen from the top of a 500 meter tall tower, the virtual blue sky seemed as if it were far away and went on forever. No, in such a VR Object Set that¡¯s freely distributed to the public, the ?sky? would not reach higher than 10, or maybe 100 times the height of this tower. That was because there was nothing ?beyond? this blue sky. This was a closed world, where nothing but the thin blue color continued on past it.


    ¡°¡­Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    Hearing his name suddenly called, he turned his face back down, and met his gaze with Kuroyukihime¡¯s gentle yet somehow mysterious-seeming eyes.


    ¡°Why do you want to go to the Hermes Cord so much? Compared to how you can fly freely with your wings, the space elevator is only a man-made object that goes around a decided orbit, after all.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­err.¡±


    Having been thrown an unexpected question, it took several seconds for Haruyuki to form the ambiguous thoughts inside him into words.


    ¡°Umm, of course, there¡¯s the reason that I simply like high places as well, but¡­also, I was thinking that, supposing it was possible to go there, that person¡¯s wish might be fulfilled even just a little. That person¡­who has always aimed for Accel World¡¯s sky, no, for ?beyond it?.¡±


    The instant she heard that¡ª.


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s eyes widened slightly, and then her eyelashes turned down.


    The words that eventually came out of her lips were so quiet, it was almost as if they were thoughts themselves.


    ¡°¡­¡­I see.¡±


    After murmuring that, she turned her gaze towards the light blue sky.


    ¡°That¡¯s true¡­Her passion for the sky has surely not disappeared even now. Just as maddeningly as I aim for Level 10, no, even more so, she should be wishing to struggle on and reach the other side of that blue color¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Yeah.¡±


    Nodding, Haruyuki also turned his face upwards once again.


    That person¡ªa core member of the first ?Nega Nebulous?, and a Level 8 Burst Linker, ?Sky Raker?.


    Having lived in seclusion on the Old Tokyo Tower in Accel World for a long time, she had rejoined the reborn Nega Nebulas, reformed after three years, two months ago.


    However, it was a little different from a complete return to active duty. Demonstrated by how she had refused Chiyuri¡¯s invitation this evening, she didn¡¯t do any normal duels at all, participating only in the ?territory matches? every weekend, and furthermore she never came out onto the front line. She always remained on standby at the back and concentrated on positional defense.


    Of course, Haruyuki, and probably Takumu and Kuroyukihime as well weren¡¯t dissatisfied with that playing style at all. That was because Sky Raker, who moved through means of a wheelchair, generally couldn¡¯t run except on paved roads or smooth ground. Also, she accomplished splendid success in battle when defending her position through her original fighting style of freely manipulating her wheelchair and letting out hand-slash attacks while toying with her enemies. If the enemies were mainly close range types, she could fight sufficiently even when in a team of three where there was only one attacker and she had to protect the team healer almost perfectly.


    Compared to the time where they had barely endured the hour-long territory matches with a team of just Kuroyukihime, Haruyuki and Takumu from autumn to winter last year, the battle power of the current Nega Nebulas had improved by leaps and bounds. That was without a doubt.


    But, there was one clear fact that no one had tried to voice out loud.


    If Sky Raker were to undo her seal on her Enhanced Armament ?Gale Thruster? and wear it on her once again, her fighting power should leap up several, dozens of times greater than that of now. Even if she had lost both her legs, Haruyuki had proved that a mid-air dash through its booster propulsion displayed a huge offensive strength when he had driven away a huge enemy in the past with it.


    However, even after Haruyuki had returned the Gale Thruster he had borrowed from her, and even when faced with losing battles, Sky Raker hadn¡¯t tried to summon. As if she was stubbornly denying the ?wings? created by her own heart.


    ¡°¡­¡­I.¡±


    Grasping his hands together in front of his round belly, Haruyuki whispered.


    ¡°I¡¯m not particularly thinking something like, ¡®the legion will become stronger if that person flies again¡¯. It¡¯s just¡­if Raker-san doesn¡¯t believe in her wings, I want to convey her that it isn¡¯t so. Having borrowed ?Gale Thruster? once, I understand¡­Certainly, compared to Silver Crow¡¯s wings, that Enhanced Armament¡¯s flight time is short and therefore the altitude it can reach is also low, but its instantaneous output is more amazing than the acceleration of any other kind of avatar¡­That¡¯s why, there is actually much more power hidden inside it. I believe that.¡±


    After thinking and thinking, and then finishing his hard-fought explanation, Haruyuki raised his head and met with Kuroyukihime¡¯s eyes, which were filled with an unusually kind yet plaintive feeling.


    The swallowtail butterfly avatar slowly nodded once, and then spoke in a quiet voice.


    ¡°If Raker can be taken to Hermes Cord, you can convey that to her¡­is that what you believe?¡±


    Haruyuki also nodded, while being aware that he was saying something too romantic-sounding.


    ¡°Yes¡­Umm, that is if what I¡¯m thinking is correct, though.¡±


    ¡°Geez, how about you declare something while full of confidence once in a while?¡±


    After immediately giving a wry smile, Kuroyukihime took a single deep breath, and then once again started speaking.


    ¡°¡ªJust as I explained earlier, the Hermes Cord in the real world orbits at an altitude of at least 150 km. Therefore, even if the newly installed social camera network there is connected to the one in Japan, I believe that the Hermes Cord in Accel World will naturally appear at the same height. It¡¯s a distance that no kind of duel avatar could reach¡­but, I think getting there using a means of transportation is just possible.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­Eeh!?


    Letting out a high-pitched voice, Haruyuki leaned his body forward. As he was on the verge of falling off his chair, Kuroyukihime caught his flat nose with the tip of her high-heel shoe to stop him.


    ¡°I¡¯m just talking about a possibility, calm down a bit.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yessh¡­¡±


    ¡°Listen well, even if Brain Burst¡¯s origins are wrapped in mystery, it¡¯s still a dueling game on the surface. Therefore, when a new stage is added to that world, don¡¯t you think it would be truly irrational if it was a place that no one could go to?¡±


    Grinning, she moved her index finger as if inviting him.


    ¡°If we assume that, then it wouldn¡¯t be strange even if a method of transportation, one that can only be found by those who think very hard and search for it, secretly appears somewhere in Accel World.¡±


    ¡°Secretly¡­huh.¡±


    ¡°Even normal RPGs have them, right? Things like treasure chests that seem unobtainable at first glance, but a route to attain it can be found if you observe the map carefully and use your head.¡±


    ¡°Ah, there are, there are. Those kinds of things are my favorite.¡±


    After nodding vigorously at Kuroyukihime¡¯s example, Haruyuki looked carefully at the diagram Kuroyukihime had drawn.


    The space elevator that orbited at an altitude of around 150 km. Considering it, he couldn¡¯t think of any methods of going there besides a space plane or a rocket. If there were to be a place in Japan where a rocket would be launched¡ª


    ¡°Err¡­how about the space center on Tanega Island?¡±


    However, that guess he made was turned down by a single shake of black hair.


    ¡°No, 99% of Burst Linkers are in Tokyo. Therefore, a portal should also be prepared in Tokyo.¡±


    ¡°B-But, there¡¯s nothing like a rocket launching pad in Tokyo!¡±


    In response to his protest, Kuroyukihime looked at him with a grin.


    ¡°If our avatars were made of real substance, then a rocket might be necessary. However, that¡¯s not how it is, right? Our avatars are pure ?information? constituted as proxy bodies in virtual space. And the information transmission facility with the highest output in Japan should be in Tokyo.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡±


    After widening his eyes in shock, Haruyuki continued as if struggling to breathe.


    ¡°T-The Tokyo¡­Sky Tree¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes. If Hermes Cord really does become a new duel stage, I think it isn¡¯t possible for a portal there to appear anywhere besides the Sky Tree. And the timing of its activation¡­would be the instant the Hermes Cord comes the closest to Japan for the first time after having the social cameras installed in it¡­¡±


    Erasing the window with the diagram, Kuroyukihime opened a browser and quickly operated it. A fully English-text screen that seemed to be the official site for the Hermes Cord was then displayed on it. However, Kuroyukihime followed the links one after another without wavering.


    Finally, Kuroyukihime traced a wavy line on a global map that appeared with her finger, and then spoke in an affirmative tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s sooner than I thought, the day after tomorrow¡­it will be on Wednesday June 5, at 5:35 PM.¡±

 Volume 5 - CH 4

    As if the seasonal rain front was taking a brief recess at last, Tuesday was the first clear and pleasant day in a long while.


    With only a few fleecy clouds floating in the sky when 6 o¡¯clock classes ended, Haruyuki hurried to Kouenji Station at a quick pace as the rays of the setting sun hit his back.


    His destination was, of course, on the opposite side of Tokyo¡ªthe New Tokyo Tower in Oshiage, Sumida Ward, whose official name was the ?Tokyo Sky Tree?. In about two hours, a door to the space elevator ?Hermes Cord? would open up at the special viewing platform there¡­maybe.


    It had all started from Haruyuki¡¯s almost dream-like idea. In reality, even when he went among the duel galleries in Suginami and Shinjuku, there hadn¡¯t been any other Burst Linkers talking about the Hermes Cord either. At the end of their Dive Call two days ago, even Kuroyukihime, who had guessed the time and place of the portal opening, had added ¡®Well, we shouldn¡¯t be too disappointed even if it¡¯s a hit-and-miss¡¯.


    Therefore, at the very least, he would have liked to incorporate the sub-theme of ?an expedition to the East Tokyo Area? that they didn¡¯t normally visit, but unfortunately Takumu and Chiyuri were busy with club practice, and Kuroyukihime had a busy schedule in the student council in order to prepare for the upcoming cultural festival. And so, Haruyuki had to pluck up the courage to risk being challenged to a solo duel in an unfamiliar territory.


    ¡°¡­If it really is a hit-and-miss, it¡¯ll be fine if I go to the retro game store in Akihabara as well.¡±


    Comforting himself in that lonesome manner, Haruyuki got on the Chuo Line.


    Haruyuki changed over to the Hanzomon Line and got off at Oshiage Station, where the rows of buildings were increasingly dyed in the color of sunset.


    Haruyuki circled around on the sidewalk, and after finally finding it in the sky, he let out a breath of relief.


    Despite living in Tokyo, he didn¡¯t often get the chance to go to ?famous Tokyo sites?, and so this was only his second time visiting the Sky Tree. Shining golden on its west side, the huge truss-structured tower rose up high sharply like a ladder reaching up to the heavens.


    A length of 634 meters, and a base of 70 meters. Although 35 years had passed since it had been built, this communications tower was still the highest building in Japan even now. After standing there and staring up at its majestic appearance for a little while, Haruyuki hurriedly headed towards the tower.


    He paid the middle-schooler fee at the entrance gate, and then got on the high-speed elevator. As the elevator lift began to go up with a feeling of acceleration, he was gripped by a sensation of lift different from taking off vertically in Accel World, and he unconsciously stuck himself to the glass wall just like when he ascended the Tokyo Government Office the day before yesterday. If Chiyuri were next to him, she would undoubtedly say ¡°You really love high places don¡¯t you!¡± in an amazed voice.


    A few dozen seconds later, the elevator reached the viewing platform, and Haruyuki stepped out along with several tourists.


    He restrained himself from immediately running up to the window, and first gave a look at his surroundings. It was a weekday evening, so there were very few non-adult figures on this floor. There were only college students who seemed to be in the middle of a date, and small children accompanied by their parents. From what he could currently see, there wasn¡¯t any middle or high school students wandering around here by themselves with no apparent objective¡ªin other words, there weren¡¯t any ?people who seemed like Burst Linkers?.


    Of course, he could also connect his Neuro Linker to the local network here, accelerate and check the matching list directly, but doing that in such a closed network would bring on the slight danger of his real identity being exposed. Besides, if he found the name of other Burst Linkers here, he would have no choice but to ?duel?, and that wasn¡¯t his objective today.


    Therefore, Haruyuki stopped scanning around the large viewing platform and stepped towards the window on the western side once again.


    Although it was no match for the viewing platform of the Government Office in Shinjuku in terms of pure height, the view of the capital spread out under the clear evening sky was, in a single word, breathtaking. The way large laminated buildings struck upwards here and there on the ground among smaller grain-sized buildings looked like an outdated electronic board.


    When he turned his gaze straight forward, the magnificent figure of Mt. Fuji lay stretched out there just beyond the demonic city[1].


    To its upper left was the sun, currently sinking down towards the horizon. It was followed by a belt of deep black clouds, so it would probably rain again tomorrow.


    He raised his head further up. The sky filled his field of vision as its color changed from dark red to light purple. A jet flew above with lights on its wing-tips blinking. A sightseeing craft floated leisurely in the sky.


    ¡ªAt this instant, a 4000 km-long artificial object was approaching far above in that sky at the hypersonic speed of Mach 10.


    The instant he thought that, Haruyuki let out a sigh.


    ¡ªThe world is vast. It¡¯s big. It¡¯s way too macroscopic in scale.


    The reason I like to look up at the sky is surely because I want to experience this sensation. This feeling where my chubby, menial and tiny self seems truly microscopic in comparison. In other words, it¡¯s a way of temporarily escaping.


    The times when I become Silver Crow and fly are also surely like that. At that instant, I feel the absurd scale of Accel World with my whole body. Compared to the ?infinity? of space and time there, even the mountain-sized troubles I have are just momentary sparks that burst meagerly on the ground. I believe that only when I¡¯m touching the sky.


    ¡­¡­But.


    In that case, why did you aim, no, why do you continue to aim even now for the sky? Just like me, you should want to taste that ephemeral release. If that¡¯s your goal, you can fulfill it plenty with your current abilities as well. Why¡­? Is there something you want there in the sky¡­?


    The question that Haruyuki whispered in his heart was of course directed to his other ?teacher?, Sky Raker.


    And Haruyuki could also vaguely guess the answer. Of course, he didn¡¯t know if it was correct or not. No, the problem wasn''t whether it was correct. When the time came when Raker would once again flapped her wings and dashed through the sky, the answer would appear then.


    That¡¯s why, visiting the Sky Tree and waiting for a portal to appear might be a completely useless action on Haruyuki¡¯s part right now. If Raker-san simply gave her usual gentle smile and shook her head to say she wouldn¡¯t go, that would be the end of it.


    ¡®But¡¯, thought Haruyuki. No matter how deep the scars she held were, Sky Raker was also a Burst Linker. Therefore, if a new field and moreover a 4000 km-long bridge to the sky appeared in Accel World, she will surely feel excited.


    Like how Haruyuki¡¯s own chest was swelling unbidden at this instant.


    As he continued staring at the evening landscape of the heart of Tokyo, the time display reached 5:30 without him noticing it. The predicted time of the portal¡¯s appearance that Kuroyukihime had accurately deduced was 5:34:42[2]. At that instant, the Hermes Cord, which was flying on a wave-like trail along the equator, would be at its closest to Tokyo.


    After waiting for several minutes while continuing to fret, he connected his Neuro Linker to the Global Net five seconds before the designated time.


    Three seconds before, he took a deep breath. Two seconds before, he shut his eyes tight. And then one second before, Haruyuki cried out in a voice only he could hear.


    ¡°Burst Link!!¡±


    *BASHIIIIH!*


    The sound of acceleration struck his entire body.


    When he slowly opened his eyes, he saw that he was in the frozen blue ?Initial Acceleration Space?. The metropolis spread out outside the window, the floor and pillars of the viewing platform, the sparse number of tourists, everything had become like transparent crystal and remained stock still.


    Haruyuki quietly separated from his real world body in the form of a peach-colored pig avatar. After taking one or two steps backwards, he turned around resolutely.


    The central area of the viewing platform should, originally, be a space filled with coffee and goods shops. But now, those shops had completely disappeared, and only a deserted floor was left there.


    No matter how hard he looked, there wasn¡¯t even a switch there, let alone a portal. After standing there stock still for almost ten seconds, Haruyuki let out a sigh.


    ¡ªAs I thought, the idea that a ?Space Stage? would appear was just a childish fantasy.


    He whispered that within his heart, and tried to sit down on the very spacious floor, but at that instant.


    An intense light and vibrating sound suddenly struck Haruyuki¡¯s entire avatar¡¯s body, making him jump up. When he raised his face up with a start, there was a huge object gushing out now in the center of the wide empty floor.


    A staircase gradually rose up from the floor step by step in a wide arc through the air. A circular stage appeared at its tip while spinning, and furthermore six thin pillars rose up at its sides in a hexagonal arrangement.


    The transparent pillars contained a blue light inside them. As if synchronizing with the pulsation of those lights, shining particles rose up perpendicular to the center of the pillars, and glittered beautifully as they extended almost all the way up to the ceiling.


    ¡°¡­This is¡­the Hermes Cord¡¯s portal¡­¡±


    Whispering in a hoarse voice, Haruyuki stood up. He completely forgot about his disappointment from a moment ago, and tightly gripped his pig avatar¡¯s right hand. His guess was not wrong after all. Who was it that said it was just a childish fantasy?


    He rushed up to the stairs in that state, and without feeling any fear or hesitation, he ran up the stairs with his hooved feet.


    He passed through the gap between the six pillars, which were emitting a low vibrating sound, and went to the center of the circle.


    On his last step, he gathered his feet together and jumped forward. However, his legs did not touch the floor again.


    ¡°Uwah¡­!?¡±


    Haruyuki shouted as he saw his pig avatar start decomposing into countless light particles. No, rather than decomposing, it was returning to its original form. All the white particles were composed of detailed digital code that served as proof that his virtual proxy body was being returned to its essence as information.


    The instant after he realized that.


    Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness felt as if he were rising vertically at a violent speed. But there was none of the Gs that accompanied takeoff. Having merely become light without mass, he shot through the Sky Tree¡¯s superstructure, flew up to the sky¡ª


    And then his vision whited out completely.


    The sensation of stopping came just a few seconds later.


    First, Haruyuki felt his feet touch on a level surface, and heard a hard ¡®GATSUN¡¯ sound. Weight suddenly returned to his body, and he involuntarily struck out one knee.


    While in a crouched posture, he timidly opened his eyes.


    The first thing he saw was a HP gauge at the upper left corner of his vision. Thinking ¡®Eh?¡¯, he held out his hands and looked at them. They each had five sharp fingers that shined silver. Without a doubt, these were the familiar arms of ?Silver Crow?.


    Since he had transformed into his duel avatar form without having started a duel, he panicked over whether this was the rule-less ?Unlimited Neutral Field?, but he quickly noticed something. The English word [LOCKED] was displayed in the center of the green HP gauge.


    Unable to immediately grasp its meaning, he tilted his puzzlement for a while, before pushing it aside for the time being. After sucking in a deep breath, Haruyuki finally raised his head and looked straight in front of him.


    And then, he shouted.


    ¡°Uu¡­uwaaaaaah!?¡±


    He bent backwards and fell on his backside from the momentum. Without being conscious of his awkward pose, he stared at the spectacle before his eyes.


    The metal floor that Haruyuki sat on cut off just one meter in front of him. Beyond that was¡ªthe sky. And clouds. And beneath that, the surface of the Earth.


    For Haruyuki with his flight ability, it was a familiar spectacle. However, the scale was completely different. It was way too high. Just how many times¡­no, how many tens of times higher was this higher than the 1500 meters altitude that was Silver Crow¡¯s flight limit? The sky was dyed a deep ultramarine, the clouds were shaped in thin streaks and huge swirls far below, the sea was an indigo blue, and the land was a blurry brown and green. If he fell from such a height, he would probably burn out from air friction in the atmosphere before receiving damage from the fall.


    He unconsciously drew back, and when he was about three meters away from the edge without handrails or anything else, he finally let out the breath he¡¯d been holding in. He stood up with weak knees, and then finally looked to either side of him.


    The grey metal terrace seemed to be shaped in a wide circle. While following the line of its edge, he automatically turned around. And then¡ª


    A curved wall stood in the center of the ring-like terrace.


    No, it wasn¡¯t a wall. It was a pillar. An absurdly thick pillar, probably 100 meters in diameter, extended up vertically. Haruyuki was standing on a floor surface that spread out in the shape of a flange up to the base of the pillar.


    ¡°This is¡­the Hermes Cord¡­¡­?¡±


    Murmuring that in a whisper, Haruyuki dumfoundedly looked up at the structure that was like a huge tower where gods lived. Shining dully like stainless steel, the metal tower stretched up infinitely towards the sky which changed from ultramarine to deep indigo, and its tip wasn¡¯t visible at all as it faded away into the vanishing point.


    The space elevator in the real world should have been built by tying together several cables that were also twisted together from CNT fibers. Its diameter was two meters at most, so it was more accurate to describe it as a rope than a pillar.


    But, the thing that had been reproduced from it in Accel World and rose high above before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes right now could no longer be called a mere pillar. Floating at a high altitude, it was an incredibly large-scale tower of 100 meters in diameter and several thousand kilometers in height. Just why on earth had it been enlarged to such a size?


    He probably wouldn¡¯t find the answer no matter how much he thought about it, but he thought it was a trifling question. The important thing was that the ?space elevator? actually existed. No, the place he was standing on right now should perhaps still be called a ?Super-High Altitude Stage?. In that case, was real space waiting just beyond where this huge tower ascended¡­?


    ¡°It¡¯s way bigger than I expected.¡±


    Haruyuki nodded in response to the voice that spoke to his right.


    ¡°Yeah¡­Compared to this, even the Sky Tree is a toothpick¡­¡±


    ¡°On the other hand, there is also no detail on its surface. Is there an internal structure inside it?¡±


    ¡°But, I can¡¯t see anything like an entrance either¡­¡ªWait.¡±


    *BIKUUN*


    His whole body stiffened, and after skillfully jumping up like that, Haruyuki cried out while rotating 90 degrees to the right.


    ¡°Waah!? Wh, w-w-w-w-whowhowho, w-w-w-w-whenwhenwhen.¡±


    Who¡¯s that, when did you!


    He tried to sharply ask the other person¡¯s identity, but only a strange series of sounds came out from his mouth. The silhouette that expressionlessly looked down on Haruyuki from right next to him was¡ª


    A thin dark red body. Robust thighs and forearms. Hands with sharp claws. A tail that flexibly swayed around. And with mask that projected triangular ears from the backside of the head and shining golden eyes, it was, without a doubt, the strongest class close range-type duel avatar that Haruyuki personally knew.


    ¡°Pa¡­P-P-P-P-Pard-san!? W-W-Why are you h-h-here!?¡±


    ?Pard-san?, the Level 6 Burst Linker ?Blood Leopard? that belonged to the Red Legion ?Prominence?, answered with a shrug of her shoulders.


    ¡°The same reason why you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Heh¡­¡±


    Finally settling down since the other party was much too calm and composed, Haruyuki belatedly realized.


    The transport to this place was never a privilege granted to only Haruyuki. If a Burst Linker knew of the news on the social camera installation in the Hermes Cord, conceived of the possibility of a new stage being added to Accel World, and furthermore could guess the time and place when the portal to it would appear, anyone could manage to come here.


    Slightly happy that there was another player that thought of such a reckless fancy and actually came to the Sky Tree like himself, Haruyuki smiled. However, he immediately realized something, and stiffened his body.


    In other words, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if new avatars appeared one after another here right at this instant. He frantically looked around at his surroundings, but he saw no signs of a third person appearing.


    As Haruyuki started becoming scared only now, Pard-san spoke in a slightly amazed voice.


    ¡°The reason you entered the portal first is because you boldly accelerated at the viewing platform itself. I Dived inside the toilet on the floor below, so I was slightly late. Since other people will probably come from the ground with the prevention of having their real identities exposed as their top priority, there should be a margin of several minutes before they get here.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­yes, I see, that is true¡­¡±


    While feeling belatedly scared at his own recklessness, Haruyuki once again greeted her.


    ¡°H-Hello, good day.¡±


    When Leopard nimbly held out her right hand, he did likewise and bowed his head to her.


    ¡°Umm, I¡¯m seriously indebted to you for the other day. I¡¯m sorry for only sending you a mail afterwards and not thanking you directly¡­¡±


    Those words were thanks to Pard-san for the great help he had gotten from her in solving the huge trouble that assaulted Haruyuki two months ago. The leopard-headed avatar shrugged and replied with an unusually long response.


    ¡°NP[3]. You also helped me a lot that time. Your information was very useful in finding the security hole within Akiba BG. More importantly¡­¡±


    She struck Haruyuki¡¯s back with a slap and urged him to move.


    ¡°We should effectively use the time advantage we went to the trouble of earning. Let¡¯s investigate around the pillar.¡±


    ¡°K, K[4]!¡±


    Although the person that had appeared after him belonged to another legion, Haruyuki was seriously glad as he walked that it was Blood Leopard who he had made friends due to certain circumstances. If it had been Frost Horn, he would have definitely grabbed Haruyuki from behind without speaking first and thrown him down to the ground below.


    They crossed over the approximately twenty meter wide flange and approached the main pillar of the Hermes Cord, but even when they touched it with their hands, no change occurred on its shining alloy-like surface. Even though there were details like seams between metal plates, there were no handholds for climbing at all.


    Pard-san scratched the pillar with her sharp nails, and after confirming that it was so hard that it didn¡¯t leave even a scratch, she began walking around it clockwise. Haruyuki also followed after her. Since the diameter of the pillar was about 100 meters, they had a hard time going around the curving surface. When they could finally see the opposite side from where the transport location was, Haruyuki noticed that there was something there and raised his voice.


    ¡°Ah¡­There¡¯s something here!¡±


    The sound of their footsteps rose and they ran up to it.


    The objects there seemed to be, at first sight, cars or ships. Streamlined vehicles about six meters in length were orderly lined up next to each other on top of a slanted rack installed at the bottom of the pillar, staring straight up towards the top of the Hermes Cord. There were ten of them.


    The vehicles didn¡¯t have a roof, and instead the seating areas were completely open. At the front, the one-seater cockpit was equipped with a transparent windshield. There were two rows of two-person seats placed behind it. The lower section was equipped with four big discs instead of tires, which seemed to be some kind of propulsion device. Its slender smooth body-line was fitting for the original meaning of the word ?shuttle?.


    ¡°W-What are these¡­?¡±


    Murmuring that, Haruyuki climbed atop the slanted rack and approached one of the vehicles at the left end with the symbol ?1? painted on its side. The cold iron-colored body remained coldly inactive, and there were no signs that it contained fire in its engine.


    He timidly extended his hand forward, and at the instant he poked the smooth line of the door.


    *PIPON* A purple holo-window popped up with a light sound. After being startled for a moment, he peered at it frantically. Pard-san also brought her face close next to him.


    On the topmost part of the window, inscribed in robotic font were¡ª.


    The characters [3D 18H 25M 18S (JST)]. These digits, which appeared to indicate days, hours, minutes, and seconds in order, clearly seemed to be some kind of time count.


    ¡°Hmm. If this is a countdown, then when the digits will reach zero in 3 days, 18 hours and 35 minutes in Japanese Standard Time¡­in other words, at noon on Sunday.¡±


    After Blood Leopard muttered that, Haruyuki also spoke following her train of thought.


    ¡°Will something happen at that time¡­?¡±


    However, instead of answering his question, Pard-san pointed at the lower part of the window with her feline beast-of-prey-like claws. There was a short sentence displayed there as well. Saying, [DO YOU DRIVE ME?].


    And beneath that, there was only a YES button. He understood that the meaning of the simple English sentence was ¡°Will you drive me?¡±, but even so Haruyuki wavered over what to do, and the ever-hasty Pard-san whispered in his ear.


    ¡°If you won¡¯t press it, I will.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I-I¡¯ll press it, I¡¯ll press it!¡±


    Answering frantically, Haruyuki raised his right hand and, after resolving himself, pressed the YES button.


    Instantly, a short fanfare SE[5] resounded and the English characters changed. [YOU ARE MY DRIVER!] ¡ªYou are my driver.


    Several seconds later, the string of characters changed again and became the single word [RESERVED]. At the same time, an object appeared as if oozing out from the window surface.


    It was a transparent clue card. Besides the marking ?1? on its surface, it also had the same countdown displayed on it as on the window. The instant Haruyuki took it, the next and final phenomenon occurred.


    Along with a sound, the body of streamlined machine made changed from a cold iron color to a dazzling silver color. Haruyuki immediately noticed that its mirror-like tint was exactly the same as his, or rather, Silver Crow¡¯s armor.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Pard-san murmured as if understanding something, and walked over to the shuttle marked with ?2?. When she touched its body, a window appeared, and she touched the YES button without hesitation. After she took the card that appeared between two of her fingers, the body color of the shuttle immediately changed to Blood Leopard¡¯s deep red armor color this time.


    Haruyuki walked over to Pard-san while holding his card and asked a question once again.


    ¡°U-Umm¡­Me and Pard-san have been registered as the drivers of these cars or ships¡­I understand that much, somehow. But, what is this countdown about? There¡¯s still more than three days remaining, but¡­¡±


    ¡°That''s self-explanatory. The shuttles won¡¯t move until the countdown becomes zero at noon on Sunday.¡±


    After hearing that clear reply, he nodded in understanding, and immediately after his next question sprang forth.


    ¡°H-Haa¡­B-But, why is there such a long waiting time¡­?¡±


    In response, Pard-san unusually opened her mouth that was hidden by the lower portion of her artillery shell-like mask, and grinned with her sharp fangs shinning.


    ¡°That is also obvious. The given three and a half days are the grace period for preparing one driver and four passengers for each of the ten shuttles. At noon on Sunday, we¡¯ll all step on the accelerator in a race and aim for the top of this pillar. In other words.¡±


    Lifting up her right hand and pointing towards the far-off top, the deep crimson leopard-headed avatar said as if singing.


    ¡°We have acquired the right to participate in the ?Hermes Cord Traversing Race?.¡±


    It took about a full five seconds for Haruyuki to understand the meaning of those words.


    ¡°Then¡­i-in other words¡­the goal is the top of this tower, in other words, s-s-s-space!?¡±


    In response to Haruyuki voice which was turned inside out, Pard-san nodded ¡®Of course¡¯.


    However, before he can say anything else, he heard a series of transport sounds from the opposite side of the pillar. Most likely, Burst Linkers that had accelerated on the ground level had arrived at the viewing platform¡¯s portal.


    Pard-san waved her long tail once, and then whispered to Haruyuki while touching his back.


    ¡°It¡¯d be better for us to scatter before they find us.¡±


    Certainly, since there were only ten shuttles, the remaining limit of people that could do the driver registration was eight. It would be troublesome if the people that were excluded suggested something like deciding the right to use it through a duel.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­That¡¯s true.¡±


    As Haruyuki pushed away the surprise inside him and agreed with her for the time being, her next words jumped into his ears.


    ¡°When you cease your acceleration, wait at the ground parking lot exit. I¡¯ll carry you to Suginami on my bike.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­¡±


    He once again stiffened in surprise. The violent power of that large electric motorbike with Pard-san at the wheel was clearly revived in his mind.


    However, he of course couldn¡¯t say no and decline, so Haruyuki nodded.


    ¡°T-T-Thank you that¡¯s a big help.¡±


    ¡°NP.¡±


    And then, the two of them recited the command with their voices in sync.


    ¡°¡°Burst Out!¡±¡±


    The real world Pard-san, who he hadn¡¯t met in a while, was fortunately¡ªor perhaps unfortunately, dressed not in her maid-style uniform from the cake shop, but in a T-shirt and slim jeans.


    His gaze unconsciously wandered to the unexpected volume that pushed up her tightfitting clothing, which he hadn¡¯t been able to perceive when she had worn her loose apron. Expressionlessly, Pard-san took out a spare helmet from the maintenance space underneath the seat, put it on Haruyuki¡¯s head with a plonk and straddled the motorbike. After putting on the helmet harness himself this time, he frantically climbed onto the passenger seat and timidly put his arms around the thin waist in front of him.


    At first she withheld the amount of power she put into the engine, but after coming out from the Sky Tree¡¯s parking lot, the motorbike¡¯s in-wheel motor instantly howled and raged with a ¡®KYUIIIIN!¡¯.


    ¡°¡­¡­Ah¡ª¡ª!¡±


    Just like last time, Haruyuki had to thoroughly cling to Pard as he let out a scream. Though, as he did his best to endure the extreme stop-and-go that was repeated at every light, he didn¡¯t have the time to care about the sensation of touching anything.


    When they got out of the Sumida Ward, to Okachimachi, Ochanomizu and then Iidabashi, Pard-san¡¯s voice reached Haruyuki¡¯s ears.


    ¡®It¡¯s before 6:30, but do you have some time right now?¡¯


    ¡®Eh, ah¡­Yes.¡¯


    Since the curfew that Haruyuki¡¯s mother had set was 9:00 at night, he still had time. As for the reason why she allowed a middle school student to be outside until a somewhat inappropriate time like that, he couldn¡¯t say whether it was because she trusted her son or because she found managing him troublesome. Haruyuki might know the answer to that if she scolded him if he were to seriously break the curfew once, but he didn¡¯t have that kind of courage, and so he added ¡®It¡¯s fine if it¡¯s only for two hours¡¯.


    Pard-san then murmured in an unexpected tone.


    ¡®If we went to go have tea for such a long time, it¡¯d likely stop dissolving.¡¯


    Huh, t-tea?


    Soon after he thought that, the large motorbike rode up to a fast food restaurant along the road while blinking its flashers.


    Over the past eight months, Haruyuki had gone into shops like this twenty times with Kuroyukihime and once with Sky Raker. However, there was no indication at all that he was getting used to this kind of situation, and he always got a cold sweat when he felt himself exposed to gazes that said ¡®Just what the heck is with that mismatched pairing¡¯ from his surroundings every time.


    Persuading himself that he was just self-conscious about that kind of thing and that anyone would worry about other people as he sat down in a boxed seat facing Blood Leopard, Haruyuki tried to block out the surroundings customers from his mind by concentrating with all his power on the hamburger set he was being treated to.


    ¡®It seems like I¡¯ll succeed¡¯, is what he thought for a brief instant.


    Pard-san took out a red XSB cable from her belt pouch, leaned forward and thrust one of the plugs at the end into Haruyuki¡¯s Neuro Linker. Expressionlessly, she connected the other end to her own.


    The Wired Connection warning that appeared in his vision couldn¡¯t hide the spectacle of the middle and high school students within the shop clearly looking at them and whispering amongst themselves, and so Haruyuki found himself in an awkward situation as he ducked his head down and felt cold sweat run down his skin.


    The length of the Direct Connect cable expresses the degree of progress between two people going out with each other¡ªthat kind of custom was clearly something that Pard-san didn¡¯t care about at all, but Haruyuki wasn¡¯t able to be that free of worldly cares, and asked in thought speech with half a scream.


    ¡®Ah, u-u-umm, w-w-why Direct Connect?¡¯


    Her answer was very simple.


    ¡®We can talk while eating this way.¡¯


    Besides replying with ¡®¡­¡­That¡¯s true.¡¯, Haruyuki couldn¡¯t say anything else.


    Pard-san displayed the high-level technique of talking via the cable while eating her hamburger with relish just as she had declared. This seemed simple, but the risk of biting one¡¯s tongue while unintentionally trying to talk with one¡¯s mouth as well was high.


    ¡®Do you understand how to Dive into the stage for the race on Sunday?¡¯


    After she suddenly asked that, Haruyuki stopped his mouth in the middle of chewing a fry and spoke.


    ¡®Eh¡­don¡¯t we just use the Sky Tree portal again?¡¯


    ¡®That isn¡¯t necessary. The card we got when we registered as drivers is a ?transporter? item. It transports up to ten Burst Linkers who we Direct Connect with at the same time.¡¯


    ¡®H-Heee¡­Then, if we gather in Suginami and use it, we¡¯ll instantly go to the Hermes Cord?¡¯


    ¡®Yes.¡¯


    That was a feature he was really grateful for. Because, if Kuroyukihime also participated in the race, it would be dangerous if she, who was a Level Niner that was bound by the sudden death rule, connected to an external network as far away as Sumida Ward for even an instant.


    After letting out a sigh and biting into his hamburger, Haruyuki felt his original question rise up within him now. Since he had jumped into the portal at the Sky Tree, he had been caught up in the flow of the situation all the way until now, but in the first place¡ª


    ¡®¡­In the first place, why did it suddenly turn into a race? Those machines were prepared not by some player, but by the system¡¯s¡­in other words, Brain Burst¡¯s administrator. I¡¯ve been a Burst Linker for about eight months already, but I don¡¯t think there¡¯s ever been even one GM event like that up until now¡­¡¯


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s question, Pard-san answered after thinking for just 0.5 seconds.


    ¡®Certainly, signs of the presence of BB¡¯s administrator are usually not felt at all. But, when there is a large-scale update in Accel World, there are also cases where one-time events occur like this time. Like when the ?Tokyo Glass Castle? opened up the year before last¡­¡¯


    The Glass Castle was a large-scale theme park that had been constructed in the bay area. According to what he knew, it had been built as a Medieval European-style fortress city made of real stone with the theme of being ?realistic?, at the time when the Full Dive technology was at the height of prosperity.


    ¡®¡­The day when the social camera network there began operating, an event based on breaking through a group of monsters that crowded the city and aiming for the throne inside the castle occurred. My team regrettably got swarmed by a large heard of them along with the blue team and we all got mutually annihilated.¡¯


    As Pard-san¡¯s eyes burned with fire, Haruyuki somehow managed to respond while unconsciously drawing back his head.


    ¡®I¡­I see. Then, the race this time is also¡­so to speak, a ?New Stage Connection Commemoration Event?? In other words, it is a race that will occur only once¡­?¡¯


    ¡®Definitely.¡¯


    In that case, he really was extremely fortunate to have been able to reserve one of the only ten machines. Haruyuki cried out ¡®Mega-Lucky!¡¯ inside his head, but he then frantically drowned out that thought. Going to the Hermes Cord had never been about obtaining the right to participate in an open event. It was because there was something that Haruyuki had to tell that person¡ªSky Raker no matter what, that he was aiming for the top of the space elevator.


    ¡ªThen, there should also be that.


    Ostensibly because he should also learn as much preliminary knowledge as possible, Haruyuki nervously asked a question through the Direct Connect circuit.


    ¡®Umm¡­Pard-san. Since it¡¯s a race, umm, if one comes in first or second place, will there be something like, umm¡­¡¯


    ¡®Of course there will.¡¯


    Without letting Haruyuki finish speaking, Blood Leopard nodded.


    ¡®It will probably give out an appropriate amount of Burst Points. Or prizes such as an Enhanced Armament or some other item will be prepared.¡¯


    ¡°He¡­Heeh, is that so.¡¯


    As if roughly understanding that his throat was moving a lot despite his attempt to pretend being calm, Pard-san gave a faint wry smile. While carefully folding the wrapping paper of the hamburger she had eaten in the blink of an eye, she spoke in a completely calm state.


    ¡®You shouldn¡¯t raise your expectations too high. There¡¯s no way the prizes will be so great that they could break the power balance between legions, after all. More importantly¡­¡¯


    Pausing for a moment there, the senior member of ?Prominence? asked Haruyuki a question as her ponytail swayed.


    ¡®Will your legion participate with all five of your members?¡¯


    ¡®Eh? ¡­Err, the capacity of the shuttle is five passengers, so¡­¡¯


    As he was about to nod, Haruyuki paused the movement of his neck.


    No matter how well they got along, or how she had let him ride on her bike and treated him to a hamburger, Pard-san was ultimately not a ?comrade?. She was a core member of the Red Legion, which might one day turn against the Black Legion. Was it alright to tell such a person about the movements of Kuroyukihime, who was under the Sudden Death rule?


    Most likely immediately seeing through Haruyuki¡¯s hesitation, Pard-san quickly shook her head.


    ¡®I¡¯m not really asking in order to take advantage of this opportunity and take the Black King¡¯s head. In the first place, since the HP gauge is locked inside the event, it¡¯s impossible.¡¯


    ¡®L-Locked¡­?¡¯


    After repeating the word, Haruyuki finally remembered. When he had transported over to the Hermes Cord earlier, there had definitely been the word [LOCKED] distinctly inscribed on his HP gauge.


    ¡®E-Err¡­in other words, during the race event, nobody can receive damage?¡¯


    After pretending to think for a moment, Pard-san immediately nodded to his question.


    ¡®Yes.¡¯


    ¡®Then, why is it necessary for there to be four other crewmembers in the shuttle? Is it because just me isn¡¯t enough to attack and defend against other teams¡­?¡¯


    ¡®Yes to that as well. Most likely, the shuttle¡¯s body is also configured with a HP gauge, and if it becomes zero it will be destroyed. The event at the Glass Castle I spoke of before was also like that. It was a game where you had to properly carry jewels given to each team up to the throne room on the top floor of the castle. The players couldn¡¯t die, but it was setup so that the HP of the orbs would wear out from attacks by monsters or other teams.¡¯


    Haruyuki nodded in admiration at Blood Leopard¡¯s words. If it was like that, then it would definitely turn into a hot race even in the slightly nulled situation where the HP gauges were protected.


    ¡®I see¡­so it has that kind of setup. In that case, I¡¯m all the more certain that all five members of my legion will participate. But¡­why are you asking me about that?¡¯


    As Haruyuki turned her gaze towards her, Pard-san displayed the rare sign of hesitating to say something.


    However, her hesitation disappeared in just one second, and¡ª


    ¡®In Accel World, there are two people whose existences are important to me.¡¯


    Her quiet thoughts flowed through the red cable.


    ¡®One is the king I serve. A person I want to protect no matter what. And the other is my eternal rival. Someone who became a Burst Linker at almost the same time as me and who I fought against countless times, known as ?Strato Shooter[6]? and ?ICBM[7]?¡­¡¯


    Haruyuki immediately guessed who those two names belonged to.


    ¡®¡­Sky Raker-san¡­?¡¯


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s whisper, Blood Leopard softly nodded.


    ¡®I was very happy when I heard that she had returned. But since she¡¯s only been participating in the territory defense battles, I haven¡¯t met her yet.¡¯


    ¡®Ah¡­I-I see. That¡¯s true.¡¯


    Currently, the Red Legion ?Prominence? and the Black Legion ?Nega Nebulas? were under an indefinite ceasefire. Therefore, as one of the Red Legion¡¯s core members, Pard-san couldn¡¯t participate in attacking the Suginami area.


    Haruyuki sucked in a deep breath, and then spoke while unusually looking at his conversation partner right in the eye.


    ¡®The truth is, I also have a reason for wanting to take Raker-san to the Hermes Cord no matter what. That¡¯s why, even if she isn¡¯t interested in it, I¡¯ll do my best to persuade her. I think that you¡¯ll definitely meet her on Sunday.¡¯


    ¡®I see.¡¯


    Her answer was short, but Blood Leopard gave a light smile, and slowly gave a deep nod.


    ¡®Thank you, Silver Crow. I¡¯m glad I talked with you¡­Perhaps I have three important people now instead of two.¡¯


    ¡ªWhatever the meaning of those words were, Haruyuki could unfortunately not understand it at all. Therefore, he naively asked about it. But.


    ¡®H-Huh? What¡­who is the third?¡¯


    It¡¯s a secret.


    As if saying that, Pard-san quickly disconnected the Direct Connect cable.


    After being transported to Suginami again on the motorbike and seeing Pard-san off until her tail-light disappeared far away, Haruyuki thought absentmindedly.


    The total number of Burst Linkers was about 1000. Almost all of them lived in the center of Tokyo. There were so many that it was impossible to memorize all of their names, and most of them were in a relationship where they scrambled for Burst Points amongst each other, but¡ªeven so, if they continued to duel over a long period of time, a relationship other than as ?enemies? was sometimes born eventually. Thinking about it, even Takumu, ?Cyan Pile?, who was now his irreplaceable tag partner, met him as a genuine enemy at first¡­


    In Haruyuki¡¯s mind, the faces of his comrades in the legion starting with Kuroyukihime, of his friends Niko and Pard-san, of his rivals Ash Roller and tentatively Frost Horn appeared one after another and then disappeared.


    Aiming for Level 10 as a Burst Linker was, in principle, equal to continuing to bring down other Burst Linkers. That was probably exactly what the game¡¯s mysterious developer intended. To make 1000 young people fight amongst each other, and select only one person as the victor.


    However, despite that, even the developer shouldn¡¯t be able to stop feelings other than hatred from being born and exchanged in the process. The way Blood Leopard worried about Sky Raker who she shouldn¡¯t have been friends with was proof of that.


    ¡ªI also want that.


    Haruyuki strongly thought that as he walked towards his home.


    ¡ªEven if I¡¯m beaten black and blue, even if I¡¯m so mortified I shed tears, I won¡¯t simply hate my opponent. Because I love this game¡­Accel World. Because I consider myself more fortunate than anyone for having become a Burst Linker.


    ¡ª¡ªReally? Is that really all?


    Suddenly, a voice asked him that.


    At the same time, several silhouettes flashed quickly through his mind¡¯s screen. A rust-colored avatar that seemed to be combined with a steel frame. A laminated avatar made of parallel jet-black thin membranes. And¡ªa dusk-colored avatar with a spherical visor and huge talons, who no longer existed. They were members of the group that judged Brain Burst not as a duel fighting game but as a thought acceleration tool and who aimed only at acquiring and using points, the ?Acceleration Research Society?.


    They hadn''t carried out any public activities over the past two months. However, that did not mean that they had vanished. They were probably hiding somewhere in Accel World and waiting with vigilant hostility for the chance to invade again.


    ¡ª¡ªCan you also forgive those guys? Can you throw away the hatred you feel towards them, who cruelly wounded and tormented you and your friends?[8]


    Haruyuki did not notice that the voice echoing in his mind had at some point become not his own, but instead carried a shadowy and twisted metallic echo in it. While grimacing at the aching feeling at the center of his back, he stepped towards the location of his apartment building with rough steps.


    ¡ª¡ªIt¡¯s natural to hate guys like that. It¡¯s natural to crush them with hatred. Release all your anger, resentment and hatred, and destroy them. You have that power. The power to tear off their limbs, devour their flesh, and drain their blood. Yes¡ª


    Devour them. Devour them. Devour them. Devour them. Dev¡­


    ¡°¡­¡­Shut up!¡±


    He shouted that in a stifled voice as he hanged his head down deeply. Residents and shoppers avoided Haruyuki as he stopped in front of the entrance of a shopping mall.


    Feeling as if he could see talons shining with a dusky purple color among the countless shoes that passed by on either side of him, Haruyuki shut his eyes tight. Inside his mind, he strongly spoke to himself.


    ¡ªIf they appear again, I¡¯ll fight them. But not because I hate them. It will be because I love Accel World. Because I believe that there exists bonds besides that of hostility in there. I will fight to protect those bonds.


    ¡ª¡ªReally?


    Leaving that single word along with a creaking laughter, the voice went away. The pain on his back also faded away soon and disappeared.


    After letting out a long breath and rubbing his sweaty palms against his trousers, Haruyuki headed towards his empty home with heavy footsteps while hanging his head.

 Volume 5 - CH 5

    ¡°Hey, hey, heeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!¡±


    That shout resounded throughout the entire battlefield.


    At the same time, there was the deep roar of a V-Twin Engine. Then a shrill squealing sound, and another shout.


    ¡°With such a cheap wall, you¡¯ll never stop the great me!!¡±


    ¡°No way!?¡±


    Haruyuki frantically looked at his surroundings. Faded buildings, characteristic of the ?Weathered? stage, were collapsed everywhere, thereby making a barricade of rubble. The ones who had destroyed them were Haruyuki and Takumu, who was fighting a little further away. They had determinedly destroyed the buildings by using this stage¡¯s characteristic of having very fragile geographical features, and filled in the surroundings roads with their rubble.


    The objective of this was to weaken the mobility of the biker-user ?Ash Roller? in the three-player team on the attacking side of the territory battle. Their aim had been successful, and there were no longer any routes that would allow him to move on his bike from the current front line to the position that Sky Raker was protecting at the back¡ªis how it should have been, but.


    ¡°W-Where are you!?¡±


    Haruyuki desperately searched for the source of the roaring engine sound.


    After several seconds, he quickly found it. However, Haruyuki didn¡¯t move immediately, but instead fully opened his eyes and mouth wide while standing bolt upright.


    A gunmetal American motorbike was moving from right to left on the opposite side of the one-sided two-lane main road. However, its speed was too slow. That was not because it was avoiding the rubble covering the road, but rather because it was impossible to avoid it in the first place, since the height of the rubble reached up to nearly two meters¡ªso it was being carried instead.


    The huge motorbike, with its rider on it, was being carried on the right shoulder of a short-statured avatar not even half as tall as the bike, who stepped over the rubble barricade with great effort. Ash Roller was merely straddling the seat of the bike as it swayed on top of the shoulder and repeatedly gunning the accelerator.


    ¡°¡­¡­T-There¡¯s no point to revving the engine like that!!¡±


    After instinctively letting out that retort with all his strength, Haruyuki finally noticed that this wasn¡¯t a situation where he could sit back and watch. Their aim was to cross over the mountain of rubble and reach its base. It would become troublesome if they got there.


    ¡°I-I won¡¯t let you!¡±


    Shouting that, Haruyuki charged towards the opposite side of the main road. Then, the short-statured avatar carrying the bike glanced at him, and immediately after¡ª


    ¡°Big Bro Ash! Forget about me and go¡ª!¡±


    While shouting out those somehow excessively cool words, he threw the bike forward. It was an incredible feat of physical strength compared to his size.


    Leaving aside the fact that Ash Roller seemed to have gotten a younger brother at some point, the American bike he rode crossed over the summit of the barricade while emitting a particularly shrill exhaust sound.


    ¡°Your heart, is Giga Buuuuurning!!¡±


    Along with one of his usual incomprehensible shouts, he landed on the asphalt and made an extreme dash with his bike while letting out white smoke from his rear wheel.


    Saturday, June 8, 5:30 PM. They were in the middle of a 3-vs-3 battle to defend the 3rd Battle Area of Suginami. Kuroyukihime and Chiyuri were having a break, so the ?Nega Nebulas? side consisted of Haruyuki, Takumu and Sky Raker. The opposing attacking side consisted of three members of the Green Legion ?Great Wall? led by Ash Roller.


    There was a considerable gap in level composition between the two teams, with Haruyuki¡¯s team having levels of 8-5-5 and the enemy team having levels of 5-5-3, but Brain Burst was a game where that kind of difference could be easily overturned with a single moment of negligence. While gritting his teeth for having let that ?single moment? happen by allowing Ash to break through the barricade, Haruyuki tried to chase after the fast bike. ¡ªHowever.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let ya pass here!!¡±


    Along with a cry that made Haruyuki wonder whether that kind of tone was for constructing a certain character or was simply natural, a shadow jumped down in front of him. It was the avatar that had carried Ash Roller¡¯s bike.


    His name was ?Bush Utan[1]?, a Level 5 player with dark green armor. He was shorter than Silver Crow by several centimeters, but he had a robustness that didn¡¯t give off that impression. The reason for that were his strangely-developed arms. His overall silhouette made one think of a certain kind of primate due to the way his hands almost grazed the ground when he bent forward, but even so, he wasn¡¯t an opponent to be made light of.


    Haruyuki responded back while glaring cautiously at those two huge arms pointed at him.


    ¡°¡­Guys that say lines like that are never able to hold others back!¡±


    He then quickly bent forward and went into a super-low dash.


    Bush Utan was a brute strength-specialized avatar that poured all of his potential into his two huge arms. If Haruyuki received a direct punch from him, he would be blown away by damage equal to a 2 level difference, but Utan¡¯s speed was not that great. Besides, Haruyuki didn¡¯t intend to fight here in the first place.


    After instantly shortening the distance between them with a ground-chafing gallop, Haruyuki jumped up with all his strength, since the enemy¡¯s focus was turned downwards. He vibrated his wings for only a moment in order to preserve his special technique gauge, and then passed over the enemy¡¯s head with a long jump instead of flying.


    Utan tried holding his hands up frantically, but he couldn¡¯t reach him at all. During this scene, Haruyuki had the time to mentally comment to him, ¡®You should have shortened the distance between us yourself and reduced my options. You should actively control the distance between instead of simply waiting¡­¡¯


    ¡°¡ª¡ªwait, owah!?¡±


    The surprised shout that leaked out from Silver Crow¡¯s mouth was overlapped by a thick male yell.


    ¡°Uhohoho! I¡¯m not letting ya go¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    What had happened was that Bush Utan¡¯s arms had extended. It wasn¡¯t simply that his elbow joints had come undone. In fact, his arms had lengthened up to three times their original length and had firmly grabbed Haruyuki¡¯s ankles with his huge palms¡ª


    ¡°Funnuuuussu¡ª¡ª!¡±


    Since he was about to be thrown right to the ground, Haruyuki fully opened his wings reflexively and released all the propulsive force they contained.


    ¡°Nuooh!¡±


    The state of equilibrium was momentary. No matter how strong Utan was, his actual weight was still in the light-weight category. Haruyuki flew up blindly while having the primate-type avatar hanging from his legs. Since it had turned out like this, he thought of ramming into Ash Roller like this while still carrying him, but at that instant.


    ¡°Uho!? S-Scary!!¡±


    After hearing a pitiful cry, the speed of his flight weakened with a jerk. When he frantically looked down, he saw that Utan had released only his left hand from Haruyuki¡¯s leg and was holding onto a handrail on a building¡¯s roof instead. Since both his arms were stretching to the limit, it was as if the primate avatar was fastened to the middle of a long rope.


    ¡°You, l-let go!¡±


    ¡°N-No way!¡±


    Haruyuki tried flapping his wings desperately, but the grip on his left ankle showed no signs of loosening at all. Takumu¡¯s ?pile? might have been able to cut off Utan¡¯s arm, but he was still fiercely fighting the third member of the enemy team somewhere a little further away and sounds of clashing could be heard from there intermittently.


    While reluctantly continuing this tug of war in the air, Haruyuki cast his gaze around and looked at the western side of the main road. At that instant, he inadvertently blurted out.


    ¡°Oh no¡­!¡±


    The big American bike had already dashed more than ten meters ahead and was trying to plunge into the small plaza at the end of the road. There was a circle that emitted a lavender-colored light with a tall flagpole at its center installed in the plaza. The black color on its flag was proof that it was the ?base? of Haruyuki¡¯s team.


    Bases were selected spots that dotted various places on the territory battle field, and if a team occupied one, their special technique gauges could be recharged endlessly within the circle. In other words, territory battles in Brain Burst consisted of nothing more than pushing forward while occupying one base after another and assaulting the enemies¡¯ bases.


    The base Ash Roller was aiming for was currently only being protected by Sky Raker. As a Level Eighter, her ability was naturally guaranteed, but her unique fighting style could be a huge advantage or disadvantage depending on its compatibility with the enemy.


    And according to Haruyuki¡¯s diagnosis, the wheelchair-user Sky Raker and the bike-user Ash Roller were part of the same category, and as a result he judged that Raker was at a disadvantage. Her wheelchair¡¯s abilities as a vehicle-type Enhanced Armament were naturally outclassed by far in nearly all aspects by Ash Roller¡¯s bike.


    Heading towards the delicate silver wheelchair that stood alone in front of the plaza and the graceful female avatar that sat on it, the motorbike rushed forward raging and roaring loudly.


    ¡°Masteeeeeer!¡±


    The skull-headed rider let out a yell, which was for some reason mixed with tears.


    ¡°Today¡­I will¡­surpass you, master[2]¡­¡­!!¡±


    Haruyuki gaped his mouth open in the air. Certainly, Sky Raker was Ash Roller¡¯s mentor and ?Parent?, but his words just now were the kind only spoken when on the verge of the final battle after many twists and turns. This was still only the third time that Ash Roller¡¯s team had participated in the territory attacks today, and moreover this should have been the first time this Parent and Child fought head-to-head.


    On top of her wheelchair, Raker was smiling beneath her wide-brimmed hat, and spoke after shaking her long sky-colored hair.


    ¡°You¡¯re a hundred years too early, Ash.¡±


    And then, she held out her left hand straight in front of her and made the gesture of ?Come and get it? by turning her palm upwards and motioning with her fingers.


    ¡°Toooooo!!¡±


    Ash responded to that with a sharp yell. He jumped up from his seat and stood up straight with his right foot on the handlebar and his left foot on the back end of his seat. This was¡ªthe original technique where one controlled the bike like a surfboard called ?V-Twin Fist?, named by Ash Roller himself.


    Although Raker showed no signs of panicking even when she saw that move, Haruyuki gritted his teeth once again. This put Raker at even more of a disadvantage. Since Raker couldn¡¯t stand up from her wheelchair, her hands no longer reached up to Ash Roller¡¯s body. And a bare-handed attack against the bike would cause damage to herself instead.


    ¡°Master! Giga-Thank you for everything until nooooooooow!!¡±


    He used the sole of his boot to push down on the full throttle lever, and the bike went into one final burst of acceleration while gushing out flames from its muffler. Right at the instant when the huge grey front tire was on the verge of hitting the wheelchair hard¡ª


    Raker¡¯s left hand gentle brushed against the silver wheel on her left side at a blurred speed. Raising sparks from the ground, the wheelchair did an extremely fast and sudden back dash.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s impossible, there¡¯s no way to get away!


    Haruyuki inwardly shouted that at Sky Raker, who was his master as well. Although the wheelchair, which could only be moved by turning its wheels by hand, had incredible dashing speed due to its ultra-light weight, it only lasts for a moment. The bike will immediately catch up to her after going backwards and send her flying.


    At the same time as Haruyuki held his breath while expecting that outcome.


    With utter abandonment, Sky Raker stretched herself forward while just barely dodging the bike¡¯s front wheel, and touched the bike¡¯s handle bar with her left hand¡ª


    And then lightly grasped the bike¡¯s brake lever.


    Although it looked like a casual action, Haruyuki could tell that she had put unbelievable strength into it, as terrible sparks came out from the front wheel¡¯s rotor disk. What would happen to a bike that had only its front brakes locked and with such force as well?


    ¡°O-Owaah!?¡±


    Faster than Ash Roller could let out a yell, the entire American bike instantly went into a handstand on its front wheel and shifted into the so-called ¡°jack-knife¡± state[3]. It rose up with the momentum and flew through the air while spinning, until it crashed into the wall of a building ahead.


    It seemed that the shock of impact exceeded the durability of the Enhanced Armament motorbike, as it then exploded in a burst of magnificent flames.


    However, Ash Roller himself had, thanks to standing on his seat, been thrown up in the air without being engulfed in the explosion.


    ¡°Noooooooooooooooooooooooo¡ª!?¡±


    He reached the peak of his ascent with a scream, stopped for an instant, and then started falling back down. And right beneath him was Sky Raker, who was dashing forward with her wheelchair again.


    ¡°Make that two hundred years.¡±


    Along with that smiling comment, she shot her left palm upward with so much force that the air burned. The palm strike splendidly caught the back of Ash Roller¡¯s dark leather rider jacket, and released an impact that could be felt all the way up to where Haruyuki was far away.


    Due to the critical blow dealt to the core of his body combined with the damage from the long fall, Ash Roller¡¯s HP gauge quickly disappeared.


    ¡°As expected of master¡­Forgive me, Tera-Nothing.¡±[4]


    Leaving those mysterious words, the skull rider avatar burst and scattered into pixels. Haruyuki and Bush Utan simultaneously murmured as they watched Sky Raker dust off her hands.


    ¡°S-So powerful¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Way too strong¡­¡­¡±


    They exchanged glances. Since Raker had splendidly repulsed Ash and protected the base, there was no longer any meaning in continuing their tug of war.


    Without saying anything, Haruyuki suddenly made his wings vibrate at high speed by consuming his entire remaining special technique gauge. The ascending force this produced made Utan¡¯s arms creak and grate.


    ¡°T-That¡¯s useless! Burn, my biceeeeeeeeeeps!!¡±


    Utan pumped up his left arm that was grabbed onto the building handrail and his right arm that was holding Haruyuki¡¯s ankle, and tried to pull back Haruyuki with pure physical strength¡ªand at that instant.


    Haruyuki changed the flight direction of his silver wings by 180 degrees, and went into a diving posture. Inevitably, this caused Utan to pull Silver Crow towards himself with all of his arm strength.


    ¡°Wha¡­hey, wait a minute.¡±


    His words were erased by the sound of being hit by a violent dive kick.


    Like that, the two of them fell to the ground like heavy lumps. Since Utan released his grip on Haruyuki¡¯s from the shock of impact, it showed that he still had a long way to go before he could fight Haruyuki at point blank hand-to-hand combat.


    As his HP disappeared in a rush, Utan exited the stage with parting words of surrender just like that of his big bro¡¯s.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll pay ya back for this tomorrow~~~~~!!¡±


    ¡­¡­Tomorrow?


    Haruyuki had a bad feeling about those words somehow, but he put it aside for the time being and hurried over to the front lines in order to assist Takumu.


    Fifteen minutes later in real world time¡ª


    Having protected the First to Third Battles Areas of Suginami this week as well, the five members of Nega Nebulas gathered in the center of the field that had served as the stage for the last battle, and congratulated each other for a good day¡¯s work.


    Sitting down on a nearby slab of concrete, Haruyuki let out a long breath, feeling comfortably fatigued, and spoke to Sky Raker next to him.


    ¡°Even so¡­I didn¡¯t think that Ash Roller¡¯s bike could be taken down through such a method¡­¡±


    In the past, Haruyuki had defeated Ash by lifting the rear wheel of his bike and cancelling its propulsive force, but the method of grasping the brake lever while it ran and then blowing it away was far more smart, speedy, and most of all, interesting and cool.


    However, Raker shook her head with a wry smile.


    ¡°Unfortunately, that method can only be used when Ash is standing up straight on his bike.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­I-I see¡­¡±


    Certainly, a rider¡¯s hands usually do not separate from the handles. After he gave a thoughtful hum, this time it was Kuroyukihime who spoke up with wry laughter in her voice.


    ¡°Before that, if you don¡¯t synchronize your speed with the bike using a Raker-class dash when you touch it going at full speed, you would receive damage instead.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­I-I¡­see¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki dropped his head, Chiyuri and Takumu let out unreserved laughter. The jet-black avatar also laughed for a while, but then added, ¡°But, well¡±.


    ¡°Perhaps if you flew at full speed, you might be able to do the same thing as Raker. You should look into the possibility.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    After Haruyuki energetically nodded, the legion leader looked around at her subordinates and spoke.


    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else to discuss, let¡¯s talk about the matter of tomorrow. I think you¡¯ve all already received a text message with an outline of it from Haruyuki-kun, but I¡¯ll have him explain it again here.¡±


    ¡°U-Understood.¡±


    After frantically standing up and facing the four other people sitting down side by side, Haruyuki started explaining the outline of the big event tomorrow¡ªthe ?Hermes Cord Traversing Race?.


    He explained about how it was not necessary to specifically go to the Sky Tree, and that if they gathered and Direct Connected together at Haruyuki¡¯s home, the ?Transporter Card? item would teleport them to the bottom station of the space elevator.


    About how they couldn¡¯t change the driver of Shuttle-1 since Silver Crow had already registered for it, and so the rest of them would be passengers that protected their shuttle or attacked the shuttles of the rival teams.


    About how, since their HP gauges were locked while in the race, the Level 9 Black Lotus would not be in danger either.


    After somehow managing to explain that far while stumbling over his words, Haruyuki suddenly hesitated. He wasn¡¯t able to decide on the spur of the moment whether he should mention how Blood Leopard of ?Prominence? had registered for Shuttle-2, and how she was looking forward to meeting Sky Raker again.


    However, he immediately decided to remain quiet about it for now. The exchange between Leopard and Raker could only be understood by the two of them.


    Therefore, Haruyuki sucked in a deep breath and then finished with ¡°That¡¯s all!¡±.


    ¡°Good work.¡±


    Kuroyukihime said that and then immediately stood up in Haruyuki¡¯s place as he sat down.


    ¡°You should have learned this from Haruyuki-kun¡¯s mail as well, but an event known as the ?Grand Castle Capture Race? also occurred one year ago as well. I think Raker already understands, but¡­¡±


    Suddenly stopping her words, the Black King struck her right hand¡¯s sword on the ground.


    ¡°Back then, I was completely cut off from the Global Net and was hiding from the assassins of the kings, so I felt veeeeeeeeeery mortified about not being able to participate.


    ¡°I truly did too. I sent a bitter call of resentment all the way to the Grand Castle from on top of the Old Tokyo Tower back then.¡±


    Raker smiled gracefully as she said that, making Kuroyukihime nod in agreement and the other three legion members straighten their backs nervously. While sharing the thought of ?Raker-sensei is truly scary?, they wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if several duel avatars had actually become paralyzed from the grudge and malice contained in Raker¡¯s message back then.


    ¡°Anyway. As a result, I would like to dispel last year¡¯s regret in tomorrow¡¯s race without fail. Takumu-kun and Chiyuri have also gladly agreed to enter, and above all, Haruyuki went through so much trouble to get us the right to participate by noticing the possibility of a new stage appearing and going all the way to the distant Sky Tree. I will allow no excuses for putting this to waste.¡±


    After Kuroyukihime spoke, Haruyuki frantically shook his head and hands.


    ¡°N-No, really, I merely came up with a trifling idea¡­The one who guessed the location and time of the portal¡¯s appearance was senpai¡­¡±


    ¡°That idea was very important. Although the ten participation slots were apparently all quickly filled, it seems most of the registered teams were people that bought an expensive piece of information at an NPC shop in the Unlimited Neutral Field. There were only one or two people besides Haruyuki-kun who realized it on their own.¡±


    ¡°H-Heh¡­So that¡¯s how it was¡­¡±


    Then, that NPC information may have had its announcement on the portal¡¯s appearance slightly delayed. In that case, Haruyuki, who guessed it from scratch by himself, and probably Pard-san were the first people to reach the Hermes Cord.


    In that case, he was really grateful to Chiyuri for inviting him to the Shinjuku Government Office the other day. If he hadn¡¯t gone there, the news about the space elevator would probably not have come to mind in the first place. And of course, he was also grateful to Kuroyukihime for giving him advice during their Dive Call. It truly was good to have comrades¡­As Haruyuki idly thought that¡ª


    ¡°¡­¡­Wait a moment, Lotus.¡±


    Sky Raker lightly raised her hand, and moved her wheelchair forward as its wheels squeaked. She turned the wheelchair around with a smooth motion and faced all the other legion members.


    ¡°I¡¯ve also been looking forward to this kind of event very much. As someone who cut off social interaction in Accel World for a long time, I¡¯m thankful every day that I can fight alongside the members of this legion¡­of the reborn ?Nega Nebulas? once again. If possible, I would like to join forces with everyone and aim for the goal of the race tomorrow as well. However¡­¡±


    She cut off her words for an instant, and dropped her gaze down to her legs wrapped within her long white dress.


    ¡°¡­According to what Crow said, there are only four seats for crew members in the shuttle, and it seems there isn¡¯t any other loading space. Therefore, I would have to remain fixed on a seat without my wheelchair. If I do that, this avatar of mine will just serve as an ornament. If I will just increase the carried weight without doing anything and slow down the shuttle¡¯s speed, it would be better if I didn¡¯t board it in the first place.¡±


    ¡°N-No way!¡±


    Haruyuki reflexively cried out and tried to deny Sky Raker¡¯s words.


    However¡ª


    If Raker were a long range type avatar, she could sufficiently play the role of attacker even while fixed onto her seat. But, just as her vivid sky-blue color indicated, she was a pure close range type. Most likely, in order for close range types to play the role of attacker in the race, they needed to be able to jump over to other shuttles. For Sky Raker, who uses a wheelchair instead of legs, doing that would of course be impossible.


    Watching as Haruyuki grit his teeth hard, Raker spoke gently.


    ¡°Karasu-san[5], don¡¯t worry about it. Even if I¡¯m not there, I believe that you can surely reach the top at the top with you, Lotus, Pile and Bell.¡±


    ¡ªNo, that¡¯s wrong.


    I wanted to take you¡­to take you especially to that pillar reaching up to the sky. There¡¯s something I want to tell you, in that world above that covers the entire length of the 4000 km long space elevator. To tell you a certain thought that cannot be expressed on the ground, where it is weighed down by gravity¡­


    At the same time as Haruyuki thought that in his mind, Kuroyukihime also spoke in a pain-filled voice.


    ¡°¡­Raker. Your avatar¡¯s body weight is probably lighter than Crow¡¯s. There won¡¯t be much difference in the loading weight of the shuttle whether you board it or not. Besides, even if you can¡¯t move from your seat, it¡¯s enough if you just act as a defender¡­¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t do that, Lotus.¡±


    Raker decisively stopped her.


    ¡°Your¡­and Nega Nebulas¡¯ activities should, first and foremost, be for the sake of toppling the other kings and allowing you to reach Level 10. If you end up in first place in tomorrow¡¯s race, you¡¯ll surely be given a considerable amount of Burst Points. That will certainly allow you to get closer to your final objective. In that case, you shouldn¡¯t fuss over me and reduce your chances of victory even slightly¡­Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Her words were far too logical, and more than that, far too painful. Most likely, in Sky Raker¡¯s heart, she had clearly regulated her own role, due to having a big limitation to her movements. She values her power when it can help the legion¡¯s activities. But conversely, she absolutely won¡¯t participate in a battle where she will be a burden.


    In other words, it was like this.


    Sky Raker had already given up on Brain Burst for herself. She had responded to Kuroyukihime¡¯s request and returned to the legion, but her only motive was to help Kuroyukihime. She was strongly forbidding herself from feeling the thrill and excitement of ?duels?, and the joy of talking through fists. Like a punishment that she will bear forever.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s wrong.


    Haruyuki once again whispered that in his mind.


    It was Haruyuki¡¯s goal to make their legion master Kuroyukihime reach Level 10 as well. He was always wishing to be a knight that would continue to properly protect his king until that time came.


    He had no greater priority than that, but he did have a wish that was compatible with it.


    To play and enjoy the fighting game known as Brain Burst.


    Duels must not be fought out of bitterness or pain. They must not be done as work for earning points. There only lies darkness that casts a deep shadow even over the real world down that path, like with the ?Acceleration Research Society?.


    Of course, Haruyuki didn¡¯t believe that Sky Raker would fall into such darkness either¡ªbut, if she still hadn¡¯t forgiven herself, she would never be able to enjoy Brain Burst.


    However, Haruyuki didn¡¯t have a way to convey his thoughts and feelings right now at this place. It seemed to be the same for Kuroyukihime and Takumu, as both of their avatars were stiffened like rocks and were merely looking down.


    Sky Raker tried to break the silence that engulfed everything other than the ticking time count, which showed 10 minutes until the field disappeared, by speaking with a gentle smile. However, an instant before she could speak.


    ¡°Raker-nee-san.¡±


    Without warning, Chiyuri addressed Raker with the name she had come to call her by.


    ¡°What is it, Bell?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s¡­something I¡¯ve always been thinking about, but¡­¡­¡±


    Speaking in a voice as if she were wavering over something, but still expressing a firm will at its core, Lime Bell stood up. She took several steps, and stood before Raker. She took a deep breath, displayed an unusually serious expression on her mask¡ª


    ¡°If you¡¯re okay with it, Nee-san, I¡¯d like to try out returning your legs to normal with my power.¡±


    And she said that.


    The instant he heard her words, Haruyuki widened his eyes. Chiyuri¡¯s¡ªLime Bell¡¯s power, the special technique ?Citron Call?, had the effect of ?reversing time?. It turned back the time of an avatar or objected she targeted with it.


    In ordinary duels, it was used as only a ?fake healing ability? that restored the HP gauges of her allies. But, the technique¡¯s possible applications didn¡¯t stop at that, as proved by the role it played in the battle against Frost Horn and Tourmaline Shell the other day. Since enemies could move and escape from the technique, it was quite difficult to use it on them, but if it succeeded in hitting, it was possible to even force Enhanced Armaments summoned by the enemy to disappear.


    As such, Citron Call was a special technique even rarer than the actual healing ability in a certain sense¡ªhowever.


    ¡°B-But¡­Chiyu.¡±


    Haruyuki reflexively broke into the conversation.


    ¡°Raker-san definitely lost her legs more than three years ago. Could you really turn back time that far back¡­?¡±


    Chiyuri then tilted her pointy witch hat and answered while moving her index finger as if thinking it over.


    ¡°Well¡­My ?Citron Call? has two modes. Mode 1, which consumes half of my special technique gauge, rewinds the state of a duel avatar I target according to the seconds that have passed in the game. This is what I usually use for healing HP.¡±


    Then she held up two fingers and continued.


    ¡°¡­And Mode 2, which consumes an entire full-charged special technique gauge, rewinds avatar status effects besides level-ups¡­in other words, according to each individual permanent change caused by external factors. Like Enhanced Armaments bought with points, or parts and techniques stolen from other avatars, it cancels those kinds of changes one by one. This is what I used to restore Haru¡¯s wings before.¡±


    ¡°So it¡­undoes permanent changes.¡±


    Kuroyukihime whispered that. She gave a short nod, and thoughtfully applied the ridge of her right hand¡¯s sword to her mask¡¯s lower jaw while sitting.


    ¡°It sounds simple, but when you think about it, it¡¯s an unbelievable power. It¡¯s surely the natural enemy, no, the divine punishment towards stealing-type ability users¡­¡±


    ¡°But, since it can¡¯t apply negative interference on the status data of others who have not been made the technique¡¯s target, items that legally belong to people other than the target cannot be returned. That¡¯s why I wouldn¡¯t have been able to return Haru¡¯s wings if I used it on Haru himself. Also, since it¡¯s easy to escape from the technique itself, it is difficult to use on an enemy during battle, Lotus-senpai.¡±


    As Haruyuki tried with difficulty to understand the rules of this slightly complicated technique, Takumu spoke up next.


    ¡°Chii-chan, what is the maximum number of permanent changes that ?Citron Call Mode 2? can cancel by reverse order of when they occurred?¡±


    ¡°Err¡­I haven¡¯t actually tried it, but considering how my gauge decreases, I think the max is up to three changes.¡±


    ¡°Three¡­huh. ¡ªRaker-san, have you received any other status changes since losing your legs?¡±


    After a short pause, the sky-blue answered Takumu¡¯s question.


    ¡°¡­¡­Since I did an exchange of Enhanced Armaments with Karasu-san before¡­if that counts as two changes, then that would make the loss of my legs exactly the third change in reverse order.¡±


    The instant he heard those words, Haruyuki reflexively asked.


    ¡°U-Umm, master. What about that wheelchair¡­?¡±


    The silver wheelchair Sky Raker sat on was the same kind of Enhanced Armament item as Ash Roller¡¯s bike. Haruyuki was wondering whether the acquisition of this counted as a permanent change.


    But Raker shook her head lightly and spoke while quietly striking her chair¡¯s wheels.


    ¡°I acquired this right before I threw away my legs.¡±


    She said that casually, but the meaning hidden in those words was huge.


    In other words, when she had asked Black Lotus to cut off her legs, Sky Raker had predicted that the body part loss damage might become eternal, or perhaps had resolved herself to it. In other words, the damage she received was not something within the limits of the normal game system¡ªit instead fell under the higher-ranked logic of that system¡­


    ¡°Bell.¡±


    Calling out to Chiyuri, Sky Raker¡¯s voice interrupted Haruyuki¡¯s thoughts. As the gazes of the four other people present gathered on her, the Burst Linker that was still living as half a hermit spoke in an infinitely gentle tone.


    ¡°Thank you. I gratefully accept your feelings¡­But, even if it isn¡¯t successful, don¡¯t blame yourself for it. The cause and effect of all this lies only within me, after all.¡±


    Haruyuki felt like those words were half directed to Black Lotus at the same time as Lime Bell. The black crystal avatar¡¯s body stiffened for a moment, and then she turned her face down slightly.


    Chiyuri broke the silence that fell onto the stage with a firm voice.


    ¡°I understand, Raker-nee-san. But, I will definitely return your legs to you. And, Haru.¡±


    She suddenly turned her gaze and pointed her fingers at the blinking Haruyuki.


    ¡°I think that the confirmation message for acquiring an Enhanced Armament will probably come out for you while I use my technique, but you must absolutely cancel it. It¡¯ll make things troublesome later if you don¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Y-Yeah, understood.¡±


    Haruyuki nodded, and then Chiyuri turned her gaze towards the upper right with a glance. She was probably checking that her special technique was still charged up to the base from the territory battle earlier. She then turned her face back down and took a step forward.


    While Lime Bell took one or two steps forward, Kuroyukihime, Takumu and Haruyuki stepped back.


    When the fresh green-covered avatar stood two meters in front of the wheelchair, she lifted the huge bell attached to her left arm and pointed it straight up towards the sky.


    She leaned back her wide-brimmed pointy hat, and sucked in a huge breath. Her slender body bended slightly.


    ¡°Then, let¡¯s do it¡­¡­?Citron?¡­¡­¡±


    At the same time as she started speaking the technique name, she made her bell do a huge counter-clockwise spin in the air. A magnificent ringing sound poured over the field. Although she normally spun it twice when healing the HP of Haruyuki and the others, Chiyuri drew a circle in the air with her bell twice more, and then¡ª


    ¡°¡­¡­?Call?!!¡±


    With a loud shout, she swung her left hand straight down.


    A yellow-green ribbon of light and a chord like that of an angel¡¯s band was released from the big bell and wrapped around Sky Raker. Her long sky-blue hair and the skirt of her white dress fluttered back strongly, and exposed her legs hidden beneath them. There existed nothing at all beneath her round knee parts, as if they had been designed that way from the beginning.


    As Sky Raker shut her dark red eye lenses and grasped her hands together in front of her chest, her entire body glowed lime green for a moment.


    [DO YOU ACQUIRE ENHANCED ARMAMENT ?GALE THRUSTER??]


    Haruyuki quickly pressed the [NO] button of the window that appeared, which was flickering in and out irregularly unlike usual. It was a sign that something was being returned to Sky Raker. Immediately after, Raker¡¯s body glowed strongly once again. This probably meant that Chiyuri¡¯s ability had rewinded back to the second item transfer performed between Haruyuki and Sky Raker.


    Haruyuki once again admired how truly unbelievable it was. Usually, it went without saying that only GMs[6] had the exclusive right to cancel item and money transactions in net games. Due to that overwhelming authority, GMs were often compared to God. However, since Brain Burst had no so-called GMs, Chiyuri could be called the only one to have obtained the power of God¡ªthough only a small fraction of it¡ªin Accel World other than the game¡¯s mysterious developer¡­


    Haruyuki¡¯s momentary thinking was blown away by the third flash.


    ¡°¡­¡­!!¡±


    The three observers held their breaths together and merely widened their eyes.


    In the midst of the strongly surging green light, they definitely saw small light blue particles attached Sky Raker¡¯s knees. They extended downward while rapidly increasing in number. They joined together into thin cylindrical forms with a taper, increased in density, drew the vague form of legs¡ª


    *FUU*


    And then disappeared like visibly melting grains of ice.


    Immediately after, the green light also faded and grew more indistinct along with the sound of bells, before vanishing.


    In the center of the once again silent field, Lime Bell staggered as if she had used up all her energy. However, Black Lotus instantly moved in and caught her back.


    The yellow-green avatar whispered in a hoarse voice while hanging her arms powerlessly at her sides.


    ¡°¡­¡­Why¡­Why¡­Why¡­didn¡¯t they come back¡­?¡±


    The one that answered her was Sky Raker as she quietly fixed the hem of her skirt.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Bell.¡±


    She shook her head slightly while giving a consoling smile.


    ¡°This result proves that the logic of the system whose priority is higher than the usual game system is responsible for the disappearance of my legs. The ?Imagination Control System?¡­in other words, the ?Incarnate System?¡­¡±


    Haruyuki sucked in a sharp breath. As a bigger reaction, Black Lotus drew back her right leg while still holding Lime Bell. Her V-shaped mask quickly turned away.


    Facing the stock still Chiyuri and Kuroyukihime, Sky Raker calmly spoke.


    ¡°Since Bell has still only heard the rough outline of the ?Incarnate System?, it may be hard for her to understand, but¡­three years ago, I tried to raise the altitude limit of my flight through mind power. I wanted my hand to reach the sky in exchange for sacrificing my legs, and I made a contract with God¡­no, the Devil. My wish was only slightly granted. My altitude limit increased by only 100 meters¡­and my legs did not return after that no matter how many times I Dived into the duel field. It is my own mind power that keeps my legs from reappearing. Even I no longer understand how to undo it. That¡¯s why it¡¯s not Bell¡¯s fault that it won¡¯t return to normal¡­much less your fault, Lotus.¡±


    ¡ªIf you pursue mind power, you will definitely lose something in exchange for gaining something.


    Blood Leopard of the Red Legion had once said that to Haruyuki. Back then, Sky Raker¡¯s image might have been in Leopard¡¯s mind when she said that.


    In response to those words, Haruyuki answered with the following. ¡®I want to believe. I want to believe in the Incarnate System¡ªand in Brain Burst itself.¡¯


    That must not be made into a lie. Definitely. For the sake of that as well, Haruyuki had to bring Sky Raker to the top of the Hermes Cord.


    ¡°¡­¡­Raker-san.¡±


    Haruyuki called out to her with a quiet but resolute will in his voice. He gazed straight at her dark red eye lenses, and spoke.


    ¡°I think that the strength of a team¡­of one¡¯s comrades is not decided just by their avatar¡¯s fighting power. Their power of observation, their judgement¡­no, more than that, I think the feeling of doing your best because you¡¯re all together is what¡¯s most important. You support us, Raker-san. Just by having you with us, we can become much, much stronger. That¡¯s why¡­that¡¯s why.¡±


    Haruyuki could only speak up to there with his limited conversational skills. Even so, he somehow expressed what was inside his heart, and when he gripped his hands tightly, the big hand of Cyan Pile suddenly hit his shoulder from behind.


    ¡°It¡¯s just as Haru says. Raker-san, you are an irreplaceable battle force in this legion.¡±


    Chiyuri also gave a big nod to Takumu¡¯s words.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Nee-san! We¡¯re the strongest when the five of us are gathered together!¡±


    And lastly, Kuroyukihime took a step forward.


    ¡°That¡¯s how it is, Raker. It¡¯s just as everyone says.¡±


    The leader of Nega Nebulas quietly spoke in a tone which expressed the pain hidden at her core.


    ¡°I said it to you before. I need you. At any time¡­I will simplify it for you. In tomorrow¡¯s race, if you¡¯re not there, we four won¡¯t be able to do our very best. Just that is reason enough for you to participate.¡±


    Although it was quite high-handed, they were words that contained direct penetrating power.


    Sky Raker widened her eyes for a moment, then gave a faint bitter smile¡ªand shook her white hat as if to say ¡°Really now¡±.


    ¡°Lotus, the way you talk like that hasn¡¯t change since we first met.¡±


    She looked down and lightly stroked her knee with her right hand.


    ¡°¡­Things that are lost won¡¯t return again. But, there are also surely things that continue to shine without being spoiled¡­The right to believe that, no, to wish for that to be so may still be left in me as well¡­¡­¡±


    Her whisper, hardly loud enough to be a sound, flowed out quietly from beneath her hat. At the same time, Haruyuki felt has if he saw a single grain of light escape into the air.


    However, when she raised her head, Sky Raker only gave her usual gentle smile.


    ¡°¡­¡­Thank you, Lotus, Pile, Bell¡­and Crow. I accept all your feelings. ¡ªHowever.¡±


    Then, her expression became mischievous.


    ¡°Since I¡¯m going to participate, you¡¯ll have to throw away na?ve thoughts like getting second or third place. We¡¯ll either win completely, or burn out in the sky.¡±


    *HII*


    Watching Haruyuki as he straightened his back, Takumu and Chiyuri let out unreserved laughter.


    ¡ªYou two don¡¯t know how scary this person can truly be!


    While shouting that inside his mind, Haruyuki also eventually managed to form a smile¡ªthough it was a little stiff¡ªfrom the bottom of his heart.

 Volume 5 - CH 6

    After using the command ¡°Burst Out¡± to return to the real world from the territory battle field, Haruyuki hesitated before opening his eyes as he felt gravity press down on his body.


    He stayed still like that for about 10 seconds, but then finally raised his head up.


    Currently 6 PM, his home¡¯s living room was so deathly silent that the conversation and laughter that he exchanged with the others just a moment ago on the other side seemed like an illusion.


    The room was quite gloomy since the lighting was off. The sliver of the evening sky that could be seen from the gap between the slightly opened curtains was a dull lead color. The only thing moving within his field of vision was the thin second hand moving languidly on the analog-type clock on the wall, which was practically just an accessory in this day and age.


    Haruyuki let out a small sigh and slumped back his body on the sofa.


    Their legion tried as much as possible to Dive for the weekly territory battles on Sunday after gathering together in real life, but when they didn¡¯t have the spare time to do so, they instead participated from each of their respective homes and neighborhoods. Although a single battle in Brain Burst took only 1.8 seconds to finish, having to fight defensively in more than ten consecutives battles, at the very minimum, made it come out to closer to ten minutes when you included the intervals between battles. Today had turned out to be one of those days they each Dived separately, due to Kuroyukihime being unable to leave the student council room. ¡ªOf course, Sky Raker was the only one that participated from a separate location almost every week, due to her house being close to Shibuya.


    Haruyuki could never come to like participating in the territory battles from his home by himself. The reason was simple. It was because, when he Bursted Out after having been absorbed in fighting ten consecutive fierce battles and sharing the joy of victory or regret of defeat with his friends, he always felt an intense loneliness when he suddenly woke up alone in his empty home.


    It wasn¡¯t the kind of extreme loneliness at being completely alone that he¡¯d felt before he¡¯d met Kuroyukihime last autumn and received the Brain Burst program from her. Rather, that would have been more comforting if it were so. Back then, when he ran out of school as soon as school finished every day and returned home as if running away, he would keep immersing himself in the world of games, anime and comics that filled his room. Just talking with others in the real world¡ªno, just being in the same place as other people was painful to him back then.


    Almost eight months.


    It had only been that long since he had become a Burst Linker. And yet, Haruyuki now felt from the bottom of his heart that he wanted to meet with his friends in the legion that he had just parted with a few minutes ago. No, he didn¡¯t care if it was with Niko, Pard-san, Ash Roller, or even Frost Horn. He wanted to exchange fists in a ?duel?, to comment on battles as part of a lively gallery, to meet with others in real life and talk about trivial things.


    ¡°¡­¡­What¡¯s happened to me?¡±


    Murmuring that, Haruyuki buried his face in a sofa cushion. Suddenly, some window opened in the center of his vision along with the default sound effect of his home network, but he hit the confirmation button with his right hand right away without looking at the contents. It was probably an automatic fixed message from his mom anyway about how she would be late tonight again. He quickly forgot about it and imagined the continuation of the question he¡¯d asked within his mind.


    ¡ªHave I become stronger, or weaker?


    Considering how his fear towards other people had decreased, it could be said that he had become stronger. However, that had also increased his dependence on others at the same time.


    When he¡¯d been alone every day, there was nothing else he could lose.


    But now, Haruyuki feared from the bottom of his heart that the personal relations he had obtained in these last eight months would break.


    In particular, the one thread that was firmly connected to the very bottom of his heart and extended straight outwards from there, shining like black silk¡ª


    Even though he knew this kind of thinking was dangerous, he couldn¡¯t stop himself. He tightly shut his eyes while lying face-down on the sofa within his gloomily-lit living room, and continued thinking with his arms folded over his head.


    What the end of the thread connected to was, of course, the person that had saved Haruyuki and was his ?Parent?, Kuroyukihime.


    Kuroyukihime was currently a third-year at Umesato Middle School. And half of this year¡¯s first semester had already passed. In other words, there were ten months left. After only 300 more days passed, Kuroyukihime would graduate from Umesato Middle School. He hadn''t heard anything about which high school she would be going to after that. He was too afraid to ask.


    Haruyuki could feel the actual time passing by little by little even at this very moment, just like the rapid stream of thought from accelerating his mind¡¯s thought processes a thousand times. If he could, he would like to spend all of the remaining ten months in Accel World with Kuroyukihime. On the other side, time would flow almost infinitely, taking up to 820 years for the eight months to pass by his simple calculations, but even that seemed not enough to him.


    ¡°¡­¡­Senpai.¡±


    He let out that whisper and grasped the ends of the cushion harder.


    ¡°Hmm, what is it?¡±


    He imagined hearing her voice from very close by. While remaining face-down, Haruyuki repeated the same words in order to hear the reply of the imaginary Kuroyukihime once again.


    ¡°Senpai¡­¡±


    ¡°Like I said, what is it, Haruyuki-kun?¡±


    Her voice was extremely gentle, not to mention containing a sense of realism, and Haruyuki heavily turned his body to the left, in a mood to see how far the limits of his delusional power went.


    And there, right before his eyes, were two legs wrapped in black stockings, just fifty centimeters away from the sofa.


    After blinking several times, he shifted his vision upwards. There was actually a superb knee-length skirt there. Above that, there was a jet-black short-sleeve shirt with a damp luster and a dark-red ribbon.


    Her slender neck with a piano-black Neuro Linker attached, her long black hair that flowed down bewitchingly, and even her slightly tilted white face that possessed a beauty detached from people everywhere; they all had an overwhelming sense of reality as they filled Haruyuki¡¯s vision.


    ¡­¡­Wow, I really can¡¯t make light of my mind¡¯s delusional power. To think I would see such a clear illusion. Or was this developed from the image data in my memories while I was unconscious? But, do I really have such a high resolution photo of her entire body¡­?


    While thinking that, Haruyuki nonchalantly held out his right hand and used it to grab and pull on the hem of her pleated skirt.


    Even the realistic texture of the cloth and the mass and elasticity of the body beyond that were transmitted to his fingertips, and just when he thought ¡®Let¡¯s see now¡¯.


    ¡°Nyaaah!?¡±


    He heard that scream, and his right hand was smacked away. And then.


    ¡°Wha¡­Wha are you doing, you idiot!!¡±


    A thunderous reprimand rained down on him, and at the same time two slender hands were held out towards him, which then grasped his cheek with three fingers each and mercilessly displayed their pulling power.


    ¡°Hii¡­Hafueh!?¡±


    At the same time as he let out a scream and exclamation of shock, Haruyuki realized.


    This was the real person. Not an illusion, not a photo, and not a solid AR image either. The actual Kuroyukihime had suddenly appeared in the living room of Haruyuki¡¯s house and was raising her eyebrows in anger. But why, and how? Did she teleport here? Or maybe even quantum coherence[1]?


    After about thirty seconds of pulling on Haruyuki¡¯s cheeks, Kuroyukihime sat down on the sofa facing him with a thump and began lecturing him.


    ¡°Hey now, I properly rang the door chime, you know! And since you unlocked the door without even saying hello, I had no choice but to simply enter like that. I even properly greeted you by voice when I was at the door!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Hah?¡±


    Certainly, when he buried his head into the cushion and thought about this or that with his arms covering his ears, he had sensed that some kind of window had opened for a moment. He had thought it was surely a mail from his mother and had pushed the confirmation button without looking at what it said, but apparently it had actually been a notification window for the intercom.


    After summarizing in his mind that leaving the settings on the similar-sounding default message chime had been a mistake and that he should definitely change the ringtone without fail, Haruyuki then straightened his back and opened his mouth again.


    ¡°E-Err¡­¡­W-Welcome, senpai.¡±


    ¡°Hmph. Sorry for intruding.¡±


    Still pouting somewhat, Kuroyukihime answered back while adjusting the hem of her skirt. It was good that he had pulled it downwards just then, since if he had lifted it up, his punishment would definitely not have ended at just a cheek pull.


    As he thought that to himself, Haruyuki was aware that the gears of his thought processes were still turning strangely. That wasn''t the problem, nor was how Kuroyukihime had come up to his home either. The fundamental thing he had to solve first was,


    ¡°¡­¡­S-So, umm¡­why did you suddenly come over to my place¡­?¡±


    He timidly asked that question.


    Based on her uniform and also her school bag lying on the floor, Kuroyukihime seemed to have come directly from Umesato Middle School. If it had been to give him a message, she would have said it when they were having their meeting after the territory battle earlier, and she could have send him a mail or called him as well. So it must have been a matter which she couldn¡¯t discuss through those means.


    ¡°¡­Is it about¡­something that requires an extremely high degree of security to talk about?¡±


    He went ahead and guessed that, but Kuroyukihime shook her head slightly and shrugged her shoulders.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t something as grand as that¡­What, do I not have the right to come over to play every once in a while? Even though Takumu-kun and Chiyuri-kun seem to visit you quite frequently?¡±


    As his cheeks started swelling again, Haruyuki shook his head back and forth at high speed.


    ¡°N-Nononono, that¡¯s not it, that¡¯s not it at all! I-I-I-I¡¯m very happy. You can come every day if you like, rather you could even m-m-move in, wait, what am I saying, ah, that¡¯s right I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ll go get tea! I¡¯ll make it right away so please sit down, wait you¡¯re already sitting I¡¯m sorry!¡±[2]


    Since he was speaking of things that couldn¡¯t be recovered by talking any further, Haruyuki stood up as if rolling off the couch and escaped by dashing to the kitchen. From behind him, he heard her say ¡°Please don¡¯t mind me¡± mixed with confused yet wry laughter, and the instant he heard that, his mental tension finally began to loosen slightly.


    She hadn¡¯t come bearing some strictly confidential matter concerning the legion, but had simply come over to play on her way home. As if he was receiving a fellow classmate as a guest in his home. Like an ordinary middle school student.


    The instant he thought that, Haruyuki barely held back the smile that tried to break out from his lips as he took out the most expensive bag of coffee beans his mother collected from the cupboard and roughly put it into the coffee percolator.


    While the cloudy sky outside the window changed from gray to a perfect pitch black night sky, Haruyuki continued talking in an engrossed state.


    About today¡¯s territory battle. About recent information on Accel World. About tomorrow¡¯s race.


    They didn¡¯t stop at topics concerning Brain Burst; rumours and events at school, local topics within Suginami, and in the end even about the 2047 summer model Neuro Linkers announced by all the Neuro Linker-producing companies. They just kept talking, and talking, and talking about it all.


    ¡°¡­But, I think that the large and high functionality-type Neuro Linkers recently are putting the cart before the horse. In the first place, isn¡¯t it meant to be a device that¡¯s made to be so wearable that you forget you have it on your neck? And yet, the new Hitas model that came out just recently has an extra carry-use external unit made to attach to it!¡±


    ¡°Fufu, I understand how you feel. But, can you say that just by looking at the specs? According to rumor, it¡¯s equipped with a deferred unit line CPU by having the connector and slot connection placed outside the device itself.¡±


    ¡°Uuh¡­N-No, regardless of how amazing the CPU is, it doesn''t give an advantage for Brain Burst duels, right?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, well, you can say that. But, I also heard gossip that the effect processing is rather gorgeous for players that use the newest Linker¡­¡±


    ¡°Seriously!? Unfair, that¡¯s unfair!¡±


    ¡°What, it¡¯s not like their percentage of victories go up due to the beauty of their visuals. By the way, I¡¯ve also decided to change over to the new Recto model next month.¡±


    ¡°Uwah, that¡¯s way, way too unfair! S-Senpai, can¡¯t I also use yours a bit¡­?¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey, you can¡¯t use the Linkers of other people. Even if I did lend it, I don¡¯t think it¡¯d fit on your neck, hahaha¡­¡±


    So much fun.


    Just thinking of having Kuroyukihime to himself, sitting on the other sofa and talking, nodding and laughing with a coffee cup in one hand, Haruyuki could taste a feeling of happiness that rose all the way to the heavens.


    Haruyuki continued engrossing himself in the joy of communication known as a face-to-face conversation in the real world, which was a great luxury nowadays and was also something he still hadn¡¯t been able to do well out of nervousness half a year ago. That¡¯s why he wasn¡¯t able to notice it. The faint hint of sadness that ran through Kuroyukihime¡¯s eyes every once in a while.


    After two hours.


    This span of time that Haruyuki wished would continue forever was interrupted by a low grumbling sound from his stomach.


    ¡°Ah¡­It¡¯s already this late. I overstayed my visit all the way to dinner time.¡±


    After Kuroyukihime said that, Haruyuki shook his head frantically.


    ¡°N-No, it¡¯s fine! My stomach isn¡¯t hungry at all.¡±


    *GUUH*


    His body betrayed his mind again by letting out another grumbling sound. Thinking ¡®This is why I hate this body!¡¯, he covered his stomach with both arms, but dealing with the involuntary actions of his internal organs was quite difficult.


    ¡°Fufu, it¡¯s only natural. Since you participated greatly in today¡¯s territory battle, you probably used up a lot of energy. You should replenish yourself fully for tomorrow.¡±


    Smiling, Kuroyukihime stood up. Although he very much wanted to say ¡®Then, at the very least, how about we have supper together?¡¯, the only things he could prepare were frozen pizza, frozen Doria casserole, or five servings of frozen Chinese fried rice. He really couldn¡¯t call it a menu appropriate for a guest.


    While Haruyuki agonized over this, Kuroyukihime pick up her bag from the floor and began walking through the living room.


    Her footsteps¡ª


    For an instant, her footsteps seemed just slightly heavier compared to her usual gallant gait. A needle of sharp discernment pierced through Haruyuki¡¯s brain.


    ¡ªCould she have come here because there was actually something else she wanted to talk about?


    ¡ªAnd yet I simply talked about my own things and used up the time? Was I so engrossed in only my own happiness and enjoyment that I didn¡¯t notice something important¡­?


    Forgetting his intense hunger as well, Haruyuki opened his mouth.


    But no words came out. How could he ask if she was worried about something, like an afterthought, in this kind of situation? He should have noticed it an hour, or at least thirty minutes earlier. He should have shut his rambling mouth and waited for her to speak.


    While staring at her back as she approached the glass door to the hallway, Haruyuki prayed. ¡®God, please give me just one more chance.¡¯


    It was then that a low-pitched rumbling sound resounded from far away.


    Of course, the source wasn¡¯t Haruyuki¡¯s stomach. It was thunder. When he looked outside the living room window with a start, he saw that the interior of the thick clouds that dimly reflected the city lights of Tokyo were two or three times whiter than before. Shortly after, there was another roll of thunder from slightly closer this time.


    While looking at the raindrops that started instantly striking the window and the blurring color of neon lights, Haruyuki spoke in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°¡­Umm, senpai¡­It¡¯s really raining hard.¡±


    Kuroyukihime also halted, and whispered while looking at him sidelong.


    ¡°The forecast said there was a less than 10% chance of rain until 12 o¡¯clock, though¡­This kind of mistaken prediction is rare.¡±


    ¡°U-Umm¡­do you have an umbrella?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s just as you see. I¡¯m sorry, but¡­¡±


    As she held out her empty hands Haruyuki completely expected her to follow up by saying ¡®Can I take shelter from the rain here for a little while?¡¯¡ªhowever.


    ¡°¡­Can you lend me an umbrella?¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­Yeah, sure, of course.¡±


    After nodding stiffly and heading reluctantly towards the door, Haruyuki¡¯s feet were held back by a second phenomenon.


    A window with a yellow warning mark attached to it popped up in the left side of his vision.


    ¡°Ah¡­There¡¯s a lightning warning and network malfunction alarm for Suginami and Setagaya.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I don¡¯t think I would get hit by an actual bold of lightning, but¡­I hate the connection lag on the road¡­¡±


    Kuroyukihime said that with a shrug of her shoulders. When walking through traffic, it was convenient to have AR[3] information on every place within sight¡ªfrom the traffic report within the vicinity, to the navigation line towards one¡¯s destination, to the distance walked and to one¡¯s calorie expenditure¡ªdisplayed by the Neuro Linker, but when lags occurred frequently due to the network being in bad condition, it instead made walking very difficult.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡­But, the time is already this late¡­¡±


    Although she was usually the kind of person who made quick decisions and took swift action, Kuroyukihime looked at the time with an unusually indecisive tone of voice. Haruyuki also followed suit and turned to look towards the lower right corner of his virtual desktop. It was 8:07 PM. It was a delicate period of time that couldn¡¯t be called either early or late in the evening.


    As the sound of rain and thunder reached them dimly from the other side of the window, the two of them continued standing still with awkward postures in the middle of the living room.


    Haruyuki inhaled and opened his mouth several times. However, no words came out in the end each time. No, he shouldn¡¯t have needed to feel pressured like this. ¡®You should wait until the rain stops and the thunderclouds pass at least.¡¯ Wasn¡¯t it actually a harmless and natural request? Yet, why was his heartbeat skyrocketing like this suddenly?


    He couldn¡¯t read the expression on Kuroyukihime¡¯s sidelong face two meters away. Was she wavering, or listless, or maybe tense, or was she just waiting for something¡­


    *PIPOON*


    A default beeping sound suddenly rang, and Haruyuki shrank back in surprise.


    The window that appeared in the center of his vision was a text message sent via the home server this time. The sender¡ªhis mother. The title¡ªBe back tomorrow night. The contents¡ªI can¡¯t come back tonight, so please care of everything at home.


    The third miracle in a row. Though, it wasn¡¯t actually something so exaggerated. Half the time, Haruyuki¡¯s mother would only return home on weekends after the date changed at night, and the other half she would not return at all. However, to Haruyuki, this message came with the greatest and most final timing. He closed the window and forcibly pushed out his voice from his constricted throat.


    ¡°U-U-Umm¡­I-I¡¯m not really bothered by that kind of thing a-a-at all. That is, umm, ah¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki agonized over how he should tell her about the contents of the mail from his mother in a non-suggestive way, Kuroyukihime touched precisely upon the crux of the matter.


    ¡°No, your mother will also be arriving back home soon, so I¡¯d just be a bother. I¡¯ll just go now¡­¡±


    The instant he heard that, several of the safety valves in Haruyuki¡¯s brain were blown away and the following words simply flew out of his mouth by themselves.


    ¡°No, i-i-it¡¯s fine! Because my mother isn¡¯t c-c-coming back tonight!¡±


    The thought ¡®Oh no, that was way too blunt, it¡¯s like I¡¯m saying I want her to take shelter here from the rain!¡¯ went through Haruyuki¡¯s mind as he fell into an even greater panic, but¡ª


    Even after she heard that, Kuroyukihime¡¯s upper body merely twitched. Eventually, she did a half-turn in the opposite direction to face Haruyuki, and then she whispered while looking at him sidelong.


    ¡°¡­I see. Then, sorry for intruding further, but I¡¯ll take you up on your proposal.¡±


    ¡°I-I-I-It¡¯s p-p-perfectly all right!¡±


    While nodding frantically, Haruyuki thanked his mother¡¯s super laissez-faire parenting policy within his mind. After that, he simply prayed for the thunderclouds overhead to remain there for even a second longer. If possible for an hour, no, at least thirty minutes¡­


    Then, as Kuroyukihime started walking again, her mouth moved at slightly high speed.


    ¡°Now that I think about it, since we¡¯ll all be meeting up here tomorrow as well, it¡¯d be a waste of time for me to leave now.¡±


    ¡°T-That¡¯s right. That would be really inefficient¡­¡±


    ¡ª¡ªHuh?


    It¡¯d be troublesome to leave since she¡¯s coming over tomorrow anyway? Wait, what did she mean by that?


    As Haruyuki froze with an unnatural posture and expression, Kuroyukihime put her bag down on a chair in the dining room, and then,


    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll go down to the mall below for a little while.¡±


    Leaving those words, she went out the door.


    Haruyuki should have next cooked the best-class frozen marguerita pizza that he treasured within the freezer for dinner, made another cup of coffee and then watched the night news program on top of the sofa, but he had almost no memory of doing all that.


    By the time he came to his senses, Haruyuki sitting in the living room alone.


    However, it seemed that everything hadn¡¯t been a delusion, as the faint sound of a hair drier came from the bathroom across the hallway.


    At this point, his brain transmissions that had been idling for over two hours finally entered first gear, and Haruyuki¡¯s thoughts resumed from where they had broken off.


    ¡®It would be troublesome to return.¡¯ In other words, would it be correct to interpret that as meaning she would not be going home before the time of the race tomorrow? Then, didn¡¯t this inevitably lead to a Kuroyukihime remaining here for the night? To put it another way, she was ¡°staying over¡±? Was the occurrence of such a situation legally and morally allowable, even though they were middle school students? But, her words couldn¡¯t be interpreted otherwise, right?


    ¡ªNo, don¡¯t let yourself be shaken, me! Even if that¡¯s the situation, you should be able to cope with it calmly! After all, this wasn¡¯t the first time, she has stayed over before without this kind of feeling, but that time Niko was also here, and furthermore they¡¯d slept in the living room while doing a retro game marathon¡­


    ¡°Thanks for letting me use the bath.¡±


    The living room door suddenly opened, causing Haruyuki to spring up and looked at the owner of the voice with a speed that almost seemed to dislocate his vertebrae.


    She wore a simple set of dull gray pajama top and bottom. She had probably bought it at the shopping mall attached to the apartment building on the ground floor. While rubbing a towel over the hair behind her head, Kuroyukihime spoke with a faint smile.


    ¡°For some reason, the pajamas I have keep increasing one after another.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes¡­Then, you should just leave a pair here.¡±


    After he automatically said that, he realized belatedly what he¡¯d said.


    ¡°No, I-I-I didn¡¯t mean it like t-t-that, I-I-I wasn¡¯t thinking something like how I wanted to you stay over again due to the thunder like today, n-n-no I¡¯m not saying I hate it or anything, not at all, that is, err, err¡ª¡ª¡±


    As Haruyuki shook his arms and head in a complex manner, Kuroyukihime gave a big wry smile and offered some help.


    ¡°How about you use the bath too before the water gets cold?¡±


    ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll do that!¡±


    Getting off the sofa as if rolling off, Haruyuki escaped from the living room at full speed.


    While finishing up his bathing despite being hit by confusion again at steam still filling bathroom and then changing into a sweatshirt and sweatpants instead of pajamas, Haruyuki very carefully considered his next course of action that he would have to choose from among the available options.


    The answer he came to in the end was¡ª


    ¡°Umm, senpai, please use my mother¡¯s bedroom! It¡¯s the door at the end of the hallway! T-T-Then, good night!¡±


    He babbled out those words from the entrance to the living room, and after that shut himself into his room and pulled his blanket over his head, which was a slightly, no, a very pitiful thing to do.


    He had vaguely guessed that Kuroyukihime had come over because there was something she wanted to talk about. However, under these circumstances, Haruyuki didn¡¯t think he could remain calm at all when directly facing her in pajamas. After all, since his brain had already overheated a while ago, he would undoubtedly talk about a hundred more meaningless things instead of saying nothing. No, before that, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if he broke down from hyperventilation, dehydration or arrhythmia first.


    If it was going to end up like that, he should put his head under the covers in his room like this instead. At the very least, he would not have to carry memories, permanently saved in his brain, that would always make him cry out ¡°Wah!¡± or ¡°Gyaah!¡± when he recalled it afterwards.


    Activating his mental shut-in mode at full-throttle back pedal for the first time in a while, Haruyuki continued curling up in his bed while gritting his teeth in self-loathing with the thought ¡®Thinking that I had gotten stronger was just my imagination¡¯ in his mind.


    That¡¯s why, about ten minutes later, when he heard the faint words ¡°Can we talk a little?¡± along with a light nock on his door, he was greatly surprised that he didn¡¯t pretend to be asleep.


    Instead, Haruyuki sat up on his bed and took a deep breath. He chased away the weakness inside him with the breath of air, and then answered ¡°Come in¡± in a hoarse yet clear voice.


    Opening the door and coming in without a sound, Kuroyukihime was for some reason holding one of the big cushions from the living room sofa in her arms. She took a single look around the room, and then quickly walked forward and sat down on the edge of his bed.


    ¡°I thought you would say no.¡±


    After Kuroyukihime said that in a low voice with her back turned to him, Haruyuki also answered back quietly.


    ¡°¡­I also thought I would say that.¡±


    ¡°Why did you change your mind?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­err¡­¡±


    His emotions were unexpectedly calm. Instead, Haruyuki even felt a tranquil composure in this astounding situation. That might have been due to his relief at not having made a huge error at the last minute here.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s because I believed that you surely had something truly important to talk about, senpai.¡±


    ¡°What, so then you tried to swiftly go to sleep even though you noticed that?¡±


    Seeing her slender back twitch and go stiff, he apologized while scratching his head.


    ¡°S-Sorry.¡±


    ¡°¡­Well, I¡¯ll forgive you since you let me into your room like this.¡±


    Letting the tension go out of her shoulders, Kuroyukihime turned her body a little and looked at Haruyuki as he sat in the middle of the bed. Her expression was gentle, but just as he thought, the sadness that had wavered over her face all day long still hadn¡¯t disappeared from her eyes.


    She raised her slender fingers and stroked the piano-black Neuro Linker attached to her neck. At the same time, she whispered quietly.


    ¡°?Those that use up all their points and have Brain Burst forcefully uninstalled lose all their memories connected to it at the same time.?¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s breath caught in his throat. That was the Brain Burst program¡¯s secrecy protection system that they had seen proof of almost two months ago. It was a form of absolute salvation, but ultimately a merciless punishment for losers.


    Lowering her hand, Kuroyukihime gave a smile that had various feelings mixed into it.


    ¡°When I was clearly demonstrated the truth of this final rule, which had only been a rumor until then, in the most irrefutable fashion possible, I became very afraid. Because, if I¡¯m beaten by any of the other ?Kings? even once, it means that I would forget who I was at that very instant. But, Haruyuki-kun. At the same time, I¡­also felt relieved¡­¡±


    Unable to immediately grasp the meaning of her words, Haruyuki was confused. Kuroyukihime gripped the cushion on top of her knees harder, and continued with her eyes cast downwards.


    ¡°¡­¡­Two and a half years ago, I banished one of the ?Kings? from Accel World forever with a surprise attack during a meeting. Since then, I have always been frightened in the deepest depths of my heart. I thought that he¡­the boy who was once the first generation Red King, ?Red Rider?, held a profound resentment towards me from somewhere in Tokyo.¡±


    Haruyuki sucked in a sharp breath.


    He had heard this story several times before. No, he had even seen a replay file that recorded that very scene once. Therefore, he had come to understand the size of the scar which that incident had left in Kuroyukihime¡¯s heart, but at the same time, he had foolishly thought that she had already overcome that pain.


    Unconsciously leaning his body towards Kuroyukihime as she set on the left side of the bed, Haruyuki spoke keenly.


    ¡°B-But¡­Even if it was a surprise attack¡­Wasn¡¯t it a legal attack in accordance with the rules? Furthermore, he didn¡¯t even have a non-aggression pact with the legion boss he was facing at the time. In that case, he shouldn¡¯t bear a grudge¡­¡±


    Kuroyukihime shook her head gently but clearly and interrupted Haruyuki¡¯s desperate words.


    ¡°That¡¯s wrong, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­What do you mean, that¡¯s wrong¡­?¡±


    ¡°The attack I used when I cut off Red Rider¡¯s head was my Level 8 special technique, ?Death By Embracing?. It has an attack range of only 70 centimeters, but in exchange it has a high attack power. ¡ªThat being said, regardless of how strong it is, it still shouldn¡¯t have had the power to instantly kill Rider, who was the same level as me and moreover had a high defense just below that of the green and blue colors due to being a pure battle type. Yes¡­you probably already understand. At that time, I activated the ?Incarnate System?. I used the forbidden power that all seven Kings had sworn to not use after subduing the fourth generation ?Chrome Disaster?¡­¡±


    This time, Haruyuki was speechless.


    The high-ranking interface hidden within Brain Burst, the ?image control system?. Crossing over the limits within the game by intentionally using this interface was, in other words, the ?Incarnate System?. Its power was the greatest, but at the same time it seemed to also have a terrifying dark side to it. All the high-ranked players Haruyuki knew had told him that all those that pursue its power are swallowed up by the darkness within their hearts. Kuroyukihime, sitting in front of him, was not an exception to that either.


    Her slender shoulders slumped even further and a dry voice came from her.


    ¡°¡­¡­Rider has a right to resent me, after I broke the oath we all swore. Although I don¡¯t have any regrets at having chosen to fight the other Kings, my arms are still stained with the feel of that one attack¡­¡ªThat¡¯s why, Haruyuki-kun, for a long time I stubbornly didn¡¯t believe in the rumor that former Burst Linkers lose their memories of Accel World. Because I couldn¡¯t allow myself to cling to that rumor and let myself feel better because of it. However, when it was proved two months ago that the rumor of memory erasure was true¡­I was relieved. I recognized that Rider no longer remembers that he was the Red King and that he was banished due to my betrayal, and I felt relieved about it from the bottom of my heart. Geez¡­what an incorrigible cowards I am¡­¡±


    Chuckling slightly, the pajama-wearing Kuroyukihime looked unusually weak and fragile. Haruyuki mustered what little courage he had and shortened the distance between them by another five centimeters.


    However, he of course didn¡¯t touch her hand, but at least spoke as best he could.


    ¡°Se¡­Senpai. Umm, I think that the reason the existence of the memory erasure process is hidden is because it creates an incredible pressure within you if you fight while knowing about it. Bu¡­But, we already know about it. From now on, we have to fight while understanding that resolve. So¡­it isn¡¯t cowardly to instead be a bit relieved about it¡­rather, I believe it¡¯s perfectly justifiable.¡±


    Kuroyukihime raised her head a little and glanced at Haruyuki. A painful yet gentle smile spread over her pale lips.


    ¡°¡­I see. That kind of logical opinion is just like you. That¡¯s right, you should fight under that belief¡­But, I probably don¡¯t have that right¡­¡±


    ¡°Wh¡­Why!?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­because the Burst Linkers that received an unrecoverable loss due to an incarnate attack by me aren¡¯t just Rider alone.¡±


    Blinking several times, Haruyuki frowned and asked.


    ¡°By that¡­you mean the fourth generation Chrome Disaster? B-But, that couldn¡¯t be helped with him, right?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡±


    Swaying her damp hair, Kuroyukihime shook her head feebly. After several seconds, she said the person¡¯s name in voice that was almost like a sigh.


    ¡°My¡­old friend. The only person I had a friendship with in the real world before I made you my ?Child?¡­Fuuko, no, Sky Raker.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Eh¡­?¡±


    ¡°The reason Raker¡¯s legs weren¡¯t restored even with Chiyuri-kun¡¯s ?Citron Call? after the territory battle today wasn¡¯t because her will power didn¡¯t work. It was because of me. Most likely, my will power is still eating into Raker¡¯s scars even now and is preventing them from being healed. Like a poison¡­Like a curse.¡±


    ¡°No way! No way, that can¡¯t be!!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted fervently. Shaking his head repeatedly, he leaned forward his upper body and argued back vehemently.


    ¡°Raker-san said that she forcibly asked you to do that, senpai. You tried to dissuade her right until the end, but Raker-san wouldn¡¯t change her mind no matter what, so you reluctantly cut her legs off¡­Isn¡¯t that how is was!?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct, on the surface¡­¡±


    Burying her face into the cushion in her arms, Kuroyukihime whispered.


    ¡°But¡­my twelve-year-old self back in those days was far more childish and foolish than I am now. I couldn¡¯t understand her feelings when she chose¡­couldn¡¯t help but choose to yearn for the sky instead of fighting alongside me as the legion¡¯s sub-master. At the very end, when I realized that Raker would never change her mind, I felt sad¡­and angry¡­and so I loaded all those feelings into the blade of my right arm and cut off Raker¡¯s legs. At that time, there was surely the thought ¡®Then you should lose your legs forever¡¯ within my heart as I used will power. That became a curse which remains to this day. Just like the deep-seated grudge of the first generation Disaster that produced the ?Armor of Catastrophe? in the past¡­¡±


    She put even more strength into her hands holding the cushion. Her low cracked voice flowed into the dim bedroom.


    ¡°¡­The will power that Raker and you use is an embodiment of ?hope?. But I¡¯m different. I override phenomena with the opposite¡­with the power of ?anger?, ?resentment? and ?despair?. I don¡¯t pile up or create anything, I just cut through everything, and lose everything. It¡¯s as if my avatar is an extremely ugly form that symbolizes that¡­Everyone in the reborn, no, in the second generation ?Nega Nebulas? that you revived will also one day be lost if they continue to fight with me¡­definitely¡­¡­¡±


    The volume of the last half of her words sank even lower, so much that Haruyuki felt as he was hearing not sound, but rather Kuroyukihime¡¯s self-reproach itself.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s wrong. That¡¯s wrong. That¡¯s definitely wrong.


    ?Despair? and ?loss? can¡¯t be your true nature. Because, I was saved by you. You keenly held out your hand and pulled me up from the bottom of the bottom within the pitch-black bog I was in. You gave me overwhelming ?salvation?!


    Although he shouted that in his mind, he definitely wasn¡¯t capable enough to put those swirling feelings into words. Haruyuki gritted his teeth hard, and thought desperately about how he could convey to Kuroyukihime just how much he had been saved by her and Brain Burst.


    After five seconds, the answer he came to was¡ª


    ¡°¡­¡­Senpai.¡±


    Haruyuki called out to her, and quietly held out an item he picked up from the corner of his headboard.


    It was a XSB cable with a silver wire. Gripping the plug at one end in his left hand and the other end in his right hand that he was holding out to her, Haruyuki spoke.


    ¡°Senpai, please ?duel? with me. If we do that, I think I¡¯ll surely get you to understand. About¡­about how¡­¡±


    Unable to suppress the feelings that came welling up, tears fell in drops from Haruyuki¡¯s eyes. He took a deep breath while sniffling and then continued in a trembling voice.


    ¡°¡­how important you are to me.¡±


    Kuroyukihime turned her face halfway up towards Haruyuki, and widened her eyes. Showing an expression that went from shock, to hesitation, and to fear, she finally settled on a light yet pain-filled smile.


    ¡°¡­You always surprise me.¡±


    Muttering that, she took the plug.


    But, instead of putting it in her Neuro Linker, Kuroyukihime crossed over the bed and sat on her knees right in front of Haruyuki. The scent of soap and shampoo drifted to his noise, and his mind jumped in spite of the situation.


    ¡°Now that I think about, this is the first time we¡¯re¡­¡±


    Leaving her words there, she put her plug into the port on Haruyuki¡¯s Neuro Linker.


    ¡°¡­f-fighting each other one-on-one.¡±


    Finishing her sentence, Haruyuki also held out his plug to Kuroyukihime¡¯s Neuro Linker while suppressing the shaking of the hand holding it. He jacked it in at the same time as they ended up face-to-face and pressed against each other. A wired connection warning blinked in his vision.


    While soaking himself in the sensation of touching not just digital signals, but each other¡¯s consciousness themselves, Haruyuki quietly recited the command.


    ¡°Burst Link.¡±


    Clad in silver metallic armor, his thin legs stepped onto a floor of cracked marble.


    Haruyuki¡¯s apartment building had changed into a white-walled shrine. All the walls that divided the rooms of every apartment disappeared, and it all turned into a single floor consisting of a vast circular atrium. The ceiling was high, supported by Greek-style pillars in some places. Faint pale yellow sunlight shined in from openings along its perimeter.


    It was the same ?Dusk? stage where Haruyuki had received his first lecture from Kuroyukihime in the past. When he finished confirming his surroundings, he turned his gaze forward, and there, 20 meters away from him¡ªa beautiful obsidian avatar stood there quietly.


    Both her hands and legs were made of long swords. A petal-like armored skirt enclosed her thin waist, and both sides of her face mask gleamed sharply.


    Accel World¡¯s rebel, the Black Knight ?Black Lotus?, had her arms lowered without taking any stance, and her faced was slightly tilted downwards. However, that slender figure emitted an intense pressure that made Haruyuki feel as if he were standing under a huge guillotine, and so ?Silver Crow?¡¯s thin body unconsciously shook.


    ¡ªNo, I can¡¯t let myself be seized with fear in this situation!


    He shouted that at himself beneath his silver exterior.


    Haruyuki had a reason for challenging Kuroyukihime to a ?duel?. It was something incredibly simple. He wanted to convey to her a certain belief that supported him as a Burst Linker. That was¡ª


    ?Brain Burst? is, at its foundation, an online player-vs-player battle game.


    And all games are meant to be enjoyed.


    For the thrill, the excitement, and the passion in playing. And in the case of net games, for the feeling of solidarity that came with competing and fighting alongside others. All players had a right to receive that. Games never exist for the sake of suffering.


    In order to convey this belief to Kuroyukihime, the only thing Haruyuki could do was to muster his entire body and soul to fight her right here and now. With all his strength, he would challenge her, who thought that her avatar and will power projected ?despair? and that those who crossed blades with her would also be consumed by it as well. And, he would remind her of the pleasure of dueling.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s why, I¡¯m¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m going to come at you seriously, senpai!!¡±


    Shouting that, Haruyuki fiercely dashed forward off the ground.


    Black Lotus still didn¡¯t move. However, he didn¡¯t slow down his momentum, and so he ran through the twenty meter distance between them in an instant and stepped right up to her so strongly that he cracked the marble floor.


    His first attack was his best specialty, a left-hand straight punch, which he aimed at the center of her body with the maximum spin of his waist and shoulder to give it more power. Kuroyukihime stepped one leg back at just the last second and narrowly avoided his attack.


    Although she had had accepted Haruyuki¡¯s challenge, she was probably still held back by hesitation. Her movements didn¡¯t have their usual sharpness. Although she raised her right-hand sword for a counter thrust, Haruyuki could clearly see the point of the sword as if it were in slow motion.


    He gathered his fingers on his right hand into a straight open palm while extending the hand forward. Wielding his arm like a whip, he tried to repel Kuroyukihime¡¯s attack with a hand thrust.


    Even though they had never fought each other directly, since they had fought side by side in territory battles for over half a year, Haruyuki had noticed a single very small weak point in the way Kuroyukihime fought at close range.


    Although the swords on Black Lotus¡¯ four limbs were terrifying weapons that equally integrated both offense and defense, they were still swords, and so their power had a certain orientation and direction. To be specific, their strength was concentrated only on the blade edges, and the body of the sword was actually rather vulnerable.


    Of course, they couldn¡¯t be broken with just a single strike, but it was possible to pile up damage. That was the only chance of winning that he would be able to find in a close range battle with her.


    ¡°¡­Kh!¡±


    Along with a sharp righting yell, Haruyuki thrusted his right hand into the side of the blade being swung at him¡ªor tried to.


    However, the impact he expected didn¡¯t occur. Instead.


    Feeling a soft sensation he couldn¡¯t described except as ¡®gentle¡¯, Haruyuki was shocked.


    The long jet-black sword enfolded Haruyuki¡¯s hand thrust with a small outward motion. He couldn¡¯t believe it, but it looked as if the blade had changed into a soft material and halted his arm with a spiral motion around it. But, the moment after he felt that¡ª


    ¡°Hah!¡±


    Letting out a momentary exhalation, Kuroyukihime shook her right arm sharply while taking a step forward.


    Instantly, an explosive repelling force hit Haruyuki from his arm to his shoulder and chest.


    ¡°Wha¡­¡­¡±


    By the time he managed to croak that out, he had already been helplessly blown backwards. Unable to adjust his stance either, his back crashed into one of the distant pillars. The pillar broke with a loud crash, but even so Haruyuki didn¡¯t stop there, and after rolling on the floor some distance further, he finally stopped with his limbs spread out.


    After seeing sparks flicker before his eyes for over a second, he shook his head and quickly stood up. Somehow managing to stay standing despite his shaking legs, he raised his head and shouted out.


    ¡°Wha¡­What was that just now!?¡±


    Slowly approaching him with her legs¡¯ hovering movement from far away, Kuroyukihime shrugged slightly and answered back.


    ¡°A soft technique for facing a hard technique[4]¡­I suppose you could describe like that. Someday I¡¯ll tell you about the time I trained in the Chinatown area within Yokohama¡­More importantly, Haruyuki-kun. Wasn¡¯t there something you wanted to tell me?¡±


    Her voice was calm, but Haruyuki was strongly conscious of a feeling of suffocating loneliness contained within her tone.


    Just as he thought, the current Kuroyukihime was always imprisoned by the feelings buried deep inside her. ¡®My fighting can only create negative energy. I can give neither the excitement of battle nor the feeling of solidarity from competing against each other to my opponent.¡¯ That¡¯s what she believed.


    ¡ªNo, that¡¯s wrong!


    ¡ªI¡¯m experiencing the strongest shiver in my body right now. It isn¡¯t due to fear. My entire body is shaking from the thought of having such a strong person in front of me¡­and of having that person fight me.


    Haruyuki resisted the urge the shout that out, and clenched his fists tightly.


    He wouldn¡¯t be able to convey this to her with words. That¡¯s why he requested this duel. He couldn¡¯t cower from having been blown back once in this situation. He couldn¡¯t stop until he completely used up his entire being right now.


    ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯ll tell you with my fists!¡±


    Shouting loudly, Haruyuki once again dashed forward.


    His health gauge had decreased by 20% due to the attack that had sent him flying just now. However, in exchange, his special technique gauge had also been charged up. While running, he unfolded the metal fins on his back one by one.


    He threw away his plan of counter-attacking Black Lotus¡¯ sword from its side. He risked everything on the three-dimensional rush attack from zero-distance that he had secretly trained for a long time.


    ¡°Uu¡­oooh!¡±


    Crying out, he did another long punch. Kuroyukihime also did a thrust with her right sword just like before. As things stood, he would be hit first due to the difference in reach between them.


    The shining point of the sword approached closer and close, and the instant it was about to touch his helmet¡ª


    Haruyuki strongly vibrated his left wing just once. Silver Crow¡¯s body slid to the right without any preliminary movement, and the sword scattered sparks across the surface of his helmet as it just barely passed by him.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Kuroyukihime sucked in a short breath. But she didn¡¯t stop her movement even slightly, and instead rotated her body with her left leg¡¯s sword as the axis and tried to dodge Haruyuki¡¯s punch. At that instant, Haruyuki¡¯s right wing quivered this time. He corrected his trajectory once again, and¡ª


    *KIIIN!* With a small yet clear sound of impact, sparks burst out from Black Lotus¡¯ left should armor. Her health gauge indicated to the top right of his vision lost only a single small dot, but it definitely decreased.


    ¡ªNow!


    ¡°Seaaah!¡±


    Haruyuki let out a war cry and raised his right leg. Ordinarily, he wouldn¡¯t be able to successfully use a high kick when glued to his opponent like thos. That was because a minimum fixed distance from the tip of his left foot that served as the axis of rotation and the tip of his right foot that dealt the damage was required. Kuroyukihime had perhaps figured that out as well, and instead of receiving or dodging the attack, she tried to counter with an elbow strike.


    However, at that moment, Haruyuki once again activated only his right wing at full throttle for an instant. Using the center of his tilted body as the axis, he let out a groan as he put a miniscule swing that should have been impossible into his high kick.


    Kuroyukihime stopped her elbow strike and bent her body back, but Silver Crow¡¯s sharp toes grazed the left side of Black Lotus¡¯ mask. Once again, sparks were emitted and minimum damage was dealt.


    Having finished his bold move, Haruyuki was forced to experience a momentary stiff posture that was only natural at this point. Perhaps hating having her opponent glued to her, Kuroyukihime jumped back and crouched her body. But Haruyuki kicked off the ground with his left leg using the momentum from swinging his right leg. He activated his right wing for an instant again. Using the rotation this created, he unleashed a back roundhouse kick with his left leg.


    Kuroyukihime blocked it with her bent left arm and received an intense impact. An orange flash effect dyed both their armors and the surrounding marble.


    While perceiving the upper right gauge at the edge of his vision go down by two dots, Haruyuki added thrust from his left wing this time into the recoil of his kick. He rapidly counter-rotated in mid-air, and using that energy he thrusted with his left hand. His fingertips shallowly dug into Kuroyukihime¡¯s right shoulder. He then activated both his wings when the two of them were face to face with each other. His double knee-kick was unfortunately blocked by her right arm, but it caused the greatest impact thus far to shake the stage. Damage, three dots.


    ¡ªThis was his second special technique that specially utilized flight ability, where he did a non-stop rush attack that efficiently employed momentary bursts of thrust from his wings, to which Haruyuki had dedicated special training for after the ?bullet-dodging? training from before. Its name was ?Aerial Combo?. Compared to the first technique he had, ?Dive Attack?, its appearance was modest and it didn¡¯t deal extra-large damage, but it could be used even indoors unlike the first and it could also be activated starting from when his special technique reached 20%. And most of all¡ªit was almost impossible to defend against when seeing it for the first time!


    ¡°Oooh!¡±


    Immersing his entire body in the sensation of acceleration as if his nervous system was bursting apart, Haruyuki sped up his rush attacks further. Remaining glued to his opponent, he continued letting out attacks with all four of his limbs while almost never landing on the ground. All of his attacks were avoided or blocked at the last minute, but it still gradually accumulated bits of damage to Black Lotus¡¯ gauge.


    Even while frantically moving his entire body, Haruyuki shouted out within his mind.


    ¡ªSenpai, this is my current self. This is all the power contained in me, who you saved from that bog and gave wings to. If your true nature is ?despair? and ?loss? that cuts down everything¡­then what do you make of this battle!?


    Without him noticing, Silver Crow¡¯s form had turn into an aggregation of silver light that shined in the air. Putting at full throttle the reaction speed he¡¯d trained at the virtual squash game in the Umesato Middle School local network, which had once served as the incentive that made him catch Kuroyukihime¡¯s eye, Haruyuki continued unleashing his Aerial Combo. Although he wasn¡¯t certain how many dozens of attacks he¡¯d done, he still hadn¡¯t landed even one clean hit. Kuroyukihime silently devoted herself to defense, and continued doing nothing but evading or blocking Haruyuki¡¯s unpredictable rush attacks.


    Although they didn¡¯t exchange any words, after a certain amount of time Haruyuki was conscious of a deep emotion that was exchanged between the two whenever their avatars came into contact.


    It was admiration. Towards Kuroyukihime¡¯s defensive skill for Haruyuki. And most likely towards Haruyuki¡¯s mid-air rush attacks for Kuroyukihime. Both of them felt unbelievably, deeply impressed and excited.


    Suddenly, he felt as if he heard a voice.


    ¡ª¡ªAah, I see¡­So that¡¯s it.


    ¡ª¡ªThis is a ?duel?. You need only forget everything else, become one with your duel avatar, and fight to your heart¡¯s content. Even if this is a world that will disappear in just 1.8 seconds, even if it¡¯s a contact that will end in 1.8 seconds¡­An innocent duel will surely leave something behind. It will give something to you¡­


    ¡ª¡ªRider and I. The countless number of battles between Rider and I that we had when we were young also surely¡­created something precious¡­that remains behind even now, within both of our hearts¡­¡­


    Haruyuki didn¡¯t know if he really did hear those thoughts.


    Because that voice was transmitted to him in the space between seconds when Haruyuki¡¯s right fist, which he had lunged out dozens of times, was touched and drawn in by Kuroyukihime¡¯s left sword, a transient instant that couldn¡¯t really be called time.


    The next instant, that mysterious attraction intensely drew in Haruyuki¡¯s fist once again.


    ¡­Ah, that ?soft technique?¡­!


    Gritting his teeth, Haruyuki tried to oppose the explosive repelling force.


    However, it never hit him. Instead, Haruyuki¡¯s body was pulled up to Kuroyukihime¡¯s chest, and was firmly halted and held within her arms.


    ¡°Eh¡­¡­¡±


    While Haruyuki stiffened as he was unable to judge what he should do in response to this very unexpected development, this time an actual voice whispered in his ear.


    ¡°You were splendid, Haruyuki.¡±


    ¡ªEh? The duel is over? But, both our gauges still full, and there¡¯s still time left, isn¡¯t there?


    When he checked their respective health gauges in confusion, Haruyuki realized something important.


    Silver Crow¡¯s special technique gauge had been consumed what he¡¯d accumulated on it due to his continuous momentary thrusts of his wings, and now not even 10% of it remained.


    On the other hand, Black Lotus¡¯ special technique gauge was completely filled due to her endless blocking, and was shining a brilliant blue from end to end.


    ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve used this technique in two and a half years. Thank you, Silver Crow. Nice fight.¡±


    At the same time as she whispered that, Black Lotus¡¯ arms, which now wrapped around Haruyuki¡¯s back from both sides, emitted an intense violet-blue flash.


    ¡°?Death By Embracing?.¡±


    Right after she uttered the technique name¡ªthere was a light cutting sound. Before its echo could even fade away, Silver Crow¡¯s entire health gauge was dyed red¡ªdecreased swiftly from the right end¡ªand reached zero.


    ¡­¡­Really, what power she has.


    At the same time as the greatest feeling of admiration he felt thus far filled his chest, the flaming words [YOU LOSE] appeared before his eyes. Luckily, before the feeling of being cut in half could reach his senses, Haruyuki¡¯s entire body shattered into pixels while emitting a silver light.


    He escaped from the darkness where he was filled with a feeling of floating, and returned to reality.


    Opening his eyes on top of his bed, Haruyuki blinked several times, and looked for Kuroyukihime¡¯s face, which should have been right in front of him.


    But, he couldn¡¯t find it. Because Kuroyukihime had pressed her body against his, put her head on his left shoulder, and wrapped her arms around his back at some point.


    ¡°Ah, umm, hey¡­¡±


    As the sensation of her hair tickled his cheeks and the scent of her shampoo directly hit his brain, Haruyuki tried to jump up while still sitting. However, he wasn¡¯t able to perform such a dexterous movement at a time like this, and instead his balance was broken backwards. He tried to frantically recover his posture with the thrust of his wings, but the back of his physical body was of course equipped with no such thing.


    As Haruyuki fell down onto the mattress, Kuroyukihime¡¯s slender body softly landed on his chest shortly after.


    With only the faint sound of the air conditioner pervading the room, Haruyuki¡¯s entire body froze completely this time as he widened his eyes. ¡®First calm down, coolly judge the situation, and act!¡¯ is what went through his mind, as he completely failed to grasp what had happened.


    He was lying down on his bed in his usual sweatshirt and sweatpants attire at 11:00 PM. Up till this point was okay. There were no problems. However, the pajama-wearing Kuroyukihime was on top of his body, with both arms wrapped around him, and was also putting further strength into them¡ªwas this situation really reality? In the first place, why had they ended up in this kind of position? Was this all the work of a city-wide virus or something?


    ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m surprised.¡±


    When a voice spoke directly in his left ear, Haruyuki¡¯s extremely confused thoughts halted.


    ¡°You¡­became that strong without me realizing it¡­¡­¡±


    Unable to think at all as he heard that emotion-filled murmured voice, Haruyuki¡¯s mouth moved by itself.


    ¡°B-But, the end result was an almost perfect win for you, senpai¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°That merely reflects the difference in levels. That battle was far more even-matched than you think. I was forced to desperately block while you continued your mid-air rush attacks for an incredibly long time.¡±


    ¡°Re¡­Really¡­?¡±


    He skeptically muttered. In his estimation, though, he honestly thought the difference in true strength between himself and the Black King was like the distance from the bottom station of the space elevator to the top or geostationary orbit station.


    But Kuroyukihime raised her head slightly, and then looked into Haruyuki¡¯s eyes from point-blank range and smiled weakly.


    ¡°Really. Aah¡­I wish I could convey to you how happy and how moved I am right now!¡±


    A light like stardust whirled and glittered within her wide jet-black pupils. Just seeing that blew away his mind once again. Haruyuki didn¡¯t know from whose heart the intense heartbeat he heard came from as they remained glued to each other with no space between them.


    As the tips of their noses were so close that they touched, and they held each other¡¯s gazes¡ª


    Kuroyukihime continued speaking quietly.


    ¡°¡­At the very least, I¡¯ll believe in the path I¡¯ve walked until now. I still have many regrets, but¡­even so, the enormous time I spent in Accel World and the countless duels I accumulated weren¡¯t useless. Because I got to find and invite you at the end of that path¡­¡±


    She moved her right hand from his back and gently stroked Haruyuki¡¯s cheek with her fingers.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun. I¡¯m proud of you.¡±


    The instant he heard those words.


    All of the fright inside him concerning the current situation evaporated.


    Instead, something hot overflowed out from his eyes, and dripped down his face and onto the sheets. The drops of liquid spilled out one after another without stopping.


    While frantically blinking strongly several times and rubbing his face against the top of his right hand, Haruyuki apologized in a blurred voice.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡­Umm, s-sorry. I¡­err, I, I¡­¡±


    But no matter what he did, even his voice trembled greatly, and he sobbed like a child between his words. Desperately withstanding it, he managed to continue.


    ¡°¡­¡­T-That¡¯s the first time since I was born that anyone¡­has ever said they¡¯re proud of me.¡±


    Hating the idea of exposing his ugly tearful face any further, Haruyuki tried to push his face into the sheets.


    But, Kuroyukihime seized Haruyuki with all her strength, and while gently caressing his head with her right hand, she pressed her own face against his tear-streaked cheek and whispered again.


    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll say it proportionally to the fourteen years that you¡¯ve lived. You are my¡­the Black King Black Lotus¡¯ only child and greatest partner that I take pride in above all others.¡±


    As she gently touched his head, something crammed in his chest seemed to comfortably lessen. Haruyuki let out a long breath, and quietly closed his eyes.


    A very faint voiced reached his ears.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not all. Your self in the real world, Arita Haruyuki, is also¡­my, the Black¡­¡­¡¯s¡­¡­¡±


    But, he couldn¡¯t hear the rest of it.


    Because Haruyuki had probably committed his greatest error this night right here.


    The fatigue of fighting with all his strength in a duel, the sweet pain that had melted into overflowing feelings, and the sensation of that gentle hand and the warmth of the body touching him all fused together and sucked his consciousness into a smooth darkness¡­


    In other words, he fell asleep. Out like a light. Just like a child.


    At the very end, he felt like he heard a single short phrase mixed with a smile.


    ¡ª¡ªGoodnight, Haruyuki-kun.

 Volume 6 - CH 1

    ¡°...This car is master¡¯s personal property?¡±


    Unable to withstand the tension from the impending ?Seven King Conference?, Haruyuki suddenly inquired from the rear seat, which made the person in the driver''s seat his ?Master?, Fuuko shake her head in surprise.


    ¡°No way. It¡¯s my mother¡¯s since no matter what I cannot buy an automobile with just a high school student¡¯s allowance.¡±


    ¡°Th, that¡¯s right.¡±


    The EV had a round cute form, but the bright cream yellow interior had leather upholstery and the center of the steering wheel had a snake and cross shaped emblem. Even Haruyuki was very familiar with it, as it was something from an established Italian automobile maker. Let alone university student, not even young members of society can easily afford that kind of price.


    ¡°You seem to be very used to driving, so I thought that maybe it was yours. That license is your own... right?¡±


    The answer to the cautiously asked second question, was not from Fuuko but was instead from the navigator seated Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Fufu, of course. Fuuko is 16 this year, so she is a woman who can obtain license or get married, unlike us.¡±


    ¡°...Saa-chan, I don¡¯t like the way you said that...¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I see, a woman huh.¡¯


    After that moment of fleeting thought, Haruyuki shook his flabby head and revived.


    The qualification for acquiring a driver license was lowered from the normal 18 years old to 16 years old about 7 or 8 years ago. The official reason was, the social camera net completion and the vehicle control AI became mandatory so traffic accident rate was greatly reduced. That was the story but there seem to be a hidden side.


    Japan in year 2040, was overcome with unbounded declining birthrate and aging population, and the social security system was on the verge of collapse. The annual increase in health care, long term care and public pension expenditure became unsupportable by the working generation. At that point, with the driver¡¯s license as representative, various qualification acquisition ages were lowered so as to increase the number of working young people- this was the government''s intention. In fact, the Labor Standards Act was also amended at that time, so it became possible to hire 16 year olds as a full time company employee.


    That meant Fuuko was already, in a legal sense, over half of an adult. And then Kuroyukihime who became 15 this year will be one next year. In just two years Haruyuki''s time will also come.


    Of course, graduating from middle school does not immediately mean having the need to find employment, and in fact one will continue to be a child, but even so, Haruyuki could not help but feel uneasy about it.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª How long, will I be able to stay as my current self.¡¯


    After thinking about that kind of thing, he suddenly made a bitter smile inside his heart. Not wanting to be his current self and wanting to escape somewhere far away, this kind of longing was something that Haruyuki was supposed to continue feeling for a long time.


    That desire had not disappeared. He still hated his external form and he still could not like his middle school. However if right now some kind of God said to him, ¡®I will change you to a different person living at a different place¡¯, then he would probably firmly reject the offer. ?This Place? was, in the short term, being in the rear seat of the EV driven by Fuuko, and in the long term, being a Burst Linker in a corner of the Accelerated World. Putting it another way, with ?Brain Burst? boasting enormous size and finesse, he would be a player of this game that offered him unlimited thrill and excitement. He did not wish for any more than that, not a thing.


    But even that was probably not forever.


    Brain Burst was a game. A game will eventually end. No, aiming only to reach that ending, Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime were fighting.


    What kind of shape the game¡¯s conclusion will be, he could not understand right now. When Kuroyukihime reach the level 10 she wished for, will Brain Burst itself be cleared, or will the ?End of Childhood Time? kind of ending come, robbing them of their play rights without mercy, or will even some other kind of ending he could not imagine be visited upon them?


    That was why right now, he should go all out.


    Do his best to play, enjoy, and then protect. This world that himself and the people he loved could be together in.


    In the somewhat tight rear seat, he swore that in his heart and held his fist tight ¡ª¡ª then, Haruyuki soon remembered the circumstance he had fallen into, and blew out a deep sigh.


    In fact, this was not a situation where he could say cool things like ¡®I will protect!¡¯.


    The agenda of the ?Seven King Conference?, which was to start in 10 minutes, was number one, a countermeasure against the mysterious destructive group, ?Acceleration Research Society?, that suddenly appeared in the accelerated world and number two, how to deal with the unbelievable revival of the enhanced armament, ?Disaster Armor? and Chrome Disaster.


    Whichever agenda, if it was just one week ago, would have just been an over the cloud talk for the not yet level 5 Haruyuki. For discussion between Kings and their aides, he would be glad to just look on from the audience seat.


    However, right now Haruyuki, instead of being an audience, would be standing in the center of the stage.


    Since, the one who revived the Disaster Armor, and became the sixth generation owner, was Silver Crow ¡ª¡ª Haruyuki himself.


    ¡°...No need to become so tense, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    With the arrival of calm words from the front seat, his face jerked up.


    The owner of the voice suddenly pulled the nav seat¡¯s reclining lever and the backrest started to tilt. Right in front of Haruyuki, who panicky dodged to the driver side, the seat fell all the way to full flat. Long black hair smoothly flowed, and part of it touched Haruyuki¡¯s lap.


    Today¡¯s Kuroyukihime, was in unusually casual clothes. Above her grey slim jeans was a tight print T-shirt. On top of that was a thin punching leather material short sleeved shirt. The color was, of course, black. It was in contrast to the ivory type one piece and three quarter length leggings that showed the feminine side of Fuuko, but it did not diminish her official kind of beauty by one bit.


    Kuroyukihime, who was in a sleeping position in front of Haruyuki, casually extended her right hand, grabbed Haruyuki¡¯s T-shirt collar with her fingertips and pulled. As his body leaned forward as if sucked in, a sweet scent different from the car air freshener tickled his nose, and Haruyuki¡¯s thinking rapidly decelerated.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to be afraid of anything. It¡¯s ok, I will not let the Kings do anything to you. You, will be protected by me.¡±


    After that was whispered at an extremely close distance, his head became more dizzy, so, after desperately putting his brain in gear, Haruyuki answered.


    ¡°Th... thank you very much. But... that is, all the Kings other than senpai will of course, ask for enforcement on Silver Crow right? That means... legion master¡¯s ?Judgement Blow?...¡±


    ¡°Well, probably.¡±


    ¡°If that... was refused, won¡¯t that be bad for senpai, how to say it, image-wise?¡±


    What Haruyuki had experienced, was how unbelievably cruel the ?Many who wore the hat of justification? could become. The delinquent students, who bullied Haruyuki a lot during the first year, did not irrationally wield violence at the start. At the beginning they came by with friendly faces, then at the moment that Haruyuki refused their invitation and distanced himself, they used the pretext of ?Betrayal of companionship? and showed their fangs.


    This time, as for reason, he thought that the Kings have more of it than Kuroyukihime. The ?Disaster Armor? was a curse that had a lot of victims since the beginning of accelerated world, and even Haruyuki thought that it needs to be erased. On the other hand, if he could erase it by his own operation, then he would have done it already.


    If that was not possible, then he should be dealt with by all the Burst Linkers. If Kuroyukihime rejected that ?Valid? opinion, then what kind of mental and physical pressure will the Kings shower upon them?


    That, was only Haruyuki¡¯s worry ¡ª¡ª however.


    ¡°Hahaha, what are you saying that at this time for?¡±


    The sudden light laughter that flew by, made him blink his eyes a few times.


    Then Kuroyukihime¡¯s smile changed to a fearless one, and exaggerated in a somewhat low sound.


    ¡°I am already their enemy. I did not join their foolish ?Mutual no invasion treaty? either. If they have a problem, then the six Kings can just come duel me. That is exactly what I wish for, right?¡±


    ¡°...Senpai...¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Truly, what a strong, cool... and brave person.¡¯


    While he was impressed within his chest, he of course did not have the ability to put it into words, so the least Haruyuki could do was look with all his heart into the shining deep black eyes at close range.


    Doing so made Kuroyukihime¡¯s sharp look soften, and she again kindly smiled as she accepted Haruyuki¡¯s gaze. With her lips moving slightly, a lowest volume whisper shook the air lightly.


    ¡°Thinking back, I had been protected by you a lot since the beginning...¡±


    The lightly extended fingertip, gently touched Haruyuki¡¯s right cheek. Even while his heart beat loudly, he somehow managed to answer in a raspy sound.


    ¡°No way... That¡¯s not it... I had also...¡±


    However Kuroyukihime lightly poked Haruyuki¡¯s cheek with her index finger to seal his objection.


    ¡°I am your ?Parent?. So I have the right to protect you any time. That¡¯s why, at least during times like this, rely on me without saying anything.¡±


    ¡°...Sen, pai.¡±


    With his chest quickly tightening, Haruyuki somehow managed to say just that, and continued to exchange gazes with Kuroyukihime. The sword King that returned a kind nod, as her fingertip stayed on Haruyuki¡¯s cheek, once more whispered her words from a few seconds ago.


    ¡°I promise. You, I will protect.¡±


    ¡°...Yes. Yes.. I believe yomugiu!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª There, the reason that the ending of his words were overwritten by spoiled sound was.


    The backrest of the driver¡¯s seat suddenly fell down, and squashed Haruyuki.


    The hand that thrust out from the seat¡¯s edge grabbed hold of Haruyuki¡¯s left ear and at the same time it was pulled, Fuuko¡¯s face peeked out with both cheeks blown up hugely, and said in a resentful voice.


    ¡°Hey Saa-chan, Karasu-san! Getting excited in someone¡¯s car is forbidden, you hear!¡±


    The two people in the front returned their seat angle back to normal and as Haruyuki fixed his depth in the back seat, it was 3 minutes to 2 pm in the afternoon already.


    Looking up through the window, he saw somewhat moody light clouds in the middle of June sky, but spots of blue color also showed their faces here and there. There did not seem to be any worry of sudden thunderstorm disrupting Neuro Linker connection.


    Continuing after a slight cough, Kuroyukihime said tensely.


    ¡°This time¡¯s conference is not an everyone connected become fighting opponents kind of ?Battle Royale Mode? and instead, the host, ?Blue King?¡¯s two close aides will duel and other participants will be in the gallery which will automatically dive in. That is, there is no need to think about danger of anyone attacking us.¡±


    ¡°Ah... Including ?Incarnate System? type of attacks too?¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s question was answered by Fuuko.


    ¡°Yea, even if mind power is used, you cannot do something like attack the gallery in the normal duel field since the gallery does not even have a HP gauge. In the previous week¡¯s ?Hermes Code Traverse Race?, the reason that the participants and audience were hurt by Rust Jigsaw¡¯s mind power was because the HP gauge was set for everyone, but the number for it was locked due to the special field status.¡±


    ¡°I see, it was that right... Somehow... someway, it was like...¡±


    As Haruyuki murmured obscurely, Kuroyukihime added with a quiet sound.


    ¡°Somehow it was like, it seems there was leeway left for destroying the race with mind power, that?¡±


    ¡°Ye... N, no, to that degree is...¡±


    He hurriedly shook his head. If that was said, then the next conjecture would inevitably hold true. That was ¡ª¡ª that destructive act by Rust Jigsaw, was approved by the developer of Brain Burst.


    No way, it could not be that. That simply could not be. The identity unknown developer, who managed Brain Burst for whatever goal was still a mystery, but Haruyuki had already began to feel a deep respect for him/her as a gamer. The person who built and maintains this much of a fun, exciting, and immersive game... no, ?world?, could not be helping some dirty guy from the likes of ?Acceleration Research Society?.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    As he strongly ground his inner teeth, Kuroyukihime¡¯s gentle sound called out.


    ¡°Listen, remember just this. Accelerated world¡¯s main actors are each and everyone of the Burst Linkers. You''re the same. What kind of form you commit to this world is fully left up to your choice. No matter what the developer¡¯s intent is.¡±


    ¡°...Yes!¡±


    At the same time as his deep nod, the time display at the edge of his view showed that it was 10 seconds before the appointed time.


    ¡°Good response. ¡ª¡ª So then everyone, start Global connection.¡±


    Under the legion master¡¯s direction, three fingers pressed the link button on each of their Neuro Linkers.


    After the Global Net connection display lit up, the connection status continued after, and 2 seconds after that icon disappeared ¡ª¡ª.


    A ¡®ViShiiiii!¡¯ kind of acceleration sound echoed fully in Haruyuki¡¯s hearing.


    In the center of his view, [A REGISTERED DUEL IS BEGINNING!] in flame letters brilliantly flared up.

 Volume 6 - CH 2

    Weird yellow-green light filled the sky. Bluish black tiles laid on the ground. Fang like projections decorated buildings, and a dense fog flowed between them.


    ¡°...The ?Demonic City? stage huh. Well, it could be said to match today¡¯s objective.¡±


    After the Black King, Black Lotus murmured that, her sharp tipped foot made a loud stomping sound on the tile below.


    After looking at the loved and respected legion master¡¯s flowing and ferocious shape for a while, Haruyuki stared at the sky colored avatar tucked away beside her.


    This one was an entirely graceful standing shape. On the back of the delicate female type body, somewhat blue thick hair flowed down like wings. The two hands and two legs with smooth lines were not equipped with anything weapon-like.


    However, Haruyuki knew. Right now, firmly stepping on the ground, the two slender legs that allowed the avatar to stand up, was her, Sky Raker¡¯s proof of the miracle caused by her.


    If Black Lotus was Haruyuki¡¯s ?Parent? and ?Sword Master?, then Raker was someone that he should call ?Master?. For a long time, she retired from front line of accelerated duels and lived a secluded life on top of the old Tokyo Tower that was forgotten by most people.


    The reason was that about two and half years ago, her two legs were cut off at the knees by her own will, and over half of her battle ability was lost. However, having a similar kind of power, ?Flight Ability?, which he temporary lost, Haruyuki met her, and through her initiating him in the ?Incarnate System?, she slowly recovered her passion for duels and then in the previous week¡¯s ?Hermes Code Traverse Race?, she overcame the wound of her heart that chained her, and recovered her legs.


    Haruyuki had thoroughly understood how incredibly hard it was to escape from under the influence of negative imagination after being controlled by Chrome Disaster once.


    Probably, if at that time Chiyuri, Lime Bell, had not used her ?Rewind the target avatar¡¯s time backwards? kind of transcendental power special ability to help him, then Haruyuki would probably be swallowed by the armor and hatred for himself and would have indiscriminately attacked the few hundred people of the gallery.


    With just a few minutes of sinking into negative mind power, it was at a point that he could no longer return. And yet, Sky Raker cut apart the chains of fear and despair that continued to bound her for two and a half real time years. If this was not called a miracle, what else could it be called?


    While being hit with deep emotion, he stared deeply at Raker¡¯s two legs, then ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°Why, Karasu-san, do you like my beautiful legs that much?¡±


    After being called out with that laughter filled sound, Haruyuki hurriedly shook his head and both hands.


    ¡°Th, that¡¯s not it, no, of course it¡¯s very beautiful, but it¡¯s not that...¡±


    ¡°Hoo, you have a leg fetish huh. Sorry about that, I don¡¯t have any calves or ankles.¡±


    This time Kuroyukihime said with lights of daggers in her violet blue eyes. Haruyuki changed his face¡¯s direction, and again pleaded.


    ¡°No, no way, I love senpai¡¯s legs also... ah, it¡¯s not like I have a fetish or anything like that...!¡±


    Realizing that anymore he said will bog him down, he pointed to the southeast direction and shouted.


    ¡°In, instead of that, look, the guide cursor is pointing, in that direction! Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s hurry and go.¡±


    Like Haruyuki said, in the center of his view were two grey triangles quietly pointing in the same direction. Over there should be the two aides of the Blue legion that was acting as host for today¡¯s conference. Furthermore, above the cursors were two HP gauges lined up, with a countdown in the center. It should have started at 1800 seconds, and that was already decreased to 1750.


    ¡°Nn, I think it was strictly said to gather within 100 seconds. No choice, let¡¯s run.¡±


    The three people nodded to each other, then all started to dash southwards in the Demonic City streets.


    In he normal duel gallery, in exchange losing rights to destroy the terrain, they are given the maximum movement and jump power. Haruyuki¡¯s group sprinted up the wall of the building blocking them and this time moved forward in a direct line from rooftop to rooftop.


    After running for about 20 seconds, they cut through the deep fog that was in front of them all the way.


    The scenery that appeared before his eyes, made Haruyuki involuntarily call out.


    ¡°Uwaa..., Hu, huge...¡±


    It was the ?Castle?.


    A bit southeast of the position where the cursor pointed, stood a way to huge building that seemed to connect to the sky. The castle made up of steel towers shining blue light, and strange sculptures, released a stronger presence than anything else in the Demonic City stage, and could even be called something divine. It was surrounded by high castle walls and wide waterways, where an entrance like object was nowhere to be found.


    During the numerous duels that he had in Suginami and Shinjuku, he had caught glimpses of the castle¡¯s shape standing far in the eastern sky, but it was the first time that he had seen it at this close distance. As Haruyuki looked dazedly at the huge castle¡¯s majesty, Kuroyukihime that was right beside him whispered.


    ¡°That, is the ?Imperial Palace? in the real world. Even in the accelerated world, it¡¯s the only place that you cannot enter no matter what method you use.¡±


    ¡°Fl... flying is no good either?¡±


    The one who answered his question, was Fuuko who ran at his left side.


    ¡°Yea. Above and below the castle walls, are set with invisible walls. That¡¯s why, flying or going under ground is no good. At the beginning, a lot of methods were tried though...¡±


    ¡°Aa. Something like inside were hidden super incredible enhanced armaments, there were various rumors. However, still there was not a single person that manage to invade it. ¡ª¡ª In the normal duel field, that is.¡±


    Feeling something from the way that Kuroyukihime said it, Haruyuki asked in return.


    ¡°Wha... that, what does it mean?¡±


    However, before the answer returned, Fuuko sharply whispered.


    ¡°Saw it... above that hill!¡±


    He looked towards where the finger pointed. Then he could see it, above a small hill where they were heading towards, were two small humanoid shadows... no, he could see three of them. In the real world, that place was probably where the imperial palace ?East Gardens? was located. Different than the main palace, it was open to the public, and Haruyuki had also been there during a social studies field trip while he was in elementary school.


    They slowed down slightly, and approached with caution. Even though he was attending at a no possibility of being attacked gallery, thinking about soon meeting the ?Pure Color Kings? that controlled the accelerated world directly, his body could not help but shake.


    They crossed the bridge over a wide waterway, went through a magnificent gate, then started to climb up the stairs set on the side of the hill. The absolutely uninvadable ?Demonic City? stood just to the right side, but Haruyuki did not turn his sight that way, and just continued to stare at the top of the hill.


    The steps eventually ended, and a wide stone paved space opened up in front of his eyes.


    In the real world, it was the place where a wide patch of grass marked the Edo castle site. However there was not any kind of plant here, and in exchange, steel cylinders stood there, forming a large ring.


    However, somehow, just one cylinder was a bit short, with about 50 cm in height.


    Over there, a duel avatar was sitting.


    Blue. Like it could suck you in, a transparent feeling of a deep blue color. Not the color of the sky or the sea, it was hard to compare with anything real- that was the pure blue that covered his whole body.


    The armor type was fully a knight type. However without any of ?Disaster Armor?¡¯s sense of scourge, it was the elegant shape of a legendary hero. On both sides of the visor helmet extended dragon like horns and a large and long two handed sword was worn on the left waist.


    With left leg resting on right knee, the blue avatar''s arms were crossed in a relaxed posture. His stature was not all that big. Standing up, he would be about Takumu, Cyan Pile¡¯s, height. However, from that whole body exuded an overwhelming pressure like a meteor coming from outer space which made Haruyuki come to a stop more than 20 meters in front of him.


    ¡°...Th, that is...¡±


    After he whispered that in a raspy sound, Raker next to him nodded slightly.


    ¡°Yea. That is, controlling Shinjuku area and Bunkyo area, legion ?Leonids? leader... with ?Vanquish?, ?Legend Slayer?, and many other nicknames, the lever 9-er Blue King, that is ?Blue Knight?.¡±


    ¡°Blue... Knight...¡±


    In other games, it was an ultra simple name that could be given to small fry monsters, but when heard in the accelerated world, it gave the opposite of absolute one and only feel to it.


    While the bottomless intimidation made his back shook, Haruyuki finally remembered. That knight, was not Haruyuki¡¯s dueler. As for stance, they were both just gallery. If even though he was just an onlooker with no attack power or HP gauge, he felt that much pressure already, then if it was a one on one duel, he would be afraid of just thinking about it.


    Then, at that moment. A small ¡®Kin¡¯ sound echoing released Haruyuki from his paralysis.


    That was the sound of a footstep from Kuroyukihime who took taking a step forward. The Black King, Black Lotus walked forward a few steps while making the Blue King¡¯s fierce aura seem like a breeze, then waved her right sword hand lightly.


    ¡°Since today you are the boss, I will say a greeting before you get mad. Still the same stifling look huh, Knight?¡±


    To Kuroyukihime¡¯s words, Haruyuki screamed in his head, ¡®Wh why are you trying to provoke him!¡¯. On top of that, beside him Raker laughed, so he almost back-dashed to flee, but fortunately, before that happened, the blue knight avatar said in a cool and clear young man¡¯s voice.


    ¡°...You know, that can¡¯t be called a greeting, Lotus. You still seem to be the same bad tempered person, even after two and a half years.¡±


    With a ¡®Clash¡¯ armor sound, he shrugged. At the same time, the blood lust that was being released dispersed as if it was just a lie.


    Somehow the Blue King, from his speech pattern, was a more informal person than he thought. Since the blue legion attacked the black legion area without pause every week, he thought the King himself was burning with desire to enforce Kuroyukihime, but somehow, it did not seem to be the case...


    At the moment Haruyuki relaxed his shoulders, from both sides of the Blue King, from inside the wisps of dense fog, two humanoid shadows with very similar forms slid out without a sound.


    ¡ª¡ª Samurai!


    He thought of that instantly. The slender and long armor, was a Japanese style armor made from overlapping horizontally long metal pieces. As for color, the left avatar was a deep ultramarine blue. And the right one somewhat bright bluish green. On the head, instead of a kabuto[1], was a tied hachigane[2], with bundled long hair trailing down. Based on the body figures, both were female.


    The two female samurai, after moving forward with a few mysterious sliding steps, placed their hand on the handle of the katana on their left waist, and released a low sound.


    ¡°Saying rude words to our Vanquish, we won¡¯t forgive even a King!¡±


    ¡°Traitor, be thankful that you are even allowed to be here!¡±


    And then again, killing instinct that shook the air with a crackle blew by, making Haruyuki shake with a ¡®Hiiiii ¡ª¡ª¡¯, a soundless scream.


    Being one of Black King¡¯s followers, he should spit out similar cool words here as a retort, but he felt that if he said anything, his head would be blown away, so could not even open his mouth. Since, without a doubt those samurai were the two Blue King¡¯s aides that created this field, and that meant as ?Dueler?s, they have the right to remove disruptive people from the gallery when they both agree.


    ¡ª¡ª However, at the next moment.


    ¡°Why, after not seeing you for a while, you two seem to have became quite bossy mouthed, Ojou[3]-chans.¡±


    The sound that was released with laugher, was from Sky Raker. With ¡®Clop clop¡¯ sound of high heels, she walked to stand beside Kuroyukihime, then extended her right palm towards the samurai, as she wiggled her finger.


    ¡°Can I hang both of you from the roof of the Tokyo government office building again, just like the old times?¡±


    ¡°Hi, Hiiiii ¡ª¡ª¡±. Haruyuki again screamed soundlessly. ¡®You really did that?!¡¯, he shouted inside his chest, then accepted the fact that it would not be strange for her to do just that after all.


    The two armored samurai, with burning anger appearing on their long eye lenses, gripped their katana handle at the same time.


    ¡°¡°You bitch...¡±¡±


    The beautifully matched shout that came from different mouths, was covered by the Blue King¡¯s wry smile mixed voice from behind.


    ¡°Leave it at that, Cobal, Maaga.¡±


    ¡°¡°...Yes.¡±¡±


    With a quick nod, both stepped back at the same time.


    After Haruyuki blew out a breath of relief, he belatedly looked at the two HP gauges in the top of his view.


    Under the left gauge was, ?Cobalt Blade?. And under the right gauge, ?Manganese Blade? kind of avatar name shone. With name and looks matched to this degree, those two people must be very similar characters in the real world as well.


    For example, if they were twin sisters, then the Blue King that had them as closest aides, must be an incredible person in all kind of meanings... As he had that and other strange things in his imagination, Kuroyukihime shook her shoulders slightly then again spoke.


    ¡°Setting that aside, Knight. Don¡¯t just sit there by yourself. Shouldn''t you prepare a seat for me too?¡±


    ¡°Oops, excuse me.¡±


    The Blue King waved his hand to signal the two armored samurai.


    Then the samurai lowered their waist, and once again place their hand on the handle of their katana. Without giving the chance for Haruyuki to cower in shock ¡ª¡ª.


    With high clear metallic sounds, two lines of bluish white flashes expanded in the stage.


    With wide eyes, Haruyuki watched as the two people¡¯s right hands moved like a fog, the katana brightly flashing momentarily, and again returned to their sheath. He could only capture the scene in those three frames of static pictures.


    Right after, the white flowing dense fog was finely cut, and as if to chase after that, the huge cylinders to the samurai¡¯s left and right side fell soundlessly, two at a time for three times. Next the total of six cylinders, crushed to the ground with loud echoes, then broke and blew apart as numerous bluish black metallic pieces. Afterwards, all that was left were mirror like cut surfaces remaining as ?stumps?.


    ¡°...No... no way...¡±


    Haruyuki could only mutter while dumbfounded.


    This normal duel field¡¯s attribute was without a doubt, ?Demonic City?. The first special feature was that the terrain objects were unusually hard. When Haruyuki was training for the Incarnate System, to be able to pierce the same Demonic City stage tower walls a few cm actually required one week of fierce training.


    And yet, Cobalt Blade and Manganese Blade were able to cut down three cylinders with a flash of their katana. If it was Haruyuki instead of cylinders that stood there, then without doubt his head and body would have had a tearful goodbye from one hit.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª That, was Lenoids¡¯ most elite linker¡¯s ability. And then the ?King?¡¯s power should be further beyond that.¡¯


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I, we, were going to fight those people...¡¯


    Again deep fear grasped his avatar¡¯s whole body, then suddenly his back was hit.


    It was Sky Raker. The glamorous avatar without a single weapon, whispered to Haruyuki with her mouth close to his ear.


    ¡°Cutting down immobile cylinders, is just a show, Karasu-san. If you are that scared, then later I will have to punish you ?.¡±


    Surprised.


    Leaving the standing straight Haruyuki behind, the Black King and her sworn friend casually started to walk, where Kuroyukihime sat on the closet stump to the right, and Raker stood behind her. Even more afraid of his teacher Raker¡¯s punishment than the samurai avatar¡¯s katana, Haruyuki hurriedly chased after, and could only stand beside Raker with arms crossed and chest high.


    The samurai again returned behind their master and the momentarily silent stage was broken by Kuroyukihime¡¯s annoyed sound.


    ¡°...Well then, since the greetings to the host is finished, isn¡¯t it about time you guys showed yourselves? 100 seconds have passed long ago.¡±


    Actually, the time count had already about to cut below 1600. However, what did she mean by ¡®show yourself¡¯? This place only has, six people from Blue and Black legions...


    Haruyuki thought that, and was about look around, but before that ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°Say what, I was trying to be polite and you had to say it like that, Lotus.¡±


    A sound filled with childish innocence and immobile strength echoed from somewhere, then a ¡®click¡¯ kind of soft footstep followed it.


    When he turned that way while startled, he saw that on top of the stump three meters to the right near them, appeared a silhouette.


    A standing carnivore, that was the impression of the form for the dark red avatar. Without seeing the triangle sharp ears and long tail, he knew that was the ?Bloody Kitty? nicknamed Red legion ?Prominence? executive, ?Blood Leopard?.


    And then on her left arm, was the owner of the previous voice, where a small built crimson avatar sat.


    Two antenna extended in a twintail shape. Round and cute eye lens. Smooth and round armored limbs. The tiny size and shape made this girl seem as cute as a ruby, but she was the leader of Prominence that control Nerima and Nakano areas and was also the Red King, ?Scarlet Rain?.


    The origin of her nickname ?Immobile Fortress?''s huge firepower containers had not been equipped. As he looked at the lovely face profile, Haruyuki was going to greet the girls as Rain and Pard-san, and got ready to open his mouth.


    However, right after.


    From the two red type avatars, an aura that was not any less than the Blue King¡¯s was released, sealing Haruyuki¡¯s mouth.


    Different from mind power¡¯s ?Over Ray?. This was invisible, pure fighting spirit.


    In the accelerated world where everything was recorded in digital code, this ?Feeling of Aura? kind of phenomena was not necessary hallucination. Logically, it was said in an occult way that it might be ?The weight of battle information contained in the duel avatar was felt as pressure for others?, but actually, just the existence of the truly strong person overwhelm the underdogs. Like right now, the two red people making Haruyuki cower.


    The Red King, real name Kouduki Yuniko that is Niko, and also Blood Leopard that is Pard-san, those two were Haruyuki¡¯s friends that had shown each other their real self. And then Prominence and Nega Nebulas, also due to past joint battle, had signed an indefinite ceasefire agreement.


    However, even with that said, they could not have close friendly relations everywhere, which those two¡¯s strict face profiles told him. While feeling a slight loneliness, Haruyuki also felt that that was the correct thing. Since, after all, Brain Burst exists for the people who own it to fight each other and become strong.


    No ¡ª¡ª.


    There was one more reason, that made it hard for Haruyuki to face Niko.


    The Chrome Disaster that was currently on Silver Crow was supposed to have been erased when Niko, as the legion master, used ?Judgement? on the previous owner who was her ?Parent?. That meant in another sense, Niko had way stronger motivation than any other King here to insist on Haruyuki¡¯s execution...


    After forcibly stopping himself from thinking ahead, Haruyuki returned his face to the front. At the same time, Blood Leopard¡¯s voice lowly echoed.


    ¡°Just the King and me from ?Promi?. Greeting completed.¡±


    Niko jumped off the arm and sat on the round chair, then Leopard stood behind her, with her hands on her waist.


    With this, three out of seven Kings have gathered. Of the seven cut pillars that drew a half circle, the Blue King sat on the center one. Towards the right end was the Black King. To the right side was the Red King.


    Where will be next, as Haruyuki tried to change his posture ¡ª¡ª.


    What came echoing from far in the fog, was not a footstep, but a high pitched laughter from deep in the throat.


    ¡°Kuu, KuuKuuKu...¡±


    The laughter that was clearly filled with ridicule and contempt seemed to be familiar. However he could not tell which direction it was coming from. He looked around, but soon the source went around behind him.


    ¡°Kuku..., ?King? huh? If I remember right, ''King'' seems to refer to the ?Seven King of Pure Color?. But, the little kid that is sitting there... Isn¡¯t that color a bit too cheap to be called red...?¡±


    The words that were thrown out from somewhere, was clearly an insult to the Red King, Scarlet Rain.


    Niko, was the only ?Second Generation? of the Kings that ruled seven large legions. The first generation Red King, Red Rider was gone. Two and half years ago, the Black King¡¯s one hit made him lose his head, and, in the accelerated world where level 9 duelers have a sudden death rule, he was forever retired. Rebuilding the once collapsed ?Prominence?, and becoming the second generation master was Niko. To be sure, the avatar color was not pure red, but a somewhat brighter scarlet, which absolutely in no way made her a fake king. Since ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°C, color makes no difference! Rain¡¯s true power allowed her to reach level 9, and there is no other condition for a King!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª that is the reason.


    Right then, Haruyuki finally realized that he had shouted with his mouth what he was thinking of in his head. Raker beside him snickered, and he felt that Niko sitting a bit away also let out a wry smile.


    ¡°...Since what I wanted to say was said by that Karasu, let me add just one more thing. ¡ª¡ª As for cheapness, that¡¯s a good comparison to your banana color I think. There is no time, come out already.¡±


    After saying that, the Red King snapped her right hand fingers loudly, then pointed towards the center of three pillars on the other side.


    Haruyuki hurriedly gazed that way, and on top of the short pillar that was empty till now, he seemed to notice that there was a small paper doll like thing standing there. After his head was tilted about 5 cm, he finally realized it.


    That, was the same thing as what Kuroyukihime had used while hiding from assassins from the Kings, and still wanted to obtain information from the Accelerated World, the ?Spectator Use Dummy Avatar?. The voice¡¯s owner took advantage of the fact that he connected to this field as a gallery, and changed his avatar to something that was very hard to notice.


    Right after Haruyuki realized that, a puff of white smoke went up from the center of the paper doll.


    After that was blown away by the stage¡¯s breeze, what was standing on top of the pillar, was a fresh ¡ª¡ª or poisonous yellow equipment, and slender clown type duel avatar.


    A hat with largely curved horns on either side. A face mask with eyes and mouth in a thin smile. From round swelling shoulders and waist, were stringy long limbs.


    Brushing his jaw with his needle thin right hand finger, the clown casually leaked out a chuckle.


    ¡°KuuKuu, banana color is a bit nasty. For me, I like to be compared to Uranium, you know? But well, there¡¯s no choice. Since this is time it is determined by the monkey and child¡¯s love of banana, Kukuku...¡±


    This clown who continued laughing while swaying his head, was the person who set a trap for both Kuroyukihime and Niko, the ?Yellow King?, controlling three areas of Taito, Arakawa, and Adachi, including Akihabara, the legion ?Crypt Cosmic Circus?¡¯s leader ¡ª¡ª ?Yellow Radio?.


    His gesture and glibness, did not show the heavy pressure from the other Kings.


    However, he was someone who could not be underestimated, something which Haruyuki understood very well after seeing him and Kuroyukihime¡¯s close combat at a distance. Radio is pure yellow, that is, a pure ?Indirect Attack Type? and he fought evenly in close combat with Black Lotus.


    Somehow the Yellow King seemed to appear without bringing any companion. After stilling his laughter, he put his right hand to his chest, and bowed in courtesy. Then he slid down to sit on the pillar.


    ¡ª¡ª With this, four people.


    ¡°...And then, who¡¯s not here are, let¡¯s see...¡±


    In Haruyuki¡¯s ear as he was muttering, this time imposing footsteps reached him.


    ¡®Crunch, Crunch¡¯, kind of hard and heavy vibration shook the stage. It was coming from behind to the right. As he turned that way, it was the same time that a large avatar appeared from the broken fog.


    It was large, but could not said to be huge. If it was just size, of course it could not compare to the fully armored Niko, and probably not even be able to compare to Blue Legion¡¯s medium size member ?Frost Horn?.


    However for Haruyuki, he had not met any other avatar that gave him this much feel of absolute weight.


    The mask, shoulders, and the lower half were all covered with armor that felt like thick plates. However the waist was finely tied together, so that it did not give a ponderous impression. The right hand was empty, but the left hand held a surprisingly large shield.


    And then, the color that dyed all the armor was, a deeper and fresher green than emerald.


    ¡°...Green King...¡±


    Haruyuki lightly said the name of this avatar, that he only saw for a few seconds in a video replay in the past. Raker beside him nodded, and added in a whisper.


    ¡°Yea. That, controlling the huge area from Shibuya to Ota, the legion ?Great Wall?¡¯s leader, ?Green Grande?. Nicknamed ?Invulnerable?.¡±


    ¡°For sure, his HP gauge never went to yellow once, right...¡±


    When dueling same level people, even if won, Haruyuki¡¯s gauge was usually red, and it made him whisper involuntary with a sight. Hearing that, Kuroyukihime who was sitting right in front, gave a small snort.


    ¡°That guy¡¯s ?Duel? absolute values are small. The points needed to reach level 9, seemed to be mostly gained by solo hunting Enemy. Doing that alone could be said to be a great feat, though...¡±


    ¡°Hahaa...¡±


    Haruyuki again leaked out a long sigh. For the variants of ?Enemy? stalking the Unlimited Neutral Field, even the small fry class hold outrageous combat power and when they are felled with difficulty, not many points are earned. For Haruyuki who love ?Earning humble experience points? in normal RPGs, he felt that he would avoid Enemy hunting as long as he was not in negative from normal duels.


    Without even realizing that he was respectfully looked at from afar as a ?Level Up Craftsman?, the Green King approached the pillar between the Blue King and Niko with steady steps, then sat down there heavily. Same as the Yellow King, he participated without any companion.


    He became silent without saying anything, but no one seemed to think that it was unnatural. Somehow he seem to be established as a very non-talkative character.


    Returning his face forward, Haruyuki took a deep breath.


    For the strongest ?Kings? entry scenes, after continuing till now, he finally got used to the pressures. Actually, his slightly shaking both knees had some time ago steadied, and the cold paralysis had disappeared from his hands.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª That¡¯s right, there is no need to be scared of anything. I am also, the Black King, Black Lotus¡¯ underling... no, ?Child?. I just need to be casual like Raker-san.¡¯


    Hearing what he said to himself inside, he puffed up his chest ¡ª¡ª or was going to, since at that moment,


    ¡°...e...!?¡±


    Attacked by the feeling of a cold hand grasping his heart, Haruyuki had his highest ranking cringing with fear yet.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª What is... this.¡¯


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Killing instinct...? No, not something like that. Much more assertive... the intent of elimination. Going to execute me, exile me out of accelerated world kind of... silent announcement...¡¯


    Crunch. Crunch.


    From somewhere, high pitched footstep echos came.


    Even while paralyzed, he desperately listened. North. The shape that walked towards the front of the half circle where Kings sat, approached with footsteps. With his tense head screeching, he looked that way.


    Beyond the thick fog, was one silhouette.


    From seeing just the shadow, he was positive that it was a female avatar. Since the long hair parts and the skirt type armor were swaying. The waist was an impossibly slim hourglass, and both legs were also like needles.


    Crunch, crunch, crunch. The sharp footstep like swords stabbing into the ground, was probably caused by spike heels that were double of Sky Raker¡¯s in height.


    At the moment when that foot stepped into the range of the standing pillars, the thick fog seemed to be unable to withstand the killing instinct and was hugely blown apart.


    When the shape of that avatar finally showed itself, to describe it in one word ¡ª¡ª instead of ?King?, it could only be called ?Queen?.


    What looked like hair, was a veil type armor that extended from the crown on the head downwards. The facemask was beautiful and sharp, and the shoulder and chest parts, even though feminine, were intimidating. From high on the waist, a long skirt type split armor extended downwards, and in the gap between them, the slender long legs were fully exposed almost to the joint part.


    Without a doubt, compared to what Haruyuki had seen up till now, that should be the most ?bewitching? duel avatar. However, that beauty was not the type that you would want to touch. Including the tiara on top of the head, everywhere on the body, were sparkling thorn like sharp decorations.


    The right hand held a about one meter and half long Bishop¡¯s staff. That tip also conspicuously shone with a long needle rose vine. The color of all the armor was a mysterious type that swayed in illusions as light hit it.


    ¡°She came...¡±


    While glaring at the queen avatar that approached with ¡®crunch crunch¡¯ sounds with her narrowed eye lens, Sky Raker whispered in a barely noticeable sound.


    ¡°That, in all the Kings gather here today, is probably the most hostile opponent to us. Controlling the area from Ginza to the bay coast, the legion ?Auroral Oval?¡¯s leader, nicknamed ?Empress Voltage?, the Purple King, ?Purple Thorn?. And then the Bishop¡¯s staff that she is holding in her right hand, is one of the ?Seven Arcs?, ?The Tempest?.¡±


    ¡°A... Arc?¡±


    After Haruyuki repeated the unfamiliar word, Raker quickly added in explanation.


    ¡°In the accelerated world, it was speculated to have a total of seven strongest class enhanced armament. Currently known ones are, including that staff, Blue King¡¯s great sword ?The Impulse?, Green King¡¯s great shield ?The Strife?, and one more...¡±


    There, Haruyuki wanted to ask why Raker stopped, but he did not get the chance.


    The Purple King that was slowly approaching the center of the pillars, stopped at the place closest to the seven cut pillars, the rightmost one where Kuroyukihime sat, and stabbed the ground loudly with her Bishop¡¯s staff.


    With thin veils swaying, the mask turned slightly towards Kuroyukihime. The sharp shape eye lens, contained an amethyst color cold light.


    When the pressure that the queen type avatar was sending out in all directions till now, was concentrated and focused on the three from Nega Nebulas only, Haruyuki almost fainted for real when he felt that.


    If this was clear anger or hatred, then it could still be handled. For Haruyuki, in the 8 months that he had become a Burst Linker, he had experienced many fights with different kind of anger.


    However, what the Purple King released, was not simple emotion. Making you feel that there was no room for negotiation, the meaning of absolute denial. For this opponent, no matter how the situation change from now on, Haruyuki had a hunch that they will forever continue to feud with each other. Until the end of the accelerated world.


    After the Purple King, Purple Thorn looked down at Black Lotus for about two seconds, she released calm words.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Lotus. I did not expect that the day to speak to you again like this would come.¡±


    There was no sharpness in the speech, because it slid like ice. If it was once broken, it was without doubt that many sharp edges will be created, and that tension made Haruyuki even more speechless.


    Although majestic, the somehow female sweetness mixed Purple King¡¯s voice, he thought he heard it somewhere before. After a bit of thinking, he soon remembered it. Haruyuki was sure he heard her voice once before. Of course, it was not directly. It was in a scene that he saw as it was replayed in the unlimited field, where the Purple King¡¯s voice was recorded. From the bottom of his memory, that voice was refreshed.


    ¡ª¡ª Rider, I can¡¯t just ignore what I heard!


    ¡ª¡ª Wait, wait!


    Although indignant, the still sweet little girl shouting sound.


    In the video at that moment, the first generation Red King, Red Rider¡¯s neck was wrapped around by the Black King, Black Lotus¡¯ two arms. That was why, the Purple King, who was intimate with the Red King, raised her voice suited to her angry expression.


    However, right after that ¡ª¡ª.


    Black Lotus¡¯ two sword arms closed like a giant scissor, and cut Red Rider¡¯s head apart from his body.


    Level 9 Burst Linkers are chained by a Sudden Death rule where those who lost to same level 9 opponent, will lose all their Burst Points at that moment. That meant at that moment, the Red King was forever exiled from the accelerated world.


    What the video replay recorded as the last scene was Purple Thorn¡¯s silk tearing like scream.


    From what Haruyuki heard, after that scene, was that Kuroyukihime became the opponent of the remaining all five people, and continued a death match. However without felling anyone but without falling, the 30 minute duel time ended. After that, Kuroyukihime cut herself from the global net for two years, and continued to hide in Umesato middle school¡¯s local net. During last year¡¯s autumn, Cyan Pile¡¯s attack and the chance for Silver Crow¡¯s birth visited him.


    Just like that, the two Kings that shoulder the remaining weight of the past, fought with stare and aura for a few more seconds. In his heart, Haruyuki could not help but fear that Black Lotus might be lowering her head. Since Kuroyukihime was still regretting the sneak attack on Red Rider deep in the bottom of her heart even though the Red King no longer remembers that he was a Burst Linker.


    ¡ª¡ª However.


    The black crystal avatar, without moving her sharp face mask a little, continued to meet the thorny queen¡¯s stare.


    Eventually, Kuroyukihime¡¯s low slippery sound, flowed into the thick fog covered field.


    ¡°For me also. Thorn. The next time we meet, I am sure that one of our heads will fall.¡±


    The words that were dropped without any color of upset, made the Purple King blink slightly. The next sound that she released, might be just him imagining that it was somewhat colder.


    ¡°...It might become like that, right? For example, if everyone gathered here agree on a mode change from ?Normal Duel? to ?Battle Royale?... then the possibility exists.¡±


    After taking a big gulp, Haruyuki desperately resisted shouting ¡®No way don¡¯t joke like that I will absolutely not agree!¡¯.


    However Kuroyukihime leaked out a short ¡®Fu¡¯ laugh and calmly replied.


    ¡°If that is the case, then it will make it easy. If today, becomes the day that the Brain Burst game itself is cleared, then we will no longer need this troublesome conference.¡±


    At that moment, Haruyuki again froze up with a snap. If those words, were heard as ¡®Right now, right here I will hunt four more Kings¡¯ kind of announcement... but there could not be anything else. He could not belief that Sky Raker beside him was brave enough to stand casually.


    The Purple King tilted her head slightly at the Black King¡¯s cutting retort.


    Suddenly, the staff on her right hand lightly thrusted onto the stone pavement.


    With a sharp ¡®Clink¡¯ sound echo, another situation appeared that made Haruyuki¡¯s heart became colder. Somehow, from the direction that the Purple King came from, many heavy footsteps were beautifully synchronized, then 8 Burst Linker shapes appeared.


    There were different colors and armor shapes. However, he could see with one look that they were all veterans. Probably, the Purple legion¡¯s highest combat powers were gathered to dive together.


    Purple Thorn smiled the first time till now, and said.


    ¡°You will regret thinking that I was joking. Of course, I am fully prepared. In case the time to fight you comes, this time I made sure that you cannot escape.¡±


    It was not a demonstration. She was serious. Inside this person was sealed a strong emotion that he could not hope to understand.


    Feeling pressure that stopped his breath, Haruyuki moved his right foot back slightly.


    However Kuroyukihime¡¯s expression did not seem to break down any. Somehow, in this situation she showed a ¡®Fu, fu, fu...¡¯ laughter and said.


    ¡°Fufu..., I see, I have overlooked this. However Thorn, if you really want to go after my head, with that number, shouldn¡¯t you hide them just within the area¡¯s edge? Try to learn from Radio over there.¡±


    ¡®What?¡¯, and Haruyuki looked at Yellow Radio sitting opposite of them. The yellow color clown lightly shrug his shoulders and said nothing, but thinking about it, even if there was 0.001% chance that the conference could become a battle, the Yellow King would not come alone.


    The person that responded to what Kuroyukihime pointed out, was not the Purple King, but a female type avatar that stepped out from her 8 followers.


    The armor color, was a deep reddish purple that reminded him of wine. The large flange hat and wide thigh spread made it seem like army uniform. However instead of a gun on the waist, it was equipped with a whip wrapped around it.


    The female officer type avatar, stopped one step behind the Purple King, and released the coldest sound.


    ¡°Having so much false bravado is comical, King of the cave. You jumped around here and there after crawling out of the ground, but your tiny territory would be squeezed and broken apart if the six Kings were serious. It would be troublesome if you forgot that.¡±


    It was the most insulting speech, but Haruyuki could do nothing other than ground his teeth.


    Unfortunately, he could not help but realize what the officer avatar said was the truth. Right now, Nega Nebulas controlled all of Suginami ward, but 70% of of the weekend territory battle challenges came from middle to small legion, and from the six large legion, the east neighbor ?Leonids? usually one or two teams, and the south ?Great Wall? challenging once in awhile. Furthermore, challengers average levels could be said to be around 4 to 5, with level 7 and above high rankers not appearing even once.


    Even so, with Nega Nebulas having only 5 members, it was not an easy job maintaining their territory. If the six large legion ever hit them with their combined force for a concentrated attack in one battle round, the huge number of defenses will make over half average wins not possible to obtain, then the black flag would disappear from the accelerated world map.


    That meant, in a certain sense, six ¡ª¡ª no, other than the ceasefire Niko, the rest of the five people are ?Checking out the situation?, and that was what made it possible for Haruyuki¡¯s group to continue protecting their home area of Suginami.


    Instead of giving a retort to the female officer avatar, he could not even make an argument in his chest, so Haruyuki started lowering his helmet head.


    However right before his view reached his foot, the elegant sound that echoed from right next to him, made Haruyuki jerk his head up.


    ¡°For something that you could not do, I am surprised you can say it so proudly, ?Aster Vine?.¡±


    It was Sky Raker. As Kuroyukihime¡¯s lieutenant, she held her chest high and stood firmly without backing of a step from the officer avatar¡¯s threat.


    The whip user called Aster Vine, narrowed her eyes under the flange, and responded with even lower temperature sound.


    ¡°Could not do... you said? While you were running and hiding, did your head rust so much that you cannot even rate strength?¡±


    ¡°You also, did your eyes fog up so much after we haven¡¯t met for a while that you cannot see reality?¡±


    In the exchange that crackle the atmosphere with electricity, Haruyuki could only continue to stand still and listen.


    What did Sky Raker mean by ?Reality?, he could not understand no matter how much he thought about it. Nega Nebulas and the five legion except Red, their numbers and total levels comparison was way too far apart. What did Raker want to say...?


    The answer to that question, after a slight pause, was introduced by Raker¡¯s own words.


    ¡°¡ª¡ª If you think that Nega Nebulas¡¯ territory continue to exist due to the Kings¡¯ kindness, then either you are stupid or was not trusted with it. Something that can be destroyed should already have been destroyed. If that was not the case... then those who call themselves ?King?, would show that their control is not absolute.¡±


    ¡°...Say what?¡±


    Compared to Aster Vine who grounded out that sound, the Purple King maintained an unnatural silence. The light that appeared on her eyes, was not an emotion that could be read. In the frozen Demonic City stage, Raker¡¯s calm sounds continued to echo.


    ¡°Listening? The six large legion''s total members are just about over 600. On the other hand, Burst Linkers living in the capital of Tokyo is over 1000 right now. In the territory map, including this Chiyoda area, close to 40% are in grey neutral condition.¡±


    ¡°...So what. Other than the pure color six legion, the rest are all bubble groups that can be blown apart. Including your tiny home.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, all those legion are made up of small numbers. ...But, including Burst Linkers with no legion, there is one common point with that 400 people. That is, ?They did not join the six large legions?.¡±


    The words were momentarily cut, then Sky Raker, releasing pressure as if she was a level 9 herself, continued to speak.


    ¡°Listening? Most of those people are choosing to be small by themselves in order to revolt against the Kings that froze the accelerated world with their ?Non-aggression pact?. Right now, they are paying attention to the direction of the revived Black Lotus, and the Black legion. In order to determine if that ?Intent for Rebellion? is real or fake. At this time, what do you think would happen if the six Kings¡¯ legion combine to destroy us? To be sure, our flag will momentarily disappear from the territory map. But, the Black King herself would not have disappeared from the accelerated world, and the legion itself remains. And then the small legion¡¯s direction, might move a step forward from ?Observation?. If they were joined into a single flow, would you still insult them as bubbles...?¡±


    Around here, Haruyuki felt that he dimly understood what Raker wanted to say.


    The previous week¡¯s ?Hermes Code Traverse Race?. The over 500 people gathered above that orbit as gallery, even when the exiled traitor Black King appeared, did not shower her with jeers. Instead of that, didn¡¯t they sent loud cheers? There, without a doubt was expectation for the Black King to become ?The person who break apart the frozen condition?.


    If that energy was gathered in one power group, that, would be something even the six Kings would not be able to ignore... no, would that not be something that could be acknowledged as a threat?


    Towards the silent Aster Vine, Sky Raker opened her right hand slightly and showed it.


    ¡°Do you understand now? That the current accelerated world, is in a far more tense situation than you think it is. That under the surface stagnation, there are many large currents starting to flow.¡±


    In the ultra silent field, the remains of the clear sound spread everywhere, and disappeared.


    What broke the silence, was the ¡®Crunch¡¯ sound of Purple King¡¯s high heel as she took a step.


    She turned her face back forward, and as if she did not even notice what Raker pointed out, she walked silently away in front of Haruyuki''s group¡¯s eyes.


    Aster Vine also, after leaving a fierce glare behind, followed after her. A little apart, the remaining seven followers also chased after those two.


    The Purple King, from the half circle of pillars, claimed the empty seat between the Blue King and the Yellow King. Behind her, the eight Burst Linkers lined up in a V shape. The weight of imposing appearance created was clearly larger than any other legion gathered here.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª ?Auroral Oval?¡¯s territory being far away from Suginami in Ginza and Ariake, I am glad for that.¡¯ As Haruyuki earnestly felt that, he hurriedly straighten his back. If that cowardice was noticed by the two people right near him, then he would not know what kind of punishment will befall on him. As a deception, he quietly whispered.


    ¡°With this... Six people right. One more person, let¡¯s see.¡±


    Currently gathered were Black, Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, and Purple factions. That meant, the remaining one was ¡ª¡ª.


    However, before Haruyuki voiced the continuation of his thought, Kuroyukihime lowly whispered.


    ¡°No, that person will not come.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡±


    ¡°The remaining person, will not appear in this place. Without a doubt that person will send a representative.¡±


    ¡®Why do you know that?¡¯ was what Haruyuki wanted to ask.


    Right before that, an unnatural look appeared in part of his view. He closed his mouth, and looked around.


    However nothing seem to have changed. The Demonic City¡¯s East Garden castle keep ruins, were quiet with the usual white fog. The group of round pillars, about half that was seven of them were cut apart, and on those seats were sat seven representatives of accelerated world¡¯s large legion ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°What.¡±


    At the moment when he noticed that, Haruyuki upper body shook with a jerk.


    There were seven chairs made. Currently appeared Kings were six. Then there should be one empty chair. However, right now all the chairs in Haruyuki¡¯s view were filled. Did he miss an appearance? No, it¡¯s not possible. For the always tense Haruyuki maybe, but he did not think that even Raker and Kuroyukihime would also not notice.


    Since, the chair that should be empty, was right in front of the three people from Black legion. If it was right to the side then maybe, but if someone approached the front pillar and sat down, then that movement should have been seen. However the reality was, on top of the less than 10 meter apart chair, somehow existed a Burst Linker.


    It was willowy slender. Harmonically simple design armor covered the body, with no sign of weapon. The only thing distinctive was, the slender and long sharp head. The front was only engraved with curved parting lines, with no sign of eye or mouth. On top of the pillar, it sat straight with hands and legs together, as if it was a decorative object instead of a duel avatar. The whole body¡¯s color made you think of porcelain, a glossy pale ivory color.


    It was an extremely inconspicuous avatar. The thick pressure released by the other Kings for just been here, there was not a single fragment of it from him. No, isn¡¯t that an actual decoration? No way, did he miss a statue that was there at the beginning...?


    While Haruyuki was getting trapped in that mystery, at that moment.


    The ivory color avatar, with both hands left on knees, bent his waist for a bow. At the same time as the upper body straighten, a sound that was nothing special other than being male flowed.


    ¡°I am ?Ivory Tower? belonging to legion ?Oscillatory Universe?. I am joining this conference with the White King¡¯s full authority as the representative. Yoroshiku.¡±


    As if, this place was not accelerated world¡¯s duel field, it was changed to a company¡¯s conference room kind of extreme business like greeting.


    After hearing that, the other Kings and their followers leaked out controlled but clear unpleasant feeling. Probably, they also did not notice Ivory Tower¡¯s appearance. Especially the Yellow King that sat right next to him, was poking the floor with a pointed toe to show irritation.


    However, the atmosphere worsen for only a few seconds.


    The Blue King, Blue Knight that sat on the center chair stood up with his armor ringing, and spoke with strongly echoing sound.


    ¡°Alright, with this everyone is gathered. First, I would like to say thanks for all seven legion attending without anyone missing. Good job.¡±


    ¡°Compare to the conference two and half years ago, two people¡¯s faces are different though.¡±


    That extra interruption was of course from Yellow Radio. The Red King being second generation, and the White King sending a representative was probably sarcasm, but no one responded. The Blue King only showed a slight wry smile as he continued with the proceedings.


    ¡°Since time is short, we will move onto the main topic. ¡ª¡ª Everyone should know already, but to make a long story short, right in the middle of previous week¡¯s ?Hermes Code Traverse Race?, and right in front of a few hundred gallery¡¯s eyes, the incident where the ?Incarnate System? was used happened. Today¡¯s first agenda, is how we are going to deal with this situation. Even saying so, I think it could only be one of two ways. Make every effort to keep the System secret as it had been, or give that up and present it to all the Burst Linkers, one of the two.¡±


    ¡°There is no way we can present it, isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡®Idiotic¡¯, the person who wanted to say that and raised his voice was again Yellow Radio. He raised both slender arms wide, and shook his shoulders with exaggerated movements.


    ¡°The Incarnate System, could be called something like nuclear energy right? If it was not strictly controlled, then disasters like the accelerated world being destroyed could happen, didn¡¯t we all share common understanding on that?¡±


    As the clown¡¯s pointed hat tilted, the Purple King seated to his left instantly argued.


    ¡°We are talking since that control was broken right, Radio. If it is compared to nuclear, then nuclear material is scattered around the world kind of situation. How do you recover from that at this point?¡±


    ¡°Just because of that, are we going to kindly send out the manual for making missiles too? Most of the Burst Linkers, should still not know what Incarnate System is right? Couldn¡¯t we just blame it on trouble with the event stage?¡±


    Right before the Purple King was again going to argue the Yellow King¡¯s speech, a sound interrupted.


    ¡°Ah, may I speak?¡±


    The polite hand raise, was from the ivory color avatar sitting at the left edge of the half circle, the White King¡¯s representative, Ivory Tower. When all the eyes were gathered on him, he lowered his left arm and said.


    ¡°Before we discuss how to deal with it, shouldn¡¯t we find out why that happened? Released during the event, the mind power ?Space Erosion? that involved galleries, who was that Burst Linker, and what was his goal?¡±


    Silence again took over the conference.


    The Burst Linker in question¡¯s name and organization. That, Haruyuki already knew.


    However, there was a huge hesitation in opening his mouth at this location. Since, to speak about that mysterious organization, they must touch on the Burst Linker who was the ?Vice President? of that group, however the color that crowned that person, was the same as his most respected sword master¡¯s ¡ª¡ª ?Pure Black?. If they knew that, then the other Kings would absolutely suspect their connection...


    ¡°?Rust Jigsaw? belonging to the ?Acceleration Research Society? kind of organization. That, is the name of the Burst Linker that used mind power attack during the event.¡±


    ¡°W...!?¡±


    During the flow of the bright sound, Haruyuki held his breath.


    It was Kuroyukihime. The Black King, Black Lotus, with no sign of fear for suspect towards her, continued with smooth words.


    ¡°The whole of the organization is unknown, but they call themself a ?Circle? instead of legion. The other known members are, ?Dusk Taker? who already retired from the accelerated world, and one more person...¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute, Lotus.¡±


    Right before that name was said, a sound sharply interrupted.


    It was the Red King, Scarlet Rain that took the seat to the right of Haruyuki¡¯s group. With both arms crossed, the smallest build body in this place released an unbalanced amount of pressure sense.


    ¡®Are you going to help us, Niko?¡¯, and Haruyuki relaxed his shoulders thinking that. However.


    The round eye lens that glanced their way, blew flaming aura his way, and Haruyuki stopped breathing.


    ¡°...Before that, if we don¡¯t clear up another agenda, then I cannot stand to be here any longer. An unfit guy who spread the threat of mind power, slipped in here. The ?Power of Curse? that was supposed to be totally destroyed, and the ultimate mind power¡¯s dark side avatar, the guy that is sheltering it.¡±

 Volume 6 - CH 3

    ¡°Hey, return to your seats already. Long homeroom is starting.¡±


    After their homeroom teacher clapped his hands, a group of students raised sounds of complaint.


    ¡°What, the chime hasn''t rung yet. There¡¯s still time.¡±


    ¡°Then, I will increase homework for people who haven¡¯t sat by time it rings! Hey it¡¯s going to ring, going to ring, three, two, one...¡±


    In his hearing, the ringing echo of the sixth period chime, and sounds of students¡¯ clatter as they hurried to sit, Haruyuki listened while his face was supported by a hand.


    Outside the window, the usual drizzle painted the streets grey. It was predicted that the rainy season will clear up in two weeks, but since the end of term exams will soon arrive after that, he did not even feel like looking forward to it.


    Of course, if he slip through the tests, then shining summer vacation will arrive, but he did not have the discipline to look forward to that long span of fun. The attacks that will come in the coming week¡¯s class (especially physical education) and homework (especially essay), made him sigh just thinking about them.


    Well, even if he dally and postpone homework, he has the strong-arm tactic of spending one Burst Point right before it is due to complete it. Haruyuki¡¯s ability for homework processing capacity during the last 30 minutes of ?Acceleration?, even made the excellent grade Takumu amazed with ¡®Why isn¡¯t that concentration displayed normally?¡¯.


    However, the set every day from morning till evening classes, were something that he could not use acceleration to concentrate and process. On the other hand, when he was running out of breath on the track during physical ed time, he felt as if deceleration function was used. No, it might actually be that in fact. The base for the principle operation of Brain Burst, was to increase heartbeat to accelerate thinking clock, therefore extending perceived time. That meant if he could train his heart not to beat so fast even while running, would phys ed class feel shorter than it was now? Alright, next time get a Chinese martial arts application, and try training chakra power.


    While he was staring out the window without seeing anything, and repeatedly thinking such absurd thoughts, the homeroom teacher¡¯s sound passed through Haruyuki¡¯s ears.


    ¡°...Two months have passed since the class became like this. This is about the time, that your mind start slacking. Look here, this graph, the tardiness and lost property...¡±


    Usually, the ending of homeroom was important time for polishing after school ?Duel? plans. Which area to go to, what tactic to try, who to fight, or whose battle gallery to become. For Haruyuki who love simulations, even though it was not at the level of actual duels, it could be said to be very fun still. Normally homeroom would have ended by the time he realized it, but today¡¯s time was moving forward slowly.


    The reason for that was clear.


    Right now, Haruyuki was forced into a situation where he did not have the luxury to plan duels. In a certain sense, it could be said to be greater pressure than the time when his ?Flight Ability? was stolen two months ago.


    That was ¡ª¡ª- the edge whether he could still be a Burst Linker or not.


    Yesterday, Sunday, after the end of the ?Seven Kings Conference?, Haruyuki was driven home in Fuuko¡¯s car to nearby his home.


    He somehow managed to smile to Kuroyukihime and Fuuko¡¯s encouragement, but as he stumbled on the Seven Ring road heading home, he still faced down and counted the pavement tiles.


    He entered the elevator with head still lowered, and rose to the 23rd floor. He walked in the silent hallway, and when the door to his home appeared in his view, he went to touch the unlock button ¡ª¡ª


    Right before that, Haruyuki noticed a small human shadow crouched the door¡¯s edge, and stopped still.


    Flashy logo T-shirt, and tight cut jeans. Faded sneakers on feet. Even with that rough appearance, he could immediately tell that was not a guy. Red hair that was tied on either side and seem to burn, and freshly shone even under the dim lighting.


    ¡°...Ni, Niko?¡±


    After Haruyuki called that name while dumbfounded, the small built girl slowly looked up, and showed a fearless, but somehow tired smile.


    ¡°...So late. We should have both left Chiyoda area, and you made me wait 10 minutes.¡±


    ¡°So, sorry.¡±


    After he apologized involuntarily, the sharp shoulders lightly shrugged.


    ¡°Well, I was sent here by Pard¡¯s bike, so of course that¡¯s fast.¡±


    ¡°Th.. that is not possible to beat. Ah, anyway...¡±


    While blinking fiercely, Haruyuki asked.


    ¡°Why... here?¡±


    Hearing that, Niko momentarily looked around, then said with a small snort.


    ¡°That story will be long, are you going to listen to the end in this hallway?¡±


    ¡°O, oh, sorry.¡±


    Haruyuki hurriedly touched the still displayed unlock button. He opened the usual empty home door, said welcome to her, then Niko breathed out a small long breath, and stood up with hands on knees.


    After leading the sudden visitor to the living room, he returned after getting two glasses of orange juice from the kitchen, then Haruyuki belatedly titled his head.


    Sitting on the sofa, the younger girl looking at cloudy weather outside the window, no matter how many times he looked, was Niko that is Kouduki Yuniko ¡ª¡ª that is the Red King controlling legion ?Prominence?, ?Scarlet Rain? herself.


    However, why? Not only did they exchange anonymous email address, they also exchanged call numbers, so there were many ways to contact each other. And then more than anything, holding her knees and waiting beside the door of someone she wanted to meet with to come home, was an act opposite to Niko¡¯s image. While he was putting juice on the glass table, Haruyuki stole another look at the small profile.


    In the lightly freckled face, the normal shining vigor could not be seen. On the other hand, it even had a somewhat worried look. It was very hard to think that this was the same person as the Red King who released flaming words on the conference seat. Inside Haruyuki¡¯s brain, the sharp sound awoke.


    ¡ª¡ª An unfit guy who spread the threat of mind power, slip in here.


    The accusation similar to roaring flames, at the moment he remembered that fierce heat, as if reading Haruyuki¡¯s mind, Niko in front of him whispered.


    ¡°...Sorry about that, the way it was said.¡±


    ¡°What... n, no, not really.¡±


    He raised his waist that was sank into the sofa, and hurriedly shook his head.


    ¡°A, at first I was surprised, but later senpai and Raker-san told me why... Niko went after me there... no, brought out the topic of ?Disaster Armor? that is parasitic on me, was so that other Kings, especially the Yellow King don¡¯t take the lead on that topic, that.¡±


    After he quickly said that, Niko blinked two or three times, then her large hazel eyes that looked green in the low light leaked out a wry smile.


    ¡°Damn, I was seen through huh. Geesh, what a bunch of un-cute guys...¡±


    While she cursed, she sank her back hard into the sofa, crossed her surprisingly slender legs, and swung her slippered feet.


    Relaxing a little after seeing that appearance, Haruyuki tilted his head slightly and asked.


    ¡°Huh, did Niko meet Raker-san before?¡±


    ¡°No, earlier was the first time we bumped heads against each other. I heard a lot of stories about her from Pard though.¡±


    ¡°St, stories... you said, what kind...?¡±


    Hearing that, Niko made a for sure deep meaning smile, then asked in return.


    ¡°Do you know the origin of that guy¡¯s ?ICBM? nickname?¡±


    ¡°Err... simply, that person¡¯s booster is compared to a missile right...?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, but it¡¯s not all. Actually, it originated from a battle tactic that old Nega Nebulas once in awhile used in large scale territory battles. They let enemy team push the front line forward on purpose, and after their force is split, then either Raker by herself, or carry a support type (buffer) to boost jump to enemy rear base. Normally the rear only has paper thin armored long range attack types, then that would equal to a strategic missile in large damage.¡±


    ¡°...I, I see.¡±


    Even though it was a story about his ally, it gave him a cold sweat as Haruyuki nodded. Niko¡¯s expression soften, and continued speaking as if remembering her own things.


    ¡°...As you already know, Pard is a speed demon. She was usually the first to return to the rear after eating that missile tactic, so she fought hard against Raker many times. Geesh, even though we are in ceasefire, that¡¯s still the enemy legion¡¯s main attacker, with her being so happy that Raker returned to the front line... Crow, do you know, why Pard being a very senior Linker and is still level 6...¡±


    Niko closed her mouth there, so Haruyuki moved forward at that. That question, was something that he had thought about many times before.


    ¡°Le, level 6 because...?¡±


    ¡°...Not telling after all. Ask her yourself later.¡±


    She grin, then said ¡®thanks for the drink¡¯, and took the glass from the table.


    She seemed to be very thirsty, and the girl that was drinking juice in big gulps, no longer appeared to have that strange tiredness. Was it his imagination, while thinking that, Haruyuki said in return.


    ¡°Even if I ask, I feel like she won¡¯t tell me... Well, that, let¡¯s set that aside... Then, Niko, you came here just to apologize for that thing at the conference?¡±


    ¡°Say what, that troubled way that you seem to put it.¡±


    After being glared at over the glass¡¯ edge, he hurried shook his head.


    ¡°N, no, I am not troubled at all! It was a bit unexpected of your character, ah, no, that¡¯s not what I mean, on the other hand, I always thought that I should be the one who need to apologize...¡±


    Unable to stop his mouth once started, and as he try to properly convey what he felt, his sound became more awkward.


    ¡°Si, since, that ?Armor? that should have been destroyed after so much hard work in Ikebukuro, remained alive due to my careless mistake, furthermore, the previous owner ?Cherry Rook? suffered Niko¡¯s ?Judgement?, but I am still a Burst Linker like this...¡±


    Niko listened with unexpected seriousness to Haruyuki¡¯s mostly pointless speech.


    However, eventually she lightly shook her head to interrupt his words. Putting down the glass, then again crossing her legs and sinking deep into the sofa, the young King quietly whispered.


    ¡°No... I am not really, holding a grudge on you for that matter. The reason that I used Judgement on Cherry, was not because he was the owner of that ?Armor?. That guy was swallowed by the Armor¡¯s control, and attack many Burst Linkers, no, ate them, was the reason. On the other hand, if Cherry had conquered and controlled that Armor with his own power, then I would have protected him. No matter what the other Kings had said... see...¡±


    Niko¡¯s sound, unnaturally decelerated there. Haruyuki blinked, and looked at that the lowered white face.


    Her large eyes that looked deep green right now, again had that dark shadow that she showed in the outside hallway. This time, Haruyuki realized what that expression contained.


    It was fear. And then, anger at herself for the fear. Furthermore, just a little of giving up. For Haruyuki himself, this should be the expression he had when he was holding his knees while he could not do anything with his power.


    ¡°Ni..., Niko...¡±


    After her name was called in a strangled sound, the little girl momentarily looked up, then soon showed a weak smile and lowered her head again.


    ¡°...Even if I had chosen to protect Cherry, I would have the power to make that happen. In the past half year, I always believed that. But...¡±


    Her two hands that were outside T-shirt sleeves, suddenly held herself. In June heat and humidity, she seemed to be attacked by fierce cold.


    ¡°...Crow. In the earlier conference, didn¡¯t you feel it?¡±


    ¡°Wh, what...?¡±


    After Haruyuki fearfully asked in return, Niko ¡ª¡ª second generation Red King, ?Immobile Fortress?, Scarlet Rain, moaned in a cracked sound.


    ¡°In that group of ?Kings? at that place... there were real monsters mixed in. That information pressure... is not possible... ¡ª¡ª I, truthfully, wanted to protect at least you. Since you... I owe you for helping me to save Cherry... In today conference, somehow we managed to reach a compromise. But... if, those guys were serious about enforcing punishment... then I...¡±


    There she closed her mouth, and Niko pulled her knees close to her on the sofa, meanwhile Haruyuki could not say any words.


    It was very hard to believe, or more like he could not understand. That Niko would call other Burst Linkers monsters, and would show fearful expression.


    For Haruyuki, the Red King, Scarlet Rain had an absolutely higher rank existence. If they duel in same conditions, then he truly believe that he would lose 100 times in 100 fights. When her full armament was fully extended, her super dreadnaught like long range firepower, was without doubt one of the highest attack power in the accelerated world. Since, one blast of her main gun, blew away half of the Shinjuku government building.


    No, even the small built avatar equipped with just one gun, Niko contained unfathomable hidden strength. Actually, on the Seven Kings conference seat, Haruyuki should have felt huge pressure from her that was no difference from other Kings.


    After shaking his head lightly many times, Haruyuki finally retorted with raspy sound.


    ¡°No, no way... ¡ª¡ª Sure, for me, everyone at that place was above the clouds, but I don¡¯t think they were such opponents that can make Niko say it like that far. Si, since, Niko is same level 9er as those people right. ?Same level same potential? is, one of accelerated world¡¯s major principles, right...?¡±


    Hearing that, the red haired little girl glanced at Haruyuki from above her small knees, then while showing a wry smile, slowly shook her head left and right.


    ¡°...There are exceptions to any principle. Listen, level 9 is actually, Brain Burst¡¯s upper limit (cap). Since no matter how many points you earn from there, your level will not go up to the next one. The path to level 10, is to hunt 5 other level 9 Linkers... equaling 5 people losing all their points. Put it another way...¡±


    Lowering her eyes again, Niko secretly whispered.


    ¡°...After becoming level 9, no matter how much time someone spent in the accelerated world to gain experience, other people won¡¯t know about it. For me, I don¡¯t think I lost that point to any other Kings. Thinking of obtaining enough power to prevent something lost in the real world, from being taken again in the accelerated world. But... I was too naive. Those guys... ?Originators?, had long ago overcame the scars I am clinging to. That... if they are not called monsters, what else can you call them...¡±


    ¡°...O, Origi...?¡±


    Haruyuki was dumbfounded, and could only repeat the unfamiliar word in monologue. However Niko did not reply with anything to that, and had buried her face on the knees she was holding.


    In the living room where quiet returned, only the air conditioning¡¯s light whining sound echoed. Outside the window, the cloudy sky was slowly thickening to lead color, and on the ground, EV cars running on Seven Ring also slowly started to turn on and cross head lights.


    For Niko who went to a boarding elementary school, it should be about time for her curfew, but the curved up body did not seem to want to move. Even the tied up hair on either side of her head, were hanging down tirely without their usual vigor.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Right now, I should be saying something.¡¯ Haruyuki felt that, and desperately searched for words.


    Thinking about that, it did not seem likely that Niko would come to Suginami physically just to apologize for what she said at the conference. Maybe right now, under that front hair, members in the Red legion... maybe the closest to her, Pard-san, had seen the face she was making.


    ¡°...¡±


    He could not think of any appropriate words, but he should still say something, so Haruyuki took a deep breath.


    However faster than that, Niko quickly lifted her head. There, was unbelievably shiny full face smile. The lips moved, and sound with sharply changed tone till then brightly flowed.


    ¡°Sorry for suddenly saying strange things, Onii-chan.¡±


    ¡°...U, n, no, that.¡±


    At this point his eyes could only go black and white. Niko¡¯s shady ?Angel Mode? was, something that she used to make fun of him, or cover him in fog, but even knowing that trick, for Haruyuki who was an only child since birth, when he was called ¡®Onii-chan¡¯ with a smile, he became unavoidably flustered.


    ¡°Forget everything just now! Ah, I should be heading home! Thanks for the juice!¡±


    While continually shooting with a cute voice various sentences ending with star effects, Niko lightly jumped off the sofa. Just like that, she stepped with a small jog in the living room to cross it.


    At that point Haruyuki was also able to push away the distraction and stand up, then called to the small backside.


    ¡°Wa, wait a minute, Niko. Something... something else, isn¡¯t there more you want to talk about...?¡±


    Hearing that, the slender little girl stopped her feet right before the door. Hesitation momentarily leaked from her, then she suddenly spun around. The words that followed after another smile, were something that he did not expect.


    ¡°Hey, Haruyuki Onii-chan. If either of us... maybe both of us lost Brain Burst, for sure that we will forget everything about each other right.¡±


    ¡°Wha...¡±


    ¡ª¡ª ?Related memory completely erased?. Haruyuki found out just two months ago, that was the last rule used on people who lost Brain Burst. Even Kuroyukihime, at that time only had rumor level information, and Niko seemed to have learned this truth somehow.


    After peaking from above at Haruyuki who swallowed a breath, Niko suddenly thrust out her right hand, with her surprisingly small little finger extended.


    ¡°That¡¯s why, let¡¯s make a promise. If we see an unknown name in the Neuro Linker address book, send out one email before erasing that data. Then, maybe, once more...¡±


    ¡°...rita. Arita! Hey, are you listening?¡±


    The thick sound calling his family name, pulled Haruyuki back from memory from a day ago.


    He desperately swallow the pain that was welling up his chest. After taking many breaths, he somehow managed to change thinking gears.


    ¡°Y, yes!¡±


    While hurriedly answering, he stood up half on reaction, and his legs bumping into the strengthened plastic desk and chair which gave out clattering sounds. At that point, he finally realized that this was not his home living room, but the second year C group classroom.


    As he fearfully looked around, he saw that his homeroom teacher Sugeno was making a wry face at the podium, and the surround students were leaking out snicker at Haruyuki¡¯s over reaction.


    The sounds of those laughter, compared to the echo of mockery in his first year ¡ª¡ª even though not 0% ¡ª¡ª were not that kind of laughter. This class¡¯s Haruyuki, even though he was still at the bottom side of hierarchy, he had somehow manage to obtain a position of ?Harmless round guy?. Of course he was not unsatisfied with that position. On the other hand it could be said to be ideal.


    That¡¯s why, easy mistake like now that got him useless attention, was a situation that he tried to avoid with all his might. The class¡¯ hidden delinquents might use this as an excuse to bully him for some light stress release, was something that he did not want to think about.


    That¡¯s why Haruyuki made a shy smile suitable for someone who was flattered and was going to sit down.


    However, somehow from the surrounding, he felt something was expected of him, and that made him stop. All the expressions from students, seemed to be ¡®Now, now?¡¯ kind of waiting for Haruyuki to say something.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Wh, what is this atmosphere? What should I be doing here? Did I forget something? Did I start an ultra high difficulty mission like trying for laughter with a one shot comedy?¡¯


    As he was thinking at high speed in his brain, and was going to sweat buckets of cold sweat ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°Oo, Arita. You standing up, is it okay to take it to mean you are thinking of being a candidate?¡±


    That, was an unthinkable sound echo from Sugeno.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Candidate? For what?¡¯


    Since he had missed all of the homeroom teacher¡¯s speech till now, he had no understanding to connect the front and back parts. The unexpected development made him freeze, so he focused his view behind the teacher. However there was nothing written on the virtual blackboard.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Don¡¯t panic, think about it. The role you are invited to during long homeroom should be... that¡¯s right, the duty of reading school announcement text. It should be that 99% of the time.¡¯


    At the moment that Haruyuki thought of that, his view returned to his virtual desktop. Then he saw that there was a document file in the newly received area.


    Reading with his real voice, was something he was not good at. However in Japanese and English classes it occasionally happened, and it was a lot better than saying what he thought up. In this situation, instead of saying ¡®That¡¯s not it¡¯ and sit down to make the atmosphere get cold, it would be a more peaceful choice to accept it and do a goofy reading.


    Haruyuki who had the above train of thought and finished deciding his action, raised his head to meet Sugeno in the eyes, and replied ¡°Y, yes, I will do it!¡± in a clear voice.


    Then ¡ª¡ª suddenly ¡®OOo!¡¯ kind of exclamation sounds filled the class, and heavy thunder like hand clapping followed.


    ¡°...Yes?¡±


    Wh, what was this response? Why was this kind of clapping just for a reading duty candidate?


    In front of Haruyuki who froze up again, Sugeno nodded with hums, then said.


    ¡°Sensi, believed that Arita is someone who is willing to do something when he needs to! A group and B group will probably be drawing straws, but C group being decided with candidacy makes me truly happy!¡±


    Being hit with a somehow very bad premonition, Haruyuki clicked the newly received file.


    The document that opened up with a faint effect sound was ¡ª¡ª.


    [Announcement from the new caretaker committee: One person from each of second year classes, for a total of three members to be selected.]


    That, was lined up in blunt fonts.


    ¡°...Ca, caretaker!?¡±


    That moaning sound from Haruyuki, was easily covered and erased by hand clappings.


    ¡ª¡ª Caretaker. That is, meaning the duty to take care of animals?


    As he looked around the classroom while thinking what he realized in low speed, he saw Chiyuri who was shaking her head in amazement, and Takumu who had a ¡®Good grief¡¯ wry smile.


    ¡°...Hey Haru, I know that you always space out....¡±


    After school, during the short time before club activities.


    His childhood friend, Kurashima Chiyuri who came to the front of the desk that Haruyuki continued to lay limply, said to him with a clammy look.


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t know the situation, you should have at least opened the sent out file! Why did you charge ahead with just that prediction!¡±


    ¡°There, there, Chi-chan. It¡¯s not the first time that Haru thought like Under Siege 2.¡±


    That, was from Mayuzumi Takumu beside Chiyuri. He thought that was not helping, but could not even retort. With his body slowly sliding from the chair, he weakly said.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, already. I will do it, caretaker or anything.¡±


    ¡°...If it was forced on you, then I would also have said something. But with that impressive candidacy, there was nothing I could do.¡±


    Chiyuri gave a sigh, then suddenly changed her expression. Serious light appeared on her cat like eyes, and the head with light shining on her large hairpin drew close.


    ¡°But, actually, do you have extra time for committee activity? Since, Haru has within one week...¡±


    The continuation to that, was whispered in a low sound by Takumu who was also bent over.


    ¡°...That parasite must be ?Purify?, no matter what.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª That¡¯s right.


    This week, that was, June 17, Monday to 23rd, Sunday, was Haruyuki ¡ª¡ª Silver Crow¡¯s given ?Probation Period?.


    In yesterday¡¯s seven Kings conference, finally two resolutions were adopted.


    First, for the mysterious organization - Acceleration Research Society, was ?Continued gathering of information?. That, was something that Haruyuki resented as being too lukewarm, but since that organization was completely unknown so they could not even attack, there was nothing they could do.


    And then, to cancel out that lukewarm, was a strict decision set down for Silver Crow who became Chrome Disaster.


    If in seven days including today, the Disaster Armor, Chrome Disaster parasite could not be completely removed, then Haruyuki¡¯s head will have a very high reward put on by five Kings. Furthermore, the large amount of Burst Points that was going to be the reward, will be split according to number of wins against Silver Crow kind of system.


    If that happened, the moment he took even one step out of Suginami area, mountains of Burst Linkers including high levels will attack him, and Haruyuki¡¯s points would dry up in no time. Since, there would be ?Destroying the Armor? kind of just cause. There would be no need for hesitation with a large group going after one person.


    Of course, he could do the same thing as Kuroyukihime who has a similar rewarded head and stay hiding in Suginami, then even if he connect to the Global net, he could refuse duels, but doing that would mean he could no longer hunt for points. Stopping level up, is about same as a Burst Linker slowly dying.


    In truth, the ?Kill command from Kings?, could be said to equal to an announcement of death sentence. The reason that Kuroyukihime was able to remain alive for two years, was of course due to her iron like willpower to disconnect from even the Global net, but the ?Already reached level 9 thing? was important too. For Haruyuki, the latter was impossible, and the first might also be missing.


    ¡°...One week, huh...¡±


    Muttering, Haruyuki looked down at his hands laying on the desk.


    Even without concentrating, freshly shining white silver armor overlayed them. Silver Crow, was someone that he could change to at any time, another self. Not being able to become that shape ¡ª¡ª meant not being a Burst Linker, did not seem real to him.


    ¡®No, that feeling was, because this is the real world? Real for me, does it already exist only in that world...? If that is the case, when I lost Brain Burst, where else can I go...?¡¯


    At the moment he thought of those things, Haruyuki finally was hit with a small chill like thing that made his back shook. Inside his ears, crystal clear little girl¡¯s sound awoke.


    ¡ª¡ª Let¡¯s make a promise. If we see an unknown name in the Neuro Linker address book, send out one email before erasing that data...


    How serious was Niko who said that in the Angel Mode that should be an act, Haruyuki did not know. After that, Niko forcefully crossed with Haruyuki¡¯s right hand little finger, then ran in a clatter to return home.


    There was no way he would forget. Even if his accelerated world memory was erased, he would absolutely not forget people in the real world whom he had fostered bonds. With that deep belief, a sharp uneasy appeared in his chest. If he lost sense of reality in the real world... memories that were tagged with ?Reality?, if they become empty while he did not notice...


    The suddenly well up fear made him hold his hands tight, and he was going to hang his head even deeper, but a small hand came into his view before that, and covered Haruyuki¡¯s left fist.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Haru.¡±


    When he raised his head at the gentle sound, Chiyuri¡¯s usual smile was there.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. For sure soon, everything will be resolved.¡±


    Takumu who was standing beside said that decidedly, then extended the hand holding his shinai and knocked on Haruyuki¡¯s right fist. His two childhood friends exchanged looks, then nodded after confirming something, and again looked at Haruyuki.


    ¡°Also, Haru. We conferred and decided. Even if one more week passed and Haru is chained by the reward, Ta-kun and I, will supply points to Haru so we can level up at the same pace, that. That¡¯s why Haru, you don¡¯t need to worry about anything.¡±


    Haruyuki seriously stared at Chiyuri¡¯s face as she said that. Then he immediately rose from his chair, and fiercely shook his head.


    Lowering his voice volume to the limit, Haruyuki said in a half shout.


    ¡°N... no! If you do that, then you two will have rewarded heads! Those guys, are waiting for an excuse to put that on all of us!¡±


    ¡°Hey hey Haru, I am at least more senior than you. Secretive ways of moving points around, I know many of them.¡±


    Takumu who snickered as he touched his eyeglass bridge, soon looked to lower right of his view, then raised up as if to seal Haruyuki¡¯s retort.


    ¡°Oops, I should be heading to club activities. Haru, if the caretaker activity takes too long, give me a shout, and I will help with what I can. Anyway this week, we will put master¡¯s formulated ?Purification Plan? as top priority.¡±


    ¡°...Ah, sorry, Taku.¡±


    After swallowing various words, Haruyuki nodded.


    The Disaster Armor purification plan. That was, after the seven Kings conference decided how to deal with Silver Crow, Kuroyukihime made it up while she was resentful, the mission to erase the Chrome Disaster factor. It seemed to be made up of three steps, but it was not fully explained to Haruyuki and others. While he raising his head, he said with over half for himself.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the details, but... anyway right now we can only do our best...¡±


    ¡°Un, I will also give my full cooperation. Bye, see you later.¡±


    Takumu once more gave the area around Haruyuki¡¯s right elbow a light knock, then turned around and lightly jogged to the kendo arena. While seeing him off, Chiyuri also quickly whispered.


    ¡°I also have to go to club activities, but don¡¯t be afraid to tell me if anything happens. We are... let¡¯s see... friends, or is it... comrades, not that... let¡¯s see...¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Family. Isn¡¯t that right?¡¯


    That kind of sound from Haruyuki¡¯s heart, made Chiyuri stop her mouth as if she heard it, then she had a large smile. Just like that, she made a fist with her right hand, then moved to the exit with a clatter.


    Haruyuki who was left by himself, as he wore the satchel on his shoulders, whispered in his chest.


    ¡®Real or virtual, it was not that intrinsic of a problem. Taku and I, Chiyuri and I, Senpai and Raker-san and I, and then Niko. Pard-san, and many other people, what we fostered is always ?here? ¡ª¡ª in my heart.¡¯


    ¡®I will protect that. I don¡¯t want to lose it. For Arita Haruyuki ¡ª¡ª and then for Silver Crow.¡¯


    When he glanced at the time, there was only five minutes left till the appointed gathering time. Even while he was running to the stairs to first floor, Haruyuki renewed his decision.


    This one week¡¯s probation, was important time that Kuroyukihime and Niko desperately won and took from the Yellow and Purple Kings who insisted on immediate Judgement. He would absolutely not waste it. It was an unexpected committee activity that he carelessly became a candidate for, but there should be some kind of hint even in that. Right now, all he should do was to do his best in everything.


    ¡°All right!¡±


    With that small shout, when he went outside, the rain seem to have stopped.

 Volume 6 - CH 4

    Umesato private middle school exists at a corner close to Oume street and Itsukaichi street, in the east side of Suginami ward in Tokyo.


    It is small scale in that it only has three classes per year, but its site area is pretty wide. North of the 300 meters track placed on the grounds, is the three story first school building which extends east and west, and that central section is connected to the sports building towards the north side. And then on the opposite side, is the again built east and west wards, the second school building. That is, the whole of it can be seen as a katakana ¥¨ letter shape.


    Each year¡¯s classes and student cafeteria is gathered in the new first school building. On the other hand, for the somewhat old second school building, part of the first floor are lined with faculty rooms, principal¡¯s room and student counseling room, with the second and third floor taken over by storage rooms and various specialized classrooms currently mostly not being used. That is, it is about equal to almost no student goes there. During his first year, Haruyuki used the second school building, third floor male toilet for a ?Shelter? was because of this reason.


    However, there is a place where students are even less likely to approach, or more like they are not even conscious of it. Further north side of the second school building, is a small and long space squeezed between concrete walls and high fence wall.


    Haruyuki, as a newly established caretaker committee member, went through that damp gap to the northwest corner, to gather at the Umesato middle school corner of corners.


    ¡°...This place, our school has one huh...¡±


    While looking at that building, Haruyuki muttered.


    It was way too small for a building. The floor was at most 4 meters length and width, and height was 2.5 meters. The left, right, and inside walls were built with natural wood planks even in this age, and the roof was probably slate thatched.


    And then the front side was all formed by wire mesh with about 3 cm eye holes. That is, this is a cage. Of course, it is not something for locking up students that did bad deeds. It is a small rearing pen for taking care of animals.


    However, not matter how much he put his face close to the mesh and narrowed his eyes, he could not see anything in the small pen. In exchange, there were thick piles of fallen leaves that went in through gaps in the mesh. Under that, without doubt a mountain of micro organisms live there, but they could not be taking care of those.


    ¡°There is a caretaker, and an animal pen, but the essential animal seem to be missing...¡±


    Titling his head, he once more talked to himself. Even if it will be transferred here later, he could not understand why this timing.


    At that time, he could hear multiple footsteps on gravel from behind. When he turned around in surprise, he saw two students closing in from direction of the front yard. It was one boy and one girl. Their necktie and ribbon color was same blue as Haruyuki¡¯s, but their faces were not familiar so they were probably from different classes. This would mean, they were same as Haruyuki, newly appointed caretakers and colleagues, without doubt.


    Haruyuki took a step forward to first at least greet them, but quicker than that, the male student shouted in a loud volume.


    ¡°Uee, this is so dirty! Leaves are super piled up!¡±


    Continuing, the girl expressed her feelings fully.


    ¡°Righttt. It¡¯s no use to clean this. For real.¡±


    From the way they were speaking, these two people must have been selected by lottery instead of candidacy. Even saying so, Haruyuki himself was similar to them. Since he stood up for it on mistaken momentum.


    Now matter how it came about, since he got here, he would have to carry out committee activities with these two people on friendly terms. Taking a big breath, but still a weak sound with that, Haruyuki called out.


    ¡°Ah... at least, we should decide positions.¡±


    Reading the sent document file after he had became a member, he found out that there were two activities for today. First was to select the president, and the other was to clean the rearing pen. Until both of those are finished, committee members sign the diary file and sent it to school system server, they could not return home today.


    Cleaning will be very troublesome, from just looking at the disaster of the pen, so he would like to at least finish selecting positions quickly. Haruyuki waited a few seconds with light expectation for either of those two to say ¡®I will do it¡¯. Committee activities is a factor for adding to performance data, and can influence high school entrance, so there are students who would actively like to have a history of being ¡ð¡ð president.


    ¡ª¡ª However, at this point no one volunteered, so he understood that at this place no one was going after that point. After confirming that by waiting five seconds and those two people still had their mouth closed, Haruyuki said with a weak smile.


    ¡°...Then, I am allowed to be it right, the president.¡±


    While waiting for annoyed response when he could not even say ¡®I will do it¡¯, the relatively dark skinned boy for a go home club, and the girl with hair permed to inside curve, quickly made relaxed expressions, and nodded at the same time.


    ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Yoroshiku.¡±


    Three of them ran their fingers on their virtual desktop at the same time, opening the new committee activities tab, and in the positions column they set Haruyuki¡¯s name, then touched the confirmation button. With this, even in the school local net, Haruyuki would be recorded as the caretaker president.


    He also checked the remaining two people¡¯s names, with the boy being Hamajima, and the girl being Izeki. Since it was a three member only committee, there was no need for any position below vice president.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª If it is like this, then I should have become something like library member at the start of school term.¡¯


    With that earnest thought, he swung his right hand once to wipe the window. Anyway this meant one job done. However the problem was the other job, cleaning of the rearing pen.


    With another look at the pen, even though the walls were dirty, he thought that leaves piled up on the floor would be more troublesome after all. With some of the thickness over 5 cm, they could not do anything without tools. According to the document, they were allowed to use tools from the central courtyard cleaning equipment storage.


    ¡°Then, I will go get a bamboo broom and dustpan... will bring it back, please wait.¡±


    After saying that with a mumble, he jogged towards the central courtyard sandwiched on the opposite side of the second school building. Compared to his first year, when he was a pasi going to buy bread, and from behind him came ¡®You need to dash, dash!¡¯, without that being said was way better, which Haruyuki thought about along with other things.


    When they actually tried it, the rearing pen cleaning job was far more troublesome than they thought.


    If the piled up fallen leaves were dry, then they could probably quickly brush it out with brooms, but this was rainy season even if no rain now. Furthermore it seemed to have piled up over many years, with bottom part mostly becoming muck that stuck to the floor. Old bamboo brooms ¡ª¡ª as expected the materials were not natural, but hard plastic fibers similar to bamboo ¡ª¡ª could only scrape the surface, not being able to bite into hard layers.


    Still, after about twenty minutes of fighting with it, the girl called Izeki eventually said.


    ¡°Ah ¡ª¡ª enough ¡ª¡ª, my hands and back really hurt ¡ª¡ª s!¡±


    ¡°Ehehe, like an old lady.¡±


    When the boy called Hamajima mixed that in, he was glared at imposingly. Haruyuki was also given a look that turned him into a statue.


    ¡°I am really annoyed. Hey you, aren¡¯t you just barely cleaning the same spot for a while?¡±


    When questioned by Izeki¡¯s half angry tone, this time Hamajima cursed.


    ¡°Damn, shut up. You too, aren¡¯t you just roughly moving leaves I brushed outside? Isn¡¯t that an easy job.¡±


    ¡°Ha? I don¡¯t understand what you mean? Isn¡¯t that a bad way to say it?¡±


    During his colleagues¡¯ moment by moment increased threatening conversation, Haruyuki could only sweat as he moved his broom with high speed. Before a real fight starts, he should interrupt and work it out, but while knowing that, far from being able to open his mouth, he could not even raise his head.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª No. No matter what the process was, I became a candidate for caretaker, then also volunteered to become president. Here I should say something kick ass to those two people. isn¡¯t that my responsibility?¡¯


    ¡°...H, hey!¡±


    While that decision was in his whole body, Haruyuki made a sound. The one touch would explode Izeki and Hamajima, turned their glare on him at the same time.


    ¡°...H, hey...¡±


    With a large breath of air, and putting strength to his lower stomach, Haruyuki forcefully said.


    ¡°...Since this, will not be finished even by time we have to leave school... That is, if you two sign the diary, you can go home already... I will remain for appearance sake...¡±


    One minute later.


    With his colleagues¡¯ pure smile and thanks remaining, they escaped at high speed, leaving him alone in the small backyard, which made Haruyuki sigh deeply.


    If he confessed in truth ¡ª¡ª.


    The other two members would be kind hearted girls who love animals, that would lead to his unbelievably heart warming committee activities, it could not be said that Haruyuki did not have at least a milligram of that expectation. But when he thought about it, if that kind of students existed, then a caretaker committee would have been formed way earlier, with this situation as a logical consequence. No, in the worse case, two members other than Haruyuki, could have been outlaw students that had bullied him during his first year. If he thought like that, then he should be thankful for being fortunate.


    While comforting himself with those things, Haruyuki took another look at the rearing pen.


    Of the fallen leaves piled on the floor, not even half were removed. The clock on his view¡¯s lower right pointed to afternoon 4:15. Since the forced leaving school time is at 6:00, it could be said that he had time left, but against the black layer that almost became dirt, challenging that with just one bamboo broom would be useless. If he really want this pen to look pretty, but.


    ¡°...Well, this doesn¡¯t really have to be finished in one day. Since there isn¡¯t even an animal...¡±


    Muttering, Haruyuki threw the broom on his right hand to the ground. Afterward he could just waste time with random game applications till time to leave school, showing appearance that he worked hard but could not finish, to be continued tomorrow. With that thought, he was going to sit down on steps at base of the outer fence, but before that.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª That person also.¡¯


    That thought flashed, stopping Haruyuki.


    That person, Kuroyukihime, for sure should still have not returned home. In the far away student council room, she must be processing tasks related to school festival that will be coming near the end of month with undivided attention. No, Chiyuri and Takumu were also like that. Each of them either on the ground or in the kendo arena, would be earnestly moving their body.


    ¡°...Everyone, everyday, after classes would be doing this kind of things...¡±


    While leaking out a raspy sighing sound, he stared down at his dirty hands. Working hard here, will not be praised by anyone, or get him anything. Then why, for what reason would someone do after class activities?


    Before, Kuroyukihime had said that she had student council activities so she could control the school local net as a Burst Linker, but he felt that was not all of it. That¡¯s right, for sure, Kuroyukihime, Takumu, and Chiyuri also, wanted to continually prove something to themselves. Yet, Haruyuki who had decided to take everything seriously just a few tens of minutes ago, was dangerously close to dropping it.


    ¡°...Geesh, what a guy I am...¡±


    After blowing out a deep breath, Haruyuki bent over, and picked up the bamboo broom from the ground.


    With about 5 minutes work, Haruyuki cleared whatever fallen leaves he could from the pen, then he stopped his hand to think for a bit.


    In the matter of efficiency, that was like slacking off. In order to deal with the muck layer before leaving school, more suitable tools and method would be necessary. He thought that large amount of water wash would be best, but the closest water supply was what looked like a tiny faucet set beside the pen for animal drinking water use only.


    He tried by turning that, and for sure it only dribble out a slow and unreliable flow, that would take a long time to even fill a bucket. After concentrating with his head hard, he finally remembered that president of a committee, have the right to access a higher level of local net than normal students.


    Haruyuki who called out the school map on his virtual desktop, first took water flow line from infrastructure information and displayed it as overlay. There was only one very tiny water color line leading to the rearing pen, but buried underground very closeby, seemed to be a much bigger pipe and supply valve. When he touched that spot and looked around, an AR down arrow pointed to side of the school building three meters away.


    ¡°Water flow is over there... so...¡±


    While muttering, he reset the map once, then selected a more than 5 meters long hose from the school supply list and layered it¡¯s position information. Doing that showed him that there was one located in a tools locker, in the male toilet on the first floor of the second school building in front of him. He clicked that point of light, and applied for permission to use from the popup window. Normal students are not allowed to touch supplies outside of their access rank, but one second later, he obtained approval response from the system, which made Haruyuki involuntarily spoke out.


    ¡°Oo... leave it to the president. What¡¯s left are...¡±


    He again scrolled the supply list. When he picked up a large shovel, that was in the central courtyard storage so no problem with usage. Finally, he searched for a deck brush. It was discovered in the front yard storage for tile cleaning use, which he obtained permission.


    ¡°This should be all. Well, let¡¯s work hard one more time!¡±


    If that was heard by a certain someone, then he would have said with angry sound ¡®Don¡¯t imitate me!¡¯, Haruyuki first aimed for the front courtyard and moved out.


    Using high pressure water from the hose connected to the supply valve attachment to attack fallen leaves piled up on the rearing pen floor, was an unexpectedly fun job, which made Haruyuki think of ¡°Red type long range skills might feel like this huh¡± and other things.


    However, the strict school system did not give him permission to use unlimited amount of water, so the permitted use water amount bar slowly decreased at the edge of his view. With serious aim, sticking parts were cut away one after another. Since he had to save some water for the final brush wash, he could not use up all the water, so Haruyuki stopped the facet when there was about 20% water remaining.


    The floor of the rearing pen, was covered with wet old leaves dissolved from large amount of water, making him thought that the situation became worse than before he started working on it. He had one moment of regret, but with grim determination, he exchanged the hose with shovel, then stepped into the animal pen.


    It was fortunate that he was wearing high cut sneakers made from water prevention materials against rainy season, so muddy water did not invade to inside of his shoes. Of course he would have to wash them thoroughly once he got home, but later things can be thought of later.


    ¡°Heave... ho!¡±


    While putting out that sound, he thrusted the shovel into the muck, and the tip passed through to the floor with almost no resistance. Scraping the floor like that, he scooped up a great deal of black mud. Even with the weight making him stumble, he managed take that out the exit and drop it down.


    The less than 20 cm by 40 cm area, finally showed its original floor shape, which Haruyuki gazed at.


    A mysterious kind of feeling covered his body. Different from when he completed difficult homework, or fell a boss that killed him many times, he felt the heavy challenge. Since thin tears were going to uncontrollably leak out, he hurriedly shook his head. It was way too early to taste success.


    Holding the shovel tight, he took another scoop of the mud and dropped it off. Once more. One step forward, once more.


    Just that hurt his shoulder and back, but as if pushed by something to move, Haruyuki continued his work. After taking out one mound, he felt lost of strength, but at the same time he learned how to use the shovel and move his waist, so efficiency slowly went up.


    While repeating the steady task, he felt a sharp stimulation at the side of his memory. Before, sometime ago, did he do something like this? However, from childhood on he almost never touched real dirt, and house cleaning was left to his mother¡¯s contracted once a week housekeeping service.


    As he forgot even his back pain and earnestly dug in his memory, he finally realized it after about five minutes.


    It was not a real world memory. In the accelerated world ¡ª¡ª above even that, in the ?Unlimited Neutral Field?.


    Two months ago, he was pushed to fall down the old Tokyo tower when he met Sky Raker the first time, and started his steady training so he could climb the 300 meters tall cliff bare handed. While imagining his hands as swords, he thrusted into the steel like hard walls thousands, and tens of thousands times. That was when the ?Incarnate System? ¡ª¡ª Brain Burst¡¯s hidden ultimate power¡¯s doorway, the moment he stood there...


    ¡°...?¡±


    Suddenly ¡ª¡ª.


    His thought, somehow, he felt momentarily close to something very important, which made Haruyuki wrinkle his eyebrows.


    Even while moving the shovel around, he wanted to catch the tail of that thought.


    Incarnate System. Power of firm imagination move the reason of accelerated world, the logic to overwrite events.


    In a word, that is tremendous power. A master¡¯s mind power can overcome game rule¡¯s bound, splitting earth and cracking sky. It is a matter of course, that was a supernatural power that should not exist in the real world.


    ¡ª¡ª But.


    But, the real base of that. Was cause lead to results, that simple mechanism was, maybe...


    ¡®Clang¡¯, suddenly the shovel bumped into the wall, which paralyzed Haruyuki¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Ouch...!¡±


    He hurriedly blew on his hands, then raised his head up as the pain went away.


    After some time, old fallen leave lumps that were all around, had mostly disappeared from inside of the pen. In exchange, there was a small mountain that appeared on the other side of metal mesh, which even Haruyuki was hard to believe that it was all made by himself with just one shovel.


    ¡°...When I get to it, I can do it!¡±


    With the previous thought blown away somewhere, Haruyuki stretched widely as he said that. His tense back gave out creaks, but he thought even that pain was exhilarating. Laying down like that would feel nice, but in order to do that, it was necessary to complete another task. There was remaining fallen leaf and dirt that he did not scoop up on the floor.


    Haruyuki who came out of the pen, changed his right hand weapon from shovel to deck brush. Then he took the hose with his left hand. What¡¯s left, was to use a bit of water while scrubbing with the brush, and it would become much more beautiful. The time was past afternoon 5:00, but since it was close to summer solstice, there was still plenty of light left. It was very possible to finish work before the 6 o¡¯clock forced leaving school time.


    After he returned to the animal pen with high spirits ¡ª¡ª Haruyuki realized something.


    For the hose¡¯s water flow On/Off, the valve at the base must be controlled. However going back and forth to that faucet would be very inefficient. With that said, if he left water running, then he would soon use up the system allowed amount of water.


    ¡°...Hmm...¡±


    He thought hard while looking back and forth between pen and base. However, just this once, a smart way to solve this did not appear. ¡®If you are going to monitor water usage, then you should make it so that the valve can be opened and closed remotely!¡¯, that was his afterthought.


    If it was like this, then he would have no choice but to go back and forth between pen and base even if it takes more time... with that determination, Haruyuki stumbled towards the doorway.


    Going around the dirt mound, a few steps forward ¡ª¡ª at that time.


    In the center of his view, a yellow radio wave mark icon blinked. Continuing, under it a [AD HOC CONNECTION REQUEST] was displayed.


    Ad Hoc Connection was, between multiple Neuro Linker users, a function to connect wirelessly without going through a server. However that was mostly not used inside school. It¡¯s connection speed and confidentiality was worse than Wired Connection, and more than anything, it was a useless function once you log into the school local net.


    Wondering who would make this kind of request, Haruyuki looked around left and right, then finally turned around to look behind.


    For a while, he could not understand it.


    Haruyuki saw a child. There was no problem at that point. It was a girl. That was also not too rare.


    However, it was a face he saw for the first time, which was clearly not a student of this school, and before that, no matter how he looked, that could not even be a middle school student, and above everything else, was dressed in pure white exercise wear for top to bottom ¡ª¡ª with those, was a situation where it was no wonder that Haruyuki doubted normal function of his eyes and brain.


    He rapidly blinked and shook his head, but even with those, the girl in front of his eyes did not disappear, so without any choice, Haruyuki lifted his right hand that was holding the brush, and extended a finger to touch the Ad Hoc connection icon.


    At that moment, the radio wave mark and line of words disappeared, and in exchange, a somewhat large window and blinking cursor appeared. It was a chat window for exchange using text instead of voice.


    The clearly younger than Niko, and looked to be younger than 10 years old little girl, quickly lifted up both hands after she received connection to Haruyuki¡¯s Neuro Linker. Way too thin and small 10 fingers, slowly opened up and stopped in space. The holo keyboard home position, as Haruyuki realized that, the next instant ¡ª¡ª.


    All her fingers flashed in smoke like speed, and right after, in the chat window in Haruyuki¡¯s view, words shinning with pink color rapidly flowed.


    [UI> Nice to meet you, and good day. You are Umesato middle school¡¯s caretaker member right? I am Matsunogi school elementary branch fourth year¡¯s Shinomiya Utai. For this time, thank you very much for accepting my emergency request. I am sorry for causing you a lot of trouble. It¡¯s a bit late, but I also want to help with the cleaning.]


    ¡°...!?¡±


    Haruyuki stood still after being hit with a huge shock. It was not from information in the text.


    ¡ª¡ª Fast!!


    It was incredible typing skill. That many words were input, in just four seconds. If he did not see the input in front of his eyes, he would have to think that was a copy and paste of previously composed article.


    Secretly, Haruyuki thought that his typing speed was first, no, he accepted lost to second since he nearly reached Kuroyukihime. At the very least, for information processing class¡¯ typing mock test, he was by far top of the class. ¡ª¡ª That not being something praiseworthy was partly due to Haruyuki¡¯s virtue like thing.


    However, in front of him, the little girl¡¯s typing speed was clearly more than twice Haruyuki¡¯s. Wondering what kind of training was needed to obtain that kind of technique, he intently stared at the opponent.


    The little girl called Shinomiya, no matter how he look at her, did not seem to be a link skill master.


    She had a small build even for an elementary fourth year. Limbs extending from half sleeve sports jersey, and above knee length half pants, were worryingly small. Her facial features were pure Japanese, with single fold eyes and nose, with the mouth like a cool fixture carved by a master woodcarver in one breath. The deep black front hair was cleanly cut to a line under the eyebrows, and the back was tied up at a high spot. A chic brown leather bag on her back, and a somewhat large sports bag on her left hand.


    The refreshing looking shape that made him forget about rainy season humid heat just by looking at her, made him look at he in a daze for a while, then Haruyuki finally noticed the questioning look the opponent was giving him. That was right, he did not give any response since her greeting.


    A least, he should say hello to her, but thought that he should also reply using chat here. He wanted to quickly call out the holo keyboard to type a reply, but since he was still holding brush and hose, he hurriedly put them on the ground. At the moment that he brought up both hands again, words again flowed in the window.


    [UI> It¡¯s okay for you to speak with real voice.]


    ¡°Ah..., I, I see...¡±


    While his arms were raised in a subtle way, he leaked his first foolish sound.


    Somehow, there were a lot of things he could not understand. Why was this little girl using chat to talk? What was the ?Emergency Request? that she spoke of previously? In the first place, why was another school, furthermore elementary school student appearing in this place? What he somehow guessed, was only the [UI>] letters placed in front of her words in the chat window, which should be her name Utai¡¯s shorthand, UI as a nickname.


    While scratching his head with his right hand that had no other place to go to, Haruyuki spoke as he was having confused thoughts.


    ¡°Ah, Umm... Ni, nice to meet you. I am Arita Haruyuki... Umesato middle school second year, for the time being, the caretaker president... even saying so, that¡¯s starting from today though...¡±


    Then immediately,


    [UI> Yea, I know that your caretaker committee was established today.]


    That sentence was typed in high speed.


    ¡°Wha, is, is that so? How did you know? Also, why did you come from your school, just to help out...?¡±


    [UI> That, was because a request for cooperation from Matsunogi elementary branch that started your committee.]


    ¡°Whatt, is, is that so!?¡±


    Compared to the astonished Haruyuki, the strictly calm elementary student little girl, with more and more perfect keyboard handling, explained how this situation came about in an easy to understand way.


    Umesato middle school existing in Suginami ward in the capital of Tokyo, was a private, and supposedly advancement school. However it was not managed by the school corporation, but by an educational type company that had its headquarter in Shinjuku. That company, other than Umesato middle school, also owned a girls elementary-middle-high all in one school in Suginami ward. That, was the Matsunogi school that Shinomiya Utai went to.


    Umesato middle school had close to 30 years history, but that could not compare to Matsunogi, which became the 95th year for this year¡¯s school opening. That was, to express it in one saying, a ?Rich Girl School?. However it could not avoid the whole country¡¯s low fertility wave, and was sold to the current owner company ten years ago due to financial troubles. Afterwards, many rationalization were made, and as a drastic measure, finally this summer, part of its site was sold, and the profits were used to build a new joint elementary and middle branch, which was the decision that was made.


    Since it was a traditional school, of course its guardians raised voices of opposition, but the management base was a corporation. The decision could not be overturned, and the elementary branch¡¯s current school building will be knocked down after the first school term ended.


    Even saying so, most students welcome a change in buildings. The new school building will start with high spec VR local net, which will lead into the same family of state of art electronic education environment that was being developed in Umesato middle school. However, since the school¡¯s absolute area shrunk, there were also many facilities that could not be moved to the new school building. One of those was ¡ª¡ª the old rearing pen built standing by the side of the Matsunogi elementary branch, that was the story.


    [UI> Of course, I protested against teachers and management company. The caretaker committee, not only belong to students, but also to animals that were taken care of. Students may just transfer into other committees, but animals cannot do that. However the company only repeated ¡°Animals that were taken care of will be dealt with according to laws and regulations¡± as a reply. That would mean, by killing them.]


    Reading the indifferently spelled text till there, Haruyuki shouted ¡°No way!¡± on reaction.


    Even though it was the mission of public companies to chase after profit, killing animals that lost their rearing place was too much. It would probably be too much shock for children who took care of them for a long time. If they went that far... went, that far...


    Haruyuki¡¯s thoughts that were full of anger, bumped into a thick wall there and stalled.


    When they reached a point that need to shrink school site due to cost cutting, building a new rearing pen would be difficult, which he could also imagine the company side of things. He felt that then they could let animals be taken into student¡¯s homes, but caring for animal is not possible without a lot of passion and proper environment. And yet, releasing them in outskirt hills is out of question, and before that, it is also illegal.


    Seeing Haruyuki silent as he bit his lip, the little girl with Utai kind of traditional name showed a slight troubled face. Then her fingers moved again, with text flowing in high speed.


    [UI> No need to worry. There isn¡¯t any animal that has been disposed of, yet.]


    ¡°What, is... is that so? I am glad...¡±


    He involuntarily breathed out a sigh of relief. Utai¡¯s fingers continued her explanation as if in a dance.


    [UI> Seven Bantams[1] that we were caring for were taken in by a farm in Sayama who raise chicken in their yard. Two rabbits, were found by a reliable caretaker within the ward. Just... due to certain circumstance cannot search for caretaker, a child remained at the end.¡±


    ¡°Caretaker... not found, it¡¯s not that, but cannot search... for?¡±


    Utai nodded. Her hair tied by white ribbons, swayed somewhere above her shoulders. The helm was beautifully lined up, so instead of a ponytail, it gave the impression of the daughter of a samurai that came out of a period drama.


    After a moment of thought showing on the same pure Japanese face, the elementary student ran her fingers on the holo keyboard. A long time has passed since the start of this strange conversation, but there was not a single mistype up to this point, and words she selected were very mature.


    [UI> That child, has a bit of complex circumstance. If it¡¯s not from my hand, it won¡¯t eat food. Once, to let it get used to other caretakers, I let them do the feeding, but its weight decreased as if it didn¡¯t eat anything... More detailed explanation, will once more be given tomorrow when I bring it here, but with that kind of circumstance, it created the necessity to find a new rearing place within my daily walking distance.]


    ¡°I... I see...¡±


    Haruyuki who finally understood the situation, said with his real voice that was three times slower than Utai¡¯s typing.


    ¡°With that, the group¡¯s Umesato middle school¡¯s unused rearing pen was provided, and started a caretaker committee here also, but with main work being cleaning instead of caring, only three people were gathered... that, is how it is?¡±


    [UI> Exactly as you said. Sorry to have troubled you.]


    ¡°No, not really, not that... But, I am surprised that my school amenably cooperated. This is just me saying, but our management department is pretty unfriendly... or I feel that they won¡¯t do any extra work...¡±


    ¡®Even though it is the same corporation, if it is willing to take care of other school¡¯s raised animals, then shouldn¡¯t it take more care of me when I was being severely bullied in my first year?¡¯, when that which he could not say repeated in his mind, as if reading that, Utai said ¡ª¡ª no, wrote.


    [UI> Sorry, actually there is a situation related to that... I, know someone in the student council here, and got a little convenience.]


    ¡°Ah, I see.¡±


    No wonder, he was convinced. Matsunogi elementary branch¡¯s students mostly went escalator style to their middle and high branch, but for homes that are enthusiastic in exams, he heard before that their children could have gone to Umesato middle school. Then, it would not be strange for Utai to know someone who was enrolled in this school.


    After hearing the explanation up to this point ¡ª¡ª no, read, Haruyuki finally understood why he suddenly became a caretaker. Most of the reasons were, the same corporation¡¯s Matsunogi school¡¯s caretaker committee was abolished, and the reason for that was to streamline management, furthermore the reason for that is the could not be stopped low birth rate, which meant it was ?Society¡¯s fault?. Of course, becoming a caretaker and cleaning by himself was Haruyuki¡¯s own fault.


    ¡°I see..., that¡¯s impressive, Shinomiya-san. For animals that lost their home, you protested to the company, searched for adopters, and came all the way to another school like this. When I was in elementary fourth year, all I thought about everyday were things like games, manga, anime, and snacks...¡±


    After Haruyuki earnestly whispered that, Utai shook her head seriously, then as she took her leather bag down from her back, she skillfully tapped on her keyboard.


    [UI> I also play games at least. ...With that, Arita-san should have understood the situation, then I want to help with cleaning of the pen...]


    ¡°Ah, is, is that so.¡±


    He finally remembered that he was in the middle of his committee activities, so he hurriedly picked up the hose and deck brush at his feet.


    He could not see a goal while he was cleaning by himself, but with various situations explained to him, and furthermore understanding that there was an actual animal moving in, meant that he should get into fighting spirit for this work. ¡®Allright, I will do it!¡¯, with that to reaffirm his decision, he looked towards the animal pen a bit away.


    The cleaning, would be finished with light water flow cleaning of remaining leaves and dirt stuck to the floor, but he was troubled over how to open and close the faucet at the base. He was very thankful for a helper appearing at this timing.


    ¡°Then, can I leave it to you to open and close that valve?¡±


    After Haruyuki pointed to the base of the hose, Utai tilted her head as if confused.


    [UI> Should I be doing that job? In the first place, I came wearing exercise clothes that can get dirty.]


    ¡ª¡ª Right after reading those sentences, Haruyuki once again turned towards Utai¡¯s appearance ¡ª¡ª pure white half sleeves shirt with school badge on chest, and same white half pants that tightly covered her slim legs ¡ª¡ª and stared, then hurriedly averted his eyes.


    Other than Umesato middle school¡¯s exercise cloth and pants being navy blue, they were about the same manufacture, and he should be used to seeing regular female students wearing those in school every day, but when the opponent was a Matsunogi¡¯s rich girl, he somehow felt that it was bad to look. ¡ª¡ª If those kind of thoughts were found out by Chiyuri, she would fire super powered beams from her eyes continuously without doubt.


    ¡°Ye, yea, all that is left is to scrub the floor with brush! So, when I give the word, please turn that valve three quarters of the way!¡±


    After conveying that with somewhat raised sounds, Haruyuki jumped into the rearing pen with a heavy run. Think of starting the wash flow from farthest in, he held the hose and brush ready, then gave another shout.


    ¡°Go, go ahead!¡±


    [UI> Opening.]


    The response came by text instantly, and right after, somewhat controlled water was released from tip of the hose. While checking the remaining water meter at the edge of his view, he thoroughly wetted about one meter square area, then indicated with ¡°Stop it!¡±. In exchange of a reply, he heard the valve¡¯s screech from behind.


    As he strongly scrubbed with the deck brush, stuck fallen leaves and dirt were easily removed, and ceramic tiles showed their faces on the floor. Fortunately, they seem to have a proper anti-corrosion coating, so there was no hole or crack even after long years of being covered by fallen leaves. If that was the case, then one day of drying should return its original shape.


    Haruyuki skillfully repeated the work of soaking with water and scrubbing with brush. If he was opening and closing the valve by himself, then his work efficiency would be much lower, and before that, just thinking of working with someone who had the same seriousness mysteriously raised his motivation. While he was working with Hamajima and Izeki who showed a bothered expression in their whole body, Haruyuki also could not help but being fatigued.


    ¡°...Allright! With this, only finishing it is left...¡±


    Twenty minutes later, Haruyuki who finished scrubbing all of the floor, made a big stretch and said that. He turned around, and said to Shinomiya Utai who was crouched near the valve.


    ¡°And then, washing the floor is last, so open the valve all the way!¡±


    Hearing that, instead of nodding, Utai¡¯s hands rapidly tapped in the air. Pink letters in his view, were spelled out somewhat reservedly.


    [UI> Umm, if it¡¯s not a bother, can I also help? It will be more efficient to wash and brush at the same time, and I also, feel like wanting to work a little...¡±


    ¡°Na, no way, you have already worked a lot... but, if Shinomiya-san said so, then...¡±


    After Haruyuki mumbled a response, he raised his right hand brush to show her. Utai made a just little joyful expression, and nodded, then as her right hand held the valve, she skillfully typed with her left hand.


    [UI> Well then, going.]


    ¡°Please!¡±


    ¡®Screech screech¡¯, the valve was fully opened, and base of the hose largely shook. As if to chase the water flowing inside, Utai earnestly came running.


    The little girl that flew into the pen a few seconds after high pressure water vigorously spurted, accepted the brush from Haruyuki¡¯s hand, then started single mindedly pushing water soaking the floor outside the wire screen. Matching the rhythm of that movement, as Haruyuki held the trying to rampage hose with both hands, he started washing the pen from inside towards the front. The remaining about 20% water meter was slowly closing in to zero, but as the deck brush moved vigorously with ¡®Shaa Shaa¡¯ sounds, ceramic tiles on the floor also returned to their beautiful light brown color.


    Utai¡¯s brush handling, was with her back to it, and was a sight to see. She was probably used this kind of major cleaning. As expected of a rich girls¡¯ school, and even as he had that strange kind of admiration, Haruyuki also moved the hose around to push garbage flowing on the floor so he would not fall behind.


    With just a few minutes, the floor surface became shiny beyond recognition, and at the same time, the system allowed water usage was almost used up. ¡®Perfect allocation for me!¡¯, with that kind of inner satisfaction, Haruyuki looked at Utai with a smile, and ¡°Then the valve...¡± words he was going to say stopped still.


    His comrade that was doing the open and close job, was inside the pen right now so could not reach the valve. And then on the other hand, even if the meter was used up, the valve was not on automatic control so water would not stop. That meant, if it remained like that, a few tens of seconds later they would be over their allowed water usage.


    Of course, if that happened he would not be arrested or forcefully sent to a detention center, but in the local net for Haruyuki¡¯s student data a ?Minor Violation? would be recorded, and later a small talk from teacher degree of trouble would happen.


    ¡°Oh no...¡±


    Haruyuki instantly held the hose tightly. The blocked water flow shook as if dissatisfied, but somehow the meter almost stopped. Utai who sensitively detected the situation from that appearance, without even typing she dropped the brush, then turned around and ran towards the valve.


    A tremendous disaster happened, at that moment.


    Haruyuki¡¯s thumb that was putting force on the hose slipped, and the charged up water erupted with overwhelming power like a long range type accumulated attack ¡ª¡ª


    Towards exercise clothed Utai¡¯s right shoulder to stomach with a ¡®Splash!¡¯ kind of direct hit.


    Compare to Haruyuki whose brain overloaded due to enormity of the catastrophe he caused that stopped his whole body, the way younger elementary student stood still with a moment of surprised expression, then soon dashed outside. She bended down to the main valve three meters away at the school building¡¯s side, and quickly closed it.


    The water meter at the right side of his view, escaped over usage by having 0.2% remaining, but without noticing that, Haruyuki continued to be frozen while holding up the hose with his right hand.


    In front of him, Utai returned with a small trot, and typed as numerous water drops fell from her upper body.


    [UI> Please don¡¯t worry about it. To prepare for this kind of situation, I changed to exercise clothes before coming.]


    And then without changing her expression, she held up the hem of her shirt that sucked in a lot of water and was sticking to her skin, then wrung it with both hands.


    With that defenseless gesture, he could not avoid seeing her bare skin¡¯s whiteness, which gave Haruyuki¡¯s idle thought transmission a hit that returned it to it¡¯s proper position. Its revolution counter charged into red zone at once, and finally with increased perspiration, face becoming red, and heart palpitation kinds of normal reactions recovered, Haruyuki stood straight with a jerk and shouted in a turned over sound.


    ¡°So, sorry, sorry, I am sorry!! I, I am vevery sosorry!! Ababsolutely that was not on purpose my hahand slipped and then water, water splashed.¡±


    Hearing that, Utai blinked a few times and tilted her head, then her fingers flashed once more.


    [UI> I am fine? I also brought a change of clothes, so there is no problem.]


    ¡°Bububut, a direct hit with that force of water, Ne... Ne...¡±


    Neuro Linker water immersion.


    He was going to say that, as Haruyuki looked at Utai¡¯s slim neck.


    The Neuro Linker that is a usually worn type of device, no matter which model has wash and bath possible level of waterproof capability. However the direct connect terminal and camera len spin were always weak points, so being sunk in deep water or hit by high pressure water, it will have water immersion incident. Haruyuki was worried about that ¡ª¡ª but.


    Utai¡¯s neck that was covered by wide hem ponytail, no matter how many times he looked, nothing was there. With only small water drops shining on tips of very fine loose hair, there was absolutely no existence of any kind of device.


    ¡°Wha...¡±


    A different kind of shock from the previous one hit him, and Haruyuki leaked out a small sound.


    Shinomiya Utai, was not wearing a Neuro Linker. But that was not possible. A few tens of minutes ago, she Ad Hoc connected to Haruyuki¡¯s Neuro Linker, and they continued conversation through a chat tool right?


    As he thought of that, Haruyuki finally arrived at a question that he should have had way earlier.


    Why chat? The fearsome typing speed allowed for no lag conversation so he accepted it as it was, but thinking about it, after Utai appeared, she did not use her real voice even once. That should be, having some kind of reason or circumstance...


    The meaning of Haruyuki¡¯s stare, seemed to be sensitively guessed by Utai.


    Looking straight at them, iris with slight red mixed in eyes looked right at Haruyuki, and the little girl¡¯s right hand fingertip slid. At that moment, a vertical rectangle floated up in his view.


    It was a name tag. Top center was the name [Shinomiya Utai], and a little smaller [Matsunogi school elementary branch fourth year violet group], [Born 2037 September 15] were displayed. However, the normally horizontal length residence net authentication name tag being vertical length was because of an unexpected reason.


    Under the name display field, an unfamiliar certificate was included. Letters recorded in stern Mingcho font were ¡ª¡ª [Medical use intradural indwelling type communications device usage permit]. Furthermore to the lower right, was the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare certification mark.


    The line of kanji that was hard to understand at once, Haruyuki squinted his eyes and tried to grasp it from the tail end by going backwards.


    Indwelling type communications device, is the type of microchip that is buried inside the body. And then intradural is probably, inside the skull, that is the membrane that covered the brain. Communications chip that is buried in the brain type... that is, that meant ¡ª¡ª.


    Brain Implant Chip. ?BIC? in short.


    ¡°A...¡±


    Haruyuki desperately resisted a whole body jerk to lean backwards.


    Just two months ago, appearing in front of Haruyuki right at the start of new school term, was a first year student that took a lot of things from Haruyuki through fearsome scheming. He also, had a BIC in his brain. After long and painful fights, he ¡ª¡ª ?Dusk Taker? forever left the accelerated world, but the organization that he belonged to still remains today. In fact, during the previous week¡¯s Hermes Code Traverse Race, the second would be assassin ?Rust Jigsaw? abruptly intruded, and unleased BIC¡¯s force boosted area type mind power attack, destroying the race itself.


    The organization that Jigsaw belonged to, ?Acceleration Research Society?, would be increasing their attack on the accelerated world from now on, which was not hard to imagine. That was why Haruyuki could not help but be cautious against the first met BIC user, Shinomiya Utai. However, right before he showed that expression, his eyes finally rested on words at the head of the sentence recorded in the permit.


    ?Medical Use?, was recorded there.


    Dusk Taker, Rust Jigsaw, and then Black Vice group of Acceleration Research Society members, had their BIC illegally implanted through shady surgery. Of course, they should not have any permit from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Even if counterfit, the complex certification mark shining on surface of the tag could not be recreated by any cracker. In the past Kuroyukihime showed a name tag with changed name, but that was not creating a tag from zero, it was only rewriting coded name data. Just that, without doubt required extremely high degree of skill though.


    That meant, according to the permit shown by Utai, she legally own a BIC for medical reason.


    So then, what would that ?Medical? thing be ¡ª¡ª ?


    As he thought of that, Utai sensitively read it from Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, and touched her holo keyboard while maintaining a calm expression.


    [UI> Sorry for the late explanation. Since Arita-san chatted so naturally with me, the timing for that escaped me... I, because of mobility type aphasia[2], cannot have a conversation with my mouth. That is why it is like this, using BIC for chat conversation.]


    ¡°Mo... mobility type?¡±


    He mostly understood what ?Aphasia? is, but could not scoop out the meaning of words before it, so Haruyuki muttered. Immediately, Utai¡¯s familiar typed explanation flowed.


    [UI> Aphasia, broadly speaking is divided into mobility type and sensory type categories. Sensory type aphasia is the condition of difficulty comprehending language itself, so in that case communication through chat won¡¯t work either. On the other hand, mobility type aphasia is the condition of vocal organ movement to speak language being inhibited. Since language is understood, reading and writing words is possible.]


    After reading the displayed text many times, Haruyuki finally understood the difference between those two conditions, then hesitatingly voiced a sudden thought.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see... then, instead of BIC, with Neuro Linker direct connect thought voice, how... about that?¡±


    Hearing that, as if Utai already expected that question, she immediately input her answer.


    [UI> Thought voice from the Neuro Linker is actually not thought itself, instead mouth, tongue and face would be movement signals are read to reconstruct the voice. For people with light mobility type aphasia condition that is a possible situation, but for my brain, the signal for voice is totally cut off somewhere in neurons. Like this.¡±


    At that point Utai¡¯s typing stopped, then she moved her right index finger towards her mouth.


    As Haruyuki stared intently, small pink lips softly opened. In between small drops of teeth shining like pearls, the tip of tongue slightly peaked out. A big breath was sucked in, that was going to be released as sound, right before that.


    ¡®Crunch!¡¯ kind of hard and sharp sound came up, as top and bottom teeth vigorously bit together. Small throat tendons floated up and shook in small steps, showing that tremendous force was applied to the jaw. Inner teeth that were clenched together contrary to her intent creaked, and color of pain floated up on Utai¡¯s neat and clean face.


    ¡°So... sorry, enough, that¡¯s enough!!¡±


    Haruyuki unconsciously shouted, and took a step forward. He extended a hand towards her hard stiffen small shoulder, but hesitated to touch her, so stopped in a halfway position.


    However fortunately, just a few seconds released Utai from her tense condition. After a moment of unsteadiness, she blew out a large breath, then the little girl lifted up her head and typed in just a slight halting manner.


    [UI> Sorry, to have worried you. I was not seriously trying to speak, but maybe, I thought maybe I could speak, so... There is no way I could, and I did something stupid. I am very sorry.]


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to apologize.¡±


    Haruyuki fiercely shook his head. Just one minute earlier, he had doubted Utai for having a BIC, which he strongly regret, so he desperately continued to speak.


    ¡°I... I am the one who is really sorry for asking that question for interest purpose. Everyone should have known how thought voice worked... and I should have understood if I thought about it, so the stupid one should be me...¡±


    Unable to look at the opponent¡¯s face anymore, he deeply bowed down, and with evening light shining on the rearing pen floor tiles as a background, pink words gently flowed.


    [UI> Thank you very much. I don¡¯t mind anything, so Arita-san don¡¯t need to worry about it either. Well, let¡¯s put away tools. With it becoming this beautiful, the rearing pen cleaning is plenty. That child will for sure be happy.]


    Haruyuki fearfully lifted his head up, and looked at Utai¡¯s small face. There was, according to speech ¡ª¡ª no, letters, at least no sign of unhappiness, so Haruyuki finally relaxed his shoulders and nodded.


    ¡°...Un. But, I will do the tidying up, you should quickly change. There is an emergency exit on that side of the school building, enter the hallway from there and a little ahead to the left is a toilet...¡±


    After quickly saying that, he picked up the brush, and there was a somewhat swift refute.


    [UI> I am fine. Please let me help till the end. I will the hose] <--T/N: Last part is supposed to be incomplete, and it¡¯s sort of hard to do in English. -->


    The letters cut off there, and Utai suddenly inhaled sharply ¡ª¡ª.


    Then a ¡®Hekuchii¡¯ kind of cute sneeze.


    That, was the first flesh sound Haruyuki heard from Shinomiya Utai.


    At afternoon 5:45, with the rearing pen¡¯s cleaning and tools return kind of mission completely finished, Haruyuki opened the caretaker committee¡¯s activity diary file, and behind the already two people¡¯s saved authentication marks, he added his own name, then sent it to the school system.


    ¡°Fuu...¡±


    After blowing out a big breath, he once more looked at the animal pen that was finished cleaning.


    There were small water puddles remaining here and there, but the ceramic floor tiles with light brown color returned to them, was beyond recognition compared to the dirt covered floor before work started. The stainless mesh and board walls were still dusty, but tomorrow with brush scrub it will soon become beautiful.


    Of course as the interior became empty, fallen leaves and dirt made a small mountain in front of the pen, but after that dried up, it could be stuffed into garbage bags to throw away. Fortunately from tonight to a few days, it was forecasted to not have much rain, so it would not take too long to dry.


    ¡°When I get to it, I can do it...¡±


    After Haruyuki¡¯s murmur, Shinomiya Utai who finished changing quickly typed.


    [UI> Actually, I was shown this pen yesterday. At that time, I predicted that it would take three or four days for it to be useable, but with this degree, tomorrow I should be able to bring the child that was going to be raised here. The management section was in quite a hurry so this really helped. Thank you very much, Arita-san.]


    ¡°No, not really... If I had been more firm...¡±


    ¡ª¡ª And not let those two fellow members leave early, which he left those words out, as Haruyuki continued to mumble.


    ¡°...It would have finished a bit earlier. Setting that aside... what is the animal that is going to be raised here, I am very curious about it...¡±


    When he glanced to his side, Utai who stood beside him, her big eyes with faint red mixed iris flashed roundly, and only her right hand index finger moved rhythmically.


    [UI> It¡¯s a Se, cre, t.]


    ¡°Is, is that so... then, I will enjoy it tomorrow...¡±


    After the mumbled answer, he once more looked right beside.


    Matsunogi school¡¯s elementary brance summer uniform, was a white sailor collar, plump lined one piece. At a very high position on the waist, were two lines of wide tacks, giving it a somewhat old style hakama kind of look. The uniform that he had never seen so close up before, made his eyes involuntarily remained on it for a few seconds, before Haruyuki hurriedly looked forward and said.


    ¡°A, about ten more minutes will be forced leaving school time, so we should leave the school soon... Thank you for your help today.¡±


    [UI> For me too. I look forward to working with you tomorrow also.]


    That reply followed, however Utai typed another line of unexpected words.


    [I need to go for a greeting at the student council room, so Arita-san please leave school first.]


    ¡°Wha...¡±


    His body immediately turned right, and Haruyuki intently looked at Utai.


    To be sure, earlier she said that she had an acquaintance in the student council here, but that was still going to a different middle school¡¯s student council room alone, which was surprising courage for an elementary fourth year student. Utai who returned a rather unbelievable look at the round eyed Haruyuki, naturally typed then nodded.


    [UI> So then, excuse me. Farewell, Arita-san.]


    And then she turned around, and briskly walked towards the main entrance, so Haruyuki shouted towards that back half on reaction.


    ¡°U, umm, I will also go! I also, have an acquaintance in the student council...¡±


    He did not know how many members remain in the student council room deep in the first floor of first school building, but there was a very high chance that Kuroyukihime would also be there. Just in case, against the BIC that Utai owned, Kuroyukihime might also have the same doubt that Haruyuki had. Utai who was not even wearing a Neuro Linker could not be something like an assassin from ?Acceleration Research Society?, and it was necessary for him to quickly convey that to her.


    Looking at Haruyuki who lined up to her side after a small jog, Utai had a glimpse of strange expression floating up, but without saying anything, no, typing anything, nodded.


    After he entered the school building from front stairs, and was changing his muddy sneakers, a warning announcement from the school system flowed into his sight and hearing. Within just five minutes if he did not leave school then a third degree school rules violation will be recorded in his personal file was mentioned, and that synthesized voice made him frown. Even a president¡¯s authority, could not resist this violation. The only ones who could request leaving school time extension, are student council members.


    He would have to somehow beg Kuroyukihime for the extension, but would she allow for this mix of public and private, as Haruyuki nervously walked in the first school building hallway, he looked beside and saw that Shinomiya Utai had her usual cool face.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª When I was in elementary fourth year, I could not help but faint after taking one step into an unknown middle school site.¡¯


    With that kind of somewhat miserable thoughts going through his head, he saw the west side dead end. The door set into right wall was the student council room. Thinking about it, in one year and three months since entering school, he had not enter it even once.


    After Haruyuki arrived in front of the closed white slide door and hesitated, Utai raised her right hand without any hesitation, and tapped a point in the air. She had displayed a holo window, and pressed the entry button.


    Two seconds later, the door lock released click sound echoed. Utai¡¯s expression remained the same as she pulled the door open, and entered after a slight bow.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Um, umm, what should I do...¡¯


    Even at that point, Haruyuki was still thinking of those fretting thoughts as he remained standing in the hallway, then that person¡¯s familiar sound reached his ears.


    ¡°Sorry, Utai. There is bit of lingering work here. The pen cleaning isn¡¯t finished right? I will go help right now...¡±


    ¡ª¡ª What?


    That sound right now, was without doubt Kuroyukihime¡¯s. In her speech, she very naturally used ?Utai? as a calling. That would mean ¡ª¡ª the ?Umesato middle school student council acquaintance? that Shinomiya Utai said, is the vice president Kuroyukihime herself... would that be it? However, what would these two people¡¯s contact point be?


    As the great confusion staggered his head and he stood still, in the chat tool that was still displayed in his view, new lines of words flowed. Somehow Utai seemed to have also Ad Hoc connected to Kuroyukihime.


    [UI> Cleaning is finished. This person worked hard by himself to finish it.]


    ¡°...This person? Where is he?¡±


    With Kuroyukihime¡¯s doubtful sound, he thought that he could no longer hide in the hallway, so Haruyuki left the wall¡¯s side in awkward steps and entered the room. He closed the door with his hand behind him while looking down, then fearfully lifted up his head.


    The Umesato middle school student council room that he saw for the first time, was a lot wider than he expected. In center was an oval conference table, beside the inner window was placed an elongated office desk, and all of left and right walls surfaces were furnished with a lattice of wood racks.


    All sorts of furnishings were of comfortable dark brown natural wood, a thick beige carpet covered the floor, and a large sofa set was just to the left of the entrance, which made it seem unlikely that it was a room in a middle school. In fact, this was a higher rank space than the school principal room that he peeked in once.


    Utai stood beside the conference table at the front, while Kuroyukihime was near the sofa set. There was no sign of other people here. Somehow Kuroyukihime remained to work overtime by herself, but the unexpected thing was how she was dressed.


    ¡°Se..., senpai, why are you in that appearance?¡±


    Instantly forgetting the question about her relationship with Utai, Haruyuki raised that sound, then Kuroyukihime quickly moved both arms to cover the front of her body, in tight fitting black half sleeve T-shirt and navy blue half pants ¡ª¡ª that was, hiding her exercise clothed shape. With her face becoming slightly red and sharp lips, she released louder sound.


    ¡°N, no, this is, well... I thought this would be a good appearance that can get dirty while cleaning that animal pen... or rather, before that, why are you here, Haruyuki-kun?¡±


    ¡°Why, you said... that is... let¡¯s see... what was it again?¡±


    With a moment of seriously could not remember, Haruyuki mumbled, then somewhat amazed words from Utai lined up in the chat window.


    [UI> Arita-san is the caretaker president. He cleaned the animal pen. When I said I want to go to the student council room for a greeting, he came along, but I don¡¯t know the reason.]


    ¡ª¡ª Really, what was the reason...


    At about the same time he belatedly thought about that, he heard Kuroyukihime¡¯s equal amount of surprise and amazement mixed in sound.


    ¡°Yo, you, became a caretaker!? Why again... no, I see, it¡¯s the result of lottery right... Geesh, you are a very lucky guy at this serious time, Haruyuki-kun...¡±


    At this point, ¡®I became a candidate by mistake¡¯. If he said something like that then the situation would probably become complicated, so for now he just said ¡°No, not really¡± with a shy smile.


    When he looked again, Kuroyukihime wearing exercise clothes, was pouring out a different kind of charm than her normal graceful uniformed appearance. Maybe because her hair was tied up in ponytail similar to Utai, so he looked in a daze for a while at her appearance that made him felt bursting vitality, then Haruyuki also voiced his first question for now.


    ¡°...Ev, even so, why is senpai going to clean the rearing pen? Student council member and caretaker concurrent post... can¡¯t be that, right?¡±


    ¡°Ah, about that...¡±


    At that point Kuroyukihime seemed to have realized something as she cut off her words, and quickly manipulated her virtual desktop. In Haruyuki¡¯s view, his leaving school time was extended message flowed. When he looked at the clock, it was just seven seconds before 6. He wanted to express gratitude, but was pushed back by a wave of Kuroyukihime¡¯s hand, as she continued her words.


    ¡°...That was, with just three people, furthermore probably decided by lottery kind of caretakers, I predicted it would be impossible to finish cleaning the animal pen in a short period of time. I promised Utai to have the pen usable as fast as possible. I was thinking of helping with cleaning till the leaving school time extension limit... but unexpectedly you became a caretaker, furthermore in under two hours, made that miserable animal pen become beautiful was something I did not think of. You worked hard, Haruyuki-kun...¡±


    The kind smile plus deep nod towards him, hit Haruyuki with a squeeze to deep inside his chest kind of feeling. Not knowing how to reply, he stood still and looked into Kuroyukihime¡¯s eyes.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª In truth, I was going to slack off. But, I thought that you would for sure be working hard on your job, which made me also worked hard. Still, you... after finishing your own work, was thinking of even going to clean that animal pen, right...¡¯


    That kind of mind¡¯s voice, he did not know how far it would reach, but Kuroyukihime slowly nodded once more.


    What interrupted the magical touching moment, was high speed flow of pink colored fonts in the chat window.


    [UI> Sorry to interrupt your looking eye to eye, but I would like you to tell me already. Are Arita-san and Saa-chin friends?]


    As Kuroyukihime rapidly blinked, she looked at Utai standing to the right side of Haruyuki, and said ¡°Ah, I see¡±.


    ¡°Oh no, sorry. I see, Uiui still doesn¡¯t know. I had been careless.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª Saa-chin? Uiui?


    As Haruyuki looked from one to another while speechless, Kuroyukihime¡¯s brief explanation echoed in his ears.


    ¡°He ¡ª¡ª Arita Haruyuki-kun, is my legion¡¯s vanguard and my ?Child?, Uiui.¡±


    ¡°w...!? !!?!?¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Wha, wha, what are you sayinngg!¡¯


    In the view of Haruyuki who screamed that in his mind, Utai¡¯s clear reply flowed.


    [UI> Ah, so that is the case. Arita-san, is that ?Silver Crow?, right?]


    ¡°!!!??!!!!?!?¡±


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Un, un, knowingly, my reality was intruded onnn!¡¯


    He dashed to escape on reaction, but the door was locked so no matter how much he rattled it by pulling, it would not open. Towards that Haruyuki¡¯s back, Kuroyukihime¡¯s utterly amazed voice was casted at him.


    ¡°...Hey, Haruyuki-kun. I think that you should be able to determine from the flow up to now. She ¡ª¡ª Shinomiya Utai is also a Burst Linker like us, furthermore was a first generation Nega Nebulas member, you see.¡±

 Volume 6 - CH 5

    ¡®¡ª¡ª Will, no longer believe anyone.¡¯


    That, was said by a long ago comic¡¯s dark hero as he lowered his right hand gun, and pressed his wound with his left hand, which Haruyuki gloomily muttered in his brain.


    Crouching at one side of the sofa set, he held a cup of red tea with both hands. It was high class looking Darjiling that Kuroyukihime hand brewed, but he had not recovered from his shock enough to enjoy its fragrant aroma.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Not believing anyone anymore might be a bit much, but at least I will doubt them. Suddenly appearing, and somehow calmly treated me as a real person were without exception Burst Linkers. Moreover, a veteran high level. Without doubt.¡¯


    With that decision, he took a glance at the other side of the sofa, and saw that Shinomiya Utai was pouring milk into her teacup with a serious face. Maybe she put in the proper amount, and placed the pitcher down after one nod, then carefully stirred with a spoon.


    As he looked at that childish gesture, there was still something hard to understand. Utai was a same corporation¡¯s Matsunogi school elementary branch fourth year student, born on year 37 month 9, so currently just 9 years and 9 months old. That was two more years younger than the Red King Niko.


    The first generation Nega Nebulas, ceased to exist due to Kuroyukihime¡¯s rebellion drama two and half years ago, so Utai should be only 7 years old at that time. If it was that, what age was she when she became a Burst Linker?


    As Haruyuki sipped his red tea while at the mercy of many questions, Kuroyukihime who sat to his left side returned her teacup to the saucer, and lit the spark of conversation with somewhat unexpected words.


    ¡°...For sure, you did not wear the Neuro Linker yesterday either, so do you normally leave it off, Utai?¡±


    To that question, as Utai drank milk tea with her right hand, she skillfully typed with just her left hand. The fearsome thing was, her speed did not drop by much.


    [UI> Yea. If I wear it, I would very badly want to go to that world.]


    ¡°Then you should just go. You don¡¯t have a rewarded head like me. Even if your name is on the matching list, there should be no troublesome guys coming to attack you one after another.¡±


    [UI> Once or twice a month I go for solo duels in Setagaya neutral area. That is plenty. To wish for more than that, will not be allowed for me. Because substantially, part of the responsibility for destroying old Nega Nebulas, was mine.]


    ¡°Whatt...!?¡±


    It was Haruyuki who leaked that sound of surprise.


    He intently repeated looking at the chat window, but the words typed by Utai, no matter how he read them, could not mean anything else.


    ¡ª¡ª Destroyed Nega Nebulas.


    Those words, were repeated by Kuroyukihime many times before.


    The Black King, Black Lotus, during the seven Kings conference two and half years ago, took the head of the Red King, Red Rider who was advocating no fighting among level 9s, and forever became a wanted person. As a result, the first generation Nega Nebulas that she led was also destroyed without debate, which Haruyuki understood up to that point ¡ª¡ª but.


    When he looked to his side to seek an explanation, Kuroyukihime who was still in exercise clothes, was looking down at her teacup with sorrow filled eyes, and did not open her mouth. And then Utai also, with her left hand resting on top of the holo keyboard, continued to remain silent.


    In the heavy silence, only the light coming in from north side window slowly grew thicker. It was soon midsummer, but when it was past afternoon 6:30, as expected the sky became slightly dim.


    Leaving school time extension by student council members, should be limited to 7:00. He was worried about time, but he was interested in where these two people¡¯s conversation was heading, so Haruyuki bit his lips. He could not wait for an explanation that would allow him to easily understand everything, but Haruyuki was originally an uninvited guest to this place. So he hesitated about showing a too forward attitude.


    However fortunately, the two veteran Burst Linkers seemed to have reached a kind of understanding in silence. And Kuroyukihime to his side whispered with a small sigh.


    ¡°...Right now I still, as for speaking about first generation Nega Nebulas, consciously... or unconsciously avoiding it. As if the act of clinging to something that was lost, was something that I could not face the current hardworking members of Haruyuki-kun¡¯s group with, I believed... more than anything, I do not have the courage to face my crime... ¡ª¡ª However, Raker returned, and I met Uiui like this after two years. This moment, time to face the past has come... would this be the case...¡±


    Across from Haruyuki who held his breath listening to those words, this time Utai¡¯s hands flashed.


    [UI> If you said crime, then I also have it. Looking away from each of our past, and continued to hide in the edge of accelerated world for a long time, what made I, Saa-chin, and Fuu-nee able to face ourselves once more, is without doubt because of new Nega Nebulas members¡¯ hard work. Arita-san has the right to know what mistakes the former us made, and why we had to disappear from the front line.]


    ¡°Aa..., that¡¯s right. Exactly as you said.¡±


    Kuroyukihime who read words with cherry light, said that in a nod, and turned her body towards Haruyuki.


    Inside the deep black eyes, the same wavering light from before when she talked about her past was there, but right now there was not only that. Right in middle of the iris, a small star shone resolutely.


    Her voice that was released after a slight pause, had a mix of elegant echo that was enduring pain, and going to overcome it.


    ¡°...Haruyuki-kun. As you already know, in the past I pretended to accept the cease-fire agreement the first generation Red King, Red Rider claimed and took his head. Then went into a fight with other five Kings, after surviving to Burst Out, continued to be cut off from the Global Net for two years... I said that, but in truth once more, the next day after the fight with Kings, I dived into the Unlimited Neutral Field. In order to apologize to first generation Nega Nebulas members, and to give them a large portion of points that I have gathered.¡±


    [UI> That kind of thing, there was no way we would accept.]


    After Utai inserted words in, Kuroyukihime had a small wry smile.


    ¡°But, I did not have anything else to give. I took the risk of changing points to items at a ?Shop?, still you guys were angry when you heard it...¡±


    [UI> Of course. Remembering it right now also upsets me a bit.]


    ¡°Sorry about that.¡±


    With another laugh, Kuroyukihime continued after shrugging her shoulders.


    ¡°...However, the story did not end there. I confessed what I did, and announced my decision to retire after appointing the next leader, then Utai¡¯s group of ?Elements? gave an outrageous proposal in exchange.¡±


    ¡°E... Elements...?¡±


    After Haruyuki whispered by parroting, Utai typed with a very slight red face.


    [UI> At that time, four Burst Linkers that served as Nega Nebulas¡¯ sub leaders, were somehow attached with that exaggerated nickname. The reason was, their avatar¡¯s attribute were split into earth, water, fire and wind.]


    ¡°?Wind? is of course Sky Raker. What Uiui¡¯s attribute is, I will leave it for your enjoyment later.¡±


    Kuroyukihime who added that with a smile, and Utai¡¯s face with just a slight grin, made Haruyuki looked at them from one to another.


    Four sub leaders who took the nickname of ?Elements?. That would mean, he could probably take it to be an existence following the ?Four Heavenly Kings? of ancient warring state feudal lords. It took some imagination, but this small build little girl, was a strong enough person to stand beside that Sky Raker. If she is this strong, and also lives in Suginami, why have Kuroyukihime not contacted her earlier, and invited her back to the legion? Even though there seem to be some kind of circumstance, but if she could at least help with territory war, they could defend much easier.


    ¡ª¡ª Haruyuki thought about those and other different kinds of small things, but Kuroyukihime changed her expression after a cough, so he also hurriedly sat upright. Calm sounds, flowed in the student council room at dusk.


    ¡°¡ª¡ª The proposal by the ?Elements? to counter my retirement announcement, was also totally unexpected to me. They... about method to clear ?Brain Burst?, other than reaching level 10, might be another way, was what they said...¡±


    ¡°What...!?¡±


    Those words, also gave Haruyuki a huge shock.


    Online duel fighting game, ?Brain Burst?¡¯s end point. That there was something other than the harsh condition imposed in ?Reaching Level 10?, which was something he believed without doubt till now.


    Would there be other similarly difficult goal? For example, control all territory? No, that would be too unrealistic. Most of Burst Linkers are concentrated in central Tokyo, but battle area is spread throughout Japan.


    Unable to expand his guess, Haruyuki sat on the edge of his seat and asking in an agitated sound.


    ¡°Wha... what is it!? That, other method for clearing!?¡±


    ¡°You should have seen it more than once, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    Kuroyukihime switching to a mysterious sound for that, made Haruyuki opened his eyes wide.


    ¡°Seen it... you said, what is it?¡±


    ¡°Always existing in the center of accelerated world, however not a tiny bit of entry is allowed demonic palace... that severe majesticity.¡±


    At that moment ¡ª¡ª.


    In his brain, the scene he saw just yesterday vividly floated up.


    The ?demonic city? stage in deep fog. In the distance from the sharply lined up city, were black towers standing to reach dark clouds. Even though it rejected everyone, it was a somehow inviting solid and lustrous silhouette.


    ¡°...Im, imperial palace...?¡±


    To Haruyuki who murmured that with a shaking sound, Kuroyukihime and Utai lightly nod in silence. After blinking restlessly many times, he hurriedly retorted.


    ¡°Bu, but! Didn¡¯t senpai say it yesterday! The imperial palace is, ?Even in accelerated world, is a place that cannot be entered with any method?, right!¡±


    ¡°But, I should have also said this. The no invasion kind of setting, is only limited to ?Normal duel field?.¡±


    ¡°Th, that... would mean, let¡¯s see... if it is a place not in the normal duel field, then...¡±


    After a swallowing sound from his throat, he fearfully continued.


    ¡°...If it is the higher rank ?Unlimited neutral field?, then entry method is available, is that right?¡±


    The answer, did not return for a few seconds.


    Kuroyukihime and Utai glanced at each other, and somehow their eyebrows lowered momentarily. However they soon raised their head, and nodded like earlier. This time, was answered through Utai¡¯s chat tool.


    [UI> At the very least, we confirmed what looked like a route. Unlimited field¡¯s imperial palace... we call it ?Emperor¡¯s Castle?, but that place does not have normal field¡¯s Chiyoda area imperial palace, instead four castle gates exist.]


    ¡°...Those are... the emperor¡¯s castle entrances...?¡±


    ¡°Umu. One at the castle¡¯s east, west, south, and north side, with a height about 30 meters kind of huge gate standing there. Other than those, the castle wall¡¯s top and bottom, are set with invisible walls as expected.¡±


    Kuroyukihime¡¯s words, made Haruyuki drew real world¡¯s imperial palace plane view in his mind. To be sure, this side¡¯s real thing should also, be set with east, west, south and north doors. A few of which even became name of underground railway stations. South side is ?Sakurada door?, and west side is ?Hanzou door?. He could not remember north and east side, but since accelerated world¡¯s geography is based on real world, it should be natural to think that ?Emperor¡¯s castle? would have doors.


    ¡°...Those doors... are they openable...?¡±


    As he inquired with excitement in his heart, Kuroyukihime crossed her arms and nodded.


    ¡°Doors that cannot be open will be same as walls. If a gate exists, then it would be more reasonable to think that it is openable. ¡ª¡ª If you can reach it, and can push on the door, that is...¡±


    [UI> That¡¯s right, even if there is a door, you might not reach it. Since, four doors are all absolutely protected. By unlimited field¡¯s seen as strongest of strongest, four super class Enemies.]


    ¡°...!¡±


    Feeling that he finally could see where this story was heading, Haruyuki took a sharp breath.


    ?Enemy?, is a general name for monsters living in the unlimited neutral field. They are automatically controlled by a system similar to normal MMORPG, with most of them fiercely attacking Burst Linkers that have entered their reaction area. If you can defeat them, then you can gain Burst Points instead of experience points, but on top of lowest class Enemy being fearfully strong, the points you gain are also insignificant. If you think about seriously hunting Enemies, then you would have to make a party with many people, and camp in the unlimited field for a few days to over a week, and that struggle is not an easy task. Even for Haruyuki who does not dislike ?Earning humble experience points?, he did not feel like proactively wanting to join those.


    After wetting his dry throat with some cool down red tea ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°Strongest... you said, how strong is that...?¡±


    That question, made Kuroyukihime thought with ¡®Uumu¡¯.


    ¡°Nn... Honestly, it¡¯s a feeling that cannot be explained... ¡ª¡ª About that, Haruyuki-kun, for sure you once... that was when we were heading to Ikebukuro with the Red King, you saw an around twenty people party hunting an Enemy right?¡±


    ¡°Ye... yea. About a building in height, what an incredible one. That, is one of those ?Super class enemy? that Shinomiya-san talked about?¡±


    After Haruyuki timidly said that, the two veteran Linkers had wry smiles at the same time. Utai¡¯s fingers flashed, and sakura color fonts flowed with light sound effects.


    [UI> Enemy hunt by around twenty people are called ?(Huge) Beast class? rank ones. Ones about ten times stronger than those are ?Legend class?, which is rarely met, and most people will die if they are not prepared to meet one.]


    ¡°Te, ten times... of that...!?¡±


    Haruyuki moaned as his back shook. The Enemy he saw on Yamate street when they were on way to Ikebukuro, was something he could be sure would be instant death sentence if he met that one on one. Honestly, Haruyuki¡¯s senses could not even imagine something like legend class kind of strength.


    ¡ª¡ª However.


    Smooth words released by Kuroyukihime next, were something that Haruyuki could not react to by shaking or anything.


    ¡°And then, the Enemies protecting four doors of emperor¡¯s castle, make that legend class seem about as strong as a chiwawa. They are called ?Super class?, because you cannot even guess their status. They who are called the other name of ?Four Gods?, are no longer beasts as that name suggested, and should be recognized as real gods reigning over accelerated world kind of existence...¡±


    Accelerated world¡¯s ¡ª¡ª gods.


    Until now, Haruyuki had believed without doubt that the strongest ones in game space created by Brain Burst were ?Pure color seven Kings?. No matter how large size Enemy are said to be strong, he thought that Kings including Kuroyukihime and Niko would be able to fall them even one on one.


    No, probably for ?Beast class? and if situation allowed, up till ?Legend class?, could probably be won under prepared conditions. Certainly, the Blue King should have a nickname of ?Legend Slayer?. That meant, it was without doubt the proof of him solo killing a legend class once. And it was such an accomplishment that it became his honorific title.


    However, right now Kuroyukihime¡¯s sounds, he believed that it had a hint of fear mixed in it. Haruyuki¡¯s sound sank, and fearfully asked.


    ¡°Umm... ?King? and ?God?, which is strongest...?¡±


    ¡°King is just a human. On the other hand, ?God? is an existence far beyond the range of human. If it is a serious head to head fight, even if you wrung all the power held in seven Kings, that would not even be equal to just one of the ?Four Gods?.¡±


    ¡°...Are you, serious? Then, that, that kind of monster... no, god class enemy protected doors, won¡¯t be able to be broken through then...¡±


    After he dumbfoundedly whispered, Utai nodded with her shoulder length ponytail swaying, and typed.


    [UI> That¡¯s right, it is tremendously difficult. That kind of difficulty, made us thought like this. Getting pass the ?Four Gods? protection, opening doors and reach the center of ?Emperor¡¯s Castle?, might be a second clear condition for Brain Burst, that.]


    ¡°Ah... I, I see...!¡±


    Haruyuki involuntarily said out loud.


    The already known ?Rob all the points from five level 9 Burst Linkers other than yourself to become level 10? kind of condition is very difficult, however in a certain sense, could be said to be possible to achieve right now. If five people from the current seven Kings, decided to sacrifice themselves, and give their head to one King then it would be done. At that moment the first level level 10 Burst Linker will be born, and something will happen in the accelerated world.


    However of course, that kind of thing is not realistically possible. Various Burst Linkers fight in order to strengthen themselves. Reaching level 9 after putting in a huge amount of time and passion, they would not be able to do something as readily throw that all away.


    On the other hand, ?Defeat the Four Gods protection and reach the center of Emperor¡¯s Castle? kind of difficulty, is just a fighting power problem. For example if one large legion members are all ?King? class veterans, it might be possible to break through. This is also unrealistic, but it does not require the spirit of self sacrifice.


    That is, two conditions of ?Level 10? and ?Emperor¡¯s Castle attack?, their difficulty vector is different. The former strength of heart, and latter strength of fist is needed. Thinking on that contrast, when successful on reaching center of the Emperor¡¯s castle, for sure something will happen in the world ¡ª¡ª conceivably Brain Burst itself might be cleared, which might make you think like that. Sufficiently. Anyway, ?Undefeatable castle existing in the center of world map? is set to be the final chapter stage for any kind of games since ancient times, right?


    While tasting the heavy gamer gut feeling tingling stimulus, Haruyuki leaned out and lightly nod.


    ¡°Yea... possible, that is possible! If it is protected by that outrageous kind of monsters, the imperial palace... no, emperor¡¯s castle, is the so called ?Last dungeon?! If you enter it then for sure something incredible... incredible something...¡±


    [UI> Conceivably, there might be a last boss more incredible than the four gods. In any case, two and half years ago, we Nega Nebulas members, proposed the same explanation right now to Saa-chin who announced retirement. If the first clear condition is cut off, challenge the second one, that. Against this, the blockhead Saa-chin...]


    ¡°Stopped it. Of course stopped it. Shouted at full power ¡®No way¡¯, ¡®Won¡¯t allow¡¯, ¡®Give up¡¯.¡±


    While smiling wryly, Kuroyukihime responded with that.


    That expression was calm, and tone was also light. However very faint color of pain floated in her black eyes, and when he saw that, Haruyuki had a slight prediction for how this episode would end.


    His previous excitement went away, and in exchange a cold tension settled on his heart, as Haruyuki waited quietly for continuing words.


    ¡°...However, not only the ?Elements?, every member of the first generation Nega Nebulas, were matching blockheads, so... not only did they refuse the master¡¯s command, they went as far as saying to use ?Judgement? on them all if I want to stop them. At length, I got real angry and sat down, then they left me there and started to slowly head towards the emperor¡¯s castle, was how that ended.¡±


    [UI> Naturally. At the same time that we are followers, we are also Saa-chin¡¯s protectors.]


    ¡°Hey Uiui, at that time you just entered elementary branch! Really... each and everyone....¡±


    The ending of those words, melted into space while shaking. Haruyuki could only silently watch Kuroyukihime¡¯s white throat move, and tightly closed her eyes.


    The inside of soon raised eyelids was faintly wet, however without tears falling, Kuroyukihime quietly continued her recollection.


    ¡°...Without any choice, I also headed towards the emperor¡¯s castle with everyone. At that time, the field attribute was a rare ?Aurora stage?, so... on one side of the night sky, a beautiful aurora was wavering... From Suginami, that walk to emperor¡¯s castle using Shinjuku street was... just like a midnight picnic...¡±


    [UI> It was fun, right. For me, that time talking about everything with everyone in our legion while walking, is my most important memory even now. I got to ride on Graph-san¡¯s shoulders... Aqua-san pushed Raker-san¡¯s wheelchair... is just like it happened yesterday.]


    ¡°We reached the emperor¡¯s castle so quickly, that it make us wanted to tour around Tokyo. No, someone like Graph really said that out loud... However of course that proposal was rejected, and in front of Hanzou door, we held our last council of war on top of Kojimachi hill.¡±


    Her long eyebrows lowered, and her pupils wavered as if looking at a faraway place. From slightly open lips, quiet recollection was spun.


    ¡°¡ª¡ª Since the ?Four Gods? has four body one unit relationship, it is necessary to fight them at the same time, so our legion was also divided into four squads to place at east, west, south and north. Before we split up, everyone was given Utai¡¯s support buff so they were full of courage, and with highest morale and control, we united to challenged the emperor¡¯s castle protectors...¡±


    ¡°¡ª¡ª An, and then... what happened...?¡±


    No able to withstand the just one second of silence, Haruyuki inquired with a raspy sound.


    Kuroyukihime sat upright, placed her hands on top of her lined up knees, and quietly said.


    ¡°About 120 seconds after attack started, the final person was killed. The first generation Nega Nebulas, did not cease to exist by unusual dissolution. At that very moment, it was destroyed by god¡¯s hands.¡±


    To be continued tomorrow, and speak with Takumu-kun and Chiyuri-kun also.


    Haruyuki who relaxed after Kuroyukihime said that, drank all of his cold red tea.


    Honestly, he still wanted to ask many things. What exactly was ?Destroyed?? Those members, where are they right now and what are they doing? Why are they maintaining silence, and have not contacted Kuroyukihime? And then why one of those people, Shinomiya Utai, after two and half years appear in front of Haruyuki¡¯s group?


    However certainly, this conversation is a subject that current members Takumu and Chiyuri should also hear about. And then more than anything, the chic analog clock hanging on the wall, would point to the seven o¡¯clock leaving school extension limit in a few minutes.


    Quickly cleaning up the tea set, Kuroyukihime who picked up her school regulation bag beside the sofa said ¡°Then, let¡¯s go home¡± to the other two people, and started walking towards the door. That profile, Haruyuki believed that it did not seem any different from usual.


    Meeting Haruyuki in last Autumn, throwing away her dummy avatar cover and returning to the accelerated world, at that time she was afraid to even face her past memories. In fact, when the Yellow King thrust that video replay at her in the battlefield, she lost her fighting spirit and became unable to move due to even triggering ?Zero File condition?.


    That meant, even for Kuroyukihime who has absolute fighting ability, she has to continually battle daily with her weakness.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I also, don¡¯t have the time to be anxious.¡¯


    Standing up, as he followed after Kuroyukihime towards the door, Haruyuki renewed his resolve in his heart.


    As a member of newborn Nega Nebulas, he has to become much much stronger. He had to force out the ?Disaster Armor? parasitic somewhere on his duel avatar in a few days instead of a week, and join the Saturday territory battle with his chest held high. He had not heard what kind of thing the ?Purification Operation? that Kuroyukihime thought up was, but he will show them that he can endure any kind of special training or penance he was commanded to do.


    Haruyuki privately held his right fist strongly, at that time ¡ª¡ª.


    Words that proved Kuroyukihime also did not have peace of mind somewhere, flowed from the chat window that was still displayed in his view.


    [UI> Asking just in case, is Saa-chin planning to leave school in that outfit?]


    As he wondered ¡®What?¡¯, he looked at Kuroyukihime diagonally in front of him. On the other side of long hair flowing down her back, was glossy quick dry material T-shirt. Lower half of her body was in tight fit half pants, and slickly extended slim legs. Haruyuki had completely forgotten, that during the long conversation, Kuroyukihime was still wearing exercise clothes that she changed into for cleaning purpose.


    ¡°U, uwa, oh no. Please wait a minute.¡±


    Kuroyukihime released a rare panic sound and turned around. She went between the round eyed Haruyuki, and somewhat amazed Utai, reaching the front of lockers at southwest corner, then ¡ª¡ª.


    She dropped her bag on the floor, held the T-shirt¡¯s hem with both hands, and undressed her top in one motion without any hesitation.


    At the moment pure white back, and black lace underwear strap burned his retina.


    ¡°Furyugu!?¡±


    Was that mysterious sound leaking out, a huge mistake, or a small correct answer? Anyway, at the moment Kuroyukihime heard that, she hurriedly turned around once more, and quickly covered her chest with both arms on seeing Haruyuki standing rigid there. While seeing her face getting redder and redder, Haruyuki earnestly thought.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I am glad this is the real world. If this is accelerated world, then my head would have gone poof from the highest class mind power attack.¡¯


    Right after, the black T-shirt that came flying with a woosh scored a direct hit on Haruyuki¡¯s face, and all of his view blacked out along with an incredibly nice scent.


    Following after Kuroyukihime who quickly changed clothes after chasing Haruyuki from the student council room, and Utai who had an amazed face from the happenings, they left school gate, recording normal leaving school log at dangerously close time of 20 seconds to 7.


    Without even time for a relaxing breath, a sharp sound fell from the top of his head.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun, it¡¯s already dark, so you escort Utai! Tomorrow depending on when caretaker committee activity ends, gather in the student council room! You can tell Takumu-kun and Chiyuri-kun about that! That¡¯s all! Then, goodbye!¡±


    Kuroyukihime who quickly spoke those commands and farewell, turned around, and headed away from the school gate towards Asagaya. After the ¡®Clop clop¡¯ loafer sound went away, and watching swaying black hair melt into darkness, Haruyuki finally blew out the air remaining in his chest.


    ¡°...I, it wasn¡¯t really my fault...¡±


    After his mumble, Utai beside him lightly moved both hand fingers.


    [UI> Saa-chin is a ditz in hiding from before.]


    ¡°...Un, I somehow knew...¡±


    After one nod, he lightly shook his head left and right, and reorganized his thought. It was a monday after school with too many things that happened, but it was still not mission complete. By Kuroyukihime¡¯s command, he still had the task of escorting Utai home remaining.


    With a quick glance to the sky, he could see that evening colors had mostly gone away, with city center street lights dimly lighting up bottom of clouds. Even with various roads covered by social camera web surveillance, an elementary fourth year student walking alone at this hour is certainly dangerous. No, before that ¡ª¡ª.


    ¡°Ah... Shinomiya-san. It¡¯s already past 7, is your curfew or whatever okay?¡±


    After his inquiry, Utai¡¯s fingers moved with no change at all in her expression.


    [UI> No problem. I am a Burst Linker also, you know?]


    Understanding the meaning of those words after a few seconds, Haruyuki involuntarily pinched his mouth.


    Almost all Burst Linkers, has one scar in common. It was the words of Haruyuki¡¯s ?Master?, Sky Raker. That scar was, when they were babies, they were given the Neuro Linker in exchange of parent¡¯s hands. Children who were raised that way, just coming home late would they be yelled at, was what Utai wanted to ask.


    The answer to that, was even returning home after 9, there would not be any adult at home to do the yelling, which Haruyuki knew very well.


    ¡°...I see. But, well, it¡¯s better to go home quickly. Since we worked that hard cleaning, we will be hungry.¡±


    At the moment he said that, from Haruyuki¡¯s own digestive system, a somewhat loud low frequency rumble was released. After Utai had a small grin, she nodded with her tied up hair swaying.


    [UI> That seem to be true. I will go home by myself, so Arita-san also please return home. Well then, have a good day.]


    After a bow, as Utai turned around with white skirt hem flying and walked south, Haruyuki hurriedly chased after.


    ¡°No, I will escort you! It¡¯s already dark, and if I return home like this, tomorrow Kuroyukihime-senpai will be really mad...¡±


    After his said that with a quick mumble, Utai tilted her head slightly while walking and answered.


    [UI> That might also be true. Well then, excuse me but please go with me till Oomiya.]


    And then with a slight adjustment of her course to the left, she lined up at Haruyuki¡¯s side.


    That, was indeed a indescribably strange walk.


    Haruyuki was an only child so naturally he did not have a younger brother or sister, and his mother alienated her relatives, so he had almost no memory of playing with younger kids. If he really had to give an example, his cousin Saitou Tomoko-chan should be living in the neighboring Nakano ward, which he met five or six years ago at his mother¡¯s family home.


    No ¡ª¡ª, for younger friend, then he could said to have Niko who faked being that Tomoko-chan and barged into his home. However she is the Red King that controlled big legion ?Prominence?. It is very hard to think of her as a small kid. On the other hand, if he really treated her like that, he would be one shot with her main cannon and become charred.


    So like this, walking beside Shinomiya Utai wearing a leather satchel and with a sports bag hanging down her right hand, like an older brother kind of experience, was something very refreshing for Haruyuki.


    ¡°Ah, ba, bag, I will hold it.¡±


    After moving over 100 meters, he finally noticed that and said it, then Utai handed it to him after a bow of thanks. He accept it, and with exaggerated motions switch it to his left hand.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª Is protecting someone, feel like this?¡¯


    While adjusting his strides to walk over simple and elegant residential street path lit by LED street lights, Haruyuki thought like that in a daze.


    He had not even imagined it till now, but eventually in far distant future, the time to use his Brain Burst program copy and install rights would come. That meant, as a ?Parent? Burst Linker, pick someone to be his ?Child?. That is to protect and raise a know nothing level 1 chick.


    ¡®¡ª¡ª If, for example, one in a million chance, that opponent is like Shinomiya Utai walking beside me, a younger weak girl. No, move my imagination a step forward, if Utai is my ?Child?. Would I be able to behave like a proper ?Parent?? Sometimes strict, and yet gentle, would I be able to protect and guide Utai?¡¯


    ¡®¡ª¡ª I can do it. I should be able to do it. Since I can properly say ¡°Hold your bag¡±. I am matching walking speed perfectly. Ah, it would be nice if we are really ?Parent child?.¡¯


    With that and many airy imaginations, no, fantasies going around his head, Haruyuki completely forgot the important fact he was told a few tens of minutes ago.


    What reminded him of that carelessness, was Utai who was walking beside him silently, suddenly moved both hands, and reservedly typed few sentences.


    [UI> My home is close to there. Therefore, with this chance, I have a little request for Arita-san.]


    As Haruyuki blinked and read those words, he nodded while still having pseudo parental feelings.


    ¡°Su, sure, ask anything!¡±


    [UI> On top of being escorted, to cause you trouble again and again...]


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, okay. Don¡¯t hold back!¡±


    [UI> Thank you very much. Then, I will accept the kindness of your words.]


    ¡°U, Un, wh... what is it?¡±


    [UI> Please let me see your true strength. Before following Saa-chin¡¯s plan, I want to see for myself if the ?Silver Crow? is truly someone worthy of being Nega Nebulas¡¯ spearhead.]


    ¡°...Yes?¡±


    Creak.


    In front of Haruyuki who froze with that unnatural position and expression, Utai took off the satchel from her shoulders, opened the flap and place her hand in, then soon withdrew it.


    What the small hand held, was similar small scale, as if having an unglazed texture, a matted off white ¡ª¡ª Neuro Linker.


    As he watched her left hand lift up her ponytail, and put the quantum device on her delicate neck, Haruyuki finally remembered the fact that he had completely forgotten.


    Shinomiya Utai, was a first generation Nega Nebulas member, furthermore a core member being labeled as ?Elements?, which would be a corner of four heavenly kings, so was same rank as that Sky Raker, that was, far from being a level 1 chick, was probably a far far stronger high ranker than Haruyuki ¡ª¡ª.


    Pulling the still frozen Haruyuki¡¯s shirt around his waist area, Utai guided him to a bench placed at regular intervals along the path. After Haruyuki sat down half on automatic, she again searched her satchel, then took out something.


    That, was a white vinyl covered, direct connect use XSB cable.


    While handing one plug to Haruyuki, Utai skillfully typed with just her left hand.


    [UI> One on one fight with me? Or make a tag group, for two on two against other teams?]


    Tag please.


    That, was Haruyuki¡¯s instant reply in 0.5 seconds.


    The walking path bench that Haruyuki and Utai sat on, is the real world residence area at Suginami ward, Oomiya Itchome, and then it existed as ?Suginami second battle area? kind of area in the accelerated world.


    With east being Shinjuku area, and southeast being Shibuya area kind of ?Duel places? as neighbors, both could be said to be tending towards low population places. However since afternoon 6 to 8 is the most popular duel time period in a day, and there were many large dive cafes along Seven Ring road nearby, there should be at least 20 people registered in the matching list.


    Haruyuki who direct connected to Utai with a 1.5 meter long XSB cable, after Wired Connection warning showed up and disappeared, straighten his back and held his hands on his knees as he stared. The five years younger little girl, as if with no change in expression, was manipulating her virtual desktop with relaxed movements. She probably started up her BB console, and set Haruyuki ¡ª¡ª ?Silver Crow? as tag partner.


    [UI> Well then, I will pick a suitable duel opponent tag team. I will just be on support for the opening part, so Arita-san please fight as you see fit. If you finished preparation, I will start.]


    ¡°Ye, yes, go ahead!¡±


    After he replied with his dried mouth, Haruyuki gazed at Utai¡¯s glossy lips. Of course that was not an act of harassment, it was so that he could match Utai¡¯s acceleration command timing.


    However, right after. Haruyuki arrived at a question that he had not thought about till now.


    Shinomiya Utai, had the mobility type aphasia illness. She could not speak with flesh voice. In that situation, how is she going to convey her command to the Brain Burst program?


    The answer, was something very simple.


    Utai suddenly closed her eyes, and craved a narrow valley between her eyebrows. Her slightly opened lips, shook as if in convulsions. Inside that, clenched together teeth squeaked. One and two drops of sweat floated up on her forehead.


    It was brute force. The sound that would not come out, is forced out by whipping the body.


    ¡®Stop it¡¯, kind of shout words were desperately swallowed by Haruyuki. Since Utai was a high enough ranker to be part of what is called four heavenly kings of old Nega Nebulas, she should have experienced uncountable number of duels to reach that point. All of those could not be just ?Wait to be challenged?. That meant this little girl, had repeated so many times that could not be counted this tremendously painful looking act.


    It probably took less than five seconds, but the result of this struggle that felt many times longer, was that Utai¡¯s lips opened about 2 cm. Continuing, it narrowed, and opened sidewise again. Finally another small sharp point.


    Bu, rst, Lin, k.


    It was almost soundless, but for sure those syllables were carved by Utai¡¯s real mouth. At the same time Haruyuki also, with unusually awkward movements, whispered those same words.

 Volume 6 - CH 6

    Chapter 6


    Like a mirage that vanishes without a trace, the warm moist air, brought on by the monsoon rains, disappeared and cool wind caressing his body took its place.


    Under his duel avatar¡¯s mirrored helmet, Haruyuki excitedly opened both his eyes. No matter how many time he battles, joy fills him the instant he confirms the stage setting.


    However this time, there was something more important than the stage that mystified him, and thus with a single glance at the fire-red sunset with cool wind rustling the sea of golden grass, Haruyuki confirmed it was the ?Grassland? stage, and immediately turned around.


    Just as the object of his immense curiosity ¨C the duel avatar Shinomiya Utai controls ¨C came into his vision, and in that instant, Haruyuki inhaled sharply.


    As Haruyuki had expected, her body was small, yet it possessed a thickness that couldn¡¯t be called ¡®small¡¯ at all. The reason was embodied in the long shields draped from both her hands, and the layer of protective skirt armour she wore, which covers from her upper waist to her feet and widens at the bottom. Putting these two components together practically looks like a set of white clothes with a red skirt ¨C resembling olden Japanese apparel.


    But the deepest impression this duel avatar made was that its upper and lower halves were of completely different colours.


    The colour of her torso and arms are a moist, watery pale white, very similar to her Neuro Linker. However, the lower body¡¯s clothing armour is a deep, vibrant red colour of high purity in contrast. It¡¯s completely different from the pure red of Red Rider, the first-generation Red King, nor does it elicit the transparency of Scarlet Rain, the second generation King. This particular colour, combined with her avatar gives a distinct Japanese feeling¨C it should be called ?Vermilion?.


    The head bears an astounding resemblance to Utai in real life. In front of her forehead, fringe-like armour plates are covered by a white mask, while a considerably long head of hair extends from the back of her head. Combined with her skirt and eye lenses dyed in the same vermilion colour, it was both cute and yet appears firm and unwavering.


    Haruyuki has never seen such an avatar with two colours separated like this. Silver Crow¡¯s body was coloured entirely silver, of course, and this too was the case for the legionnaires of Nega Nebulas who all possess a single colour. Even though there are duel avatars that do have more than two colours, they were different shades of the same colour, as ¡®the duel avatar¡¯s colour name = duel avatar¡¯s affinity = the colour of its body.¡¯ Since the colour name of a duel avatar¡¯s name is one word, there should only be one hue of colour being expressed¨C or that¡¯s how it should be.


    But before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, the lower half of Utai¡¯s slender and elegant avatar is very close to the ?Red of ranged Combat?, while the upper half similarly is dyed in the ?White of Special Character?. What colour name might then possibly encompass both colours despite their clearly dissimilar properties?


    Haruyuki became fully aware of his gaze, captivated by the powerful attraction of the Japanese-style avatar, and looked away to the two Health Gauges in the upper left corner of his vision. He focused on the names tagged to the Gauge:


    [Ardor Maiden]. This is the name of Shinomiya Utai¡¯s avatar.


    Maiden can be understood and interpreted as ¡®young woman.¡¯ There¡¯s no other name besides this that fits Utai better.


    But the crucial point is the colour word, the English word ardor, which Haruyuki momentarily couldn¡¯t translate. Had this been the real world, a translation bubble would be called up just by focusing on the word in question. Regrettably, no such function exists in Brain Burst. Even if he feels that he has come across this word before, all the English materials up until 2nd year middle school level at least definitely did not cover this word.


    Asking Utai for the meaning of her name would really be quite going off-topic, so Haruyuki could only give up and check his tag partner¡¯s Level. It was Level 7¨C as expected, considerably high.


    Haruyuki spent another three seconds to finish gathering his information, and then spoke to her while bowing:


    ¡°Then¡­then, please take care of me. I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡±


    Raising his head after speaking, he suddenly realised there was a problem. Brain Burst does not provide automatic translation capabilities nor textual chatting functions. How on earth would they communicate then? Sign language? Eye contact?


    Immediately afterwards, Utai replied in such a way that made Haruyuki doubt his eyes¨C or rather, his ears:


    ¡°Take care of me too1. And Kuu-san, there is no need to speak so politely all of a sudden.¡±


    ¨CKuu-san? Is this referring to me? Is this ¡®kuu2¡® from ¡®crow?¡¯


    No, this is not the question. I definitely didn¡¯t mishear¨C she actually spoke. The mouth parts of Utai¡¯s duel avatar¡¯s mask had definitely moved, and afterwards that voice was heard speaking.


    ¡°May¡­may..may I ask? Shi..Shi¡­Shi¡­no, um, how should I address you¡­¡±


    ¡°Anything besides ¡®Denden¡¯ is fine. Previously, I was called by ¡®Mei.''¡±


    ¨Cis it the first half of ¡®Maiden?¡¯ No, this still isn¡¯t the important thing now.


    ¡°¡­then, then¡­Mei-san, this¡­just now, you¡­spoke¡­¡±


    Extremely shocked, Haruyuki¡¯s words were more than a little rash, but Utai didn¡¯t seem to mind and nodded:


    ¡°I may only speak like this during Acceleration. You could say that it¡¯s the only reason why I continue to come to this world.¡±


    Her voice seemed to carry a piercing, unyielding tenacity underneath its innocent and pure tone. While Haruyuki¡¯s poor speaking skills is a perfect reflection of his real self, Utai appears overwhelmingly smooth with a rich inflection to her words; every word can be heard clearly as though she has taken speaking classes.


    ¡°But¡­but, to talk in this world, isn¡¯t the theory that speech signals originate from conscious thought and the Neuro Linker processes them¡­?¡±


    ¡°I myself am not so sure of the specifics. But in the past, Black Lotus said that this is because the depth of quantum consciousness connection is never the same for everyone.¡±


    ¡°Oh, oh¡­I don¡¯t understand either¡­¡±


    Tilting his head to the side in deep thought, Haruyuki returned to closely examining the entirety of Utai¡¯s avatar.


    Page 171


    Exquisite as the combination of pure white and vermilion was, the Japanese-style apparel, a white shirt and red skirt, almost made one feel like their very soul was being captured. No¨C perhaps there¡¯s a reason for this appearance. The arrangement of these colours and this appearance reminded him of a certain event in the real world. He remembered that long ago, he had seen it there¡­remembering that it was before his parents divorced, and the three of them were together for New Year¡¯s¡­


    ¡°Kuu-san, I don¡¯t mind even if you stare at me all day¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­and there, we went to a huge shrine¡­to pray for New Year¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind if you want to come pray in June for New Year either¡­¡±


    ¡°After praying, then we went for a divination¡­and then I remember drawing ¡®Greatly Inauspicious¡¯¡­¡±


    ¡°But the Guide Cursor has been moving nonstop till now.¡±


    ¡°It was written on the top that my interaction with others would greatly suffer¡­wait, what?¡±


    When Utai¡¯s words finally reached his consciousness, Haruyuki hurriedly looked at the dull blue cursor in the center of his vision. Indeed, the cursor was circling from left to right speedily, and the opponents were surely were the arrow pointed.


    This picturesque grassland after all is a battleground provided by Brain Burst, not a virtual space to chit-chat.


    ¡°No good¡­they¡¯ve gotten a lot closer!¡±


    Quickly grasping the situation, Haruyuki checked on the opposing tag team information in the upper right corner of his vision.


    One of them is a Level 4, ?Olive Glove?, who should be a Green Legionnaire whom Haruyuki has never seen before.


    However, he was quite surprised upon checking the other name.


    It¡¯s ?Bush Utan?. A Level 3, he¡¯s also a Green Legionnaire whom Haruyuki has battled numerous times before. But whenever he appeared in the Suginami Ward, it was always in a tag team with the person he called ¡®Big Bro,¡¯ the motorcycle rider Ash Roller.


    Despite his misgivings, it wasn¡¯t as though he teamed up with his pal to battle more than half the time, so Haruyuki set his feelings of uneasiness aside. There was a more pressing question before him: gong by the Guide Cursor, the enemy should have closed in within twenty metres and logically the battling will begin soon, but¨C


    ¡°¡­where are they?¡±


    Tiptoeing, Haruyuki desperately scanned in the direction of the Cursor, but all he could see was the absurdly tall grass being blown by the wind. Not even the silhouettes of the opponents¡¯ avatar could be seen. They surely should be keeping a low profile as though swimming through the grass.


    While Haruyuki looked all around, Utai softly spoke to him:


    ¡°Kuu-san, it seems that the opponents have split themselves into the front and rear vanguards. I will take care of the rear and leave the front to you. Please let me see your true strength.¡±


    She leisurely walked towards the back after saying that.


    From Utai¡¯s manner of speech before the battle, she should be related to Kuroyukihime¡¯s ?Disaster Armour Purification Plan? for her, a rural resident, to even appear before Haruyuki. And it is almost as though she is judging on whether to take part or not based on the outcome of this battle.


    As such, a meaningful victory should be desired; a quick win is out of the question. But it is useless to talk about winning when the enemy can¡¯t be found at this very moment. From the opponent¡¯s constant movement to the left, coming closer in a spiral pattern, he will soon approach within 10 metres of Haruyuki,and at that point the Guide Cursor will vanish. With increasing desperation, he searched high and low for his opponent to no avail, unable to distinguish between the occasional rustling of the wind and the sound of an opponent¡¯s footsteps.


    ¨Cthat¡¯s right, listen!


    He abruptly shut his eyes and directed all his concentration to his ears. He needs to listen for the difference in sounds when an opponent tramples the grass as he advances, and the rustling of grass and leaves when the wind blows. There¡¯s a minute difference within the two that should be heard.


    Two seconds later.


    ¡°¡­there¡¯s absolutely nothing!¡±


    Feeling extremely irritated, Haruyuki opened his eyes again. No matter how he listens, there seems to be zero variation of the shashasha sound coming from all directions. Usually there will be small differences between the two players, but to perceive this aural difference might possibly require anti-detection training.


    His eyes and ears are useless in this situation. Haruyuki might be able to find the opponent if he was able to fly with his wings, but his Special Gauge is still empty and there are no breakable objects in the surroundings.


    On the edge of grinding his teeth in worry, the Guide Cursor in Haruyuki¡¯s vision finally disappeared. Strictly speaking, there is still one more Cursor, albeit pale-coloured, but it points towards the rear vanguard opponent instead, and as such is irrelevant to the circumstances.


    He doesn¡¯t know if the front vanguard is Bush Utan or Olive Glove, but that guy, having come within a radius of 10 metres, should be waiting for an opportunity to strike and dish out the punishment to Silver Crow. Of course, Haruyuki could simply copy the same strategy and lie low among the grass, but doing so will sacrifice the biggest advantage of Silver Crow: it¡¯s speed. And in doing so, the duel will become a mutual fistfight on the ground.


    Had this been a regular battle, Haruyuki would have abandoned all thoughts by this time; make preparations beforehand to attack the weak spots, steadily fill his Special Gauge, and bet on aerial combat from the middle of the fight onwards. This could be said to be the default fighting style of Haruyuki. It¡¯s because Silver Crow is not very durable and its attack range is short, therefore it isn¡¯t suited for grappling combat on the ground. There¡¯s a definite loss of advantages while not flying¨C


    Because that¡¯s what he has always believed in his heart.


    But, Shinomiya Utai had asked to see Haruyuki¡¯s true strength.


    This true strength could be said as ?One¡¯s true power?. And as for ¡®true,¡¯ it would mean that no reservation nor excuse is acceptable. Most importantly, this battle definitely has a direct connection to the success or failure of the ?Purification Plan?.


    ¨Cis there no way out anymore? Have I no cards left to deal with this situation?


    As he wondered, a thought seemed to flash in his heart.


    What if it¡¯s her? Even if the Black King, Black Lotus, is only strong in close-quarters combat, what would she do if in the same situation as Haruyuki? Of course she wouldn¡¯t be frantically looking around like he is; she¡¯d definitely stay in that one spot leisurely until the enemy shows himself to attack, betting on that one instant to counter. Indeed, she¡¯d do this. Since the enemy is a close-combat type, he certainly won¡¯t be standing in the grass the instant he strikes.


    Naturally, Haruyuki will be the one slower to react in this course of action. He can¡¯t pre-emptively strike even if he sees the enemy. But in the Direct Connect duel last week, she told him that a skill to switch from defense to offense exists. He can¡¯t replicate it exactly, but even if he tries and fails, it¡¯s a hundred times better than not thinking and blankly standing there.


    Releasing his entire body, Haruyuki half-closed his eyes.


    The image of Black Lotus during last week¡¯s duel appears in his mind.


    Silver Crow¡¯s fastest, most powerful right-hand punch was still slow in comparison to the speed at which the Black King had intercepted it. Her movement was not so much fast as it was ?without excess movement?. It wasn¡¯t merely repelling the enemy strike as much as it was pulling it in and diverting its vector to push it away. This technique as named by the Black King is ?Soft Act?, or also known as ?Guard Reversal3?.


    A high-pitched RIIIN sound can be heard in his consciousness, blotting out all sound in the background even though he¡¯s keeping perfectly still. This is the Accelerated Sense, which Haruyuki only experiences after surpassing a certain level of concentration, although this is his first time doing so when keeping still in such a relaxed state.


    After an indeterminable amount of time, Haruyuki finally felt the direction of the opponent¡¯s first strike; not by seeing nor hearing, but by the slight tremors of footsteps.


    ¨Cthe back-right!


    Haruyuki turned his body and raised his right hand simultaneously. At the same moment, his opponent emerged from the grass, fist thrusting forwards; a small, grassy-green avatar that blended into the surroundings: Bush Utan.


    His mask resembles that of a primate. His body is hunched over with small feet, but his arms are long and thick. It would seem that he had not run through the grass, but instead depended on his muscular arms to ¡®swim¡¯ through, which explained the lack of the sound of footsteps.


    There is a distinct advantage for the short-statured in this kind of terrain. To Haruyuki, this first strike is a surprise attack. By the time he¡¯s determined his opponent¡¯s identity, the huge right fist is no more than ten centimetres away from his face. Combined with the fact that his footing is less than ideal, it¡¯s impossible to dodge this hit.


    ¡°¨Chohh!¡±


    Certain that his first hit would connect, Utan gave a loud shout. Without making a sound, Haruyuki intercepted the enemy¡¯s fist with his open palm.


    The blazing power from the enemy¡¯s right hook was transferred to the palm. In this moment, any attempt to withstand and block would certainly end with the arms being deflected instantly and the face bearing the brunt of the strike. Rather than doggedly resisting, it is to adjust one¡¯s movements to match the enemy¡¯s action; not to reject his strength but to change his vector. The key point is a ?Circular motion?. It¡¯s similar to how he played the virtual squash game daily in the past: the speed of the ball will rise infinitely if power hits are always used to return it, so it became necessary to lower its speed by moving the racket¡¯s face in a circular ¡®wrapping¡¯ motion.


    Recalling the action, Haruyuki twisted his opponent¡¯s fist in an anti-clockwise direction with his palm. It wasn¡¯t possible for him to fully absorb the power of this strike: his right wrist armour creaked from the stress applied, but at the same time he felt the fist¡¯s trajectory being altered.


    At this stage, Kuroyukihime could already redirect the attack a hundred and eighty degrees to throw Haruyuki backwards completely. Naturally, Haruyuki didn¡¯t have such proficiency, but a deflection of about ten degrees was all that was needed here, such that it would not be a direct hit at least. Clenching his teeth and holding his breath, Haruyuki carefully redirected Utan¡¯s fist into a circular motion.


    CHII! A small scraping sound sounded as a sharp, burning, sensation assailed his left cheek. A few dots were shaved off from his HP Gauge. However, the huge fist merely glanced off Haruyuki¡¯s helmet for an instant and continued on past; Utan¡¯s upper body lost balance. It would probably be a result of only his arms and shoulders being exceptionally developed, hence raising his centre of gravity too high whenever he strikes.


    Realising in that instant, Haruyuki involuntarily swept out his right leg towards Utan¡¯s short legs.


    ¡°Uwoah?!¡±


    The grassy green avatar yelped and somersaulted uncontrollably, landing on his back with a ZAN! sound effect. Although the tall grass might have cushioned the fall and reduced the damage, Utan¡¯s HP Gauge nevertheless fell by a few percentage points.


    ¡ª¡ªI did it! That looked like Guard Reversal!


    Much as he was elated with himself, it was too early to celebrate. Utan disappeared into the grass with audible SHA SHA sound effects again, probably to attempt another sneak attack. Haruyuki crouched slowly and devoted his full attention to his perception.


    The next attempt came quickly; within seconds, the ground shook with the vibrations of footsteps from directly behind. Moving faster than his eye could see, Haruyuki¡¯s right hand shot out, and in the instant he felt it catch something, immediately guided it into a circular motion again.


    When his vision caught up to his action, it was the sight of the deflected left straight and Utan having lost his balance again that greeted his eyes. Utan had attempted to forcibly correct his attack¡¯s trajectory at the cost of raising his centre of gravity when his left leg was fully straightened; Haruyuki reflexive catching of Utan¡¯s fist with his palm therefore resulted his his arm hitting Utan¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Uoh!?¡±


    With that single shout, Haruyuki put in his strength to deflect Utan, sending him flipping end-over-end higher in the air before landing on his face. It seemed that the natural cushion of grass wasn¡¯t able to properly absorb the fall damage: accompanying the injury effect was a 10% decrease in his Health Gauge.


    Stuck in that disastrous position with his legs waving in the air for a moment, Bush Utan jumped up explosively with his arm strength to spin a hundred and eighty degrees and land on his feet. Instead of tunneling back into the grass, he merely retreated a few steps and pointed at Haruyuki:


    ¡°Hohoho, as expected of Ash-bro¡¯s longtime rival!¡±


    Not expecting this kind of response, Haruyuki could only blink and sputter incoherently:¡±Eh¡­ It¡­ It is?¡± But Utan merely continued his rant without paying attention to him:


    ¡°To think you¡¯d use such an extraordinarily clever defense technique! This is the first time I wasn¡¯t able to get the FA4 on the Grassland Stage! But if you think you¡¯ve won already, don¡¯t get a head of yourself! I would truly be undefeatable if I gave up direct attacking and went for sneak attacks instead!¡±


    ¡°Ugh!¡±


    He wasn¡¯t wrong at all. Although he understood Kuroyukihime¡¯s tactic of ?technique beating strength? with great difficulty, it was fundamentally ineffective against throwing and grappling skills. If both his legs were to be grabbed by Utan¡¯s massive hands below the grass, he would end up in a one-sided battle without a doubt.


    However Utan merely waved his right index finger at Haruyuki, who was sending himself into a panic:


    ¡°But if we used grappling skills here, the audience here would be super-disatisfied, right? That way, they wouldn¡¯t see anything at all!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Haruyuki scanned his surroundings and discovered that besides Shinomiya Utai ¡ª ?Ardor Maiden?, who was watching him from a distance, and the other opponent ?Olive Glove?, who had yet to make his appearance, everyone else was observing by standing among the grass.. Utan was quite correct: no matter how fiercely Haruyuki and Utan tussle on the ground, they would not be seen by anybody.


    ¡°¡­so, what do you plan? Eh, I just wanna clarify, I absolutely won¡¯t agree to using brute strength to decide the winner!¡±


    When Haruyuki had blurted out as such, Utan replied just as he slapped his right fist into the the palm of his left:


    ¡°Hoho, that¡¯s a pretty good idea! But too bad, those skinny arms of yours that look like bamboo are no match for mine full of power. That¡¯s why, this time I¡¯m going to bring out my newly acquired skill!¡±


    ¡°N¡­New skill?¡±


    This made Haruyuki tense up. As far as he knew, Bush Utan¡¯s only two weapons are 1) The strength contained within his huge arms, and 2) The ability to extend them by up to three times their length by depleting his Special Gauge. Since he was a Level 3 in the duel last week, it naturally couldn¡¯t be that he had obtained a new Special Move or ability. If that was the case, then he should have used his Burst Points to purchase an Enhanced Armament, or he had perhaps developed a new battle technique. No matter which one it was, he needed to be extra careful.


    Haruyuki crouched low and tightened his mind and body. Utan, on the other hand, walked closer without a care in the world and spoke deeply and provocatively:


    ¡°Hohoho, if you challenged me thinking that you could win just as easily as you did in last week¡¯s Territorial Battle, then you¡¯ll surely regret this! I¡¯m not the polite me from then anymore, so watch closely¡­ This is my new power!!¡±


    Coming to a stop, he crossed his arms over his chest in a hugely exaggerated action, and after a moment, fiercely uncrossed them while shouting:


    ¡°?IS Mode? activate!! Come!!¡±


    I¡­IS Mode?


    Hearing that unheard-of skill name being called out, Haruyuki braced his senses, preparing to dodge anything ¨C even a long-ranged skill.


    But what happened next completely surpassed his predictions.


    From the centre of Bush Utan¡¯s grass-green chest, a strange object emerged with a *kacha* sound. It was a small hemisphere approximately 5 centimetres in diameter with a heavy lustre, but not the metallic type. It looked like plastic; no, it should be best described as a moist texture like an organic form.


    The following things immediately confirmed this observation. The hemisphere¡¯s surface opened up like a human eye, splitting in half. Below this ¡®eye¡¯ leaked a bloodred glow, and the eye stared directly at Haruyuki.


    And then-


    Bush Utan released a dreadful pressure, flattening the grass all around. Black light was released from the eye in his chest, covering his entire body and radiating loudly. Despite being about ten metres away from Utan, an inexplicable sensation of pain was felt even through Haruyuki¡¯s armour.


    An abnormal thirst in his eyes, Utan shouted out an unheard-of skill name, raising his right fist as he charged forwards:


    ¡°Hohh¡­ ?Dark Blow?!¡±


    Gaining the likeness of an enormous steel bullet, the shadow thickened around his fist and gave off a heavy, low vibration as it hurtled towards Haruyuki.


    ¡°Uuh¡­¡±


    If he wanted to, surely Haruyuki could grasp this chance to use Guard Reversal again, but an indescribably frigid killing intent shut down that thought. Driven by fear, he jumped with all his might to the left to dodge.


    What happened thereafter blew away Haruyuki¡¯s thoughts, even forgetting to counterattack.


    Utan¡¯s straight landed at his feet, and in an instant blew away the grassy field like a meteor strike.


    The stage floor possesses different properties from objects and rock, and should not be so easily shattered. Such power to effortlessly carve out such a crater was highly uncommon. Had he attempted to deflect that punch with Guard Reversal, he would have been single-handedly trying to bear such huge strength.


    ¨CWhat was that!? A Special Move¡­that can¡¯t be right, an Enhanced Armament?


    At a loss for words, Haruyuki reflexively checked the gauge displayed below Utan¡¯s HP, a slim, green line displaying the amount of Special Gauge remaining.


    Upon seeing it, he was panic-stricken and breathless.


    The gauge hadn¡¯t even decreased by a hair. Or rather, it hadn¡¯t even been used from the start. And yet, Utan¡¯s entire body was constantly radiating a dark aura with flickers of red.


    Constant emission of light without depleting the Special Gauge. Only one word in the Accelerated World exists to explain this phenomenon:


    ?Over-Ray?. Besides the Movement Command system most commonly used, there¡¯s another way to control a duel avatar: the Image Control System. When a strongly imagined action passes through this system, excess signals are treated and rendered as photons ¨C visible light.


    At this point, Haruyuki finally understood what Utan had meant by ¡®IS Mode.¡¯


    It had to be an abbreviation for ¡®Incarnate System Mode,¡¯ or the more commonly used term, ¡®Incarnate System.¡¯ The dark aura enveloping Utan was proof that he had activated the forbidden Incarnate System.


    But why did he do this? Whenever high-rankers pass on the knowledge of IS, they would surely warn their students that the Incarnate System is to not be used in normal duels. And besides that, just what was that black eyeball in his chest? Incarnation is purely from the imagination of its user, so no objects nor equipment need to be equipped.


    Deeply confused, though Haruyuki was fully aware that Utan, draped in inky blackness, had begun to attack; he thus was unable to react immediately.


    ¡°Vuu¡­hohh!¡±


    Utan yelled out in a distorted voice as he raised his fist high. Haruyuki finally blinked and opened his eyes wide; but it was too late to dodge. Despite knowing the danger of doing so, all he was able to do was to raise his left hand, preparing to apply Soft Act in response-


    ¡°Hohh¡­?Dark Blow?!¡±


    Calling out the same skill name as before, Utan threw an explosive punch.


    Haruyuki brought his palm up to bear against the Over-ray emitted by the fist.


    For a split second, he felt a bone-chilling sensation in his hand¡ª


    With a high-pitched shattering sound, Silver Crow¡¯s left hand instantly fragmented into countless shards of silver.


    ¡°GUAHHH!¡±


    Even in the regular field with a reduced pain threshold, Haruyuki was unable to hold back his scream from the pain, feeling as though someone had literally ripped out a piece from his mind. And yet Utan¡¯s fist didn¡¯t stop there and continued on towards his face.


    Haruyuki desperately craned his neck away to evade, but couldn¡¯t stop the corner of Utan¡¯s large, rough thumb from grazing the left edge of his helmet. Feeling as though his cheek had been cauterised, an enormous pressure then knocked him off his feet and onto his back, crumpling heavily into the grass.


    Haruyuki rolled on the ground in agony. All of his left arm from the elbow downwards had disappeared without a trace, and at the side of his helmet a deep scar ran, emitting sparks. Utan looked down on him, and withdrew his right hand with heavy movements. He then thrust his left fist into the air.


    There was no trace left of the original Bush Utan from last week¡¯s duel in the light of his slanted, comma-like eyes behind his humourous mask. No, it could already be seen just ten seconds ago, with none of the passion for duelling. Now, those eyes only held a thirst, a longing beyond hurting and breaking Haruyuki, until he surrendered to Utan¡¯s delight.


    For the third time, Utan¡¯s left fist, cloaked in the sticky black aura, was brought down to strike. Haruyuki propped up his back for dear life and unfurled his wings from this position, extending ten metal fins with all his strength.


    Utan¡¯s fist deeply pierced the ground where Haruyuki was a mere 0.1 seconds before. His blood ran cold at the mere sight of this, and he climbed as high and fast as he could until he was more than twenty metres above, and only then did he halt.


    He couldn¡¯t understand it at all, or rather, he refused to believe it. With great difficulty, he eased open his locked jaw, and squeezed out a few words:


    ¡°¡­U, Utan¡­why¡­your skill, what the¡­¡±


    And the response he received was-


    Utan raised a massive hand and faced Haruyuki, floating in the air. A voice crushed low to the point of a rumble issued from his mask:


    ¡°¡­flying away is just as useless¡­¡±


    A black aura gathered in the center of his palm, five fingers spread outwards. In a slightly garbled voice, he shouted:


    ¡°?Dark Shot?!¡±


    A jet-black beam of light erupted from Utan¡¯s palm with a heavy sound.


    Haruyuki¡¯s mind was long past the point of surprise, and all he could do was stare at the black beam streaking right for him. He unconsciously vibrated his wings and slipped sideways, attempting to move out of the beam¡¯s way, but of course, it was too late¡­


    Boom!


    A huge hole was punched through the centre of his left wing, scattering silver fins much like the feathers of a bird when shot. Consequently, Haruyuki¡¯s thrust was unbalanced and he dropped like a stone with no time to react; he crashed into the ground.


    If the ground hadn¡¯t been thick grass, his Health Gauge would surely have turned red by now. Instead, after a glance at his Gauge that had come dangerously close to fifty percent, even if he trembled before the fearsome power of Utan¡¯s Incarnate skills, Haruyuki still dragged himself back up.


    Trampling the grass with swishing noises, Bust Utan walked up to Haruyuki and broke into a huge sneer:


    ¡°¡­How does my new skill¡¯s power feel like, eh? Ain¡¯t it cool? Nobody could hope to match it, yeah~¡±


    Light continously throbbed and emanated from the ¡®eyeball¡¯ in the center of his chest. In a soft, stuttering voice, Hauryuki fought against Utan¡¯s bloodthirsty gaze.


    ¡°Wh-Why¡­Just, how did you¡­get this power¡­¡±


    The answer came just as soon as he thought of it ¨C it could only be that someone taught him how to use the Incarnation System. Just like how Sky Raker had taught him, and Scarlet Rain to Takumu. But there was still something he couldn¡¯t understand:


    Niko had said that there were four basic types of Incarnate techniques: ?Range?, ?Movement?, ?Offense?, and ?Defense?. And, any person can only learn Incarnate techniques that are compatible with their duel avatar¡¯s colour type. But right before his eyes, Bush Utan had shot him out from the sky with a ?Range Expansion? technique: the affinity belonging to the Red spectrum in the Colour Circle, and completely opposite of a green avatar¡¯s defensive properties. And prior to that, Utan too had used an ?Offensive Expansion? technique to strike Haruyuki. It¡¯s impossible for these Incarnation techniques to exist together; even Niko, herself a high-level Incarnate System user, admitted her inability to use either Offensive or Defensive Expansion techniques given her avatar type.


    Faced with a problem far surpassing his comprehension, all Haruyuki could do was to sit down, shell-shocked and gazing blankly.


    Across from him, Bush Utan lowered his long, burly arms loosely by his sides while the ?Eye? in his chest gazed around. Moving his mouth as little as possible like a child revealing his secrets, Utan spoke with a crazed fervor:


    ¡°¡­Didn¡¯t I say? I¡­got this from someone who gave it to me. This ?IS Mode Study Kit?¡­or simply ISS Kit.¡±


    ¡°Gave¡­ You? Someone¡­gave you the ISS Kit?¡±


    He murmured in a daze at this revelation.


    Haruyuki was familiar with the words ¡®study kit¡¯; there are numerous companies marketing a wide variety of educational kits for young children: Piano, Gymnastics, Bicycle riding, just to name a few study kits. After downloading the kit into the Neuro Linker, either FullDive or Augmented Reality learning could take place under the guidance of a virtual instructor. He himself had used such a kit, ¡®Speaking Practice Kit,¡¯ but he didn¡¯t wish to let others know of this fact.


    But such companies in the real world couldn¡¯t possible create and sell an ¡®Incarnate System Study Kit.¡¯ And logically speaking, the power of the Incarnate System couldn¡¯t possibly be learnt from these quick fixes. Lastly, Utan had said that he did not purchase this, but obtained it from an acquaintance, most probably another Burst Linker who told Utan, ¡®With this study kit, you can learn the Incarnate System,¡¯ and thus passed to him that black eyeball.


    So who on earth gave it to him? It couldn¡¯t be¡­ It couldn¡¯t be¡­


    ¡°This¡­someone who gave you the ¡®ISS Kit,¡¯ is he¡­ Ash Roller?¡±


    For a moment, a bemused look crossed Utan¡¯s face while Haruyuki trembled in fear. Utan then shook his head and replied:


    ¡°¡­Nah, it wasn¡¯t. This thing¡­ I would never tell Big Bro Ash about it. ¡®Cos Big Bro, he¡­ probably wouldn¡¯t like this too much, yeah¡­¡±


    Upon hearing this, Haruyuki secretly exhaled in relief. Ash Roller had already been taught the basics of the Incarnate System by their master, Sky Raker, and therefore shouldn¡¯t have to experiment with such suspicious tools like the ISS Kit.


    But he couldn¡¯t let his guard down just yet. Bush Utan leaned in closer towards Haruyuki, and whispered feverishly:


    ¡°¡­But, as long as I use this kit to become stronger, Crow-san, don¡¯t you agree that Big Bro will definitely be happy for me? If he knew that even though Crow-San beat me up just a week ago, and that now I¡¯ve scored a flawless victory with the ISS kit, Big Bro¡¯s gonna be happy, ain¡¯t it? He¡¯d say I¡¯m ¡®GIGA COOL~,¡¯ ain¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Seeing Utan¡¯s insatiable thirst in his eyes up close, Haruyuki gasped sharply and involuntarily shook his head as he replied:


    ¡°¡­N-No, it wouldn¡¯t be. The power of IS Mode¡­ I mean, the Incarnate System shouldn¡¯t be learnt from a kit like this. You have to first face your own ?trauma?, and understand the source from which that power originates¡­ You have to begin from there, or you¡¯d be swallowed up by your heart¡¯s darkness¡­¡±


    ¡°Dafuq you sayin¡¯?¡±


    Utan shut Haruyuki up on the spot with his angry retort. Their masks were almost touching each other, the formerly cheerful and lively Burst Linker now spoke in a gravelly tone:


    ¡°¡­Crow. From that tone of yours, it¡¯s as though you know a little about this ?power?¡­.but in that race last week, you should have personally experienced it: the immense power of the shuttle No. 10¡¯s ?IS Mode? that ran amok and in an instant, rusted away the shuttles of several hundred Gallery members to smithereens. ?IS Mode? is such an extraordinary power, an ultimate power that can break every last rule of Brain Burst. There are all those filthy fellows who have been hiding it from everyone else all this time, so is there any purpose in caring about what that power signifies now? No, or rather¡­ maybe even you¡¯ve been using that power in your fights every now and then, winning them in your own little sneaky way?¡±


    Like a huge snake, Utan¡¯s right hand snaked forwards and grabbed Haruyuki by his throat, and with his extreme strength lifted him to his feet. From this close proximity, Haruyuki could see into the depths of Utan¡¯s eyes, which should have been leafy green in colour, flickering with a black-red light. And ¨C the frequency of this light¡¯s pulsing and the eyeball of the ISS Kit stuck in his chest was completely in synchrony.


    ¡°If I ain¡¯t stronger, there ain¡¯t no point to it. If I ain¡¯t stronger, my winrate won¡¯t be good and all I¡¯ll ever be in the legion is merely an underling. It wouldn¡¯t be long before I lost all my points, and nobody in Accel World will even know they just lost another small player. But of course, people like you who had rare abilities like ?Aviation? from the start wouldn¡¯t understand, or maybe there¡¯s just no way for guys like you to understand us.¡±


    ¡ªI understand. I can understand it better than anyone. I¡¯ve never thought of myself as a winner, not in the real world, not even in Accel World.


    That was what he wished to say, but Bush Utan beat him to it. In a hoarse voice, he continued on:


    ¡°¡­But, with this ?ISS Kit?, even losers can become strong. No¡­losers will never have to feel like a loser ever again with its strength. You saw it too, right? In the three days I¡¯ve had this Kit, I¡¯ve been able to master ?IS Mode? to this extent. As long as I¡¯ve got this power, I won¡¯t ever lose to melee nor ranged attackers ever. Those idiot legionnaires too, who look down on me, and¡­ Even Big Bro ¨C I mean, I can even beat Ash Roller! I¡¯m strong, that¡¯s right, I¡¯m stronger!¡±


    His voice wasn¡¯t hoarse anymore; at some unknown point, his tone and even his volume had drastically changed.


    Bush Utan lifted Haruyuki off the ground with just his right hand gripping Silver Crow¡¯s throat, yelling out loud:


    ¡°I¡¯m the strongest¡­ I¡¯m stronger than anyone! I don¡¯t even need a Tag Partner anymore! ¡®Olive Glove!¡¯ Let¡¯s have a duel after this! Let¡¯s see who¡¯s got the better skill at IS Mode! Where are you, Olive! Watch me finish this guy off!¡±


    With Bush Utan¡¯s complete turnaround in character, and Haruyuki¡¯s comprehensive ability long overloaded, all he could was think in a daze, unable to keep up with the situation anymore.


    -¡®Olive Glove¡¯ was the name of Utan¡¯s tag partner in this battle. He should be his buddy from the Green Legion, but from the way Utan had referred to him, he seemed to have also obtained the ISS Kit. In other words, Olive too should be capable of wielding the terrifying power of ?all types of Incarnation?.5 If that was the case, then how had Shinomiya Utai fared as his opponent? She shouldn¡¯t have gone down in one hit just like he had¡­


    Just when Haruyuki looked up to check the Health Gauges in the upper corner of his vision, he heard footsteps from his right, and immediately turned to face it.


    A chilling wind parted the swaying grass and an unknown duel avatar stepped out, slowly walking towards them.


    His armour colour was just like his namesake, a dark brown ¨C Olive. His body was slim like a branch, but his arms were disproportionately large. And, another black hemisphere was stuck in his chest just like Utan.


    But the eyelids of this eyeball were nearly shut, save for a tiny exposed sliver of the ?Eye?. Red light flickered irregularly from it, as though it would go out at any moment.


    Upon a closer look, just to keep moving forwards, Olive Glove¡¯s avatar itself had to readjust every step he took with great haste, as though¡­as though he was fleeing.


    ¡°¡­Olive?¡±


    Upon hearing Utan¡¯s voice of surprise, this lean avatar raised its head stiffly. Beneath rows of vertical slits, his eyes opened as wide as saucers.


    ¡°¡­Utan¡­hel¡­ Help me¡­¡±


    His hoarse voice suddenly cut off mid-sentence as he abruptly turned his head back and raised his right hand out of fright. A thin layer of shadow gathered, wrapping around his hand that resembled the branch of a tree.


    ¡°Da¡­?Dark Sho-?¡­¡±


    *THMP*


    A soft sound interrupted Olive mid-word.


    It had come from a long, thin object wrapped in flames that had appeared from nowhere, piercing straight through Olive Glove¡¯s left chest ¨C a ¡®fire arrow.¡¯


    The entire duel avatar instantly disintegrated and dispersed; his Health Gauge had been reduced to zero. Haruyuki reflexively checked the four ¨C no, only three bars were left in the corners of his vision.


    Bush Utan¡¯s Gauge still had 80% left, while Silver Crow¡¯s was just less than half full. But Haruyuki¡¯s tag partner Shinomiya Utai ¨C Ardor Maiden ¨C her Gauge hadn¡¯t decreased even a single dot since the beginning of the battle.


    The ?Eye? ¨C the ?ISS Kit? that Utan had referred to, had already appeared on Olive Glove¡¯s chest, so Maiden should also have encountered an Incarnation attack as her opponent¡¯s first strike. In Olive¡¯s last moments, he had tried to use the same long-ranged skill Utan had utilised, ?Dark Shot?. That couldn¡¯t have been his first Incarnate attack against her, and yet Maiden hadn¡¯t even suffered a scratch. How on earth was that so?


    Haruyuki momentarily forgot to breathe as his gaze slowly rose from the spot Olive had vanished.


    About twenty metres away, the silhouette of a diminutive duel avatar appeared, clad in a white robe and red hakama6. All of her armour shone brightly without a single imperfection, save for an object she held in her slender left hand that hadn¡¯t been there before. It was a long, thin object nearly as tall as she was, gently curving backwards above and below her grip, with a thin line strung between the ends. It was ¨C a bow.


    Ardor Maiden nonchalantly glanced at Silver Crow, less a whole arm and one of his wings, and Bush Utan who had him by the throat and off the ground.


    There had been nothing else in the space between her hands. But suddenly, a fiery-red line appeared ¨C an arrow of fire. Utai straightened her back, raised her right hand high, and in a beautifully smooth motion, gently pulled on the string.


    Time seemed to stop in that moment of silence. Her right hand shimmered, and her left simultaneously released.


    With a gale-force wind the arrow flew, deeply piercing through Bush Utan¡¯s right lower arm.


    ¡°Uuh¡­¡±


    Groaning in pain, Utan dumped Haruyuki onto the ground and pulled out the flaming arrow with his left. The arrow dissipated into thin air afterwards. But just from this one shot, Utan¡¯s Health Gauge had already been reduced by ten percent.


    Though her arrow¡¯s damage was high and her accuracy amazing, it was the dignified manner in which Ardor Maiden carried herself which truly frightened Haruyuki ¨C and probably Bush Utan too ¨C rooting him to the spot. The Japanese-style avatar seemed to glide through the sea of grass, murmuring in the wind, as she came closer. If only avatar size is considered, then she¡¯s smaller than any other player, yet a scorching aura about her chased away all such feeling. In Niko¡¯s words, she exerted an ?Unbelievable Information Pressure?.


    Ardor Maiden came to a stop before Haruyuki and Bush Utan, holding her bow horizontally with both hands before her. In the same dignified manner that belied her innocent tone, she spoke:


    ¡°This has been an unforeseen matter. I merely wished to restrain Olive-san before a victor could be decided on your side of the duel, but unfortunately that couldn¡¯t be the case.¡±


    She shook her head lightly, as though her flawless victory had in fact been a grave mistake. She then proceeded to speak her train of thought aloud in a short monologue:


    ¡°The ?ISS Kit?¡­ If this was to be spread uncontrollably, it will be quite difficult to resolve the situation. And if the distributor¡¯s identity cannot be found quickly¡­¡±


    Utai raised her head and fixed Utan with a severe gaze. She got to the point straightforwardly:


    ¡°Bush Utan, who gave to you this?¡±


    As though intimidated, the grassy-green avatar retreated two steps. The ?Eye? in his chest began to flicker irregularly, as though in pace with his own state of mind. The form of the dark aura surrounding him, too, had begun to sway violently.


    Utan shook his head repeatedly, and in a hoarse voice, he croaked in reply:


    ¡°I, I can¡¯t tell you¡­ Nope¡­ I promised, not to tell¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that the case? Well then, there¡¯s no other choice since you¡¯ve made a promise.¡±


    Utai acknowledged with a blunt nod of her head, continuing to fix Utan with an iron stare as she delivered her next question:


    ¡°I will daresay that this power will do more harm than good for you. Bush Utan, the ?Flames? of my avatar type has the ability to purify your body of that parasitic object if you wish so for it. There is still time for it now. It is regrettable that Olive-san turned me down¡­ But what about you?¡±


    The full implications of her words¡¯ meaning couldn¡¯t be immediately grasped by Haruyuki.


    But after a second or so had passed, his eyes grew wide with realisation.


    Utai had definitely said ¡®The ?Flames? of my avatar type has the ability to purify your body of that parasitic object.¡® But, wasn¡¯t such an ability extremely rare? Hadn¡¯t Kuroyukihime and Fuuko talked about it in the past; parasites and other object of similar types could only be removed by users with the rare ?Purifying Ability??


    Then ¨C Shinomiya Utai, Ardor Maiden, has to be one such user with a Purifying Ability. She is the keystone to the ¡®Disaster Armour Purification Plan¡¯ as outlined by Kuroyukihime, which will cleanse Chrome Disaster¡¯s seed from Haruyuki.


    As the realisation glued him to the spot, Haruyuki momentarily forgot about the pain from his missing left hand and wing; Utai nodded at Utan, as though urging him to answer.


    Standing few metres away, the black aura surrounding his body seemed to become increasingly pale and weak. His voice seemed to have lost all strength as he croaked:


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I only¡­wished to become strong¡­as strong as¡­-Big Bro¡­¡±


    He took a single step forwards. His hands dropped by his sides, and his head shivered continuously, as though he was about to nod. But then-


    The Eye in his chest suddenly blinked and opened wide and the dull red light it emitted strongly pulsed. At the same time, Bush Utan¡¯s own eyes too, lit up together and the same red light shone from them. Haruyuki got the feeling that it was actually the Eyeball that was interfering with Bush Utan¡¯s state of mind.


    ¡°¡­No¡­ This power is mine¡­ My power¡­ My strength¡­¡±


    A tinge of distortion overcame his voice, deepening it greatly. The aura surrounding him began to regenerate, and his outstretched hands slowly clenched to form fists.


    ¡°I won¡¯t just hand this over¡­ Or let it be stolen¡­ Don¡¯t even think about taking this from me¡­ No.. Not at all¡­¡±


    In a low voice, Utan seemed to ramble to himself, when he abruptly stood straight up forcefully. From his eyes and the Eyeball in his chest, each emitted a thin ray of dark red light like a spear.


    ¡°This is my power, this is my ?IS Mode?! If you want to take it away¡­ then I¡¯ll show you!¡±


    He thrust his right fist high into the air, a thick black aura covering it completely.


    ¡°Oooh¡­ ?Dark Blow?!¡±


    Bush Utan wanted to beat the smaller Ardor Maiden to a pulp from above.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s instinct was block with his own fist,but Utai raised her left hand, gesturing for him to stop.


    In the same action, she brought forth her right to face Utan. Compared to his fist, humongous like a boulder, Utai¡¯s five slim fingers resembled newly-bloomed rose buds. ¡®There¡¯s no way she could stop it,¡¯ Haruyuki thought.


    But then-


    Utai¡¯s palm lit up with a gentle orange light ¨C flames. A clear layer of translucent flame covered her hand in a fraction of a second.


    Just as Utan¡¯s fist was about to crush Utai¡¯s comparatively tiny palm ¨C a resounding *GAAN!* erupted. The impact propagated, fiercely shaking Haruyuki and the surrounding grass all around. But all he did was to stare blankly at the scene before him, as though oblivious to everything else.


    Utan¡¯s and Maiden¡¯s hands were not touching: a space of five centimetres separated them, and within that space Utan¡¯s black aura could be seen tussling viciously with the semitransparent flame from Utai, emitting dazzling sparks everywhere. This was their respective imaginations clashing to create the ?Overwrite? phenomenon ¨C in other words, Maiden was defending against Utan¡¯s Incarnate attack with her own Incarnation.


    But the difference between their expressions couldn¡¯t be greater: Utan¡¯s face was twisted with undisguised hate and killing intent, but Utai just kept her hand raised quietly. Her expression looked a little sad, even.


    Utai abruptly spoke up, her words reinforcing Haruyuki¡¯s impression.


    ¡°Bush Utan, this is where you¡¯re wrong. The power of Incarnation¡­ Or ¡®IS Mode¡¯ as you call it, isn¡¯t a power to be bestowed upon you nor a power to be taken from someone. It is born from your heart, from your inner self.¡±


    ¡°¡­Shut up, shut up shut up!¡±


    Utan bellowed and brandished his left fist.


    But even before he had struck, the flame surrounding her right hand strengthened by a tiny amount.


    And then the balance of opposing forces between them was instantly dispersed. A tremendous force blew away Utan¡¯s fist, flipping him into the grass behind.


    The disparity in their strength was absolute. Utai had probably employed a ¡®Defensive Expansion¡¯ Incarnation technique, and despite the fact that her red-type duel avatar should not be able to use such a skill, and even when it should be inefficient, she only had but to use Over-Ray to deflect the opposing fist. All the more, she was no ordinary player.


    Bush Utan, too, seemed to have sensed Ardor Maiden¡¯s incredible power, and rather than continue head-on, dived back into the grass. *SHASHASHA*¡­ The sound of rustling grass surrounded them, accompanied with the rustle of the wind. He had not fled, in fact, but most probably was preparing to launch the same long-range dark beam attack that had felled Haruyuki earlier.


    ¡°¡­Ut- Sorry, Mei-san, he¡¯s planning to use a ranged attack!¡± 7 Haruyuki cried out hurriedly.


    Utai nodded slightly. Walking a few steps closer to Haruyuki, she turned around to scan the surroundings, and with a dignified voice stepped towards the fields of grass.


    ¡°Bush Utan, there¡¯s one more thing which you do not know of. If you attack with Incarnation techniques, you mustn¡¯t forget this. The opponent may also counterattack with Incarnation as well.¡±


    With that, Utai glanced at Haruyuki for a moment before nonchalantly speaking:


    ¡°Kuu-san, just once will suffice; please block Utan-san¡¯s attacks. My Incarnation attack takes a little time to activate.¡±


    ¡°O-Ok¡­wait, what?¡±


    Answering without thought, Haruyuki realised too late that he had just tripped himself up. It was going to be no easy task to deflect a ranged attack from possibly anywhere ¨C it may well be impossible.


    But Utai had already moved out of Haruyuki¡¯s line of sight and began to concentrate. Spreading her feet apart slightly, she shut her eyes, and a layer of Overflow resembling genteel flames enveloped her whole frame.


    And then her duel avatar abruptly underwent an unexpected change.


    With a loud *CLACK!*, armour from her fringes slid out and covered her entire face. These pure white surfaces with gentle curves only bore 2 curved lines for eyes, like a false appearance ¨C no, it¡¯s actually a mask.


    The eyes drawn on this mask appear soft, but to put it another way, they gave off a cold appearance, or there was not the slightest trace of innocence, to say the least.


    Following which, another transformation began with the Japanese bow she held in her left.


    The entire length of the flaming bow was instantly shrunk into a small rod, merely a fraction of its original size. Utai then transferred this object, still wrapped in flames, into her right hand, holding it outwards like a brush. Haruyuki speculated that that should be some sort of weapon, but in the next moment-


    *PAH!*


    With a crisp sound, the rod unfolded from her hand into a thin, sector-shaped object: a ?Fan?. Let alone a firearm, it¡¯s not even a weapon; why go to the trouble to change the bow into a fan! No matter how much Haruyuki wanted to yell that at Utai, he couldn¡¯t break her concentration just yet.


    Unable to do anything else, Haruyuki could only prepare himself to defend against Utan¡¯s attack at all costs, and scanned their surroundings.


    If Utan¡¯s Over-Ray was his original avatar¡¯s colour, it might have been possible to spot him through the grass which wouldn¡¯t completely conceal him; but the black aura he gave off blended into the shadows created by the evening sun, making it impossible to see where Utan was. And it was just as impossible to hear even the slightest sound of footsteps; given these circumstances, predicting the source of his next shot was more difficult than detecting a punch by several orders of magnitude.


    ¡ªWrong. Even if he has a way to conceal his footsteps, Utan still has to make a sound before he attacks: ?Calling out the Skill Name?8. Incarnate techniques aren¡¯t like normal Special Moves: it was not impossible to activate it without calling out the skill¡¯s name. Yet, instant activation without any voice imagination trigger was quite a high-level technique, and for Utan who had only possessed the ?ISS Kit? for a few days, he shouldn¡¯t have had attained that level of proficiency.


    Haruyuki stretched out and brought his fingers together, gathering his entire concentration unto his sense of hearing.


    The blowing of wind, the rustling of leaves, all other noises were eliminated from his consciousness, single-mindedly waiting for the one and only sound inscribed into his memory by Utan a few minutes earlier.


    When an eternity passed in a few seconds¡¯ time, Haruyuki¡¯s senses were finally triggered.


    ¡°?Dar¨C?¡±


    His eyes opened in an instant and he shouted:


    ¡°?Laser Sword?!!¡± ¡°?¨Crk Shot?!!¡±


    The two Incarnate attacks¡¯ names were called out simultaneously.


    A black beam shot out from behind Ardor Maiden¡¯s right, and Haruyuki slashed up with his right hand. A silver aura from his fingers elongated into the length of a sword, and its point rushed towards the inky black darkness¡ª


    Page 205


    *CRAASSHH!* With a shrill collision, the laser deviated from its path, barely missing Utai¡¯s shoulder and vanishing into the twilight sky. A distance away, an expression of shock momentarily crossed Utan¡¯s face as he stood, but his avatar immediately ducked back into the grass, leaving neither sound nor shadow as he fled.


    Utai¡¯s request ?to protect her once? was fulfilled. But Incarnate attacks wouldn¡¯t deplete the Special Gauge. Strictly speaking, it requires ?mental strength? to attack, but Utan¡¯s fighting spirit was probably in no way weakened. Another Dark Shot was sure to follow in the next few seconds.


    Not knowing what to do next, Haruyuki turned back to look at Ardor Maiden.


    The diminutive masked avatar slowly waved the hand fan in her right hand, almost as though she was dancing.


    At this, a long-forgotten memory in Haruyuki¡¯s recollection suddenly awoke:


    Where had he seen this scene before? Yes, on a performing stage when he was much younger, he was brought by his parents for a New Year¡¯s shrine visit. In the midst of mysterious music, a girl dressed in white with a red hakama danced with a fan in one hand just like Utai was now, though there were differences. The performer was not masked like Ardor Maiden is, and her movements were not as dynamic as Utai¡¯s. Her changes in tempo were enormous, from a climax to freezing in place noiselessly. There was no other words that came to mind to describe this other than ¡®superb.¡¯


    Haruyuki had long forgotten about the battle just in front of him, and continued to admire the dancing of Ardor Maiden.


    Without warning, from the mouth of her mask, a bright, clear voice resounded. She wasn¡¯t shouting, yet her voice clearly carried to every corner of the stage. It was an outstanding ?singing? with strength within.


    ÉÙ¤·›ö¤·¤­ÈýŸá¤Î¡¢


    Sukoshi suzushiki san¡¯netsu no


    Suddenly, the grassy fields covering the entire stage shuddered. It was not transpiration ¨C it was flames. Flames surrounded Utai and spread far away to the edges of the stage. That was the indication of an Incarnate System Skill, ?Over-Ray?, or excess light, that was covering the entire stage. To the point of surpassing even the erosion-type Incarnate System skill employed by Rust Jigsaw, ?Rusting Order?, which he used during the Hermes Vertical Cord Race last week.


    ¿à¤·¤ß¤òÃâ¤ë¤½¤ì¤Î¤ß¤«


    Kurushimi wo manugaru soreno mika


    9


    The world ignited in a blaze.


    Lotus-like red flames rose into the sky in all directions, completely scorching the grassy plains. The whole stage had been dyed red, with countless embers dotting the sky like stars.


    A two-meter circle of space around Utai was untouched, with naught an ember inside this space. But the illusion of being completely untouched by those flames was enough to send Haruyuki gasping for breath.


    Ardor Maiden gracefully waved her fan. The violently raging flames spread, burning the grass and even the ground to ash.


    Between the curtains of fire, a vague shadow could be seen.


    That was Bush Utan, whose entire body had been engulfed in flames. His two arms had long ago been incinerated.


    And yet unbelievably, his face had no expression of pain whatsoever, only an unreadable expression. He looked down on his own body which had just been toasted into a pillar of flame. Haruyuki reflexively checked their HP gauges; Bush Utan¡¯s gauge was dropping at an alarming speed. It dropped below 30% in the blink of an eye, as though the flames itself was burning the gauge away. 20%¨C10%¨Czero.


    With a flash of light and a sound effect, the avatar-shaped pillar of flame disappeared.


    Even so, the short avatar continued with her dance. While watching her in silence, Haruyuki finally felt all the puzzle pieces fall into place, and understood:


    The meaning of ?Maiden? does not only refer to a young lady. It also could refer to a nun of God. Isn¡¯t this very form just that of a shrine maiden, and therefore the first image that is invoked by the red and white armour?


    And, ?Ardor?¡¯s meaning is ¡®Blaze.¡¯ Hotter than ?Fire?, more ferocious than ?Flames?, to the point of an apocalyptic conflagration.


    Ardor Maiden.


    In other words, ?Conflagration Shrine Maiden?.


    Notes:


    1. ^ When Haruyuki first says ¡®Please take care of me,¡¯ it¡¯s in polite speech. This reply by Maiden is a shorter, more casual form.


    2. ^ Crow in katakana is ku-ro-u, and Maiden calls him Kuu-san by revoicing the ¡®u¡¯ in ¡®ku¡¯. The English equivalent is Cro-san, a shortening of his name.


    3. ^ Êܤ±·µ¤· (uke kaeshi) in Japanese, ËÄÁ½²¦Ç§½ï (s¨¬li¨£ngb¨­qi¨¡nj¨©n) in Chinese. It¡¯s ?Give & Take? and ?Skillful Deflection? respectively.


    4. ^ First Attack.


    5. ^ Very iffy: the term È«ÊôÐÔÐÄÄî is used here, which is literally ¡®All-affinity Incarnation,¡¯ ¡®Universal Incarnation,¡¯ etc. It conveys the idea that the ISS Kit grants skills of all affinites from the Colour Circle: ranged & melee offense, defensive, and indirect. Whether all of these are demonstrated remains to be seen.


    6. ^ Haruyuki almost calls out her name, caught himself mid-word, and reverted to her avatar¡¯s name, if that was unclear.


    7. ^ The haori and hakama are the two most prominent articles of clothing in a shrine maiden¡¯s attire.


    8. ^ There¡¯s a few ways to translate this, but TVTropes takes the cake.http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CallingYourAttacks


    9. ^ This line is taken from a Noh play with a poetic structure to it: a faithful translation is beyond our combined abilities. The best I can give is a direct translation:


    Worries and pain, they are


    Freed now, and there is more by far


    The phrase ¡®more by far¡¯ should be taken to mean that more than just one¡¯s worries & pain can be freed / cleansed / relieved.

 Volume 6 - CH 7

    Chapter 7


    Summary: Haruyuki duels Ash Roller and they discuss the emergence of the ISS Kit.


    Finishing his breakfast of cornflakes with milk in big bites, Haruyuki hurried out of his home after informing his mother in her room that he was going to school.


    Although today is a rare sunny day, it is still quite humid, immediately increasing one¡¯s unhappiness index early in the day; the tiniest amount of exertion is enough to cover one¡¯s entire body with sweat, but Haruyuki persisted with a pace close to jogging towards the main road to the front of the large building.


    He is not running late; his intended destination is not his school either, but a location en route to where he normally travels to school. Reaching the side of Seven Rings Road, he continues to walk south along the wide pedestrian path, deviating from his usual route of turning right at the turn.


    Entering the central flyover and climbing the gentle slope, he soon reaches the junction of Seven Rings and Aoume Avenue. Getting on the skybridge escalator, Haruyuki stops at the center of Seven Rings Line and checks the time in the lower right corner of his vision. It¡¯s now 7.45am.


    Switching his line of vision to the lines of EVs1 underneath him, Haruyuki softly utters:


    ¡°Burst Link.¡±


    *BASHIII!* With that sound effect, the world is silenced and is dyed blue. This is the Initial Accelerated Space, which the Brain Burst program created by amplifying the quantum clock pulses of Haruyuki¡¯s heart and accelerating his thoughts by a thousand times.


    At first glance, the EV traffic, dyed a uniform, vivid blue, seems to have completely stopped, but a closer examination reveals that these cars are in fact moving forwards by about a centimetre every second. Against this strange backdrop, Haruyuki moved the hands of his pink pig avatar and opened the Matching List Option in Brain Burst. Locating the name he was looking for from a long list of familiar names, he exhaled a virtual sigh. With naught a trace of hesitation, he selected it and pressed ¡°DUEL¡± on the resulting popup.


    The world changed again. From its outer edges inwards, the sky turned an inky black. Scars appeared on the walls of tall buildings and convenience stores on either side of the road. Every car vanished and countless broken walls spawned by the roads, including potholes and rusting gasoline barrels.


    The ?End Of Century? stage is still a considerably windy environment, and Haruyuki couldn¡¯t help but crack a smile. It wasn¡¯t that he particularly liked this stage, but there was no stage more suitable than the current one. That¡¯s because the opponent Haruyuki had chosen mere seconds go had fought in this particular stage for his first ?Duel?, and furthermore, it was when Haruyuki ¨C Silver Crow had made his debut as a Burst Linker.


    Tilting his ear attentively, it wasn¡¯t long before Haruyuki picked up on the characteristic sound of a revving internal combustion engine coming from the wide, open northern main road. He should be joyriding towards Haruyuki¡¯s position straight as an arrow with the engine at full throttle, since the water-coloured Guide Cursor is practically motionless. Within his heart, Haruyuki was lured for an instant to audaciously attempt the same trick as he had on a similar footbridge in the past: waiting for the opponent just before he passes directly underneath the bridge, jumping down and dealing a full-force flying kick.


    But Haruyuki stuck to his original plan, and before he could even see the silhouette of his opponent, jumped down from the handrails of the footbridge. Opening his wings to slow his descent, he landed on the road surface gently.


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    ¡°Crow-kun has gone down already? Why?¡±


    This chatter came from the gaggles of Gallery Members gathered on the rooftops of various buildings. It was probably jaw-dropping for them to see Haruyuki squander such a rare advantage; but contrary to what they believed, Haruyuki had not ?Accelerated? this time for the sake of a duel.


    Putting his hands on his waist, it wasn¡¯t long before Haruyuki could make out a shining headlamp from the darkness and the sound of a roaring V-twin engine. It appears that the opponent too, had noticed Haryuki and had changed gears, preparing to charge straight in; however, he had instead, raised his hands high rather than assume a combative stance to attack first, indicating his lack of intention to fight.


    Fortunately, the opponent seemed to have understood his intent. Emerging from the darkness, the front and rear brake rotors of the steel ride emitted sparks from the deceleration, with their orange light reflected in the chrome plating of the upper half of the bike. The rear wheel was skidded and the bike came to a stop before Haryuki, and the rider removed his hand from the handlebars to shake a finger while clicking his tongue:


    ¡°So Bad, you lookin¡¯ for a fight with me but surrender before we started?¡±


    Facing the devilish scarface mask of the avatar who is probably Accel World¡¯s one and only motorbike rider Ash Roller, Haruyuki bowed his head and replied:


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but today I have something I want to discuss with Ash-san¡­¡±


    The legion that Ash Roller belongs to is the Green Legion ?Great Wall?, whose territory is the area of Shibuya to the south, so their main duelling territory is of course Shibuya. Yet for reasons unknown, Ash Roller can be found on the Matching List on normal days in the morning and evening for a short period of time in Suginami. Perhaps it was because he takes a bus that passes through the Seven Rings road to get to and back from school, so this period of time is considered a ?Neighboring Excursion?. And if this is truly the case, then it is certainly very daring on his part; since it is possible to determine from the duel avatar¡¯s spawn location the position of the bus that he is riding on, it¡¯s difficult to protect himself from ?Real Life Harm? incidents occurring.


    Yet upon a second thought, there are no other Burst Linkers who could be appropriately described with ¡®daring¡¯ and ¡®rough,¡¯ and therefore Haruyuki made his decision to interrupt his thoughts and walked closer to the bike. Lowering his voice, he spoke:


    ¡°And, if we could talk in ?Closed?, it would help me a great deal¡­¡±


    ?Closed Mode?, as it implies, is the complete exclusion of Gallery members from spectating the fight, or in other words, a private duel. It can be initiated with the consent of both sides, but doing so would lead the Gallery to think that the fighters were petty about being seen. Furthermore, ?expressing in view of everybody? is the reason why Burst Linkers throw themselves into a fight wholeheartedly, so next to no one ever uses this mode.


    Ash Roller too huffed with dissatisfaction, but agreed in a small voice of ¡®Understood¡¯ given the serious tone Haruyuki had used.


    Facing the four directions of the stage in turn, the motorbike rider shouted in a loud and clear voice:


    ¡°HeyheyHEY! Boyz an¡¯ Girlz! Sorry that you guys can¡¯t see Ore-sama win today, SO SURRY, but juz for this fight, everyone, take it that NOTHING happened at all!¡±


    Thunderous protests immediately erupted from every direction above on the rooftops.


    ¡°Oi oi, that¡¯s might boring!¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Ash vs Crow for such a long time now, you guys really should have a go!¡±


    But no matter how fiercely the Gallery opposed him, when Ash added an unnecessary line:


    -¡°What can I do! It¡¯s this Crow who wants to confess to Ore-sama!¡±


    The roar of protest immediately changed to rapturous applause in a single breath.


    Hearing the waves of clapping and whistling, Haruyuki was utterly flustered and shouted ¡°What, it isn¡¯t so!¡± But even if this carrot hadn¡¯t been given, more than half the Gallery refused to leave the duel anyway. Whether or not Ash Roller had been serious or merely joking, Haruyuki absolutely wouldn¡¯t bow to this.


    Hence, he reached and touched his name in the upper left corner of his vision, and from the menu to change the duel type, selected ¡®Closed Mode¡¯ and pressed OK. A [YES/NO] option must have appeared in Ash Roller¡¯s vision too; his hand moved just a little and every cheer and whisper from the audience immediately disappeared in a flash of light.


    A silence settled in over the stage as though the ¡®mute¡¯ button had been pressed, save for the low rumble of the gasoline engine of the V-Twin bike; it was exempt from the rule.


    Ash Roller reached out with his right hand to toggle the ignition and cut the engine.


    ¡°¡­Alrighty, whaddya wanna say now? Your wings missing again? ¡­Doesn¡¯t seem like it, eh.¡±


    ¡°Uhh¡­ That is¡­ This¡­¡±


    At a loss for the words he should use to explain the situation, Haruyuki decided to simply recount the truth as it had happened, and began:


    ¡°Yesterday, I entered into a duel with ¡®Bush Utan¡¯ from Great Wall¡­¡±


    But that was all he got to when Ash Roller responded in a completely unexpected way:


    ¡°What¡­ What did you say?¡±


    The masked rider with a fierce appearance dismounted his bike, his skull-like face mask nearly touching Haruyuki¡¯s, shouting:


    ¡°Where? When did this happen?!¡±


    The two of them found a suitably-sized chunk of cement and sat down, while Haruyuki related the previous night¡¯s events in detail:


    How he had found Bush Utan and Olive Glove in Suginami Battle Area 2 at seven-thirty yesterday evening in a tag team battle,


    Bush Utan¡¯s repeated use of ¡®-deyansu2 in his speech, followed by his equipping of the ISS Kit, and how his attitude drastically changed instantly,


    And how Utan had said that this kit ¡®had been given three days earlier.¡¯


    The only part he had left out was Ardor Maiden¡¯s name and her power. The rest of the story would make its way to Ash sooner or later from the spectators present during the duel; the principle was to not spill out information about your own teammates¡¯ information anyway, and Ash didn¡¯t ask about anything as such.


    After listening for about ten minutes, with his hand on his thickly armoured kneecap and his body hunched forwards, Ash let out a deep sigh.


    ¡°You said, this is called the ¡®IS Mode Training Kit¡¯¡­¡­.¡±


    After saying that in a low voice, he glanced down to meet Haruyuki¡¯s eyes and asked simply:


    ¡°This IS Mode, it¡¯s that so-called ¡®Incarnate System?''¡±


    ¡°Y¡­Yeah, I guess. Hasn¡¯t Ash-san learnt Incarnation already?¡±


    With that question leaving out a great deal of information, the skull-like helmet slowly shook from side to side:


    ¡°I¡¯ve only heard the name from Master. Before activating the V-Twin Fist technique in a pinch, Master would tell me that I had such an ability, but I¡¯ve never actually seriously trained. How should I say it¡­ It¡¯s that I¡¯m scared. After hearing about the dangers of falling into one¡¯s own darkness, I got really scared¡­¡­and now since Master has rejoined Nega Nebulas, I can¡¯t say the same of her teaching me.¡±


    The ¡®Master¡¯ Ash referred to was his Parent, and the same Master who taught Haruyuki Incarnation: Sky Raker. In May this year, she had formally returned to her old territory of the Black Legion, Nega Nebulas. Hence, she was essentially rivals with Ash Roller, who belonged to Great Wall. While they naturally did not appear to give much thought to this and continued to fight fiercely during Territorial Battles, it would seem that Ash could not rid his heart of his unease about being unable to depend on his Parent.


    While they had deviated considerably from the question, Haruyuki took the opportunity to ask a question he had been curious about, and opened his mouth:


    ¡°Just to ask¡­ why did Ash-san join Great Wall?¡±


    Notes:


    1. ^ Electric Vehicles.


    2. ^ This was something untranslatable in Chapter 6; Bush Utan, as opposed to ending sentences with the formal ¡®-desu,¡¯ instead ended a great deal of his sentences with ¡®-deyansu¡¯ to emphasise himself.

 Volume 7 - CH 1

    Blackout[1]


    Spotlight


    Gigantic round vermilion pillars, stripped of their former gloss, materialize out of the light. Backed against the arc of the pillar is a small figure. It''s not a real person. The whole body is covered by heavy silver armour; the head is covered by a helmet of the same colour. The surroundings are weakly illuminated. It''s night. Countless torches flicker soundlessly. The first pillar is not the only one ¨C it is but the first in a seemingly-endless line of pillars extending off into the distance. The ground is covered with pure white pebbles. At the edge of vision one could just glimpse the outline of a colossal citadel. The silver helmet turns to regard the citadel opposite it.


    ¡­¡­ Not really ?Absolutely Inaccessible? now is it?


    Despite understanding how he had brought this whole mess upon himself, he can''t help but complain.


    Except he can only complain in his head. He doesn¡¯t dare to make a sound, he can hardly take a step for the fear of the sound of his own footsteps. The slightest of sounds might attract the fearsome Warrior-Formed Enemies that wander inside the citadel causing them to attack him.


    A Warrior Enemy can reach three meters high. The Beast Enemies that roam the outside can be as much as five times as tall. But the Warrior Enemies that patrol the long corridors and citadel walls in groups of three or four, can emit a pressure that surpasses Beast and even Legend Enemies. No, the pressure might be just as suffocating as the pressure emitted by the ?Four Sacred Beasts? that guard the citadel gates. Of course, the only time the citadel ¨C the ?Imperial City? that stands within the ?Unlimited Neutral Field? ¨C could be breached would be if or when the Four Beasts were overcome. But not a single Beast has yet been defeated. He slipped in when he saw a chance ¨C no, an accidental entry seems more likely.


    Can''t they at least prepare a Portal for escaping?


    He grumbles and complains in his head once again, while trying to control the fear and anxiety he is feeling.


    The metal-coloured Avatar ¨C his armour reflecting the light from the torches ¨C feels cold all over, his heart beating vigorously inside the slightly-char-black silver armour. This really is a pinch, the biggest he¡¯s been in since becoming a ?BB Player?.


    But at the same time, he begins to feel excited from within the depths of his heart.


    It has been eleven short months since the birth of the Accelerated World ¨C when an unknown entity gave about a hundred first year elementary students living in central Tokyo copies of the Full Dive Fighting Combat Game ?Brain Burst?. For these eleven months, most players decided to challenge the colossal citadel sitting in the centre of this world upon gaining the right to access the "Unlimited Neutral Field" when they reached level 4. Whether it''s because it has the same position in the real world as the imperial residence, or because of the absolute-gravity chasms around the structure --- no matter how you look at it, it¡¯s the place where the game will end ¨C or as the children would call it, the ?Last-Boss-Dungeon?.


    However, every Burst Linker that has ever challenged it easily crumbled in the face of super Enemies with terrifying powers ¨C the ?Four Sacred Beasts?.


    Genbu of the North, Seiryuu of the East, Byakko of the West and Suzaku of the South. They are individual Enemy units, each with five bars of HP, and each of them possesses abilities to support and heal each other. The Beasts not engaged in combat can utilise these formidable abilities ¨C for example, the ability to cast protective shields or recover HP for the ones engaging in combat at their respective gates. In other words, it''s impossible to focus on just one of the Four Beasts. The players must divide into four teams and assault the Four Beasts simultaneously. Except right now the total number of Burst Linkers is less than five hundred. They have even formed smaller groups contending with each other. If the players cannot stand united, then an operation of such a scale is impossible. Among the Burst Linkers, there have been some small parties that forced their way through to one of the gates, only to die at the end of the bridge and fall into the ?Infinite Enemy Death? state ¨C a term not conceived of until this event occurred ¨C until all points are lost.


    Under such circumstances, even though the Four Sacred Beasts weren''t defeated, to successfully infiltrate the Imperial City is nevertheless a source of excitement.


    It has to be that by continuing into the depth of the citadel, he would be able to obtain the final game-clear item ¨C thus becoming the first person to clear Brain Burst, engraving his name in the history of the Accelerated World forever.


    He possesses an ordinary ability, a plain metallic colour and a name that doesn''t stand out much ---


    ?Chrome Falcon?


    Although a Duel Avatar named after the falcon sounds pretty cool, it can also be said that both Chrome Falcon''s ability and his appearance pale in comparison to his name. This is the opinion held not only by his opponents, but by himself.


    The only similarity the Avatar has to the fierce bird of prey is the slightly sharp beak-like protrusion at the bottom of the mask. His eyeless face is completely silver ¨C as such, the Avatar can''t help but give off an impression of a lackey. Slight of body, with no weapons, and with nothing resembling wings on his back.


    The only offensive abilities of this Avatar are punches and kicks ¨C other than that, the only advantages are the speed allowed by the small build and the hardness of the body. The only person to call him ''cool'' is his partner, ?Saffron Blossom?. Although he does not doubt her words, he would still like to be powerful enough to be worthy of her.


    Blossom, as her name indicates, possesses the power to ?Allow Flowers to Bloom?. The small wand in her right hand can fire off many different types of seeds into the opponents'' or allies'' Avatars. The flowers that bloom from the seeds after a set amount time can leech the HP Gauge, the Special Attacks Gauge, or interfere with the opponents'' movements. By the same token, the seeds have the power to cast buffs, erase de-buffs and produce other beneficial effects. Some sarcastic players gave the power the uncomfortable name of ?Parasitic Type Attack?; yet even amongst the Indirect Yellows, not many Avatars have that wide a range of abilities.


    Of course, to possess such a powerful ability, other attributes must be sacrificed. For Blossom, her defensive power is low beyond imagining. That''s why, to compensate for this weakness, she partnered with the defensive type Falcon. That said, although they have fought together for half a year, he still feels uneasy ¨C if someone with a higher defence were to invite Blossom to join their party, how would she react?


    In the ?Metal Colour Chart? ¨C distinct to the ?Base Colour Circle? ¨C Precious Metals such as platinum and gold are on the left side, and Base Metals such as steel and iron are on the right. Although divided into Precious and Base, if the Avatars are at the same level, the potential is the same for both sides. Precious Metals have strong resistance to toxic, acidic, corrosive and other types of Special Attacks; Base Metals have strong resistance to punches, slashes and various other Physical Attacks.


    ?Chrome? is a colour close to the very centre; it lacks the resistances of either Precious or Base Metals. Although few in number, there are metal colours with stronger armour than his. It wouldn''t even be surprising if there are players more suited to be meat-shields amongst the highly defensive greens from the Base colours.


    That means, based on hardness of the Avatar alone, there''s no knowing when Blossom might leave him for another player.


    He can''t say for sure exactly why he feels the way he does right now. In the Accelerated World he was able to survive by making the harbour districts his base. As time passed, he was given the title of ?The Falcon of Black Silver?. Yet as soon as he returns to the real world, he¡¯s just an eight-year-old kid ¨C still in second grade. --- Except he¡¯s just using that as an excuse. Less than a year may have passed for his body, but since he gained access to the Unlimited Neutral Field ¨C the world that processes infinite time¨C five years have passed for his mind.


    That''s why¡­ I think I can understand a bit now.


    He had reached level five and learned a certain ability, so he decided to come to the ?Imperial City? to put his ideas into practice. After being lucky ¨C or unlucky ¨C enough to succeed in getting inside, he could now be surrounded by intimidating Enemy mobs at any moment. This was all because of the love and possessiveness he felt for Saffron Blossom.


    --- I have to move fast, otherwise, a Warrior Enemy will find me as it patrols the area, following its movement patterns.


    Poking his head out from the shadows of the vermilion pillar, he quickly assesses the situation.


    He is currently located in the Southern area of the ?Imperial City? Inner Garden - which is one thousand five hundred meters in diameter - in the corner of the road that connects the ?Suzaku Gate? to the Front Gate of the citadel proper. Both sides of the entrance are guarded by a Warrior Enemy ¨C each one aggressive and strong enough to be like a Demon Enemy. It would seem impossible to defeat them. That''s why, in contrast, his target is a window upon the white walls. Because it''s an improper route, there''s a high chance the window might not open from the outside ¨C but as long as it''s a real window, using it to enter should be possible.


    From the back, the footsteps of the patrolling Warrior Enemy mob slowly approaches. Taking a deep breath, he takes a step with his right foot while softly whispering out the ability name ---


    ?Flash Blink?


    Even though it was uttered with a voice barely audible, the Warrior Enemies'' pace changes immediately.


    But by this time, the black-silver Avatar has completely vanished from the shade of the pillar. He disappears after leaving behind a blue afterimage, then soundlessly materialises thirty meters away beside the citadel wall.


    This is Chrome Falcon''s level five Special Ability, ?Pseudo-Teleport?. Pseudo because it''s just an expansion of ?High Speed Straight Line Movement? type abilities. Movement is only possible in areas where ?the eyes can see the path? and ?space is connected? ¨C but the moving Avatar turns into a particle with zero mass, nullifying physical and gravitational type attacks.


    He appears again backed to the white wall and observes the movement of the Warrior Enemies who have arrived at his former hiding place. The invader who had set off their attack mode has been lost; the Warrior Enemies angrily look left and right and finally return to the original patrol path before resuming their former slow pace as if forgetting anything had happened . Huuuuu, a deep breath. Despite the combat abilities of the Warrior Enemies, the AI settings appear to be much lower than that of the ?Four Sacred Beasts?.


    He turns, raises his head to look at the giant window on the wall behind him.


    The field attribute is the long awaited Japanese style ?Peace? Stage, as expected, the windows are made out of criss-crossing thin red strips of wood without inlaid glass panels and the like. From what he could see, each little grid is just three centimetre square in size ¨C no Duel Avatar would be able to pass through it directly, but ---


    Raising his eyes to take a look at the Special Attacks Gauge, he sees that he only has 5 percent left. The HP Gauge has just 20 percent left, but even at full health, to take a strike from the Warrior Enemy''s Tachi [2] means instant death.


    He sets up his trajectory carefully, then kicks off the ground with his right foot and spends the last of his Special Attacks Gauge to use the final ?Flash Blink?.


    The granulated body of Chrome Falcon passes through the wooden window frame and finally enters the Imperial City proper.


    This Ability is the very method that tricked the eyes of the ?Four Sacred Beasts? and made possible the entrance into the impenetrable outer regions of the Imperial City. The method is extremely simple. He charges his Special Attacks Gauge beforehand, circles around to the infinitely dark outer regions of the Imperial City, rather than crossing the bridge guarded by the Four Sacred Beasts and uses ?Blink? to cover the greatest possible distance. Even so, even by using up all of the Special Attacks Gauge, a hundred meters of movement is the maximum ¨Cnot enough to pass through the abyss five hundred meters wide.


    That''s why the initial trajectory is set to be slightly higher. The moment he appears above the abyss, the Avatar, unable to resist the super gravity is pulled to the bottom of the abyss while the HP Gauge is drained. But as a result, the Special Attacks Gauge is recharged ¨C after a certain amount is replenished, ?Blink? is used again diagonally upwards. The process is continuously repeated until he crosses the abyss.


    --- Even if that all worked, he only planned to scout - or, to use another term, experiment - today. If the cycle of Blink, recharge and Blink again was proven to be possible, he planned to just fall to the bottom of the abyss and die. He would use the obtained data as a basis to tweak the plan after he revives in front of the abyss. Once he had ensured a greater possibility of success, he would start the real challenge.


    Or that was how he intended. Instead he charges in recklessly without a plan on the very first try, all due to the extreme fear he felt as he dropped down the abyss. Completely ecstatic after the first drop, blindly using Blink in front of him, he didn¡¯t realise what was happening until after he had reached the outer walls of the Imperial City.


    Of course, the desired result is achieved ¨C but to accept what had been learned and give up now is not possible.


    Eleven months since the start of the battle of the Accelerated World, the children who became BB Players are creating a history of rivalry, as well as the history of the struggle against the unknown game creator, at the same time. The children poured tremendous enthusiasm into finding loopholes in the system ¨C ?ways to easily obtain Points? ¨C but as soon as the methods were found, the creator would install a patch to close the loophole. The ?Enemy Stacking? [3] within the game, the ?Seal Cheating? which relies on outside programs from the real world and other methods¡­¡­ as long as the techniques are found to have the slightest trace of trickery, amendments to disable such techniques will be installed at a speed astonishingly faster than other web games. The reaction speed has lead many players to believe that the creators and administrators of Brain Burst are not real people but AI.


    In any case, the mysterious creator strictly forbids opportunistic approaches within the game. In the Accelerated World, to obtain something, the player must pay an equal price.


    As such, flying over the obstacle instead of entering via the four directional gates to enter the absolutely inaccessible ?Imperial City? ¨C Chrome Falcon''s method ¨C would definitely not be recognised as proper. A patch will be released very soon, the super gravity of the abyss then being able to capture the originally physical and gravitational nulling Flash Blink. No, maybe the patch has already been released ---


    That''s why¡­ this is my first and last chance.


    To obtain something here, or to become stronger here and become a Burst Linker worthy of being Saffron Blossom''s partner. To no longer fear to lose her, to allow her to feel content with choosing me.


    And most importantly, to repay Blossom for reaching out and talking to me ¨C since I am as introverted here as I am in the real world.


    The area after passing through the window frame is a wooden corridor well-polished and looking brand-new. Gorgeously drawn sliding doors line the walls further along the corridor. Golden candle stands are equally spaced apart, their orange flames flickering silently. Signs of Enemies --- so far, nothing.


    He makes sure that there is a little golden bolt hanging off the window behind him. The bolt is not a meaningless ornament. He turns the bolt and lightly pushes, the vermilion window opens outwards soundlessly. At least by returning here, it is possible to escape from the Inner Imperial City.


    But even if he does leave, there is no Portal for escaping. It''s impossible to leave the same way he came in. He makes up his mind, coming to the conclusion that ¨C as long as his mentality and luck hold out ¨C progressing forward deeper is the only way to go.


    Holding his breath under the silver mask, the skinny Avatar advances forward as if melting into the gloom of the corridor.


    A few hours --- or is it closer to a few dozen?


    Because he dives into the Unlimited Neutral Field right after elementary school ends, in theory it is possible for him to spend days or even months in this world. In truth, he had once dived, no, ?lived? with Blossom in this world for a full three-month period.


    That said, the difficulty of avoiding the Reaction Area of the Warrior and Shinto Priest Enemies --- which are much stronger than their counterparts in the Inner Garden --- is simply beyond imagining. If Falcon didn''t have such a small and lightweight body, then this act would probably be impossible. At the same time, it would seem that the Citadel was built with the expectation that it would be assaulted by massive parties with hundreds of members. The road is surprisingly wide; the ceiling is also very high. He is able to avoid the patrolling Enemies and continue forward precisely because of this fact, but his concentration is approaching its limit.


    He takes a deep breath. The icy air refreshes him once more as he hides behind a large round pillar, searching for his next route.


    The Imperial City is one thousand and five hundred meters in diameter; the distance from the Suzaku Gate to the Front Gate guarded by the Demon Enemy is roughly four hundred meters. So the size of the Main Hall, the greatest distance from South to North, should only be about seven hundred meters across. He speculates that he has walked five hundred meters already since he broke in; therefore, he should be approaching the central area of the Main Hall.


    Sure enough ¨C--


    A particularly broad space, its floor flickering with inconceivable radiance, appeared in front of the road stretching northwards.


    Two objects, standing side by side. Transparent cyan in colour, rippling like the surface of water.


    That colour is very familiar. It is the radiance of the ?Leave Points?, also known as ?Portals?, set up within iconic buildings throughout the Unlimited Neutral Field.


    He can''t help but feel relief as he sighs ¨C only to swallow this feeling in mid-breath. If this is just a Leave Point connected to the real world, he can''t even take back some sort of proof of his successful trespass ¨C much less the honour of clearing the game. For what reason did he challenge the abyss for so long, being prepared to die while using ?Blink? for all that time, endure the nervousness for dozens of hours as he sneaked through ---¡­¡­


    --- No


    No, the original motivation behind this Individual Mission wasn''t anything material. He only wanted something akin to confidence. A certain pride that would allow him to continue to stand tall beside Saffron Blossom.


    Then this is already enough. Sneaking into the most dangerous place in the Accelerated World, arriving at the innermost area and surviving. Even if I am the only one who knows what I have achieved, this fact will surely give me courage in the future. The fact that I did what even the strongest ?Pure Colours? couldn''t.


    Thinking about it carefully, the system never plainly indicated exactly when this immense and mysterious game, Brain Burst, would be finally ?cleared?. The ideal outcome would involve having the name of the clearer declared to the whole Accelerated World, awards of Burst Points as prize money and Enhanced Armaments as prize items, before the game continues ¡­¡­ but there is also the possibility of the Ending Theme playing while the credits roll, followed by the uninstalling of the game software from the Neuro-Linkers of the BB Players as the word END appears. Because he has never met Blossom in reality or exchanged contact methods, if that were to be the result¡­ they would never meet each other again.


    That''s why, if I come across any item that seems like a Clear Item, I will not think about touching it. That''s All. Surviving past the Portal¡­ is the best reward I should expect from this quest¡­¡­


    Yet it''s almost as if this noble thought of this ordinary Metal coloured Duel Avatar¡­ convinced the true god of the Accelerated World to show pity on him.


    Because what awaits him to demand his attention at the expense of his concentration and alertness focused on watching his surroundings¡­ aren¡¯t just ordinary Portals.


    The ovals flickering with blue light sitting side by side are indistinguishable from countless other Portals existing outside of the Imperial City. But an incredible object is placed in front of each oval.


    Two gleaming black pillars ¨C no, pedestals, each standing at about one meter tall. Each one has an object placed on top of it. Treading lightly to minimize the sound of his own footsteps, he approaches the pedestal on the left.


    In front of him, slightly above his line of sight, sits a sword or a katana bathed under the radiance of the Portal. The reason why it can''t be properly distinguished is because although the hilt and the guard are both Japanese in style, the sheath forms a straight line without any curve to it. The mirror like surface, forged from a silvery metal, is almost without any decorations.


    The terrible power hidden within this straight katana can be seen from a glance. If it is an Enhanced Armament, then it must be of the highest rank ¨C no, probably even above that. Just looking at it knocks the breath out of him due to the pressure. It¡¯s as if he is being stared down at close range by Legend Enemies ¡­¡­ no, more like by the ?Four Sacred Beasts? he once saw.


    Taking his sight off from the straight katana with some effort, he looks to the black marble pedestal once again.


    A rectangular metal nameplate is inlaid on its foreside; some images and characters are engraved on it.


    First of all, at the very top is seven dots arranged like a letter ''P'' leaning left and a line connecting the dots. He had once seen the same image during science class in elementary school, when they were learning about constellations. A quadrangle formed by four stars connecting to a tail of three stars. That is the ladle shaped ?Big Dipper?. Carefully looking at it, the centre of the ladle handle - that is, the fifth star from the left is larger than the rest of the stars.


    Underneath the constellation, are two Kanji characters rarely seen in the Accelerated World where English words are normally used ¨C ¡¾ÓñÐn¡¿ ¨C although he can read, he can''t understand what they mean.


    Below that is one more line of text, this time in English.


    ¡¾THE INFINITY¡¿


    He does remember that that means ?Infinite?. Most likely, this is the name of the straight katana Enhanced Armament within the game. The silver masked Avatar rolled the words over his tongue repeatedly as he moves several steps to the right to look at the other pedestal. No matter how you look at it, the item placed on top is a Western style protection gear ¨C--


    Armour.


    Its form is not heavy or bulky. In normal VRMMORPGs[4], it would be considered a light-armour type. The headpiece is round in shape; the chest, shoulder and wrist parts have been reduced to the absolute minimum size. The lower portion consists simply of boots that reach up to the knees. But it doesn''t give at all the impression of a weak item. The armour ¨C brilliant silver like the sword ¨C seems to contain within astounding data density ¨C enough to block some attacks completely. Even the space around it seems to be distorted due to its influence. Compared to it, the armour of the Metal-coloured Chrome Falcon seems like some sort of simple toy.


    Holding his breath, he checked the nameplate.


    The overall style is exactly the same as the one on the pedestal of the sword. At the top is the schematic view of the Big Dipper. But the larger star is the sixth from the left instead. The Kanji characters are ¡¾é_ê–¡¿. Sure enough, he still can''t understand the meaning.


    And the English name at the very bottom ---


    ¡¾THE DESTINY¡¿. It should mean ?Fate?.


    As he read to this point, he can''t help but take a step back, this time breathing out heavily.


    These two are perhaps Enhanced Armaments for the strongest rank within the Accelerated World. Sword and armour.


    He can make them his own by simply reaching out and touching them. Throughout the Unlimited Neutral Field there are numerous ?Dungeons?, where ¨C according to rumours ¨C Enhanced Armaments on pedestals have also been found deep within.


    However, the Portals wavering behind the pedestals need to be noted. They have to be related to each other. Most likely they will activate as soon as he touches and activates one of the items and forcibly send him to the real world.


    Also, if an item is activated, the matching Portal would become a singular use ?One Time Portal? and seal off its corresponding pedestal. That is to say, a single person or group at one time can only choose between the sword and the armour. A standard two choice question in games.


    Although just a few minutes ago, he had already fully considered the circumstance where he enters the Portal and logout, in the current situation he lacks the resolve to not touch either of the pedestals. Anyways, his real age is just eight ¨C even if the accelerated portion is added on, he¡¯s still no older than thirteen. Since everything has been set up like this, it is obvious that the Portals will only activate if he touches one of the pedestals.


    So, which one?


    It doesn¡¯t really matter if he chooses the sword or armour ¨C as long as he equips it, it will obviously make his ability parameters soar. But to enhance Chrome Falcon alone is meaningless. The first thing he should consider is how the choice will affect him as Saffron Blossom¡¯s partner. The only reason for Falcon''s existence is to protect her. Then should he choose the sword? He is already a defensive Metal Colour ¨C to strengthen his armour again would just be redundant.


    The foot heading to the pedestal of ¡¾THE INFINITY¡¿--- suddenly stops. To protect Blossom. If that is the only requirement, then there is a better option. An option that can protect her despite her frail armour; an option that allows her to be unharmed even under harsh and concentrated attacks.


    Clenching his right fist, he hammers his own chest to expel his immaturity and selfish desires, and reaches out to the silver armour sitting to the right.


    The instant his fingertip touches the item, a purple System Message pops out in front of him with a bright sound. ?YOU GOT AN ENHANCED ARMAMENT ¡¾THE DESTINY¡¿?.


    The armour disappears into light particles; at the same time, the Portal''s blue light radiates out and envelops Chrome Falcon.


    Blackout


    Spotlight


    Although not spacious, a room that feels soothing materializes out of the light.


    Both the wall and the floor have been heavily polished. A black cooking stove stands in the corner. Sizzling steam constantly pours out of a teapot sitting above it. Opposite it, next to the wall, is a large bed. Upon the pure white sheet sit two people, side by side.


    They aren¡¯t just humans. One of them is clad in deep-silver armour. The other''s body is bright orange like the sun. The short hair and the well-conceived shoulder and waist design make her look just like a budding bloom.


    Facing the silver Avatar who is bowing his head like a child being scolded, the orange Avatar gently raises her cute right fist.


    ''God --- are you an idiot!?''


    Dong. He doesn''t know how many times he had taken a hit to the helmet already. Cringing out of reflex, he repeats the same excuse he had used.


    ''Li-, like I said, I only planned to experiment a little at the start.''


    ''Then just use the same method to come back! Why did you just charge into the citadel without a care in the world!?''


    ''Be-, because my HP had already dropped a lot ¨C if I died on the inner side of the abyss while using ?Blink?, I may not have respawned again on the outside.''


    ''But even if you did respawn on the inside, your HP would have been completely restored by then ¨C you could have just used ''Blink'' to come back out!''


    ''Uuu¡­¡­ th-, that is true, but¡­¡­''


    There is no chance of him winning this kind of argument against his logical, cool-headed partner. Just as his shoulders droop in misery, he hears a loud sigh ¨C and then, instead of a fist, a delicate palm pats him on the head.


    ''But¡­¡­ the will to challenge the ?Imperial City?, and the mental strength to make it to the innermost area and come back out¡­ are worthy of praise. You did well, Fal.


    He raises his head ¨C that gentle voice makes his heart skip a beat. Just in front of him, a calm smile appears upon Saffron Blossom''s cute face.


    ''Th-thank you, Fron.''


    Staring into her light aqua-coloured eyes as he murmurs, Blossom shrinks back her shoulders shyly and pulls her hand back from the top of Chrome Falcon''s head.


    ''I''ll go brew some tea. That''s right, we¡¯ll have a slice of cake to celebrate your safe return. I recently bought one from the ?Food Shop? down in Ginza. It looks quite tasty.''


    He watches the figure of his partner running hurriedly into the opposite kitchen ¨C as his heart is once again filled with emotions, he is unable to make a sound.


    The key to the small house ¨C located in a corner of the Minato Ward[5] in the Unlimited Neutral Field, a location that corresponds to the artificial island of Odaiba[6] in the real world ¨C was purchased by the two of them with the points they had gathered from Enemy hunting over many years ¨C albeit of Accelerated Time. To Falcon, the thought of using these points for levelling up or purchasing a strong Enhanced Armament had crossed his mind. But seeing Blossom open the doors of the house for the first time blew away all those childish ideas in an instant.


    After that, almost another year was spent collecting furniture for this home. To Falcon, this place feels more like home than his home in the real world. Compared to an empty home with no siblings where his parents leave early and come home late¡­ there is this home, where Blossom is always by his side. Of course, sharing a bed is still embarrassing.


    As to why she was so fixed upon the idea of buying a house back then¡­ she told him the reason a month ago in real time.


    Saffron Blossom has suffered from intracellular mitochondrial dysfunction, an incurable disease, since birth. Because it''s a hereditary disease, even the most advanced nano-machine therapies show no results. Although the only symptoms she has so far are headaches and increased fatigue, her condition will continue to deteriorate, the symptoms worsening to convulsions and paralysis before the disease finally reaches her heart¡­¡­ the doctors have already predicted that she is unlikely to reach adulthood. It seems that the other reason she had worn the Neuro-Linker since birth ¨C at that time, it had just gone on the market ¨C was to have her condition and vital signs monitored at all times. Blossom gives Falcon, who is sitting on the same bed staring at her, a bright smile.


    ---Don''t make such a face, Fal. Even if some misfortune were to befall me, it won¡¯t be for another ten or fifteen years¡­ Besides, we still have ?Brain Burst?. In this accelerated world, we can live for almost a lifetime. In this cute and beautiful home we bought, living with the person I love most, forever and ever¡­¡­


    Facing Blossom as she says that while smiling shyly once again, he can''t help but blurt out ''You mean, me?'' Immediately he receives a punch in response.


    So happy, but scared at the same time. Can I really do it? Do I, Chrome Falcon, really have the right to spend a ?lifetime? with Blossom? The other reason he recklessly challenged the Imperial City yesterday was due to that fear within his heart.


    That''s why, looking at the side of his partner¡¯s face as she prepares tea and cake on the small table in front of him, he can no longer suppress the question that has been weighing heavy on his heart since surviving that citadel.


    ''Ah¡­¡­ Fron. Why¡­¡­ why me? I don''t have any significant abilities. Even in the Metal Colour Chart, I''m nothing that special. Why did you choose me?''


    Immediately Blossom shows an expression of dazed astonishment, but quickly purses her mouth.


    ''Aah, you forgot?! Fal, the one who first suggested that we form a party was you! With that super quiet voice you were using to talk to me among the spectators, I had to keep asking you to repeat the question!¡¯


    ''Eeh¡­¡­ Wa, was that the case?''


    He quickly looks back through his memories, but that moment feels like it happened close to five years ago. Even so, according to his memories of that moment from the distant past, he was the one who first talked to Blossom ¨C not the other way around. Surprised by his own courage, a non-existent cold sweat begins to break out across his Avatar¡¯s body . Setting the teapot down, Blossom leans over and places her hands on his shoulders.


    ''Now, it''s my turn to ask. Fal, why did you choose me? I didn''t have any abilities back then, and I was always being trounced by the high power types ¨C why me?''


    ---Why? He had chosen her from the moment he first saw her.


    But it seems that those feelings are impossible to hide from his long-time partner. With a gentle smile, the sunny Avatar wraps her delicate arms around Falcon''s head and hugs him tightly.


    ''¡­¡­ Me too. I thought so too. There is no other reason, and I haven''t regretted it once ¡­¡­ let¡¯s finish this tea. After that we¡¯ll go out and watch the sea. It¡¯s still the ?Twilight Stage? outside ¨C the sunset must be really pretty.''


    Blackout


    Spotlight


    Two standing figures emerge out of the white halo, snuggling together. One dark-silver, the other orange.


    Points of light spread across the distance. The quiet sea, and the sun sinking into the horizon. The water surface reflects the dazzling setting sun, and blends together with the colours of the two figures gazing at this sight.


    The sunset view overlooking Tokyo Harbour from Akatsukifutou Park in the south-western corner of Daiba[7], is breathtaking to the point that it is hard to believe it is just 3D imagery produced from the data taken by the security cameras.


    But this is not the real world, since the constant airline arrivals and departures that should be taking place in Haneda Airport on the opposite shore are nowhere to be seen, and instead there are gigantic pterodactyl Enemies soaring carefree in the orange sky. Instead of whales, plesiosaurs cause massive waves in the shallows of the bay.


    Every time he gazes into the distance with Blossom in the vast Unlimited Neutral Field, he can''t help but ponder.


    For what reason does this world exist? For what purpose are only young children allowed to step foot into this world?


    The total cost to build as well as operate such an enormous system is completely beyond the imagination of an elementary school student. Not to mention that until this moment in time, not one BB Player has paid even a single cent in gaming fees. There are rumours saying it''s a market research project carried out by big-budget gaming companies, others say it''s a publicity stunt by advertisement companies, however, if that is really the case, then way too few programs have been distributed.


    Around a year ago, about one hundred children received the Client Package from an untraceable source. Of that number, only thirty percent managed to level up to Level 2 and become ?Parents?who have the unlimited privilege to copy-and-install --- thirty people. From there, the game spread once again by being shared between children who like video-games, yet although it has now reached five hundred players concentrated in the southern areas of the 23 wards [8] as the hub, the scale is still incredibly small for it to be a corporate sales strategy.


    In the first place, the requirements to become a player for the game Brain Burst are way too strict. It is difficult to imagine many children at all to have worn a Neuro-Linker since birth and be experienced in Full Dives for extended periods of time. Although the BB program comes with a ?Install Aptitude Checker? module, which detects if the requirements are met via transferring a Trojan-like file through a Direct Link, Falcon has yet to find anyone close to him who can satisfy the requirements. As a result, although he has reached Level 5, he has completely given up on becoming a ?Parent?.


    Why does it exist? For what reason does this alternate world with infinite space and time exist?


    ''Are you still thinking, Fal?''


    Saffron Blossom, who is leaning next to him, suddenly murmurs. Blinking several times under the silvery mask, he ceases his rambling thoughts.


    ''Ah, yeah. I don''t really have any weird feelings about the normal Field, but every time I see the Unlimited Field, I feel really concerned. Whe¡­ where is this all leading, things like that.''


    ''Well¡­ I can understand that same feeling. During my recent conversations with friends and family in the real world, from time to time, they would look at me really weirdly. Though I don''t believe I¡¯ve changed much at all, it seems I have been unconsciously using words and expressions that I¡¯ve never used before.


    Blossom seemingly leans closer to him timidly, sensing that, Falcon tenses his shoulders to hug her tighter. ''That can''t be helped. We have already spent¡­ no, lived five years in this world. We have experienced so many sights, so many exchanges, so many thoughts. The age of our souls has long surpassed the standards of a sixth grade student. But every cloud has its silver lining. If it''s the me from the past, I would unconsciously feel embarrassed just to stay in the same room with girls, let alone talk to them.''


    ''Ho, ho. It seems to me that you''re still a kid, Falcon-san.''


    Although Blossom smiles faintly, a look of grimness soon appears on her cute face.


    ''Hey¡­ Fal. Have you ever heard about this¡­? What happens to players who lose all their Burst Points and have their BB program forcibly uninstalled¡­?''


    The soft murmur causes his body to stiffen for a moment. However he quickly relaxes and deliberately answers in a calm voice.


    ''Those are just rumours¡­ Players who had their programs uninstalled will lose all memories regarding the Accelerated World¡­ That just sounds so far-fetched, manipulating other''s memories and stuff¡­''


    ''If that is so, then the technology to accelerate one''s thought speed by one thousand times is just as unbelievable initially. To tell the truth, I still can''t comprehend it all. That''s why, perhaps ?Memory Erasure? is also¡­''


    At this point, Falcon, who is equally dubious about the base technology within Brain Burst, can''t help but fall silent.


    Both of them are ?First Generation BB Players? without ?Parents?, whose numbers have dwindled to just twenty people, both of them also don''t have their own ?Child?. As a result, there has not been any chance for them to confirm whether or not players who lose the program really do lose their memories.


    No, even if there is a chance, confirming the truth will not be easy. According to rumours, the people who retire from the Accelerated World, instead of losing all memories regarding the Accelerated World, could be more accurately described as having?lost interest in Brain Burst as well as the fine details regarding the game?. A technique that does not create any memory blanks, thus minimizing the sense of discord felt by the people around them, can best be described as a mental manipulation with a buffering characteristic.


    Which is why this could be a technique more fearsome than simple complete memory erasure.


    Buddies who have been always in the same Legion, or strongly bonded ?Parents?and their ?Children?, one day they don¡¯t simply forget --- they lose all interest in each other. They see each other as one of those non-essential acquaintances they could do without. If this was truly the end result, it would be much better to become total strangers. Although slim, there would still be a chance to reacquaint and become friends again¡­


    The inexplicable chill brought about by his own thoughts makes the Avatar shiver. At the same moment, a soft murmur reaches his ear.


    ''Fal, I really want a ?Child? soon.''


    ''Eh¡­?''


    The unexpected statement makes him stare at his partner. Blossom smiles shyly for an instant, but quickly changes her expression and quietly continues.


    ''Until this moment I did not dare to try it because I never had the confidence to protect my ?Child?, but recently my normal battle win ratio has stabilised, and I have also accumulated enough battle techniques for use against Enemies right? In the future, even if my Child''s points fall below a safe level, I will still be able to bail them out to an extent. Even so, I won''t just spoil them by doing that all the time. Once they reach Level 4, they can just pay me back by hunting Enemies.''


    ''Ha¡­ ha ha, is that so¡­''


    Falcon nods, if it''s Blossom, then she will become a harsh yet gentle mother¡­ no, ?Parent?. Taking her eyes off Falcon, Saffron Blossom turns her gaze past the Tokyo Bay to the distant Pacific Ocean and makes an even more surprising statement.


    ''After that, even if it is much further in the future, one day, I will start my own Legion.''


    ''Eh¡­ You want to start participating in territory battles?''


    He hurriedly asks so, the short bright-yellow hair shakes from side to side as a reply.


    ''No, no. The Daida area has always been an unclaimed land, so it''s possible to initiate a territory declaration, but that would just be more of the same. My Legion won''t be a warring Legion¡­ how should I put it, it would be more of a Legion of mutual aid.''


    ''Mutual aid¡­ as in helping one another?''


    ''Yeah, that''s right. Providing points when the ?Children?run low and being paid back in the future, isn''t that like what I just described? But this will be larger in scale and more systematic. ''


    He frowns deeply as his partner¡¯s words have finally gone beyond his level of comprehension. Immediately, Blossom turns around, grabs both of Falcon''s palms and continues with a serious expression.


    ''Hey¡­ Fal. We¡¯ve been a team since Level 1 right? Both of us lost ourselves in battle as we worked our way up to Level 2, then Level 3, then Level 4, by the time we noticed, we were already Level 5. But if we think about it right now, we are indeed very lucky. Though I am a little unwilling to think about it, all this time we''ve been levelling up, sometimes even because of our levelling up, many BB Players have lost all their Burst Points and retired from the Accelerated World.''


    ''¡­¡­''


    Indeed that is so. Although, at this point, the moment when someone''s Burst Points run out has only been witnessed a handful of times, the indisputable truth remains that four out of every five ?First Generations? have been eliminated.


    The seriousness of the topic robs him of his replies, as Blossom¡¯s two small hands rub back and forth around his wrists lightly, soothingly. At the same time she softly murmurs.


    ''Sorry Fal. I don''t regret anything. ?Brain Burst? is a fighting game after all¡­ there will always be winners as well as losers, that is an undeniable fact. But¡­ But, the moment your points become zero, you will lose the program, lose the memories, lose everything and never be able to return to this world, that is just too cruel¡­ I have seen too many people with only a few points left, I can''t feel a hint of joy from them¡­ If you can''t enjoy it, then how can this still be called a game?


    --- Perhaps, this cruelty is what the mysterious developer is hoping for. That thought crosses his mind for an instant, but he chooses to remain silent. Instead he suddenly asks.


    ''That''s why¡­ you want to build a ?Legion of Mutual Aid?¡­?''


    ''¡­Yeah. Collect a massive reservoir of points beforehand and lend them to those who have nearly exhausted theirs. After their points are back to a safe level, they can return the points by participating in Enemy hunts. Over the last five years, we''ve learned so many hunting techniques that I¡¯m almost sick of them. With these techniques, the number of accidents during Enemy battles can be substantially reduced.''


    ''But¡­But.''


    As he struggles to understand the goals behind Blossom''s scheme, he asks her in a careful manner.


    ''If all the players join the mutual aid system¡­ then no one will ever lose all their points, all the players'' ?Acceleration? as well as levelling points has to be supported by the hunting of Enemies¡­ Is that even possible¡­?''


    ''It is. It will be¡­ It absolutely has to be this way.''


    Saffron Blossom shows her most serious sparkle so far in her light blue eye-lens that reminds one of the spring sky as she reveals some new information.


    ''I¡­ recently heard a rumour. Some of the Legions go to game shops and amusement parks just to look for children who have Acceleration compatibility, and once found, they give them the BB program straight away¡­''


    ''Tha¡­ that is indeed somewhat informal, but isn''t that a great way to increase members¡­?''


    ''No. Those people never saw the ?Children? as partners at all¡­ They don''t teach the children anything about Brain Burst, instead they use the Direct Link or the Local Area Net to continuously challenge the children to take all of their initial 100 Burst Points¡­ causing the forced uninstall of the programs¡­''


    ''Wha¡­''


    He catches his breath. This isn''t even ?Soliciting?anymore, it has turned into pure ?Hunting?. Not Enemy hunting --- Player hunting.


    Blossom watches Falcon closely and, seeing he is unable to speak, continues in a strained tone.


    ''If that is the truth¡­ then it must be wrong. Even if it is possible on the system, it is still wrong. Although I don''t have that much power¡­ I will do something about it. I¡¯ll try my hardest, even if it changes little. I don''t know how long it will take, raising a ?Child?, testing the plan to loan points, building the Legion¡­ One day, one day I will make sure that everyone in this world can enjoy this game¡­''


    By the time he realises, his arms are already tightly wrapped around Blossom.


    To the small Avatar within his arms, he desperately whispers.


    ''¡­ Let me help. Although I''m a good-for-nothing Metal Colour, I promise, for you, for this world, I will keep on doing my best. Brain Burst is a fighting game, and games you play should be enjoyed. I am really happy that I have always been able to fight with you, Fron. Ever since I have met you, every day, I have always happily looked forward to the next day. I want to share our happiness with the other players as well.''


    ''Yeah. Yes¡­ it the same for me, I am so happy with Fal. From now on, for sure, we''ll be happy forever. Let us spread this happiness. If it''s the two of us then it will be possible.''


    Hugging Blossom tightly as she replies in a shaking voice, he lightly presses down on her shoulders.


    Just a sec, raising a single finger as if saying that, he touches his own HP Bar to the upper-left of his sight to open the Menu Window. Searching through his Storage[9], he Objectifies an Item.


    It''s a Card with a silvery radiance like the surface of a mirror. The Items obtainable in the Unlimited Neutral Field probably all initially existed in Card form such as this. Enhanced Armaments are no exception, after obtaining them from Dungeons or as Enemy drops, they are sealed as Cards before being placed in Storage. The ownership settings are decided by who equips it for the first time.


    Removing the Card from the Window, he passes it to Blossom.


    The tiny characters carved onto the surface spell ---¡¾THE DESTINY¡¿. Obtained from the deepest part of the Imperial City, perhaps the strongest armour of white-silver in the world.


    ''Fron, this is for you. Your dream, will be realised for sure.''


    Blossom carefully lifts her hands to take the Card.


    Because of this overwhelming power, both of their destinies will be distorted, but at this point of course, it is impossible for them to know¡­


    Blackout


    Spotlight


    A delicate figure emerges out of the white halo.


    The shading of her body remind others of the bright orange spring sunlight. But colours previously unseen on her body have now appeared. Her forehead, chest and all four limbs now shine with a mirror-like silver.


    The short hair that looks like a budding flower is hanging down flatly. Both arms are spread out in opposite directions, her skinny legs stretching down powerlessly. The only reason she would remain motionless in such an unstable posture is because something restrains her from behind.


    Thin and solid black, as if cut from a large uniform sheet --- a cross. The orange figure is firmly secured to the cross, making it unclear whether or not the cross exerts some attracting force.


    The illumination continues to spread, finally allowing the surrounding area to be seen.


    The ground emits a metallic-green lustre. Strange bugs with the same metallic lustre are wriggling everywhere. The cross has been stuck into the lowest part of the bowl-like depression in the ground. Close by her, a large fissure has been opened in the ground; the black fissure opening gives off a feeling of absolute terror. The sides of the fissure are coated with clear viscous slime.


    The illumination spreads out further.


    Around the edge of the thirty metre-wide depression, several dozen figures stand in a circle. Not moving, not speaking, they are all silently observing the cross at the bottom of the depression. It''s just like they know what''s about to happen. Holding their breath, eyes wide open, fearing --- or anticipating --- something.


    Among these figures, only one is lying upon the ground.


    A small body with a dark-silver lustre. Slim of limb and wearing a round helmet. He seems to be trying desperately to stand up, his sharp fingertips carving into the metallic ground. But all to no avail. Two pieces of thin black plates, very similar to the cross at the bottom of the depression, hold him on his left and right.


    The metallic bugs which have been slowly crawling around the depression suddenly flee the area in a great hurry. Diving into the gill-like folds spread across the ground, disappearing from view instantly.


    Zuzuzu, zuzuzu, from the open fissure down in the depression, a barely audible sound of vibration reverberates out.


    ''Stop¡­ stop, for the love of God, stop!!''


    These same words are screamed out dozens, even hundreds of times, only for the sound to dissipate once again into the Unlimited Neutral Field.


    Countless scratches have been carved into the ground in front of him by his fingers. But, regardless of how much effort he put in, he is only able to move his forearms and hands. The jet-black plates which clamp his arms at his shoulders are thin beyond belief, but they have the overwhelming power to tightly bind Chrome Falcon like gigantic pliers.


    What''s even more unbelievable is that the player who is controlling the two plates is managing the cross at the bottom of the depression in the distance to bind Saffron Blossom at the exact same time.


    Bowing her head feebly, it seems that Blossom doesn''t have any strength left to move. It can''t really be helped. All of the pain she has ever experienced in the Accelerated World can''t even match that of what she has just experienced.


    At the same time, the extreme rage and despair that are colliding within Falcon''s consciousness are feelings that he have never experienced before in his life.


    ''Stop¡­ stop, please stop¡­''


    He desperately squeezes out a dry rasp through his clenched teeth. At the same time, his Avatar''s fingertips carve out new parallel lines upon the hard ground of the ?Purgatory? Stage. However, he is still unable to move. The sense of powerlessness only intensifies the despair he feels.


    He can feel it with his body, that terrifying tremble. That thing is coming again.


    In the centre of the depression, from the depths of the two meter wide fissure beside the cross that''s restraining Blossom, it seems like something is about to crawl out of there. Ten feelers with sharp tips emerge first, waving about erratically. Then two parallel rows of red glowing orbs light up from the depth of the darkness. The orbs that impart a feeling of endless hunger are that thing''s eyes. The moment the feelers sense Blossom close in front, countless eyes radiate a bright glare. Then¡­


    Along with a slimy sound and the splashing of countless droplets of mucus, what emerges out of the fissure is a worm type monster gigantic beyond belief. It is one of the strongest beings in the Accelerated World apart from the ?Four Sacred Beasts? that guard the four cardinal gates of the Forbidden City, Legend Rank Enemy --- Hell Worm ?J?rmungandr?[10].


    Even though it only appears in ?Purgatory?, ?Disease?, ?Rotten Woods? and a small number of the organic stages, meeting it pretty much guarantees death. But its nest is considered small for a Legend Rank Enemy, only a small round depression thirty meters in diameter; even if killed, it is still possible to escape after revival in an hour and the ten seconds or so before J?rmungandr appears again. That is, if nothing --- or no one, is deliberately interfering with escaping.


    J?rmungandr''s head slowly approaches Blossom who is being restrained by the black cross and unable to move. Below the sixteen lens like red eyes separated into two rows, is a round mouth surrounded by feelers, well, technically it is called an acetabulum[11]. The bottomless jaw with numerous rings of saw-like teeth and that constantly drips with mucus closes in on the petite Avatar. Blossom shudders and hangs her head even lower.


    ''Stop¡­ it¡­.! Stoooooppppp!''


    Falcon cries hoarsely from beneath his helmet, but Enemies aren''t people, so naturally they won''t obey any plea.


    The meter wide jaw of the long worm opens to its limits above Blossom''s head. The secreted mucus continuously drips down, hissing and producing white smoke on contact with the bright orange armour. That liquid has the effect of dramatically decreasing the physical resistance of an Avatar. The silvery armour on her body instantly loses its glow. As if unwilling to wait any longer, J?rmungandr swallows the upper body of Blossom in one go along with the cross.


    In the centre of his vision dyed red with his burning emotions, his long time partner screams again and again.


    Enhanced Armament ?THE DESTINY?''s power greatly exceeded all original expectations.


    Physical type attacks such as cutting, impact, piercing, shot and explosive can all be basically nullified. Energy type attacks such as laser are reflected; the armour is highly resistant to freeze, heat and electric types as well. The only thing that it can''t defend against is the natural enemy of metallic armours, corrosive acids, but players who have these types of attacks are few and far between. Invincible. That is not an exaggeration at all when describing such terrifying defensive capabilities.


    But that''s only natural, the armour is supposed to be only obtainable by the ones who have defeated the absolutely unbeatable Super Enemies, ?Four Sacred Beasts?, and reached the deepest area of the Imperial City, it could even be called the final Item of Brain Burst. But since it was obtained via chance and luck plus a system loophole in the dawning ages of the game, there is no wonder its power is overwhelming.


    ?THE DESTINY? is strong enough to completely break the game balance of Brain Burst, strong enough to render even the owner of the armour, Saffron Blossom, scared. After all, in the past she would lose almost all her HP if she was hit by a Full Charge Attack[12] from a red or a blue Avatar, whereas now those attacks barely do anything even if she takes them head-on. Just a few regular battles spread her name throughout the whole Accelerated World, accompanied soon after by buying offers and invitations to join strong Legions. Of course, there were also accusations of underhandedness and cheating.


    If Blossom was still her same old self who just wanted to team up with Falcon and keep on fighting, perhaps she would have sealed or sold the armour.


    But now she has an yet unfulfilled dream of forming a ?Legion of Mutual Aid? to prevent others from losing all their points, so as to remove the slaughters resulting from exploiting the Accelerated World''s game mechanics and change it into a place where everyone can battle happily¡­ no, live happily.


    Perhaps this is just a silent protest from Blossom who was informed that she would never live until adulthood, but nevertheless has accepted such a fate. To spread countless seeds in the barren lands of the Accelerated World, and make this world bloom with countless flowers---. Perhaps since the instant she became a BB Player, that has always been her dream.


    In order to make the core of the Legion of Mutual Aid, ?Burst Point Loan System?, function practically, a sufficient points pool is necessary. As well as the fighting power needed to dissuade those malicious participants who never intended to pay back the points.


    Needless to say, apart from standard battles, ?THE DESTINY? also displays overwhelming power during Enemy hunts, so for Blossom, it is no doubt an express ticket to the fulfilment of her dream. Although equipping it significantly quelled challenges, there are still many brave fighters who wished for a battle, however, they were defeat by Blossom and Falcon without exception.


    Although it was two on one, they even managed to narrowly defeat one of the strongest ?Pure Colours?, then Blossom finally announced her idea to the entire Accelerated World. When this occurred, applicants for the new Legion were numerous.


    And yesterday, more than thirty BB Players sent a joint message, wishing to hear about the details.


    The two of them were thrilled, but slightly uneasy at the same time. The place those people specified was the Unlimited Neutral Field. Although their justification of wanting to see if safe hunting of Enemies is possible was not unreasonable, it is still hard for anyone to predict what would happen in the Unlimited Neutral Field. In the worst-case scenario, it is not at all impossible for all thirty of them to attack at the same time.


    Even if they were walking into an ambush, however, it was still hard to believe Blossom could be defeated by one hit when she had ?THE DESTINY? equipped. The two of them chose a place very close to a Leave Point as an added precaution. If it was a trap, they only needed to dash to the Portal.


    The plan was not without flaws, as it did not provide a contingency plan for abilities like Blossom''s, that do not attack Duel Avatars directly but instead utilize hindering type abilities to impend movement or deprive vision, thus creating a chance that escape through the Portal could be prevented. The two of them still decided to ignore the risk because the list of names contained plenty of old acquaintances. They could not imagine, or want to imagine it to be a nasty trap set by all of those people.


    The meeting place today is the equivalent of Shibaura Parking Area north of the Rainbow Bridge, just in case they checked from the distance. More than thirty have already gathered and they matched the names on the sent message.


    As Blossom and Falcon walked under the Daiba Route of the Shuto Expressway[13], reassured, two plates suddenly appeared below them---.


    Instantly, an intense pressure restrained the two of them.


    ''Stop¡­Please stop it! Why¡­ why are you doing this¡­¡­!!''


    Staring at the worm that looks nothing like its ?Legend? rank[14] sinking its countless teeth into his beloved partner, Chrome Falcon cries once again as he watches the scene unfold.


    His question is aimed at the several dozen BB Players standing around the depression of the worm''s nest.


    He has recognised most of them, especially since several are chatting buddies when they watch battles. There are also those whom he has fought many battles against, where the win-lose ratio was about half-half. He can''t think of any reason for a grudge that runs deep enough for them to set such a vicious trap.


    But they are all keeping their silence, without even taking a glance at Falcon being restrained on the ground. Instead they are keeping their attention solely on the tragedy unfolding endlessly at the bottom of the depression. Their features reveal dread and horror. But it''s not that simple, as behind all their fear, Falcon senses another extremely unpleasant presence strongly.


    Unexpectedly, a deep yet fluid voice speaks out from behind him to the right.


    ''I''m sorry Falcon-kun. At least allow me to answer in their stead.''


    Speaking in a tone that is just like a schoolteacher, the owner of the voice is the very same person who is also managing the two plates and the cross to restrain Falcon and Blossom. His name is unknown. Nor has he ever been seen before. The strange looking Avatar appeared as if black notepapers have being placed vertically in the shape of a human after being cut into shape.


    ''That Enhanced Armament is much too different from the norm in this dawning world. I believe, you must have noticed that during your battles over the past few days, right?''


    In the real world, even the oldest BB Player should still only be in the second year in elementary school, ?to have worn the Neuro-Linker for extended periods of time since birth? is an essential condition for the installation of Brain Burst, while commercial Neuro-Linkers only appeared on the market the year ?first generations? like Falcon were born.


    But this black multilayered Avatar speaks in a tone that is anything but childish. It even sounds more mature than young teachers in their twenties in the real world. Resisting the pressure, Falcon squeezes out an answer.


    ''Then¡­ sell the ?armour? to the Shop. Can''t we just divide the points received in return evenly¡­ it''s not necessary to go so far¡­!!''


    ''Unfortunately, that method would leave the Enhanced Armament in the Shop. That won''t prevent someone from obtaining it again to disrupt the game balance. That armour has to go back to where it belongs. For that purpose, a power other than a player''s is required to destroy the owner, this is the only way, Falcon-kun.''


    As the tranquil voice finishes his report ---.


    Saffron Blossom''s Avatar breaks apart into countless pieces inside J?rmungandr''s mouth. An orange pillar of light shoots into the heavens, forming a momentary grave marker before disappearing.


    The Hell Worm seems quite satisfied to have killed the intruder in just one bite, waving its feelers about as it crawls back into its nest. The black cross also soundlessly sinks into the dark shadows on the ground.


    The only thing that remains is a mass of weak saffron-yellow light. According to the rules of the Unlimited Neutral Field, Blossom will remain in ?Ghost Mode? for an hour before reviving in the same place. --- At least, that''s how it normally happened.


    To Falcon''s left, coming from a position blocked from sight due to the black plates, is a gentle whisper.


    ''?Resurrect By Compassion?''


    It''s a sound pure and clear beyond any imaginable human voice, carrying with it countless points of light through the air down to the bottom of the depression. As the points of light touch the orange ?Ember?, a blinding pillar of white light descends from the sky condensing and materialising into an Avatar. Saffron Blossom who would normally revive in an hour''s time has her descent arrested by the cross appearing below her just as her delicate body is about to drop on to the ground, securing her once again beside the nest of the worm.


    The same thing has happened countless times already. The amount of points lost during battles against an Enemy is fixed at 10. The points gained during the recent wins can''t be depleted so easily. Which has lead to this cycle of cruel death and even crueller revival.


    There have been cases where players lose all points due to death when they enter too deeply into the Territories of Legend Rank Enemies to escape. That phenomenon feared by all BB Players is known as ?Infinite Enemy Death?. But the group who have trapped Falcon and Blossom is deliberately causing this phenomenon using the black cross and the white light. This is no longer passive death but rather a form of active execution, ?Infinite Enemy Kill?.


    ¡­¡­ Please, no more.


    He can only silently pray under the silver mask as he longer has any strength left to plea aloud.


    Inside the Unlimited Neutral Field, the amount of pain felt when damaged is raised to the point where it is equal to the real world. Every time Blossom is killed by J?rmungandr she should be feeling as if her entire body is being gnawed apart. Even if her body in the real world remains unscathed, the pain engraved upon her awareness --- her soul will not disappear.


    No¡­


    The true source of her pain is not the teeth of the monster, but perhaps the gaze of the several dozen players standing around the depression. Those who were once considered friends luring Blossom out with the fake message, making her fall into this trap and merely watching on as she is bitten again and again by the disgusting worm.


    Horror and fear aren''t the only things present on their facemasks, as also clearly showing is that hint of excitement. Just like ?the scarier it is the more they want to see? mentality of children. It is the same principle as the group mentality of excluding the unfitting students in classes in the real world.


    And at the same time.


    Like watching from the safe zone as such a student is being excluded yet unable to do anything for that student, that is how Chrome Falcon feels.


    If Falcon never entered the ?Imperial City?. If he never brought out ?THE DESTINY?. If he never gave it to Blossom, then none of this would be happening. The main culprit does not have to bear a single wound but is only able to watch as his beloved suffers.


    Sensing the forcibly revived Blossom, the worm closes in again from the depth of the nest. DORO, DORO, the ground shakes with the noise, yet the orange Avatar is unable to lift even one finger. She can only bow her head while on the jet black cross, facing yet another ?death?. Or perhaps the loss of all points after that death and the ?end? that will cause her to lose all her memories.


    ¡­¡­ I


    I made the same mistake, again.


    I have already decided, never to pretend not to see. Never to ignore those who are hurt, rejected and have lost their place of belonging. Even though I have decided. Once again, I am unable to do anything but watch as my most treasured person¡­¡­


    ''¡­¡­ No.''


    The worn-out awareness squeezes out a voice.


    ''I have, had enough. I will never accept being left alone again.''


    The amount of pressure being exerted by the two plates to hold the Avatar is as absolute as the world itself. Falcon knows very well that with all his power he won''t even be able to move it one millimetre. But, there is another way for him to escape.


    Breaking his own metallic armour instead of the jet-black plates.


    ''Uuu¡­ Waa¡­ Wa,ah,ahhhhhhh¡­¡­¡­..''


    With a cry of utmost power, he utilises all his remaining strength. His two hands pressing against the plates on the two sides, pushing them back.


    Unable to stand the pressure, the chrome-silver armour starts to squeak. If he was still like his former self, he would have given up at this stage. But ignoring the feeling of being crushed, he exerts even more force.


    ''Just give up, Falcon-kun.''


    The multilayered Avatar urges as if truly worried.


    ''We have no intention at all of eliminating you. After the job, we''ll release you straight away. It should only be once or twice more, why don''t you just obediently wait until then?''


    ''Shut¡­ up¡­!!''


    He turns the defiance he feels after hearing that bullshit into more power to push against the plates. Fine cracks start to form on the armour around the wrists. Sparks of pain shoot up, but this is not enough, nowhere near enough.


    ''¡­¡­¡­¡­!!''


    In that single moment, where he releases the utmost of his power with a silent roar.


    The wrist armour sections shatter into pieces with a rigid metallic sound. Blood-like damage effects also spray out of the dark-grey interior, heart-stopping pain flows through his nerves. --- Accompanying the dramatic decrease in the HP Gauge, his Special Attacks Gauge fills up by about twenty percent.


    Using a faint voice, he shouts.


    ''?Flash Blink?!! ''


    Chrome Falcon''s Avatar changes into a formless particle and finally escapes from the plates. Charging forward at a speed that is almost like teleportation, he materialises again fifteen meters ahead.


    In front of him is the ravaged Saffron Blossom and the head of J?rmungandr, just about to bite into her delicate body again.


    Using the last of his strength, he kicks out at the gigantic worm with the sharp claws on his right foot. One of its many simple eyes[15] bursts after spraying out a sticky liquid. The second bar of the Enemy''s HP deceases by a despairingly small amount, but as if caught off guard by the surprise attack, the worm shakes it head while releasing Blossom.


    Beneath the roaring Enemy, a weak voice pulses through the air.


    ''?Petal Shelter?''


    Multiple gigantic green petals springs out from beneath the black cross, enclosing the two of them like a flower bud. This is Saffron Blossom''s Level 5 Special Attack. Unyielding petals that block the inside from all outside interferences and attacks. Period of effectiveness --- thirty seconds.


    In the sphere filled with calming green illumination, Falcon catches Blossom as she falls from the vanished cross with his armour-less arms. He just crouches there, desperately gazing into the face of his beloved partner. This thirty-second period, is the final moment the two of them can share. When the petals vanish, the cross will most likely appear again to restrain them. J?rmungandr will simply obey its instincts and slaughter the new prey as well.


    He does not regret at all charging forward to his own demise. But Falcon is unable to find the words he should be speaking at the current time. Therefore, he can only clench his teeth to stifle back his sobs, while continuing to gaze at the face of Blossom. In order to never forget this beautiful face and the aquamarine eyes even if she is to disappear from the Accelerated World.


    ''¡­¡­I''m sorry''


    Drip. The tears dripping out make a faint sound.


    ''I''m sorry Fal. I¡­ have always relied upon your gentleness. Because my future in the real world has already been taken away, I wanted to take it back in this world at least¡­ Playing the game of pretending to be adults, and forcing it upon you as well. This end result¡­ is all because of my impatience. I''m sorry¡­''


    Clear points of light drop out from Blossom''s eye-lens, dispersing into the air then disappearing.


    --- There is no such thing. No such thing.


    Although wanting to say so, the words become a hot lump blocking his throat. In the end, he can only shake his head frantically. The slender fingertip softly brush past his helmet.


    ''But you know¡­. please believe in just this one thing. I, really like you. I have liked you from the moment we met. Because I understood instantly. Your feelings of wanting to protect the weak me. Everyone else is trying to seize points from each other, but you¡­ just you¡­''


    Instead of finishing herself, Blossom just smiles.


    Then, she lowers her right hand from Falcon''s face, grabs hold of his right hand and guides it to the centre of her chest, horribly wounded by J?rmungandr''s teeth.


    ''I have one last request. Fal, you will kill me.''


    ''¡­Eh¡­¡­''


    Blossom smiles at Falcon who has finally opened his mouth.


    ''My points, I only have 7 left. Instead of disappearing from this world when I get killed by that Enemy, I would much rather give them to you. This way, even if Brain Burst is forcibly uninstalled, I will still be able to remember you. Even if my memories disappear, just you, I will never forget.''


    At this point, the effective time of the ability finally comes to an end, and the roof formed from the petals slowly opens up, the angry roar of the worm ripping apart the serenity on the inside of the sphere.


    ''¡­.. Fron''


    There is just too little time to convert all of the overflowing feelings within his heart into words.


    Holding the sunny Avatar tightly with his left arm, Falcon murmurs softly with all his passion.


    ''Thank you''


    Thank you. For responding to me stretching out my hand to you. Thank you. For teaching me all sorts of things. And for expanding my insignificant world, thank you.


    He stretches out, aims the fingers on his right hand. Placing claws as sharp as those of a raptor in the centre of Saffron Blossom''s chest, directly above a fatal weakness, the heart.


    ''¡­ I love you''


    Speaking those words he has never before had the courage to speak, while at the same time stabbing into her body with his right hand.


    His hand pierces right through ?THE DESTINY?, made useless due to J?rmungandr''s teeth and digestive fluids.


    ¡­ Farewell Fal, I love you too.


    Those words flow through his consciousness like a gentle sigh and disappear.


    Saffron Blossom''s Avatar is not bursting into countless pieces like before. Instead, the delicate silhouette disintegrates into countless ribbons sheltered in a warm spring sun-like aura and fly into the sky. These ribbons further disintegrate into smaller threads, dissolving into the air --- and disappearing.


    ?Final Elimination Phenomenon?. The complete removal from the Accelerated World of those who have lost all points.


    What he feels now upon his hands is complete emptiness.


    The heavy sense of loss makes him feel like he has also disappeared himself. Behind him, J?rmungandr''s countless teeth bite into his armour, producing high-pitch noises.


    Just like that he is thrown up into the air. Orange sparks continuously burst out of the metallic armour. The Avatar is being pulled apart, the HP Gauge to the left of his field of vision is also decreasing rapidly. Pain that almost makes him pass out flares up at the same time.


    But, there is no scream. He can''t scream. This pain has been felt by Blossom countless times. Clenching his teeth, he continues to endure. Far away in his blurry vision, a group of players standing around in a circle emerges.


    Their eyes show the same surprise --- and the same disdain. Laughing at the fool losing his life meaninglessly.


    To escape from this situation is not at all impossible. He only needs to use ?Blink? again by spending the Special Attacks Gauge charged up by the damage he took.


    But, there is no need to escape¡­ no, to live any more.


    Saffron Blossom is gone. I''m alone again. Even if I escape from here, there¡¯s no point in going back to the mindless duels of a solo player. I''d rather be killed here by this worm just as Blossom was. Experience it all again and again just like her until that moment where all points have been depleted and I''m exiled from this world¡­


    He suddenly notices something.


    A tiny spot of light is flashing below the decreasing HP Gauge and the increasing Special Attacks Gauge. The spot of light moves as well if he moves his head, which makes it a¡­ System Message. The rectangular cursor is trying to inform him of something.


    When he focuses on the spot, a line of text soundlessly appears.


    ¡¾YOU ACQUIRED AN ENHANCED ARMAMENT ?THE DESTINY?¡¿


    He can''t comprehend it.


    It''s a message about obtaining an Enhanced Armament. But instead of showing ?GOT? which indicates when it has been obtained in card form, it''s showing ?ACQUIRED? which indicates a change in ownership. And the armament is --- the ?armour?. It''s ?THE DESTINY? which should have disappeared alongside Saffron Blossom.


    But why? The methods to transfer an Enhanced Armament should only be limited to selling and buying at a ?Shop? and transfers during Direct Linked battles, and those should be the only¡­


    No, there is one more, a vague rumour from a long time ago. When an owner is eliminated from the Accelerated World, there is a very small chance the Enhanced Armament in that player''s Storage would transfer over to the last attacker.


    Whether or not Blossom wished for Falcon to obtain the armour by giving her the final blow will never be known.


    But Falcon believes it''s the final message she has left him.


    Live. Live and fight.


    Unconsciously below the silvery mask, he murmurs the default voice command to equip the Enhanced Armament.


    ''Equip¡­ ?THE DESTINY?''


    Intense illumination like a small star dyes the world silver.


    With sharp metallic noises, thick additional armours start to cover the limbs and the body of the Avatar. The design of the ?armour? is drastically different from when it was equipped on Blossom. It goes without saying that Enhanced Armaments will adjust its size to suit the Duel Avatar, but the changes to this armour have gone beyond that. It has lost its grace and lithe, turning into a plate armour covered with edges.


    Finally, the headpiece also changes from its round shape to that of an open type helmet[16]. With a loud GAKIIN, the armour that covers eighty percent of Falcon''s body bounces back all of J?rmungandr''s teeth and prevents them from biting into the Avatar.


    The Legend Rank Enemy roars angrily and attacks Falcon again, secreting large amounts of clear mucus from parotid glands between its teeth. This mucus drips on to the silver armour, trying to take away the strength of the armour with its corrosive properties.


    For just a split second the silvery mirror surface lost its sheen, then just like peeling away a thin membrane, it blackens to a chrome-silver, completely refusing the erosion. The new colouring is the exact same as Falcon''s original armour.


    ?Chrome?, as a colour is near the centre of the Metal Colour Chart, Between Precious Metals and Base Metals. It lacks strong resistance to both physical and special attacks. It does, however, have a single special property, complete resistance to corrosive type attacks.


    It''s as if the supposedly mindless Enhanced Armament, ?armour? has taken in its owner''s attributes in order to combat the monster''s mucus --- that''s the only way to explain this phenomenon. But logical speculations are meaningless to Falcon now.


    As if guided by something, he raises both of his arms to grab hold of the gigantic teeth attempting to pierce his chest which is constantly discharging sparks.


    The depths of his heart suddenly light up.


    The yearning for Saffron Blossom and the despair he feels due to her death combines to form an emotion he has never felt since arriving in the Accelerated World eleven months ago, more than five years subjectively --- rage.


    ''Uuu¡­uuuaaaaaahhh¡­''


    A trembling roar of anger escapes from the depth of his throat.


    Chrome Falcon is a child that never angers even in the real world. He listens to the word of the adults, acts according to other''s complexions and generally holds himself back.


    Even when a friend from kindergarten was a target of bullying when they entered the same elementary school, he left that friend instead of doing anything. He closed his eyes, plugged his ears, merely waited for someone else to come up with a solution. But before that someone could show up, the boy who used to be his friend had already gone away.


    At least back then he should have been angry. Angry at those who bully others. Angry at the teachers who did nothing. Angry at himself also, for pretending not to notice. But he did nothing, he just compressed all his memories and feelings into a pebble and buried it deep in his heart.


    ''Uuu¡­aah¡­aaaaaaaaahhh¡­¡­''


    Now cracks are appearing on this pebble, spilling out burning emotions as Falcon continues to roar in a warped voice.


    His ten digits[17] become large claws with a sharp noise. The sharp tips cut into the teeth of J?rmungandr. From the wrists to the shoulders, the armour''s edges become sharper and more voluminous.


    He now understands why the thirty odd people sent the fake Legion participation message, and betrayed the two of them by setting a trap. It wasn¡¯t because of the absurdly strong game-breaking Enhanced Armament.


    It''s because Saffron Blossom was different from them. She had a dream and the strength necessary to carry it out.


    ''But¡­ Aren''t you people also¡­''


    --- If you''ve became a BB Player, aren''t you people also more or less treated as rejects in the real world. Rejected by others, you come to the Accelerated World with your mental traumas. Then why, are you also rejecting other people. Why do you throw rocks at those you deem different from yourselves?


    ''Fron¡­ only ever wanted¡­ to make a place¡­ for people like you to belong¡­''


    As he vents his anger, his hands also start to emit a faint glow.


    No, it''s not energy to illuminate something, rather a negative pulse that engulfs all light and heat.


    An aura of darkness.


    When continuous effects such as this happen to a Duel Avatar, it should be because the player is spending the Gauge to use a Special Attack. But right now, Falcon''s Special Attacks Gauge is at Full Charge and shows no sign of dropping even a pixel dot.


    But he fails to notice this and merely continues his stuttering words.


    ''So you people¡­ could always play in this world¡­¡­ to release you people from the horror of losing all your points¡­¡­ Fron, she only¡­¡­ only¡­¡­!''


    Unknowingly, J?rmungandr''s teeth, deeply scratched by his ten digits, have been pulled away completely from Falcon''s body. The monster flashes its two rows of eyes and wriggles its gigantic body. But the arms of the Avatar surrounded by the dark aura do not move a single inch.


    ''She only¡­¡­ ever wished for that !!''


    A blood coughing roar.


    Falcon is now hearing the emotion filled pebble break apart deep in his heart.


    Rage. Ever since he started to understand things, he had always suppressed any anger he felt, except now all the anger has burst out, flowing inside the Avatar in a frenzy, emitting that dark aura outwards.


    The dark pulses, as if possessing physical pressure, vibrate across the thick skin of the worm and cause it to crack. The Enemy roars and twists as a huge crack forms at the top of its jaw.


    ''Aah¡­¡­ aaaaaahhh¡­¡­ aaaaaaaaaaaahhh --------!!''


    Screaming in a distorted metallic voice, Falcon suddenly jerks the teeth in his hands in opposite directions.


    With an unnatural sound, J?rmungandr''s head is forcefully split apart. Many of the simple eyes burst from within, spraying out copious amounts of bodily fluids. He disregards this and reaches in further through the cracks, grabbing hold of the soft tissues within, ripping them apart again. And again.


    When his feet touch the ground, almost half of the Hell Worm is split open. He grabs the right side of the worm, desperately trying to wriggle back into the nest in pain, with the claws on his hands and steps on the right side with his clawed feet to secure it. With all of his power --- he rips it apart from head to tail in one go.


    The body of the Enemy, finally in two pieces, abruptly pauses in an unnatural form, and then bursts into thousands of pieces.


    In the centre of the burst effect at the bottom of the depression, a long thin object materialises. In front of Falcon is a long sword with a clear crystal-white body. It''s an Enemy drop Enhanced Armament. Seeing this sword that seems to hold a star like radiance within, he reaches out for the hilt without the slightest hesitation.


    Instantly, the long sword transforms into a small card and disappears. A small System Message pops out at the top of his vision¡¾YOU GOT AN ENHANCED ARMAMENT ?STAR CASTER?¡¿.


    He murmurs in a hoarse voice.


    ''Equip, ?STAR CASTER?''


    The long sword with the holy form appears once again in his right hand. But the dark aura instantly wraps around the sword, distorting its colour and shape. The crystal clarity changes to a chrome-silver colour. The straight hilt curves ominously. The blade enlarges and thickens, several places of the edge also becoming sawtooth in form.


    He holds the newly formed great sword directly in front of him.


    The dark silver blade reflects a Duel Avatar. It is no longer the simple Chrome Falcon with his round helmet. Rather it''s an object of destructive impulses with a heinous silhouette.


    The only place where his original appearance can still be seen is the smooth facemask showing through the open type helmet. However, the aura of darkness is gathering at the forehead of the helmet, creating a visor large enough to completely cover his face.


    He intuitively feels that he''ll no longer be able to turn back if he pulls it down.


    ¡­ If I ever change, Fron is sure to be sad.


    ¡­ But, she is no longer part of this world.


    Then at this moment, I''ll discard the name of Chrome Falcon. Let it be buried here with Saffron Blossom, along with her ideals, her kindness, her care, let it all be buried here.


    Because it''s the stunned players around this depression who refused all these things. Instead of peaceful coexistence, they would prefer to have war. Instead of joining hands, they would prefer to fight to the death. If instead of love, they prefer fury and hatred, then ---.


    I''ll grant them to you.


    Holding the sword high above himself with both hands, he lets the rage flowing from within him take control and roars again.


    ''Ooh¡­Oooooooooooohhh¡­¡­!''


    The dark aura bursting forth all over his body produces black lightning, continuously striking through the metallic ground. Fissures constantly form and spread from beneath his feet, shaking the very earth. And he screams in a volume that almost resonates with the scream of the earth.


    ''Oooooohhh¡­ Ooooooooohhhaaaaaaaaaaaahhh ------ !!''


    The rage gushing out endlessly becomes almost like a catalyst that could interfere with the world itself. As proof it is not just an illusion, the text in the HUD[18] in the upper left of his vision flashes on and off continuously. The two lines showing the equipped Enhanced Armament, ?THE DESTINY? and ?STAR CASTER?, begin to distort, break apart and combine together.


    The two lines overlap and combine to form a new phrase.


    ?THE DISASTER?.


    ''Gu¡­ ru, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!''


    This is no longer a person''s scream, but the roar of a hungry ferocious beast.


    GAKI. With a sharp clatter, the visor on his forehead falls into place.


    A thin grey filter seems to be covering his vision. The resolution however is clearer many times over, such that even the expressions of the Duel Avatars standing in the circle can be seen clearly. Their expressions are of confusion, surprise and intense unease. But what they are feeling, what they are considering are no longer important to Falcon. They are merely targets for him to slaughter. The eyes beneath the helmets narrow, trying to seek out the first victim to hunt.


    Focusing his attention on the circle, he can hear the faint sounds of a discussion as if they are being amplified by a highly directional microphone.


    ''¡­ auge complete recovery confirmed. No usage of the Special Attacks Gauge. There''s no mistake, it''s because of the Imagination Circuit causing the Override Phenomenon in the ?Main Visualiser?''


    The owner of the voice is a small Avatar with four large twinkling eye-lens. Replying is the black multilayered Avatar who restrained Falcon and Blossom with the strange technique.


    ''As expected, an outburst of sentiments triggers the phenomenon much faster than concentration. Whether it can be controlled is another matter.''


    The quad-eyed Avatar also nods.


    ''That''s right. That possessing a ?Trauma Shell?[19] greater than a certain intensity allows metal-colourisation is already pretty much confirmed. But it''s pretty tough to tell right now with just my ?Analyse?, whether that fusion phenomenon is an inherent power of the ?Seven Star Armament?, or simply because he is a metal colour.''


    ''Hmm. If possible I would really want to spend some more time studying it¡­''


    At that exact moment, a different voice comes from behind the two of them.


    ''Is capture possible, Vise?''


    Clear and sweet as melting snow and without a hint of impurity, this is undoubtedly the player that forcefully revived Blossom endlessly. He focuses his eyes under the visor but an inconceivable illumination prevents him from seeing properly.


    ''Allow me to try.''


    The multilayered Avatar nods his head, this head being made of several plates, and at the same time raises his left hand with the same design. The plates that make up his hand fall to the ground in order and vanish. Straight after, that black cross appears soundlessly behind Falcon, attempting to use its strange attractive force to restrain him.


    But.


    ''Gu¡­ ruahh!''


    With a low growl, the sword in his right hand sweeps behind him, producing the sound and feeling of breaking glass, easily destroying the cross. Light from the damage effects bursts forth from the controller''s left shoulder in the distance.


    ''Wow there. That''s pretty tough, normal abilities will not be able to hold him back.''


    Falcon focuses his attention on the multilayered Avatar saying that.


    Even if their conversation contains too many terms he can''t understand, one point is clear ¨C the whole situation is of their design. They are the bastards who called out Saffron Blossom and tortured her to death with the ?Infinite Enemy Kill?.


    Then the first ones to be hunted down should be you people.


    Holding the great sword with two hands, he raises it up weightily, disregarding the dozens of confused people on the side, before taking a step towards the jet black Avatar and soundlessly voicing the ability name.


    --- Flash Blink!


    The blade swinging down at the same time as the super speed teleportation does manage to cut off the remaining right arm of the jet black Avatar. But the faceless opponent remains unshaken; taking a step back, he breaks apart his armless body in an instant.


    Changing into two large plates, the black Avatar picks up the quad-eyed Avatar and the person being surrounded by light from both sides. Defying logic, the plates close against each other into one single thin plate.


    As the large jet black plate sinks into the shadows on the ground, Falcon makes a horizontal swipe with his sword. But he only manages to slice off a small diagonal portion at the top. Leaving a faint ripple upon the shadow, the mysterious trio''s presence disappears from the Field.


    ''Guu¡­ ruuruu¡­¡­''


    He growls angrily in a low tone as a result of the opponents'' escape, then, a few seconds after that¡­


    GIIN! Something impacts on his right shoulder with a sharp metallic clatter.


    Turning around slowly, he finds a medium sized blue Duel Avatar stand there. That Avatar wields with hands a large melee weapon that is a cross between a bokken[20] and a naginata[21]. He is a familiar face and a fine acquaintance. One of the very few ?First Generations?, a direct hit from that pole arm used to be able to shatter Chrome Falcon''s armour.


    But after checking the right shoulder, he can''t find any trace of an impact; certainly no crack.


    Without even bothering to remember the existence of the flabbergasted opponent, Falcon cleaves straight down with the great dark aura-cloaked sword.


    DONG, a heavy bass thud vibrates through freezing air, the weapon of the blue Avatar splits into two from the middle, even as his own upper body also slowly slides apart and rolls on to the ground. Soon after, the lower body pauses mid-fall and bursts with the upper body. He leaves only a cluster of light the same colour as the armour.


    Of the thirty odd players, the one who clearly had highest level among them was killed with just one hit, and such a scene spread unease through the remaining people. What''s going on, it''s not what they said was going on. These words of panic start to spread, and the volume increases in proportion.


    ''This is not good¡­ quick, run for it!!''


    Not knowing who shouted that, the crowd moves in one single direction like a burst dam. They should be heading for the Shibaura Parking Area Leave Point to escape to the real world. --- But.


    Flash Blink.


    Muttering in his heart, the black-silver armour disappears and reappears in front of the runaways. Another slash and three heads fall in unison.


    ''Uuu¡­ Uwa¡­ Uwaaaaaaaaaahhh!''


    Howling. Screaming. Some still want to run, some try to find shelter in nearby buildings, some try to retaliate, but the dark blade hacks towards them without exception, wiping out their entire gauge with a single slash.


    Falcon''s drive is no longer rage, but a sublime determination that surpasses hatred and vengeance --- perhaps it''s a curse.


    A curse to destroy this world.


    If the Burst Linkers a few years from now who understands the hidden logic behind Brain Burst are able to see Chrome Falcon right now, they''ll most likely make one conclusion. That dark Over Ray is a display of pure negative mentality. A will of absolute denial that crushes all existence, the darkness of the Incarnation System itself.


    After the slaughter that only lasted a few dozen seconds, all that remain around the depression are numerous silently wavering embers.


    The destroyer of black-silver plants the great sword saturated with blood firmly into the ground and stops there.


    In order to wait for their revival an hour later.


    That day, more than thirty players vanished from the Accelerated World.


    Only one person was lucky enough to make it through the Portal, trembling in fear as he told of the terrifying ordeal --- the dubious story of how all his companions were killed by Chrome Flacon wearing that heinous armour.


    After all those who challenged Falcon to confirm this rumour were butchered by the great sword in one slash, no one could deny it any longer.


    That after nearly a year of development, a horrible disaster had been born into the Accelerated World.


    At one point in time, players stopped referring to this destroyer by his Avatar name. The second part of his name had been dubbed with the name of his Enhanced Armament --- That is how the name is called.


    ?Chrome Disaster?.


    Blackout.


    Spotlight.


    The white halo illuminates a knight covered by a dark-metal armour, carrying a heinous great sword.


    His crouching body is hurt all over, cracks have spread everywhere, his blade has been dulled.


    To force him into such a state, the strongest players in the Accelerated World have challenged him countless times, sometimes even in many-on-one Battle Royale Mode.


    The destroyer has never refused a duel, rather, he has even removed the ?one round per day? challenge limitation, fighting in any given condition. Normally, ten continuous standard battles will cause metal fatigue that results in dull movements, but his daily battles number in the hundreds, grinding away his soul.


    Unknowingly, the aura around the sword has become thin, the armour losing its original lustre, yet even so the destroyer still fights. The win ratio continues to fall, the points constantly decrease, until finally in the last and largest battle in the Unlimited Neutral Field, he is driven to the point where he stands to lose all his points.


    Multiple Avatars approach the crouching knight from all directions.


    Presently all of them are the strongest aces. Several of the ?Pure Colours? leading large Legions are among them.


    The dying destroyer props himself up slowly with the sword.


    A portion of the visor with the heinous design is missing, and the smooth curves of the helmet can be vaguely seen on the inside.


    Through the mask he looks to the sky of the Accelerated World.


    I --- the BB Player who used to be Chrome Falcon will disappear here today.


    Memory Erasure, if the rumours regarding the thought operation treatment are true, I will forget all about the Accelerated World --- even my beloved Saffron Blossom, turning back into a normal elementary school second year who doesn''t know any difficult words.


    But, I''ll leave behind my rage --- my sorrow --- and my despair.


    Blossom and I never wished for power. A hegemony through the power of the ?armour? to control the Accelerated World had never crossed our mind. We just wanted to be able to always live in this world with everyone, that would''ve been enough.


    If on the mirror like surface of the ?armour? , domination and destruction, plunder and lust can be seen, then that is merely a reflection of the desires of those who look.


    They are the ones who want power, it''s them who killed Saffron Blossom again and again in that cruel manner.


    Then I''ll grant it to them.


    My rage, Blossom''s pain, will remain within this ?armour? --- ?THE DISASTER?. From this moment forth, anyone who puts on this armour with desire for power will attack, destroy, devour all other Burst Linkers. Taking in the power of the devoured, infinitely growing stronger. Until the last person left. Until there is only one person in the barren lands of the Accelerated World, at the end of the game.


    That is the hidden nature of the power you desire.


    I will curse this world. Tarnish it. Even if I''m to disappear here, my rage and hatred will revive --- time and time again.


    Blackout.


    ==================================================================================================================================

 Volume 7 - CH 2

    Chapter 2


    Feeling the touch of delicate fingers brushing across his cheek, Arita Haruyuki slowly opened his eyes.


    His blurred vision gradually improved as his eyes slowly refocused. He saw hands enclosed in pure white armour. Wrists draped in kimono sleeves of the same colour. A charming face mask with beautiful ardor eye-lenses.


    Through his white-silver helmet, Haruyuki saw the figure of Ardor Maiden ¡ª the Level 7 Burst Linker and former member of Nega Nebulas¡¯ ?Elements? ¡ª processing the purification ability, reach out while kneeling over him.


    A shining droplet of water hung from Maiden¡¯s delicate fingertip. She looked down with a look of worry. Haruyuki tilted his head, puzzled, and only then realised that the droplet had actually come from tears flowing down his cheeks.


    ¡®Eh¡­¡­ah¡­¡­¡¯


    He cried out hoarsely as he attempted to wipe away the tears with his right hand, closing the half open face mask at the same time. The Duel Avatar ?Silver Crow? bowed his head under the silvery one-way mirror (TL Note: A mirror that is partially reflective and partially transparent. When one side of the mirror is brightly lit and the other is dark, it allows viewing from the darkened side but not vice versa) mask and anxiously attempted to explain.


    ¡®Ah, sorry. I¡¯m fine¡­¡­ It¡¯s just that when I was asleep, I felt like¡­¡­ I had a really long dream¡­¡­¡¯


    Here he paused and frowned.


    He had a ¡ª dream.


    In that long dream, Haruyuki was not Silver Crow. Though very similar, his Metal Colour was slightly different. But that was all he could remember. Where he went, what he did, what happened in the end, all these details had been seemingly covered by a layer of white and soft floss silk, completely preventing him from remembering.


    The sense of having a hole opened up deep in his heart, however, was still fresh. This piercing pain in the void was¡­¡­ a sense of loss?


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­ I¡­ love you¡­¡­¡­¡­


    A seemingly unfamiliar voice flowed through his mind, and would have caused another outbreak of tears if not for him holding them back with all his might.  He shook his head as he gulped down the freezing air to clear this intriguing sorrow, then he began to survey the surroundings.


    The sky has already darkened without him noticing. Above them was a sea of stars, unattainable in real world Tokyo. The reason they were able to see the sky was because they were not inside a building but rather a place akin to a courtyard.


    He sat with his legs stretched out, his back against a pillar roughly a meter in diameter. To his right was a set of walls rising to touch the heavens.


    The terrain is unchanged from before he went to sleep, but a final inspection between his legs made him realise that the ground had changed from a layer of thick ice to white pebbles, which was quite puzzling. He turned around hastily. The pillar behind him was no longer one of pale-blue ice, now it was a wooden one painted vermillion.


    ¡®Huh¡­¡­ Had a ?Transition? occurred while I was asleep?¡¯


    He asked Ardor Maiden in front of him softly. The red-white dual coloured Avatar nodded her head. She replied softly as well, in a tender yet firm voice.


    ¡®That seems to be the case. But I was also asleep next to Kuu-san (TL Note: Kuu-san is Ardor Maiden¡¯s nickname for Silver Crow), so I didn¡¯t notice.¡¯


    The so-called ?Transition? was the periodic field attribute shift phenomenon of this world ¡ª the ?Unlimited Neutral Field? created by the Brain Burst program. When Silver Crow and Ardor Maiden had fallen asleep here, it had been the fully-frozen ?Ice and Snow? Stage, but every trace of ice and snow had now vanished.


    It was as if the seasons had suddenly run backwards. The red leaves hung from the tree branches, the pillars were also wooden and the walls were painted white. Purely Japanese in style, the field attribute that best fit that description was¡­¡­


    ¡®It appears to be the ?Heian? Stage.¡¯


    As she said so, Ardor Maiden spread out her crimson armour skirt in order to sit straight (TL Note: Ardor Maiden is sitting in the traditional seiza Õý×ù style. Any mention of Maiden¡¯s seated position throughout the chapter refers to seiza.). She matched the surroundings so perfectly, it was as if the scene was a piece of art. He couldn¡¯t help but gawk in wonder. The delicate maiden lowered her head in embarrassment, and his seeing this made him avert his gaze.


    The one who controlled this lovable yet fiery Duel Avatar, was a girl four years the junior of Haruyuki ¡ª Haruyuki being a second year high school student ¡ª Shinomiya Utai. A fourth year in Umesato High¡¯s sister school ¡ª Matsunogi Elementary School ¡ª she was well and truly a proper young lady (TL Note: Ojou-Sama‹Ý˜”, a phrase that usually describes young ladies of refined up-bring.) who probably never had the experience of being stared at intently by a boy who was much older. Upon realising this, he turned his gaze onto the surroundings.


    Endless vermillion pillars ran parallel from south to north. A road paved with stones travelled further in. Countless orange bonfires flickered and swayed. To the north was the grand silhouette of a gigantic citadel.


    This location couldn¡¯t fit the ?Heian? Stage better.


    Because here in the real world was Chiyoda Ward, Chiyoda Ichibancho (TL Note: Wards in Japan are further split into plots of land, bancho ·¬, referred to by a number. In this case, the first plot.), the Imperial Residence, which is in the center of the Accelerated World ¡ª within the impenetrable ?Imperial City?.


    Today ¡ª 2047, June 18th, Tuesday, at 7:20at night ¡ª the members of Haruyuki¡¯s Legion, ?Nega Nebulas?, began the largest mission they had ever attempted since the current team was assembled.


    This ultra-difficult operation was to rescue Ardor Maiden, sealed at the altar of the Super Enemy that guarded the south gate of the Imperial City, ?Sacred Beast Suzaku?. However, the means to do so was extremely simple.


    The vanguard, Kuroyukihime/Black Lotus, with her long distance attacks, would make herself the target of Suzaku, supported by Chiyuri/Lime Bell who possessed the Psuedo-Healing Ability. As Suzaku advanced across the bridge that extended from the south gate, Haruyuki/Silver Crow would fly over it at top speed with Fuuko/Sky Raker as a booster, and Takumu/Cyan Pile would give the signal to synch Utai/Ardor Maiden¡¯s dive so that she could be retrieved the moment she appeared, before a one-eighty turn over the bridge to escape ¡ª.


    The operation was on the verge of success.


    But something beyond their initial expectations occurred at the very end. Although Haruyuki had done absolutely nothing, Suzaku changed its attack target from Black Lotus to Silver Crow and subsequently unleashed a torrent of super powerful flame breath behind him.


    The intense flames were almost upon him when Haruyuki picked up Ardor Maiden. Unable to turn, he could only charge straight ahead. Desperately, he decided to kill himself in a collision with the south gate of the Imperial City ¡ª a gate that couldn¡¯t be opened unless Suzaku was defeated ¡ª yet for some reason, a gap opened up at that exact moment in time. Left with no other option, Haruyuki and Utai could only charge straight through.


    Falling as he heard the sound of the gate shutting behind him, starting to black out, holding Utai closely in his arms, he asked her one thing.


    ¡®Um¡­¡­ Are we, still alive¡­¡­?¡¯


    The shock from hearing Utai¡¯s response echoed in his head even now.


    ¡®¡­¡­We are still alive. Although¡­¡­, ahhh, but¡­¡­¡­¡­¡¯


    ¡®¡­¡­¡­¡­ This¡­¡­ this place is inside of the ?Imperial City?¡¯


    ¡®¡­¡­ Even now, I still can¡¯t believe it. That we are within that ?Imperial City?¡­¡­¡¯


    Haruyuki moaned as he leaned against the round pillar. Utai, who was sitting in front of him, nodded as well.


    ¡®Coming inside is surprising enough, but surviving for more than six hours is even more so.¡¯


    ¡®Eh¡­¡­ I, I slept for that long? It¡¯s this dark here not because of a field characteristic but because it¡¯s already night¡­¡­?¡¯


    He asked in panic. While it was possible to bring up the menu window in the Unlimited Neutral Field and find out your accumulated play time, there were relatively few ways to find the correct inner time ¡ª that was to say ?exactly what hour and what minute it was in this world?. Supposedly there was a great clock somewhere in this field that had started spinning with the birth of this world, but that thing would be rather creepy to behold. That thing would have recorded a thousand times seven years of time, meaning that more than seven thousand years of history should be shown on it.


    Utai nodded her head slightly and pointed towards the night sky above with her small hand.


    ¡®The stars can be seen in the ?Heian? Stage. From the positions of the constellations, it should be close to midnight.¡¯


    ¡®Ha,hahaha¡­¡­ I see¡­¡­¡¯


    Haruyuki murmured as he lifted his head to gaze upon the sky.


    About six hours ago ¡ª in accelerated times of course ¡ª the two of them landed in a corner of the courtyard close to the south gate. They held tight to each other as they clenched their teeth to stifle their shock and feelings, yet were unable to remain like this for long. The reason being that the northward road from the south gate, the citadel sitting further in and the Enemy mobs moving slowly along the road were now all within their sight.


    These Enemies were around three meters in height at most, relatively small compared to the ?Sacred Beasts?, they all wore Sengoku period warrior-esque heavy armour, carried great long tachi. Their form exerted a force that made Haruyuki shiver. Moreover, they all moved in groups of at least three.


    Along the outdoor corridor inside the south gate citadel wall, more figures of these Warrior Enemies could be seen. The clattering of their armour heralded their gradual approach and called for immediate action. That said, to clash with them was much too reckless a move. Suzaku¡¯s flames had already roasted Haruyuki down to half his HP, Utai too did not lack injury.


    That¡¯s why the two of them had left the road and corridor for now and hid in the middle of the maze-like courtyard area, where they found a place of rest under the shades of a seemingly safe round pillar. As the sun set, despite being concerned about how worried Kuroyukihime and the others might be on the other side of the gate, the mental strain caused him to lean back against the pillar and just doze off ¡ª which led to the current  situation.


    When they had found this safe haven, the twilight had dyed the cloudy sky of the ?Snow and Ice? Stage purple. Now even the purple had disappeared, leaving only the radiance of the cluster of stars upon the pitch black dome.


    As Utai had said, these stars perfectly re-enacted the constellation arrangements he had seen during full dive lessons. Leaning against the pillar, he looked to the east where an especially bright and purely white star caught his eyes. That one, should be¡­¡­


    ¡®Lyra¡¯s¡­¡­ Vega? (TL Note: Vega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night sky and the second brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus. It¡¯s also one of the vertices of the Summer Triangle)¡¯


    Utai heard him speaking to himself and nodded as she continued to gaze upon the sky while sitting.


    ¡®That¡¯s correct. In Japan it¡¯s also called Orihime.¡¯


    Knowledge learnt from school that was once considered utterly useless became unexpectedly useful here, Haruyuki couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased as he pointed at the starry sky and continued on.


    ¡®That means, to the lower right that should be Aquila¡¯s A¡­¡­ Altair (TL Note: Altair is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila and the twelfth brightest star in the night sky and is one of the vertices of the Summer Triangle. In Japan it¡¯s also called Hikoboshi) ¡­¡­and to the lower left should be Cygnus¡¯ Deneb (TL Note: Deneb is the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus and one of the vertices of the Summer Triangle.). Uh¡­¡­ where is Hikoboshi¡­¡­¡¯


    Utai laughed slightly and pointed up with her shrine maiden formed arm.


    ¡®That would be Altair. These three form the Summer Triangle (TL Note: The Summer Triangle is an astronomical asterism involving an imaginary triangle drawn on the northern hemisphere¡¯s celestial sphere, with its defining vertices at Altair, Deneb, and Vega, the brightest stars in the three constellations of Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra, respectively.) . Because it¡¯s only June, their positions are somewhat lower.¡¯


    ¡®I see. That means the constellations are modelled off the seasons in the real world.¡¯


    Haruyuki kept looking up at the sky completely awestruck, forgetting the fact that he was still in the midst of a perilous situation.


    To have used the social camera network to reconstruct the terrain may perhaps be meaningful for tactical and strategic elements in the game. The night sky however, couldn¡¯t be anything other than just background decoration. No player would complain even if it was just a still print with randomly generated points of light on top.


    Nevertheless, the stellar arrangements had replicated the really world so perfectly, even the seasonal adjustments were recreated. There must be a goal behind all this. Perhaps to emphasize that ¡ª this is not just the game, nor just a virtual world¡­¡­


    ¡®The earliest group of Burst Linkers¡­¡­ those who were once called ?BB Players?, they too¡­¡­¡¯


    Utai suddenly placed her hands on her knees and began to recount softly.


    ¡®The night sky in the Accelerated World is a perfect match to the real world¡¯s¡­¡­ no, the artificial lighting in real world Tokyo outshines the starry sky. They must have felt that when they saw these beautiful stars so clearly. That is why the main Legions all have names associated with the universe.¡¯


    ¡®Eh¡­ are there really so many names associated with the universe¡­¡­?¡¯


    The young maiden revealed a wry smile on her affectionate face mask as she watched Haruyuki tilt his head in puzzlement.


    ¡®All of the Seven Kings¡¯ Legions are named so. Our ?Nega Nebulas?, Ankoku Seiun (TL Note: °µü\ÐÇë… in Kanji)¡­¡­ strictly it should be Dark Nebulas in English, was named because of that. The Red Legion¡¯s ?Prominence? represents solar flares. The Blue Legion¡¯s ?Leonids? are the meteor showers from Leo.¡¯


    ¡®Oh¡­¡­oh¡­¡­indeed¡­¡­¡¯


    ¡ª Chiyu and Taku must have known from the start and just kept quiet. It¡¯s so good that I learnt this before I got asked by a ¡®You didn¡¯t know that!?¡¯.


    Haruyuki secretly sighed in relief and asked again.


    ¡®In other words, the White Legion¡­¡­ Uh, so ?Oscillatory Universe? doesn¡¯t have anything to do with the Legion Master named Shiratori (TL Note: Oscillatory, pronounced in Japanese as Oshiratori Óù°×øB, contains Shiratori °×øB, a common Japanese surname), it¡¯s also a name associated with the universe?¡¯


    His question made Utai put on that slightly stunned smile again, though she quickly regained her composure. She then lowered her head and answered in a strained voice.


    ¡®Yes, ?Oscillatory Universe? means¡­¡­ trembling universe. But I haven¡¯t learnt this much in school yet. I¡¯m not too sure about the correct meaning.¡¯


    ¡®Trem¡­¡­bling, universe¡­¡­¡¯


    ¡ª The universe shouldn¡¯t sway and tremble, right?


    Haruyuki tilted his head from side to side while in thought. He was a second year high school student and yet he also had no recollection of hearing this word in science class, so it was very likely that this word was beyond the compulsory education level. He made a mental note to search it up later if he could still remember it and raised his head towards the sky once more.


    Above the Summer Triangle, close to the pinnacle hovered a group of stars radiating weakly. Those should be the ones that made up Hercules. To the left was Draco, the likeness of the hundred headed dragon Ladon, which had been slain by the hero Hercules, soaring into the sky (TL Note: Kawahara Reki got the dragon and the hydra mixed up. Though both were slain by Hercules, it was the hydra that was supposed to have a hundred heads.).


    Lined up even further to the left was a group of stars comparable to the Triangle in radiance.


    It was Ursa Major, with the tail portion especially bright. He was taught during lessons that that was why in ancient China those especially bright stars were treated as a separate constellation.


    The shape of a ladle with a long handle.


    The Big Dipper.


    ¡ª Dokun, his heart unexpectedly skipped a beat. He felt as if a spark was continuously flaring up deep in his head. His eyes were oddly attracted to the star closest to the center out of the three stars of the handle. Only that nameless star seemed to continue to pulsate at the same frequency as the spark in his head.


    Every flare caused a wave of pain in the core of his brain that passed along the central nervous system, down through his neck and shoulders to the center of his back, between the left and right scapula ¡ª Stab. Pain. Stab. Stab. His body was in pain, yet it also felt like a foreign object being buried in his body¡­¡­


    ¡®¡­¡­ -san, Kuu-san!¡¯


    Haruyuki suddenly lifted his head when he felt someone shaking his right hand.


    Beside him, Ardor Maiden¡¯s crimson eye-lenses revealed her worry. He shook his head in a panic and answered hesitantly.


    ¡®So¡­¡­sorry, must have dazed off¡­¡­¡¯


    ¡®Is¡­¡­ that so. Then¡­¡­ It must have been my mistake. Sorry, but Kuu-san¡¯s body¡­¡­ for a moment, it seemed as if it was engulfed by shadows¡­¡­¡¯


    ¡®¡­¡­¡­¡­¡¯


    It seemed as if he had heard those exact words somewhere before. And not so long ago, during the ?Hermes Cord Traversing Race? a week ago, when the shuttle was in the warp zone¡­¡­ Sky Raker had pointed out the same thing¡­¡­


    ¡®¡­¡­ It, it must¡¯ve been your mistake. I, I didn¡¯t do anything¡¯


    He basically gave the same response as last time. Haruyuki deliberately shook off that overflowing feeling of worry and continued on.


    ¡®Rather than that¡­¡­ we should consider our next step. Remaining in this safe area is not an option.¡¯


    ¡®¡­¡­ Yes, that¡­¡­ is true¡¯


    Utai too, as if to shake off her doubts, nodded her head firmly and looked to the surroundings.


    The two of them were hidden at a place fifty meters north-east of the Imperial City south gate inner courtyard right now. Directly across the rows of vermillion pillars to the west, was the stone road that connected north and south. To the east was a sizable maze that carried Japanese style garden vibes. The round corridor that ran alongside the wall was to the south.


    Uber-menacing Warrior Enemies constantly patrolled the wide road and the corridor. To sneak past them was no easy feat. Loud splashes and the sound of heavy objects moving came from garden to the east from time to time. The possibility of entering it could basically be ruled out.


    The only viable route would be the narrow strip of space between the rows of pillars and the garden maze, hiding in the shade of the round pillars while following the one way course northward. There was no exit to the north, only the palace that was the main body of the Imperial City. Going by the logic of the ?Heian? Stage that made the area seem like a gigantic shrine, that place should be called the inner shrine. It was very likely that there were Enemies more fearsome than these Warrior Enemies wandering inside. Their target was not to clear the Imperial City but to find a Portal and survive with Utai ¡ª Ardor Maiden. Approaching the palace carelessly only to fall into the ?Infinite EK? state must be avoided.


    ¡®¡­¡­Perhaps¡­¡­¡¯


    Utai returned her attention from the surroundings back onto Haruyuki. She maintained her seated position and continued talking as she pondered.


    ¡®Lotus and Raker should have already returned back to the real world via the Portal at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters. If separated from companions in the Unlimited Neutral Field during battle, standard practice is to not take the risk of staying still and logout if possible.¡¯


    ¡®Yeah¡­¡­ that is, true.¡¯


    Haruyuki nodded, the young girl kept going with her tender yet clear tone.


    ¡®If a ?Safety?(TL Note: Written as ¡®Emergency Route Breaker¡¯ ¾o¼±»Ø¾€ÇжÏ, read as ¡®Safety¡¯¥»©`¥Õ¥Æ¥£) has already been set, those who had left earlier can activate it so everyone can return back to the real world long enough to clarify the situation. So if we just wait for the disconnection, we will return back to Haruyuki-san¡¯s apartment¡­¡­ I think¡­¡­¡¯


    A ?safety? was when the Neuro Linker would make a global connection using a wired home server or a mobile server instead of a wireless connection. By doing so, even if one was unable to reach a Portal in the Unlimited Neutral Field, companions who were able to leave in advance can activate the device acting as the circuit breaker, allowing a temporary logout.


    Right now, Haruyuki and Utai, as well as Kuroyukihime, Fuuko, Takumu and Chiyuri, are assembled in Haruyuki¡¯s living room, connected to each other¡¯s Neuro Linker in a daisy chain (TL Note: In electrical and electronic engineering a daisy chain is a wiring scheme in which multiple devices are wired together in sequence or in a ring.). Kuroyukihime and the others, who have returned via the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters Portal close to the Imperial City south bridge, would only need to pull out the XSB line connecting Haruyuki¡¯s Neuro Linker and the Haruyuki family¡¯s home server. The next moment Haruyuki and Utai would automatically Burst Out.


    But Utai kept speaking while still in thought.


    ¡®¡­¡­ Although the current situation is rather special, Lotus and the others are most likely to hesitate. In any case, Kuu-san and I broke through Suzaku¡¯s guard, due to that miraculous one-in-ten-thousand chance. This is our only chance to explore the insides of the Imperial City. We most likely won¡¯t have another one.¡¯


    ¡®We won¡¯t have¡­¡­ another one? If we use the same tactics to charge through the door, perhaps we can do it again¡­¡­¡¯


    He was purely discussing the feasibility, there was no way Haruyuki would want to try that again. Utai raised her left hand to point towards the south-west, past Haruyuki¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡®Kuu-san, please take a look there. The back of the south gate¡¯


    ¡®O, oh¡¯


    He turned and sneaked a peek at the large citadel gate standing fifty meters away from the shades of the round pillar that was behind him.


    The gate, comprised of two large panels, completely divided the inside and the outside of the Imperial City with its unbelievable mass and density. It was hard to believe that six hours ago, a gap several dozen centimeters wide had appeared, allowing their passage.


    Utai was pointing at the dead center of the gate. He concentrated hard at it, using the bonfires on the ground as illumination. There was indeed something large on there.


    It was a relief (TL Note: A piece of sculpture that use the method of moulding, carving, or stamping in which the design stands out from the surface, to a greater or lesser extent.). A metallic square plaque three meters on each side tightly held the two gate panels together. Intricate carvings had been made across the surface, but the thickness of the object made it clear that it was intended for a purpose other than pure decoration.


    ¡®¡­¡­¡­¡­ Ah¡­¡­¡¯


    He stared at it intently for a while and the image on the relief suddenly emerged in his head.


    An enormous bird with wings spread out on each side, a long neck and a sharp beak opened wide. It was in the form of ?Sacred Beast Suzaku?.


    ¡®The gate¡¯s¡­¡­ seal¡­¡­?¡¯


    Haruyuki felt Utai nod her head after he involuntarily blurted that out.


    ¡®I too think that is the case. ¡­¡­ Kuu-san, I¡¯m not sure if you noticed it¡­¡­ That seal had been destroyed by someone before we charged through the gate.¡¯


    ¡®Eh¡­¡­ Ehhhhh!?¡¯


    He covered his own mouth after that accidental exclamation. He lowered his voice and asked again quickly.


    ¡®De, destroyed¡­¡­!? It wasn¡¯t originally able to open like that¡­¡­ it was damaged?¡¯


    ¡®That¡¯s how I see it. It wasn¡¯t split apart vertically straight down the middle. Rather, it was cut twice by a massive blade, forming a crooked cross.¡¯


    As if to re-enact the scene, Ardor Maiden straightened her fingers and made a cross in the air with her right hand (TL Note: Kawahara Reki was being playful here, instead of using ¡®Cross¡¯ in either Japanese or katakana, he decided to use ¡®Batten¡¯, a word that best translates to ¡®demerit cross¡¯. What¡¯s worse was the fact that he used the katakana version ¥Ð¥Ã¥Æ¥óinstead of the kanji version ÁPµã.).  She kept on speaking in an even lower voice after she lowered her hand.


    ¡®However, a few seconds after we came in here and the gate closed, the seal completely regenerated to form what you see here. ¡ª In this world, keys and seals are all systematic metaphors. As long as that seal is still present, the gate will never open unless ?Suzaku? is defeated. That is to say¡­¡­ something, or someone sliced apart the seal from the inside, allowing the gate to open for that instance when we approached it¡­¡­ That¡¯s what I believe¡­¡­ ¡®


    ¡®Bu¡­¡­but, wait a minute, that¡­¡­ means¡­¡­¡¯


    Haruyuki stared at the faraway metallic relief, watching it reflect the radiant light of the bonfires. He opened and closed his mouth over and over under the silver mask. He uttered a question after he finally organised his thoughts.


    ¡®That means there was a Burst Linker who had managed to infiltrate the ?Imperial City? before us¡­¡­ and to facilitate anyone who may come afterwards, they destroyed the seal, is that right¡­¡­?¡¯


    ¡®¡­¡­ Yes, that¡¯s right.¡¯


    ¡®Bu¡­¡­but Sacred Beast Suzaku is still active. Then how did this Burst Linker manage to come in? Mai-san (TL Note: Haruyuki¡¯s nickname for Utai¡¯s Avatar form. Pronounced like ¡®may¡¯.), if what you saw about the seal recovering after the gate closed was real, the seal can¡¯t have been destroyed like that since the start of the Accelerated World either¡­¡­ There shouldn¡¯t have been a way for that person to enter unless they defeated Suzaku¡­¡­ right¡­¡­?¡¯


    Utai placed her hands upon her knees again and slightly shook her head.


    ¡®I¡¯m not sure either. ¡ª To find out more, I fear¡­¡­ we may have to enter the Imperial City¡¯s inner shrine¡­¡­¡¯


    Her words faded to a whisper at the end, Haruyuki turned his gaze to the north ¡ª to the inner shrine¡¯s black silhouette blocking the starry skies.


    ¡ª Enter there, the center of the Accelerated World¡­¡­ the center of the center¡­¡­


    Impossible. A task this big is completely impossible. More importantly, there are bound to be Enemies more fearsome than those scary Armored Warriors guarding the front entrance of the inner shrine. How in the world am I going to be able to break through¡­¡­¡­¡­


    He scrunched his shoulders as his thoughts continued to drift off pessimistically ¡ª and right at that moment.


    It was as if there was a screen deep in his mind and an unbelievable scene unfolded upon it.


    His own Avatar should be seated on the pebbles, yet he saw another him stand up and proceed north cautiously. He hid in the shadows of the round pillars to avoid the gaze of the Warrior Enemies as they patrolled the road. With a vigilant but nevertheless steady pace, he approached the inner shrine. His destination was not the heavily guarded front entrance, but a window on the white wall a few dozen meters to the east¡­¡­


    ¡®¡ª The issue with the seal can wait, I think we have to move now¡¯


    Utai¡¯s voice reached Haruyuki¡¯s ears and broke him out of his vivid vision. He opened his eyes wide in shock and then blinked several times. Utai did not seem to have noticed Haruyuki¡¯s abnormality. She continued to speak while looking at the distant inner shrine.


    ¡®Sooner or later, Lotus is going to forcibly Burst Out Kuu-san and I if we just wait like this. But even if we do go back to the real world, the next time we use the ?Unlimited Burst? command, we are still going to appear in this Imperial City inner garden. There is no big difference between that and the ?Infinite EK? state¡­¡­¡¯


    ¡®Ah¡­¡­ Yea, yeah, that¡¯s true¡­¡­.¡¯


    Haruyuki responded after he reorganised his thoughts.


    ¡®Unless Shinomi¡­¡­ no, Mei-san and I return properly via a Portal, this mission can¡¯t be considered complete. Other than exiting after reopening that gate, dodging Suzaku¡¯s attacks and heading for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters on the other side of the bridge¡­¡­ Our only other option is to find a new Portal within the Imperial City¡­¡­¡¯


    ¡®Yes, that¡¯s¡­¡­ all there is to it¡¯


    Ardor Maiden nodded. Haruyuki stared into her crimson eyes and took a big breath as he slowly spoke.


    ¡®Mai-san. Even though this is a baseless and uncertain suggestion¡­¡­ I, want to try the Imperial City inner shrine. I don¡¯t know why¡­¡­ but I feel like we can make it.¡¯


    He stared at the young maiden as she tilted her head. His Avatar, which had been sitting on the pebbles with crossed legs, had now unconsciously sat up straight. He balled his fists on his knees, straightened his back and continued on.


    ¡®Of course, I understand that if we get killed by those Warriors or some stronger Enemies, we would fall into the absolute worst ?Inside Imperial City Infinite EK? state. I also understand that we shouldn¡¯t take the risk because of some half-baked gut feeling. But, even then, I still feel like going¡­¡­ no, I feel¡­¡­ like I have to go¡­¡­¡¯


    To Haruyuki, these words were ones in which he placed considerable effort, although as always, they ended in mumbles. At that exact moment, when he dropped his shoulders, feeling it was impossible to persuade a forerunning Burst Linker 2 levels above him.


    ¡®I understand.¡¯


    Utai nodded her head, which was met by Haruyuki¡¯s ¡®Eh!?¡¯. The maiden smiled as she moved skilfully while keeping her kneeling position until their knees touched. She reached out with her right hand while in this position and placed it upon Haruyuki¡¯s tightly clenched fists.


    ¡®Kuu-san. Back then, when you were being chased by Suzaku¡¯s flames, you disobeyed Lotus¡¯ retreat order to save me when I appeared at the altar. That instant, I realised. I can believe in you¡­¡­ You are someone I can rely on. No¡­¡­ actually, I have known that since the first time we met¡­¡­ in Umesato High School¡¯s garden, when you frantically cleaning the pet house by yourself¡­¡­¡¯


    ¡®No¡­¡­that¡¯s not true. So¡­¡­ someone like me, can¡¯t, be¡­¡­¡¯


    Haruyuki¡¯s mumble came in a burst as he bowed his head deeply.


    ¡®I, always do things without considering¡­¡­ always fail¡­¡­  that time I was cleaning too, I splashed water all over you¡­¡­¡¯


    As if recalling that incident, Utai laughed slightly and gripped Haruyuki¡¯s hands tighter.


    ¡®I have said so before. Losing, falling, failing¡­¡­ true strength means to press on even after experiencing these. Even if we are killed on the way into the inner shrine, I¡¯m sure you will be able to do something about it.¡¯


    Those words were gentle while harsh at the same time. Haruyuki looked up into Utai¡¯s extremely close and gleaming eyes, and nodded heavily.


    ¡®¡­¡­ Yes. I¡¯m sure I can. We will return alive¡­¡­ back to the real world, where everyone is waiting for us.¡¯


    (Translator¡¯s comment:    Kawahara Reki¡­¡­ stop using Japanglish¡­¡­ )

 Volume 8 - CH 1

    ¡°Equip¡­?The Destiny?.¡±


    The voice command emitted from Haruyuki¡¯s mouth quietly vibrated the parched air of the ?Scorched Earth? stage.


    The distant howling wind, the warning sound emitted by the restlessly blinking HP gauge a few pixels remaining in width, and the crashing sound of the approaching opponent ?Cyan Pile? breaking through the heavy walls disappeared as if a switch had been cut off.


    In the center of the wide room surrounded by scorched concrete, Haruyuki, who was enveloped in a dense silence, suddenly felt an unbelievably strong sensory signal explode at a point inside his body.


    Intense pain.


    It was completely as if a searing hot spear had deeply penetrated the area between his shoulder blades. A white halo of light occurred within his field of vision; innumerable sparks ran inside his head. His virtual breathing stopped; even his thoughts became a countless number of fragments and dispersed.


    ¡°¡­Nn¡­gh¡­aah..!!¡±


    Haruyuki, who had contorted his entire body back like a bow and was on the verge of letting out a hoarse shout, suddenly became aware of somebody¡¯s voice resounding either very far away or closer than anywhere else.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s useless.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s already too late to separate my medium and me.


    ¡ªThe ?Destiny? that guides the ?Armor? was able to be set to be unchangeable by much anger, lament, and despair. I only seek blood. Only an ending, only massacre. Only endlessly repeating disaster.


    In his white-filled vision, like a movie folder played in continuous preview mode, a number of fragmented images flashed by one after another.


    In all of them, knight-class duel avatars whose entire bodies were covered in blackened silver-colored heavy armor were projected in the center. However, some detailed designs differed.


    One had countless teeth growing from the edges of its hood-shaped helmet.


    One had a face whose entirety extended forward as if it were some kind of tentacle.


    One had long silver hair draping from the bottom of its helmet to its feet.


    One spewed crimson flames from its head, which could only be thought of as having the shape of a dragon¡¯s head.


    And then, there was one who wore its sharply pointed visor low over its eyes and brandished an ominous, large sword.


    Haruyuki intuitively realized that they were the successive generations of the ?Chrome Disaster?. Their forms were different, but their armor colors and the auras of darkness in which they were clad as well as their insane fighting styles were commonly shared. Inside the images, as if aroused by something the knights wielded their swords, using their claws to tear away and their teeth to pierce. In the midst of the duel avatars being slaughtered as if they were not worthy of being opponents, the Chrome Disasters howled and became agitated ¨C and then, they seemed as if they were lamenting something.


    At the same time the images disappeared, that voice resounded once again.


    ¡ªDestroy. Then devour. That is your true desire.


    ¡ªDevour, steal, become infinitely strong. Until the time you remain all alone on the wastelands of the Accelerated World.


    ¡ªUntil the time of demise.


    In the center of his spine, from the precise location where in the past the fifth-generation Disaster¡¯s ?Wire Hook? had deeply penetrated, a pain resembling pale blue lightning was periodically produced, and it pierced as far as the extremities of his four limbs. But Haruyuki ground his teeth and refused to let out his voice.


    If he lost here to the impulse to destroy, everything would have been for naught.


    The sorrow of Niko, who had executed her ?parent? and closest friend ?Cherry Rook? in order to make a sacrifice due to her obligations as a King.


    The thoughts of Chiyuri, who had brought back the running amok Haruyuki and had restored the Armor once again to its seed.


    The wish of Kuroyukihime, who had extended her hand to Haruyuki, who was cowering at the bottom of the Local Net, and had given him wings by the name of hope.


    And the prayer of one girl dwelling in a corner of the Armor, who had been waiting a long, long time¡ª


    The pain augmented without limit, and before Haruyuki knew it, it had even transcended his material senses, becoming an overwhelming storm of energy and trying to tear up his consciousness.


    If he just called the name ?Disaster?, it would be easy. Although he understood that, he mustered his remaining mental strength, resisting with all his might.


    And, at that moment. From the other side of the incandescent world, far, far away, he had the feeling that another voice had faintly reached him.


    ¡­Believe.


    ¡­It¡¯s okay; if it¡¯s you, you¡¯ll definitely be able to do it¡­if it¡¯s you, whom I¡¯ve been waiting for a long, long time¡­


    That voice was unmistakably that of the bright golden yellow girl who had appeared a moment earlier like an illusion. Haruyuki replied with his meager remaining ability to think.


    ¡ªI¡¯m sorry.


    ¡ªI¡¯m not the kind of special person who you¡¯ve been waiting for. I have a mountain of worries and hesitations; I¡¯m always making mistakes; I¡¯m unable to trust others and always run away from them; despite that, if I were by myself I wouldn¡¯t be able to walk straight; I¡¯m a miserable guy.


    ¡ªBut, in the current me, there¡¯s only one thing I can be proud of.


    ¡ªI was able to become able to love others again. Not only that, but quite a number of people and anyone too. I still don¡¯t like myself, and I still don¡¯t trust myself, but I¡¯m probably able to try hard for everyone¡¯s sake. Though it¡¯s not much, in order to protect the warm place where I belong, I¡¯ll do anything I can, I¡¯m sure.


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s thought, which resembled a light on the verge of burning out, somebody¡¯s voice responded gently.


    ¡­That alone is enough.


    ¡­Because, that alone is the proof of strength.


    Snap; a faint, yet certain something that resembled a cracking sound was produced inside of Haruyuki.


    It was not the reverberation of something collapsing. It was a sound of a hard, hard seed bursting from the inside. A sound of birth.


    A clear silver color like that of cold, thawing snow overflowed, gushed out, and washed away the pain of the searing heat. Haruyuki opened his eyes wide.


    At the fingertips of his one remaining right arm, smooth, shining supplemental armor was being generated. An ?Armor? sporting a far purer, truer silver color than Silver Crow¡¯s armor color.


    The design was reassuring, but there was no ill omen in it. From the back of his hand to his wrist, his upper arm, his elbow, the armor was equipped while resounding with metallic sounds one after another. Each time some reliable weight was added, Haruyuki was filled with an energy double the size of the weight, and his body conversely became lighter.


    Haruyuki intuitively understood that this silver Enhanced Armament was the original form of ?The Disaster?.


    The inscription ?The Destiny?. Zeta, the sixth star of the ?Seven Arcs?. Surely it was this armor, the Divine Weapon enshrined in the deepest reaches of the Imperial Palace side by side with the fifth star Epsilon, the straight sword ?The Infinity?.


    Once, ?someone? in the distant, distant past who succeeded in penetrating the Imperial Palace had procured this Destiny. However, after that, ?something?¡ªthe ?many sad things? mentioned by the bright golden yellow colored girl had occurred; the shape of the Armor had been distorted and had become the ?Disaster?. The term ?verified four Divine Weapons? mentioned by Kurasaki Fuuko and Shinomiya Utai referred to the Blue King¡¯s large sword ?The Impulse?, the Green King¡¯s large shield ?The Strife?, the Purple King¡¯s bishop¡¯s staff ?The Tempest?, and one more, ?The Disaster? possessed by Haruyuki himself.


    If one tried to comprehend the unbelievable abilities concealed in ?The Disaster Armor?, one could understand. Being one of the ?Seven Arcs?, while the seventh star Eta still remained untouched, if one considered the fact that Epsilon was also essentially in a sealed state, without exaggeration the Disaster Armor was the strongest Enhanced Armament in the Accelerated World.


    Haruyuki was currently trying to summon its original form, the one before its alteration, by calling the Armor¡¯s original name.


    If he succeeded in doing so, even if he equipped it, it would not interfere with his mind. At the same time, the ?Future Prediction Function? used to slaughter easily the formidable enemy ?Rust Jigsaw? would not exist, but that ability was not necessary for this fight.


    He did not want to triumph over Cyan Pile, who had equipped the ?ISS Kit?.


    He merely wanted to convey something to Takumu, who had continued to blame himself and had finally been ensnared by the abyss of deep despair. How much Arita Haruyuki believed in the person Mayuzumi Takumu, how much he relied on him, and how much he needed him.


    In order to deliver the last blow with his fist in which he had put in that emotion. With his remaining scant HP gauge, he wanted to borrow the power to break through that aura of darkness.


    As if answering to Haruyuki¡¯s wish, the pure silver-colored armor continued its formation. A large-class piece of elbow plate armor was generated, and light extended toward his chest.


    ¡ªHowever.


    When the armor tried to reach his shoulder, suddenly an intense feeling of resistance was produced. In the interior of his ears, a ferocious howl faintly roared.


    Haruyuki realized that that was the will dwelling inside the armor; namely, the voice of the beast by the name of the ?Disaster Armor?. The beast had not disappeared. It had become enraged by the summoning of only ?The Destiny?, which was the Enhanced Armament that had become the medium.


    Letting out a creaking sound, the silver armor stopped its development at the point where it had covered Haruyuki¡¯s right shoulder halfway.


    In the left side of his field of vision, a line of system font blinked irregularly. He was able to read as far as YOU EQUIPPED AN ENHANCED ARMAMENT THE¡­, but all that followed were the letters D, S, and T floating indistinctly.


    All the voices and pain went far away and eventually disappeared.


    A moment of silence filled the black, sooty space characteristic of the ?Scorched Earth? stage corresponding to a portion of the first floor of the B building of his apartment house in the real world. In the center of the dark room, Haruyuki raised his right arm equipped with the new armor and clenched his fist tightly.


    Immediately after, while breaking into pieces the wall opposite him crumbled, and a large silhouette appeared from within.


    The aura of darkness in which Cyan Pile¡ªTakumu was clad augmented in density. The original light blue armor color was covered and hidden; only the crimson glint of the eye of the ?ISS Kit? residing in the Enhanced Armament ?Pile Driver? of his right arm glittered vividly.


    His thin-slit eye lenses also had changed from their previous light blue color to a dull purple. With those eyes, Takumu stared hard at Haruyuki. Finally, a quiet voice.


    ¡°Is that the original form of the ?Disaster Armor??¡±


    Even when spurred on by the urges of destruction and ruin, it seemed he had not lost his discernment. Haruyuki looked down at his right arm covered in the new armor and nodded.


    ¡°Uh huh. Though I could only summon one arm¡¯s worth¡­¡±


    ¡°That alone¡¯s still an extraordinary feat. You¡¯re probably the first to struggle against the power of the ?Armor?, which has swallowed so many Burst Linkers up until now.¡±


    Although Takumu¡¯s voice was placid, his intonation was weak, and his echo reverberated somewhat hollowly.


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re strong, Haru. Even while you knew you could gain several times or tens of times more power if you gave in to the allurement of the Armor, you were able to fight it. If the Armor had parasitically infested me instead, I would have been immediately completely controlled and would have bared my fangs at you, Chii-chan, and Master¡­¡±


    ¡°No way, Taku. You would have been able to summon not just one arm, but the entire body of ?The Destiny?. I believe that.¡±


    While staring at Cyan Pile¡¯s face mask, Haruyuki immediately asserted that. However, as if trying to escape from that gaze and those words, Takumu hanged his head down deeply and whispered in a slightly trembling voice.


    ¡°¡­You still don¡¯t understand, Haru. That I¡¯m¡­not a human that deserves to been talked about in that way. I only smooth things over on the surface¡­in the seed, inside my heart, I¡¯m always envying and hating someone else. I don¡¯t wish for other¡¯s happiness; I wish for their misfortune. If my rivals¡¯ grades dropped, I¡¯d laugh from the shadows; if the guys who I¡¯m competing with for a regular spot on the team got injured, I¡¯d think it serves them right. When my dear two childhood friends who had always been together since they were small became distant from one another¡­while pretending to be worried, I secretly felt relieved. That is me. The true figure of the human Mayuzumi Takumu!¡±


    Together with that blood-spitting shout, from his eye slits devoid of light, a number of white drops spilled out and fell.


    At the same time, from his entire body an even greater black aura burst forth and reached almost to the ceiling.


    Thump. Beneath his right foot that had taken one step forward, the burnt, hardened ground of the ?Scorched Earth? stage cracked into pieces. A pressure so strong that it would blow Haruyuki away if he lost his focus pressed in on him, but Haruyuki resisted it and opened his mouth another time.


    ¡°Taku, about that; I¡¯m just the same as you.¡±


    Earnestly suppressing his voice that was nearly about to tremble, he talked quietly, quietly.


    ¡°If we compared the number of people we¡¯ve cursed inside our hearts, I¡¯m sure mine is ten times more than yours. Do you think I¡¯ve never been jealous of you or envied you up until now? Why I¡¯m somehow able to resist the allure of the ?Armor? now is simply because I¡¯m as black as the Armor on the inside.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Temporarily silent, Takumu, who had just slightly reduced the violently blowing jet black storm, swayed his shoulders slightly.


    ¡°¡­Fu, fufu. Your way of saying things hasn¡¯t changed at all since you were small. That¡¯s right¡­you were doing that from the past, properly controlling the black part inside your heart. Different from me, who tried to shut it away and gloss over it¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not different! I¡¯m the same as you! Wavering, worrying, bumping into the next wall when I thought I had progressed a step¡­in spite of that, the reason I¡¯ve been able to come to where I am now is because you were at my side! Surely you can resist that black power too! Break through it, and advance forward again! Isn¡¯t that right, Taku!!¡±


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s earnest call¡ª


    He had the feeling that Takumu faintly smiled behind the mask.


    ¡°¡­Thank you. Thank you, Haru. If you put it like that¡­maybe it wasn¡¯t worthless for me to have become a Burst Linker and to have fought until now. However¡­for that reason, until the end, for your sake¡­for the legion¡¯s sake, I wanted to use my own power. This¡­?ISS Kit¡¯s? ability to dominate is overwhelming¡­I don¡¯t know anymore how much of this impulse to destroy that¡¯s about to overflow any moment is mine and how much is the lure of the Kit¡­¡±


    His murmuring voice was quiet. But that quietness was full of some sort of immense foreboding inside.


    Brandishing the throbbing blood-colored eyeball stuck to the ?Pile Driver? of his right arm, Takumu continued in a strained voice.


    ¡°¡­This parasite was probably created by a skilled someone of the ?King? class from a composite of his abilities and special techniques as well as the Incarnate system. The more you fight¡­the more you devour enemies, the stronger the power produced. And then one day it splits and makes a ?Child?¡­no, a ?Clone?.¡±


    ¡°¡­A clone¡­¡±


    Haruyuki shuddered at the nature of the Kit, which seemed to intentionally contaminate the ?Parent? system that was at the root of Brain Burst. Takumu let down his arms, and while seeming even more as if he were withstanding something, he opened his mouth again.


    ¡°What¡¯s terrifying is¡­the Kit¡¯s fellow ?clones? are linked through the medium of negative imagination. When Burst Linkers who possess clones belonging to the same cluster breed black feelings like hatred, malice, and anger inside the Kit, the Parent and Child Kits also display even stronger power. In short, the more the clones are disseminated, the stronger one becomes¡­¡±


    ¡°If¡­if that¡¯s true¡­are you saying that Burst Linkers who obtain the Kit will compete to spread their clones..?


    In response to the question that Haruyuki asked with a hoarse voice, Takumu nodded deeply.


    ¡°Uh¡­even now¡­I feel the black feelings flowing from the Burst Linker who gave me this Kit in the Setagaya area, ?Magenta Scissor?, and ?Bush Utan?, ?Olive Grab?, and others who possess her first-order clones like myself. And simultaneously, the darkness I¡¯ve fostered strengthens them¡­¡±


    ¡ªBasically.


    The network of ?ISS Kit? clones was a malicious imitation of the legitimate ?Parent? as well as ?Legion? systems. As a rule, if parents and children and legions were bound by the positive ties of love and camaraderie, then the ?ISS Clones? were linked by the negative chains of the search for only for power and victory.


    Takumu¡¯s voice, which resembled the creaking of cracked glass on the verge of cracking, reached the speechless Haruyuki.


    ¡°Now¡­if we don¡¯t do something soon, then like a terrifying contagious disease, the ?Kit? will completely cover the Accelerated World in the blink of an eye. We don¡¯t have the leeway to wait for the Seven Kings¡¯ meeting four days later and their decision. I will get the name of the ringleader from ?Magenta Scissor?, who is probably exceedingly close to the source of the spread of the Kit. Even if I cross swords with him, I intend to procure information about the Kit. His motivation and objective may be unclear, but the guy who would go so far as to scheme this must have prepared a method to control the situation¡­¡±


    Thump. Takumu took another step forward, looked down at Haruyuki from a mere two meters away, and whispered.


    ¡°Afterwards, I¡¯m leaving it to you, Haru. Even if I lose all my points in the fight with the ringleader, before I lose my memory, I will transmit to you what I¡¯ve learned by any means. Because you¡¯ll save this world. You can do it¡­and only you. That is what I believe.¡±


    ¡°¡­Taku.¡±


    Haruyuki somehow called the name of his friend in a barely audible voice.


    He was not able to express any more words than that.


    ¡ªResolution.


    Right now, the reason why Takumu was barely able to keep resisting the ISS Kit¡¯s frightening ability to dominate was earnestly due to his resolution as solid as a rock. He had already made up his mind. His own place of death. His final battle.


    ¡ªHowever.


    The source of that resolution was self-despair. The fact that he had lost to the temptation of the ISS Kit. The fact that he had slaughtered the PK group ?Supernova Remnant? due to his anger. The fact that he had set up the ?Back Door Program? in Chiyuri and had attacked Kuroyukihime. And finally¡ªthe fact that in the faraway past, he had destroyed their circle of three childhood friends.


    Takumu had made up his mind that those were sins unforgivable by any means. He had changed that despair into resolution and was trying to face his final battle.


    ¡°¡­I can¡¯t let you go.¡±


    In a quivering voice resembling that of a child restraining his sobbing, Haruyuki spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible for me to say ?I understand, leave it to me afterwards?. I can¡¯t sacrifice just you and continue to be a Burst Linker afterward.¡±


    ¡°¡­Fufu¡­Forever stubborn, aren¡¯t you¡­¡±


    Smiling as if he were genuinely happy, Takumu spoke.


    ¡°I forced you into a direct connection duel, wanting to hear you say that¡­but it¡¯s enough. Thank you, Haru. With your feelings as my energy, it seems I¡¯ll be able to be myself for a little longer. ¡ªNow, it¡¯s about time we ended this.¡±


    He lifted his burly left hand and clenched his fingers in order starting from his pinky. The condensed aura of darkness slighted vibrated the entire stage.


    As if to answer him, Haruyuki confronted him and tightly clenched his right fist clad in the silver Enhanced Armament. He raised his face and slowly nodded.


    ¡°¡­Yeah. We¡¯ve both already said to each other everything that could be said in words.¡±


    That¡¯s right.


    In short, nothing would happen or end unless they exchanged blows with their fists. That was the reason that they had dived into this duel stage, and that was also the sole reason for which Brain Burst existed.


    From his entire duel avatar, which had lost its left arm and left wing, Haruyuki gathered all his strength of will and focused it in his right fist. His silver Over-Ray split the raging waves of darkness and pushed them back.


    The sixth star Zeta ?The Destiny? of the Seven Arcs had somehow succeeded in summoning only one arm, but in terms of absolute ability it did not reach ?The Disaster?. It possessed neither the vast battle data accumulated over years nor the Mind Power of wrath and hatred carved by successive generations of users.


    However, the Destiny had one thing within it that the Disaster did not.


    That was ?hope?. A ray of hope glittering like the stars, protected over a long, long number of years by a bright golden yellow female-class avatar residing in a nook of the Armor. It was unknown who she was, why her consciousness was carried in the Armor, and what she wished for, but that faint warmth rallied Haruyuki. Unlike the way the Disaster urged one on to conflict, it supported his back and encouraged him.


    ¡­Now that I think about it, I was always being supported by someone else.


    The time of the very first ?duel in the hospital?, the following battle with the fifth generation Chrome Disaster, the decisive battle with Dusk Taker, the occasion of the Hermes Code Race, even at the door protected by Suzaku, one of the Four Sacred Beasts¡­Kuroyukihime-senpai, Chiyu, Master Raker, Ash-san, Niko, Pard-san, Mei-san, and of course Taku always protected and encouraged me. There probably hasn¡¯t even been once where I won a fight with only my own strength.


    But that¡¯s fine.


    Because those ties¡­those bonds are the true strength of a Burst Linker.


    I want to convey that to you as well, Taku. I want you to understand that there are many people who think about you and need you.


    ¡ªIn order to do that, please lend me your power.


    He did not hear a voice respond to the appeal he had made inside his heart. However, a definite heat was produced in the center of his fist, became a much more dazzling white light, and gushed forth.


    Takumu slowly pulled his left fist back.


    Haruyuki also drew back his right fist and sharply extended his five fingers.


    The simultaneous pronunciation of the techniques¡¯ names reverberated quietly and far, almost as if Haruyuki and Takumu were sympathizing with each other.


    ¡°?Dark Blow?.¡±


    ¡°?Laser Sword?.¡±


    The instant when the jet black and silver paths blended¡ªfollowing the already collapsed A building, the B building where the two confronted each other became innumerable heaps of objects and scattered radially.


    When he had been hit by the same Incarnate technique¡ª?Dark Blow? some number of minutes ago, Haruyuki was unable to stand its immense impact for even a second and had been sent flying several dozen meters straight backward. Rather, the fact that he had not been torn into pieces was wondrous.


    However, this time, although he was pushed back at first he held his ground and repelled Takumu¡¯s fists just the slightest bit. At a central point in the few dozen centimeters¡¯ distance separating the hands of the struggling two, two colors of auras scattered sparks and clashed violently.


    The supreme protection of the Divine Weapon ?The Destiny? was frightening. In terms of only defensive functions, it might have been stronger than the ?Disaster?, which had transferred most of its potential to offensive aspects. However, it was useless continuing only to struggle at this rate. He must break the raging storm of darkness with his light and convey his message to Takumu. That he did not have a single unpardonable sin. That all the members of the legion needed him. And finally¡ªthat no matter at what bottom of a pit of darkness he was, if he looked up at the sky, the light of the stars would always be there illuminating the way.


    ¡ªReach.


    ¡ªReach!!


    To Haruyuki¡¯s earnest prayer, namely his Mind Power.


    Ring, a reverberation like the ringing of a bell responded.


    A pure Over-Ray spread across the entirety of the supplemental silver armor covering his right arm. Simultaneously, from the tip of his right hand, which had all five fingers extended out, a sword of light began to stretch little by little, little by little.


    Haruyuki¡¯s ?Laser Sword? was an Incarnate technique classified as ?Range Expansion?. The source of his power was the wish to extend his hand to a place that wasn¡¯t here¡ª


    For a long time, Haruyuki had believed that that was basically the act of running away. He wanted to run away from himself, unsightly and always cowering. He wanted to run away from the guys who bullied him. He wanted to run away from the annoyed gaze cast by his mother. He wanted to run away from the memory of his father who said he didn¡¯t need him. Running away, running away, reaching his hand out to place where he was not¡­


    However, there was no such thing as ?a place where he was not?.


    No matter where he went, he would be there himself. The hand he extended would always be linked to himself.


    Reaching out his hand was basically an active movement joining himself and his target.


    ¡ªTherefore, this silver colored light is surely joining together Takumu and me. It will convey my heart to him. It will overwrite the defensive and offensive calculations carried out digitally by the Brain Burst system and create a small miracle.


    ¡ªReach, him..!


    Accompanied by a strong echo, Haruyuki¡¯s shout inside his heart resounded throughout the field.


    The pure, shining silver light melted the high-density darkness, penetrated through it, and progressed little by little, little by little.


    It was no longer a sword. Extending from Silver Crow¡¯s right arm was Haruyuki¡¯s own flesh-and-blood arm.


    ¡ªTaku!!


    ¡ªI, need, you..!!


    At the tip of his hand extended with all his mind and soul, from the far side of the gloomy darkness, he could suddenly see something.


    It was a white left hand, armor-less like his own. It was Takumu¡¯s hand, filled with hard calluses from daily kendo practice swings.


    His tightly squeezed fingers trembled with a twitch. They timidly began to uncurl, closed again, and relaxed once again. While wavering, they reached forth, trying to approach Haruyuki¡¯s hand¡­


    At that moment.


    In the space between the two of them, a dark blood-colored light sharply exploded like an infinite number of needles.


    ¡°..!?¡±


    Pulled back from the hallucination guided by his imagination circuits to the duel field, Haruyuki saw an unbelievable sight.


    On Cyan Pile¡¯s right arm, which was guarding his chest, the eyeball-shaped ?ISS Kit? infesting the surface of his ?Pile Driver? opened its ?eye? wide as if it were about to spill out and deeply scattered a light resembling fresh blood.


    From the vicinity of the eyeball, black tissues extending like blood vessels gathered in a place about ten centimeters away and created a round protuberance.


    The protuberance rapidly grew to the same size as that of the adjacent eyeball. The black tissue surface split sideways with a snap. What was slowly opening vertically was nothing other than an eyelid. What appeared from within was another eyeball¡ª


    From the surface of Takumu¡¯s horizontally aligned right arm, the two eyes of the ?ISS Kit? aligned left and right stared at Haruyuki from point-blank range. From their interiors, Haruyuki could surely feel the will of somebody. A bottomless sense of hunger. The impetus to destroy. The thirst for multiplication. And then¡ªhatred.


    ¡°Wh¡­why..!¡±


    It was Takumu, whose Mind Power had been fighting with Haruyuki¡¯s through his left fist, who had shouted. This was probably an unexpected phenomenon to he himself as well.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t given the command yet..! Despite that, why have the ?Clones?..!?¡±


    At almost the same time Haruyuki realized the meaning of those words¡ªfrom the surroundings of the second eyeball, over ten black, thin tentacles extended forth and pierced Silver Crow¡¯s breast.


    Cold.


    No, hot.


    The abnormal sensory signal ran through his entire body¡¯s nervous system. It was wholly as if ice water had been poured into all his blood vessels using sharp needles. The cluster of capillary tubes resembling microwires slipped deeply, deeply into his body. Surrounding his heart, coiling around his lungs, climbing his spine, reaching inside his head¡ª


    Haruyuki became unable to move. He couldn¡¯t let out his voice either.


    Although his avatar¡¯s chest had been penetrated deeply by over ten tentacles, his HP gauge only a few percent remaining had not decreased even one dot. But that in itself expressed the abnormality of the phenomenon. The silver Over-Ray overflowing from his right arm swayed irregularly and flickered. His extended ?Laser Sword? also melted and collapsed like light snow.


    Under ordinary circumstances, at this instant the two¡¯s Mind Power equilibrium would have collapsed, and Cyan Pile¡¯s ?Dark Blow? would have blown Silver Crow away without a trace.


    However, that had not happened. As for why, at the same time Haruyuki¡¯s Mind Power had swayed, Takumu had also retracted his left hand and had shouted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you¡­dare touch Haru..!!¡±


    While still enveloped in an aura of darkness, his left hand grabbed hold of the bundle of black wires that had been fired forth from his own right arm and had pierced Haruyuki¡¯s chest. Twisting his entire body, he pulled with all his might. However, like some sort of living creature the wires shuddered, fighting and refusing to be pulled out.


    The eyes of Haruyuki, whose body was numb and unable to move, and Takumu, who was continuing to pull the black tentacles violently with his left hand, met.


    He had a feeling¡ªthat Takumu had smiled. In that smile, there was none of the emptiness tinged with deep resignation that he had shown several times during this duel. It was the trustworthy, warm smile that was always there if he looked sideways that Haruyuki had seen in their day-to-day fighting alongside each other.


    Cyan Pile¡¯s right arm moved; he pushed the muzzle of his Enhanced Armament Pile Driver against his own throat.


    ¡°¡­T, Taku..!¡±


    From the bottom of his throat, Haruyuki imploringly squeezed out that single word¡ª


    At exactly the same time, Takumu resolutely called the technique name.


    ¡°?Lightning Cyan Spike?!!¡±


    From the gap between the adhering muzzle and his thick armor, a pale blue light vehemently burst forth. Immediately after, from the nape of Cyan Pile¡¯s neck, a streak of lightning pointed at the sky of the Scorched Earth stage rose high, high up.


    Takumu, who had used his own special technique to bore through his avatar¡¯s vital spot, unsteadily leaned backward; right before he was about to fall, he held his ground. His entire HP gauge, which was still remaining close to forty percent, flushed a bright red and drained precipitously from the right¡ªand reached zero.


    The movement of the black wires, which were slipping deeply inside Haruyuki¡¯s body and about to reach the center of his head at any moment, stopped. Feebly dangling down, they were slowly dragged out of his chest and disappeared as if dissolving into the air.


    The ?second eye? born from Cyan Pile¡¯s right arm also closed its eyelid as if vexed and disappeared as if being absorbed into the first eyeball.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m glad it¡¯s over¡­¡±


    He said that one phrase¡ª


    The bulky blue body of Cyan Pile, who had completely lost his black aura, became splinters of glass and dispersed in all directions.


    In the center of the Scorched Earth stage, which had turned into the shape of a violently burnt, enormous crater, Haruyuki remained alone. From his right arm, the silver Enhanced Armament was removed as if unraveling.


    As if to escape from the flaming words ?YOU WIN!? displayed in the center of his field of vision, he looked up at the sky of the stage deepening into twilight.


    An ineffable whirlpool of emotions filled his bosom, overflowed from his eyes, and blurred the sky¡¯s purplish red color. The duel ended, and until the moment when he withdrew from the Accelerated World, Haruyuki¡¯s avatar¡¯s shoulders only quietly trembled.


    When he returned to the real world, the moment he opened his eyelids Haruyuki felt a drop of water splatter on his right cheek.


    It was the teardrop Takumu had spilled the instant before the direct connection duel had begun.


    Takumu, who had burst out at nearly the same time, was still pinning down with his left hand the right shoulder of Haruyuki, who was lying prone on the bed, and was still grabbing the direct connection cable with his right. Takumu opened his eyes wide. On the other side of his glasses, a new drop of water was born and fell drip, drip onto his lenses. Directly above Haruyuki, his lips slightly quivered, and he let out a hoarse voice.


    ¡°¡­I¡­¡±


    However, unable to say any more than that, Takumu slowly fell prostrate and tumbled with a thump to the left side of Haruyuki.


    The two of them were silent for a while, continue to lie diagonally next to each other on the wide single-sized bed.


    At the tip of his vision¡ªon Takumu¡¯s ceiling, there was a thin polyfilm printed A2-sized poster affixed.


    The subject of the poster was an adult kendo practitioner. Due to the fact that there was not a single word on the poster, it was probably a picture Takumu had found and printed himself. Since the composition was of him in the midst of releasing an overhead face strike from a diagonally opposite angle, the tip of his shinai[1] was blurred. Although it was merely a 2D picture, it had an impact so strong that Haruyuki¡¯s body felt hot just by looking at it.


    Through the direct connection cable still linking their two Neuro Linkers, Haruyuki asked a single thought.


    Is that kendo practitioner your teacher, your senior?


    After a slight pause, a quiet answer was returned.


    ¡°No. That person was last active fifty years ago.¡±


    ¡°Which means¡­the person whom you set as your target?¡±


    ¡°¡­Rather than that¡­the person whom I respected, probably. It¡¯s too presumptuous for me to use the word ¡°target.¡± At any rate, he won the national kendo championship six times in the nineties. That record hasn¡¯t been broken in the fifty years that have passed from then to now.¡±


    ¡°By the way¡­what¡¯s the second place record?¡±


    ¡°Three times. Even that was quite an amazing feat, though.¡±


    If that were true, then basically the kendo practitioner in the photo was the best swordsman of the real world Japan¡ªno, of the entire world. The moment he thought that, Haruyuki murmured.


    ¡°I wonder what kind of a feeling it was to be that strong¡­he probably doesn¡¯t hesitate or worry at all¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­After he had retired and became a mentor, he said this in an interview. ?I still haven¡¯t been able to grasp anything. I¡¯m in the state of wandering at the entrance of a pitch-black tunnel.?¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh¡­I see¡­¡±


    Inadvertently letting out a sigh, Haruyuki expressed his train of thought.


    ¡°¡­But you know, if it were pitch-black, then you wouldn¡¯t be able to know whether there were an entrance there. Maybe the exit¡¯s right there.¡±


    He cut short his thoughts for a moment, then continued.


    ¡°Comparing myself to that person is at a level far beyond presumptuous but¡­I¡­I also have thought time and time again up until now that I was in the middle of a tunnel with no exit¡­but there was an exit. Without fail, it was there¡­the next tunnel will come soon, but¡­in spite of that¡­¡±


    While earnestly searching for the right words, Haruyuki turned his face left and saw the side of Takumu¡¯s face eighty centimeters ahead. On the other side of the temples of his glasses traversing his white cheeks, his pupils, still moist with tears, stared wholeheartedly at the ceiling poster.


    Resolving himself, Haruyuki spoke a single, crucial phrase in his natural voice.


    ¡°¡ªTaku. At first, for my sake you stopped the Incarnate attack¡­?Dark Blow?, didn¡¯t you. In order to save me, you resisted against the ?ISS Kit? and shot yourself, didn¡¯t you. I believe that that action was the true you. Even if you once obtained the ?Kit? and wielded its power of darkness¡­I believe that you will sever yourself from its seduction and be able to break out of the tunnel.¡±


    He had been unable to say those worlds until now because he was afraid that when their conversation was over, Takumu would stood up, bid him farewell, and leave the room¡ªin order to fight ?Magenta Scissor? as well as the ?Acceleration Research Society?.


    Though Haruyuki was holding his tongue, for a while Takumu said nothing while looking up at the ceiling.


    After a good ten seconds had passed, he said something unexpected, also using his natural voice.


    ¡°Haru¡­Yesterday, at the vocal solo presentation during music class, you sung ¡°Please Give Me Wings,¡± right?¡±


    ¡°¡­Uh, uh huh.¡±


    While being bewildered, he nodded. Takumu sent him a fleeting glance, then continued while faintly smiling.


    ¡°Even though there were several other set pieces to choose from, why that one? Didn¡¯t you hate that song in the past?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­that¡¯s true¡­¡±


    The anxiety in his chest slightly went away, and Haruyuki also somewhat smiled wryly.


    ¡°¡­Well, I didn¡¯t have a clear reason why I didn¡¯t like it though¡­how should I put it; in the past, I thought that song had ?something that will not come true? as its premise.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    While regarding Takumu out the corner of his eye, who was keeping silent to press him to go on, Haruyuki moved his mouth.


    ¡°I might have been prejudiced though¡­before the very first instance of the lyrics ¡°If you will grant my wish now, I want wings,¡± I always had the feeling that¡­the line ¡°Though I know it won¡¯t be granted¡± was before it. That was too much like my own real feelings¡­I was never able to bring myself to like that song.¡±


    He returned his gaze to the ceiling and raised his right hand. With his fingertips, he caressed the sky that was there beyond the wallpaper and concrete.


    ¡°However¡­when I listened again to the reference sound source in the homework file received last week, I thought that¡­maybe it wasn¡¯t like that. Um¡­ummm¡­¡±


    Explaining his state of mind with words was Haruyuki¡¯s worst point. While moving his upward-facing right hand like a bird, Haruyuki moved his mouth earnestly.


    ¡°¡­In that song, maybe wishes coming true and not coming true aren¡¯t that important. Wanting to go to the ¡°free sky without sorrow¡± someday¡­while thinking that, always walking forward one step at a time: I think maybe it¡¯s that kind of a song¡­basically¡­uh¡­what¡¯s important is that¡­¡±


    His language processing ability finally reached its limit at that point. In place of Haruyuki, who had become only able to flap his mouth open and shut, Takumu murmured softly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the ?result? but the ?means?¡­it¡¯s in the continual process where something precious exists¡­¡±


    ¡°Y, yeah. My point exactly.¡±


    Tightly clenching his still raised right hand, Haruyuki braced himself and spoke.


    ¡°Kuroyukihime-senpai said something to me a long time ago. That ?strength? is not a word that only indicates having victory as the end result. In addition to that, Shinomiya-san also said something. That true strength is advancing forward even when losing, falling over, and failing¡­When I think that maybe that¡¯s what that song is really trying to say¡­I¡¯ve always disliked that song until now, but maybe I feel that it was just a little bit inexcusable of me¡­well, simply put, it might just be that if I become able to fly in the Accelerated World, I will also have been able to forgive that song¡­¡±


    While lowering his arm with a light flap and putting it behind his head, Haruyuki added another phrase with a bitter laugh.


    ¡°One way or another, my singing was terrible though. I¡¯m really glad that sound recordings at school without prior approval are restricted.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t terrible, Haru.¡±


    Haruyuki turned his eyes to the speaker of those words; he saw Takumu smiling while looking at the ceiling. Takumu softly closed his eyelids and murmured as if to remember yesterday¡¯s class.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t notice, but Chii-chan was secretly crying. While listening to you sing ¡°Please Give Me Wings¡± with all your might.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­¡±


    Haruyuki was suddenly at a loss for words, but Takumu quietly continued to speak without wiping away his smile.


    ¡°If I were the me of just a little while ago, the moment I saw Chii-chan like that I would have definitely inevitably become jealous and self-loathing¡­But¡­but you know, I was also happy then. I was happy in seeing you boldly sing that song and in seeing Chii-chan hear it and be moved to tears. At that moment¡­only at that moment, as if we had returned once more to the past¡­to our circle of three people¡­¡±


    His voiced abruptly quivered at the end of the sentence; below his tightly closed eyelids, transparent drops flowed smoothly once again.


    Touched with emotion, Haruyuki momentarily withstood his feelings. But he immediately turned his entire body left and spoke while propping up his upper body with his elbow.


    ¡°It¡¯s not ?like the past?. It¡¯s ?now?. That¡¯s how we are at the moment. Taku, Chiyu and I, we need you now!¡±


    For an instant, as if trying to flee from those words, Takumu averted his face to the left.


    However, Haruyuki had the conviction that his words would reach his old friend¡¯s heart. Having clashed all-out in the Accelerated World, through fist and fist¡ª


    Several seconds later.


    Takumu, who had turned his body facing right again, looked at Haruyuki with his moistened eyes and whispered in a trembling voice.


    ¡°¡­Haru. I wonder if I¡¯m also able to become like you. While fighting with the black emotions inside my heart¡­I wonder if I¡¯ll be able to aim for the ?sky? and be able to continue to walk forward¡­¡±


    ¡°O¡­obviously, Taku! You¡¯re continuing to change too. From our duel a while ago, the ?Lightning Cyan Spike? with which you shot yourself in the end is the proof of that.¡±


    Haruyuki sidled up to Takumu, facing him, and grabbed his left shoulder with his right hand. He stared hard beyond the blue glasses wet with tears¡ª


    ¡°Taku, Give me just a bit more time. Tomorrow, Wednesday¡­with the escape strategy starting at 7:00 P.M., I will definitely return alive from the Imperial Palace with Shinomiya-san. She¡¯ll definitely be able to purify you of your ?ISS Kit?. One more day¡­for just one more day, resist the temptation of the Kit, Taku.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Takumu did not respond immediately to Haruyuki¡¯s earnest persuasion.


    He covered his eyes; at last, he squeezed out a tense voice.


    ¡°¡­Yesterday night, I received the Kit from ?Magenta Scissor? in the Setagaya area. At that point, the Kit was still in the ?Sealed Card? state. In spite of that¡­when I came home, finished my meal and my bath, and slept in this bed¡­that spoke to me. Not with words¡­with feelings. It poured anger, hatred, jealousy, and every other negative feeling into me. Furthermore, by that time, I had removed my Neuro Linker. Throughout the night, I saw a long, long dream¡­when I woke up, my chest was filled to the brim with a black something¡­¡±


    Haruyuki felt Takumu¡¯s body suddenly shake through his palm. His close friend, who had hung his head even more, whispered forlornly wholly as if he had returned to his elementary school days.


    ¡°¡­Haru. I¡¯m scared¡­it¡¯s not just in my memory area anymore, it¡¯s inside of me¡­tonight, what it¡¯s going to show me in its unsealed form¡­will I be able to be myself as I am now until tomorrow...I¡¯m unbearably scared of that¡­in our duel at first, I already no longer hesitated to wound you cruelly¡­¡±


    ¡ªAlthough he was not equipping a Neuro Linker, he was being interfered with in the real world.


    In principle, it was impossible. However, in truth it was a phenomenon Haruyuki had also experienced firsthand. Haruyuki himself had heard the voice of the ?Disaster Armor? without accelerating or equipping his Neuro Linker.


    However, if he thought about it, the ?Thought Acceleration? implemented by the Brain Burst Program as if it were nothing was an absurd super-phenomenon. Not only that, two months ago Haruyuki had witnessed an actual example of a Burst Linker who had lost Brain Burst and had had his memories manipulated and deleted.


    In short, that programmed possessed the ability to interfere with humans¡¯ consciousnesses¡ªwith their very souls. If that were so, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if something happened. Accept it, fight. Those were all he could do.


    Haruyuki seized with even greater strength the left shoulder of Takumu, whose body was trembling bit by bit, and spoke.


    ¡°Then, Taku, today you¡¯re going to stay at my place.¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    That must have been completely unexpected to him; to Takumu, who had made an expression of mute amazement, Haruyuki began to jabber at high speed.


    ¡°Like in the past, if we sleep together in a huddle while playing games, you won¡¯t have the time to see any scary dreams. But if it¡¯s just two people, we can¡¯t really call it sleeping in a huddle. If that¡¯s so, let¡¯s call Chiyu too. If we say we¡¯re doing our homework together, my mom will also allow it. Wait, in reality we had homework for math and Japanese, didn¡¯t we. Then you¡¯ll take care of math, Chiyu¡¯ll do Japanese, and I¡¯ll serve the tea. Did you know? If we open the homework file in the Initial Acceleration Space/Blue World, that stingy file protection will become invalid, and we¡¯ll be able to copy our answers!¡±


    To the vehemently arguing Haruyuki, Takumu rounded his eyes but¡ª


    When he looked again at Takumu¡¯s mouth, Haruyuki could make out a bitter smile that seemed to say ¡°it can¡¯t be helped.¡±


    ¡°¡­In the past, we often followed your lead like that and did quite a number of things that got adults angry at us.¡±


    ¡°Did I do that? I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    With his released right hand, which had been gripping Takumu¡¯s shoulder for the longest time, he scratched his head forcedly. Takumu, who was again wearing an ironic smile that gradually turned into a genuine one, removed his glasses and wiped his eyes with a jerk before speaking.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be helped¡­you shouldn¡¯t let exhaustion from homework affect the Imperial Palace escape strategy tomorrow. I¡¯ll come help you out. However, as your Burst Linker senior, I can¡¯t allow you to use a point just for the purpose of copying answers. Since I¡¯ll be teaching you how to approach the problem, you should do the calculation by yourself.¡±


    ¡°What¡ª¡­¡±


    While appearing displeased, Haruyuki blinked several times and shook off the feeling that was sinking in.


    The ?ISS Kit? inside Takumu had not yet disappeared. Even now, it was on the alert, surely looking for another opportunity. Similar to how Haruyuki¡¯s ?Disaster Armor? had done so.


    However, only one time, even if for only one arm, Haruyuki had repelled the dominating power of the Amor and had summoned its original, ?The Destiny?. If he could, then Takumu could also do it. The act of continuing to resist the lure of the Kit for twenty-four more hours until the ?Shrine Maiden of Purification? Ardor Maiden returned alive from within the Imperial Palace. Because he was trying like this to stand up once more from the abyss of despair and walk forth¡­


    ¡°¡ªAll right, then if it¡¯s decided, let¡¯s go to my place now! Let¡¯s stock up on food at the mall below while we¡¯re at it. No wait, if we call Chiyu we¡¯ll get a bonus item, won¡¯t we¡­¡±


    While laughing, Takumu lightly poked the stomach of Haruyuki, who was thinking deeply.


    ¡°Who you really want to call isn¡¯t Chii-chan; you want the food prepared by her mom, right?¡±


    ¡°N, no, well, those two are indivisible¡­if you mention Chiyu, I think of refreshments, and if you mention refreshments, I think of Chiyu¡­¡±


    ¡°Uh oh, I¡¯m telling Chii-chan what you just said now.¡±


    ¡°It, it was a joke! W-well, I¡¯ll mail her, so you go get your mom¡¯s permission.¡±


    Attempting to steer him away from his improper remark, Haruyuki stood up from the bed.


    At the moment when he was about to pull out the XSB cable still inserted into his Neuro Linker nonchalantly¡ª


    In the depths of his mind, a rather surreptitious thought voice resounded like a raindrop falling onto a water surface.


    ¡°¡­Thank you, Haru. I¡¯m truly glad¡­to be able to remain friends with you.¡±


    With his back still turned to his dear friend, Haruyuki, who had strongly reflected upon those words, returned only a single, equally meager thought.


    ¡°Me too, Taku.¡±

 Volume 8 - CH 2

    When it was time to actually carry out the three-person sleepover that had been suggested out of nowhere, there really were a number of hurdles.


    The act of obtaining permission from Takumu¡¯s parents, who by no means held good will toward Haruyuki.


    The right or wrong of lodging Chiyuri at the Arita family¡¯s apartment, who, despite being a childhood friend, would be turning fourteen this year.


    And of course, the inclination of Haruyuki¡¯s mother.


    Unexpectedly, the most easily settled matter was the third. To Haruyuki¡¯s text mail, timidly sent to his mother still at work with the gist of ¡°Is it okay if two friends come over tonight,¡± the response was ¡°If you guys make a mess, clean it up properly. Mom won¡¯t be coming home tonight, so I¡¯m leaving it to you.¡±


    Although it wasn¡¯t certain whether she had already planned not to come home or whether she intended to vacate the apartment if her son¡¯s friends were going to stay over out of parental affection, if his mother wouldn¡¯t be coming home, it meant they could use the living room all night long.


    The next cleared hurdle was the first, obtaining Takumu¡¯s parents¡¯ permission. It seemed that the phrase ¡°doing homework¡± in itself really had shown some effect.


    The problem was the second¡ªwhat Chiyu herself as well as her parents would decide; as Haruyuki thought that, he and Takumu crossed the connecting bridge on the twentieth floor and rang the Kurashima residence¡¯s door chime¡ªbut.


    ¡°My goodness, Haru-chan, and Tacchan too! Well¡ªTacchan, you¡¯ve grown so big! How tall are you now¡­my goodness, 175 centimeters tall!? You¡¯re already taller than my husband; kids these days are amazing! And, I heard you three are doing tough homework together? That¡¯s right; this year¡¯s the first time all three of you¡¯ve been in the same class. When I heard that Tacchan was transferring to Umesato Middle School, I was so happy. But with this, Chiyu will also be troubled more and more; I¡¯d rather have both Haru-chan and Tacchan as my sons-in-law¡­¡±


    Dumbfounded, Haruyuki and Takumu continued to listen to Chiyuri¡¯s mama¡¯s specialty endless talk for the first time in a while. But at that point her single daughter in question stuck her face out from the direction of the kitchen and shouted with a facial expression like an inferno.


    ¡°Mama! You don¡¯t have to say anything unnecessary! The pot¡¯s boiling!¡±


    ¡°My, this isn¡¯t good! Stop the heat! No, don¡¯t stop it, set it on low, on low!¡±


    In exchange with Chiyuri¡¯s mama, who had dashed pitter-patter to the kitchen, Chiyuri, who had advanced down the corridor in large strides, glared at the two from the agarikamachi[1] and spoke.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s not a ?we¡¯re going to do it? face; that¡¯s a ?we¡¯ve already done it? face, right?¡±


    What a discerning eye. The two boys who were evidently guilty of just having been through a bout could only laugh nervously and duck their heads.


    In the mail Haruyuki had sent to Chiyuri before arriving, he had written only ¡°Today, do you want to camp over at my place?¡±, but she had probably immediately seen right through the fact that it wasn¡¯t only that.


    Chiyuri, who had just come out of the shower after coming home from club activities and was sporting half-dried hair, a plain T-shirt, and shorts, put her hands on her waist and glowered at the two for a while.


    However, she finally snorted and said briefly, ¡°Well, sure. I¡¯ll hang out with you.¡± Haruyuki reflexively made a stupid verification.


    ¡°What¡­is, is it all right?¡±


    ¡°Hey there, wasn¡¯t it you who invited me!¡±


    To Chiyuri, who had lifted the corners of her eyes, together with Takumu he hurriedly lowered his head.


    Twenty minutes later, with the basket filled with dinner for three people that Chiyuri¡¯s mama had had them bring, Haruyuki and company moved to his apartment. When he came home alone at nighttime to his deserted, spacious apartment with few possessions consisting of three bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen, he couldn¡¯t help but feel chilly, but if he were together with his two childhood friends, he didn¡¯t have the time to think about that. Haruyuki, who had first put down his bag in his room and had changed into a more comfortable outfit, launched his mailer application before going to the living room.


    Not only Kurasaki Fuuko, who had informed Haruyuki, and Shinomiya Utai but also Kuroyukihime by this point probably knew that Takumu¡ªCyan Pile had been attacked by the PK group ?Supernova Remnant? and had turned the tables on them in the Unlimited Neutral Field. It was imperative that Haruyuki transmit the situation to them, who were undoubtedly deeply worried, but he was far from able to explain the details fully by mail.


    There, Haruyuki wrote just ¡°Takumu¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll explain the details tomorrow during the Imperial Palace escape strategy¡± and sent the message. The three of them quickly responded ¡°Understood¡±; Haruyuki could strongly feel their concern in their concise replies.


    Kuroyukihime, Fuuko, and also Utai had probably surmised long ago that something not so simple¡ªa state unable to be straightened up with the single word ?fine?¡ªhad arisen. In short, Kuroyukihime and the others were implicitly conveying their will that they were entrusting everything to Haruyuki and Takumu¡¯s judgment.


    However, at the same time, that also meant if something irreparable happened from now on, at that time all the responsibility would lie with Haruyuki and company.


    Twenty-four more hours. Especially during tonight, in order for Takumu not to lose sight of himself due to the interference of the ISS Kit, the two of them¡ªno, with Chiyuri, the three of them would have to pull through it together. They could definitely do it. Because from the time they were very little, the three of them had been through countless adventures...


    Having thought up until there, Haruyuki suddenly noticed something and stopped his hand with a twitch.


    When he had invited Chiyuri to tonight¡¯s spontaneous sleepover, he had done so on the spur of the moment, without any concrete intention. It was a result of his expectation resembling the subjective impression that ?the three of us will somehow get through it?.


    However¡ª. A certain ?ability? that Chiyuri possessed. If it were used, couldn¡¯t the parasitic life form tormenting Takumu perhaps be removed from the system? The situation was so irregular that he couldn¡¯t even guess at its likelihood, but it was worth a try.


    ¡°Senpai, Master, Mei-san¡­¡±


    Haruyuki softly called out to his three comrades, who were not here in this place.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure, I¡¯m sure that I¡¯ll do something about this. Because Takumu and Chiyu are¡­my best friends.¡±


    Haruyuki strode out of his room and with great momentum opened the door leading to the living room from where a good scent was floating.


    What Chiyuri¡¯s mama had prepared in only a mere thirty minutes was curry soup made with plenty of summer-season vegetables. If they afterward warmed the frozen food stocked in the Arita household¡¯s refrigerator and prepared some iced jasmine tea, then they would have a dinner table extravagant more than enough.


    Following their chorus of ¡°Itadakimasu!¡±[2], first the three wordlessly moved their spoons vigorously. It seemed that the appetite of Takumu, who had eaten nothing since morning, had returned as it was. Or it might have been due to the power of Chiyuri¡¯s mama¡¯s cooking, which one couldn¡¯t help but eat, furthermore when one¡¯s mind was carrying a large burden.


    ¡°Aah, when you deep-fry eggplant, it becomes so different¡­¡±


    Haruyuki said that while stuffing his cheeks full of the round-sliced eggplant deep-fried once with olive oil and cooked quickly together with curry sauce; Chiyuri immediately raised a voice of incredulous doubt.


    ¡°Eggplant¡¯s tasty whether you bake it or cook it!¡±


    ¡°No way, eggplant that hasn¡¯t been deep-fried is just an edible sponge. Stuff like fill-and-fry is the cooking of the gods.¡±


    ¡°Ah, enough already, this is precisely why people with kids¡¯ tastes are¡ª! Why don¡¯t they understand the deliciousness of well-done, peeled, cooked eggplant with ginger sauce¡ª¡±


    Takumu, who was looking alternatively at the two of them quarreling, coughed and spoke.


    ¡°Now, now, both of you. Fried eggplant and baked eggplant are both delicious, but of course it¡¯s best pickled. Pickled eggplant soaked a deep blue for sure is the taste of summer.¡±


    To the statement unbelievable for a middle schooler, Chiyuri and Haruyuki exchanged glances and let out a long ¡°Whaa~t¡­¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Takkun, but to me pickled eggplant is rather¡­it tastes for sure like a sponge¡­¡±


    ¡°Unh, me too...Taku, as much as you¡¯re a blue-color, you don¡¯t have to want your pickled vegetables to be blue¡­¡±


    ¡°Wh-what, avatar color¡¯s not part of the story, is it!¡±


    Takumu, who had shown a genuinely hurt face, had his shoulders tapped by a laughing Chiyuri.


    ¡°Ahaha, sorry, sorry! As an apology, next time I¡¯ll request mama to also pickle eggplant with her secret nukadoko[3]!¡±


    While exchanging small talk, Haruyuki was conscious in a corner of his heart of the fact that this was the first time in a relatively long time that just the three of them had had a meal together.


    The circle bonding Haruyuki, Chiyuri, and Takumu was preserved through means of an exceedingly delicate balance.


    The relationship between Takumu and Chiyuri, who had begun to date in the winter of their fifth grade in elementary school, had been reset once on the occasion of the ?Back Door Incident? last fall, and since then the two had been estranged for a while. However, Takumu had transferred to Umesato Middle during the third school term, and by the first semester of their second year, when even Chiyuri had become a Burst Linker, though it was awkward they had once again begun to shorten the distance between them as ?friends?, which included Haruyuki.


    Immediately after that, they had undergone a difficult fight with Dusk Robber, who had assaulted them, and their circle of three people was tightly bound once again the way it was in the past¡ªso it seemed.


    However, that relationship was built above the fact that they were Burst Linkers and members of ?Nega Nebulas?. Even if one of them lost all his or her Burst Points and memories of the Accelerated World, whether they would be able to continue to maintain their bond¡­Haruyuki did not know.


    The one thing that was clear was that now was not the occasion to be afraid of hypothetical crises.


    There was only rushing through every obstacle from the front, continuing to run toward only one ultimate target. Beyond the ?level 10? horizon, where their legion master Kuroyukihime was aiming¡ª.


    While resolving himself anew, Haruyuki tried to extend his fork out to his plate, which had a little curry remaining.


    However, at that moment,


    ¡°Haru, if you like it that much I¡¯ll give you some eggplant! In return, you can have this¡ª¡±


    While saying that with a grin, Chiyuri dropped some round-sliced eggplant onto his plate and retrieved a large lump of chicken with her reverse strike.


    ¡°A, aaaaah¡ª! Hey you, I¡¯ve been carefully, carefully raising¡­I mean, saving it aside..!¡±


    ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you say at first that you liked eggplant a hundred times more than chicken?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that! Bring it out, give it back, return it¡ª!¡±


    While nearly being in tears, he protested fiercely, but as he watched, the gently simmered, juicy chicken meat was chewed inside Chiyuri¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Ah¡ª, delicious¡­I wouldn¡¯t begrudge using the acceleration command to prolong this deliciousness¡­¡±


    ¡°D, damn it¡ª!¡±


    From the neighboring seat, with a slightly amazed face Takumu watched Haruyuki, who was stamping his feet from his chair, but at last¡ª.


    ¡°Fu, ha ha¡­ahaha¡­¡±


    He let out his voice and laughed merrily.


    Soon Chiyuri and Haruyuki also joined in his laughter. With their forks in one hand, they continued to laugh to no end.


    After they had cooperatively tidied up the tableware and dining table, as per their declaration it was homework time.


    They moved to the sofa set at the west side of the living room, huddled their shoulders together, and launched their homework applications. As this was exclusive software developed by the parent body of Umesato Middle¡¯s administration, a major education-related enterprise, copying and pasting answers was wholly impossible; furthermore, even if one tried to use an ad hoc connection or a wired direct connection, the technical specifications were inflexibly set such that other people¡¯s screens were invisible. If one dived into the Initial Acceleration Space/Blue World by means of the ?Burst Link? command, each and every one of those limitations would be invalidated, but if one did not begin at least five minutes before the start of homeroom at school, one would not be permitted the luxury of ?accelerating? and finishing off one¡¯s homework.


    There, while the three shared information using the old-fashioned method of writing by hand on A3-sized electronic paper spread out on the glass table, they finished math and Japanese homework in forty minutes. If Haruyuki had been working alone, he probably would have taken several times longer.


    When he looked at the clock, it was not even eight o¡¯clock yet, so starting then and also for the first time in a while, they played a tournament of the old games that Haruyuki had been collecting. While connecting to the panel TV the hardware over thirty years old that even the manufacturer could not fix if it broke and while even enjoying the coarseness of the 1920 by 1080 pixel resolution, they clamored over the games chock-full of expressions of violence hardly seen in more recent games.


    Around half past nine, the three took turns taking a bath¡ªof course they didn¡¯t take it ?together? as they had done so in the long-ago past¡ªchanged into their pajamas, and assembled in the living room once again. Cleaning up the game consoles, lining up three beds with folding-type high-resilience mattresses, pillows, and blankets¡ª.


    ¡°Well then, now.¡±


    Chiyuri, who had changed into light green pajamas with a cat design on them, looked at Haruyuki and Takumu successively; while smiling she spoke.


    ¡°Both of you, have a seat.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­¡±


    ¡°Uh, unh.¡±


    The two of them hurriedly downed their after-bath iced tea and sat down side by side on top of the mattresses before Chiyuri, who had stood up quickly. The reason why they had somehow ended up sitting seiza[4] style was that their understanding that ?both of them were basically Chiyuri¡¯s subordinates? engraved in their bodies and souls since they were young had caused them to do so.


    Without wiping away her smiling expression, Chiyuri, who had folded her arms before her chest with great momentum, continued and spoke.


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s have the explanation again, shall we? Haru and Takkun, this time what have you two perpetrated, and how bad of a situation has it become?¡±


    ¡ªUh oh, she had already seen through that far.


    While earnestly being impressed, Haruyuki thought inside his head at high speed.


    The biggest reason why he had also involved Chiyuri in this ?spontaneous sleepover? was due to the expectation that her existence¡ªto be precise, this state of affairs in which the three childhood friends huddled their bodies together like in the past¡ªwould block out the interference of the ISS Kit, which had been preserved ?somewhere? inside Takumu. He had not thought to go as far as to reveal the entire situation to Chiyuri. The reason was that it would be equivalent to exposing as far as the deep wound that Takumu was carrying¡ªhis sense of guilt for the fact that it was he who had destroyed their circle of three people.


    However, Chiyuri had already sensed the situation to a certain extent; no, nearly to the crux of it. What was more, if they wanted to attempt to erase the Kit with Chiyuri¡¯s ?ability?, then they couldn¡¯t hide the truth anyways.


    Haruyuki glanced at Takumu to the left of him. His old friend with freshly washed hair returned his gaze straight back for a second, then turned back to Chiyuri and spoke.


    ¡°Chii-chan, I believe you¡¯ve already at least heard the rumor. The problem of the ?ISS Kit?, which has been casting a great shadow over the Accelerated World beginning about a mere week ago¡­¡±


    From there, in about twenty minutes Takumu told everything.


    How he had went in the direction of the depopulated area Setagaya by himself and had received the ?ISS Kit? in its sealed state from the Burst Linker ?Magenta Scissor?, whom he had encountered there.


    How he had returned home and had seen a nightmare clearly seeming to be due to the interference of the Kit after climbing into bed, even though he had removed his Neuro Linker.


    How on the same occasion his parents had sent him to the family hospital since he had a slight fever, he had attempted to collect information in the Shinjuku area. However, he had been sold out by the comrades of his former legion and had taken a real attack by the PK group ?Supernova Remnant?.


    How Takumu had dived into the Unlimited Field with them and had summoned the ISS Kit there, cornering all the Remnant members into losing all their points with the strength of dark Mind Power. How as a result, while his Brain Burst had been protected, a considerable portion of his consciousness had been corroded by the Kit. How he, believing that he would harm his comrades of Nega Nebulas at this rate, had made up his mind to fight with ?Magenta Scissor?, to pin down the distributor of the Kit, and to obtain information with the resolution of committing a simultaneous suicidal kill while he could still barely manage to control the Kit¡¯s power.


    However, immediately before that, he had entered a direct connection duel with Haruyuki, who had run from Umesato Middle to Takumu¡¯s home, and they both had fought with all the strength and suppressed emotion they had¡ªat the end, they had succeeded in repelling the Kit¡¯s interference to some degree, but.


    ¡°¡­But, it still hasn¡¯t disappeared from inside me.¡±


    Takumu, who had finished telling the long story, with both his hands gripped his blue Neuro Linker, which he had not been wearing out of the bath, and brought his talk to a close with a half-whispering voice.


    ¡°The ?Kit? is somewhere inside this Neuro Linker¡­and a part of it is maybe lurking somewhere inside my head. It¡¯s steadily absorbing power from the other linked Kits; even now, moment by moment it¡¯s becoming stronger. Tonight...if I see that nightmare again¡­I will probably call awake the black thing inside my heart. That¡¯s why Haru is trying to prevent that by spending tonight with the three of us together¡­That¡¯s the reason that you were suddenly invited, Chii-chan. Everything¡¯s¡­a result of my foolish conceit¡­¡±


    There, Takumu closed his mouth and deeply hung his head.


    Chiyuri, who was still standing and had finished listening to the long story without stirring an inch, abruptly bent down on her knees in front of Takumu and reached her fair hand out from the pajamas covering three-fifths of her arm¡ªwith her fingertips, she gently wiped something beginning to blur the edge of Takumu¡¯s left eye. At the same time, a subdued murmur.


    ¡°¡­Sorry, Takkun.¡±


    ¡°Huh..?¡±


    To Takumu, who had raised his face and had opened his eyes wide, Chiyuri began to talk gently.


    ¡°From the past, I knew that you were really a very sensitive and kind person¡­maybe as sensitive and kind as Haru, Takkun. However¡­I¡¯ve always depended on your kindness¡­¡±


    Her pupils, always swirling and sparkling like those of a cat, slowly became downcast. Chiyuri let down her hands, seated herself in seiza position like the other two, raised her face again, and spoke in a firm voice.


    ¡°When I was small, I believed stubbornly¡­That no matter how old we became, how many years passed, the three of us would be able to laugh, getting along with one another. But in reality, that¡¯s impossible, isn¡¯t it? The flow of time is unstoppable¡­it can¡¯t be turned back. Even though I understood that somewhere inside my head¡­I always hoped that for just a little bit more, for just a little bit more things could stay like that¡­¡±


    She took a deep breath¡ª.


    While looking in turn at Haruyuki and Takumu, Chiyuri suddenly said something greatly unexpected.


    ¡°Haru, Takkun. This is something I haven¡¯t said to anyone outside my family but¡­you see, my papa might not be able to live for long.¡±


    Completely as if those words had been lodged somewhere between his ear and his brain, for a while Haruyuki was unable to recognize what they meant. Takumu seemed to be the same; from his left, far from feeling his body stir, there was no sign of even his breathing.


    Before the eyes of the two and furthermore without letting her peaceful expression crumble, Chiyuri continued and opened her mouth.


    ¡°Both of you, you already know why I was able to clear the ?first condition of a Burst Linker?, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­Unh.¡±


    While slightly nodding, Haruyuki thought in a corner of his mind.


    To become a Burst Linker, that was, to install ?Brain Burst Program? in one¡¯s Neuro Linker, there were two conditions. The first was ?having continuously worn a Neuro Linker since immediately after birth?. The second was ?possessing a high-level quantum connection aptitude?.


    The second was able to be cleared through prolonged full dive experiences or active training¡ªlike how Chiyuri had done so herself. However, the first couldn¡¯t be helped by the will of the person himself or herself at such a late point. In brief, one could say that one¡¯s aptitude as a Burst Linker was halfway inherently decided.


    The reason why a newborn baby was equipped with a Neuro Linker was almost always due to ?child-rearing labor reduction? or ?education for gifted children?. Haruyuki and Takumu had been given infant-use Neuro Linkers immediately since birth, Haruyuki for the former reason and Takumu for the latter.


    However, Chiyuri fell under neither of those categories.


    Immediately before she was born, her father had suffered from a throat ailment and had had his vocal cords excised, making conversation using his real voice difficult for him. However, Chiyuri¡¯s parents, who had wanted their beloved daughter somehow to be raised having heard both their voices, had chosen to use the Neuro Linker¡¯s ?thought voice function?. From the time she was a baby, Chiyuri had been brought up hearing her father¡¯s voice through a Neuro Linker.


    ¡°¡­The disease that caused Papa to lose his voice was lower throat cancer.¡±


    ¡°..!¡±


    To the two who had again turned speechless, Chiyuri shook her head to calm them.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay; it¡¯s not something that¡¯s going to happen right away. With the advancement of RTMMs[5], cancer itself isn¡¯t a disease as scary as it was in the past¡­But, you know, once it¡¯s begun to metastasize, it¡¯s impossible to completely annihilate the cancer cells spread here and there even with today¡¯s technology. In these ten years, Papa¡¯s had a relapse once each in his esophagus and his lungs¡­each time, he was able to suppress it with anticancer drugs and MM therapy¡­but it seems he was told by the doctors that if he had another relapse, his prospects would be grim...¡±


    Chiyuri, who continued to chat on, stoutheartedly made a smile, but Haruyuki noticed that her large eyes were thinly moist.


    ¡°¡­Of course, both Papa and Mama were considerate so that I didn¡¯t worry but¡­despite that, we¡¯d been family for years; I somehow caught on. When Papa was undergoing treatment, he seemed so pained from the side effects¡­Mama, she woke up so many times in the middle of the night and rubbed Papa¡¯s body. That¡¯s why when the treatment was over and Papa got better, I made a prayer to the gods. I said, ¡°Please let us be the way we are now.¡± That was¡­back in fourth grade. To me, that time was¡­that time, when every day was enjoyable and seemed to be enveloped in a golden light, was¡­¡±


    Chiyuri, who had shut her mouth there, turned her gaze toward the ceiling as if refraining from spilling her tears.


    Haruyuki, unable to say anything, pictured the face of Chiyuri¡¯s father in his mind.


    Around third or fourth grade, after they had returned from playing outside till they were worn out, nearly every day they intruded on the Kurashima residence, had dinner, and even took a bath. Haruyuki had frequently met Chiyuri¡¯s papa, but he was never let known a bit of his painful fight continuing several years against the disease. He always wore a smile on his thin face and sometimes also became their game playmate.


    ¡°¡­Chiyu, I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Didn¡¯t notice anything.


    To Haruyuki, who had tried to say that, Chiyuri again pointed a smile and shook her head bit by bit.


    ¡°I said it, didn¡¯t I, that nothing¡¯s going to happen right away. Maybe at this rate there won¡¯t be a relapse ever again. ¡ªThat¡¯s why I also really shouldn¡¯t only have been afraid of the future. Despite that, I pretended not to see everything that was changing¡­I didn¡¯t try to understand Takkun¡¯s feelings either¡­even if ?now? became the ?past?, I continued to try to return there. Last fall¡­when Takkun tried to learn my true feelings, it was obvious too. Because even if he were at my side, even if we made a dive call, I didn¡¯t properly see the current Takkun.¡±


    At that moment¡ª.


    Takumu, who had been silent all along until now, tightly clenched his fists above his knees and violently shook his neck left and right.


    ¡°That¡¯s wrong¡­Chii-chan, that¡¯s wrong. The one to blame is me, who was unable to trust you. I didn¡¯t notice at all what you were carrying inside your heart. Only me, only seeing myself; only forcing that selfish wish on you. In the end¡­on your Neuro Linker¡­I set up on your Neuro Linker¡­¡±


    His forcibly squeezed out voice fairly resembled his shout of anguish when he had fought with Haruyuki during the evening.


    But Haruyuki believed that his openly spoke feelings were not uttered out of self-blame or self-repugnance. Believing that, he fought hard to swallow his words.


    Takumu clenched his hands one last time to the point where his hands creaked¡ªthen he drained his strength and continued in a husky voice.


    ¡°However.¡±


    He lifted his head and looked straight and Haruyuki and then Chiyuri, then spoke.


    ¡°However, I will change, Chii-chan. I promise. Though it will be little by little, I will grow stronger. One day I will recompense for all my sins such that I can lead your hand toward the future this time for sure.¡±


    ¡°¡­Unh.¡±


    Finally letting a teardrop spill, Chiyuri also nodded.


    ¡°I too¡­I too will stop looking at just the past. Right now¡­I¡¯m still scared, and I can¡¯t see the path ahead of me, but¡­despite that, I treasure the present, this moment. Because it¡¯s fun right now. It¡¯s fun and I¡¯m happy being together with Takkun, Haru, Senpai, Nee-san, and Ui-chan and being able to aim for the same goal. That¡¯s why¡­¡±


    She sucked in a deep breath and resolutely straightened her back; after wiping her eyes with a jerk, Chiyuri spoke in a clear voice.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I won¡¯t let that ?ISS Kit? thing do with you as it likes. I will also protect you. Together with Haru, I will protect you, Takkun.¡±

 Volume 8 - CH 3

    Haruyuki was prone to forgetting it, but only a mere two months had passed since Chiyuri had become a Burst Linker. It was a short time span a quarter of Haruyuki¡¯s and a seventh of the time her ?parent? Takumu had been one.


    However, Chiyuri, who had finished listening to the details concerning the ISS Kit from the two veteran Burst Linkers, only brooded for a few seconds, then spoke while scowling magnificently.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­is it those guys¡¯ deed again? The ?Acceleration Research Society?.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Without thinking, Haruyuki and Takumu exchanged glances, returned their gazes to Chiyuri, who was sitting on top of the three aligned mattresses, and nodded simultaneously.


    ¡°¡­Uh, unh, that¡¯s what we were thinking¡­¡±


    ¡°A, amazing, Chii-chan. Even with both Haru and I, we took more time to think of that.¡±


    ¡°Well, you see.¡±


    Still wearing a sullen face, Chiyuri slightly lowered her voice.


    ¡°This way of doing things resembles that person¡¯s. The feeling of not attacking from the front, but steadily encroaching in from the sides¡­¡±


    The ?person? of whom Chiyuri spoke was ?Dusk Taker?, former member of the Acceleration Research Society who already had eternally left the Accelerated World by now. When he had appeared before Haruyuki and had named himself, Nega Nebulas had already been stripped bare of all its information, and he had even grasped Haruyuki¡¯s fatal weakness.


    In this time¡¯s incident, the Kit had also begun to circulate from the so-called depopulated areas of Setagaya, Oota, and Edogawa. There were probably a large number of people still unaware of what was happening among the Burst Linkers who had made the heart of the city their home.


    At the ?Seven Kings¡¯ meeting? to be held in four days on Sunday, the matter of the Kit would probably be raised, but there was even the possibility that by then it would have already progressed into a pandemic unable to be dealt with¡­


    Forcibly swallowing his stinging-like apprehension, Haruyuki squeezed his two ankles tightly, which were seated in cross-legged position, then opened his mouth.


    ¡°¡ªIn the Accelerated World, how do you put it; it¡¯s like there¡¯s a theory, isn¡¯t there? For strong techniques and items, without exception there¡¯s some risk or weakness built in that counterbalances it. Like my ?flight?, which sacrifices almost all of my avatar¡¯s other abilities; for Taku¡¯s ?Pile Bunker? and Master¡¯s ?Gale Thruster?, after one use, you can¡¯t use them again until their recharge gauges are full.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­true, I guess. My ?Citron Call? also has a huge activation motion, and since it doesn¡¯t having a homing nature it¡¯s easily avoidable.¡±


    Following the nodding Chiyuri, Taku also spoke while pushing up his glasses.


    ¡°Even the ?Incarnate System?, an irregular ability outside the game system, is like that. As a rule, it¡¯s not possible to acquire Mind Power contradictory to one¡¯s avatar¡¯s attributes, and if you use it too much you¡¯ll be engulfed in the darkness of your heart; there¡¯s a risk of losing control of its power¡­ ¡ªAah, that¡¯s right, what Haru wants to say is basically¡­¡±


    ¡°Unh. How things like the principles of the ?ISS Kit? were created, I don¡¯t have a clue, but at the very least if the Brain Burst Program permits its existence, then in exchange for that fearsome power and limitless infectivity¡­I think it must have a huge vulnerability. So huge that if we pin that down, the entire network that¡¯s been built up will crumble into pieces.¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s for sure. It¡¯s possible¡­¡±


    Takumu, whose eyes had regained their intellectual gleam even if for just an instant, continued while slightly quickening his tone.


    ¡°I thought that the Kit¡¯s creator¡­probably one of the people near the top of the Acceleration Research Society, had inserted some kind of self-destruct program into it, and I had thought about seizing detailed information prepared for it to end in a double death. But there¡¯s a possibility that¡­the vulnerability was inevitably contained within to begin with¡­in that case, if we arrive at that secret, even without possessing something like an activation key, we might be able to make the Kit self-destruct¡­¡±


    In front of the face of Takumu, who had lifted his face at that point, had taken a large breath, and had been on the verge of opening his mouth again¡ª.


    Chiyuri stuck her right index finger straight out and spoke.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do that, Takkun.¡±


    ¡°Eh..?¡±


    ¡°Any¡ªhow, right now you were thinking about using yourself as a guinea pig and having Senpai or Nee-san research the weaknesses of the Kit, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­uh, unh¡­because you see, even if I start running amok, Master and the others would be able to render me powerless before that happened¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡ªcan¡¯t! Our legion forbids stuff like sacrificing just yourself and undergoing painful experiences to try to accomplish something!¡±


    To Chiyuri, who had declared that distinctly, Haruyuki and Takumu once again exchanged glances.


    As for why, it was because she had ?sacrificed just herself and had undergone painful experiences? on the occasion of the Dusk Taker incident, saving the two of them.


    But Chiyuri, who had silenced Takumu as if to say that she had already forgotten that, pondered something for a moment before opening her mouth.


    ¡°¡ªHey, Takkun. Rather, about the ISS Kit possessing you¡­couldn¡¯t we erase it with my ?Citron Call Mode II??¡±


    ¡°..!¡±


    The moment he heard that, Haruyuki sharply sucked in a breath. That very proposal was the idea to which Haruyuki had been warming inside his mind from some number of hours ago.


    The special technique ?Citron Call? that Chiyuri¡¯s avatar ?Lime Bell? possessed exhibited the unbelievable effect of turning back time for the targeted avatar, and it had two modes depending on the amount of special technique gauge used and her motion.


    Mode I, which spent half her gauge, reversed the state of the avatar who received the technique in units of seconds. It restored one¡¯s HP gauge and special technique gauge; in sum, in reality it was a powerful technique allowing her to serve well as a ?healer? role, of which there were only a few people in the Accelerated World.


    And then the released Mode II, which completely consumed her gauge, was even more tremendous. This mode reversed the targeted avatar¡¯s state in units of number of status changes. Status changes mainly pointed to the equipment or removal of Enhanced Armaments, loss of body parts, or shape changes for shape-changing avatars. It could make a huge breach out of the equipping of an Enhanced Armament, and since there was much equipment that could be only summoned once during a duel, if that equipment were forcibly removed in the midst of fighting, one could do nothing but retreat.


    However, the absurdity of this Mode II was such that ?it could even cancel the acquisition of Enhanced Armaments?. It could not rewind one¡¯s status forever¡ªat its current stage, it could cancel up to four stages¡ªso the majority of phenomena that had occurred were limited almost entirely to immediately after the acquisition of an item, but if it manifested itself it could even nullify Enhanced Armaments transferred through a direct connection or force a cooling-off period on hard-earned purchased Enhanced Armaments at the Shop. Of course, in that case the points spent to buy it would also return though.


    The innate Enhanced Armament ?Pile Driver? was always in an equipped state, so there was no need for it to count. Also, its transformation from Pile Driver into ?Cyan Blade? was an Incarnate technique external of the system, so this was not included either.


    In short, the act of reciting the command for ?IS Mode Activation? and equipping the ISS Kit in the battle from earlier counted as one time. Before that, he must have done the same thing in the middle of the battle against the PK group ?Supernova Remnant?, so that was the second. Before that was the fight last night with ?Magenta Scissor? conducted in the Setagaya area. He had been handed the ISS Kit in its sealed state during the fight, so that was the third. They could still make it in time for the fourth time, which was Citron Call Mode II¡¯s upper rewinding limit.


    ¡°Taku¡­¡±


    Takumu also had probably completely traced the thoughts of Haruyuki, who had called his name in a low voice. In the eyes of his close friend who had turned his head around, there was a faint glimmer of hope.


    ¡ªHowever, Taku immediately cast his eyes down and slowly shook his head.


    ¡°¡­No¡­It¡¯s true that the number of status changes is within four, but it¡¯s probably¡­not possible to erase that with Citron Call¡­¡±


    ¡°Wh¡­why, Taku! Why don¡¯t you hit Magenta Scissor back with it with cash on delivery!¡±


    To the remarks of the assertive Chiyuri, Takumu slightly smiled. But he shook his head sideways once more and spoke gently as to admonish her.


    ¡°Chii-chan. It¡¯s¡­a part of it or its body is already inside me, not just my Neuro Linker. There¡¯s nothing that could have made that possible other than the Incarnate system. ¡ªDo you remember, when you tried to resurrect Raker-san¡¯s legs¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Takumu and Chiyuri together bit their lips. Takumu nodded and continued.


    ¡°At that time, although Raker-san¡¯s ?body part loss? was still within four times, her legs didn¡¯t return. It was due to her unconscious Mind Power that she had continued to deny her own legs. Surely the ISS Kit also will refuse destruction with its own Mind Power¡­¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s so! ¡ªIf that¡¯s so, I will too!¡±


    Chiyuri looked alternately at Haruyuki and Takumu, then shouted.


    ¡°I will undergo the training for the Incarnate system too! It doesn¡¯t matter how many years I spend in the Unlimited Field, I will acquire the power to be able just to erase the ISS Kit from Takkun!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t do that, Chii-chan!¡±


    Just at that moment, Takumu had shouted. Without a moment¡¯s delay Chiyuri also retorted.


    ¡°Why not! Senpai and Nee-san both said that one day the time will come for me to find my own Mind Power and cultivate it! Why can¡¯t that be now..!¡±


    In opposition to that, Takumu tried to make a further rebuttal and began to open his mouth.


    However, there his words were stopped. Haruyuki, who had distinctly sensed what he was about to say and why he had stopped short, leaned forward and softly touched Chiyuri¡¯s slender yet graceful arm.


    ¡°Chiyu.¡±


    Gazing at her large, catlike pupils, which were looking right back at him sharply, Haruyuki spoke slowly.


    ¡°¡­Chiyu, your Citron Call is an amazing technique. In some sense, it might be the strongest ability within Nega Nebulas. But, that¡¯s undoubtedly¡­an ability that yearns for the past. I don¡¯t know whether you¡¯ve noticed, but the sound of the bell you hear when you activate the technique¡­it¡¯s exactly like the after-school chime in the elementary school we went to¡­¡±


    She herself probably had been noticing that. For an instant, Chiyuri opened her eyes wide, then immediately covered her face. Haruyuki spoke even more to his silent friend.


    ¡°Of course, my special technique and Taku¡¯s too are both strongly bound to the past. However, at the very least Taku¡¯s technique is an incarnation of the will to cut through the past and advance forward. That¡¯s why I¡­and undoubtedly Taku too, want you to see the future when you undergo the Incarnate system training. Though we don¡¯t know what kind of powers you will develop¡­we think that it¡¯d be nice if it were a power like facing the future and reaching your hand out as far as you can¡­¡±


    For a while, none of them opened their mouths or even stirred their bodies.


    Only the thin second hand of the wall clock approaching eleven o¡¯clock was rotating smoothly. The built-in type air conditioning on dehumidification mode hummed in a low tone; from the other side of the sound insulated glass, the noise of EV tires coming and going across the Loop 7 road at night faintly reached them.


    At last, Chiyuri, who had suddenly relaxed her entire body, smiled placidly while her eyes were moistened.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s true.¡±


    She whispered, then nodded, then moved her lips again.


    ¡°That¡¯s true, isn¡¯t it. If it¡¯s a technique set by the system, then anyhow¡­if it¡¯s a power that I have to find within my heart and cultivate¡­it¡¯d be nice if it were something like being able to reach my hand out to hope. Something like Takkun¡¯s¡­something like Haru¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Nah¡­my Incarnate technique isn¡¯t something as exaggerated as that though¡­¡±


    ¡°Uh-unh, I love ?Laser Sword? just as much as ?Cyan Blade?.¡±


    Smiling and deeply laughing, Chiyuri continued in a voice that had regained its cheerfulness.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I might as well have a matching ?Something Sword?! Something amazing that can blow both Haru and Takkun away!¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    The two boys exchanged glances again. In truth, Lime Bell¡¯s potential was still unfathomable. It was possible for her to be enlightened with an Incarnate technique that easily surpassed both of their techniques.


    ¡°P, please go easy on us¡­¡±


    After Haruyuki said that, this time Chiyuri and Takumu exchanged glances and laughed together merrily.


    Tomorrow they obviously had school, and after that the ?Imperial Palace escape mission? was waiting for them, so it would soon become time for them to sleep; the three lay down on the three high-resilience mattresses aligned on the floor of the living room in the order of Haruyuki, Takumu, and Chiyuri from east to west. Long ago when they were small, when they had their afternoon nap at somebody¡¯s house Chiyuri was always in the middle, but tonight¡¯s leading role was Takumu.


    If there were the apprehension that the ISS Kit would interfere with him during his sleep, then the three of them could rather pull an all-nighter¡ªthat method was also considered, but Takumu had immediately dismissed it, as it would influence the ?Imperial Palace escape strategy? tomorrow. Matters related to the Kit were urgent problems, but Haruyuki¡¯s alter ego ?Silver Crow? was in a sealed state in the Unlimited Neutral Field. He had to escape together with the purification ability user ?Ardor Maiden? by any means; if he was not purified of the ?Disaster Armor? by the Seven Kings¡¯ meeting on Sunday, he would have a top-class bounty placed on his head in the Accelerated World.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay; if both of us are at your side, then you can sleep in peace until morning.¡±


    To Takumu, who had said that with his head facing sideways on his pillow, Haruyuki replied while also nodding back.


    ¡°Hey, if it seems that you¡¯re going to see a scary dream, then tell us right away, ¡®cause we¡¯ll knock you awake.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thankful, but how am I supposed to do that when I¡¯m sleeping?¡±


    ¡°Uh, uhh¡­sleep talking¡­¡±


    While feeling a sleepiness that caused his eyelids to gradually become heavier, as he exchanged those words, from Takumu¡¯s other side Chiyuri snapped her fingers.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Hey, since you can¡¯t block the interference anyways even if you remove your Neuro Linker, why don¡¯t we sleep with the three of us joined by direct connection?¡±


    ¡°Huh..!?¡±


    Haruyuki blinked, and Chiyuri agilely lifted her head and continued to speak.


    ¡°If we¡¯re directly connected, even if we¡¯re sleeping our thought voices are transmitted, right? If something abnormal happens to Takkun, we might be able to notice it with that.¡±


    ¡°Ahh¡­I see, I didn¡¯t notice that¡­¡±


    He exchanged glances for an instant with Takumu, who had let out a voice of admiration, and they exchanged their willingness to try it. They got up once, and the three of them simultaneously equipped their Neuro Linkers, which had been in the middle of charging wirelessly on top of the sofa set table. They prepared two XSB cables, and this time they lay down with Haruyuki in the middle. The reason was that only Haruyuki¡¯s Neuro Linker was equipped with two direct connection terminals.


    He made a direct connection with Chiyuri on the left terminal and Takumu on the right one. The two wired connection warnings disappeared, and only a small connection icon remained in the tip of his vision.


    While pulling his blanket up until his neck, Haruyuki tasted a strange feeling.


    No matter whom his partner was, with some difference in scale a nervousness always accompanied wired directions. The sense of vulnerability from canceling his Neuro Linker¡¯s defensive walls and the instinctive sense of immorality from joining their very consciousnesses together inevitably made his heart flutter.


    However, right now Haruyuki only felt a quiet tranquility. The feeling of mutually protecting and being protected by his childhood friends, with whom he had spent more time than anyone else. It was just as if from the two cables, a sense of security from the two of them flowed in, filling his heart¡­


    Before he noticed it, Haruyuki was closing his eyelids. The home server AI detected that the residents had went to bed and automatically dimmed the amount of light from the panel lights. From the other side of the gentle darkness that had visited, two voices reached him.


    ¡ªGood night.


    ¡ªGood night.


    Without even knowing whether those were their real voices or thought voices, Haruyuki also softly murmured.


    ¡­Good night¡­

 Volume 8 - CH 4

    ¡­Haru.


    ¡­Hey, wake up, Haru.


    Having the feeling that he had been called by someone, he slightly lifted his eyelids. His surroundings were a deep gray. From the other side, a hazy figure of a person.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s still dark¡­let me sleep a bit more¡­¡±


    Mumbling indistinctly, he tried to lie flat again, but this time his shoulder was shaken back and forth.


    ¡°Wake up, Haru.¡±


    That voice¡¯s echo, which in some way seemed urgent, slightly awakened his consciousness, which felt as if it were wrapped in cotton. He reluctantly opened his eyes again. As expected, it was dim. In this season, it was still around four at most.


    ¡°What¡¯s happened, Chiyu¡­¡±


    While speaking in a hoarse voice, Haruyuki strongly blinked and forcibly opened his eyelids.


    From directly opposite, the one placing her hand on the right shoulder of Haruyuki who was lying on the left side of his body was Chiyuri as expected. A slender silhouette sitting plopped down. Short hair, and atop that a large three-cornered hat. A bright green semitransparent armor covering her entire body. In her left hand, a large hand bell Enhanced Armament¡­


    ¡°¡ªEh?¡±


    His consciousness finally more than half awake, Haruyuki jumped up like a spring mechanism. At that moment, his body rang with a crack. What were there were not his vertically striped half-sleeved pajamas¡ªit was his mirror surface armor that shone silver.


    Flustered, he looked at his hands and touched his face. Without checking the feel of his smooth mask, he knew this was his duel avatar Silver Crow. And the yellow-green avatar sitting before his eyes was Chiyuri¡¯s Lime Bell.


    ¡­Why? Had Chiyu challenged him while he was half asleep?


    First having thought that, he turned his eyes upward to try to check the health gauge and time count that were supposed to be in the upper part of his field of vision. However, there was nothing there. The green bar, the engraved number of 1800 seconds, and all the other overlay displays did not exist.


    However, that was impossible. Since they had became duel avatars¡ªbasically, since they were making a full dive into a duel stage, no matter whether it was the normal duel field or the Unlimited Neutral Field, without exception one¡¯s own health bar was visible, and it was not possible to erase it by changing one¡¯s settings either.


    If so, then this was a dream.


    Sitting with his legs still sprawled out, Haruyuki tried to pinch his own cheek with his right hand. However, it was blocked by his hard helmet, and he couldn¡¯t touch it. Still with halfway fuzzy thoughts, he thought about substituting with Chiyuri¡¯s cheek and began to reach his hand out to the avatar sitting immediately to his left. There, he remembered that all avatars¡¯ face masks were hard in the first place. Other places that seemed able to be pinched¡­now that he thought about it, how about female F-class avatars¡¯ chests below their armor¡­


    While thinking that vacantly, Haruyuki moved his left hand, and into the round protuberance peeking out from below Lime Bell¡¯s mantle armor, with his index finger¡ª.


    Squish. That feeling was transmitted through his fingertips half a second later.


    ¡°Wh, what¡¯re you doing!¡±


    At the same time as her shout, ring! A tremendous impact accompanied with a large reverberation directly hit the crown of his head. With the Enhanced Armament ?Choir Chime? in her left hand, Lime Bell had hit Silver Crow with all her might.


    ¡°Ooh!¡±


    After causing the yellow chicks around the area of his head to tweet for a while, Haruyuki finally completely awakened his consciousness and suddenly lifted his head. Quickly looking around at his surroundings, he noticed that it was not the Arita household¡¯s living room. It was a dim tube-shaped space. To his right-hand side was a dead end, but to his left was a thin tunnel that seemed to continue forever while turning and twisting.


    This was not a dream. However, it was not a normal ?duel? either. Due to some irregular phenomenon, while sleeping, with Chiyuri the two of them had dived into this completely unknown space.


    ¡­The two of them?


    ¡°¡­! Wh, where¡¯s Taku!?¡±


    He checked his surroundings again, but Cyan Pile¡¯s huge frame was nowhere to be seen. He turned his gaze to Chiyuri; the verdant green avatar glaring at Haruyuki while further covering her chest with both hands changed her expression to a seemingly worried one and softly shook her three-cornered hat left and right.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­I also had just awoken here a moment ago. When I got up, I had become a duel avatar, you were sleeping beside me, and Takkun wasn¡¯t here¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Is that so¡­¡±


    Below his helmet, he thought for a moment.


    Both of them had transformed into duel avatars, but since neither the time count nor their health/special technique gauges existed, it was clearly not the normal duel field. He had unconsciously tried to deploy his wings, but even though he could usually just bring out his wings even if his gauge were zero, right now they did not even respond with a twitch. It seemed that all abilities had completely been made ineffective.


    If that were so, there was only one thing of which he could think. This unnatural phenomenon was probably¡ªno, was without a doubt something that the ?ISS Kit? parasitically inhabiting Takumu had caused. Haruyuki and Chiyuri, who had been sleeping while directly connected to him, had been pulled into the phenomenon through the XSB cable. To put it briefly, it could be said in a sense that right now the two of them were inside Takumu¡¯s dream.


    If so, then Takumu must also inevitably exist in this world. Why they couldn¡¯t see his figure was surely because he had moved somewhere. Into the depths of the dark tunnel extending endlessly to the left-hand side.


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go, Chiyu. We have to search for Taku.¡±


    ¡°Unh, got it.¡±


    Chiyuri, who had apparently reached almost the same conclusion as Haruyuki, immediately nodded. Haruyuki lifted his body up from a sitting position with a vertical jump impossible with his real body and lent his left hand to Chiyuri, helping her up.


    Lime bell did not release her hand even after having stood up; on the contrary Lime Bell tightly squeezed it. Lightly squeezing back, he tried feeling this wall surface with his right hand. It was not earth or cement. It was a deep gray soft tissue having an odd elasticity. Its faint temperature and minute ring-shaped pleats were completely like the interior of a living thing¡¯s body¡ªno, otherwise it was that very thing.


    Looking at each other, they exchanged nods once, and with their hands still joined the two began to advance briskly into the depths of the tunnel.


    Their sense of time and distance were lost in the wink of an eye.


    It was even unclear whether the two of them were ?accelerating? in the first place. If they were in a non-accelerating state, the home server alarm set to go off at seven in the morning would probably knock them awake sometime, but if they were accelerating then time would have might as well stopped. Or they maybe could have been able to leave this queer world with the ?Burst Out? command, but they had reserves about leaving Takumu behind. The reason was that if they were in the midst of accelerating, then in the few seconds that they awoke in the real world and woke up Takumu sleeping next to them, in this place a vast amount of time would have passed by.


    He had probably seen this dream yesterday night too. Then he must have received some kind of interference in his heart and been injected with a black something.


    In that case, at this moment as well, that process might be progressing. What he had finally begun to take back through his direct connection duel with Haruyuki might be stolen once more¡­


    That impatience caused his feet to quicken; before he knew it Haruyuki was running while pulling Chiyuri¡¯s hand. Chiyuri¡¯s feelings were probably the same; she was following the speed-class Silver Crow with all her might. The two avatars kept running, running in the tunnel that extended while twisting and turning.


    He had thought rather about flying with the wings on his back, but for whatever reason it seemed like his ?flying ability? could not be used in this place. With his metal fins tucked in, no matter how much he focused his consciousness they did not move.


    When he felt that they had probably exceeded five kilometers, at that moment.


    Finally from the path before them, a faint light could be seen.


    ¡°An exit..?¡±


    To Chiyuri¡¯s voice, he nodded back and raised his speed even more.


    They ran the remaining dozens of meters in one go; before the eyes of the two who had broke out of the tunnel at last¡ªsuddenly, a sight they had not anticipated in the slightest appeared.


    It was outer space.


    No; precisely, it slightly differed. A jet black space that could be thought of as stretching out endlessly, and countless points of light coloring it. In the direction far above the heads of the two who had stood still dumbfounded, the cluster of points of light agglomerated densely and beautifully sparkled like a circular galaxy. However, what was different about it from a starry sky was that those lights were swaying and moving incessantly. One ray of light collided with the other still rays of light, and this time those began to move, bumping into the next ones. That chain reaction was continuing in the entire galaxy without end. Just like gigantic three-dimensional billiards¡ªor like some kind of network.


    Since he could not get a grasp of the sense of distance, he did not know the precise size of the ?swaying galaxy?. However, Haruyuki intuitively felt that if he tried to draw right next to it, that cluster of light would spread probably spread out to a cosmic scale.


    He looked at his back for a moment; the tunnel out of which he and Chiyuri had come was still existing there as if it were a hole opening to space. From the tunnel, a thin bridge of two meters¡¯ breadth extended and seemed to continue to the downward jet black space. The two were standing at the foot of that bridge.


    Returning his gaze again to the beautifully sparkling cluster of stars, with his left hand still grasping Chiyuri¡¯s right he stood bolt upright; from his left, a faint whisper fell out.


    ¡°¡­Amazing¡­¡±


    Nodding to that, Haruyuki also murmured in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°What on earth¡­is that¡­¡±


    To that question¡ªsomebody responded from his immediate right side.


    ¡°?Main Visualizer?.¡±


    ¡°Eh..!?¡±


    ¡°Wh, who is it!?¡±


    Raising a voice of surprise at the same time as Chiyuri, he turned to his right. Close to the edge of the thin passageway where the two were, a slender silhouette that definitely had not existed until a moment before was standing inconspicuously.


    It was not Takumu¡ªCyan Pile. Of course, it was not another legion member either. It was an F-class duel avatar possessing a flower petal motif design on every part of her body. Her armor color was a warm bright golden yellow reminiscent of the sunshine of spring.


    The moment he saw that figure, Haruyuki relaxed his guard and whispered to Chiyuri.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay Chiyu, it¡¯s not an enemy.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­is she your acquaintance? If she is, then why is she here..? Isn¡¯t this Takkun¡¯s ?dream?..?¡±


    Answering that question was hard for Haruyuki too. However, while striving to somehow put the information he knew in an easily understandable form, he spoke.


    ¡°Um¡­this person¡¯s not inside of Taku but inside of me. To be exact, she¡¯s inside the Enhanced Armament I have, ?The Destiny?¡­That¡¯s right, isn¡¯t it..?¡±


    Last evening, Haruyuki had roughly explained to Chiyuri the matters concerning the Destiny, the sixth Divine Weapon that he had summoned. To Haruyuki¡¯s inquiry, the bright golden yellow avatar slightly tilted her head.


    ¡°You could say it¡¯s both like that and it¡¯s not. It¡¯s true that I exist inside the ?Destiny?, but because the main body of the Destiny is documented inside this world¡­¡±


    ¡°Eh..? What¡¯s that supposed to¡­Besides that, what¡¯s the Main¡­Visualizer you were talking about at first..?¡±


    To the question he further asked, the mysterious girl returned a greatly surprising answer.


    ¡°To put it in your words, it¡¯s the ?Brain Burst central server?.¡±


    ¡°..!!¡±


    This time for sure he was shocked from the bottom of his heart; he along with Chiyuri froze their whole bodies.


    The Brain Burst central server, whose place of existence was unknown, was the so-called ?main body? of the Accelerated World. Containing all Burst Linkers¡¯ statuses, it was truly the core of the world, recording Brain Burst¡¯s each and every bit of data, calculating every change, and moving every enemy.


    The central server, which rejected all irregular interference and only permitted players to imagine its existence, was in front of their eyes¡­no, the bright golden yellow avatar had said that they were already inside it.


    ¡°Bu¡­but why did such a thing..? Even though veterans say it¡¯s absolutely impenetrable¡­¡±


    After he whispered that in a quivering voice, the girl faintly smiled¡ªso he felt.


    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s true. However, we were given just one way to make our hands touch the natural laws of the world. You already know what it is.¡±


    ¡°Make our hands touch¡­the natural laws of the world¡­¡±


    After parroting her words in a murmur, Haruyuki abruptly opened his eyes.


    ¡°The ?Incarnate system?..? The power of one¡¯s image¡­using ?imagination circuits?, overwriting phenomena¡­¡±


    ¡°Correct. A very strong as well as saddening power¡­¡±


    While listening to the words of the girl who was nodding, Haruyuki remembered something for a moment.


    This was not the first time that he had encountered this bright golden yellow avatar. That had happened during the final stage of the direct connection duel carried out with Takumu in Takumu¡¯s room today, no, probably already yesterday night.


    From inside Haruyuki, who had been blasted away by Takumu¡¯s ?Dark Blow? and had lost the strength even to stand up, the girl had appeared. At that time, sure enough she had said it. That ¡°because the circuits to thecentral system had been temporarily activated, I was able to talk with you, Haruyuki.¡±


    The central system was namely the BB server, the ?Main Visualizer? that the girl had mentioned. And the circuits were¡ª?imagination circuits?. It was the root of the Incarnate system, the path of conveying one¡¯s image power to the natural laws of the world.


    ¡°But¡­we haven¡¯t been using the Incarnate system..? What¡¯s what, I don¡¯t understand well what Mind Power is either¡­to begin with, we were sleeping, both of us¡­¡±


    Chiyuri, who had been behind and to the left of Haruyuki up until now, took a step forward and asked that.


    If one looked again, Lime Bell and the mysterious bright golden yellow avatar had completely opposite armor colors, but their entire body design lines were similar in some respect. They did not just have the point in common of having ?leaf? and ?flower petal? exterior motifs but also something deeper and more fundamental.


    The girl who had seen Chiyuri nodded slowly and pointed with her left hand to the dark, long tunnel through which the two had passed.


    ¡°This tunnel is precisely the ?imagination circuit?. The two of you had followed the circuit of your friend, whose heart you were connected to, and arrived as far as here.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­T, Taku¡¯s..!?¡±


    ¡°Then¡­right now, is Takumu invoking the Incarnate system..?¡±


    The two of them raised their voices one after the other, but the girl gently shook her head sideways.


    ¡°This image is not his own. It¡¯s a tunnel joined by the black power that¡¯s penetrated inside him. ¡ªOver there.¡±


    This time, the girl lifted her right hand and indicated the tip of the passageway that disappeared into jet black space. The floating bridge, which extended while twisting and turning, seemed to descend into the depths, into the depths of space as if to avoid the sparkling, vast galaxy high in the sky. After squinting hard, far ahead through the darkness through which he had seen¡ª.


    An avatar who was walking totteringly step by step while doubling his large frame over and deeply hanging his head was slightly visible.


    Without verifying his blue heavy armor and the Enhanced Armament on his right arm, Haruyuki and Chiyuri knew who that was.


    ¡°T¡­Taku!!¡±


    ¡°Takkun!!¡±


    The two simultaneously raised shouting voices close to screams and began to run forth. However, in front of the two, a bright golden yellow left arm swiftly blocked them.


    ¡°You mustn¡¯t. If you carelessly approach him, you¡¯ll be noticed by that.¡±


    ¡°Th¡­that..?¡±


    While being driven by impatience, he instinctively focused his gaze to where Takumu was walking.


    A few seconds later, as if his eyes had become accustomed to the darkness, ?something? dimly stood out.


    It was a thing that was difficult to describe as anything other than being enormous. If one said so, maybe a ?lump of black living tissue?. Meat wriggling in an indeterminate form that was surrounded by innumerable blood vessels in the shape of a mesh and was pulsing with a thump, thump. The blood vessels extended while branching off into the surrounding space, making its thin tips snake back and forth like tentacles.


    The state of the ?black lump of meat? swaying with a fixed rhythm somewhere resembled the ?light of the galaxy? in the sky overhead. However, the impression it gave was the exact opposite. Chaos that opposed order. Darkness that opposed light.


    ¡°Wh¡­what is that¡­Why is that thing in the middle of the central server..?¡±


    To Chiyuri¡¯s trembling voice, the girl also lowered her voice and answered.


    ¡°That is¡­not something that the system gave birth to. It¡¯s something whose seed has been sown by someone among the BB players and had been slowly, slowly nurtured over many years¡­a so-to-speak ?foreign substance?¡­¡±


    ¡°Whose seed has been sown¡­nurtured¡­¡±


    Immediately after he murmured that, Haruyuki convulsed his body with a twitch and gasped in a voice unlike one.


    ¡°S, surely not¡­the ?Disaster Armor?? Is that, the main body of the Armor..?¡±


    ¡°Uh-unh, it¡¯s not like that. The Armor is one of the ?Seven Stars?¡­a part of the system. The Destiny, see it¡¯s over there.¡±


    Her bright golden yellow arm pointed to near the center of the galaxy glittering in the distant overhead sky. When he looked, he saw some stars that were aligned in the shape of a ladle shining even more largely and brightly than the surrounding points of light. As if in sympathy with it, Haruyuki¡¯s eyes were drawn to the sixth star from the left.


    Differing from the five to its left, only that star seemed to be accompanied by the dark, small companion star at its immediate side. As the girl had stated, if the sixth star were the main body of the Divine Weapon ?The Destiny?, then the dark companion star at its side was the ?will to destroy? dwelling inside the Armor¡ªprobably.


    Feeling a strange heartrending sorrow toward the figures of the two stars of differing sizes, Haruyuki slid his gaze to the right. There existed the seventh star and the final Divine Weapon of the Chinese name ?Yao Guang?[1], ?The Fluctuating Light?. Sure enough, a large golden light could be seen wavering¡ªbut to Haruyuki, it could be thought of as being the center of the light of the galaxy itself.


    What exactly did all this mean? No matter how immense the power they held was, the Divine Weapons in the end were Enhanced Armaments, one of the simple equipped items. Did that exist in the center of the Brain Burst Program itself..?


    For a moment, he had that doubt, but Haruyuki immediately discarded it. Now was not the time to be thinking about the structure of the Accelerated World. Cyan Pile, who was walking with his head hanging down, would reach the black lump of meat a few minutes later.


    He knew that grotesque lump was not the ?Disaster Armor?. If so, then what was it¡ª.


    ¡°Ah..! H, Haru, look! It¡¯s not just Takkun..!¡±


    Chiyuri had sudden shouted and pointed slightly to the left of Cyan Pile with her right hand. As he had been told, he strained his eyes as hard as he could. Sure enough, the same type of thin floating bridge on which Haruyuki and company were standing was extending from there as well; what was more, somebody was walking on it.


    It was a small-class duel avatar. A familiar form. He was hanging his burly arms as though they were scraping the bridge and bending his body possessing a voluminous upper body over with all his might. His armor color was grass green.


    ¡°¡­B, Bush Utan..!¡±


    There was no mistaking it. That was Bush Utan, who was like a brother to ?Ash Roller?, who belonged to the green legion. Only a few days before, he had fought with Haruyuki in the Suginami area and had flourished his terrifying Incarnate techniques of darkness at will like a seasoned expert.


    Without even noticing Haruyuki¡¯s cry, Utan still trudged toward the black lump.


    No; it did not end with him. Behind him too. Above and below as well. A countless number of floating bridges that had been hidden in deep darkness until now stood out in Haruyuki¡¯s field of vision.


    On one bridge, without exception there was one duel avatar existing apiece; all were continuing to advance with a lifeless gait. The total number of the bridges that extended radially from the lump of meat, at a rough estimate, was thirty¡ªno, possibly over fifty.


    At this point in time, Haruyuki finally realized what that jet black organism was.


    That was the main body of the mysterious ?ISS Kit?. Hadn¡¯t Takumu said it? That all ISS Kits were mutually linked. That if one Kit became stronger, then the surrounding Kits also became stronger. This very sight was undoubtedly that ?link?. Each time they fell asleep, through the imagination circuits of Brain Burst they were lured to this world and were mutually connected through the main body of the Kit, the lump of flesh.


    In truth, a number of duel avatars had already arrived at the lump of meat and were kneeling before it. The black blood vessels extending from the lump crawled tightly around their entire bodies; while throbbing with a thump, thump, they seemed to be exchanging either liquid or information of some sort.


    ¡°No¡­no¡­¡±


    Chiyuri, who although had less knowledge relating to the Kit than Haruyuki but had intuitively inferred the meaning of the sight before her eyes, whispered in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°This is cruel¡­everybody¡¯s having something precious to them sucked away¡­in exchange, they¡¯re having something undesirable poured into them¡­¡±


    ¡°Ahh¡­that¡¯s right. That thing¡­that lump led Taku astray. Even though he fought with me and had finally begun to regain himself¡­at this rate, again he¡¯ll¡­¡±


    After moaning in a low tone, Haruyuki turned to the bright golden yellow avatar standing to his right and shouted.


    ¡°How are we supposed to stop this!? The ones walking over there are our friends! No, the ones there are all comrades playing the same game¡­playing Brain Burst! ¡­That black lump¡­if we destroy that, this can be stopped, right!?¡±


    And then, the girl again swiftly raised her arm and restrained Haruyuki, who had been about to run out after Takumu without waiting for an answer.


    Why Haruyuki had stopped was not because he had run into that arm. It was because he had passed through it. Like a picture that had no substance, her right arm had penetrated Haruyuki¡¯s body without a sound. Due to that disconcertment, Haruyuki had stopped his feet.


    While being astonished, he looked back at the mysterious girl. Since he had always been grasping Lime Bell¡¯s hand, it was not that there were no ?collision detection? in this world.


    The girl smiled just a little bit in a seemingly lonely manner and opened her mouth.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it? I am¡­a memory. I am the memory of a single BB player who left this world a day a long, long time ago¡­the echo of that player¡¯s consciousness¡­¡±


    ¡°M¡­memory..? But you¡¯re able to talk with us like this¡­¡±


    To Chiyuri¡¯s whisper, the girl slightly nodded.


    ¡°With this Main Visualizer, all data is preserved in the same format as that of people¡¯s memories. That¡¯s why, objects with a strong will¡­objects engraved with a prayer or a wish can possess a pseudo-thought circuit. That is me¡­¡±


    ¡°A strong¡­wish¡­¡±


    While murmuring, Haruyuki was remembering something in a cranny of his head.


    The first time he had met her in the midst of his duel with Takumu, the girl had said it. She had been waiting for the person who would undo the curse of the ?Armor?¡­for the person who would heal the anger and grief of ?that person?.


    That person. He did not know who that was. But that person¡¯s wish had probably continued to let the girl exist in the Accelerated World even now.


    As if she had read Haruyuki¡¯s mind, the girl nodded and spoke.


    ¡°In this place, only ?will? realistically possesses power. That black lump is made of an enormous coagulated malicious intent. If you approach it any closer, you two will also be taken in.¡±


    ¡°B¡­but, on the other hand, at this rate Taku will..!¡±


    Driven on by impatience, he looked again at the bridge ahead. The distance between Cyan Pile, who was walking while looking down, and the ISS Kit was already only a few dozen meters. Within another minute, Takumu would be arrested by the black blood vessels and have something precious stolen from him again.


    But, at that moment¡ª.


    ¡°You already have the power.¡±


    Said the girl in a distinct tone.


    ¡°P, power..?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. The ?power to reach your hand out to the far distance for the sake of something precious?.¡±


    ¡°..!¡±


    Haruyuki reflexively looked at his own right hand enveloped in silver-colored armor. His five fingers, sharp-tipped and slender. His hand, which had been afraid of touching something, had been afraid of being linked with someone, and had continued to hide in his pocket for a long time.


    Following that, he looked at his left hand. However, that hand had been securely continuing to grasp Lime Bell¡¯s¡ªChiyuri¡¯s right hand without shrinking from it.


    If it had been before he had become a Burst Linker, even as fellow avatars in the middle of a full dive he would not have been able to show this kind of behavior. However, from that day eight months ago, lots of people had extended their hands out to Haruyuki and had shared their encouragement and courage with him.


    ¡ªI¡¯m no longer the me of the time when I walked while only facing down. This hand isn¡¯t here for the purpose of breaking out into a cold sweat and being hidden behind me. It exists for the sake of grasping the hands extended out to me¡­no, for joining hands with someone of my own accord.


    As if in sync with Haruyuki¡¯s thoughts, Chiyuri lifted Haruyuki¡¯s left hand and tightly clasped it.


    ¡°You can do it; if it¡¯s you, Haruyuki, then you can do it. Your hands¡­your feelings can reach where Takkun is.¡±


    Nodding and strongly squeezing back, Haruyuki spoke.


    ¡°Aah. I will reach him. As if I could stand letting Taku be taken by that lump of meat.¡±


    The bright golden yellow girl had said only will possessed power in this world. That basically meant one could only use the Incarnate system. To put it the other way, normal techniques did not have any kind of power. That was the reason why Silver Crow couldn¡¯t fly in this world.


    Haruyuki¡¯s only Mind Power technique, ?Laser Sword?, was a basic technique of the range expansion type. Having said that, the interval added from his bare fists was at most two meters. In contrast, he estimated the distance from himself to Takumu, who was continuing to walk, and the black lump of meat immediately opposite him to be fifty meters.


    However, in this world, things such as apparent distances held no meaning. If he fired while believing his shot would not reach that far, then even large-class missiles probably would not reach; if he fired believing he could reach that far¡ªeven with Haruyuki¡¯s immature Mind Power, it would definitely reach.


    With his left hand still grasping Chiyuri¡¯s right, Haruyuki lowered his waist and spread his legs open one in front of the other. He sharply lined up the five fingers of his right hand.


    ¡°Your chance is only one point, one moment.¡±


    Immediately to his right, the girl had whispered.


    ¡°But, if it¡¯s you, you can definitely do it. Believe. Believe in yourself¡­in yourself and in the power of the many people who have joined their hearts with your own.¡±


    And then the girl¡ªher avatar suddenly began to fade; wholly as if melting into the inside of Haruyuki, her figure overlapped with his and disappeared.


    He had a lot more things he wanted to ask her. However, they would have an opportunity to meet again. Right now, he should only think of taking back Takumu.


    Haruyuki had intuitively understood the girl¡¯s meaning that his opportunity was one chance. In order for that lump of meat to connect with Takumu, it must expose some kind of vulnerable part. He would aim and shoot there.


    He concentrated his senses in his right hand; a dazzling silver light was born in his fingertips and immediately covered him up to near his elbow.


    As if responding to that light, the far-off lump of meat stirred its blood vessels extending from its whole body. It moved its tentacle-like tips and seemed to search its surroundings. Sure enough as the girl had said, if Haruyuki approached any closer those tentacles would notice him and try to take him in. Like how the ruptured ?Kit? had done so at the end of his battle with Takumu.


    While reverberating with a high riiiing vibration sound, the silver light in his right hand extended a couple dozen centimeters in the shape of a sharp sword. Trying to guard his right hip with the pre-motion of the normal ?Laser Sword?, Haruyuki stopped his arm still.


    The same techniques, the same Mind Power he had been using up until now would not be able to reach it. He had suddenly intuitively felt that. Haruyuki had already fought with the aura generated by the ISS Kit with his Mind Power yesterday night. To bore through that redoubtable, thick darkness, he needed a stronger, stronger image of piercing.


    As if being led by something, he raised his right arm up to the height of his shoulder. He bent his body and arms and drew them tight nearly to his limits. It was the motion of the astonishing long-range attack that in the past his teacher and parent Kuroyukihime¡ªBlack Lotus had shown a number of times, ?Vorpal Strike?.


    That Incarnate technique was probably the ultimate range expansion and power expansion technique. One could not use the same technique without preparation. But he was sure he could definitely do it just by redoubling his image. He had to do it.


    Due to the preparatory motion to which he was unaccustomed his image had possibly wavered, causing the Over-Ray residing in his right arm to flicker irregularly.


    That moment, his left hand was gripped even more tightly. Simultaneously, a whispering voice.


    ¡°Haru. Though I can¡¯t use Mind Power, my feelings are the same as yours. I want to take back Takkun. In order for us to begin to walk facing the future, not the past. Even if¡­even if one day our paths differ.¡±


    Though her voice had slightly quivered and trembled, Chiyuri had proclaimed that distinctly.


    Suddenly, a pale light green glitter covered Lime Bell¡¯s whole body. That vivid light also flowed into Haruyuki¡¯s body as well through their joined hands, stabilized the Over-Ray in his right hand, and strengthened it further.


    ¡°That¡¯s the power of Mind Power, Chiyu.¡±


    Haruyuki had answered in a dwindled voice.


    ¡°Pray for me. That my hand can reach Taku.¡±


    ¡°Unh.¡±


    Riiiiiing¡­The resonance like the sound of a bell increased again in volume. The black lump of meat made its mass of tentacles rustle irritably. However, it seemed unable to find Haruyuki and company.


    At that time, Cyan Pile, who had been continuing to advance forward, finally arrived right before the lump of meat and stopped his feet. As if a thread had been cut, he kneeled and hanged his head deeply.


    On the surface of the ?Pile Driver? covering Takumu¡¯s right arm, a burbling black globule rose up. It opened its eyeball with a color like that of drenched blood and looked about, checking its surroundings¡ªand its entire form suddenly floated up.


    With the narrow blood vessel tissue still joined to Takumu¡¯s right arm, wholly like a snail¡¯s antennae the black eyeball slowly lengthened upwards. From the main body, the black lump of meat, a bundle of thick blood vessels was extended out in order to accept it.


    At the moment when both of them tried to conjugate with the other¡ª.


    In one go, Haruyuki thrust his right arm straight out, which he had been tensing above his shoulder to his limit. At the same time, he shouted the words welling up from inside his heart.


    ¡°¡ª?Laser¡­Lance?!¡±


    With an intense metallic sound, a narrowly condensed lance of light was shot far, far from his right arm.


    The lance penetrated the darkness lurking around the main body of the ISS Kit and lengthened. Twenty meters, thirty meters; its momentum had not yet declined.


    However, there Haruyuki felt a heavy resistance in his right arm. That feeling. A cold incandescence, same as that of when he had taken Bush Utan¡¯s ?Dark Blow? for the first time.


    ¡ªReach!


    ¡ªReach!


    The unvoiced shouts of Haruyuki and Chiyuri resounded simultaneously. The Over-Ray covering the two avatars scintillated dazzlingly, melted together, and flowed into the lance of light¡ªand blew the heavy film of darkness away in all directions.


    Takumu¡¯s ISS Kit, which had been trying at that very moment to connect with the mass of blood vessels extending from the main body, looked back with the very movement of a living organism and caught sight of the lance. Its black eyelid was opened wide to its limits. It immediately began to return to the place it had parasitically infested, Cyan Pile¡¯s right arm, but a mere moment earlier than that could happen.


    The tip of the Mind Power lance deeply pierced the pupils of the crimson eyeball.


    While raising a terrible splat sound and spraying out a jet black liquid, the eyeball ruptured all too easily. All of a sudden, Haruyuki felt the ferocious waves of anger emitted by the vast lump of meat¡ªthe Kit¡¯s main body.


    The countless tentacles stretching from the lump somewhere resembling a brain searched for the intruder, swirling violently. Directly below them, Cyan Pile, who had been hanging his head down, suddenly lifted his head.


    ¡°T¡­Taku! Over here!!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted in as loud a voice as he could muster. Takumu, who had looked back, visually recognized Haruyuki and Chiyuri. From the depths of the slits engraved in the face mask, his pale eyes, which seemed to have fully awakened, opened wide.


    ¡°Takkun, run!!¡±


    In response to Chiyuri¡¯s scream, Takumu stood his avatar upright and stepped toward the two. Although he ran a few paces across the narrow floating bridge, whatever he was thinking he stopped still and turned about facing his rear¡ªthe direction of the lump of meat.


    The Kit¡¯s main body had twisted together most of its tentacles into a single one and was trying to arrest Cyan Pile again with it. If he were engulfed by that, he would probably be parasitized by a new Kit once more.


    ¡°Taku, run awa..!¡±


    Halfway through, Haruyuki swallowed the words he had begun to yell.


    The reason was that Takumu had suddenly gripped the tip of the steel pile extending from the Pile Driver on his right arm with his left hand.


    That was¡ªthat motion was the Incarnate technique Takumu had mastered, the attack power expansion¡ª


    ¡°?Cyan Blade?!!¡±


    The call of a technique name spoken with his head held high. At the same time, the Enhanced Armament on his right arm was dismantled, and a blue Over-Ray enveloped the pulled-out steel pile. By the time he grasped it firmly again with his two hands with smooth movements, the pile was already changing into a large two-handed sword.


    Without any sign of fearing the rushing mass of tentacles, Takumu held his sword glittering blue overhead.


    ¡°CHEIAAAAAAA¡ª!!¡±


    The vigor of a piercing scream. The very space around him trembled electrically, and an aftershock wave of intimidating might was transmitted as far as where the two were standing stock-still.


    While effusing a light resembling lightning, the two-handed sword cut down from a head-on direction¡ª.


    It severed the swarm of tentacles and cut deeply into the lump of meat of the Kit¡¯s main body.


    A silent shriek.


    The entire body of the lump of meat writhed violently, and the dozens of Burst Linkers joined to its blood vessels also swayed tremblingly. Some of them had regained consciousness and seemed to be blankly gazing around at their surroundings. From the vicinity of the two-handed sword that was still cutting into it, a blue light stretched radially and gave birth to some fine cracks.


    Right after, a part of the Kit¡¯s main body about ten meters in diameter internally exploded, and a large amount of black liquid and gas was dispersed. The passageway in which Takumu, Haruyuki, and Chiyuri were standing crumbled from its base. The avatars, losing their balance, were helplessly thrown into the bottomless space of outer space¡­


    ¡ªOr so they had thought, but the next moment.

 Volume 8 - CH 5

    Chapter 5


    ¡°¡­Uwaah! W, we¡¯re falling..!¡±


    While yelling, Haruyuki abruptly picked himself up.


    Just at that moment, both sides of his neck were lightly pulled.


    ¡°Eh¡­what¡­¡±


    While feeling his heartbeat ringing like an alarm bell, he looked several times left and right. An off-white wallpaper. A super-thin panel TV. A large dining table and a kitchen counter beyond it.


    It was his living and dining rooms, which he was accustomed to seeing. He had been sleeping on the mattresses laid on the ground.


    The home server, which had sensed the motion of Haruyuki raising his upper body, illuminated the ceiling panel lights at a low lux1 setting. In the dim gray light, he looked at what had pulled his neck; it was two XSB cables extending from his Neuro Linker, which he had been wearing. He traced the cable on the left side with his eye; only fifty centimeters from his side, the sleeping face of his childhood friend¡ªKurashima Chiyuri, who had peeled off her blanket and was sleeping with her tummy sticking out from the hem of her pajamas, dived into his view.


    ¡ªSurely, it wasn¡¯t all a dream?


    Becoming a duel avatar in a strange place; passing through a long tunnel and seeing the light of the galaxy; meeting that bright golden yellow girl again there¡­it was all just a dream..?


    While Haruyuki was taken with that bewilderment, at almost the same time Chiyuri lifted her eyelids with a momentum that nearly made a sharp sound.


    Chiyuri exchanged glances with him for only a mere second, then shouted in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°Haru¡­where¡¯s Takkun!? Was he able to come back safely from there!?¡±


    Those words indicated she had also shared the same experience as Haruyuki.


    That was right; there was no way it had been just a dream. What they had experienced in that world, what had happened was all real. The two had passed through ?imagination circuits? and had entered the Brain Burst central server, had discovered the ?main body of the ISS Kit?, and had awakened Takumu, to whom it had been trying to connect, with Haruyuki¡¯s Incarnate technique, and then¡­


    ¡°¡ªTaku!¡±


    While raising his voice Haruyuki turned his body toward the mattress laid on his right side.


    In the dim light, in contrast to Chiyuri, Mayuzumi Takumu was in a proper upward-facing position with a straightened back and was closing his eyelids.


    ¡°Takkun..!¡±


    While Chiyuri also shouted thinly, she climbed over Haruyuki¡¯s two legs and knelt at Takumu¡¯s immediate side. At the moment when her extended hand tried to touch his shoulder, Takumu¡¯s eyes opened with great momentum.


    His slightly brown pupils caught sight of Chiyuri and Haruyuki in order, who were holding their breaths and had stopped still. His left hand came out from beneath the blanket and touched the Neuro Linker equipped to his neck and the cable extending from his direct connection terminal connecting him to Haruyuki.


    At last his childhood friend spoke in a distinct voice that did not seem like that of just having woken up.


    ¡°¡­It wasn¡¯t a dream, was it. No, it¡¯s different. Haru and Chii-chan destroyed my nightmare for me. That¡¯s how it was, right?¡±


    And then he wore the exact same unchanged gentle smile he always had on his lips.


    That moment, Haruyuki extended his right hand; while seizing Takumu¡¯s left shoulder with all his might he shouted.


    ¡°Taku, you, you¡­if we tell you to run away, then run away! There it¡¯d normally be impossible to counterattack!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! If you got caught by those nasty tentacles, what would you have done!¡±


    While also drawing near Takumu as if to lean on him, Chiyuri too raised a shrill voice.


    Takumu, who, at the last scene of the ?dream? a moment ago, far from escaping from the raging main body of the Kit had counterattacked with his Incarnate technique immediately after having escaped its mind control due to Haruyuki¡¯s Incarnate technique and was being reproached for that, answered while changing his smile to a seemingly regretful one.


    ¡°W, well you see, I thought of it right off the bat¡­That thing¡¯s to blame; it¡¯s the root of all evil. And I had the feeling that I had to return the favor with a blow by any means¡­¡±


    ¡°W, well, as for me too, if I could¡¯ve then I would¡¯ve liked to give it a hard knock with all my might though¡­¡±


    After unconsciously nodding, Haruyuki abruptly raised his face and inquired hurriedly.


    ¡°Th, that¡¯s right, besides that¡­what happened? How¡¯s ¡®the thing¡¯ inside you..?¡±


    Inside the ?dream?, with his new Incarnate technique ?Laser Lance? Haruyuki had definitely pierced through and destroyed the ISS Kit, which had broken off from Takumu¡¯s right arm. However, if that were an occurrence in the imaginary world, even if it weren¡¯t an actual dream he still did not know how much influence he had exerted.


    The questioned Takumu lowered his eyes and then tightly closed his eyelids.


    His right hand rose up and touched the area around his brow. His furrowed eyebrows trembled little by little. Takumu, who was in that state for a while, at last lowered his hand, and with his snapped-open eyes he stared straight at Chiyuri first, then at Haruyuki¡ª.


    He emitted a subdued voice.


    ¡°¡­It disappeared.¡±


    ¡°Eh..?¡±


    ¡°It disappeared, Haru. That thing, which had been staying in a place deep inside my head since yesterday night and had always been whispering to me¡­it disappeared¡­¡±


    At the same time as his words were petering out, the home server, which had judged that the inhabitants had risen from bed, raised the degree of illumination further.


    The daylight color of the panel lights shone on the face of the widely smiling Takumu. It was no different than his smile since they had become the power forwards of Nega Nebulas¡ªno, than the smile of his old friend always at his side if Haruyuki looked there while they played as if in a trance since their childhood days.


    ¡ªIt was Taku. He had returned. To my side. To a place I could reach if I extended my hand out.


    The moment he believed that, the smile of Takumu before his eyes was covered in a boisterous dance of white light and became blurred.


    The instant he was aware of a hot something overflowing from his own eyes, out of embarrassment Haruyuki bumped his forehead into Takumu¡¯s broad chest with a thump.


    ¡°Y¡­you caused us to worry..!¡±


    While shouting roughly on purpose, Haruyuki tried to hold back his tears with all his might, but on the contrary they welled up endlessly. With clenched teeth, from his throat he leaked out something, a sob like that of a child.


    ¡°Uh¡­nn¡­kk¡­uh..!¡±


    A large, warm hand gently slapped the back of Haruyuki, who, unable to stand it all, was causing his shoulders to tremble.


    ¡°Just¡­just a moment, Haru, no matter how you think about it that¡¯s my role, isn¡¯t it!¡±


    The voice of Chiyuri, who, aghast, had shouted that, was however also clearly wet. Immediately after, around Haruyuki¡¯s left shoulder Chiyuri also heavily bumped her body with a thump.


    While feeling the body warmth of his two childhood friends with his whole body, Haruyuki only continued to be filled to the brim with hot tears.


    And then, suddenly, in the far depths of his head he heard a faint voice.


    ¡­I¡¯m glad for you. That you were able to save your friends.


    That was unmistakably that strange bright golden yellow girl avatar. While bearing his sobs, Haruyuki replied with his thoughts.


    ¡ªThank you, it¡¯s all thanks to you.


    ¡­Fufu, I didn¡¯t do anything. The light of your heart shone upon the darkness. I want you to keep walking the path in which you believe. If you continue to gather lots of light, one day for sure the time when that person¡¯s deep despair will also be healed will come¡­


    At this time he did not really understand the meaning of those words.


    However, as if being led by something Haruyuki murmured.


    ¡ªUnh. I promise. One day, I will definitely free you¡­free you and him from the cycle of the ?Disaster?¡­


    ¡­Thank you. I believe in you¡­


    With those final few words, the voice faded and disappeared.


    With the sleeve of his pajamas, he roughly wiped his tears, which he had finally begun to get under control, and he lifted his head; to hide his embarrassment Haruyuki shouted with great force.


    ¡°It¡­it seems like after running till we were about to die my stomach¡¯s hungry. I¡¯m going to see if there isn¡¯t anything in the fridge¡­¡±


    Chiyuri¡¯s stunned voice overtook Haruyuki, who had pulled out the direct connection cable, had stood up, and was running with heavy footsteps toward the kitchen.


    ¡°Hey there, even if you¡¯re talking about running, wasn¡¯t it in the middle of a dream!¡±


    Following her was also Takumu¡¯s laughing voice.


    ¡°Ha ha ha¡­Haru, I¡¯m counting on you for my share too!¡±


    After heating three people¡¯s rations¡¯ worth of frozen cubes of clam chowder and pouring equal amounts into their soup cups, Haruyuki carried them to the dining table.


    He looked at the wall clock; it was already close to six in the morning. If he released the window glass¡¯ light shielding mode, the morning light from the east would probably shine in. It was an hour earlier than his regular waking time, but he considered getting up today as he was and stretched enormously.


    At the same time the two who had cleaned up their beds came to the table, they first took a sip of the soup from which steam was rising. After puffing out their breaths, their gazes met.


    The first to open her mouth was Chiyuri, whose expression had become serious.


    ¡°Takkun. Um¡­with this, it¡¯s okay to think of the problematic ?ISS Kit? as having completely disappeared, right?¡±


    ¡°Unh, I believe so. I don¡¯t have data backing me up, but my intuition says so.¡±


    There was no hesitation in the voice of Takumu, who had come to that conclusion immediately. Haruyuki also nodded and spoke while thinking.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about reducing its degree of endurance in the duel stage, how do you put it¡­we destroyed some save data in the server. If it survived that, on the other hand that¡¯d be surprising¡­¡±


    ¡°?Server?. ¡ªHaru, basically that place was Brain Burst¡¯s..?¡±


    To Takumu¡¯s inquiry, he nodded softly.


    ¡°Aah. The ?Brain Burst central server?¡­That person had said so¡­¡±


    To Takumu, who had awakened on the brink of leaving the server, Haruyuki and Chiyuri alternately explained what they had experienced in that world.


    The long, dark tunnel and the infinite space in its depths. The wavering light of the galaxy and the jet black lump of meat. And then, the strange bright yellow golden avatar who had appeared from inside Haruyuki and explained various things to him¡ª.


    ¡°¡­I see¡­¡±


    Takumu, still with his glasses removed, was silent for a while with his completely regular ?professor mode? expression. After probably having had his head revolve furiously for a number of seconds, he lifted his head and emitted some words crisply.


    ¡°Haru, do you remember? What we discussed regarding the vulnerability of the ISS Kit, last night, before sleeping.¡±


    ¡°V, vulnerability¡­um sure enough, what we said about since it has a power that formidable, it must also have a weakness to counterbalance it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. At first, you had struck that very vulnerability. While its equipper is sleeping during the night, the ISS Kit automatically opens its imagination circuits and connects the equipper¡¯s consciousness to the central server. There, with other equippers, it executes a so-to-speak¡­?nightmare parallel processing?-type of operation, strengthening the Kit¡¯s main body as well as its terminals¡­¡±


    At Takumu¡¯s words, Haruyuki and Chiyuri simultaneously caused their bodies to shudder.


    ¡°Some¡­somehow, that¡¯s absurd¡­Isn¡¯t a thing like that already out of the limits of what players can do..?¡±


    To Chiyuri¡¯s whisper, Takumu lightly bit his lip.


    ¡°Aah, truthfully, I also have no clue how one would be able to make an Enhanced Armament that could do that kind of thing. But¡­if I could say one thing, then it would be that the Brain Burst program undoubtedly had that function from the outset. The one of ?opening the imagination circuits as a dream and connecting to the central server?.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­that means that..?¡±


    ¡°Haru, you remember too right? What had happened the night of the day you installed Brain Burst.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    After lightly raising his voice and exchanging glances with Chiyuri, Haruyuki deeply nodded.


    There was no way he could forget it. He did not remember the details, but in the fall of last year, Haruyuki, who had received the program from Kuroyukihime, had seen a long, long nightmare. The program had filtered that dream and created Haruyuki¡¯s other self, the duel avatar ?Silver Crow?. The avatar data must have also been registered simultaneously in the central server¡ªrather than that, it was more natural to think of that process as having occurred in the interior of the central server. That night, sure enough Haruyuki had communicated with the server while sleeping. It was basically completely the same as what had happened to Takumu¡¯s self tonight¡ª.


    Taking a sip of his soup, while being lost even further in thought Takumu continued.


    ¡°The nightly parallel processing, that¡¯s the very heart of the strength of the ISS Kit, but¡­however, at the same time it also has a humongous opening. Because no matter what, it¡¯ll call Burst Linkers right up to the side of the main body. Although if everyone¡¯s under its control like I was, it wouldn¡¯t become a problem¡­¡±


    To Takumu, who had lifted his head and had laughed meaningfully, Haruyuki also returned a wide laugh.


    ¡°The guys who created the Kit also probably sure didn¡¯t imagine there were Burst Linkers who make direct connections and sleep with its equippers in real life.¡±


    ¡°On top of that, all the more because it¡¯s a user who can attack with the ?range expansion Incarnate technique? outside the sphere of influence of the Kit¡¯s main body.¡±


    Watching the two boys laughing together with a ¡°fufufufu,¡± Chiyuri shook her head with an ¡°oh dear,¡± but she spoke immediately in a half-smiling, half-displeased manner.


    ¡°In short, this time¡¯s the victory of our bonds! That¡¯s what it is! Aah, enough already, I want to meet the mastermind right now and say ¡®Serves you right!¡¯ to him!¡±


    Gulping down her soup to the last drop, she vigorously returned her cup to the table, and after a shake of her short hair disheveled from sleep she opened her mouth again.


    ¡°¡­Hey, Takkun. At the end of that ?dream?, you chopped up the Kit¡¯s main body with ?Cyan Blade? right. With that, were you able to destroy the main body..?¡±


    ¡°¡­No.¡±


    The interrogated Takumu changed his expression and slowly shook his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but it didn¡¯t have the effect of being able to destroy it completely. ¡ªHowever, I ought to have dealt some adequate damage to its accumulated ?malice? and its transmission circuits. The clones belonging to the same cluster as I do probably lost quite a bit of power.¡±


    The ?cluster? of which Takumu spoke was a group consisting of the same ISS Kit¡¯s source of reproduction¡ªin Takumu¡¯s case, ?Magenta Scissor?¡ªshared by some Burst Linkers and from there the people who possessed further copies of the Kit. At the last of last night¡¯s duel, if they had not been able to stop the Kit, which had broken off from Takumu and had tried to parasitize Haruyuki, Haruyuki also would have become a member of that cluster.


    While remembering the figure of the grass green avatar walking next to Takumu¡¯s side inside the nightmare, Haruyuki murmured.


    ¡°¡­That means, if we think about releasing ?Bush Utan? and ?Olive Glove? from the Kit, then now¡¯s our chance.¡±


    ¡°Unh. If it¡¯s now, then even if we don¡¯t enter the central server, we might be able to destroy it in a normal duel. Of course, with normal techniques it¡¯s of no use, but if we use Incarnate techniques I think there¡¯s a possibility.¡±


    ¡°Understood. Convey this matter to that guy¡¯s ?big brother?. If we could do something we would, but today we can¡¯t make a move¡­¡±


    At Haruyuki¡¯s words, Chiyuri and Takumu looked at the clock on the wall.


    The date and time displayed was June 20th 2047, Wednesday, 6:30 A.M.


    At seven tonight¡ªthat was to say, after twelve hours and a little bit later, Haruyuki would have to challenge a mission of high difficulty. Namely, the ?Imperial Palace escape strategy?.


    Currently, his other self Silver Crow had been left behind in the depths of the ?Imperial Palace? existing in the center of the Unlimited Neutral Field together with the purification ability user ?Ardor Maiden?. If the two did not slip through the fierce attack of ?Suzaku, one of the Four Divine Beasts? and return alive from there once more, as a Burst Linker Haruyuki had no future. As for why, if he were not purified of the ?Disaster Armor? lurking in the depths of his avatar, at the next Seven Kings¡¯ meeting a bounty of the highest price would be placed on his head.


    The night before the mission when he was really supposed to have slept soundly and fully he had braved an unexpected adventure, but on the contrary Haruyuki unusually felt brimming with energy. He had a real sense that the duel with Takumu, who had been violated by the ISS Kit, and the experience in the central server after that had given him a definite something.


    The three, who had turned their faces back from the clock, nodded firmly and deeply at one another. Chiyuri, who was at his left, with a smile slapped Haruyuki¡¯s back with great force.


    ¡°Haru, you own that bird easily and come back right away!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Haru, compared with fighting me on IS mode, that¡¯s easy isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, look who¡¯s talking Mayuzumi-sensei2.¡±


    At the point where the two boys again grinned widely, this time¡¯s spontaneous sleepover event was wrapped up for the time being.


    Chiyuri, the brave warrior who was going to return to her home two floors downstairs in her pajamas, proceeded to the door first, and Takumu, who had changed into sweats, followed afterward. Haruyuki, who had gone out to see the two off, noticed by chance Takumu¡¯s small gesture.


    He was holding up his right hand and was softly holding the area of the outside of that wrist with his left arm. It was the exact spot where the ISS Kit had parasitized Cyan Pile.


    Approaching a step, from behind Haruyuki called out to Takumu in a small voice.


    ¡°Taku¡­I have to apologize. For destroying your ?power?¡­¡±


    His old chum who had looked back smiled, but in its depths Haruyuki felt there was a faint plaintiveness after all. However, Takumu greatly shook his head and spoke distinctly.


    ¡°¡ªTo be sure, if I said I didn¡¯t feel any attachment to that terrible power altogether, it¡¯d be a lie. However, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Because I want to be how I am now after all. No matter how much I worry or hesitate.¡±


    ¡°¡­Taku¡­¡±


    ¡°Besides that, I obtained something much bigger than that power. That¡¯s why there¡¯s no need for you to apologize, Haruyuki.¡±


    At Takumu¡¯s words he blinked his eyes; while tilting his head to the side he inquired.


    ¡°Eh¡­does that mean some amazing special technique-like..?¡±


    Whereupon quicker than Takumu could reply, Chiyuri, who had finished wearing her shoes, turned her head round and shouted.


    ¡°Ah¡ªenough already, why are you so dull! What Takkun wants to say is¡­¡±


    There for some reason Chiyuri cut her words short and grinned broadly.


    ¡°¡­You should think about it yourself after all. It¡¯s your homework for tomorrow!¡±


    Haruyuki, who had tidied the table to its original state, bolted down a breakfast of cereal and milk, changed into his uniform, and left the house.


    While riding the elevator down, he typed a short text mail to his mother. The content was a report saying that he had properly gotten up and went to school and thanks for having let Takumu and Chiyuri stay over last night. Now that he thought of it there was also the plan tonight to assemble all legion members at the Arita residence, but they ought to disperse before his mother returned home, so he omitted that. When he had descended to ground level he sent it.


    Some seconds later the reply was the single word ¡¾Understood¡¿, but precisely five hundred yen¡¯s worth of money code was attached. Haruyuki smiled in spite of himself and gratefully charged it into his own account.


    Haruyuki¡¯s mother, the person Arita Saya, was a rather mysterious woman even from the view of her biological child. She would be thirty-seven this year, so she had given birth to Haruyuki when she was twenty-three. He had not asked the person herself the particulars about her personal history, but at that time she still must have been a student attending a graduate school in the Tokyo metropolitan area. While at school, with a man three years older working at a network-related enterprise she had entered her name in the family register and had borne a child. However, the details of that area¡¯s time series were unknown, and no wedding ceremony had been held either. That seemed to be the reason why they were still estranged from his maternal grandparents¡¯ house in Yamagata.


    While rearing a baby¡ªgranted, she had depended considerably on the Neuro Linker¡ªshe had completed her master¡¯s coursework, obtained her MBA qualifications, and had secured a post in a Japanese subsidiary of an investment bank whose head office was in America. Distinguishing herself by being assigned to the training department and working on some large-scale projects, in a number of years she had been promoted to associate¡ª.


    In truth, Haruyuki had heard that story from Chiyuri¡¯s mama Momoe-san. She and Haruyuki¡¯s mother seemed to have been fellow friends since their university years. However, Momoe-san also would not tell him about certain matters. Namely, regarding why Haruyuki¡¯s parents were divorced.


    Their divorce establishment was seven years ago. His mother was thirty, his father thirty-three, and Haruyuki seven. He hardly remembered anything at the time.


    However, there was one scene that had stained a corner of his memory and would not disappear by any means.


    The young Haruyuki, feeling that he had heard voices talking in the middle of the night, had woken up. Straining his ears, sure enough from the other side of the door he could hear some conversational exchange. Why he did not fall asleep again there was because the two voices were sharp with disquiet.


    Alighting from his bed, he softly opened the door. Back then, it was not his current eight-tatami-sized room3 but a 4.5-tatami-sized room that was Haruyuki¡¯s room. Dead ahead in the dark corridor, the glass door shone dimly. Haruyuki moved so as not to raise any footsteps and squatted at the side of the door.


    His parents¡¯ voices, which leaked through and could be heard, were restrained in low tones, but it was clearly a venomous quarrel. The two were violently arguing about something. He could hear words like ¡°looking after,¡± ¡°promise,¡± and ¡°been used,¡± but he didn¡¯t understand their meaning. However, the young Haruyuki intuitively realized his parents were arguing over himself¡­


    There, suddenly as if running into a wall with a clash, his memories were interrupted, and Haruyuki blankly lifted his face.


    Before he realized it he had cut across the apartment house¡¯s spacious front garden and had come to right before the Loop 7 road. He lightly shook his head and switched his thoughts. He did not like to remember things of the past too much.


    At any rate, the person Arita Saya was a woman who kept advancing only forward, forward as if driven on by something. Showing the depths of her heart to no one, not even looking back at her immediate feet¡ª.


    He had sometimes thought that was lonely, but right now he didn¡¯t particularly mind it. She didn¡¯t find fault with his grades; without forgetting she gave him his five hundred yen lunch money; she also let his friends stay over at home. With this if he complained, he would incur divine punishment.


    He took a deep breath, replacing the air built up in his chest; Haruyuki glanced at his virtual desktop¡¯s AR display.


    Today¡¯s weather forecast was cloudy, and around noon a drizzle would sprinkle but would end by evening. The forgotten item warning hadn¡¯t come out either; thanks to having left the house considerably earlier than usual, his estimated time of arrival at school was thirty minutes before the bell. He probably had the leeway to complete one of his missions before going to school.


    Haruyuki, who at present had come out onto the Loop 7 line sidewalk, swung his shoulder bag around to his back and began to walk briskly heading south.


    At the intersection under the central line overpass to where he would normally turn right, he went straight today. Climbing the south slope of Koenji, he rode the elevator-style pedestrian bridge crossing Ome Highway. At its apex he turned left and stopped directly above the wide main highway with four lanes on one side. While looking down at the flow of coming and going EVs, he muttered inside his mouth.


    ¡°Burst Link.¡±


    A roar of thunder resounded, and the world froze blue. He promptly clicked the letter B icon wrapped in flames in the lower left hand corner of the virtual desktop. From the launched ?Install Menu? he opened the Suginami second area matching list, and after running his eyes over the not-too-many avatar names he touched a name somewhere around the middle. Without hesitating he pushed the DUEL button in the small window that had popped up.


    The blue transparent Blue World transformed while emitting a creaking sound. The road became a gravelly dry valley. The buildings became reddish-brown rocky mountains. The sky became a dusty light yellow. It was the ?Wilderness? stage.


    Haruyuki, who had confirmed that the guide cursor was pointing to the south side of Loop 7, vaulted his body, which had transformed into his duel avatar, from the pedestrian bridge. He landed swiftly and awaited the rumble of the gasoline engine approaching from the far distance.


    Just the morning the day before yesterday as well, Haruyuki had ?intruded? at the exact same time and same place on the same opponent. For that reason this time as well his opponent had probably surmised his intention¡ªnot a duel, but the desire for a conversation. Having come to that conclusion, while raising one hand while facing the silhouette that was coming into view,


    ¡°Ah, hello, good morn¡­¡±


    Haruyuki, who had begun his greeting, halfway through changed those words into a scream.


    ¡°Now just wait a momennnnnt!?¡±


    Narrowly throwing his body to the right, he dodged the hunk of iron rushing at maximum speed¡ªthe last-century large-class American bike.


    Before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, the bike, which had settled its pistons while magnificently scattering sparks from the disk brakes of its front and back wheels, left a rut that smell burnt in the gravel-mixed ground and came to a stop. Haruyuki jumped up, and facing the rider on the vehicle, he shouted while being flustered.


    ¡°Uh, um, excuse me, today I also have something to say in ?closed mode?¡­¡±


    But the rider¡ª?Ash Roller?, the level 5 Burst Linker belonging to the green legion ?Great Wall?, waggled a finger on his right hand and cut off Haruyuki¡¯s words.


    ¡°I understand that. I got it, but today let me start today with my turn!¡±


    ¡°Uh, unh¡­¡±


    Ash Roller pointed the index fingers of both his hands straight at Haruyuki, who had been completely overwhelmed.


    ¡°All right, got it you Crow bastard, duel with me today for real! And then, if I lose, I¡¯ll listen to what you have to say. But if I win, you listen to one of my requests! That¡¯s a mega even condition!¡±


    ¡°What? R, request?¡±


    ¡°Besides that, if we continue two times in a row with no duel, the boys and girls of the gallery who took the trouble to register to watch our duels will be mega let down!¡±


    To the remarks emitted from below the skull design shield of the helmet, suddenly cheers of ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right!¡± and ¡°Today we want to see something exciting!¡± followed. Hurriedly Haruyuki looked around at his surroundings and saw the silhouettes of spectators sprinkled on the roofs of the buildings along Loop 7.


    He couldn¡¯t say there were very many, but almost everyone registered on the matching list seemed to have appeared in this stage. Among the Burst Linkers whose homes where west of Shinjuku, there were many who knew that Silver Crow and Ash Roller were closely connected fellow rivals, and since their fights tended to become showy due to the fact that both of their avatars¡¯ performances were too peaky and extreme, a duel of the two seemed to be treated as quite a good match. To add, both were level 5.


    Giving a glance at the time count, which showed that sixty seconds had already elapsed, Haruyuki thought quickly.


    Different from the day before yesterday when they had fully talked for close to thirty minutes, today what he had to transmit to him was just the single message ?If we want to remove Bush Utan¡¯s ISS Kit, now¡¯s our chance?. Surely it would not take thirty minutes. If so, in order also to make the most of his one point that he had gone to the trouble of spending, it wouldn¡¯t be bad to duel with Ash Roller in earnest for the first time in a while. Besides that, at tonight¡¯s ?Imperial Palace escape strategy?, or depending on how Sunday¡¯s ?Seven Kings¡¯ meeting? unfolded, this would become his last duel with him, which he could not deny¡­


    ¡°¡ªUnderstood.¡±


    Nodding deeply, Haruyuki opened his mouth.


    ¡°I will accept it on a condition. If I win, listen properly to what I have to say ¨C just a momennnnnt!¡±


    However, without being able to speak to the end, he changed the end of his sentence into a scream and jumped aside to the left. The reason was that Ash Roller¡¯s large-class bike had charged ferociously without warning.


    ¡°Ah, isn¡¯t that dangerous! I¡¯m still chatting¡­¡±


    ¡°Quiet shut u¡ªp! The duel¡¯s already begun bo¡ªy! My bad but today, you¡¯re gonna let me have a giga co¡ªol victory!¡±


    While shouting that, Ash Roller made another spin turn. While being aware that his rotation radius had become far sharper than that of the time when they had met, Haruyuki also indomitably retorted back.


    ¡°I, I¡¯m going to get a tera gorgeous perfect win myself! Rather than that, to begin with even if I win you¡¯ll only listen to what I have to say, while if you win I have to listen to your request; somehow the conditions seem unbalanced¡­¡±


    ¡°Su¡ªck it! If you¡¯re fussin¡¯ over the details you won¡¯t get used to the wind!¡±


    Spouting exhaust flames from its fat mufflers, the American bike made its third mad dash.


    Ash Roller was an abnormal Burst Linker who had invested the majority of his duel avatar¡¯s potential in his Enhanced Armament, his large-class bike.


    The rider himself had almost no fighting power regardless of whether it was close-range or long-range. In return, his bike was furnished with both high mobility power and high endurance power. A ?Vehicle Enhanced Armament? itself was relatively rare, but within them one could probably say its capacity was top-class.


    If one were forced to name its weaknesses, it would be that it was less adaptable than a living avatar and that it lacked covertness due to its size. If one were to attack the latter point, a ?long-distance firepower concentration attack? would be effective, but Haruyuki did not possess red-class attack power at all.


    Therefore, if he were to fight with Ash Roller on the ground, he would carry out ?life-risking close-range attacks?. Concretely, he would dodge the bike¡¯s charge by a paper-thin margin to the right or left and shower either Ash the person himself or his bike¡¯s engine parts with attacks.


    It would be best if he used Silver Crow¡¯s mobility power to jump straight overhead and to aim for the head of the rider himself, but the other party knew that. The instant Haruyuki entered a vertical jump position he would make the bike wheelie and with a high-speed revolution of his back wheel would use his ?anti-air technique?. His jump attack and the anti-air attack, like the game of rock-paper-scissors, had one-way compatibility; if he took the hit he would not be able to avoid great damage. An unmeasured dive would be suicidal action.


    ¡°Yeeee¡ªhaw¡ª!¡±


    Haruyuki concentrated all his nerves on the huge front tire of the onrushing bike, whose rider was coming with a sharp war cry. The other side was also estimating Haruyuki¡¯s dodge; he would probably minutely adjust his path left or right just beforehand. It would be all right if Haruyuki attacked in the opposite direction; if he evaded in the same direction, he would unmistakably meet an accident with bodily injury.


    ¡ªWhich one¡­right, or left¡­ It¡¯s not the tires but the incline of the bike frame I have to watch¡­


    Activating his ?super-concentration power limited to the middle of gameplay? that had been polished from the time before he had become a Burst Linker, Haruyuki focused on the actions of the entire body of the bike with all his nerves.


    ¡ªAnd then, at that time.


    The winker on the side of the bike that was on the right from Haruyuki¡¯s view flickered with an orange color.


    ¡°Heigh¡­¡±


    While leaking out his voice, he reflexively dived left.


    However, at the same time the bike had also tilted to the left, and the rugged tire pressed in before his eyes¡ª.


    A fearsome impact as if he had been whammed by a humongous hammer. His entire view of the stage whirled round. No, the one revolving round was Haruyuki. While exhibiting a high-speed backward somersault body stretch not acted out nowadays even in gag anime, Silver Crow was blown off several dozen meters and pierced one of the craggy mountains on the east side of the Loop 7 road headfirst.


    Knocked unconscious for a bit, he thrust his arms against the bare rock and deeply pulled his helmet out. As soon as he jumped down on the road, beside himself with rage, he shouted.


    ¡°Y, y, you turned in the opposite direction of your winker! Violation of road traffic laws! Two hundred million yen fine!¡±


    After Haruyuki had done so, while chasing him and charging at him even more, the scarface rider roared with loud laughter.


    ¡°Hyahahahaa¡ª! I, Ash-sama! My existence itself is a violation of road traffic laws¡ª!¡±


    That was the truth. Currently in this age, if one burned fossil fuels on public roads and tried to emit even a cubic centimeter of carbon dioxide, one would be handcuffed on the spot. Furthermore, the explosive roar from the muffler easily broke safety standards, and there was no number plate on the rear. However, of course in the field of the Accelerated World, there were no motorcycle cops who would crack down on him.


    While being showered in the magnificent cheers given off by the surrounding gallery instead of a siren, Ash Roller came rushing, no doubt to knock Haruyuki flying again.


    ¡°You bastard¡­¡±


    While raising a cursing voice, with a glance he checked the upper left hand of his field of vision. Silver Crow¡¯s health gauge had two-tenths scraped away with the damage of a little while ago. In opposition, his special technique gauge had accumulated to the extent of three-tenths, but it was still undependable to activate his ?flying ability? and claim a win.


    He would fly after clashing one more time on the ground. Resolving to do that, Haruyuki dropped his waist and lay in wait for the large-class bike. He had involuntarily fallen for the feint using the winker since it was the first time he had seen it, but he would not fall for the same trick again. In his mind, he shouted that this time for sure, he would barely dodge the charge and hammer him with a special technique counter.


    However, somehow it seemed that Ash Roller also thought that the same feint would not work twice. Instead of causing his winker to blink¡ª


    ¡°Tuo!¡±


    With that shout he jumped vertically from his bike and stood upright with his seat and handle as footing. Like that, while manipulating the bike just like a surfboard he charged. It was Ash¡¯s so-to-speak ?hidden secret?, also by the name of ?V Twin Fists?.


    Its naming as well as its appearance could only be thought of as a joke, but as a matter of fact it had a concealed power that could by no means be belittled. Even if one dodged the bike¡¯s front tire, the kick of the rider himself would come, so it was difficult to get the right timing for a counter. Although Haruyuki had already experienced this technique a number of times, he was still unable to find an effective countermeasure.


    ¡°Yaaaaahoo¡ª!¡±


    Haruyuki stared as hard as he could at the incoming bike slaloming left and right and the rider on it raising a war cry. It was possible to evade him with a large jump, but with that he would not be able to counterattack. Sky Raker, Ash¡¯s master and parent, had destroyed that V Twin Fists with the superhuman feat of ?gripping the bike¡¯s brake lever while making a back dash?, but imitating that was still impossible for Haruyuki.


    Were there no other weaknesses, something, somewhere, someplace¡ª


    ¡°..!¡±


    Abruptly, a flash of insight.


    Would Ash Roller be able to make the bike wheelie from that stance as well? No, it was probably impossible. If he did that, he would tumble from the bike. Basically, what he had to aim for was,


    ¡°The top!¡±


    The instant the huge tire drew close, filling his vision, Haruyuki stooped over and immediately kicked the ground with all his might and leaped up.


    ¡°Towaa!?¡±


    The minute he slammed into the rider himself, who had let out a strange voice, he held on for dear life. The two were separated from the bike and dropped to the road with a thud. The American bike, which had lost its proprietor, ran away as it was to Loop 7.


    ¡°You, you, hold-me-tight¡­no, let go of me you bastard!¡±


    With all his might, Haruyuki tried to pin Ash Roller down, who was kicking and struggling while bellowing. He could not miss this chance.


    ¡°No way! Ash-san without his bike is fukujinzuke4 without curry!¡±


    ¡°What did ya just say! I¡¯m a hardcore fan of Japanese leek with curry!¡±


    At the sight of the two rolling on the ground and grappling, the gallery again became excited. However, in a hand-to-hand battle between their fellow main bodies, Ash Roller did not have the power to pierce Silver Crow¡¯s metallic armor at all. Without even minding the fists flailing around hitting his face and chest, Haruyuki forcefully got behind him and tightly held his chest from the back.


    ¡°Gyah! Wait, y-y-y-you, don¡¯t hug me!¡±


    ¡°I-it¡¯s not that I want to hug you that I¡¯m hugging you!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say hug you suck-it bastard!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who brought it up first¡­right!!¡±


    At the same time he shouted back, Haruyuki deployed his wings in one go. Investing in his special technique gauge, which had been charged to the extent of another tenth with the hand-to-hand fighting of right now, with all his strength he made his ten metal fins vibrate.


    With a doh! impact sound, Silver Crow and Ash Roller took off vertically like a rocket.


    ¡°Gya¡ª! What the heck, we¡¯re flying hi¡ªgh!¡±


    No longer keeping company with his emitted strange scream, with all his energy Haruyuki continued to ascend. In an instant, he passed the rocky mountains where the gallery was standing, and at that rate he reached an altitude as high as one hundred¡ªtwo hundred¡ªthree hundred meters.


    ¡°No, nooooo! I can¡¯t be high up, don¡¯t like it, no thank you¡ª¡­¡±


    The shrill shouting voice suddenly broke off into a mumble. Ash Roller stiffened his body, which had been thrashing about in Haruyuki¡¯s chest, and he asked something in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°Uh, um, Crow-san? Surely not me from here? Not like a streak of a shooting star twinkling in the night sky?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Like some space debris whose trajectory has fallen.¡±


    Nodding, Haruyuki released his hands mercilessly.


    By making use of Silver Crow¡¯s flying ability in combat, Haruyuki had devised some tactics. What he had continued to use from the very beginning was a kick or punch at an extremely high speed from a high, high altitude¡ª?Dive Attack?. Furthermore, recently he was also in the middle of practicing the technique ?Aerial Combo?, which applied the use of his wings¡¯ instantaneous thrusts in close-range hand-to-hand fighting on the ground.


    However, in reality, rather than those two a more surefire and effective way of using it existed. Holding his duel opponent, carrying him as far as the high skies, throwing him, and dealing damage from a high-altitude fall. It was difficult to use on large-class avatars, and he would not be able to hold opponents with a high fighting capacity in the first place, but once fixed, a large amount of damage was almost certain. Why Haruyuki did not really use this technique was because on the contrary he tended to suffer a regrettable counter when his opponents realized he was aiming for close contact, and since there were plenty of avatars who had high resistance against falls even if they couldn¡¯t fly, there was no way not to aim for the situation like this time where it had become a scuffle with the spontaneous flow of things. If Ash Roller fell from this height, the largest value of fall damage would probably be applied to him, whose avatar¡¯s main body¡¯s armor was without the ability to lightly hover or to move in three dimensions.


    Haruyuki had completely forgotten that day¡¯s goal and had become set on victory, but Ash Roller, who was in a desperate plight, was also not a manly opponent to the extent where he would be done in without a peep. On the brink of being separated from Haruyuki¡¯s hand, he grabbed it and at the same time shouted.


    ¡°If it¡¯s gonna be like this, then me and you are goin¡¯ to hell in tandem! ?Flying Knucklehead?~!!¡±


    ¡ªA special technique!?


    Haruyuki reflexively stiffened his body. He had surely not thought that Ash Roller¡¯s main body would have a special technique.


    However, even after some seconds passed nothing happened. Judging that it was a bluff simply to gain time, Haruyuki had been opened his mouth and had been about to say a complaint out of Ash¡¯s not knowing when to give up, but he immediately changed his words to a shout of surprise.


    ¡°Wait a moment Ash-san, there¡¯s limits even to useless struggling¡ªawaaaaaaah!?¡±


    What had surprised Haruyuki was not Ash, whom he was still embracing in his arms¡ªit was two rays of light rapidly approaching from directly below. Narrow, long cylindrical objects closing in while spurting orange flames. Four small wings near the area of their tails and a red lens on their heads. No matter how he looked at them, they were:


    ¡°M-m-missilesss!?¡±


    With a scream, he rapidly launched forth in the air. However, the two missiles somehow seemed to be equipped with homing functions; they made their aims follow him. No matter how much he flew zigzag, he couldn¡¯t outrun them at all.


    Come to think of it, before Ash Roller had certainly said something like ¡°I loaded missiles on my bike.¡± Basically what had fired those was the American bike supposedly fallen on the ground of Loop 7. Even if he were separated from his Enhanced Armament, instructions through voice commands were possible. However.


    ¡°A-a-at this rate you¡¯ll be blown up too right!¡±


    ¡°Heh, it¡¯s better than just being dropped right booooy!¡±


    Sure enough there was that too. Haruyuki tried with all his might to discard his burden, but Ash, who was aiming for a double kill, at that critical moment was also clinging on with his two hands and feet. Due to that, he couldn¡¯t even put out half his normal speed, and within a few seconds the missiles were barely closing in on his toes¡ª.


    ¡°Key Shoooo¡ªp!¡±


    At the same time as Ash Roller¡¯s yell of unclear meaning, they exploded spectacularly.


    What was fearsome about the explosion-type attack was even more than its power and range, if one took its blow, for a while ?one wouldn¡¯t be able to understand anything?. From an altitude of three hundred meters, Haruyuki, who was falling head over heels while being knocked unconscious, had his ability to think restored right before piercing the ground, spread his wings, and suddenly applied a braking motion.


    Where he crashed simultaneously with Ash Roller, who was still tangled up with him, was originally the center of the intersection between Loop 7 and Ome Highway. Peeling off Ash Roller, who was clinging to him even more, he thrust him several dozens of centimeters away and then asked without delay.


    ¡°¡­Um, Ash-san. What¡¯s the ?Key Shop? you just mentioned?¡±


    The bike rider, who seemed to have regained consciousness slightly more slowly, answered in a subdued voice while shaking his skull helmet bit by bit.


    ¡°Well, um¡­when there¡¯s fireworks, you shout ?Tamaya? and ?Kagiya?5 right. For the moment I tried translating them to English¡­but maybe you¡¯re better able to understand ?ball shop??¡±


    ¡°¡­From the bottom of my heart I don¡¯t care either way. In fact, either one¡¯s impossible to understand.¡±


    While mumbling, he checked both their health gauges. Before the missile had directly hit, Haruyuki¡¯s had been less, but his metal armor seemed to have somewhat reduced the explosion damage; at present either one of them only had a trifling ten percent left.


    If one side dealt two, three more clean hits, it would be a situation where a conclusion would be reached, but as they lay on the road surface their faces met, and without knowing it both spoke.


    ¡°¡­Do you want to call it a draw?¡±


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s make it a draw, shall we.¡±


    Mutually nodding, they simultaneously stood up with a heave-ho.


    Looking round at the surrounding gallery, whose members were silently riveting their gazes on the two, Haruyuki strained his voice and shouted.


    ¡°Excuse me, we¡¯re sorry! With this, please let us call this match a draw!¡±


    He had thought that voices of discontent would come, but contrary to his expectations¡ª.


    ¡°Good game!¡±


    ¡°Next time also entertain us again~~¡±


    The spectators individually shouted that, left a grand round of applause, and burst out. While gazing at them, Haruyuki was abruptly self-aware of some sort of deep emotion filling his chest.


    This was a ?duel?. Even if there were thrill or excitement, hatred and anger did not exist. Even if the duelists were vying rivals, they were not enemies to be hated.


    If one considered the cool-headed Brain Burst system, perhaps this world¡¯s creator had envisioned a much more savage survival. However, the players had refused the creator¡¯s intentions with their own will. Undoubtedly that feeling had been put into the name ?Burst Linker?, which had not been prescribed by the system. They were ?comrades?.


    The ones trying to destroy that world were the ?ISS Kit? and the Acceleration Research Society.


    Both Bush Utan, who had fought with Haruyuki some number of days ago, and Takumu, whom he had fought yesterday, did not seem to be enjoying themselves at all. No, the Research Society¡¯s members Dusk Taker too and even Rust Jigsaw were people to whom the enjoyment of duels was irrelevant.


    That was wrong. Absolutely wrong.


    With a slap, a hand wrapped in a leather glove tapped the left shoulder of Haruyuki, who was clenching his fists and standing still.


    ¡°Good fight, you Crow bastard. The weakness of my ?V Twin Fists?, you saw through it nicely.¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sure, next time the same trick won¡¯t work anymore though.¡±


    To Haruyuki, who had replied, Ash Roller let out a laughing ¡°heh¡± voice.


    ¡°Of course. You¡¯d better watch out, ¡®cause next I¡¯ll be doing a wheelie while standing.¡±


    The scarface, which seemed to have boasted that, glanced upward. He had checked the time count. Six hundred seconds remaining. It wasn¡¯t enough, but there was some leeway to talk.


    Ash Roller, who had sat down on one of the handy-sized rocks dotting the inside of the intersection, jerked his chin up in a way that seemed to be telling him to start talking. Haruyuki sat on an opposite rock, nodded, and opened his mouth.


    ¡°Um¡­what I have to say is about Bush Utan.¡±


    He was unable to say as far as the details concerning Takumu to Ash, who tentatively belonged to an enemy legion, but despite that Haruyuki made his maximal efforts to convey information to the limits of what he could convey.


    That the ISS Kit possessed a colony-like nature and linked with so-to-speak ?genetically close? Kits. That the equippers were guided to that link each time they slept at night and connected with the main body of the Kit. That Haruyuki and his legion comrades had attacked that main body in a data-like way and had dealt it considerable damage¡ª.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s why, if we do it now, it might be possible to destroy the ISS Kit parasitizing Utan in the middle of a normal duel. However¡­to do that, there are two problems.¡±


    Staring straight at the face of Ash Roller, who was listening attentively and mutely, Haruyuki spoke.


    ¡°The first is that we probably can¡¯t deal damage to the ISS Kit without Incarnate techniques. And then the second is that Utan experienced firsthand the large-scale Incarnate technique of ?Rust Jigsaw?, who was riding in the tenth vehicle in the recent ?Hermes Cord Race?, and has been harboring a large distrust of the veteran Linkers, who have been hiding the existence of the Incarnate system¡­what he calls ?IS Mode?. And then I believe that feeling has given birth to the impatience that even if he relies on whatever dubious power, if he becomes stronger that¡¯s fine with him; if he¡¯s not strong there¡¯s no meaning. If that¡¯s not resolved, even if his current ISS Kit is destroyed, he¡¯ll undoubtedly search for a new Kit again¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Aah, that¡¯s true. I think that too.¡±


    Nodding, Ash Roller tipped up his skull-design shield with his right hand.


    The face mask within that in some way gave the impression of a science boy looking at the yellow-tinged sky of the ?Wilderness Stage?. A voice with a faded voice effect and an unexpectedly delicate tone flowed quietly.


    ¡°I already talked about how that guy Uu¡¯s ?parent? lost all his points right. It¡¯s probably obvious, but it seemed to have been a big shock to him. Since then, there¡¯s been a huge frightfulness and¡­something like discontent or irritation always staying inside his heart. Doing something about him was probably the responsibility of me, who acted as his older brother¡­the losing-all-your-points system, I still haven¡¯t, how d¡¯ya put it¡­come to terms with it. What I should¡¯ve done for Uu, I didn¡¯t know¡­¡±


    ¡°Come to¡­terms with it?¡±


    Ash nodded slowly at Haruyuki, who had asked that back, and turned his pale green eye lenses at him.


    ¡°?If your Burst Points become zero, the Brain Burst Program itself will be forcibly uninstalled, and you can¡¯t return to being a Burst Linker again.? I was taught straightaway by Master Raker that that was the Accelerated World¡¯s biggest rule. Crow, the same goes for you right?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­yeah. I was distinctly warned as well by senpa¡­Black Lotus the first day I became a Burst Linker.¡±


    ¡°I know right. Now that I think very closely about it, until now I¡¯ve never once really been cornered to the brink of losing all my points. If I were forced to say it, maybe just the time I rose to level 2 my margin was kinda small, and losing immediately afterward to you, level 1 at the time, made me somewhat get the chills.¡±


    At his sharp glare, Haruyuki reflexively shrank his neck.


    Now that he looked back, this Ash Roller was the opponent with whom Haruyuki had first fought as a Burst Linker and to whom he had first lost. After that, he was lectured by his parent Kuroyukihime about various things, and after having preparing all his tactics when he challenged him again, somehow in just in one day Ash had become level 2 and with the thanks of his newly acquired ?wall climbing ability? his tactics had gone to waste.


    Though he had given up on the match there for a moment, he had desperately used his head; that one fight where he had pinpointed the old-type bike¡¯s weakness that ?only the rear wheel had motive power? and had achieved a come-from-behind victory became Haruyuki¡¯s starting point of tactics.


    The ?margin? in Ash¡¯s remark was a word arising from the uniqueness of the ?level up? in the Brain Burst game.


    In regular RPGs, at a point where one¡¯s experience points reached a certain value one would automatically level up. However, in this Brain Burst, in order to raise one¡¯s level, one must exhaust one¡¯s accumulated experience points, namely Burst Points. Concretely, the required amount of points to rise from level 1 to 2 was no fewer than 300. Basically, if one carried out the level up operation from the system menu called the ?Install Menu?, at that instant one¡¯s points would drop by 300 in one go. Therefore, one would need sufficient leeway¡ªnamely, a ?margin?¡ªjust to settle the matter so that when one leveled up, even if one lost a number of times continuously after that one would not fall into the pinch of losing all one¡¯s points. If one thought about it a little, it seemed obvious, but¡ª.


    In response to Ash Roller¡¯s words, while making a pitiable smile Haruyuki confessed.


    ¡°In, in reality, in the past I too got worked up when I had barely saved up 300 points and accidentally leveled up, nearly losing all my points.¡±


    ¡°¡­Are you serious, really? At that time Suginami wasn¡¯t Nega Nebulas¡¯ territory yet right? Until you recovered it as a safety zone.¡±


    In response to his stunned voice, he shrugged.


    ¡°Uh, yeah that¡¯s true. My buddy¡­Cyan Pile saved me, somehow¡­¡±


    Though he had begun to speak, he was unable to remember well at the time how in the world he had recovered his points. Instead, Haruyuki corrected the topic beginning to stray away to its original route.


    ¡°By, by the way, what did you mean by ?coming to terms with losing all your points? a little earlier?¡±


    ¡°Aah¡­basically, well. To me, the system in which you lose all your points and have it forcibly uninstalled, it seems like a ridiculously harsh and cruel rule¡­however in one respect, there¡¯s the feeling too that as a Burst Linker if you¡¯re gonna receive the blessing of ?accelerating? that much is probably a due risk. Frankly, I can¡¯t make head or tails of either one. Because you see, it¡¯s easy to say that it¡¯s harsh, but¡­behind the scenes while you and I are becoming as far as level 5 like this, there also must be a number of guys who¡¯ve had that number of points stolen from them and have lost all their points. You could also say that indirectly, the points I acquired and spent nonchalantly are the points that somebody stole from that guy Uu¡¯s parent the time when he lost all his points¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Hearing remarks whose image differed slightly, no, quite a bit from the usual ¡°hyahahaa¡± end of century rider, Haruyuki was involuntarily speechless. Possibly having read his thoughts, Ash snorted, turned away as if embarrassed, and continued.


    ¡°However, on the other hand I think that if you¡¯re a Burst Linker, from the start you should at least be prepared for someone to lose all their points. Both the side who¡¯s causing it and the side who¡¯s getting it. In that sense, I respect your parent¡­the Black King Black Lotus. It¡¯s quite something for me, who¡¯s entered the green legion Great Wall, to say, but¡­that person¡¯s amazing. In the way of her countenance of resolution, without question she¡¯s number one in the Accelerated World. I want to carry things through mega cool like that too, but¡­but you know¡­for instance Crow, when I¡¯m dueling with you, if I were let known that you¡¯d lose all your points with one more loss, whether I¡¯d be able to strike the final blow mercilessly and in a cool way then¡­honestly I have no idea. At the least, I¡¯m not confident that I wouldn¡¯t hesitate¡­¡±


    ¡°¡ªAsh-san.¡±


    Being truly surprised this time, Haruyuki staringly turned his gaze at him, and the bike rider returned a slightly dangerous voice.


    ¡°Oi you, you look like you¡¯d say ¡®I¡¯d normally cause you to lose all your points though,¡¯ don¡¯t you.¡±


    ¡°N, nonono, no way! I¡¯d hesitate too, I¡¯d super-hesitate!¡±


    ¡°Oi hey there, you look like you¡¯d say ¡®Even if I hesitated I¡¯d really cause you to lose all your points after all though,¡¯ don¡¯t you.¡±


    ¡°W, well Ash-san weren¡¯t you saying that you¡¯d just look like you were hesitating!¡±


    After causing his two hands and face to undergo furious high-speed horizontal exercise and evading Ash Roller¡¯s cross-examination, Haruyuki added something quickly.


    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s natural to hesitate to do that. My parent¡­Black Lotus is surely hesitating. Because no matter how spiteful her opponent is¡­at their roots they¡¯re similarly Burst Linkers. ¡ªBack then, I troubled you too, Ash-san, but¡­I was irreconcilable with the guy who stole my ?flying ability? this spring to the bitter end¡­from the bottom of my heart he was an ?enemy? whom I thought I loathed. Despite that, when I beat him in the ?sudden death duel?, I hesitated a little. I thought, wasn¡¯t it perhaps possible to have met him differently and dueled with him differently¡­Now, I also have the feeling that as long as we¡¯re Burst Linkers, that hesitation might be something that¡¯s absolutely indispensable¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    This time Ash Roller was silent.


    At last, while dropping his gaze to the reddish-brown ground between his legs, he murmured in bits.


    ¡°That¡¯s possible. But well¡­, due to that hesitation, I wasn¡¯t able to say anything to that guy Uu. If I were acting as his older brother, in truth I should¡¯ve plainly said one or the other. ¡®I¡¯ll never forgive the guy who caused your parent to lose all his points; I¡¯ll definitely get revenge on him.¡¯¡­or, ¡®Everyone¡¯s fighting with the risk of losing all their points; don¡¯t keep blubbering,¡¯ one of those two¡­ However, I was unable to say either one. That¡¯s why only anger and fear grew inside Uu¡­he yearned for ?power? other than his own. I¡¯m the one who created one of the reasons for him to run to the ?ISS Kit?¡­¡±


    To Ash Roller, whose feet had trampled the ground with a sharp tap, Haruyuki could not immediately find the words he should have said.


    Before he opened his mouth, there was something blinking red in the top of his vision. The time count had dropped below the remaining one hundred seconds.


    ¡°¡­Come to think of it, Ash-san. Didn¡¯t you say that you had some ?request? for me..?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­y, yeah. That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right.¡±


    The bike rider, who had lifted his head, let down the skull shield of his helmet with a creak and spoke in a voice with increased wildness in one go.


    ¡°It¡¯s also related to that guy Uu¡¯s matter though. Well, it¡¯s not a big deal. My bad, Crow, but could you teach me something in mega-deep length?¡±


    ¡°T, teach? Teach what?¡±


    To Haruyuki, who had tilted his head, without hesitation Ash Roller spoke a single certain grammatical object.


    ¡°The ?Incarnate system?.¡±


    References:


    1. ^ SI unit of illumination.


    2. ^ Sensei (ÏÈÉú) is a polite honorific used for teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc. Here, Haruyuki is using it sardonically in conjunction with Takumu¡¯s surname.


    3. ^ One tatami mat is approximately 1.66 square meters, so an eight-tatami-sized room is about 13.3 square meters. A 4.5-tatami-sized room is about 7.47 square meters.


    4. ^ Vegetables sliced, pickled, and flavored with soy sauce.


    5. ^ This is a custom dating back to the Edo period, when two clans of pyrotechnicians of the same name competed annually to exhibit the better fireworks display and spectators would call out the name of their preferred guild. One possible way to translate Tamaya (ÓñÎÝ) literally is ¡°ball shop.¡± Similarly, Kagiya (æIÎÝ) would be ¡°key shop.¡±

 Volume 8 - CH 6

    Chapter 6


    If he were asked which of the five weekdays he liked the most, without much hesitation Haruyuki would answer Friday. This was probably the same for most students¡ªmaybe adults too. It was hard to substitute anything for the bubbly feeling that came with knowing tomorrow and the day after that were days off.


    However, his most disliked day was somewhat subtle. Of course most people would be fed up with Monday, but he had the joy of being able to meet her Excellency his revered student council vice president after two days, and though it was limited to this semester Monday¡¯s lunch special was the godly menu of minced meat cutlet curry.


    Therefore, with him granting amnesty to Monday with remarkable mercy, the runner-up was undoubtedly Wednesday.


    Because on Wednesday he had PE from first period; it was an unforgiving timetable.


    ¡°Hey, Arita, hey!¡±


    Haruyuki, whose name had been called, whose entire body was drenched in sweat, and whose feet were wobbling, reflexively tried to throw the basketball that he had been carrying with his two hands over there.


    However, the figure of his teammate who had raised his hand was immediately blocked by an opponent team player and went out of sight. In the bottom left of his field of vision, the digital numbers counting five seconds as well as twenty-four seconds for violations were steadily decreasing. Out of impatience, in order to throw a long pass blindly, he raised the ball with both hands high overhead.


    However, like a flash of lightning, the moment before the ball was thrown somebody deftly robbed him of the ball from behind.


    ¡°Thanks!¡±


    The tall student who had left behind a spiteful voice and had cut splendidly into his own team¡¯s territory with a dribble was the basketball team regular Ishio. In the midst of the girls lined up around the perimeter of the court raising cheering voices, he broke through the two people marking him in the blink of an eye and made a layup with room to spare. The ring net rocked greatly, and the right side of the score of 22-36 displayed in the overlay in the lower right hand of his vision changed to 38.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    With that voice, the teammate who had sought a pass from Haruyuki a little earlier tapped him on the shoulder. However, he couldn¡¯t help but search for the ring in that voice lamenting ?the misfortune of being on the same team as Arita? rather than ?the misfortune of being on a different team from Ishio¡¯s?.


    The basketball court able to be divided into two sides in the gymnasium had been split between boys and girls, and furthermore since the twenty male students were divided into four teams, one match was only twenty minutes. However one thought about it a comeback from behind in the remaining seven minutes and thirty seconds was impossible, but he prayed that he would at least not make any more conspicuous basic mistakes¡ªat the back of Haruyuki, who had begun to return to his fixed position while praying that, a voice different from the one earlier whispered in an undertone.


    ¡°Haru, what¡¯s important is the whole image. It¡¯s the same as the ?territory battle?.¡±


    The person who had said just that and had left him was Mayuzumi Takumu, who coincidentally was on the same team. Though they were losing, they could say that a sixteen-point difference against opponents who had a basketball team regular on their team was on the contrary a good fight. The reason for that was that Takumu, who was a complete layman to ball games, was doing his best as a forward.


    ¡­The whole image? The same as the territory battle?


    While running with heavy steps and chasing Takumu, who was attacking the enemy zone with a dribble as soon as he had received a throw, Haruyuki inwardly racked his brains.


    The ?territory battles? of Brain Burst were the competitions between legions for territory in group duels conducted Saturday evening every week. In a normal duel, one could only do as far as two-on-two tag matches, but in territory battles, large-scale fights of at least three-on-three (and depending on the circumstances, over ten-versus-ten) were played out.


    If it were so, then one could no longer win just by depending on his or her individual fighting strength. While recognizing the entire vast stage¡¯s conditions, one blocked the enemy¡¯s main attacks and simultaneously stabbed at chinks in their armor¡­in short, a comprehensive ?image of the tide of war? was needed.


    Did Takumu want to say that basketball matches were also the same as those?


    However, Haruyuki¡¯s team was also already doing something similar. The main firepower of the enemy team was clearly the basketball team player Ishio, so there was the strategy of always having two people marking him and sealing his movements. Haruyuki and one other person were defensive middle guards, and Takumu was the one forward. However, even with two people guarding him Ishio would not easily be stopped, and with only Takumu as the pivot of offense of this side, they would not really be able to get any points. Having said that, even if they discarded defense and shifted the lineup to an offensive type, Ishio, who would become free, would just be able to rage about as he pleased.


    ¡­With this, it¡¯s useless just to form an image of battle tactics, Taku. It¡¯s as if the opponents have a ?King? and we have a ?level 1?.


    In his mind, Haruyuki had unconsciously retorted back in that matter to his old friend. Of course, level 1 referred to Haruyuki himself. As his feet were slow, his height was low, and his ball-handling was poor, in a basketball match he was no different from an in-the-way obstacle that was just there.


    And then, at that moment, Takumu fell to the court with a heavy thud! sound. He had shown signs of rushing to the enemy goal and had aimed for a three-point shot; an opponent player who had panicked had accidentally made body contact. A sharp alert sound resounded, and the word ¡¾FOUL¡¿ glittered blue in the center of his field of vision. Blue was the opponent team¡¯s color.


    ¡°Ta, Taku!¡±


    Flustered, he tried to run up to him, but Takumu raised one hand as if he were okay and immediately stood up. He calmly made three free throws, and the score changed to 25-38.


    Having tried to call out to Takumu, who had promptly jogged back, with a start Haruyuki held his breath.


    Didn¡¯t the word ?image? that his old friend had just mentioned have a much larger meaning¡ªnot just at the level of things like weaknesses and tactics?


    At the start of class, their division into random teams had been carried out by the on-campus system, and the moment he learned that Ishio was among the opponents they would confront, Haruyuki had thought ¡°This is bad¡± in the back of his mind; three of his four teammates also probably felt the same. That basically was being seized by the ?image of losing? before the match began.


    However, Takumu was probably different. Due to his quiet demeanor and intellectual appearance, it did not show on the outside much, but he was by nature a trueborn fighter. That was why in his elementary school days he did not quit the classroom even when he met cruel bullying in the kendo classroom, and also due to that he could not help himself from confirming the rumors about the ?ISS Kit?, which was said to negate avatars¡¯ weaknesses.


    And then even in this mere twenty-minute mock match of a mere PE class, while knowing their distinct difference in combat power Takumu refused to have an ?image of losing?. That was right; it was just the same as Brain Burst¡¯s territory battles. In those battles, both sides exhausted their tactics and strategies to the limit; on top of that, the first side to give up with ¡°This is impossible¡± would lose.


    ¡°¡­My bad, Taku.¡±


    His murmured voice probably had not reached him, but Haruyuki gazed at the square back of his good friend and tightly ground his molars.


    Six minutes and twenty seconds remaining. For that amount of time, at the least he would renounce the image of losing. Without thinking that it was impossible, he would do the utmost of what he could do. ¡ªIf so, what could he do? Magnificent pass cuts and sharp dribbling were impossible acts for Haruyuki. However, there must be something that even an oversized obstruction could do. Obstruction¡­


    ¡°..!¡±


    Haruyuki suddenly opened his eyes wide; immediately after, with a fierce speed he manipulated his virtual desktop.


    The application for PE ball games, which was the Ministry of Education¡¯s quality product, had various functions, but the Augmented Reality display, or AR display, had poor compatibility in the first place¡ªwhile it was obvious, it hindered one from seeing the crucial ball¡ªit was only used to the extent of overlay displaying the score and match time in a side of one¡¯s vision. Rather, it would have been better to remove one¡¯s Neuro Linker, but monitoring the pulse, temperature, and blood pressure of students in exercise was obligated by law, so that too could not be done.


    However, right now Haruyuki opened the court condition tab from the app, and it was displayed in bird¡¯s-eye view slightly below the center of his field of vision. In the rectangle, which had become slanted, five red and blue circular symbols apiece moved irregularly. Of course, they were the present positions of all players. With the filter function, he made them to two. The remaining red circle was he himself. And then the blue circle was the enemy ace Ishio.


    As soon as the match resumed with the opponents¡¯ throw, Haruyuki moved with heavy steps and spread his arms on the line joining the basketball, of which he had caught sight with his naked eye, and Ishio, who was moving at his back.


    He flapped his arms with all his might; by further enlarging his body, which at best could only be said to have great breadth, he tried to foil the pass course to Ishio. The gallery burst out laughing at his imbecile movements, but the enemy player holding the ball lightly clucked his tongue and made a horizontal pass to another player. However, at the same time Haruyuki also ran a couple of meters to the left and again greatly waved his arms up and down.


    This was ?something that he could do? that he had thought of.


    The opponent team¡¯s strategy was to bulldoze a post play with their ace Ishio, who was camping underneath the goal. Since Haruyuki knew that the ball would ultimately be thrown to the low post area, first with his AR display he had precisely grasped Ishio¡¯s position and then had become an ?obstruction? on the path between him and the ball.


    With Haruyuki¡¯s amount of movement, a man-to-man defense sticking tightly to Ishio himself was impossible, but if he projected the pass course and optimized the distance he shifted, he might be somehow able to continue to fulfill this role until the close of the match.


    At that time, the opponent player again showed the air of throwing the ball directly sideways, and Haruyuki began also to move his body that way.


    However, right before he suddenly braked. Ishio, who was three meters behind him, was simultaneously running in the opposite direction. This was a feint motion. He somehow absorbed the mass of inertia with his planted left foot and threw his body right. The ball the opponent player had thrown bumped violently with a smack into his right hand, which he had extended with all his might. At the point where it seemed about to rebound somewhere, unconsciously with the gist of Brain Burst¡¯s ?gentle redirection? he killed its momentum, pulled it to his chest, and held it tightly.


    ¡°No way!¡±


    Haruyuki also thought the same thing as the opponent player, who had let that voice out while popping his eyes out. However, if he stood there dumbfounded, the ball would be snatched away from him by Ishio from the back again.


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    Hearing that voice another time from his left side, Haruyuki reflexively threw the ball, this time without holding it high over his head. The ally player who received it¡ªa member of the swim team by the name of Nakagawa¡ªbrought the ball into the enemy camp and made a pass to their own team¡¯s ace Takumu, who was running along the right side.


    Takumu, who had reliably passed through and reached the enemy goal with a furious charge that made one want to think ¡°As to be expected of a blue-color,¡± made use of his tall frame and made a marvelous jump shot. With an airy beep SE1resounding in his sense of hearing, the score display changed to 27-38.


    ¡°Nice, Arita!¡±


    The one who had raised his voice was Nakagawa, who had quickly returned to their own side. The sports club member with a masculine figure raised his right hand while laughing with a smile; Haruyuki thought reflexively ¡°I¡¯m gonna get hit!¡±, but he somehow lifted his left hand and returned a high five. He only exchanged a fleeting smile with Takumu, who had come running from behind, but despite that he seemed to have conveyed fully what needed to be conveyed.


    For the remaining slightly less than six minutes, Haruyuki only ran, ran, and ran till the end.


    Sweat flowed like a waterfall down his face and body, his throat rang with a wheeze, and his legs and arms twitched in bits, but nevertheless he did not try to halt. Before he knew it, what existed in his field of vision, no, in his mind were only the ball ahead of him and Ishio behind him.


    In opposition to those, he formed the image of the course he needed to move and simply traced it.


    The image and its execution.


    At last, in a recess of his consciousness that had become hazy, suddenly Haruyuki recalled that only a few days ago he had also had a similar experience.


    That was, yes, the time when he was cleaning up the backyard¡¯s animal caretaking shed alone. He had thought hard about how he could tidy up the fallen leaves piled up to the point where it seemed impossible to remove them with manual labor, formed an image of the result, and afterward only believed and moved his hands. That was also bitter work, but the fallen leaves that seemed to exist infinitely had all also disappeared in the end.


    Playing a basketball match and cleaning up a shed were of course completely different. However, at their root maybe they shared in common a thing that should even be called the ?essence of action?. ¡ªNo, at that time, sure enough hadn¡¯t he begun to notice something more precious?


    In another world different from this reality, the words someone had said to him echoed far inside his head.


    ¡­From your consciousness¡­an excessively strongly projected image¡­crosses limitations¡­and manifests itself.


    Those were words that had explained a ?power? hidden in that world. An ultimate power that crossed the frames of the normal system and could even be said to be a paranormal phenomenon. Miracles that did not exist in the real world. However, for all one knew that logic could be awfully simple¡ª.


    Even while he was thinking about those things, Haruyuki single-mindedly continued to run right and left as hard as he could.


    Of course, with makeshift blocking he couldn¡¯t prevent one hundred percent of the passes to Ishio. Occasionally when Haruyuki was unable to impede the ball from crossing, in those cases the enemy ace was able to make a certain score. With Takumu and Nakagawa¡¯s counterattacks, although they had bridged the gap to five points, from there it was seesawing back and forth; the remaining time steadily decreased.


    However, before he knew it Haruyuki had removed the time count and even the score display from his consciousness. From the gallery, mixed in with the usual laughing voices sometimes a buzz would also be emitted, but neither one reached Haruyuki¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Hah¡­hah¡­¡±


    While hearing only the strenuous wheezing leaking from his throat and his heartbeat ringing with a clang in the depths of both his ears, he continued solely to trace his image predicted a second ahead of time. He no longer had time to spare to participate on the offensive, but if they were able to counterbalance one-versus-one the opponent team¡¯s ace with their own team¡¯s burden, with the remaining four they could play a more-than-even match. At the point in time where they had dropped under two minutes remaining, their two allies who had been marking Ishio up until now also participated in the offense; they struck at the gaps in their bewildered enemies¡¯ defense and thrust the ball into the hoop.


    A three point difference.


    ¡°Over here!¡±


    Ishio, who as expected showed signs of starting to have frustration build up, returned once deep into his side, raised his hand, and directly received a throw. Again two people from the red team marking him tried to block his way, but with his lightning-fast spin moves they were quickly overtaken. It seemed somehow that the basketball club¡¯s regular¡¯s ?serious techniques? had been sealed up until now.


    ¡°..!¡±


    In response to Ishio¡¯s figure pressing in and filling his field of vision, which was blurred with sweat, Haruyuki stood rooted to the spot. In a head-on one-on-one, the Neuro Linker¡¯s AR display would be of no help whatsoever.


    ¡ªPhysical Burst!


    Haruyuki desperately held back the impulse of wanting to shout that inside his mouth.


    If he used the ?Physical Burst? command, which accelerated one¡¯s perceptions by ten times while retaining one¡¯s consciousness inside one¡¯s physical body, no matter what dribble technique Ishio used it would probably be easy to steal the ball while he was in the middle of doing it. However, all ?cowardly acceleration? was forbidden by their legion. Before that, it was a slight to Ishio, who in opposition to the likes of Haruyuki had come challenging him with a match in earnest.


    ¡°Wa¡­wah¡ª!¡±


    Without ?acceleration?, all Haruyuki could do was spreading his hands as much as he could while raising that voice.


    The left hand of Ishio, who was pressing in before his eyes, flashed, and the ball disappeared from his sight. By the time he had noticed that he had dribbled to his back side, Ishio was already ferociously overtaking Haruyuki¡¯s left side.


    While knowing that he could not catch up to the back of the enemy ace, who was heading for their side¡¯s goal and pushing his way through, Haruyuki chased after him.


    After having run a number of paces, before his eyes a bright red font he was unaccustomed to seeing blinked. It was a warning that either his heart rate or his blood pressure had deviated from its normal value. However, he ignored it. He single-mindedly pursued the vague human figure smack dab in the middle of his vision, which had begun to whiten out flickeringly.


    And then, opposite Ishio a silhouette of tall height about the same as Ishio¡¯s blocking his way was dimly visible. Before he had known it Takumu had returned to the goal. With his techniques at full throttle, Ishio went about passing Takumu, who had matched him up. From a leg through dribble¡ªto a behind-the-back dribble.


    ¡°K¡­ha!¡±


    While exhaling all the remaining air in his lungs, Haruyuki faced the ball that Ishio was trying to dribble behind his back and dived with all his might.


    The fingertips of his left hand that he had reached out as much as he could, whether they touched the granulated rubber¡ªHaruyuki did not know. As to why, there his vision had become pitch-black, and even his ability to think had sharply decelerated. The front side of his body bumped into something wide and hard; at the same time he noticed that that somehow seemed to be the floor of the gym, somewhere far away a high-pitched voice like a scream resounded.


    ¡°Haru!!¡±


    That voice was unmistakably that of Chiyuri, who was in the middle of a match in the adjacent court.


    ¡ªGood grief, concentrate on your own game.


    While hearing a number of footsteps running up to him, with that final thought Haruyuki¡¯s memory was cut off.


    Since something thin was being inserted in his mouth, for the time being he tried sucking on it.


    In doing so, a cool, sweet liquid flowed into his mouth, so with his eyes shut he swallowed it deliriously. After gulping it down to the point where breathing became difficult and sending the liquid to his stomach, he exhaled greatly.


    He gently raised his eyelids, and a brilliant white light shone strongly on his eyes. He hurriedly closed them, blinked several times, and then opened them again.


    The source of the light was the light panels embedded in the ceiling. In addition to that, there was an enclosing rectangular white curtain in his peripheral vision. Somehow it wasn¡¯t the gym. Below his body were not hard floorboards but rustling sheets¡ªbasically, a bed.


    Before he thought ¡°Where am I,¡± the curtains in the direction of his feet made a light sound and were pulled open.


    ¡°Oh, Arita-kun, you¡¯re awake?¡±


    Who had appeared was a woman whose semi-long hair was bound behind her neck and who was clad in a smart white coat above her patterned T-shirt¡ªthe Umesato Middle school nurse. Her family name was Hotta. So basically, this was probably the nurse¡¯s office of the east wing of the first floor of the second school building.


    ¡°Ah¡­um¡­I¡­¡±


    As Haruyuki mumbled with his words inside his mouth, Nurse Hotta showed taken-aback laughter on her masculine face and spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s important to try your best in matches, but you need to pay attention to your own condition. If your blood pressure had dropped a little bit more it would¡¯ve been the ambulance for you.¡±


    ¡°U, understood¡­I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡ªI see, during the middle of the basketball match I collapsed from something like anemia or dehydration and was carried to the nurse¡¯s office, wasn¡¯t I.


    Finally aware of the situation, he glanced at the time display in the lower right hand of his vision; second period had begun long ago. Somehow it seemed that he had been unconscious, no, sleeping for over thirty minutes.


    The school nurse nimbly manipulated her virtual desktop, confirmed that Haruyuki¡¯s vital signs had returned to their normal values, and nodded lightly.


    ¡°Please rest during second period. Make sure to have plenty of water. I¡¯ll be out for a little due to a staff meeting, but if anything happens feel free to push the call button. With that, afterwards I¡¯m leaving it to you!¡±


    The curtains were again closed with a snap, and the pitter-patter sound of footsteps went far off. Finally, he heard the sound of the door opening and closing, and silence returned to the nurse¡¯s office.


    Probably Nurse Hotta would have watched Haruyuki¡¯s condition until he awakened even if the meeting began. After absentmindedly thinking ¡°I sure caused her a lot of trouble, but well I guess that¡¯s her job,¡± from the left side of his face the thin straw again extended toward his mouth.


    Without thinking he held it in his mouth and sucked. The well-cooled sports drink pleasantly went down his throat.


    ¡°..?¡±


    There, Haruyuki finally thought strangely about to where the straw was connected and turned his gaze left. Was it perhaps automatic water dispensing equipment? Surely not a robot nurse?


    However, the straw was extended from a featureless cooling bottle.


    And then a white, delicate hand that was not Haruyuki¡¯s was holding that bottle.


    ¡°..?¡±


    Ordering his currently decelerating thoughts to do as he said, this time he traced that hand with his gaze. The thin arm was protruding from the sleeve of a black open-collar shirt. In the breast of the shirt, a dark red ribbon. Equipped on her thin neck, a piano black Neuro Linker. Flowing above that, jet black straight hair¡­


    ¡°¡­Buha!¡±


    The moment he noticed that someone whose existence he had not even perceived until now was sitting at the immediate side of the bed, Haruyuki caused the sports drink to spurt out forcefully from his mouth and nose.


    The moment he saw that a part of the water drops had also spattered onto his companion¡¯s shirt, his body temperature and pulse ascended steeply again. He flapped his two hands and shouted in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°S, so, sor, sorry! I-if, if we don¡¯t hurry up and wipe it it¡¯ll become a s-s-stain.¡±


    Upon which the person sitting in the unadorned folding chair put the cooling bottle with a calm motion on the bed and spoke.


    ¡°Mm, is that so. Then let¡¯s wipe it up.¡±


    And then she lifted her two hands, took the hook-style ribbon, and with a pop began to remove the buttons starting from the top of her open-collar shirt. The skin of her unbelievably pure white chest began to peep out, and furthermore the upper end of her smooth curves also fleetingly came into sight.


    ¡°Hgwah!¡±


    Haruyuki again let loose a queer voice and while greatly bending backward was unable to shut his eyelids, but fortunately¡ªif that was the right word, there two hands stopped his violent action.


    ¡°It¡¯s a joke. Don¡¯t worry about me getting wet, it¡¯s shape-memory polymer material that can be washed as it is.¡±


    The person who had said that without changing her expression and who was rebuttoning her shirt to as it was before was of course, the sole person who wore a black uniform in Umesato Middle, the student council vice president, Haruyuki¡¯s ?parent? Linker, and his legion master Kuroyukihime.


    Returning to her original appearance, the beautiful person in black who had straightened her back tightly on the chair opened her mouth again with a facial expression that made one feel a faint tremor in the depths of her sternness.


    ¡°¡ªHaruyuki-kun. A little earlier Hotta-sensei said it too; I too won¡¯t say that going all out in PE is bad. However, since you went to the trouble of equipping your Neuro Linker, you need to heed its vital warning. This time ended with some minor dehydration, but if the worst comes to the worst, it could also be linked to a large accident.¡±


    ¡°U, understood, I¡¯m sorry¡­ Without thinking, I became entranced in the match¡­¡±


    He had the intention of striving to do his best, but the result was only being laughed at by his classmates; in the end, during the match he had collapsed in a heap, and not only that his foolish demeanor had become known to even Kuroyukihime. A fair right hand extended out gently covered the left hand of Haruyuki, who had hung his head, downcast.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize, I¡¯m not particularly blaming you. However¡­don¡¯t cause me to worry too much.¡±


    In response to that voice whose volume had dropped, he raised his face, and with a facial expression of increased softness Kuroyukihime whispered.


    ¡°When I heard from Chiyuri-kun that you had collapsed, I thought I would faint too. I was nearly on the verge of using the forbidden physical acceleration command to run to the school infirmary.¡±


    The forbidden command was ?Physical Full Burst?, permitted to be used only by level 9 Burst Linkers. It was treated as the higher ranked version of the ?Physical Burst? command that had Haruyuki had almost used in his matchup with Ishio, but the effect of its tremendousness was wholly incomparable. As for why, it accelerated not only one¡¯s consciousness but also one¡¯s real-world physical body¡¯s movements close to the normal one hundred times greater.


    Of course, the indemnifications were also inordinate. The user would lose ninety-nine percent of her accumulated Burst Points, putting her at the critical brink of losing all of her points. Kuroyukihime¡¯s words were a joke, but in spite of that Haruyuki reflexively shook his head tremblingly.


    ¡°I, I¡¯m glad you didn¡¯t use it. Rather than saying that I collapsed, I was only a bit too tired and got giddy¡­ ¡ªThen, it was Chiyu who let Senpai know?¡±


    ¡°Unh, it was almost the same time as when you were carried here. On that point, she¡¯s pretty fair too.¡±


    ¡°¡­F, fair?¡±


    Not catching her drift, he tilted his head in puzzlement; Kuroyukihime made a faint bitter laugh and with her eyes indicated the side to the left beside herself.


    ¡°Chiyuri-kun and Takumu-kun were also keeping you company for a while since the start of second period. Since they would be counted as absent at that rate I made them return to their classroom. Since they¡¯re extremely worried, it¡¯d probably be better to send them a mail.¡±


    ¡°U, understood.¡±


    Haruyuki nodded and launched the local net-exclusive mailer from his virtual desktop. To his two childhood friends, he quickly sent the report that he had regained consciousness and that there were no problems with his physical condition and his thanks for them having accompanied him. There, he suddenly became aware of something, looked at Kuroyukihime¡¯s face, and questioned her.


    ¡°Um, is it okay if you don¡¯t go to class, Senpai..? Won¡¯t the record of you skipping class without leave be left in the school register file¡­¡±


    ¡°Oi, who do you think I am. In the school system, I put in proof of being a substitute health-care committee member, of course. Hotta-sensei willingly signed too.¡±


    If he were met with that laugh along with those remarks, he could only reflect on how that was a completely boorish question. Kuroyukihime slightly changed the nuance of her smile, leaned somewhat forward, and whispered mischievously.


    ¡°To compensate Chiyuri-kun for her spirit of fair play, I did think about issuing her proof of being a substitute too, but this time she listened to my selfish desire. Because you see, even though yesterday I went so far as to use my ace in the hole at great pains and was able to become alone with you in the student council meeting room, we weren¡¯t able to talk about much. Well, you did have some inevitable circumstances though.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­hah¡­hahi¡­¡±


    In response to the excessive beauty of her black pupils glittering close at hand, while involuntarily turning his voice inside out Haruyuki nodded.


    If he thought back on it, during yesterday¡¯s lunch break Kuroyukihime had suddenly marched into the classroom of year 2, class C and had shouted ¡°I demand the immediate presence of the animal caretaker committee chairperson!¡± Haruyuki, who by a misunderstanding had been appointed to that post due to his candidacy, had prepared himself to be the object of anger for some reason and had followed her to the student council meeting room, but Kuroyukihime¡¯s order of presence was a simple pretext for the purpose of becoming alone with him in a private room.


    Needless to say Haruyuki was very happy to be able to talk with Kuroyukihime with just the two of them¡ªit was a dreamlike experience beyond happy.


    However, inside Haruyuki she was a far too important as well as precious existence. She was not only his ?parent? and ?legion master? as a Burst Linker. She was the ?benefactor? who had rescued him from the swamp and had given him hope. She was the ?master of swords? to whom he swore his absolute as well as eternal loyalty. Even with those words he was still far from able to tell the whole story. That was right¡ª, preferably he should perhaps describe it in just one word like this. It was a ?miracle?.


    Kuroyukihime, whose way of living was like aiming for a star in the far distance and pushing one¡¯s way there with one¡¯s heart and soul, though there were some circumstances had fixed her eyes upon a human like Haruyuki, had spoken to him, and had extended her hand out to him: if one didn¡¯t call that a miracle, then what? At present, in the center of Haruyuki¡¯s world, she was equivalent to a dazzlingly scintillating, humongous jewel. She was exceedingly beautiful to the extent where it seemed if one¡¯s hand touched her she would ephemerally disappear.


    Though recently he had finally begun to be able to chat properly with others, just by being conscious of being alone with Kuroyukihime in a closed room, his heart rang with a thump, and his breathing became shallow. No, his current situation was even more critical than that of the one yesterday in the student council meeting room.


    At any rate, in his surroundings were white, thick curtains tightly encircling them; Haruyuki was lying sideways on the bed; Kuroyukihime was pushing her hand on the edge of the bed, leaning her body out, and gazing at Haruyuki.


    At this rate if he kept silent, his thoughts would overshoot into an unbelievable territory, so Haruyuki forcibly pulled the control lever and resumed conversation.


    ¡°¡­Um, I¡¯m sorry about yesterday. Now that I think about it, I also hadn¡¯t properly explained the state of things, hadn¡¯t I¡­¡±


    ¡°Mm¡­, well, I meant to grasp the outline of it from your mail, but¡­though I was thinking about asking about various things in detail, you brought about this incident, so it had completely slipped my mind.¡±


    ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    While nervously rubbing the fingertips of his two hands together, he apologized for the second time in a row.


    Yesterday, why Haruyuki had returned from school at a dash was of course because he had apprehensions about Takumu¡¯s situation. By no means were those groundless fears; he was nearly at the point of having his mind controlled by the ?ISS Kit?, but through his duel with Haruyuki he had regained himself, and due to the fight in the dead of night in the ?BB central server?, the Kit had also been completely destroyed.


    After his duel with Ash Roller this morning, Haruyuki had roughly explained the circumstances thereabouts or so to the three people Kuroyukihime, Kurasaki Fuuko, and Shinomiya Utai by mail, but it was quite impossible to sum up the particulars in a short piece of writing. Haruyuki himself had not precisely understood the occurrence in the central server, and he had another important matter before the ?Imperial Palace escape strategy?.


    Namely, Ash Roller¡¯s very unexpected ?request?.


    Although he had a mountain¡¯s worth of things he needed to tell Kuroyukihime, not knowing from where on earth to start, Haruyuki again held his tongue. In doing so, wholly as if she understood Haruyuki¡¯s confusion and was trying to cool it down Kuroyukihime spoke tranquilly.


    ¡°Be that as it may, the fact that you tried hard in PE class to the point of collapsing¡­ This may be a rude way of putting it, but it was a little unexpected.¡±


    ¡°Y¡­yes, I was awfully surprised too¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you have some sort of change of heart?¡±


    Questioned thus, he thought hard about it puzzlingly. Now that it was mentioned, he had the feeling that he did; it also seemed likely that nothing had changed.


    ¡°Um¡­it¡¯s not that there was anything special in particular, but¡­after I made a bunch of blunders during the match, Taku said something to me. That ¡°what¡¯s important is your image.¡± That¡¯s why I thought about ceasing only to play the match while carrying the ?image of losing? at the least¡­and then, unawares it seemed that I got a little too serious. ¡ªCome to think of it, how did the match end after all¡­¡±


    ¡°According to Takumu-kun, it seems to have been a loss by a one point difference.¡±


    ¡°Is that¡­so?¡±


    According to his hazy memory, Haruyuki¡¯s team was three points behind with the remaining time of a few dozen seconds; moreover, they were taking the enemy ace Ishio¡¯s swift attacks. The fact that they had approached a one point difference probably meant that they had defended against those swift attacks and furthermore with a counterattack had stolen one goal, and there the match had concluded.


    After he thought ¡°No doubt Takumu had made an eye-opening counter, just as expected,¡± while she smiled Kuroyukihime said something surprising.


    ¡°Truthfully, the ones who carried you and transported you to the nurse¡¯s office were Takumu and one other person, a member of the basketball team in your class.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­Ishio, carried me?¡±


    ¡°Unh. He has a message for you. It was ¡®This time was a complete defeat, but next time the same trick absolutely won¡¯t work again¡¯ apparently.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­co, complete defeat!? But, wasn¡¯t the match their side¡¯s win¡­¡±


    ¡°He seems to have set a personal margin of winning where if he doesn¡¯t win with at least a twenty point difference it¡¯s a loss.¡±


    ¡°¡­Is, is that so.¡±


    In response to his message, without knowing whether Ishio was being humble or arrogant Haruyuki involuntarily laughed bitterly. Granted though, sure enough why this time Haruyuki had been able to continue to hinder Ishio was because the opponent team had stubbornly refused to change strategies. If the next gym class were basketball matches again, and furthermore if they had to confront Ishio, there was no way that the simple trick of blocks using the AR display would pass anymore. It was the same as Brain Burst¡¯s duels and territory battles. Even in the world over there, it was rare for the same strategy that had worked once to succeed a second time in a row. It was because one was not fighting AI but humans who possessed the power to imagine the future¡­


    When he had absentmindedly thought that far, Haruyuki was suddenly aware of the precious ?something? he had felt during the match beginning to be resuscitated into his head again.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    ¡°Mm? What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°No, well¡­it¡¯s not anything of consequence, but¡­I mean, it might be an absurdly wayward guess, but¡­¡±


    Backed by the gaze of Kuroyukihime, who was silently egging him on, Haruyuki moved his mouth, which was on the verge of stopping.


    ¡°¡­?From your consciousness an excessively strongly projected image crosses the system¡¯s limitations and manifests itself.?¡±


    In doing so, for an instant Kuroyukihime opened both her eyes wide and subsequently smiled kindly.


    ¡°The one who said that to you was undoubtedly Fuuko, right.¡±


    ¡°Ex¡­exactly. How did you know..?¡±


    ¡°I said it before, didn¡¯t I. She is, to the utmost of my knowledge, the purest user of ?positive Mind Power?. Those are words typical of Fuuko, who believes in the superiority of the light side of the Incarnate system¡­¡±


    It was unlikely that Haruyuki had completely understood the meaning of Kuroyukihime¡¯s whisper. However, without venturing to interrogate her, he continued his words.


    ¡°The words we used right now were of course words explaining the Incarnate system of the Accelerated World. But during the basketball match I was told by Taku ¡®your image is important,¡¯ and somehow¡­I thought about it. Even in this real world¡­when we really try hard, I wonder if we aren¡¯t doing the same thing¡­ Of course, on this side we¡¯re not able to use Incarnate techniques like superpowers, but even so¡­for example, the fact that I fought with that Ishio in the basketball match, the fact that I was able to manage cleaning up the caretaker shed alone; those to me were miracles above superpowers. Umm, basically, what I want to say is¡­well¡­¡±


    There Haruyuki¡¯s verbalization ability finally reached its limit; afterward he could no longer do anything but flap his mouth open and closed like he always did.


    However, fortunately it seemed that what he had to convey to Kuroyukihime had been conveyed. Her jet black pupils again opened wide, and from her bewitching lips she let out a thin sigh.


    ¡°¡­Haruyuki-kun. You always keep surprising me¡­ I surely hadn¡¯t thought that you would reach that stage that quickly and furthermore unaided¡­¡±


    ¡°Eh..? St, stage..?¡±


    Peering close at hand into the eyes of Haruyuki, who, dumbfounded, had asked that back, Kuroyukihime nodded deeply.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. The words that you spoke just now are the entrance to the second stage of the Incarnate system. To acquire the so-called ?applied techniques?, which surpasses the basic techniques of ?range?, ?power?, ?defense?, and ?movement? expansion, you must master something in the imagination not through logic but through feelings. Master the power called the ?imagination? given to us, which is such a vast, such a deep thing¡­¡±


    ¡°Ima¡­gi, nation¡­¡±


    ¡°Unh. Until now, you thought that the Incarnate system¡¯s main point ?override through one¡¯s image? was nothing more than a bit of logic of the game system that only existed in the virtual world, right? However, that is wrong. Imagination hides a boundless power even in this real world. Of course, you can¡¯t act in a way that ignores the laws of physics. Nevertheless, it¡¯s possible to override walls that seem to be one¡¯s absolute limits in borrowing the help of one¡¯s power to imagine. Like how you proved so yourself in the basketball match.¡±


    Those words of Kuroyukihime strongly shook a place in the deep recesses of Haruyuki¡¯s heart, but at the same time a large bewilderment too was born. Before he was conscious of it he had leaned forward, and while fixing his eyes on Kuroyukihime, who was in the same posture, from close by, he asked her in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°¡­The power of imagining causes one to cross one¡¯s limits. Its foundation doesn¡¯t change whether it¡¯s in the Accelerated World or the real world. I have a feeling that I too have somehow been able to understand that. ¡ªHowever, what kind of relationship is there between that and the ?second stage of the Incarnate system?..?¡±


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s inquiry, Kuroyukihime did not respond right away. As if having been apprehended by hesitation in coming here she cast her eyes down and lightly bit her lip.


    Haruyuki had the feeling that he was able to surmise that reason vaguely.


    Kuroyukihime was carrying some sort of fear of the strength of the Mind Power she had acquired. She had misgivings about whether or not it was negative power that called on destruction and sorrow, not positive power like the type Fuuko¡ªSky Raker manipulated.


    However, Haruyuki strongly believed that was not so. As for why, Kuroyukihime¡¯s Incarnate techniques were¡ªthe only one he had seen was the long-range attack ?Vorpal Strike?, but that technique was so beautiful to the degree where it made one at a loss for words. Even if it concealed a fearsome power, there was no way a technique that beautiful could be negative imagination.


    Haruyuki sidled up to her a further number of centimeters closer on the bed, made his left hand softly touch Kuroyukihime¡¯s right hand, and spoke.


    ¡°Senpai. I was taught valuable things, first by Raker-san, and then by Niko, about the Incarnate system. However¡­my ?parent? is you. I want to know everything about you, senpai. I want you to teach me everything. I implore you¡­please teach me your Mind Power.¡±


    A reply did not come back immediately.


    The June sun of half past ten in the morning had already climbed close to its zenith, so light from the window did not reach the secluded corner of the nurse¡¯s office. In the space faintly illuminated by the dimmed light panels and cut off in a rectangular shape by pure white curtains, only the two¡¯s breathing faintly resounded.


    Before long, the fingers of Kuroyukihime¡¯s right hand moved softly and gripped Haruyuki¡¯s fingers in a way as to entwine them. Following that, a quiet whisper.


    ¡°¡­If so, first we¡¯ll need a direct link-use cable.¡±


    On Kuroyukihime¡¯s face, which she had lifted up, there only existed the almost usual smile that was shrouded somewhere in mysteries. Haruyuki gently exhaled and then spoke while becoming slightly flustered.


    ¡°Ah¡­I, I¡¯m sorry, my cable¡¯s inside my bag in the classroom¡­¡±


    ¡°Mine too. But they probably at least have cables here too.¡±


    While murmuring, Kuroyukihime manipulated her virtual desktop with light fingering. Probably having searched the list of equipment, straightaway she nodded, parted her fingers from Haruyuki¡¯s left hand, stood up, and disappeared smoothly to the other side of the curtains.


    He heard the opening and closing sound of a drawer; sure enough a white XSB cable was grasped in the hand of Kuroyukihime, who had returned immediately. However¡ª.


    ¡°Is¡­isn¡¯t that a little short..?¡±


    The moment he saw the cable, which seemed to be only about fifty centimeters long no matter how he looked at it, Haruyuki blurted that out. But Kuroyukihime lightly shrugged her shoulders.


    ¡°If so, it¡¯ll be fine if we make it reach. Fortunately, it¡¯s outside of the view of the social cameras here.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­b, but, how.¡±


    As he had begun to say that, Haruyuki was forced to swallow his words down. As for why, it was because Kuroyukihime had placed her body on the bed with a heave-ho and a completely nonchalant bearing.


    ¡°Eh, um, well¡­¡±


    He belatedly noticed that he was still in his white gym suit and drew his body back. Due to the fact that it was made of quick-drying material, his sweat had already dried, but he definitely wasn¡¯t odorless.


    However, without any sign of minding that, Kuroyukihime reached out her left hand, softly pushed Haruyuki¡¯s chest, and made him lie supine on the bed. At his immediate left, she lay sprawled out sideways and directed a mischievous smile at him from an exceedingly close distance.


    Page 177


    As usual the clutch controlling his ability to think ran idly, and a breath with a hint of laughter gently touched Haruyuki¡¯s ear, which was about to blow up into the red zone out of excessive throbbing.


    ¡°Fufu¡­, it¡¯s probably fine if you don¡¯t get that nervous at such a late point. The night before the ?Hermes Cord Race?, didn¡¯t we have the relationship of sleeping a night in the same bed?¡±


    ¡°Hah, hahi, th-th-that¡¯s true, but.¡±


    In the Accelerated World, the above-mentioned race event had taken place a mere two weeks ago, but since far too many things had happened since then, it also felt like the faraway past. However, the memory of that one night was vividly engraved into Haruyuki¡¯s mind.


    At that time too, in the bed they similarly had dueled through a direct connection¡ªthough Haruyuki had unleashed his newly mastered ?Aerial Combo? on Kuroyukihime and had challenged her, due to her ?gentle redirection? of an even more advanced skill he had been easily dealt with, had ultimately suffered her level 8 special technique ?Death by Embracing?, and had been one-hit KO¡¯d.


    ¡­Somehow, I have a hunch that this time seems like it¡¯s going to become something similar too¡­


    While Haruyuki thought that, Kuroyukihime brought one end of the XSB cable only fifty centimeters long near his Neuro Linker. Reflexively, he began to distance his neck, but with his resistance in vain it was inserted.


    ¡°¡­Ah¡­¡±


    Not heeding Haruyuki, who had let out an odd voice, following that Kuroyukihime connected the opposite side¡¯s plug into her piano black communication device equipped on her slim neck. In his vision, the wired connection warning blinked red.


    ¡°¡­Yesterday, with my selfishness I made you use one point. Today, let¡¯s make it my treat.¡±


    The meaning of the words whispered thus was not that both of them would simultaneously accelerate and dive into the Initial Acceleration Space the Blue World; only Kuroyukihime would accelerate and would promptly encroach on Haruyuki.


    ¡°Y¡­yes, please do so.¡±


    Before the eyes of Haruyuki, who had replied so, her light rosy lips slightly intoned ?Burst Link?.


    Immediately after, an acceleration sound resembling a dry clap of thunder reverberated fully throughout his hearing.


    References:


    1. ^ Sound effect.

 Volume 8 - CH 7

    Chapter 7


    The stage of today¡¯s second duel was the ?Steel stage?, whose entire topography was formed entirely from riveted iron plates.


    Its distinctive feature was that first of all, it was hard. It conducted electricity well. And one¡¯s footsteps echoed strangely. Even more so if one¡¯s duel avatar were a metal color down to one¡¯s soles.


    Haruyuki, who had caused the reverberation of a shrill clang! sound and had alighted onto the stage, waited for a second sound of footsteps while looking down. However, since he did not hear anything even after several seconds had passed, he lifted his face and looked around at his surroundings.


    The former Umesato Middle nurse¡¯s office had changed into just an empty rectangular room with neither beds nor desks. The floor, walls, and the ceiling were all bulky iron plates glinting with a dull brown color. The duel opponents who had nearly been stuck close together before acceleration had obeyed Brain Burst¡¯s rule that they would ?materialize separated by at least ten meters?; she stood surreptitiously at the east window of the room.


    A sleek jet black semitransparent armor that made one think of obsidian. An armor skirt in the design of a water lily and a superfine body; a mask sharpened in the shape of the letter V. And her limbs were all blades so long and sharp as to make one shudder¡ª.


    Giving a look at the Black King ?Black Lotus¡¯s? beautiful as well as ferocious standing posture that he would never get used to seeing no matter how many times he saw it, Haruyuki finally realized why he had not heard footsteps. Though it was only the extent of a centimeter, the Black King¡¯s two sharply pointed legs sure enough were floating from the ground. She was also one of the few ?hover-class avatars? in the Accelerated World.


    In that state, Kuroyukihime stared at Haruyuki¡¯s avatar ?Silver Crow? for a further number of seconds, but before long she came sliding smoothly forward. She stopped right before his eyes, and in the depths of her black mirror goggles, her violet blue eyes shone vividly.


    ¡°Just by looking at your figure I knew, Haruyuki-kun. You¡¯ve gone through another harsh fight¡­¡±


    He immediately inferred that those calmly resounding words referred to the heated fight carried out last night between Takumu and him. He had not yet explained to Kuroyukihime the details of the happening that had occurred from last night to this morning, but she had probably seen through the fact that the two had already spoken to each other through their fists as Burst Linkers.


    To be sure, it had been a bitter, trying fight. In order to pull back his close friend who had begun to be drawn into the pitch-black power known as the ISS Kit, Haruyuki had lost his left arm and left wing and had continued to stand up even while his entire body was cracking into tatters. Encouraged by the strange bright golden yellow girl, he had summoned the original form of the ?Disaster Armor?, the Divine Weapon ?The Destiny?, even if it had been only one arm¡¯s worth, and had squeezed out all the Mind Power that he had.


    The result was that in order to save Haruyuki, who was on the verge of being parasitized by the clone of the ISS Kit, Takumu had punched through himself with his special technique, but what had been left inside Haruyuki by that fight seemed to be there, without a doubt. If one were to say what that was, it would probably be a mere small ?feeling of believing in himself?. Precisely because that feeling existed was he able to fire his new Incarnate technique, one that possessed a range surpassing that of ?Laser Sword?, in the following strange fight in the ?Brain Burst central server?.


    However, Haruyuki, whose habit of shrinking when he was praised had become second nature, looked down while rubbing his two hands together, fidgeting.


    ¡°N, no, such a thing¡­I¡¯m always just being saved by somebody¡­¡±


    ¡°Fufu, having become able to think like that is the proof that you¡¯ve matured.¡±


    Kuroyukihime briefly laughed, lightly tapped Haruyuki¡¯s back with the ridge of the sword of her right hand, and spoke.


    ¡°Now then, show me, Haruyuki-kun. Show me all the Incarnate techniques that you¡¯ve acquired.¡±


    Here he wanted badly to fidget again, but right now the two were not in the Unlimited Neutral Field but the normal duel field. They were only able to remain for a trifling 1800 seconds. It was normal for training to take over several weeks even to learn just one of the elementary techniques, so thirty minutes was too short. They could not afford to waste even one second.


    Haruyuki took a deep breath, stored it firmly in his belly, and nodded.


    ¡°All right. ¡ªLet¡¯s go.¡±


    He moved several steps and halted at a position three meters from the wall of the south side of the deserted room.


    Originally pure-white wallpaper had been pasted, but now it was a reddish-brown thick plate of steel. Even with just one of the rivets driven lengthwise and crosswise, it conveyed an overwhelming hardness.


    However, that hardness was in the end nothing more than a parameter described by the server. It was possible to override it with the strength of the will of piercing it. Haruyuki slowly lowered his waist; he first assumed a stance with his left hand at his hip and aligned his five fingers straight.


    He concentrated the image of a ?penetrating light? at his fingertips, and immediately a silver radiance¡ªan ?Over-Ray? was born and lit up the dim room. As his image was focused, a riiiing resonance sound faintly reverberated, and light covered the area from his left hand to his elbow. The speed of this Mind Power activation had become considerably faster compared to that of the past, but taking no heed of that Haruyuki swiftly pulled his left hand.


    ¡°¡ª?Laser Sword?!!¡±


    At the same time that he uttered his technique name, he sharply revolved his waist and plunged his left arm forward.


    With a clear-cut shukiiiiin! sound, the silver light that had taken the form of a sword lengthened over two meters from his left hand and drilled deeply into the thick steel wall.


    However, without stopping his movement there Haruyuki drew his right foot far back, and he placed his right arm not at his waist but in the area above his shoulder. He readied his left arm, which had returned to its original position, horizontally before his body.


    This time a silver light was born in his right arm and shone strongly.


    ¡°¡­Ohh!¡±


    A war cry burst forth naturally from his mouth. He made the tip of the light that had sharply extended several dozens of centimeters from his right hand float about the back of his left hand¡ªand released it.


    ¡°?Laser Lance?!!¡±


    Just this morning, only one time, he had released this technique inside his dream in borrowing Chiyuri¡¯s help, but Haruyuki had the conviction that he could do it. The radiance of the Mind Power released not as a sword but as a lance precisely hit its target, the bruise on the wall where his Laser Sword had bore through three seconds earlier, and again it pierced through ferociously.


    The lance of light, which had stopped for an instant, unraveled into a number of threads of ribbons and vanished. Immediately afterward, the wall plates of steel themselves scattered into smithereens as if unable to absorb fully the power dealt to it. From the other side of the large hole opened in the wall, an iron pillar standing in the space that corresponded to the front yard of Umesato Middle in the real world was severed in its middle and fell with an earth-shaking rumble.


    From where Haruyuki was standing to the iron pillar, it was probably easily ten meters. It was a firing range that was actually over three times farther than that of his Laser Sword unleashed earlier.


    ¡°¡­Whew.¡±


    At the back of Haruyuki, who had lightly exhaled and had let down both his hands, a refreshing ring, ring sound reverberated. He looked back; Kuroyukihime was clapping the swords of her two arms together wholly as if applauding.


    ¡°Splendid. Splendid imagination, Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    ¡°Th¡­th, thank you very much¡­¡±


    Haruyuki, as always unused to being praised by someone, bowed while ducking his head. However, at the remarks Kuroyukihime uttered immediately after, he raised his face with a twitch.


    ¡°That Mind Power of yours is already in the stage of completion as the basic ?range expansion technique?. Both ?Laser Sword?, used for hand-to-hand combat by expanding and contracting your sword from both hands at high speed, and ?Laser Lance?, used for midrange fighting as a lance that fires your amassed power from your right hand: both are good techniques whose sense of purpose is clear. However, due to that, from now on as well you can refine your technique and polish your sighting accuracy and activation speed but cannot expect to make dramatic progress¡­¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­¡±


    ¡ªIf so, does that mean¡­with this, this is the end for my Mind Power..?


    Stunned and thinking in that manner, he began to slump his shoulders, but he was checked right beforehand by the following voice that resounded.


    ¡°It¡¯s too early to be disappointed. I just said earlier, didn¡¯t I, that there existed a ?second stage? to the Incarnate system.¡±


    Kuroyukihime, who had approached without a sound by hover movement, whispered as if admonishing a little child in a voice with lowered volume.


    ¡°You¡­your heart conceals unlimited possibilities. From the point of believing that, everything begins. ¡ªThe technique you showed right now belongs to one of the four types of basic techniques of Mind Power, ?range expansion?. The appearances of basic techniques are multifarious, but if they¡¯re of the same type then they share the same essential abilities. You¡¯ve understood that much, right?¡±


    ¡°Y¡­yes.¡±


    While nodding, Haruyuki recalled Niko¡¯s¡ªthe ?Red King? Scarlet Rain¡¯s range expansion technique unique to her that she had shown before.


    Niko¡¯s technique hurled flames dwelling in her hand at high velocity and burnt her faraway target to ashes. It far surpassed Haruyuki¡¯s technique with a long range that exceeded fifty meters and with a high-speed activation to the extent where she did not even require a technique name utterance any longer, but despite that they both shared the essence of a ?long-distance standalone attack?.


    As if she were waiting for Haruyuki to understand that far, Kuroyukihime nodded, leisurely lifted the sword of her right hand, and spoke.


    ¡°¡ªIn opposition, the second stage of Mind Power is basically the ?applied technique?. Combining two or more images of the four elementary types, or incarnating a wholly new image, and bringing about an even larger ?override?. ?Rust Order?, used by Rust Jigsaw, who had destroyed the previous race event, and ?Wind Veil?, used by Fuuko, who had protected us from that technique, are without a doubt second stage techniques.¡±


    ¡°¡­And your ?Vorpal Strike? is one too, right, Senpai? That technique is a combination of range expansion and power expansion, isn¡¯t it.¡±


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s words, perhaps it was a figment of his imagination, but Kuroyukihime nodded her half-mirror face mask in a seemingly slightly embarrassed way.


    ¡°Mm, well¡­it¡¯s something like that, I guess. Maybe, however, the right way of putting it is that it became that way as a consequence of something¡­at any rate. Haruyuki-kun, the time has finally arrived for you to proceed to that second stage as well.¡±


    The first half of her words were slightly mysterious, but without the leisure to ponder their meaning Haruyuki straightened his back and shouted.


    ¡°U, understood! I¡¯ll do my best!¡±


    However, there another new question floated to his mind.


    ¡°¡­Um, however, at first in the nurse¡¯s office, you said in order to acquire the second stage of Mind Power, one must understand the meaning of something along the lines of the power of imagination even in the real world¡­didn¡¯t you, Senpai? Concretely, what did you mean..?¡±


    ¡°Unh¡­ That¡¯s, well¡­¡±


    Though she had begun to speak, Kuroyukihime cut short her words and gazed at her right hand¡ªthe point of her sharp sword, which was still raised before her chest. For some reason, a faint tinge of nervousness clouded her blue-violet eyes, and she continued in a whisper.


    ¡°¡­Since that meaning¡¯s difficult to convey in words, let¡¯s substitute with a real demonstration. Haruyuki-kun, in truth for some time past, I¡¯ve also been challenging myself to acquire a new ?applied technique?.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­¡±


    With bated breath, he stared gapingly at Kuroyukihime¡¯s avatar mask. A new applied technique¡ªin short, was that a super-offensive power that surpassed ?Vorpal Strike? too? Was she going to demonstrate that in this narrow room?


    ¡°Ah, th-then, shall we go outsi¡­¡±


    Kuroyukihime slightly shook her head and stopped Haruyuki, who had begun to speak.


    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for that. Here will suffice.¡±


    And then, the Black King Black Lotus pointed the tip of her right hand sword straight at Haruyuki¡¯s body and stood still.


    ¡ªNo way, surely she won¡¯t perhaps use me as a guinea pig for that new technique.


    ¡ªNo, it¡¯s possible. Because this person is the sworn friend and master of Sky Raker, who pushed me off the summit of the Old Tokyo Tower. If so, even if Kuroyukihime were also more spartan in her way of guiding my Mind Power than she was, it wouldn¡¯t be strange at all. Don¡¯t be afraid, think of it as a windfall. Being able to be the first to experience the yet-to-be-revealed technique of the person whom I believe without question to be the strongest in the Accelerated World, there¡¯s no training better than this. I should take it while puffing out my chest.


    While those thoughts progressed at high speed in less than a tenth of a second, Haruyuki gnashed his molars and stopped his breathing.


    Kuroyukihime, whose right hand was still extended out, narrowed her eyes beneath her goggles and also similarly showed signs of concentrating.


    At the point of the sharp sword, with a pop a yellow light¡ªan Over-Ray was born. While it faintly pulsated, it lightly enveloped the sword up to a point around twenty centimeters from its tip.


    While staring at that with both his wide-opened eyes, Haruyuki felt a slight bewilderment.


    As to why¡ªit was warm. The light enveloping the sword was kind, ephemeral, and warm to the extent where one could not possibly believe that it would produce massive destruction.


    However, at the same time, in contrast to the gentleness of the phenomenon, Haruyuki also knew that Kuroyukihime was without exaggeration mustering up all the imagination of her body and soul. The slender avatar trembled bit by bit, and her legs sometimes also wavered.


    Then, a faint voice.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun¡­your hand.¡±


    Before pondering the meaning of her words or becoming perplexed, as if being drawn to her he stretched out his right hand. His fingers approached Kuroyukihime¡¯s extended sword tip and softly made contact.


    If Kuroyukihime¡¯s Mind Power had been of the attack-class, at this point in time an override would have occurred, and regardless of his metal color armor hardness Haruyuki¡¯s fingers probably would have fallen off.


    However, that did not happen. Instead, a phenomenon he had not predicted in the slightest was incarnated.


    The black, sharp sword¡ªwas softly dispelled.


    Its tip divided into four. Slightly below, another one was born. The total of five partitioned thin, slender organs took in the light shining from the large hole in the wall and shone with a glitter.


    These were¡ª


    Fingers. It was a hand.


    Besides a faint Over-Ray, it was a slight change that produced neither a bit of sound nor radiance.


    After he reflexively wondered why he had lowered her offensive power on purpose, Haruyuki finally noticed it. That this ?applied Incarnate technique? was an extraordinary miracle that outclassed any large range attack technique.


    No Burst Linker could acquire Mind Power contrary to his or her attributes.


    In the past, the Red King Niko had said that that was a fundamental principle of the Incarnate system.


    Judging from her figure, whose four limbs were all swords, Kuroyukihime¡¯s attribute was clearly ?cutting?. She cut everything she touched. Denial. An aloof black lotus that not a single person could approach. Even her sole ?child?, Haruyuki, still had many things he did not know regarding her. No matter how much they stared at each other from a short distance or exchanged words with just the two of them, the depths of her heart were hidden by a deep darkness and could not be seen.


    Nevertheless, he thought that was fine. Even that was a part of the beauty of the person Kuroyukihime.


    In spite of that¡ªright now, Kuroyukihime had showed that she had refused her attribute of her own accord. She had shown that the words of ¡°I don¡¯t even have hands in order to hold hands with somebody¡± that she had once spoken had been negated through her imagination.


    There was certainly a declaration being put into this Mind Power. That as the chief of Nega Nebulas, she was facing its members in a form different from that of the past. That she was extending her hand out, opening up her heart, and forming true bonds not only in the Accelerated World but in the real world as well¡ª.


    ¡°¡­Sen, pai¡­¡±


    While whispering, Haruyuki was self-aware of an acute accompanying pain. That he really knew nothing about this person. That he had been using the superficial phrase ?aloof beauty? without knowing anything.


    His vision blurred and became distorted. While tears spread beneath his silver surface, Haruyuki tried to entwine her five slender fingers like needles with his right hand softly. The jet black and silver touched each other, and he felt a momentary warmth being transmitted to his consciousness, but immediately after.


    With an ephemeral, hard sound like that of ringing an unlimited number of tiny bells, Kuroyukihime¡¯s ?right hand? scattered into minute crystals and broke into pieces.


    ¡°Ah..!¡±


    Haruyuki leaked out a voice at the same time that Kuroyukihime¡¯s body collapsed as if her power had been exhausted. Unconsciously, he extended his right hand and supported her slender waist.


    Hugging her right arm, which had been lost up to near her elbow, to her chest, for a while as if withstanding the pain¡ªno, in fact probably in that state, she took shallow breaths repeatedly. However, before long she lifted her face and whispered in a placid voice.


    ¡°Seventeen seconds¡­ A new record by a wide margin. It was because you were here¡­right.¡±


    Those words basically indicated that up until now Kuroyukihime had challenged this applied Incarnate technique and had had her right hand crushed countless times.


    ¡°¡­Senpai.¡±


    Unable to restrain his infinitely overflowing deep emotions, Haruyuki returned that one word in a tremulous voice. Being driven by impulse, he tightly embraced the avatar in his bosom and stringed words together with all his might.


    ¡°Senpai¡­thank you. I have the feeling that I¡¯ve understood. In order to acquire the second stage of Mind Power¡­one must face not one¡¯s avatar, but one¡¯s own real self. One must continue to think about what one fears, what one desires, and what one imagines: not only in the Accelerated World but in the real world as well; it¡¯s that sort of thing, isn¡¯t it.¡±


    ¡°Exactly so.¡±


    The voice that had responded close to his ears was in a volume almost equivalent to being inaudible, but nevertheless it resounded commandingly in the duel stage of just the two.


    ¡°It¡¯s a process unnecessary for users of pure ?negative Mind Power?. As for why, anger, hate, and then despair are things inseparable from their own living bodies from the start. However, ?positive Mind Power?¡ªto produce the power of hope, the process of ?reversal of one¡¯s trauma? becomes necessary by any means. Meeting in the real world head-on with one¡¯s wound, which in the Accelerated World has been made into the sophisticated form of one¡¯s duel avatar, accepting it, and subliming it into an image of hope¡­ That is not an easy thing. It¡¯s easy to fall into the ?hole in one¡¯s heart?, but the path of climbing it is steep¡­for me, who¡¯s spent a vast amount of time as a Burst Linker, even a thing at the level of changing my sword into fingers was beyond my reach. However¡­¡±


    There, she temporarily stopped her words short; Kuroyukihime lifted her face, and from a distance so close their masks touched each other, she caught Haruyuki¡¯s eye.


    ¡°However, you can do it. You, who noticed singlehandedly your ?image of something?.¡±


    Normally, this would maybe be a scene where he would say things like ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡± or ¡°Not me, such a thing.¡± However, only right now did Haruyuki shake off his timidity and nod deeply. Their masks bumped into each other with a clunk, but with them still touching each other he murmured.


    ¡°Understood. I¡­, I¡¯ll do my best. Though I won¡¯t make it in time for tonight¡¯s ?Imperial Palace escape strategy?¡­despite that, I will do my best, and I will find it. My ?image of hope?.¡±


    ¡°Ahh. ¡ªI will do my best too. So that next time I can maintain it for at least thirty seconds and be able to hold hands with you properly.¡±


    This time for sure, the whispered words concealed a power enough to set Haruyuki into transition as usual.


    ¡°Uh, um, well.¡±


    After blinking at high speed below his silver surface, he somehow answered back.


    ¡°Th, tha, that¡¯s true. Besides that, if you had hands, it¡¯d be easy to operate the ?Install? menu.¡±


    At that very moment, her violet-blue eyes, which were right before his own, glittered glaringly and dangerously, and her voice, whose frigidity had increased¡ª.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s true. I thought about making this duel a draw, but since it¡¯d be troublesome to operate it without hands, I guess I¡¯ll just win normally after all.¡±


    Fortunately, with the point of her sword Kuroyukihime accepted Haruyuki¡¯s proposed draw offer.


    Haruyuki, who had ended the direct connection duel, looked at the ceiling vacantly for a few seconds and then finally became of the situation again. He was lying on a bed in the nurse¡¯s office, and immediately next to him Kuroyukihime lay prone, her body stuck close to him, a situation surprising even for last-century romantic comedy manga¡ª


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun.¡±


    A breath softly touched his left ear; after shrinking in fear, he timidly looked that way.


    That moment, Haruyuki, who forgot both his nervousness and his fright, opened his eyes wide.


    While facing sideways on top of the sheets, Kuroyukihime was staring hard at her snow-white right hand. Her petite nails, sleek like a pearl, shone glitteringly while reflecting the illumination of the light panels. Her black pupils blinked once and refocused on Haruyuki¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun, do you remember. The day I gave you your first lecture on Brain Burst¡­in the ?Initial Acceleration Space?, I reached my hand out to you, and said: ?Are these mere virtual two meters that far to you??.¡±


    There was no way he would forget it.


    At that time, Haruyuki had diverted his eyes from her extended hand and had answered in his heart. That it was far.


    After he nodded deeply, Kuroyukihime wore a smile that was in some way filled with plaintiveness and continued.


    ¡°In truth¡­those two meters were far to me too. It was because it had been a long¡­a truly long time since I last extended my hand out to someone of my own accord. I had always continued to fear grasping a person¡¯s hand. The legion members with whom my heart was supposedly joined¡­even Fuuko, Utai, Current, and Graph¡¯s hands, I might have been refusing them in the true sense of the word. However¡­from the day I encountered you in the virtual squash corner¡­no before that, from the day I noticed the figure of a small pink pig looking down as if to avoid others¡¯ eyes and running with all his might in a cranny of the local net¡­¡±


    There, Kuroyukihime closed her mouth. However, Haruyuki had the feeling that through the still-joined direct connection cable he had undoubtedly understood her unsaid words.


    Another smile, and a faint whisper.


    ¡°Well, Haruyuki-kun. Have the two meters of that day shortened..?¡±


    Haruyuki was unable to say anything. As to why, the emotion welling up was too great and was blocking up his chest a lot.


    In exchange, he screwed up all the courage he had; he lifted both his hands up and softly wrapped them around her still-raised right hand.


    It was warm. The same warmth as that of Black Lotus¡¯ ?right hand?, which he had touched for a mere instant in the ?Steel stage?, permeated his palms, circulated through his nervous system, and sparkled in a golden color in the center of his consciousness.


    Kuroyukihime lifted up her left hand too and covered the outside of Haruyuki¡¯s right hand. In his world filled with warm light, only their four mutually touching hands and her beautiful face smiling placidly existed.


    Her long eyelashes were cast down. The angle of her face changed.


    As if being drawn in, Haruyuki shifted his upper body a little forward. With her eyes closed, Kuroyukihime also drew her body nearer in the same way. By now, her white face¡ªor her pink lips were only a mere fifteen centimeters away. They approached each other a little bit more. The distance between them dropped below ten centimeters¡ª.


    Rattle; the sound of the door sliding brought their situation to a stop.


    Only two seconds later, with a speed like teleportation Kuroyukihime had separated her body from his, pulled out the direct connection cable, alighted from the bed, and returned to the adjacent chair. The seam between the white curtains was lifted up, and the school nurse Hotta showed her face.


    ¡°Arita-kun, how are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    After Haruyuki opened his eyes and mouth gaping wide and froze, the nurse furrowed her eyebrows.


    ¡°Your face is red, maybe your fever¡¯s returned?¡±


    ¡°¡­No, I¡¯m fine-gh.¡±


    There was nothing Haruyuki could do other than answer with that. As for Kuroyukihime, who was sitting gracefully in the chair, with a completely composed facial expression she didn¡¯t have a drop of sweat on her face. It was actually a fearsome mind control ability. Not only that, but before he was aware of it her two hands were grasping the cooling bottle as they were before.


    With no alternative, Haruyuki sucked on the straw of that bottle, which was outstretched straightforwardly with a gesture completely natural of a ?health-care committee member substitute?.

 Volume 8 - CH 8

    Chapter 8


    During the ten minute break at the end of second period, Haruyuki changed out of his gym clothes into his school uniform and returned to the second-years¡¯ class C.


    Immediately after he pulled the door open and set foot into the classroom, he was showered in considerable applause and stood stock-still. However, now that he thought about it, if he were a somewhat anemic, willowy female, then maybe this would not have happened, but since he was a male who had tried too hard and collapsed in a class that was only gym class at most, he would be seen as a somewhat physical type of comedian. Shrinking his neck, while lowering his head obsequiously he dashed to his seat; exactly at the point where he sat down, the chime for third period rang, and he let out a long breath.


    He lifted his head, and his eyes met with those of Chiyuri, who looking back at him in a worried manner from the seat diagonally right in front of him. Nodding as if to say ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± on that occasion he also made fleeting eye contact with Takumu, who was sitting at his back right.


    Takumu¡¯s facial expression seemed truly apologetic; in short, he was probably thinking that why Haruyuki had tried so hard to the point of collapsing was the fault of his own advice that ¡°image is important.¡±


    ¡ªIt¡¯s not your fault; on the other hand, thanks to you I was able to realize something important; I thank you for that.


    Putting those thoughts into his gaze, he smiled widely, and Takumu also finally made his mouth grin widely.


    During the classes of third, fourth period, lunch break, and afternoon classes as well, while studying with half his mind, with the other half Haruyuki continued to think single-mindedly.


    What was the ?second stage Mind Power? that he needed to find and nurture¡ª.


    He understood that now there were other urgent duties on which he needed to concentrate more. Of course, it was the ?Imperial Palace escape strategy II?, which was drawing close tonight at seven. He must dive together with Shinomiya Utai, also known as Ardor Maiden, into the Unlimited Neutral Field, meet again with the mysterious deep-blue young warrior Trilead Tetraoxide, receive his assistance, and return alive from the Imperial Palace as well as the territory of the Four Divine Beasts. If he considered the fact that they would fall into the terrifying state of ?Infinite EK? if they were defeated by one of the warrior avatars prowling the interior of the Imperial Palace (not to mention also Suzaku, one of the Divine Beasts), no matter how much he concentrated it would not be too much.


    However, Haruyuki could not help himself by any means from continuing to think about his own Mind Power.


    As for why, at present another ?circumstance? that he could not defer had arisen.


    Namely, teaching the basics of the Incarnate system to his eternal rival¡ªor the Burst Linker who had tentatively become that, the end-of-century bike rider Ash Roller.


    At the end of their duel before going to school, when Ash had asked him straightaway ¡°Could you teach it to me? The Incarnate system,¡± Haruyuki had been taken aback for close to a full five seconds.


    After his ability to think somehow recovered, what he asked first of all was a question that he thought likely to be extremely obvious.


    ¡°Wh¡­why, me?¡±


    In doing so, the end-of-century rider said,


    ¡°Well you see, you¡¯re that, right? Master Raker¡¯s disciple, right? Which means you¡¯re my kouhai1, my brother disciple2, right?¡±


    In a further second, he understood that that strange word referred to a ?junior disciple?; stopping himself from butting in ¡°But with that way of saying it you can¡¯t distinguish it from ?senior disciple?,¡± for the moment he asked back a practical question.


    ¡°If, if so, wouldn¡¯t it be fine if you were properly taught by Raker-san? If it¡¯s her, then regardless of differences in legion, I believe she¡¯d teach it scrupulously to her own ?child?, Ash-san¡­and no doubt, thoroughly¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s it. That ?thorough? part¡¯s the problem.¡±


    The instant he caught the ring that seemed in some way frightened in the voice leaked from below his scarface, Haruyuki realized what Ash had a problem with. He did not seem to be frightened; he was frightened. Frightened of that fearsome spartan style of training, like that of two months before: when Kurasaki Fuuko alias Sky Raker had begun to teach Haruyuki the basics of the Incarnate system, she had pushed him off the apex of the Old Tokyo Tower.


    Staring at Ash Roller for a while out of the corner of his eye, Haruyuki spoke.


    ¡°Um, if I may dare to use a self-important manner of putting it¡­the Incarnate system¡¯s not such a lenient thing. A way of doing things like using a dubious Neuro Linker-use study kit to acquire it with ease without going through hard pains is kinda¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say everything! I got it, I too understand that!¡±


    Before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, Ash thrust his rider glove palms straight out and shouted.


    ¡°But if you¡¯ll let me say it, Master¡¯s lessons that you experienced were the mild version meant for guests!¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­th, they were?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! ¡­well, generally speaking, I, how do you put it¡­this way of saying it might be unexpected, but I don¡¯t have the intention of firmly acquiring the Incarnate system and competing like mad with baddies in the Unlimited Neutral Field. I¡¯m fine with being able to use an Incarnate technique in just one fight; no, just one time. If I can give that guy Uu who¡¯s beginning to be swallowed up by the ?ISS Kit? one hard knock and open his eyes, I¡¯m fine with that¡­¡±


    At those unexpected words, Haruyuki looked back at the side of the skull face. Ash Roller, who had turned his face to the sky of the stage, murmured quietly in a voice tinged with uncharacteristic heaviness.


    ¡°Because to me, Brain Burst is to the end a fighting game.¡±


    If he were spoken to like that, he could no longer refuse flatly.


    As to why, the one who had conveyed to Ash Roller the information that ?now¡¯s our chance to deal Bush Utan a blow with Mind Power and destroy the ISS Kit? was Haruyuki himself.


    There, the duel time had ended; Haruyuki was unable to say either yes or no to Ash¡¯s ?request?, but however it had undoubtedly been conveyed to him. The fact that Haruyuki had made up his mind to accept his request.


    While he continued to think round and round with half his mind, the end-of-sixth-period chime rang, and the atmosphere in the classroom became bubbly and enlivened.


    Switching places with the subject teacher, the homeroom teacher Sugeno appeared, and the short homeroom period began. At the end of the various messages, the incident of Arita¡¯s loss of consciousness was brought up; at the point where he was scolded with the welcome maxim of ¡°It¡¯s very good to try your best, but diligently maintaining your own physical condition is an athlete¡¯s ironbound law¡± and broke into a cold sweat, the after-school chime rang.


    First, Haruyuki talked lightly about that night¡¯s plans with Chiyuri and Takumu, who were going to track and kendo practice respectively. After club and committee activities ended, they would change clothes, assemble at Haruyuki¡¯s house, have a meeting with all legion members present, and thereafter commence the ?Imperial Palace escape strategy?¡ªthey confirmed that flow of events and for the time being parted.


    While he changed into sneakers at the entranceway and headed alone to the backyard in order to do his committee activities, Haruyuki continued to ask himself a single question single-mindedly.


    Whether he had the qualifications to teach someone the way of using Mind Power.


    In the nurse¡¯s office, when he had sought his initiation into Mind Power in an almost slightly impatient way from Kuroyukihime, that doubt might have also existed in the depths of his heart.


    In terms of just technical knowledge regarding the ?Incarnate system?¡ªnamely, the sub-control system of the fighting game Brain Burst, a method of consciously using one¡¯s imagination circuits¡ªhe had self-confidence in having acquired some as such. However, Mind Power was not a mere technique. It displayed an overwhelming power outside the rules, but on the other hand the terrible risk of the player likely being pulled into his or her heart¡¯s own dark side existed. That was not just an analogy. Burst Linkers who unleashed negative Mind Power had even their real-world personalities distorted. Like the robber ?Dusk Taker?. And then, like the Takumu of yesterday¡ª.


    If he were to teach somebody the basics of Mind Power, he must devote himself to paying discreet attention such that his companion was not pulled to the dark side. It would probably not be enough just explaining the dangers in words. There was a need to show an illustration of how great a miracle Mind Power could produce at the very beginning. Like Sky Raker, who made her wheelchair dance back and forth, left and right without using her hands, or Black Lotus, who changed her sword into her hand.


    If one considered that point of view, Haruyuki¡¯s ?Laser Sword? and ?Laser Lance? were somewhat weak. The reason was that as phenomena they were only mere one-shot attack techniques. There were no few numbers of other Burst Linkers who had acquired special techniques that possessed about the same range and power.


    If he really had the intention of lecturing Ash Roller about the Incarnate system, he would probably have to show him the power of the ?second stage? that Kuroyukihime had mentioned, not just the elementary four types of techniques. If he could not do that, then he probably did not have the qualifications to teach people Mind Power.


    ¡°¡­Though, having said that¡­¡±


    While going around the second school building from its east side and walking on the backyard covered in moss, with a sigh mixed in Haruyuki muttered that.


    At the nurse¡¯s office, Kuroyukihime had said that to acquire the second stage of Mind Power, one must face one¡¯s physical self head-on, reverse one¡¯s trauma, which had become one¡¯s avatar¡¯s mold, and produce an image of hope. However, frankly Haruyuki himself did not understand well why he had been born as ?Silver Crow?¡ªas a metal-color who possessed slender limbs, a smooth head, and ten metal fins.


    Because he had grown fat, he yearned for a thin body. Because he had lived groveling on the ground, he yearned for wings to fly in the sky. It was simple to draw that conclusion. But for some reason, he had the feeling that was not all. Because with that explanation, he did not understand the reason why he was a metal-color¡­


    At that time, suddenly he heard a faint voice from somewhere.


    ¡ªAnd then, people who possess ?shells of trauma? that cross a certain level of intensity will almost certainly become metal-colors-ya wa3¡­


    ¡°..?¡±


    He stopped still with fear and looked around at his surroundings.


    It was the slightly husky voice of a girl. However, there was no one¡¯s figure in the dim backyard. Again, he strained his ears, but only the calls of the sports club members practicing on the faraway grounds and the sounds of the concert band club tuning instruments in the music room reached him.


    However, he had not misheard it. Even if he did not know the word ?shell of trauma?, there were no female acquaintances in his surroundings who used the Kansai dialect.


    Throb.


    All of a sudden, a point on his back between his shoulder blades hurt intensely. He unintentionally staggered and put his hand on the wall of the school building at his side. Throb, throb. The pain did not readily go away.


    Muscle soreness from first period¡¯s gym class¡ªit wasn¡¯t that. Haruyuki already knew that this pain was not coming from an abnormality in his body.


    ¡°¡­hh¡­why, is that¡­here now¡­¡±


    While clenching his fists and bearing it, he muttered in a hoarse voice.


    That was right. That¡ªthe ?Disaster Armor? parasitizing Silver Crow, namely the sixth star of the Seven Arcs ?The Destiny? that had mutated and had given birth to the Enhanced Armament ?The Disaster? was being excited.


    In the depths of his ears, the roar of a ferocious beast different from the voice before reverberated.


    ¡ªDestroy. Destroy. Those guys¡­tear them apart¡­chew them to pieces¡­devour them..!


    In response to the quantity of heated anger and hate contained in that voice to an alarming extent, Haruyuki gasped for breath while still leaning on the wall.


    Two weeks before, in the final stretch of the ?Hermes Cord Traverse Race?, being spurred on by rage toward Rust Jigsaw Haruyuki had summoned the ?Armor?. Though his mind had begun to be nearly completely controlled for a while, due to Chiyuri¡¯s special technique ?Citron Call Mode 2?, time for his avatar had been rewound, and the Armor had again been restored to simple parasitic factors¡ªtheir entity was the hook wire fragments left by the fifth generation Disaster, Cherry Rook.


    Since then he had never heard the Disaster¡¯s voice, but yesterday evening he had fought with Takumu, who had begun to be swallowed up by the ISS Kit, and in order to pull him back Haruyuki had tried to summon the original form of the ?Armor?, ?The Destiny?. Although it was not the Disaster itself, through the summoning process the parasitic factors might have again slightly awoken.


    ¡ªHowever. Even while bearing the pulse of the lightning-like pain, Haruyuki felt some sort of sense of unease.


    In some way, there was¡­something different from the previous ?voice of the Disaster?. He had that hunch. The brutal impulse to destroy was the same, but it was likely that behind it there was another emotion vaster than the wrath and hatred. Howling, raging, and then¡ªthis emotion that seemed like wailing¡­


    Before he knew it Haruyuki was trying to tune his consciousness to the voice to which he had been blocking his eyes and ears in the expectations that it would go away.


    That moment, the highest degree of dizzying, intense pain up until now ran from his back to the center of his head, and he fell to the ground on his knees, trembling. A savage howl completely filled his hearing.


    ¡ªDestroy. Destroy. Destroy destroy devour devour devour devour devour devour..!!


    ¡­Is this¡­sorrow..?


    ¡­Are you, crying..?


    The answer in response to Haruyuki¡¯s question was a third merciless staggering blow. No longer even letting out a moaning voice, he tightly scrunched up his eyes and began to fall forward onto the moss-covered ground¡ªbut just beforehand.


    Somebody supported Haruyuki¡¯s shoulders from the front with her small hands.


    In that state, a soft, tender feeling enveloped his upper body. Quicker than he understood somebody had caught him in her arms, with his two arms Haruyuki also embraced that somebody as if to cling to her.


    She had a cool body temperature like that of lulling, soothing, and absorbing blazing crimson flames. Each time her small hands rubbed his back, the pulse of pain rapidly receded.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Letting out a thin breath, Haruyuki relaxed his stiffened body.


    With his thinking process still over halfway at a stop, vacantly he raised his eyelids. Before his eyes was a deep red, thin radial line on a background of black like sparklers on a summer evening. It took some time for him to notice that that was an iris¡ªbasically, a human eye.


    He pulled back his face just a little bit and expanded his field of vision.


    Fifteen centimeters before his eyes existed the face of a youthful girl whose large pupils were opened wide as if worried.


    Bangs cut neatly to the same length. The back was fastened with a thin ribbon. A neck so thin it made one surprised, and below that a white dress type of uniform. A brown leather satchel on her shoulder¡ª.


    ¡°¡­Shi, nomiya¡­san..?¡±


    Haruyuki whispered in a hoarse voice, and his companion nodded deeply.


    It was Shinomiya Utai, the off-campus member of Umesato Middle¡¯s caretaker committee on which Haruyuki served as chairman. A fourth grader of the affiliated Matsunogi Elementary Institute. And a level 7 Burst Linker who occupied a corner of the upper echelons of the first-generation Nega Nebulas ?Elements? in the Accelerated World, ?Ardor Maiden?.


    At the appearance of a person on whom he could rely unconditionally, Haruyuki thinly exhaled a breath of relief and hastened to separate himself a bit more from her face, which had approached him far too closely.


    However, he could not. As to why, it was because his own two arms were hugging her body, which was small and slender even for the norms for her age, tightly with all his might.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    After looking down at the dress of Utai, who was in close proximity, and his round belly for two seconds, Haruyuki finally became aware of his deed that defied even the heavens and cried out.


    ¡°Nohyaa!¡±


    Like a spring mechanism, he opened his two hands left and right and jumped fifty centimeters backward from his kneeling posture.


    ¡°I, I¡¯m, I¡¯m shorry! Y-y-you¡¯ve got it wrong, i-i-it¡¯s not like that¡­¡±


    As he waved his hands in a flapping way, there was a red system message in the center of his virtual desktop. Without recognizing whether it was an ad hoc connection request, he pressed the yes button. As soon as the chat window appeared in the bottom of his field of vision, Utai¡¯s lovely ten fingers typed in the air with furious momentum.


    ¡¾UI> There is no need to worry, Arita-san. We are probably out of view of the social cameras.¡¿


    ¡ªWas, was that so? Speaking of which, wasn¡¯t that even worse?


    For an instant, he had thought that but did not put it into words; Haruyuki tried to make a more logical justification.


    ¡°Uh, um well, while I was walking I felt a little dizzy, and I thought it was undoubtedly because I had went all-out too much in gym class, but since I¡¯m fine now, I¡¯m sorry to have caused you to worr¡­¡±


    However, his words were interrupted by Utai¡¯s placid as well as heartbreaking smile, which seemed to see through everything. After she separated her knees, which were on the ground like Haruyuki¡¯s, and got up, she slightly dropped her speed and began moving her fingers again.


    ¡¾UI> You don¡¯t need to be in such a flurry. Because I understand¡­ What had happened just now was probably the thing called ?Overflow?.¡¿


    ¡°O¡­over, flow?¡±


    He tilted his head at the word he had heard, no, seen for the first time. However, immediately after, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide at the line of words that continued to flow.


    ¡¾UI> It¡¯s a higher version of ?Zero Fill?. If the act of one¡¯s heart being filled to the brim with an absence of Mind Power, basically resignation or a sense of helplessness, and becoming unable to move is Zero Fill, then overflow is the act of negative Mind Power¡­rage, hate, or despair overflowing and becoming unable to control oneself. Of course, originally it was a phenomenon that occurred to Burst Linkers in the Accelerated World, but I heard that even in the real world it happens rarely to Burst Linkers who are users of negative Mind Power.¡¿


    ¡°¡­Negative, Mind Power¡­¡±


    He mumbled in a small voice and abruptly looked at Utai¡¯s face. While shaking his head back and forth, he forced out some words.


    ¡°Uh, um, I¡¯m¡­definitely not doing anything like practicing negative Mind Power of my own accord¡­¡±


    Whereupon Utai again smiled placidly, walked up right next to his side, and touched her left hand to Haruyuki¡¯s cheek in a squishy way. At the same time, she typed with her right hand alone.


    ¡¾UI> I said it, didn¡¯t I; I understand. Earlier, that was¡­the interference of the ?Armor?, wasn¡¯t it?¡¿


    ¡°..!¡±


    He sharply swallowed his breath, but if she had seen through him to that extent then it couldn¡¯t be helped even if he denied it.


    ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s correct¡­ By remembering something¡­um, with the springboard of remembering somebody¡¯s words, suddenly it began to act violently¡­¡±


    ¡¾UI> Words? Of what kind?¡¿


    ¡°Uh, I can¡¯t remember who it was. In fact, no matter how I think about it, it was the voice of someone I didn¡¯t know¡­if I remember correctly, the content was that if there was something about one¡¯s shell of trauma, then one would become a metal-color, something like that¡­¡±


    What had trembled with a twitch was not Haruyuki but the left hand of Utai, who was touching his cheek.


    The iris streaked with deep red lines opened completely wide. Her lips faintly quivered, but of course her voice did not come out; her right hand tapped the keyboard falteringly.


    ¡¾UI> Who was it? Who was the one who said that to you, Arita-san?¡¿


    ¡°¡­Sorry, I¡¯m trying as hard as I can to remember¡­but it¡¯s no use, I don¡¯t know. All I recall was that it was the voice of a female¡­¡±


    ¡¾UI> Is that so. I¡¯m sorry, please forget it. Is your physical condition fine now?¡¿


    It seemed to be a sudden change of topic, but Haruyuki immediately forgot his sense of discomfort and nodded. Utai¡¯s left hand left him; with a heave-ho, he stood up and brushed off his uniform at the knees.


    ¡°Unh, I¡¯m fine now, thank you. ¡ªIt seems wholly as if you can use Mind Power even in the real world, Shinomiya-san.¡±


    While thanking her and saying that casually at the same time, Utai showed signs of acting bashfully in a way appropriate for her age, which was rare. Her cheeks slightly reddened, she cast her eyes down, and she let out a flow of words in the chat log in one go with the fastest typing speed up until now.


    ¡¾UI> I¡¯m glad it didn¡¯t turn into a serious matter. I believe there¡¯s no need to worry that much with regards to the interference of the ?Armor?. If it¡¯s an Enhanced Armament that¡¯s had that much of a history, rather it¡¯d be strange if overflow didn¡¯t occur. No matter what interference there is, unless you intone the equipping command in the Accelerated World, it should not exhibit a connection-like influence. Besides, either way, if tonight¡¯s escape strategy succeeds, I¡¯ll be able to purify you of the parasitic factors on the spot.¡¿


    ¡°¡­Unh, that¡¯s true.¡±


    Why Haruyuki¡¯s answer was a moment late was because he had felt an instant of vacillation about the presently most important topic, the ?purification of the Armor? mission¡ªeverything was nothing more than laying the groundwork for the sake of both Ardor Maiden¡¯s rescue and the escape from the Imperial Palace.


    However, was there the need to hesitate about something? If he did not completely get rid of the Disaster Armor, at the imminent ?Seven Kings¡¯ meeting? in three days, Silver Crow would be designated with a bounty on his head by the joint signature of the six large legions. He absolutely had to avoid that.


    Fortunately, it seemed Utai, whose head was lowered, had not noticed Haruyuki¡¯s abnormal state; she continued to make her fingers flash.


    ¡¾UI> Now then, let us begin committee activities. Hou-san must be hungry.¡¿


    She swiftly waved her hand, erasing the keyboard, and she lifted up her bag, which had been put in a place slightly separated from them. Haruyuki hastily chased after Utai, who had headed for the caretaker shed in the northwest corner of the backyard and had begun to walk briskly without trying to regard Haruyuki¡¯s face.


    The African Sunda Scops-owl ?Hou? had moved from Matsunogi Institute to Umesato Middle a mere three days ago.


    However, the small-class bird of prey nodding off on his perch established in the caretaker shed already seemed completely used to his new surroundings. Though he did not so much as open his eyelids even if Haruyuki approached the shed, as soon as he noticed the footsteps of Utai, who had put her bag and satchel at the side of the sink, he opened its round eyes perfectly wide and also incidentally moved his wings restlessly.


    ¡°Really, what a self-interested guy, huh¡­¡±


    Haruyuki muttered that with a bitter laugh mixed in and unlocked the electronic lock on the door. He nimbly entered and retrieved the water-resistant coated paper laid around the vicinity of the perch and the bathing-use vat. Swapping places with him, Utai lined up the paper washed and dried from yesterday and checked whether or not Hou¡¯s weight and body temperature were at their normal values.


    As Haruyuki, who had again went outside, washed the paper mat with a sloshing noise with the water supply established at the flank of the shed, a white cooling receptacle peeking out from the handbag at his side caught his eye.


    The contents were Hou¡¯s feed. Yesterday, the limits of what he had been shown were some kind of meat, but according to Utai it seemed to be neither chicken nor pork nor beef. Come to think of it, sure enough today she was supposed to show him starting from the point where she would dress the feed, but Utai had also added ¡°I predict you¡¯ll suffer emotional damage, so prepare yourself.¡± While again racking his brains on what on earth that meant, Haruyuki began to softly reach out his right hand. At that instant¡ª.


    ¡¾UI> It probably wouldn¡¯t be strange even if you ate it, Arita-san.¡¿


    Those words flowed into his chat window that had been left displayed, and he froze his hand in fear. He looked back; Utai, who had come out from the shed without his knowing it, was smiling from ear to ear.


    ¡°N, no, such a thing, I wouldn¡¯t snitch food, I¡¯m already a second-year in middle school.¡±


    Forgetting even the fact that he and Chiyuri had made a great fuss last night over the fried eggplant of the soup garnish and the chicken, Haruyuki shook his head minutely and hanged the coated paper, which he had finished washing, on some small hangers. With a handkerchief, he wiped his hands and then looked at Utai.


    The grade schooler four years younger than he showed for an instant a facial expression as though she were considering something, but immediately she nodded deeply.


    ¡¾UI> Now then, I¡¯ll prepare Hou-san¡¯s food.¡¿


    She moved to a place before the sink, inserted her hand into the handbag, and took out the cooling receptacle. She loosened the buckle fastening its four sides in place and opened the lid. Spurred on by curiosity, Haruyuki, who had thrust his face out and had peered inside the receptacle, stopped his breath short two seconds later with a start.


    Lined up inside along with the ice packs were small pink animals of five centimeters¡¯ length¡ªprobably mice before their fur had grown. Of course, they weren¡¯t alive, but their shapes were the same. From the four there she took out one and typed with one hand while placing it on the lid of the receptacle, which had been put on the sink.


    ¡¾UI> It¡¯s a feed called ?frozen pink mouse?. Basically, mice, chicks, or insects like crickets and mealworms are distributed to pet Ural owls or horned owls. However, it¡¯s too large as it is now, so we¡¯ll need to dress it.¡¿


    And then she put her hand into the bag again and took out a thing that surprised Haruyuki even more greatly.


    It was quite small but without a doubt a knife¡ªno, perhaps he should say a pocketknife. She removed the scabbard made of glossy, natural wood, and a six-centimeter blade glittering with a pale blue sheen appeared from inside.


    ¡¾UI> Of course, I¡¯ve obtained permission to carry as well as use this pocketknife. Despite that, if I take it out somewhere like on the public roads, in the blink of an eye I¡¯d be taken into protective custody.¡¿


    Utai¡¯s annotation was not an exaggeration at all. Now, in 2047, carrying any tool with a blade was a violation of regulations, regardless of size. If one had a reason as part of one¡¯s duties, it was possible to carry one by obtaining a permit from the public safety commission, but he recalled from the news he had seen that the screening was rather harsh.


    ¡°Seems¡­seems like you were granted permission all right.¡±


    In spite of himself Haruyuki muttered that, but in response to that Utai only faintly smiled, not replying with anything. In return, with her left hand she steadied the pink mouse put on the receptacle¡¯s lid, and with her right she applied the seemingly sharp tip of the penknife to it.


    As the blade moved sharply, its target was split neatly in half. Despite that, there was not a sign of a cut on the plastic covering. The pocketknife moved a further two times, and the mouse quickly became four thin slices of meat. Sure enough, their hue was that of what Hou seemed to be eating in an appetizing way yesterday. Its internal organs seemed to be processed already, but some blood flowed out and moistened the blade.


    Utai, in the midst of work, gave off an air so strained that even the changes in the surrounding air pressure were nearly visible; Haruyuki could no longer even speak out to her. Of course, though, he didn¡¯t have the courage to propose ?let me do it? in the first place. The remaining mice were also prepared one after the other, and in less than a mere two minutes, the contents of the receptacle had changed into the same state as that of yesterday.


    Utai finished her work, washed the pocketknife at the tap, wiped the blade well with a cloth resembling cotton, and returned it to its sheath. With that cloth, she wrapped the penknife, scabbard and all, put it in her bag, and raised her body. Without looking at Haruyuki, she typed on the holo keyboard.


    ¡¾UI> Normally, one would use scissors for this work. That way¡¯s easier.¡¿


    ¡°¡­If so, then why the pocketknife?¡±


    He interrogated her softly, and after looking down for a while as if in thought Utai answered.


    ¡¾UI> I thought it would be a memorial service at the bare minimum, but it might have been meaningless self-satisfaction after all. Now then, let¡¯s go feed these to Hou-san.¡¿


    While chasing after Utai, who was holding the receptacle and her leather gloves and again heading for the shed, Haruyuki tried to ponder the meaning of the line of words still displayed in the chat window. However, no matter how he interpreted it, it felt slightly wrong.


    The two entered the shed, and as if to say he couldn¡¯t wait any longer the Eurasian Scops-owl showed the behavior of flapping his wings from his perch. No later than Utai raised her left hand fitted into the leather glove did he move, flying round the shed in circles.


    With both hands, Haruyuki held the receptacle in the same fashion of that as yesterday; from there Utai grabbed slices of meat one by one and gave them to Hou. The answer to his homework was in short rat meat, but now that he thought of it he had the feeling that owls in fiction for the most part caught mice. Well, there was no way they would eat pork, beef, and the like.


    While staring fixedly at Hou, who was swallowing the meat one after another, Haruyuki thought absentmindedly about the obvious fact that ¡°that guy¡¯s living too, huh.¡±


    Though he was of a species that did not inhabit Japan and was only sold with the intention of being a pet, he was not artificial protein synthesized in a factory, much less a polygon object. Within this four meter by four meter room, from day to day he was eating, sleeping, and then feeling something. Something that Haruyuki had no way of imagining¡­


    Possibly having caught wind of the sign that he had slightly bit his lip, Utai turned round and tilted her head. Haruyuki hurriedly tilted his head and spoke in a small voice.


    ¡°Ah, I, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s not anything big. It¡¯s just that, um, I was watching him bathe yesterday and said ¡®What a lucky guy you are,¡¯ maybe it was a little rude¡­¡±


    There, he noticed that this time those remarks might have been rude not to Hou but to Utai, and he became flustered even further.


    ¡°Uh, um, I-I-I¡¯m not particularly saying that it¡¯s a misfortune for him to be taken care of by you, I think that¡¯s a blessing, if anything I want it too¡­nooo, that¡¯s not what I meant, um.¡±


    Around there, Haruyuki¡¯s ?wanting to escape running meter? had risen quite a bit, but in a situation where he was holding meat with both hands that was not possible either; he joined words together with all his effort.


    ¡°Uh¡ªmm, well, Hou was probably born from artificial breeding, so I think that from the beginning he didn¡¯t know what was outside his birdcage, but¡­however, he¡¯s a bird. Birds want to fly in the sky¡­possibly. Ah, of course I¡¯m not saying we should set him free. I¡¯m not saying either that this situation¡¯s a misfortune for him. But, at the least, maybe it¡¯s not good for us to arbitrarily decide what he should feel¡­¡±


    The more he spoke, the less clear his meaning became, so there out of necessity Haruyuki shut his mouth.


    However, it seemed that some extent of his intention had been conveyed to Utai. She nodded once and resumed feeding him with an expression of mulling over something on her face. The four pink mice¡¯s worth of meat slices disappeared in succession inside his beak, and the Eurasian Scops-owl, who in the end had his head petted and seemed to be satisfied greatly, unfurled his wings and took off from Utai¡¯s left hand. He flew leisurely inside the shed, tracing a counterclockwise arc.


    No matter how many times he saw that figure, it was so beautiful as to make him let out a gasp. While becoming absentminded, he gazed on, enthralled, and with a discreet sound effect words flowed in the chat window.


    ¡¾UI> I believe the thing of which you wish to speak, Arita-san, is called ?respect?.¡¿


    The instant the emphasized word came into his view, Haruyuki nodded furiously several times. That was right; that was precisely the thing that Haruyuki was feeling a moment earlier.


    Hou was; no, all pets, including him, were not existences just ?kept? by humans. One could also say they were ?at the side? of humans. That was why it was amiss to measure their happiness or unhappiness with a human scale. All they could do was approach them with respect.


    No, it wasn¡¯t just pets. Earlier, Utai had used not scissors but a properly sharpened pocketknife and had dressed the pink mice with the utmost seriousness. In short, she had not forgotten to respect even the mice that were going to be the feed¡­


    While looking up at Hou, who had returned to his perch, Haruyuki was struck by that deep emotion, and in the chat window text was again composed in a slightly slow manner.


    ¡¾UI> I also believe that it¡¯s very important to hold respect for all things. Respect is basically not disdaining. Even oneself is included as a target of that respect, no doubt.¡¿


    ¡°Eh¡­, respecting oneself..?¡±


    Haruyuki drew his gaze away from Hou and stared at the girl standing at the side.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t oneself¡­different..? Because isn¡¯t that, something like conceit¡­something like narcissism, isn¡¯t it like tha¡­¡±


    Haruyuki, who far from respecting himself frankly spared himself from even looking at himself in the mirror, only said that. However, still smiling gently, Utai paused slightly and then moved her fingers.


    ¡¾UI> If one overdoes it, it may become like that, but I believe that slighting oneself is also looking down upon the path one has walked until now, the time one has passed, and the people to whom one is related. Inside you, Arita-san, there¡¯s undoubtedly a ?flame? that will not disappear by any means no matter how much water is poured on it or how much the wind blows.¡¿


    The girl reached her right hand straight out and applied it precisely to the center of Haruyuki¡¯s breast¡ªright above his heart.


    ¡¾UI> That flame burns with your experiences and memories¡­with even your sins and errors as firewood. In the final analysis, people¡¯s consciousness and thoughts cause neurons ignite¡­for both an instant and an eternity, that flame is the essence of all life. I hold the conviction that not forgetting respect toward others and yourself and continuing to let your flame burn the proper way will illuminate the path you should walk. ¡¿


    Without even looking at the holo keyboard, Shinomiya Utai had managed to type that difficult to decipher as well as lengthy text with her left hand alone. During that period, her pupils, which concealed deep crimson sparks, had been fixed continuously upon Haruyuki¡¯s eyes. It seemed to Haruyuki as if from her small hand still touching his chest, surely some kind of energy¡ªperhaps real flames were being emitted and flowing into his heart.


    ¡°My flame¡­the path I should walk¡­¡±


    The heat in his blood vessels ran through his entire body and at last gathered at his back¡ªat his two shoulder blades.


    In real life, Haruyuki of course did not have wings. Far from that, his body was round and his height low, and his physical ability was at the extent where if he tried a little bit in PE class, he would collapse.


    However, he could advance forward. He could kindle the slight flame inside his heart, light his way, and take a step forward. Not facing backward, solely running¡ªforward. Forward. Everything was the problem of his image. If he had possessed the image of moving his feet forward in this real world, without a doubt his pace would have become several times, several tens of times greater in the Accelerated World.


    ¡°¡­My image¡­my, Mind Power.¡±


    After softly murmuring that, he deeply inhaled, and in a completely changed, clear voice, Haruyuki spoke.


    ¡°Thank you, Shinomiya-san. Somehow, it seems like an answer for what I¡¯ve always been worrying about has come.¡±


    Upon which Utai softly separated her right hand from Haruyuki¡¯s chest, gave a glimpse of her teeth like drops of pearls from her lips, and showed one of her rare articulate smiles.


    Having left the caretaker shed, the two of them finished washing their hands at the water supply, signed the committee log file indicating they had completed their activities, and submitted it to the school local net.


    The time was 4:15 in the afternoon. The time to assemble at Nega Nebulas¡¯ temporary headquarters, aka Haruyuki¡¯s house, was six in the afternoon, so they still had some leeway before they had to move.


    ¡ªFor the moment, maybe today I¡¯ll go together with Shinomiya-san to the student council meeting room and wait for Taku¡¯s and Chiyuri¡¯s club activities to end while chatting with Senpai¡­


    While thinking in that manner, he tried to pick up his school-commuting bag put at the flank of the sink¡ªbut just beforehand.


    Utai, who was using a handkerchief at his immediate side, stiffened her body with a twitch. Immediately after, Haruyuki also sensed some kind of presence creeping in at his back.


    ¡ªA thirst for blood..!


    Quickly, he tried to look back, but even quicker than that. Two arms extended across the shoulders of Utai, who was standing next to him, tightly seized her body. Simultaneously, a cheerful voice.


    ¡°Ui-ui, I¡ªgot¡ªyou!¡±


    Page 223


    ¡¾UI> Stopm, itd paonful¡¿


    The two hands of Utai, who had been hoisted into the air, tapped the keyboard in a struggling way, but the line of words flowing in the text box amounted to no meaning. All Haruyuki could do was catch the white handkerchief that had slipped out in midair.


    The assailant who had succeeded in a splendid backstab whipped Utai¡¯s small body around, wrapped her up super-tightly into her own chest, and raised a nasal voice.


    ¡°Aah, Ui-ui, you¡¯re so cute as always! At this rate, would it be fine if I put you in my pocket and took you home! Or should I make you into a mascot and decorate my dashboard!¡±


    The one who fired in succession those questionable lines of which it was dubious whether they were expressions of love or not was a female student wearing a uniform not from a school in this area. She was quite taller than Haruyuki, clad in a blouse with a too-magnificent proportion of light blue and a checker-patterned skirt, and had thin overknee tights covering her legs up to an area fairly high above her knees. Her hair was naturally long hair that seemed fluffily soft¡ª.


    Utai¡¯s right hand, which was clawing even more at the air, came down with a sudden stop as if she were exhausted of strength.


    The captor, who checked that her target had been suppressed, at that point finally looked at Haruyuki and smiled gently.


    ¡°How do you do, Karasu-san. Good job with the caretaker committee work.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­th¡­thank you, how do you do, Master.¡±


    While making his face twitch, Haruyuki returned a greeting to his ?master?, the vice chief of Nega Nebulas and level 8 Burst Linker ?Sky Raker?, Kurasaki Fuuko. Following that, he inquired timidly.


    ¡°Um, well¡­wh, why are you here at Umesato Middle, Master?¡±


    ¡°What I needed to have was a friend with power. Sacchan gladly issued me a one day visitor¡¯s pass.¡±


    In this day and age, the security at K-12 schools kept getting stricter; even if the outsider were a child of the same generation, one could not come and go as one pleased. At the school gate, a certification test would be carried out through one¡¯s Neuro Linker; if one had not been issued a pass, in the wink of an eye a security guard would come flying.


    ¡°¡­I see.¡±


    After nodding deeply, Haruyuki immediately shook his head.


    ¡°N, no, I¡¯m not talking about the system¡­the meetup was at six at my place, right?¡±


    ¡°My, even if I don¡¯t have pressing business, is it not all right if I only ?wanted to meet Karasu-san more quickly??¡±


    If he were smiled at with those words, as a robust middle school boy his head couldn¡¯t help from going poof, but at a precarious point Haruyuki remembered the fact that his conversation partner was ?in fact a scary Raker-sensei?. He tightened his cheeks, which seemed to be slackening, and shook his head minutely.


    ¡°N-n-no, such a thing, of course it would be all right, I-I-I-I¡¯m pleased about that.¡±


    It was not the situation to be getting carried away here. As to why, currently Haruyuki was keeping an important secret from Fuuko. That he had to teach the basics of Mind Power secretly to her ?child?, Ash Roller.


    As he stood bolt upright and wore a stiff smile, Fuuko stretched her left hand straight out and lightly grabbed Haruyuki¡¯s right cheek.


    ¡°Ha¡­hahi?¡±


    ¡°¡­Karasu-san. Is it perhaps a figment of my imagination? Somehow, I have a feeling as if you¡¯re keeping a secret from me.¡±


    Desperately restraining himself from jumping up in fright, again he shook his head sideways.


    ¡°N, no, such a thing, there¡¯s no way I would hide a hecret from Mafter!¡±


    ¡°Is that so? For the most part, my intuition about things like this isn¡¯t wrong.¡±


    While gently squishing Haruyuki¡¯s grabbed cheek, Fuuko wore all over her face a smile that was as sweetly enchanting as the finest fresh cream. However, he could not forget it. The fact that a first victim was already buried limp in her chest.


    Fuuko put both her hands right on her legs, stood up, and continued to shake her head slightly; her fingers moved from Haruyuki¡¯s cheek to the area around his ear. This time, while her fingertips played with his earlobes, she drew her face closer and softly whispered.


    ¡°Then, was ¡®that¡¯ perhaps my misunderstanding?¡±


    ¡°Wh¡­wh-wh-what do you mean by ¡®that¡¯?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not anything of much consequence. Today, I left school and had a bit of time, so I thought about participating in the gallery of a duel. In doing so, by chance I found Ash in the gallery of the same duel and thought about talking with him, but¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°For some reason or another, his attitude was a little weird. Therefore, after I apprehended the real him and gently cross-examined him¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Somehow, leaving aside me, his ?parent?, didn¡¯t he make a promise to be taught something important by you, Karasu-san? Something whose name people even hesitate to utter in public spaces, something veery secret, something veeee-ry important, the¡­¡±


    There, Fuuko moved her lips without letting out her voice: In-car-nate.


    ¡°¡­system¡¯s way of use?¡±


    ¡ªAsh Ro~llerrrrr~!!


    You readily spilled the beans! Well, if you¡¯re going to spill the beans there, you might as well have been taught by Raker-san in the first place! What on earth will become of my day today that I spent worrying about and toiling over, and rather first what are you going to do about this situation!


    Though he had shouted that inside his head, it was too late to rewind the situation. Haruyuki stopped his head, which he had been exercising up until now in the horizontal direction, resignedly moved it profoundly in the vertical direction, and spoke.


    ¡°Umm¡­uh¡­I, I¡¯m sorry¡­I, have been keeping¡­a secret, from you, Master¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    What was terrifying was that without letting her smile fade away, which could not have been any kinder, Raker also nodded once.


    ¡°You¡¯ve said it well. If you had played dumb even further there, I thought about putting both you, Karasu-san, and Ash together in a full course of special training, but I¡¯ll forgive you with half.¡±


    ¡°¡­Ha, half..?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Depending on whether today¡¯s ?Imperial Palace escape mission? succeeds, we¡¯ll start the special training in the Unlimited Field in that state. I was just thinking that soon it would be a suitable time for you to progress to the next stage, Karasu-san.¡±


    ¡°¡­To, today..?¡±


    After murmuring that with his mouth in a flabbergasted way while also sensing the dependability of Fuuko, who had readily put ?mission success? into words, Haruyuki looked around restlessly at his surroundings. However, needless to say there was not the figure of anyone in the dim backyard other than Haruyuki, Fuuko, and Utai, who was slumped senselessly in Fuuko¡¯s bosom.


    ¡°B, but, how will Ash-san meet up with us? If we don¡¯t meet up at considerably close to the same time, won¡¯t the rendezvous in the Unlimited Field be difficult¡­¡±


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s question, Fuuko replied exceedingly readily.


    ¡°No problem, because I¡¯ve had Ash confined¡­no, stand by in my car, which I¡¯ve parked nearby. In that state, I¡¯ll take Ash to your apartment house, Karasu-san, and we¡¯ll dive together. Of course, not from your house but from a nearby parking space though.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­is Ash-san going to come there? In real life?¡±


    Momentarily forgetting even his punishment-like situation, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide. ¡ªThat meant basically, if Haruyuki desired it, he could meet with him in the real world. By his prediction, that end-of-century rider¡¯s physical body would also be in riveted leather jeans, with mohawk hair.


    However, regrettably¡ªif that was the right word, Fuuko slightly shook her head.


    ¡°Ash will come, but it¡¯s probably better for now if you two don¡¯t meet each other¡¯s real selves yet. Because that child¡¯s one way or another a member of one of the Six Kings¡¯ legions, ?Great Wall?.¡±


    ¡°¡­Tha, that¡¯s¡­true, I guess.¡±


    While exhaling his bated breath, Haruyuki nodded. Sure enough, no matter how much they were fellow brother disciples, he was a subordinate of the Green King, who was an opponent of Kuroyukihime. There existed a line he had to draw.


    Lifting his head and finally looking at Fuuko head-on, Haruyuki nodded deeply. Before he had known it, Haruyuki was not teaching Ash Mind Power; the flow of things had become such that the two of them were being taught side-by-side by Fuuko, but rather than feeling regret his elation was greater.


    ¡°¡ªUnderstood. I was also just having a feeling as if I¡¯ve found a new hint. It¡¯s my pleasure to be able to be taught once again by Master!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve said it well. That¡¯s the spirit.¡±


    He saw the face of Raker, who was smiling widely as if enjoying herself, and thought, ¡°Maybe I was a little hasty¡­¡±; as he did so, the two hands of Utai, who was still seized in her chest, moved in a feeble manner and typed on the keyboard.


    ¡¾UI> I too will accompany you in your training. ¡¿


    After Fuuko, who had finally released Utai, greeted Hou in the caretaker shed¡ªit was their first time meeting, but the ?flying-class? comrades seemed to get along quite well¡ªHaruyuki along with the two of them headed for the student council meeting room.


    Though there were few students remaining in the school buildings after school, walking with an elementary school girl on one side and with a female high school student on the other lined up was quite an ordeal for Haruyuki. While slipping his way through the stunned gazes that bombarded him one after another, he moved from the entryway to the end of the first floor of the first school building and let out a long breath the moment he passed through the door.


    However, once he entered the locked room aka the student council meeting room, this time he could not help but feel yet another type of nervousness. In adding Kuroyukihime, who had received them with a smile, to their party, the situation of having one dull male in the midst of a gaggle of girls brewing an even more charming aura would inevitably show up. What was more, these three were the chief and highest executives of the former Nega Nebulas that had in the past occupied a seat of the Accelerated World¡¯s seven great legions; Haruyuki did not have a reason to be able to relax.


    ¡­Now that he thought about it, even with Chiyu and Taku added the current Nega Nebulas had four females and two males. If the number of new male members didn¡¯t increase soon, then they wouldn¡¯t be able to balance it out. However, if possible it¡¯d be good if they weren¡¯t that scary. That¡¯s right, I wonder if he would join¡­if I meet him today, maybe I¡¯ll try inviting him¡­


    While thinking that, in a nook of the sofa set he sipped the black tea that Kuroyukihime had brewed for him, and before he knew it the clock on the wall was pointing to five in the afternoon.


    ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s already this time, isn¡¯t it.¡±


    Fuuko, who had stood up as if in a hurry, clapped her two hands together and spoke.


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep ignoring Ash, whom I¡¯ve shut in the ca¡­whom I¡¯ve had wait in the car, I¡¯ll move one step ahead. I¡¯ll park my car near your house, Karasu-san, and only I will intrude at six o¡¯clock.¡±


    ¡°¡­Really, I have the feeling that you¡¯ve been thoroughly neglecting Ash, though¡­¡±


    In response to what Kuroyukihime had pointed out with a bitter laugh mixed in, Fuuko answered with a composed face.


    ¡°I told Ash to earn ten points in free duels for the dive into the Unlimited Field while waiting, so that guy probably isn¡¯t bored. With that, everybody, see you later.¡±


    With timing almost as if replacing Fuuko, who had waved her hand lightly and had withdrawn from the student council meeting room, Chiyuri and Takumu, who had finished club activities, appeared. They met up with the two, who had probably hurried in using the showers, as their hair was still wet, and their company, which had become five in number, moved on foot toward the northern complex high-rise apartment building in Koenji.


    Something for which they were both greatly apologetic and grateful was that things had become such that the day before yesterday, yesterday, and today successively, Chiyuri¡¯s mama had prepared everyone a light supper, so they only stocked up on drinks at the shopping mall attached to the apartment building and rode the elevator. In order to transport the provisions, Chiyuri and Takumu got off at the twenty-first floor, and just Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime, and Utai proceeded ahead to the twenty-third floor¡ª.


    While also dealing with those actions of preparation, Haruyuki felt his nervousness grow minute by minute with regards to the imminently coming time of seven in the afternoon.


    Currently, Haruyuki¡¯s other self, the duel avatar ?Silver Crow?, was deserted in the depths of the ?Imperial Palace? enshrined in the center of the Unlimited Neutral Field. If he did not escape from there, not only would the purification of the ?Disaster Armor? be unable to be carried out, but also the question of whether he would continue to be a Burst Linker would become doubtful.


    Takumu and the other had declared that they would continue to provide Haruyuki with the necessary points even if he were designated with a bounty in the name of the Six Kings and became unable to duel. That feeling made him happier than anything else, but he could not take advantage of that. He did not want to do something like clinging to ?acceleration? to the point where he became the legion¡¯s burden¡­


    ¡°Do not be seized by negative images now.¡±


    The moment he had entered his house¡¯s living room and had put down his bag, someone whispered in that manner at his ear; taken aback, Haruyuki raised his face.


    The owner of the voice was Kuroyukihime, who stood immediately behind him. She placed her right hand on Haruyuki¡¯s chest, and before he was aware of it, his body, which had developed the habit of facing downward, arched backward.


    ¡°It¡¯s important to hypothesize about every possible situation. However, at times there are also scenes where one must single-mindedly look only forward and plunge on. Now is that very time.¡±


    ¡¾UI> It is as Sacchan says. Now, let us only believe and advance forward. ¡¿


    If even Utai, who had popped her face out from behind Kuroyukihime, typed thus, then he could not look down any more. Haruyuki threw his chest out and answered with a single word.


    ¡°¡ªUnderstood!¡±


    With just that, curiously enough even the cold sweat soaking his hands withdrew.


    On the dining table for six people, at the point where the chirashizushi4 and norimaki5 into which Chiyuri¡¯s mama had put her heart and soul were lined up and tea was being served, with good timing Fuuko joined them. Haruyuki looked round at the legion members, who were lined up in the same rows as the day before yesterday, and inquired timidly.


    ¡°¡­Um, is it really okay? Leaving Ash-san behind in the car¡­¡±


    Chiyuri and Takumu, to whom the details had already been explained, and Kuroyukihime laughed forcedly; as usual Fuuko wore a composed expression.


    ¡°Ash was somewhat miffed, but I couldn¡¯t possibly invite that guy here, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­Then, Nee-san, at least deliver this sushi to him afterward.¡±


    While laughing, Chiyuri proposed that, brought a plastic container from the kitchen, and quickly began apportioning thenorimaki. Imagining that end-of-century rider eating kappamaki6, Haruyuki unintentionally let his mouth loosen, and with a serious face Kuroyukihime made an unexpected proposal.


    ¡°How about it, Fuuko. Why don¡¯t we recruit him to our side?¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­eh, say what-!?¡±


    The one who had shouted that was naturally Haruyuki. However, the other members had not particularly shown signs of surprise. As for Taku, he was nodding calmly and saying something like ¡°That¡¯s a possibility too.¡±


    As he opened his eyes wide, dumbfounded, Fuuko changed her expression and tilted her head slightly.


    ¡°¡ªI too have thought of that, but¡­that child unexpectedly has a strong sense of duty in a unique way¡­ Will Ash be fine or not with lowering the once-hoisted flag of the green legion Great Wall? Moreover, of course there¡¯s also the fear of whether the Green King Green Grandee would use ?Judgment Blow? without recognizing Ash¡¯s secession.¡±


    ¡°¡­Uh¡ªmm¡­ To be honest, I also don¡¯t know well what that guy Grandee¡¯s thinking, just him¡­ I believe I¡¯ve grasped the other Kings¡¯ personalities to an extent, but just that shield-wielding male¡­¡±


    Kuroyukihime folded her arms with a troubled look on her face.


    At last week¡¯s ?Seven Kings¡¯ meeting?, Haruyuki also had seen the Green King up close, but he didn¡¯t know a single thing other than that ?he seems super-hard?. In the end he had not said a word from beginning to finish, and even on the occasion where the conclusion to grant Silver Crow a one-week postponement was reached, he had only nodded once.


    He¡¯s able to command his large legion of over a hundred members well in his own way, huh¡­Haruyuki hurriedly returned his thoughts, which had begun to digress along those lines, to where they were before.


    Ash Roller, coming to Nega Nebulas. Up until now, he had not thought about that event at all, but he didn¡¯t particularly dislike it either. He was an eternal rival with whom he had fought countless times from the first day he had become a Burst Linker, but when Haruyuki had lost his wings and had lost heart he was also the benefactor who had fervently chastised him and had introduced him to his parent, Sky Raker. From his habitual attitude, it was fairly hard to imagine, but he was in his own way a considerate ?man among men?¡­


    And then, having thought that far, Haruyuki noticed something and abruptly raised his face.


    ¡°Uh, um, Senpai, Master¡­I believe that at the least, for now Ash-san won¡¯t accept a legion transfer.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the reason for you to state that positively?¡±


    ¡°¡ªIt¡¯s Ash-san¡¯s younger blood brother, ?Bush Utan?¡­¡±


    There, Haruyuki temporarily cut his words short and proposed, ¡°Since it¡¯s going to be long, why don¡¯t we discuss it while eating.¡±


    After Fuuko, who had parked her car¡ªthough it was not in her name but apparently her mother¡¯s possession¡ªin the large-sized parking underground the apartment house, returned from delivering the improvised norimaki bento that Chiyuri had prepared, they chanted ¡°Itadakimasu¡± anew with everybody there.


    While Chiyuri¡¯s mama¡¯s greatest forte was Italian cuisine such as pasta and lasagna, that skill was also amply flourished in Japanese food; Haruyuki, who normally had no opportunity to eat chirashizushi, shoved it into his mouth in a state of ecstasy. Everyone else also undauntedly moved their chopsticks, and at the point where the large plate¡¯s contents had been reduced to half, conversation finally resumed.


    ¡°An¡¯ then¡­a¡¯out Fush Uhan¡­¡±


    While chuckling, Takumu checked Haruyuki, who was trying to chat with norimaki in his mouth.


    ¡°Allow me to explain that matter. Since it¡¯s something deeply related to me myself as well¡­¡±


    Startled, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide and hurriedly tried to chew his sushi rice, but while he was still chewing Takumu had begun to explain, so reluctantly he switched to the role of listener. As expected of the legion¡¯s finest intellectual, the briefing was easy to understand, but Haruyuki could not help but be kept on tenterhooks. As for why, true to his words from earlier Takumu explained to Kuroyukihime and the others what had happened to him without omitting any details.


    How the day before yesterday, he had left on a solo investigation after hearing of the ?ISS Kit? from Haruyuki. How he had made contact with the Burst Linker Magenta Scissor in the Setagaya area and how the Kit in its sealed state had been transferred to him.


    And then yesterday, how he had been assaulted by the PK group ?Supernova Remnant? in the Shinjuku area and had backlashed against and annihilated them in the Unlimited Neutral Field with the power of the ISS Kit. The subsequent direct connection duel with Haruyuki. And then the strange ?dream? the three of them had shared during the wee hours of today¡ª.


    Haruyuki had only let Kuroyukihime, Fuuko, and Utai know the general outline regarding this string of events by mail. The reason was that it seemed impossible to put why Takumu had yearned for power and how he had overcome that precisely into written words. Of course, it was imperative that they give an explanation sometime; in that sense, perhaps having Takumu himself narrate it now from his own mouth was a desirable result, but all the same he couldn¡¯t help but involuntarily feel uneasy. About whether Kuroyukihime would rebuke Takumu, who had arbitrarily reached his hand out to the ISS Kit.


    ¡ªHowever.


    ¡°¡­Is that so. You¡¯ve tried hard, haven¡¯t you, Takumu-kun.¡±


    The head of the legion, having finished hearing everything, first of all put that into words while smiling kindly. Fuuko and Utai also nodded once with gentle facial expressions.


    ¡°Huh¡­I thought you¡¯d be awfully angry and would smash the table, Senpai, so I was preparing an emergency sushi evacuation, but¡­¡±


    Chiyuri, who had in reality stuck her two hands out on the table, said that with a serious look, and while laughing forcedly Kuroyukihime answered her.


    ¡°Indeed, I am the legion master, but I don¡¯t think I could or would try to control all the members completely. All Burst Linkers continue only their own battles from day to day. In both the Accelerated World and the real world. Even if one¡¯s a parent or a master, what one can do is only believe and encourage. ¡ªIn the first place, the arbitrary action of Takumu and company is still a cute little thing. In comparison to those of the first Nega Nebulas¡¯ ?Elements?, that is.¡±


    At the last phrase that Kuroyukihime had tacked on, with expressions of feigned ignorance Fuuko and Utai simultaneously stuffed their mouths with norimaki.


    In the middle of that peaceful atmosphere, behind his glasses Takumu repeatedly blinked his eyes several times, but at last with a jerk he bowed his head deeply. When he raised his face, there was only the completely usual intellectual expression on his fair complexion.


    ¡°¡ªThanks to Haru and Chii-chan, I was able to cut off the controlling power of the ISS Kit. At the same time, we inflicted a certain extent of damage on the Kit¡¯s main body in the middle of the ?Brain Burst central server?, but the Kits parasitizing Bush Utan and Olive Glove were just weakened and worn away, they probably haven¡¯t disappeared yet¡­¡±


    There, Haruyuki finally remembered what he wanted to say and put his words together.


    ¡°Th, that¡¯s right. It seemed that Ash-san felt a tremendous responsibility regarding Bush Utan being taken in by the ISS Kit. Until Utan¡¯s released from the influence of the Kit, I think he won¡¯t say yes even if we invite him to our side. To begin with, why Ash-san wanted me to teach him the Incarnate system was not for the sake of becoming stronger but because he wanted to destroy Utan¡¯s ISS Kit by his own hand; that¡¯s all he wished for¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Karasu-san, you truly understand that kid well, don¡¯t you.¡±


    At the point where Haruyuki was taking a breather and trying to drink his tea, suddenly Fuuko said that, so involuntarily he slightly choked.


    ¡°Uh¡­eh, is, is that so¡­honestly, I still can¡¯t imagine at all what kind of person his real self is¡­¡±


    ¡°Eh, isn¡¯t he as he is? Going ¡®hyahahaa¡¯ while riding an electric scooter every morning?¡±


    In response to Chiyuri¡¯s opinion, Takumu also nodded with a serious face. However, Fuuko only laughed with an ¡°ufufu,¡± not answering that question, and she clapped her hands together with a sudden stop.


    ¡°Even if we set aside the matter of transferring legions, if that child wants to learn the Incarnate system for a friend¡¯s sake, I cannot stop Ash. I believe his ability as a Burst Linker has reached a level where it can be allowed; in the first place, obtaining Sacchan¡¯s permission to have him accompany us today was also for that purpose¡­¡±


    ¡ªAfter the escape from the Imperial Palace, they would seamlessly start special training. Haruyuki, who had remembered those words of Fuuko, made his back tremble with a shiver. At his right side, Utai, who had finished eating her kanpyomaki7, ran her fingers above the table with a tap tap.


    ¡¾UI> Well then, today¡¯s schedule is jam-packed. ¢Ù Escape from the Imperial Palace, ¢Ú purification of the Armor, ¢Û Mind Power special training. Since it also costs 10 points to dive into the Unlimited Neutral Field, it¡¯ll be a bargain if we can settle everything in one time.¡¿


    ¡°Fufu, quite right. Once everything¡¯s over, while we¡¯re at it why don¡¯t we do some light enemy hunting.¡±


    ¡°Ah, in that case I wanna go to one of the four big dungeons¡ª¡±


    As Chiyuri suggested that innocently, all together the three senior Burst Linkers became hushed, and following that with grave expressions they shook their heads with a trembling motion. With awfully stiff movements, Utai typed.


    ¡¾UI> If you¡¯re thinking about going to the deepest parts with this number of people, I¡¯m sure it would take about half a year.¡¿


    At the same time the three younger members gaped in astonishment, the clock on the wall pointed to 6:45.


    At the point where they had worked together to take care of the tableware, took turns to use the bathroom, and moved to the sofa set in the west side of the living room, the time had become five minutes to seven.


    Looking around at everyone¡¯s faces, Kuroyukihime carried out the last briefing. Having said that, different from last time there was no strategy-like strategy. The four people consisting of Kuroyukihime, Fuuko, Chiyuri, and Takumu would move to the area before the south gate of the Imperial Palace that covered the Suginami through Chiyoda areas and would stand by after the dive into the Unlimited Neutral Field. After diving, since Haruyuki and Utai would appear in last time¡¯s automatic disconnection coordinates, in short the ?sanctuary? in the underground of the Imperial Palace¡¯s main shrine, from there while enlisting the cooperation of the mysterious young warrior ?Trilead Tetraoxide? they would return to the south gate, break the seal, and depart. They would coordinate with Kuroyukihime and company, who would be waiting outside, evade the onslaught of ?Suzaku, one of the four Divine Beasts?, and flee to the exterior of the large bridge extending from the gate¡ª.


    Since they could not anticipate Suzaku¡¯s behavior, they had no choice but to deal with the real run by adapting to the circumstances of the moment. However, different from last time when they had to retrieve the aboveground Ardor Maiden, this time it was fine if they only fled and escaped at full steam. The bridge¡¯s total length was a mere five hundred meters. If all went well, they might be able to break through before Suzaku, who would catch wind of the invaders into his territory, finished materializing. No, without a doubt they could do it¡­


    While murmuring that in his heart, after tightly clenching his fists Haruyuki remembered something and looked at Fuuko, who was sitting on the side opposite him.


    ¡°Come to think of it, what¡¯ll Ash-san do? If he¡¯s to meet up with us from in front of the apartment building, if he doesn¡¯t match his timing very closely, then¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all right, as I¡¯ve strictly ordered Ash to dive a second before seven o¡¯clock.¡±


    To Haruyuki¡¯s question, Fuuko responded in that way simply. True enough, if that were so, then it would be impossible for Fuuko and the others to stand Ash up¡ªin fact, it was the opposite. A second in the real world was a thousand seconds in the Accelerated World; basically, Ash Roller would wait in front of this apartment house for sixteen minutes and forty seconds. As he furtively thought, ¡°As expected of Master, her mercifulness is tera-nothing,¡± Chiyuri inquired while giving off a slight air of apprehension.


    ¡°¡­Nee-san, well¡­isn¡¯t it dangerous? Even if we say it¡¯s only a mere sixteen minutes, he¡¯ll be all alone in the Unlimited Field¡­¡±


    Whereupon Fuuko unhesitatingly spoke some even more relentless lines even while smiling at the kindliness of Chiyuri, who was being considerate of Ash, who was tentatively an enemy.


    ¡°It¡¯s unthinkable that our dive time would be leaked to an outsider, and even if by bad fortune Ash is attacked by a large-class enemy or a hostile Burst Linker and dies, during the one-hour resurrection time we¡¯ll appear. We¡¯ll at least be able to take on the enemy ?.¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s true, all right when that time comes I¡¯ll try my best too!¡±


    As Chiyuri readily came to that understanding and the two males made their backs shudder, trembling, at last it was a minute before seven.


    The six of them were already linked in a daisy chain through five XSB cables, and furthermore, through a second cable extending from Haruyuki¡¯s neck they were connected to the Arita household¡¯s home server. Afterwards, with just a push of the button displayed in Haruyuki¡¯s field of vision, all members would be in a state able to connect to the Global Net.


    Kuroyukihime, who was sitting at his immediate left side, stared fixedly at Haruyuki¡¯s eyes and whispered kindly as well as commandingly.


    ¡°¡ªNo matter how many hours¡­how many days elapse, we¡¯ll be waiting, Haruyuki-kun. For the time you and Utai open the gate of the Imperial Palace again and take flight, that is.¡±


    ¡°Un¡­understood!¡±


    After nodding once, Haruyuki hurriedly shook his head sideways.


    ¡°N, no, we won¡¯t keep you waiting that long! Even if it takes us a long time, in five hours¡­no, in three hours will we escape!¡±


    ¡¾UI> Then let¡¯s make our goal two hours. We¡¯ll also be busy with our plans afterward, after all.¡¿


    Without a moment¡¯s delay, Utai had typed that, and everyone laughed. Kuroyukihime, who had nodded greatly, resolutely straightened her spine and cried out.


    ¡°With that¡ªcommencing the count! Ten seconds to acceleration! Eight, seven, six¡­¡±


    From there, all members matched their voices and recited the countdown.


    Five, four, three, two¡ªone¡ª¡ª!


    ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Unlimited Burst!¡± ¡± ¡± ¡± ¡± ¡±


    References:


    1. ^ Kouhai (ááÝ…) means junior. Its opposite is senpai (ÏÈÝ…), ¡°senior.¡±


    2. ^ In Japanese, µÜµÜ×Ó/µÜ¡©×Ó (otoutodeshi) means ¡°junior disciple,¡± and ÐÖµÜ×Ó (anideshi) means ¡°senior disciple.¡± Literally, they mean ¡°younger brother disciple¡± and ¡°older brother disciple¡± respectively. Ash Roller¡¯s term ¡°brother disciple,¡± spoken in his usual nonsensical Engrish manner, refers to the former, but without context it¡¯s impossible to tell which of the two he meant, as in English one¡¯s brother can be either an older brother or a younger brother.


    3. ^ Ya is a copula prominent in the Kansai dialect, and wa is a particle commonly used by both males and females in the Kansai dialect, compared to other dialects of Japanese where wa is considered to be more feminine.


    4. ^ Sushi rice served in a bowl and topped with ingredients.


    5. ^ Rice flavored with vinegar and wrapped in nori (seaweed).


    6. ^ A type of norimaki with cucumber, named after the mythical kappa for its liking of cucumber.


    7. ^ Sushi with strips of gourd wrapped inside.

 Volume 8 - CH 9

    Chapter 9


    His Neuro Linker amplified his thought process clock, and Haruyuki shut his eyes and passed through the ?acceleration? process released simultaneously from his five senses¡¯ signals in the real world.


    Waiting till he felt his momentarily floating body descend to a hard, level surface, he raised his eyelids.


    What was there was no longer the Arita family¡¯s living room he was accustomed to seeing. A floor joined together in a complex manner from blue-black tiles with a dull metallic luster. Walls with a design of like that of thin blades lined up. A ceiling with narrow beams in lattice formation crossing it. The only illumination was from a number of curious purple candles installed on the wall; on the whole, it was rather gloomy, and from both his gut feeling and his knowledge, he knew that it was a deep underground room.


    This was the center of the Unlimited Neutral Field, the deepest of the depths of the main shrine of the ?Imperial Palace?¡ªa small room linked to the hall a certain person had called the ?Shrine of the Eight Gods?. Why the design differed from the one he remembered was because the Unlimited Field¡¯s characteristic ?transition? had occurred, and the attribute had changed from last time¡¯s ?Heian1? stage to this.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s the ?Demonic City? stage.¡±


    A lovely voice that was also clear resounded; Haruyuki turned his gaze that way.


    The one standing with her two hands aligned precisely before herself was a duel avatar of a small frame equipped with white and scarlet armor that reminded one of a miko¡¯s2 dress. One of the corners of the first Nega Nebulas¡¯ Elements, the world-destroying conflagration shrine maiden ?Ardor Maiden?. The one handling her was of course Shinomiya Utai¡ª.


    In response to Utai¡¯s voice, which he could not hear in the real world, he quickly responded.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad it¡¯s not a stage full of terrain traps and wild creatures. The terrain¡¯s probably harder than that of the Heian stage, but the Imperial Palace¡¯s building is indestructible anyways¡­¡±


    While chatting, he checked his status in the upper left hand of his field of vision. Since they had dived again after leaving once, while his health gauge was at full throttle his special technique gauge was zero.


    Following that, he looked around in circles, but of course other than those of himself and Utai there were no figures of legion members. Unlike the two of them, the four people including Kuroyukihime and company who had escaped normally from the ?Leap Point? portal in last time¡¯s dive would appear in Suginami, separated ten kilometers to their west. Around now they were probably meeting up with Ash Roller and starting to move. Basically, the only ones here were Utai and Haruyuki¡ª


    ¡­No, that was not so. There was one more person who should appear.


    ¡°¡­Tha¡­that¡¯s right. He¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°Already here.¡±


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s murmur, Utai had responded like that, so with an ¡°eh¡± he tried to look around at his surroundings anew; at that instant.


    ¡°¡ªI¡¯m sorry to have kept you waiting, Crow-san, Maiden-san.¡±


    From the darkness alongside the wall, a refreshing boy¡¯s voice reminiscent of a balmy breeze in early summer reached them.


    He strained his eyes in that direction, and in the middle of the meager candlelight a silhouette stood out.


    Page 245


    His overall impression was quite similar to that of Ardor Maiden. Head armor in the shape of a parted hairstyle and a lucid face mask. Arms swelled out in a shape that made one think of Japanese-style dress. Why the hakama3-style breast armor was extended horizontally was because the avatar was sitting seiza-style on the ground. His armor color was nothing but serene azure.


    In front of the body that was, if anything, of small build, a silver bar-shaped object lay flat. A straight sword sheathed in its scabbard. It was not that large a thing, but perhaps reflecting its concealed overwhelming potential it even seemed that the surrounding space was distorted imperceptibly. The fifth star of the ?Seven Arcs?, the group of the strongest Enhanced Armaments in the Accelerated World, ?The Infinity?¡ª.


    The deep blue avatar, who could be perfectly described as being a young warrior, looked straight at Haruyuki and Utai with his light blue eye lenses and then made a deep bow while still in seiza posture. He lifted his body, raised his straight sword up from the ground, and stood up lightly.


    With a splendid movement, the neighboring Utai also bent her waist and returned the favor to the young warrior, who had stepped forward a few paces from the wall, so Haruyuki also hurriedly bowed his head respectfully. He lifted his face; after being at a loss for words for a while, he opened his mouth.


    ¡°Uh¡­um, uh, it¡¯s been a while¡­though it really hasn¡¯t. Good evening, Lead. S, sorry to have kept you waiting.¡±


    At Haruyuki¡¯s awkward remarks, the young warrior avatar smiled tenderly and shook his head.


    ¡°Not at all, even if one said I waited, it was only to the extent of two seconds in real world time. Please don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡ªThough having said that, in this side two seconds was two thousand seconds, in short over thirty minutes. If he sat in the seiza position for that long a time, Haruyuki¡¯s legs might go numb even as a duel avatar.


    Before that, in this day and age where the Neuro Linker was in widespread use, no one was ?just waiting? any longer in one¡¯s daily life. For example, even in cases where one had arranged to meet someone, the Neuro Linker would tell one how many more minutes till one had to leave the house and which time¡¯s train would be able to optimize the migration to one¡¯s destination when ridden, and even the current location and the estimated time of arrival of the person one was meeting were displayed in detail. Even for having a meal, one understood the congestion conditions of the surrounding stores in real time, so it could be finished without lining up, and as for riding a taxi, with the push of a button from one¡¯s navigation application a request would be sent to the nearest vehicle. Of course, due to unforeseen circumstances some waiting time sometimes occurred, but there were a heap of ways of using one¡¯s time meaningfully built into one¡¯s Neuro Linker.


    As a result, in this place where there was nothing to do, from the bottom of his heart Haruyuki thought that having kept him do nothing but wait for thirty minutes was inexcusable and tried to lower his head again. However, wholly as if he were used to sitting for long periods of time with neither an AR nor a full dive the young warrior stopped Haruyuki¡¯s apology and spoke amicably.


    ¡°Really, please don¡¯t mind it. Waiting for the two of you to come was also a very heart-pounding experience. I wouldn¡¯t even mind waiting a whole day.¡±


    ¡°Is, is that so¡­ Um, well, I too¡­in terms of the situation, I was in a pinch, but I too was greatly looking forward to it. That is, being able to meet you once again, Lead.¡±


    A remark rare for Haruyuki spilled out like a drop from his mouth; the azure avatar hunched up his shoulders, and replied with a smile as if feeling bashful.


    Lead was an abbreviation. Correctly, it was ?Trilead Tetraoxide?. Haruyuki had not checked that name, which according to what Takumu had searched was the chemical formula of the substance ?Pb3O4?, in the Brain Burst system. To the last, it was just that he had given his name as such.


    In the Unlimited Neutral Field, health gauges apart from his were not visible, so if he were to check his avatar name, within Haruyuki¡¯s knowledge he could think only of sending him a request for admission into the legion from the ?Install Menu?. But he couldn¡¯t behave like that all of a sudden, and, in the first place, whether ?Trilead Tetraoxide? was his real name or not strangely did not bother him. If he were hiding his proper avatar name, then Haruyuki only thought that he had a reason for having to do so by any means.


    First and foremost, bearing any kind of doubt toward Lead at such a late point would make this very Imperial Palace escape mission not come to completion. As for why, without his cooperation the act of Haruyuki and Utai coming out from the inner sanctuary probably would not be fulfilled¡ª.


    Therefore, Haruyuki had already decided to have complete faith in Lead, and Utai seemed to have done the same. The shrine maiden whose frame was even smaller than that of the young warrior lowered her head respectfully once more, and spoke far more smoothly than Haruyuki had.


    ¡°I too am happy to have been able to meet you once more, Lead-san. I have a strong urge to inquire about various things, but¡­since we¡¯re making our legion comrades outside the Imperial Palace wait, it¡¯s selfish of me, but I was thinking about receiving your opinion regarding a means of immediate escape from here.¡±


    Though Haruyuki had a heap of things he really wanted to ask Lead¡ªhow he had entered this Imperial Palace, why he had not used the ?one-time portal? in the hall above and escaped, what was the truth behind the words that ¡°he had not fought a normal duel even once,¡± et cetera¡ªhowever, true enough it was not the situation to be chatting leisurely. Kuroyukihime and the others were probably still in the middle of moving, but he wanted to make the time they waited outside the south gate as short as possible.


    They would surely have opportunities to hear his story while moving; thinking that, Haruyuki also nodded wordlessly. In doing so, Lead straightened his sitting posture and replied in a voice with increased spirit.


    ¡°You being selfish, that¡¯s unthinkable. The first time the two of you met me, you trusted me unconditionally. In that case, it¡¯s natural to answer to that trust¡­ Allow me to gladly assist you in escaping.¡±


    There, the young warrior stopped his words temporarily and mounted the sheath of the straight sword gripped in his left hand at his waist. He leisurely raised his hand, which had become free, into the air and continued.


    ¡°Currently, there exist two ways of breaking out normally from this Imperial Palace. However, one of them is realistically impossible.¡±


    His left hand moved further and indicated the depths of the not-so-wide room.


    What existed there was a railing, no, barricade with a design completely like that of diagonally intersecting countless short swords. On the other side of the railing was a vast space filled with blue darkness. In the far distance of the large hall that was several times, several tens of times larger than Umesato Middle¡¯s gymnasium, two small colors of light were visible.


    What was pulsing blue like a water surface was the light of a portal, basically a pathway to the real world. And then a golden light that wavered ephemerally existed before it. According to Trilead, that very thing was the last Divine Weapon remaining in the Accelerated World, crowned with the name of the seventh star ?Youkou? and inscribed ?The Fluctuating Light?.


    In the same way as that of the day before yesterday, as if being lured in Haruyuki went out a few steps and fixed his eyes with a stare upon the golden resplendence. Since it was too far, he could discern neither the substance of the light nor the pedestal on which it was supposed to be placed. However, in spite of that Haruyuki still felt ?something?.


    The desire to possess a rare item? ¡ªNay.


    The instinct to strengthen his fighting power? ¡ªNay.


    The reason was that to Haruyuki, that light, which was supposed to be nothing more than an Enhanced Armament, Divine Weapon be that as it may, could not be thought of as a simple item by any means. As proof of that, the ?dream? he, Chiyuri, and Takumu had shared this morning¡ªhad ?The Fluctuating Light? that they had seen as save data in the middle of the ?Brain Burst central server?, which in a certain sense was an area more inviolable than the Imperial Palace, not been shining more greatly and dazzlingly in the center of the galaxy than anything else? Just as if it were even the absolute core of the Accelerated World itself¡­


    ¡°The last Divine Weapon, ?Youkou?¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, at his immediate left Lead¡¯s voice reverberated, and taken aback Haruyuki awoke from his internal thoughts.


    ¡°If you can obtain it and activate the portal at its back, a normal withdrawal from the Imperial Palace is possible. However, that is far too difficult. As to why, this railing¡­the day before yesterday, it was a shimenawa4, but from the moment you cross it, absurdly powerful enemies will begin to appear in the space back there.¡±


    ¡°?Begin to?¡­does that mean that it¡¯s not only one?¡±


    From Haruyuki¡¯s right, Utai interrogated that, and Lead slightly nodded.


    ¡°Correct. In the beginning there¡¯s two¡­as the invader advances, or as the time he or she stays lengthens, a further two bodies will increase apiece. I¡¯ve confirmed up to six, but probably with that it¡¯s not the end. Based on the conjecture that they will probably increase by at least two more, I call them the ?Eight Gods?.¡±


    ¡°¡­Eight, Eight Gods¡­¡±


    Haruyuki murmured in a stiffened voice. Though they had been unable to deal with even one of the ?Divine Beasts?, the super-class enemies who protected the gates outside the Imperial Palace, they were even doubled here.


    ¡°¡­If in actuality that portal were linked to the next boss room, and there ?Sixteen Gods? popped out¡­¡±


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s nonsensical statement, next to him Lead showed signs of being in serious thought, so in a flurry he shook his head and hands.


    ¡°N, never mind, sorry, forget what I said just now. Th, that¡¯s right, at any rate even if we don¡¯t defeat the ?Eight Gods? and manage to reach the portal while evading their attacks, that also seems hella5 futile, right.¡±


    ¡°Yes, as you say, Crow-san, it hella seems that way. Besides that, if we don¡¯t completely defeat the enemies, I think that procuring ?Youkou? also probably seems hella impossible.¡±


    ¡°¡­Forget about ?hella? too.¡±


    Since it seemed that he would accidentally cause Lead, whose brain¡¯s conversion dictionary seemed to be in a state of brand-new purity, to learn a strange word, Haruyuki hurriedly added that and continued.


    ¡°Uh, um, to be sure it seems that realistically we can¡¯t go out from that portal. Which means, about the second method¡­I tentatively predicted that we might have to also do that. Basically¡­returning to the south gate once again and leaving from there¡­right?¡±


    Upon that, Lead turned toward Haruyuki and nodded while smiling.


    ¡°It is exactly thus. ¡ªIf you insist by any means, Crow-san, I don¡¯t mind the north or west gate either though.¡±


    ¡°No, no it¡¯s all right, we¡¯re fine with the south gate! I mean, our comrades are also waiting for us there¡­¡±


    After replying with that, Haruyuki suddenly tilted his head quizzically and inquired.


    ¡°¡ªIs the east no good?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m somewhat diffident about recommending the east gate¡­ Since the characteristic attack of its guardian beast ?Seiryuu? is slightly troublesome¡­¡±


    ¡°Really? What does he do?¡±


    ¡°?Level Drain?.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s give up on the east.¡±


    In less than a tenth of a second, he replied right away and immediately continued.


    ¡°N, no, let¡¯s give up on the north and west too; the south, if you please.¡±


    ¡°Hella understood, Crow-san.¡±


    Lead nodded with a dead serious expression on his face, and Utai, who was standing to the right side, let a rare small voice of laughter slip out with a chuckle.


    ¡°Kuu-san and Lead-san are harmonized in sync too much, I don¡¯t have a chance to get a word in.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­is, is that so.¡±


    ¡°You two have splendid shite-kata6 and waki-kata styles.¡±


    Utai, who had commented with words that Haruyuki did not know, changed the expression of her face mask and bowed her head facing Lead.


    ¡°Lead-san, forgive us, but we would like your assistance.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do what little I can. ¡ªWell then, the two of you, first of all to above.¡±


    Lead left the barricade of swords and began to walk toward the ascending steps at the rear of the small room. Utai continued after him.


    After chasing after the two and stepping forth several paces, Haruyuki looked back at the ?Shrine of the Eight Gods? once again. Gazing at the golden light swaying in the distant ultramarine darkness, he murmured inside his mind.


    ¡ªOne day, I will come here again. Besides that, I will acquire enough power, go on the right path, and come to meet you again¡­until then, please wait.


    For some reason, his words had become as if they were a call directed not at an Enhanced Armament but at ?somebody?, but to Haruyuki, completely as if the seventh Divine Weapon carried a will and were answering him, it could be clearly seen flickering strongly once¡ªor so he thought.


    The stairs, which were heavy boards the day before yesterday, had changed into a spiral staircase joined together from polished stones and steel.


    At the time when he had begun to lose track of how many rounds they had done, they finally managed to reach the ground floor.


    The hall at the place where they had come out from the stairs also indeed deserved to be called the ?Demonic City? stage, having been transfigured into a both sinister and solemn figure. Countless spear-shaped protuberances decorating the walls. A pointed ceiling chandelier that seemed just like some sort of free-fall type of trap. What had not changed were just the two right rectangular prism objects lined up in the center of the hall. The pedestals of black granite where in the past the fifth and sixth Divine Weapons had been enshrined¡ª.


    ¡°Is that so¡­come to think of it, after all¡­¡±


    Casually speaking out while walking, Haruyuki held his tongue. Lead, who was ahead, had looked back strangely at him, so he apologized with ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    What he had tried to say was ¡°After all, I have one of the Divine Weapons that used to be on those pedestals.¡±


    ?The Infinity?, the fifth Divine Weapon, was glittering beautifully at the waist of the young warrior avatar before his eyes. And ?the Destiny?, the sixth Divine Weapon¡ªwas dozing lightly in the depths of Haruyuki himself, who was basically Silver Crow. However, it was no longer its former mirror-like silver color. A black-tinged chrome silver. The ?Destiny? had now transformed into the Disaster Armor ?The Disaster?, not the strongest but the most atrocious power in the Accelerated World.


    Haruyuki could not fully remember that strange dream, but in the far, faraway past¡­in the very dawn of the Accelerated World, a Burst Linker who had succeeded in trespassing into this Imperial Palace had acquired the Divine Weapon the Destiny. He did not use it for himself but gave it to his partner. To the girl who had bright golden yellow armor and had appeared in Haruyuki¡¯s dream.


    However, after that, something had¡ª?something? very saddening as well as frightening had happened. No matter what, he couldn¡¯t remember the details. Even if he retraced his hazy memories with all his might, all that was resurrected were a number of fragmentary images.


    ¡ªAn enemy with a humongous, repulsive figure.


    ¡ªMany Burst Linkers who were lined up around the edge of a large hole and were looking down.


    ¡ªAnd a number of people talking covertly in a corner, though he did not understand them too well. ?Main Visualizer?¡­?Override phenomenon?¡­and ?shell of trauma?. Those words faintly grazed his hearing, but if he tried to grasp them then they would disappear all too quickly like soap bubbles. If he tried to chase after them forcibly, then that phenomenon would surely occur again. ?Overflow?, which would call up an extraordinary amount of negative emotion as well as intense pain. Right now, he had to avoid collapsing and becoming unable to move.


    At any rate, due to some occurrence involving those images, the shape¡ªor the essence of the ?Destiny? had changed into that of the ?Disaster?.


    As a result, the Enhanced Armament that Haruyuki possessed now could no longer be called one of the Seven Arcs. If he were to explain how that had become so to Lead, who knew nothing, no matter how much time he spent it wouldn¡¯t be enough; in the first place, he did not possess sufficient knowledge to explain things out.


    ¡­I¡¯m sorry, Lead.


    Inside his heart, facing the blue back of the younger warrior who made him feel a curious intimacy, Haruyuki apologized.


    ¡­One day, I will surely tell the whole story. Not just about the ?Armor?; why I became a Burst Linker, what sake I¡¯m fighting for, what I¡¯m aiming for¡­everything, without leaving out a thing. However, when that time comes, you too¡­


    There, against his will he checked his thoughts; Haruyuki hastened his feet and lined alongside the two walking ahead.


    With their shoulders side-by-side, they passed through the area with the pedestals lined up left and right, and they headed for the south of the hall.


    At the point where the depths of the exit adorned with austere decorations became visible, Haruyuki again slightly raised his voice.


    ¡°Huh¡­the terrain¡¯s¡­different..?¡±


    The day before yesterday, when he had entered this hall, if he recalled correctly he had went through a passageway running east and west. However, now the pathway visible on the other side of the exit stretched south as it was¡ªwhat was more, in its depths he could see an ascending staircase.


    The one who answered Haruyuki¡¯s bewilderment was not Lead but Utai.


    ¡°Since a ?transition? had occurred and the stage had changed from ?Heian? to the ?Demonic City?, not only the labyrinth¡¯s design but also its structure changed.¡±


    ¡°Geh¡­ ¡ªThat means, my ?memory? can¡¯t be counted on anymore, doesn¡¯t it¡­¡±


    The day before yesterday, why Haruyuki and Utai had been able to arrive at this large hall without attracting the sentry enemies once was due to the fact that he had vaguely remembered the route the avatar whose name he did not know had taken in the middle of his strange ?dream?. However, if the terrain had changed due to a transition, obviously that memory could not be used.


    However, fortunately as if to reassure the two Lead nodded and spoke unhesitatingly.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right, I know the way.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­does, does that perhaps mean that you memorized the maps of this Imperial Palace, each and every one of the over one hundred types of stage attributes..?¡±


    As he asked in a dumbfounded way, the youthful samurai nodded while slightly being bashful.


    ¡°Though having said that, I only remember the path from this hall to the exit of the inner sanctuary though.¡±


    ¡°Th, that¡¯ll be enough. Whew¡­I thought maybe we had to do a dungeon strategy from square one until the exit¡­no, by no means do I hate it though¡­on the other hand, I like it, but¡­¡±


    At Haruyuki¡¯s strange relief, Lead showed a modest smile, but his expression immediately returned to what it was before, and he spoke.


    ¡°¡ªHowever, speaking from experience, the level of difficulty of this ?Demonic City? stage is slightly higher than that of ?Heian?. The strength of a single sentry enemy is not that much, but since their numbers are many, it¡¯s difficult to move without being found¡­¡±


    At the imbalance of the knowledge of Lead, who seemed to know relatively many stage names for not knowing the name of ?Nega Nebulas?, in his heart Haruyuki wanted to slightly tilt his head, but he immediately put his doubts aside and murmured.


    ¡°I see, it means that the mob¡¯s7 easy to aggro8, so it¡¯ll be hard to sneak around¡­¡±


    Upon that, not only Lead but Utai too wore puzzled faces. It seemed that somehow or another, both of them were unacquainted with online games¡¯ general purpose terminology. Putting aside the thought that it would no doubt be interesting to have them chat with Pard-san, he continued without online gaming terms.


    ¡°Um basically, it means that we have to use our nerves to move, more so than in the Heian stage. If that¡¯s so, I¡¯ll do my best somehow or another. I¡¯m pretty good at sneaking around.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s reassuring.¡±


    In response to Haruyuki¡¯s declaration, which was meant half in jest, Lead nodded with a serious expression and added ¡°However.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just one place, but there¡¯s a place where we can¡¯t slip through the enemy¡¯s blind spot no matter what. Therefore, we must engage in combat once. Please prepare yourselves for that.¡±


    ¡°¡­Is, is that so. Unh, understood. It¡¯s all right, w-w-we¡¯ll try our best. They¡¯re weaker than those of the Heian stage, right, if so I think we can do it, it¡¯ll definitely be fine, hopefully.¡±


    In his mind, he was in the mindset of breaking out into a great sweat, but with a show of courage Haruyuki pounded his chest once with a thump to deceive them and with great vigor went forth about three meters. He looked back and questioned Lead.


    ¡°With that, well¡­tentatively, just to be sure I wonder if you could tell me something. The fight, when will that be..?¡±


    In doing so, Lead¡¯s response was unusually delayed; about two seconds later, for some reason he apologized.


    ¡°¡­Pardon me, Crow-san. My explanation was not sufficient.¡±


    ¡°Eh..? Wha, what wasn¡¯t sufficient..?¡±


    ¡°Combat will become inevitable when we leave this hall. As the sentry guards are patrolling the inner passageway en masse¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­What.¡±


    At the same time Haruyuki murmured, stupefied, a heavy metallic sound rang out at his back with a clank.


    Fearfully, he looked round, and from the large exit, an even more enormous silhouette peered into the hall.


    In the Heian stage of the day before yesterday, all the bodyguard enemies of the Imperial Palace¡¯s inner sanctuary had Japanese-style warrior figures, but the ones of now had a figure that should be called a ?knight? that matched the Demonic Stage well. Its huge frame approaching an overall height of three meters was surrounded in bulky metal armor. A kite shield like a sliding door in its left hand. A rough large sword that seemed as if it were cut from a plate of steel in its right hand.


    The part below its helmet, from which a long horn was growing, was engulfed in darkness and was not visible, but two eyes radiating a dull purple looked down on Haruyuki in a staring manner. That gaze indicated that Haruyuki had basically entered the knight¡¯s sphere of response.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡­What.¡±


    Leaking out a hoarse voice once more, Haruyuki tried to draw back gradually.


    However, quicker than he could the knight caused the earth to rumble and took a step inside the hall.


    ¡°VORUAAAAAA!!¡±


    That war cry, which would be like that if one were forced to transcribe it, struck his avatar with a physical pressure. Overhead Haruyuki, who had reeled, a too-immense sword was raised very high up.


    ¡°Just¡­a mome¡­¡±


    In blank amazement, he had let out that voice, but there was no way the enemy would accede to it. Its two purple eyes gleamed in a fiery way, and the knight tried to cleave in half the small avatar who did not even reach his waist with a single stroke¡ª


    Giin! That sharp metallic sound restored Haruyuki¡¯s thought process, which was in a half-stopped state.


    An arc of blue light that had come flying from the rear collided with the knight enemy¡¯s sword and had forced it slightly back. Not letting the produced extension of time slip through his fingers, this time Haruyuki made a back dash with all his strength.


    The one who had passed him and had gone forth was the young warrior Trilead who possessed azure armor. The earlier attack was unmistakably his, but however his left hip¡¯s straight sword was still sheathed in its scabbard. Instead, his hands were enveloped in a blue glitter.


    Before Haruyuki, who had opened his eyes wide, Lead raised his swordless right hand straight overhead.


    ¡°¡ªHa!!¡±


    A razor-sharp fighting cry. His hand in the shape of a sword flashed vertically. From that trajectory, a blade of crescent-moon-shaped light same as the one he had seen earlier was generated and ran through the air. A second metallic sound. The blue arc, which had hit its target of the knight¡¯s neck, engraved a definite scar in the heavy armor.


    ¡°Voruuu¡­¡±


    The knight enemy growled in a low voice, and the focus of its gaze shifted from Haruyuki to Lead. Its target had been transferred. Basically, just as Haruyuki had felt the day before yesterday, the knight AI was different from the ?Four Divine Beasts? and was based on the principle of simple hate9.


    ¡°VORAH!!¡±


    At the same time of the howl, the huge sword was swung with a sidelong sweep. With a sliding-like step, Lead evaded that blow, which seemed as if it would snap even the large trees of the ?Primeval Forest? stage. For the third time, an arc of light was released from his sword-like hand and scraped the surface of the knight¡¯s left-hand shield diagonally.


    While making Ardor Maiden, who was at his back, retreat even more with unconscious movements, Haruyuki continued to open his eyes very wide.


    This was the first time he was watching the mysterious Burst Linker ?Trilead Tetraoxide? in combat. From the way he carried himself, he had anticipated it to a certain extent, but even so it was unmistakable that he was unbelievably skilled. A way of walking smoothly like flowing water, his swiftness from dodging to counterattacking; more than anything else those blades of light fired in rapid succession from his two hands were not mere special techniques. Judging from the lack of technique name utterance and their might in chiseling the knight enemy¡¯s armor that seemed ridiculously hard, they were clearly a power outside the system produced from his imagination¡ªnamely, Incarnate attacks.


    At the same time he collected those pieces of information owing to his Burst Linker instinct, Haruyuki also felt a question.


    Why had he not withdrawn his sword? It would not be an exaggeration even to say that the thing fitted at Lead¡¯s left hip had an offensive power that could be said to be the strongest in the Accelerated World, the Divine Weapon ?The Infinity?. If he could produce that much power without the sword, then if he used the Divine Weapon it wouldn¡¯t be impossible to even deal several times, no, several tens of times more damage¡­


    ¡°¡ªForgive me, Crow-san, there¡¯s a reason I can¡¯t use the sword right now!¡±


    Just as if he had read Haruyuki¡¯s mind, while avoiding the knight¡¯s slashing attack by a wide margin Lead shouted.


    ¡°One way or another, we must defeat this enemy without the Divine Weapon!¡±


    ¡°¡­Un, understood!¡±


    After immediately shouting that in return, he hurriedly added a question.


    ¡°Is, is it okay even if we use Mind Power!?¡±


    Why he had asked that was because the conversation of Kuroyukihime and the others from the day before yesterday had lingered in his ears. According to them, the more an enemy¡¯s class rose, the harder it became for Incarnate attacks to work, and simultaneously it became easier to be drawn in by the waves of Mind Power. Though the one knight before their eyes was so scary that he was about to faint, if they increased to two or more he did not have the confidence that he would be able to be there without fleeing.


    However, fortunately Lead quickly nodded.


    ¡°In this room, as long as you don¡¯t use it continuously more than you need to, it¡¯s okay!¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    Shouting once more, Haruyuki belatedly also positioned his hands in front of him. His head, which had shaken by the sudden enemy appearance, finally switched to battle mode.


    By good luck, the knight enemy seemed not to execute long-range attacks. Of course, their opponent was an ?Imperial Palace guard enemy? who probably concealed a potential rivaling that of the ?Legend class?, so if he took a direct hit from its huge sword, Haruyuki would probably die in one hit anyway. No matter how he thought about it, his concentration to continue to draw its target would not last, but however if he attacked from a far distance while coordinating with Lead, they definitely had a chance of victory.


    While sucking in a huge breath, he conceived the ?image of the speed of light? in his hands, and Haruyuki chased Lead and aimed his mind¡¯s scope at the back of the knight.


    The enemy brandished its sword, its bulky armor slipped out of place, and a portion of chain mail whose defense seemed slightly thin became visible at its neck, at that instant¡ª.


    ¡°¡­?Laser Lance?!!¡±


    He loaded the Incarnate technique he had just developed into the fighting spirit of his whole body and mind and released it. From his right hand extended straight out, a lance of silver light poured out and without straying from its mark hit the knight¡¯s lower neck. Its huge frame slightly faltered, and the path of its sword attack aimed at Lead went astray and violently struck the ground.


    At the same time, in Haruyuki¡¯s field of vision the knight enemy¡¯s health gauge was displayed. The right end of the first bar of the vertically three-layered bar¡ªdecreased about two percent.


    ¡°¡­Wah¡­¡±


    Reflexively, he groaned. Including the one clean hit Lead had landed on the knight¡¯s body a while ago, the gauge of which they had deprived it did not fill even a tenth of the first bar yet. At this pace, if they were to shave away at that colossal gauge, just on earth how many dozens of minutes¡­no, how many hours would it take?


    At that moment, at his back a young and resolute voice resounded.


    ¡°Both of you, please endure it for three minutes. After that, I will undertake the job.¡±


    The owner of the voice was of course, Shinomiya Utai¡ªArdor Maiden, who had been silent up until now.


    In only three minutes, at best they could probably scrape a few percent more of the knight¡¯s gauge away. Even though she said she would undertake it afterwards, could Maiden, who was a complete long-range type, take the enemy¡¯s target?


    Instantly, Haruyuki flicked that question from his head and yelled.


    ¡°Ro, roger!¡±


    Simultaneously, from a slightly separated place Lead also responded.


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    Before he was aware of it, Maiden, who had nodded in response to the two¡¯s replies, had raised her long wakyuu10equipped in her left hand forward. It was rapidly enveloped in scarlet flames and changed its shape as if melting. The item, which had changed into a short, flat rod shape, opened thinly and became a folding fan together with a satisfyingbam!.


    From the left and right of the face mask of the lovely miko, pure white supplementary armor slid together, merged at the middle, and created a both beautiful and bewitching mask. Immediately after, a scarlet aura heavily wrapped up her avatar¡¯s entire body¡­


    Having verified that phenomenon thus far out of the corner of his eye, Haruyuki moved toward Lead¡¯s side. With only eye contact, they communicated their strategy to each other. Having said that, it was not a complicated thing. They would only mutually draw the knight enemy¡¯s hate11 in nearly equal amounts apiece and attack while causing its target to scatter as much as possible.


    ¡°VO¡­ROOOAAAAA!!¡±


    As if it were irritated at not yet having scored a direct hit, the knight howled. While swinging the large sword left and right wildly, which till now had only been striking with single blows, it pressed in on the two.


    After having lured it in to their limits, Haruyuki and Lead, who had dove greatly left and right, matched their timing perfectly¡ª


    ¡°Haa!!¡±


    ¡°Laser Lance!!¡±


    They let blue and silver light fly. At the flank of the knight, the dichromatic light effect burst. Damage, four percent.


    From there, for three minutes it became something that was painful, drawn out to the point where he would faint, and then just a little bit exciting.


    No matter how much they were splitting its target, he would not run that much about his circle of safety. Even though he was barely dodging the sword of the knight, who was closing in while bellowing in a rage, occasionally he accidentally received splash damage from its blade, which struck the ground.


    If Haruyuki were alone, without lasting a minute he would be showered in direct blows, but despite that why he was able to continue slipping through the lethal blade was because of Lead¡¯s precise instructions. Somehow or another, it seemed that the young warrior was completely knowledgeable about not only all of the attribute¡¯s maps of the Imperial Palace¡¯s main shrine but also the attack patterns of the metamorphosing guard enemies. Without mentioning the path of the sword the knight was brandishing in every direction, he splendidly read even its trampling steps from its log-like legs and the wind pressure attacks for which it used its shield, and he conveyed the ways of dodging those to Haruyuki.


    He faithfully followed the instructions and kept avoiding the attacks, and when its target transferred to Lead he aimed for the opportunity to get a blow in. Continuing to clear the tightropes that would lead to instant death if they had even one miss with actions of superb coordination was in a certain sense the very thrill of online games.


    From the time two minutes had elapsed, Haruyuki and Lead almost no longer even exchanged voices. With just a slight hand motion, Lead conveyed his instructions, and Haruyuki responded to that without time lag.


    ¡­If I could have done it like this.


    ¡­If I could have done it like this in today¡¯s basketball match too. If I had formed an image of the movements and thoughts of not just the opponent players but also my allies and had been moving according to that, perhaps¡­


    In the midst of the intense fighting, that thought crossed his mind for an instant; he immediately denied it.


    ¡­There¡¯s no way I could have done it. The real world me is completely different from Silver Crow. I¡¯m not this light. I¡¯m not this fast.


    ¡­However. I just might be able to aim for it. No matter how impossible it seems¡­if I wish to change and just try to take one step, just one step out for that purpose¡­perhaps, I too¡­


    ¡°¡ªThis way!¡±


    Suddenly at his back a sharp voice rang out, and Haruyuki abruptly opened his eyes wide.


    Before he had known it, the three-minute interval designated by Utai had passed by. Briefly exchanging glances with Lead, who was at his right side, he simultaneously made a huge back jump. They steered the knight enemy, who was chasing them while becoming increasingly enraged, in the direction from which they had heard Utai¡¯s voice.


    However, although they had endured it for three minutes as they were told, the first of the three levels of the enemy¡¯s health bar still had close to ninety percent remaining. From here, what on earth did Utai intend to do?


    While carrying that worry, Haruyuki lined up with Lead, continued his back dash, and reached the vicinity of the second pedestal in the center of the hall.


    That moment, the right side of his vision was stained a deep red, and reflexively his eyes were separated from the enemy and looked that way.


    What existed there was¡ªa sight at which even Haruyuki, who had stumbled across various superphenomena in the interior of the ?Imperial Palace? and whose nerves had supposedly gotten reasonably used to them, could not help from catching his breath in blank amazement.


    Flames. What was burning was the entire body of the miko avatar of small build. From her tabi12-shaped tiptoes to the tip of her long hair parts, she was enveloped in blazing bright red crimson flames.


    It seemed that Ardor Maiden herself was not receiving damage, so it probably was not a true blaze. Probably, it was the irregular light effect that accompanied the activation of the Incarnate system, namely the ?Over-Ray?. However, even compared with the Over-Ray of the Red King Scarlet Rain, who was likewise a red-color, hers was closer in its fluctuations and hue to a true flame.


    That aura, which had been refined over a good three minutes, was even several times more violent as well as beautiful than that of the time she had reduced Bush Utan to ashes in their tag duel of three days ago. The miko clad in crimson wielded the fan in her right hand and leisurely continued to dance. With a momentum as if to trample Maiden into pieces, the knight enemy pressed in¡ª.


    ¡°¡ª?Pitiable, agonizing flames of ire?13¡±


    All of a sudden, a sonorous ?poem? resounded from the miko¡¯s mouth.


    The fan was swiftly shaken, and from it small sprays of flames flowed in the air. Seeming only like trifling fire powder, they fell at the feet of the knight enemy; at that instant.


    The roar of a thunderous crack!, which nearly deafened his ears, rocked the air, and the floor of the supposedly preposterously tough ?Demonic City? stage burned¡ªno, melted.


    The knight enemy sank helplessly up to around its chest in the middle of that liquid that sparkled in a dazzling orange color and could no longer be called anything but magma. That moment, its metallic armor, which till now had been shining in a cold, dull color, became red hot like coal.


    ¡°VOOOOOOAAAAA!!¡±


    A howl that gushed out, or a shriek. Flailing its two arms about pell-mell, the knight tried to escape from the magma, but the diameter of the ?pond? able to melt the floor easily surpassed five meters. It only scattered drops of flames in vain; there was no sign of its huge frame emerging.


    ¡°?Return unto the dust of the ground.?¡±


    Again, the poem possessing a strange meter resounded. The crimson aura enshrouding the miko became increasingly violent, and the quantity of heat in the pond of magma also increased further. A hot, burning-like wind drifted even to the body of Haruyuki, who was separated far enough away. If he approached any closer than this, it wouldn¡¯t be strange even if he actually received damage.


    After standing still dumbfounded for more than ten seconds, Haruyuki finally looked at the health gauge displayed overhead the knight enemy. In doing so, the first level was at the point of literally burning to nothing.


    Lead had said that if they continued to use Incarnate techniques for over ten minutes in this hall, then there was a possibility other enemies would be called here. If they considered that, whether they would be able to scrape away the remaining two gauge levels within the time extension was slightly dicey. It might have been a scene where Haruyuki should also assist with long-range techniques, but however for some reason his gut told him that he must not do so. This ?dance of flames? was Utai¡¯s stage alone; there was no need for others to cut in. Perhaps Lead also felt the same; in Haruyuki¡¯s immediate proximity, he only continued to stand quietly.


    Thereafter, indeed over a five-minute interval the miko danced, the blaze swirled, and the knight continued to writhe.


    At last, finally the third gauge burnt out, and in the middle of the pond of magma, together with a fearsome, tremendous explosion effect the enemy was extinguished.


    Even when Ardor Maiden had slowly lowered her folding fan and had stopped her movements, Haruyuki was unable to speak out once.


    He had been overwhelmed. By the might, the beauty, and the fearsomeness of Utai¡¯s Incarnate technique. By the exceedingly terrible ?power of destruction? at which he could not help but shudder¡ª.


    In terms of the logic of the technique, it was not that complicated a thing. It melted the setting of the stage, changed it into a high-temperature liquid, and dropped the enemy there. What was terrifying something else. Basically, there was no way to escape this technique. Without the ability to fly like Haruyuki or a unique movement ability like the fifth-generation Disaster¡¯s ?Wire Hook?, the act of crawling out of the magma pond would not be granted. The viscosity of the liquid was high, obstructing movement inside, and even if one somehow managed to reach the bank, the sides of the hole would also melt. It was probably even more difficult than climbing a glass wall smeared with oil.


    It was a power that differed fundamentally from the ?flames of purification? that had reduced Bush Utan to ashes three days ago. As for its Incarnate technique category¡ªhe did not want to think this, but probably it was the fourth quadrant, basically a ?negative power with range as its target?, was it not. Why on earth would that young, sweet Shinomiya Utai have a technique this mercilessly destructive¡­


    At the moment where Haruyuki had thought that far in a corner of his half-numb mind. The body of Ardor Maiden, who was standing still a number of meters ahead, wavered with a violent shake.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    Reflexively, he dashed and supported the back of Utai, who seemed about to collapse to the ground. Before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, the pure white mask covering the miko¡¯s face was divided and was retracted beneath her hair parts.


    Her scarlet eye lenses flickered irregularly and regarded Haruyuki. Her voice flowed out in a frail manner.


    ¡°¡­It seems that, it was slightly too early for me¡­to use it yet, in actual combat.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­what does that mean..?¡±


    ¡°The technique, of just now was¡­the ?technique specifically against anti-ground-type heavyweight-class enemies? in its experimental stage that I¡¯ve been practicing for about a year. If I said more¡­it would be ?exclusively for one of the Divine Beasts, Genbu?.¡±


    ¡°¡­Exclusively for, Genbu¡­¡±


    After repeating after her in great surprise, Haruyuki held his breath.


    Of course, Haruyuki had not directly seen the ?Divine Beast Genbu?, the super-class enemy guarding the Imperial Palace¡¯s north gate. He did not know at all what kind of form he had or what kind of attacks he made. However, there was just one thing he knew. That was the fact that even now one of the Elements of the old Nega Nebulas like Utai or Fuuko was sealed at Genbu¡¯s feet.


    Inside the arms of Haruyuki, who had lowered his waist, Utai closed her eyes and continued in words that tended to taper off.


    ¡°¡­It was just as if, my power did not¡­work on the ?Divine Beast Suzaku?. On the occasion of the past Imperial Palace conquest tactics, the one who desired to command the anti-Suzaku forces was me myself. No matter what power he had, if it were flames then I would control it; that was what I foolishly¡­thought conceitedly. If, the one who confronted Suzaku had been¡­Aqua Current, who manipulated water, Suzaku¡¯s opposing attribute. Or if it had been Sky Raker, who¡¯s faster than even the wind¡­they might have broken through Suzaku¡¯s guard. If so¡­the legion¡¯s annihilation, of two years ago was¡­the responsibility of, me, who made light of¡­and forgot my respect for the enemy¡­¡±


    The instant he saw a small drop glisten at the rim of one of her closed eyes, in spite of himself Haruyuki shouted.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s not true! Absolutely no one thinks that it¡¯s your responsibility, Mei-san!¡±


    ¡°No¡­the blame¡¯s mine, for which I ought to be rebuked. As to why¡­at that time, in my heart I thought¡­if it were me, then I could quell the flames of the Divine Beast Suzaku, and we might have been able to pass through the gate without having anyone¡¯s lives robbed¡­ If you don¡¯t call that foolish conceit¡­what would you call it¡­¡±


    There, the whispering voice that had a faint scream-like ring completely broke off.


    Without even being able to find the words he needed to say to her, Haruyuki had the feeling that now at last he was able to understand the reason why Utai had continued to live in seclusion in a nook of the Accelerated World without contacting Kuroyukihime and the others for a good two years.


    In the past, Utai had explained that reason as being for ?the sake of not wanting to cause secondary damage in having Ardor Maiden, who was in a sealed state, rescued?. Of course, that probably also was not a lie. However, at the same time she was continuing to blame herself deeply. Tormenting herself with the thought that the cause of the legion¡¯s annihilation lay with her, she had personally decided that due to that sin, no matter how much she wanted to meet Kuroyukihime or Fuuko, it would not be tolerated. Indeed, over a good two years.


    However¡ª.


    However, that feeling of self-reproach was common to both Kuroyukihime and Fuuko as well.


    Driven by impulse, Kuroyukihime, who had captured the head of the first-generation Red King, Red Rider, and had brought about an all-out war with the remaining five kings¡¯ legions, was fixed on thinking that that was a direct factor in Nega Nebulas¡¯ annihilation and had continued to hide herself for two years in the Umesato Middle School local net.


    Fuuko was worried that the fact that she had resolved to have both her legs severed in order to strengthen her own Mind Power and that she had compelled Kuroyukihime to do so had created all the underlying causes, and for two years she had retired from the world in the Old Tokyo Tower in the Unlimited Neutral Field.


    They were the same. All three of them were the same. Since they strongly thought about their comrades to whom they were bound by deep bonds, they punished themselves. Undoubtedly¡ª, undoubtedly, the remaining two people of ?Elements? too and the other legion members too whose names Haruyuki still did not know had thought the same thing and had erased their forms, no doubt about it. They had sacrificed themselves eternally in the former Nega Nebulas¡¯ annihilation¡­they would never again stand on the center stage of the Accelerated World any more¡­


    ¡°¡­However¡­however.¡±


    While gazing at the face of Ardor Maiden, who was still in his arms with her eyes closed, Haruyuki squeezed his voice out with all his might.


    ¡°However¡­suffering, worrying, hating, fighting¡­Brain Burst doesn¡¯t¡­exist for those things¡¯ sake¡­it must be like that. In this world, plenty of saddening things and harsh things also happen, but¡­however, one day, the day when we can overcome those, hold hands once again with the people we love, and share everything will definitely come. The day when you can share the suffering you¡¯ve always been carrying alone with your comrades, Mei-san, will inevitably come. ¡ªA good two years have already passed since the annihilation of the former Nega Nebulas. If so, it¡¯s fine even if today is that day¡­!¡±


    Even while moving his mouth desperately, Haruyuki vaguely realized what the source of the fearsome Mind Power of destruction that Utai had activated a moment earlier was.


    It was a ?sin?. It was not as tainted in darkness as ?despair? or ?hatred?, but however by no means was it a positive power. If it were a flame that burnt offenders, then while her technique was activated, Utai was continuously tasting the same suffering as that of her target.


    And then, simultaneously¡ª. The sin Utai was carrying was probably not only something concerning the legion¡¯s annihilation. There existed a deeper, stronger emotion that was directly connected to her in the real world. As for the reason, had Kuroyukihime not said it? That if one did not face one¡¯s ?wound? head-on in the real world, then on no account would one be able to produce the second stage of Incarnate techniques.


    Of course, there was no way that Haruyuki, who had met Utai only a few days ago, would be permitted to trespass into the depths of Utai¡¯s heart. Right now, he could not even imagine what she had experienced in the past, what she had suffered¡ªand then why she had lost her natural voice. However¡ªhowever¡­


    ¡°Even in this world, if we must forever suffer from and hate each other for¡­all our mistakes and misunderstandings¡­then, for what purpose did we become Burst Linkers¡­!¡±


    At the words that Haruyuki, driven by emotion, had squeezed out from his chest, the body of Utai, who was completely exhausted and had lost her strength, quivered with a twitch.


    The scarlet eye lenses slowly opened. However, their light was still wavering frailly. Though he thought he wanted to say something, say another sentence, Haruyuki¡¯s chest kept trembling strongly, and words would not come out.


    Then¡ª.


    A voice that was refreshing and calm like a breeze blowing across a meadow flowed softly.


    ¡°¡ª?For play were we born, for mischief were we born?14.¡±


    It was Trilead, who had been silent up till then. The young warrior moved from Haruyuki¡¯s back without a sound, stopped at a position directly across Utai with her between them, and sat seiza style with an upright posture.


    After a moment of silence, while slowly blinking Utai replied in a faint voice.


    ¡°¡ª?If I hear the voices of children playing, even my body moves?¡­¡±


    It seemed probably to be something like an old waka15, but Haruyuki did not know that phrase. However, though it was through his feelings, he had the sense that he was able to understand its meaning. Lead transferred his gaze from Utai to Haruyuki and began to speak quietly.


    ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing, but¡­till now, I have not thought about what kind of fate all the Burst Linkers apart from me shouldered or any kind of the goals for which they fought¡­ Only¡ªI only thought, that it was fun for them to play this game in large numbers. And then, that if someday I too could join those comrades¡­I thought, those shallow thoughts¡­¡±


    He rocked his tied-up hair and hung his head. Raising his face, the warrior of many mysteries continued quietly.


    ¡°¡ªHowever, the only Burst Linker I knew until I met you two¡­basically, the person who was my parent and teacher said this. That ¡®Even if you¡¯re alone, even if you¡¯re unable to go outside this castle, play and enjoy yourself with all your body and soul.¡¯ That ¡®only that single path leads to your future.¡¯ ¡ªForever, while I imagined the voices of children merrily playing on the other side of the high castle walls, I continued to swing my sword alone. At the end of my long¡­long days, at last Crow-san and Maiden-san appeared before me¡­exchanged words with me¡­promised to return¡­and then today, we were able to fight shoulder-to-shoulder. I am quite unable to put what I am feeling now into words.¡±


    Mutely, Haruyuki and Utai watched the streak of a drop fall down along the shapely face mask of Trilead, who had cut his words short again. Without wiping his face, in a trembling voice Lead put a final sentence into words.


    ¡°Just¡­what I can just say is¡­that I¡¯m glad to have become a Burst Linker. That it was a blessing to have been able to know the Accelerated World. The ones who gave me this joy were¡­Crow-san, and Maiden-san, you two.¡±


    There, the young warrior closed his mouth and again made a deep bow.


    For a while, silence ruled the hall enveloped in a curtain of dim blue darkness. Before he was aware of it, the pond of magma created by Utai¡¯s Incarnate technique had also cooled, and only a slightly low indent remained.


    Before long, Utai raised her body from Haruyuki¡¯s arms, and after looking at the two in turn she spoke in a distinct voice.


    ¡°¡ªTo me too, just that¡­just having been able to have become a Burst Linker was an unmistakable blessing. No¡­serving the Black King, Black Lotus, as well as fighting as a member of Nega Nebulas¡­and then, at the end of that path, having been able to meet Kuu-san and Lead-san were also like that. If so¡­the path I¡¯ve always been walking till now¡­was not wrong¡­¡±


    Her feet, which were an imitation of tabi, moved and touched the floor with a tap. Matching Utai¡¯s movements, Haruyuki also slowly stood up.


    Waiting for Lead to also similarly stand, Utai took a step out, looked back, and spoke.


    ¡°¡ªMy apologies for having caused you to worry. Now then¡­let us go. Ahead this path that we have walked one step at a time, without a doubt our future¡­our destiny extends out infinitely.¡±


    Lead¡¯s words that he had memorized the internal structure of the Imperial Palace¡¯s inner sanctuary, including all its attributes, was by no means an exaggeration.


    The young warrior continued to lead them without losing his way even once through the ?Demonic City? stage¡¯s complex map, which was wholly different from that of the ?Heian? stage of two days ago.


    He climbed stairs, crossed aerial corridors, pushed mechanism switches to open hidden doors, and descended below with pulleys. It wouldn¡¯t be strange even if it took a number of days, no, a number of weeks to break through the old-castle-type dungeon chock-full of gimmicks without guidance. Furthermore, on top of that, ubiquitous enemies of the same type as the knight with which they had first fought and guys with heavier armor, guys that seemed quick-witted and agile, and even magician-type guys were wandering about.


    Haruyuki was prepared for them to be unable to avoid maybe another two, three times of accidental random encounters, but Lead¡¯s instructions were flawless. Even in situations where groups of enemies were walking from the left and right, they could calmly remain in the shadows and run all-out as soon as the enemy had went far off and had entered a blind spot. Once, they displayed the feat of purposely moving an empty elevator and descending down a ladder on the opposite side once the enemies had gathered there. Describing it as one¡¯s own backyard would not be an exaggeration at all.


    For Haruyuki, a hardcore gamer, the titles of ?being able to move? this freely went only to an online FPS16 he had played for a number of years and a one-player action ADV17 in which he had spent over a hundred hours. Moreover, since the structure of the Imperial Palace changed completely with every transition, just exactly how many years had Trilead continued to fight¡­no, ?play? in this place¡­


    ¡ªWhile he pondered that question, before the eyes of Haruyuki, who had followed Lead¡¯s instructions, had run, had climbed, had descended, and no longer even knew how many doors they had passed through, that sight suddenly appeared.


    Just one small window set up in the wall. In its depths, a vast space that spread out, and pillars that stood lined up, and then the sky swirling with black clouds. It was the ?outside?.


    ¡°¡­Good work. The inner shrine of the Imperial Palace ends here.¡±


    Saying that as if it were nothing, Lead approached the window and casually flung it open. A cold wind blew and coolly caressed Silver Crow¡¯s armor.


    As if drawn to it, Haruyuki approached the window and looked outside.


    Two lines of blue-black, enormous pillars were lined straight into the distance from the far right side of the window. He had seen that appearance before. Even in the Heian stage of the day before yesterday, though their shades were different, similar columns had stood at the front of the inner sanctuary all in a row. Basically¡ªwhat lay ahead was¡­


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s, it¡¯s the gate¡­!¡±


    Almost involuntarily shouting, he hurriedly restrained his mouth.


    On the other side of the mist trailing the ground, sure enough a huge castle gate could be slightly made out extending in a straight line from the procession of pillars. From the orientation of the shadows made by the pillars, the gate was straight south¡ªbasically, that very thing was the ?gate of Suzaku? that Haruyuki and Utai had broken through two days ago.


    At last¡ªat last, they had come to the point where the gate could be seen again.


    Afterward, all that was left was to open that, go outside, shake off the flames of the Divine Beast Suzaku, and fly to the foot of the bridge.


    Thinking that, after tightly squeezing his right fist, Haruyuki noticed something and sharply sucked in a breath.


    ¡°¡­Come, come to think of it¡­how do we open it¡­?¡±


    ¡ªThat was true.


    The castle gate visible in the far distance of the thick fog was tightly shut without room for doubt. It seemed utterly improbable that they could open the gate doors, which were made of stone and close to twenty meters both horizontally and vertically, by pushing on them with their hands. Why that gate had automatically opened when they had entered, even if only slightly, was because from the inside, someone had¡­no, the young warrior before their eyes had destroyed the sealed plate fulfilling the role of a ?key?¡ª


    The instant Haruyuki had thought that far, completely as if he had read his thoughts Lead nodded.


    ¡°I will break the regenerated Suzaku gate seal now once. With that, the gate should open.¡±


    ¡°Is¡­is that, something able to be easily done¡­?¡±


    As he timidly asking that, Lead tilted his head as if lost for words and slightly nodded.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­whether it¡¯s easy or not, but however since I was able to do it once before¡­ Besides that, why I had not drawn, no, been unable to draw this sword in the earlier fight was solely for the sake of destroying the gate¡¯s seal.¡±


    ¡°¡ªWhat do you mean?¡±


    The one who had inquired that was Utai. Haruyuki also did not understand at all the cause-and-effect relationship of Lead not being able to draw his sword and being able to destroy the seal. Lead nodded deeply once more and softly touched the straight sword at his waist with his left hand.


    ¡°¡­Though it¡¯s beyond my control, ?The Infinity?, which I currently have the honor of possessing, has a couple of special effects. One of them is the power that ?the longer it¡¯s kept in its sheath, the more the might of the one attack immediately after it¡¯s drawn increases, infinitely so?.¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    While also opening his eyes wide in astonishment, at the same time he profoundly understood it. True, if it had that unbelievable extra effect, it was not the situation to be using it on guard enemy opponents. In fact, Haruyuki, who had a poor person¡¯s mentality, seemed as if he would have it drag on forever without using it.


    However, Lead seemed to have the intention of using the sword¡¯s power, which he had undoubtedly been storing up for a considerably long time, for Haruyuki and Utai¡¯s sake without regret. He had the feeling of questioning whether it would be okay to take advantage of him any more than this though they had no way of giving their thanks even after he had led them this far, but however it was also the truth that there existed no other substitute plans for the sake of fulfilling their highest-priority objective of escaping the Imperial Palace. As a result, Haruyuki could only deeply bow his head and speak a single expression.


    ¡°¡ªThank you, Lead.¡±


    At his side, above her hakama armor, Utai also put her hands together and deeply bent her waist. As if embarrassed, the young warrior shook his head and replied in an airy voice.


    ¡°Not at all, it¡¯s still early to be expressing gratitude. Because we have to make one more push from here to the gate.¡±


    ¡ªThough Lead had said it, going out of the inner sanctuary¡¯s small window and advancing south through the shadows of the pillars was not especially laborious compared to the journey up until now.


    Of course, groups of fearsome guard enemies were incessantly patrolling the wide main road sandwiched between the two lines of pillars in the same manner as the day before yesterday, and they could hear things such as strange footsteps or growling voices from the deep forest at their left side, which chilled their hearts. However, since they knew that they would not be targeted as long as they were hidden behind the columns, it was not difficult calmly clearing them one at a time. Fortunately, all three of their avatars were of small class and light weight. Their footsteps were also small, and their bodies would not jut out from the pillars either.


    Over approximately forty minutes, the three finally managed to reach the southernmost pillar¡¯s shadow, leaned their backs against its cool, curved surface, and exhaled deeply in unison.


    Looking at each other, they exchanged small smiles.


    At last, they had come here. Inside the Imperial Palace, only one sequence remained. As Haruyuki softly opened his Install menu and checked the time elapsed since they had dived, the digital digits displayed 135 minutes. It slightly crossed the target of two hours that Utai had set, but they could say it was a fine achievement, could they not.


    Having said that, about this time, at the exterior of the south gate Kuroyukihime, Fuuko, Takumu, Chiyuri, and Ash Roller, who had participated unannounced, were waiting impatiently for the gate to open. He wanted to break through the guard of the remaining Suzaku, join up with everyone as soon as possible, and share the joy of mission success.


    Perhaps having picked up on Haruyuki¡¯s rushed feelings, Lead whispered in a very small voice.


    ¡°Well then¡­it¡¯s about time we went about the finishing touches. The procedure is simple. We will jump out when the enemies patrolling the main road and the corridors to the left and right have become as far away as possible, and I will break the seal. At the same time, the two of you will break out of the gate. If you are prepared, we shall go at the next chance we have.¡±


    At the nervousness that was welling up, Haruyuki could only nod. In opposition, Utai showed signs of seeming to want to say something, but she immediately drew her jaw back and similarly showed affirmation.


    From the shadows of the pillar, Lead cast a glance at the front and raised his right hand.


    The south gate, which towered like a great rock, was in a position about twenty meters away in the southern direction from the pillar where the three were hidden. At the center of the two left-and-right gate doors existed a steel plate with a relief of a fire bird, the only thing that was the same in the Heian stage. That very thing was the ?seal of Suzaku?.


    The wide main road extended straight north from the gate, and a total of eight groups of guard enemies were patrolling there. What was more, there were winding passageways east and west too before the gate, and a group of enemies was making rounds at each one.


    The movements of all the groups were subtly out of alignment; the space before the gate would not readily become clear. However, as they held their breath and waited, gradually, their timing began to overlap¡ªbefore long, Lead opened the five fingers of his right hand wide. Following that, he bent his fingers one at a time. Four, three, two, one¡­


    ¡ªNow!!


    With their silent shouts overlapping, the three simultaneously ran out from the shade of the pillar.


    Kicking the ground assembled from blue-black tiles, they cut through the heavy fog and ran with all their might. In a mere three seconds, they reached the square before the gate.


    Lead swiftly raised his left hand, checking Haruyuki and Utai, and simultaneously put his right hand on the scabbard of the straight sword¡ª?The Infinity?, one of the Seven Arcs.


    Immediately after, from the body of the small-framed young warrior, a blue flash of light that wholly resembled a young star poured out intensely.


    Over-Ray. It was the shine of Mind Power. When they were fighting the knight enemy earlier, he had thought he was quite a skilled Incarnate user from the fact that he had used techniques without uttering their technique names, but his system activation speed, Over-Ray, and scale all far exceeded Haruyuki¡¯s imagination. Although he had not yet activated his techniques, the hard tiles at his feet cracked radially, and a blue plasma burst in the air¡ª.


    The young warrior firmly dropped his waist and clenched his straight sword¡¯s sheath with his left hand and its hilt with his right.


    ¡°O¡­OOOOHHHH¡­!!¡±


    Lead¡¯s severe vigor, which he was hearing for the first time. Unable to respire any more, with his arm Haruyuki unconsciously pulled close the body of Utai, who was standing at his left.


    Lead¡¯s eye lenses, which were usually refreshing, burned blue-white in a rage. At the same time, a technique name utterance accompanying a deep echo.


    ¡°?Heavenly¡ªStratus?!!¡±


    His right hand moved with a speed so fast that it blurred, and he released a horizontal straight line of slashing attacks.


    A blade of blue light polymerized from the super-offensive power of the Divine Weapon itself, which charged more the more it was sheathed, and Trilead¡¯s Mind Power, which seemed to split heaven and earth, ran through the air. To Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, it seemed as if the very world itself were divided above and below its trajectory.


    From left to right, an attack consisting of a draw and a strike.


    Page 285


    Without a moment¡¯s delay, the sword returned and made another attack from straight up downward.


    The blade of light, which had become a huge cross and had flown, splendidly apprehended the bulky steel plate joining the two doors. A cross-shaped light ran sharply across the fire bird relief. The lengthwise lines extended up and down, penetrating the entire door. The south gate standing and blocking their way like a precipice trembled heavily¡ª.


    ¡ªOpen¡­!


    Haruyuki held Utai¡¯s body even more tightly and drew his clenched right hand to the side of his body. Working in sync with that movement, the ten metal fins that had been folded small at his back up until now unfolded in one go.


    ¡°¡­That, is your true figure, Crow-san.¡±


    Hearing that murmur, Haruyuki looked to his side.


    The young warrior, whose silver, naked sword was still lowered, narrowed his eye lenses as if it were bright. Once again, a whispering voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful¡­ I am truly glad, to have been able to meet you¡­¡±


    ¡°Re, really now¡­as for me as well, being able to meet Lead was¡­¡±


    When he had spoken that far, suddenly the body of Utai, who was adhered closely to him, stiffened. Simultaneously, Haruyuki became aware of it too.


    The main road extending long at Lead¡¯s back. The corridors joining east and west. From all of them, masses of patrolling enemies were raising thunderous earth tremors and coming in a flood. After being shocked at why on earth they had come when they were unmistakably outside the range of their field of vision, Haruyuki finally noticed it.


    High-ranking enemies were drawn by the waves of Mind Power.


    The Incarnate technique ?Heavenly Stratus? that Lead had activated in order to destroy the gate¡¯s seal was the highest-class attack even of all the ones Haruyuki had witnessed up until now. If he used it in an open space where one¡¯s view was clear, even if he caused enemies in a wide range to aggro it wouldn¡¯t be strange.


    Haruyuki hurriedly reached his right hand out and yelled.


    ¡°L, Lead! Hurry up and grab my hand! Together with us, you too will¡­!!¡±


    ¡ªHowever.


    The azure young warrior wore a smile of placidness that also contained a tinge of pained sorrow, and he slightly shook his head.


    ¡°No, I cannot go. Only the two of you, please escape.¡±


    ¡°Wh¡­why¡­if you stay here, you¡¯ll be done in by the enemies!!¡±


    The swarming enormous frames of the knights and magicians who were filled to the brim with clear hostility exceeded ten in number. It was a number that even Lead, the master who possessed the Divine Weapon the Infinity, could not face as his opponents.


    No, before that, until now Haruyuki had always believed and never doubted that Trilead also would obviously escape the Imperial Palace with them. For that reason, although he had a heap of things he wanted to ask him and wanted to talk to him about, he had put them off. However¡ªif they parted ways here at either side of this gate that did not open, then he did not know at all whether they would be able to meet again sometime.


    ¡°You¡­you can¡¯t do that¡­Lead!!¡±


    Haruyuki shouted with all the voice that he had and again extended his right hand out. However, Trilead retreated with a wide step and quickly pointed to the south gate with the sword in his right hand.


    ¡°Go!! It¡¯s fine, if it¡¯s this place then I will not fall into the state of infinite EK! Besides that¡­now, I am not yet able to leave this castle!! However, I promise you¡­one day, I will meet you, Crow-san and Maiden-san, once again. At that time, I will tell the whole story. The reason this castle exists in the Accelerated World¡­and even the reason why it is strictly protected, I will tell everything I know!!¡±


    At the spirit of the young warrior who had declared that resolutely, Haruyuki was unable to say anything more.


    Instead, at his side Utai whispered sharply.


    ¡°¡ªLet us go, Kuu-san. Even if we stay here, Lead-san¡¯s will will only have been for naught!¡±


    ¡°¡­!!¡±


    For a moment, Haruyuki shut his eyes tightly; following that, he opened them, resolved himself, and caused the twin wings on his back to vibrate lightly. The produced force of lift silently buoyed their two avatars up.


    From an elevation of roughly two meters, Haruyuki put in the thousands of feelings he had and shouted briefly.


    ¡°Lead¡­until, next time then!¡±


    The young warrior greatly laughed with a broad smile and replied.


    ¡°Yes¡­until we meet again!¡±


    The two phrases were the very ones young children exchanged in the evening, promising their reunion the next day. Mixed in with the footsteps of the swarm of surging enemies, Lead¡¯s last words reached the ears of Haruyuki, who was holding back his tears and had tried to look back.


    ¡°¡ªThe name of Trilead Tetraoxide was what I was dubbed by my parent. My true name is¡­¡±


    Controlling the urge of wanting to look at Lead one more time, Haruyuki strongly caused his wings to vibrate. A voice resembling a deep-blue, refreshing breeze pushed the backs of the two rushing toward the Imperial Palace¡¯s southern gate, which was in the process of narrowly opening from its middle.


    ¡°¡­?Azure Heir?!!¡±


    References:


    1. ^ Refers to the Heian period of Japanese history from 794-1185.


    2. ^ A shrine maiden.


    3. ^ A Japanese skirt worn primarily by men.


    4. ^ A rice straw rope that delimits sacred spaces.


    5. ^ The original word used in the text is ŸoÀí¤½¤², which is infrequently used in Japanese to the point where I have not been able to find a dictionary entry for it in either English or Japanese. From what I could surmise, it is more or less similar to the much more common expression ŸoÀí except to a stronger degree. Therefore, I took the liberty of translating ¤½¤² as the intensifier ¡°hella.¡± ¡°Hella,¡± derived from something along the lines of ¡°hell of a¡± or ¡°hell of,¡± has a meaning similar to that of ¡°very¡± or ¡°really¡± but can serve as multiple parts of speech. It is a slang term used mainly in Northern California in the United States.


    6. ^ Shite-kata and waki-kata (also spelled without the hyphen and sometimes simply referred to as shite and wakirespectively) refer to two roles in noh theater. The former plays the lead role, while the latter has a supporting role as the counterpart of the shite-kata.


    7. ^ As a note, the word ¡°Mob¡± was written in English in the original text and capitalized.


    8. ^ A slang term perhaps originating from the word ¡°aggravation¡± or ¡°aggression¡± that refers in gaming to the initiative of an NPC (non-player character) to attack without necessarily having been attacked first. Can be used as a noun, adjective, or verb. This term and the aforementioned term ¡°mob¡± are both used in a gaming sense.


    9. ^ See footnotes below regarding ¡°aggro¡± and ¡°hate.¡±


    10. ^ A wakyuu (ºÍ¹­) is a Japanese bow, sometimes also referred to as yumi (¹­) in English, though in Japanese this term usually refers to bows in general.


    11. n^ Here, hate is used in a sense similar to that of the aforementioned ¡°aggro.¡±


    12. ^ Tabi (×ã´ü) are Japanese socks with a division between the big toe and the other toes.


    13. ^ This line and the one that follows are from a noh play concerning the Chinese military leader Xiang Yu (traditional/simplified Chinese: í—Óð/ÏîÓð, Japanese: í—Óð, Kouu), also known as Xiang Ji (traditional/simplified Chinese: í—¼®/Ïî¼®, Japanese: í—¼®, Kouseki).


    14. ^ This line and the one that follows are from a poem in the Ryojin Hisho (Áº‰mÃس­), a collection of songs in the imayo (½ñ˜”) style.


    15. ^ A waka (ºÍ¸è) is a classical Japanese poem.


    16. ^ First-person shooter.


    17. ^ Adventure Game.

 Volume 8 - CH 10

    Chapter 10


    Crimson.


    The first thing that Haruyuki saw once they had passed through the tiny gap of the Imperial Palace¡¯s south gate and had finally escaped to the outside world was that.


    Swirling, raging deep crimson flames. However, it was not mere heat energy. The hieroglyphic shape of a huge bird possessing two enormous wings, a long neck, and two eyes that glinted like rubies.


    The super-class enemy, the ?Divine Beast Suzaku?.


    ¡°Wh¡­why, has he materialized already¡­!¡±


    Utai, who was clinging tightly to his neck, had shouted that in a hoarse voice.


    Likewise, Haruyuki had also been surprised. Suzaku, who safeguarded the south gate, would begin to pop out above the altar established by the gate of the bridge at the point in time when someone intruded on his territory, which consisted of the large bridge of a total of five hundred meters in length and thirty meters in width. The time till he materialized and began to take action was about five seconds the last time they had witnessed it. As for Haruyuki, he had calculated to be able to escape from the gate and fly a considerable distance during the interval till Suzaku¡¯s appearance.


    Despite that, due to whatever reason, at the point in time where the two had left the gate Suzaku had already finished materializing. The distance between them was only about thirty meters. Haruyuki desperately spread the wings on his back and exerted his brakes, avoiding a collision with the bird of fire.


    However, at his back the south gate was already tightly shut. Even if they returned, it would not open again. Last time, why the gate had allowed Haruyuki and Utai in was because Trilead¡ªtrue name ?Azure Heir? had destroyed the seal plate for them in advance, but with every cycle of opening and closing the seal seemed to regenerate.


    It seemed likely that Lead would be attacked by the ten-plus guard enemies and would perish, so obviously they could not hope for him to cut the plate again. What was what, if here they returned inside once more, they would have no face to meet with Lead, who had sent them out prepared to die himself.


    ¡ªThey had no choice but to slip through Suzaku¡¯s flames and fly to the other side of the bridge.


    Brushing aside his momentary hesitation, Haruyuki resolved himself to do so. Their enemy who possessed the name of a god and was staying practically right before their eyes looked fixedly at the two with his ruby eyes.


    Abruptly, he had the feeling he heard a voice.


    ¡ªVery puny one.


    ¡ªAtone for the sin of laying waste to my sacred lands and slipping through them impertinently.


    ¡ªBurn to ashes.


    Predicting that a breath attack would come, Haruyuki concentrated with all his might, trying to make out its path.


    However, the bird of fire did not open his beak but spread his enormous wings wide and flapped them strongly once.


    ¡°¡­No!¡±


    The one who had shouted was Utai. At the same time, Haruyuki saw the bright-red, super-intense heat wave Suzaku¡¯s wings had produced surge forth in a hemispherical shape. Not a line, but a face attack. No matter where he flew, there was nowhere to escape.


    No way¡­were they going to die here? This easily? Going through all that pain, passing through the Imperial Palace¡¯s inner sanctuary, and having the gate opened in exchange for Lead¡¯s life¡ªdespite that, were they going to be arrested here in the cage of ?Infinite EK?¡­


    ¡°¡ªI will not¡­let you do so!!¡±


    In the arms of Haruyuki, whose thoughts had begun to fall into a stop, the young miko had shouted fearlessly.


    She extended her small left hand out far. From that exceedingly slender palm, a scarlet wave greatly resembling Suzaku¡¯s wave attack was released.


    The instant the two energy waves made contact, a dazzling white light thoroughly colored the world.


    The center of Suzaku¡¯s heat wave was offset in a circular shape; the heat wave became a ring and passed through their surroundings with a deafening roar.


    And then simultaneously, perhaps having received some sort of damage feedback, Ardor Maiden¡¯s left arm instantly evaporated from the tip of her shoulder down.


    ¡°W¡­ah¡­¡±


    With a thin scream, the body of the miko convulsed. Perhaps unable to stand the real, intense pain that the Unlimited Neutral Field caused to occur, in that state she made her head deeply droop.


    Tightly embracing the body of Utai, who had lost consciousness, Haruyuki squeezed out all his remaining energy and reactivated his fighting spirit.


    Fly. ¡ªFly! If I don¡¯t fly here, there was no meaning in having been born as an aviation-class avatar!


    ¡°Wh¡­oooaaaaa¡ª!!¡±


    Bellowing, he made his wings vibrate with all the power he had; Haruyuki charged straight forth.


    On the other side ahead, Suzaku was again unfurling his wings. The same attack would come again. Earlier than damage could occur, he would run through it.


    ¡ªLet us make it in time¡­!!


    ¡ªHowever. Before Haruyuki¡¯s eyes, like a heat haze the air shimmered and began to glisten red. The surface of his avatar began to be scorched in bits. A feeling of heat that seemed to blind his eyes assaulted him, and his HP gauge, which had close to ninety percent remaining, began to decrease¡­


    Right after.


    Again, an unexpected phenomenon impeded Suzaku¡¯s attack.


    Lances of light of two colors, red and blue, that had rushed toward the back of the enormous bird pierced his left and right wings.


    He recollected having seen those colors of attacks. The blue was ?Lightning Cyan Spike?. The special technique of Cyan Pile¡ªhis good friend Takumu.


    And then the red was ?Vorpal Strike?. The special technique of Black Lotus¡ªHaruyuki¡¯s parent, master, and the person whom he respected and loved more than anyone else, Kuroyukihime.


    Suzaku¡¯s super-intense heat wave, which was on the verge of causing Haruyuki¡¯s and Utai¡¯s bodies to evaporate, was torn to pieces and disappeared.


    Grazing the large feathers enveloped in flames, Haruyuki at last passed to the rear of the Divine Beast Suzaku.


    However, obviously the enemy changed direction, and while he apprehended Haruyuki with eyes smoldering with indignation, this time he opened his bill wide. A breath attack¡ª.


    That moment.


    Haruyuki, who was plunging forward with all his strength and aiming for the south side of the large bridge, and a silhouette that had come flying at a fearsomely high velocity from that side crossed.


    The perceptions of Haruyuki, who was accelerating to his limit, grasped the identity of that shadow precisely.


    Burst Linkers. Not one, but two. The one below was a sky-blue duel avatar carrying a streamline-type booster on her back. The vice executive of Nega Nebulas who possessed the alias ?ICBM?, Sky Raker.


    And then on her back there was one more person kneeling low. A jet black duel avatar possessing obsidian armor and long swords for her four limbs¡ªthe ?Black King? Black Lotus. The blue-white flarebacks extending long from Raker¡¯s Enhanced Armament, ?Gale Thruster?, dyed her semitransparent armor a beautiful sapphire color.


    The instant they crossed paths, Raker¡ªFuuko, and Lotus¡ªKuroyukihime gazed at Haruyuki with madder red and blue-violet eyes and smiled gently. The two¡¯s voices directly reverberated in his mind.


    ¡­Welcome back, Karasu-san. Leave Suzaku to us.


    ¡­We¡¯re entrusting the legion¡¯s future to you, Haruyuki-kun. Now then, fly. Without looking back, straight ahead.


    The stretched-out flow of time returned to its original state; Haruyuki, who was holding Utai in his arms, and Fuuko, who was giving Kuroyukihime a lift, rapidly drifted apart.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    Unable to apply the brakes on himself while flying at full speed, while only letting out a mere scream-like voice Haruyuki craned his neck with all his might and caught sight of the view at his rear on the edge of his field of vision.


    Fuuko and Kuroyukihime, who had become a single warhead, skimmed past the vicinity of the right eye of Suzaku, who seemed just about to spit out a fatal flame breath now. Black Lotus¡¯ right arm flashed and cut up the enemy¡¯s eye in a straight line. Flames resembling blood spouted out in great quantities, and the strange bird roared with a howl of anger.


    Suzaku stopped his breath attack and began to revolve his massive frame north again. His target had switched from Haruyuki to Kuroyukihime and company. Basically¡ª


    The two of them had a mind to die.


    Their self-sacrifice was in a sense both equivalent to and different from that of the young warrior Trilead, who had attracted ten-odd bodyguard enemies in order to allow Haruuki to escape from the gate. The reason was that unlike Lead, who could avoid the state of infinite EK by immediately moving into a safe area the next time he respawned, Kuroyukihime and Fuuko had nowhere to escape at all. There was just the rectangular altar behind Suzaku¡ªthe very spot where Ardor Maiden had been ?sealed?¡ªand if they died there, even the next time they respawned they would only be assaulted quickly by Suzaku and would instantly die again.


    Kuroyukihime and the others had probably witnessed Suzaku¡äs sudden materialization while standing by and had seen through the fact that that was an action meant to hinder Haruyuki and Utai from escaping. And then they had resolved to do it in a moment. Letting them escape by using themselves as bait. Even if both Kuroyukihime and Fuuko became sealed.


    ¡ªThat was out of the question.


    That was out of the question. It was absolutely out. The only existing goal for which Haruyuki was fighting as a Burst Linker was that of reviving Nega Nebulas and arriving together with Kuroyukihime beyond the ?level 10? horizon for which she longed. What meaning was there in sacrificing his legion master and sub-master and having only himself survive?


    Haruyuki was assailed by a momentary conflict; at that time.


    From below his path, a sharp hail reached him.


    ¡°Haru!!¡±


    Taken aback, he turned his eyes there. The one greatly raising his left hand at a spot about two hundred meters from the foot of the bridge was a large-class avatar who had heavy light-blue armor, Cyan Pile. And then next to him was a yellow-green lightweight avatar, Lime Bell.


    ¡°Haru¡ª!!¡±


    Bell also shouted in a voice with all her might and greatly revolved the large bell equipped in her left hand. At the same time that an airy chime sound rang out, the bell was enveloped in a light effect of a fresh green color.


    ¡°¡ª?Citron Ca¡ªll?!!¡±


    Together with the enunciation of her technique name, she swung her hand bell straight down. The lime green light that effused out warmly wrapped up Haruyuki, who was in the middle of flight.


    The damage received from the duels versus enemies inside the Imperial Palace and Suzaku¡¯s heat wave from just a little bit earlier was healed in a twinkle. However, the wounds of Utai, who was still unconscious in his arms, remained as they were. Citron Call¡¯s effect target was a single body, so it could not have two people recover simultaneously, but then in that case should she not have healed Ardor Maiden first, whose damage was great?


    For an instant, Haruyuki had difficulty grasping the intention of Chiyuri, who was restoring Silver Crow¡¯s health gauge here and now. However, the shouting voice that Takumu subsequently emitted dispelled Haruyuki¡¯s bewilderment.


    ¡°Haru, leave Maiden-san to us!¡±


    ¡°¡­!!¡±


    Haruyuki opened his eyes wide¡ªright after, without hesitating he passed the body of Ardor Maiden, who was in his arms, to the outstretched arms of Cyan Pile below. Elevating his body, which had become light, in one go, he entered a loop turn with a tight radius. Piercing through the air howling in his ears, Chiyuri¡¯s voice reached him.


    ¡°Haru, Senpai and Nee-san¡­!¡±


    ¡°¡ªGot it, leave it to me!!¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s two childhood friends had hesitated, suffered, and decided it in his stead. That they would not let Kuroyukihime and Fuuko die here. That by all costs, they would go home with everyone together.


    Backed by Takumu and Chiyuri¡¯s emotions, Haruyuki soared again northward.


    On his path, the Divine Beast Suzaku, who had likewise turned northward, was craning his long neck in the shape of an S and opening his beak wide. There were maybe five¡­no, three seconds till a super-intense heat breath would be released.


    In front of his line of fire, Sky Raker, who was carrying Black Lotus on her back, descended, drawing out a parabola. Gale Thruster¡¯s jet exhaust flickered irregularly and was on the verge of disappearing. That Enhanced Armament displayed overwhelming thrust, but once it used up its energy, there was a long recharge time that was imposed till the next time one could fly. There were no longer any means for the two to escape from Suzaku¡¯s flames. From his vast bill, a glimmering orange light spilled out. The surrounding atmosphere became a heat haze and shimmered¡ª.


    ¡ªI won¡¯t¡­let you do that!!


    ¡°Wh¡­oooooooooa¡ª!!¡±


    With a force that burnt up all his remaining special technique gauge, Haruyuki caused the metallic fins on his back to vibrate. A faint light surrounded Silver Crow¡¯s whole body. Penetrating the wall of wind pressure with the fingertips of his sharply extended hands, his avatar became a lance and soared.


    Suzaku, whose right eye had been smashed by Kuroyukihime¡¯s crushing blow, did not notice Haruyuki approaching from that side. Haruyuki plunged forth on a course that nearly grazed the large bird¡¯s visage. He passed a couple dozen centimeters by the right side of his beak, which was trying to spit out a conflagration at that very moment. In one stretch, he sprung out to the enemy¡¯s front.


    At his back, overwhelming waves of indignation toward him, the obstacle, were produced.


    In front, the two Burst Linkers opened their eyes wide in shock.


    ¡°Why¡­!?¡±


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun¡­!!¡±


    With a momentum that made him nearly crash into them, under both arms Haruyuki carried the bodies of the two, who were trying to shout as if gasping. He held the slender waists of Sky Raker and Black Lotus, who were nearly equal size-wise, with all his strength, and in one gulp he changed his flight direction upward.


    Their situation fairly resembled that of the ?Ardor Maiden rescue strategy? the day before yesterday, where he had picked up Utai, who had appeared in the center of the altar, from the south. However, one thing that was different was that unlike Utai, who was on the ground, Kuroyukihime and Fuuko were still maintaining an approximate elevation of twenty meters. From here, they still had the leeway to change their direction toward their sole escape route¡ªnamely, straight up.


    Abruptly, their surroundings were stained a deep crimson. Suzaku had fired his flame breath at last. An overwhelming torrent of heat-attribute damage was imminent; if they took that hit directly, no matter what kind of Burst Linkers they were they would not elude evaporation.


    ¡°G¡­rrr¡­¡±


    Clenching his teeth and bearing it, Haruyuki soared vertically with all the power he had.


    Tch; the tips of his toes had grazed something. In one gulp, over a tenth of his health gauge was scraped away. He had probably touched not the main body of the breath but its surrounding damage zone, but he did not look down. He only glared at the cloudy blue-black sky of the ?Demonic City? stage and flew.


    Even the slightest deviation from his path would not be tolerated. The reason was that super-gravity had been set on the left and right of the large bridge, which was a flight-prohibited zone, and invisible barriers extended infinitely along the gate of the Imperial Palace as well as the sky above the castle walls. The instant he touched those, his flight would be impeded, and they would fall.


    What was permitted was only perfectly vertical ascension. He would fly straight up as far as he could fly, cutting off Suzaku¡¯s target. After that, he would draw a large arc due south, fall down, and escape to the south side of the large bridge¡ª.


    Passing through the wind that howled like a dog, Kuroyukihime¡¯s whisper resounded at his right ear¡¯s side.


    ¡°¡­Good grief, you really¡­¡±


    Following that, at his left ear was Fuuko¡¯s suppressed laugh.


    ¡°Fufu.., somehow, I had the feeling it would turn out like this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­after we return, I will fully apologize!¡±


    Answering like that in the same manner as that of the day before yesterday, Haruyuki made the silver wings on his back quiver even more¡ª


    ¡°Ah¡­!¡±


    The one who had shouted was Fuuko. Feeling that something was abnormal, this time Haruyuki reflexively looked down.


    The figure of the huge bird clad in flames could be seen to be surprisingly near. However, why. Though they had already reached an altitude near three hundred meters.


    Basically¡ªhe had chased after them. The Divine Beast Suzaku, the protector beast who supposedly would not leave the south large bridge, its territory, was also ascending himself and was tailing Haruyuki and company.


    The one remaining left eye of the enemy was narrowed as if sneering at them. Inside Haruyuki¡¯s mind, a grave voice reverberated.


    ¡ªFoolish.


    ¡ªYou cannot escape from my twin wings with those sham wings.


    At the same time, Suzaku violently rang his wings, which were extended out twenty meters from side to side. His massive frame steadily accelerated, and the distance between them shortened.


    ¡°Kk¡­!¡±


    Glaring straight up again, Haruyuki tried to raise his speed further.


    However, immediately after, he noticed a terrible truth.


    His special technique gauge, which was supposed to have been fully charged when he had taken off inside the Imperial Palace, was already beginning to be depleted. However, if he thought about it that too was obvious. He had continued to fly all-out carrying first Utai, then Kuroyukihime and Fuuko; even if his gauge were consumed at a pace even several times faster than that of when he flew solo, it wouldn¡¯t be odd.


    ¡ªHowever, if his thrust were lost here, they would rapidly be burnt by Suzaku¡¯s flames, and the three of them would die all together. And then their respawn point was directly under, basically the altar before the Imperial Palace¡¯s south gate. Without a doubt, all of them would fall into the state of infinite EK.


    While fixing his eyes on his special technique gauge, which was vanishing at a fearsome speed dot by dot, with a momentary thought Haruyuki examined all the action options he had.


    Letting just Kuroyukihime and Fuuko escape? ¡ªImpossible. If they fell from this height, they would die instantly from the fall damage, and before that they would be killed by Suzaku, who was chasing them from directly below.


    Escape south right now with a loop turn? ¡ªImpossible. In a state of being targeted by Suzaku, even if they turned, before they managed to reach the surface they would just take a direct breath blow.


    Having the two of them attack Silver Crow on purpose and having his special technique gauge charged again? ¡ªImpossible. If their speed slackened even slightly when he received damage, they would rapidly be seized by Suzaku¡¯s attack range.


    They could only fly.


    Even if his gauge were exhausted. Even if it was proclaimed that in the Brain Burst program, flight greater than this was not permitted. He would fly, destroying the system¡¯s limits with the power of imagination and overwrite the phenomenon of inability to fly.


    Image. A true image of ?soaring?.


    The sole and greatest power conferred to the duel avatar ?Silver Crow? of ?flight ability? had, in the Accelerated World, taken the shape of the emotional trauma that Haruyuki had always continued to carry.


    His trauma was, namely, the feeling of wanting to run away. Cutting himself loose from the ground, which was full of things he detested, and wanting to go a place that was high to the ends of the world, far to the ends of the world. Wanting to go to a world that shook off anything and everything and where only the speed of light existed. And then, wanting to forget everything.


    However¡ª.


    At present, Haruyuki was questioning whether that was really ?flying?.


    There was no bird that could continue to fly forever. They all ate, slept, and accumulated strength in order to fly for a while. Living to fly. Flying to live. Those two were one and were inseparable.


    If so, even without wings at their backs, people in the real world too could definitely fly. Carrying what they were aiming for and what they wanted to overcome in their hearts, forming an image of those things¡¯ realization, and advancing one step, one step at a time. Not facing downward and being swept along from day to day while harboring discontent but looking fixedly at the sky¡ªthe place they wanted to reach someday, and actively stepping forth. When they could do that, people would undoubtedly make their invisible wings flutter and would fly.


    ¡°¡­Fly¡­!¡±


    While staring with all his heart at the sky of the Unlimited Neutral Field swirling with dark clouds, Haruyuki yelled briefly.


    Not causing his propulsion-use objects, his so-called metallic fins, to vibrate due to numerical energy, his so-to-speak special technique gauge¡ª.


    Making the wings produced from his own heart beat due to the power of his image and flying.


    In the past, at the apex of the Old Tokyo Tower, Fuuko, who had first initiated Haruyuki into the Incarnate system, had said it. That ¡°If it¡¯s you, then one day you may become able to fly in the sky with Mind Power alone. However, it will take an unbelievably long time for that.¡±


    As both a Burst Linker and a user of Mind Power, Haruyuki was still a fledgling. Neither his training nor his experience was sufficient at all.


    However, if he were to fly, then it was now. If he were unable to fly now, then for what purpose had he been born crowned with the name of ?Silver Crow?1?


    Imagine. Imagine. The meaning of flying. The meaning of kicking the ground and aiming for the sky.


    In Haruyuki¡¯s vision, the phantom of a small scops owl flapping its white wings and soaring twinkled.


    ¡°¡ªFly, Crow!!¡±


    At his right side, Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Fly, Karasu-san!!¡±


    At his left side, Fuuko shouted.


    They all melted together into one silver imagination, ran through Haruyuki¡¯s body, and cohered at both his shoulder blades. And then, with the eyes in his heart, Haruyuki watched them. The ten metal fins extending from Silver Crow¡¯s back sparkling dazzlingly, changing shape, and being overwritten into genuine ?wings? resembling those of birds of prey.


    ¡°Wh¡­o¡­ooooooa¡ª!!¡±


    At the same time Haruyuki bellowed, the last dot of his special technique gauge ran out. However, the thrust accelerating his entire body toward the sky did not disappear.


    Flapping his wings, which were shining in a glaring silver color, with all the power he had, Haruyuki sonorously intoned the name of a new Incarnate technique welling up from the depths of his heart.


    ¡°¡ª?Light¡­Speed2?¡ª!!¡±


    Page 307


    Pah¡­his entire vision was surrounded in a silver resplendence. He approached the phantom of the scops owl flying slightly ahead, touched it, and assimilated with it. While carrying two duel avatars, with a fearsome acceleration he had not experienced before Haruyuki soared. The thick clouds of the ?Demonic City? stager drew rapidly near, and with a slight feeling of resistance he rushed into them.


    The landscape was lost and was blotted out into a monochromatic deep gray. However, immediately a crimson light shone from below. Suzaku was pursuing them even further. The enemy¡¯s ascension speed was also clearly increasing. The two bodies of contrasting size in flight vertically pierced the sky of the Accelerated World while drawing silver and crimson paths¡ª.


    A number of seconds later, suddenly his view became clear.


    An unbounded sky tinged azure that seemed to absorb them. Below, a pure white sea of clouds that stretched out to the ends of the world. He could no longer even imagine how many hundreds, no, thousands of meters high their altitude was. However, Haruyuki flapped his silver wings still more powerfully.


    With a sound of impact like a bo, a vast hole was opened in the sea of clouds below. From its depths, what appeared was a giant bird clad in flames that blazed a still greater bright red. Filling one eye to the brim with the volition of burning the trespassers who had twice invaded his territory to ashes by any means, the Divine Beast Suzaku plunged forth at almost the same speed as Haruyuki, who was flying with the power of Mind Power.


    ¡ªAs you desire¡­follow me if you can!!


    Roaring inside his mind, Haruyuki squeezed out all the imagination that he had and beat his silver wings.


    The tint of his surroundings gradually changed. From azure to ultramarine, and then to black. Beyond, a number of miniscule points of light flickered. They were stars.


    Furthermore, he noticed narrow silver threads glittering vertically in a space separated far from him to his front right. That was¡ªthe ?Hermes Cord?. It was the low-orbit-class space elevator that went around at a super-high altitude in the Accelerated World. It was probably just traveling in the Tokyo vicinity.


    Before long, his ascension speed gradually began to become dull. Haruyuki¡¯s Mind Power had not weakened. It was not that; they had reached the limiting altitude of his ?wings?.


    As much as he tried to override things with his imagination, as long as the propulsion engine extending from Haruyuki¡¯s back was wings, he could not fly without air. That was right¡ªhere was already nearly outer space.


    The deep crimson brilliance below them hot on their heels sharply weakened. At the same time, a roar filled with rage from the great bird swayed the very thin air.


    While stopping the beating of his wings and ascending leisurely with only inertia, Haruyuki looked down. The flames covering at all times the entire body of the Divine Beast Suzaku, who had closely tailed the three of them up to here, had nearly disappeared. It was because the surrounding oxygen was quite thin. His feathers, which had become exposed and were a glossy red, were covered in white frost from their tips¡ª.


    ¡°¡ªNow¡¯s our chance!¡±


    All of a sudden, Kuroyukihime had shouted.


    ¡°Crow, let go! Raker, you can fly, right!?¡±


    Haruyuki reflexively opened up his arms, and in the world that had nearly no gravity, the jet black and light blue avatars drifted lightly. Fuuko nodded firmly, and turned her back to Kuroyukihime.


    ¡°Of course, Lotus!¡±


    ¡°All right!¡±


    Black Lotus securely held Sky Raker¡¯s back with her legs. With a turn, Raker changed the orientation of her body and lit a blue light at the nozzle of the Enhanced Armament that was recharged to the extent where there was an energy gauge.


    ¡°¡ªLet¡¯s go!!¡±


    Briefly announcing that, Fuuko unhesitatingly opened her booster full throttle.


    While trailing blue-white flames, the two integrated avatars aimed at the Divine Beast who was cruising below and charged fiercely. Different from Haruyuki¡¯s wings, the ?Gale Thruster? that Sky Raker possessed was an energy-jet-type propulsion engine. Only she could fly even in space, where there was no atmosphere.


    While the Divine Beast Suzaku caused his left eye to burn with a dreadful rage, he widened both his half-frozen wings and tried to engage the two. However, however much he flapped his wings his massive frame hardly moved. Giving up on advancing forward, he opened his beak and tried to emit a flame breath, but even preheating it seemed to take more time than on the ground.


    ¡°Too slow!!¡±


    Kuroyukihime gave a cry, opened the swords of her two arms wide at Fuuko¡¯s back, and in that state drew them tight backward in the shape of the letter V. It was a motion Haruyuki was seeing for the first time. Her twin swords were enveloped in a white-blue splendor that reminded him of fixed stars.


    ¡°HA¡­AAAAA¡­!¡±


    A relentless shout of vigor poured forth, and her arms¡¯ aura focused at several points of light. They were eight apiece in number left and right; in total, sixteen. Accompanied by the confluence of light that was just like an enormous constellation, Kuroyukihime made her voice, which seemed to reach the ends of the universe, resound in a dignified manner.


    ¡°?Starburst¡­Stream3?¡ª!!¡±


    Her two swords struck alternately at a speed so great his eyes did not catch them. With each blow, a ?star? that shone blue-white was fired one at a time, became a meteor, and directly hit Suzaku, who was far in the distance. Each time, a tremendous impact boomed and rocked Haruyuki¡¯s body.


    At the meteors, which had ridden even Sky Raker¡¯s super-accelerated energy, were fired into him one after another, even the Divine Beast Suzaku had to strew about a shrill scream. From the huge body of the enemy who had lost his armor of flames, bright red feathers and damage scattered in huge quantities. Suzaku¡¯s health gauge, which was also displayed in Haruyuki¡¯s vision and reached five levels, was being whittled away at a momentum that made him doubt his eyes.


    ¡°HI¡­YAAAAA!!¡±


    Without ceasing, Kuroyukihime¡¯s twin swords flashed and fired forth the meteors her Mind Power had produced like a rapid-fire gun. Ten hits. Eleven hits. A number of huge holes had already been drilled through both of Suzaku¡¯s wings, and his torso and tail were also being torn up here and there. However, the flames of indignation smoldering in his left eye did not vanish. Even while receiving enormous damage, he opened his bill wide and forcibly tried to discharge a flame breath.


    ¡°¡ªOhhh!¡±


    Haruyuki also reflexively roared and drew his right hand tight. He scraped an image of light together from his whole body, condensed it at a single point, changed it into a lance of light¡ªand released it.


    ¡°?Laser Lance?!!¡±


    The lance, which had become a streak of light and had run through the cosmos, overtook Kuroyukihime from the right side and hit Suzaku¡¯s left eye without straying from its mark.


    The breath¡¯s flames, on the verge of being released, wavered, and in the momentary chance that was born, Kuroyukihime fired the final¡ªthe sixteenth star with an ear-splitting roar. Its light, which soared through the heavens while trailing a tail resembling a comet, made a direct impact on Suzaku¡¯s oral cavity and caused the super-intense heat energy of his flame breath to spontaneously discharge¡­


    A red light stained his entire field of vision.


    An awfully huge fireball that seemed like a second sun was born, and immediately after an overwhelming torrent of energy dispersed in all directions.


    With his outstretched two hands, with all his might Haruyuki seized the bodies of Kuroyukihime and Fuuko, who had been pushed back by the shock wave. He again carried them tightly at his left and right, received the flow of energy with the wings at his back, and changed it to thrust. It was a phenomenon where it just seemed as if Suzaku himself had exploded, but the last one of their enemy¡¯s health gauges was still about halfway remaining. They should not approach him recklessly.


    Haruyuki drew a great arc, circled around the fireball, and entered a course descending toward the surface of the earth.


    The red light gradually faded, and the figure of the huge bird on the brink of death became exposed. His dignity of a ?god? had already disappeared; he only weakly flapped his wings, which were wounded and were in pieces.


    ¡ªIf we¡¯re to defeat him, how about now!?


    For an instant, Haruyuki thought that. However, immediately after, a strange light wrapped up Suzaku¡¯s massive body. A triple aura of white, blue, and black. As he wondered what on earth that was and opened his eyes wide, before him¡ªa further superphenomenon occurred. Suzaku¡¯s injuries were rapidly mended from their extremities. His health gauge, which had lost ninety percent of its total, also began to recover rapidly.


    ¡°¡­I surely hadn¡¯t thought that the support of the other ?Divine Beasts? would reach outer space¡­¡±


    At Kuroyukihime¡¯s whispering voice, he finally recalled something. The four super-class enemies guarding the gates of the four cardinal directions of the Imperial Palace were mutually linked. Even if they attacked one and dealt one damage, if the other three were not in the middle of fighting they would help the one infinitely recover with their support ability.


    ¡°Chasing him too far is useless, Karasu-san.¡±


    In response to Fuuko¡¯s words, Haruyuki nodded. Today¡¯s objective was not to defeat Suzaku but to get out of his territory. Fluttering his two wings, which were still enveloped in a silver Over-Ray, he seized the thin air and switched over to vertical descent. The surrounding darkness shifted from darkness quickly to ultramarine and then to a clear azure.


    Before long, they drew near the thick sea of clouds, and they dived in headfirst. Passing through the gray veil, they went toward the sky of the ?Demonic City? stage. Far below, the large castle enclosed by perfectly circular castle walls and the bridge extending straight out from its south gate were visible. Haruyuki sighted the figures of three small people greatly waving their hands at the south end of the bridge.


    At a hundred meters in the sky overhead the large bridge, he changed the orientation of his body and transferred to a leisurely glide feetfirst. Prudently manipulating his wings such that they did not jut out to the left or right of the bridge, he aimed for the ground with the greatest speed possible. The tile pattern covering the surface of the large bridge floated up, and its resolution increased¡ª


    At last, the tiptoes of Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime, and Fuuko simultaneously touched the bridge¡¯s surface.


    That was the south tip of the large bridge, basically, a spot one meter from the boundary of the territory of the Divine Beast Suzaku.


    Before his eyes were the smiles of his three comrades. The small-build miko Ardor Maiden, who stood at the right end, had probably also already recovered with Chiyuri¡¯s special technique gauge; she was extending out her restored left and right arms straight out before her.


    The three people consisting of Haruyuki and company advanced one step, two steps, and then three steps, and left the bridge.


    ¡°Welcome back.¡±


    Kuroyukihime, Fuuko, and Haruyuki replied with voices in unison.


    ¡°¡­We¡¯re back.¡±


    And then they finally took another step forward¡ª.


    Haruyuki and Takumu. Kuroyukihime and Chiyuri. And then Fuuko and Utai hugged each other with all their strength. At the same time, from the skies overhead, at the ?altar? in the distance a pillar of red light towered, was absorbed into the ground in that state, and disappeared.


    At this instant, the ?Ardor Maiden rescue operation? as well as the ?Imperial Palace escape operation? by all hands of the black legion, Nega Nebulas, ended completely.


    References:


    1. ^ Here, his avatar name is written as °×ãy¤Îøf, ¡°Crow of Silver,¡± different from the customary ¥·¥ë¥Ð©`?¥¯¥í©`.


    2. ^ The kanji, ¹âËÙÒí, literally mean ¡°Light Speed Wings.¡±


    3. ^ The kanji, ÐǹâßB¾A“Ä, literally mean ¡°Starlight Continuous Attack.¡±

 Volume 8 - CH 11

    Chapter 11


    At the same time his Over-Ray disappeared, Haruyuki¡¯s wings returned to their original metallic fins. They were folded automatically and were stored in the interior of a cover-shaped protuberance. After softly casting words of gratitude in the back of his mind to his twin wings, Haruyuki looked at the faces of his comrades anew in order.


    As if they had seen through Haruyuki crying on the inside of his mirror surface visor, all of them were laughing kindly with smiles. However, just now it seemed that there was no need to look down to hide his embarrassment. The reason was that the existence of the miko smiling in front of him was the realization of an indescribably huge miracle.


    That was right. The ?world-destroying conflagration miko? Ardor Maiden, who had been sealed at the south gate of the Imperial Palace in the Unlimited Neutral Field over a period of two years, had been released at last now. At this rate, if they moved a mere hundred meters south and passed through the portal established in the inner court of the triangular building¡ªthe real-world Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Utai would be able to return to the real world normally together with her own alter ego.


    ¡°¡­You¡¯ve done it, Haru.¡±


    The one who had said that anew with a smile was Lime Bell¡ªChiyuri. Gazing at her eye lenses, which were filled with transparent drops, with an effort Haruyuki returned some words.


    ¡°Unh. ¡ªThank you, Chiyu. Thank you, everyone¡­¡±


    That moment, he seemed about to have the power drain straight out from his legs and sink to the floor there, but hurriedly he replanted his feet. It was too early to feel exhausted. There still remained one, no, two things he needed to do.


    First, the purification of the ?Disaster Armor? dwelling within Haruyuki. If they succeeded in that, the fear of being designated with a bounty by the Six Kings would also disappear. At the same time, the repeating disaster cycle would also finally be cut off.


    When the purification ended, the joint training with Sky Raker¡¯s ?child?, Ash Roller, who desired to acquire the Incarnate system, was waiting next. He could not even imagine what kind of Mind Power Ash would embody, but no doubt with a showy technique he would cause everyone¡¯s nerves to¡ª¡­


    ¡°H, huh?¡±


    Having thought that far then, Haruyuki finally noticed that the skull face of that end-of-century rider did not exist before his eyes. Shaking off the tears brimming in his eyes by blinking, he turned to Fuuko and asked.


    ¡°What¡¯s happened to Ash-san? He met up in front of my apartment house in Suginami and came this far together with us, right? ¡­Ah, surely he didn¡¯t get cold feet from seeing Suzaku and run away or something¡­¡±


    He had added the end of his sentence thirty percent in seriousness and seventy percent as a joke, but however Fuuko did not laugh. Far from that, she bit her lip, and a seemingly anxious tint rose up in her eye lenses.


    ¡°¡­About that, the truth is¡­we, we were not able to meet up with that child.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­wh, what do you mean¡­?¡±


    Ash Roller should have dived from Fuuko¡¯s car parked in the underground parking lot of Haruyuki¡¯s real-world apartment house. The horizontal-direction distance between them was nearly zero. It seemed easy to meet up in front of the building.


    Takumu explained it to the bewildered Haruyuki in a reserved voice.


    ¡°About that, Haru. In front of the apartment house, there were only tire tracks seemingly left behind by Ash Roller¡¯s bike; no matter how many dozens of minutes we waited, the person himself didn¡¯t appear¡­¡±


    ¡°Tire tracks¡­? Then, did he move to the Imperial Palace by himself, unable to wait¡­and get lost on the path somewhere¡­?¡±


    ¡°No¡­that¡¯s difficult to consider.¡±


    This time, Fuuko lightly shook her head.


    ¡°That child should know the route from Suginami to the imperial residence well. The path of the Demonic City stage is also easy to understand; it seems unlikely that Ash got lost.¡±


    ¡°Besides that, Haruyuki-kun. We tentatively did try to follow the tire tracks as much as we could, but it seemed that they kept going south from the apartment house.¡±


    Kuroyukihime murmured that while crossing the swords of her arms before her chest. True enough, that was out of the ordinary. If one were to head for the imperial residence from Suginami, then even if one went south one would have to turn to the east soon.


    Suddenly¡ª.


    An apprehension that seemed to block his breathing assaulted Haruyuki.


    Ash Roller did have his whimsical points, but he was not the guy to stand someone up. In the first place, his master and parent Sky Raker was also included among the people he had arranged to meet. Even if he saw small-class enemies that seemed easy to defeat from afar, it was unthinkable that he would do something like chase after them with his bike.


    In that case¡ª?something? had happened. Probably, while standing by in the underground parking lot. Due to a situation so urgent he could not even wait to join up with Fuuko and the others, Ash had run south. And then, there a further something had occurred.


    Also, two and a half hours had already elapsed since Haruyuki and company had dived into the Unlimited Neutral Field. And then if Ash had dived a mere minute earlier than the appointed seven o¡¯clock in the evening, it would amount to a calculation of him having already spent ten-odd hours in this world.


    ¡°Uh, um¡­I¡¯m, going to look for him!¡±


    Driven on by an ineffable unease, Haruyuki again widened the metal wings on his back. Using his special technique gauge, which had been charged again during his battle in space with Suzaku, he lightly floated up.


    ¡°Haruyuki-kun, operating solo is dangerous! If we¡¯re to search, then together with everyone¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, if I find something I¡¯ll return! Senpai, you and the others, please wait in front of the Metropolitan Police Department¡¯s portal!¡±


    Interrupting the words of Kuroyukihime, who had tried to curb him, Haruyuki took an even higher altitude.


    ¡°¡­Haru, if you don¡¯t return after we¡¯ve waited for an hour, we¡¯ll pull the cable on the other side!¡±


    While giving a forced laugh at Chiyuri¡¯s words, Haruyuki nodded, shouted just ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll leave it to you!¡±, and rose to a greater altitude in one go.


    Presuming that Ash Roller had headed south from Koenji, he should be southwest of the Imperial Palace. From about fifty meters from the ground, he tried to strain his eyes, but there were many tall buildings in the Demonic City stage, and he could not see through. While raising his altitude further, he began to move slowly.


    From the south of the Imperial Palace, basically Kasumigaseki, Haruyuki moved in a straight line to Akasaka and Aoyama. While flying, he scanned with all his might, but all that moved were small~medium-sized enemies. He thought about interrogating enemy hunting parties if there were any, but perhaps due to the fact that it was a weekday night, not a single sound of combat reached him.


    Even if he strained his ears, he could only hear the sound of the wind blowing across the stage. However, that stillness further stirred Haruyuki¡¯s anxiety. Although he was flying at the bare minimum energy-conserving speed, moment by moment his special technique gauge decreased. And being able to use his new Incarnate technique that had just spiritually awakened a while ago, ?Light Speed?, was very unlikely in this state of mind.


    ¡°¡­Guess it can¡¯t be helped¡­¡±


    Resolving himself, Haruyuki ran the risk of being discovered by hostile existences on the ground and raised his altitude. Before he was aware of it, he had reached Harajuku. Ahead here was already Yoyogi Park1, and south of that was Shibuya.


    And then¡ªat that moment.


    Smack-dab in the middle of the wide intersection where Meiji-dori2 and Inokashira-dori crossed, he had the feeling that something had gleamed with a flicker. Even if he looked down again, there were neither Burst Linkers nor enemies, but just in case he opted to try descending.


    Haruyuki, who had landed on the blue-black surface of the road while being cautious about his surroundings, reached his hand down to his feet and picked up the thing that seemed to be the source of the reflected light.


    At first glance, it was an unidentifiable object. There was an orange hemisphere-shaped clear lens fit in the silver disk about four centimeters in diameter. There was a thin rod extending from the side of the disk, but it seemed to be snapped halfway.


    ¡°¡­What the heck is this¡­¡±


    He murmured and twirled the mysterious part in his hand; it reflected the faint sunlight of the Demonic City stage and flickered periodically in an orange color.


    That moment¡ªHaruyuki noticed it.


    This was a bike winker. To be precise, it was the very winker part that Ash Roller had made blink in order to pull a feint on Haruyuki in their duel conducted this morning on the Loop 7 road.


    In the Unlimited Neutral Field, objects missing from Enhanced Armaments remained for a fairly long time compared with those in the normal duel field. Some accident had probably happened when Ash Roller¡¯s bike was passing by here, and the blinker had been damaged. Looking around at his surroundings again with that conviction, he discovered some damage tracks burnt black on the surface of the walls of the buildings lined up along the south side of the road.


    The orientation of the attacks was from north to south. Basically, Ash had driven from Loop 7 to this place via Inokashira-dori, at that point had been attacked by someone, and had turned south at the intersection¡­?


    Still gripping the winker part, Haruyuki kicked the ground and flew up. The level of the dread filling his heart had already reached the area around his throat.


    At the bare speed such that his gauge did not decrease steeply, he flew south along Meiji-dori. In doing so, in a mere two twenty seconds the next fallen object caught his eye. He descended to the ground and made sure of it.


    There was no longer the need to be perplexed about what that was. A hub and rim fixed in place with a thin spoke. In its vicinity, a gray, thick rubber wheel. It was a bike tire. From its width, it was the front wheel.


    The same black traces of attack as those he had seen a while ago were concentrated on the surrounding ground. It seemed that here the bike had taken big damage, its front wheel had fallen out, and its experienced rider had headed south furthermore with a wheelie. However, that trick play would not continue forever.


    ¡°¡­Ash-san¡­!¡±


    Haruyuki let out a hoarse voice and looked out to the far side of the road that extended south.


    A faint sound of impact rocked the air at that time.


    The surface of the walls of a mass of buildings about a hundred meters ahead shone in a flickering green color. The hard sound and the brilliance were not the explosion of an object or an attack effect. It was the death effect of a duel avatar.


    ¡°¡­¡­!!¡±


    Haruyuki, who had reflexively begun to run, switched to flying midway. He flew over the roof of the buildings and took a shortcut past the road, which gently curved left. The instant the road in the neighborhood of Miyashita Park3 in the Shibuya ward entered his field of vision, a profound shiver assaulted Haruyuki¡¯s entire body. His wings stiffened and arbitrarily hovered about twenty meters high in the sky.


    What his eyes caught straight away was the mercilessly destroyed object whose tire, engine, frame, and muffler were strewn about that previously used to be a metallic gray American bike.


    A bit ahead from there, six Burst Linkers were standing in a ring. Of course, there were not any with whom he was friendly; there were hardly even any whose names he knew. What was common to the six was that thin auras of darkness were rising from their whole bodies. The Over-Rays of Mind Power. The sources of their energy were¡ªthe ?eyes? glittering red like blood in the center of their chests. The ?ISS Kits?.


    And then, in the center of the six people lined up in a circle was a single Burst Linker who had curled his body up and was cowering.


    A sleek leather rider suit. Gaudy protectors on his shoulders and knees. And on his head, a full-face helmet equipped with a shield that imitated a skull¡ª.


    ¡°Ash, san¡­?¡±


    Haruyuki squeezed out a voice unlike one from his chest.


    Deep scars were carved lengthwise and crosswise into Ash Roller¡¯s whole body. However, why he was not trying to move was not because of the damage he had received. He was trying to protect the small light floating above the road with his avatar¡¯s whole body as a shield.


    That point of light, which flickered grass green, was the ?marker? left at the spot where Burst Linkers died in the Unlimited Neutral Field. It was probably the owner of the death effect Haruyuki had felt a mere number of dozens of seconds ago. He recognized the hue of the light. That was¡ªAsh¡¯s friend who was like a younger brother to him, ?Bush Utan?, without a doubt.


    In a moment, Haruyuki intuitively realized what had happened here while he and Utai were fighting hard to escape the Imperial Palace.


    It was probably like this.


    Ash Roller, who had been waiting for their dive time of seven in the evening inside the car parked in the underground of the real-world apartment house, had participated in the gallery of someone¡¯s duel while standing by. In that stage, he had run across Bush Utan, who was either a duelist or likewise a spectator. There, he had persuaded Utan and instructed him to meet up at the same time in the Unlimited Neutral Field. In order for him to convey something that needed to be conveyed to Utan as his big brother.


    That rendezvous place was probably in the direction of Shibuya. For that reason, before joining the four members of Nega Nebulas at seven in the evening sharp in front of the apartment house, he had dived early and headed for Shibuya to bring Utan along.


    However, the place and time had somewhere¡ªprobably in the duel field where he was part of the gallery been leaked to one of the equippers of the ISS Kit. They had lain in ambush in front of the Meiji Shrine in order to hunt Ash and Utan as prey. Ash, who had taken a surprise attack from an Incarnate technique of darkness, had gotten away this far with all his might even while his bike was receiving damage, but in the end his beloved bike had been destroyed. No, that was not all. If he had dived into this world slightly earlier than seven o¡¯clock in the evening, then Haruyuki guessed that over ten hours had already elapsed. Basically¡ªundoubtedly, at this place he along with Bush Utan had died and been resurrected repeatedly no few number of times.


    In the Unlimited Neutral Field, Enhanced Armaments that had been completely lost once did not regenerate unless one carried out a relogin4 into the field. Even if Ash Roller lost all his health gauge, died, and respawned one hour later, the American bike in which he had invested nearly all his potential as a duel avatar would not be brought back.


    In short, the Burst Linkers standing in that place had surrounded Ash Roller, who had lost practically all his combat ability, with six men and furthermore were tormenting him to death with the strength of the Mind Power of darkness the ISS Kit produced.


    Again and again. Again and again. Again and again and again and again¡ª¡­


    ¡°W¡­a, ah¡­¡±


    From the throat of Haruyuki, who was hovering, a husky voice leaked out.


    Without the sign of even noticing that, one of the six walked up to Ash Roller, who was crouching on the road surface. His middle-class form was rather unremarkable, but there was a slight sense of volume in his hands. Haruyuki also had the feeling that he had caught sight of him somewhere, but he could not remember his name.


    ¡°Next¡­it¡¯s my turn right. I wonder¡­does he still have points remaining?¡±


    The avatar who had lazily put that into words clutched Ash¡¯s helmet with his large right hand from which a dusky aura was being discharged. A dull crack! sound reverberated, and his trademark scarface was splintered into smithereens.


    The aggressor seized anew the exposed neck of the duel avatar who gave off a delicate impression considering his character and who in some respects seemed like a young boy.


    With all his strength, he dragged Ash Roller, who was still trying to defend Utan¡¯s marker light, up from the road. The eyes of Ash, who had been forced to face upward, sighted Haruyuki, who had frozen on the roof of a building.


    His pale green eye lenses opened wide for an instant¡ªfollowing that, they seemed as if they were weakly laughing. In Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness, his normally reckless and boisterous voice reverberated in a manner that tended to cut off.


    -¡­Heh heh¡­I made, a blunder. My bad, Crow¡­I made the feelings of you and Master¡­go to wast¡­


    Page 325


    Glug. That blunt sound resounded; the assailant¡¯s left arm had deeply penetrated the middle of Ash¡¯s chest.


    A pillar of gray light towered, and the thin avatar burst and scattered, rider suit and all.


    While being showered in his scattered fragments, the attacker, perhaps looking at his own Install menu, slightly tilted his head and spoke.


    ¡°Oh, with one more time I¡¯ll be able to level up. It¡¯d be nice if he remained till my next turn, huh.¡±


    Haruyuki¡¯s whole body trembled so strongly that it seemed as if it would disintegrate. His limbs, tense to their limit, creaked with a grinding sound, and underneath his helmet his teeth rang repeatedly. The voice that leaked out from his throat had collapsed and was cracked in a tone so low to the extent where he himself had never heard it.


    ¡°Ah¡­a, a, aaah¡­AAAAH¡­¡±


    From head to foot, it seemed as if he were filled with liquid of quite a low temperature. No, it might have even been the super-intense heat of melted iron. At the very least, it was unmistakable that a vast emotion had been compressed and was running through his entire body in place of blood.


    Rage.


    Anger. A fury so great it made his view red hot. Blackish hatred. And then the impetus to destroy.


    ¡°AH¡­AA, A, AAAAH¡­!¡±


    Shiing.


    That sharp metallic sound rang out from Haruyuki¡¯s hands. Silver Crow¡¯s slender ten fingers had sharpened, curved, and been enlarged like the claws of a bird of prey. At the same time, his armor color changed too. From a shining mirror silver to a chrome silver like a shadow.


    ¡­You mustn¡¯t!


    ¡­You mustn¡¯t entrust yourself to that emotion! You will disappear¡­!


    Someone had shouted far away, very far away. However, that faint voice no longer reached Haruyuki¡¯s consciousness.


    The metallic sound did not stop; Haruyuki¡¯s two arms were covered in chrome supplementary armor. Both his legs too. That form, whose edges were so effective they were atrocious, was far more sinister and looked more like that of a demon than when it had previously materialized at Hermes Cord.


    Instead of the girl¡¯s voice, a voice distorted by a metallic quality resounded throughout his mind.


    ¡ªI am thee. Thou art me.


    ¡ªPassing through a time of eternity, now at last have I been resurrected. I am ?disaster?. I am ?demise?. I be the one who makes the sound of the bell of the end ring out to the world.


    It was exactly the same as the voice he had heard after school today in the real-world Umesato Middle rear garden, but different from that time he felt no pain whatsoever. Basically, this was not negative Mind Power¡¯s ?overflow?. Haruyuki himself had called that awake and had yearned to fuse with it.


    At the same its voice rang, Haryuki called its name.


    ¡ª¡ªMy name is¡ª¡ª


    ¡°¡­¡­?Chrome Disaster?¡ª¡ª!!¡±


    That yell, which had ferociously surged forth, was the very howl of a beast that hungered for blood and desired massacre. Purple system font traversed the upper left hand of his field of vision from left to right like a flash of lightning in one go.


    ¡¾YOU EQUIPPED AN ENHANCED ARMAMENT: ?THE DISASTER?¡¿


    While releasing a violent metallic sound, armor resembling a demon¡¯s fangs heavily covered him from his stomach to his breast. A sharp tail lengthened out in a slithery way from his back, and his two wings changed into a silhouette like some sort of weapon.


    A visor in the imitation of the jaw of a beast swallowed up his smoothly round helmet from the top and bottom without leaving a gap. His view was wrapped up in a thin gray additional layer.


    In the skies overhead, the dark clouds of the Demonic City stage were making an enormous whirlpool. From its center, a jet-black thunderbolt poured down together with a thunderous roar. Haruyuki received that with his outstretched right hand.


    The thunderbolt stayed in his hand as it was, changed shape, and produced an object. A long sword possessing a hilt that shone black and a blade that was fiercely sharpened. A high ranking Enhanced Armament called by the name of ?Star Caster? in the distant past.


    That very thing was the binary star of destiny that twinkled in a bewitching manner and nestled close to the side of the sixth star ?Kaiyou?, alias the original of the Disaster Armor, the Divine Weapon ?The Destiny?. The eighth star of the Big Dipper¡ª.


    Brandishing the cursed sword high, Haruyuki howled.


    ¡°GR¡­AAAAAAAH!!¡±


    That war cry was filled with rage and hatred, but as if weeping in some way, it resounded throughout the sky of the Accelerated World.


    (To Be Continued)


    References:


    1. ^ Also called Yoyogi-koen (Kouen, ¹«ˆ@, means park).


    2. ^ The suffix -dori means ¡°street¡± or ¡°avenue.¡±


    3. ^ Like Yoyogi-koen, it is also referred to as Miyashita-koen.


    4. ^ Written as ¡°leave and dive again¡± (ëxÍÑ?ÔÙ¥À¥¤¥Ö) with ¡°relogin¡± in furigana.