Kanata is cornered, but he seems to be at his strongest when backed into a corner.
The Grim Reaper is a naturally gifted super-human boasting a Nenshin Strength of 10 million N. There’s no way I can beat him even if I stand on my head.
If I can’t win, I’ll just run. A scar on the back is a warrior’s shame, but I’m a soldier, after all.
I took considerable damage from the Grim Reaper’s true power, but I can still go. I’ll use my remaining strength to escape.
“…… Damn it. But thanks for going easy on me. It bought me some time.”
“Will reinforcements come if you buy time?”
Yes, he bit! Don’t show weakness. Bet your life on a bluff!
“Grim Reaper, have you forgotten whose subordinate I am?”
“…… What a shame.”
“What’s a shame? What are you talking about?”
“You should have laid the groundwork beforehand and made me say it. ‘Did Marika of the Scarlet Eye perhaps come here?’ You’re too hasty, Kenrou. With that hint just now, I’m certain Marika of the Scarlet Eye isn’t here.”
This guy… he’s seriously troublesome. I need to think of my next move… wait! That line was a bluff!
“…… Well, you’re free to think whatever you want, but…”
“Enough. The moment you didn’t answer immediately and fell silent, I was truly convinced. She’s not here after all, isn’t she? You can say whatever you want now. My conviction won’t waver.”
… Is he even one step ahead in negotiation tactics? What should I do?
(Kanata, I’m here to help!)
(I told you not to come! He’s an anomaly of a monster!)
(If it were the other way around, would you run away? Don’t give orders you can’t follow! More importantly, distract the Grim Reaper!)
Verbal sparring is seen through. Then it’s time for a bluff of action.
I adopt the stance for the final secret technique of Mugen Ittouryu, the Dream-Illusion Blade: Final Coil, as described in the secret manual.
“…… So you’re resorting to a desperate gamble. Before that, surrender—”
Suddenly, the Grim Reaper reversed his sword and pierced the space behind him.
“Natsume!!!”
As the Grim Reaper pulled out his sword, blood flowed from the landscape. Natsume, whose Mirror Camouflage dissolved, revealed herself, falling to her knees and collapsing.
“Stay away from Natsume, Grim Reaper!”
I charged at the Grim Reaper, using my last ounce of strength for a fierce assault, managing to pull the Grim Reaper away from the fallen Natsume.
“…… How…… did…… that happen…… It was completely…… a blind spot……”
“Ah, I was completely caught off guard. Without the Biosensor, I might have been killed. But Special Armament is part of my strength. My apologies, Young Lady.”
This man has such an exceptionally large Nenshin capacity that he can keep a Biosensor, which devours Nenshin Power, constantly active.
The Grim Reaper is a complete novice at swordsmanship and martial arts. He definitely couldn’t sense enemies by their presence. But with the Biosensor on, it’s no problem. Since the Biosensor’s detection range is proportional to Nenshin Strength… he means he’s not caught off guard!
It’s too compatible with the Biosensor. I even suspect it was developed specifically for the Grim Reaper…
Wait, if he has a Biosensor, does that mean he’s also a Zero-Type Unit!
While holding Natsume with my left arm, I use my right hand to hold my sword and keep the Grim Reaper at bay.
It’s probably not much of a deterrent. …… But it’s better than being killed. Do I have no choice but to give up and surrender?
(…… There’s still…… a way. Lilith is…… coming too.)
She’s barely conscious, but she’s aware. That’s right. There’s no way Lilith would run .
(Lilith! Are you coming!)
(I have a grasp of the situation through the Insect User. Say, Lieutenant. Are we in this together, whether we live or die?)
(Dying with you wouldn’t be so bad, even if it’s hell.)
(W-Well, it’s a natural thing to say, but I’m a little happy.)
Engine sounds echoed from the thicket, and a vehicle charged towards us at full throttle.
Lilith, the true trump card, was steering with her hair as she sped towards us.
They must have coordinated their appearances with Natsume for the timing. This is literally the last resort.
The Grim Reaper unleashed several Psyche-Gravity Waves, and one of them hit, utterly destroying the vehicle.
From the rising flames and smoke, Lilith, with black wings sprouted, soared into the sky.
What!? What is that form of Lilith’s!
Lilith’s silver hair turned jet black, her long hair grew even longer, and it entwined around her body, forming armor like a dress.
Bat-like wings, jet-black armor, and a scythe of death in her hand… she looks like a real demon!
Lilith, glaring at the Grim Reaper from the air, flapped her black wings and flew towards me, landing in front of me as if to protect me. She confronted the Grim Reaper.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Lieutenant. The main act has arrived.”
“…… Lilith, what is that form……”
“We’ll talk later. My combo with you, Lieutenant, is absolutely invincible and the strongest on earth. I’ll show this damned bastard what we’re made of!”
Seeing Lilith unleash a black Psychic Wave, the Grim Reaper muttered with an astonished voice.
“Ravanium Coating… To be able to use Demonic Form. What a terrifying little child.”
Now that I think about it, I heard it from the Commander when I rescued Lilith.
Lilith is equipped with a Ravanium Coating system still in development.
So the original purpose of her teleporting combat cells in her hair was for her Demonic Form transformation.
Her leaping ability just now also suggests a dramatic improvement in her physical abilities.
There are two reasons why Ravanium Coating hasn’t been put into practical use: it devours Nenshin Power, and it places an excessive load on the user’s body… For a frail Lilith to enter Demonic Form…
(Lieutenant! You understand this, but it won’t last long! So think! Is there a way to get out of this situation!)
Think! This is the final battle!
Option 1: Fight the Grim Reaper with Lilith. Impossible. Option 2: Flee.
The current Lilith is fast and powerful. It’s possible to escape while carrying Shion.
But just running away isn’t enough. Think! Is there nothing else?
I saw the sun reflected in my eyes, and then the shimmering surface of the lake. The Grim Reaper is heavy-weight, so…
(Natsume, can you run, even just a little?)
(Yes. I can run!)
(Lilith, I’ll buy us time. With Shion in hand…)
(I can run too, Captain. I’ve rested enough.)
(Alright, then Lilith and I will buy us time. In the meantime, you two jump into the lake. Lilith, we…)
(After buying us time, we’ll follow you two into the lake. If he’s heavy-weight, he won’t be good at swimming, right?)
(That’s right, everyone ready?)
(Yes!) (Let’s go!) (Both of you, don’t look back!)
Heavy-weight individuals are not good swimmers. But that’s not the only reason to escape into the lake.
I realized this while fighting. The Grim Reaper in full power can’t fully control his immense pyrokinesis.
It’s probably the Grim Reaper’s unique Original Skill, but it seems to be a combined form of fire and electricity pyrokinesis. And if he unleashes his Nenshin Power to the fullest, could the pyrokinesis simply combine on its own?
When he fired Psyche-Gravity Waves from a distance, the Grim Reaper was also discharging electricity while wreathed in flames… it’s probably true.
If my theory is correct, the Grim Reaper in full power shouldn’t be able to use pyrokinesis underwater. He’d electrocute himself.
(We’ll make our move after the count of three. Three, two, one, go!)
Lilith and I dashed towards the Grim Reaper, while Natsume and Shion ran towards the lake.
Lilith swung her scythe, attacking the Grim Reaper.
The Grim Reaper blocked the scythe, formed from hardened hair, with his sword. He then threw a punch imbued with Nenshin Power with his free left arm, but Lilith, also possessing superhuman physique with a Nenshin Strength of 6 million N, blocked the Grim Reaper’s fist with a Psyche-Barrier.
If Lilith focuses on defense, she should be able to hold out for a while. Then it’s time to gamble!
I have to make the Grim Reaper falter somehow, or we’ll be pursued from behind. There’s only one move that might work!
(Lilith! Be my shield for a while!)
(Leave it to me! You have a plan, right!)
(It’s a long shot, but there’s only one technique that might work on him.)
(Your strength when backed into a corner is real, Lieutenant! I believe in you!)
Lilith endured the Grim Reaper’s fierce assault, gritting her teeth! I’m not a man if I can’t live up to this devotion!
With the precious time Lilith bought me, first, activate the Overdrive System!
Then, I gaze at my treasured sword, Zanbu, with my Wolf Eye amplified beyond full power, and pour Nenshin Power into the sword.
This isn’t enough, even beyond full power! I need to reach the state of nothingness that Shigure-san taught me… No! It’s fine to have impure thoughts!
Lilith, Shion, Natsume… I want to protect them! Even if it burns me to ashes!
So please, bestow your power unto me. Heavenly Wolf! Just for this moment, that’s all I ask! Reside within my eyes!
… I did it! I feel the power in my eyes… The wolf sleeping within my eyes has awakened!
My golden Wolf Eye, and within its glow, the symbol of Yashi… a Magatama!
I can see the two intertwined Magatama reflected in my eyes on the blade of my beloved sword!
The Magatama at the tip, like the fangs of a pair of golden wolves!
This is the true form of the Wolf Eye, the Heavenly Wolf Eye! Infuse the blade with the power of the wolf that soars through the heavens!
The only technique that has a chance against him with my skills is the ultimate secret technique, Final Coil.
Even if it’s incomplete, I’ll stake everything I have, everything we have, on this one slash!
“Here I come! Grim Reaper!!”
As I glided across the ground, Lilith took flight and rained down countless psychic javelins from the air to provide cover.
The Grim Reaper raised his left hand, forming a Psyche-Gravity Wall, and blocked all the psychic javelins. But that created an opening!
Lilith, you’re my best partner! Take this, amateur of the highest degree!
The golden blade, imbued with the power of the Heavenly Wolf, pierced the Grim Reaper’s Psyche-Gravity Wall and slashed his flank!
“Dream-Illusion Blade: Final Coil! …You… you could use it!…”
The Grim Reaper clutched his side, groaning, and fell to one knee. I felt it! Now is the time to escape!
Lilith and I sprinted towards the lake without looking back and dove in without hesitation.
At the lakebed, I scooped up Shion, and Lilith scooped up Natsume. We swam desperately to escape.
Wait! The Grim Reaper is equipped with a Biosensor. He should be able to locate us even underwater!
(Lilith! Watch out for a Psyche-Gravity Wave from behind! He knows our location!)
(I don’t know how well I can block it, but I’ll try!)
However, the Psyche-Gravity Wave we feared never came.
(What does this mean? Why isn’t he attacking in this situation…)
(Maybe he’s seriously injured from that last hit. Or perhaps he’s run out of power?)
(His Nenshin Strength is 10 million N. He shouldn’t run out of power that easily…)
(Let’s figure out the reason later! If he’s not attacking, that’s for the best! Let’s get out of here!)
Lilith is right. If he’s not attacking or pursuing, there’s nothing better.
Lilith created fins with her hair, significantly increasing our speed.
Lilith confirmed the situation on the lake surface via Insect User, far from the battle site.
We surfaced only after we were sure it was safe.
“According to the terrain map, there’s a forest nearby. Let’s rest there for a while.”
After getting out of the lake, I draped my coat over Natsume, who was naked, and slumped to my knees.
“Captain! Are you okay!”
I nodded in response to Shion’s scream. I couldn’t even speak anymore.
…Somehow, somehow we managed to escape a dire situation. But what a monster. An avatar of destruction running rampant… truly a Grim Reaper.
