Chapter 1016 - Beyond the Encounter
"...!"
She spun around to check the situation. The rain of sword flashes that had scattered and rained down on her comrades like a carpet bombing had—thankfully, it seemed—been completely blocked by Mei's 'castle.'
But relief was accompanied by terror.
It wasn't just a minor thing... not at all. The destructive marks carved deep into the castle's hardest part, the 'castle walls'—which shouldn't have been scratched by any ordinary powerhouse—stated it clearly.
Her 'sword' had been directly broken through by sheer power. That was the fact.
"Yo, Ashe."
And the one responsible for that fact.
"I'm here. —It's a surprise present, five days late."
The [Haru the Acrobat] who had landed silently on the ground said it with a laid-back smile, as if the preceding scene was only natural. His expression stirred two emotions within her.
...No, three.
Affection,
Joy, and,
"...You said you didn't prepare a present."
"That's why it's a surprise."
Undeniable, terror.
"............I'm... surprised. I had heard rumors, but..."
For the past month, Iris hadn't seen Haru in the virtual world. That was why she was so shocked, so shaken. The information she had on the person she loved, standing before her, didn't match.
Because it was strange.
No matter how much it was him, no matter how much he was the unrivaled [Haru the Acrobat]—
"Is that really you, Haru...?"
"Heh, as you can see, it is."
To have grown so much in just one month.
To have increased his 'pressure' to such an extent was beyond even Iris's expectations.
"............"
—Yeah, I think even Iris will be shocked.
Uni had said that.
—That guy's crazy after all. He's definitely not human anymore, it's so annoying.
Natsume had said that.
—...Iris. Please, consider this a warning of sorts.
Helena had said that.
—It seems the [Haru the Acrobat] is something 'dangerous' right now.
"...What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like you've seen a ghost? That's a rare expression for you."
Even after taking all those 'rumors' into account, you still managed to surpass my predictions, my expectations, my hopes. I want to ask you.
"............What happened?"
In response,
"...—Hah."
Haru laughed. He laughed like a child, looking truly amused from the bottom of his heart, and said,
"That's a foolish question, isn't it? Ashe."
For some reason—no, a moment later I understood why.
With his sword still in his right hand, he used his free left hand to pull down his hood... revealing an expression and a heat in his eyes that only Iris could see, conveying his feelings without holding back.
He said.
"Because you're the 'strongest' in this virtual world."
To stand by her side,
"I have to aim for it too, that 'strongest' title."
To be worthy.
"—Betting my life on it, with desperation."
"...!"
That's why he would become stronger.
That the [Haru the Acrobat], who had until now only treated 'strength' as a means to have fun, would from now on pursue 'strength' as a goal.
...For whom?
"Hey, Ashe."
"Mmh..."
"Crying on national TV is a no-go—smile, Princess."
"Mmh...!!"
For me.
...I suppress my emotions. Even if it's impossible, I suppress them.
Later will be fine. Conveying the feelings overflowing in my chest, roughly throwing them at him because I can't bear it any longer, that can wait until later—until we're alone.
"..., ...Haru."
"Yeah."
"What did you come here for?"
For now, as an enemy.
As the person I had been waiting for, for so long.
"Ah, just—to take down the top player of the South."
"If you think you can, then try."
I will accept this gift. With this 'sword.'
With this 'name,' the [Sword Queen].
"Okay, bring it on—let's go, Ashe."
"...Yeah."
Everything you will give me.
"Manifestation Release."
No holding back, at full power from the start, with a smile.
The release of the 'True Theory' weapon she had heard about. The hood was blown away by the roaring wind of mana, revealing his black hair swaying along with his hair ornament. And then,
"Overturn—[Angalta, Armor of Royal Authority]."
What manifested were massive, twin arms of white-gold. Gauntlets that could be said to be a part of the Eastern Faction's secret boss, [Angalta, God-Wedge Sword-King], itself.
And then, as the eyes of the knight's helm that appeared above them lit up,
"'Recall'—[Elvad], come—[An=Re Galta, Spirit Sword of the Ever-Shining Wedge]."
Two giant swords appeared from the void and fell, striking the ground with a rumble and a roar. Each of the arms... grasped them in a reverse grip as lightly as if they were daggers and floated them up.
Both were almost entirely unfamiliar armaments. The informational pressure they emitted was, needless to say, of the highest rank, and it would be necessary to be wary not only of their imposing scale but also of their hidden abilities.
—And then,
"Ah, that's right."
"...?"
Haru, who now looked completely beyond a 'mere player,' spoke in a casual, absentminded tone that broke the rising tension. The moment Iris tilted her head in confusion.
"There won't be any interruptions, so you can rest easy on that front, too."
He said it, and the moment he raised one hand.
"—I was wondering how long you were going to talk."
"—Fufu... Good evening, A-chan."
Following the 'bullet,' they appeared in an instant. ...Most likely, they had been transported by Haru and were waiting in the shadows of the labyrinth entrance. They arrived using their respective movement techniques.
I won't ask why they staggered their entrances.
Asking would only make my affection for him grow.
"Now then, just to confirm..."
And so,
"No need—let's go, Master."
"—Yes, shall we?"
Cutting Haru off mid-sentence, the [Peerless] and the [Sword Saint] responded with a blunt word and a gentle smile, respectively, as they rushed past Iris.
Swiftly... —but at a speed that allowed for easy reaction and response, enough to catch the surprisingly well-executed wink thrown by one of them.
So why couldn't I move? The answer was simple.
"...Well then—Eastern Faction, Rank Four, [Haru the Acrobat]."
"Yeah... —Southern Faction, Rank One, [Sword Queen]."
It goes without saying.
"This is a continuation of that day."
"A continuation of that day, I see."
Because we couldn't take our eyes off each other.
And so begins the tryst, side-by-side with a scene from hell.