kscans

Chapter 476 - The White Star Clad in Red, The Blue Star Clad in Black, Part Two

Recall—and trigger.

The moment I fired the second [Ruby Rabbit Bullet] I had summoned as propulsion, a torrent of information, swollen to many times its normal size by thought acceleration, came crashing down.

Acceleration, course deviation, postural shifts, and so on. Setting aside all the elements I needed to grasp, the most important unknown had already been made known by my right golden eye.

I stepped in, dashed through, and the blade of Helia, which had targeted the 'dragon' I had deemed an enemy and approached, streaked across the night sky—but it still failed to catch the final star.

Dodged again. But my right eye caught the trick.

I saw how the massive body, which would have reached a wingspan of ten meters if it spread its wings, instantly contracted to the size of a marble and slipped past the blade of 'red' with a high-speed movement like a shooting star.

What kind of ability is that? If you have wings, flap them and fly, and other retorts welled up from the bottom of my stomach, but there was no need for excessive astonishment or problems.

If I open my closed left eye, it will never escape again.

I lifted my eyelid and opened my silver eye. The monochrome left mixed with the vision of my right eye, slamming my brain with an indescribable, intense sense of incongruity, but I ignored it completely.

All I had to do was aim and,

"Look On!"

—keep my eyes on the enemy I had decided not to let escape.

And so, in the distorted vision where monochrome and color mixed, only that starry sky floated with sharp clarity... and the next moment, its form blurred into a double image.

Eight seconds left. Let's pick up the pace.

Recall and trigger. The effect of Floating Leaf has long since worn off, so I can't expect the same thrust as at the beginning, but being able to steer in any direction is more than enough of a useful option.

I kicked off the carpet of Rabbit Daggers I had scattered, in parallel with fine-tuned postural control from Hare Real, and soared through the sky, scattering the phosphorescence of 'Desperate Crimson.'

I know that a straight charge will just be dodged, and I have no intention of hoping for third time's the charm. In that case, I just have to get ahead of the future that my predictive eye shows me one second from now.

The translucent afterimage that emerged from the blur contracted to a size that would be difficult to perceive with the naked eye and raced through the air at super speed.

The trajectory it drew perfectly slipped past the route I had feigned.

Its instantaneous speed rivals my own, but to achieve a perfect evasion not just once but multiple times requires other factors... something special, like my 'eyes.'

That it is closing in means that, in terms of speed alone, it is definitely inferior.

In that case, if opening both my eyes has evened the playing field in terms of that special something—the result is as clear as day.

Following the predicted route without the slightest deviation, to the point where the compressed starry sky spread its wings again. The 'dragon,' which had turned its head in the direction where the 'enemy' should have been according to its prediction, froze its massive body in mid-air due to two unexpected events that went against its expectations.

One was that the 'enemy' was not where it had turned its head.

The other was,

"...Heh, I'll take that as you being surprised."

—that it felt the weight of a small being on its back. And before that body could become a speck of stardust again—my 'right arm' moved on its own,

And slammed the explosively swollen brilliance of 'red' into the starry dragon.

" "

The silent shriek of the Stardust Beast comes from the dragon, struck down by a merciless slash of the giant sword. It's falling... which means it's still moving.

In other words, it's not dead yet.

As expected of a boss-class enemy. In that case, let's finish this perfectly.

"Destruct!"

From the palms of both hands aimed at the heavens behind me, I released the wind power that had easily reached its critical point during my previous aerial maneuvers. I plummeted, chasing the 'dragon' I had struck down but which was still intact.

In that moment, I deactivated Alv Call. There are still a few seconds left on the contract time, but it's probably had its fill of battle spoils by now. Well, you know.

I should at least strike a cool pose for the finish with my own hands!

"[Parabellum—"

I regained control of my right arm from within the shattered 'red,' released the star-sword from my hand, and activated Mistlurade at the same time.

"—Bullet]!"

I deactivated Mistlurade while overtaking the rain of crimson blades I had scattered as I fell. Then, I summoned two new Ruby Bullets into my hands—and triggered them.

Furthermore, I switched the acceleration multiplier of Eyes Oculus to five times.

In the rapidly slowing world of perception, my MP began to drain at an explosive rate, but it should hold out for another ten seconds or so. Five seconds is all I need, more than enough.

I generated thrust by rapidly switching and firing the cannons and accelerated rapidly. I finally caught up to the massive body of the 'dragon' that had been ahead of me... overtook it, and landed.

And then, I equipped [An=Lu Galta (Hypothesis: The Wedge-Armor that Sings of the Royal Path)]—Kesshiki Ittoryu, unarmed style.

"Shinden!"

I placed my left palm on the belly of the 'dragon,' which had reached the ground a moment later, and activated Rocket. With the help of thought acceleration, the output was adjusted to a precise fifty percent.

I'll make up for what's lacking with a multi-stage assist from 'Matoi.' Now, go fly!

It was surprisingly light for its size. It still probably weighed a few hundred kilograms, but in any case, the 'dragon' was launched, and the stage was set.

I caught the incoming star-sword with my right, and the blade of [Samidorizuki] was already drawn in my left. All that's left is to swing these hands.

Rocket, reactivated.

I, having kicked off the ground and returned to the sky, the massive body of the 'dragon' I had launched ahead of me, and the rain of Rabbit Daggers I had shot down beforehand, all converged at a single point—

"Kiraboshi!"

In the starless night sky, for a moment, seven flashes; in a second, countless stars shone brilliantly.

◇You have successfully tamed the Stardust Beast.◇

◇The contractor, please give the [Star] a name.◇