Chapter: 172. The Last Guidance You Can Provide
Kuwano City.
On this stage chosen by “fate,” between the “beginning” and the “end,” the two “protagonists” are about to embrace their final curtain call in the place where they have grown up since childhood—
Once again, Kanade realizes that if he does not muster the courage to move forward, nothing can be changed. This time, he no longer intends to limit himself to the peaceful times of the past but decides to raise the blade in his hand toward the girl he loves most in this life, seeking to save her, which makes a battle inevitable.
The blade, named “Blade of Life,” radiates a colorful glow. Although this is the first time he has summoned it, it feels familiar, as if this blade has always been a part of his body.
He feels no need for an adjustment period while using it; it comes as naturally as breathing. The abilities contained within this colorful blade are also within his grasp.
What impresses Kanade the most is its ability—worthy of the name “life”—
“Converting magical power into life.”
At first glance, it seems to involve converting the magical power within himself into vitality, thus healing his own wounds or replenishing energy.
But in reality, a more accurate explanation is: it absorbs the residual magical power to convert it into vitality that allows him to recover from wounds and replenish energy without additional magical input. Every offensive activated by magical power can absorb excess magical residues, and most importantly—it’s not limited to himself.
At this moment, although Kanade has awakened his powers and undergone multiple “revisions,” having accumulated considerable combat experience, he still pales in comparison to many of his peers. In a top-level ability battle, without “revising himself,” he is merely cannon fodder.
However, if he simultaneously possesses the “sustenance” brought by the “Blade of Life” and the “trial and error” offered by the “Kaola’s Box”—
At this moment, Kanade will have the strength to stand on the same stage as Nagi.
This is the complete appearance of “Tsukimi Kanade,” the strongest protagonist in the original of “Star Guide 2,” in a one-on-one duel.
—————–
Nagi feels a sense of relief at Kanade’s growth, as if seeing the chick she raised since it was little finally spreading its wings to fly into the sky, but she also feels worried for him.
Because Kanade is still too weak.
Even after several regressions, he has finally mastered the summoning and use of the Blade of Life.
At this stage, his power remains too insignificant, like a top-tier embryo still needing time for refinement.
Fortunately, in this endless cycle of regression, Nagi has all the time to hone Kanade’s strength.
This scene makes Nagi quietly chuckle to herself: “Ah~ right now, I feel like a master teacher guiding my apprentice just before dying~~~”
Having rejected Kaola’s Box, Nagi recalls her past with Garuda and decides to adopt a mindset that encourages her to face everything happening before her with more ease and optimism.
Only then can she feel Garuda still by her side.
Her heart is not crushed by the harsh reality that comes rushing at her.
When Kanade swings the colorful blade, Nagi merely tilts to the side, enough to evade his attack.
Part of the reason could be that deep down, Kanade is still reluctant to harm her and is holding back, but the more significant reason is the gap between them, a barrier that remains difficult to cross in this world line.
“……This power is—” Nagi feigns a deep tone, trying to present herself as a proper villain who has just witnessed a “protagonist” awaken powerful abilities at a critical moment.
Of course, as the “villain,” she needs to educate the protagonist, making a show of being astounded while actually guiding him on how to control and utilize this power.
“The Blade of Life? To think such a fantastical weapon that converts magical power into vitality would be in your hands—”
Nagi suddenly recalls those villains in stories she has seen, always ending up dead due to excessive chatter, and can’t help but wonder if they are in the same position as she is now, suppressing a smile.
However, she ultimately holds back, continuing to adopt a playful, irreverent evil persona as expected of a “final phase” character, perfectly utilizing her acting skills learned as a child star to embody a verbose villain.
As she narrates, she leaps back, creating enough safe distance between herself and Kanade, as well as Sema and others.
Being a being that can glimpse all possibilities, Nagi knows that Kanade’s actions this time are simply to prevent her from summoning the Ice Spike Purgatory using Leviathan’s power, so once that objective is achieved, he will not pursue further, allowing her to continue as a narrator.
While she knows that Kanade can learn and dig deeper into the potential of the “Blade of Life” through infinite regressions with “Kaola’s Box,” Nagi feels that this process is too lengthy and unstable.
In contrast.
—Let this veteran “Star Guide” player teach you the techniques of using the “Blade of Life”~
The tender feelings in Nagi’s eyes vanish in an instant, replaced by a cold, sharp gaze, like she is staring at a stranger.
“But it seems you only understand how to convert magical power into vitality~”
Nagi sneered, adding with concern: “The correct method is to convert vitality into magical power~”
“What!?”
Kanade is taken aback by the information contained within Nagi’s words.
However, Nagi believes she is a very good teacher.
In order for Kanade to realize that—on a harsh battlefield, even hesitating for half a second because of someone else’s words can lead to irreversible consequences.
She activates the natural force she buried earlier beneath her previous position.
The power of fantasy monster Gaia instantly drains all vitality from Kanade’s body.
This is also to let him truly experience what “vitality” means and to adapt to the state of lacking “vitality” in advance, teaching him how to find a balance between the two.
……
……
【Shall we do it again?】
—————–
Another new world line.
Nagi’s “guidance” continues.
At the same time, she notices another detail.
Perhaps the triggers for these “regressions” are no longer due to her own death, but rather from Kanade’s own demise.
So his actions begin to become more reckless compared to before, slowly exhibiting radical behavior similar to time travelers from other works, seemingly intending to use the regression ability of Kaola’s Box for countless trial and errors—so as to avoid the enemy’s attacks effortlessly, while he takes the “optimal solution” with every step.
Unfortunately.
There is not only Kanade who can glimpse past world lines.
At the same time, Nagi hopes Kanade will abandon this combat philosophy of fighting at the cost of his own suffering, so—
Kanade has never succeeded in showing off, not even once.
