Chapter 391 - Takao Itsuki
Chapter 391 - Takao Itsuki
<Yomibito POV>
“Takao Itsuki is not a threat.”
Until the “anomaly” occurred with Itsuki, I had judged so and fought under this assumption.
The key to this sister pair is Hijiri Takao.
I was convinced of this.
If Hijiri is killed, this battle will be over.
I can cut them both down.
On the other hand, I also felt this:
————–Splendid, Hijiri Takao.
Despite receiving such severe injuries, her expression remains almost unchanged.
This was also as Vysis had informed.
I too shall put forth my utmost effort in this battle.
————–Ah, so dazzling.
Ahh, how wonderful, the brilliance of her life……
Hijiri’s wounds continue to increase.
But she narrowly avoids fatal injuries.
Moreover, to prevent blood loss, she fights while cauterizing her wounds.
Even while burning, her calm expression does not show signs of agony.
Not even a short scream escapes her.
She remains unwavering.
She was undoubtedly———– a true samurai.
It was then……
Becoming emotional only dulls one’s danger-sensing ability.
Despite that……
On the contrary———- Her speed is increasing.
The pressure on me is rising.
The tiny openings that were previously visible are closing up.
Incomprehensible.
Itsuki is slipping through my slashes.
Counter-attacking———- no, it’s dangerous.
I try to adjust my movements to distance myself but……
Bam!
My gauntlet was shattered by the compressed lightning strike.
But if I don’t succeed, I might be faced with my own defeat here.
I have no choice but to try.
I gathered the hardening ability from elsewhere———– and blocked Itsuki’s lightning strike.
I succeeded.
————Krzzzttt————–
[ …………… ————- , ! ? , ————- …………… ]
I managed to block the attack.
However, the lightning has conducted through my interiors———- to my core.
A sensation I hadn’t experienced in this battle assaults me.
I’m feeling slightly unwell……?
I’m even feeling nauseous———, ……Me, feeling nauseous?
This is because the earlier coordination replays in my mind repeatedly.
She will likely use <Gungnir> as a finishing move.
Or she might expose the core with <Gungnir> and let Itsuki finish with her <Zero>.
Currently, I cannot shift to offense.
By keeping up my defenses, I can maintain the current situation.
No———- Was this perhaps their aim?
To buy time and wait for something?
It’s better I consider it as buying time until <Gungnir> could be reused……
I don’t take Hijiri’s stated reuse time at face value.
I believe she might use it at any time..
Even so———–
————Krzzzttt————–
Itsuki’s fierce assault, enveloped in a thunderous sound……
Power……
Speed……
Sensitivity……
All of these have entered an extraordinary realm.
From the way she looks, it’s almost as if she’s fueled by her own life force.
Now, Itsuki has such an intimidating presence.
This sister duo.
For each other’s sake……
Could they both———- be putting everything on the line?
Feeling the threat to my life, my survival instincts are fully mobilized.
Yet, my eyes still firmly track Hijiri.
No———–
That’s wrong!
Itsuki can destroy the core with her own hands……!
I messed up.
I was too focused on guarding against Hijiri.
I should have dedicated all my attention to Itsuki.
Will I make it in time———-No———– I won’t make it in time.
———————-Ahh, she is truly——— dazzling.
At this moment, I.
Once again————-
A sign of evolution is emerging.
From the threatening Itsuki Takao, I must protect my life with all my being———–
Now……
That omen is about to……
……it was supposed to begin.
Kshk!
[ …………… ————- , ? , ————- …………… ]
Around the flank area of my carapace———- a bit diagonally behind.
Closer to my back side……
Something had made contact with my core.
Is that——— a hand?
Emergency.
My danger-sensing ability———– my instincts.
I realize the mistake.
It starts beating.
But———– How come?
Why are you there?
How are you————
——-touching my core?
What about my carapace?
When was my carapace in that area destroyed?
If the reactions I displayed were fake.
But then, what could make that possible?
It’s said that the HP correction value has a pain-relief effect.
Yet, it still doesn’t completely erase the reaction.
So what made it possible?
That is————
“Ability enhancement for multiple targets and ability weakening for a single target.”
“The ability to lower the status of the touched opponent to the same level as hers.”
These are the unique skills of Ikusaba Asagi.
And she actually has one more Unique Skill.
During the great invasion by the Great Demon Emperor’s army in the past.
To put it simply——— It was all an act.
I was pretending to feel pain.
This was an incredibly nerve-wracking task.
Making sure I avoid fatal blows,
“I match the reactions.”
Only when I felt I could do so, I would intentionally avoid fatal injuries and let the blade cut my skin, then react.
I was quite startled when my fingers were cut.
Even though it was unexpected,
“Delaying the reaction was not an option.”
I felt a bit anxious.
But it seems I managed to successfully match the pain reactions.
They continued to be attacked by the wind blades, but they paid no attention to it.
“Even if the carapace is slightly worn down, it will regenerate soon.”
“It doesn’t have the power to reach the inside.”
During the fight, Yomibito must have adjusted their senses toward that direction.
They judged it would be pointless to divide attention on unnecessary things.
Yomibito seemed to be fighting very rationally.
“So, they wouldn’t use unnecessary resources.”
I judged it this way.
As planned, Yomibito’s vigilance toward my wind blades gradually diminished.
“The wind blades aren’t a problem.”
I had already confirmed during the battle that they don’t feel sensations with their carapace.
There was no reaction to heat or cold either.
“At a certain stage, judging by the reactions during the battle, it’s as if they’re not even conscious of it.”
I came to this conclusion.
Thus, even when I created a hole with my wind blades, they were still unaware of the “wind blades”———-
This was the reasoning I had in mind.
If Yomibito had a means of evasion———-
They would have thought about it and come to this realization.
When Itsuki’s <End> allowed for enhanced attack power through compression———–
Perhaps my wind blades could do the same too.
I had done the same with my other wind-based attacks.
However———- I had never done so with wind blade for this purpose.
Thinking “I might shoot <Gungnir> into the hole Itsuki created”.
Or, even if the order is reversed, we might still repeatedly attack the same spot.
If Itsuki hadn’t awakened, that would have been our only option.
A more challenging path————- one that would have required preparing for the possibility of losing my life.
But Itsuki———- my twin sister……
She opened the path to a new future.
Therefore, without considering sacrificing this life———
I was able to reach this single strike.
The miracle of being born into this world as your other half……
From the bottom of my heart, that’s something I’m really proud of.
Now————————- With my incantation, pierce that enemy.
[ < Gungnir > ]