kscans

Chapter 724 - The Selfish White Who Smiles on the Silver Screen, Part Eight

"'Not a sword bestowed with light—'"

My senpai, who for all her grumbling is surprisingly cooperative, and I both begin our respective selfish songs and, without a shred of hesitation or doubt, charge forward.

"'—Nor a sword that celebrates darkness!'"

In terms of absolute speed, I have a significant advantage, and the offense is mine about eighty percent of the time. However, even as I relentlessly press my pace, she calmly counters, which is just so quintessentially Eastern Faction.

"'Beg for water—'"

Fist and rod clash for the umpteenth time. But I'm learning, too.

"'Yearn for water—'"

I've already 'memorized' her habits. I spin with the momentum of my punch, and just as she tries to dissipate the impact and escape, I whip my right leg around and clip her weapon with the back of my knee.

Her parry thwarted, her posture broken, [Screen] shows a face that says it all in the fraction of a second before she can even click her tongue... and from my upside-down position, I shove a giant, crystal-coated red barrel in her face.

Scarlet-Thread Linkage 24-Style Armor-Piercing Warhead, 'Woodpecker'—[Mayhem Bunny] trigger.

"Tch...—'Heed the voice of water!'"

As I fire the armor-piercing round that I'm certain is unblockable, I use the immense recoil to simultaneously fire at point-blank range and get away. I then activate [Flash Traveler], a skill that moves my body irrespective of its previous motion, allowing me to both control my momentum and eliminate any openings.

"'The abyssal water's night sits in the outer heavens—'"

I look up and see the conductor, missing an entire arm, but still on stage as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Seriously? How in the world did you deal with that? A sense of exasperation, a trust that no matter what crazy stunt she pulls, I won't be surprised anymore... and,

"'—And houses the thoughts of a starry dream in its sheath.'"

Even with that bored expression on her face,

I can't help but feel genuinely moved by the brilliance that is sure to captivate the world.

"'Then the 'kingship (sword)' resides in me...—'"

And that's why, along with the voice I weave, along with the torrent of water spears and water rings I direct at her,

My resolve will not waver, I will not retreat,

With a belief in none other than myself, I will show my opponent.

"'—There is no need to bow your head.'"

Come at me, Senpai. I'm not gonna lose, no matter what.

◇◆◇◆◇

"'Grand through eternity, swallowing rebirth, an abyss—'"

My noisy, cheeky junior, who for all his grumbling is a pain in the ass, and I both begin our respective selfish songs and, without a shred of hesitation or doubt, charge forward.

"'—Thus its names are thirty-six!'"

In terms of absolute speed, he has a significant advantage, and the offense is his about eighty percent of the time. It's utterly irritating, being forced to play along with this idiot who has a perpetually innocent look on his face.

"'Embrace the red ambition of creation—'"

Another clash, but of course, it's the [Acrobat] who surpasses the fleeting past in the present moment. My enhanced thought acceleration skill can't keep up with his hazy body movements, and my weapon is caught. By the time I realize it, a gun barrel is in my face.

Unavoidable, so I won't avoid it.

"Tch—'Embrace the blue desire that guides!'...!!"

I activate all my defensive skills. I offer up my left arm, now harder than steel, surpassing even diamond, and as I take the blast of crimson light, I use the impact to shift my body.

And so, as my arm is torn off up to the bicep,

"'The starlight of the canopy lies in the heavens, and drops the voice that envies the brilliance of life.'"

I ride the recoil far away and glare at the clown who, once again, is showing me that irritating face.

It's irritating, it's annoying, it's infuriating—and what I can't stand most of all is that I can't understand why these feelings are now welling up without end. I can't understand myself, shaking with genuine anger.

And if I don't use those trivialities as a shield and look away from my transparent true feelings,

Then even more so,

"'Come if you will, o stars—...!!'"

That guy smiling in front of me is even more irritating than my own self, who should have been the most irritating of all.

"'—This body is one who calls 'envy (id)'!'"

Then there's only one thing left to do. Along with my shouting voice, along with the resounding roar of the earth that meets it.

Even as I waver, even as I retreat,

With the meaning that I have nevertheless carefully held onto in myself up to now,

"[Starlight (The Earth that Beckons the Stars)]."

I slam my worthless pride against the blinding star that burns all eyes.

◇◆◇◆◇

The stage was wide, yet cramped. What manifested were miracles of 'water' and 'earth.'

One was a 'sword'—a greatsword that, compared to the previous torrent, seemed diminutive, yet it far surpassed the meager height of its caster.

The other was a 'star'—a rain of countless massive meteors, far larger than the previous earth-shattering roars, falling from the sky as if ignorant of the canopy's obstruction.

Serenity and ruin. At the moment when everyone who watched was certain that if neither moved, everything on the stage would be annihilated by the devastating onslaught of falling stars.

The 'White' who carried expectations that surpassed that certainty and yearned for dreams, swung his 'sword.'

And the sword, a symbol of 'kingship' that showed the world his selfishness, his will, and his ego,

"————[Laevateinn (Ten Thousand Calamities)]!!!"

In an instant, it severed everything in its master's eyes...—and brought a bell's toll to the stage.

Cutting the stars, cleaving the one before him, the clown's move, which had decided his own beliefs, brought down the curtain.

"..................Can this just be my final match...?"

A truly burned-out selfish person collapsed, looking up at the scattered light of the 'star.'

'Triangle Duo' C Block, second round.

Winner—[Acrobat & Scorching Gaze].

---

He did what he said he would (I'm not gonna lose).

And with that, chapter five, section two, is hereby concluded. Let's get excited for section three, and the manga serialization starting tomorrow.

Oh, the manga is starting. Sora is cute!!!