Глава 10

It's so strange, Doctor. We definitely shook off the Sarkaz warriors from before...

But they're still coming without end.;It's like they know our position.

Closure, are our communications being traced?

Not a chance, Amiya, I guarantee it! I set up triple-layer encryption on our transmitters! If they had the tech for that, then Theresis would've breached the landship a hundred times over by now!

...Doctor, I believe Closure.

They must be using some other method then.

Miss Amiya, we're a stone's throw from the rendezvous point!

As long as we link up with Team 6, we can get in contact with the subterranean support unit. Once we're underground, the Sarkaz pursuing us will be out of luck.

No, don't go that way.

Huh? Why... wait, what? Miss Siege, what are you doing here?

Weren't you under...

Team 6 is...

Team 6 is what? Why do you look so... erk, Miss Indra, have you seen all that blood on your hands?!

Your soldiers, they... all gave their lives.

Th-That can't be right! Team 6 is still ahead of us, how could they have run into the Sarkaz?

We don't have time to analyze how.

Doctor, it wasn't the Sarkaz force pursuing us that killed Team 6's soldiers.

You mean...

The enemy they faced had terrifying Originium Arts... It was more of a massacre than a battle. Hardly any of them had even drawn their weapons.

You sure it was Originium Arts?

I don't believe that!

I saw this red bug thing tear the soldiers' chests apart. Vina, you saw it too! That was a genuine monster!

...So the perpetrator is no ordinary Sarkaz.

We have to change course. Mr. Feist, are there any other routes we can take?

Yes. But we don't have any support waiting on it. If we run into Sarkaz forces...

We'll be in for another hard fight.

Find cover!

Horn, what the hell is this?!

What did that Sarkaz throw at us, a bomb? None of us even saw it—

...Originium Arts.

Eyes up!

I... I just saw something red flash by in midair!

Retreat!

It's like a thunderbolt or something! That's Originium Arts?!

These... abominable devils!

Still won't come out?

Your war, your battle, your fight, it can't be this game of runabout you're playing, can it White Wolf?

Five aerial blood streaks at once?

Horn, we have no chance of—

No.

No matter how strong the Arts... he's only one person.

What did Victoria do in the past, to prevail over the Sarkaz again and again?

You mean...

How many bolts do we have left?

Cover me.

Yes, sir!

A pitiful act of defiance—

Now... is our chance.

Counting on an Arts bombardment to make your escape?

I'll give you a rude awakening.

What I said still stands. So long as my soldiers remain here, I will not flee.

Not bad after all, White Wolf. I see you have the bravado to reverse course and charge me.

Such a shame then...

––Rrgh!

Whoever told you that a Sarkaz depends solely on Arts in a fight?

Even wielding no more than a sword—I can still defeat every last one of you.

Beating me... may not be so difficult...

But making me fall will... not be so easy.

How very brave of you.

It's thanks to that valor of yours that I can end this battle that much quicker—

The instant he thrusts his sword out, the soldier before Manfred abruptly vanishes.

She seems to practically dissolve and melt through the wall behind her, leaving not even a ripple.

These Arts are unfamiliar...

Vigilance!

...A dagger from thin air?

No, not from thin air...

You react very fast.

I'm afraid I'd have one more hole in my chest otherwise.

Target found! Take aim!

What the hell? They vanished again?

Th-They're too fast! I can't land a shot!

Shields up, up! Quick! Shit, are they able to blink?

Blink? No such Arts could be cast without leaving even a trace!

Or is this... a diversion?

Don't let them fool you! All men, cast precision aside! Attack at once!

So long as the enemy is still in front of us, they have no escape!

Have we... hit them?

General, there's no body.

But the ground is shot to hell... Where can they still be hiding?

General, behind you!

Show yourself, and your life is mine!

Really?

Manfred, you put it very well, but unfortunately... you were only half right.

Half?

Sarkaz do not depend solely on Arts to fight—

—but in no world do Sarkaz wield swords alone.

Aarrghh!

The ground shouldn't be this soft—this place is going to swallow us! I-I'm losing my grip on my blade!

General, you're sinking too?!

...Nobody move, and nobody panic.

The dagger is his staff. These are Arts, and nothing more than Arts.

You're very calm-headed. Good... you've saved your men's lives.

However...

Rgh!

The ground's... nearing my stomach...

My sword...

With your swordsmanship, blocking my attacks would be a simple task.

But the more you struggle, the quicker the ground swallows you.

Is this how you want to go... this self-destruction?

Urgh... *cough* *cough*...