The Crisis World XX

Chap. 149: The Unwanted End

How'this? Nigiyaka-san was already injured while I was not sure that my own strength could bring about such a huge change.

Don't think about getting out of here first, surviving his attack is the most important thing right now. What can I do? Nigiyaka-san had already given a big clue by uncovering the secret of Baram's speed, but if it could not follow him, it would be nothing more than an open secret.

Anything. What can I do to fight someone with super speed? My brain! Just work for this once! If you can't follow him, is there something? Remember all your lessons and battle experiences. Something that allowed me to survive his attack.

Wait ....

... Survive it?

"Iraya ... kun?"

I suddenly muttered his name out of nowhere. It's not my own battle experience, but two years ago I saw it in The One Tournament. The fight between Satou Iraya and Hayate Kendou.

At that time, I still did not know him and considered him like an arrogant little boy. I mean, which stupid kid goes to such a prestigious Tournament when his opponents are talented and experienced fighters?

And Iraya-kun coincidentally became the first participant to fight in that year, making all — eyes including me, fixed on him. At first he didn't look like he could do anything, even I was hoping that he would lose.

Not because of evil or how, a small wound might be a fair price to pay for his stupidity in order for him to come to his senses with his strength back then.

But it turns out I was wrong.

Iraya-kun squirms in the arena and closes his eyes. He crazy. His opponent was someone who relied on the speed equivalent of an arrow that was being rushed over, but this arrogant boy instead sat down in a row. So I was confused by what he was doing.

But then on his next attack, he miraculously managed to pull off the attack from his blind spot without even looking. Which makes one room a scene, even I myself do not believe what I just saw.

So I tried to examine it more thoroughly, what made him able to do that. Just then, I focused the aura into my eyes and saw it very clearly. If he is not naked —not naked in terms of clothing, you guys are basic perverted— but not naked in terms of aura.

A dome-like aura surrounded him that was struggling and his opponent attacked through the dome, so he could figure out any attacks that disturbed his private dome.

And thanking Iraya-kun two years ago, I don't believe that I will learn anything from him, but I will use the same method that Iraya-kun used.

So I stood with firm determination. Whether or not this will affect me a lot, but now I stand in front of Nigiyaka-san who is still injured. He must be confused by my attitude.

"What do you want to do?"

"I'm sorry for being a burden, Nigiyaka-san. But .. not anymore. I didn't know this would succeed in defeating him or just prolonging my breath, but I was sick of continuing to stand behind you. Every now and then, I want to be the one standing in front, protecting the people I care about!"

My aura formed a whirlwind and started moving faster and noisier than usual. Of course this won't scare Baram or anything like that, but this is all I have right now.

The stormy wind had slowly formed a transparent scarf that continued to move. It felt more solid and longer than usual. Circling the neck up to the waist and between the two legs.

After that a very transparent aura dome is difficult to be seen by the naked eye surrounding me and Nigiyaka-san. Preparation's done. The rest is how I can use this.

Nigiyaka-san and Baram were also aware of the aura dome I created. It does look like a little child's toy in their eyes, after all the aura expansion technique was one of the first things Herlin-chan had taught her first.

"This ...?" Nigiyaka-san looked around us.

Baram was also conscious, but was impressed not to care. He was focused on the attack he was going to do. "Ruler, keep it like that." He's commanding his men again.

"Good, Boss!"

Baram's body leaned forward and his horses began to move. He will attack! And a little while later, Baram had disappeared from my sight. Whither? Is there where? Don't lose focus! And feel ....

... His whereabouts!

I pulled my head back and lifted the shawl to block his attack. Baram appeared from next to me with a fist that could make me seriously injured.

Miraculously, the aura scarf managed to shake off his attack and my head was also able to react in time to keep me from being hit by his blow in a crushing manner. It worked! Plan succeeded! What the fuck is this feeling of pleasure?!

I could not control the smile that came out of my mouth, it made the scarf and dome aura start to be irregular and thinning.

"Don't let your guard down!"

"??!!"

The cry of Nigiyaka-san resuscitated me from the temporary fantasy of pleasure that enveloped me. He's right, I haven't won. My eyes refocused and looked for where the next Baram attack would come from.

From there!

From behind me!

Again from there!

I started to read it. Baram's attacks look random and random, but they actually have a pattern.

He thought things through carefully; what would his enemy do after fending off his first attack? What next move does the enemy make? Will the enemy attack again or continue to defend?

His attacks spoke very loudly showing it. He thought about it all while fighting with high intensity. A horrible person and really don't want me to be an opponent.

But let's stop that meaningless supposition, five minutes have passed since the consecutive attacks by Baram and I'm still trying to fend it off and brush it off. This shawl is very useful to block enemy attacks because of its elastic and solid nature.

"??!!"

Baram stopped attacking. I don't know what he's thinking, but it's good for breathing. My breath began to gasp for inexhaustible attacks from him, but I had to remain vigilant as it was possible that he would carry out even more dangerous attacks.

"I think that's enough."

"W-what?! You don't see that I'm still—!"

Suddenly one of my feet fell to the ground. Eh? This much injury ... Since when? Though I'm sure that it managed to repel his attack. But why are there so many wounds?

Before long, one leg that was still struggling to maintain its balance finally fell to its knees following the other. Incision wounds all over the body, followed by my head started to get dizzy and just appeared vomiting a lot of blood. What the hell is going on?!

"You're doing something?" my many.

"none. Maybe you feel like you've dismissed all my attacks, but not all of them. There's still some coming in, so I'm just making sure that the wound I gave you is enough to knock you down."

"D-basic .. shit."

Vomiting of blood occurs again. It's not just an incision wound on the outside, my internal organs are also injured. Pimply.

"It's time to finish it all. Ruler, you don't have to interfere, this is my personal business."

"I understand, Boss."

Does he feel like he has won over us? Nigiyaka-san still seems to be unable to fight, so everything depends on me. Come on, you fucking leg! Free. Try to groan as hard as anything to increase strength, but if it is not strong, the results will still be the same.

"just free. Your body is unreliable. This is the end for you."

He walked towards the two of us who were trying hard to get up. Staring down as if we were nothing but lowly trash. Baram then gathered the aura in his fist, by an overwhelming amount.

Her energy was so intense that I couldn't see her fist.

"Death!"

"??!!!"

But when Baram wanted to hit us both, a small earthquake happened in this room. The crumbs of the building also fell from the roof and kept our attention all distracted. And for us, it was a very magical time precisely because it saved us at the last second.

Baram looked up and looked at it more thoroughly. "Ruler!" Then he called his men to make sure what happened.

"B-well, Boss! I don't know what's going on, and after I check again, I sense something trying to break in."

Something trying to break in? But isn't this place a secret? What fool tries to get into a place without an exit?

Small quakes are returning, this time the frequency is becoming more frequent and close together. Even so, it didn't change Baram's thinking to finish us off immediately. And also the aura in his fist had not disappeared from earlier.

"I'll take care of that later, now I have something to take care of!"

"Revelation!"

His fist pointed at Nigiyaka-san and I— nor could my scarf move fast enough to hold him back. But Nigiyaka-san even grinned which made me and Baram confused, even though death was already in front of his eyes.

"Only on time."

"??!!"

Before he could even touch Nigiyaka-san, the wall behind us suddenly shattered violently. The cause of the vibration that continues to occur just now can finally be revealed who the cause.

"Finally meet."

"Akihito-san?!"

Is correct. The one who broke through it was Akihito-san who previously parted with us at the beginning of the entrance. I don't know how he found us here, but a miracle like this I certainly won't resist.

Without further ado, Akihito-san directly punched Baram in the face. But before it could touch him, Baram first moved back to next to Ruler. Again, that annoying teleportation ability.

"You can still fight?" ask Ardenter.

"Of course." Nigiyaka-san answered without hesitation then immediately stood up and walked to the side of Akihito-san.

"I-I am also ... Ouch!" While I also wanted to give a positive sign, but the wounds on my body could not lie and make even standing up was already trembling.

"No need to force yourself." Akihito-san calms me down.

But that doesn't calm me down at all. On the contrary, I feel useless. Again like this.

He lowered his head and bit his lips. Am I really just going to be saved all the time? Can't even stand up to protect the people I care about?! Just die there, you cowardly girl!

Is it forever ... I'm going to be a cowardly cat? It's always been imagined and creates trauma inside my head. I don't want to be like that anymore.

"Dantalion."

Suddenly Nigiyaka-san called out and made me raise my head. "You saved my life. Nothing can change that fact. Rest when injured is also important for an Assassin, so do it."

"T-but—"

"And haven't I told you to call us by a nickname instead of a real name?"

"?!!" I closed my mouth with my hands because of my mistake. Being too excited when I saw Akihito-san made me subconsciously mention her real name. "I-I understand, Nimis, Ardenter!"

So all I can do now is look, huh? But if this is a direct order from him, how else. I gave up trying to get up and ended up sitting on the floor. Now I'll give you the rest.

"W-how could you possibly find this place?!" Ruler looked surprised.

"I didn't know at first, but the people here kindly told me after I 'be gentle' with them." Akihito-san grins. "After finding this place, it turns out that the outside is easier to destroy than I thought, when they said that this place will not be destroyed from the inside. Did they forget that I did it from the outside?" continued.

Akihito-san throws Nigiyaka-san's Katana at him which he then catches perfectly. "Can we go without your weapons, you think we're on a trip?"

"I'm strong enough without my Katana." While Nigiyaka-san unsheathed the Katana and mounted his horses.

"Say that when there's no wound on your body, you old granny."

Even they could still casually joke around in a situation that I consider to be life and death. Is it just a way to ease tension? Or can they really deal with this situation?

"Ah~ That sucks," I murmured. Will I be able to be as strong as them someday, huh? Laughing at a dead life situation is like a child's toy.

"You ready?" ask Akihito-san.

"When you're ready." And Nigiyaka-san replied with a mantab.

"Ruler, prepare yourself." Baram was also quieter than usual. Because with the arrival of Akihito-san this time, it certainly changed everything. And Ruler was also ready with whatever was coming to them.

Nigiyaka-san took a deep breath. "Hinokami no Chikara ...." And the Katana blade began to give off an aura that turned into a great blaze. "... Hi no Zangeki, Ichinen!"

And the blazing slash of flames moved quickly along with Akihito-san who was moving in harmony with him. From behind here, Akihito-san and the flames seemed to go hand in hand but did not destroy each other, as if understanding each other.

Then Nigiyaka-san's attack reached Baram who managed to hold him back. Although it left a black mark on his hand, it did not bother Baram at all. The problem for him is that Akihito-san has disappeared from his sight.

"H-missing?!"

"A.rkgkkhh ...!!!"

But Baram realized too late. It turns out that the two of them are after Ruler first. With brass knuckles as Akihito-san's weapon, he created quite a deep wound.

"Ruler!"

"See where you are?"

"??!!"

Not given a chance at all, Nigiyaka-san was now in front of Baram who was looking back, preparing to slash at him with a flame-mouthed Katana.

"Yahaha!"

Nigiyaka-san's slash was surprisingly caught even though the bloody palm was the price that Baram had to pay.

"Handler!"

Nigiyaka-san yelled out which made Baram alert and looked back, but Akihito-san had not moved at all from near Ruler and Baram realized that it was just a trap.

"Hinokami no Chikara: Bakuretsu!"

This time it was not a fire created, but an explosion that left Baram with burns and bounced far enough back. He was already unable to rely on Ruler's teleportation anymore since Akihito-san had already beaten him first.

"Damn. You two are really troublesome. It always was!"

"In this way we are. Now it's time to end this fight, this place also seems to be about to be destroyed."

I look around. Because so seriously paying attention to them makes me not realize that the situation around me is very severe. How not, cracks in all parts of this room have gotten worse and can collapse at any time.

"You're right. This will be the end of this fight."

Akihito-san stood in tandem with Nigiyaka-san putting his horses together while Baram who stood alone with burns and clothes was also quite ragged. The aura of the three of them was so big and piercing, this would really be the last moment in this fight.

"??!!"

Then the three of them .. disappeared from my sight. The rest was a great wind created in the middle between me and Ruler. They completely disappeared, the speed of which I could not follow with my eyes. So I can't determine who is superior to both sides.

Not until thirty seconds, the two of them stopped attacking and took almost the same distance as before with positions while turning their backs on each other. Silence happened in this almost ruined room because I did not happen what happened to the fight thirty seconds before.

"Ahaaakh!"

"Nigiyaka-san!"

But what reacted first was that Nigiyaka-san coughed up blood, then Akihito-san who was kneeling with a trembling body. What does this mean?! Does that mean they lost?! Baram has not moved from his position to our back.

"Are you two okay?!"

"It's over." Nigiyaka-san.

"W-what? Don't say ..., you both lost?"

"No ...." Akihito-san. "... It's over for her."

Eh? I looked towards Baram. It is clear that he still stands — even though he has not moved at all. But in the end, the question in my heart was answered.

He fell on his back to the floor.

Blood slowly but a lot started to come out from the huge wounds that were all over his body. Even for a person like him, if the loss of that much blood would still endanger his life.

"You beat me, goddamn it." But he could still speak while chuckling. "Although it's one against two, I still don't think that you two can beat me" he continued. There was no resentment or resentment in his words. More like acceptance and relief.

Nigiyaka-san who previously coughed up blood then started to regain her strength and walked over to Baram. He stood in front of him and pointed his sword at Baram's nose.

"There's a last word?"

Baram chuckled again. "Aren't you tired of hearing my voice until her kind heart lets me say the last words?"

"...."

"But true too, huh? What last words will I give you?"

Baram paused for a moment to think of the right words for him to say one last time. After all these were the last words, this could be some kind of will left behind by him. But it didn't take long for him to think of the words he wanted to say, instead it was like a request.

"Can you not kill my men after killing me?"

"...."

Nigiyaka-san did not answer. He immediately raised his sword high and Baram closed his eyes. After that he slammed his sword down, only to land on the floor next to Baram's head.

"Ah~ Looks like I mistarget~ Basis Caramel's, always giving the wrong information." Suddenly Nigiyaka-san spoke something strange.

"Eh?"

"It's not that much talked about 'BunnyBee' bar, is it? Turns out it's a 'KittenBee' bar, anyway."

I don't understand what Nigiyaka-san meant. It's clear that we're at the 'BunnyBee' bar and the description of the Boss they have is the same. But why ...?

"No. .. You're not mistaken—"

"I was wrong ..., right?"

Baram's voice swallowed as the tip of Katana Nigiyaka-san returned to Baram's nose and Nigiyaka-san's voice was threatening. I think Baram knows the job he has to do now.

"Y-yes, you're in the wrong place. This is 'KittenBee'."

After Baram told her like that, Nigiyaka-san immediately pulled back her Katana and went out of here with me and Akihito-san. But before coming out of this place, he was stopped for a while by Baram's utterance.

"You're neglecting your duties as an Assassin? Your pride is completely gone, Nimis, Ardenter."

"...."

Nigiyaka-san thought about those words for a while and Akihito-san was also silent as if thinking the same thing. But he did not answer it at all and just left from here.

**

When we got out, we were on the side of the building. The position was not too far from the main Bar, and was still very close. But that's not the problem now! We just ignored the mission, you know! I can't believe that these two most powerful Assassins could do such a thing.

"What did you guys do just now?! You could've killed them just now!" I protested their actions.

But Akihito-san looked towards Nigiyaka-san, as if he hoped that he would explain everything. "Baram was my acquaintance when I was together. And he's the one I respect the most, but he's not the same person he was. He's softened, and I don't seem to know him."

"Can that be an excuse to ignore the mission?!"

"Soner." Akihito-san.

"Hn?"

"Have you forgotten that we're both out of the Assassin world? We returned to this bottomless hell to help Black Rain and also help you. Of course I still care about mission, money, or something, but I'll be more concerned with my wishes now."

"Huh?! It's so different from what you taught me before! What's wrong with you guys?! 'Important to the mission than any feeling that happens', but you're breaking it yourself! Why can you soften this way, you hypocrites?!"

Uh! I just realized that I was speaking quite harshly to them because I was carried away by emotions. But what I told them at this moment was my thoughts towards them at this moment. The Nimis and Ardenter I know are not like this, they are much cooler than this!

"Purely?"

"Mellowing ...?"

Instead of being upset, the two of them smiled at him. "I think you're right, ever since entering Black Rain, I've become softer" said Nigiyaka-san.

"And hypocrisy is a word suitable for a man like me." Akihito-san also did not reject it.

"Oi! I'm not done talking!"

"Sorry, May." Nigiyaka-san spoke and with a more serious face. "I can't keep my word when I teach you. The feeling overwhelmed me earlier, making me hesitate to kill him. More ... I miss Ivis's cooking, and only this place might still provide it" he continued.

The two of them walked ahead of me and both stroked my head as it passed by which still left me speechless. I still haven't received their answers and am still asking for more explanation.

"Then what about the people who hired us?"

"Me, Akihito, and Caramel will take care of it. We'll call you when everything's planned."

"But ...."

But they didn't answer me more than this, it seems like it's enough today. My body hurts all and I just want to go home. Is this the result I want to get today? Of course not. Huh ... Sometimes I regret asking them to teach me. His training is like a demon and his people plan like this.

I looked up at the night sky. What are you doing now, Herlin-chan? Miss you.

Seriate