Chapter 66

With the swordsman enhanced by Spirit Crystal Pill defeated, we advanced deeper into the laboratory.

After walking down a dark and narrow corridor for a while, we emerged into a slightly wider room lit by a dim light.

(…There’s something here.)

I sensed the breathing of someone in the darkness.

"―Toll=Summons, is it?"

When the teacher asked, a short woman in a black cloak appeared from the far end of the room.

Her light pink hair was flipped outward.

Her eyes were sharp, always seeming to be in a bad mood.

She was one of the black organization that had kidnapped Reia, Toll=Summons.

"Yeah, you’re the Black Fist… huh!?"

The teacher’s fist plunged deep into Toll’s abdomen.

(So fast…!?)

I couldn’t even see the series of movements from the initial move to the punch.

"―Sorry, but we don’t have time. I’ll hear the details later… huh!?"

The teacher, who had just delivered a powerful blow, suddenly jumped back.

"…Damn, so that’s it."

Fresh blood flowed from her right hand.

Then,

"Hahaha! Just as simple-minded as the information said, Black Fist!"

Another Toll appeared from behind the first one.

"‘T, there are two Tolls…!?’"

Allen and Rose said in unison, and the ‘Toll’ in front of us transformed into a sword embedded in the ground.

Then,

"Deceive—<Imitation Art>!"

The moment Toll said this, white clay-like substance overflowed from her sword and began to mimic the teacher’s movements.

"Of course… The one I hit was a soul equipment copy of Toll. From this scene, it seems the condition for copying is ‘to strike the target’."

The teacher analyzed the soul equipment of the opponent with a sharp gaze.

"Heh, I heard you were a musclehead… But you’re surprisingly smart!"

Toll said this while taking out two short swords from her pocket and holding them in both hands.

It seems she would control the copy while also joining the battle herself.

"…Allen, Rose. You two go ahead."

The teacher said this in a low voice so only we could hear.

"I don’t know how capable the copy is… If it targets you two, it will be troublesome."

If the copy had the same strength as the teacher…

Allen and Rose would be easily defeated.

"Besides… We don’t have much time. Depending on the ‘analysis’ results, Reia might be ‘disposed of’. Rescue her as quickly as possible. I’ll follow after defeating this one."

"Understood."

The inner workings of the copy are best known by Reia herself.

In that sense, it’s best to leave this to her.

"Let’s go, Rose!"

"Alright!"

Allen and Rose, whose thoughts were in sync, immediately ran deeper into the laboratory.

Toll silently watched us go.

It seems her role was to detain Reia here.

As we ran down the corridor, we emerged into a room even larger than the previous one.

However, there were—

"Y, you came…!"

"Intruders… must be eliminated…!"

An absurdly large number of swordsmen.

"This…!"

"It’s going to be a long fight…!"

There must be a hundred, no… two hundred of them.

Their right hands, with bloodshot eyes and heavy breathing, held distorted soul equipment.

All of them were undoubtedly enhanced swordsmen who had taken Spirit Crystal Pills.

Allen and Rose drew their swords and took their stances.

"Uooooooh!"

"Gaaaaah!"

They charged at us with incredible speed.

Faced with the roar and screams of two hundred people, we were momentarily overwhelmed.

"Dieeeeee!"

Blocking the powerful downward slash in front of us,

"Ugh…!?"

A tremendous impact ran through both arms.

(What… incredible strength…!)

The effect of the Spirit Crystal Pill or the power of the enhancement-type soul equipment.

I don’t know which, but the swordsman in front of me had superhuman strength.

But, I can’t lose to this false strength!

"Uooooooh—Haah!"

Defeating the frontal force, I delivered a diagonal slash.

"Wha…!? Gah…!"

They probably didn’t expect to lose in strength.

A great disturbance ran through the ranks of the enhanced swordsmen.

"Let’s go, Rose!"

"Alright!"

From then on, we cut down one after another of the numerous enhanced swordsmen—already rendering over fifty of them combat ineffective.

The battle was clearly tilting in our favor.

But,

(If we keep this up, it’s not good…)

The formidable enemy, Zak=Bombal, was waiting ahead.

We can’t afford to waste our strength here.

Moreover, time was running out.

We can’t afford to be detained here.

(Damn, what should we do…?)

As frustration welled up and slowly burned my heart,

"Stain—<Crimson Cold Cherry>!"

A beautiful cherry tree suddenly appeared.

At the same time, Rose’s movements became incredibly swift.

"Cherry Blossom One-Sword Style Secret Technique—Mirror Cherry Slash!"

Four strikes from each side—eight lightning-fast slashes felled four swordsmen.

"R, Rose!?"

"Consuming our strength here would be the worst. Allen, go ahead!"

"But…!"

Rose’s soul equipment has a ‘duration’.

This kind of prolonged battle against a large group is not her forte.

(What should I do!? If we’re to act according to our strengths, I should stay…)

Should I go, or should Rose go?

I was torn, trying to figure out the right answer.

"It’s okay. The Cherry Blossom One-Sword Style won’t lose to this fake power!"

Rose looked me straight in the eye and said this clearly.

There was strong resolve and determination in her eyes.

The cherry tree grew with a crackling sound, responding to her resolve.

"Understood, thank you."

I said this briefly and ran to cut through the room.

Then,

"Let him goooooo…!"

"Stop him here…!"

The enhanced swordsmen charged at me all at once.

"Ugh!?"

As I took a defensive stance,

"Fly—Cherry Blossom Storm!"

Cherry blossoms, like a torrent, instantly engulfed them.

"Guh, guaaaaah!?"

Each petal, sharpened like a blade, rendered over ten enhanced soldiers combat ineffective in one strike.

"Go!"

"Alright, thanks!"

With Rose’s support, I headed deeper into the laboratory.

Running down the winding corridor, I emerged into a room as large as a gymnasium.

The lighting was functioning properly, and the person waiting at the far end was immediately recognizable.

"Zak=Bombal…!"

"Zahahaha! As expected, you’ve come, precious gem!"

He had a large sword resembling a charred cross on his shoulder and a warlike smile on his face.

"Where is Reia?"

She wasn’t anywhere in this large room.

"Right below here."

Saying this, Zak plunged his large sword into the floor.

"Is she safe?"

"Rest assured. She’s still fine. …Well, she’s probably hungry."

Hearing this, I let out a sigh of relief.

(Finally, I’ve made it here…)

Thanks to Rize, Reia, and Rose, I finally have a chance to rescue Reia.

(All that’s left is to defeat the enemy in front of me…!)

I slowly drew my sword and took a stance.

"Let’s go."

"Zahahaha! No need to hold back, come whenever you’re ready!"

In the next moment, I closed the distance to Zak in an instant.

"So fast!? —<Flame Shield>!"

He quickly deployed a massive flame shield in front of him.

The scorching flames, painful to the eyes, rose up in large waves.

But—there was no such oppressive feeling as before.

"Eight Blades—Eightfold Crow!"

I easily tore the flame shield that I couldn’t touch last time into eight pieces.

"What!?"

Surprised by the unexpected turn of events, Zak jumped back to create distance.

"Zahahaha, not bad! You’ve improved, Allen=Roadel!"

"I’m just getting started…! Let’s go, Zak=Bombal!"

And so, the fierce battle between Allen and Zak began.