Strike the Blood - Volume 20 - Chapter 3.4

4

Slipping through the tangled levels of Island North’s subterranean district, they caught sight of Keystone Gate. Like a giant wedge thrust into the ground, it had been constructed as an inverted pyramid. This literal keystone connected four gigafloats: east, west, south, and north. That was the true nature of the odd structure.

At twelve stories high, it was Itogami Island’s tallest structure. The facility served as a mixed corporate and private space and held local government offices, hotels, retail stores, restaurants, etc.

An enormous crack ran along the exterior of this futuristic structure, almost as if someone had split it with an invisible ax.

When the curtain had first lifted to herald the Electoral War, The Blood had used his sword Beast Vassal to wreak this destruction so as to bolster his claim of being the true Fourth Primogenitor. Since then, the Keystone Gate had become his personal castle. In other words, it was likely The Blood was still there.

“Ah, there it is, Shizurin. Heeeey, Shizurin!”

A small-statured girl with pointy bestial ears stood before the bridge leading to Keystone Gate. Her chestnut curls swayed as she warmly waved a hand toward Shizuri.

Beside her stood a teenage boy with a graceful face that practically shouted “honors student.” An assault rifle stock was poking out of the fishing rod case he carried on his back.

“Yuno, Rui, thanks for coming. I’m sorry for making such an unreasonable request.”

Shizuri bowed her head to Yuno Amase and Rui Miyazumi—her old teammates from the Kasugaya Team from Attack Mage High back at Onrai Island.

Naturally, she didn’t think she could charge into Keystone Gate and defeat The Blood all by herself. But she also couldn’t come up with anyone fond enough of trouble to go along with her on such a reckless operation—none, save for her most dependable friends.

“If Squad Leader orders it, a degree of unreasonable suits us just fine.”

Rui began preparing his weapons as he replied. The fur of Yuno’s fluffy ears swayed as she donned her gauntlets.

“You wanna send The Blood packing six ways from Sunday and end the Electoral War for Kojikoji, right?”

“Er, well, um…that’s the long and short of it…”

Yuno’s shockingly easygoing attitude about this left Shizuri bewildered. Her friend was speaking in the same lighthearted tone she used when out shopping at the local convenience store.

“Even if we can’t defeat The Blood, we should be able to bring the Electoral War to a close if we can take over the Gigafloat Management Corporation computer room they’re occupying.”

Rui made this comment as he looked up at Keystone Gate, far quieter than it used to be.

Up close, the inverted pyramid structure was much larger than Shizuri had expected it to be. The structure was both an independent gigafloat of its own and the control device that managed the entirety of Itogami Island.

The concentrated artificial isle administration facility stretched some forty strata under the surface of the sea and was equipped with five supercomputers dubbed the Five Elements, which controlled all of the Island’s infrastructure as well as the demon registration bracelets. The Order of the End had been able to kick off the Electoral War because it had them under its control.

In other words, they could bring the conflict to an end simply by taking back the Five Elements.

“The problem is, why has everyone left Keystone Gate alone when they also know that, right?”

Picking up where Rui’s words left off, Yuno, their designated recon girl, said this conspicuously to herself as she charged toward the structure. Shizuri followed after her, with Rui taking up the rear. They’d used this formation countless times back at Attack Mage High.

Infiltrating the Keystone Gate was a simple affair since its shutters had been destroyed in the battle between the Order of the End and the Island Guard.

However, their vanguard, Yuno, came to a halt after barely a few strides into the edifice.

They were in a broad entrance hall, which led to a shopping mall lined with high-end boutiques.

But instead of the aroma of perfume, what hit their noses was the dense scent of blood.

The walls and the floor were pockmarked with countless bullet holes, and remains of polycarbonate shields and robot tanks were strewn all over, telltale signs of a clash between the Order of the End and the ruler candidates who’d invaded the Keystone Gate. Naturally, there were no corpses to be found, but the place reeked of death regardless.

“I guess some people didn’t leave it alone after all. They took their shots at taking the place. But the Order of the End sent them packing—every last one.”

Rui spoke in a sober tone of voice.

Biting her lip, Shizuri gripped the hilt of her long sword.

The ruler candidates had invaded with enough forces to do all this damage, and the Order of the End had repelled them anyway. At that moment, she realized just how reckless it was for the three of them to try and defeat The Blood on their own. Then—

“Shizurin, get down!”

Yuno, who’d been on lookout, suddenly turned back and shouted this at Shizuri.

“Eh…?!”

Yuno hadn’t intended to throw her friend for a loop, but Shizuri was shaken enough that her concentration had lapsed. Since she couldn’t respond immediately, Rui practically tossed her aside to get her behind cover.

The next moment, countless bullets riddled the spot where she’d been standing.

It was AI-controlled machine-gun fire. Military security pods all over the interior of the shopping mall poked their heads out to and fro. Dispatching the ruler candidates must have been their doing.

“What in the world?! What’s the Order of the End doing with modern weaponry?!”

“I see. Now things are a little clearer.”

Evading gunfire himself, Rui let slip a giggle.

“What, what? What’s clear?”

Still flat on the ground, Yuno seemed amused as she posed the question.

“The mastermind behind this incident. Looks like MAR is lying about being neutral.”

“Mm? MAR’s the mastermind behind this?”

“Those military security pods are brand-new MAR products. They probably haven’t even hit global arms marketplaces yet.”

“Ahaaa—”

I see, went Yuno, nodding with deep appreciation. It was obviously impossible for anyone other than MAR, the manufacturer, to send a product into actual combat before it had gone up for sale. This proved that they were actively involved occupying Keystone Gate, rather than merely cooperating in the management of the Electoral War.

“So, all the food we’ve been so grateful for has come directly from the masterminds?!”

Shizuri violently punched the wreckage of a tank, forgetting that she was using it in the stead of a shield.

Beside herself, Yuno smiled painfully.

“Shizurin, you just loved that MAR instant ramen, didn’t you?”

“H-how could you not?! They had cream cheese toppings no other brand had, which went together really well with the wasabi mayo… Of course they were delicious!”

“O-oh really…”

“At any rate, nothing will be solved by hiding here. The more time that passes, the greater our disadvantage grows!”

“I suppose so. Let’s do the usual, then?”

Seeing that Shizuri had finally recovered from inner turmoil, Rui calmly made a proposal.

From just that, the three of them understood their roles. Even if their experiences had been virtual, they were a veteran team that had overcome harsh live combat scenarios time and time again. There were no communication concerns here.

“Let’s goooo!”

Yuno kicked off the ground and shot into the air in an overwhelming leap that made full use of her beast-person explosiveness. The security pods’ targeting couldn’t keep up with that level of verticality.

Toyed with by Yuno’s movements, their foes’ attacks became sporadic.

Threading through that momentary needle, Rui hurled a ritual spell grenade. Light and miasma scattered about to bring the machines to a halt. And then:

“—Hauras!”

Leaping out from behind the wreckage, Shizuri lashed out with her crimson long sword. She unleashed her demonic energy to infuse the blade all at once, channeling her power into a single, hulking blade of pure havoc.

The torrent of explosive demonic energy raced through the shopping mall passage and instantly pulverized a dozen security pods. Since she didn’t need to hold back against machines, she could be as savage as possible. Her huge burst of energy also engulfed a high-end boutique and left it in tatters, but she pretended she hadn’t seen that.

“And that’s that.”

Sheathing her long sword in its scabbard, Shizuri lifted her chin with pride.

Rui and Yuno didn’t even glance her way as they gazed at the remains of the security pods.

“…It’s strange.”

“What is?”

Rui’s curt statement puzzled Shizuri.

“There’s no sign of enemy reinforcements coming. I don’t think you could keep Keystone Gate occupied with numbers like these.”

“Can’t you chalk it up to MAR being stingy with expenses?”

“Wouldn’t that be nice.”

Rui smiled gently, vaguely brushing off her friend. Shizuri sullenly pursed her lips.

“At the very least, the Order of the End is most definitely running dry on numbers. Ms. Minamiya told me that sealing of the Prison Barrier renders them unable to summon more of their comrades.”

“If the Witch of the Void said that, it’s probably true, huh? You’d think that’d make them concentrate what they do have here even more but…”

Hmm, went Rui, touching a hand to his chin as he sank into thought.

Suddenly, his expression stiffened. Shizuri drew her blade and went on guard once more.

A strange sound echoed through the entirety of the hall. An odd vibration was shaking the structure.

“Shizurin!”

Yuno warned in a sharp voice.

The floor at Shizuri’s feet tore open at almost the exact same time.

Emerging from the split and smashed concrete floor was a grotesque shape reminiscent of a great serpent. Reaching some seven to eight meters in length, the long and thin creature assaulted her with a precise, whiplike snap.

“Why you!”

She intercepted the bizarrely precise incoming assault with her long sword.

The creature that resembled a huge serpent was actually a tentacle covered with translucent, viscous liquid.

Her undulating blade glowed crimson as she cleanly severed the tentacle in half. It continued writhing fiercely on the ground after it fell to the floor.

“Wh-what in the world…is this…?!”

Her face twitching in shock, she slowly backed away.

Shizuri’s Hauras was a demonic blade that increased its own might by stealing demonic energy from the opponents it slashed. Her sword reacting like this meant that this was no ordinary creature but a beast infused with demonic energy of its own.

“Hey…doesn’t this tentacle feel kinda familiar?”

It was Yuno who noticed this, grimacing with disgust.

“It couldn’t be…!”

Shizuri made a low groan.

That next instant, giant demon beasts exploded out from the rubble near the root of the tentacle.

The creatures were particularly fiendish in appearance; they were like a cross between a ferocious reptile and a carnivorous insect. They had thick, armor-like hides and countless tentacles. Amid the darkness gleamed six sets of eyes—

Shizuri knew these monsters well.

“Why are Unknowns wandering around the interior of Keystone Gate—?!”

Her shriek echoed through the dark building’s interior.

But the sound of falling rubble erased her voice. None answered her question.