The Crisis World XX

Chap. 125: Complicated Battles

"Nigiyaka-san! Akihito-san! They are the source of the problem! They absorb our energy to serve as a source of energy for those puppets!"

Mei's shout attracted the attention of the others. Without thinking any longer and ignoring the enemy in front of them, Nigiyaka and Akihito instantly darted quickly to destroy the marching band's army.

Although Lennova screamed while holding her hand in the air, trying to grab something she could not possibly reach from where she was standing, it was certainly still unable to prevent Nigiyaka and Akihito from destroying her.

Even Ivis was as fast as possible and hoped to become a living shield to block the attack of the two of them, but his plan was foiled by Mei who attacked suddenly from the side and let him off guard for a few seconds.

And now that they were flattened to the ground, only the remains of their puppet bodies were scattered on the floor of the stands, together with their musical instruments that are almost formless and impossible to play anymore.

Slowly but surely everyone in the circus tent could feel it. The bountiful grand aura that came out simultaneously from within the shattered marching band force puppet body spread throughout the entire corner of the tent.

Mei raised her hand and tried to grab onto the aura and energy flying around, but her efforts were in vain. They seemed to be in a special design only to flow into a fellow doll made by Lennova, so it was impossible to take out the aura of hers again.

The other puppets also simultaneously fell to the ground, the monkeys who were hanging on the ropes of the tent roof also fell to lose their grip strength. They are like robots that have their batteries removed at the same time.

"Good job."

Nigiyaka approached Mei and congratulated her on hard work because she wanted to be seen from anywhere, Mei was the MVP of this fight.

"You managed to find the weak spot of the enemy side and precisely executed it very well."

"Yes, even I didn't think they were the main problem. I guess they're just playing music continuously until our eardrums are damaged, but it turns out he does have a use."

"They take our aura energy slowly which makes us think that we lost it because of the battle and on the one hand, they use it to counterattack us by continuously healing the frontline troops. Really a troublesome opponent," continued Nigiyaka.

"I-I just do what I can."

The praise given by Nigiyaka and Akihito made Mei's cheeks flushed red. He could not hide his embarrassment even though he was happy to have been praised by the two of them.

Mei thinks she's done with the wounds she's got on her head and it's going to be very hard to keep fighting them, but this time luck was on his side as he accidentally discovered his weak point.

But he knew he was still weak. His current victory was purely from his luck, furthermore he might not be this lucky. So he was determined to become even stronger now.

Akihito rubbed Mei's lowered head hiding her red face. "Why, anyway?" But it seems that Mei doesn't really like that much.

"Don't underestimate yourself too much, without you we wouldn't be able to win this fight. Be proud of that."

"But I'm just lucky."

"Skill or luck, any of which doesn't matter. As long as you win and survive in the end, what does that mean, right?" Akihito smiled consolingly at Mei, who made her cheeks even more blushing, but this time out of awe.

"It can't be ...."

As they were celebrating their small victory, their attention was distracted by the muttering Lennova. He knelt on the ground while both of his hands supported his body so as not to fall.

His eyes still widened in disbelief when he was sure that a little more would defeat the Black Rain trio, but everything was blown to pieces when Mei managed to find out the secret.

"How could ... should I be able to defeat them ...."

"Well, it's time to take our prize." Nigiyaka followed the other two walking closer to Lennova. He realized this and raised his head.

Akihito lifted the small body of the already limp and helpless Lennova by roughly holding onto the collar of her shirt. It made Lennova a little bit sick but still able to if only to speak.

"Now you've lost, Lennova. It's good that you tell us quickly how to stop this mess" said Nigiyaka.

"Hehehe ... lose, huh? Do you think you've won?"

"You have no aura left, and if you keep pushing yourself, you'll just kill yourself. Ivis is also under my control, so he won't be messing around."

"...."

Lennova did not immediately answer Nigiyaka's question, she still tried to remove Akihito's hand from her neck collar, but her small hand and her almost non-existent strength made her efforts in vain. So he stopped it.

"Nimis, Ardenter, and .. What's your name?" Instead of answering, Lennova called out to the three of them. "My name is Mei." But Mei was kind enough to tell Lennova her name because it did nothing to lose telling it to a dying enemy.

"Yes, May. Did the fight make it difficult for you?"

"What?"

"Did the fight go through your mind that you were going to get killed? Or maybe you'll be forced to sacrifice your friends just so you can get out of here? Do you have such thoughts?"

Lennova started talking unrelated things, but the three of them just listened. Since her question happened to be easily answered, even Mei could answer it. So Mei opened her mouth to answer Lennova's question.

"Yes, that's quite—"

"No, you didn't put up enough resistance for the three of us. And we also never once thought of leaving each one."

But suddenly Nigiyaka cut off Mei's remark and she could only stare flatly at him as if his face was saying, Seriously? At least let me talk, cake'. But that feeling could only be Mei alone at this moment.

"Hehehe .. so, huh?" With a faint laugh coming out, Lennova responded to Nigiyaka's reply. Then he looked towards the three of them, the sharp gaze and grin of someone who was already dying somehow made the fur I sat them standing.

"Then you will feel it ... at this time."

"Lennova, no!"

Ivis, who had just woken up to hit the wall of the circus tent, shouted banning Lennova from doing whatever she was going to do at this time, as if proving the bad feeling the Black Rain trio were feeling right now.

"...?!!"

But it's too late. Lennova had already bitten her own tongue and blood came rushing out of her mouth until it flowed into her own clothes and the hands of Akihito who was lifting high up Lennova's collar.

The trio of Black Rain was stunned and gaping shocked by what Lennova had done. And the cry of Nigiyaka then resuscitated the others.

"Stay away from him!"

Akihito took off Lennova's collar and immediately jumped away from her— Mei and Nigiyaka also did the same. But instead of Lennova falling down due to gravity, she now floated up as if being lifted up by someone invisible.

Around his body that was hovering was clearly visible a strong aura of purple, green, dark yellow that was mixed so that the color was not so clear. The aura was moving rapidly and randomly.

After hovering high enough, the aura around Lennova's body spread throughout the circus tent and into the circus dolls that had been destroyed before.

"What's that?"

The situation became silent for a moment when Mei asked. Lennova who had not been clad with a strong aura earlier was now in freefall in the air, lucky Ivis darted swiftly and caught Lennova before she touched the ground, avoiding her from the other wound.

"What makes you push yourself like this?" Ivis looked at Lennova's messy face. He was unconscious and blood was coming out of his mouth and nose.

"??!!!"

The silent atmosphere did not last long. The circus doll possessed by a powerful aura before now floated gathered to one place and circled around for a while until then anyone who saw it would be smart enough to know that the doll formed a giant humanoid form.

A humanoid form with a height of about twenty meters created from the combined circus dolls. Still can be seen card soldiers, elephant heads, lions, and monkeys are messy in terms of placement but still in the form of humanoid.

There are also some marching band dolls that are part of the giant doll and even though the instrument has been damaged, but miraculously they can still sing a song.

A Little Night Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The song resounded valiantly with a slower and heavier tempo making the atmosphere feel dark and sad as if that was what would happen if they dealt with the giant doll.

Not stopping there, slowly the giant hand of the doll began to swing and its neck began to look indicating that it could move. His puppet neck looked up, this time looking towards Lennova and Ivis.

"?!!"

"She's out of Lennova's control."

He attacked Ivis who was unprepared, lucky that he could still avoid it and jump to a safe place, which was to the stands close to the wreckage of the puppets who were not possessed by the powerful aura before. Makes it difficult to see from above and disguise.

"He attacked his own master?!" ask Mei.

"It seems like it's already moving on its own accord. Even Lennova has no control over her" replied Nigiyaka.

"So you mean, we have to fight him again? Comeon! Give me a little break!" Mei complains because she will fight again even though she has not rested at all.

"There's no time to complain."

"Not even complaining! You guys are so mean, anyway!"

"Not that I don't allow, but—!"

"?!!"

A five-meter diameter wooden stake floated towards them. Mei who had been complaining immediately widened her eyes in surprise with the pole that was already a meter in front of her eyes.

"Ni-Nigiyaka-san."

Luckily Nigiyaka quickly ran in front of him and cut the wooden pole into two large pieces, changing its direction and making it not hit the three of them.

"That's what happens when you complain."

"Sorry."

The throw of the giant doll did not stop there which made them have to immediately move from where they stood. The relentless throws continued to be crushed by the giant puppets which left the three of them with no time off.

As they took cover behind the dead doll, it was instantly shattered from the throwing of the giant doll, even they were not safe when taking shelter behind the stake that was still standing. Wherever they went, the giant dolls found them because they were still in a circus tent that had no way out.

"Tch! Fuck this kind of escape!"

Akihito stopped his steps and focused on the puppet that was ready to attack him. But he first jumped high attacking.

"Akihito-san?!" Mei questions what she did when she also stopped running.

His sharp nails and claws repeatedly to make the giant doll crumble, but because his body is too large and its random constituent material makes Akihito's attack almost look futile.

Instead, the giant doll struck Akihito from the side and made him bounce far away and only stopped when it hit the wall of the tent, their collision resulting in a crack behind Akihito's body proving the power of the giant doll.

Akihito also spurted blood from his mouth and the look in his eyes slowly faded and his consciousness disappeared.

The giant doll had actually managed to heal itself slowly but surely. The part attacked by Akihito recovered as the fallen puppets returned to their place to maintain their humanoid form.

"Dam. I'll nag him about his reckless nature later," muttered Nigiyaka.

"Forget about it now! Do you have a plan to fight it?"

"The first thing is not to get attacked directly, if it can make Akihito faint in one attack, then it will be bad for us."

"Then?"

Nigiyaka watched the giant doll even more closely. The components of the small puppet composing his humanoid body had indeed returned to its original place, but he was aware of something. The damage Akihito made was still left on his little dolls.

Nigiyaka has now made up her mind. He has a plan in his head, but this is do or die. "Can you still attack?" ask Nigiyaka.

"Huh? About that ... maybe?"

"I have a plan, but it really depends on you. If you fail, then we'll all die here."

"If I fail, everything ... will die?" Again, May had a very heavy burden. Everything he dealt with was always about one's life and death.

But this time it's different. Mei closed her eyes and set her breath to calm herself down then opened her eyes steadily. There was no more time to be afraid, after all he still had an appointment with someone.

"I'm ready. What's plan?"

Nigiyaka nodded and then informed Mei of the details of her plan. Upon hearing her plan, doubts re-emerge in Mei's chest but that doesn't make her retreat. He slapped both of his cheeks until it was red for all the doubts in him to disappear.

"I'll make it! There's no failing for this!"

"I'll leave it to you."

Mei walks ahead of Nigiyaka for better vision. He raised his hand in the direction of his head and pointed it at the giant puppet.

But Mei hasn't been able to direct it properly. His hands were shaking violently and his breathing was heavy, his mind could not focus at the moment because this was an important moment. He tried hard, but still failed, tried again but failed again. The shaking cannot be lost.

"Hah .. hah ...!"

As he was agitated, suddenly someone's hand reached him from behind. Fading more than his real hand and also slightly glowing, he glanced beside him and realized that it was his father's shadow.

"D-dad?"

"You can do it. Because you're the proud son of father."

Her father's faded, glowing hand seemed to support Mei's now trembling hand, making her steady and trembling in her hand completely disappear. His breathing had also returned to normal and all that was left was a confident smile on his face.

"I can."

"Now do it, my son!"

A whirlwind occurred around the giant puppet. While the giant doll was still busy recovering itself, the wind rotation created by May gradually grew higher and larger, its speed also increased and was already on par with the storms that commonly occur in nature.

Perhaps its height still could not compare to the usual tornado wind but for now, twenty-five meters was enough to confine the giant puppet in the wind of the May-made tornado.

The atmosphere inside the circus tent was also getting messy because the wreckage doll was also carried away by the tornado, Nigiyaka who was behind him could only close his eyes with his arms and peek a little from there.

"Great."

The giant puppet tried to break out. But when he did, his hand consisting of small doll components did not hold the tornado and they were carried along with the tornado wind.

The doll may not be able to speak, but the sound produced by musical instruments all over her body says that she is screaming trying her hardest to get out of there, the music is getting more intense and fast and it keeps getting faster.

"Is this enough, Nigiyaka-san?!"

"Yes, you've done very well."

Nigiyaka now pulled out her sword from inside her scabbard. He did not bother Mei who was focusing on her tornado, but instead jumped from one doll component to another until she was very close to the tornado.

"It's my turn now."

"Tu-wait!"

Mei can't stop Nigiyaka, who is now out of sight and into her tornado. But before entering, Mei was sure she had seen Nigiyaka's lips move.

"Hinokami no Chikara: Explosion."

A huge explosion was created from within the tornado that made it like a fire tornado, leaving Mei gaping in surprise.

Mei then looked next to him, her father had disappeared but she knew that the previous one was just her imagination. A smile is created on May's mouth but it doesn't last long, slowly Mei's artificial tornado disappears and her consciousness disappears as well.

"I ... can't ... keep it .. much longer ...."

Mei fell from the top of the stands, luckily the crash site was not too far from the ground which made Mei not suffer any serious injuries.

Meanwhile from within the tornado, Nigiyaka stood on top of the already blackened doll's wreckage and partially turned to ashes. His katana was still emitting smoke over his previous explosion, but it seemed that he was not injured at all due to the explosion just now.

Along with the giant defeated doll, this circus tent also faded and eventually disappeared intact, leaving the sky roof with stars and a bright full moon.

Nigiyaka looks at Mei and Akihito, they both pass out but their lives are not threatened. So there's nothing to worry about for now, all he has to do now is one.

Nigiyaka walks into one of the doll's wreckage that isn't completely burned and there's still a piece that hasn't blackened yet, he throws the piece and finds Ivis and Lennova behind it.

Ivis was hugging Lennova who fainted tightly but his own condition was full of burns, he also no longer had the strength to fight.

"You really beat us, Nimis," Ivis said.

"Now are you going to represent Lennova to keep her promise?"

Ivis threw something at Nigiyaka who was captured perfectly. Once seen, it is a Joker playing card. Although it looks like an ordinary playing card, but Nigiyaka can feel the aura of Lennova in it.

"Can this stop this mess?"

"I don't know, but Lennova told me that people would recover if used appropriately."

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"Hehe ... Lennova's just a kid who loves games, even though she hates losing but she doesn't hate to admit it, I'm sure it's real."

"...."

Nigiyaka and Ivis looked at each other for a moment. And then Nigiyaka raised his katana to put up the horses.

"You're still gonna kill us both, huh?"

"Yes. We're both Assassins, you know best what's coming next."

Ivis already had no strength to even stand up, let alone to fight Nigiyaka at this moment. So all he could do was surrender and wait for his life to end at the hands of Nigiyaka.

"Nee, Ivis, can you pass this on to Lennova in nature?"

"If I could do it with pleasure."

Nigiyaka stopped for a moment. He would say his next words with great respect from within his heart, unlike the previous one used to provoke Lennova. His next words were a form of respect for Lennova and Ivis.

"So it was a tough fight for me."

Ivis's lips lifted. That's what Lennova wanted to hear, but unfortunately the speech could not be heard by him directly. So Ivis' job was to deliver it to Lennova.

"I'll tell him."

And that night, two times the sound of blood reverberated from a Katana that beheaded two human heads.

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