The Crisis World XX

Chap. 78: Strongest Defense Against the Most Brutal Attack

Caramel looked at me with a suspicious look. He thought I was planning something when I told him I wanted to talk to him about something.

"What are you planning?" ask Caramel.

"It's not something serious, it's just plain chatter to kill time."

Caramel smiled and then sat down in the transparent aura she seemed to have made from earlier. He sat right beside me as if not afraid of anything I did to him—again I was also unable to do anything anyway.

"Kill time, huh? All right, I don't know what you're up to, but let's have a chat. I've also been wanting to talk to you for a long time" Caramel said.

Actually I don't know if this will work or not, but I leave the results to my communication skills. I also let out a grin and then talked to him.

"When we first met, what were you doing back then?"

"Ahh ... time in that bathroom, huh? I did it on purpose!"

"Inadvertently?!"

Come to think of it again, it's stupid too. He unhesitatingly went into the men's toilet, adding that he said it without any burden at all. This woman is creepy!

I then cleared my throat and asked him again.

"Grand …! All right, all right, so your goal is to get inside that guy's toilet to see me?"

"Yep."

"Then why was your attitude so different from the one now?"

"It's easy, I'm just acting to mimic the nature of the person you like."

"W-I like? Meanin?"

"You looked close to Herlin's Ririsaka back then, so I tried to mimic her and it turned out that my guess was right. Eheh …!"

"Don't 'ehehe' doang, oi! After all, Herlin is not the person I like!"

"Oh, did I mistake that part of it? Yes whatever, the important thing is that I can finish my job."

This woman is really dangerous! And the most dangerous thing was when he suddenly walked into my room that day. What he did almost made my relationship with Herlin fall apart.

"You ..., then when you walked into my room and suddenly kissed me, was there any defense of that?" my many.

"I have to do that. Because if I don't, I'll fail to do my job."

"Hn? Meanin?"

Caramel then stood up from her seat and walked and stopped right in front of me. He put his hand on my forehead and touched it for no apparent reason.

Ptaac…

I who was not able to do anything could only receive a flick from it that made my forehead slightly reddened, but a second later the red color on my skin disappeared.

"Adu—! What are you doing anyway?!"

"I kissed you back then to prevent you from being able to control Subject C. But look at you right now, the jinx I gave you just disappeared without a trace."

"So then, the reason my regeneration slowed down was all because of your strength."

"Yes that's it. But …."

"Hn? What's up?"

Caramel brought her face close to me. There was almost no distance between me and her.

"You really caught my attention, Satou Iraya."

I couldn't react as he said that, only my cheeks gradually turned red. With her face too close, then her right eyes looked at me directly, and her slightly annoying smile.

Then he took his face away from me and continued his words while walking around this room.

"From the many humans we tested, they all ended up the same fate, namely his body exploded because it was not strong enough to withstand the power that is so great in Subject C …."

He began to tell about the origin of Cecilia. With his hands and body that could not stand still because he continued to walk around in this small room, he continued his story.

"… But you, after Subject C's escape incident. We were trying to find him because he had longer outside of his host than a regular Spirit, so we assumed he was already far away from Tokyo. Then I heard from one of our branches in Kyoto that Subject C was there.

When Nimis and Ardenter fail to fulfill their mission, they meet our greatest obstacle, Murasaki Oita. I was then assigned to go to Tokyo and observe the alleged Subject C, and that's where I met you.

I couldn't believe it when I saw you that this guy was the host of Subject C, but when I saw you fighting in that tournament I became convinced that you were the one, really" Caramel explained.

Hearing the whole story from Caramel made me only able to fall silent. So it was all connected, I realized if only I wasn't curious then, maybe I wouldn't have met Cecilia and the others. And maybe my mother is still alive.

Sryiii…

As I was thinking like that, suddenly a huge explosive sound could even be heard from here. I could also catch a glimpse of the night sky in an instant turning into light.

"What-What is that?!"

"It seems like their fight is getting tougher."

I can't stay here much longer. I have to get out of here as much as possible and help them all.

**

PoV Ishikawa Kyujiro's

My opponent this time is Ardenter huh? Hah .. when I told Oita-san that I am not suitable in a one-on-one fight. But why is he still forcing me to join this fight.

Although I grumbled like that, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm inside my own blade shield because I'm protecting myself from Ardenter's attack.

From the information I got this he is a Physical Strength. So he won't do anything weird to me, hopefully he'll just try to destroy my shield with his power. I hope so.

But since he's an Assassin, I don't think he's going to just stand idly by waiting for me to come out and he's got some other kind of weapon against me.

"Oi! Get out you coward!"

Ardenter yelled at me and told me to come out. I've added sharp thorns all over my shield, so he won't be that easy to crush. If he forced her by force, those thorns would at least injure her.

"Try to get me out!" kataku.

Feeling as if challenged, Ardenter finally complied with my request and began to give off a terrifying aura that he had not yet let out from earlier. And now he's darting towards me fast.

Braaaakkh…

Without hesitation he struck my thorny shield with his bare hands, making my shield tremble slightly. But the part that Ardenter hit was still a durinya, it should have caused him a little pain.

But as if ignoring it, he just kept hitting the same part over and over again until the part of the thorn he hit from earlier was almost broken. He really did not care about the condition of his own body and wanted to immediately make me come out and beat me up.

Of course I won't let that happen.

"Level 2, activate!"

I knelt on the ground and put my palm on the ground as well, Then I focused my aura to further strengthen my shield again. And it happened.

"?!!"

Zwuush…

Ardenter who realized that there was a change in my shield also chose to jump backwards and along with that the thorns that Ardenter just wanted to destroy, he said, it suddenly extended and seemed to stab anyone who entered the area.

After my first impromptu attack on Ardenter failed, the elongated thorns from earlier I called back and became the same again.

The total of thorns in all parts of my current shield is 25 pieces. And I can only control five of them simultaneously, the distance can only cover an area of 15 meters.

Damnit. Expanding my aura, defending it, and attacking simultaneously completely exhausted my stamina. If only I had been training with Herlin-chan and Iraya-kun, it might have been easier.

I can only laugh because of that. But regret always comes at the end. I then focused again on this fight, Ardenter still did not make any more movements after I showed him the elongated thorns.

But even from this distance of about 20 meters, I could see the face of anger that had been embedded in his face.

Swuush…

The aura around him was different again. This time I could faintly see a transparent silver-gray colored aura enveloping around his body. A sudden feeling of horror was also felt in my back neck.

"If you don't want to get out, I'll get you out now, damn it."

"Try it!"

"Well if that's what you want."

His voice sounded calmer than before. He's getting serious now, then so am I. I closed my eyes and focused to feel her movement through my aura. If he gets into the expansion of my aura, I can directly attack him.

I also closed the entire portion of my shield and there became no gap at all for him to attack me. After a moment of closing my eyes, I still did not feel its presence within my aura area.

Taps…

I heard one step, but after that it disappeared again.

Tap…

I heard his steps again. This time more than before and also the distance was getting closer towards me. But then it disappeared again. He seemed very careful this time and his movements were really neat.

Taps…

"Here we go!"

He aimed at the back of my shield and tried to attack through my blind spot, but unfortunately I could still feel it. I extended my duration and tried to attack Ardenter.

Meanwhile the Ardenter who tried to attack the back of the shield was surprised because his movements were predictable to me. Not yet had Ardenter want to hit, he already had to dodge my attack again and retreat back.

Tap…

Braakk…

He had already managed to hit my shield before I could even detect its existence. The steps I feel right now are too many. I opened my eyes and tried harder to detect his true existence.

Braakk…

"It's bad."

When the onslaught of blows that the Ardenter continues to launch at this time, if I continue to let it get worse. I then eliminated the expansion of my aura and focused on the current assault.

"Damn!"

Zwuusshh…

I sacrificed my defense to carry out this one attack. I lengthened all the spines on my shield to produce an area attack that made my current shield like a hedgehog.

But I don't feel like I'm hitting anyone on my durations. My eyes then widened when I found out that almost all of my thorns were crushed at the same time.

Kraaakk…

"What-What?!"

Braaaakh…

When the thorn in my shield was badly damaged, suddenly the shield without thorns was shattered when a hand broke into it and grabbed my collar and tried to pull me out. But the hole he made was too small that I only hit the inside of the shield and did not penetrate through it.

"I finally got you!" ardenter.

Our faces met between the shields Ardenter made. He let out a smirk of satisfaction among the angry expressions that dominated his face. But I only replied with a confident smile, as if I had not lost.

"Haha .. are you sure about that?"

"Well?!"

I locked Ardener's hand holding my collar so he couldn't move anywhere. Then after that, I focused my aura on the area of my heart and created an impromptu thorn that could extend and dart right into the face of Ardenter.

Sryiii…

But he was still able to avoid it, despite leaving a slight scratch on his cheek. After avoiding it, Ardenter looked back at me.

"Is that your last attack?"

"Of course not!"

I held Ardenter's arm even tighter. My attacks did not stop until just now, from behind the nearly broken shield all of a sudden shot out the remaining five thorns. This time the dur was able to dart in various directions, not just straight as the previous one.

"Because of you!"

The Ardenter who noticed my attack tried to jump back, but his movements were blocked because I managed to hold him back. He tried to rebel to let go of my grasp, but it wouldn't be that easy.

"Get go, shit!"

"Don't hope!"

Ardenter looked at the thorns that shot towards him quickly. He changed his plan to let go of my grasp, turning to attack me.

He pulled my collar forward and smashed into my homemade shield hard enough that my grip weakened. But it still hasn't made me let go of her hand.

"Say you let go, damn it!"

"Try it, you son of a bitch!"

"Le-fit-kan!"

Baaggh…

Ardenter pulled my collar strong which made me hit my homemade shield hard and at the same time made my grip slip apart. In time, he managed to avoid my thorns.

I wake up and refocus on dealing with it. I briefly wiped my bloodied lips and tried to rearrange the strategy again. My shield was almost destroyed, my thorns could not last much longer. I'm really in a bad position right now.

"Hah .. if this is the case, I think it's time to 'do or die'," I murmured.

I regenerated my shield even though it was only on the front so that Ardenter could not see me clearly and I left only the part of my right eye open.

Meanwhile the Ardenter who had not suffered any serious injuries then walked back towards me. He didn't know what plan I had, but he walked towards me casually. He refocused his aura on his fist and prepared to destroy my shield again.

"You're still playing around with your useless protector, huh?! Let me destroy it for you."

I did not answer the Ardenter's provocation because I was focusing on preparing something. While he kept walking closer towards me. Then after getting close enough, he then darted and while in the air directly aimed his fist right at the shield I had just regenerated.

Braakh…

The punch did not manage to destroy my shield in one strike. While I also still saw it from the same place and did not move at all. The ardenter then hit him several times until the shield was shattered and revealed my whole face.

He then pulled my collar back and hit me like he did. But I didn't react to anything, I still looked at it with the same gaze and didn't look frightened or like I was planning something.

"What do you see, huh?!"

"…."

"Take me, goddamn it!"

I didn't answer. It also made Ardener grow furious and his anger was at its peak. He quickly extended his fingernails and prepared to attack me.

"Alright if that's what you want."

Sryiii…

He pointed his sharp nails towards my neck which immediately separated him from my body and fell down. My head was rolling on the ground along with my artificial shield that disappeared slowly.

Ardenter then dropped the headless body from his grasp just like that. He looked at his fingernails that had just separated my head from mine. No blood left on my nails he thought.

Because it's not my real body.

I jumped up and emerged from the ground behind Ardenter who was still confused by what had just happened.

"You're confused, grumpy guy?!"

"…?!"

Reflexively, Ardenter looked back. But it was all too late, when I pointed my hand at him and chanted something out loud.

"Eat, Iron Maiden!"

Sryii…

I formed an Iron Maiden—a torture device made of iron by trapping people in it filled with sharp thorns. Intend to trap Ardenter and blackmail him and make his body hollow like a honeycomb.

The Iron Maiden opened and after capturing Ardenter in it because he had no time to react, Iron Maiden then closed itself off and the thorns in it began to do its job of blackmailing Ardenter. I can also see a little blood coming out of that Iron Maiden.

"Huh .. hah .. hah …."

My breath was breathless, but it was fortunate that at least I managed to win the fight this time. I looked the other way, it seemed like they were all still fighting. I also walked over to the faint sound of the fight to help out whether it was Kurobane-chan or Herlin-chan.

Kriyet…

I looked back and checked Iron Maiden because I heard something unpleasant. Iron Maiden is open again. No way! He should have been open when he made sure that the victim inside was really dead. But I doubt that Ardenter died that fast.

Buuackh…

When I let my guard down, I suddenly got a crushing blow right on my cheek. Made me bounce so far away that I flew and hit whatever I was passing and just stopped when after hitting the walls of the houses.

Buuackh…

I who still do not understand what really happened tried to get down from this almost destroyed wall because of my body. But the next punch came back before I even had a chance to blink. I bounced back until I broke through the walls of the people's house and went inside and came out again.

Meanwhile the family of the owner of the house inside could only hide under the table while hugging each other. Then from behind the first wall that was destroyed appeared Ardenter who went in and went out again, ignoring the family that was scared earlier.

He continued walking with his angry face and approached me who was battered by bouncing and hitting whatever I was passing. I tried to stand up tired, but he didn't let me go.

Braakkhkh…

He hit me down so I fell back to the ground again hard. Even so I tried to see the person who beat me up like this.

"Why ... can?"

I don't need an answer. I could already see her right hand that was bleeding badly and filled with holes. So that was the case, he endured the pressure of the Iron Maiden with his right hand that was coated in aura.

"Then ... what will you do next …?"

"I remember that there's still a need for you, so I can't kill you too soon."

"That's it, huh? If you have any business with me, then you mustn't bother the others."

I raised my hand that was shaking high. Then it released my current final aura to create a box shield that was separate from the outside world. A cube of 5×5 is absolute and indestructible no matter the conditions.

"Oi! What are you doing?!" ask Ardenter.

"I locked you in here with me. No matter what you do, you will not be able to destroy it from the inside. Even if you kill me. We'll be here for 2 hours."

Hehehe .. With my current state, I can only maintain it for 2 hours. How sad. My head suddenly felt very heavy and everything became blurry. I fell to the side and lost consciousness.

"Fuck you," murmured Ardenter.

Seriate