"Gack…gack…!?"
Tsuchimikado Motoharu tumbled two to three times on the marble-like surface. The impact caused the cell phone in his hand to fly out and smash into a nearby pillar.
He was on a road that linked several underground streets together. It was 8 meters wide, and about a 100 meters long. As there was a famous underground street that was commonly used as a shortcut, including the store owners, there was almost nobody there. There were large cylindrical pillars that split the place into north and south zones, and the hidden side of the pillars was equivalent to the blind corner of the security camera.
The bus that Tsuchimikado had taken couldn't proceed due to the 10km race. He hastily looked for a place where there were no people, and activated the searching magic 'all-around reality array'.
A rough sound was heard.
The 'all-around reality array' that he had drawn on the ground was trampled by someone and scattered all over the place.
"You can't be too careless, you know. You intended to find this nee-chan's whereabouts through things that are mine. On the other hand, you seem to forget that this nee-chan can also sense you as well. Oi, boys who do things their own ways might be hated, you know?"
A teasing tone.
And at the same time, an opponent with such strong power.
Oriana Thomson.
A different look compared to before. She had already changed out of her work clothes, and was now wearing a dark-colored mini top and a light-colored long skirt that had vertical slits like curtains. As the skirt could not function like a normal skirt, there was a Sarong skirt that was used for covering swimming attire, now wrapped around her waist. But her fluffy blond hair and beauty, that beautiful impression of sweet curves that seemed to melt like sugar inside a mouth, could not be overwritten so easily just because she changed clothes.
She played with the flashcards that had a metal ring passed through them.
"Of the people I've met up till now, it seems that you're the most clear-headed, and at the same time, the most dangerous one. So this nee-chan is here to take care of you."
"Cheh…"
Tsuchimikado got away from the circular platform in the middle as he stood up.
If he didn't know that the enemy's attack could be prevented by something blocking, the walls and the pillar—would become obstacles for him.
"…Everything will be alright if you hurry up and hand over the Croce di Pietro and surrender with Lidvia, or do you want to be a mollusc that has its bones wrecked?"
"Ah, even if I tell you that I have no interest in fighting, this nee-chan likes to play some exciting games. I'll play with you until your waist breaks."
Oriana gave a happy look as she answered, but in fact, she was calculating the distance between her and Tsuchimikado. Tsuchimikado gritted his teeth as Oriana pinpointed his position.
(Kami-yan and Stiyl…)
From his temple to his flank, and including his limbs, blood was seeping out. This wasn't caused by Oriana, but the rejection his body did when he used magic.
(…Can't rely on them. Though the walking distance is only about 10 minutes, I didn't tell them exactly where I am. Besides, I chose to come to this place where no one will come to.)
He gently gripped his fingers, and released them, not letting Oriana realize this. Maybe it was caused by the devastation of his insides, Tsuchimikado's movements were as stiff as a puppet. Though in a real battle, he couldn't use his full powers…it was also bad when he fell onto the ground because of carelessness. One could sense anxiety in his calm and collected thought process.
Even so,
(How can I…)
Tsuchimikado rubbed away the blood flowing out from his eyes, and looked in front.
(…retreat now?)
He exerted some pressure on his fingers that were slightly uncoordinated.
(In order to chase Oriana, Stiyl got hit by a counterspell. Because of the Anglican Church, Kami-yan got involved in numerous unexpected calamities.)
He clenched his fist.
(So how can I retreat? I, who lured them onto the battlefield, how can I fall back now!? Even if the situation isn't advantageous, even if my entire body's covered in blood, it's alright. I can't let the goodwill of those idiots who assisted this traitor to go to waste!!)
A burning passion was in these eyes covered by those sunglasses.
"…Fallere825, 'the back-stabber'—remember this, this is my magic name."
Hearing this, a slight smile appeared on Oriana's lips.
As a fellow magician, she knew the determination of the man who announced his name.
"Hoho, then it's disrespectful for this nee-chan to not say her own name."
Oriana's eyes revealed a serious expression.
It was her nature as a magician.
"My name is Basis104, "From the foundation to carry."…now that I've declared it, I have to win. This complete introduction should be proper manners for your determination."
Tsuchimikado didn't reply.
Oriana didn't say anything either.
It seemed that starting the battle early would be the greatest respect to the 'enemy'.
The two magicians instantly clashed with each other.
Tsuchimikado Motoharu covered the distance of 10 meters at one go, making the distance between them become 0.
During this time, Oriana Thomson placed a flashcard inside her mouth, and bit onto it.
Out of mid-air, thick ropes appeared on her arms. The ropes entangled with each other, and like a net commonly used in an obstacle race, wrapped around her arms.
Just as Oriana was about to use that net, Tsuchimikado swung his fist forward first.
He thought that his right fist would be blocked first, and thus faked his punch to the chest, and then when the opponent was stuck, he would swing in a left hook to break through the wrist that was used for defense. At the same time, he'd stamp onto Oriana's foot with his sole. This was a tactic that was used for immediately disabling the enemy's limbs, and removing all their mobility.
But,
Oriana seemed to realize his intentions as she moved her right foot that was about to be stepped on back. She used her arm to block Tsuchimikado's first punch, and using the instability caused by the punch and her stepping back, she fell backwards and increased the distance.
The left hook that Tsuchimikado intended to break Oriana's wrist missed.
Her back on the ground, Oriana swung her right hand that was covered with ropes.
A gust of wind was caused.
In that net that was formed by many ropes, like bubbles being blown, the sound of air could be heard.
However, appearing this time wasn't soapy bubbles, but sharp blades that could cut rock.
"!!"
The blades, totaling about 20, flew towards Tsuchimikado.
Facing this volley of blades that was fanning out like a shotgun, Tsuchimikado moved sideways and got onto the ground. Several pillars behind him were knocked down, and the lights on the ceiling were dropping towards him. The wall and the ads posted on it were ripped apart, and the marble floor looked like it was farmed.
Tsuchimikado didn't get up, his four limbs still on the ground, as he leapt towards Oriana like a beast. If it was close range, this could shorten the time needed to get up and run.
"Haha, this nee-chan doesn't hate such a wild, youthful presence!!"
Her back on the ground, Oriana could not dodge, but she gave a kick towards the approaching Tsuchimikado. Tsuchimikado grabbed her foot with his right hand, his left hand onto her calf. As long as he could twist the ankle into a right angle, he would get the upper hand.
"Ho!!"
Tsuchimikado inhaled, ready to twist the ankle.
Just as Oriana was about to be controlled completely, with her ankle as the pivot, she turned her body around, and with her free leg, slammed it from the side into Tsuchimikado's face like a hammer.
"GYA…ahhhh!!"
Tsuchimikado's body rolled hard to the left.
Oriana got up and tore another flashcard with her teeth.
From her hands, an intangible force was released, moving towards Tsuchimikado. Tsuchimikado corrected his body posture while rotating and jumped up, his back slamming hard into the wall. A weird cracking sound could be heard from his body, and Tsuchimikado could taste blood.
(Damn…it!)
Tsuchimikado continued to jump aside, dodging the array of light bullets that Oriana was shooting at him. The white balls that were as large as basketballs exploded upon touching the walls.
Tsuchimikado again felt that shockwaves from the explosions, as he slammed into the floor.
Tsuchimikado, who was on the ground, slowly got up.
He wiped the blood on his lips with his hands.
(Though it's only a bit, my movements…are really slow…if it was the normal me, I would have broken a few bones of the enemy…!)
"Hn? You're not using magic for a magician. Is this your style? Well, I don't particularly care how people play their game, but at this rate, you—will—die."
Oriana seemed to look uninterested as she placed the flashcard near her soft lips.
"If this is your real ability, then you won't be able to escape the next hit. If this is how far your determination goes when you declared your magic name, this nee-chan won't want to play with you anymore."
She seemed to be sighing that the outcome was a bit too fast.
It was like spending lots of time studying to prepare for an exam, only to find the questions too easy. It seemed like all her efforts were wasted.
"…To expect outside help at this time, it's a bit stupid. This nee-chan has already set up a tactic to divert forces. Right now, this underground street is protected by a boundary. Nobody would think of approaching this place, and won't find anything strange. News of whatever that happens inside won't reach outside. Not only can it hide magic flows and magic movement, even the sixth sense, on the occasion that it works, will respond rather slowly — even a professional magician won't approach this place so easily."
(…)
Hearing these words, Tsuchimikado looked up.
He felt that those words weren't right, but what? Even if there were some contradictions, a slow mind wouldn't be able to pick up, that was just what the enemy said. Maybe it was some wrong information to scare him or shake him up.
"So you'll be defeated here. I'll let you regret declaring your magic name to this nee-chan with this level of determination," she said.
Oriana Thomson bit onto another flashcard.
It was like pulling the plug off a grenade.
(…What now?)
Oriana's flashcard fell onto the ground.
(Seeing how injured I am now, I won't be able to take it the next time I cast magic. But, even if I want to use the Red Spell, there's no time to chant it!)
While the flashcard landed on the ground, at the same time, a giant mallet suddenly appeared from the ground beside Oriana. The pentagonal-type mallet was about a meter thick as it rushed towards the ceiling.
(If this is how it is, in this situation, if I want to deal the biggest blow to Oriana…! Damn it, I have to hurry! Got to hurry!)
Tsuchimikado grabbed a colored piece of paper from his blood-stained uniform.
With machinery-like speed, he folded up the wrinkled piece of paper.
"Damn bastards accustomed to peace! Wake up if you wish not to die!! (Everything begins from this signal! Follow the light and sharp noise!!)"
"Too late."
The moment Oriana said this, the giant mallet broke apart like an ice sculpture.
This storm that had billions of shrapnel seemed like it was about to bury the road as it headed towards Tsuchimikado. It was like it was going to swallow this small human called Tsuchimikado Motoharu, stuff it into a main cannon, and fire it.
The sound of insects moving about could be heard later.
(I have to make i—)
Just before Tsuchimikado could send his request,
This metal tsunami that destroyed everything rushed forward, all the way to the end.